Blog Tour: Review of Duke Darcy's Castle by Syrie James

Author: Syrie JamesGenre: Historical Romance, Victorian Romance
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Length (384) pages
eBook ASIN: B07DCD1HYB, (February 25, 2020)
Mass market paperback ISBN: 978-0062849717 (March 24, 2020)

Lance Granville, the Tenth Duke of Darcy, was none too happy to give up his career in the Royal Navy to inherit the family title, complete with an ancient castle he needs to renovate. When an architect arrives on his doorstep, Darcy is astonished to discover that she’s a woman.

Kathryn Atherton has one goal: to become the first woman architect in Britain. Marriage doesn’t figure in her plans. Despite the odds, her schooling is behind her. Now she needs experience. When she’s sent to a small tidal island in Cornwall to remodel a castle, the last thing Kathryn wants is to be attracted to its roguishly handsome owner.

Kathryn is determined to keep things professional, but the sizzling attraction between her and the duke quickly blazes out of control. When Darcy learns that Kathryn is an heiress whose fortune would save St. Gabriel’s Mount, he wages the most important battle of his life: to woo and win the woman who’s captured his heart. But (in an homage to Austen), the Duke’s first proposal is so Darcyesque, he is refused. In any case, duchesses can’t be architects. And Kathryn has worked too long and too hard to give up her career for anyone ….

Duke Darcy's Castle is the third book in the Dare to Defy series about three heiress sister who find love with British dukes.  This is Kathryn and Lance's story.  Even though it is the third book it definitely can be read as a stand alone book.  Kathryn is determined to prove that she can be a woman and an architect in a profession filled only by men.  Lance's castle remodel is her chance to do just that. 

For the most part, I enjoyed the romance between Lance and Kathryn.  I liked each character well enough and thought they had great chemistry.  I also enjoyed the enthusiasm that Kathryn had about buildings and design.  The tidbits about architecture were interesting and added to greatly to the story.  The characters were interesting. I enjoyed Lance's attempts to get to know Kathryn better and get her to fall for him.  Lance's grandmother was probably my favorite character out of them all.  She was hilarious.  

I had a few things that I didn't love about the book.  I felt like I was hit over the head with the fact that Kathryn and Lance were attracted to each other.  The internal conversations that they had with themselves all seemed to center around that attraction.  It got old really fast.  I also wasn't a fan of the "insta-love" or should I say lust.  I mean they were together maybe a few hours and then they almost have sex on a pool table.  That was a bit off putting.  There was one part of the story that I found unnecessary and seemed to be put into the story for "representation" sake.  Not that I had an issue with the content of that part of the story.  I just felt like it was out of place and not needed as it didn't make any sense to the story.  It seemed like it was just there to have the characters have a conversation about how forward thinking they are about how love is love.

If you are a fan of romances with forward thinking heroines and hero Dukes who will do anything to get the girl, then I do recommend this one.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

RUNAWAY HEIRESS BOOK SERIES:

Three American heiresses defy their family’s wishes, and social convention, to strike out and find their own happiness in late Victorian Cornwall.

Runaway Heiress: A Dare to Defy Novel (Book 1)

Brainy and college-educated, American heiress Alexandra Atherton will do anything to avoid marriage to the English peer her mother has chosen for her—even abandon the life of privilege she’s always known. But as her escape goes horribly wrong, Alexandra must invent a new identity to gain the help of a handsome stranger.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

Summer of Scandal: A Dare to Defy Novel (Book 2)

An American heiress and an English earl fight against the conventions of society -- and their attraction to each other -- in the second book in the Dare to Defy series by USA Today bestselling author Syrie James.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

AUTHOR BIO:

SYRIE JAMES is the USA TODAY and Amazon bestselling author of thirteen novels of historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction and romance. Her books have hit many Best of the Year lists, been designated as Library Journal Editor’s Picks, and won numerous accolades and awards, including Best New Fiction by Regency World Magazine (the international bestseller “The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen”), and the national Audiobook Audie for Romance (“The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte”, also named a Great Group Read by the Women’s National Book Association). Los Angeles Magazine dubbed Syrie the “queen of nineteenth century re-imaginings,” and her books have been published in twenty languages. A member of the Writer’s Guild of America, Syrie is also an established screenwriter and playwright who makes her home in Los Angeles. An admitted Anglophile, Syrie has addressed audiences across the U.S., Canada, and the British Isles.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

Blog Tour: Review of Summer of Scandal by Syrie James

Author: Syrie James
Series: Dare to Defy Series
*Each novel is a standalone story.
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Publication Date: September 11, 2018

Madeleine Atherton is no typical American heiress, sent to England to marry an English lord. A brilliant college graduate who secretly dreams of becoming a published author, she wants to marry for love. After receiving a proposal from a future duke, Madeleine flees the London Season for Cornwall to seek her sister’s advice, never expecting her decision to be complicated by a charming, handsome earl she’s certain she dislikes—even though his every touch sets her blood on fire.

Charles Grayson, the Earl of Saunders, has secrets and ambitions of his own. Although under pressure from his mother and gravely ill father to marry his cousin, Charles cannot find the words to propose. But this fascinating American visitor does not figure into his plans, either.

Thrown together unexpectedly at Trevelyan Manor, Madeleine and Charles struggle to rise above their intense attraction. But as things heat up between them over a summer that becomes increasingly scandalous, Madeleine and Charles will both be forced to make a difficult choice. Can two dreamers dare to defy convention and find their own happily ever after?

I have been wanting to read a historical romance for a while.  I'm happy to say Summer of Scandal fulfilled that craving.  This is the second book in the Dare to Defy series involving the Atherton sisters.  They are American heiresses visiting England to each find a titled match.  In this one, Madeleine does not want to accept a proposal from a man she doesn't love.  She flees to visit her sister to think about her next step.  Bad weather causes her to spend time at Charles's estate.  Even though he is unofficially promised to another, their chemistry can't be denied.

This was an enjoyable read.  Their romance was a very slow burn.  At times, it was a bit too slow, but once they finally kissed, the story took off from there.  I liked these two together.  Madeleine was head strong and wasn't willing to settle for anything less than she deserved.  I admired Charles's drive to invent things to help the people on his estate.  These two were perfectly matched.  The book works well as a stand alone and is one I definitely recommend.

 Purchase Your Copy Today!

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Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of SUMMER OF SCANDAL by Syrie James, we’re giving away one paperback copy of Runaway Heiress!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback copy of Runaway Heiress by Syrie James. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance.  Giveaway ends 9/24/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted.  CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About the Author

SYRIE JAMES is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Nocturne; Dracula, My Love; The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte (Great Group Read, Women’s National Book Association; Audie Romance Award, 2011), and the international bestseller The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (Best First Novel 2008, Library Journal.) An admitted Anglophile, Syrie loves paranormal romance and all things 19th century. She lives in Los Angeles and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America.

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This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Dracula, My Love

By:  Syrie James

From Goodreads:  Many have read and loved Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But questions remain. What is the true story of Dracula’s origin? What if Mina could not bring herself to record the true story of their scandalous affair—until now?

In Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker, Syrie James explores these questions and more. A vibrant dramatization, told from Mina’s point of view, brings to life the crucial parts of Stoker’s story while showcasing Mina’s sexual awakening and evolution as a woman, and revealing a secret that could destroy her life. Torn between two men—a loving husband and a dangerous lover—Mina struggles to hang on to the deep love she’s found within her marriage, even as she is inexorably drawn to Dracula himself—the vampire that everyone she knows is determined to destroy.

I won this book from Jennifer at Book Club Girl.  I thought it was fairly good.  The story itself was interesting.  The writing was good.  It had the unfortunate problem of making me fall asleep every time I started reading it.  As a consequence it took me like 3 weeks to read it.  I had to force myself to read the last 100 pages and I felt kind of bad about that because there wasn't anything really wrong with the book.  I just don't think it was my cup of tea I guess.  I don't want to deter anyone from reading it though, because it really was pretty interesting to look at the Dracula story from a different angle.  I kinda felt like Dracula was a bit of a player.  I wanted to fuss at Mina at times and tell her to not believe him that he probably tells that stuff to all the girls....what did she think he told Lucy?? 

Syrie James will be on Blog Talk Radio tonight at 7:00 pm ET.  Should be fun!  Check it out!