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A review by laura_cs
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"I once was funny, a little headstrong, and I had a lot of heart. I wanted to be me again."
Patience Jordan is a widow--and in dire need of help. Following her husband's suicide--so soon after giving birth to her son, in a land that has never been her home--Patience was forced from the house, committed to Bedlam, never to see her baby again. And then comes The Widow's Grace, an order of widowed women who have been wrong seeking to help other wronged widows. Together, they work on a plan to reunite Patience with Lionel so that she can return to her true home in Demerara. And, to Patience's surprise, the first part of the plan arrives with a small army. Literally.
Busick Strathmore, Duke of Remington, descends upon Hamlin to oust his deceased cousin's vile uncle and become a doting bachelor father to his ward. Injured while serving in the Peninsula wars, Busick has rules, plans, and troops to protect Lionel and shape the boy into a fine young man (don't tell him that three months is too young for crawling practice; it's on the schedule and that's that). There's just one problem: he and his men are lacking one thing. Well, technically two very important things for a small, hungry baby...
Barely in residence for twelve hours, the manor is descended upon by the neighboring Countess, who comes bearing a new maid and a new nanny for Busick. Finally reunited with Lionel, Patience must carefully navigate the manor to find the answers that will allow her to be with her son as his mother, while avoiding the precise and somewhat frustrating (and devastatingly handsome) Duke. Together, the two of them will do anything and everything to protect Lionel. But what shall they do about the developing feelings between them?
I would have finished this book in a day had life and a rapidly depleting Kindle battery not have intervened. This is a brilliant work of historical fiction, set in Regency England, with a biracial heroine at the center. The historical elements are remarkably well-researched, and gave life to story as well as expand the horizons and standards for Regency romance.
I adored the ironically named Patience (for she has none), struggling to protect her son and her heart, slowly opening it little by little to Busick. In turn, Busick learns to trust, pull down his own shields, and loosen up on control. They are opposites attract in so many ways (so much snarky banter), but so delightfully real and loving and protective of each other. And, of course, to Lionel. They make such a sweet little family that makes you squee!
I'm eager to see what adventures lie ahead for the women of T Widow's Grace
"I once was funny, a little headstrong, and I had a lot of heart. I wanted to be me again."
Patience Jordan is a widow--and in dire need of help. Following her husband's suicide--so soon after giving birth to her son, in a land that has never been her home--Patience was forced from the house, committed to Bedlam, never to see her baby again. And then comes The Widow's Grace, an order of widowed women who have been wrong seeking to help other wronged widows. Together, they work on a plan to reunite Patience with Lionel so that she can return to her true home in Demerara. And, to Patience's surprise, the first part of the plan arrives with a small army. Literally.
Busick Strathmore, Duke of Remington, descends upon Hamlin to oust his deceased cousin's vile uncle and become a doting bachelor father to his ward. Injured while serving in the Peninsula wars, Busick has rules, plans, and troops to protect Lionel and shape the boy into a fine young man (don't tell him that three months is too young for crawling practice; it's on the schedule and that's that). There's just one problem: he and his men are lacking one thing. Well, technically two very important things for a small, hungry baby...
Barely in residence for twelve hours, the manor is descended upon by the neighboring Countess, who comes bearing a new maid and a new nanny for Busick. Finally reunited with Lionel, Patience must carefully navigate the manor to find the answers that will allow her to be with her son as his mother, while avoiding the precise and somewhat frustrating (and devastatingly handsome) Duke. Together, the two of them will do anything and everything to protect Lionel. But what shall they do about the developing feelings between them?
I would have finished this book in a day had life and a rapidly depleting Kindle battery not have intervened. This is a brilliant work of historical fiction, set in Regency England, with a biracial heroine at the center. The historical elements are remarkably well-researched, and gave life to story as well as expand the horizons and standards for Regency romance.
I adored the ironically named Patience (for she has none), struggling to protect her son and her heart, slowly opening it little by little to Busick. In turn, Busick learns to trust, pull down his own shields, and loosen up on control. They are opposites attract in so many ways (so much snarky banter), but so delightfully real and loving and protective of each other. And, of course, to Lionel. They make such a sweet little family that makes you squee!
I'm eager to see what adventures lie ahead for the women of T Widow's Grace