Review and Giveaway: Happily Bedded Bliss

Happily Bedded Bliss (Rakes of Cavendish Square - Book 2) by Tracy Anne Warren

Publication Date: 03/01/2016
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0451469232
ISBN-13: 978-0451469236

(Received for an honest review from Signet)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Tracy Anne Warren on the WEB: Website, Tidbits, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from Happily Bedded Bliss, courtesy of the author's website.

Books in the Series: 

Rakes of Cavendish Square

1. The Bedding Proposal
2. Happily Bedded Bliss

Coverart: Click on the photo for a larger, clearer picture of the titles in this series

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bedding Proposal comes a seductive new novel about the most devilishly dangerous men in London...

When Lady Esme Byron happens upon a gorgeous naked man sleeping beside a secluded country lake, she can’t resist the impulse to sketch him. But when her highly improper drawing is mistakenly revealed at a party, she finds her once-pristine reputation in tatters. 

Gabriel, Lord Northcote, may be a notorious rakehell, but he is still stunned to find himself accused of despoiling a duke’s sister—especially since he's never set eyes on her. When Esme’s six irate brothers demand a hurried trip down the aisle, he has no choice but to comply. He thinks he can forget about his inconvenient bride but Esme Byron is no ordinary woman and Gabriel is about to learn just how unforgettable she can be.

Thoughts:

Tracy Anne Warren continues her Rakes of Cavendish Square series with the second book, Happily Bedded Bliss. Warren's attention to detail and historical accuracy are her finest writing attributes. Readers who want a story that conforms to the norms of the ton will find this one top notch, but also refreshing and full of surprises. A nude portrait, puts the heroine in a scandalous position that ends in marriage. This one is a wild ride that readers will love!

What I liked:

Tracy Anne Warren in a favorite of mine. Though I have read her contemporary novels, I always go back to her historical romances. Research, research, research. To make historical romances great you have to have historical accuracy. There have to be those little details that the author instills in the story to set the stage for the reader, to anchor them to the time period and Warren excels at this. She knows the ton backwards and forwards, with all it's nuances and ridiculousness. This is an author that gets an A when it comes to knowing her subject.

Warren also knows her audience. In Happily Bedded Bliss readers are looking for a good regency romance. One that walks that fine line between the rules of the ton and scandal. Warren gives them what they want here, with a heroine who has a penchant for trouble. Esme is an artist, an animal lover and a beloved sister to five arrogant brothers. When sketches a portrait of a naked man on a creek bank, she never imagines she will end up married to him. As a heroine she was young and perhaps a little naive, but she grows throughout the story and I know readers will fall in love with her.

Gabriel is no angel. Lying naked, asleep beside the water, he doesn't even know he is being sketched, but it ends up with him marrying the artist. I liked the fact that he was a rake, with some honor. He didn't let this situation ruin Esme's reputation. I wouldn't call this a marriage of convenience... more like a shotgun wedding. Her brothers were adamant. Gabriel was a little brooding throughout the book. His past continues to haunt him even in his relationship with his wife. Warren makes the reader sympathize with the plight of both bride and groom and gives readers a very poignant and enchanting romance.

What I didn't like:

I love historical romances, but sometimes they get a little boring. With regency novels it seems like it's the same old thing over and over again. Warren proves it doesn't have to be that way with this novel. It had a freshness about it that I liked. The scandalous portrait certainly helped with that. I think some readers might find the heroine a bit too young for the hero. But I think Esme grows on the reader as the story goes on. She is certainly not boring!

Bottom Line:

This is another great book by Tracy Anne Warren. She knows her subject well and that translates to authenticity and credibility as a historical romance writer. Readers can trust that her books, fit what tey are looking for in a Regency read. Attention to detail is essential and this one has it. The heroine was a bit naive, but she learns fast. The hero a bit brooding, but he has good reason. This is a good one!

Happily Bedded Bliss is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Tracy Anne Warren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romance novels, including The Bedding Proposal, The Trouble with Princesses, and Her Highness and the Highlander. After working in the corporate world for a number of years, she quit her day job to pursue her first love: writing. She has won numerous industry awards, including Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Happily Bedded Bliss by Tracy Anne Warren.

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