To all of London, Sebastian Traherne is a pretentious fop who prizes his tailor over his dukedom. In truth, he’s an obsessively rational fellow protecting a secret marriage. When a prickly Welsh miss arrives at his crumbling castle one gloomy night, she upends his world—and every principle he holds dear. Worse, she believes in a silly fairy tale known as True Love.Gwynna Owen might be the last … the last true Princess of Wales, but she needs this very English duke to claim her legacy and vanquish a tyrant. When Sebastian quickly sees through her boy’s disguise, she must plead her case with only a rusty dagger—and sapphire eyes that conjure what he most wishes to avoid.
The League of Rogues series features daring English lords who risk all for their country. Hardened and deadly, they have no use for love—until it ensnares them…
Excerpt:
Gwynna had prepared herself to face an old man who might wish to set things right in the twilight of his years. Instead, she had this aloof aristocrat.
Pretentious fop or no, the Duke of Claremont was something else as well: Beautiful.
As handsome a man as Gwynna had seen. That touseled hair was probably the height of fashion. The classical slope of his brow, the chiseled jaw, the slight stubble that gave him a dangerous air—made it nigh impossible to look away.
Moreover, he was immense. Measuring him with her Welshwoman’s eye, which could judge at a glance whether there was meal in the larder to last the month, Gwynna decided he was nearly half a foot taller than any man she knew.
And strong. That broad chest had been unyielding as she flailed at it, and he had needed but one hand to control her. For all that, his figure was lean and elegant, not coarse.
No doubt his tailor did worship him. Ladies must swoon when he entered a room.
Yet his eyes—she couldn’t fix the color—held a cool intelligence. He was no one’s fool.
Despair swept her. She might have faced down an old man preparing to meet his Maker, but she’d never persuade this too-perceptive aristocrat—whose features had only hardened since discovering her gender—that she was a member of his family.
Still, she was an Owen. He was but an Englishman. Welsh did not give way to English.
“I am the daughter of Megan Glendower Owen of Anglesey,” Gwynna said. “It’s an island off North Wales. It’s there William and my mother met. They fell in love.”
His gaze narrowed. “How the devil do you know that?”
That was the rub. She had no proof.
The duke looked down that patrician nose. “You Welsh are storytellers, are you not? Doubtless you felt compelled to put a lovely bow on something sordid—”
“It was love,” Gwynna insisted. “A man with your lofty self-regard cannot possibly fathom how passion can sweep all else aside.”
He stiffened. “You know nothing of me.”
A frisson of uneasiness swept her. They were all but alone in this dreadful castle.
His gaze hardened. “There’s no reason to believe a word of your tale, especially since you’ve been engaged in pretense from the first.”
“I pretended to be a boy because I couldn’t travel alone as a woman.”
“Those ruffians were on the verge of unmasking you.”
“I would have prevailed. Owen was with me.”
The duke frowned. “The only person I saw at your side was your terrified friend. Owen, whoever he may be, was nowhere —”
“Owen is Prince of Wales.”
He blinked. “If I recall correctly, England already has a Prince of Wales. Just the one, mind you, and his name isn’t Owen. Moreover, he would be the last person to rush to any woman’s defense.”
“You refer to the Regent—English royalty,” Gwynna said. “I do not regard him. Owen was the last true Prince of Wales. I am his blood descendant.”
“Ah. He would be dead, then?”
She glared at him. “His spirit lives. I’ll have what I’m due by rights, Englishman. And while I am certain every woman in England finds you a catch, I have no use for puffed-up peacocks.”
Brandy had loosened her tongue.
more
Warning – this review might be considered spoilerish
After reading and thoroughly enjoying the first book in this series (King of Hearts) I was eager to jump right into this book. The blurb was a bit vague and mentioned a secret marriage, but I didn’t really give it much thought – I should have.
This review is going to be short and I am not going to summarize the plot – such as it is – If you have ever read my reviews you know that I am a hater of cheating/adultery – when I read “secret marriage” I foolishly thought that it would be with the heroine – NOPE – Sebastian is married to his dear friend Elizabeth – HE IS MARRIED. I was surprised and disappointed, but I tried to keep an open mind, because despite being attracted to Gwynna, he does nothing that would be considered “cheating”, in fact at the halfway point he is still committed to Elizabeth and his marriage – it isn’t until the truth of his marriage comes to light that he and Gwynna have any sort of “romance” – so pretty late in the story.
The writing is good, but I just didn’t care for the story. There is some intrigue, a bit of betrayal and A LOT of secondary characters. And just because the main characters don’t have a romantic relationship from the beginning, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any romance – there are other relationships swirling about and because of that sadly, I never felt like Sebastian and Gwynna’s relationship was the primary romance. This is the second book in the series, but they seem to be stand alone titles, so you don’t need to read them in order.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Wales vs. Britain
What can a swashbuckling orphaned Welsh warrior-maiden with a love for the old stories have in common with a puffed-up, pretentious poppinjay of a foppish dandy of an English Duke?
On the surface, not much. She refuses to be biddible and conform to Society. He has forgotten how to let anyone see past his defenses.
Enemies to friends, to allies, to lovers. This book is certain to have you on the edge of your seat and turning pages as fast as you can.
I received an ARC copy of this story from the author via AuthorsXP and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Gwynna Owen is the last true Princess of Wales and she must plea her plight to English Duke Sebastian Traherne to claim her legacy and defeat an oppressor. When he sees through her boyish disguise, she must convince him to help her. He reluctantly agrees and so begins a journey neither Gwynna nor Sebastian are prepared for. Gwynna soon learns of Sebastian’s secret marriage and her heart crumbles. Can she cast her love aside or will she fight for true love and life with Sebastian?
Lord Shallow is so much more than a historical romance, it’s about one woman’s claim to the Welsh crown and a secretly married man who falls in love with a princess. Normally, I don’t read books where the hero or heroine is married and cheats on his/her partner. I find it appalling. So, I had a choice when reading Lord Shallow. I could cast it aside as a romance dealing with infidelity or I could see put that part aside and focus on the other parts of the story. I chose the latter because it is truly a fascinating read. The Welch history and folklore as well as the other characters make this a five-star read. The plot starts off slow and a little confusing but once it gets going, everything falls into place. I really enjoyed Gwynna and her struggles. She’s a feisty heroine and one I root for. The treachery and intrigue propel the plot and made for a suspenseful read. If you don’t mind cheating in your romance, you’ll love Lord Shallow. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with romantic elements, you’ll love Lord Shallow.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Sebastian had known Elizabeth from childhood. When her parents become ill from the plague she nurses them; only to lose them. Sebastian takes care of her and feels that it’s only proper he marries her. As she had been ill they decide to await her recovery to see if they stay married or annul. Gwynna is traveling in the dark with her friend. She is dressed as a man; and it’s not too long until they are set upon by thieves. They are rescued by a fop. Gwynna is on a mission to find the Duke of Claremont. Sebastian takes the girl to her home ensuring her safety; and the boy to his castle. It’s at the castle that Sebastian discovers that the he is a she! Gwynna explains that she is seeking the Duke of Claremont she expected him to be an old man instead of a shallow fashion fop!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this engaging entertaining compelling story! There are two romances entwined in the story and I just LOVED MacDuff (who raised Sebastian after his parents died) and Hannah Miller (who had been Elizabeth’s governess). There’s a mature, enemies to romance, slow burn romance. The story is well written, fast paced, rich in Welsh folktales, plots, mystery, suspense, passion, steamy scenes, manipulations, lowering of emotional walls, arrows and daggers! The story is told from Sebastian, Gwynna, Elizabeth, McDuff and Hannah’s POV and reflects their thoughts feelings and emotions as they explore their relationship and navigate through the many obstacles that arise. There’s an epilogue and HEA worth more than 5 stars!!!!
Highly Recommended
All is not as it seems or rather all are not whom they seem or pretend to be on the surface. Thus, Sebastian appears as a shallow man, caring only about his appearance and caring nothing more than his dress, etc.
Underneath there is that boy that lost so much and tries to protect himself from the harshness of the world and having his heart broken.
Gwynna, is trying to find out who she is and seems to create tales that make it more romantic. On a search for a man she finds has died, she finds Sebastian and they merrily dance around each other trying to find the truth.
An enjoyable story that has great secondary characters and a journey to a happy ever after.
This is the first time for me reading something by this author and it certainly did not disappoint. For sure this is a romance, indeed a very captivating one, but the story includes so much more. Suspense, mystery, and betrayal all contributed to a very intriguing read. The plot had some interesting twists and turns which had me turning the pages to see what happens next. Ms. Putman did a good job of describing the Welsh culture and bringing it to life with her writing. The characters were interesting and well-developed, and there were quite a few of them besides the main hero and heroine. I really enjoyed this book and I hope to read more by this author soon.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A shallow lord, Sebastian, is hiding his true nature as well as a wife. He helps a woman, Gwynna, to find her father. In doing so he finds that many things were not as he thought. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Angelsey Press for my honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Eileen Putman’s “Lord Shallow.” The book’s synopsis is somewhat vague so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I started reading, but it turned out to be a well-written story featuring interesting, well-developed characters, a unique setting on the Welsh island of Anglesey, and an engaging element of mystery.
There were quite a few characters and plot threads to keep track of as I read, but the author did a good job of pulling them all together without the story becoming confusing or overwhelming. In some ways it reminded me of an old-school romance in the vein of a Georgette Heyer novel, which may be why some reviewers found the story to be slow-paced or boring. However, there are a couple of open-door (though not especially steamy) love scenes, and this story is not as humorous as most of Heyer’s work.
Overall, “Lord Shallow” was definitely not a typical British historical, and I found it to be refreshing in its differences. I recommend it for fans of historical romances who are looking for a change of pace from the typical Regencies with all of their ballroom scenes.
*ARC provided by the author/publisher via Hidden Gems Books. All opinions expressed are my own.
3.5 Stars
Lord Shallow by Eileen Putman is book Two in the League of Rogues Series. This is the story of Gwynna Owen and Sebastian Traherne. I have read the previous book but felt this could be a standalone book if you wish to do so. Gwynna is looking for answers from the past to help her in the future which leads her to Sebastian. Sebastian has his own secrets that he tries to stay loyal too but along the way Gwynna starts to break down his secrets and feelings. This author did a really good job writing this book but for me personally I wasn’t able to connect to the characters life I do.
This story starts out in the mind of a man who hates society, and is trying to stay out of the marriage mart. He clicks off time in his head so he can make his appearance as a Duke, then get out of the ball. He preens himself like a peacock and puts useless thoughts out to his peers. Like everyone in the world we learn the man has secrets to keep. Due to the miner’s strike in his territory, he goes home to help resolve them. Unfortunately, he saves a boy and girl from some drunken miners, and discovers another headache he is going to have to deal with, one Gwynna Owen who claims to be his Uncle’s daughter. She has fairy tales in her head and daring dreams in her heart. These two together initially are trying to each other, but Sebastian is duty bound to find out if Gwynna claims are true. During their travels, they find each other intriguing as Gwynna discovers the deep depths of Sebastian and he discovers his heart. This story is well written, and has it hilarious moments. The story is totally enjoyable once these two meet.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were steeped in diverse attributes. The H appeared as a haughty, aloof, pretentious with over inflated ego, a version who was the opposite of who he was. But he used this persona in his work and to hide a secret. The h was a very interesting character. She was Welsh and grew up with the stories of warriors, faeries, mystical retelling of local lore and history. She lived and breathed that life. It was ingrained in her being. She did know the difference between fact and fiction. Her journey led her to the H and they both had their world turned upside down. I savored the moments when the h would go into her folklore. It was so whimsical and magical. This is a good book.
This story took me on a wild ride. To say I thoroughly enjoyed it is putting it mildly. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book in exchange for a free copy.
This was an awesome book that I recommend you read!!! I enjoyed reading this book, the interaction and chemistry between the characters was amazing and awesome! The story line are entertaining. I can’t wait for more from this author!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved the beginning, but thought the book dragged on a bit at the end, and Gwynna got more and more annoying as the story went along too. However, it was wonderful that we got to know so many characters and that Angus and Hannah finally got their HEA too. Personally, I think Sebastian, whom I adored throughout the tale, should have been with Elizabeth, but overall I thought it was a fun, entertaining book.
5 stars on the yummy cover!
I received a free copy of Lord Shallow, but that did not affect my review.
This is my first book by Eileen Putnam, and I loved it. Her writing style is quite different from others I’ve read, in a delightful way. It’s hard for me to put into words how her writing has affected me. More than just word pictures, she’s created an entire gallery of emotions for me to digest and enjoy.
The main story centers around Sebastian, an English duke, and Gwynna, a Welsh girl. Sebastian meets her on his way to his newly received estate which he inherited along with his title. Gwynna is on a mission to find her father who she never knew. Sebastian had carefully constructed a perfect shell of a life, void of emotions, in order to avoid the pain of loss, having lost his parents when he was but seven. Gwynna was a free spirit with the heart of a warrior. They are both intelligent with a gift of words, which opened them up to dialogue and understanding.
There’s a great backstory as well, between Angus and Hannah. Angus was a disciplined Scot, and Hannah a woman who had shut herself off to emotions by becoming stern. Years had passed with not much more than disdain, especially on her part. It was sweet watching their relationship unfold.
I’m not doing this book justice with my limited vocabulary. The characters are rich and genuine. I love how the author shares not only their words and actions, but also their thoughts. It’s a terrific storyline and I now want to visit Wales, especially Anglesey. I hope you’ll get this book because I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It’s hauntingly beautiful.
Despite the writing being pretty good, I had a problem getting into the story. With Sebastian being married to Elizabeth, I didn’t see the point of contemplating a romance with Gwynna Owen and would find the cheating distasteful. There were many secondary characters but I am not sure they added value for me. I was amused at Sebastian quickly discerning Gwynna’s boy disguise, but that quickly fizzled. There were good parts among the ho-hum parts, but on the whole, I just wasn’t invested in the characters.
Burns had a poem on how to please a lady?
What a sad opening to this tale for poor Sebastian. You will meet Gwynna next and she is on a mission a service to an old legacy. By chapter two we have our first twist and I expect there will be more. I found this tale a bit different and I enjoyed reading it. There are many levels in this tale and should not be taken at face value because if you do you will miss much of what the author is trying to convey. I loved that the tale had Walsh legends intermixed in the book and that the whole cast of characters worked so well together. This is a book I am happy to recommend. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
ONE “OUT OF THE BOX” DELIGHT!!!
Genius! Eileen delivers one refreshing take with this artfully composed piece of perfection, revving up the exuberance and intensity, riding one arresting storyline and gripping plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Quirky mishaps and surprising happenstance, showcase the daunting trials and taxing tribulations, stumbling through the unexpected twists and startling turns, testing our characters in ways they never saw coming. Shenanigans, escapades and mayhem rule the roost displaying the drama, turmoil, intrigue, deception, sizzling suspense and intense situations, along with a double dose of trouble, you have one thrilling adventure. Braided, bound and entangled, showcasing the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it’s strength and awe-inspiring in it’s depth. The attraction and chemistry builds as each layer is peeled back exposing an undeniable connection, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow, transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Amazing job Eileen, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Lord Shallow: Regency Historical Romance Devil’s Rogues Series #2
Eileen Putman
https://eileenputman.com
Release date 05/20/2020
Publisher Anglesey Press
Blurb :
To all of London, Sebastian Traherne is a pretentious fop who prizes his tailor over his dukedom. In truth, he’s an obsessively rational fellow protecting a secret marriage. When a prickly Welsh miss arrives at his crumbling castle one gloomy night, she upends his world—and every principle he holds dear. Worse, she believes in a silly fairy tale known as True Love.
Gwynna Owen might be the last true Princess of Wales, but she needs this very English duke to claim her legacy and vanquish a tyrant. When Sebastian quickly sees through her boy’s disguise, she must plead her case with only a rusty dagger—and sapphire eyes that conjure what he most wishes to avoid.
The Devil’s Rogues series features daring English lords who risk all for their country. Hardened and deadly, they have no use for love—until it ensnares them…
My review :
Will their quest for truth turn their world on its head…
This book was very surprising, I expected a romance, and romance there is, but it was so much more, six individuals collide all together at one time, and because of one of them, everything will unravel until its right conclusion.
So what began as a quest to find one’s true self morphed in a conquest of one’s fears.
The beginning was a bit confusing with both main characters hiding their true self, I also felt like I missed something maybe in the first book I haven’t read, but I checked and no, I missed nothing, so who was this Elizabeth!
Till finally everything felt in its right place.
So while I began my reading in the blind, slowly with some flashbacks, things are explained and revealed, bit by bit.
Sebastian is first introduced on the day of his greatest loss, a young boy having his world turned upside down, then twenty years later, the young boy in now a man presenting himself as a self-conceited frivolous fop, all to hide and protect himself from the world outside those he holds dear in his heart. Sebastian fears to loose again, so he avoided entanglement at all cost. This journey to the inside of his heart will heal him and close the arc opened on his parents’ death day.
Gwynna is on the run, with high hopes to find who she is, finally. Alas, she encounters one more deception as the man she was seeking is now dead. And his heir appears to be man more interested in getting his taylor rich than righting a wrong done, yet once she scratches the surface of Sebastian’s mask, she understands there is so much more behind his supposed bored self.
Gwynna is chaos in Sebastian well ordered world. She came looking for answers but bring out more questions. Yet, while he could have sent her back to her island, he embarks in a journey to help her finding those answers. Where him too will get answers to questions he never asked, answers which force him to look at his reflect in the mirror of his life. As when she embraces who she is, he buried it deeply for fear to be hurt.
Around Gwynna and Sebastian, navigate four other souls, all whose interference in their life will bring them on a new path.
Angus, the man who shaped Sebastian in a good and caring fellow. What a knight he is, one with a beating heart he keeps closely behind his own walls, he embraced his role and was a father figure for Sebastian. Yet, he has decided it is time for him to surrender to his own obsession, if she will have him.
Hannah, what a tragic life she lived, always on the run, yet Angus, she decided to despise is a constancy in her always on the move world. Now in between the summer and autumn of her life, will she agree to let her fears go.
Elizabeth was Sebastian’s buoy when his world was shaken to the core, both believed they were destined in a life together. So much they never questioned the nature of their love.
Drew is the enigma of this book, a true villain or just someone hiding his true self behind a mask of carelessness and manipulation. He is a master puppeteer, bringing people at the right place to do his bidding. I would be very happy to read his own story.
I have no word to really describe this book, it is far greater than a classical romance, a revisit of the lores and legends, a journey to Wales, a road trip to the inside of the heart and soul.
5 stars.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Anglesey Press with no obligation of a position review, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/629877104268131/?d=n
Lady too much
If Sebastian is Lord Shallow then Gwynna is most definitely Lady Overflowing with Herself ! I loved Sebastian all the way through the book especially when his peacock was showing. Although I did want to smack him upside the head a few times. Especially in the last couple of chapters I felt he had mild case of Stockholm syndrome from the way Gwynna treated him with her doubt of his love for her and her constant referring to him as Englishman. I liked Gwynna in the beginning and her Welsh history. But then she began to drone on and on and took on a juvenile arrogance that I thought was ridiculous. She couldn’t say two words without telling some folklore and acting superior. She was proud of her heritage that was quite evident. Her character seemed more like a child than an adult. After considering how she was raised I still found her juvenile. There were times I hoped Sebastian would go to Elizabeth fall on his knees and beg her to marry him.
My favorite line by Gwynna was in the final chapter where she states..
“I’m not so wedded to myth and fanciful tales that I miss what’s true and real.”
Still full of herself. And why didn’t Angus and Hannah just have their own book?
This is my first book by Eileen Putman and I read the excerpt of King of Hearts
and plan on reading it. I enjoyed this story line and enjoyed the Walsh folklore. I’m giving it three stars be because I just could not find anything appealing about Gwynna after the first few chapters of the book. Also I thought there was too much inner dialogue.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.