After his fiancée elopes with a footman, Andrew Macalister, the brooding Duke of Bradstone, is hesitant to trust any woman ever again. It is only fitting that the woman to melt his heart is Lady Clara Masson, the social outcast twin sister of the woman who jilted him! When Clara’s life is threatened, Andrew does the only thing he can think of to protect her: proposes marriage. Despite having … Despite having been in love with Andrew since childhood, Clara only agrees to the engagement to buy herself more time to escape her brother’s murderous plans.
What begins as an engagement of convenience quickly turns to a passionate battle of wills between the stubborn duke and his distrusting fiancée.
With fate giving them a second chance at love, Andrew and Clara fight to trust in their love, and each other, before they are torn tragically apart.
Content Warning available at: www.ericataylorauthor.com/content-warning
more
The Perfect Duchess by Erica Taylor
Five Stars
I couldn’t imagine living the way Clara had too. The fact that people treated her like that was hurtful and made me angry. The disrespect from her own family. I really like the McAlister family. They’re open and loving. They give everyone a chance and don’t hold rumors against them. Andrew was so cold to people it was a difficult defense mechanism to have. I liked how the author didn’t have them falling right away. There was a growing romance that required each to give in order to receive. The ton is such a ridiculous group. The standards and gossip were full of hypocrisies.
The Perfect Duchess by Erica Taylor is the second book in the Macalisters series. His book is as good as the first with interesting characters and a great story line.
Historical fiction is always something that I find can go either way and yet this author nails it every time. The story is interesting and has just enough going on to keep you attention. I loved these two main characters, they seemed so well suited to each.
So far this series I shaping up to be great!
I was so excited to get into the second book of this series. I enjoyed A Suitable Affair so much and was so intrigued by Clara and Andrew. I absolutely tore through this book. There were a couple twists I picked up on a smidge before it was made clear but Erica Taylor got me again with that twist!
One of my favorite parts of this book was the snippets of the gossip rag that all the society people would have been reading and I think it added an extra layer to the story. You could really see how a small insignificant action would be blow out of proportion and how horribly wicked whoever ran that column was. Cut throat doesn’t even come close to the actions of some of these ladies trying to catch Andrew’s eye when he so clearly loved Clara.
Since the events of this book take place before the events of the first book, I already knew what was going to happen but I think I enjoyed it more so because of that. Little hints were dropped about Clara’s crazy past and I was excited to figure out the rest.
Can’t wait for book three and I really hope there is a book about Norah. I NEED to know about why she is still friends with Lady Laura when she is the epitome of toxic. Norah has been cryptic about why she is still friends with her and I want to know the reason!
The Perfect Duchess (The Macalisters #2)
By Erica Taylor
4 stars
The Perfect Duchess is the second book that I have read by this author and again it was enjoyable historical romance read. The author provides a richly detailed story that enabled me to imagine what I was reading, something that I love in particular with historical romance stories. The flow and pace of the story was good and I thought that author’s writing again was great. The story was easy to read and my interest was kept throughout.
I really liked the main characters, Clara and Andrew. For the time period I liked that Clara was independent and feisty – she was happy to take matters in her own hands at time. I really admired her tenacity at times!
Andrew was a little bit hard to read at times but I liked that I had to work hard to get to know him and understand him better. I could feel that there was this connection between the two of them despite what had happened in their past. I, personally, thought that they made a lovely couple and was rotting for them the whole way through.
Another enjoyable read from this author and I can’t wait to read more from her again!
The Perfect Duchess (The Macalisters Book 2)
By: Erica Taylor
5 out of 5 stars
The story The Perfect Duchess (The Macalisters Book 2) by Erica Taylor is a historical romance book. This is a story that takes you back to a time when whispers and gossip rule the day. Situations can evolve into scandal no matter how innocent or untrue the rumors are. I found myself getting lost in this book and the time period that it is set in. I loved reading about the characters of Andrew Macalister and Lady Clara Masson. Andrew, who is also known as the Stone Duke of Bradstone, is a man that seems to be hard and cold. He does the duties and responsibilities that are expected or him. This does come at a cost to him personally. Lady Clara is a woman who others in society avoid and dismiss. When her life is threatened by her brother Andrew steps up to save her by proposing marriage. He wants to keep her safe and protected. How deep do his feelings for Clara run? Will Clara trust Andrew with her heart? What does the future hold for both Andrew and Clara? Read this book to find out. This story has romantic dialogue and some steamy scenes. There are also times when I wondered what was going to happen next. My emotions went up and down when reading this story. As the book progressed, I grew to care about both Andrew and Clara and wanted them to find happiness. There are additional characters that I enjoyed reading about. This is the second story in the series and I loved it just as much as the first one. I look forward to reading the next book.
Erica Taylor continues to captivate me with her regency novels. Although period pieces, the characters continue to be relatable and complex. We find ourselves provided with an opportunity to read more about two of the characters we met in book one. But with the way the story unfolds this book can easily stand on its own and the reader not be at a disadvantage if doing so. Taylor has a keen ear to the authenticity for this time period and lends itself toward an Austen-esque style. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait to continue my journey with the Macalisters.
This is the second book in this series, I loved it just as much as the first. This story pulls me in right from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters, Andrew and Clara are awesome, relatable and lovable. They bring their story to another level. What will happen when Clara’s life is threatened and Andrew feels the only thing he can do is protect her? The twists and turns this story took me on left me turning pages until the end. A must read!
I read book 1 (set September 1813) first, then was a bit baffled to see book 2 goes back to May of the same year.
I found this overall interesting and an easy read, but there are some illogical parts which annoyed me, e.g. Clara has no access to funds, but repeatedly thinks of leaving the duke’s protection without knowing where she could go or how to support herself. She has a highly respected great-aunt, but this woman is not consulted.
The silliest “error” of the characters was placing endangered Clara alone in a carriage with only one of the duke’s brothers watching (not even riding up with the coachman), and he “of course” loses sight of her carriage.
From the beginning to the end, I was enthralled and immersed into the world that is 1813, London, England. This story keeps the suspense and tension high. My eyes were glued page after page as I sat at the edge of my seat. There is murder, danger, greed, betrayal, sorrow and pain. The story takes you on an unforgettable journey of deep dark secrets, haute ton gossip and unrequited love. There are so many twists and turns in the book. One will never be bored or disappointed. The H/h have unique personalities. The supporting characters are well played by the H/h families. All the characters are extremely well developed and personable. The hero, Lord Andrew Macalister, Duke of Bradstone, is a strong, capable, alpha male who unexpectedly became a duke at an early age. He has nine brothers and sisters, although his eldest brother, the heir, was killed by highwaymen. His whole family grew up in a loving home and now that their parents are gone, the continue to live in love and harmony and are fiercely loyal to one another. Our heroine, Lady Clara Ann Louise Masson, is living through dire circumstances and yet has been able to weather the storms of her life. She is an independent woman who looks out for herself because her family does not. Yet, she still is filled with love and kindness despite her insecurities. She is smart, competent, knows her own mind and is strong willed. She has three siblings. Her brother Jonathan is the eldest and current Earl. Her twin sister, Christina, was set to marry Andrew five years ago, but eloped with her father’s footman and left Andrew at the altar. Something about that whole situation with Christina did not sit right with Clara. She would find out years later what really happened and why. Her younger brother Patrick was away in the navy. Alone with only Jonathan for family, she felt alone and unloved. Jonathan made Clara’s life unbearable. He would yell, scream, belittle and would try to destroy her emotionally. He instills fear to all in his path. Clara is afraid of him and all the household staff is afraid of him. He is a tyrant. For some reason Jonathan has always hated Clara and she could not understand why. However, it would take years before the truth was uncovered. Andrew and Jonathan were friend when they were young and going to Eton. Jonathan would invite Andrew home with him for weekends and holidays. There he met Clara. She was always trailing after her big brother and Andrew. When Andrew inherited the dukedom, Jonathan turned his back on him. Andrew never knew why. Again, it would take many years for the truth to be exposed. Five years after Christina left Andrew at the altar, he saw Clara again. He was immediately drawn to her. The romance between Clara and Andrew is fraught with intrigue, conspiracies, machinations and jeopardy. This is a who done it, suspenseful mystery. This is a must read and I highly recommend it. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Erica Taylor weaves a completely mesmerizing story. I couldn’t put this book down. There is an abundance of characters and it wasn’t confusing in the least. It was easy to follow and they were all very captivating. Lady Clara is a strong and likeable heroine. Andrew is exactly what I love in a hero. The story flowed nicely and it only had one small hole at the end. The hole did not detract from the story at all though. It was all very well done. What I really loved is how completely unpredictable this story was, it completely shocked me in some places. This was a very charming and romantic read that was easy to get lost in. I’m dying to hear about the rest of the Macalister’s.
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” –Ann Landers
This is book 2 in The Macalisters series and follows book 1: A Suitable Affair: [Lady Susanna Mccalister’s story]. Book two is a stand-a-lone and although I had not read book 1 [something I will correct] I was able to enjoy book 2 with no problems. I only had a slight feeling that these guys really knew each other and I didn’t know the background of the friendships. The author was really good about giving me clues and information and it also refreshed the memories of those who had read the first book.
Rating: MA: Mature Audience, adult themes, language, explicit sex, and graphic violence.
This is the story of Andrew Macalister [the Stone Duke of Bradstone] and Lady Clara Masson [whose twin sister Lady Christina had infamously jilted and left him at the alter five years earlier]. Andrew had gone to school with Clara’s brother Jonathan and had known her since she was a child in pigtails. After Lady Christina jilted Andrew, Clara was sent to the country and remained there for the next five years.
When Clara returned to town and society, after a mourning period for her father, she was shocked by her reception. The ton was full of gossip of the vilest kind and her name was dragged through the mud in all the salons and drawing rooms. None of the stories matched and they even had her on the continent when she had never left England.
Talk about your brother from the depts of hell… poor Lady Clara found herself in a situation that she just might not survive. What do you do when your brother is trying to kill you for an inheritance you don’t even know you have. Slowly as our story unfolded… dark secrets were revealed from five-years before when her twin sister jilted the Stone Duke Bradstone and left him at the alter? Now, it looked like history was about to repeat itself.
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”—Vince Lombardi
I loved this story. I especially loved the cast of characters to the point that I really want to read their stories. These guys, friends to the Stone Duke, are the type of stories and adventures I would willingly read. The sisters and brothers to the Duke are just as interesting and I feel they would have a good story in their quest for love and their own HEA.
This was a story full of adventure, fast-paced angst, high drama and sexy steamy scenes between our characters. There were so many hints at a spy network… but nothing was confirmed. Man… I love these guys. They worked so well together and the loyalty and comradery were spot on between these friends. In fact, I enjoyed their interacting so much that I didn’t enjoy our couple as I should. I became a bit bored with Clara’s trust issues. I mean… we went to nearly the end of the story and I nearly had a coronary thinking she was going to screw it up by doing something stupid. However, there was a HEA so, when you read this, hand on.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC [advanced reader copy] of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Projected publication date April 17, 2018. For those Jane Austen enthusiasts, there were several references to two of her books: Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I thought that was cute.
Series: The MacAlisters #2
Publication Date: 4/17/18
This author has certainly gotten off to an impressive start as a writer. This is her second book and both have been excellent. While it is part of a series, you could certainly read it as a stand-alone. Frankly, I would recommend reading this as the first book in the series and then go back and read the first one. I have no idea what makes authors and publishers decide on the order of books in a series, but, in my humble opinion, this should have been the first book in this series.
At one time Andrew MacAlister and Jonathan Masson were best friends. Andrew often went home with Jonathan on school breaks and was intrigued by Jonathan’s younger sister Clare because she was so intrepid. When she was ten years old and Andrew was about sixteen, she told him she was going to marry him someday. On the day Andrew’s father and older brother were killed and he inherited the title, Jonathan developed an abiding hatred for Andrew. Andrew never knew why – but he never saw Clare after that. At least, not until she and her twin sister had their debut – and then shortly after that Andrew became engaged to Christina, Clara’s twin. You’ll learn all about that in the story, so I won’t tell you about it – but, to me, it makes Andrew look very, very weak-willed!
Everyone who was ever supposed to love Clare Masson left her, except her older brother Jonathan, and he hated her with every breath in his body. Things got really bad after her father died and Jonathan inherited. Wild, untrue rumors about her were floating throughout the ton and she was forbidden from attending any entertainments. Then, on the night of the annual MacAlister birthday ball, she decided to sneak out and attend. That set off a chain of events that almost caused her death – until Andrew saved her.
Andrew brings Clare into his home and places her under his protection by becoming betrothed to her. While he fully intends to go through with the marriage, she doesn’t because she has such trust issues and she wants him to love her, not just feel protective of her. They both have trust issues, but he works through his much quicker than she does and becomes truly committed to the relationship.
Clare is in constant danger until her brother can be found and dealt with – but – where is he? Nobody can find him. Then there are more attempts on Clare’s life. Will they finally get their HEA – you’ll just have to read the book to see. Oh, and at the end — there is quite a twist.
I read an ARC of this book and it was very unpolished at the time. I do truly hope that many of the errors I saw are fixed prior to publication. There is a lot of more modern phraseology as well as some incorrect word choices, etc.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”