Charis Michaels

Lady Helena Lark must marry the Duke of Lusk. She has known this for five long years and tried everything to avoid the doomed wedding. But, she finally has been forced to London for the impending nuptials. However, she has one last scheme to try; she is going to find another woman for the Duke and hope that they fall madly in love and he calls off the wedding!

Declan Shaw, known as The Huntsman, to his business associates, is released from jail by the Duke’s uncle and is tasked with keeping Helena from running away again or pulling any other hair-brained scheme. He is determined to succeed in this job as he desperately needs the money to support his ailing father and two sisters. Of course, being released from prison after being wrongfully accused is nice as well!

I had a hard time with this book. At times I found it boring. Others I was confused; either but the rushed emotions that seemed to come from nowhere to odd plot scenarios. I would find myself reading and wondering how we got to the middle of the street in a rainstorm…Maybe it was the narrative that was not clear or that things happened so fast that I was not following quickly enough. I’m not sure. But I also knew exactly who was stalking Helena and Declan and saw the ending about halfway through the book. Also, I get that Duke Lusk was horrible, but, other than the scene at the party, I just wished he was more of a jerk than he was presented. I wanted to really HATE him, so I could feel more of the trepidation Helena felt. Helena felt very juvenile to me, in her manners, the way she spoke, the way she behaved towards Shaw…anyway, I really don’t want to tear this book apart, but the kissing was ridiculous and I could not tell their was desire on Shaw’s side. I mean he is supposed to be experienced, but he barely touched her provocatively and there was zero passion.… (mais)

　　　
Lady Helena Lark, an heiress with a plan, has spent years trying to escape her betrothal and pending wedding to the drunk and dull Duke of Lusk, Bradley Gridleston. She’s evaded, refused, and even ran away—more than a handful of times. When her family’s patience runs out, they pack her off to London to walk down the aisle but Helena has another idea—find a more suitable bride to take her place, even if she must look for a replacement duchess every day (which later to be revealed as a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs reference) that prompts an unlikely alliance with Declan Shaw, better known as “The Huntsman,” who is a mercenary who can pick and choose his clientele. After his last job, escorting a young noblewoman, Knightly Snow, to France, landed him in jail under false accusations, he wants nothing to do with aristocrats or women but the law isn’t done with him, and if he agrees to babysit a duke’s errant fiancé, the payout could make his legal troubles go away.

When their polar opposite worlds collide, Declan realizes that containing his new client is only slightly harder than keeping his hands off her while Helena senses an ally in her handsome new bodyguard and solicits his help. Together they must escape the forces that oppose them and fight for the fairy-tale love they desire, leaving readers with a strong lasting impression.

Embarking on this read, I am shook. This was waaaaaay better than I had originally expected and to think I wasn’t going to request this ARC on Netgalley but thank goodness I ignored my stupid thoughts and took the plunge.

Helena was hands down one of the best heroines I have read in a historical romance in a very long long time! She oozes confidence, was playful and forward with Declan, and remained true to herself throughout the novel. Declan and Helena had a great balance in their romance. There wasn’t any winey, woe me moments and they took a realistic approach to their bubbling relationship (pros/cons) and made it work. They complimented each other so well despite their backgrounds and I instantly fell in love with these characters and that also included the sides Knightly (she’s a riot!) and Lusk (more so after Knightly resurfaces).

I sincerely hope the next installment to the series, ‘When You Wish Upon a Duke’, features Knightly and Lusk. The Duke truly did awakened by a kiss before doing a 180 when she came out of hiding. He was no longer dull, boring, drunk and a pushover when it came to his uncle. I really need more of this couple now and I would be utterly devastated if we don’t get to see more of them in the future. My fingers are crossed!

… (mais)

The heroine is done with traveling around Europe and wants to stay firmly in England. But the hero needs a guide for a last mission for the Foreign Office before focusing on being a duke. As the two travels around certain European countries, the two fall in love. How will this relationship last after the mission ends?

This Charis Michaels book was an enjoyable read and a solid addition to the series. I liked the author's writing style and the couple was definitely entertaining as their relationship progresses throughout the story. Definitely looking forward to reading more Charis Michaels books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**… (mais)

I received an ARC of this book to read through Edelweiss+. All opinions are my own. When You Wish Upon A Duke by Charis Michaels is the second book in her delightful Awakened By A Kiss Series. The story re-imagines Peter Pan as a historical romance with Tinker Bell as the heroine, and while Peter is not quite a villain, he’s definitely not the hero. Isobel Tinker has created a nice life for herself, she manages the Overland Travel Shop in Mayfair and has plans to have her own travel business someday, and while it’s not as exciting as her past, it’s what she wants safety and security being her goals. Jason”North” Beckett, the Duke of Northumberland, reluctantly gave up his career as an agent in the Foreign Office after his brothers deaths. Still, before he settles down at the ducal seat Syon Hall, he’s planning one last adventure, the rescue of his cousin from pirates in Iceland and for that, he needs Isabel as his travel guide because she speaks the language and is familiar with Iceland as she spent time there in that other life she’s left behind. I found this book to be an enjoyable read with lots of adventure, a daring heroine, a dashing hero and enough twists and turns to keep me up well past my bedtime as I could not sleep before finding out what happened next. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: August 24, 2021. #WhenYouWishUponADuke #CharisMichaels #EdelweissPlus #AvonRomance #HarperCollinsCanada #MyBookPledge #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomanceReader #RomanceReader… (mais)