Review: To Heist and to Hold by Christina Britton

To Heist and to Hold by Christina Britton
Series: Wimpole Street Widows Society, Book 1
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781538769119
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

A vigilante widow and a casino owner are both trying to bluff their way to a winning hand.

Heloise Marlowe has always forged her own path. As a former blacksmith and fencing instructor, she wasn’t just going to sit around knitting after her husband died. The Wimpole Street Widows Society, a secret group dedicated to balancing the scales of justice, was a much better fit for her skills. Her newest mission: seduce the owner of the club Dionysus and gain access to the den’s inner workings. She didn’t mind putting her body on the line, but she wasn’t prepared to gamble her heart.

Ethan Sinclaire has worked hard to clean up his club after the betrayal of his brother. But now, rumors are swirling that his club is just as crooked as before. He won’t let anyone destroy what he’s built, so when Heloise starts poking around, he decides to go all in, in hopes that she’ll show her hand. Enjoying her company is the easy part. Keeping himself from falling—that’s a whole different card game.

To Heist and to Hold is both sensual and surprisingly sweet. Christina Britton’s first entry into the Wimpole Street Widows Society series features a kind, strong, determined heroine and a hero whose stoic mask hides a vulnerable heart.

Heloise is a former blacksmith and a fencing instructor who was taken in by the Wimpole Street Widows Society after the death of her husband. Heloise has a hard time believing people will care about her for herself alone rather than what she can do for them, which makes her very relatable. She and her fellow widows help people in need and this time it’s her sister-in-law who needs assistance. The case takes Heloise into the world of Dionysus and she’s determined to seduce the owner in order to gain access to the back rooms of the club. But Ethan is nothing like she expected. Ethan has been hurt, betrayed, and has pulled himself out of the gutter to be a success. At first, he seems like a broodingly sexy hero but then Britton does the unexpected and shows him to be rather emotional. I loved it and it made the whole book hit differently. The romance starts with heat and desire but what builds is off of emotion. The characters don’t always react predictably because said emotions are in play and it gave the story so much heart which I just loved.

To Heist and to Hold is fast-paced and engaging with romance, intrigue, and memorable characters to make the book appealing. The hunt for who is behind the theft at Dionysus brings the action, but it’s the characters at the heart of it that truly drew me into the story. I adored Heloise and her fellow widows and cannot wait to learn more about them. The same goes for Ethan and his partners at Dionysus. Everyone is intriguing and it makes me impatient to read the next Wimpole Street Widows Society tale.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: The Duke’s All That by Christina Britton

The Duke’s All That by Christina Britton
Series: Synneful Spinsters, Book 3
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781538710449
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

A heartbreaking betrayal. A secret life. A love that deserves a second chance.

Iain MacInnes, Duke of Balgair, has spent the last thirteen years believing his wife is dead—until he receives word that she is very much alive and living under an assumed name on the remote Isle of Synne. He sets off with only one goal in mind: bring his wife back to Scotland where he can divorce her and expose her for the liar she is.

After a devastating deception by the man who was supposed to love her, Seraphina did what was necessary to keep herself and her sisters safe. And though she’s still haunted by the events that tore her world apart all those years ago, she’s made a happy life on Synne, surrounded by loyal friends and building a secret career as a popular author. Now that Iain has found her, however, all that is at risk.

Despite their long separation, the attraction between Iain and Seraphina still burns strong. But with so much hurt and betrayal between them, can they possibly find their way back to each other?

The Duke’s All That is a second chance romance with a lot of heart. Seraphina and Iain fell in love at a young age, but were torn apart due to lies and manipulation not long after they were wed. Thirteen years later, Iain discovers that his long-lost wife is alive and well and is determined to secure a divorce from the woman who broke his heart. What he finds is a woman haunted by the past. Seraphina has survived much and has come out the stronger. She escaped the clutches of her evil father and made a life for herself and her sisters, one far different than the gilded cage they were raised in.

It was easy for me to like both Seraphina and Iain. Seraphina is a survivor and her strength and determination made me want to see her find peace and be able to let down her guard. Iain is a strong and handsome Scotman who has his own baggage he needs to come to terms with, but he has a good heart. Author Christina Britton shows how the young couple was torn apart but also doesn’t make their reunion easy on them. They have to confront their fears, their vulnerabilities, and risk opening their hearts. Seraphina in particular has walls that are high even with those she loves and it’s understandable why. I really liked watching her and Iain together as they learned who they are now, after everything they’ve been through.

The Duke’s All That is emotional and sweet at the same time (with a dash of humor and some surprisingly touching moments brought by Seraphina’s parrot). Britton made it easy to be swept up into the personal and romantic journeys of Iain and Seraphina. If you’re a fan of the Synneful Spinsters series you’ll enjoy brief glimpses of Seraphina’s fellow Oddments, but you can jump into this one as a standalone too. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to revisiting it.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: What’s a Duke Got to Do With It by Christina Britton

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It by Christina Britton
Series: Synneful Spinsters, Book 2
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781538710425
Release Date: July 11, 2023
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

The last thing Katrina Denby expected to find in her garden is the body of the man who ruined her three seasons ago. No matter that his death is a tragic accident, the rumors are enough to kill any woman’s prospects. With two scandals now hounding her, the best she can hope for is a hasty marriage of convenience—until her first love shows up in her drawing room, reminding her of all the reasons why she wanted a love match. If only he weren’t already engaged…

Sebastian Thorne, Duke of Ramsleigh, knows what he has to do to save the dukedom from the crushing debts and scandal his father left: marry and marry well. He’s picked the lady, too—a baron’s daughter who is pleasant, if a little boring. But seeing Katrina again makes him want to throw all those perfectly laid plans out the window. The first chance he had with her, he chose his duty over his heart. Doing so again might prove utterly impossible.

Katrina Denby, companion to Lady Tesh, finally gets her happily ever after in What’s a Duke Got to Do with It. Katrina came to the Isle of Synne already having suffered a scandal and now the same man whose actions ruined her name years ago is found dead trying yet again to climb into her window. Katrina’s reputation is in tatters and her only hope of not only salvaging her name but protecting those she loves from being hurt by association is to marry. Of course, that’s when the only man she ever wanted to wed comes through the door.

Sebastian, Duke of Ramsleigh, fell equally hard for Katrina years ago. But just as he was about to confess his feelings his father died, leaving him mired in debt and scandal. He’s still struggling to find enough money to support those who depend on him and the only way to do so is to marry for money. Which is when the penniless woman of his dreams comes back into his life…

What I liked best about What’s a Duke Got to Do with It is that Sebastian and Katrina are both such kind characters. They have good hearts and sweet natures; neither of them deserves what life has thrown at them. It was hard to see Katrina be hit over and over without cause, even knowing that author Christina Britton had to have the aforementioned happily ever after waiting for her at the end. It’s clear from the start that Sebastian and Katrina are meant to be, but love isn’t enough with the obstacles in their way. I adored them together and was rooting for them to find a way to make things work out so they could be together. Britton kept me guessing on how it would work but the end result was a satisfying one.

What’s a Duke Got to Do with It has a sweet romance, two protagonists who are easy to adore, and a host of supporting characters I enjoyed reading about. I love spending time on the Isle of Synne and I cannot wait to see what Britton has in store for Katrina’s fellow Oddments.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton

Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton
Series: Synneful Spinsters, Book 1
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781538710401
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley, no more wants to marry than he wants a stick in his eye. As the owner of a gaming hell, he is all too aware the odds of a happy marriage are against him. But raising his three rebellious wards alone is proving more than he can handle. He needs to find someone who stands to benefit from a marriage of convenience as much as he does. Someone logical, clinical, and rational. And in a stroke of luck, he quite literally stumbles over just such a woman.

After years of ridicule for being more interested in bugs than boys, Bronwyn has accepted that she’ll never marry for love. Her parents, however, are threatening to find her a husband. Bronwyn doesn’t need any scientific research to show her Ash has secrets. But his proposal would give her the freedom to continue her entomology research and perhaps finally get published. Just as long as she can keep her mind on her work and off his piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and wicked, wicked tongue.

A marriage of convenience between two strangers quickly becomes something more in Some Dukes Have All the Luck. Christina Britton whisks readers back to the Isle of Synne for the Synneful Spinsters series and I, for one, could not be more delighted.

Bronwyn is an entomologist who grew up with parents who only saw her as a pawn to increase their social standing. She’s been beaten down but not broken and her quiet strength was on full display. She broke my heart more than once, thinking that she was unworthy of love. I yearned for her to see how worthy she was just on her own and cheered as she found her confidence. Chance brings her into the path of the Duke of Buckley. Ash is at loose ends. His three wards run off all their governesses and though he tries to keep himself separate from them in order to protect them, he loves them dearly. He wants to find a wife to care for and guide them and Bronwyn seems perfect. Ash may be misguided in his thinking, but he’s as easy to adore as Bronwyn. He cares deeply for his family and I loved that he immediately supported Bronwyn’s interests and work. Ash carries guilt and scars he thinks means he needs to be an island, but it’s clear from the start that he’s meant to be on Synne with Bronwyn, Regina, Nelly, and Eliza.

The romance between Ash and Bronwyn is sweet and sensual. The two of them are well-matched from the start and I liked how they supported one another. Britton made it easy to fall into their romance and the pages of Some Dukes Have All the Luck practically flew by. I adored this story and I hope to see Bronwyn’s friends and fellow Oddments find happily ever afters of their own in future Synneful Spinsters books.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: A Duke Worth Fighting For by Christina Britton

A Duke Worth Fighting For by Christina Britton
Series: Isle of Synne, Book 3
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781538717554
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Daniel Hayle, Duke of Carlisle, returned from Waterloo a hero, and he has the wounds to prove it. But he dreads the coming London season as he never did the battlefield, where his lack of social skills is certain to make it difficult to find a wife. What he needs is someone to help him practice socializing with the ton. Someone who isn’t frightened away by his scars…

Margery Kitteridge is still mourning the loss of her husband. So when she receives a blackmail letter accusing him of desertion, she’s desperate to protect his reputation. The answer to her troubles appears in the form of a damaged, reclusive—and much-too-desirable—duke in need of a wife. She proposes an alliance: she’ll help him find a bride, in return for the money to pay off the blackmailer. But working so closely together awakens passions they never imagined possible, and reveals secrets that might tear them apart.

Return to the Isle of Synne in A Duke Worth Fighting For. Christina Britton takes readers on a journey of healing and finding love after loss. It’s a heartfelt, emotional, and oh-so-satisfying read.

Daniel endeared himself to me from the first. He’s a man who has always been shy and perhaps socially awkward. Coming back from the war with vicious scars and a limp has made it harder for him because shallow people aren’t ones to hold back their opinions. Daniel is kind-hearted and I wanted him to find someone who would bring him happiness, not mere tolerance which is all he thinks he can hope for. Despite her plans never to remarry, Margery is just the person for him. She’s a widow who has known love and loss and doesn’t think she could or should find love again. But when her grandmother throws her into Daniel’s path, she becomes his guide to Synne society and his fiercest champion.

It’s clear that Daniel and Margery are made for each other, but Britton doesn’t make it easy on them. Daniel has to learn to expect more for himself and Margery has to come to terms with her grief. I was rooting for them both every step of the way. Though Britton hits on some hard topics in this book, there are lighthearted moments as well. Daniel and Margery have an easy chemistry and it makes the pages of the story fly by. The attraction between them is sizzling and they are just as a good a match in bed as out.

A Duke Worth Fighting For is the third book in the Isle of Synne series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Past Isle of Synne heroes and heroines make appearances which will delight fans of the series and will surely make new readers want to enjoy those tales. I love the world Britton has built where family born and made come together to support one another. One of my favorite parts of this book was the scenes between Margery and her best friend, Lenora, where Britton showcases the simple comfort of having a best friend by your side. All in all, I greatly enjoyed A Duke Worth Fighting For and I hope to revisit Synne again soon!



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: Someday My Duke Will Come by Christina Britton

Someday My Duke Will Come by Christina Britton
Series: Isle of Synne, Book 2
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781538717509
Release Date: January 12, 2021
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Lady Clara Ashford had no intention of ever getting married. A rogue took advantage of her innocence when she was young, and she's spent her whole life trying to make sure no one finds out. But now that her sister is engaged, Clara's well-meaning aunt has set her sights on Clara. Desperate to avoid the matchmaking schemes, Clara's not sure what to do -- until her neighbor, the new Duke of Reigate, shows up on her doorstep in need of her help.

Quincy Nesbitt reluctantly accepted the dukedom after his brother's death, but he'll be damned if he accepts his brother's fiancée as well. The only polite way to decline is to become engaged to someone else -- quickly. Lady Clara has the right connections and happens to need him as much as he needs her. But he soon discovers she's also witty and selfless, and if he's not careful, he just might lose his heart.

Some books just capture your heart from the first page and don’t let go. That is exactly what Someday My Duke Will Come did for me. Christina Britton swept me away with endearing characters who made me smile and tear up and a romance I found it nigh on impossible to tear myself away from.

Quincy has launched himself onto the list of my favorite heroes. He’s sensitive, caring, and kind – a total sweetheart you could see anyone losing their heart to. He has charm and good humor to spare, but beneath the surface are old wounds from the death of his beloved father and the cruelty of his horrid mother. Quincy has dreams of seeing the world; dreams that are dashed when he learns that all three of his older brothers have died and he is now a duke. Having run away from home at fourteen and shaping himself into a self-made man, Quincy goes to the one person he knows he can talk to: another unexpected duke – his best friend, Peter. But it’s not Peter who becomes Quincy’s shelter from the storm of emotions swirling around him, it’s Peter’s cousin Clara.

Clara grabbed my heart as thoroughly as Quincy did. She raised her siblings after her mother’s death and has taken care of her family so thoroughly that at nearly thirty-one she finds herself at loose ends with her sister getting married and her family no longer needing her like they once did. Clara has no intention of ever getting married – a secret that pains her to this day prevents it. But her aunt is determined to see her wed and it’s getting stressful. Then Quincy shows up with his mother trying to foist an unwanted engagement on him and Clara has the perfect solution: they’ll pretend to be engaged until her sister is wed and Quincy sets the dukedom to rights. The problem is, the more time they spend around each other the harder it is for them to resist falling in love.

Together and separately, Quincy and Clara are simply wonderful. Clara is kind, nurturing, strong, and quietly vulnerable. Her family has leaned on her for so long it was lovely to see her find someone she could turn to. Quincy has strong shoulders and a soft heart and I loved how he never pressed Clara to open up to him, but rather let her know he was there for her and proved it. The two of them made me smile so often. There’s playfulness and joy in Someday My Duke Will Come and it balances out the elements that tugged on my heartstrings. The love story develops organically and I was rooting for Clara and Quincy every step of the way.

Someday My Duke Will Come is the second book in Britton’s Isle of Synne series but having not read A Good Duke Is Hard to Find I can safely say you can jump in here. Peter and Lenora do play strong supporting roles in this book and I cannot wait to go back and read their story. I loved how supportive Clara’s family was and how Britton portrays love in all its forms in this book. It would be remiss of me to discuss this book and not highlight Peter and Quincy’s friendship. It was such a joy to me to see an openly loving, supportive male friendship portrayed in this story. I hadn’t realized how much I’ve missed that in historical romances in particular until I came across here.

Someday My Duke Will Come was a delight from beginning to end. It’s a sprightly book with good humor and heart, but there’s also honest, raw emotion that tugged on my heartstrings. I cannot wait to read more of Christina Britton’s work!



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More