Sydney Dovedale Series by Jayne Fresina- a multiple review

A solid 4 out of 5 for the first three books of this series folks!

Jayne Fresina is a new author to me and I loved the covers of her books and the titles so much I had to check them out. I was pleasantly surprised to find another historical romance author to add to my “have to read” list. Jayne Fresina really came out with something different in the historical romance genre and that was to add a serious dash of comedy to the formal. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the situations, the conversations, the everyday bantering (you know I love me some banter..lol) that our hero’s, heroine’s and secondary characters engaged in.

So what are these book about?? Well the premise of these books are about some of the locals and not so local residents of a small town called Sydney Dovedale. This town is outside of London England and in my mind I saw many farms, the main rich folk home on the hill, the mini “downtown” for marketing and the old bitty gossipers who knew everyone’s business (and you likely didn’t want them to know because it would be all over town within 5 minutes) by managing to be seen everywhere but their own homes. It’s a town where relationships are close (be it good or bad), people work hard and where you cannot get away with ANYTHING! There if still that line of “be proper” where the rich are rich and uppity and the poor are poor and had better remember their place.. YEAH RIGHT! 😉

These three books do span over many years and I absolutely LOVED THAT. It was like reading a sequel to the first or second book while enjoying a whole new story that you see forming in previous books. I enjoyed being completely annoyed by a character in one book and then having the author make me adore them in another! That’s talent! 🙂

Okay .. on with the reviews!

The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina
(Book 1 Sydney Dovedale Series)

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO/ The Book Depository

3 out of 5

Description
“Wanted: one husband, not too particular. Small dowry, several books, sundry furnishings, and elderly aunt included. Idlers, time-wasters, and gentleman without other attachments need not apply.” —Miss Sophie Valentine

A Scandalous Lady

Sophie Valentine knew placing an ad for a husband in the Farmer’s Gazette would bring her trouble—and she was right. When the darkly handsome, arrogantly charming Lazarus Kane shows up on her doorstep, the nosy residents of Sydney Dovedale are thrown into a gossiping tizzy. After all, it’s common knowledge that Sophie is a young lady In Need of Firmer Direction. But even Sophie isn’t so scandalous as to marry a complete stranger . . . is she?

Seeks Handsome Stranger

Lazarus Kane has been searching for Sophie half of his life. She may not remember him, but he could never forget her. But the past is a dangerous thing, and it’s best if his remains secret if he wants to tempt Sophie with…

A Most Improper Proposal

Review

In this book we meet Miss Sophie Valentine. Miss Sophie is in her late 20’s, a wallflower and resigned to live the remainder of her life as a spinster. She is also very quirky and rebellious by nature which has left her as a fond topic of scandalous conversation among the town people of Sydney Dovedale. I would love to think she marches to the beat of her own drum (I love that about her). Sophie lives with her brother and his sloth, no good for nothing wife and is considered to be wealthy and proper member of society.

The story opens with Sydney contemplating jumping off a balcony, because she is feeling dark, bored, very impulsive and has just been caught doing the nasty with her fiance James Hartley (ya know the guy she is “suppose” to marry) at a ball. She isn’t known for thinking anything through and after seeing her fiance show intimacy with a serving maid, she decides to jump. Well jumping lands her with a nasty scar on her face, the end of her engagement and a whole lot of embarrassment for the family.

Many years later, 10 and a half to be exact, Sophie gets pissed off for some reason and decides to post an impulsive “Looking for a HUBBY” advertisement” in the London paper. She does not believe for one minute that anyone will respond … until someone does. One day while reading a naughty book high in a tree, a man somehow manages to get her to come down and swoops her into some yummy kisses, igniting a small fire within her. Enter or hero of the story Lazarus Kane. He is now known as the town “stranger” and while many are repulsed by him, many are intrigued as well. He carries himself as if he is wealthy, but is dressed as if he isn’t. MYSTERY!

Mr Kane has come is response to the advertisement and would like to marry Sophie but she declines telling him she was acting out of impulse and her brother does not approve of this match and is completely scandalized that his sister would once again embarrass her family. Her brother also knows that James (her former fiance) has returned and is expressing interest once again. Little does Sophie know, Lazarus has reasons why he wants to pursue this marriage and will do all he can to make it happen.

Now Sophie has two potential callers and off we go playing a game of cat and mouse for the rest of the story, get some pretty heated scenes and see Sophie really turn things around and decide once and for all what it is she wants out of her life!

Okay, so this was my least fave of this series as there were times I really felt it was a little all over the map. We are introduced to a large number of characters that do play significant roles into future books, but I remember feeling a little unattached at times because there was so many coming at me. I admit I do love a good cat and mouse chase, and while this book had some great scenes, I felt annoyed at the indecisiveness of our heroine, the patience of out hero and the lack of ZAZOOM I like to feel when a couple is fighting that intense attraction .

I truely hate it when I read a book and find something that was just “off” about it, but I can’t put my finger on it! This wasn’t a bad book by any means, and truthfully as I read the 2nd and 3rd I really loved these two characters. Something was missing and I found I had some questions that were not answered to my liking.

That being said … you really should read this book to dive into the next book because that book is AMAZING! 😉

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The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne by Jayne Fresina
Book 2 in Sydney Dovedale Series

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO/ The Book Depository

5 out of 5

Description

Catch me if you can. —E.V.

When a scandalous lady…

By night Ellie Vyne fleeces unsuspecting aristocrats as the dashing Count de Bonneville. By day she avoids her sisters’ matchmaking schemes and dreams up torments for her childhood nemesis—the arrogant, far-too-handsome-for-his-own-good James Hartley. Her latest prank: “winning” the Hartley diamonds in a card game from James’ mistress.

Steals from a notorious rake…

James finally has a lead on the thieving Count de Bonneville, tracking him to a disreputable inn. He bursts in on none other than the brazen, irritating, nearly naked Ellie Vyne. Convinced she is the count’s mistress, James decides it’s best to keep his enemies close. Very close. He must get those diamonds back, and seducing Ellie will be the perfect bait.

It can only end in a wicked wedding…

Review

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I was so happy I read through the first one because this series is now GO GO GO for me. GUSH! LOL

We first meet out heroine Miss Ellie Vyne in the first book of this series as she is a close friend of Sophie’s and a proclaimed enemy of our hero Mr James Hartley. Well this stance is reciprocated quite fondly by James and we learn that this hatred stems from a backlash of family history among the parents, uncles and such of the Vyne and Hartley families. It really has nothing to do with these two directly.

Ellie is a spitfire, says it like she sees it and will not hold back to spare your feelings. She is not afraid to fight for what she wants and protect those she feels she must protect. James is far from the idiot I thought him to be in the first book. While he is still pompous, arrogant and devilishly handsome, now we see a softer side and a rather caring personality come through (small note to say that James is given some shocking news in the first book).

In order to procure funds for her family, Ellie has to disguise herself as a Count and gamble with the men. She manages to get her hands on some diamonds that belong to James and James wants them back. He is lead to believe that Ellie is the Counts “lady friend” and decides to follow her all across the country side to his home town of Sydney Dovedale.

Little does James know that many months prior to all this, the lady he met at a masquerade ball (one who he knows is the perfect match for him) just so happens to be Ellie. Ellie enjoys keeping this secret from him as she has finally come to terms that she has been in love with James for many years and hates that she is in love with him, but enjoys pushing all his buttons and seeing him sweat. Well James is not so dim witted, and begins to unravel the mysteries himself and decides to give it back to her as good as she deals to him.

Through a convenient case of amnesia, some hiding from privileged life, forced time together, really getting to know each other and trying to do one better than the other, these two make the most interesting, HILARIOUS, dumb ass trifling pair that could ever grace this small town. The banter that these two participate in left me in stitches. They are so deserving and meant for each other.

We are also introduced to 10 year old Miss Mercy Danforthe, who after being saved by James in a potential riding accident in the park one day, has decided she is in love with him and just so happens follow James and Ellie to our small town, after running away from home. Miss Mercy is a privileged brat to put it nicely. *Rubs hands together* you know there is a story waiting there! LOL

Within this story, we are reintroduced to some secondary characters, revisit Sophie and Kane, and again introduced to a few more townspeople who you cannot help but to love or hate.

For me, Ellie fits my ideal heroine. She is so easy to love and admire and cheer for. I have to say, James I was worried about as he didn’t do it for me in the first book. Jayne Fresina made be fall in love with him, and he had to make some serious choices in this book that could of blown up in his face. I love that he made them, stood by them and became a hero I could love. He had a really playful side that was completely endearing to me. James also had to confront some issues and embrace others that he thought may have swayed Ellie.

This book was a page turner. I couldn’t wait to see what trouble was ahead, what words were going to uttered and how situations were going to be handled!

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Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts With Scandal by Jayne Fresina
Book 3 Sydney Dovedale Series

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4.5 out of 5

Description

Lady Mercy likes her life neat and tidy. She prides herself on being practical – like her engagement to Viscount Grey, whose dark colouring co-ordinates very well with her favourite furnishings. But things start to get messy when her best friend abandons her fiance at the altar, leaving it up to Mercy to help the couple. There’s just one problem. The jilted man is Rafe Hartley—Mercy’s former husband.

Rafe has not forgiven Mercy for deserting him when they were seventeen. Their hasty marriage was declared void by law, but in his eyes the bossy little vixen was still his wife, even if the marriage lasted only a few hours. And Mercy “Silky Drawers” Danforthe still owes him a wedding night.

Review

This was another absolutely fabo read. We met Lady Mercy Danforthe is book 2 and let me tell you .. if i could of kicked a boot up an arse it would of been hers. She was a BRAT. Entitled, “the world revolves around me”, “what do you mean I can’t have it?”, BRAT BRAT BRAT! LOL

We also met Rafe in book 2 (he is James son by that serving maid in book 1). At that time, Rafe is also young, comes from the streets, has had to fight for everything he has in life .. he’s TOUGH!

Flash forward another ten years and all of a sudden these two look a whole lot different.

Lady Mercy Danforthe lives in London and is a perfectionist extreme. She likes it neat and tidy, wrapped up in a pretty bow, all controlled and to her liking (even her chosen fiance the Viscount). She is precise, feels responsible for others, and certainly not anything like the young girl she use to be.

Mr Rafe Hartley, is a farmer who resides in Sydney Dovedale. He now knows who is father is and while he embraces that, he is very set in his ways with regards to not allowing his father to help in life. He is strong and proud, capable and handsome.

A few years ago these two decided impulsively to get married. Just before the marriage was consummated, Mercy’s brother barged in an made sure that the wedding was stricken from both their lives. While Mercy carried on, Rafe always felt robbed of his right as a husband and what he wanted in life … Mercy.

These two are reunited when Mercy’s lady maid and BFF Molly decides to jilt Rafe at the alter because she wishes to live a different life. Somehow she manages to talk Mercy into breaking the bad news to Rafe and the fireworks start from there. The minute these two are reunited the banter starts, the sexual tension builds and their lives become ever changed.

It seems as the weeks go by, there is one thing or another keeping Mercy in town and Rafe clawing at her skirts. Mercy finds it harder and harder to bat him away just because he goes against all she has planned for her life. Bit by bit, her wall starts to crumble until they both find themselves under the pieces and quite liking it there.

Mercy impressed me wholeheartedly throughout this book. Like James, Jayne Fresina found a way for me to love this heroine. She sincerely cares for people and their welfare and it is evident through many actions she does around this small town. She is charming yet can be forceful and quite sharp tongued when she wants to be and she comes back at Rafe blow by blow and stands her ground.

Rafe is a doll. He can be stubborn and a little dim witted at times but he is so lovable. I think my fave thing within this story was the many names he had for Mercy within their banter. Let me give you a taste …. Mercy Fancy-Breeches, Lady Bossy-Breeches, Clever-Drawers, Lady Know-All, Frosty-Bottom, and Dainty-Breeches (think he has something of a liking to her underwear?? TEEHEE) Seriously reading all those made me chuckle!

I loved the build up of this story and to see how they turned out left me very satisfied. I enjoyed once again the secondary characters and the more I get into this series, the more investing I am in this town. I loved checking in with Sophie and Kane, James and Ellie and seeing how their lives together have developed.

So, although the first book was just okay for me, the second and third really came to play! I have added this series to a “must read” when the next one comes out. I am really hoping that Molly and Mercy’s brother are paired together as they have the proper makings for a good read. If you are really into historical romance and like that added dash of humour than this is certainly for you. You do have to read the books in succession or I am afraid you just may miss out on too much information. I don’t think I could of enjoyed them as much without reading them in order!

HAPPY READING!

Lady Mercy Danforthe supplied by Netgalley

Reviews by Rachel T.