As lovely as always. I read a few Shana Galen novels lately and I absolutely adore all of them. They are well developed and not 0815. You have to like the leads.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine, Ewan and Lorraine. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

The first book in The Survivors series a well written story that kept me turning pages. I enjoyed reading Ewan Mostyn and Lady Lorraine's story of protection, abduction, drama, danger, twists, turns, a wilful woman, a villain, and romance. I want to read more in this series.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I read this book in one sitting because I could not put the book down, I highly recommend reading this book!

Ewan and Lorraine's story was one I was looking forward to read. Most of the time I would identify with the heroine but in this story i really connected with Ewan. A great read filled with adventure!

Unique characters are one hallmark of Shame Galen`s stories. This book has its share of unique characters. A host of them are introduced, several of whom will be featured in the series. Draven`s dozen were the survivors from the Napoleonic war. The biggest and strongest of them, known as the Protector, is Ewan Mostyn. Although Ewan is the third son of the Earl of Pembroke, he is alone except for his fellow comrades. He is dyslexic, a condition not understood in that era. Most with the condition were thought to be simple minded. So it was with Ewan, it cost him his family who could not accept him or his condition. He lived using his brute strength. Lady Lorraine (Lorrie) Caldwell is the only daughter of the Duke of Ridlington. She is quite the chattering, but her constant speech hides a need to be loved and accepted. Something she doesn't feel she receives from her family. Lorrie and Ewan are thrown together when he is hired to prevent her from running off with his less than honorable cousin. The story not just one of romance, but also has its share of danger and intrigue, always a plus for me. This storyline holds the attention pretty much from beginning to end. I loved the story inside the story of Lorrie`s parents rediscovering why they married each other. I found myself rooting for them, especially since their outcome was not necessarily a given. A very nice read.

Ewan Mostyn thinks a job as a duke’s daughter’s bodyguard will be easy—but Lady Lorraine has a few tricks up her sleeve that spark an undeniable passion. Fiercely loyal to his friends and comrades, Ewan Mostyn is the toughest in a group of younger sons of nobility who met as soldiers and are now trying desperately to settle back into peaceful Society. Ewan trusts his brawn more than his brains, but when he’s offered a job watching the Duke of Ridlington’s stubbornly independent daughter, he finds both are challenged. Lady Lorraine wants none of her father’s high-handed ways, and she’ll do everything in her power to avoid her distressingly attractive bodyguard—until she lands herself in real trouble. Lorraine begins to see Ewan’s protectiveness in a new light, and she can only hope that her stoic guardian will do for her what he’s always done—fight for what he wants.
This was a pretty good story. I’ve read this author before and she didn’t disappoint. It was an enjoyable read with enjoyable characters. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Another great read from Shana Galen, I can't wait to get stuck into the rest of the series. Loved it so much I couldn't t put it down and read it in a night.

This was my very first read of Shana Galen and though the book itself was very nice, I would not go searching for a series.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters feel real, with real foibles and real issues. It's great reading about a hero with a learning disability that is able to function well without being able to read. The heroine is a real woman with realistic needs and passions. The secondary love story with the Duke and Duchess is a delight. I would have loved just a little more with an epilogue, but hope as this is the first in a series that I will get to read more about these characters.

I was given an ARC of this book to read and review and thank the author for the privilege.

Amazing, this story is absolutely amazing. When I started it I wanted to read it in one sitting and on the other hand I did not want to end it. Third Son’s Charm is a story about Ewan Mostyn and Lady Lorraine. Ewan is a son of a nobleman; but he is the third child and also because of his learning disabilities his father does not like him. Therefore he joined the army and became a decorated war hero. Ewan is a strong and silent type. He is perfect material for a bodyguard. So it comes at no surprised that Duke of Ridlington hired him to watch over his daughter Lady Lorraine. Lady Lorraine is Ewan’s complete opposite. Where he is silent, she is chatty, where he is big, she is petite. But as every romance novel reader knows: opposites attract. I absolutely adored the way Ewan and Lorraine’s attraction was described. Each scene containing the two of them was filled with electricity and high emotions.

Both characters are amazing and they both have their own issues. Ewan was bullied as a child because he was big and because of his learning disability. Due to that his self-esteem is low. But he is not full of pride and thus not afraid to ask for help. On the other hand he acts like nothing can break him and undo him… until Lorraine. Lorraine has her fair share of issues. Although she is a daughter of duke and high expectations are put on her, she bends rules and misbehaves all the time. She is stubborn, determined and bright and she has a kind heart.

Besides being very hot, this story is also funny and it contains some adventure. I highly recommend reading it. Third Son’s a Charm is definitely a wonderful beginning of the series about younger sons of nobility who were all members of an elite military group. I am anxiously looking forward to the next story in the series.

First in Galen's new series "The Survivors" this book is set in England shortly after the Napoleonic War. As there are twelve members of this club, may we hope for twelve books? No spoilers. A well-written, historical romance with great detail and character building. 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Third Son’s a Charm by Shana Galen

Subgenre: historical, Regency
Release date: 7 Nov 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: print, ebook, audio
Length: 418 pages

They are known as the Survivors. The men who survived the suicide missions and are now known as Draven’s unit. They are of ton birth and usually find they don’t sit comfortably in that space.

Ewan Mostyn is the third son of the Earl of Pembroke. He is a member of Draven’s crew, a soldier who was fighting for his country. Back in London, he feels a bit of a misfit within society even though he is the son of an earl. He is currently the bouncer for Langley’s gaming hall. He enjoys the part of ejecting carousers from the gaming den but does feel sorry for the damage he causes. The Duke of Ridlington has requested his assistance. The duke wants Ewan, also known as the Protector, to protect his daughter from a fortune hunter.

Lorraine (Lorrie) Caldwell is the only daughter of the Duke of Ridlington. She wants to marry the man she loves, Francis. Her father has said that she will get no dowry if she marries him. Francis suggests they should wait until he gives his permission. Lorrie doesn’t want to wait. She is prepared to elope to marry Francis. Enter Ewan who must stop her from eloping, or Francis even speaking to Lorrie. Ewan, it turns out is enjoying this job as Francis is his cousin, someone who tormented him throughout their childhood.

Lorrie understands very quickly that Ewan has issues with reading. He is not illiterate, he is brilliant at numbers, but more dyslexic, and she says she can help him. It is then that Ewan admits his father has asked him to look at the family ledgers to find a solution to the financial disaster that is the Pembroke estates. As Lorrie and Ewan work closely, they also come closer more as friends leading to lovers.

One night, Lorrie is abducted for ransom by Francis, and Ewan must trace her and try to bring her back. He asks his friends for help and they willingly assist him to find her. It is after Lorrie’s return Ewan must fight for her.

There is an interesting side story in this book. The Duke and Duchess of Ridlington have been effectively living apart for a few years with many rumours of lovers. The duke goes to his wife and says that he wants just her. She is shocked and has to decide whether or not she wants to be with just him. The conclusion. It is a romance book …

There are lots of twists in this story and some aspects are well known to historical readers. However, I really enjoyed reading about Ewan. He really believes he is incapable, as he has been led to believe this by many around him, including his father. He believes he is only good as a bouncer type. As a reader, you will have lots of sympathy for Ewan as he struggles with his self-image. Naturally it is the love of a good woman that allows him to see how much better he can be, with those feelings of self-doubt disappearing.

I really enjoy Ms Galen’s historical stories and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

reviewed by Heather

In 1816 London Evan Mostyn third son of the Earl of Pembroke lived and worked in Langley’s gaming hall club with his friends and fellow ex-soldiers. When the Duke of Ridlington comes to Langley’s offering a job for Evan he wasn’t really keen on the idea and avoided the duke until curiosity got the best of him plus a crazy beautiful lady has barged into his life disrupting it too. When Evan meets with the duke Evan finds out the beautiful lady is Lady Lorraine “Lorrie” Caldwell the daughter of the duke and the reason he is being hired is to be Lorraine’s bodyguard because of Lorraine’s attempts to marry Evan’s cousin Francis. When Lorraine and Evan go to function after function the animosity and hate that both feel toward each other is strong. Lorraine can’t stand Evan who she calls the Viking and Evan finds Lorraine annoying. As they go to functions though Lorraine can’t help but fall for Evan even though he is not worthy of her and inappropriate as a marriage prospect or is he?
Even though I am somewhat new to Ms. Shana Galen’s stories I can’t help but admire and enjoy her writing. The story is intricate in its delivery with intrigue wonderful plot twists and great major/minor characters that I couldn’t help but love every single one of them. Also most of Ms. Galen stories including this one have such depth and amazing characters that stick with you long after the book is completed. The book covers are just beautiful and instead of the traditionally hot handsome couple or guy it’s of a beautiful winsome lady. Usually I don’t judge a book by its cover but this one is very well done.
Evan is harsh, stoic, brash and sarcastic not really great fodder for a book boyfriend or someone easily lovable. For Evan his one greatest downfall his dyslexia and issues with reading are what made me fall for him a little though. The relationship he has with Lorraine is forced especially because of the job but with Lorraine’s inquisitiveness, impulsivity, spontaneity and charm it is hard not to like her especially one such as Evan. I did want to hit Evan’s father and tell him he doesn’t deserve a son like him. I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Galen’s stories especially about all of Evan’s friends and eagerly await her next book about the survivors.

This was a good book. There wasn't anything that I would say was overtly thrilling about the story line but it was a solidly built romance and the plot line was interesting. The main characters had good chemistry and it was interesting to see their relationship develop. I was satisfied for the most part with how it ended, although I think I would've maybe liked to hear more about how miserable Francis turned out, he was a jerk. The hero in the book too was very interesting, he had dyslexia and was considered an imbecile by most of his family and could barely read. It was an interesting change from other books in the genre. The heroine was a bit impertinent and most definitely willful but I liked (for the most part) how headstrong she was and how passionate she was. This was a good book and I'd recommend it, I'd be interested to read more in the series.

Review: The minute this book started, I was enraptured, unable to put it down and completely consumed with the characters–mainly The Protector, Oh my word. Probably one of the most intense, emotionally driven characters I’ve read in a regency novel. His inner dialogue always made my heart clench and I hated how often he put himself down, even as a hero. I like the idea that Lorraine did what she did because of her past, because of things that had happened, and while her antics were at sometimes annoying, I could see the driving reason behind it which made it feel believable and gut-wrenching.

The idea that he’s supposed to be a body guard to a lady who wants to stop at nothing to become notorious was exciting and brilliant as it forces both of them together constantly which in turn means the reader gets a heck of a lot of sexual tension which is always so satisfying in slow burn regency romances.

Lorraine as a character, as I previously mentioned at times did become troublesome because I wanted her to just confess to Ewan the reason she was acting out because to him it appeared so hot and cold when really she had a very serious driving force.

Ewan and Lorraine together were incredible but I found myself wishing they would just communicate and finally get together rather than continue to hold tiny pieces of themselves apart. Everything felt very realistic and at times, desperate and heart breaking because as a reader I’m getting to the end of the book going um…how is she going to fix this? I’m happy to announce that it has a beautiful ending thats both satisfying and tearful.

All in all it was one of the better regency books I’ve read, five roses the rule!

Worth reading just for the title. (I can't resist a good pun). An engaging light historical read. I would read other books in this series.

This book was great. I have long been a fan of Shana Galen since reading No Man's Bride a few years ago. The writing was excellent and I loved the character development. I am really excited to meet the rest of the survivors and see them find their HEA's.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book which I received through Netgalley.
I loved this story. It's very well written.

Old hurts can last a lifetime. Even the strongest men can be brought low by them.
Ewan, the hero, had a painful childhood which carried over to his current life. He may be big and strong, but he has a hard time around people because of these past problems.
Lorraine was spoiled as a child, but basically ignored. She's a bit of a wild child and a handful. Her father hires Ewan to be her guard and to keep her from trouble.
There are definitely sparks at first, but not the right kind. This is no love at first sight, no problems story. There is conflict with the H/h and outside forces as well.
I enjoyed the unpredictable way the story ran and was only disappointed because it ended so soon.