I have let to read a Shana Galen book that I didn't adore, and this was no exception. Our hero isn't the usual gorgeous and rich rake but a brilliant and darker man with a learning disability. It doesn't stop him from rising to the occasion to be everything that I wanted him to be. Our heroine took a little getting used to, but I think some of the other reviews don't do her justice. She growing throughout the book, and even if I didn't agree with all of her choices, I still enjoyed her story. Plenty of the Galen heart and steam!

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

I greatly enjoyed this adventure/romance. The characters were great and it was a fun read. I'd love to read more in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. Ewan and Lorraine are a great pairing - definitely opposites attracting. His childhood and family relations made me want to cry for him. Lorraine is perfect match -funny, outspoken, caring, headstrong.

I really loved Ewan and his war hero group! I am very Intrigued to learn more about the group. Shana not only took an interesting spin with the upper class war hero group but also with Ewan. Her development of his character really makes you root for him to overcome such ingrained negative thinking. Lady Lorriane is head strong and fun. Slightly naive but she is young! Great read!!

I had never read Shana Galen before this book. After I read this book, I discovered that I actually have several Shana Galen that I've bought but never got around to reading. I'm so excited to read them! This opposite attracts story was adorable and fun.

Third Son's a Charm is the first book in Shana Galen's newest series, The Survivors, about twelve veterans of the Napoleonic Wars who are finding their way back into the society they were born in but in some way shunned prior to becoming heroes. So definitely lots of potential stories from this series.

In Third Son's a Charm, we are introduced to Ewan Mostyn, third son of an earl, known as The Protector in Draven's Dozens and currently a sort of, in modern contemporary terms, bouncer in a gaming hell which is owned by their former commander. He doesn't see himself being good enough to be anything else since he isn't able to read. It is slowly revealed thru the book that he suffered in his childhood because of his learning disability and that this also directed him in his decisions later on in life. When his services is engaged by the Duke of Riddlington to become a bodyguard to his very adventurous daughter he initially did not feel like taking him up on his offer. But when a person from his past is revealed to play a prominent role in said daughter's romantic life, he readily agrees for nothing seems sweeter than thwarting the plans of the person who made his childhood unbearable.

Lady Lorraine seems flighty, whose affections are easily engaged by the first person who showers her with affection and easily declares herself in love and ready to elope any given time. It doesn't seem to make any difference that her intended seems more intent on getting her dowry while professing undying devotion. However much she initiates said suitor only seems intent on giving her chaste kisses and flowery speeches. When her father the Duke insists on ending this fiasco of a romance by engaging the services of a bodyguard never did she imagine that said bodyguard will engage every cell in her body trying to get rid of him. But does she really want to? When said bodyguard seems to give kisses that are definitely not chaste, whose few word conversations sounds witty and whose piercing blue eyes seems to see through her every want, Lorrie suddenly realizes she wants to keep him with her forever.

This book will definitely intrigue and entertain readers from the page onwards. It's funny, definitely sexy, the hero is literally a man of few words who appears physically intimidating but whose heart and inner core are definitely hero material. The heroine appears flighty but she is a product of a society that wills women's desires to be repressed and not addressed at all. I like her sense of adventure, her asking for what she wants without any guile or artifice. She acknowledges her sexual needs even though it appears that her initial choices for a romantic partner is definitely questionable. She knows what she needs despite what society expects her to act. And yes these two really act on them, quite erotically I might add. I love how Ewan and Lorrie are together, especially when she learns of his childhood and his learning disability it was definitely well written that seen. Another plus for this book is the camaraderie of the Draven's Dozen. It adds another layer to Ewan and his brothers in arms. Looking forward to the next book.

Rated 3.5!

Ewan Mostyn "the Protector" to his friends, third son of the Earl of Pembroke, has everything he wants. He owns a part share in a gaming establishment and he is currently working as a bouncer. He has no aspirations other than to earn a living doing a simple job. When he is approached by the Duke of Riddlington, he is a little intrigued. Ewan is not the least bit interested in the job the duke is offering until the man mentions his cousin and nemesis, Francis Mostyn. That is how Ewan finds himself as a bodyguard to the dukes' beautiful yet flighty daughter, Lady Lorraine.

Ewan hates Francis with a passion. The fact that he is leading on Lady Lorraine makes his hatred multiply. Ewan will do whatever he must to expose Francis for the snake he is so Lorraine will give up all attempts at eloping/wedding Francis. The only problem Ewan cannot foresee is that in doing so, he is putting his own heart at risk. Will Ewan be strong enough to claim Lorraine for his own?

THE SURVIVOR'S series by author Shana Galen is very inspiring. The series centers around a group of men who served during the Napoleonic Wars under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Draven. They were expendable and therefore were given the most deadly missions. They began as a company of thirty, but only twelve returned home. They were given the nickname ‘Draven’s Dozen’. Being back is not easy, but they all still have each other and they vow to have one another's backs. THIRD SON'S A CHARM, book one is Ewan Mostyn's story. I fell for Ewan early on. It is heartbreaking what he has been through not just in his adulthood, but further back in his childhood. Ewan believes he has little worth in the world. It is not until he meets the whirlwind Lorraine, that he begins to see himself for the man he really is. Lorraine is a balm to his scarred soul. Ewan and Lorraine are a perfect match to me. I couldn't put THIRD SON'S A CHARM down. It is a touching read and I am counting the days until book two in the SURVIVOR'S series is released.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
The characters come to life from the page. As you read, more is revealed. Such a joy to go on a journey getting to know these fascinating characters. Look forward to the next in this series.

I have voluntarily posted a review consisting of my honest opinions.

A wonderfully delightful read. The story of the Protector, soldier Ewan, and the Lady Lorraine is a well thought out, completely developed story full of robust characters and a storyline that most certainly does not disappoint. The added conflict of Lorraine's attraction to Ewan's cousin is just a bonus. Absolutely loved it.

Enchantic, romantic and sweet -I loved every second of this book and can't wait to read more from Shana Galen. Recommend!

This is charming, romantic, engrossing and just amusing enough that it catches you off guard. Ewan is a strong and silent, yet bold, honest and vulnerable man with a dry sense of humor. Lorraine is an easily excitable, talkative, impulsive and brave woman. While hired to protect Lorraine, Ewan is also seeking to take his cousin down. The harder Ewan tries to dissuade Lorraine from eloping, the more frustrated and fascinated she becomes with him. And he has not a clue why he feels the need to pound every man who dances with her. This was really hard to put down once I started it, I couldn't wait to see what Ewan would do next to foil Lorraine. This is a must add to the top of your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

I really wanted to like this book! But I found the characters to be annoying and for some reason forced! I didn't make it through the book

Third Son's a Charm was a wonderful start to a new historical romance series with a fantastic romance, a strong and silent hero, and a heroine determined to get what she wants.

Ewan Mostyn, third son of the Earl of Pembroke, is trying to find a way to fit back into society as a former soldier in the war against Napoleon. When he’s offered a position as the bodyguard of the Duke of Ridlington's daughter, he believes it will be an easy task. Lady Lorraine however wants nothing to do with a bodyguard and is determined to slip away to be with her true love Francis Mostyn, Ewan’s cousin. Ewan though knows his cousin is a fortune-hunter and realizes he has a difficult task ahead of him in trying to keep Lorraine away from Francis. Matters are further complicated when Ewan begins to fall for Lorraine and he is faced with a choice between duty and the possibility of love.

Lorraine, nicknamed Lorrie, has spent most of her life in the country and was used to having more leeway in terms of how she could spend her time. Now she is watched more closely and finds it difficult to spend time with Francis alone, which is putting a bit of a damper on their relationship. Lorrie however is determined to marry Francis despite her family’s wishes and is even willing to give up her high station in life in order to do so. I admired Lorrie’s determination even if I did find her a bit naive at times. She took a bit for me to warm up to, but as the story went on and we got to know her more, I began to really enjoy her character.

Ewan was told his entire life that he was dumb because he cannot read when actually he has what we today would refer to as dyslexia. Ewan is actually quite intelligent and has a great sense of humor that we get to see more of as the story goes on. As a result of his reading difficulties, Ewan became a man of few words and instead relied on his strength to get by in life. He doesn’t have a good relationship with his family and instead found his own family with the group of soldiers he was with in the war. He’s incredibly loyal to those he cares for and has a deep sense of duty.

Lorrie and Ewan start out the book on opposing sides, she’s determined to see Francis and he’s been hired to stop that from happening. Over the course of the book, the two develop a wonderful friendship and I think their relationship benefitted from the fact they didn’t jump right in. The two had time to get to know one another and I loved watching them both slowly fall for each other. This romance is definitely a slow burn, but is absolutely worth it when they finally come together. Their chemistry is amazing and there were some great sexy scenes that built in intensity over the course of the book.

As to the side characters, the other soldiers from Ewan’s unit that we met were extremely interesting and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books. Each of them has a unique skill set and personality which made for some enjoyable scenes when they would get together. I really liked the scenes where they helped Ewan search for Lorrie and had the opportunity to showcase their skills. We also see quite a bit of Lorrie’s family and there was an enjoyable side romance involving Lorrie’s parents as they try to repair their relationship.

Third Son's a Charm perfectly filled my need for some great historical romance with excellent characters and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be checking out future books in The Survivors series and hope to get to other books from the author soon.

All right, I finished Third Son's a Charm, I have to say it wasn't a bad read. The beginning was a little slow, but I think it has to do with the fact we are outlining the series in the first chapter. We meet a few of the men that will be in the series, so that tends to drag the story a little. However, it's important to establish the series. We do get a better chance to meet Lorraine and Ewan.


Lorraine is a flighty, and silly at times. Then we meet Ewan who silent and broody. However, they seem to balance one another out. At times Lorraine is a little to silly for me, and I can handle silly. Yet, I have a soft spot for Ewan. The poor guy was looked down upon, because he couldn't read. However, he isn't stupid like his family assumes. Man his family needs to be knocked upside their heads. Anyway, he's quite smart, but in his own way. So, Ewan has to keep Lorraine from his sniveling cousin. By the way isn't an easy task. While this is going on there is a secondary love story going on, a second chance romance. It adds a little to the story, but not a lot. Basically gives the Duke and Duchess a second chance on their marriage.


Overall, Third Son's a Charm was an all right read. There were times it was a little slow, but I think was to help build for more in the series. I adore Ewan, because he was a decent guy. Lorraine was a bit flighty, but she wasn't too bad. I'm kind of curious to see who will fall next and how the series will progress.


Copy provided by Sourcebooks via NetGalley.

Third Sons A Charm, as I knew it would, being written by Shana Galen, held me captivated from the very first page. This very well written complete romance is filled with passion and romance, with characters that pull you into the story and make you feel as if you are actually watching everything as it unfolds. This is one of those page turner keeper shelf reads you will not want to put down. Make sure you have cleared your schedule when you open this book as it holds and doesn't let go until the very last word.

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.

I highly recommend Third Sons A Charm, and any other book written by Shana Galen, to anyone who loves reading historical romance. This read is one of those rare books a reader picks, reads, and doesn't forget. It can be read, reread, and reread, and reread again and again and will never lose it's ability to capture and hold each and every time as if it were being read the first time.

Ewan Mostyn, the third son of the Earl of Pembroke, fought for the British in the Napoleonic Wars. His company, composed of other non-heirs, started out with thirty but only twelve survived the suicidal missions, now known as Dravens Dozen. Mostyn, referred to as The Protector, split his time as a bouncer at Langley's Gaming Hell and hanging out at Draven's Club with his wartime comrades. His reputation as a tough, no nonsense guy attracted the attention of the Duke of Ridlington who had need of Ewan's services. The Duke's daughter, Lady Lorraine Caldwell, had convinced herself she was in love and in her willful, head strong manner, had attempted to elope. Luckily her love interest refused the honor if it meant his "beloved" would be cut off without funds.

Moysten had no interest in being bodyguard to a spoiled heiress until he discovered her beau was none other than his despised cousin Francis. Francis, a favorite of his father, had been the bane of Ewan's existence since his mother's untimely death. Francis used his uncle's favor to get away with hurtful bullying which always seemed to result in a punishment for Moysten instead of the perpetrator. The Earl's disdain for his youngest son stemmed from his inability to read (most likely due to dyslexia) and his failure at schooling. Ewan's stuttering and insecurities contrasted with the slick manner of Francis whose good looks and charm were assets his cousin lacked. The Protector knew that Francis was more attracted to Lorrie's dowry than he was to her beauty and it would be his pleasure to thwart his nemesis plans.

Lorrie's long winded babbling was in sharp contrast to the quiet reticent Mostyn who took his bodyguard duties seriously. Despite her youthful ways, Lady Lorraine had a kind heart and was simply looking for an outlet for her passionate nature. Opposites attract and soon Mostyn found it difficult to resist giving his "client" a taste of what she'd be missing if she ran off with Francis. While just a kiss, he was appalled for overstepping societal boundaries and attempted to keep his distance while still fulfilling his duties, but the young debutante was having none of it and the two found themselves in close proximity as they each helped the other work through their personal issues. An additional subplot involved the Duke rekindling a romance with his still lovely wife after years of growing apart.

While Third Son's a Charm by Shana Galen had a lot of potential, it was just a bit too long for the content. The crush on Francis continued way past her inamorata with Ewan and the plot climax came a little too late to save the day. Galen does, however, know how to write a passionate sexual interlude which will keep the readers hot and bothered. I especially liked the repartee between the secondary characters who will be the subject of other Regency Romances in The Survivors series. Hopefully the plot line of these future books won't drag in the middle like this one. Three stars.

A thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Third Son’s a Charm is a delightful beginning to Shana Galen’s new series The Survivors. The third or any additional sons didn’t really have a place in Society. They were beyond the “spare” and often lead uneventful lives forging their own place for themselves. Ewan wasn’t exactly what one would call close with his father, so his partnership in a gaming hall plus his residence just above it fit them both just fine. A hero of the war, Ewan and the men he fought beside are returning to a Society that doesn’t really know what to do with hem now. Although his strength, and stubbornness had served him well in recent years, his learning challenges often kept him silent except among close friends. At this time in history not much was known about dyslexia or how to help those suffering with the condition. Because of this Ewan was often thought to be slow or aloof. Nothing could be further from the truth but he had learned the lesson the hard way to simply keep his thoughts to himself, and speak even less.

His reputation as a war hero, his muscular build and his usually silent attitude made him a perfect fit for a job the Duke of Ridlington offered to him. Bodyguard to his stubborn, determined to give her father the slip young daughter, Lady Lorraine. Ewan’s first instinct was to refuse the offer until he learned that Lorrie was foolishly involved with a lowlife cad cousin of his, Francis. The Duke believed this man to be after his daughter’s dowry and he’d already attempted an elopement to secure those funds. Ewan had his own issues with Francis and would be more than happy to keep an innocent miss out of his greedy, grubby hands. Only thing is… Lorrie is far from the damsel in distress that he had imagined.

It took me a little while to really warm up to Lorrie. At times she comes off as a spoiled younger daughter who desperately wants to get out from under her father’s rule by any means possible. Other times she’s sweet and sensitive to the needs and moods of others around her. I questioned her stubbornness about Francis, even after knowing what a jerk he was. And yet, her thoughtfulness toward Ewan, her growing affection for this brave, silent man was touching beyond belief. So, in truth, I was very torn about Lorrie throughout this story. I finally just allowed myself to know that Ewan saw good in her, that they seemed so right for each other that the other small things were nothing more than small, unimportant things getting in the way of a very real love story for Ewan and Lorrie.

In all I greatly enjoyed myself in the beginning of this new series. And I’m looking forward to diving into the next one, No Earls Allowed. I’d recommend this story to any reader who enjoys Historical or Regency romance, likable characters, an introduction to others we may meet again along the way and a couple that on the surface are so different except in their hearts where love matters most.

One final thought — that cover is simply stunning. It makes me want to open up the book immediate.y.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I had so much fun reading this historical romance! I have to admit that the cover of this book is what first grabbed my attention. I am always a sucker for pretty covers and the cover of this book is simply gorgeous. I have enjoyed Shana Galen's work in the past and this sounded like a good story so I knew that I would have to read it. It turned out to be a very enjoyable read that was really hard to put down.

Ewan knows his place in life. He is the third son of an Earl and is therefore rather useless to his family. He has been a solider and is known for some of his brave acts but that hasn't changed his father's opinion of him. Many see Ewan as a dimwit because he has been unable to learn to read. When he is offered a position to guard a Duke's daughter, he decides to take the job.

Lorrie really wants to marry. So much so that she has recently tried to elope with her love, Francis. Lorrie is determined to make the marriage happen and believes that she and Francis are in love. The Duke opposes the match and tasks Ewan with making sure it does not happen. Ewan becomes a permanent fixture at all of the society events attended by Lorrie and her family.

I loved these two together! Ewan tends to doubt himself since he has been told he is dumb his whole life. Lorrie sees him for the intelligent man that he truly is. Lorrie believes that she is in love with Francis but she soon learns that love is something very different. This pair had a lot of wonderful chemistry with each other and complimented each other quite nicely.

I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. The book is filled with wonderful characters and a few exciting moments. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful series!

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.

Third Sons A Charm brings together a powerful and charming romance that brings together the two most unlikely people into a solid foundation of love and wit…

Third Sons A Charm is a story I was very anxious to read for quite a few reasons. First off, there were quite a few mixed reviews on this one so I was hesitant and probably why it took so long to actually read it but I stayed up until 3 AM reading this one, I just didn’t want to put it down, I became so immersed in the characters lives and their story was quite a journey and quite fun….

So our story begins after our heroine has gotten into some trouble with her parents. She has already tried to run off with a man that is after her fortune and her parents know this about him, but she believes that he loves her. She refuses to give up on him. So her father determined to not see his daughter ruined and married to a horrible man hires on a bodyguard…the best of the best. Ewan is considered to be one of the best, part of an elite group of soldiers that fought against Napolean but he, like many of his comrades, came back with scars both on the outside and inside. But when the Duke of Ridlington comes to him for a job as a bodyguard, he takes it, wanting a change and something different. But he never realized how troublesome Lady Lorraine would be for him.

These two characters were quite a fun mix because they are so different from each other and it was quite a blast seeing how Shana Galen was able to make them work together so well. So our hero is grumpy and moody, barely speaks a word and unable to read. He has suffered much not only from the war but also from growing up. He was always tormented by his cousin in some terrible ways and as we learn about his childhood, I guarantee you will want your tissues because this moment will tear any reader up emotionally. Seeing this big brawn man thinking he is stupid most of his life. It was quite heartbreaking seeing his character, especially in the beginning. I honestly wanted to shoot his father for how he treats his son. But thankfully he has a great group of friends, that all know the trials of war. Our heroine, Lorraine is flight and romantic and doesn’t have a serious bone in her body. She can be a bit naive especially when it comes to this fortune hunter and what I did enjoy seeing was her character growth. She definitely grows up pretty quickly in this book, but what drew me to her is how she fills Ewan with laughter and smiles.
We see Ewan’s cousin get his just desserts and I truly loved the way their romance developed in this book. It starts slowly with them not liking each other at all….but soon their chemistry changes their feelings and I did like the slow burn romance that builds between them. I found it pretty interesting seeing the dynamics of their relationship because they are truly so different from each other…like oil and water. And seeing them blend together in a delicious mix was true fun. Then we have the friends of Ewan and boy I loved them so much. I love the way they just support each other, always on hand no matter what is happening. We also have a side romance story, or more of two people learning to love again. This side story deals with Lorraine’s parents. Who have both grown apart, had their own affairs, but they still love each other. So we see them come back to each other and these sweet moments were so poignant and wonderful and added a dynamic element to the story that truly balanced it out. One of my favorite aspects of the story that sets Shana Galen apart from a few other regency authors is her attention to detail and emotion. She shows the effects of PTSD, both emotionally and physically especially in our hero Ewan. It can be a bit heartbreaking to read his story but we also see what these young men had to deal with when it came to recovering from the war where there were no therapists or treatments. And seeing him find some healing once falling in love with Lorraine and seeing the way that she accepts him as he is is truly remarkable.

Overall Third Son’s A Charm is an enchanting mix of a regency setting, a enemies to lovers trope, villains who get their justice and a hero who finds the healing balm of love and a young lady that finds the grounding she needs…..FABULOUS!