It was a good book, but great but it definitely had some really good parts. Enjoyable characters and a nice romance.

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; Zebra/Kensington Books

I really enjoyed the first novel in the Duke Dynasty series, Project Duchess. I was looking forward to the Bachelor as it featured Gwyn and (Joshua) Wolfe but I found it a bit slow. Gwyn has a twin, Thorn and is the only daughter of the Duchess. As she goes to her season she does not expect to fall for her sister-in-law's brother. Wolfe, the gamekeeper, is different than the other men who look at what she represents and brings to the marriage. Wolfe seems to want her and cares for her feelings. Wolfe wants a family but he thinks he's not good enough for Gwyn, as no other woman has ever looked at him. I am looking forward to the next novel, hopefully with more of the mystery arc through this series.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook/audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

This is Lady Gwyn Drake and Joshua Wolf’s story, book 2 in the Duke Dynasty series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with some sizzle.
The mix of intrigue, angst between the hero and heroine heated up the pages of this book. The author created a bumpy road to the happy ending. A 3.5 starts that rounds to 4.
I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I thought I'd already reviewed this one! I loved loved loved the grumpy hero! I thought Jeffries did an excellent job of timing all of the reveals so I never got frustrated with the heroine for withholding information.

Gwyn and Joshua's story in Sabrina Jeffries novel The Bachelor is a magnificent read the test the boundaries of romance. I adored reading this story and I'd recommend to all readers of romance!

Gwyn and Joshua are so stinking cute. Y'all, this was a great book. Gwyn is being blackmailed and Joshua is sent with her to London to be her bodyguard.  Joshua was in the Royal Marines until he was injured. They're a cute couple. Perfectly paired.. Sabrina Jeffries has a knack for creating lovable characters.

Sabrina Jeffries was among the first romance writers I ever read, so a new book is always welcome. The Bachelor is second in the “Duke Dynasty” series, following Project Duchess. While it isn’t a cross-class romance because both hero Major Joshua Wolfe and heroine Lady Gwyn Drake are aristocratic, Joshua, as a third son, is poverty-stricken compared to Gwyn’s heiress-status. Blue blood, however, throws them together. Joshua, injured and at half-pay from the Royal Marines, acts as the Drakes’ Lincolnshire estate’s, Armitage Hall’s, gameskeeper. They are also connected by marriage: Joshua’s sister, Beatrice, is married to Gwyn’s half-brother, the Duke of Greycourt. When the romance opens, Gwyn is dealing with a blackmailing villain from her past, former-Captain Lionel Malet. Gwyn and Malet had an affair ten years ago, when Malet took advantage of her innocence and made promises he did not intend to keep. Now, he’d like a piece of her dowry in exchange for not ruining her reputation.

With her imminent presentation at court and social début, at the ripe old age of 30, Gwyn wants to protect herself and family from ignominy. When Joshua witnesses Gwyn’s meeting with Malet, he mistakes it for an attempted kidnapping. He goes straight to Gwyn’s twin, Marlow Drake, who asks Joshua to accompany Gwyn and their mother to London as bodyguard. What is an incipient attraction in Lincolnshire, with proximity, blossoms and flourishes between Gwyn and Joshua in London.

Our hero and heroine are likeable characters: Gwyn is funny, down-to-earth, and quick-witted. Joshua is honourable, also quite funny, and carries off his grump with endearing care and affection despite his pseudo-frowns. With Gwyn and Joshua in their 30s, and having experienced sufficient heartache (in Gwyn’s case, romantic; in Joshua’s, professional), there’s depth and poignancy to their characterization. As long as Joshua and Gwyn are in the room and bantering their way to love and commitment, the romance is engaging and heartwarming. However, in the second half, plot takes over big-time. If you’re a plot-lover, especially of the damsel-in-danger and suspense variety, you’re going to enjoy the romance’s turn. If you’re not, unless it’s coupled with continued character development as the primary focus, you’re not. I didn’t enjoy the second half as much as I did the first: the Malet plot went on too long, it was embroiled with England’s national interest intrigue, and, as a result of unfounded mistrust on both sides, it left Gwyn and Joshua keeping secrets and becoming unreasonably suspicious of each other.

A pleasant enough read, a delightful one in the first half, but not a romance that rocked my world. With Miss Austen, we deem The Bachelor, “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.

Sabrina Jeffries’s The Bachelor is published by Zebra Books, a division of Kensington Books. It was released in February and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-galley, from Zebra Books, via Netgalley.

DNF
At this time, the book is a DNF for me. I had a hard time getting into the book and connecting with the characters even though the romantic set-up sounded right up my alley.

I liked this one a bit less than the first book of the series. While it was still a really nice story, I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters as much.

Lydia Fletcher has been married three times, each time to a duke and each time giving birth to the heir to the dukedom. Her family is a mix of siblings, half siblings, cousins, and extended family members who are not even related to each other. This story involves two of those unrelated family members. Both Gwyn and Joshua have kept secrets from their family and each other. Joshua comes to Gwyn's rescue from one of her secrets, the villainous Captain Lionel Malet. However, she doesn't tell him or her brother the whole true about the encounter, which leads to Joshua being hired as her bodyguard during her season in London. In the beginning Gwyn and Joshua are like oil and water. As they spend more time together, an attraction develops, unraveling some of their secrets. To say more would ruin the twists Ms. Jeffries has put into the mix. This tale is a page turner, leaving the reader anxious to see what happens next to these two great characters. One of the things I love about series is the chance to catch up on characters from other books. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Gwyn's twin brother's story.

Story intrigued me from the beginning.  The characters captured me by the end of the first chapter.  Very enjoyable, light read.

Normally I like Sabrina Jeffries, and I was excited to a darker plot line, but something about the book didn't suit me. It felt a little padded with other characters that I didn't connect with, and not just the characters from the previous series, and while there was an instant chemistry between Gwen and Joshua, it felt a little forced as did their resistance. The plot was a little choppy, but the storyline was enjoyable overall.

Fun read with witty banter and delightful characters by Sabrina Jeffries. I always appreciate any historical romance where at least one of the romantic leads is not aristocracy (better if neither of them are but that is almost never a thing, sadly). Solid character development, pacing was good, and overall a satisfying romance.

Lady Gwyn Drake has long protected her family’s reputation by hiding an imprudent affair from her youth. But when her former suitor appears at Armitage Hall, manhandling the heiress and threatening to go public with her secrets, it’s Gwyn who needs protecting. Her twin brother, Thorn, hires Joshua Wolfe, the estate’s gamekeeper, to keep her safe in London during her debut. As a war hero, Joshua feels obligated to fulfill the assignment he has accepted. But as a man, it’s torment to be so very close to the beauty he’s fought to ignore. With handsome Joshua monitoring her every move, Gwyn would prefer to forget both the past and the parade of money-seeking bachelors at her coming out. But Joshua is unmoved by her attempts at flirtation, and the threat of blackmail still hangs over her. With danger closing in, Gwyn must decide which is the greater risk: deflecting a scoundrel’s attempts to sabotage her—or revealing her whole heart to the rugged bodyguard she can’t resist
I am a huge fan of this author and look forward to reading each book she releases. I read the first book in this series and absolutely loved it! In that book, we were introduced to the entire family, including both of these characters. Their interactions in that book had me wanting them to get their own book and I got my wish! In this book We get to really know Gwen and Joshua. I absolutely LOVED Joshua. I really liked Gwyn but there were times when she acted reckless for the sake of being stubborn. I’m all for independence but not for the sake of putting yourself in harm’s way. Beyond that I just loved this book and can’t wait for the next book in this series. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I adored this book. I really liked the heroine Gwyn but loved Joshua the hero. Great story!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love everything this author writes. Here the plot does not disappoint. Main heroes are lovable. Espionage. Romance. You got it all in this wonderful book!

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. I just lost myself within this amazing story. I most definitely will read more by this author.

I could not put this book down. It captured my attention from the start. Lady Gwyn Drake has a secret and will do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Even allowing herself to be blackmailed by the man who tried to kidnap her.  

Joshua,  the gamekeeper, as he sees himself. But realistically is the duke’s cousin. Sees his life as being over; due to his leg injury in the war. He agrees to go with Lady Gwen to London for the season to keep a watch over her (due to the threat  of her ex suitor) so he can talk to the war office to be reinstated. He has always loved Gwen from afar but believes he has nothing to offer. Gwen has always watched him and secretly wants him to notice her. They have to over come secrets and their pasts to be together in the end. 

Great story and character developments.

A compelling romance with plenty of intrigue and espionage, with two characters who are reluctantly attracted to one another. An enjoyable read!

The Bachelor is the second book in Jeffries’ Duke Dynasty and follows Lady Gwyn Drake and her bodyguard Major Joshua Wolfe. Wolfe is recruited by her brother to protect Lady Gwyn after a sleazeball from her past manhandles her and threatens to reveal her secrets. Wolfe is to accompany Gwyn to London for her debut, but he doesn’t know Gwyn’s got more secrets to come! Flirtation and sexy times ensue. 

This story has it all: a surly hero with PTSD, a big family with complicated relationships, secrets, blackmail, an older heroine (unwed in her 30s! 🤭) and a hint at an underlying story arc that’s sure to be revealed throughout the series. 

It was a quick, distracting read and I’m glad it really picked up in the second half. I haven’t read any other books in this series, but I will definitely read more because this family seems like some fun drama and I’m here for it. 
Thanks to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.