I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. There are positives: the relationship between Tabitha and Alwyn was quite sweet and tender, and I liked the gentleness of it and how they were drawn to each other. I also cannot fault the worldbuilding. Susanna Allen has clearly but a lot of time and effort into creating this world of shifters, and it shows in this book; there’s an impressive amount of detail and I really appreciated that about this book.

I also thought it had moments of beautiful, lovely writing, with the love scenes were quite sensual and well-written. However, the style of the writing in this book as a whole did not work for me at all. It’s really hard to describe the way this book is written. It’s definitely distinct and unusual, and at points it is quirky and amusing. However, the rest of the time it just feels unnecessarily dense and complicated. It’s very wordy. A lot of big, complicated words are used when simpler ones would have worked better. The result was a book that I actually found hard work to read.

I also found the external plot to be quite weak. The antagonist was cartoonishly evil; their actions bordered on silly and didn’t make much sense to me. It didn’t really fit well with the romance to me and the book as whole felt a bit disjointed. I just didn’t really enjoy the experience of reading it. Once I finished it I was left unsure of what this book was trying to be: it just didn’t feel cohesive and the writing style didn’t work for me. I could see what the author was trying to do, and I did appreciate the work that went into this book, but it wasn’t my cup of tea at all. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Imprisonment / captivity, trauma, mild violence mind control, on-page sex.

I love that this series blends paranormal and historical romance into one. It makes each installment an exciting new story.
This gave me major Beauty and the Beast vibes. Tabitha is the book smart, resourceful heroine and Alwyn is a bit of a recluse struggling with his identity as a result of his past trauma.
I liked how the author handled Alwyn's character. He felt very realistic and I could empathize with his struggles. His trauma was not easily fixed or pushed aside. I also liked how Tabitha was written. She was very capable and understanding but also wasn't a pushover.
Tabitha and Alwyn's connection throughout the book really brought the romance between them to life. I couldn't keep the smile off my face whenever they were on the page together! They were just so sweet and romantic.
My one complaint is that the secondary characters/side plot overtakes the main ones at times. It made the storylines feel a little lost or misplaced.
Overall, this is a delightful addition to this series (can be read as a standalone) and I hope there are more books to come.

Tabitha Barrington and her twin brother Timothy have been traveling the continent for some time escaping some trouble at home. She is chafing being back in England but she is excited to have the chance to practice her poultices and concoctions at the Duke of Lowell's estate. Especially once she learns that the estate has a number of shapeshifters, one in particular that needs her help.
Alwyn Ap Lewin, Duke of Llewelyn, was held captive in his lion form for a number of years. It became bad enough that, when he was finally freed, he no longer wanted to be a part of the world. But Tabitha intrigues him.
This series is filled with drama and this book is no different. It mirrors the Gothic novels written by one of the characters in the book. Is it silly? Oh yeah. Is it enjoyable in the right mood? Yes. Lots more world building in this one and setups for any number of following books in the series.

Four stars
This book comes out August 23, 2022
Follows A Most Unusual Duke
ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Shapeshifters in Regency times!

This just wasn’t up to the standard of the previous in the series. Yes, I liked it because I’m following the series. However things became quite confusing, and keeping the occupants of Lowell Hall in Sussex, who they were, and how they fitted in, was a struggle.
What we have is a Welsh lion trapped in his lion body for years, never able to change, until a thief prized the gold chain off from his paw. Then, what a surprise! The thief was left a gibbering mess and the lion/human might just as well have been.
The Honorable Miss Tabitha Barrington, a female apothecary, is asked by the Prince of Wales (head of all Shapeshifters—versipelles) to take Alwyn ap Lewin, the Duke of Llewellyn in hand, to restore him if possible. After his years of being trapped as a lion, he’s now wedded to his human body, and yet he finds it hard to operate as a human. The slightest thing like holding a fork adds to his confusion.
Tabitha sees sensible solutions to his problems so that he’s not shamed.
It seems she can also distinguish animals who are shifters and those who are not. Unremarkable to her but a gift to others.
This story is an important step in the ongoing series, but really, I often found myself mired in a complex and confusing text, and just wanted out! I was unsure if I was trapped in some fresh hell with Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck, or something more. Beatrix Potter on steroids!
Of course I wasn’t, but it was hard to get a clear picture.
Oh, there is a wicked witch. Mmm! Really, a wicked versipellis! More to come on this front me thinks.
I did find Allen’s discussion on Apothecaries at the end of the book very interesting, so not all is lost.

A Sourcebooks ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

What an exceptional and exhilarating masterpiece! My heart was taken by storm with the marvelous and extraordinary characters that graced the brilliant and evocative pages of this beautiful work of art. Add to that the rich and stunning storyline, and you have a decadent duet that makes for the best kind of story imaginable. I couldn't put it down to sleep much less to save my life. Do yourself a favor and reward yourself with this immensely intriguing and a non-stop marvel of a gift! You will not be disappointed.

Just another day found Tabitha living in the strangest of places by decree rather then choice. While making the best of the situation, she comes to lean heavily on her curious and kind nature to deal with her new neighbors. While navigating this new world, she enlists the help of her worldly and learned brother to smooth her rather unconventional manners. Together they discover marvel's and wonders that reveal a much richer and beautiful life then they first anticipated. One of those wonders is named Alwyn, and Tabitha comes to find herself drawn to his quiet, patient nature. Can two polar opposites come to find common ground, or will they find the gap between them to be too large and cumbersome to traverse and bridge?

The world in which Tabitha and Alwyn find themselves is one that makes my heart both sing for joy and weep for its cruelty. There is truly nothing like it in all the known world, but Tabitha and Alwyn come to call it home. They way these two become aquatinted and learn to navigate within the sphere of the other is both curious and heart-rending. There is truly nothing like it. My heart soared to see how they adjusted and quietly encouraged the other to spread their wings and fly in their own pace and time. What a beautiful sight to behold!

Susanna Allen is a remarkable author who is able to cleverly and effortlessly marry two very different genres into one all the while making it uniquely her own. Her breathtaking writing shines so very brightly in her wickedly sharp mind and her wonderfully tender heart. This is a perfect addition to her fun and exciting shifter series. I can't wait to see what she does next with this marvelous unique world!

This book was very hard to get into. I didn't like the writing style, it felt too formal. There were a lot of characters you had to keep track of and the pacing of the plot was very slow. Maybe I should not have jumped into this series at the third book. I rarely read shapeshifting books and thought it would be fun to try, but turned out it was not for me.

What a fun and interesting read. I just don’t know how to explain it without spoiling it but I will say I have never read anything like this and I hope I can read more again very soon.

I love paranormal and historical romance books so of course, I was excited about this book.
Unfortunately, I couldn't finish A Duke at the Door I had a hard time keeping track of all the secondary characters also this one had big words that I had to look up. Now I don't mind looking up words but when I read a historical romance book I was something that is quick and easy so that was the big factor as to why I just quit the book.

I am sure some wouldn't mind but for me, it just didn't do it.

I have to preface my review by admitting I have never read a shape shifter book until this one. And while I was confused by the characters in the beginning, the true story was about finding love.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and publisher, Sourcebooks, Casablanca. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 2/5 Stars
Publishing: August 23, 2022
Series: Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde #3
Pages: 352

I am a fan of paranormal stories and especially have become interested in shapeshifters in regency readings. Typically, I read wolf shifters so I thought I would request the opportunity to read something other in the paranormal shifting genre. “A Duke at the Door” was confusing, and I could not really understand the plot. In the beginning, the writing totally lost me…not sure if the writer tried too hard in wording description that I later truly lost interest ½ the way through this story.

No reflection on the author and I am quite sure this is a cute paranormal romance, however if it is centered solely on a couple of shifters…say the hot lion and a BF wolf, then it would have kept my interest. I enjoyed the premise of two genres in the first book by Susanna Allen, however the writing needs more development. It is unfortunate that I DNF this one, and truly thank the publisher for inviting me to read and provide my views.

A duke who has been trapped must find a way to get back into society and the beautiful apothecarist who will help him. Alwyn Ap Lewin is a shifter, a lion shifter who was captured and held captive ina. traveling menagerie. He is also the DUke of Llewelyn and after escaping has refused to shift into his lion form. The longer he denies his inner lion the sicker he gets... and if he does not find a way to fix it he will have to be put down as his sanity is as stake. Everyone lives in fear of Alwyn losing it... and so when he is made to work with Tabitha Barrington, a lady apothecary, he is shocked to discover that she does not fear him at all. Tabitha is the only person who can help him and the more time he spends with her the more he is beginning to realize he might have something to live for... something to fight for... and that he finally has found the one thing he’s been looking for. This was a pretty cute and sweet story! I thought it was so interesting to mix magic and historical romance together, and Alwyn and Tabitha were a cute couple.

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I got a copy of this free from NetGalley but my opinion is my own.

I haven't read a paranormal historical romance before nor any other Susanna Allen book and I really wanted to like this. Unfortunately, I think I chose wrong. This is the third book in a series and I was so confused about what this world was about. It feels very much like a Virgin River type small town where everyone is in your business. Bridgerton maybe but not with the family aspect more of the large multi cast of odd characters sense. The plot was a bit all over the place for me and I honestly lost interest halfway through. I think if this was just about the FMC working with the MMC through his trauma and maybe a smaller cast and more straightforward plot I would have liked this much more.

I think if you like kind of that small town, large cast of odd characters and an author who uses a lot of big words including Latin then you may like this more than I did.

2 Stars

The plot and writing of the book is slow. The author uses big words such as effusive, indefatigable, equivocation, bailiwick, conflagration and many more. I feel like I'm back in school reading a textbook. I really wanted to read a paranormal historical romance to widen my viewpoint to what other genres have to offer, I DNF around 30%. There was also too many secondary characters and it was hard to keep track. There were only small scenes here and there between h/H, not enough to keep my interest. Maybe I didn't like this book due to not reading the others. If you loved the other books, don't let my review deter you. Take a peek and judge this for yourself.

Thanks to Netgalley and it's publisher for a free copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A funny, engaging romance that felt like a fairy tale. The characters had good banter, and the world is well built. It felt like reading a grown-up fairy tale with kissing. It is #3 in a series, but I was still able to follow the story, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I read the first book of this series, but I didn't finish it. I liked this one much better. Their story was so cute! Tabitha is a strong heroine, hard to find in a historical. I really liked her. The intrigue subplot was fine, it didn't really drive the story forward for me. I was more interested in the world that was built and the feelings between the characters.

*I was provided an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoy the unique take on Regency romance that Susanna Allen writes. Mixing the paranormal with historical romance isn’t done often. I wish more authors would write in this combined genre. Be aware that although this is a regency romance, it is also a paranormal shape shifter romance. This book has the best characters in the entire series. I loved Alwyn with his inner struggle. Tabitha is mature and is a lady apothecary. Tabitha is a strong woman, yet she also has a calming effect on Alwyn.

This plot had the basics to be an excellent book. Two issues held this book back from being a five-star read. First, the premise of Alwyn escaping captivity and learning to heal with Tabitha’s assistance was a fantastic start. However, I felt the main plot line got lost easily in secondary story arcs and secondary characters. Also, the vocabulary in this book is too complicated. I enjoy an intelligent read, but it is distracting when I have to look up definitions continually.

All that being said, I did enjoy this book. Alwyn and Tabitha’s connection was powerful, and both lead characters had solid and likable personalities. The plot flowed reasonably well and kept my interest. I loved that Susanna Allen has married two romance genres well, and I feel she has created a new path for other authors to follow. A Duke At The Door is the third book in the Shapeshifters Of The Beaumonde series. As a whole, I recommend this series for those who like a paranormal spin on their romances. In this case, the series sum is greater than this particular book’s part. I am glad I read this book and look forward to the next in the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book started slowly for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the earlier books in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. 3 stars.

Each time I read a book by Susanna Allen it is a really unique experience of immersion into this historical world with a paranormal twist. Her writing style feels less modern and closer to the way people spoke during that time period, which some may find difficult to read at first, but once you're used to it, there's something about it that feels magical to me. She also adds an element of humor to each book that always makes me smile, and with this particular book, I really loved seeing the other characters interact with the heroine when they realized she was available for courting. By the end, I was so emotional over the two characters growing and finding love with each other.

Trapped as a lion for many years, unable to Change back to his human form, Alwyn Ap Lewin, Duke of Llewelyn, has no interest in being social with anyone. He has lost contact with his lion half and refuses to Change for fear that he would be trapped once more. To the point of feeling his life should end rather than continue on in this manner, he is forced to try one last ditch attempt at healing - go to Lowell Hall, a sort of sanctuary for shifters of all kinds, and work with a human healer there by the name of Miss Tabitha Barrington. Tabitha was only recently brought into the shifter world, but she is already becoming used to their different ways of thinking and doing things. She is far too much of a spinster to be intimidated by a bachelor lion who is not mentally well, and besides, he seems more intent on protecting her than doing her any harm...or seducing her into a relationship she does not aspire to. At the age of 35, she is firmly on the shelf and has no interest in offspring, so there seems little point in engaging in activity that could result in marriage. However, as often happens when two people spend time in close proximity, they develop feelings, and Alwyn becomes convinced she is meant for him...his vera amoris, his fated mate.

Be advised that the story does begin slowly, and given the writing style and the fact that this is the third book in the series, it is much easier to read if you've read the first two books in the series. Once you have that foundational background, you can really immerse yourself into the story and get to know all of the characters. There are so many colorful secondary characters, and even the ones who play a minor role charmed me almost immediately. Tabitha and her brother were a fun pair to watch interact, and I really enjoyed seeing his character get more depth as the story progressed. We learn why they fled England several years ago, why they seem attached at the hip, and how this has shaped Tabitha's decisions in life. Alwyn's internal monologues were also particularly enlightening, seeing him work through his past trauma and realizing that there is a path forward with Tabitha at his side. He takes quite a while to get her to see that they belong together, and Tabitha is convinced their relationship couldn't be serious without the promise of offspring, which she has no interest in producing. It's actually quite a refreshing viewpoint in romance, and I loved how the author handled it, not only with Tabitha but also Alwyn's reaction to it. Overall, a splendid tale of healing, and the ending will have you flooded with emotions.

As always, I look forward to see what comes next for this author. It's so fun reading paranormal set in a historical setting, and she blends the two genres so well.

I somehow missed that this involved shapeshifting. While others will no doubt eat up this tale, it just wasn't for me and I DNF. Hot lion or not. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, My bad for downloading,

3.5 stars, rounded up.

After years of being held captive in his animal form, Alwyn ap Lewin, the Duke of Llewellyn was finally able to free himself from his captors and made his way to Carlton House and the Prince of Wales. Alwyn is not well, he was not treated well, and now that he is back in his human form, his Lion is nowhere to be found, causing him more suffering. Anxious to help, the Prince sends him to recuperate at Lowell Close and then summons Miss Tabitha Barrington.

Tabitha and her younger brother Timothy have recently returned to England after 10 years of traveling abroad. During that time, Tabitha a gifted healer and apothecary honed her skills and knowledge and was much sought after. And now it is those skills that the Prince asks her to use to heal Alwyn. He explains the situation to her and tells her of the “versipelles” (shifters), something few humans are privileged to know. Not sure what she can do, she and her brother travel to Lowell Close and settle in. They are immediately welcomed by the “pack” and Tabitha meets Alwyn. She makes no move to “cure” him and just spends time with him, which intrigues him. Soon, Alwyn is making progress and begins to think that Tabitha might be his fated mate, but before things progress too far, Tabitha begins to shy away from him, afraid to face her growing feelings. But when the villain who captured Alwyn comes back for him, she can no longer deny what she feels and will risk her life to save him, but is she willing to risk her heart as well?

I liked the story, but I am not a huge fan of the author’s writing style or her inflated/obscure vocabulary. For me, the story was very slow-moving for a good part of the book, but once the villain is unmasked, the story takes off and doesn’t stop until the very end. I think what I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Tabitha and her brother Timothy, and her “suitors” were amusing and added some much-needed levity to the book. Overall, this was a very emotional read with a resilient hero, a reluctant heroine, a lot of secondary characters, healing, acceptance, warm love scenes, and finally a hard-won HEA. This is the third book in the series, but I believe this story could be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

We’ve seen Alwyn the Lion shifter Duke in the previous books in this series, prowling (ha!) around the outskirts of any gathering, not really talking or interacting with anyone. George, the Prince Regent, and a Bear shifter himself, has gotten fed up with Alwyn not taking his place as a proper Duke and has assigned him a healer, Tabitha, a lady apothecary. Tabitha, a human, doesn’t know how she is expected to help a shifter who refuses to shift into his animal form but decides she will be patient and do her best as she always does.

I loved how Tabitha was so patient with Alwyn and let him open up to her gradually on his own terms. And Tabitha’s relationship with her brother was great to see as they teased and squabbled. This was a very emotional book about trust and being open to loving and I really enjoyed it.