Shana Galen delivers a compelling historical romance that skillfully balances redemption arcs with genuine emotional depth. My Fair Katie succeeds where many gambling-hero tropes stumble by making Henry's journey feel earned rather than convenient.
Katie emerges as a refreshingly complex heroine whose facial birthmark serves as more than a plot device—it's integral to her fierce independence and protective walls. Her evolution from bitter exile to cautious trust feels authentic, particularly in her interactions with the neglected tenants who become central to both her character development and Henry's redemption.
The enemies' children premise could have felt contrived, but Galen grounds it in real consequences. Henry's gambling addiction isn't romanticized; the author doesn't shy away from showing how his choices devastated his family and dependents. His path to worthiness requires genuine work, not just charming declarations.
While the witch's curse element feels somewhat disconnected from the otherwise grounded historical setting, it doesn't detract from the emotional core. The library research scenes provide intimate moments that build their relationship naturally, avoiding insta-love pitfalls.
Galen's prose flows smoothly, and her secondary characters—particularly the Duchess and various tenants—add depth to the world. The resolution satisfies without feeling too neat.
A solid entry in the Misfortunes Favorites series that will appeal to readers seeking historical romances with substance behind the steam.
Recommended for fans of: Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, and redemption-focused historical romance
Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Full Review to be posted on Forever Book Lover.
#MyFairKatie #NetGalley

Give me every Shana Galen book! She can do no wrong. I'll start by saying I didn't realize this was a second in a series but I don't feel like it took too much away from it, would it have added to the story, of course, but I don't feel cheated by not having read book 1. Henry has a problem with gambling and in a last attempt to win back whatever is left of his fortune he is left penniless and homeless. Lady Katherine is sent to live here banished by her father. I loved their moments together and their interactions.

After enjoying The King and Vi, I was delighted to see the next part in this series. And although you can read it as a perfect standalone, the curse of the witch is far more interesting when you read about it in the different parts of the Misfortunes Favorites.

Henry is an addict. He may not see it this way, but he can’t stay away from a gamble. Probably related to his childhood, where he tried to gather attention from his parents. But the fact is, that he has gambled away his fortune.

Katie has always been told that she should stay hidden from the world, since her birthmark on her face is big and nasty. But she wants to go out and see the world. When she is send away to Carslisle Hall, she decides she will venture into the world. When she meets Henry, the previous owner of Carslisle Hall, she is outraged about his neglect of the tenants. But when Henry tries to make amends and helps Katie discover the world, both learn to appreciate one another. But can Katie trust a gambler? And can Henry trust the daughter of his arch nemesis?

How will this end? Find out for yourselves in this wonderful read. And don’t miss out on the first part of the series. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This book did a better job redeeming a character I did not think was redeemable than it had any right to. I'm not sure that a gambling addiction can be overcome by obtaining a hot wife, but hard work and gaining a conscience certainly can't hurt. 3.5 rounded up and it convinced me I should read the rest of the series, so that's not nothing.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This series has been very interesting!!

I like that the series involves three friends that made a youthful mistake and the consequences have come back to bite them. I am not sure if I believe in curses, but it makes for great stories.

Watching the fall was painful, I just wanted to shout, "Nooooo!" and bundle Henry up and take him home.He heard that inner voice and ignored it. I think the "parenting skills" so often employed by members of the ton lead to too many children looking for attention, bad if that's all they can get. For girls it is all about what they can get for their family, ultimately the parents.

Henry has ignored his inner voice and has believed himself unworthy of love and positive attention. He has created his own self-fulfilling prophecy. He hasn't taken anything in his life seriously because his patents didn't take him seriously, they helped by calling him an idiot and a disappointment. He lacks self confidence.

This was a lovely story of two lost people coming together to heal the holes in each other's hearts. Henry andKatie are a fun couple to cheer on. Katie's confidence, if only on the surface, that Henry would triumph over his demons was endearing and helped Henry take it one day at a time.

I was deeply disappointed in both parents. The Dowager Duchess for not even trying to help Henry and basically writing him off since he was young. The Marquess of Shrewsbury, what a mean, spiteful, miserable excuse for a human. Each time I read his name or the words her/my father from Katie a shiver went up my spine. I understand why Henry decided to do what he did, but I would have planted a facer just on principle before signing the paperwork. I was disappointed not to have that mystery solved, what ultimately happened with the land? Perhaps it will be answered in the final book of the series.

The background of the curse adds a bit of tension that any good story needs to help bring our HEA out in the open. I am enjoying this series very much!

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is Book 2 of the series, Misfortunes Favorites. I always love picking up a book by Ms. Galen. Her stories always sparkle with romance, wit, and intrigue, and this latest one also did not disappoint. Although this can be read as a standalone, it might best be appreciated if read in order, as the first book gives the history behind Henry's curse.
Henry, Duke of Carlisle, has an addiction problem. Finally, giving in to his cursed fate, he bets it all and loses to his archenemy, the Marquess of Shrewsbury. Henry becomes penniless and homeless and retreats to his mother's dower estate. The Marquess' daughter Katie, lives on a neighboring estate - banished there by her father to keep her hidden because of a birthmark on her face. When Katie meets Henry, she has no respect for him. She is angry at the way he recklessly lost everything, disregarding his mother and his tenants. But when he asks for her help in finding out why the marquess has such a vendetta against him, she agrees only if he makes amends for neglecting his tenants. He agrees and the two begin their mission on finding the truth and along the way also find the path to each other's hearts.
Henry is a hard man to love, and I really liked the way Katie pushed back and made Henry work to become a better version of himself.
The story was well-written and flowed smoothly and I adored Katie and Henry and the sizzling chemistry they had. This was a lovely addition to the series and I can't wait to read more!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the arc. I enjoyed this story about Lady Katherine (Katie) Malfort and Henry Lewis, the Duke of Carlisle. This is the second book of Shana Galen's Misfortunes Favorites series, which follows three friends who were cursed by a witch when they were 13 years old. Henry, who's just turned 30, feels that he's been living under a witch's curse for the past 17 years. Unfortunately for him, his love of gambling has resulted in losing both his title holding, and his London townhome. Having nowhere else to go, Henry visits his mother who's living in the dower house of his former estate, Carlisle. While he's there, he finds out that the peer who won these properties from him has moved his only daughter, Katie, to Carlisle.

Katie was born with a birthmark on her face, resulting in her family hiding her from society all her life. Katie has lived a life of isolation, and finds herself banished to Carlisle after she attempted to go to Paris to pursue her art. Without her paints and tools, Katie is at a loss, but soon resolves to assist the tenants of the estate. After blaming the previous owner of the estate, Henry, for all the tenants' problems, she makes sure to express her opinion of him when she runs into him while walking the estate. Eventually, Katie ropes Henry into helping the tenants during her visits. Which helps occupy Henry while he fights the temptation to gamble in the village. Katie and Henry working together helps bring them together, and their romance is very sweet. Katie really understands Henry, and tries to steer him away from his gambling vice, while Henry is besotted with Katie, and is very protective of how others see her.

I loved Katie's character. I felt the pain of her isolation, and the pain of her family's disregard of her. She threw herself into helping the tenants of the estate, and she was undeterred from trying to help. On the other hand, I found Henry annoying, and wished that he would stop blaming the witch's curse for his problems. I understand that this is the unifying thread through the series, but I did not appreciate how Henry reacted. But Galen's writing pulled me along, and I'm looking forward to reading the third book of the series to see how everything ends.

My Fair Katie (Misfortunes Favorites) by Shana Galen

A childish prank ...
Three friends cursed...
A witch seeking revenge
Spicy ☕🔥🔥🔥

A delicious story filled with lots of passion in world where family obligations, expectations, secrets, and yes…curses can change ones fate in a blink of an eye.

I can't wait to read the next installment in Shana's new world!

Thank you Dragonblade Publishing for the advance reader copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Henry climbs through her bedchamber window and tells her how beautiful she is WHEN THEY ARENT EVEN COURTING YET. What a tortured romance hero! Katie falls first but Henry is head over heels long before he realizes it but it’s through his actions the reader sees his love for her. There is a marriage of convenience but with a bit of a twist that I really liked!

On the more serious note of this book is Henry’s gambling addiction that’s addressed and Katie supports him in his fight and he actually WALKS AWAY FROM A WAGER to see her. That she is the one thing that can bring him back to himself when he feels the urge. Progress isn’t a linear slope though and I love that portrayal through Henry.

I also loved that Henry’s mother has a soft spot for Katie and the way she disapproves of many of Henry’s actions yet the love she holds for her son is obvious and vice versa.

I’m so ecstatic to see the Misfortune’s Favorites bros reuniting with their wives in the next book!

A witch's curse and an addiction to gambling. Losing his home, his townhouse and his money to the Earl of Shrewsbury, Henry, the Duke of Carlisle, is in dire straights. His only option is to live with his mother in the Dowager House at Carlisle Hall. Katherine Malfort is the Duke of Shrewsbury''s daughter. Abandoned and hidden away at Carlisle Hall, she lives a miserable life with no hope of change. The Duchess of Carlisle gives her a challenge to help the tenants. When Henry, the idiot appears, Katie isn't afraid to give him her opinion on his neglect of Carlisle Hall. A strong attraction, means he can't stay away from her, but he also needs her help to solve a mystery. They come to an understanding to thwart her father, but can Katie help Henry with his demons? Will the curse finally be broken?
A lot of humourous repartee and hot descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is the second book in the " Misfortunes Favorites" series. It was interesting and well written. It included a curse from a witch, a lossof inheritance and wealth, surprise land holdings, a family grudge, a harsh and despicable father, an embarrassing and unflattering birthmark, a race to Gretna Greene and so much more. I enjoyed watching the main heroine and hero meet and how their relationship evolves with such action, humor, drama, and wit into such a lovely romance. It sees end on a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to read the next book either, and I highly recommend reading it!

Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the chance to read and review this book.

It's been a while since I've read a regency romance that actually covers topics on the heavier side, without dismissing them altogether by the end. Henry has a gambling problem and that doesn't magically go away; he is gambler and that stays until the end. Katie has a birthmark that scares people, and that doesn't just disappear with her revealed to be a conventional beauty. Her father doesn't become gentle with them at the end, and they really will struggle for money in the future.

This made it a good solid read. And the spice was just **chefs kiss**!

Entertaining Historical Romance

Cursed when he was thirteen, Henry’s luck finally ran out at age thirty as the witch who cursed him moted it be. A duke he might be, but he lost everything to an enemy, and he did not understand why. He went to stay with his mother when he ran into Katie. She was the daughter of the man who destroyed him, and from their first meeting, she scolded him for neglecting his tenants. Henry wanted to find out why Katie’s father was targeting him for revenge, and Katie agreed to help, but she had conditions. What would the two uncover? As they got closer, sparks flew between them, but she was the daughter of his enemy. How would it all turn out, and could Henry get free from the witch’s curse? I enjoyed this historical romance and would recommend it.

What a heartfelt book! Katie has led a sheltered, lonely life because of her cold, uncaring father. He's kept her a virtual prisoner because of her birthmark. Her father wins an estate from the Duke of Carlisle. Henry, the Duke of Carlisle has a gambling addiction. Katie and Henry meet after Katie moves into his former house. Both of the main characters have issues with lack of self esteem and confidence: Katie, from her abusive upbringing and Henry, from losing everything to addiction. I love both of these characters and was rooting for them. After running to gretna green for a rushed marriage, they basically start from scratch. This ends in a happy for now. They still have a ways to go, but I feel they will come out great in the end. There's still one more book in the series.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This is such a cute book. Henry, Duke of Carlisle, is a gambler and after losing his family's country estate he tries to get it back and ends up losing his London townhouse as well. With nowhere else to go, he goes to his mother's dower house on the estate's lands.

When he gets there, Henry meets Lady Katherine, daughter of the Marquess of Shrewsbury, who was essentially exiled to the estate by her father who had won it from Henry. Henry engages Katie's help to figure out why her father hates him so much that he made an effort to win all of Henry's properties and lands. Katie has a large birthmark on her face which has caused her to hide away her whole life. As they work together to figure out what is going on with her father, Katie helps Henry to curtail his gambling addiction, and Henry helps Katie become more comfortable with meeting new people and living as herself.

The two of them are really good for each other and it is nice to see Henry redeem himself and Katie come into her own. I didn't realize this was the second of a series so this book could very easily be read as a standalone. I look forward to the next book to find out how Henry and his 2 friends solve the overall issue of them being "cursed" when they were teens.

I received a promotional copy and am giving an honest review.

My Fair Katie by Shana Galen is the story of the second of three men who were cursed by a witch when they were just boys. His two friends had been cursed on their thirtieth birthdays in the most horrific of ways, and now it was his turn.. But, he had hope. A poem left indicated that he/they might be able to lift the curse. This is his story. Henry, Duke of Carlisle was a gambler. He had already lost his family’s country home and now he had just lost their house in London. Why the Marquis of Shrewbury had it in for him was anybody’s guess. With nowhere else to go, Henry made his way to the Dowager House on his former estate. His mother owned it so he had not been able to gamble it away. She was less than happy. Idiot, she called him, but not before he had been brought to task by the most beautiful woman he met on the road. For not taking better care of his tenants of all things. She had a large birthmark on her cheek but that did nothing to bank her appeal. And she grew to love him, for what reason he could not imagine.

Lady Katherine Malfort, Katie, was the only daughter of the Marquis of Shrewbury. She had been sent to this deteriorating heap of a house by him. He wanted to be rid of her. He was ashamed of her mark. When she became aware that it was his goal to let the entire estate fall into ruin, she took things into her own hands. She was stubborn and intelligent. She allowed the Dowager Duchess to convince her she no longer needed to wear a veil to go out in public. The Dowager said people would bet used to her birthmark, and they did. Henry was the furthest thing from strong, although he was moderately intelligent. The were a good pair and excellent characters. This is an interesting series and this, a good read. The plot is ridiculous in most peoples’ eyes, but they believed it and that is all it took. And the things that happened. Were they simply coincidence? Great series, Ms. Galen. Thank you!

I was invited to read My Fair Katie by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #ShanaGalen #MyFairKatie

Shana Galen is an auto buy author for me (I had this preordered before I got an ARC). She is create vivid worlds and is able to create realistic conflicts that feel fresh.

I really liked the way Kate came out of her comfort zone. She meets Henry and after a time become friends. The story just gets better from there! I would have liked to have had more about their lives instead of the abrupt ending.

I loved this book! The main character’s were very likable and it was a very refreshing book to read. The story was very well written and I enjoyed the plot so much and the plot twist was so good!

Henry Lewis, the Duke of Carlisle was on a winning streak when he loses almost all the properties his family has owned for generations to the Marquess of Shrewsbury. It was an ill-fated attempt to win back his ancestral home, Carlisle Hall, that finally did him in, losing his townhouse instead. It was a game of vingt-et-un, and may or may not be the result of a curse from a witch he and his school friends had offended during their time in Scotland. Carlisle knows, though, that it's this lifelong urge to seek the thrill of games of chance that was his ultimate downfall.

Carlisle Hall is currently occupied by Shrewsbury's daughter, Lady Katherine Malfort. Shrewsbury is ostensibly keeping his daughter in Carlisle Hall to keep her away from society, owing to a conspicuous birthmark on her face. But to Katie, it's a punishment for attempting to run away to Paris and pursue art studies and painting. Katie makes the best of her forced exile in the country by taking on the mantle of mistress of the estate--seeing to tenants' needs, and even forming a wary friendship with the Dowager Duchess, whose dower house had been fortunately secured against Henry's gambling tendencies.

Penniless and debt-ridden, Henry ventures to Carlisle Hall to find a way to get it back. An old feud between the Carlisles and the Shrewsburys, involving ownership of a piece of land in France might be the piece of the puzzle that Henry is looking for. He enlists Katie's grudging assistance. In working together, Henry's initial attraction to Katie percolates into a shared desire and deeper feelings. As they get to know one another, they go up against all odds, not only to win back Henry's properties and dignity, but also his self-respect and a way forward--a future free of the burdens of the past, for him, for them both.

This being a historical romance, there's much thought into how Shana Galen framed and progressed Henry and Katie's physical relationship, as they went from enemies to grudging allies to friends with sparks and then to full-fledged lovers. Everything, from their first time, to how the act becomes a bit more natural for Katie, and how two people to get to know how to respond to each other's bodies--all of these were shown in a way that I feel was so deliberately differentiated from the usual fare, but--and this is the most important thing, all that did not feel out of beat to the story and the characters.

My Fair Katie is the second book in the Misfortune's Favorites series. Though I did not read the first one, My Fair Katie is easy enough to follow and can be read as a standalone. (It makes me want to go back to the first now, though, and now awaiting the conclusion). There's a lot going on, with the interconnected stories and the supernatural elements, but IT ALL WORKS, and how! I enjoyed this one thoroughly.

I received an ARC through the author on #Netgalley. This review is made voluntarily, honestly, and for free.