The Legendary Lord by Valerie Bowman

Sarah Highgate, the previous Season's Debutante of the Year (or some such, nonsense) has gotten engaged to a handsome Marquess. Unfortunately, he cares and talks about nothing but himself and she's over it. So she runs away to Scotland, to her father's hunting lodge. Except that she doesn't quite make it to the right place. Instead, she ends up at Christian Bancroft, Viscount Berkeley's, lodge. While there, her chaperone breaks her ankle so Christian's winterkeeper takes her into see the doctor, leaving Sarah alone.
Which is exactly when Christian arrives at the lodge. He's a handsome fellow but has been largely overlooked by eligible maidens because he can't talk to beautiful women without stuttering. Luckily, his first meeting with Sarah is so ridiculous he doesn't have issues with her. The two get to spend time together and become closer. But Sarah comes to the realization that she doesn't want to disappoint her parents so Christian helps to concoct a plan that will get her back to London without any scandal.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, the two getting to know each other was just adorable and it wasn't quite the typical "I'm running away from a horrible marriage" trope, just different enough to be interesting. The second half got a little overwrought for me but I think most "Playful Brides" readers will be pleased with this book.

Three stars
This book comes out November 1
Follows The Untamed Earl

The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman

When she was fifteen, Lady Alexandra Hobbs, second daughter of the Duke of Huntley, encountered Lord Owen Monroe and fell immediately in love. It's too bad that he's such a rogue. With such a bad reputation. And it's really unfortunate that he's going to be engaged to her incredibly sister Lavinia.
Lord Owen doesn't especially want to marry the oldest daughter of the Duke. Hell, he can't even remember who she is. But his father is tired of hearing all the gossip about Owen and wants him to settle down. Owen isn't interested. Especially once he finally figures out who Lavinia is -- her reputation being, possibly, worse than his. But his inheritance is on the line so when Alexandra, who he christens Alex, offers to help, he readily accepts. Too bad he's so much more attracted to her.
A good story that regular readers of Bowman will enjoy as will new-to-her readers. The last Big Misunderstanding was solved rather quickly so I'm not sure why it was included and I was a bit frustrated by Owen but overall a good book.
I am very interested to read the next book in the series. Especially since both the decent-seeming Lord Berkeley and Belle of the Season Sarah Highgate both seem to be heading to Scotland.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 3
Followed by The Legendary Lord

The Irresistible Rogue by Valerie Bowman

The start of this book really didn't draw me in. I felt like it was a bit havey-cavey what with all the action that we're just dropped into the middle of. which can be an interesting way to start a book but didn't work here. And then there's a couple of info dumps that aren't as well done as previous Bowman books.
It seems that Daphne Swift, our heroine, married Rafe Cavendish because she can speak Russian and her brother wanted her to help. 
I'm not sure if I just had a harder time suspending disbelief or if this book truly was as silly as I was finding it. I won't quit reading this author but this book wasn't quite as good as the previous in this series.

The Unlikely Lady by Valerie Bowman

I had read the first book in this series , The Unexpected Duchess, and noted that, while I thought the author was trying to make the main characters Lucy and Derek similar to Beatrice and Benedick, the honor belonged more to her friend Jane and the man I called Lucy's brother, Derek. Well, this is their book only Derek is actually Garrett, a very good cousin of Jane's and they more or less grew up together. And while I think the author was still shooting for a play on "Much Ado about Nothing," it just didn't work for me. I did enjoy most of the book however and made it all the way through to the HEA.

Jane doesn't want to get married. She is a student of Mary Wollstonecraft and thinks that men are thoroughly unnecessary, even pests. However, her mother thinks differently. Which is why Jane resurrects the fictional Miss Bunbury from the second book in this series, makes her a Mrs., and creates a fictional chaperone so she can attend the first week of Lucy's houseparty by herself.
Garrett, for his part, is an avowed bachelor.  He is also a big softy who has been supporting the widow of his dear friend for years. Mainly because he feels responsible for the man's death. Now, the widow has invited herself to his cousin's party, mainly to follow him around. Somehow, she seems threatened by Jane. Is it the fact that at the masquerade ball, Jane and Garrett kissed (well, rather more than that) not knowing who the other one was?
I honestly think I would have enjoyed the book more if it had just been an exploration of Jane and Garrett's relationship. Isabella, the widow, was a complication that didn't need to happen. She helped bring about the ending... sort of... but it was the ending given to Hero and Claudio in the Shakespeare play so I was rather confused.
This book comes out next Tuesday and is an okay read, but if you're a fan of the Bard, this might not be the book for you.

Preceded by Playful Brides #1 The Unexpected Duchess (I DNF'd the second book)

The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman

Lucy and her friend Cass are on the verge of being labeled old maids. They are dangerously too close to being put on the shelf. But Cass has a suitor. A very... determined... suitor. A newly minted Duke, a war hero, has set his eyes on her. Derek Hunt, the Duke of Claringdon, has promised his (dying) best friend that he will come back and marry Cass. Ever since he was young, Derek has been taught that the only way to live life is to make a decision and then follow through. So he's going to marry Cass. And, hello, he's a duke so her parents aren't letting him get away.

However, Cass and her friend Jane both think that Derek would be much happier with Lucy and they're going to be working to see if they can't help the two warriors find their HEA.
Okay, issues. Lucy is supposed to have this sharp tongue. We're told that over and over. But it's not really demonstrated in her conversation. And the ploys, would a twenty-three-year-old former deb really stand behind her friend and try to imitate her voice. And I think the author was trying to draw a parallel between Lucy and Derek and Beatrice and Benedick. But the slap-slap-kiss relationship would better describe Lucy's brother and her friend, Jane (can't wait for that story). Great use of Shakespearean themes (butler named Shakespierre?) though; I do see Lucy and Derek as Kate and Petruchio. But in an ending where Petruchio realizes that he doesn't especially want to change the woman with whom he first fell in love.

Followed by Playful Brides #3 (I DNF'd the second book) The Unlikely Lady