In The Hallucinatory Duke, our heroine, Amelia, is researching the Duke of Durbane (who disappeared under mysterious circumstances two hundred years ago) when she begins experiencing hallucinations that look very much like the portraits she’s seen of the duke. Unfortunately, he seems to assume she’s a courtesan and treats her accordingly. Convinced her research is behind his unwanted attentions, she tries to quit her job, but her boss instead arranges for her to meet his nephew, Jack, who is experiencing his own troubling visitations. Although Amelia at first tries to keep Jack at a distance, she soon realises their previous experiences are so intertwined, they’ll have to cooperate to solve a mystery from the past and discover what the future holds for both of them.

When Jack Durban accepted a transfer to Atlanta, he didn’t expect his uncle Ben, a professor and historian, to recruit him to help research the mysterious disappearance of the Duke of Durbane two hundred years ago. Nor did he expect to start getting ghostly visits from a woman wearing a ball gown who insists on pleasuring him even when he isn’t interested. When his uncle arranges for him to meet Amelia, he realises their experiences are related and that they have to find some way to placate the spirits that are harassing them before they can plan the future he’s determined to share with her.

This is one of those stories that almost wrote itself, and I ended up being constantly surprised by the twists and turns the plot took. I sincerely hope you’ll find it as much fun to read as I did to write it.

This is a great historical romance that’s the perfect length to make its point and keep things interesting. This is my first Meta Mathews romance and I think it was written wonderfully, with just the right mix of detail and heartfelt sentiment. The emotion and tender feelings felt realistic and easy to relate to. It came to be about the love, not the sex, although Ms. Mathews did give us the explicit sex that I think you’ll enjoy. You’ll get warm-and-fuzzy feelings when you read Bad Lady Baronton and you’ll surely hate to see it end, as I did. It was so good I wanted it to go on and on. I look forward to reading much more from Ms. Mathews!

Knowing that your story brought so much pleasure to a reader leaves an author with the “warm-and-fuzzy feelings” that Mandy mentioned. Many thanks to Mandy and to Night Owl Reviews.

If you’ve read my books before, you know that I write erotic romance set in the Regency period in England. This story takes place about a year following the decisive battle at Waterloo. My hero has returned from the war, hoping to relax and enjoy his bachelorhood, when he learns he is the new Earl of Baronton. While he isn’t thrilled to have an impoverished estate and a host of new responsibilities thrust upon him, he’s even less thrilled to learn that he’s supposed to marry his fourth cousin, a lady he’s never met, so that she and her four sisters won’t be left homeless.

So what’s a former spy to do? Why, embark on an undercover mission to investigate his potential bride, of course. But instead of his future wife, he encounters a passionate woman who stirs his blood as no other has ever done. Unfortunately, he doesn’t find out they are one and the same until it’s too late.

Or is it?

I hope you enjoy learning the answer to that question in Bad Lady Baronton.

I wasn’t so sure about the tone of this book based on the blurb and first several pages but it really is a lovely story. I don’t want to give away the surprising plot but I will say that it is unusual and inventive. Eliza and Chamberly are well written characters who carry themselves with grace and honor. Eliza is courageous and resilient in the face of a life-changing event. Ms. Mathews weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue while telling a story of healing. From beginning to end this book is full of twists and turns. The plot is fast-paced and I read the story in one sitting. The story does contain one not quite consensual scene (touching but no rape) but the subsequent encounters between Eliza and Chamberly are romantic, tender and sensual. The book is so much more than that one scene and I’m still amazed at what a beautiful love story this is. I highly recommend this historical romance.

For any writer, it’s a thrill to learn that a reader enjoyed your story. Beyond that, to receive the highest accolade from a reviewer is especially gratifying. Thanks to The Romance Studio and to their reviewer.

In any case, I hope your weekend is fun and especially that it’s safe.