His Majesty, the Prince of Toads [Kindle Edition]

To avoid a major scandal, Lieutenant Lucas Deverall marries Sophie von Scharnburg and they part ways right after the ceremony. Sophie leaves broken-hearted because she realizes that her unspoken love for Lucas will never be returned and Lucas leaves disgusted because he believes Sophie is a little hussy who tricked him into marriage.

Now six years later, Lucas has returned home from war and discovers that the gangly girl he left behind has grown into a desirable woman; however he still doesn't want Sophie as a wife. He also learns that his newly inherited title of viscount is burdened with debt. The only feasible way to restore the title is to use the money from Sophie's trust, and Lucas decides to woo the money away from his unwanted wife. But Sophie doesn't believe this toad will turn into a prince, and she decides that now it's her turn for some payback.

His Majesty, the Prince of Toads is a perfect description of Lucas. Very rarely do I come across a hero that I just don't like initially. Lucky for me, in Ms. Jacobs' capable hands, Lucas does evolve and Sophie's feelings (and mine) for Lucas do a 180-degree turn. I admired Sophie's strength of character when faced with Lucas' disdain. As a matter of pride, Sophie refuses to defend herself once she realizes Lucas isn't really interested in the truth. At times, this strength became a weakness and I wanted to hit Sophie upside the head, but since Lucas is also hardheaded they make a great match. Speaking of great matches, there is a side story between the secondary characters, Lady Minerva Barrington and Lord George Carstairs. Pick up His Majesty, the Prince of Toads and enjoy the ride of Sophie and Lucas.

Sharon
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The author would have you believe that Deverall is a toad of a man, but I never believed that for one second. As much as Delle Jacobs may want you to think the worst of Lucas, you can't, because he is so much fun! In my way of seeing things, an author gets extra credit for creating wily, interesting characters.

No other heroine but hard-headed (that's right, hard-headed and stubborn, not head-strong and spirited) Sophie could match for this man.

I've been a big fan of Ms. Jacobs's work for several years. However, this is the first time I've read His Majesty, the Prince of Toads. So, I'm quite aware that Ms. Jacobs likes to lead readers down the rosy path. You think her story is going to do something predictable, and then the situation explodes into something you never imagined. Or, Ms. Jacobs can shove her characters into the tightest corners and you truly wonder how they can possibly get out of this fix. Yet they do and with great flair.

When Lucas returns home from the war to discover his estate in disarray thanks to his brother, Lucas finds he needs his estranged wife for her inheritance, her body, and ultimately her love. He gives Sophie a few days of freedom before she has to move in with him and start living as his wife. He enlists the help of his friend and fellow rake, Carstairs, to help him win his own wife.

Sophie has no intention of obeying the toad. She and her friend Minvera engage Lucas and Carstairs in a hilarious battle of seduction that takes place in the ballrooms and streets of London

I have a soft spot in my heart for all Ms. Jacobs's secondary characters. Minvera and Carstairs are no exception. Ms. Jacobs writes well-rounded minor characters who are motivated by very real emotions. No boring subplots here!
Of course, through their misadventures, Lucas and Sophie come closer. Does Lucas finally capture his wife? Or does Sophie capture him? I won't tell...

For all the fun, the story has a very serious side. Lucas and Sophie are being haunted by the terrible atrocities they both suffered during the war. Sophie, the daughter of a German Count, lost her parents to the conflict. With the help of her uncle, she fled to the safety of England. It takes Lucas and Sophie working together to heal what they couldn't on their own. These characters truly love and need each other. The ending is satisfying on multiple levels; a marriage is united, the pain of the past can begin to be healed, and the couple has the support of dear friends and family.

So often I finish books and I think the story is over for the hero and heroine. After the words "the end" the characters can move on to their happily-ever-after, boring married lives. Not Sophie and Lucas. Together with their friends, they are just gearing up for more adventures.

Ms. Jacobs writes precise prose that just sparkles. Her scenes have a beautiful arc and are packed with tension and great dialogue. (Most of this book takes place in London. However, if you read one of her books set in the countryside, you will see Ms. Jacobs has a fabulous eye for describing nature...it reads like a lovely painting.) If you want traditional romance with a little something added, this book is it!

I must admit, I don't read regencies very often. Partly because I get tired of the "courtly" drama and partly because after awhile they are all the same. So, I picked this one up because so many people loved it. However, I had every intention not to like it. Wow, was I wrong!

Delle Jacobs sticks to the historical accuracy of the genre but she gives it an edge with some entertaining fun. Set against the backdrop of the Peninsular War this book could speak as much to today as in history. How do people recover from the atrocities of war? How do husbands and wives learn to reconnect when they survive as different people? How does one forgive yet not forget the past? In spite of the seriousness of the background, the foreground of Lucas and Sophie's contentious relationship is heart-rendering and often tinged with humor at the same time. The best part is at the end Lucas and Sophie's journey is just beginning, and I believe it will continue to be filled with challenges. Delle writes with a beautiful literary style. Her characters are three-dimensional and her descriptions make you "see" every detail. I hope we see a follow up to this book soon. I'd love to travel further with Sophie and Lucas.