The Secret Daughter by Anne Gracie (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Brides of Bellaire Gardens series. Zoe is the illegitimate daughter of a baron who is traveling through France and being tutored in ladylike pursuits before her return to London where she will debut as the distant cousin of her more established sisters. She ends up having to flee a house party and ends up traveling alone to her late grandparents’ manor, which was looted during the Terror. Along the way, she meets a handsome scoundrel going by the name of Reynard. They end up spending a week together and fall in love, until Zoe discovers something terrible about Reynard and runs off. But that’s not the end of the story because we all end up back in London with Zoe’s family and Reynard actually has ties to the English aristocracy. This one was a calming quiet slow-burn type of romance with basically no external conflict. I enjoyed it a lot and liked seeing everything work out for all the couples in this series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Paris. Book 2 of the Las Leonas series. Manuela is trying to have one last scandalous Summer before she has to marry a man for money. And she’s trying her best to find debauchery in Paris. When a meeting with a stuffy widowed duchess turns out to be a meeting with a woman she met at a club the previous evening, Manuela turns the tables and coerces Cora to show her a good time in Paris in exchange for the opportunity to buy some land she owns in South America. Cora is actually pretty emotionally repressed after a scandalous incident with a former flame forced her to flee London and rebuild her reputation. We get to see the grumpy Cora melt under the sunshine Manuela’s persuasions. Loved seeing the interaction between these two and them getting to know each other. Standout side character is Cora’s super supportive stepson.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Lord Ravenscroft Is Not a Gentleman by Barbara Russell (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 6 of the Victorian Outcasts series. We get another tragic set-up in this series when Edith and Perry meet at a garden, then their ship crashes into the Thames, they both nearly die, and then grow closer during their recovery. Edith used to be a bookish gal with aims of becoming a doctor, and Perry used to be a fun-loving younger brother of an earl with no ambition whatsoever. We catch up to them five years later when Perry returns to London after an extended recovery period at fancy hospitals and doctors in Switzerland and find out that Edith has lied to Perry all these years in her letters and making him believe she went to medical school and is now a doctor. But she is now totally aimless and getting into all sorts of scandals, much to the dismay of her family. Perry is somehow now the earl because his older brother gave up the title and married an actress. And so he’s the noble one trying to save her from her latest scrape of posing nearly nude for a painting. I enjoyed reading all the drama and twists and how these two people are so connected to each other, despite their new circumstances.

Advance ebook provided by Oliver Heber Books via BookSprout.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Belvoir’s Library series. We get to mix a little bit of road trip with a little bit of fake identity and throw in a bit of fake marriage in this romp! The social awkward and painfully shy Lydia has shown up at an earl’s castle in Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience after three years of secret correspondence with the man. Except Arthur the earl is not who she had been writing to, it was his younger brother pretending to be the earl. And then the brother might be in some sort of scheme with a rifle part and Arthur needs Lydia’s help to track him down. It was so fun reading these two work together to solve the case and Arthur was just so impressed by Lydia’s cleverness. All the best kind of chaos, yearning, and steam.

Advance ebook provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Dreamscape Media via NetGalley and Libro.fm.

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I love a good bargain for ebooks, and at the rate that I’m reading, grabbing an ebook deal is essential. I’ve rounded up a bunch of romance books that are on sale right now that you should check out. Click on the picture of the book cover to check the current price. Prices fluctuate, so keep in mind that it might not be on sale for long. (If you make a purchase through these links, I get a small commission.)

Historical Romance

Contemporary Romance

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (2021)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Bellinger Sisters series. Party girl Piper is banished from her glamorous life in LA by her stepfather to go to a small fishing village in Washington state. She has no idea what she’s doing and makes a poor first impression on grumpy widowed fisherman, Brendan. Except that he’s distractedly attracted to her and wants to help her survive her stay. There’s so much banter and flirting and humor here, along with dealing with grief (Brendan) and finding purpose in life (Piper). I enjoyed seeing them interact and get to know each other. Brendan was delightfully supportive of all of Piper’s efforts and her caring personality. And if you didn’t know, Tessa Bailey is a very smutty author.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (2022)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Bellinger Sisters series. Fox is not a commitment kind of guy, but he starts a text-based friendship with Hannah after she leaves his small fishing town. And then when she’s back in town on location for a movie she’s working on, she’s also staying in his guest room. But everyone in Fox’s life has basically warned him away from Hannah and reinforcing that he’s not boyfriend material. Poor Fox has had it rough. But what he feels for Hannah is real and deep and lasting, aside from his own insecurity. Luckily, once Hannah realizes that she has feelings for Fox, she’s quick to believe the best in him and defend his honor. Loved it!

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Vine Mess series. Natalie and August have been at odds upon first meeting, most likely because he said something boneheaded to thwart a potential one night stand. Now, a couple months later, August has run out of money trying to make his late best friend’s vineyard dreams come true. As he’s about to leave town, Natalie comes to him with a proposition. She needs access to her trust fund and her father has put an archaic clause that requires that she be married. She proposes a marriage of convenience to August so she can get the money she needs to start her own investment company and August will look like an upstanding stable guy to get a small business loan for his vineyard. Of course, the underlying burning attraction between them leads to all sorts of angry flirting and seductive games. August is basically your bumbling golden retriever, but when he goes into Navy SEAL mode, it’s all sorts of appealing for Natalie (and the reader). Emotional, funny, flirty, and steamy.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print book provided by HarperCollins via TikTokShop.

A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Difficult Dukes series. This book was so fun and reminded me how much I love road trip romances in a historical setting. Ripley is a groomsman at his best friend’s wedding and charged with making sure the wedding happens. The problem is that Olympia has run away from her own wedding and Ripley gives chase. He’s doing his best to convince her to go back, and then stall her so the groom can catch up, and preserve her reputation. But Olympia is all sorts of frantic and not interested in going back to her fiance. Along the way, Olympia and Ripley get to know each other, and Ripley has switched his efforts to just trying not to betray his best friend. There’s chaos and adventure and I loved seeing these two people fall in love.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Viscount Langdon has isolated himself on an island after a train accident leaves him with nightmares. And then one night, the storm washes up Marlowe, the most beautiful and desirable courtesan in London. He rescues her and learns that she was flying her hot air balloon solo and got caught in a storm. These two have been lusting after each other since first sight, but Marlowe is under the protection of another lord and is very loyal. Langdon also does not want to encroach on someone else’s territory, so he has tried very hard to stay away from Marlowe. But now, they’re stuck together and getting to know each other’s thoughts and personalities, making their connection all the stronger. This book is full of seductive flirting and yearning and longing. Another great book by Lorraine Heath.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era France and Scotland. Book 1 of the Las Leonas series. Luz Alana is the daughter and heiress to a rum distillery and trying to expand her business during the World’s Fair in Paris. She exchanges barbs with Evan, a whiskey distiller, who is sharing her space at the exposition. Luz has prioritized her responsibilities to her younger sister and her rum business, and has little to no time for frivolity, despite Evan’s handsomeness. Evan is the heir apparent to a cruel and horrible duke and is working on seeking revenge and the proper ownership of the deed to his own whiskey distillery. When they both realize that their inheritances are tied up in marriage stipulations, they enter into a marriage of convenience (with benefits). This book was steamy and emotional, and we all love Evan’s support of Luz’ business endeavors. Excellent read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

When the Lord Adored Me by Lydia Lloyd (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Rake Chronicles series. Lady Petunia is off on an adventure through Europe with her mother after rejecting her best friend Lord Edgar’s proposal. And when she’s busy with another man, she realizes she made a horrible mistake and would rather be with Edgar. As soon as she gets home, she goes to belated accept his proposal, but he’s spent the past year trying to get over her and realize that they’re total opposites and might not be able to build a marriage together. Somehow, they end up in a 12 days of Christmas bargain at Edgar’s brother’s townhouse that’s used for liaisons. We’re in for a steamy treat for most of the book, but still with amazing emotional connection and depth. Loved this quick and dirty read.

Ebook provided by Lydia Lloyd.

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

I love a good bargain for ebooks, and at the rate that I’m reading, grabbing an ebook deal is essential. I’ve rounded up a bunch of romance books that are on sale right now that you should check out. Click on the picture of the book cover to check the current price on Amazon. Prices fluctuate, so keep in mind that it might not be on sale for long. (If you make a purchase through these links, I get a small commission.)

Historical Romance

Contemporary Romance

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

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Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The Gentleman Was Right by Britt Belle (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Greydon series. Younger brother to an earl, Edward is feeling pretty purposeless after his brother comes back to the family estate. He’s happy to have the chance to do something useful, so he goes to investigate increased expenditures at his brother’s seaside cottage. When he gets there, Violet and her sister have been pretending to be family cousins and staying there to avoid her fiance. The ever-helpful Edward quickly offers marriage as a solution and gets soundly rejected. It’s clear that Edward is smitten and hopes that true affection and love with develop, but Violet is exceedingly wary after the betrayal from her fiance. We eventually end up with a fairly straightforward marriage of convenience plot with Edward trying his best to win Violet over and Violet doing her best to avoid engaging any feelings. Predictable but enjoyable read.

Advance ebook provided by Britt Belle.

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era France and Scotland. Book 1 of the Las Leonas series. Luz Alana is the daughter and heiress to a rum distillery and trying to expand her business during the World’s Fair in Paris. She exchanges barbs with Evan, a whiskey distiller, who is sharing her space at the exposition. Luz has prioritized her responsibilities to her younger sister and her rum business, and has little to no time for frivolity, despite Evan’s handsomeness. Evan is the heir apparent to a cruel and horrible duke and is working on seeking revenge and the proper ownership of the deed to his own whiskey distillery. When they both realize that their inheritances are tied up in marriage stipulations, they enter into a marriage of convenience (with benefits). This book was steamy and emotional, and we all love Evan’s support of Luz’ business endeavors. Excellent read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Difficult Dukes series. We start with Alice being terrified that her idiot brother will be killed sometime soon, so she sets off to find a husband this season, to make sure she’s never at the mercy of her cruel cousin. Her brother’s best friend, the Duke of Blackwood, is all sorts of distressed at the thought of Alice marrying anyone else, even though he has no claim to her. He clearly is nursing a long time affection for her, despite having chosen a lifetime of debauchery with his friends instead of the upstanding life he could have had with her. And when Blackwood hears that Alice’s terrible cousin is in town, he tries his best to protect her. We end up with a wild goose chase in the middle of the book that have Blackwood and Alice in a compromising circumstance and needing to marry. While this seems like the beginning of a happily ever after for them, they get pulled in different directions due to their competing responsibilities. As a standalone read, this book was fine. As a follow-up after the first two books, it fell a little flat because all the hints from the first two books suggest that these two are officially estranged. We learn more about this so-called estrangement in this book and do eventually end up with a happily ever after, but it was much less dramatic than I expected.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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Read more about getting the most out of your library card

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Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood (2024)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Under the Mistletoe Collection. Quick novella. Jamie and Marc have known each other for Marc’s entire life since he’s Jamie’s best friend’s younger brother. And Marc has been in love with Jamie for ever, but they never did get together. Until he goes for it and then she rejects him, and now a few months later, they’re stuck together in a snowstorm. Feelings get discussed and resolved and things get steamy in pretty short order. Fun lil quick read.

Advance ebook provided by Amazon Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey (2024)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Under the Mistletoe Collection. Another super short steamy novella. Single mom and thrift shop employee Evie has charmed the pants off gruff and burly farmer Luke. Literally, he can’t find pants that fit at the thrift store. But he goes there just to see Evie anyway. She’s wary of men, but he’s an absolute girthy sweetheart. Quick and steamy read.

Advance ebook provided by Amazon Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley.

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade (2024)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Under the Mistletoe Collection. Co-workers at the their day job and co-workers on their holiday gig, Nina and William have been friendly and not-quite-flirting for months. They’re on the road in their side gig and get caught in terrible snowstorm traffic and end up cuddling for warmth. And then more than cuddling for more than just warmth. Quick, steamy read.

Advance ebook provided by Amazon Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley.

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur (2024)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Under the Mistletoe Collection. Quick novella. Super quick little romance here with Everleigh who is spending Christmas at her late grandmother’s house and fireman Griffin who consistently comes to her rescue. Her stay in town is only temporary and the fireman is all sorts of charming, so she tries her best to resist at first. But that only lasts for so long.

Advance ebook provided by Amazon Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley.

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria (2024)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Under the Mistletoe Collection. Quick novella. The upstairs neighbor Theo is all sorts of cute and charming and Evie tries her best not to make a fool of herself in front of him. But he also has a massive crush on Evie, so it all works out in the end anyway.

Advance ebook provided by Amazon Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

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Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The Gentleman Was Right by Britt Belle (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Greydon series. Younger brother to an earl, Edward is feeling pretty purposeless after his brother comes back to the family estate. He’s happy to have the chance to do something useful, so he goes to investigate increased expenditures at his brother’s seaside cottage. When he gets there, Violet and her sister have been pretending to be family cousins and staying there to avoid her fiance. The ever-helpful Edward quickly offers marriage as a solution and gets soundly rejected. It’s clear that Edward is smitten and hopes that true affection and love with develop, but Violet is exceedingly wary after the betrayal from her fiance. We eventually end up with a fairly straightforward marriage of convenience plot with Edward trying his best to win Violet over and Violet doing her best to avoid engaging any feelings. Predictable but enjoyable read.

Advance ebook provided by Britt Belle.

The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Charming short story that was more adventure than romance, really. Mirren is out looking for a super rare edition of a book for her ailing great aunt and basically traveling up and down England to find it. Theo is the nephew of a not-so-nice bookseller who has assigned him to follow her and nab the book if she finds it. They run into each other a few times along her journey, with her not realizing that he’s following her. It’s mostly flirting and lots of treasure hunting. Fun and quick read.

Ebook accessed from Amazon Prime Reading.

Undercover with the Heiress by Alivia Fleur (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Tales from Honeysuckle Street series. Rosanna is a hotel heiress who is almost about to be engaged to a younger son of a lord, but then gets caught in a compromising situation with her stodgy neighbor instead. Phineas is not your average bank clerk but actually secretly investigating some sort of financial fraudster and Rosanna has now become entangled with someone dangerous. He marries her to protect her reputation and her person, even though the union is in name only. He hopes to solve the case and then set her free. Except Rosanna and Phineas are actually fairly attracted to each other, despite their opposite personalities. It was fun watching them learn to work together, to coexist, and to see the sparks fly. Best scene of the book goes to Phineas being super sweet to Rosanna’s younger brother.

Advance ebook provided by Alivia Fleur via BookSirens.

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Viscount Langdon has isolated himself on an island after a train accident leaves him with nightmares. And then one night, the storm washes up Marlowe, the most beautiful and desirable courtesan in London. He rescues her and learns that she was flying her hot air balloon solo and got caught in a storm. These two have been lusting after each other since first sight, but Marlowe is under the protection of another lord and is very loyal. Langdon also does not want to encroach on someone else’s territory, so he has tried very hard to stay away from Marlowe. But now, they’re stuck together and getting to know each other’s thoughts and personalities, making their connection all the stronger. This book is full of seductive flirting and yearning and longing. Another great book by Lorraine Heath.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Greycourt series. Elspeth and Julian are total opposites and also keeping secrets from each other. She’s looking for some ancient diary that’s hidden at one of his family estates and he’s just doing his best to keep his evil uncle from harming his sisters. There’s some terrible tragic backstory between their families from a decade ago, which causes Julian to be terribly wary of Elspeth. She’s all bright smiles and sunshine though and almost convinces Julian to let down his guard. He’s keeping secrets about his bedroom inclination (but it sure is steamy once Elspeth gets involved). Twisty and turny and there’s definitely an assassination attempt thrown in.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Print book provided by Forever Books. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Surprised Dukes’ Heirs by Caroline Lee (2024)

Historical romance. Quick novella to serve as a bridge between the Surprise! Dukes series and Surprise Heirs series. It’s really just kind of an extended epilogue where we catch up with all the characters from the Surprise! Dukes series. This will make very little sense if you haven’t read that series. Everyone is gathered around at the holidays five years after the last book of the series. We’re pretty much just re-introduced to the nearly adult kiddos so we know who they are in the next generation series.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Lee.

His Christmas Rose by Jane Maguire (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rockliffe Dynasty series. Fairly quick novella. Lady Emily is about to get engaged to her suitor, who will be visiting her family at Christmas. When she goes for a walk, she runs into her neighbor (and former crush) Nate. And then she gets stuck at his house during a snowstorm and it stirs up all her old feelings for him. Nate’s back at home after having traveled for years and is adamant at upholding one of his father’s holiday party traditions. And he also realizes all that he’s missed along the years. As Nate and Emily spend time together, they argue, then reveal their secrets, and fall in love. It’s a fairly quick burn here as they’re only stuck together for a couple of days. Feels like this could be the end of the series.

Advance ebook provided by Jane Maguire.

Tall, Dark, and December by Tracy Sumner (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 12 of the Rake Review series. American self-made man Weston is disgruntled at having been featured in the gossip column because he’s losing potential investors in his steam engine project. So his brother’s valet suggest he take some lessons in propriety from Lady Penelope. He’s instantly intrigued by her intellect, spark, and prim behavior. She’s equally charmed by him, but they keep their relationship professional to secure West’s status in society. Although he is drawn to her, he knows that as the illegitimate brother of a duke, that he’s not suitable for an earl’s daughter. He just needs to take the proper risks and offer for her anyway. Loved the steam and spark in this quick read.

Advance ebook provided by Tracy Sumner.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

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Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath (2014)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Duke’s daughter Grace is looking to make a love match this season and does not want to be misled by a blackguard’s sweet words to gain her dowry. She recruits her childhood friend, former crush, and now debauched widower the Duke of Lovingdon to help assess her suitors. He says no since he’s not ready to re-enter society nor find love ever again, but then feels protective and surprisingly attracted to Grace. He knows that he’s still heartbroken after the loss of his first wife and daughter, so he has no interest in marrying again, nor in dallying with a proper lady like Grace. But of course, his resistance only lasts for so long as he attempts to teach her lessons about false promises and words of seduction.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath (2014)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Lady Ophelia is one of the snootiest debutantes around and is constantly disparaging the commonborn Drake, even though he was raised by a duke and duchess. When she washes up ashore the Thames with no recollection of her memory, Drake decides to play a trick on her and tell her that she’s his housekeeper. It’s terrible of him and he knows it and he swears he’ll tell her the truth the next day, but then she says something snotty, and it makes him mad all over again. Interestingly though, now that she’s lost her memories, she’s actually a much nicer person and Drake is able to let down his guard around her. They grow closer together, but Drake feels a mix of guilt and protectiveness towards her. Plus, there’s the mystery of how she ended up in the river in the first place, which makes Drake even more protective. Tons of emotional angst while we wait for Drake to get in trouble for his sins.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath (2015)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Rose is a swindler who sets her sights on the elusive Duke of Avendale. He’s so distracted by his desire for her that he almost falls for it. But then he catches her trying to leave town with his money and insist that she stays with him at his home for a week. Avendale has a long history of being selfishly debaucherous and Rose is really just trying to survive her tragic upbringing. It was so interesting to see the unraveling of Rose’s secrets over the story and Avendale’s kind and gentle responses to it. Loved all the twists and reveals in this one.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

An Affair with a Notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath (2017)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. The Marquess of Rexton is supposed to be courting young Miss Gina at the request of her uncle to improve the girl’s chances of finding a suitable match. Unfortunately, Rexton is more preoccupied with Gina’s older and scandalous sister Tillie. The former countess went through a horribly scandalous divorce involving being unfaithful to her husband with a footman and is pretty much unacknowledged by the ton. She and Rexton have an instant spark of passion for each other and spend most of the time bickering when Tillie is supposed to be chaperoning Rexton’s outings with Gina. Unfortunately, Rexton cannot simply court Tillie instead, since her reputation makes her an unsuitable wife for Rexton as the heir to a duke. It’s all a mess and Rexton really needs to get over his want for a spotless reputation.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses by Lorraine Heath (2017)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4.5 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. We pick up immediately after Book 4, at the wedding of Rexton and Tillie. Where younger siblings Andrew and Gina are busy lusting after each other. After a quick little eavesdropping misunderstanding, they’re off on nighttime adventuring and believing that they’re ill-suited for each other. Quick novella that was full of flirtation and steam.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Viscount Langdon has isolated himself on an island after a train accident leaves him with nightmares. And then one night, the storm washes up Marlowe, the most beautiful and desirable courtesan in London. He rescues her and learns that she was flying her hot air balloon solo and got caught in a storm. These two have been lusting after each other since first sight, but Marlowe is under the protection of another lord and is very loyal. Langdon also does not want to encroach on someone else’s territory, so he has tried very hard to stay away from Marlowe. But now, they’re stuck together and getting to know each other’s thoughts and personalities, making their connection all the stronger. This book is full of seductive flirting and yearning and longing. Another great book by Lorraine Heath.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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His Christmas Rose by Jane Maguire (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rockliffe Dynasty series. Fairly quick novella. Lady Emily is about to get engaged to her suitor, who will be visiting her family at Christmas. When she goes for a walk, she runs into her neighbor (and former crush) Nate. And then she gets stuck at his house during a snowstorm and it stirs up all her old feelings for him. Nate’s back at home after having traveled for years and is adamant at upholding one of his father’s holiday party traditions. And he also realizes all that he’s missed along the years. As Nate and Emily spend time together, they argue, then reveal their secrets, and fall in love. It’s a fairly quick burn here as they’re only stuck together for a couple of days. Feels like this could be the end of the series.

Advance ebook provided by Jane Maguire.

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous To Know by Mary Jo Putney (2024)

Historical romance. American West. Standalone novella. Liza is a widow who is traveling home to her in-laws’ after burying her father. On the way, she sees a prisoner being mistreated and nurses him back to health. Even though Drew is on his way to his own hanging, he appreciates all the care and attention that he gets from Liza. They pretty much fall in love during their one night together. This was a quick read with a fun twist once we find out the crime that Drew has committed.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Difficult Dukes series. This book was so fun and reminded me how much I love road trip romances in a historical setting. Ripley is a groomsman at his best friend’s wedding and charged with making sure the wedding happens. The problem is that Olympia has run away from her own wedding and Ripley gives chase. He’s doing his best to convince her to go back, and then stall her so the groom can catch up, and preserve her reputation. But Olympia is all sorts of frantic and not interested in going back to her fiance. Along the way, Olympia and Ripley get to know each other, and Ripley has switched his efforts to just trying not to betray his best friend. There’s chaos and adventure and I loved seeing these two people fall in love.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Difficult Dukes series. The Duke of Ashmont is your Regency-era himbo, named “His Grace with the Angel Face” and basically doing nothing productive with his title. He spends so much time drunk that no one has any noble expectations of him. Cassandra is the eldest daughter of a politician who is known for being a shrew and completely outspoken. When she gets into a tangle with Ashmont, his solution is to marry her. She refuses over and over and over again, but he seems to be quite persistent. I loved seeing him be the one to pursue her and work hard at earning her esteem. I also liked reading about their interactions as children and how those experiences influenced their present day affections. Loved it!

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey (2023)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Britta works at the bar where her half-brother’s hockey team likes to frequent, and teammate Sumner has run into a work visa issue on New Years Eve. Somehow Britta gets roped into a green card marriage with Sumner and sets very clear boundaries that it’s in name only and it would only be as friends. Especially since Sumner is clearly a relationship and commitment kind of guy who is obviously smitten with Britta. We get all sorts of little time jumps through the year of their marriage, with lots of flirting, and eventual steam. Cute and steamy quick read.

Ebook and audiobook accessed from Amazon Prime Reading.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.