Weekly Reads: July 31 to August 6, 2023

An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Unforgettable Love series. Georgianna is an impoverished orphan caring for her three younger sisters but hopes to make a living as a fancy chef to aristocrats. When she gets the opportunity to cater an earl’s yacht party, she is excited at the prospect, despite the earl’s scandalous reputation. However, an argument aboard the ship leads to Georgianna being sent home without proper payment. Sometime later, our rakish earl Daniel somehow falls off the ship and is recovered along a shore near Georgianna’s village with no memory of who he is. He does vaguely recognize Georgianna and to prevent further scandal, she claims him as her husband. She brings him home with her to recover and help assist with the chores around the house, in retaliation for her owed wages. Of course, she feels terribly guilty along the way but also grows to admire his work ethic and his kindness towards her sisters. Daniel’s memory returns in bits and pieces but he is charmed by Georgianna and respects the way that she unselfishly cares for her family. I enjoyed reading the slow-burn wary romance between Georgianna and Daniel, despite knowing that he will likely eventually be upset at her deceptions.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

Shameless Duke by Scarlett Scott (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the League of Dukes series. After the events of the previous book, secret league leader and duke Lucien has been assigned a partner from America to assist with his investigation of the Irish terrorists. The overbearing and arrogant duke is of course completely surprised when the agent who shows up is the ultra-competent female, Hazel. They spend the first quarter of the book arguing with each other until Lucien starts to begrudgingly accept Hazel’s input. Things get even more fiery when they give into their attraction to each other and start a physical affair. Meanwhile, they’re still trying to solve the case of the Irish terrorists. Lucien starts the book as someone totally judgmental, but slowly starts to realize his own limitations and softens towards Hazel. Both Lucien and Hazel have tragic histories in relation to love and it was nice to see them open up to each other about their pasts.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Shop this book via Amazon // Libro.fm // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

While the Duke Was Sleeping by Sophie Jordan (2016)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Rogue Files series. Poppy is a worker in a flower shop who is smitten with one of the regular customers, even though the duke doesn’t pay her much attention. When she sees him fighting in the street with another man and does not see an oncoming carriage, she pushes him out of the way, saving his life, but also rendering him unconscious. The man he was fighting with turns out to be his illegitimate half-brother, Struan, who he refuses to acknowledge. In the confusion of bringing the injured duke home, Poppy is assumed to be the duke’s fiance. Struan is skeptical of that, but still believes Poppy to be the duke’s paramour. The duke’s household and family are overjoyed the meet Poppy and enthusiastically welcome her to the family, causing her to feel even more guilty for the deception. Throughout all of this, Struan both antagonizes and physically pursues Poppy, which she both enjoys and rejects. Even though she isn’t truly engaged to the duke, she still isn’t free to pursue Struan, who is not offering anything honorable to her anyway. Still, this book was an entertaining story and I enjoyed meeting the duke’s warm and welcoming family.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Duke’s Bartered Mistress by Caroline Lee (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Scotland. Book 2 of the Surprise! Dukes series. Scarred and reclusive Demon is unwilling to accept money to repay an earl’s debt, wanting instead the location of the earl’s brother who betrayed him. Dutiful daughter Georgia comes to the castle to take on the negotiations, but Demon wants her gone so he crudely proposes that he’ll release the debt if she stays as his enthusiastic mistress. Georgia wants the approval of her father so she’s willing to do whatever it takes to wipe out this debt and it doesn’t hurt that she does actually desire Demon. She agrees to the bargain and spends the next five weeks in Demon’s castle. As they spend more time together (both in and out of the bedchamber), they slowly start to fall in love, but are hesitant to ask for anything beyond their initial agreement. Despite the steam starting early and often, the romance here was slow burn with a slow progression of trusting each other and sharing about their pasts. We also get to see Demon’s friends from the previous story and get an update on the ruthless villain that they’re searching for.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

The Scandal of It All by Sophie Jordan (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Rogue Files series. Widowed duchess, Graciela, hesitantly seeks a night of fun at a pleasure club, but needs rescuing by her stepson’s best friend, Colin, so she isn’t caught by her stepson. There’s barely an age gap here with Graciela being only six years older than Colin, but everyone feels a little scandalous about it. Graciela was poorly treated by her late husband even though she tries to project a happy loving image to her stepchildren and daughter, and she tries to have a bit of an adventure at the cajoling of her best friend. She gets in way over her head at the pleasure club and somehow ends up kissing Colin to hide her identity. He proposes an affair with her, and she is both intrigued by his attention but also insulted that she isn’t worthy of courtship or marriage. Meanwhile Colin has his own family issues having been orphaned at a young age, and he’s been attracted to Graciela for years, but kept his honor and manners in check for the most part. Colin is pursuing Graciela pretty ardently here and she tends to give in, even though she knows it’s unwise. A fun book to read, especially when we start to see the fallout of everyone’s actions.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. Lady Felicity who is the sister of a duke who grew up in poverty and is looking for a wealthy and titled husband so that she will find financial security plus have money to be able to start a charity to assist poor children. Secretly, she is a mechanic who loves to fix up her brother’s carriages. Her brother enters a curricle race and has tasked local blacksmith Giles with riding in the race and working with Felicity to make sure the vehicle is in the best racing condition. Giles is gruff at first with having to work with a partner, but very quickly becomes impressed with Felicity’s skill. These two are obviously a perfect match for each other; Felicity just needs to get over her desire to wed a wealthy and titled lord.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

One Night of Temptation by Darcy Burke (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. Penelope, daughter of a marquess, sets out to ruin herself and her arranged betrothal to an elderly earl by faking her kidnapping. The neighborhood rector, Hugh, ends up rescuing her from a very real kidnapping and also helps her hide from her parents for the night. Penelope hopes that the appearance of a kidnapping with help call off the betrothal. With all their hiding and running around town through the night, Penelope and Hugh very quickly develop camaraderie, friendship, and affection. Despite their differences in social station, Penelope just wants to be happy and useful, and Hugh has friends in high places to assist him when needed.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan (2018)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Rogue Files series. Marcus has run away from his ducal responsibilities after he catches his best friend with his stepmother in a compromising position and is on his way to his estate in the north of Scotland. On the way there, he happens across a village wife auction and buys/saves the girl who is being so crudely sold off. Alyse has been married in name only to her late father’s friend since the age of 15 and provided care of the man’s children and household. Her childhood friend was supposed to bid on her during the auction so they could start their new lives together, but that man disappeared and didn’t show up. Although she is purchased by Marcus, she has no idea who he is or if he’s trustworthy. He declares that theirs won’t really be a marriage and that he will employ her as a housekeeper at his estate. We end up embarking on a road trip romance here, traveling on horseback and stopping at various inns along the way. This book had a really interesting set up and it was nice to see Marcus slowly let down his walls and realize what a privileged life he has led thus far.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke’s Counterfeit Wife by Caroline Lee (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Scotland. Book 3 of the Surprise! Dukes series. The set-up of this book is totally crazy and definitely not historically accurate, but the author totally acknowledges this in an author’s note before you even start the book. An elderly duke in the Highlands sets a contest in the newspaper to select his next heir out of a list of distantly related contenders. One of the eligible candidates is Griffin, ex-spy and single father, who is trying to keep a low profile and keep his kids out of danger. He lives next door to Felicity and her teenage son, who inconveniently comes over through a door on a shared wall between their homes to spend time with his new best friend, Griffin’s daughter. The kids come up with a scheme to claim the inheritance and somehow wrangle their respective parents into a fake marriage to win the dukedom. There’s a ton of calamity and humor here with our blended family, but the duke and his secretary are very understanding and kind. Plus, the ongoing plot throughout the series of finding the spy boss who betrayed them all is still at play. I loved learning about Felicity’s backstory and how she became separated from her son; and I especially loved how they all came together as a new family.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rogue Files series. Clara, the younger sister of a duke, gets herself into a scandal by declaring herself pregnant to break off an unwanted engagement. She banishes herself to her brother’s Scottish estate to preserve her family’s reputation. Her brother’s neighbor and local laird Hunt is visiting and quickly offers her marriage in light of the scandal. Hunt is eager and willing to take on another man’s child since his own family seems to be cursed. The men of Hunt’s family tend to die before their first child is born and has been doing so for five generations. Hunt has long denied himself a wife and children, and bringing up another child seems to be a way to circumvent the curse. The downside is that Clara isn’t actually pregnant and this betrayal and risk of Hunt’s death hovers over their entire relationship.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.