New Releases for October 2024 – Historical Romance Books and Contemporary Romance Books

The Duke’s Guide to Winning a Lady by Alexa Aston (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 7 of the Strongs of Shadowcrest series. Final book in the series. Tragic prologue for Malcolm where he loses his wife and child during childbirth, but he married a woman his mother picked out and didn’t have a real relationship with her. He decides to do better the next time around. Fast forward a couple years and we have the youngest Strong sister Effie planning her debut into society at the same time as Malcolm’s younger sister is debuting. Effie and Ada become fast friends at the modiste and spend several weeks together before the Season starts, most often chaperoned by Malcolm. He’s impressed by Effie and intends to make her his duchess, but she has no idea of his feelings since he rarely speaks around her and she sees him as an older brother figure. He’s got a lot of courting and wooing to do if he plans to convince Effie of his suit. The best part here is when Effie’s brother and brothers-in-law team up to help Malcolm win Effie’s affections. It was a lovely cap to the series, seeing all the family members so happily wed and supportive of each other.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

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Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Gah, the angst. This one is a second chance romance that involves one person having left the other at the altar. And we do get a flashback to the wedding day and it is absolutely heart-breaking. Charlotte believes her Decembers are cursed, between her absentee mother and a fiancee that left her at the altar during a December wedding. She ends up on Christmas vacation with her quartet of holiday loners at a very cheery queery mountain town in Colorado. Only to find out that her ex-fiancee, Brighton, is also there, being dragged there by a different family member. It’s totally awkward, Brighton is all sorts of guilty, Charlotte wants to pretend they don’t know each other, and their hostess’ mom is trying to set everyone up on this matchmaking activity. We get all sorts of small town small group chaos along with angst oozing out of every interaction. Even when you think that Charlotte and Brighton can’t reconcile their issues, we get to see how it all plays out. Loved it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

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As the Earl Likes by Darcy Burke (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rogue Rules series. We have a fun fake engagement story here between an earl and the daughter of a gambling club owner. Sheff is tired of his mother pressuring him to marry, so he has the bright idea to fake an engagement to a woman who is totally unsuitable. Jo is the manager of her mother’s gambling club and trying to figure out if she wants to take over the club, but decides to accept Sheff’s offer of fake engagement for the money that he’s willing to pay her. They’ve been friendly with each other for years, but their sudden closeness has caused their attraction to come forth. I enjoyed seeing them try and fail to resist their attraction, plus untangling some of the reasons for Sheff’s father’s behavior. Overall, a solid read.

Advance ebook provided by Darcy Burke.

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The Wolf of Mayfair by Christi Caldwell (2024)

Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Standalone novel. The Marquess of Wingrave is known for being cold and ruthless, but he surprises even himself when a young woman comes to his doorstep claiming to be his mother’s goddaughter. Helia is recently orphaned and running away from a dastardly cousin who seeks to marry her for her dowry. She’s looking for refuge, but finds a heartless Wingrave instead. He insinuates that she’s lying about the connection to his family and that she would only be suitable as a mistress. And then he offers her refuge from a snowstorm and also cares for her when she’s ill. This stubborn self-assured sunshiney woman is suddenly causing him to behave in ways he isn’t used to. He’s definitely domineering and an unrepentant rogue for most of the story, but still soft when it comes to caring for Helia. The story definitely kept me reading to see how it all worked out.

Advance ebook provided by Montlake Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Brilliance Audio via NetGalley.

Devils Covet Curves by Jemma Frost (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. We’re all at a house party where Drake is besotted with his best friend’s fiancee, but then finds a distraction in the wallflower Wren. They decide to help each other have fun during the party and keep Drake away from revealing his feelings about his friend’s fiancee. And of course, a physical affair ensues, followed by actual feelings. Drake is surprised to find that he’s drawn to both the physical relationship and conversational relationship he has with Wren and that he hardly thinks of the other woman at all when he’s with Wren. She’s glad to experience passion for the first and seemingly last time, while doing her best to protect her heart. Quick and steamy read.

Advance ebook provided by Jemma Frost.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Dream Harbor series. Bennett is in town to visit his sister Jeanie (owner of the Pumpkin Spice Cafe) and has somehow been appointed by the town to check in on the grumpy Christmas tree farm owner Kira. She had dreams of owning a farm and homesteading, so she bought a farm sight unseen without realizing it was the town’s beloved Christmas tree farm. She’s been a hermit for the past few months trying to prove that she can be independent and she doesn’t need anyone’s help. Until she runs out of money and needs to re-open the farm for tree buyers. Bennett is the ever-helpful rescuing type of guy who relies on his helpfulness to be wanted by his dates. He’s trying both the help and resist helping Kira, and she is definitely resisting any assistance. It’s a lot of push and pull, but they ultimately get stuck together in a snowstorm and a temporary fling develops. It was fun to revisit this quirky little town and to see Bennett and Kira integrate into a bigger friend group.

Advance ebook provided by Harlequin Books via NetGalley.

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Viola and Jesse are video game designers who work for rival companies and are stuck together at a winter company retreat where the two companies need to bond in preparation for a joint project. Things are awkward for Viola since Jesse has pretty much been ignoring her for the past five years, but it’s really a big misunderstanding and they’re happily snowed in to work out their issues. This was a fun and quick read, with all the miscommunication, humor, and steam you should expect from Ali Hazelwood.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

Double Apex by Josie Juniper (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Frontrunners series. Phaedra and Cosmin are antagonistic co-workers with Phaedra as the race engineer who has not succumbed to race car driver Cosmin’s unwanted flirting. And then somehow they form a truce and then a secret fling that helps distract Phaedra from the troubles of her dying father. But Cosmin’s actually invested in a real relationship between the two and is merely settling for what he can get. When a potential for scandal erupts, Phaedra’s the one to call it quits and put up emotional walls. The pacing of this book was a bit quick at first, making the romance a little less than believable. The big break-up also happens at about the halfway mark of the book, leaving quite a bit of time for Phaedra and Cosmin to each deal with their issues. I was very interested in Cosmin’s family backstory and the issues he had with his sister. There was also a nice set-up for the couple that will be featured in the next book of the series.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fmCurves and Counterfeit by Charlie Lane (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. The purposeless and drunken earl Keats sees his sister running away in a carriage, so he jumps aboard to figure out where she’s gone. Turns out that she’s running away from an elderly fiancee and ruination from a different man and seeing refuge at a home for women. Keats is stunned to find that his sister has been so displeased by her position and didn’t realize what a dissolute brother he has been. He decides to stick around as a stable hand to make sure his sister is safe and find his conscience a bit. He also is completely smitten by Lucy, one of the women who runs the house. She’s equally intrigued by Keats and allows him some moments of passion, since she’s soon to be bound for the London Season to find a respectable husband. Trouble is ahead though, since Keats is lying about his identity and his sister’s fiancee is still on the loose. I enjoyed how this story was tied up, with plenty of drama, despite its short length.

Advance ebook provided by Charlie Lane.

The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 8 of the Palace of Rogues series. Alexandra and Magnus have been estranged the entire five years of their marriage but reconnect when Magnus is back in England and needs to spring Alexandra out of jail. He insists that they make some strategic public appearances to maintain their reputations and then separate permanently. We slowly learn about how they came to be married in the first place and what caused their estrangement, but these two are essentially strangers to each other. I enjoyed seeing these two get to know each other in the present and realize that they have a simmering attraction to each other. The setting of our favorite boarding house also provided moments of levity and humor to balance the heartbreak and angst of our main couple. Another great book in this series.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Wallflower List by Jess Michaels (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the About an Earl series. Wallflower Marianne is set on completing her late best friend’s list of scandalous activities and she unwittingly involves her brother’s best friend Sebastian on the scheme. She’s had a longstanding crush on Sebastian, but he has only ever seen her as a friend, especially since he is a huge rake and warned away from her by her brother. Now that Marianne is showcasing a bolder personality, Sebastian is very much drawn to her and trying to resist. However, their connection is more than just physical, and it will take some soul searching for Sebastian to realize he’s in love with her. Pretty straightforward plot here, with plenty of steam.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Blacksmith’s Borrowed Bride by Ginny B Moore (2024)

Historical romance. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Heiress and suffragist Adelaide is on her way to her own wedding when carriage trouble puts her in proximity to handsome burly blacksmith Will. This quick novella is a mix of road trip obstacles, social class differences, and a physical affair between Adelaide and Will. Super steamy and enjoyable to read.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

Voluptuous by Felicity Niven (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Henrietta has been pining for her father’s friend Oliver for ages and ends up marrying him when they get caught in a compromising situation. But the dour and moody Oliver feels guilty for his previous wives’ deaths and feels guilty for lusting after his friend’s daughter, so it’s a marriage in name only. We get to see a friendship and partnership develop over the first two years of the marriage, until finally Henrietta asks for a baby. And then they realize they’ve both been attracted to each other the whole time. This book was sweet and steamy, all in one, and I loved seeing Henrietta’s sunshine help to bring Oliver closer to his young son. Delightful read with some vibes that remind me of Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas.

Advance ebook provided by Felicity Niven.

The Baron Who Never Danced by Barbara Russell (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Victorian Outcasts series. A footman and the daughter of an earl’s mistress meet at the theater where he rescues her (and a bunch of other people) from a fire. Two years later, they meet again when Angeline is socializing at balls and Royston has been elevated to a baron. Royston is being manipulated into stealing from Angeline’s mother, but he’s not comfortable with becoming a thief again, so he’s a bit clumsy about it. Overall, Royston and Angeline are getting together, despite Angeline’s mother and Royston’s former employer being scheming villains.

Advance ebook provided by Oliver Heber Books via BookSprout.

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The Scandal of Rose by Joanna Shupe (2024)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Standalone novella. Famous actress Rose refuses to become a man’s mistress and prides herself on being independent, but she hadn’t anticipated on being worn down by Moore. He’s a divorced tycoon who is uninterested in marriage again after the scandal of his previous divorce and is very happy to set Rose up in a townhouse and lavish her with gifts. Until he gets coerced into an engagement and loses Rose in the process. Quick read with tons of steam and angst.

Advance ebook provided by Joanna Shupe.

Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Fairly typical brother’s best friend romance. Charlotte has been in love with Hayden for years, had an opportunity to kiss him three years ago, and was rejected. She’s pretty much avoided him all this time, except to help care for his young daughter. Hayden is basically afraid and avoidant and he rejected Charlotte because he didn’t want to betray her brother and so he could figure out his messy life. They’re thrown together at a ski resort during Charlotte’s brother’s pre-wedding vacation, and finally talk through their issues and see about possibly making a go of a relationship. And then things get messy again when Hayden is second-guessing all his decisions. But it all gets resolved exactly how we would all expect it to.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

When the Duke Comes to Play by Kelsey Swanson (2024)

Historical romance. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Quick steamy novella here. Ariel is about to turn 30 years old and hires a male courtesan to take her virtue. We get a case of mistaken identity when Charles comes to the door instead. He’s at the house to buy a horse from her brother, but her brother isn’t there, and Charles decides to go through with the seduction and bedding of Ariel. He’s leaving town shortly thereafter and it won’t be a big deal. Except he’s actually a duke and she’s a proper lady and they run into each other at a ball a few days later. They decide to continue with the affair until he goes back home to America and both try really hard not to fall in love with each other. Super steamy romance!

Advance ebook provided by Kelsey Swanson.

The Hunt for Mr. October by Tabetha Waite (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 10 of the Rake Review series. Meliah is a weaver’s daughter with dreams of being a published writer and decides that writing an expose on the rake of the month will help get her there. She seeks out the earl in question, Elwood, and he agrees to entertain her request for an interview of she comes with him to his father’s hunting box in the country. While there, Meliah discovers that Elwood is not exactly the rake that he seems. He’s definitely flirtatious and charming and seductive, but he’s also kind and caring to everyone in the village. There’s a definite mismatch in their social stations, so Meliah knows there’s no future between them, but she decides to take Elwood up on his offer of pleasure while they’re together anyway. We just need to wait for Elwood to make the final move to secure Meliah’s affections for life.

Advance ebook provided by Tabetha Waite.

Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Charlotte is an artist who starred in a Christmas movie once as a child and is trying to run away from her past. She’s visiting her sister’s family in England and somehow meets the owners of a house that is featured in the movie she was in. While Charlotte shies away from all things Christmas cheer, the owner of the historic home Graham has commissioned a series of house portraits to sell in his home’s gift shop. They spend more time together, bantering, and flirting, and finally becoming more, but she’s only in England temporarily. There’s also the concern of whether her past fame is being used to promote tourism to the historical family home. I enjoyed all of the banter and flirting, which made me smile so much. It was the perfect amount of sarcastic ribbing that I enjoy. Super fun little Christmas romance.

Advance ebook provided by Atria Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.