Weekly Reads: November 27 to December 3, 2023

The Name Drop by Susan Lee (2023)

Contemporary young adult romance. Standalone novel. Jessica is headed to New York City for a summer internship before she starts community college in the Fall. Meanwhile, Elijah is headed to the same company for an executive internship as the CEO’s son. Things go awry when both Jessica and Elijah have the same Korean name and it’s an identity mix-up at the airport. Somehow Jessica gets transported to a fancy brownstone and introduced as the executive intern, while Elijah is crowded together with all the other lowly interns. When they discover the mix-up, Jessica and Elijah agree to continue with their unintended roles for the summer. It was fun seeing their friendship develop and learn to live and work under new circumstances, although the romance was super slow to get started and fairly innocent overall. What kept me reading was waiting to see what would happen when their secret gets discovered and what kind of fallout we would see.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath (2008)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Scoundrels of St. James series. Luke is known as the Devil Earl and does not actually believe that he’s the rightful earl. As a young man, he was arrested for murder and when the old earl came to confront the boy who killed his son, the old man believed to have found his long lost grandson instead. Luke didn’t actually believe himself to be the old man’s grandson but used the opportunity to better his circumstances and that of his friends. With Luke’s devilish reputation and the gossip surrounding his activities, Catherine has come to call and ask him to murder someone on her behalf. She refuses to tell him who she needs killed, but the reader knows that it is the cruel and abusive husband of her best friend. Somehow Luke and Catherine strike a bargain where he will do her bidding if he helps his longtime love Frannie learn society rules so that she will accept his marriage proposal. It’s a twisty mess of emotions since it’s clear that Luke and Catherine are attracted to each other. As they spend more time together, it’s obvious that they’ll fall in love, but Luke is still attached to his childhood affection for Frannie. We also get to confront the man that Catherine wants killed as well as discover whether or not Luke is the rightful duke.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden (2018)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Wagers of Sin series. Hugh has inherited a mountain of debt from his father and decides not to burden his grieving family with the truth of their financial circumstances. Things grow more dire when Hugh’s sister is courting a viscount’s son who will very likely expect a healthy dowry when they ultimately get engaged. Conniving businessman Edward Cross uses Hugh’s secret financial circumstances to coerce the man into courting and marrying his daughter Eliza. While Hugh is hesitant at first, he soon realizes that the shy and kind Eliza is not part of the scheme at all and finds her to be suitable to marry. Eliza was perfectly happy being a spinster and is very surprised to find one of her father’s business associates paying attention to her. Without knowing the deal made by her father and Hugh, she happily accepts his proposal. While Eliza is rebuffed by her new in-laws at first, she slowly starts to earn their acceptance through her kind and caring personality. Hugh’s actions are questionable throughout the book, but he’s clearly attempting to protect his family as best as he can; however, I knew that I was waiting for everything to blow up and for him to have to admit his actions to everyone.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Lost and Found by the Duke by Andie James (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Reluctant Lords series. This one is a pretty straightforward marriage of convenience between two strangers who meet at a house party. Grace is a widowed countess at her friend’s house party hoping to make a connection to find work as a companion or governess and is nearly accosted by her friend’s brother. Henry a recently inherited duke witnesses the encounter and rescues Grace. These two get to know each other a bit more over the next several days and Henry realizes that his troubles with matchmaking mamas can be solved by selecting his own bride. He proposes to Grace but she is hesitant and wary due to her previous poor experiences in marriage. They talk out their issues and Henry attempts to assuage all of Grace’s concerns. We get to see this romance slowly develop with clear and open communication, with Grace slowly regaining some of her confidence and poise after her horrible first marriage. We get a teensy bit of drama when Henry’s aunt and dowager duchess appears back at home, but the relationship does ultimately come out stronger at the end.

Ebook provided by Andie James.

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Never Tempt a Rogue by Christy Carlyle (2016)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Rogues’ Rulebook series. Short, low-angst story. Felicity is a companion and chaperone to her younger cousin at a house party where Felicity is responsible for keeping her cousin away from a rogue of a lord. Alex’s reputation is not actually his true nature and he never had designs on the young cousin anyway. When Alex meets Felicity, he is immediately drawn to her and prefers her to all the other eligible ladies at the party. She tries her best to stay away from him due to their differences in social station, but his earnestness eventually wears down her resolve.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Never Beguile a Scoundrel by Christy Carlyle (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Rogues’ Rulebook series. Emily is the daughter of a viscount and soon to be married off to a much older and lecherous man, so she seeks to arrange her own ruin by asking Max, an old friend of her brother’s to pretend to ruin her. He tries to be noble and refuse at first, but then gets jealous when she seeks out another man. They end up getting caught in a scandalous situation anyway and he’ll need to decide if he’s going to do the noble thing and marry her or not.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Never Defy a Duke by Christy Carlyle (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Rogues’ Rulebook series. This one is similar in set-up with the first book in the series with the duke’s heir, Gray, being set up at a house party full of eligible ladies. Except he only cares for his childhood friend Evie, who somehow isn’t considered eligible. Of course, they both have been attracted to each other for ages and somehow seeing Gray on the cusp of marriage to someone else has sparked Evie’s jealousy. This one was another quick resolution once Gray figured out who it is he really wants to marry.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

When the Marquess Was Mine by Caroline Linden (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Wagers of Sin series. Georgiana is visiting her friend in the country and finds out that the friend’s husband has lost the deed to the house and the scoundrel Marquess of Westmorland should be barred entry if he arrives. Well, he does arrive, but he’s badly beaten and injured and unconscious. Fearing that her friend will turn him out, Georgiana claims that the man is her fiancee, so he’ll be brought in and healed. When he wakes up, he doesn’t remember who he is, so Georgiana has to continue to pretend this man is her fiance. Rob doesn’t remember much of anything but he’s happy to have such a dedicated and beautiful fiance and enjoys spending time with her as he heals. It’ll be a terrible muddle once he figures out who he really is, and the fact that Georgiana is truly engaged to someone else. If you like chaotic amnesia stories, this one is excellent.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Christmas Exchange by Cali Melle (2023)

Contemporary romance. Low-plot, low-angst, decent smut, MFM holiday novella. It’s all Raegan’s POV as she returns home to visit for Christmas and runs into her childhood best friends Miles and Julian, who she sort of lost touch with for the past ten years. Everyone remembers that they used to have crushes on each other and decide to go for it (and be nice and share) while they go on a spontaneous ski trip and get snowed in. Fun and quick little read.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young (2022)

Contemporary romance. Holiday-themed novella. Super short, steamy, light, fake dating romance. Clara and Evan are childhood friends who both have their own individual issues. Clara is a photographer starting her new job at a gallery and somehow her boss has assumed that Clara has a female significant other, even though Clara is straight. Evan is a schoolteacher who is recently out of a nearly decade-long relationship and still sees her ex-fiancee at work. She’s also always maybe had a crush on Clara, but keeps reminding herself that Clara is off-limits. However, as Clara seems to be unable to admit the truth about herself to her boss, she and Evan decide to fake date to get through some events with both of their jobs. In the course of spending time together, Clara realizes that she’s sexually attracted to Evan and decides to go for it. They get together pretty easily and seamlessly and integrate really well into each others’ lives. And Clara brings Evan home to her parents’ house for the holidays. Clara’s supportive parents are the absolute best and this was basically a cozy (and spicy) hug in a book.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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Fortune Favors the Viscount by Caroline Linden (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Wagers of Sin series. Nick has been the owner of the infamous gambling hell featured throughout the series and now he finds himself to be the heir apparent to a distantly related viscount. Emilia is the governess of the late viscount’s daughter and conducted the investigation that led her to Nick. She aims to help him petition for the title in exchange for the upkeep and care of her charge. Nick is suspicious at first, and also completely uninterested in claiming an aristocratic title, but he also wants to protect his secret sister who is on the cusp of entering society. These two team up so that Emilia can serve as governess to both her charge and Nick’s sister. Of course, as Nick and Emilia spend more time together, the heated bickering turns into something more. We also get some additional drama with a clear villain and a revenge scheme. Overall, great end to this series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.