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Her Sort of Scoundrel by Christy Carlyle (2023)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Wanton Widows Club series. Quick and easy novella. Dash is an earl who has had a lifelong crush on his older sister’s friend Fiona and somehow insulted her two years ago when she propositioned him. Now they haven’t spoken to each other in years, despite being literal next door neighbors. They eventually start talking to each other again when Dash’s ward wants to meet the glamorous lady next door and they start to reconcile their friendship. However, that whole longstanding attraction to each other is still there and they need to work out Fiona’s hesitance to lose her independence.
Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.
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Wreck My Plans by Jillian Meadows (2023)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Lena is headed back home for Christmas after her plans fall through with her friends and she’s surprised to find that her brother’s best friend Gavin is joining them as well. Gavin had been part of their Christmas festivities for years before he just disappeared on them a few years ago. Lena and Gavin have both been crushing on each other for years and never did anything about it for unknown reasons. This year, they finally maybe kinda sorta hook up. However, Lena and Gavin were both kind of annoying with how stubborn they were in staying apart, when they are clearly so obviously in love with each other. This book was way too long for its plot.
Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.
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Snowed in with the Scoundrel by Kat Sterling (2023)
Historical romance. 1908 Cascade Mountains, Washington State. Standalone novella. Tommy is a bookseller and book thief running away from trouble and stumbles upon a warm and comfy cabin in the mountains. Imogen has been living in that cabin ever since she was rejected by her fiance and had her photography judged as mediocre. She’s surprised to find Tommy there and it turns out they were childhood friends who were separated by circumstance. Even though she insists that he leave, Tommy is stuck there with a series of snowstorms. These two slowly rekindle their friendship and attraction for each other in this quick holiday treat of a book.
Advance ebook provided by Kat Sterling.
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The Baker and the Bookmaker by Ally Hudson (2023)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Most Imprudent Matches series. Augie and Anna have been lifelong childhood friends as their parents serve in a viscount’s household. This book pretty much covers their friendship and relationship over many years and is told from Augie’s point of view. Even though Augie has been in love with Anna from the very beginning, he never quite makes a move for various reasons: at first thinking Anna would prefer their friend Michael, and then traveling to London to support Michael’s endeavors. When they finally get to see each other again after many years apart, Augie finally realizes the opportunity in front of him and makes an earnest effort at courting Anna. This book was low on the drama, but still entertaining, and gives more insight into Michael’s backstory from Book 1 of the series. I would recommend reading the series in order to not spoil some major plot points from Book 1.
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If You Give a Grump a Holiday Wishlist by Ann Einerson (2023)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Quick novella. Jack is a grumpy billionaire boss who is attracted to his ultra-competent assistant Presley, but tries to keep things professional by barking orders and overworking the woman. When she tries to leave the office to take her pre-planned and approved vacation time to visit her family for Christmas, he gives her more work to do and invites himself along for the trip. Somehow, that turns into him being her fake boyfriend and staying in her childhood bedroom with her and participating in holiday fun. It’s quick, cute, and steamy.
Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.
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About a Rogue by Caroline Linden (2020)
Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Book 1 of the Desperately Seeking Duke series. Max has a reputation as a scoundrel but a newfound connection to a duke may improve his chances at becoming a business partner at a prosperous pottery company. Seeing that the owner has an eligible daughter, Max proposes marriage to the quiet and docile Cathy for a stake in the company. Cathy’s outspoken sister Bianca loudly disagrees with the match, accusing Max of being a lazy fortune-hunter. After Cathy runs off with another man, Bianca is somehow coerced into marrying Max instead. They start the marriage being at odds with each other, but Max is both attracted to an impressed by Bianca, and Bianca starts to realize that Max truly does want to work and improve the pottery business. It’s a slow burn romance here with both parties being swayed by the other person’s competence. And for added drama, Max has some secret that he’s hiding from Bianca but is afraid to lose her affection by revealing it.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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About a Kiss by Caroline Linden (2020)
Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Book 1.5 of the Desperately Seeking Duke series. Super short story and romance between the a valet and lady’s maid of the couple from Book 1. We get to see Kit and Jennie meet, flirt, and slowly fall in love while working together.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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Her Rogue to Ruin by Christy Carlyle (2023)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Wanton Widows Club series. Quick novella. Portia is a widow who financially supports herself and her spinster aunt by painting portraits. She’s actively trying to avoid eye contact with the handsome Phin while she’s at his house painting his sister’s portrait, since she’s shy and nervous around him. Meanwhile he doesn’t quite know why she avoids him and he thinks she actually dislikes him. Despite all that, somehow Phin asks Portia to paint his nude portrait, where she refuses and then accepts, and they flirt and kiss and somehow seduce each other. And there’s a tiny bit of drama of Phin being in an arranged betrothal with someone else, but this is a novella, so we fix all that pretty quickly.
Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.
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A Risk Worth Taking by Jessica Joyce (2023)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Super quick one-night stand on Claire’s last night living in Portland, which turns into a full weekend with Connor after a snowstorm cancels her flights. They flirt, banter, and spend lots of naked time together through the weekend, making no promises whatsoever as Claire prepares to move away. It’s a super quick read and absolutely delightful.
Ebook purchased via Amazon.
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Winning My Wife by Ally Hudson (2024)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Most Imprudent Matches series. The timeframe of this book starts before Book 1 of the series and overlaps and then extends beyond that timeframe. We finally get the story of how the kind and caring vicar’s daughter Kate ends up married to the oblivious and selfish Hugh. They had met awkwardly a few times in society as Kate is chaperoned by her duchess aunt, but clearly do not get along, until they get caught in a compromising situation and need to marry. Hugh’s overbearing and arrogant mother plants the idea that Kate had schemed to compromise Hugh, making him act like a generally arse to Kate. We see the beginning stages of the marriage where Kate and Hugh do not communicate well, barely spend any time together, and Hugh does not protect Kate against his own mother. Meanwhile, Hugh is struggling with the responsibilities of the estate and slowly realizing that his older brother had done so much for the family and ended up banished from it. It’s a huge turnaround for Hugh once he realizes how awful he has been and a separation from Kate makes him completely miserable. This book was emotional in all the best ways, with Hugh having the most growth and transformation.
Advance ebook provided by Ally Hudson via BookSirens.
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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson (2023)
Contemporary paranormal romance. Standalone novel. Fake dating omegaverse story between an ER doc omega and grumpy cardiologist alpha. Mackenzie is tired of her grandmother setting her up on terrible dates so she lies and says that she’s dating someone, specifically the very grumpy and antisocial Noah. When she asks Noah for a fake date selfie in the breakroom, he counters by asking her to be his fake mate so that he doesn’t get in trouble with the hospital board for not disclosing his alpha status. Apparently, being properly mated may decrease the chances of his alpha hormones causing inappropriate aggression, nevermind that he’s on suppressant drugs. We get lots of fun banter here as Mackenzie loves to joke around and Noah has no sense of humor at all and lots of steam starting with casual sex and an unexpected heat cycle. If you’re new to reading omegaverse, this one is a pretty good introduction, and you’ll find a primer on the terminology on Lana Ferguson’s Instagram page.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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The Mistletoe Tryst by Eve Pendle (2023)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Faking Stitch series. Sophie and Duke do not get along, even though Sophie is friends with Duke’s sister. Some nonsense about being different social stations. Except when Sophie’s family is suddenly low on funds, they scheme to match her up with the wealthy tradesman, Duke. He comes to visit at Christmas, instantly takes note of both their impoverished conditions and Sophie’s strange behavior, and he asks her directly what’s going on. Knowing she’s caught, Sophie tells him exactly what the problem is, and he proposes some sort of trial run at seduction to see if they’ll suit for marriage. Of course, they do, but neither is sure if the affection is true or if it’s just an act to gain security. Overall, a quick and steamy read.
Advance ebook provided by Eve Pendle.
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One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny (2023)
Historical romance. 14th century England. Standalone novel. William (who prefers to go by Penn) is on the cusp of marrying a woman he’s never met in a political arrangement set by his cruel and controlling father. Seeking freedom from his fate, he runs away into the woods, except that he has no survival skills whatsoever. Raff finds him and thinks that Penn is a servant who is running away from his post and helps him to escape. Both Raff and Penn are hiding their identities, as Penn believes Raff to be a mere hunter (not knowing he’s the son of an earl and brother to his fiance) and Raff believes Penn is a servant. As they spend more time together, it’s clear they’re attracted to each other, but Raff is in full-on protective mode and doesn’t want to take advantage of his position over Penn. This was a really great slow-burn romance, with Penn slowly dealing with his anxiety and the poor treatment of his father while falling in love with Raff.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath (2008)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Scoundrels of St. James series. Widowed duchess Olivia finds that her late husband has left the guardianship of her son and the ownership of her house to renowned scoundrel and gambling hell owner Jack Dodger. She’s aghast at the situation and strives to be proper in all things, except that she’s distracted by her own physical attraction towards the man. Jack had been abandoned by his mother, abused by an older gentleman, and then survived on the streets before his friend Luke was found to be an earl’s grandson and Jack came along for a proper education. Upon receiving a windfall, Jack opened his gambling hell and makes his fortune from aristrocrats’ losses. He’s just as curious as Olivia as to why a near-stranger would have entrusted his son to Jack’s care, so Jack sets his investigator friend on the case. As Jack and Olivia navigate their new proximity to each other, Olivia starts to see how she has misjudged Jack since he’s basically the best guardian ever to her son. As much as they both try to resist each other, that can only last so long.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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