Weekly Reads: January 29 to February 4, 2024

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young (2022)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Next series. Chloe gets shocking news that her birth mother has just unexpectedly delivered a premature daughter and Chloe is on the list of potential guardians. Not wanting her baby sister to get shuffled through the foster care system, Chloe agrees to the guardianship with intent to adopt. With her freelancing career not providing enough evidence of financial security, she teams up with another guardian who needs better housing and can pay part of her rent so that they can each achieve their goals. Warren is the older brother to a deaf teenager who has also been in foster care and looking for more household stability. While the roommate situation is intended to be temporary, it’s only a matter of time before their lives start to intertwine. Super fun banter between Chloe and Warren and an excellent found family within their apartment.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

In Want of a Viscount by Lorraine Heath (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Chessmen series. Leonora is an American inventor in England with her family seeking investors in her writing machine, although her crass overbearing mother is seeking a titled husband for Leonora. She sneaks off to a ladies’ club and asks for a kiss. The club owner seems to be short-staffed in the gentlemen escort department and asks his own titled brother, Rook, to see to the kissing. Rook and Leonora don’t exchange names, but do exchange a kiss, leaving Leonora passed out from absinthe and Rook wondering what he did wrong. And of course, they cross paths later when Rook turns out to be a potential investor in the company. They flirt, they dance, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. And Rook is the only man (aside from her father) who has ever appreciated Leonora’s curiosity for machinery. However, Rook is not interested in marriage and basically a very controlled man who denies himself lustful indulgences due to his own father’s scandalous behavior. These two are fairly slow to realize they’re perfect for each other, but it’s a fun read along the way.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Harry Potter Fanfic: Maybe in another life by BothMalfoysPlease

Snape/Hermione Time-Travel Romance. 24k words. Hermione goes back to the end of Snape’s fifth year and befriends him during his sixth. They team up to change the trajectory of Snape’s life and start a romance along the way. Relatively short and sweet fic.

Read this fic on Archive of Our Own

The Chemistry of Familiar Objects by Alexandra Vasti (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novella. Emmeline and Robert share a building for their respective professions: she’s a chemist and he’s a printer. They are total opposites and do not get along at all. Except for the part where they’re inexplicably drawn to the other person. Emmeline starts the day by telling Robert that she’s purchased the building and he’s being evicted, but the end the day chasing after thieves that are stealing Emmeline’s work. We get a two or three day wild goose chase with these two grumpy outspoken people finally actually talking to each other. And more-than-talking to each other. Super fun with lots of hijinks.

Ebook available for free at author’s website.

Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long (2008)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Pennyroyal Green series. Straightlaced insect researcher Miles pretty much loses his head and starts composing poetry the moment he sets eyes on Cynthia at a ball. Unfortunately, he overhears her calling him dour and boring, so he decides that he hates her now. Except he doesn’t and he’s absurdly attracted to her. When Cynthia gets invited to his home by his sister for a house party after some sort of scandal, he tries to avoid her, but fails miserably. Cynthia has no family, no money, no prospects, and a dwindling reputation, so this house party is her only chance to find a husband. Except Miles is being overly critical of her methods, even while he’s supposed to be courting a young lady whose father will fund his next expedition. These two bicker and argue and somehow can’t keep their hands off each other. And you’d think it was just lust driving them, but they do actually seem to understand the other person better than anyone else in the world, making it even more heartbreaking that they really aren’t a suitable match for each other.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Highland Heartbreaker by Steffy Smith (2024)

Historical romance. 14th Century Scotland. Book 2 of the Highland Hearts series. We have an arranged marriage here between the son of a Scottish laird and an English lady. Everyone is apprehensive of the match, but Alex is instantly attracted to Grace when he sets eyes on her. She generally has a nervous disposition but likes how welcoming Alex and his sister are to her. When Alex’s father shows up after the wedding, things are tense because of his prejudices against the English, and Grace is also wary of Alex’s womanizing reputation. It’s pretty clear that he’s smitten with Grace though and the drama there resolves rather quickly. This book was a relatively quick read and plenty steamy.

Advance ebook provided by Steffy Smith.

A Perfect Groom by Samantha James (2004)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Sterling Family series. Justin is the second son of marquess and a total rake and scoundrel. His cruel father has always berated Justin for being a replica of his scandalous mother, and he basically just continues to live up to that expectation. When he returns to London after a stint on the Continent, his friend has told him about a certain young lady who has rebuffed several suitors and is known as the Unattainable. They get into a friendly wager on whether Justin will be able to bed her within a month. Of course, when he finds out that the lady is Arabella, the daughter of a vicar who had plagued him once before, he’s pretty sure that he won’t win that bet. Except that he can’t seem to help antagonizing the lady every time they cross paths and also find all the bickering exciting and enjoyable. She tries to resist him as well, since she does not approve of his reputation and behavior. But he’s still the most handsome man in England, and she does ultimately fall under his charm.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

His Public Claim by Evie Rose (2024)

Mafia romance. Part of the Everyone is Watching series. Super short novella. We have a virginity auction among mafia bosses and a daughter of one mafia man who owes a huge debt. Nicole is up for sale and rescued by her brother’s best friend and long-time crush Lev. She doesn’t know it’s him because everyone’s wearing a mask. Turns out he’s ultra-protective of her and just wants to rescue her. Unfortunately, they need to do the deed in front of the audience before they can leave. This novella is high on the steam and low on the plot, but sometimes, that’s just exactly what you’re looking for.

Advance ebook provided by Evie Rose.