Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath (2011)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the London’s Greatest Lovers series. This one has a crazy set up that will lead to heartbreak for everyone involved. The Duke of Ainsley is being asked by his incapacitated best friend and cousin, Walfort, to bed the man’s wife Jayne and get her with child. Three years prior, these two were in a massive curricle accident which left Walfort paralyzed and the stress of which caused his wife to lose her unborn baby. Walfort seeks to give Jayne comfort, passion, and a baby in the form of his friend. Except Jayne is definitely not on board because she hates Ainsley for having caused the reckless accident in the first place. However, the plot must go forth, and Jayne and Ainsley end up going through with the plan, causing tons of emotional upheaval as they try and fail to stay emotionally distant from each other. It’s a guilt trip all around and even more heartbreak anticipated. If you want to feel feelings, this book is for you.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly (2023)
Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Nashville Love series. We’re on the Pacific Crest Trail in this one where two strangers meet, hike, and fall in love. Alexei is re-evaluating his life after his parents disowned him for being gay and he’s trying to work through his grief and lifeplan alone on the trail. A chance meeting with Ben and a reluctant friendship develops and causes Alexei to learn more about himself and his happiness along the way. Ben is trying to get that last bit of wanderlust out of his system before settling down with a nursing job that he’s worked towards and he’s trying to be mature and logical, instead of jumping into bed with the first handsome guy he meets on the trail. Both of these men are insecure and slightly damaged from their past experiences (Alexei especially), but it’s clear that the trail and its physical exertions help to bring peace and clarity to everyone involved. We get to see a slow build of trust and friendship and then tentative steps towards a relationship, even though they’re not quite dealing with reality while they’re in the trail bubble. Watch out for the good kind of heartbreak and angst when you’re reading this one.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (2024)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. We get right to the tragic root of the problem here with chapter 1 at Helen’s younger sister’s funeral. Turns out Helen’s 16-year-old sister jumped in front of high school all-star Grant’s moving vehicle. Clearly not his fault, but still causing lots of grief and resentment for Helen and her family. Fast forward thirteen years and Helen’s book series is being adapted for television. Grant is a fairly talented screenwriter who is tapped for the job and these two meet again as co-workers. It’s awful and awkward and tragic and they somewhat come to a truce and then somehow become entangled in a physical relationship. But despite how much they actually like each other in the present-day, an actual real relationship isn’t possible with all of the animosity that Helen’s parents have towards Grant. And Helen’s the one enforcing the boundaries of their pre-planned expiration date. There’s all sorts of emotional angst and bonding here with their shared past experiences and their compatibility in the present. Add a splash of overbearing immigrant Asian parents and we have a perfect scenario for impossibilities.
Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm. Print book provided by Avon Books.
My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long (2024)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 7 of the Palace of Rogues series. Catherine is the daughter of a country doctor in London to find a husband and has an optimistic outlook for the Season while staying at the Grand Palace on the Thames. While it seems unlikely that she’ll get along with the grumpy Dominic while he’s also staying at the boarding house, he admires her cleverness and wit when they converse in secret alcoves at various balls. He’s got a sordid history and a scandalous reputation, despite his well-spokenness at Parliament defending the rights of young laborers. He’s grumpy and jaded and is definitely too old for Catherine, but he cannot help being drawn to her. Despite his own reservations, he continually finds ways to protect and care for Catherine. And his ultimate grand gesture is one for the ages here.
Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian (2023)
Historical romance. 1950s New York City. Nick is the gruff and serious newspaper reporter and Andy is the clumsy son of the owner who is newly installed in the newsroom to prepare for his eventual succession to the owner position. Somehow, Nick has taken Andy under his wing and they form a close-knit friendship over the first year of their acquaintance. Despite being from totally different socioeconomic backgrounds, they make things work, and Andy never realizes Nick’s unrequited feelings for him. However, things get complicated when Andy’s fiancee calls things off and Andy moves into Nick’s apartment for emotional support. The close quarters ramp up the underlying attraction between these two. This book was all sorts of angsty and emotional. Despite Nick’s somewhat estranged relationship with his family, he slowly builds a found family with Andy and their trusted friends. I loved seeing Andy going after what he wants and being the one to poke Nick out of his cave of isolation. Such a great book.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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