Vixen in Velvet by Loretta Chase (2014)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Dressmakers series. Leonie and Simon, Marquess of Lisburne, have chance meeting after chance meeting, but somehow get entangled because Lisburne seems to be related to all the important folks of the week. Leonie’s mostly focused on trying to keep the dress shop afloat after her sisters are indisposed (one pregnant and ill and the other hiding in the country to deflect scandal). Lisburne is mostly trying to protect his soft-hearted poet of a cousin from scandal and can’t seem to stay away from Leonie, despite his better judgment. He even bets her that she won’t be able to transform another grumpy cousin into the belle of the ball, even though she is completely confident that she can. It was fun seeing these two scheme together, flirt, banter, and Lisburne completely and totally support Leonie’s business efforts. I enjoyed all the plotting and scheming against common foes and the development of the secondary romance in the background. Such a fun book.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la Rosa (2024)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Luna Sisters series. Middle sister Isabel is often overlooked by everyone, making her perfect for sneaking around English manor houses looking for useful information to aid the Mexican government. While Isabel and her sisters have fled Mexico for the safety of England, she’s doing her best to aid in any way possible. Unfortunately, that puts her in the sights of Captain Sirius Dawson, who has his own assignments to learn about potential connections to the French government. Sirius has cultivated a reputation as a rogue as he seduces his way into his information, and thereby earned Isabel’s disdain. However, when he spends more time with her, he finds that there is a lot more to her than it seems and he develops a newfound respect and appreciation for her intellect. There’s a lot of hiding and spying and getting stuck together in precarious circumstances and pretty soon, a fiery affair begins. Super steamy and emotional and perfect for all the overlooked bluestockings.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood (2024)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Rue’s a food engineer working with her mentor at a small biotech company that seems to be in the process of a financial takeover. And it turns out one of the guys on the opposing team is a thwarted one night stand she met via an app. They’re both totally shocked to see each other in a new setting, with attraction definitely still simmering in the background, but now they’re workplace enemies so it’s not a good idea. While Eli is supposedly the enemy, he’s also completely gone for Rue and is willing to take whatever scraps of attention or conversation she hands out. He’s the ultimate supportive guy, even if he has his own baggage. These two tell each other these awful truths about themselves (that they’ve never told anyone else) and it comes with no judgment whatsoever. Just acknowledgement and acceptance. And somehow this twisted style of communication brings them closer together. Rue is the epitome of anti-social and basically a ball of social anxiety, but she’s calm and comfortable around Eli. Maybe because he’s so terribly accommodating, but also maybe because he also has a terrible past and can understand her. While Rue thinks that she’s betraying her boss and mentor by spending more time with Eli, the boss has a ton of secrets we get to uncover through the business-drama of the story. I liked seeing Rue ever-so-slowly start to open up with Eli and also see him drown in his affection for her.
Advance print book borrowed from a friend.
The Mistress Experience by Scarlett Peckham (2024)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Society of Sirens series. Renowned and exclusive courtesan Thaïs has auctioned off a month of her time to raise funds for her friends’ charity and is expecting to spend a month in the country with a dissolute rake. She’s surprised to find herself at a rustic cottage with a very straightlaced earl instead. Alastair is planning to take a wife this season and needs some lessons in the bedroom to ensure that he’s fulfilling his wife’s needs. He’s secretly hired Thaïs to help him be able to perform. Due to all sorts of insecurity and hang-ups and his overwhelming desire for her, Alastair is incredibly awkward and reserved. He clearly needs to have trust and an emotional connection to be open to any sort of physical activity and it takes quite some time to pull him out of his shell. Over this month in isolation, we get to see a steamy slow burn romance develop and these two people connect and let down their walls. The heartbreaking downside of course is that they’ll have to go back to reality and it’s not like this ever-proper earl could marry a courtesan. Or so he thinks.
Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.
The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley (2021)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Wild Wynchesters series. The Wynchester orphans are really orphans now that their beloved adoptive father has passed away and they’re on a mission to recover a beloved painting that a crusty old duke had stolen right out of their homes. Except that duke has also passed away and his son, Lawrence, is the stuffiest most annoying guy of all, ignoring all letters and requests to meet from the scandalous Wynchesters. Chloe finds an opportunity to steal the painting from the duke’s almost-betrothed when it’s given as a courting gift, but accidentally kidnaps the duke in his carriage along the way. It’s a temporary mishap, worsened by the fact that the painting isn’t even the real one. Chloe needs to find even more excuses to get close to Lawrence to discover where the real painting is so they can steal it back. And then of course, Lawrence starts to realize he’s completely misjudged Chloe and starts to fall in love with her. It’s all complicated by the fact that he’s impoverished and needs to marry an heiress, Chloe is totally unsuitable, and she’s also keeping a secret about stealing that painting. This book was fun and chaotic and sweet and you will adore the crazy Wychester family.
Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.
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