New Releases for August 2024 – Historical Romance Books and Contemporary Romance Books

You’re the Problem, It’s You by Emma R. Alban (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Mischief and Matchmaking series. We get a full cast of boisterous meddlesome characters here, plus a bit of blackmail. Bobby is the younger brother of a viscount, new on the social scene, and trying to find a useful purpose in life. James is an actual viscount who is struggling under his cruel and overbearing stepfather and trying to learn the ropes of his newfound position. It’s a somewhat complicated family tree here, with Gwen and Beth being stepsisters/lovers who matchmade their parents in Book 1 of the series. Bobby is Gwen’s cousin, and James is Beth’s cousin. They keep getting thrown together in social events and through James’ work in parliament with Gwen’s father and Bobby’s brother. While Bobby and James think the other person is handsome, they have very different personalities and do not think highly of the other. But when you throw them together often enough, there are enough sparks to ignite a physical relationship. However, they have to deal with a previous common dalliance who’s threatening their family, plus James’ overall skittishness and cowardice. It’s interesting to see how they each overcome their own issues, and learn to team up with others to problem-solve.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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An Heiress for August by Kathleen Ayers (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 8 of the Rake Review series. Fairly quick read and another great addition to this series. August and Hazel meet as children one Summer, when August is the bullying nephew of a duke and Hazel is a mere draper’s daughter. They get into a scuffle and the outspoken unladylike Hazel is the one cast out of town. Many years later, August has inherited an impoverished estate from his cousin and needs to marry an heiress. He doesn’t realize that the girl he bullied as a child is the very heiress he needs to impress. However, he’s grown into a very handsome man and Hazel is attracted to him, despite her better judgment. It’s bickering and flirting and seduction here as he’s got ulterior motives for wooing her. Surprisingly emotional for being such a short book and I really enjoyed it.

Advance ebook provided by Kathleen Ayers

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How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Her Majesty’s Rebels series. A scoundrel with a fake name makes the acquaintance of wallflower Ellie, and offers his thieving experience to help with her investigative firm. Harry is not at all what he seems and is definitely hiding secrets, but he and Ellie work very well together and also make for a flirtatious and clever pair. They’re involved in a series of investigations which involve disguises, sneaking, and fake identities. But the romance is sweet and steamy and fairly low-angst. We get even more mysteries to solve when it comes to proving Harry’s identity, and Ellie is ultra-competently on the case. Fun, light, adventurous read.

Advance ebook provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Good Duke Gone Wild by Bethany Bennett (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Bluestocking Booksellers series. I’m always a fan of the secret novelist trope, especially when one is particularly popular. Caro secretly writes erotic novels, gets tossed out by her vicar father, finds refuge in her cousins’ bookshop, and somehow develops a crush on a handsome duke. That handsome duke, Dorian, also has been somewhat pining for Caro and is awkward as hell about it. But then, he needs to hire someone from his favorite bookshop to catalogue and sell his wife’s book collection and Caro is sent for the job. While the flirting and attraction between Dorian and Caro is fairly straightforward, we get to read a much more interesting plot involving Dorian’s late wife and the affair she had been having before she died. Mystery, teamwork, problem-solving, and spice all in one book.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

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Worst in Show by Anna E. Collins (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Cute, quirky, and funny rom-com with rival pet shop owners and their merry band of furry friends. Cora is working at her grandfather’s pet shop and stressing out because it’s not doing well financially; unfortunately a fancy pants chain store is opening up across the street, and the owner Leo, is a big fat jerk. Except he isn’t really a jerk and he’s actually super attractive. They slowly come to a truce and then pair up to train their respective dogs for an upcoming dog show and then slowly start a relationship. Everyone’s got parental baggage to deal with and all sorts of stress and anxiety, but the dogs are the best supporting characters in the story and make everything so much better. Loved it!

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Lady’s Curves by A.S. Fenichel (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Fairly quick and low-angst novella. Oscar has been a socially awkward negligent earl and his steward has run away with some money and a maid, so he needs to hire a new one without word getting out about his incompetence. He hires Ann, who is an ultra-competent spinster governess from an agency and she cleans up his books and his mood. He’s been attracted to her since day one, making him even more socially inept, but I guess he finally learns to flirt and makes his move. Quick, easy read.

Advance ebook provided by A.S. Fenichel.

The Marquess and His Muse by Lavinia Glen (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Thalia’s younger sister has eloped with her fiance, the younger brother of a marquess, and she goes to demand answers from that marquess. He doesn’t have any idea what’s going on, having recently returned to England from spending time in Italy. However, he’s happy to hunt his brother down for some answers. Liam and Thalia end up as traveling companions in their search for their siblings and start a physical affair while they’re at it. Super steamy novella here with Liam doing his best job at soothing Thalia’s insecurities in and out of the bedroom.

Advance ebook provided by Lavinia Glen.

Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Carrigan’s Christmasland series. Tara is the stuffy proper lawyer ex-fiancee of Miriam (from Book 1 of the series) invited to attend Miriam’s wedding to Noelle (a tree farmer at Carrigan’s). She lies and tells her friend Hannah that she has a new girlfriend who she will be bringing to the wedding, even though she does not actually have a girlfriend. Somehow, Holly, the waitress that Tara has a smidge of a crush on (and who also wants under Tara’s skirts) gets involved and they decide to pretend to be girlfriends and go to the wedding together. It’s road trip and Christmasland shenanigans for most of the book, while dealing with Tara and Holly’s respective hang-ups about relationships, friendships, and family. Everyone’s a mess and we revisit the chaotic found family of Carrigan’s. I enjoyed reading the series in order so I could remember the huge cast of characters and how they’re related to each other. Don’t let the cute cover fool you; this one is angsty and emotional.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

Bred by the Orc by Veronika Kane (2024)

Historical fantasy romance. Medieval Scotland. Super short steamy novella. Drakolt is an orc who’s out to find his mate, so he goes to kidnap some laird’s daughter, Sorcha, with the help of his clanmates. Sorcha is indignant and resistant at first, but she feels the pull of attraction towards Drakolt and he seems to be treating her well through their horseback journey back to his village. And he definitely seems to be prioritizing her wellbeing and pleasure, unlike the human men she’s familiar with. Light, easy, steamy read.

Advance ebook provided by Veronika Kane.

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The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Excellent set-up and narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators, Natalie Naudus. We have a single POV novel with June having been dumped on national TV, turned into a meme, and now dealing with her struggling tea shop on a beachy boardwalk. She runs into childhood friend Levi, who has also been virally dumped recently, and somehow they get caught up on a social media storm calling them the Revenge Exes. They decide to awkwardly follow through with some fake dating so that June can get more customers in her store and Levi can show his ex-fiancee what she’s missing. It’s messy and complicated, especially when we factor in June’s teenage crush on Levi, and his rejection and radio silence for the past ten years. We also get a fun cast of supporting characters in the form of June’s brother, his fiancee, and another one of June’s best friends. This book is funny and sweet and cute and steamy and emotional, all in one.

Advance ebook provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

His Ample Desire by Terri Mackenzie (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Quick novella. Caroline and George have been having an affair at a house party, but they decide to part ways during the Season when George needs to find a proper wife and Caroline needs to find a new protector. Except George is preoccupied with thoughts of Caroline and would rather spend his time wooing her. Caroline is a scandalous widow who has a secret illegitimate daughter that she needs to financially support and she’s trying her best to deter George’s attentions. I enjoyed seeing George being especially thoughtful and considerate of Caroline, all while ensuring her comfort and pleasure.

Advance ebook provided by Terri Mackenzie.

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone romance. Ember’s tired of being poor and overlooked in the job search, so she embellishes a little (or a lot) on her resume. She gets the job (yay) but continues to tell little white lies to all her co-workers, including one very handsome Danuwoa, who she isn’t allowed to date per company policy. This book is a lot of Ember learning to adapt in her new corporate world and Danuwoa being the very best supportive co-worker/friend/crush. While we get to see the super cute romance develop, we’re still a little wary of the potential fallout from all her lies. Ember is delightfully awkward and funny in the best ways. The workplace drama and humor in this book reminds me of Ali Hazelwood’s books.

Ebook received via Goodreads Giveaway. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio and Libro.fm.

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Super awkward and tragic set-up here when Alison shows up to her ex-boyfriend’s funeral and his family thinks that they were still very recently dating. The ex-boyfriend’s sister insists on keeping up the ruse because it might help the family deal with their grief and all, and then she ends up volunteering to pack up his condo. Also on the job is Adam, the ex-boyfriend’s grumpy best friend who’s trying to make his own amends towards his deceased friend. As Alison and Adam spend every weekend together, they inevitably get closer together, but it’s all sorts of guilt-ridden since Adam thinks that he’s falling for his fresh-in-the-grave buddy’s girlfriend. Alison has her own hang-ups about living life to the fullest after having a preventative mastectomy due to her risk of breast cancer, even though she’d probably be happier as a cozy homebody. This was cute and funny and the relationship build-up was so good!

Advance ebook provided by Penguin Random House via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

In Want of a Wife by Rebecca Paula (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Society of Scandalous Brides series. Rafe is the younger brother of an earl and a total rake and pretty unhelpful around his straightlaced upstanding older brother. And then he has the bright idea to advertise for a wife for his brother in the newspaper. And instead of apologizing to all the women he’s duped in his brother’s name, he ends up going to fetch one of them to bring back, without his brother’s knowledge or approval. Lily is in her own tough spot, having been jilted twice before and needing an escape from her father’s home. She takes the opportunity to become engaged via letter and is surprised when Rafe comes to escort her to her new husband. It’s a chaotic road trip ahead, where Lily and Rafe end up falling in love, even though Rafe has been lying to her the whole time. And we just know that his brother will not be pleased when he finds out. Loads of road trip hijinks and a slow build of trust between Lily and Rafe.

Advance ebook provided by Rebecca Paula via BookSirens.

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly (2024)

Contemporary sports romance. Book 4 of the Beyond the Play series. We get to catch up with little sister Izzy and her summer fling with her brother’s rival Nikolai. He somehow gets expelled from his own school and transfers to Izzy’s. Nik’s got his own tragic backstory with an abusive father, overbearing grandfather, and an emotionally detached mother, but he’s a very charming flirt who is very good at pleasing our girl Izzy. While they rekindle their relationship, they’ve got to keep it a secret from Izzy’s brother (and now Nik’s teammate), Cooper. And really, they’re just friends with benefits anyway. (Sure, they are.) Izzy has her own feelings of inadequacy of being the youngest sibling in a group of pro athletes, but she’s working through it. I liked the writing style of this book and how Nik and Izzy each independently deal with their own insecurities. High on the steam!

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Spotify Audiobooks via NetGalley.

Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Wild Wynchesters series. It’s Elizabeth’s turn to take the lead on a case, putting her in the countryside to look for the missing will of a countess in an earl’s castle. Instead of finding the earl there, she finds his tinkering cousin, Stephen. We get a grumpy-grumpy romance in this one with both Elizabeth and Stephen preferring solitude to company. It’s fun to see them work together to try to find the missing will, plus I liked seeing Elizabeth being appreciative of Stephen’s inventions instead of disparaging his oddness. There’s a common annoying villain around who believes he won the castle in a card game, but once they find the will, it’ll be clear the property wouldn’t be his. Plus, we get a full family of Wynchester showing up for the big confrontation.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

Duke of Rath by Mariah Stone (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Seven Dukes of Sin series. Angry and self-punishing duke Dorian still feels guilty over killing a man in a duel-gone-wrong 12 years ago; when he hears the family is in dire financial condition, he offers to marry the youngest daughter and settle their debts. Patience is all sorts of young and naive and would rather study botany than marry a duke, but it’s the only way to save the family, so she complies. It’s a cold and lonely marriage at first, since Dorian is cold and keeping his distance, but Patience definitely breaks through his defenses and he finds himself growing closer to her. Except that there’s the lingering secret of her brother’s death causing loads of guilt for him. Emotional and steamy read and I enjoyed learning more about Dorian’s backstory along the way.

Advance ebook provided by Mariah Stone.