Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey (2023)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Melody and Beat are the offspring of a legendary rock duo who broke up for unknown reasons 30 years ago. They’re approached by a television network to team up and get their mothers back together. We get to watch all sorts of chaos unfold, while still seeing the instant connection between Melody and Beat. Super fun and chaotic and super steamy. Plus, bonus blackmail of Beat and the drama that’s involved there. I enjoyed this book a lot and it was a fun holiday read.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (2024)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Fun combination of a romance with a cozy mystery. Maggie and Ethan have been thrown together on a Christmas trip to an old manor that belongs to a famous mystery writer. When the old lady disappears, Maggie thinks it’s a test, but then it seems that someone amongst the holiday guests really is trying to cause harm. Maggie and Ethan then need to team up to solve the mystery and keep each other out of harm. Maggie is basically skeptical of Ethan’s motives and attitude, not realizing that this man clearly has a crush on her. The romance was super sweet and charming while the mystery kept me reading. Super fun book to read.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print copy provided by HarperCollins.
Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden (2024)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Emma is having the worst day ever driving to the will reading of her late grandparents, which also involves an awkward first meeting with farm manager, Dan. It also turns out she inherits her late grandparents’ farm and does not know what to do with it, since she’s been estranged from them for the past twenty five years. When her regular life blows up, she escapes to the farm to learn what she can about the past. She learns a lot about how to rely on others (like the handsome and kind Dan) and how to integrate into small town life. Plus, the farm has a bonus secret that explains the town’s reliance on it. Flirty, steamy, and emotional book. Loved it.
Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.
The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath (2015)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Rose is a swindler who sets her sights on the elusive Duke of Avendale. He’s so distracted by his desire for her that he almost falls for it. But then he catches her trying to leave town with his money and insist that she stays with him at his home for a week. Avendale has a long history of being selfishly debaucherous and Rose is really just trying to survive her tragic upbringing. It was so interesting to see the unraveling of Rose’s secrets over the story and Avendale’s kind and gentle responses to it. Loved all the twists and reveals in this one.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan (2024)
Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel (but it seems like it could be the start of a series). Phoebe and Will were neighbors and childhood friends on the cusp of something more as they grew up, but then Will unexpectedly inherits a dukedom and their paths completely diverge. And then one day, Phoebe needs Will to help bail her out of jail and they’re thrown together again. She’s out searching for her missing student and he’s a duke with connections, so they team up to solve the mystery. Of course, they end up in more trouble than they bargained for, plus start an affair in the process. The longing and love and yearning is apparent with every interaction, but they’re stifled by their current stations in life. I also enjoyed the direct communication between the two and the set-up for potentially more stories involving Phoebe’s sisters. Loved it.
Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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