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2024 Historical Romance Favorites: Twenty Books to Add to Your TBR

Dec 18, 2024

Always Remember by Mary Balogh (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Ravenswood series. Ben Ellis is the illegitimate son of an earl who was raised in the earl’s family home after the death of his mother. While Ben has always been embraced as part of the family, he has had a sense of otherness about him. After a big family scandal, he went with his younger brother Devlin to war, where he met and married the woman carrying his child. After she died of illness, he came home as a single father to a young girl. Now that Ben has settled into his own seaside home, he’s considering remarrying, but is indecisive about which woman to court. He’s hoping that a visit to his family’s home for the summer will help him to make a decision. While he’s there, he meets Lady Jennifer again, the sister of a duke who had married his own sister. Jennifer is disabled after a childhood illness and gives off a cheery disposition. However, a chance conversation between Ben and Jennifer has both of them spilling their secrets to a near-stranger and becoming friends because of it. This book is a delightful slow build of friendship, trust, and love, despite their differences in social station. We get to see Ben be a doting father to his child and see the child grow attached to Jennifer as well. If you’re a fan of quiet slow-burn romances, this one is another great book from Mary Balogh.

Ebook and 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.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

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.

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Damsels of Discovery series. Lucy is the intelligent and outspoken owner of an apothecary and she has hired an investigator to find out who has stolen one of her recipes. Jonathan is a prior prizefighter and single father who takes on the job. While Lucy suspects that arrival apothecary has stolen the recipe since the scoundrel had run off with a different recipe in the past, Jonathan isn’t so sure this time. As part of Jonathan’s payment, he and his daughter take up residence in an empty apartment above the apothecary. We get a fun mix of characters here with Lucy’s siblings, Jonathan’s daughter, and the shopgirl who works at the apothecary and I enjoyed seeing them all interact. While the romance between Lucy and Jonathan is slow-burn, I appreciated seeing Jonathan support Lucy’s intellect while also providing emotional support. We also get to find out the answer to the mystery of the missing recipe while catching up with a few of our favorites from Everett’s previous series.

Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

A Most Improper Duchess by Alivia Fleur (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Tales from Honeysuckle Street series. Arley is a serious and stuffy duke who doesn’t usually socialize, but is somehow roped into some travel research in Paris for his neighbor’s travel agency. To avoid being mobbed by young misses looking for an eligible duke, he’s dressed as a commoner during his trip. When he’s at a bar in Paris, he sets eyes on a beautiful woman, but he doesn’t have any money to pay for her evening company. Vivianne is a ballet dancer/courtesan who hasn’t had a steady patron in awhile, so she’s looking for someone who could provide more support than the seemingly penniless Arley. He bargains with a jeweled cravat pin that she show him some of the sights of Paris for his travel guide. In the course of spending time together, Arley is easily smitten and enjoys the carefree man he becomes when he’s with her. He very quickly proposes marriage and brings Vivianne back to London with him, with the surprise that he’s actually a very wealthy duke. Vivianne ends up needing a lot of tutoring and adjusting to cope with Arley’s position in society, which causes a bit of strife, but she is willing to make it work to stay with Arley.

Advance ebook provided by Alivia Fleur.

Wake Me Most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Once Upon the East End series. This one is a Snow White retelling, where Solomon Weiss is the innocent dandy who needs rescuing. He’s trying his absolute darndest to help his older brother achieve his ambitions, while also working at a new job with the prominent Jewish families in town, and also flirting with the rogue of a woman who saved him from being robbed. The infamous Hannah runs a pawn shop and also is an informant-for-hire to the thugs of the night. Despite her unsuitability for Sol, he pursues her anyway because he can’t seem to get her out of his mind. She’s determined to keep Sol safely away from her because her reputation will ruin his, but he’s an incorrigible flirt and succeeds in at least seducing her into a physical relationship. Things take a dangerous turn for Sol though when he gets chased into the night in what feels like more than just an ordinary robbery. While we have initial suspicions of who the villain could be, it’s still a huge let down for the ever loyal Sol.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Taming of the Dukes series. Evangeline is a social outcast and prefers country life with her animal shelter, but her younger sister Viola is itching for a London Season. Their father insists that Viola is only allowed to go if Evangeline does too. Viola’s terrible suitor decides to use the debt he’s owed by the destitute duke, Gage, to tell him to convince and distract Evangeline. It’s a messy deal that gets even messier when Gage turns out to actually like Evangeline’s outspoken personality. Also, these two people are attracted to each other to the point of distraction, and Evangeline is the one to propose a scandalous affair. Super steamy flirty banter. Loved it.

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

Viscount in Love by Eloisa James (2024)

Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Book 1 of the Accidental Brides series. If you like stories with chaotic outspoken children, this book is for you. Dominic is an emotionless and stern viscount who has custody of his sister’s orphaned twin children. Luckily, he’s already engaged to a proper lady to help raise them. Except the proper lady is appalled by the children and wants to send them away, but ends up jilting the groom anyway. Dominic ends up trying to convince Torie, his would-be-sister-in-law, to marry him instead since she’s already developed a relationship with the children. It takes a lot of convincing to make it happen, despite the lust and attraction being apparent from the start. The falling in love part takes a bit longer on everyone’s part but it’s super emotional once they have it figured out. The family dynamic is one of my favorite parts of this book.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Lord Who Adored Her and Other Love Songs by Charlie Lane (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Art of Love series. Lord Atlas just wants to hire a cabinet-maker to help finish the repairs on the dower house at his family estate, so it can be rented out, and so he can leave town. He’s an injured soldier who is hiding his pain and sorrows from his family as he helps them restore their finances. Instead of just hiring an artisan, he ends up marrying her instead. Clara is a widow who has run away from her controlling father-in-law with her young son in tow. She’s the daughter of a skilled cabinet-maker, so she’s qualified to assist in the renovations, but ends up needing the protection of Atlas and his family. They decide on a marriage of convenience, knowing that Atlas plans to leave once his work is done. It was wonderful seeing Atlas fall in love with Clara and become a father to his son, plus wrap up the series with all of his siblings matched up.

Advance ebook provided by Charlie Lane.

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The Finest Print by Erin Langston (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. We get the next generation of Sinclairs here, with Belle, the daughter of Gavin and Emilia (from Some Winter’s Evening). Belle is a writer of a gory novels and has become somewhat of a spinster after breaking her engagement to a Scotland Yard inspector several years ago. She has a chance meeting with Ethan, newly from America, who has inherited his uncle’s indebted print shop. It’s a perfect fit because she has stories and he has the equipment to print it. They start a weekly printing of Belle’s writing, hoping to recoup the money to pay off Ethan’s uncle’s debts. I loved the fated meeting of these two, how perfectly they suit each other’s needs, and the respect that Ethan has for Belle’s work. The romance here was soft and sensible and soothing in all the best ways. It’s clear these two have an equal partnership and make a great team. Belle’s family is strong and supportive, just as we would expect them to be, and I also enjoyed the found family of the print shop crew. Loved it.

Advance ebook provided by Erin Langston.

When the Earl Desired Me by Lydia Lloyd (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Rake Chronicles series. This one is a second chance romance between an earl and a former maid in his house who he has not seen in thirteen years. Augustus and Olivia has a secret relationship many years ago until she disappears out of the blue and leaves him heartbroken. It turns out that she received a note from him dismissing her and asking her to leave. Clearly, he was not the one to have left this note, but that doesn’t change the fact that she leaves the country. She’s back now as a lady’s companion and these two have a chance to reconnect. Augustus is determined to never let her out of his sight again and is serious in his intentions for her. It also turns out that his rakish reputation is not what it seems and I love how he reveals all of this to Olivia. Super steamy and sweet all at once.

Advance ebook provided by Lydia Lloyd via BookSprout.

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.

The Prince’s Bride by Charis Michaels (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Hidden Royals series. Gabriel is a French prince who’s been hiding away in a cave in the forest for the past fifteen years and basically a hermit. He very much does not want to rescue a lady who he thinks might be a victim of highwaymen, but the screaming finally get to him and he does. Ryan is the daughter of an earl traipsing through the forest to find her long-lost betrothed (Prince Gabriel) because the prince’s horrible cousin has claimed the title and the betrothal for himself and she does not want to marry him. Lucky for her, she’s stumbled right into the man she’s looking for. Except Gabriel is not interested at all in reclaiming his identity or leaving the forest, which leaves Ryan right where she started. The plus side here is that they’re clearly very attracted to each other and Gabriel can’t seem to stay away from Ryan, even as he’s sending her away. This was a lot of fun to read, especially as we slowly see Gabriel leave his comfort zone.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Voluptuous by Felicity Niven (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Curves and Cravats series. Henrietta has been pining for her father’s friend Oliver for ages and ends up marrying him when they get caught in a compromising situation. But the dour and moody Oliver feels guilty for his previous wives’ deaths and feels guilty for lusting after his friend’s daughter, so it’s a marriage in name only. We get to see a friendship and partnership develop over the first two years of the marriage, until finally Henrietta asks for a baby. And then they realize they’ve both been attracted to each other the whole time. This book was sweet and steamy, all in one, and I loved seeing Henrietta’s sunshine help to bring Oliver closer to his young son. Delightful read with some vibes that remind me of Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas.

Advance ebook provided by Felicity Niven.

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.

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian (2024)

Historical romance. 1960s New York City. Slow-burn forced proximity romance here with Mark, newspaper reporter, being assigned to write about Eddie, the new baseball player who has basically thrown a public tantrum over his new team. They’re both individually lost and lonely and stuck with each other. Mark’s been grieving the death of his partner, who he basically had to keep secret for their entire relationship, and it’s been a pretty rough time of it. When he’s assigned to write about Eddie, he’s only begrudgingly doing the job, and also trying to find an angle to make the kid seem more sympathetic, rather than the asshole that every other news reporter is portraying him as. Eddie’s just shocked out of his comfortable situation in the Midwest where he got to play ball, see his mom occasionally, and know where to keep his private life out of the spotlight. Being in a new place that doesn’t feel like home and where everyone is watching him fail at baseball is fairly excruciating for him. But Eddie and Mark start a tentative friendship and it takes a lot of convincing on Eddie’s part to get Mark to take a chance on him. I liked seeing Mark finally opening up about his previous partner and the difficulties he had there, plus seeing Eddie getting along with his teammates better. It was definitely a slow and quiet type of romance that involves being yourself in a world that doesn’t really accept you.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Doves of New York series. Cora and her sisters are the illegitimate daughters of a wealthy gentleman in New York, who is dangling their inheritance from their grandmother in the form of dowries. In order to acquire the money, Cora needs to marry a suitable gentleman (but not one in New York). They all try to find matches in England where they’ve hidden the fact that they’re illegitimate and give the appearance of being wealthy heiresses. Leo is an impoverished earl finally deciding the marry for money and comes to an arrangement with Cora. She’s adamant that they separate eventually and tries very hard not to get emotionally entangled. And Leo is just trying to keep his own heart from being broken (as it has been before). However, these two are actually a perfect match for each other in terms of political aspirations and advocacy, plus that simmering attraction. While both of these people are so concerned about protecting themselves, they’re missing out on the happiness they could be having with the person right in front of them. This was a really great intro to the series and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House.

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.

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.

Seasonal Habits of Husbands and Honeybees by Emmaline Warden (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Genus of Gentlemen series. We’ve got a marriage of convenience story here between Harrison, who is a heartbroken earl, and Phoebe who just wants a business arrangement that is clearly spelled out. Phoebe would rather avoid all of the anxiety-filled social obligations of the marriage mart and stay home and tend to her bees. Harrison is pretty quick to catch on to Phoebe’s desires and gives her pretty much everything she wants. He has his own hangups about rejection due to his upbringing and is very much a people pleaser. Lucky for him it doesn’t take much to impress Phoebe, especially when she realizes that he understands her better than anyone else in her life. This was a really charming slow burn romance and I enjoyed seeing these two get to know each other.

Advance ebook provided by Emmaline Warden.

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Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Weekly Reads: December 9 to 15, 2024

Dec 17, 2024

Undercover with the Heiress by Alivia Fleur (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Tales from Honeysuckle Street series. Rosanna is a hotel heiress who is almost about to be engaged to a younger son of a lord, but then gets caught in a compromising situation with her stodgy neighbor instead. Phineas is not your average bank clerk but actually secretly investigating some sort of financial fraudster and Rosanna has now become entangled with someone dangerous. He marries her to protect her reputation and her person, even though the union is in name only. He hopes to solve the case and then set her free. Except Rosanna and Phineas are actually fairly attracted to each other, despite their opposite personalities. It was fun watching them learn to work together, to coexist, and to see the sparks fly. Best scene of the book goes to Phineas being super sweet to Rosanna’s younger brother.

Advance ebook provided by Alivia Fleur via BookSirens.

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Vine Mess series. Natalie and August have been at odds upon first meeting, most likely because he said something boneheaded to thwart a potential one night stand. Now, a couple months later, August has run out of money trying to make his late best friend’s vineyard dreams come true. As he’s about to leave town, Natalie comes to him with a proposition. She needs access to her trust fund and her father has put an archaic clause that requires that she be married. She proposes a marriage of convenience to August so she can get the money she needs to start her own investment company and August will look like an upstanding stable guy to get a small business loan for his vineyard. Of course, the underlying burning attraction between them leads to all sorts of angry flirting and seductive games. August is basically your bumbling golden retriever, but when he goes into Navy SEAL mode, it’s all sorts of appealing for Natalie (and the reader). Emotional, funny, flirty, and steamy.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print book provided by HarperCollins via TikTokShop.

No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Greycourt series. Elspeth and Julian are total opposites and also keeping secrets from each other. She’s looking for some ancient diary that’s hidden at one of his family estates and he’s just doing his best to keep his evil uncle from harming his sisters. There’s some terrible tragic backstory between their families from a decade ago, which causes Julian to be terribly wary of Elspeth. She’s all bright smiles and sunshine though and almost convinces Julian to let down his guard. He’s keeping secrets about his bedroom inclination (but it sure is steamy once Elspeth gets involved). Twisty and turny and there’s definitely an assassination attempt thrown in.

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

The Surprised Dukes’ Heirs by Caroline Lee (2024)

Historical romance. Quick novella to serve as a bridge between the Surprise! Dukes series and Surprise Heirs series. It’s really just kind of an extended epilogue where we catch up with all the characters from the Surprise! Dukes series. This will make very little sense if you haven’t read that series. Everyone is gathered around at the holidays five years after the last book of the series. We’re pretty much just re-introduced to the nearly adult kiddos so we know who they are in the next generation series.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Lee.

The Marquess Returns by Jane Maguire (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Rockliffe Dynasty series. This one starts as your typical governess romance with the Marquess of Rockliffe hiring Phoebe to care for his sullen daughter Emily. She’s formed a connection with the girl and tries to bring father and daughter closer together, but there’s some underlying scandal that she’s not privy to. Nicholas feels more like himself and less like a lord when he’s with Phoebe, so naturally, they start a dalliance. But then Nicolas’s interfering mother shows up, Phoebe’s drunkard cousin believes himself to be her betrothed, and then we get so many more twists and turns. I loved that these two were able to open and honest with each other about their pasts and find a way to work through them through direct communication.

Advance ebook provided by Jane Maguire via BookSprout.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Weekly Reads: December 2 to 8, 2024

Dec 10, 2024

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Vine Mess series. Hallie is the local florist in a vineyard town in Napa who’s basically walking catastrophe. And when her childhood crush Julian is back in town to write his novel, she’s out there planting flowers in his front yard. He’s totally drawn to her at first sighting, even though he forgot that he met her once before in high school. They’re total opposites who really need to avoid each other, but the insta-lust/crush/obsession is taking up all their brainspace. Julian has his own issues of anxiety to work on, but he ends up enjoying all the chaotic time he spends with Hallie. The book was funny and steamy and emotional all in one. A great read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print book provided by HarperCollins via TikTokShop.

The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Charming short story that was more adventure than romance, really. Mirren is out looking for a super rare edition of a book for her ailing great aunt and basically traveling up and down England to find it. Theo is the nephew of a not-so-nice bookseller who has assigned him to follow her and nab the book if she finds it. They run into each other a few times along her journey, with her not realizing that he’s following her. It’s mostly flirting and lots of treasure hunting. Fun and quick read.

Ebook accessed from Amazon Prime Reading.

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Viscount Langdon has isolated himself on an island after a train accident leaves him with nightmares. And then one night, the storm washes up Marlowe, the most beautiful and desirable courtesan in London. He rescues her and learns that she was flying her hot air balloon solo and got caught in a storm. These two have been lusting after each other since first sight, but Marlowe is under the protection of another lord and is very loyal. Langdon also does not want to encroach on someone else’s territory, so he has tried very hard to stay away from Marlowe. But now, they’re stuck together and getting to know each other’s thoughts and personalities, making their connection all the stronger. This book is full of seductive flirting and yearning and longing. Another great book by Lorraine Heath.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Weekly Reads: November 25 to December 1, 2024

Dec 3, 2024

Dalliance with the Duchess by Sara Bennett (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Disgraceful Duchesses series. Widowed duchess Sophia is trying to move on from her husband’s cruel influence and his crony friends, but an investigator Nicholas asks for her help in finding out if his old friend is in trouble. She goes back to visiting with and gaming with her late husband’s friends to see if the young man is in danger. As she reports back to Nicholas about the friend, she recalls a time when she had a masked intimate encounter with Nicholas at the pleasure gardens. She believes that he didn’t know who she was and never discussed it, but of course he knew exactly who she was and they renew their dalliance in the present. This book was short and steamy with a tiny bit of mystery and intrigue, especially when we find out that Nicholas has been searching for his sister who has been missing for the past decade. A quick read that was entertaining.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Books via NetGalley.

An Affair with a Notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath (2017)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. The Marquess of Rexton is supposed to be courting young Miss Gina at the request of her uncle to improve the girl’s chances of finding a suitable match. Unfortunately, Rexton is more preoccupied with Gina’s older and scandalous sister Tillie. The Countess of Langdon went through a horribly scandalous divorce involving being unfaithful to her husband with a footman and is pretty much unacknowledged by the ton. She and Rexton have an instant spark of passion for each other and spend most of the time bickering when Tillie is supposed to be chaperoning Rexton’s outings with Gina. Unfortunately, Rexton cannot simply court Tillie instead, since her reputation makes her an unsuitable wife for Rexton as the heir to a duke. It’s all a mess and Rexton really needs to get over his want for a spotless reputation.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Tall, Dark, and December by Tracy Sumner (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 12 of the Rake Review series. American self-made man Weston is disgruntled at having been featured in the gossip column because he’s losing potential investors in his steam engine project. So his brother’s valet suggest he take some lessons in propriety from Lady Penelope. He’s instantly intrigued by her intellect, spark, and prim behavior. She’s equally charmed by him, but they keep their relationship professional to secure West’s status in society. Although he is drawn to her, he knows that as the illegitimate brother of a duke, that he’s not suitable for an earl’s daughter. He just needs to take the proper risks and offer for her anyway. Loved the steam and spark in this quick read.

Advance ebook provided by Tracy Sumner.

Diamond in the Rough by Christi Caldwell (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Carmichael Saga. Glain is known throughout the ton as an ice princess, but really her spark was totally snuffed out by her overbearing duke of a father. When her sister runs off to a lending library, she crosses words and wits with the manager there. Abaddon knows that as someone who grew up on the streets, he’s not suitable for a duke’s daughter, but they start a flirtation that turns into more anyway. I liked how Abaddon was not impressed by Glain’s status and prodded at her to reveal her hidden depths. Enjoyable quick read.

Advance ebook provided by Christi Caldwell.

Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses by Lorraine Heath (2017)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4.5 of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. We pick up immediately after Book 4, at the wedding of Rexton and Tillie. Where younger siblings Andrew and Gina are busy lusting after each other. After a quick little eavesdropping misunderstanding, they’re off on nighttime adventuring and believing that they’re ill-suited for each other. Quick novella that was full of flirtation and steam.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

When the Lord Adored Me by Lydia Lloyd (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Rake Chronicles series. Lady Petunia is off on an adventure through Europe with her mother after rejecting her best friend Lord Edgar’s proposal. And when she’s busy with another man, she realizes she made a horrible mistake and would rather be with Edgar. As soon as she gets home, she goes to belated accept his proposal, but he’s spent the past year trying to get over her and realize that they’re total opposites and might not be able to build a marriage together. Somehow, they end up in a 12 days of Christmas bargain at Edgar’s brother’s townhouse that’s used for liaisons. We’re in for a steamy treat for most of the book, but still with amazing emotional connection and depth. Loved this quick and dirty read.

Ebook provided by Lydia Lloyd.

Download this book from the author’s website.

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

Nov 28, 2024

Dalliance with the Duchess by Sara Bennett (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Disgraceful Duchesses series. Widowed duchess Sophia is trying to move on from her husband’s cruel influence and his crony friends, but an investigator Nicholas asks for her help in finding out if his old friend is in trouble. She goes back to visiting with and gaming with her late husband’s friends to see if the young man is in danger. As she reports back to Nicholas about the friend, she recalls a time when she had a masked intimate encounter with Nicholas at the pleasure gardens. She believes that he didn’t know who she was and never discussed it, but of course he knew exactly who she was and they renew their dalliance in the present. This book was short and steamy with a tiny bit of mystery and intrigue, especially when we find out that Nicholas has been searching for his sister who has been missing for the past decade. A quick read that was entertaining.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Books via NetGalley.

The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt (2022)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. LaRynn and Deacon had a summer fling as teens that left them both heartbroken and now they’re stuck as co-owners of their late grandmothers’ home. In order to have enough money to fix it up to sell, they need access to LaRynn’s trust fund. They enter into a marriage of convenience to do that, all while angrily bickering with each other. But they really just still have a simmering attraction for each other and are resentful of how things turned out when they were younger. They each have to improve their communication skills and trust in each other. Super angsty and emotional with lots of sexual tension.

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

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.

Mr. Notorious and the Nefarious November by Shana Galen (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 11 of the Rake Review series. Munro is the rake of the month, back in England at the request of his viscount brother. He fled the country years ago when the woman he loved rejected his offer of marriage and married his best friend instead. And he’s still hung up on her. And forced into proximity with her since Beatrice is now widowed and the sister of Munro’s brother’s wife. He drunkenly admits his feelings for her, which she refuses to believe, and then she decides to test his loyalty. The final prize is her hand in marriage, but she’s just so slow to trust him and she believes all of the terrible gossip about him. While Munro has been solicitous and dedicated to Beatrice’s tests, she’s really the one who needs to decide if she can trust him after all.

Advance ebook provided by Shana Galen.

The Hellion’s Secret by Jess Michaels (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the About an Earl series. This book overlaps a little bit with Book 1 of the series. We get the romance here between a rakish but upstanding earl and the runaway daughter of a marquess who is now a prizefighter. Esme had run away from her cruel cousin after her father’s death and has a new life now as a masked boxer. She tries to avoid interacting with society since she has fallen pretty far from her previous station. When she interacts with Finn at a club, she’s instantly skittish and tries to avoid him, despite her attraction to him. Finn is basically obsessed with the woman who turned him down and even more intrigued when he finds out that she’s a boxer. He’s preoccupied by thoughts of her and wants to spend more time with her. But he’s skeptical of his own feelings, being unsure if he’s capable of love after witnessing his parents’ toxic marriage. Tons of steam plus the ongoing threat of discovery by Esme’s cousin.

Advance ebook provided by Jess Michaels via NetGalley.

Golden Lord by Mary Jo Putney (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Dangerous Gifts series. This romance is between adoptive siblings who have known each other since children. Cade and Tamsyn are both gifted persons who work for the Home Office and are sent to escort the British ambassador back to England from France. While there, Cade gets captured and Tamsyn needs to come to his rescue. We get a lot of action and fast-moving plot here, along with a controversial sort of romance. Cade has been secretly in love with Tamsyn for years, but suppressed his feelings for her. And she has seen him as a brother for all these years, until circumstances have forced her to see him in a new light. It’s interesting how they discuss the subject with each other and grapple with what it would mean for their larger family. But really, we spend a lot more time on the capture/escape plot, which is much more interesting. I enjoyed this book a lot and am curious if there will be more books in this series.

Advance ebook provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley.

Freed by the Marquess by Stevie Sparks (2024)

Historical romance. Interwar-era England. Book 3 of the Lords of Desire series. Lady Caroline is running off to marry a man and it turns out he’s awful when she finds him in bed with the maid on their supposed wedding night. Well, after the husband disappears completely, she’s left in the care of her new father-in-law David, who actually is quite caring. They form a tentative friendship and then feelings develop even further, but David’s trying his best to be loyal to his son. But he can only resist temptation for so long when it’s clear they’re really fallen in love with each other. Steamy and emotional read.

Advance ebook provided by Stevie Sparks.

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.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

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Weekly Reads: November 18 to 24, 2024

Nov 26, 2024

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.

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery (2024)

Contemporary romance/fiction. Standalone novel. This book was lots of fun! Our main lead is Julie, who is the matriarch of the family, and looking forward to a quiet Christmas alone with her younger secret boyfriend Heath. We get two other perspectives in this story: Blair (Julie’s daughter-in-law) and Dana (Julie’s daughter). The book alternates from the three characters’ perspectives with all the drama that ensues when they all decide to have a big family Christmas celebration at the family cabin. Blair and her husband have postponed their delayed honeymoon again, since he’s missing his late father. And with the big family Christmas, Blair has to bring her cold and emotionally distant mother along (we don’t like her much). Dana is heartbroken about being dumped recently and trying to be a newer better version of herself; but that will all start after Christmas. She’s also a bit upset her mother kept the new boyfriend a secret. We get more complicated when Heath’s kids join the trip too. Definitely lots going on here with a loud and boisterous family. This was a fun one to read, but don’t go in expecting romance to be the main plot.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print book provided by HarperCollins via TikTokShop.

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.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

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Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Weekly Reads: November 11 to 17, 2024

Nov 19, 2024

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.

Tale of the Heart Queen by Nisha J Tuli (2024)

Fantasy romance. Book 4 of the Artefacts of Ouranos series. Fourth and final book of the series where we see our main characters finally defeat the villain and claim victory. The last book ended on a cliffhanger, so we get to find out what happens in the immediate aftermath. And then there are tons more hoops for Lor and Nadir to jump through before they find their happily ever after. While the action was interesting, it got a bit repetitive after awhile. I did enjoy the side story of Gabriel and his struggles with the aftermath of revealing Atlas’ deception. Overall, a solid conclusion to the series.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

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.

Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novella. Super quick short story. Tilly is a soon-to-be divorced vacation rental property associate who is squatting in one of the vacant houses until she can move into her next apartment. And then the owner George shows up, so she hides in the attic. And of course he figures out she’s there. Super quick read and very sweet. It makes me want to read more from this author.

Ebook accessed from Amazon Prime Reading.

Chasing the Duke by Tracy Sumner (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novella. Classic brother’s best friend type of romance. Camille has had a long-standing crush on Tristan, but moves on when he joins the army. Upon his return, she’s grown into a beautiful woman but also betrothed to someone else. He’s dealing with his own stress from surviving the war, but is willing to make the effort to win Camille. Short and steamy quick read.

Ebook purchased via Amazon.

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