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Cavensham Heiresses Series by Janna MacGregor / Historical Romance Book Series

Nov 6, 2023

The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Cavensham Heiresses series. Alex is out to avenge his sister’s death by buying up a certain lord’s debts and having him jilt his fiancee. To save the fiancee Claire from ruin, he proposes to her himself. Claire has her own problems and is known for having a curse around her due to the losses of previous fiances to death, disease, and dismemberment. She’s wary of losing yet another one and feels pressured to go through with the marriage to Alex. She also has trauma and fears related to the death of her parents as a child and she tries to hide her unease from Alex to prevent him from thinking she’s insane. Alex meanwhile is still dealing with his vengeance plot and keeping that a secret from Claire. It’s a big huge mess of people hiding things from each other and waiting for it all to blow up. This story went a little longer than it probably needed to, but it was a good introduction to all the other key players in the series: Claire’s cousins and Alex’s surviving sister.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Bride Who Got Lucky by Janna MacGregor (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Cavensham Heiresses series. Nick is an earl who has been treated horribly and financially cut off from his ducal father, so he prioritizes business and avoids all emotional entanglements. However, he seems to always be drawn to Emma, a duke’s daughter and cousin-by-marriage to Nick’s only friend. Emma has been distraught over the loss of her friend and is attempting to prove that her friend’s husband is responsible for her death. This all involves some reckless and dangerous action that worries Nick when he finds out about it. These two people are clearly in love with each other, but neither of them know it. Emma doesn’t want marriage since she’s seen how horrible the institution is for women; Nick doesn’t want to crack open all the walls he’s built around his cold and lonely heart. However, all of the external conflict somehow pushes them together since Emma is constantly in danger and Nick swoops in to rescue her. Both of these very stubborn folks need to learn to compromise a bit and let the other person in and they definitely both need prodding from outside counsel to make it all work out.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Luck of the Bride by Janna MacGregor (2018)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Cavensham Heiresses series. Things are sad and tragic in the prologue for the Lawsom family who have lost their parents to influenza. It’s now up to oldest sister March to take care of two younger sisters and a baby brother. Eight years later and still destitute with no support from any appointed guardians, March forges the Marquess of McCalpin’s signature to withdraw funds from her own dowry to care for her home and family. McCalpin, heir to a duke, isn’t great with numbers, so it takes awhile for the embezzlement to be caught and identified. He and March meet and they’re instantly wary of each other (and attracted): she’s upset that he hasn’t been paying attention to his duties or correspondence, and he’s concerned that she might really be stealing money for nefarious purposes. Nevermind that March is friends with McCalpin’s sister Emma or that her clothing is very obviously threadbare. We do eventually see McCalpin’s family provide much needed food and assistance to the Lawson family and it’s all going fine until March’s horrible cousin stirs up more trouble. The romance between these two is a bit fraught since March in insecure about her station and does not want to accept pity or charity; plus McCalpin is hiding the fact that he’s bad at math and doesn’t want March to find out he’s an idiot. Luckily, McCalpin has a supportive family and pushes them together when necessary.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor (2018)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Cavensham Heiresses series. Lady Daphne accidentally gets left in London alone at Christmastime in a mix-up of whether she’s traveling with her brother or her mother. She decides to use this time to focus on her goals of setting up a home for unwed mothers and to establish her own residence. While mulling over her options in the park, her reticule and personal journal are stolen by a young boy and she gives chase. Eventually tracking the boy to a gambling hell, she bumps into Paul, her brother’s former friend and now nemesis who tries to rescue Daphne and protect her reputation. Over the next few days, Daphne and Paul team up to try to recover her journal, while also rekindling their long ago childhood friendship. Daphne is caring and compassionate towards Paul, who has acted the villain in previous books in this series. It turns out he was treated horribly by his father, even after his father’s death with cutting notes and reminders of his wastrel ways. There’s a tiny disagreement about the purchase of a property that Daphne wants to use as her charity house and Paul wants to use as a hospital in honor of his brother’s illness, but that scuffle is pretty minor compared to the risk of scandal Daphne is under if her journal is discovered. And of course when Daphne’s family comes back and starts meddling, we get even more drama.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Cavensham Heiresses series. Thea is supposed to be a countess in her own right, but the local duke is contesting her title and claiming that the earldom should also be his as the male heir to Thea’s grandfather. With the ensuing legal battle, Thea considers marriage and asks for her neighbor’s assistance in finding a match. Our dear old neighbor has a beloved great-nephew who might be perfect for the job. William is the second son of a duke who is generally resistant to marriage because of a previous heartache when he was younger. When Thea and William meet, both agree that a hasty marriage is not ideal and they become friends. Friends who are highly attracted to each other. As Thea meets the Cavensham clan, she quickly becomes smitten of the entire family and sees what a loving household William belongs to. Feeling like a total outsider, Thea doesn’t think that she is a suitable match for William, even though William thinks of himself as unworthy of Thea. This book was a fun slow-burn romance with delightfully meddlesome aunts.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Wild, Wild Rake by Janna MacGregor (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Cavensham Heiresses series. Avalon suffered a terrible marriage with a marquess, but now has freedom as a widow to pursue charitable endeavors at her country estate. Her son’s guardian is suspicious of the funding for the charity, so he sends his vicar brother Devan to the village to investigate. Avalon and Devan have bickered in the past, mostly because she jilted his best friend once upon a time, and Devan has seen her become a cold and icy marchioness. She really just developed a coping mechanism to deal with the horrible husband that her parents forced her to marry and then realized that being cool and distant could prevent her from suffering any further heartbreak. Of course, Avalon is wary of Devan’s new role in her village, especially with his debaucherous reputation and the naughty vicar. As they spend more time together, they slowly develop a friendship and get to know a bit more of each other’s true personalities. I loved how Devan turned out to be such a charismatic and responsible vicar, despite the rakish personality we’ve seen in previous books. Add in a bit of drama with one of the local debutantes, and we see both Avalon and Devan coming to each other’s rescue.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The League of Dukes Series by Scarlett Scott / Historical Romance Book Series

Nov 2, 2023

Nobody’s Duke by Scarlett Scott (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the League of Dukes series. Second chance romance between a newly widowed duchess and the illegitimate son of a duke. Eight years have passed since Ara and Clay have seen each other, but now that Ara’s husband was brutally murdered by Irish vigilantes and Ara herself is also a target, the Home Office has assigned special agent Clay to protect her and her son. These two definitely have lots of tension and bitterness towards each other, mostly because they each believe that the other person betrayed them all those years ago, even though the reader knows that it was all orchestrated by Ara’s disapproving parents. We get to read some chapters from the past and see the neighbors Ara and Clay meet and fall in love in the forest between their lands. However, in the present-day, it’s all angry bickering and fighting and the epitome of the miscommunication trope because they won’t just come out and say why they’re mad an betrayed by the other one. Even though the physical attraction is still there among the heartbreak. Add in the fact that Ara’s son (and new duke) is the spitting image of Clay, we have yet another layer of betrayal and anger. The external danger drives a lot of the story forward and emotions and adrenaline is running strong and I think we eventually finally get some truth-telling in the last quarter of the book.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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Heartless Duke by Scarlett Scott (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the League of Dukes series. This book overlaps a bit with the previous one and will make more sense when read in order. Leo is the head of the special league of agents tasked with fighting some Irish crime organization. When he arrives at his half-brother’s house for a wedding, he finds himself intrigued by his nephew’s governess. Bridget is actually there pretending to be a governess so she can kidnap the young duke in exchange for her own brother’s freedom. A standoff in the woods leads to Leo shooting her and taking her prisoner. A lot of this book has Leo and Bridget at odds with each other since they’re sworn enemies, but they’re also fiercely attracted to each other, and sometimes try to use that attraction to manipulate each other. The manipulation doesn’t work very well since they both lose their heads when they surrender to their lust. It is interesting to learn more about Leo’s backstory, since he’s the stern and serious duke when it comes to his work, but he has a debaucherous reputation to throw everyone else off, and then claims to be completely heartless and untrusting of women. Quite the combination there, and it all makes Bridget’s secrecy all that more painful for him. I did enjoy seeing his relationship with his half-brother’s mother, who was more caring and nurturing than his own mother ever was.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Dangerous Duke by Scarlett Scott (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the League of Dukes series. Griffin is a secret agent duke in the special league, but he is currently being accused of treason and being kept locked up in another stuffy duke’s house. That duke’s sister Violet seems to have caught Griffin’s attention, while he has also ignited her passions. Unfortunately, Violet is engaged to someone boring and dull who prefers his botany and overbearing mother to Violet. She doesn’t actually think that Griffin and guilty of treason and proposes to work with him to clear his name. Griffin needs all the help he can get and enjoys Violet’s company, so he agrees to her offer. Both slowly start to open up to each other about their past traumas related to the deaths of their parents, and we see their dangerous scheme fall into place. Plus, the actually traitor is still out there making trouble, so we eventually see how that crime is solved.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Shameless Duke by Scarlett Scott (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the League of Dukes series. After the events of the previous book, secret league leader and duke Lucien has been assigned a partner from America to assist with his investigation of the Irish terrorists. The overbearing and arrogant duke is of course completely surprised when the agent who shows up is the ultra-competent female, Hazel. They spend the first quarter of the book arguing with each other until Lucien starts to begrudgingly accept Hazel’s input. Things get even more fiery when they give into their attraction to each other and start a physical affair. Meanwhile, they’re still trying to solve the case of the Irish terrorists. Lucien starts the book as someone totally judgmental, but slowly starts to realize his own limitations and softens towards Hazel. Both Lucien and Hazel have tragic histories in relation to love and it was nice to see them open up to each other about their pasts.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Scandalous Duke by Scarlett Scott (2020)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the League of Dukes series. Everyone’s keeping dangerous secrets here. Johanna has renamed herself Rose, given herself a fake background, and become a world-famous actress. Unfortunately, her terrorist of a brother has found her and is forcing her to do some of his bidding, like sneaking documents and explosives from America to England. Meanwhile, Felix, a duke working with the Home Office, has decided to get closer to Rose, believing her to be the terrorist’s mistress. She doesn’t realize he’s part of the Home Office and that he’s just an entitled duke who wants to bed her, but resists anyway due to her own damaged history with men. They’re both trying to prevent their own feelings from getting involved, but they’re terribly attracted to each other and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Lots of drama involved with explosions and threats of imprisonment, but ultimately Felix is willing to use all of his power to keep Johanna out of trouble.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Fearless Duke by Scarlett Scott (2020)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 6 of the League of Dukes series. Grumpy duke Benedict has scared off three typists (who he thought were incompetent) and their typing school owner Isabella has come to pick a fight. They start the encounter completely at odds and somehow Isabella is tasked with proving her competence by serving as Benedict’s typist for the next week. Isabella tries really hard to hold onto propriety and professionalism (as she has learned her lesson in the past with a lord who didn’t marry her), while Benedict can’t seem to keep his hands off Isabella. Add in Benedict’s meddlesome younger sister and we have lots of chances for compromising situations. Eventually, we run into some danger with those Irish terrorists looming in the background of the entire series and Benedict starts to realize the depth of his feelings for Isabella. However, Isabella insists that they cannot be together due to their differences in social station (pretty similar to the other books of the series).

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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

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: October 23 to 29, 2023

Oct 31, 2023

It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Scandalous series. We start with a tragic prologue for Sebastian, where he’s injured from war, his former best friend is accusing him of eloping with his younger sister, and his madman of a father has gone missing. Life is pretty awful for Sebastian. Fast forward six or seven years and the wealthy Weston family has moved to town so that heiresses Abigail and Penelope have the chance of meeting more gentlemen suitors. Abigail happens to meet Sebastian in the adjoining property when her mother’s puppy runs into the woods. He’s hesitant to introduce himself or spend any time with Abigail, probably due to his own tarnished and impoverished circumstances. Despite his reticence, Abigail is intrigued by him. They continue to accidentally meet in the woods until they start purposefully meeting there and it’s a slow burn romance as Abigail learns Sebastian’s secrets. At some point, Sebastian’s former friend Benedict joins the story to serve as a rival for Abigail’s affections, but her choice between the two men is pretty obvious to everyone else.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden (2015)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2.5 of the Scandalous series. Novella-length story. Douglas is wagered by his somewhat disreputable friend to dance with Madeline, the somewhat aloof widow who stands at the sidelines of balls. Upon rejection, Douglas is faced with an even bolder wager: unmask Madeline as the author of a scandalous pamphlet. While the reader is unsure of Madeline is the anonymous authoress, we do know that she writes some sort of column and passes it on to a publisher. She tries to maintain her distance from society, while still being invited everywhere, so that she can collect gossip from society events. She’s also completely wary of Douglas’ attentions, even though she is attracted to him. Douglas aims to spend more time with Madeline, escorting her places and attempting to flirt with her. Their acquaintance grows over the next few weeks until Douglas is convinced that he will not expose her in any way and Madeline is completely unsure of herself and her feelings for him. This all wraps up pretty quickly and was an enjoyable novella to read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Merriwell Sisters series. Venus and Galahad have been at odds with each other since their first meeting without a real reason. However, things will probably become a lot messier when Galahad purchases the property next door to Venus’ orphanage to build his new gambling hell. With a negligent wastrel father, Venus has little tolerance for vice and believes the worst of Galahad. Add in Venus’ general distrust of men (and her own reaction to men), she is constantly wary of Galahad’s overtures of friendship. Galahad doesn’t want a potential war on his doorstep, so he aims to enter a truce with Venus before telling her about the gambling hell plans. In spending more time with her, Galahad shows his honorable nature and kindness towards the orphans and makes Venus start to question her perception of him. Of course, it all comes crashing down when she learns about the property purchase and she’ll have to figure out if he’s worth forgiving. This book was a nice wrap up of the series, showing how far the sisters have come from their desolate circumstances in Book 1. I also enjoyed reading about Galahad’s history and why he is so emotionally closed off.

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

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood (2023)

Young Adult Contemporary Romance. Standalone novel. Mallory hasn’t played chess in years, since it seemingly caused the implosion of her family. Now she’s a high school graduate working to support her disabled mother and two younger sisters. Her best friend convinces her to join a charity chess tournament and she somehow wins against Nolan, the reigning world champion and top-ranked chess player. Mallory is understandably completely overwhelmed and bolts. Soon after that, Mallory is offered a well-paying fellowship to study and play chess with the hopes of entering upcoming chess competitions. While she tries to maintain some emotional distance from the sport, it all comes back to her even though she’s hiding her chess involvement from her family. Once we start heading out in the world of chess tournaments, we get more awkward meetings with Nolan and meet some of his friends. While a lot of the actual chess went over my head, the banter between Mallory and Nolan is so entertaining, as well as Nolan’s interactions with Mallory’s younger sisters. He’s clearly impressed and intrigued by her, even though she totally denies it. The romance aspect is sweet and fun to read (and the sex is closed door). We get to see these two open up to each other about the family secrets and traumatic histories, and ultimately find a way to have fun even in spite of the competition. Another super entertaining read from Ali Hazelwood.

Advance ebook provided by Penguin Teen via NetGalley.

The Runaway Duke by Julie Anne Long (2004)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Rebecca accidentally gets caught in a compromising situation with an impoverished baron who meant to compromise her sister, but now has to marry this man she doesn’t love. Luckily, her father’s head groom Connor agrees to help Rebecca escape. However, Connor is not actually a groom at all, but the heir to a duke who was presumed dead at Waterloo and is living free of his duties and responsibilities. As if the running away plot wasn’t enough, we get to see a more deeply interconnected plot as we add complications due to blackmail, a former mistress, and an industrious duchess. I really enjoyed reading the multiple points of view in this story, with the interconnections of various characters. It all comes back to the fact that Connor is now the rightful duke, even though he doesn’t know it, and all of the complications of his former life. It was also fun to see Rebecca and Connor go from being trusted friends to more along their journey.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Love in the Time of Scandal by Caroline Linden (2015)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Scandalous series. We start with a tragic prologue of Benedict’s upbringing to highlight just how cruel his earl of a father is and why he might behave in certain ways. The story starts with Penelope being bored and lonely at a ball now that her friend and sister have married (in Books 1 and 2 of the series). Penelope is trying to be supportive of her new friend’s suitor, but quickly realizes that she’s talking about Benedict, the man who previously courted Penelope’s sister and turned his back on a childhood friend. With this prior experience with Benedict, Penelope is wary of his affection for her friend. Benedict tries to make amends with Penelope, but they end up bickering instead, and ultimately Benedict blames Penelope for not being able to secure an engagement with the other lady. However, when Penelope ends up being the subject of scandalous rumors, Benedict decides to marry her. For two people who cannot seem to agree on anything, it’s interesting to see how they find common ground. This book has lots of drama here with a treacherous villain in the background, plus dealing with Benedict’s horrible father.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden (2016)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3.5 of the Scandalous series. Quick novella here about an earl’s daughter who runs away from an unwanted engagement. Samantha’s cruel father has decided to punish her by arranging a marriage to a monstrous marquess’ son. She seizes the opportunity to run away, nearly gets kidnapped, but then is rescued. Gray is the son of a duke and also a painter who feels instantly protective of Samantha, even though she pretends to have forgotten who she is and will not reveal what she’s running from. In exchange for room and protection, Samantha assists Gray in his art studio and poses as his model. While the romanting relationship between Samantha and Gray develops swiftly, there is the looming danger of being caught by her father.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Rose Blooms in Brooklyn by Ginny B. Moore (2023)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Book 3 of the Flowers Sisters series. The beautiful and spoiled Rose has not had a success of her many Seasons in London and now she faces a pending engagement to a man she doesn’t love or to serve as companion to an elderly relation. She told her parents that she’s bound for Boston to reconcile with her twin sister, but she’s really headed to New York City to enjoy the high society her cousin lives within. However, she’s shocked to learn that her cousin is living in Brooklyn, estranged from her family, and working to support herself. Rose is completely out of her element and has to adapt to such unfamiliar surroundings. Ben is a widower and political activist who owns the building where Rose has landed and scoffs at Rose’s naivete. He’s also uncomfortably attracted to her even though his heart is all sorts of closed off after the death of his wife in childbirth. The romance between Rose and Ben involves a lot of push-and-pull, with Rose realizing that she has been completely sheltered all her life and with Ben learning to embrace life and joy again. Running through the entire book is the opposition towards laws that prohibit the distribution of contraception and the movement for women’s suffrage. We get to admire Ben’s selfless dedication to the cause as well as Rose’s increased awareness and understanding of such matters. A great read, with lots of support from Ben’s found family.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

Bed Me, Earl by Felicity Niven (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Bed Me, Books series. Caroline decides to bed her long-time crush Phineas when he’s at her country home with her brother’s hunting party. The easy-going Phineas is delighted that a woman has come to his bed and thinks he’s got the best luck ever. When he realizes that he slept with his friend’s sister and that he might be forced to marry her, he thinks that wouldn’t be a hardship at all. Of course, Phineas says this out loud to Caroline and upsets her in the process. Despite all this, Phineas has decided that he wants to pursue Caroline and dismisses all his mistresses upon his return to London. Caroline was really only looking for a tryst and doesn’t aim for any type of relationship with Phineas, as her lisp and stutter were cruelly disparaged by her father. She’s been hidden away in the country for the past decade and has no interest in letting anyone know about her condition. After her father’s death, her brother brings her to London, hoping to make up for his neglect over the years. There, she finds an eager Phineas wanting to court her. There’s a lot of back-and-forth here as Caroline tries to push Phineas away, but their physical attraction is much too strong and gets them into trouble. Even though Phineas gives the impression of a confident and charming man, we see hints of his insecurity every time Caroline rejects him. When we finally do see them settle down together, we get to see Caroline step up and take charge of the household with utter confidence. I loved seeing this side of Caroline, even if it leaves Phineas questioning his own worth and competence. I really enjoyed reading this book and seeing how these two very opposite personalities come together.

Advance ebook provided by Felicity Niven.

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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

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads!

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.

Trope Round Up: Marriage of Convenience Historical Romance Books

Oct 30, 2023

Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Westcott series. The ever dutiful and honorable Alexander Westcott is not happy with becoming the earl. Just when he has recently made his own estate profitable and considered finally looking for a wife, he inherits a run-down estate with the earldom and none of the money. He now has to change course and seek a wealthy wife to support his new estate. Wren is out of mourning for her aunt and uncle who raised her, has been a recluse all her life, and is now looking for a husband. She thinks that the birthmark on her face will prevent any eligible gentleman from marrying her, so she approaches her offer as a business proposal, offering Alex the money to fix his estate in exchange for marriage. Alex is much too noble to just take the money and he tries to get to know Wren and determine if they’ll suit. Her demeanor is guarded and severe and Alex does not think it’ll work; she’s also a recluse and has difficulty meeting people in social settings. It seems to be a total mismatch from the get-go. However, Alex cannot seem to stop thinking about her and she somehow feels challenged by him (and his family) to confront her fears and slowly venture into society. It’s a delightful slow burn and amazing to see how the Westcotts welcome Wren into their fold and rally around her. Another great story in this series.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Tall, Duke, and Scandalous by Amy Rose Bennett (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Byronic Book Club series. Jane gets caught trying to steal a rare book from a duke’s library but instead of getting into trouble, he proposes marriage to her instead. Christopher is the newly inherited duke with a reputation for throwing debaucherous parties, but really, he’s hiding the fact that an assassination attempt has left him unable to recognize or remember faces of the people around him. He needs help navigating the people around him as well as find his killer. Jane has her own burdens, with a scarred face after an accident with her ex-fiancee ten years ago, a gambling mother, and a sudden blackmailer. She takes Christopher up on his offer, mostly because she needs the money, but also because she’s very much attracted to him. Both are slow to trust the other person due to each of their past hurts, but the physical affection starts early and often. Loved seeing them team up against his mystery murderer.

Advance ebook provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.

How To Love A Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne (2019)

Historical romance, Victorian England. Book 1 of the Devil You Know series. As expected, there was a huge amount of drama and emotional turmoil in this book. We start with a tragic prologue where Alexandra is attacked by her school headmaster, defends herself, and then needs her friends to assist her in covering things up. To help her feel better, her two best friends reveal their own tragic secrets. As expected, the two friends will make up the main characters of the other two books in this series. Chapter one starts ten years later when she’s on her way to a duke’s masquerade ball where her friend is supposed to be announced as his fiancee. What follows is a series of near-death experiences, blackmail, family destitution, and a fearful pull that Alexandra has towards her friend’s intended, Piers. Don’t worry though, her friend is not in love with him at all and it was a marriage contract from many years past. When she finds out about the allowance the future duchess will receive, she proposes that the duke marry her instead of her friend. And then we have even more drama with Piers’ backstory with his family history, being attacked and scarred, being ditched by his fiancee for his cousin, and mistrust of women. These two people have their own reasons for not trusting one another but somehow feel safe and protected when they’re together. Loved seeing them start to slowly melt towards each other.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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One Season with the Duke by Addy DuLac (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. Hettie is the niece of a marquess and suddenly being blackmailed by her slimy cousin (who I didn’t catch or remember how he’s related to her) into marriage. She doesn’t like him at all, but seems to go along with it because she doesn’t want to jeopardize her family’s reputation. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Finn is finally back in London having been away for many years taking care of his estates in Scotland. He’s disappointed to learn that Hettie is already engaged, but offers to rescue her from her dire circumstances. These two elope pretty early on in the book and I was really expecting a road trip romance with a big chase from the blackmailer, but we ended up with an overbearing mother-in-law story instead. Plus Hettie’s still keeping the secrets of what she was being blackmailed with, Finn is both arrogant and self-doubting and insecure, and really, the villain took way too long to catch up with them. The childhood friends to lovers romance was nice and I liked how Hettie stood up to her mother-in-law, but overall, this book was just ok. If you like stories where someone swoops in to save a lady from an unwanted marriage to a villain, I also recommend The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

To Marry an Heiress by Lorraine Heath (2002)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Daughters of Fortune series. We’re in England for this story, with Georgina visiting her friend Lauren (stepdaughter to the Earl of Ravenleigh) for the Season and her wealthy father setting up a match for her with Devon, another earl and cousin to Ravenleigh. Devon’s impoverished estate needs the cash and he agrees to Georgina’s father’s terms for courtship and the appearance of a love match. Upon meeting Georgina at a ball, she sees through him immediately and insists that he not lie to her if they are to marry. We see a quick wedding very early on in the book, followed by a surprising tragedy that sets off resentment and animosity between Devon and Georgina through the rest of the book. It was most interesting to see how Georgina could be sweet and accommodating, but also have strength in her convictions throughout the book. Devon thought he would be getting himself a demure and grateful wife, but instead finds a strong courageous partner worth falling in love with.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Lady’s Disgrace by Callie Hutton (2014)

Historical romance, Regency England. Book 3 of the Marriage Mart Mayhem series. Duke’s sister Abigail has just been jilted by her fiancee, who eloped with another woman. With her reputation in peril, her brother arranges for a family friend, country rector Joseph, to marry her. Abigail and Joseph agree to a marriage of convenience and friendly partnership because Abigail is unwilling to put her emotions at risk again. Joseph has admired Abigail for years, but didn’t think he had a chance with her due to the differences in social standing; he hesitantly agrees to the arrangement but plans to slowly woo her into a true marriage. But if general angst isn’t enough for you, there’s also a conniving widow in the village who is dismayed that Joseph has come home with a wife (we get a few passages here and there for her point of view) and then a bunch of random life-threatening accidents that Abigail keeps having. This poor woman nearly dies so many times in this book. I’m pretty sure the audience is meant to know who the villain is here, but it takes a bit longer for Abigail and Joseph to figure it all out.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Surprise Heir by Merry Farmer (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Secrets of Nedworth Hall series. Frank is a mere valet to an earl (who happens to be his cousin) and at the house party at Nedworth Hall. As someone born illegitimate and without knowing who his father is, he is relegated to being a servant and certainly not a prospect for any of the matchmaking that is happening at the party. Meanwhile, Melanie is an American heiress who isn’t interested in marrying into the aristocracy and would prefer to use her dowry money to start her own department store in London. When she and Frank run into each other, she decides that marrying Frank would help release her funds and she would have a built-in business partner in her new husband. Luckily, these two are very much attracted to each other and the marriage will definitely be physical in addition to being convenient.

Advance ebook provided by Merry Farmer via BookSprout.

In Scandal They Wed by Sophie Jordan (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Penwich School for Virtuous Girls series. The prologue starts with Evie’s younger sister Linnie giving birth to an illegitimate child and Evie’s stepmother wants to send the baby away; Evie convinces her father to let her raise the baby as her own to save her sister’s reputation. We time-jump a few years later, and find out that Linnie’s suitor was a soldier and was sent to war before they could marry. As he’s dying in battle, he asks his cousin Spencer to take care of Linnie and the child. When we catch up to Evie in her impoverished living situation, the reader finds out that her sister had married and passed away in the intervening years. Spencer does eventually show up at Evie’s cottage and believes her to be the Linnie that his cousin had pined over all these years. Since Evie doesn’t want to lose custody of her son, she lies and says that she is Linnie. It’s a tangled mess and everyone feels guilty for being attracted to someone they shouldn’t, eventually ending up with a marriage between Evie and Spencer for the benefit of the child (and so that Spencer can fulfill his duties to his new title). There’s lots of potential for betrayal here with Evie lying about being a mother and Spencer not being forthcoming about him being a viscount. This book keeps the pages turning just so you’ll find out what calamity happens next.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke’s Daring Bride by Caroline Lee (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Surprise! Dukes series. Alistair is a reclusive duke who does not speak but makes his case in the House of Lords through letters and support documents; at night, he stalks the streets fighting crime as the Dark Knight. One night, he saves Olivia from ruin while she’s out there looking for a story that might save her newspaper. One of her investors just happens to be Alistair and she shows up at his house the next day to ask for him to reinstate his financial support, not knowing he was the one who saved her. He decides to propose to her in exchange for the newspaper support, mostly because he needs a wife, but doesn’t want to go out into society to acquire one. These two enter into a marriage of convenience, but have an instant attraction for each other. It’s fun to read about Olivia integrating into Alistair’s boisterous family: a meddling mother and two quirky younger sisters. Of course we also get a slow progression of Alistair and Olivia learning to trust each other and fall in love. This one was another great book in the series and I love how everything ties back to the overarching villain of the series.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Lee.

How the Wallflower Was Won by Eva Leigh (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Last Chance Scoundrels series. At the start of this book, Finn is trying to set up Dom with bluestocking Tabitha, thinking that they would make for an easy marriage-of-convenience. However, Dom is not interested in courting or marrying and Tabitha is completely intimidated by Dom anyway. Plus Finn and Tabitha are clearly drawn to each other. The problem is that Tabitha is a well-read intellectual lady trying to gain entry into a prestigious academic society, while Finn has always been berated and thought to be an imbecile. He’s not, he just has trouble reading, but he’s clever and observant. Finn thinks that he’s no match for Tabitha and is afraid that she will despise him once she finds out the truth about his intellect (or lacktherof). Tabitha is also wary of emotional entanglements because of a hurtful experience in her past, but is slowly opening up to Finn. These two are deeply guarded with their feelings and with each other, but it’s plain to everyone else that they adore each other. I loved how supportive Finn was of Tabitha and that he respected her opinion and knowledge.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Somerset Stories series. We’ve got a strikingly beautiful and kind young lady, Phyllida, living with her uncle and cousins after her grandfather has passed away and now she’s being prepared for her debut and season. However, her uncle has almost sold her to a much older and cruel duke who is known for collecting rare and beautiful things. She finds kindness and connection with another man, Arthur, who is an injured war veteran. When it seems that her marriage to the duke is imminent, she enters into a marriage of convenience with Arthur, and he takes her away to his estate for protection. In reading this book, I appreciated the slow build of trust and companionship between Phyllida and Arthur and that they were able to talk through their issues for the most part. Even with the external drama of meddlesome family members, the romance here was solid and heartwarming.

Ebook purchased via Amazon.

To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Regency Vows series. We finally get to see the romance between Emily and Julian here in a marriage of convenience story. We start at the end of the house party from Book 2, where Julian has been sort of courting Emily and hinting to her that he would be able to save her family’s debt as her husband. We start right with a proposal in Chapter 1 and learn Julian’s motivations for marrying (he wants to improve the reputation of his scandalous theater to gain the approval of his estranged father). Emily is finally enjoying a bit of freedom away from her overbearing parents and learning to express her own opinions, instead of always being so prim and proper. The romance between these two was easy and fun to read, with an interfering kitten adding to the comedy-factor of the story. Loved this book and probably my favorite of the series so far.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Rogue Files Series by Sophie Jordan / Historical Romance Book Series

Oct 26, 2023

While the Duke Was Sleeping by Sophie Jordan (2016)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Rogue Files series. Poppy is a worker in a flower shop who is smitten with one of the regular customers, even though the duke doesn’t pay her much attention. When she sees him fighting in the street with another man and does not see an oncoming carriage, she pushes him out of the way, saving his life, but also rendering him unconscious. The man he was fighting with turns out to be his illegitimate half-brother, Struan, who he refuses to acknowledge. In the confusion of bringing the injured duke home, Poppy is assumed to be the duke’s fiance. Struan is skeptical of that, but still believes Poppy to be the duke’s paramour. The duke’s household and family are overjoyed the meet Poppy and enthusiastically welcome her to the family, causing her to feel even more guilty for the deception. Throughout all of this, Struan both antagonizes and physically pursues Poppy, which she both enjoys and rejects. Even though she isn’t truly engaged to the duke, she still isn’t free to pursue Struan, who is not offering anything honorable to her anyway. Still, this book was an entertaining story and I enjoyed meeting the duke’s warm and welcoming family.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Scandal of It All by Sophie Jordan (2017)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Rogue Files series. Widowed duchess, Graciela, hesitantly seeks a night of fun at a pleasure club, but needs rescuing by her stepson’s best friend, Colin, so she isn’t caught by her stepson. There’s barely an age gap here with Graciela being only six years older than Colin, but everyone feels a little scandalous about it. Graciela was poorly treated by her late husband even though she tries to project a happy loving image to her stepchildren and daughter, and she tries to have a bit of an adventure at the cajoling of her best friend. She gets in way over her head at the pleasure club and somehow ends up kissing Colin to hide her identity. He proposes an affair with her, and she is both intrigued by his attention but also insulted that she isn’t worthy of courtship or marriage. Meanwhile Colin has his own family issues having been orphaned at a young age, and he’s been attracted to Graciela for years, but kept his honor and manners in check for the most part. Colin is pursuing Graciela pretty ardently here and she tends to give in, even though she knows it’s unwise. A fun book to read, especially when we start to see the fallout of everyone’s actions.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan (2018)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Rogue Files series. Marcus has run away from his ducal responsibilities after he catches his best friend with his stepmother in a compromising position and is on his way to his estate in the north of Scotland. On the way there, he happens across a village wife auction and buys/saves the girl who is being so crudely sold off. Alyse has been married in name only to her late father’s friend since the age of 15 and provided care of the man’s children and household. Her childhood friend was supposed to bid on her during the auction so they could start their new lives together, but that man disappeared and didn’t show up. Although she is purchased by Marcus, she has no idea who he is or if he’s trustworthy. He declares that theirs won’t really be a marriage and that he will employ her as a housekeeper at his estate. We end up embarking on a road trip romance here, traveling on horseback and stopping at various inns along the way. This book had a really interesting set up and it was nice to see Marcus slowly let down his walls and realize what a privileged life he has led thus far.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rogue Files series. Clara, the younger sister of a duke, gets herself into a scandal by declaring herself pregnant to break off an unwanted engagement. She banishes herself to her brother’s Scottish estate to preserve her family’s reputation. Her brother’s neighbor and local laird Hunt is visiting and quickly offers her marriage in light of the scandal. Hunt is eager and willing to take on another man’s child since his own family seems to be cursed. The men of Hunt’s family tend to die before their first child is born and has been doing so for five generations. Hunt has long denied himself a wife and children, and bringing up another child seems to be a way to circumvent the curse. The downside is that Clara isn’t actually pregnant and this betrayal and risk of Hunt’s death hovers over their entire relationship.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Rogue Files series. Impoverished oldest sister Marian seeks to save her family’s circumstance by becoming a courtesan. However, she has no experience at all, so she seeks out the neighborhood depraved duke, Nate, for some lessons. He’s affronted at first, but then gives in, and the relationship is mostly him trying to get her to loosen up. It’s sad to see how very poor Marian and her family are and how their choices are limited, but Nate feels sorry for Marian and also desires her so much that he can’t stay away from her.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan (2020)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 6 of the Rogue Files series. Prim and proper Charlotte suffers from terrible monthly cramps which are usually aided by a tonic provided by her sister. This month’s dose of tonic turns out to be an aphrodisiac and Charlotte pretty much accosts her brother-in-law’s stepbrother, Kingston, in the middle of the night. She feels horribly guilty since she’s engaged to someone else, but Kingston tries to convince her that she’s a passionate woman and much too good for her betrothed. Charlotte tries to avoid Kingston as much as possible so that she doesn’t submit to further indiscretion, but he is constantly underfoot. Kingston has his own feelings of inadequacy being the illegitimate son of a dissolute earl with no home or sense of belonging. He’s envious of Charlotte’s family and security and believes himself unworthy of her. Both of these characters need to get over their self-denial and admit to themselves (and each other) what they really want.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke Effect by Sophie Jordan (2020)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 7 of the Rogue Files series. Youngest sister Nora studied healing with her father who was a doctor and has been serving as the village healer since his death. Unfortunately, she has also been corresponding with people who have written letters to her deceased father and signing her father’s name with her medical advice. When army colonel Constantine is back in England as the heir to a duke, he seeks out Nora’s father for a medical consult and is outraged to find that he has been corresponding with Nora and believes her to be a charlatan. With the threat to her reputation as a healer, she does everything she can to convince him that she is qualified and competent, including sneaking away from home to see Constantine in London. While it all works out for the pair romantically, it was strange that there wasn’t any fallout with Nora’s older sister after she snuck off.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

In Bed with the Stablemaster by Sophie Jordan (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Novella, part of the Rogue Files series. Super short story that takes place at the same time as the events of Book 6 of the series. One of the housemaids, Vera, and the stablemaster, Rufus, generally bicker at each other on the job. One day, Vera is caught in a rainstorm and rescued by Rufus and taken to a cottage for shelter. With wet clothes to remove and some quiet isolation (plus simmering attraction), these two end up having a tryst that leads to a honorable proposal. It’s a super quick story to read and a fun little interlude.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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Wicked Dukes Club Series by Erica Ridley and Darcy Burke / Historical Romance Book Series

Oct 25, 2023

One Night for Seduction by Erica Ridley (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. A group of guy friends congregate at the local tavern own by two of the dukes in their group. One gentleman complains of his unmarriageable ward, and Cole sees a challenge he cannot refuse. He has until the end of the season to find Diana a husband with a bunch of stipulations set into place. Diana has been sneaking out into town and dressed as some sort of investigator to enforce uniform measurements for shopkeepers. It’s her way of serving justice for the common man. In order to keep this up, she blends in whenever she is in society and tries to be completely unnoticeable. Of course, after Cole meets her, he starts to notice her all the time and is quickly onto her scheme. This one was a relatively quick low-angst read with the duke falling first.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Night of Surrender by Darcy Burke (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. Isabelle is a widow and now governess and runs into her former love when her employer is staying at the duke’s house. Valentine, the Duke of Eastleigh, is being pressured by his grandmother and sister to marry again, though he’s hesitant of trusting women after the betrayal of his late wife. When he sees Isabelle again for the first time in a decade, he’s surprised that she is now working as a governess and wants to spend more time with her. Isabelle resists as much as she can because she needs to keep a spotless reputation if she ever wants to become the headmistress at a school. Circumstances cause her to lose her position as a governess and Val wants to assist Isabelle, even if it’s unwise for him to do so. This was a relatively quick and low angst story that was fun to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley (2019)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. Thaddeus is a mere mister looking for a love match; Priscilla wants to claim her inheritance once she’s officially a spinster so she can go adventuring with her father and grandfather. When these two meet (and start to banter), the sparks are instantaneous. Although Thad is earnest in his pursuit of Priscilla, she’s the one warning him away. Their romance is cute and fun and easy to read, with just a tiny bit of angst as Thad puts his heart on the line. Loved this one!

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Night of Scandal by Darcy Burke (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Wicked Duke Club series. Viola, younger sister to a duke, dresses up as a man to visit the tavern and collect stories for her newspaper column. She gets involved in some sort of political gossip and tries to investigate, but is thwarted by Jack, a member of parliament and friend of her brother’s. He’s known for awhile that Viola was in disguise but has not revealed it to anyone. They work together to investigate the political mystery and grow closer through the process. Another quick-ish read from this series and a relatively low-angst romance.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. Lady Felicity who is the sister of a duke who grew up in poverty and is looking for a wealthy and titled husband so that she will find financial security plus have money to be able to start a charity to assist poor children. Secretly, she is a mechanic who loves to fix up her brother’s carriages. Her brother enters a curricle race and has tasked local blacksmith Giles with riding in the race and working with Felicity to make sure the vehicle is in the best racing condition. Giles is gruff at first with having to work with a partner, but very quickly becomes impressed with Felicity’s skill. These two are obviously a perfect match for each other; Felicity just needs to get over her desire to wed a wealthy and titled lord.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Night of Temptation by Darcy Burke (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Wicked Dukes Club series. Penelope, daughter of a marquess, sets out to ruin herself and her arranged betrothal to an elderly earl by faking her kidnapping. The neighborhood rector, Hugh, ends up rescuing her from a very real kidnapping and also helps her hide from her parents for the night. Penelope hopes that the appearance of a kidnapping with help call off the betrothal. With all their hiding and running around town through the night, Penelope and Hugh very quickly develop camaraderie, friendship, and affection. Despite their differences in social station, Penelope just wants to be happy and useful, and Hugh has friends in high places to assist him when needed.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Weekly Reads: October 16 to 22, 2023

Oct 24, 2023

Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden (2013)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Scandalous series. Joan is the plump and tall daughter of a baronet who is practically a spinster and has an overbearing mother. While she is delivering a message to her brother to attend an upcoming ball, she encounters her brother’s friend Tristan staying at her brother’s lodgings. Although Tristan does not typically attend society events, he’s intrigued and irritated by Joan so he seeks her out at the next ball. This ball ends up being pretty eventful for Joan and Tristan, as he scandalizes her with his behavior, insults her, but also dances with her and kisses her. It’s an amusing mix of actions here that leave Joan and Tristan totally confused about how they feel about each other. Joan’s mother disapproves of Tristan due to his scandalous reputation, and extracts Joan’s promise to avoid him in the future. However, as Joan’s parents and brother need to leave town soon after that, Joan’s brother asks Tristan to look after Joan and visit her. There’s a slow build up of real feelings between Tristan and Joan here, both getting over their initial reaction to the other.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Plaid to the Bone by Caroline Lee (2021)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 1 of the Bad in Plaid series. We’re onto a new generation of the Oliphant family with a laird who has six daughters, no sons, and a scheme to declare the next laird. The first daughter to marry and birth a son will have her husband become the next laird. Leanna is the youngest of the sisters and has no intention of marrying (unless she finds love and desire with the man she’s to marry) and has a chance meeting at the waterfall with a stranger. That stranger, Kenneth, is one of the King’s Hunters who is searching for his missing colleague and suspicious of the Oliphants. He soon realizes that the Oliphant clan doesn’t have anything to do with the missing man, and pretty quickly falls in love with Leanna. There’s about a 20 year age gap between these two, but that’s barely apparent here because Leanna is brash and bold in going after what she wants.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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Not Half Plaid by Caroline Lee (2021)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 2 of the Bad in Plaid series. The shy and quiet Fenella serves as the cook of the castle, preferring to stay in the kitchens than venture outside her domain. Brodie is a warrior who is recovering from injury, learning to walk again on his shattered knee, and spending too much time in the kitchens. He volunteers too much advice about cooking for Fenella’s liking, even though they’re both shyly attracted to each other. Somehow, they end up in a cooking competition with each other, with judges and everything. This one is mostly a humorous story, with Brodie learning to find a new purpose in life and Fenella learning to share her space with another person.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Ye Give Love A Plaid Name by Caroline Lee (2022)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 3 of the Bad in Plaid series. Wynda is the intellectual of the group, with massive book knowledge and the ability to invent a leg brace. She also communes with the ghosts of the castle, including one ghost who shares all sorts of positions for couples to find passion and pleasure and is writing a book to collate all this advice. This lady ghost strongly encourages Wynda to pursue her own pleasure and test out the positions from the book with Pherson, the clan’s falconer. Pherson is pretty much the sweetest single father you’ll ever read, caring for his young daughter who speaks little and has a disfigured foot. It turns out that Pherson found the abandoned baby in a field and he decided to keep and care for her. Wynda grows closer to the girl, as she assists in creating a walking brace and in teaching the girl to read. Although Pherson is keeping secrets about his past and does not feel worthy of Wynda’s attentions, it’s clear they’re both attracted to each other.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Don’t Give A Damn About My Plaid Reputation by Caroline Lee (2022)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 4 of the Bad in Plaid series. Robena has fallen in love with castle visitor Kester, but it turns out he’s already engaged to the daughter from a rival clan to stop a feud. Since Kester and his men are set to travel to the Highland Games to deliver a message and to meet his betrothed, Robena decides to tag along disguised as a lad so that she can compete in the bagpiping competition. Kester knows it’s Robena immediately and is completely appalled that no one else recognizes her. They both know that Kester is to marry someone else, but they decide to make the most of their time together anyway.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

A Plaid Case of Loving Ye by Caroline Lee (2022)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 5 of the Bad in Plaid series. Healer Nicola needs to get away from her hypochondriac mother, so she decides to visit the convent and assist healing the nuns there. While there, an injured Ramsay does not remember who he is or how he was injured, but Nicola knows exactly who he is (and that he might believe her family to be an enemy). They grow closer together as Nicola attempts to save a dying woman and Ramsay cares for that woman’s baby. We get to see Ramsay be an excellent caregiver of the baby and struggle to remember if he has his own kids (don’t worry, he doesn’t). As Ramsay’s memory comes back, Nicola fears her time with him is limited, but they easily work out that misunderstanding.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

He Kens if Ye’ve Been Plaid or Good by Caroline Lee (2022)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 6 of the Bad in Plaid series. Evander is one the King’s Hunters and his next mission is to arrest a woman accused of stealing cows from another clan. He approaches the castle as a lost wanderer, hoping to gain more information before making the arrest. Lady Ysabel leads a small and impoverished clan, victims of the neighboring laird’s rumors and theft. When Evander is found nearly frozen at her doorstep, she takes him in despite the meager offerings of her castle. He sees the kindness that she shows to her people and how little they have, so he helps out by bringing firewood and hunting food. Evander and Ysabel very quickly fall in love and Evander sees that she’s not guilty of the crimes she’s accused of. This one was the super quick holiday novella of the series, with an introduction of Evander’s Hunter friends.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Plaid Attitude by Caroline Lee (2023)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 7 of the Bad in Plaid series. The last book of this series settles the question of who becomes the next laird of the clan. Eldest daughter Coira has been running things for the clan for the past several years and is resentful that her father has made this decree about marriage and birthing a son. She has not been ladylike or interested in becoming anyone’s wife, despite being attracted to the clan commander, Doughall. He’s also attracted to Coira, but believes that she’s uninterested in marriage (and him). With the stress of planning a big Easter feast, plus her father’s ill health, Coira ends up enjoying Doughall’s comfort and support. He’s clearly smitten with her and waiting for her to accept him into her life. Doughall is also the single father of a teenage daughter who could benefit from guidance from Coira. We get to see all the couples from previous books again in this book and discover who will be the next laird.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Kilty as Sin by Caroline Lee (2023)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 1 of the Kilty Pleasures series. Barclay’s next mission from the King is to track down a lady who has run away, and bring her back to her father so she can marry the neighboring laird. He finds and rescues Grace from a gang of men who captured her outside the convent where she was hiding, and then proceeds to bring her home. Grace is adamant that she not marry the man she’s engaged to, since that man is cruel and monstrous. Although Barclay is desperately attracted to Grace, he attempts to fulfill his duty to the King and remain honorable. We get to see how Barclay’s past ties into Grace’s future when he finally decides to rescue her from her betrothal. We get the reappearance of the nuns from the previous series, which is always fun to read.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Lee.

Harry Potter Fanfic: Binding Darkness by enigma125

Severus/Hermione, Multi-chapter, 235k+ words, 6th and 7th year retelling. Hermione gets targeted during a Death Eater raid and is bonded to Severus with a lust-inducing curse. Dumbledore’s solution to their problem is to bond them further in marriage. While the steam starts early in this fic (with the lust curse and all), the romance is believably slow-burn as they start to form a friendship and partnership. A lot of the plot regarding the war against Voldemort is the same as the books, so we get to mostly focus on the romance here and how their relationship builds over time.

Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Regency Fairy Tales series. Cinderella-retelling, where our dear Cynthia is enthralled by the Prince’s sister Ammalia. We get Ammalia serving as both fairy godmother and love interest, when she comes to see Cynthia before the ball to bring her a gown and slippers. Even though Cynthia has captured the Prince’s interest, she runs away from him because she’s not into him at all. Quick read and lots of fun.

Advance ebook provided by Erica Ridley via NetGalley.

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New Releases for October 2023 – Historical Romance Books

Oct 23, 2023

His Mistress, His Muse, and Other Madness by Charlie Lane (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Art of Love series. The youngest son of a marquess is completely cynical of those who lead an artistic lifestyle, since he has seen the financial destruction such patronage has caused his own family. As one of the remaining loose ends of his father’s will, Theo has been finding new patrons for artists that his father supported, so that the family will finally be released from this financial burden. When he meets Cordelia, he is resentful of lush accommodations since his own siblings had to work hard and go without. He’s even more irritated to learn that she doesn’t have any artistic talent whatsoever and has no idea why she was supported at all. Cordelia fell into lonely circumstances after her father died and her fiance abandoned her, so she is grateful to the old marquess for saving her. In trying to become independent now that she’s at risk of being kicked out of her home, she aims to open an art school, but needs donations to run it. Theo and Cordelia agree to work together in attending an artistic house party so that he can collect gossip for his satirical cartoons and so that she can try to solicit donations for her school. Although Theo and Cordelia have had an antagonistic relationship so far, they need to pose as lovers to attend the party, and all their physical desires bubble up during the course of the party. We get to see these two open up to each other about their past hurts and work together in creating artwork.

Advance ebook provided by Charlie Lane.

Yule Be My Duke by Darcy Burke (2023)

Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Prequel novella to the Matchmaking Chronicles series. Cecilia and John dislike each other because of some mishaps that happened five years ago while they were young and immature. Now they’re at a house party where their parents are trying to set them up together. Both insist that the other will not suit, but they end up stranded together in a snowstorm. With the forced proximity, they talk out their issues and anger at each other, discovering that they can get along and that they’re attracted to each other. It’s a pretty quick turnaround there from hate to love, but still fun to read.

Advance ebook provided by Darcy Burke.

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon (2023)

Fantasy Romance. Book 1 of the Hurricane Wars series. Talasyn and Alaric fight on opposite sides of a war, each wielding a different powerful form of magic. While they haven’t yet killed each other, the yearning is there. Amidst one of their skirmishes in territory where they’re both trespassing, Talasyn learns that she might be the long lost heir, living as an orphan after being sent away during a civil war. She ignores this newfound connection and returns to her comrades at the height of war. After Alaric’s side wins the war and Talasyn is forced to retreat, she begs for sanctuary inside her homeland. In exchange, Talasyn must take her rightful place as heir and learning politics and diplomacy at her grandmother’s side. Months later, Alaric is trying to gain control of this territory and a political marriage to the heir is proposed. He has no idea that the heir in question is Talasyn, and he is both shocked and pleased to find her alive and his betrothed. We spend the rest of the book in marital and diplomatic negotiations in preparation for the wedding and alliance, with lots of angry banter and fighting. Both of these characters are insecure due to their respective upbringings and are completely unable to trust each other due to being on opposites sides of the battlefield. With them truly being enemies, glimmers of attraction and tenderness between them are all the more meaningful.

Advance ebook provided by Harper Voyager via NetGalley.

Who Needs a Duke by Amanda Mariel (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Fated for a Rogue series. Catherine is the sister of a duke who does not want to marry because she likes her independence and wants to continue her charity work with orphans. She believes that she needs to do this secretly and any future husband of hers would forbid her from continuing. Charles is tired of the title-hungry mothers and debutantes and would like to avoid being targeted for matrimony this season; when he hears that his friend’s sister would also like to avoid marriage, he develops a plan that will hopefully satisfy them both. Catherine and Charles then spend the rest of the season in a fake courtship, then fake engagement, and with all the time they’re spending together, they actually fall in love. Loved this low-angst read.

Advance ebook provided by Amanda Mariel via BookSprout.

The Earl Was Wrong by Britt Belle (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Greydon series. Sebastian is trying his best to be the stuffiest earl in town, since his debaucherous parents were embarrassing and his father was incapable of being financially responsible. When he finds that his younger sister is skirting ruin, his friend advises that he take a wife. Sebastian asks his aunt for a recommendation and she points out Emmaline, the sister of a viscount who appears to be practical and responsible. Emmaline is surprised to find the handsome earl asking her to dance and then asking to court her, but she believes that he would be her only chance at marriage and children and agrees to marry him. While Emmaline tries her best to be a good wife and member of her new family, Sebastian is cold and distant. He has an underlying fear of love and passion, believing that he will turn into his flighty and irresponsible father if he gives into such emotions. Basically, Emmaline is awesome throughout this book and Sebastian is the one who needs to grow and realize the woman and family he has in front of him. This was an entertaining debut from Britt Belle and I’m looking forward to reading more about the Greydons.

Advance ebook provided by Britt Belle.

Dreaming of a Duke Like You by Sara Bennett (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Romancing the Dukes series. Vivienne is the sister of a young baronet who has gotten himself into a load of gambling debt after the bad influence of his friends. She tries to appeal to the gambling hell owner Gabriel for a reprieve, since they’re really very poor and unable to pay the debts. He’s a shrewd businessman and refuses, leaving her to worry over her brother’s financial situation. Gabriel soon learns that he is actually the legitimate son and heir to a duke, despite being abandoned at an orphanage after his mother’s death. He has inherited an impoverished estate, a dragon of a grandmother, and six unruly sisters. He and his sisters all need polishing in order to fit in with London society. Vivienne and her brother are still worrying over their debts to Gabriel with their stepfather’s treachery looming over them, but Gabriel hasn’t had the time to deal with that yet. Eventually, Gabriel comes to an arrangement with Vivienne where he will forgive the debt completely, if she will assist in tutoring his sisters for society. This book had a bit of a slow start as Gabriel and Vivienne deal with their circumstances separately for awhile. Their bargain and proximity to each other doesn’t really begin until halfway through the book. However, once Vivienne starts to see how Gabriel interacts with his many sisters, it’s clear that she’s falling in love with him.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Christmas Notch series. Ex-boy band member turned pizza mogul Kallum is set to star in a sexy Santa movie after gaining notoriety after a sex-tape was leaked. Former child actor and all-around good girl Winnie is in a tough spot following her divorce and an illness that prevented her from starring in last year’s Christmas movie, and is now given the opportunity to rebrand herself by co-starring with Kallum. She’s super hesitant at first, but finally decides to give it a try. Upon her first meeting with Kallum and the movie’s intimacy coordinator, Winnie soon realizes she’s totally in over her head and has no idea how to portray sexual satisfaction on screen (having never experienced it off screen). She’s got plenty of homework to do there, but her super conservative purity-based upbringing is definitely creating a lot of blocks there. Kallum has his own insecurities of being the least sought after boy band member and always being looked at as a hook-up rather than relationship material. He’s totally excited to work with Winnie after having had a crush on her since they were teenagers. With Winnie’s insecurities in the bedroom, she asks Kallum to help her in that department, agreeing that it’s all for the sake of research and her performance in the movie. There’s definitely a lot of steam in this book, as Kallum takes on the role of tutor for Winnie. While the physical attraction between Winnie and Kallum definitely exists, neither of them are sure about their long-term compatibility, being total opposites in personality and in family dynamics. It’s takes a bit of emotional growth for both of them: for Winnie to learn to trust someone and for Kallum to behave a bit more responsibly. A super humorous read with tons of support from our favorite characters from Book 1 of the series.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Devil of Drury Lane by Tracy Sumner (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Scandals and Scoundrels of Drury Lane series. Mercy is the awkward daughter of an earl who would rather draw than comport with society; she’s definitely pining after the youngest son of the duke next door and draws his picture. Many years later, Mercy has become a lady who follows all the rules of society in public while pursuing her art in secret and even taking commissions from Drury Lane. When Damien sees her artwork in a shop window, he spends more time at the theater, trying to track her down. Once these two reconnect, they share a liaison along with their stories. It’s a maddening few days where Mercy gets to indulge in her girlhood fantasies and Damien questions whether fate exists. Quick and steamy read.

Advance ebook provided by Tracy Sumner.

Training the Duke by Alexa Aston (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 7 of the Suddenly a Duke series. Finola is the daughter of an earl who was orphaned and then neglected by her much older sisters only to be taken in by a lonely baron. In her first Season in London, Finola was publicly humiliated by a viscount who led her to believe he was courting her. After that, she retreated back to the country where she works to train hunting dogs. Many years after that, we meet Cy who has recently left the army after an accident left him blind in one eye. Cy is the younger son of a duke, neglected by his father and older brother. When he returns home, he finds that his father has died and his brother is now the duke. His brother allows Cy to live at the hunting lodge at the edge of the property. One day when Finola is walking her dogs, the dogs discover and befriend Cy and his charge Bertie. Finola’s and the duke’s lands border each other, though Cy does not admit that he is the brother of a duke. We have a quick and easy friendship between Finola and Cy, with Bertie needing the use of Finola’s schoolroom and learning to train dogs with Finola. The romance here builds very naturally and it seems that these two are perfect for each other and will be well-situated at Finola’s home. However, we have Cy’s looming secret and the fact that his brother is quite ill. I enjoyed this book and seeing another woman in an unconventional profession.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

A Duke’s Lesson in Charm by Sophie Barnes (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Gentlemen Authors series. Callum and Emily have known and avoided each other for years because they keep having physical mishaps and calamities with each other (trodden toes, ruined gowns, falling in water, and even a dress burn). It’s fairly obvious to the reader that Callum is clumsy because he’s nervous around Emily, though she has not seen it that way. One day at the park, Callum’s orphaned ward seems to perk up when coming across Emily’s dog, and Callum arranges for the boy to spend more time with the dog. Callum and Emily talk out their clumsiness and misunderstandings and slowly develop a friendship with each other. It’s nice seeing them interact and form a bit of a family unit around Callum’s ward, and when Emily’s grandmother is ill, she lies about a courtship with Callum to make her happy. We also get to catch up with the couples from the previous two books of the series and see the progress of the romance novel that the three gentlemen friends have written.

Advance ebook provided by Sophie Barnes via NetGalley.

The Duke Starts a Scandal by Sophie Jordan (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Duke Hunt series. A new duke and his housekeeper have gotten off to a rocky start and now seem to have a contentious relationship. Susanna has been the housekeeper at the estate, despite her relatively young age for the role, and is peeved by the arrogance of the new duke. Lucian had lived in poverty with his younger sisters until it was discovered that he was the duke and has a scandalous secret of how he earned the money to support his family. These two don’t trust each other much, but Lucian’s irritation is mostly due to the stress of his new role and the attraction he feels for Susanna. A house party that Lucian hosts sets up more trouble as Susanna is confronted by a man who knew her when she was young. We get to find out Susanna’s secrets and what brought her to work as a maid and then housekeeper all those years ago. The romance between Lucian and Susanna is pretty straightforward once we get past the disgruntled misconceptions they have of each other, and we get to see these two become open and honest with their secrets.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Kilty as Sin by Caroline Lee (2023)

Historical romance. Medieval Scotland. Book 1 of the Kilty Pleasures series. Barclay’s next mission from the King is to track down a lady who has run away, and bring her back to her father so she can marry the neighboring laird. He finds and rescues Grace from a gang of men who captured her outside the convent where she was hiding, and then proceeds to bring her home. Grace is adamant that she not marry the man she’s engaged to, since that man is cruel and monstrous. Although Barclay is desperately attracted to Grace, he attempts to fulfill his duty to the King and remain honorable. We get to see how Barclay’s past ties into Grace’s future when he finally decides to rescue her from her betrothal. We get the reappearance of the nuns from the previous series, which is always fun to read.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Lee.

The Rake and the Rose by Eva Devon (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Once Upon a Wallflower Series. Many years ago, Alex’s father was a patron of an artist and then withdrew his support when that man behaved badly. This caused the entire family to end up in dire financial condition, including Alex’s childhood friends Harry and Rose. While Alex and Harry were able to continue their friendship as adults, Harry insisted that Alex stay away from Rose completely, as his rakish reputation would harm hers. Present day Rose works as a writer and is way too pious and self-righteous in my opinion. With her history of being let down by her father’s rakish behavior, she seeks to right the wrongs of humanity by exposing the harms of such behavior. When she needs access to a club, she ends up asking Alex for help, who does so with Rose in disguise as his mistress. This book has Rose being the morally uptight person needing to let go and let joy into her life, along with accepting that Alex is not the depraved soul that she thinks he is. Alex is mostly a charming positive sort of fellow who uses his money to support artisans to the best of his ability.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

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