Book Reviews | Random Olive

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Trope Round Up: Childhood Friends in Historical Romance Books

May 9, 2024

The Devil in Her Bed by Kerrigan Byrne (2021)

Historical romance, Victorian England. Book 3 of the Devil You Know series. We start with another tragic prologue telling us about the Mont Clair Massacre, where the entire household was slaughtered and burned. It seems that Pippa (the cook’s daughter) has survived and now assumes the identity of Francesca (the new countess) and is seeking revenge. As she gets deeper into infiltrating her enemy’s lair, she catches the attention of a spy, Chandler, who is also targeting the same enemy. It turns out that Chandler is her childhood friend who she loved and saved her, but he was in love with Francesca and believes her to have truly survived the massacre. It’s a tangle of lust and secrets here and slightly heartbreaking for the woman who is actually in front of the man she loves.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Secret Scientists of London series. The previous book hinted at a history between George and Margaret and we get the full story here. This book takes place about a year and a half after the events of Book 2. George and Margaret (and Violet, the main character of Book 1) were childhood friends out in the country where George was not part of the aristocracy at all. One summer, when it seemed that a romance was developing between George and Margaret, heartbreak occurred instead (we get to learn what it was at some point during the book when they finally talk it out). After they parted ways, George joined the army and somehow ended up an earl, while Margaret found an engineering mentor in Paris, got married, and became widowed. Now Margaret is back in England to start her own engineering company and is undertaking a huge project…. that is unfortunately funded by the nemesis of the female scientists at Athena’s Retreat and of George’s. While George and Margaret are growing closer again and working out their heartbreaking pasts, Margaret’s still holding secrets about her employer’s funding and causing discourse among the female scientists. George ends up being the more emotionally mature and politically progressive one in the relationship, supporting Margaret’s ambitions, providing her comfort and humor and safety. And there’s a scene in here that was hinted at earlier with one person’s awkwardness in the bedroom, with deliciously delightful payoff when the truth finally comes out… it was so good, I sent a screenshot of the scene to my friend immediately via text.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Beginner’s Guide to Scandal by Alivia Fleur (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Tales from Honeysuckle Street series. Childhood friends and neighbors Iris and Hamish are separated when Hamish suddenly becomes the heir to an earldom, losing his mother and older brother in a carriage accident. When Hamish returns to town twelve years later, he’s been instructed by his father to find a suitable wife, but he plans to thwart his father’s plans and create a scandal instead. Meanwhile, Iris has been assisting with her father’s merchant company, traveling the world, and learning the business for the past decade. However, her father’s mental state has been declining for many years and Iris has been keeping it secret. As Hamish and Iris reunite, they have to deal with her heartbreak after he left, their differences in social station, and her need to stay proper so that the board of directors will approve of her joining the leadership of her father’s company. It’s a huge mess competing interests and Hamish is mostly an idiot throughout the book. I did enjoy reading about all of the quirky neighbors on the street and am looking forward to reading more from this series.

Advance ebook provided by Alivia Fleur via NetGalley.

Texas Legacy by Lorraine Heath (2019)

Texas Legacy is the follow-up novella to the Texas Trilogy. It was published 20 years after the original series and takes place another decade after the epilogue of the third book. So we have our next generation here. Faith is the daughter of Dallas and Cordelia and Rawley is the boy that they adopted, so these two have grown up together in the same house. Which is a little squicky to me, but let’s ignore that and go with it. The text says explicitly that they’ve never had a sibling-like affection for each other, but ok. When Faith is nineteen, she kisses Rawley, but he’s spooked and feels that he doesn’t deserve her, so he runs off and is gone for six years. He’s finally called home and they have to deal with all their bottled up emotions. Aside from the adopted sibling thing, I did really like this novella and revisiting this big important family. I also loved how cousin Maggie was the best wingwoman ever.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

Never Met a Duke Like You by Amalie Howard (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Taming of the Dukes series. Lots of banter and bickering here between Vesper (daughter of a duke) and Aspen (the duke next door and former childhood friend). Somehow these two had a falling out as teenagers, grew apart, and then Aspen spurned Vesper at her debut ball. Now it’s many years later, Aspen has been off looking for fossils and back in England to deal with his wretched mother. Despite multiple offers of marriage, Vesper is still unwed and ruling society with her perfect poise. Aspen believes Vesper to be a spoiled society miss and tries to avoid her, even though he needs her help in preparing his mother’s ward for the Season. Despite Vesper’s outward appearance and reputation, she’s still the same outspoken and fiery lady she’s always been in the presence of her trusted friends. There’s a lot of push-and-pull between Aspen and Vesper as they fight, and kiss, and push each other away.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance print book provided by Forever Books.

The Baker and the Bookmaker by Ally Hudson (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Most Imprudent Matches series. Augie and Anna have been lifelong childhood friends as their parents serve in a viscount’s household. This book pretty much covers their friendship and relationship over many years and is told from Augie’s point of view. Even though Augie has been in love with Anna from the very beginning, he never quite makes a move for various reasons: at first thinking Anna would prefer their friend Michael, and then traveling to London to support Michael’s endeavors. When they finally get to see each other again after many years apart, Augie finally realizes the opportunity in front of him and makes an earnest effort at courting Anna. This book was low on the drama, but still entertaining, and gives more insight into Michael’s backstory from Book 1 of the series. I would recommend reading the series in order to not spoil some major plot points from Book 1.

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Once and Again with the Viscount by Andie James (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Reluctant Lords series. Angeline is a widow who is slowly re-entering society after mourning her beloved husband. She’s been struggling with seeing her friends marry and have children, as she was unable to have any children of her own in the time that she was married. Meanwhile, her neighbor, childhood crush, and brother’s best friend, Sidney is around to notice her and offer comfort. Sidney has been in love with Angeline after he notices her in a new light during her debut; however, he lost out on the chance to be with her when he left society when his father died, and returned later to find her already married. Now that she’s widowed, Sidney has a second chance to woo Angeline. There’s actually tons of tragedy up ahead though as Sidney’s older brother unexpectedly passes away, leaving Sidney as the next viscount. Angeline is even more distressed with her inability to have children because of this. It’s a lot of angsty emotional upheaval to get through before these two can find a happy ending.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited and provided by Andie James.

Six Degrees of Scandal by Caroline Linden (2016)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Scandalous series. This book starts with a heartbreaking prologue where Olivia and James meet as youths, are nearly engaged, and then Olivia is married off in exchange for money for her father’s debts. Ten years later, Olivia is widowed and being pursued by one of her late husband’s associates looking for smuggled treasure. When Olivia flees London to investigate a lead, she’s soon caught by James who vows to assist her and secure her safety. He’s been feeling guilty and regretful ever since he missed his chance to marry her all those years ago. We get these two partnering up to solve the mystery her late husband left behind and rekindling their lost love. Super interesting to uncover the mystery and see it tie back to characters from previous books in the series. And we eventually unmask the writer of the notoriously scandalous pamphlet that has been circulating in London.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews (2020)

Childhood friends Nicholas and Maggie are separated when Nicholas is accused of a crime and she helps him escape. Ten years later, Maggie is in London for the Season after an illness and mourning her father and her aunt, when a handsome viscount new to London is paying her court. It doesn’t take long for Maggie to suspect that the handsome viscount is really her childhood friend Nicholas in a new identity and persona. Both have their money and property at stake if they continue their association, but cannot seem to stay away from each other. It’s also interesting to watch them uncover the mysteries of the past and explanations for the viscount’s current identity.

Ebook purchased via Amazon.

Not the Duke You Marry by Jess Michaels (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Kent’s Row Duchesses series. With both of her widow friends married now, Bernadette is feeling lonely and undesirable. She expresses her interest in finding a lover to Theo, a childhood friend who she recently reconnected with. His aghast reaction makes her feel horribly rejected and insecure, but she rallies and finds her way to a pleasure club. When Theo spots her there, he tries to emphasize how dangerous her actions are, but really he just lusts after her himself and is conflicted about his feelings. These two go back and forth a bit, but end up having an affair, and try very hard not to fall in love with each other. Add in a backstory where Theo had long ago rejected a chance to marry Bernadette and we’re just waiting for her to be heartbroken by the revelation. Lots of steam and internal revelations in this one, without too much external drama.

Advance ebook provided by Jess Michaels via NetGalley.

The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe (2021)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York and Rhode Island. Book 1 of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series. Harrison Archer is back in town after living in Paris for the past three years; his horrible family is broke and he’s intent on finalizing their financial ruin. While they want him to marry an heiress to pay off their debts, he only has eyes for his childhood friend Maddie Webster, who broke his heart years ago by declaring that she only thinks of him as a brother. With the time apart, he’s hoping that she’ll change the way she sees him. I’m a total sucker for the emotional gut wrench of rejection, even though Maddie had no idea that she was the cause of Harrison’s departure. So now Maddie is trying to help Harrison find a bride, even though he just wanted to use the Newport house party as a way to get close to her again, and she’s kind of almost engaged to a duke. Messiness all around. Still, Maddie was incredibly stubborn in this book and totally oblivious to the fact that Harrison has loved her for years, even though everyone else in the world had seen it. Great set up for all the other characters that will feature in the remainder of the series and looking forward to finishing the rest of the books.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Snowed in with the Scoundrel by Kat Sterling (2023)

Historical romance. 1908 Cascade Mountains, Washington State. Standalone novella. Tommy is a bookseller and book thief running away from trouble and stumbles upon a warm and comfy cabin in the mountains. Imogen has been living in that cabin ever since she was rejected by her fiance and had her photography judged as mediocre. She’s surprised to find Tommy there and it turns out they were childhood friends who were separated by circumstance. Even though she insists that he leave, Tommy is stuck there with a series of snowstorms. These two slowly rekindle their friendship and attraction for each other in this quick holiday treat of a book.

Advance ebook provided by Kat Sterling.

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!

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Nashville Love Contemporary Romance Book Series by Anita Kelly

May 8, 2024

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly (2022)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Nashville Love series. Cooking show hijinks here where London is the first openly nonbinary contestant on the show with goals of opening a nonprofit to help queer kids with the prize money and Dahlia is a bubbly and clumsy divorcee who just wants to pay her student loans. Neither are professional chefs or have dreams of working in the food industry, but both have a love of cooking and find it calming and soothing. Dahlia and London get off to a rough start when Dahlia basically word vomits in front of a grumpy-seeming and stoic London; but we later find out that London was totally distracted by their attraction to Dahlia. As they become friends, it’s clear that they’re both totally attracted to each other. Things get messy with the thought of one of them being possibly eliminated from the show and things are especially stressful for Dahlia who is generally less secure with herself and her life direction. This book was funny and sweet and emotional all in one.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Nashville Love series. We’re on the Pacific Crest Trail in this one where two strangers meet, hike, and fall in love. Alexei is re-evaluating his life after his parents disowned him for being gay and he’s trying to work through his grief and lifeplan alone on the trail. A chance meeting with Ben and a reluctant friendship develops and causes Alexei to learn more about himself and his happiness along the way. Ben is trying to get that last bit of wanderlust out of his system before settling down with a nursing job that he’s worked towards and he’s trying to be mature and logical, instead of jumping into bed with the first handsome guy he meets on the trail. Both of these men are insecure and slightly damaged from their past experiences (Alexei especially), but it’s clear that the trail and its physical exertions help to bring peace and clarity to everyone involved. We get to see a slow build of trust and friendship and then tentative steps towards a relationship, even though they’re not quite dealing with reality while they’re in the trail bubble. Watch out for the good kind of heartbreak and angst when you’re reading this one.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Nashville Love series. After being the twin sister and best friend dispensing wisdom in Books 1 and 2 of the series, Julie is faced with her own dilemma this time around. She’s flailing a bit as her sibling and friends are moving on with their romantic lives but doesn’t know what she wants for herself or how to approach it. And then she’s hit with awkward feelings when her teen idol and maybe crush Elle, former basketball star, is put in front of her path. Julie’s the high school basketball coach and Elle is serving as the foster parent of the newest member of the team, so they meet when Elle is picking up the kid from practice. There’s awkwardness on both ends since they’re each attracted to the other one and there’s plenty of drama with Julie never having dated anyone before and Elle having been out of the basketball spotlight for the past eight years. They start a friendship and then partnership as Elle becomes the assistant coach, and then Elle makes an offer to help Julie practice her dating skills. It’s only a matter of time before feelings get entangled and things get real. I loved how both characters were a little bit insecure about the other person’s feelings, but still found a way to integrate into each others’ lives. I also loved seeing the bigger family dynamic that Julie had and also wrap up the stories from our favorite characters from earlier books in the series.

Ebook 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

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: April 29 to May 5, 2024

May 7, 2024

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase (2008)

Historical romance. Regency-era Venice. Book 1 of the Fallen Women series. We’ve got a fun little spy, espionage romance here. James is an undercover spy, who is assigned to retrieve some treasonous incriminating letters from a lord’s ex-wife. Francesca is now the world’s most expensive courtesan living in Venice. When these two meet, James is in various disguises trying to keep a low profile. Francesca can’t help being attracted to him and he is trying not to fall under her seductive wiles, knowing that she uses them to manipulate men. However, as they spend more time with each other, the attraction between them is undeniable, despite both of being frustrated about the attraction. James is keeping all sorts of secrets because he’s trying to break into her house and steal her property and she’s generally wary of all men. It’s a big complicated mess, but still really enjoyable to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook purchased via Amazon.

Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. We’ve got a former friends, complicated mess of a relationship in this book. Emma and Finn were on the high school debate team together and they have a bunch of missed connections with a stood up date to junior prom, and then meeting again after freshman year of college, and then a rooftop thing after college, and then a big screaming match at somebody else’s wedding. It’s a total mess. They have spotted each other again at a mutual friend’s wedding, and that bride has decided to run away and go completely off the grid, so these two have to team up to chase after her. They’re tracking her phone and it is a road trip situation where they’re stuck together for many hours in a car and so they finally kind of work out their differences, but still they’re both protecting themselves and protecting their feelings and not quite as direct as they should be. It was still a really great book to read. I was really interested in finding more about the runaway bride friend although I feel like we are kind of kept hanging there and maybe there’s a second book. Hopefully there is.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

The Saloon Girl’s Only Shot by Dani Collins (2024)

Historical romance. 1800s America. Book 2 of the Quail’s Creek series. Temperance was ruined in her hometown in Chicago, cast out by her stepmother, and now she’s stuck working as a saloon girl in Denver while she figures out how to get her injured father the rest of the way to Denver. Except she keeps getting fired at every saloon for reasons totally outside of her control. Miner Owen is in town replenishing supplies for his team, but he really has aspirations of opening his own saloon. (I’m not sure why, since there are two other saloons in town, but sure). He keeps running into Temperance and feels a bit sorry for her situation. He hires her own to help with the bookkeeping and setting up of his own saloon and since she’s got nowhere else to go, she takes him up on it. It’s all a bit of a muddle because she’s trying to earn enough to pay her way back home and he’s planning to go back to the quarry in the Springtime. No one wants to admit to any deeper feelings or commit to an official relationship. I enjoyed seeing Owen’s protective side though and the interactions with all the townsfolk.

Advance ebook provided by Dani Collins via BookSprout.

Don’t Tempt Me by Loretta Chase (2009)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Fallen Women series. A baron’s daughter goes missing for twelve years and then comes back with a scandalous reputation. Zoe has always been a wild and rambunctious young lady and she goes missing in Egypt while she’s visiting there with her parents; we later find out that she was abducted and sold to a harem. Somehow she escapes and finds her way back to her family home and needs to reintegrate into society. Long-time family friend Lucien comes to verify the story of the newly returned Zoe and is shocked to find that his former childhood playmate is actually back. Lucien is a duke with a lot of influence and he promises to help Zoe make her way into society. Except that Zoe is well-versed in flirting and seduction and Lucien is very susceptible to her charms, despite his self-denial. It’s only a matter of time before they realize that they’re actually well-matched and should just get married to each other. This was a really fun story to read with all of the chaos and antics of Zoe’s family, Lucien’s soft spot for Zoe herself, and a surprise third-act conflict with a dastardly villain.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook purchased via Amazon.

Devil of Mine by Ally Hudson (2024)

Historical Romantic Tragedy. Regency-era England. Prequel novella to the Most Imprudent Matches series. This one is a tragedy and tells the story of how Celine marries and becomes widowed all in a short period of time. We get to learn a bit more of Celine’s backstory in this book as preparation for her eventual happily ever after in a different book. Celine is known as a flirt and catches the attention of many gentlemen, including one scandalous marquess Gabriel, who has his own reputation. They basically try and fail to stay away from each other until they end up married. We have a bit of backstory for Gabriel of how he developed this reputation and some of his misdeeds, but it’s best to not get too invested in him, since he doesn’t make it til the end of the book. This was a pretty quick and straightforward flirty steamy read that adds more to the universe of the series.

Advance ebook provided by Ally Hudson via BookSirens.

Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Fake dating plot to get a meddlesome mother off her back. After her youngest sister’s wedding, Emily is the only one left unmarried and seemingly failing to meet her parents’ expectations. After too much nagging about being set up with the oh-so-proper Mark, Emily asks Mark to agree to fake dating to ease up on the parental pressure. While they start off with lying about their dates, it seems that Emily’s mom knows way too many people in Toronto that question their story. Now Emily and Mark need to real fake date and she realizes that there’s a lot more to him that what her mother had described. While this was a fun set up and premise, it seemed like it took too long for Emily and Mark to spend any time together on page, and Emily’s overbearing mother activated my own brand of anxiety and I didn’t like that as much.

Advance ebook provided by Atria Books via NetGalley.

She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath (2012)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Lost Lords of Pembrooke series. We start with a tragic prologue here for three young boys, Sebastian aged 14, his younger twin brother Tristan, and Rafe aged 10, locked in the tower after their father’s funeral. Despite Sebastian being the new duke, they all think that their uncle is out to kill them and take the title for himself. They all manage to escape with the aid of their neighbor Mary and all go their separate ways, vowing for revenge when they’re older and stronger. Twelve years later, the three brothers have finally reunited and made a dramatic re-entrance into society at their home during a ball their uncle is hosting. Sebastian had been badly injured and scarred during the war in Crimea and is a fearsome sight. We get to see Sebastian and Mary meet again as adults and feel that instant connection between them. Unfortunately, Mary is engaged to someone else and it’s inappropriate for her to be spending so much time with Sebastian. He’s got his own issues with seeking revenge against his uncle and believing that he’s unable to give Mary the type of marriage she deserves. We know they’ll end up together anyway, so we just get to enjoy reading about how they continue to entangle themselves.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Rules for a Rogue by Christy Carlyle (2016)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Romancing the Rules series. Childhood friends and neighbors reunite in this story after the death of Kit’s father sends him back to his country home to take care of matters. After Kit and his father had a huge falling out several years ago, he set off to make his way as a playwright in London. Left behind in the country, Ophelia has been supporting her family by tutoring young ladies in the neighborhood and also secretly writing a popular etiquette guide. She’s mostly irritated and annoyed at Kit’s return to the country because she thought herself immune to his charms. But really, his presence has just reactivated all those latent feelings she has. He’s also equally interested in Ophelia, but he’s not clever enough to realize he should offer her marriage. It takes most of the book for Kit to turn into someone trustworthy and reliable enough to be worthy of Ophelia’s affections. Meanwhile, she’s got another ardent suitor and there’s some conflict related to Kit’s father’s publishing house and Ophelia’s secret writing. This one was quick and fun to read and we get to read about Kit’s younger sisters later in the series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Beau is basically a deadbeat heir who has taken no interest in learning about estate management or even returning to the estate anytime soon after his father’s death. After a delayed return, his family is rightfully annoyed by his absence. Especially the ward that his father had taken on and has basically been running the estate all this time. It doesn’t help Beau that Emerald is a beautiful woman who has captured his attention, but that he is also her new guardian and she should be off-limits to him. They bicker and fight and no one else knows that Beau is actually a spy and he’s been absent from the country in service to the Crown. It’s more of a mess when Beau discovers that there’s a smuggling operation right in his own village and somehow a suspicious Emerald gets involved. It was nice to see Beau and Emerald’s relationship develop and how protective he becomes of her.

Advance ebook provided by Georgina North via BookSirens.

A Study in Scoundrels by Christy Carlyle (2017)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Romancing the Rules series. We start with a tragic prologue for Jasper as a teenager who loses his older brother and becomes the heir to an earl. Fast forward many years and now Jasper has abandoned his title and place in the aristocracy for a place on the stage and a life of debauchery. When he’s notified of his younger sister’s disappearance, Jasper sets off to find her. In this process, he’s re-introduced to the prim and proper Sophia, who is his friend’s sister. Although she’s generally content to follow all the rules of propriety, she’s also secretly writing a detective novel. These two are total opposites but keep bumping into each other in Jasper’s search for his sister and ultimately end up teaming up to find the girl. It’s fun to see Jasper’s preoccupation with Sophia, even though he’s totally unworthy of her, and to see Sophia loosen up and give into her attraction to Jasper.

Ebook 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

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.

A Dozen Dukes to Add to Your TBR: Historical Romance Round Up (Volume 7)

May 6, 2024

Portrait of the Duke by Alexa Aston (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Suddenly a Duke series. We start with an adorable prologue with an outspoken teenager warning away one of her spoiled sister’s suitors and letting him know that he isn’t a real contender being merely a viscount. Despite the age-gap and both of their youths, there’s a spark of chemistry between them. Ten years later, Lady Margaret is finally ready to make her debut after caring for her ill-mother, mourning her death, and mourning her father’s death. However, Margaret has no intention to marry, but to build a business painting portraits. Our young viscount, Daniel, is now a duke looking to marry this Season. He’d sought out Margaret in previous years, but she was nowhere to be found. As he sees her in the present, there’s an existing connection between their grandmothers who had been friends in their youth. Daniel’s grandmother is the best wingwoman around, making sure to keep Margaret close by, and supporting her art. This was a relatively low-angst book with an instant attraction between our main characters. There’s the petty spoiled sister in the background, but she doesn’t interfere too badly. Great book if you’re looking for an easy read and a good time.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell (2016)

Book 2 of Disgraceful Dukes Series. Thea, otherwise known as Lady Dorothea Beaumont was left at the altar when the groom picks her sister instead. She wants to escape the London scene and retreat to her aunt’s house in Ireland. She’s horribly awkward and unwillingly becomes popular after being asked to dance by Dalton. Dalton who is the Duke of Osborne is actually a secret vigilante looking for the man who killed his brother. His cover story is that he’s a shameless rake. Thea blames Dalton for her sudden popularity and insists he fix the problem by taking her with him on his journey to Ireland. The escapade that outwardly looking like it will compromise Thea’s reputation may actually indeed compromise her anyway. Overall, we have a socially awkward heroine not looking to marry, secret crime-fighting hero dealing with a lifetime of guilt.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (2019)

Book 1 of the League of Extraordinary Women So this one is your classic social class difference type of romance, with a woman who is unequal in station to a duke. Even worse, she’s a university student campaigning for women’s rights. And our duke is a staunch defender of the stuffy old laws. While she’s trying to sway his politics, he’s trying to both resist her and make her his mistress. And she’s not interested in a mistress-like arrangement at all. This book is probably a great example of how a cartoonish cover on a book can be misleading. There is plenty of on-page sex in this book, despite its cutesy cover.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall (2022)

We have a presumed dead, best friend romance here with a trans woman who left her previous name and title away after being declared dead in the war. She’s now living as a lady’s companion to her sister-in-law and visiting her previous best friend, who has been grief-stricken since he believes his friend died. They reconnect with new understanding of each other and their identities but still have to deal with the societal expectations of him being a duke. This was a very sweet story about finding joy and love with the person you’ve been connected with your entire life. And Viola’s family is the best most supportive family ever.

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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.

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.

Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Union of the Rakes series. Our duke friend, Noel, from Book 1 is back this time and he meets an intriguing woman who has a head for business, doesn’t fuss at him for his title, and is entirely attractive. However, Jess is merely a farmer’s daughter hoping to find investors for her family’s soap-making business. When she tries to sneak her way into a business exposition, she’s nearly halted at the door, and ends up pretending to be widowed to a baronet to gain entrance. While there, she tries hard to focus on finding ways to subtly promote the soap business and to avoid the attentions of the duke, but can’t seem to help being drawn to him. I spent the whole book anxious about the impending heartache because I just knew that Noel would be upset at the idea of being used for his connections and money, even though Jess was trying to avoid his involvement at all. I really enjoyed this book though and looking forward to the next one that was hinted at here.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

When You Wish Upon a Duke by Charis Michaels (2021)

We meet a Tinkerbell-equivalent in this story who works at a travel agency and is recruited by a duke to rescue his cousin from pirates in Iceland. She’s had a bad history with Iceland along with a sour experience touring the continent with Peter and his merry band of lost boys, but she takes the duke up on his offer in exchange for a new storefront for her own travel agency. I don’t have much of a reference point for the allusions in this book, having never read or watched Peter Pan, but I still enjoyed the romance in this story.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

My Darling Duke by Stacy Reid (2019)

Our poor wallflower Kitty is desperate. So she starts a rumor that she’s engaged to a reclusive duke, hoping that it will help her younger sisters land good marriage matches. She figures she’ll just break the engagement after her sisters are married and go about her wallflower-spinster way. Except things don’t go exactly as planned. All of a sudden, she’s being given credit and all of the duke’s staff are treating her like she’s really his fiancee. And then when he hears about it in the newspaper, he finally shows up in London just to see what this audacious girl is all about. So there’s a reason why the duke is a recluse in the first place. He was terribly injured in a house fire, leaving him scarred and with impaired mobility. There’s a lot of underlying insecurity there and these two have a lot to work through.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Undressing the Duke by Erica Ridley (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 7 of the Lords in Love series. Donovan is being pressured by his mother to fulfill his ducal duties to marry a young lady and sire an heir. He has no interest in doing so and only has eyes for his valet of twenty years, Geoffrey. Knowing that he would not want to be lusting after his valet when a wife is in residence, he dismisses Geoffrey as his valet. However, Donovan and Geoffrey must first make a visit to the Marrywell Matchmaking Festival so that Donovan can select a bride. While in Marrywell, they’ve agreed to act as friends instead of master and servant and find themselves finally giving into the attraction between them all these years. This one is a quick read with a nice resolution, especially since Donovan has a younger brother besotted with his wife an a bunch of children to take the role of heir.

Advance ebook provided by Erica Ridley via NetGalley.

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.

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Gilded Age Heiresses series. A semi-tragic prologue starts the series with Camille, an American heiress, being married off to a much older and impoverished duke in England against her wishes. August is one of Camille’s friends who sees how awful the whole situation is and is thankful that her own parents would never do such a thing to her or her sister. Fast forward to a few months later, when August visits England with her parents and younger sister, and her parents are doing exactly what she feared. They attempt to set up a match between younger sister Violet and impoverished duke Evan, but August intends to thwart it. It doesn’t much matter since Evan prefers the fiesty August instead and tries to convince her to marry him. He needs the money because his father’s antiquated ideals have left the estate in much debt and the tenants on his lands are suffering. August refuses because she would prefer to stay working for her father’s company and has no interest in becoming a duchess. There’s a lot of cajoling involved here, even though these two are very clearly attracted to each other. The romance was great here and I enjoyed seeing August’s family dynamic. We also get to meet all the key players in future books of the series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Accidental Heirs Historical Romance Book Series by Christy Carlyle

May 2, 2024

One Scandalous Kiss by Christy Carlyle (2015)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Accidental Heirs series. Impoverished bookshop owner Jessamin accepts payment from a marquess’ daughter to kiss a grumpy viscount in public. She ruins her reputation in the process and causes a huge scandal, thereby losing her bookshop and finding herself a complete loss. Luckily, a noblewoman takes her on as a companion and provides a healthy salary. Our grumpy viscount Lucius can’t stop thinking of the ambush kiss or the lady who bestowed it, but he’s determined to get on with his duties by marrying an heiress to replenish the family coffers and restore his estate. Except that his aunt unexpectedly brings Jessamin to his house as her companion and he only has eyes for her. It’s an ill-suited match socially and financially, but they’ve clearly got deeper feelings here. I enjoyed the support from Lucius’ aunt and seeing him finally stand up for his choices over his duties.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Tempting Proposal by Christy Carlyle (2015)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Accidental Heirs series. We have the oldest daughter of a marquess and a freshly inherited duke in a fake engagement romance in this book. In order for her father to allow her younger sister to marry, Kitty has to marry first. Except that Kitty is super picky about her choice in husband because she does not want to go from being under her father’s control to some other unworthy lord’s control. However, her sister has found a suitor she’d like to marry, forcing Kitty’s hand this season. Meanwhile, Sebastian’s best friend is the man who needs a little help arranging a match for Kitty so that he can marry his one true love. Sebastian is all-sorts of hesitant due to a past heartbreak and his general observation that Kitty is one of the popular but mean girls of the season. To help secure her father’s blessing for the sister’s marriage, Kitty and Sebastian agree to the fake engagement. And of course, they both find that the other person is more intriguing than they expected. Loads of drama with a tangle of side characters in this one and lots of fun to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

One Dangerous Desire by Christy Carlyle (2016)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Accidental Heirs series. American businessman Rex just wants to build a fancy hotel in Mayfair and he needs the financial backing of a duke to do so. Somehow, he figures that flirting with the duke’s daughter may help his cause and he’s shocked to find that the daughter has befriended May, an American heiress, and the woman he failed to elope with six years ago. Turns out May is the daughter of some department store mogul and Rex was an impoverished shop clerk all those years ago and threatened into leaving by her father. Now that they’re both on more equal social standing, they still have different goals and needs, like each marrying some titled noble so that they can improve their business prospects. But of course, these two are still attracted to each other and end up ditching everyone else. Throw in some drama of May’s disapproving father and some gambling debts and we get all sorts of chaos.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Weekly Reads: April 22 to 28, 2024

Apr 30, 2024

Breakaway by Grace Reilly (2022)

Contemporary sports romance. Book 2 of the Beyond the Play series. Cooper is the second son of a famous football player who is often overshadowed by his famous football player brother, but is a talented college hockey player. He’s well-known for his skills with women, but he’s hit a bit of a dry spell and feeling frustrated because of it. Somehow, he gets assigned to assist with skating lessons for little kids and meets Penny there, who he does not realize is his coach’s daughter. Penny is a former figure skater who seems to have had a traumatic sexual encounter (though we don’t find out what it is until much later); she’s wary of guys and has a list of things she’d like to try, but doesn’t want a boyfriend to do it. Ultimately, Penny and Cooper comes to a friends with benefits agreement where he helps with her list and she helps with his frustrations. But being actual friends with each other leads to a lot more emotional connection than each person was expecting. This book was high on the steam, and humor, and caring. Cooper is basically the best not-boyfriend ever.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the London’s Greatest Lovers series. The Earl of Westcliffe and his wife Claire have been estranged since their wedding night when he found his younger brother in her bed. Claire was basically too young and skittish of her new husband, so she and her friend contrived a way for Westcliffe to postpone the wedding night. Except that didn’t work out so well because Westcliffe is holding a massive grudge and Claire’s been exiled to the country estate for the past three years. Claire’s finally growing some backbone though because she’s in London to claim her place as countess and launch her younger sister in society. We get to see Claire and Westcliffe actually talk to each other and get to know each other as they hadn’t before, being betrothed since before Claire was born. They’ve definitely got a lot of learning and groveling to do on both sides. It was interesting to get to know Westcliffe’s family dynamic and meet his brothers who feature in the next books of this series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Rake’s Daughter by Anne Gracie (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Brides of Bellaire Gardens series. New earl Leo is back from his year long travels to find himself saddled as the guardian of a young lady, Clarissa, who is kicked out of her home and needs to find a husband quickly. And then he finds that his ward has come with an illegitimate half-sister, Isobel, who refuses to leave her side. The two sisters are adamant that they stay together, despite Isobel’s potential to ruin any of Clarissa’s prospects. Leo is annoyed and tries very hard to stick to the proper course of action, but he’s basically rendered stupid everytime he looks at Isobel. It’s all fiery sparks between these two and I liked seeing Leo slowly start to learn more about and appreciate Isobel. With the sisters in residence at Leo’s eccentric aunt’s house, it’s a very amusing read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian (2023)

Historical romance. 1950s New York City. Nick is the gruff and serious newspaper reporter and Andy is the clumsy son of the owner who is newly installed in the newsroom to prepare for his eventual succession to the owner position. Somehow, Nick has taken Andy under his wing and they form a close-knit friendship over the first year of their acquaintance. Despite being from totally different socioeconomic backgrounds, they make things work, and Andy never realizes Nick’s unrequited feelings for him. However, things get complicated when Andy’s fiancee calls things off and Andy moves into Nick’s apartment for emotional support. The close quarters ramp up the underlying attraction between these two. This book was all sorts of angsty and emotional. Despite Nick’s somewhat estranged relationship with his family, he slowly builds a found family with Andy and their trusted friends. I loved seeing Andy going after what he wants and being the one to poke Nick out of his cave of isolation. Such a great book.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the London’s Greatest Lovers series. Middle brother Stephen has always been a shameless rake and completely purposeless with an earl older brother and a duke younger brother. When his brothers buy him a commission in the army to build his character, he goes and hopes for the best. Except that he’s come home injured and with no memory at all of his time at war. When nurse Mercy comes calling at his brother’s English estate with a baby that is clearly his son, he feels terrible that he doesn’t remember her and marries her to provide for his new family. Mercy’s keeping her own secrets and is almost glad about Stephen’s memory loss. They’re basically starting from scratch here and developing a relationship anew. This is probably one of the angstiest amnesia stories I’ve read because Mercy’s secret is a big one and Stephen will definitely feel betrayed when he learns the truth.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath (2011)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the London’s Greatest Lovers series. This one has a crazy set up that will lead to heartbreak for everyone involved. The Duke of Ainsley is being asked by his incapacitated best friend and cousin, Walfort, to bed the man’s wife Jayne and get her with child. Three years prior, these two were in a massive curricle accident which left Walfort paralyzed and the stress of which caused his wife to lose her unborn baby. Walfort seeks to give Jayne comfort, passion, and a baby in the form of his friend. Except Jayne is definitely not on board because she hates Ainsley for having caused the reckless accident in the first place. However, the plot must go forth, and Jayne and Ainsley end up going through with the plan, causing tons of emotional upheaval as they try and fail to stay emotionally distant from each other. It’s a guilt trip all around and even more heartbreak anticipated. If you want to feel feelings, this book is for you.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

My Fake Mistress by Alivia Fleur (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novella. Super quick and steamy novella. Blythe is at her best friend’s birthday house party and is trying to avoid the attentions of a gentleman who wants to make her his mistress. She lies that she already has a protector and says that Julian (her best friend’s father) is that man. When she tells him about the trouble, he goes along with it. And then of course they turn it into a true physical affair while she’s there.

Advance ebook provided by Alivia Fleur via BookSirens.

The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma (2024)

Contemporary new adult romance. Standalone novel. Jessie and Ravi start off awkwardly with her being ultra-focused on school and him being the infamous son of a tech billionaire. They have a cute little rivalry where they fight over the same study room in the library and are also in the same writing class. However, their friendship starts to turn around when they stumble upon some hidden letters in the library which chronicle the secret relationship between two students in the 1970s, who may or may not be part of a legend that haunts the school. I liked seeing Jessie and Ravi bond over the letters that they find and realize their own feelings for each other. While it seemed like their relationship moved a little fast for me, I appreciated learning what happened to the mystery couple from the past and it kept me reading to find out more.

Advance ebook provided by Nisha Sharma via NetGalley.

One Fine May by Courtney McCaskill (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Rake Review series. Disappointed by Vander’s exploits being featured in the latest gossip column, his father sets down the expectation that he must marry and start coming into the office this month or risk his inheritance being passed onto his cousin. Upon his mother’s suggestion, he asks his best friend’s sister Letty for assistance. Except she’s had a crush on him for years and is disappointed that he isn’t actually proposing to her but asking her to introduce him to suitable women. Meanwhile, she’s juggling her own ill-matched suitors and needs to decide between them soon. Clearly, Vander needs to open his eyes and realize that Letty is the perfect match for him, but it takes him a few days to get there. This book was light and fun and only a smidge of angst.

Advance ebook provided by Courtney McCaskill.

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.

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Round Up: Historical Romance Books with the Word “Bride” in the Title

Apr 29, 2024

Duke Seeks Bride by Christy Carlyle (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Love on Holiday series. Our guy Alex is a new duke with a marriage stipulation in his father’s will, stating that he needs to marry in six months in order to keep his castle in Ireland. His annoyingly meddlesome aunt has tried to matchmake him with a wealthy widowed countess and invited her to the castle for a supposed equestrian charity event. The countess sends her secretary instead, mostly to avoid the matching making. Evie is the ultra-organized secretary who has been working with the countess for the past three years but also secretly pens romance novels in her spare time. When she shows up at the castle, she’s shocked to find that they were expecting the countess, even though a letter should have explained the switch. Alex and Evie have actually met briefly once before in the garden of a ball, but Evie is very much aware of her social status and that a romance between her and a duke is impossible. It’s not actually impossible, since this is a romance novel after all, but it takes some time for each person to realize that they really do want and need each other. This book is a relatively low-angst straightforward romance with a quick resolution to external conflict.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Bride by Mistake by Anne Gracie (2012)

Book 5 of the Devil Riders series. Eight years ago, Luke had rescued a young girl from the Spanish roadside, delivered her to a convent, and then married her for her protection. Now he has found that he cannot get an annulment from her, so he has returned to claim her. Before they leave Spain, she needs to visit her hometown to find her sister, so there’s a lot of road trip travel her along the Spanish countryside. Both Isabella and Luke have lingering traumas from the war and have trouble communicating with each other. It was nice to see a road trip in a different setting here, and then uncover a few more mysteries from Isabella’s past.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

The Heiress Bride by Madeline Hunter (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Duke’s Heiresses series. New duke Nicholas is still adjusting to his inherited status and feeling the stresses of his responsibilities. He’s surprised when he receives a visit from the last of the late duke’s heiresses, Iris. She is a rare book dealer and has come to inquire about a particular rare book that the late duke had said that he would assist her in finding. Iris had only recently learned that the duke had passed away and is completely surprised by her inheritance. Nicholas agrees to assist her in finding this book, but is also suspicious of Iris, so he intends to keep a close eye on her. This one is another book in the series where the two main characters really start on opposite sides of an argument but also can’t seem to stay away from each other. This book was super interesting in terms of Iris’s family history and scandal with her grandfather. We also re-open the investigation into the late duke’s death and wonder if Iris or Nicholas become targets for violence as well. And I also enjoyed the big reveal at the end when we start to dig into the attics.

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

Lessons from a Scandalous Bride Sophie Jordan (2012)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Forgotten Princesses series. Cleo is the sister of Grier and also on the marriage mart. She’s been courting a very elderly earl, much to the concern of her family. She has a good reason though: She’s looking to marry someone who will not (cannot) make demands of her in the marriage bed. Cleo has had the trauma of caring for too many siblings, watching weak ones die, carrying away stillborn siblings, and seeing her mother suffer the ills of labor. She wants very much to avoid that type of life and entrapment so avoids men who might prompt that future. Meanwhile, Logan is in London to find an heiress to marry and restore his castle in Scotland. While he is busy courting some vapid debutante, he’s more intrigued by Cleo and declares that he’d rather marry her instead. She refuses of course, but he is persistent in his pursuit. In this book, we’re mostly dealing with Cleo and her emotional issues and learning to accept the affection and passion that she has been denying herself.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

How to Lose a Bride in One Night by Sophie Jordan (2013)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Forgotten Princesses series. We start with the wedding day for Annalise where she’s marrying a handsome duke and then setting off on a honeymoon barge on the river. Except her charming duke turns out to be an attempted murderer: suffocating her with a pillow and then throwing her in the river. She washes up on shore unconscious and is rescued by Owen, an earl back in England from war with his own nightmares and demons as a former assassin. Owen is stuck with an injured, feverish, and unconscious Annalise until he finds some assistance with her care. When she regains her consciousness, she feigns amnesia so she doesn’t risk being returned to her husband by this upstanding stranger. With a broken leg, Annalise is even more vulnerable to danger, but somehow extracts some self-defense lessons from Owen, despite his hesitance to get closer to her. These two are very clearly attracted to each other, but Annalise is keeping secrets and Owen is all sorts of emotionally damaged. Still, the bonkers set up was a great way to hook me into the story immediately.

Ebook 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.

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 Rake’s Insatiable Bride by Caroline Lee (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Scotland. Book 3 of the Those Kilted Bastards series. Jade seeks a night with a courtesan so she can lose her virginity on her own terms before her guardian/uncle forces her to marry. Cameron is a charming rake of a man who plays up his debauched reputation by giving women pleasure. Both are victims of a marriage-by-proxy scheme that surprisingly brings them back together and then forces them to stay in the same cottage in a rainstorm. While Jade had no intention of getting married, she’s slowly falling in love with Cam as they spend more time together. It’s an isolated little vacation for them, until the storm breaks and we have to clear up the mess.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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.

Lord Holt Takes a Bride by Vivienne Lorret (2020)

Book 1 of the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. A female friend group finds one of their own ruined and banished to the country, so they want to do some research on how to avoid rakes and scoundrels. They somehow kidnap Lord Holt so they can question him about his habits while complaining about one of them not wanting to marry the oaf that her parents picked out. At some point, Winnifred has run away from that wedding she doesn’t want and into a waiting carriage. That carriage contains a certain Lord Holt, otherwise known as Asher. And off they go to run away from London and her unwanted wedding. There’s some drama here involving ransom and whether Asher was an unwilling participant in the road trip, but the circumstances here push them together.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Improper Bride by Lily Maxton (2016)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Sisters of Scandal series. This book will be much more rewarding after reading Book 4 because we meet both characters there. Henry, the marquess, is basically the most unlovable friendless asshole ever, and he nearly dies in a fire at his estate. Miraculously he survives, but is a curmudgeon during his recovery. The widowed housekeeper, Cassandra, is somehow tasked by the doctor to keep him occupied, so she asks for lessons in a foreign language. As they spend time together each day, they grow closer together and start to see the person beneath the title or role that each one has. Of course, they’ve got that whole employer-employee relationship there and massive social class differences, so even any affection between them would be improper and lead to heartbreak. Henry’s near-death experience has also reminded him that he has a duty to marry and sire heirs, so he enlists his sister in hosting a house party and bringing eligible women for him to meet. But none of them compare to Cassandra, so there’s tons of emotional angst there. Such an amazing romance. And! We do eventually find out the cause of the fire that started the book.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Chasing the Bride by Erica Ridley (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Lords in Love series. Tabitha has been betrothed to her father’s viscount friend since before she was born and with her father on his deathbed, the wedding shall be held in short order. Tabitha has no interest in marrying a lecherous old man, but feels that it is her role as dutiful daughter to comply. She spends some of her last few days of freedom at the Marrywell Matchmaking Festival, but her betrothed has assigned his man of business to watch over her. Hudson has worked for the old viscount for years and has been unwisely pining for Tabitha despite being at a much lower social standing. While he is competent at his assigned tasks, he is dreading the day when Tabitha must submit to marriage to the viscount. When she’s spending time with Hudson, Tabitha realizes true joy and companionship, making her dread her looming marriage even more. She ultimately runs from her wedding day, hoping to forestall her fate for just a little while longer. Hudson eventually catches up to her and she convinces him to spend a week with her before she has to meet her doom again, even though his job is to bring her back to his employer. This book was a lot of fun to read with our two people easily falling in love, but kept apart due to their external circumstances.

Advance ebook provided by Erica Ridley via NetGalley.

The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe (2021)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Book 3 of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series. Katherine is finally going to settle those wedding details with the fiancee that her father arranged, only to find that Preston had no intention of marrying her at all. He’s got a grudge against her father for abandoning Preston’s family in their time of financial turmoil, so wants nothing to do with their family. With Katherine suddenly un-engaged, she’s ready to find an affair, so she goes to a masked ball with her friend and meets a man there. When she goes to meet with him unmasked in a follow-up tryst at his apartment, she finds that it was Preston all along. These two spend a lot of time fighting, somehow call a truce, then fall into an affair with each other, with no intention of marriage. It’s messy and complicated and meanwhile Preston’s still mad at her father, Katherine’s dealing with her own father moving on from her late mother, and the poor Duke of Lockwood can’t catch a break in the background.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Tempting the Bride by Sherry Thomas (2012)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Fitzhugh Trilogy series. Helena is nearly caught in a compromising situation with a married man and forced to marry her brother’s best friend and actual enemy, David. What she doesn’t know is that David has been in love with her for decades and catches her attention by antagonizing her. She shortly gets into an accident where she’s gravely injured and wakes up with no memory of her supposed husband. Now that David has a second chance to make a first impression, he’s kind and solicitous, even though he fears the day that Helena gets her memory back. It’s the worst sort of pining that David has for Helena, with his own self-destructive behavior. Bonus points for the kindness and caring he has for his young daughter.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Historical Romance Books with the Word “Heiress” in the Title

Apr 25, 2024

Romancing the Heiress by Darcy Burke (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Lords in Love series. Leah is back in Marrywell for the annual matchmaking festival as a companion to a young debutante in search of a husband. Of course Leah is still enamored with her childhood friend Phineas, who is considering marrying an heiress to save his secretly impoverished estate. This one is a relatively quick read, with somewhat tragic backstories for everyone involved: Leah had an abusive childhood so she was desperate to escape the village of Marrywell; Phineas had a gambling father who left the estate in dire financial condition; and even the young debutante who is not at all who we’re concerned with has an overbearing managing mother. However, the attraction between Leah and Phineas was a delight to read and their shared history made for a stronger connection. And we get to see the couple from Book 1 of the series again for the festival.

Advance ebook provided by Darcy Burke via NetGalley.

The Heiress at Sea by Christi Caldwell (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone, but tied to The Duke Alone, as we are following the older sister of the main character from that book. Cassia, the often invisible eldest daughter of an earl, is setting off an adventure, dressing as a boy and sneaking onto her brother’s best friend’s ship so she can see the world. Turns out she’s on the wrong ship and ends up on Nathaniel’s boat, which is aimed to intercept a French war ship. Nathaniel is the second son of a duke, but recently became the heir after his brother fell off a horse. With his father’s demands in mind, this mission is likely to be his last. With everyone trapped on a ship, there’s plenty of drama to go around: Cassia is still pretending to be a boy, but she’s so terribly naive and sensitive that the other men mock her work; when they discover she’s actually a lady, there’s most definitely potential for scandal; and she cannot stop talking and chattering and also cannot detect sarcasm. It makes for annoying and infuriating conversation every time Nathaniel has to deal with her. But it’s a romance novel after all, and he starts to see her as someone brave (though naive) and also someone he wants to care for a protect. It was definitely a fun read and I enjoyed how all the conflict got resolved.

Advance ebook provided by Montlake Books 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.

An Heiress for All Seasons by Sophie Jordan (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1.5 of the Debutante Files series. Quick, relatively low-angst novella. Violet is an American heiress being shown off around England by her title-seeking mother. She has no intention of marrying anyone in England, since she has a suitor back home, but goes along with her parents until they accept her other suitor. Will is an impoverished earl being set up by his mother to meet Violet, but has no interest in marrying until he actually does meet Violet and is intrigued by her. He spends most of his time trying to pursue her, even though she rebuffs him, and at some point they get stuck in a cabin together during a snowstorm. Easy peasy with fun flirty spice.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Dollar Princess series. Evie is the orphaned illegitimate cousin and companion to American heiress Aimee who convinces Evie to switch places for the Season: Evie will go to balls and events while Aimee works as a secretary at her father’s company. Stern, serious, skeptical duke Alex believes that Evie (as Aimee) has set her sights on his cousin’s title and swears to prevent such deception and heartbreak from taking place. He has his own hang-ups after he caught his ex-fiancee cheating on him the night before their wedding and he’s completely distrustful of women. But of course, Alex and Evie have a lot of common interests and he slowly starts to realize that she is not trying to entrap a titled lord after all. Evie feels terrible for not being honest about her identity, especially as she starts to actually fall in love with Alex, knowing that he will hate her dishonesty. The book was a little slow-going at times, but we get a bit of external drama with fossils and caves and thugs hired to scare Evie, which brings out Alex’s protective side.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale (2020)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Book 3 of the Gilded Age Girls Club series. Department store heiress Beatrice accepts a marriage proposal from a money-seeking duke instead of running away with her secret love Wes, who is a mere assistant in her father’s store. Sixteen years later, after a scandalous divorce from the duke, and a depressing existence in England, Beatrice is back in New York. In the time that she was gone, her brother has nearly bankrupt her beloved department store and is about to sell it off. And her brokenhearted suitor Wes has opened his own rival department store and somehow become the third wealthiest man in Manhattan. Beatrice takes over her family’s store and aims to turn things around with the support of her new empowering female friends, stoking a business rivalry with Wes. Except those feelings of attraction and admiration are still simmering in the background, just waiting to break through.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe (2021)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York and Rhode Island. Book 1 of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series. Harrison Archer is back in town after living in Paris for the past three years; his horrible family is broke and he’s intent on finalizing their financial ruin. While they want him to marry an heiress to pay off their debts, he only has eyes for his childhood friend Maddie Webster, who broke his heart years ago by declaring that she only thinks of him as a brother. With the time apart, he’s hoping that she’ll change the way she sees him. I’m a total sucker for the emotional gut wrench of rejection, even though Maddie had no idea that she was the cause of Harrison’s departure. So now Maddie is trying to help Harrison find a bride, even though he just wanted to use the Newport house party as a way to get close to her again, and she’s kind of almost engaged to a duke. Messiness all around. Still, Maddie was incredibly stubborn in this book and totally oblivious to the fact that Harrison has loved her for years, even though everyone else in the world had seen it. Great set up for all the other characters that will feature in the remainder of the series and looking forward to finishing the rest of the books.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Gilded Age Heiresses series. A semi-tragic prologue starts the series with Camille, an American heiress, being married off to a much older and impoverished duke in England against her wishes. August is one of Camille’s friends who sees how awful the whole situation is and is thankful that her own parents would never do such a thing to her or her sister. Fast forward to a few months later, when August visits England with her parents and younger sister, and her parents are doing exactly what she feared. They attempt to set up a match between younger sister Violet and impoverished duke Evan, but August intends to thwart it. It doesn’t much matter since Evan prefers the fiesty August instead and tries to convince her to marry him. He needs the money because his father’s antiquated ideals have left the estate in much debt and the tenants on his lands are suffering. August refuses because she would prefer to stay working for her father’s company and has no interest in becoming a duchess. There’s a lot of cajoling involved here, even though these two are very clearly attracted to each other. The romance was great here and I enjoyed seeing August’s family dynamic. We also get to meet all the key players in future books of the series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Devil and the Heiress by Harper St. George (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Gilded Age Heiresses series. This book deals with August’s younger sister Violet and Evan’s best friend Christian in a road trip escape from the suitor that Violet’s parents have selected for her. Believing that she is safe from her parents’ meddling now that her sister has settled with the duke in Book 1, Violet is caught off guard when she realizes that her father has agreed to a match with a viscount. She plans to run away and is aided by an earl, Christian, who has his own designs on her and hopes to force a marriage when they’re caught together. Of course, during the trip, these two actually talk and get to know each other, so Christian feels guilty for his planned betrayal. Violet is also opening up to the idea of marriage, since she feels so connected to Christian. In the background, Violet is working on writing a novel and has based her main hero on Christian without him realizing it. This book has all the calamities you would expect in a road trip novel plus the added dread of uncovering Christian’s deception. We also introduce the pairing on Violet’s brother Maxwell with her friend Lady Helena when they team up to chase after the runaway pair.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas (2012)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Fitzhugh Trilogy series. Millie and Fitz have been married platonically for eight years and soon to embark on their agreement to try to have children. Except that Fitz is distracted and excited by the fact that his first love is recently widowed and on her way back to England. This book is told over two timelines, showing the progress through Millie and Fitz’ eight year marriage and showing their present day friendship. Fitz had inherited an impoverished earldom, necessitating his marriage to a wealthy heiress even though he had hopes of marrying someone else. Millie has been in love with Fitz for all this time, but she has not given him any clues about her feelings and maintained quiet dignity and strength while he has been heartbroken over his lost love. However, over the years, we get to see Fitz become a strong and steady presence in Millie’s life and ever-so-slowly becoming her closest friend. This whole book is the slowest of slow burns and heartbreaking in all the best ways.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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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.