Lady Stella has hoards of suitors, but they’re only after her massive dowry, certainly not her freckles, red hair, or plump figure. Silvester Parnell,Lady Stella has hoards of suitors, but they’re only after her massive dowry, certainly not her freckles, red hair, or plump figure. Silvester Parnell, the Duke of Huntington, is certainly not included among their number given his status as London’s most sought-after bachelor.
Unfortunately, Stella finds herself maneuvered into marrying the duke for all the wrong reasons. Though she’s long harbored deep feelings for him, this is the worst position she can imagine being in, knowing his feelings for someone else. Now Silvester is left to convince Stella that he truly has fallen in love with the unique woman he married.
This was a fun read and I definitely found myself relating to Stella’s quirks and difficulty fitting in. I loved seeing her come into her own and learn to stand up for herself, though I could’ve done with less of the duke’s attention given to Yasmin. It took him a bit long to turn his eyes to Stella for me, though I did appreciate watching their friendship develop into something more once Silvester finally woke up and listened to his own feelings. His cluelessness did make sense given how much his mother had clearly loved his late father despite being apparently unaware of the emotion. Silvester’s infatuation with Yasmin in the previous book definitely made me nervous going into this one, but it did quickly become clear that the feelings he had for Stella were much deeper than the superficial ones he might have had for Yasmin. I really enjoyed seeing Stella and Silvester gradually peel back one another’s layers and learn how to communicate.
Lady Imogen Loveless doesn’t exactly fit in with London high society. She has a passion for chemistry and a talent for explosions4.5 stars rounded up.
Lady Imogen Loveless doesn’t exactly fit in with London high society. She has a passion for chemistry and a talent for explosions which has seen her labeled as odd. But that doesn’t matter to Imogen as long as her chaos is accepted by her friends, the Hell’s Belles, a group of vigilantes working right under the nose of most of London.
Detective Inspector Thomas Peck is excellent at his job, however, and he knows immediately that Imogen is pure chaos, not an oddity. He thinks she needs someone to keep her safe, and when her brother discovers more about what she’s been up to, he wholeheartedly agrees.
Thomas is determined to keep Imogen safe, all the while struggling to contain his attraction to the woman he sees as miles above him. Imogen has no such qualms, however, and soon the connection between them threatens them both just as much as their enemies.
This book may just be my favorite ever from this author. She has been very hit or miss for me and this series in particular has been a bit disappointing for me, but this book has changed that for the better. For a while there, I feared we were about to go right down the same old road full of misandry, but thankfully that thread changed direction quickly. Tommy was noble even to a fault and I loved that Imogen appreciated this about him yet also saw how it could make him vulnerable. They each protected the other and I loved that, especially when she finally confided in him, and they began to work together as a team. I just wish that had come sooner in the book, rather than them only getting things together nearer the end. I did really appreciate that they had quite a few conversations that were deep and serious, sometimes uncomfortable, but they never resorted to sniping at one another like petulant children. This often seems to be the modus operandi for the currently fashionable ‘strong heroine’ and I am thoroughly sick of reading it. Anyway, Tommy definitely had moments where he needed to take a second and listen, setting aside his strict adhesion to nobility, but it didn’t take him long to realize when he’d gone too far with it and Imogen wasn’t afraid to point it out either. I did want maybe one more chapter after everything was worked out, or perhaps a scene with Imogen and Tommy and her brother just to make everything feel more complete, but overall, I was surprised by how much I really liked these two together and now I have some hope for Duchess’ story.
Lord Lucien Westbrook is known for helping other members of society, but few know that his eagerness to be of service is heavily influenced by the lacLord Lucien Westbrook is known for helping other members of society, but few know that his eagerness to be of service is heavily influenced by the lack of love and support he’s endured from his own father. When his best friend’s sister, Miss Kathleen Shaughnessy, asks him for his help researching scientific matters that interest her, he can’t seem to refuse her, though he knows he should since she’s mostly fascinated by human mating habits. Lucien was furious when he learned of Kat’s brother’s secret affairs with his sister and now he’s about to go down the same slippery slope. He knows he needs to focus on the other problems currently plaguing him and avoid compromising situations with Kat, but he can’t seem to resist her.
I had extra high expectations for this book because of how much I’ve loved the character of Lucien throughout the series and how much he deserved his own HEA after working so hard to help others find theirs and not having much of his own. It’s also worth noting that it’s January and I find that to be a particularly depressing and difficult month for me mentally, which is possibly reflected in my reviews at the moment. Whatever the case, it is also important to remember that this book had a lot to accomplish to wrap up this series in a satisfactory way and give us answers about Lucien’s relationship with his father and the future of the club and everything did wrap up in a way I was pleased with.
This book definitely did give me some angst because the whole time Lucien was just suffering and under so much stress that he made me just want to give him a hug. After his having helped so many people, it started to feel like no one was there for him, until he finally confided in his friends and they, of course, stepped in to help him. I loved that closeness and the ‘friends who are family’ aspect here. I definitely did struggle to warm to Kat, especially at first. Her anxiety issues are painfully relatable for me, so perhaps it was also a struggle to see those familiar feelings of not belonging or being too different reflected back at me. Beyond that though, she gave no thought to anyone but herself and her research and that narrow scope made her difficult to root for as a heroine for a while. She bordered on narcissistic there for a bit and only saw Lucien as another bit of wildlife for her research, making her come off as simultaneously clueless and arrogant. For a while there I was much more interested in the mystery surrounding the woes facing the club than I was in Lucien and Kat’s relationship as the romance wasn’t really there for me yet. It was clear she was attracted to him but for a while there I wasn’t convinced there was an emotional connection and it almost felt like she was just using him to get something she needed/wanted, much like every character in the series has done, though Lucien never begrudges them.
Fortunately, things turned around as Lucien and Kat spent more time together. She grew as a person, mostly because of him, as he helped her see things differently and want to be better and widen her views to become more empathetic towards others even as she struggled to understand them. He understood her, and she understood him, and that was really beautiful. I also loved that she referred to herself as an aberration for not fitting into society as a proper lady should, but he viewed himself the same way within his own family. They were both struggling to find their place in their own ways, and I really enjoyed seeing them change their perspectives, reevaluate what they thought they wanted for themselves, and make that happen together. This was a satisfying series conclusion with an intriguing mystery and solid character growth, and I loved seeing everyone together cohesively in the end as a found-family unit.
Callahan Kelly is a thief, a trickster, a swindler, and there’s really no way around that. With his good looks and charm, he’s good at getting his ownCallahan Kelly is a thief, a trickster, a swindler, and there’s really no way around that. With his good looks and charm, he’s good at getting his own way and he knows how to spot another liar as well. So, he can’t quite figure out why he’s been included in a group of new agents in training to work for the Crown, heading to their secret training facility in the far north of England. But Baron, the leader of the Royal Saboteurs, has offered Cal too much money to refuse to at least go through with the first week of the training, with the option to leave if he wants and with full pay after that first week. Cal is surprised to find he doesn't mind the training so much and he’s enthralled by Bridget, Baron’s secretary, a lovely woman who shows no reaction at all to his charms. When he’s asked to take her as his partner and infiltrate a group of violent Irish separatists, rather than return to London, the choice is a difficult one on many levels.
Bridget Murray is just a secretary, not an agent. As such, she never expected to be given a mission to carry out and she’s certainly not fond of her partner. She disliked him from their first meeting but now their mission requires that she pretend to be his wife. Unfortunately, living in such close proximity with Cal isn’t nearly as bad as she expected it to be. In fact, as the two grow ever closer, and are thrown into more danger, she begins to realize that she doesn’t actually want to go back to living separate lives.
This book had a huge job to do with worldbuilding setup for the rest of the series, so I think the romance here did sometimes take a backseat, but the premise and all the characters that were introduced have me looking forward to more books in this series. I tend to be a bit of a sucker for spy stories, so I was very excited about this one and Cal is the type of wrong side of the tracks hero that is like kryptonite for me. Actually, I think it was a pretty bold move for Cal’s character to be as rough as he was and the fact that he was so openly flawed and so clearly still working to overcome some challenges that would typically be deal breakers in a romance hero (gambling/alcohol addiction), made him unique and, honestly, lovable. I did struggle to like Bridget much of the time. While Cal had excellent character development and growth, Bridget didn’t exhibit the same rate of change and much of the time I was annoyed by how easily offended she was over every little thing. She was often a little bit insufferable with her tendency to believe she already knew everything, despite her clear naivete, and to not give Cal enough credit for his street smarts. She definitely gave poor Cal a lot of mixed signals, but I loved that he challenged her in a way she’d never experienced before and she soon saw what she’d been missing, so that at least was a bit of an area of growth for her. I couldn’t help but root for Cal as he struggled and tried to do the right thing and that made it possible to see what Bridget saw in him, though they did at times seem like a bit of a mismatch, mainly because of her childhood with an alcoholic father. Although, that said, her experience with her father did help her see how different Cal really was and how much effort he was putting into changing himself. These two made a good team together, despite, or perhaps because of, their differences, and I’m excited to read more books to come in this new series.
Callahan Kelly is a thief, a trickster, a swindler, and there’s really no way around that. With his good looks and charm, he’s good at getting his own way and he knows how to spot another liar as well. So, he can’t quite figure out why he’s been included in a group of new agents in training to work for the Crown, heading to their secret training facility in the far north of England. But Baron, the leader of the Royal Saboteurs, has offered Cal too much money to refuse to at least go through with the first week of the training, with the option to leave if he wants and with full pay after that first week. Cal is surprised to find he doesn't mind the training so much and he’s enthralled by Bridget, Baron’s secretary, a lovely woman who shows no reaction at all to his charms. When he’s asked to take her as his partner and infiltrate a group of violent Irish separatists, rather than return to London, the choice is a difficult one on many levels.
Bridget Murray is just a secretary, not an agent. As such, she never expected to be given a mission to carry out and she’s certainly not fond of her partner. She disliked him from their first meeting but now their mission requires that she pretend to be his wife. Unfortunately, living in such close proximity with Cal isn’t nearly as bad as she expected it to be. In fact, as the two grow ever closer, and are thrown into more danger, she begins to realize that she doesn’t actually want to go back to living separate lives.
This book had a huge job to do with worldbuilding setup for the rest of the series, so I think the romance here did sometimes take a backseat, but the premise and all the characters that were introduced have me looking forward to more books in this series. I tend to be a bit of a sucker for spy stories, so I was very excited about this one and Cal is the type of wrong side of the tracks hero that is like kryptonite for me. Actually, I think it was a pretty bold move for Cal’s character to be as rough as he was and the fact that he was so openly flawed and so clearly still working to overcome some challenges that would typically be deal breakers in a romance hero (gambling/alcohol addiction), made him unique and, honestly, lovable. I did struggle to like Bridget much of the time. While Cal had excellent character development and growth, Bridget didn’t exhibit the same rate of change and much of the time I was annoyed by how easily offended she was over every little thing. She was often a little bit insufferable with her tendency to believe she already knew everything, despite her clear naivete, and to not give Cal enough credit for his street smarts. She definitely gave poor Cal a lot of mixed signals, but I loved that he challenged her in a way she’d never experienced before and she soon saw what she’d been missing, so that at least was a bit of an area of growth for her. I couldn’t help but root for Cal as he struggled and tried to do the right thing and that made it possible to see what Bridget saw in him, though they did at times seem like a bit of a mismatch, mainly because of her childhood with an alcoholic father. Although, that said, her experience with her father did help her see how different Cal really was and how much effort he was putting into changing himself. These two made a good team together, despite, or perhaps because of, their differences, and I’m excited to read more books to come in this new series.
Since returning from war and taking over his father’s title as Earl of Stanford, Oliver Aspinwall hasn’t had an easy go of it. Hi4.5 stars rounded up.
Since returning from war and taking over his father’s title as Earl of Stanford, Oliver Aspinwall hasn’t had an easy go of it. His older brother is determined to bring Ollie into his rowdy group of close friends, all the while meddling in nearly every aspect of his life. Ollie also has a permanently scarred face and a crumbling estate to contend with. Now his brother has gone even further, bringing in a highly in-demand and beautiful landscape artist to restore Ollie’s gardens and possibly his damaged heart as well. But Ollie knows exactly what his brother is up to and isn’t willing to play along, content to instead remain hidden away in the country with his stargazing to occupy him.
Necessity Byrne has heard plenty about the so-called Scarred Earl and his scandals. A scandal herself having been raised in London’s rookeries, setting societal tongues wagging is par for the course for her and she’s not about to turn down the chance to restore the reclusive peer’s gardens, especially when she learns the design was originally put into place by none other than the famous Capability Brown. What Necessity isn’t prepared for, however, is the electricity she feels every time she remembers the one time she met the rakish earl years previously when he was first injured. She wants the job, so she’ll have to just ignore that irritating spark.
Once she’s installed on the earl’s estate, Necessity can’t help but meet every challenge he lays at her feet. Ollie and Necessity can’t seem to agree on anything, except their attraction, but Ollie wants her to stay, and she can’t see a life not lived in London, leaving Ollie to find a way to convince the headstrong landscaper to take a chance on a broken earl and reignite her dreams of having a family again.
This story was brimming with raw emotion so much so that it was even a bit hard to follow at times. Ollie’s struggle with addiction was a secondary feature in the previous book and I loved seeing him working to find himself at last out of the influence of substances and without his father’s abuse or the trauma of his life as a soldier. He was very much still finding out who he truly was, afraid of his feelings and yet at the same time, still willing to explore them. That took so much courage, and he was obviously so sweet and just desperate to love and be loved that it was impossible not to root for him. Necessity had this same factor going for her given that she’d lost her entire family at a young age, but for this same reason she often got in her own way, determined to maintain her independence and afraid to risk loving and losing again. She was also so certain that she and Ollie could never be together because of the disparity in their social classes that she didn’t really let herself acknowledge her true feelings for some time, but I was cheering her on so hard when she finally decided to step up and risk it all for her love. The chemistry between Ollie and Necessity fairly jumped off the page and definitely overwhelmed the two of them such that it took a while for their brains to come to terms with what they already knew in their hearts and for me, that made them very human and real. It didn’t hurt that they were both frustratingly awkward enough to be inexplicably charming. These two both needed each other, and both felt unworthy in their own ways, and I loved seeing them get over that and provide each other with the reassurance they needed. This story had plenty of steam as well as emotional depth and solid character development and likable supporting characters establishing a delightful found family. I found this story very satisfying in the end, even though these two did stress me out a bit in the middle, and I’m looking forward to Dash and Theo’s story.
Boyd Kerr is recognized as the greatest swordsman in Scotland, so skilled even his companion, William Wallace, prefers not to eng4.5 stars rounded up.
Boyd Kerr is recognized as the greatest swordsman in Scotland, so skilled even his companion, William Wallace, prefers not to engage him. Lady Galia, Countess of Gurstelle, has held an English army at bay for months, but her castle cannot withstand the siege forever. Boyd’s mission is to end the siege with a trial by single combat so Galia’s men can join Wallace’s cause in battle against the English king and Galia’s reticence to accept help jeopardizes his mission.
Though Boyd admires Galia’s strength and intelligence, she certainly tries his patience, and attracts him as no other has. Galia feels the same pull toward Boyd and soon they are both forced to reconcile their newfound feelings with their prior plans to never marry.
I loved that this was a quick, fast-paced read that left little time for too much angst. Galia was extremely independent and determined not to need a man, and while this stubbornness did get a bit vexing, it was so satisfying to see her grow and realize she could do what was best for her and still be a good leader, taking her mother’s sound advice on being the countess while ignoring advice given out of bitterness. I loved that Boyd was open with his feelings and didn’t hesitate to communicate with Galia, despite her being more reticent. He knew what he wanted and was willing to make it happen and I think his steadfastness helped give Galia the strength to finally make a choice for herself and not just for her people. These two fell in love very quickly but given the strong chemistry between them and the danger each day was fraught with in this story, such quickly developing emotions made sense. I really enjoyed seeing these two come together and reimagine what they thought they wanted for themselves so they could instead have a future together. I look forward to more installments in this fast-paced series.
Sam Adamson is so close to catching a break that could make her acting career, so she deems it worth the risk to blow off her shooting schedule for thSam Adamson is so close to catching a break that could make her acting career, so she deems it worth the risk to blow off her shooting schedule for the chance to meet a Hollywood A-lister, only to ruin things by nervously blurting out an enormous lie. Contrary to what she so adamantly declared to said star, she doesn’t actually have an album inspired by his new film and now she has just ten days to come up with one and her co-writer clearly dislikes her.
Painfully shy electrician Jamie is content to remain in his comfortable routine and when gorgeous, rambunctious Sam barrels into his life, she turns everything upside down. Jamie may have an amazing voice and body, but he’s never even had a proper kiss and he’s certainly not interested in becoming famous, but he agrees to help Sam after a good bit of pressure from his mom and sister.
As their songs rapidly take shape, feelings also bloom between Sam and Jamie, but Sam’s lies are beginning to catch up to her and they come with consequences. When the talented pair are offered an amazing opportunity, it only makes the glaring differences between them that much more obvious, and it seems their burgeoning fame may tear them apart rather than keeping them together.
Sam and Jamie were an adorable pair of idiots, and their story was both hilarious at times and also stressful. Both of our MCs had painfully relatable anxieties and they stressed me out at times, making me want to yell at them both, but I also couldn't help rooting for them. They so obviously belonged together and just needed to get out of their own way. Thankfully, when they both struggled to do that, we had Fiona and Zoe to help them along. Jamie is the ultimate virgin hero if that’s your thing, and his struggle to cope with being bombarded by feelings that were totally new and overwhelming for him was both adorable and heart wrenching, but I loved seeing him gain the confidence to finally go after what (and who) he wanted. I was so relieved and satisfied when these two finally confessed their feelings for one another, instead of continuing to assume they each knew how the other was feeling, in the ultimate grand romantic gesture. This story was both hilarious and heartwarming for me and I’m close to saying it’s my favorite of the series, but I still can’t quite bump Rory and Zoe from that pedestal. This series has been a joyful escape for me, and I’m excited to see what’s next from Evie.
Widowed and independent at last, Juliana Sheldon enjoyed her first affair nearly two years ago whilst stranded at a snowy inn wit3.5 stars rounded up.
Widowed and independent at last, Juliana Sheldon enjoyed her first affair nearly two years ago whilst stranded at a snowy inn with Viscount Audlington only to find he’d disappeared the next morning without a word. She thought his abrupt departure had merely wounded her pride, only to learn that her upset went much deeper when she meets him again at a country house party. He is eager to pick up where they left off, but she decides to torment him instead. Though Juliana eventually gives in to the viscount’s charms, she is thrown off once more when he begins to discuss marriage, something she was certain she’d never want again.
Lucas Trask, Viscount Audlington, has expectations to meet as the heir to an earldom. This means he must abandon his rakish ways and finally get married. He has kept Juliana in his thoughts all this time and now that they’ve met again it seems like a sign that she’s the one for him. The only catch is that he has a secret he hasn’t shared with anyone, but he of course must be open with Juliana if she agrees to marry him. Unfortunately, a sudden tragedy means Lucas must leave Juliana behind yet again and she may not be willing to give him yet another chance.
This was a sweet, lighthearted story and I enjoyed that it explored a variety of tropes. We start out with a snowed-in, only one bed, one night stand situation, then we get a second half that becomes a second chance story in which the hero falls first, all set at a house party. There was a lot going on here because that held my attention. My only issues here were with Juliana’s immature, somewhat bratty behavior, and the fact that, although her fears of being hurt were certainly understandable and relatable, she was quite wishy-washy in her behavior, and I expected more maturity from a thirty-year-old widow. I’m also a bit sensitive on the subject of babies at the moment as my husband and I face tons of pressure to reproduce and are working to decide if we want to, so the fact that babies and Juliana’s believe that she can’t have them are such a huge plot point in this story made it a struggle for me at times. If we could’ve had all those tropes without those two issues, this would’ve been a perfect book for me, but I did still enjoy it and I liked that fact that once they finally decided to be together, Juliana and Lucas created their own family and didn’t worry about what anyone else might think about any of the reasons society might shun them as a bad match. Overall, this is a quick, playful read that many will find enjoyable.
Thanks to her brother’s recklessness, Miss Mina Stanford is left with no choice but to visit the notorious Devon Masters in the dead of night and beg Thanks to her brother’s recklessness, Miss Mina Stanford is left with no choice but to visit the notorious Devon Masters in the dead of night and beg him not to fight a duel the next morning with her brother. The difficult and demeaning task is made even more challenging still when the butler assumes she must be a Cyprian and shows her up to the man’s private chamber.
But this chance meeting changes both Mina’s and Devon’s lives forever when he is arrested for her brother’s murder and she is the only one who can account for his innocence, ruining her reputation to save a man from wrongful punishment.
This sort of employment of the marriage of convenience trope is like catnip to me. Mina and Devon meet because he’s the only one she can go to in order to beg for mercy for her brother, but when her brother turns up murdered, Mina winds up being the one who can save Devon from immediate condemnation by an incompetent inspector. I loved the fact that Mina and Devon were together and married early on in the book and the rest of the time they were working together to solve the mystery of her brother’s murder. We got cameos from the couples of previous books, and I loved that too. The mystery here was very elaborate and a bit sinister and I loved how it wrapped up, and especially how Devon and Mina’s relationship strengthened each day they spent together. I loved that he wanted to create intimacy between them even though he was rather cynical. They established an open, honest communication between them from the start and I loved that so much. It made their relationship feel very strong very quickly and I think this may be the steamiest book I’ve read by this author yet (I’m very much here for that if you can’t tell). This one worked very well for me and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
With his father’s sudden passing Damon Cranston is saddled with the title and responsibilities of the Duke of Chellenham. His amoral father was only iWith his father’s sudden passing Damon Cranston is saddled with the title and responsibilities of the Duke of Chellenham. His amoral father was only interested in indulging in his debauched lifestyle and left the dukedom in disarray. Recognizing the need for help, Damon goes to Althea Galway, co-owner of the Galway Investigative Agency, for her aid in untangling the disorder he’s been left with. Damon hasn’t been able to stop thinking of Althea since he met her months ago, completely taken by her intelligence and compassion.
Althea Galway has no interest in wealth or titles, but she can’t deny that handsome Damon caught her notice from the first time they met. He’s arrogant and possessed of a terrible reputation, but Althea suspects that beneath the surface Damon is lonely and scarred but hiding a deep sense of honor.
As they uncover the depth of the duke’s depravity, Althea and Damon spend a great deal of time together. Adding in a personal crisis for Althea and there seem to be entirely too many obstacles standing in the way of any chance at a future for these two, but neither can deny the deep connection growing between them and they’re soon determined to do whatever it takes to make things work.
Damon is the ultimate reformed rake hero and probably one of the most well-written ones I’ve read. He’s been living in his wastrel, amoral father’s shadow without even realizing it and I loved seeing him finally freed from that upon his father's death. Damon is very much learning who he is and who he wants to be in this story, working to establish the life he’s always wanted but which has eluded him. He spends this book going through immense emotional awakening and a ton of upheaval, but he never shies away from it, instead embracing his feelings and working to surround himself with the family he’s always wanted and to be a better person. I loved that aspect. Althea is where this story faltered a bit for me simply because she did grow a bit repetitive in her cautiousness when it came to her relationship with Damon. She was frustrating to me because, on the one hand, she was the one person who saw the good in Damon even before he did, but on the other, she was also quick to forget it and treat him poorly for no apparent reason. She was right there with him helping him find his siblings, a goal that was inherently unselfish, meanwhile he’s doing all these small but thoughtful things for her, yet she still characterizes him as thinking only of himself. That was bizarre for me and a bit off-putting early in the story. I also had no idea why she would assume marriage would mean giving up her agency when it didn’t mean that for her sister and Damon had assured her he didn’t want to change her. Nonetheless, Althea did overcome her doubts and I liked seeing her learn to listen to her heart for a change and Damon’s treatment of her was especially romantic. These two created a lovely found family and that made it a heartwarming read for me.
Thane Shaw has bided his time for eight months waiting for a chance to have his revenge on Clan Campbell for the death of his twin sister. This ChristThane Shaw has bided his time for eight months waiting for a chance to have his revenge on Clan Campbell for the death of his twin sister. This Christmas season has finally presented the perfect opportunity: he can steal the old laird’s sister, Sarah.
When I realized this was a kidnap/revenge plot, I was unsure if I’d like it and thought it might be too much angst for what I feel like reading at the moment. Fortunately, that’s not how it turned out. Yes, Thane was out for revenge, but Sarah was in need of rescue and more than happy to go with him. I enjoyed these two working together and they fell in love quickly and with no fuss between them. Yes, it’s instalove, but it was perfect for this novella, and I loved that Sarah and Thane didn’t try to deny or avoid discussing their feelings. With this being set in such a turbulent, tragic time in Scottish history, it was difficult for it to truly feel festive, but it did leave me feeling hopeful and I appreciated that. This would be the perfect quick read if you’re an introvert like me and find yourself needing just a little break from holiday family time.
Upon her dad’s retirement from the family toy company, Lyla Smurfit expects to receive his shares. Instead, she learns of the com3.5 stars rounded up.
Upon her dad’s retirement from the family toy company, Lyla Smurfit expects to receive his shares. Instead, she learns of the company’s financial woes and that her father’s shares now belong to ruthless investment banker Mason Klaus, leaving Lyla with no choice but to run the company with him despite her immediate dislike of the callous businessman.
When Mason goes so far as to cancel the company’s annual Christmas party, Lyla throws one anyway, only to have it result in a fire that damages both the building and Lyla’s credibility. With the offices in need of repair anyway, Mason offers Lyla a deal: he’ll forget about her role in this debacle if she comes with him to spend their twelve days of holidays with his family.
When she winds up in the winter wonderland of her dreams, Lyla is keen to discover what other secrets close-lipped Mason has been hiding, and possibly get her control of her company back. But when Mason introduces Lyla to his secret village as his fiancé, she’s horrified to realize that she must go along with it because the consequences of bringing an outsider into their midst are more than she’s prepared to face.
This having been a year of significant loss for my family, I’ve been trying to get myself into the festive spirit by reading winter- and Christmas-set books. When I read the premise of this one, I couldn’t help but grab it and, though I will say I wasn’t prepared to deal with the hero’s grief and how much it reminded me of my own, that aspect was also somehow helpful too. Mason was definitely a grouch, but he turned out to have been hiding a heart of gold the entire time. I really enjoyed seeing little bits of the real him inch out from behind his gruff façade, I only wish we’d gotten more of that sooner. I really wanted to see him absolutely pour his heart out to Lyla and I don’t think that was ever realized as much as I wanted it to be. I also wanted her to have this big epiphany of realizing how truly great of a guy he was, which she did do, but she didn’t really talk much to him about it, and she still doubted him a lot. I still felt like he and Lyla fit, and I definitely felt the chemistry between them, but they kept getting interrupted every time things would start to get good, so I was left at times feeling like there was a lot of build up and not enough resolution. The grand gesture was also not quite all I’d hoped, though I appreciated that the angst was not drawn out, I just wanted maybe one more deep, real conversation between Lyla and Mason that didn’t center on doubts and fears so much.
At times, it was difficult to keep track of the days in this story because it seemed everyone would get up for breakfast and then a few pages later be going to bed again so that threw me off just a bit. I also have to say I was not a fan of the other woman cattiness and I really wanted to see her get a comeuppance that never really came. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this story and its festive setting, and it did help me get into the Christmas spirit. This is a new to me author that I will read again.
On her journey north to take up her position as companion to an elderly countess, Miss Delia Somerset finds herself stranded, penniless, in a snowstorOn her journey north to take up her position as companion to an elderly countess, Miss Delia Somerset finds herself stranded, penniless, in a snowstorm and sure to freeze to death. Luckily for her, a handsome stranger appears just in time to save her.
Jack Thorne, Viscount Thorne, is already not thrilled to be traveling to his home to spend Christmas with his boisterous family and he's certainly not happy to be slowing his progress to stop for a bedraggled, half-frozen miss. However, after he winds up spending a shockingly magical night together, Jack begins to believe Delia is exactly what he's always needed.
This sweet little novella is basically everything you might want in a feel-good Christmas romance. While it was a little lighter on steam that I had hoped it might be, this was snowstorm, only one bed, instalove goodness. I wasn't super crazy about Jack mistaking Delia for a prostitute, but things were cleared up before it went to far and he actually wound up being really sweet to her. His realization of his feelings for her and determination to find her once he did was everything. I loved that part and the fact that he realized his feelings and didn't question them, but rather took immediate action was fantastic. I think that lack of angst and lack of time to have miscommunications is what I love about novellas. If you're look for something cute to curl up with and get into the holiday spirit, this is a good choice.
Lady Viper and the Bastard by Eva Leigh When Violet, aka Lady Viper, and Ian Molineaux learn they have been enlisted to break apart the same couple, thLady Viper and the Bastard by Eva Leigh When Violet, aka Lady Viper, and Ian Molineaux learn they have been enlisted to break apart the same couple, the two decide, albeit reluctantly, to work together to achieve their shared goal a bit quicker. Each is surprised to find the other to be a match for their ruthless reputation both in and out of bed, but the passion evoked by the enmity between them cannot be denied.
I'm so surprised by how much I loved this novella. Sure, Violet and Ian were a bit ruthless but they were also desperately concealing good hearts longing for love and they tried to use their villainous reputations to help the downtrodden. These two were a perfect match and it was pretty adorable seeing them cautiously open up to one another and establish a relationship that worked for them. I also loved the fact that they each fought for the other in their own way and learned how to communicate in a healthy way that neither of them had previously experienced.
Seven Sinful Nights by Nicola Davidson Notorious illegitimate son of a nobleman and owner of one of London's most cutthroat gambling establishments, Blake Evans is jaded and ruthless and has a zero tolerance policy for aristocrats who are unlucky enough to find themselves in his debt. When one such indebted duke offers up a night with his sister in law, the Dowager Duchess of Tolwick in exchange for forgiveness of his debt, Blake raises the stakes. To meet the debt, he requires seven nights with the widow submitting to his every desire. To his shock, the lady agrees. Even more surprising is how well Stella fits with Blake and how little he wants to let her go when their time together is finished.
Despite its rather villainous hero, this was a very cute story. I loved that Stella met Blake with a fire he was wholly unprepared for and these two wound up being a good match, despite all the reasons it would seem that wouldn't belong together. It was actually really sweet to see Blake coping with developing feelings and bringing himself to admit them aloud as Stella would settle for nothing less. I also really loved that we got a satisfyingly permanent ending for these two, but it was still unconventional in a way that totally fit them.
The Gangster's Prize by Joanna Shupe Isabelle Kelly is trapped in a gilded cage in her father's uptown house, told to stay there and keep out of trouble lest she damage his political career or his reputation for crusading to rid the city of violent gangs. She obeys like a dutiful daughter, but when her father goes missing, Isabelle has an excellent idea of who the culprit is and seeks him out herself.
Billy Baxter is the leader of the infamous Hell's Kitchen gang and he knows how to get what he wants. He's long had his eye on the angelic Miss Kelly and now that she's made her way to his world, he intends to make her his.
Baxter was the ultimate bad boy hero but I utterly adored him. It was vastly amusing to me how quickly Isabelle wrapped him around her finger and his reaction to her calling him by his true given name of William was surprisingly endearing and humanizing. She completely wrecked him and his being so far gone on her, willing to do anything to prove himself to her, even though he'd hidden things from her made it impossible not to root for him. His devotion to her was complete and once he revealed his truths, his actions made more sense and just made him into the ultimate protective hero, which is something I'm a sucker for. The only thing I didn't much care for was Isabelle's reaction. Though she was justified in her upset, I think she punished Bax a bit too long and it made me question the depth of her feelings for him, in addition to tearing down his villainous façade quite a bit with how elaborately he pined for her. Otherwise, this was an excellent novella that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The Bootlegger's Bounty by Adriana Herrera When it becomes clear to Rosalia Ferrer that her brother is unstable and a threat to her safety, she ceases the first chance she has to leave her island and follow her dream of going to New York and finding a place as a jazz singer. Unfortunately her plan quickly hits a snag and she is forced to put her fate in the hands of a ruthless man known as the Rogue of Rum Row, but Rosalia is prepared to do anything necessary to get what she wants.
Camden McCollough has been rum running for ten years and is just about to complete his final job. He just has to keep his unexpected stowaway from getting them both killed and he may be able to retire with the girl and the goods.
This was an mmf story with a very unusual threesome but they all brought something different and vital to the relationship. Rosalia, Vincenzo, and Camden all carried scars and pain from their varied but traumatic pasts and they were able to find comfort and peace together. Cam was tired of the ruthlessness and lack of peace after ten years of rum running and wanting an out, a way to make a new life for himself, but unable to see beyond the obvious to grasp the nuanced obstacles in his way. Rosalia and Enzo showed him potential issues he might face and helped him surmount them, bringing out a softer side of him that was very endearing since he was otherwise incredibly surly and full of anger. In turn, Cam provided the safety and structure both Rosi and Enzo craved and they were extremely hot together, with chemistry that fairly leapt off the page. I loved the fast pace of their relationship and how Enzo was the one who was bold enough to go after what he wanted and bring them together. We got a low angst yet still exciting, sexy novella, with a satisfying HEA that I loved....more
Ash Hawkins, the Duke of Buckley, has no interest in marrying and carrying on his father’s tainted title. He’d be content to just run his gaming club,Ash Hawkins, the Duke of Buckley, has no interest in marrying and carrying on his father’s tainted title. He’d be content to just run his gaming club, but he has the responsibility of three young girls as his wards and their open rebellion is becoming more than he can manage on his own. A marriage of convenience would be ideal if he could find a logical, intelligent woman who would stand to gain from such an arrangement as much as he would. On a madcap trip to the Isle of Synne in pursuit of his runaway wards, he just happens to stumble across the perfect woman for his plan.
Bronwyn Pickering has faced her parents ridicule her entire life because she prefers her entomological studies to furthering their social climbing efforts through an advantageous marriage. She’s managed to avoid marriage for a few years, but now her parents are threatening to banish her from her beloved Isle until she comes around to their way of thinking. When she meets Ash, Bronwyn knows he’s hiding quite a bit, but since his proposal of a businesslike marriage would give her the freedom she needs to pursue her research, she accepts, all the while trying to keep in mind that their arrangement is purely for convenience, not a matter of the heart.
Though the pacing of this book was a bit slow at first and it took me a while to get into it, I think that was more down to the busyness of the holidays than anything else. Ash was frustrating with his insistence on believing in his unworthiness, but I loved seeing how Bronwyn gradually brought him out of his self-imposed isolation while he in turn gave her the opportunity to stand up for herself and what she wanted. I very much loved that she finally stood up to her parents, though I would’ve liked possibly a couple more pages on what happened with them after being told off.
The writing is so lush and, even though sometimes I absolutely wanted to shake Ash, you have to give props for such a good conveyance of emotions. I loved the found family aspect here, especially as it was really a solidification/admission of feelings that were already in existence, but which Bronwyn was able to bring out into the open with a gentle influence. I also appreciated that this book was a bit higher in steam than this author’s previous works, especially since that physical connection was also very important to these MCs connecting on a deeper level emotionally. Overall, this book tackles some pretty heavy themes and does a good job with them. I look forward to further installments in this new series.
Lady Rose Kyla Sinclair expects this visit to her great-uncle and aunt at Dunrobin to be the same as any other. That familial peace with the SutherlanLady Rose Kyla Sinclair expects this visit to her great-uncle and aunt at Dunrobin to be the same as any other. That familial peace with the Sutherlands is quickly disturbed with the arrival of Blaine Keith, seeking aid against a clan that has long bothered his clan as well as the Sutherlands and Sinclairs. Rose has a secret ally among this enemy, but she must drum up the courage to confide this in her family and develop the confidence to trust her own judgment in revealing her information tactfully.
Blane Keith is under a great deal of pressure as his clan’s de facto leader in his father’s absence. Having just come from a battle, he has no wish for another and seeks support from the Camerons, Sutherlands, and Sinclairs to prevent more bloodshed. Meeting beautiful Rose is a distraction, and his father’s demands threaten to change his course further, but it’s clear to Blaine that his feelings for Rose are the permanent kind. He just has to find a way to meet the expectations thrust upon him while also keeping the woman he’s grown to love.
This series continues to produce books that keep my attention, no mean feat lately, and make me want to keep reading. I’ve had a hard time pinning this book down in terms of tropes or labels/categories, but there’s so much going on here. Rose and Blaine have an instant connection, despite getting off a bit on the wrong foot, and I loved seeing their relationship develop. Blaine had a lot to contend with acting as laird of his clan in his father’s absence and trying to navigate that weird limbo position his role put him in. Rose had some self-confidence issues and doubts about her own worthiness to love and be loved and I found that to be really relatable. I loved how Blaine didn’t push her for more than she was able to give, but he also helped her acknowledge when her doubts were just her mind playing tricks on her. This helped her begin to overcome those issues and created a dynamic between them that I enjoyed reading. There was also enough action and suspense to keep me quickly turning pages and I can definitely say this is a book I’d recommend.
Tabetha, Dowager Viscountess Manwaring is certainly no expert in the rules of homemaking and domesticity, but when she's asked to pose as the famed exTabetha, Dowager Viscountess Manwaring is certainly no expert in the rules of homemaking and domesticity, but when she's asked to pose as the famed expert Mrs. Goode to protect the true author's identity, she agrees. When she arrives at the home Mrs. Goode is meant to redecorate a nursery for, she is flummoxed to find that the Earl of Stalbridge, the client, is her childhood friend, Kit Killigrew. Beth is pretending to be someone she's not, but she can't hide her attraction to Kit.
Kit has spent half a lifetime apart from the woman he's always loved. Now that they're reunited, he's keen to do much more than just redecorate his home.
This was a great take on second chance for me. Likely because this is a short novella to set up a new series, there is very little time spent dwelling on the past or missed time and Kit and Beth waste no time getting together and discussing their feelings. Our hero and heroine are older and not keen to spend any more time apart and I just ate it up. I also adored Beth's relationship with her stepson, Oliver, and I can't wait to see more of him. This was a fun, low angst read and I'm excited for the new series.
Since her father’s death Lady Margaret has been responsible for the care of her two younger siblings and her family’s estate while her wastrel half-brSince her father’s death Lady Margaret has been responsible for the care of her two younger siblings and her family’s estate while her wastrel half-brother, Edwin, the Earl of Bucksleigh, depletes the family coffers with his profligate lifestyle in London. When Edwin dies, Meggy is distressed to learn that she and her siblings have been left with nothing and she must share guardianship of them with a man with a notoriously rakish reputation.
Lord Nicholas Burton, Marquess of Holbrook, isn’t thrilled to be saddled with a debutante and two children, but he owes Edwin this debt of honor. He just has to find Meggy a husband to take over his role and his debt will be repaid. Unfortunately for him, Meggy isn’t at all what he thought she’d be and as he comes to know her, he begins to wonder if she could change everything he expected for his future.
This book is perfect for those who like the period-focused, detail-oriented style of Mary Balogh, especially if you prefer more steam (a feature I’m always a fan of.) I liked the setup of the wastrel brother’s not quite friend having to work with his younger sister to be guardian to the two younger siblings. I liked that this was a higher steam book, though that relationship development between these MCs would’ve been stronger for me if their intimacy hadn’t devolved so often into a fight. There was clear chemistry between Meggy and Nicky (I’m not a fan of either of these names), but she did get frustrating after a bit with her rigidity. For his part, Nick was often an idiot and deserved the vitriol Meggy threw at him. She was a bit too inclined to be a martyr and some of her inner monologues grew a bit repetitive, though I think this was a deliberate choice to show us as readers how she was trying to convince herself of Nick’s unsuitability when she no longer believed in it. Nick was definitely not that likable for much of the story, but I am inclined to give him credit for trying and his character development was very strong. He cried quite a lot, but I was glad to see him be willing to be open and discuss his feelings with Meggy, though I’d have loved it more if she’d done the same. I wish we’d seen a bit more of this sort of growth from Meggy instead of just getting her wake up as a sort of epiphany near the end. Nevertheless, I was satisfied to see Nick finally get some unconditional love; after his tragic past, he definitely deserved it and the family he and Meggy created together was quite endearing.
This story was very dramatic, and character driven in a way that will appeal to many readers. The writing is very strong and well done and this is a new author I will try again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
Lord Rowles Haywind was never envious of his brother’s role as Duke of Westmore, instead enjoying his position as a professor of 2.5 stars rounded up.
Lord Rowles Haywind was never envious of his brother’s role as Duke of Westmore, instead enjoying his position as a professor of divinity at Cambridge. With his brother’s tragic death, Rowles is left to assume the responsibilities of the dukedom as well as care for his mother, who suffers from a mental illness he strives to hide from the eyes of London’s gossips. Rowles is concerned this trait could be passed on to him or his children, but that doesn’t stop him seeking out a wife to help him face all the responsibilities he's been saddled with and when he reconnects with his best friend’s sister, Lady Joan Morgan, he believes he’s found the perfect woman.
Lady Joan seems to see right through to Rowles’ core in a way that no one else has ever done. She has longs to confide in Rowles her own secrets about her role within the home office, but she fears his rejection. Joan doesn’t want to destroy their burgeoning attachment, but she also doesn’t want to make things worse if he were to find out in some other way.
This book was very sweet, but I didn’t find it to be particularly romantic. It was very centered on grief and loss, as well as dealing with a loved one who has dementia. All of these topics hit very close to home for me personally after a year laden with loss and grief and I think that tanked my enjoyment of this story. I did find comfort with some of the Biblical references and verses mentioned in the text, but I read romance as an escape from reality and that was definitely not what this book provided for me. Those issues aside, I think it is also worth mentioning that most of the conversations between Joan and Rowles are really just erudite debates of religion, philosophy, and social issues. I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy a smart romance, because I do, but these conversations were nearly the only interactions to be found between these MCs and they almost always ended in Joan being offended and going off in a huff without explaining herself, leaving Rowles to seek her out another day to explain himself and mend things. I know some readers will adore this because he really fell for her mind, but it just was not romantic to me.
Also, as a side note: Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy we didn’t have to deal with any hesitation to marry and have children on Rowles’ part, however, I am also surprised that we didn’t have this because of how frequently he mentioned his fear of ending up like his mother, and also because of the blurb description. Another oddity of this book.
With the romance already suffering in this one, it was further hindered by Joan’s brother and his disapproval of her attachment to Rowles. He went so far as to ask Rowles to distance himself from her, which Rowles thankfully couldn’t bring himself to do because he somehow already loved her, and of course later on he supported their love and could think of no better match for Joan. I was just left super confused as to why he disapproved in the first place, and this was never explained. The feeble concerns he did have were about Joan’s past and her role within the home office and it seems to me that those factors would’ve made Rowles a much better candidate for her marriage than some random lord since he was at least a friend to the brother. The two men also have a random fist fight after Rowles has a painful experience with his mother and is having a bad day and seeking the comfort of his friend. They definitely didn’t seem especially friendly, and I could never really make heads or tails of their dynamic. It just made absolutely zero sense to me and yet it was a plot point for a good third of the book for some reason. Unrelated but also annoying for me was the fact that Joan referred to her brother, her only remaining family in the world, by their shared surname. It just felt off to me and I found it irritating for some reason.
There is an attempt to add some intrigue with relation to an issue Joan and her brother have been working on for the home office, but that peters out to nothing very quickly and it just becomes an odd side trip, and her secret was not a big deal at all. This whole book was a bit like that, with a lot of different plot threads going on, and yet at the same time I found the story to be pretty slow and boring. I’m not sure how that happened, and I’m sure other readers will find a lot to love about this story, but it was too sweet and yet also too sad and grief-focused to be a hit for me at this point in my life.
Niki (mustreadalltheromance)
>
Books:
arc
(942)
