This is the 3rd book I’ve read in this standalone series from this author and they’re so hit and miss for me, this one definitely being a miss and proThis is the 3rd book I’ve read in this standalone series from this author and they’re so hit and miss for me, this one definitely being a miss and probably my least fav so far.
This is a time travel historical romance where the heroine falls back in time from 1993 to 1299. When she arrives in the castle of the hero, a place she’s familiar with and has read some history about him recently, she shows up in his bed with him. He immediately thinks she’s working with someone who tried to kill him and they don’t get off to a great start when she starts talking about being from the future.
I just didn’t care about the characters in this one, it felt too long, and I really only wanted the story behind the initials to happen. lol ...more
I’ve been loving reading LaVyrle Spencer historical romances lately and this was the latest one recommended to me! This delivered on exactly what peopI’ve been loving reading LaVyrle Spencer historical romances lately and this was the latest one recommended to me! This delivered on exactly what people said it was, messy and angsty!
Set in 1830s on Nantucket Island, Laura finds herself smack dab in the center of a love triangle. Her childhood sweetheart-turned husband Rye perished at sea 5 years ago (or so she was told), but now Rye shows back up and finds Laura married to his best friend Dan… Rye, Laura, and Dan all grew up as childhood best friends on the island. Rye and Laura were teen sweethearts before they married, Dan always pined after Laura and now they’ve been married longer than she and Rye were before he disappeared.
This was definitely messy and I lowkey kept thinking just maybe it would end in a MFM or MMF but it definitely does not! lol There is just something about this author’s writing that really works for me. Her stories are definitely slower, slice of life, and very detailed with the character’s lives (like the whaling), but I don’t know her books work and keep me entertained. The audiobook is on hoopla!...more
I love Judith McNaught books and have been on a roll of binging her books lately. I had really high hopes for this one after hearing so many people saI love Judith McNaught books and have been on a roll of binging her books lately. I had really high hopes for this one after hearing so many people say it’s their favorite, but something about this couple/setup wasn’t my absolute fav. I still had a good time at parts but I wasn’t as hooked like I have been for Whitney My Love, Once and Always, and Until You.
This is a regency historical romance, it was actually JM’s first book with an epilogue which is a fun little tidbit. In this we follow Alexandra and Jordan. He’s a Duke and an absolute rake (complete with lots of mistresses), she’s a country girl raised by her mother and grandfather who just knows “something wonderful” is about to happen to her life. This one starts off strong and then picks up again towards the second half with the classic McNaught misunderstanding/miscommunication. It starts off with Alexandra on her way home, she comes across Jordan and his coachman being held at gun-point and rescues them (while wearing knight’s armor funnily enough). They end up getting married, a bit of an inconvenience of marriage for him while she’s smitten, and then he disappears! Time passes, like a year or so, where she’s living with his family (a cousin and grandmother), and I honestly thought the book was going in a different direction for a bit (which I would not have been mad at lol). But then Jordan shows back up at the wrong/right time (love the dramatics of it all) and it goes from there! With him seeing how much she’s changed and grown in his time away and of course misunderstandings left and right.
I wasn’t super impressed with the hero in this one and the heroine was a tad more on the naive silly side of things than I usually find JM heroines, so I wasn’t super into them or rooting for them for a while. But in the end it was fun and maybe it just didn’t hit for me right now? Overall solid and I love her writing always!...more
Once and Always is the first book in Judith McNaught’s Sequels series. After loving her Westmoreland books I had to continue on and to no one’s surpriOnce and Always is the first book in Judith McNaught’s Sequels series. After loving her Westmoreland books I had to continue on and to no one’s surprise I’m still utterly obsessed with her books and writing. I love the way her stories are, the writing, the characters. Everything works for me so well. I know her books are super hit and miss for people and while I wouldn’t recommend her books to everyone, they really reallllly work for me!
Once and Always is Judith McNaught’s second regency romance (following Whitney, My Love) and in this one we follow Victoria Seaton, a young American whose parents pass away and she gets shipped off to England to meet Jason Fielding, who wants nothing to do with her. Jason has a darker backstory which we see revealed throughout the book, as McNaught wanted to show a different side of life among nobility with his character than we got with Clayton’s character in WML. Victoria is a delight of a character, everyone (and animals too) love her, the household staff adore her (love how they sweetly meddle too), she makes friends quickly, learns about the peerage, etc. She comes to live with Charles Fielding, Duke of Atherton, and Jason Fielding, and Charles is convinced Victoria and Jason should marry…he even goes as far as to announce their betrothal in the paper without bothering for it to be true or even telling them.
I know McNaught’s characters don’t work for everyone but I really love how complex she makes her characters. She does misunderstands and miscommunication so well, there is so much grey area with her characters and everything is not so black-and-white/right and wrong. These characters are prideful, to their own detriment often. They both came into this relationship of convenience with baggage (soo much trauma for his past) and misconceptions. Yes there’s a specific scene some might take offense to (honestly I’ve read this setup in so many books over the years and it’s still often done in romances today so it was not an end-all scene for me). I judge a scene like that not on the act that happens but on how the character responds after and the way the hero in reacted to it really works for me. There is soo much behind the scenes that lead to that wedding night scene and I think it’s worth looking at how they got there. A miscommunication of information, a few times they’re talking about different things but he’s assuming they’re on the same page, she gets horrible advice about her wedding night from society women, he overhears a portion of a conversation with her sister and assumes the worst, he’s constantly thinking she’s mourning her young love, she’s feeling ill (because she drank for some of the first time celebrating but he doesn’t know that), he senses her feeling a certain way, just so many things lead to that moment, so then it happens…BUT immediately once he realizes/recognizes how wrong he was, he feels remorse, regret, self-loathing and immediately returns to her to attempt apologizing. Sure things don’t go easy and simple and they get into more misunderstandings and arguments, but life is messy and I’d rather read characters who grow than perfect ones from the get-go.
I loved everything about this book, meddling Charles, Wolf, marriage alliances, Wakefield Park and the staff, poor sweet Andrew who deserves his own HEA, Tory learning about the peerage and making friends, her great grandmother coming around. Her books just work for me so well and I could honestly wax on and on about them for ages and get into deep thoughts about how well her characters work and how much I connect to her writing, but I’ll stop here since I’d rather go read more McNaught!...more
I recently read Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer and loved that book so much that I wanted to read more from her backlist. So my library had the audioI recently read Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer and loved that book so much that I wanted to read more from her backlist. So my library had the audio for Years too and I jumped in! This is a historical romance set in 1917 between a new-to-town school teacher and a gruff North Dakota wheat farmer.
Linnea is 18-years old and excited to begin her first teaching position in North Dakota. She gets picked up at the train station by Teddy who is expecting a male teacher. Teddy’s family has always housed the teachers in town and to say they get off on the wrong foot would be an understatement. He is not a fan, thinks she’s too young, doesn’t want a young woman living in his home, and is just all together flabbergasted that she isn’t the male teacher he thought he was picking up. Teddy shares a home with his mother and his teenage son and wheat farming is his life.
Honestly this book was giving Sarah, Plain and Tall vibes and I was not mad about it. He’s a gruff farmer and sees himself as so much older than her (he’s 16 years older and does have a son a year younger than her). But there is some chemistry brewing as well. This book felt very long, the audio was 20 hours and at times you really felt it but then other times it made sense why it was so long. Very slice of life style of storytelling but it was kinda needed with these two, the slow burn is definitely slow, but you get a lot of their life, the town, the side characters happenings, the weather/seasons as well. I liked seeing him come around and open up to her, she teaches him how to read, we have WWI happening, influenza, their romance, etc. I still loved Morning Glory so much more, but this one was solid as well. I wouldn’t say this book is for every reader, but I enjoyed it.
Omg this book was sooo good! I’ve been recommended Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer for a while and I’m so glad I finally got to it. Talk about an epiOmg this book was sooo good! I’ve been recommended Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer for a while and I’m so glad I finally got to it. Talk about an epic, sweeping, all-encompassing, tender, romantic story. The premise for this one is it’s 1941 and a widowed single mom puts an ad in the newspaper for a husband.
The story opens up in 1917, a young girl arrives home to her parents with her baby Eleanor. Her parents see her as a disgrace and lock her up in the house, close the shades on the house, and the new mother was never seen leaving the house again and the shades never lifted. Then we cut to August 1941, where Will Parker is new in town and working at the saw mill. He’s an ex-convict who is just trying to make a living but is treated badly because of his past. He’s had to steal any food or clothes he can find along the way just to survive. Will goes to the local diner and is reading the newspaper when he sees an advertisement of a woman looking for a husband, someone to help share the workload of her home and land. Will is intrigued and that is how he meets Eleanor, a young widow with two little boys and a baby on the way.
I loved this book so much! Will is an amazing hero and Eleanor is so caring and strong. They really were such great partners and become fast friends who share the work and chores of every day life. They eventually get married (as their initial agreement was for), and then it was fun seeing them both tiptoe/be cautious about making a move as they were unsure how the other felt and both didn’t feel worthy because of their pasts (he was left on the steps of an orphanage when he was little and also he served time in prison for his crime, her with her upbringing and then being pregnant with another man’s baby). But omg is it so great when they finally do get on the same page. As soon as that settles in though, Pearl Harbor and WWII happens with Will being drafted and sent off to war.
This book was just such a ride and I loved it, these old school romances are always just so epic and cinematic feeling. So many other moments I loved, including his friendship with Ms. Beasley the librarian (some truly sweet moments) and his love for the library in general. He goes there often for any and every thing he could need/want to know more of, from beekeeping to childbirth. I loved the writing in here, the storytelling jumps between both of their minds within a passage (ex: her inner thoughts of thinking she’s unworthy, his inner thoughts of thinking thinking he’s unworthy, them both wanting to kiss the other). There is just something about characters feeling unworthy of love (and obviously being proven wrong) that works for me every single time. If like me, you’ve read and loved Sweet Lullaby by Lorraine Heath, this book has similar vibes.
"Nobody ever loved you before?" She tenderly cupped his cheek. "Well, I do."
CW: confinement, abuse, murder, birth, harassment, war, PTSD...more
3.5 stars! Devil’s Desire is the first book released from Laurie McBain, first published in 1975 (so it’s 50 years old when I read it). Laurie McBain 3.5 stars! Devil’s Desire is the first book released from Laurie McBain, first published in 1975 (so it’s 50 years old when I read it). Laurie McBain is often referred to as one of the “great grandmothers”/pioneers of historical romance, specifically in the “newer romance style” a la Kathleen Woodiwiss. I recently read Moonstruck Madness by her and absolutely loved it so I wanted to read more of her books. She actually only published 7 romances after retiring in 1985 after just a decade of writing and her two books Devil’s Desire and Moonstruck Madness selling over one million copies each.
So I absolutely loved Moonstruck Madness and while this book didn’t live up to that same level for me, it still kept my attention and was entertaining. As with many old school historical romances, the adventure and drama is over the top and you have a handful of tropes tossed in, but I expect that. This book has light Cinderella vibes. Lady Elysia had a wonderful childhood and her life was idyllic, until her parents deaths and her older brother lost at sea. After everything in her home is sold, including her beloved horse Ariel, Elysia is forced to live with an awful aunt who treats her horribly. Her aunt arranges a marriage for Elysiq to someone awful so she ends up running away and happening across the hero Alex. They’re caught in a bit of a compromising situation so it leads to a marriage between them instead.
Alex is the type of hero who is convinced marriage is not for him, he’s got issues with women and doesn’t know what to do with a wife (besides the obvious lol). He’s used to doing what he wants and his life is definitely thrown for a loop with spirited Elysia. The story goes from there and is filled with lots of drama, side characters who thought they’d have their say on the hero and heroine’s individual futures, an ex, smugglers, deceit, betrayal, misunderstandings, family secrets, and more! Set in Cornwall amongst the glorious cliffs and moody vibes. The ebook for this is on Kindle Unlimited....more
4.5 stars! His Stolen Bride (originally pub’d as Falcon on the Wind in 1991) was so good! This is a medieval historical romance and has captor x capti4.5 stars! His Stolen Bride (originally pub’d as Falcon on the Wind in 1991) was so good! This is a medieval historical romance and has captor x captive vibes because the hero abducts the heroine on her wedding day. This was actually my 2nd read from this author and I had so much fun with this one more than the previous book I read.
You can find His Stolen Bride on KU and that is the version I read. This is directly from the author’s website: Originally published under the title Falcon on the Wind. This extensively revised Author’s Preferred Edition ebook includes new scenes never before published.
This is a medieval and takes places in 1293/1294, we start off in Scotland, go to France, and eventually come back to Scotland. I was hooked from the story right from the start! We follow Sir Darach of Glenshiel, a Scottish hero who desperately wants to save his homeland and needs the French king’s support against England so he goes to France and abducts the heroine Laurien who is about to marry the king’s cousin. He just wants to keep her for a couple weeks and ransom her for the support he needs for his country. We see early on that Laurien is not wanting to marry her betrothed, she was in an abbey in France for over a decade before her stepfather brought her out and told her she’s due to marry the king’s cousin. A man who is more than twice her age, has been married twice before (his last wife died just 3 months prior after a suspicious fall), is known to have violent mood swings, and regularly imports/uses opium poppy. She’s definitely not looking forward to marrying that man to say the least and tells Darach she has zero plans to return after he abducts her. Things get complicated from there and I loved seeing the reasons behind Darach’s motivations, how family plays a role in his story, and seeing Laurien’s brother and some revelations as well.
I’m just in the mood for these old school historical romances right now and this one absolutely delivered on what I loved. Action and adventure right from the start, the drama, it was super fun, had really sweet/romantic moments, and I just loved each of the character’s backstory and family history!...more
Miracles is a novella part of the Westmoreland series and it is Nicki DuVille’s story (finally). Nicki is a character that featured heavily in the preMiracles is a novella part of the Westmoreland series and it is Nicki DuVille’s story (finally). Nicki is a character that featured heavily in the previous two books in the series, in Whitney, My Love and Until You. I still think his character was so much better in both of those books and wish he would have gotten a full length story but it is what it is with this novella.
Julianna Skeffington is a young debutante, she’s 18 and her mother is determined to find her a good match (heavy on the determined part). If you’ve read Until You then you saw the Skeffington family in that one, Sheridan (the heroine of Until You) was even the companion for Julianna towards the end of that book. This book starts off at a masquerade ball, Julianna is determined to get out of a situation her mother is aiming for and she runs into Nicki asking for his help in ruining her. As with McNaught books, there is a miscommunication/he thinks she’s something/someone she’s not, and it eventually leads to them needing a marriage to save her reputation from ruin. He’s angry for feeling duped into it (the miscommunication bit again), leaves he in a cottage directly following their wedding and doesn’t see her for months, that is until his ailing mother wants to see them happily together, and it goes from there.
For what this short story is, it’s fine, just nothing spectacular. Which is sad because Nicki’s character was so fantastic in WML and UY. This novella was first published in A Holiday of Love, a historical romance anthology, and then later re-pub’d on its own separately. I think McNaught’s writing does better in full length stories and Nicki and Julianna’s relationship would have been better with more page count (this novella is less than 80 pages)....more
Judith McNaught’s books just really really work for me and I loved Until You, Sheridan and Stephen’s story. This one is filled with sassy banter, a boJudith McNaught’s books just really really work for me and I loved Until You, Sheridan and Stephen’s story. This one is filled with sassy banter, a bonkers (in a delightful way) amnesia plot, fun side characters getting fully involved in the couple’s relationship, a smitten hero, fiery heroine, drama, declarations, and a swoony romance. After reading and loving Whitney, My Love I had to continue on to Stephen Westmoreland’s story (Clayton’s brother from WML).
The story kicks off following Stephen Westmoreland, Earl of Langford. On his way home from visiting his mistress, a drunken baron runs out in front of Stephen’s carriage and is killed. Stephen wants to explain/apologize to any living relations but is told the man had no one, but he did have an American heiress fiancée who is onboard a ship arriving the next day from America. Stephen ensures he’s at the port the next day to greet her but then wrongly assumes Sheridan, the companion of the baron’s fiancée, is the woman he needs to apologize to. Before she can correct him of who she actually is and inform him that her mistress (the women he’s actually looking for) ran off and eloped at the last port, Sheridan is struck in the head and wakes up with amnesia! Not remembering who she is, how/why she’s in England, and a huge miscommunication leads Stephen to bringing Sheridan back to his home and saying they’re engaged (because he’s thinking she’s the late baron’s fiancée in even more of a hardship with amnesia now too).
This was just so fun from the start. I really love the way Judith McNaught writes her books and characters. The banter and chats and care all the characters have just make them feel like fully fleshed out characters. Stephen is just trying to do the right thing but then ends up easily falling for Sheridan himself. I loved Sheridan, she is someone who has dreamed of her own romance and read romance books. I loved how much Whitney, Clayton, and even Nicki from the previous book made appearances and were involved in Stephen & Sheridan’s relationship. Even the household staff and side characters (Hodgkin the baron’s aging butler) add to the overall story.
Stephen and Sheridan have an interesting dynamic because of the setup of the amnesia plot, so of course they’re going to have miscommunication and complexities because of that but their whole relationship is built on a miscommunication so it makes sense for their story. But I loved some of his declarations for her in the end and the way they come back together, great callback moments to Whitney & Clayton’s story and just the Westmoreland romances in general. Such fun emotions! I could definitely see Judith’s historicals being adapted into shows/movies because the whole setting, story, and cast of characters come alive. I’m a Judith stan and obsessed. Can’t wait to go read Miracles now, the novella of Nicki’s story finally!...more
4.5 stars! Moonstruck Madness is an old school historical romance (published in 1977) that had been on my TBR for a few years.
The story grabbed my at4.5 stars! Moonstruck Madness is an old school historical romance (published in 1977) that had been on my TBR for a few years.
The story grabbed my attention right from the start! It opens in 1746 at Culloden Moor. Sabrina is watching her clan entering the battlefield of Culloden, her grandfather proudly leading his clan through the call of arms and then the whole clan being shot down immediately. Sabrina ends up fleeing to escape Scotland with her Aunt Margaret and siblings (her older sister Mary, brother Richard). The story then cuts to 5 years later, it’s 1751 in England and we catch up to Sabrina where she’s now a highwaywoman!
This is a shorter read (less than 400 pages) for how much is actually packed into this read! I love how much adventure, high stakes, and drama is packed into old school historical romances. I loved Sabrina, a Scottish noblewoman turned highwaywoman who is determined to try and provide for her family. Her relationship with her family was sweet to see, her sister Mary actually has visions of the future (her loved one’s futures specifically) and their brother Richard has vision problems so they take him to get glasses. The hero is Lucien, Duke of Camareigh. He has a scarred face, his grandmother is trying to arrange a betrothal for him, so when his inheritance is at stake, he sets up a trap for the highwaywoman (who he assumes is a man at first).
Lucien and Sabrina have an immediate connection. He is very taken with her and I loved their banter and her sass. This book was a huge deal at the time it was originally pub’d (1977) because of how very consensual their relationship is on page. They do spend the night together and we get some on-page encounters that are briefly described/hinted at. While I really loved the first half of the book, the second half did start to get a little too congested with plot (it needed a little bit more space/time to breathe). I liked Lucien’s relationship with his duchess grandmother, she pushes him in a sassy, lovingly way and has some fun interactions towards the end with Sabrina too. All in all, I’m so glad I finally got to this one! I’d definitely check out more from this author. I’ll end this review with some sassy banter between Lucien and Sabrina:
“Defy me?” Lucien asked incredulously, giving Sabrina a sardonic glance. “She wouldn’t think of doing such a thing, would you, Sabrina, my love?”
“Think of defying you, Lucien,” she said with a sweet smile. “Why, I’ve never given it a thought—I just do it.”...more
It’s been a long time since I’ve been absolutely obsessed with a book and this book was perfection to me! Whitney, My Love is definitely a new favoritIt’s been a long time since I’ve been absolutely obsessed with a book and this book was perfection to me! Whitney, My Love is definitely a new favorite historical romance of all time for me and I totally get the hype! Now I want to go read all the Judith McNaught historical romances.
I read both versions of this book, read the edited post-1999 ebook edition first (it has verbiage and scenes changed around two incidents, most of the changes in chapter 12 and then chapter 24 the way it’s discussed/talked about). This new edited version also has a bunch of new chapters at the end of the book that I loved! It really added more to their relationship, his brother’s story (and romance), his mother, and includes a really sweet/sentimental passage that ties this book back to A Kingdom of Dreams (the couple of that book is WML hero’s ancestors). Highly recommend you go read the newer ebook version for those extra chapters. I legit cried when I read about the treasure chest and letters (“I only wish that I could know your faces.” ...more
Road Trip with a Rogue is the third book in Kate Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels series, following a friend group of private investigators (the heroineRoad Trip with a Rogue is the third book in Kate Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels series, following a friend group of private investigators (the heroines of the other books in the series). Daisy is the pants-wearing, blade-wielder of the group and headed to Gretna Green for their latest case of stopping an 18-year old heiress from marriage. She ends up traveling with Lucien, a Duke who has his own reasons for following the couple who is eloping…
I had so much fun reading this one. I love Kate Bateman historicals and this was a fun one. All the road trip goodness and stopping at inns, sharing a room/bed/etc. The forced proximity was great and they have known one another for a while cause he’s friends with her brother and they had an almost moment years ago. This was good and fun. Not one of my all time favs by the author, but such a solid new historical romance release that I’d definitely recommend at the same time.
I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own....more
This one was not it. I had only heard great things for it before going in and it was definitely not my cup of tea. I love historical romances, I love This one was not it. I had only heard great things for it before going in and it was definitely not my cup of tea. I love historical romances, I love old school historical romances, but something (well specific things) about this hero and this couple just did not work for me overall. This is basically a My Fair Lady type of retelling, but in reverse with the heroine being the one to “fix the speech” of the rat catcher hero (literally his job) and turn him into a gentleman within six weeks.
The hero made everything so uncomfortable. The dubcon and him harping on the fact that she had a good time and liked it, while she literally cries, was just so icky. And it just goes from there. I was never convinced this girl liked him, or the things he decides to do with her. A friend mentioned this felt like he gaslit the heroine into thinking it was a good time and that’s exactly how this book felt. I’ve read dark and bully and other old school bodice rippers, but something about the way this hero was specifically written just did not work. Oh, and the audiobook was probably not the way to go to listen to this one. All in all, a dud, and from what I read here plus heard about other books from this author I think she is just not for me and I’m okay with that. ...more
Eliza and the Duke is the 2nd book in The Doves of New York series, a historical romance series from Harper St. George. This series overall has been oEliza and the Duke is the 2nd book in The Doves of New York series, a historical romance series from Harper St. George. This series overall has been okay, but not a favorite for me from this author.
Eliza is an American heiress. We met her and her sisters in the first book of the series. Basically their mother was a rich man’s mistress and the daughters grew up with a lot of scandal around them. But then their paternal grandmother passed away and felt bad for the snub on them so she left the girls are inheritances…with the caveat that they must marry “suitable, titled men”. So off to London they went to find men. Eliza is in an arranged betrothal and wants one last adventure before she’s set to wed. She meets Simon, a prize fighter known as “the Duke”, and immediately knows he’s the man for the job and it kind of goes from there!
I have always enjoyed this author’s historical romances but something about this one just didn’t hit quite the same. The couple and characters were fine, but I wasn’t super invested with their story. It felt a bit underwhelming overall and definitely not a favorite for me from this author. The cover on the other hand is such a stunner, love the monochromatic jewel tones this author’s covers seem to use a lot. I also did like that the hero is a commoner and seeing him be tasked with the family’s security made for some fun forced proximity.
I received an ARC and ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own....more
This book was so ugh. I usually have so much fun with Amanda Quick historical romances, but this one was not it sadly. The hero was the worst in his dThis book was so ugh. I usually have so much fun with Amanda Quick historical romances, but this one was not it sadly. The hero was the worst in his determination to get her no matter what, which can be endearing in other books but that was not the way it went here. and I was just so bored with the plot and the couple. The amount of times the heroine brings up her family tree was so annoying (that she’s from the “reckless” Northumberland Ballingers vs the Hampshire Ballingers). The side characters were the only fun part really.
This book honestly didn’t even have the same voice or even feel like it was written by AQ. Ravished and Dangerous are my favs from her! ...more
Duke of Pryde is book 3 in the Seven Dukes of Sin series by Mariah Stone, this is a spin on the seven deadly sins so the heroes are the dukes of (RathDuke of Pryde is book 3 in the Seven Dukes of Sin series by Mariah Stone, this is a spin on the seven deadly sins so the heroes are the dukes of (Rath, Pryde, Luhst, etc). This is a marriage of convenience, historical romance!
Modesty is a budding archaeologist and Constantine is a Duke who wants to keep his pristine reputation. But Modesty, the vicar’s daughter, shakes things up for him when she shows up on his doorstep with a baby she’s the guardian of saying the baby is his (with another woman). Constantine ends up offering up a marriage of convenience quickly to keep his reputation from being tarnished (for his own reasons).
So I like a class difference romance and this definitely has that. The whole series being a spin on the seven deadly sins makes for some funny/punny character names. I liked the mentions of Modesty (and the other heroines of the series) having scientific pursuits/passions. But I wasn’t super in love with this one. Early on into their marriage, he sends the baby away in the night and upsets her (because he doesn’t want his reputation rocked in any way), and he just never really got on my good side. ...more
The Duke and Lady Scandal is the first book in a new historical romance series, Princes of London, by Christy Carlyle. I think this might be the firstThe Duke and Lady Scandal is the first book in a new historical romance series, Princes of London, by Christy Carlyle. I think this might be the first book I’ve read from this author? But I’ve had some others from her on my shelf for a while to get to.
This is a historical romance set in Victorian London and it’s described as being inspired by National Treasure! We have a bluestocking from a family of treasure hunters and detective from the Scotland Yard who butt heads while attempting to thwart a plot to steal the Crown Jewels!
Alexandra Prince is from a family of adventurers who also own an antiquity shop, Detective Inspector Benedict Drake works at Scotland Yard and takes his work very seriously. They have to work together and fall along the way. This one was okay for me. The cover is stunning firstly and the premise was fun! I also like historicals set outside regency ballrooms and nobility, so this gives all of that. All in all, I just wasn’t super in love with the characters enough for the story. I’d probably still check out more from this author though, I have some of their backlist historicals to try one day....more
I heard this series gets better, but I don’t know if I’m in it for the long haul anymore since the first 2 books have been both 3 stars for me. I was I heard this series gets better, but I don’t know if I’m in it for the long haul anymore since the first 2 books have been both 3 stars for me. I was in the mood for a medieval, highlander historical and this series has all the audios on hoopla. But they’re just fine and I have other authors to try sooo.
Braden has never met a woman he doesn’t like, we see in the beginning of the story he’s very much a charismatic playboy. He returns back home to see his brothers Lachlan and Sin and he sees again Maggie, someone he’s known since childhood. This does have a childhood friends to lovers vibe to it, which I do enjoy so I think I liked this one more than book 1 because of that. Maggie thinks she’s just another conquest for him and wondering why he’s only interested in her now after knowing one another their whole lives. Lots of family dynamics and a setup for his brother Sin, who has the next book in the series. I might try at least that one to see how I feel but if it’s another 3 star, then I’m out. ...more
Christi (christireadsalot)
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Books:
historical-romance
(636)
