Tag Archives: historical romance

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Historical Romance Review: The Duchess Takes a Husband

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleypartner #berkley

The Duchess Takes a Husband

By Harper St. George

🎧 Narrated by: Justine Eyre 

Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses, Book 4 

Book 46 of 2024

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  series info .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

The Gilded Age Heiresses is a series of interconnected standalones. While you can read them individually, you do meet the characters across the different books, so I enjoyed reading them in order. 

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  review  .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

Readers may want to check the content warnings before diving into this one. Camille is the Dowager of Hereford, and her first marriage was truly awful. I loved watching her heal and become more empowered during the course of this book. Jacob was so patient and kind and they were a perfect match! 

🎧 I really enjoyed this on audiobook. Justine Eyre did an excellent job with all the accents and bringing all of the characters to life. 

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book synopsis  .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

A scandalous arrangement between a London rogue and an American duchess leads to lavish stakes.

Despite her illustrious title, Camille, Duchess of Hereford, remains what she has always been—a pariah. Though her title means she’s technically accepted by London Society, the rebellious widow with her burgeoning interest in the suffrage movement and her American ways isn’t exactly high on every hostess’s guest list. But Camille starts to wonder if being an outcast is not without its perks when the tantalizing answer to her secret fear appears in the shape of Jacob Thorne, the illegitimate son of an earl and co-owner of London’s infamous Montague Club.

Jacob is used to making deals with his club members—he’s just not accustomed to them being beautiful women. Nor have the terms ever been so sweetly seductive as Camille’s shocking proposition. To finally buy his own club and gain the crucial backing of investors, Camille offers Jacob the respectability of a fake engagement with a duchess. In return, the tempting widow has one condition: she wants Jacob to show her if it’s possible for her to experience pleasure in bed.

The lure of such a bargain proves too delicious to resist, drawing the enterprising rogue and the wallflower duchess into a scandalous game and an even more dangerous gamble of the heart.

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Historical Romance Review: Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man

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Thank you to Forever Publishing & Hachette Audio for my review copies! 

Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man
By Violet Marsh 
🎧 Narrated by: Katy Soby
Book 44 of 2024

I am deep into my historical romance era, and have been loving these historical romances with a touch of mystery!

Lady Charlotte is sick of her parent’s plans for her life, especially when they announce her imminent engagement to the Viscount Hawley, who has already been widowed twice under mysterious circumstances. In order to get out from under her parent’s thumb, she decides to go into business with her cousins. Together, they expand the cousins’ coffee house to allow women and men to mix. 

I absolutely loved the salons and coffee houses, and this culture of conversations! It added some gravity to a story that was often over the top and humorous. The cousins have a pet parrot, of course, since they are descended from pirates. 

Dr. Matthew Talbot, best friend of Lady Charlotte’s twin brother and younger brother to Viscount Hawley, is the love interest and I absolutely adored him. He is stern and spends most of his time traveling and studying nature and medicine. 

I felt like the plot moved fast and there was a lot going on, and I absolutely could not put it down. I love when the lovers have something big to work on, that gives them something to do while they get to know each other. The animals provided some levity, making it feel like a cozier romance/mystery than it otherwise could have. 

I really enjoyed this one and would love to see this turned into a series! 

🎧 Narrator Katy Soby does an excellent job bringing these characters to life, and I definitely recommend the audiobook! 

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book synopsis  .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

Family secrets, a brother’s best friend’s romance, and scandalous mystery combine in this delightfully witty historical rom-com.

Lady Charlotte Lovett should have never run away upon discovering her betrothal. But when one has been promised to a man who, rumor has it, killed his previous two wives, one does what one must. The only thing that can get her out of this engagement is proving that Viscount Hawley is as sinister as she thinks he is. And the person who would know best is his very own brother.

In many ways, Dr. Matthew Talbot is the exact opposite of his sibling—scholarly, shy, and shunned by society. But like his brother, he has secrets, and he doesn’t need Charlotte exposing them in her quest to take down the viscount. It only seems prudent to help her while keeping her from poking her nose in all the wrong places. But as they put their hearts at risk to grow closer to each other, they are also getting closer to a dangerous confrontation with Hawley.

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Historical Romance Review: The Lady Tempts an Heir

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Lady Tempts an Heir
By  Harper St. George
🎧 Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses, Book 3 
Book 39 of 2024

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  series info   .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

Harper St. George’s The Heiress Gets a Duke, the first book in this series, was one of the first historical romances that I read – way before my Bridgerton era of reading them every week. I picked it up from BOTM because of the gorgeous cover, and read it cover to cover on a lazy Sunday. 

These are interconnected, so I would start at the beginning, but you certainly don’t have to. Perfect for fans of:

💖 feminist historical romance
💖 fairly short, spicy reads

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book review   .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

Lady Helena March is a widow looking for the support of the ton for her project: The London Home for Young Women. She hopes to help women who have need support – especially those trying to raise children without a husband or family support. Her love interest, the wealthy American Maxwell Crenshaw, is also concerned with the plight of the poor and working class. They decide that it would be in their best interest for their businesses and place in society if they fake an engagement. 

I loved the fake engagement and watching it blossom into more, but my favorite part was with Helena’s backstory and reason for not wanting to remarry. During her first marriage, she found out that she was unable to have children, and it is a major theme of the book that she does not believe anyone would want to marry her for that reason. I thought the author approached this topic with empathy, while also digging into the impacts of infertility on a marriage, and how that trauma would affect future relationships. 

🎧 The audiobook is very well done, I loved the choices Justine Eyre made for all the characters.

QotD: This series has the most gorgeous jewel-toned dresses on each cover. What colors or patterns do you like to wear? (Pastels? Bold colors? Neutrals? Prints? Graphics?)

I tend to like neutrals and pastels!

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book synopsis   .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

A fake engagement brings together a lady with bold and daring dreams, and the heir whose heart she captured—perfect for fans of Bridgerton!

Tall, dark, and brooding—to say that American Maxwell Crenshaw stood out in the glittering ballrooms of London, is an understatement. He vowed never to set foot in England again, but when a summons from his father, along with an ultimatum to secure his legacy, has him crossing the Atlantic for the last time, reuniting him with the delectable Lady Helena March, he can’t deny the temptation she presents. Or the ideas she inspires…

Lady Helena March is flirting with scandal. Instead of spending her time at teas and balls in search of another husband, as is expected of a young widow, Helena pours her energy into The London Home for Young Women. But Society gives no quarter to unmarried radicals who associate with illegitimate children and fallen women, and Helena’s funding is almost run out. So when the sinfully seductive Crenshaw heir suggests a fake engagement to save them both—him from an unwanted marriage and her from scorn and financial ruin—Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse the sexy American.

As their arrangement of convenience melts oh so deliciously into nights of passion, their deception starts to become real. But if Max knew the true reason Helena can never remarry, he wouldn’t look at her with such heat in his eyes. Or might the Crenshaw heir be willing to do whatever it takes to win the one woman he’s never been able to forget…

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Historical Romance Review: To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

To Catch a Raven
By Beverly Jenkins
🎧 Narrated by: Kim Staunton 
Women Who Dare, Book 3 
Book 36 of 2024

*series info*

Women Who Dare is a standalone series. If you are like me and have the compulsive need to read books in order even if it doesn’t matter, this time it REALLY doesn’t matter. However, the Le Veq family comes into play, especially in book 1, so you could start with that series. I’m doing the opposite and reading that series next because they seem AMAZING, and are also featured a little in this book. 

*book review* 

To Catch a Raven stars Raven Moreaux, who comes from a family of grifters, and Braxton Steel, who has never broken a rule much less a law in his life. But Brax’s father has a less law abiding past – he was once heavily involved with Raven’s family’s “business.” When the past comes knocking at their families’ doors, Raven and Brax have to go undercover – as husband and wife – to steal back the Declaration of Independence from a former Confederate official.

I historically have not been a huge fan of heist novel situations, I can’t keep all the plotting straight and then when they finally actually go get the thing I often feel like I can’t keep up with all of the moving parts. But unlike a traditional heist, we spend at least 50% of the book with Raven and Brax hanging out in the house looking for the Declaration of Independence while also falling in love, so I really enjoyed it! The whole subplot surrounding the woman they worked for and her husband was wild. 

For an opposites attract, forced proximity situation, I always like that tension that builds before they finally get together…but I didn’t feel like that tension really existed before they got together. But Brax seemed to fall hard and fast, and that’s always fun too. Who needs a slow burn anyway? 

I also love the second chance romance between Raven and Brax’s parents that was in the background. So cute! 

Overall, I recommend the whole series if you like strong, independent women and men who fall head over heels for them! 

🎧 Kim Staunton’s narration really grew on me by this book, and I feel like she perfectly crafted the voices for Raven, Brax, and the rest of the cast. I would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by her! 

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Debut Review: Never Blow a Kiss

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you Forever Publishing for my review copy! 

Never Blow a Kiss
By Lindsay Lovise
Series: Secret Society of Governess Spies, Book 1 
Book 34 of 2024

This book was PERFECTION. 

Emily Leverton is a governess with a murky background. She grew up impoverished, but managed to trick her way into the ‘ton as a governess for a wealthy family. She is quickly recruited by a mystery woman known to her as “The Dove” to be part of a group of governesses that also spy on the ‘ton. 

To be honest – the title and premise seemed a little far-fetched and cheesy. To me, the meet cute where Emily blows a kiss to her love interest was the only cheesy moment. The rest was a wild ride. 

I read a lot of historical romance, so it was really fun to have the added mystery element. I have read a few books lately that tried to blend historical romance and mystery, and one element always overwhelmed the other. Either the romance was there, but the mystery was lost, or the mystery was there but the romance fell flat. Never Blow a Kiss felt very much like the best of both worlds to me. 

I loved that both of the lovers were aware of the mystery and were working in different ways at times and together at other times to solve the case. 

Fans of short chapters rejoice! I loved having 4-8 page chapters, it made the book fly by for me – especially since I usually don’t enjoy reading with my eyes, I really need a book that holds my attention. 

I can’t believe I have to wait over a year for the next book. It’s not even on goodreads yet but I need it now!! I’m excited that it’s following a new character instead of trying to make the romance play out over multiple books. We saw just enough of the next FMC to really pique my interest! 

QotD: It’s Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

I am staying in and hopefully getting some reading done. Thinking about trying to do a 24 hour readathon over the course of the weekend? 

[book synopsis]

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.

Straddling the worlds of the ton and the working class, as an ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name. As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.

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Historical Romance Review: The Highlander Who Protected Me

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Highlander Who Protected Me
By Vanessa Kelly 
🎧 Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart
Clan Kendrick, Book 1 
Book 28 of 2024

✨ On Kindle Unlimited ✨

Last fall, I received an ARC of the final book in the Clan Kendrick series, and I loved it so much that I knew I wanted to go back and read the whole series from the beginning asap!

I have never met more stubborn people in fiction, and I absolutely loved them. All of Clan Kendrick is so much fun, and y’all know how I love to watch a giant family fall in love. Vanessa Kelly’s books give high drama and intrigue that I’ve been looking for ever since I watched the first season of Bridgerton!

My only complaint is that I didn’t do the research to realize that some of the main side characters in this one were featured in a book published before this one! I felt like I was coming in in the middle of a story, and while it was all explained well, I wanted to know ALL the juicy details the way you only can when you start at the beginning. So, I guess I’m going all the way back to read Vanessa Kelly’s books in publication order. 

🎧 The audiobook was great, Ruth Urquhart does a fantastic job bringing all of the characters to life. For Spotify subscribers, this is one of the books available with your subscription! 

Thank you @stephsbooktalk for getting me this for my birthday! 

[book synopsis]

Lady Ainsley Matthews, heiress and darling of the ton, was expected to make a magnificent match. Instead she’s hiding on a remote Scottish estate, terrified that her vicious former fiancé will use her pregnancy to force her into marriage. One man can help her–Royal Kendrick, son of a distinguished Highland clan. Though a mistake drove them apart long ago, Royal is the only person Ainsley trusts to protect her baby–even if that means agreeing to never see either of them again . . . Scarred in body and soul by war, Royal suddenly has a purpose–caring for an innocent babe and thereby helping the woman he can’t stop loving. But when Ainsley ultimately returns to Scotland, determined to be a real mother to her child in spite of the risk, there’s only one solution: marriage. And only one likely outcome: surrendering to the desire that’s simmered between them for so long, no matter how dangerous it may be . . . Contains mature themes.

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Historical Romance Review: Wild Rain

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Wild Rain
By Beverly Jenkins
🎧 Narrated by: Kim Staunton
Women Who Dare, Book 2 
Book 27 of 2024

*Series Info*

Women Who Dare is a series of standalone romances – but if you want to start at the beginning, here’s my review for Rebel, the first book in the series.

*Book Review*

Ok you all know I’m a sucker for a romance with a hyper independent woman who doesn’t have to give up any of her autonomy to be with her man, right? (Or partner of any gender, really.) 

Spring Lee is a bit of a loner when we meet her. She has a lot of walls up because of her past, but when she finds Garrett injured during a Wyoming snowstorm, she shows her inner softness by caring for him. Garrett is a little boring in comparison, but I can forgive a boring man if he’s devoted to his partner! 

Beverly Jenkins doesn’t shy away from dark backstories, and you may want to look up content warnings. 

[book synopsis]

The second novel in USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins’ compelling new Women Who Dare series follows a female rancher in Wyoming after the Civil War.

A reporter has come to Wyoming to do a story on doctors for his Black newspaper back east. He thinks Colton Lee will be an interesting subject…until he meets Colton’s sister, Spring. She runs her own ranch, wears denim pants instead of dresses, and is the most fascinating woman he’s ever met.

But Spring, who has overcome a raucous and scandalous past, isn’t looking for, nor does she want, love. As their attraction grows, will their differences come between them or unite them for an everlasting love?

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Historical Romance Review: Always Be My Duchess

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Always Be My Duchess
By Amalie Howard 
🎧 Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells
Taming of the Dukes, Book 1 
Book 24 of 2024

I love when the marketing actually matches the book. This says it’s Pretty Woman meets Bridgerton, and that is exactly what was delivered. 

The beginning was a little rough for me, how they met wasn’t the cutest of meet cutes, but as they spent more time together I absolutely fell in love with their love story. 

I would read an entire book about every single one of the side characters, I loved them all so much. You definitely have to be willing to suspend your disbelief and just go with the concept of the story, but I love a far-fetched romcom, and I thought it was so much fun. 

🎧 This was fantastic on audio! 

[book synopsis]

Pretty Woman meets the Bridgertons in this witty, vivacious historical take on 90s romcoms by USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard: 

Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his considerable fortune. After a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deep. Money, after all, can’t break a man’s heart—or make promises it can’t keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking a most unusual—and alluring—solution . . . 

Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron’s mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts the encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: act as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over.

Only neither is prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. They both stand to win . . . but only if they’re willing to risk their hearts.

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Historical Romance Review: One Night in Hartswood

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours, Harper 360, & Emma Denny for my review / book tour copy – I finally read it!

One Night in Hartswood
By Emma Denny
🎧 Narrated by: Tom Alexander, Sebastian Humphreys
Book 21 of 2024

*chit chat semi related to the book*

We all know I read more with my ears than my eyes, so I’ve been waiting for my library to get the audiobook of this one…but they took too long so I finally got it from Libro! Some of my amazing booksta friends pooled money for my birthday and got me a year’s worth of credits! (For a normal person. A month’s worth for me, probably. Either way, an incredibly thoughtful gift!) I am really bad about hoarding audiobook credits because I have definitely gone through 4 in a week before. But now I have 15 so I probably should use them. 

*review*

I don’t know if it’s because of the 500 times I watched The Princess Bride or the popularity of the vibes in fantasy books, but I find the medieval period to be SO romantic. It is an under utilized time period in romance books, so I was so excited when I was offered a copy of One Night in Hartswood! 

This was a little bit of a slow burn with SO MUCH pining. And accidentally cuddling for body heat while traveling through the woods.  I absolutely loved it.

Check out the pinned comment for the plot synopsis. 

🎧 Raff’s voice is so swoony. Highly recommend.

[book synopsis]

Oxford 1360

When his sister’s betrothed vanishes the night before her politically arranged marriage, Raff Barden must track and return the elusive groom to restore his family’s honour. William de Foucart ― known to his friends as Penn ― had no choice but to abandon his fiancé, and with it his own earldom, when he fled the night before his enforced marriage. But ill-equipped to survive on the run he must trust the kindness of a stranger, Raff, to help him escape. Unaware their fates are already entwined, their unexpected bond deepens into a far more precious relationship, one that will test all that they hold dear. And when secrets are finally revealed, both men must decide what they will risk for the one they love…

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Historical Romance Review: Rebel

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Rebel
By Beverly Jenkins
🎧 Narrated by: Kim Staunton
Book 18 of 2024

**random ramblings**
I signed up for too many ARCs in January & February and I am so overwhelmed currently that I have found myself reading nothing but backlist books. This was my third book in a row that was published in 2021 or earlier. Please tell me I’m not the only one who occasionally goes full head in the sand about their book commitments. Hopefully next week I’ll start to get back to it! 

**review** 
This was my first book by Beverly Jenkins, but definitely won’t be my last! Captain LeVeq is now one of my top tier boyfriends. 

I like my romances, especially historical romances, to be fairly cozy. Bad things can happen and villains can exist as long as I don’t ever feel like the characters are ACTUALLY in danger or truly isolated. Jenkins brilliantly toed this line. The LeVeq family is the absolute best and I would like them to adopt me please. But the historical setting also felt accurate to the time – New Orleans after the Civil War – and showed the worst of humanity alongside the best. You may want to check the content warnings on this one. 

My favorite female main characters are strong, independent, and intelligent and Valinda was all of these things. She came to New Orleans to help teach the newly emancipated community, and seemed like the absolute best kind of teacher. 

🎧 I loved all of the voices Kim Staunton created for the story, but found some of the narration to be a little monotone. It might be that I had it turned up too fast and I wasn’t hearing all of the nuances though. 

[ book synopsis ]

The first novel in USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins’ compelling new series follows a Northern woman south in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War…

Valinda Lacey’s mission in the steamy heart of New Orleans is to help the newly emancipated community survive and flourish. But soon she discovers that here, freedom can also mean danger. When thugs destroy the school she has set up and then target her, Valinda runs for her life—and straight into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq.

As an architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake has a deeply personal interest in rebuilding the city. Raised by strong women, he recognizes Valinda’s determination. And he can’t stop admiring—or wanting—her. But when Valinda’s father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her daring rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.