A Bride For Marcus by Anne Gracie (2026)
Historical romance. Book 6 of the Devil Riders series. Prologue with Marcus and Tessa as children on neighboring estates and becoming friends. Then we start with Marcus at a ball, seeing Tessa for the first time in many years, and then realizing that she is widowed twice and the victim of her brother’s greed. The first half of the book is Marcus helping Tessa escape her terrible situation and slowly becoming friends again. We’re working up towards the marriage of convenience suggested in the summary, but it takes more than half of the book to get there. Once we do, it’s obvious that these two dummies have real feelings for each other, just wary of the practical arrangement they agreed upon. Loved it, as I love all of Anne Gracie’s books. And we get to visit our favorite modiste, Daisy Chance.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott (2026)
Thriller. Standalone novel. Beverley, Margot, and Elsie are all friends because their husbands had been convicted serial killers. There’s currently a new string of murders in their area, so they team up to investigate, since it seems the police are incompetent. It’s a mess of chaos and drama and reading about how their lives intertwine. Takes place in 1960s Southern California, so we’ve got a tinge of historical misogyny mixed in. Definitely twisty and turny and very entertaining to read.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Love You More by Emily Giffin (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Finally, a second chance romance that is told in the before chunk and the after chunk, not a mix of flashbacks. We’ve got Billie, a big deal doctor in NYC, who is recently engaged to Dean. But then she gets a phone call from her hometown ex-boyfriend Mick with devastating news. She’s got to head back home to deal with that and of course revisit all her old feelings. I haven’t read an Emily Giffin book in a long time, but I loved this one. This book was so good at stirring up emotions, in the best way.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths (2026)
Historical romance. Standalone novel. Charlotte is in a whole mess of trouble after sneaking into a scandalous party and the queen has basically told her she needs to marry. Easy peasy, let’s gather all the suitors at a house party. Except most of her suitors suck and she’s left with her uncertain feelings for Wolfgang, her brother’s best friend tasked with looking after her while the brother is out of the country. And of course, Charlotte and Wolfgang have a history of exchanging letters and growing feelings, until it all went wrong. We’re moving in fairly predictable historical romance plot lines, but made more humorous with a meddling grandmother. And the best scenes involve Charlotte telling off her terrible suitors.
Advance ebook provided by Gallery Books via Edelweiss. Advance print book provided by Gallery Books. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This one was really fun. Ruby is super practical and risk-averse and her life has not turned out like any of the pieces of the MASH game she played when she was 13-years-old. And when she blacks out on her 35th birthday, she’s totally shocked to wake up in her MASH dreamland. Oh, and her brother’s best friend Penn is there too. Who she hates. But maybe does not hate. Ruby’s relearning her life in this alternate universe, learning to let herself live a little, and also falling in love with the least expected guy. I loved MASH-Ruby and her technicolor wardrobe.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
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