What Happened in the Garden by Ginny B. Moore (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Prequel novella to the Flower Sisters series. Super short little meet cute of a soon-to-be viscount and his wife. Benedict’s mother has thrown a house party full of eligible ladies so that he can pick a bride. While escaping the crowd, he meets Clara in the garden. They meet, they flirt, they should just get married.

Ebook available from the author’s website.

Adding Up to Love by Ginny B. Moore (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Flower Sisters series. Fern is the youngest sister of five and has been awkward and prefers books. At her father’s birthday ball, she and her twin Rose switch dresses and identities for the evening, where Fern meets a handsome mathematics student from Oxford. Alex has been dragged to the ball by his friend but feels like a total outsider due to his merchant class upbringing. He’s happy to spend time with who he believes is Rose because they can talk about books and his studies. When he comes to call upon her the next day, Fern is distressed and thinks that he will not like who she is, so she convinces Rose to keep up the ruse. What follows is Fern befriending Alex and assisting him in courting Rose, while he assists her goals in becoming a student at Oxford. Alex begins to have feelings for Fern and is torn because of the expectations that Rose now has of him from their courtship. It’s a tangle of emotions here and Fern is the one being dishonest with everyone. This book was so good. A great introduction to Ginny B. Moore.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

A Rose Blooms in Brooklyn by Ginny B. Moore (2023)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Book 3 of the Flowers Sisters series. The beautiful and spoiled Rose has not had a success of her many Seasons in London and now she faces a pending engagement to a man she doesn’t love or to serve as companion to an elderly relation. She told her parents that she’s bound for Boston to reconcile with her twin sister, but she’s really headed to New York City to enjoy the high society her cousin lives within. However, she’s shocked to learn that her cousin is living in Brooklyn, estranged from her family, and working to support herself. Rose is completely out of her element and has to adapt to such unfamiliar surroundings. Ben is a widower and political activist who owns the building where Rose has landed and scoffs at Rose’s naivete. He’s also uncomfortably attracted to her even though his heart is all sorts of closed off after the death of his wife in childbirth. The romance between Rose and Ben involves a lot of push-and-pull, with Rose realizing that she has been completely sheltered all her life and with Ben learning to embrace life and joy again. Running through the entire book is the opposition towards laws that prohibit the distribution of contraception and the movement for women’s suffrage. We get to admire Ben’s selfless dedication to the cause as well as Rose’s increased awareness and understanding of such matters. A great read, with lots of support from Ben’s found family.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

Ruin Me by Midnight by Ginny B Moore (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Flower Sisters series. Violet is trying to dodge a proposal from a man she doesn’t want to marry and thinks that a ruination will get him to ditch her. While she’s at a house party, she makes a deal with Callum for a fake ruination that will leave him the good guy and her a scandalous wanton. Except that they’re truly attracted to each other and they never seem to get caught in all the situations they put themselves in. Both Violet and Callum are deeply broken by events of their respective pasts that make them wary of any lasting connections. They’ve both got to overcome their own fears before being able to move on. I loved seeing them actually open up to each other about their pasts and also all the steamy scenes between them.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

The Lady Who Left by Ginny B Moore (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Flower Sisters series. Loads of drama and angst with this book. Marigold is tired of being talked down to and takes a stand against her husband when he wants to send her sweet son off to a cruel school. She’s looking to divorce the man, but knows her case is shaky. She’s lucky that her new barrister, Archie, is so tenacious. She’s less lucky that they’re both attracted to each other and need to fight their feelings to keep things professional. Archie is super sweet and outgoing and charming, and also very protective of Marigold. Watching these two fall in love is an absolute delight. I loved how he was interested in almost anything that Marigold talks about and believes that she deserves care and love. He’s also absolutely amazing with her sons and treated them with so much respect. Loved this book.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B Moore.

How the Rogue Stole Christmas by Ginny B. Moore (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Flower Sisters series. Fairly quick novella here. The whole family is gathered for Christmas and Lily’s estranged husband Philip shows up at the front door. He left her the day after their wedding eight years ago and has been in no contact with her this whole time. Turns out he’s been battling an opium addiction for all these years and is finally sober enough to return. He’s got a bit of groveling to do to win his wife back though. It was good to catch up with all the other sisters and their husbands and watch them support Lily. Just the right mix of steam and plot and of course, plenty of angst for a novella.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Scout is a former rocket scientist turned sex toy engineer who has an inconvenient crush on her co-worker Hudson. He’s got the best sort of cinnamon roll energy, even if he’s totally naive about all the toys at the company. When Scout decides she’s got to let go of her virginity, she propositions Hudson for the job, in exchange for teaching him about all those toys. She wants to keep things strictly physical, since she can’t have any distractions from her work, but he’s clearly smitten with her. Lots of issues for Scout related to her parents, her genius-level intelligence, and a former toxic relationship. She’s got a whole lot of self-discovery to go through before finding her happily ever after. Loved this book so much.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

And Now, Back to You by BK Borison (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Heartstrings series. Opposites attract here with the grumpy straightlaced Jackson and the bubbly and chaotic Delilah. Except she isn’t really that chaotic, her toxic boss is trying to sabotage her. Jackson does radio weather, Delilah does TV weather, and their respective bosses team them up and send them to the mountains to cover a snowstorm. Reading these two interact and truly get to know each other is a joy. Like, this book was such a delight. And I especially loved that Jackson is raising his teenage sisters with such care and affection. Humor and steam and emotional angst all rolled into one.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Belles of London series. If you want to talk about yearning, this book is the one to read. We spent the first two books of this series seeing the animosity between Anne and Hart, but really, they have a history as childhood friends and then a brief romance followed by a huge falling out. When Anne needs a favor, she asks for Hart’s help in rescuing her friend. And he has conditions. But as they spend more time together, it’s clear that they still have feelings for each other, buried under all that bickering. This whole book is super angsty and makes you feel all the feelings. I loved slowly uncovering what went wrong all those years ago and what they’re doing now to make things right. Loads of family drama on both sides of the relationship, which definitely brings more challenge to the romance. Loved this book.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I love a messy slow burn romance, especially when one of the partners is especially grumpy. Simon is the serious actor who is on a sci-fi drama and wants out, especially if it means never having to talk to his less-serious bubbly co-star Charlie. But then somehow, he’s starting to see Charlie in a new light, and then they kinda sorta fake a friendship to make sure people don’t think Simon is leaving the show on bad terms. And then Charlie needs to track down his missing stepdad and Simon comes along for the ride. These two end up being way more emotionally vulnerable about their families and their upbringing, and in that process, they see each other as more human and approachable. Tons of heavy emotions here, especially when dealing with Simon’s anxiety and migraines. This book was so good.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Belles of London series. Final book of the series and ties back to the Parish Orphans of Devon series. Stella and Teddy had a brief meeting once at an art gallery (in Book 3) and she’s shocked to find him at the Christmas house party that she’s attending. She’s especially embarrassed because she normally has grey hair but has dyed it for the party. He’s just happy to see her because he’s an artist who is captivated by her beauty and wants very much to paint her. But that’s not at all proper and they seem to disagree how to the proceed here. What follows is a super slow burn romance with each of them dealing with their separate troublesome families. I loved seeing these two assert their independence together and learn to trust each other.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Clover Lake series. If you love a messy set-up, this book is for you. April is doing rough financially, so she takes an art teaching job at a local resort. And then it turns out her roommate and co-teacher is Daphne, the woman that he ex-fiancee cheated on her with. Ouch. Daphne is in an equally tough spot, having recently been dumped by said woman, and also did not know about April’s existence. It’s messy and angry and chaotic, plus they’re attracted to each other. Throw in some actual competition between the two in the form of a chance to show at an art gallery, and it’s heartbreak waiting to happen. I loved reading these two defensive and heartbroken people open up to each other and slowly start to let their walls down.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

And Now, Back to You by BK Borison (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Heartstrings series. Opposites attract here with the grumpy straightlaced Jackson and the bubbly and chaotic Delilah. Except she isn’t really that chaotic, her toxic boss is trying to sabotage her. Jackson does radio weather, Delilah does TV weather, and their respective bosses team them up and send them to the mountains to cover a snowstorm. Reading these two interact and truly get to know each other is a joy. Like, this book was such a delight. And I especially loved that Jackson is raising his teenage sisters with such care and affection. Humor and steam and emotional angst all rolled into one.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Belles of London series. This one is a marriage of convenience story with Beauty and the Beast vibes. Julia is the daughter of sickly parents and has social anxiety. She thinks that no one wants to marry her because of her awkwardness, but Captain Jasper Blunt is very much interested. He needs a wealthy wife to restore his estate and care for his three illegitimate children. Nevermind that he’s known as a monster and has a huge scar on the side of his face. But Julia sees beyond the rumors and the appearance and notices that he’s actually very kind to her. So when she needs help getting away from her parents, she proposes to him. It’s delightful seeing her being both vulnerable and bold, and I love a protective husband. And Jasper is keeping secrets, which are so much fun to uncover. Another stellar book from Mimi Matthews.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

It’s All in Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Strangers from an online chronic illness message board meet and fake date. Skylar is just trying to be helpful and prevent Pike’s mom from calling the cops for a wellness check, and maybe sorta lies that she’s Pike’s girlfriend. It does not go over well. But they meet in person and establish some ground rules for their fake relationship. Basically, they’re both navigating life suffering from chronic pain and their respective medical conditions. And as they slowly start to trust each other, it’s amazing to see how supportive they can be. Lots of insecurity and self-doubt for each, but they’re the best advocates for each other. I loved seeing these two turn their fake relationship into a real relationship, and see all the support they get from their social circle. Seriously, one of the best books with chronic disability representation I’ve read.

Advance ebook provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Jordan is assigned the wedding of the year in his event coordinator role, but things are messy because his friend/crush, Jamie, who he’s been avoiding for months is the man of honor and always around. It’s totally awkward because 1. they shared a teenage practice kiss, 2. they’ve been hanging out lately and Jordan was rejected for a kiss by Jamie, and 3. Jordan isn’t exactly sure of his own sexuality. In reading his character, it seems he’s queer and demisexual, and it all comes down to being only attracted to Jamie. It’s a single POV from Jordan’s perspective, so we never quite know what’s going on in Jamie’s mind, but it seems like he has his own insecurities and isn’t sure if Jordan is really interested in him or interested in experimenting. I enjoyed the romance between these two and seeing them learn how to communicate with each other. I will say from an eyeball reading perspective, having two main characters with lookalike names (Jordan and Jamie) made me slow down at times to remember which character was which.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Don’t Let Your Dukes Grow Up To Be Scoundrels by Louisa Darling (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Dukes in Disguise series. Lady Gemma is a duke’s daughter who’s been kicked out of her home by her half-brother after their father’s death. Gemma along with her mother and younger sister are on their own and have found that their own possession is a pub in a country village. Gemma’s grand plan is to find a wealthy husband to marry, so she can support her family and restore their place in society. What she doesn’t realize is that the barman Hal is actually the impoverished duke that owns to local manor. He detests the aristocracy and believes Gemma to be a spoiled fortune-hunter, so of course he hides his true identity from her. And then they fight and flirt their way into an impossible relationship. Loved the fish out of water vibes for Gemma and watching her learn to fend for herself and the value of hard work.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone by Louisa Darling (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Dukes in Disguise series. I love the trope where two people have a tryst totally masked and thinking that the other person doesn’t know their identity. And of course, both of these people totally know who the other person is. We have a stuffy grumpy rule-following duke, Nathaniel, who turns out to be a bare knuckle fighter in an underground fighting ring. He’s trying to work out all his aggressions because he’s such a rule-follower in his daily life and because he’s inappropriately attracted to his sister’s companion, Bess. She’s the cook at a village tavern and inn, but she’s in London for an adventure, and mainly looking for a quick dalliance. Of course, she’s also distracted by Nathaniel and is pleased to find him at the fighting ring. They know exactly who they’re having an affair with, but each believes that the other person doesn’t know their identity. Their social standing will prevent any sort of long-term relationship, but only if Nathaniel sticks with his rules of propriety. Loved this book and cannot wait to read more from this author.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Scoundrel Take Me Away by Louisa Darling (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Dukes in Disguise series. Lucy has had a crush on a highwayman named the Gentle Rogue for years and keeps scheming up ways to run into him. But he’s wary of the connection, so eventually tells her to leave him alone and grow up. So she goes. She’s off traveling for five years before she’s back while her sister-in-law is having a difficult pregnancy. Unfortunately, her least favorite duke Thorne has somehow become friends with her brother while she was away, and she’s still holding a grudge against him for the gossip he caused about her sister. She doesn’t know that Thorne is really the highwayman that she’s been pining for this whole time. He’s all sorts of emotionally stunted due to his upbringing and a traumatic history we get hints about, but he sure is jealous of himself since Lucy despises his daytime personality while preferring his nighttime alter ego. It all gets even messier when he has an accident and loses his memory and she unmasks him and learns she’s been duped. Loads of drama here with so many buried emotions.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

It’s All in Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Strangers from an online chronic illness message board meet and fake date. Skylar is just trying to be helpful and prevent Pike’s mom from calling the cops for a wellness check, and maybe sorta lies that she’s Pike’s girlfriend. It does not go over well. But they meet in person and establish some ground rules for their fake relationship. Basically, they’re both navigating life suffering from chronic pain and their respective medical conditions. And as they slowly start to trust each other, it’s amazing to see how supportive they can be. Lots of insecurity and self-doubt for each, but they’re the best advocates for each other. I loved seeing these two turn their fake relationship into a real relationship, and see all the support they get from their social circle. Seriously, one of the best books with chronic disability representation I’ve read.

Advance ebook provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

Still Into You by Erin Connor (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Journalist Sloane has an opportunity to write an article on her ex-boyfriend Dax’s band. And she’s trying to keep things totally professional, even though it’s clear that he’s making heart eyes at her. They pretty much had a whirlwind summer together three years ago before she broke it off to go back to college and pursue her own career. Now, they’ve reconnected and it’s a chance for Sloane to see if she can juggle it all. The whole book is told from Sloane’s POV (and audiobook narration is mostly done by Karissa Vacker), with excerpts from interview transcripts of all the band members (with a different narrator for each band mate). It’s interesting seeing Sloane try so hard to prioritize her career, when Dax is clearly ready to commit and be a supportive partner for her. Loved the levels of yearning here and that the original breakup wasn’t so messy that it makes the re-do impossible.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

Racing Hearts by Ann Adams (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Kath is hyper obsessed with routine and rowing and she’s had a terrible racing slump. Her coach basically kicks her out of the Olympic training center and she’s stuck back with her unreliable mother and a new coach with unusual methods. Adrian is mostly just being flexible to the rowers’ needs and trying to help with the athletes’ mental health as part of their training. Kath of course is totally resistant, until she realizes that she’s got everything to lose if she doesn’t actually try things his way. He’s amazing and awesome and super good at coaching both Kath and the high school boys, in a way that is so endearing. And then we get the romance bit where Adrian is also an amazing boyfriend, though Kath insists it’s temporary and she won’t catch feelings. Right. I loved this book so much, with Kath’s journey into being less rigid and more accepting of love.

Advance ebook provided by Dell via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Academic rivals Frances and Lewis have a meet cute on their flight to a conference, and then are assumed to be dating by the conference organizer. And then they keep up the ruse through the conference because Frances doesn’t accidentally want to be called a liar. It turns out Lewis is not a mean guy, but just a socially awkward one who made one academic mistake on the advice of his mentor, and Frances is totally obsessed with prioritizing her work over any other type of relationship. I enjoyed seeing them communicate and air out their disagreements and then also nerd out together over science. This was a couple that was really fun to read, especially when they were supporting each other instead of getting in each other’s way. Super cute, steamy, and emotional.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Here’s a round up of a bunch of my favorite romance books narrated by Karissa Vacker. Click on the image below to go to the Libro.fm listing page to check it out. (Affiliate links used, so if you make a purchase, I get a small commission)

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Sin Bin by Chelsea Curto (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 5 of the DC Stars series. Timeline overlaps a little bit with Hat Trick and starts with a one night stand between hockey coach Brody and his player’s sister Hannah. Things get interrupted, but it’s a reminder for Brody to keep things professional and his distance. But then a year and a half later, his daughter needs a new figure skating coach and Hannah is available for the job. They rekindle their acquaintanceship and so much more. Even with the age gap between Brody and Hannah, you don’t feel it at all. These are clearly two mature and consenting adults here who are falling into more than just lust. Loved it.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

A Most Worthy Husband by Faye Delacour (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Lucky Ladies of London series. Hannah is fed up with her mother’s matchmaking, so she seizes an opportunity to ruin herself by paying a man to kiss her where they can be seen. Silas is all sorts of hesitant, but eventually agrees for the money. It’s a whirlwind of scandal that turns into a fake courtship and a fake engagement. But Silas really is a stand-up guy, even if a bit misunderstood, and totally deserving of love an affection. Hannah is a bit naive in regards to scheming to get her parents back together, but aside from that, she does have genuine affection for Silas. Definitely a case of he falls first and harder though, which I adore.

Advance ebook provided by Sourcebook via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Love Audit by Lucy Eden (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Childhood friends who have been estranged for 13 years are stuck in a fake marriage while they research a small town in Florida. Oh, and they’re also competing for the same position at work. Jasmine and Derek are both in the public relations industry and are sent on a scouting mission to a small town to determine its potential for tourism or more on behalf of their corporate boss. A quick assumption by their driver that they’re a married couple force them to play pretend while they’re there. We get all sorts of small town charm, which I loved reading about, and these two getting to know each other again. There’s some lingering resentment and a mystery of why their families had a falling out, which was also super intriguing.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

Sparks Fly by Zakiya N. Jamal (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Stella is ready to lose her virginity at a sex club and luckily meets an awesome guy there, Max. But things don’t go as planned and they end up with unfinished business before parting ways. Stella’s in for a rude surprise when Max ends up being the brother of her boss’s boss and at her workplace to launch a new AI writing tool for their company. This would seem like the perfect set up for an enemies-to-lovers situation, but they have very wisely kept their work separate from their personal lives and continue with a semi-secret relationship. This book is all sorts of spicy and the workplace conflict doesn’t affect the romance plot much at all. Loved seeing how Max treats Stella and how they very easily and quickly fall in love.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This was a really fun set-up where Andi and Nolan meet at a bar, have a somewhat awkward one night stand, and then don’t see each other for three years. But they run into each other at work, where Nolan is the Prime Minister’s new bodyguard and Andi is the Prime Minister’s wife’s personal assistant. And then somehow, Andi is rumored to be having an affair with the Prime Minister (which she’s not), so a fake relationship with Nolan will help distract the scandal. Nolan is all sorts of caring and sweet and I love how obsessed he is with Andi. We get a really nice dual POV story here. This is the first Amy Lea book that I’ve read, and I was under the impression that she writes Asian characters, so I kept trying to see if either Andi or Nolan had any Asian heritage. I was also given an ARC copy from the Berkley Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices as an Asian book reviewer. I didn’t happen to catch if either of these two main characters were Asian, but maybe I missed it.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Seduction of Mr. Alfred Saintsbury by Lydia Lloyd (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Virgin Gentlemen’s Club series. Super chaste virgin vicar gets seduced by the scandalous patroness of his vicarage, but really, it’s all just permission for him to find pleasure. Alfred and Annabelle definitely have a rocky start here, with him being embarrassingly attracted to her and her having a devious plan to seduce him. Super steamy, but also a lot of work in dealing with shame and events of the past. I loved how Alfred was all sorts of soft and caring and submissive, but also served as caretaker of Annabelle. She was delightfully cold and ruthless at first, which makes her emotional journey all the more satisfying.

Advance ebook provided by Lydia Lloyd.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Taming of the Dukes series. High stakes meet cute when running from footpads, Lysander and Neve have an instant connection. He hires her to pretend to his escort for an evening (which then turns into the rest of the season). He’s cold and doesn’t show emotion well, prioritizing business over relationships. Neve is just trying to survive and care for her injured sister, without sacrificing her integrity. The level of angst and longing and realizations of love in this book are so good!

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

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

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

The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Taming of the Dukes series. Evangeline is a social outcast and prefers country life with her animal shelter, but her younger sister Viola is itching for a London Season. Their father insists that Viola is only allowed to go if Evangeline does too. Viola’s terrible suitor decides to use the debt he’s owed by the destitute duke, Gage, to tell him to convince and distract Evangeline. It’s a messy deal that gets even messier when Gage turns out to actually like Evangeline’s outspoken personality. Also, these two people are attracted to each other to the point of distraction, and Evangeline is the one to propose a scandalous affair. Super steamy flirty banter. Loved it.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Only Earl in the World by Amalie Howard (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Taming of the Dukes series. Briar and Jasper have been bickering for years, but there’s always an undercurrent of flirtation and attraction. She even may have based the heroes of her erotic novels on his likeness. But Briar is engaged to a boring and steady guy, until he catches her supporting women’s suffrage and breaks it off. Jasper is ready to rescue her reputation in a fake engagement, but we all know it’s not that fake. Delightfully flirty and steamy and nice wrap-up to the series.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

An Urgent Kiss by Alexa Aston (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Captivating Kisses series. Tragic prologue for Hugo, who grew up with a stutter and a cruel and abusive father. He’s all grown up in this story, taken the title of earl, and ushering his younger sister through her debut. He happens to meet his sister’s friend Tia, believes her to be too outspoken and a bad influence, but is also distractedly attracted to her. Lady Tia is the younger sister of a duke, not necessarily looking to marry this season, and happy to make friends. She dislikes the arrogant Hugo, but that’s because he’s stiff and socially awkward, not because he’s actually arrogant. It’s pretty clear that they fall in love here, once she realizes that he’s a really nice guy. Fun family dynamics on Tia’s side, with all her siblings and cousins.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Clover Lake series. If you love a messy set-up, this book is for you. April is doing rough financially, so she takes an art teaching job at a local resort. And then it turns out her roommate and co-teacher is Daphne, the woman that he ex-fiancee cheated on her with. Ouch. Daphne is in an equally tough spot, having recently been dumped by said woman, and also did not know about April’s existence. It’s messy and angry and chaotic, plus they’re attracted to each other. Throw in some actual competition between the two in the form of a chance to show at an art gallery, and it’s heartbreak waiting to happen. I loved reading these two defensive and heartbroken people open up to each other and slowly start to let their walls down.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Jordan is assigned the wedding of the year in his event coordinator role, but things are messy because his friend/crush, Jamie, who he’s been avoiding for months is the man of honor and always around. It’s totally awkward because 1. they shared a teenage practice kiss, 2. they’ve been hanging out lately and Jordan was rejected for a kiss by Jamie, and 3. Jordan isn’t exactly sure of his own sexuality. In reading his character, it seems he’s queer and demisexual, and it all comes down to being only attracted to Jamie. It’s a single POV from Jordan’s perspective, so we never quite know what’s going on in Jamie’s mind, but it seems like he has his own insecurities and isn’t sure if Jordan is really interested in him or interested in experimenting. I enjoyed the romance between these two and seeing them learn how to communicate with each other. I will say from an eyeball reading perspective, having two main characters with lookalike names (Jordan and Jamie) made me slow down at times to remember which character was which.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Reel by Kennedy Ryan (2021)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Hollywood Renaissance series. I’ve heard great things about this book and finally picked it up because my local indie bookstore’s book club picked it for February. We follow Neevah, actress, and Canon, film director, as they meet, work together to make a movie, and fall in love. Throw in some chronic illness and family drama for Neevah, and we’ve got a plot heavy story here. Maybe it was just me, but all the details about movie casting and movie making dragged, and made it hard to get into the book. And when we did finally start the romantic relationship between Neevah and Canon, I felt anxious about the power dynamics of the well-known well-respected director and the newbie actress. Once the relationship starts though, it’s pretty solid and low-drama. We’re dealing more with the external drama and fallout of their relationship being made public and Neevah’s medical condition. There’s a lot going on here, and we’ve got a rich ensemble of characters within this world.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Belles of London series. This one is a marriage of convenience story with Beauty and the Beast vibes. Julia is the daughter of sickly parents and has social anxiety. She thinks that no one wants to marry her because of her awkwardness, but Captain Jasper Blunt is very much interested. He needs a wealthy wife to restore his estate and care for his three illegitimate children. Nevermind that he’s known as a monster and has a huge scar on the side of his face. But Julia sees beyond the rumors and the appearance and notices that he’s actually very kind to her. So when she needs help getting away from her parents, she proposes to him. It’s delightful seeing her being both vulnerable and bold, and I love a protective husband. And Jasper is keeping secrets, which are so much fun to uncover. Another stellar book from Mimi Matthews.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Ladies in Waiting Anthology (2025)

Historical romance-adjacent. Regency-era England. This was a collection of short stories based on various side characters from Jane Austen novels. It was fun to see some of my favorite authors in historical romance writing about these characters and also to read some new-to-me authors. I’m not terribly familiar with Jane Austen’s books, having only seen the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice and Clueless as my form of Emma, so a lot of these stories just read as fresh new short stories to me. I enjoyed some of the creativity in placing the characters outside of Regency England and also in the stories that take place in universe. I think if you’re an Austen fan, this is a nice collection to read in-between heavier novels.

Advance ebook provided by Gallery Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Sam’s having a rough time of things when the pandemic derailed her academic plans. Now she’s living in the spare bedroom of her mom’s condo, working at a bar, and unsuccessfully applying to grad school. Single dad Nick moves in next door and somehow, Sam and Nick keep crossing paths. It’s a fairly straightforward romance here, with Nick being deliciously competent and being direct with his communication style. But Sam has all sorts of trust issues with men (because her dad totally sucks) and needs to get her life in order. Lots of humor and steam.

Advance ebook provided by Dial Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Serving In The Snow by Meg Jones (2025)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Game, Set, and Match series. Supermodel Kit is trying to get away from it all for a bit and ends up at a freezing cold rental cottage in Scotland. Luckily, her next door neighbor Jonah is ready to give her some shelter. It’s fun and flirty and super steamy with this short-lived fling. I loved seeing these two people fall in love in their little wintery bubble. I especially loved how it all tied back to our favorite scandalous tennis player Scottie. Super fun holiday read.

Advance ebook provided by Meg Jones via NetGalley.

Ellie Hayes and the Himbos by Vanessa King (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. The himbos made the whole book worth it. Ellie is in a rough spot with the impending doom of a possible diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and a boyfriend who breaks up with her over it. She goes to check out a room for rent and finds a bunch of college age guys in residence. They are all super sweet and caring and embrace Ellie into their home so easily and quickly. She also maybe has a thing going on with one of the roomies’ older brother, Ian, who is also the boss and owner at the gym where all the guys (and now Ellie) work. Super entertaining and steamy all in one, and if you’re ever looking for some endometriosis representation, this book is for you.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

An Heir Unraveled by Jane Maguire (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Rockliffe Dynasty series. If you’ve been reading this series from Book 1, it’ll be fun to see dear little Benedict all grown up. If not, this book totally still works as an accidental marriage of convenience. Benedict is on his way to his uncle’s unkempt property to take charge and care for the estate when he comes across a young lady, Violet, in an abandoned cottage. She’s there to meet another man, and when that man shows up and sees her with Benedict, he promptly leaves and starts all sorts of terrible gossip about her. It’s all bad news for poor Benedict whose servants are gossiping about him the moment he steps into his new house. He does the only honorable thing and proposes marriage, even if she’s reluctant at first. We get a really nice slow burn romance here, with hints of sabotage from the neighbor and dealing with Benedict’s general hangups with his family history. I really liked how this story played out, with an extra dose of drama towards the end too.

Advance ebook provided by Jane Maguire.

The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Crinoline Academy series. Nell is the deputy headmistress and former pupil at the girls’ academy that Miles is lightly investigating, so she is doing her best to try to deter him. Unfortunately, they get caught in a compromising situation and the best course of action is to marry. Aside from that, she’s trying to solve the mystery of a missing pupil and he’s trying to find his missing gossip columnist. And of course, the two are connected and they get to partner up to solve the case. We get to see a lovely slow burn romance here, with them being equal partners with really strong communication. Loved seeing the serious Miles soften towards Nell and care for her, even when she’s being prickly.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Jonah and Sadie have been rivals for the past fifteen years, but we learn pretty early on that Jonah has had a crush on Sadie from the very start. They’re both in the running for the same very scarce teaching position at a university and both have valid reasons to be the top pick. But there’s only room for one, and then somehow they finagle their way to a marriage of convenience to snag a partner hire at the university. The romance itself is excellent and delightfully slow burn, with Jonah and his caretaking abilities. The real drama here is in the form of their respective families and the drama that their marriage-on-paper causes. Entertaining and sweet and steamy.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

How the Rogue Stole Christmas by Ginny B. Moore (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Flower Sisters series. Fairly quick novella here. The whole family is gathered for Christmas and Lily’s estranged husband Philip shows up at the front door. He left her the day after their wedding eight years ago and has been in no contact with her this whole time. Turns out he’s been battling an opium addiction for all these years and is finally sober enough to return. He’s got a bit of groveling to do to win his wife back though. It was good to catch up with all the other sisters and their husbands and watch them support Lily. Just the right mix of steam and plot and of course, plenty of angst for a novella.

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Second chance angst mixed with professional career advancement in the form of a trip to Iceland. Mona finally has the chance to travel internationally and write for her travel magazine job, but she’s paired up with her childhood friend/love/heartbreak Ben as the photographer. It’s all sorts of awkward, especially when she won’t just let him explain what happened all those years ago, despite his multiple attempts at adult-like communication. She’s annoying in that aspect because why wouldn’t you just let him talk? But the trip is amazing and they do finally start to get along, with her slowing thawing towards him. Mona definitely needs to increase her own self-confidence and work on her issues of inadequacy in her career and her boisterous family, but the trip helps with her personal journey. The romance is steamy and sweet, and I liked that this was a second chance romance without the split-timeline storytelling style.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Take a Hike by Katie Ruggle (2025)

Romantic suspense. Book 3 of the Beneath the Wild Sky series. Crazy chaos, as expected from Katie Ruggle. We’re running from the militia, treasure hunters, and more when Charlie and her sister and brother-in-law try to lay a trap for their wayward mother. Of course, Charlie meets the grumpiest firefighter ever Kieran and decides she’s smitten. The romance here is way too easy and no angst whatsoever, but we do get some fun grumpy flirting. There’s plenty of action in the form of fires, breaking and entering, and car chases to keep us entertained.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Wedding the Marquess by Stevie Sparks (2025)

Historical romance. Interwar-era England. Book 4 of the Lords of Desire series. Savi is suspicious of her father’s payment to a sanitorium, so she agrees to an arranged marriage to the owner of that sanitorium to gain access. Alex is a marquess who needs a wealthy wife and Savi fits the bill. Luckily, he’s an all-around good guy and he and Savi fall quickly in love with each other. Drama unfolds in the form of that nasty sanatorium business, but Savi and Alex and steady partners throughout.

Advance ebook provided by Stevie Sparks.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.