Book Reviews - Random Olive

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Top Five Favorite Romance Books of May 2026 – historical romance, contemporary romance

Jun 1, 2026

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Scheming and friendship and slow burn romance. Titus is a shopkeeper who is about to be totally destitute when his former lover and current landlord raises the rent. And somehow, he ends up at the deathbed of a wealthy old lady who wants to marry him so her fortune doesn’t go to her terrible nephew. The old lady passes away and Titus is left with a totally new house and life. It’s all sorts of overwhelming, especially when grifters are aiming for him. And then the biggest grifter of all, Nico, shows up at his doorstep because this man had missed his chance at marrying the rich old lady. But he’s actually pretty helpful to Titus, so even though Titus is suspicious, he lets Nico help him anyway. Nico’s obviously keeping secrets and is in a lot of debt, but as he gets to know Titus, he’s unwilling to take advantage. It’s a slow build of friendship and then more, even with secrets hanging over them. I loved this book.

Advance ebook provided by Tor Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Libro.fm // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

Double Happiness by Heather Eng (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. We start a bit with a messy love triangle situation because workaholic Mei is already engaged to Joey, when she re-meets Alexandre and feels an instant connection to him. Making things messier is that Alexandre is the brother of Mei’s sister’s husband, so they keep running into each other at family events. But see, when you read the interactions between Mei and Alexandre, it’s so so good. They just get each other so well and they’re clearly absolutely perfect for each other, plus the tingly sparks and all. I loved this book so much.

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

Captured by Beverly Jenkins (2009)

Historical romance. Book 3 of the Le Veq series. Typical plot-filled adventure here with Ms. Bev. Dominic is a privateer who attacks an English vessel and takes Clare with him. She’s super feisty and doesn’t want to leave her mistress at first, but Dominic is trying to set her free. But she has reasons for wanting to go back to her home in Savannah. There’s definitely a mix of fighting and flirting here, and the general dangers of being a pirate at sea. And then we get to Dominic’s idyllic island and Clare gets a taste of true freedom there. There are villains around every corner and things always get worse when they team up unexpectedly. So much going on, this book will keep you hooked all the way through.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Heartbreaking and messy in all the best ways. We start with Nicole and husband Gabe’s last ditch effort to implant their embryo into a surrogate who lives across the country from them. Only for Nicole to return home and find the dog walker in a compromising position waiting for Gabe. Gross cheating rich white man husband alert. Nicole reconnects with her old work-crush Logan while dealing with the fallout. Logan offers the ultimate escape from her reality because he’s sweet and nerdy and funny, and pretty much adores Nicole. But it’s super messy because she’s not really honest with him about her situation and what the future holds. I loved the flirty banter between Nicole and Logan and I liked seeing Nicole find herself again, after so long being defined by her infertility struggles and her trophy wife status. Amazingly emotional and I absolutely loved it.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Doves of New York series. Starting with the marriage proposition that ends the previous book, Jenny promises David a night in his bed in exchange for a marriage of convenience as a way to allow her sister to marry someone unsuitable. But of course Jenny and David actually have feelings for each other, even though they spend most of the book denying it. And trying very hard not to get attached. They flirt, they marry, they bed down, and then they go their separate ways. But really, both of them need to admit that they really just want each other. Steamy and angsty in all the best ways.

Advance ebook provided by Harper St. George via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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Doves of New York Historical Romance Book Series by Harper St. George

May 28, 2026

The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Doves of New York series. Cora and her sisters are the illegitimate daughters of a wealthy gentleman in New York, who is dangling their inheritance from their grandmother in the form of dowries. In order to acquire the money, Cora needs to marry a suitable gentleman (but not one in New York). They all try to find matches in England where they’ve hidden the fact that they’re illegitimate and give the appearance of being wealthy heiresses. Leo is an impoverished earl finally deciding the marry for money and comes to an arrangement with Cora. She’s adamant that they separate eventually and tries very hard not to get emotionally entangled. And Leo is just trying to keep his own heart from being broken (as it has been before). However, these two are actually a perfect match for each other in terms of political aspirations and advocacy, plus that simmering attraction. While both of these people are so concerned about protecting themselves, they’re missing out on the happiness they could be having with the person right in front of them. This was a really great intro to the series and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

Eliza and the Duke by Harper St George (2025)

Historical romance. Gilded Age England. Book 2 of the Doves of New York series. Eliza is searching for one last bit of adventure before she marries a viscount to gain her inheritance and she just so happens to run into an injured Simon at a club where she isn’t supposed to be. Turns out Simon is secretly an underground prize fighter, plus has some other dealings with a crime boss in Whitechapel. He and Eliza cross paths again when he’s on security detail for her family and she does her very best to convince him to take her on a night of adventure. I loved seeing these two get closer together and the yearning that they have for each other in spite of the impossible circumstances. Super flirty and steamy and loads of caretaking involved here. Loved this book so much.

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

The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Doves of New York series. Starting with the marriage proposition that ends the previous book, Jenny promises David a night in his bed in exchange for a marriage of convenience as a way to allow her sister to marry someone unsuitable. But of course Jenny and David actually have feelings for each other, even though they spend most of the book denying it. And trying very hard not to get attached. They flirt, they marry, they bed down, and then they go their separate ways. But really, both of them need to admit that they really just want each other. Steamy and angsty in all the best ways.

Advance ebook provided by Harper St. George via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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

Weekly Reads: May 18 to 24, 2026 (contemporary romance, historical romance, hockey romance, soap opera history)

May 26, 2026

The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Heartbreaking and messy in all the best ways. We start with Nicole and husband Gabe’s last ditch effort to implant their embryo into a surrogate who lives across the country from them. Only for Nicole to return home and find the dog walker in a compromising position waiting for Gabe. Gross cheating rich white man husband alert. Nicole reconnects with her old work-crush Logan while dealing with the fallout. Logan offers the ultimate escape from her reality because he’s sweet and nerdy and funny, and pretty much adores Nicole. But it’s super messy because she’s not really honest with him about her situation and what the future holds. I loved the flirty banter between Nicole and Logan and I liked seeing Nicole find herself again, after so long being defined by her infertility struggles and her trophy wife status. Amazingly emotional and I absolutely loved it.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Double Happiness by Heather Eng (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. We start a bit with a messy love triangle situation because workaholic Mei is already engaged to Joey, when she re-meets Alexandre and feels an instant connection to him. Making things messier is that Alexandre is the brother of Mei’s sister’s husband, so they keep running into each other at family events. But see, when you read the interactions between Mei and Alexandre, it’s so so good. They just get each other so well and they’re clearly absolutely perfect for each other, plus the tingly sparks and all. I loved this book so much.

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

Game of Rogues by Julie Anne Long (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 9 of the Palace of Rogues series. This book is the epitome of yearning. The kind that punches you in the gut, makes you teary, and also makes you believe in love. Guinevere goes to gaming hell owner Gabriel to plead her case to cancel her naive brother’s debts, but it doesn’t go well. And then they both end up boarding at the Grand Palace on the Thames, so continually interact in our cozy boarding house. It’s feisty bickering between these two, which is super humorous to read. But then it turns to care and compassion as they start to learn each other’s motives. Anything between them is impossible due to their social stations, but you can feel every emotion that they eventually feel for each other. The very best sort of romance.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio. Final print book provided by Avon Books.

The Wingman by Stephanie Archer (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Vancouver Storm series. Friends to lovers is not my favorite trope because it moves so slow. Both Hayden and Darcy are totally skittish around each other, not wanting to ruin the friendship, but also insanely attracted to each other. They each have their own separate insecurities: Hayden for getting a reputation as a player and not being considered boyfriend material, and Darcy for having her shine completely dulled by her overbearing ex-boyfriend. Darcy is looking to expand her dating horizons and asks Hayden for help, not knowing that he’s so completely gone for her that he’ll do anything to make him happy. I loved their friendship and connection and how amazingly supportive Hayden is.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

Love in the Afternoon, and Evening: Essays and Conversations on Soap Operas by Charlotte Druckman and Mayukh Sen (2026)

Nonfiction. Soap operas feel a bit romance book-adjacent to me, with their bananas plots and common themes and tropes. There’s always a ton of chaos and plot going on, and inevitably, someone always falls in love. It was interesting to read this book with the history of soap opera (starting in radio) and the history of wildly common tropes. If you ever watched any soap in your life, this book is a lot of fun.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Weekly Reads: May 11 to 17, 2026 (time loop romance, historical romance)

May 19, 2026

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Austentatious series. After Mr. Darcy marries Elizabeth Bennett, Caroline Bingley is wondering why it wasn’t her instead. And it turns out, she’s a pretty selfish, cold, and harsh social climber who needs some assistance in learning to be kind. Luckily, Georgiana Darcy is the paragon of perfection, so she enlists her help in being nicer with the ultimate goal of attracting a suitor. Except Caroline is totally distracted by how beautiful Georgiana is and not at all looking forward to spending time with gentlemen. This whole book is told from Caroline’s point of view, and we get to see her transformation from someone totally self-absorbed and judgmental, to someone with a bit more heart and caring.

Advance ebook provided by Carina Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio.

Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Noelle eats some delicious, but slightly sketchy dumplings at a night market and ends up in a time loop. Over the many times that she relives June 20th, she learns to let go of her rigidity a bit and live without consequences. Problem is that she meets a guy and it’s pretty depressing when she starts to have feelings for him, and he doesn’t remember him the next day. Romance was cute, and the time loop was an interesting plot, but started to get repetitive and a bit sad after awhile. Probably how Noelle was feeling all along.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era Scotland. Standalone novel. Chaos and ghosts and a terribly husband here. Genevieve has married a much older wealthy man so that she can pay for her younger sister’s dowry. She plans a marriage of mutual respect and companionship, but absolutely no romance or consummation. But after seven months of marriage, she’s off to the wintry hunting lodge where she meets her husband’s mistress, the ghosts of his previous wives, and a whole cast of other misfit characters. It’s basically a whole comedy of errors type of story, which is very entertaining, and then somehow she falls in love with Sir Godric, a friend of her new stepson, and actually more age-appropriate for her. Some gothic mystery vibes here and delightfully entertaining.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Doves of New York series. Starting with the marriage proposition that ends the previous book, Jenny promises David a night in his bed in exchange for a marriage of convenience as a way to allow her sister to marry someone unsuitable. But of course Jenny and David actually have feelings for each other, even though they spend most of the book denying it. And trying very hard not to get attached. They flirt, they marry, they bed down, and then they go their separate ways. But really, both of them need to admit that they really just want each other. Steamy and angsty in all the best ways.

Advance ebook provided by Harper St. George via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Weekly Reads: May 4 to 10, 2026 (historical romance, contemporary romance)

May 12, 2026

Captured by Beverly Jenkins (2009)

Historical romance. Book 3 of the Le Veq series. Typical plot-filled adventure here with Ms. Bev. Dominic is a privateer who attacks an English vessel and takes Clare with him. She’s super feisty and doesn’t want to leave her mistress at first, but Dominic is trying to set her free. But she has reasons for wanting to go back to her home in Savannah. There’s definitely a mix of fighting and flirting here, and the general dangers of being a pirate at sea. And then we get to Dominic’s idyllic island and Clare gets a taste of true freedom there. There are villains around every corner and things always get worse when they team up unexpectedly. So much going on, this book will keep you hooked all the way through.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 6 of the Dream Harbor series. Daisy runs the local flower shop and is skittish about love after having been ditched by her fiance last year. It doesn’t help that the town thinks that she and the flower shop are cursed, meaning that she’s losing business. And when her ex-fiance comes to her shop with his new fiance, she quickly grabs Elliot and pretends they’re in a relationship. He’s also slighting dinged from love after his wife left him, but he’s got a huge crush on Daisy, so he quickly plays along. And then we start a full-blown fake relationship in hopes that the town will think Daisy isn’t cursed anymore and actually start buying flowers from her shop. Cute and a little messy, plus we get a fun little mystery of a great aunt who looks just like Daisy.

Advance ebook provided by Harper 360 via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Weekly Reads: April 27 to May 3, 2026 (historical romance)

May 5, 2026

Nearly a Bride by Sabrina Jeffries (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Lords of Hazard series. Loads of plot and intrigue here. Giselle needs help from the Earl of Heathbrook because she fears her passport from France to England is being questioned. Heath proposes a deal where they pretend to be engaged because he also needs help appearing the upstanding gentleman to gain custody of his younger brothers. There’s an overbearing cousin in the mix, along with whatever villain is chasing Giselle. There’s tons of action here, with danger around most corners. The romance here is fairly straightforward, with Heath trying his best not to ruin Giselle, and Giselle trying to resist being taken advantage of. Overall, the plot twists are a lot of fun to read and I loved how they all became a family.

Advance ebook provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Recorded Books.

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Scheming and friendship and slow burn romance. Titus is a shopkeeper who is about to be totally destitute when his former lover and current landlord raises the rent. And somehow, he ends up at the deathbed of a wealthy old lady who wants to marry him so her fortune doesn’t go to her terrible nephew. The old lady passes away and Titus is left with a totally new house and life. It’s all sorts of overwhelming, especially when grifters are aiming for him. And then the biggest grifter of all, Nico, shows up at his doorstep because this man had missed his chance at marrying the rich old lady. But he’s actually pretty helpful to Titus, so even though Titus is suspicious, he lets Nico help him anyway. Nico’s obviously keeping secrets and is in a lot of debt, but as he gets to know Titus, he’s unwilling to take advantage. It’s a slow build of friendship and then more, even with secrets hanging over them. I loved this book.

Advance ebook provided by Tor Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Top Five Favorite Romance Books of April 2026 – historical romance, contemporary romance, formula one romance

May 4, 2026

First to Finish by Rebecca J. Caffery (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Pole Position series. Poor Johannes is in a rough place with his secret boyfriend being a total asshole. Heartbreak all around really. And it’s affecting his racing. Luckily, his race engineer Caleb is super competent. And also super hot. The tentative build of their friendship and relationship was so much fun to watch. Plus Caleb is way better for Johannes than the old boyfriend. Loved this one.

Advance ebook provided by One More Chapter via NetGalley.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Scoundrel and the Siren by Christy Carlyle (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Princes of London series. Awkward first meeting for Dom and Tess who are at odds in a noblewoman’s library. Luckily, they meet again very soon at the site of an archeological dig. Attraction is strong between these two, but Dom is usually the carefree rake and Tess has been burned by a gentleman before. They have to work together at the dig and grow closer along the way. The flirtatious banter is delightful and I loved seeing Tess be the one to tame Dom. Loved it.

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

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Layla is about to have the most awkward week of her life, attending her ex-sister-in-law’s wedding in Paris while her ex-husband (the bride’s brother) is bringing his new girlfriend. Awkwardness made worse when she meets Grumpy Griffin on the airplane and then finds out he’s the groom’s best friend and best man. And Griffin is clearly operating under some chronic pain and major anxiety. Dual POV here as Layla and Griffin stick together to deal with the bride’s cold feet. Both Layla and Griffin are very guarded and not willing to overshare at first, but they just seem to have that instant energy connecting them. Finally learning Griffin’s backstory and how he became injured will break your heart. Ugh, the loveliest book. You should definitely read it. Avoid if you’re sensitive about a recent breakup, I think.

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

Set Point by Meg Jones (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Game, Set, Match series. Ines and Chloe have been rivals on the tennis court for years, mostly from Chloe being aggressive and unprofessional. Plus she ghosted Ines once after they kissed at a party. It doesn’t help that Chloe is now dating Ines’ former mixed doubles partner. Somehow, they get entangled together again as Chloe tries to clean up her act and Ines is working on a comeback. It’s bickering and tension for most of the book, until they finally start being honest with each other. Definitely some toxic parents and upbringing for Chloe that I’m sure contributes to her mental health. Ines is the mature one here, but definitely vulnerable with the way Chloe hurt her before. It’s messy and chaotic, but so much fun to read.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio.

Nearly a Bride by Sabrina Jeffries (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Lords of Hazard series. Loads of plot and intrigue here. Giselle needs help from the Earl of Heathbrook because she fears her passport from France to England is being questioned. Heath proposes a deal where they pretend to be engaged because he also needs help appearing the upstanding gentleman to gain custody of his younger brothers. There’s an overbearing cousin in the mix, along with whatever villain is chasing Giselle. There’s tons of action here, with danger around most corners. The romance here is fairly straightforward, with Heath trying his best not to ruin Giselle, and Giselle trying to resist being taken advantage of. Overall, the plot twists are a lot of fun to read and I loved how they all became a family.

Advance ebook provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Recorded Books.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Weekly Reads: April 20 to 26, 2026 (fantasy romance, contemporary romance, historical romance)

Apr 28, 2026

The Thorn Queen by Sasha Peyton Smith (2026)

Fantasy romance. Book 2 of the Rose Bargain series. Continuation of The Rose Bargain and pretty much makes no sense if you didn’t read it. Ivy is our main character here, human lady married to a magical king, and in love with his human stepbrother instead. She’s trying to fight evil, save her sister, find her true love, and dissolve her marriage. There’s plotting and trials and danger all around. And hey, we did not unexpectedly end on a cliffhanger this time. Conclusion to the duology.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Family drama meets fake engagement situation here. Sutton is back in her small town to care for her mother who was recently in a car accident. Mom is a mean old lady who is totally unappreciative of Sutton and has all sorts of issues from when her husband left her. Sutton has her own control issues and gets dumped pretty much the first sentence of the book. She runs into her old high school friend who is trying to convince her own fiance to go to pre-marital therapy. The guy and his brother Elijah think the therapy thing is a joke and that a therapist wouldn’t be able to tell if complete strangers were faking a relationship. And so we start some sort of wager here and Sutton and Elijah are the strangers sent to therapy. But of course, they have amazing chemistry, and the therapy sessions are actually kind of helpful. Super steamy romance ensues. But of course, they live in two different towns and have their own individual baggage, so we get to see how it all blows up. Loved this book so much.

Advance ebook provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Macmillan audio.

Earl on Fire by Felicity Niven (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Henry is a stodgy old earl who ends up caring for his young granddaughter after his son passes away. Lucky for him (and her), little Mina is sweet and affectionate and Henry pretty much dotes on her. She tasks him with finding the author of some storybooks and to get married so she can have a grandmother. He tracks the author to some small village and encounters a delightful woman there instead. Susannah has been a bit of a village pariah (for reasons to be revealed later) and is wary of the handsome stranger. But when her circumstances change, she owns up to the fact that she’s the author he’s been looking for and she needs the employment. The romance here between people in middle age is sweet and fairly direct. No one has time to waste anymore. Definitely steamy and full of love, even with the social class differences between Henry and Susannah.

Advance ebook provided by Felicity Niven.

An Unforgettable Kiss by Alexa Aston (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 7 of the Captivating Kisses series. Con and Rowena meet at a ball and he’s tasked to dance with her by his cousin. He’s totally intrigued by her, even though he’s not ready to marry and she’s adamantly against marriage. In fact, she dresses frumpily on purpose to avoid suitors. They both end up at the same house party and Con decides to pursue her in earnest. He’s got a lot of convincing to do, but I had faith in him all along. I always love a good “he falls first” scenario, especially when he wants to do the honorable thing always.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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