Book Reviews - Random Olive

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Weekly Reads: May 12 to 18, 2025

May 20, 2025

The Countess’s Christmas Groom by Fenna Edgewood (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Blakely Manor series. Quick and steamy novella, where widowed countess Kat is at her family estate for a Christmas house party and she starts a flirtation (and more) with temporary footman and stable groom Ash. They’re basically pushed together through a series of meddlesome acts by others, but the attraction is simmering there and they definitely follow through. Kat is all sorts of skittish with her abusive late husband, but Ash is gentle and patient and kind. Excellent set up for the rest of the series which will feature Kat’s siblings.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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Beyond the Sunrise by Mary Balogh (1992)

Historical romance. Napoleonic Wartime Portugal. Standalone novel. We start with the typical aristocratic girl meets illegitimate son romance where they’re torn apart by disapproving parents. And then ten years later, we’re dumped into wartime Portugal, where Robert is an army captain who has worked his way up the ranks, and Joana (formerly Jeanne) is a widowed marquesa flirting her way through society. Robert recognizes Joana almost immediately and is wary of her French origins, while Joana does not realize the current Robert who avoids her advances is the same Robert of her youth. Throw in a bunch of complicated military espionage, and Robert thinks Joana is the enemy, when really, she’s deceptively skilled at her own wartime role. This book is angsty and fiery and full of intrigue. Really masterful work here showing how these two people fall in love despite their tenuous circumstances.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Clover Lake series. Small-town charm with a dash of celebrity here. Ramona is a small-town diner waitress with long-buried dreams of being a costume designer, but shelved everything to come home and help raise her younger sister when her single father is injured. Her sister is finally going off to college and Ramona’s meddling best friend encourages her to branch out. Lucky for them all, a rom-com is being filmed in their small town that summer and Ramona has her chance. One of the movie stars Dylan has her own issues with breaking out of her tabloid gossip cycle and finds comfort in hanging out with Ramona. Things get all sorts of messy with Dylan being the subject of internet fame and gossip and Ramona gets caught up in the whirlwind. The romance here is sweet and genuine in addition to scorching hot. I enjoyed seeing what wacky thing would happen next and I loved the whole cast of supporting small town characters.

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

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Linz McLeod (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Austentatious series. Mrs. Charlotte Collins has just become a widow after four years of marriage and contemplating the next steps for her life. While in mourning, her best friend’s sister Mary Bennet has come to visit and Charlotte starts to have less-than-friendly feelings for the woman. Mary is a self-proclaimed spinster who enjoys her academic pursuits and living with her aunt. She’s bold and original and Charlotte can’t stop thinking about her. We get the whole story from Charlotte’s point of view, with all her insecurities, self-doubts, and general hesitance at life. It’s definitely a slow-burn romance and a learning experience for Charlotte, who has been lonely and sheltered all these years. Loved it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio.

Crossing Paths by Katie Ruggle (2025)

Romantic suspense. Book 2 of the Beneath the Wild Sky series. Absolute chaos in all the best ways. Norah and her sisters are bounty hunters, but Norah’s usually a behind the scenes gal doing research from behind her computer screen. Until one of their targets hacks into her computer and sends creepy chat box messages. Along with all that, she’s also taking self-defense lessons from Dash, the local ex-MMA fighter and gym owner. The romance here is super cute and Dash is the ultimate gruff and protective sort. But the real drama revolves around Norah’s digital stalker, plus some other close calls with danger. I mean, we go from drinks on the couch at Dash’s apartment to fire bombs being thrown in the window real fast. It’s the kind of crazy danger that just makes the book more funny than fearsome. Definitely a fun ride.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Until the Rake Surrenders by Darcy Burke (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Rogue Rules series. Fairly straightforward friends to lovers story, with a smidge of danger and drama. Lady Minerva is at a house party and knows that the hostess has been charged with matchmaking while her mother is not in attendance. Luckily or unluckily, her brother’s friend Evan is injured while doing tricks on his horse and Min plays the sister-friend card to go spend time with him while he’s recuperating. And while they’re together, they actually become friendlier and closer together. Fast forward a few weeks and they’re both in Bath for a mini-social season and Min’s mother is encouraging her to find a titled lord to marry. But she’s too busy thinking of Evan, even though her mother doesn’t approve. We get some family drama revealed related to Min’s parents and Evan is dealing with his own scandal. It was fun to read these two interact with each other and how easy their relationship developed out of their friendship. Definitely a solid read.

Advance ebook provided by Darcy Burke.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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

Gilded West Historical Romance Book Series by Harper St. George

May 15, 2025

The Runaway Heiress by Harper St. George (2025)

Historical romance. American West. Book 0 of the Gilded West series. Super short read here. Sophie is the niece of some unscrupulous miner and she’s being married off to some other shady character. She’s also got a crush on Gray, who works for her uncle as a gunslinger. Of course, Gray is actually working undercover to bring down the evil uncle for his crimes and he’s also got a crush on Sophie. She tries to run away from the wedding, but he catches her and needs to bring her back, but maybe not before spending a night in his rooms. Quick and steamy little novella.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Copper Heir by Harper St. George (2025)

Historical romance. American West. Book 1 of the the Gilded West series. Emmaline is the stepdaughter of an outlaw who gets kidnapped by a rival outlaw gang as revenge. Although Hunter is no ordinary outlaw, since he’s also a wealthy miner and incredibly kind to Emmaline. But you know, she can’t really trust him, so she escapes and then somehow ends up at a brothel auction for her virginity so she can get enough money to run away with her sisters. And of course, Hunter finds her. Lots of action and adventure and shoot outs here with Emmaline and Hunter falling in love despite their impossible circumstances.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Bastard Heir by Harper St. George (2025)

Historical romance. American West. Book 2 of the Gilded West series. Caroline is not happy about her parents’ stipulation that she get married before going to medical school, but she’ll deal with that after her trip out West for a family wedding. Except she runs into a bit of danger on the train and gets entangled with an outlaw, who just happens to be the brother of the groom at the wedding she’s attending. Castillo wants to make sure Caroline keeps quiet about his dual-identity, and she bargains with him to snag a fake courtship so her parents will stop nagging about marriage. But of course, these two are intensely attracted to each other, despite their very different goals in life. It’s high drama and high steam in this quick read.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Gilded Lady by Harper St. George (2025)

Historical romance. American West. Book 3 of the Gilded West series. Glory is the owner and proprietress of the opulent local brothel and she’s being blackmailed. She seeks the assistance of the friendly neighborhood outlaw Zane to find the blackmailer. He takes it upon himself to be her personal bodyguard and protector while he does the job. Glory and Zane have been circling around each other for awhile now, but she’s got past traumas that keep her away from men and Zane has his own tragic backstory when it comes to love. However, their forced proximity causes them both to confront their demons and try to find some joy with each other. It’s a mess of danger with Glory’s blackmailer and past demons coming for her, so this book is definitely action-packed. I really enjoyed watching Glory open up to Zane and reveal all her secrets.

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:

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

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

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 5 to 11, 2025

May 13, 2025

Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath (2018)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Sins for All Seasons series. One of my favorite tropes is the revenge plot, and Lorraine Heath does it so well in this book. Mick Trewlove is the illegitimate son of a duke who won’t acknowledge him, so he sets his sights on financially ruining the legitimate heir and ruining the man’s fiancee. Lady Aslyn is basically a sheltered miss, the ward of the duke, and has had an understanding of an arranged marriage with the Earl of Kipwick her whole life. Except a chance encounter with Mick has her questioning basically everything, especially her own attraction to the man. Loved seeing the tough and grumble Mick turn into a doting suitor around Aslyn and the build up of his revenge. Although the idiotic earl makes everything much easier. Get ready for a really good final confrontation with the duke too. Loved it so much.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Dani’s life has kind of imploded after a break-up and getting fired from her job, so she’s off on a new adventure and new job in Amsterdam. Except her apartment sucks, her job is totally sketchy, and she crashes her bike into her old flame. Wouter was an exchange student living in her house and they had a secret relationship going until he went back home and broke her heart over text. Now they’ve run into each other and Wouter ends up bailing Dani out from her apartment woes, and eventually her visa-related woes. We get an awkward marriage of convenience plot here, and you can feel the tension between these two with every interaction. It’s emotional and steamy and loads of banter. I really enjoyed reading this book. Always a bonus when the first-love learns some bedroom moves and dirty talk while they’re apart for 13 years.

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

When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath (2018)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Sins for All Seasons series. The Duke of Thornley is having a no-good very bad day when he gets left at the altar, attacked by thugs, and left for dead in the alleyway behind a tavern. Luckily, tavern-owner Gillie rescues him and sets him back to health. She’s never felt attraction for a man before and generally keeps to herself and is the rough and tumble tavern owner, but she’s instantly attracted to Thorne when he shows up in her life. Learning that he’s a duke has not deterred her attraction, even as she knows it’s a terrible idea to get involved with him. But he needs help finding his missing fiancee and believes Gillie can provide that assistance. He’s realizing that he prefers Gillie’s company over anyone else’s, but it’s still all a bad idea due to their differences in social station. I loved seeing these two people banter and communicate and finally come together.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Super steamy flirting and banter between these two workplace rivals stuck together on a training retreat. Tris is your typical woman of color in a white male-dominated workforce, overlooked for many promotions, and losing out leadership positions to the boss’s son Rafe. She’s totally surprised when she’s selected to go on a training retreat in Maui, but irritated that she’s stuck traveling with her rival Rafe. Being forced to share a room might actually force them to call a truce though, and we get all sorts of angry flirting along the way. Once we get away from the taunting each other and get to the actual relationship-building, I loved this book, and loved how sweet Rafe actually was (and not the dude-bro persona he gives off).

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

The King of Whitechapel by Barbara Russell (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 7 of the Victorian Outcasts series. Loved this quick second chance romance read. Elizabeth is the youngest daughter of an earl who is curious about the new secret visitor to her house. Christopher is the illegitimate son of a duke who was expelled from Eton and sent to the earl’s house to stay temporarily. They grow closer together when they get stuck in a terrible snowstorm, but are pretty much forced to separate upon their return to the big manor house, and also need to keep their time together a secret. We jump forward five years and Elizabeth is pretty much coerced into a courtship with Christopher’s brother and current duke. It was interesting to see how they work out their relationship after being separated all these years and for Elizabeth to finally push back against her parents. We get to see Christopher’s new domain in Whitechapel and how he allows a false but vicious reputation surround him. Loved seeing these two together again.

Advance ebook provided by Olive Heber Books via BookSprout.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

A Touch of Steele by Cathy Maxwell (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Gambler’s Daughters series. Excellent mystery-adventure plot here. Beckett Steele is seeking answers about the dreams he’s been having about someone who he believes to be his mother, and to do this, he’s decided to infiltrate a country house party of the father he has never met. Beckett enlists Gwendolyn’s help to go to the party and provide a card-playing distraction, but when they get there, nothing is quite what it seems. We get some early hints throughout the book about Beckett’s identity and danger lurking behind every corner. I loved how easy the romance part was, so that these two could quickly team up against the dangers that surround them.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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.

The Rake Chronicles Historical Romance Book Series by Lydia Lloyd

May 9, 2025

When the Duke Loved Me by Lydia Lloyd (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Rake Chronicles series. If you enjoy historical romances that involve a mystery or quest, this one will definitely be for you. We start with a garden tryst that ends badly when a duke’s heir and a country miss find out that the person they’re trysting with is a longtime family enemy due to prior scandal. We jump seven years later to find that John, the new duke, is stuck executing an arduous component of his father’s will in order to prevent further scandal to be heaped upon his sister’s reputation. He needs to find his father’s former lover and give her an annuity to fulfill the will and save his sister’s dowry. John needs the help of the woman’s niece, Catherine, who has also borne the brunt of the old family scandal and now lives in poverty with the family of a baronet. Over the course of the book, we learn that the old duke’s indiscretion was revealed loudly and caused a great deal of upheaval for both families involved. Catherine agrees to help John locate her aunt in exchange for money, but she has little hope of finding the woman who ran off and was never seen again. While John and Catherine try to stay serious and professional with each other, it’s clear that they are still attracted to each other, and wish that their family circumstances weren’t so complicated. I really enjoyed learning more about the past scandal as bits and pieces of history unfolded as these two try to locate her aunt. Everything tied together so well and was really interesting to uncover. And of course, the steamy romance between John and Catherine was exceptional.

Advance ebook provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley.

When the Viscount Wanted Me by Lydia Lloyd (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Rake Chronicles series. Henrietta is a beautiful and sought after debutante who has a tryst with a man she believes to be her friend, but is now being pushy about marriage. Trem overhears the man lamenting over Henrietta’s rejection and suspects that the man is trying to ruin Henrietta’s reputation. Being Henrietta’s brother’s best friend, Trem tries to resolve the issue by questioning the lady. Turns out the pushy guy’s accusations were true and now Trem sees Henrietta in a new (and attractive) light. They pretty quickly start their own affair and end up engaged in the process. Henrietta has had a longstanding crush on Trem and is pleased that he desires her in return, but is keeping secrets about her parentage and worries over Trem’s reaction. This book was high on the steam, quick on the getting together, and also high in external drama. An entertaining adventure.

Advance ebook provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley.

When the Earl Desired Me by Lydia Lloyd (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Rake Chronicles series. This one is a second chance romance between an earl and a former maid in his house who he has not seen in thirteen years. Augustus and Olivia has a secret relationship many years ago until she disappears out of the blue and leaves him heartbroken. It turns out that she received a note from him dismissing her and asking her to leave. Clearly, he was not the one to have left this note, but that doesn’t change the fact that she leaves the country. She’s back now as a lady’s companion and these two have a chance to reconnect. Augustus is determined to never let her out of his sight again and is serious in his intentions for her. It also turns out that his rakish reputation is not what it seems and I love how he reveals all of this to Olivia. Super steamy and sweet all at once.

Advance ebook provided by Lydia Lloyd via BookSprout.

When the Lord Adored Me by Lydia Lloyd (2024)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Part of the Rake Chronicles series. Lady Petunia is off on an adventure through Europe with her mother after rejecting her best friend Lord Edgar’s proposal. And when she’s busy with another man, she realizes she made a horrible mistake and would rather be with Edgar. As soon as she gets home, she goes to belated accept his proposal, but he’s spent the past year trying to get over her and realize that they’re total opposites and might not be able to build a marriage together. Somehow, they end up in a 12 days of Christmas bargain at Edgar’s brother’s townhouse that’s used for liaisons. We’re in for a steamy treat for most of the book, but still with amazing emotional connection and depth. Loved this quick and dirty read.

Ebook provided by Lydia Lloyd.

Download this book from the author’s website.

When the Marquess Needed Me by Lydia Lloyd (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rake Chronicles series. Leith is pretty much the most uptight and repressed sort of fellow I’ve ever read and basically beds all his mistresses completely clothed and in a perfunctory nature. It all changes with Beatrice though, who demands to be bedded with more skill and variety as she learns to be a courtesan. Of course, everyone gets their feelings involved and both of these people need to let go of their separate hang-ups, but it was really nice to see two people communicate well and let down their walls. Loads of spice, flirting, banter, and a whole lot of teary-eyed emotional support. Excellent conclusion to the series.

Advance ebook provided by Tule Books via BookSprout.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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 28 to May 4, 2025

May 6, 2025

A Duke for All Seasons by Fenna Edgewood (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Must Love Scandal series. Maggie is a maid in a duke’s household who had been raped and impregnated by the old duke and about to be thrown out by the widowed duchess. But new duke Lance is here to save the day, first by insisting that Maggie stay in the castle, and second by marrying her to provide for her unborn child. I love a good marriage of convenience story, especially one with such protection and caretaking. We unravel more of the overarching mystery of human trafficking and see Lance uncover all his uncle’s secrets. This one kept me reading the whole way through to see how Lance and Maggie finally learn to trust each other. Loads of drama and angst.

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

The Bluestocking Beds Her Bride by Fenna Edgewood (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Must Love Scandal series. We finally get the conclusion to all of the terrible dealings of the Black Lodge here and we get to see our favorite side characters, Julia and Fleur get their own happy endings. Julia is the daughter of a marquess who has given up on society’s rules and runs her society for endangered women. It’s also an open secret that Julia prefers to spend her intimate encounters with women. After some tragic events of her own, Fleur and her childhood friend Jasper have landed in London to help teach at the society, but Fleur is terrible with children and tries to solicit Julia for a new role. Fleur somehow gets roped into a rescue mission at a house party and learns a lot more about herself along the way. I loved seeing the prickly Fleur learn to actually have emotions and take risks, plus loads of action-adventure with our external mystery. Excellent conclusion to the series.

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

The Duke’s Spinster by Eliana Piers (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Duke Dare series. This book had a lot of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes, with both parties being involved in a bet of some sort. Lady Boudicca is dared by her sisters to snare a duke even though she’s pretty much a spinster and does not have any interest in marrying. Meanwhile Wesley is bet by his friends to court and propose to the next woman he bumps into at a ball, and he unfortunately bumps right into Boudicca. It’s a tragic sort of courting because Wesley thinks that it’ll be easy to impress any woman, and Boudicca is giving him crap for not bringing flowers on his first visit. It was fun to see these two people try so hard not to fall into a trap, and end up in love anyway.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriela Gamez (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Librarians in Love series. Excellent read, seriously. Angela is embroiled in TikTok virality and also admits to being never been kissed or in any sort of relationship. There’s a whole lot of self-doubt and self-discovery baked into this story, as Angela navigates her desire to connect with others along with trying not to fall fully in love with her crush Krystal. Angela decides upon some sort of scavenger hunt for the ladies of the internet to give Angela her first kiss, and she recruits Krystal to assist, even though there’s clearly simmering feelings between them. We get some more messy drama in the form of Angela’s bullying cousins, and Krystal’s romantic backstory. I loved reading these two crushes become friends and then more.

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

The Duke’s Goddess by Eliana Piers (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Duke Dare series. It’s Joan’s turn to try to snare her duke, but she’s not interested either. Somehow, she gets caught up with rakish duke James in playing matchmaker for their friends instead. And as they spend more time together, Joan starts to realize she’s actually attracted to this guy and James realizes that maybe he’s capable of love after all. This one is a quick and solid read with just the right amount of steam.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Books via NetGalley.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Spunes series. Loved it so much! Get ready for all sorts of emotional turmoil. Wren and Ellis became parents at age 17 and 18, got married young, and got divorced about 5 years ago. Now, their son is off to college, and Ellis is suggesting a victory road trip, just the two of them. He’s clearly got motives of getting her back and it’s nice that he’s actually up front about it before they begin. This book is emotionally heavy as they deal with all the things they bottled up those years ago, and try to learn to communicate between in the present. I loved seeing these two work out their issues and actually talk to each other about their worries and dreams. There’s also a really good mix of humor and spice throughout the book. Excellent read.

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

When the Marquess Needed Me by Lydia Lloyd (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Rake Chronicles series. Leith is pretty much the most uptight and repressed sort of fellow I’ve ever read and basically beds all his mistresses completely clothed and in a perfunctory nature. It all changes with Beatrice though, who demands to be bedded with more skill and variety as she learns to be a courtesan. Of course, everyone gets their feelings involved and both of these people need to let go of their separate hang-ups, but it was really nice to see two people communicate well and let down their walls. Loads of spice, flirting, banter, and a whole lot of teary-eyed emotional support. Excellent conclusion to the series.

Advance ebook provided by Tule Books via BookSprout.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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.

New Releases for April 2025 – Historical Romance and Contemporary Romance Books

Apr 30, 2025

An Impulsive Kiss by Alexa Aston (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Captivating Kisses series. Judson has a tragic backstory here with being bullied at school and then beaten and punished by his guardian uncle at home, to the point where he thinks that he’s dark inside and doesn’t deserve love. He meets Lucy, who’s in her debut season, and even though he’s attracted to her, he thinks she deserves someone better and stays away. Until he can’t. Lucy is equally attracted to Judson, but she’s trying her best to enjoy her first season and look for a serious prospect to marry. But we all know she’s going to end up with Judson anyway. I loved how Judson slowly starts to open up to Lucy and some new friends and starts to yearn for love and affection for himself. We get some bonus drama with some villainous bullies and that terrible uncle, but it all resolves pretty quickly without leaving us hanging. An easy and comfy read.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

The Duke Disaster by Kathleen Ayers (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the League of Extraordinary Widows series. Widowed Celia is living it up after getting out from under the overbearing thumb of her brother-in-law. She was basically unloved and discarded by her husband immediately upon marriage, so she’s doing her best to find some fun and affection. Unfortunately, it has caused her to collect a scandalous reputation and the family duke, Oliver, is called in to corral her behavior. Oliver is the model of propriety and rigid in all his standards, mostly due to the influence of his very strict mother, so he is instantly aggravated by Celia’s behavior, despite being intensely attracted to her. His anger/attraction is clearly about the boil over at any moment, and we’re not sure if it’ll lead to a proposal or an affair. Celia really is just looking for any shred of affection and her reality is not as scandalous as her reputation appears, but she does love to thumb her nose at all of Oliver’s strict mandates. It’s pretty tense to read how much they dislike each other and I did wonder how they would eventually work it out. Overall, a solid steamy read.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Duke and Lady Scandal by Christy Carlyle (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Princes of London series. Super fun adventure-type romance between an outspoken bluestocking and a gruff Scotland Yard inspector. Alexandra (Allie to her friends and family) has been left behind to run the family antique shop while her siblings are off on an excavation and she overhears some possibly nefarious plotting at the coffee shop next door. She’s instantly off to Scotland Yard to warn someone and instantly connects with Ben, the serious inspector she meets there. Ben’s pretty much the only person to take her seriously, so she’s extra impressed by him. It’s most definitely instant attraction for both of these two, but they’re doing their best to keep things professional. Somehow, they end up entangled with each other through this mystery and have to team up to put all their clues together. Really enjoyable read.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.

A Duke Never Tells by Suzanne Enoch (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. A quick little trip to spy on Meg’s future husband has turned into total disaster in this very funny historical rom-com. Basically, Lady Meg is in an arranged marriage to a duke with a terrible reputation, so she and her aunt Clara go playing a part of a lady and companion to visit the duke’s estate. Except James is a grumbly sort of duke who is not interested in playing tour guide, so he pretends to be the butler and introduces his man of business Elliot as the duke. We have four different people pretending to be someone they’re not, and it all gets worse when Meg injures her ankle and they have to stay there (and keep up their roles for two weeks). And of course, we get a double romance here with Clara and Elliot pairing off and Meg and James growing closer together, no one knowing the other person’s true identity. It’s mostly funny and sweet and an enjoyable read, especially since we get to see all four characters POVs along the way.

Advance ebook provided by Bramble via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Dreamscape Media.

Hardly a Gentleman by Eloisa James (2025)

Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Book 2 of the Accidental Brides series. Clara is a walking scandal after hitting the prince with her reticule. On her way to Scotland to stay with her aunt, she hitches a ride with another carriage who’s there to pick up a new housekeeper. She’s clearly not a housekeeper and an even worse fake housekeeper, but she’s befriended the driver and she’s on her way. Caelan is the widowed laird who has basically let his estate go to rot because he’s completely apathetic and rustic. But the whole town thinks that he’s heartbroken over the loss of his wife and he doesn’t even have the interest to correct them. When Clara shows up as the new housekeeper, he knows she’s really a lady, but he’s instantly attracted to her and eventually decides he wants to keep her. I loved how delightfully messy these two people are and how they’re able to be fairly direct and honest with each other. It was a lot of fun to read their romance develop and get to know that meddlesome town Caelan oversees.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Hazardous to a Duke’s Heart by Sabrina Jeffries (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Lords of Hazards series. Jon comes back from a French prison after being detained for 11 years to find himself a duke. And the daughter of his mentor now lives in his house as his sister’s governess. Due to Jon’s guilt over his mentor’s death, he decides to secretly give Tori a dowry to see her settled into marriage, but he knows he’s not a prospective husband because she’ll end up hating him for what happened with her father. Tori’s totally uninterested in marriage due to her own secrets, and she’d rather use the money to open an art school. There’s a whole lot of bickering and banter between Jon and Tori, but they’re very much attracted to each other, and can’t quite seem to stay away. I enjoyed reading this book and learning all of the backstory and secrets our main characters are hiding. And of course Jon is a much better man than he’s giving himself credit for.

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

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Second chance romance time after crashing on a deserted island. Piper is on her way to her best friend’s destination wedding and a cancelled flight puts her on a private plane with her ex-boyfriend Wyatt piloting. And then they crash and are stuck together on an island til rescue can come. Awkward. But also gives them a chance to actually talk to each other and make-up. We get a split of present-day and past-day chapters, all from Piper’s POV, so we get to slowly see how they got together as high schoolers and then we slowly see how they become more comfortable around each other on the island. Between the survival terror and the emotional angst here, it makes for a higher-stakes read than most contemporary romances. I enjoyed it and thought that Wyatt’s caretaking of Piper was really nice. Spice level is fade-to-black.

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

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.

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Weekly Reads: April 21 to 27, 2025

Apr 29, 2025

Hardly a Gentleman by Eloisa James (2025)

Historical romance. Georgian-era England. Book 2 of the Accidental Brides series. Clara is a walking scandal after hitting the prince with her reticule. On her way to Scotland to stay with her aunt, she hitches a ride with another carriage who’s there to pick up a new housekeeper. She’s clearly not a housekeeper and an even worse fake housekeeper, but she’s befriended the driver and she’s on her way. Caelan is the widowed laird who has basically let his estate go to rot because he’s completely apathetic and rustic. But the whole town thinks that he’s heartbroken over the loss of his wife and he doesn’t even have the interest to correct them. When Clara shows up as the new housekeeper, he knows she’s really a lady, but he’s instantly attracted to her and eventually decides he wants to keep her. I loved how delightfully messy these two people are and how they’re able to be fairly direct and honest with each other. It was a lot of fun to read their romance develop and get to know that meddlesome town Caelan oversees.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Single Player by Tara Tai (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Cat and Andi have the worst first meeting ever where they make awful first impressions; Cat being rambly and awkward and Andi being cold and standoffish. And Cat gets to be the unwanted temporary employee at Andi’s company, so the work tension is definitely high. Oh, and Andi was totally cold because she was busy being distracted by her intense attraction towards Cat. We have a lot of messy miscommunication here and it’s complicated by the fact that Andi is basically afraid of the world after having been doxxed, stalked, and reviled for years, and Cat is a chronic people pleaser who fakes her personality to match whatever she thinks someone else wants her to be. It’s definitely a slow burn romance as these two very very very slowly become friends and then more. Throw in a bit of workplace sabotage, and we get a very interesting story to read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

What Dreams May Come by Christina Dodd (2025)

Historical romance. Book 1.5 of the Daughter of Montague series. Basically just a one-night adventure story. Rosie has discovered that her younger sister and her friend, the princess, have gone out at night dressed as boys and the princess lost her mother’s ring at a brothel. Rosie goes out to recover the ring and ends up in a series of misfortunes before being rescued/captured by her betrothed. Quick little novella.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke Disaster by Kathleen Ayers (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the League of Extraordinary Widows series. Widowed Celia is living it up after getting out from under the overbearing thumb of her brother-in-law. She was basically unloved and discarded by her husband immediately upon marriage, so she’s doing her best to find some fun and affection. Unfortunately, it has caused her to collect a scandalous reputation and the family duke, Oliver, is called in to corral her behavior. Oliver is the model of propriety and rigid in all his standards, mostly due to the influence of his very strict mother, so he is instantly aggravated by Celia’s behavior, despite being intensely attracted to her. His anger/attraction is clearly about the boil over at any moment, and we’re not sure if it’ll lead to a proposal or an affair. Celia really is just looking for any shred of affection and her reality is not as scandalous as her reputation appears, but she does love to thumb her nose at all of Oliver’s strict mandates. It’s pretty tense to read how much they dislike each other and I did wonder how they would eventually work it out. Overall, a solid steamy read.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Duke Report by Fenna Edgewood (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Must Love Scandal series. Tragic prologue for all where Cherry is a single mother grieving the loss of her husband and in a different time and place, Cross is a single father grieving the loss of his wife. Both swear never to love again to avoid another heartbreak. Years later, Cross runs into Cherry in a darkened room, has no idea who she is, mistakes her for a lady he was going to have an assignation with, and kisses her neck. It’s not a good start because Cherry is completely indignant at the situation and tells him off. Cherry is also alarmed that a maid who was supposed to meet her to discuss a secret group of men who have harmed women didn’t show up. There’s a wicked mystery going on in this book with powerful men causing serious harm, and Cherry is the investigative journalist who’s on the case. Until she writes a column blaming the wrong man, and gets entangled back up with Cross, as he clears his name. I loved the flirty banter here and how well their families blended together once their children meet up. We also continue with the mystery that was left hanging from the previous book and learn more about these cruel abductors.

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

The Thrashers by Julie Soto (2025)

Young Adult Thriller. Standalone novel. This book was a lot of fun to read and kept me hooked to find out what happens next. We’re in a high school setting where one girl has committed suicide and five students who make up a tight-knit popular friend group are accused of bullying. We get the whole story from Jodi’s perspective, one of the five, but who often feels like the odd one out. It was super interesting to see the friend group dynamics change over the timeframe of the criminal investigation for these teens. Add in some possible haunting and we’ve got some eerie things happening.

Advance ebook provided by Wednesday 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:

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

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

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.

Wilmot Sisters Contemporary Romance Book Series by Chloe Liese

Apr 23, 2025

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese (2022)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Wilmot Sisters series. Everyone gets off on the wrong foot here when autistic Bea and anxious Jamie are pushed towards each other at a party. He basically says the wrong thing all the time, coming off as an arrogant jerk when he’s really just tongue-tied, and Bea is the ultimate klutz that night spilling drinks on Jamie multiple times. Despite the horrible meet-disaster, their meddling friends and family trick them into a date. So Bea proposes they fake-date and then break up as revenge for the meddling friend group. And of course, in the time they spend together, they realize they’re a perfect fit. This book had so much cute witty banter, plenty of steam, and I loved how Bea and Jamie understood each other so well once they opened up to each other.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Wilmot Sisters series. This book dragged for me a little, but it was still entertaining. This series feels like a low-drama, typical contemporary romance, where the only thing happening is two people learning to communicate with each other. Kate and Christopher have known each other their whole lives, being next door neighbors and all, but Christopher does not have any brotherly affection for Kate at all. He’s basically trying to suppress his own attraction and longing for her because of his own worries and anxieties about commitment and her nomadic lifestyle. Kate pretty much hates everything about Christopher’s straight-laced non-risk-taking life, but it’s mostly because she doesn’t try to get to know him either. It’s all a big huge mess of Christopher attempting to distance himself from Kate, not realizing that he’s hurt her in the process. It’s a bit rough watching them both try to communicate directly and second-guessing themselves along the way. Still, the steaminess is great, and once Christopher stops being an ass, he’s really very sweet and thoughtful.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Wilmot Sisters series. Juliet is all sorts of reluctant around romance after ending a toxic relationship last year, but she keeps crossing paths with Will as if it’s fated. Plus, he’s completely awkward at romance too, and somehow feels safe to Juliet. They strike up a deal to help each other practice flirting and dating. And of course they fall for each other along the way. The plot here was fairly straightforward and fun to see them interacting with their larger friend group. Sweet and humorous and steamy all in one.

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:

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