The Rake Chronicles Historical Romance Book Series by Lydia Lloyd

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

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Weekly Reads: April 28 to May 4, 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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

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.

Shop this book via Amazon

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.

Top Five Reads of April 2025 – Historical Romance Books

Summer in the City by Alex Aster (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Lots of witty banter here and a very fun fake-dating story. Elle pretty much hates New York City and especially hates it when a stairwell hook-up at a club goes wrong. Two years later, she finds herself back in the city with major writer’s block trying to finish a screenplay that takes place there. Oh, and that stairwell hook-up lives next door. Parker is some tech billionaire who totally insulted her all those years ago and sort of rage-fuels Elle’s writing. He also needs a fake girlfriend for the Summer and asks Elle to take on the role. She figures she needs a sight-seeing buddy and there’s that whole writing muse thing, so she goes along with it. We get to see her slowly start to trust Parker, him being a strange mix of stoic and sweet, and a true relationship develop. I had a lot of fun reading this book and definitely recommend it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

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.

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

How to Get Away with Marriage by Fenna Edgewood (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Must Love Scandal series. Fake engagement for inheritance plot. We’ve met the amiable Hugh Cavendish in a previous book, but now he’s up for a fake engagement plot to show his aunt that he’s mature enough to collect his inheritance. He does not want to marry the spoiled and vain Edith who he had a childhood crush on, so would rather advertise for a fake fiancee in the newspaper. He never ends up doing that because he fake proposes to a schoolteacher in trouble instead. Triss is in need of a new position due to unwanted advances from a patron of the school and very hesitantly takes the fake fiancee job, despite the vast differences in her and Hugh’s social station. I loved seeing Hugh demonstrate what a great guy he is and Triss slowly start to trust him. I also enjoyed seeing Hugh’s loving relationship with his family and that we get to see all our favorite characters from Edgewood’s previous books.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Weekly Reads: April 21 to 27, 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

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Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

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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

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.

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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.

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

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.

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

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!

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

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Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

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Weekly Reads: April 14 to 20, 2025

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.

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

Summer in the City by Alex Aster (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Lots of witty banter here and a very fun fake-dating story. Elle pretty much hates New York City and especially hates it when a stairwell hook-up at a club goes wrong. Two years later, she finds herself back in the city with major writer’s block trying to finish a screenplay that takes place there. Oh, and that stairwell hook-up lives next door. Parker is some tech billionaire who totally insulted her all those years ago and sort of rage-fuels Elle’s writing. He also needs a fake girlfriend for the Summer and asks Elle to take on the role. She figures she needs a sight-seeing buddy and there’s that whole writing muse thing, so she goes along with it. We get to see her slowly start to trust Parker, him being a strange mix of stoic and sweet, and a true relationship develop. I had a lot of fun reading this book and definitely recommend it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

How to Get Away with Marriage by Fenna Edgewood (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Must Love Scandal series. Fake engagement for inheritance plot. We’ve met the amiable Hugh Cavendish in a previous book, but now he’s up for a fake engagement plot to show his aunt that he’s mature enough to collect his inheritance. He does not want to marry the spoiled and vain Edith who he had a childhood crush on, so would rather advertise for a fake fiancee in the newspaper. He never ends up doing that because he fake proposes to a schoolteacher in trouble instead. Triss is in need of a new position due to unwanted advances from a patron of the school and very hesitantly takes the fake fiancee job, despite the vast differences in her and Hugh’s social station. I loved seeing Hugh demonstrate what a great guy he is and Triss slowly start to trust him. I also enjoyed seeing Hugh’s loving relationship with his family and that we get to see all our favorite characters from Edgewood’s previous books.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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

Gardner Girls Historical Romance Book Series by Fenna Edgewood

Masks of Desire by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical Romance. Victorian-era England. Book 0 of the Gardner Girls series. This book was crazypants in all the best ways. We start off with Caroline’s cruel and villainous father telling her to break her longtime engagement to childhood friend Henry since he’s gotten his mistress pregnant, left her to die, and refusing to care for the baby. And then dear old Dad brings the baby into the room to show Caroline, and a very unique birthmark convinces her that her beloved has betrayed her. On the flip side of this, Henry is being told by his parents that Caroline has broken their engagement and will soon be engaged to someone of higher rank and social status. Basically, these two innocent people are being manipulated and lied to and torn apart by Caroline’s father. It’ll take a lot of maneuvering to get these two in the same room again and actually figure out the truth. There’s way more drama with Henry’s scapegrace brother and Caroline’s new fiance, so this book was very fun to read.

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

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

Mistakes Not to Make When Avoiding a Rake by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Gardner Girls series. Claire and Thomas do not make good first impressions of each other, mostly because the stuck-up Thomas is wary of females in general. But he seems to always be coming to Claire’s rescue, even if she is irritated by him. This story takes place primarily in a small country village, so everyone is up in everyone else’s business and gossip plays a big role in the misunderstandings between Claire and Thomas. This book is a pretty close Pride and Prejudice retelling with a few little shifts on the character relationships. I liked seeing the angry banter between Claire and Thomas and him realizing he was an arse most of the time. Definitely an entertaining read.

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

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To All the Earls I’ve Loved Before by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Gardner Girls series. Widowed Gwendolen is in a whole heap of trouble, being threatened by one man and being evicted by another. Luckily, a duke named Angel is ready to save the day by proposing a marriage of convenience. He’s the ultimate himbo character with a bit of a carefree foolish demeanor, but his protective instincts are spot on. He’s basically the best sort of man, offering his name and home and all his worldly resources to protect Gwendolen and her five-year-old son. Even though they’ve agreed on a marriage in name only, it’s so easy for these two to fall in love and desire more from each other. Lots of twists and turns here with the villain of Gwendolen’s story and how more information is revealed as the story proceeds. Loved this one.

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

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The Seafaring Lady’s Guide to Love by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Gardner Girls series. Rosalind Gardner is ready to set off on her adventure, so she’s at the docks getting ready to set sail. Except that when she goes to purchase her passage, the clerk says that the man who was previously there bought all the cabins. And then the reckless Rosalind tells the clerk that it’s no problem since she’s married to the man who just left. She figures she can just sneak onto the ship, reimburse the man, and then enjoy her journey across. Except Philip is a grumpy widower and a bit sensitive about the subject of a wife, and he’s the owner of the ship. It’s a lot of gruff and grumbly banter between Rosalind and Philip, despite the clear attraction they have. Also, get ready to hear Philip’s tragic backstory and an exciting brush with pirates. Super action-packed book that was very fun to read.

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

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

Once Upon a Midwinter’s Kiss by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Gardner Girls series. So much drama and danger! Gracie is traveling alone to visit some family friends when her carriage driver is attacked, the carriage overturns, and she is injured and alone in the snowy forest. She finds her way to the nearest shelter and taken in by the local lord, but they believe her to be a boy because she is dressed in the driver’s clothes. The housekeeper suggests to Gracie to keep up the ruse of being a boy, so she meets Linden, the baron of the castle, as Grayson. There’s definitely a spark of attraction between them, which mostly confuses Linden, but he also feels guilty because he’s kinda sorta engaged to the woman his parents supposedly arranged for him to marry. There’s of course the mystery of how his parents died all those years ago, but it’s pretty clear that the overbearing steward is a prime suspect for the reader. Lots of twists and turns as the mystery gets unraveled, but luckily the romance part is easy and delightful. Loved this story.

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

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

Mistletoe Journey by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4.5 of the Gardner Girls series. Quick and steamy novella with 50+ year old leads. Widowed Caroline Gardner and Captain John Merriweather are traveling together to go meet John’s new ward. There’s been a bit of simmering attraction for each other for awhile now as they’ve spent the holidays with the extended Gardner family, and they finally get a chance to act on that attraction while stuck in a small village during a snowstorm. This one is a bonus story free on the author’s website, so it’s nice and quick to read. Loved seeing this older couple find love together.

Ebook free from author’s website.

Get this book on the author’s website.

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

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

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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: April 7 to 13, 2025

When Sparks Fly by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4.5 of the School for Heiresses series. Quick little Christmas novella. Wealthy heiress Ellie is traveling with her aunt and young cousins home for Christmas when her aunt is in a carriage accident and injures her ankle. They whole crew need to stay with the nearby grumpy baron, Martin, who has a terrible reputation after the death of his brother. He’s a total grump, feels guilty over his brother’s death, and would rather be experimenting with explosives to help the miners who work on his land. But he’s totally drawn to Ellie, despite his original misconceptions about her. It’s a quick burn romance here for these two and very fun to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

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.

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

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

Once Upon a Midwinter’s Kiss by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Gardner Girls series. So much drama and danger! Gracie is traveling alone to visit some family friends when her carriage driver is attacked, the carriage overturns, and she is injured and alone in the snowy forest. She finds her way to the nearest shelter and taken in by the local lord, but they believe her to be a boy because she is dressed in the driver’s clothes. The housekeeper suggests to Gracie to keep up the ruse of being a boy, so she meets Linden, the baron of the castle, as Grayson. There’s definitely a spark of attraction between them, which mostly confuses Linden, but he also feels guilty because he’s kinda sorta engaged to the woman his parents supposedly arranged for him to marry. There’s of course the mystery of how his parents died all those years ago, but it’s pretty clear that the overbearing steward is a prime suspect for the reader. Lots of twists and turns as the mystery gets unraveled, but luckily the romance part is easy and delightful. Loved this story.

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

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

Mistletoe Journey by Fenna Edgewood (2021)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4.5 of the Gardner Girls series. Quick and steamy novella with 50+ year old leads. Widowed Caroline Gardner and Captain John Merriweather are traveling together to go meet John’s new ward. There’s been a bit of simmering attraction for each other for awhile now as they’ve spent the holidays with the extended Gardner family, and they finally get a chance to act on that attraction while stuck in a small village during a snowstorm. This one is a bonus story free on the author’s website, so it’s nice and quick to read. Loved seeing this older couple find love together.

Ebook free from author’s website.

Get this book on the author’s website.

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.

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

Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries (2013)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2.5 of the School for Heiresses series. Quick little novella. Eliza is running away from her uncle guardian who means to marry her off to his friend. She tries to borrow a horse from the new earl’s stable, not realizing he’s in residence. Colin is newly arrived to his estate from India and distrustful of almost everything. There’s a lot of verbal sparring between Eliza and Colin as he tries to high-handedly protect her, but also scare her about the dangers of men. It’s an insta-lust, steamy novella here, with a neat and tidy happily ever after.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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:

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

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

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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: March 31 to April 6, 2025

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries (2008)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the School for Heiresses series. Anthony is a wicked gentleman who has just inherited a viscount title and wants to gain custody of his niece away from his cruel aunt and uncle. He tries to get the niece enrolled at a reputable girls’ school, but his terrible reputation and looming custody battle make all the schools wary of taking her on. Madeline is a teacher at Mrs. Harris’ school and somehow manages to negotiate a deal for Anthony, where he cleans up his act and gives rake lessons to the girls at the school so they know what to avoid. She has her own ulterior motives because she needs to meet one of Anthony’s scientist friends to help her own father’s dire situation. It’s all a muddle with lies and secret keeping (mostly on Madeline’s part) and of course Anthony is trying his best to seduce Madeline in the meantime. This book had the perfect blend of external conflict with the slow burn romance between our main characters. Loved seeing Anthony start to sober up and take care of his responsibilities.

Ebook and audiobook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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

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

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.

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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.

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

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

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Who’s Olive?


Hi, I'm Olivia, aka Olive. I'm always trying out random crafts and things... so this blog shows the evolution of all the stuff I'm interested in.

Hobby Timeline:
2014-2015: Photography, digital scrapbooking
2015-2017: Brush lettering
2018-2021: Crochet
2021-present: Romance book reading

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