Book Reviews | Random Olive

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Beneath the Wild Sky Romantic Suspense Series by Katie Ruggle

Mar 11, 2026

The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle (2024)

Romantic Suspense. Book 1 of the Beneath the Wild Sky series. Private investigator Bennett is looking for some missing jewels and is detoured by running into his target’s daughter Felicity. She’s a bounty hunter with a thieving mother who skipped bail and is trying to track her mom with her sisters. However, Bennett is her new stalker, so Felicity zigs while her sister zags to try to get the stalker away from her mother. Felicity and Bennett end up in a cozy mountain town to search for yet another bail jumper, this one with ties to a local militia and a history of dealing meth. It’s a fun adventure as Felicity finds new friends and allies in the town, along with tons of enemies. It’s all sorts of action-adventure in this book, and Felicity and Bennett grow closer as they survive all their wacky scenarios. Super crazy and chaotic and messy, and now I want to go back to Ruggle’s previous series to read more about the couples from this mountain town.

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

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

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.

Take a Hike by Katie Ruggle (2025)

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

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

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

Weekly Reads: March 2 to 8, 2026 (sports romance, contemporary romance, historical romance, thriller)

Mar 10, 2026

Fated Skates by Victoria Schade (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Second chance romance with figure skater Quinn and speed skater Ben, who is interviewing her for an in-depth streaming service special. Quinn was overmanaged by her mother and coach, totally bombed her performance at the last Olympics, and now training with a new team and a new attitude. Apparently, her comeback story is TV-worthy, and her former fling Ben is at the helm of the interview. She’s trying really hard to avoid him, or at the very least protect her heart, but we all know how this one is going to end. Cute story here.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Cozy mystery with a dash of romance. Pip is the assistant to a group of seven authors (in various genres) and they’re on their first book cruise. And then the head-boss, mystery writer Hugh, is murdered on practically the first day. Everyone on board the ship is a suspect, but especially the other six writers. There’s a mystery to solve, but at least Pip and Nash get to grow closer together. This one was fun to read, a little predictable, and reminded me a lot of The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm

Better than a Duke by Suzanne Enoch (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Opposites attract single parent romance here. Single dad Beckett is in town for the Season, courting a very proper young lady, at the insistence of his mother. His daughter Rebecca is nine years old and will likely need a mother figure soon to ease her way into society. And then Rebecca instantly makes friends with the boy next door, Edmund, who very conveniently has a widowed mother, Iris. As the two kids spend more time together, so do Beckett and Iris, forming their own friendship. The kids try to scheme to get their parents to couple up, but they’re mostly oblivious and trying to do what’s proper, even if they’re attracted to each other. Fun series of hijinks throughout the book and I love their blended family.

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

Home Ice Advantage by Ari Baran (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Penalty Box series. Workplace rivals to lovers to so much more here. Ryan is basically dumped by his wife and offered a new job all in the same week, with a new position as head coach. Unfortunately for him, the assistant coach Eric also wanted to job and is totally resentful of Ryan. What starts as angry bickering, turns to angry sex, and then a genuine connection between these two. I loved reading their relationship develop and them learning more about each other. It was just so easy for them to fall into the patterns of being real partners, especially since they see each other at work all the time. Loved this book so much. I mean, I love this whole series, so you should just read them all.

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

Shop this book via Barnes & Noble // Libro.fm

Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Second chance romance with so much angst. Andy has ditched her Hollywood lifestyle after a final betrayal from longtime girlfriend and co-star Nikki, has been hiding in a tiny seaside town for the past five years, and is a floral designer at a struggling flower shop. Unfortunately for her, Nikki is also in the same seaside town and also writing a memoir. It’s a lot of push and pull here as Nikki tries and fails to apologize for all the things that went wrong between them. The whole story is told from Andy’s point of view and we’re really left wondering if it’s even possible for forgive Nikki, especially when Andy is trying so hard to avoid talking about heavy topics. Loving Andy’s support network of friends and supportive parents here too.

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

She Fell Away by Lenore Nash (2026)

Thriller. Standalone novel. I like to read thrillers sparingly because I get so invested that I have to finish the book in a day. Luckily, I read this one on a Saturday. I picked this one up because I’ve read and enjoyed this author’s historical romances as Lenora Bell (with a rom-com historical style; her last book was a Grease retelling), so I was interested to read her debut thriller. Our main character Lake is not a detective at all, but somehow gets involved in the case of a dead football player Bruce, and a missing American exchange student Bowie, and wondering if these two cases are connected. We’ve got an intercut of chapters from Bowie’s point of view, but it’s mostly Lake following different leads on the missing Bowie. I love being suspicious of pretty much every character in the story as we learn more and get closer to solving the thing. Definitely kept me hooked the whole time.

Advance ebook provided by Atria Books via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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

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

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

Contemporary Romance Books with Fake Dating

Mar 9, 2026

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

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

Advance ebook provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea (2025)

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

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

The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Vancouver Storm series. Steamy fake dating romance here. Hazel and Rory have known each other since high school; he’s kind of an asshole, but learning to get along with his new team; she’s not interested in any sort of long term commitment and especially not with hockey players. But her toxic ex-boyfriend is traded to the team where she works and she pretends Rory is her boyfriend to get him to leave her alone. Rory, who is clearly smitten with Hazel, agrees to the ruse, but he’s really trying to convince her that this thing is real. Flirty banter the whole way through and learning about Rory’s family and backstory. He’s the ultimate boyfriend though and very obviously falls first and harder.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Christmas Fling by Lindsey Kelk (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone romance. Super funny with lots of chaos and a crazy cast of side characters. Laura is about to sublet an apartment from a total stranger who is off to pastry school in Paris, but she ends up walking in on the man totally naked. And then his parents stop by and assume that she’s the girlfriend that he’s been telling them about all year. Callum is basically trying to avoid returning back to his home in Scotland with his overbearing parents and tales of family legacy, so he’s been making up a fake girlfriend named Caroline for the past year. After the parents leave, Laura pitches the idea of traveling with Callum to his home as his fake girlfriend. Lots of mishaps all the way through the book, and so entertaining to read, along with watching Callum and Laura falling in love. Such a great book.

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

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Second chance, fake dating romance. Denz is a contender to take over as CEO after his father retires, and maybe sort of makes up a serious relationship to prove that he’s a more serious and stable worker. Except he ends up having to ask his ex-boyfriend Braylon to be the fake boyfriend, and there’s definitely all sorts of tension there. The whole book is from Denz’ point of view, so we need to deal with his career aspirations and his fear of being heartbroken again by the same guy. There’s definitely some simmering attraction between these guys, but Braylon needs to step up and actually communicate about what happened all those years ago, along with what he wants right now. Loved this book, and the hints of the potential romance between Denz’ best friend and his cousin.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm (2026)

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

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want 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.

Flower Sisters Historical Romance Book Series by Ginny B. Moore

Mar 4, 2026

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

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

Ebook available from the author’s website.

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

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

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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

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

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

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

Ruin Me by Midnight by Ginny B Moore (2024)

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

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

The Lady Who Left by Ginny B Moore (2025)

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

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B Moore.

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

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

Advance ebook provided by Ginny B. Moore.

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

Useful Resources:

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: February 23 to March 1, 2026 (contemporary romance, historical romance)

Mar 3, 2026

A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray (2026)

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

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

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

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

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

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews (2024)

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

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian (2026)

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

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews (2024)

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

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Useful Resources:

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.

Five Favorite Romance Books of February 2026 – historical romance, contemporary romance

Mar 1, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (2022)

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

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

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

Advance ebook provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters (2026)

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

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // 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!

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.

Dukes in Disguise Historical Romance Book Series by Louisa Darling

Feb 25, 2026

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

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

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

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

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Scoundrel Take Me Away by Louisa Darling (2025)

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

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

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Weekly Reads: February 16 to 22, 2026 (contemporary romance)

Feb 24, 2026

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

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

Advance ebook provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

Still Into You by Erin Connor (2026)

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

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

Racing Hearts by Ann Adams (2026)

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

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

Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm (2026)

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

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Useful Resources:

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