Book Reviews - Random Olive

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Weekly Reads: January 19 to 25, 2026 (hockey romance, contemporary romance, historical romance)

Jan 27, 2026

Game Misconduct by Ari Baran (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Penalty Box series. Another strong start to an MM hockey romance series. Mike is pretty lonely and used to getting into fights on the ice, most often with rival player Danny. They meet unexpectedly in an alley in a queer neighborhood in Mike’s town and have an angry backalley hookup. Only to be repeated when they see each other again after a game. This is a super slow burn romance, with the progression from Twitter DMs, to Snapchat convos, to exchanging real numbers. But once they actually realize they like each other and not hate each other, the connection between them is so much fun to read. Content warnings for Danny’s alcoholism and depression.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren (2026)

Contemporary romance. Part of Improbable Meet Cute series. Cute little novella. Veronica tries to go to a Zoom job interview, joins a totally different meeting full of tech bros, and gives some constructive criticism in the chat before leaving. Jude, the CEO of the company, decides to hire her, sight unseen and over email. And then it turns out they’re neighbors. It’s sweet and flirty and fun.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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How to Get Away with Scandal by Caroline Linden (2026)

Historical romance. Part of the Scandals series. Evangeline is a bit of an outcast after being widowed twice, the second time with her husband being shot in another married woman’s bed by her husband. She has a one night stand with a famous explorer Richard, but she leaves him without saying goodbye and he tries to track her down, but no one will help him. He’s got to set sail for his next trip, so off he goes. Only to find her again four years later. An affair resumes, but on Evangeline’s terms: no falling in love and no marriage. But we all know Richard is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to stay in Evangeline’s life.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Linden via NetGalley.

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The Ex-Perimento by Maria J. Morillo (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. We spend most of the book with Marianto being sad her boyfriend needed a break from her and trying to figure out how to win him back. She loses her boyfriend and her job and needs to re-evaluate her life, but she just wants all of it back. She comes up with a scheme to win her boyfriend and her job back, but her new boss Simon is pretty skeptical. He’s pretty much perfect, being the lead singer of her favorite band and being an awesome relationship coach. But how long will it take for Marianto to realize that Simon is a better fit for her? The romance part here between our endgame couple is a little light considering we spend so much time hung up on the ex-boyfriend.

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

The Duke Deal by Valerie Bowman (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Whitmorelands series. Veronica’s grandfather is super sick and has a dying wish of seeing his whole family happily together at Christmas. And he doesn’t know that Veronica is estranged from her husband, so she has to go ask him to play pretend with her for the holiday. Sebastian was left by his wife when she caught him visiting a former mistress, but they’ve both stubbornly decided to neither communicate nor listen to each other. So it’s angsty heartbreak all around. Oh, and Sebastian wants access to Veronica’s bed in exchange for the playacting, so it’s angrily steamy too.

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

Since the Marquess Demands by Darcy Burke (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Rogue Rules series. Look, Ellis is still reeling from the revelations of her true parentage, so she’s hiding from her friends and family. She takes up a position as the Marquess of Keele’s secretary, but she’s disguised as a man to get the job. Roman catches on pretty quick though, but lets her keep the job because she’s just so darn competent. And of course, the attraction between these two starts to simmer and they eventually start an affair. Except Ellis is keeping secrets and just generally in hiding, so definitely not a suitable long term partner for Roman, or so she thinks. Loved seeing how all the characters are entangled in each other’s backstories.

Advance ebook provided by Darcy Burke.

Second Act Romance by Julie Soto (2026)

Contemporary romance. Part of Improbable Meet Cute series. Cute little novella. Bex and CJ get a chance to meet again after eight years when her entire co-cast is down with food poisoning. Humorous little story here, with both Bex and CJ holding onto a crush on each other all this time.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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Favorite Romance Audiobooks Narrated by Brittany Pressley (contemporary romance)

Jan 26, 2026

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

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Romance New Releases from September 2025 (contemporary romance, historical romance)

Jan 25, 2026

An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this book about an introverted homebody finding herself in a quiet little beach town. Mallory is the work-from-home hermit who adores online shopping and staying in her cozy apartment. But her life is a bit blown up when she inherits her a seaside cottage across the country from her late grandmother, in exchange for taking care of Gramps. I loved seeing Mallory grow closer to her grandfather and develop such a strong bond to him and the community where he lives. We also get to see Mallory juggle that remote job she hates and the home improvements she needs to make to the cottage to get it in rentable condition. The romance here comes in the form of a charming property manager Daniel, but it’s really more a story about Mallory’s journey and growth and the Daniel-based romance is just a bonus.

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

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 4 of the Big Shots series. This book was quick and punchy and steamy and I loved it. Skylar is a college softball pitcher who is dragged to an impromptu ball game between her baseball player brother and a bunch of hockey players. Of course, she overhears Robbie, a rookie hockey player, saying some sexist bullshit before the game and gets all indignant about it. And he is smitten at first sight. Somehow, this all turns into Robbie inviting himself to her house over Spring Break to be her partner in her family’s chaotic outdoorsman challenge and also be her fake boyfriend so she can make her brother’s best friend notice her. Oh, and then she decides to ask him for flirting lessons while they’re at it. I loved how fast-paced this was, even if totally unrealistic, and it’s very clear that he fell first and harder.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett (2025)

Historical fantasy romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Parasol Academy series. Super light on the fantasy; the nannies just have some basic magical powers like Mary Poppins. Otherwise, this was your fairly standard story about a duke with rambunctious orphaned wards who falls in love with the outspoken nanny. Emmeline is a graduate of the prestigious Parasol Academy and accidentally lands a job with Xavier, the clock-obsessed duke with unruly wards. They meet, she’s great with the kids, they fall in love. There’s a bit of drama with a villain trying to sabotage Xavier’s life, but otherwise, it’s a pretty predictable story.

Advance ebook provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley.

People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Watch out for heavy themes amidst the flirty banter here. Prue has lived the small town life working at her family gas station and grocery store and caring for her mother with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Her father is trying to encourage her to get a bit more of a life, and she finds that in Milo, new to town to help his brother open a brewery. Milo has his own issues with emotionally and physically abusive parents and guilty at leaving his younger sister behind when he left the family home. But he’s a massive flirt and definitely makes Prue’s life a bit lighter. They embark on a friends-with-benefits scenario and try real hard not to catch feelings. Except the feelings are blooming strong and there are these bits of fate tying these two together. Loved this book.

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

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Honeycrisp Orchard Romance series. Super cute little small town romance. Ellie has a dramatic firing from her big city job and luckily has a place to land at her family’s small town inn, where she’ll be helping to plan the autumn harvest festival. But she’s paired up with grumpy apple farmer, Aiden, who is skeptical of her return. They were childhood friends who drifted apart in high school and he’s a bit resentful that she left for the big city and never looked back, even though he’s stuck around and supported both their families’ businesses. It’s tons of flirty banter here, even with very different dreams and goals. We’re mostly just waiting for Ellie to realize she can achieve her dreams right there in town, with a built-in partner and community.

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

To Heist and to Hold by Christina Britton (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Wimpole Street Widows Society series. Heloise and her band of widows plan to infiltrate a gaming hell to save her sister-in-law, and one of those schemes involves seducing one of the owners. Ethan is the very gruff and serious gambling hell owner who is suspicious of Heloise’s motives, but lets her close anyway so he can figure out what she’s up to. They’re both keeping secrets, but it’s clear that they’re totally falling for each other. Lots of sweet caretaking here that goes both ways, plus the added mystery of who’s running a crooked game at the club. Lots of action, both in and out of the bedroom, making this an enjoyable read.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Sadie has the pushiest family ever, forcing her on dates with men she’s not into, and basically making her feel bad for working hard to keep her inherited antiques business afloat. So she takes advantage of her travel blogger sister’s injury and goes on a walking tour of the Camino. But of course, having never traveled before, she freaks out during some rough airplane turbulence and word vomits onto her seatmate Mal and is totally embarrassed. Bonus, Mal is also on the Camino tour and has her own issues with a recently deceased estranged father and an inheritance she doesn’t want. It’s a wild ride of self-discovery and learning to let go of all your hangups along this trip, plus a great cast of side characters along the way. Awkward Sadie learns to be a lot less awkward and we get to journey right alongside her discovering her newfound queerness.

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

The Scot’s Seduction by Megan Frampton (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Heirs and Spares series. This one was a lot of fun to read. Drusilla is the ultimate spinster, taking lovers and refusing marriage proposals. Mostly due to a past heartbreak and a need to stay independent. She spends most of her time as an eccentric lady helping out women and children who need assistance. And somehow, she gets entangled with a young lady who needs guidance with her debut and the lady’s grumpy uncle Murdoch. He’s a Scottish earl who’s in town with his orphaned niece and pretty much has no idea what he’s doing. Drusilla is great with the niece and also great at seducing the burly earl. It’s a no strings attached arrangement, except for all those pesky feelings that develop. Loved it.

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

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 5 of the Dream Harbor series. Super fun second chance, not-quite-enemies-to-lovers romance. Annie and Mac have been sniping at each other in every previous Dream Harbor book and this book finally lets us know why. Apparently, one December many years ago, Annie and Mac had a quasi-relationship going on. But then Mac leaves town to explore the country and find himself and doesn’t come back when he promises to. Of course this makes Annie write him off for good, and makes his actual permanent return to town chilly and awkward. He’s still totally hung up on her and doesn’t quite know how to win her back. A weekend of wedding hijinks for their friends is the perfect occasion for forced proximity and bringing back all those old feelings. Cute and flirty and steamy.

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

Only Earl in the World by Amalie Howard (2025)

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

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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

Game Point by Meg Jones (2025)

Contemporary Romance. Book 2 of the Game, Set, and Match series. Ooh, I loved this friends to lovers romance. Dylan is a tennis star who has lost so many grand slam finals and is almost ready to quit the sport. Somehow, she strikes up a friendship with Oliver, who also somehow convinces her to let him coach her. The development of their friendship and the slow burn into more is so good. The banter, the flirting, the ease of communication and joking. I loved it so much. Not much to say except it was an excellent read.

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

Lady Like by Mackenzi Lee (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. We get the story of two different women in circumstances where they need to marry and end up falling in love with each other instead. Harry is an unconventional sort of woman, born illegitimate to a brothel worker and now an actress with short hair and wears trousers. She’s got an inheritance on the line that depends on her marrying a respectable sort of man. Emily is a country girl with a history of scandal and a betrothal to a cruel much older man in her village, so she’s in London to find a better prospect for her own protection. Of course it turns out that Harry and Emily are after the same man and hijinks ensue. But as they spend more time together, their rivalry turns into friendship and a whole lot more. Fun to read these two get to know each other better and especially fun to read the brash Harry learn to express her feelings.

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

Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine (2025)

Paranormal romance. Book 3 of the My Vampires series. Witch Zelda is just trying to live her yoga studio life without magic, but her old friend Reggie sends the amnesiac vampire Peter to her door. He needs help finding his memories and she needs to let some magical steam off, so they go off on a road trip to meet at a mystery location in a threatening note he received. It’s chaos and humor as they try real hard not to hook up with each other. I loved this soft and funny approach to interacting with vampires. And Zelda’s backstory is loads of fun to learn about. Fun and easy read.

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

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Messy and emotional and such a great book. Louisa is dumped by longtime boyfriend and at a total loss for what to do because she was financially dependent on the guy. She can’t afford the rent on her lakeside cottage in Colorado, so she strikes a deal with landlord Henry to rent out the extra bedrooms as a bed and breakfast. And then while she’s at it, she might as well advertise the whole place as a place to recover from heartbreak. We get a fun and messy group of occupants, with their own breakups and heartaches. And we get to see Louisa and Henry learn more about each other (and their baggage) and slowly start to fall in love. I really enjoyed this one, but caution if you’ve just gotten out of your own relationship.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Earl That Got Away by Diana Quincy (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Sirens in Silk series. We start with an awkward first re-meeting between Naila and Hawk at the pre-wedding ball of her sister and his friend. Basically, everyone is surprised to see each other after 8 years, especially since Naila had rejected Hawk all those years ago due to his lack of title and fortune and now he’s a wealthy earl. And somehow the situation is made more sad by the fact that Naila has turned into a drab spinster who has been heartbroken all these years and regretting her mistake. We get this story told in flashbacks interspersed with their present-day experiences. So much angst and underlying resentment for Hawk and underlying guilt for Naila. We just need to be patient and see Hawk’s walls eventually come down.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Kitty St. Clair’s Last Dance by Kate Robb (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I would say the romance plot here is secondary to Jules getting her life together and learning more about her late friend Kitty. Prologue has a one night stand between Jules and Reeve that seems magical, but does not work out, for reasons to be explained later. Two years later, Jules is at a funeral for Kitty St. Clair, lively resident at the retirement home where Jules works. And unexpectedly, Jules inherits the abandoned dance hall next door. We get glimpses of Kitty’s past through her super old diary that Jules has and through Jules’ super-realistic dreams where she’s transported to the past as Kitty’s best friend. Jules has lots of decisions to make regarding her application to medical school and what to do with the dance hall property. She also happens to find a second chance with Reeve who pops back into her life at just the right time. He’s super sweet and almost too perfect, but don’t worry, we’ll have some trust issues later on. I enjoyed the ride of this book and the anticipation of learning what Jules does with the dance hall. I also loved the Kitty back story along the way.

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

Duke of Eccess by Mariah Stone (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Seven Dukes of Sin series. Temperance is on the run from her life as Lady Agatha, daughter of an earl, and known as the Mad Heiress. She’s trying to escape her stepmother’s machinations and just needs to lie low until her birthday when she can claim her inheritance for herself. And that comes in the form of a governess position for Octavius’ wild charges. The three children lost their parents earlier this year and have run off half a dozen governesses. Lucky for them, Temperance is an unconventional sort and they start to bond with her, and become better behaved in the process. Octavius also needs some tutoring in better behavior and turns to Temperance for his own improvement. We get loads of drama with Octavius’ friend also eyeing Temperance, and all that hiding she’s doing from her stepmother. Excellent addition to this series.

Advance ebook provided by Mariah Stone.

Is This Real or Just Pretend by Emily Sullivan (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Follow up to Duchess Material. I love a fake courtship romance, especially one with a virgin MMC. Lucien is back in town after his supper club business collapses in Paris (not his fault, his partner did him dirty) and instantly becomes re-smitten with his longtime crush Freddie, the daughter at the estate where he grew up. But Freddie is nearly engaged to someone else and her big sister Alex wants to keep it that way. So Alex declares that there’s nothing going on between Freddie and Lucien because he’s courting her instead. She somehow manages to convince him to go along with the fake courtship so that he can make some business connections in London and so that Alex can continue working for her father’s company without as much criticism. And of course these two are attracted to each other and fall in love along the way. It seems that Alex is the insecure one in the relationship though, knowing that Lucien has long crushed on her sister and believing that she’s only good for business and not for love. It’s heartbreaking and emotional to see her suffer here, but also lovely to see her soften and fall in love.

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

Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Belvoir’s Library series. Something suspicious is going on when two anonymous writers are publishing very similar gothic novels. Lady Georgiana is ready to fight this woman who is quite possibly copying her, but then gets all tongue-tied when she finds out it’s her teenage crush and former family butler’s daughter Catriona. They spend most of the book bickering and misunderstanding each other’s circumstances and there’s a huge element of self-denial for Georgiana who believes herself the cause of harm for the people around her. The banter and flirting is great though and I loved this awkward crush and slow-burn romance. There’s a bit of underlying mystery plot at a creepy manor house they’re visiting, so expect some problem solving from our Belvoir’s crew at some point. Overall, loved this book.

Advance ebook provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.

We Met Like This by Kasie West (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Margot and Oliver have the worst first date ever, but it’s three years later now and they’ve been running into each other on the dating apps all this time. Maybe it’s time for a second chance. But it’s all a bit messy since Margot has had an on-and-off secret thing with her boss, has quit and started a new venture, and has a pain-in-the-ass overbearing older sister. The flirting and banter between Oliver and Margot is super entertaining though. Steamy and flirty and fun, with just the right amount of drama.

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.

Somerset Stories Historical Romance Book Series by Mimi Matthews

Jan 21, 2026

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Somerset Stories series. We’ve got a strikingly beautiful and kind young lady, Phyllida, living with her uncle and cousins after her grandfather has passed away and now she’s being prepared for her debut and season. However, her uncle has almost sold her to a much older and cruel duke who is known for collecting rare and beautiful things. She finds kindness and connection with another man, Arthur, who is an injured war veteran. When it seems that her marriage to the duke is imminent, she enters into a marriage of convenience with Arthur, and he takes her away to his estate for protection. In reading this book, I appreciated the slow build of trust and companionship between Phyllida and Arthur and that they were able to talk through their issues for the most part. Even with the external drama of meddlesome family members, the romance here was solid and heartwarming.

Ebook purchased via Amazon.

Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Somerset Stories series. Childhood friends Nicholas and Maggie are separated when Nicholas is accused of a crime and she helps him escape. Ten years later, Maggie is in London for the Season after an illness and mourning her father and her aunt, when a handsome viscount new to London is paying her court. It doesn’t take long for Maggie to suspect that the handsome viscount is really her childhood friend Nicholas in a new identity and persona. Both have their money and property at stake if they continue their association, but cannot seem to stay away from each other. It’s also interesting to watch them uncover the mysteries of the past and explanations for the viscount’s current identity.

Ebook purchased via Amazon.

Return to Satterthwaite Court by Mimi Matthews (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Somerset Stories series. Take the son of the couple from Book 1 and the daughter of the couple from Book 2, throw them together, and you get Book 3. Kate and Charles have a chance meeting in a London street when Charles rescues a stray dog (much like his mother) and Kate finds herself completely enthralled and ready to pursue him. Kate is uninterested in any of the other gentlemen she’s met this year and Charles is newly returned from serving in the Navy. The romance here is pretty straightforward and we get to revisit the families we loved from the previous books. Plus, there’s a nice setup for Book 4, which comes out later this year.

Advance ebook provided by Perfectly Proper Press via NetGalley.

Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Somerset Stories series. Meg and Ivo are from neighboring rival families, but that doesn’t stop them from hesitantly forming a friendship (and further attachment). This book takes place in the same timeframe as Book 3 and results from the rivalry of Book 2, so it will make the most sense reading in order. Even without the backstory, the shy and stammering Meg slowly learns to stand up for herself and go after what she wants with the confidence built from her friendship with Ivo. She interprets Ivo’s kindness as pity and is dismayed that he only sees her as a friend. However, Ivo believes that their friendship is precious and hopes to mend the rift between their families (even if he doesn’t know all the details of how bad things are between the parents). This one was a pretty quick and straightforward read.

Advance ebook provided by Perfectly Proper Press via NetGalley.

5Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

A Lady of Conscience by Mimi Matthews (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 5 of the Somerset Stories series. Fairly quick read of a romance we’ve seen hinted at earlier in the series. James is the serious and relatively gruff viscount who keeps very rigid control of his emotions in an effort to rehabilitate his family name from scandal. He’s looking to marry someone of higher social standing to improve his own, but is drawn to the quiet and shy Hannah instead. Hannah is the daughter of a retired army captain who is known for advocating for animals and wishes to find a peaceful life in the country with a husband who loves her. While she’s drawn to James, she knows that a match between them would be ill-suited. She’s pretty shocked when he pays her attention and refuses his first bumbling marriage proposal. I liked seeing James receiving a set-down from Hannah and his parents for messing up his nonexistent courtship. I also liked seeing him try again for a second shot and courting her much more earnestly.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 6 of the Somerset Stories series. Bea is a governess in a tough position and needs rescuing from Jack on the ship home. And he proposes a fake engagement between them to protect her from dastardly employers and to protect him from fortune-hunting young ladies. Fairly straightforward plot here, with the promise that they’ll fall in love. I enjoyed Jack’s protecting nature and how everything turns to chaos when his family gets involved.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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

Useful Resources:

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: January 12 to 18, 2026 (contemporary romance, hockey romance, historical romance)

Jan 20, 2026

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.

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

After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian (2025)

Historical romance. 1960s New York City. Standalone novel. Slow burn romance here between Patrick, bookstore manager, and Nathaniel, the lost soul who needs a place to stay. Basically, at the generosity of the kind and caring bookstore owner, Patrick was saved once upon a time, and is mostly the kind of guy who saves other. Nathaniel gets dropped off at the bookstore steps by the nice old lady before she heads out of state. He’s a total mystery and maybe sort of panics every time he has to go outside. And then Patrick’s sister-in-law shows up with a newborn baby after her husband (and Patrick’s brother) dies in Vietnam. It’s a messy depressing sort of time, but this group quickly forms a family, along with the other neighbors who live in the building. There’s no dramatic external plot, just the quiet everyday lives of this family, and I absolutely loved it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Rosalyn has pretty much been lying to her family, pretending everything is fine, when really she asked her husband Liam for a divorce and hasn’t actually seen him in three months. But the big family vacation is coming up and her grandparents are planning a vow renewal and asking Liam to officiate. They agree to pretend everything is fine during the vacation, which makes things awkward, but also they have all sorts of repressed feelings and attraction. I’d say this book veers more into repressed communication, rather than miscommunication. It’s all angsty and heartbreaking and I really just wanted someone to be brave and speak up. The whole book is from Rosalyn’s POV, and while no one is the outright villain of the break-up, everyone kind of sucks here. But the spice is spicy and they clearly still have passion for each other.

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

The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews (2017)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. Second chance romance here between Sylvia, a baron’s daughter turned governess, and Sebastian, earl’s second son turned earl. Sebastian’s meddlesome sister pretty much finds and coerces Sylvia to come visit Sebastian, after he had been injured in battle and come home scarred and surly. She’s not expecting much here, thinking he hates her having never replied to her letters three years ago. But you can predict that their letters had been tampered with, leaving them both thinking the other person heartlessly rejected the other. We just need to get to the point where they tell each other the truth of their feelings and resentment, rather than holding onto their pride. I always love reading Mimi Matthews, and this was another one I really enjoyed.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Academic Affairs series. Just to be clear, even though this is an age-gap romance, it is NOT a professor-student romance. Brom and Maddie meet at a bar on her 26th birthday and have a one night stand. And of course, she shows up at his house the next day as the potential nanny for his kids. It’s a huge conflict of interest, especially when he finds out that she’s adjuncting at the same university where he works (totally different department though), but he desperately needs the childcare and she also desperately needs the money. Clearly, it’s a matter of time before they give into their attraction. But along the way, we have Brom’s amazing friend group and family to learn about, and this lovely little small university town. Maddie is also connected to the Christmas Notch series, so we get some fun cameos throughout the book. Loved it. Can’t wait to read more of this series.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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Favorite Romance Audiobooks Narrated by Justine Eyre (historical romance)

Jan 19, 2026

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

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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

Feminine Pursuits Historical Romance Book Series by Olivia Waite

Jan 14, 2026

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Feminine Pursuits series. Heartbroken Lucy ends up in the care of the widowed countess Catherine in the pursuit of translating a rare astronomy text. They’re both pretty prickly around each other at first, but quickly find their footing as friends and then more. It was so nice watching their romance blossom and Catherine learn things about herself in the process, even as the older and more established woman. I loved seeing them both battle the patriarchy for Lucy’s place in science. A delightful slow burn romance here.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Feminine Pursuits series. The slowest slow burn friends to lovers story here. Widowed Agatha is running her print works and finds a swarm of bees where they shouldn’t be, so her mother-in-law refers local bee expert Penelope to help. Penelope is a married woman who’s husband is actually in love with her brother and they go off sailing and catching whales together. Loved seeing Agatha and Penelope’s friendship develop through their letters and subsequent visits to each other’s homes. It’s a super slow build, but well worth the read.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Hellion’s Waltz by Olivia Waite (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Feminine Pursuits series. I love a good swindle, especially when combined with some vigilante justice. Sophie is rightly skeptical of anyone being swindled, with her family’s recent downfall at the hands of a con-man. However, Maddie and her band of weavers have a plan for getting back at the local draper who has been taking advantage of them for decades. While Sophie is trying to figure out which side she wants to support, she’s definitely falling for Maddie’s seductions in the process. We have a bit of a fast-burn romance here, with Sophie quickly joining the weavers’ side and bringing her own ideas to the chaos. Loved this little village who support each other and I liked seeing how they were all tied to 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.

Weekly Reads: January 5 to 11, 2026 (contemporary romance, historical romance, sports romance)

Jan 13, 2026

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren (2024)

Contemporary romance. Part of the Improbable Meet Cutes series. Super cute short story, where two strangers have been emailing each other on Valentine’s Day every year. No identifying information, but they’ve definitely grown close over the years and might be making plans to meet. I gave a twenty second try to listen to this on audiobook, and then realized they had to read out their email addresses and time and date stamps, so switched to ebook real quick. So stinking cute and totally worth the read.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Remember That Day by Mary Balogh (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Ravenswood series. I love the slow and quiet romance of Mary Balogh’s books. Two people who are total opposites end up falling in love here, even when they’re supposedly courting other people. Winnie was an orphan who was adopted at the age of nine and now visiting London with her famous painter father. Her aunt, who happens to be a duchess, throws her a debut ball and pretty much pushes her into society a bit. She’s not quite courting Owen, who is a friend of her step uncle and waffles between being hopeful of a true courtship and just being happy being friends with him. The real romance here is between Winnie and Owen’s older brother Nicholas though. They’ve got a 13 year age gap and totally unsuited for each other. Except Nicholas can’t stop thinking of Winnie either. It all gets even more muddled when everyone is invited to Nicholas’ country estate for a few weeks in the Summer. Agh, I loved it.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 5 of the Big Shots series. A few flashback chapters in this one, since Eve and Madden have known each other for years. They’ve always had a bit of chemistry together, but Eve’s best friend has had a crush on Madden for years, so she’s always stayed away. Plus Eve is the local pariah since her father owned the local strip club. Madden does not care about any of that and only cares about Eve. When he’s got the chance to make his move, he proposes and marriage of convenience. She’s definitely the one setting boundaries, but it’s really only a matter of time before she gives in. Loved this super steamy read.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Odds of You by Kate Dramis (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Fairly predictable contemporary romance set up here. Writer Sage meets actor Theo on an airplane, does not know who he is, gets photographed by the paparazzi and now kind of amidst a clout-seeking scandal. Oh, and she has massive writer’s block and her family is not at all supportive of her creative career path. But Theo is actually pretty sweet and funny and they get along great. Except for the whole being famous thing. They part ways pretty quickly, only to run into each other again a few weeks later in Scotland. Almost like fate. Single POV story from Sage’s perspective, so we don’t know any of Theo’s motivations, other than simply being attracted to Sage. They’re sweet and funny together, but of course their lives are in two totally different places, so the Scotland bubble will have to burst eventually.

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

Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Vancouver Storm series. Grumpy Jamie is back in his hometown to care for his mother who suffers from depression and anxiety. He definitely does not have time to date, and ends up hiring a personal assistant to take care of his dog. When his high school crush Pippa shows up at his door, he doesn’t tell her he recognizes her right away. She’s down on her luck after her boyfriend dumped her and basically slashed her dreams of being a musician. Luckily, Jamie is the ultimate supportive boss, friend, and eventual boyfriend. They spend a lot of time trying to resist each other, but it’s super steamy when they stop fighting it. Fun intro to the series and looking forward to reading more.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

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

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

Favorite Romance Audiobooks Narrated by Callie Dalton (contemporary romance)

Jan 12, 2026

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

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

Useful Resources:

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