Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh (2003)

Judith is on her way to live with her aunt and experiences a stagecoach accident. Rannulf Bedwyn rides by and offers to go to the next town and send help to the stranded stagecoach passengers, and he takes Judith with him. The strangers give each other fake names and identities and spend a steamy couple of days together. They each continue to their intended destinations: Judith is off to her aunt’s as a poor relation to keep her grandmother company while her younger cousin is being trotted out to potential suitors; Rannulf is off to his grandmother’s house where she has found him a potential bride. Of course, they’re both headed to the same town and cross paths when Rannulf comes to call on Judith’s young eligible cousin. Cue awkward social engagements, accusations of lying to each other, one insipid shallow cousin, another aggressive handsy cousin, a layabout brother living beyond his means, and grandmothers who happen to be besties.

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The Duke by Kerrigan Byrne (2017)

So our girl Imogen is a maid working at a brothel by night and a nurse by day. When Cole and his men are at the bar, he requests her services for the night. Some time later, he’s injured from war and in the hospital where she works. He’s a terrible belligerent patient and she saves his life, but he doesn’t recognize her at all. Mostly because she was wearing makeup and a wig at the brothel. While Cole is being a bad patient, Imogen gets into a spot of trouble and is preparing to run away. A sickly old viscount takes pity on her and they enter into a marriage of convenience. We next have a time skip of several years and Imogen is a wealthy widow, living independently. Unfortunately, she crosses paths with Cole again with him thinking she was a gold digger for marrying his elderly neighbor. He’s also been dreaming about and looking for the girl in the brothel he spent that single night with. So then we see what happens as these two grow close again and if Cole ever realizes who’s right in front of him.

And there’s kind of a murderer tossed into the plot too.

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Seducing a Stranger by Kerrigan Byrne (2019)

Previously published as A Dark and Stormy Knight and also serves as Book 7 of the Victorian Rebels series. We start with a midnight tryst in a garden between our gal Prudence and the good Inspector, while he’s there trying to investigate a case. Fast forward to the inspector’s boss’s daughter’s wedding where the groom is stabbed to death before the ceremony, and the bride is holding the knife and covered in blood. And she was his one-night stand. Oh, and she’s pregnant. If that’s not drama, I don’t know what is.

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To Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De la Rosa (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Once Upon a Scandal series. After the scandal that Alethea uncovers in the previous book, her twin brother Finley is at a bit of a loss of direction. At an earl’s debaucherous house party, he meets a woman in the garden and spends one night with her before she disappears on him. Charlotte is a widow who was left with no money, no family, and no protection. She ended up at an earl’s house party thinking to get a maid’s position, but was dismayed to learn that her cousin has offered her an opportunity to be a courtesan. Although she rejects that role, she ended up in Finley’s bed anyway, and runs off before she’s tempted to become his mistress. A year later, Finley is seeking a position in Parliament and Charlotte has become a schoolteacher at a foundling home, and the two cross paths again. With their social class differences, his secrets, her secrets, and his political aspirations, this match is certainly unwise. We get to see them both slowly bring the other person into their confidence and become emotionally entangled. I enjoyed reading this one too and it was a great follow-up to the first book in the series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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His Study in Scandal by Megan Frampton (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the School for Scoundrels series. Alexandra is a widowed duchess out of mourning, seeking to take charge of her life by tearing up her mourning gowns, shopping at a modiste her late husband did not approve of, and enjoying a night of pleasure at a hedonistic garden with a handsome stranger. Theo is a wealthy businessman who has just made a deal to marry a duke’s sister but plans to spend one last night at the pleasure gardens before officially meeting her. Theo and Alexandra meet there and spend a steamy night together before parting ways. Complications arise when they realize that Theo has been intended for Alexandra’s daughter, as a way for her stepson, the new duke, to cover the debts that he’s incurred in the last two years. With the brimming attraction between Theo and Alexandra, it’s obvious he cannot marry her daughter, but they need to figure out a way to extricate themselves from this delicate situation or else Alexandra’s stepson will ruin Theo’s business prospects and leave Alexandra and her daughter destitute. With an fun little plot twist of how the daughter gets herself out of the bind.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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One Night with an Earl by Tina Gabrielle (2021)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Daring Ladies series. We start strong here right at a brothel, where Ana is trying to lose her virginity before her thirtieth birthday. Ruined by family scandal a decade prior, Ana now works as a chaperone to a young lady making her debut into society. She seeks one night of pleasure and has the brothel madam help her. Oliver is a newly inherited earl after the death of his father and brother (both of whom were irresponsible and gross) and at the brothel with his brother’s friend’s. Of course, Ana and Oliver are instantly attracted and proceed with a tryst. Later, Ana finds Oliver at her house to court her charge and also that his family is the one who ruined hers. So much potential angst and drama here with the intertwined families, plus Ana has been hiding her identity from the world. At some point, I know the lies will catch up to her, but in the meantime, the development of the romance between these two is absolutely delightful.

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One Night With You by Sophie Jordan (2007)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Derrings series. Oppressed widow Jane accidentally sees her childhood friend Seth at a scandalous masked party that her friends dragged her to attend. Seth had previously been in love with Jane’s sister and was humiliated by her family before going away to war; upon his return to the country, he finds that his father and older brother had died, leaving him the earl and responsible for his blind younger sister. Although Seth is interested in a tryst with the masked lady he met one night, he is looking for a respectable wife that can cause no heartbreak to help protect his sister. When meeting Jane again in the daylight, he’s attracted to her but refuses to become entangled with her. It was interesting to see how Jane steps away from her terrible circumstances through the support of her friends. I also liked reading more about Seth’s sister and her secondary romance within the book, even though Seth was a stubborn idiot for most of the book.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy (2021)

Book 1 of the Clandestine Affairs series. Two strangers meet at an inn and hook up and go about their merry way. He’s a duke who is going to meet his soon-to-be fiancee, so he gets there and meets with the girl’s family. And her stepmother is the woman he met at the inn! Talk about awkward. They eventually agree never to bring it up again. Everyone tries to do the honorable thing, etc. But the attraction is obviously still there and we’re just waiting to see how it breaks through. And also wondering how the issue with the impending engagement is going to be resolved. Such a sticky situation and satisfying to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe (2018)

We start with a cross-Atlantic ship with a young woman and man meeting on the ship and having a steamy one night stand. When they meet again in New York City, they realize that he’s the owner of the hotel project that she is designing. Yikes. Our gal Eva is an architect who is working on the project, but passing it off as her father’s work, since he’s the famous architect but is very ill. Phillip is the ultra-wealthy hotel owner who is having a hard time wrangling the construction crew who don’t want to listen to a woman. There’s a lot of back and forth here with who’s in charge and keeping things professional, while the these two are so clearly attracted to each other. Plus, there is a fun bit of interaction between Eva and Phillip’s mother, who wants to hire her to work on her Newport cottage renovations.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Lass Who Lost a Shoe by Caroline Lee (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Scotland. Book 1 of the Highlander Ever After series. Cinderella-retelling. Ember has been working at her stepmother’s inn and has a chance to show off her specially engraved shoe designs at the masquerade ball. She hopes to impress the man who has come from America to oversee the engraving business her family has run for generations. At the ball, she has a chance to dance with a handsome gentleman before having to run back home so her stepmother doesn’t find her missing. Max is the newcomer and guest of honor, but he has been staying at the inn, and doesn’t realize the lady at the ball and the serving girl he’s enthralled with are the same person. There’s a smidge of miscommunication as they work out who the other person is, but there is definitely an instant spark between Ember and Max, which is a delight to read.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Lass Who Kissed a Frog by Caroline Lee (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Scotland. Book 2 of the Highlander Ever After series. The Frog Prince retelling. Vanessa has been lauded for her beauty and was expected to make a match with the charming and handsome Roland, but he overhears her making disparaging remarks about his brother and now believes her to be shallow and cruel. He decides to teach her a lesson by disguising himself as a vagabond and riling her ire, but is surprised when she treats him with kindness. Meanwhile, Vanessa is realizing that she has lost her chance with Roland because of her cruel words and refocuses her efforts on helping her sister achieve her goals. When Vanessa needs to travel for a few days, the disguised Roland escorts her, and learns even more about her true (and kind) nature.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

The Lass Who Loved a Beast by Caroline Lee (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era Scotland. Book 3 of the Highlander Ever After series. Beauty and the Beast retelling. Bonnie is doing some research for her book on Highland history and visits the grumpy beast Lyon’s castle to do so. They get stuck there together in a snowstorm and grow closer, but Lyon pushes her away. He’s got his own guilt and feelings of unworthiness after his first wife died in a fire. Although sad about Lyon’s rejection, Bonnie is working on her goals of setting up a publishing house for books written by women and hopes that her own book will be the start of future successes. At some point, Lyon’s brother push him out of his castle to go over Bonnie, where he shares the reasons for his hesitance at a relationship with her. And then we get a big dramatic harrowing experience that force these two to declare their feelings and move forward.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

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Cocky Mister by Annabelle Anders (2020)

Tasked with protecting his friends younger sister, Stone has followed Tabetha as she elopes with a duke. She quickly realizes the duke is a creep and fights her way out of the elopement, just as Stone catches up to her. Somehow, they end up in an argument at an inn, Tabetha falls down the stairs, hits her head, and forgets who she is. Somehow Stone is now playing the role of her husband and feeling terribly guilty about deceiving her when she normally wouldn’t have given him a chance to court her.

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Slightly Sinful by Mary Balogh (2004)

Alleyne Bedwyn is thrown from his horse and believed dead. When a few desperate women go searching for loot from fallen soldiers, he is found alive and rescued (although naked and unconscious). He regains consciousness in a brothel and realizes that he has no idea who he is. Rachel has been tending to “Jonathan Smith” and he thinks she’s a golden angel. The women want to get back to England to catch a thief who stole their money; Rachel feels guilty because she’s the one who introduced them. In order for Rachel to gain her inheritance from her uncle, Alleyne (Jonathan) poses as her husband and all her friends come along. What sorts of trouble will they get into? Will they catch the thief? And when will Alleyne remember who he is?

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The Duke Is But a Dream by Anna Bennett (2019)

Secret newspaper columnist dresses as a boy to drop off her report for this week. She accidentally gets in a bar room brawl, hits her head, and loses her memory. A starchy at the bar witnesses this and brings her home to recover. Since the duke is new in town, he doesn’t know who the lady is. She doesn’t remember who she is and needs to recover from the head injury. Since no one knows her social status, it’s hard to know if she’s a suitable match for the duke or not and they try to stay away from each other, despite their attraction.

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The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne (2018)

This book has quite a few time jumps within it. We start with a prison beating and a young man left for dead. Soon after that, a young girl rescues the man from a field, but he has absolutely no memory of who he is. After nursing him back to health and forming a connection, her arsehole brother betrays him and sends him off to sea. Many many many years later, he returns to claim his lady. And we find out how our guy is connected to all the other men in this series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Accidental Wedding by Anne Gracie (2010)

An earl’s brother has a riding accident, bumps his head and is rescued by an impoverished country family. He’s cared for and nursed, but when he wakes up, he doesn’t know who he is or where he was going. Meanwhile, the family he’s with is being run by the eldest sister, who he’s most definitely attracted to. With the compromising situation that these two are found in, our gentlemen will have to do the honorable thing once he remembers who he is.

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Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas (2021)

Merritt Sterling is the daughter of Lillian and Marcus (who were the couple from It Happened One Autumn, Book 2 of the Wallflowers series) now all grown up, widowed, and running the shipping business her late husband left behind. Somehow, she meets Keir MacRae who is a Scottish whiskey distiller, probably trying to sell his product. Well, they meet, they hit it off, they tryst… but Keir is somehow a target for harm, so at some point, he’s attacked and loses his memory, and needs Merritt to take care of him. And… there’s an ongoing joke about him being as handsome as a certain duke that we all know and love from previous Kleypas books. So there’s some sort of connection there that is yet to be uncovered.

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How to Forget a Duke by Vivienne Lorret (2018)

A starchy and serious duke hires a matchmaking company to find a wife. But the matchmaker thinks he’s hiding something, so she goes to his estate to investigate. Except on the way there, she gets into a boat accident, hits her head, and loses her memory. And then the duke finds her and has to nurse her back to health. He knows who she is but has been instructed not to tell her anything. Of course now that she’s not investigating the man, she ends up falling in love with him.

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The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn (2017)

A young lady ventures from England to America to find her soldier of a brother, but instead, she finds her brother’s best friend unconscious in the hospital. In order for the doctors to tell her anything about his condition, she lies and says that she’s his wife and that they married on paper while she was on the ship. When he wakes up, he’s surprised to find himself married, but he has forgotten the past six months, so he assumed it must be true. She helps nurse him back to health and he helps to determine what happened to her brother.

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Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne (2022)

This book gets bonus points for just being really weird. We have poor sweet, kind of spoiled, Angelika who is the sister of Victor Frankenstein (the mad scientist). While she’s assisting him with his science project, she makes a creation of her own to be her suitor. The guy she creates though has a very strong moral fiber, and even though he’s attracted to her, he doesn’t act on it because he has no memory of who he is and he might be tied to someone else. So then we start the mystery part of the story where they team up to try to find this guy’s identity. In the meantime, Angelika does catch the attention of another man and there’s a bit of a love triangle thing happening. It’s just kinda crazy how we’re rooting for Angelika to get together with this monster man. And it’s really humorous. Definitely recommend this book.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Print book provided by Avon Books.

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A Gentleman Ought to Know by Jane Ashford (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Duke’s Estates series. Laurence and Charlotte have an awkward first meeting when he nearly runs her over with his horse while he’s on his way to visit her family’s estate for the hunting season. She’s outspoken and believes him to be another one of her brother’s dim friends. Laurence has a lot of anxiety and prefers to avoid conflict, so he’s baffled by the loud and boisterous family that he has come to visit. When Charlotte learns that Laurence’s parents were murdered, she can’t help but want to investigate and solve the mystery. Charlotte was a little irritating in this one with her need to know other people’s business, but she does start to realize her own limitations and feelings towards the end. Laurence also starts to open up and share his experiences with Charlotte, even though he typically would not. I enjoyed Charlotte’s loud and overprotective family and I liked seeing her and Laurence start to talk and grow closer.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke’s Best Friend by Jane Ashford (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Duke’s Estates series. Henry and Kate met under different circumstances at the end of Book 4 and reconnect here in London. Henry is the eldest son of a gentleman horse breeder who is starting his new career as a diplomat. He runs into Kate sneaking her way into receptions and events and learns that she is the granddaughter of a well-known diplomat. She offers to introduce him to important people in their field in exchange for his escort at these events. When they spot a villain out in the world and no longer in police custody, they follow the lead and investigate on their own. Kate is resistant to forming any connection to Henry or pursuing marriage of any sort, but Henry is accepting of his growing feelings for Kate. While Henry usually tries to maintain order and propriety, he seizes the opportunity to be daring and go after what he wants.

Advance ebook provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.

OMG Becky Look at Her Duke by Caroline Lee (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Part of the Surprise! Dukes series and included in the I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie anthology. Quick little brother’s best friend romance between Amelia, younger sister to a duke, and Kipling, a newly inherited duke. Kipling’s been away from England for the past two years, mostly to fight his growing attraction for the quirky Amelia, but he is back after unexpectedly inheriting a dukedom. Thinking that Amelia would have married someone else while he was away, he is amenable to his mother’s matchmaking with her friend’s daughter. Of course, Amelia has also been pining for Kipling and has not married or moved out of her brother’s house. It’s a low-angst reunion here, topped off with brotherly approval.

Advance ebook provided by Caroline Lee.

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Sin and Serendipity by Sylvie Sinclair (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novella. Ellie has been pining for the younger brother of a viscount and practicing her flirting skills alone when she’s caught by Robert, the viscount himself. Robert finds himself charmed by Ellie and tries to warn her away from his wastrel brother. She’s adamant that she’s truly in love with Freddy, even though she doesn’t really know him and hasn’t talked to the man. Their matchmaking mothers keep finding reasons to throw these two together, and Ellie grows increasingly confused by her attraction for Robert, when Freddy has been the one that she’s been pining for. But with Robert’s declarations of his feelings for Ellie, she needs to figure it all out quickly.

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Duke Hunt series. The local duke turns out not to be a duke because he was technically born before his parents got married, so Perry is a mere mister and now looking for a wealthy heiress to marry. The vicar’s daughter Imogen wants to deter Perry from his scheme and protect the women of the village, so she spreads rumors about Perry to dissuade the young ladies. When he realizes that she’s the one spreading rumors, he confronts her (and kisses her) and tries to get her to stop. These two have had a long childhood history of animosity, so the latent attraction springing up in the present is super entertaining to read. We also get a bit of backstory of why Imogen is so cautious of trusting Perry and his motives. This book was a lot of fun, and Imogen’s rumors were hilarious.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Earl of My Dreams by Sylvie Sinclair (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Romancing the Rogue series. Sophie once had a childhood crush on James, but hasn’t seen him in years and believes herself to outgrown her interest in him. When the now widowed James shows up at a house party with intent to court Sophie’s cousin Olivia, she tries to deter him since he’s outspokenly against a love match, while Sophie believes Olivia to be in love with someone else. This leads to Sophie and James arguing and getting in each other’s way, while still somewhat flirting and admiring each other. Sophie is so preoccupied with protecting Olivia’s interests that she doesn’t realize her own merit as someone to be romantically pursued. James has his own tragic past with his prior wife that cause him to avoid any sort of love or emotional entanglement. We don’t find out the details of this relationship until later in the book, but we know that this motivates him to avoid his feelings for Sophie. The thwarted matchmaking plot from the house party finishes up in the first half of the book, and then we move onto the London Season for the second half of the book and meet a new villain to complicate the story. I enjoyed seeing how protective James was of Sophie even though he was slow to realize his own feelings towards her. I liked that they had a shared history and a shared social circle, providing a nice set up for future books in the series.

Advance ebook provided by Sylvie Sinclair via NetGalley.

The Lyon Who Loved Me by Tracy Sumner (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Part of the Lyon’s Den series. Wilhelmina has been left at the altar by her arranged groom on her wedding day, but she’s got the support of her sponsor to set up a new match. Meanwhile, Griffin has missed the wedding because he’s been kidnapped and tied up due to his brother’s debts and finds himself making a new deal to get himself freed. Seven months later, Griffin is horribly injured and somehow gets sent to recover at Wilhelmina’s lodgings. Since they’re thrown together again, Griffin wants to renew his attentions towards Wilhelmina, especially now that he isn’t just in it for the money. It’s a fast-moving novella here with relatively low-angst (except that initial jilting). Quick and steamy and fun to see these two team up.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

The Rake Gets Ravished by Sophie Jordan (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Duke Hunt series. Mercy’s idiot brother has lost their home and farm in a card game, so Mercy goes to the gaming hell in London to steal back the debt voucher from Silas, the ruthless gaming hell owner. She finds the voucher but also gets caught in Silas’ rooms, so she makes the excuse of having come to seduce him. He’s resistant at first and they banter a bit, but the steam starts early in this book before Mercy flees back to her farm. Once Silas realizes what she’s done, he comes after her and finds her (and her family) on the property that he would have owned. Over the course of the book, we learn that Silas really is an upstanding guy and would do anything to protect Mercy and ease her troubles.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Sirens in Silk series. Anthony thinks he will finally get possession back of the family castle after his stepmother tragically passes away, but it turns out she left the castle to her cousin who has just arrived to visit from America. Raya doesn’t want or need a castle and is more than willing to sell it the Anthony at fair market value, but he also doesn’t have any money. These two argue their way to a truce while also ogling each other and trying to resist their simmering attraction. Add in the mystery of what has happened to Anthony’s missing relics and the suspicious nature of his stepmother’s death, and we’ve got plenty of plot to keep your attention on this book. I liked the overall set-up of the book, since I love a good property dispute trope, and I also liked the way that Anthony appreciated Raya’s financial competence. Both characters were extremely stubborn and there was maybe one too many instances of miscommunication in this story, when they should have just directly confronted the other person. Still, this was a steamy read with a nice set up of Anthony’s friends (who I’m hoping we will see in future books).

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance print book provided by Avon Books.

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Light and funny low-steam romance here. Socially awkward duke, Michael, would rather be at home working on his chemistry experiments but finds himself caring for his aunt’s beloved poodle while she is out of town. While out walking the dog in the park, he meets Elizabeth, a popular debutante who has her own menace of a poodle. When the two dogs get into a tussle at the park, somehow Michael and Elizabeth each go home with the wrong dog. Michael is forced to go out in public to correct the mistake, but ends up in even more drama when it’s discovered that Elizabeth’s home has been broken into and the dog has been stolen. This book gives us multiple points of view, so we know early on who is responsible for the dognapping, but we get to see Michael and Elizabeth work together to recover the missing dog. While these two are seemingly total opposites, we get to see them start to slowly recognize and appreciate the other person’s unique qualities. Plus, we have Michael’s complete dedication to the dog search. There are lots of humorous moments in the book, mostly due to Michael’s plain-speaking and social awkwardness. And we eventually get to see the villain get his comeuppance.

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

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Girls Before Earls by Anna Bennett (2021)

Historical romance. Regency England. Book 1 of the Rogues to Lovers series. Hazel is the headmistress of a new finishing school and an earl has come to drop off his 15 year old niece who was recently orphaned. The niece has been acting up (understandably) and was kicked out of two other schools recently. Although Blade is willing to pay any cost to enroll his niece and then go back to London and about his miserable existence, Hazel insists that he come back and visit his niece every two weeks. Over the course of those visits, he slowly develops a relationship with both his niece and the fetching headmistress. I enjoyed learning about Blade’s backstory and why he avoids love and heartbreak; you can sort of see the signs of it early on when he talks about his lost love and how he was also estranged from his brother, but it’s still heartbreaking when you see it all laid out plainly. Hazel has her own hurts from the past and tries to maintain her composure and resilience, but then realizes that she needs to open up and go after what she wants. It’s a fun introduction to our seaside town and characters and a nice set up for future books in the series.

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One Duke Down by Anna Bennett (2023)

Historical romance. Regency England. Book 2 of the Rogues to Lovers series. Another fun book from Anna Bennett. Fisherman’s daughter Poppy discovers an injured man washed up on shore who claims to be a duke. She trades him shelter for money while he figures out who might have attacked him. These two have instant rapport and chemistry with each other with a lot of easy teasing and flirting. However, there’s Poppy’s poor history with members of nobility, the duke Keane actually turning out to be a duke, plus the drama of Poppy’s wayward brother, and the mystery of Keane’s assault. Despite all of these obstacles, Poppy and Keane are sure of each other’s character and integrity and never once doubt the other person. Absolutely enjoyable read!

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Beguiling the Duke by Darcy Burke (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Lords in Love series. A duke’s carriage loses a wheel in a small village and he takes shelter in the small village of Marrywell. The village is completely pre-occupied with its annual matchmaking festival, so there’s no room at the inn and no workers to help fix the duke’s carriage. The local squire provides shelter for the week the the duke grows closer to the squire’s daughter. Sadie has been maintaining her father’s home and taking care of her four brothers for years and hopes that this year’s festival will prove fruitful for her marriage prospects. And this time, with the duke at her side, she’s actually getting the attention she deserves. But of course, Sadie and the duke are finding themselves drawn to each other instead. Relatively low on the angst and heartache scale here and a delightful read.

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To Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De la Rosa (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Once Upon a Scandal series. After the scandal that Alethea uncovers in the previous book, her twin brother Finley is at a bit of a loss of direction. At an earl’s debaucherous house party, he meets a woman in the garden and spends one night with her before she disappears on him. Charlotte is a widow who was left with no money, no family, and no protection. She ended up at an earl’s house party thinking to get a maid’s position, but was dismayed to learn that her cousin has offered her an opportunity to be a courtesan. Although she rejects that role, she ended up in Finley’s bed anyway, and runs off before she’s tempted to become his mistress. A year later, Finley is seeking a position in Parliament and Charlotte has become a schoolteacher at a foundling home, and the two cross paths again. With their social class differences, his secrets, her secrets, and his political aspirations, this match is certainly unwise. We get to see them both slowly bring the other person into their confidence and become emotionally entangled. I enjoyed reading this one too and it was a great follow-up to the first book in the series.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Scandal by Alivia Fleur (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Tales from Honeysuckle Street series. Childhood friends and neighbors Iris and Hamish are separated when Hamish suddenly becomes the heir to an earldom, losing his mother and older brother in a carriage accident. When Hamish returns to town twelve years later, he’s been instructed by his father to find a suitable wife, but he plans to thwart his father’s plans and create a scandal instead. Meanwhile, Iris has been assisting with her father’s merchant company, traveling the world, and learning the business for the past decade. However, her father’s mental state has been declining for many years and Iris has been keeping it secret. As Hamish and Iris reunite, they have to deal with her heartbreak after he left, their differences in social station, and her need to stay proper so that the board of directors will approve of her joining the leadership of her father’s company. It’s a huge mess competing interests and Hamish is mostly an idiot throughout the book. I did enjoy reading about all of the quirky neighbors on the street and am looking forward to reading more from this series.

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The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2006)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 1 of the Princes Trilogy. Impoverished widow from the village Anna takes a job as the local grumpy earl’s secretary. Edward, the current earl, survived but is scarred from a smallpox outbreak that killed his whole family. The first half of the book moves pretty slowly, with our two people getting to know each other and conversing about the land that Edward manages. As their attraction for each other grows, Edward seeks refuge at a brothel in the city to work out his lust. Anna somehow schemes to hide her identity and have him bed her instead of a courtesan. With their differences in social class and Edward’s desire to have children, a marriage is impossible between these two. Every so often, we’ll see the point of view of other characters in the story: the estate steward, the squire’s wife, and a hired busybody. It adds some interesting perspectives to the overall plot and we can read about potential pitfalls and schemes from outsiders. With Anna’s big secret looming overhead, we’re just waiting for the fallout and angst that will come with it.

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Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh (2020)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Union of the Rakes series. Our duke friend, Noel, from Book 1 is back this time and he meets an intriguing woman who has a head for business, doesn’t fuss at him for his title, and is entirely attractive. However, Jess is merely a farmer’s daughter hoping to find investors for her family’s soap-making business. When she tries to sneak her way into a business exposition, she’s nearly halted at the door, and ends up pretending to be widowed to a baronet to gain entrance. While there, she tries hard to focus on finding ways to subtly promote the soap business and to avoid the attentions of the duke, but can’t seem to help being drawn to him. I spent the whole book anxious about the impending heartache because I just knew that Noel would be upset at the idea of being used for his connections and money, even though Jess was trying to avoid his involvement at all. I really enjoyed this book though and looking forward to the next one that was hinted at here.

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Stealing Midnight by Tracy MacNish (2009)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Beneath the Veil series. I picked this book up because it was the next Fated Mates Podcast deep dive and I was entertained despite its dark beginnings. Olwyn is the daughter of a madman who cuts up corpses to study the meaning of life and death. One day, one of those corpses is not quite dead, and she decides to save him from further harm by threatening her father and running away. When the man wakes up, he thinks that he’s magically entered a different time period because of his rustic surroundings and Olwyn’s dress. Turns out that’s not the case, and Aidan has many responsibilities to get back to, including a fiancee. We get to see a mix of perspectives here, with Aidan’s fiancee and twin brother discovering his death, his grave robbery, and Olwyn’s father’s home. When everyone is reunited and the story of Aidan’s survival unfolding, we get more drama with the severe social class difference between Aidan (a duke’s son) and Olwyn (an isolated villager). Add in a scheming fiancee and a long history of family secrets, there’s a lot to keep the pages turning.

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Catch a Falling Duke by Eve Pendle (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Fallen series. This book takes place about ten years after the first two books in the series, with Hugo (Emily’s brother) having just inherited the dukedom. While Hugo is looking through papers in the study, he finds that his family fortune is founded upon something horribly upsetting. As Hugo runs away from his estate to think, he encounters a woman at an inn and spends the night with her. Beatrice is a lonely widowed farmer, who’s parents have also died, and is looking to find a man named in a letter she found of her mother’s. She and Hugo spend the next day looking for the man, only to be met with disappointment. While Hugo ultimately admits his troubles to Beatrice (and also the fact that he’s a duke), Beatrice insists there’s no future between them due to the differences in social standing and they part ways. At some point, Hugo finds a way to try to prove his commitment to Beatrice, taking whatever part of her life he can get. We get to go back to Bea’s farm and meet all her farmhands and essentially her found family. This was a delightful way to tie things back together and we get to learn how Hugo copes with his grandfather’s ill-gotten wealth.

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Bianca and the Huntsman by Erica Ridley (2023)

Historical romance. Regency England. Standalone novella. Snow White retelling here with Bianca being the illegitimate daughter of an earl, orphaned, and taken in by her late father’s wife to serve as a housemaid. The countess who prides herself on being the fairest of the land is angry when her parrot declares Bianca to be most beautiful. The countess hires the Huntsman (really, an impoverished earl named Harry looking for an impressive dowry) to ruin the girl. Instead, he tells her to run away. After that, Bianca befriends seven wallflowers with quirky personality traits, and Harry can’t stay away from her. Fun and short story to read.

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The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe (2023)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Book 4 of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series. If you’ve read the first three books in this series, you’ll have seen hints of an uneasy relationship between Nellie and the Duke of Lockwood. Nellie is everyone’s scandalous best friend with knowledge about affairs and men. Meanwhile the destitute Duke of Lockwood needs an American heiress to marry for money. In Book 1, he was engaged to Maddie for about a day before that didn’t work out. In Book 2, he’s almost courting our favorite sweet Alice, until he realizes Kit is in the picture and bows out. In Book 3, he’s sworn off courting anyone from this unlucky friend group, but still friendly with Katherine. Well, we finally get to see his true nature and desires here in Book 4 with our dear Nellie. We go back to the beginning of the Newport house party from Book 1 and 2, where Lockwood and Nellie meet as strangers at the beach at midnight, and after some flirting, and kissing, they plan for a tryst the next day. However, when Lockwood shows up at the house party the next day and is introduced to all the guests, he and Nellie realize that the connection is impossible and over. We meet again in six months after Nellie’s other friends are all settled and Nellie’s feeling listless and aimless since all her friends are married and don’t need her anymore plus Lockwood’s still looking for a docile and wealthy bride. What starts as angry flirting turns into an angry affair with neither of them wanting to engage their hearts. Lockwood’s got some secrets of his own with a health condition, plus Nellie is unwilling to risk her emotions after her mother died at a young age. An important side story here is Nellie’s work in educating women on contraception and taking control of their reproductive rights. I appreciated seeing this play out in a historical setting and seeing Nellie’s championing of women’s education on the subject.

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One Wedding and an Earl by Tracy Sumner (2023)

Historical romance. Regency England. Book 4 of the Duchess Society series. Tragic childhoods for both Ollie and Necessity have made them both wary of romantic entanglements. Oliver, now an earl, has had a shady history of opium dens, brothels, and getting slashed in the face in a gambling hell back alley. He’s now a recluse fixing up the estate where he suffered from his abusive father. Necessity, orphaned when cholera killed her whole family, is soon-to-be the most sought after landscape architect in England. When Necessity is recruited to fix up Oliver’s garden, they give into the attraction, but neither ask for anything more, knowing their own personal traumas and their vast differences in social standing. However, these two are delightfully fiery together and are certainly destined for greater things, if they would just allow themselves to ask for more. Also, a great intro to another street thug with a suspicious history and I’m looking to reading more about him in a future book.

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The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan (2018)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Rogue Files series. Marcus has run away from his ducal responsibilities after he catches his best friend with his stepmother in a compromising position and is on his way to his estate in the north of Scotland. On the way there, he happens across a village wife auction and buys/saves the girl who is being so crudely sold off. Alyse has been married in name only to her late father’s friend since the age of 15 and provided care of the man’s children and household. Her childhood friend was supposed to bid on her during the auction so they could start their new lives together, but that man disappeared and didn’t show up. Although she is purchased by Marcus, she has no idea who he is or if he’s trustworthy. He declares that theirs won’t really be a marriage and that he will employ her as a housekeeper at his estate. We end up embarking on a road trip romance here, traveling on horseback and stopping at various inns along the way. This book had a really interesting set up and it was nice to see Marcus slowly let down his walls and realize what a privileged life he has led thus far.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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.

Knockout by Sarah MacLean (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Hell’s Belles series. Lady Imogen is the chemical explosives expert of the Belles and is often spotted at the scene of the crime collecting her own evidence, much to the dismay of Scotland Yard’s Detective Inspector Tommy. While these two aren’t exactly teaming up, they’re both trying to solve the same crimes and keep running into each other. At some point, Tommy is tasked with finding an earl’s missing sister to keep himself in line with a promotion. That sister is of course Imogen and she’s not really missing at all. Throughout the book, Imogen is the pursuant and Tommy is the one who hesitates due to his social station (or lacktherof), but Imogen’s self-esteem takes the rejection much differently. Once they do finally team up, the sparks are well worth it, though Tommy will have to decide whether to trust Imogen and the Belles or the side of police authority. Another excellent book in this series, with women fighting for themselves and their rights.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Unforgettable Love series. Georgianna is an impoverished orphan caring for her three younger sisters but hopes to make a living as a fancy chef to aristocrats. When she gets the opportunity to cater an earl’s yacht party, she is excited at the prospect, despite the earl’s scandalous reputation. However, an argument aboard the ship leads to Georgianna being sent home without proper payment. Sometime later, our rakish earl Daniel somehow falls off the ship and is recovered along a shore near Georgianna’s village with no memory of who he is. He does vaguely recognize Georgianna and to prevent further scandal, she claims him as her husband. She brings him home with her to recover and help assist with the chores around the house, in retaliation for her owed wages. Of course, she feels terribly guilty along the way but also grows to admire his work ethic and his kindness towards her sisters. Daniel’s memory returns in bits and pieces but he is charmed by Georgianna and respects the way that she unselfishly cares for her family. I enjoyed reading the slow-burn wary romance between Georgianna and Daniel, despite knowing that he will likely eventually be upset at her deceptions.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

In Which Winnie Halifax Is Utterly Ruined by Alexandra Vasti (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Halifax Hellions series. Winnie just wants to rent a cottage and start a sheep farm but isn’t able to secure the lease as a single woman, so she makes up a fake estranged husband by the name of Spencer Halifax to secure her position. Ten years later, Spencer is notified by his solicitor-best friend of the possibility of actually being legally married to a conwoman using his name. He travels to her farm in Wales to find her and to bring her back to London to settle their annulment. Along the way, Spencer and Winnie find themselves attracted to each other and wanting more. However, Winnie is hesitant to overburden Spencer since she has already inconvenienced him with the fake marriage and she is wary of becoming selfish and manipulative like her mother was. Spencer is an all-around nice guy here and hungrily lusts after Winnie. This book is humorous and steamy in all the best ways and we get to hear about Margo and Matilda’s respective exploits from Spencer’s POV. An excellent addition to the Halifax Hellions series!

Advance ebook provided by Alexandra Vasti.

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The Heir and the Spare by Maya Rodale (2007)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Negligent Chaperones series. Twin brothers Phillip and Devon hate each other and Devon has always gotten the worst treatment from his ducal father as the second son. After fighting in a duel in place of the heir, Devon flees England for many years and his asshole brother tells everyone he’s dead. Back in England to attend to his dying father, he catches a falling Emilia as she clumsily trips over herself at a ball. They share a kiss in the library before he needs to run off. However, everyone believes Devon to be his brother, the horrible scoundrel Phillip and warns Emilia away from him. Phillip needs to marry an heiress and sets his sights on Emilia; she accepts the courtship but is confused by his demeanor and the distinct lack of sparks when she’s with him. These people are just in a confusing mess, Emilia has a meddlesome chaperone, Devon is totally insecure about his own worth, and Phillip is a gross snake. And there’s a secret building up to be revealed by the duke’s butler, so we have that to look forward to. It was still a fun story and it’s helpful to see how awful Phillip is before we get to his book next.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Rogue and the Rival by Maya Rodale (2008)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Negligent Chaperones series. After the events of Book 1, Philip had left the country for awhile, and somehow ended up back injured and unconscious in at an abbey. He’s being tended to by Angela, a soon-to-be sister who’s been stalling on taking her vows. We learn that Philip was chased down by thugs who he owed money to and Angela was ruined by a man like Philip (but not Philip), charming and rakish and an absolutely scoundrel. These two grow closer, somehow Philip learns how to have feelings and empathy, and Angela remembers that she likes the attentions of men. However, we see an eight month time-jump in the middle of the book, so that’s never a good sign for an easy happily ever after. The second half of the book finds us all back in London and navigating the social waters there. Somehow, we see a pretty believable rake reformation here with Philip, even though it was mostly driven by his desire for Angela.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Only The Valet Will Do by Sophie Barnes (2023)

Historical romance. Regency England. Standalone novella. Lady Lilliana has a meet-cute with her brother’s valet in the woods and feels an instant connection with him. Unfortunately, the disparity in their stations means that it won’t work out and she should stay away from him. However, he may be more eligible than he seems. Tristan is part of the landed gentry and considered a gentleman, but his father’s gambling debts have forced him to seek out employment. Hiding his true identity, he becomes a valet to a viscount and meets his sister Lilliana. Tristan has very little to offer with his diminished circumstances, so he also tries to stay away from the lady who has captivated him. But this is a novella, so it all works out pretty quickly and neatly. Enjoyable read if you need a low-angst bit of fluff.

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To Tempt A Scotsman by Victoria Dahl (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Somerhart series. Lady Alexandra has been thoroughly ruined and is hiding away at her duke brother’s estate. She was the cause of a duel of honor that left Collin Blackburn’s brother dead and her lover fleeing the country. Collin has come to seek information on her wayward lover to exact revenge for his brother’s death. Of course, when Collin actually meets Alex, he’s stunned to find that she is not exactly as she was rumored to be. There’s a push and pull of attraction between them and multiple somewhat clandestine meetings. We eventually see Collin go from an upstanding and honorable fellow to an insanely jealous beast of a man. (Seemed like a quick turn of personality there) Oh, and Alex’s past lover is trying to swindle her out of money.

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Her Lessons in Persuasion by Megan Frampton (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian England. Book 1 of the School for Scoundrels series. Bram and Wilhelmina have an awkward first meeting when he thinks he’s rescuing her from jumping off a bridge, but really, she was just trying to have a better look at the stars. It’s all banter and witty remarks between these two throughout the whole book. They meet again when Bram is being auctioned off to escort someone to the opera with funds going to the boys’ orphanage where he grew up. Wilhelmina’s new stepmother is anxious to get her married off, even though Wilhelmina has no interest in marrying at all and would rather focus on being an astronomer. However, she slowly starts to realize that some of the pursuits that she always avoided because they were popular (going to the opera, reading fiction) are actually enjoyable, and she slowly starts to shift her position on these items. As Bram and Wilhelmina spend more time together, he realizes that he’s in love with her, but is unwilling to declare his intentions since he knows that her goal is to never marry. Slow build to a wonderful and open partnership here and a great found family/friend group with Bram and his other orphan friends. Looking forward to seeing the other men of the group find their own stories.

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The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 2 of the Princes Trilogy. Loosely tied to the previous book because Harry is one of Edward’s friends that we see briefly mentioned. We start right away with a carriage accident and Lady Georgina and her land steward Harry are stranded in a rainy downpour on their way to her estate. Georgina is a spinster sister to an earl and owns her estate outright from an inheritance from her aunt. Georgina and Harry don’t know each other well and he’s only worked for her estate for a few months, but on this trip, the attraction between the two begins. As they arrive at her estate, they find that the neighboring lands have found poisoned sheet and they believe that Harry is the cause. He’s got a reason to hold a grudge against the neighboring nobleman, so he’s the prime suspect for foul play. Georgina doesn’t believe that Harry is responsible and helps him investigate. At some point of growing closer, they start an affair, but the social class difference and employer-employee relationship causes tension and angst there. Here’s another book with a few alternate points of view from Georgina’s sister and the dastardly neighbor nobleman.

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The Proposition by Judith Ivory (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. Mick is a gruff and poorly spoken ratcatcher in London and somehow gets chased into a tearoom and part of a bet between two wealthy brothers and an elocution tutor, Lady Edwina. Daughter of a marquess and now living independently, tall and gangly spinster Edwina makes her money by tutoring young ladies speech and refinement. The wealthy men hire her on to clean up ol’ Mick and present him at a duke’s ball as an actual lord. Edwina and Mick are both agreeable so that they can profit in their own ways: Edwina gets paid for her services, and Mick gets a payout at the end if he can pull it off. Despite being terribly attracted to each other, the social class difference keeps Edwina and Mick at a distance for most of the book, plus Edwina’s deep sense of being undesirable. I definitely loved seeing them slowly come together. Plus, there’s a plot twist in the back quarter of the book that I didn’t see coming!

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The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess by Sophie Jordan (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Scandalous Ladies of London series. Miserably married countess Gertrude (Tru) is launching her daughter into the Marriage Mart this year, but her scapegrace estranged husband is willing to sell her off to the highest bidder. A wealthy inn and hotel-owner Jasper is looking to marry a titled and distinguished lady, so entertains the thought of courting the young debutante, until he meets her mother and is drawn to her instead. Loads of drama and the introduction of a female friend group consisting of a miserably married duchess, her courtesan-turned-marchioness stepmother, and Tru’s spinster younger sister, who I’m betting will all have their own books later in the series. This book isn’t too complicated on external plot, just dealing with a prim and proper countess denying her desires and feelings and guilt over wanting her daughter’s suitor. And the villainous husband of hers.

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Bed Me, Baron by Felicity Niven (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Bed Me Books series. Lady Phoebe asks her best friend George for bedding lesson since she’s newly engaged to a duke and wants to know what she’s doing in the marital bed. George has been her friend since childhood and has never noticed Phoebe in that way before, but now realizes that he’s attracted to her. The steam starts early and often in this book, but the idiotic pining that George has for Phoebe is apparent throughout the book. And all of these hints from everyone in his life that they thought he would have married Phoebe years ago grates at him. While Phoebe is trying to be content with her new fiance, she continues to seek George’s tutelage and approval every step of the way. It’s heartbreak all around as these two learn to connect with each other as adults instead of the roles they’ve played all their lives. While I was annoyed with the scheming of Phoebe’s friend and George’s sister, I was glad to see Phoebe finally stand up for herself and decide that she needed some time alone to think through her options. This book was emotional and angsty in all the best ways.

Advance ebook provided by Felicity Niven.

You, with a View by Jessica Joyce (2023)

Contemporary romance. Noelle is in a rough spot right now, living in her childhood bedroom without a job and grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother. When she comes upon some old photos and love letter of her gram with a stranger, she seeks to unravel the mystery of the missing man. One viral TikTok post later, she finds that the man is her high-school rival’s grandfather. Theo has been Noelle’s academic and athletic foil all throughout high school and is the picture of success, while Noelle has not accomplished what she wanted. When she meets with Theo and his grandfather, she uncovers a decades-old love story, including a mapped out honeymoon road trip. With nothing else to do, Noelle decides to embark on the trip herself to feel closer to her lost grandmother. And of course, the two men invite themselves along on the trip too. We get to see smooshy family dynamics, hear about a love story that didn’t work out, plus see Theo and Noelle slowly let down their walls with each other. The emotional connection (and steam) was so good to read in this book. Definitely recommend!

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Earl on the Run by Jane Ashford (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Duke’s Estates series. Jack is a newly inherited earl brought in from America who has quickly run away from his great-grandmother’s critical management. He soon joins a group of Travelers and ends up setting up camp on the grounds of his own estate. Harriet is in the country with her mother and grandfather now that the Season has ended and lives in the neighboring estate. On a walk through the woods, she meets Jack and they quickly strike up a friendship. Her grandfather is cruel and also quite controlling, so having a friendship with Jack is the highlight of her current existence. However, he hasn’t been truthful about his identity and she believes him to be a rogue. The romance here is sweet and light, until it all comes crashing down when Jack’s identity is revealed and Harriet feels betrayed. Luckily, our duchess friend next door is there to assist.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke and the Dressmaker by Eva Devon (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Once Upon a Wallflower series. Newly inherited duke James attempts to rescue a young woman at a tavern and finds out that she’s the sister of his missing ward. Lily and Violet are granddaughters of the old duke but not part of society due to their mother’s scandalous marriage to a French painter. Now orphaned and impoverished, Lily works as a dressmaker’s seamstress while caring for her young sister. James insists that they both move into the ducal townhouse and after a bit of a disagreement, they do. However, James and Lily are starting to stir up a scandal with all the time they spend together unchaperoned, as much as they try to keep things proper. They do ultimately get married, since Lily is so good at managing James’ household, but conflict looms ahead as James plans to leave England without having mentioned his plans to Lily. I liked how well Lily and James worked together and started to soften towards each other, even though both have been disappointed by their own parents in the past.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

Scoundrel for Sale by Courtney McCaskill (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 8 of the Wicked Widows’ League series. Our tragic prologue here has a man dying after being shot in battle asking his best friend to make sure his younger sister marries another man, oh, and by the way, don’t ever touch her yourself. Ouch. Gabe fulfills all of his friend’s deathbed wishes and returns to life in the army. Six years later, Gabe has returned to England as an impoverished viscount who is auctioning himself off to the highest bidder to keep some creditors at bay until he can marry a wealthy heiress. He finds that the winner of his attentions for the night is Abbie, the best friend’s younger sister that he isn’t allowed to touch. It turns out that she had a dreadfully dull marriage to man she didn’t love and wants to experience a night of passion with Gabe, before dealing with even more problems as a lonely widow. This book is short and steamy and I loved seeing Abbie going after what she wants. We also get the side story of how Abbie came to be in such despair and how that drama gets resolved.

Advance ebook provided by Courtney McCaskill.

Not Another Duke by Jess Michaels (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Kent’s Row Duchesses series. Widowed duchess Flora has horribly cruel stepchildren who recruit their own impoverished cousin Roarke to spy on Flora and determine if she’s breaking the terms of an additional clause of her late husband’s inheritance. Roarke barely has any funds to support himself and his ill mother, so needs to rely on the charity of his cousins. When he meets Flora, he finds that she is attractive and kind and not at all the seductress that his cousins described. Flora had genuinely loved her much older husband and had no intention of entertaining future suitors. However, when she meets Roarke, she’s surprised to find that she is attracted to him. These two start up a friendship which may lead to more, but Roarke’s feelings of guilt are attached to everything he does. It seems like the reveal of Roarke’s betrayal may cause the couple to split before they’ve even begun, and they still need to deal with the dangers of Flora’s stepchildren. I liked how Roarke was a reluctant villain here, being torn between his obligations towards his mother and his growing feelings for Flora.

Advance ebook provided by Jess Michaels via NetGalley.

Blame It on the Earl by Jane Ashford (2022)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Duke’s Estates series. Total strangers, Sarah and Kenver get trapped in a cave overnight and he quickly proposes to save her reputation. While Sarah is the ultimate bookish gentleman’s daughter, she has often been overlooked by men and is usually mocked for her reference to obscure facts. Kenver is the quiet and obedient son of an overbearing earl and countess and doesn’t anticipate all the trouble his parents cause when he brings his new bride home. It’s definitely awkward around the estate where the countess is doing everything she can to keep the newlyweds apart. But eventually, we get some positive intervention in the form of houseguests and Kenver finally learns to grow a spine.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck (2023)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This one has all the When Harry Met Sally vibes with Ari and Josh having horribly awkward run-ins with each other over the years, then becoming friends, and then making things messy with all their feelings. There’s so many time-jumps in this book that it’s labeled with nine different parts, but it’s very clear where we are in everyone’s lives. If this turns into a movie, you’ll be able to tell what era you’re in based on Ari’s hairstyle and clothing. Ari is a stand-up comedian with all sorts of aversion to commitment and thinks Josh is an arrogant asshole (who is weirdly romantic and believes in soulmates). He’s actually a chef with big dreams and wanting to distance himself away from his famous deli-owning father. We get to see the evolution of both Ari and Josh separately in both their relationships and their careers. When they finally meet again and strike up a reluctant friendship, they’re both at all-time lows and miserable company is somehow comforting for them. They keep things totally platonic, but it’s clear they have some emotional dependence on each other, complete with late night telephone conversations while watching a movie together (separately in their own apartments). It all blows up when Josh pushes for more and Ari freaks out (as expected). We get to see both points of view in this story and the humor mixed with heartbreak hurts in a good way. I love how small little details early in the story get remembered and called back to later on, in the best sort of inside jokes between Ari and Josh. The supporting cast of friends and family rounded out the story and it was nice to see how everyone interacted with each other. An amazing book and I will definitely be reading anything in the future that Kate Goldbeck writes.

Advance ebook provided by Random House Publishing via NetGalley.

The Duchess and the Wolf by Lydia Drake (2023)

Historical Romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Debutantes of London series. Susannah is nearly engaged to a duke, but is having misgivings about it and would rather travel and see the world. While out with a friend at a gambling den, she happens to play the piano is a seemingly empty room. Rafe, the owner of the club, stumbles upon her there and is encouraged to hire her to bring more sophisticated patrons to the club so that he can secure a business deal. He offers her a large sum of money in exchange for her playing at the club. While Susannah declines at first, she soon realizes that the money would give her the opportunity to run away from her imminent engagement. Rafe and Susannah attempt to keep their relationship professional, but Rafe is an awe of her playing and Susannah sees glimpses of Rafe’s kindness towards his employees. It’s a total social mismatch here, but Susannah goes after what she wants, even at the risk of displeasing her family.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

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An Improper Christmas by Amy Rose Bennett (2018)

Historical romance, Regency era England. Smutty novella. Young lady catches her fiancee with another woman and runs away from a house party. She ends up riding in a carriage with a notorious rake and then spends the night in his home. Quick and smutty, with a nice little change of heart for our rake.

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Patience for Christmas by Grace Burrowes (2016)

Patience is a newspaper advice columnist in a friendly rivalry with another paper’s advice columnist. Her publisher has suggested that she challenge the other writer with a competition answering readers’ questions. It turns out though that the rival columnist is really the publisher himself, wanting to increase newspaper sales, and also wanting to spend more time with the lady.

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Duke for Hire by Nicola Davidson (2021)

Standalone novella, originally published in the Duke I’d Like to F anthology. This one is quick and steamy. Full steam. We have a vicar’s daughter and total spinster who just wants to get ravished. So she hires the local duke to do the job. They proceed to have a month long tryst and try all the things.

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One Night with an Earl by Tina Gabrielle (2021)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Daring Ladies series. We start strong here right at a brothel, where Ana is trying to lose her virginity before her thirtieth birthday. Ruined by family scandal a decade prior, Ana now works as a chaperone to a young lady making her debut into society. She seeks one night of pleasure and has the brothel madam help her. Oliver is a newly inherited earl after the death of his father and brother (both of whom were irresponsible and gross) and at the brothel with his brother’s friend’s. Of course, Ana and Oliver are instantly attracted and proceed with a tryst. Later, Ana finds Oliver at her house to court her charge and also that his family is the one who ruined hers. So much potential angst and drama here with the intertwined families, plus Ana has been hiding her identity from the world. At some point, I know the lies will catch up to her, but in the meantime, the development of the romance between these two is absolutely delightful.

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Sins of a Duke by Stacy Reid (2015)

Book 3 of the Scandalous House of Calydon series. Revenge trope here. One duke is mad at another duke because he thinks the other man is responsible for his sister’s death. So he sets out to seduce and ruin that guy’s sister. But then he falls in love instead. These revenge stories always go wrong….

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Taming the Rake by Erica Ridley (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Lords in Love series. Gladys the wallflower is at the Marrywell Matchmaking Festival for the fourth time and needs to find a marriage match before her dowry is given to her delightful younger sister. She finds herself kissed in a garden and expected a proposal from the handsome gentleman, but he never shows up, and she was spotted in a disheveled state, so now she’s publicly ruined as well. Her family cuts her off completely and she has to survive on her own. Five years later, she returns to Marrywell to find the man who ruined her and seek revenge. But he’s a lot less rakish than he seemed before and Gladys is at risk of falling in love. I really enjoyed Gladys’ transformation to a confident woman and the development of her relationship with Reuben.

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In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation by Alexandra Vasti (2022)

Historical romance novella. Margo is a scandalous young lady known for causing trouble with her twin sister. When her twin has eloped with a much older man, Margo seeks out the calm and steady Henry (her brother’s solicitor friend) to assist in chasing her down. Of course, Henry has been in love with Margo forever, knows it’s a bad idea to be in close proximity to her, and goes with her anyway. Steamy road trip romance that’s a quick read and I highly recommend it.

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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

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

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.