Romance

The Governess and the Duke (Renegade Dukes #3) by Lydia Drake

This is a wonderful Regency romance with plenty of warmth and heart. Viola, the MC, is the governess to an incorrigible fourteen old girl, Felicity, who is a delightful and refreshing character. Her antics, particularly when she and Hunt’s sister Isabell scheme to get Viola and Hunt together, are a hoot. They add much levity and laughter to the story. Viola has been in love with the Duke of Huntington, Hunt, since the moment she saw him. But she knows her place in society and silently loves him from afar. Viola is smart, capable and loving. Her relationship with Felicity is warm, loving, but firm.

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January 25, 2024 0

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain

You guys, this book is so cute! It’s a fun and flirty Regency England historical romance about what happens when the tables are turned against men’s complete control over courtships. Diana Boyle is a wealthy widow who has no desire to get married again. She discovers that she’s listed in a directory of rich, single women to help younger sons without a fortune score a rich wife. Diana is furious and confronts Maxwell, the man that wrote the list.

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January 25, 2024 0

The Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London #3) by Mimi Matthews

This is a wonderful Victorian romance set in London about two childhood friends whose romance always seems to be just out of step. This is book 3 in the Belles of London series, but can be read as a standalone. Lady Anne and Felix “Hart” Hartford are childhood friends. When Anne was only 16, Felix proposed and they had an understanding. Shortly thereafter Anne’s father died, plunging her mother into a 7 year spiral of grief, taking Anne with her. After their broken engagement, Felix never gives up hope they will get back together.

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January 19, 2024 0

A Murderous Persuasion (Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #2) by Katie Oliver

This is another great cozy mystery with Jane Austen vibes. While this is book 2 of the series, it’s a standalone mystery and can be read without having read the first book. In fact, I’ve read this series completely out of order and I’ve still enjoyed them all.

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January 17, 2024 0

Swipe Right For Romance (A Love Bug Novel Book 1) by Kelly Collins

This is a fun and flirty romcom set around an app competition. It has several of my favorite tropes including “he falls first” “fake dating trope & billionaire romance.

Junie comes to AJs rescue & pretends to be his girlfriend to appease his matchmaking mother at dinner. The next day, you guessed it, he’s in charge of the app competition she just entered.

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January 14, 2024 0

Fake-ish by Winter Renshaw

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance about a couple that meet during a joint island bachelor/bachelorette party, spend a glorious few days together, and plan to take 2 years apart to get their life sorted out and then get back together. What could go wrong?

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January 6, 2024 0

Pride, Prejudice, and Peril (The Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #1) by Katie Oliver

This is book 1 in the Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series, but the books are set up to be standalone mysteries, so you can read them out of order. I did that when I read Cyanide and Sensibility earlier this month. I enjoyed that book, and I enjoyed this book too, which introduced me to all of the characters.

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December 29, 2023 0

Cyanide and Sensibility (Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #3) by Katie Oliver

This is book 3 of A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series, and it’s a sweet and cute cozy mystery. This is a stand alone mystery, so you don’t need to have read the first 2 books to enjoy this one. I haven’t read them, and I found enough backstory in the book to understand everyone’s relationships and history.

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December 18, 2023 0

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander

I loved this contemporary LGBTQIA romance set during the Christmas holidays in Florida. After getting fired from his tv writing job, Eli returns to his childhood home in New Port Stephen, FL for the holidays. As he navigates dealing with his family and feelings, he runs into his high school ex Nick. Nick is divorced with a precocious 4 year old daughter and is running the local restaurant. Sparks fly between the couple, which only serves to confuse them both because the last time they dated, Eli was a teenage girl. At almost 40, he finally feels at one with his mind and body, and wants to selfishly protect the peace he’s found within himself, despite his attraction to Nick. For his part, Nick is surprised that his feelings for Eli are still there, even if Eli’s exterior doesn’t match up with Nick’s memories.

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December 7, 2023 0