3.5 stars on this audio reread. Mary Jane Wells continues to be amazing, but just like on the last read, I enjoyed Penny and Gabe’s relationship, but 3.5 stars on this audio reread. Mary Jane Wells continues to be amazing, but just like on the last read, I enjoyed Penny and Gabe’s relationship, but the way Dare piles on the traumas and conflict at the end left me feeling unsatisfied. The central trauma (Penny’s) felt like it got dropped in with little to no foreshadowing and was tonally odd given the almost slapstick humor of the book to that point....more
The story of a powerful moment in Half a Soul, where Albert meets Elias and subsequently saves his life (and vice versa). Definitely not a standalone,The story of a powerful moment in Half a Soul, where Albert meets Elias and subsequently saves his life (and vice versa). Definitely not a standalone, but you could read it either before or after you read Half a Soul. ...more
This was a reread, this time on audio, and not only is the book itself impeccable, but so was Mary Jane Wells’ narration. It was my first by her and IThis was a reread, this time on audio, and not only is the book itself impeccable, but so was Mary Jane Wells’ narration. It was my first by her and I can see why people love her. So. Much. Fun!
The Governess Game was one of the first historical romances I read, and definitely the first one I connected with. Hilarious and sexy and sweet. ...more
I have to confess that I was a little nervous going into this ARC. I love Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions novellas, but Ne'er Duke Well, 4.25 stars
I have to confess that I was a little nervous going into this ARC. I love Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions novellas, but Ne'er Duke Well, which precedes Earl Crush, was a DNF for me.
Happily, I really, really liked this book. Lydia Hope-Wallace is a fiercely political heiress with severe social anxiety. Having corresponded with the earl of Strathrannoch for three years about her political pamphlets, she travels to his seat to propose a marriage of convenience. But oh noes! The real earl has not, in fact, been writing to her. Instead, it was his brother, who appears to be up to no good. Lydia and the earl, Arthur, team up to uncover his brother's plans.
What follows is funny, and sweet, and sexy, and political without being soapboxy. And given I am often too cynical for my own good when reading the first book after a DNF or bad review of the same author's work, I was so pleased with how Vasti answered any objections I had as the story progressed.
For example, one of my favorite moments is when they first touch, and there is a veritable ✨spark✨ between them as there is in many romance novels. Reader, I rolled my eyes a little. But here, it is literally just static electricity. I laughed with delight.
There is also a fake engagement, which is not my favorite trope, but it really works here.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the very hot dry hump against a door.
Overall, Earl Crush feels clever, fresh and energetic--exactly what I love about Vasti's work. I ate it up.
Fixing these issues would have made this a five-star read for me:
1. I would have liked this to be a little slower of a burn. They got hot and heavy around 40%, and after that, the intimate scenes came thick and fast and lost some of their impact as a result. Lydia and Arthur had such great chemistry that I would have liked Vasti to ratchet up the tension a little longer. 2. There was a little too much internal monologuing, particularly from Arthur, toward the end. That started to feel a little tedious even if Vasti did a good job of showing us throughout the book how his father had decimated his sense of self-worth. 3. Finally, I wanted more of Davis. He was such an off-page presence throughout, and then when he finally shows up in person, it didn't feel like there was enough of an emotional resolution between him and Arthur, and him and Lydia.
Cannot wait to read Georgiana's book! She was a minor character but a delightful and intriguing one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. ...more
This 1978 Regency is by Clare Darcy, a new-to-me author who apparently thought it would be OK to include a minor character who owned a cotton plantatiThis 1978 Regency is by Clare Darcy, a new-to-me author who apparently thought it would be OK to include a minor character who owned a cotton plantation in Louisiana. ...more
Libby made me wait like eight months for this book, and then (of course) I raced through it in two days.
I scanned the reviews after I finished, and tLibby made me wait like eight months for this book, and then (of course) I raced through it in two days.
I scanned the reviews after I finished, and there were two strong themes: 1) Cynthia Brightly is a manipulative gold digger and 2) Miles Redmond is an amoral shagger. Neither of these things bothered me, and I don’t actually think they’re even true.
It’s true that Cynthia used her beauty and charm to chase a life of wealth and comfort… and why not? She had no family fortune or reputation of any kind, and as she herself notes more than once, being a wife is literally the only thing she’s trained for. It’s the only value society placed on a woman. So I loved the setup, which is that she gets herself invited to her new friend Violet Redmond’s family’s house party and then decides to use it to find a rich husband—because in two weeks she will be literally destitute and she has no family to fall back on. A terrifying prospect indeed, and one that Julie Anne Long elucidates very well.
Miles, the second son, is left in charge of the house party when his parents go off to resolve a family dispute. He is described as “large, dark, dour, bespectacled,” and to that I said, “SAY LESS.”
Their chemistry is indisputable and so much fun to read. Miles agrees to feed Cynthia information about the eligible bachelors in exchange for a (scorching) kiss, while he pursues the pleasant but dull Lady Georgina, whose father will bankroll Miles’ next entomological expedition if they marry.
So, they’re both leading on various people, which you could say is mercenary, but in the end, they’re chasing their dreams, too.
As with most JAL books, I devoured this one. But, like her more recent How to Tame a Wild Rogue, while the main couple were compelling, I could have done with a little more conflict in the story. The stakes were high, but it felt a little baggy and gentle in places. I also would have liked to read more of Miles’ reputed skills in bed, which were heavily advertised. Walk the walk, buddy!
I think this was JAL’s first book? It shows. It’s clearly her work, because there are some great scenes and funny moments, but I didn’t devour it likeI think this was JAL’s first book? It shows. It’s clearly her work, because there are some great scenes and funny moments, but I didn’t devour it like I normally do a JAL book.
Plus, the hero, who had known Rebecca since she was 12, kept calling her “wee Becca” all the way through, even after they’d slept together. ☹️
First, an update on the "one pence" situation: It has still not been fixed.
Second, people keep telling me that this series continues to get better. BuFirst, an update on the "one pence" situation: It has still not been fixed.
Second, people keep telling me that this series continues to get better. But I don't believe that's possible? This was utterly perfect.
James, the duke who is at the Grand Palace at the Thames for peace and quiet while he writes his second memoir, is smoking hot. So sexy. I'm still not entirely sure what a stern brunch daddy is, but maybe it's him? But I hate to slap a cheap label like that on the duke, who is a marvellously layered character who hides anxiety about his legacy under a rigid layer of respectability.
Miss Mariana Wylde is his perfect foil. A sensuous, clever opera singer, she's hiding out at the GPotT due to being hounded by scandalmongers over her seemingly pivotal role in one young blood shooting another. The duke, naturally, bristles at the mere sight of her, presumable worried that her scandalous reputation and licentious behavior will somehow rub off onto him.
Their spiky interactions in the wonderful drawing room at the GpotT put me in mind of that scene in Pride & Prejudice between Lizzy and Darcy, except the duke and Miss Wilde's dialogue is much wittier.(Not a slight on Austen, natch; she wasn't going for humor there.)
There are two main things I want to note about this book. The first is that Julie Anne Long has done and continues to do such incredible world building; the environment the characters inhabit is fully fledged, and the supporting characters always feel like more than supporting characters.
The second is that this is some of Julie Anne Long's very best writing. In my last review for this series, I talked about her perfect blend of humor, sexiness, lyricism or something to that effect. That is even more true for this book. You'll be laughing out loud one minute, then crying, then swooning at the beauty of one character's words to another. Oh, and I am in awe of the passion between the duke and Miss Wilde. It's the fiercest yet in this series.
If I hadn't already written a couple hundred words about this book, I'd say "10/10. No notes"...more
I loved this book so hard. Gorgeous strapping American meets gorgeous English rose while said rose is smoking a cheroot, and they proceed to butt headI loved this book so hard. Gorgeous strapping American meets gorgeous English rose while said rose is smoking a cheroot, and they proceed to butt heads in the most exhilarating manner.
JAL’s writing is on point here: her trademark beautiful mix of wit, lyricism, hilarity, heat and emotion. New Yorker Hugh Cassidy is in London on a mission to find his friend’s runaway daughter, and he parks up at the Grand Palace on the Thames at the same time as Lillias and her family, whose home has a snake infestation. (Yes.)
Both characters are layered and spiky and charming and I loved them. My note at 36% is “I am absolutely going to combust from the sexual tension.” Their chemistry is off the charts.
It’s heartbreaking, too — not just Hugh’s past but events that transpire during the book.
And the supporting cast of characters is brilliant, of course, including our friends Delamore and Dot, who I love.
I am hesitant to read ARCs these days, because I am picky and don’t tend to pull punches. But I knew I was in safe hands with Georgina North. I gave hI am hesitant to read ARCs these days, because I am picky and don’t tend to pull punches. But I knew I was in safe hands with Georgina North. I gave her second novel, Painting the Duke, five stars, and enjoyed her first, The Rake of Tamarix Hall, even if the last 20% went a bit haywire. She’s an excellent writer in what I’d call a traditional Regency style: it feels period-appropriate in a kind of Heyer way (but without the antisemitism, natch).
The FMC in The Gentleman Spy is Emerald Doubleday, a ward in the house of Beau Calverleigh, who has recently returned home to England after years abroad working as a spy for the British government. His father had died four years previously, and in Beau’s absence, Emerald took on the running of the estate. Georgina North didn’t write this in a, like, feisty girlboss way; Emerald is good at it and is annoyed when Beau comes back and wants to take over, but over the course of the book, you see just how much it weighed on her and how much she resented him for it.
Their early interactions are therefore spiky, but they can only fight their mutual attraction for so long, obvs.
This is a slow burn, more or less necessarily. As Emerald’s guardian, Beau doesn’t want to take advantage, which I liked for this story. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of heat between them, though, especially in a certain garden during a certain masquerade. ...more
First off, I am OBSESSED with this cover. It’s a cartoon cover I can get behind.
Sadly,the cover is the best thing about it. At 31%, I don’t feel like First off, I am OBSESSED with this cover. It’s a cartoon cover I can get behind.
Sadly,the cover is the best thing about it. At 31%, I don’t feel like finishing this one. It had its amusing moments, but I was bored and the earls all seemed to have been to a 21st-century therapist, throwing around phrases like “found family.” It felt more like a bromance than a romance tbh. Better books are waiting patiently on my TBR. ...more
Friends… I just don’t think Julie Garwood is for me. This was appealingly bananas at first: A white baby is raised with the Dakota and then goes to EnFriends… I just don’t think Julie Garwood is for me. This was appealingly bananas at first: A white baby is raised with the Dakota and then goes to England to claim her inheritance, but she must get married to keep it out of the hands of her sadistic father. English isn’t her first language and English customs are unfamiliar to her, and I felt like I was high for the first four chapters. But there is so much expository dialogue and the writing felt… amateurish? (I’m sorry to all the Garwood fans out there!) Reading this, I remembered I DNF The Bride when I was a baby romance reader, which leads me to conclude this is a Me Thing. Great cover, though. ...more
Alexandra Vasti has mastered the novella format—no doubt about it. It’s never too much story or not enough; just plenty of feels, hotness, plot and chAlexandra Vasti has mastered the novella format—no doubt about it. It’s never too much story or not enough; just plenty of feels, hotness, plot and character development.
Here, Miss Starling and Robert Vane are almost literally Chaos and Order. She is a scientist who is focused on creating a better fertilizer, with appropriately explosive results. He is a book publisher and thrives on organization and tidiness. But they’re thrown together when her lab is robbed, and to precisely no one’s surprise, after they set off together to discover the culprit, sparks fly and they get it ON.
I loved this novella and have no notes. Universal blessings to Alexandra Vasti for giving us this book and these characters for FREE. ...more
Baby's first Mia Vincy! And, as they say, it won't be my last. Her writing is just so good. Sharp, unexpected, complex, some acerbic humor--right up mBaby's first Mia Vincy! And, as they say, it won't be my last. Her writing is just so good. Sharp, unexpected, complex, some acerbic humor--right up my alley.
Our heroine Arabella has crafted herself into an unexceptionable yet prickly debutante due to her mother's social pressure and her chauvinistic father's resentment of the fact that her twin, Oliver, died at eight years old, leaving him with a hoyden of a daughter (who only wanted to please him, ffs). When the story opens, she is dealing with the fact that Guy Roth, Lord Hardbury, had broken the "engagement" that her father and his now-dead one forged when they were children. She and Guy had always had a combative relationship, and nothing seems to have changed even after he returns after an eight-year absence.
Arabella is facing immense pressure to marry for multiple reasons, which is the driving force behind the narrative. There is a dastardly villain in the form of Lord Sculthorpe (a perfect name for this unhinged creeper) who is obsessed with virgins, and he has his eye on Arabella. Arabella, on the other hand, is just longing to feel some agency in her life.
This was meant to be her body, but only in small moments could she experience it as her own: during a hot bath in winter, a cool bath in summer, riding her horse, sliding between clean linens, donning a silk petticoat, an intimate touch.
This is a true character-driven romance, with much of the action happening in Arabella's and Guy's heads. It is heartbreaking to see Arabella needing help so desperately but not being able to bring herself to ask for it.
Her heart wanted to say: When you held me in your arms, I did not feel alone. Her heart wanted to say: Please help me. There is no one else and I am afraid.
Meanwhile, Guy feels himself falling for Arabella, but he resists, because it was his father's wish he married her, and Guy has had enough of being controlled by the man.
If only he could whisk them both away to the desert and lay her down under the endless night sky. But they were in a drawing room, amidst chatter, candles, music, tea. He despised her. He wanted her. She was dangerous. He was mad.
These two are complete dummies but in the best possible way. It is an angsty and tortuous road to their HEA, but you never doubt they'll get there (despite the fact that it's a romance; of course there will be an HEA!). They have too much chemistry and heat and are more alike than they realize.
I also love how Vincy centers not one but two "unlikeable" women (my fave kind of woman!): Arabella and Freddie, Guy's sister. There's even more than meets the eye in Miss Treadgold, the perfect simpering debutante with her eye on Guy.
This was hurtling toward five stars until 91%, when an additional complication occurred. It felt like unnecessary drama piled onto the perfect drama we'd already had for 300 pages. So that was a bummer; I was ready for the HEA.
**spoiler alert** Georgina North’s second novel, Painting the Duke, was one of my top books of 2023, so I had high hopes for her debut, The Rake of Ta**spoiler alert** Georgina North’s second novel, Painting the Duke, was one of my top books of 2023, so I had high hopes for her debut, The Rake of Tamarix Hall. And it ALMOST lived up to them.
It’s the story of Cressida, one of four sisters who are at the mercy of their drunk of a father; he refuses to chaperone them anywhere, so despite the eldest being 22, they are not “out.” Cressida has a meet-mean with rake Lucius in a bookshop, where he eavesdrops on her gossipy conversation about the new marquess—who, of course, turns out to be him. They have a fractious relationship until a fateful event that throws them together.
What I loved about this book: - Georgina North’s writing is great. It’s in the style of Heyer and Austen and feels more of the period than many current historical romances. It’s witty and fun to read. - The supporting characters—namely, my favorite micro-trope, the Sassy Older Woman. Here, she takes the form of Lucius’ Aunt Bea, who uses her sharp tongue and sharper walking stick to great effect. - This is a sloooow burn, but the two kissing scenes before 71% are hot. - There is an original poem in here that is beautiful.
What didn’t work for me: - This is enemies-to-lovers, but the antagonism was a little forced in a number of places. Cressida is quite unfairly mean to Lucius, which he calls her out on, but she carries on regardless. - There is a Jump to Conclusion by him late in the book that I just don’t buy. - That led to him >>SPOILER<< kissing a previous paramour, which I didn’t like and for which there was not NEARLY enough groveling. It would have been a deal-breaker for most women, I think. - They do finally do the deed, but the book literally ends in the middle of it. WUT.
So it was a bit messy, and North definitely ran out of steam after 80%. But I’ll absolutely read her third book – she is a writing talent to watch....more
This is actually a reread of a novella I never put into Goodreads the first time around. I think I recall giving it four mind-stars the first time aroThis is actually a reread of a novella I never put into Goodreads the first time around. I think I recall giving it four mind-stars the first time around (about a year ago). BUT, this time, it’s five stars. I have a lot of romances under my belt now, and a lot of romance novellas that failed to make the grade because they tried to do too much in too few pages.
Naturally, Queen Loretta avoids this trap, using backstory to add depth AND to give us a reason for this second-chance romance that actually holds up (external forces, rather than miscommunication).
As a holiday novella, it has everything you’d want: angels, cute kids, waltzes, snow, falling stars… It’s definitely one of Chase’s sweeter stories, but she adds sharpness and humor in the way only she can. ...more
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