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Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. 3.75* Just under a 4 out of 5 rating, this book tells the story of Felicity Green, who wants to own a women’s casino during the Gilded Age. Smart woman that she is, she decided to ask Clayton, who already owns a casino, to teach her. Clay has a revenge story against her father, and that gets in the way of the happy ending, but in the end he does the right thing – of course. Although I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t a favourite. Clay’s revenge sometimes pushed things in a way that was too much, and Felicity was a bit annoying at parts, as she behaved in ways that didn’t feel very realistic. I did love the voyeurism scene, it was super sexy! The good times delivered, as usual. The end felt just right for everyone, and it’s very refreshing to have different goals and results than what we are used to – mind, it’s still a HEA, just not a “married with kids” HEA, which would not have suited our main couple. Definitely a big part in this series, Felicity and Clay’s story is one of social class differences, revenge, following your goals, and knowing when to compromise without losing focus.

I loved this book! I’ve always really enjoyed Christmas/Holidays related books, and this one hit all the right spots. Sophie is the sensible sister. She doesn’t give problems to anyone. So, when she decides to spend some time at Christmas with friends, her family doesn’t worry. But Sophie has a plan. She wants to spend some of her Christmas alone. But her plans get sidetracked when she is left stranded with someone else’s baby. Queue Vim, our hero. I’ll admit right away, I love babies. I find them adorable, and I love holding them. And whenever I see someone who is good with a baby, I just feel happy. And Vim, well, he’s perfect with young Kit. How he helps Sophie without ever mocking her, or making feel like she’s doing something wrong, it’s just perfect. I really enjoyed the relationship between both the hero and the heroine, and them with Kit. It was adorable, with our characters stuck due to a snow storm, learning about each other, and relating in a way they couldn’t with other people. Sometimes it’s just easier to talk to a stranger than someone who’s known you forever, right? I also really liked hoe Sophie’s brothers didn’t try to decide for her, or just beat Vim. They understood that they were in love, but apparently there was some form of impediment, so they decided to do what they could to help them. Great brothers! All in all, a great romance, with some steamy moments, very romantic, very adorable, and it just made me very happy.

Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a Medieval Romance, and I know Madeline Hunter’s medieval were quite good, so I was excited to read this one. However, it did not reach the expectations. It felt… rushed, and very neatly tided with a bow to finish off. The beginning was good, and it told the connection between our main characters well, but it felt like they just picked up where they left all those years ago, as if nothing had changed. The conflict was quite good, until it was resolved. So many repetitions about bravery, and cowardice, and then everything was just done with words…? When I reached the end of the book, I just thought… “that’s it?” and I was quite disappointed, even for a novella... Sadly, this was not a memorable story… The main characters, Zander and Elionor just didn’t click for me, and the conflict wasn’t really viable, in my opinion. It didn’t work.

I have a feeling my opinion is going to be very different than most people’s, regarding this book. I really like Eloisa James’ books, but this one suffers from the same problem of a book I’ve also read very, very recently. The plot is almost inexistent. Hey, if that’s your thing, great! It’s a light, fun, sexy book. But I warn you, the secondary characters have a more detailed story than the main ones. Some people described this story as enemies to lovers. I don’t actually agree with that, as I don’t consider Viola and Devin to have been enemies at any point. She might have disliked him slightly in the beginning, but that changed so quickly that I can’t consider this an enemies to lovers trope. In fact, I’m having a hard time defining a trope for it at all. I liked Devin and Viola just fine – they were fun, Devin comes down from his high horse (hello Duke!), and Viola becomes more sure of herself throughout the book. And they have very romantic, loving, sexy, I would even say hot times, but… that’s it. I reached 90% of the book and just thought: “well, there’s nothing else of value happening now”, and I was right. So… this isn’t a bad book, or anything similar. Eloisa’s great writing skills definitely show through the book, but the plot was somewhat lacking. If you’re looking for a light, fun, simply entertaining book, that this is a great choice. Just don’t expect anything else.

I have a feeling my opinion is going to be very different than most people’s, regarding this book. I really like Eloisa James’ books, but this one suffers from the same problem of a book I’ve also read very, very recently. The plot is almost inexistent. Hey, if that’s your thing, great! It’s a light, fun, sexy book. But I warn you, the secondary characters have a more detailed story than the main ones. Some people described this story as enemies to lovers. I don’t actually agree with that, as I don’t consider Viola and Devin to have been enemies at any point. She might have disliked him slightly in the beginning, but that changed so quickly that I can’t consider this an enemies to lovers trope. In fact, I’m having a hard time defining a trope for it at all. I liked Devin and Viola just fine – they were fun, Devin comes down from his high horse (hello Duke!), and Viola becomes more sure of herself throughout the book. And they have very romantic, loving, sexy, I would even say hot times, but… that’s it. I reached 90% of the book and just thought: “well, there’s nothing else of value happening now”, and I was right. So… this isn’t a bad book, or anything similar. Eloisa’s great writing skills definitely show through the book, but the plot was somewhat lacking. If you’re looking for a light, fun, simply entertaining book, that this is a great choice. Just don’t expect anything else.

I have a feeling my opinion is going to be very different than most people’s, regarding this book. I really like Eloisa James’ books, but this one suffers from the same problem of a book I’ve also read very, very recently. The plot is almost inexistent. Hey, if that’s your thing, great! It’s a light, fun, sexy book. But I warn you, the secondary characters have a more detailed story than the main ones. Some people described this story as enemies to lovers. I don’t actually agree with that, as I don’t consider Viola and Devin to have been enemies at any point. She might have disliked him slightly in the beginning, but that changed so quickly that I can’t consider this an enemies to lovers trope. In fact, I’m having a hard time defining a trope for it at all. I liked Devin and Viola just fine – they were fun, Devin comes down from his high horse (hello Duke!), and Viola becomes more sure of herself throughout the book. And they have very romantic, loving, sexy, I would even say hot times, but… that’s it. I reached 90% of the book and just thought: “well, there’s nothing else of value happening now”, and I was right. So… this isn’t a bad book, or anything similar. Eloisa’s great writing skills definitely show through the book, but the plot was somewhat lacking. If you’re looking for a light, fun, simply entertaining book, that this is a great choice. Just don’t expect anything else.

Grace loved Devil and Whit as brothers, but with Ewan it was always different. And that's why it hurt so much when Ewan behaved in a way that made the Bareknuckle Bastards run away from him, scared and feeling as betrayed as possible. Their pain prevented them from seeing what was really happening. I absolutely loved this book. Sarah MacLean's writing is so compelling, and so sexy! Her characters come to life before your eyes and just amaze you with their behaviours and actions. Grace is this strong, independent woman. A queen in her turf. Covent Garden was her home, even though she was not born there. She knew it from Ewan's stories, and when the time came, Grace, Devil, and Whit all ran to it. And when Ewan could, the first thing he did was chase Grace, and track her down. No, not chase. Search for her. And his heart and mind couldn't take it when his brothers told him she was dead. Because he knew he could feel her. And when he started to believe them, nothing could stand in his path to destruction for they had let the woman he loved die. I loved the heart to heart talks between Grace and Ewan, and how their trust starts to rebuild, and how Ewan realizes it has to be Grace's choice. The way Ewan suffered broke my heart, especially when he said what his dreams were: “You, and me, here [Covent Garden]. With a collection of flame-haired babes.” (…) “My brothers. Their children. A family.”. I am usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this one... it's golden!

Grace loved Devil and Whit as brothers, but with Ewan it was always different. And that's why it hurt so much when Ewan behaved in a way that made the Bareknuckle Bastards run away from him, scared and feeling as betrayed as possible. Their pain prevented them from seeing what was really happening. I absolutely loved this book. Sarah MacLean's writing is so compelling, and so sexy! Her characters come to life before your eyes and just amaze you with their behaviours and actions. Grace is this strong, independent woman. A queen in her turf. Covent Garden was her home, even though she was not born there. She knew it from Ewan's stories, and when the time came, Grace, Devil, and Whit all ran to it. And when Ewan could, the first thing he did was chase Grace, and track her down. No, not chase. Search for her. And his heart and mind couldn't take it when his brothers told him she was dead. Because he knew he could feel her. And when he started to believe them, nothing could stand in his path to destruction for they had let the woman he loved die. I loved the heart to heart talks between Grace and Ewan, and how their trust starts to rebuild, and how Ewan realizes it has to be Grace's choice. The way Ewan suffered broke my heart, especially when he said what his dreams were: “You, and me, here [Covent Garden]. With a collection of flame-haired babes.” (…) “My brothers. Their children. A family.”. I am usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this one... it's golden!

This is the story of Nicholas and Georgiana (Georgie). I like marriage of convenience stories, and I thought I would really enjoy this one, pretty much until I got to 98% of the book. Because that’s when I realized I had been waiting for the plot to move, for the twist, the drama, something. I couldn’t believe so little had happened, and the book was now over. It has lots of banter, it’s a funny book, and has great Easter eggs. I mean… young Anthony and Benedict, and always hungry baby Colin. I loved the glimpse into Edward and Violet’s wedding bliss, but it wasn’t enough to make me forget that in truth… there really isn’t a proper, full, complete plot in this book. And it breaks my heart to say this, as I love, love, love Julia Quinn’s books. But this one… it almost felt like she didn’t have much to give us, and so this is what was available…? I loved getting to know Nicholas, a med student, and Georgie, a young lady who has a very clever mind, who just wants to learn everything related to Medicine. We have a virgin hero and a virgin heroine in this book, and it’s adorable, and sexy, and romantic, to see them grow together as a married couple. But… that’s just it. There was no conflict. Maybe the beginning of the book was supposed to be the conflict? With Nicholas and Georgie being slightly reluctant to marry one another? But that was fixed from day to night, literally. And then… that was it.

This is the story of Nicholas and Georgiana (Georgie). I like marriage of convenience stories, and I thought I would really enjoy this one, pretty much until I got to 98% of the book. Because that’s when I realized I had been waiting for the plot to move, for the twist, the drama, something. I couldn’t believe so little had happened, and the book was now over. It has lots of banter, it’s a funny book, and has great Easter eggs. I mean… young Anthony and Benedict, and always hungry baby Colin. I loved the glimpse into Edward and Violet’s wedding bliss, but it wasn’t enough to make me forget that in truth… there really isn’t a proper, full, complete plot in this book. And it breaks my heart to say this, as I love, love, love Julia Quinn’s books. But this one… it almost felt like she didn’t have much to give us, and so this is what was available…? I loved getting to know Nicholas, a med student, and Georgie, a young lady who has a very clever mind, who just wants to learn everything related to Medicine. We have a virgin hero and a virgin heroine in this book, and it’s adorable, and sexy, and romantic, to see them grow together as a married couple. But… that’s just it. There was no conflict. Maybe the beginning of the book was supposed to be the conflict? With Nicholas and Georgie being slightly reluctant to marry one another? But that was fixed from day to night, literally. And then… that was it.

This is the story of Nicholas and Georgiana (Georgie). I like marriage of convenience stories, and I thought I would really enjoy this one, pretty much until I got to 98% of the book. Because that’s when I realized I had been waiting for the plot to move, for the twist, the drama, something. I couldn’t believe so little had happened, and the book was now over. It has lots of banter, it’s a funny book, and has great Easter eggs. I mean… young Anthony and Benedict, and always hungry baby Colin. I loved the glimpse into Edward and Violet’s wedding bliss, but it wasn’t enough to make me forget that in truth… there really isn’t a proper, full, complete plot in this book. And it breaks my heart to say this, as I love, love, love Julia Quinn’s books. But this one… it almost felt like she didn’t have much to give us, and so this is what was available…? I loved getting to know Nicholas, a med student, and Georgie, a young lady who has a very clever mind, who just wants to learn everything related to Medicine. We have a virgin hero and a virgin heroine in this book, and it’s adorable, and sexy, and romantic, to see them grow together as a married couple. But… that’s just it. There was no conflict. Maybe the beginning of the book was supposed to be the conflict? With Nicholas and Georgie being slightly reluctant to marry one another? But that was fixed from day to night, literally. And then… that was it.

I believe this was my first book by Megan Frampton, but having heard good things, I expected a great book. And I almost got. Almost. This book is… soft. Not in an “oh no, there’s no sexy times” way (on the contrary), but it just didn’t deliver. Ivy had a great premise, a lady who had a gambling house, who wagered to save herself and her sister, she seemed like she had all that was required for a great character. And that is true for the first half of the book. After that her character just changed in a way that didn’t make sense to me. Yes, we can be confident and still have times when we have self-doubt, and our self-love isn’t as high as it normally is, but is just felt like she Ivy was a completely different person. For our former duke, Sebastian de Silva, everything seemed to simple. He lost all he had ever known, yet, he gets a job immediately and that pretty much makes the story flow in a way that does not allow him to discover himself, and when at the end he decides to actually do that we get, what? Two pages where nothing happens even if he spent two months thinking and getting to actually know himself and his feelings? It lacked depth. Ana Maria (Sebastian’s sister), Nash (Sebastian’s best friend), and Octavia (Ivy’s sister) seemed way more interesting than our hero and heroine. The writing was good, it just wasn’t compelling to me. But I am curious about the next couple in the series so, I might have better luck with the next book.

Georgiana is a sweet girl, who saves a man’s life by saying he’s her fiancé.Lord Westmorland – Rob – is a rake, and he won a house in a bet.But he’s not a bad guy so, to make sure the house is never lost again, he decides to give it to the man’s family, so that they know what happened, & can keep their property safe.But Kitty, Georgiana’s friend, has been warned that a man is arriving at her house to kick her, & her family, out of their home.And Kitty is fierce, so she has all the guns ready to protect what’s hers.When Georgiana finds a man beaten almost to death, she knows she can’t leave him to die, & gets him to Kitty’s house, & when she sees his face (& discovers that he’s Lord Westmorland-she was the only one there who had actually met him), she knows she has to lie to make sure Kitty will help him.And, because Rob was beaten in the head, he loses his memory for some time.Georgiana tends to Rob, & when he wakes up, they start spending more time together, & fall in love.Georgiana and Rob’s love is something at risk, because she’s engaged to someone else, so when Rob’s brother comes to get him, & Rob’s gets his memory back, they come up with a plan, & decide not to see each other again.Of course, days past, & they keep thinking about each other.There are some family problems regarding Georgiana’s family, & there’s also some mystery that is mostly dealt with at the very end of the book, so it’s not very important throughout the book, but it does drive the story at the end.

Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an eARC through NetGalley, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. 2.75* This was my first time reading a book by Lynne Connolly. To be honest, I don’t actually know what I was expecting. This book is a bit slow, particularly in the beginning, but it gets better closer to the end. The best thing about the book for me was the Society for Single Ladies, yet we saw so little of them… Hopefully they’ll get a bigger spotlight in the next books. I liked Phoebe more than Leomore, he was a bit too possessive for my liking, but in the end he gets better. Phoebe is a clever young woman, and she deserves to be happy. The mystery didn’t really work for me, I was pretty sure of the result right from the beginning. Angela, Phoebe’s best friend, is one of the best characters of the book, and I think her story will be more interesting. The romance wasn’t bad, but it could have been better… There just wasn’t enough chemistry for me between the main characters. This is the kind of book that doesn’t really stick with you, it’s pleasant, but that’s just about it.

2.25* Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. This book just wasn’t right for me. I wanted to try this author but this book wasn’t a good idea. It says clearly in the synopsis that this book deals with the hero and heroine cheating the hero’s wife. She was a broken person, for sure, but I still don’t like the idea of Mara and Foster cheating. To be honest, I wasn’t even a fan of Mara and Foster. I loved Mara’s family, but Mara herself spent most of the time crying, and she was a bit annoying. Foster was… he didn’t act. He only acted when it was convenient for him, and then told himself that it wasn’t just for him, it was for his wife, Rose, too. Well, it might have been true, but it didn’t feel like it. To be completely honest, I liked Rose – aka the “villain” – more than our heroes. She was broken hearted, which made her cruel. I am in no way excusing her actions – she was a horrible woman, but life made her that way. She could have been happier – not happy, happier – if she had chosen too, but she walled in her sadness, and everything and everyone she missed. She was miserable. And yet, she was so much more interesting than the main characters. The writing didn’t captivate me, and the story, which sounded quite interesting, just didn’t live up to the expectation.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. Review originally published in my blog Romancing Romances. When you choose a book by Janna MacGregor, you’re choosing well. Rogue Most Wanted is funny, and romantic, and makes you feels good in all the right places. I loved the characters, and identified very easily with them. Will had been hurt before, and Thea is willing to do almost anything to save and help those that depend on her – even if it means she’ll be unhappy. They start as friends and end up in a fake engagement at the end to heat things up. There’s no insta-love in this book. Will and Thea get to know each other, and fall in love slowly, and completely. I love their relationship, and how they become friends and then lovers. The secondary characters are great! Will’s great-aunt, Stella, is the mastermind behind Will and Thea’s relationship, with the help of her best friend. These two older ladies provide a fun element to the book, with their conversations and tricks to help the lovebirds understand they belong together. And it’s always a pleasure to re-visit characters we met in previous books. The Cavensham’s are a great family, they stick together, are very loyal, very friendly, and they not afraid to tell each other harsh truths when needed. Theodora is alone in the world, and all she ever wanted was a family, friends, people she could rely on – and she found it with Will and his family. She fights for her title, her land, and her people, and the Cavensham’s are there to support her – by helping her enter London’s society. Thea has to prove she’s a countess, but due to being away from society – and everyone actually! – for almost all of her life, she doesn’t even know the basics of how to behave herself in society. The book goes around her learning, and her connection with Will, and his family. As a reader, you feel so happy for Thea, she deserves to be happy, and have friends, and family. And Will, who was dumped when he believed to be in love, also deserves to have his life turned around. He evolves, and opens up, and finally learns to love again. In short, you can’t go wrong with this book.

3.5* Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an ARC through a giveaway, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. This is the first book in a brand new series about... Dukes! Grey was a great character, I liked how fierce he was, how he grows throughout the book, how he deals with some things that are problematic (although here I do think some things could have been different, but I’ll expand on that next). I wasn’t a fan of Beatrice… I didn’t connect with her. I understood some of her reactions, I think she had to go through a lot, and she handled herself the best she could, that’s not the point. I just… didn’t like her. I liked the middle part of the book the best. The beginning felt a bit slow, and the end was rushed without actually having much happen… It did leave me with enough interest to read the next book in the series, especially since I liked the secondary characters more than the main ones. Joshua and Gwyn have a great chemistry, and I can’t wait to read their story. Now, this is important. This book handles forms of abuse. Abuse from men towards women. Not rape, but still sexual abuse. Unwanted touching, blackmailing, disgusting comments… Beatrice did have to endure a lot from someone she should have been able trust: her uncle. Grey is super concerned if the heroine was raped – spoiler alert – she wasn’t. And, of course, he is relieved but, at the same time, it ends up being a bit of a dismissal of the other things Beatrice had to go through. Heroes, especially in (today’s) historical romance, seem always ready to go and defend the heroine’s honour (“let’s go and punch/hurt/kill the aggressor” kind of thing) and, even if it’s something protective, in a way it almost diminishes Beatrice’s role in standing up to herself – which she does. Apart from that, I did enjoy the book enough to want to keep reading the series.

3.5* Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an ARC through a giveaway, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. This is the first book in a brand new series about... Dukes! Grey was a great character, I liked how fierce he was, how he grows throughout the book, how he deals with some things that are problematic (although here I do think some things could have been different, but I’ll expand on that next). I wasn’t a fan of Beatrice… I didn’t connect with her. I understood some of her reactions, I think she had to go through a lot, and she handled herself the best she could, that’s not the point. I just… didn’t like her. I liked the middle part of the book the best. The beginning felt a bit slow, and the end was rushed without actually having much happen… It did leave me with enough interest to read the next book in the series, especially since I liked the secondary characters more than the main ones. Joshua and Gwyn have a great chemistry, and I can’t wait to read their story. Now, this is important. This book handles forms of abuse. Abuse from men towards women. Not rape, but still sexual abuse. Unwanted touching, blackmailing, disgusting comments… Beatrice did have to endure a lot from someone she should have been able trust: her uncle. Grey is super concerned if the heroine was raped – spoiler alert – she wasn’t. And, of course, he is relieved but, at the same time, it ends up being a bit of a dismissal of the other things Beatrice had to go through. Heroes, especially in (today’s) historical romance, seem always ready to go and defend the heroine’s honour (“let’s go and punch/hurt/kill the aggressor” kind of thing) and, even if it’s something protective, in a way it almost diminishes Beatrice’s role in standing up to herself – which she does. Apart from that, I did enjoy the book enough to want to keep reading the series.

Review originally published at Romancing Romances. I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. Although not a fan of novellas, it’s always a pleasure to read the one written by Caroline Linden. The hero, Lord George, is an artist, and the way the author describes his works, and his portraits of Lady Samantha, is so good you can visualize them perfectly when reading. I liked the chemistry and spark you could feel between the main characters. And how easy it was to hate/really dislike Samantha’s father, and therefore support Samantha and George in their love. A forced proximity kind of trope, I would say. A short review for a delightful, yet short book.

Review originally published at Romancing Romances. 3.5* I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. Some Like It Scandalous is the second book in The Gilded Age Girls Club and it’s an enemies to lovers kind of story. I had a problem with this story that in a way stopped me from enjoying it as much as I could have. Theo was a bully, as a kid. But his actions had repercussions until adult life. And who was the target of his mean, hurtful words? Daisy Swan. Daisy is a great character. She is fearless, intrepid, intelligent, courageous… And Theo…. Theo is lost. He has no idea what to with his life – completely opposite to Daisy, who has everything planned out. Theo is not bad… He just doesn’t think things through, until his father gives him an ultimatum and he has to change his life. And Daisy is backed up into a corner by her mother, who doesn’t want to see her daughter become a spinster. An amazing chemist, Daisy may not be a beauty, but she does have a gorgeous complexion, all because of a cream recipe that had been in her family and that she had improved. But she needed help to launch it… and here comes another great trope in the romance world: fake engagement. Theo has a way with words, and Daisy creates amazing “cosmetics”. They become a team, and their relationship evolves from being enemies, to friends, to something else and, finally, to lovers. Daisy is a fierce woman! She knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to go after it. She has amazing friends, that support her even if they don’t completely agree with her – what more can we ask of a friend, right? And Theo improves throughout the book, without a doubt, but I still didn’t connect with him. It was a great Gilded Age book, and it had very good characters, with a very pleasant writing style that pulls us into the story, but the fact that I didn’t like the male character kept me from enjoying this book as much as I could have had.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. Maybe I wasn’t in the right state of mind to read this book. It just didn’t do it for me. Right from the beginning, I felt everything was a bit forced, a bit too much. That “I want to jump in your pants right away, even if you don’t treat the best” (the hero does improve later on, just to be clear). I didn’t connect with the characters. The only ones I liked were the girls from the school, and I have a very, very slight curiosity regarding the other ladies that opened the school with with the countess (the heroine of this book). It took me quite a bit of time to read it, simply because every time I went to pick it up I just dreaded it. It wasn’t poorly written, and the plot did have some interesting touches, but it just didn’t captivate me.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Thank you. 3.75* I love books with self-made heroes/heroines. And this book has both! It was interesting to see how Diana worked hard to not lose focus, and to present her work in the best way. I really like the kind of story that is about “deals” to find a husband/wife for the opposite character. And this is that kind of book. It’s always amusing to see them trying to find someone for each other, but thinking/acting like they could never be the one for each other. And when they realize they are a match, and that any obstacles that might come their way can be dealt with, as long as they are together, then the story unfolds and we have our happy ending. Aidan tries to help Diana with her inventions, and she tries to help him get the right bride. Of course, his definition of “the right bride” changes throughout the book, as he finds himself more and more in love with the woman that rescued him – literally. This was the first book I’ve read written by this author, and it was a pleasant surprise. I shall be reading more for sure.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Thank you. 3.75* I’m going to be completely and utterly honest with you: I was a bit afraid to read this book. If you follow this amazing author on social media, you might know her husband, Warren, passed away on February 2018. I had the immense pleasure to meet this lovely couple in person (thank you again, Madeline, for visiting Lisbon!) and had dinner with them in an informal setting. And, of course it is a dream come true to meet one your favourite authors, but I would also like to mention how sweet and caring Warren was. And so, what do you do when your “best friend, [your] great love, and biggest supporter” (Madeline's Facebook Post https://www.facebook.com/MadelineHunter/...) passes away? I can only imagine how hard that must be, and how hard it must be to continue to write beautiful love stories. So, yes, I was a bit apprehensive to read Madeline’s new book, simply because I was afraid such an event could have changed the way she wrote/expressed those love stories. Thankfully, I didn’t need to be. Never Deny A Duke was a great book. It had the right amount of romance, a good plot line that introduced the characters and circumstances in a way that was easy to follow and to make us fall in love with such characters. Eric and Davina had different purposes in their lives, and at some point that collided. And here’s where the story starts, with a land dispute. And all could be solved (in a male point of view, of course) with a simple arranged marriage that would take care of everything. But Davina isn’t a fool, and Eric isn’t interested. And even when that interest changes for both of them, Davina’s pursuit of the truth doesn’t, which was the thing I most liked about her. Stories that mix Scots and English are always fun, simply because they may share a country, but they are, in their true essence, very different types of people. Our Scottish heroine Davina MacCallum, is fighting for what she believes to be her inheritance, and our British hero, Eric Marshall, the Duke of Brentworth, is fighting for what he believes to be rightfully his – even if it is something that has its own (dark) baggage. I loved how the couple looked together for the truth, in a forced proximity kind of scenario, and how that allowed them to understand each other better, and to develop and attraction, and later on a lasting, loving relationship. A great book that ticked almost all of the right boxes.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Thank you. 2.25* This was the first book I’ve read of May McGoldrick (whom is actually two people) and, sadly, it just wasn’t it for me. I really wanted to like the characters, but I found myself annoyed by Isabella, and a bit confused by Cinaed. The book has a great premise, and the story is interesting – I love stories that have not only the romance, but something that ties everything together, and this book had that, even if it is sometimes confusing. I really wanted to like Isabella, but she just didn’t rise to the expectations. She was a physician, and that was the most interesting part about her. I liked Cinaed, but sometimes he was a bit confusing – completely trusting, and then suspicious, but always ready to protect Isabella… It seemed a bit forced. Also, I’m not a fan of insta-love. And even though this was more of an insta-attraction for Isabella, it felt like insta-love to Cinaed. There was a lot going around and sometimes it became confusing and the actions of the characters didn’t seem completely faithful to whom they were. Sadly, I just didn’t connect with the book. It was the first book I read in 2019, and it took me a whole month to read it. Not the best introduction to this author.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. 4.25* Review will be posted at my blog, Romancing Romances, on May 2nd. This book has one of my favourite tropes: friends to lovers. And, even though it’s my favourite, it’s a trope that it’s not easy to achieve. Sometimes it ruins the friendship, others it just doesn’t seem believable… But Valerie Bowman did it brilliantly. I loved Delilah and Thomas. He was adorable, and she was just… adorable ahah. Delilah had a horrible mother, and her only support was her friends. And they became her family a long time ago. And I loved how the men got together to help Delilah – it was funny and sweet, at the same time. And Thomas, a perfect duke, but more than that a perfect friend: thoughtful, not pushy, always there when needed, caring, and funny. I loved to read about everyone’s friendships, and all the mix ups with who was in love with whom, and how all the couples in the end got their happy ending. It was entertaining, romantic, sweet, amusing, all the best things a book can make you feel. A great ending for the a great series.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. 2.5* This book had a few problems for me. I didn’t connect with the main characters and thought they were quite annoying, to be honest. And, although they had great background stories that were supposed to make us feel like we could forgive them almost anything, it didn’t work that way for me. Dugan was arrogant, and never really understood that a great part of the problem was created by him. Adanel was a bit annoying and at the end, even though they had the HEA, they didn’t really talk. They just had sex and that was pretty much it. There was a lot of miscommunication and anger that really wasn’t resolved. The best characters were all secondary, and maybe some will have their story told in another book? If so, I would like to read it later on. I liked the end of the book. When Dugan became laird, and was actually doing things for other people and not just thinking of him. And Adanel grew up, and actually behaved in the right way. The book wasn’t bad, it just didn’t appeal to me. So, it gets its a two and half out of five rating because of it.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. This is a mixed feelings book. I was really liking it in the beginning, but then our hero, Henry Lowell, kept saying something that was annoying me and that I don’t personally like – something like “She’ll be mine no matter what”. And I don’t like that because every time I read that sentence or a similar one, all I could think about was that he didn’t really care about our heroine, Viola, he simply saw her as a prize to be own, no matter what. I wouldn’t be mentioning it if it was something he had said/thought once, but no, he keeps thinking/saying it. He evolves as a character to someone who learns to love and who actually sees Viola as a person and not a prize, but his mind-set doesn’t seem to change, which is one of the reasons why I couldn’t connect as much as I wanted to with this book, hence the rating not going over the 3*. I really wanted to like Viola – she is a fierce, dedicated woman, a physician, even if she didn’t go to University, and in the beginning of the book she seems so confident, with a bit of sarcasms and wit, but as the book develops, she morphs into someone else, all that strength we saw in the beginning almost disappears… So, I really wanted to like her, but the author made it a bit difficult. I have to say the best character – “construction” wise, I mean – was probably the villain. We hate him from beginning to end, and he behaves exactly like he should and as we expect him too – with an extra at the end that was perfect. And at that point we see the Viola from the beginning. So, to be honest, I liked the beginning and the end, and the book isn’t badly written, or anything similar, it just didn’t allow me to connect to the characters enough for me to love them. The character that most intrigued me and that actually left me wanting to know more was Carl Guthrie, the criminal from St. Giles – now that was someone who I would like to get to know better. Can’t wait to read his book. I’m sure it will be much better than this one.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. This is a mixed feelings book. I was really liking it in the beginning, but then our hero, Henry Lowell, kept saying something that was annoying me and that I don’t personally like – something like “She’ll be mine no matter what”. And I don’t like that because every time I read that sentence or a similar one, all I could think about was that he didn’t really care about our heroine, Viola, he simply saw her as a prize to be own, no matter what. I wouldn’t be mentioning it if it was something he had said/thought once, but no, he keeps thinking/saying it. He evolves as a character to someone who learns to love and who actually sees Viola as a person and not a prize, but his mind-set doesn’t seem to change, which is one of the reasons why I couldn’t connect as much as I wanted to with this book, hence the rating not going over the 3*. I really wanted to like Viola – she is a fierce, dedicated woman, a physician, even if she didn’t go to University, and in the beginning of the book she seems so confident, with a bit of sarcasms and wit, but as the book develops, she morphs into someone else, all that strength we saw in the beginning almost disappears… So, I really wanted to like her, but the author made it a bit difficult. I have to say the best character – “construction” wise, I mean – was probably the villain. We hate him from beginning to end, and he behaves exactly like he should and as we expect him too – with an extra at the end that was perfect. And at that point we see the Viola from the beginning. So, to be honest, I liked the beginning and the end, and the book isn’t badly written, or anything similar, it just didn’t allow me to connect to the characters enough for me to love them. The character that most intrigued me and that actually left me wanting to know more was Carl Guthrie, the criminal from St. Giles – now that was someone who I would like to get to know better. Can’t wait to read his book. I’m sure it will be much better than this one.

2.5* I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. This book didn’t start in the best way. I was really excited to read it, since I really like the author, but it just didn’t meet my expectations. Everything felt too rushed, at the end of the book I would not be able to tell you more than one or two characteristics of the hero, and the heroine, who was supposed to be this strong, fierce lady, just… wasn’t. I would have loved to see the love between Clara and Hunt develop, but no, we a got a curse, a couple that gets married, and that’s about it. I loved the idea of the curse, and I wanted to know more about it, and wanted to see how everyone came to believe it, not just “this happens, so it’s the curse”. And this kind of arranged marriage/forced proximity/insta-love kind of trope, just didn’t work for me. And I really like arranged marriages, when the couples get to know one another, where we start to see who they really are… and that just lacked here. I want to say good things so… the sexy scenes were quite good! And I liked Marian, Clara best-friend. I’m hoping her book will be much better. It had a nice premise, but it did not deliver.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. I’m having a hard time rating this book. I love Lorraine Heath, and the fact that she likes to talk about difficult issues in her books. But in this one, I think something was…maybe holding her back? I don’t know, I feel like it had something missing. This is a lovers-reunited/second-chance lovers story. I have to admit, I didn’t feel very connected to the characters. I liked the young version, I did not, however, enjoy their transition. And, again, I think this has to do with the way the author dealt with their problems. It’s hard to do a review without talking about something that does not show up in the synopsis, and therefore it is a spoiler, but that is the base of your concerns with the book. Finn had a difficult life, and Lavinia was sheltered, as any nobility-born lady. But as they spend their together, she gets to know a different world. And then something happens that separates them. When they meet again, they are different people, but still harbour some of the same feelings they had years before. I did not like Lavinia – I’m sorry, she went through a lot, I know, but I just couldn’t connect with her. Finn, on the other hand, was much easier to like and understand. I only liked Lavinia when she was young, and when she makes a right decision at the end of the book. I would, however, like to point out, she is doing her best to help those who need it, and I value that trait, no doubt. I really liked Finn’s family, and I look forward to reading more their stories, even if this wasn’t my favourite book written by Lorraine Heath.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. I’m having a hard time rating this book. I love Lorraine Heath, and the fact that she likes to talk about difficult issues in her books. But in this one, I think something was…maybe holding her back? I don’t know, I feel like it had something missing. This is a lovers-reunited/second-chance lovers story. I have to admit, I didn’t feel very connected to the characters. I liked the young version, I did not, however, enjoy their transition. And, again, I think this has to do with the way the author dealt with their problems. It’s hard to do a review without talking about something that does not show up in the synopsis, and therefore it is a spoiler, but that is the base of your concerns with the book. Finn had a difficult life, and Lavinia was sheltered, as any nobility-born lady. But as they spend their together, she gets to know a different world. And then something happens that separates them. When they meet again, they are different people, but still harbour some of the same feelings they had years before. I did not like Lavinia – I’m sorry, she went through a lot, I know, but I just couldn’t connect with her. Finn, on the other hand, was much easier to like and understand. I only liked Lavinia when she was young, and when she makes a right decision at the end of the book. I would, however, like to point out, she is doing her best to help those who need it, and I value that trait, no doubt. I really liked Finn’s family, and I look forward to reading more their stories, even if this wasn’t my favourite book written by Lorraine Heath.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. It’s Getting Scot in Here is the first book of a new series, Wild Wicked Highlanders. In this first book, we meet the three MacTaggert brothers. And when we begin reading it (if you haven’t read the synopsis, that is), we don’t really know which brother is going to be the hero of this story, simply because it’s supposed to be the beginning of Cole’s story (the older brother). But, alas, Cole is not ready yet, and Niall (the younger brother) steps up. Amelia-Rose is the sweetest girl, with a sharp tongue. An English rose, with thorns. The Scottish brothers are hoping to find only boring, malleable sassenachs, but on the very first night, they get Amelia-Rose. And Niall starts to fall in love in her right away. Although not long passes between the moment they met and the moment they decide to marry, it’s not an insta-love story. And I’m glad, because I’m not the biggest fan of these stories. Niall and Amelia-Rose go out, talk a lot, and we get to know them and see their chemistry grow more with each passing day. And more than that, we can see true love developing. This was the first book I’ve read written by Suzanne Enoch, and it was delightful. A love story than keeps us interested, and engaged with the characters, and that makes us happy there are more books to come with this family.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you. 3.5* I should have known better –why do I keep doing this to myself? I love Valerie Bowman’s books, and I know what novellas are, and yet I keep reading them. Novellas/short stories don’t work for me. The beginning is always great and then everything is done in a jiffy. And it works for some people, it just doesn’t for me. If you like novellas, this is a good one. It’s a sweet story, a reunited lovers trope. It has characters that we already know and love from previous books in the series. The writing, as always, is entertaining and funny, romantic and pleasant to follow. This is a typical case of “it’s not the book, it’s me”. So, go for it, if novellas are your thing!

3.25* I’ve received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. So… I’m not the biggest fan of the second chance trope, but this book was great. I really enjoyed it, maybe because the thing that had separated the couple the first was handled… well, not right away, but almost. Which meant they didn’t really had much stopping them from getting back together. Abigail reminded me of… me, in a way. And I liked how she finally took the reins of her life and started making her own decisions. Go Abby! You can’t let your family make all the decisions – especially if they’re bad for you. Max, on the other hand, is our typical moody, secret-y hero. Because talking never helped anyone, right? Abigail is good for him. She tries to keep her distance, but she really likes her new job as Max’s sister’s governess, so it’s hard to be away from him for a long time. The love they once shared is still there, even if different, since they are now changed people. I just didn’t like that Max didn’t really consider his sister – he always says he’s worried about her, and cares for her, but he rarely sees her, and then takes a group of strangers – with bad reputations – to his house, where his sister lives. The excuse he uses is okay in the beginning, but… it wasn’t credible enough for me. Apart from that, I enjoyed this book, it was romantic and sweet, I just wished it had a more developed plot.

I have received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book! While reading it, I had a happy grin on my face the whole time. It just made me laugh and tingle, and it gave me butterflies – what more could I ask for? Briar is so adorable! She’s a romantic and, yes, she is also a bit naïve but she is so sweet! Some heroines can be a bit annoying when they are too unaware of the world, but Briar is so lovely, she made it so easy to like her, I just adored her. She has suffered her fair share, but we only know how everything has affected her almost at the end of the book, which was fine by me. Nicholas was… so sexy! I mean… don’t ask me for a physical description because (with the exception of his nose), I probably can’t give you one. Why? Because characters in my mind, even the ones heavily described, don’t actually have a defined face..? There’s always somewhat of a blur. So no, it’s not their face/body that makes them sexy (it helps, of course!), it’s how they act, and how they can make you feel like all their attention is on you, in a good way. And that’s how I felt Nicholas was about Briar. He has other great qualities, naturally: he’s very loyal and protective of his family (like Briar), he’s been hurt before (haven’t we all? and almost every single book character?), and he’s a rake. But, who would have guessed? He’s a rake with a good heart. Their chemistry was, at the same time, so strong and so subtle. The teasing, and the friendship, the alone moments… Everything made my senses as a reader tingle and be on the lookout for another wonderful scene. The secondary characters help set the scene: Briar and her family have a matchmaking agency. Her friend Temperance and her brother Daniel, are looking for fiances. And their cousin is… Nicholas, Lord Edgemont. I don’t want to give too much of the story away because it’s their adventures that keep us readers paying attention. Suffice to say, Briar needs help with her matchmaking skills, and Nicholas is more than happy to help – in exchange for a little something, as one would expect. The one thing – and, let’s be honest, it’s a small thing – that could have made this book even better, was to make the ending a bit more climatic. And I think this was lacking a bit because what was preventing the happy ending was such a small thing that seemed almost… not credible. I really liked Nicholas’ dedication to try and talk to Briar, and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t even give him a bit of credit – I know, she felt hurt and deceived, but after her time spent with Nicholas, I hoped she knew better. But, alas, miscommunication got in the way. In the end, it was a great book, with only a small thing to point out. Can’t wait to read the next book in this incredible series.

I have received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book! While reading it, I had a happy grin on my face the whole time. It just made me laugh and tingle, and it gave me butterflies – what more could I ask for? Briar is so adorable! She’s a romantic and, yes, she is also a bit naïve but she is so sweet! Some heroines can be a bit annoying when they are too unaware of the world, but Briar is so lovely, she made it so easy to like her, I just adored her. She has suffered her fair share, but we only know how everything has affected her almost at the end of the book, which was fine by me. Nicholas was… so sexy! I mean… don’t ask me for a physical description because (with the exception of his nose), I probably can’t give you one. Why? Because characters in my mind, even the ones heavily described, don’t actually have a defined face..? There’s always somewhat of a blur. So no, it’s not their face/body that makes them sexy (it helps, of course!), it’s how they act, and how they can make you feel like all their attention is on you, in a good way. And that’s how I felt Nicholas was about Briar. He has other great qualities, naturally: he’s very loyal and protective of his family (like Briar), he’s been hurt before (haven’t we all? and almost every single book character?), and he’s a rake. But, who would have guessed? He’s a rake with a good heart. Their chemistry was, at the same time, so strong and so subtle. The teasing, and the friendship, the alone moments… Everything made my senses as a reader tingle and be on the lookout for another wonderful scene. The secondary characters help set the scene: Briar and her family have a matchmaking agency. Her friend Temperance and her brother Daniel, are looking for fiances. And their cousin is… Nicholas, Lord Edgemont. I don’t want to give too much of the story away because it’s their adventures that keep us readers paying attention. Suffice to say, Briar needs help with her matchmaking skills, and Nicholas is more than happy to help – in exchange for a little something, as one would expect. The one thing – and, let’s be honest, it’s a small thing – that could have made this book even better, was to make the ending a bit more climatic. And I think this was lacking a bit because what was preventing the happy ending was such a small thing that seemed almost… not credible. I really liked Nicholas’ dedication to try and talk to Briar, and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t even give him a bit of credit – I know, she felt hurt and deceived, but after her time spent with Nicholas, I hoped she knew better. But, alas, miscommunication got in the way. In the end, it was a great book, with only a small thing to point out. Can’t wait to read the next book in this incredible series.

I’ve received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5* I have to admit first and foremost, I love Christmas stories. So, just for that it gains a few points. Not that it needed the extra points – it’s a great story on its own. Daffin Oakleaf is a Bow Street Runner, which makes him a bit of an unconventional hero. I loved learning about his past, who he really is, and why he abhorred Christmas. He’s a good man, with a troubled past, which does not stop him from helping others – on the contrary. That’s how he met Regina, in a previous book (which I have not yet read). Regina wants to do something for herself, and since she liked Daffin, she decides he is the one to whom she will lose her virginity – if he’ll take her. Regina is strong willed, amazing woman who respects herself. And her uncle has chosen a man whom she is to marry (a bad choice, of course), so decides she deserves at least a little adventure – and to be cherished before that happens. And since sparks had flown with Daffin in a previous book, he was the one. And even when her proposal doesn’t really work, it’s okay. Because it allows us to see their romance build up, becoming more than just a fling. All in a Christmas ambience. It does have some mystery and an action-driven plot, so it’s a book that will make you want to discover what is happening as soon as possible, so it will be hard to put it down. I really enjoyed this book full of romance and action. Definitely a recommendation for all lovers of romances.

3.5*/3.75* I’ve received this eARC at no cost to the author. Seduced by a Scot is the sixth book in the Highland Grooms series. After such a good fifth book, I thought it might be difficult to come back to that excellence. But Maura and Nichol came pretty close to it. Maybe because Maura (after leaving her house, of course) reminded me of Catriona? I don’t know. What I do know is that I really enjoyed this book. Both Maura and Nichol have had a hard time in life and, in this book, both of them find themselves without a place to call home. Even if it might seem that the attraction isn’t immediate, we can feel the sparks growing. We have a strong perspective of how women were seen in the past (I mean, some of us today are still experiencing this - sadly), and how most males thought it was always their fault that they caught someone’s eye. Because, of course, even if she pushes them aside, it’s still her fault because she’s pretty? Thankfully (and as expected), the hero treats her like a real person, even if he tries to lead her to a life she doesn’t want. He believes it’s the best for all involved, but when things between them start to change it’s hard for Maura to keep to the plan, and Nichol showed a huuuuge resolution almost to the end. Sometimes, his prerogative in forcing her to this “good life” that he envisioned for her as a bit too much. It felt like he was doing the same that had been done –no, forced on to her for her whole life. And didn’t really like that. Also, for a very intelligent and resourceful man, Nichol wasn’t the brightest in the bunch when it came to understanding why the Baron MacBain acted the way he did. I knew right from the start, he literally tells him to his face. I can understand that a child might not put the pieces together, but adult Nichol (and Ivan – his brother - to be honest) should have known the truth a loooooong time ago. He even says so himself! Anyway, those are the only reasons why this book has a lower review score than the previous one (which was 4.5*). Maura was so determined and I’m pretty sure she would have made it on her own (which would have been interesting to see). The story contains a bit of a Cinderella and Rapunzel vibe to it, which some readers might appreciate. In the end, it was a sexy book, with determined characters that overcame their struggles and past emotions, even if sometimes behaved unlike themselves.

3.5*/3.75* I’ve received this eARC at no cost to the author. Seduced by a Scot is the sixth book in the Highland Grooms series. After such a good fifth book, I thought it might be difficult to come back to that excellence. But Maura and Nichol came pretty close to it. Maybe because Maura (after leaving her house, of course) reminded me of Catriona? I don’t know. What I do know is that I really enjoyed this book. Both Maura and Nichol have had a hard time in life and, in this book, both of them find themselves without a place to call home. Even if it might seem that the attraction isn’t immediate, we can feel the sparks growing. We have a strong perspective of how women were seen in the past (I mean, some of us today are still experiencing this - sadly), and how most males thought it was always their fault that they caught someone’s eye. Because, of course, even if she pushes them aside, it’s still her fault because she’s pretty? Thankfully (and as expected), the hero treats her like a real person, even if he tries to lead her to a life she doesn’t want. He believes it’s the best for all involved, but when things between them start to change it’s hard for Maura to keep to the plan, and Nichol showed a huuuuge resolution almost to the end. Sometimes, his prerogative in forcing her to this “good life” that he envisioned for her as a bit too much. It felt like he was doing the same that had been done –no, forced on to her for her whole life. And didn’t really like that. Also, for a very intelligent and resourceful man, Nichol wasn’t the brightest in the bunch when it came to understanding why the Baron MacBain acted the way he did. I knew right from the start, he literally tells him to his face. I can understand that a child might not put the pieces together, but adult Nichol (and Ivan – his brother - to be honest) should have known the truth a loooooong time ago. He even says so himself! Anyway, those are the only reasons why this book has a lower review score than the previous one (which was 4.5*). Maura was so determined and I’m pretty sure she would have made it on her own (which would have been interesting to see). The story contains a bit of a Cinderella and Rapunzel vibe to it, which some readers might appreciate. In the end, it was a sexy book, with determined characters that overcame their struggles and past emotions, even if sometimes behaved unlike themselves.

3.5*/3.75* I’ve received this eARC at no cost to the author. Seduced by a Scot is the sixth book in the Highland Grooms series. After such a good fifth book, I thought it might be difficult to come back to that excellence. But Maura and Nichol came pretty close to it. Maybe because Maura (after leaving her house, of course) reminded me of Catriona? I don’t know. What I do know is that I really enjoyed this book. Both Maura and Nichol have had a hard time in life and, in this book, both of them find themselves without a place to call home. Even if it might seem that the attraction isn’t immediate, we can feel the sparks growing. We have a strong perspective of how women were seen in the past (I mean, some of us today are still experiencing this - sadly), and how most males thought it was always their fault that they caught someone’s eye. Because, of course, even if she pushes them aside, it’s still her fault because she’s pretty? Thankfully (and as expected), the hero treats her like a real person, even if he tries to lead her to a life she doesn’t want. He believes it’s the best for all involved, but when things between them start to change it’s hard for Maura to keep to the plan, and Nichol showed a huuuuge resolution almost to the end. Sometimes, his prerogative in forcing her to this “good life” that he envisioned for her as a bit too much. It felt like he was doing the same that had been done –no, forced on to her for her whole life. And didn’t really like that. Also, for a very intelligent and resourceful man, Nichol wasn’t the brightest in the bunch when it came to understanding why the Baron MacBain acted the way he did. I knew right from the start, he literally tells him to his face. I can understand that a child might not put the pieces together, but adult Nichol (and Ivan – his brother - to be honest) should have known the truth a loooooong time ago. He even says so himself! Anyway, those are the only reasons why this book has a lower review score than the previous one (which was 4.5*). Maura was so determined and I’m pretty sure she would have made it on her own (which would have been interesting to see). The story contains a bit of a Cinderella and Rapunzel vibe to it, which some readers might appreciate. In the end, it was a sexy book, with determined characters that overcame their struggles and past emotions, even if sometimes behaved unlike themselves.

3.5*/3.75* I’ve received this eARC at no cost to the author. Seduced by a Scot is the sixth book in the Highland Grooms series. After such a good fifth book, I thought it might be difficult to come back to that excellence. But Maura and Nichol came pretty close to it. Maybe because Maura (after leaving her house, of course) reminded me of Catriona? I don’t know. What I do know is that I really enjoyed this book. Both Maura and Nichol have had a hard time in life and, in this book, both of them find themselves without a place to call home. Even if it might seem that the attraction isn’t immediate, we can feel the sparks growing. We have a strong perspective of how women were seen in the past (I mean, some of us today are still experiencing this - sadly), and how most males thought it was always their fault that they caught someone’s eye. Because, of course, even if she pushes them aside, it’s still her fault because she’s pretty? Thankfully (and as expected), the hero treats her like a real person, even if he tries to lead her to a life she doesn’t want. He believes it’s the best for all involved, but when things between them start to change it’s hard for Maura to keep to the plan, and Nichol showed a huuuuge resolution almost to the end. Sometimes, his prerogative in forcing her to this “good life” that he envisioned for her as a bit too much. It felt like he was doing the same that had been done –no, forced on to her for her whole life. And didn’t really like that. Also, for a very intelligent and resourceful man, Nichol wasn’t the brightest in the bunch when it came to understanding why the Baron MacBain acted the way he did. I knew right from the start, he literally tells him to his face. I can understand that a child might not put the pieces together, but adult Nichol (and Ivan – his brother - to be honest) should have known the truth a loooooong time ago. He even says so himself! Anyway, those are the only reasons why this book has a lower review score than the previous one (which was 4.5*). Maura was so determined and I’m pretty sure she would have made it on her own (which would have been interesting to see). The story contains a bit of a Cinderella and Rapunzel vibe to it, which some readers might appreciate. In the end, it was a sexy book, with determined characters that overcame their struggles and past emotions, even if sometimes behaved unlike themselves.

I have received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5* This story is somewhat a marriage of convenience – at least for one of the parties involved. I really liked Eliza, she was the sweetest. In the beginning, she wore pink glasses when looking at the world, but I have to admit I loved her innocence. Hugh, on the other hand, has no other choice but to see the world as it really is – and I think that’s one of the reasons why we readers can forgive him for acting the way he does. It was so romantic to see them develop their feelings for each other, and being so protective as well. Both main characters are so lovable that we just root for their happy ending from beginning to end, even with families imposing and trying to keep them apart. The book has a bit of mystery and lies in the middle, that helps the story flow and keeps the readers interested. I read it just a few hours, that’s how much it kept me interested!

I have received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5* This story is somewhat a marriage of convenience – at least for one of the parties involved. I really liked Eliza, she was the sweetest. In the beginning, she wore pink glasses when looking at the world, but I have to admit I loved her innocence. Hugh, on the other hand, has no other choice but to see the world as it really is – and I think that’s one of the reasons why we readers can forgive him for acting the way he does. It was so romantic to see them develop their feelings for each other, and being so protective as well. Both main characters are so lovable that we just root for their happy ending from beginning to end, even with families imposing and trying to keep them apart. The book has a bit of mystery and lies in the middle, that helps the story flow and keeps the readers interested. I read it just a few hours, that’s how much it kept me interested!

4.5* I’ve received this eARC at no cost to the author. I’ve read all the previous book on the Highland Grooms series and I have to say I really enjoyed reading this one. Catriona Mackenzie is so fierce, she is amazing. She... reminds me of myself, to be honest, so I really identified with her character throughout the book (with her wishes and desires at least). Hamlin Graham, Duke of Montrose, was probably one of my all-time male heroes, because he was a great man, a great warden, and he is like that pretty much the whole time – even if others don’t see it. The story was so good, so well written (just like Julia London has gotten us used to) and it just made me want to know more, about what was going to happen to Cat’s shelter, to Hamlin’s life when things changed, to everything! I know I’m not saying much, but I’m trying not to spoil anyone. I can say it’s a wonderful story, with strong-willed, interesting characters, themes a bit different than what we usually see in historical romances but that I honestly loved seeing portrayed here. Definitely one of my favourite books of this series.

4.5* I’ve received this eARC at no cost to the author. I’ve read all the previous book on the Highland Grooms series and I have to say I really enjoyed reading this one. Catriona Mackenzie is so fierce, she is amazing. She... reminds me of myself, to be honest, so I really identified with her character throughout the book (with her wishes and desires at least). Hamlin Graham, Duke of Montrose, was probably one of my all-time male heroes, because he was a great man, a great warden, and he is like that pretty much the whole time – even if others don’t see it. The story was so good, so well written (just like Julia London has gotten us used to) and it just made me want to know more, about what was going to happen to Cat’s shelter, to Hamlin’s life when things changed, to everything! I know I’m not saying much, but I’m trying not to spoil anyone. I can say it’s a wonderful story, with strong-willed, interesting characters, themes a bit different than what we usually see in historical romances but that I honestly loved seeing portrayed here. Definitely one of my favourite books of this series.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author. Devil in Tartan is the fourth book on the Highland Grooms series, by Julia London. Having read the first three books, it’s impossible not to make comparisons between them. Sadly, for me, this was my least favourite book. It had an interesting premise, and I liked Aulay, but I just couldn’t connect with Lottie. Lottie is described as strong, courageous, fearsome woman, but even if she was trying to do her best to save the (illegal) family business, she just didn’t act nor did justice to her descriptions. She was, no doubt, intelligent enough to use her pretty face to fool men, but that didn’t make me like her more – it actually made me like her less. And Aulay, although I did like him more than Lottie, he too was a bit of an empty character. He was a painter, which I liked, but felt it wasn’t explored enough. I liked that Julia London mentioned his role in the family, how he felt, because that made me connect with him more, but it just felt like it was lacking something. Julia London’s writing isn’t being put in question here, she was as good as always, I just felt like she tried to put too much in one book and ended up not focusing enough on what was really necessary. Still, it was a different read, and I managed to enjoy parts of it.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author. Devil in Tartan is the fourth book on the Highland Grooms series, by Julia London. Having read the first three books, it’s impossible not to make comparisons between them. Sadly, for me, this was my least favourite book. It had an interesting premise, and I liked Aulay, but I just couldn’t connect with Lottie. Lottie is described as strong, courageous, fearsome woman, but even if she was trying to do her best to save the (illegal) family business, she just didn’t act nor did justice to her descriptions. She was, no doubt, intelligent enough to use her pretty face to fool men, but that didn’t make me like her more – it actually made me like her less. And Aulay, although I did like him more than Lottie, he too was a bit of an empty character. He was a painter, which I liked, but felt it wasn’t explored enough. I liked that Julia London mentioned his role in the family, how he felt, because that made me connect with him more, but it just felt like it was lacking something. Julia London’s writing isn’t being put in question here, she was as good as always, I just felt like she tried to put too much in one book and ended up not focusing enough on what was really necessary. Still, it was a different read, and I managed to enjoy parts of it.