On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

With a family like his, it would be impossible for Gregory Bridgerton not to believe in true love. When he meets her, he’ll just know. And that was exactly how Gregory felt the moment he laid eyes on Miss Hermione Watson.

Except Hermione Watson wasn’t the one. Hermione is in love with someone else, someone entirely unsuitable, and her best friend, Lady Lucinda Abernathy, is determined to save Hermione from herself. She forms an alliance with Gregory. Who better than Hermione’s best friend to help Gregory steal her heart?

Lucy had no plans to fall in love with Gregory, but that’s exactly what happened, despite the engagement arranged by her uncle. Even when Gregory finally comes to his senses and realizes Lucy is the one for him, there’s no going back. Once again, a Bridgerton must risk it all for love.

Book #8 in the Bridgerton series. 371 pages.

It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

Gareth St. Clair isn’t quite sure what to do when he receives an old family diary, one of the few family heirlooms he’s sure he’ll ever get, given his father’s determination to run the St. Clair finances and estates into the ground. To make matters worse, the diary is written in Italian, and it may help Gareth learn more about his past. What’s a man in a bind to do?

 

Enter Hyacinth Bridgerton. She has a way of throwing off members of the ton: She’s almost too smart and decidedly outspoken. Thanks to an Italian governess, she also speaks Italian. Not fluently, but enough to get by. And Hyacinth might be just what Gareth needs.

 

Book #7 in the Bridgerton series. 384 pages.

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

Francesca Bridgerton Stirling, Countess of Kilmartin, is devastated upon the sudden death of her young husband, John. To make matters worse, the new earl, John’s cousin and Francesca’s good friend, has fled to India to escape his grief.

 

Francesca has no idea Michael left the country not just to avoid dealing with grief, but to flee his feelings for her. Michael had taken one look at Francesca shortly before her wedding to his cousin and had fallen head over heels. But then both their lives had been irrevocably changed by John’s death and the grief that followed.

 

That was four years ago. Michael has returned to take up his responsibilities as earl, and Francesca is free to marry another. She thinks of him as nothing more than a close friend. Then one night changes everything.

 

Book 6 in the Bridgerton series. 368 pages.

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

 

After the death of his wife, Eloise Bridgerton begins a correspondence with Sir Phillip Crane. Though Eloise had barely known her distant cousin, she felt compelled to write to Marina’s widower. Upon exchanging letters for nearly a year, Phillip proposes marriage, thinking the spinster Eloise is likely homely and unassuming, and probably desperate. But he’s surprised to find she isn’t any of those things when she suddenly shows up on his doorstep.

 

So Eloise wasn’t technically supposed to run off in the middle of the night in a hired carriage, but it was done, and there was no point in second guessing herself now. But this man she had written so many letters to wasn’t what Eloise expected, either. He appeared moody and ill-mannered, certainly not the perfect match she’d hoped for. He had also neglected to mention his two children, who were quite lawless. How on earth would this work out?

Book #5 in the Bridgerton series. 400 pages.

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn 

As the illegitimate daughter of an earl, Sophie Beckett must sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s masquerade ball if she’s to attend, aided by a handful of servants she’s able to call friends. Friends are hard to come by; her stepmother has made sure of that. But in the arms of Benedict Bridgerton, it’s easy to forget her roots.

 

Benedict is haunted by the thought of the woman in silver. But this woman who has gotten into a rather unfortunate situation seems oddly familiar to Benedict, though he can’t place her, especially in her housemaid’s attire. He had sworn to track down the mystery woman who had fled his mother's ball, but now finds himself enchanted by a beautiful maid. Will Benedict discover the key to his happily ever after is one in the same?

Book #3 in the Bridgerton series. 390 pages.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Anthony Bridgerton, eldest of the eight Bridgerton siblings and an established bachelor, has decided to marry. And he knows just the girl! If only her meddlesome older sister, Kate Sheffield, would back off. Kate is determined to stop Anthony's pursuit of her much loved sister, and she intends to ensure Edwina is safe from that reformed rake's clutches. Reformed rakes do not make the best husbands. But Kate and Anthony soon find themselves trying to fight a growing attraction to each other.

Book #2 in the Bridgertons series. 354 pages.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Daphne Bridgerton has formed friendships with some of the most eligible bachelors in London. She's kind and witty, which is exactly what no man is looking for. She's too honest, and unwilling to play games. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Back in London from his travels, he's cool and aloof, and determined to avoid marriage and society. A chance encounter with Daphne, younger sister of Simon's friend Anthony, gets Simon to thinking. A fake courtship will get the Ambitious Mamas of the ton off his back, and Daphne's prospects will improve. Their plan works like a charm--at first.  

Book #1 in the Bridgertons series. 438 pages.

To Have and to Hoax. By Martha Waters.

To Have and to Hoax. By Martha Waters. 2020. Atria Books (ARC ebook).

One year into their happy marriage, Lady Violet Gray and Lord James Audley had a big fight and have since spent the last four years far from wedded bliss. When an accident occurs, miscommunication escalates to outrage, confusion, feigned illness, actors, mother-in-laws, faux mistresses and facepalming friends. As the obstacles in their relationship build, the renewed sparks flying between husband and wife threaten to burn them down. Violet and James may or may not prove equal in manipulation, but can they prove equal in love?

This was a Regency romance read that managed to merge several different tropes to appreciative affect. If you are looking for a new author, pick this entertaining and romantic book up.

367 pages

Fair Weather Enemies. By Sawyer North.

Fair Weather Enemies. By Sawyer North. 2020. Entangled: Scandalous (ARC eBook).

After several harsh winters in which crops and mills have suffered, Adam Ashford and Jane Hancock have found themselves in debt to a London creditor and a dismal future awaiting both of them. The Ashfords and Hancocks of Oxfordshire have long feuded between their families and Adam and Jane have vexed each other since they were children, but when secrets of their shared history are unearthed, the two adversaries enter into a contract that has them trekking across England in search of a long lost treasure. Along the way, their respect and attraction for each other grows and they begin to wonder whether it’s too late for new beginnings.
 
Fair Weather Enemies is a delightful debut in the historical romance genre for North. Adam and Jane are such likeable characters and if you like the enemies to lovers trope, road trips, riddles and colorful characters popping up along the way, you’ll want to pick this book up. This was a fun read from start to finish! 

289 pages

 

Scot Under the Covers (Wild Wicked Highlanders #2). By Suzanne Enoch.

Scot Under the Covers (Wild Wicked Highlanders #2). By Suzanne Enoch. 2020. St. Martin’s Paperbacks (ARC ebook).
 

Miranda Harris is known for her charm and good-standing in London society. She is also, as Aden MacTaggert quickly learns, strongly opinionated on gamblers--quite frankly, they are a blight. But when she should be celebrating with her family over her brother’s engagement to Eloise MacTaggert, she is instead horrified to learn that her brother, Mathew, has incurred a devastating debt to Captain Robert Vale, and has promised her hand to the vile man in order to negate the debt. Up til now, Miranda has been able to solve any problem she has encountered, but she is going to need help in order to save her brother’s future happiness, her family’s reputation, and herself..

Miranda approaches the elusive and crafty Aden MacTaggert, her future brother-in-law, and proposes a partnership—she will teach him how to navigate the ton in exchange for him teaching her everything he knows about wagering and how the gambling mind works. With Miranda and Mathew’s secret, Aden has a way to prevent his sister from marrying and thereby escaping his mother’s manipulation, but the more time he spends with Miranda, the more determined he becomes to make her his Sassenach bride.

The first chapter will snare and reel you in with rowdy kilt-wearing, boot-throwing brothers, a scruffy mutt, and a stuffed deer in the foyer collecting ascots and ear bobbers. Scot Under the Covers delivers an engaging pairing with Aden, who is slow to let his heart trust, and Miranda, who always follows the rules. And the plot that plants three highlanders in the midst of London society produces a lively secondary cast and a nice mix of both Regency and Scottish romance elements. Sexiness, charm, and entertaining brogue abound in this fun read by Enoch.

352 pages

The Bachelor (Duke Dynasty #2). By Sabrina Jeffries.

The Bachelor (Duke Dynasty #2). By Sabrina Jeffries. 2020. Zebra Books (ARC eBook).

Jefferies’ lively bunch of step-siblings are back and this time it is Lady Gwyn Drake’s turn at finding love. Days away from her long-delayed debut, Gwyn is approached at the Armitage estate by a former suitor who blackmails her over a past affair she has kept hidden. When the meeting turns threatening and Joshua Wolfe, the family’s gamekeeper, intervenes, Gwen’s twin brother, Thorn, asks Joshua to travel with Gwen to London and act as her bodyguard during her debut season. And from there Jefferies delivers a charming romance with a bit of scandal and sabotage.

In The Duchess Project, there was the beginnings of Joshua and Gwen’s interest in each other. And as elusive and temperamental as Joshua proved to be, Gwen was as equally stubborn and provoking, so I was looking forward to their book. And in The Bachelor, Jeffries is deft at transitioning sweet and playful moments into steamy ones between the two.

288 pages

Project Duchess (Duke Dynasty #1). By Sabrina Jeffries.

Project Duchess (Duke Dynasty #1). By Sabrina Jeffries. 2019. Zebra Books. AISN: B07HVXS62T (Kindle).

This charming duke, turned reluctant amateur detective, keeps losing focus of his investigation when he falls for Beatrice, his mother’s “project” and his suspected murder accomplice.

Jeffries weaves flirty banter, fun family drama, and a bit of mystery into this endearing romance.

Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Wonderful characters

352 pages

An Inconvenient Duke (Lords of the Armory #1). By Anna Harrington.

An Inconvenient Duke (Lords of the Armory #1). By Anna Harrington. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

Recently returned from war and appointed Duke of Hampton, Marcus Braddock is a man on a mission. He is still mourning the death of his sister, Elise, and believing her death was not an accident, the former general sets his sights on Elise’s best friend, Danielle, to get his answers.

Danielle has secrets of her own she must keep. She is torn between soothing Marcus’s pain over the loss of his sister and keeping her work of helping abused women secret. But once a solider, always a soldier, and Marcus is determined to unravel the secrets that span from the underbelly of London to the ton. 
As the plot thickens Marcus and Elise become loose ends to tie up.

An entertaining read that blends romance, action and mystery. Marcus is a charming hero and I especially enjoyed scenes with him and his young niece and ward, Pippa. Danielle proves to be brave for her dangerous work of helping others, and her headstrong nature is just what is needed to meet Marcus on the battlefield. Together, they share some great chemistry.

384 pages

Wild Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6). Janna MacGregor.

Wild Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6). Janna MacGregor. 2020. St. Martin’s Paperbacks. (ARC paperback).

Lady Avalon, the widowed Marchioness of Warwyk, has spent the last nine years raising her son and younger sister by herself, as well as establishing a well-respected standing in the community of Thistledown; all with little interference from her son’s guardian, the Duke of Larkton. But now, as the young lord Warwyk is of age to attend Eton and Avalon is attempting to expand her charity work, she finds that the Duke has sent his brother to spy on her under the ruse of tutoring her son in Latin. Avalon has no use for Devan Farris but it proves harder than expected to send him on his way as he quickly ingratiates himself in the parish as the charming new vicar.

Both Avalon and Devan think they know who each other are; Devan is a reputed rake, untrustworthy of Avalon’s confidences, and Avalon is cold and haughty, having jilted Devan’s best friend in the past. But they will find that they could not be more wrong.

This regency romance is set in a unique countryside parish and is full of heart and intelligently-written characters. A definite read for those looking for a determined heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, and delightful banter.

352 pages

Scandalous Ever After (Romance of the Turf #2). By Theresa Romain.

Scandalous Ever After (Romance of the Turf #2). By Theresa Romain. 2017. Sourcebooks Casablanca. ASIN: B01MTEKL62 (Kindle).

It has been two years since antiquities expert, Evan Rhys, has seen Kate, his best friend’s widow and the woman he has loved since Conall Whelan first introduced his new bride to Evan. But now she is in attendance at his Cambridge seminar on forgeries and asking him to accompany her on a trip to Newmarket to meet her father, William Chandler, at a race meet. But when she must return to her children and Whelan House in Ireland, Evan decides to follow his heart and continue on with her. Together Kate and Evan begin to beat back the loneliness, grief and anger they have been living with. Evan wishes for Kate to see him as more than a friend, but soon new questions arise concerning the circumstances of Con’s death and Kate fears that Evan will become one more injury to her heart.

Romain’s Romance of the Turf series has a unique style of storytelling for the regency romance. In the place of balls among the ton, there are road trips among horses. Instead of rakes and rogues in the gossip rags, Evan, and Nathanial Chandler from the first book, deal with their personal struggles quietly, but are still captivating heroes with great rapport with the ladies they love. And the overarching mystery that began in A Gentleman’s Game continues in this book, adding a little element of intrigue to this friends-to-lovers romance.

352 pages