Serena

I only read one other book by this author, The Naked Baron, and its brand of silly did not work for me.

But I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was less sloppy circus like first book and more traditional sweet fluffy so I had a chance to get to know this author's style.

And I'm glad I gave this book a chance because what's not to love? A meet-cute turned compromised situation turned damsel in distress turned fake engagement. There were some memorable laugh out loud moments with a hero that fawns, protects and moons over the heroine with a great cast of side characters.

CW: past mention of SA

RTC

The books in this series keep getting better and better! I love the Wynchesters and every new member that joins so much. I read this in one sitting just because I did not want to stop the good time.

My elevator pitch for this book would be:

If you want a “super fun, low angst, silly, kind of campy, two quirky nerds with a lot heart and chemistry, put a smile on your face mood” book, add this to you tbr!

But silliness and Inspector Gadget castle aside, both of these characters were both so unapologetically weird and authentic. And watching them realize how they did not have to change a thing about themselves in order for the other person to love them is always wonderful to read and this series does that so well!

DNF at 70% throuple themselves were cute (and wow sizzling

This is the second book of the Season of the Furies saga. I usually don't care reading books out of order or as standalone, and while you can get away with this as standalone, the books have overlapping timelines and crossover with each other, so I recommend reading the first. Plus I looooooved A Terrible Beauty.

Here, Katherine was hands down one of my favorite heroines I have read in a long time. The author wrote a beautiful a character arc of a spiteful snooty “mean girl” ton debutante who makes a transformation through adversity and obscene amount of cruelty from the hero. Her transformation is gradual so it's realistic that by the time you realize you love her, you forgot why she had to learn so many lessons to begin with.

I disliked the hero as much as I loved the heroine. Yeah she messed up and he had his justifications blah blah and I get that the book was illustrating the historical reality of women's powerlessness in a marriage but his inner monologues were tedious as well. I could have even understood his treatment if the grovel was enough but it was not worthy for Katherine.

Last critique - that cover is unfortunate

DNF at 50%. I do appreciate the wonderful character development and rich prose. Maybe it's just me but I was bored. Nothing was happening and I kept putting this down.

After reading the first book, A Duke for Diana, I just couldn't wait for Eliza and Nathanial's story especially after since they had such little interaction with each other in book 1. I was eager to see how their relationship was going to happen.

I really loved watching them both work through their own struggles and wounds both on their own at first, and then they were able to come together and tackle the obstacles together. Normally I don't like it when the romance hinges on a lie(s), but there was just so much underlying genuine warmth and tenderness between them that I felt confident by the end that they were strong enough to face the ugly truths when the time came.

The reason I give 4 stars and not 5 is that I did not feel like there was very much plot going on. There was a lot of telling and not showing here. I was bored of the actual storyline - if there really was one? The lies/truth were juicy enough to carry the book, but I could have used more “action.” But I think we may just get that with Verity and her Phantom Fellow in the next book and I can't wait!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you want a book that has a couple who for once puts aside the secrets, actually communicates early on and work as partners to solve a mystery while also being cinnamon rolls for each other, this book is just for you!!

As a undercover spy and a bluestocking wallflower, both characters had the risk of being depicting as cold-hearted reserved characters. This was not the case here. Their profession and intelligence took the backset to their sweet feelings for each other and I was hear for every cuddle, pining moment!

While Will empowered Lucy to come out of shell, address the fractured relationship she had with her father, Lucy also helped Will shed all the false identities he had to wear over the years and rediscover his true self.

Their dynamic, chemistry and team-work while solving the mystery was just chef's kiss!

I can't wait to read more of Amy Rose Bennet!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Bateman has recently turned into an auto-buy because she really know how to write the best banter, chemistry, and some amazing heroes worth swooning over.

For this book, I just could not stop smiling from the beginning when we meet our besotted, pining, “I've Loved You Forever” Morgan. And the smiles never left my face till the end.

Morgan courts Harriet under the guise of playful games, and he's so effective that I felt like I was being courted. The book does sacrifice a more substantial plot in order to focus on their romance. But watching them cross the line from frenemies to lovers was so much more fun, and allowed me to get invested (more than usual in other books) in their happily ever after. It's rare to find a good book that can stand on the romance alone versus a complex story-line, but this is one of those rare ones that I wouldn't want any other way.

This is book was so delightful and one to pick up when you want your cheeks to hurt from grinning too much,

I received an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions in the review are my own.

4.5

This is the second Anna Bennett book I have read that has left me sighing with content. Keeping spots open for more of her books on my tbr.

What a delightful and unique package of all these great tropes- part-mystery, part-masquerade, part- only one bed, part-class difference - all wrapped up in one. Slap on a low-angst swoony romance, and the characters on the cover aren't the only ones who will be smiling!

Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me an e- copy of the Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions in the review are honest and my own.

3.5

This book was the beautiful romantic version of self-helping myself the last decade of my life. But in seriousness, I loved how we have this FMC who is very real, raw, and relatable during this time period where being relatable to 2024 woman is that last thing you want to be. Was she always a peach? No. But who is when they are at rock bottom? Watching that character grow and process through all the stages for her growth, even the not so pretty stages, was so beautiful to watch and endeared me to Sera even more. In other words, I loved how real it was. No fluffy bows.

Adam is a cinnamon roll who bless him for loving her. He's a character we have read before but he is her puzzle piece.

How did I not know about Veronica Speedwell sooner?! I was already mourning Lady Sherlock series (last book just didn’t vibe) and here I am perusing audible plus and this new-to-me author/narrator pops up! My god this audiobook, the entire package has me hooked now to get into the series. The BANTER IS OFF THE CHARTS. And even though I guessed the final twist reveal before it happened, I still gasped! I know this is non-spicy but I can’t wait until they allude when her and Stoker finally get it on. Starting audiobook 2!

This is hands down one of the sweetest low-angst marriage of convenience love stories I have read in such a long time. Boy - I needed this right now.

Waaah you guys. I really wanted to LOVE this! Loretta Chase has never failed me, and I did enjoy the first two books in the series. But this one... well, idk just didn't quote hit the mark for me.

Don't get me wrong—there are things to enjoy. LC brings her signature witty banter, and Alice and Giles have some genuinely fun and charming moments. I've always been a fan of the best friend's sister trope, and childhood friends-to-lovers can be so satisfying when done right. Their dynamic is playful, with just the right amount of tension simmering beneath the surface, which made for some cute, if brief, romantic scenes.

But, here's where it fell flat: the romance feels like it's constantly getting sidelined by everything else happening in the story. There's a lot of focus on side quests—rescue missions, animal saving, and even long stretches of letter-writing between Alice and Giles. The villain of the story came off as a fool, making the stakes not seem quote as high as the characters were making them out to be. Idk if that makes sense?

Also, as much as I appreciate Alice's passion for helping those in need, it just took away from the time they spent on their actual relationship. By the time they finally got together, I found myself wondering if they even really liked each other or if it was more out of convenience (lol get it?

3.5

Maybe 8 books is starting to lose its magic? I'm not sure what it was but this took me days to finally finish, when normally I gobble this series up.

I just there was too many plots going on making it unnecessarily complicated. I think that is why it didn't hold my attention on how much work it was to keep up and I kept putting it down.

Does my review sound like word salad? Well I guess that's how I opine about a book when it takes this many days to read it?

Alas, all good things must come to an end and I do hope she ends the series before it gets too stale.

Queer happiness makes me giddy! This book was just so sweet but also a little steamy, important but not heavy-handed, low angst but still had me yearning. I just loved how Lowell didn’t stress over Kit’s identity as being a “problem” and the main conflict bc it made room for a story that focused on love and just queer happiness. And that’s the whole point right? Not every book has to be a human rights crusade. And I understand in historical fiction it’s much harder to write a book where one can normalize a queer romance without touching on how the social backdrop doesn’t affect it but this book is a great example where historical context is organically woven in without upstaging what’s simply just a sweet, fun and delightful romance book.

P.S. I’ve read all of Joanna Lowell’s books and I adore them! Cannot recommend her enough!

3.5

This was a confusing book to review. I actually really enjoy most of it. House party shenanigans are always fun. But there was zero romance until the very end. Hero friend-zoned her so hard throughout the whole book, I kept getting second hand embarrassment on her behalf.

I listened to this one and really enjoyed the audiobook. I need to look into other books with this narrator.