Tag: historical romance

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2025

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The month of love. And a lot of good books! I love seeing all of the covers together at the end of the month.

  • Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
  • [ARC] You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
  • Here’s the Thing (The Seddledowne #4) by Susan Henshaw
  • [Short story] The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
  • [ALC] A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
  • Sweet Wicked Vows (A Wicked Dade Brothers Book #1) by Rachel Donnan
  • Kingdom of Claw (The Ashen #2) by Demi Winters
  • [ARC] If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley
  • A Crown So Silver (Fair Folk #2) by Lyra Selene
  • We Redeemed the Rain (Meadowbrook Ranch #1) by Ashley Dill
  • [Short story] Please Be Mine by K. Sinko
  • [ALC] Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
  • [ARC] One More Wish (Sugar Valley #2) by Lindsey Lanza
  • Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft
  • [Novella] A Churn in the Dark (Into the Churn #2.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
  • The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith
  • Beautifully Broken Control (Sutter Lake #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC/ALC] The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms Duology #1) by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
  • The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
  • Beautifully Broken Redemption (Sutter Lake #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC] The Emerald Alliance (The Otherworlds #3) by Courtney Millecam
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Volume #8) by Beth Brower
  • [ALC] The Dark Mirror (The Bone Season #5) by Samantha Shannon
  • [ARC] The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building) by Emma St. Clair
  • The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
  • [ARC] The Magic of Light by Jordan Abitz
  • [ALC] Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
  • [ARC] Secret or Shutout (D.C. Eagles #4) by Leah Brunner
  • Under Your Spell by Laura Wood
  • Taken With Trouble (Caught in Chaos #2) by Jenessa Fayeth
  • We Will Be Heroes (The Vigil & Ante Files #2) by Megan McCullough

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ALC Book Review: Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Kell Woods
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: February 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758.
For Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo’s wealthiest ship-owners, the high walls of the city are more hindrance than haven. While her sisters are interested in securing advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of escaping her elegant but stifling home and joining a ship’s crew. Only Samuel—Luce’s best friend and an English smuggler—understands her longing for the sea, secretly teaching her to sail whenever she can sneak away. For Luce, the stolen time on the water with Samuel is precious.

One stormy morning, Luce’s plans are blown off course when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, the youngest son of the most powerful ship-owner in Saint-Malo, from the sea. Immediately drawn to his charm and sense of adventure, she longs to attend the glittering ball held in honor of his safe return and begins to contemplate a different kind of future for herself.

But it is not only Luce’s hopes at stake—the local fae are leaving Brittany and taking their magic with them, while the long-standing war with the English means Saint-Malo is always at risk of attack. As Luce is plunged into a world of magic, brutality, and seduction, secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface. The truth of her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.

Or the scales of a sea-maid’s tail.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

SQUEAKED OUT A FOUR STAR.

I kind of felt all over about this one. What I did love was the unique mash-up of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. I could easily see the nods to the story but adding in the historical fiction elements really set the plot apart and it did feel fresh rather than a regurgitated attempt at a new story.

I enjoyed Luce’s character and her growth. Somewhat naive and under her father’s thumb she slowly moves away as she understands her history, falls in love, and finds out where she truly belongs. The love story was different than I was expecting but the more I sit with it, the more that I think it makes sense for the novel and the more I like it.

The middle dragged for me and I think I was hoping for something more. Everyone got their dues and I loved seeing all of the different faerie folk woven throughout. The ending had me almost throwing my phone across the room BUT LUCKILY the epilogue saved it and I feel good about how things went down. It’s a sturdy, well planned standalone.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fantasy romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: brief open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: torture, loss of life

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Book Review: An Improper Agreement (Improper Agreements #1) by Audra Wells

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 237 pages
Author: Audra Wells
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She refused to meet his eye, but he heard her quiet words, ground out behind clenched teeth. “I accept, Lord Eaton. And I plan to win.”

Clara has been missing from the London marriage mart for six years and is reluctant to return. That feeling only grows when she happens to meet Lord Eaton–a rather arrogant, proud Earl who vexes her from the moment they first meet. Not wanting to allow herself to be put down by a pompous, self-righteous man, she agrees to the silly game he proposes. The first to make the better match by the end of the season…wins.

Wesley had not intended to meet Miss Carrow in the hedge maze in the dark of night–but that is precisely what happened. He can’t help but get a rise out of her when he finds that she is entirely too entertaining to tease. Now, they are stuck in a cut-throat competition to see who can land the better match by the end of the season.

There are no rules in their secret game–a fact that Wesley overlooked when proposing the idea. Now his plan to pursue the daughter of a duke is quickly crumbling before his very eyes…and not just because of Miss Carrow’s meddling. Miss Carrow herself begins to prove to be an unwanted and unplanned distraction.

Will either opponent succeed? Or will they stumble upon something deeper as they spend more and more time in each other’s company?

LOVED THIS.

This is the first book by Audra Wells I have read and it won’t be my last. I thought this was an absolute gem of a read and had such a great time with it. It had this very slight modern tone to it and a bit of a rom-com vibe in the midst of a regency romance and I was all over how well it was written.

Wesley and Clara had my attention from the beginning. I loved the banter and the predicament they put themselves into. There were balls and forced proximity and carriage rides and all the things I love seeing that shows the development in a relationship I crave. Some of those moments in the second half had me SWOONING. And wow do I love a great kissing scene too.

I had a hard time putting this one down and thought it was beautifully paced and had the right level of drama and pull that kept me coming back for more. Can’t wait to read more books in this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of past child abuse, loss of a mother, recounted

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ARC Book Review: The Fur Trader’s Lady by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 392 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

To escape her guardian’s plans to marry her, Lady Charlotte Fairfax steals away to Montreal to locate Reid McCoy, a fur trader who owes her fiancé a debt for saving his life. Even though European women are forbidden from entering the interior, she is desperate to get to her fiancé deep within the northwestern wilderness.

Reid McCoy has worked hard for fifteen years to become a shareholder in the North West Company and is on the brink of realizing that goal. Taking Charlotte into the interior will not only put her life at risk, but it could also jeopardize his dreams. Honor bound to repay his debt, his only option is to have Charlotte dress as a man and enter as his assistant clerk.

With Charlotte’s guardian close on their trail and a personal rival willing to do anything to keep Reid from becoming a shareholder, they will embark on an epic journey that will test not only their strength and endurance, but their hearts, as well.

Christy Award winner and bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer presents a new and thrilling historical adventure series set in the heart of the North American wilderness.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

COVER LOVE.

I don’t know how many times I’ve said that I’m obsessed with this cover, but once again, LOVE IT SO MUCH. And I love Gabrielle Meyer’s books a lot too.

This was a great read about a time period and setting that I knew little about prior. The complicated history and dynamics out on the trail and backwoods was interesting to learn about and sparked talking points and thoughts about the story.

I enjoyed the romance. It’s sweet and heated and alllll of the forced proximity is forever my favorite. I loved Charlotte’s tenacity to see herself to a better future and how tender and protective Reid was about caring for her.

This did start to feel a little long and there were a few plot things that didn’t quite work for me, but I thought it was a good start to a new series and I look forward to more stories and characters.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: attempted sexual assault, murder, gun violence, physical altercations, near death experiences

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