ARC Book Review: The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker

May 2, 2026April 8, 2026 GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Megan Walker
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ruined by scandal, Georgiana bargains with a duke to regain her place in Society. But their pretend friendship sparks real love, risking reputations, duty, and unexpected happily-ever-afters.

Eight months after a stolen kiss ruined her reputation, Miss Georgiana Wood is a recluse, cast out of Society without any hope of ever finding a suitable match. Longing for redemption, she never expects her salvation to arrive in the form of a handsome, temperamental duke.

After a failed bargain left the Duke of Marlow without a promised wife and heir, he must face courtship a final time. He plans to entice his future bride with a priceless family heirloom—one now in the possession of Miss Wood, who agrees to return it if he takes her on three outings in London during the Season to restore her reputation.

As the pair navigate Society’s expectations and whispered gossip, Marlow begins to see Georgiana as an ally and a friend. Her wit and courage, grace and allure far exceed that of the eligible ladies he intended to court, and soon, he’d do almost anything to secure her happiness.

As Marlow wrestles with duty and desire, Georgiana begins to hope that she could be loved for who she truly is. When hearts are tested, truth and secrets revealed, will love be enough to risk it all?

Thank you to Shadow Mountain and Megan Walker for the gifted copy.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I don’t even know how to put this review together because I can’t fathom how to explain HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK. It took me exactly one chapter to lock in and be glued to this book. It was an immaculate concept of OH MY GOSH WHEN ARE Y’ALL GOING TO KISS. I can’t tell you how many times I shouted that at Marlow & Georgiana. Which honestly, is my favorite way to be. This was full of YEARNING to the nth degree. And we got this cinematic masterpiece in dual POV? I’M DECEASED.

I loved everything. Every scene. Every moment. Every character. IT WAS ALL AMAZING OKAY? I didn’t want this book to end. The nuanced and deep connection Marlow and Georgiana formed sent me to the stratosphere. The late night moments were romantic and swoony and once again, you’ll be shouting at every glance, touch, and longing look across the way.

It’s stunning in all ways and is easily going to be one of the best romances I’ve read this year!!

Overall audience notes:

Historical romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: physical altercation

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: A Proper Governess (Hearts of Harewood #2) by Kasey Stockton

April 10, 2026April 20, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 332 pages
Author: Kasey Stockton
Publisher: Golden Owl Press
Release Date: September 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Aurelia Beswick obtains a post as the governess for Lord Ryland’s only son, she doesn’t realize she has met the earl before until she arrives at his house.

Fortunately, Lord Ryland doesn’t seem to remember her. And she must ensure he never does.

Book two in the Hearts of Harewood series, A Proper Governess is a sweet and clean Regency romance including a governess, and a widower who has turned into a recluse, and a sweet boy who brings them together.

A SWEET HISTORICAL.

I realized I hadn’t caught up on this series so here we are! It’s been a minute since I’ve read a regency romance and this reminded me why I love this historical sub genre. This was a sweet story that had all of that ooey-gooeyness I love.

It was a quick read and I loved seeing the character growth over the course of the book. There were good friendships and lots of forced proximity romantic moments too. For a short read I still felt the depth of the characters and the communication needed between them as Ryland and Aurelia grew closer.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC/ALC Book Review: A Deal with a Debutante (London’s Most Eligible #1) by Chelsea Bobulski

April 7, 2026April 1, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Chelsea Bobulski
Publisher: Haven
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s running from London’s marriage mart. He’s running out of time to save his estate. Neither planned on falling in love—but their hearts have other plans.

American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London’s high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named “the debutante of the season” back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she’s been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated—an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune?

Thank you Haven Books for the gifted copy.

CHARMING.

I took a risk with picking this book but y’all, it delivered and I will be reading the next couple!! I found this genuinely delightful and it had a different marriage of convenience vibe than I feel like I’ve come across in recent memory. And having this written in dual POV really allowed me to love both of these characters and get a better understanding of them.

I loved the push and pull between Edward and Calliope. There was good banter and just the right kind of heat. I loved the nuanced and tender moments and that they actually got time to spend together and figure each other out. Towards the end some of the do they love me? questions became repetitive and one piece of the third act bugged me, but not much else. It’s easily a historical romance I’d recommend to others.

Overall audience notes:

Historical romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson

March 20, 2026March 25, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 478 pages
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Publisher: Crimson Fox Publishing
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nice Victorian ladies don’t run off to find legendary lost cities.

One trifling little arrest shouldn’t have cost Ellie Mallory her job, but it’s only the latest in a line of injustices facing any educated woman with archaeological ambitions.

When Ellie stumbles across the map to a mysterious ancient city, she knows she’s holding her chance to revolutionize Pre-Colombian history. There’s just one teensy complication. A ruthless villain wants it, and Ellie is all that stands in his way.

To race him to the ruins—and avoid being violently disposed of—she needs the help of maverick surveyor Adam Bates, a snake-wrangling rogue who can’t seem to keep his dratted shirt on.

But there’s more than Ellie’s scholarly reputation (and life) on the line. Her enemies aren’t just looters. They’re after an arcane secret rumored to lie in the heart of the ruins, a mythical artifact with a power that could shake the world.

Between stealing trousers, plummeting over waterfalls, and trying not to fall in love with her machete-wielding partner, will Ellie be able to stop the oracle of a lost empire from falling into the wrong hands?

Empire of Shadows is the first book in Jacquelyn Benson’s smart, swashbuckling Raiders of the Arcana series. Read it now and dive into a rip-roaring historical fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Romancing the Stone and The Mummy.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

This has been on and off my TBR since it released but I finally dove in when the audiobook was available and I do NOT REGERT MY DECISION Y’ALL. If you loved What the River Knows, I need you to go pick this one up too. I loved the historical fantasy vibes with some Indian Jones and The Mummy mixed in.

I was smitten from the beginning. And loved the way the romance flowed throughout the story. There’s heated tension, lots of action and perilous danger around every corner and the audiobook production is just fantastic. I could not get enough of listening to this book and the hours flew by.

(I realized that I had read the first book in this author’s previous series and had mixed thoughts on it so this just goes to show you that trying an author a second time can be a win).

I immediately downloaded book two and will be getting to that ASAP. I am obsessed with these characters, the SWOONY romance, and the fast action-packed plot.

Overall audience notes: