Tag: historical romance

ARC/ALC Book Review: Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy #1) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

Thank you to the author and Berkley for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

OH I AM SMITTEN.

First things first. Gentleman Jim is my ALL TIME favorite Mimi Matthews book and the MMC in Rules for Ruin? Dear Gabriel Royce? HAS THE SAME VIBES. So clearly this read went well for me. Gosh I loved him.

I have read nearly all of MM’s backlist and I love that this felt like a wholly new series starter. The unique set up for the characters and future books was awesome. I loved the institution turned training ground and how that influences the story line. The distinct darker atmosphere of the story was top notch too. I loved the hidden moments, putting all of the clues together and sneaking about in the dark.

And the romance? SWOON. We love a protective MMC. Also bless the fact that this was dual POV. I loved being in both Effie and Gabriel’s headspace. The push and pull between them was delicious. The banter and moments where they leaned on each other as they learned more about themselves. The kisses were [as always] heated and utterly romantic. I am a puddle for these two.

I loved how everything came together and those who deserved their due received it. I will happily sit here waiting for book two. Mimi Matthews never misses.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Divine (House of Oak #2) by Nichole Van

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 346 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Fiorenza Publishing
Release Date: November 24th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Time is a vast cosmic sea, where each life exists as rippling circles on its surface, past and future being eternally present. And occasionally, one expanding ring tangles with that of another, linking two lives together even though separated by centuries…

Georgiana Knight–born in the nineteenth century, but now living in 2013–has certain standards when it comes to mysteries: they must involve blood curdling threats, late-night rendezvous and the terror of Imminent Danger. So far, her current mystery has been a terrible disappointment. No ghosts, no dastardly villains, not even an actual murder weapon. Just a suspicious symbol, a drawing of a bloody dagger, and an old love letter. Though the centuries-old love letter is written in her own handwriting, so that’s something, right? And there is a time portal in her cellar. Should she risk giving up hot showers and return to the past to discover the mysterious stranger who inspired (will inspire?) her passionate letter?

In 1813, Sebastian Carew has his own mystery to solve. As a teenager, he fell madly in love with his childhood friend, Georgiana. Ten years later, he returns from fighting abroad as an eligible man of fortune who must marry. And soon. He is determined to fend off fortune-hunting women, find Georgiana and win her affections. However, she has utterly vanished. Can he divine the truth of her disappearance and convince her to marry him before time runs out?

GREAT AUDIO.

I have suddenly made it a quest of mine to read Nichole Van’s backlist so here we are! I liked this one quite a bit and thought the audio production was great.

The time travel worked well for me (and I’m usually meh about it) and I loved that Sebastian fell first and that man fell hard.

Georgiana, the FMC, bugged me a bit though. She was incredibly stubborn about Sebastian. The ignorance was astounding and her odd thrill of wanting things to be “dangerous” wasn’t working well for me either. When Georgiana finally allowed things to click I enjoyed her more and I got to see the great chemistry between her and Sebastian in full.

It was a good book, definitely plan to continue the series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Time Travel Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allen

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Suzanne Allen
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List comes a delightful romantic comedy set in Regency England about a widow who takes high society by storm.

Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow, has no desire to ever marry again. Particularly not to someone who merely wants her for her fortune. 

So when she discovers that she’s listed in a directory of rich, single women she is furious, and rightly so. She confronts Maxwell Dean, the man who published the Bachelor’s Directory , and is horrified to find he is far more attractive than his actions have led her to expect. However, Diana is unmoved by Max’s explanation that he authored the list to assist younger sons like himself who cannot afford to marry unless it’s to a woman of means. 

She gathers the ladies in the directory together to inform them of its existence, so they may circumvent fortune hunters’ efforts to trick them into marriage. Though outraged, the women decide to embrace their unique position of power and reverse the usual gender roles by making the men dance to their tune. And together… the ladies rewrite the rules.

IT WAS CUTE.

This was one of those books that I liked listening when I was, but now that it’s over I don’t remember all that much. It’s a sweet book and the general premise was fun. I liked seeing the women fight back against ridiculous rules while finding love.

I don’t love this story telling style though with multiple POV’s in a short book. It lacks the character depth I often crave and feels more superficial overall.

But if you need something short and sweet and are in the mood for a historical romance I wouldn’t hesitate to say try this one out.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2025

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New look who this?

I feel like this month got wildly out of hand. I even had MULTIPLE two star books sooooo that was fun. Anywho, here’s the list!

Version 1.0.0
  • Debt of My Soul by K.P. Haven
  • The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane #2) by Cassandra Clare
  • [ALC] Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
  • [ALC/ARC] The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants #1) by Julie Johnson
  • Clean Out of Luck (Only Magic in the Building) by Carina Taylor
  • Out with the Tide (Never Harbor #2) by Julie Olivia
  • [ALC] The Love Haters by Katherine Center
  • Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin #1) by Sable Sorensen
  • [ARC] The Haven, the Hallow, & the Highborn (Roots of Magic Novella) by Jessa Grey
  • Daisy Haites (Magnolia Parks Universe #2) by Jessa Hastings
  • Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy #3) by Lauren Roberts
  • [ARC] Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #8) by Misty M. Beller
  • [ALC] Enigma by RuNyx
  • Just Our Luck by Denise Williams
  • Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building) by Julie Christianson
  • [ARC] The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy #2) by Chelsea Abdullah
  • The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2) by Shelby Mahurin
  • I Knew He Was Trouble (Sweeter Than Fiction #1) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
  • The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor
  • A Proper Governess (Hearts of Harewood #2) by Kasey Stockton
  • The Book That Held Her Heart (The Library Trilogy #3) by Mark Lawrence
  • Signed, Sealed, and Smitten (Only Magic in the Building) by Melanie Jacobson
  • The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1) by Alwyn Hamilton
  • [ARC] Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry
  • Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch #4) by Lyla Sage
  • Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche
  • [ARC] Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
  • The Splendor of Fire (The Hebridean Shield #2) by Ashley Worrell
  • The Wolf King (Wolf King #1) by Lauren Palphreyman
  • The Escape Plan (Only Magic in the Building) by Katie Bailey
  • His Mortal Demise (The Last Bloodcarver #2) by Vanessa Le
  • Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
  • Nightshade (Sorrowsong Duology #1) by Autumn Woods
  • Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
  • [ALC] Jilted by Vi Keeland
  • [ARC] Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) by Gabrielle Meyer
  • [ALC] The Thrashers by Julie Soto

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