The Duke's Reluctant Governess (The Highland Marriage Ledger Book 2) By Marilyn Johnson

 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

High Society, Higher Stakes

The plot is exceptionally well-constructed, driven by a sharp dynamic and excellent pacing. The dialogue is particularly entertaining, pairing a heroine of exceptionally dry wit with a Duke who prefers to express his emotions through action. Their interactions are clever, understated, and consistently engaging.

At the heart of the conflict is Marianne’s steadfast dedication to a child’s welfare, which stands in stark contrast to a ton determined to erase the young girl entirely. The story does an excellent job of exposing the motivations behind this societal cruelty: the aunt is desperate to cover up her embarrassment over failing to recognize the parents' legitimate marriage, the lawyer is actively trying to embezzle the child's fortune, and the cousin is simply a cruel creature who thrives on scandal. It is a compelling look at Regency hypocrisy, anchored by a strong heroine and a protective hero.

An Unspoken Arrangement by Lia Adams

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

The Viscount’s Undoing

This story pits American grit against British aristocratic entitlement. Celia married a Viscount expecting a partner; instead, she found herself in a cold house with a husband who only appeared when he needed to drain her resources. While her father was savvy enough to ensure Celia kept her own money, the Viscount—born to his title but lacking the funds to maintain it—views her as a personal bank to fund his lifestyle. In this world, American wealth maintained the estate, but it offered no protection against a man who treats his wife like an open ledger.

The facade crumbles entirely when the Viscount’s mistress arrives at the front door, looking for support for his illegitimate son. Instead of turning her away, Celia feels for the woman and sends her to the country near a school her son will attend, escorted by her best footman.

The narrative shifts when Celia’s butler takes an active interest in her plight, schooling her on London’s legal loopholes to secure her fortune from her husband’s reach. The subsequent exposure of the Viscount—covering everything from embezzlement of her father's business to domestic abuse—leads to a divorce fueled by the combined efforts of Celia’s father and her staff.

The plot eventually spirals into a public affair between Celia and the butler, staged openly to humiliate the peerage. While the author successfully argues that the aristocracy is a hollow farce, the story itself follows suit. The characters are well-drawn, but the execution of the "messy debacle" becomes a bit of a slog, making it difficult to stay invested through the final act.

The Ferocious Duke by Abigail Adams

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ambition, Appetites, and the Ferocious Duke

Isobel moves through the world with a dream and a message, undeterred by Alaric, the "Ferocious Duke" of Blackmoor. While the 'ton' trembles at his reputation for rigid power, Isobel meets his gaze without flinching, armed with nothing but her own pride and a clear sense of direction.

In a London where even the kitchens are a male stronghold, Isobel’s ambition is a direct challenge to the status quo. What begins as a tactical game of power evolves into a genuine connection between a man who simply does not know how to love and a woman who expresses her soul through her craft. The plot is tightly constructed, but the real payoff arrives at the climax, where both characters finally drop their guard to acknowledge what they truly need from one another.

Wonderful Lonesome by Olivia Newport

 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plain Faith Tested by the Colorado Frontier
This story of the Amish in Colorado is a stern look at trial by fire. The hardships are plain, yet the central woman is uncommonly brash. While she holds fast to her loyalties, she struggles to yield to the Will of God, failing to see that the desires of her heart and His plan might be one and the same. Her treatment of Rudy shows this lack of sight.
Willem is where her heart truly lies, yet when he makes a choice in a gray area—one her father does not favor—she withdraws from him.
The ending is a shock. It feels more like a haunting human failure than a resolution found in Divine love. It is a reminder of a struggle seen in many churches: the error of forgetting that the Church is not a building, but the people themselves. The community would have found more peace gathering simply each Sunday—be it in a tent or an open field—to sing and pray together as one body.

By His Grace and Favor: A Traditional Regency Romance (Lord Dere's Dependents Book 1) Christina Dudley

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Damage Control in Iffley
An entertaining romp through Iffley that proves, once again, that the only thing more crowded than a Regency cottage is a Regency closet full of skeletons.
Lord Dere—quite possibly the only gentleman in England with both a title and a pulse of pure gold—takes in his sister-in-law and his cousin’s entire brood. It’s a noble gesture, though moving eight relatives into Iffley Cottage suggests he has a higher tolerance for chaos than most. Among the throng is Adella, the family’s resident martyr, who decides the best way to secure their roof is to set her cap for the bachelor Lord Dere. It’s a practical, if slightly desperate, plan to keep the formidable Mrs. Markham from discovering her sister Jane’s latest lapse in judgment.
The real spanner in the works is the tutor, Mr. Weatherill. He’s spent his life hiding a "Fleet" pedigree—a debtor's prison education that the ton would find far less charming than his Latin. Naturally, while Adella is busy hunting a Peer, she and Weatherill ruin everything by falling in love.
The plot is a delightful game of "hide the scandal" from the neighborhood’s resident shrew, and while there are a few loose ends left fluttering in the breeze, the charm of the characters carries it through. Lord Dere remains the MVP of the piece; if only every heir had such an inconveniently kind benefactor. An excellent read for those who enjoy their romance served with a side of frantic damage control.

In My Best Friend's Arms by C. C. Hollins

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finding What Was Always There
Emma and Jack’s story is a second-chance novella that explores the friction between long-standing friendship and latent romance. It’s a lighthearted read, but it carries a grounded undertone for anyone who has ever overlooked the person right in front of them.
While Jack has known Emma was "the one" for years, Emma only hits that realization when a hurricane forces them back together. Jack’s secrets add a layer of complexity that challenges Emma’s perspective, yet they don't waver her underlying feelings. The narrative focuses on whether these two can stop looking at the past and start moving forward into a shared future. It is a solid, direct look at the risk required to turn a friendship into something permanent.
The pacing matches the urgency of the storm, stripping away the distractions that kept them apart for so long. It is a refreshing take on the "blind spot" trope, proving that sometimes you have to weather a literal disaster to finally see the truth.

The Shakespeare Thief: An Elliot Todd Mystery; Book 1 by Lionel Ward

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Contemporary Cozy with a Side of Mid-Life Naivety

The story is a lighthearted romp, but the real mystery is how a man in his forties has made it this far with so little common sense.

While Elliot is clear about what he wants, he’s remarkably immature for his age. His views on women are hopelessly naive, leaving him perfectly positioned for Ester to pull his strings like a seasoned puppeteer. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, either; his mother masquerades as the overbearing type, but she’s actually just self-absorbed, dodging her son the moment his presence inconveniences her personal life.

The height of Elliot’s absurdity is his decision to confront a murderer while alone and visibly inebriated. It’s a bold, if foolish, move for a man who spends his days in a bookshop and his nights at the bottom of a glass.

The Verdict: A fun, breezy contemporary cozy featuring a bookseller who is frequently his own biggest obstacle. Perfect for readers who like their mysteries with a dash of social observation and a protagonist who desperately needs a wake-up call.