The Duke's Runaway Lady (Runaway Brides Book 1) by Julia Thorne

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

A Lesson in Love and Waiting

Sybil realizes just in time—specifically after a revealing run-in between her maid and her fiancé, Lucas—exactly how controlling Lucas is. Fleeing her own wedding, she ends up in the wrong carriage and straight into the life of Tobias, a Duke who offers her his name after seeing how easily she wins over his twin brothers.

Tobias is a man who gives constantly to others without expecting anything for himself. But a marriage cannot survive on silent sacrifice alone, and if he doesn't learn to speak up for his own heart, he risks losing it entirely. For her part, Sybil has to stop running, stand up, and speak her mind if she wants to save what they have.

While Sybil’s climax speech is a high point, the narrative pacing drags significantly. Tobias is so slow to act for himself that it feels like waiting for a tortoise to peek out of its shell. His love language is clearly sacrificing his own needs for hers, but rather than waiting around in agony for a man to spell out "I love you," Sybil should have remembered the courage it took to run away from Lucas in the first place instead of hiding from society. It is a story with strong character dynamics, but the sluggish execution tests your patience before the couple finally gets out of their own way.

The Duke's Reluctant Bride by Clara Wynn

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Legacy of Danger and Intrigue
Clara is tasked with delivering a sealed package to the Duke of Ravenshire, but what should be a routine delivery quickly turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Someone is willing to put everyone’s lives on the line to intercept the paperwork, forcing Julian Thorne to step in and handle the threat to the Ravenshire legacy.
The resulting hunt for the truth takes Clara and Julian on a fast-paced trek filled with mystery, emotional intrigue, and a growing connection. Julian carries the story as an honorable hero whose nobility shines from the first page to the last, and the couple must learn to build real trust amidst the rising danger. It is a satisfying historical romantic suspense about duty, danger, and finding love in the middle of a crisis.

Prospecting For Love: (Flint Creek Valley Brides Book 1) by Karla Gracey

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Love at First Sight

Francesca trades an arranged marriage to a man forty years her senior for the isolation of the American West. Finding work helps, but the loneliness lingers, leading her to answer a mail-order bride ad. Months of letters lead to a face-to-face meeting, and Andrew drops everything to come to her—delivering instant love at first sight.

The immediate spark is sweet, but real life catches up fast. Between overbearing parents and Andrew's little white lie—claiming to be a humble prospector rather than a wealthy mine owner—the pair have to navigate some significant secrets before securing their happy ending. An inspirational Western romance about taking a leap, admitting the truth, and finding exactly what your heart needs.

A Duke for the Unseen Wallflower: (No Longer Invisible Book 1) by Martha Barwood

 

Rating: ⭐⭐
Excellent Plot Dragged Down by Repetitive Dialog
The plot and storyline are excellent, but the book is a redundant read due to the dialog. The back-and-forth between the two main characters—both on the spectrum—becomes endless and repetitive.
Charlotte is invisible to everyone until they need help and hates crowds, while the Duke hides away to avoid small talk. Their meeting in a hidden room leads to Charlotte solving a complex ledger fraud that the Duke’s own accountants couldn’t figure out. It’s great seeing two wallflowers find love, but if the Duke wanted her, he shouldn't have had to play the games this story puts them through. Both characters take time to realize their feelings, but letting outside influences dictate their relationship comes at an unreasonable cost for people who supposedly love each other.
Great storyline, but the repetitive dialogue really holds it back.

One Dreams: (Silas McKay Suspense Series Book 6) by Luana Ehrlich

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Action-Packed with Great Character Dynamics
Silas promises a client he'll find out who is following him, only to have the man turn up dead the next morning. As he investigates Elias's death, Silas has to juggle Ashley hassling him about her new business issues, introducing Lillian to her new job while learning to work alongside her, and making time for a weekend visit with his daughter Marissa—which Ashley pushes her way into.
It's an action-packed adventure, but the true hero in this story is Tyler Hudson, the finance director at DCSS, who discovers the key financial clues that uncover the murderer.
I'm happy with the direction Silas's love life is starting to take, because I'm hoping he realizes Ashley isn't the mature and generous person he needs. Her actions in this novel are self-serving, showing no consideration for his time or how he's doing. Lillian, on the other hand, is mature, generous, and considerate—which really shows in her actions toward Elias's wife after the shooting.
Regardless of my personal feelings on the characters, it's an excellent read.

The Spy's Song (The Swans of Paris Book 3) by Giovanna Siniscalchi

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Spy’s Redemption on the Battlefield of Love
This is a deep and moving tale following Robert de Monfort, a dual spy for both England and France, who is tasked by Talleyrand with retrieving Louise Bonnecheix—née Bonaparte—Napoleon’s daughter from his first marriage. What begins as a high-stakes kidnapping to return Louise to her father becomes a perilous trek from London across the Channel, through France, and into Brussels on the eve of battle. Along the way, Louise proves herself every bit a Bonaparte, matching the danger of their journey with true grit.
Having believed his soul died with his sister's suicide, Robert finds himself utterly unmoored by his growing feelings for Louise. He cannot fathom why his heart and body now beat only for her, until he discovers that even a hardened intelligence officer cannot guard against love. The narrative shines as love releases the spy's long-silent song, delivering a beautifully written romance rich with history, danger, and deep emotional resonance.

A Wallflower for the Disguised Earl by DAPHNE PIERCE

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Background Check

Sometimes a story just has a terrible plot, and this is one of them. To be honest, it tells me what type of man Edward really is, and I would never trust him. He is supposed to be courting one sister, only to fall for Corinna—the plain bluestocking who spends her energy getting to know what she thinks is the Earl’s secretary, who is actually the Earl himself.

The story is well written and the characters are well developed, but that cannot overcome the awful plot. My only advice is to do a background check before beginning a relationship.