A Native Under the Widow's Roof (Hearts Across the West) by Ruby Westbrook

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Catching Love on the Riverbank

When Daisy pulls a half-drowned man out of the river and drags him back to her ranch, she expects to nurse a stranger back to health—not find a man who will stand between her and danger.

Will might be fighting his own battles, but when Daisy is threatened, his protective instincts kick in. The only problem? Her quiet compassion is far harder to defend against than any threat on the frontier, slowly tearing down the walls he built around his heart. Daisy feels safer with Will around, but as their connection grows, the outside world comes calling. Between the shadows of Daisy’s past and the reality of Will’s heritage, their fledgling love is put to the test.

At its heart, this is a solid, deeply satisfying frontier romance about two resilient souls overcoming external forces to build a life together and keep the home fires burning. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt Western romance!

A Viscountess for the Scarred Highlander by AMANDA SEABROOK

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a powerful story about how grief can trap us, turning into a prison we cannot unlock on our own.

To soften his reputation as the local "monster," His Grace decides to buy himself a bride. However, when he arrives for the wedding, he finds his intended bride dead. He quickly renegotiates for her elder widowed sister—driven by the realization that her five-year-old son, Felix, desperately needs protection.

Four weeks later, secrets unravel, loyalties are tested, and young Felix stands to pay the ultimate price unless the couple can find a way forward together.

While the story drags a bit at first and feels heavy due to the initial focus on hate and grief, it gains momentum as the characters begin to find their way out of the darkness.

A Chance of a Lifetime (The Chances Book 14) by Emily E K Murdoch,

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Whimsical and Comedic Romp
This is a delightful, lighthearted story about Michael, a Viscount’s heir who wants nothing more than to immigrate and run away from his heavy family responsibilities. Along the way, he crosses paths with Phylis, a capable woman sea captain who finds herself falling for the wildly handsome heir. However, Phylis initially pushes him away—she has little patience for a man who refuses to appreciate his immense privilege and family blessings.
Driven by his attraction to Phylis, Michael makes a genuine effort to learn about her and adapt to life on a ship. Unsurprisingly, he is completely useless at hard physical labor, but he makes up for it with plenty of charm and an undeniable knack for pleasing a woman.
As the two naturally fall in love, it becomes clear just how good of a match they are—mostly because Michael desperately needs someone grounded to take care of him. It is a well-written, cheerful, and thoroughly enjoyable romance that makes for a great read.

An Offer by the Beastly Duke (Hidden with the Duke Book 4) by Ava MacAdams,

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Heartwarming Historical Romance
This is a thoroughly romantic historical romance that brings a fresh, grounded spin to the classic Beauty and the Beast trope.
Lady Penelope is a widow doing everything in her power to protect her young son from her vile brother-in-law, Charles. Charles is a villain through and through—essentially a ruthless Gaston, but far worse—who wants to take away her son and force Penelope into becoming his mistress. Seeking safety, Penelope moves near the estate of Malcolm, the Duke of Brigrock. Malcolm is a large, heavily scarred war veteran who deliberately lives as a recluse to avoid society.
The connection begins simply when Penelope’s son repeatedly sneaks onto the Duke’s property to play with his dog. Once Malcolm discovers the dangerous blackmail Penelope faces, he steps in. He first offers to mentor the boy, but as Charles grows increasingly aggressive, Malcolm takes a bold step and proposes marriage to offer legal protection.
From there, Malcolm works hard to truly win Penelope’s heart. He does not rely on empty gestures; instead, he completely secures her love by genuinely loving and protecting her son. It is a wonderfully satisfying, emotional story with strong characters and a hero you cannot help but root for.

The Librarian of a Lyon The Lyon’s Den Connected World by Linda Rae Sande

A Matchmaker and a Bookish Earl
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A thoroughly entertaining exploration of the perils and perks of matchmaking.
Our protagonist, an Earl in desperate need of a hefty dowry, has very specific standards: his future Countess must be a bluestocking or a librarian, as he cannot endure the chatter of simpering debutantes. Lacking the funds for a proper matchmaker, fate intervenes when the formidable Mrs. Dove-Lyon contacts him regarding an outstanding debt.
Upon leaving their meeting, he wanders into a local bookstore and encounters Miss Kingston. It is love at first sight for the Earl, and once he discovers his matchmaker has paired him with that very same lady, he is entirely sold. Miss Kingston is similarly captivated—right up until she discovers his title. Her father, meanwhile, is simply delighted to have her off his hands and out of the house.
The characters feel fresh and play their roles admirably well. A charming, witty read where a good time is had by all—including this reader.

The Duke's Bargain A Debut Novel by I Benott

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Worth the Slow Burn

This story revolves around a Duke who strikes a high-stakes bargain with a village orphan: £20,000 for a marriage of convenience and a proper heir. Unfortunately, Malcolm feels an inexplicable urge to court his wife before actually fulfilling the rest of their arrangement.

His nineteen-year-old bride, Eliza, is revealed to be the daughter of Lady Alice Harper—though how that fits into the broader plot is left entirely up in the air. The mysterious necklace Malcolm aggressively rips off her neck meets a similar fate, abandoned without a satisfying resolution.

Where the book truly shines, however, is in the quiet shift of their relationship. Eliza slowly integrates herself into his home and his heart, never pushing or demanding, but simply remaining present. It adds a lovely sweetness to the narrative and delivers a genuinely delightful slow burn.

A Grieving Duke's Scottish Bride by ARIA NORTON

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love, Loyalty, and a Scottish Bride

Dominic is grieving his brother, and his young niece Daphne has gone silent since the tragic loss. Hoping to force him into a match, his mother hosts a house party. Enter Fiona MacGregor, sent to London to find a husband. When Fiona escapes the crowds and wanders to a secluded lake, she runs into Dominic, who promptly insults her Scottish heritage. Her hasty retreat goes awry when a rickety bridge collapses, dumping her into the water. Dominic carries her back, but the resulting scandal forces an immediate marriage.

Realizing the depth of his own prejudices and those of his villagers, Dominic bypasses London and takes Fiona home to Dunvegan. Surrounded by the beauty of the Highlands, he learns to appreciate Scotland and its people, while Daphne finally begins to heal and speak again. But danger looms, not from the clans, but from inside the Duke's own household.

A romantic, beautifully written tale of growth and second chances. Daphne is an absolute joy, and watching Dominic and Fiona overcome their biases makes for a wonderfully gratifying read.