More than a Governess (Ladies on their Own #4) by Rose Pearson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There have been many stories about governesses and Lords, but I have not one that has been more honest. A deceitful brother lies about a relative that is a great governess to the Marquess, then sends his sister to the Lord. His sister at the initial meeting tells the Marquess the whole truth and because the Marquess is under pressure, lets her stay. She shows the Marquess that he is not the father he could be, and he realizes that she is more than a governess to him. This story is enchanting and the honesty between these two is refreshing. The problem is the betrothal of the Marquess and the diamond of the first water. The whole relationship is hard to believe it happened in the first place.
 

Love Is Here to Stay (Hazel Island, #3) by Iris Morland

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This starts out as your typical enemies to lovers story, but Alexandra is her own worst enemy, and our hero is a real estate mogul struggling as a new parent to his niece and nephew. This story is witty and the two struggle to find what they want. They find what they want is each other, but their own self destructive behaviors threaten to destroy even that. This story emphasizes the need of communication and inventorying our priorities and behaviors to overcome repeated behaviors which destroy our relationships with other people. 

Heart of Gold (Wild Wyoming Hearts) by Lacy Williams

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This short novella is quite emotional. It's set at Christmas time, after a harrowing near death experience. Our hero is an outlaw and the heroine is the girl that our hero protected from his brothers. They grow close during Christmas waiting for him to be sent to the city for his trial. Things get wild when his brothers show up to rescue him. Can an outlaw change his ways? Can he settle down with the one woman who he is in love with? This story helps explain why someone like Tom could change after spending time with a family that truly knows how to love each other.

 

The Colors of Eliza Gray (The Eliza Gray Series Book 1) by J. Willis Sanders

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really wanted to rate this story 5 stars, but it misses the mark with all the unnecessary tedious scenes. Otherwise, the story line and plot are exciting as Eliza learns to communicate after living 18 years without being able to communicate with anyone except her father with whom she made up some signs to let him know what she is doing. It addresses the abuse some deaf children endure because of their deafness. Eliza's father even though he is Amish allows Eliza to express herself through paints she makes from nature. Falling in love, and deciding to leave her family is a difficult decision for Eliza. The solution that is finally decided comes from an unusual source. This story made me realize the difficulty that deaf people have of communicating in a hearing world.
 

A Marquess' Passionate Ride: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Henrietta Harding

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why do they say that it is impossible for a commoner and a noble to marry? A nobleman can do whatever he wants and this story proves that it is true. And why do these stories all have interfering mothers? It seems these mothers don't want their own children to be happy, and all they are concerned with is appearances in society. This story breaks all the barriers. The characters are warm and lovable, even if the Marquess is somewhat without any wisdom. He never seems to think beyond today. The story is fun, but intense between the Marquess and his parents. Love is the difficult road between two different levels of society.

 

The Companion and the Earl (Ladies on their Own #3) by Rose Pearson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a quiet love story. A woman forced to be a companion by her father and a Dowager Countess who has a heart of gold. The Dowager's son is completely self possessed. After overhearing all of his faults, his thoughts turn towards his behavior and the behavior of his friends. Miss Deborah is kind and gentle, with a little appropriate sass. Although there is an error in the writing here, since Deborah is a daughter of a Viscount, she should have been addressed as Lady Deborah. Even though she is a companion, she is still entitled to her title that she was born into. This is a sweet and slow paced love story, and we see changes to a very self absorbed man, becoming more concerned for those around him. 
 

A Marriage of Convenience with a Beastly Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Sally Forbes

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story starts a relationship off that is awkward, but as the Duke realizes his place as a husband the relationship smooths itself. The heroine's character was well thought out, the Duke's character was awkward and bounced. The story line and plot were well developed, but even after the two fell in love the dialog felt difficult. The conflict in this whole story is the Duke getting over himself. For a man that is to take over the Dukedom, he has a whole lot of growing up to do.