Cowboys' Mom Finds Love (Baker Brothers of Copper Creek #7) by Natalie Dean

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a sweet story of a couple getting a second chance at love. They were high school sweethearts, but each went their own way and fell in love with someone else. It's 30 to 40 years later, and Michael is determined not to let Liz get away from him again. It takes a hold of questions that men and women face when dating again so much later in life. I think when Liz starts dating Michael, she should have considered his job. Especially if it was going to become the problem that she made it. A woman her age should have more common sense that what Liz Baker displayed.
 

A Wicked Duke to Her Rescue by Henrietta Harding

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This a Cinderella story in disguise. Our Liliane is kind and good. Our wicked Duke is very charming. Her stepmother and daughters are evil, except the 2nd daughter, Paulina. She moves to help Liliane when she falls in love with the wicked Duke's best friend. The ending is a bit disappointing, but I'm one for hard judgement on those who abuse their authority. 

 

The Blessed Bond of Two Wounded Hearts: A Christian Historical Romance Book by Chloe Carley

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sometimes, an author exaggerates a situation to make a story more intense or to give a story a more interesting start. Both situations apply to this story, although it doesn't take away from the relationship between George and Sarah. My question is why do all the villains in mail order bride stories have to be mad men who end up dead or in jail? This story is very intense and the chemistry is heavy between Sarah and George. In the end, God's love will get through to George as Sarah prays and tries to set an example of Christian love to George and his son.
 

A Bride for the Broken Marquess: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (The Hargreaves Book 1) by Ava MacAdams

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story starts out with a sort of a drag in the story, but as things begin to happen, the story takes a life of its own. Violet is a bright light in her family, but things are looking dark. Gareth is a villain of the ton with rumors that he murdered his wife. Gareth offers Violet a marriage of convenience to save her family, but Gareth shows Violet the pleasures of marriage. The problem is Gareth's family dynamics and the crazy household that they are living in. This is one mystery that made me glad I have a loving family. 

Fateful Trails in the West: A Historical Western Romance Collection by Carol Colyer, Lorelei Brogan, Elaine Shields

 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Six different love stories about fate. Each story, I would actually rate from 3 to 4 stars. They were all pretty good, but two of the stories needed some more work. Each story is enjoyable as each couple is fated to fall in love. Each story has an inspirational message of hope.

A Secret from the Duchess' Past: Historical Regency Romance by Leah Conolly

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about pain and grief. It's about being left behind and working your way to success. Revenge so deep that you hurt your own child, while you make a family pay for your own pain. A young man with so much honor that he honors the father's request not to see his daughter. A woman torn with grief from her husband's death and the reminder of the pain of initially leaving her heart's desire to save her family from poverty. A daughter who tries to save her father from his own pain, so that everyone can live somewhat happily. It is about the pain and emptiness of revenge, and how love and forgiveness can bring us the peace that is needed to embrace life again.

 

A Spinster No More (Second Chance Regency Romance Book 4) by Rose Pearson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a beautiful story about love catching you unaware. It’s about living after the grief and finding that you are capable of loving again, capable of being happy again. It has a few whimsical moments and one really stupid stunt, but makes the story all that more charming because people are people and things don’t always turn out the way we like them. Love is the theme of story, even when no one could stand Caroline, Anne found it through understanding who Caroline was and how to achieve Caroline’s objective towards marriage and her happiness. Yes, love conquers distaste and makes a way for a unique friendship.

Her One and Only Knight: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Amanda Seabrook

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a story about a milliner's son who joined the army and served in Portugal during the French revolution. His career is cut short when he is shot by a blunderbuss in his hand. He comes home and continues to  perform heroic acts like he did in the army. When he is not doing that he is meeting the love of his life in secret, because she is a noble lady. Lady Mary is somewhat naive and doesn't know how to speak for herself. She loses all reason when her brother tries to marry her to a lying and very rude Duke. Some of the characters needed more development, but the story line and plot are well developed until the climax of the story. The story seems rushed after the climax, where the hero and the heroine have no idea what is happening which leaves the reader confused. The conclusion to this story is that you need to learn to communicate with those who love you, because how can they provide for your best interests if they don't know all the facts. Keeping everything to yourself can have dire consequences.
 

Tricking a Lord into Sin: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Meghan Sloan

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is filled with moral dilemmas. Harry tortures himself about Lord Harwich did to his father, but does nothing about it. He falls in love Harwich's niece, Bridget which gives him more dilemmas to ponder over. In the end, Bridget tries to prove to Harry that her uncle is innocent, more moral dilemmas. Even with all these moral dilemmas, the story runs smoothly and comes to a satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, the author doesn't recognize there is one victim left with no conclusion.

Lady, No More (Naughty Ladies #3) by Cerise DeLand

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A second chance story of a jilted lady and a Viscount who had to save his estate. The lady refuses to listen to Viscount's excuses of why he had to leave her. The Viscount always loved her and meant to come back after he straightened out the mess his father made of the estate, and the agreement of the betrothal to a woman whom he thought of as a sister. Sometimes, you have to start at the beginning again, so that you can explain what was in the past. The story is an amusing read with some witticism. Personally, I wouldn't have cut him when he reappeared. I would have demanded answers, then decided whether to cut or forgive him. I guess ladies don't do that or authors like writing their women wish-washy or weak-willed. I know Laurel was trying to protect her heart, but how can you protect your heart if you don't know the full truth?

Forgiving the Duke (A Lady’s Dream #3) by Alice Acker

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I can't believe I finished this series.The way Edward treated this woman and she still loved him is beyond ridiculous.She had another Lord who would have loved her more and treated her better than Edward ever did. I think sometimes it shows how much we want someone to love us that we take abuse and show how little we actually think about ourselves. Although Edward did make up for it at the end of the story,It did not make up for what Catherine thought of herself. Although the story is well written and the characters well developed, I felt the author did not think very much of what the characters actually thought of themselves. Oh it was woe me, and that's a terrible thing to do, but they went ahead and did it anyway; regardless of pride, honor and common decency.

 

Stealing His Heart (Men of Blackthorne Mountain #1) by Cameron Hart

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This story is about a crazy woman with a criminal family and a billionaire who is just insane. The story is quite eye rolling at times, and some of the antics are quite insane. Personally, I think this billionaire needs a better security system. The reading is light, and loses momentum when the father kidnaps his own daughter. Stupidity is severely highlighted in this story.
 

The Curse of the Dragon by Eliza Gayle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This story has a great plot but the book does not finish well. The plot is very twisted and left me frustrated. It breaks every rule for a great romance. I'm not going to tell you much about it, because the story is just too twisted to even comprehend what is going on half the time. Let's just say that the dragons should have fried the witches rather than try to make peace.
 

Keepers of the Lake by Emilia Hartley

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

These stories can be read as standalone, but they are so much better read together from beginning to end. Each story centers on a particular dragon and him finding his mate as they search for a way to contain the beast in the lake. Each story follows the exact same plot, but the last two books twist the story in an unexpected way. The stories are great for passing the time, but they are not really in depth. The characters are predictable, and don't develop much after they find their mate and are showcased in the other books. My favorite dragon was Asher. He had the most personality without all the brooding. Even with all his problems, he knew when to lighten the mood, and knew when to be gentle and kind.
 

Darcy's Weddings, Darcy's Daughters, and Other Regency Tales of Romance by Eliza Heaton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

This set has six stories. My copy was missing "Darcy's Daughters: Sophia. I had two copies of "Darcy's Daughters: Alberta. The stories are all light-hearted and fun. Each has its own villain and a gentleman who is good and true or a gentleman that wishes to redeem himself. All the stories are written in the tradition of Jane Austen, and the original characters reflect their personalities, except for Darcy. He is more loving, and gentle than he was in the book, and seems to have lost all his arrogance. The man is an Earl after all, which these stories seem to have forgotten.