Dimensions of Darcy #1 Fitzwilliam Darcy, Traitor by Jennifer Joy

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is a gem, and allows for a more wicked Wickham and a regal and pompous Darcy. Pride goes before the fall in this case. Elisabeth will learn more about how she judges people as she learns the intricacies of Darcy. Darcy will face all his faults as he and Elizabeth avoid Newsgate Prison. The banter and dialog is witty and heartfelt. The adventure they embark on brings them face to face with their weaknesses and their strengths. The author brings out the scheming mama of Mrs. Bennett and shows a side of her that actually is intelligent.
 

An Earl’s Scandalous Return: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Henrietta Harding

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about young love not realized, and meeting again years later to realize that you feel the same. This was all stupidity on the Earl's part thinking Arabella abandoned him when they planned to elope. In a way, she did. She loved her family and didn't want to disappoint her father. If the Earl had come to her the next day, instead of running away to the continent; things would have been different. The story line and plot are well written, and stupidity when young is forgivable. These two have the chemistry of a love that is forever.
 

A Letter from Her Dear Marquess by Alice Kirk

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

The hero in this story is a rogue and a coward. He runs to the colonies to avoid marrying his betrothed. Then when forced to return he sets out to ruin the woman. He blames her for not finding a suitor the five years he has been gone. Like women had a choice back in regency times. The author tries to redeem him but when he actually meets Abigail, he wants her, spoiled brat. Scandal happens during the engagement party and the families call the whole thing off. Now he wants to ruin Abigail by eloping, see what I mean. This is all because he hates his father. This man has no redeeming qualities and he is going to be a Duke. If you like the bad boy, this book is for you. The author writes a good story line, but trying to change his personality in the middle of the book to redeem her male main character is a huge error.

 

The Bride for the Broken Duke by Ava Macadams

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brokenness is what you allow to break you. The Duke allowed his mistakes to harden his heart and break his family apart. He set his life up alone and would not allow for affection, thinking it would make him weak as a Duke. Even, his best friend tried to keep his walls up and keep him from having any type of affection for his wife. He has his own reasons. He is not truly gone because he marries Louisa after ruining her, he could have walked away. The story is heartbreaking. As his affections grow for Louisa, he becomes more afraid of what he is hiding, unaware that Louisa knows the true meaning of marriage, family and love.

Christmas Housekeeper Wanted by Brandy Golden

Rating: ⭐⭐

This story is an excuse to absolve physical abuse in a supposedly loving relationship. The housekeepers that were spanked had every right to have this man arrested. He blackmailed or guilted them into agreeing to be spanked. Then he spanks the housekeeper he wants to keep because she lied about her name and then guilts her into agreeing to the spanking. The story plot just made me angry as the author tried to continually try to justify the abuse in the relationship. If she wanted it to be a bdsm novel, it should have been identified as that when I signed up for the ARC. If not for the physical abuse in the story, it would have been a great story for Christmas.

 

Highlander’s Winter Rose by Fiona Faris

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fleeing for his life, he falls in the snow. A woman finds him and drags him to her cottage and begins the process of healing him. As a doctor and patient romance, this is a very good romance. It's exciting from the escape of the battle to the escape of a hanging and the retaking of the laird-ship of his clan. Our hero is a bit on the naive side, but learns quickly what it takes to be a true laird. Also, the love of a good woman can make you stronger. In this case, it caused our hero to test his ability to lead and follow and most importantly to save his Lady love.
 

Hope (Symbols of Love Book 0.5) by Leah Conolly

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a very romantic story of love being pulled apart by the convenience of an arranged marriage. These two are young and naive. The son although a vicar's son has no prospects nor does he have a living. No matter how much you love someone, you still have to get by in this cruel world. Their tenaciousness of trying to stay together is admirable and love usually finds a way. The only real grace in this story is the parents are reasonable and do not want another episode of them running away together. In the end, we find that the parents only want the best for Hope. 

 

A Christmas Miracle for the Frosty Marquess by Sally Forbes

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Marquess is not as Frosty as the description would imply. This is a man so self absorbed in his own grief, he cannot function or ever be ready for his duties as a Duke when his father dies. His father arranges a marriage with the father of the woman who used to be a childhood friend of the Marquess. Both parties are distressed by this arrangement, but Lady Clara is willing to give it a go if she can just make it past the icy exterior of Julian. This story is written well, except for Julian's constant, "o my mother died" for 8 years of grief and "How can I love another?" Self pity in a man is not attractive. My question in this character flaw is what happens when someone else dies in his life. Does he spend another 8 years grieving? Where will Clara be when that happens? We do get the fairy tale ending as Clara's love for others extends to him and melts his icy heart. 

A Wallflower Ruined by the Duke (Wallflowers and Rakes #3) by Ava MacAdams

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Sally’s family is insane and Thomas’s is insane or just wrong headed. I question what type of children they’ll have. They are allowed to come together after all insanity and chaos break out at Sally’s engagement ball to the wrong man. The epilogue is disappointing with so much happening during the climax of this story. It seems that the author likes to let her villains escape justice. I prefer they rot in jail or hang until dead.
 

Wallflower for the Marquess (Wallflowers and Rakes #2) by Ava MacAdams

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This story started out real well. Great dialogue and a crazy household to work as a companion? The farther I got into the story the more insane it got. The climax makes no sense and the bad guys go riding off into the future. So much for justice.
 

A Wallflower for the Duke (Wallflowers and Rakes #1) by Ava MacAdams

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This story had real promise but failed in the many sex scenes and the whiplash climax. The characters don’t stay true to their character and Uncle Broderick is a 2 bit character that gets a starring role. The author failed when introducing him how important he was to the family. This story has real potential to be a five star book, but failed with the whiplash and poor carry through.

 

The Scarred Duke's Gamble: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Patricia Haverton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about a soldier returned home and his father and brother ruthlessly murdered. After staying out of society for a long period of time, which included him healing from his war wound; he is accused of damaging the carriage, so he can gain the title. He goes back into society to find the murderer and meets Grace, a diamond in society. He uses a courtship to help him regain his reputation and get close to the family he suspects has killed his father and brother. Grace agrees to the faux courtship but believes he after Caroline. I wish Grace was more mature, her tantrums and avoiding the Duke when she realizes she is in love with him is so childish for a woman in her fourth season. When I was that age, I was more clever in hiding my feelings and getting what I wanted. The worst part is that these two wear their hearts on their sleeves like badges and neither one could see the love shining out of each others eyes. Why is it that everyone in these stories hides from their feeling and become immature little children? I was pleased that the Duke acted like a man when he realized he was in love with Grace and acted like a mature man. The story is well written and follows a well developed plot with a surprising twist to the mystery interwoven in the story.

Matchmaker: A Cutter's Creek Novelette by Kari Trumbo

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a well written story of two people finally getting a chance at love. The man in this story is shy and reserved. Our heroine is also reserved, but tired of living with people who don't even like her or want her. She finds her bravery to adventure as a mail order bride back to man she already knows. The story is touching and heartwarming. Love is yours if only you are willing to grab it.

The Duke's Trapped Bride: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Dukes of Destiny Book 4) by Hanna Hamilton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I’ve heard of jealousy doing awful things but this story takes the cake. I liked the way they started to work things out and the pup was a great idea.  The problem is the story never jived time wise, so how could she believe it. The letter was never clear if it was from him or some woman, until the end of the story. The plot was well thought out but the story didn’t capture the plot fully.

 

The Heartless Highlander: A Medieval Historical Romance Novel (From Enemies to Marriage Book 4) by Lydia Kendall

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is one filled with pain and heartbreak. It’s a wonder this man can ever function in a healthy way. Margaret is his light in a dark world but even sometimes the darkness is too much. Sometimes the way he acted didn’t follow through with the survivor of a slave ship and spending days lost at sea. He survives only to live his life hidden away on an island and honestly if I was that afraid of the sea; I wouldn’t be living on an island with the only way of travel is a boat. Margaret is a bright and resourceful woman, also a little naïve. It only makes her a light among a dark cloud, lighting the way not only for Alex but his family also. I enjoyed this story, except for the way Alex treated Margaret and sent her confusing signals.  I shouldn’t be surprised, all men want the milk before purchasing the cow.