A Highland Bride Forgotten by Maddie MacKenna

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Engaging Highland Romance Loaded with Mystery
Archer begins as a cold Laird who promises his new bride, River, that they will never have children. Banished to the far wing of the castle, River spends a year in isolation with only the loyal servants her father provided. Everything shifts when an accident leaves Archer with amnesia. Finding himself married to a woman he cannot believe he left untouched, he sets out to woo her back over seven nights.
Archer’s harsh behavior stems from a grim reality: someone has spent years trying to murder him through botched poisonings and staged "accidents." The story moves quickly with continuous threats on his life, building to a climax when the villain targets River once she is carrying Archer's child.
I enjoyed the characters, though River felt naive for shutting herself off from her clan entirely rather than building allies. Still, the brisk plot and high-stakes courtship make for an engaging read. 

Crime, Conpiracies and Courtship by Aubrey Wynne

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Entertaining, Messy, and Full of Missteps
This story has a bit of everything. Harry works as a spy for the Home Office while taking on work for an Earl. Lady Matilda, the Earl’s sister, finds her confidence in Harry, a Peeler who saved a young girl from a swan and needed his wound tended after the encounter.
The two meet secretly and enjoy each other’s company. By night, Harry keeps watch over the Earl’s townhome while the Earl is out of London. As Harry tracks a target for the Home Office, he uncovers and stops conspiracies against the Crown.
Along the way, Harry and Matilda fall in love. An Earl’s sister cannot simply marry a Peeler, but fate intervenes. With solid historical background, mystery, intrigue, and crime, the hero still manages to win his lady.

The Highland Laird’s Virgin Bride by Keira McCain

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Action-Packed Highlands Drama
Let’s be honest: Lucas is being utterly ridiculous. If he genuinely believes every woman who bears his child is cursed to drop dead, someone needs to hand the man a medical textbook—or at least a reality check.
To make matters worse, he’s harboring a deep-seated terror of pirates that the book conveniently forgets to mention until we’re already halfway through the story. Ultimately, he agrees to marry simply to appease his formidable grandmother, heading off to a literal bride auction to do the deed. Naturally, he picks his grandmother’s top choice, only to immediately regret it when she turns out to be everything his fragile peace of mind can't handle: loud, unapologetically bright, and—worst of all—utterly irresistible to him.
And honestly, what’s not to love about Katherine? She is vibrant, fiercely loving, and magnificently stubborn—the exact kind of woman needed to tame the violent Highlands. She slides right into estate life, takes his daughter under her wing, and somehow becomes absolute bosom buddies with Brimstone, the single worst-tempered horse on the property.
The plot is delightfully action-packed, though I’ll admit Lucas’s brooding routine started severely testing my patience about three-quarters of the way through. Still, Katherine carries the day and makes the whole ride worthwhile.

The Laird’s Reckless Claim by Juliana Wright

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

More Than a Bargain in the Highlands

An arranged marriage for her father’s money and trade routes leaves Sile expecting nothing from her union. Ambushed en route to her groom, she certainly never expects rescue at the hands of her intended.

Torin is a hard man, focused solely on clan survival. He did not anticipate a woman as fierce—or as captivating—as Sile. Her spirit matches the Highlands themselves. Yet, an enemy Laird plots to snatch Sile, aiming to claim her father's fortune and trade routes for himself.

The trouble for his enemy? The tighter Torin holds on to Sile, the more possessive he becomes, ultimately realizing he loves her. On his wedding day, nothing will stop Torin from claiming his bride—least of all a thieving rival.

This story delivers intrigue and Highland action. Driven by one man’s obsession for power and another’s fight for his clan, one will lose everything while the other gains his whole world.

An Orphan to Mend Two Hearts by Eliza Cartwright

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don't Let the Mystery Fool You—A Strong Western Suspense
This story is excellent in its delivery. It develops strong characters with difficult backgrounds.
Nora comes to Montana at the invitation of an aunt she never knew. She brings Beth, a girl who shares Nora's tragedy in silence. Grant is a man who walked away from an villainous father, while his brother stayed behind. Helena, the aunt, is not the welcoming woman her letter suggested. She seems aloof and unwilling to get to know her niece.
The mystery comes together after Nora falls for Grant. The betrayal by her aunt and Grant's father threatens to overwhelm Nora, but Grant proves his priorities and shows where his heart lies. Beth serves as a catalyst for the villain and brings warmth to the story.
When Nora uncovers the full truth, the villain tries to force her to sign over the land. The ranch troubles and attacks on Nora build tension straight to an action-packed final showdown.

Wedded to the Loveless Duke by Emma Linfield

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don't Let the Misleading Description Fool You
Is the Duke truly loveless?
This story centers on a father's scheme to get his daughter to the altar so he can mark his paternal duty complete. He tells her nothing and forces her into the marriage. Yet, despite his methods, he chooses well. Phillip only wishes he had been granted a proper courtship instead of a few business visits with her father.
What follows is months of courting after the wedding. Phillip must convince Eleanor that he will not clip her wings or force her to submit to his will.
The book description is misleading. It suggests the Duke cannot love, but he fell for her spirit long before Eleanor realized she loved him. Even her father proves less villainous than he appears, and Eleanor eventually forgives him.
The plot is sloppy, but a strong climax and ending pull it off.

Four Doubt: A Silas McKay Suspense Book 4 of 5 by Luana Ehrlich

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great Action, Puppy Training, and a Relationship I’m Still Not Sold On
When DCSS is hired by a murdered CEO’s widow, Silas gladly takes the case—mostly because the police are wasting time chasing gang members. While the widow is convinced a rival corporation ordered the hit, Silas looks at every angle, including those closest to the family. The investigation soon uncovers another target on the assassin's hit list, leading to a heart-stopping climax where survival relies entirely on having friends who watch your back.
Alongside the high-stakes investigation, the story does a great job balancing Silas’s personal life. As he brings a killer to justice, he’s also guiding a spiritually lost friend back to God, realizing his new puppy needs some serious training, and finally admitting he is actually in a relationship with Ashley.
I still don’t like her.

The Viscount She Chose for Her Sister By Alice Kirks

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Entertaining, Messy, and Full of Missteps
Alistair is a coward. Instead of pursuing Gwendolyn Harbury, he hides behind fantasy. He stood by and allowed another man to court her, only for that suitor to break her heart and sail off to America.
Since then, Gwendolyn’s family made a fortune in the tea trade, leaving their financial struggles behind. Alistair’s childhood affection for Gwendolyn turned into love, but fear holds him back. Terrified of risking their friendship, he allows Gwendolyn to set him up with her sister—a terrible decision, given where his heart lies.
The situation turns chaotic when the ex-suitor returns, now the Duke of Ravenwood. He claims he left to build his fortune and begs Gwendolyn for a second chance. Her father swoons over the title, but Gwendolyn remembers the abandonment. Desperate to save her from a miserable match, Alistair scrambles to unearth secrets about the Duke.
The plot becomes a comedy of errors where everyone makes the wrong choice at every turn. If you enjoy total chaos, this is a fun read.

A Betrothed for the Guarded Duke by Dorothy Sheldon

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiding in Plain Sight from a Guard-Dog Duchess
The "guarded Duke" of this title refers less to a brooding hero and far more to his formidable mother, the Dowager Duchess, who guards the front door and scrutinizes every piece of post that crosses the threshold. To circumvent this fortress, Cordelia slips through the back door, securing a position as governess to the Duke’s niece, Marina. Cordelia’s true mission is to confront the Duke, Theo, with a long-forgotten marriage contract and the childhood ring he gave her a decade ago. Unfortunately, due to a harrowing experience with cannon fire in Belgium, Theo doesn't recognize her at all.
Our heroine desperately needs him to acknowledge his duty, but she is trapped between the heartache of his amnesia and the terrifying vigilance of his mother. So, she remains under his roof, hiding in plain sight. The story is beautifully penned, and the characters are thoroughly engaging, though the narrative loses its footing slightly in the middle. Cordelia shifts from harmlessly omitting the truth to actively lying to Theo, which tarnishes her charm. It takes a perfect storm—her own deception, the Dowager dismissing her under the guise of a "better opportunity," and a menacing letter from her uncle—to finally force her hand.
The ultimate flaw lies in the heroine's final execution. While Cordelia thoroughly understands this new, fractured version of Theo, she ultimately makes a monumental decision for him instead of allowing him the space to piece together the dark rooms of his own memory. This sudden recklessness feels entirely detrimental to her original cause. It is a thoroughly good read, but it is always deeply frustrating when a character's established traits are broken just to force a climax.

The Duke and his Pretend Bride by Ophelia Winslow

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Sharp, Deeply Emotional Fake-Courting Romance

An emotionally powerful fake-courting story that delivers exactly what the ton usually lacks: actual justice and a backbone.

Jeremy, the Duke of Vaille, enters a sham courtship with Cate to get his matchmaking grandmother off his back, simultaneously rescuing Cate from a devastating public scandal. Cate has been thoroughly scorned by her former betrothed, Lord Dunkley—a manipulative monster who has successfully twisted society's gossip to favor his own version of events.

While Cate knows Jeremy’s attentions are a ruse, his intense gaze makes her feel entirely seen, throwing her off balance. Jeremy himself carries the baggage of a brief, unconsummated arranged marriage, making his growing connection to Cate all the more impactful.

The story features moments of violence, though it serves strictly as poetic justice. However, the most satisfying triumph isn't against the villain, but rather when Jeremy forces Cate’s parents to confront their own selfishness for prioritizing their social ambitions over their daughter's welfare.

It is a sharp, emotional read about overcoming fear and learning to actually live.

Groom for Josie

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smart Plot with Exasperating Leads
A classic tale of a mail-order groom who was, in fact, entirely un-ordered. Our fiercely independent heroine, Josie, has sworn off marriage, but her meddling brother decides she needs a husband anyway and places an ad. Enter Arlen: a weary sheriff looking to trade gunfights for domesticity. He arrives only to find Josie has absolutely no idea he was summoned. Naturally, instead of doing the sensible thing and leaving, he stays—smugly convinced he can win her over because he fancies the "fire in her eyes."
Frankly, Arlen’s arrogance is exhausting. He is so utterly sure of his own charms that one suffers a profound urge to bring him to his knees just to humble him. Josie, meanwhile, is trapped in that frustrating trope of the capable woman who somehow cannot see her own worth, convinced men only want her for her acreage.
Arlen attempts to court her by making himself useful and loudly appreciating the womanly figure hiding beneath her men's clothing. The plot thickens when a predatory lawyer tries to buy Josie’s land, foolishly approaching Arlen first—a blunder that rightfully sends Josie’s guard right back up. The pair are forced to put their romantic friction aside to unravel the lawyer's scheme, culminating in a high-stakes, gunpoint-wedding climax that delivers genuine tension.
While the plot is smartly constructed, the execution stumbles on the execution of the leads. A dash more character development could have transformed these exasperating archetypes into people we actually want to root for.

Three Confess by Luana Erhlich

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Foreign Espionage and a Chaotic Home Front
This latest installment of the Silas McKay series ramps up the stakes with a fierce focus on corporate espionage, balancing a high-pressure case with Silas’s equally chaotic personal life. Between a daughter home from college, a new puppy, and the delicate dance of introducing Ashley to his daughter, Silas has his hands completely full.
The central investigation hits close to home and feels incredibly timely. A Chinese company has stolen CID’s product right down to the factory floor, presenting an alarming breach of intellectual property. More concerning, however, is the chilling depiction of foreign handlers manipulating immigrants working within American borders. It raises a sobering question about corporate security, particularly for companies holding sensitive government contracts: should we be hiring non-native citizens when the risk of external leverage is this high?
As Silas untangles the web, the tension peaks with the realization that the enemy is already standing at his own front door. With heavy decisions weighing on our hero, the story races toward a gripping, suspenseful finish that delivers on every front. It is an intense, thrilling ride.

Anointed by TJ Monroe

 

Rated:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Intense Warfare, Unresolved Ending
I was highly impressed by the substantial use of scripture in this book. Spiritual warfare requires being fully equipped with God’s Word, and the battle scenes here are intense and gripping.
A pivotal turning point occurs when Cassie begins to take her gift for granted, only for it to fail her. God has His reasons for saying no, and her gift returns precisely when she needs it most.
However, the conclusion left me unsatisfied. During the battle, the demon recognizes Cassie, and Cassie seems to understand this recognition as well. Unfortunately, the author never explains this identity to the reader, leaving a frustrating gap in the narrative. I read through the extensive conclusion searching for answers, but found none.
Additionally, while I believe spiritual curses can be inherited, I believe they are passed down through families who do not know Christ, rather than those covered by His blood—though I recognize demons work harder to prevent the children of believers from following Him. While I do not need to know God’s ultimate plans, I needed to understand what the author awakened in Cassie, as it is entirely relevant to the story.

One Wonders: A Silas McKay Suspense Book 1 of 5: Silas McKay Suspense Series by Luana Ehrlich

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suspenseful Read, but Lacks Spiritual Balance
Silas McKay is a man consumed by sorrow, shutting out God and burying himself in his work. But when a client asks him to mentor his daughter, Ashley, Silas ignores his better judgment and agrees. Together, they plunge into a high-stakes espionage case, forcing Silas to decide just how much danger he is willing to put her in on her very first assignment.
While the espionage plot delivers solid suspense, Ashley herself is a major weak point. Brash, overdressed, and frankly spoiled, she feels entirely wrong for Silas—even if the author is determined to force the match. A forty-year-old widow with a college-aged daughter deserves a partner who is spiritually grounded, not a man who is only just beginning to wander back to God eight months after losing his wife. It's a frustrating dynamic that leaves me wondering exactly where this series is headed.
 

Forbidden Earl Next Door by Tess Aubrey

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tasteless Mothers and Misplaced Honor
This is one serious age-gap romance—minus the actual romance.
We have an eighteen-year-old debutante thrust into the Season the very same day she buried her father. A tasteless move by her mother, to say the least. Enter Lord Banbury, a man twenty years Rebecca’s senior, courting her with a vigor that feels entirely unseemly. Then there is Lord Normanby, a man with honor so misplaced it borders on frustrating; he should have destroyed Banbury ten years ago rather than settling for a quiet, private blackmail to save Rebecca’s sister.
In Regency England, the aristocracy has two courts: the law and society. For a villain like Banbury, it shouldn't matter which delivers the blow, so long as he is either jailed or utterly crucified by the ton and financially ruined.
While the characters are well-defined in their flaws and the plot is solidly written, Rebecca’s compliance is hard to swallow. Letting her mother match her up with a man old enough to be her father—not once, but twice—is simply ridiculous.

A Lady's Guide to Subterfuge and Science by Isabella Kamal

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
 A Compelling Regency Romance with a Frustrating Heroine
This story is well-written, featuring a heroine who initially comes across as strong and determined, putting herself on a path to become a pioneer in her field. However, my admiration faltered when Jennings stole her paper and she simply gave up. It is at this point that the one man who truly believes in her must conquer his own fears to retrieve the paper for its rightful owner. While the romance is sweet and the narrative manages to be quite humorous despite the seriousness of the subject, the heroine's reaction to adversity was a letdown.
Frankly, Kalila allowed herself to be distracted by Oliver, and because of that, she deserved to lose her paper. Even when I fell in love with my husband, I never permitted him to distract me from my professional goals. It is difficult enough to crash into a man’s world without allowing the person you love to derail your focus. Letting them do so ultimately falls on the woman, as it only reinforces the archaic notions of the ton that women are the weaker sex. Women were meant to stand beside men as equals—not above them, and certainly not below them.