Review: The Librarians

This was not good.

I know what you're thinking. The Librarians was written by Sherry Thomas, how can it not be good? 

Folks, trust me - this was not good. I can say with 100% certainty had I tried to read the languishing ARC I had on my Kindle it would have been a DNF. As is, I cannot believe I didn't DNF the audiobook. I have no excuse for this other than it was Sherry Thomas and surely it couldn't be this bad, could it?

Narrator: it was, indeed, that bad.

The story takes place in a suburb of Austin, Texas at a branch library of the Austin Public Library. The staff includes: Sophie, the branch manager, and lesbian single mom; Jonathan, a librarian, former standout high school athlete, former Navy man and gay; Astrid, another librarian who for completely inane reasons presents herself as Swedish, right down a fake accent and Hazel, the new library clerk who used to live in Singapore but moved to Austin to help take care of her grandmother after her husband was arrested for financial shenanigans. 

It's a couple days before Halloween and the library is gearing up for it's first ever game night (as in board games) and it turns out to be a success - that is until after hours that same night, two people are found dead. The first one is Perry, a British man who had a "situationship" with Astrid before he ghosted her and just recently returned to the scene of that crime, and another woman who had attended game night and whose appearance left Sophie (who has plenty to hide...) all spun up. 

The plot doesn't go anywhere for the first 50% of the book. What happens in that first 50%? Basically it's a big ol' character study, complete with shifting points-of-view, internal musings, and a non-linear timeline, complete with flashbacks. Boring. What it is is boring. 

Then at 50% the two dead bodies thing ramps up with enough police pressure that the characters end up sitting down, spilling their various secrets, and decide to play Scooby Doo, without the talking Great Dane bit. I think what Thomas was shooting for here was a Secret Lives of Librarians vibe, but it's all just so boring and clunky. The pop culture references are especially lumpy and egregious. Seriously, don't play a drinking game with this book and Game of Thrones references - you'll be dead from alcohol poisoning before you get to the final chapters.

This could work if you find the characters compelling, but only Jonathan and Hazel manage to elevate themselves to marginally interesting. Sophie is a panicked mess for the entire book and Astrid is so twee you just want to smack her into next Tuesday. Seriously, she fakes being Swedish - it's all just so...stupid. Astrid, girl, you know why you don't have any friends? Because you smell like desperation after it's rolled in a hot mess. And after a while even Jonathan gets to be too much. Look, I bought the former Navy thing but there's a throwaway bit near the end where we find out he was a NAVY EFFIN' SEAL. Y'all, if this guy was a SEAL start calling me Your Majesty because I'm the Queen of England. I'm not saying gay men can't be SEALs, what I am saying is Jonathan as a character carries himself through life with all the confidence of wet tissue paper. He barely carries himself like former military let alone a NAVY EFFIN' SEAL! 

It all turns out right as rain in the end and Thomas even gives readers two romantic storylines, which are nice inclusions but honestly a detriment to the mystery which hinges on a pile of coincidences. As I sit here typing this up I still can't tell you why I didn't DNF this. Honestly, that would make a more compelling mystery.

Final Grade = D

TBR Challenge 2026: Mr. and Mr. Smith

 The Book: Mr. and Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon

The Particulars: Romantic suspense, Penguin Random House Loveswept, 2016, first book in Tough Love trilogy, digital only

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?: I'm not sure I'd classify Dimon as an autobuy (she is an autobuy under her Darby Kane moniker) but I do tend to pick up most of her books. The details are extremely hazy now what with 2016 being 10 years ago (yes, I woke up this morning and chose violence) - but I think this might have been her first foray into writing an m/m romance, a romantic suspense at that. I was intrigued - but still left this languishing in my digital TBR for 10 years because I am not well. 

The Review: I made up my mind long ago that I was going to read something LGBTQ+ for this month's Pride theme and while I try to focus on my print TBR for this challenge, my choices are simply more diverse with options on my Kindle. I went diving in and unearthed this first book in an m/m romantic suspense trilogy that Dimon published with Loveswept 10 years ago. Y'all my TBR is a sickness, truly. However I am happy to report that even though I've done zero eyeball reading since mid-May, I read this story cover to cover in a couple hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's not perfect, but y'all it's a win.

Fisher Braun is a CIA operative whose silent alarm at his secret townhouse has just gone off. When he gets there he finds the place ransacked and his BFF and partner, Nathan March, already on the scene. Who is not on the scene?  Fisher's live-in boyfriend, Zachary Allen - the live-in boyfriend nobody knows about (heck his team in the CIA didn't even know about the second house....). Fisher is in the closet with his coworkers, although turns out it's not much of a secret. Anyway, it becomes apparent rather quickly that Zach has been taken and once Nathan stops busting his balls, he agrees to an impromptu rescue mission.

One small fly in the ointment, Zach isn't who Fisher thinks he is - it's revealed he's in bed with a super secret criminal organization that specializes in kidnapping for hire. This group takes a job, scoops up the victim (dead or alive - depending on the clients' wishes) and gets paid. Someone has hired this group to nab Fisher and Zach was ordered to "get close" to him. Fisher, needless to say, is pretty pissed off about this turn of events, but he's positively incandescent when Zach tries to sell him on the truth - which is that he's actually undercover CIA working to infiltrate this group and went rogue by getting close to Fisher in order to protect him. None of this is spoiler territory by the way, the whole thing is out in the open by the third chapter.

Anyway, bang-bang fists of fury and they escape - but Fisher and Nathan do not believe Zach, whose cover is now officially blown. It's not until they make their way to a safe house, the rest of the team shows up, and Zach's boss arrives that the whole thing spills out into the open. Doesn't change the fact that Fisher is still butt hurt about being lied to - never mind he was also lying to Zach. Semantics, AMIRITE?!

Stylistically this reminded me quite a bit of Dimon's work for Harlequin Intrigue. She doesn't waste any time and hits the ground running. It's an action movie, with that level of character development, in book format. Oh, the reader will get some character development over the course of the story, but it's fairly light in the pants, sprinkled in between gunfire, explosions and sexy bits. Most of the heavy lifting is done in the middle part of the book, when the entire team is stuck in a safe house together trying to figure out how to take down the bad buys. While there's several secondary characters running around, this middle portion takes on a claustrophobic feel similar to a snowed-in cabin vibe and keeps throwing our couple together to work out their problems and acknowledge their fee-fees. Seriously, these two dudes have baggage, but Fisher is especially pig-headed. The book clocks in at category length and that's a good thing - because all the mistrust and stubbornness would have worn me down to the nub had this been a single title.

It's not deep and it's not perfect but like any decent action movie it is entertaining. Also it does a very amiable job of setting up the second book in the series, which I plan on starting next. My reading mojo has been nonexistent and here's a wave coming along to take me out to sea. I'm grabbing my surf board.

Final Grade = B-

Reminder: #TBRChallenge Day is June 17

Hey, so you've probably noticed that this blog has been a dead zone of late - and I have no excuses other than 1) I haven't been reading and 2) Work is kicking my butt into next Tuesday. That's right ladies and gents - it's End Of Fiscal Year Time, which is a big hairy deal for the type of librarian I am. I've now been through this process 12 times with my current employer - which would imply it's gotten easier. Narrator: It has, in fact, not gotten easier. Every year there's some new fresh hell of unexpected shenanigans to throw a wrench in my plans for a low-stress, totally ordered Year End. Hence, my reading being in the toilet. At the end of the day I only seem to have bandwidth for Law & Order reruns and crushing candies. However...

The TBR Challenge waits for no librarian, especially when she's the hostess, and our next Challenge is set for June 17. This month's optional theme is Pride.

This was another suggestion that came out of my annual theme poll and June is Pride month. The obvious choice here would be an LGBTQ+ romance.  Or you could spine this into pride as an emotion - as in a prideful main character. Basically every Harlequin Presents hero ever written 🤣

That said, I can totally relate to the fragile state of reading mojo - and sometimes you just have to go with the book calling your name in the hopes of finding something to lose yourself in for a few hours. If you just want to pick a random book out of your pile and call it good? That's OK! The goal of the Challenge is to read something, anything, that has been languishing.

It's never too late to sign up for the Challenge.  You can learn more about it, and see a list of who is participating, over at the #TBRChallenge 2026 information page.

#TBRChallenge 2026: Gray Hair Don't Care

The Book: Gray Hair Don't Care by Karen Booth

The Particulars: Contemporary romance, Self-published, 2021, Book 1 in Never Too Late series, In Print, Kindle Unlimited for digital (as of when this post went live)

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?: There was a decent amount of chatter in Romancelandia about this book back in 2021, but it mainly ended up in my TBR because at some point in 2022 Booth made it a freebie. Free + her experience in writing category romance (she published quite a few books with Harlequin Desire before that line folded) was enough for me to one-click this bad boy.

The Review: I normally try to focus on my print TBR for the Challenge, but I failed to prepare (typical) and being out of town last week meant a dive into my Kindle to see what I could unearth to fit this month's New Beginnings theme. Folks, this book could not have been more perfect. 

Our story opens with our heroine, 47-year-old make-up artist Lela Bennett - fresh off a divorce she's still a bit fragile over, coming across a wedding in a New York City park. Despite the divorce, Lela is a sucker for weddings and stops to watch. Imagine her surprise when another on-looker to the proceedings is Donovan James, her best friend and unrequited crush from college, when they attended NYU together. Oh, and they slept together once - which turned out to be a bit of a disaster. Donovan ended up marrying his on-again-off-again girlfriend shortly thereafter and slipped out of Lela's life "for reasons."

Donovan is also divorced (three times over...) and is in town for his daughter's college graduation. Echo was the product of Marriage #1, that on-again-off-again girlfriend from his college days. Marrying Genevieve meant cutting ties with Lela, plus he's moved around a lot in the intervening years - so these two literally haven't spoken in 20+ years. They decide to spend the day together and whoopsie doodle - have sex for the second time, only to have Lela blurt out her unrequited feelings for Donovan from all those years ago and this guy runs scared the minute Lela is asleep.

My hero AMIRITE?!

Fast forward 3 years, Lela is now 50 and has completely changed her life. Something broke in her when Donovan slunk out of her apartment after the mind-blowing orgasm. She decided to own her age, went completely gray, and started her own make-up line. She gets word that a lifestyle brand wants to bring her make-up line on board - and it's just the thing that could really launch her. So she meets with the owner only to discover that it's Echo, Donovan's daughter. And who is back in New York helping his daughter with the marketing side of her business? Yep, you guessed it. 

Donovan may have been married three times, but this guy does not do well when it comes to "feelings" - which is why he's been divorced three times and keeps bungling things so badly with Lela. He's completely in love with her (has been for years) but is too dense to figure it out. 50-year-old Lela is strikingly beautiful, with a newfound confidence, but nothing brings out her vulnerability quite like Donovan does. And now here's the universe throwing him back into her orbit. As Lela looks to the future, she keeps getting confronted with her past - will these two crazy kids figure it out the third time around?

The answer, of course, is yes - and this is a well-done, well-paced contemporary romance featuring grown-ups. Oh, they're still a bit messy, but there's not a lot of silly contrivances or big misunderstandings mucking up the works. The main conflict here is Donovan, who is a hot mess when it comes to emotions - feeling them, owning them, you name it - this guy is clueless.  For that reason I felt rather strongly that he didn't remotely deserve Lela for the first 1/3 of this story because Lela is a wonderful heroine. Especially after her disastrous morning after with Donovan when she decides eff all men, I'm growing gray, I'm starting my own make-up line, it's Lela Time!

There's so much Booth does right with this story. Donovan's journey to catching a clue is satisfying. Lela is confident and sexy, but with an underlying streak of vulnerability that makes her extremely appealing. There's Donovan's daughter, Echo, and her fiancé on the cusp of a wedding being planned into submission by Donovan's ex, who is NOT painted as the shrew other woman who back-bites and spares with Lela (thank you sweet baby Jeebus), and Lela's BFF who is getting ready to propose to her girlfriend. All set against a well-done New York City backdrop - I inhaled every word in a greedy gulp.

This was a very well done contemporary romance that kept me entertained on a cross country flight. It's worth a read regardless, but if you're desperate for an "older" romantic couple, you need to drop everything and read this now. Why aren't all romances I pick up for free this good?

Final Grade = B+

May Days: Unusual Historicals for May 2026

 On one hand our crop of Unusual Historicals making their debut in May feels positively hopeful. On the other hand I can't help but wonder if this is the last gasp of "unusual" for the Harlequin Historical line, even though it's not discontinuing until fall of 2027. That line publishes five books a month, and four of them landed in this post. Ah, don't question it Wendy. Just enjoy the bonanza of options and applaud authors for keeping up the good fight even as traditional publishing continues to turn their backs on historicals. I'm hopeful there's still a readership out there, it's just going to take a little elbow grease to bring it all back around. Hence, me doing my very teeny tiny part. Now sit back, relax and enjoy the browsing!

The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George

American heiress Jenny Dove thought a marriage of convenience would solve all her problems, until her heart decided to rewrite the terms…

Jenny Dove has spent her life training to become an opera singer, determined not to repeat her mother’s mistake of sacrificing her career for love. But when her younger sister needs her help, Jenny strikes a daring bargain. To save her sister’s future, she’ll marry a titled gentleman long enough to unlock both their inheritances, then return to Paris to live out her dream.

Lord David Felding, heir to a dukedom and unapologetic rake, has no interest in finding a wife, until Jenny walks into his life with an audacious marriage proposal. She’ll give him one night in her bed in exchange for the protection of his name. It’s supposed to be a simple transaction—no emotions, no complications. But when their wedding night reveals unexpected passion and a startling connection, walking away is anything but easy.

Instead of continuing his roguish life in London, David follows Jenny to Paris—and begins to court his own wife. As their sham marriage deepens into something real, Jenny glimpses the wounded man behind his charm and feels her carefully guarded heart begin to yield. But falling in love means a slow, irresistible unraveling of everything they thought they wanted…and trusting in something neither dared to hope for.

The first two books in The Doves of New York series were published by Penguin Random House, and publishing being what it currently is, they declined this third book, which St. George opted to self-publish (may she be richly rewarded!). Late Victorian / Gilded Age set with an opera singer heroine who strikes a marriage of convenience bargain with a rakish Lord. I've seen some early chatter from folks who scored ARCs and word on the street is that there's plenty of steamy sizzle. 

The Scandalous Lady Mina by Lara Temple

Setting sail with the enemy…

and a reckless temptation!

Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina’s returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy!

Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer Max is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control…

Engineer hero reunites with the heroine, once his friend until she jilted his cousin and fled England on a wave of scandal. Now she's back, along with his attraction towards her - which just will not do. 

Navy Captain's Convenient Wife by Carla Kelly

A favor for the Captain…

A new life as wife and mother?

Battle-worn Captain John Beattie is dealt another blow on his return from Trafalgar. His motherless young son, Allan, has been heartlessly abandoned by those hired to care for him. Required to return immediately to active duty, John throws himself at the mercy of his late friend's sister, Anna Fontaine…

Anna can’t say no—the Captain’s desperate struggle to protect his son and his country touches her gentle heart. But temporarily caring for Allan backfires when rumors threaten unwed Anna’s reputation. Honorable John insists on marriage—but will Anna’s place in his family ever be more than convenient?

Woot! A new Carla Kelly! Navy Captain hero back from Trafalgar discovers the folks caring for his motherless son have abandoned the child. He needs help, and fast, given he's expected to return to active duty. The answer to his prayers? The heroine. Until the rumors kick into high gear and a marriage of convenience is born. 

Fighting for His Forbidden Maiden by Ella Matthews

Finding freedom…

in her prisoner’s arms!

Comtesse Jehanne de Balladur is desperate to avoid marrying a cruel knight. Escaping her father’s French fortress is impossible—until an opportunity arises to flee with an escaping prisoner, a dashing English baron!

Lucan must make it home to his young son. His accomplice, Jehanne, might be enchanting, but with her father, fiancé and the French army chasing them, she’s nothing but trouble! Yet, if they are to survive the journey, he must earn Jehanne’s trust—not easy, as she seems wary of all men. Lucan swore never to complicate duty with emotion, but now the biggest fight on his hands is resisting Jehanne!

Medieval France! Wanting to avoid an undesirable marriage, the heroine escapes her father's fortress with a prisoner, who happens to be an English baron!, in tow. He just wants to get home to his son and having the heroine along for the ride, when her father, fiancé and an army are chasing after them complicates his goal mightily. As does their growing attraction...

Rescued by the Rakish Lord by Sarah Mallory

A man of such dubious reputation…

that he was called Devil Blackbourne!

When Lord Deveril Blackbourne meets Selina Wynter, he is intrigued. For she has all the accomplishments of a lady, but the fiery temper and spirit of a tavern maid! Then she is abducted by a dastardly suitor, and Deveril—for all his roguish reputation—can't stand idly by…

Lord Deveril is Selina’s least likely rescuer, but when they’re stranded together in a snowstorm and her reputation is at risk, he surprises her with a gallant proposal! Deveril’s no honorable suitor, yet his actions say otherwise… Just who is the real Devil Blackbourne? Selina’s determined to find out!

If he doesn't have the nickname of "Devil" are we even reading a historical romance? Late Georgian set, he rescues her from a "suitor" and is rewarded by becoming stranded in a snowstorm with her. I mean, whatever shall they do? 

The Lawman's Fiery Pugilist by Nicki Pascarella

One feminine fist to his nose and his heart would never be the same.

Five years ago, a beautiful pugilist broke Bow Street Runner Edward Robinson’s nose and stole his heart. When someone tries to burn down her new gymnasium, he shows up ready to lend assistance.

Not only has someone tried to burn down Frances Valentine’s business and injured her loved ones, but an infuriatingly arrogant man she wants nothing to do with has also inserted himself in her life and she can’t seem to get rid of him.

Sparks sizzle and romance blooms as the unlikely couple battle their dangerous enemies to save The Silk Knuckles Saloon.

He's a Bow Street Runner and five years ago she broke his nose. If that isn't he start of true love nothing is! They're reunited when someone tries to burn down her gym. This is the first book in a new series about Regency era female pugilists.

Favors from a Gentleman by Lauren M. Hayworth

Duty is her strength . . .

Sophie St. Quinton’s life did not end when her brother died, but her purpose for living diminished considerably: marry a nobleman to protect the family estate and ease her parents’ worries. Armed with wit, beauty, and a charitable heart, Sophie expects the task will be simple—until a ghostly reminder of the past resurfaces to rattle her world. She will stop at nothing, not even blackmailing the handsome stranger she just met, to bid her brother farewell one last time.

And his worst enemy . . .

Merchants’ sons are not welcomed in polite society, but Rafe Balfour elbows his way in for the same reason he does all things—to do the bidding of his tyrannical father. If his loyalty proves successful one last time, he’ll earn his long-sought independence. But when his secrets land him in a dark room and a second stint in servitude with a beautiful woman far above his touch, the effect could be disastrous.

What begins as a threat to their goals soon expands to more: a threat to duty, to decency, and to two grieving hearts that promised never to risk love.

He's a merchant's son well aware of his place in society (which is to say, nowhere) and she's her family's last hope since her fool brother, the heir, got himself killed after joining the Navy. This is being marketed as "perfect for fans of Meredith Duran and Cecilia Grant" which is a tall order - but certainly does intrigue. 

Whispers and Spies by Sheridan Jeane

To stop a conspiracy, they must become lovers. To survive it, they must become partners.

The Black Rose Society is plotting treason, and the Crown needs agents inside. Lady Helena Ashford—diplomat's daughter, brilliant observer, and keeper of too many secrets—is the perfect choice. But infiltrating the Society's inner circle requires the one thing she's never had to fake before: a devoted fiancé.

Enter Major James Westwood, a war-scarred soldier with ghosts he can't outrun and a limp that reminds him daily of the men he failed to save. He'll play Helena's devoted fiancé. He'll charm Society matrons and infiltrate treasonous gatherings. What he won't do is fall for a woman who deserves far better than a broken soldier with nothing left to lose.

But as Helena and James wade deeper into the conspiracy—navigating masked balls, decoding secret meetings, and dodging the Society's suspicions—their pretend devotion starts feeling dangerously real. The Raven, the Society's enigmatic leader, is planning something catastrophic: the assassination of a Crown diplomat that could plunge Britain into chaos.

Racing against time, Helena and James must unmask the traitor before the Society strikes. But in a world where one wrong move means exposure and death, the greatest danger isn't the conspiracy they're hunting—it's the feelings they can no longer deny.

This is being marketed as a mystery, but there's enough of a whiff of romance in the blurb that I'm including it. It's also the first book in The Shadow of the Black Rose series. She's a diplomat's daughter and the perfect choice to ferret out a treasonous plot - but a fake fiancé would go a long way in helping keep her cover from getting blown. Enter our hero, a war-scarred soldier with plenty of ghosts and a limp to remind him of his various failures. 

A Secret Elixir by Katherine Lyons

By day, Janelle Caddick is the perfect baron's daughter—elegant, demure, and newly engaged to the powerful Lord Benedict. By night, she becomes Betty Gill, a skilled midwife slipping through London's tenements to deliver babies in places where no respectable lady would go. She's kept her dangerous double life hidden for years, until Major Gabriel Vance is assigned as her bodyguard.

Gabriel is Lord Benedict's right-hand man. When he discovers Janelle sneaking around, he expects scandal. What he finds instead is a woman risking everything to save lives that society has deemed unworthy.

Now Gabriel must choose: destroy Janelle by exposing her secret or protect her from dangers she can’t even see. Worse, the more time he spends guarding her, the harder it becomes to remember she belongs to his closest friend.

As Janelle fights to save mothers and babies, Gabriel fights his growing feelings for a woman he can never have. And Lord Benedict watches them both, hiding secrets of his own—secrets that could either shatter their world or forge something far more extraordinary than any of them dared to imagine.

In Regency London, a lady's reputation is everything. But some secrets are worth protecting... and some loves are worth every risk.

This is the fourth book in My Lady's Potions series and features a baron's daughter who has a secret life as a midwife. She's been successful at keeping her secret for years, until he fiancé hires her a bodyguard....

Laird of Storms by Susan King (Reprint)

On the misty Hebridean Isle of Caransay, legend holds that when a kelpie, a sea-god who can take the form of a man, claims a bride on a sea rock, the isle will be blessed with great fortune. Honoring the ancient tradition one stormy night, Meg MacNeill expects nothing eventful–until she is swept into the arms of the handsome stranger who rises from the waves. When danger and passion both vanish with the dawn, Meg is left with a powerful memory–and a secret.

Seven years later, Dougal Stewart returns to the isle where he was once a castaway in a storm. Now a brilliant engineer and deep-sea diver assigned to build a lighthouse on the very rock that changed his life, his only obstacle is the wealthy baroness who fiercely opposes his plans. Soon Dougal discovers that the proud baroness is the mysterious girl who once saved his life and stole his heart—and the golden-haired child by her side is his son. To protect her child and the people of her island from unwanted change, Meg must keep her secrets, knowing that Stewart once claimed her heart and soul, then betrayed her . . .

Originally published as Taming the Heiress by Signet in 2003, this reprint features newly added content. Mid-Victorian Scotland, legends, plenty of secrets (namely, a son!) and a hero assigned to build a lighthouse. What romance reader worth their salt doesn't love a lighthouse?!

How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley

Despite their village's wild, insistent rumors, middle sister Freya MacLeod is no more a witch than her extraordinary siblings. Quiet and observant, she can't control the weather—although her magnificently skilled drawings often predict it. But now a very different sort of storm has besieged their home of Castle Cairncross. When Freya’s fearless younger sister disappears and is accused of murder, Freya is determined to prove her innocence—and bring her back. That means matching wits with a warrior—no matter how dangerous he may be . . .

A reluctant laird, Callum is glad to escape his clan’s intrigues. But helping to protect Castle Cairncross as a favor to a friend is far more difficult than he thought. Especially when the seemingly timid Freya eludes him, his battle-honed instincts—and enrages the village into putting a bounty on both their heads . . .

As they flee, Freya is stunned to see how caring—and vulnerable—Callum can be. . . . But he must keep his growing feelings for her hidden in order to honor a secret promise to his clan. Yet as their peril increases, they may find that battling side-by-side will uncover something more precious than gold . . .

Set in Georgian Scotland, the heroine's biggest problem used to be that everyone thought she and her sisters were witches. Well, now her younger sister has vanished and is being accused of murder. Proving her innocence means teaming up with the hero, a reluctant laird who has been tasked with protecting Castle Cairncross, only to find himself fleeing with the heroine when the village fully turns on them. This is the second book in the Cairncross Castle trilogy. 

Tangled Up in Tartan by Matilda Madison

Jane Atherton and her sister Cora have been turned out by their half-brother and sent to live with their deceased mother’s family in Scotland. But upon their arrival they learn a terrible family secret that leaves them disinherited. But all is not lost. Mrs. Milton, mother to millionaire Samuel Milton needs a secretary, and Jane is perfect for the job.

Samuel Milton is on a mission. Having grown up poor, he believes he can change the world for the better by building a state of the art hospital in his beloved Glasgow. But to do so, he needs to get support for the latest reform bill. While Jane is the perfect hostess for Samuel’s guest, he can’t concentrate whenever she’s in the room.

As Jane and Samuel work side by side, they grow closer as an underlying passion begins to bubble just below the surface. But Samuel is a man of principles, and he won’t take advantage of his position as Jane’s employer. Though Jane has been warned her entire life not to trust men, she can’t help but fall for Samuel, who slowly chips away at her fears.

Turned out by her half-brother, the heroine learns upon her arrival in Scotland that she and her sister are disinherited. Luckily she soon secures employment as a secretary and enters the orbit of our hero, determined to build a hospital in Glasgow, and while our heroine might be the perfect hostess to help him wine and dine politicians, she's mighty distracting. This is the fourth book in the Seduced in Scotland series.  

When Jack Fell by Anna Valleria

A stolen kiss, a family secret, and a second chance at love in Victorian London.

Jillian was always the wild thing.

The daughter of the notorious Bad Baron Beckforth, a girl with racing thoughts and a heart too big for her father’s cruelty and crumbling estate. Her only sanctuary was her childhood best friend, John Longley, the future Marquess of Camborne.

But when a May Day kiss under the fireworks turns into a nightmare of murder and accusation, Jillian’s world shatters. Her brother is branded a killer, and Jillian is forced to flee into a marriage of convenience in a distant land, led to believe that a man of John’s station would only ever have her as a mistress.

Years later, Jillian returns as a widow, hardened by loss and convinced she is an albatross who brings only sorrow to those she loves. John, now a powerful shipping magnate, has never stopped looking for her. Driven by a promise to clear her brother’s name, he finds that the girl he loved is now a woman shrouded in mystery.

From the treacherous ballrooms of the ton to the bustling docks of Gibraltar and a mysterious volcanic island, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. But as the shadows of the past threaten to sink them both, Jillian must decide: is she destined to bring only ruin, or is John the stopping place her heart has always craved?

Torn apart when they were younger, our heroine returns to England as a widow and our hero has made himself over into a shipping magnate. She's determined to clear her brother's name and he's confronted by a woman markedly different from the girl he once knew. Settings include Gibraltar (!) and "a mysterious volcanic island" so expect these two to set sail as they search for the truth.  First in the Lords Fall First series.

Merciful Surrender by Violetta Rand

A woman who prayed for a hero… and found her enemy instead.

Orphaned young and left to fend for herself in a harsh and unforgiving England, Rachelle Fiennes has long dreamed of rescue. When her only surviving kinsman vanishes in the wake of the Battle of Stamford Bridge, she defies fear—and propriety—to search the blood-soaked battlefield herself.

A warrior cursed to survive…

Jarl Tyr Sigurdsson should have died with his men. Branded by guilt and haunted by the gods’ cruel favor, he hides among the fallen, waiting for nightfall to make his escape. But when a bold and determined Saxon woman discovers him, his fate takes an unexpected turn.

Bound by necessity, divided by bloodshed…

With enemies on every side, Rachelle and Tyr are forced into an uneasy alliance—one that soon ignites into something far more dangerous than war. As vengeance, loyalty, and desire collide, they must decide if love is worth betraying everything they’ve ever known…

Or if some wounds—and some wars—can never truly end.

Second in the Heart of a Viking series, our heroine resorts to searching a bloody battlefield to look for her only surviving kinsman, and instead meets the hero, essentially playing dead among his fallen men to make his escape come nightfall. Desperate times make for strange bedfellows...

A Bride for Griffin by Jacqui Nelson

Can a sister who’s lost her voice find harmony with the right man?

Singing with her sisters was Wren’s refuge until they tried to flee their sadistic troupe manager, who retaliated by choking her until he crushed her voice. She only survived because a huge Welshman, with a personality as fiery as his red hair, taught her how to fight. She’s dreamed of sharing a future with him—if she can alter his misconceptions about both of them. Can she convince him they belong together, or is she destined to a silent life alone?

Working with his two brothers to raise their younger sister was Griffin Llewellyn’s purpose until all three of his siblings got married in the space of a month, leaving him alone to safeguard the woman he’s dreamed of marrying. But he can’t because she’s lived a life of oppression, only asked for his help, and he’s vowed to protect her from every threat, including himself. Can he save her from his temper and the violence that first fractured his family, or will he be her ultimate downfall?

A western (!) and third book in the Songbird Junction series. The first two books were published in 2019 and 2020 - so there's been a bit of a wait for this final book about singing sisters fleeing a villainous manager. Our hero is the last single man among his brothers, and despite being in love with the heroine, he has vowed to protect her - and that includes from himself. 

Whew! Fifteen books for May and I feel like I just ran a marathon getting this post written. What books are you looking forward to?

Reminder: #TBRChallenge Day is May 20

I have a knack for scheduling time off in advance at The Day Job, only to discover that when the time comes, it's the absolute worst possible time for me to be away from the office. Oh well, there's nothing for it, and by the time this post goes live I'll be packing up and flying back to reality after enjoying a week visiting family in lovely Michigan. Did I think about the TBR Challenge before I left on my trip? Of course not, which means a dumpster dive into my Kindle to find something suitable for our next Challenge, which is set for May 20. This month's optional theme is New Beginnings.

This was another suggestion that came out of my annual theme poll and there's a lot of flexibility with this one!  Some ideas off the top of my head - Second chance, starting over or marriage in trouble tropes, characters coming off bad relationships / jobs / family situations, or the first book in a series.

That said, if you don't feel like digging or twisting this theme into a pretzel, remember the themes are completely optional.  If you just want to pick a random book out of your pile and call it good? That's OK! The goal of the Challenge is to read something, anything, that has been languishing.

It's never too late to sign up for the Challenge.  You can learn more about it, and see a list of who is participating, over at the #TBRChallenge 2026 information page.

Review: How to Wed a Courtesan

When it comes to romance my top two pet peeves are 1) Fated Mates and 2) Cop-Out Endings. Fated Mates is pretty self-explanatory (free will is sexy, I'll die on that hill). Cop-Out Endings as I define them are endings when the conflict, the same conflict that the couple has been fighting tooth-and-nail to overcome to get to the hard-fought happy ending is hand-waved away, washing away all the angsty-goodness that came before.

Lord above, I hate a Cop-Out Ending and the last two chapters of How To Wed a Courtesan by Madeline Martin irritated me no end. 

The timeline of the story hops around a bit, but for all intents and purposes, the story begins in 1809 when Charlotte "Lottie" Rossington makes the acquaintance of Evander, Baron Murray at a ball in Bedfordshire. How did Lottie, the daughter of a poor country vicar, score an invite? Because she's friends with Charles, Duke of Somerville (see first book in series), whose country manor is in tiny Binsey where Lottie and her father live. They were childhood playmates and have remained friends.  Evander and Charles are friends, and when Evander is introduced to Lottie he's immediately smitten.

What follows is a courtship and a proposal, never mind Lottie's father opposes Evander even courting his daughter. Gretna Green is in their future, until just as they begin to make plans, Evander's father dies and he's now the Earl of Westix. Even more troublesome? Dear Old Dad left the coffers bare. Evander can't very well wed Lottie as a pauper, so he sets plans in motion to head overseas to make money. He promises Lottie he'll only be gone 6 months to 1 year. She begs him not to leave. 

Four years later....

Evander returns to London filthy stinking rich and Lottie, the poor vicar's daughter, became a courtesan. She didn't have much of a choice. Her father died shortly after Evander took off and nobody was going to hire her as a governess without references. That led to work in an opera house, which then led to being a courtesan. She has since gotten out of that life thanks, in part, to Evander's mother of all people. Lottie now schools young ladies in the art of seduction and snagging a man - although in reality it's more like lessons in confidence and self-worth with some matchmaking thrown in on the side. 

Evander is still besotted and determined to wed Lottie. Lottie is, quite frankly, pissed. Four years and no letters. In reality Evander, gem that he is, wrote her TWO LETTERS (LIKE WTF DUDE?!) that never got to her because, see dead father, becoming a courtesan yada yada yada. But, fool that she is, she still loves him. What's standing in their way? Her unresolved rage at him (there's a lot of backstory related to her becoming a courtesan) and the fact that her reputation is in tatters. A courtesan does not wed an Earl. It just is not done. 

What follows is Evander persistence in love-bombing Lottie (weekly hot house flowers, among other things) and Lottie opening up to him about what her life truly became while he was off making a fortune that she never truly wanted or asked for in the first place. We've got her grief and his pride, and there are more than a few scenes in this book that damn near ripped my guts out.

So where does it all go wrong? Lottie's reputation. Look, here's the thing - these two have a legit, true blue circle of friends. Certainly there will be corners of upper crust society that will always snub Lottie and look down their nose at her, but ultimately these two are not friendless. Their family members aren't friendless. So who gives a flying fig if some small minded folks snub you? These two would never truly be cast out into the wilderness.  And yet? That's not enough apparently because soon a Big Secret comes to light that makes it all right as rain. Was it sort of fun to see snobs get their commuppance? I mean, a little I guess. But it's so unnecessary and sweeps all the conflict and challenges that preceded the revelation completely aside. I mean, why did I read this book and struggle along with these fictional characters if you're just going to hand wave it away in the end? Ugh.

I think most romance readers can read between the lines here because these sorts of Cop-Out Endings are fairly common in historical romance. It is why, to this day, when readers rejoice in their love for The Proposition by Judith Ivory my lip immediately curls (no amount of beautiful writing makes up for that travesty of an ending, says me)

A book that was easily going to land in my B range (OMG, so much angsty goodness!) immediately ran right off the cliff like a horde of lemmings with that ending. What a disappointment.

Final Grace = C-