#TBRChallenge 2025: Snowed In

The Book: Snowed In by Jenna Bayley-Burke

The Particulars: Contemporary romance, St. Martin's Press Swerve, 2016, Digital only, Book 2 in More Than Friends duet

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?: It's a long buried ARC that time forgot that I unearthed on my Kindle. My best guess? It was an impulse download from NetGalley because I got sucked in by the blurb. As one does.

The Review: I normally like to focus on my print TBR for the Challenge but for this month's New Year, Who Dis? theme I thought it would be good to unearth a random (ancient) ARC from my Kindle by an author I haven't read before. And since time was of the essence, I wanted something category length.  

Marissa Clarke is not that far removed from college and is a burgeoning event planner. She's at her BFF's wedding and like a dope, she let one of their sorority sisters crash in her hotel room when she RSVP'ed at the last minute. Anyway, now Christa is hooking up with a former college "boyfriend" and has essentially kicked Marissa out of her own hotel room. Riding to her rescue is Scott Zimmerman (the blurb names him as Scott Parker but my ARC and the author's afterward say Zimmerman - so way to go St. Martin's copy editors...). Marissa and Scott were friends in college, or so she thought. He was a member of the basketball team, the same team her fiancé was the star player on. Turns out he was a player in more ways than one, cheating on her whenever he was "on the road" and dumping her mere hours before they were set to get married. Marissa was shattered and in the aftermath put some blame on Scott for not giving her a heads up.

Scott realizes he was a first class shit for not telling Marissa her fiancé was a scumbag, but it was complicated. Namely because him squealing would have fractured the team dynamic (not something to take lightly in college sports) and because he's always been more than half in love with her. Well now they're both at this wedding and he decides to shoot his shot. Helping him out in that department? Besides Christa's hormones? Mother nature. He offers her a place to stay (his cabin) after she gets kicked out of her hotel room and showing up shortly after they do? A snow storm. The kind that knocks out power and closes roads.

This starts out pretty great, the getting kicked out of your hotel room by a horndog "friend" is just the kind of thing that could happen when not-far-removed-from-college friends get together. Also the whole wedding hook-up thing is just a fact of life.  Unfortunately the whole thing runs very hot and cold after that - namely the heroine. One minute she's prudish, the next she wants to climb the hero like a jungle gym. I'm talking practically salivating to the point of drooling. He keeps pumping the brakes because he wants "more" but eventually they succumb and the tissue-thin plot is propped up by a bunch of filler sex scenes. I'm talking a lot of sex. And it's only a 200 page book. 

Once the roads are cleared the author then gets back to some actual conflict. Unfortunately that conflict is entirely Heroine Being Stubborn. Scott is definitely pushing for more and, understandably, Marissa's not ready. She already once twisted herself into a pretzel so her life revolved around a man, and that ended in a spectacular disaster. Nope, she's not doing it again. But here's the thing - is that really what she would be doing? Now that her friend and roommate is married, she can't afford the rent on her own in Portland, Oregon. She has an OK job, but her chances for promotion are stuck behind a boss who needs to leave first. The friend spiffs up her resume and sends it to two places in Bend, Oregon (where she, her new husband and Scott all live). Both jobs want her, pay more, and would be a promotion over what she's doing now. But somehow she sees that as "I'm not uprooting my life for Scott who may break my heart even though I'm crazy about him." 

Child, please.

Your BFF lives in town. You've got two job offers that would be a major step up in responsibility, as well as financially. So bloody what if it doesn't work out with Scott?! The author tries to prop this up a bit more by giving Marissa working class parents who have always struggled to get by but that doesn't negate the fact that both jobs in Bend want her, pay more, and would be promotions. Take a flier girl - there's literally nothing keeping you in Portland.

Eventually she comes around but she still wants to pump the brakes with Scott. Yes, they had crazy, wild monkey sex but she wants to get her own place and to actually "date" him. He, of course, gets a little butthurt. While she is stubborn for the sake of being stubborn, he is a railroading hero (my least favorite kind of hero...). Frankly I was annoyed with both of them in equal measure before we even got to the ending.

If you're looking for a snowed in trope with a lot of sex, look no further. This book has both. But I'm well into my Tired Old Sea Hag Era of Romance Reading, and frankly that's just not enough for me anymore. 

Final Grade = C

Review: Echo

Tracy Clark is one of my favorite mystery/suspense authors working today and Echo is the third book in her Harriet Foster series. This is also the first book in the series that I don't think stands alone all that well, since there's a secondary plot thread that was first introduced in the previous book, Fall.

Detective Harriet Foster and her colleagues in the Chicago PD just recently wrapped up the case of the murdered aldermen (see previous book) when they catch another hot one. They're called to Hardwicke House, a fraternity-like house at Belverton College and home to the exclusive "Minotaur Society." Their victim is Brice Collier, a legacy and the son of Sebastian Collier, a billionaire and major benefactor of the school (more than one building is named after him). 

The whole thing stinks from the jump. There was a party at Hardwicke House, a semi-regular occurrence that the university turned the other way on because of course they would. Brice was found dead in a field, often used as a campus shortcut, by two girls who seem to be hiding something, and it soon becomes apparent that Brice's death looks suspiciously like a hazing incident that happened 30 years ago at Hardwicke House - and who was at the center of that incident? Sebastian Collier - a man who is in Geneva and not rushing back to Chicago, never mind his only child is dead. Instead he's got a hired ghoul by the name of Lange (just Lange) lurking around.

On top of all this Harriet has her own troubles, namely a shadowy figure blackmailing her with threats against her former partner's widower and children. Harriet is a good cop, so naturally goes to Internal Affairs, only to get word through her chief that IA is sweeping the whole thing under the rug. That doesn't sit right with Harriet, not only because Glynnis's name is being dragged through the mud, but also because this bad guy isn't going away and his threats are escalating. Who is he, what does he want and what is his end game?

With this book Clark explores the idea of justice by any means necessary and vengeance. Raw, cold vengeance given the perfect backdrop of a Chicago winter. If nothing else Clark knows Chicago and she continues to nail the winter weather. The plot follows the old adage of the sins of the father being visited upon the son, and the thriller tagline on this series is intentional. There are a few instances where the reader is privy to information before Harriet and her colleagues are clued in.

The Collier homicide, the motive and the fallout are all compelling. Clark has given readers rich, privileged asshole victims in the last two books, partly because I think she's reading the room but also it allows her to spin interesting webs.  The Collier storyline is pretty straight-forward, until it isn't, and the author throws in some twists and thrills for the final chapters.

The shadowy blackmailer plot is a little thinner. To say more about how it connects to the overall story would be a spoiler, and from that standpoint I understand what the author was shooting for, but it still read like she didn't have enough of either plot to write two books so she smooshed them both in here. It gave the book a disjointed feel at times, and while I do think the author tips her hand on the resolution to this thread, she doesn't spell it out in minute detail. I won't go so far as to say it's "unanswered" because I know what I think happens to the bad guy - but mileage may vary.

I didn't like this one quite as much as other books by Clark but it was still an entertaining read and I happily flipped the pages. Also, while I'm desperate for her to get back to her Cassandra Raines series, looks like Amazon is on board for more Harriet.  There's already a placeholder for a Book 4, due out in December 2025.

Final Grade = B

Reminder: #TBRChallenge Day is January 15

Here we are, Happy 2025 and the start of another #TBRChallenge! Our inaugural #TBRChallenge day is set for Wednesday, January 15 and our theme is New Year, Who Dis?

This suggestion came out of my annual theme poll, and is a good one to kick off our reading year.  Some suggestions on which direction you can take this theme include a new-to-you author, an author's debut, or maybe a character looking for a "fresh start." As always, letting your imagination run wild with the themes is welcome and encouraged.

However, remember the themes are completely optional. If this all sounds like too much work and you'd rather blindly reach for a random book in my pile, go to work!  Remember our goal with this challenge is always to read something, anything, that has been languishing in her your TBR piles.

Also, a reminder that it's not too late to sign-up for the Challenge (fun fact: it's never too late to sign up!).  For more details and for a list of participants, you can check out the 2025 #TBRChallenge page.

Reading Year In Review 2024

2024 was a year. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, or the fact that I haven't really unpacked any baggage from the pandemic, or maybe I'm in recovery from another busy year at work, or maybe it's the fact that I spent all of 2024 dealing with medical nonsense related to my newly diagnosed bouncing baby hiatal hernia - but I'm kind of ready to kick Old Man 2024 to the curb. I'm hoping for better things in 2025, namely surgery to fix the hernia, some travel, and seeing my niece, Lemon Drop, compete in a major equestrian event. I also hope for fewer slumps, more reading in 2025, and a renewed plan to tackle my obscene backlog of neglected ARCs. Hope springs eternal after all!

My reading goal every year is always to get through 100 books. Well, this year I stalled out at 78, which all things considered, I'm fine with. My reading this past year came in two speeds: either not reading a single word for weeks at a time or inhaling an entire book in one sitting. There was very little in between. In 2025 I'm hoping to get more "in between." Here's how my grading broke down for the 78 books I did get to:

A Grades = 8

B Grades = 26

C Grades = 25

D Grades = 13

F Grades = 1

DNF = 5

That's a good number of A grades for me, but I don't know about you all - when my B and C books are in a dead heat I'm always a little depressed.  I'd rather read "good" than "meh, it was OK" any day of the week, but that's how things landed this year. Also, an F grade is rare for me because I'll normally DNF instead, but what can I say? I got sucked into a "hate listen" audiobook against my better judgement. Less of that next year Wendy!

I tend to draft these Year in Review posts in a manner that my reading kind of dictates, so I'm going to start with the books I really loved and move through to some of the memorable that stuck with me. 

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown (2021) - Historical suspense, romantic elements - At over 500 pages, this slow burn suspense with romantic elements centering around illegal moonshining in Prohibition-era Texas hooked me but good. A number of trigger warnings but amazing world-building - once I started I didn't want to come up for air.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (2024) - Contemporary romance - A romance that hinges mightily on the fake relationship trope but doesn't fall into the trap of having the trope do the heavy lifting for conflict. Nice depiction of small town librarianship and two damaged people falling in love was pure Wendy catnip. I started it thinking to read a couple chapters before bed and stayed up until 3:00 AM to finish it. 

The Collective by Alison Gaylin (2021) - Contemporary suspense - Gaylin is the best suspense author y'all aren't reading.  This book is a breathtaking example of writing emotion, in this case those emotions being grief and rage. Her teenage daughter raped and left for dead after a fraternity party, the heroine can't get past that the killer continues to live his best life - and then she falls into a vigilante group masquerading as a support group. I couldn't put it down and it's got the mother of all twists at the end.

Never Look Back by Alison Gaylin (2019) - Contemporary suspense - Told in duel timelines between the 1970s and present-day, the heroine is confronted by a journalist who suspects her apple pie, milk and cookies mother is the presumed dead girl who went on a crime spree with her teenage boyfriend back in the 1970s.  I loved the dual timelines in this one and the fact that the author takes twists and turns with this story that kept me on my reading toes.

Blind to Midnight by Reed Farrel Coleman (2024) - Contemporary suspense - Coleman writes about New York City the way I like to read it, dark, gritty and problematic as hell. A "fixer" for the NYPD is tasked by his shadowy bosses to look into the only unsolved murder from 9/11 - instead he gets tangled up in the execution-style murder of a family friend. Recommended for those who are OK with books with no heroes or who wish we could keep Lawrence Block alive forever.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth (2024) - Contemporary suspense - Three emotionally damaged women, sisters thanks to their time in the same horrific foster care situation, are called back "home" when the body of a young child is found on the property.  Hepworth could teach a master class in writing tension, and it drips off the page here. I wanted a tidier ending, but holy hell can this woman write.

Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself by Crystal Hefner (2024) - Memoir - I'm not a Playboy fan nor did I watch the Girls Next Door reality series back in the day, but Hefner tells her story with honesty and such raw vulnerability that I was instantly reminded of how gross the early 2000s were for women. I finished this book feeling quite strongly about the motives Hefner had for finally writing this book - namely to help other young women who are just as lost as she once was. 

Circle in the Water by Marcia Muller (2024) - Contemporary mystery - Muller created her female private investigator, Sharon McCone, back in 1977 and readers have followed her adventures over the course of 35 books and several short stories. I started reading this series in high school and my nostalgia runs deep. Over the years Sharon has chased down leads through the streets of San Francisco, made friends, left her job, started her own business, had a few boyfriends and eventually got married. By all accounts this is her final hurrah. I'm likely never going to meet Muller in real life, but if I did I'd thank her for everything.

Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket by Laura Levine (2024) - Contemporary cozy mystery - The 20th book in the Jaine Austen (no relation) cozy mystery series was also the character's send off. No more dating disasters, no more wacky emails from her parents living in a Florida retirement community, no more Prozac the cat. Has this series been problematic over the years? Yes. Have I gotten more than a few laughs from it? Also, yes. And what made my genre-lovin' heart sing? The author sends Jaine off with a very appropriate happy ending.

Expecting a Royal Scandal by Caitlin Crews (2016) - Harlequin Presents #3438 - Come for the delicious banter between the romantic couple stay for the truly bananapants elements, including a thrice-married heroine who is somehow still magically a virgin. Y'all do I always love Crews' work in Presents? No. But that woman leans in HARD on the bananapants and I defy anyone to be bored. 

The Spaniard's Last Minute Wife by Caitlin Crews (2023) - Harlequin Presents #4139 - A librarian heroine from the Midwest who finds herself inexplicably wed to a Spanish billionaire when she crashes his Lake Como wedding. It defies logic, it's patently absurd, but ask me if I was bothered? I was, in fact, not bothered. Compulsively readable in that way only well-executed Presents can be.

A Treasure Worth Seeking by Sandra Brown (1982) - Candlelight Ecstasy #59 - Edited by the legendary Vivian Stephens, this book has an opening chapter that has to be read to be believed. The heroine shows up on the doorstep of her long lost brother and the man who answers the door, the man she thinks is her brother, ends up planting the mother of all smoldering kisses on her. From there the bananapants doesn't let up - it's quite literally an everything and the kitchen sink romance. 

The Rana Look by Sandra Brown (1986) - Loveswept #136 - A former supermodel starts a new life in Galveston, Texas and disguises herself as a dowdy spinster to fly under the radar.  Then her landlady's nephew, an NFL quarterback moves in. Problematic in that special mid-1980s kind of way but worth the read if only for the delicious dressing down the heroine gives the hero in Chapter 3. Seriously, Chapter 3 is magic.

Parting Gifts by Lorraine Heath (1994) - Historical western romance - A desperate heroine ready to sell her virginity to the highest bidder at a brothel is rescued by a terminally ill man who wants to leave his children with a mother. What nobody ever tells you about this book that I do? The terminally ill man lives for the vast majority of the book while the heroine and her brother-in-law get pants feelings for each other. It'll raise an eyebrow but damn if it won't make you cry.

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2006) - Historical Georgian romance - Honestly the bits with the brothel could have landed this one under bananapants, and yes it's wacky, but damn if I didn't inhale this book in one greedy gulp. Widowed heroine in desperate need of a job becomes the grumpy hero's secretary. Beauty and the Beast meets Grumpy/Sunshine meets Hero Has A Magic Wang. Toss in an amiable dog of indeterminate pedigree who goes nameless until the heroine browbeats the hero and I was charmed.

Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown (2023) - Contemporary romantic suspense - Brown takes the big risk of centering this story around a mass shooting where the heroine's toddler is killed. The hero was a hero that day, but prior to that this guy is a real son-of-a-bitch. They're drawn together by tragedy and find themselves in danger when the cops realize that the suicide on the scene was not the killer, but another victim. Brown reminded me of how great a standalone romantic suspense novel could be and hot damn, what a storyteller! What a pro!

Nobody's Sweetheart Now by Maggie Robinson (2018) - Historical mystery - Pure delight from start to finish. Heroine hosting a country house party is thrown for a loop when her neighbor's estranged wife is found dead in her barn and the ghost of her dead, profligate, husband starts to haunt her. A fun little mystery with a soupçon of romance between the heroine and the police inspector assigned to the case.

The Scandalous Spinster by Alyxandra Harvey (2024) - Historical romance - Look, it's not perfect, but it's been a dog's age since I've been this excited by a new-to-me historical romance author and desperately looking forward to more books in the series. Heroine who works for a secret society infiltrates a notorious house party to find a missing comrade. The hero, a former sailor, is along for the ride to offer assistance and protection. I enjoyed the sizzle of romantic tension and there's a nice little mystery.

It wasn't exactly a boon year for quantity, but looking back the quality was there. As I get older I realize the actual "final grade" of a book doesn't matter so much as how memorable the reading experience was for me and how long a story sticks around after I finish it. I hope you all found memorable reads this past year and here's to many more in 2025!

Review: Tudor Christmas Tidings

 I have been in a dreadful reading slump. How dreadful? I started Tudor Christmas Tidings back in early November and finally finished it on December 29. That dreadful. Is it the book's fault? Not entirely. I mean it's not bad, but it also didn't help my situation at all either.

This anthology kicks off with the late Blythe Gifford's Christmas at Court. I have enjoyed several of Gifford's full-length historical romances, she really had a way of infusing history into her romances that I always appreciated.  Unfortunately the short format here does her no favors. This story is mostly political intrigue not given enough room to breathe with a teaspoon of romance that never takes off because I never felt invested in the couple either separately or together.

The story is set after the young princes "disappear" and Richard III is King. Lady Alice is our heroine and her family is working in concert with a rebellion to have Henry Tudor (future Henry VII) claim the throne by marrying Elizabeth of York. Part of the scheme involves Lady Alice becoming betrothed to Sir John Talbot.

That's pretty much it and I confess I couldn't figure out why the Alice-John marriage was so reliant on whether Henry married Elizabeth. Also the whole "romance" consists of Alice and John not sure if they can trust each other because they have to act like they're loyal to Richard, even though they're not, but they also can't tell the other that because what if the other one IS loyal to Richard. The short word count means neither the romance nor the political intrigue have room to grow and it comes off convoluted. 

Final Grade = D

Secrets of the Queen's Lady by Jenni Fletcher was by no means perfect, but after slogging through politics it was nice to get back to a story that was mainly romance, even though Anne of Cleves is the main secondary character.

Pippa is a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves who has since been divorced by Henry VIII and living quietly in the country. Landing on their doorstep is Kit, a diplomat, who is delivering a message that Henry wishes for Anne to join the court for the Christmas holiday.  Kit met Pippa years ago and was besotted, despite the fact that she was married. Now widowed, he sees an opening, but he's unaware that despite what everyone may think, Pippa's marriage was not a happy one. Her husband became emotionally abusive due to her in ability to get pregnant.  Needless to say Pippa has no desire to marry ever again, and besides - Kit is 7 years younger than she is, and even though he's not the heir, his political animal of an older brother is determined that Kit do his familial duty. Marry well, keep the future Mrs. pregnant and squirting out babies.

Kit's a rather enlightened hero for the times, and while his lack of concern about being disowned by his family raised an eyebrow, it helps that he's not a fan of court, Henry's tendency to discard wives, nor his brother's machinations. Our Kit wants a different sort of life. Still, during this period family and loyalty were kind of, well, everything. Pippa is ready to tar and feather Kit with the same brush as her husband - which I can understand better here than in other romances because a woman's ability to procreate was pretty much her sole reason for existing during this time period (and future time periods...). It wasn't perfect but it was quick, readable and heavy on the romance.

Final Grade = B-

The anthology ends with His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe, which is set during that period when Queen Mary was "pregnant" and newly-wed to King Philip II of Spain. Catherine Greaves' father is currently in the Tower of London for his part in the failed Wyatt Rebellion. Catherine's mother came over from Spain with the former Queen, Catherine of Aragon, so the plan is to head to court and hopefully a sympathetic Queen Mary will allow them to see her imprisoned father. The Queen is sympathetic, as is Don Diego de Vasquez, a visiting courtier from Spain who has been sent to help ferret out other plots against the Queen - and turns out that Catherine's father is a double agent. He's Diego's contact on the inside and feeding him information. Oh, and Catherine nor her mother have any clue about any of this. For all they know, their husband and father is a traitor.

Of course these two crazy kids start to fall in love despite the drama and intrigue surrounding them, and there's a little suspense at the end to carry us home to the happy ever after. The story works so long as you don't think about what's going to happen shortly after these events - but I'm convinced it all works out for Diego, Catherine and her parents in the end. One imagines that once they find out the Queen's pregnancy is a "phantom" one, they hightail it back to Spain to live on Diego's lands populated with orange and lemon groves.

Final Grade = B

The last two stories were pleasant enough, but the whole reading experience overall was very much a slog. Certainly this time of year is challenging for a lot of us, but I also think the overt political threads running through all these stories was just not where my mind wanted to go right now. I probably would have been better served reading some cotton candy holiday fluff instead of the political machinations and shenanigans of the Tudors.  Your mileage may vary.

Jingle All the Way: Unusual Historicals for December 2024

I hope that wherever you are reading this that December has managed to not suck out your will to live and whatever holiday madness you may celebrate that you can sit back, relax and enjoy it. I'll have Christmas Day off, but will otherwise be working this week and the last two things on are my to-do list are 1) buy rolls on Tuesday morning on the way to the office and 2) cook the actual holiday meal on Wednesday. I also hope I can take a moment to enjoy some holiday cheer before I'm back to work (it's a librarian's life for me!) on Thursday. Publishing typically ghosts us in December, but all things considered we still have a nice mix of Unusual Historicals debuting this month. Happy Holidays to you and yours and here's to a 2025 that doesn't suck (hope springs eternal...)

The Secret Daughter by Anne Gracie 

Orphaned Zoë Benoît has spent the last three years in Paris learning how to be a lady. But Zoë is torn—as an independent spirit and a talented artist, she cannot help but want more than the tightly controlled life of a society lady.

On an impulsive visit to the château where her mother lived, Zoë, disguised as a maidservant named Vita, meets a handsome wandering artist, known simply as Reynard. One blissful week with the charming Reynard convinces Zoë that this is the man and the life for her—until she discovers what he’s been hiding from her, and she flees, heartbroken.

Longing for the chance to redeem himself, Reynard searches far and wide for the woman he knows as Vita, to no avail. Disheartened, he returns to England to reluctantly resume his role as Julian Fox, the Earl of Foxton. However, when he sees one of Zoë’s paintings, he realizes she’s in London, and becomes desperate to find her before it’s too late. But even if they reunite, can he convince Zoë he’s worthy of her trust and prove to her that, with him, she can be a free-spirited artist and a countess?

This is the fourth book in Gracie's Brides of Bellaire Gardens series and features an artist heroine, masquerading as a servant, falling in love with another artist while visiting a French chateau. Not realizing, of course, he's actually an Earl. Oops.

No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt

Cold and brooding, Julian Greycourt, the heir to the Windemere dukedom, has always known that his uncle the duke was responsible for his mother’s death. Now he’s determined to exact revenge against his uncle—if he can find the proof. But Julian hides a secret so explosive it will destroy him if it’s ever revealed, and the duke is watching. The last thing he needs is a distractingly sensual woman whose very presence threatens to destroy his plans.

 Sunny and cheerful, Lady Elspeth de Moray doesn’t know why her brother and Julian fell out all those years ago, but she can’t let the autocratic man get in the way of her mission: to retrieve an ancient family text that she believes is in one of the Windemere libraries. Locating the tome, however, proves trickier than she anticipated, and at each turn, she’s thrown together with the maddingly mysterious Julian. And the temptation to give in to her family’s greatest enemy grows stronger with each intriguing encounter…

The third book in Hoyt's Greycourt series has been four years in the making and features the heir to a dukedom bent on a revenge (aren't they always?) and a heroine determined to find a missing family text she thinks just might be in one of his libraries. The question is where? Like Hoyt's backlist, we're back in Georgian-era England for the various hijinks.

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath

After surviving a horrific railway accident, Viscount Langdon retreats to his private island to recover and conquer the nightmarish memories that continue to haunt him. The very last thing he wants—or expects—is for London’s most infamous courtesan to wash up on his beach. 

Marlowe is known for her bold flirtations, but her most daring exploits involve flying in her hot air balloon. When a storm blows her off course, she discovers herself alone with the isle’s only inhabitant. The gorgeous, seductive lord tempts her beyond reason, but giving into temptation would lead to her ruination because the all-consuming liaison would demand complete surrender. And she has secrets to protect.

Langdon finds the captivating beauty near impossible to resist, but he can’t risk her learning the true reason behind his isolation. However, a powerful tempest of desire is swirling wildly between them, urging them to give in to the perilous passion that could destroy them . . . or perhaps show them the way to love.

Heath continues her Scandalous Gentleman of St. James series with a plot so absurd it intrigues. A Beastly hero hiding out on his own private island (as you do) rescues a hot air balloon flying heroine, who happens to be a courtesan, when she washes up on his shores, thereby disturbing his pity party. The unmitigated gall of some people...

The Lady's Snowbound Scandal by Paulia Belgado

A spinster, a scrooge 

…and only one bed! 

American industrialist Elliot has a plan to ensure his sisters will marry well—find a London society wife to elevate the family name! What’s not part of his plan is falling for the shy spinster who has no intention of marrying at all… 

Lady Georgina believes Elliot to be a heartless scrooge! Still, she needs his help to save her beloved orphanage in time for Christmas. So, in exchange, she offers to help him find a respectable wife. But when they’re scandalously snowed in at a coaching inn, their simmering attraction has no place to hide…

He's an American industrialist (eww, he's new money and he works?! How gauche!) determined to take a London society wife to better elevate his sisters' prospects and instead...he falls for a shy spinster. Because of course he does. 

Murder in Moonlight by Mary Lancaster

On a personal quest, Constance Silver, who runs Mayfair’s most exclusive brothel, has lied her way into Greenforth Manor, home of respectable and charismatic provincial banker, Walter Winsom. She feels quite safe from recognition until Solomon Grey joins the party.

Aloof and strangely exciting, Solomon is one of the wealthiest men in London, so what does he want with any of the small players gathered at Greenforth? More immediately, will he give Constance away? He saved her life once, with most disturbing effects on her, and she is still magnetically drawn to him. But he is one of the few men she cannot read or influence.

When they discover their host’s murdered body together, they have to overcome distrust of each other to investigate. Everyone in the house seems to have had both motive and opportunity to kill him, so Constance and Solomon must uncover many secrets and set a dangerous trap in order to reach the truth.

She's a brothel madam up to shenanigans and he's an extremely wealthy man who can blow her cover sky high. Then their house party host turns up dead and they need to set aside their distrust of each other to solve the murder. This is the first book in the Silver and Grey series.

The Knight's Bride Prize by Ella Matthews

Will he risk his mission… 

For her hand in marriage? 

On a secret quest to expose a traitor, Sir Hugh enlists in a tournament to win the hand of his target’s daughter, Lady Bronwen. But the clever, driven maiden jeopardizes his plans when their unexpected attraction threatens to distract him from his duty! She’s desperate to escape her father, and Hugh can protect her by claiming his prize and marrying her. Yet honor demands the noble knight keep their desire at bay, for completing his mission means betraying his new bride’s trust…

He's on a quest to expose a traitor and instead ends up falling in love with the man's daughter. For our heroine's part, she's desperate to escape her father and in waltzes the hero, seemingly the answer to her prayers. This is the second book in the Knight's Mission series and is set in 14th century Wales.

A Story of Love by Minerva Spencer

Investigating London’s most infamous rogue for a seedy newspaper is hardly Lori’s dream job. But if that’s what it takes to break into publishing, so be it. She’ll uncover the sexy nobleman’s deepest, darkest secrets. It’s just her misfortune that she’ll have to peek into his bedroom windows—at his brothel, no less—to do it…

Lord Stand Fast Severn, heir to the Marquess of Granton, needs answers. Contrary to what the ton believes, he didn’t drive his twin brother to kill himself. But finding the man who did might be tricky. Especially with a nosy—and dangerously fascinating—journalist plaguing his every move. But when her investigation lands her neck-deep in danger, Fast knows it’s up to him to protect her.

The last thing Lori wants is the handsome rake’s protection. Especially when it means being kidnapped and held in his brothel like a prisoner.

But if Lori wants to get away from him so badly, then why isn’t she trying very hard to escape?

Can two enemies, forced into close proximity, write their own story of love?

Only if they can solve a murder before a killer gets to them first…

A rake with ulterior motives (don't they always...) partners up with a journalist heroine with ambition forced to work an assignment for a seedy newspaper because....well, woman. Whatcha gonna do? A brothel and a murder promise shenanigans. This is the seventh book in the author's Academy of Love series.

The Cornish Widow by Fil Reid

When Harriet Penhallow is left widowed, she and her two children are forced to accept the charity of her late husband’s aunt. Having uprooted themselves from their life in Bath, they move into a comparatively isolated and rundown cottage on the south coast of Cornwall, nestling above a little inlet known as Prussia Cove. Little does Harriet know, but it’s the center of Cornish smuggling.

One of the ringleaders is the charismatic Jack Trevelyan, captain of The Fly and only son of Harriet’s kind new neighbor. It doesn’t take her long to work out Jack is a smuggler, despite him being a gentleman and despite the fact that she’s beginning to have feelings for him. For his part, Jack, even though he’s immediately attracted to her, suspects she might have been sent to spy on his activities.

Then, one night, Harriet's twelve-year-old son sneaks down to the cove where The Fly is anchored, and she goes after him. When they hear the crew returning, they hide—before they know it, they’re at sea and too frightened to reveal themselves. When daylight comes, they’re discovered, but it’s too late to take them back to Cornwall. They’re forced to continue on to the smugglers’ rendezvous in Brittany.

A down on her luck widow falls for a smuggler hero with a suspicious nature. Then bingo-bango, shenanigans ensure and she finds herself a stowaway on a smuggler's ship with the hero and her 12-year-old son. This is the fourth book in the author's Cornish Ladies series.

Lyon's Lover by Maggie Sims

A wastrel lord and an ex-courtesan forced together must pay the price of their past sins.

She’s planning for the future…

Having enjoyed a successful career as mistress to various members of the Ton, Isabella Rossi longs to walk away from her past. She wants a normal life with all it entails—a husband, a home, and children. Isabella seeks out the Black Widow, owner of the Lyon’s Den gaming hell who also runs a specialized matchmaking service.

He’s living for the moment…

Heir to an earldom, Luke Lynwood is addicted to drinking, gambling, and avoiding his responsibilities. But when he gambles more than he can afford, the Black Widow offers him an alternative way to repay his massive debt.

Under Isabella’s reluctant tutelage, Luke must come to terms with his lack of self-control and face his father, which might just take a Christmas miracle.

Part of the long-running Lyon's Den continuity series, we have a former mistress desperate to finally settle down and a debauched hero basically blackmailed into making an honest woman out of her. This is either going to be really good or a hot mess (the word "addicted" is used to describe the hero - so help me if all it takes is a "love of a good woman..."). Also, never let it be said I cannot be shallow during the holidays - the we've got chest hair on the cover!

What Unusual Historicals are in your immediate TBR?

#TBRChallenge 2024: A Trio of Christmas Novellas

The final TBR Challenge of 2024 snuck up on me to the point that it was Sunday morning before I remembered my own deadline. Not a good look for the hostess. The other fly in the ointment? I haven't been reading - much of anything. This is an affliction I've struggled with all year but December, always being busy, has just exacerbated it. So I did what I always do when I'm caught with my TBR Challenge pants down - I did a deep dive into my Kindle, found three short stories that fit the bill, and read them back-to-back-to-back.

First up is Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin that our Evil Overlords at The 'Zon tell me I downloaded (undoubtedly) as a freebie back in 2014. Gently born Sidony has had three Seasons, but her heart wasn't in it. Her heart was already spoken for, to her brother's BFF, Captain Hale Martin. These two crazy kids were madly in love and carrying on in secret, but Hale, with limited prospects, knows he needs to change his fortunes if he wants to ask for Sidony's hand. He enters into the shipping business and tells Sidony he's setting sail for one year, she'll have her one Season, and then they'll reunite. And of course he'll write her constantly! That was three years ago, and Hale has sent word that he's coming home and will be spending the holidays with Sidony and her brother. Gone two years longer than expected and oh yeah, there were no letters. Zero. None. Zilch. Boyfriend just straight up ghosted her. Of course she's still in love with him but she's also really angry - and naturally in waltzes Hale determined to win her back.

I stuck with this story because the writing is just that good. It's polished with well-done tension and character development. Unfortunately, the plot doesn't do these two any favors.  It's basically "I loved you, I'm really mad at you, I don't know if I can forgive you, oopsie doodle now we're having sex." Speaking of the sex, there's a lot of it.  Which is fine if you're looking for a steamy read, but given the short word count I wanted more time spent on the emotional heft of these two finding their way back together and the heroine's anger, and forgiveness, towards the hero.

What's even more unfortunate? This author seems to have dropped off the face of the Earth. Her website is down and according to Goodreads she hasn't published anything in 10 years - which is a shame because the writing is certainly more than good enough here to make me pick up another one of her stories.

Final Grade = B-

I downloaded A Merry Royal Layover by Teri Wilson via Amazon back in 2021, but it no longer seems to be available - well, anywhere. Maybe it will become available again some day? Maybe as a freebie via the author's website or newsletter? But until then, sorry folks - if this sounds good you're out of luck unless you already have it in your TBR.

Cindy's fiancé broke her heart on Christmas Eve and since then the holiday season has been rough thanks to well-meaning family. So this year she's decided to travel to Tiny Made-Up Country in Europe That Only Exists on Romancelandia Maps to volunteer at an animal shelter - Cindy being a veterinarian. She arrives at Heathrow Airport in London only to discover inclement weather has delayed and cancelled all flights. Luckily her father pulls some strings and gets her access to a posh airport lounge and that is where she has a meet cute with none other than Prince Tristan, from Tiny Made-Up Country in Europe That Only Exists on Romancelandia Maps. Prince Tristan is on his way home after volunteering at a sloth sanctuary because of course and naturally these two tap-dance around each other by not acknowledging he's a frickin' Prince.

This is a sweet, just-kisses bon-bon of a holiday read, the stranded/layover premise is great and Wilson certainly has the romantic comedy chops to pull it off.  Unfortunately the story itself leans hard into the movie of Love Actually. The whole story basically hinges on it and Lord help you if you haven't seen the movie and/or you hate it. But if you're fan? It'll probably work better for you. For me, personally, it was all a little too cutesy-wootsy for my tastes.

Final Grade = C

I have no idea how A Countess for Christmas by Anthea Lawson came to be in my TBR, but it was the caboose bringing up the rear in my holiday read-a-thon. Miss Cecilia Fairfax is not looking forward to the holidays. She's now in charge of running the household, her mother having passed and the family just coming out of mourning. Her father is in declining health and her oldest brother's family is about to descend on them - which includes her sour sister-in-law and her barely housebroken nephews. Then she gets word that her younger brother, Marcus, has been injured in an accident, rendering him temporarily blind, while visiting Liam Barrett, the Earl of Tarrick. What follows is Cecilia and Liam exchanging a series of delightful letters to exchange news of Marcus' recuperation. Seriously, the letters are the very best part of this story.

Anyway, Marcus recovers enough to head home and to show his gratitude he invites Liam to join him. Does he tell his sister he's bringing home a houseguest? You have to ask? Of course he doesn't. 

This is when the story starts to falter for me. There's just not enough of Liam and Cecilia together on page and developing a relationship to get me to buy into the happy ending. There's a potentially great emotional scene where Liam comes across a wrung-out Cecilia having a cry in a linen closet but it doesn't go far enough. Then there's some tacked on bits involving a ghost haunting the house and an added twist of suspense when Cecilia gets locked in the cellar - leading to Marcus rescuing her, proposing marriage, and then The End. Look, I realize people married back in the day not knowing much about each other, but this was the very definition of hasty. The delightful letters in the beginning were not enough to sell me on the romance. There was just too much left unanswered for me.  Great beginning leading to an ho-hum at the finish line.  But have I mentioned the letters in the beginning are great?!

Final Grade = C+

And there you have it, the final TBR Challenge of 2024.  I want to thank everyone who participated and followed along this year - and hey, let's to it again in 2025.