#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-

Review: Sheriff's Honor

I put Sheriff's Honor by Jill Sorenson on my Goodreads "currently reading" shelf two weeks ago but hadn't actually started reading it. Why? Because my continued slump of just not reading much of anything continues to hold me in a vice grip that is getting exceedingly hard to shake. But with a lazy Sunday ahead of me, with no commitments or chores standing in my way, I was bound and determined to try to read something. The half-finished celebrity memoir I'm trying to decide if I want to finish held little appeal - so what the hell, I'll start the Sorenson. Gentle reader, I didn't read this book so much as inhale it. Like a woman who has been wandering the desert and just stumbled across a refreshing oasis. Lord almighty, I love being in the hands of a professional. 

This is the second book in the His to Protect trilogy and while it stands alone okay, I do think the reading experience is richer when you have the background of the first book under your belt. The reason for that is because our hero is Wade Hendricks, former sheriff's deputy of Last Chance, Texas who fancied himself in love with the heroine of the first book - which obviously didn't work out in his favor. His father was the sheriff, and not to put too fine a point on it, a real son of a bitch. So Wade accepts a job offer in Lost Lake, Texas, but it's not a completely fresh start. He's trading in Dear Old Dad for his alcoholic, pill-popping mother.

He arrives on his mother's family ranch only to get greeted by the wrong end of a shotgun. Meredith Rose (going by the assumed name of Mary Meadows) is a stray Wynona picked up and hired as a caretaker. Mary feeds the animals and takes care of the property. She had no idea that Wynona had a son, so a strange man drinking a can of soda in the kitchen, coupled with her past - of course she fired a warning shot. But these two don't have much time to dwell on their "meet cute" because just as they're sorting all that out? Tornado sirens start blaring. 

It hits the ground running from there. Wade has a new job to settle into and enough familial baggage to keep a team of psychiatrists busy for years. "Mary" is pretty as a picture but skittish as hell, and most definitely running from something. On top of this you have the aftermath of the tornado, including skeletal remains found near the lake. Think of a messy small town contemporary romance with a light suspense thread featuring Messy AF characters and more angsty drama than you can shake a stick at - well, is it any wonder I tore through this in a day?

However, much like the first book, it's not perfect. I read it in a day, so I'm not really sure how much I care that it's not perfect? But let's just say there are some sticking points here. To be honest, the author takes the easy way out with Meredith's Big Secret. I mean, she kind of has to I think or else this book would need about 200 more pages to resolve it. Also, the resolution to the skeletal remains raised both my eyebrows. Why? Two words. Or maybe it's one hyphenated word? Cover-up. Is justice served? Ummm. Was what happened justified? Ummm. To be honest I'm not even sure how I feel about this ending, but Wade being a sheriff's deputy, plus given how the first book ended, let's just say nothing here is black and white. As much as I enjoyed this book start to finish, even I'm conflicted as I sit down to write this half-assed cryptic review. Bad people get what's coming to them, so there is that -  but in true Sorenson fashion, it's messy.

But there's no denying that Sorenson excels at world-building, melding contemporary romance with suspense, and creating Messy AF characters. I was swept away in this story from the first sentence and I was gripped to the final page. I'm so glad Sorenson is back after a hiatus - because good heavens, I've missed her.

Final Grade = B+

April Showers: Unusual Historicals for April 2026

Y'all, I recommend before you start reading this post that you hydrate, stretch and do some breathing exercises because we have 17 (!) titles featured in this month's Unusual Historicals post. Even if I discount the two late March releases that I didn't catch in time for last month, and the one reprint, we're still looking at 14 (!) titles. I feel a little like a car salesman advertising on local television in a loud plaid jacket declaring a bonanza of choices! Everything must go! Done with stretching? Have something drink? OK then, let's dive in...

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles

It is 1821 and Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte is making a splash in London Society. The son of Jeanne de Valois de La Motte, infamous for stealing a priceless diamond necklace meant for Marie Antoinette, Nico hopes to restore his wronged mother's reputation, if only he can raise the funds. But he must operate with great secrecy, because the Bourbon dynasty murdered his mother, and he fears for his life.

At least, that's what he tells Titus Pilcrow. Titus was a simple shopkeeper, making and selling artists' paints, when he found himself suddenly married to an immensely wealthy woman who wanted to disinherit her nephew on her deathbed. As word spreads of his fortune, Titus finds himself a target of every scammer and beggar in London...including one Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte.

Nico is on his last legs, out of money, and on the run from some terrifying gangsters. When Titus offers Nico a space in his household, it's the perfect chance for him to exploit London's newest golden purse--until he falls in love with the man he needs to cheat. Still, Nico is sure they can have a happy ending together. If he can just find his way out of his own web of lies...

We've got a con man with gangsters on his tail and a shopkeeper who comes into a windfall who has every fortune hunter gunning for him - including the con man. Naturally the con man ends up falling for his mark, and complications ensue. As if gangsters weren't complicated enough...

Never After by Alexis Hall

On the grim streets of London, a young man succumbs to his demons. Discarded by his lover and left penniless and alone, Michael “Micha” Dashwood uses sex to pay the bills and opium to numb the pain.

When a sudden illness strikes, all seems lost. But hope finds Micha in the shape of the Reverend Thomas Mandeville. Haunted by grief of his own, Thomas cannot bear to ignore another man’s plight. He brings the ailing Micha home to heal in his parish at Nettlefield.

As Micha recovers under Thomas’s care, he begins to realize that some people in this world are worthy of trust. Thomas, in turn, learns the truth of his own needs and desires. Between the secrets of the past and the burdens of the present, their future together seems impossible. Questions of faith and the shadow of opium continue to haunt them both.

Yet possibilities, like miracles, can be found wherever you look for them.

An opium addicted hustler falls ill (surprise!) and is rescued by a grieving Reverend. Y'all I just....

Stolen by Her Viking Enemy by Roxy Harper

Swords are drawn…

sparks will fly!

For years, shieldmaiden Kara has suffered her stepfather’s cruelties to ensure her secret daughter’s safety. So being seized at swordpoint by Aksel, her stepfather’s ruthless enemy, feels like switching one captivity for another. Until glimpses of the man beneath the armor have her wondering if her captor could be her savior…

Raised in Constantinople, Aksel has returned to his Viking roots to avenge the destruction of his grandfather’s jarldom. Taking Kara was just part of his revenge. But when he realizes they have a common enemy, can his betrayal-scarred heart learn to trust—and love—again?

Shieldmaiden heroine under the thumb of a wicked stepfather is taken captive by an enemy of said stepfather, and well this situation is not any better...or is it?

The Duke's Got Mail by Samara Parish

Anonymous love letters are all well and good… until you discover you’ve been flirting with the enemy.

 

Eleanor Wright is the best compositor in London and in high demand with every printing press in town. But when whispers spread of a new machine that could put her out of a job, writing to a mysterious pen pal quickly becomes her only relief from a life that’s coming apart like a badly bound book.

Peter Montgomery, Duke of Strafford, has spent years trying to get his estate out of debt. Now he finally has the solution in a machine set to revolutionize the publishing industry. If only finding a wife was as straightforward. Peter wants a lady who cares about him, not his title. Someone like his charming, witty pen pal—the only person in London who knows his most intimate secrets but not his real name. But when Peter’s invention makes them bitter rivals in person, can the bond they’ve created on paper survive the test?

A riff on The Shop Around the Corner (or You Got Mail - whatever) featuring a typesetter heroine and a hero hoping that his invention that would make her job obsolete will haul his estate out of debt. It's straight up enemies to lovers with the added the wrinkle that neither of them realize they're pen pals. 

Becoming His Dollar Duchess by Bronwyn Scott

She’s entirely unsuitable…

but everything he desires!

To gain control of her family’s sourdough empire, American heiress Zephyrine Duval must marry a titled Englishman—or her father’s dubious choice! Beginning her husband hunt among London’s high society, she encounters the divinely handsome, British as tea, but thoroughly disapproving Hale Eberley, Duke of Sunderland…

Hale has no desire or need for a dollar princess bride. Except the grumpy duke is begrudgingly drawn to vivacious Zephy’s sunny charm! So when Zephy sets her sights on a rakehell for a husband, Hale is compelled to step in…but will he meet her at the altar himself?

Repeat after me: SOURDOUGH HEIRESS!!!!!

The Undercover Heiress by Catherine Tinley

An innocent deception…

could cost her everything!

Voyaging to England and the fiancé she’s never met, Manhattan heiress Sophia Van Bergen is desperate for one last adventure before becoming an ornamental wife. She convinces her late aunt’s maid to swap places temporarily, giving her access to an exciting new below stairs world at the Earl of Hartington’s estate. But when she starts to fall for her employer, Sophia realizes she’s in for a bigger adventure than she bargained for! Hart is in search of a wealthy wife, and Sophia has the money to save him, but will the cost of revealing her deception prove too high?

This is the second book in Tinley's The Prince and the Pauper inspired duet. She's an American heiress looking for one last adventure, posing as her late aunt's maid - and then she has to go and fall in love with her employer. Um, oops!

A Dangerous Chemistry by Jo Benedict

The bastard daughter of an underworld crime lord wouldn't usually be a candidate to deliver vengeance, but she’s never been conventional…

London 1888

Frankie Smith has waited long years to bring her father, a powerful crime lord, to justice after he murdered someone she loved. Now that he’s kidnapped a high-profile heiress, Frankie teams up with the girl’s fiancé to make sure the crime doesn’t go unpunished.

Scientist Thaddeus Bruce, Viscount Caldwell, is on the verge of developing a method to sanitize public water. He’s also flat broke. To finance his research, he’s agreed to marry a sweet-tempered heiress who shares his passion for chemistry. So when a strange woman arrives in his washroom and claims his new fiancée has been kidnapped, he’ll do whatever he must to recover her--even follow this street rat into the St. Giles underworld.

Together, they search for answers and discover secrets that span oceans. But though pursuing criminals proves increasingly dangerous, their greatest risk may be the chemistry between them.

Illegitimate daughter of a late Victorian crime lord has vowed vengeance against Dear Old Dad. When Daddy kidnaps an heiress, our heroine teams up with the chit's scientist fiancée to rescue her - and then they have to go and do a silly thing like fall in love. 

The Heart of a Rake by Abigail Bridges

Their primary goal in Society is just to have fun. Until two four-year-olds—and the possibility of economic ruin—change everything.

Lord Mark Rydell is a rakehell known for entertaining the widows and lonely wives of the ton, with no interest in marriage. A veteran of the Peninsular War, he is rumored to have been involved in more than a few boxing matches and duels, most arising from his sarcastic wit and lack of respect for all things Society. He has a mistress, the controlling interest in a gaming hell, and no desire to change any of it.

Lady Judith Lovelace, now the dowager countess of Sculthorpe, has turned her widowhood into an ongoing party. Thirty-eight and dedicated to making the best of her beauty and stamina while they last, she is determined to entertain as many of the young blades of Society as possible. Her only other focus is her three sons, whom she adores with her whole heart.

So when her devious stepson pointedly introduces her to the charming Lord Mark Rydell, Judith knew some wicked scheme was afoot. She remains suspicious even as she’s inexplicably drawn to the handsome rogue’s clever wit. She knows he has secrets—what man doesn’t? So does she.

But it will be her stepson’s secrets that threaten everything they hold dear. As their lives unravel, Mark and Judith join forces to prevent the impending ruin, even if it means all the secrets will be brought into the light.

He's a rake, she's a merry widow, and they're introduced by her wicked stepson who is up to something, but what exactly? With ruin about to rain down upon their heads they have no choice but to join forces.

The Trouble with Seduction by Jess Michaels

After watching her two sisters fall in love and marry, courtesan Julia Comerford is ready to get out of the life. She thinks the best way to do it is to marry her current protector, a viscount whose sweet words are everything she longs to hear. Only one problem: he has a serious, nosy and entirely too attractive cousin who is trying to tear them apart.

Despite being younger, Alexander has been trying to clean up his cousin's messes for years. This engagement to an infamous courtesan is just the latest. Only the more he gets to know Julia, the more he sees her for the irresistible, intelligent person she is. And the most he realizes that it isn’t his cousin who needs to be saved from her…but her who needs to be saved from family.

As the engagement falls apart, the anger and passion between these two opposites bubbles over, leading to a passion that is as unexpected as it is explosive. But there are going to be consequences to what Alexander has done. And it may only be Julia who can save him in the end.

This is the third book in the authors Comerford Courtesans series that features, well - courtesan heroines. She's looking for a way out and thinks marrying her current protector is the way to do that. Standing in her way? The man's highly annoying, and attractive, cousin. 

Duchess in Diamonds by Jennifer Ashley

London, 1816

When Eamon calls on the widowed Duchess of Aylesmore to assess her late husband’s art collection, he hardly imagines she’ll be young, lovely, and in desperate straits. Caro Aylesmore, raising her nine-year-old son alone and drowning in her husband’s debts, hopes the paintings will save them.

Dragged across Europe by his trickster father, Eamon learned all about art, including frauds and forgeries. He hates disappointing the late duke’s beautiful second wife—so much so that he impulsively offers to search the entire house for anything of value.

He's not certain why he's being so gallant. But Caro’s quiet resilience reaches him in ways he can’t explain, and young Leo, the new duke, is already finding a place in Eamon’s heart.

Caro faces more than stern debt-collectors. Her husband’s ambitious nephew aims to claim Leo for himself, and is all too eager to expose Eamon as the fraud he once was. If scandal touches Caro, she could lose her beloved son to a man who covets the title more than the boy.

As Caro falls for the disarming Eamon, she faces an impossible choice: her heart, or her son’s future.

Eamon may have to sacrifice his own happiness to keep her safe—even if it means losing the wager and his heart.

It's been a minute since Ashley has published a new historical romance and this is the start of a new series. She's a penniless widow hoping her late husband's art collection will pay off his creditors. He's the son of a con man who knows a whole lot about art thanks to Dear Old Dad. Falling in love is a complication neither needs, but of course they do.

Seven Brides for Beau McBride by Amy Barry

Beau McBride reckons he’s ready for marriage. But his ego is bigger than his brain, and his little sister Junebug can’t trust him to find the right woman. So they make a bet, both placing ads in the Matrimonial News for mail-order brides. But when she discovers that Beau has already made his pick, Junebug decides to even the odds ... by inviting six more brides to meet her brother.

 

Ellie Neale doesn’t expect much from life – and life hasn’t given her much, except a head full of daydreams and her beautiful best friend Diana. And now Diana has answered an ad to be a mail-order bride – with some letter-writing help from Ellie – and she's leaving for Montana. Unwilling to lose her only friend, Ellie answers an ad of her own, which will take her to the same town Diana is headed for. But there's a hitch: when they arrive, Ellie and Diana realise they're here for the same husband. Along with five other women!

 

With seven brides vying for Beau’s attention, he needs to make a decision – fast. The only problem is, his heart longs for the one woman who wants nothing to do with him.

Barry wraps up her McBrides of Montana series and once again sister Junebug has to save one of her brothers from himself. The complication? Junebug invites out six more potential brides for our hero and our heroine discovers her and her BFF both answered the ad for the exact same husband!  Well that's OK, because turns out our heroine isn't interested once she meets the hero - and of course that means she's now the only one for him.

The Highlander's English Rose by Elizabeth Heights

Betrothed to the Lord and in love with the Highlander.

1333 A.D. The English have proclaimed triumph over the Scots in their long-waging war. Far from the scene of battle is a beautiful widow who has everything… except her vanishing youth and the family she’s always longed for.

Isabella will do whatever it takes to become a mother. Despite her misgivings, she accepts a marriage proposal from the new Laird of Greenock—a man she barely knows—and embarks on the long journey north to Scotland.

She is blithely unaware that Hamish, the rightful Laird of Greenock, is lying in wait for her at her ancestral home, Ember Hall.

Hamish will spend his last breath reclaiming his birthright. He intends to kidnap Isabella and negotiate terms with the English usurper who has stolen his lands, his title and his younger sister. He isn’t anticipating that the woman known as The Rose of England will turn his plans upside down with her surprising courage and steely determination.

As temperatures plunge and snow makes both a prisoner, passion sparks between the Highland warrior and the earl’s daughter. Against all the odds, they begin to believe in the possibility of happiness. But the course of true love never runs smooth, and Isabella and Hamish soon discover that their problems are only just beginning.

This is the fourth book in the author's Sisters of Ember Hall series. A widowed heroine desperate for children takes a flier and agrees to marry a new laird. Except turns out the man she's planning on marrying isn't the rightful heir. That man, our hero, ends up kidnapping her. As you do. 

A Courtship in the Highlands by Kate Robbins

Love may demand the ultimate betrayal of loyalty.

Agnes Sinclair, daughter to the Earl of Caithness, has been sent to Stirling Castle to make her debut and become one of the queen’s ladies in waiting. Traveling with her uncle, John Sinclair, she scarce pays attention to his prattling on about how the king is hell bent on turning the country soft with his flowery poets and pretty parties. She’s far more interested in discovering all the delights the King’s Court has to offer. Upon her arrival, she is grateful for the respite from her uncle and ever more intrigued by the enigmatic Earl of Montrose.

William Graham, Earl of Montrose, hails from a long line of nobles aligned with the monarchy of Scotland to maintain its independence from England. Fully supportive of the king’s new approach, he offers to assist when the king informs him of a band of rebels rumored to make an attempt on the monarchs. Prepared for a confrontation with brawny Highlanders, he is shocked to discover, at the center is a seemingly innocent yet confident young woman the like he has never seen in King James’s court.

Agnes and William’s journey is wrought with passion, betrayal, and deceit requiring a giant leap of faith. Attempt it they shall, but the question remains, where will their loyalties fall?

This is the second book in the Thistle and Rose series and features a heroine looking forward to experiencing life at court. Our hero is looking to ferret out a band of rebels and is surprised to discover that the heroine is somehow at the center of it all.

Fashioning a Knight by Eva Starling

A draper’s daughter with high ambition, a troubled knight who can help her, and a gown that could make or break them and their tempestuous relationship.

Alyson Fox has one goal: to serve as a dressmaker to a highborn lady. And as the daughter of a successful cloth merchant in the bustling English town of Thetford, she believes she has the skill to achieve this lofty ambition. Her father, however, would rather see his only daughter marry and marry soon. Opportunity arrives when the town bailiff and Alyson’s awkward suitor arranges a great coronation banquet to honor King Richard the Lionheart, who has just reclaimed his throne. But when a poor, taciturn knight on the outs with the king for reasons only he knows unexpectedly joins the Fox household, the young dressmaker finds herself distracted and annoyed–until she concocts a scheme that will benefit them both.

Lord Berengar of Ashenham killed for his faith and king on the bloody sands of the Holy Land—and more. Now in disgrace, he seeks redemption, although he doesn’t know what to do other than await the king’s call. In dire need of cash, he agrees to teach the son of cloth merchant a few tricks of his trade. It’s only when his brazen daughter makes him a strange offer that he sees a spark of hope for himself.

But things get complicated as the lives of the dressmaker and the knight become increasingly entwined and what once seemed like a simple trade of favors leads to revelations that neither had bargained for—and might be too much to bear. The coronation banquet—the greatest fete Thetford has seen in a generation—will make or break Alyson’s ambition, but the untimely spilling of secrets could threaten all. Not everything can be neatly sewn up!

First in a new series, we have another medieval - this time featuring a dressmaker heroine and a disgraced knight, returned from the Crusades, looking to get back into King Richard's good graces. 

Highland Enchantment by Brenna Ash

He lives for solitude. She was promised to another. But on a rugged Highland path, their hearts lose their way.

Rory Hart prefers cliffs to castles, silence to conversation, and freedom to duty. So when his father commands him to escort an abandoned woman through the Highlands, he’s prepared for a miserable journey. But Alana Duran is not what he expects. She’s sharp-tongued, stubborn, and utterly unprepared for the wild—and yet, her spirit sparks something both fierce and tender within him.

Alana has no choice. Her father’s arranged a marriage to secure her family’s future, and she’s determined to obey—even if it means trekking through unfamiliar terrain with the brooding Highlander who wants nothing to do with her. Rory’s rough, unkempt, and infuriating—and yet her heart begins to betray her.

Their journey is one of barbed banter, stolen glances, and growing desire. The Highlands begin to feel less like a prison and more like a promise. As trust turns to attraction and attraction kindles something deeper, one truth becomes impossible to deny—some paths are meant to be walked together.

But Alana is still promised to another. Rory is still bound by duty to his clan. And love, no matter how wild or fierce, may not be enough to rewrite their fate. In a land where alliances are forged by marriage and loyalty can cost them everything, can two hearts choose love over obligation?

Yes, truly - April is apparently Medieval Month! The second book in the Highland Heartstrings series features a loner hero ordered to escort our heroine to her future's husband home, a marriage she's not thrilled about but is entering into because medieval, alliances, her family's future, yada yada yada. This one is a road romance and I love me a road romance wrapped up in a medieval setting.

Fluently Speaking Baron by Ava Devlin

Harriet "Hattie" French speaks over a dozen languages—but none of them prepared her for this.

Seven years ago, Dowager Baroness Selwyn vanished without a trace. Now she's been declared dead, and her will is a masterpiece of meddling: Hattie, the first of the seven prodigies the baroness took under her wing during her prime, inherits Starling’s Rest, the manor where they were honed from wayward fledglings into world-renowned talents.

That would be well and fine, but for the baron. The dowager baroness’s taciturn and stormy nephew owns the land the house stands on.

The solution? Marriage. Orchestrated from beyond the grave by a woman who never met a prodigy she couldn't manipulate.

Elias Selwyn spent years proving he wasn't useless.

Elias fled Starling’s Rest as soon as he was old enough and hasn’t been back since. He left behind the pudgy, unremarkable child, with only a title to hold up against the sparkling genius of his foster siblings. In the years since, he forged himself into a disciplined cavalry officer, building a life far from the manor full of brilliant wards who made him feel invisible. The last thing he wants is to be dragged back to Brighton and shackled to the girl who once made him feel small—no matter how brilliant, beautiful, or infuriatingly fluent she's become.

But his aunt’s will has one final demand: a reunion carnival showcase, performed under the pavilion where the Starling prodigies once dazzled crowds. It's meant to be her funeral. Instead, it becomes the stage where Hattie and Elias must reconcile years of rivalry, resentment, and feelings neither wants to name.

As old wounds resurface and buried secrets spark to life, the pair discovers that some inheritances can't be divided—and that together, they might just be stronger than they are apart.

First in a new series featuring prodigies. She's a linguist who can speak over a dozen languages, and he's her benefactor's unremarkable nephew, all grown up. He's not happy to be home and she's less than thrilled with the idea of marrying him - which has been orchestrated from beyond the grave.

Warrior of Ice by Michelle Willingham (Reprint)

No man ever wanted her…except the man no one ever loved.

Lady Taryn of Ossoria has survived betrayal, pain, and scars that make people turn away from her. She’s accepted the truth: no man will want her. But when her father is imprisoned by a merciless overlord, Taryn strikes a dangerous bargain with Irish warrior Killian MacDubh.

A bastard by birth, Killian has fought for every scrap of respect—and challenging the High King could finally secure the future he’s earned. The last thing he needs is a bold noblewoman complicating his plans… especially one who awakens a forbidden hunger.

As secrets unravel and enemies step from the shadows, Taryn and Killian are forced to make a choice: save their loved ones—or risk everything on a love worth dying for.

First published by Harlequin Historical in 2015, this is the first book in a duet. A scarred and wounded heroine strikes a bargain with our warrior hero in order to rescue her father. Sigh, I still have the HH edition buried somewhere in my TBR because I just suck like that.

Whew! Y'all this is A LOT. Historical romance is dying my Aunt Fanny. I hope you had fun browsing this post and that you found one (or two, or ten...) books to add to your TBR pile. What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to reading soon?

#TBRChallenge 2026: Sex, Lies & Secret Lives

The Book: Sex, Lies & Secret Lives by Thea Devine

The Particulars: Contemporary erotic romance, Simon & Schuster Gallery Books, 2010, In Print

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?: I'm not going to apologize for loving Thea Devine. Frankly, I don't think she gets enough credit for coming up through the Bodice Ripper Era and helping to kick off the first wave of Erotic Romance (as a subgenre) in the early 2000s (as one of the writers to help launch the Kensington Brava line). She also was writing unapologetic bad girl heroines back in the day when that was unheard of (and still is, mores the pity). Her writing and plots tend to be nonsensical but this woman has never met a soap opera plot she didn't love. Do I universally recommend her books? No. Do I get sucked in all the same? Yes. Look, I love me some trash, and Devine excels at writing trash.

I have an autographed print copy of this, which means I picked it up at an RWA conference and probably made a fool of myself meeting her.

The Review: Y'all, this book is trash and it features a heroine who suffers from magical thinking. It also has so many seedy sex scenes in it that I lost count - not only of the number of men the heroine boinks, but also how many scenes there actually were. One every chapter would not be hyperbole. 

Jillian Durant has disappeared, but not before she sent out a SOS text message to her twin sister Justine Durant. "Justine Time" - a play on the phrase "just in time," and developed during their hard scrabble childhood. An abusive household and an alcoholic father led to the girls getting split up in foster care. When Jillian used "Justine Time" - Justine knew her sister needed her and came running.

Justine goes to Jillian's apartment and soon learns the truth about her sister's life. She's Jillian Dare, high priced prostitute to powerful and wealthy men. Jillian's way of dealing with the trauma of their childhood? Get your hands on money, a lot of it. However when your clients are billionaire assholes you find yourself (sometimes unintentionally) privy to a lot of secrets - which is why Jillian has gotten in the habit of leaving behind bread crumbs for her twin every time she takes a new job.

So what does Justine do exactly to help find her sister? She falls into her life and pretends to be Jillian. That means moving into Jillian's New York City apartment and having a lot of sex with a lot of different men. Never mind that she learns in fairly short order that the last known whereabouts of Jillian was in London. I mean, staying in New York City and banging a bunch of random rich dudes will surely lead her to finding her sister - um, somehow. God, I love magical thinking in a heroine!  Anyway, she eventually ends up in bed with Doug Rawls who rocks her world for two straight days then treats her with contempt by literally throwing money at her - so of course he's our hero. 

The plot, if we want to call it that, is basically Justine walking a tightrope of pretending to be Jillian and hoping to fool people long enough to try to find out what's going on even though she's not actively doing anything to search for her sister other than banging a bunch of dudes. We eventually learn that Doug has ties to a dead billionaire back in London and one of the last times he was seen alive and well? Yeah, he was with Jillian. So when "Jillian" resurfaces, everyone, including our villain, start to become worried and Dougie boy steps into the protector role even though he's a sneering asshole who treats the heroine with contempt while banging her brains out.  He's not too good for sleeping with a whore but he's going to remind her constantly of what and who she is. 

You've got a heroine impersonating her twin and enough sex in this book to make you think about making a doctor's appointment to get multiple shots of penicillin. The whole thing is completely over the top, from the plotting to the characters to the sex. Seriously, I began to wonder how the heroine was able to walk around over the course of this book and every man in this story had to be drinking at least 3 gallons of water a day to stay hydrated. Is it remotely "realistic?" No. Is it utter trash? Yes. Can I recommend this book to anyone? I mean....

Devine's books take up space in a very Id part of brain. It's Thea Devine and 90% Harlequin Presents. It's pure escapist camp and I inhaled this book in a few hours. I also didn't skim, even though, and this cannot be overstated, this book is basically one giant sex scene. One after another. Take the sex scenes out and you probably have a 50 page short story left. 

Do I like myself for reading this? Hey, life is too short and the world is on fire. How I feel about myself after reading this book is the least of my worries. Is this high art? No. Could I tear myself away? Also, no.  I may have felt a little cheap and a lot dirty after, but I ain't mad.

Final Grade = C+