Luck Be a Lady: Unusual Historicals for March 2025

Hello March, my old friend. Come back around to torment me again. March is the start of my "busy season" at work, when the push begins for end of the fiscal year. Overseeing collections, managing a budget, means June 30 is a big deal on my work calendar and it's the one time of year where I have hard deadlines I can't tap dance around. This all means I start early and my brain starts to melt down by week's end. On the bright side? The surgery I had earlier this month to correct my hiatal hernia means I'm 1) no longer regurgitating everything I eat and 2) I'm sleeping some of the best sleep I've had in years. I mean, I'm still not sleeping enough - but baby steps y'all. I'm also not reading again. My goal this year to read more consistently has not come to fruition, but it is only March. Maybe there's still hope I can turn this ship around? And on that score, here's a fresh crop of Unusual Historicals to pique my interest and maybe kick me back into a reading groove.

The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley

It is the year 1613, and King James is sending his messenger Andrew Logan into Scotland with secret orders to arrest Sir David Moray, close friend and advisor of the late Prince Henry. Secrets are second nature to Andrew, who must hide his Second Sight to stay alive. Joined by a court scrivener and the scrivener's spirited daughter Phoebe, Andrew slowly untangles the true purpose of his mission—to frame Sir David for Prince Henry's murder. But Andrew is unwilling to betray an innocent man.

Phoebe Westaway dislikes Andrew, and their history makes it hard for her to trust him. But as their journey draws them deeper into the dark web of court intrigue, Phoebe begins to suspect that she might have more need of the King's Messenger and his unusual gifts than she could ever have foreseen.

Oooooh, a new Susanna Kearsley! This one sounds fantastic. 17th century, a King's messenger who finds out his boss is up to no good, traveling with a woman who doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him. Oh, and it's a Road Romance! One of my favorite tropes.

The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett

A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides.

Lady Phoebe Hunt never anticipated returning from exile. A fatal choice drove her from England, but the death of her father—and the revelation of his debts—has brought her home. Once she settles her father’s estate, she will return to America, where she has reinvented herself. There’s no reason to remain, not even for one gravitationally challenged but deliciously tempting entrepreneur: Sam Fenley.

Samuel Fenley is all ambition. Rising from shop boy to wealthy investor, he’s left knocking on doors that open only for those with a title. Unless he buys the damned door itself—and the estate that goes with it. Sam offers to relieve Phoebe of her burdens, but is her crumbling mansion all Sam wants? Or is it the Lady herself?

When threats from Phoebe’s past spark new dangers, Sam and Phoebe discover that neither is what the other expected. Standing on the edge of disaster, the disgraced Ice Queen will have to decide if she wants to forge through life alone, or let an unlikely hero melt her heart.

Book 2 in the Damsels of Discovery series features a heroine exiled to America after her participation "in a revolutionary plot" returning home to sort her dead father's finances (naturally a surprise to one and all). The answer to her prayers might be the hero, who is offering to buy the crumbling family estate and also possibly wed her younger sister - which would also mean her mother would be cared for. So why does the hero woo'ing her sister bother her so much? 

A Wager at Midnight by Vanessa Riley

Scarlett Wilcox is willing to live out her life as a spinster if it means being able to continue her medical research to help a friend in need. After all, few husbands would tolerate her dressing as a man to attend lectures at the Royal Academy of Science. If the Duke of Torrance finds her such a specimen, she'll agree to a marriage in name only, much to the dismay of her elder sister, the Viscountess.

 

When she's unmasked at a lecture on ophthalmology, Scarlett prepares to be disgraced, but she's saved by Trinidadian-born physician Stephen Carew who claims her as a cousin. Dedicated to caring for his community, Stephen has no wish to marry a frivolous and privileged lady, no matter how many fall for his disarming accent and seductive charm. But Scarlett proves the opposite of any he’s ever met before. Yet the pressure to marry blinds them both to the chemistry growing between them, pitting their brilliant minds against their reluctant hearts—as the Duke and Viscountess await with bated breath to see who will win . . . A WAGER AT MIDNIGHT.

Book 2 in Riley's Betting Against the Duke series features a heroine secretly attending the Royal Academy of Science who is saved from scandal by a visiting physician from Trinidad. Naturally there is an attraction and naturally, this being a romance, it's complicated. 

Our Dear Miss H. is on the Case by Violet Marsh

Georgina Harrington should never have trusted her feckless cousin Percy with her most precious archaeological discovery. But no one would take her academic work seriously if they knew it was hers and not her male cousin’s. When Percy goes missing, only Georgina realizes that he is truly in danger.  To find him, she must rely on the help of his infuriating but incredibly handsome best friend. 

Although Alexander Lovett is always up for an adventure, he vows to keep his distance from Georgina, who is on his insufferable parents’ list of suitable brides for a future duke. He’s a grown man who can pick his own wife, thank you very much. But he’s surprised to find himself falling for Georgina’s shockingly bold initiative and independent thinking, which saves them from more than one deadly scrape. 

Yet as a simple kidnapping grows into a threat to the monarchy, their smoldering attraction might be snuffed out before it has a chance to ignite.  

Set during the Georgian era, our heroine uses her cousin to present her archeological discovery and he ends up going missing.  To find him she enlists the help of the hero, who agrees despite the heroine being on a short list (put together by his parents) as potential wife material. The hero has some bizarre notion of choosing his own wife - I mean, what?! Reviews on this one mention sparkling banter and the story being equally silly and serious - which means the publisher marketing this as a romantic comedy probably isn't far off (for a change...).

A Lady's Guide to Scoundrels and Gentlemen by Arden Conroy

A lady should avoid a scoundrel if she does not wish a lifetime of heartache. But sometimes hearts simply do not care about rules.

Luck strikes when least expected and Lady Vivian Winthrop finally gets a taste when an unexpected fortune is left to her and not her brother. But there’s a caveat: to keep it, she must marry within one year. As newspapers name her “Britain’s richest spinster,” men swarm her receiving room with hopes of charming her down the aisle. Vivian becomes frustrated by the incessant attention—and unfortunately, Vivian discovers she cannot identify true gentlemen from sneaky scoundrels like her own brother.

Her brother owes a shocking gambling debt to Edmond “Dantes” McNab, a scarred pugilist who owns a wild pub. With his ear to the ground, Dantes knows the truth about much of the ton. Vivian offers the man a deal he can’t resist: help her find a true gentleman to marry, and she will repay her brother’s debt in full.

It’s soon clear Dantes knows the scoundrels’ secrets because he is one himself. Unfortunately for Vivian, her heart becomes a bit too affected by the burly man. She knows well enough any affection for Dantes will end in nothing other than disaster. But sometimes one’s heart simply does not care about silly rules.

If Vivian doesn’t find a suitable gentleman soon, she may make the biggest mistake of her life and fall in love with one of the worst scoundrels in London.

Folks, we have a debut! The first in The Harp & the Thistle series, which feature "Three wild brothers from the streets of Whitechapel."  A heroine who has an inherited a fortune, but must marry within one year to claim it, soon finds herself overrun with potential "suitors." Couple that with her useless brother, she needs help weeding out the scoundrels. For that she turns to the hero, a former boxer, now pub owner, who will help her find a gentleman and in exchange she'll pay off her brother's debt to him in full.  I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

The Warrior's Bride Alliance by Denise Lynn

She needs a husband… 

So she captures one! 

Lady Gillian of Rockskill desperately needs a husband—one strong and wealthy enough to protect her castle. So she has warrior Rory of Roul captured and blackmails him into marrying her! 

Awaking in a dungeon to a marriage proposal, Rory stuns his beguiling captor with a counteroffer: to free his men and complete his mission for the king, he agrees to a temporary chaste marriage. One that can be annulled when his quest is over.  

But despite their stormy beginning, their attraction grows, and so does the temptation to claim their wedding night!

This is Lynn's return to Harlequin Historical, her first with them since 2018. It's apparently a part of her Warrior Wolves series, but I suspect it stands alone well since I'm only seeing the series mention on the author's web site (and not on either Amazon or at Harlequin). A good old fashioned medieval marriage of convenience plot - a Lady heroine needs a man to protect her castle, so when she captures a warrior, she blackmails him into marrying her. He, of course, expects to keep the marriage temporary and chaste. Ha ha ha ha!

With Love in Their Corner by Sandra Sookoo

When you want something out of life, you’ll have to fight for it.

Lewis Stapleton, eighth Earl of Lethbridge is a man hovering on the edge of breaking. Between his mother pestering him about finding a bride of high social standing, maintaining his estates and title without enough funding, and worrying over his brothers, he requires an outlet. Anger and grief haven’t been dealt with since his father’s death two years prior, so he works through those emotions while in the boxing ring. His father was a prize fighter so matching his over-large footsteps is difficult, but something must give else he’ll explode.

Miss Cecilia Dawson is tired of being an object of ridicule or allegedly not good enough for anything beyond a quick tryst. With an affinity for numbers, she keeps the books for her father’s shipping company, but is desperate for a way to defend herself against the coarse and crude men she encounters in the office near the docks. The day she steps into the Stapleton Boxing Salon while disguised as a boy rapidly becomes both the best and worst day of her life.

Despite the instant attraction between them, Lewis ignores it in favor of teaching Cecilia how to box for protection. As the summer days slip by filled with an illegal fight or two as well as activities that come far too close to courtship, the attraction spills into forbidden desire that lands them both into scandal. Distracted, they never see danger coming that puts them into a corner of peril.

Only by releasing fears and working together will they come away with a prize more valuable than anything they could imagine.

Another series starter, The Boxers of Brook Street, and another boxer hero. He's taken up boxing to deal with residual anger and grief, and she wants to learn to defend herself while working for her father's shipping company located near the docks. A forbidden attraction soon morphs into scandal and dun dun dun danger. 

Waiting for Love by Carol Coventry

If the gossips of the ton can agree on one thing, it is that Lady Olivia Taverston will marry a Peer.

Everyone expects Lady Olivia Taverston, the winsome sister of the Earl of Iversley, to be the most sought-after debutante of the London Season. Yet Olivia cares nothing for attracting suitors. Suitors lead to marriage, and marriage means leaving behind everything that she holds dear. Not even the prospect of a love match excites her. She fell in love once. It hurt. She won’t do it again. Naturally, a lady must marry, but Olivia can’t pretend to be happy about it. Especially not after he reappears—and he’s handsomer, kinder, and more annoyingly noble than ever.

Mr. Benjamin Carroll has returned to England after an admittedly harebrained attempt to make his fortune in Canada. A failed business venture not only left him bankrupt, but also made him the adoptive father of his deceased partners’ little girl. Thankfully, he has a lifeline. Jasper Taverston, the Earl of Iversley, an old Oxford chum, has offered him the job of estate steward. The only complication is Jasper’s little sister. Years ago, her infatuation with Benjamin progressed from silly to embarrassing. Of course, it’s absurd to think she could still be carrying a torch for him. She should be grown up and married by now. Except he finds she is not. Not married, that is. She is very definitely grown up.

The worst thing a lowly steward can do is to seduce his lord’s sister. Benjamin knows this. Olivia does too. But…

Defying the expectations of her family and the rules of the ton is not the worst thing a lady can do. Even worse is to surrender to them with a vengeance.

The third book in The Taverstons of Iversley series features a bankrupt hero, returned home to England, taking a job from an old friend to be his new estate steward. What he didn't plan on? That his old friend's attractive younger sister would still, inexplicably, be single. And she's still single because he once broke her heart. She's the Earl's sister, he's a lowly estate steward. Complications ensue.

The Loyalty of a Lyon by Linda Rae Sande

He’s the widowed Marquess of Hawke. She’s a wealthy spinster named for Apollo. Will a conniving cousin thwart a matchmaker’s plans to see they end up together?

Robert Strathford, Marquess of Hawke, had thought to spend his older years traveling the world with his beloved wife, but when Eleanor dies in a carriage accident, he’s left heartbroken—and broke. While he was on the Continent, his man of business made off with most of his fortune, his whereabouts unknown.

After two years of mourning both his wife and his livelihood, he’s in need of a matchmaker—his past two attempts to land a wife using the Black Widow of Whitehall failed when he couldn’t win the strange games he had to play at The Lyon’s Den. He is determined Mrs. Dove-Lyon find him a wealthy wife. Will the third time be the charm?

Spinster Apollonia Alexander, the only daughter of a wealthy trader, has lived her entire life on the move. Her father chose to take her with him when he traveled to various ports and marketplaces, negotiating with ships’ captains and export houses for fabrics and trinkets for the British market. When he suddenly dies, she is devastated. Although her inheritance is substantial, her cousin inherits the Alexander Trading Company. Christopher will end up with her and her fortune if she’s unable to land a husband—she needs a male relative to access her funds.

Not about to marry her cousin, Apollonia seeks the services of a matchmaker. Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon promises a respectable marriage to a loyal man if she can handle life with a Hawke.

But will he be able to handle her?

Part of the Lyon's Den continuity series (76 books long!), features an older hero heartbroken over his wife's unexpected death, with the added complication that his man of business has robbed him blind. After two years he decides it's time to remarry, preferably a woman with some money. Enter, stage right, our heroine, a spinster and the daughter of a wealthy trader. She's got a pile of money but a terrible cousin with his own ideas, which means she needs a husband, and fast.

The Duke's Lance by C.H. Admirand

“Who in the world would marry me, just to ensure that

I stayed at Wyndmere Hall?”

“That would be me, lass.”

The winsome, ebony-haired lass with the violet faery-eyes captures O’Malley’s heart when she steps down from the carriage, but it is the ugly dark bruise on her cheek that has his protective instincts offering his strength and the protection of his name.

O’Malley’s stubborn pride takes a hit when the lass thanks him, but refuses his offer.

Helen Langley accompanied her mistress, the duke’s ward Emily, to Wyndmere Hall after a perilous journey from London. The broad-shouldered, green-eyed, handsome giant barely knows her, yet offers her marriage.

Helen cannot accept O’Malley’s offer, her past could ruin their future!

O’Malley is willing to wait when she leaves for the Borderlands intent on securing a position as a companion. But the man who murdered Emily’s father has Helen in his sights and follows her. When she is abducted—twice—Helen must decide whether to trust O’Malley and accept his offer, or keep her past hidden and live with the pain of her broken heart for the rest of her life.

Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past The Duke’s Lance before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.

This is the 12th book in The Duke's Guard series, which features the Irish O'Malley brothers and off-shoots of cousins. It's the kind of series where the author keeps a family tree running on her website. He's one of the Duke's guards, she's a lady's maid with ambitions to be a companion.  One small problem, she's in dun, dun, dun danger! He's willing to marry her to protect her, she's not so sure - that is until she gets kidnapped, not once...but twice.

Whew! Everything is a lot right now, but take your Aunt Wendy's advice. Take a moment to find some joy. Whether that's eating ice cream for breakfast, buying that new lipstick or treating yourself to some new Unusual Historicals. What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to reading?

Review: Murder In Westminster

2024 has been the year I've desperately been trying to clean out languishing mystery and suspense ARCs from my Kindle. While I'm not going to be totally caught up by the end of the year, I've put a serious dent in that pile and next up on the hit parade is Murder in Westminster by Vanessa Riley.  Riley has also written romances and historical fiction, but this is the first book in her Lady Worthing historical mystery series.

Lady Abigail Worthing is at the theater with her cousin getting ready to enact a bit of subterfuge in order to slip away to a secret abolitionist meeting. The movement has stalled out politically (in large part due to Haitian independence...) and Abigail is hoping to jumpstart the cause by sharing first-hand accounts on the atrocities her husband has seen while traveling.  She slips away from the theater only to get word that 1) the meeting is cancelled and 2) her estranged sister is supposedly on her way to Abigail's home to talk.  Abigail hurries home to meet her sister only to discover the dead body of her insufferable neighbor's estranged wife lying in her back yard.

Stapleton Henderson is the insufferable neighbor who was erecting the fence that his wife, Juliet, was found hanging from. The fence was going up because Abigail's yippy, ill-trained dog wasn't getting on with Henderson's well-trained, much larger greyhounds.  Anyway, Juliet was his estranged wife but was found on Abigail's property, oh and Abigail is a black woman. Needless to say they both have very real concerns that the magistrate is going to try to pin the murder on one of them so they sorta, kinda, team up.  Mainly though this is Abigail's show. With nothing but time on her hands, and her husband off god knows where, she's gotten in the habit of helping the magistrate solve a few cases.

There's a good story here. The world-building is excellent. It was nice to read a diverse account of Regency England during this period and the state of the abolitionist movement at that time.  Unfortunately it all suffers from a preponderance of backstory that's just dropped in and never fully developed.  How bad is it?  Let's put it this way, before I started this book I "knew" it was Book 1 in a series. However after a few chapters I thought, "I must be wrong. Let me look up to see if I picked up Book 2 or 3 by mistake."

Narrator: Wendy did, in fact, pick up Book 1.

Here's some of what is floating around the periphery:

• Abigail has second sight and visions - inherited from her Jamaican mother

• Abigail has helped the magistrate solve multiple crimes in the past. That's pretty much it. It's hinted at that the crimes were "thefts" but if you want more detail you're out of luck.

• Abigail apparently saved her husband from some false accusation? And when he was freed he married her, but then promptly took off to sail the world leaving her alone. What? Huh?

• Right around the time of her marriage, her sister got upset about something or other (What you might ask? No idea. Literally NO IDEA) and took off. Nobody knows where she is except for Abigail's godfather apparently.

• Speaking of, sounds like the godfather was in love with Abigail's mother but instead she married Abigail's father and honestly I have no idea what the point of any of this is given so little of it is actually fully addressed by the end of this book.

Backstory is fine. In fact it's needed with most stories as it helps with character development. The problem is that there's a ton of it just dropped in here and none of it is fleshed out. At all. Presumably it may be fodder for the rest of the series, but all it does here is distract from the main plot.

You know, the dead woman found hanging on a half constructed fence. Remember her?

The world-building is certainly good enough to leave me curious for the next book in the series but I was so frustrated by the lack of care with the backstory I'm not sure if I'll continue on. All in all, this was a bit of a frustrating reading experience for me.

Final Grade = C-

March Series Madness: Unusual Historicals Landing in March 2022

There's that old saying about March roaring in like a lion and I don't know about you all but it can roar all it wants, I'm too busy trying to keep my head above water. Between a romance reading slump (That might be starting to loosen it's grip on me? Jury is still out...) and The Day Job being very busy, unless it's raining locusts from the sky (which given the last couple of years - maybe I should hedge my bets?), I'm unlikely to notice the weather, roaring or otherwise. What I am still noticing is Unusual Historicals and this is the month for you if you love series (which, if you don't, you better learn to because romance is full of 'em).  Here's the March releases that caught my eye.

 

Red Blossom in Snow by Jeannie Lin

Magistrate Li Chen harbors a secret. One that could destroy his hard-earned reputation, as well as his growing passion for the talented courtesan, Song Yi.

Li Chen’s duty to his family and the Emperor must come before the desires of his heart, but when a stranger to the city is found dead near the House of Heavenly Peaches, where Song Yi is indentured, the complicated nature of their relationship becomes the least of his troubles. 

For Song Yi, Magistrate Li’s gentlemanly, late night conversations provide a welcome change from the games of courtship she is accustomed to, but his reserved attention won’t pay the bills. When one of her courtesan-sisters goes missing at the same time a stranger is killed in the pleasure quarter, she and Li Chen embark on an investigation as well as a passionate affair. But the riddle they uncover goes deeper than they could have imagined, and mysteries from their pasts may shatter any hope for the future.

This is the 5th book in Lin's Lotus Palace Mysteries series - and pfft mysteries. Yes, sure we've got a mystery but these are also romances. What Lin does very well is write "longing." Bless her, her characters excel at "pining."  I'm a sucker for pining.  This one sounds great - a magistrate falls for an indentured courtesan and they become embroiled in a mystery. Ah, forbidden, complicated passion. Gimme, gimme, gimme.

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy

The new footman doesn’t seem to know his place… 

London’s most renowned mapmaker is a woman...but nobody knows it. If anyone discovers that Rose Fleming is the power and talent behind the family business, the scandal could ruin them. Rose’s secret is tested by the arrival of a handsome new footman who shows far too much interest in his new mistress. Rose battles an intense attraction to the enigmatic servant, but maintaining a proper distance isn’t easy when you and temptation live under the same roof. 

She makes him forget he has a score to settle… Few have met the reclusive half-Arab Marquess of Brandon, who is rumored to live with a harem of beauties among his mother’s people near Jerusalem. Brandon couldn’t care less what society thinks of him, or that his fellow peers are disdainful of his common blood, but he won’t stand for being robbed. That’s why he's disguised himself as a footman in the home of a respected mapmaker who cheated Brandon out of his land. But the nobleman's plans for retribution are complicated by his growing attraction for the secretive lady of the house. 

When Brandon uncovers the shocking truth about Rose’s role in his stolen birthright, can a love born of deception really conquer all?

This is the third book in Clandestine Affairs series and repeat after me: THE HEROINE IS A MAPMAKER!  And naturally the fact that she's a mapmaker and keeping the family business afloat must be kept secret otherwise? OMG SCANDAL!  So what does our girl do? She falls for the footman. Because of course she does.  But the footman turns out to not be a footman but instead a Marquess with a stolen birthright. Because, of course. Welcome to Romancelandia y'all! 

A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie by Vanessa Riley

For adventurous heiress Cecilia Charity Thomas, marrying charming military lieutenant Viscount Gantry to save him from danger—and herself from mercenary suitors—was a painful mistake. Instead of a passionate life together, she's stranded at his chilly mansion with his unaccepting family. Worse, she finds he is actually a spy dedicated to duty over wedlock—and secrets over trust. So when she hears her sister has been driven to her death, Cecilia is determined to expose the powerful man responsible. Assisted by The Widow's Grace, she flees to Covent Garden with a new identity. But can she elude her formidable husband—even as the desire between them continues to flare even hotter? 

 Always calm, forever controlled, Gantry has put everything aside to hunt down the traitor who nearly killed him. It’s only when Cecilia leaves that he realizes his real duty should have been to her. As she continually outwits him through London's most perilous streets, Gantry realizes his wife is a resourceful, courageous woman he longs to truly know. But when her pursuit threatens influential enemies, will his and Cecilia's only chance to gain justice separate them once and for all?

After taking a victory lap with her historical fiction novel Island Queen, Riley is back with the third book in her Rogues and Remarkable Women series. This time out the secret society, The Widow's Grace, help our heroine temporarily escape her disaster of a convenient marriage to seek vengeance against the man she believes is responsible for her sister's death.  And naturally, that's exactly the moment her erstwhile husband realizes what's really important in life - namely, her. 

The Highlander's Tactical Marriage by Jenni Fletcher

A strategic marriage… 

…with his runaway bride! 

Coira Barron is the last woman Fergus MacMillan would choose to marry—he’s never forgiven her for running away with another man on the eve of their wedding six years ago. Now an alliance with widowed Coira is crucial, and Fergus is shocked to discover his new wife is nowhere near as disloyal as he believed. Protecting her and his clan are his priority, but can he protect his own heart?

The second book in the multi-author Highland Alliances trilogy finds our hero reuniting with the woman who jilted him at the altar six years ago to, yep you guessed it, to try that walk down the aisle thing again. She's now, naturally, a widow. Alliance aside, he's unthrilled with the idea only to realize that what he thinks he knows is really not the case.

To Wed A Viking Warrior by Michelle Styles 

 

A convenient marriage 

Could save them both… 

Battle-weary Viking Lord Hafual plans to tend his lands, raise his son and recover from the traumatic death of his wife. So nobody is more surprised than him when his neighbor, Lady Elene, publicly announces their intention to wed! Learning the danger Elene faces if he refuses stirs feelings of protectiveness, and a longing in Hafual he’d long since buried. So, for better or worse, he’ll make Elene his bride…

Styles is back with the third book in her Vows and Vikings series and our battle-weary Viking hero is ready for a break. He's grieving for a dead wife and he's got a young son to take care of. So imagine his surprise when the heroine shows up and announces to all and sundry they're to be wed!  Gotta love a resourceful heroine, she's in danger, she needs a protector, and she's going to leverage one into service.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

Spring Bouquet: Unusual Historical Picks for April 2021

After whining about my lack of eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine last month, it's like the universe heard me. Or maybe the Pfizer Gods?  I had my first shot on Saturday and other than a sore arm, I've been fine. OK, so I was wiped out with fatigue Saturday afternoon, but honestly that's pretty much been my constant state for the past year so....maybe she's born with it, maybe it's the vaccine?  So in honor of being one step closer to being protected, I thought it was time to celebrate with some unusual historicals - and boy howdy, there's a bunch to choose from this month!

   

Caught in a Cornish Scandal by Eleanor Webster

Will saving a stranger 

Start a scandal? 

With her family facing ruin, and desperate to avoid an arranged marriage, Lady Millie Lansdowne must work with smugglers. Millie knows smuggling isn’t going to be plain sailing, but rescuing a mysterious gentleman in a storm embroils her in a thrilling family drama! Helping handsome stranger Sam recover is a risk to her plans—and her emotions. He makes her feel alive, but she will be gambling on her family’s future if she goes with her heart…

A heroine with her back against the wall turns to smuggling and inconveniently (well, isn't it always?) falls in love.  I loved Webster's A Debutante in Disguise (another unusual historical!) and am looking forward to this one. 

The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan

Captain Grayson Hunter knows the battle to complete the first worldwide telegraphic network will be fierce, and he intends to win it by any means necessary. When he hears about a reclusive genius who has figured out how to slash the cost of telegraphic transmissions, he vows to do whatever it takes to get the man in his employ. 

Except the reclusive genius is not a man, and she’s not looking for employment. 

Amelia Smith was taken in by English missionaries as a child. She’s not interested in Captain Hunter’s promises or his ambitions. But the harder he tries to convince her, the more she realizes that there is something she wants from him. She wants everything. And she’ll have to crack the frozen shell he’s made of his heart to get it.

Oh my, a hero upended by his assumptions finds out the "reclusive genius" he seeks is actually a woman.  And wouldn't you know it? The woman seems very not interested.  Milan is back with this third book in her Worth Saga. 

Book of Love by Erin Satie

She’s trying to make ends meet. He’s out for a bit of fun. 

Cordelia Kelly is busy, focused, worried about the future of her fledgling bookbinding business. When a handsome man stops her on the street to pester her with questions, she gives him the consideration he deserves: none. That handsome man happens to be the Duke of Stroud, and he finds Cordelia’s hostility hilarious. He gives chase, if only for the pleasure of provoking her again. 

He thinks life is a game. She doesn’t play around. 

Within days of meeting Cordelia, Stroud sets a marching band on a matchmaking mama, defaces a local monument, and ropes Cordelia into a round of his favorite game. In that same time, Cordelia stitches together the complete works of Mary Wollstonecraft, enthusiastically devotes herself to a petition demanding expanded legal rights for married women, and beats Stroud at his own game. 

She defies all expectations. So does he. 

Most people dismiss Stroud as a fool—himself included. When Cordelia sees past his lighthearted facade, he’s terrified and also... in love? Stroud barges into Cordelia’s life, offering her all the material and sensual temptations she’s learned to do without. She usually has willpower to spare, but turning him down takes all of it, and then some. He’s oddly irresistible. 

Or maybe they’re just perfect for one another.

Oh Lord, this is one of those tropes I love that really isn't a trope per se.  The earnest heroine who finds herself entering the orbit of a hero who thinks life is one big party - or perhaps one big joke. Plus the heroine is a bookbinder - I mean, how can you not love that?  

An Earl, the Girl and a Toddler by Vanessa Riley

Surviving a shipwreck en route to London from Jamaica was just the start of Jemina St. Maur's nightmare. Suffering from amnesia, she was separated from anyone who might know her, and imprisoned in Bedlam. She was freed only because barrister Daniel Thackery, Lord Ashbrook, was convinced to betray the one thing he holds dear: the law. Desperate to unearth her true identity, Jemina’s only chance is to purloin dangerous secrets with help from The Widow’s Grace—which means staying steps ahead of the formidable Daniel, no matter how strongly she is drawn to him . . . 

Married only by proxy, now widowed by shipwreck, Daniel is determined to protect his little stepdaughter, Hope, from his family’s scandalous reputation. That’s why he has dedicated himself not just to the law, but to remaining as proper, upstanding—and boring—as can be. But the closer he becomes to the mysterious, alluring Jemina, the more Daniel is tempted to break the very rule of law to which he's devoted his life. And as ruthless adversaries close in, will the truth require him, and Jemina, to sacrifice their one chance at happiness?

A heroine who survives a shipwreck (!) only to get amnesia and a stay at Bedlam for her troubles.  That's England for you - putting their best foot forward. I've a sucker for heroes trying to live down reputations (their own, their family's, whatever...) and reading between the lines of this blurb I'm detecting some Drama Llama.  Sign me up!

The Warrior's Innocent Captive by Ella Matthews

An impossible choice: 

His family or love 

Born into different worlds, formidable steward Erik Ward could only admire sheltered noblewoman Linota Leofric from afar. Now he must escort Linota on a dangerous journey—a route that could also enable Erik to finally find his missing sister. Only when Linota is kidnapped, Erik must stop at nothing to save her, and ultimately faces an impossible choice: his vulnerable sister—or the courageous beauty in his arms…

This third book in Matthews' House of Leofric series is a road romance featuring a couple of very different classes.  A Wendy Top Tip - if you love road romances you really need to be reading medieval settings.  The sub genre is ripe with them! 

The Soldier and the Spy by Annabelle Greene

A beholden man finds himself falling for the war hero he’s destined to double-cross. 

Three hundred pounds for one night of protection. It’s a job offer, but it’s also a ruse. Captain Benjamin Frakes, war hero and de facto head of the Society of Beasts—a club for gentlemen who prefer gentlemen—is tempted to turn it down. But August Weatherby, the sexy, brazen stranger making the offer, has captivated him completely. 

August is hardly the flush flirt he claims to be, however. An indebted man, desperate to save his infirm sister, August makes an ideal pawn for a lord eager to bring down the Society of Beasts once and for all. But August’s charge to find evidence against Frakes is at odds with his own virgin desire to entice the captain into showing him the true meaning of pleasure. 

As August’s infiltration pushes him deeper into the beguiling world of delights behind the Society’s closed doors, he and Frakes discover new ways to push the boundaries of their own cravings. But with mounting pressure to complete his devious mission, August finds himself torn between the man his heart yearns for and the sister whose life depends on his betrayal.

Greene continues her Society of Beasts series for Carina Press with a twist on the bodyguard trope - a war hero takes a job he's unsure of only to find out he's guarding a man who is essentially working with a villain to bring down his gentlemen's club.

The Defiant Wife by Jess Michaels

Pippa Montgomery never thought her life would go like this. When she found out her late husband was a bigamist and had been murdered, she thought nothing could ever be the same. When she met his brother Rhys, the Earl of Leighton, she knew it. 

Now they must navigate a scandal that will tear them both apart. They must make decisions that will affect the illegitimate child Pippa’s late husband fathered behind her back. And ultimately they must fight, for as long as they can, the simmering desire between them that is bound to explode. 

Two people, broken by a desperate scandal. They can only turn to each other, but they know they can never be together. Will they overcome the obstacles in their way and find a way to love one another? Or will the last consequence of one man’s conduct be the loss of a love that could last all time?

The second book in Michaels' The Three Mrs series features Wife #2 who has found out her murdered husband was a bigamist and she's embroiled in an inconvenient (again, isn't it always?) attraction with her brother-in-law. 

Continue to stay safe and stay healthy Romancelandia. Get your vaccine if/when you can.  And may many amazing unusual historicals await you!  What are you looking forward to reading this month?

Unusual Historicals Top Picks for June 2020

After a strange, upended spring, we now find ourselves in a strange, upended summer with most of us wondering what the heck autumn will bring. How much is my budget going to tank at the library? Will the kids be back in a traditional classroom setting come September? When might life feel normal enough to take a couple of vacation days again? Uncertain times call for snatching moments of joy when you can - and I think I speak for most of Romancelandia when I say books are a great way to find some joy. Here are some unusual historicals releasing in June that caught my eye:

A Duke, the Lady and a Baby by Vanessa Riley

Created by a shrewd countess, The Widow’s Grace is a secret society with a mission: to help ill-treated widows regain their status, their families, and even find true love again—or perhaps for the very first time . . .  

When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband's mysterious suicide, she lost everything: her newborn son, Lionel, her fortune—and her freedom. Falsely imprisoned, she risks her life to be near her child—until The Widow's Grace gets her hired as her own son’s nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his military strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor—and unexpected passion . . .  

A wounded military hero, Busick is determined to resolve his dead cousin’s dangerous financial dealings for Lionel’s sake. But his investigation is a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she's breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between formidable enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust—but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together? 

 Riley’s latest kicks off a series about a secret society that comes to the aid of mistreated widows and features a done-wrong heroine who loses everything when she dares to question the circumstances of her husband’s death. A mystery, a headstrong heroine, and a wounded hero. Sign me up!

Her Lady’s Honor by Renee Dahlia

The war might be over, but the battle for love has just begun.  

When Lady Eleanor “Nell” St. George arrives in Wales after serving as a veterinarian in the Great War, she doesn’t come alone. With her is her former captain’s beloved warhorse, which she promised to return to him—and a series of recurring nightmares that torment both her heart and her soul. She wants only to complete her task, then find refuge with her family, but when Nell meets the captain’s eldest daughter, all that changes.  

Beatrice Hughes is resigned to life as the dutiful daughter. Her mother grieves for the sons she lost to war; the care of the household and remaining siblings falls to Beatrice, and she manages it with a practical efficiency. But when a beautiful stranger shows up with her father’s horse, practicality is the last thing on her mind. Despite the differences in their social standing, Beatrice and Nell give in to their unlikely attraction, finding love where they least expect it. But not everything in the captain’s house is as it seems.  

When Beatrice’s mother disappears under mysterious circumstances, Nell must overcome her preconceptions to help Beatrice, however she’s able. Together they must find out what really happened that stormy night in the village, before everything Beatrice loves is lost—including Nell. 

It’s addressed a bit with a throwaway line in the blurb, but having finished this book very recently what struck me most about it was how much the author addresses class issues as part of the romantic conflict. Nell is a Lady and Beatrice is a woman with no life of her own, trapped by the circumstances of her birth. If the thought of reading another Duke fall in love with a chambermaid without a wisp of consequences has given you a case of the permanent eye-rolls, consider this book your antidote.

Captured By Her Enemy Knight by Nicole Locke

Captured by her enemy…  

Falling for the man  

Cressida Howe, the Archer, is a well-tuned weapon. But she’s also a woman captivated by a man—Eldric of Hawskmoor, the warrior knight her father ordered her to kill. Instead, for years, Cressida has simply watched him… 

Now she’s been captured by her formidable enemy, and her well-ordered world comes crashing down, for Eldric is even more compelling up close. Cressida curses her traitorous heart—this assassin has fallen for her target! 

This book has rolled around in Wendy Catnip. Questions of loyalty, a warrior heroine, and a mysterious knight that her father wants dead for some reason. Get in my eyeballs now.

Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian

Will Sedgwick can’t believe that after months of searching for his oldest friend, Martin Easterbrook is found hiding in an attic like a gothic nightmare. Intent on nursing Martin back to health, Will kindly kidnaps him and takes him to the countryside to recover, well away from the world.  

Martin doesn’t much care where he is or even how he got there. He’s much more concerned that the man he’s loved his entire life is currently waiting on him hand and foot, feeding him soup and making him tea. Martin knows he’s a lost cause, one he doesn’t want Will to waste his life on.  

As a lifetime of love transforms into a tender passion both men always desired but neither expected, can they envision a life free from the restrictions of the past, a life with each other? 

The next book in Sebastian’s Sedgwick’s series gives readers a fairy tale spin - although it’s a prince locked away in a tower (or attic, whatever) opposed to a princess. Library Journal gave it a starred review and called it a “life-affirming final act to the trilogy”

An Outlaw’s Honor by Terri Brisbin

When the only man she can trust is known for his dishonorable past, what could go wrong?

A Dishonorable Man
Thomas Brisbois of Kelso has only one goal when he arrives at the tournament--to defeat the only knight who ever bested him in battle. If he succeeds, the Scottish king will return to him his lands, his honor and his life. He has little interest in other prizes, and even less when he learns that the lord for whom his rival fights has included a daughter among the spoils at stake in their contest-- a lovely daughter with no desire to play the pawn, or to see her father's champion win. She is a distraction, all the more after she explains her own ideas about which knight shall have her, and how and when.  

A Desperate Woman
Annora may be a pawn in her father’s plans but she has no intention of letting that happen without a fight of her own. When she sees the frank desire in Thomas’ gaze for her, she makes her own offer—she’ll help him win if he’ll let her go. . . after he beds her. Her plans go awry when she discovers the truth of the man beneath the armor. The man who had lost everything and struggles to regain his life.  

Brisbin is a seasoned pro in medieval historical romance, so I always know I’ll be in good hands when I pick up one of her stories. Part of a multi-author series centered around a tournament, I love historical heroines who find themselves as pawns of men’s machinations but scheme to throw a wrench in the works. Naturally, in romance, schemes never seem to go according to plan.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to reading?

Top 4 Unusual Historicals for May 2018

Is there anything worse than a reading slump? Because, that, my friends is exactly where I’m living these days. If it weren’t for revisiting some old favorites on audio I’d literally be getting nothing read. But one thing sure to cheer me up? Browsing for books. Even if, you know, I’m not reading them. May is kind of quiet when it comes to not-your-usual historicals, but there’s potential all the same.

Kept by the Viking by Gina Conkle 

Loyalty to the Brotherhood comes before all. Including women.  

Formidable Viking leader Rurik knows the law. His loyalty to the Forgotten Sons is his bond, and no woman will threaten what he’s built from the ground up. But the Sons are a roving band of Vikings, and Rurik is growing restless—so when Normandy’s chieftain offers land, the proposal intrigues him. And the sultry Parisian thrall he finds in his tent intrigues him even more…  

Safira is cunning and clever and full of secrets. Rurik’s men have no interest in securing her safe passage home, but, piqued with lust, Rurik views Safira’s wiles as a captivating challenge—one he’s determined to conquer, even if lying with her is as defiant as it is inevitable.  

Traveling with Safira has been a fantasy come true—what started as lust is quickly turning to the kind of partnership Rurik could never have dreamed. But their arrival in foreign lands marks a new chapter, one that demands a Viking wife. With impossible decisions to be made, Rurik’s alliances are fraying, and past promises may not be enough to save him from having to betray those he’s sworn loyalty to—including Safira. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a literal unicorn. A historical romance published by Carina Press. How momentous is this? Let me put it this way - if you go to the Carina website, click on the Historical Romance link, and sort by publication date? This is the first historical they’ve published since September 2016. Two years ago. I’m one-clicking this on principle.

Love’s Sweet Melody by Kianna Alexander 

Autumn, 1946

Warner Hughes returns home from war with the lingering effects of battle. Abandoned by his sweetheart and ostracized by his community, he feels he has no real home. 

Elizabeth “Betty” Daniels has one love: music. Betty’s family wants to see her married, busy with affairs of the home, leaving no time to pursue her art.

Warner’s only solace is in the sweet melody of Betty’s music. To Betty’s mind, marriage means giving up the freedom to pursue her art. Can Warner let love in, and can Betty make room for love? 

The latest in the Decades: A Journey of African American Romance series chugs along with Alexander’s entry set post-World War II. This sounds incredibly promising, with a returning veteran with, from the sounds of it, PTSD and a musically-inclined heroine. Alexander is no stranger to historicals, having written contributions for the Daughters of a Nation and The Brightest Day anthologies.

The Bashful Bride by Vanessa Riley 

A friend's newspaper advertisement for a groom nets the most famous actor in London, Arthur Bex. Shy heiress Ester Croome proposes to elope with the handsome man, who she's secretly loved for two years, in order to escape an impending engagement arranged by her overbearing family.

Trying to outlive the shadow of his villainous uncle, Bex needs to marry quickly—to a woman of good character. And smart, beautiful Ester fits the bill. But a harrowing trip to Gretna Green and dangerous abolition rallies prove to be a more treacherous stage than either imagined. Infatuation and a mutual love for Shakespeare might not be enough to bind a couple looking to outrun the chains and secrets of family and the past. 

The second, and final, book in the author’s Advertisements for Love duology, features that most tempting of reader catnip - a road romance! I also love that we’re getting an actor hero looking to outrun his family’s reputation and a heroine who has secretly been in love with him for years.

Bound for Eden by Tess LeSue

Alexandra Barratt has found the perfect man--it's a shame he thinks she's a boy... 

Fleeing from the murderous Grady brothers, Alexandra disguises herself as a boy and joins a frontier party heading West, with her brother and sister in tow. The wagon train is captained by the irresistible Luke Slater, who's never met a woman he couldn't charm. 

At first, Alex can't believe the way every woman in town falls at Luke's feet, including her suddenly flirtatious sister. But when she sees him naked in the bathtub, she finds herself swooning over him too. If only she could wash the muck of her face and show him who she really is. Unfortunately she has more pressing concerns... 

The Gradys aren't about to let Alex, nor the small fortune she stole from them, slip through their fingers. Only by maintaining her ruse does she have a chance of protecting her family. But fate, it seems, is conspiring against her. 

This debut has Old School written all over it - I mean, hello? We’ve got a chick-in-pants story, and she spies the hero naked in the bathtub. I’m...well, I’m reserving judgement on this one. But I love historical westerns, and we have a debut author. I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and give this one a whirl. Plus, you know, another road romance and a heroine on the run. I’m only human.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to this month?

Top 5 Unusual Historicals for March 2018

March seems to be roaring in like a lion for most of us in North America and having once lived in an area prone to 70 degrees one day, blizzard the next, I know the importance of having warm blankets, emergency lighting, and plenty of books at the ready - you know, just in case.  This month’s highlights in Unusual Historicals features a lot of variety, including two of my personal favorites - the 1920s and a new western!

All That Jazz!

Love’s Serenade by Sheryl Lister

Escaping an arranged marriage, Leigh Jones flees her southern hometown for Harlem's vibrant jazz scene to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. She finds more than she expected, namely Miles Cooper. The smooth-talking musician walked out on her three years ago, taking her music and her heart with him. Leigh has no intentions of falling for Miles or his charms again, until he tempts her with the one thing she can’t resist: a recording contract. But when her past comes calling, she realizes Miles is the one person who can save her from a man who won’t take no for an answer. 

Miles isn’t one for putting down roots or staying in one place for longer than a season. Yet, memories of Leigh's sultry voice, beauty and sass make him long for the life and love he forfeited. Having walked away once, but never again, Miles sets out to prove he's a changed man willing to go to any lengths to protect his woman. He's determined to show Leigh, one passionate note at a time that the music they make together will last a lifetime.

I adore the 1920s as a setting for historical romance because it’s such a fascinating time period in women’s history.  As if that catnip weren’t enough, I love musical backdrops and reunited lovers (where one of those lovers needs his comeuppance).  This appears to be Lister’s first published historical, and I’m curious to see how she handles the time period.

From Russia, With Love!

From Governess to Countess by Marguerite Kaye

The scandalous truth about the count’s new mistress! 

Count Aleksei Derevenko has hired governess Allison Galbraith for her skills as a herbalist, not a mistress! But when rumors spread, Allison is more shocked by her wanton reaction to Aleksei—inscrutable and impossibly handsome, his icy blue eyes promise white-hot nights of sin. She knows too well how fragile her reputation is, but will the price of their passion be worth paying?

Kaye is one of my favorites in the Harlequin Historical stable, and this kicks off her new series, Matches Made in Scandal.  This story is set in St. Petersburg and features a down-on-her-luck herbalist heroine masquerading as a governess.  There’s also a murder mystery afoot!  I’m really excited to dive into this one!

Smuggler!

Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh

For a shameless libertine and a wily smuggler in the London Underground, marriage is more than convenience—it’s strategy... 

Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers . . . until a wealthy mentor leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation? He must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect. 

Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority—she’s in London to sell her new shipment of illicit goods—but she’s desperate for funds to keep her smuggling operation afloat. When a handsome earl offers to wed her and send her back to Cornwall with a hefty allowance, Tamsyn agrees. After all, her secrets could land her in prison and an attentive, love-struck spouse could destroy everything. 

But when an unexpected proviso in the will grants Tamsyn control of the inheritance, their arrangement becomes anything but convenient. Now, Kit’s counting on his countess to make his wildest dreams a reality and he plans to convince her, one pleasurable seduction at a time.

I have complicated feelings about Avon’s cover art - which is to say I hate their historical romance covers roughly 90% of the time.  But this cover?  It has haunted me since the moment I laid eyes on it.  I love it.  The wind-swept heroine, the jewel tones, and did I mention green is my favorite color?  Anyway, I also love that the heroine is the smuggler in this story!  OMG, where has this role reversal been all my life?  Leigh writes interesting historicals and I always appreciate her lighter touch while not throwing out the history with the baby’s bathwater.

Western!

Bright Montana Sky by Debra Holland

Sweetwater Springs, Montana 1896 

Jilted seamstress Constance Taylor travels to Sweetwater Springs to live with her estranged father, the livery stable owner. She plans to open a dressmaking shop and bring sophisticated clothing styles to the frontier town. 

Doctor Angus Cameron is bitter and discouraged from his work with upper class Londoners and the wretched poor in the East End slums. He arrives in Sweetwater Springs to join the medical practice of his brother, the town doctor. 

Sparks fly when Constance and Angus clash over her fashionable creations, which he believes are unhealthy. Every encounter worsens their relationship, and the pair fights their ill-suited attraction. For love to grow, two stubborn souls must call a truce to their battle of wills. 

As always, Debra Holland enchants readers with her warm, uplifting portrayal of life and love in a small town. 

I recently read a prequel novella to this series and really enjoyed it, so I’m definitely curious to read more Holland.  The series seems to fall into the “cute western small town” mode, as opposed to the “will we survive the winter or get murdered by outlaws” mode, and I love the premise of this one.  For Kindle Unlimited users, this entire series is available to make all your binge-reading dreams come true.

Bonus Story!

A Bittersweet Moment by Vanessa Riley

A second son must find his place in the world, but can he trust his heart and not the heavy-handed antics of his father, the Earl of Crisdon. 

Ewan Fitzwilliam needs his life to change. Unwilling to follow in the footsteps of his abusive father, he gathered the strength to break free. Saving a young flower picker from troubles upon his father's estate may prove the opportunity he needs to become a man of honor. 

Theodosia wants a better life, and she intends to build a flower business that caters to the perfumers in Town, but can she trust a rich man's son to teach her better diction to impress potential clients? Or will she learn a different lesson, succumbing to the dangerous attraction she feels for the tortured playwright?

If you couldn’t get enough of Riley’s The Bittersweet Bride, featured in February's column, you’ll be happy to see that there’s now a short story prequel featuring the same couple!  This looks to give more insight into the reunited couple’s backstory and provide a glimpse into the heroine’s life prior to her inheriting an estate.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to this month?

Note: Unusual Historicals is now cross-posted at the Love in Panels site.  Stop on by and see them sometime!

Top 5 Unusual Historicals For February 2018

This month marks a new venture, of sorts, for my Unusual Historicals column.  It will now be cross-posted over at Love in the Panels!  Suzanne and I worked together at Heroes & Heartbreakers (RIP), and this seemed like a happy marriage of getting more eyeballs on new historical romance titles (always my nefarious goal!).  So what is catching my eye this month?  So glad you asked!

Westerns Galore!

The Cowboy Who Came Calling by Linda Broday

A Former Texas Ranger on a mission
A determined woman slowly losing her sight
A love neither could have predicted
...and a danger that may steal their happy ending before it can even begin.

Glory Day may be losing her vision, but that doesn't mean she'll ever stop fighting. Determined to provide for her struggling family, she confronts an outlaw with a price on his head. But when a mysterious cowboy gets between her and her target, Glory accidentally shoots him instead. Flustered, she has no option but to take the handsome stranger home to treat his wounds.

Former Texas Ranger Luke McClain didn't plan to fall in love, but there's no denying the strength of Glory's will or the sweetness of her heart. But Glory's been burned before, and Luke will have to reach into the depths of his own battered soul to convince her to take a chance...

This is a reprint, originally published by Dorchester and now reissued by Sourcebooks with a lovely new cover.  I reviewed the Dorchester release an online lifetime ago, and back then I found this an enjoyable story with a mix of folksy charm and grittier elements.

Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir by Lauri Robinson

To claim his heir…

…he must marry his enemy!

Gabe Callaway is outraged when feisty Janette Parker lands on his doorstep with her orphaned niece—though he soon realizes little Ruby is heir to his ranch! If Janette wants money, he’ll pay her off to keep the little girl in her rightful place. But all Janette wants is Ruby… Will Gabe do whatever it takes to claim his heir—even marry Janette?

It’s a Harlequin Historical western, which means I’m obligated by some unwritten law to add this to my TBR Mountain Range (hey, I don’t make this stuff up!).  Also, color me intrigued.  My first instinct was move this set-up to a contemporary setting and it could be published by Harlequin Desire.  One-click!

A Gambler’s Pleasure by Michelle Beattie

Ten years after strolling out of Marietta without a backward glance, Mitch McCall wins a land deed in a game of poker that has him returning to his hometown, ready to collect his winnings. A few weeks later, he's surprised when he doesn't want to leave. Not only is he working a saloon and unknowingly putting down roots, he's also trying to convince the town's good girl that he's not the rake she believes he is. But love isn't a game and if the successful gambler wants to win, he'll have to bet it all.

Melissa lives her life to please her parents. Suffering from their son's abandonment, Melissa puts her own desires and dreams aside to save them more heartache. But a late night encounter with the completely unsuitable Mitch McCall changes everything. With one night becoming many, Mitch helps her uncover the woman she really is and dares her to chase her dreams. But when shocking news arrives about her brother, will Melissa retreat back into her peacemaker role or will she fight for the man she loves?

It’s like there’s Wendy catnip sprinkled all over this book.  You’ve got a rascally hero who is really a good guy and a heroine weighted down by a sense of obligation.  And it’s a western.  One-click!

Across the Pond!

The Bittersweet Bride by Vanessa Riley

Widow Theodosia Cecil needs a husband to help protect her son. The former flower seller turned estate owner posts an ad in the newspaper, and no one is more surprised than she when her first love, the man she thought dead, reappears.

Ewan Fitzwilliam has been at war for six years. Now, the second son of a powerful earl is back but his beloved Theo needs a husband and will not consider him. She believes Ewan left her—in desperate straits—so she denies the feelings she still harbors for the handsome, scarred soldier. Theo and playwright Ewan must overcome bitter lies and vengeful actions that ruined their youthful affair. Theo must reveal her deepest secret in order to reclaim the love that has long been denied.

“Second son of a powerful earl,” yeah OK. Honestly? I’m reading this book because I’m dying to find out how a former flower seller becomes an estate owner!  And pray tell, when was the last time you saw a flower seller heroine in a historical romance?  The heroine’s backstory has me itching to read this one.

Historical Fiction / Romantic Elements!

Hearts of Resistance by Soraya Lane

At the height of World War II, three women must come together to fight for freedom, for the men they love—and for each other.

When Hazel is given the chance to parachute into Nazi-occupied France, she seizes the opportunity to do more for the British war effort than file paperwork. Alongside her childhood friend, French-born Rose, she quickly rises up the ranks of the freedom fighters. For Rose, the Resistance is a link to her late husband, and a way to move forward without him. What starts out as helping downed airmen becomes a bigger cause when they meet Sophia, a German escapee and fierce critic of Hitler who is wanted by the Gestapo. Together the three women form a bond that will last a lifetime.

But amid the turmoil and tragedy of warfare, all three risk losing everything—and everyone—they hold dear. Will their united front be strong enough to see them through?

Technically this is historical fiction but I’ll be perfectly frank - how can I be expected to resist that cover?!  And three Nazi-fightin’ heroines?  I feel like this is relevant to Romancelandia’s interests.  Lane has written a number of books, including some very good Harlequin Romances.  I’m curious to see what she does with a historical setting.  Oh, and it's free to Kindle Unlimited folks.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to this month?