To Marry a Highland Marauder
Series: Heart of a Scot #7
Author: Collette Cameron
Published May 12th 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing (eARC)
Read: May 2 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
The Love of a Libertine
Series: The Duke's By-Blows #1
Author: Jess Michaels
Published May 19th 2020 by The Passionate Pen LLC (eARC)
Read: May 3 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
Would I Lie to the Duke
Series: Union of the Rakes #2
Author: Eva Leigh
Published August 25th 2020 by Avon (eARC)
Read: May 6 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
A Duke Will Never Do
Series: The Spitfire Society #3
Author: Darcy Burke
Published May 19th 2020 by Darcy Burke Publishing (eARC)
Read: May 7 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
The Kingdom of Copper
Series: The Daevabad Trilogy #2
Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Published February 21st 2019 by HarperVoyager (ARC)
Read: April 30-May 7 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Bringing Down the Duke
Series: A League of Extraordinary Women #1
Author: Evie Dunmore
Published September 3rd 2019 by Piatkus
Read: May 8 2020
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Thicker Than Water
Series: None
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published December 29th 2015 by Kensington Books
Read: May 9-12 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge, 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge
From Cinderella To Countess
Series: None
Author: Annie Burrows
Published May 28th 2020 by Mills & Boon Historical (eARC)
Read: May 11-12 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
Who's That Earl
Series: Love and Let Spy #1
Author: Susanna Craig
Published August 18th 2020 by Lyrical Press (eARC)
Read: May 13 2020
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
The Princess Plan
Series: A Royal Wedding #1
Author: Julia London
Published November 19th 2019 by Mills & Boon (eARC)
Read: May 14 2020
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Dramas of a Teenage Heiress
Series: Hotel Royale #2
Author: Katy Birchall
Published September 9th 2018 by Egmont
Read: May 15 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge, 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge
Asking For a Friend
Series: None
Author: Kate Mallinder
Published May 21st 2020 by Firefly Press (eARC)
Read: May 15-17 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
The Boundless
Series: The Beholder #2
Author: Anna Bright
Published June 9th 2020 by HarperTeen (eARC)
Read: May 18 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
The Lord’s Inconvenient Vow
Series: The Sinful Sinclairs #3
Author: Lara Temple
Published October 31st 2019 by Mills & Boon Historical
Read: May 19 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Who Wants to Marry a Duke
Series: Duke Dynasty #3
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published August 25th 2020 by Zebra (eARC)
Read: May 20 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
The Guinevere Deception
Series: Camelot Rising #1
Author: Kiersten White
Published November 5th 2019 by Delacorte Press
Read: May 18-21 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
To Tame a Scandalous Lady
Series: Once Upon a Scandal #3
Author: Liana De la Rosa
Published October 21st 2019 by Entangled: Amara (eARC)
Read: May 21 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
Falling for Mr. Townsbridge
Series: The Townsbridges #3
Author: Sophie Barnes
Published July 21st 2020 by Sophie Barnes (eARC)
Read: May 21-22 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
A Royal Kiss and Tell
Series: A Royal Wedding #2
Author: Julia London
Published May 28th 2020 by Mills and Boon (eARC)
Read: May 22 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin
Series: The Debutante Files #1
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published July 29th 2014 by Avon
Read: May 23 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
An Heiress for All Seasons
Series: The Debutante Files #1.5
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published November 4th 2014 by Avon Impulse
Read: May 24 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue
Series: The Debutante Files #2
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published July 28th 2015 by Avon
Read: May 24 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
What Happens in Piccadilly
Series: The Hellion Club #3
Author: Chasity Bowlin
Published May 26th 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. (eARC)
Read: May 25 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
To Be Perfectly Honest
Series: Gracie Dart #2
Author: Jess Vallance
Published February 7th 2019 by Hot Key Books (eARC)
Read: May 25-26 2020
My Rating: 2 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Love, Life, and the List
Series: Love, Life, and the List #1
Author: Kasie West
Published December 26th 2017 by HarperTeen
Read: May 23-26 2020
My Rating: 2 Stars
Wicked and the Wallflower
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #1
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published June 19th 2018 by Piatkus Books
Read: May 27 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Brazen and the Beast
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #2
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published July 30th 2019 by Piatkus
Read: May 28 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss
Series: Love, Life, and the List #2
Author: Kasie West
Published December 10th 2019 by HarperTeen
Read: May 29-30 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge, 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge
Daring and the Duke
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #3
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published June 30th 2020 by Piatkus (eARC)
Read: May 30 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge
Challenges Update:
2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge: 3 (22 total)
2020 New Release Challenge: 14 (42 total)
2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 14 (32 total)

Another month in lockdown, another excellent reading month - I actually think this is the most books I've ever read in one month! Historical romances definitely dominated for May, and I'm starting to get a handle on my NetGalley ratio too.

How have you done this month? Let me know below.

Project Duchess
Series: Duke Dynasty #1
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published June 25th 2019 by Zebra/Headline Eternal

Goodreads Synopsis
From New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries comes a sparkling new series about an oft-widowed mother's grown children, who blaze through society in their quest for the truth about their fathers . . . and in the process find that love just might conquer all . . .

A series of stepfathers and a difficult childhood have left Fletcher "Grey" Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt, with a guarded heart, enviable wealth, and the undeserved reputation of a rogue. Grey's focus on expanding his dukedom allows him little time to find a wife. But when his mother is widowed yet again and he meets the charmingly unconventional woman managing his stepfather's funeral, he's shocked to discover how much they have in common. Still, Grey isn't interested in love, no matter how pretty, or delightfully outspoken, the lady . . .

Beatrice Wolfe gave up on romance long ago, and the arrogant Duke of Greycourt with his rakish reputation isn't exactly changing her mind. Then Grey agrees to assist his grief-stricken mother with her latest "project" schooling spirited, unfashionable Beatrice for her debut. Now that Beatrice is seeing through Grey's charms to his wounded heart, she's having trouble keeping him at arm's length. But once Grey starts digging into her family's secrets, she must decide whether her loyalties lie with her family . . . or with the man whose lessons capture her heart . . .
Goodreads

Review
In Project Duchess, we see a sheltered young woman find love and happiness with a guarded and rakish Duke. Beatrice Wolfe has lived most of her life in the countryside, with her grandparents, and later her uncles, who all have held the title of Duke of Armitage. When her Uncle Maurice, the 4th duke, dies, in suspicious circumstances, the many children of his wife, Lydia, current Duchess of Armitage, but formerly Duchess of Greycourt, and Duchess of Thornstock, descend on the estate. Lydia's eldest son, Fletcher "Grey" Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt, has had a difficult upbringing, once he had to return from Germany to England to take up his position, and has never really given any thought to finding a bride. Meeting Beatrice, who's outspoken, and smart, and beautiful, starts to make him reconsider his past position, and once Lydia takes her in hand, and decides to mould her into the perfect society lady, fitting for a Duke's granddaughter, Grey finds himself becoming more and more involved, but the closer he gets, the more pain it could cause them both when secrets are revealed?

Ever since I was approved for book 3 in the series, without realising it was a sequel, I've fallen in love with Sabrina's writing. I immediately bought books 1 and 2 as soon as I had finished Who Wants to Marry a Duke, and loved learning more about characters we see in book 3. Lydia Fletcher has been unlucky in love. Three times she's been married - all to dukes, mind - and she's now thrice-widowed. Once might be understandable, even twice, but when it becomes clear that foul play has been at hand, though no one accuses Lydia, her five children all join forces to start to look into the matter. When Grey, the eldest and most reserved of her children, comes to  Armitage Hall to be with his mother and siblings following his step father's death, he's surprised to meet Beatrice and her brother, Joshua, and shocked at how much he's attracted to Beatrice. He's wary, though, of letting anyone in, and has been since childhood, but with Beatrice, he comes to terms with his past and shows his more vulnerable side. Beatrice was sheltered, and had only been able to rely on Joshua and her grandparents when they were alive. Now with only her brother, who looks to be the prime suspect in Uncle Maurice's death, she has to help protect him, as he's done her in the past. The romance was utterly perfect between the couple, and I loved how they grew and flourished with each other. Project Duchess was definitely setting the stage for the rest of the series, but was so good in its own right. 

Dates Read:

The Beholder
Series: The Beholder #1
Author: Anna Bright
Published June 4th 2019 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come.

But after an excruciatingly public rejection from her closest childhood friend, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.

From English castle gardens to the fjords of Norge, and under the eye of the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks…and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending.
Goodreads

Review
I bought this book as soon as it came out, but never got around to reading it until earlier this month, and am sort of glad I waited as now I don't have to wait as long for book 2, The Boundless, because this one ended on a cliffhanger.

In The Beholder, Selah is the Seneschal-elect, daughter of the Seneschal of Potomac. She is expecting to get engaged to childhood friend, and crush, Peter, but when his family refuses the engagement, Selah is devastated. Her father is ill, and it seems as if she will need to take on more responsibility soon, but her stepmother, Alessandra, wants her out of the way. Being pregnant, and perhaps the cause of the Seneschal's illness, Alessandra has organised for Selah to leave, the next day, and travel to Europe to find a husband, and not to come back without one. Selah, understandably distraught, doesn't know how to cope on her week long journey on The Beholder, and is suspicious of the protocol officer, Perrault, who seems to know her stepmother. Her first few stops on the tour of Europe are to England and Norge, and she hopes beyond all hope that she finds a partner there, because then she will be moving onto the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, where the tsarytsya has her claws on each and every one.

This book was strange, if I'm being honest. I enjoyed it, but there were times I was shaking my head in disbelief and sometimes down right confused. The world building is one of the strangest I've ever seen. There's no map - and I can't find one online - and we really need it. Some of the countries are basically the same as they are in real life, i.e. England, but others are different, or with different names - Cymru, Alba, Norge, Pafos, etc. And then there's how America is split up - after the English left alone, rather than winning a war. We have Potomac, Savannah, and New York that were named, and I'm sure loads more that weren't mentioned, but they weren't really explained very well. Again, a map would have been useful. Also, I'm not sure what time period this is set in? Everything lacks technology, but Selah has a radio receiver (a very rare one) hidden in a book. Boats, horses, and carts are used rather than cars, and a lot of candles too.

After I managed to get over all of that, I did like the plot line. Selah is shy, and reserved, and very kind. She basically gets walked all over by her stepmother, and is blindsided by the whole marriage expectation and trip across the Atlantic. Some people might have some issues with the romance in the book, but I felt it worked because of how sheltered Selah was. She liked Peter at the start of the book, because he was one of the only boys to care about her in Potomac, and she was very sheltered. When she gets to England, it's revealed that her suitor is in his forties, so of course she doesn't want to spend time with him, and prefers the company of her guard, Bear, and starts to fall for him. Then, when she's about to leave England, it's revealed that she's been tricked, and she leaves in pieces, feeling like the trip can't get any worse.

When she got to Norge, she feels like this is the only place she can really find a partner, especially as Torden, her suitor, is fifth in line to his throne, and all the rest of her suitors are the heir apparent. She is apprehensive, after having her heart toyed with in England, but really comes into her own while in Norge. However, the sexist attitudes of the king, and the twisting and conniving attitude of Aleksei somewhat ruins the experience, though she does fall for Torden, and he for her. The ending though, like I already said, was on a cliffhanger, with the king refusing to offer an engagement, though Torden had already told Selah it was coming, and kicking out the crew of the Beholder for being spies. I'm glad The Boundless is released next month, because I need to know if Selah has to go into Imperiya Yotne, manages to be with Torden, and gets back to her dad before it's too late.

April 25-28, 2020

Rating
4 Stars