Sophie Reads YA: September 2020

September Summary

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What I've read this month:

Proof by Seduction
Series: Carhart #1
Author: Courtney Milan
Published March 1st 2011 by Mills & Boon
Read: August 31-September 1 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

The Formidable Earl
Series: Diamonds in the Rough #6
Author: Sophie Barnes
Published November 17th 2020 by Sophie Barnes (eARC)
Read: August 31-September 2 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

Set Fire to the Gods
Series: Set Fire to the Gods #1
Author: Sara Raasch & Kristen Simmons
Published August 4th 2020 by Balzer + Bray (ARC)
Read: September 2-4 2020
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days
Series: An American Heiress in London #2
Author: Laura Lee Guhrke
Published April 29th 2014 by Avon
Read: September 4-5 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

A Hellion in Her Bed
Series: Hellions of Halstead Hall #2
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published September 21st 2010 by Pocket Star
Read: September 6-8 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
Series: Hellions of Halstead Hall #3
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published January 18th 2011 by Pocket Star
Read: September 9-11 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

What the Hart Wants
Series: Headstrong Harts #1
Author: Emily Royal
Published September 29th 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc (eARC)
Read: September 12 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

To Wed a Wild Lord
Series: Hellions of Halstead Hall #4
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published November 22nd 2011 by Pocket Star
Read: September 12-13 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

A Lady Never Surrenders
Series: Hellions of Halstead Hall #5
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published January 24th 2012 by Pocket Books
Read: September 13-15 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

The Truth About Love and Dukes
Series: Dear Lady Truelove #1
Author: Laura Lee Guhrke
Published March 28th 2017 by Avon
Read: September 16-19 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

The Proposal
Series: The Survivors' Club #1
Author: Mary Balogh
Published May 1st 2012 by Piatkus Books
Read: September 20 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

The Secrets Of Wiscombe Chase
Series: None
Author: Christine Merrill
Published March 1st 2016 by Mills & Boon Historical
Read: September 21-22 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Lady Priscilla's Shameful Secret
Series: None
Author: Christine Merrill
May 1st 2012 by Mills & Boon
Read: September 23-25 2020
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

A Princess by Christmas
Series: A Royal Wedding #3
Author: Julia London
Published October 1st 2020 by Mills & Boon (eARC)
Read: September 24-26 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

My Fake Rake
Series: Union of the Rakes #1
Author: Eva Leigh
Published January 31st 2020 by Mills & Boon
Read: September 26-27 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

Challenges Update:
2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge: (30 total)
2020 New Release Challenge: 5 (87 total)
2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 10 (72 total)

Summary:

I haven't read anywhere near as many books this month as in recent months, but I've returned to work in a Covid world, and on a full timetable too, so teaching has taken over a large part of my time. I'm still really happy with what I've read though, and I'm just hoping to projected forecast for a second wave is no where near as bad as anticipated!

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

A Rogue of One's Own

Waiting On Wednesday: A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women #2) by Evie Dunmore

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2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: Shine (Shine #1) by Jessica Jung

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Shine
Series: Shine #1
Author: Jessica Jung
Published October 15th 2020 by Electric Monkey

Goodreads Synopsis
Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl by way of Jenny Han in this knock-out debut about a Korean American teen who is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of one of the most influential K-pop girl groups of all time, Girls Generation.

What would you sacrifice for a chance to live your dreams?

For seventeen-year-old Korean American Rachel Kim, the answer is almost everything. Or at least that’s been the answer for the past six years, ever since she was recruited by DB Entertainment—one of Seoul’s largest K-pop labels, known for churning out the industry’s most popular stars.

The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don’t date. So while Rachel and her fellow trainees face grueling practices, punishing expectations, and ruthless competition, they know it’s worth it for the chance to debut in DB’s newest girl group.

And when the opportunity to sing with K-pop star and DB golden boy Jason Lee arises, Rachel knows this is her chance to get noticed. To finally debut. The only problem? Jason is charming, sexy, and ridiculously talented—he’s exactly the kind of distraction Rachel can’t afford to have. And exactly the kind she can’t stay away from.

Get ready as Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of Korea’s most famous girl group, Girls Generation, takes us inside the twisted, technicolor world of K-pop. Where following your dreams might just mean living through a nightmare. Where the stakes are high, but for one girl, the cost of success might be even higher.

It’s time for the world to see: this is what it takes to SHINE.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

The stylish and fabulous world of K-Pop is explore in Shine. 16 year old Rachel Kim has always embraced her Korean heritage, and adored K-Pop, so when she was discovered singing in a market at 11, and recruited to the exclusive DB Entertainment trainee programme, it was like a dream come true. However, it's not all glamour and fun. Life as a trainee is really difficult, with the rules about what you wear, what you eat, and above all, you are never to date. Rachel struggles to balance her school life with her life as a trainee, and worries that because of her camera shyness, she might be cut from the programme. When she meets DB golden boy, Jason Lee, everything seems to fall into place. They have such a chemistry that is apparent when they sing together, and she offered the chance to debut alongside him, as well as fellow trainee, Choo Mina, who just happens to be Rachel's arch-nemesis. Will Rachel be able to keep her head, and not let Jason become a distraction that could kill her career before it even starts, and can she trust Mina not to stab her in the back when the time is right.

I will admit, I know basically nothing about K-Pop. My timeline has a lot of people talking about different groups, so I have heard of some of them, but I've never really listened to any or got the hype. However, even as someone not a fan of K-Pop, I adored this book! Rachel was such a relatable character - not counting the whole fame aspect - and I loved her growth from where she was in the first chapter, to her position as this story ended. Her shyness, and somewhat, outsider syndrome was something that really affected her at first, but we saw her realise that she really needed to fight for her chance to be a star, and not to take what others did lying down, especially Mina. Another thing that was fantastic, was how the first and final chapters were neigh on identical, and we saw the plot go full circle.

The romance between Jason and Rachel was cute, and swoony. I loved how both of them had a sense of shared history, spending the majority of their childhood in other countries (Canada and America), so were somewhat outsiders in Korea. I hated the angst that inevitably occurred, and really hope we see a lot more of this couple in book 2, Bright. I definitely can't wait for the sequel, and knowing it's more than a year away is heartbreaking! A fantastic debut, and I look forward to more from Jessica!

Dates Read:
June 27-29, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Daring and the Duke (The Bareknuckle Bastards #3) by Sarah MacLean

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Daring and the Duke
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #3
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published June 30th 2020 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best, until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back… and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via Edelweiss. This in no way impacted on my view.

After binging the two previous books in this series, as soon as I was able to, I had to finish with my ARC of Daring and the Duke. This time around, we see Grace and Ewan's story, from their time at the country estate when they were teens, to his betrayal of his brothers, and Grace becoming one of the most feared bareknuckle fighters in Covent Garden, and owner of one of the most exclusive bordellos in London. After the explosive conclusion to Brazen and the Beast, Grace has had Ewan prisoner in her office, but can't stop herself from caring and healing him. Devil and Whit find out, and want to get their revenge, but they know the person who was hurt the most by Ewan's actions nearly 20 years ago was Grace, and leave her to it. Now that Ewan knows Grace is alive, and living in London, in Covent Garden no less, he can't keep himself away, and wants to atone for his sins in whatever way possible. But having the allusive Duke of Marwick spend time in a rookery is bound to cause attention, attention none of them need, especially when female led businesses are being targeted in the Gardens. Will Ewan ever be redeemable, or is the past too much for Grace to overcome?

I've been wanting Grace and Ewan's story from meeting them for the first time in Wicked and the Wallflower. Their love affair and betrayal was so well done, that you are just hooked from the get go. Grace had to fight, quite literally, for her life after the three Bastards fled Marwick, and she was finally starting to heal. However, there had always been a hole in her heart from where Ewan hurt her, and she needed closure if she was to move forward. Collecting an unconscious Ewan and healing him in order to fight was part of the way to recovery, but she could never be free of him. I never thought I would feel sorry for Ewan, not with how awful he had been in the previous books, but this instalment definitely paints a picture that helps us to understand his actions. The power that the late Duke of Marwick had held over all four of them when they were children was immense, and once he had found out Ewan's weakness, he wasn't afraid to use it to break him, and break him he did. This book shows him healing, and trying to make amends, and just prove to Grace and his half brothers that he's not the villain they think, and his actions had a purpose previously unknown. I think that his and Grace's love story was my favourite, and the way it was concluded and resolved was perfect! I've already requested all of Sarah's other books that my library has, and will be waiting impatiently for her next book!

Dates Read:
May 30, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

September

Stacking the Shelves: September 26th 2020

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2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: When a Scot Ties the Knot (Castles Ever After #3) by Tessa Dare

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When a Scot Ties the Knot
Series: Castles Ever After #3
Author: Tessa Dare
Published August 25th 2015 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.

A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.

Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.
Goodreads

Review
Just as she is set to debut for her first season, Madeline Gracechurch claims to be in love with a Scottish officer, and eschews all events that may show just how shy and awkward she is. With the fictional Captain MacKenzie around, she is comfortable and secure, and loves the whole experience. After the time has elapsed she kills him off, but after inheriting a castle in the Highlands, the real Captain MacKenzie appears. The letters that she had been sending to keep up the ruse had actually be given to Logan while out in Spain, and when he is invalided home, with the rest of his detachment, he heads to Scotland to find his 'lover', and make her his bride.

This was a book I wasn't expecting to be so funny, but there were some proper laugh out loud moments. Madeline and Logan were wholly fleshed out characters, with pain and suffering in their pasts, but together they could be themselves, and the moments were they were pushing the boundaries with each other, and with the rules around the castle were fantastic! That being said, there were some really heartbreaking moments when we saw just how much the war had affected Logan's men, from PTSD, to injuries, to ruined futures, and I felt that Tessa dealt with this really well. The side plot of the lobsters - yes, I mean it - was the lighthearted reprieve we needed from it all, as were the true affection between Madeline and Logan. Definitely a fantastic book by Dare, and I can't wait for more!

Dates Read:
June 21-22, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

4 Stars

Review: Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

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Suitors and Sabotage
Series: None
Author: Cindy Anstey
Published April 17th 2018 by Swoon Reads

Goodreads Synopsis
Shy aspiring artist Imogene Chively has just had a successful Season in London, complete with a suitor of her father's approval. Imogene is ambivalent about the young gentleman until he comes to visit her at the Chively estate with his younger brother in tow. When her interest is piqued, however, it is for the wrong brother.

Charming Ben Steeple has a secret: despite being an architectural apprentice, he has no drawing aptitude. When Imogene offers to teach him, Ben is soon smitten by the young lady he considers his brother's intended.

But hiding their true feelings becomes the least of their problems when, after a series of "accidents," it becomes apparent that someone means Ben harm. And as their affection for each other grows—despite their efforts to remain just friends—so does the danger. . .
Goodreads

Review
I have loved all of Cindy's books, and this one was no different. Now we have Imogene, who after a successful London Season, is returning to her family's country estate, and is expected to host a suitor, along with his younger brother. The issue, however, is that the one she likes the most is the brother, Ben, and not her actual suitor, Ernest. She hasn't had a good going of love in life, and with Ernest being the only potential match, and one who her father approves of, she's expected to accept his offer, when he makes it. Even though they know nothing of each other, it doesn't matter, but the more Imogene is with both brother, she can only see herself with Ben, who is more like her with the artistic side. As the title suggests, there is sabotage rife in this book, and Ben and Imogene must work together to find out who is trying to sabotage him, which helps them get to know each other, and the chemistry just flies whenever they're together.

Like all of Cindy's books, the romance is done so well. Yeah, I guess there is a sort of love triangle, with both Ernest and Ben being potential matches for Imogene, but it's never really played out like you would expect. Ernest and Imogene work together as friends, but there's no chemistry between them, and I don't think there's any real feelings either. Imogene, being shy, and expected to marry well, tries with Ernest, and he's in a similar position. He needs a wife, and thinks that could be Imogene, but it never seems as if he is that bothered if it's her or not. When it comes to Ben and Imogene, their every scene together is dripping with the chemistry, and it's dead clear that that's who should be together. Ben and Ernest are really close brother's too, so there's never any animosity there either. This wasn't my favourite of Cindy's books - that's The Hummingbird Dagger - but I still really enjoyed it, and can't wait for Deadly Curious!

Dates Read:

April 21-22, 2018

Rating
4 Stars

Alwyn Hamilton

Waiting On Wednesday: The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1) by Alwyn Hamilton

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2018 Blogger Shame Challenge

ARC Review: Editing Emma (Emma Nash Series #1) by Chloe Seager

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Editing Emma
Series: Emma Nash Series #1
Author: Chloe Seager
Published August 10th 2017 by Harper Collins

Goodreads Synopsis
When sixteen-year-old Emma Nash is ‘ghosted’ by the love of her life Leon Naylor, she does what any normal teenage girl would do…
Emma spends the summer lurking in her bedroom, avoiding all human contact (and the shower), surrounded by the collection of chewit wrappers she saved from packs Leon gave her, back when he actually acknowledged her existence…

But seeing Leon suddenly ‘In a relationship’ on Facebook with the perfect Anna, spurs Emma into action and she embarks on a mission to make positive changes to her life (or ‘edits,’ if you will) and vows to use the internet for more than obsessively stalking Leon’s activities! Instead, she will use it for good and noble causes like finding someone who will actually be nice to her, and recording her findings for the rest of the world to see (i.e. BFF Steph and her mum) on her new Editing Emma blog.

But Emma soon discovers her ‘habit’ is harder to break than she first thought – turns out she’s not the only one ‘editing’ herself online (thank you Tinder for finding her mum’s profile, age 35, really?) and that life through an Instagram filter isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. But it could be worse, she could have outed her best friend, accidentally chatted up a 12 year old boy and revealed to the world why Leon Naylor is worth no girl’s time or virginity… oh no wait, that’s exactly what happened…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I had put off reading this book for so long, and I'm not even sure I know why. Eventually, I decided that during the summer, when I wasn't busy with work, I should try and get through some of the ARCs that I had left on my TBR too long. Everything I had seen about this book, from people talking about it online, to various reviews, had been glowing, and I was expecting really good things from it.

Emma has been 'dating' this guy, Leon, when he ends up ghosting her. She is really struggling with the break up, and decides to make a private blog where she vents all of her anger and issues. She ends up sort of creating this new online persona for herself, 'editing' herself on her public social accounts, but is real in private. She is very honest in her blogs, about things like periods, masturbation, and other things that teenage girls deal with, but tend to be shoved under the carpet and not spoken about in reality. This book definitely would be one that I think some teenagers would like, but I just never liked Emma. She was shallow and only cared about Leon, or finding a new boy to obsess over now that Leon is with someone else. She just simply wasn't a good character, in my view, and I think that's part of the reason I only rated this book a 3. She read as a young teenager, not a 16 year old, and was so self obsessed, that I couldn't get over it. I have seen the comparisons with Louise Rennison's books, which I really liked when I was younger, and it is similar, but I'd always pick Louise's books, over this one. Yeah, I won't be reading the sequel, but at least I've ticked another ARC of my to read list.

Dates Read:

August 2-4, 2018

Rating
3 Stars

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women #2) by Evie Dunmore

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A Rogue of One's Own
Series: A League of Extraordinary Women #2
Author: Evie Dunmore
Published September 1st 2020 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
A lady must have money and an army of her own if she is to win a revolution—but first, she must pit her wits against the wiles of an irresistible rogue bent on wrecking her plans…and her heart.

Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London’s major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.

Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smouldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.

As Lucie tries to out-manoeuvre Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there’s truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

In A Rogue of One's Own we follow renowned Suffragist, Lady Lucie Tedbury, as she attempts to further women's rights in a predominantly male world. Her parents lament her political ways, and they have been estranged for years, and because of her reputation, she is known as the Tedbury Termagant, and is sent menacing and unpleasant calling cards showing what the general population think of her. However, she will not stop at anything to help woman, and is especially against the brutal Marriage Property Act. Her other bug bear is her 'nemesis' Tristan, Lord Ballentine, who she's known since childhood, and seems to rile her up to no ends. Just as Lucie finds herself gaining control of a newspaper company, to use to spread the Suffragette cause, Tristan is there, buying up the other shares, and putting a stop to it. He will relent some control, but for one thing only - a night with Lucie. Now that her friend, Annabelle has married, and is a duchess, can Lucie give up this final part of herself to succeed

Tristan loves doing anything to get on Lucie's nerves, and more importantly, get her attention, from small pranks as children, to getting in her way. He knows that with his rakish reputation, and the difficult upbringing he had, that he's not the 'best' choice, but he can't stay away from Lucie. Now that he's heir to the Rochester earldom, he is even more under his father's thumb, no matter the fact he's a war hero with a Victoria Cross to boot. He needs to get away from Rochester's control, but his mother is sick, and he can't leave her. Will he open himself up and let someone else - Lucie, perhaps - help him through his struggles?

To say I loved this book was be an utter understatement! I adored Bringing Down the Duke, and was intrigued by Lucie and Tristan from meeting them the first time. Some may find Lucie a difficult character - maybe even 'unlikable - but to me, she was breathtaking and phenomenal! Her parent's marriage showed her that a woman, even one of high status, lost everything when she married, and could be humiliated - or worse - by her husband, and nothing would change. Since she was 12, she's wanted to help change the world, and even when this put her on the odds with Lord and Lady Wycliffe, she didn't care. Her younger cousin, Cecily, plays a large part in the book, and has always been pitted against Lucie as she's seen as the 'perfect' English lady. I found Cecily to be a real brat, and her actions destructive, but she was dealt with in the end.

For the past five years, at least, Lucie's been gathering letters from downtrodden women across the nation, listing all ills and woes to be found in marriage, and the only way she can think to make a change is to make it all public, and force the 'establishment' to do something about it. I felt such a kinship to her, and wanted to help her in anyway I could, knowing that I'm in a very privileged position as a 25 year old, unmarried English woman, in 2020, who has been able to vote for 7 years, and with all the rights and privileges that women have vote and died for in the past 200-300 years. Women like Lucie are my heroes and I loved seeing her become true to herself and be happy!

Tristan was a character I didn't know what to think about at first, but he was a softy at heart. Yes, he was a rake, but a lot of the stories about him were just that; stories. He suffered in his childhood as the unwanted 'spare', shipped off to a war he didn't believe in in the East, and faced everything you would expect, including being shot and awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. Now home, he's still under his father's control, but with his poetry and upcoming war diaries that will be released, he knows he doesn't need the financial support any longer. He's hidden so much of himself for so long, that it was difficult for him let someone in, but Lucie was that person. Them being together was strange at first, but they were made for one another, and it was honestly amazing to see them be true to themselves, and share their burdens with someone who truly cared, rather than bottle it all up inside. The scene with the letters was breathtaking, and I think that was the moment when my heart was the fullest. I couldn't put this book down once I had truly started it, and it's the first time in ages I have stayed up finishing a book. This series is definitely one of my favourites, and I'm desperate for the third book - about Hattie, I believe - though I know I'll have to wait for it! Evie Dunmore is a fantastic author, and all lovers of historical romance or the Victorian Era need to read her books!

Dates Read:

August 19-20, 2020

Rating
5 Stars