Sophie Reads YA: April 2022

April

April Summary

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April

Stacking the Shelves: April 30th 2022

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2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple

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The Earl She Should Never Desire
Series: None
Author: Lara Temple
Published April 13th 2022 by Mills & Boon Historical

Goodreads Synopsis
This very handsome earl…

Is the one man she cannot fall for…

War widow Lily Walsh has left her aristocratic family behind, but she can’t deny her younger sister’s request to come to London to meet her fiancé. Though it's not a love match, Lord Sherbourne is kind, amusing, and ideal for her sister on paper. But as Lily gets to know him she finds him alarmingly attractive! And the forbidden look in the Earl’s eyes shows the feeling is mutual…
Goodreads

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

For Lily Walsh, marrying at seventeen turned out not to be the best idea. Widowed due to war, she lives away from her family, and has only come to London to be with her sister, Annie, before her marriage to the Earl of Sherbourne. As soon as Lily meets Marcus, though, the connection between the two is clear, and it's hard for Lily to remember that he's Annie's fiance, and definitely someone she should not have any feelings for.

I really enjoyed this book! I wasn't sure what to expect, really, and didn't like the idea that there might be a cheating aspect to the book, but it was so good. I read The Earl She Should Never Desire in two sittings, and Lily and Marcus were the perfect characters for this story. Lily has kept herself away from her family following her elopement and widowing, and she's only gone to London now because of her love for her sister. She wants Annie to be happy, and if being there for her wedding is what she needs, that is what Lily will do. But, unfortunately, as soon as she meets her prospective brother-in-law, there's a spark between them, that's hard to ignore. For Marcus, he wasn't too invested in the marriage, but knew as an Earl, he needed to marry, and beget and heir, and Annie was the perfect candidate - at least until Lily appeared. If you've watched the latest series of Bridgerton, this is quite a lot like that, but without the sister falling for her fiancee. Lily and Marcus were made for each other, and this story was perfect for their romance.

Dates Read:
April 2-3, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Lara Temple:
When I was fifteen I found a very grubby copy of Georgette Heyer’s Faro’s Daughter in an equally grubby book store. Several blissful hours later I emerged, blinking, into the light of day completely in love with Max Ravenscar and with Regency Romance.

But the love remained one-sided as I progressed through various fascinating but completely unrelated careers in finance and high tech until my mother gave me a firm shove by entering one my many drawer-directed novels into Harlequin’s annual writing contest. To my shocked surprise I not only made it to the top ten but Harlequin commissioned me to write five Regency romances.

I write strong, sexy, and suspenseful regency romances about complex individuals who give no quarter but deliver plenty of passion.

Like every (or most) writers, I would love to hear from you about books (not only mine) and history and whatever you find that makes you love this period and genre.

I live with my husband and two children who are very good about my taking over the kitchen table for my writing (so I can look out over the garden and dream). I love to travel (especially to places steeped in history) and hike and read as many books as possible (which just about sums up my dream vacation).

I recently went back to look for that grubby crowded little bookstore but couldn’t quite remember around what corner it was…hopefully it is still there and another girl is in the corner by the window, reading and dreaming…

All the Duke I Need

Waiting on Wednesday: All the Duke I Need (Desperately Seeking Duke #3) by Caroline Linden

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4 Stars

ARC Review: How to Be the Best Third Wheel by Loridee De Villa

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How to Be the Best Third Wheel
Series: None
Author: Loridee De Villa
Published May 3rd 2022 by Wattpad Books

Goodreads Synopsis
A clean teen romance comedy about figuring out where you belong when all the constants in your life begin to change.

It’s the last year of highschool, and everything has changed . . .

After spending summer vacation in the Philippines with family, Lara returns to school eager to catch up with her close knit group of girlfriends. But within minutes of reuniting with her friends, she learns that not one, not two, but all three of them are now in relationships that blossomed over the summer. And to make matters worse, Lara’s long time frenemy, James, won’t stop bugging her in class and eventually forces her into tutoring him everyday after school.

Surviving high school was never easy to begin with, but with occupied friends, a hectic Filipino family, and her annoying childhood enemy pestering her more than ever, Lara tries to juggle everything, while trying to figure out her own place in the chaos.
Goodreads

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

Lara spent the summer before senior year visiting family in the Philippines, and expected that nothing much would have changed when she returned. So it's a shock when her three best friends all have found boyfriends over the summer, and she's the third wheel - or more like the seventh wheel. And what makes it even worse is that the boyfriends are all friends with her arch nemesis, James, who is third wheeling too. Now that the two groups are mixed, Lara can't escape James, and the feeling she pushed aside when she was younger are coming back.

I was really surprised by this book. I was expecting it to be a decent contemporary, probably a little cringy in places, and though that did happen at times, I also couldn't put the book down once I started it. I really enjoyed all of the characters in the book. Lara was a little abrasive at times, but she was dealing with a lot of change, and she wanted to keep the status quo. However, it read like a real book, with real characters and scenarios. Okay, it was cringy at times, and a bit over the top at others, but all in all, it really suited the characters and the setting of it. The only real thing I disliked was the ending, though I think it was probably included to make the book feel more realistic, rather than fiction? I don't know, but it was a solid debut in any case.

Dates Read:
December 4 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Never a Duke (Rogues to Riches #7) by Grace Burrowes

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Never a Duke
Series: Rogues to Riches #7
Author: Grace Burrowes
Published April 26th 2022 by Forever/Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
Despite having humble origins and a criminal past, Ned Wentworth has learned to dress, waltz, and express himself as elegantly as any lordling. When Lady Rosalind Kinwood’s maid goes missing, her ladyship turns to Ned, precisely because he still has friends in low places and skills no titled dandy would ever acquire, much less admit he possesses.

Rosalind is too opinionated and too intelligent, and has frequently suffered judgment at polite society’s hands. In the quietly observant Ned Wentworth, she finds a man who actually listens to her and who respects her for her outspokenness. As the search for the missing maids grow more perilous, Rosalind and Ned will have to risk everything—including their hearts—if they are to share the happily ever after that Mayfair’s matchmakers have begrudged them both.
Goodreads

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

As a child, Ned Wentworth was lucky enough to find himself pseudo-adopted by the newly titled Duke of Walden, released from Newgate, and with a family. Years later, he's a successful banker at Walden's bank, treated as a member of the family, but the ton will not let him forget his urchin roots. Because of this, he doesn't expect any society lady to want to have anything to do with him, so Lady Rosalind Kinwood, daughter of an earl, turning up on his doorstep, asking for help, is a shock to say the least. Her maid has gone missing, and she knows Ned has the connections to help find her, but neither of them expect to uncover the hidden plot, deep within society, which might even have ties closer to home.

I have loved each and every book in this series, which I picked up on a whim from my local library, and wanted to see if Ned had a happy ending. We met him in book 1, My One and Only Duke, and each meeting since, he has come on leaps and bounds, but always been someone not quite a member of the Wentworth family. I don't think I had ever expected how separate he felt until we saw his own thoughts on the page in Never a Duke. Lady Rosalind was a joy. She was bullied by her family and treated as less simply because of her birth, and with Ned, it was like the first time someone saw the real Rosalind, and didn't dismiss her thoughts or feelings. Meeting the larger Wentworth family helped her gain confidence too, and she really grew over the course of the book. Both of the couple are so self depreciating, and neither felt they were good enough for each other, but I'm glad they realised their self worth, and that they had the love of the Wentworth's, if not Rosalind's own family. I'm not sure if this is the end of the series, but if it is, it was the perfect ending!

Dates Read:
January 16-17, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes (Last Chance Scoundrels #1) by Eva Leigh

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The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
Series: Last Chance Scoundrels #1
Author: Eva Leigh
Published March 31st 2022 by Mills & Boon

Goodreads Synopsis
In USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh's new novel a notorious rake and an innocent debutante strike a scandalous bargain...

When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father issues an ultimatum: find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels, Kieran doesn’t know any ladies who fit the bill. Or does he?

Celeste Kilburn is a society darling, beloved by influential members of the ton. But keeping a spotless reputation leaves little room for adventure and she longs to escape her gilded cage, especially with her impending engagement to a stuffy earl. When Kieran—her older brother’s best friend and an irresistibly attractive rogue—begs for her help, Celeste makes a deal: she’ll introduce him to the right social circles if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London.

In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste—disguised as “Salome”—to rowdy gaming hells, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction builds to a desperate desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves… respectable or not.
Goodreads

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

For years, Kieran Ransome and his brothers have been able to get away with being rogues about town. But when they convince their best friend, Dom, to jilt his bride - who just happens to be Kieran's younger sister, Willa - the Earl and Countess, along with Mr Kilburn proclaim that Kieran, Dom, and Finn have a year to marry someone respectable, or lose their inheritance. None of them have any sort of reputation that a respectable woman would go near them, but luckily Dom's sister, Celeste, is known as society's darling, and will be able to help them get on the right track. But Celeste is sick of the stuffy ton rules, especially when she's being forced into a match at the end of the season, and she has a deal in mind. Celeste will help introduce Kieran to the right people, if he shows her the 'disreputable' side of London, all before the Season's end. Masquerading as 'Salome', Celeste discovers the other side of London, and another side of Kieran too. She might always have had feelings for her brother's best friend, but it seems now that they might be reciprocated - but can they be together?

This may just be my favourite of Eva's books. I've loved them all, but The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes definitely has a special place in my heart. From the very first pages, it's clear that this series is going to be special, and Kieran and Celeste have a chemistry like no other. I've always liked the friend's-to-lovers trope, and it was executed so perfectly here. Because of the way they were 'forced' together, the feelings between them were able to grow naturally, and both Kieran and Celeste could discover another side to each other in a way no one has ever before. I feel as if this book has definitely set up for the others in the series, but in no way detracts from the couple's romance. I adored how it concluded, and that Celeste was finally able to live her life how she wanted, and not constrained to so many rules and regulations! Another hit from this amazing author!

Dates Read:
February 27-March 2, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Eva Leigh:
Eva Leigh is a USA Today romance author who has always loved romance. She writes novels chock-full of determined women and men who are here for it. She enjoys baking, spending too much time on the Internet, and listening to music from the ’80s. Eva and her husband, author Nico Rosso, live in Central California.