How to Train Your Earl
Series: First Comes Love #3
Author: Amelia Grey
Published April 27th 2021 by St. Martin's Press

Goodreads Synopsis
A roguish earl must fight using his honor and not his sword to win his lady’s hand in How To Train Your Earl, the third book in the First Comes Love trilogy from bestseller Amelia Grey.

Brina Feld has settled into a life devoted to helping others since the sinking of the Salty Dove left her widowed. She has no need for a man in her contented life. But when the notorious and handsome Lord Blacknight returns and awakens her desires, her peace and serenity vanish. If she agrees to an alliance with him, she knows she will have to battle her heart to keep from being snared under his spell.

Zane, the Earl of Blacknight, was never supposed to inherit the earldom, so he didn’t much care to lead a respectable life before then. Fistfights, card games, and drinking are the order of the day. Now he’s determined to change his rakish ways and he knows the proper lady who can help him. There’s just one problem: He's already bet he’ll win her hand before the Season is over. With her resolve to out-scheme him, how can he show her that his love is true?
Goodreads

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

For Brina Feld, she felt the loss of her husband especially hard. Widowed at 18, after being married only 3 months, she relied on the support of her parents, and her friends, Adeline and Julia. She is still in love with her late husband, and can never imagine wanting to remarry - rather she thought to join the Sisters of Pilwillow Crossings and help those less fortunate than herself. Now moved into the home nearby the school she, Julia, and Adeline set up, she is more than happy to occupy herself with her volunteer work, and teaching the girls to paint. However, she lately spent time in Paris with an aunt, and met a handsome stranger while hiding in a bedroom. Her stranger was masked, and tied to a chair, but she released him and let him flee to stop his young cousin from marrying. But he didn't leave without stopping to give her a spine tingling kiss, one she hasn't yet forgot about. And her handsome stranger isn't a stranger any more. It was Zane, the new Earl of Blacknight, and he's already put down a wager at White's that they will become engaged by the end of the Season. Zane never expected to become the Earl, but when three of his family members are killed in a carriage accident, he has to take up the mantle of head of family, and all the responsibility the title brings. He knows he's the black sheep of the family, and needs a bride to help support him, and start his family, but he wants no one other than the respected, and beautiful widowed Mrs Feld. Brina is furious to find herself the topic of a wager, and the subsequent gossip, but she proposes a counter wager: if Zane can withhold from drinking, gambling, and women until the last ball of the Season, she will accept. She never expects him to last a day, let alone a few weeks, what with his reputation as a card shark, but the season is drawing to a close, and Brina must consider whether she can face remarrying, and to someone she is falling for too.

I just loved this book. After reading the other two in the series, I knew I couldn't wait to see Brina find happiness, but I wasn't expecting to fall for her and Zane's story so much. As soon as I started the book, I couldn't put it down, and was finished in just a couple of hours. Brina was young, and in love, when her husband died, and heard the stories of how he saved half a dozen of his fellow passengers before he was unable to save himself. She only has her friends, Julia and Adeline, and their new husbands, for support, but occupies her time in her volunteering. She has never felt an attraction like that to Zane, and fights his seduction at all turns, but it's a hard fought battle that even she can't win, and I just felt that the chemistry between them was perfect. Zane knew his way around a card table, but he never expected to have any sort of responsibility on his shoulders, so finding himself at the helm of the extended Blacknight family, overseeing all of their requests and allowances, as well as the expanse of properties he inherited was a big shock. Two of his uncles offer their support, but it soon becomes clear they want to control him, and force him to fit into the mould of what they expect an Earl to be. The wager between Zane and Brina was hilarious, and it was nice to see how Zane was willing to improve himself for love, though not becoming someone completely different. The ending of the book killed me, and I was dreading that they wouldn't have their happy ending, but all in all, everyone was happy. Seeing the other couples again, in their own romances was a joy too, and I know this won't be my last series by Grey.

Dates Read:

The Escape
Series: The Survivors' Club #3
Author: Mary Balogh
Published July 1st 2014 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
In this poignant novel of longing and salvation, a hopeful widow and a resilient war hero discover the promise of love's magic and new beginnings.

After surviving the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Benedict Harper is struggling to move on, his body and spirit in need of a healing touch. Never does Ben imagine that hope will come in the form of a beautiful woman who has seen her own share of suffering. After the lingering death of her husband, Samantha McKay is at the mercy of her oppressive in-laws - until she plots an escape to distant Wales to claim a house she has inherited. Being a gentleman, Ben insists that he escort her on the fateful journey.

Ben wants Samantha as much as she wants him, but he is cautious. What can a wounded soul offer any woman? Samantha is ready to go where fate takes her, to leave behind polite society and even propriety in her desire for this handsome, honorable soldier. But dare she offer her bruised heart as well as her body? The answers to both their questions may be found in an unlikely place: in each other's arms.
Goodreads

Review
In The Escape, the recently widowed Samantha McKay is living in prison. Her in-laws puritanical ways seem to think that a woman in mourning is not allowed to do anything, and even the thought of leaving the house is sinful. Samantha married young, to a military man, who treated her like a servant, and after only four months of marriage, Samantha realised that she had made a mistake. Now seven years later, after spending the last five years at his beck and call, she is free, but her sister-in-law refuses to allow her a second of peace. When she meets the handsome, and aggravating, Sir Benedict Harper, she finds herself wanting more, to dance and run again, but doesn't know how. When her in-laws become even more intense, she seeks Ben's help, hoping he'll be able to spirit her away, to the rundown cottage she inherited from her maternal family in Western Wales. For Ben, he is only concentrating on his war injuries, and recovery, and doesn't want any complications. Especially when Samantha is weary of military men, and those wounded from the Napoleonic Wars after her nursing her late husband. However, he can't leave her suffering, so agrees to escort her to Wales. As they journey together, they realise their friendship soon becomes something more, but will it be enough?

I loved both Samantha and Ben in this book. We briefly met Ben in The Proposal, and his conspicuous absence in The Arrangement helped to foreshadow this story. He was left nearly paralysed after being injured on the peninsula, and it's only through his sheer grit and determination that he is able to walk again using his crutches. Hiding out in County Durham with his elder sister, he doesn't expect any complications, but when he literally lands in front of Samantha, he's lost, as was she. Samantha has had a difficult life, and it's getting worse by the day. She needs to escape, and when she recalls the run down cottage a great aunt left her, she travels there, and finds out the truth about her maternal family. The affection and friendship between Ben and Samantha was wonderful, and I adored the way their romance progressed, from the very start. For the majority of this book, like in the previous one, the rest of the 'Survivors' are absent, and I do wish we saw more of them, but I'm looking forward to learning about the others, starting with Flavian in Only Enchanting.

Dates Read:
October 29-30, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

Storm
Series: Elemental #1
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published April 17th 2014 by Much-in-Little

Goodreads Synopsis
Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake.

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys; all the ones she doesn't want. When she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot, everything is about to change. Chris is different from the guys at school... really different. He can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. The brothers are powerful and dangerous. And now that Becca knows the truth, so is she.

When the mysterious new kid, Hunter, turns up, Becca thinks she can trust him. But when he goes head-to-head with Chris, Becca's left wondering who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.
Goodreads

Review
Becca is a normal girl, in a normal town, and decides that to stop all of the rumours being spread by her jock ex-boyfriend, she'll take some self defence classes at the high school. This, however, is the start of all her problems. She sees one of the Merrick brothers, Chris, being attacked in the parking lot, and ends up saving him, and discovering he can control Water, just like all his brothers can control one of the elements. The Merricks are strange, and known as Elementals, and now that Becca has gotten involved in them, she is in danger too. When new guy Hunter appears, Becca is torn between the too, and finds herself drawn more into the world of the Elementals.

This book was so not what I expected, but I loved it none the less. It was new and refreshing, and all of the main characters, from Becca, to Chris, to the rest of the Merricks, and Hunter, were so fleshed out and real. I loved the romance in it all, even with the love triangle, but Becca and Chris were definitely endgame. The plot was twisty and turning, and there were moments I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what would come next. Some of the twists I did see coming, but even so, the way they were revealed was perfect, and has definitely cemented Brigid as one of my favourite authors!

Dates Read:
August 5-6, 2019

Rating
4 Stars

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Series: None
Author: Suzanne Park
June 1st 2021 by Sourcebooks Fire
A social media influencer is shipped off to a digital detox summer camp in this funny coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty and Love and Gelato.
Sunny Song's Big Summer Goals:
1) Make Rafael Kim my boyfriend (finally!)
2) Hit 100K followers (almost there…)
3) Have the best last summer of high school ever
Not on Sunny's list: accidentally filming a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral (#browniegate). Extremely not on her list: being shipped off to a digital detox farm camp in Iowa (IOWA??) for a whole month. She's traded in her WiFi connection for a butter churn, and if she wants any shot at growing her social media platform this summer, she'll need to find a way back online.
But between some unexpected friendships and an alarmingly cute farm boy, Sunny might be surprised by the connections she makes when she's forced to disconnect.
Goodreads
The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere
Series: The Swooning Virgins Society #3
Author: Anna Bradley
June 1st 2021 by Lyrical Press
There’s nothing distinct about the brick building that houses The Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls, which perfectly suits the purposes of its extraordinary residents—bold young ladies who expose London’s most corrupt aristocrats—and find their true loves along the way . . .
The only thing Georgiana Harley despises more than chaos is bad behavior. So when the Duchess of Kenilworth pleads for help to escape her witty, charming, handsome, heartless monster of a husband, she’s come to the right place. Calm and logical, with nerves of steel, Georgiana is uniquely qualified to safely disappear the duchess, along with her young son. Her greatest challenge is Her Grace’s brother, Lord Haslemere. An arrogant scoundrel, he keeps interfering with Georgiana’s methodical plans. If only he would get out of her way—yet once he reveals a heart as sweet as his lips, she isn’t so sure she wants him to. Can she allow herself to fall for a man with an angel’s face—and a devil’s reputation . . .?
Benedict Harcourt, the Earl of Haslemere isn’t about to trust his precious sister and beloved nephew to some delicate chit who looks as if a stiff wind could send her sprawling—no matter how brilliant Georgiana is. Or beautiful. Or brave. Or lovable. Or irresistible. But does even he have the courage to fall for a young woman with the starry eyes of an innocent—and the unstoppable fierceness of a lioness? Only time, and taking a risk, will tell . . .
Goodreads
We Are Inevitable
Series: None
Author: Gayle Forman
June 1st 2021 by Simon & Schuster
A heartbreaking story about finding yourself and your people, from the bestselling author of If I Stay, a major film starring Chloë Grace Moretz. For fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, John Green and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
'I got this whole-body feeling . . . it was like a message from future me to present me, telling me that in some way we weren’t just bound to happen, that we had, in some sense, already happened. It felt . . . inevitable.'
So far, the inevitable hasn’t worked out so well for Aaron Stein.
While his friends have gone to college and moved on with their lives, Aaron’s been left behind in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, running a failing bookshop with his dad, Ira. What he needs is a lucky break, the good kind of inevitable.
And then he meets Hannah. Incredible Hannah – magical, musical, brave and clever. Could she be the answer? And could they – their relationship, their meeting – possibly be the inevitable Aaron’s been waiting for?
Goodreads
Becoming Mila
Series: The Mila Trilogy #1
Author: Estelle Maskame
June 3rd 2021 by Black and White Publishing
Set in Los Angeles and Nashville over a long, hot summer, Becoming Mila is the first book in an irresistibly addictive and exhilarating new trilogy from Estelle Maskame, shimmering with love, friendship, family frictions – and lots of romance.
Sixteen-year-old Mila lives in LA with her mom and A-list actor dad, whose fame constantly thrusts their lives into the media spotlight. But when Mila's antics around town make waves ahead of her dad's next big movie, something needs to be done. So Mila is dispatched 2,000 miles away to Nashville, Tennessee, where she can cool off for the summer with her aunt and grandfather. The perfect solution – right?
Mila's not so sure. She's dreading the idea of a summer away from her friends, not to mention being shipped to the other side of the country. Apprehensive and out-of-sorts when she arrives, it doesn't take long for her to get off on the wrong foot with the mayor’s son, Blake. In spectacular style.
But Blake's no stranger to Mila's issues. He knows exactly what life's like with a parent in the public eye – the pressures and politics, dramas and dynamics ... Perhaps Mila and Blake have far more in common than either of them care to admit.
Goodreads
Not My Problem
Series: None
Author: Ciara Smyth
June 3rd 2021 by Andersen Press
Aideen can fix anyone's problem - just not her own
When Aideen agrees to help ambitious class swot Maebh Kowalska deal with her crazy workload, she doesn’t expect to end up reluctantly pushing Maebh down the stairs. With this, Aideen becomes the school ‘fixer’: any problem a student has, Aideen will sort it out, from stealing confiscated mobiles to breaking into parties. All she asks for is a favour in return. But Aideen’s own life is a mess – her mam’s drinking again, her BFF Holly is avoiding her and she’s skipping school. Spending more time with the uptight (but annoyingly cute) Maebh and chatterbox Kavi, Aideen starts to wonder: can every problem be solved?
Goodreads
Simone Breaks All the Rules
Series: Simone Breaks All the Rules #1
Author: Debbie Rigaud
June 3rd 2021 by Scholastic
Late bloomers unite! This fresh and funny #ownvoices novel from rising star Debbie Rigaud is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Booksmart.
Simone Thibodeaux's life is sealed in a boy-proof container.
Her strict Haitian immigrant parents enforce no-dating rules and curfews, and send Simone to an all-girls school. As for prom? Simone is allowed to go on one condition: her parents will select her date (a boy from a nice Haitian immigrant family, obviously).
Simone is desperate to avoid the humiliation of the set up -- especially since she's crushing on a boy she knows her parents wouldn't approve of. With senior year coming to a close, Simone makes a decision. She and her fellow late-bloomer friends will create a Senior Year Bucket List of all the things they haven't had a chance to do. On the list: kissing a boy, sneaking out of the house, skipping class (gasp!), and, oh yeah -- choosing your own prom date.
But as the list takes on a life of its own, things get more complicated than Simone expected. She'll have to discover which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak.
Goodreads
Of Princes and Promises
Series: St. Rosetta's Academy #2
Author: Sandhya Menon
June 8th 2021 by Hodder & Stoughton
From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the second installment in a brand-new series set an elite boarding school that’s a contemporary spin on fairy tales, this one a delightful, romantic twist on The Frog Prince.
Caterina LaValle is determined to show she’s still the queen of St. Rosetta’s Academy. Sure, her crown may be slightly askew after her ex-boyfriend, Alaric, cheated on her, but she’s a LaValle. She’ll find a way to march right back in there, her hands clutching the strings to the whole puppet show. This time, she’s going to be untouchable.
Rahul Chopra knows that moment he shared with Caterina LaValle at the winter formal meant something. Surely she feels it, too. He’s a little uncertain how someone like him (socially inept to a point way past “adorkable”) could fit into her world, but he’s loved Caterina for years. He knows they’ll find a way.
When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking a supermodel to the upcoming gala, she knows she cannot arrive without the perfect date. But the thought of taking another superficial St. R’s boy exhausts her. The solution? Sweet-but-clueless Rahul Chopra and a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever his heart desires.
When Rahul tries it, he transforms instantly into RC—debonair, handsome, and charming. But transformation comes with a price: As Rahul enjoys his new social standing, the line between his two personas begins to blur. Will he give up everything, including Caterina, to remain RC? Or will this unlikely pair find their way back to each other?
Goodreads
The Peer's Roguish Whisper
Series: The Dukes' Pact #5
Author: Kate Archer
June 8th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
A Clever lady and a Cavalier Lord.
Kitty Dell is an intellectual and has made certain scientific discoveries she takes a great amount of pride in. For now, though, she must put her books aside, as she is on her way to London for her launch season. She is doubtful that she will meet a gentleman who will appreciate her mind, but secretly hopeful of it. She has at least the benefit of being introduced to various members of the esteemed Royal Society, and one particular gentleman-member does seem to hold a high regard for her intellect.
If Giles Dermot, Marquess of Grayson, had ever heard of the Royal Society, he just as quickly forgot it. He hasn’t forgotten Miss Dell, however. He met the lady at Newmarket and was instantly charmed. He realizes she considers herself bookish, but certainly she will throw over her learned pursuits when the balls and parties commence. As for himself, though he has never aspired to dry scholarship, he does not think a life well-lived without poetry and Shakespeare. In society, he is regarded as the dandiest of the dandies, an unrepentant bachelor, and a shameless flirt. Mamas are well-advised to steer their daughters elsewhere.
As Kitty navigates the unfamiliar waters of the season, the Royal Society is threatened with a ruinous mystery. Somebody is set on destroying it and everybody is searching for clues. Including Lord Grayson, as how else is he to win Miss Dell’s scholarly heart?
Never were two people less suited. Unless one considers that the gentleman might learn to spend less time on his neckcloth and the lady might learn to spend less time buried in a book.
Goodreads
Duke of Honor
Series: Dukes of Distinction #5
Author: Alexa Aston
June 10th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing
A woman who falls in love with a man she’s never seen . . .
A duke harboring a secret he can never reveal . . .
Sebastian Cooper, Marquess of Marbury, chooses to leave England and fight in the Napoleonic Wars for a decade. He comes home to find his father has died and assumes his role as the new Duke of Hardwick.
When Lady Hadley Hampton’s parents die, she is made a ward to the Duke of Hardwick, a man estranged from his only son. She reads Sebastian’s letters aloud to her guardian and over the years falls in love with the dashing war hero.
When Sebastian arrives home, he is astounded that Hadley has been managing his father’s affairs and is angry this beautiful stranger knows so much about him when he didn’t even know she existed. Sebastian fights his growing attraction to Hadley, believing she deserves much more than the broken, scarred man he has become.
Will Hadley be able to tear down the walls surrounding Sebastian’s heart and help the Duke of Honor finally heal?
Find the answer in The Duke of Honor, Book 5 in the Dukes of Distinction.
Goodreads
Highland Hero
Series: Children of the Mist #2
Author: Cynthia Breeding
June 14th 2021 by Entangled: Amara
If Juliana Caldwell said the sky was blue, Rory MacGregor would tell her it was gray, with a storm due any minute. No man gets under her skin more than the arrogantly handsome Scot. When she is abducted by a rival clan, Rory is the last person she expects or wants to call her hero.
Rory is the best tracker the MacGregors have, so when his brother’s sister-by-marriage goes missing, he’s ordered to find her. But binding himself to the fiery English redhead with an opinion about everything is not how he saw this rescue going. To save her from the clutches of the villainous Cameron laird’s son, though, he must declare them handfasted.
When their escape goes horribly awry, Juliana and Rory are forced to take the long way home. Surviving blizzard conditions, meddling clanspeople, and a near-fatal ambush on the trail, nothing compares to the unexpected and unlikely passion that ignites between the rugged Highlander and his English warrior princess.
Goodreads
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
Series: Dangerous Damsels #1
Author: India Holton
June 15th 2021 by Berkley Books
A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.
Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She's also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it's a pleasant existence. Until the men show up.
Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he's under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman.
When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her--hopefully proving, once and for all, that she's as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.
Goodreads
To Tempt a Scandalous Lord
Series: Once Upon a Scandal #4
Author: Liana De la Rosa
June 21st 2021 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Amara)
Alicia Lindsay, the dowager Countess Lindsay, has spent her life under the dominion of men— leered at yes, but ultimately silenced and cast aside. But widowhood has granted her the freedom to voice her critiques against injustices in articles that have enraptured the nation. Resolved to bring about political change, Alicia's investigation of the newest party candidates leads her to the captivating, hardheaded Lord Inverray. She's unprepared when he proves to be not only charming but chivalrous when a slight wardrobe malfunction—with all eyes of the ton upon them—forces her to accept his proposal. Now she’s keeping a huge secret from her soon-to-be-husband.
Niall Campbell, Marquess of Inverray, has spent years finding support for numerous legislations to help his fellow Scots. Now poised to grasp the party leadership, his success has been threatened by some anonymous articles critiquing his campaign. Niall vows to find the author and silence them, no matter the cost. But when he finds himself engaged to an alluring widow with a sharp tongue, his plans get derailed in more ways than one…
Goodreads
My Contrary Mary
Series: Mary #1
Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows
June 22nd 2021 by HarperTeen
Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?
Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she's a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It's a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.
Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But after the king meets a suspicious end, things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis are forced to navigate a viper's nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary's secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.
Goodreads
Witchshadow
Series: The Witchlands #4
Author: Susan Dennard
June 24th 2021 by Tor
Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling, young adult epic fantasy Witchlands series continues with Witchshadow, the story of the Threadwitch Iseult.
War has come to the Witchlands . . . and nothing will be the same again.
Iseult has found her heartsister Safi at last, but their reunion is brief. For Iseult to stay alive, she must flee Cartorra while Safi remains. And though Iseult has plans to save her friend, they will require her to summon magic more dangerous than anything she has ever faced before.
Meanwhile, the Bloodwitch Aeduan is beset by forces he cannot understand. And Vivia—rightful queen of Nubrevna—finds herself without a crown or home.
As villains from legend reawaken across the Witchlands, only the mythical Cahr Awen can stop the gathering war. Iseult could embrace this power and heal the land, but first she must choose on which side of the shadows her destiny will lie.
Goodreads
A Scot to the Heart
Series: Desperately Seeking Duke #2
Author: Caroline Linden
June 29th 2021 by Avon
An Officer and a Scotsman
Captain Andrew St. James always knew he came from a noble family, but his branch grew far from the wealth and status. Nothing shocks him more than learning that he now stands as heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle. There is much for Drew to learn and adjust to—but first he goes home to Edinburgh, to tell his mother and three sisters of their startling good fortune.
A Lady and a Temptress
Ilsa Ramsay yearns for some adventure and fun, not another husband. When she discovers the handsome soldier who sweeps her off her feet for a rollicking dance is her friend’s brother, soon to be an English duke, she tells herself he’s not for her, no matter how tempting he is. But one impulsive kiss, then another, and another… says otherwise.
An Irresistible Attraction
Drew means to marry a respectable, dignified Englishwoman—a very proper future duchess. The spirited Ilsa is none of that. Still, when she’s caught in a dangerous scandal, he leaps to her aid without hesitation. And neither family duty nor future obligation can make them ignore what’s in both their hearts.
Goodreads
The Princess Stakes
Series: None
Author: Amalie Howard
June 29th 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Princess Sarani Rao has it all: beauty, riches, and a crown. But with her father an Indian maharajah and her late mother a British noblewoman, her mixed blood makes her a pariah and a target. When her father is murdered, her only hope of survival is to escape on the next ship out—captained by the man she once loved... and spurned.
Captain Rhystan Huntley, the reluctant Duke of Embry, has a place in the English fleet that he's loath to give up. But duty is calling him home, and this is his final voyage. Leave it to fate that the only woman he's ever loved must stow away on his ship.
Goodreads
West End Earl
Series: Misfits of Mayfair #2
Author: Bethany Bennett
June 29th 2021 by Forever
From the series guaranteed to "win the hearts of Regency fans” comes a story of secret identities, unlikely love, and forbidden romances that will warm even the coldest of hearts (Publishers Weekly).
While most young ladies attend balls and hunt for husbands, Ophelia Hardwick has spent the last ten years masquerading as a man. As the land steward for the Earl of Carlyle, she’s found safety from the uncle determined to kill her and freedoms a lady could only dream of. Ophelia’s situation would be perfect—if only she wasn’t hopelessly attracted to her employer.
Calvin, Earl of Carlyle, is determined to see his sister married this season. And he’ll do it with the help of his trusted right-hand man. But when he finds out his man is a woman, and that her life is in danger, his priorities change. Their attraction is passionate, all-consuming, and if they aren’t careful, it could turn downright deadly—for both of them.
Goodreads
The Wrong Marquess
Series: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #3
Author: Vivienne Lorret
June 29th 2021 by Avon
USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret continues the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series with a debutante who believes she is destined to marry the lord next door until a fateful encounter with a rogue makes her wonder... if she might be falling for the wrong marquess!
The wrong place...
Elodie Parrish can feel spinsterhood breathing down her neck. That’s the trouble with waiting for the marquess next door her entire life. But Ellie knows if she gives him one last Season, he’ll finally propose. The only problem is, her path keeps crossing with the arrogant Lord Hullworth, who is convinced she has designs on him.
The wrong time...
Brandon, Marquess of Hullworth, never wanted to be “London’s Most Elusive Bachelor,” or have a horde of hopeful debutantes and their scheming mamas follow him around. His past has left him too jaded to consider marrying any of them. At least, that’s what he thinks... until he meets Ellie. She’s quirky, opinionated, blushes easily, and drives him absolutely wild. The only problem is, she believes she’s in love with someone else.
Ellie never imagined that one sultry summer could change everything. But the more time she spends with Brandon researching her book on the mating habits of scoundrels, the more she wonders if she might be falling for…
The Wrong Marquess
Goodreads
An Extraordinary Lord
Series: Lords of the Armory #3
Author: Anna Harrington
June 29th 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
A steamy historical romance set in Anna Harrington's star-studded Regency world.
Soldier turned solicitor Lord Merritt Rivers has dedicated his life to upholding the law. He patrols the streets faithfully, hoping to stop crimes before they can happen. While hunting an escaped convict, he encounters a woman also hunting thieves. She's a delicious distraction, until he discovers that she is the criminal he's after. She's smart, challenging, and everything he finds attractive, but he cannot trust her.
Veronica Chase has hidden her past as a nobleman's daughter. She confesses to a crime to keep her adopted brother out of prison. She now lives in London's underworld, trapped between worlds, belonging nowhere.
Forming an uneasy alliance, Veronica and Merritt work together to protect innocent Londoners during the city's riots. Moving between her world and his, they grow closer to each other and to the mob's dangerous leaders. But their newfound trust won't be enough, until each face their demons and ask what's worth saving―the lives they've chosen to lead or the love that leaves them yearning for more.
Goodreads
The Devil and the Heiress
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses #2
Author: Harper St. George
June 29th 2021 by Berkley Books
Sparks fly when a runaway heiress bargains with a devilish rogue to escape a marriage of convenience.
No one would guess that beneath Violet Crenshaw's ladylike demeanor lies the heart of a rebel. American heiresses looking to secure English lords must be on their best behavior, but Violet has other plans. She intends to flee London and the marriage her parents have arranged to become a published author--if only the wickedly handsome earl who inspired her most outrageously sinful character didn't insist on coming with her.
Christian Halston, Earl of Leigh, has a scheme of his own: escort the surprisingly spirited dollar princess north and use every delicious moment in close quarters to convince Violet to marry him. Christian needs an heiress to rebuild his Scottish estate but the more time he spends with Violet, the more he realizes what he really needs is her--by his side, near his heart, in his bed.
Though Christian's burning glances offer unholy temptation, Violet has no intention of surrendering herself or her newfound freedom in a permanent deal with the devil. It's going to take more than pretty words to prove this fortune hunter's love is true....
Goodreads
The Importance of Being Wanton
Series: Wantons of Waverton #2
Author: Christi Caldwell
June 29th 2021 by Montlake
USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell turns polite London society on its head in a delightful romance of unguarded hearts, second chances, and a scandalous rivalry between the sexes.
Emma Gately and the Earl of Scarsdale were betrothed as children―less a vow of future happiness than an obligation. Seventeen years later, the independent miss severs the contract with the now notorious libertine in an unprecedented act of independence. And Emma cofounds the Mismatch Society, where like-minded ladies are free of the constraints and inevitable broken hearts that men bring. But Emma’s rejection sparks in her intended a new consideration of the spirited woman he took for granted―and a determination to win her back.
Despite his wicked reputation, misguided and suddenly lovestruck, Charles Hayden is on a mission to gain Emma’s respect, and he has just the idea―one that the daringly unconventional Emma is sure to appreciate. But as Charles takes bold steps and sets tongues wagging, he makes himself an accidental opponent of his former betrothed. Soon, a rivalry is born that has the whole ton abuzz.
Emma never anticipated that with every fiery test of wills, passion would surge. Passion that’s impossible to ignore. In going toe-to-toe with Charles, she risks her heart and pride by falling in love with the one man she vowed to scorn.
Goodreads
Someone to Cherish
Series: Westcott #8
Author: Mary Balogh
June 29th 2021 by Berkley
Is love worth the loss of one's freedom and independence? This is what Mrs. Tavernor must decide in the new novel in the Westcott series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.
When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father's bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where he was near-fatally wounded. After a harrowing recovery, the once cheery, light-hearted boy has become a reclusive, somber man. Though Harry insists he enjoys the solitude, he does wonder sometimes if he is lonely.
Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, dreams of taking a lover. Her marriage to Reverend Isaiah Tavernor was one of service and obedience, and she has secretly enjoyed her freedom since his death. She doesn't want to shackle herself to another man in marriage, but sometimes, she wonders if she is lonely.
Both are unwilling to face the truth until they find themselves alone together one night, and Lydia surprises even herself with a simple question: "Are you ever lonely?" Harry's answer leads them down a path neither could ever have imagined...
Goodreads
A Duke in Time
Series: The Widow Rules #1
Author: Janna MacGregor
June 29th 2021 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor.
Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri's accidental death that he had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is everything she's been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.
Meri's far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold is…problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she's Meri's widow. Or can he?
With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri's two other wives, Katherine doesn't have time for much else. But there's something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they'll have to face their pasts if they want to share each other's hearts and futures.
Goodreads
Never Mix Sin with Pleasure
Series: Infamous Lords #5
Author: Renee Ann Miller
June 29th 2021 by Zebra Books
With the proper calculations, even a reckless rake and a secretly infamous woman can find a love they can count on...
No one would ever guess that Olivia Michaels, companion to an elderly dowager, is really the thief the London newspapers have nicknamed the Phantom. Working in a nobleman’s home is the perfect guise to gather information, allowing her to exact her own justice on several wicked noblemen. But when the dowager’s grandson, notorious ne’er-do-well Lord Anthony Trent, requires her assistance with some tasks of his own, Olivia discovers that the charming rogue may be capable of stealing something himself—her heart...
Anthony has his own secret: Numbers get jumbled in his head. He’s cultivated his reckless reputation as a way to avoid dealing with his family’s businesses. Yet, as obligations fall on him, he’s determined to prove his worth, and Olivia’s genius for numbers is a boon he hadn’t expected. But as the pair pore over ledgers together each evening, their connection blooms into a heated flirtation that threatens to expose the secrets each of them has been hiding...
Can desire and deception ever add up to true love?
Goodreads

What has caught your eye for June? Have you read any of these? Let me know :)

Gemma's Not Sure
Series: Galloway Girls #2
Author: Gill Stewart
Published May 26th 2020 by Sweet Cherry Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
Gemma's not sure if she's brave enough to go to her audition, or if she even wants to study music at all. She's definitely not sure forming a band with Lily's hot ex-boyfriend is a good idea. Jamie's university life isn't like he thought it would be, and he doesn't know what to do about it. One thing he does know is that he wants a reason to bump into Gemma Anderson again. The Galloway Girls are back! With exams coming up and major life choices in progress, everything is about to change.
Goodreads

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

Life takes a turn in Gemma's Not Sure, as Gemma is decided on which university she should go to next year, and whether she can get over her stage fright to perform, for real. Her teachers want her to go to an exclusive Conservatoire, and teach youngsters while she's home, but it a bit much for her. To be honest, she's not even sure university is for her at all, and meeting up with Jamie, Lily's ex boyfriend and her long term crush, shows her that life as a fresher is not all great. Jamie was pushed into an accountancy course by his mam, and the expectations that are piled on him are too much. He loves his music, and refereeing, so when he comes home and starts getting more involved in youth training, being close to Gemma is perfect.

I read Lily's Just Fine recently, and liked how real the book was - talking about school, imperfect home lives, and what it's like being a teenager these days. As Lily's best friend, we saw a lot of Gemma and I wanted to know more about her, and why she seemed so nervous all of the time. She's a quiet bairn, who doesn't like attention or change really, and her final year of school is a big moment. One of the best things in this book was seeing her growth, from the shy and retiring Gemma at the start, to the Gemma who stood up for herself, was real with Jamie, and tried to help little Rosie with her own issues. Jamie and Gemma together were sweet - there wasn't any awkwardness over the fact Jamie used to be with Lily, so that was good. Of course, we have the obligatory angst we always get in YA's these days, but it was dealt with well, and I reckon I'll continue with the series. I'm hoping the next book is Sarah's, because there's so much about her yet unexplored!

Dates Read:
August 15-16, 2020

Rating
3 Stars