Stella Riley, The Player

Due to a scandalous tragedy, Adrian Devereux has spent the past 10 years living abroad, working as an actor and gambler. But now his brother, the Earl of Sarre, has died, so he must return to England and assume the title. There he learns that Marcus Sheringham, the man who betrayed him and forced him into exile, has huge gambling debts and must marry an heiress to avoid ruin. As Adrian gets to know Caroline, the heiress in question, he becomes convinced she’s too good for Marcus — and he certainly isn’t averse to a little revenge — so he devises an elaborate plot to marry Caroline himself. I’m so glad I discovered Stella Riley, because I’ve been loving her books — I devoured this one in a single sitting! While the plot is absurdly melodramatic, and I’m not usually a fan of the revenge-seduction trope, I loved Adrian and Caroline so much that I didn’t care. The most important thing for me in a romance is that I believe the main characters are truly right for each other, and I definitely got that with this book. Can’t wait for the next one!

Lish McBride, Curses

Lady Merit Cravan has been cursed to take the form of a beast, and she can only break the curse if she marries before her 18th birthday. Though Merit doesn’t expect love, she’s worried about making a bad choice, so she asks Tevin DuMont, a handsome but penniless con artist, for help evaluating her suitors. He’s made his living by charming rich young women, then accepting bribes from their parents to stay away, so he’s the perfect person to help unmask insincere fortune hunters. But as Merit and Tevin get to know each other better, their inconvenient feelings may ruin everything. I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this one is unique in that the genders are flipped. But much as I liked Merit, I was far more interested in Tevin and the rest of his ramshackle family. (Especially his brother, Amaury — fingers crossed for a sequel where he’s the hero!) Instead of following the curse/marriage drama, I’d rather have followed the DuMonts on their adventures! Still, this is a fun read, and I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the fairy tale.

AJ Pearce, Mrs. Porter Calling

In the spring of 1943, things are going well for Emmy Lake. Though her husband, Charles, is away at war, she enjoys living with her friends Bunty and Thelma, and she finds fulfillment in her job at Woman’s Friend magazine. That changes, however, when the magazine’s new publisher, a rich socialite named Mrs. Porter, begins suggesting changes that cater to the frivolous concerns of the wealthy rather than the issues the magazine’s readers really care about. As Emmy and her friends fight to save the magazine, another tragedy of war strikes, forcing them to reexamine their priorities. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, which manages to be upbeat and positive without sugarcoating the war’s harsh realities. Emmy and her friends are lovable characters worth rooting for. Her editor, Guy Collins, remains a favorite, and I hope I smell a hint of romance for him in future books! I’d definitely recommend this series to fans of the period, but start with book #1, Dear Mrs. Bird.