Tag: romance novel

Mini-Reviews: Bookshop, Notebooks, Vampire

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Madeline Martin, The Last Bookshop in London

Grace and her best friend Viv are excited to move to London from the countryside, both of them dreaming of working in a fashionable clothing shop. But the only job Grace can get is as an assistant at the disorganized and overcrowded Primrose Hill Books. At first she just wants to work there long enough to get a good reference, but gradually she comes to find fulfillment in her job, as well as a new love of literature. However, her joy in her work is tempered by the onset of World War II, in which she experiences the horrors of the Blitz firsthand. I have to say, much as I enjoy a book set during the Blitz, this one did nothing for me. The writing style felt awkward and unpolished, and while the author obviously did some research, it intruded on the narrative rather than being subtly incorporated. I wasn’t impressed with this one and won’t seek out more by this author.

John Curran, Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making

This book is based on a collection of Agatha Christie’s notebooks, in which she jotted down the ideas and worked out the plots that would eventually become her published novels, stories, and plays. Curran, obviously a huge fan, compares Christie’s notes with her finished works and thereby paints a picture of her creative process. I think Christie aficionados would enjoy this book, but it’s definitely not for the casual fan as it assumes in-depth knowledge of her work (though Curran does provide spoiler warnings). Many of the notes aren’t particularly detailed or interesting, though they do shed a fun light on Christie’s somewhat haphazard process. The book also feels disorganized, with photos of the notebooks and little informational boxes interrupting the main narrative, sometimes for several pages. Basically, I’d only recommend this one to the true die-hard fans, but it did make me want to go back and reread some of my favorite Christie novels!

Jenna Levine, My Roommate Is a Vampire

Struggling artist Cassie is about to be evicted, so when she sees a “roommate wanted” ad on Craigslist for a great apartment with a suspiciously low rent, she’s desperate enough to check it out. Her would-be roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, seems strange and old-fashioned but harmless – that is, until she discovers the bags of human blood in the refrigerator. Yes, Frederick is a vampire, and he needs Cassie’s help to navigate the modern world. A romance soon develops between them, but people from Frederick’s past seek to keep them apart. I liked the premise of this book and found it a fun read, but I was unable to suspend my disbelief about Frederick’s situation. There are too many inconsistencies in what he knows about the modern world vs. what he doesn’t, and very little time is spent on what vampire life is like, whether Cassie will be “turned” and what that will mean for her, etc. Those hoping for a modern vampire story that makes sense will be disappointed, but if you’re just looking for a cute contemporary romance with paranormal trappings, you might like this one.

Mini-Reviews: Spade, Satterthwaite, Conjuring

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Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust

Passionate chemist and adolescent sleuth Flavia de Luce is back on the case when Buckshaw’s cook, Mrs. Mullet, is accused of killing a Bishop’s Lacey resident with poisoned mushrooms. Flavia knows Mrs. Mullet is innocent and decides to clear her name. The dead man, Major Greyleigh, seemed reasonably well liked, so who had a motive to kill him? As Flavia digs deeper, she uncovers a shocking secret that will upend her whole life. I’ve read every book in this series, which I enjoy for Flavia’s breezy, often hilarious narration (though I’m not convinced she’s a realistic or even a coherent character). But the mysteries tend to be weak, and that’s certainly the case here. I also don’t love the direction in which this book seems to be taking the series; it doubles down on some of my least favorite plot elements from previous books. Overall, it’s mid, as the kids say. But if another Flavia book comes out, I’ll most likely read it!

Mimi Matthews, Return to Satterthwaite Court

This Victorian romance centers around Lieutenant Charles Heywood, son of the couple from The Work of Art, and Lady Katherine Beresford, daughter of the couple from Gentleman Jim. They meet in passing and are instantly smitten, and their relationship develops as they investigate an anonymous letter that hints at a past wrongdoing involving Charles’s mother. Much as I love Mimi Matthews, this is not one of my favorites by her. The central romance just seemed a bit bland to me; Charles and Kate didn’t feel like fully fleshed out characters, though I did like that Kate knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Still, I found myself much more interested in the hints of romance among the secondary characters—two of Kate’s brothers are the heroes of the next two books in the series. It’s a perfectly good (and steamless!) historical romance, and I did enjoy reading it, but it didn’t blow me away.

V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light

Immediately after the events of A Gathering of Shadows, Kell finds himself in White London being confronted by Osaron, a god (or demon) whose magic threatens to ruin everything in its path. Kell defies Osaron, but the latter still manages to get to Red London, where he promptly enslaves or murders most of its residents. It’s up to Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard et al. to stop Osaron before he destroys their entire world—and perhaps the neighboring worlds as well. This conclusion to the Shades of Magic trilogy is huge—my hardcover is more than 600 pages long, and the margins are small—but it’s also a page-turner. That said, I would have preferred a shorter book; we didn’t really need all the flashbacks, nor the chapters from non-protagonist POVs. I did enjoy the story and think this book gives a satisfying ending to the series (though I believe the author has since written more books in this world). Overall, I’m glad I finally read this whole trilogy, but it’s not a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Apprentice, Flowers, Moon

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Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain

This book picks up shortly after Assistant to the Villain left off: Trystan has been captured by the nefarious King Benedict, and Evie & co. must find a way to rescue him. They then learn that the magic in their kingdom is fading, and it seems the solution is to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, an ancient piece of lore that most people view as a myth. As Trystan and Evie seek the elements they need to fulfill the prophecy – and avoid capture by Benedict’s army – they continue to fight their mutual attraction. I’m not entirely sure why I decided to read this book, since I thought the previous one was just okay. The main characters still feel like they belong in teen fanfiction, and their waffling over whether they can give into their feelings gave me constant emotional whiplash. I still found myself entertained enough that I will probably read the third book when it comes out…but I’m really hoping that will be the end of the series!

Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm

Christian Langland, the duke of Jervaulks, is a well-known rake and libertine—and also a mathematical prodigy writing a paper on non-Euclidean geometry with Quaker mathematician John Timms. John’s daughter, Maddy, despises Christian’s worldly ways; but when he suffers a brain injury and is confined to a lunatic asylum, she’s aghast at his treatment and becomes convinced of his sanity, despite his near inability to communicate. Maddy feels called to help Christian and is forced to take drastic measures when his family tries to have him declared legally incompetent. I read this book years ago but didn’t remember much about it, so I’m very happy to say I loved it this time around! Both Christian and Maddy are flawed yet appealing characters: He’s often stubborn and autocratic but slowly learning to be more patient, and she’s judgmental but also principled and courageous. The angst quotient is pretty high, which isn’t usually my preference in a romance novel, but in this case it genuinely worked for me. I definitely need to seek out more of Kinsale’s backlist!

Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar’s Moon

This sequel to StarCrossed sees Digger back in her hometown of Gerse, where tensions are high due to civil war: King Bardolph and his anti-magic Inquisition on the one side, Prince Wierolf and a group of refugee magicians on the other. But Digger is concerned with a more personal problem: Her friend Durrell Decath has been arrested for the murder of his wife, but Digger knows he’s innocent. As she investigates to learn who really killed the woman, Digger also finds evidence of organized crime and human trafficking. This is an odd sequel in that book #1 was largely about the buildup to the civil war, but in this book the war is really just a backdrop for the murder mystery. I did enjoy the plot and the writing style, but I wanted more continuity between the books. Frustratingly, the author clearly intended to write more in the series – this book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger – but more than 10 years later, she hasn’t come out with book #3, so I think this is all we get. Overall, the series had a lot of potential but never really fulfilled it, for me.

Mini-Reviews: Love, Byzantium, Ensemble

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Lindsey Kelk, Love Me Do

UK native Phoebe Chapman is excited to spend a couple weeks visiting her sister in Los Angeles. Sure, her sister has to leave pretty much immediately for an emergency work trip, but Phoebe is happy enough to stay at her luxurious house and explore the city, with the help of handsome neighbor Ren and bubbly personal trainer Bel. Phoebe soon learns that Bel has a crush on Ren but is painfully awkward around him, so she decides to help the couple get together. But a little well-meaning advice soon spirals out of control, with Phoebe writing love letters to Ren on Bel’s behalf – while falling for Ren herself. I’m a sucker for a Cyrano de Bergerac storyline, and I enjoyed this book even though Phoebe’s plan was obviously doomed from the start. Yes, Ren is a little too good to be true, and the conflicts are all resolved pretty quickly. But I liked Phoebe’s humorous voice and her enthusiastic descriptions of LA from an outside perspective. Overall, it’s a fun read if the premise interests you.

John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium

In the late ’80s and early ’90s, English popular historian John Julius Norwich wrote a three-volume history of the Byzantine Empire. This book condenses that longer work into a single tome of 500-ish pages, giving a broad-strokes overview of the history of Byzantium from the reign of Constantine the Great in the fourth century to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It’s a lot of ground to cover, so Norwich mostly sticks to the emperors and other powerful figures (popes, patriarchs, rival monarchs, etc.) who show up in the historical record. As someone who’s only mildly interested in the Byzantine Empire, I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book, which would probably be more enjoyable to someone with more background knowledge. But Norwich is an entertaining writer, and I think I will retain at least some of what I read, so I’d recommend it to people who are enthusiastic about the period.

Aja Gabel, The Ensemble

This novel closely follows four characters, members of a professional string quartet whose careers and lives are intertwined in various complicated ways. There’s first violinist Jana, the ambitious and emotionally ruthless leader of the group; Brit, the calm and kind second violinist; Henry, the viola prodigy to whom everything seems to come easily; and Daniel, the cellist with a monumental chip on his shoulder. As time passes, each character comes to terms with what he or she really wants from the quartet and from life in general. Literary fiction doesn’t always appeal to me; I find “literary” is often synonymous with “depressing.” But in this case, I found enough to like about these (sometimes quite unlikable) characters, and enough outcomes to root for, that I liked the book more than I expected to. I also thought the descriptions of music and life as a musician rang true. Overall, I think I’d like to read this book again someday, so I’m keeping it on my shelves for now.

Mini-Reviews: Like, Gentleman, Aristocrat

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Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like

Jewelry store owner Eliza is dismayed when she sees on social media that her ex-boyfriend has just gotten engaged. To console herself, she tries on the store’s most extravagant ring and takes a photo – then accidentally posts it to Instagram. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers thousands of new social media followers, as well as several big online orders from the store. Since her fake engagement is good for business, she decides to keep up the charade. But as her little white lie spirals out of control, she risks losing both her business and a chance at love. I thought this book sounded cute, but Eliza’s behavior made me so mad! Basically, she starts dating a guy in the hope that he’ll actually become her fiancé (and thus make the lie true)…but she 100% leads him on and manipulates him into falling in love with her, not telling him the truth until after he proposes. I thought it was irredeemably awful of her, and her subsequent happy ending felt undeserved. Not recommended.

Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim

Ten years ago, stableboy Nicholas Seaton and young lady Margaret Honeywell fell in love, but the cruel interference of a rival suitor forced Nicholas to run away, and Maggie hasn’t heard from him since. Now, visiting a friend in London, she encounters Lord St. Clare, an enigmatic viscount who has recently come to England after years spent abroad. Maggie is convinced that St. Clare is Nicholas, but he staunchly denies it, while at the same time determinedly pursuing a relationship with her. Who is St. Clare, and what’s his purpose in coming to London? I haven’t hit a bad Matthews book yet, and this one is just as well written and entertaining as her others. It’s explicitly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so if you know that story, the plot is pretty predictable. I also found the central romance a bit farfetched, given that Maggie and Nicholas were so young when they initially fell in love. But then, second-chance romance really just isn’t my trope. I did like the book and plan to continue with the series, though this installment can 100% stand alone.

Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat

Nurse Sarah Keate is called to the home of the wealthy and prominent Thatcher family when one of its members, Bayard, is shot in the arm. The family claims the shot was an accident that occurred while Bayard was cleaning his gun, but Bayard tells Nurse Keate that someone in the household tried to kill him. His claim seems to be proved true when he’s later found dead in the library. The family then coerces Nurse Keate into staying at the house, where more sinister things occur, including another death. This was my first book by Mignon G. Eberhart, and I quite liked it! The sensible Nurse Keate is a great narrator, and I appreciated the way the mystery unfolded; new evidence came to light at a good pace and so forth. The suspense aspects of the plot (lots of “had I but known” moments) aren’t really my thing, but they’re not too intrusive here. I’ll certainly read more by Eberhart, especially if I can get my hands on some other Nurse Keate books.

Mini-Reviews: Dance, Star, Strange

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Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance

In high school, Shiloh and Cary were inseparable—best friends who knew they were destined to be in each other’s lives forever. But 14 years later, they’ve completely lost touch. Shiloh has been married and divorced, and now she and her two young children live in her childhood home with her mother. Meanwhile, Cary joined the Navy and hardly ever comes home. But when they both attend their good friend Mikey’s wedding, they get a chance to figure out what went wrong between them and possibly build a future together. I’ve long been a Rainbow Rowell fan and was delighted to discover she’d come out with another adult romance, so I snapped up the hardcover immediately. Overall I liked it a lot; she’s such a good writer, and she does a great job of depicting complex emotions in a relatable, realistic way. There’s not much of a plot, nor is there as much humor and joy as in my favorite of her books (Attachments), but I’d still highly recommend this one to fans of contemporary romance.

Elizabeth C. Bunce, StarCrossed

Digger is a street thief in a country that’s being unjustly oppressed by both the king and his fanatical Inquisition/secret police. She has no interest in politics – she’s just trying to stay alive and not get caught – but after a job gone wrong, she falls in with a group of young nobles and becomes a lady-in-waiting to one of them. At her employer’s mountain castle, Digger is blackmailed into spying on the castle’s owners and their guests, who are concealing many secrets that could have ramifications throughout the kingdom. I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, which combines a streetwise, fish-out-of-water heroine with some solid political intrigue. It’s well written, with several twists and turns of the plot to keep things interesting. While the book has a reasonably solid ending, there’s plenty of room for a sequel, which I’m excited to read next month!

Tara Isabella Burton, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World

The decline in traditional religiosity in America over the past several decades is well known, but along with this decline has come a surge in Americans who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” or as religiously unaffiliated. Burton’s thesis is that many contemporary Americans do still acknowledge a spiritual component to their lives; they just look for it in places other than traditional religious institutions. She discusses several ways in which contemporary Americans pursue spiritual fulfillment, including fandom, wellness culture, witchcraft, and political activism. I find Burton’s central thesis compelling and her examples incredibly entertaining – once you start to look for the oddly spiritual language in modern marketing, you can’t unsee it! The book does feel a bit dated now; it was published in 2020, and much of the data is from the mid-2010s. Still, I’d recommend the book to those interested in the subject, and I plan to read Burton’s next book, Self Made, at some point.

Mini-Reviews: Rom-Commers, Art, Undermining

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Katherine Center, The Rom-Commers

Aspiring screenwriter Emma has put her career on hold to care for her disabled father and younger sister. So when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, she can’t believe her good luck – that is, until she reads his script. Charlie has won fame and fortune for his gritty, dramatic screenplays, but this latest project is a rom-com, and it’s terrible. Charlie is terrible too, at first, but as he and Emma work on rewriting the script, they also grow closer to one another. This book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief – Charlie seems implausibly famous, he’s an abysmal romance writer but somehow genius in every other genre, and the reason for him writing the rom-com doesn’t really make sense. But the relationship between Emma and Charlie is charming, and I liked their back-and-forth, which is indeed reminiscent of classic rom-com banter. I also loved that, contrary to many characters in this genre, Emma is actually great at communicating her needs and feelings. So despite a few quibbles, I really liked this one and would recommend it if you’re interested in the premise.

Mimi Matthews, The Work of Art

Phyllida Satterthwaite isn’t a conventional beauty, but in her first London Season, her unique appearance attracts the attention of a duke known for his relentless pursuit of one-of-a-kind possessions. Now he’s determined to possess Philly as well, but she fears and dislikes him. In desperation she appeals to her new friend, Captain Arthur Heywood, for help. Arthur proposes a marriage of convenience, which will give her the protection of his name, but it’s not long before he and Philly develop real feelings for each other. But when Philly is the victim of some suspicious “accidents,” Arthur worries that the duke is out for revenge. I’m a fan of Matthews’s historical romances, and this one is no exception. The romance is sweet and develops naturally, and the steam is minimal (mostly fade-to-black). I also liked the resolution to the suspense plot, which nicely subverts reader expectations. I’m definitely planning to continue with the series this year!

Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

Twyla Banneker enjoys her job as a Tanrian Marshal, especially working with her longtime neighbor and friend, Frank Ellis. The job has been a little boring lately, but things pick up when one of their fellow marshals is found dead and covered in a thick, glittery mucus. Shockingly, the glitter seems to have originated from a dragon, though dragons are supposed to be extinct. Twyla and Frank investigate, with the help of a renowned dracologist who soon shows an interest in Twyla—which Frank doesn’t like one bit. I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and snapped up this sequel as soon as I could. Maybe my expectations were a little too high, because this book was a slight letdown for me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s still a good read, with charming characters and adorable dragons. But the love story, which is by far the biggest part of the plot, wasn’t compelling for me. We don’t get Frank’s point of view, and Twyla sees him as a platonic friend for most of the book, so the pacing feels slow. That said, I still liked this one overall and am definitely on board for book #3 when it comes out next year!

Mini-Reviews: Sonya, Benedettos, Magic

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Ben Macintyre, Agent Sonya: The Spy Next Door

Born to German Jewish parents in Berlin in 1906, Ursula Kuczynski grew up sympathetic to left-wing politics and joined the German Communist Party in her teens. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Shanghai, where she was approached by a Soviet intelligence officer and recruited as a spy. She accepted the work eagerly, her ardent communist beliefs intensifying as the Nazis rose to power in Germany. Using the code name Sonya, Ursula engaged in espionage for the USSR for decades, her missions taking her all over the world and eventually leading her to the UK. I don’t generally gravitate toward nonfiction, but Ursula’s life is so fascinating that this biography reads like a novel. Macintyre weaves in plenty of history to give context to Ursula’s actions and also paints a vivid picture of her personal life, using her own writings and those of her family, friends, and associates as sources. This is definitely another winner from Macintyre!

Katie Cotugno, Meet the Benedettos

A few years ago, the five Benedetto sisters were living the high life in LA as stars of a successful reality TV show. Now, their fame and status are fading, and they’re even in danger of losing their house. Lilly, the sisters’ de facto leader, is determined to hold her family together but doesn’t quite know how. And things get even more complicated when movie star Charlie Bingley and his friend Will Darcy move into their neighborhood – especially when Charlie seems interested in Lilly’s sister June, and Lilly herself is simultaneously attracted to and repulsed by the snobbish Will. I couldn’t resist this Pride and Prejudice retelling and devoured it in a day. I like how this novel centers the relationships among all five Benedetto sisters; they’re very different people, but it’s obvious how much they love each other. I also loved the chemistry between Lilly and Will and especially loved getting inside Will’s head. Some things didn’t quite work for me – the ending was a bit anticlimactic – but overall I enjoyed this one, and it’s reminded me that I really want to read P&P again soon!

V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic

This novel is set in a universe in which there are four different Londons: Grey London, in the ordinary world; Red London, in a prosperous world with abundant magic; White London, where magic is scarce and used as a weapon; and Black London, which devoured itself long ago. Kell lives in Red London but has a unique ability to travel between the worlds. Lila, a Grey Londoner, is a thief with ambitions to become a pirate. They meet when Lila picks Kell’s pocket, but the item she steals turns out to be an extremely powerful and dangerous artifact from Black London. Together, they must return it to its proper world before it falls into the wrong hands. I really love the creative world-building of this novel, and Kell and Lila are both compelling characters. Once they meet up, the book becomes a page-turner after a somewhat slow start. I first read this novel eight years ago and wondered whether it would hold up, but I still enjoyed it this time around and am excited to continue with the trilogy.

Mini-Reviews: Counted, Daemon, Elephant

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Noelle Adams, Counted

Jude has just learned that he has an inoperable brain tumor and has about three months left to live. He’s determined to achieve a few of his bucket-list goals before dying, and the most important one is to get married. So he decides to propose to Eve, a family friend who’s known him for years, though they’ve never been close. Eve has some misgivings but wants to help Jude, so she accepts. But they’re both caught by surprise as their marriage of convenience slowly turns into something real. I saw this book mentioned online as a gender-swapped retelling of The Blue Castle, so of course I had to try it! Really, it’s not very similar except for the premise – it’s much racier, for one thing! – but I still did enjoy this book. Both Jude and Eve are introverted, emotionally reserved people, so it’s nice to watch them slowly open up, and the development of their relationship feels realistic. It’s a quiet book with not much happening, and it might be a tough read for those who’ve been seriously ill or cared for someone who was. But despite the book not being quite what I expected, I’m glad I read it.

Carol Berg, The Daemon Prism

Two years after the events of The Soul Mirror, Dante is visited by a solider suffering from a magic-induced dream, in which a beautiful woman offers him a jewel that will give him his heart’s desire—but once obtained, the desire is then corrupted. When Dante removes the dream from the soldier’s mind, it enters Dante’s consciousness instead, tempting him with ever-greater magical knowledge. His quest to find the woman and discover the secrets of the jewel soon becomes part of a much bigger magical journey involving an ancient prophecy and the souls of the dead. This is a very satisfying conclusion to the Collegia Magica trilogy; after seeing Dante through the eyes of other characters in the previous books, it was fascinating to get his own perspective here. The plot itself is convoluted, and parts of the story drag a bit, but I loved Dante’s character development and the way things were resolved with the other main characters in the series. Overall, I’m glad I finally read these books, and fans of thick fantasy sagas should definitely check out Carol Berg.

Hannah Ledford, Elephant and Castle

Years ago, American student Nora spent a summer in London, where she fell in love with up-and-coming musician Hugh, though their relationship ended when she went back to the US. Now Nora’s job has brought her back to London, and when she encounters Hugh again, she finds herself wondering what might have been. Complicating matters is Hugh’s best friend, Julian, who liked Nora before and whose feelings come rushing back when he sees her again. But how can he pursue a relationship with her when she and Hugh might have unfinished business? This was a cute little contemporary romance that I read in a day. I like a hero who pines for the heroine, and the obstacles to Nora and Julian’s relationship felt legitimate – in fact, perhaps a little too legitimate given how easily they were ultimately brushed aside. The book ultimately felt light and superficial; I never really got emotionally invested in the story. Still, it’s a pleasant read with an enjoyable London setting, so it’s potentially worth a read if you like the premise.

Mini-Reviews: Summer, Tryst, Prince

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Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job

Birdy’s best friend, Heather, is a master sommelier who’s accepted a position at a hotel restaurant in Scotland for the summer. But when Heather bails on the job without notifying the hotel, Birdy, who’s between jobs, decides to take her place – despite knowing nothing about wine. Of course, she soon realizes she’s in way over her head, but she becomes genuinely interested in the work – and in the restaurant’s chef, James. But what will happen when the truth comes out? This book, while entertaining on a micro level, actually stressed me out because Birdy made so many terrible, thoughtless decisions! Not only was she horrifically incompetent while (initially) making no effort to improve, but she also lied to her employer and her best friend and didn’t ’fess up even when she realized how badly she could damage said friend’s professional reputation. The book does its best to make Birdy likable despite this awful start, but I never quite came around. The Scottish setting is lovely, and James is a dreamy romantic interest, but honestly, he deserves better!

Alyssa Everett, A Tryst with Trouble

Lord Beningbrough, “Ben” to his friends, prides himself on being emotionally detached and is in no hurry to marry. Strong-minded Lady Barbara Jeffords has a low opinion of men in general and, after their first meeting, of Ben in particular. But they’re forced to work together when Ben’s cousin and Barbara’s sister, who are recently engaged, are both implicated in the murder of a footman. Ben and Barbara know neither of their relatives can be the killer, but as they team up to find the true culprit, their mutual annoyance/attraction evolves into something quite different. I’ve enjoyed a couple of this author’s other Regency romances and am happy to say I liked this one as well! Ben and Barbara are an enjoyable pair, whether they’re trading insults or slowly letting their guard down with one another. And they take turns narrating the book, so it’s fun to get a peek inside their heads and see how they view the same events differently. The mystery itself is slight and utterly predictable; it’s really just a device to get these two crazy kids together. But I’d still recommend this book (and author) to fans of lively, well-written historical romance.

Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince

This “romantasy” centers around Ro, a farm girl plucked from obscurity because of her psychic abilities to become the wife of Prince Corrado. Ro and Corrado don’t get along at first, and they’re awkward and shy with one another, but mutual feelings soon develop. Meanwhile, Corrado’s kingdom is under threat by his odious cousin, who will inherit the throne unless he and Ro can produce an heir. And as Ro adjusts to being a princess, she begins to consider how to use her power for good in the world. If you’re expecting a fantasy novel with strong worldbuilding and a well-thought-out magical system, this book is not for you. It’s 100% a romance, and probably the first half of the book is just Ro and Corrado enthusiastically, ahem, “getting to know” one another. There’s not much plot to go along with the sex scenes, and the book’s editing leaves a lot to be desired. I did like the main characters, especially their early awkwardness, and I feel like there’s the kernel of a good book here. But it’s not one that I’d enthusiastically recommend, unfortunately.