📖Romance Books: reviews and recommendations📖 - Page 10

Thanks Ritu baby - I’d forgotten where I’d posted this, reposting it here because well this is a rec thread, ain’t it? 🤷🏽‍♀️😀

Here are a few HR books that I really loved. Please keep in mind that I read some of these a couple of years ago and perhaps I might feel differently now if I re-read them 😆 I’m fickle like that (The Gemini in me). No, but seriously- I think (for me at least) how a book affects me depends a lot on my mood and frame of mind when I read. I was in a different place then than I am now so.. yeah. Then again, I think most of these will stand the test of time. These are not star-rated nor do they come with a review. They’re just recs …

1. Nine rules to break when romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (The heroine is so plucky!)

2. A week to be wicked by Tessa Dare : very funny, laugh out loud moments, adorable hero, bluestocking heroine. In fact, all of her Spindle Cove series is good but this one stands out for me. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne might be among my fav historical MLs ever, and that's saying something. The brief appearances he makes in her other Spindle Cove books are also hilarious. He's such a cheeky b**tard!

3. Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare (a sort of beauty and the beast take off), oh the hero has a disability in this.. (no spoilers!)

4. Girl meets Duke series by Tessa Dare especially the Duchess Deal (again a sort of beauty and the beast take off), and the Governess Game (I loved the hero in this too, and his two adorable wards)

5. The Duchess of Love series by Sally Mackenzie, especially Bedding Lord Ned and Loving Lord Ash - funny as heck!

6. The entire 'Naked Gentlemen' series by Sally Mackenzie; my favorite was The Naked Earl (hilarious)

7. Three weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James (pretty funny especially the letters exchanged; the hero and heroine become BFFs first)

8. Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase (Younger hero and older heroine, adorable hero). I know her Lord of Scoundrels is very loved and celebrated but I might be the only person in the world who didn't love it. Perhaps I should re-read.

9. Unveiled by Courtney Milan: the hero is so supportive, and just so surprisingly unique. He has my heart. There are 3 more books in this series but this one is my favorite. Her Brothers Sinister series is also good, especially Sebastian Malheur's book! What is it about MLs named Sebastian? - they're so irresistible!

10. What happens in London and Ten things I love about you by Julia Quinn. Ahh, Sebastian again (the same one) in both of them!

11. The madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley (really good and the hero is so unique: he’s definitely on the spectrum but in those times it would be seen as madness). The entire MacKenzie clan I think rival the Bridgertons when it comes to family bonding! Sometimes even surpass them! I love Daniel too, though his book was slightly disappointing. I did enjoy Cam and Ainsley's book though!

ETA: I read The sinful ways of Jamie Mackenzie (Ian's son) recently. It's based in the Edwardian era and it fell completely flat for me . Though I did love the family moments, especially among the cousins. JA looks set to write them all, she's set up Alec, Malcolm and Belle, Megan and Gavina will definitely have a romance I'm guessing.

12. The footman and I by Valerie Bowman in which the hero who’s an earl pretends to be a footman to find true love. Fun! I also enjoyed Kiss me at Christmas by the same author, need to read more books by her!

13. When beauty tamed the beast by Eloisa James: the hero is the beast but also a doctor who limps (inspired by Dr. House; his understudies are even called the ducklings!)

14. Devil’s daughter by Lisa Kleypas. Her Ravenel series is highly acclaimed and I loved this one (West Ravenel is an irresistible hero). The Wallflowers and Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas are both enjoyable.

15. My fake rake by Eva Leigh: I loved the premise of the shy, unassuming, nerdy hero being transformed into a rake, but it does drag in places. She's steamy

16. When a Scot ties the knot by Tessa Dare, so many funny moments and I really love the Scottish accent!

17. The rogue you know by Shana Galen, the second book in the Covent Garden cubs series. I know most people like Earls just wanna have fun, Dane and Marlowe's book, but I preferred Gideon and Susanna's story. It was so much more of a transformation story for them both.

18. When the Earl met his match by Stacy Reid. Oh God, this book. The ML, Hugh has my heart and Phoebe is so fearless. Ngl, this book made me cry in places and that's saying something.

19. Her wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid. Book 2 in the Sinful Wallflower series. Omg, again I dare you to resist the ML, Nicholas. Maryann and Nicholas's midnight trysts are so delicious I just melted!

ETA: I read Book 3: Ophelia and Devlin's book A Scoundrel of her own and my my! Soooo good! I hear it's being made into a series and I can't wait especially with Stacy being a WoC author! I hope it's better than the Bridgerton series, the stories are definitely juicier!

20. Brighter than the sun by Julia Quinn (Lyndon Sisters #2) Ellie and Charles' story and so, so funny and heartwarming.

21. To catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn: Agents of the Crown #1. The FL Caroline is just so funny and endearing despite everything she's faced.

22. Splendid by Julia Quinn.

23. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas: I don't think there's anything left to be said about this book. Sebastian St. Vincent. That's all. I also enjoyed Lilian and Marcus' book It happened one autumn which sets up Sebastian so wickedly it made me wonder how in the heck he was going to be the leading man in the next one! Should've known better than to underestimate Lisa!

24. Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros. A retelling of the Cinderella story and set in the 1300s much before the usual regency period. But oh God. This ML! Bannor the Bold is just sooo good and noble, I cry!

25. A wicked kind of husband by Mia Vincy. Delicious banter between ML and FL. Some good steamy scenes. A really fun read, surprisingly good for a debut novel (Stands up there with 9 rules to break by Sarah MacLean, also a debut novel)

26. The perfect rake by Anne Gracie. I tried some other books by this author and found them pretty meh but this one! Oh, Gideon is just perfect! He's so supportive once he falls in love, and he falls hard. I found myself irritated by Prudence though!

27. Married by morning by Lisa Kleypas. Hathaways - Leo's story and super fun. Didn't like the FL much though but still enjoyed this more than his sisters' books, but Kev and Win's book Seduce me at Sunrisecomes a close second.

28. Rules for a proper governess by Jennifer Ashley. A MacBride story, featuring the MacKenzies. The FL, Bertie is so unconventional.

29. Infamous by Minerva Spencer. The FL is really unlikeable and has done some mean, questionable things in the past to the ML and his brother (and his brother's wife). So it's kind of a redemption story for her. This one was good, but got distracting because of the parallel love story between Lucien and Phil, which I think deserved its own book. It took away from Richard and Celia's story, but I really loved Richard in this!

30. The Devil is a Marquess by Elisa Braden. Her entire Rescued from Ruin series is good, but this one stands out for me. Charlotte is such a positive, optimistic FL, just so refreshing and Benedict? OMG, I melt! I loved this book and how he changes slowly for her and because of her.

ETA (Jan 2023): Updating with my latest recs

31. Heart of enquiry series by Grace Callaway: I liked most of these books, my favs are probably The Viscount always knocks twice and Never say never to an Earl. I like the element of mystery weaved in with the romance, Grace does this really well. Plus the steam!

32. Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels series by Grace Calllaway: Badass heroines who are trained to solve crimes and belong to a secret society. My fav is Pippa and the Prince of Secrets - the hero Tim is sooo

33. Beautiful Barringtons series by Kathleen Ayers. This was such a fun read! Great family rivalling the Bridgertons - I would say even better than them! The dynamic between the siblings is great and I love how they all don't immediately get along with the in-laws (The brothers hate their brothers-in-law , one of them is called the Parasite ). I liked The Marquess Method (Theo's book) and The Wager of a Lady (Leo's book) best though my favorite ML might be Benjamin Cooke in The Making of a Gentleman.

34. I'm reading Kathleen Ayers' Wickeds series and have gotten through the first couple of books. Liked the second one better : Nick and Jemma's book - Devil of a Duke. These books also have an element of suspense/ mystery to them and her villains are deliciously evil.

35. The Making of a highlander by Elisa Braden. I can't believe I DNF ed this book on first read. It's soooo good! I love John and Annie - especially Annie. She's so spirited and the way she teases him! The whole McPherson clan is so quirky! There's also a slight suspense and paranormal element in the stories which, although not something I look for, is quite well-woven into the storyline.

For people who've read her Rescued from Ruin, John is the oldest brother of the Huxley sisters from that one, and the rest of the series continues with Annie's half brothers. I read Book 2 and 3 and although they're good, they cannot match up to Book 1. Waiting for Books 4 & 5: Alexander and Rannoch's stories.

36. The Sinful Suttons: Series by Scarlett Scott. Easy, breezy reads, almost novellas most of them which is what drew me to them. The Suttons belong to the disreputable London East End and run a gaming hell, so not the noblest of families out there, though most of them end up making noble matches! Waiting for Logan's (the missing brother) book. My favorite thus far has been Rafe's book, Sutton's Sins.

37. The Pennyroyal Green series by Julie Anne Long. This series comes highly recommended and I resisted reading it for the longest time, then I read Book 1 (Colin's book) and did not enjoy it much, could not get into the author's writing style so shelved it. Recently read What I did for a Duke and my my my... Alexander Moncrieffe has my heart! The writing takes some getting used to but the prose is exquisite. As are the metaphors she uses. Went on to read Between the Devil and Ian Eversea and The Legend of Lyon Redmond and enjoyed both books, especially the latter which reads more like a Bollywood forbidden romance plot! The series is mostly about the battling families of Redmonds and Everseas, though there are some books based on ancillary characters. Aiming to finish this series though my favorite thus far is Alex and Gen's What I did for a Duke. This book made me cry. JAL writes irresistible and unreal leading men!

38. Hellions of Halstead Hall and Duke Dynasty: series By Sabrina Jeffries. I honestly read these a while ago so I cannot recollect details but remember enjoying them, HHH more than DD.

39. How the wallflower was won by Eva Leigh (Last Chance Scoundrels Book 2). I love love love Finn Ransome though the book itself is weak in its plot. I quite enjoyed Book 1 too - The good girl's guide to rakes: Kieran and Celeste's book. Waiting to read Book 3: Dom and Willa's book which looks to be a second chance romance (not my fav trope but I'm hoping to be surprised)

Please mumma don't thank me!

Been keeping the location of this post stored in the brain so I can go ahead and pick books when I want to 😳

I forgot once remember lmao?

You had to write it all again.

Now I always keep it in mind.

Originally posted by: EuphoricDamsel

Please mumma don't thank me!

Been keeping the location of this post stored in the brain so I can go ahead and pick books when I want to 😳

I forgot once remember lmao?

You had to write it all again.

Now I always keep it in mind.

This time it was my turn to forget! 😆 Like mumma like kiddo 😆!

PS: I've added a few more recent reads in the post!

OMG Lizzieeee, how long did it take you to write that list😲

Originally posted by: la_Reine

OMG Lizzieeee, how long did it take you to write that list😲

Originally posted by: EuphoricDamsel

Winnipeg is a great read! MASSIVE slow burn...😆

Like maddening slow burn but a great read all with it. Funny and swoon-worthy!

The way he manages his meals when she stops cooking for him 🤣🤣

I’ve not yet finished Nash’s book. I’m currently on Chapter 13. The first night they’re sharing a bed The good ol innocent bed sharing

The wall of Winnipeg even though it was a massive slow burn, I loved it. The tension and build up was great. It was my first from MZ and I went on to read her other books. All of them slow burns but such a great plot and build up to the relationship stage. I loved the epilogue of this one. Aiden was my book boyfriend for months before I found someone that topped the list. That was Dante Salvatore from Anti heroes in love series by Giana Darling. That man allowed himself to go to jail and used it as an opportunity to get revenge on his woman’s ex-boyfriend who treated her like crap.

If you’ve liked Dreamland billionaires then you will enjoy Mile High Club series. I found the second book so funny, the antics of the children on meeting Tristan was hilarious.

I did notice the Final Offer paperback being a lot more plump than the first two. I would take a thicker book over some authors splitting one story into two or three books especially when it is not even good. Like the Crossfire series. It started off good then after the second, she did just fillers and didn't close all the loopholes. And the timeline was like 6-7 months pushed together in 5 books 😂 My biggest reading regret to date.

Originally posted by: EuphoricDamsel

Zade Meadows is booktok's one of the kryptonites lol...Along with Aaron Warner and others.

The quote - "Meadows... baby...our last name is Meadows" appears on my feed at least thrice a day

Haven't gotten to it yet! Some said it's too much!

But the way it keeps on reappearing...might have to go ahead and get to it.

Zade Meadows does make you question yourself for loving him. But it’s so worth accepting that a part of you is corrupt I did a little self reflection about myself after the second book wondering if I was normal because I am supposed to be triggered and find this dark. I felt it was darker than the first however it wasn’t like dark where I’d had to take a breather or stop reading. I went searching for something darker. 😂 I don't think I will find anyone remotely close to topping Zade Meadows. He was just *chefs kiss*

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

Thanks Ritu baby - I’d forgotten where I’d posted this, reposting it here because well this is a rec thread, ain’t it? 🤷🏽‍♀️😀

Here are a few HR books that I really loved. Please keep in mind that I read some of these a couple of years ago and perhaps I might feel differently now if I re-read them 😆 I’m fickle like that (The Gemini in me). No, but seriously- I think (for me at least) how a book affects me depends a lot on my mood and frame of mind when I read. I was in a different place then than I am now so.. yeah. Then again, I think most of these will stand the test of time. These are not star-rated nor do they come with a review. They’re just recs

Wow!!! This list is amazing. I'm already interested in quite a few. Beauty and the Beast stories are my thing. When I was young, I loved the beast than the prince. I still prefer beasts than princes. 😂 I am looking forward to checking some of these out as they do sound interesting.

I don't think with Historical romances, they go wrong. It's a different world and you kinda know thats how it used to be or was. I have not come across any HRs that I have not enjoyed.

With contemporaries, my feelings towards them changes as I grow older each year and wonder how the heck I had loved that. 😂 That is why I avoid doing re-reads too much. I've only done re-reads of ones that I have absolutely loved and know that I will never tire of them.

I don't know if you've come across them: Night huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. It's a PNR romance and so freaking good. It gives off Buffy the Vampire slayer vibes. Another re-read I have done is Spiral of Bliss series by Nina Lane which focuses on a couple after marriage and gives their past of how they started and how they overcome a series of issues.

Making faces by Amy Harmon. Gosh that book steals my heart each time. Its first like ugly duckling vibes. Then Ambrose goes to fight for the country after 9/11 and comes back with scars, losing his friends and it gives off beauty and beast vibes. It is such a heartwarming story that sticks with you.

“I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy, and when you get tired of looking at me, I promise I’ll sing.”

“Sometimes a beautiful face is false advertising.”

“It's hard to come to terms with the fact that you aren't going to be loved the way you want to be loved.”

I think I will do a re-read of this soon! Just remembering this story makes me fall in love all over again with Fern, Ambrose, Bailey. Their friendship and love for each other. It is an MF story. It's a clean romance so no smut.

And another re-read I am planning on is Archer's voice by Mia Sheridan. That's also a heartwarming story of a boy with a lost voice. I was recently making some bookmarks to match my paperbacks and when I was re-reading quotes, I decided it was time for a re-read. 😂

“How do you teach a man who has lost everything, not to fear it happening again?”

“It suddenly occurred to me that Archer Hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn't had a single person to talk to. Until me.”

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

Wow!!! This list is amazing. I'm already interested in quite a few. Beauty and the Beast stories are my thing. When I was young, I loved the beast than the prince. I still prefer beasts than princes. 😂 I am looking forward to checking some of these out as they do sound interesting.

I don't think with Historical romances, they go wrong. It's a different world and you kinda know thats how it used to be or was. I have not come across any HRs that I have not enjoyed.

In that case, you should read The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard. Quite a celebrated book and entirely based off of the Beauty and the Beast premise. Though I prefer When the Beauty tamed the Beast and The Duchess Deal infinitely. Even Romancing the Duke is soo fun.

I get what you're saying. A lot of HR is problematic if you view it with a modern lens, so I try not to and it keeps me sane. 😆

I usually never do re-reads, except in very very rare instances. For eg. I'm going to read A Week to be Wicked again just because I loved that book so so much and I've forgotten passages.

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

I don't know if you've come across them: Night huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. It's a PNR romance and so freaking good. It gives off Buffy the Vampire slayer vibes. Another re-read I have done is Spiral of Bliss series by Nina Lane which focuses on a couple after marriage and gives their past of how they started and how they overcome a series of issues.

Making faces by Amy Harmon. Gosh that book steals my heart each time.

I think I will do a re-read of this soon! Just remembering this story makes me fall in love all over again with Fern, Ambrose, Bailey. Their friendship and love for each other. It is an MF story. It's a clean romance so no smut.

I don't usually go for dark romances unless they're Gothic and even then rarely so. Paranormal isn't my thing either. If it's part of a romance I'm reading like an HR I've listed I don't mind it, but I don't go looking for it. I'll make a note of your recs though. 😳

Ahh clean romances! What are those? 😆

I get this every time I come across a clean romance:

I'm like where's the smut, give it to me!! 🤣 I don't mind a slow burn if the payoff is worth it, but completely clean romances make me go 😵, unless it's extremely well-written and the emotional connection makes me want to either laugh out loud or cry buckets!

Oh and there are bad HRs. 🤡 In my case, the usually celebrated books and authors make me go meh.😆 I'm glad you haven't come across any though! 😆

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

And another re-read I am planning on is Archer's voice by Mia Sheridan.

This one has been on my TBR for a while, need to get to it soon!

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

In that case, you should read The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard. Quite a celebrated book and entirely based off of the Beauty and the Beast premise. Though I prefer When the Beauty tamed the Beast and The Duchess Deal infinitely. Even Romancing the Duke is soo fun.

I get what you're saying. A lot of HR is problematic if you view it with a modern lens, so I try not to and it keeps me sane. 😆

I usually never do re-reads, except in very very rare instances. For eg. I'm going to read A Week to be Wicked again just because I loved that book so so much and I've forgotten passages.

I don't usually go for dark romances unless they're Gothic and even then rarely so. Paranormal isn't my thing either. If it's part of a romance I'm reading like an HR I've listed I don't mind it, but I don't go looking for it. I'll make a note of your recs though. 😳

Ahh clean romances! What are those? 😆

I get this every time I come across a clean romance:

I'm like where's the smut, give it to me!! 🤣 I don't mind a slow burn if the payoff is worth it, but completely clean romances make me go 😵, unless it's extremely well-written and the emotional connection makes me want to either laugh out loud or cry buckets!

Oh and there are bad HRs. 🤡 In my case, the usually celebrated books and authors make me go meh.😆 I'm glad you haven't come across any though! 😆

This one has been on my TBR for a while, need to get to it soon!

Making faces is one of those that is extremely well written and focuses on the emotional aspect and relationships. There’s some poems that just tugs at your heart strings as well that describes Fern’s feeling about her face. The way Amy Harmon had written the story about friendship, losses, bravery, love, beauty is just so amazing. I bought 3 formats of her book because I am obsessed.
I bought the ebook, paperback the audiobook when it came out 😂 It is a tear jerker in a few places as well.

I’m like you looking for the spice but I have slowly gotten used to slow burns and a few clean romances and they must be extremely well written and focus on the emotional aspect or it’s going to be a DNF for me. Amy Harmons making faces is one of them.

Glad I haven’t come across any bad HRs yet and hope I don’t come across them 😂

Sypnosis

The Diamond

Death walks alongside me,

But the reaper is no match for me.

I'm trapped in a world full of monsters dressed as men, and those who aren't as they seem.

They won't keep me forever.

I no longer recognize the person I've become,

And I'm fighting to find my way back to the beast who hunts me in the night.

They call me a diamond,

But they've only created an angel of death.

The Hunter

I was born a predator,

With ruthlessness ingrained in my bones.

When what's mine is stolen from me in the night,

Like a diamond hidden within a fortress,

I find that I can no longer contain the beast.

Blood will paint the ground as I tear apart this world to find her.

And bring her back to where she belongs.

No one will escape my wrath,

Especially not those who have betrayed me.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hero: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Heroine: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

HEA

Spice level: 5/5

Genre: Dark romance (REALLY dark romance)

Trope: Enemies to lovers

Possible Triggers: Trafficking, child abuse, stalker, killer, sexual assault, non-con, dub-con, kidnapping, blood and gore, torture, gang r@pe, blood and knife play.

Review:

I was a little bit concerned that whether this book would live up to the first especially since the first is dark and sometimes authors fail to keep the momentum going. However, this book did not disappoint. It exceeded my expectations.

“They see me as a diamond because I have Zade’s love, but they fail to remember that’s what forged me into a stone so unbreakable. He’s taught me a lot about myself and who I really am. But most importantly, he’s taught me how to persevere.”

Adeline has been taken by the Society and Zade is searching for her.

I absolutely detested and felt a surge of anger reading what Adeline was going through. I wanted to reach into the books and wanted to kill those vile individuals myself. I kept hoping desperately that Zade will take revenge on them for what they did and do it 10x worse.

“I love you, Zade. Sometimes I can’t f*cking stand it,” I say, my voice raspy and uneven. “But it was the only thing that kept me alive. You saved me. Even when we were apart, you saved me. And I hope to God you never stop hunting me.”

As I continued reading, I loved how Adeline changed and morphed into a badass. I loved how she’d come out of this and she was the one taking the revenge with the help from Zade. I freaking squealed and was so proud when she’d been the one to chop off that perverted creatures banana. I enjoyed how the author had kept what she’d been through in mind and focused on her healing since she did have PTSD. I am so pleased that she did not just jump into bed with Zade as that would have been wholly unrealistic and I loved how Zade waited and treated her. I absolutely enjoyed his patience and love for her. The way he’d encouraged and brought in Sibby to train her as he was aware she couldn’t handle his touch right now after what she’d been through.

“You’ll always be safe with me, little mouse. Always.”

“I’m coming home with my little mouse tonight. And then? We’re going to burn down the world together.”

Despite the dark premise of the book, there’s Sibby with her 4 imaginary henchmen. I absolutely loved her. She was brilliant and brought in some humour in this otherwise dark book. Her scenes with Adeline and Zade were hilarious and Adeline always telling her to stop undressing and trying to have an orgy with her imaginary henchmen. Sibby would start anyway, even during car rides. I loved this little demon slayer and will check out her book. I hope its just as good.

The plans they’d made to capture everyone and play similar torturous games they’d played with Adeline was awesome. I loved how scared they’d felt and how Adeline and Zade got revenge together. This book was enjoyable because I had to switch off gears and remind myself it is fiction and it is a fictitious world. Otherwise, if you think about realism and how everything played out, you cannot and would enjoy this book at all. All the characters including Adeline and Zade would be extremely hated. So again, read the trigger warnings and take them seriously.

“Meadows, baby. Our last name is Meadows.”

Eeeeekkkkk 😂