Title: Royal Fiancée Required
Author: Kali Anthony
Published: February 2025
Genre: Engagement of Convenience, Love at First Sight, Royal Romance, Harlequin Present, Mills and Boon Modern

Blurb:
The convenient princess bride...

He inconveniently desires!

Six months ago, vivacious Princess Anastacia Montroy enthralled Aston Lane at her kingdom’s society ball. Now he needs a bride to secure his billion-dollar birthright, she’s the only wife he’ll accept! With chemistry this powerful, how could she refuse?

Ana does not want a husband. Certainly not one who knew her before the accident that scarred her and stole her self-esteem. Yet a royal wedding would silence the scandal of her first failed engagement... And alone aboard Aston superyacht, his on-paper proposal is written with red-hot passion!

My Review:

Here is an irresistible royal romance featuring a masquerade ball, a wonderful maze scene and a luxurious superyacht that Kali has spoiled you with!

I particularly enjoyed the chapters where Ana and Aston reunited at the masquerade ball, where they couldn’t resist their attraction as they flirted. When Aston first met Ana six months ago, he was enthralled by her personality, yet Ana he meets now has changed. Yup, not only has the accident in the past damaged her physically but also personally. But don’t worry, with his tender and considerate move, he’s going to crack Anastacia’s wall piece by piece and I loved every step of it!

Despite his low status and his parents’ pressure to marry, Aston will not choose any women but Ana, the only princess who has caught his attention. Meanwhile Ana, what choice did she have after what she had been through?

As their relationship deepens, their emotional rollercoaster brought me to the depths of their traumatic pasts and the weight of expectations that begin to unravel their true selves. Despite this, Kali really spoilt me with her vivid storytelling where the luxury of royal romance is provided.

Well, if you want to be pampered by a royal romance with a protective hero, an imperfect yet resilient heroine and its luxurious vivid setting, Kali will absolutely spoil you with this story. Thank you Kali for sending me this e-arc, which I voluntarily reviewed.

About the Author

When Kali Anthony read her first romance novel at fourteen, she realized a few truths: there can never be too many happy endings, and one day she would write them herself. After marrying her own tall, dark and handsome hero in a perfect friends-to-lovers romance, Kali took the plunge and penned her first story. Writing has been a love affair ever since. If she isn’t battling her cat for access to the keyboard, you can find Kali playing dress-up in vintage clothes, gardening, or bushwhacking with her husband and three children in the rain forest of South East Queensland. You might contact her on https://www.kalianthony.com/ or her twitter https://twitter.com/KaliAAnthony

Picture and blurb source: goodreads.com

Title: The Viking’s Princess Bride
Author: Sarah Rodi
Published: January 2025
Genre: Historical Romance, Viking romance, Love at First Sight, Enemies-to-Lovers, Harlequin Historical, Mills & Boon Historical

Blurb:

Feel the heat as two enemies are forced to wed in this spicy Viking romance!

He’s won the throne...

But she’s his royal prize!

Victorious in his quest for revenge, Viking Njal takes the Saxon crown – and their princess! But while he’s wedding Cwen in the name of peace, he cannot deny the way she entices him. Even if it’s clear she’s holding something back...

Princess Cwen has long accepted being used for her kingdom’s gain, but attacking the enemy’s hand is the most outrageous request yet! Still, the rugged warrior ignites a fire inside her... Cwen just can’t let Njal storm her carefully constructed walls. Because she’s harbouring a secret that could rock the foundations of their marriage!

My Review:

A marriage of convenience? A Viking warrior? Enemies turned lovers trope? You bet, I’m in!

A Viking warrior hero has always had a place in my heart. With his fierce rugged appearance but has endless patient and kindest heart, Njal captured my heart with him from the moment he appeared amidst the war between the Norsemen and Saxons.

I was rather baffled as the first few chapters dramatically revealed the war between Njal as a Dane and Cwen, as a Saxon. Cwen, a princess carrying a sword, is actually fighting on the battlefield! From the very first time Njal catches the sight of Cwen, He can’t get her out of his mind. Love at first sight in the middle of war, how fascinating.

I think Njal is the kindest and most considerate warrior. Despite his desire for revenge, he doesn’t want to completely tear down the Saxon. He just wants peace, and he proposes the marriage as a solution to stop the vicious cycle of revenge and war. Meanwhile, Cwen, despite her beauty and stubbornness, she bears greatest burden of secret. Their whirlwind marriage is full of mistrust, miscommunication, unease and a closely guarded secret that always hover over their burning desire, but Njal’s true hunger kept their relation burning slowly and steamy. I enjoyed reading it as the secret uncovered slowly. Being a new king, Njal is continuously inflicted with dilemmas yet his kind-hearted character is truly remarkable.

To me, it is a powerful tale of festering vengeance with intense sexual tension that completely ends with a satisfying prologue. Thank you Sarah Rodi for sending me the e-arc, which I voluntarily reviewed.

About the Author

Sarah Rodi has always been a hopeless romantic. She grew up watching old, romantic movies recommended by her granddad, or devouring love stories from local library. Sarah lives in the village of Cookham in Barkshire, where she enjoys walking along the River Thames with her husband, two daughters and their dog. She has been a magazine journalist for over twenty years, but it has been her lifelong dream to write romance for Harlequin Historical. Sarah believes everyone deserves to find their happy-ever-after. You can contact her via https://twitter.com/sarahrodiedits or visit her website at https://www.sarahrodi.com/ .

 Picture and blurb source: goodreads.com

Title: The Lady’s Bargain with the Rogue
(The Disreputable Marsden Brothers #1)
Author: Melissa Oliver
Published: January 2025
Genre: Enemies-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity, Victorian Romance, Harlequin Historical, Mills & Boon Historical, Historical Romance, Opposite Attracts

Blurb:

The Rogue she loves to hate

Or her greatest temptation?

Lady Elisabeth Bawden-Trebarr’s determined to claim the Cornish ancestral home her good-for-nothing late husband gambled away, and unearth her family’s long-lost riches. As the new owner is Sebastian Marsden – a notorious rogue she would rather avoid – she’ll ensure he cannot dismiss her by storming his gaming hell!

Sebastian wants nothing more to do with the ton after bitter family scandal. But when Lady Eliza refuses to give up without a fight, he entertains her treasure hunt – if only to stop her pressing on his every nerve! Yet he reluctantly admires her tenacity, and sizzling attraction begins to stir...

My Review:

In the early New Year of 2025, I embarked on my first reading journey with Melissa Oliver’s first Victorian romance, and I couldn’t stop pestering on how wonderful the story was!

Who would have thought that a Cornish castle and a treasure hunt could entangle Eliza and Sebastian?

With nothing left but her ancestral Cornish castle, Eliza will do anything to save it, even though she has to go toe-to-toe with a rogue that people considered as gruff, brooding and indecipherable, Sebastian, but to me he is the most swoon-worthy hero that I would want to have one for myself, if it were feasible. Sebastian doesn’t expect that the plain widow of Ritton will bring his world upside down, especially when he refuses to give Eliza time to pay off her husband’s debt in exchange for the ancient castle.

Well, Sebastian, I also didn’t expect that Eliza to be so genius and attractive, albeit impulsive, beneath her plain appearance, so I could understand over why you couldn’t leave her alone and are so protective of her.

The journey and treasure hunt have brought so many entertaining and vivid historical artefacts that Melissa Oliver has brilliantly written and devised. I derived immense pleasure from reading it through, the sparring and banter between these two contrasting characters, particularly when Eliza created a commotion outside his estate, and Eliza’s other clever inventions to hunt for the said treasure and their way of finding love.

I really loved Melissa’s strong and fascinating writing. It is well-plotted with the Bawden-Trebarr ancestors (if you have read Elowen and Simon’s story, you will be fascinated by this one), splendidly witty, vividly depicted and beautifully ended. I can’t wait to read Dominic and Cecy’s story! Thank you Melissa Oliver for sending me the e-arc, which I voluntarily review.

About the author

Melissa Oliver is from southwest London, UK, where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and three daughters, who share her passion for decrepit old castles, grand palaces and all things historical. She won the Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers from Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2020 for her first book, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums and art galleries. If you want to find out more, follow Melissa on Twitter https://twitter.com/melissaoautho

Picture and blurb source: goodreads.com

 

 

Title: Three Days to be Ruined
Author: Giovanna Siniscalchi
Published: December 2024
Genre: Historical Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers

Blurb:

What happened when a Highlander becomes a winemaker? The grapes don’t just crush... They faint.

An English lady with everything to lose...Beth Croft is all poise and propriety – or so she tells herself. To save her father from financial ruin, she proposes a marriage of convenience to Boyd Sandeman, the ruggedly handsome, infuriating Scotsman and wine tycoon. She expects some challenges, but she didn’t expect Boyd himself – a man with a dry wit, a commanding presence, and a knack for turning her world upside down.

A Scotsman with a taste for revenge...For Boyd, Beth’s offer is a chance to settle an old score with her father, who once humiliated him. He agrees, but only if Beth can prove she’s up to the task. At a festive Christmas house party, Boyd devises three challenges to test her mettle, from blind wine tastings to keeping up with his demanding (and often maddening) expectations. Yet as they spar and spark, Boyd’s own defences begin to falter in surprising ways.

Three trials, one Christmas, and undeniable chemistry...Beth didn’t expect proving herself would mean more late nights than she’s bargained for – or that her heart would be on the line. Can she survive Boyd’s trials, break through his defences, and make it to Christmas morning with her pride – and her heart – intact?

A standalone historical romance with spice, heart, and favourite characters from The Winemakers series, Three Days to be Ruined is the perfect holiday escape. If you’re drawn to heart-stopping romance, rugged heroes, and daring heroines, get your copy today and dive into a journey of love, revenge, and sizzling holiday chemistry!

My Review:

Ah, what a swoon-worthy novella with so much spice and passion, and revenge that turned into perfect love.

On her father’s demand, Beth comes to Boyd to propose a marriage of convenience. For Boyd, her proposal is the perfect timing to ruin and avenge her father after what her father did to him. Beth is unaware of his revenge, thus she keeps putting on a perfect propriety-lady mask to assure him that she can be a perfect wife to a winemaker. Boyd, however, has another demand for Beth to qualify as a winemaker’s wife.

At first, I thought Boyd would be a ruthless businessman, but his hidden desire for Beth makes him want to be close to her with his teasing and slow-burning connection. Beth is truly innocent, her red hair, fair complexion and proper English manner just make Boyd want to tease her over and over. Boyd’s revenge, along with his sweet and compassionate side for Bath, stealing whatever Beth wears, was entertaining. I almost got butterflies in my stomach every time they got close.

Surrounded by caring side characters, Boyd and Beth’s journey was truly romantic. A novella with a swoon-worthy hero for a heroine, a sweet heroine with a spine and a spicy-page turner is perfect for your holiday reading!

Picture and blurb source: goodreads.com

 

Title: Love in Translation
Author: Joss Wood
Published: December 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Opposite-Attract,

Blurb:

This could be their greatest adventure yet...

A stressed-out translator on the brink of a meltdown and a thrill seeker with a serious case of wanderlust find love outside their comfort zones.

Up until a few months ago, Rheo Whitlock had it all. Stability, self-confidence and a safe job as an interpreter for the United Nations... It was the predictable sort of existence she, as a dedicated homebody, had always dreamed of – the security she’d needed thanks to her nomadic van-life upbringing. But ever since an unfortunate “hot mic” moment threw her career into a tailspin, she’s been struggling – really struggling – with fear, anxiety and uncertainty. A calculated escape is in order, and Rheo knows just the place: her grandmother’s secluded hideaway in the breathtaking town of Gilmartin.

Except she won’t be alone, thanks to a random twist of fate...

Fletcher Wright loves for adrenaline, always chasing the next high. So when he learns he’ll have to share his rental accommodations with Rheo – a stranger, basically – he simply chalks it up to another challenge. It doesn’t hurt that there’s an immediate attraction between them, which neither can explain. Before long, they’re not just sharing a house and new experiences – they’re sharing a bed. But when it’s time for Fletcher to move on to the next adventure, he and Rheo will both have to decide – are they ready to take the biggest risk of all?

My Review:

The perfect example of opposites attracting - a talented interpreter and a fearless explorer brought to you by Joss Wood...

On the brink of a career disaster, Rheo, a multilingual translator and interpreter has hidden herself away in the Pink House, a place where she thinks she could maintain her perfect-life back and regain her confidence, yet her life is turned more upside down when an attractive explorer, Fletcher, claims to have rented the house to him through her cousin.

Despite their opposite characters, Rheo and Fletcher cannot hide their instant attraction. Rheo is a consummate idealist and perfectionist. Her upbringing, shaped by her parents’ van life and her grandmother, who is her perfect role model, clashes with Fletcher’s adventurous spirit. His purpose in life is dedicated to explore the unexplored area, a life that Rheo hates because of her family.

I loved the way the attraction instantly sparked during their first encounter, and their decision to have an affair added a fun, spicy twist to the story. From hot and spicy moments to entertaining and unexpected situations, this book keeps you hooked.

It’s thanks to Joss Wood for letting me read it. Slow burn that becomes hot and spicy, loads of passion, the plot that flows until I didn’t realize it was over. Joss Wood’s writing kept me hooked from the beginning. If you want a relaxing read with a spicy scene, a pleasing plot and a resolved and happy ever after ending, this is absolutely for you.

Picture and blurb source: goodreads.com