Title: The Knight’s Substitute Bride
(Brothers and Rivals #2)
Author: Melissa Oliver
Published: November 2023
Genre: Historical Romance, Medieval Romance, Harlequin Historical, Mills & Boon Historical, Marriage of Convenience

Blurb:

Could the wrong bride...

Be right for him after all?

For the sake of his family name, Lord Robert must merry to seal an alliance with an Irish clan. Only, the woman at the altar isn’t who he was promised! Instead, it’s her sister, Lady Mairenn! The sharp-tongued Irish beauty is as reluctant to wed as Robert, but as friction turns to fire between them, she’s further derailing Robert’s plans for this purely pragmatic arrangement...

My Review:

My wish was granted as I finally got the chance to read the story of Ruaidhri’s twin brother, Robert. I was super excited to be reading about Robert and his unexpected bride, Mairenn! These two are absolutely wonderful.

My first impression of Robert from the prior series was that he was cold, foreboding and unreadable yet I couldn’t seem to forget about him. He is my absolute swoon-worthy medieval knight. I had a glimpse of Robert’s situation from the first book. To seal an alliance between the Anglo-Norman and Iris clan, Robert has agreed to marry the daughter of the Darach clan however on the wedding day, he is furious when the bride is switched with the second daughter, Lady Mairenn. What he doesn’t expect is that the outspoken, free-spirited and disobedient woman is the woman he encountered when he lost his horse. I felt completely immersed during their wedding ceremony especially the surprise when they are standing at the altar with shocked expression. This dramatic encounter made a dramatic back sound effect inside my head, jreng jreng jreng ....

I think Mairenn is a match for Robert. Their sparring is always amusing to me especially the war of words they always have when they are in disagreement. At some point I dislike Robert when he detaches himself from Mairenn because of his uncle. Arrgghh, I know that villain will make his move in this second book. Yet Robert’s affection for Mairen is so tender and caring, his concern over Mairenn’s illness, I loved it so much.

I admire how Melissa Oliver and Ella Matthews combine their characters within this series. Oh my, when Darach clan is under attack and Rhuadhri, Robert’s twin brother comes to his aid, they fight at back to back like characters in a film. I was drooling as I screamed woohooo ....

Had I not to read Melissa’s note, I would have thought these two characters were fiction but they are not. These characters are apparently based on real historical figures. I can’t tell you more about the history, but Melissa’s evocative storytelling and writing is absolutely captivating. I’m so grateful to have had the chance to read the whole series of Brothers & Rivals! Thank you, Melissa Oliver, for the e-arc which I volunteered to review.

Rate: 5 of 5

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/melissaoauthor

 

Title: A Lady on the Edge of Ruin
Author: Lotte R. James
Published: November 2023
Genre: Historical Romance, Harlequin Historical, Mills & Boon Historical, Age-Gap Romance

Blurb:

A forbidden romance sizzling with scandal and seduction

A passion that could destroy her reputation

But save her heart!

Since the traumatic events of her first Season, Lady Mary Spencer’s been wary of Society. Tired of feeling angry and bitter, at a seemingly innocuous garden party, she lets her guard down with Luca Guaro. The charming Itaian rogue also abhors the ton’s dictates and becomes a much-needed light in Mary’s life. A liaison with Luca would be scandalous, so why is she so tempted to head to the brink of ruin...?

My Review:

Oh I can’t recommend this book enough! I loved everything about it from the beginning to the end!

Alright, at first I was so reluctant to read it because I’m not a big fan of age gap romances where the heroine is older but, oh, Lotte R. James has totally changed my mind with this book.

Where to begin? Let’s meet the characters. We have a very tender and kind hero, Luca, a companion of Lady Granville, and Lady Mary, a perfect society lady. When I first glimpsed Mary’s characters, she sounded like a mean lady but I knew there must be a story underneath and I was right. She hides her true self for her family, to avoid any scandal that might threaten her family. Oh, I felt sorry for her. She longs to be herself, to express her feelings but she can’t. She has to be strong and unafraid. She has to be the perfect society lady. On the other hand, Luca, despite his lack of title and wealth, warmed my heart and Mary’s with his tenderness and kindness.

Luca is attracted to Mary even though he knows he can’t be with Mary yet he keeps on pursuing her. When Mary is in need of help, Luca is always there to help her and Mary begins to break down her strong wall before him, just to be herself. I loved when Mary reveals her jealousy and she is on the verge of crying and Luca runs after her and soothes her. Ah that was sweet. I was so caught up in the romantic journey of Luca and Mary, but their journey isn’t without bumps. Mary has to deal with her trauma and also her friends and her scandalous secret. Just when I thought that her happy ending was near, I was taken aback into more emotional turmoil of how Mary has to sacrifice her happiness.

Well Lotte R. James’s writing has the power to bring out all emotions within me. The traumatic past that Mary and her friends experienced, the heartbreaking issue between her and Luca, the heart-warming family ties and the friendship that Lady Granville offers to Luca. It is all emotionally powerful and touching. If Lotte ever offers to review her next book, I’m definitely in! Thank you, Lotte R. James, for the e-arc which I volunteered to review.

Rate: 5 of 5

About the Author

Lotte R. James trained as an actor and theatre director, but spent most of her life working day jobs crunching numbers while dreaming up stories of love and adventures. She’s thrilled to finally be writing those stories, and when she’s not scribbling on tiny pieces of paper, she can usually be found wandering the countryside for inspiration or nestling with coffee and a book. You can reach her on Twitter https://twitter.com/lottejamesbooks.

 

Title: Never Wager with a Wallflower
The Merriwell Sisters #3)
Author: Virginia Heath
Published: November 2023
Genre: Romance Comedy, Regency Historical, Opposite-Attract, Historical Romance

Blurb:

The third and final delightful instalment in the Merriwell Sister’s Regency rom-com series.

Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is selfless, academic like her, and free from all the wretched vices her gambler father enjoyed far too much before he left the Merriwell sisters practically destitute. Unfortunately, after a slew of romantic disappointments, there is still no sign of that prince at twenty-three and the only one true love of her life is the bursting-at-the-seams orphanage in Convent Garden that she works tirelessly for. An orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door. For Galahad Sinclair, gambling isn’t just his life, it’s in his blood. He grew up and learned the trade at his grandfather’s knee in a tavern on the far away banks of the Hudson in New York. But when fate took all that away and dragged him across the sea to London, it made sense to set up shop here. He’s spent five years making a success out of his gaming hell in the sleazy docks of the East End. Enough that he can finally afford to buy the pleasure palace of his dreams – and where better than in the capital’s sinful heart, Covent Garden? The only fly in his ointment is the perfect building he’s just bought to put it in also happens to be right next door to the orphanage run by his cousin’s wife’s youngest sister. A pious, disapproving and unsettling siren he has avoided like the plague since she flattened him five years ago...

While Venus and Galahad lock horns over practically everything, and while her malevolent orphans do their darndest to sabotage his lifelong dream, can either of them take the ultimate gamble – and learn to love thy neighbour?

My Review:

I had been so looking forward to this last series of the Merriwell Sisters as the pious Venus Merriwell was going to be attached to Galahad Sinclair!

It’s been five years since the tragedy of Galahad being flattened by Venus and they have tried their best to steer clear of one another however on the day Galahad gains the perfect buildings for his forthcoming business, he coincidentally comes across the self-righteous Venus whom happens to work in the orphanage adjacent to his buildings. Oh I was so excited to find out what they will become of!

I had never laughed so hard over the book for quite some time and Virginia Heath’s book did it to me. I was so engrossed and touched by the caring albeit found family, especially their wager over the cards game between Venus and Galahad, the untamed orphanage kids who have become tameable particularly after the most hilarious incident to make Galahad’s place in chaos, and the regular spar between Venus and Galahad.

This is such a fabulous romance-comedy, well-drawn and moving read. I couldn’t compare each story of Merriwell Sisters as they all are the best. This last Merriwell Sisters series has perfectly completed it.

Rate: 5 of 5

About the author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl, it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated – sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. One day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep. Follow her at https://www.virginiaheathromance.com/ or her facebook page Virginia Heath.