Title: Snowbound in His Billion-Dollar Bed
Author: Kali Anthony
Published: January/February 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Presents, Mills & Boon Modern

Blurb:

There’s no escaping their chemistry when the Italian count and the violinist are stranded in this intense forced proximity romance from Kali Anthony!

Outside a snowstorm is raging
Inside the temperature is rising…

Ousted from Italian high society, Count Stefano Moretti has locked himself behind his castle walls. He’s determined to right the wrongs that ruined his family’s name. The arrival of the beautiful Lucy Jamieson at his door is a distraction he can’t afford!

Running from heartbreak, violinist Lucy is attempting to return a precious heirloom. Caught in a bitter snowstorm, she’s forced to seek shelter in Stefano’s castle. Where she finds herself longing to unravel the truth behind his disgraced reputation… and to discover the searing heat promised in his bed!

From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

My Review:

What a wonderful read! To be frank, I seemed to be thinking how Kali Anthony could clearly outline the characters, Stefano and Lucy, because throughout reading the book, my imagination kept working on visualizing them. Here you will be finding a gothic hero, Stefano, despite his divine physical appearance and a heroine, Lucy, who has dazzling strawberry blonde hair, unusual-yet-captivating socks and gloves and is a very talented violinist.

Feeling determined to clear his family name from disgrace caused by him, Stefano attempts to find the lost royal jewel and release his siblings from the burden as the protector of Lasserno Monarch. After having resigned as the private secretary for the Prince, he returns to his ancient castle and plans on staying there, as the Count of Varno, however when the heavy snow falls, Lucy knocks on his door to ask for a shelter. At first indeed he adamantly refuses but seeing Lucy get freezing and broken car, he lets her stay. Apparently both have hidden intention of their own.

Lucy and Stefano have similar issues, both have been betrayed by their love and feeling anxious what would they be if they didn’t do their current position, I realized that Lucy’s issues are more complicated than Stefano yet Stefano beats himself up too hard because of his past. They finally succumb to their undeniable attraction in Stefano’s bed ohoho …One thing that surprised me greatly was what Lucy’s grandfather stole after the World War II from Lasserno.

For me, Snowbound in His Billion-Dollar Bed is dramatically intriguing and romantic with the detailed castle setting and its brief romantic history of World War II. I so loved Lucy characters when she denies Stefano after his hurtful statement because she keeps her dignity not to succumb again. Thank you, Kali Anthony, for this ARC which I voluntary reviewed.

Rate: 5 of 5

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

 

Title: Her Legendary Highlander
(Lovers & Legends #13)
Author: Nicole Locke
Published: December 2021
Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Sagas, Medieval Romance, Harlequin Historical, Mills & Boon

Blurb:

Her rugged prisoner

…becomes her fiercest protector

Capturing legendary Highlander Malcolm of Clan Colquhoun was Andreona’s last chance to win her tyrannical father’s respect. Instead he orders them both to be killed! Resigned to her devastating role as the family outcast, she and her prisoner escape and continue on is quest to return a treasured heirloom. They find solace in their unexpected passion, but haunted by a lifetime of betrayals, will either dare to hope it could last beyond their journey?

From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.

My Review:

Bravo, bravo Nicole Locke! I so love it! I couldn’t help but feeling fascinated after having finished reading it. Andreona is spying two suspicious men coming towards Basque terrain. She and her childhood friend, Uracca have safeguarded and designed a net to catch uninvited outsiders to be sent to her father, Gorka, in order to gain her father’s approval. Actually Andreona and other women are banished from Basque clan because they are half-blood of the clan thus she is strongly inclined to impress her father by catching trespassers so that she can return to the clan.

When Andreona’s friends succeed in catching his only friend, Malcolm infiltrates into Andreona’s place and there, they begin wrestling and I was instantly impressed because Andreona is a tiny lass on the other hand Malcolm is a beautiful big man with a long scar from the body along his face and eventually he becomes her prisoner. Malcolm determinedly approaches Basque Country to acquire a dagger that has Jewell of Kings and mysterious treasure beneath it for his clan then he plans to run and evade his family due to his profound mistrust and family’s betrayal.

The more I turned the pages, the more I couldn’t stop reading particularly when Andreona finds out that her brother and childhood friend’s betrayal. Malcolm fully understands how it feels to be betrayed and he has compelling desire towards her therefore when she rather insists on going with Malcolm than going with her friend, he agrees.

I kept wondering how Miss Locke could create this story with its engrossing historical intrigue and plot, two characters who had similar issue yet each overcame it with different views and more important, its slow-burn attraction between Malcolm and Andreona. Andreona is a complete innocent (literally) and I loved when Malcolm leads the move. Yuhuuuu …

Her Legendary Highlander captivated me into emotional roller-coaster through its characters combined with its engrossing historical intrigue and plot and the uplifting ending that made me want to read the other series. Thank you, Nicole Locke, for this ARC which I voluntary reviewed.

Rate: 5 of 5

About the Author

Nicole Locke discovered her first romance novels in her grandmother’s closet, where they were secretly hidden. Convinced that books that were hidden must be better than those that weren’t, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural for her to start writing them – but now not so secretly. You might reach her on https://www.nicolelocke.com/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/NicoleLockeNews

 

Title: The Greek Secret She Carries
(The Diamond Inheritance #3)
Author: Pippa Roscoe
Published: November 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mills & Boon Modern, Harlequin Presents

Blurb:

The Greek billionaire’s world will never be the same in this page-turning pregnancy romance from Pippa Roscoe!

Five months ago: their unforgettable night

Now: the scandalous consequence!

When Summer Soames landed in Athens, she wanted to find a missing piece of her past…yet found combustible chemistry with enigmatic Theron Thiakos instead! Just as quickly as their intense fling started, it dramatically imploded…and Summer was firmly shut out of his life.

Now rumors bring Theron to Summer’s doorstep to discover her shocking pregnancy is as obvious as the still-sizzling desire between them! He’s determined to give their child the family unit he lost. But Summer’s trust isn’t easily won…and Theron’s secrets aren’t easily shared… 

From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

My Review:

What a delightful read! Despite having not read the two prior series, the latest The Diamond Inheritance series enchantingly and perfectly completed it. Most of the stories set in the past and recall the flashback how Theron, the handsome, effortlessly attractive hero is angry with his best friend-more-like-brother whom plans on purchasing Soames’s estate in Norfolk. He is angry because the estate is owned by Summer, the daughter of his respected savior in Greece and his one-unforgettable-night stand.

Wanting to know who her father was, five months prior, Summer went to Greece but she couldn’t face him as he had been away therefore she followed after Theron to find out when her father returned. When she was waiting in the café, three Greek men made a bet who could sleep with an innocent English tourist therefore Theron rescued her. Desirably having mutual attraction, Theron and Summer had a night together. Unfortunately the next day, when Summer’s father visited Theron, Theron thought Summer had deceived him thus he threw her out however after five months, Theron comes after her and finds out that she is pregnant.

To be frank I so love everything within this story, the hunting treasure, the strong bond between Soames family and the foremost Summer and Theron. Summer is an innocent rational deductive geophysics student and is determined to investigate where the diamonds are to help her mother meanwhile Theron feels greatly indebted to his savior, Summer’s father and has terrible past of having people leave him but both want to give what is the best for their unborn child.

The Greek Secret She Carries has immersive setting and is romantically engaging and satisfying, despite having so many characters, every role within is so clear. And I hope there will be story for Theron’s best friend, Lykos. Thank you, Pippa Roscoe, for this ARC.

Rate: 5 of 5

About the author

Pippa Roscoe lives in Norfolk near her family and makes daily promises to herself that this is the day she’ll leave the computer to take a long walk in the countryside. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t dreaming about handsome heroes and innocent heroines. Totally her mother’s fault, of course – she gave Pippa her first romance to read at the age of seven! She is inconceivably happy that she gets to share those daydreams with you all. Follow her on Twitter, https://twitter.com/PippaRoscoe

Title: Never Fall for Your Fiancée
(The Merriwell Sisters #1)
Author: Virginia Heath
Published: November 2021
Genre: Historical Romance, Romance-Comedy

Blurb:

The first in a new historical rom-com series, a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his matchmaking mother at bay, but hilarity ensues when love threatens to complicate everything.

The last thing Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, ever wants is a wife. Unfortunately for him, his mother is determined to find him one, even from across the other side of the ocean. So, Hugh invents a fake fiancée to keep his mother’s matchmaking ways at bay. But when Hugh learns his interfering mother is on a ship bound for England, he realizes his complicated, convoluted but convenient ruse is about to implode. Until he collides with a beautiful woman, who might just be the miracle he needs.

Minerva Merriwell has had to struggle to support herself and her two younger sisters ever since their feckless father abandoned them. Work as a woodcut engraver is few and far between, and the Merriwell sisters are nearly penniless. So, when Hugh asks Minerva to pose as his fiancée while his mother is visiting, she knows that while the scheme sounds ludicrous, the offer is too good to pass up.

Once Minerva and her sisters arrive at Hugh’s estate, of course, nothing goes according to his meticulous plan. As hilarity and miscommunication ensue, while everyone tries to keep their tangled stories straight, Hugh and Minerva’s fake engagement starts to turn into a real romance. But can they trust each other, when their relationship started a lie?

My Review:

What an excellent historical rom-com! Virginia Heath did it again! When Hugh is in despair to fix the mess he has created, he coincidentally finds a perfect candidate for a fake fiancée whom has very similar name like his fabrication, Minerva. Apart from the similarity, Hugh is quite astonished at her beauty which has black hair and green eyes that they mesmerize him. Being refused for the money she has earned from Mr. Pinkerton, Minerva is practically begging for it because she is totally penniless thus when Hugh offers her a considerable amount of money, Minerva couldn’t turn down the offer despite her conscience therefore she agrees.

I love how smitten when Hugh and Giles, Hugh’s good friend are with the Merriwell sisters, Hugh matter-of-factly has fallen for Minerva since the first meeting even though he always denies it because he is convinced that his ancestors are bad and he also has it within his vein. I enormously enjoyed all part of this book, Hugh begins teaching the Merriwell sisters etiquettes, and forms the Minerva he wants yet the real Minerva seems hopeless at whatever skills she has to posses. The scene when his mother arrives is beyond hilarious especially when Hugh and Minerva are in dispute and Payne, his butler tells him that men should apologize to women because it’s women’s law.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée is an absolute joy despite its little drama, unpredicted revelation and the flaw characters that kept me laughing, and the ending couldn’t be better! Thank you, Virginia Heath, for this ARC which I voluntary reviewed. I totally and thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

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.

 

Title: The Spinster’s Swindle
(Arcane Tales #2)
Author: Catherine Stein
Published: November 2021
Genre: Historical Romance, Spiritualism

Blurb:

Revenge is in her future. But falling for her enemy’s son is one fate this spiritualist could never have envisioned.

Playwright Maxwell Millerson would rather spend his days dreaming up stories than cleaning up his father’s messes. But a trendy renovation has the family’s gaming club on the brink of ruin, and not even Max’s imagination can conjure a way out. Desperate he turns to the multi – talented – and alluringly audacious – Madame Xyla to help him spin gold from straw.

Lydia Weaver, professionally known as spiritualist Madame Xyla, has long sought revenge on the man responsible for her cousin’s imprisonment. When her enemy’s son visits her seance room seeking advice, Lydia leaps at the opportunity for vengeance. Until Max’s easy charm and poetic words threaten to turn her plans upside – down.

As their friendship grows and they give way their mutual attraction, Lydia and Max must weigh family duty with their hearts’ desires. And only when they confront old wounds and new feelings can a happy ending be in the cards.

My review:

I was charmed by Max’s charming gullible romantic characters that I could understand why Lydia fell for him despite her revenge. Max is in utter despair to fix his father messes thus he seeks Madam Xyla, a professional spiritualist to help him see the future and Madam Xyla gives him some brief insights, one of them is he requires a partner. For me, Lydia is a very unique heroine, apart from being good at gambling and being a spiritualist and her eccentric style, she is alluringly a tease that when Max encounters her and asks her as his partner, he is very tempted into her every character when they begin gambling to gain the money which apparently a trap for him.

At the peak of scenario of Lydia’s, Max has to clean up his father mess again when his father is going to unravel mummy to attract visitors but lose it. Lydia takes the leap to help him again to ruin the gambling club. I love the mummy’s show so much, it’s rich in detail that I could imagine how it was. I had been wondering why Lydia despises Max’s father so much until the past reveals how his father treats Lydia and her cousin when they were young. However as they become more than partner, they finally succumb to their steamy temptation.

This book is brilliant! What so attracting is that you will find in every chapter the goddess’ name and its definition, the unusual spiritualist and the romantic hero. Catherine Stein’s writing has always brought my imagination into the world I have never been into. Thank you, Catherine Stein, for the ARC!

Rate: 5 of 5

About the author

Award-winning author Catherine Stein believes that everyone deserves love that Happily Ever After has the power to help, to heal, and to comfort. She writes sassy, sexy romance set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her books are full of action, adventure, magic, and fantastic technologies. Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband and three rambunctious kids. She loves steampunk and Oxford commas, and can often be found dressed in Renaissance Festival clothing, drinking copious amounts of tea. --This text refers to the paperback edition. Follow her on Twitter @catsteinbooks.