Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath

Scoundrel of My Heart is Lorraine Heath's latest book and I couldn't be more excited to read it because it features Lord Griffith Stanwick and Lady Kathryn, side characters who were briefly introduced in Beauty Tempts the Beast. Griffith was Althea's older brother and Kathryn was one of her closest friends. Unexpectedly, this book takes us back before the Stanwick's fall from grace and lost everything. I have been intrigued by these two characters ever since I met them in Althea's book. Griffith was always distracted, nostalgic for what could have been, and filled with a sense of urgency to redeem his family. I couldn't help but be captivated by him. With that little glimpse, I was really glad to see that Lorraine Heath was writing a book for him.

Usually, I don't like the "best friend brother and sister's friend" trope but Griffith and Kathryn made it work and they have known each other since they were young. I find it incredibly amusing that he calls her Freckles and is enamored with her red hair. This part of the book felt "normal" but the story soon shifts to one that is dark, tragic, and angsty. It's been a long time since I read a Lorraine Heath book but she excels at writing these types of heartbreaking "enemies-to-lovers" stories. Griffith and Kathryn's love story was actually quite romantic and even frustrating at times, especially when Griffith laments on how he is the spare.

The main crux of this entire story is that Kathryn needs to marry well in order to claim her inheritance. We're introduced to this "Bachelor-esque" Duke of Kingsland who is looking for a wife and Kathryn endeavors Griffith to help her, even at the cost of his own heart. I thought this was incredibly romantic, especially considering what happened to his family and how he feels like he isn't worthy of her. Although Griffith transformation in less than a year was questionable, I still enjoyed his growth. I liked that Kathryn was given a choice to continue her pursuit with the duke or be with Griffith. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it those who like stories that are emotional and with a hero who will gladly sacrifice himself for his heroine. I look forward to reading the Duke of Kingsland's book next as well as Griffith and Althea's older brother Marcus.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

The Heiress Gets A Duke was my first book by Harper St. George and it certainly won't be my last! I was very impressed by her writing and characters, even when I wanted to yell at them. August and Evan's relationship reminded of Lisa Kleypas' Lillian and Marcus and Julia Quinn's Kate and Anthony. There were definitely similarities between those couples. August is fiercely independent and I loved how Evan was pursuing her instead of trapping her in a marriage that she did not want. It was a refreshing take on this trope! He was definitely the first one to fall in love with her.

"I would have one thing that is mine. I would choose my own wife. I choose you."

August Crenshaw and Evan Sterling were both fantastic characters in their own right. Whereas Evan was bound by duty to do right by his family and household, August was a working woman who thought she knew what she wanted. She simply never counted on falling in love with Evan. Their first meeting might actually be one of my favorites. Our first introduction to these two characters was during a boxing match with an unexpected kiss. They didn't know each other then and yet that one kiss was unforgettable for the both of them.

"He wanted to win her on his own merit. He wanted her to choose him. And, more importantly, he did not want to hurt her."

However, there were also bumps in their relationship. While Evan went out of way to chase August and prove to her that he wanted her, regardless of her money, August always thought the worst of Evan and called him a fortune hunter. What infuriated me was her parents' lack of understand and compassion for their daughters. August and Violet Crenshaw were merely pawns in their drive to further their status in society when their daughters always thought otherwise. Her parents were forcing her to marry Evan, which placed a stained on their relationship. This drama drives most of the story until August and Evan were able to resolve their issues and realize their love for each other.

"I don't need a shield."
"How thoughtless of me." A smile curved his lips, and he pressed a kiss to her mouth. "You need someone to fight beside you."

In the end, I enjoyed this book so much and I absolutely can't wait to read Violet Crenshaw and Christian Halston/Earl of Leigh's story in The Devil and the Heiress. We were able to get a taste of their relationship in this book and it's going to be another winner. I know there will be more books coming for this series including Leigh's brother Jacob Thorne and August's older brother Matthew Crenshaw. I only wish we got an epilogue because I would have loved to read about Evan and August's wedding. I highly recommend this book to those who love reading slow burn romances between an American dollar princess and a charming English Lord.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Dangerous Kisses (Guild of Hybrids, #1) by Alice Lake

Refreshing and hilarious new take on the roles of women in historical romances with strong female characters and a romance full of laughs, misunderstandings, and a little heartbreak.

**This book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review** 

It took me awhile to finish Dangerous Kisses but I finally did it! I thoroughly enjoyed my first novel by Alice Lake and am slightly intrigued by the next book since it will be about Larissa, Lavinia's trouble sister. I found the chemistry and romance between Lavinia Halls and Eric Yorke, Viscount Mathieson, to be the real star of the show even though I also found the Guild of Hybrids to be somewhat interesting as well. Heck, a society where women of means could use their talents in order to help other women from harm is pretty cool.

I wasn't exactly a fan of Lavinia's at first considering she literally set out to destroy an innocent man's reputation without confirming whether or not the information was true. Funny enough, her plan actually backfires because she's constantly dazed by Eric whenever he's around and acts like a complete idiot which of course, made me like her a little bit more. The same thing happens to Eric because every time Lavinia is around, he becomes completely enamored by her appearance, personality, and scheming ways. Let's just say these two made me laugh a lot because of their misunderstandings of one another and lack of trust. Thankfully however, the romance does develop and we get to see a more romantic side of their relationship besides their compatibleness in the bedroom. Although the heat factor wasn't very high, I was still shocked by the number of times Lavinia and Eric coupled! As for the evil woman who asked Lavinia to help with Eric's ruination in the first place, I'm still slightly bitter we never got to see her get the ending she deserves.

In the end, I wouldn't have known about this book without the author asking for my review so I would like to wholeheartedly thank Alice Lake for providing me with a copy. If you love historical romances, a feisty and stubborn heroine with a similar hero to boot, then this is your book! Their relationship was hilarious from the get-go and I just loved how Lavinia tried so hard to sabotage his reputation but it never seems to work out. I look forward to Larissa's story in the next book and who her male lead is!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Favorite Lisa Kleypas Books, Heroes, and Heroines

Lately, I've been taking a trip down memory lane by re-reading some of my favorite books by one of my all-time favorite authors, Lisa Kleypas. She was one of the first to introduce me to historical romance in 2010 and I would even go so far as to say that my love for British history and Victorian era stems from reading her books! From her strong and courageous heroines to her heartbreaking and passionate heroes, I've loved every single one of them. And so, I have decided to list some of my favorite books, heroes, and heroines from her in this blog post. Enjoy!

Evie Jenner and Sebastian St. Vincent

Sara Fielding and Derek Craven

Lillian Bowman and Marcus Marsden

Poppy Hathaway and Harry Rutledge

Lily Lawson and Alex Raiford

Livia Marsden and Gideon Shaw

Helen Ravenel and Rhys Winterborne

Holly Taylor and Zachary Bronson

Beatrix Hathaway and Christopher Phelan

Annabelle Peyton and Simon Hunt

Amelia Hathaway and Cam Rohan

Amanda Briars and Jack Delvin

Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels #2) by Lisa Kleypas

I think I may have found a new favorite Lisa Kleypas hero to love and adore. This is classic Kleypas at her finest!

I've been desperately waiting to read Marrying Winterborne and it certainly did not disappoint! This book felt like Kleypas in her Wallflowers/Hathaways era and I absolutely loved it. I found a lot of similarities between Rhys Winterborne and many her previous heroes from Simon Hunt and Marcus/Westcliff to Cam Rohan and Harry Rutledge. My goodness! You wouldn't have thought Winterborne had any romantic bone in his body but he absolutely does for Helen. Not to mention Helen also reminded me of Sarah Fielding from Dreaming of You. I don't even know where to begin and what I loved most about this book. The longing and yearning between these two was to die for! And their first time together? It was so bloody romantic, sensual, and breathtaking.

To be honest, I actually did not expect this book to turn out the way it did. I thought it would have gone somewhat similar to Poppy and Harry's story in Tempt Me at Twilight but it didn't. It was so much better. The fact that Helen made Winterborne WAIT to marry her was the absolute icing on the cake! Lots of angst and secret sexy times between the two. *winks* The fact that they were constantly longing to see each other... and those kisses! Let's just say Rhys can certainly kiss. Compared to his previous attitude towards Helen in Cold-Hearted Rake, Winterborne has changed for the better and it's because of Helen for she gave more meaning to his life, heart, and soul.

While I was somewhat exasperated by the whole elaborate "drama" between Rhys and his resentment towards this certain individual as well as Helen's constant struggle over her secret, I really loved this book and thought it was amazing. I adored the courtship between Winterborne and his beloved Helen. Kathleen and Devon also made an appearance and we get to see what happens to them.

In any case, I absolutely can't wait for Pandora and Gabriel's book in Devil in Spring because how can you not be excited to read about Devil in Winter 's Evie and Sebastian's son?! And with Pandora?! HOW. I'm rather shocked because I never would've expected to read her book next. Compared to Cassandra who is a romantic, she was so adamant about not marrying and had such a cynical view towards kissing and romance! Here's to also hoping that Kleypas will write books for West, Cassandra, and Dr. Gibson. They all deserve their own stories and love interests, that's for sure!

Rating: ★★★★★

Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Dementer

Finding Gabriel was my first read by Rachel L. Dementer and it certainly won't be my last from her. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy her story and characters, I loved how she made it a story of redemption about two broken people finding love in the darkest of times. What truly stood out to me however were Rachel’s beautiful prose and descriptive writing as well as the development of her characters.

Set after the destructive Napoleonic wars, Finding Gabriel tells the story of two characters, Ariah and Gabriel, and their journey to heal each other. The book starts out with Gabriel trying to kill himself and even manages to commit the deed until our kind heroine, Ariah, finds him in the river and drags him back to her home. Once he wakes up, Gabriel angrily lashes out at Ariah for ruining his plans but eventually comes to respect her as time goes by. Of course, that respect is also tinged with some form attraction between the two and both characters seem to feel it. However, it appears that Ariah fears this more than Gabriel does. As the book continues on, it becomes rather obvious that Ariah has experienced something traumatic in her life.

In the end, I found myself invested in these two characters and their happiness and wanted them come out of this okay. It was also super romantic—which I loved. Finding Gabriel had passion, intrigue, mystery, action, and PLENTY of heartbreak! Touching on various subjects from suicide, disfiguration, victims of tragedies, and so much more, Rachel’s book made for a very emotional read! I highly recommend it to those who are looking for a different type of historical romance to read.

This arc was kindly provided by Rachel L. Dementer and Momentum in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★☆

One Naughty Night by Laurel McKee

“You can tell me to stay away, if that’s what you want. I can’t promise I will do it, but you can tell me to.”

And that was exactly what she should do. But it was not what she wanted to do. Lily was suddenly weary of doing what she should do. She wanted to cease to be cautious for a moment, to be mischievous and seize life as her siblings did. Even as she knew it would not end well.

I absolutely adored the love story of Lily St. Claire and Aidan Huntington. It was sweet, extremely hot, and just heartbreaking at the same time. Their attraction to one another was just irresistible! One Naughty Night is simply a great start to a wonderful series about the St. Claire family. I can't wait to read Two Sinful Secrets, which features Lily's brother, Dominic St. Claire, and Aidan's cousin, Sophia Huntington next! We do get a glimpse of the start of their relationship in this book as well as a possible romance between Aidan's brother (David, the heir to the Dukedom) and Lily's younger sister (Isabel, the shining star of the Majestic theater). I can't wait! This book had romance, suspense, and plenty of hot scenes between Lily and Aidan.

“I… I have to go,” she whispered. He stood up beside her, not trying to touch her again. His blue eyes glowed in the shadows. “Where can I find you?” he said hoarsely.

She shook her head. He was a dream—and she had to wake up now. She whirled around and ran away from him, lifting her skirts to flee once again. “Wait! Please,” he called after her. But she didn’t dare look back.

Lily St. Claire is the first sibling to get her HEA in the series. Unlike her brothers and sister, Lily was actually adopted by the St. Claire's when she was a little girl... after trying to pick pocket Mr. St. Claire. Her past is her own story to tell, but I'll briefly explain it. Lily's childhood before she got adopted was actually really sad. After her mother's death, she ran away and met Tom Beaumont -- he is one sick, cruel, and disgusting man. Well, soon after she was adopted, he was caught and sent away to Australia and believed that Lily was the reason that this had happened. Which is why now he wants to enact revenge on her and her family.

She started to turn away, but he caught her hand and raised it to his lips for a quick kiss, his mouth hot through her glove. “You won’t escape me that easily, Lily,” he whispered.

Lily grows up to be a beautiful woman, even though she doesn't think so, and ends up meeting Aidan after her failing rendition of Juliet in the St. Claire's opening play of Romeo and Juliet in their theater. Lily has never forgotten about Aidan -- even though she ended up marrying Harry Nichols, but he died two years later. Three years have passed since then and their attraction towards one another is hotter than ever.

Overall, I'm really glad that I decided to read this book. I needed my historical romance fix and this certainly did the job!

Rating: ★★★★★

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

I think I'm honestly in love with Courtney Milan and her writing. To me, every single book that she comes out with is a shining star in which I absolutely can't wait to read later on! The Governess Affair is a novella about the love story between Serena Barton and Hugo Marshall. It's a gorgeous romance that's absolutely fitting to start this off in an entirely new series called Brothers Sinister. I loved it. I just loved the story, the romance, and how strong and wonderful these two people are. They're different but alike in so many ways. It was so short that I just wanted more from the book! *sigh* Oh well, I'll get more in from Robert in the next book, which I think, is another wonderful story in store for us.

The ending was absolutely perfect! Like most of Courtney Milan's story, there has to be some kind of twist near the end. And that is exactly what happened here! I'm really glad that Hugo finally saw the light and went after his most beloved instead of deciding to live a life without her. Beautiful! There was also a short epilogue where we get to meet 11-year old Robert Blaisdell, the son of the Duke of Clermont, and his cousin Sebastian Malheur studying at Eton. From there, they end up meeting Oliver Marshall, Serena and Hugo's son. Oh snap! Things will only get more interesting from there...

Rating: ★★★★★