Review - - A Wager at Midnight

A Wager at Midnight

by Vanessa Riley

Betting Against the Duke - Book 2

Publisher: Zebra

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

  

Scarlett Wilcox is willing to live out her life as a spinster if it means being able to continue her medical research to help a friend in need. After all, few husbands would tolerate her dressing as a man to attend lectures at the Royal Academy of Science. If the Duke of Torrance finds her such a specimen, she'll agree to a marriage in name only, much to the dismay of her elder sister, the Viscountess.

When she's unmasked at a lecture on ophthalmology, Scarlett prepares to be disgraced, but she's saved by Trinidadian-born physician Stephen Carew who claims her as a cousin. Dedicated to caring for his community, Stephen has no wish to marry a frivolous and privileged lady, no matter how many fall for his disarming accent and seductive charm. But Scarlett proves the opposite of any he’s ever met before. Yet the pressure to marry blinds them both to the chemistry growing between them, pitting their brilliant minds against their reluctant hearts—as the Duke and Viscountess await with bated breath to see who will win . . . A WAGER AT MIDNIGHT.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm enjoying this new trilogy from Vanessa Riley that showcases diverse characters of color in Regency London. Riley's books are always rich in historical detail while also featuring well-developed characters who bring the time and place to life on the page. 

While the battle between the Duke and Katherine continues to play out in the background of this second book, it's time for third sister, Scarlett to take center stage. I'm always up for a woman of science in historical romance who has the courage to defy the norm in pursuit of education. Scarlett is one such character and I was with her every step of her journey. She has a true calling, as well as an honorable heart, and a willingness to do whatever it takes in her quest to help others.

It took me a while to settle into Stephen as the right man for Scarlett. There's plenty of simmering chemistry in their squabbles and banter but he's as reluctant to accept her non-traditional brilliance as he is the fact that the young girl he first met is now a grown woman. He's a planner, some might say a slow plodder, with a burning need for acceptance from his community. But he grows as the story unfolds and by the end, I was rooting him on in his quest for Scarlett's heart. 

Riley's books are not fast-paced. They evolve gradually, taking readers on a journey with occasional side trips, as one might experience in real life, with secondary characters - and storylines - only adding to the rich texture of the whole. While Scarlett and Stephen are the featured couple in A Wager at Midnight, I found myself drawn over and over to the Duke and the complications in his life that are at the core of this trilogy and his relationships with the Wilcox sisters. I am literally bouncing with eagerness to discover how his story will evolve when he and Katherine finally step into the romantic spotlight. A scene at the end of A Wager at Midnight leads me to believe it will not be an easy journey for either of them. 

While some books within a trilogy can be enjoyed as a standalone, I do not recommend that with this one. For maximum enjoyment and complete understanding of these characters and their relationships, I strongly encourage readers to begin with A Gamble at Sunset, followed by A Wager at Midnight. 

Review - - Any Duke in a Storm

Any Duke in a Storm

by Amalie Howard

Daring Dukes - Book 4

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: January 9, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Historical romance takes to the high seas. Famed spy Lady Lisbeth Medford is on a ship bound for the West Indies, and the only thing more dangerous than her mission is the elusive Duke she's trying to capture.

Lady Lisbeth Medford, Countess of Waterstone and famed international spy, is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. She's determined to infiltrate a notorious smuggling ring in the West Indies while on a covert mission as a ship's captain. But even when her identity is compromised and she's forced to flee, the men chasing her are still hot on her heels.

The trouble in front of her, however, might be even worse. Raphael Saint, the Duc de Viel, is her ship's new aggravating and dangerously charming sailing master, who might very well be part of the smuggling ring Lisbeth must bring to justice. But when a new deadly threat on the high seas looms, the only way out of danger is to face it…together.

PJ's Thoughts:

She had me at high seas romance...then followed up with much, much more. I was ripe for a good high adventure romance and this one ticked my happy reader boxes. 

Lisbeth is definitely her own woman: daring, capable, and fierce.  She's a respected, and feared, sea captain with a secret identity and a secret mission. Saint's actions show him to be much more than a sailing master but he's keeping secrets too. The sparks fly between them from the get-go and only get hotter. The verbal banter is fast, snappy, and on point. The respect grows slowly but is absolute. The chemistry darn near burns the ship down. And the tender, protective caring within Saint's heart had me ready to follow him anywhere, even if that ended up in the heart of a smuggler's den. The storyline twists and turns through the Caribbean, keeping me on my toes the entire way. I honestly did not know how these two were going to end up together, and at least one of them out of jail, until the very end. I love that!

This book is my favorite of what has been a really good series from Amalie Howard. I read it in one day - these characters refused to let me walk away from them - then went back to the beginning and took the journey all over again, more slowly this time to savor each word and nuance. It's filled with danger, adventure, betrayal, vengeance, secrets, and set-the-sheets-on-fire chemistry. It also has a fair amount of humor. A young island girl with the mouth of a salty sailor, in particular, both had me laughing out loud and wanting to hug her close. I loved the path her journey took and the impact she had on both Lisbeth and Saint.

The characters are diverse, both racially and sexually, with intriguing characteristics (tattoos, piercings, and such) that are backed up with fascinating historical research. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end. I enjoyed their complexity, the many layers that make up the whole of who they are, the journey they traversed, and the love, and happiness, they found. This is a book I'll be revisiting again. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Viscount Made Me Do It

The Viscount Made Me Do It

by Diana Quincy

Clandestine Affairs - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: July 27, 2021

Reviewed by Santa

A seduction that could ruin everything... 

Hanna Zaydan has fought to become London’s finest bonesetter, but her darkly appealing new patient threatens to destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. The daughter of Arab merchants is slowly seduced by the former soldier — even though she’s smart enough to know Griff is after more than he’ll reveal. Whatever it is, the bonesetter’s growing desire for the man just might tempt her to give it to him. 

An attraction that cannot be denied... 

Rumors that he killed his own parents have followed Thomas Ellis, Viscount Griffin, practically since he was a boy. More than a decade after the tragedy, Griff receives a tip about his parents’ killer… one that takes him straight to a captivating bonesetter. Griff is convinced Hanna is a fraud, but the dark-eyed beauty stirs deep feelings in him that he thought had perished along with his family. 

Hanna has a gift for fixing fractured people, but can she also mend a broken heart? More importantly, will Griff let her?

Santa Says:

The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy is a five star read for me. This Regency based romance takes the reader to a different part of London that most readers are unaware of and into the lives of the Arab communities of those times. It also brings to light a mystery that has darkened the life of our hero for most of his life. Our heroine, Hanna Zaydan, and our hero, Viscount Griffin, would never have met under normal circumstances. This book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that circumstances aren’t always what they seem.  

Hanna Zayden is a bonesetter at a time when not everyone trusts that profession especially when a woman is the one setting dislocated or poorly set bones. Hanna is striving for legitimacy and hopes to one day operate in offices she owns. The daughter of Arab cotton merchants, her family does not really support her endeavors. After all, her one goal, like any young lady growing up in Regency England, is to marry and marry well. 

Thomas Ellis, Viscount Grifiin, is haunted by the violent death of his parents when he was a very young man barely in his teens. He has no memory of the invasion and death of his parents. He has been accused of killing his parents because of this. He is shunned by his sisters and raised by a guardian.

On a lark, Thomas visits a seedy tavern where some acquaintances call on Hanna to ‘heal’ their friend who pretends to have a broken wrist. They just want to prove her to be a charlatan. Thomas notices that she is wearing his mother’s necklace which has been missing since the night of the murder. He tracks her down and visits her place of business using an old war injury to his shoulder as an excuse. Hanna does help his shoulder and their consequent involvement sparks off an attraction they can’t deny. It also spirals Thomas into discovering what happened that fateful night so many years ago. 

This book is the second book of a series that brings readers to a Arabian segment of Regency England.  Diana Quincy's writing is fast paced as both a mystery and romance are unraveled. Hanna and Thomas have obstacles to overcome on all sides. Their road to their happily ever after is gripping and immensely satisfying. Once you pick up The Viscount Made Me Do It you will not want to put it down.

PJ here:

Have you read Diana Quincy yet?

Have you ever read a romance featuring a female bonesetter? (I hadn't and I was fascinated!)

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, August 3 will receive a print copy of The Viscount Made Me Do It. 

*U.S. street addresses only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - A Lowcountry Bride

A Lowcountry Bride: A Novel

by Preslaysa Williams 

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 1, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Maya Jackson has worked for Laura Whitcomb, Inc, a renowned New York City bridal gown brand for years and dreams of becoming Head Designer. She has the talent, she just needs a chance to showcase her unique style. Due to an illness, she’s always prioritized her career over her personal life until Maya’s father fractures his hip and she returns to Charleston, SC. While home for only a few months, she’s thrilled to find an opportunity at the local bridal gown boutique, never expecting sparks to fly with its owner...

A military veteran and widowed father, Derek Sullivan hopes to save Always a Bride from bankruptcy in order to preserve the legacy of his family. He also wants to reconnect with his estranged, twelve-year-old daughter, who is still recovering from the loss of her mother. The last thing he needs is a relationship with a beautiful, smart, complicated woman who will be leaving soon.

When Derek begins to fall for the lovely Maya, he knows there’s no future. But destiny has its own plans, and these two lonely people with big hearts discover that coming home to love is the best gift life can give.

PJ's Thoughts:

A Lowcountry Bride is much like Charleston, South Carolina, the city in which it is set. It moves along at a leisurely pace, much like sultry, summer days in the Lowcountry, with history, heritage, and humanity at its core. 

At first glance the book may seem to be a sweet story of coming home and finding love, and it is that, but it's also so much more. Williams explores some deeply emotional topics through her characters. Derek and his daughter are struggling to recover from two tragic losses in a short period of time, one of them sudden and violent. Derek is also attempting to navigate the unexpected change of career that has brought him home to deal with bridezillas, the realities of single parenthood, and the possibility of healing, and loving, again. 

While Maya returns home to help her injured father and open his eyes to the realities of growing older, she slowly begins to realize that she might be the one who needs to reevaluate. When is it time to put someone else's dreams aside and follow your own? What will it take to open her eyes to the importance of being true to her heritage and not allow it to be subsumed by the narrow vision of her racist employer? Will she learn to not limit her life because of the chronic illness she has had since childhood but instead open her heart to the love and joy being offered? Weighty topics Williams handles with sensitivity and grace. 

Williams has assembled a cast of characters in this book who each help make the reading of it a richer experience, especially the vibrant community of color within Charleston whose history and heritage is brought to life with this story. I especially enjoyed the tribute the author pays to her own Afro-Filipina heritage through her depiction of Maya and the design techniques used by her in the story. She made me want to learn more. And she made me want to spend time in Charleston. It's been too long. I don't know what will be coming from this author next but I'll definitely be watching. 

If you're looking for a diverse, heart-tugging romance about coming home, surviving tragic loss, being true to yourself, following your dreams, and choosing each day to open your heart to love and happiness, add A Lowcountry Bride to your summer reading list. 

 

Review - - Hana Khan Carries On

Hana Khan Carries On

by Uzma Jalaluddin

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: April 13, 2021

Reviewed by Hellie

Sales are slow at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, the only halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighborhood of Toronto. Hana waitresses there part time, but what she really wants is to tell stories on the radio. If she can just outshine her fellow intern at the city radio station, she may have a chance at landing a job. In the meantime, Hana pours her thoughts and dreams into a podcast, where she forms a lively relationship with one of her listeners. But soon she'll need all the support she can get: a new competing restaurant, a more upscale halal place, is about to open in the Golden Crescent, threatening her mother’s restaurant. 

When her mysterious aunt and her teenage cousin arrive from India for a surprise visit, they draw Hana into a long-buried family secret. A hate-motivated attack on their neighborhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival restaurant--who might not be a complete stranger after all. 

As life on the Golden Crescent unravels, Hana must learn to use her voice, draw on the strength of her community and decide what her future should be.

 

Hellie’s Heeds: 

Sophomore books, I think, are challenging. Usually when people love the debut book, the expectations for the second book can be staggering. I loved Uzma’s debut book, Ayesha At Last, which was a twist on Pride & Prejudice and opened my eyes to the hunky Darcy-esque traditional Muslim hero, Khalid. I was eager to read what she had next. This book is equally full of engaging and hilarious characters, and Aydin is hunky in his own right, but as those who are fans of Mr. Darcy, that type of hero is a bit hard to follow. Aydin is a bit of a more handsome Mr. Edward Ferrars, if you will. When I was reading this book, I struggled a bit, but only in the way of “This isn’t as quick a read for me as the first book” which made me think, “Do I like this book? Do I recommend this book?” Ultimately, yes, I do recommend this book, based on its own merits and the strength of Uzma’s writing voice at portraying a quieter, stronger intimacy between her characters which she demonstrated in her first book as well.  

The setting of this book features--yes, Toronto is the location--but really it’s You’ve Got Mail meets Crazy Rich Asians (of the Indian variety.) If you pick up this book for no other reason, pick it up for Hana’s crazy aunt Billi (also known as Kawkab Khala), whose secret family story will have you laughing even as you clap for her sheer chutzpah. If you’re like me, you’ll also be googling “how do I make biryani?” and other Indian delicacies that crop up during many of the scenes. As a story about two restaurants, there is a lot of great food at stake.  

Our hero, Aydin, is handsome, charming, and kind--the latter which is a fundamental quality Uzma has for her heroes and which I adore. Although one would assume all romance heroes by default are kind, I have been reading romances since I was a mere babe and sometimes what constitutes kindness in a hero is that he mutters reluctantly, “She has fine eyes.” But with Uzma’s characters, kindness is a core value, even in the most crusty of them--and if they’re not kind, they’re definitely that villain, Junaid, who you’ll meet soon enough. Aydin slowly wins over Hana, who is determined not to fall in love with the slick, handsome son of the guy who is trying to put her family out of the restaurant business, and it’s not from his well-meaning business advice, but the small things, things so small you almost don’t notice until they’re all piled before you and you realize, “He really loves her.” Love is all about the little gestures every day, not the big sweeping gestures that happen once in a blue moon.  

As most romance novels are ultimately about the heroine’s journey, Uzma completely delivers on another fun, feisty heroine who lives authentically even as she struggles with the challenges of being part of an extended family filled with duty and drama galore. Hana Khan is easy to identify with: a young woman with ambition for her own dreams but who is also a good person who wants to support her family, love her parents, and live and thrive in her community. What I enjoy a lot about Uzma’s books is this offers a real way for someone like me (someone who is white and non-Muslim) to see really what it is like to live as a Muslim woman of color in a community and country where she is the minority and not always welcome even though she was born there. Uzma’s gift is that she answers questions I had about the Muslim community (but was afraid to ask) and also shares a vision of a world where love is love is love. Let me be clear: she shares the Muslim faith as an organic part of the characters, not as a way to push religion on anyone. Learning about the prayers and rituals that are the cultural norms for her characters are just as fascinating as other books in which I’ve read where the characters are Catholic, Native American, or even Wiccan. It always strikes me how much more alike we all are rather than different--which I think is a primary core value of romance novels. I’m sure Uzma’s main readership will be thrilled to see themselves represented on the page, normalized as someone worthy and deserving of a happily ever after. (I know I get excited when I read about small-town bookworms who fall in love with someone way out of their league, only to find out they loved her all along.) Still I see a lot of myself in Uzma’s Hana, in her love of family, desire to be heard in her own authentic storytelling, and having a crazy aunt--so really, I think we’re all Uzma’s readership and we should all read this book. 

P.S. And if we’re going to talk about what’s next for Uzma, if we can get a girl for Rashid, I would love that. He was hilarious, darling, and all heart--he deserves a girl who will appreciate his big plans and bigger executions of said plans.

 

 

Review - - Like Lovers Do

Like Lovers Do

by Tracey Livesay

A Girls Trip Novel - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: August 25, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Sometimes faking it can lead to the real thing… 

Driven and focused, Dr. Nicole Allen is an accomplished surgeon. With a tough past, Nic’s gone above and beyond everyone’s expectations. But when she disciplines an intern—a powerful donor’s son—a prestigious fellowship she’s awaiting is placed in jeopardy. 

Coming from a successful family who runs a medical business empire, Benjamin Reed Van Mont is the black sheep, having chosen to start his own business instead. Though he’s not ready to settle down, he knows when the time comes it definitely won’t be with a workaholic doctor like his friend Nic—even if she’s had him re-examining his edict…more than once. 

When Ben’s status-climbing ex-girlfriend finds her way back into his orbit, Nic proposes a swap of services. She’ll spend the week with Ben on Martha’s Vineyard, pretending to be his girlfriend—but only if he’ll have his family intervene on her behalf so she won’t lose her fellowship. How hard can the charade be? 

But as they’re about to discover, they’ve sorely underestimated their true feelings for each other…

PJ's Thoughts:

I loved this friends-to-lovers romance between two immensely likable people I couldn't get enough of. Nic rents the garden apartment in Ben's home but since they share a kitchen and Ben has basically been cooking for her since she moved in they may as well be living together. Over the past three years, they've developed a deep, caring friendship but Nic has never entertained thoughts of more with her "safe" friend. Ben has all the thoughts, but he would never jeopardize their friendship by acting on his feelings. That all changes with one drunken text sent to the wrong person and a week of pretending to be lovers to send a "back off" message to Ben's ex.

Nic is a heroine you just can't help but root for. A woman of color in a medical field dominated by white men, she's had to fight for every opportunity since childhood. She's brilliant, hard-working, dedicated, and not about to let romance derail her future. She will not make the same mistakes as her mother. That doesn't mean she isn't up for a good time. She owns her sexuality but hookups are always on her terms. Sex, she's good at. It's emotions that cause her to cut and run.

I adored Ben. He's such a good guy, very caring and nurturing. I love how he always has Nic's best interests at heart. He's strong in some ways but there are vulnerabilities and insecurities lurking within, mostly due to his childhood and currently fractured relationship with his parents. As Nic discovers, there's also a surprisingly naughty side to her supposedly safe friend and I am here for it. There's a hammock scene that will have you second-guessing all those years you thought they were only for napping or reading. 😉🔥

I love the solid foundation of friendship Livesay builds between Ben and Nic before deftly guiding them from that friendship into deeper emotional waters. Their evolution from friends to lovers is realistic, with all the doubts and fears one would expect from two people weighing whether or not to take their treasured friendship to that next level. There's so much to potentially gain but oh, so much to possibly lose. 

Nic and Ben both have baggage to unpack before they can successfully move forward as a couple. I enjoyed the insights into each of their personalities that stemmed from interactions with Nic's girl squad, Ben's group of childhood friends, Ben's mother, Nic's mother, and one truly horrid ex-fiancée (I may have spent an inordinate amount of time contemplating suitable punishments for this spoiled, rich brat). Not to fret though. Nic handles her very well. 

I'm a big proponent of show not tell and Livesay does just that in this book, bringing these characters, and their journey, to life through their actions and bringing me along for the ride. It's fun and sexy, but also thought provoking, with rapid-fire banter, a satisfying depth of emotion, and the emotional growth necessary to bring two worthy individuals together as equals, open their hearts fully to one another, and achieve their happily ever after. 

This is book two in Tracey Livesay's A Girls Trip series. It stands on its own but I also highly recommend book one, Sweet Talkin' Lover. (click to read my review)

Review - - Blame It on the Billionaire

Blame It on the Billionaire
by Naima Simone
Blackout Billionaires - Book 3
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Release Date: February 1, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
 

It was a night filled with secrets, lies…and soul-stealing passion. And now the blackout that turned lowly executive assistant Nadia Jordan and start-up billionaire Grayson Chandler into insatiable lovers leads to a proposal Nadia can’t refuse. As she steps into Grayson’s privileged Chicago world, will his matchmaking mother and vengeful ex destroy her dreams? Or will her fake fiancé make those dreams a reality?




PJ's Thoughts:

I don't know why I haven't read Naima Simone before now. I've certainly heard about her, had friends recommend her books, meant to pick one up. I guess it's always been one of those too-many-books-too-little-time situations. But then, Harlequin sent me an email, asking if I'd like to read and review Blame It on the Billionaire. It's like the universe was telling me I'd waited long enough and needed to read this author. Now. You know what? The universe was right. Simone's well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, steamy chemistry, and emotional depth kept me immersed in the story and cheering for this unlikely couple from beginning to end. 

I couldn't get enough of Nadia. While all the characters, both primary and secondary, are vividly rendered and well-developed, and I loved Nadia and Grayson as a couple, Nadia is the highlight of this book for me. Strong, nurturing, confident, and protective of those she loves, she's put her dreams aside to raise her younger brother, working hard to move them away from their toxic southern hometown and ensure his dreams are fulfilled. She's someone I'd want in my corner, as Gray slowly comes to realize. I love how she defends him against those who should have his best interests at heart, but don't. She may have been the poor, neglected child of a woman of ill repute but the woman she's grown into can hold her own with a billionaire businessman and the elite Chicago society into which he was born. Did I mention how much I loved this character?

It's been a while since I read a Harlequin Desire and Naima Simone's Blame It on the Billionaire was the perfect opportunity for me to dip my reading toes back into their delicious, steamy goodness. This may have been my first Simone novel but I guarantee it won't be my last. In fact, many of her titles are currently on sale for $2.99 and $3.99 in e-book format. Excuse me while I venture off to download Simone titles to my reader's heart's content. 

One more thing. While this is the third book of a series, it stands well on its own. 

Review - - Rebel

REBEL

by Beverly Jenkins

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Reviewed by Hellie

I have a confession to make. Part of the reason I enjoy historical romance is for the bits of history that I would normally only get if I read dry, boring textbooks. So many times during a bout of Final Jeopardy, when I blurt out an obscure answer, my friends will go, “How did you know that?”, I’ll respond, “I read it in a romance.” And even more, these romances also show how people--heroines like our grandmothers--butted up against the accepted norms of the day and made room for themselves at the table. Nevertheless, she persisted.

Another reason I love and value historical romance is that it instills in us the value of learning and accepting more than one story. I can get so tied into one story about men or a cultural group or even an economic group and forget there are other stories just as true. Now mind you, I love the one story about dukes--I can read that at least once a week--but it’s also good not to read about dukes. Sometimes it’s good to read about other men with power, like pirates...or really handsome architects in Reconstructionist New Orleans.

Blurb: Valinda Lacy’s mission in the steamy heart of New Orleans is to help the newly emancipated survive and flourish. But soon she discovers that here, freedom can also mean danger. When thugs destroy the school she has set up and then target her, Valinda runs for her life--and straight into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq.

As an architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake has a deeply personal interest in rebuilding the city. Raised by strong women, he recognizes Valinda’s determination. And he can’t stop admiring--or wanting--her. But when Valinda’s father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her daring rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.

As always, Beverly Jenkins delivers in sensual chemistry between the characters, well-plotted and well-rounded character story building, and fun banter and dialogue between all the characters. I loved the opening scene where the heroine, Valinda, completely shuts down what is sure to be white thugs coming into her school to bully and scatter her school, and she politely and sweetly offers them a spot at her learning table for them to learn to read and write as well. She talks them in such circles, the thugs eventually apologize and leave--which allows all the students to leave unharmed as well. Clever and funny--even during a situation that is anything but.

Other harrowing scenes of realities of the time also play out--but thankfully more favorably with a hero being at the right place at the right time--and you can’t help but root for Valinda who just wants to do what is right and fair for the people of the Race, and not in any sort of way that takes away from anyone else. Valinda is a heroine like all heroines before her: someone who wants fair and equitable treatment; access to education; and respect and dignity as a human being, as afforded to all citizens of the United States under the clause of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Valinda is a teacher--the kind of teacher we all loved in school--who loves learning and lives for the glee on someone’s face who finally “gets it” and learning opens up for them. She is an advocate and a nurturer.

Drake is a protector--and the best kind of hero: the kind that gets out of his heroine’s way as she pursues her dreams. While stories where the hero and heroine are at conflict because they want the same thing for themselves, I find love stories where each partner is supportive of the other without sacrificing their own happiness. Drake is swoonworthy--and with a backlist of LeVeq brothers who also had love stories (Winds of the Storm: Archer and Through the Storm: Raimond), the competition is fierce on the swoonworthy category. This story will only make you want to hunt out the others from your keeper shelf and give them a thorough re-read.

As Beverly Jenkins remarks in her author’s note, the Reconstruction was a “very volatile and bittersweet time.” Jenkins offers some further resources if the reader is interested in reading more; and I would also recommend the PBS documentary that was presented this spring called: Reconstruction: America After the Civil War. It also goes into detail of some of the practices the former slave-owners tried to enact in order to re-enslave blacks in all but name only. There are also scenes of local groups (pre-KKK) who terrorize the local Freedmen and destroy their property--and realistically, there is no favorable resolution (read: justice) for some of  these scenes. These scenes didn’t surprise--I’ve known the history of how the privileged majority has treated African Americans since...well...forever, especially in the South. However, I was surprised with some historical detail, for instance the group of white southern Union soldiers that Drake works with to help curb some of the terrorist group's more terrible actions and also about the Creole families who wished to be treated as a separate group from the freed slave class rather than be labeled by skin color, lumped with them. The post-antebellum history of America is complicated and messy, but Jenkins does her best to touch on many of the issues while still showing triumph in a hard situation. People are good and bad, regardless of skin color--and Jenkins does a good job of showing that in her story.

Don’t worry: this story does finish with a happy ending--just as many other stories of its kind also ended in a happy ending, despite the constant struggle then and now. I highly recommend this book, not only for its trademark Jenkins’ top-notch sensuality and characters, but also for the added benefit of the story itself. Despite my rhapsodising about the historical detail, the story is very much focused on the blossoming romance between Val and Drake--and if you simply want a love story full of well-honed sexual tension, true courtship, and marriage before the consummation, you will love this book. I can’t wait to read the next “Women Who Dare” in the series.

Review - - Can't Escape Love

Can't Escape Love:A Reluctant Royals Novella
by Alyssa Cole
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Release Date: March 19, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Regina Hobbs is nerdy by nature, businesswoman by nurture. She's finally taking her pop culture-centered media enterprise, Girls with Glasses, to the next level, but the stress is forcing her to face a familiar supervillain: insomnia. The only thing that helps her sleep when things get this bad is the deep, soothing voice of puzzle-obsessed live streamer Gustave Nguyen. The problem? His archive has been deleted.

Gus has been tasked with creating an escape room themed around a romance anime…except he knows nothing about romance or anime. Then mega-nerd and anime expert Reggie comes calling, and they make a trade: his voice for her knowledge. But when their online friendship has IRL chemistry, will they be able to escape love?

My thoughts:

Brimming with originality, this novella features engaging characters I couldn't help but cheer for, a depth of emotion typically only found in full-length books, the imperfections that make all of us unique, and the joy experienced when we find that person who not only accepts but celebrates us for who we are. Reggie is a brilliant business owner, sci fi and anime geek, "good" twin, and over-achiever who also lives with an illness-induced disability that requires her to use a wheelchair - but does not define her. Gus, a former podcaster, is an emotionally challenged, super nerdy designer of escape rooms who lives on the autism spectrum and possesses a soothing voice that Reggie needs to calm enough to sleep. And I am the non-nerdy reader old enough to be their grandmother, who would be hard pressed to name a sci fi character or anime movie, who absolutely adored them. 

Thus is the brilliance of Alyssa Cole's writing and her ability to fully immerse readers into the hearts, minds, and lives of her unforgettable characters and the journeys of her imagination. Begin with Can't Escape Love. Move on to the other stories in the Reluctant Royals series. I can't recommend them highly enough.

Have you read Alyssa Cole's books yet?

Have you "met" any nerdy, quirky, and adorably awkward romance characters who captured your attention and affection?

I have two giveaways today, thanks to my weekend at Avon's KissCon. (more on that later)

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), April 18 will receive a signed print copy of A Princess in Theory, the first book in Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series.  (U.S. only) (read Hellie's Top Dish review)

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), April 18 will receive a signed print copy of A Prince on Paper, the third full-length book in Cole's Reluctant Royals series - which won't be released to the public until April 29!
(U.S. only)

Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal—in bed—with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.

For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother—the heir to the throne—and his own heart. When a royal referendum threatens his brother’s future, a fake engagement is the perfect way to keep the cameras on him.

Nya and Johan both have good reasons to avoid love, but as desires are laid bare behind palace doors, they must decide if their fake romance will lead to a happily-ever-after.