Up All Night with a Good Duke is the first book in the "Byronic Book Club" series. This is the current series that this author is writing in which is about three women that are friends with each other and help each other in their motivations. I was first introduced to this author when I discovered the second book "Curled Up with an Earl" which is Lucy's book. In this installment we have Artemis and Dominic's story. We got to see them in Lucy's story and I just wanted their book so badly because you could tell how "together" this couple is. I think what I am discovering about this author is how "Utterly Charming" her writing style. There is something about Amy Rose Bennett that just works so well for me here.

Up All Night with a Good Duke is a story about our heroine, Artemis, who while working in a girl's finishing school, is called away by a letter by her friend to help with her navigating the London Season. So Artemis leaves and heads to London but on her journey she bumps into a stranger with whom she has a sizzling connection with and she would later discover that he is the Duke of Dartmoor. Dominic, is a widower and a single father of a teenager and he is at his wits ends in trying to figure out how to handle her. Dominic and Artemis come to a agreement that ends up in a fake marriage of convenience, but soon it becomes apparent that there is much more emotion building between them they just mere sexual attraction ....

Up All Night with a Good Duke was such a superb read and I had so much fun with this one here. I just couldn't seem to get enough of it. I was so endeared by this story. Now while reading this one I was distracted by some other things, so I wasn't fully focused on the story which probably contributed to my 4 star rating, but it was still such a charming read. And the writing style just had me so reminiscent of the classic style of HR. Even though the characters do seem a bit more modern at times, its not overblown at all and the way that they take accountability for their actions and try to communicate honestly and treat each other so decently has such a healthy perspective that is refreshing and I call on HR authors everywhere to follow this author and authors like Elisa Braden. If you are fans of Elisa Braden, I do think that you will really enjoy this one here.

If you are wanting more steam in your historical's then I definitely think this is an author you should look into. The way that she handles steam in her stories are very open and fun and sexy. I was so delighted every time our couple come together. Amy Rose Bennett definitely delivered such a solid romance that was packed with so much heart and smexy times to satisfy any romance reader! 

 

Born of Ashes is the 4th installment in the "Guardians of Ascension" series. I had this as one of my Romanceopoly Picks for "Spring". I honestly really enjoyed this one quite a bit, but fair warning the Ebook is expensive, like double the price of the mass market. I almost wanted to go with a different book but no one else carries this and as I don't really read physical books, I doubted the price would go down since its an older book. I am glad at least that it was a enjoyable solid read though to enjoy.

This is a story where I do think you need to read the series in order in order to understand what is happening with the couple. Its a fated mate set up but also the heroine was used as a blood slave for many years and was recently rescued and learning to heal and find herself again. So the hero, Jean-Pierre is taking it really slow with her, gradually taking her on dates and being her protector as they work together to bring down the man responsible for doing this to her and many other innocent women. We see how the heroine Fiona, is coming into her abilities and learing to mount her wings and opening herself up to the connection between herself and Jean Pierre.

This was such a endearing romance, its a bit of a slow burn due to the circumstances surrounding their relationship. But you see how they are so in for each other in making it work between them. Jean Pierre is French and man he is one sexy hero. I really adored him and how he is with Fiona. It was so sweet in so many ways. But he is also an alpha male, so his masculine tendancies sometimes gets in the way at times, but Fiona is really kind and patient and while she does stand up to him, she is also compassionate and understanding for the most part. I just loved how "together" this couple is and how they face the conflict head on.

Overall I found Born of Ashes to be an endearing read! It was packed with high energy, kick ass scenes, spicy sensuality and a warm heart filled romance to curl your toes!

 

 The Edge of the Blade is the 2nd book in the "Uncharted Realms" series. In this story it does get a bit intermixed with the plot happenings of book one "The Pages of the Mind" but it deals with the POV of Jepp and Prince Kral. Prince Kral and Jepp don't get along too well unless they are in bed together, then the chemistry just flames between them. But now Jepp will have to act the ambassador to the thirteen kingdom for Prince Kral's King and the unknown land. It soon becomes apparent that any future between Kral and Jepp will be forbidden. Kral is already married, and even though she is a virgin bride, there is no way for them to find a way together.

The Edge of the Blade was a interesting story, and to be honest, I am not sure if it was just my mood or if I just wasn't connecting with the characters, but this one didn't work that well for me. I am SUPER picky about the kick ass heroines, and I just didn't click with Jepp, there was nothing really relatable about her character and not just her fighting skills. But she rarely showed any tenderness toward Kral or any vulnerability at all. She just kicks ass and really comes off as being unfeeling most of the story and I just felt like we see so much more of Kral making an effort to keep them together and Jepp just being like, well the sex is good so I guess I love you? Like okay. Yeah it just doesn't click for me at all.

The world building of the story was superb, but the romance was sorely lacking for me, so I think I was generous in my 3.5 rating considering how much the romantic elements play a part in my rating. I feel so bad for giving this book such a rating, since I have loved this author, but sometimes her books if there is a certain character element, just doesn't work for me. Don't get me wrong I am loving this world and I can't wait to read more books in the series. But this one just didn't quite do it for me. 

 Unforgiven is the last of the Deep Ops, I am not sure if the author is planning on any more books in the series. But I have a feeling this is the last of the series, but I could be wrong. But I have to say that I absolutely adored this book. It was so fun to see Jethro finally get his book. He has been a character that has intrigued me throughout the whole of the series so I honestly just couldn't get enough of seeing him get his story and how it was delivered by Rebecca Zanetti. This one will definitely keep you at the edge of your seat, and I really loved the heroine that he ends up with, who is on the run herself as she has an abusive ex and trying to protect their daughter from him.

We do get some flashbacks in this one, but honestly, they didn't bother me. Sometimes flashblacks can bother me, but Rebecca Zanetti really fleshed them out so well in this one that it felt so natural to the story itself and it didn't overwhelm the present plot so it worked for me. She is one of the few authors that can write these effectively. Unforgiven though is a story that digs deep into Jethro's past and some unresolved issues with his brother and his past as a MI-6 agent. So it kinda had a bit of a James Bond feel to the story especially as I did this in audiobook. I do think for these audiobooks, to not be distracted by other things. The narration is well done, but due to the plot building, you will miss things, if you are are doing things that distract you from the story. The romance itself was endearing. Jethro definitely makes sure to fight for his lady and doesn't let her run away from what they have, no matter who their enemy is. Really adored his commitment to her and her daughter. And the little girl, man she had my heart and she had ALL the men wrapped around her little finger.

Overall I found Unforgiven to be a super gem of a read that only Zanetti can deliver! If you are a fan of romantic suspense or Zanetti, then I highly recommend this book and this series. 

 Untouched is a standalone by Anna Campbell. This was one of my romanceopoly picks and this has also been a book on my TBR that has been so long and I finally got to this story and it was completely bonkers but simply delightful. I just had so much fun with this book and it was so different from what I was expecting. But so fascinated to see where the author went with this one. I think those that enjoy darker or edgier elements in historical romance will really enjoy this one. So if you are fans of Kerrigan Byrne, then this is one that you need to read.

What impressed me the most about this one was seeing how this couples comes together early on in the story and fight against their enemy. The blurb I know sounds CRAZY and it kinda is, but its the kinda crazy that you can get behind. So basically the set up is the hero was sick as a child, and his uncle claimed him "mad" so that he could get a hold of his fortune. He is one of the wealthiest lords in the Ton but for some reason he hasn't been able to find anyone that believes him over his uncle and is a prisoner. His uncle kidnaps a widow to be his "mistress" to keep him under control. So the hero and heroine decide to work together to bring down his uncle.

Untouched was such a pivoting read and I was all into this book. It was super atmospheric and had a gothic feel to the story and I really enjoyed the vibe of the story. It was so unique and different than what I have read in historical's lately, so it just had such a refreshing feel to the story. The hero is more alpha in some aspects but is also so attentive to the heroine. I love how he is with her, and the way that these two become such a team. The heroine was wonderful in this one, in what she is willing to sacrifice for him. The stakes are high in this one, and the plot was so well fleshed out in this one.

I do think fans of edgier romance need to give this one a try! Its a super superb read that just had me fully invested! 

 Embracing Her Heart is a really fascinating story. I have been wanting to explore more of this author's work. This book was one of the freebies on her sale that she had a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed what we received with this story, it was so fun and it had some great family dynamics. Which is what Melissa Foster excels at. I did think that the first half was a bit slow at times and the romance story itself was too rushed. These two had some serious issues to resolve and it got resolved so quickly and just didn't have as much depth as I am used to with this author so while its a solid read and will really deliver, it still had some drawbacks to the story. However, I have heard the next books coming up in the series are really amazing, so I am eager to explore this series more although I might try it in audiobook to see if I enjoy it more as it does have some solid narration to enjoy! The romance itself is about a pairing where they have to reconcile with each other as its a second chance. I did enjoy seeing this couple come back together though.

I really had a fun time with this one and very intrigued to see what is delivered in the rest of the series. 

 

The Tragedy of Felix and Jake is a standalone novel and the newest release of J. Daniels. J.Daniels hasn't been writing for a few years, as she had a baby during covid and suffered from some postpartum issues. But she came back with a winner of a romance! I can't tell you how much I embraced this book and it just had my emotions all over the place. Its not going to be an easy read, so be aware of what you are getting into with this one. I really admired how well this author handled her first MM romance but also in the way that she tackled addiction recovery because it felt so real and this couple will always have my heart.

The Tragedy of Felix and Jake is about two young men who meet at a meeting, where a solid friendship forms between them instantly. But for Felix, who is gay, he wants Jake so badly. Jake however, is bi sexual and doesn't recognize the signs of attraction at first, and he is more nervous when it comes to relationships. But Felix is instantly ALL in for Jake and seeing his devotion to Jake was so precious. But very quickly these two embrace what they have for each other while also being each other's support on their addiction recovery journey's.

What is so precious about this book is the relationship building aspects of the relationship. I loved how well done this author conveys the solid mix of spice, emotional connection and trauma healing within this one here. I was so hooked into this story and I couldn't put it down. I have only read J.Daniels in Audio, so to physically read one of her books was such a five star experience. I definitely need to start going through her backlist, that is for sure.

The romance that develops between these two is so captivating and I just wanted to see them get to their HEA but its a journey and it takes time but the way in which our characters are so understanding and patient with each other and just FIGHT for one another was beautiful and heartwarming. This is a story that will stay with you for quite a long while and I am so excited to see what this author will deliver in the future.

 

 Desperately Seeking a Scoundrel is the third installment in the "Rescued From Ruin" series. I had so much fun with this one, while its not my favorite so far, it was still a solid 4 star read and I really enjoyed this one fully. It was so interesting seeing Colin get a book. I actually had thought Colin's book was book 4 as that is what other readers had referred to but it was a different character that they must have been referring to. So, all this time I thought I had read Colin's book haha But now I actually got Colin's book and I really enjoyed it. I really liked the small moments where we see him work through his redemption. It wasn't quite as much as I think he should have had, but the moments that we do get to see from him are deeply emotional. What I think I loved the most was the heroine and how she waits to get his story before making judgment. One of my favorite things about this author is that she writes the BEST heroines in how they treat the heroes and aren't super feminist crazy ones. They are strong willed but also aren't toxic in how they treat the heroes, she is a prime example in how heroines need to be written more in books.

Overall I found Desperately Seeking A Scoundrel to be a delightful read and I absolutely adored it. The story was endearing and sweet, and loved the small blend of suspense to the plot that added something more to the story. If you love historical romance and like more authenticity, I highly recommend this author. 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Down With Love is the first book in the "Laws of Attraction" trilogy. This was a book that I read from my Hoopla library subscription and I had a blast with this one in audio. It was so entertaining and I just loved the interactions between the couple. It had a mix of laughs with angst so this author really handles the bantering so well between this. It does have a borderline of enemies to lovers, but its more they are just opposite so that causes some fun conflicts. Just from reading this book, I can see why this trilogy is so well loved by so many readers and I am not sure why it took me so long to read but I can't wait to read more of it in the coming weeks!

Summary
Down With Love is a story about two people that have completely different views on weddings and marriage. Our hero, Max, is a bit cynical about marriage. He works with couples and deals with divorce and seperations and sees the negative affects of long term relationships. When Max finds out that his brother is engaged, but also has hired a wedding planner for their wedding, he is conflicted when there is explosive chemistry with the wedding planner. Charlie Love is a wedding planner, and believe in love and relationships. Charlie and Max go head to head at times as they have differing beliefs, but sometimes love gets in the way.

My Outlook
Down with Love was such a BLAST! I absolutely had so much fun with this one. I love stories with event planners, so it was so interesting to see this dynamic here because this couple was so fun in their interactions. They had me laughing all over the place. I was so entertained in seeing them work through their differences and working with their families. I just love a cynical hero and Max was the epitome of it and seeing him fall for love's tricks was so enjoyable. This author definitely knows how to entertain her readers. I am so curious to see the next one, I have really missed this author's voice in her stories.

Overall View
I found Down With Love to be a lively entertaining romance that curled my toes and kept my heart happy and light! An endearing romance to enjoy!
 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Hero is the third book in the "Galactic Gladiators" and this is where we get the story between Kace and Rory's book which was teased at the ending of the previous book "Warrior". I really was intrigued for this one, because we see that Rory is such a strong heroine, can hold her own if she needs to but also is new to this world and Kace is a warrior and a military man. It definitely has a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with such a forbidden feel to this romance and it was fascinating to see the author building up this story that just instantly keeps you hooked into it.

Summary
Kace is a military man, and has been on contract to work with the Galen Gladiators to learn fighting techniques. He is forbidden to marry or have any romantic entanglements. When he along with his team rescue Rory, there is instant chemistry between them. Due to his culture, they both mutually decide on a casual relationship. While they embrace their own sexual fling, emotions get in the way of their relationship, and Kace will have to make a decision between his loyalty to his home or to the woman he loves...

My Outlook
Hero was such a wonderful read and I couldn't seem to get enough of this one. There is something about these books that I am so quickly falling in love with. I just love the setting of this one here and seeing these two find their way together. So this one has a mix of forbidden and fling tropes. I really love the forbidden trope and it was so interesting seeing them work their way together on this one, trying to find her missing friends, but at the same time purusing their relationship. While its not my favorite of the series so far, I had so much fun with this one and just couldn't put it down. If you love sci fi romance or a well driven plot with suspense, you definitely need to pick this author up!

Overall View
Hero is such a delightful, action packed romance that delivers the steam, the emotion and the dramatics that combined together, brings such a superb read!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 3
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels:3
Ending: 4
Overall View: 4