Hadrian, the Duke of Clayton is officially ready to marry. Picking a bride for him was much like choosing a horse. If she meets x, y, and z characteristics, then it works for him. But everything he thinks he knows is thrown off balance when he meets Natalie Fanshawe.

Natalie is straight off the boat from America. She has in tow her deceased friend's son. She's promised to bring him to his family in England. She soon meets Hadrian at an inn and they end up staying together to figure out what is best for Leo.

Give this book a try if you're in the mood for:
-A child in the story. Though he is an orphan, Hadrian and Natalie both find themselves caring for him and he has a lot of page time and shenanigans taking place
-An American heroine with an English peer hero (Duke)
-Class differences – heroine is basically an American nobody while hero is a Duke

This book was okay. It was a little hard for me to really get into. I think most of it was a disconnect with the heroine. She rather annoyed me. She disdains the nobility and she was eager to really run the hero through the ringer. She came off as really harpy and judgmental to me. Especially when this duke was extremely understanding and caring for her and the child she was in charge of.

Highland Gladiator by Kathryn Le Veque
Scots and Swords #1

Lor is no warrior. A blacksmith that cares deeply for his father and village, but is also ready to find love. His village is attacked, burned and he is filled with rage. He has heard of a place that will make warriors of men, and he goes to hone his skills. There, he reunites with the lass Isabail, that has caught his heart.

Give this a try if you're in the mood for:
-Scottish romance – both the hero and heroine are from different highland clans
-Rival families – Lor is warned about the Keiths, who are Isabail's family
-Revenge plot – Lor seeks revenge due to the attack on his village
-Mixture of romance and action
-Medium steam – a few kisses and a few scenes. They are explicit but more poetry filled scenes than a detailed account of actions (amount and locations attached at the end of review under spoiler warning)

This was my first Kathryn Le Veque. I have wanted to try her for so long. But I wasn't in love with this story. I wasn't really in love with either character, though they were okay. There were quite a few separations of the main characters. I guess I could see them falling in love with each other, but at the same time I felt zero sexual tension in their relationship. That is one of the most important features for me in a romance I love so that knocked stars for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. All of these thoughts regarding this story are my own opinions.

Specific locations in book of kisses/scenes

Spoiler

First kiss 16%
Second kiss 35%
Full scene 50%
Kiss (very brief) 63%
Full scene 68%

Lady Eleanor is known as frosty, cold and unfeeling after refusing the proposals of 5 known gentleman. She’s in her third season and will only marry for love.

Camden chooses Eleanor to marry, whether she plans to accept or not. Unfortunately for her, he has no qualms about using something she will do anything to save: her family.

Camden...is horrible. Like I was so ready to chuck this book and rate this guy as unforgivable and cold. But...but...oh Miss Bradley did him justice, in my opinion. Camden has been through hell, and he lashes out, but he hurts too. And my heart broke for him over and over until I loved him so much.

This book, I started this morning. I read two chapters and was so wrapped up in their world already I thought about it all day. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up tonight. I enjoyed the writing immensely, slightly funny, mostly angsty, lovely and quick dialogue. The side characters were amazing, my favorite being Camden’s 11 year old sister Amelia. Every scene with her was pure delight.

It was slow moving in the steam department, but I am totally sold on what I got. The beginning Eleanor and Cam circle around each other, verbally sparring, plotting, until they start unraveling each other, the secrets, the small parts of who you are. You don’t get a kiss until 62%, another soon after and one full scene that was glorious. This book totally gripped my heart in a way that few do and that’s why I loved it. These characters wiggled into my heart and kept pushing until they were quite at home there.

My only complaint is the ending felt extremely abrupt. There is at least a second in the series so perhaps you see more there, but an epilogue would have been wonderful.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Safety warnings attached at end.

Victoria fell in love with Will, only to find it was all a charade for him. He beds and abandons her for months in the country. Then when he returns he expects her to forgive him and act like nothing has happened.

Give this book a try if you like
-Steamy! Multiple explicit scenes and there were so many kisses and touches throughout the book
-No villain or mystery or murders! The hero is rather the villain here haha
-Arranged marriage – Will's father decides on the bride and Will is forced to carry out his wishes or disinherit.
-American heiress marries an English peer
-I put this under experienced heroine because her virginity is gone when the book takes place and you don't witness that, but I she's definitely not 'experienced'
-A bit of second chance/enemies to lovers – they are married and the heroine sees the hero's true colors. The book pick up months later with that animosity already established
-An irredeemable hero – many probably hate him, but gosh I love a jerk hero sometimes. Though he's not really a jerk on page, its implied past actions.
-A GROVEL – this hero has a lot of make up for and he begs forgiveness

I loved this book!! I kept hearing Scarlett Scott is steamy. I read a lot of ARCs and they are so hit or miss for me and some are closed door and I'm not prepared for it so this was totally what I needed. There's so many kisses and touches in this book. It feels consistent, sprinkled throughout the story. These characters are together throughout the book, there's no long separations on page.

I enjoyed the Victoria. She's got a soft spot for her husband but still draws the line at his hurtful behavior. She's kind and understanding, yet feisty and holds her own. She's in utter turmoil by his confusing behavior. And I don't blame her. Because Will can be devastatingly charming. I cannot say I wouldn't fall under his onslaught of tender touches and words.

Will has a hurtful past that has made his goal in life to torture his father, the duke and disobey every decision he can. He hasn't cared about anyone's feelings but himself. He's selfish, uncaring...I don't know why those are my favorite heroes. :P The duke threatens him and he has to go back to Victoria and she doesn't make it easier for him. He has to earn her trust and love again.

I loved so much about this book. I loved the angst, the heartbreak. I loved all the little touches. I loved the hero finding and baring his heart. I would preferred a tad more character development, and I did think the heroine gave in just a bit too easy in a few situations. Still, very happy with this book, I plan on reading another one soon.

Safety warning for

Spoiler

cheating. It's not explicit but it's implied the hero marries the heroine, beds her, then continues sleeping with half of London while ignoring his wife. No cheating happens once the story starts though.

This was my first Sherry Thomas! I have heard so many people recommending her and loving her books. Well, I'm sold. Totally sold. I adored this book. I stayed up alllll night reading it. I loved it. I didn't care how tired I was going to be. I had to finish it.

Felix, our hero, has some issues. You see them forming in the prologue and your heart just breaks for him. You worry what he is becoming and his defense mechanisms he begins to employ to protect himself from hurt. Despite his rather sad past, he makes himself into The Ideal Gentleman. As a marquess, his manners, grace, and gentlemanly behaviors are above reproach. No one sees what is beneath this veneer he has created.

Louisa, our heroine, has a very certain goal – marry and marry well to support her family. She has many sisters, one who needs extra care, and she knows she must marry well to have the finances and stability to save everyone. She has created the perfect persona to thrive in London. She is friendly but not too forward. She is engaging without being desperate. She first is in awe of The Ideal Gentleman but quickly is wary and pushes him away when she feels his judgment.

God I just loved this entire book. I smiled so much in the beginning when they were dancing around each other and getting to know each other. Thomas has amazing chemistry and tension between the characters without a single touch. I was so in love with both of them, my heart fully engaged, gripping my book just waiting for something to happen. I LOVED this hero. I loved him falling in love. It was like he couldn't really see it or admit but I could see it, feel it and just revel in every moment. Then, he breaks my damn heart. Stomps on it. It's like he's realizing he's in too deep and tries to back track but it's too late. This book played on every one of my emotions. I FREAKING LOVE A BOOK THAT DOES THAT!!! But, oh, the groveling. He's an arrogant lord so he struggles, but it happens in the sweetest ways.

The sex was not what I was expecting. The scenes are not closed door, but are not very long or detailed or explicit. I know this will suite a lot of people. But oh, how much I wanted every look, every touch, the entire thing laid out for me. I was a little sad after the first scene, because well I'm greedy for eggplants. Yet, the scenes still had the emotional aspect to it. While it's not ideal for me, I still loved it.

I will say I thought Louisa's reaction towards the end of the book was more extreme than I would have done. I would have reacted worse to the source of the initial conflict in the book. It would have taken me a lot longer to forgive that instead.

I found something just a bit unique and different about the writing in this book. Definitely going back for more Sherry Thomas. I also have Delicious from the library so I'm going to start that tonight.

Spoilers ahead! Some random but specific thoughts about the book:
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Spoiler

I loved their dialogue in the beginning half of the book. The flirting with the walking stick was amazing. The innuendos had me laughing.

I adored the mannequins in the folly. Hilarious and then when Felix attempts to be a jerk to push Louisa away my heart was just so broken. I knew she would never cheat on him when she meets him at the folly at night. And I wanted to high five her for her line saying, “And I told him not to come near the folly due to the wasps” (paraphrased from rough memory haha)

I wondering if he would be able to make me forgive him by the end of the book. The tulips at first weren't enough, but oh how my heart totally melted when I saw it placed on a mannequin in the folly. His actions became just so sweet and respectful of her and I loved that.

Safety issues attached at end.

This is book 2 of the Devil You Know series. I think this one is okay to read as a standalone (although the first book is amazing too, so I encourage you to try that as well!) It has a few brief appearances from hero and heroine from book 1, and there is a small spoiler for book 1 if you read this one first (but this spoiler is something that is read in the beginning of book 1, so it wouldn't ruin the whole book or anything).

Ramsey. Vicar of Vice. Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. Our hero focuses on ignoring his feelings of cold emptiness and instead his life is consumed with bringing criminals to justice. Large, imposing, ruthless, powerful...he has brought himself up from nothing to spite his peers and betters that said he would never amount to anything. And now he's focused on a case that has brought him to confront the Scarlet Lady.

Cecelia is a character I was so excited to read about since I met her in book 1. A REAL full figured heroine. Not slightly chubby. Not skinny but thinks she's fat. She loves her wine. She loves her chocolates. She's unapologetic about her size, moving through the world with a subtle confidence, hiding any feelings of insecurity with a happy smile. And more truffles, of course.

Cecelia is removed from the hell she was living by someone who knew her mother. She went to boarding school and university afterwards. Her love was for mathematics. She also loves her Red Rogues, her two very best friends Alexandria (book 1) and Francesca (book 3 I would assume). When her secret supporter dies, she finds herself whisked into a new world when she inherits a gambling den. She is quickly pursued by the Lord Chief Justice, who is accusing her of crimes that turn Cecelia's stomach. She hides her identity to protect herself from Ramsey.

If you've read Kerrigan Byrne, you have an idea of what you are getting. It's not a comforting pot of tea. It's an explosion of brandy. It's raw pain. Hot sex. It's inappropriate language and violence without remorse. And I LOVE it. I love that she doesn't shy away from breaking your heart and putting it back together. I love that her heroes are an animal of ruthless violence under their skin. Towards anyone that jeopardizes their lover's safety. She makes other heroes look weak. I adore her heroes.

I think I liked this story line a lot more than book 1. I was so caught up in the danger of the story, which usually isn't my thing at all. But I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen, I was utterly enthralled by the danger. I love the gore and violence. I must be blood thirsty, but I just can't stand it when there's a horrible villain and the heroine puts her hand on the hero's chest and says something like, “No, this isn't you. He doesn't deserve it.” Ummm, YES HE DOES!

I delighted in the beginning scene where Ramsey and Cecelia talk for the first time. Cecelia's love for truffles is adorable and was made so sexy. I loved being in Ramsey's mind in that moment. Creating this tension, this longing. Also, amazing first intimate scene. It can be so rare in HR to have scenes like this, very pleased by that.

My only complaints were I felt like I didn't get as much time in Ramsey's head that I wanted. Especially during the intimate scenes. I love when they are from the man's perspective and I thought Ramsey's would be explosive with the choices he made over the past 7 years.

Thanks netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions regarding this story are my own.

Safety warning (possible spoilers)
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Spoiler

Violence, death of adults (on page), death of child (off page/discussed after the fact), murder, child-bearing death, child abuse, fire/explosion

Jacinda is one of three sisters that run a Matrimonial Agency with their uncle. Their number 1 rule is to never fall in love with their patrons. Jacinda knows this will never be a problem. She loves matchmaking and is good at finding out allllll the information about her patrons to make sure they get the best matches. When the Duke of Rydstrom needs a wife, she just knows he's hiding something. She can't match him without knowing any secrets he's hiding.

Crispin desperately needs a wife...and money...and they come together. A family member has promised him a 4,000 pound bonus for securing a wife she approves of, so he hopes by using the Bourne Matrimonial Agency will make that happen. The problem is, his matchmaker keeps asking questions he's not ready or willing to answer. And he has a secret he is trying to keep hidden.

They both end up going to Crispin's ancestral home, except when Crispin arrives, he's saddled with an amnesia patient and untravellable roads.

Try this story if you like:
- forced proximity
- amnesia trope
- mixed classes
- a duke brought low to worship his heroine

I really, really loved this story. While I did find Jacinda a bit annoying, it wasn't overwhelming. And once she had amnesia I liked her a lot more. I really liked Crispin. He's a duke with heavy responsibilities and doesn't know how to relax. He doesn't want this attraction to Jacinda and attempts to fight it, and the story is wonderful how he falls. Crispin has some form of maybe OCD? He separates things into quadrants and I thought it was well done and it endeared me to him.

I felt like Lorret has a great balance here between the story, the tension, and the sex scenes. It builds over time and I loved the wanting. I loved the descriptions of the hero, the emotions tied with the scenes. My complaint is that she still had amnesia when they were intimate with each other. It was minor, and it didn't feel wrong necessarily, but I guess it didn't sit with me as right. But still, it wasn't a huge issue.

This is my third book by this author and my favorite by her so far.

Ok I ordered this book, and it’s totally going in my keep pile.

This was my first Julie Garwood. And I thought I wouldn’t like her. For some reason I was sure I would find her books dry, just an older style that I didn’t like.

Boy was I wrong!

BUT I’m not going to lie. I almost gave up. The first 175 pages were ROUGH for me, minus the first chapter. The beginning had so many people I was overwhelmed. It switched perspectives so many times. The places and times were changing and I felt lost in the dust. But once our hero and heroine meet, well my fate was sealed.

There were so many parts I loved. Just adorable, heart melting sweetness. Gillian is a wonderful heroine. Resourceful, intelligent, funny, spunky...she genuinely was so enjoyable. I loved seeing how strong she was through all of her trials.

Brodick there was just something about him that made me melt. Why should I melt when a man demands his woman’s love? I don’t know but I did. “Tell me you love me.” 😍😍😍 okay 🤤🤤 lol. I loved how everyone was terrified of him but his little woman would stand up to him and he respected her opinion, he protected her, it was just wonderful.

I really enjoyed Brodicks men that kept Gillian safe. I just loved how they hounded her every step, protecting her from anything offensive or dangerous. The fact that they were offended when anyone gazed upon their lady. The scene where the word “lust” was said in front of her had me giggling. It really just made me see and believe in the chivalry of the medieval times and it was oh so amazing.

This book held more humor than I was expecting too. The scene where Gillian and Brodick are married just had me laughing so hard.

I gave it 🌟🌟🌟🌟 just because it was such a slow start for me (200 pages is a lot to excuse!)

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I have read books 2 and 4 (this book) from Spindle Cove now and I’m thinking maybe this series is best read in order 😂 The fact that Colin and Miranda make an appearance in this book, and their behavior is so much funnier when you know the backstory is one point. Also I feel like I got a bit of Griffs background from reading A Week to be Wicked. Is he in the other books, for people who read a series like a normal person should? 🤔

This is a true rags to riches story, Cinderella in the form of our farm girl Pauline. And we have our Duke Griff. Their chemistry is wonderful, their dialogue fun, the love scenes explosive.

The Duke has a secret but I loved the way it was done. Some books the secret is heavy over the story, almost annoying, and you know you won’t find out until the end. I thought this was nicely done with Griffs pain and change in personally being acknowledged yet not taking up paragraphs of vague explanations that give you nothing. You know he is hurting and you find out slowly the layers that make him a man. My heart broke with him.

Griffs mother was an absolutely wonderful character. I loved her so much and she added a lot of humor and sweetness to this story.

This book was hilarious. I know I have come to expect humor from Tessa Dare but I think this was her best, at least for me. I also felt a bit of angst with Griffs pain and the separation the MC felt with their different stations. Honestly it had everything I love in a book. Much of the story happens through Griffs perspective as well which I adored experiencing his emotions with him.

My only complaint is the epilogue. The ending of the story I would have like led a little more. Not that it felt rushed necessarily but I just wish a little more time was spent on it. As for the epilogue itself it doesn’t even feel like it belongs here. I would have preferred the focus on Griff and Pauline way more than what it was. Or perhaps if it’s the last in the series a bit more detailed and a little longer to cover all the characters.