Genre: Historical Romance

Rakes and Roses by Josi S. Kilpack

Jerk to Hero? A case in Character Development Josi Kilpack is a wonderful writer and always includes deep insights into character and motivations. I didn’t think I’d care for this story as much as the other ones in this series because we’ve encountered Harry in previous books. He was a jerk. When I started the book, I did not care at all if Harry made a love match—especially with Sabrina because, in my opinion, she was too good for him. But then Josi’s writing led […]

May 5, 2020 | 0 Comments

Daisies and Devotion by Josi S. Kilpack

Marry for Money or Love? This is a tough question when you’re on the fringes of regency society and you don’t really have a lot of money. Sometimes you have to make the hard choice—and sometimes you get both. The premise of this series is that a wealthy uncle is attempting to set his nieces and nephews up with an inheritance—if they find an appropriate marriage partner and act respectably. Some of them are already respectable but others, not so much. Timothy has always tried […]

November 10, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden

Three Stories in One! I loved this book! First off, Sarah M. Eden is a great writer. She has lovable and relatable characters, strong plots, and great settings. So any story of hers is going to be good. But this one is a romance where both characters are Penny Dreadful writers—and we get to read both of their stories as well! Penny Dreadful stories began in the mid-1800s, were often serialized, usually shorter stories (what we would call novellas) and focused on action, adventure, and […]

July 20, 2019 | 0 Comments

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Historical Time Travel Romance Amy Harmon is a one-click author for me. I don’t even bother to read the description on Amazon. She has a new book, I buy it. But when I realized this was a time-travel romance, I was prepared to be disappointed. I’ve read a few and didn’t like them. But I should have known if anyone could do it well, Amy Harmon could. It was AMAZING! Before I finished the book, I’d probably would have described it as a historical romance, […]

July 5, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Redgrave Murders by A.L. Sowards

Murder, Mystery, and Romance Unlike many of the novels by A.L. Sowards, this one is not set on the battlefield. It takes place back at home, at the end of WWII. But the war still haunts the people and events of this book. I love a good mystery/suspense, and at its heart, that’s what this story is—but there’s also a strong romance running through it. It deals with so many themes: loss, grief, betrayal, prejudice, interracial relationships. And then there’s the mystery of who is […]

June 24, 2019 | 0 Comments

Promises and Primroses by Josi S. Kilpack

Heartbreak, Resentment, Forgiveness, and Redemption I know I say this every time I review a Josi S. Kilpack book, but I love her stories. They are so character-driven, and include themes that speak to all ages and time periods. Promises and Primroses is the start of the Mayfield Family series. Years ago, Elliott inherited the family estate. Ashamed of the behaviors of his family members, he made it his mission to improve both the estate and the members of the family—breaking a heart in the […]

September 5, 2018 | 0 Comments

Miss Wilton’s Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack

So Much More Than Two People Falling in Love! I’ve followed Josi Kilpack through her Women’s Fiction, her Cozy Mysteries (I miss Sadie), and even though I’m not a huge Historical Romance fan, her writing compels me to read those as well. I am never disappointed. Josi’s romances have so much more to them than two people falling in love. There is always something of depth to them—a social issue or personal trial that must be overcome—and her characters are very relatable. Miss Wilton’s Waltz is […]

April 12, 2018 | 1 Comment

Between the Lines by Annette Lyon

Sweet 1920s Romance Novella Set in 1926, extremely shy Jane Martin is a member of the local Aid and Cultural Society. As part of a cultural exchange, the group decides to write to members of a similar society in Canada, becoming “letter friends” (or as we would call it, pen pals). When they are short a few names, Thomas (a member of Jane’s group) agrees to secretly become Jane’s letter friend—creating a new identity to spare her feelings. As the weeks go by, Jane shares […]

June 15, 2016 | 0 Comments

Eleanor and the Iron King by Julie Daines

A Medieval Romance that Feels like a fairy tale! From the description on Amazon, I thought this was going to be a fantasy. While there are some mysterious things happening, this is really a medieval romance. It reads a bit like a fairy tale, and I have no idea if its historically accurate. I’m assuming it is, but if it’s not I don’t really care. It feels very medieval and historic, and I loved it. What did I think? I loved pretty much everything about […]

February 23, 2016 | 0 Comments

{Review} Simply Anna by Jennifer Moore

Jennifer Moore is fast becoming one of my favorite regency romance authors—right up there with Sarah M. Eden and Jane Austen. I loved her first two books, Becoming Lady Lockwood and Lady Emma’s Campaign. She has a few others that are still on my to-be-read list. As with the other two books I’ve read, Moore continues to write compelling and realistic characters for her time period, setting them in lush landscapes that add to the story without slowing it down. The main characters from those […]

November 28, 2015 | 0 Comments

ARC Review + Giveaway: Lord Fenton’s Folly by Josi S. Kilpack

Whenever I review a romance here, I always feel the need to add a disclaimer. I don’t like romances. I don’t usually read them by choice. But I have loved every single book that I’ve read by Josi S. Kilpack, and so when she started writing Regency Romances, I knew eventually I’d cave and read them. And you know what? I loved Lord Fenton’s Folly! For me, a good regency romance is all about the characters. We first meet Alice and Lord Fenton while they […]

October 9, 2015 | 1 Comment

Review + Giveaway: For Elise by Sarah M. Eden

I almost never read romance. I tell you this upfront so that 1) you understand that I have a bias against romances, and 2) you will recognize that if I loved a particular romance, it is something pretty special. To be clear, less than 10% of what I read by choice could be classified as a romance. But when Sarah M. Eden has a new romance out, I’m first in line to get it! To me, Sarah Eden’s writing brings to mind the clever, rich […]

September 17, 2014 | 0 Comments

Review: As You Are by Sarah M. Eden

Set in 1815, this romance focuses on Corbin Jonquil and Clara Bentford. Clara has overcome her fear and gotten out of an abusive situation. Corbin’s attempts to attract her attention (based on horrible advice from his brothers) is hilarious. The usual classic misunderstandings and miscommunications keep them apart—providing a good amount of romantic tension. But what sets this romance apart is the clever dialog and depth of character. There is some violence with the physical and emotional abuse of this story, mostly implied and part […]

June 2, 2014 | 0 Comments