Rogue Most Wanted by Janna McGregor

It's been a while since I've reviewed - partly due to reading less (thanks, 9-5!) and partly due to less interest in finishing and reviewing some of those books on my shelf.

This review is one that has taken a while to get to as I simply... lost interest as it neared the end. It wasn't a bad book - there was nothing awful about it, but while it was a decent read, I feel a bit misled by the title and blurb. Will is nowhere near a rogue, and this is less a marriage of convenience and more two people trying to convince themselves out of said marriage, when both desperately want it. I also wasn't a fan of the Midnight Crier - while an interesting device, some of the headlines indicate that they have spies within the loyal Caversham household and behind closed doors.

However, Thea was a delightful and interesting heroine, and Will an honourable gentleman (once he gets over his 'woe is me'). They had great chemistry and the entire family sound awesome. I just feel like their story could've been marketed a little better and the last part could've been edited to keep the momentum going.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions are my own

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple

This book will make you cry.

Well, I can't say it will for certain, but it certainly made me cry. When you read these kinds of books, you kinda expect to cry - or at least, I do. I simply didn't expect to be blinking back tears from nearly the first chapter.

It's not that this book is depressing - in fact, it's the opposite. It's the uplifting story of an old man and his friendship with a sick young boy, framed as a magician telling the story to his autobiographer. Not the most elegant of framing devices for a few reasons, but it works.

The shining part of this book is the titular Murray McBride. We meet him on his hundredth birthday, quietly ready to give up on life so he can see his beloved wife again. He is forgetful, crotchety, and terrible with technology. Watching him loosen up and appreciate life again, seeing him build relationships with those around him - it's beautiful.

If you're looking for a good old cryfest about unlikely friendships and living life in the shadow of death, pick this book up. Bring tissues.

Four stars.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions (and tears) are my own

Dance All Night by Alexis Daria

A Sweet and Steamy Holiday Novella

I've thoroughly enjoyed my first two forays into Alexis Daria's world of professional dancing. Her characters are vivid and flawed, their relationships tangible with just the right amount of sizzle. This novella is no different.

Nik has always been a roamer, but now he's met someone who makes him want to settle down. The only problem is convincing her of that. Jess gives him three dates culminating on New Year's Eve, otherwise they go their separate ways.

Nik takes full advantage of the holiday season to woo his prospective lady-love - it's a pity she's a confirmed Scrooge! Watching her learn to love the season will melt the heart of any miser. For a die-hard romantic like me, it was the perfect way to spend a few hours.

If you feel like tossing yourself into a glitzy Winter Wonderland (as opposed to whatever is happening with the weather right now, honestly), give this novella a go!

Four snowy stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Award-winning author Olivia Drake begins her new Unlikely Duchesses series with THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW (St. Martin’s Paperbacks; December 31, 2018). With compelling characters and skillful plot twists, Drake’s latest novel will take your breath away.

First love is always the sweetest…

For years, Abigail Linton devoted herself to caring for her parents and her siblings’ children. Now, eager to create a life of her own, Abby seizes upon a position as a governess on a neighboring estate. Unfortunately, her absentee employer is Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell, the notorious rake who once broke her youthful heart. But since he hasn’t set foot on his estate for fifteen years, Abby assumes she’ll never have to lay eyes on him ever again. 

Then, from out of nowhere, Max appears. He is stunned to come face to face with the girl next door he fell for years ago—before he went away, and she stopped writing to him … even though Abby swears that he is the one who left her without a word. Could it be that this spirited, witty spinster has won Max’s heart all over again—and that they may have a second chance at love?

REVIEW:

This is a classic second-chance historical romance, embellished with an overbearing family and a jealous rival. Max and Abby were childhood sweethearts, cruelly separated by time and circumstance. When they finally meet again (in one of the most awkward remeetings ever), it seems too much has passed for them to rekindle what once was.

The characters were varied and interesting, even if a few were a bit stock standard. In fact, this was my main quibble with this novel. I enjoyed the read overall, but I didn't find it particularly memorable. 

If you like historical romance, this is a decent read. I would recommend it, but wouldn't call it unmissable.

Three stars.

I received an ARC through St Martin's Press; all opinions are my own. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Olivia Drake is the author of the Cinderella Sisterhood series (Seducing the Heiress, Never Trust a Rogue, Scandal of the Year, If the Slipper Fits, Stroke of Midnight, Abducted by the Prince, Bella and the Beast, His Wicked Wish, and The Scandalous Flirt). She has been a member of Romance Writers of America since 1981, and her novels have won the Golden Heart Award, Best Historical Romantic Suspense and Best Regency Historical from Romantic Times. She has also won the prestigious RITA award. She currently resides in Houston, TX.

Buy this book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250174376

Author website: http://oliviadrake.com/ 

Author Twitter: @OliviaDrake1

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Olivia-Drake-186133368670/ 

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts

SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/ 

Revi

#Moonstruck by Sariah Wilson

I really wanted to love this book. On paper, it has all the elements I adore in a romance - it's a clean fake relationship rockstar romance. It's like my catnip! And to be fair, this isn't a terrible book. It's just let down by a strong theme of internalised misogyny.

I can handle a small cast. I can be disappointed that the promising female friendships near the start fade away, the only non-villainous females in the cast are a secondary love interest and the supportive best friend, and still get over it.

I'm really not keen on how the heroine slams the hero's fans, to his face, and is never corrected. He never stands up for them, explicitly dislikes the music he makes that they follow him for. I was uncomfortable but willing to let it slide if she showed growth or was called out on it, but that never happened. Her viewpoint stood unopposed.

I've been there, in that crowd of screaming fans. I've followed and liked and binged YouTube interviews and music videos and behind the scenes. I've made friends and signs and shoddy gifs. I came away from the book feeling like the main character, and the author, would look down on me for this. I have no patience for a book about a rockstar who won't defend his fans. I'm not here for girls getting called "pleeches" (plastic leeches) for daring to be pretty and scoring a meet and greet with their idol.

Listen, the rest of the romance is nice enough, but it's been weeks since I first read the word 'pleeches' and it's not clever or funny, it's just mean.

Three stars.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor

A lady with a noble mission. A duke looking for redemption. A forbidden love that cannot be denied, in The Good, The Bad, and The Duke by Janna MacGregor.

Lady Daphne Hallworth is ready to celebrate the holidays with her family. But when they accidentally leave her home alone, Daphne uses the time to work on her dream—opening a home for unwed mothers. But her quest isn’t problem-free: She’s in a battle to win the property for the home against her brother’s best friend-turned-enemy, Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart. And that’s not all: someone has stolen her personal diary, which holds secrets that could devastate her family. Daphne has always harbored private feelings for the man her family scorns…though perhaps striking a bargain with the handsome Duke will solve both their problems?

Paul, long considered good for nothing, aims to open a hospital to honor his brother and restore his reputation. So when a conflict over the land brings him straight into Daphne’s life, they make a deal: He will help her find her diary if Daphne can change her family’s opinion of him. But before he can win her family’s affection, he has to win hers first. Maybe love was the answer to their family feud all along?

Review:

It's always hard to jump into a series mid-way. You can tell by the numerous loved-up couples, their romantic problems (and character development) over and in the past, all alike in their coupledom. I can tell from personal experience it's even worse to be one of the remaining singles - and it seems like poor Daphne is in the same boat. Everyone is so taken with their significant others over Christmas, they leave London without Daphne.

No, really. She comes down from her room (after changing because a niece spilled something on her) to find everyone gone but the under-butler. What follows is a sort of coming-of-age as she finds her own feet without her loving but smothering family, along with a redemption arc for Paul, her brother's former best friend.

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely lost some impact for me, coming in mid-way through the series. I didn't have the back story that so many relationships were based on, nor did I understand what Paul did to make all of Daphne's family dislike him so much. While it was a good read, I'd recommend starting elsewhere in this series because I think it'd make the experience more enjoyable.

Three and a half (let's round up to four for the under-butler's adorable mom who I wanted more of) stars

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley; all opinions are my own

First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennet

Synopsis:

Recently jilted by his fiancée, David Gray, Earl of Ravenport is not in the market for a wife. Even if Gray didn’t have his hands full renovating his crumbling country house, it would take more than a bold marriage proposal from a headstrong young beauty to thaw his frozen heart. Gray is confident that spending a week at his ramshackle estate will change her mind about marriage, but every passionate moment he spends with her tempts him to change his…

A talented artist, Miss Fiona Hartley desperately needs her dowry money to pay off a blackmailer set on ruining her sister. The handsome earl seems a sensible choice for a husband…if only she can convince him that romance will play no part. But marrying in name only may prove difficult for Fiona. Gray can’t help but be dazzled by her genuine warmth. Yet as their feelings deepen, Fiona’s deadline looms. Will her secrets destroy them, or is true love their final destiny?

Review:

What a delightful read! Fiona needs a marriage of convenience, David needs money, but is too honourable to take part in Fiona's harebrained scheme. He's sure hosting her at his estate will scare her off - as it did his previous fiancee - but somehow sharp-eyed Fiona sees beyond the cracks to what's really important.

I loved the attention to little things in this book - Fiona's love of drawing, David's perceptive grandmother, the sisterly bond between Fiona and Lily, the realisation on both sides that this was a marriage that both wanted for more than the convenience. I especially loved the lack of unnecessary angst - yes, there are some tense moments, but these are two wonderfully practical people who, upon further machinations of the blackmailer, independently realise this and don't blame the other.

An extremely enjoyable historical romance.

Four and a half stars

I received an ARC from St Martin's Press