Book Reviews / Top Ten Lists#ownvoices / angels / Best of 2021 / best of list / bonded-mates / class differences / enemies to lovers / f/f / Fantasy / Fantasy Romance / Forbidden Lovers / friends-to-lovers / historical romance / horror elements / India-based world / Indian characters / LGBTQIA+ / m/f / m/m / magical school / military hero / missing persons / noir mystery / Opera Singer / paranormal romance / POC / POC author / redemption / reframing / teens / Urban-Fantasy / village / werewolves / widow / YA23 Comments
It’s a cliché to comment on how quickly a year has passed and in the Covid era the months sometimes pass slowly. 2021 wasn’t an easy year so I’m glad I found some great books to make it feel a little lighter. There weren’t an entire ten but I’ve had ... more >
A Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readsfamilies / feminist / historical romance / Recommended Reads / Regency England / war hero / Westcott / widow11 Comments
Is love worth the loss of one’s freedom and independence? This is what Mrs. Tavernor must decide in the new novel in the Westcott series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh. When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father’s bigamy, he ... more >
A- Reviews / B Reviews / Book Reviews19th century England / Historical / illegitimate-child / joint review / Regency / religion / Scandal / secret relationship / Soldier / village / Westcott / widow4 Comments
Janine and I are continuing our tradition of joint reviews for the Westcott series with the latest release – Someone to Cherish. – Kaetrin When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father’s bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where ... more >
Book Reviews / C Reviews / C+ ReviewsA Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery / Agent/Spies/Undercover / amateur sleuths / class differences / English historical mystery / female friendship / Historical / joint review / London / matchmakers / mystery / Post WWII / Royalty / widow5 Comments
In London 1946, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau is just beginning to take off and the proprietors, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, are in need of a bigger office and a secretary to handle the growing demand. Unfortunately, they don’t yet have the necessary means. So when a ... more >
B Reviews / B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Reads1940s / A Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery / amateur sleuths / banter / England / female friendship / historical mystery / London / matchmakers / Post WWII / spy / widow4 Comments
Dear Allison Montclair, I heard good things about you debut historical mystery, The Right Sort of Man, from Barb in Maryland and Liz McCausland. The book concerns two women, Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge, who open a marriage bureau (matchmaking agency) together in 1946 England. Even though I don’t usually ... more >
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / C Reviews / C- Reviews / D Reviews / DNF Reviews / Reading ListsBaron / Duke / Earl / marriage-of-convenience / mistress heroine / Reading lists / seduction / virgin / widow9 Comments
This past January, I read Mary Balogh’s Huxtables series. Although it was a mixed bag for me, even the Baloghs that don’t work for me often make for interesting reading. Here are my thoughts on the books: First Comes Marriage After a short prologue setting up the hero of book ... more >