delaneyyyw's reviews
698 reviews

The Duke and Lady Scandal: A Novel by Christy Carlyle

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Alexandra Prince has always wanted to tag along on her family's archeological adventures, but due to childhood illness she's used to being left behind. This time, however, she's left in charge of her family's antiques shop. While visiting the coffeeshop next door, she overhears a group of scoundrels ostensibly planning to steal the crown jewels. Alexandra immediately takes the threat seriously and heads to Scotland Yard to inform the authorities.

Enter Inspector Benedict Drake (known as "Duke", which is kind of a nonsensical nickname BUT titles with Duke in them sell well so more power to Carlyle for finding a creative way to incorporate it). Drake is on the fast track to leadership and impatient to impress his boss, so although he thinks Alexandra is a bit nuts, he decides to check out her tip. She's also HOT. 

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A Wager at Midnight by Vanessa Riley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.

I have heard people gushing about Vanessa Riley's work for a long time, but this is my first time reading her! I'm thrilled that she's writing Black characters in historical romance, because it's a genre where we don't have as many big name "Own Voices" or multicultural authors as other Romance subgenres. A Black Trinidadian doctor MMC is certainly unique, and I was excited to read from his perspective. Hopefully others feel the same way!

Unfortunately, I really struggle with first person POV, and that combined with a confusing first chapter where we meet a bunch of characters (mostly upper-class men with titles and not much else distinctive) made it hard for me to get into this book. I also thought the FMC just seemed so young and immature compared to the MMC. According to other reviews, the book picks up after the first few chapters, but the POV was just so irritating to me that I couldn't continue. 

Since 1st person POV is getting more popular lately, especially with contemporary readers, I think this might be a great entry point into historicals for some readers. It's just not for me.

The Duchess Charade by Emily E.K. Murdoch

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Sylvia is a headstrong young woman sent by her father to live in a finishing school run by the cold headmistress Miss Pike ("The Pike"). She decides to run away so she can travel to Antigua and find her mother, but the carriage she hijacks belongs to a duke (or so everyone thinks--the man inside, Teddy Featherstonehaugh, grew up a orphan, and is simply running an errand for his friend, the real duke). Teddy is confused and while trying to determine what's going on, the two are discovered alone in the carriage. The Pike decides Sylvia is compromised and forces Teddy to propose. Luckily, The Pike believes Teddy is a duke, so she consents to allowing Sylvia to travel to London so she can experience society and plan the wedding. Meanwhile, the two begin investigating Teddy's parentage while bonding over their similar upbringings.

I enjoyed watching these two connect! There are quite a few funny moments, and they have decent banter. I'm personally a sucker for angst, so I wish the author would have dug deeper into their histories and traumas, but she mostly uses a light hand with the emotional conflict. Actually, the two seemed to bond so well that their "third act breakup" didn't feel at all realistic to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I Kissed an Earl by Julie Anne Long

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A Silent Accord by Kathy L Wheeler

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I was definitely intrigued by this book: a gothic historical romance with a bold, desperate heroine and a starchy hero who falls for the "wrong" woman. I really liked Verda as a character, and the crumbling castle setting on the gloomy moors was very well done and atmospheric.

I think the plot had promise, but the book's pacing was a little rough. It took about 60% for the external conflict to ramp up, and there was never really a lot of interesting romantic conflict. The final third of the book was strong, but it really dragged before that point. I wanted more of Verda's past and history with her father for sure, and Sander felt pretty flat. I think Noah and "his Julius" would be interesting for other readers, but I don't usually enjoy precocious child characters so I was just annoyed by their presences.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Old Bones by Aaron Elkins

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75