It’s almost the end of May, and the end of the school year, and I finally have some motivation to write book reviews. I’m back today with more historical romance recs for you all! All of these felt so different, and each one brought me joy. I’ve been reading historical romances for a while, but it has been so fun to really dive into them more this year!
And Then There Was The One by Martha Waters
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be out 10/14!
When Ms. Waters first announced she would be writing a mystery/romance inspired by the “Golden Age of Mystery,” I squealed with delight. When I found out I received an ARC for this book, I squealed even louder, and promptly devoured it.
“And Then There Was The One” was such a lovely book. I love mysteries and romance, and I think I love it even more when the two are combined! As a hardcore devotee of Agatha Christie, this hit all the right notes. It was so charming, and I loved the chemistry and interactions between Georgie and Sebastian.
I will read anything Waters writes and Martha, PLEASE WRITE MORE MYSTERY ROMANCES THANK YOU!
Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews
Thanks to NetGalley and BerkleyPub for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review! This book is out now (and so is the fourth one I’m so behind!)
Mimi Matthews is a powerhouse, and I love her historical romances! This one is the third book in her Belles of London series and I will admit, I was slightly hesitant to read it solely because of my feelings about Lady Anne’s mother (iykyk), but my excitement to read Anne’s and Hart’s story won over any hesitation I had. Their story made me SO happy. Hart is a top-tier swoony yearner!
This is a second-chance romance, and I loved the way they healed over old hurts and worked to understand each other all over again.
A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now!
I read A Shore Thing for my Defiant Damsels book club this year, and it was so much fun! This engaging Victorian romance features a trans hero, a botanist heroine, and SO MUCH CYCLING. (There is a very fun wager that involves the cycling!) The chemistry between Kit and Muriel absolutely sizzles and they both grow so much throughout the story. I flew though it and read it in one go because everytime I thought about putting it down, I just wanted to know what was going to happen next!
I’m so excited to read more from Lowell, and this book was such a treat! I highly recommend it!
Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
This was my first Alexandra Vasti historical romance and I’m now obsessed. Like actually. This was another pick for my Defiant Damsels book club (our first pick) and starting the year with Selina and Peter was perfection.
I LOVE Selina’s library, Belvoir’s, and her desire to use it to make sure woman of all classes have the opportunity to educate themselves. Peter is so gone for her from the get-go and I just love that too. They felt and treated each other like equals, and their support of each other made my heart happy!
My little review here doesn’t do this book justice. It’s delightful, and please read it.
Happy Reading! If you have any historical romance recs for me, please let me know!
The Bookish Bird 