Historical Romance Round Up
Three Romances That Got Me Through School & Delayed Flights
1. Mary Balogh’s Someone to Honor (Westcott #6)
Jove Books – July 2019
*An advanced reader ebook copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The last book I read in 2018 was Mary Balogh’s Someone to Trust (read my review here!). I really enjoyed this ‘sweeter’ historical romance! It was my first real experience reading a book out of series order and I absolutely appreciate that romance books often do not need to be read in order! When I saw that Someone to Honor was coming out I knew I need to get my hands on it.
This Regency romance follows Abigail Westcott and Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Bennington. Both are outsiders looking to refined society. Both shunned due to circumstances of birth. Both made peace with the idea that they’d never find love. Abby’s life as a lady and daydreams of wonder debut into society were shattered when she, her brother, and her mother learned that her parent’s marriage was invalid making Abby a bastard. However, 6 years later she’s making the best of it and wants to return home to her brother, Harry, a veteran injured in the Napoleonic wars. Lt. Col. Bennington escorts Harry home and seeks to aid Harry’s recovery.
The two get off to a rocky start when Abby mistakes Gil for a servant chopping wood, a very sexy servant. She’s flustered at seeing a half naked man, while he doesn’t appreciate being condescended to due to his own lowly beginnings. Over the course of the book the two discover that their first impressions were inaccurate. And more than just inaccurate they discover they’re perfect for each other.
What I like:
- Slow burn: If done well I’ve learned that I love a slow burn romance because I feel like the character development really delves into how the protagonists fall for each other and often how they work through their own baggage.
- No Dukes: While not true of the other books in the series, I really appreciated that neither of the characters were titled. Although Abby was previously Lady Abigail Westcott, with the scandal over her birth she has to reckon with her change of status. Gil is a bastard born out of wedlock who works his way through the army ranks via his valor and dedication – not because he was given everything.
2. Paula Quinn’s Highlander Ever After (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #8)
Forever – December 2018
*An advanced reader ebook copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This is my first Paula Quinn book and overall I enjoyed it! This books falls into the marriage of convenience romance trope, which I personally like.
The book opens with the forced marriage between Adam MacGregor and Sina de Arenberg. Adam is the heir to the current clan chief and is duty bound to protect clan interests even if it means marrying a bastard royal, especially one that is haughty and thinks Scots are barbaric. Adam find his new wife gorgeous, strong, and intriguing and quickly sets out to win her over with romance and gentleness.
Meanwhile, Sina is firmly against the marriage and holds out hope that her father or her betrothed will find her and annul the marriage. As soon as Adam and the MacGregor clan begin to soften her resolve, Sina is recalled to London by her newly crowned father. Sina is forced to choose between the life she dreamed of and the new one that she’s come to love while Adam must decide what’s worth fighting for.
What I like:
- Romance Tropes: I feel like this book hits a lot of romance tropes and I’m totally okay with that. We have marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and sexy Scots that are gentle giants.
Not so much:
- The main drawn back for me was the quick turnaround on Sina’s behavior toward Adam. I felt like her change of heart happened so quickly and seemed a little too predicated on lust (which I mean hey ain’t nothing wrong with that), which was a drawback for my investment in the actual romance.
3. Evie Dunmore’s Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1)
Berkley – September 3, 2019
*An advanced reader ebook copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Debut author Evie Dunmore stormed #bookstagram during August and September! While some the buzz has died down as newer book releases take over, Bringing Down the Duke deserves the continued love.
Set in 1870s England, the novel follows Annabelle Archer, a brilliant woman without wealth or privilege. She’s accepted into the first cohort of female students at Oxford University and receives a scholarship from a women’s suffrage organization. In exchange for the scholarship support, Annabelle is recruited to sway the opinion of Sebastian Devereux, Duke of Montgomery.
Sebastian Devereux, the aloof and strategic duke, stumbles upon a group of suffragists crashing his younger brother’s holiday party. Appalled at the situation, he cannot help his feelings for the spitfire suffragist. Will he choose a proper duchess to be his wife or risk his standing in society for happiness?
What I like:
- I enjoyed the backdrop of women’s suffrage in this book! I liked that Dunmore showed how suffragists were viewed and treated. Often modern historical romances take a feminist lens but do not always delve into the history of women’s rights
- I liked the conflict that both characters had to work through to find their happily ever after
Not so much:
- I assumed from the description and illustrated cover that the book would be a romp full of humor and romance. So I was a little thrown off by the amount of times I questioned whether there could ever be a HEA. Partly why romances have been my jam during stressful times is because the books don’t stress me out! There was a realness factor here, drawn from history, that unsettled me. Without giving spoilers, I know that too many women did not and continue to not have options. That being said, I think it speaks to the author’s writing that I was emotionally devastated at certain events.
