★Better Than a Duke
Charming children, deserving leads and villains in desperate need of a takedown populate the warmhearted and vastly entertaining Better Than a Duke by Suzanne Enoch. Persuaded he needs a wife, widower Beckett Raines, the Marquis of Hentrose, reaches out to an eligible miss who appears perfect for his circumstances. But then another woman moves in next door, widow Iris Silbern, who has a lonely son nearly the same age as Beckett’s lonely daughter. The children make an instant connection, and Beckett and Iris find that they make one too. But there’s the first woman in the way, as well as Iris’ disinclination to marry again, particularly for love. The precocious kids are all for creating a Regency-era Parent Trap, however, and the marquis’ servants get on board as well. The antagonists of the piece are planning a trap of their own, and their comeuppance is nearly as satisfying as the happy ending for Beckett and Iris, which will produce smiles and cheers all around.
No Matter What
A married couple at a crossroads grapple with their past and future in No Matter What by Cara Bastone. A year ago, a violent accident disrupted Roz and Vin’s happy union. Now, after their physical wounds have healed, they realize inner damage remains. Where do they go from here? Vin considers moving out, and Roz joins a figure drawing class. Through exquisite turns of phrase and a fascinating cast of characters, Bastone provides a loving portrait of New York City and an intimate and poignant look at a fractured relationship. While told mainly in Roz’s present-tense, first-person viewpoint, Vin’s thoughts are interspersed throughout, giving welcome glimpses inside the quiet man. Most romance novels depict the growth of a relationship, but this one very successfully shows one deconstructed and then built anew. It’s a lovely story that will wring readers’ hearts.
The Halifax Hellions
Alexandra Vasti weaves together two charming and sexy novellas into one satisfying story about scandalous twins in The Halifax Hellions. When Matilda leaves town, claiming in a note that she means to elope, Lady Margaret Halifax determines to stop her twin from a marital mistake. She enlists her brother’s best friend, long-suffering solicitor Henry Mortimer, to accompany her. The ensuing road trip brings strong passions and surprising revelations to the forefront, and steamy scenes quickly follow. Vasti’s lively writing and likable characters are just as impressive in Matilda’s half of the book. In the second and very steamy tale, Matilda is on her own adventure with the Marquess of Ashford, an older man said to have murdered his wife. This reluctant gentleman can’t resist kind and sunny Matilda—but is she too innocent for him? Vasti has great fun with the twins, friends-to-lovers and elopement tropes in this two-for-one historical romp.
