What’s summer without s’mores? Well, you bring the graham crackers and marshmallows, because Bethany Bennett and Joanna Shupe are bringing the heat with their latest historical romances. Both hit shelves tomorrow on Tuesday, May 24.
If you’ve been waiting for all the birds to come home to roost in Bethany Bennett’s Misfits of Mayfair series….oh boy, do they ever!
In Dukes Do It Better, Lady Emma Hardwick’s made a comfy life for herself in Olmstead Cove, away from the scrutiny of London. She’s been raising her son as a single mother and taken up baking. But she’s still chaotic ol’ Emma underneath all that domesticity, having had a fling with Malachi Harlow, a naval officer (with pirate vibes) who becomes Duke of Trenton after the death of his brother.
This is a real bounceback from West End Earl, book 2 in the series, which was just ok for me. Along with sizzling romance, Bennett brings the drama this time with a extortion/payback plot that involves the whole crew — Ethan and Lottie, Cal and Phee, and now Emma and Malachi. My one gripe is that despite Emma and Malachi’s falling for each other, neither seem to have any confidence in the other and automatically assume the worst when things go bad.
I always love the modern sensibility in Bennett’s brand of historical romance and the single parent plotline will resonate with a wide range of readers. Fans of Sophie Jordan should check this one out.
Can be read standalone, but it’ll be more fun if you have the background of the other two books:
Bethany Bennett will be doing a signing at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, WA on May 31 at 7 p.m. PT. You can also order signed copies of all 3 books in the series from them.
Get Dukes Do It Better at The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound| Amazon | Apple Books
The sexiest Joanna Shupe book yet!
The Bride Goes Rogue, the third book in Joanna Shupe’s Fifth Avenue Rebels series, brings the heat!
We’re talking clandestine tete-a-tetes, underhanded business dealings, a betrothal agreement reneged on and a FMC who just wants to reclaim her life and be reckless for once! Throw a corrupt would be robber baron (morally grey is too polite) into the mix and it is on.
A year into an arranged engagement with no wedding on the horizon, Katherine Delafield is getting antsy. And she’s decided if this wedding to Preston Clarke is never going to happen, she certainly isn’t gonna wait around. It’s time to take control of her life and do as she pleases, which includes taking a walk on New York’s wilder side. When Preston and Katherine meet unexpectedly and incognito at a masquerade, he’s surprised and intrigued, and suddenly maybe the wrong bride is the right one after all.
I thought The Lady Gets Lucky was a sexy romp. But well, Joanna Shupe has outdone herself with The Bride Goes Rogue.
I loved seeing more of the friendship between Katherine and Nellie (and to a lesser extent Maddie) in this one. And I loved the decidedly modern feel of Katherine basically trying to have a “summer of Katherine” doing whatever she pleases. And while I don’t know if I believe someone like Preston would be truly transformed, it’s delicious to watch this titan of industry fall for Kat in spite of himself.
A summer must read.
Check out my reviews of the other two books in the series:
CW: Survivor’s guilt from a suicide in the previous book, grief from the death of a parent
Signed copies are available from Words Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ.
Get The Bride Goes Rogue at The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound| Amazon | Apple Books