Review: The Legendary Lord (Playful Brides) - ARC

Author: Valerie Bowman
Original Title: The Legendary Lord
Release Year: November 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: Scotland and England, Regency Era
Series: 6th of Playful Brides


Vote: 9

THIS NOVEL WILL BE RELEASED THE 1st of NOVEMBER 2016

I know that my relationship with Valerie Bowman previously has been quite fluctuating and somewhat "stressing" but she's certainly convinced me with this novel.

Review: A Season of Ruin (Sutherland Scandals) - ARC

Author: Anna Bradley
Original Title: A Season of Ruin
Release Year: September 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency Era
Series: 2nd of Sutherland Scandals

Vote: 9 1/2





This series is fantastic, the first one was a marvellous surprise, which means that I had expectations for this one. Expectations that have been satisfied.
The author has that great, rare capacity to deeply engage the reader, I was very moved by some parts of the story.

Review: A Night of Forever (The Disgraced Lords) - ARC

Author: Bronwen Evans
Original Title: A Night of Forever
Release Year: October 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 6th of The Disgraced Lords

Vote: 7

This romance will be released the 25th of October 2016

I'm a bit upset. I'm upset because I believe Bronwen Evans is one of the best author of historical romance around at the moment; she is one of those who writes novels I truly look a lot forward to read, and believe me, I really had a lot of anticipation for A Night of Forever, first because I'm a big fan of the series, second because Arend is one of those charming heroes everyone loves and third because, although I'm generally not much attracted to mysteries, I had developed a strong interest towards the linking background story. 

Review: A Raven's Heart (Secrets and Spies) - ARC

Author: K.C. Bateman
Original Title: A Raven's Heart
Release Year: October 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 2nd of Secrets and Spies

Vote: 10





Marvellous novel! 
Honestly I was surprised, I truly liked her first romance and I hoped the second would have been as good. Well, A Raven's Heart is perfect. 

Review: A Duke to Remember (Season for Scandal) - ARC

Author:  Kelly Bowen
Original Title: A Duke to Remember
Release Year: 2016 (July)

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency Era
Series: 2nd of Season for Scandal


Vote: 9





(I will try to be as objective as possible, the problem is that I read this novel straight after the third Kerrigan Byrne's romance which, like the others before, is so emotionally moving that everything coming right after tends to be a bit obscured by it.)

Nevertheless I truly loved A Duke to Remember, I genuinely enjoy Bowen's style and characters, she is certainly one of the best "new" HR authors.
Specifically she has a stylistic aspect that I've encountered more than once in her heroes, that distinguishes her and that I believe to be one of her strongest point, and this is the capacity to create heroes who are yes manly, protective and powerful but sometimes they are also less strong and resolved than the heroines, sometimes they need the heroines' guide, support and advise to take the right decision. So realistic. I adore it, I'm gloating!

Review: Highland Temptation (Highlands Knights) - ARC

Author: Jennifer Haymore
Original Title: Highland Temptation
Release Year: August 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 3° of Highlands Knights

Vote: 9 1/2

THIS NOVEL WILL BE RELEASED THE 9th OF AUGUST 2016

Well done Jennifer! I greatly enjoyed this novel. I'm a huge fan of the Highlands Knights. I must say, the previous romance in the series lacked a bit of shine (comparing to what I know the author's talent is) but with this one we are back to the path I have loved so much in the first Highlands Knights' book. And this is the naturalness of love.

Review: Duke of Sin (Maiden Lane)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Original Title: Duke of Sin
Release Year: May 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Georgian Era
Series: 10th of the Maiden Lane


Vote: 10+





Good Lord, this guy here is twisted. Oh but I love him so! He makes me feel warm actually, very. Well to be honest most of Hoyt's heroes give me high blood pressure. But Valentine is another level, Machiavelli would be proud of him, no romance hero has ever embraced The end justifies the means philosophy better than him. I mean, I know it twisted in turn to find the behaviour arousing, but that's me being honest.

Review: The Duke's Perfect Wife (Mackenzies and McBrides)

Author:  Jennifer Ashley
Original Title: The Duke's Perfect Wife
Release Year: 2012

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England and Scotland, Victorian era
Series: 4th of Mackenzies and McBrides


Vote: 9 1/2




Pfff, why again? The last 20% (kindle) was just a bit of a let down. Perfection was behind the corner.

Review: The Study of Seduction (Sinful Suitors) - ARC

Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Original Title: The Study of Seduction
Release Year: March 2016
 
Literary Genre: Romance
Setting: England, Victorian era
Series: 2° of Sinful Suitors series


Vote: 9 +



If this blog is not new to you, you will already know that I ADOOOOORE, with passion, Sabrina Jeffries. I love her style above everything, I believe that she and Lisa Kleypas are the only two who in this genre have never really failed (obviously there are downs and ups, but also the former are definitely better than the average).

That said, The Study of Seduction has one of the best heroes ever created. I'd pay everything just to know that someone like him really exists...I have been salivating after him since the first book in the series and let's be honest, I will keep dreaming about him for long. He is strict but also capable of the most heartwarming sweetness and gentleness. Sigh.

Review: The Improper Bride (Sisters of Scandal)

Author: Lily Maxton
Original Title: The Improper Bride
Release Year: January 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 5th of Sisters of Scandal

Vote: 10+

"Love humbles you"

Review: The Hunter (Victorian Rebels)

Author:  Kerrigan Byrne
Original Title: The Hunter
Release Year: February 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Victorian Era
Series: 2nd of Victorian Rebels

Vote: 10

Author:  Kerrigan Byrne
Original Title: The Highwayman
Release Year: September 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Victorian Era
Series: 1st of Victorian Rebels

Vote: 10 + (++++++) - See more at: http://ilprofumodellepergamene.blogspot.co.uk/#sthash.nEjIfYQP.dpuf

I was waiting for this romance with the fiercest anticipation. After The Highwayman I wanted to read again something so painfully but also peacefully moving and touching. And yes, The Hunter is moving and touching, and I loved the story; I loved the fact that Argent is portrayed as the coldest villain and despite his feelings towards Millie, in the end his redemption is not so unbelievably drastic. Which is also what had happened with Dorian in the previous romance. I adored the depth of his love and protectiveness for Millie, I loved Millie's response to those feelings and I loved the celebration the author did of the love that exists between a mother and a son. It was that kind of realisation that Argent needed to accept and I cried a lot when he comfort Millie's son; which wasn't unexpected.

Review: Seduced in September (A Year Without A Duke) - ARC

Author: Genevieve Turner
Original Title: Seduced in September
Release Year: February 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 3rd of A Year Without A Duke

Vote: 7

This romance will be released the 1st of February 2016

This romance was quite refreshing for some aspects, but a bit too "unbalanced" for others, the latter can all be led back to the fact that this is a novella, and not a novel.

The plot is very interesting, unexpected, new types of protagonists, both normal people with normal employments, a governess and a stable master, no nobs and there are horses (I do love them).

Review: Jilting the Duke (The Muses' Salon) - ARC

Author:  Rachael Miles
Original Title: Jilting the Duke
Release Year: January 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 1st of The Muses' Salon

Vote: 8

This romance will be released the 26th of January 2016

The story was really good, I am always looking for romances with the Jilting the Duke's characteristics; the protagonists had been young lovers who have been harshly separated by circumstances and misunderstandings and now find themselves in the position to be together again, after years of yearning, grudge and a sharp mutual dislike that hides a deep passion and feelings. And kids.

Review: The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels)

Author:  Kerrigan Byrne
Original Title: The Highwayman
Release Year: September 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Victorian Era
Series: 1st of Victorian Rebels

Vote: 10 + (++++++)







(This review contains spoilers)



This romance is like something I have never read before. I felt a deep peace when I finished it. And I cried, a lot.

The Highwayman is deeply emotional, it is about a love that knows no limits, a love lasting forever, a love bigger than life and death.

I was caught from the first line. Everything is perfect, I believe that the extent of poignancy and pathos reached by Farah and Dorian's love story is understandable only if read, a review cannot really explain it fully, that is why this review will not be long at all.

Review: What the Marquess Sees (Agents of Change)

Author:  Amy Quinton
Original Title: What the Marquess Sees
Release Year: December 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 2nd of Agents of Change

Vote: 10

Author:  Amy Quinton
Original Title: What the Duke Wants
Release Year: January 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 1st of Agents of Change

Vote: 10 - See more at: http://ilprofumodellepergamene.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2015-09-10T20:02:00%2B01:00&max-results=10&start=10&by-date=false#sthash.ZDZB09rw.dpuf

BOOOOOM!

My heartbeat has been overly tested by this novel, I still feel the hungover. This is one of those few romances where I have had a much bigger appreciation for the heroine than for the hero. I did love both, but I must say that Lady Beatryce is an extremely complex character, with her, the reader is always on the edge between disliking and loving her; I found myself more than once in the position to empathise with her and understanding her actions despite the fact that they are obviously wrong.

Review: Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels) - ARC

Author: Lisa Kleypas
Original Title: Cold-Hearted Rake
Release Year: 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Victorian Era
Series: 1st of The Ravenels

Vote: 9

This romance will be released the 27th of October 2015 

There are not enough words to describe my yearning for this novel. The wait was barely tolerable. Lisa Kleypas is undoubtedly my favourite author, she has that refinement in her style that is very difficult to find in this genre, moreover she's in general and indubitably a great author, also beyond the romance boundaries.

After the too-long-break from historical novels, she's finally back, and Cold-Hearted Rake proves, with fierceness, how she was missed. Lisa Kleypas' style is instantly recognisable, but this romance possesses a sort of more consolidated maturity compared to its predecessors (stating this I don't mean to downgrade the latter, how could it be so? Among them there are my favourite novels of all times, the most overwhelming and touching pieces in the story of the genre). 

Here there is a combination of features which made me think, not with little nostalgia, to some of her previous works and characters, Craven, Westcliff, Hunt, Rutledge, Cam, Leo, St Vincent, Beatrice, Amelia, Daisy, Aline, Evie, Poppy, Lysette...however at the same time there are also novelties, there is a deeper attention to, at the time, contemporary social matters, the background is different and for some aspects more complicated to portray, throughout the whole story there is that atmosphere of sweet melancholy which follows changes, especially epochal ones, such as the decadence of aristocratical privileges and the consolidation of the working-class power. 

Review: Sweetest Scoundrel (Maiden Lane)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Original Title: Sweetest Scoundrel
Release Year: November 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Georgian Era
Series: 9th of the Maiden Lane


Vote: 10+





Considered how my relationship with this series has started, when some years ago I read the first novel in Maiden Lane, I am amazed in noticing how now it is among my favourite, ever created.

I loved this romance, I adored the characters, I have had a fascination for Asa since the first time the Makepace family was introduced, which means the very beginning.

Review: Enraptured (Secrets of the Loch) - ARC

Author: Candace Camp
Original Title: Enraptured
Release Year: 2016

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency Era
Series: 3rd of Secrets of the Loch

Vote: 7

This romance will be released the 19th of January 2016

What to say...I gave myself some time to think about this romance, I haven't been particularly sure about my opinion in its regards. Enraptured is overall a good romance, there are extremely (no misused superlatives here) engaging and, even new, aspects, it's not predictable, with uncommon traits, it made me smile a lot and I liked the connection and interactions between the protagonists but also between all the characters. Moreover is quite sweet and fascinating, especially in its surrounding events and developments, the background in which the love story is settled is much mysterious and beguiling.

Review: What Happens Under the Mistletoe (Christmas Anthology) - ARC

 
Authors: Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, Candace Camp and Meredith Duran
Original Title: What Happens Under the Mistletoe
Release Year: October 2015

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England and Scotland, XIX century
Series: -

Vote: 9 1/2

This romance will be released the 27th of October 2015 

A mervellous anthology to read during the holidays, filled by the cosy Christmas atmosphere!

THE HEIRESS AND THE HOTHEAD

Sabrina Jeffries

(Sinful Suitors)

Vote: 10

Review: The Rogue's Proposal (House of Trent) - ARC

Author: Jennifer Haymore
Original Title: The Rogue's Proposal
Release Year: 2013

Literary Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: England, Regency
Series: 2nd of House of Trent

Vote: 9 1/2





How adorably hot and sweet.

Jennifer Haymore has a great talent in creating masterpieces. Her novels are so passionate, touching and maravellously written, she has the admirable ability to catch all the reader attention and keep it till the last word. She's one of those authors I rely on when I'm very much in need of a good and engaging romance; and this novel is not an exception.