★ A Gentleman’s Gentleman
TJ Alexander (Chef’s Kiss) offers delightful surprises in their first Regency romance, A Gentleman’s Gentleman. According to his father’s will, eccentric Lord Christopher Eden will lose his inheritance if he fails to marry before his next birthday. But the aristocrat has no interest in women or marriage, and no idea how to go about finding a spouse during the London season. Enter a new valet, James Harding, with very traditional ideas as well as a secretive past. Christopher also has secrets, which keep the pair at odds even while they work together to aid another society romance. But what to do about the growing sexual tension between them? Can they ever act on it and how can they find a Happily Ever After? Pathos and painful backstories provide a heartaching emotional heft to this tender and witty love story.
While the Duke Was Sleeping
Comedy ensues when a lady’s maid pretends to be her mistress in While the Duke Was Sleeping by Samara Parish. After her employer, Cordelia, runs from her wedding, Adelaide “Della” Rosebourne escapes with her to the countryside. A short while later, more complications arise when Cordelia persuades Della to take her place at a duke’s home—as his fiancée. Oh, and the duke is in a coma. The details really don’t matter; the fun is in the lengths Della will go to keep up her ruse, and the lengths the duke’s sexy scoundrel of a brother, Everett “Rhett” Montgomery, will go to expose her. Della and Rhett find themselves falling for each other, which seems so wrong even as it feels so right. Della is a worthy heroine, full of spunk and spirit, and Rhett discovers he’s much more than a rapscallion. Readers will root for them to find a way to forever and will enjoy the large, engaging cast in this utter charmer.
Dead Man’s List
The hunt for a serial killer nearly upends a burgeoning romance in Karen Rose’s third entry in her San Diego Case Files series, Dead Man’s List. Homicide detective Kit McKittrick has finally let down her guard and is actually looking forward to a second date with police psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves. But then a particularly gruesome case comes her way. As connected murders pile up, Kit and Sam dive into the details. Their attraction grows, but closeness isn’t possible while the danger to the community and Kit’s family (from another bad guy) is on the rise. As usual with a Rose whodunit, the gory specifics of the crimes are balanced by the wholesome family and friends who step up to help the protagonists solve the whodunit. Readers will enjoy armchair detecting while watching Kit and Sam at last develop a deeper relationship in this satisfying, kisses-only romantic suspense novel.
