Review for Sofie Darling's "LADY AMELIA TAKES A LOVER"

 

LADY AMELIA TAKES A LOVER
Historical Romance

 

 

AUTHOR:
Sofie Darling

RELEASE DATE:
December 09, 2025

PUBLISHER:
Oliver Heber Books

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
B0G1579S93

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://sofiedarling.com/

 

 

Lady Amelia Windermere spends time in Italy with her family to weather out a scandal. She desperately wants to improve their reputations, so they can re-enter into the ton’s good graces. Amelia encounters Tristan Carteret on her way to an art lesson. She finds the man rude yet utterly fascination. Amelia surprises herself by proposing an improper bargain: she will model for his art if he returns the favor. Will Amelia succeed in re-entering into Polite Society? Or will she choose infamy with The Dissolute Duke.

Tristan Carteret, the Duke of Ripon, is a sculptor residing in Florence, Italy. He is not eager on returning to England to assume his ducal duties. Tristan happens upon Amelia. He believes her to be like all the other English debutantes back home. Tristan finds he wants to help the uptight miss embrace her repressed passionate side and artistic talent. He knows he ought to refuse the bargain she suggested. Can Tristan persuade Amelia to forget about society’s rules? Will he convince her they belong together? Will he convince her they belong together?

Tristan and Amelia mesh well together. Their differences balance out the others. Amelia cares too much about Polite Society’s opinions while Tristan does not. Tristan embraces his artistic side while Amelia merely skims hers. I love how Tristan encourages Amelia to explore and eventually share her art with others. He knows that goes against Society’s regulations of what a gentlewoman can do.

LADY AMELIA TAKES A LOVER is the first book in Sofie Darling’s historical romance series, WINDERMERES IN LOVE. It was first published by Dragonblade Publishing on July 28, 2022. I assume the author received her rights back to re-release the title with a brand-new – softer and beautiful- cover. The story, like the prequel MR. SINCLAIR BEGUILES A BLUESTOCKING, is on the short side. Which did not detract from the plot or the storyline.

The Windermeres are an interesting family. Each member seems to have a talent/hobby that they excel at. Amelia with her art, Archie with his piano playing, Delilah with her acting, and Juliet with her writing… I love that aspect.

Review for Sabrina Jeffries' "NEARLY A BRIDE"

 

NEARLY A BRIDE
Historical Romance

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Sabrina Jeffries

RELEASE DATE:
April 28, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Kensington

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781496751041

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.sabrinajeffries.com/

 

 

Rupert Oakden, the Earl of Heathbrook, has spent twelve years detained in a French fortress. Now home, he wants nothing more to claim guardianship of his three younger brothers. Heath’s rakish reputation hinders his ability. He must find a suitable fiancée to appear respectably in front of the courts. A perfect candidate presents herself to Heath. Giselle needs his help, so Heath proposes a plan: if she poses as his pretend fiancé, he will help her and her mother gain proper, legitimate papers. Is their ruse doomed to fail?

Giselle Bernard has secretly adored Heath since their days in Verdun, France. She has no interest in tying herself down to a man with such a wild and reckless past. Plus, Giselle believes she is not suitable for Heath. When a stranger asks about her and her mother’s paper, Giselle turns to the only person she believes could help. Heath proposes an outlandish request, one that could possibly benefit them both. However, secrets from the past reveal themselves. Will Heath and Giselle’s charade become real?

I admire Heath’s persistence in gaining custody of his brothers. He will go to any lengths, even subterfuge, to get them back. They may be strangers, especially the youngest, but that did not matter to him. I believe Heath’s time in France gave him a better appreciation for family. Why he is so desperate to get custody. What I like the most about Heath is how he floundered a bit once he got them back. Their relationship was not instant. The Oakden brothers had to find their footings with one another.

I understand Giselle’s hesitations, especially when it concerned Heath’s rakish past. She did not want to walk in her mother’s footsteps. Giselle had learned from her mother’s mistakes. I feel that sometimes Giselle let her illegitimacy stand in her way. Heath, unlike his lofty peers, had no problem with it, and he even voiced it. Yet, Giselle persisted that she was not good enough for him.

NEARLY A BRIDE is the second book in Sabrina Jeffries’ historical romance series, LORDS OF HAZARD. Sadly, I have not read HAZARDOUS TO A DUKE’S HEART. It did not hinder my ability to follow and enjoy this story. The author does a great job of touching up on Heath’s time in France. There is a small plot spillover from the prior book, a mystery that continues to go unsolved. I wonder if more clues will be revealed in the next book or if it will be solved? I have a feeling the next couple will be Scovell and Chloe.

I am curious about Sir Percy. Is he the one who outed Jon, Heath, and Scovell in France? If he is innocent, will he get a book? Will his innocence or guilt be proved in the next book? I hope the answers will be revealed in the next installment.

I do have one nitpick that affected my rating. The whole angle concerning Zach, and the way it is handled. To me, it came off unbelievable. It just did not work for me.

Review for Sofie Darling's MR. SINCLAIR BEGUILES A BLUESTOCKING

 

MR. SINCLAIR BEGUILES A BLUESTOCKING
Historical Romance

 

AUTHOR:
Sofie Darling

RELEASE DATE:
November 18, 2025

PUBLISHER:
Oliver Heber Books

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
B0FV2SKGPN

RATING:
4

AUTHOR LINK:
https://sofiedarling.com/

 

 

Violet Hotchkiss has accepted her future as a bespectacled, bluestocking spinster. She forms an infatuation with Oliver Quincy, a gentleman she believes is everything a hero should be. And then there is Will Sinclair, Violet’s neighbor, who has always been too much for her. Everything changes at the Twelfth Night ball when she kisses Will in the garden. Violet begins to see both men in different light.

Will Sinclair is the only son of a country baronet. He returns home to assume his duty as his father’s heir. Will has always had a secret crush on Violet. So, he cannot understand what the smart woman sees in his conceited, dunderheaded cousin. Things change between Will and Violet when they share a kiss at Twelfth Night Ball. Will is determined to prove to Violet that he is the better man.

The thing that irked me the most is Violet’s blindness towards Quincy’s obvious flaws. If I had been in Violet’s place, I would have been disillusioned far sooner. I hate how she felt inferior because she wore glasses and enjoyed books. It is sad that Violet felt that defined her as a woman. What I like the most about Violet is her generosity with the local youths. She encouraged them to enrich their minds by providing books weekly.

Will is a total sweetheart! It truly baffles me that Violet did not recognize sooner. I adore how Will has always admired Violet for the person that she was. He did not care whether she wore glasses or not. Will knew there was far more to her than what others perceived. And he loved her selflessness in helping the local youths to read and praised her for it.

MR. SINCLAIR BEGUILES A BLUESTOCKING is the 0.5 book in Sofie Darling’s historical romance series, WINDERMERES IN LOVE. It was first published in 2020 as IT WAS ONLY A KISS. I am only familiar with the author’s ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND RACING series. I decided to venture into her other works… and it did not disappoint.

Review for Julie Ann Walker's "BLACK WIDOW"

 

BLACK WIDOW
Romantic Suspense

 

  

AUTHOR:
Julie Ann Walker

RELEASE DATE:
January 27, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Limerence Publications

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781950100217

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://julieannwalker.com/

 

 

Hewitt Birch, former Nightstalker pilot, is a secret operative for Black Knights Inc. He has been silently looking after Sabrina since the day she fainted in his arms. When she is kidnapped, Hew’s calm veneer crumbles. After a harrowing rescue mission, and learning about their enemies’ true intent, Hew does not want to jeopardize what he has with Sabrina. Will self-preservation keep Hewitt from telling Sabrina about his feelings? Or will his hesitation push her into the arms of another man?

Sabrina Greenlee works as the Black Knights Inc’s social media specialist. Thanks to the BKI gang, especially Hewitt, she has slowly overcome her traumatic ordeal. However, Sabrina is put to the test when she finds herself kidnapped and held for ransom. She refuses to jeopardize the people who have done so much for her. Once she is rescued, Sabrina is determined to tell Hew how she feels. Will Sabrina finally find the nerve to confess? Or will the threat against BKI keep her from doing so?

Hewitt and Sabrina share so much in common. They both have had terrible childhoods without proper and loving parental guidance. They both have the love of reading. And they both were too afraid to jeopardize their friendship by admitting their true feelings. I admit, there were times when I wanted to knock both in the head. Their dillydallying annoyed me. But, deep down, I understand their uncertainty and hesitation.

Hew’s background is so heartbreaking! I could not help but feel for the big guy. I love how Hewitt understood everything that Sabrina was going through. Since he too experienced trauma, he knew exactly what she needed. He selflessly became her anchor so she could heal and move forward.

Sabrina has shown amazing growth since her introduction. She managed to keep it together during her kidnapping than relapsing. That ordeal would be difficult for anyone for a second time.

BLACK WIDOW is the fifth book in Julie Ann Walker’s romantic suspense series, BLACK KNIGHTS INC: RELOADED - a sequel to the author’s popular BLACK KNIGHT INC books. Fans of the first series will love knowing that Becky, Boss, and Ozzy make frequent appearances. I never get enough of my Ozz man and his love for hairbands and 80’s music. Sure, he plays a minor part, but it is not a BKI book without him in it. And Peanut!

Once again, like the prior four books, the author sets up the next couple: Graham and Lura. I cannot wait for their adventure. Will they figure out who Bishop is? And what about Kerberos? Will we ever learn who they are?