An engaging, edifying Regency romance with a side of social conscience.
In Baxter’s historical romance, a widowed aristocrat’s desire for independence clashes with a new love interest.
The young, widowed Isabel, the Marchioness of Axbridge, eschews all ambitions of remarriage; her late husband, an elderly marquess, left her with wealth, respectability, and the independence to do as she pleases. “Marriage is a ridiculous ambition for a woman who has attained some form of independence,” she feels. The blond-haired and blue-eyed Isabel now devotes her time to writing abolitionist pamphlets decrying slavery in England. “I think it is a disgrace that it continues,” she indignantly argues. The dark Mr. Drake and the handsome Marcus Bateman also support abolition, and both express admiration for Isabel. Meanwhile, the repugnant Mr. Wetherby, a known enslaver, accosts her at every turn. “How else are we meant to run our plantations without such labour?” he sneers. “Females have the most nonsensical ideas.” His lack of character (and his tendency to assault her) infuriates Isabel, who feels pressured to tolerate him in society. Meanwhile, Isabel must judge the integrity of her two other suitors, Mr. Drake and Mr. Bateman. Both have secrets, but only one of them tempts her to consider a love match. While the narrative takes the form of a Regency romance, the inclusion of issues like slavery and violence against women provokes reflection on modern society and adds to the depth of the story, which otherwise might focus on such activities as trimming hats with ribbon or donning beautiful dresses. Period references to the 19th century, such as the Caribbean sugar cane boycotts and the cotton trade, provide historically accurate context. Isabel’s status as a Methodist follower of John Wesley in a world where slavery connects with economic interests illustrates faith-based approaches to activism. But Isabel’s privileged position as a wealthy white woman unfortunately means that some passages involve the usual pitfalls of discussing Black experiences through a white lens. Still, Isabel’s sincere desire to make a difference in her world rings true.
An engaging, edifying Regency romance with a side of social conscience.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.
A single mom winds up fake dating an incredibly wealthy man in her hometown.
Dolly Brick is back in her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and disabled brother manage their house and family business. As a 39-year-old single mother with multiple jobs—which now include working at the Brick Fish House—Dolly is always busy. When her mom left their family years ago, Dolly took over caring for her siblings and father and never really stopped. When she runs into Stewart Whitfield after making a shrimp delivery to his family’s mansion, she doesn’t think they could be more different. She’s had to figure out how to do everything by herself, and he can’t even change a tire. That’s why Stewart’s proposal that she pretend to be his girlfriend feels so unbelievable—but it comes with a hefty check that she desperately needs for home repairs. So she becomes the fake girlfriend of Stewart Whitfield (as in, the Whitfields her town is named after; his real fiancée just dumped him and it’s a bad time for him to be single) and experiences what it’s like to walk into fancy buildings through the front door instead of the service entrance. More than the boats and helicopter and expensive dinners, though, Dolly is impressed by what a kind man Stewart is—and how it feels to let someone else take care of her for a change. Soon, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake. Monaghan creates an impossibly winning story with a charming, lovable heroine. Dolly is capable, hardworking, and will do anything for the people she loves. She and Stewart both possess real flaws, and while their relationship begins with one of the most beloved rom-com tropes, their challenges feel like realistic adult obstacles rather than easily solved miscommunications. It’s also refreshing that, even though Dolly must learn to allow other people to help her, she never views her caretaking responsibilities as burdens. She deeply loves her family, and that love carries through the entire story.
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780593853979
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
PERSPECTIVES
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.
A happily engaged woman is pulled back to her hometown—and her first love—when tragedy strikes.
Billie Wright is living her dream, running a thriving fertility clinic in New York City and engaged to a wonderful trauma surgeon named Dean. Her happily-ever-after meant giving up her life in Wisconsin, where she left behind many friends as well as her high school sweetheart, Mick. Although they’d been deeply in love, when Billie’s ambition pulled her away from home and toward the city, Mick couldn’t handle either the distance or her busy schedule. Billie has finally moved on from that heartbreak—but then she receives a phone call from Mick, the first communication between them in years. Her best friend, Erin, died in a car accident, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter, Phoebe. Now Billie must return home to help sort Erin’s affairs and provide some kind of comfort to Phoebe while grieving the loss of her best friend. Of course, being back home also means being in close contact with Mick. Their feelings for each other may not have ever gone away, and their proximity leads to big decisions for Billie. Can she ever reconcile her current life in Manhattan with her past in Wisconsin? And which one will be her future? Giffin knows how to do drama, and she ratchets up the stakes with every page as she continues to reveal new obstacles for Billie. The ending wraps up quite neatly, but the nostalgia-filled ride is full of twists and turns that will keep readers flipping the pages.
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
ISBN: 9780593600320
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
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