A multicultural Victorian romance that celebrates second chances and family ties.
The love of her life is back—and now he’s an earl.
American Naila Darwish is 27, and she’s accepted that she’s an old maid. She had her chance at marriage eight years ago, but she turned down the love of her life because her family didn’t approve of him. Now she’s only a little wistful as she watches her sister prepare to marry a duke at an English castle—until she’s introduced to the Earl of Hawksworth, and is shocked to discover she already knows him: Before he was an earl, he was Basil Trevelyn, the man she loved madly for a summer back in Philadelphia. Now known as Hawk, he still—he admits to himself—has strong feelings for her. After Naila turned down his proposal for fear she’d lose her traditional family, both have spent years trying to forget each other and failing terribly. But though their chemistry reignites immediately, Hawk resents feeling that she may be interested just because he’s an earl, and the lingering hurt between them may be too much to overcome. Though the primary storyline is a long, slow burn, it’s interwoven with the quick, heated story of how Naila and Hawk first fell in love, providing a sweet (and then bittersweet) counterpoint to the story of their second chance. Both storylines build beautifully on the first book in Quincy’s Sirens in Silk series, The Duke Gets Desperate (2023), with many cameos from Naila’s family. The Persuasion-inspired story, rich in historical detail, is especially strong in its depiction of Palestinian life in the Victorian-era U.S. and England, respectful of the traditions of the Darwish family as well as Naila’s desire to push against them. Quincy doesn’t skimp on scorching intimate scenes between Hawk and Naila, underscoring how strong their connection is even as they agonize about the possibility of a future together. Though the story works well on its own, the books are best read in order.
A multicultural Victorian romance that celebrates second chances and family ties.Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9780063247567
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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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