A spirited protagonist and lively dialogue propel this novel, even when other elements falter.
Ahearn’s Regency romance follows a ferocious young aristocrat pursuing true love in spite of society’s expectations.
Lady Nefertiti “Snap” Albright was raised wild and free before her father’s elevation into the role of Earl, and, chafed by the refinement of society, she continues to act as “feral as a wolf cub.” She and her family travel to London from their Exeter home to prepare for Snap’s debutante ball, where the 17-year-old will be presented to eligible suitors. Five days after arriving, Snap escapes a tedious gathering by climbing out a window, wades through a reflecting pool, and stumbles upon a shadowy figure calling himself a pirate. Later, she vows to find him again, enlisting the help of sharp-tongued, knife-wielding kitchen maid Lizzie Widcomb. Together, they prowl London’s darkest corners, even breaking into houses. The so-called pirate is eventually revealed to be 25-year-old Capt. Gareth Hart, an ex-soldier, former horse thief, and current debt collector who, eight years earlier, injured himself while burning down the Albright stables. Nine-year-old Snap had nursed him back to health, captivated by his tales of adventure. Now, Snap is determined to marry him—although it’s unclear whether her aim is driven by true love or a desire to provoke her emotionally absent father. However, Gareth has set his sights on a wealthy, omen-obsessed widow, hoping to secure enough fortune and influence to protect his sister, Laura, and young niece, Clementine, from his villainous uncle, Baron Wadsworth. The baron’s fixation on acquiring the Fitzcarry pearls—Snap’s mother’s prized possession—compels Gareth to protect Snap from his uncle’s schemes. Snap’s wild charm proves overpowering, and the baron attempts to use the pair’s relationship to blackmail Gareth into thievery, leading to a violent showdown.
The central cat-and-mouse game between Snap and Gareth—her chasing, him retreating—grows wearisome over time, particularly as Gareth’s reluctance often switches from rakish refusal to outright cruelty, as seen when he leaves Snap stranded on the side of the road one night. The narrative switches between their third-person perspectives, and Gareth spends most of his sections repeating his motivation to protect his family, which makes it feel overemphasized. Baron Wadsworth, “sporting a gold-tipped cane, a pink vest, and a brown velvet tailcoat,” teeters toward cartoonish villainy at times, rather than genuine menace, which has the effect of lessening the emotional stakes. Beneath the romantic chaos lies a hint of class commentary; Snap’s moment with a kind cabbage seller, for instance, suggests a flicker of social awareness. Overall, Snap proves to be an engaging main character, and her lively interactions with her sisters and sharp-witted Lizzie are delightful to read. Ahearn’s prose is infused with moments of sharp wit and colorful period slang (“sap-headed jackanapes,” “dicked in the nob”) that keep the tone airy amid the story’s darker turns. Fans of the author’s previous novels about Snap’s sisters will enjoy encountering familiar faces as the youngest Albright daughter finds her own true love.
A spirited protagonist and lively dialogue propel this novel, even when other elements falter.Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2025
ISBN: 9781509262038
Page Count: 340
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 5, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon.
A marriage on the rocks gets a second chance—with a science-fiction twist.
Dr. Emery Martín is happily married to her husband Luca…mostly. She’s been madly in love with him since the moment they met, but in the three years they’ve been wed, she hasn’t been able to focus much on him. To the world—including Luca—Emery’s job involves developing medical-grade lasers. In reality, she works at a supersecret San Diego lab that’s engineering a compound to bring mammals back from the dead. Although Emery doesn’t want to admit it, she can tell that Luca feels pushed aside, but she believes so deeply in her work that she has a hard time leaving the lab. When Emery is late for dinner—yet again—on their anniversary, she rushes home only to see Luca get hit by a car. She has the secret compound in her car, and she knows she could get in major trouble if she uses it—but what’s she supposed to do, not save her husband’s life? The compound has only been tested on animals so far, and there’s no guarantee it will even work for humans. It does, though, and Luca comes back to life—with one small caveat. He can’t remember most things, including his marriage to Emery. After almost losing Luca, Emery is now grateful for what she has, and she’s determined to show him that she can be a better, more attentive partner. While Luca may not remember her, their magnetic chemistry is still there. This may be the do-over they needed to save their marriage—that is, if Emery can keep the life-reviving measures she took hidden from everyone around them, including nosy neighbors and her own company. Lauren—the pen name of the duo behind rom-coms like The Paradise Problem (2024)—has created a unique hook that feels genuinely refreshing. Emery and Luca’s unconventional second chance is emotionally compelling, and the slight thriller edge as Emery tries to cover up her actions keeps the pages turning.
An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 9781668017753
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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