A promising return from a beloved historical romance author.
A seemingly strict nobleman submits to an unusual woman.
When they first meet in the Duke of Windemere’s library, Julian and Elspeth are both snooping. Lady Elspeth de Moray is desperate to find a long-lost book with the potential to save the Wise Women, an ancient secret society to which she’s devoted. For his part, Julian Greycourt is in his uncle’s library hoping to meet a housemaid with something to tell him that he hopes may protect his sisters from the duke’s cruel behavior. When they hear the duke approaching, they flee to the library’s upper level and hide in a corner—with Elspeth crouching between Julian’s legs. It isn’t until shortly afterwards, when the two are properly introduced at the duchess’ tea party, that they realize they should hate each other, since Elspeth’s brother is rumored to have been involved in the mysterious death of Julian’s sister. But it’s too late for that; their close connection in the library leaves both excited to see each other again. This attraction explodes into an affair when it becomes clear that the inexperienced Elspeth isn’t scared off by Julian’s need to be ordered around in the bedroom, but their intimate connection vies with the desperate need they both have to keep their secrets and care for the people they love. As it’s been several years since the earlier titles in the Greycourt series were published—most recently, When a Rogue Meets His Match (2020)—a lot of exposition is needed to illuminate the connections among characters. Unfortunately, this overload of backstory combined with a complicated and uneven plot may leave readers feeling lost, especially if they’re starting with this volume. However, the chemistry between Julian and Elspeth is spicy and intriguing from the first pages, and the tender depiction of his desire to be submissive—and her willingness to learn to dominate him—provide a compelling reason for readers to stick with it.
A promising return from a beloved historical romance author.Pub Date: Dec. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781538763582
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A romance that could have used significant rethinking.
Childhood friends, almost-sweethearts, a misunderstanding, and a funeral.
Blair Lang and Declan Renshaw were best friends who went on one date before a disagreement and an accident sent them in different directions after high school. Now Blair is back from college to be with her great-aunt Lottie, who’s dying, and to support her single mother in small-town Seabrook, California. Finding a job at a coffee shop puts her in the path of her former boyfriend, since he turns out to be its owner. Can the two get past their mistakes? The novel uses the popular second-chance romance trope, but Pham fails to energize it through interesting characters. Blair’s grief over her great-aunt’s death and her plan to help her mother are overshadowed by internal monologues about her feelings, the way her friends aren’t paying attention to her, and the novel she plans to write. Declan’s distinguishing characteristic, besides being a former high school quarterback, is his skill at building birdhouses. Unsurprisingly, the couple doesn’t have much chemistry; when they embrace, their “bodies meld like…memory foam.” The wooden characters, unusual word choices (“conglomerate of pedestrians,” “litany of plants”), and odd turns of phrase (“tension melting from his eyebrows like butter melting in a warm pan”) are almost enough to obscure the lack of plot development. What passes for stakes is easily defused when Blair comes into an inheritance that saves her from working as a consultant at Ernst & Young in New York—so she can write a romance novel.
A romance that could have used significant rethinking.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781668095188
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026
A deep and moving portrayal of first love.
Two college students rekindle their relationship as they unravel the truth behind their breakup.
On the outside, college senior Bennett Reiner has it all. A goalie for Waterfell University’s hockey team, he lives with a group of friends in a luxurious off-campus house. He and his best friend, Rhys Koteskiy, have fathers who are retired hockey legends. But on the inside, he’s falling apart. Struggling with OCD, a shaky friendship with Rhys, and second thoughts about pursuing a future in hockey, the only thing keeping Bennett afloat is also the one thing breaking his heart: Paloma Blake. All dyed-hair and attitude, Paloma has built a bad reputation on the hockey scene since their relationship ended freshman year—but Bennett knows the real P. Underneath her promiscuous facade lies a scared and lonely girl running from a childhood of abuse. When they were together, it seemed like their romance was perfect, until Paloma broke it off without warning. Since then, Bennett has run to Paloma’s side whenever she needed him, whether she was drunk, lonely, or hurting, and now he’s determined to win her back. For Bennett, Paloma is his antidote, the cure for his compulsions; for Paloma, Bennett is her protector, her safe space. And though Paloma yearns to be with Bennett again, she’s not sure she’s willing to open old wounds and reveal the truth about her painful past. In the third installment of the Undone series, Corinne spotlights familiar characters as they navigate trauma, heartbreak, and first love. Bennett and Paloma’s relationship is raw and vulnerable, and their journey of relinquishing control is both necessary and inevitable. Their romance evolves as they open up to one another, and in return, the reader is rewarded with a love story that’s as lyrical, evocative, and emotional as poetry.
A deep and moving portrayal of first love.Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781668219423
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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