A sweet Regency debut for contemporary fans of classic romance.
She’s looking for a fortune—any fortune.
Kitty Talbot’s not like other fortune hunters of the ton. She was raised in Dorsetshire, far from the well-bred life of the season, and she has no interest in staying in town. She’s only in London because she has three months to snag a fortune, plus the man attached to it, so she and her four younger sisters can pay off her family’s debts and stay in their beloved home. She and her sister Cecily quickly get their feet on the first rung of the social ladder when they arrive, and Kitty employs some quick subterfuge to gain the interest of Archie de Lacy. He may not be the oldest son of his noble family, but he’s still good for “at least eight thousand a year,” and he nearly proposes to her—until his brother, Lord Radcliffe, comes home to put a stop to her conniving. At first she’s furious with Radcliffe, but they come to a mutual understanding, and he agrees to help her make a match with another high-born man who is debt-free and entitled to an allowance. Over several weeks, she and Cecily find their way into one society event after another, even snagging tickets to Almack’s Assembly Rooms, so Radcliffe and Kitty spend more time together as she tries to better understand the men she’s meeting. On the eve of a marriage proposal that could save her family, though, simultaneous family emergencies send Radcliffe off in pursuit of her sister and Kitty in pursuit of his brother, and the aftermath makes it difficult to deny what they have come to mean to each other. Irwin’s debut is charming, if a bit paint-by-numbers, recalling Georgette Heyer and other classics of the genre. In contrast to recent trends in historical romance, the hero and heroine don’t do much more than kiss on the page, and their romance develops quite late in the story; much of the plot focuses more on Kitty and Cecily’s introduction to the layers and intrigues of 1818 London. But it isn’t all Austen-esque; Kitty’s honesty about her aims, and Radcliffe’s acceptance of them, allows the story to suit modern sensibilities without sacrificing too much of the vintage feel.
A sweet Regency debut for contemporary fans of classic romance.Pub Date: July 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-59-349134-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Pamela Dorman/Viking
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
A sweet and sparkling adult debut.
A romance ghostwriter who’s lost her motivation after a breakup is haunted by the spirit of her newly departed editor in this whimsical paranormal romance.
Florence Day doesn't believe in love or happily-ever-afters any longer. Unfortunately, she’s also the ghostwriter for a prominent romance novelist and is currently trying to finish her fourth and final contracted book. The deadline for her latest manuscript has already been pushed back several times, and her new editor, Benji Andor, isn’t allowing for any leeway. Florence can also see ghosts, an ability that’s made quite a name for her in her hometown but also partly contributed to the devastating end of her previous relationship. On the eve of her deadline, Florence finds her life upended by both an unexpected kiss with her editor and the sudden death of her beloved father. Returning home comes with its own set of baggage, though Florence holds out hope that her father’s ghost will appear for one last goodbye. She’s shocked, however, when the spirit that visits her isn’t her father but Ben Andor, mysteriously dead only a day after she’d met him. Now Florence must not only navigate her grief and fulfill her dad's last wishes, she must also contend with Ben’s confused ghost following her around until they can correct his unfinished business. The zippy banter between Florence and nearly everyone she meets keeps things moving at a sprightly clip. Every interaction is a delight, and getting to know the cast of characters in Florence’s orbit adds excitement to the book. The romance takes a bit longer to build, though, and flits in and out of focus. Florence and Ben share such chemistry that it’s a shame readers are often left waiting for them to interact. The ghostly element is fun and fresh, adding slightly higher stakes to Florence and Ben's happily-ever-after.
A sweet and sparkling adult debut.Pub Date: July 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-33648-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
A heart-wrenching second-chance romance—but be warned that it relies heavily on miscommunication.
After a traumatic accident, a marriage in crisis is saved by a figure-drawing class.
Roz and Vin have been together for eight years, but a ghastly car accident a year ago has caused what feels like an insurmountable rift in their relationship. Though Vin has taken to sleeping in the guest room, Roz still hopes that time will heal this wound. Unfortunately, her optimism takes a hit when she sees a lease for a new apartment on their kitchen table. When Roz literally stumbles into a figure-drawing class, it becomes more than just an excuse to leave the house. She finds a small community and a kind of therapy in her art. Vin’s inevitable move-out date hangs like a dark cloud over Roz’s head, and as she starts to let go, he surprises her by offering to be her nude model for drawing practice. Roz’s best friend, Raffi, is Vin’s younger brother, and he was also affected by the car accident. All three have lasting physical and emotional scars, with Roz having assumed the role of caretaker while Vin and Raff healed from their more serious injuries, to the detriment of her own mental health. This book is a slow burn with lots of tension in tight spaces. After all, Vin and Roz still live together. Miscommunication, or just the absence of communication, is what leads to Roz and Vin’s issues, which make it feel like they’re continually circling a drain made up of their own grief and trauma. Roz openly expresses her emotions, though she struggles with admitting the seriousness of her post-traumatic stress disorder. Vin is often the opposite, having difficulty clearly stating his wants and needs. Like all of Bastone’s romances, this one is high in emotional turmoil, but it feels particularly drawn out.
A heart-wrenching second-chance romance—but be warned that it relies heavily on miscommunication.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
ISBN: 9780593977675
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Dial Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
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