A witty, classic Regency romance.
One too many marquesses for a near spinster.
Ellie Parrish has known her entire life that she’s destined to marry a marquess. One in particular, actually: her childhood friend George, Marquess of Nethersole. He’s certain to settle down and propose any day now, she keeps telling herself, even though she’s already 25. So he’s the only marquess she cares to think about, even after she runs into another one accidentally. But Brandon, Marquess of Hullworth, is sure their collision is no accident. As the most eligible bachelor in London, he can’t walk through a park without half a dozen women dropping their handkerchiefs or turning their ankles to get his attention. Ellie has no interest in Brandon beyond being friends with his sister, though, and by the time he finally believes that, he realizes that he might actually be interested in her. Anxious by nature, Ellie is drawn to Brandon’s gentle ways and actual interest in her, and the two begin a powerful and clandestine courtship, but even their intense chemistry might not be enough to pull her away from the certainty of having the life she’s always expected with the thoughtless, inconsistent George. Her ongoing indecision is a weak spot in an otherwise charming Regency. Lorret’s writing sparkles, as ever, with delicious banter between Ellie and Brandon and clever writing throughout. But with their attraction so strong and George such an obvious cad, it's hard to fathom why it takes Ellie the entire book to figure out which one of her marquesses is the wrong one. Though Ellie and her friends are still working on The Marriage Habits of the Native Aristocrat, the guidebook introduced earlier in the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series, she is surprisingly naïve about George’s behavior. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable entry, with slightly purple intimate scenes heightened by Ellie’s intense physical reactions to the unexpected and a cliffhanger ending setting up the fourth book in the series nicely.
A witty, classic Regency romance.Pub Date: June 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-297662-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wonderfully cozy and warm romance in a cold, snowy setting.
Opposites attract when meteorologists are forced to work together during a massive snowstorm.
Local television news reporter Delilah Stewart is beloved in Baltimore for her sunny personality whether she’s delivering the forecast or doing a feature at the aquarium while wearing a turtle costume. Radio weather and traffic reporter Jackson Clark is not so keen on her; she’s silly and chaotic (and always does a terrible parking job in their shared lot), whereas he likes to have plans and structure for everything in his life. When a major snowstorm is predicted, their bosses decide the pair should report together from the mountains several hours outside the city where the storm will hit first. They soon realize they have more in common than expected, and Delilah even helps calm Jackson’s anxiety and bring out his fun side. Attraction grows, and the cozy, snowy lodge is the perfect place for secret kisses. But when they return home to family drama and busy work schedules, it becomes more complicated to find their way back to each other. Bubbly, good-natured Delilah is an absolute gem of a character; she’s unapologetically full of warmth and kindness, but there’s more to her beneath her smile. Parts of her life are messy, sad, and difficult, yet she chooses to put her best foot forward even when self-doubt creeps in. Lovable Jackson has his own share of hardships in life, and when the couple become vulnerable and open up to each other, their mutual support and care is tender and beautiful. Conflict comes more from outside factors (some that feel underdeveloped) than from their relationship, but their personal growth feels well-earned, while humor and spice are deftly woven into this charming tale.
A wonderfully cozy and warm romance in a cold, snowy setting.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9780593953143
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
Perfect if you’re in the mood for wordplay, vibes, and a minimal plot set in academia.
Two besotted magic scholars fake-hate each other to protect their jobs in a fantasy alt-Victorian England.
Professors Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been soulmates since they met as children at boarding school—he an orphan, she the neglected child of indifferent academics. They grew up together and became historians together. But double standards plague even the zany magical universe they inhabit and a stray moment of platonic touching sets tongues wagging. With Amelia’s job always at risk in a sexist academic environment, she and Caleb decided to act like enemies so no one realizes the strength of their attachment. Pretending to hate each other is wearing on them, however, and the magical disruptions that accompany their “spats” increase when they’re assigned to visit a country house to catalog antique enchanted objects. Accompanied by a giggly secretary and a hulking security officer, Amelia and Caleb try to discover why artifacts keep disappearing and what precise power lies in the ordinary-looking spoon that keeps appearing in Amelia’s vicinity. As in Holton’s earlier novels set in a fantastical 19th-century Britain, the book is replete with Oscar Wilde- and Alexander Pope–style irony and goofball scenes with comic characters in a faux-gothic setting. This is also a satire of university culture, highlighting the emotional and professional labor forced on women in academia who are mocked for being both too competent to be likable and too feminine for true intellectual work. The dual points of view, Caleb’s consistent support for Amelia, and a secret society of exasperated older women all help counter some of the bitterness of that inequality. The couple’s abiding love and their fake fighting complicates the usual enemies-to-lovers narrative and might appeal to fans of Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry. There’s no explicit sex, but some passages are steamy enough to show that even professional thinkers do more than lecture.
Perfect if you’re in the mood for wordplay, vibes, and a minimal plot set in academia.Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9780593641491
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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