The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (The Ill-Mannered Ladies #1) by Alison Goodman, 464 p.

"Lady Augusta Colebrook, "Gus," is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend's goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.

The sisters set out to Caroline's country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.

Back in London, Gus can't stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins."--Amazon blurb

This has been on my to-read list since it was published, and I wish I hadn't waited so long! I loved Gus and Julia so much. They are the type of characters you love to love, but there were definitely characters you loved to hate in this book as well! Very well-written and paced, it was adventurous, fun, yet emotional story. Can't wait for the next in the series.

 

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn, 464 p.

"In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar. The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule..."--Goodreads

 

The Secret Lives of County Gentlemen by K.J. Charles

The Secret Lives of County Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books #1) by K.J. Charles, 352 p. 

"Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that's over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth has little time to lick his wounds: his father has died, leaving him the family title, a rambling manor on the remote Romney Marsh...and the den of cutthroats and thieves that make its intricate waterways their home.

Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. His family is his life...which is why when the all-too-familiar new baronet testifies against Joss's sister for a hanging offense, Joss acts fast, blackmailing Gareth with the secret of their relationship to force him to recant. Their reunion is anything but happy and the path forward everything but smooth, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. It's a long road from there—full of danger and mysteries to be solved—yet somehow, along the way, this well-mannered gentleman may at last find true love with the least likely of scoundrels." --Goodreads blurb

This started slowly, but the story settled into itself and became really enjoyable. Gareth and Joss's relationship, while young and hard to manage, was really fun to follow. Charles's writing style was very approachable and enjoyable. A regency romance in every aspect, even if Gareth doesn't necessarily want his family title and all that comes with it. There are many characters you can't figure out why you're rooting for, and others that you should like more, but their personality just isn't there. The dialogue stood out to me in this story, and I look forward to more from this series.

Infamous by Lex Croucher

Infamous by Lex Croucher, 336 p.

"22-year-old aspiring writer Edith 'Eddie' Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together-climbing trees, throwing grapes at boys, sneaking bottles of wine, practicing kissing . . .

But following their debutante ball Rose is suddenly talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified. When Eddie meets charming, renowned poet Nash Nicholson, he invites her to his crumbling Gothic estate in the countryside. The entourage of eccentric artists indulging in pure hedonism is exactly what Eddie needs in order to forget Rose and finish her novel. But Eddie might discover the world of famous literary icons isn't all poems and pleasure . . .

Eddie Miller wants nothing more than to be a writer. Her best friend, Rose, is her biggest supporter, and the one that grounds her to reality. When Eddie meets the writer/poet she looks up to most, Nash Nicholson, her life is turned upside down. She loves his writing, but how else will he fit in to her world? When a whole artistic crowd decide to go to Nash's country estate, things turn chaotic, a bit drunk (among other things), and cold. Will Nash's promise to show Eddie's manuscript to his editor be her dream come true? And will Rose, who is not a fan of Nash, still be there by the time it happens?

A regency, sapphic romance? Yes, please! While I didn't always find Eddie to be a likeable main character, I wanted to follow her through her chaotic life to see if she could become a successful writer. There was much foreshadowing in the writing, and I had the big twist figured out before it happened, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the novel. Great writing from a new-to-me author, and I definitely recommend this to romance readers everywhere!

 

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, 389 p.

"Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple: They will be husband and wife by night only. No lights, no kissing. No questions about his battle scars. Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own: They will have dinner together every evening. With conversation. And unlimited teasing. Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…"--Goodreads blurb

Just coming off of two very emotional books, I wanted something light and fun, and this certainly fit the bill. A very quick read, with lots of humor and not too much drama like in some romances. I'll put Dare on my authors to pick up when I need a quick, fun read.