Three BFFs and a Wedding: #1The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant book review

Delaney, a bridesmaid at her best friend's destination wedding in Hawaii, is tasked with babysitting Theo, the bride's troublemaking brother, a man she's clashed with since third grade. When they're forced to share a hotel room, tensions rise as Delaney tries to keep Theo away from the groom while managing her own feelings. Theo appears to be a carefree bad boy who never wears clothes, hides kittens in his room, and mysteriously produces fresh-baked cookies. However, as Delaney spends time with him, she discovers he's harboring secrets that could change everything between them. The story unfolds with wedding chaos, family drama, and the gradual revelation of who Theo really is beneath his troublemaker persona. By the end, Delaney must confront whether her years of frustration with him have actually been suppressed attraction all along. 

I liked this book because 💕 it's a fictional, over the top destination wedding romance: chaos, humor, heart, and nonstop entertainment! ✨ Pippa Grant has a gift for creating witty banter and memorable characters, and Theo and Delaney's chemistry is totally hot. 🔥 The story balanced laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth. The absurd moments like hidden kittens, a feral pig, ridiculous wedding mishaps, and a semi-porn site job, never overshadowed the real growth happening between the characters. I loved watching Delaney slowly break free from her need to be perfect and live for herself, while Theo revealed the thoughtful, caring person beneath his bad-boy reputation. 🩷 The book masterfully uses classic romance tropes; best friend's brother, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, bad boy x good girl, and opposites attract. Whether it was the kittens stealing scenes or the witty one-liners that had me laughing out loud, this book was fun from start to finish. There are lots of secrets revealed at the end that threw me for a loop 😂✨but they wrapped up the story with a satisfying ending.  If you are looking for a wacky, contemporary, rom-com...this book is for you.

Earls Trip: #3 Brown-Eyed Earl by Jenny Holiday book review

Brown-Eyed Earl is the delightful conclusion to the Earls Trip series, delivering a slow-burn romance that celebrates friendship, vulnerability, and intellectual connection. Simon Courteney, the scholarly and dependable Earl of Marsden, has long harbored quiet feelings for Miss Diantha Brown, companion to his friend's mother. When Diantha faces blackmail and an unwanted forced marriage, she devises a shocking plan to escape her fate. Though Simon initially refuses her indecent proposal, circumstances bring them together during an "Earls-plus-girls" trip, where their bond deepens through starlit conversations, shared literary passions, and genuine emotional intimacy. Holiday masterfully balances weighty themes—including dementia, grief, and emotional abuse—with warmth and humor. The character development is exceptional, revealing two lonely souls who find solace and strength in each other. While some external conflicts resolve off-page, the focus remains firmly on Simon and Diantha's earned, authentic connection. The result is a heartfelt, thoroughly satisfying romance that rewards readers' patience with a deeply moving happily-ever-after. 

 I have loved this entire series and the Brown-Eyed Earl is a great conclusion that honors genre traditions while embracing modern sensibilities. The Regency setting provides elegant atmosphere, yet the characters' forward-thinking values and emotional depth feel remarkably contemporary and relatable. The novel celebrates two bookish protagonists whose romance unfolds through literary discussions and philosophical conversations. A treat for this librarian who enjoys intelligent banter and shared intellectual passions in couples. The emphasis on found family, male vulnerability, and genuine friendship adds emotional richness to this story. Most compellingly, the slow-burn friends-to-lovers arc, forced proximity, and house-party setting deliver everything romance readers crave, while the thoughtful characterization and earned happily-ever-after are totally satisfying.  I love the idea of a annual friends trip (or Earls trip).  While this series is super enjoyable.  It can be read as a standalone.  Definite recommendation to add it to your list of books to read.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.  Its planned pub date is October 27,  2026.

Miss Prentice's Protegees #3: Pride Comes Before a Fall by Virginia Heath book review

In this witty third installment of the Miss Prentice's Protegees series, Leopold Sloane, the 11th Duke of Debden, hires Portia Kendall as a chaperone for his rebellious siblings during a summer in Bath. Leopold takes his family's safety seriously after one sister is injured at a protest rally, but he finds himself overwhelmingly attracted to the outspoken, principled woman he's hired. Portia, a passionate reformist writer struggling to make ends meet, accepts the temporary position to fund her real calling: championing social reform through her work at a radical newspaper. Portia sneaks out at night to write for the publication that criticizes the very aristocracy Leopold represents Their romance unfolds amid misunderstandings, class conflict, and the central tension between Portia's commitment to her principles and her growing feelings for the duke. 

I loved this book for its sharp wit, authentic Regency setting, and the delicious tension of a forbidden romance across class lines. Heath excels at blending political intrigue with romantic development, offering readers more than just a love story. There's substance in Portia's reformist mission and Leo's struggle between duty and desire. The banter crackles with intelligence, the forced proximity creates genuine chemistry, and the slow-burn payoff is deeply satisfying. Leo's protective devotion and Portia's fierce independence create a dynamic that feels both modern and perfectly suited to the era. I found myself thoroughly invested in this couple's journey.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.  It is out soooonnnnn....July 28, 2026.  A must for your TBR stack.

Minnie Harper #2: A Murder in Marylebone by Emily Sullivan book review

After more than a decade in Corfu, widowed mother Minnie Harper returns to England at the turn of the 20th century to settle her daughter in school and reconnect with family. When she escorts her impulsive sister Delia to a raucous house party, the night ends in scandal: Delia finds her lover dead in his study. Minnie alerts the police but, fearing gossip and convinced of her sister’s innocence, launches a discreet investigation that drags her back into Delia’s Bohemian circle and into the orbit of Mr. Stephen Dorian, Minnie’s former employer in Corfu whose presence rekindles resentment, attraction, and unresolved history. As Minnie questions fortune-tellers, flirtatious barons, and antique collectors, she faces meddling parents, and dangerous intrigue that forces her to confront her past while racing to clear Delia’s name. 

Historical romance readers will enjoy the slow-burn tension between Minnie and Stephen, the lush period details of turn-of-the-century English society, and the way romance and mystery intertwine without sacrificing either. I found the chemistry and emotional payoff especially satisfying—Stephen’s devotion and Minnie’s fierce protectiveness create steamy, tender moments amid the cozy investigative fun. I did not read the first book and could tell I was missing some details.  However, the second book was still enjoyable...even out of order.  Definitely a closed door slow burn romance, but the mystery was top notch and it's just a well written story.  Loved it!