Flowers from the Storm is a Regency-era romance novel written by Laura Kinsale. This book was mentioned in one of my book groups, so I was very excited when it popped up as part of an Audible sale.

The Duke of Jervaulx (pronounced Che-vaux with a soft c) is a dissolute rake, but he is also a brilliant mathematician. It is through this surprising hobby that he encounters Maddy Timms (real name Archimedia), who is the daughter of the Quaker gentleman he is collaborating with.

Maddy has a relatively low opinion of Christian, but she is still saddened when she hears that he has died in a duel. Needless to say, she is shocked beyond belief when she encounters Christian when visiting her uncle’s sanitarium. He has not died, but he has suffered a catastrophic event that has robbed him of the ability to speak. Christian has been reduced to an almost feral state, but Maddy has a calming effect on him. It is far from proper, but Maddy takes on much of the responsibility of caring for Christian, and slowly but surely, he begins to recover. But what future could there possibly be for a dissolute duke and a Quaker girl? Read more

Splendid is a romance novel written by Julia Quinn. Not only is it the first book in her Regency-era Splendid/Blydon trilogy, but this is also Quinn’s first published book. I’ve had a paperback copy of this book for years, but I picked up the Audible edition because I was looking for something to listen to.

Emma Dunster is an American girl who travels to London to take part in the London Season alongside her cousins, the Blydons. She is not looking to snag a title for herself; her primary concern is going back to Boston to help her father run his shipping business.

Alex might be the Duke of Ashbourne, but he has no plans to marry. But as soon as he sees a beautiful redheaded American, he is intrigued. At first, Emma is not very impressed with this arrogant duke, but slowly, he begins to charm her. Read more

Wallflower Most Wanted is a historical romance novel written by Manda Collins. It is the third book in her Regency-era Studies in Scandal series. I was very excited about the opportunity to read this book because I have enjoyed the other two books in this series. There was a fleeting moment between Sophia and Benedick in the second book, and I knew that they would be perfect together. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I found out that they would really be paired to together.

Sophia is a talented painter, and has spent the last few months at Beauchamp House as one of the four heiresses who are to inherit the house after a year in residence. While painting, she inadvertently falls off a cliff and right into the path of Lord Benedick Lisle, the handsome young vicar. The pair overhear a tense and menacing exchange between two strangers, and while they are trying to puzzle out the meaning of that conversation, they learn that an art forgery ring that has been traced to their little seaside corner of the country.

Meanwhile, a local industrialist attempts to insert himself into the local art scene by declaring that Sophia’s paintings are indecent and should be barred from an upcoming competition. And then something happens that suggests that this is a much bigger problem than Sophia or Ben could have anticipated.

Sophia played a minor role in the first two books in this series, so it was such a pleasure to finally get to know her. The depth at which she sees everyday life is rather atypical for a young woman of her station, and it is perhaps this reflective nature that attracts Ben to her.

I’ve read a couple of books with vicar heroes recently, and I must say, there’s something appealing about the subgenre. Ben is a rather unique hero; he has chosen quite a different path than a life of dissolution, and uses his natural ability to help people. His daily life is quite different from his privileged background as the younger son of a duke, and he will only use his advantageous connections as a last resort.

I would absolutely recommend Wallflower Most Wanted. I think this book stands pretty well on its own, so you don’t have to read the other Studies in Scandal books before reading this one. You really ought to read them though because they are equally delightful, although I do think that this is my favorite of the bunch. As was the case with the other books, Collins does a wonderful job of setting up the pairing for the next book. I can’t wait to read about Gemma and her new chap- June seems entirely too long to wait!

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Duke of Nothing is a romance novel written by Jess Michaels. It is the fifth book in her Regency-era 1797 Club series. I was excited about the opportunity to read this book because I thoroughly enjoyed the fourth book in the series- The Silent Duke.

Baldwin Undercross is the Duke of Sheffield, and as the story begins, he finds himself in quite a predicament. He’s virtually insolvent, and if he doesn’t marry an heiress, he will certainly lose what little he has left.

Helena Monroe meets Baldwin at a party, and because she is an American, he assumes that she is the wealthy American heiress who is in town to align her family’s wealth with an ancient title. However, Helena is not the heiress- she is merely her wealthy cousin’s companion. There is an instant connection, which blooms into a mutual attraction. The duchesses in Baldwin’s circle of friends work tirelessly to contrive situations for Helena and him to meet, but of course, they have no idea how dire his financial situation is. And likewise, Helena faces ruination if their clandestine meetings are discovered. Read more

The Rogue is Back in Town is historical romance novel written by Anna Bennett. It is the third book in her Regency-era Wayward Wallflowers series featuring a trio of sisters. I read the second book in the series, so I was pleased with the opportunity to find out what was going to happen next in the series.

Juliette Lacey’s sisters have recently made advantageous matches with an earl and a duke respectively. She is the only one left in the house with her aging uncle, who is a widower and a scientist. Julie is quite devoted to her uncle, who adopted the three sisters when they were orphaned. So, needless to say, she is quite put-out when a handsome rogue shows up on her doorstep demanding that she vacate the premises.

Sam’s most recent drunken night has proven itself to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, and his stuffy marquess brother demands that he evict the tenants from a house that he owns. Needless to say, the job proves more difficult than Sam anticipated when the tenant proves to be so beautiful. Read more

To the Duke With Love is a historical romance novel written by Amelia Grey. It is the second book in her Regency-era The Rakes of St. James series. I have not read any of Grey’s other books, but I was excited about the opportunity to try a new author.

Sloane Knox is the Duke of Hawksthorne. Hawk, as he prefers to be called, is hoping to arrange a match for his sister before her Season. He is afraid of her becoming embroiled in a scandalous prank as retaliation for a scandalous prank he was involved with a couple of years ago. Hawk has settled upon the rather bland and inoffensive Mr. Quick, who is the nephew of an earl and due to inherit the title one day.

There’s just one problem- Mr. Quick’s sister Loretta is against the idea. She refused to marry the man her uncle chose for her, and as punishment, she was banished to a remote hunting lodge. This is the very same lodge where Hawk arrives unexpectedly with his proposal. Read more

The Duke Knows Best is a historical romance novel written by Jane Ashford. It is the fifth book in her The Duke’s Sons Regency-era historical romance series. I’ve read a couple of Ashford’s books before, so I was excited about the opportunity to read this one.

Lord Randolph Gresham played a secondary role in his brother Robert’s book, Nothing Like a Duke. I was intrigued by the idea of a vicar as the hero, and initially, I was a little disappointed that Randolph had left his parish for London because it would have been interesting to see him balance his work with his quest for a wife.

Randolph clashes immediately with Miss Verity Sinclair, who dismisses him as a simple country parson. Her father is also in the church, and she is looking for more to life than that. She can scarcely believe her outburst, and is chagrined that she would behave so rudely to a stranger. Read more

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever is a historical romance novel written by Julia Quinn. It’s the first book in her Regency-era Bevelstoke trilogy. I did not have a chance to read this book when it was originally published in 2009, so I was very excited when it was available as part of an Audible sale.

Miranda Cheever is an only child, and she has formed a friendship with Olivia and Winston, the Bevelstoke twins who live nearby. Once day, her friends’ older brother Turner escorts her home. He is kind to her, and encourages her by suggesting that she keep a diary to look back on when she is grown up.

The main story takes place about nine years after the prologue. Miranda is now around twenty years old, and she reconnects with Turner. She is preparing for a Season in London, and to put things mildly, he is not in a good place emotionally. He realizes quite suddenly that Miranda is no longer the gawky girl she used to be. Turner has no interest in marrying again, but he can’t stop thinking about Miranda. Oh, and Olivia is intent on arranging a match between Miranda and Winston. Read more