Review: Never Dare a Duke by Gayle Callen

June 5, 2023June 4, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Never Dare a Duke
Gayle Callen
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: November 25, 2008
Series or Standalone: Sons of Scandal #2
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: assault; bullying; injury

I apparently read this book in 2016 (thank you, Goodreads!), but I remember NOTHING about it, so I was basically reading this one for the first time. I had such high hopes for this one as the premise sounded like my jam, and it was precisely the type of book I was in the mood for. But this book was missing something special to make me love it.

Review: A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

May 30, 2023May 30, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Notorious Countess Confesses
Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: October 30, 2012
Series or Standalone: Pennyroyal Green #7
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Domestic abuse; physical abuse; death; sexism; alcholism; reference to rape; sexual harassment; death of a child

Much like Evie, this book worms its way into your hearts, even if you don’t want it to. Right after reading this, I was unsure how I would rate it, but the more I’ve sat on it and thought about it, the more I appreciate this book.

Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

May 4, 2023May 3, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Talia Hibbert
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Series or Standalone: The Brown Sisters #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Abusive relationship; emotional abuse; chronic pain/illness; physical abuse

“Once upon a time, Chloe Brown died.”

Get A Life, Chloe Brown has been on my to-be-read list for way longer than I would like to admit, but I finally got a chance to read this as a beach read last summer! While I liked many things about this book, the ending ruined the story a tad as it relies heavily on the miscommunication trope, which I’m so over in my romances.

Review: Texas Legacy by Lorraine Heath

March 30, 2023March 29, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Texas Legacy
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 15, 2019
Series or Standalone: Texas Trilogy #3.5
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Rape; sexual assault; gun violence; abuse

It feels fitting that I’m revisiting the Texas Trilogy after many months because that is EXACTLY what Lorraine Heath did as she published this novella nearly 20 years after the publication of Texas Splendor.

Texas Legacy is the perfect novella to wrap up the series as we see the second generation of the Leigh family – particularly Dallas’ kids. This is basically one long Lorraine Heath epilogue, and I LOVE her epilogues as they always make me emotional. And boy, did this novella make me feel ALL the things. It’s truly amazing that Heath managed to cram in so much heartache and emotion in so few pages.

ARC Review: The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Duke Gets Even
Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 24, 2023
Series or Standalone:The Fifth Avenue Rebels #4
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: domestic violence; domestic abuse; chronic illness

I so desperately wanted to love this one as I adore Joanna Shupe and have been dying for Nellie and Lockwood’s story since I read The Heiress Hunt. Unfortunately, this fell short of my expectations. I felt something was missing from Nellie and Lockwood’s relationship that stopped me from falling head over heels in love.

ARC Review: Lady Meets Earl by Christy Carlyle

February 27, 2023February 26, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Lady Meets Earl
Christy Carlyle
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: November 29, 2022
Series or Standalone: Love on Holiday #2
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: sexual assault; death of parents; anxiety; violence

Lady Meets Earl was a delightful second installment in Christy Carlyle’s Love on Holiday series. Despite being love at first sight, the romance was charming, with fantastic banter between James and Lucy. I enjoyed these characters and loved the journey the book takes you on.

This was also the perfect book to read as I was about to head out on my trip to the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh last November. While I was there, I got to visit some of the exact sites that James and Lucy went to, which made it extra special!

ARC Review: The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Counterfeit Scoundrel
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
Series or Standalone: The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Domestic abuse; death of a parent; references to child abuse & infidielity; drug use & addiction (off-page)

If you know me, then you know that The Duchess Hunt is my all-time favorite historical romance novel, and Lorraine Heath is one of my favorite authors. So it should come as no surprise that The Counterfeit Scoundrel was my most anticipated read of 2023.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one, and it fell short of my expectations. This book leaned way more into detective fiction than I expected, which meant the romance took a back seat. I wanted more swoon-worthy feelings that I know Heath can deliver.

Review: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

November 7, 2022November 6, 2022 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Lord of Scoundrels
Loretta Chase
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 1995
Series or Standalone: Scoundrels #3
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Bullying; racism; abandonment; gun violence; body shaming

“A monster he may be, but he was her monster.”

I have heard so many people rave about Lord of Scoundrels that I was hesitant to start it. There is no way this book could live up to the hype, I thought. But I was wrong. So so wrong. This book deserves all the hype, love and praise. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact this book published in 1995. It feels so modern in its tone, character and stories – it’s like something you’d find in a Sarah MacLean or Tessa Dare novel publishing today. Loretta Chase was so far ahead of her time.

Review: Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath

November 3, 2022November 3, 2022 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Texas Splendor
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 1, 1999
Series or Standalone: Texas Trilogy #3
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Murder; gun violence; pregnancy; animal death

I absolutely adore the Texas Trilogy series, and Texas Splendor wraps up the main novels with sweet baby Austin’s story, though I don’t think I can call him that anymore as he’s now a man with some emotional baggage. I’ve been looking forward to Austin’s story since Texas Destiny, yet this book is my least favorite in the series. Don’t get me wrong – I still enjoyed this one, but it didn’t pack the same punch as the other books.

Review: The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

October 31, 2022November 2, 2022 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes
Cat Sebastian
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Series or Standalone: London Highwaymen #2
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Blood; murder; gun violence; Alzheimer’s/dementia

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes was a delightful surprise of a book. I went into this book with no exceptions, but I came out completely enamored. Something about the romance between Rob and Marian touched a special part of my soul, and this book was so sweet, loving and tender that I feel like I have a dopey smile on my face every time I think about it.