Review: What Happens in Paradise by Olivia Spring*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity. This review is being posted as part of the What Happens In Paradise blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.

Title: What Happens In Paradise
Author: Olivia Spring
Genre: Romance

Trigger warnings:  References To Death Of A Parent, References To Death Of A Partner

Rating: ★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door)  

What happens in paradise… stays in paradise!

Hotel guest relations manager Jasmine, also known as a Love Alchemist, adores her job at the exclusive Spanish Love Hotel. She prides herself on helping guests meet their perfect match. But matchmaking is absolutely forbidden between staff. And so Jasmine must resist the attraction she feels every time she’s around delectable sous-chef, Alejandro. The problem is, she knows the feeling is mutual. But she cannot jeopardise her job or break the rules.

Because all her hard work is about to be recognized when she’s asked to set up the new branch of the hotel in Jamaica. With an ocean between her and temptation, Jasmine is ecstatic. This is just the distance she needs to keep her feelings under control. But there is one kink in her plan… Alejandro has been asked to join her. For two whole weeks!

Under the sultry Jamaican sun, keeping it strictly professional becomes impossible when romance is literally all around them! So they agree a (secret) holiday fling may help satisfy their desires and then they can move on. After all, what happens in paradise stays in paradise… right?

What Happens in Paradise is the latest romantic comedy from author Olivia Spring and the second instalment of her ‘The Love Hotel’ series. This is a fun and spicy romance which blends the workplace romance and forbidden romance tropes perfectly, set against the beautiful backdrops of sunny Spain and Jamaica. Add in a reverse age gap (she’s older, he’s younger), the only one bed trope and a whole lot of forced proximity and you have this brilliant romance which will make the perfect beach-read for 2025.

I took part in the blog tour for the first book in the series ‘The One That Got Away’ last year (click here to read my review) and fell in love with the premise of the matchmaking hotel so I was eagerly awaiting the release of this book and it certainly did not disappoint.

This is a really easy quick read with short and snappy chapters and a perfectly paced narrative. We have a dual POV first person narrative and this worked perfectly for the story. I particularly loved the Jamaican setting and Olivia Spring’s vivid descriptions of the beautiful landscape instantly transported me there.

So many of our beloved romance tropes have been packed into this story and they all worked perfectly. I’ve not read too many reverse age-gap books (where the FMC is older – in this case in her late 30s - and the MMC younger – in this case in his late 20s) but this worked really well. The combination of it being a forbidden romance but there being such an intense forced proximity element with them having to attend romantic excursions together created such a brilliant plot that I just couldn’t get enough of.

There’s palpable sexual tension between Jasmine and Alejandro which was so perfectly crafted and had me absolutely hooked. And the ‘fuck it’ moment we finally got was so worth it, as was the brilliant spice in the chapters which followed. Their chemistry was electric and the romantic scenes between them – both spicy and just sweet – were really well written.

Olivia Spring writes thoroughly loveable characters and Jasmine and Alejandro were no exception. They both felt really real and relatable. Through each of them we explore the concept of starting a new chapter in their lives and learning to love again following divorce and the death of a partner respectively and this was really well written, particularly Alejandro’s grief.

Overall, What Happens In Paradise is another fun and spicy read from Olivia Spring. It’s perfect if you want something you can read in a single sitting as you lounge by the pool somewhere sunny with a cocktail in hand (bonus points if it’s rum based as that’s so on theme with this book).

Review: The Confessions of a Lady by Darcy McGuire*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity. This review is being posted as part of the The Confessions Of A Lady blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.

Title: The Confessions Of A Lady
Author: Darcy McGuire
Genre: Historical Romance

Trigger warnings:  References To Physical Abuse By A Parent, References To Alcoholism, Violence, Assault, Drugging, Kidnap, Guns, References To Sex Trafficking

Rating: ★★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door)  

Dare she risk her secrets?

In the world of upstairs/downstairs, Housemaid Penny Smith anticipates her employer’s needs and blends into the background making her the perfect spy for the prime minister against a suspected member of the Devil’s Sons. There’s only one problem. When she meets the guilty marquess, his actions don’t match the evidence against him. Lord William Renquist defies her every expectation and sets her traitorous heart racing.

Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway and secret spy to Queen Victoria, must infiltrate the Devil’s Sons, tearing the brotherhood apart from the inside. His mission – to bring evil men to justice while atoning for the sins of his family, proving honour is stronger than tainted blood. There’s only one problem. A canny maid who is always in the right place at the wrong time and who deliciously challenges his every order.

Liam and Penny are unknowingly playing a dangerous game from opposite sides of justice. And at a masked ball, forbidden attraction burns into something far more complex as their secrets spin into daring confessions. This battle against their enemy will only be won if Penny and Liam can work together. But can a maid from downstairs ever trust an upstairs marquess?

The Confessions Of A Lady is the latest historical romance from author Darcy McGuire and the third instalment of her series The Queen's Deadly Damsels. This is another brilliant spicy Victorian romance with a fantastic crime element to it too.

Darcy McGuire has quickly become one of my favourite historical fiction authors as she has an incredible storytelling ability and always crafts a perfectly paced narrative which beautifully blends romantic moments with the high tension crime elements that are also central to the plot.

At the heart of this series is really strong female characters and Penny was no exception. She was a total badass and I really liked the choice to make her illiterate because she was really smart and this really showed that there’s so much more to intelligence than literacy. The scene where Penny demands that Liam treat her as his equal – far from the norm in Victorian society – was particularly impactful and showed beautifully how much she grew in the novel into an even stronger woman who really understood her own value.

I’ve said it before but the absolute feminist icon that is Lady Philippa Winterbourne, the mentor to all of the Queen’s deadly damsels, is one of my favourite strong female characters to have ever graced the pages of a historical fiction novel. I didn’t think it was possible but I fell in love with her even more in this novel. Although this book works well as a standalone story, I’d recommend also reading the rest of the The Queen's Deadly Damsels series as the protagonists from both earlier books feature heavily within this one and I personally really enjoyed being familiar with them prior to reading this book.

Liam was also a brilliant MMC, who I challenge any reader not to fall completely in love with particularly if you’re a fellow sucker for the ‘touch her and you die’ trope.

Penny and Liam had brilliant chemistry and there was a great dynamic between the two of them. I’ve not read anything focusing on this upstairs/downstairs trope before but found it really interesting and it worked really well in the context of this book.

We have several brilliant spicy scenes and they navigated the contrast of experience between Penny as a virgin FMC and Liam as a more experienced and older MMC very well. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on consent, which was great to see within a historical romance and very important given the power imbalance that naturally existed with Liam being Penny’s employer.

Overall, this is yet another incredible historical romance novel from Darcy McGuire and a must read for fans of the historical romance and historical crime genres alike, particularly if you’re after something with an overall really feminist feel.

Review: Best Mistake Ever by Christy McKellen*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity. This review is being posted as part of the Best Mistake Ever blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.

Title: Best Mistake Ever
Author: Christy McKellen
Genre: Romance

Trigger warnings:  Alcohol Abuse, Brief References To Past Drug Abuse

Rating: ★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)   

Some mistakes are worth making

Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong? A lot apparently! Because her sister Delilah has hugely understated her role – the hotel is at risk of closure and she’s promised she can turn it around. Now Bea has to find a way to fly under the radar, get the job done before anyone notices their switch up.

Sounds easy, all Bea has to do is avoid her temporary new boss Jonah. However, that’s a lot harder than she thought. Not only does he have impossibly high standards, he’s also out of this world gorgeous, an ex-rockstar with a chip on his shoulder and he's watching her like a hawk! So Bea uses her charm to keep him focussed on the job and not her. But by trying to put up boundaries and keep things professional, Bea finds herself seeing the real man beneath the grumpy façade. Yet with so much at stake, she knows she shouldn’t fall for her sister’s boss…but then again, it may just be the best unintentional mistake she’s ever made!

Best Mistake Ever is the latest sweet and sexy romance from author Christy McKellen. This is a quick and easy read which fans of the mistaken identity trope and a good workplace romance will absolutely love. Add in a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, lovely spring vibes and a sprinkle of spice and you have Best Mistake Ever.

This was my first time reading anything from Christy McKellen but I quickly sank into her easy-to-read writing style and read the book in a single sitting. Our story is told through a dual POV narrative and I loved the way this allowed us to get to know both Bea and Jonah on a deeper level.

The setting of the country hotel was really cute and worked well in the story. I particularly loved the quirky festival and the way it started to really bring Bea and Jonah together.

Bea is our FMC and I warmed to her immediately, she was the type of protagonist I just want to be friends with. Bea really comes into her own over the course of the story, really finding her purpose whilst working at the hotel, which was brilliant to see.

Our MMC is Jonah, a grumpy retired rockstar turned hotelier. I loved the character growth that Jonah had over the course of the story, even if it did require a kick in the right direction from both Bea and Delilah. The way he talked about Bea in his POV chapters made me beam from ear to ear, he was such a sweetheart.

The little hints towards Delilah’s story definitely intrigued me and made me wonder if we can expect to see another book following her in an overlapping timeline to this one. I know I’d definitely like to see it!

This is a very fast burn story, with their relationship blossoming over the course of a matter of weeks, but there was still a good amount of relationship building scenes. Bea and Jonah had great chemistry and brilliant banter. We did have a sprinkling of spice here and there and one full open-door scene which was well written and fitted well within the story.

Overall, this is a really cute feel-good romance which is packed full of charisma and a blend of some much-loved tropes. It’s perfect if you’re looking for an easy read you can devour over a spring weekend.

Review: Learning Curve by Max Monroe*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.

Title: Learning Curve
Author: Max Monroe
Genre: Romance

Trigger warnings:  Narcissistic Partner, Gaslighting, References To Domestic Abuse, References To Abusive Parents, References To Neglect Due To Parental Alcoholism, References To Parental Alcoholism, References To Parental Abandonment

Rating: ★★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door)   

She’s the virginal cheerleader, and he’s the tortured bad boy. Their worlds are different, but college life at Dickson University brings them together in a passionate, angsty, fiery collision.

Finn Hayes is what girls my age would call “stupid hot.” He’s handsome, has brown eyes that remind me of warm chocolate chip cookies, and a tall, muscular build that makes marble sculptures jealous.

Green flag, right?

Wrong.

He’s also broody, closed off, and so complex that it feels like I need a decoder to crack him.

He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met and fights like he came out of the womb swinging, taking down both my ex-boyfriend and an ex-UFC fighter with ease.

But the underground society at our college known as Double C has nothing on him in the secrets department, and it’s that mysterious edge that keeps me coming back for more.

This is more than the story of how Finn and I fell in love.

This is proof that love has a learning curve. Sometimes you succeed, and sometimes…it destroys you.

Learning Curve is the latest book from author Max Monroe and the first instalment of their new Dickson University series. This is a truly brilliant college romance which is packed full of emotion, drama, angst and so many twists and turns alongside all of the steam, swoons and sweet moments you’d expect from a romance story. Scottie and Finn’s story will capture your whole heart and soul and you truly won’t be able to put it down.

Our story is told through a dual POV narrative, sharing the perspectives of both Scottie and Finn, and this worked so beautifully to tell the story. I truly fell completely in love with both of them over the course of the story and getting insight into both of their perspectives really aided that.

Finn was a brilliant MMC who you will just love if you like a broody male love interest who will (quite literally) fight for his girl. Did I squeal every time he referred to Scottie as “my girl”? Yep. Is he a sure candidate for book boyfriend of the year 2024? Double yep. He was definitely one of the most complex MMCs I’ve met in a romance book and he was extremely well-written in this way. His back story was well thought out, as was the impact it would have on his character which was consistently demonstrated throughout the book, such as how quickly he could get defensive.  One of my favourite things about Finn though what his character growth over the course of the story to someone who says “I’m not only worthy of love; I’m capable of giving it”. It was truly beautiful to read.

Scottie was also a brilliant FMC who equally goes on such a journey throughout the book. I want to avoid spoilers in my reviews wherever possible so don’t want to go into too much depth about Scottie’s character journey but one of the biggest twists of the story focuses on her character – which, side note, came completely unexpectedly so props to Max Monroe – and her growth following this was a great read.

The characters were all brilliant and their behaviours felt age-appropriate and realistic as college-aged young adults. As well as two brilliant protagonists, the supporting characters were all amazing and felt equally as complex and three-dimensional. Whilst still being mindful of avoiding spoilers, there’s also a lovely found family element to the story which was a great addition to the book.

Scottie and Finn had electric chemistry and great banter. I loved how the book navigated the first time Scottie and Finn had sex, especially with Scottie being a virgin and Finn being more experienced. The focus on communication and consent was brilliant to see portrayed in a romance novel, as how respectful Finn was towards Scottie.

At nearly 500 pages this is definitely a longer romance read but I loved that this meant that the book had the page space to carry on after they became a couple. Being a longer read also allows the book to delve into serious topics you wouldn’t typically expect to see from a standard romance novel, such as having an alcoholic parent and domestic abuse.

This book works brilliantly as a standalone book but many of the featured characters are from Max Monroe’s previous books within their Winslow Brothers series and Billionaire Bad Boys series. I hadn’t read either series prior to starting Learning Curve but it has definitely made me keen to read them. 

Overall, Learning Curve has been one of my standout reads of 2024 and is one of the books I'll be recommending to anyone who will listen. It was my introduction to the incredible writing duo that is Max Monroe and what an introduction it was, I'm now totally hooked on their books!

Review: Confessions Of A Virgin On A Dating App by Sydney Wilder

 *I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.

Title: Confessions Of A Virgin On A Dating App
Author: Sydney Wilder
Genre: Romance

Trigger warnings:  Attempted Sexual Assault, Religious Trauma, Stalking, Drug Scars, Mentions Of Past Drug Use, Mentions Of Alcoholism, Divorce, Sexual Shame/Stigma, STDs, Miscarriage, Mentions Of Self Harm, Pressure To Have Sex, References To Purity/Abstinence Culture

Rating: ★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)  

Sex.

Everyone's concerned with whether or not to have it.
But what happens when you can’t?

Avery Murphy has a problem. Ever since she tried losing her virginity to her college boyfriend, she’s been physically unable to have sex. It’s just too painful. When her failed promiscuity gets her kicked out of bible college and ostracized by her religious family, Avery packs up and moves halfway across the state of Florida in search of a new life.

Now five years later, Avery is happy and comfortable in Orlando, with a job she loves and cute townhouse to call home. She spends most of her free time at a gaming shop, where she enjoys tabletop gaming with a wonderful group of friends - including Devin Lancaster, the shop’s snarky owner. But as her 27th birthday approaches, she longs for a partner to share it all with. She turns to online dating, eager to find a match… but who wants to be with a woman who can’t have sex?

Through a series of dating mishaps and awkward romances, Avery goes on a painful yet eye-opening journey to unravel the cause of her condition. And when one night changes everything, Avery realizes her sexual dysfunction may be caused by much bigger health issues… and that love can often be found when - and where - you least expect it.

Confessions Of A Virgin On A Dating App is the latest novel from author Sydney Wilder. This is a brilliant age gap friends to lovers romance which also features important topics such as endometriosis, sexual dysfunction and religious trauma.

Sydney Wilder perfectly nailed the blend of romance, humour and more serious representation. The book is well paced and a compelling read.

It is truly brilliant to see an underrepresented topic like endometriosis represented within romance fiction, particularly in such depth. We follow Avery’s journey towards getting a diagnosis and her journey towards starting to overcome the sexual dysfunction that has been caused by her condition.

The book also explores abstinence/purity culture and religious trauma. These serious topics were all handled well and explored in the depth they deserved which was brilliant to see.

Avery was a brilliant FMC who felt really relatable. We also had a fantastic MMC in Devin who was so sweet and thoughtful. This is an age gap romance but both of them are adults and Avery as the younger of the two of them is in her late twenties. Avery and Devin had brilliant chemistry and it was amazing to see how supportive and respectful Devin was towards Avery’s health issues and resulting sexual dysfunction.

This book is very heavy on the gaming content with many chapters set in the gaming store and, as someone who isn’t a gamer, these sections did unfortunately start to drag after a while. But I’m sure if you’re into RPGs then you’ll enjoy this aspect of the book. 

Overall, this is a sweet and important romance read covering topics it's truly brilliant to see represented within the genre.

Review: My Kind of Trouble by L.A. Schwartz*

 *I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.

Title: My Kind Of Trouble
Author: L.A. Schwartz
Genre: Romance

Trigger warnings:  References To A Fatal Car Accident, References To Parental Loss, References To Parental Abandonment, References To Alcoholism, Bullying Of Autistic Characters (By Parents, Schoolmates and Community Members), ABA Therapy (References To MMC Having It In The Past), Assault, Parental and Societal Homophobia, Moralistic Food Talk, Fat Phobia, References To Church Abuse Of Minors

Rating: ★★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)  

 Conwoman Harmony Hale has sold lies up and down California for years, never looking back at her crafty scams or one-night stands. Now she’s come to Brookville, California, with her sights set on its wealthy mayor—the man who stole her father’s music-streaming algorithm and ruined his life. Harmony is finally ready to take him down, with her trusty con of selling a nonexistent music festival. All she needs is the cooperation of the man who owns the potential festival site.

Autistic librarian and piano teacher Preston Jones spends his days fighting book challengers trying to shut down his library programs. He’s responsible for raising his selectively nonspeaking little sister and needs to focus on keeping his job. He doesn’t have time for a romance like the ones in his books—and certainly none for the brassy festival promoter who wants to use his land for her “Coachella North.” Preston sees things in black and white, and he sees Harmony—amazing curves, flashy smile, and all—as nothing but trouble.

But when Harmony promises to help him win the public over and save his youth programs, Preston finds himself wondering if this hustler with a heart of gold might be the someone he’s been waiting for. Soon things are getting steamy in the stacks, and with her con coming to a crescendo, Harmony needs to choose: revenge and running again or the happy ending she never saw coming.

My Kind of Trouble is the debut romance novel from author L.A. Schwartz. This is a steamy bookish enemies to lovers rom com which is a gender-swapped homage to The Music Man. Add in some truly brilliant autism rep, healthy relationships and a confident plus-sized FMC and you have My Kind of Trouble, an absolute must-read addition to the romance genre.

This is a truly captivating story, with the perfect amount of humour, sweet moments and steam. The novel is perfectly paced and I was so hooked that I read the entire thing in nearly a single sitting.

Harmony and Preston had brilliant chemistry and a really healthy relationship which we love to see. I’m a sucker for the ‘he falls first and harder’ trope and this was so well written. There is a third act breakup, which is to be expected given the plot point of Harmony’s hidden identity as a conwoman but there is a quick resolution. The spice was well written, well placed within the plot and felt really realistic.

Harmony was a cracker of a FMC. She was a confident and sure of herself force of nature who experiences such character growth over the course of the story. The way she finds both a family and a home in Brookville was beautiful. I loved that she was a confident, plus-sized FMC and that she’s a bit of a brilliant Robin Hood type character in the way she cons people who deserve it but makes sure to pay back anyone who is innocently caught up in her schemes.

As an autistic person who also finds solace in books, I absolutely adored Preston as a MMC and the authentic autism rep we had through both his character and the character of his younger sister Lacey was the highlight of the book for me.

Just how authentic the autism rep would be became clear in only the second chapter. Throughout the book we see stimming, hyper-focusing, sensory needs regarding food, references to autistic burnout, references to meltdowns, noise sensitivity, recovery from overstimulation and difficulties with change. It’s honestly some of the best autistic rep I’ve ever seen in a book of any genre.

There are references to ABA therapy, with it suggested to Preston for his younger autistic sister Lacey but this is firmly rejected immediately. The topic is also featured later in the book with Preston discussing his own experiences of it, but again this is portrayed in a rightfully negative light.

I loved the way Harmony researched autism to know how to best support her prospective partner. This total acceptance was so heartwarming to see as an autistic adult.

Overall, I just absolutely adored this book. It has been one of my standout reads of 2024 and is a truly brilliant debut novel from L.A. Schwartz. I’d highly recommend it to all fans of a good rom-com novel and anyone who likes to see really authentic autism rep in their books.

Review: The One That Got Away by Olivia Spring*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity. This review is being posted as part of the The One That Got Away blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.

Title: The One That Got Away
Author: Olivia Spring
Genre: Romance

Trigger warnings:  References to Death Of A Parent

Rating: ★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door) 

What if the one who got away is really the one?

When Stella finds herself back home with a string of disastrous dates under her belt, she's certain she’s hit rock bottom. Until she discovers her mother has signed her up to The Love Hotel: a luxury matchmaking service where a perfect love match is guaranteed! Stella is adamant she'll have nothing to do with this nonsense! But then a match is found faster than she can say 'Not.A.Chance!' So, how bad can two weeks in the scorching Spanish sunshine be?

Very bad, actually. Because when Stella arrives, she’s mortified to learn her date is no perfect stranger. In fact she knows him a little too well. Because Max is the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart, who her heart remembers and who is more gorgeous than ever.

With no refunds, Stella reluctantly decides to stay and enjoy the holiday - all she has to do is keep Max at an arm’s length...right? Easier said than done when Max is impossible to ignore. And as the Love Hotel begins to work its matchmaking magic, Stella can't deny that the sparks still sizzle between them. And maybe, the experts were right afterall...

The One That Got Away is the latest romantic comedy from author Olivia Spring. Fans of a second chance romance this one is for you! Add in many of your other favourite romance tropes including forced proximity, only one bed (or villa in this case) and friends with benefits, all set in the beautiful Spanish sunshine and you have The One That Got Away: the perfect beach read.

I’ll admit that prior to reading The One That Got Away, second chance romance was one of my least favourite romance tropes but Olivia Spring has successfully convinced otherwise. I really enjoyed the concept of Stella and Max being each other’s first loves and (to quote the book’s title) the one that got away, who fate decides to reconnect several years down the line.

This story is told through a dual POV first person narrative and this worked absolutely beautifully. The chapters were short and snappy, with a single scene often taking place across multiple chapters which alternated between Stella and Max’s POVs. I loved getting to see both of their perspectives on a single moment, it suited the plot perfectly. This was a really quick read which I flew through in a single sitting, no doubt thanks to Oliva Spring’s engaging writing style and loveable characters.

Stella was an absolutely brilliant FMC and I warmed to her instantly, particularly when she shared her love of steamy romances. Max was the perfect MMC: gorgeous, charismatic, a gentleman and a total sweetheart. If you’re a sucker for a MMC who makes kind gestures – both smaller and grand gestures – you will adore him just as much as I did.

Stella and Max had fantastic chemistry and the flirting was off the charts. There was many a spicy scene, which were all excellent and I adored the fact that the dual POV narrative allowed us to see these scenes from both perspectives. The way Max talked about Stella in these moments – and throughout the entire novel to be honest – was truly beautiful. It was also brilliant to see aftercare represented following the spicier scenes rather than the chapter ending when the sex does.

The Love Hotel was a brilliant premise, perfect for fans of the First Dates Hotel TV show. The eccentric job titles for the staff working at the hotel had me giggling throughout, with a particular shoutout going to ‘suitcase superintendent’. I also really liked their ‘Love Alchemist’ (aka their own person cupid) Jasmine and the way she created opportunities for Stella and Max’s relationship to blossom.

Overall, The One That Got Away is absolutely perfect if you’re after an easy and quick read which is packed full of your favourite romance tropes and a whole lot of spice. It will make the perfect beach read so is a must-have in your next holiday suitcase.

Review: A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Darcy McGuire*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity. This review is being posted as part of the A Lady's Lesson In Scandal blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.

Title: A Lady's Lesson In Scandal
Author: Darcy McGuire
Genre: Historical Romance

Trigger warnings:  Sex Trafficking, Hanging Frequent References to Torture, Abuse By Parents,
Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Homophobia, References To Death Of A Parent, Brief References To Death Of A Sibling, Implied Sexual Abuse By A Parent (of a side character)

Rating: ★★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door) 

Wallflower at risk of ruin…

Secret femme-fatale in training Millicent Whittenburg needs to escape her unpleasant betrothal. Taking matters into her own hands, she plans her eventual ruin! Then she can disappear from society to carry out the Queen’s deadly missions. Step 1: seduce the one man who despises marriage more than her!

However, she hugely underestimates her target. Major General Beaufort Drake. Fearsome private investigator, he’s notoriously cold and visibly battle scarred. But Millie’s scandalously public kiss awakens a deeply suppressed desire in Drake. Instead of allowing them both to succumb to shame he does the unthinkable, and offers for her hand in a convenient marriage.

Nothing prepares them for the fireworks when a fearless damsel collides with a dangerous Major General! And as their secret missions align they face their hardest test on the glittering battlefield – a week long wedding house party where there is nowhere to escape…only new and wicked lessons to be learnt!

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal is the latest historical romance from author Darcy McGuire and the second instalment of her series The Queen's Deadly Damsels. This novel is the perfect blend of the historical romance and crime thriller genres, set against the backdrop of Victorian England. Packed full of strong female characters and page-turning drama, in this beautiful age-gap romance we see a swoon-worthy ex-soldier, who bears both physical and mental battle scars, meet his match in an intelligent and witty wallflower who has her own secrets: she’s a secret femme-fatale in training for Queen Victoria herself.

This was my first time reading anything from Darcy McGuire and I was completely enthralled by her compelling writing style to the point that I could barely put the book down and read it in nearly a single sitting. Darcy McGuire has an incredible storytelling ability and her brilliant world building made the setting come alive on the page, remaining authentic to the time period in which the book is set. All of the beautifully written characters were so complex and I loved the choices to include little snippets of first-person writing throughout the narrative as insights into Millie and Beau’s internal dialogue amongst the rest of the third-person narrative, it really helped to make them really multidimensional characters we are readers could really connect with. The narrative was perfect-paced narrative which took so many unexpected twists and turns I really had no idea what would come next, particularly with regards to the crime element of the plot.

Millie was an absolutely brilliant protagonist and the definition of as strong female character. She was strong-willed, so intelligent and really fought against societal expectations of her because of her gender. I warmed to her instantly and it was brilliant to see her grow throughout the book. Our MMC is Major General Beaufort Drake, known to his friends as Beau. He was a beautifully written and very complex character I’d challenge any reader not to fall in love with immediately; I know I definitely did. He was the perfect match for Millie and I loved the many similarities we gradually began to see between the two of them, including their past traumas, and the way this formed the foundations for their relationship. They had brilliant banter, constantly verbally sparring throughout the book. If as a reader you love the trope of a MMC really looking after a FMC you will particularly adore Beau and this formed some of my favourite scenes in the entire book. This is a spicy romance and this aspect to the plot was beautifully written. I also loved how the characters navigated their different experiences levels when it came to intimacy and getting to see Beau introduce Millie to her own sexual pleasure.

Millie is just one of a whole host of strong female characters we see throughout A Lady's Lesson in Scandal and a particular shoutout must be given to Lady Philippa Winterbourne, Millie’s mentor and one of my favourite characters I’ve ever met in a book. I also particularly adored young Billy as a supporting character and he had me smiling every time he appeared in a scene. Darcy McGuire also writes antagonists incredibly well. Whilst I won’t go into detail about some of the antagonists and risk spoiling the whodunnit element, I will say that the character of Patricia was particularly vile. She is Millie’s cruel, heartless and abusive stepmother (please see the content warnings at the beginning of this review) who made me shudder every time she appeared on the page.

Although this is the second book in the The Queen's Deadly Damsels series, this was my introduction to it and to Darcy McGuire’s writing as a whole. It does still work fantastically as a standalone story but it has also made me really excited to read the first book ‘The Secret Life of a Lady’ to delve deeper into the romance of Lady Hannah Simmons and Duke Robert Killian, who both played supporting roles in the plot of this book. I am also now eagerly anticipating the release of the third book which is due to be published next year. I do already have my predictions for who this next book will feature as a protagonist and I’m very excited to see where Darcy McGuire takes the rest of the series.

Overall, A Lady's Lesson in Scandal is bar far the best historical romance we’ve seen this year and an absolute must-read for fans of the genre, especially those who are also partial to a crime thriller plotline that keeps you on your toes throughout.

Review: What the Lady Wants by Emma Orchard*

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity. This review is being posted as part of the What The Lady Wants blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.

Title: What The Lady Wants
Author: Emma Orchard
Genre: Historical Romance

Trigger warnings:  Death Of A Spouse (references to a past event), Depression, Infertility, Unexpected Pregnancy

Rating: ★★★★

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door) 

Autumn, 1816...

Lady Ashby is grieving the death of her beloved husband, just two years earlier. Although still young and beautiful, Isabella is resolved never to marry again, and plans to leave London, return to her parents’ Yorkshire house, and resign from society before the year is over. But first, she wants one more taste of life…

Isabella has written a list, the contents of which, if discovered, would create a scandal that neither she nor her family would recover from. A list of things she would like to experience, just once more, before she surrenders herself to the life of a widow. And she knows just the man to help her: her friend, handsome and honourable Captain Leo Winterton.

But Captain Winterton has a secret of his own. He is in love with Isabella – and when she makes her most improper proposal to him, he is powerless to resist her, even if she is resolved never to love again. Can he persuade her they are destined to be together? Or will their impropriety be discovered, to the ruin of both?

What The Lady Wants is the latest compelling regency romance from author Emma Orchard and the third instalment of her The Runaway Heiress series. After taking part in the blog tour for the last book in the series A Duke Of One’s Own earlier this year (click here to read my review) and getting a little brief introduction to Isabella within the book, I was eagerly awaiting the release of What The Lady Wants and it certainly did not disappoint.

Isabella and Leo had great chemistry and the spicy scenes were fantastic! The idea of a spicy bucket list captured my attention immediately and it worked really well in the story. I was craving a chance to see the list in full, out of pure curiosity, but liked the touch of starting each chapter with a reference to which item on the list the couple would cross off within it. It was brilliant to see the idea of this list initiated by the woman in the scenario, particularly with this being a regency romance, as it goes against the societal expectations surrounding sex and relationships (particularly with regards to women) that were seen at the time. Isabella and Leo spend most of the novel sneaking around, hiding their escapades from everyone around them, and this secretive element added a nice touch to the narrative.

One of my favourite things about both Isabella and Leo, and really all of the characters we’ve met in the series, is that they feel real. Everything isn’t all romance and sunshine all the time as they’re human and they will sometimes speak without thinking and hurt those around them. But in Isabella and Leo we saw the maturity that I always look for in romance novel characters, where they’re adult enough to talk through any miscommunications and resolve issues together. One of my favourite things about A Duke Of One’s Own was the great communication we saw between the two lovers within spicy scenes so it was fantastic to see this continued in What The Lady Wants. I think  communication was particularly important in this book given that the plot centered around two people becoming intimate together for the first time and then exploring new sexual experiences together, so I was really pleased it featured so heavily in the dialogue.

I really liked Isabella as a protagonist. She has good character development over the course of the book, gradually starting to properly heal from the trauma of her husband’s death and opening herself up to the idea of loving again. Leo was a great MMC and I loved the exploration of the ‘he falls first and harder’ trope though him. It’s one of my favourite romance tropes and it was really well written.

The LGBTQIA+ representation we’ve seen within the rest of the series continues which was great to see. We also had some good mental health representation through the exploration of Isabella’s depression following the death of her husband two years earlier.

I also liked that we saw the return of the protagonists from the earlier books as supporting characters within this one so we got a chance to check in with them again, especially as they’re all linked to either Isabella or Leo through familial ties. Their little matchmaking plot was a nice inclusion too.

Overall, What The Lady Wants is another fantastic steamy regency romp from Emma Orchard and a great addition to the The Runaway Heiress series.