I’ve really enjoyed stories by this author before, but I just didn’t click with this one. I’m just not a fan of the crime-heavy setting that this particular series is focused on.

This was actually the book that made me take a break from reading Darcy Burke! Not because it’s bad, necessarily, because it isn’t, but I just realised that I don’t love how very angsty her characters often are, and I feel like there’s more external plot than I prefer in a romance. On its own, though, this is a fun, steamy, and irreverent read. I did enjoy the continuation of the series (this is a bit more linked than some romance series, so I recommend starting at the beginning), but I felt that some elements of the plot were a bit too similar to the author’s other recent second-book-in-series, Would I Lie to the Duke ( review here), with the heroine trying to gain access to an all-male society. This is the second book in the Last Chance Scoundrels series, which started with The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes ( review here). This is a fun light-hearted rom-com that I really enjoyed, but if you’re coming to it from fairly standard historical romance, be aware it’s a bit more loose with the format than many – there are multiple POVs, for example! That being said, it’s still a very funny and fluffy read, so I definitely recommend it if you’re after something light and fun, more like a modern day Heyer, and I’d definitely read more from the author. Look up and take the content warnings seriously before you read, as it’s pretty dark in places, but it’s such a great love story and it will stick with me for a long time.Ī Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting – Sophie Irwin This is the first historical romance I’ve read with a trans woman as the heroine (though I’ve come across several enbys and trans men as leads before) and I’m really glad that this is finally out there, because it’s so gorgeously warm and accepting. Rather more angst in this one than my usual taste, but it’s so beautifully, sensitively done that I couldn’t begrudge it.

Today I have nine mini reviews for you, because I’ve been reading a ton of historical romances over the last few months! All of these were ebooks sent to me free of charge, either through NetGalley or by the authors, but as always my opinions are my own.

A Scandalous Bargain by Darcy Burke