January 2023 MBR The Romantic Fiction Shelf

The Romantic Fiction Shelf

A Gift of a Duke
Fenella J. Miller
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444849790, $23.00, PB, Large Print, 322pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/A%20Gift%20of%20a%20Duke

Synopsis: Miss Mirabelle Thompson, at almost one and twenty, is astonished to discover she is an heiress having believed herself to be a penniless orphan. Immediately she rents a house in Cavendish Square and commences her new life. She has no interest in finding a partner and if she did wish to marry it would be someone who loved her for herself and not her money.

Rordon, the Duke of Clonmel, is equally astonished to discover that he has inherited his title from his brother -- and that the estate is forfeit and all he has are debts. He only one way out of this impasse and that is to seek a rich bride in London. Even an impoverished Irish duke will be considered a desirable husband for the daughter of a wealthy cit.

Mirabelle and Rordon attend the same Christmas house party. This has been arranged by a Mr Bradley with the intention of finding his daughter an aristocratic husband - preferably a duke. Those attending the event are either rich young ladies in search of a title or poor aristocrats in search of a rich wife. Can Mirabelle and Rordon overcome the obstacles between them and find happiness together?

Critique: A fun read from beginning to end, "A Gift of a Duke" by novelist Fenella J. Miller will have a very special appeal to fans of Regency Romance. This large print paperback edition from the Linford Romance Library series is certain to be a welcome and popular addition to personal reading lists and community library Romance Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Fenella J Miller (https://fenellajmiller.co.uk) was born in the Isle of Man. Her father was a Yorkshire man and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She has worked as a nanny, cleaner, field worker, hotelier, chef, secondary and primary teacher and is now a full time writer who has over fifty Regency romantic adventures published -- plus four Jane Austen variations, four Victorian sagas and fourteen WW2 family sagas.

The Gentleman Gypsy
Sarah Swatridge
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444849881, $23.00, PB, Large Print

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/The%20Gentleman%20Gypsy

Synopsis: 1900. Ruth is in need of an income. Meanwhile, handsome but eccentric Newham needs someone to care for his animals while he roams the country in his horse-drawn caravan. Ruth, too, is unconventional, and can often be seen cycling around the village helping those less fortunate than herself. The two of them set off to explore together -- and their friendship may even turn into something more!

Critique: A gentle, heartfelt, deftly crafted novel of unexpected romance by an impressively talented and delightfully original author, this large print paperback edition of "The Gentleman Gypsy" by Sarah Swatridge is an ideal selection choice for community library Romance Fiction collections and the personal reading lists for all dedicated romance fans.

A Wicked Game: The Ruthless Rivals (romance)
Kate Bateman
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250801586, $8.99, PB, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Game-Ruthless-Rivals/dp/1250801583

Synopsis: Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. He's also vowed to claim the winner's prize (three kisses) in the bet he made with his long-time nemesis, the prickly, smart-mouthed Harriet Montgomery. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for her, but convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet. When Harriet is revealed to be the very mapmaker he seeks, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction into one delightful package!

Harriet has always wanted witty scoundrel Morgan, and now he's back; as handsome and as taunting as ever. She has enough on her plate dealing with her father's failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker copying her work to play wicked games with a dastardly Davies -- however tempting he might be. But when a threat from Morgan's past puts them both in danger, Harry discovers that she and Morgan might not be enemies at all!

Critique: A masterpiece of Regency Romance by one of the best writers working in that genre today, "A Wicked Game" by Kate Bateman is a fun read from first page to last. While a highly recommended addition to community library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted by the growing legions of Kate Bateman fans that "A Wicked Game" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Kate Bateman, (https://www.kcbateman.com), is the author of award-winning historical romances, including her RITA nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, the Bow Street Bachelors series (This Earl of Mine, To Catch an Earl, and The Princess and the Rogue), along with the novels in the Secrets & Spies series (To Steal a Heart, A Raven's Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart). When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England -- and can be followed on Twitter.

Coming Home
Shelley Shepard Gray
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593438084, $8.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Woodland-Firefighters-Romance/dp/0593438086

Synopsis: In Woodland Park, a small town nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak, Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis were once the high school "it" couple -- the star quarterback and the valedictorian. They broke up when Anderson joined the army and one poor decision at a fraternity party changed Chelsea's life. Now, she works long shifts in a senior center to support her nine-year-old son, Jack.

After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Anderson has changed, too, physically scarred but mentally strong, and he decides to move back to Woodland Park. Anderson and Chelsea steer clear of each other to avoid reopening old wounds, until they are forced to reconnect through the senior center. They soon discover that the love they once shared never completely vanished. But it will take a fire, a dangerous collision, and the love of one little boy to help Anderson and Chelsea see that the future they've always yearned for is in sight.

Critique: With a very special appeal to readers with an interest in clean, wholesome, contemporary romance stories set in a small town American town, "Coming Home" by Shelley Shepard Gray will prove to be a fun and enjoyable read from first page to last. While highly recommended for community library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the growing legions of Shelley Shepard Gray fans that "Coming Home" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Shelley Shepard Gray (https://shelleyshepardgray.com) has published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray or on Twitter @ShelleySGray

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