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A Lady’s Code of Misconduct
PODCAST RECOMMENDED: A Lady’s Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran is $1.99! This historical romance was recommended on a podcast episode with Sarah, Elyse, and Karen of the Knit One, Geek Two podcast. Karen mentioned that she’s a sucker for amnesia stories and this one has an amnesiac hero. Have you read this one
The next steamy historical romance in USA TODAY bestselling and RITA award-winning author Meredith Duran’s “wonderfully indulgent” (Publishers Weekly) Rules for the Reckless series.
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL…
Trapped in the countryside, facing an unwanted marriage and the theft of her fortune, Jane Mason is done behaving nicely. To win her freedom, she’ll strike a deal with the most dangerous man she knows—a rising star in politics, whose dark good looks mask an even darker heart.…NEVER GOES TO PLAN.
The bitter past has taught Crispin Burke to trust no one. He’ll gladly help a lovely young heiress, provided she pays a price. Yet when a single mistake shatters his life, it is Jane who holds the key to his salvation. And in a world that no longer makes sense, Crispin slowly realizes that she may be the only thing worth fighting for…Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
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A Discovery of Witches
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is $2.99 and a KDD! This is the first book in the All Soul’s Trilogy. I know some of you loved this book, while others hated it, but I always love the discussion the Bitchery has in the comments. Lara has this one on her Keeper Shelf!
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.
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The Bromance Book Club
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams is $2.99! This is a contemporary romance and the first in a series. Aarya gave this one a C+ and would recommend it with reservations:
The writing is polished, the grovel is so satisfying (I love desperate heroes at their wits’ end), and Thea has my permission to rule the world for eternity. Adams’s voice is magnetic; my eyes were glued on the page because the dialogue flowed seamlessly. Time stood still, and I was shocked to discover that four hours had whirled past after setting it down.
The first rule of book club:
You don’t talk about book club.Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.
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Spellbound
Spellbound by Allie Therin is $1.99! This is a gay fantasy historical romance with a dash of mystery. Most readers loved the writing, while others wished the execution were better. Reviews also mention that this one has closed door/off the page sex scenes.
To save Manhattan, they’ll have to save each other first…
1925
New York
Arthur Kenzie’s life’s work is protecting the world from the supernatural relics that could destroy it. When an amulet with the power to control the tides is shipped to New York, he must intercept it before it can be used to devastating effects. This time, in order to succeed, he needs a powerful psychometric…and the only one available has sworn off his abilities altogether.
Rory Brodigan’s gift comes with great risk. To protect himself, he’s become a recluse, redirecting his magic to find counterfeit antiques. But with the city’s fate hanging in the balance, he can’t force himself to say no.
Being with Arthur is dangerous, but Rory’s ever-growing attraction to him begins to make him brave. And as Arthur coaxes him out of seclusion, a magical and emotional bond begins to form. One that proves impossible to break—even when Arthur sacrifices himself to keep Rory safe and Rory must risk everything to save him.
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A LADY’S CODE OF MISCONDUCT is the best HR amnesia story I’ve ever read, hands down, and one of my top HRs ever. If you don’t like amnesia plotlines, this is the one to convince you it can work. It’s a brilliant slow burn enemies-to-lovers with a villainous hero and a spinster heroine and all that perfect Meredith Duran angst. I’m jealous of anyone who picks it up today and gets to read it for the first time!
Echoing @GraceElizabeth, A Lady’s Code of Misconduct is nearly a perfect book. Duran’s writing is typically gorgeous, and it’s got some really fascinating things to say about Victorian-era politics and whether power is inherently corruptive—our library book club had a great time discussing it. Also, the hero’s traumatic brain injury actually behaves like a traumatic brain injury (there’s a recovery period and other symptoms, his eyes don’t just pop open and he’s TOTALLY FINE but can’t remember anything), which is a plus for an amnesia plot line.
Spellbound is also lovely in a very different way—queer paranormals are my catnip, and this is perfect. It’s got a quality like a warm hug that reminded me a bit of Cat Sebastian. I’ve been saving the sequel for when I really need that escapism.
Based on these comments I have got myself the Duran. 🙂
Spellbound trilogy is in my TBR but I keep buying new books!!
Agree with @AnnieKate on Spellbound – I have read the first 2 in the Magic in Manhattan series so far, and I am saving book 3 for when I need some new but still comforting reading. It had some fun world building, 2 very different but likeable and complementary MCs, and all the emotional connection that I love in a romance. Plus my personal catnip of the new romantic interest seeing how incredible the person they love is, even when others have not and they don’t always see it themselves.
A book I read earlier this year and liked very much, Katie Golding’s FEARLESS, is $1.99 today. If you like Pamela Clare or Kari Lynn Dell, you’ll like the technical details (about motocross and about rodeos) that Golding brings to the “relationship in trouble” story. Also, the second book, WRECKLESS, about a different couple but set in the same world, is scheduled for publication on May 25.
Hero’s Honor by Tessa Layne is free
A Lady’s Code of Misconduct was my first Duran. I absolutely LOVED it. I went back and devoured the earlier books in series. I implore you to also get your hands on The Sins of Lord Lockwood. It is the last book in the series & my quarantimes life raft.
How has no one mentioned that very cool cover on Spellbound? Colors, design, font…it’s pulling me right in and I don’t read fantasy.
DEFINITELY get the Duran, though Spellbound is fantastic!
Spellbound was not a hit with me. I thought the setting and magic system was cool, but found it hard to care about the characters and therefore the romance aspect. Which was a bummer, because I am always up for queer historical fantasy. Did not like it enough to pick up the next in the series.
I’m a dissenter about A Lady’s Code of Misconduct. I loved the early prickly exchanges between Jane and Crispin but I remember my excitement deflating sometime after he wakes up. I wanted the two characters who sparred at the beginning to grow closer emotionally but that couldn’t happen because Crispin doesn’t remember who either them used to be, so they each fall in love with a different version of the other person. All the delicious romantic possibilities of that beginning dissolved into something a lot less interesting. I do have The Sins of Lord Lockwood in my TBR pile and maybe I’ll get to it someday.
I absolutely love Meredith Duran’s books, but wondered what has happened to her? No books since The Sins of Lord Lockwood. When can we expect her next book, this beloved reader wants to know.
I love Meredith Duran! I check every few months to see if she has any upcoming books and she hasn’t published since 2018, so if everyone can please go buy all her books to encourage her to keep writing I would really appreciate it!