We made it to the end of 2023!
Let’s discuss our last round of releases on our radars and get ready for even more books in 2024. We’ll be keeping this as a weekly segment. See y’all on the other side!
What books are capping off your year? Let us know below!
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Mrs. Holloway’s Christmas Pudding
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Released: December 25, 2023 by JA / AG Publishing
Genre: Historical: European, Mystery/Thriller, Novella
Series: Below the StairsDecember 1882
When Cook Kat Holloway is blamed when a dinner guest mysteriously takes ill after eating one of her meals, she sets out to prove she had nothing to do with the gentleman’s sickness. She discovers a whole host of people who might wish to do away with the man, and she and her friends—Daniel McAdam, Lady Cynthia, Mr. Thanos, and various members of the household staff—begin to hunt for the would-be killer.
Simultaneously tasked with crafting the perfect Christmas feast, including the pièce de résistance, the Christmas plum pudding, Kat frantically works to finish all, fearing she’ll have to choose between stopping a murderer and cherishing her few precious Christmas moments with her daughter.
Sarah: A short story in the Kat Holloway series for Christmas? I am SO excited.
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On the Plus Side
Author: Jenny Howe
Released: December 26, 2023 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceAfter a painfully public break-up her senior year in college, Everly Winters is perfectly happy to navigate post-grad life like a good neutral paint color: appreciated but unnoticed. That’s why she refuses to apply for her dream job as a graphic designer, why she hides behind an anonymous username on the online forums for her favorite make-over show, ON THE PLUS SIDE, and why she’s crushing so hard on her forever-unattainable co-worker. When no one notices you, they can’t break your heart or insist that you’re too much.
This plan is working perfectly until someone secretly nominates Everly for the next season of ON THE PLUS SIDE. Overwhelmed by the fast-paced production schedule and the show’s trio of hosts, she finds comfort in grumpy but honest cameraman Logan Samuel (and his supremely well-sculpted arms). Soon Everly realizes that he’s someone she doesn’t mind being noticed by. In fact, she might even like it.
But when their growing connection is accidentally caught on camera, it sends the show’s ratings into a frenzy. Overcoming her own self-doubt and embracing change on national TV is hard enough; can Everly risk another heartbreak with the whole world watching?
We’ve been seeing a lot of promo for this one. Anyone else interested?
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Second Duke’s the Charm
Author: Kate Bateman
Released: December 26, 2023 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Her Majesty's Rebels #1Meet Her Majesty’s Rebels: three brilliant women who run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency…
The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence…
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife…is there?
Amanda: I really enjoy Bateman’s historicals, so I’m curious about her new series!
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You’re the Duke That I Want
Author: Lenora Bell
Released: December 26, 2023 by Avon
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: The Thunderbolt Club #1USA Today bestseller Lenora Bell returns with a Grease-inspired rom-com about an innocent lady who clashes with a sexy rake, the first book in a brand-new series sure to delight fans of Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, and Julia Quinn.
Raised by an overprotective mother, bookish romantic Sandrine Oliver craves adventure, but nothing exciting ever happens in her sleepy seaside village. Until a handsome, mysterious stranger arrives and sweeps her off her feet…only to leave suddenly with no explanation.
Lord Dane Walker, brother to the Duke of Rydell, is infamous for racing fast carriages and breaking hearts. But when his brother is mortally injured, Dane inherits the responsibilities of the dukedom—duties that come with a dangerous secret which threatens everyone close to him.
In London, Sandrine is astonished to learn that the charming, honorable man she met at the beach is really a disreputable rake. And the infuriating nobleman acts as though he barely knows her.
Who needs a wild rake? Certainly not Sandrine! With a little help from her friends, she transforms into a glamorous belle. She’s out to make Dane pay…but can she stop her traitorous heart from longing to surrender only to him?
We just had to tell you about this new historical romance series inspired by Grease.
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Christmas Pie by Jodi Taylor: “St Mary’s has never lacked for enemies, but danger has never been closer to home. A state of war has broken out between St Mary’s and the Women’s Institute – the Raffia Mafia.
Markham, Max, Peterson and Miss Sykes must jump to Restoration London in search of real Christmas pie – the honour of St Mary’s is at stake.
At least that how it all begins, but this is St Mary’s after all…”
Dane? Why couldn’t Bell just call him Daniel?? A name that a gentleman of the era might actually be called that just so happens to also be the original character’s name??
I’m sorry. I should probably care less about these things.
I have two books on my tbr this week (good thing Santa put Kindle gift cards in my stocking): Maisey Yates’s contemporary cowboy romance, RANCHER’S SNOWED-IN REUNION (obviously a second-chance/enforced-proximity story), and Amelia Wilde’s dark marriage-of-convenience romance, DEARLY BELOVED. But I also just discovered that Marley Valentine’s m/m/m UNLOVED, which had been pulled from its early December release, was published last week, so that gets added to the pile too!
I loved On The Plus Side. The plus-size rep was so well done and I loved that Everly was totally comfortable in her skin and not trying to change her physical appearance although she did want to change her style. Her main goal for the show though was to reclaim the joy and career goals she’d given up due to grief over her grandmother’s passing. I also felt the book quite effectively straddled that line between chick lit and romance.
I absolutely thought Bell’s book was just yet another example of publishers appending goofy titles to historicals. Realizing it’s Grease but Regency has me amused. Her keeping the makeover though, good gosh (Also yeah – just name him Daniel, for heaven’s sake!).
Now I want to know how she’s going to deal with the not!pregnancy in the Kenickie and Rizzo plot. But my experience with Bell’s work has been disappointing thus far, so my hopes are set to medium.
On the Plus Side was indeed very sweet, desperately looking forward to the Bateman.
I am SUPER excited to read TRIALS OF CONVICTION by TA White. It’s book 5 in the Firebird chronicles. While White has multiple series in the works, this one is hands down my favorite. It released at midnight last night, but I had to work today, so I haven’t been able to start it yet. Stupid real world….
I am curious where this Grease inspired romantic novel series will go next. I guess there could be a Rizzo sequel. After that, I don’t think there’s much from the first movie besides Frenchy and she didn’t have much of a romance. But there could be a Grease 2 third book – that could be cool.