Along Came A Lady is ridiculous, but initially I found it to be ridiculous fun. This Regency romance pits an etiquette teacher against a stubborn miner in a “Pygmalion” type story with a battle of wits and wills, plus a dash of “The Prince and the Pauper” and a smidgen of Poldark. Alas, the story went off the rails at around the 75% mark and soon began making even less sense than it did at … Continue reading Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell →
The Governess by Christi Caldwell is the third book in the Wicked Wallflowers series, and I found out the hard way that this series really, really has to be read in order. I found myself confused by the first three chapters; as a reader unfamiliar with the world or the characters, I was dropped in without a lot of explanation. By chapter four I’d gotten my bearings, but the book never quite clicked with me. … Continue reading The Governess by Christi Caldwell →
With fewer and fewer historical romances being traditionally published, I’m finding it harder to find arcs of books that scratch that itch for me and I’ve pretty much exhausted my small town library’s supply of historical romance. Where I was going wrong was letting myself be intimidated by the self-pubbed and indie-pubbed world. It seemed vast to me and I had no idea where to start. Who could I trust to deliver the kinds of … Continue reading Going Hunting: Self-Published and Indie-Pubbed Historical Romance →
This Rec Leagues comes from Lara! I’m launching a little project to find really excellent regency and Victorian romances that are self or indie pubbed. It’s a favourite subgenre of mine but it feels like fewer and fewer are being published. So I’m looking for other sources. All suggestions welcome! Sarah: Christi Caldwell writes some lush and sometimes over the top historicals. Mimi Matthews and Alice Coldbreath for sure. According to readers on Reddit, Alice … Continue reading The Rec League: Indie and Self-Pubbed Historical Romances →
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading Defining the Evolved Form of Historical Romance →
Welcome back to Cover Awe! This is where we discuss coves that we like or think are interesting. Cover design by Andrew Davis Sarah: I think this cover is so cute. The color scheme really works for me. I know from Lara’s review that the vibes of the cover do not match the story, but I still love the artwork. Amanda: It’s a very romantic color palette. Sneezy: I agree! I really enjoy this illustrative … Continue reading Cover Awe: Romantic Pink Shades, Comic Styles, & More →
Cozy up with six Regency and Victorian stories from six beloved, bestselling authors—Jennifer Ashley, Kerrigan Byrne, Darcy Burke, Christi Caldwell, Tanya Anne Crosby and Erica Ridley. A Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady by Jennifer Ashley David Fleming, Hart Mackenzie’s right-hand man, seeks refuge with his vicar friend in Shropshire, only to find that the vicar’s beautiful niece, Sophie, is seeking refuge as well. Tongues are wagging all over London about Sophie, and she finds that … Continue reading Dukes for Dessert →
From four beloved writers—Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, and Erica Ridley—comes a hilarious tale of a Christmas house party that serves up love and scandal in equal measure! The Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry is famous throughout the British Isles for its plays, dancing, magical grotto… not to mention scandals leading to the marriage licenses he hands out like confetti. But not everyone welcomes a visit from Cupid. Lady Cressida, the duke’s daughter, is … Continue reading Mistletoe Christmas →
From six beloved writers—Jennifer Ashley, Anna Bradley, Grace Burrowes, Kerrigan Byrne, Christi Caldwell and Tanya Anne Crosby—come six Christmas stories that will warm up your holiday, and put a twinkle in your eyes. A First-Footer for Lady Jane by Jennifer Ashley When Grandfather MacDonald predicts Lady Jane will marry this year’s First-Footer–the first guest into the house on Hogmanay—she dismisses the notion. Her childhood sweetheart is fighting on the Peninsula, and she can’t imagine marrying anyone … Continue reading Duke the Halls →
The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell—perfect for fans of Bridgerton. Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne’er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, … Continue reading Along Came a Lady →
Christi Caldwell, USA TODAY bestselling author of the Wicked Wallflowers series, combs London’s underground and finds romance and danger for a missing lord and the lady who loves him. To solve a mystery that’s become the talk of the ton, no clues run too deep for willful reporter Verity Lovelace. Not even in the sewers of London. That’s precisely where she finds happily self-sufficient scavenger Malcom North, lost heir to the Earl of Maxwell. Now that Verity’s made … Continue reading In Bed with the Earl →
