February was a hot month here in Australia  providing plenty of reading time in air-conditioned comfort. After a skin cancer scare  and couple of  skin cancer removals, I was not keen to be out in the sun. Even if I was slathered in Factor 50 sunblock. Reading was escapism at its best! I’d also signed up for an online writing course and had weekly writing related Zoom meetings. I also got enthralled in reality TV’s Married at First Sight. It all meant that I read far less than usual this past month.

The Runaway Heiress by Emma Orchard.

The Second Lady Silverwood

London, 1815. Cassandra Hazeldon is on the run.

Under duress to marry a repellent friend of her uncle, Cassandra has made her escape, but now she is very much alone. With luck and quick thinking, she finds a refuge in a grand mansion in Mayfair, and a protector in Lord Irlam, or Hal to his friends.

Posing as a friend of Hal’s sister, Cassandra is swept up into the social whirl of a Brighton summer. But the attraction between her and Hal is starting to scorch, and when jealousy is added to the mix, things are set to reach boiling point.

Dear Reader, this wonderfully romantic story has passionate and steamy scenes, enjoy …

My Review.

This is an entertaining and lighthearted romance, although it does tackle serious issues such as the forced marriages many young women endured. Cassandra shows her spirit by escaping and hiding from her uncle and the proposed repellent match.

Luck is with her, and Lord Irlam not only believes in her, but he also assists in her entry into society. No longer friendless Cass learns about friendship, love and duty

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband’s painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she’s grown to love.

My Review.

A delight of a book, reminiscent of Maeve Binchy’s warmth and characterization. You will cheer with shy Robyn as she struggles with the bookshop. Loving books isn’t enough, she has to make a living. The village wonders why American Joy is staying in a quiet Irish village. Joy begins to forge friendships and relationships, but the secrets she’s keeping gnaw at her conscience.  I loved it!

From New York Times bestselling author Jenna McKinlay comes the Museum of Literature RomCom Omnibus.
For the first time all three novellas are in one volume.

Royal Valentine

The Attraction Distraction

It Happened One Christmas Eve

Come join the fun with a secret identity and a trip to England, a second chance romance while in search of an ancient literary artifact in Greece, and a holiday caper starting with a hijacked sleigh! As the intrepid librarians and archivists of the Museum of Literature travel the world for the love of books, curating their own happily ever afters along the way. What more could any romcom adoring book lover want?

 My Review.

Each story is complete and satisfying and it’s hard to pick a favourite. All convey a special attraction that deepens into love. Great banter, and fun filled stories. Royal Valentine,they so obviously were meant to be together.The Attraction Distraction, attraction, a quest and rivalry. It Happened One Christmas Eve, don’t we all just love a feisty heroine, especially when she is escaping from a predictably boring marriage ?

Yes it’s still warm,a mild 27C (80F) today but a 37C (96F) forecast for later this week. We are slowly easing into Autumn, but there are many hot days ahead of us yet. I’ve few books downloaded that I’m excited about, as well as some physical books. What about you? Do you have a reading preference?