Project 100 Unread is underway and while I’ve added many books to my home, I have been making progress on finishing my owned print copies. In reflecting on what I’ve been reading, I thought it would be fun to do a monthly reflection post on what I’ve read in a given month for this project. None of the reviews/details I share will be in depth. This is truly meant to be a high level overview and give some fun details on what types of things I’ve been reading.
As a note, I have picking the books I’ve been reading based on a combination of mood and this project, so some months are going to be heavier than others in the volume of books. Here are the books that I read for this project in February 2024! All of these books were four and five star reads across multiple sub-genres of romance. If I had to pick a favorite it would be a tie honestly between The Beast of Beswick and Trial of the Sun Queen. Both of these books give me everything I was looking for within each of them and are different enough that I couldn’t only pick one favorite.
The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard
Series: The Regency Rogues #1
on November 26, 2019
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / General, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 384
Goodreads
Beauty and the Beast meets Taming of the Shrew in this laugh-out-loud and heartfelt Regency romance...
Lord Nathaniel Harte, the disagreeable Duke of Beswick, spends his days smashing porcelain, antagonizing his servants, and snarling at anyone who gets too close. With a ruined face like his, it's hard to like much about the world. Especially smart-mouthed harpies—with lips better suited to kissing than speaking—who brave his castle with indecent proposals.
But Lady Astrid Everleigh will stop at nothing to see her younger sister safe from a notorious scoundrel, even if it means offering herself up on a silver platter to the forbidding Beast of Beswick himself. And by offer, she means what no highborn lady of sound and sensible mind would ever dream of—a tender of marriage with her as his bride.
Each book in the Regency Rogues series is STANDALONE:
* The Beast of Beswick
* The Rakehell of Roth
Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez
Series: Milagro Street #2
Published by Harlequin on September 5, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / Siblings, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial, Fiction / Romance / Paranormal / Witches
Pages: 347
Goodreads "Angelina Lopez is the new queen of small-town romance—and of our hearts!" —SIERRA SIMONE, USA TODAY bestselling author of A Merry Little Meet Cute
Gillian Armstead-Bancroft—Pride of the East Side and once-perfect bruja, wife, and mother—is going to spend her summer getting good at being bad.
The first time she left Freedom, Kansas, behind, she did it by doing everything right.
This time, she’ll hide from the large Mexican American family welcoming her home and work in secret to break the curse that’s erased her magical life. Only by doing it all wrong can Gillian get herself and her two children away from the ghosts of her hometown by summer’s end.
Nicky Mendoza is an answer to her prayers. He was the practical solution to the problem of her virginity when they were younger, and now, as a gorgeous artist in town for only a weekend, he’s the ideal man to launch her down the path of ruination.
But Gillian isn’t the only one who’s cursed.
Nicky has been plagued by his furtive, enduring love for her as long as he’s been haunted by his cadejo, the phantom black dog that stalks his psyche. He’ll stick around to be whatever Gillian needs him to be this summer—but he won't touch her. Touching her, then watching her leave again, would ruin him for good.
Milagro Street
Book 1: After Hours on Milagro Street
Book 2: Full Moon Over Freedom
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
Series: Artefacts of Ouranos #1
Published by Grand Central Publishing on August 15, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Pages: 400
Goodreads A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Fourth Wing in this pulse-pounding, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance—with fae magic, high-stakes trials, and a dark prince—from Booktok favorite author Nisha J. Tuli.
Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.
Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured.When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.
But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.
Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.
The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy
Series: Sirens in Silk #1
Published by HarperCollins on September 26, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Victorian, Fiction / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Goodreads Diana Quincy returns with a steamy affair between an Arab-American woman who inherits a run-down castle in the English countryside and the duke who asserts the castle is his, in the first book in a brand-new Victorian historical romance series.
Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, inherits his spendthrift father’s title and can finally restore the family castle to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, Strick is stunned to learn that his father has secretly disentailed him, leaving the family manor—home to twelve generations of dukes—to Strick’s American stepmother. Everyone knows Strick detests the dowager duchess, and when she dies mysteriously, damning rumors start to surface.
When Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits her glamorous late cousin’s castle in the English countryside, she clashes with the charismatic young duke who insists the castle is rightfully his. The estate is practically bankrupt, so she must find a way to work with the duke in order to save both of their futures.
The two cannot stand each other, but mutual disdain soon gives way to desire. When questions arise about how her cousin died, Raya cannot help wondering if Strick’s sudden unbridled passion for her is part of a scheme to get his castle back...
A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Series: Cowboys of California #3
Published by Kensington on October 26, 2021
Genres: Fiction / African American & Black / Women, Fiction / Romance / African American & Black, Fiction / Romance / Western
Pages: 336
Goodreads
An Entertainment Weekly Best Romance of Fall
Set on a Black-owned luxury dude ranch with a fairy tale twist, the third Cowboys of California romance from award-winning author Rebekah Weatherspoon captivates with a modern take on Beauty and the Beast, as a brawny rancher and a brainy beauty find themselves in a beast of a predicament…
Ranch owner Jesse Pleasant always felt too big for his desert town—literally—and too brutish to fit in with his charming, cowboy brothers. After his temper gets the best of him one time too many, he’s ready to accept the truth: he’s cursed to be alone. But when the Senate selection committee comes looking for a man of his public standing, he knows this might be his chance to prove to his family and friends that he can keep his cool, all while giving back to his community. There’s only one problem. While Jesse definitely has a mind for business, his people skills are more than lacking.
Former tech consultant Lily-Grace Leroux has had it up to her hat with hot-tempered men who think they know what’s best, especially a big headed rancher set on keeping her widowed father from dating his grandmother. But after Lily-Grace learns of Jesse’s softer side during a painfully awkward showing at a community date auction, one thing becomes clear; while Jesse Pleasant is not ready to run for public office, he might be ready for love. Against her better judgement and despite their rocky start, Lily-Grace warms to the sparks flying between them. She never dreamed they would build their own connection, one destined for its own happily ever after . . .
Praise for Cowboys of California
“A gorgeous country setting, engaging multicultural characters, and sweet but passionate love scenes makes this a charming start.”
—Booklist STARRED REVIEW for A Cowboy to Remember
“This steamy fairy tale shines by serving realistic conflict alongside swoon-worthy romance.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for If the Boot Fits
Midnight by Beverly Jenkins
Published by Harper Collins on October 26, 2010
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Romance / African American & Black, Fiction / Romance / Historical / American
Pages: 386
Goodreads A beautiful spy in Revolutionary Boston faces the ultimate peril—in the arms of a seductive stranger—in this African American historical romance.
Boston, 1770s. Revolution is in the wind—yet none would ever suspect Faith Kingston of treason. But under cover of darkness, the beautiful daughter of a Tory tavern owner becomes the notorious spy “Lady Midnight,” passing valuable secrets to the rebels. Dedicated to fighting British tyranny, she’ll let nothing distract her— until a dark, mesmerizing stranger enters her life.
A reckless, worldly adventurer, Nicholas Grey has returned to troubled Massachusetts seeking revenge for the death of his rebel father. He suspects a local innkeeper, but it’s the man’s breathtaking, ebony-skinned daughter who has truly captured his interest. Nicholas burns for the sensuous, secretive lady—and Faith cannot mask her own blazing desires. But when destiny unites their causes, the passion that draws Midnight into Nicholas’s arms is as dangerous as it is glorious—and it could spell disaster for them both.
