Category / Charming Hero

by mvbookreviewer

Review: My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, FMC
Series: Standalone
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Hero: Henry Samuel Beckett
Heroine: Hazel Evans
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: March 11, 2025
Started On: October 06, 2025
Finished On: October 10, 2025

Charlotte Stein’s My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a slow-burn masterpiece, equal parts tender, hilarious, and scorchingly erotic. It is one of those rare romances that makes you laugh out loud even as your heart clenches in your chest. Set against the backdrop of a writing retreat, Stein crafts a story about two people who, in pretending to be married, stumble into a love so genuine it feels like revelation.

Hazel Evans has spent years distrusting “nice guys,” convinced that anyone too kind must be hiding something dark underneath. Her walls are tall and her humor sharp, the armor she wears against disappointment and rejection. Then there is Henry Samuel Beckett, an American editor living in Britain, thirty-seven, huge, awkward, and unbearably sweet. A man whose kindness is disarming, whose honesty borders on painful, and who hides one startling fact: he is a lifelong virgin who accidentally told his coworkers he was married. When Hazel steps in to help him save face, one fake marriage and a two-week writing retreat later, she finds herself neck-deep in the most confusing, heart-melting relationship of her life.

What begins as pure farce evolves into something quietly profound. Beck and Hazel are opposites in every sense; she is jaded, messy, and self-deprecating; he is gentle, organized, and impossibly sincere. Yet their connection builds with every shared look, every late-night conversation, every teasing exchange about fictional lovers and real longing. The slow progression from discomfort to intimacy is written with such aching precision that by the time their first kiss lands, it feels monumental. Stein’s prose turns sensuality & dirty erotica into poetry, every touch deliberate, every breath electric, something I am always in awe of whenever I read her books.

Beck is, without question, one of the most remarkable heroes to grace contemporary romance. A beta hero in the truest, most beautiful sense of the word; soft but strong, unguarded yet self-aware. He is the antithesis of toxic masculinity, a man who asks before touching, who listens, who delights in giving pleasure simply because it delights her. And Hazel’s journey, learning to trust that kind of goodness, to unlearn the cynicism that’s kept her safe but lonely, is as moving as it is arousing. They are both broken in quiet ways, carrying old wounds from cruelty, neglect, and shame, and the way they heal through each other is nothing short of gorgeous.

As I turned the last page, my thoughts were, “what a fantastic book!”. Every beta hero I come across (not that I read or like reading beta heroes for that matter) will forever have to live up to Henry. He is sweet, simple, a virgin, straightforward, polite, a gentleman, and brilliant even though he hides it. Hazel is the one who judges all nice guys by the same yardstick, that they are untrustworthy and up to no good until she ends up volunteering to be his fake wife.

Charlotte Stein writes remarkable sex scenes as if they are poetry and you cannot help but be moved by it, in all the ways that matter (if you know what I mean). I loved that everything was mutual, they both needed to be seen, heard, felt, and validated, and that perhaps was the highest form of aphrodisiac in this story.

If there is any critique to be made, it is that the book takes its time and painfully so, at times; but that is also its greatest strength. The pacing mirrors the tenderness of their emotional unraveling. Stein does not rush them into love or sex; she lets the intimacy bloom naturally until it becomes inevitable. And when it finally happens, the result is equal parts heat and heart, a celebration of connection, consent, and mutual desire that feels almost sacred.

Recommended for: readers who crave slow-burn romance, beta heroes with hearts of gold, and love stories that celebrate vulnerability as the ultimate form of strength.

Final Verdict: A tender, filthy, and deeply human love story; Stein’s My Big Fat Fake Marriage is slow-burn perfection wrapped in warmth, wit, and the hottest virgin hero you will ever meet.

Favorite Quotes

Because he has that big face, and his emotions are equally enormous, and so it’s just easy with him. He’s like a complicated adult story, told via the medium of a beautiful pop-up book. And for some reason, I think I like reading it.

‘You really want to know? Well, all right, I’ll tell you,’ he says, all beaming grin and obliviousness. In fact, he almost seems casual about the speech he then launches into. ‘One of the main things I used to dream about a lot was reading the papers in bed with someone in the mornings. The lifestyle section, the sports pages, the important news of the day. Me and whoever it was chattering about what we read. Drinking a warm drink that I somehow like, probably because they found it for me. Going for a walk in the park after that, or maybe something more. I’ve never really liked antiquing, but I would antique just for the pleasure of being with another person who does. Walking by their side, with their hand in mine. Listening to them say all the little things that make them glad to be alive.’

I feel the brush of his cheek against mine, the heat of his breath as he slowly eases words into my already addled mind. Better ones than he claimed, too, hotter ones than he claimed. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lovelier woman than you,’ he says. And yes, I know he’s only doing what he would want to, with somebody he was really trying to seduce.
But even so, it turns me inside out.

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Married by Arrangement by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Antonio Rocha
Heroine: Sophie Cunningham
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 01, 2005
Started On: October 05, 2025
Finished On: October 05, 2025

Married by Arrangement by Lynne Graham is classic Harlequin drama at its finest, an emotionally charged blend of arrogance, misunderstanding, and slow-burning passion. This one features the kind of hero only Graham can pull off: coldly aristocratic, maddeningly controlling, and yet somehow impossible not to fall for. It is the quintessential “marriage of convenience with emotional chaos” setup, and she executes it with the flair that she is well known and loved for.

Antonio Rocha, Marques de Salazar, is a thirty-year-old Spanish nobleman whose sense of duty and family pride runs as deep as his arrogance. When his late brother’s child is discovered to be in the care of her young English aunt, Sophie Cunningham, Antonio storms into her life determined to take charge. Sophie, just twenty-two, has been raising her niece in a caravan, scraping by while holding onto her fierce love and dignity. She is brash, outspoken, and entirely unimpressed by Antonio’s wealth or status. But for all their clashes, their chemistry is undeniable; volatile, electric, and irresistibly combustible.

What begins as a battle of wills soon turns into an uneasy alliance. Antonio needs a caretaker for his niece to which he admits albeit reluctantly and Sophie needs security and refuses to lose the child she loves as her own. Their solution is classic, a marriage of arrangement, which ought to be purely practical. But neither of them can ignore the simmering attraction that threatens to upend every sensible boundary they have drawn. It is a relationship built on mistrust, misunderstandings, and pride, yet the tension between them makes every scene pulse with energy. Graham is at her sharpest when writing about these emotional power struggles that somehow transform into love.

Sophie’s backstory adds depth to her character; her difficult childhood, her battle with leukemia when she was young and her inability to have children, all of which makes her bond with her niece deeply moving. Antonio, meanwhile, evolves beautifully from a rigid, condescending aristocrat into a man undone by genuine affection and remorse. His journey from control to vulnerability is gradual but satisfying, even if he remains infuriatingly pompous for much of the ride. And Sophie? She is fire, impulsive, proud, sometimes reckless, but utterly endearing.

If there is one thing to fault, it is that the melodrama occasionally goes overboard; the accusations, the misunderstandings, the endless pride wars. But that is also part of the charm. Graham’s writing thrives on heightened emotion, and when the inevitable reconciliation comes, it is the kind that leaves you sighing in contentment. Their love story is tumultuous, passionate, and unapologetically dramatic, ending on a note of hard-won tenderness that makes up for it all.

Recommended for: fans of classic Harlequin angst, alpha heroes with a redemption arc, and heroines who love fiercely even when pride is on the line.

Final Verdict: A wildly addictive romance full of fire, pride, and passion; Lynne Graham at her dramatic best.

Favorite Quotes

But, whatever the label, you’re still hot for me, mi cielo,’ Antonio murmured huskily. Sophie trembled.Curious…’ she admitted in a breath of sound, her throat dry and tight.
Antonio never kissed women in public. He gazed down at her, his attention welded to the darkened emerald of her expectant eyes and the ruby allure of her luscious, parted lips. He lifted a hand to close his fingers into her curls, learning that her hair felt soft as silk and picturing the rebellious golden-toffee waves spread across his pillows. Thought had nothing to do with what happened next.
His mouth touched hers; she stopped breathing.

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Hired Bride by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Beaufort Brides, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Mitchell Graves
Heroine: Deanna Beaufort Graves
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: June 12, 2015
Started On: September 07, 2025
Finished On: September 09, 2025

Hired Bride by Noelle Adams is one of those reads that starts with promise; marriage of convenience, opposites attract, and a hint of emotional tension, but somehow does not quite reach the depth that usually defines her stories. While Adams is known for her subtle emotional resonance and slow-building intimacy, this one felt uneven, its heroine frustratingly inconsistent, and its resolution a little too neat for the angst it tries to evoke.

Deanna Beaufort Graves agrees to a six-month marriage to save her family’s crumbling Savannah home, entering into a deal that’s as transactional as it is necessary. Her husband, Mitchell Graves, needs a wife to secure a business contract, and Deanna, practical, reserved, and with a good heart, is the ideal candidate. What he does not anticipate is that beneath her quiet demeanor lies a strong will and a sharp tongue. He expects a compliant partner and instead finds someone who challenges him at every turn. Their marriage becomes a battle of expectations, attraction, and vulnerability neither of them are prepared for.

Mitchell is one of Adams’ more unpolished heroes (and I loved that); cocky, self-assured, and far less introspective than the usual restrained men she writes. But that confidence hides a man who is far more perceptive and emotionally grounded than Deanna gives him credit for.

Deanna, however, is more complicated. She is damaged by loss, weighed down by responsibility, and fiercely independent, but her judgments of Mitchell often border on hypocrisy. She wants emotional honesty but hides behind assumptions; she wants love but refuses to risk herself to earn it.

That contradiction is what makes her a difficult heroine to root for. The story hints at her trauma and fears but never dives deep enough to make her actions truly resonate. While Mitchell grows, Deanna stagnates, and her eventual change of heart feels more like surrender than revelation. Even her final declaration that she loves him as he is comes off hollow after spending most of the book berating him for the very traits she now claims to accept.

Still, Adams’ writing is as clean and engaging as ever. Her pacing is tight, and the sensual scenes though fewer here, carry her signature blend of intimacy and emotion. The Savannah setting lends the story a quiet charm, and Deanna’s eccentric grandmother adds levity to an otherwise emotionally restrained romance.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy quick, low-angst contemporary marriages of convenience and opposites-attract setups with a touch of southern charm.

Final Verdict: A promising marriage-of-convenience premise let down by an inconsistent heroine—Hired Bride is pleasant but lacks the spark Noelle Adams usually delivers.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: A Negotiated Marriage by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, FMC
Series: Convenient Marriages, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Luke Lyons
Heroine: Molly Lyons
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 11, 2013
Started On: September 05, 2025
Finished On: September 06, 2025

A Negotiated Marriage by Noelle Adams is a quiet, deeply intimate story that reminds me why I always return to her books, her ability to weave longing, vulnerability, and sensuality into something deceptively simple yet profoundly emotional. The premise is one of my favorite tropes: a marriage of convenience between two practical adults who believe they can outsmart the messiness of love. But as always, Adams shows that love has a way of slipping through even the most carefully negotiated boundaries.

Molly Lyons, a freelance corporate investigator, entered into a marriage with Luke Lyons, her then powerful CEO boss, for reasons that were more pragmatic than romantic. Three years later, they share an easy companionship, a rhythm built on mutual respect and quiet understanding. Until Luke, ever methodical and composed, decides to amend the terms of their arrangement: he wants to add sex to the mix.

For Molly, who is still nursing scars from a previous relationship, the idea terrifies her. She is content in their stable coexistence, safe in a marriage where her heart isn’t at risk. But Luke’s proposal and the emotions it slowly awakens begin to unravel every illusion of safety she has built.

Luke is one of those understated heroes who does not need grand gestures to command attention. He is structured, controlled, almost annoyingly rational, but beneath that composed surface is a man who feels deeply and loves even more so. What I adored about his character is how Adams lets his affection unfold in gestures rather than declarations; adjusting a necklace clasp, waiting up for her after long nights, quietly taking care of her wounds. You can feel his love long before he says it, and that makes his restraint all the more intoxicating.

Molly, on the other hand, is relatable in her caution. She is intelligent and self-sufficient, but her fear of emotional vulnerability makes her retreat from anything that feels too real. Watching her slowly fall for her husband, the man she thought she knew inside out, is the kind of emotional impact that makes stories like this unforgettable.

The story builds in that signature Noelle Adams fashion; small moments accumulating into something monumental. There is yearning threaded into every scene, through a mere brush of the hands and every shared glance. Even the sensual scenes, beautifully written and smoking hot, carry emotional weight. The tension isn’t in whether they will fall for each other, but in when they will finally admit that they already have.

If there is anything I wished for, it would be an epilogue. After all the tenderness and slow-burning intimacy, I was not ready to let go of Luke and Molly just yet. I wanted a glimpse of them beyond the last page, still loving, still building, still quietly choosing each other every day.

Recommended for: readers who love slow-burn contemporary romances, emotionally intelligent storytelling, and marriages of convenience that turn into something achingly real.

Final Verdict: Smart, sexy, and full of yearning; A Negotiated Marriage proves that even the most practical arrangements can turn into love stories worth fighting for.

Favorite Quotes

“So what should the terms be?” Molly tried to visualize how this new aspect of their arrangement would work. “I don’t want it to get complicated or for either of us to feel obliged or pressured to have sex whenever the other wants. Should we agree to like once a week or something?”
“Once a week is perfectly acceptable.” He arched an eyebrow. “Am I going to have to adjust our other terms to accommodate this new item?”
Molly chuckled, both at the irony and at his business-like language. “No, I guess not. I imagine I’ll be getting as much out of this as you will.”
A flare of heat awoke in his eyes. “I’ll make sure you do.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Return of the Duke by Grace Callaway

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Game of Dukes, #5
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Severin Knight
Heroine: Fancy Sheridan
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: June 18, 2020
Started On: September 01, 2025
Finished On: September 05, 2025

The Return of the Duke by Grace Callaway delivers yet another sensual, emotionally layered romance in her Game of Dukes series, this time pairing the stoic and guilt-ridden Duke of Knighton with a heroine whose warmth and vitality transforms his life in every possible way. Grace Callaway has a gift for writing love stories that blends passion, tenderness, and a touch of adventure, and while this installment isn’t quite what the blurb promises, it is still an utterly delightful read.

Fancy Sheridan is a foundling turned tinker’s daughter, a woman raised with love but very little exposure to the rigid expectations of society. She is young, sweet, and possesses a kind of unaffected honesty that immediately sets her apart from the polished ladies of the ton. When fate thrusts her into a marriage of convenience with Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, a man haunted by his past and by an old vow to a woman he once idealized, Fancy’s life changes forever. Their union is meant to be practical: she will help care for his siblings, learn and adapt to what it means to be part of his world, and he will provide her with stability and protection. But as with any good marriage-of-convenience romance, what begins as duty swiftly spirals into desire.

Severin is a complex hero; brooding, controlled, and carrying the burden of a vow made to Imogen, the woman he once thought he would love forever. Yet from the moment he meets Fancy, that carefully maintained restraint begins to fracture. What is wonderful here is how little resistance he actually puts up.

For all his talk of keeping his heart closed, his attraction to Fancy is visceral, immediate, and unstoppable. If the book falters slightly, it is in how it was marketed as a story of a man denying his passion; in truth, Severin is anything but restrained once he allows himself to have her. The result is a romance far less about denial and more about rediscovery, about a man learning that real love is messy, tender, and alive.

Fancy herself is one of Callaway’s most endearing heroines. She does not try to be anything other than who she is, and that honesty is precisely what draws Severin out of his self-imposed darkness. There is something beautiful about how she grounds him, her optimism balancing his pain, her compassion softening his regrets. And while she is no fiery rebel or combative feminist heroine, her quiet strength and self-awareness makes her one of the most compelling female leads in the series.

This book is also steamy, as is trademark Callaway. Her ability to write sensual scenes that balances emotional depth with raw desire is unmatched, and Severin and Fancy’s chemistry is electric from the start. The scenes are intimate not just in body but in emotion; every touch, every look, every whispered word builds toward a love that feels inevitable. The fairytale quality of the ending ties it all together perfectly, giving Fancy the life and love that she truly deserves.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy historical romances with emotionally scarred heroes, tender yet strong heroines, and plenty of heat balanced with heart.

Final Verdict: The Return of the Duke is passionate, heartfelt, and thoroughly satisfying. Fancy shines as a heroine, and Severin’s devotion makes the story beautifully worth it.

Favorite Quotes

At the pond, she spotted Knight by the water’s edge. He’d set his hat and jacket on the ground, and he had a foot propped on a boulder. He looked solitary, not just because he was by himself. There was a remoteness to his gaze as he studied the sunset-painted water, as if he wanted to discern some secret beneath the rippling surface.
At her approach, he turned. In that unguarded moment, she saw a maelstrom of emotion in his eyes: pain and…longing brighter than the sun’s dying rays.

“I want a faerie tale,” she whispered. “I want a prince who thinks I’m a princess even though I’m ordinary. I want ’im to love me with all ’is ’eart because I’ll love him just as madly. I want to settle in one place with ’im and ’ave a family, one we would nurture and love together. That’s what I want.”
Knight’s eyes darkened, his pupils edging out the light. His gaze dropped to her lips, and she saw his nostrils quiver. Below the granite ledge of his jaw, his throat worked above the loosened knot of his cravat. A magnetic force pulsed between them, his head lowering toward hers, her own tilting up…

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: In Flight by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Isaac Becker
Heroine: River Kennedy
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: March 28, 2025
Started On: August 09, 2025
Finished On: August 09, 2025

“You don’t pick up vibes?”
Up go his eyebrows again. “I’ve never picked up a vibe in my life.”

My palate cleanser after the rough and deeply moving ride that was Heat by R. Lee Smith turned out to be In Flight by Noelle Adams, a light, funny, and endearingly awkward romance that unfolds almost entirely in the cramped confines of an airplane. What begins as an irritating series of encounters between two frequent fliers turns into a slow-burn love story about vulnerability, self-awareness, and taking risks when it’s easier to stay the course and keep your heart protected.

31-year old River Kennedy is an HR professional who likes structure, security, and her carefully curated quiet life in Savannah. Her neurotic tendencies and soft-hearted nature are balanced by a wry sense of humor and an almost compulsive tendency to giggle, even when exasperated. Isaac Becker, on the other hand, is her polar opposite; an analytical, grounded man with a corporate job in finance and a habit of dissecting people as though they are puzzles to be solved. The two of them end up seated next to each other on the same weekend flights between Savannah and Boston, week after week, and what starts as a battle of wits gradually morphs into something deeper.

Their banter is sharp and occasionally cutting, with moments that are as exhilarating as they are intimate. The emotional pull between River and Isaac grows naturally, driven by small gestures and conversations that reveal more than either intends. River’s guarded nature, born out of past heartbreaks and her fear of choosing wrong again, feels believable, even if her constant giggling sometimes made her come across as immature. Isaac, for all his rationality, is far more perceptive than he lets on, and his slow unraveling into someone more emotionally open gives the story its quiet payoff.

That said, I found the novel a little too contained for my liking. The entire story taking place on airplanes or around them, created a kind of narrative claustrophobia. I wanted more context for River’s world outside of those flights, more about her family, her friendships, her life beyond Isaac. Still, Ms. Noelle’s humor and emotional nuance kept the story buoyant, and ultimately, even though River tended to annoy me with her hypocritical stands on issues and constant need to giggle, she redeemed herself proper enough to give me the “giggles”.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy low-angst, character-driven contemporary romances with witty banter, opposites-attract dynamics, and a feel-good, slow-burn payoff.

Final Verdict: A slow-burn airplane romance that’s equal parts witty and tender and reminds you love sometimes takes off in the most unexpected places — even at 30,000 feet.

Favorite Quotes

“Have you ever known anyone who can sort out their own hearts without at least a little angst and confusion?”
“Now that you mention it, I’m not sure I have. Have you?”
“Only boring people.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Restoration by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: Worthings, #4
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Edmund Worthing
Heroine: Autumn
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: August 16, 2024
Started On: July 31, 2025
Finished On: August 01, 2025

Restoration by Noelle Adams is a beautifully paced, emotional romance about survival, self-discovery, and the gradual blossoming of love between two unlikely people.

Autumn has spent six years being the efficient, ever-capable assistant to Edmund Worthing, a wealthy, charming, and often exasperating man who has drifted through life without any real purpose. When she finally decides to quit and reclaim her life, the last thing she expects is to end up stranded with him on a deserted island after a violent storm at sea. What begins as a nightmare slowly turns into something transformative, both in terms of their survival and their hearts.

Autumn is practical, dependable, and tired of living her life in service to someone else’s whims. Edmund, on the other hand, is the definition of carefree privilege, a man who has never had to lift a finger for anything and masks his intelligence behind an easy, teasing charm. Stripped of the luxuries and distractions of his old world, Edmund is forced to face his own complacency, while Autumn is pushed beyond her comfort zone in ways she never imagined. Together, they learn how to endure hunger, illness, fear, and the stark reality of isolation, and in the process, they also learn how to see each other, truly see each other, for the first time.

The shift in their dynamic from boss and assistant to equals is one of the most satisfying elements of the story. Adams gives their relationship time to breathe, to evolve from mutual dependence to affection, and finally to love. The island becomes a crucible for both their growths: Edmund transforms from a spoiled socialite into a man capable of tenderness and grit, while Autumn, for all her composure, learns to let go of control and embrace vulnerability. The chemistry between them is charged, their connection deepened by moments of laughter, frustration, and the kind of intimacy that can only come from relying on someone with your life.

What I loved most about this story was how well Adams balanced the sensual with the emotional. The romance feels valid and not just a product of forced proximity but of two people who find their missing halves in one another. Edmund’s devotion, his quiet acts of care, and the way he steps up when Autumn falls ill all underscore how far he has come from the man she once worked for. The angst, particularly after their rescue, was perfectly handled. The inevitable readjustment to the real world hurts, but it makes their eventual reconciliation even more satisfying.

If there is one thing I might have wanted more of, it would be a deeper dive into the aftermath of their ordeal once they return home, how two people changed by survival reconcile that with normal life. But the epilogue delivers exactly what the reader hopes for, sealing their journey with warmth and fulfillment.

Recommended for: readers who love slow-burn, boss-assistant romances with emotional depth, strong character development, and a healthy dose of survival-driven angst.

Final Verdict: Tender, emotional, and quietly intense, Restoration is angsty, sensual, and deeply satisfying.

Favorite Quotes

We lie together afterward, holding each other urgently. His face is buried against my neck, and his heart is beating so fast and hard that I can feel it.
He doesn’t say anything else, and neither do I. We both know what just happened is goodbye.
It’s goodbye.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James

Format: Paperback
Read with: Paperback
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers, #3
Publisher: Avon
Hero: Theodore Edward Braxton Reeve (Ward)
Heroine: Eugenia Snowe
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 31, 2017
Started On: May 16, 2025
Finished On: June 01, 2025

Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James is a romance that hit all my catnip: a sensual, banter-rich romance with a heroine who owns her competence and a hero who melts in spite of himself. Eugenia Snowe, twenty-nine and seven years widowed, runs the most elite governess registry in London. Theodore Edward Braxton Reeve or “Ward” to his friends, is a brilliant inventor and newly minted guardian who storms her office in dire need of help with two hellion half-siblings, Lizzie and Otis. Their first clash is all sparks and sharp wit; their second involves letters that slide from businesslike to dangerously personal; and before long, one carriage ride and one unguarded afternoon turns into a reckoning neither of them planned.

Ward is a delicious contradiction: rangy, scarred, and outrageously confident in every arena but the heart and reminds me a bit of Jack Devlin from Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas. A bastard son who has had to fight for every scrap of respect, he is practical to a fault and allergic to pretense. He tells himself Eugenia is a temporary distraction, a problem to be solved with a fortnight’s worth of indulgence. Then he sees her with his siblings; clear-eyed, kind, and unflappable, and the ground shifts.

Eugenia is exactly the sort of heroine I adore: clever, decisive, and sensual beneath a polished exterior. She believes in structure and small, steady acts that teach children how to become themselves. And when she chooses Ward, she does it with open eyes and a body-thrumming joy she cannot control; no coyness, no flutters, just a woman claiming what she wants.

The tug-of-war between them is beautifully rooted in who they are. Ward’s past has taught him that titles and drawing-room polish are masks; he trusts usefulness, honesty, and results. Eugenia’s upbringing prized unconventional genius but left her craving the calm of rules well kept. They meet in the middle; at the worktable, in the nursery, by the water; until tenderness becomes inevitable and heat explodes. James writes their intimacy with humor and abandon; it is raw, playful, and deeply attentive, the kind of coupling that makes you grin even while your heart squeezes.

I especially loved the sibling arc: Lizzie’s fury and strange magic, Otis’s single-minded schemes, and Ward’s awkward, earnest attempts to be exactly what they need. There is a marvelous moment of clarity when Eugenia watches Ward with the children and realizes that she is falling; it is quiet and sun-drenched and utterly persuasive.

On the other hand, the first half meanders a touch, and the prose occasionally reaches for ornate vocabulary that jarred me out of the scene. Once the midpoint hits, though (as was the case with my last read Not That Duke by Eloisa James), the story tightens, the emotional stakes rise, and Ward’s brand of sensual, commanding devotion takes over in the best way.

By the time the final act rolls around, we get the grand gesture Ward needs to make things right; public, unequivocal, and exactly the scale this couple deserves, followed by a warm glimpse of their hard-won domestic bliss. He learns to see Eugenia’s worth beyond his hunger; she refuses anything less than being chosen first; and together they are incandescent.

Recommended for: those who love widowed-heroine romances, heroes with brains and brawn, guardian/children subplots that matter, sparkling banter, and frankly joyous steam.

Final Verdict: Witty, earthy, and achingly tender; Ward and Eugenia blaze from sparring to soul-deep. A luscious, grown-up historical that pays off big.

Favorite Quotes

“You are far too marvelously endowed to be likened to apples,” he said, nodding agreeably.
She must be going a bit mad, because she heard herself say, “Earlier today, I was thinking that they will be the size of a pair of ostrich eggs in a few years.” His eyes glittered with a dark emotion that she had no trouble interpreting, though she hadn’t seen it for years. Lust.
Desire.
“All mankind lives in hope,” he said. A husky note in his voice made her want to both leap toward him-and out of the carriage.

Ward was standing in the water to his thighs, his right hand holding Lizzie’s, and his left, Otis’s. Both children were floating on their backs, lying on the surface of the water as if they were made of thistle-down. His hair was spangled with sunshine, and the water eddied around the three of them in little waves.
Her eyes met his and Ward broke into the widest, most joyful smile she’d ever seen. His hair was plastered to his head and she could see the contours of his skull.
It was a magnificent skull. That very morning she had run her hands all over it, cupped his face and kissed him with every bit of passion she felt.
The truth struck her like a blow: she was falling in love.

Ward was lounging in his chair the way no gentleman was supposed to do. His hair wasn’t arranged in waves, or powdered, or even hidden by an old-fashioned wig. It was thick and wavy and so soft that Eugenia’s fingers curled into her palm at the memory of clenching them in his hair.
“Eugenia,” he said in a low voice. “You oughtn’t to look at me like that. Not here.”
“But you look delicious,” she said reasonably. He leaned forward and her eyes skated hungrily over his broad shoulders, over his strong neck and the cravat that framed his jaw.
Desire felt like a clawing animal inside her, making her breath catch and heat come into her lips.

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Not That Duke by Eloisa James

Format: Paperback
Read with: Paperback
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Would-Be Wallflowers #3
Publisher: Avon
Hero: Silvester Parnell
Heroine: Stella Corsham
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: July 25, 2023
Started On: April 29, 2025
Finished On: May 16, 2025

It had been a while since I last picked up a physical paperback, and Not That Duke by Eloisa James reminded me why that experience still feels so distinct.

This installment in the Would-Be Wallflowers series tells the story of Silvester Parnell, the Duke of Huntington, and Stella Corsham, an intelligent, bespectacled heroine who believes herself unlovable. What begins as a story of mismatched expectations slowly unfolds into one of mutual respect, sensual awakening, and unexpected tenderness.

Silvester is the kind of hero you cannot quite decide whether to admire or shake your head at. With a brilliant but eccentric mother whose inventions once caused polite society to brand the entire family as odd, he is determined to live a life as far removed from scandal as possible. His goal is simple: find a well-bred, quiet duchess who will bring respectability back to his name.

What he does not want is Stella, a woman who talks too much, reads too much, and wears spectacles that seem to define her in the eyes of those around her. Yet in true Eloisa James fashion, fate or rather, an interfering mother and an annual treasure hunt forces them together until the spark between them is impossible to ignore.

Stella is an unconventional heroine for certain. Orphaned and raised by an aunt who instilled in her a deep wariness of men’s desires, she moves through life convinced that she is too opinionated and plain to ever inspire genuine affection. Watching her navigate society’s unkindness, especially the barbed remarks from so-called friends who reminds her of her “unsuitability”, makes her eventual transformation into a confident, passionate woman immensely satisfying. There is something deeply endearing about Stella’s curiosity and her quiet humor, even when her inner monologue veers toward self-doubt.

For much of the first half, Silvester’s attentions are directed elsewhere, toward Lady Yasmin, the very picture of aristocratic perfection. It is only through proximity and the slow realization that Stella’s sharp mind and unflinching honesty challenge him in ways Yasmin never could, that his admiration turns into desire.

Their chemistry, when it ignites, burns surprisingly hot, and the sensuality between them is trademark Eloisa James: lush, emotional, and deliciously frank. The scenes after their marriage are particularly memorable, showcasing not just physical passion but also the vulnerability of two people learning how to love without pretense.

That said, the book falters in pacing. The first half feels bogged down by too many intersecting storylines; Yasmin and Giles’s romance runs parallel here, which often steals attention from Silvester and Stella. It isn’t until the second part that the narrative truly becomes theirs, and from that point, the emotional payoff finally delivers.

At times, the prose veers into ostentation, with vocabulary that feels like it’s trying too hard to sound clever, pulling me out of the moment instead of deepening it. Still, there is undeniable charm in James’s humor and her ability to write characters whose flaws make them human.

Despite its imperfections, Not That Duke has moments of genuine warmth, especially when Silvester’s polished composure cracks and we glimpse the man beneath; passionate, protective, and wholly undone by his unlikely duchess. Stella, for her part, gives as good as she gets, matching him wit for wit, and by the end, it’s clear that she’s exactly the woman he needed all along.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy slow-burn historical romances, intelligent heroines, and reformed dukes who learn that love rarely fits inside their plans.

Final Verdict: A clever, slow-burn Victorian romance where wit meets heat and the wrong duchess turns out to be just right.

Favorite Quotes

He put a strong hand under her elbow. “Are you uninjured?” Silvester asked, once she was on her feet.
She thought of him as Silvester because the name suited him. It was a fancy, elegant name for a fancy, elegant man.
“I’m fine,” she mumbled.
Stella thought of her body as capable of walking and dancing, most of the time. Luckily she was sturdily constructed, since her bones never broke, no matter how often she tumbled to the ground.
But around Silvester? With his broad shoulders, the handsome curve of his jaw, the easy swing of his muscled body, his gray eyes, even his commanding nose…
His smile.
Around him, her body became her enemy, serving up shaking knees and quickened breath. Desire that flared straight down her back after a glance at his lower lip. Or the touch of his hand on her arm.
He went to Stella’s head like potent wine.

Silvester in the ballroom was one thing: he gleamed like the gold-plated aristocrat he was. But here? Wearing little more than a sheet, his burly chest undisguised? His nose seemed twice as bold and fierce.
And his eyes? Those gray, piercing eyes that could look so charming?
His coats must be cleverly cut to disguise his breadth, just as his charming smiles disguised the fierce desire to win every battle, important or other-wise. Stripped of his embroidery and lace, there was no mistaking who stood in the middle of the garden, wearing a swath of cloth and spinning a wooden sword while he listened intently to a young boy.
A warrior.
A man who ruthlessly manipulated currency markets for his own good—and incidentally to prevent the collapse of England’s finances.

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Heartless by Elsie Silver

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Chestnut Springs, #2
Publisher: Bloom Books
Hero: Cade Eaton
Heroine: Willa Grant
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 14, 2022
Started On: July 25, 2025
Finished On: July 29, 2025

She smells like oranges and warm grass, refreshing and comforting all at once. She feels like heaven in my hands. And she looks just as wild as I’ve always known she is.

I can now understand why Heartless has been hyped so much by fellow romance readers, because this book was everything I want in a contemporary romance: funny, emotional, sexy, with characters who feel real. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into the story of Cade Eaton, the grumpy single dad rancher, and Willa Grant, the sassy, city-bred nanny who upends his carefully ordered life.

Cade is the kind of hero who makes me swoon; he is a man of contrasts. At thirty-eight, he is mature, responsible, and a little rough around the edges. Life has left him emotionally scarred and cynical, and his ex-wife only reinforced the belief that his best would never be enough. Yet beneath that hardened exterior lies a man who is tender, protective, and deeply loving, especially when it comes to his son, Luke. Watching Cade as both father and lover is an experience in itself, because the same hands that manage a ranch with rugged efficiency also know how to be devastatingly gentle.

Willa, at twenty-five, is the perfect foil to Cade’s grumpiness. She is bold, irreverent, and a little wild in all the ways that shake up his world. Sassy and yet commitment-phobic, she is used to running when things get too deep. Yet she is also fiercely loyal and brings a light into Cade’s life that he did not even know he was missing. Their banter is sharp and often laugh-out-loud funny, their text messages brimming with sexual tension and genuine affection, and when the slow burn finally explodes, let’s just say truth or dare has never been this hot.

The tension between them is beautifully balanced: Cade’s dirty talk and commanding presence paired with Willa’s playful defiance creates the kind of sexual angst that makes every scene sizzle. But what makes the book stand out is the softer moments; the way Cade takes care of her, the way Willa coaxes him into believing he is enough, and the way they both find in each other the family and love they did not think they could have. I also loved how fierce Willa was when it comes to Luke and Cade, which proves to be Cade’s undoing in the end.

I adored the secondary cast too, who added texture and warmth rather than being cardboard side characters. Luke was adorable. No two ways about it. Juggling a kid in the story line is sometimes a hit or a miss and I believe it was handled beautifully here. And while the epilogue with Willa giving birth was a lovely touch, I did wish to see more of her family and to watch Cade and Willa tie the knot. Still, the ending gave me everything I needed, and left me humming in the right places.

Recommended for: fans of grumpy/sunshine romances, single dad heroes, sassy heroines, and slow-burn heat that pays off in spades.

Final Verdict: Funny, sexy, and heartfelt, Heartless is the perfect blend of grit and tenderness—Cade and Willa are unforgettable.

Favorite Quotes

“You’re a good man, Cade Eaton. Quite possibly one of the best.” Her voice is so soft that I barely hear it.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I drop my head toward her. Everything around us fades away. I don’t know how she has this knack for telling me the things I crave. Tracing my insecurities the way she does. Soothing the hurt she doesn’t even know exists.

“Red,” I whisper-shout.
Her head flips in my direction, her eyes twinkling. Because, if nothing else, Willa Grant is a shit disturber, waltzing into my life and complicating it without even trying. Looking all pleased with herself over it.
With a wink over her shoulder, she shoots off, running from me.
And something primal in me roars to life.
I chase her.

If Willa is the playground, I want to fucking play. Period.

I pull a drawer open and rifle through it to busy my shaking hands.
My fingers run up against something silky in the drawer full of scissors, elastics, clips, and Post-it notes. I grab and pull and peer down into my palm.
The black panties I dropped in that coffee shop all those weeks ago.
Turning back, I dangle them in my fingers. Cade doesn’t look surprised at all; he just regards me with his Annoyed Scowl.
“You kept these?” I demand, sounding petulant even to myself. “You told me you threw them away.”
“I lied,” he grits out.
“Why?”
“Because you’ve never been just the nanny, Willa.” My chest lurches as I look back at him, feeling suspended in time. “You’ve always been more. The woman I wanted but wouldn’t let myself have.”

We’re just energy, and heat, and breath. I’ve never been so thoroughly consumed in my life. Never had sex with such an edge to it.
“Mine.” His growl is downright feral as he explodes inside of me, hands tracing my back reverently. A man of such dichotomies. Hard words laced with love. Rough hands filled with tenderness.

When I open my eyes, Luke is staring at me with a thoughtful expression on his face.
“What did you wish for?” I ask him, needing something lighthearted. Thinking it will be something ridiculous. Something frivolous.
Instead, he delivers a gut punch.
One soft cheek hitches up, and he glances back down into the dark well. “I wished for Willa to come back.”
My eyes burn when I pull him into me, feel his tiny arms clutching at my waist.
And my voice cracks when I say, “Me too, pal. Me too.”

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