Victorian/ Regency Periods

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Something Fabulous was so utterly charming! Based in the regency era, it was lovely to read a romantic comedy about finding who you are and what you are into. Conversations between characters were both funny and adorably raw. We get different types of LGBTQ+ rep between characters (MM coupling, overly dramatic demisexual, sapphic coupling). It’s silly, its adventurous, it’s a sunny rainbow romp with dramatic characters. Honestly, this was such a fun read, and definitely one I would easily read again in the future.

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Dance of Hearts: a Cinderella Regency Romance Retelling by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, you just can’t go wrong with a fairytale re-telling PLUS a Regency England time period setting. For those who know me personally, Cinderella is actually my most hated Disney princess, but this book really made me see her in a new light. I grew awfully fond of Melinda Wychwood (Cinderella) as she continued to deal with the shit that comes from the culture and life of that period. I thought the story was well written, clear, and had great character development for a re-telling.

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Price of a Rose: A Beauty & Beast Tale by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If there’s one thing I love, it’s fairytale retellings and Price of a Rose definitely fit the bill. Since this isn’t the first book I’ve read from this author, I have to say that I’m really enjoying their works. Just like Byrd Nash’s other stories, this one was really well written, entirely unique in its own way, and I swear that I was actually able to ‘see’ the book play out from how clearly it was written. The characters were all really strong and well developed and I loved the historical romance aspect as well.

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Dark Heart: A thrilling historical tale of a Victorian family imperiled in the very heart of London by Carole Gurnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am such a sucked for anything victorian related. This was the first time I’ve heard of this author, and to say that I was pleasantly surprised, is an understatement. I really loved her unique world-building while keeping the core of the story in the Victorian London we all know in our history books. She really has a way with writing to the point where I found myself actually thinking I was there with the main character and not merely ‘reading a good book’ (this is rare for me to get so completely lost in a story that it felt real).

Pick this book up as your next read, you might find that you’ve enjoyed it as much as I had!

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Sinning in Secret by Charlie Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There’s nothing I love more than romance in Victorian London. There’s just something so magical about it that always has me wishing for more stories like it. Sinning in Secret is one of those stories with the main character (Lady Willow) forced to chose to either marry a man her parents chose for her or live in a madhouse. Unlike most stories in this category, this story is really unique and the characters are interesting. I went through so many emotions reading this and finished the whole story in a sitting with how captivated I was.

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Death’s Detective by Charlotte E. English
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest, I truly thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I picked it up on a whim from the apple store and found that I couldn’t put it down. There’s just something so appealing about victorian style mysteries. But what was also appealing was that this one didn’t come as a romance. Instead, it focused more on background folklores and supernatural themes!

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Honor Bound by C.J. Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like paranormal victorian settings in a book, Honor Bound by C.J. Archer is definitely one to try out. It’s the first book of the duology, Witchblade Chronicles, and by far the ‘spiciest book this author has written (in my opinion). I thoroughly enjoyed the cute but serious banter between Isabel and Nicolas (husband and wife), after Isabel ran away from her husband due to issues. The romance was steamy in just the right enough without being overbearing and I loved the witchy-paranormal aspect that comes along with many of this author’s works.

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Kiss of Ash by C.J. Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know why I’m posting this review so late, but here is it. I LOOOOOVE this duology by CJ Archer! Seriously, out of all her books (which I have also loved and read too many times to be ok), this duology is my favorite. Now, being that this is the second novel, we follow the secondary characters from the first book and their romance. I love the Victorian setting. I love how the previous characters come back. I love the slow burn, and yet intrigue from first sight themes. Overall, I can’t recommend this duology enough!

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The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I want to start off and say that I was not expecting this level of spice when I picked up this book randomly (It was a good surprise though!) I had mixed feelings about Lucy and Anthony’s relationship though. On one hand, I loved their instant chemistry and how when the other was in the same room, they were all they saw the type of theme. I enjoyed the overall storyline and thought that it was engaging and fresh. On the other hand, I felt that Anthony needed a bit more redemption or an attempt at ‘making things right’. I felt that it was a bit rushed or simplified how the book ended with our villain merely getting sent to ‘jail’ and that was that. I don’t know, I wished there was a bit more but at the same time, I was happy with how the story progressed.

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Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is a lot to love from this book. Stalking Jack the Ripper does a wonderful job setting up the overall setting, the characters, and their backgrounds without giving out too much information too fast and being quite engaging at the same time. Who doesn’t love a strong female lead in the victorian era that not only ENJOYED but was intelligent when it came to surgeries and opening a body up? I certainly loved how unique and intriguing our female lead was, and the ending of the book was a big surprise as well! Really lovely novel!

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Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco is the second book of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I thought it was a delightfully entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed Thomas’ increasing cocky/ confident commentary and Aubery-Rose’s reactions to them. The relationship/ chemistry between them is so adorable, and yet I liked how the book didn’t only focus on the romance aspect but on the murders. The folklore/ history with Vlad the Impaler/ Dracula was was beautifully engraved into the story into a new and exciting story.

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Frosted by M.C. Frank
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am the largest sucker for any kind of enemies to lovers story. Frosted (the second book in the Regency Retold series), is one of the better books that fall under that category (in my opinion). This book has a sort of sexiness and allure in its writing style. The further you get into Lady Stella DeWinter and Captain Timothee Vaughan’s relationship, the faster you will be flipping those pages. There’s so much witty commentary, action, seducing stares and touches, beautiful world-building and background stories, and of course, the feel of Jane Austen, all bundled into one!

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Ruined by M.C. Frank
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this. Though I read the series out of order (I’ve read Frosted first before this one). I thought the romance was tasteful and not over the top, considering that it was a retelling of sorts (Jane Eyre). Plus there was the whole historical context/ Regency period that really caught my interest. Now, I’ve never read Jane Eyre yet and never really planned to in my life, to be honest, but now after reading this, I’m much more inclined to read it.

I received this book as a free ARC for an honest review!

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Retold by M.C. Frank
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is just something to M.C. Frank’s fairytale retellings that easily grab your interest. Retold, the third book in the Regency Retold series is inspired by Peter Pan fairytale, Hades and Persephone, and Rapunzel. This story had a darker tone with three retellings all in one, which I really enjoyed. The characters were odd and unique and dramatic, which I thought was not only entertaining to read about, but made them stand out to me. Frank gave us coming of age story with angst, broken characters that need love, and tortured souls all wrapped up in this glorious story. It was interesting to see how even though each one of the retellings were completely on their own, that there were also cross-overs among them as well adding a connection.

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