I’ve read three excellent historical romances this year thanks to The Ripped Bodice’s book clubs.
First up was my first Lisa Kleypas novel, A Devil in Winter, part of her popular Wallflower series. In this entry, said wallflower Evie propositions a right scoundrel to marry her. A veritable playboy, Sebastian isn’t most women’s first choice. However, the devilishly handsome viscount will keep her terrible relatives away from her. As he needs money, he reluctantly agrees and whisks her away to Scotland to be wed. Through the rough journey, he falls for the painfully shy but willful woman. She is skeptical to give herself to him, so they make a bet. If he can stay celibate for 3 months, she’ll consummate the marriage. He’s never had a dry spell but is determined to win her heart. He focuses on taking over her father’s gentleman’s club business. Before they get into a rhythm, someone tries to kill Evie’s life he vows to protect her at all costs.
This historical was such an easy read. I was surprised by the murder plotline. Sebastian can’t comprehend that he’s fallen in love with her. He wants her and does the unthinkable of staying true to her. Evie was an interesting lead with an unexpected past. Her father was respected but not nobility. She gets her stubbornness and wit from him, which she uses to escape her jerk family. The slow burn-esque romance had them both yearning to the max. I’ll definitely read the rest of the Wallflower series based on this.
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare was a delightful romance set in Spindle aka Spinsters Cove. There aren’t many men in town, which is exactly how Susanna prefers it. She is the impromptu authority in this village where women come to rejuvenate. It could be their reputation or real illness with the help of Susanna and the sea. All is well until a band of soldiers appears led by roguely handsome Victor Bramwell. He meets with her father hoping he can recommend him for a military promotion. He’s been injured and on the mend, but not quite himself. Instead, he’s dubbed an Earl and forced to set up a militia in town. Even though the war against the French is far away, they never can be too careful. That will just not do for headstrong Susanna since her father is meant to be retired. Not getting wrapped up in this war again with these men who she thinks should leave immediately. Susanna and Bramwell argue with each other over how things should be done to prepare a demonstration. She knows about guns and learned all manner of things from her military inventor father. Bramwell’s hopeless militia needs all the help he can get. They are forced to work together and things get rather steamy.
I loved this book for all the funny banter paired with a healthy balance of spice. Susanna is not a conventional heroine. No damsel in distress here with this tall striking redhead with a few scars. She was nearly killed by quack doctors as a child when her mother died. They tried to “cure the grief” and made her truly ill. Bramwell has to heal his mind, body, and soul with Susanna. She helps reset his worldview through her stubbornness and kindness. She heals him in the sea with secret meetups at night for physical therapy exercises (and a bit more). I’m kicking myself for not reading the many Tessa Dare novels I own. I’ll be reading more of her in 2025 especially since I’m spoilt for signed copies via the bookstore.
Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie was part romance, part unexpected murder mystery. Ian aka Mac knows he’s mad and doesn’t much care. Since he was a child, he didn’t act like his other siblings. He doesn’t understand emotions and eventually masks them to survive. Ian has a photographic memory and runs numbers for his Duke brother. It’s the least he can do after the Duke busted him out of the asylum. Their father forced him into that dreadful place and Mac never wants to return. We meet the other brothers eventually: one is a painter, and another raises horses. At the start of this book, we meet Ian and learn he has a Ming bowl obsession. He haggles with a stuck-up man who is bragging about marrying a rich widow named Lady Isabella. Out of curiosity, Mac decides to see who this widow is for himself. They have a fated meeting at the opera where Ian bluntly warns her off her fiance who is clearly using her for her newly found money. Isabella aka Beth was a companion to a rich old woman who left her a sizeable inheritance. She is drawn to Mac after a passionate (and quite inappropriate) kiss. Even though her body wants Ian, it isn’t proper. He asks her to marry that very night…as that’s the only logical way to sleep with this mesmerizing woman. But that would be a scandal. Instead, she breaks her engagement and leaves London to learn painting in France. Ian follows her naturally because he must bed this woman. However, his leaving is suspicious to a dogged Inspector who has it out for the Mackenzies. Ian is mad, and now twice, two women he’s met ended up dead. All the while, Beth and Ian are drawn to each other like magnets. Ian isn’t 100% sure whether he is not a murderer, because he is mad after all. Beth is caught up in all this drama and must unravel this mystery with Ian.
Ian’s whole family is quite mad and some more so than him, if you ask me. It’s clear Ian is neurodivergent even though it’s not explicitly confirmed as this is an older romance. I loved how Beth and Ian don’t conform to society’s idea of nobility. They both have a past with Ian having some real demons to overcome. Beth misses the love of her life and never thought she’d feel attraction and fire again. It’s a wonderful romance about how these two figure each other out. The mystery overtakes the end of the book, which I did not expect but didn’t mind as I’m a fan of mysteries. If you love spicy scenes, you won’t be disappointed. I’m curious about Ashley’s other books. Spurred by this read, I picked up some of her paranormals at Half Price Books.
If you’re looking for unconventional heroines with some spunk, you can’t go wrong with any of these historical romances. I expect to read more from all these authors in 2025.