Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

A geeky overachiever determined to save the world through science and a troublemaking chosen one lashing out against her destiny meet and fall in love in a magical coffeeshop as their two very different universes begin to collide in Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, C.B. Lee’s fun, sapphic, cozy fantasy YA romance.

When Brenda’s internet goes out right before an important scholarship deadline, she stumbles right into Kat’s family’s coffeeshop. Brenda is swept away by cool, confident Kat, who actually cares about Brenda’s 19-step plan to save the world through science. Meanwhile, Kat can’t stop thinking about Brenda, who is smart, passionate, and doesn’t seem to care that Kat is the prophesized Chosen One.

The only problem? Kat and Brenda are from different universes. Like need-to-find-a-portal-to-go-on-a-second-date different universes.

As their universes collide and things spiral out of control, can a girl who is determined to save the world find love with a girl determined to outrun her destiny?

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The Love Fix

Welcome back to Sunrise Cove for this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers tale where found family, forgiveness, and love may just be the key to finding yourself, from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged.  So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to.

Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.

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No Ordinary Duchess

A delicious tale of forbidden romance where the mystery that ties two lovers together might also be exactly what tears them apart.

Cold and brooding, Julian Greycourt, the heir to the Windemere dukedom, has always known that his uncle the duke was responsible for his mother’s death. Now he’s determined to exact revenge against his uncle—if he can find the proof. But Julian hides a secret so explosive it will destroy him if it’s ever revealed, and the duke is watching. The last thing he needs is a distractingly sensual woman whose very presence threatens to destroy his plans.

Sunny and cheerful, Lady Elspeth de Moray doesn’t know why her brother and Julian fell out all those years ago, but she can’t let the autocratic man get in the way of her mission: to retrieve an ancient family text that she believes is in one of the Windemere libraries. Locating the tome, however, proves trickier than she anticipated, and at each turn, she’s thrown together with the maddingly mysterious Julian. And the temptation to give in to her family’s greatest enemy grows stronger with each intriguing encounter…

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When Grumpy Met Sunshine

A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.

When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.

And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.

But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend—until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?

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The Duke Who Knew Too Much

Author: Grace Callaway
Released: January 15, 2015 by Grace Callaway
Genre: Regency, Romance
Series: Heart of Enquiry #1

Jill and Karin recommended this author to me and I think they have managed to introduce me to a new auto-buy author. I was entirely swept away by this book. Alaric, the duke in question, is a rake known as the ‘Devil’s Duke’ and Emma is a forthright, independent ‘spinster’. It’s a classic pairing and I devoured it in a day – so absorbing! It’s dual POV for the most part allowing us insight into both main characters’ thoughts and feelings.

Things start cataclysmically with Emma accusing Alaric of murder. Only what she witnessed was a little BDSM and not an assault. The book is spicy spicy but the sex scenes serve to push forward the emotional development of the characters which I appreciated. This is so easily a series that I could sink into and just read all of her books. It’s a wrench tearing myself away from her back catalogue and continuing my search for historical romances. I will be back!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

My advice: Start at the beginning of her back catalogue as all the books are connected. Doable as standalones, but more rewarding when read as a series.

Elyse reviewed this book in 2017 and gave it a B.

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Nearly a Lady

Author: Alissa Johnson
Released: May 10, 2016
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Haverston Family #1

Emily C recommended this author to me. This book features a stellar heroine: Winnefred.

She’s forthright and strong and almost belligerently herself. The story opens with two brothers investigating the financial crimes of their stepmother who is now on the run. One of those crimes was to deny Winnefred (her husband’s ward) her allotted amount of money. Instead she sent Winnefred and her governess Lilly a fraction of the amount they were due.

After the prologue, one of the brothers, Gideon, travels to Scotland to talk with the women and make the situation right by giving them a lot of money. As premises go, I found it refreshingly original. The story follows Winnefred and her governess getting ready for a season in London.

This book features some intense emotions, some flashbacks to war and a few memorable kisses. This is not a restful read. It’s an immersive one that takes you on a journey. Gideon, on the surface, is a light hearted kind of guy, but that’s not the full story. He’s also tormented by memories of war, so much so that it interferes with his relationships without his realizing.

I appreciated that even though Winnefred had her London season, she didn’t change in herself. She remained forthright and pugnacious.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Listen to the Moon

Author: Rose Lerner
Released: August 15, 2017 by Rose Lerner
Genre: Historical: European, Regency, Romance
Series: Lively St. Lemeston #1

Rose Lerner was recommended by Emily C, kkw, Amanda Valentine. I tried this book but didn’t get far. Not because of anything wrong with the book but rather it was me.

For me, financial struggle is a sore spot. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my parents trying to hide our financial struggles as a family. I tell you this only to explain why reading about people who have financial stress (in this case a valet who has been unjustly fired and then blacklisted by his former employer) is a no-go for me.

So with this book, it’s really me, not the book that’s the issue. I’m including Rose Lerner’s book here because aside from the financial stress, it had me intrigued and I want you to know about it because I think it’s a book that other people will really enjoy. In fact, Carrie reviewed this book back in 2018 and gave it an A-.

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