Mrs. Holloway’s Christmas Pudding by Jennifer Ashley

When Cook Kat Holloway is blamed when a dinner guest mysteriously takes ill after eating one of her meals, she sets out to prove she had nothing to do with the gentleman’s sickness. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kat’s reputation means everything to her, to keep her job and to keep Grace safe and comfortable. And she will do whatever she needs to when that reputation is threatened. This book was a short but exciting piece of investigation to find a poisoner. With plenty of suspects to go around, the story kept me captivated and delivered a surprise ending. This is a novella in this series, and it will be better to have read at least some of the other books in this series to know who the characters are.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: December 25, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Book 6.7 of A Below Stairs Mystery

Bloodguard by Cecy Robson

One hundred years. Tens of thousands of gladiators. And today, only one will rise…

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I wasn’t sure what to rate this book. There were very obvious similarities to the movie Gladiator, just with more fantasy and violence. The fight scenes were thrilling and nail-bitingly tense, but some felt drawn-out. There were plenty of surprise reveals, suspense, and tension to keep things interesting and engaging, but at one point it felt like Leith was never going to get to his final two fights. I liked Leith and Maeve and they had plenty of chemistry.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: October 22, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Book 1 of Old Erth

Dashing All the Way by Chelsea Curto

He might be my ex’s dad and sixteen years older than me, but that won’t stop me from wanting to enjoy some holiday cheer with the man I can’t stop thinking about.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well, this turned into a pleasant surprise. I started reading it expecting it to be just about the sex, but it was a lot more. Margo and Finn’s story was interesting and engaging. The whole “banging your ex’s dad” sounds very awkward to me, but apart from that, I enjoyed their interactions, the way they communicated with each other, and the very hot chemistry.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 1, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Scorching

Two Dances and a Duke by Eloisa James

Miss Beatrice Valentine is having a horrible first Season, shamed for her curves by a group of young ladies led by Lady Regina Haywood, daughter of a duke. Despite Regina’s attempts to make Bea a wallflower, Bea finds herself torn between the rakish, quick-tempered Lord Peregrine (engaged to Lady Regina) and the gentleman war-hero, the Duke of Lennox (Lady Regina’s brother).

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Undressing completely in a moving carriage? It was difficult to imagine the logistics of that exactly, but it was undeniably hot. This was a quick, delightful, and very enjoyable read.

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: December 19, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Book 1 of The Seduction