Scandalous Summer Nights

Highland Knights #0.5 A Highlander's Heart

by Grace Callaway

Seven sexy series-opening novellas from seven bestselling historical romance authors!

A Highlander’s Heart (The Highland Knights, Book 1)
By Jennifer Haymore
Once madly in love, Claire and Rob Campbell are now estranged, torn apart by war and loss. When desire rekindles between them, they both hope desperately that they can mend their broken marriage ... But some wounds go deeper than the concussion Rob suffered on the Waterloo battlefield. And some wounds can never be healed.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days (What Happens in Scotland, Book 1)
By Kate McKinley
Lucas Alexander, the ninth Duke of Arlington, is a man who gets what he wants. So when he sees the alluring Miss Pippa Welby from across a crowded ballroom, he vows to make her his. But the bold and spirited Pippa has sworn never to marry into the haute ton. Now Lucas must win her the only way he knows how—one wicked kiss at a time.

The Widow Vanishes (Prequel to the Heart of Enquiry Series)
By Grace Callaway
A disastrous marriage leaves Annabel Foster buried in her deceased husband’s debt and at the mercy of a cutthroat. Faced with death or selling her body, she makes an unthinkable choice … Haunted by his past, former soldier William McLeod seeks forgetfulness in the arms of a tempting wench. What begins as a night of lust, however, transforms into desire beyond his wildest fantasies … Attraction flares between the pair even as an evil enemy seeks to destroy them both. Can one night of passion lead to love forevermore?

Scandal Before Sunrise (The Weekly Scandal, Book 1)
By Sabrina Darby
When a reformed bad girl meets a rogue with dishonorable intentions, it's guaranteed to be a scandal before sunrise.

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple (Haberdashers Nights, Book 1)
By Sue London
An heiress turns away every suitor until she meets a mysterious foreigner at a masque ball. His kiss ignites her in ways that nothing else has, but he refuses her pleas to elope. Has she lost her heart to a man who doesn’t exist?

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke (A Prequel to the Caversham Chronicles)
By Sandy Raven
Caught kissing a man she believes within her reach socially, Amelia discovers he isn’t. Not only that, he is same man her widowed aunt has been stalking all season. When the Duke of Caversham realizes who Amelia is, he does the honorable thing and offers for her. Only Amelia’s pride will not allow her to be forced onto any man in marriage. Cav must then convince Amelia that she is the only woman he wants for the rest of his life.

Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender (Wicked Liaisons, Book 1)
By Vivienne Westlake
A midnight encounter between two estranged lovers rekindles a passion beyond their wildest dreams... Rowena, Countess of Northam, is surprised to find her former suitor has returned from India and is on his way to the very house where she is staying. When he appears in her room late at night, she can only believe it is a dream. Her fantasy soon becomes reality when Simon makes every effort to seduce her.

Genres: Historical Romance, Anthologies, Historical, Romance, Regency, Victorian, Short Stories

650 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2014

About the author

Preorder GLORY AND THE MASTER OF SHADOWS (Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels #4) for March 28th!

Put it on your "To Read" shelf ➤
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Don't miss this thrilling new historical romance by USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway! Set during the Opium Wars, this steamy and spellbinding Charlie’s Angels meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon romance will leave you breathless...

Their love is forbidden…and irresistible.

The daughter of a half-Chinese duke and a lady fossil hunter, Lady Glory Cavendish is a free-spirited campaigner for justice. She belongs to a secret society of lady detectives whose goal is to help women in need. During her latest case involving a dastardly dognapping, Glory crosses paths with the handsome and mysterious Wei Chen, a master of healing and martial arts. Fascinated by the noble shifu, Glory convinces him to take her on as a pupil; the more time she spends with him, however, the more she longs for lessons of a more intimate nature.

Master Wei Chen has led a life of discipline focused on a single goal: avenging his murdered kin. His journey takes him to London where, by day, he treats opium users in his East End clinic and, by night, he secretly hunts the villain who destroyed his family. Yet for the first time, temptation distracts Wei: his spirited and lovely new pupil stirs dangerous needs in him. Desires that are forbidden between a shifu and his student…and between a commoner and a duke’s daughter.

As Wei and Glory’s slow-burn romance ignites into fiery passion, they are drawn into a web of betrayal and deceit. Torn between honor and desire, revenge and love, the pair must decide if they will let the past determine their future…or if they will fight the shadows for their chance at happily ever after.

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About Grace

USA Today & International Bestselling Author Grace Callaway writes hot and heart-melting historical romance filled with mystery and adventure. Her debut novel was a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and a #1 National Regency Bestseller, and her subsequent novels have topped national and international bestselling lists. She is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, the Maggie Award for Excellence in Historical Romance, the Golden Leaf, and the Passionate Plume Award for Historical Novel. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan and lives with her family in a valley close to the sea. When she’s not writing, she enjoys dancing, exploring the great outdoors with her rescue pup, and cheering on her favorite basketball team.

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Reviews

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many or these stories were more "erotic" than the usual historical romance fare I read. On the whole, some were disappointing but a few of these installments were fun and I am interested in reading more from two of these authors. I don't think this set is available for purchase any longer, but these novellas has been released on their own so you can purchase them separately. I originally rated this as 3 stars, but I'm rounding up to 4 since I realized as I wrote this that I enormously enjoyed 4 of the stories :)

The Widow Vanishes, Grace Callaway
This story started off early with a sex scene that I found to be a bit much. I lost interest after that. I won't be reading more by this author since I got the vibe from her writing that she is more into erotic romance/coarser language than typical historical romance. Not my taste. No rating since I read the sex scene at the beginning and stopped.

Scandal Before Sunrise, Sabrina Darby
This novella was the main reason I purchased this collection. I like Darby's style. This story was no different. For some reason, even though I didn't necessarily like the characters, I wanted to know what happened and I found the writing flowed along nicely and I enjoyed it. The characters came across as shallow and bored. The heroine wanted security and the hero wanted the heroine's body with no strings attached. They kept finding reasons to see each other until one day they discover their superficial feelings had deepened into something else. I found the secondary characters to be intriguing despite the ennui. As I said, I enjoy Darby's style, in particular because she makes such different, flawed, not-necessarily-likable characters interesting. 4 stars.

A Highlander's Heart, Jennifer Haymore
Wow...this novella got me right in the feels. I even found myself tearing up a little at the end which I haven't done since Lorraine Heath's The Duke and the Lady in Red. For such a short work, this story really packs a punch. Haymore's descriptions of the war zone after Waterloo, how it affected those who had been in the battle and those who arrived after in search of loved ones....it was real and gripping and sickening. I was drawn in from page 1 and I didn't stop reading until I finished it. While this story is based on a "big misunderstanding,"it is one that truly makes sense and the pain and the way the past tore at the characters even as they struggled to move forward. You don't find out what the problem is until you know the characters more so when the reveal happened...well, it had an impact. It got me. This was excellently done and I highly recommend it. This was one of Haymore's best. Also, her sex scenes tend to be hotter, but they aren't crude and I enjoyed them. This novella was the strongest of the set. 5 stars.

Lord Lucifer's Disciple, Sue London
I had planned to just skim this story to find out whether I liked the flow/characterization/sex scenes to see if I wanted to come back later to read it or try more by the author. Well, I ended up getting sucked in completely and I'll definitely be trying more by the author if a blurb sounds intriguing, particularly in this short format. Anyway, this novella had good characters. I liked the young woman who sought to find an emotional and sensual connection to whom she married and in particular, I liked the hero, a private man who preferred to be alone but somehow found himself coming out of his shell around the heroine. I love those private men who spread their wings as they find the right woman :) There is some deceit on the part of the hero as he pretends to be someone else; however, knowing how shy he is, the "masquerade" allowed him to try out new emotions and ultimately encouraged him to go after what he wants. In all, I found this story to be sexy, fun, and quick to read. A new author for me to watch. 4.5 stars.

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke, Sandy Raven
This story was probably the most unique of the bunch. As other reviewers have said, there is an enormous age gap; the heroine is in her late 20's and the hero recently turned 50. Now, older men are decidedly not my thing, but I found this dynamic to be interesting and unexpectedly sexy and I did believe in their romance (some reviewers did not so consider your own preferences). The hero was a duke, older, and pushy. He was always in control of everything--and that was why I think his age made sense. The heroine was a "spinster" but also a more mature woman and privately sensual. There was a companionship and sexuality that developed between the pair relatively quickly and despite the initial autocratic behavior of the hero (he is a duke after all), I enjoyed the HEA and thought the heroine could hold her own. The sex scenes were a bit much for me and more on the erotic side/coarser language but I found myself reading them anyway because I was interested in the characters themselves. However, since these were more erotic, I would not seek out full-length novels by this author, but I'd manage the sex scenes for more shorter works since I still found this story to be enjoyable, and more importantly, different. 3.5 stars.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days, Kate McKinley
As my GR friends Ally and kris would say, this story was about all about the boners. Haha...there was little depth here and I found myself not caring about the characters and skimming the story. These two just wanted to find excuses to be alone and touch each other. Not my taste though I don't think I'd consider this "erotic" since I wasn't seeing tons of coarse language--just to give you a clue, the cover of this standalone novella has a picture of the couple with the hero's hand on the heroine's behind. It is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get story. 1 star.

Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender, Vivienne Westlake
The final story in this installment is also more of an erotic romance. I found the set-up to be hard to believe and I didn't like how the heroine, who was supposed to be a composed, cool widow, became a quivering mess as soon as the hero was on the page because she couldn't stop thinking about his sexy bits. If both characters are in a lust-haze, that's one thing, but having only one character panting after the other, eh, it is kind of pathetic. As I said, mostly a sex fest but the twist at the end surprised me and made me sad so there was some unexpected angst at the end that upped the rating a star. Too erotic for my taste so I won't be seeking other works by this author, but for those who like fantasies of waking up from a sexy dream to the real thing...here is your novella. 2 stars.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandalous Summer Nights – with Grace Callaway, Sabrina Darby, Jennifer Haymore, Sue London, Kate McKinley, Sandy Raven, and Vivienne Westlake is a 2014 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What I like about anthologies is that if affords me the opportunity to sample work by authors I am not familiar with and I get to read short stories by authors I am already following. So, it's a win-win. Naturally when you combine seven unique voices into one volume there are going to be some stories that stand out more than others, some longer, some shorter, and maybe there is one that becomes a favorite. This anthology was no different, but For the most part these stories compliment each other nicely. For me one story did capture my attention enough to garner a five star rating so I'm going to share my review of :

A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore is a 2014 publication.

The war separates a couple who departed under strained circumstances, with harsh words being spoken. But now as the battles rage, Claire begins to fear Rob will be killed and her horrible words will be the last ones they ever speak to one another.

Finally a letter arrives from Rob explaining to her where he will be, and so Claire decides she must make peace with her husband and sets out to meet up with him.

Against the horrible battle of Waterloo, Claire finds Rob alive, but not well. As she begins to nurse him and others back to health, he receives new orders. So, with the now or never moment, Claire begins laying the ground work to save her marriage. But, will it be enough?

I enjoyed this short story that highlights the importance of communication and cautions against making presumptions about how others are really feeling and letting angry words hang in the air without making peace.

The cause of the rift between the couple is not hard to guess at but once the couple begins to open up with each other explaining their misconceptions and misunderstandings , the resentments and hurts begin to give way to healing.

I also think there are times when despite being hurt and angry and feeling more than justified about having those feelings, that making the first move to heal the rift is the right thing to do. If Claire had not swallowed her grief and hurt and let go of her pride, their marriage may have died with no chance at recapturing what they once had.

This brief story is quite emotional and deals with some tough subjects such as depictions of war and loss, but the issues within the marriage were deep and difficult, however, the healing brings out how deeply these two love each other and makes sexy time that much more meaningful. I wish more historical romance authors were not so afraid of making their stories more substantial. Emotions and sentimentality are not things to be afraid of. Light historical romps are great, but stories like these seem too few and far between. 4.5 stars rounded to 5

As a whole I give this anthology a 4 star rating.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandalous Summer Nights is an enjoyable collection of historical romances that is hard to put down. I enjoyed each story and wanted to keep reading and reading. I had only read one of the authors before so it was a nice way for me to experience these new to me writers.

“The Widow Vanishes” by Grace Callaway was a good start to the collection. Annabel Foster is a widow left penniless from a gambling husband. Indebted to the evil gambling hell proprietor, she is forced to become a whore. On her first night being open for business, she is chosen as the one to spend the night with former soldier William McLeod, who has received his choice of courtesans for the night as a reward from his boss, the same evil gambling hell proprietor. They have a fabulous night and she runs off in the morning to escape her boss. McLeod follows and vows to take care of her and settle her debt, but the gambling hell owner makes it, well, hell to clear.

I just finished another book by Grace Callaway that was ok and I liked this story better. The only thing I don’t like about her writing style, and which I noticed in the other book I read, is her use of descriptors such as “tits” and “pussy” when describing the sex scenes. I looked up in the online etymology dictionary that tits was not used until late 19th century and pussy in the early 20th century, not that the characters were using the terms themselves, but still in a period book I would think the author would keep to the current lingo. I also have a personal bias toward the word pussy for some unknown reason buried in my subconscious.

The chemistry between Annabel and McLeod was very good. It was interesting that she never called him by his first name, but McLeod, which was kind of funny during the love scenes.

“Scandal Before Sunrise” by Sabrina Darby was one of my favorites. Abigail Billings returns for a season after disappearing a few years ago with no word to her friends. She ran with a fast crowd and people of the ton suspect there may have been a scandal but that doesn’t stop Abigail from being accepted back into the fold. She desperately needs to find a husband before everyone finds out about her family’s finances. Elliot Jones has also just returned after doing his duty fighting for England. The younger son of an earl, there are no real expectations of him to marry. However, he becomes intrigued by Abigail Billings and must uncover the reason for her mysterious departure and return.

I hadn’t read Sabrina Darby before and she appears to be a fairly new writer with only a few Regency books and several novellas in both HR and contemporary. I liked her writing and this story was captivating. There is an instant attraction between Abigail and Elliot, but Abigail needs to marry and Elliot has no inclination. He’d rather have a fling, which of course would not serve Abigail who is trying to avoid more scandal. The reason for Abigail leaving kept me in suspense and I did not suspect what occurred. I thought the ending was a bit too swift though, but then again, this is a novella so I suppose these stories do have to be summed up.
“A Highlander’s Heart” by Jennifer Haymore almost doesn’t go with the themes of this collection seeing as it is a story about a Scottish warrior, but he fights for England in the war against Napoleon with his regiment, the Gordon Highlanders. While Major Sir Robert Campbell has been fighting, his estranged wife, Lady Claire Campbell has been awaiting word and finally cannot wait any longer and travels to Waterloo. There begins the story of their reunion and ultimate reconciliation.

The story of Lady Claire’s and Major Robert’s estrangement and reconciliation was a romantic one. The reason for their estrangement is not revealed until much later in the story. It’s a classic tale of miscommunication in getting reconciled and typical but the secondary characters assistance is original. I found myself rooting for the couple throughout the story.

“Lord Lucifer’s Diciple” by Sue London competes for my number one favorite in this collection. The incredibly, painfully, shy hero, John Edwards, is debilitated to the point of impersonating his friend in order to attend a ball put on by his cousin. It is at this ball he meets the untouchable heiress, Elisa Jarvis, who is so tired of being pursued and adored she has become jaded and is intrigued by the mystery man behind the mask. The hilarity ensues while John discovers himself underneath his mistaken identity and tries to distinguish himself among all the suitors vying for the chance to become Elisa’s betrothed.

This is a sweet tale that I couldn’t put down and was wanting more when it ended. What was cute was that everyone was rooting for John – his closest friends and family, yet he had to prove himself to Elisa which was a challenge. John’s transformation during this story is compelling and how he demonstrates his love for Elisa is impressive. I would have liked to read a bit more about them after the ending, but it will have to be in my imagination I guess.

“How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days” by Kate McKinley was the first story I’ve read of hers. It begins with the re - introduction of Lucas Alexander, Duke of Arlington, to Pippa Welby, a daughter of a wealthy tradesman, and announcement by the Duke that he has set the date of their engagement ball in ten days. Pippa puts up a fierce fight – trying to get Lucas to break off the engagement at every turn. Nothing she does is so terrible as much as bothersome to Lucas and he is undeterred. Pippa doesn’t want to be his duchess – why? – she has been mocked by members of the ton since her father became successful and rich and inserted himself and Pippa into society. She must be super sensitive because she does not want to be associated with the ton as a duchess and doesn’t appreciate being strong-armed into doing anything.

There is heat when she finally succumbs to the inevitable but even to the last second no one is sure what she will do. I got frustrated with Pippa as Lucas is so alpha male and it was very difficult to see why she was going to let some petty girl drama get in the way of her becoming a duchess, but once she started to let herself be taken in by Lucas, all was good and I thought the scenes they had together were pretty steamy.

“Miss Amelia Lands a Duke” by Sandy Raven was the story I enjoyed the least. Amelia is a spinster and even though she is the granddaughter to a duke, she is destitute and becomes the “paid” companion to her narcissistic aunt. They arrive at a house party where her aunt is intent on acquiring her next husband, the Duke of Caversham. Amelia has a falling out with her aunt upon arrival, and finds herself banished from the activities, but it is in her solitude that she meets the Duke and he becomes immediately enamored with her, albeit for his next mistress. Subsequently, they are caught in a compromising position and he feels he must do the honorable thing and marry her, however, she doesn’t want to marry him. The Duke is also in his early 50’s, a widower with grown kids, and Amelia is 30 years or so younger.

It is the age difference that, to me, makes this story unique. There are definitely not a lot of Regency romances that I’ve read where there is this substantial age difference. There’s usually a reference to a marriage taken place where there was this age difference, and the woman who has become a widower, is back on the prowl. So this was interesting in that here we have Cav, who is all about his “weekly” (only weekly!) visits to his mistresses and not considering marriage at all. Yet, when things come to pass with Amelia, he decides marriage is the solution and chuckles about his newfound situation. Amelia is fiercely independent and fights the match not seeming to realize what power she will have as a duchess. The aunt of hers is a crazy wackjob so it is good she is able to get away from her.

Not a bad story, just not one I got into as much as the others in this collection.

“Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender” by Vivienne Westlake was a hot short tale. Rowena, Countess of Northam, and Simon were once courting until Simon had to go to fight the war in Spain. Rowena never heard from Simon and in fact thought he had abandoned her so she married his best friend. Now six years later, Simon has returned and they find themselves in the same house, that of his sister who is in confinement. Rowena is now a widow and has not forgotten Simon and seeing as his room is right next door to hers, they might just be able to pick up where they leave off.

There was immediate sexual tension when Simon returns. And he returns to hear Rowena in her bed in the middle of a sex dream about…Simon. So of course, he thinks all is well and they’ll just pick up where they left off, but she regains her senses and puts the brakes on that. They must discover the root cause of the misunderstanding but not without some anger, frustration and reconciliation sex.

All in all, a fabulous collection of stories, all enjoyable, and I am really looking forward to reading more from these authors.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a DRC for my review.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a boxed set of novellas. Each novella is the beginning of a series by that particular author. I don’t make a habit of giving novellas more than 3 stars, because I feel as though 4 and 5 star ratings should be reserved for full length books as more time (and hopefully more planning) goes into a full length book. That doesn’t mean I discount the quality of novellas based on their length.

The Widow Vanishes – Grace Callaway – 2 Stars

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This novella was part of the Scandalous Summer Nights boxed set. This novella is the Prequel to the Heart of Inquiry series.

The gist: Annabel’s scoundrel husband died owing a cutthroat, Todd, a bunch of money. McLeod does odd security jobs on a contract bases for various cutthroats and others who have a need for his services. Todd rewards McLeod with a night with Annabel. She’s had to resort to selling her body in order to repay her husband’s debt to Todd. They have an incredible night together and McLeod wants to settle her debt and take Annabel for his own. Todd isn’t willing to let her go that easily, though.

This novella was just so-so for me. I didn’t have a connection to either Annabel or McLeod and I wasn’t really that interested in their story. Todd made an excellent villain, though. McLeod has a brother who he has quite a bit of animosity toward. The whole brother aspect of the story was weird and more of a distraction to the story. There was just too much going on for it being such a short story and a lot of things just didn’t make a whole lot of sense. There was plenty of sex, which works for an erotica novella. The word ‘turgid’ was used, which makes my skin crawled. There were many other terms that didn’t necessarily appeal, like he ‘diddled’ her regularly.

Scandal Before Sunrise – Sabrina Darby – 3 Stars

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This novella was part of the Scandalous Summer Nights boxed set. This novella is book 1 in The Weekly Scandal series.

The gist: Abigail and her family disappeared from London without a word to anyone. This, of course, set tongues wagging. Now, three years later, she’s reappeared as suddenly as she disappeared and she’s in need of a husband. Elliot is the second son and as such, he joined the army. When his brother became ill, Elliot returned to London to prepare for inheriting his brother’s title. His brother’s health is on the mend, but Elliot is rejoining Society anyway since he already left the army. Elliot loves gossip, and the mystery and intrigue surrounding Abby’s sudden disappearance and reappears has more than peaked his interest. He’s determined to uncover her secrets, but he’s wholly unprepared for the feelings she stirs in him.

I VERY MUCH enjoyed this story! I liked Abby and Elliot immensely! Abby is full of spark and a lust for life, but she’s cautious enough to not bring total ruination upon herself. Elliot loves gossip, but not in a malicious sort of way. He’s intrigued by human behavior and the salaciousness of it, but he would never do anything to actually hurt anyone.

My only complaint would have to be that it was too short. I was disappointed when it was over so quickly, but that’s actually a good thing. (Even if it’s frustrating for a reader! Ha!) I will definitely be looking for more books in this series!

A Highlander’s Heart – Jennifer Haymore – 4 Stars

Here is the link to my goodreads review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple – Sue London – 3 Stars

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This novella was part of the Scandalous Summer Nights boxed set. This novella is book 1 in the Haberdashers Nights series.

The gist: Elisa is an heiress. She’s being hounded by suitors who see dollar signs (or pound signs, I suppose) when they look at her. She’s bored with all the posturing peacocks who come to call on her daily. John is the youngest son of a Viscount. He’s extremely shy and avoids social situations as much as he possibly can. He decides to attend his cousin’s ball since it’s a masque and he decides to pretend he’s confident and debonair. He assumes the identity of his foreign friend, Casimir. He didn’t count on meeting such an exquisite beauty as Elisa. Elisa is intrigued by the sexy and mysterious foreigner from the masque. They meet in her cousin’s garden and she asks him to elope with her. He refuses, knowing he can’t marry to her when she thinks he’s someone else. He decides to try and get her to see the real him. When the real Casimir turns up in London, John’s ruse is uncovered and he risks losing the only woman he doesn’t want to lose.

I really liked both Elisa and John. Elisa wants a man who sees her instead of only seeing her inheritance. She’s a very sweet and lonely girl. John is totally loveable because of his sweetness and shyness. He’s so incredibly awkward and uncomfortable and it affects his ability to have relationships with people. I loved them both instantly!

This story was warm fuzzies SWEET and I loved every second of it!

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days – Kate McKinley – 4 Stars

Here is the link to my goodreads review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke – Sandy Raven – 1 Star

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This novella was part of the Scandalous Summer Nights boxed set. This novella is the prequeal to the Caversham Chronicles series.

The gist: Amelia’s father has died and she’s been taken in by her only surviving relative, her aunt. Her aunt is a pretty nasty creature, prone to lying and manipulation. The aunt takes Amelia to a house party in the country where the Duke of Caversham is staying since the ruthless aunt has set her sights on the widowed Duke. While there, Amelia meets a dashing older man in the garden maze. He later finds her in the library and kisses her. When they are discovered in the library by her cruel aunt, Amelia realizes he is the famed Duke of Caversham. The Duke insists they will marry and takes Amelia under his protection in order to get her away from the venomous older woman.

I liked Amelia and Cav well enough. I wasn’t necessarily eager to read more of their story. He’s older than her father, so that aspect was a bit difficult for me to swallow and get on board with. There were several details that didn’t mesh. There were several details that seemed to changed willy nilly, like Amelia’s hair color. Her aunt made an excellent villainess, though. There were some things I liked about the story, but some I didn’t.

My biggest issue was the actual writing. I realize I received the ARC and there’s always the disclaimer that it isn’t the final copy. It’s still incredibly annoying when it seems as though the ARC is the rough/first draft of the book. Stupid mistakes that would have been easily fixed had the author reread what they wrote. On numerous occasions, whole paragraphs were repeated in slightly different words. It was as though the author changed her mind about how she wanted to word something, so she changed it but didn’t delete the original paragraph. There were also instances when it said something happened and then backtracked to replay it. Again, it felt like the author just modified how she wanted to say something, but didn’t delete the original wording. I realize it’s necessary to take an ARC with a bit of a grain of salt, but since the purpose of releasing ARCs is to garner attention before (or after) the release date, I still feel like the books should at least be read by one person before it’s released as an ARC. I can’t be guaranteed the massive problems will be corrected before the final copy is released, and therefore, I feel it’s prudent to mention these things as it drives me crazy when I spend money on a book that the author or publisher didn’t bother taking the time to read through before releasing.

Lady Northham’s Wicked Surrender – Vivienne Westlake – 2 Stars

Here is the link to my goodreads review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sheila Melo · Rating 5 out of 5]

SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTS is a collection of novellas that are the first in new series by each of the authors. I really liked that these are all new series because I could read each without worrying about missing part of the series. My favorites were the stories by Grace Callway, Jennifer Haymore and Kate McKinley.

Overall rating: 4.25.

THE WIDOW VANISHES by Grace Callaway: This novella is the prequel to Callaway's new Heart of Enquiry series. This new series is a spin off of Callaway's Mayhem in Mayfair series. For fans of the Mayhem in Mayfair series, there are appearances by favorite characters but new readers won't be lost.

THE WIDOW VANISHES is the story Annabel Foster a young widow who sell herself to pay off her feckless husband's gambling debts. On her first night she is chosen by William McLeod. William is a Scotsman who works as a guard for hire. He receives Annabel as a bonus for a job he does for a gaming hell owner. Their amazing night together changes both of them and leads William to seek to rescue the woman who doesn't expect to be rescued by anyone.

I really love the vibrancy of Callaway's characters. They are strong and independent people with a strong sexuality. Her books always have graphic and intense sex scenes, but they are not gratuitous. The characters always are emotional and intense people. I loved Will and Bella together. She is determined to be strong and recover from her weaknesses and Will is a very honorable man.

We are also introduced to Will's brother, the Duke of Strathaven. I hope we see more of him in future books because his story must be a good one.

Rating: 4.25

SCANDAL BEFORE SUNRISE by Sabrina Darby: This novella is the first book in The Weekly Scandal series. It is the story of Abigail Billings who had two season where she was a bad girl. Now she has returned to London seeking a husband to avoid the great scandal gathering around her family. She meets Elliot Jones who expects the bad girl and instead finds a prim and proper girl. He's looking for a lover while she is looking for a husband.

I liked Abigail's character but just didn't feel any real heat between her and Elliot. I was interested in what sent her running from London three years before but after that mystery was revealed, I wasn't as interested in the rest of the story. Rating: 3

A HIGHLANDER'S HEART by Jennifer Haymore: This book is the first in the Highland Knights series. Robert Campbell is at the Battle of Waterloo and sees and angel. He doesn't realize that it is his own wife, Claire Campbell who he has not seen in months. The two separated bitterly when Claire said that she did not want to see Robert again. She travels to Waterloo, however, fearing that she won't have the chance to say that she is sorry.

The story between Robert and Claire is raw and emotional as the two learn to speak to one another again after being driven apart. I really liked these characters who handle pain differently and don't necessarily recognize the needs that the other has. They are honorable and clearly in love. It was gratifying to see these two find their way back to one another.

Rating: 4.25

LORD LUCIFER'S DISCIPLE by Sue London: This is the first of the Haberdashers Nights books, short and sexy stories. Elisa Jarvis meets a mysterious foreigner at a masquerade. The two end up kissing and more and she wants even more and asks him to marry her but he refuses. Elisa is going to be married off in two weeks by her guardian if she doesn't find a husband before then. John Howards is a shy man who accepts an invitation to the masquerade but decides to become someone else and impersonates his friend from Vienna. This honorable man soon finds himself in a pickle having fallen for Elisa in his guise.

I liked the premise of this book. John is shy and finds himself acting boldly in his disguise. I liked how he gets tangled in his disguise and ends up wooing her in two forms. I thought that Elisa was too nice to him when she discovers his deception, but thought that the couple was really sweet together in the end.

Rating: 4

HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS by Kate McKinley: This is the first in the What Happens in Scotland series. I loved the premise for this book. Miss Pippa Welby is the daughter of wealthy tradesman. Lucas Alexander is the Duke of Arlington. Lucas comes to ask Pippa to marry him. She doesn't want to (because she doesn't want to join the ton where she has been looked down upon because of her class). Lucas gives her an invitation to their engagement ball in 10 days. He swears to win her; she swears to lose him.

I loved this story. Pippa and Lucas are funny together and strike sparks off of one another. I admit a weakness for those men who appear cold and just need the right woman to warm them. Pippa's attempts to discourage Lucas from wanting to marry her. The two are pretty hot together as well. I was amazed at how much McKinley packed into this novella. I certainly want to read more of the series.

Rating: 4.25

MISS AMELIA LANDS A DUKE by Sandy Raven: This is a prequel to the Caversham Chronicles. Amelia Manners-Sutton is a spinster and a companion to her aunt. Her aunt is a social climber who intends to wed Marcus Renfield Halden, the Duke of Caversham even though she is not out of mourning. While at a house party, Amelia hides from her aunt's schemes and runs into a gentleman who intrigues her. Of course, it ends up that it is the duke, but Amelia doesn't know that right away.

I liked this story. Amelia is efficient and independent. The duke being older than most heroes is more settled and mature. He doesn't intend on marrying again because of his age. There is something very sweet about their relationship. They are a good match with Amelia being strong and independent.

Rating: 4

LADY NORTHAM'S WICKED SURRENDER by Vivienne Westlake: This is book one of the Wicked Liaisons series. This is a story of two former loves who have a second chance. Rowena, the widowed Countess of Northam is approached by a former suiter, Simon, Lord Rutherford. He has been away for six years in India. When the two parted, Rowena married Simon's best friend.

I really liked the story of Simon and Rowena. My complaint about this story is that it really was too complex to be told in such a short novella. This story would have been better if the angst had had time to stretch out over the course of a longer novel. As written, I thought the story was a bit rushed and did not give the emotional impact it could have.

Rating: 3

I received an ARC free from Grace Callaway in order to provide a review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
My favorites in this anthology are by Grace Callaway, Jennifer Haymore and Kate McKinley.

The Widow Vanishes, Grace Callaway
Will and Annabel. I have loved all of Grace Callaway’s books and this one is no exception. This is a knight in shining armor story. You can imagine Will riding up on his trusty steed to save the day. Will has a sense of honor and does what he can to protect others. Both Will and Annabel have suffered from bad past relationships and are hesitant to let themselves be vulnerable again. Will and Annabel each make sacrifices for what they believe is right for the other. Theirs is a sweet story (there are some sexy parts as well) that will make you smile. A secondary character is Will’s brother, Alaric. He seemed to be thoughtless and uncaring - he steals Will’s former girlfriend but realizes it was a mistake. By the end of the story you realize that Alaric is not all that he seems. I would love to see him as a hero in one of the continuing stories in this new series. Also there are a couple of cameos from the Mayhem in Mayfair series…if you have not read those be sure to pick them up, they are also fantastic.

Scandal Before Sunrise, Sabrina Darby
Elliot and Abby. I still start off by saying that I love other Sabrina Darby books (e.g., Carolina and the Duke was very fun and flirtatious) but this one does not live up to those standards. This is a personal preference but I like a lot of dialog between the characters. For about ¾ of the book it is mainly their inner thoughts. Abby is desperate to find a husband to avoid a scandal she believes is about to surface (and when we find out about the scandal it is shocking but comes out anyway and she is not terribly scandalized). Elliot just wants a fling and I was honestly tired of him saying that he did not see what the big deal was with Abby. I did not feel the love between them. I will admit that the last ¼ of the book sort of redeemed itself. A secondary character that I did like very much was very flirtatious and outrageous and would love to see him as a hero in another book (Manfrey). Will I read another Sabrina Darby book? Yes.

A Highlander’s Heart, Jennifer Haymore
Rob and Claire. This is a heartbreaking story of love and loss. Rob and Claire have been through a very tough time in their life and it is tearing them apart. Claire has decided that they need to make amends and goes to Rob at Waterloo. However being with Rob is bringing back the sad memories and it is tearing her apart. You can feel the heartbreak of both Claire and Rob and want them to feel love once again. Rob has no idea how to deal with it and walks away because Claire asks him to. There is a great scene with him and two friends where they are basically telling Rob that he is an idiot for walking away and what he should have done instead. Rob and Claire finally understand each other and how they each express their grief and their coming back together was so beautiful. Honestly you might need a tissue. I loved all of the men in Rob’s regiment (especially Stirling) and look forward to the future stories in this series.

Lord Lucifer's Disciple, Sue London
John and Elisa. This was a sweet story. John is a beta hero who is not outgoing would rather be reading and alone than in the midst of the marriage mart. I really felt for him. Elisa was bored with all of the suitors and was hoping for excitement in her life. It did come in the form of John in disguise. I like the “masked” side of John. He let go and had fun. However he did not want Elisa to fall for his other persona so he set about wooing her as himself which Elisa rebuked at first but we all know how that goes…it was really the person inside that drew her to him. John’s wooing of Elisa as himself was very sweet and made for a nice HEA. At about ½ through the book I thought there is no way I am going to read more of this series but have to say by the end I was drawn in and will look for future books.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days, Kate McKinley
Lucas and Pippa. This is what I love about most Regency romances. Lots of wit and lots and banter. Lucas is definitely a rogue of the worst sort and you cannot help but like him. His journey to the realization that emotions will not make you any less of a person is fantastic. Pippa had absolutely no chance against his seduction. She is a strong person and helps change Lucas for the better by her not bowing down to his machinations. I loved their interactions and would have liked the story to be longer. A secondary character you did not see much of but is nonetheless intriguing is Lucas’ friend Matthias. I am hoping he can get his own book (maybe there is something in his helping Lucas…will not give it away but it seems to make for what could be an interesting story). I look forward to reading future books in this series.

Lady Amelia Lands a Duke, Sandy Raven
Marcus and Amelia. This was a very sweet story. It was also a much more mature story than most Regency romances. Marcus is a mature man with grown children from his first marriage and not a rogue but is intelligent and honorable. Amelia is older than most heroines and holds her own and does not care what society thinks. I really liked both Marcus and Amelia. I believed that they came to love each other in the short period of time (which does not always work in romances). The only thing that bothered me was that Marcus would have been an old man by the time his children with Amelia were grown. I have not read the other Caversham books but plan on it now.

Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender, Vivienne Westlake
Simon and Rowena. This is a second chances story that is bittersweet with misunderstandings and with a twist. I read this as a stand-alone a while back but understand it was revised a little for this anthology and it is still just as good as I remember. Simon’s devastation over what he believes was Rowena’s cuckolding was definitely felt in this story. The twist comes in that instead of Simon having to explain himself it is Rowena as Simon is ready to walk away because he feels Rowena does not trust him and how could their relationship grow but Rowena realizes she does not want to lose Simon again. Rowena realizes he is right and as they talk they realize that they do want a relationship and love each other. I only wish this story could have been longer. I really liked both characters. I look forward to the next books in this series.

[Maggie Hesseling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wicked Widow

Will is given Annabel as a thank you for his services and an incentive to be on permanent 'pay-roll' but she disappears and before he knows it he's off hunting her down before someone meaner and bigger finds her. - I love how Will's such a good guy. Even working in a world with so much evil, he's managed to keep his integrity. This is a smashing prequel to Calloway's Heart of Enquiry series.

Scandal Before Sunrise

Back in London for the season after running off before scandal could break, Abigail is ready to be respectable. Jones, whose returned from his duty fighting the French is ready to settle down, but is intrigued by Abigail's naughty past, and how he can return her to those liberating thoughts she once had. - I laughed a lot while reading Darby's novel. Not only were the characters a lot of fun, but Abigail's antics would have sent any respecting mother at the time into hysterics! Brilliantly wicked and fun!

A Highlander's Heart

Claire follows her husband to Waterloo in order to apologize for the argument that caused him to leave, Robert, weary of his wife but can they heal their wounds together? - A tearful but beautiful story. I was especially happy to read how Claire (and eventually Robert) were ready to work on their marriage and hopefully move on. I'd really love to read the rest of the series and see how the rest of his group fairs.

Lord Lucifer's Disciple

John's really bad at social situations. So bad that when he finally goes to a masked ball he pretends to be someone else in order to talk to the woman he's so taken by. A case of mistaken identity and introversion. - I went through a range of emotions regarding this story. On the one hand I understood John, who doesn't want to pretend to be someone else in order to be more outgoing, but on the other hand, I couldn't see how it would help him in the long run, and I knew how hurt Elisa would be when the whole thing was discovered. That said, this story really sweeps you up in it. Rooting for each side and switching sides continuously. I really loved it.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days

A Duke gets what he wants when he wants, or that's what Lucas, the 9th Duke of Arlington thinks. But when he informs Pippa of that, she'll have none of it. He's met his match, and she'll be the one to show him. - I laughed. And then I laughed some more. What a delicious novella! Oh how I wish it had been slightly longer. It would have done the Duke some good to grovel a little. So serious about everything, I can only hope that his wife keeps teaching him how to be a little more playful.

Miss Amelia Lands A Duke

Amelia's life seems to have turned for the worst. A life as a companion isn't the issue, but rather her aunt who she works for is. Marcus isn't planning to marry again and he definately isn't going to be trapped by a woman who cares nothing for him, but when he encounters said 'lady's' companion, all bets are off and he hasn't been more interested in years. - 'I would have hit my aunt with a frying pan' is what I kept thinking while reading this novel. And poor Amelia, who couldn't hurt a fly, why would she be treated so badly? From the get-go I coudn't wait for her to be swept off her feet. Marcus may not be very good at asking, but he's the type of good man, which I enjoy reading.

Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender

When Simon returns from India intended to make Rowena his, he realises the barriers he'll have to face. Her husband/his best friend died leaving her grieving for a husband she loved. He'll just have to seduce her back to him. - Of all the Gall! Not only does Simon return but he jumps right into her bed while he's asleep, not even a 'hi, how have you been?' before hand. I was speechless. For most of the story, i felt completely and brilliantly gobsmacked.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC copy provided via Net Galley & Jennifer Haymore for an honest review!

FIVE OFF THE CHARTS STARS all around! I waited until I was ready to commit to continuing with the series IF these starter novellas urged me so and there is no IF about it. I am ready and willing to move forward!!!

The Wicked Widow ... who doesn't love to read about a knight in shinning armor story? :)
Scandal Before Sunrise ... HOLY hilarious all the way around! what great characters!
A Highlander's Heart ... I have a weakness for Highlander clan stories and this one was very heart-wrenching AND heartwarming! A do not miss for sure!
Lord Lucifer's Disciple ... oh my, the 'geek' trying to get the girl ... story is VERY touching and a must read as well!
How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days ... If the title doesn't tell you you will laugh your butt off reading this, then this may not be for you. Confident, gets what he wants guy meets his match! Let the games BEGIN! LOLOLOL
Miss Amelia Lands A Duke ... This story warmed my heart at the same time as I wanted to kill someone! Why you ask? read and find out LOL ;)
Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender ... Simon knows what he wants and jumps right on in and gets it! Read to find out more!!

As you can see and if you follow my reviews at all, I am not one to give away too much plot in my reviews. That would ruin it for you. What I will say is about writing and characters and story things. There really wasn't much to not like about these novellas. This anthology is really a great way to expand your horizons to new authors. They all did a great job of peeking my interest in their series!

[Kate McKinley]

**7 SEXY SERIES-OPENING TALES FROM 7 BESTSELLING HISTORICAL ROMANCE AUTHORS**

ON SALE FOR JUST $0.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME

Includes 5 brand-new stories exclusive to this box set!

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widow Vanishes by Grace Callaway

Annabel Foster is forced to honor her late husband’s debts by either giving up her life or losing her virtue. On her first night in the brothel, she is fortunate to have William McLeod as her first patron. The last thing she expects is the fiery passion that ignites between them. Can this night of startling passion lead to a forever kind of love?
What a great story and so well-written. For a short novella, there is excellent character development and an intriguing plot. This is another great offering from Grace Callaway and it will not be the last of her books that I’ll read. I can’t wait to read the Heart of Enquiry series!

Scandal Before Sunrise by Sabrina Darby

Abby returns to London for the season after being away for three years, determined to secure a husband before the ton finds out about her parents’ scandalous behavior. While she gains the attention of an honorable man, she is drawn to Elliot Jones, a rake and a gossip. Should she choose her steady admirer, or give in to her desires and choose passion over sensibility?
This book showcases friendship between a group of young people bend on living life to its fullest, but at a cost. I had sympathy for Abby’s frenzied need to find a husband before all was revealed, especially when some of her poor choices from three years ago come back to haunt her. After all, she lives in a time where marriage is expected. However, I did not care for Elliot as much. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this story and will look forward to reading more from this author.

A Highlander’s Heart by Jennifer Haymore

Lady Claire races to Belgium so she can tell her husband she is sorry for her hateful words ten months ago when he left her side at the worst moment of her life. She arrives too late and searches the battlefield for her estranged husband the day after Waterloo. When she finds him, all she wants to do is rush into his arms, but is she too late? Can they mend their broken marriage, or are they destined to repeat the past heartache?
What a great start on what I anticipate will be another incredible series for Ms. Haymore. She masterfully introduces the men of the Highland Knights as she weaves a poignant story of loss and love for a couple trying to find their way back to each other. When I found out what happened, my heart ached for their terrible loss. I couldn’t stop reading this riveting story, which captured me and held me in its thrall to the very end while the tension built on each page. I look forward to this new series with great anticipation.

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple by Sue London

Elisa Jarvis meets a mysterious and intriguing stranger at a masque ball. As an heiress, she constantly plagued with dozens of men who are only interested in her massive dowry. This interesting masked man doesn’t know who she is and can’t be interested in her money. Swept up in the moment, she allows him to kiss her and agrees to meet him the following night. Little does she know, but the strange is none other than the quiet, reserved John Howards, her best friend’s cousin. Will this couple live up to each other’s expectations?
What a delightful read! Ms. London has written a sparkling, funny, yet sweetly innocent love story. When I say sweet, I don’t mean it’s not sensual because the sexual tension is so strong it leaves the reader breathless with its intensity. John Howards is one of the strongest beta heroes I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting (in a book). This witty love story enchanted me, and I look forward to reading more of the Haberdashers series.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days by Kate McKinley

Lucas Alexander, the Duke of Arlington is on a mission. After meeting Pippa Welby at the Tizdale ball, he vows to make her his own. When the duke shows up with an invitation to her engagement ball—to him—Pippa, the daughter of a wealthy tradesman, is determined to never marry a member of the ton. Who will win this tug of war? Can Pippa lose the duke in ten days, or will he manage to win her heart?
What can I say, another great story filled with passion and desire aplenty. The plot is unique and well-thought out. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke by Sandy Raven

Amelia Manners-Sutton, a spinster, who accepts a position as companion to her aunt, is appalled when they show up at a house party without an invitation. As she wanders through the garden, she meets a distinguished gentleman and is immediately attracted to him. After a brief interlude in the library, she finds out the gentleman is none other than the Duke of Caversham, the man her aunt plans to seduce into marriage. When the duke finds out who her family is, he demands that she marry him in a month. Will Amelia take a chance on love with an older man?
This is such a well-written story with deep emotion and passion galore. When I saw this story by Sandy Raven, I couldn’t wait to get to it, since I’ve already read The Caversham Chronicles and loved them. I am not disappointed. I loved this amazing pre-quel. Now I need to re-read her series again!

Lady Northam’s Wicked surrender by Vivienne Westlake

Rowena, the Countess of Northam finds out her former suitor has returned from India. When dreams of Simon seem too real, she discovers they are very real indeed. He seems dent on seduction. Now a lonely widow, she wonders if it’s too late for a second chance at true love. Dare she open her heart to Simon again after his past abandonment?
This is another great story with sizzling passion and intense desire. Ms. Westlake writes of love lost, yet not forgotten in a way that warms the heart and touches the soul. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful love story and look forward to reading Wicked Liaisons, Book 1.

Scandalous Summer Night may very well be the best Regency Anthology I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. It’s quite unusual to find seven stories that capture the mind and titillate the senses. I’m so pleased I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this excellent book.


Merged review:

What an incredible anthology. All the stories are fantastic! I particularly enjoyed Ms. London's so much that I have now read all the Haberdashers series. I couldn't read them fast enough! Can't wait for more!

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great compilation of novellas. I liked some more than others and of the seven stories three really stood out as outstanding and I would be hard pressed to choose which was my favorite of those three.

The Widow Vanishes by Grace Callaway - 5 stars. This was one of the three that I really loved. I loved Will and Bella. I will most definitely be looking for more books in this series.

Scandal before sunrise by Sabrina Darby - 3 stars. This was a new author for me and I didn't really care for her writing style. The story was Ok, but I don't think I will be reading the series.

A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore - 5 stars. I love this one too! I almost skipped this story because I had read a book by this author that I absolutely hated - A Hint of Wicked. I swore I would not read anything else by this author after reading that. But, I saw the reviews for this as was intrigued - I am so glad I read this! It was so emotional, so heart breaking and yet so wonderful. It is a second chance at love story and it was wonderful. I will definitely be reading this series!

Lord Lucifer's Disciple by Sue London - 5 stars. Loved this one too! I don't think Ms. London can write a book I don't love! This book was funny, steamy and entertaining - if you have read the series, you will be delighted to see old friends and if you haven't read them - what are you waiting for ? They are fantastic and I am impatiently waiting for the next book to release!!

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days by Kate McKinley - 5 stars. I had actually read this book before I got this book. I loved Lucas and Pippa. Steamy & funny. I will absolutely be reading this series.

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke by Sandy Raven - 5 stars. I liked this one. But since I have read the series - this book was bittersweet for me. I won't say why in case you haven't read the other books. But it is well written and very enjoyable. I can't wait for Lucky's book to be released! If you haven't read this series, you are missing out. They are all great.

Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender by Vivienne Westlake - 3 stars. This book just didn't do it for me. It was just too short for the story to be fleshed out. It had potential - but there was too much left unsaid and it wrapped up way to fast to be believable. The writing was good, but I don't think I will be actively looking for more by this author.

All and all - this was an excellent set of novellas and I enjoyed the book and would recommend it

[Mey Buentipo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this book is a compilation of novellas from different authors, I will write my review on each novella from each author.

The Widow Vanishes is the first novella that I read from this author. However, for me the title is not that appropriate in the story. Inspite of that, I am glad that I purchased this book. Ms. Callaway surprised me on her writing. Even though it is a short story, she tackled everything. She has a story and it is kind the different type of characters where they are not from high class status of individuals.

I got intrigued from the way she wrote this story and now curiuos to try her books. I loved the h/h, their characters brought out in each other.

I would definitely read the mayhem series. Although I think, I will go for book 2 first. I am so excited to read the Hunt's story :)

A 4 stars for this novella.


This review is more Ms. Vivienne Westlake novella. It was first book that I read from this author. The Lady Northharm Wicked Surrender. Although it was a novella and there is already a history of the h/h, I still liked it. I liked the plot and heroine's character. I don't blame if it is lacking of story, since it is a short story. I will definitely read her other books. 3.5 stars for me.

This review is for Ms. Jennifer Haymore. I liked her novella. I liked the flow and characters of the h/h. The emotions that were flowing and it was a good start of another amazing series. I can't wait to explore her new book series. A 4 stars for me.

[Margie Aronowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free ARC copy for an honest review. The fun of one book with multiple authors is you get to read authors that are new to you. The stories stand on their own so if one is not to your liking read the next you may like that one much better. I love Jennifer Haymore's books and this one has mention of a House of Trent character so those of is that love that series it is nice to have that pop up. Overall all the novels and novelettes are well written in the HEA regency romance style with extra spice. I have new to me authors I am now adding to my TBR pile. However, some authors seemed to add lots heat to the story not as a compliment to the story but it seemed they felt it was needed. Overall, I recommend the book to romance readers that like books with lots of heat.

[Margaret Sholders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book title caught my eye so of course I had to try it out. The authors are mostly new to me. I love finding new authors to read. I have read Grace Callaway and Jennifer Haymore but Sabrina Darby, Sue London, Kate McKinley, Sandy Raven and Vivienne Westlake are new for me. There were all sorts of plots, sex, twists, sex and bits of History. Did I mention sex? This is a little over the edge so this shouldn't be read by those younger than 18. The stories were a good length with all different plots. One s was a little sluggish and for me it seemed to have a lot of repeating in it. I won't say which as it may not happen for you and I wouldn't want to ruin it for you. Please read this book!

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I love this combination of novels/novellas all in one book. I enjoy reading Historical Fiction and am always looking for new authors to read. This lets me view different ones and lets me know which authors I will continue to seek out. I was very impressed with these stories and actually felt for the characters in the different books. Being introduced to the starts of these series is a good way to know if I would invest my time in them.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT COLLECTION OF NOVELLAS

Each of these stories is the first in a new series by each of the authors. I have to say that I really enjoyed each and every one, I'm a big fan of historical romances. All of the novellas have colourful strong characters. If I have to pick out favourites then the three that stood out for me were by Sabrina Darby, Jennifer Haymore and Grace Callaway.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley

[Katherina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story in this collection of series-opening novellas is like a kiss, sexy and satisfying in itself while awakening a longing for more. My two favorites were “A Highlander’s Heart” by Jennifer Haymore and “Lord Lucifer’s Disciple” by Sue London.

*ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven great reads - all first or prequels in a series and all making me want to read more.
Great mix with everything from Highlanders to Dukes, via widows and virgins, with headstrong heroines and honorable men coming to their rescue.
Historical, regency romance and smutty fluff in a great combo.

[Deanna Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about truth in advertising! You get 6 novellas that are sizzling hot. Sometimes love leads to sex, and sometime's it's the other way around...

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Some stories were better than others.

[Cas H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this anthology!

The first book, The Widow Vanishes by Grace Calloway, was steamy and definitely scandalous. The widow in this story, Annabelle has been forced to sell her body in order to pay back her late husbands debt. She does not want to do it, but she wants to live. Will is working for Todd, gathering information about Todd's enemy's. Todd is a dangerous man who owns a whore house and he offers Will his choice of lover's for an evening. Will is drawn to the beauty at the end who is playing shy. He feels drawn to her, he wants to protect her, and he wants to bed her. He puts away his protective instincts and enjoys a night of pleasure with her. Annabelle does not want to have sex with anyone, but she is drawn to Will and she willingly gives him her body for the night. In the morning, Annabelle does not want to remain in the whore house, so she dons Will's shirt and leaves the house with Will's money.
She leads Will on a merry chase, and only when Will captures her does she go with him, and then she tells him the whole truth.
Will can't stand mistreatment of any sort, so he goes to Todd and demands Annabelle's freedom. Todd demands some dangerous work from Will in return and Will agrees. This book is filled with sex and a plot that will have you cheering the hero on. This book is well written and I may look into reading other books by Grace Calloway.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.



Scandal Before Sunrise by Sabrina Darby is a delightful love story between a second son, and a woman who was accused of a scandal two seasons earlier. Abigail has just returned to London. This will be her second season. She left her first season partway through and never returned the following year. A scandal plagued her attentions. Elliot Jones, who is referred to as Jones, wants to seduce Abigail. He thinks she is sweet and nice, and likes that scandal has touched her before because he does not believe she is a virgin and he has convinced himself that he wants her in bed, without marriage. Abigail's family is touched with scandal adding to her own scandal, and this could make her a pariah in London, who is no longer welcomed anywhere. She must marry before the truth of these scandals reach the ears of the people of London. This was a wonderful book, a well developed plot. There was one scene involving a seduction that went a too far to make this book just kissing. I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore was a wonderful love story.
Claire Campbell has not laid eyes on her husband for about a year. She has chosen not to see him, and thought to end their marriage. Robert Campbell misses his wife and does not think that she will ever want to be with him again. He has resigned himself to being a soldier, and of never being able to be with his wife again. He does love her very much, and has remained chaste, he made a promise to his wife, that she would be his only lover, and he has kept that promise.
Now Claire and Robert are reunited, by her willingness to go to the Battle on the Continent and make amends with her husband. She does not know how close he was to death until she has to wade through blood, and bodies littered across the field at the Battle of Waterloo. She knows Robert is in their and she dreads finding out that he is one of the dead. The last time they spoke, she spoke very harshly to him, and she wants to make amends.Claire and Robert have to overcome the problems of the past and start a new future, a future that may include being separated forever. They must decide what the important things are, and they must decide together. I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.I really like this book and I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Lord Lucifer's Disciple by Sue London has been mis-titled. I read the title and thought, oh my goodness, this book is all about sin, and drawing the readers to a life of sin. It is not that at all. Lord Lucifer is the author of a book which John Howards, one of the main characters gets from the book store. The title is Lord Lucifer's guide to pleasuring the fairer sex. The author shares with us snipbits of this guide, with quotes from the author Lord Lucifer. It is basically a guide on how to woo a girl. John Howards is an incredibly shy person, he does not like going to parties and is excited when he gets a book that can help him become more outgoing. He uses this book, dresses up for a masquerade party and ends up becoming more free then he can ever imagine. Elisa is a young lady who must marry before her next birthday, she has been encouraged to find true love, but if she does not find it, then a match will be made for her. At the masquerade, they meet and John behaves like a rake who is used to the pleasures of the fairer sex. Elisa falls in love with Casimir, and wishes to make a match, but Casimir, who is really John, cannot make a match of it when it is based off a lie. John sets out to make everything right, he wishes to make a match with Elisa, but she won't have it. She only sees the boring John and not the outgoing Casimir.
John must change her perception of him, and win her heart, if Elisa will let him.This book was super sweet and John being the perceptive person he was, was refreshing. I did not feel that the meeting that was scheduled for the night of the ball should have gone as far as it did. He was a stranger, and she gave all her trust to him. I felt that the book would have been good, even if they just kissed in that scene with noting more. I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

How to Lose a Duke in 10 Days is a page turner that you won't want to put down.Lucas is the Duke who will do whatever he needs to do to get what he wants. He is ruthless to a fault and now he has set his sights on Pippa. Pippa is the daughter of a tradesman who is satisfied with her station in life. She does not care to raise her status among the ton so when the Duke offers her marriage, she turns it down.
Every day she must come up with new ways to get rid of the Duke and make him rescind his Betrothal Ball announcement which was placed in the papers. This book is not only funny, but is a scandalous, shocking, steamy, sexy and wonderfully written tale of what love can be. I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Miss Amelia Land's a Duke by Sandy Raven is a delightful story.
This story is about a girl who becomes a companion for her Aunt, because her father has died leaving her a spinster of 28 with no prospects. Amelia must conduct herself with the propriety expected of a lady. She must remain in servants quarters because she is the companion, and not allowed with her aunt unless her aunt invites her to join in. This Aunt is dreadfully mean and Miss Amelia only remains with her because she has no place other than a woman's work house to go to, so she remains. On one particular outing, Amelia is avoiding her Aunt, and all the goings on and she wanders into a maze and meets a kind Sir. She does not know until that night, after he kisses her that he is the Duke. The Aunt has her sights set on the Duke and fires Amelia as her companion after she witnesses the Duke and Amelia kissing. I thought this book was really sweet. Age doesn't matter in this book, only love and I love that concept. I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.



Lady Northem's Wicked Surrender by Vivienne Westlake is a story of returning to oneself.Lady Northem became a Countess 6 years prior when she married a Count. He died and she is left a widow. Before she married the count, she had her sights set on Simon, but when he did not write her after his year long absence, she finally consented to marry another, Simon's best friend. Simon left 6 years ago, to India, and has not returned until this day. When he hears her thrashing in her bed at night, calling his name, he goes to investigate, and starts to make love to her. Their love was lost years ago, but could be re-kindled, if only they knew the secret that each one held. The secrets must be revealed in order for their relationship to bloom, otherwise it will die. I thought this book a wicked delight, I would love to have read a longer tale, but this short one will have to do for now.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars

[Larena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Romance

England & Scotland



The Widow Vanishes (Prequel to the Heart of Enquiry series) by Grace Callaway

Annabel Foster had a brief disastrous marriage that has left her with her dead husband’s debt. She is also at the mercy of a menacing cutthroat. Now the only way to pay off the monstrous sum is either death or selling her body. She steels herself for the worst on her first night at the bawdy house but what she doesn’t expect is the unexpected passion she discovers instead.

William McLeod is a former soldier that has left both his privileged family and his regiment behind him. He is haunted by his past and makes his living as a guard in London’s underworld. He is offered one night with a tempting wench and instead of just slacking his lust he finds a passion beyond compare.

Annabel and William are on opposite sides of a cat-and-mouse game. They have to find a way to overcome both betrayal and an evil enemy. They also need to find out if the passion they found together in one night is enough to lead to a lifetime of love.



Scandal Before Sunrise (Book 1 of the Weekly Scandal) by Sabrina Darby

Abigail Billings is bad girl that loves fun and excitement. With a wit that flows after a few glasses of wine. And she most definitely loves the boys. Three years before she fled London ahead of a scandal but now she is back. Abigail is determined this time around she is going to make a respectable and advantageous match. At least before anyone finds out that there is nothing behind her father’s title except even more scandal. Everything would be fine if the Honorable Elliot Jones wasn’t so determined to bring her to ruin.

Jones is the younger son of an earl that did his duty by fighting for England and has happily put it behind him. He is drawn to the fast set, the one that pairs poetry and wagers. Not to mention the gossip. It is also that gossip that tells him that there is a great deal more to Abigail than her high neckline, beauty and straight-laced attitude suggests.

She is a contradiction he is determined to solve because behind every modest smile is a sharp gaze and a trapped free spirit. At first it is just for fun he is determined to make Abigail crack. Soon though it becomes so much more as the music and moonlight lead to romance and love. He might not have thought he was ready to settle down but now he knows the only thing that will make him truly happy is to have Abigail as his wife.

A Highlander’s Heart (Highland Knights, Book 1) by Jennifer Haymore


When Lady Claire Campbell last saw her husband she told him that she hated him and never wanted to see him again. Now he is off fighting Napoleon, and it might end up being too late to tell him she is sorry.

Major Sir Robert Campbell figured he would never see his English wife again. He is convinced he is seeing an angel when she appears on the battlefield after the bloody conflict of Waterloo.

After the battle Rob is ordered to London on Crown business. Claire follows desperate to fix their broken marriage. Rob suffered a concussion on the battlefield but he knows some wounds go much deeper than that. And some never heal.


Lord Lucifer’s Disciple (Haberdashers Nights) by Sue London


An heiress has turned away every suitor that she has until the night she meets a mysterious foreigner at a masque ball. With him one kiss ignites a passion in her that she has never known before and yet he refuses her pleas to elope. Now she has to figured out if she has fallen in love and lost her heart to a man that doesn’t really exist.

John Howards has always been shy but finally he accepts an invitation to one of his cousin’s masque balls. So he decides to go in the guise of his friend from the Congress of Vienna. He didn’t expect the freedom the role would give him and the confidence to flirt with a beautiful woman. Most certainly he didn’t expect his interest to be returned by her. An illicit night in the gardens leads to regrets for John and now he has to see if he can convince her to marry him for himself.

Elisa Jarvis has made it to one and twenty without falling prey to a fortune hunter. Though now her guardian is pressuring her to marry in less than a fortnight before her next birthday. She is determined to find the love of her life and will not be distracted by the latest dull gentleman that has come to court her.



How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days (What Happens in Scotland, Book 1) by Kate McKinley


Lucas Alexander is the ninth Duke of Arlington and a man that is used to getting what he wants. So when he first sees Miss Pippa Welby across the ballroom he is determined to make her his. Pippa is both bold and spirited and has vowed to never marry into the haute ton. Lucas is determined to win her even if it is the only way he knows how but one wicked kiss at a time.

Pippa is the daughter of a wealthy tradesman and she has been sneered at by the upper echelons all her life. Pippa hatches a daring plan when a duke shows up on her doorstep with an invitation to her own engagement ball to him in just ten days. She risks losing her heart if she can’t lose the duke in ten days before the ball.



Miss Amelia Lands a Duke (a prequel to The Caversham Chronicles) by Sandy Raven


Amelia is a spinster that accepts a position to be a companion to her social-climbing aunt. Her aunt is already planning her next wedding before even being out of mourning for her second husband. Her aunt is stalking the very elusive widower and obscenely rich Duke of Caversham.

Amelia is horrified by her aunt’s behavior so she hides away in their host’s gardens and library for the duration of their visit. One evening walking through the maze she meets an older gentleman that both intrigues and arouses her. Before even learning his name she flees. She later stumbles across the same gentleman a couple of days later in the library where he astonishes her with a kiss. Even more astonishing she kisses him back.

Now Amelia and the duke are caught in an embrace by her aunt. Amelia flees because of her embarrassment at her own wanton behavior and the mistaken belief that he was only using her to escape her obsessed relative. After the duke confronts Amelia’s aunt he feels the only honorable thing to do is to make plans to marry Amelia. He just doesn’t ask her first.



Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender (Wicked Liaisons, Book 1) by Vivienne Westlake


Rowena is the countess of Northam and finds to her surprise that her former suitor is returning from India and not only that will be staying in the same house as she is staying at. He appears in her room late one night and she can only surmise it must be a dream. Though her fantasy quickly becomes reality when Simon makes every effort to seduce her.

Simon is determined to get Rowena back now that she is a widow and despite a six-year absence and the fact that she married his best friend. While her body craves him it quickly becomes clear that she doesn’t trust him enough to give him her heart. Simon has to decide if he can get past her betrayal and convince her to surrender to the greatest love either one of them has ever known.





This is a wonderful mix of stories that are sure to please everyone. It also gives readers a chance to try new to them authors while also reading some of their favorite authors. It will also have readers wanting to read the other books in the series. Some are the perfect length though some will have readers wishing they were longer and with a better resolution to the story. It also has some great Scottish heroes that make for some very hot reading. This is worth getting because it has a great assortment of stories. They can also be read at different times and don’t have to be read all at once but most readers will find themselves reluctant to put it down for long.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over all this was a good book- the size was a bit daunting. You open the book in your Kindle and it tells you in 13 hours 47 minutes you will be done. The rational side of my minds says, “There are seven novellas here; that is about two hours per story.” The reader side says, “One book 13+ hours.” I did enjoy the read, some stories set up the coming series very nicely, while others seemed more stand alone and I am looking forward to seeing how they go.

A Highlander’s Heart (The Highland Knights, Book 1) by Jennifer Haymore 4.5 Stars

This story was delightful and in the end you know who the series players are. Claire has always been a bit of a hoyden. She travels to the Continent to find her husband, Rob, during Wellington’s campaign. Rob and Claire’s HEA comes after a shared great tragedy, having to set aside pride and a willingness to put their hearts on the line again. Although this is a novella, typical of other stories by Ms. Haymore, she uses her humor, deep characters and detailed relationships, and pulls in profound emotions to tell the story and bring it to life. I am anxiously awaiting the “rest of the story.” What adventures does Ms. Haymore have in store for these Highlander’s?

The Widow Vanishes (Prequel to the Heart of Enquiry Series) by Grace Callaway 3.5 Stars

Annabel is forced by circumstances not of her making to take a position no woman would willingly take to pay off debts. She meets William and decides she is not cut out for the job and runs away. William is charged with the task of finding her for a horrible man of “business.” The road to their HEA is rocky and each of them puts the other’s wellbeing ahead of their own. This was my first introduction to Ms Callaway and I was not prepared for the level of sex in such a short amount of time. The depth of the characters was wonderful I was immediately cheering for both of them. We are introduced to the coming series after the HEA and it sounds intriguing.

Scandal Before Sunrise (The Weekly Scandal, Book 1) by Sabrina Darby 3.5 Stars

Elliot Jones is a second son that is shallow, spoiled and in need of an occupation besides gossip. Then he discovers Abby, who his entire group of friends seems to know, and his world is thrown for a loop. She is not the girl those friends remember and she is looking for a match. The play between them is fun and you see Elliot redeem himself and step up and prove to have integrity. I am not totally sure at the end which of the other characters will be coming up in the rest of the series, but I have a couple I am hoping for. We shall see.

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple (Haberdasher’s Nights, Book 1) by Sue London 4 stars

We have John Howards who is very shy and does not like to participate in society and Elisa Jarvis who only knows she must marry in the next fortnight or she will have marry someone of her guardians choosing! She is disenchanted with the possible suitors because they all seem shallow and do not really take the time to get to know her for her, but have no trouble looking at her inheritance. They meet at a masque ball, only he is pretending to be someone else so he is not as shy. Their road to HEA is charming. I love the humor, the endearing characters and the pace of the conversations. This is a good story and the series should be great. This is another where you finish and have a pretty clear idea of where it is going.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days (What Happens in Scotland, Book 1) by Kate McKinley 4 Stars

How can he want to marry her, he all but ignored her at their first introduction! But he has spoken to her father who has given his permission and he has INFORMED her, not asked her. She refuses him and throws his nicely ordered life off balance. Pippa is not intimidated by him and questions him at every turn and this is something that frustrates and intrigues him. He has ulterior motives for marrying her, does not share his reasons and she discovers it on her own. She wants to be valued and treasured for herself, not her dowry. The interactions between the two are fast paced and had me smiling; I love when the heroine keeps the hero in tilt mode! It was brilliant to see how Ms McKinley brought Lucas around. This novella starts a series and it ends with a good cliffhanger calling Lucas’s word in the family into doubt.

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke (A Prequel to the Caversham Chronicles) by Sandy Raven 3.5 Stars

Amelia is the supposedly paid companion of her aunt, who is grasping, shallow and a user. They are attending a house party so her aunt can wrangler the Duke into marriage. Amelia has no real options available to her, her brother was kidnapped and forced into the navy so she is along, but she does have her pride and will not be someone’s pity project. Marcus Renfield Halden, the eighth Duke of Caversham has offered for her and has to work pretty hard to convince her it is not a pity offer. He is older, wants to feel needed and finds he is protective of Amelia. She has never had anyone stand up for her, until Marcus. This story would have been better if Marcus did not spend so much of the time thinking about his former wife. I imagine it is difficult to get past a lifelong relationship, but it was too much. Marcus helps Amelia discover she is not alone in the world. The coming series sounds interesting.

Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender (Wicked Liaisons, Book 1) by Vivienne Westlake 3.5 Stars

Rowena, Countess of Northam, is a widow and has always had a tendre for Simon but was lead to believe he was not interested in her when she married the now dead Earl. Simon has been out of the country to avoid Rowena and her husband because he also has longed for Rowena. They come together again and find that their attraction has not died. They have spent the past six years apart because of manipulations, lies and betrayals. The journey to their HEA uncovers these and restores their love. Ms Westlake has created charming and in-depth characters that have you rooting for them. I liked the sassy and strong woman that Rowena grew into as the story progressed. There was no real hint, that I could see as to who or where the series was going to lead, but I am interested to find out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology includes seven series-opening novellas.

The Widow Vanishes by Grace Callaway

Annabel Foster has just found out that her husband has passed away and left her in debt to a man no one is willing to cross. After trying to earn the money respectfully, she is forced to sell her body. Her first night turns out unexpectedly.

William McLeod has been given his choice of women for the night in reward for a job well done. Little did he know that the woman he choice would change his life forever.

This was a nice quick read. This is an introduction to her new Heart of Enquiry series, but had a few characters from her Mayhem in Mayfair series too. The story has me hunting down the Mayhem in Mayfair series to read!

Scandal Before Sunrise by Sabrina Darby

Abigail Billings had been one of the wild girls before disappearing from the ton for three years. Now she is back and looking for a respectable husband before everyone learns that there is no longer any money with her father's title. Unfortunately, the man that interests her is not interested in marriage but wants an affair instead.

Elliot Jones has just returned from fighting for England and is ready to have some fun. His friends talk about bad girl Abigail and she has peaked his interests. But when he finally meets her, she is no longer that fun lovin' girl his friends talked about.

Can Elliot find that fun lovin' girl behind the woman that wants a respectable marriage?

A great story with a mischievous girl trying to do right. This novella definitely peaked my interest for reading the rest of the books in the Weekly Scandal series. I'm hoping the series includes Elliot's friends from this novella!

A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore

Claire Campbell is determined to fix her marriage, but to do that she must find her husband who is in the middle of fighting a war. Finding her husband wounded on the battlefield at Waterloo, Claire is determined to see him regain his health.

Rob Campbell thinks it's an angel approaching him on the battlefield, but when she gets closer he realizes that it is his wife whom he is estranged.

Can these two mind their marriage in the middle of this horrible war?

Haymore does an excellent job of setting up her new series. We are introduced to the male leads and given enough of a back story on each to peak our interest. Her new Highland Knights series is definitely on my TBR list!!

Lord Lucifer's Disciple by Sue London

Elisa Jarvis know that all her husband prospects are just after her dowry, plus they are all boring! That is until she meets a mysterious foreigner at a masked ball.

John Howards has always been awkward during social functions, so when he finally agrees to attend his cousin's masked ball he pretends to be his foreign friend. It gives him the courage to do things he would never dream of as himself.

What will Elisa do when she unmasks her foreign friend?

This was my first story by Sue London and I really enjoyed it. So much so that I need to hunt down all her Haberdasher books to read the stories of all the secondary characters I meet in this one.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days by Kate McKinley

Pippa Welby can't imagine why the man that gave her the cut direct is asking her to marry him. He has even given her an invitation to her own engagement ball that is to happen in 10 days. Pippa has been looked down on by the peerage her whole life because of her heritage and there is no way she is going to marry into it.

Lucas Alexander, the Duke of Arlington, is smitten with Pippa the first time he sees her. So taken with her, he was at a loss for words and walks away from her. Finding out that her father owns the largest coal mine in the area is just the icing on the cake.

What happens when what starts out as a seduction of convience turns into true passion? Can Pippa forgive Lucas when she finds out why he really wants to marry her?

It was a very enjoyable read. It's often hard for authors to write novellas without the story feeling rushed. McKinley does an excellent job of keeping the pace of the story without leaving out any details. Lucas was definitely an alpha male, but also showed that he had a softer side to him. Pippa, as a headstrong young miss, was not going to let Lucas walk all over her. They were perfect for each other!

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke by Sandy Raven

Amelia Manners-Sutton is the companion for her aunt, whom is not very nice, but she took Amelia in when she didn't have any where else to go. Since her aunt doesn't want Amelia to ruin anything for her at the house party, Amelia is left to her own devices and finds herself wondering the gardens where she meets a man named "Sir." She is intrigued by him, but it is not until she is almost caught in the library with him that things get interesting.

Marcus Halden, the Duke of Caversham, is just looking for some peace and quiet when she encounters "Miss." He is also intrigued and when she is about to speak and alert her aunt to their presence in the library he kisses her.

What will happen when they are caught in a compromising position?

There was just something about this one that I didn't like. I think part of it is the age difference in the H/H. He was old enough to be her father and I just don't want to read about that in one of my romances. The other was the editing of the piece, which I hope was fixed before publication....

Lady Northham's Wicked Surrender by Vivienne Westlake

Rowena, Countess of Northham, is in the home of her former suitor when she learns that he will be arriving soon. She was jilted by the man and doesn't know how she will act when she sees him again.

Simon, Lord Rutherford, is on his way back to claim his former love. She rejected him once, but he has hopes that she is ready to be his forever.

What happens when they learn what they thought happened, was all lies?

I really enjoyed this very short story and am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Over all I really enjoyed this set of stories and have found several new authors that I will be putting on my TBR list. I would definitely pick this one up for your keeper shelf!!

Thanks go out to Jennifer Haymore via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of a copy of the book.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The epitome of Historical Romance in this wonderful Anthology. Every story was its own and written beautifully.


The Widow Vanishes Prequel to the Heart of Enquiry series by Grace Callaway

I absolutely adored it!! Hands down. No questions asked. I really enjoy romance stories around the Victorian era. It just gives a feel of vintage-like love and just the way things were or could've been. The characters were marvelous, both protagonists and antagonists. I completely fell apart when certain words were commonly spoken that gave more feel to the story and added fire to the flames of the aspiring romance like 'randy' and 'beauty' and 'lass'. [They] really played their part. The writing was on point. [I] just couldn't get enough. I am definitely looking forward to the start of the Heart of Enquiry series.

Solo- 4 stars


Scandal Before Sunrise (Novella) Book #1 of The Weekly Scandal series by Sabrina Darby

I didn't get to really enjoy this story very much. I think my dislike is having to do with having taken so long to read this story. I usually love Regency romance, I mean, any historical romance to be honest, but something was a bit odd for me. It put me off in the very beginning. I did like the characters and the plot, but I just feel like something was in my way of getting a better feel of the everything. Nonetheless, great writing, nicely done in with the character dialogue, very intriguing with everyone's characteristics. Although, things didn't start out right as rain, however, I still look forward to the next book of The Weekly Scandal.

Solo- 3 stars


A Highlander's Heart Book #1 of Highland Knights by Jennifer Haymore

Such a sentimental story, absolutely beautiful, and adored the Scottish brogues. This was my first having ever reading something highlander-like, but the only other Scottish bit I've read other than this bit is Grace Callaway's The Widow Vanishes Prequel in the beginning of this anthology. I fell in love with the rekindling romance and new discovery in heading home to one another. I found the part where the men say 'petting' hilarious. They were saying it back and forth to each other and I just felt that they were referring to women as a pet that needs attention, so I just laughed 'cause it sounded funny and a bit odd. Communication is key people! I highly recommend this read and hope to read the rest of this series.

Solo- 4 stars


Lord Lucifer's Disciple of Haberdashers Nights by Sue London

Brilliant, Completely phenomenal, and fairly outrageous! I could not get enough of the masquerade theme and the scandalous rendezvous. Immensely enjoyed the guide and quotes, as well as the amusement each character had throughout the whole situation, it completely held everything in a lighter aspect of living in this time period and the way society was made out to be. Fascinating literary talents here shown overall and best shown its more creative side in the wittiness expressed by the characters and the thoughtfulness in how everything played out. I irrevocably fell for the main characters and their masque'd journey to learning each other and come to love like no other. I give the utmost recommendation to this story.

Solo- 5 stars


How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days Book #1 of What Happens in Scotland by Kate McKinley

Such sexual tension, undoubtedly alluring, scandalous and genuine all in one. I loved the magnetic pull between the main characters. Their infatuation with one another was a fine line between love and hate. The challenging, mischievous heroine was a perfect counterpart to the all male, brooding hero. All along the way they discover that their intentions and assumptions were all wrongly appointed. The hot, scorching romance firing up between them is only just beginning and soon, both will fall into the fiery pits of wondrous pleasure. Lovely plot, everything fit rightfully so. An enticing read all around.

Solo- 4 stars


Miss Amelia Lands a Duke A Prequel to The Caversham Chronicles by Sandy Raven

Incredibly enticing, different from other historical romances I've read, but nonetheless an exceptional read. The sex scenes were getting really close to modern contemporary romance or NA. The characters were aware of their modest conservative ways in their time period in society, but behind closed doors, or the curtains in the confinements of a carriage in this setting, there is no telling what to expect, but to expect something. I loved. For me, it was something wild and excitingly new to the table with the historical setting. Especially with the characters age difference. I was intrigued with their relationship and how they were both considered passed their prime, but at the same time, acted like young lovebirds. The love that transpired was strong, and beautiful. I applaud the author for their magical literary talents. I look forward to reading the rest of The Caversham Chronicles.

Solo- 5 stars


Overall, I felt that I was able to see some connections between stories here and there or maybe trying to paste some parts of history with or parts of history. I do not know but majority of the time I has a blast reading these stories, fell in love more than twice, and drooled over the teasing and love scenes, and laughed off every witty comment I could find. Great work form these all of these authors, I completely recommend'em all.

[Merari Heyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Sexy Stories

I enjoyed all the short stories. The storylines were entertaining and kept my attention and excitement to continue reading until the end. Highly recommend for those who enjoy historical romance!!!

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book for free from one of the authors, who I generally like. And... it took me a long time to read it because I just wasn't loving the stories and I felt bad about leaving a bad review for a free book. But then, I told myself, "These book reviews are opinions, they asked for your opinion, so just freaking put it up!" And, in re-trying, I've once again discovered something about sync. Sometimes, some books just don't capture you at one time, but when you re-read, you find something more. That's what I found with this book. I did not enjoy it when I got in the spring, but, at a different place some months later, I quite enjoyed it.
The Widow Vanishes by Grace Callaway
Will McLeod sold his commission eight years ago and has been working for various cutthroats doing the hard jobs ever since. His latest payment? A night with one of the man's whores. Who does he pick? The upright widow who is trying to work off her late husband's debt.
An interesting premise,but it didn't work well for me.
Scandal before Sunrise by Sabrina Darby
Abigail Billings was known as the girl most likely to be caught in a compromising position. It's this title that draws younger son Honorable Elliot Jones to her. But Abigail is trying to overcome this name since she's trying to get married before news of the "great family scandal" can make its way to London.
An okay story. I liked both Abigail and James but just wanted to knock them both over the head.
A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore
This story opens with Robert Campbell waking up on the battlefield of Waterloo. It's then that he sees an angel. One with the face of his wife. She's come to be with her husband. Whatever it is that she may find there. Because she wants to make amends.
This is my favorite sort of short story. Where the characters already know each other so there's a reason they can fall in love in ~100 pages. Or less.
This is a great story of two past lovers finding their way back to each other. And sets up a new series.
Lord Lucifer's Disciple by Sue London
Mr. John Howards is an incredibly shy man. His family and his schoolmates have put him down so much that he never believed in his own worth. At a masked ball one night, he manages to overcome the shyness by pretending to be someone else and flirting with a young lady.
Elisa is an heiress of much renown. Men have been circling for years. But until that night at a masked ball, none have caught her fancy. But will she be willing to forgive when she finds out who he really is?
How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days by Kate McKinley
This seems to be a popular title. I've read a book recently and seen another with the same (though one did say 10 instead of ten)
In this one, Miss Pippa Welby, our heroine, is the daughter of a wealthy man. The upper echeclons of the ton have always sneered at her. So when the Duke of Arlington, Lucas Victor Alexander, tells her that they are to be engaged, announced at a ball ten days hence, she knows that she needs to act fast.
I really didn't like Lucas. He was too used to getting his own way, and rather than subverting it, Pippa seemed to fall pretty handily in line.
Miss Amelia lands a Duke by Sandy Raven
Amelia Manners-Sutton is acting as chaperone for her social-climbing aunt. The woman, a viscountess, has her eyes set on a duke. But the duke... well he seems to have eyes only for Amelia.
Quite a May-December romance though. More like January-December. I know it happens....
Lady Northam's Wicked Srrender by Viviennne Westlake
The Countess of Northam, Rowena, is shocked to find out that her former suitor, her husband's best friend, Simon, the Earl of Waverly is staying at the same house she's just braved a storm to get to.
There was a Big Misunderstanding that probably would have been better played out in a full book since this one took way too fast for her to forgive and he was more than a little bit of an ass.

[Rara Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If you follow my reviews, then you know that I absolutely love historical romance. It’s always my go to genre so I was super excited at the chance to read and review Scandalous Summer Nights. This book includes seven series opening tales from some of the bestselling writers of historical romance. There are more than 700 pages of scrumptious storytelling to more than adequately quench my thirst for lords and ladies.

With authors such as Grace Callaway, Jennifer Haymore, Sue London, Sabrina Darby, Vivienne Westlake, Kate McKinley, Sandy Raven and Sue London contributing these stories, I knew that I was going to be completely satisfied. Each tale transported me to a time and place where balls were the norm and a girl’s dreams of being a duchess can come true.

Some of the stories made me laugh while others pulled at my heartstrings. I must confess to shedding more than a few tears while reading A Highlander’s Heart, Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender, and The Widow Vanishes. The characters in every story were intriguing and well-developed. With each story, I had a new hero and heroine to fall in love with. While I certainly had some favorites among the different stories, there wasn’t one single one that I didn’t enjoy.

In the Window Vanishes by Grace Callaway, we were given a hero that’s a little bit different than the norm. He doesn’t have a title, he earns his living on the streets, and he doesn’t attend fancy balls. But Will is a gentleman in every sense of the word. Annabel is a heroine who has to make a very difficult decision. Fortunately for her, she is rescued by Will. Their story is one of the sweeter ones in the book and I couldn’t help but smile as the two found love and happiness.

Scandal Before Sunrise took me a bit to get into but once I did, it was so much fun to watch Elliot and Abby dance around their growing attraction. There was so much humor in this story which was a nice contrast to some of the more serious stories.

A Highlander’s Heart was one of those serious stories. It was an amazingly emotional story to read but one filled with so much love and healing. I shed copious amounts of tears while reading this one, both happy and sad ones.

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple offered a different type of hero – a shy, socially awkward man who yearns to sweep a woman off of her feet. You can’t help but root for John to overcome his shyness and find his much deserved happy ending.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days was a fun romp as we watched the Lucas meet his match in Pippa. I love watching a match of wit, intelligence and passion between the hero and heroine.
Miss Amelia Lands a Duke was another favorite of mine. There’s just something about a heroine who is the underdog that appeals to me. I was so excited to see her swept off her feet and find true happiness.

Another heartbreaker was Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender. There was so much hurt between Simon and Rowena that it made me cry. As the two rekindled their love, I cheered along with their families. There was a lot of passion along with the love to keep you intrigued.

As you can see, there was so much good reading packed into this compilation. If you are a fan, like me, of historical romance, you cannot go wrong with this book. Just plan your day accordingly, because once you start reading, you’re not going to want to put it down.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great compilation of novellas. I liked some more than others and of the seven stories three really stood out as outstanding and I would be hard pressed to choose which was my favorite of those three.

The Widow Vanishes by Grace Callaway - 5 stars. This was one of the three that I really loved. I loved Will and Bella. I will most definitely be looking for more books in this series.

Scandal before sunrise by Sabrina Darby - 3 stars. This was a new author for me and I didn't really care for her writing style. The story was Ok, but I don't think I will be reading the series.

A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore - 5 stars. I love this one too! I almost skipped this story because I had read a book by this author that I absolutely hated - A Hint of Wicked. I swore I would not read anything else by this author after reading that. But, I saw the reviews for this as was intrigued - I am so glad I read this! It was so emotional, so heart breaking and yet so wonderful. It is a second chance at love story and it was wonderful. I will definitely be reading this series!

Lord Lucifer's Disciple by Sue London - 5 stars. Loved this one too! I don't think Ms. London can write a book I don't love! This book was funny, steamy and entertaining - if you have read the series, you will be delighted to see old friends and if you haven't read them - what are you waiting for ? They are fantastic and I am impatiently waiting for the next book to release!!

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days by Kate McKinley - 5 stars. I had actually read this book before I got this book. I loved Lucas and Pippa. Steamy & funny. I will absolutely be reading this series.

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke by Sandy Raven - 5 stars. I liked this one. But since I have read the series - this book was bittersweet for me. I won't say why in case you haven't read the other books. But it is well written and very enjoyable. I can't wait for Lucky's book to be released! If you haven't read this series, you are missing out. They are all great.

Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender by Vivienne Westlake - 3 stars. This book just didn't do it for me. It was just too short for the story to be fleshed out. It had potential - but there was too much left unsaid and it wrapped up way to fast to be believable. The writing was good, but I don't think I will be actively looking for more by this author.

All and all - this was an excellent set of novellas and I enjoyed the book and would recommend it