Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Ravenswood #6

Release Date: October 27, 2026

For years Lady Stephaine Ware has harbored a secret crush for her brother Owen’s friend, Bertrand Lamarr, Viscount Watley, but Stephaine knows a man so perfect would never be interested in a chubby, round-faced girl like her, so she keeps her distance. It takes some time, but eventually, Stephaine learns not to be so self-deprecating and begins to accept herself, yet when Bertrand asks if she will save a waltz for him at the Ravenswood Summer Fete ball, she not only declines his request, but is unpardonably rude to him before running away. She almost instantly regrets her action but has no chance to apologize for months. Her opportunity comes when they meet in Bath for her brother Nicholas’ wedding to his step-niece Winifred Cunningham. She gathers her courage and asks his forgiveness for her nasty and untrue insults; he forgives her and asks if they might start again as friends. Months later they met again in London, and he asks her if she would give him the chance to prove to her that they could be more than friends, she is skeptical but agrees.

Bertrand, Viscount Watley has admired Lady Stephanie for years and had hoped to court her, but when he asked her for a dance, she was viscous in her refusal, so much so that Bertrand began to believe he actually hated her. Yet when they meet again and she apologizes, he immediately forgives her and asks if they could be friends. He thinks that will be enough and sets his sites to finding a bride and starting a family. He goes to London and begins to court a young lady, who by all his standards, would be a perfect bride, but he feels nothing beyond mild admiration for her. By chance he runs into Lady Stephanie on the night he decides to end the courtship and realizes that Stephaine is still the lady he wants. He gets her to agree to give him a chance to prove they could be perfect for each other, now he just needs to get her to see what he has seen for years.

I had been looking forward to Stephaine’s story and was delighted to learn this book would be her story and that Bertrand was going to be her love interest. The story did not disappoint, and I finally understood why Stephaine was so insecure and what prompted her to be so hateful to Bertrand. I will admit that I would have liked more personal interaction between Stephaine and Bertrand and less family interaction, I do enjoy learning updates about previous couples, but this was almost too much. Overall, it was a gentle romance between two people with issues in their childhoods that have shaped them and at times held them back, who finally let go of the past to seize their future happiness. This is the sixth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone as the author supplies ample backstory.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a DRC/ALC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas

Tracy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 20, 2026

Reina Martin has never let her circumstances hold her down. The illegitimate daughter of a renown Spanish dancer and a wealthy English businessman, some could say that her life started out on the wrong foot, but thanks to her mother, Reina was given an exceptional education and encouraged to follow her dreams. To that end she attended college and earned a law degree, but was refused the right to practice, so she turned her sites to finance, becoming a respected economist and published a financial guide for women as well as writing articles for Bankers’ Magazine and The Economist. Upon that success, she tried to open a bank account and was initially denied, but her arguments drew the attention of William Farlow, the bank administrator. With William’s guidance, Reina learned the intricacies of investing and banking and became a very wealthy woman with a new dream, opening a bank for women.

With her goal set, Reina purchases a house and with the help of June, her dearest friend and now her cook, she tries to hire a staff. Which leads her to Second Chance Employment Agency, a staffing agency that hire out criminals released on license (aka parole). Determined to give these people a fighting chance to succeed, she hires a full staff, including a very pregnant woman as her housekeeper. But it soon becomes clear that this staff needs more guidance than she can supply, leading her to hire and Ticket-of-leave prisoner, a Welshman by the name of John Pembroke as her butler. But what she doesn’t know is John is not who she believes him to be, and as this motley crew becomes a family, she is in danger of losing more than just her dreams…

After a five-year break, Lisa Kleypas is back and better than ever! This book is a bit different than her previous works, primarily as it is a woman’s fiction novel with some romance rather than a straight up romance. I loved it and was completely invested in the story. Reina is a brilliant woman in a man’s world, but she doesn’t let that stop her from chasing her dreams, she is also a caring and generous with everyone. John is the perfect match for her, as he is not intimidated by an intelligent, successful woman, he too is self-made and intelligent, with a heart of gold and a desire to see Reina’s dreams come true. This book is filled with amazing and diverse characters (including some familiar faces), a “sausage dog”, emotion, some laughter, found family, discrimination, injustice, triumph, love, friendship, heartache, betrayal, vindication and finally a happy ending. This book was more than just a good read, it was a journey and I loved every minute of it. Definitely a keeper and a book I look forward to reading again and again.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a DRC/ALC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

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