Category: American Historical

The Sweetest Season by Elizabeth Cole

On By TracyIn American Historical, Christmas, Novella, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Sweetest Season: A Regency Holiday RomanceThe Sweetest Season: A Regency Holiday Romance by Elizabeth Cole

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Originally Published in the Snowflakes & Scandal Anthology as ‘Tis the Season for Seduction

Release Date: November 18, 2025

Noel Forrest was injured and held as a prisoner of war by the British, but now he is home in Philadelphia and healing, but his life lacks the joie de vivre he once had. Nothing appeals; he isn’t eating, sleeping and he hasn’t even been able to enjoy his once favorite pastime of painting. But when his doctor gifts him a box of candy from a new confectionary shop he is tempted for the first time in months, and when the flavors explode in his mouth, it is like he has awakened from a long sleep. It has been so long since he felt anything and he doesn’t want to lose the feeling, so he sends his secretary to buy more. Soon he is finally feeling well enough to make the trip into town himself and finds a new obsession – the confectioner herself.

Miss Beatrice “Bea” Holliday is the proud and reclusive owner of Holliday’s Finest Quality Confections. She was raised in England but had a falling out with her aristocratic family and moved to Paris to study the culinary arts. After years abroad, she has left Europe and started a new life in America. She has secrets and pain in her past which makes her very wary of forming connections. But the persistent Mr. Forrest refuses to be ignored and soon she finds herself falling for the former soldier. She wonders if she can have it all, a successful career and love without losing herself and then the old insecurities begin to rear their ugly heads and jeopardize her chance at happiness.

This was an interesting story; I love that it was set in the US and explores the history and the social and moral challenges people faced at this point in our history. Noel and Bea share an instant connection and bring out the creative side of each other. I liked the story and wish it had been a little bit longer, as I felt like I never really understood Bea, as her background was just glossed over and I found myself wondering how she got to Paris and not only survived but thrived alone during the Napoleonic wars. Overall, it was a quick, sweet yet spicy, feel-good read that should delight HR readers. Note: this novella was previously published as ‘Tis the Season for Seduction in the Snowflakes & Scandals anthology.

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

The Painted Lady by Avery Sterling

On By TracyIn American Historical, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Painted LadyThe Painted Lady by Avery Sterling

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: July 22, 2024

Delaney Harper sails to New Orleans eager to reunite with her mother, and receives one shock after another, starting with a passionate stolen kiss by a masked man and ending with learning that her mother is dead and owned a brothel, and it is now Delaney’s. Delaney’s passion is painting, so she plans to sell the brothel as soon as possible, and move on with her life. Unfortunately, the brothel is run down and needs to be fixed up before anyone would consider buying, which means Delaney is now a madame! Keeping her identity a secret shouldn’t be a problem as she uses the alias Madame Vanessa Cardui aka the Painted Lady, but when her masked stranger shows up, keeping her secrets and her heart intact might be a bigger problem than she anticipated!

Alderic Beaumont was once a French aristocrat and a corsair, but he is now a smuggler and partners with Nye Tarquin. While celebrating Nye’s marriage, Alderic crosses paths with Delaney and steals a kiss. Later he seeks her out and believes she is Vanessa, the new madame of the Bird House. They embark on an affair and Alderic falls hard for her and becomes her greatest ally, but when he learns that she isn’t who he thought she was, will his feelings change, or can they find their happily ever after?

This was not your run-of-the-mill historical romance; this book is well-written and has a fresh plot that I can honestly say I haven’t read before. I loved Delaney and Alderic, they are both survivors and despite the stigma of their professions, are extremely good people. You can’t help but root for their HEA! This book has a bit of everything, grief, taboos, secrets, great secondary characters, a really nasty villain, steamy love scenes and finally a hard-won HEA. As with the last book, I do wish there was an epilogue, as the author seems to draw out the final scene to the very last page and then ending the book rather abruptly. Overall, this was a good read, and it is loosely connected to the author’s previous book “Precious Burdens” but doesn’t seem to be part of a series. So, if you are looking for something a bit different that doesn’t follow the typical HR formula, I would recommend giving this story a try!

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