A Sweet Obsession by Lana Williams

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Mayfair Literary League, #7

Release Date: May 16, 2024

Three years ago, Lady Winifred Barnes was jilted by the man she thought she loved a week before her wedding and her dear friend Lord Caleb Godwin offered her a marriage of convenience to save her reputation. Winifred turned him down because she wanted a true marriage and as a result Caleb left England and journeyed to America. It wasn’t until after he left and they exchanged letters that Winifred realized her feeling for him had changed, but it was too late – or was it? When his brother dies in an accident, Caleb returns to England to assume the title and Winifred is waiting for him, but Caleb seems cold and distant. At the urging of her friends in the Mayfair Literary League, Winifred decides to be bold and tries to capture Caleb’s interest, despite the fact that her family expects her to enter into a marry of convenience with a man of their choice. But when a scheme to entrap her goes wrong, she finds herself betrothed to Caleb, but the journey to HEA won’t be easy when the man she loves thinks she only wanted his title and could never love him for himself.

Lord Caleb Godwin was the younger son of the Marquess of Montfort and never dreamed he would ever inherit, so when Winifred broke his heart by refusing his proposal, he set out to start a new life in America, determined to forget her and make something of himself away from his hyper-critical mother. But now he is back and confused as to why Winifred is seeking him out, she made her feelings clear years ago, so what could she possibly want with him now. He is tempted and is trying to convince himself that he no longer cares for her, but when he overhears a plan to compromise her, he rushes to warn her, only to be trapped himself. Now he will have to marry the woman who has the power to crush his heart if he lets himself get too close to her. So, while he will marry her and give her his name, he will never ever give her his heart. At least that is the plan…

I have mixed feelings about this book, I loved the idea of it, after all who doesn’t love a Second Chance / Friends to Lovers romance? I absolutely loved Winifred and wanted her to succeed at her turn to push the For Better or For Worse agenda, but dear God Caleb was a huge PITA – more than once I wanted to slap him and ask what the heck is wrong with you? I also questioned his mental and intellectual acuity as he seemed to forget that she wrote to him practically weekly for YEARS – yet kept harping that she only seemed interested in him once he inherited the title – What? Seriously, I had a Jenny/Forrest “Are you stupid or something” moment with him more than once throughout this book. Thankfully, he finally pulled his head out of his butt and realized that she wasn’t the title-monger he was trying to convince himself she was and let his guard down enough to confess his feelings before their relationship was completely destroyed. But OMG – it was a near thing. This book is filled with second chances, friendship, learning self-worth, a slow burn romance, acceptance, very mild love scenes, a stupid hero, a wonderful heroine, great secondary characters, a few villainous relatives, and finally a HEA that I wasn’t sure was going to happen! This is the seventh book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

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

A Perilous Desire by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Mayfair Literary League, #6

Release Date: February 28, 2024

Almost a year ago, Becca Hamilton died in a boating accident off the coast of Chesire, leaving behind her conniving uncle and her cruel betrothed, Edwin, heir to the Earl of Fanthorpe, and on the same day, widow Rebecca Hatch was born, and escaped to London, where she moved in with the best friend of Becca’s late mother. Rebecca forged a new life for herself, joining the Mayfair Literary League and trying to put her past to rest. But when she crosses paths with Nathaniel Roth, a solicitor from Chesire in the employ of the Earl of Fanthorpe, her new life is threatened. Secretly, she always admired him and even held a tendre for him, but she can’t risk him discovering the truth. But when she learns her uncle has died and that she has a large inheritance from her father, she has to trust someone with her secrets, can that someone be Nathaniel, or will his allegiance be to the Earl?

Nathaniel Roth is the son of a wine merchant and he believed he was destined for the same, but one day the Earl of Fanthorpe came into their shop and took an interest in Nathaniel, paid for him to go to school, and even helped him set up his law practice, in exchange Nathaniel has acted as his solicitor in several matters, some that he found questionable, but Nathaniel’s loyalty is absolute, but when will his debt to the man be repaid? When by chance he sees a woman whom he is almost certain is Becca Hamilton, but is calling herself Rebecca Hatch. The closer he gets to her, the more his loyalty is challenged. Will his heart overrule his head or will a misplaced loyalty cost him the love of a lifetime?

This was a well-written, nicely-paced intriguing story with wonderful characters that you can’t help rooting for. This is by far my favorite story (so far) in the series, I loved Nathaniel & Rebecca, they are truly a wonderful couple and one I won’t soon forget. The book is filled with secrets, insecurities, lies, friends, cameos from previous characters, loyalty, warmish love scenes, betrayal, heartache, and finally a well-earned HEA completely with a very sweet epilogue. This is the sixth book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title. I loved this book and would happily recommend it to my fellow HR readers.

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