Today, I have three romance reviews for you – one historical romance, one contemporary, and one paranormal. All of these were sent to me by the authors, and I’m so thankful. They were such good reads, and even though they are all very different, they all had swoon-worthy love stories. Let’s check them out!!
Lord Valentine’s Rotten February
Author: Courtney McCaskill
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2026
Synopsis: He’s no cupid. He’s the devil.
Lucian Deverell has spent the last two years philandering his way across the Continent. Not that Lady Rosalie de Lacy cares a whit! She has done her best to forget the torrid moonlit kiss she once shared with the black-haired Lothario. Lucian might be the only man who has ever made her heart race. But he crushed her fragile hopes the very next day, then promptly left England to begin his legendary spree of debauchery.
What the devil is the Rake Review?
It was the letter that changed his life. It turns out that Lucian’s sanctimonious cousin, Lysander, was born on the wrong side of the blanket. This means that, instead of being penniless and untitled, Lucian is the rich and influential Viscount Valentine. Upon hearing the news, Lucian decamps for England to claim what is his.
Lucian is unsurprised to learn that his reputation back home is as black as his thick, glossy hair. But thanks to some insipid gossip sheet, the ladies of London seem to regard him as dashing instead of degenerate! He has neither time, nor interest, in playing their charming Lord Valentine. Lucian has come back to London for one reason—revenge.
And he means to start with Lady Rosalie…
This is the second book in the multi-author series The Rake Review, Season Two, and it’s a wonderfully swoon-worthy second-chance romance that follows Lucian Deverell and Lady Rosalie de Lacy. Lucian broke Rosalie’s heart two years ago when he professed his feelings and then swiftly left the continent. The pair shares a past full of misunderstandings and hurt feelings, which resurface as Lucian, now a viscount, returns to London to win Rosalie back.
Rosalie is smart, stubborn, and not remotely interested in making things easy for Lucian. She refuses to ignore what he did to her two years ago, even though she is still affected by his presence, and there are definitely unresolved feelings between them. She determines to prove to her father that she can’t marry Lucian by finding proof of his misdeeds. Lucian is a fantastic MMC, and I loved watching him prove himself to Rosalie. He has a lot to explain and make up for, and I love that he does it through his actions rather than with empty promises. Lucian’s confidence, devotion, and eagerness to earn her trust paired so well with Rosalie’s strength and skepticism, and the banter between them is as strong as their chemistry!
The February book for The Rake Review: Season Two series, this was a romantic and fun story, filled with chemistry and memorable characters, and the love story is positively swoon-worthy. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next month’s bachelor!
Zeke De Los Santos Talks About His Feelings
Author: Remi Carrington
Pub. Date: Jan. 7, 2026
Synopsis: When a peacock chases me into my very own fairy tale, my life starts looking like one of the many rom coms I’ve starred in.
But until now, the leading man has never been a rugged cowboy. Something I wouldn’t have said was my type. But the moment I come face-to-face with Zeke, the tall Latin ranch owner whose teenage daughter plucked me out of a bad situation, that changes. For me, it’s instant attraction.
For him, not so much.
He’s quiet and very protective of his daughter but graciously allows me to stay in his home. In his bed even. It isn’t like we’re sharing. He’s sleeping on the sofa.
When it becomes obvious that someone is out to humiliate or possibly hurt me, putting more than my acting career in jeopardy, his protectiveness gets focused on me.
We end up splashed all over the tabloids. He doesn’t seem like it bothers him, but I can’t know for sure because the man DOES. NOT. TALK. ABOUT. HIS. FEELINGS.
As the threat of danger ramps up, we spend more time together, and little tidbits of his thoughts slip out. But when I suggest leaving the ranch for their safety, he does something unexpected.
Then, at a critical moment, he shocks me again and does the unthinkable. Now, my acting career may be over for good.
This is the first book in the Brothers of Rocking Double Heart Ranch, and if the brothers are anything like Zeke, then this will be a fantastic series. A charming small-town contemporary romance, the story follows Megan, a famous actress who seeks refuge on a ranch after a peacock-induced disaster. There she meets Zeke, a quiet single dad with a guarded heart and his teen daughter, who slowly pull Megan into their world, all while a growing threat puts both her career and their safety on the line.
Megan is funny, kind, and pretty grounded for a famous actress, and she fits into ranch life far more naturally than expected. She’s great, and a perfect complement to Zeke. He’s more quiet and reserved, and he’s deeply devoted to his teenage daughter. (She’s a charmer, too!) A widower, Zeke is very cautious and slow to open up, which makes sense considering what he’s been through. He’s not looking for love or a relationship, but Megan turns everything on its head. Their chemistry is wonderful, and the slow build to their relationship is sweet and heart-warming. I especially love how caring and patient Megan is with Zeke. He was very much devoted to his wife, and Megan is understanding and never pushes him for more than he’s willing to give. There’s a maturity to their relationship that I really appreciated.
There’s also a bit of suspense, which adds a layer of intrigue and suspense, even though the relationships are the main focus of the story. It’s interesting to see how both characters handle all of the obstacles, both external and internal, in their way. Their romance, the mystery, and the lovely family moments, especially Megan’s bond with Zeke’s daughter, were some of my favorite parts of the story.
Captivated By Dominik
Author: Sarah Westill
Pub. Date: Dec. 28, 2025
Synopsis: When beast master Dominik Ralston agrees to pose as Sienna Heathwood’s husband for a government assignment, he anticipates the pretense and even the deceit. What he doesn’t expect is the fierce desire she awakens within him, or the struggle to keep the need to claim her from clouding his judgment. Disguised as a scientific expedition to New Columbia, their true mission is to uncover whether the nation is secretly mining iron and supplying it to an emerging superpower that treats its people as mere commodities.
As Dominik and his hawk navigate the treacherous wilds of an unexplored region, he begins to suspect Sienna’s genetic talent is far greater than anyone, including Sienna herself, could imagine. Dominik has to acknowledge a startling and unwelcome their own government may have been exploiting her for years. But revealing the truth could shatter her fragile world, for Sienna has already sacrificed her freedom, her trust, and even her very heart, in service to her nation. She has endured marriage after marriage to men chosen not for love, but for their country to maintain control over her.
The one thing Sienna can’t deny is the fire Dominik alone has been able to ignite within her. For the first time, Sienna experiences true passion at Dominik’s hands. And as they get closer to discovering the truth of New Columbia’s deceit, Sienna might have to decide if a life with Dominik is worth risking the future of the ranked guardian position that has always defined her.
Captivated by Dominik is the first book in The Ralston Brothers series, and it takes place in the same world as the Gen-Heirs: The Guardians of Sziveria and the Bella and the Beastmaster series. I admit, I was super happy to be back in this world, and the story connects seamlessly to the larger universe, with familiar names, places, mysteries, and characters with interesting connections to some of my favorite protagonists. That being said, you don’t need to read the other series to follow this one. The main focus is on the romance between Dominik and Sienna.
Controlled and duty-driven, Dominik is pretty intense and commanding, which is very different from Sienna’s past partners. Dominik is the first person to notice her and give her choice, which I loved, even though I didn’t always love his bossy tone. And Sienna is great. Strong, motivated, and loyal, she has had some terrible experiences with arranged relationships in the past, and even though her marriage to Dominik is also an arranged one, it’s vastly different. The emotional depth and intensity, and the way Dominik treats her as a partner and as someone special, is fantastic!
I also adored Dominik’s family. They’re all so unique and compelling, and even though they are each strong individuals, they form this beautiful family unit that I totally want to be a part of. His hawk is fabulous, too! There’s some terrific banter between him and Dominik that endeared both of them to me. There’s also a bit of intrigue and a mystery that kept me guessing, and I’m curious to see how some of the overarching plot plays out as the series continues.
