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jess_justmaybeperfect's reviews
798 reviews
Trouble by Lex Croucher
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Emily has a new job as a governess. Little does her employer know she’s never held such a position before. Also her employer thinks she’s Amy, Emily’s sister. Unfortunately Amy is too ill to report and so Emily tells enough small lies to take the job for herself. She decides to take the opportunity to steal from her new employer in order to afford doctor visits for Amy and possibly find out what crimes he committed as a naval officer when a decidedly villainous man makes an entrance.
As Emily gets to know the children and staff she finds a safe and reliable place. The friendships she makes are irreplaceable and what she learns about herself, love, and family is gorgeous.
I’m just not sure this is a romance novel? There is certainly a romance and it’s fun but not the center of the story. While there are romantic moments, the reader doesn’t see the couple together enough to make their story the main plot. Plus it’s all from her POV.
What is centered is beautiful though: found family, sexuality, and gender identity play a crucial role in this book and will leave you satisfied even if you initially come for the romance.
The narrator is outstanding.
As Emily gets to know the children and staff she finds a safe and reliable place. The friendships she makes are irreplaceable and what she learns about herself, love, and family is gorgeous.
I’m just not sure this is a romance novel? There is certainly a romance and it’s fun but not the center of the story. While there are romantic moments, the reader doesn’t see the couple together enough to make their story the main plot. Plus it’s all from her POV.
What is centered is beautiful though: found family, sexuality, and gender identity play a crucial role in this book and will leave you satisfied even if you initially come for the romance.
The narrator is outstanding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
An Affair with a Notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Less bananas than the previous books in this series but still a lot.
FMC is a scandalous divorcee and MMC is the son of a scandalous couple who love him and are good people but that didn’t stop the bullying so he wants to marry someone “perfect.”
FMC’s uncle wants her little sister out from under her scandalous shadow and offers MMC a deal.
MMC fake courts FMC’s sister briefly while falling head over heels for FMC.
MMC and FMC make another deal. He wants more. She resists. He grovels and makes grand gestures. His family is amazing.
You will be sad and angry (at everyone except the FMC) for a lot of this book and there is more slut shaming than necessary but it is a beautiful love story.
FMC is a scandalous divorcee and MMC is the son of a scandalous couple who love him and are good people but that didn’t stop the bullying so he wants to marry someone “perfect.”
FMC’s uncle wants her little sister out from under her scandalous shadow and offers MMC a deal.
MMC fake courts FMC’s sister briefly while falling head over heels for FMC.
MMC and FMC make another deal. He wants more. She resists. He grovels and makes grand gestures. His family is amazing.
You will be sad and angry (at everyone except the FMC) for a lot of this book and there is more slut shaming than necessary but it is a beautiful love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
An Affair with a Notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
To my ears the narrator makes the American characters sound like the golden girls and I’m so distracted by it I’m switching to eyeballs
The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My fave in the series (so far, haven’t read past book 4 yet). It is classic Heath bonkers and it’ll make you sob so much you’ll forget just how bonkers it is.
Both the FMC and MMC are mercenary and uncomfortably practical about live and relationships. Many would categorize them as “unlikable.”
She needs to protect her brother and friends and does so the only way she knows how, conning.
He wants her so much his usual perceptiveness fails him and he falls for her ruse (while they are falling for each other).
Furious (but reluctantly impressed) when he discovers her con he offers a bargain to which she readily agrees. As they spend more time together and learn each other’s secrets their relationship changes.
He decides to make her happy before he even realizes what he’s doing. She decides to finally accept some help. There are numerous, and exceedingly emotional, grand gestures.
Please check CWs. There is significant medical, grief, ableist, and other difficult content in this book.
Both the FMC and MMC are mercenary and uncomfortably practical about live and relationships. Many would categorize them as “unlikable.”
She needs to protect her brother and friends and does so the only way she knows how, conning.
He wants her so much his usual perceptiveness fails him and he falls for her ruse (while they are falling for each other).
Furious (but reluctantly impressed) when he discovers her con he offers a bargain to which she readily agrees. As they spend more time together and learn each other’s secrets their relationship changes.
He decides to make her happy before he even realizes what he’s doing. She decides to finally accept some help. There are numerous, and exceedingly emotional, grand gestures.
Please check CWs. There is significant medical, grief, ableist, and other difficult content in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Murder
When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When the Duke was wicked is the story of childhood friends (with a 9 year age gap) who are reconnected when the FMC (who had childhood crush) decides she’s ready to wed.
He was a very good boy until he lost his wife and child at 21 and spiraled into debauchery. She’s a heavily dowried heiress and has asked him to help her (with his particular experience) weed out the scoundrels.
The first 1/3 of this book is very slow but trust me when I say it picks up and well!
I loved Grace and her determination to love and be loved for who she is. And I found his arc totally convincing, if a little delayed.
In addition to a great romance this book has an extra villainous villain, removal of clothes to get warm in a cabin, kidnapping rescue, gunshot wounds, sick bed scenes, honest and comforting conversations about grief and health, and very good parents.
There are significant CWs for this book so please make sure to review them before you get started.
He was a very good boy until he lost his wife and child at 21 and spiraled into debauchery. She’s a heavily dowried heiress and has asked him to help her (with his particular experience) weed out the scoundrels.
The first 1/3 of this book is very slow but trust me when I say it picks up and well!
I loved Grace and her determination to love and be loved for who she is. And I found his arc totally convincing, if a little delayed.
In addition to a great romance this book has an extra villainous villain, removal of clothes to get warm in a cabin, kidnapping rescue, gunshot wounds, sick bed scenes, honest and comforting conversations about grief and health, and very good parents.
There are significant CWs for this book so please make sure to review them before you get started.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
Widow in Emerald by Scarlett Peckham
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Part of a series of short stories centered on a sex club that’s a part of Peckham’s universe. Sexy, sweet, quick read.
The Duke I Tempted by Scarlett Peckham
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Class differences to scandal to marriage of convenience to true love.
Plus some great FemmeDom moments.
Plus some great FemmeDom moments.
Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
beautiful society queen is very cruel to commoner adopted brother of best friend. one night while he’s out strolling the Thames he discovers her unconscious and brings her back to his house. when he realizes she has amnesia seizes on a chance for revenge and pretends for DAYS that she’s his servant and, of course, they start to fall in love.
there are laugh out loud bananas moments throughout but the extent of the lie and how he manipulated her ruined the romance for me
the deception continues very far in the book and the trauma she’s experienced is brutal so please check CWs
there are laugh out loud bananas moments throughout but the extent of the lie and how he manipulated her ruined the romance for me
the deception continues very far in the book and the trauma she’s experienced is brutal so please check CWs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Gaslighting
A Private Miscellany by KJ Charles
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Extremely satisfying complete series epilogue. Everyone is happy, healthy, and satisfied. Fun and hot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the best Herrera book I’ve read.
It’s so perfect I don’t know how I can do it justice in a review. It’s sexy, pro-choice, smart, funny, political, progressive, feminist, so hot omg, anti racist, pro women, a great example of found family, insanely romantic, richly diverse, and the writing is even more spectacular than all that.
Apollo is a bad ass burn em down wealthy duke drowning in his obsession with/love for Aurora. Aurora is a doctor and women’s rights activist on a mission to use her privilege for good. When these two juggernauts combine forces, no one can hold them back.
Also the glimpses of the previous couples, the spouses of the Leonas ride or dying for each other, and the collective women owned farm community in France, are icing on top.
Herrera is rapidly becoming a HistRom giant and I hope the publishing world takes note.
It’s so perfect I don’t know how I can do it justice in a review. It’s sexy, pro-choice, smart, funny, political, progressive, feminist, so hot omg, anti racist, pro women, a great example of found family, insanely romantic, richly diverse, and the writing is even more spectacular than all that.
Apollo is a bad ass burn em down wealthy duke drowning in his obsession with/love for Aurora. Aurora is a doctor and women’s rights activist on a mission to use her privilege for good. When these two juggernauts combine forces, no one can hold them back.
Also the glimpses of the previous couples, the spouses of the Leonas ride or dying for each other, and the collective women owned farm community in France, are icing on top.
Herrera is rapidly becoming a HistRom giant and I hope the publishing world takes note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Colonisation