We love this Grace Burrowes (We reviewed it as The Captive.)

Christian Severn, the Duke of Mercia is an officer in the British Army when he gets captured by the French while he is taking a bath and out of uniform. Because he is out of uniform, the rules concerning the treatment of officers do not apply and Christian is considered a spy. For the next eight months, he is brutally tortured both mentally and physically. When peace talks ensue, Christian is finally released and makes his way back to his unit where his relative, Colonel Marcus Easterbrook, is stationed. Easterbrook has difficulties in identifying him because of Christian’s severe weight loss, but the fact that Christian’s horse (whom Easterbrook has renamed and kept as his own) recognizes him, is enough for the British to recognize Christian as the lost Duke of Mercia. In the midst of his return, he discovers his wife and son have died in his absence. Christian returns to London to recover, but depression and PTSD make his recovery almost insurmountable. The only thing keeping him alive is the thought of vengeance against Girard, his French captor and chief torturer.

Gillian, the Countess of Greendale has just been widowed from her elderly and extremely abusive husband. She was practically sold into marriage by her family at the same time her cousin Helene married the Duke of Mercia. She visited Mercia’s country estate regularly to visit with her cousin and has been helping her only surviving child Lucy since Helene died. When Gilly learns that the Duke has returned, she goes to his London townhouse to chide him into returning to see about his daughter. Lucy has not spoken a word since her mother and brother died and Gilly is convinced that she needs her father. Christian is so out of it at first that he hardly recalls he has a daughter. Gilly recognizes a fellow sufferer when she sees one and instead of berating him for his neglect, she begins to nurture him along in his recovery. Because Lucy is well acquainted with Gilly and Christian is still uncertain about his health and frame of mind, he convinces Gilly to travel to his country estate with him. Gilly’s agreement to help Christian out with Lucy sets up a scenario for genuine friendship to develop between our hero and heroine and it does. Christian’s flashbacks to his captivity provide the backstory of his torture and clues to questions Christian has about Girard.

Burrowes has a way of writing that allows the reader into the head(s) of her characters in a very personal way. I really loved, loved, loved both the hero and the heroine in this book. The suffering they endured was authentic and never seemed contrived. This reader could feel Christian’s torment both during and after his torture and my empathy that flowed from that was natural (rather than contrived). The hero’s relationship with his daughter was both poignant and uplifting at the same time, and her reaction to her abandonment first by her father and then by her mother was heartbreaking. Many times, child characters in novels are superfluous to the plot of a book, but Lucy was an integral part of Christian and Gilly’s story and I found myself rooting for her HEA as well.

It’s on sale at Amazon for 2.62 here.

Our reviewer Lisa liked this Balogh a lot.

Lady Philippa – Pippa – Ware is the eldest child of Earl of Stratton, and unfortunately her marital prospects are nigh on to nill thanks to a family scandal. Her brother chose to expose their father’s extramarital affair in public, and this has shrouded the entire family in scandal. It takes Pippa years to agree to have a season, but when she gets to London, she soon finds herself in the sights of an impossible man.

Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, is under the gun in a different way. His grandfather, The Duke of Wilby, believes he’s dying and he wants his bachelor heir to get to marrying and popping out kids ASAP. He thinks Pippa would be perfect for Lucas, but Lucas and Pippa are at odds because she heard him make a cruel remark about her virtue. She approaches him at a ball and asks him if he remembers her. He does, and he knows very well why he said what he said and why he cannot marry her. Cue matchmaking relatives trying to prove to Lucas and Pippa that their love is worth fighting for.

Remember Me benefits from an incredibly charming cast. I genuinely liked Lucas and Pippa and their sprawling families and their quirks. Their courtship worked for me, as did the stirrings of lust and warmth in their marriage. Pippa, in particular, is worth caring about, stuck battling her poor reputation and lucky enough to basically be instantly adopted by the Arden clan.

It’s on sale for 2.99 here.

Maggie loved this contemporary romance.

The cultural aspect of this book is spectacular. Rachel’s Judaism is more than just the typical window dressing of lighting a few candles – we’re shown how her faith affects every aspect of her life, from what she eats to a world view that places family and community central to her identity….

The author also does a great job of showcasing living with a chronic illness. I especially appreciated how Rachel rationalizes tradeoffs, such as making choices needed to get through the next twenty-four hours that might cause health risks down the road.  Ms. Meltzer captures with complete credibility the impatience and intolerance of others who don’t understand what being chronically ill means and the frustration and hurt caused when people accuse the sufferer of faking or exaggerating their illness to get out of things they don’t want to do….

The author does such a wonderful job showing us who these people are and why they’re perfect for each other that I found myself rooting for them from the start. And I really appreciated learning the details of their long-ago summer camp romance and seeing them work through their issues to make a more adult connection in the present.

Ms. Mehtzer’s love for Judaism and her real-life experience with myalgic encephalomyelitis help The Matzah Ball to ring with sincere, heartfelt authenticity. I was completely charmed by the story and think readers looking for a poignant, slow burn romance will enjoy it too.

It’s on sale for 1.99 here.

Harlequin Historicals remain a regular bright spot for AAR readers and reviewers. This one is on sale today!

When an exiled Englishman returns from Paris to look after a beautiful young ward, he is tempted into a forbidden affair in this historical romance.

England, 1756. Ten years ago, Drew Castlemain fled England, disowned by his family and branded a traitor. So returning to escort his new ward, Elyse Salforde, to her husband-to-be is not only frustrating, it’s downright dangerous!

Drew is honor-bound to protect Elyse, but when he discovers she is beautiful, intelligent and far too spirited for her own good, that’s easier said than done! Drew is in no position to offer her anything, but when every touch is forbidden yet oh-so-delicious, he won’t be able to fight temptation for long . . .

It’s on sale for 1.99 here.

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