We really enjoyed this one back in the day. In our 2001 review, our reviewer wrote:

I found myself smiling throughout this book. The characters and their interactions were like a breath of fresh air after the dull books I’ve read recently. Though I haven’t read the first two books in this series, if they are anything like this one, I can’t wait to get my hands on them.

Greydon Brakenridge, Duke of Wycliffe, the Duke of Wycliffe, and known as Grey to his friends, has fled to the country to escape being trapped into marriage. It conveniently worked out that his uncle asked for his help with the estate of Haverly at the same time. Grey is highly arrogant, and not really a nice guy. He has some extremely insulting ideas about women and their (lack of) intelligence. When Grey realizes that Haverly provides land for Miss Grenville’s Academy, a finishing school for young ladies, he nearly suffers apoplexy. Part of Grey’s plan to make the estate more solvent is to raise the rent for all tenants, including the academy. Grey particularly looks forward to informing the headmistress of the raise in rent as believes the academy exists solely to teach young women how to snare wealthy husbands.

Miss Emma Grenville has been the headmistress of the academy for three years, ever since her aunt, the founder of the school, passed away. When she is informed that the rent is to be raised, she is displeased to say the least, and not at all impressed with Grey. Emma is an extremely intelligent and capable woman, and proceeds to take “His Grace” down a few well-deserved notches.

It’s on sale for 1.99 here.

AAR’s Lisa gave this 2023 contemporary romance a DIK. She wrote:

The Love Plot is a warm and funny romance in which a determinedly independent hippie girl meets a kind-hearted veterinarian. It’s a spirited read loaded with personality and humor, and it’s bound to make readers smile.

Star Shine Meadow is, if you couldn’t tell by her name, the child of hippies who eschews commitment in favor of freedom because of her parents’ terrible relationship. She also hasn’t committed to a single career, but rather works part-time jobs to maximize her sense of liberty. She’s paid to sit on lines for rich people who want the latest exclusive gig, and she also plays costumed characters like Disney princesses for children’s birthday parties. Star plans to travel the world someday, and works with that in mind. While performing at a birthday party dressed up as Merida from Brave, she’s instantly attracted to a handsome veterinarian, whose orderly, job-dictated life is the exact opposite of hers.

Dr. Rafe Whitman just wanted to make an appearance at his niece’s birthday party without any fuss, but instead he finds himself bantering with the woman hired to entertain the kids. He realizes, suddenly, that Star might be the perfect way out of his family’s nonstop nagging. He’ll pretend to settle down all right – with Star, who will in turn receive the benefits of travel and more cash than she’s making as a line sitter/party actor.

It’s on sale for 1.99 here.

The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence…

Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.

But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife…is there?

If you enjoy light and humorous historical romance, I’d encourage you to try Victoria Alexander’s newest release (and first book for Avon), The Wedding Bargain. Fans of Julia Quinn will likely appreciate Alexander’s style. In The Wedding Bargain, she has created a cute premise and fun characters….

The inventive plot of The Wedding Bargain really drives the book. Max’s quest quickly becomes all-encompassing; he spends almost all his time meeting the challenges and spending time with Pandora. The result is a book full of delightful interaction between main characters. Though it seems to take them forever to get together, they quickly fall in love. Their reactions to their feelings are realistic, and they spend a lot of time examining them. The book is brimming with lively dialogue and amusing action – it’s fun from start to finish.

There are several charming secondary characters as well, most notably Pandora’s best friend Cynthia. Cynthia starts out as something of a mouse, but really comes into her own during the course of the book. Also enjoyable are Pandora’s parents and Max’s friend Laurie.

It’s on sale for 1.99 here.