Review: The Scandalous Lady Mina

 

A Victorian enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance

Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina’s returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy!

Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer Max is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control…

Review

The Scandalous Lady Mina by Lara Temple
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ah, the Set is not one to forgive. Poor Lady Mina is 10 years out from a scandal of her own making and she is still not forgiven nor forgotten. Her ability to hold her head high despite the gossip makes her an ideal escort for a soft-hearted ingenue about to hit the operatic stage. Unfortunately, this means she will be forced to endure the anger of her stilted fiance's family.

Mina holds her own in the story. She is full of poise and gracefully avoids begging for anyone's good will. She guides young Eliza with kindness and realism. I wanted her to find her happy ending, so she made a good cornerstone for the story.

Septimus, Max's uncle and Mina's employer, is the unsung star of his own show and he standout player in this story. He is full of an artist's disdain and misplaced enthusiasm. He brings much of the humor and emotional drive to the story. It is no wonder that he's mentioned in nearly every review - he's an absolute delight even when he's being manipulative.

I struggled more with Max. Although he seems logical about his concerns, his dead-set refusal to look at a situation from all sides and make space for forgiveness hit me as a "red flag" - but maybe he will learn from the experience. Isn't that what we all fantasize about these rough-edge men in books?

The sexual tension is strong but not overly erotic. It's a good example of Harlequin heat. I enjoyed the romance despite some structural and character hiccoughs. Yes, it's a little hard to follow at times and I got lost in point of view more than once, but it's overall a fun story with well-structured characters.

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Purchase Links

Amazon UK: The Scandalous Lady Mina: Disgraced lady sets sail with the enemy! A Regency romance on a luxury ship for fans of enemies to lovers and forced proximity sparks! New in 2026! eBook : Temple, Lara: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Amazon US: Amazon.com: The Scandalous Lady Mina eBook : Temple, Lara: Kindle Store

Author Bio –

Lara Temple is an award-winning author of strong and sexy historical romance. She lives in London with her husband, two children, and one very fluffy dog, and they are all very understanding about her disappearing into her little office where she looks out over the garden as she dreams up her Happy Ever Afters.

 

Social Media Links –

website: www.laratemple.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/laratempleauthor1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LaraTemple

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaraTemple1

Amazon author page US: http://bit.ly/LaraTemple

Amazon author page UK: http://bit.ly/LaraTempleUK

 

Giveaway to Win an e-copy of The Scandalous Lady Mina by Lara Temple (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/kAW5B/win-an-e-copy-of-the-scandalous-lady-mina-by-lara-temple-open-int

Cover reveal: Mrs Clutterbucks Christmas Emporium

When Mabel Clutterbuck opens a Christmas shop in sleepy Merrycombe Bay, she has no idea how
much her little emporium is about to change the hearts and minds of the people who live there.
Mabel Clutterbuck reluctantly returns to the seaside town she grew up in to be closer to her ailing
mother. However, the old woman’s fading memories keep confusing Mabel with her sister Clara -
the sister who sacrificed everything to care for their mother before recently disappearing without
trace.

Determined to breathe new life into the old shop Clara used for her crafting endeavours, Mabel
transforms it into Mrs Clutterbuck's Christmas Emporium, a magical haven filled with vintage
decorations, festive treasures, and a little bit of wonder.

The true magic, however, lies in Mabel's Lucky Dip Gift Boxes. Carefully chosen for the hidden
heartaches of the customers who buy them, each one brings comfort, hope, and unexpected joy.
Not everyone in Merrycombe Bay is convinced, though, especially the formidable ladies of the local
WI!

As Christmas approaches, an unexpected romantic encounter gives Mabel a glimpse of a future she
never thought possible. And while she helps others find happiness, she begins to heal the parts of
herself she thought would remain broken.

But beneath the sparkle of fairy lights and festive cheer, old wounds refuse to stay buried. Why did
Clara leave Merrycombe Bay? And if she returns, will Mabel lose everything she's finally found -
including the future she never thought she deserved.

Heartwarming, uplifting and sprinkled with Christmas magic, Mrs Clutterbuck's Christmas Emporium is a story of family secrets, second chances, unexpected romance, and the power of kindness.

Pre-order Link - https://amzn.eu/d/0h1XusUq
Publication Date: 6 th November 2026

Author Bio

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic
comedies. With twenty-three books to her name, her work has captured readers' hearts around the
world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon's
Kindle bestseller charts. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes
through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.

Social Media Links –

w: www.nicolamay.com
i: author_nicola
fb: Nicola May Romance Author | Facebook

Review: House of Thieves

 

At Terrington Hall, objects are treasured while people are forgotten.

Chief conservator Amy is restoring the Hurly family’s guilt-stained hoard when a theft forces her to hire Harrison, a security adviser on a personal quest to uncover his own history.

Unknown to anyone, an invisible presence woven into the fabric of the house watches their every move.

When Harrison uncovers a room sealed for decades, the investigation shifts from simple theft to the resurrection of murderous secrets. In a house where the past is too heavy to escape, the dead don’t need bodies to tell their stories — they just need someone to listen.

One house. Two mysteries. Two centuries apart.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/SpbHfueEYdU

House of Thieves by Rachel Walkley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful cover. I felt drawn to the world immediately and it remained a strong symbol for the book throughout the reading.

This is a difficult novel to review without leaving spoilers. The author did a good job of setting up a story where almost every detail is necessary. A group of conservators work in the present to uncover the secrets held in different time periods. I enjoyed the use of the House as the "ghost" in the story, the entity who is both innocent and guilty of all the secrets. There are some definite pacing issues. I encourage readers to stick with it until the end because the payoff comes.

This novel is more historical literary fiction than gothic horror. It has mysteries but little eeriness. If you relax and enjoy the story, the genre won't matter much.

View all my reviews

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H9HY2WZL

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9HY2WZL

https://books2read.com/u/m2gOqG

Author Bio –

Rachel Walkley is a former librarian and scientist who lives in the North West of England, where she spends her spare time making music and writing. Her debut novel, The Women of Heachley Hall, was a bestseller in the UK and Australia. Known for weaving together family secrets, magical mysteries, old houses and inspirational women, Rachel also writes gripping female-led crime novels under the pen name Rae Shaw.

Social Media Links –

Rachel Walkley’s author website

Social Media

Review: Kiss of the Raven Witch

Breezy's had a crush on her grumpy copilot for months, but Cruz Alejo keeps pushing her away. The brooding cougar shifter claims he's protecting her, but she suspects he's just afraid to let anyone in. When Cruz is captured and forced into brutal underground fighting pits, Breezy breaks every rule in her boss's witness protection program to mount a rescue. Even though it means returning to the coven that branded her an abomination and hunted her for death.

Cruz has spent years carrying guilt over failures he can't forgive, convinced that anyone who gets close to him ends up hurt. But when Breezy risks everything to save him, the walls around his heart begin to crack. Their escape leads them to a realm of indulgence and deadly trials, where Breezy must face an ancient flame that has killed every hybrid who dared claim it. To protect her, Cruz will have to choose. Trust in their new bond or lose Breezy forever.

In a world where magic and shifter instincts collide, two wounded souls must decide if love is worth the risk. Because the greatest danger isn't the sadistic warlock hunting them or the trials that could consume Breezy alive. It's admitting that together, they're stronger than they ever were apart.

Review

Kiss Of The Raven Witch: Nightshade Shifters by Ines Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a strong entry in paranormal romance. The author avoids getting bogged down in detail while building a rich, deep world that matches the pace of the plot. The author draws on her "dark streets" knowledge from life as a social worker to add nuance and emotional realism to a rich fantasy world full of shapeshifters and mythological creatures. There is plenty of adventure to balance out a strong, steamy romantic arc.

Be warned - this book is sexually charged from page 1. The tension fits well in the plot and I didn't feel like it was only for erotica's sake that the passion hits the page. There are lines that may be crossed if you prefer softer approaches to sexuality.

View all my reviews

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kiss-Raven-Witch-Nightshade-Shifters-ebook/dp/B0H5782QG9

https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Raven-Witch-Nightshade-Shifters-ebook/dp/B0H5782QG9

Author Bio – Ines Gray is an American paranormal romance author who weaves tales of fallen angels, shifters, vampires, and dark prophecies colliding with the modern world. After spending 20 years in a combined law enforcement and social work position, she transitioned to fiction writing and signed with a UK-based independent publishing agency in 2023. Her debut novel, Angel Redeemed, launched the Watchers and Warriors series in June 2025—a story she began in 2008, lost to a damaged thumb drive, and miraculously recovered 14 years later. Hailing from the Midwest, Ines lives with her husband of over 30 years and their rescue cat with cerebellar hypoplasia.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552303060805&mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://instagram.com/ines_gray_author?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

 

Giveaway To Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/r0GsO/win-a-25-amazon-gift-card-open-internationally

Review: A Painkiller to Die For

 

It was difficult for Will Jeavons to imagine just how his life could possibly get any better. Having overcome a traumatic childhood, he had gone on to study molecular pharmacology and win tenure as a lecturer at his beloved Cambridge University. But his life was soon to become better still, the CEO of a biotech company. Will’s unique research led to the discovery of a non-addictive drug for chronic pain. A remarkable solution for the opioid epidemic which had claimed the life of his mother.

Will’s flourishing company was subsequently acquired, and this was when he first met Celeste Simmonds. The beguiling Celeste would steer Will away from his earlier hedonistic, womanising lifestyle. However, the only way he could ensure the success of his drug was to bury key safety data which could have led to the clinical trials being terminated.

Clinical trials which resulted in the husband of Lydia Goldberg falling into a deep coma. It was Lydia’s scientific training which led her to discover Will’s fraudulent cover-up. She was determined to seek vengeance and concocted an elaborate honeytrap and a decision for Will to make. A career ending confession or being submitted to a life-threatening game of Russian roulette.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Painkiller-Die-Dr-Martyn-Pritchard-ebook/dp/B0FC6Y9SXN/

https://www.amazon.com/Painkiller-Die-Dr-Martyn-Pritchard-ebook/dp/B0FC6Y9SXN/

Author Bio –

Dr Martyn Pritchard is currently moving towards retirement following on from a 35-year long career in drug discovery research focusing on neuroscience as well as novel medicines to treat pain. He is the author of over 50 scientific papers and book chapters along with one novel written under a nom de plume: A Practical Arrangement.

 

Social Media Links –

Instagram: martyn.pritchard1 (Instagram)

Facebook: (20+) Facebook

Review: Book Lover's Bucket List

A bucket list to change her life.

Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.

When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a deal: together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.

What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.

But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder truth: dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.

Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.
Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.

A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.

The Book Lover's Bucket List by Hannah Claire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An adorable book for summer's day! I loved the protagonists and the way they are pulled together for the very reasons they assumed they would never work. The use of books as plot device was so fun for this booklover. Kudos to Hannah Claire for keeping the romance real enough to be believable while still providing all the happy tingles necessary for a good romance. I also loved the setting -consider The Peaks on my travel wish list. I can only hope it will be this charming.

View all my reviews

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX33FZ34

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX33FZ34

Author Bio – Hannah has always been a bookworm, loving nothing more than escaping into fictional worlds, and can't walk past a bookshop without adding to her already-overflowing To Be Read shelves. She writes contemporary romantic novels set against the beautiful landscape of the Peak District in Derbyshire, close to where she lives.

A firm believer in the power of love stories to offer comfort and escape, Hannah writes books that celebrate connection, hope, and the magic of second chances — stories designed to bring a little joy into busy lives.

She lives with her husband, their three children, two cats, and one very bouncy dog who still hasn't worked out that squirrels generally don't want to be her friends.

Hannah loves long sunny days spent outdoors and rainy afternoons spent indoors — ideally under a cosy blanket with a good book. Her favourite things include sparkly nail varnish, candles, bubble baths, and chocolate, and she remains convinced that there is no such thing as too many notebooks.

 

Social Media Links – @hannahclairewriter

Facebook and Instagram

Review: The Catalyst

When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA specialist Kat Crocker is assigned to uncover the cause of the mutations and stop them before they spread. But her growing visibility makes her a target. As attacks escalate, the trail leads her to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics—and to one man: the mentor who taught her everything, the father she buried years ago.

Review

The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, that was trippy. Goyan has created a bendy world where gaming blends with reality to create a super-race of animal-human hybrids. It's an extension of Ready Player One where the company wants more than allegiance- it wants to own every identifying piece of the participants. The book has some great reviews.

Overall, the story is written with immersive, detailed scene-setting and an excellent sense of suspense. It keeps you curious until the final reveal. I wish it had leaned a little heavier into the science. The "why" of it all is largely left untouched and I would've enjoyed knowing more about the transmission of DNA from one organism to another. However, the overall premise and good plot stitching help to keep the novel solid and intriguing. So while it isn't a perfect sci-fi, it has a lot to recommend it and is worth picking up.

View all my reviews

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/

https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/

 

Author Bio – Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025. Andrea also co-hosts MetaStellar Magazine’s “Long-Lost Friends” and “Storytime.” In her spare time, she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits. 

Many of her stories are available for free on her website.

Social Media Links –

Website Andrea Goyan,

Facebook Andrea Goyan Storyteller,

Bluesky Follow Andrea on Bluesky!