Rebel Heiress by Amalie Howard - ADVISABLE

Rebel Heiress (The Diamonds #3) by Amalie Howard, 347 pages. Joy Revolution (Random House), 2026. $20

Language: G (4 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (passionate kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Lady Rosalin desperately wants the same kind of chance at an education that her cousin, Lord Ansel, is happy to throw away for a year of travel on the continent. Since the two of them are so similar in features, Rosalin convinces Ansel it is in both their best interests to trade places of a sort. Ansel can roam Europe, while Rosalin spends her weeks at Cambridge learning from the best and brightest, and her weekends please her mama at the balls and parties of her fourth London season. What she doesn’t bank on is a college tutor who is also devilishly handsome and has progressive views of a woman’s place in society - someone she is quite willing to fall in love with despite the obstacles.

Howard finishes off the Diamond series with a classic plot device with some fun twists thrown in. You also see the characters from the first two books. While post-Regency in time period, all of the glitter still exists, too.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

A Deal with a Debutante by Chelsea Bobulski - OPTIONAL

A Deal with a Debutante (London’s Most Eligible #1) by Chelsea Bobulski, 304 pages. Haven (Baker Publishing Group), 2026. $19.

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use, kissing, innuendo, and mentions of prostitutes); Violence: PG (mentions of guns and brief discussion of violent historical events)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

American heiress Calliope is only in England because her mother wants her to marry a titled gentleman. Edward is titled and, like many of his generation, his estate is in desperate need of an influx of money—and the quickest fix would come from marrying an heiress. But Calliope doesn’t care about a title, so Edward must make her care about his land or, possibly, his heart.

While the book starts with the main characters meeting on the wrong foot and, of course, includes some miscommunication issues, the real conflict is internal. Calliope must decide whether she wants to take a risk to give up the life she had expected to have or continue to fight to go home. It was interesting to read because there is not a right or wrong answer to this choice, making her confusion that much more relatable. The majority of characters, including Edward, are English, and Calliope and her family are American.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson 

A Love Most Daring by Joanna Barker - ADVISABLE

A Love Most Daring (Bow Street #3) by Joanna Barker, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use, illegal activity, partial nudity, mild innuendo, and kissing); Violence: PG (assault, gun use, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Returning to London, Beatrice (24yo) is determined to enjoy all the excitement of the city she can before her past catches up to her. Beatrice’s good friend arranges an outing for them with a suitable man to escort Beatrice—unfortunately, Mr. Rawlings takes that man’s place. When the couple is nearly murdered on their outing, they are forced to flee London together until the suspect can be apprehended, illustrating that Mr. Rawlings can ruin not only a fun evening but an entire trip.

Beatrice is a damsel in distress to be saved, yes, but she is not useless. This protagonist is realistically panicked by the stressful situations she finds herself in and also gets to contribute to catching the bad guy in reasonable ways. Everything comes together a little too perfectly in the end in order to give readers their happily ever after, but the conclusion is still satisfactory. Characters from the previous two books in the series are present, but their stories are not required to enjoy this one.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

If You’ll Have Me by Esther Hatch - OPTIONAL

If You’ll Have Me by Esther Hatch, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Eight years ago, Anna and her family spent the summer of her seventeenth year in Breckenridge. Anna loved it there and didn’t know they would be the last happy memories she made. Now Anna (25yo) and her mother return in desperation of their circumstances and find help from the unlikely place of the boy that followed Anna around that summer—a boy who is now a man.

Anna and David dither about, changing their minds frequently about their unusual situation—one that they brought upon themselves. They make an adorable couple when they allow themselves to be and are eyeroll inducing when the pitfall of unclear communication further tangles things. Tragic backstories make the happily ever after feel that much sweeter, and it’s an overall cute story.

The majority of characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing, partial nudity, mentions of alcohol and brothels, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault; mentions of child abuse, animal cruelty, and self harm; and gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson 

Deep Secrets by Nikki Shannon Smith - OPTIONAL

Deep Secrets by Nikki Shannon Smith, 288 pages. Scholastic, APRIL 2026. $9 (paperback)

Language: G (2 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (sinking of Titanic)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

19yo Colette has abided by her mother’s orders her entire life.  While her older sister goes off to work and her younger brother goes to school, Colette is rarely let out of the house. Once a week she is allowed to go to Walter’s Market to pick up their groceries. This time, however, Colette decides to take a chance - she asks Walter for a job. Colette’s father died when she was 2yo - she knows that money is always tight and every penny helps. At Walter’s, Colette not only has more time to talk to Claude, Walter’s very handsome assistant, but Walter starts opening up about his family and about his voyage on the Titanic. Colette is drawn to Walter’s story - she feels that there may be some connection between his story and hers, but she has no idea what it might be,

Smith spends so much effort into holding close to the secrets within the stories, both past and present, that I felt little connection to either. While billed as a story of the Titanic, the dribs and drabs of information feels like little reward for the reading. No, I won’t tell you Colette’s secret, but the clues are there for you to figure it out before the reveal. The cover is eye-catching and will help to sell the book if you decide to purchase it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly - ADVISABLE

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly, 176 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $18.

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Eight years after Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, his wife Catherine, or Kate, is struggling to feel up to celebrating Christmas. One of her children died earlier that year, and all the commercialization of a holiday meant to mean so much more and meant to be about Christ has left Kate forcing a smile at the Christmas party she and Charles are hosting. But then she has three marvelous experiences that breathe joy back into the celebrations.

This historical fiction story mirrors some of the elements of A Christmas Carol, and it is a lovely reimagining in a realistic setting. I was a tad disappointed about the lack of fantastical elements because I wanted to see what Connolly would do for a representation of the ghost of Christmas future, but Kate’s experiences were focused on past and present. Kate’s story is about the true meaning of Christmas, choosing to start the journey to change, and the goodness that can be found all around us.

Catherine is Scottish, and the rest of the characters are implied English. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats - OPTIONAL

The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats, 251 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2025. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

15yo Stanislava’s family came from eastern Europe to Colorado for a better life, but that life only seems to be for the boys of the family. She discovers a book at the local penny library about an immigrant girl like her who is going off to college and she aches for a better life. On the day Stanislava decides to rechristen herself as Sylvia, however, her 23yo sister Stina runs away to marry a man from another state.  Sylvia's parents oil her out of school to care for the two youngest siblings and all of the other chores that Stina always did, because their mother is too depressed to care for them.  Sylvia is having none of that.  She takes off and makes her way to Denver, where she hopes to find Stina or build herself a new life.

I don’t know how old Sylvia is - somewhere between 12 and 15, as she hasn’t started high school yet. I loved Sylvia and her adventures - there is so much more that I could have told you about. The setting is 1910. The interplay between the white community (the saviors) and the immigrants is excellent - some are empathetic and others want to “whiten” the community. I felt like I was reading a later Betsy-Tacy book. I would love to see grandparents reading this with young granddaughters. It's only OPTIONAL because historical fiction is usually a hard sell. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk - ADVISABLE

Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk, 272 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $19.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After faking her own death, Kate continued to live at the house her family had been renting, Winterset, with only two loyal servants for company. But Winterset does not belong to her. It belongs to Mr. Jennings. And after years of absence and neglect, Mr. Jennings is finally coming to the residence, threatening Kate’s hidden life.

Reading both points of view of Kate trying to get rid of Mr. Jennings and Mr. Jennings trying not to believe his house is haunted was highly entertaining. And then, of course, readers finally get swept into the romance as the couple attempts to keep themselves and their relationship from the world and hide out in their own little bubble. With humor, healing, unexpected love, and even threat of murder, Odekirk gives her readers a little bit of everything. Winterset is a companion to Odekirk’s Summerhaven, and it is referenced (and another good read) but not necessary to enjoy this story.

The majority of characters are English. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and kissing. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, sexual assault, murder, and mentions of suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson 

The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson - OPTIONAL

The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson, 288 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

13yo Rosemary has been separated from her family for 3 years. Her parents, finding it hard to find regular work, have farmed them out to family. Rosemary in London, and each of her two brothers with other family members. It's 1940, and with the threat of war in England, Rosemary's Father is gathering the family back together and taking them to America, to live with the Grandmother Rosemary has never met. 

A very sweet and nostalgic story. The hardships from living in London and enduring the rations, the fear of bombings and the uncertainty of war were realistic and set the stage for the family's leaving. Includes some racism once they get to Wisconsin, some from Rosemary's father which I didn't appreciate, but was explained near the end. Ties up super neatly though and, as a regular fair enterer, I gotta say, it was weird that everything in their garden became ripe at all at the same time. This historical fiction is a slice of life that I'm not entirely sure today's readers will relate to. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Dream by Barbara O’Connor - OPTIONAL

Dream by Barbara O’Connor, 256 pages. Farrar, Straus, Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Idalee lives with her Mama in their boarding house in the small Colby, North Carolina.  Mama dreams of being a country-western star and this summer she is going on the road with her band in search of stardom, leaving Idalee and the boarding house in the care of one of their long-term borders. When Idalee hears about a song-writing contest, she badly wants to enter, but she’ll need to find the treasure hidden in the house by her late granddaddy in order to buy the guitar she needs to inspire her.

I am unsure what time period Idalee lives in - though Charlie, from O’Connor’s Wish  appears in the book as a young lady. For fans of gentle realistic fiction.

Characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Burg and Sophie Blackall - ADVISABLE

Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Burg, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, 304 page. BIOGRAPHY, Scholastic, 2024. $20.  

Language: G (0 swears 0'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Rachel Carson was always interested in nature. She loved the forest outside her home near Pittsburgh and worried about the effects of the pollution the coal mines were causing on the ecology. She also loved writing, as a young girl, she sold several stories to St. Nick magazine, and helped support her family in the 1920s. Attending college, she planned to be a writer, but being introduced to the study of biology, Rachel realized she could make a difference, but many factors including the fact that she was a woman would come into play as she tried to follow a career in science. 

Ann E. Burg's novel in verse is wonderful. I was immediately immersed in Rachel's story. I loved that she spent a lot of time with Rachel as a child - this will certainly invest the middle school readers in both her causes and her life. Sophie Blackall's illustrations are great - like they were carefully drawn in a scientific notebook. I loved the - were you paying attention and can you identify these things - at the end of the book. While not exactly non-fiction as Burg has combined characters, changed some names and there aren't the typical end materials like a bibliography or links to other sources, I think Force of Nature will be a great historical fiction about a real person and readers will want to find out more. Rachel is white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews - OPTIONAL

Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy #1) by Mimi Matthews, 400 pages. Berkley Publishing, 2025. $20.

Language: PG13 (32 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence; PG

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After graduating from the academy for girls, Effie was sent away to Paris to be a companion to an elderly lady. Effie hopes that her summons to return five years later will grant her freedom, but her old headmistress and guardian has one more stipulation before Effie can have her independence: Effie must ruin the reputation of Lord Compton. In this, Effie gains an unwitting enemy in Gabriel who needs Compton’s reputation to protect his own interests.

Matthews’ main characters are not above doing illegal things to achieve their goals, begging readers to determine how they are any better than the antagonist when everyone seems to believe that the ends justify the means. Curiosity of how Matthews will make both of her characters triumph in their conflicting goals as well as waiting to see how the will-they-won’t-they romance plays out act as the main propellants of the story. Overall, the story was a fun, predictable read.

The majority of characters are English and implied White, though Effie is described as having skin “somewhere between dark ivory and olive.” The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of drugs and prostitution, illegal activity, kissing, partial nudity, and innuendo. The violence rating is for death, blood and gore, assault, and mentions of murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Lady Anna’s Favor by Karen Tuft - OPTIONAL

Lady Anna’s Favor by Karen Tuft, 272 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

When Anna’s brother is reported as missing in action in France and presumed dead, the entailed estate is set to be inherited by her unsavory cousin. Unwilling to let her cousin ruin their family and drive her out of her home, Anna takes it upon herself to track down her brother—even if it means going to France herself with little knowledge of the language and accepting temporary companionship from a judgmental gentleman.

Tuft has written several books about the Jennings family, and the first few chapters of this book reference the previous stories heavily. After Anna Clifton and James Jennings cross paths, though, the rest of their story is independent of the books. Anna’s story is dramatic, full of desperate hope, underhanded tricks, and whirlwind romance. With a little suspended belief, it’s a fun read.

The characters are all European, mostly English and French. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, sexual harassment, innuendo, and mentions of rape. The violence rating is for mentions of war and blood and gore as well as for gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen 

The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker - OPTIONAL

The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Independent Jemma (23yo) has never needed a man, but, when the grandmother who raised her is dying and makes Jemma promise to get married and fall in love, Jemma isn’t opposed to the idea. She doesn’t want to be alone. So Jemma asks the town’s meddling matrons to find her a match, but it will still take courage to accept it.

If you want awkward-but-funny encounters, tearful truths that are said but not heard, and pieces that fall unrealistically and perfectly into place, it is all here. Repressed feelings and self sacrifice permeate the pages of Jemma’s story—on both sides of the romance—and the melodrama is endless. Overall, it was a fun read with a happily ever after.

The characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholls - OPTIONAL

Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholls, 297 pages.  Walker Books (Candlewick), 2023. $18. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

It’s 1896 and 17yo Poly, Sophia, and Tirzah have left their boarding school, embarking upon very different lives now that they are home. Sophia is living a rich life in London, looking for a husband on the Marriage Mart. Tirzah has been sent to a remote part of Scotland to live as unpaid help for a grumpy, elderly grandmother.  And Polly is working as a teacher at a poor, yet loving orphanage in the north of England. Through their letters, the heartache and drama in each of their lives unfolds. 

No murder, no sexy romance (though there IS romance involved) - do teens read heartfelt historical fiction any more?  I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into the girls’ lives and life in England at the end of the 1800’s - when life was so differently paced than our lives now.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks - OPTIONAL

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Her father’s criminal acts tainted the family, forcing May (19yo) and her mother to join the workforce to provide for themselves. When May’s employer dies, her options are to become a scullery maid in the home her mother works in or else take the future into her own hands. May applies for the position of lady’s maid to a naval captain’s wife, which leads to more discoveries about herself and her heart than about the sea and the world.

A little adventure, a little swashbuckling action, and a lot of romance hindered by misunderstandings and secrets are in store for readers here. May’s story is ultimately about trust—forgiveness of others and self, navigating hurt and vulnerability, and the courage to choose trust anyway. Sometimes we ourselves are our biggest obstacles to overcome, and happiness awaits our efforts to try again.

The majority of characters are English, though there are a handful of French and Spanish characters mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of harlots, partial nudity, kissing, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, mild blood and gore, and naval battle scenes.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

So True a Love by Joanna Barker - OPTIONAL

So True a Love by Joanna Barker, 256 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $17.

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL, ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Three months ago, everything changed for Verity (21yo) and she put the work she loved as a private investigator behind her. But then Verity is with her best friend, Elizabeth, when her family is robbed at gunpoint. Elizabeth is overly distressed and begs Verity to help her, so, despite her reservations, she takes on one last case.

Maybe Verity gets a little sidetracked from the investigation, and maybe readers do too, because of the adorable romance that runs into her when she least expects it. The heart of the book is that Verity is afraid to go after the things that she wants because wanting something opens her up to vulnerability, which is a struggle everyone can relate to. Her story is a reminder that, while everything may not go according to plan, ruined plans do not mean that there is no happy solution. Keep trying.

The characters are British. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, innuendo, mild sexual harassment, and kissing. The violence rating is for assault and gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Proper Facade by Esther Hatch - OPTIONAL

A Proper Facade by Esther Hatch, 248 pages. Covenant Communications, 2024. $17.

Language: PG (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Deciding that it might be time to look for a wife, Nicholas (25yo) sets out to find a political partner, not a distraction that will tempt him to return to the man he was before joining the army.  On the other hand, Mercy (20yo) is determined to only marry for love—even if that means foisting this dispassionate duke on someone else.

Nicholas and Mercy’s story is built upon the avoidable drama of miscommunication. The antics were slightly more cringey than entertaining because of what readers knew about how much the actions were going to hurt the other—unwitting—party involved. There were also a lot of references to the couples in the previous books, though this story is technically a standalone. But the ending is perfectly cheesy and swoony, so all's well that ends well.

The majority of characters are either British or Irish. The language rating is for British swears. The mature content rating is for mild innuendo and kissing. The violence rating is for mentions of war conflict and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey - ADVISABLE

A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey, 352 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $19.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: ADVISABLE - HS

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Daughter of an ealdorman, Aisley (12yo) watched her sick father leave for battle against the Vikings, his loyalty to King Alfred of Wessex overpowering the pleadings of his family to stay home. And the Saxons lost terribly. The Vikings were happy to be paid off then, but, seven years later, they return—and Aisley braces herself, fearing what more they could take from her if they win again.

While the story is mostly focused on the romance blooming amidst war, the main characters are not the only ones with character arcs. Bessey does her research and shares which parts of the story are true at the end, pointing out fun facts like how King Alfred is the only English monarch to be referred to as “the Great.” The political and religious dealings of the time period are as fun to learn as the story itself is to read.

Most of the characters are Saxons (southern English), and some of the Vikings are implied Danes. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, and mentions of rape. The violence rating is for assault, battles, war, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

To Love the Brooding Baron by Jentry Flint - OPTIONAL

To Love the Brooding Baron by Jentry Flint, 256 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $17.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Lord Henry Northcott is followed by whispers and gossip due to the madness of his mother and sister. While Henry will do anything for his friends’ happiness, he is determined to hold himself apart—especially from his growing tendre for Arabella. His happiness is not as important as keeping his secret from gossips and friends alike.

Flint’s story offers insight into the views and treatments of mental illnesses common in the 1800s. With mental illness as an integral part of the story, this regency romance feels fresh, though beloved tropes are still in use. Though this book can stand alone, “Games in a Ballroom” by Flint involves these characters, and I was thrilled to get Arabella’s story.

The characters are English. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, and mild innuendo. The violence rating is for assault and for mentions of murder and suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen