u/ComfortableDay2658

I have just read all 4 of the Dashworth Brothers regency romance tales by Ella Matthews. It’s truly unusual for me to go straight through a series without breaking for a change of pace/style, but these really captivated me.
There is no villain as such, but there is an intriguing mystery that runs in the background throughout all 4 books, which does ultimately get solved.
The brothers are totally adorable, the writing is easy, I wouldn’t really call it open door, though there are a couple of low-level scenes. If this appeals, I would highly recommend the whole series.

(I have to thank one of you lovely people I think for recommending these to me in the first place! If I discover who, I’ll thank them again personally. 😘**)**
{The Earl’s Unlikely Bride by Ella Matthews}
{The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor by Ella Matthews}
{The Lord’s Unlikely Betrothal by Ella Matthews}
{The Duke’s Unlikely Temptation by Ella Matthews}

I’m reading a book now that I’m thoroughly enjoying, except - there are 3 possible sources of jeopardy simmering in the background. Two are likely (entirely unrelated) villains out to destroy the couple’s burgeoning happiness, and the other is a threat to health/life.

I’m so damned anxious!

Are there any stories out there that lack any antagonists wanting to abduct the heroine to Gretna Green, kill either MC, ruin them financially or indeed their virtue . . . you get the gist.

I’d love for the worst to be threatening the MC’s future is simply that they keep missing out on meeting, by frustrating chance, or simple misunderstandings keep them apart. Just no scoundrels in the wings with murder & mayhem in mind!

🦹🏻‍♂️🦹🏻‍♂️🦹🏻‍♂️🦹🏻‍♂️🦹🏻‍♂️🦹🏻‍♂️

.

. . . By Emma Melbourne

What lovely book!

Virtually none of the usual tropes.

No steam - that door has been slammed shut, double locked and the key has been incinerated!

I truly loved the dry wit of the MMC - it’s a thing of beauty.

{Miss Fleming Falls In Love by Emma Melbourne}

My thoughts on some common tropes:

‘He couldn’t stop looking at her bottom lip . . . ‘
Me: Get a grip man, the girl’s talking to you!

The sprained ankle, and the necessity for our hero to ‘effortlessly’ lift and carry our brave heroine to a feather mattress.
Me: You bypassed a perfectly convenient, serviceable sofa on the way to that bedchamber my man - don’t give me no excuses, you reprobate!

The runaway/lame horse, leaving the ONLY one option - having the heroine ride ‘up front’ of our gallant hero.
Me: Let me guess, our innocent miss is going to wriggle and wriggle her luscious little behind, until our man is rendered speechlessly tumescent.

‘A sudden clap of thunder and immediate deluge’.
Me: If only there was a handy, unused gamekeeper’s lodge nearby, with towels and wood in the fireplace . . .

‘Come for me. There’s a good girl’
Me: ‘F*ck off for me. There’s a good boy’.

There’s some kind of misunderstanding between two people stood inches apart.
Me: If only there was some way of communicating at that distance . ..

Our guy lifts our girl’s petticoats for the first time. His reaction? A breathless “beautiful“.
Me: Thank heavens it didn’t look like something that had been hit with a mallet on a butcher’s block!

Our hero & heroine have been travelling for 4 days and nights, with no chance to ‘freshen up’. Finally, they can no longer keep their hands off each other . . .
Me: I’m guessing she tastes sweet and smells of lavender and he’s redolent of sandalwood & leather.

This is how I amuse myself - I know, I’m going straight to hell.

Please: your favourite tropes and what you really think . . .

I’m not usually one to give up, but . . .

I have just dnf’d 2 books because the fmc can’t stick to her principles, so as soon as the mmc turns up the charm, she can’t stop from yearning and turning to liquid in his vicinity. Obviously, I realise what the ‘R’ stands for in HR, but bloody hell ladies - a little back bone if you please, do try to keep your knees together until at least after the 50% mark!

So - book 3: I won’t give the title so as to not spoil it for anyone, but the fmc has very good reason for loathing the mmc, and she’s given him some pretty marvellous put-downs, which I was thoroughly enjoying - then bam! Out of nowhere, amid hostilities, he f*cking kisses her, and instead of slapping the snot out of his countenance, she goes all twittery & swooney (yes, that definitely is a word). It’s less than 30% into the book ffs! Now, HE wants to seduce the prickly heroine, and I would have enjoyed him failing miserably for a good proportion of the story, if I didn’t know she was already panting for him in a most unseemly manner.

So, to my original question - is it just me?

Yesterday, I got so cross with my husband’s utter lack of common sense, that I found myself saying to him, (because I was searching for something that didn’t include profanities) - “you vex me!”.

So now I’m on a mission to insert ‘Bridgertonisms’ wherever I can. Earlier, in an attempt to get to the supermarket before the crowds, I told him, ‘we must make haste!’

I’m enjoying this - anyone else doing this? Got any more suggestions? ☺️☺️☺️

**Edit** how could I forget?? When Anthony finds Kate after their first ‘race’, she mutters ‘bapre’ (I confess I thought she said f*ck me, but subtitles corrected me ☺️)
I am now using bapre a LOT! I’m white british, and have shamelessly appropriated it.

I have read almost all Julia Quinn books, and have started reading Tessa Dare, which so far, I’m thoroughly enjoying (first 2 of the Duke series).

So, I would love recommendations for other books/authors that contain these essentials:

Witty banter
Steamy
Historical romance

I enjoy the fun of Quinn & Dare, but love a bit of raunch with it! ☺️

*Edit*
I just want to thank you all for your recommendations. I’ve already finished reading one recommendation - A Dangerous Kind Of Lady by Mia Vincy, which was exactly what I’d asked for. xXx