What We’re Reading in July 2024

**CURRENTLY READING**

*Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake*
by Sarah MacLean

Bridgerton fans, this one is for you! With both installations of Season 3 of the Netflix series finally out, I imagine you’ve binged all the episodes as I have. Similarly, you’re likely eager for the next season (and maybe crossing your fingers we finally get Benedict’s story)!

So, while we wait, you may be looking to get your historical romance fill. Well, here you go! Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake will give you all the things we love about the Bridgertons series:

A strong female lead eager to push the boundaries set by society
Balls and beautiful gowns!
Sneaking out and about… and secret rendezvous
STEAM

Get your copy of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Amazon) and read with us!

What Victoria Loved

VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5

I’ve been in a Bridgerton-mood recently, and as a result, I’ve burrowed into a historical romance rabbit hole. It’s safe to say I’m not yet ready to resurface! This book came to me highly recommended for someone relatively new to the sub-genre. While I’ve dabbled in historical romance in the past, I think the string of novels I’ve committed to over the past two weeks puts this run as my longest-lasting stretch. And it all started here!

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is such a fun read. Calpurnia’s hunger for life and disregard of society’s rules makes her a heroine readers are eager to cheer for! And well, we all know how much I love a wickedly charming love interest — and Gabriel St. John delivers. The fear of getting caught really amps up the *steam* in this love story, but the comedic breaks and dialogue tipped this romance up to a 4-star read!

Set the mood for Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by listening to our book playlist (Spotify).

What the Book Club Loved

FIREWORKS & STEAM: 4/5
This was a pleasant surprise for us — and in some instances, more risqué than some expected — but it was goooooooood. We loved the foreplay and details. If you’re looking for a steamy read, this should be on your list!
WRITING STYLE: 3.75/5
We were drawn into the book based on the list concept, especially the idea of infiltrating a boys club. But we stayed because we enjoyed that the story is action-packed and gave us a taste of every historical romance trope we’ve come to love, even if the story felt predictable at times. Sarah built a beautiful world and we enjoyed seeing the world from a sheltered POV.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 3.75/5
Okay, so we were torn on character development. Some of us loved that we had a fellow rule breaker in the FMC. Callie was ready to go against the norm and cause trouble and we were all for it. But she came across as weak-willed throughout the book — her character and strength seemed to unravel along with the unbinding of her identity and she very quickly felt like a cookie cutter figure. And Gabriel, well… he just felt rather one-dimensional.
On the other hand, we fell in love with the supporting cast and were intrigued by the prospect of reading their stories in the rest of the series.
THE LOVE STORY: 3.25/5
*Spoiler Alert* To say the least, we wanted more consequences. We’re fans of a reformed rake and a wallflower finding love, but things just happened a little too conveniently for Gabriel and Calpurnia. We were teased throughout the story about the possibility of them getting caught and we secretly would’ve preferred if they did get caught. Oh, well. Guess we’ll settle for a HEA.

“It was pretty graphic to have on audiobook, but I was driving with a huge smile on my face. Oh damn!”

- CASS

If You Loved Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake, You’ll Love These

A NEW RELEASE: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday (Amazon)
A boys’ trip with a twist (or an olive) — or literally, Clementine and Olive. Archibald Fielding-Burton is the Earl of Harcourt and is eager to escape on his getaway with the guys, fellow titled nobility. But a quick detour leads him to act as a knight-in-shining-armor to his childhood friends.This childhood friends, forced proximity romance is a more contemporary historical romance, reminiscent of Ted Lasso (and Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake).
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5

A DIFFERENT TIME PERIOD: A Rogue of One’s Own (A League of Extraordinary Women #2) by Evie Dunmore (Amazon)
Yes, I’m aware that this is the second book in a series, but I liked this one decidedly more than the first. This entire series (unsurprisingly) highlights strong, fiesty FMCs, but this steamy enemies-to-lovers centers on a suffragist and a rake, their unresolved antagonism, unaddressed lust, and unmistakable chemistry.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5

A CLASSIC: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (Amazon)
Did anyone else get Mr. Darcy vibes from Gabriel St. John? The short patience, broody alpha (and quiet admiration) of the FMC’s fierce lust for life… granted this classic isn’t as *steamy*, but I’ll leave this here just in case you’re in the mood for something more ~intellectual~.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5

STILL CRAVING MORE BRIDGERTON: The Duke & I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn (Amazon)
If you’re still in the mood for more Bridgerton and have yet to actually read the books, start here. Or if you’re eager to compare the latest season with the novel that inspired it, jump ahead to book #4 in the series: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Amazon).
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3/5

BY ANOTHER HoH BOOK CLUB PICK AUTHOR: To Con a Gentleman (Dalton Family #1) by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
We’ve loved Sarah’s recent venture into sports romance, but her first couple of books were historical romances! This story features a trouble-maker FMC and brooding hero.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3/5

BY THIS AUTHOR: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels #2) by Sarah MacLean (Amazon)
A curious FMC who lets her passion for learning (and science) lead her through life — especially when it comes to learning about the biology of marriage. Her inquisitive nature opens many doors for her, including those that should have probably stayed shut. But as is the theme of this list of recommendations, we love a strong female lead who refuses to let society rules dictate her behavior and future.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5