Roxbury Books

Review: An Inconvenient Letter

Published on July 14, 2026 by Erica

Synopsis

Complications arise when Marietta’s secret love letters are accidentally found by the wrong man.

1828, the London countryside

For years, Marietta Stone has harbored a secret infatuation for the handsome Frederick Finch and has poured out her deepest feelings in a series of passionate love letters that she keeps in a locked drawer. But when Marietta’s private letters are accidentally delivered to Frederick’s house, she must retrieve them immediately before they fall into the wrong hands. If the letters were read by anyone else, the resulting scandal could jeopardize her reputation.

Gerard Hartwell has no time for infatuations, courtship, or even love. He must find a wife with a substantial inheritance if he wishes to save his late father’s bankrupt estate. When he accidentally discovers Marietta’s love letters at his cousin Frederick’s estate, he strikes a bargain with her. If she helps him court her older sister, Anne, he will return the letters and help Marietta win Frederick’s heart.

Marietta agrees, and the two quickly pretend to be courting in order to spend time with their individual love interests. Yet, what appeared to be a straightforward bargain becomes complicated when Gerard realizes that the more time he spends with Marietta, the more he wishes he could court her for real. But can he persuade Marietta to give him a chance when her heart might belong to another man?

Review

I stayed up late reading this book. It’s so much better than the synopsis lead to to believe. (With this book, Julie Wright has secured herself as one of my favorites.)
I loved Etta and Gerard.
I loved Etta and Anne. I adored Lucy. (When Etta and Anne go by her house, even though it’s in part a desperate attempt to get letters back that wasn’t meant be sent, Lucy’s immediate and emotional reaction at seeing her friend was emotionally charged.)
The dynamics between all the characters and inner family workings was realistic and relatable.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain for the ARC, and thank you to author Julie Wright for another beautiful story.

Review: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

Published on July 14, 2026 by Erica

Description

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

“With hauntingly poetic prose, Molly X. Chang spins a tale at the intersection of science fiction, fantasy, and the very real devastation that colonialism brings down on colonized peoples.”—Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

My Review:

This book was hard. It is very bleak.

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to like it. But, I almost hate it. Almost, but not quite.

The beginning chunk was hard to get through. (It took me twice.) Ruying ruminates on the bleakness of her world, the hatred, the suffering. All of this, and learning that Ruying has a twin sister, who her friends are, and how she meets Antony could have been handled in a chapter or two. Instead, we get Ruying repeating herself constantly for the first 20-30% of the book.

And just as it finally starts to get good, it ends. With no closure. No hope. (But it is a pivotal moment for Ruying and Antony.)

Many folks don’t like the hint of enemies to lovers. For me it worked. It’s subtle, the changes the characters are going through. Antony is doing some terrible things. But, there are signs that his feelings for Ruying is changing him. At first, she’s the means to an end. An assassin. A grudging respect grows to affection. Could he still be using her? Maybe, but I want to believe his character has more depth to him than that. Otherwise, what is the point of him even caring for Ruying? For saving her? For the change in his character? Will he have a redemption arc? I hope so.

Just as the story finally gets moving, it abruptly ends. If the sequel was available now, I’d pick it up just to have closure. To see what happens between Ruying, Antony, and Baihu. Who is the Phantom? Can there be happy ending where both worlds are saved? Can Antony make good on his promise, can the sacrifice by the one emperor bear the fruit he hopes for?

And because I want to know what happen next, I’m giving 4 stars instead of 3.

I received an ARC from the publisher.

Review: Lakeshire Park

Published on July 14, 2026 by Erica

Synopsis:

Brighton, England 1820 Amelia Moore wants only one thing–to secure the future happiness of her younger sister, Clara. With their stepfather’s looming death, the two sisters will soon be on their own–without family, a home, or a penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia grasps at the chance. If she can encourage a match between Clara and their host, Sir Ronald, then at least her sister will be taken care of.
Little does she know that another guest, the arrogant and overconfident Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his own sister. Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter–and eventually playing by his rules–makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim: her heart.

My Review:

This book was a breath of fresh air. What a wonderful romance. From the beginning I was rooting for Amelia and Peter. Beautiful love story with a happy ending.

This one also has a secondary romance between Clara and Sir Ronald. And it also has two sibling bonds that is heartwarming and relatable.

I highly recommend this read. And don’t be like me, read it soon after you get it.

I was given an ARC by the publisher via netgalley, way too long ago.