Hello, and welcome back! We're having absolutely gorgeous weather right now, but by the time our holiday weekend rolls around in a few days, it's going to be hot and sticky again, so I'm very happy to have such a big stack of July romances waiting for me to dig into, and some absolutely terrific authors among them. But I do still have a couple of June books to share with you first.

This time out, I have Emily Bryan's Stroke of Genius (Leisure, received from publisher) has Grace Makepeace in London so her mother and filthy-rich-in-trade father can find her a titled husband, whether she wants one or not. One item on their must-do list is to have noted sculptor Crispin Hawke sculpt Grace's hands. Their first meeting is rather inauspicious, but Grace must admit to a bit of curiosity about the famous artist. Their next meeting goes only slightly better, but includes a kiss that Grace cannot forget. Crispin has his own reasons for accepting the commission to sculpt her hands, but the simmering attraction they share is only one of them. Very soon, they're sharing more than kisses, and Crispin has to face the very real possibility that her mother will succeed in her quest to marry Grace off to a nobleman when he wants only to keep her for himself. Grace and Crispin are absolutely charming, bantering back and forth, sharing secrets, and making them both rethink their wishes for their lives as they fall quickly into lust and, more slowly, begin to fall in love. There is a suitably vile fellow vying for Grace's hand, and the mystery of Crispin's parentage along with their very delightful developing romance, all the best things in a historical romance that a reader requires in a good read. I believe a lot of historical fans will find this one a definite keeper, as I did. I'm borrowing four and a half of Cupid's five arrows for this one.

Until next time, happy reading!