A delicious (and quick) historical romance with so many of my favorite things - a strong heroine who needs a little spoiling, a cranky hero who secretly really wants to do said spoiling, a thoughtful and honest approach to the historical setting, and a meaty plot. All in under 300 pages! San Andres is one I'll be watching.

What a fun, old-school style historical romance in a fresh setting. Set in the Caribbean with two Black leads, this book is the perfect bite-sized, high-drama, sexy category romance for a new age. I absolutely recommend.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for this ARC.

Talented author, Parker J. Cole, has launched into the Historical Romance genre with her captivating debut story set in pre-revolution Paris. As the title implies, this is a Cinderella themed romance that features Lilas Moreau and Bastien, Duc de Languedoc (Duke of Languedoc). Lilas is the fille des cendres (cinder girl), and Bastien takes on the role of her reluctant lover.

One of the most intriguing points of this story is that both the heroine and hero are people of color. That is important, as well as a unique aspect of this story as you will discover. It has a lot to do with how French society of the late 18th century regarded people of color. Were they accepted as titled citizens with elite positions? Through the character of Bastien, we get to see how he regards himself as a titled Duke, and his place in society. As I said, that’s just one aspect of this compelling story. While Bastien is dealing with his dilemmas, Lilas has her own ordeal to handle. Her life is being threatened. Lilas and Bastien go back a long way. She was a servant in his father’s household. A family secret comes to light, and Lilas discovers that her life will drastically change as her status rises from a lowly servant to a daughter of a count, and Bastien’s on-again-off-again betrothed. I’ll leave that right there, so that you can discover how all of this came to be. In true Parker J. Cole style, this well-written story challenges the changing dynamics of family life and societal norms with a dynamic storyline that is smooth and seamless. The story also has a robust cast of complex characters.

Heading the list of characters is the famous Queen, Marie Antoinette, in a minor character role. Two characters stand out in their minor roles. They are the Comtesse de la Baux, Lilas’ stepmother, and Soeur Calme, (Sister Calm), a Nun who has taken a vow of silence. They are the raison d’etre that Lilas’ life is in danger. Mystery, romance, and mayhem all wrapped up in one engrossing story. I love, love, love the Epilogue that houses Lilas and Bastien’s HEA! It is set in Haiti. When you read the story, you will discover the significance of that setting.

THE DUKE’S DEFIANT CINDERELLA is an excellent historical debut for Ms. Cole. I recommend it for your reading pleasure.

I’m delighted to report that Lydia San Andres’s first Harlequin Historical, COMPROMISED INTO A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE (Harlequin, 288 pp., paper, $6.75), has all the delicate world-building of her self-published work, and all the no-holds-barred melodrama category romances are designed for.

Sebastian Linares is making a reputation for himself as a modernizing millowner in the Dominican Republic. A brief flirtation and a wild storm bring the beauty Paulina Despradel to his doorstep — and when Paulina’s brother insists that single night has destroyed her reputation, his offer of shelter becomes an unwilling offer of marriage.

Paulina has lived essentially in isolation, a prisoner of her brother’s gambling debts and need for control. At first, marriage to Sebastian feels like just another trap. But simmering attraction and a growing respect give this unwilling couple hope for happiness — if they can avoid the hidden malice that threatens their future.
The Edwardian-era Caribbean is a rich setting for a historical: The etiquette, the vintage clothing, the tension between new fortunes and old lineages are all familiar draws, and San Andres is a deft hand at weaving subtle layers in the social fabric.

Sebastian’s public resistance to the brutal traditions of the sugar industry has its mirror in Paulina’s domestic struggle to escape her greedy brother’s control: You don’t have to think about post-colonialism when reading about what goes down at the governor’s ball, but you’ll still be left gasping if you do. Sweet but satisfying, this book is as good a vacation as you can have without leaving home.

Reading this in the foreword is my favorite thing to hear. I love hearing the inspirations for stories.

"Not too long ago, while perusing 19th-century documents in the Dominican Republic's national archives, I came across a fascinating account of a man who had been forced to sign a marriage contract under the threat of imprisonment…this kernel became the basis for Sebastian and Paulina's story."

Never have I ever encountered such a despicable character as Antonio, Paulina's brother. He is very controlling of her which is the times but makes every single decision for her and treats her as his housekeeper. Then she speaks to some man and he schemes to force them together. The way he does it, jeez. 

Though these two didn't have the best start and Sebastian thought she colluded with her brother to entrap him. Once he realized she was just as much victim to his whims they started to get to know eachother without animosity.

Such a sweet romance if they could stay away from her brother. They became friends as she helped him to fix up his house that needs some updating.

Thank you harlequinbooks and @lnetgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I had a lot of fun reading this romance. And can I just say - more Caribbean historicals, please! I enjoyed learning about the setting and time via Paulina and Sebastian's story.

And it's an action-packed story! Expect some fistfights, dramatic scenes, and a villain worth our ire. The romance is a lovely, closed-door slow burn, and I was for it every step of the way.

I enjoyed it a bunch and am looking forward to more from this author!

I liked the setting and this was a good historical romance. I haven't read anything by this author before but now I'm curious for more books by this one.

I wasn't really expecting the dastardly behavior of Paulina's brother, Antonio, but the combination of his antics and the internal angst of Sebastian being convinced he couldn't have love meant that this book was a genuine delight. I haven't read a ton of historical categories, but this one was definitely a great one.

This is set on a Caribbean island and in the early 1900s. I loved how well San Andres incorporated the world-building and really set the stage for both the where and when of the story. I really enjoyed the way Paulina and Sebastian had some push and pulls between them. Sebastian works so hard to take care of everyone who works for him and since he owns a sugar mill, that is a lot of people. I really love the way we see Sebastian's work life balance situation evolve like his relationship. It felt very realistic and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

All in all, I look forward to reading San Andres again in the future and I would really love for more historical categories from her!!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for access to this arc.

The setting is great and shown well with numerous details about life in the town of San Pedro as well as living on a sugar plantation undergoing modernization. NOTE – Paulina’s parents never used enslaved labor and since he’s bought the mill, Sebastian is willing to spend the money to install labor saving devices and focus on safety that the previous dastardly owner (no guesses as to who that was) ignored thus causing some employee deaths. Later on Sebastian and Paulina travel to town often but I was puzzled that the set up for their marriage – and the way that rat bastard brother treated Sebastian – appears to slip everyone’s minds from then on.

After a third of the book with Sebastian and Paulina making assumptions while also simultaneously simmering with banked emotions about each other, the truth begins to filter through. She’s no scamming flirt! He’s not a glowering jerk! What, she’s never been given the chance to choose what she wants to wear? Well let’s set up an appointment with the town’s best dressmaker for a whole new wardrobe. Why has he never finished furnishing his house or done anything nice for himself? Oh because he’s so worried about getting the mill profitable and making sure the workers will be paid. She’ll immediately propose that he set up a trust fund for the workers to take that worry off his mind.

Things moved along pretty much as I thought they would. Evil Villain Brother remained a one note caricature. Heroic and endlessly self sacrificing hero continued to work himself tirelessly to see to the needs of others. Lovely heroine pleaded with the hero to not work so hard and to give them a chance at a relationship. She did also grow in independence and ability to voice her needs and wants so yay there. There’s a gruesome end for the rat bastard after which a martyr moment is soon quashed and all is HEA. If you want to read a non-European historical novel with BIPOC characters, here you go but unfortunately don’t expect much in the way of a different basic plot or tropes. C+

Good book with an out-of-the-ordinary historical setting. The story takes place on a sugar plantation on a small Caribbean island in 1904. I enjoyed the exotic location and the look at a different lifestyle than the more plentiful Regency/Victorian settings.

Paulina is a twenty-one-year-old woman who has lived under the thumb of her older brother Antonio since their parents died when she was much younger. He is extremely controlling, keeping her a virtual prisoner on their increasingly deteriorating estate. Antonio is driven by what other people think, so he talks big and gives the impression of great wealth. He is actually deeply in debt, but that doesn't stop his gambling and spending. He chooses Paulina's clothes and dictates where she may go and who she may talk to.

As the book opens, Paulina has been permitted to go to a store in town to purchase things for a party her brother is giving for her birthday. There she meets their new neighbor, Sebastian, who lives on the plantation next door and purchased the sugar mill that belonged to her family. They make quite the impression on each other, and Paulina invites him to her party. Sebastian turns her down because he spends most of his time working and has reasons to avoid romantic entanglements. But when Antonio arrives and sees them talking, he says terrible things about Sebastian and drags Paulina forcibly from the store. Sebastian suddenly changes his mind about the party and tells her he'll be there.

I ached for Paulina because it became evident that Antonio is abusive, selfish, and just plain mean-spirited. The party that night was not all that great, and Paulina spent most of it watching for Sebastian to arrive. I loved how he paid attention to her. Their interactions were respectful and respectable, but he didn't stay long. After the party ended, Antonio made wild accusations and threw Paulina out of the house in the middle of a storm. With nowhere else to go, she went to Sebastian. I loved how he took her in and cared for her. It was easy to see that there were sparks between them, but Sebastian is an honorable man. Unfortunately, they were caught in a compromising position the next morning by Antonio and two guardsmen. Again, he made wild accusations against Sebastian, ending with Sebastian being thrown in jail.

Then Antonio's diabolical plan comes out. He claims that Sebastian has dishonored Paulina and must marry her or stay in jail. Though Sebastian tries to refuse, eventually, he gives in because he worries about what will happen to his mill employees and those he's responsible for. He is furious, believing that Paulina was in on the setup. Though they are married, he is determined to find a way to annul the marriage.

I liked seeing the relationship between Sebastian and Paulina develop. Sebastian refuses to believe that Paulina wasn't involved and tells her not to expect anything from him. Paulina is hurt that he thinks she would do such a thing. I liked seeing Paulina's sweet nature slowly win Sebastian over, eventually convincing him that she is innocent. I enjoyed seeing her get involved in life there, fitting in as if she belonged. I especially enjoyed seeing her constantly surprise him with the things she could do. Sebastian, hurt by a deceptive woman in a previous relationship, resists the idea of risking his heart again. But the more he gets to know Paulina, the more she gets past his walls. He warmed my heart when he took her to town and gave her all the decision-making power. It was easy to see the feelings growing between them, but Sebastian resisted giving into them.

Trouble comes when Antonio first tries blackmail to get money from Sebastian. When that doesn't work, his desperation leads him to other attempts. I was glued to the pages as his actions took a dangerous direction. I ached for Paulina as she discovered how low her brother would go. Sebastian's protectiveness for the woman he realizes he loves puts his life in peril. The scene between him and Antonio had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

I loved the ending and seeing where they were two years later. I enjoyed seeing how happy Sebastian is and that Paulina has the life she could only dream of before her marriage to Sebastian.

Lydia San Andres can do no wrong when it comes to historical romance.
I love her lush and rich historical details. She never veers from writing strong female leads that question societal norms. Then she will write a hero that doesn't know what to do with that audacity yet be star struck by them. Its so delicious and a wonderful read!

Paulina's life can appear to be great, but the reality is that most of her life is controlled by her brother. Then she is forced into marriage. Sebastian and Paulina don't mind the married life all that much, but the threat of her brother is not going away anytime soon.

I love the historical aspect of it and found it very interesting, especially the setting. And while I liked the storyline and characters, I had a hard time getting into the story.

received from Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
This book caught my eye, because I’m always on the lookout for historical romances set outside Britain or the US and/or following nonwhite characters. I had heard good things about Lydia San Andres’ work, and she delivers here. I love the inclusion of historical context for early twentieth century Dominican Republic and Caribbean politics as a backdrop. And the romance is compelling, following a couple who were compelled into marriage by a compromising situation. As you expect with this trope, Paulina and Sebastian slowly begin to care for one another, and their building relationship is complemented by a well-executed suspense subplot to amp up the stakes.

I loved that this is based loosely off a true event and we also get a different era for this HR-1900s Caribbean. Love a good old forced marriage of convenience, and then we find out childhood friends and then rich girl/poor boy now rich man.

This one we also get some romance suspense with it and I couldn’t put it down! Loved the setting so much for this one- Lydia did a wonderful job of making you feel as if you were there and in the house. Then these two- the chemistry from the start and friends to move. SLOW burn with this one but so worth it! Loved the side characters as well.

Paulina's cruel brother traps her into a marriage with mill owner Sebastian, who suspects she was in on the scheme. Will he succeed in getting the marriage annulled, or can she convince him they belong together?

I loved the characters and setting in this novel. If you enjoy historical romantic suspense, this book is for you.

CW: bullying and violence

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly July New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

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Content Notes: [violence; attempted murder; death; controlling/emotionally abusive brother (hide spoiler)]

This hits a lot of classic Harlequin tropes — forced marriage of convenience, childhood friends, rich girl/former poor boy — in a Caribbean island in the early 1900s. I don't know what it says about me, but I am weak for "hero is furious/indifferent to heroine when he mistakenly thinks that she trapped him into marriage.” A classic! This misunderstanding only lasts a short time before he wises up, but the angst is delicious.

I am even weaker for “hero spoils heroine with luxuries that she lacked from her evil family.” I am a simple woman. 😅 On a more serious note, I was touched when Sebastian saw that Paulina had been deprived of agency over "simple" decisions like choosing her own clothes, recognizing that the lack wasn't unimportant/frivolous. Tears were shed during a certain shopping scene.

Regarding the sugar mill: I really appreciated the explicit reassurance that its history did not include enslaved labor. The author didn't gloss over unfair/difficult conditions for laborers, making the worldbuilding feel thoughtful and fully-realized. In other words: the opposite of a wallpaper historical.

Overall impressions: an enjoyable, tropey Harlequin Historical with some dark elements (see content notes). Fingers crossed for a sequel about Dilia.

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Note about Spanish language italics: I'm not blaming the author because this decision was likely a Harlequin in-house editorial standard. But it is absolutely ridiculous that every single Spanish word in the text is italicized. In a scene where the MCs eat empanadas, it's ludicrous to see that term italicized ten times over two pages. This editorial standard didn't affect my rating but it annoyed me enough to complain in my review.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When Paulina is banished during a storm by her controlling brother, she seeks refuge at her nearest neighbour's house. Her brother then uses the compromised position to force a marriage between the two in an attempt to enact his scheme for money and power. This could have been an intriguing set up for a story line, but Paulina and Sebastian spend most of the book making assumptions about each other and acting out. It's gets old quickly. They do begin to open their eyes and join together at the end, but it felt like slogging through mud to get to that point.

I'm a big Lydia San Andres fan who made the terrible mistake of binge-reading her entire oeuvre during the first six weeks of the pandemic. Then I spent the next eighteen months wondering when she would come out with a new book...and then I heard about this book, and I checked NetGalley darn near every day in the hopes of getting my hands on it. I'm delighted to report that it more than lives up to the promise of the excellent title and gorgeous cover. The writing is lovely, the setting vivid, the characters lovable, the romance both emotional and spicy. I loved Paulina immediately (so spirited! so kind!), and it was a treat watching Sebastian try his darnedest not to fall for his wife. I'll be recommending this for purchase at the library and getting a copy for my own collection, too. I hope there are many, many more Harlequin Historicals in Ms. San Andres' future!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!