Historical Romance Book Mail ♦️ Harlequin Historical Romance Unboxing & Book Haul!

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Hey everybody, it's that time again.

[00:00:02]It's time for another Harlequin Historical unboxing. This time for the May books. Let's see what we've got before you help me pick which one to read in the month of May. Hi, my name's B. Welcome to my channel, Mama Needs to Read Romance. Harlequin Historical Romance.

[00:00:22]So, I had a six-star read last month and it was for a book for Harlequin Historicals. [music] I didn't understand why it wasn't in the April box. I actually requested the arc through NetGalley. [music] And then Violet, who's actually going to be my co-captain for the Ever After-thon, she shared, "You know what? It's probably because that book is coming out in May." That book is The Scandalous Lady Mina. I wound up giving that book six stars. You know what? Let's open the box >> [laughter] >> and see if it's in here. I have a strong suspicion that it is. We're opening It's a little bit um like everything else that's been outside, it's a little um damaged by humidity.

[00:01:06]So, it's a little soft, but that's okay.

[00:01:08]All right, let's see what we have first.

[00:01:10]I'll just do it like this.

[00:01:12]We have >> [gasps] >> Oh!

[00:01:17]Oh my gosh, it's Carla Kelly.

[00:01:20]I love Carla Kelly. You guys may remember last year one of my favorite reads of the year was her Christmas book. Oh my gosh, I'm trying to remember the name of her. I was just talking about it because for Ever After-thon, we're doing caretaking and that book had so much of it. I'm putting it here. Oh my gosh, I loved it so much. I've been dying to read more Carla Kelly and here we are with The Navy Captain's Convenient Wife.

[00:01:45]Oh!

[00:01:47]Okay, I'm excited already. This is a Regency. Let me move my face out so it'll actually focus.

[00:01:53]Sorry. There's a Regency. So, let's learn about this one. Remember, at the end you're going to be voting for which one I read and review for you in the month of May. I cannot wait. So, this is a favorite for the captain. A New Life as Wife and Mother. Battle-worn Captain John Beatty is dealt another blow on his return from Trafalgar. His motherless young son, Allan, has been heartlessly abandoned by those hired to care for him. Oh, it's a single dad. You know what? Tea and Biscuits Historical Romance, we're doing single dad. I think it's going to be our June pick. Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. Okay.

[00:02:30]Moving along, his young son has been heartlessly abandoned by those hired to care for him. Required to return immediately to active duty, John throws himself at the mercy of his late friend's sister, Anna Fontaine. Anna can't say no. The captain's desperate struggle to protect his son and his country touches her gentle heart. But temporarily caring for Allan backfires when rumors threaten unwed Anna's reputation. Honorable John insists on marriage. IT'S MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE!

[00:03:05]But will Anna's place in his family ever be more than convenient?

[00:03:10]I mean, I should have known it was marriage of convenience cuz of the title. Oh boy. Okay.

[00:03:16]>> [screaming] >> So, I could read this for for uh for Ever After-thon.

[00:03:21]Because as I sort of kind of mentioned in my excitement, Ever After-thon, my team is the Beast.

[00:03:28]We're doing recluse or reclusive hero, caretaking, and marriage of convenience.

[00:03:34]Okay.

[00:03:36]Okay. Oh, I'm having so much fun already. Here comes the next one. Let's see what it is.

[00:03:42]Oh, okay, I'm seeing all the backs.

[00:03:43]That's not very fun.

[00:03:44]This is a Fake Betrothal for the Duke by Eva Shepherd. I've heard good things about Eva Shepherd. I have not yet read her and Oh my gosh, let's look at this cover.

[00:03:55]Look at that cute hat and the bustle.

[00:03:57]Stop it. Where are we at here? Oh, it's Victorian.

[00:04:02]Oh boy, oh boy. Let's see what this one is about. Oh no, this one is This is not a series.

[00:04:07]Sorry, you shouldn't know what I'm doing. This is not a series.

[00:04:09]But this one is part of a series, A Wa- Wayward Wallflowers story. Suddenly engaged to a man she'd never marry.

[00:04:19]What? Miss Margaret is dreading her fourth season and her mother's relentless matchmaking until none other than rakish Jacob Ashford, the duke she loves to hate, shocks her with a plan that could benefit them both. With scandal on the horizon, Jacob needs a veneer of respectability, which a fake engagement guarantees. And who better to be his fiancee than the wild wildflower than the wallflower who can't stand him and will never want to wed him for real?

[00:04:49]Yet he's captivated by Margaret's wit and honesty. And when they're caught in an unexpectedly passionate kiss, their bluff is about to be called. Yes, please.

[00:05:01]Oh, super fun. Okay.

[00:05:04]Oh, I'm having fun. I'm having so much fun. Okay, here comes another one.

[00:05:08]Should show you what I'm doing.

[00:05:10]Here There it is.

[00:05:12]There it is.

[00:05:14]There it is, my friends.

[00:05:17]I just paid for this despite the fact that I got the arc months ago on NetGalley.

[00:05:24]But you know what? I love this book so much. I'm thrilled that I own a physical copy. Let me read this to you.

[00:05:31]Okay. Setting Sail with the Enemy and a Reckless Temptation. Lady Wilhelmina, Mina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiance following a decade in disgrace.

[00:05:45]Mina's returning to society's ballrooms on a luxury steamship. And there's plenty of steamship fun. Oh, it's such a fun setting.

[00:05:55]And she encounters her ex-fiance's distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish, her once friend, now enemy.

[00:06:02]Oh, Max. Oh, Max's guard is up. Yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer, Max, is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control in the best way. Oh, it's so good. It's so good. So, we're not voting for that one cuz I already read it.

[00:06:31]So, this is going to be a short vote.

[00:06:34]And last, but certainly not least, let's see what we got.

[00:06:39]Oh.

[00:06:41]I should show you. Rescued by the Rakish Lord by Sarah Mallory. It is a Georgian romance.

[00:06:53]This is super cool. I've never seen a Georgian one before. A man of such dubious reputation that he was called the Devil Blackburn.

[00:07:01]When Lord Deverell Blackburn meets Selena Winter, he is intrigued, for she has all the accomplishments of a lady, but the fiery temper and spirit of a tavern maid. Then she is abducted by a dastardly suitor and Deverell, for all his roguish reputation, can't stand idly by. Lord Deverell is Selena's least likely rescuer, but when they're stranded together in a snowstorm, and her reputation is at risk, he surprises her with a gallant proposal.

[00:07:40]Stop it.

[00:07:41]Deverell's no honorable suitor, yet his actions say otherwise. Just who is the real Devil Blackburn? Selena is determined to find out.

[00:07:52]Guys!

[00:07:54]Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.

[00:07:58]Oh my gosh. Okay, so man, do we have a choice? I don't envy you your choice that you might make for me.

[00:08:06]>> [laughter] >> Cuz I couldn't do it. I Man, do I ever need your help.

[00:08:10]Ooh, we've got The Navy Captain's Convenient Wife by Carla Kelly. If you want this one, type captain in the comments. We've also got Fake Betrothal for the Duke. If you want this one, type duke in the comments.

[00:08:30]And last, but not least, we have Rescued by the Rakish Lord. And if you want this one, type lord in the comments.

[00:08:39]I will let you know in a couple days which one winds up getting chosen. Plus, it'll be my TBR for May, [music] too.

[00:08:46]So, yay! Oh my gosh, this is so fun. I'm so glad we're doing this together. So, anyway, I hope you're doing well. I hope you're enjoying whatever it is you're reading, whether it's a Harlequin Historical or not. Oh, I love this one so much.

[00:08:58]Until next time. Thanks so much. Take care. Bye!

[00:10:09]>> Mhm.