Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel

Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel
Talhí Briones, 2025

Premise: It's 1865 when Victoria finally leaves. She leaves her abusive husband with no destination and hardly any plans. A friend helps her flee Salt Lake City, and she ends up in a tiny Western town with only enough local cowboys to support a few small businesses. There, she'll find friendship, purpose, and maybe actual love.

Awwww. 

Say it again. 

Awwwww! 

This romance novel was super-cute. I loved the cast of quirky, complex characters, the setting, and the story. This wears its fandom origins on its sleeve, but that just means it doesn't apologize for spending time on characters' feelings or for packing the cast with a huge array of diverse backgrounds and personalities. 

I like a romance that balances the romance storyline with additional plot elements and this definitely delivers. Victoria and love interest Natane are both older women with lots to learn about each other. Victoria challenges herself to do what she wants with her life for the first time ever and promptly adopts basically the whole town. Meanwhile, Natane is grappling with her own feelings and overcoming her loner instincts to join the community. 

And THEN plot ensues and there's also excitement and danger. It's a really fun ride, and I had a hard time putting it down. 

4 Stars - A Very Good Book (But 5 Stars on review sites, because I give a bonus star for being from a super-small publishing house and being awesome on Tumblr.)