Tag: barbour books

Book Review: Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Mystery + Romance
Length: 390 pages
Author: Hannah Linder
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.
 
Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.
 
Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.
 
Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?

Thank you to the author and Barbour Fiction for my gifted copy.

HEART-WRENCHING.

What I love about Hannah Linder books is how well she balances the darkness of the stories with light and hope. The mystery starts off with an immediate attention grabber and the need for justice.

I loved the twists and turns this story took. I appreciate having multiple points of view to add the dimension to different thoughts and perspectives. The unrequited love was a steady slow burn and I enjoyed seeing both characters learn and work on their flaws while using their strengths to persevere.

It’s emotional and complex and I loved how things came together in the end. I have enjoyed every single one of Hannah Linder’s books and can’t wait for future reads.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Mystery + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: murder, suicide, blood/gore depiction

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ARC Book Review: The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Author: Hannah Linder
Publisher: Barbour Books
Release Date: April 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Eliza’s Memories Threaten to Kill Her Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder. Eliza Ellis has stayed hidden in Balfour Forest for as long as she can remember. Perhaps her only friends are the trees, or her little dog, or her story-telling father called Captain. But at least she is safe from the cruel world outside, a world Captain has warned her against and protected her from. That is, until a handsome stranger named Felton Northwood invades her quiet forest and steals her away. Why does he tell such lies? Why does he insist that her name is Miss Eliza Gillingham, daughter of a viscount, who disappeared fourteen years ago after the murder of her own mother? A murder Eliza is said to have witnessed. When Felton returns Eliza to Monbury Hall and reunites her with a man who is told to be her father, all she remembers are the strange nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. Why have they suddenly grown worse? Are the answers hidden inside her own mind? As danger mounts and lethal attempts are made on her life, Eliza and Felton must work together to uncover the identity of a killer who has stayed silent for fourteen years. When she finally uncovers the horrendous memories trapped in her mind, will divulging the truth cost her the man she loves–and both of their lives?

Thank you to AustenProse and the publisher for an eARC.

MYSTERIOUS.

I really liked the atmosphere of this book. There’s a subtle haunting vibe woven throughout that makes the book feel perfectly eerie. I was intrigued from the first chapter. It hooks you and pulls you in to a mystery that needs solving. A murderer that needs found an absolution that needs given. For awhile the story kept my attention.

The middle lost me a little bit because I felt different scenes dragged out or felt repetitive. And while the snippet POV’s of the antagonist were there I’m not sure how helpful they were to the whole story. I think keeping the POV’s for Felton and Eliza would have smoothed out some plot bumps. There subtle romance was sweet and I’m glad the found each other and were able to learn to trust throughout the extenuating circumstances.

The chapters are longer but I enjoyed the fast pace switching of POV’s. There’s a nice level of heated action, and not knowing who’s going to survive. I thought the reveals were surprising and liked how everything wrapped up in the end.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple attempted murders, loss of loved ones, near death experiences, kidnapping, brief torture

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Book Review: Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Author: Hannah Linder
Publisher: Barbour Pub
Release Date: September 30th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Danger Lurks at Rosenleigh Manor

Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder.

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh, he pleads for truth from the only man he can trust—until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William’s world is tipped into destitution—leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant love of Isabella Gresham, but even that has been threatened. When a hidden foe arises from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella’s life, will William be the only one willing to rescue her? And even if he saves Isabella from her captors, will he still have to forsake her heart?

Thank you to AustenProse, Barbour Books and Netgalley for the eARC.

GENUINE ENJOYMENT.

This one took me by surprise. And as it’s Hannah Linder’s third novel I can see how much her writing and story telling has grown. Not for one minute was I ready to speed read and move on. I loved this story and the truths it held throughout.

The romance had this forbidden layer to start out that was worked out really well. I loved the slow progression between William and Isabella and how fate pulled them together. William was an incredible MMC and his ability to constantly have to turn and make a new move was inspiring. I felt a lot of his anger and disappointment towards his fortune and I loved the honest way the subtle faith elements played into his character.

This is definitely a darker book and I was surprised at the layers of mystery that unfolded as truths were revealed. There were continual things to unpack and the pace of the plot remained steady as I was grasping to know what happened next. I enjoyed the drama. I loved this story and I look forward to Linder’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Suspense + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gun violence, physical & weapons violence, loss of life, loss of loved ones, kidnapping, torture, harassment, blood/gore depiction

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