Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Winning Winnie’s Hand (Men of the Isles #1) by Deborah M. Hathaway

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 430 pages
Author: Deborah M. Hathaway
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s no damsel, but dang…this knight in shining armor kinda makes her want to be.

Born into a driven and successful family, Winnie Knox tries—and fails—to impress her parents and siblings as she bounces from career to career, year to year. In a last-ditch effort, Winnie takes on consulting work at a stately home in England, hoping to gain a nice bit of prestige as she improves the massive British estate.

In true Knox Fashion, Winnie dives headfirst into her new position. In true Winnie Fashion, she ends up with her car headfirst…in the mud. But what does she see coming to her rescue? Nothing short of a knight in shining armor.

Literally. A knight in shining armor. On a horse. What century is this again? Well, whatever it is, Winnie doesn’t mind lingering in it if she gets to stare at a man like him all day. This job is going to be a walk in the park.

Of course, nothing is ever as easy as it should be with Winnie as she puts her foot in her mouth and straightaway offends the knight—who just so happens to be someone far more important than the simple thespian he appears to be.

But Winnie Knox is a professional. She can charm anyone.

Can’t she?

This is the first book in the clean and sweet romcom Men of the Isles series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this enemies-to-lovers, boss/employee romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order.

TRUE E2L.

One of the hardest tropes I have a hard time finding written well in contemporary romances is enemies to lovers. And this had it. I loved how Winnie and Matthew battle. It was heated and you could already feel the romantic tension between them. What’s even better is I loooved the character arcs for both leads too. The realization that both had been in the wrong and how they worked to apologize and show through their actions that they had been wrong initially.

The festival was a fun additive and I loved seeing all of those aspects too. The English countryside was so charming. I liked the adventures they went on and the little angst filled moments inbetween.

I do think this felt a little long (420 pages for a contemporary is a feat). But that was my only issue. Bless the day when Winnie stood up to her Dad and told him all of the things he had been feeling. I felt as triumphant as her when that moment happened.

This is a sweet book and I will without a doubt be reading the next one!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Forever Reign (The Elementals of Iona #2) by V.B. Lacey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: V.B. Lacey
Publisher: Fiction & Fates Press, LLC
Release Date: April 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nothing could have prepared Sebastian and the elementals for what occurred on the beaches of Iona three months ago. In the aftermath of loss and betrayal, they’re left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives, recovering in their separate corners of the world. That is, until the long-lost kingdom invites them back to their shores for a festival of peace.

Isolated to the spirit plane, Isla Vasileia has received a quest from the ancient gods.

Ever since Isla took the magic from the elementals, the balance of nature has been greatly altered. Violent disasters have wreaked havoc across the kingdoms, decimating villages and tearing families apart. To bring the world back into balance, what was taken must somehow be restored.

When Isla finds herself back on the beaches of Iona, she reunites with Bri, Sebastian, and the former elementals, and they are thrust into a world of secrecy, fear, and lies. Danger lurks around every corner, but so does new love and a chance for a happy ending. Isla is once again caught in a game amongst gods, racing against fate and time to save the kingdoms from destruction, forced to make a decision that will change her world forever.

One way or another, the end will come for all.

A GOOD CONCLUSION.

After some mixed feelings with book one, I was hoping this would capture my attention a bit more, and it did! I thought the writing was even better and I fell in love with these characters. I love found family and I love multiple POV and I thought this was handled really well.

The romances had some swoony moments and I liked that there were multiple ones to pay attention to. I loved seeing more of the world and how the elements were coming together to solve the final arc of this story.

I did have a few pacing issues, and I think this lacked some *intensity* for me. It had an epic fantasy feel but put into a shorter series so a few things weren’t quite all the way there.

Minor issues aside, I’m very happy with how this wrapped up. I loved the character arcs, the feels and where everyone ended up. I look forward to more books from Lacey!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: brief attempted sexual assault, recounted sexual assault

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Book Review: The Matrimonial Advertisement (Parish Orphans of Devon #1) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 348 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: September 4th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She Wanted Sanctuary…

Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar’s Abbey isn’t the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill–though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome–is anything but a romantic hero.

He Needed Redemption…

Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household–and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisement seems the perfect way to acquire one.

Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena’s past threatens, will Justin’s burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go?

I’M A SUCKER.

I’ve read quuuite a few Mimi Matthews books now and I will say, she does use some of the same tropes/characters every few books. BUT, I am a sucker for a wounded hero and a woman on the run and quite frankly, it still hasn’t gotten old so HURRAH.

I loved this book. Fantastic chemistry, a bit of suspense and the right level of drama. I adored the connection between Justin and Helena. They were such a match and had me all swoony. I love the protection and communication and working things out even when things got hard.

It’s a fast audio read and had me all up in my romantic feels. Excited to continue this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door (married couple)
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, mentions of asylums and mistreatment, mentions of battles, grief depiction

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ARC Book Review: Iron Rose by Abigail O’Bryan

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 380 pages
Author: Abigail O’Bryan
Publisher: Quill & Flame
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There is no future for Lydia Brightwood.

The Crimson Lord, a tyrant bent on destroying Lydia’s country, made sure of that. Her only hope of a different life is to find the one person who could unite her a royal heir. There’s just one problem… 

They’re all dead.
The Beast’s humanity is slipping away. 

Shut away from the world by a horrible secret, Adam watches the destruction of his homeland from the ruins of a fortress all the while holding the devastating truth in his  

It’s his fault.

Adam and Lydia’s paths cross in the ruins of the north where they must find a way to conquer the curse before everything they love collapses…but being truly human has its price.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

A TALE AS OLD AS TIME.

This was by no means, a poorly written book. And it definitely has an audience. It’s a pretty classic fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast. You’ll notice all of the usual components and dynamics that are often seen in these retellings.

I did like the characters. They were fleshed out well for the confines of a standalone fantasy. There’s three POV’s and I liked Adam and Lydia’s the most. The third POV was perfectly fine, I just didn’t understand the necessity of it. There’s some big world building but no major magic system which balanced best for a single book. I liked not having to worry about the magic when there were enough groups of people I was trying to get a hold on.

The romance is sweet, a slow burn that could have used a little more fire, but like I mentioned earlier, travels along the B&tB line well. They do have some chemistry and learned to work together. I liked the strength of Adam and Lydia in holding onto hope to rid the world of the Crimson Lord.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Retelling
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, kidnapping

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