Tag: deborah m. hathaway

Book Review: Driving Maisie Crazy (Men of the Isles #2) by Deborah M. Hathaway

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 362 pages
Author: Deborah M. Hathaway
Publisher: Draft House Publishing
Release Date: March 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What happens on an Irish bus tour stays on an Irish bus tour…”

This is the second book in the clean and sweet romcom Men of the Isles series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this clean, road trip, forbidden romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order.

TAKE ME TO IRELAND.

This was such a sweet read. The instant connection played out super well and I didn’t even notice how short the time frame was until it was mentioned in the book.

I adored allllll of the food and traveling content. I felt whisked away to Ireland and was totally immersed in the setting. It’s clearly well researched and a well loved area for the author.

Alongside the setting I loved the tight friendships showcased with Finn and the guys. I don’t think close relationships between men is in enough romance books and I loved getting all of the text sequences and moments with them.

I really felt the chemistry between Maisie and Finn and hot dang appreciated a realistic third act. I thought things went the way they had to and rolled around to the best kind of ending. I’m going to need all the book recs involving a guy who chases (in a romantic cute way y’all) because it is suddenly a new favorite.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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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: From the Fields of Porthlenn (Cornish Romance #5) by Deborah M. Hathaway

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 386 pages
Author: Deborah M. Hathaway
Publisher: Draft Horse Publishing
Release Date: September 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Regency Romance—Cornwall, 1818

Poppy Honeysett wants to be seen as the woman she is—not as the naive young lady she was. She will no longer race across beaches or collect seashells like a child. And she will not, under any circumstances, pine after the lieutenant who broke his promise—and her heart—two years before. But such things are easier said than done, especially when that very lieutenant returns to St. Just with all his charismatic charm in tow.

When an old injury begins to act up, Lieutenant Edmund Harris is placed on reserve from the navy. Instead of returning home to the troubles that await him there, he travels to St. Just to visit with old acquaintances and, of course, to see his darling Poppy. Two years have passed since he saw her last, but Edmund is determined to pick up things where they left off. However, when Poppy seems interested in every man but him, he can’t make sense of it.

Desperate to recreate the past and bring back Poppy’s playful nature, Edmund determines to start their relationship anew, but Poppy resists, refusing to make the same mistakes again. When tragedy strikes, however, and the two of them must come together for the good of St. Just, Poppy must choose to trust again or lose the only man she ever truly loved.

This is the fifth and final book in the clean Regency Cornish Romance series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order.

MY HEART.

I love the way Hathaway crafts romance books. They feel so romantic and the setting is always perfect and I love being whisked away to the shores of Cornwall.

This second chance romance was incredibly tender. I loved watching Edmund and Poppy reconnect and explore what happened in the past and how they could make progress for the future they both sought. There’s a whole spectrum of emotions that I felt wanting these two to kiss and make-up already (and don’t worry, that kiss scene is fire).

I adored all of the surrounding cast (well, most of them, IYKYK) and appreciate that everyone plays apart in the story. It’s a slow build plot that is enchanting and moving. I love that Edmund and Poppy found a way to be together. To communicate and love each other with everything they had.

I can’t wait to read more of Hathaway’s books. She’s one of my top go-to’s for historical romances.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and emotional child abuse (recounted), loss of a loved one, childbirth, mentions of depression, depictions of grief

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Book Review: Christmas Baggage (Christmas Escape #1) by Deborah M. Hathaway

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 302 pages
Author: Deborah M. Hathaway
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 19th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If there is one thing she has learned in England, it’s that not all Englishmen are created equal.
Because this guy was turning out to be a real pill.

Tired of spending the holidays throwing up on cruises with her parents and, you know, being dumped by ex-boyfriends, Claire Frost is determined to change her luck this Christmas. Taking time off from her flower shop, she follows her friend to London, ready to enjoy all-things England. And boy, does she. The frost-covered flowers. The frozen green hills. The bright red telephone boxes. The festive Christmas markets.

Also the men. Definitely the men.

Except, of course, her friend’s cousin. Liam Everhart is super attractive, super swoony, and super English. Too bad he’s also a super jerk. A super jerk whom she now has to spend every minute with. What a blessed, blessed relief that his Darcy/Poldark looks are overshadowed by his Darth Vader/Malfoy personality. She had enough Christmas baggage to deal with, so why would she ever add a swoony Englishman to the mix?

This is a clean, sweet, wholesome romance set in present-day London, England that features the enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes, with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

SO SWEET.

I have been waiting for this series for months and the first book started things off fantastically. I adored it. Suuuper sweet and cuddly and makes me want to fly to London ASAP.

For a very (I’m talking a week) fast paced romance, I was pretty charmed by the connection between Claire and Liam. They met on a rocky playing field and found common ground wandering London together. Occasionally things read a bit too much like a travel blog, but when this duo would banter back and forth I was HERE FOR IT.

The kissing scenes were absolutely swoooooony. Good heavens. I love well placed heat in sweet romances. This one knocked it out of the park. I felt the tension and desire easily.

Pleasantly satisfied with no ridiculous third actness. It all fit into the story well and made sense for the characters at the time. I thought the ending was delightful and gave the resolutions needed for both characters to be together and get what they needed from outside their relationship too.

All sorts of holiday cheer abound (which is something I look for when picking one of these romances up). You won’t regret diving into this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: emotionally negligent parents, loss of a parent (off-page prior to book)

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