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Book Review: Entreat Me by Grace Draven

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 461 pages
Author: Grace Draven
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: December 16th, 2013
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation.

…until they confront her elder sister.

Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him.

A tale of vengeance and devotion.

ONE OF THE BETTER.

I don’t think I’ve read many Beauty and the Beast retellings lately (honestly, they haven’t charmed as of late), but this was recommend by a few friends and it delivered!!

This was easily one of the best retellings I’ve read for B&TB. I loved the expansion of the main idea, It was dark and gothic and the atmosphere was amazing. I loved the addition of characters and how the structure of the plot was crafted. It was easy to listen to and see how all the things came together.

I will say the spice took me out of the story a bit. I could skip an entire 30 minute chapter and not miss anything (so it is skippable), just bugged me.

It is a standalone and wraps up all of the things. I enjoyed the characters arcs and many things in between. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a Grace Draven book and I’m grateful it did not disappoint.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Retelling
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ long open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Once and Future Queen (The Lives of Guinevere #1) by Paula Lafferty

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 532 pages
Author: Paula Lafferty
Publisher: Hodderscape
Release Date: October 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes legends don’t tell the whole story.

After the sudden death of her boyfriend, Vera would have been happy to spend her life completely unnoticeable, washing bedsheets and cleaning toilets in a Glastonbury hotel. But everything changes when a strange new guest reveals himself to be Merlin and drags her back to seventh century Camelot, a place she knows only from legends. He tells her that only Vera (or Queen Guinevere, as Merlin calls her) can right the course of history and save Arthur’ s kingdom from the will of a power-hungry mage.

There’ s one enormous problem: Guinevere was the sole witness to the curse that’s now draining the kingdom of its magic, and Vera doesn’t remember anything from that life. And with Camelot’ s peace ebbing ever closer to shattering, she’s running out of time.

Working with Merlin’ s magic to retrieve her long-lost memories brings more questions than answers: why is it that King Arthur, who treats his subjects with such benevolence, can’ t even stand to look at her? And why does that make Vera’ s soul feel like it’ s splitting in two? What robbed her of her memories in the first place… and, most importantly, why?

As Vera is about to discover, in a world of legend and power, the secrets of her memories are only the beginning…

GO READ THIS RIGHT NOW.

I am appalled at myself for waiting so long to read this book (I’ve had the ebook on my kindle forever but finally got my hands on the audio) BECAUSE OMGOSH Y’ALL. It had me in a chokehold from the first few chapters. I loved the pacing and how I never knew quite where things were going next and how deeply I fell in love with these characters and the complex story.

The romance is a beautiful convoluted web that I loved seeing drawn out. It’s highly angsty and has you begging for a kiss, touch, glance ANYTHING. It felt just right and made me beyond excited for book two.

I also loved Vera’s relationship with Lancelot. They are besties and it showed over and over in how they looked out for each other. It was one of those genuine friendships that balanced the romance so well. The entire book is engaging and romantic and I loved seeing the Arthurian legend told this way.

Gimme book twooooooo.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Kate Golden
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s the duet of a lifetime when a rock star and his backup singer find a new kind of harmony off stage in this sensational contemporary romance.

Clementine Clark isn’t looking for love. Growing up with a single mom who weeps over a new guy each week tends to have that effect on a girl. But Clementine doesn’t mind being the rational one—she’s even buried her musical dreams so deeply within herself that she hardly notices the hole it’s left in her life.

That is until her best friend calls her with a life-changing opportunity: to join Irish megastar Halloran on his first US tour as a backing vocalist. Clementine wants to reject the offer, but the pay is enough to change her and her mom’s life. Overnight, Clementine goes from serving enchiladas at the Happy Tortilla to belting high notes before a cheering crowd.

But the whiplash of trading small-town Texas for sold-out stadiums is nothing compared to the rush of performing with the enigmatic Thomas Patrick Halloran. Poet, introvert, and lyrical genius, Halloran quickly gets under Clementine’s skin. The two couldn’t see the world more differently. And yet, over the course of the next eight weeks on tour, the romantic rockstar might just strike an unforgettable chord in Clementine. But will it be enough for an encore?

WELL LOOKIE HERE.

I liked this one y’all!!! I can bet you that the duet narration worked wonders on me and I highly recommend the audiobook path for this one. It is SUPREME.

And reading another celebrity romance?? WHO AM I. They are hitting so well lately and I think I’ve read five+ in the last month alone. I loved all of the touring and friendships and singing and passion. Thomas and Clementine had such a lovely dynamic and I loved seeing them together. I do think the spice jumped in a bit too early but it wasn’t the end of the world.

Because what really made me mad was the third act (and the FMC honestly frustrated me throughout). Past that nonsense is a strong romance that will have you feeling all the things.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one (recounted), a mother with fibromyalgia, sexual harassment, mentions of drug/alcohol addiction

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Book Review: The Heart of War by Olivia Snow

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 364 pages
Author: Olivia Snow
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

London, 1815

If love is war, then London’s marriage mart is a battlefield—and Helena Weston is its most cunning general. As the diamond of the season, Helena has never struggled to collect suitors. But when her father’s fortune collapses, she faces the unthinkable: marriage not as a conquest, but as survival.

Using Sun Tzu’s The Art of War as her courtship playbook, Helena has only two months to secure a husband rich enough to save her family from destitution. She selects three candidates for her scheme, including Edmond Hawke, a handsome newcomer to London with a mysterious past and an insufferable tendency to jeopardize her carefully laid plans.

With her future on the line, Helena must decide what victory truly means—and whether surrendering to love is the most strategic move of all.

QUITE GOOD.

I ate this up. I was a sucker from a reel I saw and here we are. This was a solid historical romance that I can totally recommend. Even if I have a few caveats.

One of those being the girl vs. girl drama. I just get tired of that narrative and while I would have been fine with an instance (maybe even two) I was not okay with it being such a larger part of the plot. It was aggravating and frustrating and I really just need Sybella to go away. My other caveat is how long it takes the FMC, Helena, to DO anything. She talked a lot of game but the follow through took much longer to achieve.

I did think the romance was a unique case that I haven’t come across (off the top of my head) before in historical romance. I loved the MMC’s back story (would have loved his POV too!). I liked how earnest he was and how gosh dang down bad this man was for Helena. I am a sucker for the small and subtle moments because that’s what makes a lasting romance and this book delivered. I also adored the little side plot with Mrs. Sweete. I loved how tight the friendship was between Helena and Mrs. Sweete. Definitely needed more of that.

I would totally be interested in reading another book from Olivia Snow. This was a fun find and for my closed door readers this was kisses only too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: sexual assault, physical altercations, minor injuries, loss of a parent, emotionally abusive parent

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