Book Review: Never Leave Me (Waters of Time #2) by Jody Hedlund

November 15, 2022February 21, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary/Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: January 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug–including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.

UNPOPULAR OPINION.

This did not work for me like the first book did.

Why?

I felt it was too repetitive to the first story. Same bad guy doing the exact same thing. Same reason for going to the past. Same things happening in the past. I don’t know, just a bit too many similarities for this not to drag.

The romance between Ellen and Harrison was really sweet. I did love the first quarter and last where they got a lot more page time together. There were some seriously swoony and charged moments between the two and who am I kidding, that’s ALL I WANT.

I mostly sped read through the later half of this hoping to get back to the main characters actually sharing the page. I wanted a lot more from the surrounding plot and it even took until 30% in to actually know what the whole story would entail. I don’t know, just wasn’t as captivated by this one y’all.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary/Magical Realism Romance
Language: very little
Romance: make-outs
Violence: mild
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, kidnapping, loss of loved ones, full detail childbirth scene

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Book Review: The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London #2) by Mimi Matthews

November 15, 2022November 14, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 406 pages
Author: Mimi Matthrews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 11th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.

For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.

In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

OH MY GOSH I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

I don’t feel like I can accurately put into words how much I loved this book. One of those “no notes” situations where gosh dang I am in a book slump over it.

This is now one of my favorite regency romances and one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings I have come across. Add in MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE and I am SOLD. The entire book was filled with alllllllll of the swoon. I was a puddle over Jasper and his story and how he wooed Julie. It has some instant attraction vibes that flat out worked beautifully. It may seem low angst but I felt everything dang feeling watching these two come together.

I wish I had a physical/digital copy (I read the audiobook) to highlight many passages. Matthews creates gorgeous stories that melt your soul and make you fall in love with the characters. I loved the way Julia stood up for herself and found two strong feet to stand out with the faith of Jasper behind her. And I loved that she was shy AND strong.

The plot with the children and family and friends pushed the main romantic plot line perfectly. I am in awe of this read. It was stunning. I’m writing this review right after finishing it and I really just want to yell at everyone TO GO READ IT NOW PLEASE.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: very little
Romance: very vague fade to black / closed door
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical, emotional, and psychologically abusive parents, grief, recounting war themes

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Book Review: The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

November 6, 2022September 1, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Natasha Lester
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: September 15th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan comes an unforgettable historical novel about a secret collection of Dior gowns that ties back to the first female pilots of WWII and a heartbreaking story of love and sacrifice.

England, 1939: The Penrose sisters couldn’t be more different. Skye is a daring and brash pilot, and Liberty the one to defy her at every turn. Even if women aren’t allowed in the Royal Air Force, Skye is determined to help the war effort. She’s thrilled when it reunites her with her childhood soulmate, Nicholas. She’s less thrilled to learn Nicholas is now engaged to an enigmatic Frenchwoman named Margaux Jourdan.

Paris, 1947: Designer Christian Dior unveils his glamorous first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to his beloved sister Catherine, who forged a friendship with Skye and Margaux through her work with the French Resistance.

Present Day: Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother’s vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery of their origin, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother.

MY HEART. MY HEART. MY HEART.

I only pick up historical fiction books when I’m in the right *mood* for them. And hallelujah that I was in the mood for this book because IT WAS AN AMAZING STUNNING WORK OF ART.

Ohhhh how this tore at every aspect of my heart and soul. I loved the initial chapters of seeing these characters in their youth to growing up and fighting a war versus the worst kind of evil. The strength of these women has no limit and I was in tears plenty reading these encounters that happened for too many.

The push and pull and absolutely full of angsty romance was here too. Skye and Nicholas OWN ME. And when I say that ending made me sob? IT REALLY DID. It was worth it. Lester constructs an intense story with the push and pull of a life at war. I also loved Margaux. She was a clear unsung hero in this book. I liked that she started off on the fringes and then showed her true and honest side that had me all in my feels too.

There’s a lot of emotions at play as the raw reality of WW2 is described. I appreciated learning even more about this time period and the attention given to research. Looking up more information about Catherine Dior was amazing. I love that all of the fashion aspects were wrapped into this too. It was interesting to learn how Dior began creating his outfits and the role his sister played in that too.

Overall audience note:

Historical Fiction Romance
Language: some light
Romance: fade to black
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple aspects of WW2 concentration camps, loss of loved ones

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ARC Book Review: The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey

October 28, 2022October 26, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 252 pages
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Viking Historical Romance

On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.

Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter―Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC.

SAIL AWAY.

This was a well written story with beautiful imagery and a deep dive into history.

And I will say it’s definitely more historical fiction than anything else. There is a romantic sub plot, but it’s a super sub plot. I enjoyed the murder mystery aspects and finding the truth. Learning about different aspects of the nations at the time and finding God when down on your knees.

The “whodunnit” will keep you guessing and the save the damsel in distress scenes are some of my favorite. I liked the forbidden aspects of the romance and the discussions they worked through involving grief and forgiveness. The lane is never straight but the hills and valleys remind you of what you’re ultimately striving for.

I do wish there was more romance. It had it on the cover so my expectations were set in that direction and I was a bit mystified they didn’t interact as much as I hoped for. I did like the friendships Rhiannon had with her cousin and I just liked Rhiannon in general. She was a great FMC. Full of strength and a desire for more.

Overall audience notes: