Book Review: An Improbable Season (Unexpected Seasons #1) by Rosalyn Eves

July 12, 2024June 3, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Rosalyn Eves
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: April 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For fans of Bridgerton, a YA Regency romance by Rosalyn Eves about three teenage girls, their big dreams, and a London Season gone awry.

When Thalia, Kalliope, and Charis set off to Regency London for their first Season, they each have clear goals–few of which include matrimony. Thalia means to make her mark among the intelligentsia and publish her poetry, Charis hopes to earn her place among the scientific elite, and Kalliope aims to take the fashionable ton by storm. But this Season, it doesn’t take long for things to fall apart. Kalli finds herself embroiled in scandal and reliant upon an arranged marriage to redeem her reputation, Thalia’s dreams of publication are threatened by her attraction to a charming rake, and Charis finds herself an unexpected social hit–and the source of a family scandal that her heart might not survive. Can this roller-coaster Season find its happily ever after?

An Improbable Season is a voicy, swoony regency drama about falling in love–with another person, with new opportunities, and with yourself.

GREAT DRAMA.

This book had a wonderful balance of drama without feeling over the top. I think the Bridgerton vibes were on point and I liked the entire book. Honestly I would have loved even more to have separate books for each character because I enjoyed each story so much and having even deeper background exploration would have been awesome.

I liked that each romance had a unique perspective and plot. It was easy to keep everyone separate and enjoy each point of view change. It was cute and I especially loved the sister relationships. They weren’t this easy going, not accurate portrayal, but a lovely realistic story that I could completely get behind.

There’s good character growth and finding your passion and paths. I liked seeing each woman overcome their mistakes and find what works best for them. I look forward to seeing who the next book will focus on!!

Overall audience notes:

YA Historical Romance
Language: little
Romance: kisses; light innuendo
Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey

June 27, 2024May 27, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack. Now, working alongside the one man she trusts, she is ready to fight for her people—and for love.

Wessex, AD 878

Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.

It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the king’s newest warrior.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the gifted ARC.

LOVED THIS.

I love when I really feel the intersection of history and fiction in stories. It’s why I continually come back to the historical genre. I loved how well researched and intricate this story was and I am always here for unique historical settings.

The romance between Aisley and Brecc was really sweet. I liked that this had a little bit heavier romantic presence too. I loved how they came together and the tender chemistry between them. The romance has great tension and watching them combat outside battles only made the connection stronger. I loved both of these characters separately and together (which is always a high mark for me).

I enjoyed learning more about this time period and battles. I feel like I read a lot of Viking books but not much of the other groups that were around in this era. I loved finishing this and immediately wanting to learn more about the King and the setting and battles. It satisfied by history nerd tendencies in all the best ways.

This is officially my new favorite Sian Ann Bessey book.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: battle scenes and war themes, loss of life, near death experiences

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ARC Book Review: Summer in the Highlands by Nichole Van, Heidi Kimball and Michele Paige Holmes

June 25, 2024June 1, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance Novella Collection
Length: 360 pages
Author: Nichole Van, Heidi Kimball & Michele Paige Holmes
Publisher: Mirror Press
Release Date: May 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the publisher of the USA Today bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series, comes Summer in the Highlands, with three Victorian Romance novellas by Nichole Van, Heidi Kimball, and Michele Paige Holmes.

Remnants of Love by Nichole Van
Mrs. Christiana Newton—Chrissi to her closest friends—has two simple goals in life. One, earn a living through her archaeological expertise. And two, forget that Alistair Maclagan, her traitorous former betrothed, still walks the same planet as herself. Alistair Maclagan, Lord Farnell, has resolved to move on from his broken engagement to Chrissi nine years ago, to forgive himself for shattering the trust between them. But when Fate drops Chrissi, quite literally, into a muddy bog on Alistair’s Highland estate, the two are forced to confront their romantic past. Despite heartbreak, betrayal, and the passage of years, can Chrissi and Alistair forge love anew?

Of Kilts and Courtship by Heidi Kimball
Consigned to spend three months in the Highlands of Scotland with a grandmother she’s never met and an accent she cannot understand, Arabella Hughes has every reason to believe it will prove to be the worst summer of her life. And after meeting the infuriating and unchivalrous Gavin McKenzie, she becomes certain of it. As the summer progresses, however, and her prejudices and preconceptions about both Scotland and her grandmother are turned on their heads, Arabella remains determined to keep a certain Scotsman at bay. Yet every time they meet, Mr. McKenzie teases her, provokes her, and confronts her—challenging the way she thinks and forcing Arabella to consider what she truly wants for her future, even if what she wants turns out to be the last thing she ever expected.

Into the Light by Michele Paige Holmes
Theodore Hughes seeks a summer of refuge and healing in Scotland’s Highlands, as he recovers from both physical and emotional wounds sustained in the Crimean War. He’s also looking forward to becoming reacquainted with his fiancée, Violet. But when the wrong woman arrives on his doorstep, his plans are thrown awry and his tenuous hold on the future seems to be slipping away. Beatrice never wanted to come to the Highlands, to witness her undeserving cousin being doted upon by a man she neither loves nor appreciates. But Beatrice never would have intentionally injured Lord Hughes’ heart, no matter what he believes to the contrary. Thrown together, both victims of Violet’s mischief, Theodore and Beatrice navigate a hostile beginning to a tentative friendship, then to trust and ultimately love. But Beatrice hasn’t been entirely honest about the past. And her deceit may be her undoing when Violet returns to claim Theodore as her own.

Thank you to the authors for my gifted copy!

LOVED THEM ALL.

Remnants of Love
Nichole Van can do no wrong in my opinion and so it should come as no surprise that I loved this second chance, ANGSTY tension filled romance. I loved the re-meet cute and the push and pull between Chrissi and Alistair. There’s just the right amount of flashback chapters to connect to the past and I loved the pacing of the present. It’s swoony and heartfelt and fills your soul.
Content Warnings: mentions of a miscarriage

Of Kilts and Courtships
I also love Heidi Kimball’s stories and this one was amazing!! Such a great use of a quick timeline and love story. I never felt like things moved too fast. I was invested with the heated enemies banter and all of the swoooony moments that brought Gavin and Arabella together. I loved the coastal Scotland setting and passionate tale. It ended at just the right spot too.

Into the Light
This is my first book by this author! I really liked it. There’s a lot of sweet moments and I loved Theodore and Beatrice’s strength and resilient natures vs. the things they have been through. Once again, I adored the highland setting.
Content Warnings: war injuries and recovery

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ARC Book Review: To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells #2) by Joanna Barker

June 6, 2024May 25, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 312 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Rose Petal Press
Release Date: June 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Cora Atherton wants nothing more than to finally fall in love—real love, not the unrequited sort. When she is invited to attend a house party without her disapproving, overbearing mother, Cora leaps at the chance, desperate to make a match of her own. That is, until she finds that Oliver Cartwell is also attending the party. Oliver, the boy she has loved since she was a girl and the man she is determined to forget.A house party in the country is just what Oliver needs to distract himself from the shadows of his past. When he discovers that Cora, his sister’s best friend, is in need of a little matchmaking, he resolves to help her in her search for a husband. He quickly learns that no man is good enough for her, least of all himself. Why, then, does he find himself fighting his attraction to gentle, beautiful Cora at every step?As the two draw closer together, Cora is forced to confront the feelings that have tortured her for years. With her future on the line and a deadline fast approaching, can she trust that flirtatious Oliver has changed for the better—or will he leave her heart in pieces once again?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

FLAWLESS.

I mean, I don’t even know where to begin with this review. When you love a book so incredibly much that you feel like no words will do it justice. This book made me actually tear up because it was beautifully wholesome and heated with the tension between Cora and Oliver. I loved how the house party was used to bring the forced proximity at the fore front and how many times Cora and Oliver got a chance to reconnect from their childhood. Cora and her unrequited crush had a grip on my heart and watching Oliver fall, and fall HARD was EVERYTHING.

There were so many moments I highlighted because this romance brings the sweeping tale of hope and change and growing into the person you want to be. I loved how low drama the plot was without slowing anything down. The will they/won’t they was impeccable and I hit that moment where I was BEGGING for a kiss to happen.

I loved all of the characters and the sweet friendships that blossomed. I loved getting to see Marigold and Tristan again. I loved the setting and atmosphere. I’m pretty sure this is my new favorite from Joanna Barker. She is a historical romance queen.

Overall audience notes: