Tag: historical romance

Book Review: The Silent Canary by Angela Bricker

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 354 pages
Author: Angela Bricker
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

1916, England
War pacifist Poppy Pemburton celebrates her twenty-third birthday on the front steps of the Chilwell, England ammunition factory with her favorite anti-war sign and her well-loved marching boots. War tears families apart and Poppy will certainly not allow it anywhere near the only family she has left. But when Poppy’s dearest friend, Luca, answers the Great War’s call to enlist, Poppy is willing to set aside her morals and join forces with the yellow-skinned Chilwell munition workers, known as canary girls, to bring Luca home safe. Because the only thing worse than the possibility of Luca dying in war, is Luca dying without knowing Poppy loves him.

German spy Jakob Kirtchner is sent to England with one chance left to prove himself. Jakob’s assignment: infiltrate the Chilwell ammunition factory by any means necessary. New employee Poppy Pemburton proves the perfect means. Germany will win the Great War. If Poppy falls with England, so be it. He just can’t fall with her. Or for her.

Based on the true story of the Chilwell ammunition factory explosion and inspired by real people, The Silent Canary stretches our understanding of what it means to find bravery in the depths of our darkest moments, and forgiveness despite our deepest fears.

WONDERFUL DEBUT.

I’ve been on the fence about reading this one but I’m grateful I waited for the audiobook and went ahead and took a chance anyways. I had a very hard time putting it down and thought the audiobook production and narrators were awesome.

While this is romance heavy I do think it maintains a fiction focus with strong romantic lines. It’s not a linear journey by any means and I guarantee at some point you’ll feel angry and full of anguish. But there’s hope and light between the pages too.

I won’t speak too much to the romance because it is a love triangle with a lot of moving parts that I think are best read without commentary. I will note I was okay with how things came together in the end and thought it made the most sense (and this was the angle I was hoping for too).

There was one small plot point that I’m iffy on. I don’t know that I feel like it was absolutely necessary to tack on at the end when it could have been left out. But that was my only issue. I will definitely be picking up whatever Angela Bricker decides to write next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: themes and setting in WW1, loss of life, torture, prisoners of war, mass losses of life

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Bridge of Betrayal (Falcon Point Historical #3) by A.L. Sowards

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes it takes a small deception to uncover the truth.

England, 1954

Anna Lang lost everyone she loved during the Second World War—except her cherished music teacher, Esther Haymann. When Miss Haymann dies under suspicious circumstances and rumors of suicide swirl, Anna doesn’t want to believe them. Her doubts intensify when she catches a stranger rifling through Miss Haymann’s papers, claiming a link between her death and that of renowned scientist Alan Turing.

Arthur Cavendish, a former prisoner of war in Korea, can’t completely escape the nightmares of combat and captivity. Nor can he forget that Dr. Turing’s advice once saved his life, so Arthur is determined to get to the bottom of his associate’s alleged suicide, even if it involves trespassing and danger.

When a suspicious fire nearly kills Arthur and Anna, they form a reluctant alliance to clear their mentors’ names. From shadowy corners of seaside resorts to the guarded gates of a secret government agency at Hanslope Park, Anna and Arthur chase elusive clues—and wrestle with their growing attraction for each other. With divergent goals and hidden secrets, a future together seems unlikely. Yet as more and more pieces of the puzzle fall into place, a sinister pattern unfolds, and they find that their hearts are not the only things at risk. Uncovering the truth might cost them their lives.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for a gifted copy.

BEAUTIFUL STORY.

This was incredibly easy to fly through. I loved being back with these characters and getting to see Anna’s story. Her growth in learning to let go of the things she couldn’t hold on to was full of strength. I love reading about resilient characters. And I really liked the spy mission vibes of this one!

I loved the connection between Arthur and Anna. It had the essence of being what the other person needed, while also meeting each other where they were on their path. The soft moments combined with the protective hero moments are always my favorite.

The historical points were great and it was interesting to see a 1950’s England and how perilous things still were post WW2. It’s well research and in combination with the author notes at the end I felt like I learned a lot (and that’s one of my favorite aspects of historical fiction books).

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: gun violence, physical altercations, PTSD, war themes and multiple mentions of torture (recounted), near death experiences, loss of loved ones

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: A Love Most Daring (Bow Street #3) by Joanna Barker

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From best-selling author Joanna Barker: Proper romance meets page-turning mystery in this captivating tale of danger, redemption, and love worth fighting for.

After years of whispered gossip and quiet exile in the countryside, Beatrice Lacey arrives in London determined to reclaim her life. But her resolve is shaken when she witnesses a horrific attack tied to a chilling high-profile murder case gripping the city.

Thrust into sudden danger, Beatrice finds herself under the reluctant protection of Alexander Rawlings—a brooding Bow Street officer with a guarded heart and a fierce sense of duty. Though it’s clear he’d rather be chasing the killer than shielding a scandal-stained Society miss, their forced closeness begins to unravel his defenses. In the unnerving moments between danger and discovery, every sharp exchange and lingering glance fans a slow-burning connection—one neither of them expected and neither can resist.

With danger closing in and old wounds resurfacing, trust may be their only refuge—and love their most daring risk of all.

Thank you Shadow Mountain and Joanna Barker for the gifted copy.

THE SWOOOOOOON.

This felt very Pride and Prejudice coded to me. In allllll the best ways. Add in some suspense and I became a goner. I could not get enough of each and every page. I LOVE both of these characters and the banter will have you giggling and kicking your feet like none other.

I’m a sucker for forced proximity that doesn’t feel forced and the natural way of the romance was amazing. Stuck in a home together? FOR PROTECTION? Say less. I loved the impeccable slow burn and the intensity of feelings you could feel coming off in waves from Beatrice and Alexander. I also forgot how much I love in historicals when they use their first name??? Good heavens.

I loved the setting, I loved the mystery of the suspense and how the added elements only increased my enjoyment. Everything is balanced beautifully and I know you’ll have a hard time putting this one down. READ IT OKAY.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild-moderate
  • Content warnings: attempted murder, weapons violence

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Mail Order Baroness (Lords of the Rockies #2) by Misty M. Beller

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 262 pages
Author: Misty M. Beller
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 10th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

James Balfour, the charming middle son of an English duke, is determined to prove he’s capable of taking leadership of his family’s Montana ranch as the next deadly winter approaches. With the household stretched to its limits, James crafts a clever plan to hire Rose Prescott—his childhood best friend—and to right an old wrong.

Rose’s remarkable singing voice was meant to be her gift, but in Virginia City, it’s become her curse. Forced by her stepfather to perform nightly shows, she dreams of escape and a life free from his control. When a newspaper ad for a housekeeper offers her a way out, she risks everything and flees, hoping her stepfather can’t find her. She never expected to return to the Balfour ranch, nor to see James again, whose charm now reminds her too much of the men who’ve betrayed her before.

James’s desire to protect Rose is shaken when his old friend treats him like an enemy. Winning her trust becomes his greatest challenge yet. As tensions rise on the ranch, old secrets and new dangers threaten everything James and his family have built.

With enemies closing in, Rose must decide whom she can trust—and whether she’s willing to fight for the freedom and love she’s always longed for.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, a second chance romance, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

SOFT & PROTECTIVE.

I love a hero who knows what he wants. And goes out of his way to ensure the safety of those he loves. This was another good installment in the series that brought the same charm from the previous book.

I enjoy these characters and the whole family dynamic. While there are some more intense moments you always know things will work out which makes the whole book feel low stakes. And sometimes what you need is a low stakes book to bring the hope and light.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: murder, kidnapping, loss of a parent

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph