Tag: historical romance

ARC Book Review: A Not-So-Distant Love by Heidi Kimball

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 288 pages
Author: Heidi Kimball
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lady Charlotte Darrington’s path in life is clearly laid out before she will select a suitable husband, marry, and one day inherit her father’s Scottish dukedom. But a growing restlessness has her desperate for a bit of freedom before her all-too-certain future closes in. When the opportunity to travel to America arises, Charlotte leaps at the chance and soon finds herself across the Atlantic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her American hosts and their friends couldn’t be more welcoming―all except one. The insufferable Dr. Galloway captures her eye―and her ire. Life has made Dr. Alec Galloway wary of everyone, including the self-important Lady Charlotte Darrington, who thinks herself above Pittsburgh society. He makes no qualms about voicing his disapproval of Britain’s archaic peerage system, or of a certain peeress herself, though he never intended for his brusque opinions to reach her ears, sparking a conflagration neither could have foreseen. Yet as Charlotte gains insight into Alec’s wounded past, she offers him something that changes everything―her friendship. Despite Alec’s determination to keep everyone at bay, she slowly erodes his defenses, allowing him glimpses of a future he never imagined. Soon he must decide whether to face his past fears and grasp a second chance at love or risk losing Charlotte forever.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an eARC.

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

This was exactly what I needed when I picked it up. I was misty eyed finishing those last few pages because this book held so much goodness and powerful themes and that raw human nature of coping with grief and the battering your faith can take sometimes.

I ADORED Charlotte. I loved that she was a take charge type of character and that she knew what she wanted. And Alec? SMITTEN doesn’t even begin to cover it. I felt deeply for his soul and the struggles he was working through. I loved every single moment of their romance. From getting off on the wrong foot, to finding true friendship and falling into that soulmate kind of love.

This was beautiful. I already want to read it again so I can highlight many lines and pages. I love the way Heidi Kimball presented the faith elements and how profound the characters are. The general them of second chances was scattered throughout and with many of the side characters. My heart was fit to burst reading this y’all.

Another incredible book by one of my favorite historical authors.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: toe curling kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a spouse, mentions of epidemics, depictions of grief/depression, loss of loved ones

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ARC Book Review: Codes of Courage (Falcon Point Historicals #1) by A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 373 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a battle of torpedoes, depth charges, and secret codes, nothing is as vulnerable as the human heart.

1940: Austrian refugee Karl Lang has lost everything―his country, his home, and his family. All that is left to him is a burning ambition to see the Nazis defeated. Desperate for work and a way to help the war effort, he finds the one place that will take a refugee like him: a supply steamer traversing a deadly path past enemy U-boats.

Since their first meeting, Millie Stevens has felt an undeniable connection to Karl. As the war rages, she shares his determination to oppose the Nazis and finds work at the British codebreaking center at Bletchley Park. There she uses all her intellect and determination to break German codes and read U-boat transmissions―or risk losing the man she loves.

Rolf Denhart will do anything to defend the Fatherland, including long patrols in a cramped U-boat. But rumors from Germany leave him uneasy, forcing a choice between loyalty to his homeland, the safety of his family, and his peace of conscience.

In the midst of war, three lives are woven together to create an epic tapestry of love and loss, joy and pain, sacrifice and courage.

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

I AM IN MY FEELS.

I was warned before going in what kind of ending I was heading towards so I feel like I’ll mention that here, it is in the bittersweet vein. My rating was not changed by this, a lot because I knew going into it, which I VERY much appreciate. My four star is centered around that I thought the first half was a bit slower and took me awhile to get fully involved.

Anyways, I loved these characters. I loved the themes. The subtle woven in faith elements that played a role in how the three POV’s lives connected, crossed, and ultimately found common ground. It’s a got a really sweet and tender romance. There’s great introspection and realizations. I loved seeing the characters stumble, learn and make the best decisions in rough situations.

And I loved that this was focused out at sea and on codebreakers. It was a different scene of the war I haven’t read much in the historical fiction genre and it was a well researched take on what was happening on the ocean fronts.

I felt ALL THE THINGS throughout. I love the way A.L. Sowards writes her books. I’m happy that I took the chance on reading this, even in my heart is in utter chaos at present. It was such a good book and I loved seeing everything come full circle.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door between a married couple
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: active WW2, loss of loved ones, shipwrecks, grief depiction

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Book Review: Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Author: Hannah Linder
Publisher: Barbour Pub
Release Date: September 30th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Danger Lurks at Rosenleigh Manor

Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder.

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh, he pleads for truth from the only man he can trust—until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William’s world is tipped into destitution—leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant love of Isabella Gresham, but even that has been threatened. When a hidden foe arises from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella’s life, will William be the only one willing to rescue her? And even if he saves Isabella from her captors, will he still have to forsake her heart?

Thank you to AustenProse, Barbour Books and Netgalley for the eARC.

GENUINE ENJOYMENT.

This one took me by surprise. And as it’s Hannah Linder’s third novel I can see how much her writing and story telling has grown. Not for one minute was I ready to speed read and move on. I loved this story and the truths it held throughout.

The romance had this forbidden layer to start out that was worked out really well. I loved the slow progression between William and Isabella and how fate pulled them together. William was an incredible MMC and his ability to constantly have to turn and make a new move was inspiring. I felt a lot of his anger and disappointment towards his fortune and I loved the honest way the subtle faith elements played into his character.

This is definitely a darker book and I was surprised at the layers of mystery that unfolded as truths were revealed. There were continual things to unpack and the pace of the plot remained steady as I was grasping to know what happened next. I enjoyed the drama. I loved this story and I look forward to Linder’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Suspense + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gun violence, physical & weapons violence, loss of life, loss of loved ones, kidnapping, torture, harassment, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: Honorably Engaged (Bradwell Brothers #3) by Kasey Stockton

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Kasey Stockton
Publisher: Golden Owl Press
Release Date: April 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Henry Bradwell has a secret, and Marianne Hutton is the only one who knows what it is.

Henry has worked hard to maintain his secret identity, keeping his occupation private from everyone, including his family. A chance encounter with a family friend, Marianne, reveals far more than he’s comfortable with. Now he’s not the only person who knows and Marianne’s discretion comes with strings attached.

Marianne needs a little help of her own and devises a scheme that will benefit both of them: her silence in exchange for Henry’s escort throughout the Season. A few months of courting, then they go their separate ways. But what happens when the secret is too much to bear and the fake relationship doesn’t feel quite as fake anymore?

BOOKISH.

I always think it’s kind of fun when a book is about books. And these two writers had me pretty smitten with their romance.

The fake dating/engagement worked well here and I liked all of the forced proximity moments it added. It was sweet seeing both Henry and Marianne realize their feelings towards one another and how the mutual pining turned into love.

It was a fantastic audiobook with dual POV narration that I loved. I’m very grateful that the author is able to have the audio release so close to the book release.

There was good tension and I loved seeing the Bradwell family again. The Pride and Prejudice references made me smile and I loved seeing Henry and Marianne work together. The whole story flowed beautifully between them.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, carriage accident, loss of life, recounting loss of a father

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