Book Review: The Enemy and Miss Innes (Tales from the Highlands #2) by Martha Keyes

July 10, 2023August 1, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 311 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All that stands between him and freedom? Turning her hatred to love.

Elizabeth Innes has a tongue too sharp for her own good, and she is never more ready to employ it than when faced with the MacKinnons. With just one piece of evidence connecting their clan to a near-deadly attack, she is determined to prove the laird guilty and see him brought to justice. So, when chance throws her in the company of one of the MacKinnon men, she resolves to take advantage of the opportunity to glean more information.

Malcolm MacKinnon has long lived under the thumb of his cousin and laird, Angus, who keeps a secret with the power to ruin him. With his mother and siblings entirely dependent upon Angus’s capricious generosity, he cannot afford to offend his cousin. When Angus proposes a way for him to finally be free of his shackles, Malcolm is more than ready to oblige. All he must do is help Angus seek revenge upon the rival, neighboring clan. The way to do it? Gain the trust—and love—of one of their young women.

As Malcolm and Elizabeth pursue their goals, they find their tasks much more difficult than anticipated, with challenges to their loyalties at every turn. Both must decide how far they are willing to go for revenge—and love.

A GOOD E2L.

I snagged this on audio and devoured it in a day! I love the way Martha Keyes tells stories and this was no different. I really appreciate that this felt true to the enemies to lovers trope and gave me all that angsty banter I love so well.

The storyline was good and moved at a steady pace. I liked the rebuilding aspects (which I felt was an overall illusion to more) and that we got to see the couple from the previous book too! There’s a good dose of drama that doesn’t go over the top and seeing the villain shut down is always one of my favorite parts of a book.

It’s an easy read and I love picking up books in this genre when the mood strikes.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: fires, assault, physical altercations, mentions of past domestic abuse, extortion, animal injury

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ARC Book Review: Love Unseen by Rachel Kelley Stones

July 5, 2023June 3, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 248 pages
Author: Rachel Kelley Stones
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: July 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hannah Hadley is a permanent fixture in London Society and well on her way to becoming a spinster. Despite her beauty and kind disposition, Hannah has accepted the harsh reality of her situation: she will never marry. Continually affected by an illness from her youth, Hannah acknowledges her chances of entertaining potential suitors, at least respectable ones, is slim.

To members of the ton, Jonathan Carter is undeniably unsuitable. Though he is in possession of a massive fortune and is handsome as well, there remains an insurmountable black mark against him: his is new money. Even so, he’s caught off guard when his enchanting neighbor, Miss Hadley, flatly rejects his offer to dance. Despite their rocky introduction, however, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. But when circumstances force Hannah from her home, the couple’s warm association comes to an abrupt end. Now, Jonathan must find a way to rescue the woman he just might love or risk losing her forever.

Thank you to the author and Covenant Communications for the ARC.

GREAT DEBUT.

I enjoyed this one a lot! Hannah was such a wonderful FMC and her resilient strength shown throughout the whole book. She doesn’t let her disability define her and I loved seeing her define her self-worth and place in society.

There was even DUAL POV with Jonathan too. I adored him as well. I liked seeing his self reflection and growth as he acknowledged mistakes, made apologies and pursued Hannah. They were a sweet pairing and I liked all of their interactions.

A charming story that gets some intense scenes towards the end. I liked the pick-up in action and the rush I felt flying through pages wondering if Jonathan and Hannah were going to make it back to each other. Filled with redemptive characters (and some villains that in no way deserve redemption), a nice level of drama and a satisfying romance, I thought this was a great debut and I look forward to more books by this author.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism, loss of sight, loss of a father (recounted), brief assault, physical injuries

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Book Review: A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon

July 4, 2023April 8, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction + Romance
Length: 405 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Lake Union
Release Date: April 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Harmon comes the saga of a young woman who dares to chart her own destiny in life and love during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.

Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. Her impressive height and lanky build make her transformation a convincing one, and it isn’t long before she finds herself confronting the horrors of war head-on.

But as Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must contend with the secret of who she is—and, ultimately, a surprising love she can’t deny.

LOVED WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING.

I honestly don’t even know how to write this review because this book consumed my soul and I loved it so much. It made me feel proud to be a woman and want to shout to hear these untold stories more. I LOVED Deborah Samson. Her courage and bravery. Choosing a hard path, but the path that gave her hope and freedom. I loved the way she carried herself and her resilient, hard working nature that bled into those around her. Deborah is the type of female leads in books that make me love reading.

The romance was completely different than I expected, IN THE BEST WAYS. I loved the age gap, forbidden romance and all the intense and passionate feelings between Deborah and [redacted because I don’t want to spoil]. They had amazing chemistry and I was GLUED to my page anytime they were in the same scene because the magnetic pull between them yanked me along too. I am a puddle after the way everything worked out and wrapped up in the end.

This book was incredible. I expected no less from Amy Harmon (one of my top five authors ever). I love the beautiful way she crafts a story and brings all of these historical aspects to life. I am in awe every time I come to the closing pages. This book needs to be read by all.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fiction + Romance
Language: very little
Romance: vague fade to black; closed-door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes (Revolutionary specifically), indentured servitude, loss of life, loss of loved ones, brief mentions of abuse and parental abandonment

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ARC Book Review: Appointment in Bath (Somerset Stories #4) by Mimi Matthews

June 27, 2023May 24, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 288 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: June 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A chance meeting between the sheltered daughter and the forward-thinking son of rival Victorian families sparks a forbidden romance in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s fourth book in her acclaimed Somerset Stories series.

Shy and stammering Meg Burton-Smythe has spent the whole of her life living on the fringes of local society. She’s more comfortable with her daydreams than she is with people. But when a dashing, golden-haired hero rides to her rescue one morning, she dares to hope that her dreams might finally come true. There’s only one problem: her handsome rescuer is the son of her father’s sworn enemy.

Ivo Beresford doesn’t believe in clinging to the past. Freshly returned from a lengthy grand tour, he’s looking to the future, eager to spearhead the building of a new railway extension in Somersetshire. But an unexpected encounter with Meg Burton-Smythe, the isolated only daughter of his parents’ oldest foe, sets the past and the future colliding.

Resolved to put ancient grudges to rest—at least where innocent young ladies are concerned—Ivo encourages lonely Meg to embark on a secret acquaintance. After all, what harm can a friendship do? It isn’t as though there’s any danger of the two of them falling in love…

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

I LOVE MEG.

She was the best part of this whole book. I LOVED her journey. She learned who she was, stood up for herself to those around her and just did the dang thing. I loved her character and she’s a new favorite.

And I’m obsessed with this whole series. I love that we get this second generation of stories now because I’m even more in love with the whole family. I adored Ivo as well. He went on a good journey too and I appreciated his sunshine energy. The balance of friendship to romance was well paced and you could feel the tension between these two, even though the romance is forbidden (you know you want to read it now).

I’m such a Mimi Matthews fan. Her books add this perfect level of edge to the historical genre without adding spice. There’s romantic ball scenes, horse rides through the countryside and secret meetings. I LOVED IT ALL.

Overall audience notes: