Tag: regency romance

ARC Book Review: Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Tiffany Odekirk
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: February 14th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.

Thank you to Covenant Communications and Netgalley for an eARC.

STUNNING.

This is apparently this author’s debut in regency romance? NAILED IT.

I could not get enough of this book and soaked it all up in a day. Books like this remind me why I love this genre.

Wowwwww did I absolutely love Damon. He had many quotable and swoony moments. I loved his clear longing and love for Hannah and from the moment she came back to Summerhaven he was there. He was always there. That’s what my mind keeps drawing back to. All of these tiny nuanced moments where Damon showed his love continually and that swept me up in all the feels. That confession of love? HURT. That sweet ending? BLISS.

I adored Hannah as a main character. I thought she was a bit too oblivious at first, but luckily most of that shook out by the halfway point. Hannah showed the ability to learn and see from other points of view. I appreciated her ability to apologize and acknowledge times that she had made poor choices. It’s all there. With the perfect chemistry and angst, I was here for this romance.

Oddly enough, it had a love triangle that I could get behind. I really liked the way this was approached and handled. I didn’t feel frustrated by it ever. I knew who Hannah was ending up with. I would love a story about the other brother though!!

Anyways, I’m writing this review right after I finished the book so I AM HYPED ABOUT IT AND Y’ALL SHOULD READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent (off page, but grief discussed often)

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Book Review: Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Heidi Kimball
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: March 2nd, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A broken man. A fiery young woman. Neither one’s heart will come away unscathed.

Juliet Graham fervently counts the days until her twenty-first birthday, when she can claim the inheritance that will grant her the freedom she has always craved and the guardianship of her younger brother. Until then, she is trapped under her aunt Agnes’s domineering will. When forced to accompany the family to a house party at Shaldorn Castle, Juliet’s only objective is to keep to herself. That is, until a chance encounter with a boorish stranger stirs up an unexpected whirlwind of emotions in her. Thrown off-balance, Juliet does the unthinkable: loses her temper and insults the man—who turns out to be her unwilling host, the Duke of Halstead. Fully expecting to be sent away, Juliet is surprised when the brusque and callous duke instead takes an interest in her.

Drawn to the duke in unguarded moments, Juliet finds herself more and more intrigued by the man who shuns Society’s rules as completely as she does, and over the next few weeks, their unlikely friendship deepens into a connection neither expected.

But even as Juliet comes to recognize her true feelings, her scheming aunt issues an ultimatum that threatens the future she was just beginning to hope for. Juliet must choose: either break the promise she made to herself years ago, or lose the man who has captured her heart and soul.

OFFICIAL REGENCY FAV.

Oh my goodness, I LOVED THIS. I kept this on my TBR for far too long. It’s an absolute favorite and if you don’t feel like reading this review, don’t worry, my answer for you would be READ IT. Thank me later.

From chapter one I was hooked. The initial banter and chemistry between Halstead and Juliet gave me all the feels and setup for an amazing read. I love the way the passion between them and the incredibly tender moments that had me swooning over and over. If you’re worried about a miscommunication issue, that isn’t a problem here! The conflict has been led to the entire time and it works out the way it should. Not to mention, that ending was PRECIOUS. I am still in a gush over the romance. There’s no steam here, but the wait Kimball builds heat and dynamic won’t leave you missing it at all.

I really liked the overall plot. It’s set at a castle (!!) and the writing sweeps you away to another time. There’s some general characteristics of regency romances but this holds its own with a unique story that had me finishing this in a day. I am an official fan now of Kimball’s and can’t wait to read her other books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: emotional/psychologically/physically abusive family member, a runaway child, loss of parents

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Book Review: Manor for Sale, Baron Included (A Romance of Rank #1) by Esther Hatch

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 247 pages
Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: February 25th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She has everything Lord Farnsworth wants, including his manor.

Lord Farnsworth would rather rot in debtor’s prison than sell the one place that feels like home to him—his mother’s manor. That is, until he meets the woman who wants to buy it. Sally Duncan is beautiful, intelligent, and as rich as a baron—a rich baron, not a cash-strapped one like Lord Farnsworth. She’s the solution to every one of his financial problems and is bewitching to boot. All he needs to do is sell her his beloved manor and then charm her to the altar, and the manor will be his again. Simple, right?

But nothing is simple when Sally starts tearing apart his ancestral home and renovating it in a way no one would consider tasteful. She is wreaking havoc on everything, but he cannot give up on owning his mother’s estate again, nor can he imagine anyone but Sally as his wife.

And so he sticks with his plan.

What a horrible mistake. 

ADORABLE & FUN

I had a good time with this one! It was a quick regency read that put me in a good mood and had me smiling throughout. The love interest, John, was ridiculously goofy, but also very endearing. I loved Sally and I thought it was amazing that she was a business owner and extremely independent. They were a great mix of opposites attract.

This was a new story in the regency world for me too. It was great having Sally purchase a house and a gentleman who had to work hard to prove himself to her. I feel like usually it’s the other way around, or at least the whole idea of everyone wants to be with a baron. This really turned it on its side and I looooved that. Not to mention, I really liked all of the boxing aspects!

Not very long, but just the right length. I thought some communication would have solved some of the problems. Yet, I do think the resolutions at the end came together. I understood why John and Sally both had to work through some things before being able to be together. Charming and sweet, I can’t wait for the next story!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: physical altercation
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, a neglected sibling

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Book Review: The Last Eligible Bachelor (Seasons of Change #3) by Ashtyn Newbold

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 234 pages
Author: Ashtyn Newbold
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 25th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A ruse can only last so long…
Tillie Sherbrooke was born a lady, but lost her place in society by her father’s folly. Quiet, resourceful, and loyal, she now makes the perfect lady’s maid for her mistress Sophia. When Sophia’s parents give her no choice but to travel across England to be matched with a mysterious young bachelor, Mr. Hill, she has no interest, especially since there are several other ladies vying for him. Who better to send in her place than Tillie? What gentleman would notice a maid, even one disguised as a lady? So when Sophia asks this favor of Tillie, or rather—threatens her into it, Tillie must rely on her past, the life of a proper lady, if she hopes to keep her position at Sedgwick Manor.

Disguised as her mistress, Tillie takes a coach across the country to a new place, one both unfamiliar and frightening. With so much at stake, she does all she can to stay quiet and invisible. But when she inadvertently catches Mr. Hill’s attention, she realizes she may have more to lose than her livelihood. She may very well lose her heart.

CHARMINGLY CUTE.

I love a feel good regency romance. They make me smile. It’s clearly going to be a happy ever after and I’m not upset one bit about that guarantee.

This was my second book by Ashtyn Newbold and she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite regency romance authors. I love the way she writes her stories. The witty banter between the couples, the flirtations and side glances, and that long sought after kissing scene. It’s a great combination that fuels my love for these stories.

I adored this set-up and liked how everything played out. Some of the other women at the manor were absolutely ridiculous (though I expected nothing less). I liked Tillie and her compassion and care for those she loved. She continued to do what was right even if that was a tough decision to make. I loved Mr.Hill too! I do wish there was more background information on him. Honestly, I’m not even sure he had a first name because I can’t remember it being used once.

A sweet read that does NOT have to be read in order! I picked this one out of the series purely for the author. If you’re looking for more simple regency favs, look no further.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content Warnings: a family member imprisoned

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