This spooky atmospheric story was a great read, it was giving me turn of the screw vibes, set in 1860 and told from the POV of Elspeth a young girl frThis spooky atmospheric story was a great read, it was giving me turn of the screw vibes, set in 1860 and told from the POV of Elspeth a young girl from good family who has suffered tragedy. Leaving Edinburgh for a fresh start she's takes up a post on the Scottish island of Skelthsea at Iskar as a governess to little nine year old Mary. Marys past seems to mirror Elspeth's own, she has recently lost both her mother and twin brother and she's also mute refusing to speak.
As Elspeth settles into small town island life she's soon realises that things here are not quite right. Strange occurrences and spooky night time visits amongst other things and before long Elspeth's initial excitement turns to deep fear and a sense of dread.
If Elspeth wants to keep Mary and also herself safe she will need to work out just what occured at Iskar. But finding this out may just place her in even more danger as someone doesn't want the truth getting out and is prepared to resort to even murder to keep there secrets hidden.
This was spooky and atmospheric and an easy page turner. I was on constant tenterhooks with dread and anticipation throughout. If you like creepy spooky historical ghostly mystery's filled with plenty of ambience this one has you covered. I definitely recommend and enjoyed it a whole lot....more
This one definitely hit the spot for me and I liked it a lot. I’m partial to some Scottish historical romance and though this was a new a[image] [image]
This one definitely hit the spot for me and I liked it a lot. I’m partial to some Scottish historical romance and though this was a new author for me I clicked with this straight away. The easy writing style drew me in investing me in the unfolding narrative and though this was not an overly complicated or angsty story it struck just the right balance for me.
The story is set in 1545 in highland Scotland, The decimated clan of Macquarie is trying to rebuild and repopulate there abandoned isle. Under a curse, this century past all that is left of this once proud clan is Chief and oldest brother Adam and his five younger brothers and also a superstitious family friend Rabbie, What they need now are wives.
Enter Lark Montgomerie she is attending the Beltane festival with her family where her father has plans to marry her off as he wants her out of his house. When Lark and Adam meet she sees In him her salvation and a chance to travel away from her past. Thinking him the better option than her other two unwanted suitors Lark chooses him instead.
So this was a really great read it was very well written had enough intrigue and suspense to keep things interesting but not too much to turn me away. I liked both Lark and Adam and also all the brothers. I believe each sibling is going to get there own individual story and based on my experience with this I would definitely read them.
I liked the simplistic approach here how our newlyweds fell for each other gradually both learning trust and gaining their happiness gradually and together.
This had a bit of everything there were secrets some mystery, drama and also danger added to the mix. This wasn’t majorly explicit but it certainly had enough sexy-times to satisfy me and the bond itself felt real and authentic and most importantly genuine. I believed in there growing connection and eventual feelings and was rooting for them 110%. I especially liked the fact that the sex here didn’t feel prosy or contrived, It’s a mega turn-off for me and one of my top pet-hates in historical fiction.
Overall this was a good one and I enjoyed myself a lot. I would recommend this if your partial to Scottish historical romance like me and this is definitely one of the better ones around. I voluntary reviewed a copy of A Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal.
This one definitely hit the spot for me and I liked it a lot. I’m partial to some Scottish historical romance and though this was a new author for me I clicked with this straight away. The easy writing style drew me in investing me in the unfolding narrative and though this was not an overly complicated or angsty story it struck just the right balance for me.
The story is set in 1545 in highland Scotland, The decimated clan of Macquarie is trying to rebuild and repopulate there abandoned isle. Under a curse, this century past all that is left of this once proud clan is Chief and oldest brother Adam and his five younger brothers and also a superstitious family friend Rabbie, What they need now are wives.
Enter Lark Montgomerie she is attending the Beltane festival with her family where her father has plans to marry her off as he wants her out of his house. When Lark and Adam meet she sees In him her salvation and a chance to travel away from her past. Thinking him the better option than her other two unwanted suitors Lark chooses him instead.
So this was a really great read it was very well written had enough intrigue and suspense to keep things interesting but not too much to turn me away. I liked both Lark and Adam and also all the brothers. I believe each sibling is going to get there own individual story and based on my experience with this I would definitely read them.
I liked the simplistic approach here how our newlyweds fell for each other gradually both learning trust and gaining their happiness gradually and together.
This had a bit of everything there were secrets some mystery, drama and also danger added to the mix. This wasn’t majorly explicit but it certainly had enough sexy-times to satisfy me and the bond itself felt real and authentic and most importantly genuine. I believed in there growing connection and eventual feelings and was rooting for them 110%. I especially liked the fact that the sex here didn’t feel prosy or contrived, It’s a mega turn-off for me and one of my top pet-hates in historical fiction.
Overall this was a good one and I enjoyed myself a lot. I would recommend this if your partial to Scottish historical romance like me and this is definitely one of the better ones around. I voluntary reviewed a copy of A Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal.
No idea how to classify this it's a definite genre hopper including romance, mystery, suspense, some seriously magical vibes and all with a delicious No idea how to classify this it's a definite genre hopper including romance, mystery, suspense, some seriously magical vibes and all with a delicious gothic overtone that instantly appealed. It's the story of Darcy an orphan and teacher whose entire existence is called into question and turned on its head when she's receives a mysterious letter regarding an undisclosed possible inheritance from her late father a man she knows nothing about as he's a total stranger to her. She's Invited to travel to Fairydale to meet her father's family and also claim her legacy. Darcy is apprehensive but determined.
This was a wild one with so much going on it is told in multiple timelines hopping back and forth and encompasses centuries in the telling. The characters were fabulous, the romance swoon-worthy and the stuff of dreams and even when it took a very bizarre turn I still couldn't look away.
Fairydale is a strange place and from the minute Darcy arrives she feels uncomfortable and out of place an outsider. When her family turn out to be anything but friendly Darcy's one consolation is the Hales especially Caleb Hale who Darcy is incredibly drawn towards. There also spooky things afoot and some extremely strange and bizarre deaths. Add into that nightly dreams of another life and another man 'Amon' and Darcy is experiencing so much confusion about the truth and what it all means.
I only had a loose sense of what this was about beforehand and went in mostly blind. As each plot twist was revealed I was transfixed this was absolutely mental I don't think I've read anything quite like it. Were some of the revelations verging on the ridiculous? yes, sure, did I care? heck no, it only made it that much more consumable and addictive to digest.
This is an incredibly long book but I managed to consume this in just over a day i did guess some things but I also was equally flawed as well. I'd definitely suggest reading this blind avoiding the spoilers, definitely suspend your disbelief as this is at times totally fantastical, which in my opinion made it even better. Theres just something about a man that loves a woman to this extreme and is fathful to boot, I'm bloody swooning what a story this turned out to be....more
This was such an enjoyable read. it's a Young Adult historical fantasy set around the 1850's and we follow Signa Farrow a girl with an unexpected connThis was such an enjoyable read. it's a Young Adult historical fantasy set around the 1850's and we follow Signa Farrow a girl with an unexpected connection to death. Which rather than just being a concept is an actual entity, one that Signa is convinced has ruined her life.
Wherever she goes death swiftly follows close behind. Unable to die this ability doesn't extend to the guardians she has been placed with as each one soon meets there demise. Each caretaker she is placed with is steadily worse than the last and they all are compelled by the same thing Signa's fortune.
When her aunt Magna is the latest in a long line of casualtys it's time for Signa to again move on, but not before confronting death who claims he is not her enemy and he'll prove this too her. With only a few options now open to her and not yet at her majority Signa finds herself being taken in by some distant relatives, the Hawthornes. But there are secrets in her new home. Signa's relative Lillian has recently died of a mysterious illness and Signa has suspicions that Lillian's death may have been deliberate. Now Blythe her cousin is also suffering from the exact same ailment and Signa is determined to get to the bottom of it and save Blythe from her mother's fate.
So this had a definite mystery element as Signa attempts to discover the truth. Along the way she is assisted in her task by Silas Thorly a servant who works in the stables and also Death himself who Signa is slowly starting to warm up to. There is intrigue and also romance and this was an easy read. It wasn't too complicated and I was able to work most of this out fairly easily including the added twist but I didn't care as I was totally sucked in anyway despite it being somewhat predictable.
It's sole POV Signa's and was well written. The romance was beautifully done with a sweet vibe and it felt authentic. I'm definitely onboard for reading the sequel and this was a very enjoyable experience that I'm happy to recommend reading ...more
I enjoyed this second instalment, but maybe not as much as I did its predecessor. I think mostly because I felt we didn't progress much [image] [image]
I enjoyed this second instalment, but maybe not as much as I did its predecessor. I think mostly because I felt we didn't progress much in terms of the overall plot. I did find this to be at times rather depressing and dire with limited feel-good vibes due to the awful situations it was depicting. I just felt there needed to be something to counter-balance all of this doom and gloom and there wasn't.
Despite the above, this was still a solid addition to the series. It was again well written and I am planning to continue on with this story. I adore Lana and Keir as a pairing and am rooting for them every step of the way. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next and recommend this series for anyone wanting a romance series that is high on the feels but low on the spice and that comes served with a heavy barbarian vibe.
It's been a while since I've indulged in a riveting historical romance and this one hit the spot in every way. It was surprisingly good [image] [image]
It's been a while since I've indulged in a riveting historical romance and this one hit the spot in every way. It was surprisingly good and I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. James Bradford Duke of Rushton wants recompense he believes that the Earl of Westwood has compromised and ruined his little sister and when the lord in question refuses to put things right he decides to play him at his own game a sister for a sister is only fair.
Lady Jillian Kittridge isn't in the first flush of youth anymore rapidly approaching her 23rd birthday she's considered nearly on the shelf, with a broken engagement in her first season she's put paid to all of her girlish dreams and she's firmly set now against matrimony. She's just waiting to come of age when her dowry will become accessible to her so she gets some independence from all of the many stifling rules of society.
But she didn't count on a determined Duke, one who won't take no for an answer, James makes her heart beat fast and causes all sorts of feelings that she thought she was long immune from. His relentless pursuit turns Jilly inside out and it's not long before she's throwing caution to the wind and walking right into James's dupilous hands. But now he's won his prize James realises that he now stands to lose everything if he can't fix this and Jilly discovers the full truth of his cruel deception.
This was strange as in I loved and hated James equally throughout. He was just so easy to like but then what he was doing was so wrong, but I still wanted him to get his girl and despite his prior actions I couldn't help but want him happy as well, man I was conflicted let me tell you.
Jillian though was class personified, even when she discovers James's deceit she kept her composure and comported herself immaculately. She was a lady through and through and I just felt so sad for her and mad, I was so mad at James. I do think the sister got off far too lightly and should have faced harsher consequences for her manipulations she literally faced zero recriminations, bar a telling-off.
This was extremely well written and despite being a period piece this was sexy, it had all of the passion and chemistry I was after and Jilly and James were such a great couple. Oh, and there was some delicious grovel from James which I'll be honest that's the reason I picked this up as I'm a sucker for a decent grovel which this delivered on. I'm definitely going to be picking up the rest of the series and I'm especially looking forward to reading Nick's story next
A historical fantasy set in 1884 this is a story steeped in rich history with a magical allure that instantly captured my attention. Tra[image] [image]
A historical fantasy set in 1884 this is a story steeped in rich history with a magical allure that instantly captured my attention. Transporting me to another time the rich imaginary and vivid descriptions did such an excellent job of immersing me in everything Egyptian. I have always held a fascination with this culture so to say I had some high hopes for this one is an understatement the narrative here was all I could hope for and didn't disappoint. This is extremely well written had my favourite dual POV and turned out to be such an easy riveting read
Inez spends half the year away from her adventurer parents as they travel every year to Cairo leaving her behind with her aunt and cousins. She longs for them to take her with them but so far they've refused all requests. When she receives a letter from her Uncle informing her that they have passed Inez decides that nothing will stand in her way of discovering the truth so she sets sail for Egypt unaccompanied without even a chaperone.
This managed to surpass all of my expectations and ended up becoming one of my stand-out reads of this year. I just adored everything this had to offer and don't let the YA label fool you as this definitely didn't read like a typical YA and if it hadn't included that label I wouldn't have even placed it in that category anyway. Yes, it's suitable for that particular audience not being in any way explicit but this also contains some gritty real-life scenarios so being mostly plot focused I didn't feel any lack.
There was so much sizzling tension bubbling away beneath the surface the chemistry between our two main characters Inez and Whit was subtle but also couldn't be ignored it was apparent that these two were embarking on a deep connection a friendship despite all of the subterfuge and secrets being kept on both sides.
Inez was quite the character and progressively ahead of her time refusing to stay in her proper box and conform to the expected conventions of the times she's bloody relentless and Whit despite attempting to pay lip service to all of those niceties admires this about her. He finds her amusing and refreshing even when he doesn't voice this it's completely obvious that he is developing a warm regard and affection for Inez.
Whit is quite the dark horse mysterious with a dangerous allure that he hides behind his affable smile and warm charm. He is employed by Inez's Uncle though it's unclear to Inez what this role quite is though she surmises it's definitely at times somewhat shady. Whit has a past and many secrets he's keeping he plays his cards close to his chest whilst attempting to keep Inez at a distance.
This was magical and mysterious chock full of danger adventure and betrayal. It takes us from Buenos Aires in Argentina all the way to Cairo and then on down the Nile where the team are excavating a legendary Egyptian site that is steeped in magic and history all while Inez attempts to discover just what has happened to her parents.
We have a budding romance building between Inez and Whit but honestly, this was more of a side plot and this is not really a romance-focused novel the romance part of this is much more subtle but I did like the potential these two show as a couple.
The finale here was such a shocker and I was on the edge of my seat with those final chapters I didn't expect them at all. Everything just kind of imploded with some shocking repercussions for all and then that epilogue just totally fried my head with its obscurity talk about ending on a high note I'm now going to be waiting impatiently for the next book as I'm so completely invested in what happens next.
So I’ve had this one in my TBR pile for a while and as it was not on Kindle at the time and was out of print I had to purchase a used pa[image] [image]
So I’ve had this one in my TBR pile for a while and as it was not on Kindle at the time and was out of print I had to purchase a used paperback copy to read. It has since popped back up in Kindle if you'd like to read it though. Genre wise it’s a historical body swap romance with a heavy angsty enemies-to-lovers vibe and boy was this a turbulent one. Our heroine is Susan she’s happily married and heavily pregnant but when she’s in a fatal road accident that takes both her and her unborn child’s lives she finds herself transported by the powers that be straight into the body of Margaret Johnsbury.
Margaret is an awful person truly terrible she has a husband Carter who totally detests her and isn’t shy about sharing his feelings towards her. In fact, everyone who knows Margaret hates her and now Susan is the one standing in the firing line paying the price for all of her past behaviours.
After a blow to the head, Carter’s wife is now insisting everyone call her Maggie instead of Margaret and acting completely unlike her usual evil bitchy self. The doctor claims she’s suffering from amnesia but Carter just isn’t convinced, in fact, he’s pretty sure this is just another of her many schemes and constant manipulations and it won’t be long before she reverts to form.
As Maggie tries to win over Carter and convince him of the new and improved version of herself this then swings back and forth, but It is like one step forward and then two back and a lot of the time these two seem to be going around in circles so at times it could get a bit frustrating.
So my final impressions here were that I enjoyed this but it wasn’t without its problems. It’s definitely a little dated but I kind of liked that about it made me nostalgic for all my older romance novels that I used to devour. If you like angsty this one definitely has you covered and I really felt for poor Maggie throughout this. Despite her namesake's prior behaviour, she was totally innocent but now had to shoulder a massive amount of animosity from literally everyone.
I also thought a lot of the characters portrayed here were very fickle and willing to believe the absolute worst despite limited evidence to the contrary. The servants Carter's extended family and the worst of the lot Carter himself.
Look I get that Margaret was a literal nightmare but this took it to the extreme and some of the thoughtless behaviour from her husband was just downright cruel and he constantly swung back and forth in his attitude it was enough to give me whiplash.
Maggie was also far too lenient and forgiving she literally let Carter call all of the shots and just took it all without complaint she never stuck to her guns and followed through on her anger beyond the initial moment very quick to forgive and forget whenever she got an inkling of hope or any small act of kindness, it was slightly heartbreaking to witness.
There was also some added danger in the form of a spurned lover and then we have Maggie’s husband Steven who is currently living his life back in the 1990’s he does only play a small part but that also felt extremely bittersweet.
This was well written and i enjoyed it even with my above observations, it still had plenty of positives to recommend it and I do love a time travel or body swap romance so for that reason alone I’m glad I dived into this one.
A filthy but also incredibly sweet yule time festive story of novella length that manages to bring both the heat and the heart in equal [image] [image]
A filthy but also incredibly sweet yule time festive story of novella length that manages to bring both the heat and the heart in equal measures. If you're a fan of this series here we have a Christmas-themed treat that's sure to hit the sweet spot.
It's a ménage of novella length with an M/M/F set-up. sigtryggr of Clan Skai is after a mate to complete his home. This is where Lydia comes in when Tryg decides she may be just the woman to accept his sweet Elskan.
Ezog of Clan Bautul longs for a female alongside his bond with Tryg but due to his ruined visage and many scars this task seems a pipe dream until that is his lover and lifemate finds the perfect mate in Lydia a washerwoman and widow who is living a lonely existence since her husband's passing. This Yule tide all of their dreams are about to be answered.
I especially adored that these characters were all older I found that refreshing and relatable and despite the explicitness of this which if you've read this series you'll realise this is an ongoing theme this short story also had so much heart. Totally loved this one. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Yuled by the Orcs.
3.5 Stars This was well written and I did enjoy it though I did have a few niggles and I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as its predecesso[image] [image]
3.5 Stars This was well written and I did enjoy it though I did have a few niggles and I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as its predecessor. So here we have the second book in the series and it focuses on Isobel the sister of the first heroine we met both of these previously.
To escape an undesirable match a fresh out of the schoolroom Lady Isobel finds herself wedded to the notorious rake The Marquess of Roth Winter Vance. With stars in her eyes and hope for the future her dreams are cruelly shattered when she finds herself dumped at his father's ancestral estate to languish whilst he runs back to London and picks up his life like he was never married.
It’s now over three years and Isobel after another scandal in the gossip rags involving her wayward husband has had enough. So with encouragement from her father-in-law the duke and her colourful best friend Clarissa Isobel heads to the city to attempt to bring her disinterested spouse to heel.
So this was an enjoyable read but Winters's reasons for the way he was though were flimsy at best. The way he initially treated his young bride cruel he humiliates her at every turn with his antics. Though they did prove to be false and a front Isobel didn’t know that so the cause and effect is the same in my option.
I also wasn’t a fan of the fact that Isobel did most of the running here in fact I was annoyed that she didn’t make him grovel when he eventually realised how much he’d messed up, she forgives him instantly and she never really properly inquires about his past indiscretions during the years they spent apart. He was faithful but again how would Isobel know this as she never really addressed it in any detail with her husband.
As I mentioned earlier Winters's actions and reasonings to me seemed melodramatic, they were mostly tied up with his grief over losing his sister and the fact he blames his father for her death, personally, I didn’t think they made much actual sense. I also thought Isobel was far too reasonable and accommodating.
Isobel and Winter did have chemistry and the intimate scenes were scorching, we have some push-pull mostly Isobel pushing and the latter running scared. There was also some slight intrigue and danger included and a scandalous secret Isobel is keeping close to her chest.
Isobel has definitely evolved from the young naive girl she was in the previous book. Now she’s a force to be reckoned with and she’s determined to seduce her husband getting Winter to admit how much he desires her will go somewhat to soothing her wounded pride and heart.
Overall this had lots of positives I just wish Isobel had been less of a doormat and let her husband do some of the chasing instead she was the aggressor and it didn’t matter how much her husband pushed back she still went back for more personally I’d have had to much pride. It just made her appear weak.
This is a historical romance set in the early 1800s and I enjoyed it very much it has a beauty and the beast theme due to the fact the h[image] [image]
This is a historical romance set in the early 1800s and I enjoyed it very much it has a beauty and the beast theme due to the fact the hero here is a heavily scarred war hero. Lord Thane Harte the seventh Duke of Keswick has a cruel blunt wit and uses his offensive manner and ferocious countenance to keep all at arms length. Given the moniker the Beast Of Beswick by society he is very much a recluse hiding away on his estate unwilling to stomach the whispers and stares he is subjected to every time he shows his face in public.
Lady Astrid Everleigh is a twenty-five-year-old spinster a failed London season where a rejected suitor ruined her reputation with vile untruths means she’s been left on the shelf. Now her younger sister Isobel is facing marriage to the very man responsible for Astrid’s current situation. Her options are limited but she knows she needs to protect her sister which is why she approaches the Duke proposing a marriage of convenience that will benefit them both.
This was an easy well written lead I liked that Thane wasn’t your typical hero I adored his blunt and at times course manner he really was an original and he’d adopted this caustic at times rude armour to deflect from the way he looked. He really didn’t think he deserved happiness and that any woman would want to be with him looking the way he did.
Astrid matched him in every way refusing to bow down to his abrasive behaviour. She was a great heroine and her perseverance is what finally broke through Thane's protective walls. She was somewhat of a scholar educated and an advocate of woman’s rights and she was definitely the perfect match for Thane.
These two had definite chemistry and though Thane was certainly at times frustrating with his hot and cold behaviour I still liked him and had so much empathy for the way he was feeling.
We also meet the sister Isobel and I believe the following book is her story and I’m definitely looking forward to reading this. I recommend this one if you like your historical romance with some spice an unconventional hero and a strong heroine. A great read that I enjoyed a lot.
Having a bit of a soft spot for Scottish time-travel romances I decided to pick this up. It was ok though nothing amazing it did pass a [image] [image]
Having a bit of a soft spot for Scottish time-travel romances I decided to pick this up. It was ok though nothing amazing it did pass a pleasant couple of hours but it definitely falls on the side of forgettable. Our heroine Darcy a vet whilst visiting Scotland for a convention walks through an archway straight into the 1500’s. Here she meets Quinn Macfarlane who after saving her from brigands takes her under his protection and back to his home.
Everyone was very nice the romance itself is sweet but quite cheesy, throw in a meddling witch, some action and brief danger from a neighbouring clan and It was quite a typical predictable read with very few surprises.
Overall this was nice and easy but not terribly exciting and it felt quite simplistic, I was also rather bemused that nobody seemed to pick up on Darcy’s strange mannerisms language and clothes other than briefly. I mean come on her vague explanations were iffy at best. I also found myself skimming a whole lot as well. The writing itself was ok but I just wasn’t that invested in the unfolding story.
This wasn’t my favourite from the series so far but it was well-written and still has plenty to recommend it. It’s a historical romance [image] [image]
This wasn’t my favourite from the series so far but it was well-written and still has plenty to recommend it. It’s a historical romance and involves Royce a previous side-character returning from exile to his homeland to complete the task of escorting a princess to her betrothed.
Ciara has already lived through one assassination attempt the intended aim to thwart her looming marriage to a neighbouring king. Their realms have been locked in a devastating war for the past seven years and Ciara is now the key to peace. Her own wishes are irrelevant her duty to her people is the only thing she can now concentrate on.
Royce is to be her protector and guide travelling together in disguise whilst a decoy takes her place in the wedding procession. If he completes his task all that was once stripped from him will be restored there’s only one issue the attraction and overwhelming feelings he’s developing for the Princess. When he thought she was vain selfish and spoilt he could hold firm to all of his honourable ideas but soon he realises there’s much more to Ciara than he’d originally thought and now spending so much time together and in such close proximity it starts to affect every bit of his shredded control.
I found this an easy light romantic read it’s filled with plenty of intrigue and romance but unfortunately, it just didn’t manage to particularly excite me. There was nothing really wrong with it and it was not actually a bad book just mostly nice and also predictable I found it a tad bland. I do usually rate this author highly so will continue reading her and I will still read the next book in the series I’ve loved previous ones this particular one just wasn’t a good fit overall.
In conclusion, I found this mostly just ok though I did enjoy certain bits more than others if you like romantic historicals with some action scenes this will probably be a fit for me though it just all just felt a little too easy and nice.
This is a body jump time travel romance it was an easy read and though not incredibly complicated and quite predictable I enjoyed it. It[image] [image]
This is a body jump time travel romance it was an easy read and though not incredibly complicated and quite predictable I enjoyed it. It’s quite light on the steam front but I found myself not minding mostly because time travel romances are my happy place. I liked how the heroine Barrett finds herself in the past the entrance was dramatic, to say the least as she suddenly awakens and finds herself in labour giving birth to a son. To make matters more complicated she’s married and her husband seems to dislike her a lot.
This is told in dual POV the two main characters Barrett and Chase were at odds from the start there could definitely have been more in-depth character development, especially in regards to their personal interactions. I did feel that their relationship wasn’t founded in much at all and seemed slightly superficial there wasn’t a lot of transparency or developed intimacy between them even at the finish of this Barrett hasn’t revealed just who she actually is to her spouse.
I also was annoyed that Chase reacted the way he did to certain events that transpired especially considering that Barrett had given him the benefit of the doubt earlier so it did feel a bit hypocritical of him.
I also did think that this resolved a bit too easily but despite that this was still a quick easy read with a HEA and an intriguing storyline at its centre and the idea of a guardian angel in the form of Gideon opening Barrett up to all of the possibilities she was missing was a nice touch.
This one is just ok there’s technically nothing working with it and the writing is mostly fine but for me, the story itself is just too [image] [image]
This one is just ok there’s technically nothing working with it and the writing is mostly fine but for me, the story itself is just too simplistic. It needs some added filler, some meat to it. I like the general principle middle-aged woman along with her friend is body swapped with a much younger woman. This could have been brilliant instead it was just meh.
So Deanie who is forty finds herself transported to the past and is now inhabiting the body of mid-twenties (24 I think) Abigail a vain shallow woman who has made a mockery of all of her wedding vows. Her husband Reece an English Lord quite rightly seems to hate her and they have been living estranged for many years. Following him back to his estate in Wales it’s not long before Reece once again succumbs to his wife’s allure. But with her seeming so drastically different it’s not long before he’s questioning who she actually is.
Things here just seem to happen so easily and Reese just falls back under his wife’s spell almost instantly. There’s no real angst or even any frank discussions concerning the past. I also wasn’t a fan of the eventual resolution. Overall this had a decent premise but it just then fell quite flat and failed to Inspire any great interest from me unfortunately there was definitely something missing.
This is a historical western set in the 1800s. Annabel fled the ranch where she resided with her husband after the death of their infant[image] [image]
This is a historical western set in the 1800s. Annabel fled the ranch where she resided with her husband after the death of their infant daughter. Unable to cope and fearing her husband was turning elsewhere she took their son hoping her husband would follow and finally choose her. When he let her go her heart was in tatters and then their son Nicholas wanted to return home to the ranch leaving Annabel alone. It’s twelve years later and she’s back wanting Gabe to finally set her free something he has no intention of doing.
I decided to read this mostly due to nostalgia I read a lot of this author's historical paperbacks back in the day and she was definitely an auto-buy for me. This is one I hadn’t read before and I had a hankering for a bit of western so I thought I’d give it a whirl.
This definitely wasn’t my favourite by this author by any means and I’m going to have to reread a couple of others by her to see if it’s just nostalgia that made me remember my experiences with this particular author so fondly or maybe my tastes have shifted dramatically but i definitely struggled with this.
The writing had such a formal undertone and there seemed to be a lot of narrating here rather than the immersion I was after. It’s hard to explain I just felt very removed from the story and it had almost an impersonal feel which coloured my whole experience. There were also a lot of outrageous and unbelievable scenarios and I definitely guessed the big twist.
I struggled to like either Annabel or Gabe thinking they were both very self-involved and proud and that their poor son was definitely collateral damage in the fallout of their immaturity. I also felt this lacked resolution when it came to Gabe’s close friend and supposed mistress Julia it just wasn’t resolved to my satisfaction I wanted further clarification over their intimacies and then it just fizzled out like some non-issue when initially it was the main bone of contention between these two.
Both Gabe and Annabel had been faithful throughout their marriage even separated which yes I could see on her part with the times and restraints on women and all that but I was slightly sceptical regarding Gabe after all he is a man not bound by these conventions and it has been twelve years. He also supports her fully financially whilst they are apart. It also confounded me that he never not once considered collecting her and bringing her home he just didn’t seem that bothered and that hardly smacks of true love to me. Annabel just wanted a grand gesture for Gabe to prove he loved and chose her over Julia and he totally tanked.
These two never had a deep and meaningful conversation on page and acted like a pair of teenagers throughout. They didn’t discuss the past beyond the superficial and I was left feeling incredibly dissatisfied. I’m a bit bemused because I used to love this author I’m hoping this is an anomaly so I’m going to read a few more for some added clarity.
Jessica Delaney after flipping her car finds herself transported into the past. The Dodge city of 1881 is not in any way recognisable to[image] [image]
Jessica Delaney after flipping her car finds herself transported into the past. The Dodge city of 1881 is not in any way recognisable to her. When she’s mistaken for an outlaw and comes to the interest of the local sheriff her dilemma intensifies. Soon Jessica and Wade are fighting a red hot attraction but with both of them keeping their secrets close to their chests is their tentative new beginning doomed before it even gets started.
Taken by the cowboy is a quick read and though it was mostly enjoyable it wasn’t incredibly taxing and felt a bit light on insights and descriptive language. The world immersion wasn’t the best and lacked basic expansion. I also found the characters themselves a bit one dimensional and I wasn’t convinced of the chemistry between Jessica and Truman. In fact, I found their connection disappointing. I also found the ending a bit rushed and not very satisfying either though there is a HEA just a bit of a strange one.
I like my historicals rich in detail and this just didn’t deliver that vibe for me. The main characters here are mostly likeable but there’s also a lot of stereotyping as well. I think the best way to explain it is that all of the bones of the story were all there but it hadn’t been padded out enough and was then light on all the little details that make you believe your in the past. Overall though if you looking for an easy story that won’t tax too much this should work.
Bex (Beckie Bookworm)
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Books:
historical
(184)
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