Category: Low Violence

Five Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

Love or War

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“Diana Donovan was raised aboard a naval ship on a steady diet of war strategy, so when her orphaned friend, Lucy, is denied a perfectly respectable love match by her controlling guardian, Diana sees an opportunity to put her battle knowledge to use in service of a deserving friend.

But Marmaduke Russell is not the middle-aged curmudgeon Diana is expecting. He is a maddeningly cool, unmarried gentleman who seems uniquely able to parry her tactics—and infuse her with even more determination to win. As battle ensues, though, it becomes clear that there may be more hearts in the balance than just Lucy’s.”

I’ll admit it was slightly maddening that this book was written in first person, just for the fact that so often I was dying to know Duke’s thoughts. And yet the not knowing was perfect for the book. It added a delicious bit of tension and deeper emotions on Diana’s part that made for a more fascinating book.

Martha gave Diana really great character introspection, showing her relatable flaws while still making her a moral character we want to be like. I love how well she fleshes out all her characters, even those whose inner thoughts we aren’t privy to. After only one novella and a novel I’m deeply invested in this family and can’t wait to read the other brother’s stories.

I’ve said this before, but I love the intelligence of Martha’s writing. The way she wove in The Art of War and used it to both define and change Diana was fascinating. Her metaphors are intriguing and deepen your love and understanding of her characters.

Possibly my favorite thing was the unpredictability of the plot. I love when an author takes the reader on an unexpected journey, a book is more exciting when I can’t guess every bend and dip in the road.

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

4 1/2 stars, Contemporary Romance, Low Language, Low Violence, Moderate Romance

You’re Bluffing

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“I won’t be winning any employee of the year awards. But only because my boss is the grumpy boss to end all grumpy bosses. Did I mention he doesn’t trust me to do my job?
Challenge accepted.
Not only am I going to help James launch a successful brewery, but I’m going to find out what makes him tick … and what makes him go boom.
All this has nothing to do with the fact that the man is unbearably, unfairly, unignorably (is that a word?) attractive. Or that he lost his mom when he was young, same as me.
The more he pushes me away, the more I’m pulled into his orbit. It’s a battle of stubborn wills, and I don’t plan to concede anytime soon.
Except the more time I spend around James Graham, the more I start to lose the one thing I refuse to give to any man … my heart.“

Emma St. Clair‘s characters are raw and vulnerable and oh so lovable. You cheer for James and Winnie even when they are being idiots.

The storyline wasn’t as predictable as I predicted and I loved that.

I especially loved James’ character. I instantly connected to Harper because my husband is neurodivergent and felt like James’ character fit so well into some of those same traits. It’s very normal to have more than one person in the family who experiences sensory issues and usually it manifests in different ways. I appreciated that they had each other, it deepened the family and the characters.

I kept wanting to tell Winnie, don’t give up! The battles are just beginning, but will be oh so worth it! I loved how Emma wrote the personality dichotomy and the necessary compromises.

Emma wrote the grief with such empathy and connection. I really loved so much about this book.

**** Low Language, Moderate Romance (borderline closed door, never made me uncomfortable), Low Violence

Four Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

To all the Wallflowers

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“To Kiss a Wallflower is the nineteenth book in the Timeless Regency Collection, a bestselling anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from acclaimed historical romance authors whose stories reveal that eventually, all wallflowers will have their chance at love . . . This is where it begins.“

The Wallflower’s Dance by Jen Geigle Johnson
Lottie Hughes likes people, as long as they aren’t too close. Does it bother her that no one asks her to dance? Yes, but she’s not sure how to drum up dance partners when she has almost no dowry, no title, and freezes up when anyone tries to talk to her. When she suddenly inherits a huge amount and is the new center of attention all over London, her secret dreams might come true but also her worst nightmares. Suddenly everyone wants to talk to her. Men ask her to dance. And she is inundated with interested suitors. She fights to stay close to the few friends she knows are true. One man saw her before her life changed forever. But does she want to accept his help when he, too, might be insincere?

–It felt a little rushed in parts, but was a sweet friends to lovers story with good emotional tug and fun descriptions.

Letters to a Wallflower by Heather B. Moore
Ellen might be beautiful and considered a diamond of the first water by Society, but she is so very tired of the pressure to marry a titled gentleman so that her beauty won’t go to waste. When her cousin Dinah dares Ellen to attend a ball with no frills and to stand with the wallflowers, Ellen takes on the dare. What’s in the wager for her? The prize cuttings of her aunt’s extraordinary roses. But what Ellen isn’t expecting is Lord Ravenshire to engage her in the most interesting conversation. When she confesses to him of her opposition in marrying for a title, he confesses his distaste of the London scene. They strike a bargain together, one which will either push them apart or lead to a future sweeter than either of them could have imagined.

–Darling story. Sweet romance with fun little historical details thrown in. Loved the whole thing!

To Marry a Wallflower by Anneka R. Walker
Charlotte Winters is destined to spinsterhood until she turns down an unwanted proposal and everything changes. With gossip rampant, her father attempts to salvage her reputation by betrothing her to another. Soon she is sent off to her aunt’s to meet Lord Templeton, her intended. Anxiety-ridden, Charlotte begs her aunt to let her observe Lord Templeton from afar before their introduction. She never planned to pretend to be her fictional cousin to learn more about him, or to fall in love with Lord Templeton’s friend in the process. Lord Templeton dreads returning to the empty halls of Newcliff Manor. When his father’s old friend, Mr. Winters reaches out for assistance, Lord Templeton finds himself returning home engaged to a woman he has never met. Desperate to learn more about Miss Winters, he befriends her cousin. He wouldn’t have spoken to her, or lied about his identity, if he’d known the quiet woman would sneak into his heart.

–A fabulous slow burn. Well established characters for a short story and such a fun premise.

**** Low Language, Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

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Five Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

Love to Hate You

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“As the daughter of a duke, Lady Josephine has a long list of responsibilities, and an even longer list of things she must never do to dishonor the family name. Josephine knows exactly which side becoming an author falls upon, but she’s determined to try her hand at it anyway. For months she has worked on her novel in secret, writing chapter after chapter of intrigue and romance. Unfortunately for Josephine, her sworn enemy stumbles upon her secret.

Sir Andrew Wycomb’s close relationship to the Duke of Montfort’s family and heir gives him more than one advantage in life. His loyalty to the family is absolute, even if he finds at least one of its members an annoyance. He and Lady Josephine have never seen eye-to-eye. But when he discovers that she’s written a novel upon a subject she knows nothing about, he cannot help but sympathize with her dream. This creates an unlikely ceasefire between them.

But things at the castle are always changing, and when a determined suitor arrives to court Josephine, Andrew has to decide which secrets he’s going to keep. Especially when he discovers the one he’s kept even from himself – that perhaps he doesn’t find Josephine an annoyance at all. In fact, she is quite charming. The more time they spend together, the more he hopes she will realize they aren’t enemies, and they could be so much more…”

Sally’s stories always leave me with a smile. Her characters are not just well developed, but authentic and layered. People I would want to have a genuine friendship with, if they weren’t fictional.

Possibly my new favorite enemies to more story as the plot was free of drama and artifice while still being a page turner that I couldn’t put down. There enmity started from a natural, well written personality difference and grew to a place of understanding and compromise that worked incredibly well.

The witty banter was delightful and the romance was built naturally and beautifully. She had a few subtle innuendos that felt more like clever turns of phrase. Lines that made me laugh, never uncomfortable.

I really adored this story.

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence

Fairy Tale Re-tellings, Five Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence

The Belly of the Wolf

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“After watching her two closest friends survive mistreatment and degradation, Emeline is determined never to become a victim herself, no matter how small and quiet she may be. She’s proven to others that she can take charge as a cook; now she’s proving to herself that she can handle any situation.

She’s trained hard with a sword to become a force to be reckoned with. Her determination to try her skills in a festival competition will require subterfuge, especially when Hunter, a young man from her past, ends up employed in the same household. When he takes an interest in her, she’s anxious to rekindle their friendship, but will his protective nature hold her back?

With Hunter leaving her breathless at every turn, Emeline longs to understand him and be understood in return. His past experiences have made him mistrusting and protective, but he’s not the only one who knows the world can be dangerous. Rather than hiding in fear, Emeline plans to be ready to fight any threats that may stalk her. But will her determination to prove herself capable lead her to ignore the warnings of those she loves and walk straight into danger?”

This book was such a clever retelling. The way Annette incorporated the various parts of the original tale was brilliant. I was entranced from beginning to end.

I loved Emeline’s character growth. I loved how naturally she built her independence. The background she gave her to overcome her shyness and then the catalyst she introduced to have her realize it’s okay to need people made for such a beautiful story.

The love story was sweet and innocent the way a first young love should be, and then grew to a well written deeper connection.

She incorporated so many of the people we loved in the previous story and series and I can’t wait to read about Miri. I’m loving Winberg and the people she’s creating as much as I loved Dalthia.

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence

Five Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

Beautifully Broken

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Sometimes when I read an absolutely amazing book, I have a hard time loving what comes next just as much. Book Hangover, it’s a really thing. Quite a few weeks ago I had just finished an amazing book, but was so excited to read Anneka Walker‘s Bargaining for the Barrister, I couldn’t wait. So I picked it up next, desperately hoping my book hangover wouldn’t affect my enjoyment.

I was blown away. It was so well done I couldn’t put it down. I loved everything about it.

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“Louisa Cox is tired of fortune hunters pursuing her dowry. So when Lady Kellen offers to help her find an eligible suitor, Louisa eagerly accepts and makes a list of what she wants in a husband. The man selected is barrister Paul Sheldon. He may be a complete stranger, but he has one thing in his favor: he is unaware of her fortune. What Louisa did not anticipate was his curious behavior—or being so attracted to him.

When Paul catches wind of the matchmaking organization his mother and her friends are establishing, he pities the fellow who will be caught in their scheme—until he realizes he is to be their first victim. Horrified, Paul determines to thwart his mother’s plans by whatever means necessary. After meeting his intended, however, his increasing desire to be near her threatens to disrupt his convictions. Louisa is everything he could want in a wife, and when an unexpected adventure sets in motion the very plan he had determined to halt, he almost wishes his mother’s plot could succeed. But Paul harbors a secret and a past that make it impossible for him to give Louisa the life she deserves.“

I did feel like it was a little bit of a slow start, but that meet cute was so fun it pulled me right in. I loved that she had the woman doing the chasing. It felt fresh and unique without feeling pushy.

I really adored the characters. Neither of them had particularly big flaws, but they were just quirky enough to lead to some great story telling. I was impressed with the attentive way she built her characters. They were consistent, yet complex. Louisa’s open manner and the personality she created for Paul melded the two of them so well. They were both broken and blessed in different ways and she made them whole together. It was a stunning and genuine love story.

I am completely and one hundred percent on board with this series and can’t wait to see who we get to read about next!

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

Four Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

Regency Tag

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Jentry Flint had really great character development. I was fascinated by every one of her characters, primary or secondary. Whether you are loving them, hating them, curious about them or driven crazy by them, you can’t wait to read more.

Though she did deal with some heavier topics, the uniqueness of her plot and the clever way she tied in a game of tag kept things fun and the pace moving.

Jentry’s intellect was seen not just in her one-of-kind story, but in her use of Shakespeare and her clever play on words.

I must admit, I could tell it was a debut novel, there were one or two plot things that weren’t entirely clear and a time or two where the scenes didn’t seem entirely natural. But I was wholly intrigued enough to not care and am anxiously waiting her next story.

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence

Five Stars, Giveaway, Historical Fiction, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence
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“At eleven years of age, Rosalind Ainsworth was convinced that Sebastian Lumley, the future Duke of Kelbrook, was the most odious young man she’d ever met. And ten years later, after having had no contact with the nobleman in the intervening time, her opinion of him has not changed. Unfortunately, neither has the marriage contract their fathers signed soon after her birth.

As Rosalind’s twenty-first birthday and the appointed wedding day approaches, Sebastian makes a rare appearance in London. His first meeting with Rosalind since childhood goes less than perfectly, but Sebastian has a compelling reason for honoring their marriage contract—a reason outlined in a document kept behind his workshop’s locked door.

After a quick wedding, the new couple relocates to Finley Park, where their acquaintanceship slowly blossoms into affection. But when Sebastian’s secretive work threatens their fledgling relationship and Rosalind’s life is placed in jeopardy, Sebastian finds himself forced to choose between the man he has pledged to help and the woman he has come to love.“

Arranged marriages were not uncommon during the Georgian Era, in fact they were the norm. Not all arranged marriages were unhappy, and many were very successful. But there aren’t many stories about those. I loved the mature and natural way Sian Ann Bessey presented it. It felt real for the time period, and was also infused with goodness and hope. Her plot felt both genuine and historically accurate.

I’ve mentioned before how much I love her ability to write tension. Both in the suspense and in the romance. This book had both of those. The romance was built slowly, but beautifully. And the mystery gives us little mentions that leave delicious breadcrumbs without ruining the suspense.

Her characters have quirks that are endearing and back stories that create depth. I immediately connected with both main characters and loved every moment of their adventure together.

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence

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4 1/2 stars, Contemporary Romance, Low Language, Low Violence, Moderate Romance

It’s Complicated

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“Tiny Little Lie #1: I want the new resort in Turks and Caicos to open on schedule.

Tiny Little Lie #2:I’m not falling for Luke McKenna.

Unfortunately, those tiny little lies snowballed into something bigger. Much bigger. Now I’m stuck.

It sounds bad. But I’m not a bad person. I’m doing the right thing…I think. I’m telling myself I’m a superhero in heels, saving people I care about.

But the grumpy onsite contractor isn’t making things easy. The more I lie and try to stall the hotel opening, the harder he works to complete the project.

Did I mention he’s handsome?

And moody?

And brooding?

And my complete opposite in every way?

If the truth about what I’ve done comes out, Luke will never forgive me. Then I’ll have to face another truth: my attraction to him might actually be something more—something worth fighting for.”

I love Kortney’s writing, have loved this whole series to be honest. I wasn’t even hesitant about the trigger warning. Going into the book knowing it discussed infertility actually made me want to read it more.

For those of you who might not have been around for awhile. My four sisters and I all have uteran difficulties. My oldest sister has something other than MRKH, but she wont ever be able to have her own children. My youngest sister has had to do IVF to get both of her kids. I was incredibly lucky to have the three kids that I do, but I no longer have a uterus, it was doing more harm than good. It’s a topic very close to our hearts and I think Kortney handled it beautifully. It was definitely more of a subplot, but an emotional one so heads up.

I must admit that I didn’t immediately connect with Tessa. I couldn’t sympathize with her decisions. I felt like they were inconsistent with the business savvy character Kortney wrote her has. But I take it all back. The last quarter of the book Kortney addressed everyone of my concerns about Tessa in clever and sometimes witty ways. I ended up loving how Kortney handled Tessa’s choices and the internal dialogue Tessa went through to acknowledge her own ridiculousness.

Both Tessa and Luke grew in ways that were both satisfying to the reader and naturally genuine. They were flawed, but willing to change. Incomplete, but totally adorable. Just the characters a reader loves to get to know in a story.

The book has connection, and heart, and witty one liners. Comedic timing and pop culture references that just make you smile. It contained all the things we love about Kortney’s writing, plus an emotional depth that resonates with the reader.

**** Low Language, Moderate Romance (there are a few innuendos, but very mild ones), Low Violence

Five Stars, Historical Fiction, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

More than Romance

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“Amateur inventor Kester Barrington prefers the peace and quiet of his estate to the bustle of Society. But when his tight-knit group of friends, the Gents, descends on Livingsley Hall for their annual gathering, he stoically joins in their activities. It all seems exhausting—until an unexpected addition to the party catches his eye: his new neighbor, the lovely Violet.

Violet Ridley longs to make friends in this new corner of the country, but her family’s fortune was made through investments rather than inheritance, and Society can be fickle. So when tragedy forces her family to shelter at neighboring Livingsley Hall, Violet is delighted to receive a warm welcome from the Gents. In particular, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kester. The pair is a study in contrasts: Violet, with her sunny disposition, and Kester, with his prickly facade. Their connection is impossible to deny, but both Kester and Violet harbor heavy constraints. As their association becomes increasingly tangled and confused, their only hope of pursuing a life together is to trust one another with the very truths that could tear them apart.”

I’ve frequently commented on Sarah Eden‘s ability to connect readers to characters in a deep and meaningful way. A way that leaves a lasting impression. Violet and Kes were no exception. Violet in particular spoke to my heart, I saw so much of myself in her.

Sarah’s stories are about so much more than Romance. They’re about real relationships in various forms: friendships, romances, familial connections and how we navigate them.

Her writings encourage me to be a better friend, a better, sister and daughter, a better wife, a better me.

Despite her disinterest in kissing scenes, her  books will make you swoon too, but they also connect, uplift and inspire.

This book addressed grief, disability, and mental health awareness in a beautiful story about learning to trust yourself and others with such heavy things. I loved it.

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion