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Special Feature and Excerpt: The Rakehell of Roth (Everleigh Sisters #2) by Amalie Howard
I have been all about the historical romances lately. Bridgerton inspired me to read more of the historical romance genre. I know that a lot of historical fiction novels have a romantic element, which I how I normally get my romance fix, but there is something unique about actual historical romances. Typically the historical fiction novels have other plots to focus on and if romance factors in, then so much the better. But the historical romance genre focuses exclusively on the romance and HEA. That’s what I am loving lately about the historical romance genre. We all need a little HEA right now and I have been devouring all the…
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Reading and Ranking the Bridgerton Novels
Like most of the world, the Netflix series Bridgerton, dominated my TV during Christmas Day. I desperately wanted to watch it and asked if my husband wanted to watch with me. He wasn’t sure about it but I told him that he only had to watch one episode and if he didn’t like it then I would just watch it alone on another day. The next thing I know, it was 3 am and we had binged the entire series in one sitting! My husband loved it as much as I did and truly, it is a remarkable show so if you haven’t watched it yet please do so! That…
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Review: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson
The very first novel that I remember loving was The Silk Vendetta by Victoria Holt. I was eleven or twelve and no doubt missed all the adult nuances of the story, but what I didn’t miss was the Gothic atmosphere of the novel. I went through a lengthy Victoria Holt period in my early teens and then again as an adult. I am always looking for books that capture what I loved about Victoria Holt…..creepy, atmospheric historical fiction with a romantic element. This book sounded like exactly that—and it was! I have never grown out of my Gothic Lit phase and reading books like this, I am reminded just how…
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Review: On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons #8) by Julia Quinn
Well folks here we have it—my final review of the last Bridgerton novel! I can’t believe I have finally reached the end of the series. I am so sad but yet at the same time so satisfied with how the series wrapped up. I was actually glad that we ended the series with Gregory’s story rather than Hyacinth’s, as I felt that Gregory’s story had a bit more action and romance to recommend itself. Gregory always seemed far removed from the other Bridgerton siblings. Not in the same way that Francesca was but having so many years between him and his other brothers left him adrift in a sea of…
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Review: The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
Susan Meissner is an author who just keeps getting better and better with time. I have read many of her books and after finishing each one I think there is no way she could top this one—and then she does it again with her next book! This latest installment is truly a gem and I enjoyed savoring it in between my other books I was reading. I didn’t want to devour this one in one sitting, instead I wanted to spread it out and enjoy the characters and the plot throughly. There is a lot in this novel to unpack and I think readers would enjoy savoring it more than…
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Review: It’s In His Kiss (Bridgertons #7) by Julia Quinn
After coming off of When He Was Wicked, which was my favorite Bridgerton book so far by the way, I was worried that Hyacinth’s story would fall flat. Hyacinth was probably my least favorite sibling in the books as a fringe character. She always came across as young and silly but with a shrewd eye for details. I wouldn’t say that I didn’t like her going into this one, but rather I just didn’t feel like I knew her as well as the other Bridgerton siblings thus far. However, it was clear from the beginning that Hyacinth’s story would most certainly contain much to love. It was at this book…
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Special Feature: The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak
Like many of you, I am always on the look out for new books that come highly recommended by others. Not only do I check in with my favorite book bloggers and reviews for recommendations, but I also consult some of the big celebrity names that are tried and true readers like Reece Witherspoon, Opera, Barak Obama, and now The Duchess of Cornwall. The Duchess of Cornwall recently released her Reading Room that will explore some of her favorite reads and feature conversations with the authors. She recently released the first four books last week and one in particular caught my eye, The Architect’s Apprentice by Erika Shafak. Some of…
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Review: When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons #6) by Julia Quinn
The sixth book in the Bridgerton series was probably the one I was least looking forward to. There is next to any info about Francesca’s character in all the other books. To be honest, I practically forgot about her on a regular basis. I was constantly reminding myself that ‘oh ya there is another Bridgerton sibling before Gregory and Hyacinth’. The minimal references to Francesca’s story left me with a lot more questions than answers. For example, there were references about her being a widow really young and that the love of her life died etc. Which made me constantly think ‘wow that sounds depressing’. So when I finally got…
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Review: Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks
I have had really good luck with Shadow Mountain Press’s romances. They are proper and sweet and I have enjoyed almost every single one that I have read. So whenever I see a new one up for review, I usually grab at it because they are always well written and enjoyable. This one sounded really interesting, as a girl hiding in plain sight on a ship disguised as a boy who ends up falling in love with one of the officers. This particular publisher is kind of off the beaten path, it’s obviously not a huge powerhouse of romance novels like Harlequin or Thomas Nelson which is known for its…
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Special Feature and Excerpt: The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat
A couple of years ago when The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society came out on Netflix, I was fascinated by the premise. I did not read the book before the show came out, but I did after and I loved the book just as much as I loved the film. Besides the romance, what intrigued me was the setting. I knew essentially nothing about the Channel Islands and the occupation during WWII so but it was interesting and new, since then I have been trying to find a book that would be similar and set in the Channel Islands during the same period which is why I am so…