I love the “oops I’ve accidentally mistaken this impossibly strapping, exceedingly virile, and (one can only assume) sexually skiummmmm TEN OUT OF TEN
I love the “oops I’ve accidentally mistaken this impossibly strapping, exceedingly virile, and (one can only assume) sexually skilled duke on my doorstep for a footman” trope. Another similar setup is The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy!
This was just everything I want from a historical romance: hilarious, clever, & a fantastic audiobook!...more
✨Oh to be a flannel pulled taught against the broad back of a mountain man✨
I loooved this book so much!! I was hooked from the summary and it really d✨Oh to be a flannel pulled taught against the broad back of a mountain man✨
I loooved this book so much!! I was hooked from the summary and it really did not disappoint. It starts off in truly bizarre fashion, so my advice is to just saddle up and enjoy the ride!
Kit McBride was one of the most fun characters I have read in a LONG time. Most non-rake heroes are still either swarthy or confident or aware of at least some of their charm. Well my baby boy Kit here was aware of NOTHING. That poor man had only seen around 8 women in his entire life, with two of them related to him. He had ABSOLUTELY no idea what to do once he laid his mighty fine honey eyes on Maddy. IT WAS SO good.
Never have I ever been so in awe of man so in awe of a woman. He was so bumbling and awkward and apologetic and adorable and just. so. TAKEN by her. Somebody call Liam. From the first, her Irish accent had him enchanted and he never stopped falling. I was obsessed with Kit’s jealousy when Morgan was messing around and flirting with Maddy. And when she saw Kit for the first time after he shaved?? Same girl.
Just the way I’m imagining him asking her if she was married and just how he made her tea…I’m not sure but this whole book was just so vivid. I can’t get his whole himness out of my mind. Like Maddy discovered, there’s just something so attractive about a man who looks like a mountainous god having absolutely no idea what to do around a woman. You’re telling me this man, this MAN with tree trunk thighs, washboard abs, forearms for days who was often shirtless and sweaty because he was a blacksmith DOESN’T EXIST??
There’s no steam in this book but honestly?? I was still sweating. The sexual tension between the two was palpable and when they finally kissed, it wasn’t spicy, but it was so intimate and charming and it worked for the scope of the book. I would’ve liked more scenes between the two (steamy and not) just because they were so good together.
We got a lot of paragraphs about scenery description, some chapters from Junebug’s POV, and just a lot of chapters where they were apart. So my only asks for the future books—because I WILL be reading them—would be more steam and more on-page time together between the main couple. In all honesty, the scenes we got between Kit and Maddy were perfect, so I’m being greedy but it’s fine. I’m fine.
I really cannot wait for this audiobook because I know Junebug’s delivery is gonna be so perfect. It’ll be such a production and I cannot wait. One of my favorite parts was the beginning when she was like “no woman wants to see my brother shirtless.” On that note, this book was absolutely hilarious. I laughed so many times and still laugh thinking about scenes.
If you’re even remotely interested in a western-esque mountain man book, really give this a try! It’ll definitely not be for everyone, but I’m so happy I picked it up. Found family is one of my favorite sub-tropes and it’s wonderfully established here.
This was super cute and as always I’m a sucker for a cute hero/child dynamic! I liked both characters and ultimately where his whole lil revenge plot This was super cute and as always I’m a sucker for a cute hero/child dynamic! I liked both characters and ultimately where his whole lil revenge plot went. I’ll totally read the others in the series and more from the author! The audiobook flew by and I was like WUT when I saw I was already at 83%. I just really love how he was with Dora ...more
This was very good!! I loved how the amnesia trope worked here and the progression of the plot was very unique. I think it needed more spice and less This was very good!! I loved how the amnesia trope worked here and the progression of the plot was very unique. I think it needed more spice and less everything else at the end but I’d totally read again! I also love Beverley’s narration.
✨A wild and resounding yes but also a wild and resounding what the fuck just happened.✨
I feel like I need to reread in order to really process my thou✨A wild and resounding yes but also a wild and resounding what the fuck just happened.✨
I feel like I need to reread in order to really process my thoughts because I really can’t articulate why it worked for me but it absolutely did. Helen Hoang said it was a romance and that’s basically all I needed to know. I don’t really think anything can adequately prepare you for all of the feelings you’re going to feel, so just go into this understanding you’re going to understand nothing until you understand everything.
The closest thing I can compare this to is The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels meets You’ve Got Mail. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy isn’t like The Wisteria Society at all but they’re also absolutely the same. Doesn’t make sense? Perfect. I want you confused, intrigued, and ready to risk it all for these two morbidly hot cinnamon rolls.
I laughed, I cried, I wondered aloud what I was reading several times, I blessed the rains down in Africa, I thanked the maker. Seriously, I really did cry. I did not think this book would make me cry. Oh how the turntables…
The romance hit me hard and Hart and Mercy really were the perfect enemies to lovers. There were talking animals, dead bodies (so many dead bodies), steamy scenes, and zombies. The world was both foreign, a bit dystopian, and definitely fantastical, but it also had enough snapshots of our normal life to ground my understanding. For example, Mercy read romance novels and loved bubble baths. It was cool to see how both worldviews were entwined, as you’re kinda just dropped into the story without extensive worldbuilding. Again, you’ll be confused until you’re not.
Overall, I’ll definitely be reading the next book by the author and will be forever happy I most assuredly judged this book by its (lovely) cover. Give this a read if you want to explore a romance maybe a tad out of your comfort zone! I guarantee the hart (see what I did there?) of the book is rooted in an extra sweet romance between two lost souls, looking for love in all decomposed places.
This was so so so much fun!! It just made me so happy! I knew pretty instantly that the writing style was absolutely up ✨Dartmoor's Titanic Truncheon✨
This was so so so much fun!! It just made me so happy! I knew pretty instantly that the writing style was absolutely up my alley, yet I kept getting surprised by the next line that spoke to my soul. She is an undercover romance author and he's a misunderstood duke so really, I was born to read this book.
Artemis was such a goddess I love her to pieces!! That scene when she flaunted her engagement ring to the maid out of pettiness was MARVELOUS. We deserve petty queens! So many times heroines try to take the high road but she took the fun road and I love that journey for us ...more
✨He filled her. Not just from a crude, physical standpoint, but emotionally too.✨
It’s taken me so long to even begin to formulate my thoughts on this ✨He filled her. Not just from a crude, physical standpoint, but emotionally too.✨
It’s taken me so long to even begin to formulate my thoughts on this book, and I don’t even think I’ll be able to say much before a reread.
A Daring Pursuit is most definitely my favorite book of 2022, but A Wicked Game is five stars for different reasons. It just truly subverted every single one of my expectations in the best way possible. I was AFLAME in a Panda Express parking lot reading the first sex scene. The end drama was external, but wasn’t overdrawn or annoying. Clearly catch is that they’ve both been pining for ages, but the chase was so fun.
*Spoiler-adjacent* The premise sounds dramatic and fun, but I admit I was worried he was going to go about revenge a bit too viscously (when he realized she was the mapmaker) but I was so pleasantly surprised that he basically gave up when he realized what happened. From then on (pretty early) all this man thinks about is getting her to love him. Seeing as they’ve always been rivals, he doesn’t think she’ll believe him when he confesses that he’s always loved her. From that point on, he’s just such a lovesick sailer and I truly lost all of my breath.
This series is for low angst lovers. Each book subverts typical pitfalls in the third acts, has couples with truly good people, and the chemistry is always there. It stems around a generational Hatfield and McCoy type land feud, so it feels like there should be a lot of tension surrounding the families not being happy about the relationships. But the tension stems from attraction every time, without too much kerfuffle about getting together.
As for the audiobook, I knew I would be in for a treat. Beverley A. Crick is one of my favorite narrators in the game. She does wonderful accent work and conveys emotion very well via audio. This series is wonderful via audiobook. As for A Wicked Game in particular, I was giddy from start to finish and that’s my favorite way to read a romance.
✨Bird-watching is exhausting. Especially that bit at the end.✨
I only want MORE because I love them all so much and this was already a 400 page book! I✨Bird-watching is exhausting. Especially that bit at the end.✨
I only want MORE because I love them all so much and this was already a 400 page book! It turned the Cinderella trope on its head and it was so wonderful. I laughed, I swooned, I took notes.
I love a redeemed villain character and Drew absolutely did not disappoint. This felt like a classic, nutty, HOT Eloisa James romance! It was nuanced, clever, and so full of charm. Ian was delicious like my god that bird-watching scene! I was watching something but it wasn’t a bird.
I loved Drew’s relationship with Ivy, Imogene, and Timothea. Each character was interesting in their own regard. Their cultish background was intriguing and kept me reading outside of the main romance! I love the prickly character type that is Imogene and was Drew. It’s was lovely to see Imogene come into herself and play matchmaker. I totally want books for both Ivy and Imogene.
Drew and Ian’s relationship was just so fun. In my opinion, it was pretty low angst, while still being unique and energetic. It was also HOT. The first kiss? Hot. The wedding night? HOT. The bird-watching? HOT. The palace? HOT. Education. Praise. Pampering. Outdoors. Against walls. The need to be quiet. Most every scene was feverish and electric and it felt like I was reading at 2.0x speed. Did I already reread the bird watching scene after already rereading immediately after I read it? Obviously.
I really appreciated the scope of the events within the story. There’s a moment towards the end that I knew was coming, but had been on the back burner. Honestly, I was not looking forward to having to get through that scene to get to the ending. However! It was pretty much just summed up and topped with a bow and I was like !!!! (Spoiler: It’s the end riot scene with his tenants and him trying to tamp it down.)
Overall, this is my favorite of the series by far and so far! Drew and Ian were both wonderful characters together and apart. Like I said, if you’re a fan of Eloisa James and her Fairytale series, I definitely think this will be up your alley. This is definitely the hottest of the series but also the most emotionally invested I’ve been. I can’t wait to see what fairytale Charis spins next!
This has to be one of the purest, cutest, lowest angst stories I’ve ever read I swear. I have more notes somewhere but 10/10 listen or the audiobook iThis has to be one of the purest, cutest, lowest angst stories I’ve ever read I swear. I have more notes somewhere but 10/10 listen or the audiobook if you’re able to because Mary Jane Wells knocked this out of the PARK. Seriously I enjoyed this so much more than I think I would’ve if I’d been reading the physical copy.
HE PUT HER WEDDING RING OVER HER NIPPLE AND WAS MACKIN ON IT THROUGH THE RING. He also kept calling her Mrs. Wylde and it m✨”Oh shit he was in love.”✨
HE PUT HER WEDDING RING OVER HER NIPPLE AND WAS MACKIN ON IT THROUGH THE RING. He also kept calling her Mrs. Wylde and it made me feel indecently swirly every time.
However, there’s being a good person and then there’s GIVING THE VILLAIN LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF POUNDS WORTH OF JEWELS FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES. I can’t suffer villains not getting properly revenged when they just really fucking deserve it. This makes the book 4.5⭐️s because he was so unsavory and really didn’t suffer enough. I hate when characters underestimate CLEARLY unstable and unsavory villains.
I love Kate’s writing though and I LOVE the premise of the story. I was interested the entire time and the kooky set-up delivered! She was a badass business owner and he was a hottie lamottie with a prisoner’s body. Can’t wait to keep going with the series and to see how his friends find love ...more
Hands down my favorite book of the year that is BOLD I know but absolutely this is my historical Hating Game and it was perfect ✨Architectural pining✨
Hands down my favorite book of the year that is BOLD I know but absolutely this is my historical Hating Game and it was perfect and lovely and hot and I want to be reading it forever. Once I began, I couldn’t put it now and simply didn’t want to.
Every moving part MOVED me. In no particular order, here are my highlights: ✨Quick read ✨No third act breakup ✨Sex lessons (at a house party no less); delivers on sex when it promises sex ✨Mutual wrecking of each other’s plans ✨A character who thinks sex is lackluster (one of my favorite sub tropes) ✨Perfectly executed envy; both characters don’t really project anger they just internally melt their days away wishing they had each other ✨Hot sex; from behind which was a major plus I literally said thank god out loud when he got her on hands and knees ...more
I mean at this point thank god I didn’t like that one Eloisa Rapunzel book bc I SWEAR I’m not biased and being like e✨I am delicious. I am expensive.✨
I mean at this point thank god I didn’t like that one Eloisa Rapunzel book bc I SWEAR I’m not biased and being like every Eloisa book is the greatest and deserves five stars for shits and giggles bc she’s Eloisa like no they’re actually SO GOOD (sans Rapunzel sorry babes) and it’s a lil cheeky bonus that they’re all by Eloisa. I really mesh with her humor and writing style and the SEX I love that she full sent back then (sad that era is over but at least we have these beauties).
Cosway definitely had a temper as soon as he met Isidore idk why she was like he doesn’t have a temper! He’s so mild! The man’s been a boiling pot of passion the entire book??? He’s been Darcy’s flexed hand for as long as we’ve known him.
Also this is exactly how to write two virgins having sex! It was HOT because they TALKED and the man had enough faculties to understand that she still needed to COME and I loved how he went about ...more
I had the best possible experience with this book I’m so unhinged. The man! The woman! He’s so proficient! She’s so prof✨This book murdered my peace.✨
I had the best possible experience with this book I’m so unhinged. The man! The woman! He’s so proficient! She’s so proficient! The opposites did attract! The banter! The fake engagement! The pining! The sex! The birthday sex! The beginning! The middle! The end! I have no critiques! Who is she???? The hold Amalie’s writing has on me I SWEAR. She’s so talented at crafting such emotionally complex stories filled with humor, love, and heat.
✨
The man played her like a cello. How am I supposed to go about my life with this knowledge? It was bad enough when he had so much pent up sexual energy, the man whipped out a piano instead of beating the shit out of a person. NOW you’re telling me he can play the CELLO? And speak French? And fuck from behind over a desk? And PLAY her like a cello? How can I live laugh love in these conditions? I’m supposed to be okay with this man not being REAL? This is unacceptable. Distraught, destroyed, damsel in distress.
Lysander is the epitome of ice burns HOT. He is the traditional straight-laced, no nonsense, sees the world very black and white type of hero. His life got absolutely upended by Geneviève and I loved his progression throughout the book. He’s a neurodivergent hero and I was so invested in his journey of self acceptance and accepting love from others. He was nothing like anything I’ve read before and he has my heart, my good eyebrow, any part of me he wants. Shoot an arrow dead center while making love with your eyes at me you sexy beast.
✨
Don’t even get me started on Geneviève! My queen! She was such a boss ass ballerina I have so much respect. This may be the first book where the heroine gets to beat the shit out of a villain and the hero is just like “yup she slapped your ass into next Tuesday I have nothing left to add.” IT WAS SO HOT.
Seriously I love this woman. I adored how she spoke her mind and didn’t shy away from a fight. Especially with bad characters. She never got choked up with “words she should’ve said but never did.” She said what she wanted, when she wanted, and she meant every word. But she was also the sunshine to his grumpy and melted his ice and I just think that’s so lovely.
✨
Together, the two just worked so well. I go crazy thinking about how opposite they are and how perfectly executed it was. The thought of him playing the cello and her dancing to it has my legs divorcing. They just want to separate! My kingdom for a buttoned-up hero to be totally wrecked, ruined, ravished.
I loved Lysander's group of friends who knew and loved him and I loved how his friends became Geneviève's friends. I love how the household staff conspired with Geneviève and loved her too. I loved his aunt and her knowing glances and meddling. I loved the hunky didn’t-pull-out footman.
I'm a very big slut for scent memory kinks apparently? To me, scent memory kink is when a main character is just so obsessed with the other's scent that it's like an aphrodisiac and consistently brought up. In Elizabeth Everett's A Perfect Equation, Grey can't stop craving cake (after years of clean, plain eating) because Letty smells like vanilla. In Tessa Dare's Any Duchess Will Do, Pauline’s favorite scent was the smell of books, but by the end they were second place because Griff was her favorite smell. Here, Lysander uses familiar scent to calm himself when he's anxious and overwhelmed. His mother's scent was his comfort for so much of his life, but now it's Geneviève's that soothes him. I love when the scent is woven throughout the entire story in bits and pieces. It's always just such a reward when you pay attention to those little things.
✨
This is definitely a Pretty Woman adjacent story and if you don’t read it big mistake. huge. Like the movie, our hero hires her for a night that turns into many nights. Lysander needs to appear like he’s settling down with a wife in order to buy a property, but he simply does not want to settle down with a wife. Thus, he finds Geneviève and hires her to be his fake fiancé. Would it have been fun if she’d been a courtesan? Absolutely. But she was a ballerina and it was FABULOUS.
These are cursed words to me, buuuuuut if you’re looking for something to satisfy your Bridgerton Season 2 cravings, look no further. Their chemistry sparkled, the banter was sharp and clever, and the angst was purposeful. It’s slow burn with maximum sexual tension and maximum payoff. (Yes, there is hot hot sex thank you very much.) Basically, if you want the show sans love triangle, senseless drama, and lack of heat, this is for you! It felt like what I wanted from the show.
Overall, I cannot wait for the rest of the series. I felt like a god pairing up all of the potential couples and plot lines. I cannot believe I have to wait so long for this to publish, let alone for the next books. I will sell my soul for an early copy that I can hug. Catch me reading the rest of Amalie’s backlist.