Scan barcode
lennie_reads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
mjbeereads's review
5.0
Oof what can I say? I have read every book in this series so far and have loved them all.
In all honesty I didn't really bother to even check the blurb for this one because there was no chance I wouldn't read it. Cue my absolute horror when I discovered that we were starting the story when the youngest MC was 15yrs old, and me, a horrible ageist who hates reading about young people. But it was perfect, loved it.
We follow Fin and Ethan's simmering relationship over a matter of years, (making this one heck of a slow burn) as they struggle with their attraction as stepbrothers and how it clashes with their role as family.
The chemistry between these two practically vibrates off the page. The barely concealed passion and love (all the pining!) between them was so perfectly written that I struggled to put this down. It's a crazy hot slow burn and the "forbidden" angle is used to good advantage. Being stepbrothers is a little taboo (less so than cousins would be nowadays, which is what I'm informed the original Mansfield Park was) but I was completely sold on the relationship and read eagerly to get to their HEA. We get a full range of emotions from the dark to the light, which really brings these complex characters to life. This is messy, restrained, yearning in all its glory.
I haven't read Mansfield Park (not sure I've even seen a tv production of it) so I can't comment on any comparisons between this and the original text. However there was an aspect that felt a little less contemporary in their love story which gave it that dreamy/romantic edge. There's a lot of beautiful prose and I found the writing evocative and emotional but it also manages to be an easy read. It's just brilliant storytelling.
There are a lot of tough subjects broached, it's certainly not without its angst. But it never felt superfluous or overtly dramatic and was a genuinely engaging tale of love, family and identity. It's worth noting though, that if you are someone who might need content warnings, you should definitely check these out before reading.
This was just a perfect story to lose myself in. The kind of story where I couldn't hide the reactions on my face as I read. A story that I miss now it's over.
I cannot wait for the next in the series.
I received an ARC of this book and chose to leave a review.
In all honesty I didn't really bother to even check the blurb for this one because there was no chance I wouldn't read it. Cue my absolute horror when I discovered that we were starting the story when the youngest MC was 15yrs old, and me, a horrible ageist who hates reading about young people. But it was perfect, loved it.
We follow Fin and Ethan's simmering relationship over a matter of years, (making this one heck of a slow burn) as they struggle with their attraction as stepbrothers and how it clashes with their role as family.
The chemistry between these two practically vibrates off the page. The barely concealed passion and love (all the pining!) between them was so perfectly written that I struggled to put this down. It's a crazy hot slow burn and the "forbidden" angle is used to good advantage. Being stepbrothers is a little taboo (less so than cousins would be nowadays, which is what I'm informed the original Mansfield Park was) but I was completely sold on the relationship and read eagerly to get to their HEA. We get a full range of emotions from the dark to the light, which really brings these complex characters to life. This is messy, restrained, yearning in all its glory.
I haven't read Mansfield Park (not sure I've even seen a tv production of it) so I can't comment on any comparisons between this and the original text. However there was an aspect that felt a little less contemporary in their love story which gave it that dreamy/romantic edge. There's a lot of beautiful prose and I found the writing evocative and emotional but it also manages to be an easy read. It's just brilliant storytelling.
There are a lot of tough subjects broached, it's certainly not without its angst. But it never felt superfluous or overtly dramatic and was a genuinely engaging tale of love, family and identity. It's worth noting though, that if you are someone who might need content warnings, you should definitely check these out before reading.
This was just a perfect story to lose myself in. The kind of story where I couldn't hide the reactions on my face as I read. A story that I miss now it's over.
I cannot wait for the next in the series.
I received an ARC of this book and chose to leave a review.
bussili's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up since I have mixed feelings about this one. I really liked the rhythm of the narrative, like when you have a chapter that is only two lines. Or when actual dialogue is interspersed with internal one that reads like prose. I also liked the quoted from author K. Mansfield, and the illustrations inside the book. It’s a quite good retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.
However, can I say it was too slow burn? It’s typical Anyta Sunday, but this one was particularly slow. On the other hand, it’s also a sign of a great Austen retelling.
However, can I say it was too slow burn? It’s typical Anyta Sunday, but this one was particularly slow. On the other hand, it’s also a sign of a great Austen retelling.
beeziereadsromance's review
5.0
It's no secret I adore Anyta Sunday's books and I've really been enjoying this series of contemporised Austen rewrites.
Finley Embraces Heart and Home is a rewrite of Mansfield Park, with Finley in the role of Fanny Price, and Ethan Bertram as Edmund Bertram (cousin in the original, step-brother in the rewrite).
As always, the prose is beautiful and slowly unfolds the relationship between the MC's. This is less of a slow burn than usual for this author, although the HEA is last minute and the MC's (and reader) are put through the emotion wringer before they get there. I got a bit tearful, which might mean some of you need tissues for this one as I'm not a big crier with books.
I love the way the author manages to incorporate the important events of the original whilst keeping it all contemporary, and it's lovely to see another example of how relevant Austen's works still are today.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
Finley Embraces Heart and Home is a rewrite of Mansfield Park, with Finley in the role of Fanny Price, and Ethan Bertram as Edmund Bertram (cousin in the original, step-brother in the rewrite).
As always, the prose is beautiful and slowly unfolds the relationship between the MC's. This is less of a slow burn than usual for this author, although the HEA is last minute and the MC's (and reader) are put through the emotion wringer before they get there. I got a bit tearful, which might mean some of you need tissues for this one as I'm not a big crier with books.
I love the way the author manages to incorporate the important events of the original whilst keeping it all contemporary, and it's lovely to see another example of how relevant Austen's works still are today.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
emendelowitz's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bibilly's review
dnf @ 27%
in my review of the first book in this austen retellings series i said i wouldn't continue with it bc i didn't like the secondary characters. however, some days ago i found out that the mansfield park book featured new ones and had sort of a forbidden romance just like the emma retelling. so i picked it up and here we are. besides the lazy writing and unconvincing time jumps, this book reminded me a lot of Rock, which – surprise, surprise – i also dnfed last year and only now realized is by the same author Lol you see, i appreciate a little angst in my romances, but i don't vibe with unnecessary drama mixed with a shallow relationship in which one of the characters does dumb shit while the other suffers for them both. and that's what i felt these two books were going to be about before i came to my senses and decided to sleep instead of reading.
in my review of the first book in this austen retellings series i said i wouldn't continue with it bc i didn't like the secondary characters. however, some days ago i found out that the mansfield park book featured new ones and had sort of a forbidden romance just like the emma retelling. so i picked it up and here we are. besides the lazy writing and unconvincing time jumps, this book reminded me a lot of Rock, which – surprise, surprise – i also dnfed last year and only now realized is by the same author Lol you see, i appreciate a little angst in my romances, but i don't vibe with unnecessary drama mixed with a shallow relationship in which one of the characters does dumb shit while the other suffers for them both. and that's what i felt these two books were going to be about before i came to my senses and decided to sleep instead of reading.
sarahkate_reads's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
achillespatroclus's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5