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wanderlustdamsel's review
4.0
And she does it again!!! Paullett Golden back with her patent historical romance plotline that makes my heart swoon.
First and foremost I love the writing style, it legit transfers you back to the era with all her narrative and background settings and dialogues.
Another thing I absolutely love is her story writing and character development is always present.
But I guess after reading most of the books in the series, this one felt a tad bit repetitive when it came to the conflict and conflict resolution.
Still a very good read. Definitely will read another one in the series if it comes out!
First and foremost I love the writing style, it legit transfers you back to the era with all her narrative and background settings and dialogues.
Another thing I absolutely love is her story writing and character development is always present.
But I guess after reading most of the books in the series, this one felt a tad bit repetitive when it came to the conflict and conflict resolution.
Still a very good read. Definitely will read another one in the series if it comes out!
freemajo's review
3.0
3.5 stars rounded down.
The Heir and the Enchantress is set during the 1750s and concerns a pair of young adults whose arranged marriage is moved up after 17 year old Hazel is compromised by a peer during a house party. 20 year old Harold is freshly returned from 4 years in India and barely gets a chance to take his boots off before he finds himself married to a girl everyone just caught in the parlor with another man. Harold and Hazel’s parents wrap up a complicated business deal into the hasty marriage, and this is the primary conflict of the novel.
This is not what I would consider a mainstream historical romance; it’s more Jane Austen than Julia Quinn. There is very little passion, struggle, or conflict throughout the story, and I found the story and main characters boring. A couple of sex scenes does not a romance make.
The atmosphere and setting are sometimes very realistic and well-detailed and other times anachronistic to a disturbing extent. For example, descriptions of powdering hair and clothing are often correct and add welcome flavor to the narrative, but there’s a prominent LGBT character who is accepted by Harold, immediately welcomed by Hazel, and cherished by Harold’s grandmother as well. Hazel and Nana both subsequently attempt at matchmaking this character with other men at parties.
In reality, anal sex was punishable by death during this time period in England, and in fact laws outlawing the practice started cropping up in the early-mid 1700s. Supposing that Harold welcomed his friend regardless of his sexuality, it’s unlikely Hazel would have embraced him with open arms and set about matchmaking, and it’s even less likely that everyone else would have been paragons of allyship/potential sexual partners.
While perhaps an attempt to rewrite history for the sake of inclusion, this character and his experience felt disrespectful to LGBT people who died for their perceived deviance throughout this time period. If inclusion was the intent, the author should have portrayed the situation more realistically or included a note at the end about what life was like during this time and why she chose to give this character a better life than he would have had.
In general, the characters were pretty boring, especially Hazel and Harold. To be fair, they are 17 and 20 years old. If they had been aged up by 7 years or so, they probably would have had more interesting (read: any) backstories that could add depth to the narrative and character development. There’s no real conflict for the first ⅔ of the book, so we end up with a lot of this:
His admiration of her was not because of her behavior, but seeing her in different situations increased his admiration, nevertheless. She was, to him, already perfection. He could not take his eyes off her. He could not stop thinking about her. He was a man obsessed with his own wife. Even now, the way she held herself, the way the light shimmered off her hair, the way she laughed, everything. Perfection.
We get it, dude.
There is also a creepy, lecherous grandma character nicknamed Nana who insists on showing Hazel a thousand nudes of herself, opens Hazel’s mail with the hope of reading sexually explicit words from her own grandson, and gives us scenes like this:
A voice broke their embrace.
“It’s about time you pleasured my granddaughter.”
Ew.
The Heir and the Enchantress would be a good, quick book for people who want to read a historical romance with zero angst and a HEA.
I received a free copy through BookSirens. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Heir and the Enchantress is set during the 1750s and concerns a pair of young adults whose arranged marriage is moved up after 17 year old Hazel is compromised by a peer during a house party. 20 year old Harold is freshly returned from 4 years in India and barely gets a chance to take his boots off before he finds himself married to a girl everyone just caught in the parlor with another man. Harold and Hazel’s parents wrap up a complicated business deal into the hasty marriage, and this is the primary conflict of the novel.
This is not what I would consider a mainstream historical romance; it’s more Jane Austen than Julia Quinn. There is very little passion, struggle, or conflict throughout the story, and I found the story and main characters boring. A couple of sex scenes does not a romance make.
The atmosphere and setting are sometimes very realistic and well-detailed and other times anachronistic to a disturbing extent. For example, descriptions of powdering hair and clothing are often correct and add welcome flavor to the narrative, but there’s a prominent LGBT character who is accepted by Harold, immediately welcomed by Hazel, and cherished by Harold’s grandmother as well. Hazel and Nana both subsequently attempt at matchmaking this character with other men at parties.
In reality, anal sex was punishable by death during this time period in England, and in fact laws outlawing the practice started cropping up in the early-mid 1700s. Supposing that Harold welcomed his friend regardless of his sexuality, it’s unlikely Hazel would have embraced him with open arms and set about matchmaking, and it’s even less likely that everyone else would have been paragons of allyship/potential sexual partners.
While perhaps an attempt to rewrite history for the sake of inclusion, this character and his experience felt disrespectful to LGBT people who died for their perceived deviance throughout this time period. If inclusion was the intent, the author should have portrayed the situation more realistically or included a note at the end about what life was like during this time and why she chose to give this character a better life than he would have had.
In general, the characters were pretty boring, especially Hazel and Harold. To be fair, they are 17 and 20 years old. If they had been aged up by 7 years or so, they probably would have had more interesting (read: any) backstories that could add depth to the narrative and character development. There’s no real conflict for the first ⅔ of the book, so we end up with a lot of this:
His admiration of her was not because of her behavior, but seeing her in different situations increased his admiration, nevertheless. She was, to him, already perfection. He could not take his eyes off her. He could not stop thinking about her. He was a man obsessed with his own wife. Even now, the way she held herself, the way the light shimmered off her hair, the way she laughed, everything. Perfection.
We get it, dude.
There is also a creepy, lecherous grandma character nicknamed Nana who insists on showing Hazel a thousand nudes of herself, opens Hazel’s mail with the hope of reading sexually explicit words from her own grandson, and gives us scenes like this:
A voice broke their embrace.
“It’s about time you pleasured my granddaughter.”
Ew.
The Heir and the Enchantress would be a good, quick book for people who want to read a historical romance with zero angst and a HEA.
I received a free copy through BookSirens. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
addy1991's review
4.0
Hazel and Harold are likeable characters and their developing feelings for one another felt real. I am glad certain situations were handled so these two could eventually reach their happy ever after. Easy to love and respect family but also easy to lose those very things. Although young, Harold is a better man than either his grandfather or father ever were and I'm glad he found his worth before their mistakes became his own.
plottrysts's review
3.0
This is a solid historical romance featuring a couple who have been betrothed for most of their lives. When they meet as young adults (18 and 20), they are reconsidering the match - Harold's father wants him to marry an heiress, while Hazel is rebelling against the fact that she won't have a love match. When Hazel is compromised by another man, Harold steps in to marry her and save her reputation.
This was an engaging young couple, but the book suffered from too much conflict. Harold thinks Hazel is in love with another man; Hazel's BFF (who was actually the one ruined before Hazel took the fall) shows up towards the middle to add a little drama; and all along, both of their fathers have been using their marriage as a way to make money. There's also a dotty old grandmother who serves to show Hazel and Harold's compassion and similarities to each other. We would have preferred one compelling conflict rather than the three or four we received.
If you're looking for a Georgian romance with panniers and powdered hair but without any sexual harassment (always a plus in our book), this fits the bill!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
This was an engaging young couple, but the book suffered from too much conflict. Harold thinks Hazel is in love with another man; Hazel's BFF (who was actually the one ruined before Hazel took the fall) shows up towards the middle to add a little drama; and all along, both of their fathers have been using their marriage as a way to make money. There's also a dotty old grandmother who serves to show Hazel and Harold's compassion and similarities to each other. We would have preferred one compelling conflict rather than the three or four we received.
If you're looking for a Georgian romance with panniers and powdered hair but without any sexual harassment (always a plus in our book), this fits the bill!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
reading_my_life_away's review
1.0
Okay, i didn't really like it, and let me give you a list of reasons why:
1) the prose was a little bit complicated for my taste, as English is my second language, i found it a little bit hard to understand some terms the author used.
2) the story was such a cliche, there wasn't anything new in the book, an arranged marriage that led to love, and the problem wasn't the plot per say, it's just the author didn't leave an impact on me, it could have been written better.
3) i didn't like how negative the lead male protagonist was regarding his father, i know how everyone has his own flaws, but it was just downright frustrating.
Overall, not the best historical romance out there.
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review*
1) the prose was a little bit complicated for my taste, as English is my second language, i found it a little bit hard to understand some terms the author used.
2) the story was such a cliche, there wasn't anything new in the book, an arranged marriage that led to love, and the problem wasn't the plot per say, it's just the author didn't leave an impact on me, it could have been written better.
3) i didn't like how negative the lead male protagonist was regarding his father, i know how everyone has his own flaws, but it was just downright frustrating.
Overall, not the best historical romance out there.
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review*
jlee76's review
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are rare occasions when a plot, characters, dialogue, and backdrop align to make an inspiring book. This is one of those times. This book was a tumultuous, all-encompassing love story. I fell in love with every aspect of this book.
Both Hazel and Harold held such depth. I had to keep reminding myself that Hazel was only 17 and Harold 20. Though both were naïve, they had a fortitude of strength and maturity. Placed in an impossible situation, they find love can be found in the most unlikely places. The love scenes between the couple melted me! They were so passionate! These scenes were some of the best I have read in a while – swoon-worthy! The journey the couple made from strangers to being hopelessly in love took my breath. There were such tender moments, but also moments with tension.
The secondary characters were the strongest I have read. These characters were poignant and vibrant. It was as much a joy to read about them as it was Harold and Hazel. The situations of Patrick and Agnes struck such a chord with me. Both had secrets that society would ruin them. Their plights were written with such dignity and respect. Patrick was very special to me. His journey through the book had me laughing, crying, and hoping for his happiness. I had a nana who was a spitfire. Harold’s nana reminded me so much of her. She had spunk laced with a fragility that made her so visceral. Harold’s father and a notorious rake were splendid antagonists. The characters knitted together to create a beautiful backdrop to Harold and Hazel’s love story.
The plot was intricate and engaging. I was caught on page one. The story unfolded beautifully at just the right pace. The plot explored a plethora of topics, from family obligations versus responsibility to the delicate intricacies of different types of love.
This was an intimate exploration of responsibility and love. There were so many obstacles for this couple. I was laughing and crying throughout the entire book. Ms. Golden made me care for these characters; I was 100% invested. I believe the most challenging part in creating a great novel is being able to be authentic. The movement of the plot and characters needs to be organic. This book captures that perfectly. I love this series, and I feel this installment the strongest yet. The author created a world that I want to visit again and again.
I received a gifted copy of this ARC from the author. This is my honest, voluntary review.
There are rare occasions when a plot, characters, dialogue, and backdrop align to make an inspiring book. This is one of those times. This book was a tumultuous, all-encompassing love story. I fell in love with every aspect of this book.
Both Hazel and Harold held such depth. I had to keep reminding myself that Hazel was only 17 and Harold 20. Though both were naïve, they had a fortitude of strength and maturity. Placed in an impossible situation, they find love can be found in the most unlikely places. The love scenes between the couple melted me! They were so passionate! These scenes were some of the best I have read in a while – swoon-worthy! The journey the couple made from strangers to being hopelessly in love took my breath. There were such tender moments, but also moments with tension.
The secondary characters were the strongest I have read. These characters were poignant and vibrant. It was as much a joy to read about them as it was Harold and Hazel. The situations of Patrick and Agnes struck such a chord with me. Both had secrets that society would ruin them. Their plights were written with such dignity and respect. Patrick was very special to me. His journey through the book had me laughing, crying, and hoping for his happiness. I had a nana who was a spitfire. Harold’s nana reminded me so much of her. She had spunk laced with a fragility that made her so visceral. Harold’s father and a notorious rake were splendid antagonists. The characters knitted together to create a beautiful backdrop to Harold and Hazel’s love story.
The plot was intricate and engaging. I was caught on page one. The story unfolded beautifully at just the right pace. The plot explored a plethora of topics, from family obligations versus responsibility to the delicate intricacies of different types of love.
This was an intimate exploration of responsibility and love. There were so many obstacles for this couple. I was laughing and crying throughout the entire book. Ms. Golden made me care for these characters; I was 100% invested. I believe the most challenging part in creating a great novel is being able to be authentic. The movement of the plot and characters needs to be organic. This book captures that perfectly. I love this series, and I feel this installment the strongest yet. The author created a world that I want to visit again and again.
I received a gifted copy of this ARC from the author. This is my honest, voluntary review.
alanadcr's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
4.0
I’ve been in love with Hazel since The Earl and the Enchantress and I was so excited to finally delve into her story. Its important to note that this is more of a prologue to the Enchantresses as it details Hazel’s marriage to Harold, Walter’s father. Hazel is a bright eyed, young, and very naïve 17 year old dreaming of love-matches and enticing a kiss from the beau she has set her mind on.
I ADORE Walter so it doesn’t surprise me that I love Harold. His special blend of rigid responsibility and gooey cinnamon-y, inner-romantic was just… *chef’s kiss*. Add in a secret hobby? I love it. He hasn’t reached his majority, I believe he is 20, so he is stuck in this impossible position of having to obey his father’s greedy financial machinations that are ruining the estate. I found myself so incredibly stressed by that story device as I am fiercely protective of Hazel and the threat of not having a HEA (even though logically I knew it had to happen) had me baring my teeth.
Harold and Hazel are tooth-achingly sweet together once they settled in and understood each other more. I loved how palpable and relatable the early times were. Those early days in a relationship where you are completely smitten and desperate to spend every minute with each other.
I am a greedy reader and wish we had seen more of the small moments that led to both falling head over heels in love. After all, they were essentially strangers when they married! In particular, I would have loved to see Hazel meeting tenants and seeing her try on the typical responsibilities that Nana was attempting to teach her. Even with that complaint, the romance felt authentic even as a whirlwind.
I have spent the last 2.5 years waiting for this book and I am so pleased that Golden gave Hazel her time to shine. She is such a fantastic character and she absolutely deserved this sweet, swoon-worthy romance. This was completely different from how I expected Golden to approach this particular HEA but I am so pleased with the end result! This is the one book I can say out of the story stands-alone but I do recommend continuing on with the rest of the series as well!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I ADORE Walter so it doesn’t surprise me that I love Harold. His special blend of rigid responsibility and gooey cinnamon-y, inner-romantic was just… *chef’s kiss*. Add in a secret hobby? I love it. He hasn’t reached his majority, I believe he is 20, so he is stuck in this impossible position of having to obey his father’s greedy financial machinations that are ruining the estate. I found myself so incredibly stressed by that story device as I am fiercely protective of Hazel and the threat of not having a HEA (even though logically I knew it had to happen) had me baring my teeth.
Harold and Hazel are tooth-achingly sweet together once they settled in and understood each other more. I loved how palpable and relatable the early times were. Those early days in a relationship where you are completely smitten and desperate to spend every minute with each other.
I am a greedy reader and wish we had seen more of the small moments that led to both falling head over heels in love. After all, they were essentially strangers when they married! In particular, I would have loved to see Hazel meeting tenants and seeing her try on the typical responsibilities that Nana was attempting to teach her. Even with that complaint, the romance felt authentic even as a whirlwind.
I have spent the last 2.5 years waiting for this book and I am so pleased that Golden gave Hazel her time to shine. She is such a fantastic character and she absolutely deserved this sweet, swoon-worthy romance. This was completely different from how I expected Golden to approach this particular HEA but I am so pleased with the end result! This is the one book I can say out of the story stands-alone but I do recommend continuing on with the rest of the series as well!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
satin's review
4.0
*Thank you to Net galley for sending me a copy of this book to reviw, all opinions are my own.*
RATING: 3.75/5
I was originally drawn to this book because of the cover, and the bridgerton vibes I was getting from the synopsis. This book was very enjoyable and I loved the characters and the writing style. Hazel and Harol are the cutest couple, and their relationship was lovely to watch. Though i feel like this book had strong characters, it lacked a bit when it came to plots. There were plot lines that started and ended far too quickly, and honestly i enjoyed the romantic aspects a lot more. Overall, i would give it a 5/5 stars for being entertaining, however i think the overall quality of the book would be closer to a 3.75 or 4 stars. I highly reccomend this book if you're getting into historical romances, and the author's writing style makes it easy to keep up with. Please support this book if youre interested as it is also self published by the author! Great read, and I will keep more Paulette Golden books on my radar in the future!
RATING: 3.75/5
I was originally drawn to this book because of the cover, and the bridgerton vibes I was getting from the synopsis. This book was very enjoyable and I loved the characters and the writing style. Hazel and Harol are the cutest couple, and their relationship was lovely to watch. Though i feel like this book had strong characters, it lacked a bit when it came to plots. There were plot lines that started and ended far too quickly, and honestly i enjoyed the romantic aspects a lot more. Overall, i would give it a 5/5 stars for being entertaining, however i think the overall quality of the book would be closer to a 3.75 or 4 stars. I highly reccomend this book if you're getting into historical romances, and the author's writing style makes it easy to keep up with. Please support this book if youre interested as it is also self published by the author! Great read, and I will keep more Paulette Golden books on my radar in the future!
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