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mstufail19's Reviews (288)
4.5
Okay look, there was a lot about this book that normally doesn't work for me - military romances don't normally do it for me, not a beard fan, don't like reading about Louisiana, New Orleans, Mardi Gras, or Cajuns from people who haven't spent a lot of time here (Excuse me? Mardi Gras beads? Ouch. I mean kinda hot. But ouch).
HOWEVER.
This book was kind of a delight. As a reader, I was able to see how Abby's first letter drew Roux in right away. His return letters were immediately affectionate and sexy and I could feel how easy it was for Abby to fall for the person behind the words.
The main characters are on the other side of the world from each other but when they finally make physical contact, phew. And that physical contact goes on for Two. Whole. Chapters. And it is HOT.
The things that did work for me really well - tattoos, plus-size FMC, a two-chapter-long sex scene.
All in all, this was a fast and sweet read and I'm so glad it was recommended to me.
Okay look, there was a lot about this book that normally doesn't work for me - military romances don't normally do it for me, not a beard fan, don't like reading about Louisiana, New Orleans, Mardi Gras, or Cajuns from people who haven't spent a lot of time here (Excuse me? Mardi Gras beads? Ouch. I mean kinda hot. But ouch).
HOWEVER.
This book was kind of a delight. As a reader, I was able to see how Abby's first letter drew Roux in right away. His return letters were immediately affectionate and sexy and I could feel how easy it was for Abby to fall for the person behind the words.
The main characters are on the other side of the world from each other but when they finally make physical contact, phew. And that physical contact goes on for Two. Whole. Chapters. And it is HOT.
The things that did work for me really well - tattoos, plus-size FMC, a two-chapter-long sex scene.
All in all, this was a fast and sweet read and I'm so glad it was recommended to me.
Once upon a time, read 14 of Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels books. I must have liked them. I read 14 of them. But I haven't picked up an IA book since.
I think every single member of my romance chat is in love with this book and raves about the whole series. So I decided to give it a try.
And I loved it. Every single thing about it. The world-building, the magic using, the parallels to IRL Houston, a city I know well. It was exciting and funny. There was one point where FMC Nevada tries to Not-Like-Other-Girls a receptionist who wears more makeup and dresses differently than she does. I rolled my eyes about it. Okay, I get it. You're a no-nonsense PI who can shoot a gun and doesn't have time or desire to get "done up" the way she implies the receptionist does. But then the receptionist delivers a very casual and solid burn every other time they interact and I laughed my ass off about it.
My only complaint is I hate a slow burn. I hate it. Mad Rogan was sexy as hell and I wanted it hot and heavy asap. But the sexual build-up between the characters was delicious and I can not wait to dive into book 2.
I think every single member of my romance chat is in love with this book and raves about the whole series. So I decided to give it a try.
And I loved it. Every single thing about it. The world-building, the magic using, the parallels to IRL Houston, a city I know well. It was exciting and funny. There was one point where FMC Nevada tries to Not-Like-Other-Girls a receptionist who wears more makeup and dresses differently than she does. I rolled my eyes about it. Okay, I get it. You're a no-nonsense PI who can shoot a gun and doesn't have time or desire to get "done up" the way she implies the receptionist does. But then the receptionist delivers a very casual and solid burn every other time they interact and I laughed my ass off about it.
My only complaint is I hate a slow burn. I hate it. Mad Rogan was sexy as hell and I wanted it hot and heavy asap. But the sexual build-up between the characters was delicious and I can not wait to dive into book 2.
Y'all. This book. It is everything. So good. Sooo many feelings. Jeez. The longing, the angst, the trauma. And the LOVE! Ugh.
So Anna, a bold Scottish countess who needs a husband to inherit, enters into a marriage of convenience with Liam, Lord of Lockwood, who needs a wife with a fortune to prop up his estates. There are genuine feelings between them despite the practicality of their marriage contract.
Then on their wedding night, they quarrel and when Liam leaves to clear his head, he's assaulted and kidnapped and sent to an Australian penal colony as a prisoner. It takes him four years to make it back to England.
When Anna reads in the paper that her wayward husband, who she believes abandoned her on her wedding night, is back in London and spending her money, she packs her bags and heads that way. She has a bone to pick with him.
This book is funny in places, but so so *gut-wrenching* in others. Honestly, all the feels, every single one.
Liam is a sweet baby angel and Anna is a GD queen, and I want to shove this book into the face of everyone I know.
CW: Torture, wrongful imprisonment, PTSD, panic attacks, suicide
So Anna, a bold Scottish countess who needs a husband to inherit, enters into a marriage of convenience with Liam, Lord of Lockwood, who needs a wife with a fortune to prop up his estates. There are genuine feelings between them despite the practicality of their marriage contract.
Then on their wedding night, they quarrel and when Liam leaves to clear his head, he's assaulted and kidnapped and sent to an Australian penal colony as a prisoner. It takes him four years to make it back to England.
When Anna reads in the paper that her wayward husband, who she believes abandoned her on her wedding night, is back in London and spending her money, she packs her bags and heads that way. She has a bone to pick with him.
This book is funny in places, but so so *gut-wrenching* in others. Honestly, all the feels, every single one.
Liam is a sweet baby angel and Anna is a GD queen, and I want to shove this book into the face of everyone I know.
CW: Torture, wrongful imprisonment, PTSD, panic attacks, suicide
Full disclosure - This author is a book bud of mine buuuut....
This novella is sooo good. It's so good, y'all. The characters were fully fleshed out in a way that is sometimes missing from novellas. Even side and off-the-page characters were developed through the eyes of the MCs in a way that makes me feel like I know them. I'm already invested in them.
Margo and Matilda are the Halifax Hellions. They live their lives on their terms, unashamedly and unabashedly, despite/to spite convention and the scandal sheets. When Matilda makes what Margo thinks is a decision she'll regret, Margo turns to brother's-best-friend, Henry to aid her in tracking down her wayward twin.
Of course, starchy solicitor Henry has been quietly pining for Margo for years, so going on an unchaperoned road trip with her is his own special kind of hell. Delicious.
I love a road trip. I love an "ungovernable" woman. I love a sturdy quietly pining hero. I love love an uptight virgin MMC. I love love love an unashamed nonvirgin FMC, which is so hard to find, particularly in historical romances.
Alexandra does a fantastic job imparting the characters' emotions upon the reader - the urgency to find Matilda, the desperation and sadness when Margo realizes that her devil-may-care lifestyle is changing and the relationship with her sister will never be the same.
In the case of novellas I really love, I often find myself intentionally slowing my reading so I can stay with the characters longer. However, in this one, I was racing along with the characters, swept up in the urgency to find Matilda and find out what happens next! And now that it's over, I'm left with this urgency for the next book. MATILDA! WHAT IS UP WITH MATILDA???
This novella is sooo good. It's so good, y'all. The characters were fully fleshed out in a way that is sometimes missing from novellas. Even side and off-the-page characters were developed through the eyes of the MCs in a way that makes me feel like I know them. I'm already invested in them.
Margo and Matilda are the Halifax Hellions. They live their lives on their terms, unashamedly and unabashedly, despite/to spite convention and the scandal sheets. When Matilda makes what Margo thinks is a decision she'll regret, Margo turns to brother's-best-friend, Henry to aid her in tracking down her wayward twin.
Of course, starchy solicitor Henry has been quietly pining for Margo for years, so going on an unchaperoned road trip with her is his own special kind of hell. Delicious.
I love a road trip. I love an "ungovernable" woman. I love a sturdy quietly pining hero. I love love an uptight virgin MMC. I love love love an unashamed nonvirgin FMC, which is so hard to find, particularly in historical romances.
Alexandra does a fantastic job imparting the characters' emotions upon the reader - the urgency to find Matilda, the desperation and sadness when Margo realizes that her devil-may-care lifestyle is changing and the relationship with her sister will never be the same.
In the case of novellas I really love, I often find myself intentionally slowing my reading so I can stay with the characters longer. However, in this one, I was racing along with the characters, swept up in the urgency to find Matilda and find out what happens next! And now that it's over, I'm left with this urgency for the next book. MATILDA! WHAT IS UP WITH MATILDA???
