Month: March 2024

The Viking and the Runaway Emperess by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, VikingLeave a comment

The Viking and the Runaway EmpressThe Viking and the Runaway Empress by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Four winters ago, after Princess Livia was betrothed to the Byzantine Emperor Alexios, she fled her father’s kingdom in Rome and took refuge in her late mother’s castle in Saxony, hoping the emperor would forget about her. But unfortunately, her reckoning has come in the form of Northman, Destin, the commander of the emperor’s Varangian Guard. He has come to bring her to her future husband in Constantinople, but he also bears sad news, her father the king has been gravely injured and is dying. He tells her that her uncle Lothair is on his way to find her and most likely kill her as she is the only other claimant to her father’s throne. He insists they leave immediately and with good reason, as Lothair will stop at nothing to claim the crown. Destin is unlike any man she has ever known and despite his gruff exterior, he is a good man, whom she can’t stop thinking about, but they have no future, she is promised to his employer and royalty. So she should forget about him, right?

Destin was born with a paralyzed arm and subsequently left in the woods to die. Thankfully, he was found by a childless couple and raised as their own. Destin has overcome his infirmity and proven himself a fierce mercenary, climbing up the ranks and reaching the position of commander. Alexios has promised him titles and riches when he delivers the princess to him, which would mean the achievement of his dreams, but there is something about Livia. He finds himself wanting more, even if it is impossible, given their stations, but the heart wants what it wants. Hopefully he can fulfill his mission, claim his prize and forget about her. Ah, if it were only that easy…

This was such a great story, it is part road trip, part adventure story, and part forbidden love, which makes for a quick and delightful read! The book has something for everyone, class different, sort of enemies to lovers, forbidden love, life/death moments, loss, sacrifice, duty, dreams, fears, steamyish love scenes, heartache, and finally a happy ending that didn’t seem possible until it was as well as a very sweet epilogue. So why not five stars? Well, as great as this book was, it was set in the 12th century and it didn’t read like a medieval, there was way too much modern verbiage which ended up ripping this reader out of the era and gave the book a contemporary in period dress feel. I would still recommend the book because even with the modern lingo, it was still an amazing read.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

The Bones In The Orchard by Patricia Rice

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

The Bones in the Orchard (Gravesyde Priory Mysteries #3)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Series: Gravesyde Priory Mystery #3
Publication Date: 3/19/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 322

I am really loving this series and I hope you will as well. I love the mysteries and I love the characters, but I think what I love best is the process of making a family from such disparate backgrounds – and, yes, they really do become a family. You really do need to read the series in order of publication to get a true appreciation for each family member and their relationships – and where they fit in within the whole. They are a delightfully eclectic mix of eccentric characters – and you will love them all. You see, the Earl of Wycliffe died and left Gravesyde Priory to all of his kin – and that certainly creates a tangled mess. After much searching of the family tree, invitations were sent out to the various and sundry members asking them to come to Gravesyde Priory, take up residence (or not), and join the clan. Those who do show up are in desperate need, in hiding, irritated, etc., and all of them – on whichever side of the blanket they were born – find a home, acceptance, and family. They also find a mystery, several dead bodies, and romance along the way. Yes, it is a lovely series – and now – something about this book.

Weddings! Yes, three couples are sorely irritated because – well – how can they be married when there is no church and no curate to read the banns or perform the ceremony? Then, miraculously, a curate and his family show up – and he claims to hold the tenancy as curate for life. Well – where the devil has he been? At first, the folks at Gravesyde Priory dismiss his claim, but when he and his family move into the parsonage and begin to restore it and the church – and the people of the village remember them – maybe the curate really is who he claims to be.

The curate doesn’t appear to be well-loved by many in the village, and the folks at the Priory soon discover why. Then, they discover the curate’s body. Oh, goodness. Now they have a murder to solve and no weddings to plan. Since the curate’s son is also a man of the cloth, he’s just there to get his parents and sister settled, perhaps they can convince him to stay on as curate. Or, is he the one who murdered his father?

With many very old secrets and lots of suspects, the residents of the Priory will have to tread carefully to solve the curate’s murder – and the others that came after. Yes, multiple murders, many secrets, unwilling witnesses, and a villain that will surprise you!

I loved the book. The writing, as always, was excellent, and the characters – old and new – are so very likable. We did finally get one wedding – and we got a new romance, so maybe there are three more weddings to come rather than just the two remaining. I can recommend this series and this book and I hope you will love them as much as I do. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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