Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance, historical mystery, fantasy, romantasy and paranormal mystery

Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman

On By TracyIn Fairytale Retelling, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Marry Me by Midnight (Once Upon the East End #1)Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Once Upon the East End, #1

Release Date: August 8, 2023

After the death of her father, heiress Isabelle Lira finds herself being pushed out of the family business, the only way to maintain her position is to marry a man who she can control. But she can’t marry just anyone, she needs a respectable, well-placed Jewish man from a good family. She decides to host some events and invites several eligible Jewish men to attend, but she needs someone to check out these men to determine who will be the best man to fulfill her requirements or at least dig up some dirt on him making him easier to control. Enter Aaron Ellenberg, a custodian at the synagogue.

Aaron is a poor orphan who dreams of a better life, a life with a happy family. He is a genuinely nice person who just happens to be smoking hot too. He agrees to check out Isabelle’s suitors and report back to her. Falling in love was never part of the plan and clearly could never be, but the more time they spend together, the deeper they fall and the more hopeless it appears. But the heart wants what it wants, the question is, will they be brave enough to defy expectations and follow their hearts or will they stay true to social strictures and give up on any hope of a HEA together?

This was a well-written, nicely paced novel with a reverse Cinderella twist, featuring wonderful characters, steamyish love scenes, hard choices, and ending with HEA! I need to point out that this book is the reason I love reading historical romance, I love learning about the differences people dealt with in the past, and it gives me hope that we as a society will eventually learn to live without prejudice. I am not Jewish, and therefore cannot asset to the accuracy of the traditions, etc, but I thought the information given was interesting and I felt the author did an excellent job of explaining the issues that the Jewish communities faced in a predominately Christian society, including the prejudice, discrimination, and hatred they faced because of their faith, as well as the laws that affected their everyday lives and their business dealings. I had never read this author before, but this was the first book in new series, so I will certainly look forward to reading more from her in the future.

*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 Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson

On By TracyIn Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Art of Love and LiesThe Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Part of the “A Proper Romance” series

Release Date: August 08/2023

Gifted Artist Rosanna Hawkins makes a living by painting “parlor” copies of priceless artwork that her employer sells to upper-middle-class families in Manchester, England, and together they have a successful partnership. Her personal life takes a turn when she meets detective Martin Harrison, who is in charge of security, while touring the Art Treasures Exhibition and finds a kindred spirit and someone she believes she could share a future with. But when her reproductions are connected to stolen masterpieces, everything in her life including her blossoming romance is in jeopardy unless she can convince Martin that she is innocent and garner his help in finding the real thief.

Martin immediately falls for Rosanna, but due to his father’s notorious past, he can’t quite accept her work as legit and when priceless paintings are found to have been replaced with her reproductions, he wants to believe she is innocent, but all evidence point to her being the thief. Will he be able to trust his heart and work with her to find the real thief or will a lifetime of mistrust cost him a chance for HEA?

This is a new-to-me author and apparently, this is part of “A Proper Romance” series, which I have never read, so perhaps I was at a disadvantage right from the start. I thought the writing was good, although a bit wordy, dry, and meandering at times, yet at the same time the mystery was interesting and the author’s writing is descriptive. The romance was very lowkey and while a no-heat romance is fine, I felt like this book could have used a bit of spice to liven things up. Overall it was a good read and I would be willing to read more of this author’s work, but this story was very “art-centric” and that just isn’t my cuppa.

*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.*