Category: Non-Traditional Romance

A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

On By TracyIn Historical Rom-Com, Medieval (1066-1540), Non-Traditional Romance, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews3 Comments

A Daughter of Fair Verona (Daughter of Montague, #1)A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

Tracy’s rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Daughter of Montague, #1

Release Date: June 25, 2024

“Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (badly). Only here’s the That’s not how it ended at all.

Romeo and Juliet are alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I’m the oldest, with the emphasis on ‘old’—a certified spinster at twenty, and happy to stay that way. It’s not easy to keep your taste for romance with parents like mine. Picture it—constant monologues, passionate declarations, fighting, making up, making out . . . it’s exhausting.”

I read this blurb, and I was sold – Romeo and Juliet didn’t die, and they actually lived happily ever after? Yes, please! I could not wait to dive into this book, but with several books to read and review for the end of June, I saved this book for last, thinking it would be the best of the bunch. After all, I have read (and loved) every historical romance Christina Dodd has written and was beyond thrilled when I saw that after years of only writing contemporaries, she was venturing back into Historical Romance, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book.

Sadly, this book was a huge miss for me for a lot of reasons. First, it is written in First Person Narrative – UGH! I hate FPN, HATE, HATE, HATE it. Second, the prose was decidedly modern and seemed as if the book was a YA romance, not to mention there is nothing more than a bit of kissing and little caressing – all very PG. And my final reason, the ending is a bit of cliffhanger, I understand this is going to be a series, but geez, a little closure would have been nice.

All in all, it was not a terrible book, just not the book I thought it was going to be based on past experience with this author’s writing. I don’t think I will read the next book, since this style is not my cuppa. But I am sure there are plenty of readers who would love this book and for that reason, if the reasons I mentioned don’t bother you, then I would recommend you give this book a go!

*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. *

Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Fairytale Retelling, Gothic Historical, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Non-Traditional Romance, Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Red Kingdom (Fairy Tale Retellings, #2)Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Fairy Tale Retellings, #2

Released: April 10, 2024

Princess Blanchette Winslowe of Norland is awakened to an attack on her father’s castle and barely escapes the carnage thanks to a loyal villager and his son. But her escape is short lived when the infamous Black Wolf hunts her down and takes her prisoner. Blanchette is horrified to discover her entire family (save her married sister) have all been killed during the takeover of the castle. She believes that Sir Rowan – the Black Wolf – is a monster as well as a traitor to Norland. But not all is as it seems and as she begins to learn the truth of her father’s reign, the more the scales fall from her eyes and the walls around her heart begin to crumble.

Sir Rowan Dietrich, known as the Black Wolf of Norland was once a loyal retainer and served the King, but when his wife is murdered to teach Rowan a lesson, his rage simmers and he begins to plot his revenge. It takes years, but finally Rowan has gathered an army to oust King Bartholomew and liberate Norland from his corrupt reign. When he learns the princess escaped, he personally tracks her down and returns her to the castle. He believes that she was aware of her father’s deeds and turned a blind eye. He soon learns that Blanchette is not the shallow, pampered princess he thought her to be and soon begins to fall in love with her. But there is still evil afoot and their road to HEA will not be easy or without pain.

Just like the last book, this book is phenomenal, and the writing transports you to the medieval kingdom of Norland and keeps you there until you read the last page and then makes you wish it hadn’t ended! This is a dark fairytale retelling that is very loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, dark being the operative word. The book has battles, murder, heartache, heartbreak, unspeakable acts of cruelty (most off page), loss, war, a very slow-burn romance, mild love scenes, betrayal, healing and finally a HEA. This is the second book in the series, but the books can be read as standalone titles. I would caution sensitive readers to check out the content warnings before reading this book as there are triggers and acts that may be extremely upsetting to some readers.

*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. *