Category: Part of a Series

Betrothed to the Blade by C.W. Willows

On By TracyIn New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Betrothed to the Blade (The Betrothed Saga, #1)Betrothed to the Blade by C.M. Willows

Tracy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Series: The Betrothed Saga #1

Release Date: June 15, 2026

Princess Cordetta’s father has decided that it is time for her to marry and has chosen Fitzbarton Humphreys-Humphries as her groom. Cordetta has a talent for inventing and knows that marriage to Fitzbarton will crush her, so after a lifetime of rules and expectations, she is taking matters into her own hands and will follow her own path. She decides to steal her sister’s flying ship to make her escape, but finds the ship already occupied. Heath is a pirate with his own secrets and is driven by revenge. He has a plan, but traveling with an entitled princess wasn’t part of it. They set off and pulled into the threat of the Seep, a magical corruption that twists the land and creates dangerous creatures.

I was so excited for this book, but sadly this story just didn’t work for me. The writing felt wordy, and the slow pace made it hard for me to stay interested in the book and I found myself skimming just to finish. I also think the world building could have been better, there were interesting aspects to the story, but unfortunately, it never felt fully developed, additionally, the magic system and the “Seep” really needed more explanation, and the romance was lacking. Overall, the story had promise, but in the end, it just didn’t deliver the story I was hoping for. This is the first book in a series, but it is not a book I would read again or a series I am interested in continuing.

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

 

You Had Me at Heist by Christina Britton

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

You Had Me at Heist (Wimpole Street Widows Society #2)You Had Me at Heist by Christina Britton

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wimpole Street Widows Society #2

Release Date: June 16, 2026

Mere days after the death of her beloved mother, Iris Rumford’s childhood home was burned to the ground to hide the theft of her mother’s life work. Iris was devastated and offered sanctuary by her godmother, Sylvia Lutton, Lady Vastkern, for the next five years, Iris tries to put her loss behind her and assist the Wimpole Street Widows Society with her botany knowledge and other skills. But when she learns that the Earl of Durand is claiming that her mother’s life’s work is his own and goes a step further to say that she stole his work! Outrage consumes her, and the widows all agree, the man needs to be stopped! But that is easier said than done, first they need to find the stolen papers and that won’t be easy since the earl has hired Oliver Beckett, a former Bow Street Runner to keep his estate secure. And to complicate things even more, Oliver Beckett is the most intriguing man Iris has ever met, and she is falling hard for him!

Oliver Beckett stood by his convictions a year ago and it cost him his livelihood and his family’s security. After almost a year without employment, Lord Durand was the first person to offer him a position and while he doesn’t like or trust the man, he can’t afford to let his personal feeling interfere with his job again. So, when he comes across Iris Rumford spying on Lord Durand’s greenhouses in the predawn hours, he is immediately suspicious and also a bit enamored by her. The more he gets to know her, the more he wants to help her, but doing the right thing in the past has hurt his family and he can’t let that happen again. Will he risk everything for love, or will he play it safe and lose the love of his life to keep his job?

I loved this installment; it is well-written and nicely paced and Iris and Oliver are a wonderful couple who are just perfect for each other. The story has a lot of emotion, a heroine with a compulsive disorder, a hero who would burn the world for her, great secondary characters, a nasty villain, some spice, a lot of love, found family and finally, a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the series, but this book could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would enthusiastically recommend it to my fellow historical romance readers!

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