Category: Standalone Title

The Viking’s Princess Bride by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Medieval - Early (410 - 1066), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Viking's Princess BrideThe Viking’s Princess Bride by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Driven by vengeance, Njal Salversson laid siege to Jorvik, the royal seat of the Saxon King Aelfweard, hoping that defeating the king who ordered the slaughter of his family would finally give him peace. He and his men have been fighting for the past two years and now that the king has been defeated, Njal wants to put the past behind him and find a way for the Danes and Saxon to live together in harmony. The first step to achieve that goal is to marry King Aelfweard’s widowed daughter, Princess Cwen. Marriage was not originally part of his plan, but when he met her on the battlefield, she captivated him like no woman ever had. But Njal has been burned before and trust is hard for him to give, especially when he is sure Cwen is hiding something, and his family loyalty is called into question. Can he find true love and peace with his enemy’s daughter or is he setting himself up for more heartache?

Princess Cwen is used to being a pawn for her father, so a second political marriage doesn’t come as s a surprise to her, but her reaction to Njal is unlike anything she as ever experienced. He makes her want things that are impossible. But lying to Njal doesn’t sit well with Cwen and when she finally lets herself admit what she is feeling is love, it makes lying even harder. But her secrets are not her own and could have ramifications that hurt the people she loves. Can she trust Njal with the truth and will he forgive her deception or will the betrayals in his past keep him from accepting her explanations?

This was a wonderful story set in the Early Medieval era of Anglo-Saxon England. I loved Cwen and Njal, they are both amazing characters, who are willing to forsake their own happiness for the sake of their loved ones. This story has a lot going on including love at first sight, enemies-to-lovers, longing, betrayal, secrets, a heaping dose of angst, family loyalty, heartache, lies, forgiveness, a bit of spice and finally a HEA that seemed almost impossible and even includes a very sweet epilogue. I do wish the story had moved a bit faster, but overall, it was a very good read and one I would happily recommend to fans of Medieval romance.

*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. *

The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), New To Me Author, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

The Wrong Lady Meets Lord RightThe Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title

Release Date: December 10, 2024

When she was only 3 years old, Miss Arabella “Bella” Grant was orphaned and grudgingly taken in by her father’s family. She was raised with her cousin, the timid and bookish Lady Isabelle “Issie” and the two grow to be as close as sisters, but Bella’s Aunt makes sure she never forgets her place. Right before Issie is due to have her debut, her mother dies unexpectedly, leaving Issie a heiress and without a chaperone. The girls stay in the country, finally free of Lady Strickland’s abuse. They are content to live out their lives in the country, but when their mourning period is up, so is their reprieve, when Issie’s Great-Aunt Lucretia, Lady Dutton, insists that Issie come to London for her come out and to find a husband. But once they arrive, Issie is overcome with worry and has a panic attack that renders her bedridden. She convinces Bella to take her place for the few months left in the season, promising no one will find out and then they can return to the country and live in peace.

Bella is not convinced pretending to be Issie is the right thing to do, but she could never say no to her and agrees. She makes the acquaintance of Lord Brooks almost immediately, and learns that he met Issie years ago, so even though she likes him, she is wary that he will figure out her deception and tries her best to avoid him or any man that might be serious about marriage. Simultaneously, Issie has met a handsome young doctor and for the first time in her life is considering a life that contains more than books. Neither girl is being honest with the men that have caught their attention, but there doesn’t seem to be a good time to make things right. When their ruse is revealed, will they both find their HEA or will their lies leave them brokenhearted?

I thought the blurb for this book sounded like it was going to be a light, fun read with lots of laugh out loud moments and a heartwarming romance. Sadly, this book didn’t deliver either of those things to me. I guess if I was a YA reader, I might have found some of the antics amusing, but as a mature HR reader, this story bored me to tears and just had me wishing for it to be done. Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, it was just a light, fluffy, YA romance, with no steam or mature situations, so if you prefer your romances like that, you will probably love this book. However, if like me, you prefer your stories with a bit more heat and substance, I would pass on this title.

*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. *