Category: Standalone Title

Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

On By TracyIn Debut Novel, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

ThistlemarshThistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: April 21, 2026

Though Faeries had not been seen in England for over a century, Misneach “Mouse” Dunne had always been fascinated by Faerie lore thanks to her mother and planned to study Faerie anthropology at university, but life had other plans. When the great war steals her beloved cousin and leaves her brother a mere shell of himself, she abandons her dreams of Faeries and travels abroad to become a nurse and to try and save her brother. But when their uncle dies and she is named as his heir, she returns to Thistlemarsh Hall. If she can meet the terms of her uncle’s will and either restore Thistlemarsh or marry within 30 days, the estate will be hers, if she fails, she loses everything and the estate goes to a much-despised distant cousin. The task seems impossible, until she meets Thornwood and does the one thing no mortal should ever do…make a deal with a Faerie.

Thornwood has been waiting for almost a century to be freed from the spell that frozen him in stone. Now he is free and needs Mouse to help him exact his revenge. But when his magic is thwarted by protection spells, he will need Mouse even more to help him break the spells and restore Thistlemarsh to its former glory. Only then will he be able to find the prize that has kept him motivated for years. He never imagined that he would actually fall for a mortal, but Mouse is unlike anyone he has ever known. But in order to attain his revenge, he will have to betray her and ruin any chance for a HEA.

This was a vivid story by a new to me author. And while I enjoyed the story, I have mixed feelings about this book, I liked the idea of the story and the magic was well defined, but it was a bit wordy, parts of the story dragged and apparently in this England primogeniture doesn’t apply. Mouse and Thornwood have a very slow burn / enemies to friends type of relationship and while they declare their love, I honestly wasn’t feeling the romance. Overall, it was an interesting, immersive read and while it does drag a bit and the romance is very young adult, I did enjoy the book and would happily recommend it to those who enjoy a no-heat fantasy 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. *

 

Fast and Fastidious by R M Caldwell

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

Fast and FastidiousFast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: April 14, 2026

Outwardly, Miss Lucy Elliot fits the mold of the perfect Regency lady, but what drew me in was her secret passion for engineering that made her feel both relatable and refreshingly original to me. Watching her sneak into the Night Races was a highlight; it showed her curiosity and her willingness to challenge the expectations placed on her. Captain Dashwood, her neighbor, is an interesting character, as the story unfolds, I enjoyed seeing new layers to his character and how his interactions with Lucy brought out her strengths. Meg and the rest of Lucy’s friends were unwavering in their support. The story mixes carriage racing with a mystery involving robberies and espionage. There are action scenes and technical details about carriages, and while some readers might find these engaging, I felt that slowed the story down. The Night Races add excitement and help blur class lines, giving the book its unique twist.

Overall, this was a fun Regency adventure with some fresh ideas and entertaining moments. While I admired Lucy’s neurodivergent traits and the way her personality shines through, I sometimes wished the story gave a bit more attention to the other characters who also had so much potential and while Lucy’s perspective made the novel feel personal and heartfelt, I felt it lacked the emotional depth I was expecting and considering this was billed as a romance, I found the story completely lacking romance and ultimately it doesn’t deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for. If you’re looking for a historical story with good character development and a mystery plot, this book is worth checking out. However, if you want a romance-driven read, this is probably not the story for you.

*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. *