Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

Snowed in with the Scoundrel by Kat Sterling

On By TracyIn American Historical, American Progressive Era, Christmas, Historical Rom-Com, Novella, Part of a Series, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Snowed in with the Scoundrel: A Steamy, Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers Historical RomComSnowed in with the Scoundrel: A Steamy, Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers Historical RomCom by Kat Sterling

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: December 18, 2023

When budding photographer Imogen “Genie” Radford is very publicly jilted by her fiancé, she decides to take refuge in her family’s cabin, far from the prying eyes of Seattle society. She expects peace and solitude, with time to lick her wounds from both the jilting and a poor showing at a recent photography exhibition, but what she finds is a very naked man in her bed! It only takes a minute to realize that she knows this man – he is her childhood best friend and first love, Tommy Solberg, the son of her family’s former cook and the man she has not seen since the night five years ago when he broke her heart. With recognition comes anger and suspicion, she wants him gone, but under it all she still feels something for him, all the more reason for him to go. However, the weather isn’t cooperating, and no matter how angry she is, she can’t send him out in a storm that would surely kill him.

Tommy can’t believe that this is happening, he needs to get to Seattle as soon as possible, everything he has done since the night he broke her heart has led to this moment and his future depends on it. He isn’t sure how he is going to be able to stay in the same cabin with the only woman he hasn’t been able to forget and a woman he can never have. At first, they avoid each other, and things are awkward, but eventually, they figure it out and soon it’s like they never parted and the need to get back to Seattle doesn’t seem as urgent any longer. But once they cross the line between friends and lovers, he knows that he will have to walk away because just like years ago, he knows he isn’t good enough for her, no matter how much he wishes it wasn’t true. It isn’t until he walks away that he realizes he has made a huge mistake and hopes it isn’t too late to fix it.

This was a lovely story of childhood friends, second chances, and supporting the dreams of one you love. This story is filled with laughter, photography, books, steamy love scenes, lots of snow, second chances, and finally the promise of a happily ever after. The story is a relatively short novella, but Ms. Sterling executes the book perfectly by beautifully filling in the backstory between Genie and Tommy, so the reader completely understands how they met and what drove them apart, as well as what they have each been doing since they last saw each other. I loved this story and devoured the book, reading it in one sitting, and hated reaching the end because I didn’t want it to be over! This was a standalone title by a new to me author and I am hooked and can’t wait to check out her backlist!

*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.*

Her Wicked Knight by Jen Bradlee

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Her Wicked Knight (Prince of Whispers Trilogy #0)Her Wicked Knight by Jen Bradlee

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Prince of Whispers, Prequel

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Marian Ravenwood of Ravinell travels to the court of King Henry to plead for help in fighting the raiders who are attacking Ravinell. Her father, Baron Ravinell is ill, something Marian doesn’t want to become public knowledge, it is up to her to protect the holding. She is greeted at court by her neighbor, Baron de Bough, who sympathizes with her about the attacks, noting that only her lands have been targeted and even suggests that they marry, an offer she has already declined. She is holding out hope that the King will send a contingent to Ravinell, therefore sparing her the need to accept Baron de Bough. While waiting, she hears whispers of the King’s champion, Sir Guy Silverthorne a knight known far and wide as “The Grim Knight”. But when the two meet, it is certainly not love at first sight and Marian is then horrified when King Henry assigns Sir Guy to Ravinell. She sets out to ignore him, even though she secretly finds him fascinating and is attracted to him. They return to Ravinell to find Marian’s father is much improved and is delighted that Sir Guy has come. This will make things harder for Marian, as she is keeping some very big secrets and isn’t sure if she can trust Sir Guy.

Sir Guy Silverthorne is a bad man who has done heinous things for King Henry, things that haunt him and have surely damned his soul to hell. He knows he is not worthy of a woman like Marian, but despite that knowledge, he is not only attracted to her, he is intrigued by her. He knows she is keeping secrets and finds the fact that only Ravinell is being attacked by the raiders suspicious. When he learns her secret, he agrees to help her for a price, he wants her in his bed…forever. Guy has to walk a fine line with Marian, he is sure he knows who is behind the raids, but he needs proof, and even that might not be enough to stop the traitor and save the woman he has come to love.

This was a well-written, nicely paced, intriguing Enemies to Lovers tale and is the prequel to the Prince of Whispers series featuring Ruby’s parents. I was pulled into the story from the start and could barely put it down, the book is filled with wonderful characters, intrigue, secrets, lots of action, steamy love scenes, evil villains, betrayal, loss, love, and finally a happy-ever-after that didn’t seem possible. I loved this book and enthusiastically recommend this title to historical romance lovers who enjoy some steam in their romances! This book is the prequel to the Prince of Whispers series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone title. Enjoy!

*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.*