Tracy’s Reviews – Page 228 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

When a Princess Proposes by Kerrelyn Sparks

Series: Embraced by Magic, #3 (Embraced, #6)

Release Date: April 26, 2022

Since the fall of the Circle of Five peace has reigned on Aerthlan, but now twenty years later, the Seer, Queen Maeve has been having haunting dreams and visions that foretell trouble brewing, especially for the Embraced and King Leo of Eberon. So she sends the royal messenger, an eagle shifter named Quentin to warn King Leo of Maeve’s dreams.

Quentin is both excited and dreads his trip to Eberon because it will bring him in the proximity of the one and only woman who owns his heart – Princess Eviana. Someone who could never be his as he a nobody, an illegitimate sone of servants, but that doesn’t stop his heart from longing for her. He arrives at the castle during King Leo’s birthday celebration and sees Eviana dancing with one of her many suitors. Quen is jealous, but stays in the shadows just watching her – until his friend and fellow Embraced, Lady Olana finds him. Olana’s gift is to make people confess their secrets with just a touch and is the only person who knows Quen is in love with Eviana. She urges him to dance with Eviana, but instead, Quen decides to show Eviana that none of her suitors are worthy of her and convinces Olana to help him, they dance and she “accidentally” touches the would-be suitors and they confess their secrets in front of the entire gathering. But things don’t go as planned when Eviana rushes out of the room.

Eviana has led a very sheltered life and feels trapped. When her suitors begin confessing their secrets, she uses the commotion to run to her sanctuary and escape the pressure to find a husband. When Quentin comes looking for her to apologize, she is drawn to him and asks him to be her friend, a request he immediately rejects and takes off. Later her parents decide after the fiasco at the ball, that it might be best for Eviana to leave for a bit and send her off to visit Norveshka. But when her barge is attacked and she uses her Embraced gift, it is Quen who comes to her rescue.
Quen has learned some disturbing news, someone is killing the Embraced and he is going to inform King Leo when he sees the royal barge under attack. When he finds Eviana, it is clear someone was trying to capture her and he is sure it is the same people killing the Embraced. Despite his misgivings, he and the princess must work together to find out who is targeting the Embraced and stop them. He just hopes he can work closely with her without revealing his secret love. For her part, Eviana is excited to use this time with Quen to convince him they are perfect for each other and protect her family from this new threat.

This is yet another well-written, fabulous installment of the Embraced/Embraced by Magic saga, filled with familiar faces and lots of new ones. The story is filled with intrigue, magic, dragons, shifters, great secondary characters, as well as a secondary romance, a great setup for future books, some extremely nasty villains, and finally a very sweet HEA. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to more installments featuring the next generation of Embraced. This book is the Third (or Sixth, depending on your POV) but it is more like the beginning of a new series and can easily be read as a standalone title. If you enjoy the Fantasy/Paranormal Historical sub-genre, I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

*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.*

Highland Justice by Heather McCollum

Tracy’s rating: 4/4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Sinclair, #3

Release Date: April 26, 2022

Gideon Sinclair, the third son of George Sinclair and known as the Horseman of Justice is returning to Varrich Castle when he comes upon a woman twirling in the falling snow. He approaches and she tries to cover up what she is doing, but when one of her children screams for help – they both follow the sound and Gideon saves a much younger woman from drowning. He insists on taking her home.

Widow Cait Gunn Mckay is terrified that her sister Willa might take ill and die, so much so that she decides to steal some coin from their rescuer, but soon realizes that she stole his ring as well – a ring proclaiming him to be the Horseman of Justice. Worried that he will discover the theft and come for her – leaving her adopted children defenseless. She uses her skills to enter his rooms to return the ill-gotten goods and is caught. But a bone-melting kiss enables her to escape out his window. But Gideon is on to the Orphan’s home matron. He catches her and is ready to pass judgment – but to his shock, the villagers rally around her and make Gideon begin to rethink not only her punishment but his calling.

He is merciful with her and they form a friendship, which quickly becomes more and has Gideon wondering if things are not as black and white as he always assumed. HEA begins to look like a possibility, but when the king arrives and whispers of treason abound, Gideon will have to choose between the woman he has come to love and the king he has sworn to serve.

This third book in the series is an adventure, filled with memorable characters, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, cameos from the other “Horsemen”, lots of villains, a heroine with a unique talent and a big heart, a hero who learns the real meaning of justice, lots of action and a few laughs to keep the book from being too intense. I did think the book started slow and was a little repetitious with the “Horsemen” references, but once Gideon and Cait meet, things get interesting and the pace picks up. This is the third book in the series and could be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the series in order. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I am happy to recommend this title.

*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.*

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