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Review: The Duke and I

Review: The Duke and ITitle: The Duke and I: Daphne's Story
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgerton #1
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Romance
Pages: 464
Source: Library
For: Personal Interest
Rating:
Sexual Content: 3 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince--while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable ... but not too amiable. Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. And, amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society--just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule...

My Thoughts

I decided to read THE DUKE AND I because the audiobook was available to borrow from my library and I really enjoyed watching the first season of BRIDGERTON on Netflix. I’m glad I decided to read the book because it was such a fun, steamy historical fiction.

I really loved the setting of Regency era England, abound with rules and etiquette. It was fun to see some of the characters trying to skirt those rules for a few seconds of privacy. I loved the themes of family, forgiveness, redemption, and love conquering all.

Despite that THE DUKE AND I is a historical romance and takes place during the time of one’s reputation being the most important thing, there are plenty of swoon-worthy moments. I really loved Daphne and her courage to help Simon, the Duke of Hastings, overcome his past trauma, showing him that love is more powerful and healing than anger and resentment. I loved the instant connection and attraction between Daphne and Simon. I especially loved the sexual tension between the two of them.

THE DUKE AND I is not only a historical romance, it’s also a thought-provoking story that deals with hard subjects like child abandonment, child abuse, betrayal, forgiveness, and healing from trauma. Though some of the scenes are hard to read, I thought the story was profound and heart-felt.

The edition I read had a second epilogue written after Quinn received many requests to know how the characters were doing. It’s set 21 years after the events in the main story. Even though I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the life Daphne and Simon had together, I thought it was a bit much due to its length.

I look forward to reading more books in the Bridgerton series and hope that I’ll like Daphne’s family as much as I liked her.

Have you read THE DUKE AND I? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for loss of a parent, death during childbirth, child abandonment, child abuse, miscarriage, and sexual assault.

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Review: Iron Flame

Review: Iron FlameTitle: Iron Flame
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Series: Empyrean #2
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 623
Source: Borrowed
For: Personal Interest
Rating:
Sexual Content: 3.5 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College--Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is--unless she betrays the man she loves.

My Thoughts

After reading FOURTH WING, I needed to read IRON FLAME. Now that I’m done with both and the next book in the series isn’t out until January 2025, I’m wondering why I read these kinds of books before the whole series is out. Waiting is going to be torture.

I always worry a bit when it comes to sequels because so many of them suffer from second-book syndrome where the book is just a stepping stone to the finale with no real meat to it. Thankfully, IRON FLAME was just as good as FOURTH WING if not better. There was more adventure, intrigue, political mayhem, warfare, and lots more romance. It was everything I wanted in a romantasy and sequel.

This book was excruciating to read because of the non-stop suspense and action. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time wondering how it was all going to go down. I loved that Yarros foreshadowed the ending, making it not quite as shocking to me as it was to some, but still just as upsetting. Why, Yarros, why?!

I love the characters in this series, not only Violet and Xaden, but their squad as well. I loved the introduction of the new characters, especially the “Umbridge” of this world. Don’t get me wrong or anything. I hated that new character something fierce, but I loved to hate them because it takes a good writer to make you feel that kind of emotion. I also love Violet’s dragons. Tairn reminds me of my late Daxi-cat who was just as grumpy but still lovable. And, Andarna, oh Andarna. I love her SO much. I loved her “adolescent” attitude, her interactions with Violet and especially Tairn, and her fierce loyalty to Violet despite her youth.

I loved the world Rebecca Yarros has built and I loved it even more in IRON FLAME. I loved learning more about its lore and mythology. Honestly, if I could only read one type of story for the rest of my life, it would be this.

Anyway, just like its predecessor, IRON FLAME has earned a spot as one of my favorite books. I’m so glad my friend let me borrow her books. Now, I’ll be on pins and needles waiting for ONYX STORM!

Have you read IRON FLAME? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for loss of a parent, loss of a sibling, bullying, and animal deaths.

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Review: Bringing Down the Duke

Review: Bringing Down the DukeTitle: Bringing Down the Duke
Author: Evie Dunmore
Series: A League of Extraordinary Women #1
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Romance
Pages: 335
Source: Library
For: Personal Interest
Rating:
Sexual Content: 3.5 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women's suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain's politics at the Queen's command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can't deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

My Thoughts

I decided to read BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE because the audiobook was available to borrow from my library. I’m so glad I decided to read it because it was such a fun, steamy historical fiction.

I really loved the setting of Victorian era England, just at the beginning of the suffragette movement and the admission of women to Oxford. I thought it gave the romance and characters, especially Annabelle and Sebastian, some depth. Not only did I love the theme of women’s rights and equality in BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE, I also loved the themes of friendship, finding one’s own way, and duty to one’s country vs. being on the right side of history.

Despite that BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE is a historical romance and takes place during the time of one’s reputation being the most important thing, there are plenty of swoon-worthy moments. I really loved Annabelle and her willingness to speak her mind even though it was looked down on at that time. I loved the instant connection and attraction between her and Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery. I especially loved the sexual tension between the two of them.

I look forward to reading more books written by Evie Dunmore, including the other three novels in this series. I’m not quite as fond of Lady Lucy, but I’m sure I’ll like her more once I read her story. And, I really loved Catriona and Hattie so I think it’ll be fun to read their happy-every-afters.

Have you read BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for loss of a parent, miscarriage, and sexual manipulation.

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Review: When I’m Dead

Review: When I’m DeadTitle: When I'm Dead
Author: Hannah Morrissey
Series: Black Harbor #3
Genre(s): Thriller
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Book of the Month
Rating:
Sexual Content: 2 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

On a bone-chilling October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, the tragedy hits even closer to home when she makes a devastating discovery--her daughter, Chloe, is gone. But, not without a trace.

My Thoughts

WHEN I’M DEAD was my October 2023 pick for Book of the Month (BOTM) and I read it as part of the BOTM challenge I’m doing this year.

WHEN I’M DEAD isn’t really a sequel to HELLO, TRANSCRIBER and THE WIDOWMAKER because it focuses on other characters. There are a few secondary characters that are in each book, but the main commonality between the three stories is the setting–Black Harbor, Wisconsin. I love the Easter eggs in THE WIDOWMAKER and WHEN I’M DEAD that unite the stories as a series.

I thought the story was captivating, emotional, and suspenseful. I love Morrissey’s prose. It’s so descriptive and beautiful. (Although, if I heard “shadow of a doubt” one more time, I might have screamed.) I really liked that the story’s told from multiple POVs. I loved the different look into what was going on and I thought each POV was unique and made the story better.

Just like its predecessors, WHEN I’M DEAD is a very dark thriller that kept me guessing until the end. It’s thought-provoking and deals with subjects like bullying, suicide, and parent / child relationships.

I really liked the characters in WHEN I’M DEAD. I especially liked Rowan and Axel’s because of their need to find their daughter, Chloe, and their self-doubt in wondering whether they were good parents and really knew their daughter. There was so much more emotion in this story than the previous two, which kept me reading and thinking about the story when I wasn’t.

I’m so glad I read all three books in the Black Harbor series even though I could have just read WHEN I’M DEAD without really missing anything. I look forward to any other books in the series as well.

Have you read WHEN I’M DEAD? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for suicide, bullying, death of a parent, death of a child, and death of animals.

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Review: The No-Show

Review: The No-ShowTitle: The No-Show
Author: Beth O'Leary
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 337
Source: Library
Rating:
Sexual Content: 2.5 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth. These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: They've all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up--Valentine's Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they've all been stood up by the same man.

My Thoughts

Ever since I read Beth O’Leary’s THE FLATSHARE back in 2021, I’ve wanted to read something else written by her. When I was searching for available audiobooks on Libby this last week, I saw THE NO-SHOW and decided to check it out.

I’m so glad I decided to read THE NO-SHOW. I absolutely adored it. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. I was hooked from the get-go because I wanted to know what was going on.

I knew there had to be more to the story than just these three women being stood up by the same man on Valentine’s Day. While I read, I had to look past the obvious and hold to my wonderment of how Joseph was juggling the relationships. I’m glad I held judgment about him because I was well-rewarded.

It’s one of those feelings, happiness. One of the ones you don’t really notice is gone until it comes back.

There is plenty of swoon-worthy moments and sexual tension, but THE NO-SHOW is so much more than just a romance. It’s a story about love, forgiveness, redemption, grief, second chances, and healing. I really loved how O’Leary wrote about mental health and healing from abusive relationships (professional and romantic). It felt real and it felt raw. I loved these characters and I wanted the best for them as I read about each of their lives.

I wish I could put into words all the reasons I loved THE NO-SHOW but I feel like I’ve already said too much and I don’t want to spoil the fun for anyone else. Just know, the story’s worth it. And, if you decide to read it, listen to the audiobook. Each woman and Joseph have their own narrator. I loved listening to all four voices. Anyway, it looks like O’Leary’s on her way to becoming a new favorite author.

Have you read THE NO-SHOW? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for loss of a parent, loss of a loved one, miscarriage, abandonment, stalking, and sexual manipulation.

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