A light, engaging romance with all of the necessary historical trimmings.
In this Regency romance, a carriage crash brings together a reclusive aristocrat with a shady history and a boisterous young woman who has sworn to only marry for love.
Fiona Cavendish flees London during a moment of urgent uncertainty in her life. Her brother, Ted, is a soldier in a war on the continent, injured or perhaps even dead, while her controlling, chauvinistic cousin Harry Albrighton pressures her to marry him to secure her inheritance. And while that money will be forfeited if Fiona is not married by her 21st birthday, she has sworn to only wed for love and will not have her hand forced. Fiona’s carriage crashes when caught in thunderous weather, and her rescuer is a most unexpected and unwelcome surprise—Lord Sheffield, Philip Merton. Philip is a notorious figure among the upper class, both a friend-turned–violent rival to Ted and a widower thought to have been the cause of his wife’s death. But the man who cares for her at his Baroque-influenced estate during her recovery does not match his rakish reputation. Fiona’s smart talk and saucy attitude delight the cynical Philip, and the days of slapstick, chivalry, and verbal sparring quickly endear the two to each other, though both struggle to admit it. Price’s novel contains all the enchanting hallmarks of a Regency romance, complete with period-specific terminology, appropriate hand-wringing about reputation and renown, and a love interest/deuteragonist in Philip, with lots of mystery in his past to unwind. There are real frustrations and charm when Philip and Fiona are interacting, but other characters don’t get quite as much attention, to the story’s detriment. Ted, quite alive, waffles between being shockingly thickheaded and incredibly insightful, while Harry, who seems at worst annoying throughout most of the book, suddenly transforms into a mustache-twirling villain with little foreshadowing. Still, there’s plenty of action, from duels to horse chases. And though the romance never gets too spicy, every touch or kiss between Philip and Fiona feels quite breathtaking considering the emotional chasms they had to cross to get there.
A light, engaging romance with all of the necessary historical trimmings.Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 979-8985583403
Page Count: 166
Publisher: Boomi LLC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
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