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Love the audio as much as I love the books. I can't wait to dive into the next one!
Quick little read but ends on a cliffhanger. I missed book one in this series but the story still came together without it. I will definitely be checking out the next book.
Silent Hearts is the third book in the Hamilton Stables series by Melissa West and it is one of my favorite kinds of stories – friends to lovers. While part of a series, it isn’t completely necessary to read books one and two but I highly recommend you do. Not just because you will then know the characters mentioned, but also because the Hamilton brothers are great characters.
This book’s main characters are Nick and Becca. Nick and Becca have been friends forever and where Nick hasn’t always seen Becca as the woman for him, Becca has definitely viewed him as the man for her. There was a period where Nick was engaged to someone else and I mention this because that relationship, as well as the loss of his parents, have caused Nick to close himself off from relationships a little bit.
I’m on the fence with my feelings about Nick. As the son who has always been focused on taking over the business, Nick does just that when their father dies and this only creates more heartburn for him. He is a solid character but while his area of the business isn’t doing so great, his brothers are becoming more successful and it is clear that he holds that against him. Now – I also don’t blame him for being angry. They went behind his back with some things and that definitely wasn’t cool. Nick’s default is to find Becca when he needs to not think about all the things that are off for him and she is always there for him.
I really liked Becca. She has grown up in Triple Run and has always been seen as Nick’s friend and being a small town, everyone has an opinion about what they are to each other. Of course, almost everyone but Nick can really see what Becca feels for Nick no matter what she says.
I enjoyed Becca and Nick together. With their friendship, she isn’t afraid to call him out on his crap and stand up for herself but still support him the way he needs her to. One of the things West does well (in my opinion) is write the romance and this book was no exception. The build of the more than friends relationship piece was great and as always, I look forward to more from her in this genre.
If you are looking for a quick romance, definitely check this book (and the rest of the series) out. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Melissa West writes wonderful stories and everyone should read them.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
This book’s main characters are Nick and Becca. Nick and Becca have been friends forever and where Nick hasn’t always seen Becca as the woman for him, Becca has definitely viewed him as the man for her. There was a period where Nick was engaged to someone else and I mention this because that relationship, as well as the loss of his parents, have caused Nick to close himself off from relationships a little bit.
I’m on the fence with my feelings about Nick. As the son who has always been focused on taking over the business, Nick does just that when their father dies and this only creates more heartburn for him. He is a solid character but while his area of the business isn’t doing so great, his brothers are becoming more successful and it is clear that he holds that against him. Now – I also don’t blame him for being angry. They went behind his back with some things and that definitely wasn’t cool. Nick’s default is to find Becca when he needs to not think about all the things that are off for him and she is always there for him.
I really liked Becca. She has grown up in Triple Run and has always been seen as Nick’s friend and being a small town, everyone has an opinion about what they are to each other. Of course, almost everyone but Nick can really see what Becca feels for Nick no matter what she says.
I enjoyed Becca and Nick together. With their friendship, she isn’t afraid to call him out on his crap and stand up for herself but still support him the way he needs her to. One of the things West does well (in my opinion) is write the romance and this book was no exception. The build of the more than friends relationship piece was great and as always, I look forward to more from her in this genre.
If you are looking for a quick romance, definitely check this book (and the rest of the series) out. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Melissa West writes wonderful stories and everyone should read them.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
So happy with the way this ended!
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker is the final book in The Witch Hunter duology and if you haven’t read book one, definitely go do that soon. I loved book one so much and it’s fair to say that The King Slayer was one of my must have books to get from ALA. I will do my best not to put any spoilers out there but please know that if you haven’t read book one, I can’t promise the same.
Elizabeth was once one of the King’s best witch hunters but when things go very wrong for her, she ends up partnering up with the people she was once tasked with hunting down. As The King Slayer picks up where book one ended, we know that Elizabeth is now missing the protection and strength that her stigma gave her. What it hasn’t changed is her strength to fight and protect the people she loves and cares about. I love this about her and while it creates a lot of heartache and she continues to put herself in the path of danger, she doesn’t do it without purpose.
The relationship Elizabeth has with those around her is still a sensitive one. While she has stepped up to protect Nicholas, John, and everyone else as needed, she is still someone who did Blackwell’s bidding and most people in Harrow find it hard to trust her completely. The exception would be the group from book one. Fifer and Elizabeth are in a much better place and while things happen in this book that test their friendship and the trust Fifer has for Elizabeth, in the end they are still there for each other and will do what they can to protect each other. And take my word for it, Elizabeth really tests the friendships she has built over the course of her time with them.
I want to take a moment to talk about John and Elizabeth. I love these two together and Boecker had me worried for them throughout the entire book. There are good times for them and there are definitely tough times and as the story nears the end, I wasn’t even sure where Boecker was going to take their story. I’m not going to say anything more on this but the one thing I will say is that I still really love these two and while Boecker challenged them both (together and alone) they both showed growth throughout the story and came out better for it in the end.
Speaking of Blackwell, now that he has taken the throne from the King, things are even more dangerous for Elizabeth. Blackwell doesn’t know she doesn’t have her stigma anymore and he wants her back. Of course, Elizabeth will do everything in her power to make sure he doesn’t find out what has happened and Blackwell has done something she never imagined he would do (UGH – I suck for doing that but…he really did!!).
As war looms and eventually comes, things change for all of these characters and Boecker definitely keeps things moving by loading the story up with a lot of action, great characters, and of course, magic. When things come to a head, no one is safe and as we near the end, Elizabeth is determined to figure out what Blackwell has planned and how she is going to stop him.
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. If you haven’t started this series yet, I encourage you to do so. I really enjoyed it as it had everything I enjoy in good books and once I started, I found myself unable/unwilling to put the book down until I reached the end. I am for sure interested in what Boecker will write next and will be keeping an eye out. Go get this one my friends…I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker is the final book in The Witch Hunter duology and if you haven’t read book one, definitely go do that soon. I loved book one so much and it’s fair to say that The King Slayer was one of my must have books to get from ALA. I will do my best not to put any spoilers out there but please know that if you haven’t read book one, I can’t promise the same.
Elizabeth was once one of the King’s best witch hunters but when things go very wrong for her, she ends up partnering up with the people she was once tasked with hunting down. As The King Slayer picks up where book one ended, we know that Elizabeth is now missing the protection and strength that her stigma gave her. What it hasn’t changed is her strength to fight and protect the people she loves and cares about. I love this about her and while it creates a lot of heartache and she continues to put herself in the path of danger, she doesn’t do it without purpose.
The relationship Elizabeth has with those around her is still a sensitive one. While she has stepped up to protect Nicholas, John, and everyone else as needed, she is still someone who did Blackwell’s bidding and most people in Harrow find it hard to trust her completely. The exception would be the group from book one. Fifer and Elizabeth are in a much better place and while things happen in this book that test their friendship and the trust Fifer has for Elizabeth, in the end they are still there for each other and will do what they can to protect each other. And take my word for it, Elizabeth really tests the friendships she has built over the course of her time with them.
I want to take a moment to talk about John and Elizabeth. I love these two together and Boecker had me worried for them throughout the entire book. There are good times for them and there are definitely tough times and as the story nears the end, I wasn’t even sure where Boecker was going to take their story. I’m not going to say anything more on this but the one thing I will say is that I still really love these two and while Boecker challenged them both (together and alone) they both showed growth throughout the story and came out better for it in the end.
Speaking of Blackwell, now that he has taken the throne from the King, things are even more dangerous for Elizabeth. Blackwell doesn’t know she doesn’t have her stigma anymore and he wants her back. Of course, Elizabeth will do everything in her power to make sure he doesn’t find out what has happened and Blackwell has done something she never imagined he would do (UGH – I suck for doing that but…he really did!!).
As war looms and eventually comes, things change for all of these characters and Boecker definitely keeps things moving by loading the story up with a lot of action, great characters, and of course, magic. When things come to a head, no one is safe and as we near the end, Elizabeth is determined to figure out what Blackwell has planned and how she is going to stop him.
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. If you haven’t started this series yet, I encourage you to do so. I really enjoyed it as it had everything I enjoy in good books and once I started, I found myself unable/unwilling to put the book down until I reached the end. I am for sure interested in what Boecker will write next and will be keeping an eye out. Go get this one my friends…I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!