Both of these characters embodied that word: lovable. I adored this third installment of the Brotherhood series and wow am I just whisked away into these stories each time.

Once again I love how unique these set-ups are. Often I feel the historical romances I pick up are pretty similar in dynamics. I looove that this had the love interest as a gentle giant who could box and paint. And even more so that the heroine was a Lady who was in a “man’s position” for the time period. It was wonderful seeing these two collide and help each other rise from some of the heartaches of the past. I do wish there was a little more focus on the romance in this book, buuut it was still amazing and the ENDING. I was tearing up and the sweetest sentiments exchanged between Ewan and Violet.

I love that throughout the series is this bond of male friendship between the brotherhood. It’s been adding mystery and intrigue with solving more of the story of the ship that sank on their prior voyage and the reveals in here have been excited to see where this series will continue to go.

This has been an amazing series so far and I can’t wait for the next!!

 

FRUSTRATING.

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If you’re going to call a book enemies to lovers, you better give me some enemies. This was NOT THE CASE. The forgiveness/kiss came waayyy to soon and then I was left upset with the rest of the book.

Within the rest of the book were some sweet moments. I’ll give it that. I liked most aspects of the relationship and interactions. There’s my good thing. Oohh, I did also love the design aspects! That was a nice plot point and I loved learning about things through Grace.

The rest was a slow slog to the standard conflict and eh reconciliation. Some of the drama worked well and other parts of it seemed childish and soap opera like through the altercations. Just a lot here that I couldn’t recommend. Moving on.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: closed door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gaslighting, strained mother/daughter relationship 

I am forever attached to Harmon and her writing magnificence. The beauty and portrayal of the nuances of every aspect of her stories is immersing and impossible to turn away from. The moment this dropped onto my kindle I read it was quickly as I could as once again, I have nothing but good things to say.

AH THE ROMANCE. If you love a good age gap romance, this one is for you. I looooved the way that Dani and Michael came together. Through learning about each other’s backgrounds, to the slow forced proximity of their situations. And at last to the clashing of their souls has love took them under. It was everything subtly beautiful I love in a romance. I constantly needed more of them because each interaction pulled at my heart and while I loved Dani and Michael separately, I also loved the way they stood together.

The gritty murder mystery throughout was definitely hard to read in the dark at times. A bit gruesome and will keep you on your toes. I constantly was waiting for the other foot to drop and for the those final throw down scenes to ramp up my heartrate. Don’t worry, IT HAPPEEND. I liked the conclusions that were brought through to the end to tie up things for a book (even with the author’s note at the end explaining creative differences for the sake of the story).

This review is already a lot longer than my usual because I can’t STOP. I loved everything about this story. Amy Harmon writes historical romances like no other.

 

BEST OF THE BUNCH.
I love Jorgen so dang much.

Can't believe I still have another year before this series finale.

GREAT ROMANCE.

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Wonderful that this book was a romance because that was definitely the best part of the entire book. I was completely wrapped up in these two star crossed lovers. They were very sweet on each other and all of these tense, yet soft, moments between them had me absolutely swooning.

It also approached a lot of different topics from racism and colonialism to conversing with spirits and falling in love. I did think the spirts sub-plot was a bit out there and didn’t necessarily fit with the book. The author’s note cleared some of that up, but it still didn’t mesh for me with the rest of the story.

I loved that Evelyn was an excellent horse woman and found her way in society. I liked her growth as a character and that she found a supportive friend group. I LOVE good friend groups and now I want to read the next books in this series so I can get everyone’s story.

The audio book was great, DUAL POV and dual narrators too!! Always my favorite aspect of romance books.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: light
- Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, micro-aggressions, colonialism 

NEW HISTORICAL FAV.

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Wowwww goodness me, I LOVED THIS. This had all the tropes I love y’all. All the romance I love and more.

This was a combination of a bit of second chance, IT WAS ALWAYS YOU, major forced proximity and more. I loved the vibes between a supposed rake and an incredibly intelligent bluestocking. Their chemistry was heated from the moment the banter began and I was here for every dang moment between them. I loved forced proximity because it allows so much more conversation and interactions that give me all the feels.

Not to mention what had me up in my feels was the passionate arguments leading to my favorite kind of confessions. It was just all so good. SO GOOD. Rafe is a wonderful love interest and I loooooove that this series is dual POV. A treasured must have for romances.

The plot was thickening between the Brotherhood and I like that this subtle mystery plays out in the background of the larger story between the two main characters. I liked the reveals and how the conflict and closing scenes were accomplished. The writing is amazing and I will without a doubt be continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gaslighting, extortion, a mother with depression (and on page depictions), emotional abuse 

There is something so satisfying about finishing a series. Especially when the last book concludes the things you need to close the book and appreciate all the words you’ve read.

I am just smitten with this romance. I adore Jeric and Imari. I would have loved even MORE of them because every time they graced the pages I would swoon. I loved all of the quiet moments and a lot of those ending scenes where they both fought for the love between them. Jeric never game up on Imari and I AM HERE FOR IT.

There were many points of view (I think even more than book two?) and it was nice getting different angles of the impending final battle. Seeing characters make turn arounds, finding new love, and coping with big changes. I have enjoyed this entire cast. The protagonists and antagonists. Both played their roles well which gave to an intense finale.

The first half was a bit slow for me as most of it was travel based (which is never a strong trope for me). By about halfway things definitely started picking up as kingdoms unraveled and the great deceiver maxed out the dial on their plans.

This series has been stunning all around and I am so happy to have found it! Available on KU and a great read for new adult fantasy lovers!

 

DULL.

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I kept waiting for this book to get better, a second half save so to speak, but alas, it did get better, but I’m still not convinced of what the plot truly was for this story.

The spooky atmosphere was great. I liked the ghouls and a house with a curse. All of that were the tidbits that kept me going (and the fact it’s a super quick audiobook). And also the audiobook was great narration too! Some of the story aspects were interesting. I liked the reveals towards the end, even if by then I was over the book.

Everything just seemed somewhat scattered. Olivia doing things over here, trying to find her parents over there, sleuthing out a supposed curse on her new home and meeting family members she didn’t know she had. There’s plenty of potential here, I felt that things never fully came together though in the end.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Paranormal/Mystery
- Language: none
- Romance: none
- Violence: light
- Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, near death experiences, loss of parents 

VERY ENJOYABLE.

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I just really liked this book. I kept thinking that as I turned the pages. The writing brought on this need to catch every word and lean into every nuance of this story. I’m already excited to see what the next book in this series holds.

The banter between Miller and Hattie was perfectly sassy and charming. It’s very much low angst, but high tension. There’s a build to them coming together. A push and pull as Hattie copes with a lot of her past to actually let Miller in. And oh my goodness, don’t we love a man who keeps showing up? THE ANSWER IS YES. I adored Miller and the chemistry these two had together.

I struggled a bit with the plotline involving Hattie’s birth father. I saw the connections towards the end, but during the saga I always wanted to slide by those pages because I was frustrated with the decision making. Luckily it’s not a huge aspect and the other themes in this book were strong and passionate. Lots of focus on mental health, caring for veterans and finding love again. Not to mention, two cute nieces who were a nice added touch.

Great read of reluctant lovers and childhood friends meeting on the same soil again. Lots to love about this one.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-outs
- Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, PTSD, suicide (off page, but is a theme throughout), cheating 

STARTED STRONG.

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This got off on a really great foot. I thought the banter was fun between Drew and Josh (though there were some really odd and distasteful jokes that I did not love). They had some chemistry from the beginning and I was fairly smitten.

Josh is the gruff, protective type and I looooved all of those moments when that side came out. Those moments were the highlight throughout. Drew was a bit all over the place. I liked her most of the time, but towards the end some of her decisions had my tilting my head.

Aaaaand then we come to the last quarter of the book where it all of a sudden got over the top dramatic. Unnecessarily dramatic. At that point my connection with the relationship had kind of dwindled and I was ready for everything to be over. It ended really quickly and luckily a small epilogue helped.

It’s a sweet romance a lot will love even if everything didn’t hit well for me.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: some
- Romance: multiple open door
- Violence: a little
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, drug use, mentions of suicide of a parent (off page, but discussed), parent with cancer