Very short little smut involving an orc who rescues an enslaved human— by banging her. Fun, but seriously too short for any real amount of story.

Well, this wasn’t my favorite of the series, but that’s not saying much. I still adored Artemis and Bruce Wayne— I mean, Maximus. He is truly the worst at the secret identity game, though. I couldn’t believe it took her as long as it did to figure him out (read: still not very long) with all the hints he was dropping. I also just didn’t understand why he felt like he HAD to marry Penelope. Yes, she was technically more suitable, but Artemis was still the daughter of a viscount, and it’s not like he needed Penelope’s money. So that was sort of a non-conflict that was gumming up the works. I do have to give it up for the villain reveal (my initial thought that I then dismissed), and also for the character of Bathilda Picklewood, who reads as what if Pittypat Hamilton was smart… and English.

Apollo’s side story was so incredibly good as well, and I am VERY excited for his book, plus a last minute reintroduction of Asa Makepeace for the win. I was wondering how we would loop back to him eventually.

Also I partially listened to the audio for this and Claudia Harris is an extremely solid narrator. A definite improvement over the last one. She does have something about her voice that reminds me of Adjoa Andoh on Bridgerton, but I got past that distraction quickly, and she handles the different voices well. I’m quite sorry this is the only Maiden Lane book she’s read, as I noped out of the next book’s audio based on a sample.

Godric and Megs are both characters we’ve come to be familiar with, as well as their grief over their lost loves, so them coming together to live again is just a gorgeous thing to read. I love how well Hoyt weaves the different stories together— I’ve spoiled myself on who the couples are in the series, and the little glimpses you get are chef’s kiss.

I listened to this one partially as an audiobook, and Emma Taylor’s narration just wasn’t for me. She does very well with the descriptions, but her different tones for different characters were jarring. Moulder is said to be in his 30s but she makes him sound like a withered old man, and Phoebe sounded so pathetic I thought she might cry while she was supposed to be gossiping with Artemis.

A sweet little orc romance novella that reads more like a novel, in the best way. Romance novellas often feel rushed to me, and not so with this one. Kuhldruk was thrown into the human realm very quickly and finds Calli, his fated mate, but I still felt like we spent time with both of them and they with each other. The worldbuilding was fast but still felt like we got most of the pertinent details.

This was my first Mary Warren/Mary Jane Darling book, and I did feel like maybe I was missing something not knowing the references to her previous works (also the pen name change seems a little confusing if things take place in the same universe), but I enjoyed it greatly and I’ll definitely be picking up more!

This series has me losing my damn mind. ELIZABETH HOYT, never before have I nearly CRIED during a sex scene. How very dare you! (In the best way!)

Silence’s story culminates here after growing through the last two books, which works so gorgeously. (I’m very glad I never read these out of order!) The relationship between her and Mickey O’Connor (a walking red flag of an MMC if I’ve ever read one) starts in a very low place, but manages to redeem itself beautifully. I love how Hoyt writes these characters also, none of them are without flaws and there’s a lot of era-appropriate ideals and misconceptions (Silence’s insistence on the healthful benefits of boiled beef here was a great example). The Makepeace siblings (with the notable exception of Asa) are very pious, but that isn’t painted as a virtue, and finding a happy medium between their morality and their partners’ darker lifestyles is always the endgame.

I’ve got a few other things to read before I dive back into Winter’s story, but it’s hard to take a break, I’m so invested!!