I wasn't sure how this story would be. Thorne and Kate are in previous books and their relationship is described almost like an enemies feel (from what I remember anyway, it's been forever since I read the earlier books). He is a commander for the militia. He doesn't give her a second glance except to imply her music lessons with her pupils are painful for him. Cold, with no personality, he is a man most avoid, though he's been a constant figure in Spindle Cove. I really enjoyed Thorne. I love those men that seem hard as stone with no emotions. Until that heroine cracks that facade. The passion simmering underneath in this man is wonderful. And it's all for Kate.

Kate is an orphan that truly just wants to belong. She knows she has a past out there just waiting to be remembered. I liked Kate, yet she annoyed me. She wasn't unpleasant exactly, but she acted rather...young?

This was one story where I actually really enjoyed the secondary characters instead of being irritated at their existence. The Gramercy family was wonderful. I'd like a whole series about each of them. From Lark's debut, to Harry's partial cross dressing, Evan's seething, right up to Aunt Marmoset having her own spice drop filled novella.

Overall I found this book really pleasant. I have heard it was not a favorite of many for the series so I think my expectations for it were lower. Also I've been reading quite a few 3 star reads for me. That has all helped this book shine all the more to me. I found myself reading this with a smile on my face for most of it. It didn't quite have the laugh out loud humor of some of her other stories but it was still light, funny, and fun. I wasn't 100% in love with this story, yet there was nothing specifically 'wrong' with it. I think it just didn't inspire quite the level of feels, angst, and tension I adore in a 5 star book. But still I liked it more than the first book in the series.

I give 4.5 rounded to 5.

So I definitely read this series out of order, this being my first book I've read in this series. There's a few spoilers for the earlier books so perhaps a better series to read in order if that matters to you. (Not serious spoilers, but basic plot things that have happened in the first 2 books.) I liked this book so much, I bought the first two in the series as well.

Evelyn, or Eve has the hero likes to call her, has been sheltered from this world. Born a bastard, she has had the love of her mother and upon her death, the love of her father who she moved in with. This has given her a rather skewed view of the world and her place in it unfortunately. There is so much she doesn't know about, so much she hasn't experienced, and so much she's unprepared for because of her birth. She thinks upon her father's death she will be able to rely on her half brother, the new earl. But her brother's betrayal is harsh and devastating, sold to the highest bidder for his own selfish ends.

But let's get to the real star of this book for me. Rafe. Sigh. He's one of my favorite types of heroes. He has a hard past. Dark secrets. He's lived a rough and dangerous life. No one has loved him and if they have they are gone. His heart is locked away. He cares for no one, or so he thinks.

He's invited to partake in the buying process of Eve, though she has no idea what is going on until it's too late. Eve and Rafe are perfect for each other. She brings out his protective instincts from that first moment. And they never stop, he can't stop thinking of Eve, doing things for her, putting her first. She is so innocent and gentle for him. It's a beautiful love story. So much of the book is spent in his head and from his perspective, I love love love books that do this. It was wonderful watching Rafe fall for Eve. Every step further his heart was opening to her and he was healing from his past. It was wonderful.

I’ve heard so many people say Kerrigan Byrnes The Scot Beds His Wife was their least favorite in the series. I was so curious why. I find that I am in that boat as well.

The first 100 pages I thought were great. I was enjoying both characters a lot. I liked getting to know the heroine, Samantha’s, background. I did read The Highlander, and you get to meet Gavin and I was quite excited for his story.

The heroine totally ruined this story for me. You know how sometimes you just do not click with a character? This was it 100% for me. Sam is a foul mouthed American that comes to Scotland to aid a friend. She becomes the focus of Gavin as she is residing on land that he has been longing to own.

Most of Kerrigans books contain the f word, which doesn’t bother me (in fact I like it used sparingly in historical romance) but there is a lot in this book. So if you cannot abide it, probably skip this one. I will say, I read “Get the f*** off my land!” Like 5 too many times in this book...

I felt for Sam when she was first introduced. I thought she’d be a wonderful feisty match for Gavin. However, it seemed to me that after she was moved into her Scotland home her character totally changed. Just rude, obnoxious, f this, f that. Maybe I just find Americans annoying 😂😂 wait I’m American maybe I am this annoying as well and don’t want to face it 😂 but the heroine from Maya Rodale’s Chasing Lady Amelia, the hero from Karen Ranney’s The Texan Duke (or as I like to call it, Cowtopia), even Lillian from one of my favorites Lisa Kleypas’ It Happened One Autumn grated on my nerves a bit. So perhaps a personal dislike that won’t affect others.

Anyway, the book culminates with Sams past catching up to her and a rather HUGE lie/deception that I just basically found unforgivable. It worked out in the end but I think Gavin deserved so so much better.

I gave 3 stars because it had a lot I liked about it too. I enjoyed the secondary characters immensely. It has the tension and steam I love from this author.

Now I’m halfway done with The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo, and so far it’s my favorite of the whole series 😍

I really loved the beginning of this book. I enjoyed seeing a commoner heroine with a Duke, and I liked both main characters.

As it continued I just wanted a little more from Lorraine Heath...a little more details, more time inside the hero’s head, more passion between them.

I loved the middle of the book when it takes a turn with Harry. Loved Harry and loved how sweet the Duke was. It totally is a love story and there were so many parts that were ever so sweet.

The ending I hated. Hated! To have the Duke have that dark secret, then to have it resolved as a misunderstanding in one paragraph by someone the Duke doesn’t even trust...was just ridiculous. It should have been done justice, the Dukes feeling s, there should have been angst, or it shouldn’t have been in there at all. It wasn’t a huge part of the book other than making him “dark and mysterious” which could have been done without that side plot. The amount that whole situation enraged me is....ugh.

I also just didn’t love the end period. I thought it was drawn out when it didn’t need to be and just dumb how there was so much push and pull...after everything they had been through. Could have been a wonderful book.

I am pretty disappointed in this book. And the big reason is the title. Plant based foods are just that, foods from plants. They may not necessarily be healthy (chocolate, oils, sugars, etc) but they come from plants. This book is not totally plant based. It's mostly plant based. It has a very large amount of recipes, stating 175. At least 25% of these are not plant based as they include eggs, milk and cheese. The rest are 'vegan'. I find this confusing. It does state in the intro of the book that some recipes are vegetarian. I strongly believe this should be stated either on the cover, or back cover, which says nothing about it. I would be upset if I bought this having an expectation of what plant based is and then had at least 1/4 of the book not be that. To me, that's disappointing.

The other thing that confuses me about this book is there seems to be no rhyme or reason to what is a plant based recipe or not. Some recipes call for soy milk or vegan cream cheese and then another will use all animal ingredients. I don't understand the purpose of this. It would seem like it would stick with one or the other, either use all dairy for dairy products or make the whole book plant based and use vegan dairy products. There's also some recipes that are mixed and it will call for a dairy product and then a vegan dairy product. In the same recipe. So confusing....Also what is soy cream? I have been experimenting with vegan foods for a decade now and don't even know what that is...

Other than those aspects, which are pretty large issues for me, the book is pretty good. I'm thinking this wouldn't be the best for a smaller dorm lifestyle, as recipes call for ovens, food processors, dutch ovens, stovetops etc. So I think if you have a full kitchen you will be able to make most of these. The ingredients aren't crazy or hard to find (other than soy cream...what IS it?? ) The recipes are pretty good, some basics mixed with some fancier stuff. It has a nice variety of recipes and a lot of selection for each section.

The pictures leave something to be desired. Only 24 photos in the whole book. That's only like 13% of recipes. But some people don't care about that. I definitely like to see pictures.

So overall okay. I think it should state vegetarian on the front of the book and I don't think the title should be plant based.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions of the book are my own.

What an amazingly fun and unique cookbook! I am not a wiccan, or follow any of these rituals religiously, but I found all the information fascinating. A bit of background on crystals and chakras and how to utilize these for a whole body/life enhancer. Plenty of fun recipes for unique and quality drinks. The pictures are gorgeous and enticing.

Recipes are separated into seasons. This makes it easy to find something fun for a holiday party or in alignment of a solstice. Recipes include advanced magic using tarot cards and also which energies a drink focuses on.

I really loved everything about this book. I can't wait to order a physical copy to display. It's so fun.

Thank you NetGalley for the introduction to Julia Halina Hadas' amazing cocktail world. All thoughts on the book are my own.