thelesbianlibrary's Reviews (357)

The 300-year-long Russian empire has ended, and the Romanov family is imprisoned indefinitely by the citizens it once ruled. Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov is the youngest daughter of the dynasty and, along with her orphaned best friend Andry, is plotting an escape. However, a new watcher has been instated and plans to execute the entire family, with the help of his daughter, Jovie. Yet Jovie and Nastya can’t help growing closer as their time goes on. So when Nastya finds out the White Army has abandoned them, she turns to the only person who could be her ally for help. But despite their connection, Jovie has a duty to her family and her country to kill Anastasia. Will Jovie give in to her brainwashing and betray Nastya? Or will their budding love prevail and save Nastya from meeting the same fate as her family? All the historical thrills and more in The Romanov Affair.

This was an enticing and fast-paced read! The setting was interesting, and I loved the queer-Anastasia retelling. The addition of actual historical letters gave pathos to the story as well. I genuinely wanted to believe that Anastasia survived the executions in real life. The plot pacing held up well for the majority of the book and kept me on the edge of my seat. The main characters were lovable, and you couldn’t help but root for them, even when they made poor decisions. Not to mention, they were all so young and having to face such horrid conditions. It did break my heart whenever I remembered that the majority of the characters were real historical figures. Which was a crucial aspect to maintain, as it added depth to the story. Not to mention, the historical aspect was explained at the end of the book, so you knew who was added in for the story. You can tell so much research and care went into this, as it shows in how detailed the final product is.

The characterization was great, as each one mirrored the reality of brainwashing and having to make decisions that go against your morals. Especially Jovie and her father. You can see her struggling between her love for her parent/country and her empathy for the Romanovs. But despite Jovie’s decisions, she and Nastya were adorable, and I appreciated the care and understanding they showed each other. Although these are just my thoughts, I did feel like their connection was rushed, which is somewhat understandable given the timeline. But I think if there had been maybe more resistance from Jovie’s end in the beginning, it would have felt more realistic. As well as a few more intimate emotional scenes between them. There were many “action” scenes in this book with lots of things happening, but I wanted more context and build-up. Maybe instead of the 50 pages at the end, if there were an extra 50 pages in the middle, it would’ve evened out things a bit and allowed the characters time to build more obvious relationships to the reader. But I mean, this is amazing given that the author is a teenager! When I was that age, I was not writing novels, so, again, these are just my thoughts because this was an interesting book that I devoured in a day.

All in all, this heart-pounding thriller is a great read. From the fast-paced fight scenes to the heart-warming relationships, you will not want to put this book down. Not to mention needing to double-check that Anastasia didn’t survive (or did she?). If you love relatively accurate historical fiction and creative retellings, you are in the right place. Happy reading!

CW: Alcohol, anxiety, attempted murder, blood, bullying, death, child death, death, emotional abuse, genocide, gore, gun violence, homophobia, hostages, kidnapping, murder, physical abuse, discussion of sexual assault, violence, and war.

Thank you to Rae M. Jensen for sending a copy for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lesbian.library on Instagram, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and Youtube.

Ava Bedford is in a rut and stuck serving coffee at a diner in Sandstone, Nevada. But one night after closing, she witnesses a brutal murder involving a rising republican congressman. After barely escaping, Ava reluctantly goes to the police, where she is quickly put into witness protection and shipped off to Cedar Falls, Wyoming. While she hopes the secluded town is enough to keep her safe, she can’t help but feel that something, or someone, is lurking behind every corner.

Sheriff Lou Harman can’t believe she has to find the time and space to hide a person. That’s why she loves Cedar Falls, the quiet predictability and dependable neighbors. So when she has to lie to the civilians she’s sworn to protect about the stranger staying in her guest house, she’s not exactly pleased. But something about Ava gets under Lou’s skin, and she’s not sure she dislikes it. Slowly, as Ava integrates into Cedar Fall’s life, they both begin to see a future together beyond the program, but as friends or more? Can Ava and Lou learn to trust each other before time runs out? Or will the target on Ava’s back prove too dangerous for even the sheriff to handle? All the high-stakes romance and more in Blood and Muscle.

This was the slow-burn thriller I needed! The stakes were high, and the cozy small town was the perfect setting for this romance. I was sucked in from the very first chapter and knew things were going to get crazy for Ava…or should I say Amelia? Also, the author is from the UK, but you would never know based on how American everything feels. The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed their growth. The plot was the slowest of slow burns, but it kept you on the edge of your seat. And the writing style was approachable but not juvenile. If you like stuck-together romances and crime thrillers, you are in the right place!

The characterization of Ava and Lou was great and felt layered, especially for a romance. Although some side characters were a bit one-dimensional, it didn’t necessarily detract from the book. And I think this was because the dialogue felt genuine. The main characters also felt very human; they didn’t always know what to say to help the situation, and they occasionally let their emotions get to them. Like when Lou went off on Ava because she was having a hard day, but later regretted the outburst and apologized. That is a moment I’m sure every couple has had, and it was nice to see that Lou wasn’t perfect, despite how hard she tried to maintain her composure. Between that and Ava’s anxiety, they showcased complex feelings that weren’t rushed or overdramatized.

The plot is another aspect that was well-timed. Although it lulled here and there, the pacing was great and allowed the characters time to grow into themselves and each other. The beginning was a bit hectic, but it made sense given the stakes of life or death. The murder plot added great depth and tension to an otherwise very sweet and cozy romance story. I was even lulled into a false sense of safety towards the end when it seemed like everything was going to be okay. Which is great storytelling because my gut was sure something was going to go wrong, but my brain was so immersed in the story that I let myself be led astray. Which was the author’s intention, so points for that. I am also an absolute sucker for small town romances and this one scratched that itch to no end. Oh, and the sex is worth the wait! My only plot gripe is I can’t get over how idealistic the cops were in this. Which is necessary for the story, but every time they were on top of something or took Ava seriously, I just rolled my eyes because it’s so unrealistic. But that is just my issue because ACAB!

The writing style was perfect for a romance. It wasn’t overly flowery, but it was descriptive. You knew what the characters were experiencing, but it didn’t take away from the main point. It also didn’t go overly in-depth with what the characters were wearing or doing, which some romances lean too hard into. It gave aspects of the character’s looks in places where it made sense, but it wasn’t three paragraphs of outfit and makeup observations. Not to mention, it was pretty gruesome in the beginning. There was a tone shift towards the middle of the book that was much more typical romance, but the initial two or three chapters are an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Although, as I mentioned earlier, there were some duller bits and I did want to skim a few chapters, the writing generally kept me curious about what was coming next.

All in all, this cozy yet crazy romance/thriller hybrid is a must-read. From the sweet romantic rendezvous to the bone-chilling murder, you will not want to put it down. Not to mention booking the next one-way flight to Cedar Falls. If you love slow-burn, stuck-together romances with a murder twist, you are in the right place. Happy reading!

CW: Alcohol, anxiety, attempted murder, blood, bullying, death, discussions of emotional abuse, gore, gun violence, kidnapping, murder, discussions of physical abuse, sexually explicit scenes, stalking, and violence.

Thank you to Elle Alexandra for sending a copy for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more sapphic reviews, follow @the.lesbian.library on Instagram, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and YouTube.

Biphobic and horrible author :(