Mini Reviews: How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas & A Highland Ghost for Christmas by Jo-Ann Carson

After a snowstorm grounds her flight, Lucy makes a last-ditch effort to get home for Christmas using a rideshare app. She thinks she’ll be taking a road trip with a stranger … but the guy who shows up is someone she knows all too well. He’s the hookup she ghosted a few months ago, and now she’ll be stuck in a car with him for the most awkward road trip of her life.

 

Making matters worse, he’s even more gorgeous than she remembers—too bad things between them are frostier than the North Pole. Will the long ride home allow them to get to know each other in surprising new ways? And more importantly, will the season warm things up and send sparks flying yet again? Whatever happens, one thing is clear: It’s going to take a whole lot of Christmas magic to unlock their guarded hearts.

 Publisher: Audible  | Narrators: Jason Clarke, Andi Arndt | Length: 5 h 24 min. | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 3.5

If you’re looking for a fun, quick, slightly cheesy Christmas rom-com, this is the book for you. Imagine having to share a rideshare with your one-night stand then getting stuck in a Christmassy little town full of zany residents while trying not to fall for the guy you ghosted. While I did enjoy the majority of this one, it had a few minor issues (mainly the cause of the conflict not being strong enough and a few odd things at the end) but nothing that couldn’t be overlooked.

Overall, it wasn’t the best book in the world but it was fun, especially for an end of the year read. Think of this as a PG-13 Hallmark movie, they’re not the best but they make the season bright. 

Jilted by her fiancé, librarian Maddy Jacobson is nursing a broken heart, when her best friend gives her an early Christmas present. Intended to be a fun, psychic reading in a spooky, tea house, the gift turns out to be life changing. Maddy becomes haunted by a mischievous, Highland ghost.

Ruggedly handsome, Cullen Macfie, the Highlander, has been dead for over three centuries, and never in all those years has he been so attracted to a woman, as he is to Maddy. He falls hopelessly in love and decides to woo her.

Can there be a future for a librarian and a naughty, Highland ghost?

Series: Gambling Ghosts #1 | Publisher: | Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance  | Source: Purchased  | Rating: 2.5

A haunted teahouse, a Highlander ghost, and a brokenhearted librarian have a festive holiday season while trying to heal her broken heart.

 

This was a cute concept for a novella and made for a quick, light read. While it was fun, it was a bit over the top and not fully developed. The ending was a little out there, but this concept was a little out there, and, for some reason, there’s a lot of baking going on in such a short amount of time. We’re also treated to a lot of Gaelic quotes straight from Outlander.

 

Winter Wonderland Book Tag

Hello, Lovelies, and welcome back! It’s been cold and snowy in Ohio, which means it’s time for The Winter Wonderland Book Tag. This tag was created by I’m All Booked Up and, unfortunately, I cannot find the blog to tag the original creator. The rules are simple: answer the prompts and tag other bloggers, which I won’t be doing. If you’d like to join in, please feel free to create your own post or leave your answers in the comments as I would love to see your answers.

 

Now, on to the Winter Wonderland Book Tag

 

 

1) Look out the window, it’s snowing! Find a book with snow on the cover.

 

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley 

A group of friends stranded in the Scottish Highlands while a murderer is on the loose makes this the perfect winter thriller.

 

2) The fire is roaring in the fireplace. Pick a cozy read to enjoy by the warmth of the fire.

The Cowboy Cookie Challenge 

by Lori Wilde (Twilight, Texas #16) This was such a cute and cozy holiday romance.

 

3) Winter is time for outdoor sports. Find a book that features a winter sport.

 

Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley 

As soon as I heard about this one, I was intrigued. While it’s on my TBR list, I’ve not started it yet so here’s the blurb…

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a modern single man in possession of a hockey jersey may be exactly what a Regency woman needs to avoid the shackles of marriage...

 

Goalie for the Austin Regals, Tucker Taylor is benched due to health issues. So he decides to visit his sister in England. But an accidental plunge into an icy pond thrusts him back to 1812 where he comes face to face with a captivating blue-eyed woman who regards him as if he’s grown two heads.

 

Lizzy Wooddash dreams of a life surrounded by books, engaging conversation, the presence of literary icons like Jane Austen, and... nary a husband in sight. But in Regency England, only widows like her cousin Georgie enjoy freedom and solitary pursuits, unencumbered by expectations. The only way to quickly become a widow is by marrying a dying man or killing a perfectly healthy one, neither of which Lizzy desires.

 

A visitor from the future might just be the husband of her dreams. Once married, they can figure out how to return Tucker to his proper time, and his absence—aka death—will make Lizzy the widow she always dreamed of becoming. Yet as sparks ignite, they soon realize that matters of the heart rarely adhere to carefully laid plans. Can their love stand the test of time, or will Lizzy get exactly what she wanted...as well as a broken heart?

 

4) Winter means the start of a new year. What is one book that is on your TBR list this year?

Oh my goodness, I have so many books on my 2024 TBR that I haven’t read but if I had to pick just one I think it would be The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. I’m itching to read this book but, at the same time, I’m wanting to wait until there’s another book from the All Souls Series on the horizon as it’s a series I’m not ready to say goodbye to.

 

5) If you’re not careful, winter weather fun can cause frostbite. Pick one book that was a major disappointment.

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch  

Normally I love her historicals, but this one was just an odd book that didn’t find its footing.

 

6) But by going outside, you can find comfort in a warm beverage. What is your go-to comfort book that never fails to cheer you up?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte will forever be my London Fog, my cozy sweater, and warm blanket. I absolutely love everything about the classic.

 

 

7) Winter comes to an end and spring emerges. Name a book that you want to read before springtime?

There’s so many…but I’m eager to read A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene. It’s been sitting on my TBR stand just begging me to pick it up and, as it’s an Irish Folk Fantasy, it seems fitting to read as spring emerges.

Designs on You by Jaci Burton

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

 

Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.

 

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is...her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.

Series: See below* | Publisher: Berkley Romance |  Release Date: 12/03/2024 | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher | Rating: 3.5

A single mother, a slightly younger man, two young children, and an adorable rescue pup? Yes, please!

When newly divorced Natalie finds herself agreeing to decorate her sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s new place, she’s thrilled to have a new project. What she’s not so thrilled about is Eugene and the attraction they share. While she does not want to get into another relationship, there’s no harm in a little fun. There’s no denying that Eugene’s enamored by Natalie and more than ready for a good time but he has to convince her he’s in for more than just a little fun.

I always enjoy Jaci Burton’s books so I knew that I was in for a good time but I was a bit worried as Natalie wasn’t a favorite of mine in the previous book. Thankfully, she’s changed in this one.

Natalie’s been through some things and she’s trying to figured out who she is and what direction she’s taking with her life. She’s starting a new career, healing things with her sister and mother, and trying raise two young children on her own. She’s also determined not to enter into another relationship. Natalie has a lot of fight and determination in her and, while it’s not a bad thing, it seems to interfere with her happiness at times.

Eugene’s easy to like, which surprised me given his job as a video game designer. I’ve known a few game designers who have been very immature so I wasn’t expecting a lot of maturity from Eugene, so I was pleasantly surprised at how adult he was and how eager he was to enter into a relationship with a single parent. He’s just a fun, charming, family-first guy but I don’t feel that we really go to know Eugene down to his core.

There’s no denying there was chemistry from the start and they fit perfectly into each other lives but Natalie was cautious, which I understood. What I struggled with was how much Natalie was in her own head. Every time something great would happen between the two of them, Natalie would start an inner monologue of why they wouldn’t work. She also made too big a deal out of the fact he was younger than her but it was only 5 years, which I don’t feel is a major difference. I also found the conflict lacking, as it could have been settle with a conversation, which is something I’ve noticed in several of her romances.

I’m on the fence about rating this one. I think I’m going to settle on a 3.5. While I liked this one, I don’t feel that it was a romance but rather a women’s lit with a side of romance due to all the issues Natalie was going through. I also feel like too much of book took place in Natalie’s head.

Overall, I do recommend this one. I enjoyed it but it did have its issues.

  

*I want to say that while this is labeled as a ‘stand-alone’ this does follow Housebroke and they are connected. While you don’t have to read one to follow the other, I do recommend that you read them in order just to get a better sense of the characters and their behavior. I can’t seem to find a title for this series, and I’m not sure if there is one, but if you know what it’s called, please let me know. 

Book Un-Haul Round 1

It’s started…the great book un-haul. I’m surrounded by books and, while I wouldn’t mind living in a library, I need to have a bit of a sort out and get my books organized. While I’ll never be a minimalist, especially when it comes to books, this un-haul is a must.

 

What am I getting rid of?

Duplicates. I didn’t realize I have so many duplicates. Occasionally I pick up special editions of books, which I don’t mind, but I have several copies of random mass-markets and trade paperbacks that I will be un-hauling.

Books I have on audio or e-book. I’m not getting rid of every book I have on audio/e-book but I will be un-hauling the books I would rather listen to or won’t read in physical form.

Books I won’t read again/didn’t like. There’s so many books that, while I enjoyed them, I know I won’t read them again and I can’t justify keeping them. The same goes for books that I read and didn’t like.

Books I have no interest in reading. My TBR pile is more like a mountain and it’s completely out of control. One of the new features of the blog will be the series ‘Read It or Un-haul It’ where I’ll pick four books from my TBR totes, read the first few chapters then decide if I’ll read it or un-haul it.

 

What am I doing with the books?

The books will go to family, friends, and the Little Free Libraries in my area. If I un-haul a special edition, I’ll probably post it for sell.

 

To make sure the books go where they’re supposed to, I have boxes that I’m filling for friends/family and a tote bag for the Little Free Library books. Once the boxes are filled, I take them out to the car so I can drop them off the next time I’m out. The books for the Little Free Libraries are dropped off every Friday. 

 

 

1. Watching You by Lisa Jewell
2. Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
3. For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
4. Not by Boy by Kelly Simmons (DNF)
5. The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson (DNF)
6. Nobody’s Princess by Erica Ridley (extra copy)
7. Secrets by Fern Michaels (DNF)
8. No Way Out by Fern Michaels (DNF)
9. Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch (extra copy)
10.  Nuts by Alice Clayton
11.  Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton
12.  Buns by Alice Clayton
13.  The End of Her by Sheri Lapena
14.  Justified by Jay Crownover
15.  Moondance Beach by Susan Donovan (DNF)
16.  Unbroken Cowboy by Maisey Yates
17.  Sustained by Emma Chase
18.  Overruled by Emma Chase
19.  Appealed by Emma Chase
20.  Sidebarred by Emma Chase
21. Breaching the Contract by Chantal Fernando
22.  Seducing the Defendant by Chantal Fernando
23.  Death at the Party by Amy Stuart
24.  Enchant the Dawn by Amanda Ashley (DNF)
25. Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper  (have audiobook)
26.  Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper (have audiobook)
27.  The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (extra copy)
28.  The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (extra copy)
29.  The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths (extra copy)

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

Help Wanted: Grumpy Mountain Man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only. Surrogate must be impervious to grunting in the form of communication and nosey brotherly neighbors. Rustic mountain range housing available upon request.

I wanted to pummel my irritating brothers when they posted their own version of a wanted ad to help me with my life.

But I can’t fault the results once the right woman lands on my lap.

Becoming a single father is not a decision I made lightly. In fact, it’s the biggest decision of my entire life.

Which is why when I interview Trista, I know she’s perfect.

She’s wild, she’s opinionated, she wears cowboy boots. Even my pet goat loves her…

She’s the exact type of person I was holding out for.

And to my great horror, I realize on our first night of attempting this baby making dance…when the lights are low, the cheap wine is flowing, and the home insemination supplies are laid out on the kitchen counter…

I want to do a lot more than just make her my surrogate.

I want to make her mine.

Series: Mountain Men Matchmakers #1 | Publisher: Amy Daws | Narrators: Erin Mallon, Teddy Hamilton (duet) | Length: 10 hours 45 minutes |  Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Purchased | Rating: 1

Have you ever scrolled Audible trying to use up your last few credits before your memberships ends and ended up throwing something random in your cart because it looked okay and you were tired of scrolling? That’s exactly how I ended up with Nine Month Contract and…I have regrets. 

Wanting a baby without the complications of a girlfriend, Wyatt heads to the surrogate center although he’s unable to connect to the right surrogate. When his niece runs into Trista, she seems the perfect person for the job. Trista’s looking for a way to earn a little money and this seems like the perfect job, plus it comes with free housing. Although Wyatt’s niece has ulterior motives, while she knows Trista’s perfect to carry Wyatt child, she’s also perfect for Wyatt, if she can get past his grump demeanor and Trista can overcome her fear of depending on someone.

 I wanted a cute little story and this just ended up being weird and slightly icky.

 There was banter between Trista and Wyatt and some of it was comical but the majority felt forced. I liked Wyatt, to a point. He has some issues that he’s trying to deal with and, honestly, I’m not sure he had it together enough to want to be a father. Trista was just annoying and very immature. I really struggled with Trista’s desire to become a surrogate, and egg donor, given the way she feels abandoned by her own parent and how she has allowed this feeling to control the way she lives her life. And her behavior towards Wyatt was unacceptable.

 The relationship between Trista and Wyatt was just odd. While there’s a ‘sexuationship’, as Trista calls it, there’s no actual development on the page and I struggled to see that they were more than just bed buddies. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between them. This one is spicy but it’s weird to the point of being icky. I just found them constantly calling it ‘pregnancy kink’ to be off-putting.

 The surrogate situation was off and not entirely ethical. While the author does mention that she consulted the surrogate community, I don’t feel that to be true as I feel this book demeans surrogacy.

Just a few bits of weirdness in the book include:

-The fact Wyatt allows his 18 year-old niece to search for his surrogate.

-Odd use of dressing/dip cups and children’s medicine syringes.

-Trista constantly saying she a ‘cow’.

-The constant use of the term ‘pregnancy kink’.

-The icky analogies such as Trista’s icky description of her new mattress,  “I swear it was crafted out of the foreskin of newborn babies it’s so comfortable. Not that foreskin is comfortable. I wouldn’t know, I guess. But I venture to bet it’s soft. Adult penis skin is crazy soft. At least what I remember of it. It’s been a while since I’ve touched a penis.”

Overall, this book just isn’t for me. 

A Room Full of Bone by Elly Griffiths

When Ruth Galloway arrives to supervise the opening of a coffin containing the bones of a medieval bishop, she finds the museum’s curator lying dead on the floor. Soon after, the museum’s wealthy owner is also found dead, in his stables.

DCI Harry Nelson is called in to investigate, thrusting him into Ruth’s path once more. When threatening letters come to light, events take an even more sinister turn. But as Ruth’s friends become involved, where will her loyalties lie? As her convictions are tested, Ruth and Nelson must discover how Aboriginal skulls, drug smuggling, and the mystery of the “Dreaming” hold the answers to these deaths, as well as the keys to their own survival.

Series: Ruth Galloway Mysteries #4 | Publisher: William Marrow Paperbacks | Genre: Mystery | Source: Publisher | Rating: 2.5

While I’m always eager to pick up a Ruth Galloway mystery, sadly, this one wasn’t my favorite.

This one wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t even a bad book, but I do feel as though some of the plot was out of place and didn’t fit into this series, which gave the book a disjointed feel. One of my favorite things about this series is the way it combines history, mystery, and archeology and while the mystery was there, the history and archeology fell flat.

What I enjoyed about this book is the personal aspect. There’s a lot going on with Ruth, Nelson, and his wife. I’m not going to get into everything as I don’t want to ruin the book for readers. They’re trying to figure how to navigate things in a professional aspect only rather than the friendship they had before. There’s also someone who has re-entered Ruth’s life and I hope it’s developed throughout the series because they are really good together. I think it would be a healthy relationship for Ruth.

Overall, I struggled a bit with this one. I found it hard to get in to and parts of the plot failed to hold my attention. I picked this one up on June 16, read a few chapters, and had to force myself to pick back up at the end of June.

While I’m struggling to recommend to this one, it is important to read each book in the series in order to understand the dynamics. Read this one to see how Ruth’s personal life is evolving. 

The Sunday Post August 11, 2024

 Hello, Lovelies, and happy Sunday, I hope you’re all doing fantastic.

It’s been a minute since I’ve sat down and wrote up a Sunday Post. Here’s what I’ve been up to while I was away from the blog.

Life

In January, I started 2 continued education courses (on-line) from Oxford University. Originally, I had signed on for one course (Death in Tudor England) then discovered that this was the last time they were offering another course I was interested in (The Mysteries of Mary, Queen of Scots). As someone with a degree in Tudor/Renaissance History, I couldn’t pass up the second course. I didn’t realize just how time consuming taking both courses (as well as working a full-time job) would be so, unfortunately, the blog ended up falling behind. I finished both courses and handed my dissertations in at the end of May.

I decided to take some ‘me time’ during June and July, which included stepping away from the computer, which I needed. I attended a few events (Celtic Fest and a DIY Hat Making Bar at a local shop), a couple birthday parties, and spent time with friends. I also binged some shows (Bridgerton, Discovery of Witches, Coupling, to name a few) and tackled a few projects. 

I’ve also had some health things going on. My allergies have been all over the place. Seasonal allergies have been horrible this year so the allergist swapped my meds and I ended up being extremely allergic to my new allergy meds. My food allergies have also changed and now I’m allergic to foods that were previously safe to eat. It’s been fun the last couple of months.

House

I need to get back to my decluttering and organizing. This week I plan to get started on my walk-in closet. There’s so much that I need to sort through: clothes, shoes, games, bedding, towels, throw blankets and more. I picked up a few storage pieces last week and need to see what else I need to buy. There’s also a few wall shelves I need to hang.

Blog

I’m so excited to get back to the blog. I’ve missed posting and I’ve missed visiting everyone’s blogs. I’m excited to see what everyone’s been up to and what you've been reading.

I’ve spent the last few days writing and scheduling posts. I’ve also been thinking about what I want my blog to look like, content-wise. While I my primary focus will be reviews, I want to add other content as well and I’m trying to sort out what that content should be.

Reading

My reading has changed up a bit this year. While I’m still reviewing ARCs and Reader Copies, I’ve been working my way through my TBR mountain. I started the year with a list of series that I wanted to finish or work on and I’ve added to that throughout the year. I’m happy to say I’m making decent progress.

I’m also happy to report that I’m back in my romance-reading era. It’s been a minute but I think the Bridgerton series rekindled my enjoyment of this genre.  

Books

I’ve started the process of decluttering my books. I’m mainly focused on decluttering the books I have multiple copies of, books I won’t reread/didn’t like, and books that I’m not interested in reading.  

To make sure that the books go where they need to (friends/family/little free library) and not sit around for who knows how long, I separate them into tote bags or boxes and stick them in the car so I can drop them off the next time I’m out. This has really been helping to make sure things don’t pile up around the house.

Book Haul            

I went a little wild with my book buying the last few months. In my defense, Ollies had great deals, the Book Outlet had an amazing fiction sale, then they sent me a 10$ off coupon in my order that I had to use, and several of my pre-orders came in.

Ollies Haul  

t’s In His Kiss (Bridgerton #7) by Julia Quinn

The Other Miss Bridgerton (A Bridgerton Prequel) by Julia Quinn

Because of Miss Bridgerton (A Bridgerton Prequel) by Julia Quinn

The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (A Bridgerton Prequel) by Julia Quinn

When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald

Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford

The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books (nonfiction) by Edward Wilson-Lee

Book Outlet (order 1)

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller

The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec (2 copies, 1 was a gift)

The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths (replacement copy)

Book Outlet (order 2)

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker (2 copies, 1 was a gift)

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn (2 copies, 1 was a gift)

Preorders

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

Heaven Breaker by Sara Wolf 

The Duke and I & The Viscount Who Loved Me (Special Edition) by Julia Quinn

Apprentice to the Villain (Special Edition) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfectly convenient marriage for eight years. Their relationship is a seamless blend of their talents and goals. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way—or so Emmeline thinks. And if William has secretly longed for a bit more from the woman he adores, he’s managed to be content with her supreme skills as a hostess and planner, which has helped him advance his career.

 

Then when Emmeline’s grandfather, the reclusive Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little angelic children, William is stunned to discover that his very proper wife invented not one, but two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if Emmeline and William team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain.

 

As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprisingly intimate turns as well. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.

 Publisher: Griffin | Genre: Historical  | Source:  Publisher | Rating: 2.5

I’ve been back in my romance-reading groove lately and was craving something historical so I immediately reached for this Suzanne Enoch book, as I absolutely love her historical romances. While I had an okay time, it wasn’t what I was expecting.

To keep her childhood home, Emmeline must marry and she knows the perfect husband: Will Pershing, her best friend whom she’s agreed to help with his political career if he’ll help her with her housing dilemma. There’s only one little problem, they must produce an heir to keep Winnover. Emmeline has the perfect solution; she’s created two perfect children with her pen rather than the traditional way. Things have been going swimmingly until Emmeline’s grandfather, the Duke of Welshire, invites Emmeline and her perfect family to his birthday celebrations. To keep their home they have no choice but to ‘borrow’ two children from the orphanage and hope to rein in their unruly charges before they must appear before the Duke.

This was not what I was expecting when I picked this book up.

While Emmeline and Will have been married 8 years, there’s nothing between them other than a business arrangement. I couldn’t get past their friendship to find the chemistry with them as a couple. The romance and relationship between them was definitely on the backburner and when the author tried to introduce some sort of relationship, it just felt awkward.

I found the antics of George and Rose to be cute and charming. They were two little wild things set loose on a grand house and they get into some interesting situations.

What I didn’t like was the way Will and Emmeline handled the children. They were using them with the sole purpose of keeping their house and career. While I could see Will developing an attachment to the children and showing them affection as the plot progressed, Emmeline was cold, almost cruel at times as she tried to mold them into ‘proper’ children.  The fact that they were viewing this as ‘giving the children a holiday’ from the orphanage and ‘using them as part of a new scheme to train orphans for suitable jobs in the future’ was just cringe-worthy.

It would have made more sense if they just would have adopted the kids and actually showed them affection from the start of the book rather than just planning to borrow the children for a few weeks.

Then there’s whole middle of the book when the children’s older brother shows up and causes chaos that just felt out of place.

I have a few questions. In her letters to family, Emmeline stated that the children were too sickly to be out, which explained why their neighbors hadn’t seen them but what about her family? Given her station, the granddaughter of a duke, and the fact he had a career in politics, they would have had public christenings for both children, even if they were sickly. Did no one in her family question this, especially since it was obligatory that she have heirs in order to keep the house?

Overall, I’m a little conflicted about this book. Yes, it made for a comedic read at times. Was it a romance? Not at all. Was it historical? Yes. Was it believable? Nope. Did I enjoy it? Not really sure. Honestly, this could have been an okay novella, possibly even a short story thrown in the back of a book or in an anthology but it just didn’t work as a full-length novel.