An effortlessly elegant slow-burn romance.
A silver-haired equestrienne and a disabled artist navigate the expectations of Victorian society while falling in love.
Stella Hobhouse is accustomed to standing out for all the wrong reasons, thanks to the gray hair she’s had since she was 16. Now, at 22, she’s beginning to wonder if she’s destined for spinsterhood, since her love of horseback riding and independent nature haven’t exactly made her a desirable marriage candidate. Trapped at a friend’s house party over the holidays, Stella has resigned herself to being a wallflower—until she runs into a handsome stranger in a wheelchair. The thing is, Teddy Hayes isn’t exactly a stranger. Stella met him once before, when their paths crossed at a museum in London, and the charming artist now makes her the same proposition he did then: He’d like to paint her. As far as Teddy is concerned, Stella is not only the most striking subject he’s ever encountered, but the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Convincing her to pose is an entirely selfish request, one that Stella initially meets with resistance. As an unmarried woman, it would hardly be appropriate for her to sit for Teddy, especially if it means they’ll be alone. But Teddy isn’t so easily deterred; he’s adopted a new philosophy of life following the bout of scarlet fever that put him in a wheelchair, and he sees little reason not to pursue what he wants. As Stella navigates her increasing level of interest in Teddy while trying to avoid her clergyman brother’s efforts to marry her off, and Teddy attempts to convince Stella that she’s lovely enough to be his muse, they both realize they could be of use to each other—by way of a marriage of convenience. The fourth chapter in Matthews’ Belles of London series is a charming conclusion, bringing back many fan-favorite characters from previous installments to support the main romance. The stakes may be high when Stella and Teddy are forced to consider marrying each other for mutual benefit, but the angst level isn’t, and their journey to falling in love is as sweet as it is satisfying.
An effortlessly elegant slow-burn romance.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
ISBN: 9780593639276
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.
After being released from prison, a young woman tries to reconnect with her 5-year-old daughter despite having killed the girl’s father.
Kenna didn’t even know she was pregnant until after she was sent to prison for murdering her boyfriend, Scotty. When her baby girl, Diem, was born, she was forced to give custody to Scotty’s parents. Now that she’s been released, Kenna is intent on getting to know her daughter, but Scotty’s parents won’t give her a chance to tell them what really happened the night their son died. Instead, they file a restraining order preventing Kenna from so much as introducing herself to Diem. Handsome, self-assured Ledger, who was Scotty’s best friend, is another key adult in Diem’s life. He’s helping her grandparents raise her, and he too blames Kenna for Scotty’s death. Even so, there’s something about her that haunts him. Kenna feels the pull, too, and seems to be seeking Ledger out despite his judgmental behavior. As Ledger gets to know Kenna and acknowledges his attraction to her, he begins to wonder if maybe he and Scotty’s parents have judged her unfairly. Even so, Ledger is afraid that if he surrenders to his feelings, Scotty’s parents will kick him out of Diem’s life. As Kenna and Ledger continue to mourn for Scotty, they also grieve the future they cannot have with each other. Told alternatively from Kenna’s and Ledger’s perspectives, the story explores the myriad ways in which snap judgments based on partial information can derail people’s lives. Built on a foundation of death and grief, this story has an undercurrent of sadness. As usual, however, the author has created compelling characters who are magnetic and sympathetic enough to pull readers in. In addition to grief, the novel also deftly explores complex issues such as guilt, self-doubt, redemption, and forgiveness.
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2560-7
Page Count: 335
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
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