A series-starting Regency romance about a vicar’s daughter faking an engagement, followed by a series of short stories.
Each book in Golden’s new series is an anthology containing a novel and a series of flash-fiction tales that originally appeared in the author’s monthly newsletter. All center on themes of love in the Regency or Georgian era, and the stories feature Trang’s occasional black-and-white illustrations, which often depict specific characters. The titular novel is a Regency romance with protagonist Abbie Walsley, the youngest of a vicar’s four daughters in the sleepy but charming town of Sidvale in England’s Devonshire County. She’s a writer, concocting adventures of her ideal knight in shining armor, “Sir Bartholomew,” while providing tips as the town’s advice columnist, “Mrs. Button,” in the local newspaper. As she’s financially stable, she has no urgent need to marry, and she resolves not to do so unless it’s for love. When Viscount Lord Dunley proposes to her, under orders from his mother, Abbie panics and lies, saying she’s already betrothed to Sir Bartholomew. In an unexpected turn of events, Dunley falsely believes that Percy Randall, the philandering second son of the Earl of Camforth, is Abbie’s betrothed. As Abbie and Percy attempt to preserve their reputations, they strike a mutually beneficial deal—but soon they must contend with their growing mutual attraction. Golden creates tangible chemistry between the apparent London rake and the outwardly drab vicar’s daughter. She also importantly acknowledges the era’s diversity with the inclusion of Leila Owen, a woman of East Indian origin who’s a member of the literary society that Abbie attends, and effectively shows how neither Abbie nor Percy match the stereotypical first impressions they have of each other. Overall, the novel’s greatest strength is its steady, careful character development. By comparison, the flash-fiction pieces, though entertaining, often feel rushed. However, the author shows great creativity with these vignettes, particularly “Midsummer,” about two lovers waiting to be reunited, and “Haunted,” a gothic-horror–inspired tale of a romantic encounter.
A charming, character-driven work that will appeal to 21st-century romantics.Pub Date: July 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73523-600-1
Page Count: 337
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: ROMANCE | HISTORICAL ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE
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BOOK REVIEW
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
43
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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 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.
57
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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. 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
Categories: ROMANCE | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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SEEN & HEARD
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