reading_historical_romance's reviews
433 reviews

 SIX STARS

It takes an extraordinary writer to tell an extraordinary story about ordinary people living ordinary lives. Erin Langston is one of those writers. In this Victoria-era historical romance, you won’t visit a ballroom or the modiste, sip lukewarm ratafia or avoid any scheming mamas. Instead, you’ll be utterly captivated by the smell of ink and low-quality pulp paper, enchanted by the art of manual typesetting, and seduced by the curves of a Columbian press in a dusty backroom of an unassuming print shop on London’s Fleet Street.

You’re also going to feel all of those things for Mr. Ethan Fletcher, the wearied, but always drop dead gorgeous, snacc who arrives in England only to fall absolutely prostrate at Miss Belle Sinclair’s fierce little feet. Did I mention he has shoulders for miles and a beard?

Langston’s second full length novel transports readers back into the arms of the families Travers and Sinclair, first introduced in her rightfully lauded 2023 debut, Forever Your Rogue. In The Finest Print, we learn that Gavin and Emilia Sinclair have raised two daughters, and that Gavin now serves as a common law judge at the High Courts. We also learn that Belle has a decidedly “improper” fascination with true crime. Over the past several years, she has been trying and failing to publish her book starring an intrepid female detective that solves fictional crimes inspired by her father’s cases.

Ethan is no stranger to career setbacks himself. He’s a self-made man who rose through the ranks of the printing industry by grit and determination, from unpaid apprentice to special reporter at the Boston Sentinel. But Ethan’s sights are set on publishing his own newspaper, and when he inherits his uncle’s print shop in London, he quits his job and sails to England with the expectation that he has finally found a path forward to realize his dreams. All of Ethan’s hard work seems to be for naught, however, when he arrives in London only to find that his uncle was deeply in debt. Ethan has ten weeks to pay back the outstanding loan, or he will be bankrupted by a business that wasn’t even his to begin with.

Fortunately for us, but especially for them, Ethan and Belle are the people who have exactly what the other needs. Ethan has paper and a printing press, and Belle can write something that a lot of people want to read. Although their dreams appear at first to be incompatible, their paths forward require both of them to be true to themselves and their own aspirations.

I started this book needing to send Gavin Sinclair a GREATEST DAD mug by the end of the prologue. Upon embarking on Chapter 1, I started laughing. Then flirtatious double entendre entered the chat, and I was DONE FOR(TM) by the time I hit Chapter 5. I only stopped to take a break because Ethan is a competent caregiving king and I needed a beverage refill. The ending brought me to tears over two regular people who have yearned for the opportunity make their own way in the world, quietly, and hand-in-hand.

The Finest Print is witty, passionate, and endearing, and Langston accomplishes this effortlessly through her masterful characterization and dialogue, and by elevating a sweet, simple story between two working class people into a love story every reader wishes they could live. She has also skillfully flipped the script when it comes to the structure of the typical romance novel, written in the tradition of subject-verb-object, which features barriers that exert pressure against the relationship of the MCs. In this novel, Ethan and Belle’s relationship is the subject instead of the object. It is their attachment that is the unshakeable force that drives the narrative forward, and that has the power to upend all of the barriers in their modest world.

Bravo to Ms. Langston, for this beautiful, heartfelt novel that will absolutely take readers' breaths away. 

The ratio of how much I wanted to love this book to how much I actually ended up not loving it at all? 1:1. There was so much potential with the premise and the characters, but the execution is simply a hot mess. Forget the Valkyrie tiara, someone should have been out looking for the editor, because it's clear they went missing when this manuscript was delivered.

What should have been a 1920s British Mr. and Mrs. Smith (if they were contract thieves) ended up being a story about two people, Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt, that we're supposed to root for because they had sad childhoods, and because Esme took off the morning after their spur of the moment decision to wed after celebrating the armistice in Paris. Unfortunately, I didn't end up rooting for either one of them because (1) their childhoods really weren't that sad at all, (2) Esme is a spoiled, precious brat, and (3) neither Jasper or Esme have any justifiable reason for making their living by stealing from other people.

Esme (the illegitimate daughter of a narcissistic actress) and Jasper (the illegitimate son of a Duke) are mercenaries, plain and simple. Period.
They steal for a living, because it's fun and an adventure, and because it's easier than getting a legitimate job like everybody else. In the end, they only stop thieving because Jasper finds himself filthy rich by inheriting the Dukedom.

Jasper is an ex-solder in the British army, and he is more likeable as a character than Esme. We're essentially asked to believe that Jasper and Esme are fated mates, and they are well-matched when it comes to being clever and ruthless. But I didn't feel the spark of chemistry that should have been there, and I think that may be because of the broader issues of execution.

The pacing of the novel is all over the place. There are cavernous plot holes and elements to the story that make no sense whatsoever. I do not understand the point of introducing the third thief, Lamb, a bizarre caricature of a man who lives in the middle of nowhere France yet is able to put together a spontaneous party with hundreds of guests who don't seem to know him or why they're partying just to play a game of who's the best spy. Esme and Jasper are each other's perfect foil, so there is no need for another character to detract from their attempts to outwit each other in their pursuit of the ultimate prize of their careers.

Honestly, I thought that the entire storyline about the Contessa being out for revenge against the Duke over the tiara was just dumb. I don't even see the point of the serial killer Pirazzo. Jasper already has plenty of motivation to go after Esme: his pride and a desire to compete and win. Her life didn't need to be in danger to have Jasper hot on her heels. I also didn't understand why Esme needed to be arrested. What purpose did that serve to the overall plotline?

I think the author got caught in the weeds, and felt like she needed to make Esme and Jasper's rivalry something complicated when there was no need to do so. This book should have been a fun romp in the style of a 1940s Old Hollywood romantic caper, like The Thin Man or Hitchcock's Notorious. But the story didn't progress organically, and there was too much going on to invest the time needed in Esme and Jasper's romance.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction, Netgalley, and Austenprose PR for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own. 

 Childhood friends turned sexy PhD historians are reunited after a decade-old argument on a university campus in this charming forced proximity, second chance romance with all the coziest fall vibes. I couldn't help but warm to the mutual pining of 31-year old Clara Fernsby and 33-year old Teddy Harrison who slowly progress from star-crossed lovers to the fated mates they've always been meant to be over the course of the book.

The absolutely delightful tall, dark, and handsome Teddy endeared himself to me immediately as a socially awkward young teenager who meets Clare at a sleepaway camp for homeschoolers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The narrative is split between present day and flashbacks that tell the story of how Teddy and Clara first fell in love largely long distance through their shared passion for learning, trivia, playlists burned onto CDs, and a deepening physical attraction that neither had the opportunity to act upon before their academic careers took off in completely opposite directions.

Clara is lovably neurotic, a perfectionist who can't stand the idea of falling short of anyone's expectations, especially her own. She is loyal to a fault, and doesn't realize until it's almost too late that she has never gotten over Teddy, and made sacrifices that never needed to be made to achieve happiness in her life. I did come away from the book thinking that Clara is a bit too immature for Teddy, but I was so happy for him that they were able to work things out it didn't really matter.

This is only the author's second novel, and there are some execution issues. The primary problem for me was the pacing, as the book falters and felt like it slowed almost to a standstill in the second act. The straightforward, single-layer plot doesn't help. The author's real talent here lies in her characterizations, dialogue, setting, and atmosphere. While there isn't anything mind-blowing about this book, it is a solid 3.5-4 contemporary romance that is perfect for a relaxing fall read.

Overall, I enjoyed this one very much, and I will definitely be picking up this author's next book.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

 

I absolutely loved this one.  What a masterful and bright debut celebrating sweet, small town holiday romance, and the importance of learning how to embrace yourself to find peace and contentment.  There is so much creativity in the development of the plot, I'm really impressed because I have read a lot of romances, and this contemporary fated mates storyline is so fresh and unique.  

I adore Alison and Adam, and Alison's friends Chelsea and Mara.  All of the minor characters are also so well drawn that I felt like I knew every single one, Russell, the Lewises, Adam's family -- even HR Josh.  An enthusiastic 5/5 for all of the author's characterizations and all of the dialogue.  The sparkling humor perfectly balances out the heavier aspects of the story regarding loss and grief.   I was laughing out loud and then clutching kleenex throughout the entire book.

I love the satisfaction of a slow burn and that delicious undercurrent of sexual tension, and this novel delivers in spades.  Adam and Alison enjoy several sensual encounters, but intercourse is off-page so I feel comfortable recommending this one to all of my closed door romance followers.

The only thing that's strange to me is that this book is being released at the beginning of August.  This is a holiday romance, and I think one of its most charming aspects is Alison's devotion to Hallmark movies and sappy HEAs.  I think this book would have been best marketed during the fall, and I will be promoting this one to my followers for the holiday season.

Bravo to the author, and I cannot wait to read more from you.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This one was a solid 3-star read for me.  I enjoyed this book, but there was something ... missing.  I think that the main plot might be just too shallow to support a full-length novel.  There definitely isn't enough conflict, and there aren't any fully fleshed out subplots that really contribute well to the themes of the book.   This one reminded me quite a bit of Olivia Dade's latest, At First Spite.  Dade's book makes this one feel flat and superficial in comparison, especially when it comes to its exploration of mental health and the ability to pursue and maintain healthy personal and professional relationships.

I think the author has an engaging voice and I did love her characterizations of Malcolm, Josephine, Malcolm's friends, and Josephine's roommate.  I felt like I got to know them and understood their motivations throughout the book.  The banter is cute, and I was #TeamMalcolm from the very beginning so I loved that he enjoyed such a satisfying ending.   

My hot take is that the story would have worked a lot better if one of two things had happened: Ezra became part of the action so that there was a true love triangle, or cut entirely from the present narrative and referenced only in flashbacks as context for Josephine's insecurities.  As it is, his character kind of straddles the line between "this guy is trouble for our MCs, what's going to happen next" and "sigh,,.. who cares about this jerk."

This is only the author's second book, and there is enough good stuff happening here that I think it will be interesting to see how she progresses in the craft and learns how to construct a story.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this novel.  All opinions are my own.

The Lady Glass absolutely lived up to its subtitle as an "enchanted regency." It is a sweet retelling of the Cinderella story with an added twist that brings the two protagonists together. British naval captain Rolland Reese and Theresia Dvorak, orphaned daughter of a famous Bohemian glassblower, stumble upon each other on a foggy London street during Theresia's attempt to stop the mugging of an elderly man. When they meet again at a country house party hosted by Captain Reese's best friend, they enlist one another to solve two mysteries that appear to be interconnected: the assassination of a British delegate to the Congress of Vienna, and the theft of a valuable crystal base intended as Theresia's dowry.

This is a wonderful story that captures the ethereal quality of all great fairytales of fated mates. I loved Captain Reese's quiet strength and sense of purpose, and Theresia's fearlessness. I think the author was able to develop great chemistry between them so that their slow burn, gentle romance felt organic and true. I was pleasantly surprised that the novel doesn't fall back on insta-love as the foundation of Rolland and Theresa's relationship, as I expected.

I loved Rolland's friends, Marcus and Lord Cadogan, as well as their wives, Tansy and Andalin. Rolland's mom was also endearing and authentic. I also loved that Theresia's godfather has a copper colored dog named Pumpkin.

As with all fairytales, there are certainly some obvious plotholes that can't be reconciled if the story is to work itself out into a happy ending in less than 300 pages. But who reads a fairy tale for authenticity of plot? I was more than content to let the narrative take me where it would and enjoy its lovely ride through pastoral countrysides, manor homes, millineries, a Roma camp, ton balls, and a bit of political intrigue until the villains were caught just in the nick of time.

Thank you to Covenant Communications and Austenprose PR for the opportunity to read and review this novel. 

This is not the review I wanted to be writing.  I really love Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions series, so I went into this book with definite expectations for her first trad published novel.   I'm conflicted about how to review this because I think she is such a gifted writer,  but the plot of this particular book just didn't work for me personally.   I DNF'd at 65% because the only storyline that I was really interested in -- the romance between Selina and Peter -- had been told and resolved. 

After Peter and Selina were married, the narrative cycled into a loop of Selina having moments of insecurity and catastrophizing about damage to Peter's reputation because she owns a scandalous circulating library for women, and Peter reassuring her that everything would be fine and that even if their secrets were exposed, he wouldn't care whatsoever.   The subplot involving Peter's efforts to gain custody over his half-siblings didn't resonate with me, and seemed too unrealistic.  (A Duke would need to fight in court over bastard kids no one wants?  Really?)

Peter's character was more complex, better developed, and interesting than Selina's, who became fairly one-note to me as she was constantly in a state of melodrama of her own making, and over things that just weren't that serious.   And because there wasn't a strong secondary cast of characters that I was invested in, that left all of my interest falling on Peter.  Once he achieved his HEA and married his girl, and repeatedly demonstrated his unshakeable devotion to her, I was perfectly satisfied for the book to end there.  Peter didn't have anything else going on that had high enough emotional stakes for me. 

I'm going to rate this novel a solid 3 stars because it falls right there in the category of "I enjoyed what I read, but I won't revisit it,"   

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I loved this one!  I read it in one day because I got so immersed in this small town, holiday romance between former high school classmates, now graduate students, Ash and Hazel. 

This rom-com takes place during the characters’ Christmas break from grad school at the University of Texas.  It is tropey in all the best snowed in/one bed, flirty Christmas shopping and gingerbread house making, dysfunctional family chaos kind of way. 

Ash is an earnest, conscientious 10/10 golden retriever who has been in love with Hazel since senior year in high school, when she was dating his dude-bro best friend.  Five years later, Hazel is 23 and finishing her first semester of her PhD program when she randomly wanders into Ash’s workplace, a small coffee shop off the college town beaten path.  She thought he couldn’t stand her; he thought she couldn’t stand him.  And the rest is history when they sit down and start talking to each other. 

This debut gives some really great laugh out loud moments, angsty moments, and overall warm and fuzzy, gentle vibes that will have you swooning over Ash and how much he adores Hazel.  The romance is open door but not explicit, and all of the spice feels organic to the characters and the story. 

I will be recommending this one as a holiday read and I look forward to this author’s next book. 

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this novel.  All opinions are my own. 

 

My Lady’s Secrets is the perfect example of my reasoning not to DNF an ARC before 50%, because if I picked this one up as a casual reader, I would have. But the last 50% was SO GOOD. It makes me sad that this book suffers from needless obfuscation by the author in an effort to be clever. If she had just started telling us the story with clear delineations between the past and the present, told the backstory in chronological order, and didn’t try to be “literary” with needless compound prosy sentences that made everything hard to follow, this would have been a great book.

I think part of the problem is that the author didn’t have a clear vision of what she wanted this novel to be, so it tries to be too many things at once. Based on the last 50%, this is a second chance, slow burn historical romance between two English spies who were compromised during the infamous Siege of Badajoz in 1812, and who unwittingly discover and then infiltrate a network of free traders after returning home.

The first 50% is another novel entirely – a confusing jumble of disconnected hints about how a young woman who purposely committed adultery as an act of revenge against her philandering husband survived after leaving Britain in disgrace. (She was recruited to become a spy.) She is later given an assignment by the War Office to identify the person who assassinated the English Prime Minister by her former handler.

Unfortunately, we’re given way too many characters to keep straight, and it was nearly impossible to determine how they are all related. Similarly, there are so many subplots going on I’m still not sure that I understand how they’re all connected, if at all. And the random role that Lord Byron (yes, that Byron!) plays in the whole thing, and how he knows the main characters, and why he owes them favors? No idea what any of that was about.

In the end, it really was Greville who was the true star of this novel, and who made the last half of the book worth reading. His devotion to Cressida helped tie much of the story together so that I actually felt satisfied at the end despite the trainwreck that came before.

Thank you Netgalley and Aria for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.