2023 Reading Goals Follow-Up

 

Goodbye 2023! Let's take a look at how well I accomplished my reading goals!

Reading Challenges

- Goodreads challenge: 142 books - COMPLETE

- ROMANCE READING CHALLENGE: Fill in the whole sheet - COMPLETE

- Audiobook Challenge: Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+ - NOT complete. I only got 61.

- TBR Pile Challenge: Read 12 books on TBR List - COMPLETE

Book Review: The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

Author: Allison Pataki

Title: The Traitor's Wife

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 496

Published: January 1, 2014

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Used Book Store)

Summary: 

A riveting historical novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, the cunning wife of Benedict Arnold and mastermind behind America's most infamous act of treason . . .

Everyone knows Benedict Arnold--the Revolutionary War general who betrayed America and fled to the British--as history's most notorious turncoat. Many know Arnold's co-conspirator, Major John Andre, who was apprehended with Arnold's documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. But few know of the integral third character in the plot: a charming young woman who not only contributed to the betrayal but orchestrated it.

Socialite Peggy Shippen is half Benedict Arnold's age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as military commander of Philadelphia. Blinded by his young bride's beauty and wit, Arnold does not realize that she harbors a secret: loyalty to the British. Nor does he know that she hides a past romance with the handsome British spy John Andre. Peggy watches as her husband, crippled from battle wounds and in debt from years of service to the colonies, grows ever more disillusioned with his hero, Washington, and the American cause. Together with her former love and her disaffected husband, Peggy hatches the plot to deliver West Point to the British and, in exchange, win fame and fortune for herself and Arnold.

Told from the perspective of Peggy's maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistress's affairs even when it could cost her everything, The Traitor's Wife brings these infamous figures to life, illuminating the sordid details and the love triangle that nearly destroyed the American fight for freedom.

Review:

Well.....last book of 2023. Wild that. 

This tale follows Clara who was the maid of the infamous Peggy who would go on to marry Benedict Arnold. Clara would go on to watch Peggy be seduced by John Andre, seducing Benedict, and then betraying the American cause. 

I simply LOVED that we see everything through Clara's eyes. After her grandma dies she is left with little options, but luckily she lands a job with Peggy and her family. It was interesting to see everything play out from this perspective. I even loved seeing Clara fall in love too. It was nice.

Oh...my....gawd....I wanted to slap the shit out of Peggy. She is a little brat and everyone was so charmed and fooled. It would've been fitting if she stayed with John....they are both charming snakes that people simply fell in love with. No spoiler here since it's history, even the jailers of John ended up feeling bad when they had to hang him. Wild, man...wild. Peggy was OBVIOUSLY a part of their plans, but she was able to charm Washington, Hamilton, and the rest, and the believed her stunts. However, what a wonderful villainous character to follow and watch. I truly feel the author did a wonderful job portraying this lady.

This was for sure a book I had a hard time putting down after the drama started. The beginning took a minute but you could tell all the pieces on the board were being set for some intrigue and drama. Yessssss as Kronk would say....

All-in-all what a nice way to ending my 2023 reading chapter. This was excellent and I enjoyed it. It had it all...love, drama, intrigue, and hint of comedy (Peggy is ridiculous). 5 stars from me. 

 

Challenge(s):

- #12 TBR Pile Reading (yayy all done)

Book Review: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Author: Gregory Maguire

Title: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, & Retelling

Format: Paperback

Pages: 372

Published: October 6, 1999

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Flint Library Book Sale)

Summary: 

We have all heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty ... and what curses accompanied Cinderella's looks?

Set against the backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister. While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household -- and the treacherous truth of her former life.

Review:

I'm trying SOOO hard to get through my TBR pile reading challenge. This is 11 out of 12! ONE MORE LEFT!

So here we have a retelling of the Ugly Stepsisters, Evil Stepmom, and Cindie. We all know the original story, but in this, we will see them all in 17th century Holland and in the point of view of Iris, one of the stepsisters, and their origin story. 

I struggled hardcore with this one. I was totally invested in the first 50 pages or so and then...I just stopped caring. I pushed through because 1) I wanted to be able to finish this and count it towards my challenge and 2) a small part of me wanted to see what would happen to the sisters and Clara (aka Cinderella). There was some mystery afoot. 

Sadly, this wasn't for me. I may try this again someday. I do plan on giving a second chance reading to at least one (or two) book(s) a year starting in 2024. I'm going to call it something like Carole's Second Chance or something clever and let people vote on what they want me to try again. 

But yes, I didn't vibe with this book. It seemed to drag on and on and on forever. I was just itching to see things happen, but it took so long. 

One thing I will say is that I truly appreciated the new setting of Holland. I also LOVED the fact that the author intertwined the Tulip mania. Nice touch. 

Overall, not for me. Some nice little things here and there so maybe I'll try it again someday. I'll give this 2 stars. Not for me sadly. 

Challenge(s):

- #11 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson

Author: SJ Watson

Title: Before I Go to Sleep

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 360

Published: October 1, 2011

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Flint Library Sale)

Summary: 

As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me...

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love- all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life.

Review:

I've had this on my self for quite some time. I picked this up at the Flint Library book sale eons ago. I think right before COVID started *does math* Dang! Forever agooo. 

Now, Christine has a little problem....when she goes to sleep and wakes up 95% of her memories are gone. She barely remembers who she even is sometimes. Her husband is the only person she has relied on and she is starting to think she can't trust him. 

This is like '50 First Dates' meets 'Memento'. I didn't and couldn't stop reading. I HAD to know. When I was 100 pages away I stayed up late to just finish it. WHOOPS. But omg that ending. 

The mystery was good. I thought I had it all figured out...things happened and I doubted my theory....and then I was right! YAYY!!!!!!!! Damn, but the details were still a mystery so it was fun unraveling it with Christine. 

Dang...this is a hard review to write because I don't want to spoil anything........

Yes, this was good and I loved how it was written. She is writing in her journal so we really only know what she knows when she backtracks and reads what she has written. It was fitting. 

The ending was SO good. I would have liked to see more of the resolution though. I will say no more of this so I don't spoil anything. 

Overall, this was really good! I loved it and I didn't and couldn't want to put this down. I wanted a hair more in the end, but this was really good. 4 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #10 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: The Indian Lawyer by James Welch

Author: James Welch

Title: The Indian Lawyer

Genre: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Mystery

Format: paperback

Pages: 350

Published: October 1, 1990

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Sylvester Yellow Calf is a former reservation basketball star, a promising young lawyer, and a possible congressional candidate. But when a parolee ensnares him in a blackmail scheme, he'll have to decide just who he is, and what he wants.

Review:

I've enjoyed others by this author and I have a goal to eventually read all his books. He is good. After buying this a while back...it just sat on my shelf for like 5 years. Whoops. Thank goodness for the TBR challenge ;)

Here we have Sylvester Yellow Calf. He was a former reservation basketball star who became a promising young lawyer and a possible congressional candidate. He really has made his way in the world. However, when a parolee ensnares him in a blackmail scheme, he'll have a challenge in front of him. He'll have to decide who he is and what he wants in life. 

I'll admit....I struggled a hair. It took longer than I thought it would to finish. This was a pretty slow narrative. Things are happening, don't get me wrong so it's not boring, but just slow. Some politics so that didn't help. And then we get to see a lot of flashbacks from a lot of characters. Lots going on but slow in building. 

Even though I struggled with the pace, I did enjoy the actual story. I liked Sylvester and I even ended up liking Patti Ann. Not sure where or when that happened, but yes, I liked her. This author really does have a way of showing the complexities of humans. It's never black and white. You get to understand our hero, of course, but our "baddies". You begin to understand all of them and feel for them all. Of course, you are rooting for the hero, but you get why our baddies are "bad". 

Soooo. The ending? I def had some questions. I had to look it up and I guess I'm not alone. It was for sure an ambiguous ending which is fine, but man.....I do love a good epilogue and finality ;) Kuddos to Sly for the decisions he made. He was a good egg. 

Overall, I did like this one. Not my favorite of this author's, but it was good. It really made me want to continue my journey into all of his works. Someday! But yes, this had excellent characters and an interesting story. Some slowness and the ending could be seen as vague but it did make me think and have questions. I'll give this 3 stars.  

Challenge(s):

- #9 TBR Pile Reading

Audiobook Review: Third Son's a Charm by Shana Galen

Author: Shana Galen

Narrator: Victoria Aston
Title: Third Son's a Charm

Series: The Survivors #1

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: November 7, 2017

Where I Got It: My shelf (Xmas gift)

Summary: 

Ewan Mostyn thinks a job as a duke's daughter's bodyguard will be easy―but Lady Lorraine has a few tricks up her sleeve that spark an undeniable passion...

Fiercely loyal to his friends and comrades, Ewan Mostyn is the toughest in a group of younger sons of nobility who met as soldiers and are now trying desperately to settle back into peaceful Society. Ewan trusts his brawn more than his brains, but when he's offered a job watching the Duke of Ridlington's stubbornly independent daughter, he finds both are challenged.

Lady Lorraine wants none of her father's high-handed ways, and she'll do everything in her power to avoid her distressingly attractive bodyguard―until she lands herself in real trouble. Lorraine begins to see Ewan's protectiveness in a new light, and she can only hope that her stoic guardian will do for her what he's always done―fight for what he wants.

Review:

Eeek been meaning this for a while. I was given this for Xmas a couple years back. It's about damn time!

Here we follow Ewan and Lorraine. Ewan is asked to be a bodyguard to the duke's daughter. Keep her from eloping and protect her from money-chasing men. Easy enough...he fought in a specialized section of the army during wartime. However, it looks like Lorraine will be his biggest challenge. She is determined to convince her suitor to run away with her. She loves him and wants to finally be married, however, her parents won't let that happen. And now she has to deal with this stoic brute who is supposed to be her babysitter.

This was simply and utterly........adorable. I loved Lorraine and I am in love with....I MEAN....I love Ewan. They were so different but oh so similar. I simply loved watching them be enemies (of sorts) and then fall madly in love. 

OoooOOoooooOOO Ewan's cousin and father are aholes and they deserve all the bad karma they can get....especially in the end. >_> Ooof. But they were good baddies for our lovely couple to overcome. 

OOOH! I was especially in love with the little second chances love story between Lorraine's parents. I wouldn't mind a short story or something seeing them fall in love and then out of love and then back in love. TBF they always loved each other but they hurt each other so much it took years to really "find" each other again. It was a very sweet addition that added a little extra spice to our story. 

The narrator was great. Loved all her voices. I hope she does more of the series. I def want to read book 2. 

All-in-all, I highly enjoyed this. I loved the story...the characters...and the narrator. Simply delightful. 5 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #48 for Audiobook challenge

- #8 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: Cowboy Trouble by Joanne Kennedy

Author: Joanne Kennedy

Title: Cowboy Trouble

Series: Acquainted with the Night #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western

Format: Paperback

Pages: 387

Published: March 1, 2010

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used bookstore)

Summary: 

Fleeing her latest love-life disaster, big city journalist Libby Brown's transition to rural living isn't going exactly as planned. Her childhood dream has always been to own a farm-but without the constant help of her charming, sexy cowboy neighbor, she'd never make it through her first Wyoming season.

Handsome rancher Luke Rawlins is impressed by this sassy, independent city girl, but he yearns to do more than help Libby out with her ranch. He's ready for love, and he wants to go the distance. When the two get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story, Libby discovers that their sizzling hot attraction is going to complicate her life in every way possible...

Review:

I got his a while back from my local Used Bookstore. I've read a couple by this author so I figured why not?

Here we have Libby and Luke. Libby is fleeing her latest love-life disaster. She is tired of the big city and is finally carrying out her plan to live the country life. But without the aid of her cowboy neighbor, she would never survive. Like is a rancher and was immediately impressed by Libby. The two not only start catching feelings but the two of them get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story. Will they be able to solve the disappearance? Will they fall in love along the way? 

Honestly....I wished this stayed just a mystery. The romance was meh to me. The mystery was really the only thing that kept me going. I HAD to know who did it. This author has a knack for mysteries!

What is it with the men of this town? Are there no women besides old ladies, the bar lady, and Libby? Lord. Pushy and needy!!!! Too much "alpha"-ness. Is it in the water? 

And all the slut-shaming was a bit much. I get it...the town is conservative and etc, but good lord.  

Was I happy that Libby and Luke finally, FINALLY got together? Eh. I feel like Libby is so flaky and Luke just follows her around like a lost puppy. Their marriage will fail. 

Now that mystery!!!??? That was good. I enjoyed it. Lots of red herrings and the big reveal was fantastic. *clap*

Maybe this should've just stayed a mystery. That was the best part. The romance? Eh. I could've done without it. Maybe a subplot would've done the story better. 

I'll give this 2 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #7 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: Georgina by Clare Darcy

Author: Clare Darcy

Title: Georgina

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: Paperback

Published: January 1, 1971

Where I Got It: Flint Library Book Sale

Summary: 

A dead bore! Miss Georgina Powers concluded after shutting the door in the face of her latest suitor, announcing to one and all that spinsterhood was preferable to a life with a dimwit twice her age. She longed for a love match, not the humdrum offers that came her way. But as the granddaughter of Lady Mercer, Georgina was expected to make a shrewd alliance of the first order. And now after refusing this most eligible suitor she was being shipped off to distant relations in the wilds of Ireland, where sheer boredom would force her to reflect on her folly.

To the surprise of both Georgina and her disapproving grandmama, the Emerald Isle yielded the roguish Mr. Shannon, a handsome Irishman with a most scandalous past. Georgina was sure to set the ton on its ear with her choice of a groom, but for all the wrong reasons!

Review:

I picked this up at the annual Flint Library book sale a million years ago. I haven't gone in a long while but it is a lot of fun. They give you a huge paper bag for $5 and you can take as many books as you want so as long as they fit in the bag. It is a chaotic fun time! There were some books I literally just took because of the title and the cover. No time to read the summary. Thus is the case with this one. It is finally time to dust this bad boy off. 

Here we follow Miss Georgina Powers. She is done with suitors. She would rather be a spinster than marry a bore, idiot, or someone twice her age. She wants love, but there is none to be had with the list of suitors calling her. After refusing the prize of a suitor, she is sent off to live with distant relations in the wilds of Ireland. Enter in Mr Shannon....a handsome Irishman with the most roguish and scandalous past. 

Okay. I am going to be 100% honest here. When I shoved this book in my paper bag...I assumed this was going to be a P&P variation. Georgina is the title and the author's name is Darcy.........lo' and behold I was wrong. LOL.

To quote Georgina....what a bore! The beginning had me nodding off while attempting to read this. Things spiced up a bit when Mr Shannon entered in but that fizzled out after a few. 

I just could not care about anyone in this. I just couldn't connect. I did finish this though but I'll admit I skimmed here and there just to move things along. 

Oh. The ending wasn't too shabby. It seemed very organic and fit.

Sadly, this wasn't for me. There was that one golden section and the ending wasn't too bad, but other than that? Eh. I will give this 2 stars. I'm feeling generous today.

Challenge(s):

- #6 TBR Pile Reading

Mid-Year(ish) Reading Check-In

 

I am super late in sharing my mid-year reading challenge check-in *awkward laugh*. Meant to type something up end of June/early July. It is now August. Yikessss. 

- Goodreads challenge: read 79 out of 142. Per math - I am about 5 books behind

- Romance Reading Challenge: 21 out of 25. Rocking this one! Only four more books!

- Audiobook Challenge: 32 out of 75+. Oof not doing so hot. 

- TBR Pile Challenge: 5 out of 12. Not too bad but not amazing.

- May/June Library Love Audiobook Challenge: 4 out of 4. Completed! That was a fun mini challenge I joined in. Click here to check out the books I listened to for this. 

Book Review: Nightwoods by Charles Frazier

Author: Charles Frazier

Title: Nightwoods

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, & Thriller

Format: paperback

Pages: 272

Published: January 1, 2011

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used book store)

Summary: 

Charles Frazier puts his remarkable gifts in the service of a lean, taut narrative while losing none of the transcendent prose, virtuosic storytelling, and insight into human nature that have made him one of the most beloved and celebrated authors in the world. Now, with his brilliant portrait of Luce, a young woman who inherits her murdered sister's troubled twins, Frazier has created his most memorable heroine.

Before the children, Luce was content with the reimbursements of the rich Appalachian landscape, choosing to live apart from the small community around her. But the coming of the children changes everything, cracking open her solitary life in difficult, hopeful, dangerous ways.

Charles Frazier is known for his historical literary odysseys, and for making figures in the past come vividly to life. Set in the twentieth century, Nightwoods resonates with the timelessness of a great work of art.

Review:

I finally finished this. Yayy! *throws confetti*

Luce is a young woman who doesn't need or want much in life. She wants to be left alone with the Appalachian landscape and the small community, but when she inherits her murdered sister's troubled twins everything is changed. Her life has become more difficult, and hopeful, but also a danger is breathing down their backs. 

I have been meaning to read this book for a while. In total now I have read 3 books by this author. My first one was 'Cold Mountain' and I absolutely ADORE that one. One of my personal faves. The other one and this one...sighs....I struggled with both. 

Now, this did get WAY better by 50%. The first half of the book I had to force myself to sit down and read it. Ugh. In the second half, I actually found myself wanting to read more and more. There were scenes that I wanted to skim, but I pushed forward. 

Luce was a rough character to really like. So were the twins. When you get to know why they are the way they are, you can feel for them and understand them (be warned there are some major triggers in the flashbacks and whatnot)....but I still never connected. Maybe that is why I struggled so much? I never fully connected with anyone. Yes, I cared and wanted them all to live and be happy, but I could've walked away in that first half and never looked back. After the second half, I cared a tiny bit more just because the action was heating up and things were happening. 

The baddie needed to be shoved off a mountain. Which yayy! Gotta love a baddie you loathe! 

In the end....I wish I had liked this better. The second half was way better than the first, but only just so. I had a hard time connecting with anyone and it just didn't fit for me. 2 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #5 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: Serendipity by Louise Shaffer

Author: Louise Shaffer

Title: Serendipity

Genre: Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 341

Published: January 1, 2009

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used Book store)

Summary: 

A child of theatrical royalty, Carrie Manning is having a hard time getting her own act together. Thirty-seven, aimless, and having just buried a famous mother she never understood, she is desperate to uncover her family’s mysterious past in the hopes that it will help her understand herself.

Carrie’s search reveals the fascinating life stories of her estranged grandmother Lu, a glamorous Broadway star whose dreams came with a price; her great grandmother Mifalda, who gave up everything to come to America as a sixteen-year-old Italian bride; and her father, Bobby, the charismatic Broadway genius who wrote some of Lu’s greatest musicals and died tragically young. At the heart of Carrie’s discoveries lies the reason for her mother’s complicated life, and a dark secret that has been buried for thirty years.

Review:

Picking this one had a couple of reasons. 1) Needed something for book club and this seemed like we could have some good convos and 2) it's been collecting dust on my shelf for yearsssss so it is part of a TBR Pile reading challenge. 

Carrie Manning has had a hard time getting her act together. She is 37 and aimless. And now even more so after having to bury her famous mother. Now, Carrie is desperate to understand her mother and uncover her family's mysterious past and secrets. Maybe she will finally understand herself! Her search reveals a fascinating past of her mother, grandmother, and even her great-grandmother. She will also uncover some dark secrets that have been buried for a long, long time. 

So this started out slow for me. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into it. I did step away for a couple of days to finish up a different book. When I picked this backup.......I could NOT stop reading. I literally finished this in a day. 

Where do I even begin? 

Each woman is complex and different but similar to their daughter. Honestly, I would love to learn more about the great-great grandma now too! It seems that these women have complicated relationships with their daughters. Hopefully, if Carrie has a daughter one day, she can break the cycle. There are so many hurt feelings and trauma with these women. If they all just sat down and tried to be understanding of each other MAYBE, JUST MAYBE there wouldn't be such bad blood and the whole "I'll never be like my mother!!!!!". But we wouldn't have this story and Carrie trying to find her way ;)

I really adored this book. TBH it could be a good contender for best of the year. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I kept finding myself surprised at each turn of the page. I literally ate this book up. 

So many lessons could be learned from this story. 

I can't wait to talk about this at book club! It is unaliving me not to be able to spoil this for ya'lls ;) 

But yes. Great stories. Great characters. There are times you just want to scream, "TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!!!!" But you know the generational trauma continues until Carrie. 5 stars 100% 

Challenge(s):

- #4 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: One Bite Per Night by Brooklyn Ann

Author: Brooklyn Ann

Title: One Bite Per Night

Series: Scandals with Bite #2

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 384

Published: August 5, 2014

Where I Got It: My shelf (Bought from Amazon)

Summary: 

The Dowager Countess of Morley asks Vincent Tremayne, Lord Vampire of Cornwall, to become guardian of her American granddaughter. Vincent honors the agreement and plans to get his new ward married and off his hands as soon as possible.

When Lydia Price arrives, she soon turns Vincent's gloomy castle upside-down, and he decides he wants Lydia for himself. But if Vincent can't protect Lydia from her entanglement with scandalous portrait painter Sir Thomas Lawrence, the vampire community will make sure that he—and Lydia—face dire consequences..

Review:

Been meaning to read more of the series. I really liked book 1 and I want to get to Rafe's story! I believe he is book 3. Slowly getting there ;) But yes, this was on sale at Amazon during Xmas so I grabbed it up!

Here we follow Vincent and Lydia. Vincent is approached by the Dowager Countess of Morley who asks him to become the guardian of her unwanted American granddaughter, Lydia. He only agrees because of a vow he made to the family years and years ago. He plans to get Lydia married ASAP before she realizes he is not only a vampire, but he wants her for himself. When Lydia arrives, she soon turns Vincent's gloomy castle upside-down. She has brought happiness to the castle and to Vincent. Soon they will find themselves in a very dire situation.

It was so nice to see our old couple show up to help these two. I loved them and it is nice seeing them happy and in love. 

I liked Vincent and Lydia and they are SO obviously made for each other. The lust is there right away and you can see them become fast friends and then more. It felt natural for them. However, it drove me insane how long it took for them to just TALK out their issues. So much guilt that they both had especially after THE event that changed everything. OMG. Just talk to each other!!!! *shakes fist*

I'm not sure I really liked how things transpired on getting her turned (no spoiler...you know it happens eventually lol). I wasn't crazy with all that drama it sparked. Won't say more....but I wasn't a huge fan. Lydia's actions that created the situation seemed out of character and melodramatic. Mmmm. 

But yes, this was a fun ready. A lovely romance between two characters who deserved to be loved and find love. Plus vamps are always a blast. 

Can't wait for the next one! It's Rafe's turn to find love! Yayyyyy!

In the end, I did enjoy this. A couple of issues but overall a nice romance. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #3 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: A Wife for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Author: Mary Lydon Simonsen

Title: A Wife for Mr. Darcy

Genre: Historical Romance, Retellings, What-if

Format: ebook

Pages: 380 

Published: July 1, 2011

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

When he meets Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy is already courting another young lady and now, in addition to his original qualms, Darcy has a real matter of honor to overcome...

Review:

Been meaning to read this for a while now. Finally got this downloaded to read. 

This is a variation of the beloved P&P story. Mr. Darcy meets Elizabeth...but he is already courting another young lady. But feelings are strong...what will they do when they realize they love each other?

I'll admit.....I struggled quite a bit with this one. It was oh so slow. And this Mr. Darcy was different. I'm all about changing stuff, but he was super different. He even apologized SUPER early on for insulting Lizzie. Mmmm. 

However, I pushed through. I really wanted to complete this for multiple reasons. There were sprinkles of good moments through the boring. So yes, I pushed through. I was rewarded that the last 25% was really good. :D I loved watching Lizzie and Darcy be in love...get married....and that epilogue? ADORABLE. The love letters and words of love were soooo sappy but adorable. 

I wish I had liked this more though. Maybe it's just me? Seems like so many people LOVED this. Can't win them all. 

2 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #8 for Romance Reading Challenge - Retelling/What-if

- #2 TBR Pile Reading