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Jamie (131 KP) rated An Eccentric Engagement in Books
May 24, 2017
Sweet romance (1 more)
Good commentary about social justice
Does more telling than showing (1 more)
Felt more like a lecture than a love story
A sweet regency romance
So this was a bit of a non-traditional romance as it takes place after the courtship. Sorrow and Bertram are engaged to be married and the two return to Sorrow’s country home for the wedding. The two are very clearly in the early stages of excitement over a new relationship, stealing kissing and admiring each other — the “puppy love” stage. Neither of the two truly love each other but are already prepared for marriage. The actual romance was more told than shown and it unfortunately just didn’t work for me. The romantic aspect seemed to take a back seat to the other two major plot lines: Sorrow’s altruistic family and Bert’s difficult relationship with his overbearing father.
Both of these plot lines are actually really good, but I felt that they both needed more time to be developed and would have been better in a full length novel. All of the conflict was resolved in a few pages with barely any resistance and the discussion felt more like a lecture that was repeated multiple times. Not that the message was bad, I appreciated the way they approach discussing the mentally ill and the elderly, and I actually liked the Marchand’s way of life, but I think it could have been delivered better.
It also didn’t help that Sorrow kind of annoyed me. When she talks to other people to try and explain her views it again turns into a mildly pretentious lecture. Her insistence on absolute harmony and willingness to throw everything out of the window if she didn’t get her way was also extremely grating. Creating needless drama for the sake of drama is not a good way of filling up pages.
Overall its not bad, it’s a cute and clean love story that will appeal to folks with a strong sense of social justice. It was a fluffy and pleasant way to pass the time, but I didn’t feel much of anything while reading it.
Both of these plot lines are actually really good, but I felt that they both needed more time to be developed and would have been better in a full length novel. All of the conflict was resolved in a few pages with barely any resistance and the discussion felt more like a lecture that was repeated multiple times. Not that the message was bad, I appreciated the way they approach discussing the mentally ill and the elderly, and I actually liked the Marchand’s way of life, but I think it could have been delivered better.
It also didn’t help that Sorrow kind of annoyed me. When she talks to other people to try and explain her views it again turns into a mildly pretentious lecture. Her insistence on absolute harmony and willingness to throw everything out of the window if she didn’t get her way was also extremely grating. Creating needless drama for the sake of drama is not a good way of filling up pages.
Overall its not bad, it’s a cute and clean love story that will appeal to folks with a strong sense of social justice. It was a fluffy and pleasant way to pass the time, but I didn’t feel much of anything while reading it.
Debbiereadsbook (1741 KP) rated A Plethora of Phantoms (Spirited Encounters #2) in Books
Apr 18, 2026
clean, for a MM romance!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Spirited Encounters series (although some sites have other series titles!) You don't need to have read book one before this one. They are linked only via the theme, or I didn't get any other link.
Freddie is heir to his father's title and needs to learn how to manage the estate. This is why he's moved back home. The gentleman's dressing case was an impulse buy but now he thinks the case comes with a ghost. Researching the case's history brings him into contact with Marcus, the antiques dealer he bought it from. But Marcus triggers a chain of events Freddie kept hidden for so long, he doesn't know how to get out of it. And just what is going on in the gallery??
I liked this, a lot. It's different to what I usually read and that is never a bad thing!
I liked that the secret Freddie was keeping wasn't immediately clear. I liked that it crept up on me. I wasn't overly keen on the way he treated Marcus in places, but I think given Freddie's history, it was a little understandable.
I liked the way the story of the new ghost unfolds. It took a darker turn, but I think, as the history between Treen and Kitto becomes clear, it was really the only thing that would separate them.
I wasn't sure who the gallery ghost was, not til it became clear in the book, and I liked how that was dealt with.
What I LOVED though, was Freddie's family reaction to his big reveal! They were like, "And? So long as you're happy!" Kinda took the wind out of his sails, to be honest, and I loved that. And then, when Freddie's dad has his big reveal?? I did not see that coming, nor everyone else's reaction!
This book is clean, for a MM romance. It is all closed door, even the kissing. Not my usual read, but I loved that it was. I did find the romance bit somewhat rushed. The three little words come early, and I wasn't feeling the emotional connection between Freddie and Marcus.
Again, single POV from Freddie. And of course I wanted Marcus.
The ghost storyline follows a similar plot line to the one in the first book. Timelines are different but the general story line is very similar. Just need to share the book feelings, folks.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Spirited Encounters series (although some sites have other series titles!) You don't need to have read book one before this one. They are linked only via the theme, or I didn't get any other link.
Freddie is heir to his father's title and needs to learn how to manage the estate. This is why he's moved back home. The gentleman's dressing case was an impulse buy but now he thinks the case comes with a ghost. Researching the case's history brings him into contact with Marcus, the antiques dealer he bought it from. But Marcus triggers a chain of events Freddie kept hidden for so long, he doesn't know how to get out of it. And just what is going on in the gallery??
I liked this, a lot. It's different to what I usually read and that is never a bad thing!
I liked that the secret Freddie was keeping wasn't immediately clear. I liked that it crept up on me. I wasn't overly keen on the way he treated Marcus in places, but I think given Freddie's history, it was a little understandable.
I liked the way the story of the new ghost unfolds. It took a darker turn, but I think, as the history between Treen and Kitto becomes clear, it was really the only thing that would separate them.
I wasn't sure who the gallery ghost was, not til it became clear in the book, and I liked how that was dealt with.
What I LOVED though, was Freddie's family reaction to his big reveal! They were like, "And? So long as you're happy!" Kinda took the wind out of his sails, to be honest, and I loved that. And then, when Freddie's dad has his big reveal?? I did not see that coming, nor everyone else's reaction!
This book is clean, for a MM romance. It is all closed door, even the kissing. Not my usual read, but I loved that it was. I did find the romance bit somewhat rushed. The three little words come early, and I wasn't feeling the emotional connection between Freddie and Marcus.
Again, single POV from Freddie. And of course I wanted Marcus.
The ghost storyline follows a similar plot line to the one in the first book. Timelines are different but the general story line is very similar. Just need to share the book feelings, folks.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated All I Ever Wanted in Books
Apr 27, 2018
All I Ever Wanted really made me happy, and got me hooked on Kristan Higgins. This is why:
First, I loved the characters. Some were quirky (Louis the mortician, Noah her one-legged grandfather), some were funny (Her sister Hester! ROFL) Some were just mean. (MOM.) And some had the biggest heart in the world (Our hero, Ian). The relationships and the characters played out in such a real tangible way, and I loved every minute of it. Although I’m glad my family isn’t like Callie’s… it’s fun to sit back and watch.
Second: I was very pleased with the fact that the characters, dialogue, and plot weren’t perfect (happyland syndrome.) Some of you may know that happyland syndrome—everything working out perfectly all the time—will make me close a book in three minutes. All I Ever Wanted had nothing of the sort. It felt like real life, and because of that, it was relatable.
Third: It was a very sweet, very real, very good romance. And it was CLEAN. Yes! No skipping chunks of pages and trying to avoid unnecessary scenes! This pretty much made my day—maybe my week—that I’ve found a good romance author who doesn’t write sex scenes into her novels. Thank you Kristan Higgins, you’ve just made my bookshelf.
So that’s why I loved it. And that’s why I’ll be reading more of Higgins’ work in the future.
Content/recommendation: little language, very few sexual references. Ages 14+
First, I loved the characters. Some were quirky (Louis the mortician, Noah her one-legged grandfather), some were funny (Her sister Hester! ROFL) Some were just mean. (MOM.) And some had the biggest heart in the world (Our hero, Ian). The relationships and the characters played out in such a real tangible way, and I loved every minute of it. Although I’m glad my family isn’t like Callie’s… it’s fun to sit back and watch.
Second: I was very pleased with the fact that the characters, dialogue, and plot weren’t perfect (happyland syndrome.) Some of you may know that happyland syndrome—everything working out perfectly all the time—will make me close a book in three minutes. All I Ever Wanted had nothing of the sort. It felt like real life, and because of that, it was relatable.
Third: It was a very sweet, very real, very good romance. And it was CLEAN. Yes! No skipping chunks of pages and trying to avoid unnecessary scenes! This pretty much made my day—maybe my week—that I’ve found a good romance author who doesn’t write sex scenes into her novels. Thank you Kristan Higgins, you’ve just made my bookshelf.
So that’s why I loved it. And that’s why I’ll be reading more of Higgins’ work in the future.
Content/recommendation: little language, very few sexual references. Ages 14+
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Grime and Punishment (The Brothers Grime #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2021
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m rather picky about my MM Romances. I don’t know why, but I am. Josh Lanyon really started me on genre when I got book 4 in his Adrian English series for free one Christmas through All Romance E-Books. As soon as I read it I went and bought book 5 to see how it was all going to work out and I loved it. The only problem with that is the fact that I’ve probably been spoilt for most other MM books now.
That’s not to say it was bad or anything it just didn’t really do it for me, though I’m not entirely sure why. I liked the fact it was based around something different i.e. crime scene clearance, and it was interesting to read about the depth they go to to clean them.
The romance between the two main characters was quite sweet and progressed over time, which I liked much better than some others which just go straight into the hot and heavy. The two were likable in their own ways and when they finally kissed I was cheering them on.
I also really liked Gabe and Dave, they were always just looking out for Jack and trying to help him do the right thing, even if it didn’t always seem like it.
If you’re a fan of MM Romance’s then I’m sure you’ll like this.
I’m rather picky about my MM Romances. I don’t know why, but I am. Josh Lanyon really started me on genre when I got book 4 in his Adrian English series for free one Christmas through All Romance E-Books. As soon as I read it I went and bought book 5 to see how it was all going to work out and I loved it. The only problem with that is the fact that I’ve probably been spoilt for most other MM books now.
That’s not to say it was bad or anything it just didn’t really do it for me, though I’m not entirely sure why. I liked the fact it was based around something different i.e. crime scene clearance, and it was interesting to read about the depth they go to to clean them.
The romance between the two main characters was quite sweet and progressed over time, which I liked much better than some others which just go straight into the hot and heavy. The two were likable in their own ways and when they finally kissed I was cheering them on.
I also really liked Gabe and Dave, they were always just looking out for Jack and trying to help him do the right thing, even if it didn’t always seem like it.
If you’re a fan of MM Romance’s then I’m sure you’ll like this.
The Snow Wolf (Wolves Ever After #1)
8.0
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Rejected Mate (Shifter World: Royal-Kagan #5)
8.0
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Going from a shunned mate to top pack female… Has never been more satisfying. Born human and...
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Beating Ruby (Spotless Series Book 2)
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Forever and Then Some by Lillie Mae
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Rachel King (13 KP) rated Abby Finds Her Calling (Home at Cedar Creek, #1) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This is only the second Amish book I have ever read, but I really like the setting for fiction literature. The romance is clean, the majority of the characters have conservative values and traditions, such as the importance of God and family, and the language is clean. I love the way that the Amish community supports one another in business endeavors, or is so willing to lend a hand when tragedy strikes. One of the characters, Zanna, actually makes a business out of rag rug making, which intrigued me enough to try my hand at the craft myself.
Zanna does something completely out of character for the typical Amish young woman, but manages to fight for what she wanted despite the consequences of her actions, finding support in her oldest sister, Abby. Abby is more of a side character to the main plot of what is happening to Zanna. Abby nurses unrequited love for another character throughout the entire book, which is never really answered to, though there were hints of this changing in the next book in the series. Many of the characters are memorable in their own unique way, such as James's skill with making carriages that earns him employment to make a princess carriage for Disneyland, of all things. One of the older married couples also struggles with dementia throughout the book, which makes for some interesting and poignant scenes.
I could not have predicted how Zanna's predicament would impact another family so much for the better, or even how the book would have gathered all the lose ends at its finality, but the book came together very well with a sweet ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Zanna does something completely out of character for the typical Amish young woman, but manages to fight for what she wanted despite the consequences of her actions, finding support in her oldest sister, Abby. Abby is more of a side character to the main plot of what is happening to Zanna. Abby nurses unrequited love for another character throughout the entire book, which is never really answered to, though there were hints of this changing in the next book in the series. Many of the characters are memorable in their own unique way, such as James's skill with making carriages that earns him employment to make a princess carriage for Disneyland, of all things. One of the older married couples also struggles with dementia throughout the book, which makes for some interesting and poignant scenes.
I could not have predicted how Zanna's predicament would impact another family so much for the better, or even how the book would have gathered all the lose ends at its finality, but the book came together very well with a sweet ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it.