Tag: reading

Season of the Witch (Toil and Trouble #3) : Review

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About the Book:

Title: Season of the Witch

Author: Sophie H. Morgan

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Pages: 368

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Holiday Romance

Synopsis:

It was a passion neither could forget—until he did.

Tia Hightower isn’t sure how she went from being a powerful witch to fake dating her ex at a winter house party.

For eight years, she has refused to speak Henry Pearlmatter’s name unless it has been to curse it. Now, with their family businesses merged, she and her insufferable ex must pretend to be together to secure a wealthy warlock’s investment. Sharing a room—and a bed—with Henry is bad enough. Even worse is that Tia might have had a small potion mishap…and accidentally erased Henry’s memories of her.

Henry might not remember his ex, but it’s clear there’s still something between them. Whatever went wrong in the past, he intends to figure it out. Faking feelings for Tia isn’t exactly difficult, but one thing’s for starlight carnivals and mulled-wine kisses can’t change history.

With the threat of Henry’s memories hovering over every stolen moment, their time together is running out. But a little bit of Christmas magic and the snow-melting heat between them have Tia wondering if it’s time to risk her heart once more, even if it’s with the warlock who once broke it…

Toil and Trouble

Book 1: The Witch is Back
Book 2: De-Witched
Book 3: Season of the Witch

Review:

*I received an earc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

Season of the Witch is the final installment in Sophie Morgan’s Toil and Trouble series, and it did not disappoint!

Tia and Henry are exes that are forced to work together after the merging of their family businesses.  They need to secure a wealthy warlock’s investment. They must share a room and a bed, and there’s a catch. Tia accidently erased Henry’s memories of her with a potion. Henry can’t remember his ex, but there’s still definitely something between them. Henry is intent on finding out about their past history. It isn’t hard for Tia to fake her feelings, but what happened in the past can’t be changed.

Henry’s memories coming back threaten every stolen moment that they have together. Tia must decide if she wants to risk her heart once more.

I loved the banter and the laughs in this one! The romance was super cute as well. There were some fun and entertaining side characters that really added to the story. I also really enjoyed that this took place during the Christmas season, but it can be read any time of the year.

Can’t wait to read more from Sophie! She’s become one of my favorite romance authors.

 

About the Author:

Sophie H. Morgan is a romance author, repped by Cole Lanahan. She lives in crazy worlds, some concocted by her, some ruled by her spaniel.

You can usually find her on Instagram (SophiehMorgan), on Twitter (@SophieHMorgan) or through her website.

Happy Reading!

 

 

Six Weeks by the Sea: Review

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About the Book:

Title: Six Weeks by the Sea

Author: Paula Byrne

Publisher: Pegasus Books

Release Date: August 5. 2025

Pages: 256

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Regency

Synopsis:

A vivid historical novel about Jane Austen that explores a question that has fascinated Janeites for years—Austen wrote some of the greatest love stories in existence, but did she ever fall in love?

When Jane Austen hears the news that her family is to leave their beloved country home for the city of Bath, she faints with surprise and horror. But there is one the promise of a six-week holiday by the sea while their new lodgings are being prepared. She relishes the bracing air and beautiful surroundings, takes pleasure in sea bathing, and shares laughter with her sister Cassandra and best friend Martha Lloyd.

To her joy, brother Frank arrives, fresh from naval exploits in the war against Napoleon. His friend Captain Parker seems to be making a play for Jane’s affections, but her sharp emotional intelligence tells her that something is not quite right. Meanwhile, she assists the eccentric Reverend Swete in finding a home for his bi-racial granddaughter who has arrived from the West Indies.

Jane initially takes against another visitor to the seaside resort of Sidmouth, the lawyer Samuel Rose, but as she gets to know him, a wholly different feeling begins to blossom. . . .

Written with a same wit and style that echos Austen herself, Paula Byrne expertly interweaves her deep knowledge of Austen and her world to imagine and give voice to the most romantic summer of the beloved author’s short life.

Review:

*I received an arc via the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

Six Weeks by the Sea was the first book I’ve read by Paula Byrne, and it didn’t disappoint! As a huge fan of Jane Austen and her works, I love reading books like this one. Six Weeks by the Sea is a fictional account of Jane Austen and her family’s time in Sidmouth, which was well researched and seemed authentic to the time period. Paula Byrne helps us to explore the answer to the age-old question of whether or not Jane Austen ever had a love interest after all of the beautiful love stories she wrote?

When Jane Austen finds out that her family is to leave their beloved country home for the city of Bath, she literally faints in surprise and horror. She is excited however that they will take a six-week holiday by the sea while the family’s new lodgings are being readied. She loves being by the sea with the fresh air, the sea bathing, and the time she can spend with her sister Cassandra and her best friend Martha.

She is soon also visited by her brother Frank (who is on a leave from the navy), much to her delight. His friend Captain Parker seems to be trying to gain Jane’s affections, but she feels that something isn’t quite right. She is also helping Reverend Swete in finding a home for his bi-racial granddaughter who has arrived from the West Indies. Jane at first does not seem to care for another visitor to the seaside, a lawyer, Samuel Rose. As she spends more time with Samuel, and gets to know him better, different feelings begin to blossom altogether.

This story was quite beautiful. I loved seeing Jane’s relationships with her family members and her best friend, the friendships she made while visiting the sea, and how Jane tackled some of the societal issues she faced. I felt like the love story was quite believable and that Samuel Rose would have been a great match for Jane.

I definitely recommend for fans of Jane Austen and fans of Regency Romance!

About the Author:

Paula was born in Birkenhead in 1967, the third daughter in a large working-class Catholic family. She studied at the University of Liverpool and now lives in Oxford with her husband, the Shakespeare scholar Sir Jonathan Bate, and their three children (Tom, Ellie and Harry). She is founder and Chief Executive of ReLit, the charity for literature and mental health. Paula is represented by The Wylie Agency.

Her most recent book is a biography of Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy, President John F. Kennedy’s favourite sister, who married the heir to Chatsworth House before her early, tragic death. Before this, Paula wrote the tie-in book to the award-winning movie, Belle, in which she told the true story of the black slave girl who was brought up by the Lord Chief Justice of England in the years leading up to the abolition of the slave trade.

In January 2013, to coincide with the bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice, she published an innovative biography called The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things. It was a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller and a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Her previous book, Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead, told the story of Evelyn Waugh’s friendship with the extraordinary aristocratic family who inspired Brideshead Revisited. It was also a Sunday Times top ten bestseller and in the USA it was serialized in Vanity Fair.

Paula’s first top ten bestseller was Perdita: The Life of Mary Robinson. A selection for the 2005 Richard and Judy Book Club and a British Book Awards ‘Best Read’ nomination, it was also long-listed for the prestigious Samuel Johnson Prize. The book tells the extraordinary story of the eighteenth-century actress, poet, novelist, feminist, celebrity and royal mistress Mary ‘Perdita’ Robinson (1757-1800). Paula’s first book, shortlisted for the Theatre Book Prize, was Jane Austen and the Theatre, published in 2002 and reissued in paperback by Bloomsbury. Paul Johnson of The Spectator chose it as his best-ever book on Jane Austen and the Times Literary Supplement described it as a ‘definitive and pioneering study of a wholly neglected aspect of Austen’s art.’

Paula has also edited a Routledge Literary Sourcebook on Jane Austen’s Emma and is a regular reviewer for the Saturday Times. (Source: Amazon)

A Song to Drown Rivers: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Song to Drown Rivers

Author: Ann Liang 

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Pages: 325

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds.
Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.203578730

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

A Song to Drown Rivers was my first book I’ve read by Ann Liang! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. The story was heartbreakingly beautiful, and one of the few books that has made me cry recently. It’s inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the Famous Four Beauties of Ancient China.

Xishi’s beauty has been seen as favorable to her village. They expect her to marry well and support her family. Xishi draws the attention of Fanli, a military advisor, who convinces her to use her beauty as a weapon. If she succeeds, she could avenge her sister’s murder, help her village, and topple the rival kingdom of Wu. To do this, she must worm her way into the enemy kingdom as a spy and seduce their king. 

She is trained by Fanli to prepare her as a spy, and as they work together, the attraction between them grows.

Once Xishi is in the palace, she is watched by all the king’s advisors, but the king himself shows her great affection. She begins to climb in the Wu court, and she knows that she and Fanli risk everything if she is unmasked as a traitor. 

With amazing world building, fascinating mythology, and forbidden love, this is one book you don’t want to miss! 

Definitely recommend! 

About the Author:

Ann Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn’t Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia, but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.16624571._UX200_CR0,14,200,200_