The Art of Us Book Review

About the Book

 Falling in love is complicated when you’re both keeping secrets.

On the surface, everything seems perfect for high school senior Ireland Raine. She’s intelligent and artistically talented, and her natural beauty and quiet charm are enviable. However, Ireland harbors a secret she’ll guard at any cost—she’s homeless.

When her crush, Kal Ellis, invites her on a date, she seizes the opportunity. Ireland has never had a boyfriend before, and Kal is not just a guitarist in a local band, he’s also an artist. Their connection is instantaneous, and he suggests they collaborate on the school mural. Working and laughing alongside Kal, Ireland can momentarily forget her problems.

However, when someone exposes her secret, Ireland ends up in a foster home alongside her most despised adversary, Mara Washington. To make matters worse, Ireland discovers it was Kal who revealed her secret.

Furious, Ireland must decide if she has the strength to forgive the boy who stole her heart or if she is better off alone. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I enjoy a good young adult novel so I was excited to dive into this one! I really liked how the book deal with homeless teens. It is very eye opening and the author did a great job writing this into the story. The characters I liked okay, I struggled to fully love Kal. The "romance" doesn't take up the entire plot which I appreciated. I also really like the layers of the secondary characters. The author really dove into different situations that come up not only in the world of teens but also adults who aren't in school. I do wish there was a bit more to the story and I felt like it just ended suddenly but overall this is a decent read. 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

An Inconvenient Letter Review

About the Book

 Complications arise when Marietta’s secret love letters are accidentally found by the wrong man.

1828, the London countryside

For years, Marietta Stone has harbored a secret infatuation for the handsome Frederick Finch and has poured out her deepest feelings in a series of passionate love letters that she keeps in a locked drawer. But when Marietta’s private letters are accidentally delivered to Frederick’s house, she must retrieve them immediately before they fall into the wrong hands. If the letters were read by anyone else, the resulting scandal could jeopardize her reputation.

Gerard Hartwell has no time for infatuations, courtship, or even love. He must find a wife with a substantial inheritance if he wishes to save his late father’s bankrupt estate. When he accidentally discovers Marietta’s love letters at his cousin Frederick’s estate, he strikes a bargain with her. If she helps him court her older sister, Anne, he will return the letters and help Marietta win Frederick’s heart.

Marietta agrees, and the two quickly pretend to be courting in order to spend time with their individual love interests. Yet, what appeared to be a straightforward bargain becomes complicated when Gerard realizes that the more time he spends with Marietta, the more he wishes he could court her for real. But can he persuade Marietta to give him a chance when her heart might belong to another man? (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I went into this book slightly wary because I am typically not a fan of love triangles. They can be written in a way that isn't terrible but I am always a tad nervous. This book was a pleasant surprise! There is a bit of a "love triangle" but not really how it is typically portrayed. It is obvious to the reader who the best hero will be in the end. This story moves a tad slow in the middle but there are some really fun scenes and quirky character attributes that make the rest of the book most enjoyable. The love letter debacle is fun and made for a unique plot line through the entire book. I enjoyed the setting, characters (except for a select few which you will understand!), and the ending wrapped up nicely. This was an enjoyable light read with a bit of sweet romance. 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Windsong Manor Review

 

 

 

About the Book

A young widow. A gentle stable master. A secret that could change everything. Will Nora dare risk her heart?

The London Countryside, 1820

Eleanora Coventry comes from a life of title and privilege, but even that isn’t enough to prevent her from being wed at sixteen to a controlling and dismissive husband. So when she finds herself a widow at only twenty-seven, the idea of choosing her own path forward both thrills and terrifies her. She knows how to be a daughter and a wife and mother, but she has no idea how to be Eleanora.

She moves her son and daughter to her late husband’s country estate, where she meets Ridley, the young stable master. He is ruggedly handsome, but also kind, and Eleanora finds herself drawn to him. There is only one problem: Eleanora has a title, and Ridley does not.

Ridley Ellis has a way with horses. Even the most spirited stallions trust his soft voice and gentle touch. He has the same effect on people, and when he first lays eyes on Eleanora, he is smitten by her beauty. But he quickly discovers it will take more than soft words to gain her trust—Lord Coventry had been cruel to people and animals alike. But the closer he gets to Eleanora, the more he is willing to share his heart, and more importantly, his secret.

In a world where title and privilege mean everything, will Eleanora and Ridley risk it all to find happiness? Or will the shadows of their pasts destroy everything they hope to build together? (Goodreads)

 

 PRE-ORDER HERE! Releases October 3, 2023!

 

 

My Thoughts

I was excited to read this story since it involves a stable and a country estate. Eleanora has a distinctly different personality as a heroine and the characters in this book all have very strong personalities. This is a love story but really it is more of a woman figuring out her life after being married to a terrible man. Her entire world has changed and she now gets to choose how to raise children and run her life. There were multiple times while reading that the events happening took me out of the book because it seemed like more of a modern story. I didn’t feel like I was reading historical fiction set in the 1820s. I am not someone who notices or makes a big deal of things being perfectly historically accurate, but this book reads so much more like modern fiction when it comes to the plot and dialogue. I love the beautiful setting and there are some really great scenes with Ridley, especially with the children. While this isn’t my favorite book, the ending wraps up nicely and it was still a pleasant read. 

Three Stars.

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. Affiliate links may be used."