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The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian’s. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

Another fun book, but by now I’m concerned. Early on, Aunt Eugenia seemed focused but maybe cared a little bit for Emma–by now it’s clear that she’s a horrible person.

I read books 7 & 8 before writing this review, so I don’t remember the specifics of this book. Like the others, it was charming in places and definitely witty. I would like to see Emma do something, though. She’s not just responsible for her future, she also has Agnes, Parian, and Archibald to consider, and she seems to think if she reads enough that everything with the house will sort itself out.

Rated PG. Some drinking and swearing.

Get book seven here!

“The image of Pandora’s Box being opened by my own hand flashed across my mind. A sobering and somewhat disappointing realization when one understands they are their own worst enemy.”

The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian’s. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

Lots more shenanigans, though this time it includes romance. I admit that I don’t fully understand Emma’s anger at the whole ward-of-Islington thing–it really doesn’t change her life in any way, but she acts like it’s the end of the world.

I didn’t want to read this book because I was afraid it wouldn’t meet my expectations set at the end of book six. In some ways it didn’t, but overall it did. I have high hopes now for the trip to Stonecrop–I’m interested to see how the four continue to grow together.

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Read my initial thoughts on the series here.

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US Marshal Morgan Sawyer rides into the treacherous Rocky Mountains on a mission to find fellow Marshal Tex, who vanished while they were escorting a dangerous prisoner. But ranchwoman Roz Beck insists on riding beside him, despite Morgan’s protests. Joined by newlyweds Owen and Delaney, and Roz’s young son, they push deep into the wilderness.

Widowed Roz was wounded in love when her now-deceased husband abandoned her, leaving her alone to raise a child. While her heart longs for love, for her son’s sake, she’ll settle for a man she trusts like Morgan, her childhood friend. When a shadowy figure begins prowling the search party’s camp at night, the group realizes that something more than the wilderness poses a threat to their quest of bringing Tex to safety. Will the looming danger strengthen Morgan and Roz’s growing feelings and faith in each other, or will it be their breaking point?

I’ve been a long-time fan of Connealy, though I haven’t read many of her books in the last few years. I was excited to read her newest, though, as it’s been so long.

As she often does, Connealy brings in past characters and lets their lives entwine, while also introducing new romances that will definitely be featured in future books. I’ve always loved this about her books–you get to spend extra time with the characters you’ve already fallen in love with! Her descriptions really help you visualize the rough and wild wilderness of the west, which are as important to the stories as the characters.

The pacing of this book was a little slow for me, but I’ve definitely noticed that stylistic change in her more recent books (as well as in other writers’ novels). It’s not a particular favorite of mine, but if enjoy taking your time to really get into the characters’ minds and pasts, this style is perfect for you. If you’re a fan of Connealy’s recent releases, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

Rated PG.

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For more historical romance, check out:

More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer
A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

I took Treasure Island to church with me as a talisman.
“What a lovely bible,” Mrs. Tribly said.
“Isn’t it just?” I replied, hoping she would not ask me to read a favorite verse aloud.
I do not believe the psalmist wrote,
Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest,
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

I’m five books in, and Emma is as witty as can be. That’s good, because her wit’s been carrying through her series as we watch her day-to-day life without much development or change, until this book. The character development is a bit odd though.

Emma seems perfectly fine until the men in her life start telling her she’s not fine. We’ve never seen Emma comment on her health or quality of life until we’re told that she looks ill and never eats (which readers wouldn’t know because we see her having tea and eating all the time). Peculiar. We’re also told that she’s obsessed with Maxwell, which doesn’t really show itself in her journals. She’s sad, of course, but nothing really suggests that it’s an unhealthy obsession, until the men in her life tell her that it is.

She does heed their advice, but not on purpose. That’s one of the immaturities that bugs me about Emma–everyone is concerned for her, but she doesn’t care. She’s also going to lose her house in two years, but instead of actively looking for a solution, she’s focused on acquiring books that she’ll lose when she loses the house. Why?

Do I love the wit and humor of these books? 100%.
Am I annoyed that we’re more than halfway into the series and we still know nothing about Islington, Pierce, and Hawkes? Also 100%.
I very much enjoy the quality of the writing in this series, but I’m not a fan of being strung along–give me some info on the characters’ pasts and lets see how that impacts their lives and relationships.

I’m on the fence about a rating. Solid 3.5 stars. Maybe 4 stars.

Rated PG.

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Check out my review of book four here!

Rachel Beck has hit a brick wall. She’s a single mom, still living at home and trying to keep a dying relationship alive. Aside from her daughter, the one bright light in Rachel’s life is her job as the night reservations manager at a luxury hotel in Miami Beach—until the night she is fired for something she didn’t do.

On impulse, Rachel inquires about a management position at a brewery hotel on an island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, Rachel packs up her daughter and makes the cross country move.

What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, moody man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel—and rebuild her own life—from the ground up.

I read book one in this series years ago, but it never left my mind, and I’ve been waiting for my library to have the next book available on audio. It finally came in, so I grabbed it.

This story has such a different feel from the first book, which I remember being more emotionally raw and almost desperate. While Rachel does have a desperate moment, she’s not in the pit quite like her sister is; this actually feels more like Mason’s story, as he goes through more change than Rachel does.

Honestly, Rachel seems to cause most of the drama in her life, but that doesn’t mean the story wasn’t enjoyable. It’s actually a nice change of pace from most contemporary romance/women’s fiction. Instead of intense circumstances with potentially life altering consequences, The Suite Spot is more of a “slow burn” in terms of character growth–the story watches them adjust with each new month, in each new season. I usually prefer more tension and conflict, but this slower pace, watch-them-grow pace with a vibrant cast of characters invites you in to see what happens.

If you’re looking for less stress with all the swoon, this is the book for you.

Rated R for some swearing, alcohol, and sex (not closed door, but not as steamy as Tessa Bailey or Ali Hazelwood).

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Check out book one–Float Plan–here.

“It all began very innocently. Truly.”

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Just wrapped up book #4. I have mixed emotions about this series thus far. While Emma’s wit is motivating, and her back-and-forths with her aunt are hysterical, I’m still struggling to adjust my expectations of the books. While the slice-of-life, day-to-day accounts of her life are entertaining, I miss other points of view. I miss the intimacy of experiencing life with the characters. But I do very much enjoy Emma’s cheekiness.

I’m also not entirely sure how I feel about Emma. In some ways she’s a saint (letting her cousin stay with her), but she’s also very immature and self-centered. I want to root for her, but there’s not much to root for–her one goal is to keep her house, and she’s not really doing anything about it.

This is an odd series, but it’s easy to read and the quick remarks are enjoyable. At this point, I’m more curious than engaged, but I’ll keep reading.

Rated PG.

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To see my thoughts on volume three, click here.