How to Catch a Queen

 Book Review of  How To Catch A Queen (Runaway Royals Series)

Title:  How To Catch A Queen

Series: Runaway Royals Series

Author: Alyssa Cole

Date Published:    December 1st 2020

Date Read:  Dec 9,  2020

The Blurb: 

When Shanti Mohapi weds the king of Njaza, her dream of becoming a queen finally comes true. But it’s nothing like she imagined. Shanti and her husband may share an immediate and powerful attraction, but her subjects see her as an outsider, and everything she was taught about being the perfect wife goes disastrously wrong.

A king must rule with an iron fist, and newly crowned King Sanyu was born perfectly fitted for the gauntlet, even if he wishes he weren’t. He agrees to take a wife as is required of him, though he doesn’t expect to actually fall in love. Even more vexing? His beguiling new queen seems to have the answers to his country’s problems—except no one will listen to her.

By day, they lead separate lives. By night, she wears the crown, and he bows to her demands in matters of politics and passion. When turmoil erupts in their kingdom and their marriage, Shanti goes on the run, and Sanyu must learn whether he has what it takes both to lead his people and to catch his queen.

My Review

2.5 Meh stars

I really wanted to love this book. The cover is beautiful and the synopsis sounded so good. Unfortunately I never felt the love between Sanyu and Shanti. Their relationship wasn't just a slow burn it was nonexistent. They never spent time together. Instead I found myself drowning in boring over the top details of royal life, and the politics of being the queen and king. I did like that Shanti wanted to make a difference. She wanted to make things better. That she stood for what she believed in and wanted to be a good queen. Sanyu on the other hand I didn't like that much. I felt he didn't have much of a backbone and let his advisor do all his thinking. It also bothered me how little he cared for or thought about Shanti. She could have been a chair for all he took notice.

By the time I warmed up a bit to Sanyu it was too little, too late. The advisor drove me crazy. I hated him so bad. I wanted him to get some real comeuppances for the crap he did but nope. The ended felt rushed, and the advisor issues got glossed over. While there were parts of the book I liked, overall it was just an okay and at times boring read for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I felt the love between the main couple or the advisor would have got what was coming to him. This is my first time reading Alyssa Cole and I would try her again but not this series.

Once Upon a Mail Order Bride

 Book Review of  Once Upon a Mail Order Bride (Outlaw mail order brides Series)

Title:  Once Upon a Mail Order Bride

Series: Outlaw mail order brides Series

Author: Linda Broday

Date Published:    November 24th 2020

Date Read:  Dec 6,  2020

The Blurb: Accused of crimes he didn't commit, ex-preacher Ridge Steele is forced to give up everything he knew and make his home with outlaws. Desperate for someone to confide in, he strikes up correspondence with mail-order bride Adeline Jancy, finding in her the open heart he's been searching for. Upon her arrival, Ridge discovers Addie only communicates through the written word, but he knows a little of what trauma can do to a person and vows to stand by her side.

Addie is eager to start a new life with the kind ex-preacher and the little boy she's stolen away from her father--a zealot priest of a terrorized flock. As her small family settles into life at Hope's Crossing, she even begins to find the voice, and confidence, she'd lost so long ago.

But danger is not far behind, and her father will not be denied. While Addie desperately fights the man who destroyed her childhood, a determined Ridge races to the rescue. The star-crossed lovers will need more than prayers to survive this final challenge...and find their way back to each other again.

My Review

4 finding faith again stars

 

So I'm a little late reading Once upon a Mail order bride and getting my review up thanks to getting Covid and having it kick my butt. Better late than never. I have been a fan of this series since Clay's book. I love reading about mail order brides and life back in the wild west and this series has both those. Ridge Steele has been my favorite since book 1, so finally getting his story was great. It was nice to take a step back from the stress of life and enjoy his love story.

Ridge was everything I wanted and more. I really enjoyed his back story and getting to know what made him the way he was. He had such a good heart and was easy to fall in love with. Addie was amazing and perfect for Ridge. Not only was she smart and pretty but brave and loyal too. She did what was right no matter the cost to her. They made a really cute couple.

The plot was really good, but I did take one star off because there was so much danger coming at the couple from both sides and I felt like it was a bit too much. With so much going on in the world it would have been nice to have a little bit more calm to the story. Still I loved reading it. Getting to see all the other couples and the kids. I think this was the last book in the series and that's sad because I would love to see the kids get married. If you are looking for a good read with a wild west flavor this is the book for you. Also I recommend you read the whole series because they are all good.

Defend Me

 Book Review of  Defend Me (Free Series)

Title:  Defend Me

Series: Free Series

Author: Grahame Claire

Date Published:    October 20th 2020

Date Read:  Nov. 5,  2020

The Blurb: 

I've done something stupid.

And I'm not even all that mad about it.
I've got a crush on my best friend's sister.
No, we're not five.
Though with the way we argue, it's debatable.
Half the time I don't like her.
She always says the wrong thing.
But I've got a soft spot for her and her little boy.
Yeah, me. One of the toughest defense attorneys in the city.
I never lose.
This might be a first.
Because I can't compete with a dead man.

My Review

4 Patrick Stars

As much as I love Grahame Claire's books, this one was a bit hard for me to rate. See I loved everything about this book, but the heroine. Even with my dislike of Marlow this book was still a good 4 star read for me. The plot was so good, the past couples and the Dixon family were amazing, and I was head over heels in love with the hero Patrick. He made the whole book for me.

I liked Patrick from book 1 as Andrew's lawyer friend who was so charming. I was really excited to get his story. He was everything I wanted and more. Sexy, loyal, smart, protective and caring. He accepted Marlow just as she was. He saw the good and the bad in her, but loved her, and never did he try to change her. He was so yummy. I also knew from past books that Marlow was blunt to the point of rude and had a painful past suffering the loss of her husband. I didn't much like her in the first two books in the series, and I really didn't like her in this book. I didn't hate her, just didn't like her. I may have never warmed up to her but I did understand were she was coming from. I felt her pain, and I understood her guilt and why she lashed out.

Patrick and Marlow made a good couple. They had a playful bickering kind of way to them that was funny and cute. Blake was so adorable. I loved that the few words he spoke were cuss words as a mom of 2 I laughed hard because it reminded me of my own kids learning and saying bad words. There was some exciting twist in this book that I really didn't see coming. Then the ending was so sweet. Overall it was a really good read and I can't wait to find out what's going on with Cricket.........