Book review : Her Rebel Heart by Alison Stuart | A Sweet & Swoon-worthy Read

Her Rebel Heart
by Alison Stuart

GENRE: #HistoricalAdventureRomance
STANDALONE

My rating: ★★★★☆
A solid 3.7 rounded up to 4!

Easy read, light romance with a hint of adventure, no drama and happy ending guaranteed.

🏰 THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The setting is the English Civil War, but other than that, there is no real historical information in the book, except perhaps the fact that the author was inspired by real women who endured a siege of their castle when their husbands were engaged in wars.

📜 THE PLOT IN SHORT

The story takes place in England at the times of the Civil War.
Sir John Felton's two daughters are left completely alone with the garrison in their manor, Kinton Lacy Castle.
Deliverance is a classic tomboy who studies all the books in the library on war tactics to defend her home. On the other hand, Penitence, a true beauty, is more feminine and is pining over her broken engagement to her neighbor and lover Jack Farrington, who now fights for the opposing faction, the Royalists.

Captain Luke Collyer and his men are sent from Gloucester to Kinton Lacy by the girls' stern father to help them resist the siege and save the castle and all the people living within the walls. Luke has a certain reputation with women, and the disheveled woman dressed in breeches, who does not want to give up the command, is certainly not his ideal type of woman... and yet, between one skirmish and another, the two begin to collaborate and respect each other. The attraction and a strong feeling are a natural consequence... but the situation is critical and dangerous, someone is betraying from within, and perhaps giving in to feelings is not the wisest thing to do...

🤗 MY UNVARNISHED THOUGHTS

🎭 THE CHARACTERS

As soon as I read the names of the two sisters (Deliverance and Penitence ??? Seriously ? ... Awful !!!) and that Luke was considered a womanizer and she was rebellious and stubborn, I wanted to abandon the book... but since it was already the fourth that I started without then going on, I decided to continue. Horrendous names and two clichés that I hate... But fortunately, the characters turned out to be more pleasant than what was my first impression, and it was easy to grow fond of them.

I admit that all, but especially the two main characters, could have been explored a little more; however, when I finished my reading, I realized that I missed them, and that is exactly what makes me understand the grade. I liked them and their story.

💞 THE LOVE STORY: SLOW-BURN AND ADVENTURE

Hmm... Actually, I would not recommend this book to those who read mainly romances because the whole story is a mix of various elements, and the author does not focus mainly on kisses and meetings.
To be honest, I liked this fiction precisely for that reason. Indeed, I enjoyed the adventure and the twists (which however were resolved quite quickly) and the love story developed slowly without being too sappy (which I hate and really didn't want).

👉 It's a clean romance up to 80% of the book, then there's one sex scene (which seems a little out of line with the rest of the writing style of the book), but even if it's explicit it's not vulgar and it's described briefly, so nothing particularly steamy.

👉 The language is clean and that's something I always appreciate.

👉 It's a fast paced adventure, I never found a moment of lull and this helped raise my rating.

✨ THE COZY VERDICT

This is not a particularly exciting novel that will remain engraved in your memory, but it's a pleasant read, highly recommended to those looking for an undemanding content and an entertaining read.

Thank you all for stopping by and reading my opinion! :-)

With love,
Tizi 🐾😽

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Book review : The Marigold Chain by Stella Riley

The Marigold Chain by Stella Riley

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3.5 rounded to 4 stars as historical fiction.
Only 3 stars ( or 2.5 rounded to 3 ) as romance.

__THE PLOT__ England 1666.
-->Chloe is a girl of about 20 who lives with her stepbrother, an aristocrat who spends all his money on gambling, alcohol and women.
One evening, having run out of money, he gambles his stepsister: if he loses, she will become the property of his opponent.
-->Alex, 30, was a Royalist soldier in the English Civil War.
He is very handsome and always ready with a joke and has friends who really care of him, but he has a bad temper and a disappointment in love leads him to alcohol and senseless actions.
--> One morning Alex wakes up after an incredible hangover and discovers that he is married to an innocent 20-year-old girl, Chloe.
They immediately decide to proceed with the request for annulment, meanwhile England goes to war with Holland...

***
The book is divided into 3 parts, of which I really liked the first part, cheerful and lively, it made imagine a romance full of funny scenes.


The second part, the central and broader one, was to me very disappointing.
Any romance there, no connection between Alex and Chloe, the 2 main characters of the story.
They are married but he continues his life as if she didn't exist and she goes about her life thinking about him from time to time.
When the author finally gives us a beautiful escape scene together, with a bit of action, a kiss happens.
It's half way through the book and it's easy to think that a little chills and emotion will finally arrive...Instead: nothing romantic again, at least until the 3rd phase (which begins more or less 75% of the way through the novel).
The historical part is well developed but didn't involve me.
There is a betrayal situation that the protagonists are supposed to discover, but I didn't find it so intriguing.
BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM TO ME WAS :

___THE HERO ___ So handsome, but an ass !
I only fell in love with the male protagonist at the end, in the last 25% of the book while in the entire previous 75% I couldn't stand him!
He was beautiful and charming in his laughter and ironic jokes, but very irascible and deeply selfish because he only thought about his disappointments and dissatisfaction and vented his bad mood in the bottle and on his friends, while they, his friends, always tried to get him out of trouble and acted always very careful to avoid to provoke him, so as not to make him angry.
HOW CAN YOU LIKE A MAN LIKE THAT?
...Of course we stupid women always love those wild and dangerous (and this makes me angry!) while the sensitive and polite men are trampled upon (but usually those ones are ugly... instead here in the fiction the good, sensitive man in love was also a beautiful one...but unfortunately the scoundrel always wins)

My dislike for this character, who should have been the hero of the story, not only didn't allow me to enjoy reading the book, but it ultimately left me with a sense of hunger for something that only began at the end of the book.
Yes, the real romance only started at the end of the book... and so I feel dissatisfied.
In the third part the character suddenly loses his bad ways and like a true hero works for the good of the city that is going up in flames.
We are in the middle of the second major fire in London (September 1666) and this time all the scenes described by the author fully involved me, making me feel as if I was really on the scene, there in that city, in that historical moment.
In the third part Alex feelings for Chloe change too...few chapters..the happy ending..but I feel dissatisfied..I want more!... but unfortunately I was at the END OF THE NOVEL!
I don't know if I explained myself well: imagine eating a cake and you feel that it's not as good as you would like, finally you start to like the last slice... but it's the last slice and you're left with that unsatisfied craving which is irritating!

_ CONCLUDING __ I've only read one other novel by Stella Riley ( A Splendid Defiance) and I was thrilled with it .
It doesn't matter if the love story burns slowly, that's fine too, but in this novel the hero was difficult to love from the beginning and above all there was too little of the two main characters together.
It would have been nice to have more emotions throughout the story: more intense looks, a shiver on the skin during a casual touch... more interest on Alex's part towards Chloe, not just at the end, instead the whole love story was flat and one-way for too long.

Even though it wasn't what I expected, this doesn't discourage me and I will definitely read more of Stella Riley's novels, because I think she's really good and I appreciate her writing style.
My review shouldn't discourage you either, because I gave my opinion based on my personal taste.
Remember though: very slow-burn romance and pages dedicated to history, therefore not suitable for those looking for hot scenes and only frivolous novels.

NOTE: I'm from Italy and so English is not my native language. Please, forgive any errors you may find in my text.




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Book review : A Splendid Defiance by Stella Riley | The 6-Star Masterpiece You Can't Miss

A Splendid Defiance
by Stella Riley

GENRE : #HistoricalFiction #AdventureRomance

My rating: ★★★★★ + a SPECIAL 6th GOLDEN STAR! 🌟

5 stars well deserved! I absolutely loved it—this is an incredible historical adventure romance! 🌟⚔️

II finished the book this morning and I am already suffering from a major book hangover. I miss the characters so much, and I desperately want to keep being part of their world!
Without exaggeration, this is definitely the best book I have read in recent years (according to my own parameters, of course).
It completely captivated me from the very first page to the absolute last. There wasn't a single moment where I felt bored; I simply couldn't put it down and even neglected many of my other hobbies because I was so deeply engaged by this story!

To give you some context, this is a historical novel featuring two fictional main characters embedded within a rich cast of secondary characters who actually existed during the English Civil War (1642–1651).

It is a tale that masterfully weaves together war and love. However, contrary to what you might expect, it is not your typical romance novel where everything solely revolves around love or explicit scenes. There are no hot sex scenes here—which, to be honest, really isn't my genre anyway (I'm looking at you, Diana Gabaldon, and similar styles!).

___ **** PLOT IN SHORT **** ___

Justin Ambrose is a dashing Royalist cavalier who is quite bored with garrison life—until he crosses paths with Abby, the sister of a local merchant. Justin is famous for his romantic conquests, but he has never truly let a woman touch his heart before.

But Abby is different. She is not only beautiful but incredibly brave. She is also young and living in constant fear of her brother, a religious fanatic who fiercely hates all Royalists.

When the rebel army launches a massive attack on the castle, Justin fights tirelessly to break the siege, hiding a deep, secret torment even from his closest friends. Meanwhile, Abby is forced to sit at her brother's table surrounded by rebel commanders, daydreaming about the one man she knows she must not love...

___ **** MY THOUGHTS **** ___

| ⏳ THE SLOW-BURN ROMANCE & THE CAST

The love story begins with a beautifully slow-burn pace, developing against a rich backdrop of fierce battles, intense sieges, heroic deeds, political compromises, and the rigid limits of the bigoted world of that era.

|⚠️ A WARNING TO DIE-HARD ROMANCE READERS:

Our two main characters meet only a few times in the first half of the book. This might be disappointing if you are looking for a fast-paced, pure romance novel.
Instead, we actually see the gritty historical events unfold. But I promise you, it is never boring!
The war is described in such an enthralling way that I found myself deeply passionate about those historical moments. (And believe me, battles usually bore me to death, but not in this book!).

| 🎭 THE CHARACTERS:

The cast is incredibly vivid. There are highly likable characters with a brilliant sense of humor who completely cheer up the scene, contrasting sharply with narrow-minded, malicious antagonists who will literally make your skin crawl!

| 💞 MAIN COUPLE:

During the first half of the novel, we get a deep look into the separate lives of the two protagonists. We learn to truly care for them, savoring every fleeting moment they share as they gradually get to know one another and develop a strong, deep bond.

Our hero and heroine are Justin and Abby, and they belong to two opposing sides of this brutal war.
Justin is a Royalist officer holding Banbury Castle under siege, while Abby is the sister of a local shopkeeper—a puritanical, fanatical despot who makes her life an absolute living hell.

• Justin is a fascinating young man, not just in his looks, but in his charming behavior.
  His quick winks, his easy smile, and his raised-eyebrow glances are simply irresistible.
  He is brilliant, constantly sharing ironic, lighthearted jokes with his fellow officers—who are also his close friends—and later with Abby, while saving his sharp, sarcastic wit for despicable people.
  
  Justin is brave and independent, accustomed to fending for himself since the age of sixteen. We don’t learn about his past until three-quarters of the way through the book, but we can easily sense that he carries deep, unhealed wounds. Although he is incredibly successful with women, he is no unprincipled libertine; he is a man of honor who deeply respects others and keeps his promises, earning the love and respect of everyone around him.
  
  
• Abby is only eighteen at the start of the novel. She lives subjugated by her tyrant of a brother, knowing nothing of the outside world and denied even the smallest joy. Her only comfort is her younger brother, her close friend and accomplice, who will also become entangled in the war, though in a very different way.
  
  Given her background, it is only natural that Abby starts as an insecure and fearful girl. Yet, she possesses a fierce desire to truly live.
  Justin will open the doors to a beautiful new world for her—a world where she can sing and dance without feeling blasphemous, where admiring a dress or having lovely hair is not a sin, and where kind gestures exist instead of blows and prayers for forgiveness.
  
  As the story unfolds, a caterpillar transforms into a stunning butterfly. Abby develops a resilient character, becoming fully aware of what she wants and ready to fight until the very end to achieve it.
  
  

From mutual esteem and affection, a great love will blossom, though not without immense difficulties and heartbreak.

🚨 WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD! (Skip to the next paragraph if you want to stay completely in the dark)

[ I must admit, every now and then, I was terrified that there wouldn't be a happy ending. But even when I finally realized that things were going to turn out well, the author handed me a beautiful, unexpected final surprise that I genuinely did not see coming! ]
🚨 END OF SPOILER

Despite the tragic nature of the war, the overall atmosphere of the novel remains incredibly pleasant. As I mentioned before, the witty dialogues and sharp humor will make you smile several times throughout the journey!

The character development in this novel is absolutely flawless. Even the secondary characters surrounding the two protagonists are so incredibly well-described that you can easily guess their true nature and perfectly imagine their faces and expressions just from the tone of the dialogues.

| 🖊️ WRITING STYLE:

The author is a true master, both in her meticulous historical research and in her ability to completely immerse the reader in the story. I felt as if I were standing in the very same rooms as those people. I could visualize everything as if I were watching a high-budget movie, entirely losing myself inside it, as if I were living right there alongside them.

| ⚔️ THE HISTORICAL HOOK:

Being Italian, I didn't know much about English history; my knowledge was limited to the fact that there was a Civil War and a brief Republic between the reigns of Charles I and Charles II. However, I never felt confused or lost for a single moment. On the contrary, it was an absolute pleasure to learn about historical facts that were completely new to me, which even inspired me to expand my knowledge with some fun web research afterwards!

| 🏆 MY FINAL VERDICT:

The slowness with which the love story develops doesn't take away anything from the beauty of the book; on the contrary, it makes the slow-burn journey infinitely more sensual. And when we finally get a couple of intimate scenes toward the end, everything is written in such an intuitive, delicate way—not vulgar at all.

Every now and then, I stumble upon a book that I thoroughly enjoy, one that I know I will definitely reread and happily award 5 stars. But no book has ever enraptured me quite like this one.
If my favorite books so far have earned 5 stars, I am officially breaking my own rules and awarding this masterpiece my highest honor: MY 6th GOLDEN STAR! 😀🌟👑✨

I highly recommend this masterpiece to all historical fiction and adventure-romance lovers out there!

This was my very first book by Stella Riley, and while I will certainly try more of her work in the future, I won't do it right away—simply because this kind of reading magic rarely repeats itself twice in a row. 😉 The only real problem now? Any forthcoming reads won't hold a candle to it!

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my thoughts! I truly hope they will be useful when choosing your next historical adventure-romance escape! ❤️✨

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