Review: A Terrible Fall of Angels by Laurell K. Hamilton

Angels walk among us, but so do other unearthly beings in this brand new series by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton.

A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS 

by LAURELL K. HAMILTON

Series: Zaniel Havelock #1

Publication date: August 17, 2021

Published by: Berkley

Genre: paranormal, fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Meet Detective Zaniel Havelock, a man with the special ability to communicate directly with angels. A former trained Angel speaker, he devoted his life to serving both the celestial beings and his fellow humans with his gift, but a terrible betrayal compelled him to leave that life behind. Now he’s a cop who is still working on the side of angels. But where there are angels, there are also demons. There’s no question that there’s evil at work when he’s called in to examine the murder scene of a college student—but is it just the evil that one human being can do to another, or is it something more? When demonic possession is a possibility, even angelic protection can only go so far. The race is on to stop a killer before he finds his next victim, as Zaniel is forced to confront his own very personal demons, and the past he never truly left behind.

The first in a new series from the author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.

Purchase your copy now!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PHOTO CREDIT: Ma Petite Enterprises

Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the leading writers of paranormal fiction. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Hamilton writes the popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels and the Meredith Gentry series. She is also the creator of a bestselling comic book series based on her Anita Blake novels and published by Marvel Comics. Hamilton is a full-time writer and lives in the suburbs of St. Louis with her family.

Follow her:

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REVIEW

A Terrible Fall of Angels by Laurell K. Hamilton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I just finished a four hundred page information dump on demons, angels, witches, spirit guides, animal guides, guardian angels, a baba yaga descendant, a voodoo priest, a "remote viewer," different specialties in the College of Angels, and abrupt, abstract descriptions of otherworldly interactions in the heavenly realm. As you would imagine, I'm feeling just little bit mentally exhausted after such a marathon of data. There was a slew of characters from Zaniel's past at the College of Angels, there was another huge set of police force characters-and if that wasn't enough, some of the characters had three different names. (Zaniel couldn't even get his best friend's name straight for the life of him.) So in other words, there was so much to compute that my brain is feeling a little numb right now. I'm going to try to sum things up as concisely and clearly as possible.

This was my first read by this author so I have nothing to compare this new series to. I've always been curious about Ms. Hamilton's work because of the popularity of her Anita Blake books. However, as a blogger I just didn't have the time to attempt an established 28 book series when I have so many ARC obligations on my plate. That's why I jumped at the chance to try out her new Zaniel Havelock series. My first impression here was that she's a big fan of detail. Normally that's a good thing to have intricate world building in urban fantasy. In this case, it was on the opposite side of the spectrum from "too little, too late." There were supernatural lessons like these littered through every chapter- even in the middle of character building, internal dialogue.

“Infernals take on the appearances of the human imagination nearest them,” Charleston said. “What?” Miller asked. 

“What he said,” the female security guard said. 

“It means they look like what the nearest human thinks they should look like, but they won’t appear in their true Hellish form, not here on Earth, except maybe for a second, then it changes,” I said. I didn’t add that a second could be enough for insanity or death for the human seeing it, but our minds protected us from so much, including demons. If a person could survive that second, then what they thought changed what they saw; demons used it to appear as our worst nightmares, but even that was usually less soul-destroying then the demon’s original form.

You take your time to get a good grasp on what is being explained, but the problem is that the infernal creature committing murders in the central mystery plot breaks all the rules in the rulebook. So this thing has abilities that contradict everything we've been told and by the end of the book, there was only the barest hint of why that could be. I understand that this is the introduction to a very long series and we should expect things to be drawn out far into the future, but I felt that the purpose of this book was to simply teach us who the characters were and begin to explain the world they live in. There were many different plot arcs such as Zaniel's marriage difficulties, his friend Levanael's mental illness recovery, his mysterious past affair with a Seraphim, the events that broke his faith in the college of angels, and attempting to piece together the mystery of the demon possessed/merged Cookson. The plot was so erratic, jumping from one point to another, that your attention never truly has time to engage with any one thing. To be frank, my favorite parts of the book were the action sequences where Zaniel was facing off with the demonic being. All of the other parts were often rambling, disjointed scenes stuck together.

For instance, why was Kate introduced? She is supposed to be from the lineage of a russian folklore witch called Baba Yaga. Zaniel seems notably attracted to her (despite his conflicted feelings about putting his family back together). He has an odd wound from her that keeps strangely seeping blood which we're led to believe has some deeper meaning. Then it just heals at the end and nothing ever comes of it. She never enters the story again, and we don't know why the wound behaved that way. Then there's the conflict that occurred with the spirit animal raccoon. We were told that this was a very strange and worrisome thing that the raccoon had been separated from a witch named Ravensong. She and Emily were both so distressed over the matter and then after the climax of the story it was never addressed again. Lila and Adam got only a hint of a romantic connection before disappearing from the story. Then we have the tangled mess of the College of Angels. I can't seem to get a cohesive picture of that place at all.

Zaniel grew up in the College of Angels. For a long time, he believed that he was training for a higher purpose and putting his supernatural gifts with angels to good use. He and his best friends Surrie and Lev were like the three musketeers in the strict religious faction he lived in until he broke away and joined the military. Something happened to severely disillusion him and I sensed that it was caused by the leaders in particular. However, what they were being taught about angels and demons actually seemed valid. Zaniel himself truly has the ability to communicate with angels and yet he feels as if he has just been indoctrinated by the group.

   She was still comfortable and secure in the College of Angels

and everything they taught us there. 

No, not taught, indoctrinated. 

How do you know you’re in a cult? 

You usually don’t until something happens that is so terrible 

you can’t ignore it, or pretend it didn’t happen, 

and then you start questioning everything.

Zaniel is able to withstand holy fire and speak with the higher forms of Celestial beings without dying or going crazy. Surrie helps heal people who are demon touched-once again, a true ability. She's even called in as a consultant for one of Zaniel's jobs on the force. And yet, the college is classified as a cult by Zaniel and the rest of society. There was even a Netflix documentary about their cult-like practice of recruiting children and then permanently keeping them from their parents. Why would the police force recruit help from a cult? That would be like recruiting a Scientologist even though its been established that they are brainwashed at best and criminals at worst. The definition of a cult is a religious sect considered to be extremist or false. Most of the time led by one charismatic or deranged leader. Holding the kids captive fits, the extreme rules forced on the members, the disassociation from members who leave...they fit. So then why are they teaching them legitimate skills rooted in truth? Why did Zaniel feel loyalty towards the "masters" at the College when they very clearly failed his friend and ruined his mind for over a decade? I was baffled as to why he seemed to be defending them when Levanael confided in him that they played a large role in his tragic break from reality. It didn't begin to come together for me.

“So, you are no longer Christian,” she said. 

“I am still a follower of Christ.” 

“How is that different from being Christian?” she asked. 

“I find organized religion difficult to deal with.”

Again, I get that there will be many books to come in the series that will potentially shed some light on all of my questions and inconsistencies. I just don't know if I am suitably invested in our hero Zaniel enough to wade any deeper into these murky waters. I felt like he was a good guy for the most part, but I didn't get a full grasp of what shaped him to be who he is now. And by the time book two comes around, the characters and plot points will need to be refreshed in my mind all over again. If you love complex stories and paranormal series with very detailed world building this could very well be the book for you. Unfortunately, this one was just okay for me so I think I may have to throw in the towel here.

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Review: I'm Only Wicked with You by Julie Anne Long

USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long continues her Palace of Rogues series with a brand-new romance about an ambitious American and a headstrong British heiress.

I'M ONLY WICKED WITH YOU 

by JULIE ANNE LONG

Series: The Palace of Rogues #3

Publication date: August 24, 2021

Published by: Avon Romance

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

He's the battle-hardened son of a bastard, raised in the wilds of New York. She's the sheltered, blue-blooded darling of the London broadsheets, destined to marry a duke. Their worlds could only collide in a boardinghouse by the London docks...and when they do, the sparks would ignite all of England.

Nothing can stop Hugh Cassidy's drive to build an American empire...unless it's his new nemesis, the arrogant, beautiful, too-clever-by-half Lady Lillias Vaughn. The fascination is mutual. The temptation is merciless. And the inevitable indiscretion? Soul-searing—and the ruination of them both. Hugh's proposal salvages Lillias' honor but kills their dreams for their futures...until they arrive at a plan that could honorably set them free.

But unraveling their entanglement inadvertently uncovers enthralling truths: about Lillias' wounded, tender heart and fierce spirit. About Hugh's stunning gentleness, depth, and courage. Soon, Hugh knows that as surely as he'd fight a thousand battles to win her...the best way to love Lillias means breaking his own heart.

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for Julie Anne Long:

“Julie Ann Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers.”  -- Amanda Quick

"Long finds that delectable sweet spot with Angel in a Devil’s Arms, welcoming us all to the cozy warmth of the Grand Palace on the Thames with the peculiar blend of humor and pathos she writes with such aplomb."

-- Entertainment Weekly

“Deploying her usual perfectly calibrated mix of irresistibly dry wit and superbly nuanced characterization, RITA Award-winning Long adds another winner to her Palace of Rogues series with this lushly sensual, exquisitely emotional, and gracefully written tale about two people desperately trying not to fall in love with each other.” -- Booklist (starred review) for Angel in a Devil’s Arms

“Delightful...refreshing. Readers will enjoy this rich depiction of how the past informs but does not dictate the future.”  -- Publishers Weekly for Angel in a Devil’s Arms

“Sparkling banter, deep character insights, and a colorful supporting cast bring a clever scheme to life, setting up a series to savor. Historical readers will rejoice with Long’s return to the subgenre and will be intrigued by hints of the next 'Rogues' title.” -- Library Journal (starred review, editor’s pick), on Lady Derring Takes a Lover

“Julie Anne long is a fantastic writer.” -- New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Well, where should I start? I've lived in San Francisco for more than a decade, usually with at least one cat. I won the school spelling bee when I was in 7th grade; the word that clinched it was 'ukulele.' I originally set out to be a rock star when I grew up (I had a Bono fixation, but who didn't?), and I have the guitars and the questionable wardrobe stuffed in the back of my closet to prove it.

But writing was always my first love. 

I was editor of my elementary school paper (believe it or not, Mrs. Little's fifth grade class at Glenmoor Elementary did have one); my high school paper (along with my best high school bud, Cindy Jorgenson); and my college paper, where our long-suffering typesetter finally forced me to learn how to typeset because my articles were usually late (and thus I probably have him to thank for all the desktop publishing jobs that ensued over the years).

Won a couple of random awards along the way: the Bank of America English Award in High School (which basically just amounted to a fancy plaque saying that I was really, really good at English); and an award for best Sports Feature article in a College Newspaper (and anyone who knows me well understands how deeply ironic that is). I began my academic career as a Journalism major; I switched to Creative Writing, which was a more comfortable fit for my freewheeling imagination and overdeveloped sense of whimsy. I dreamed of being a novelist.

But most of us, I think, tend to take for granted the things that come easily to us. I loved writing and all indications were that I was pretty good at it, but I, thank you very much, wanted to be a rock star. Which turned out to be ever-so-slightly harder to do than writing. A lot more equipment was involved, that's for sure. Heavy things, with knobs. It also involved late nights, fetid, graffiti-sprayed practice rooms, gorgeous flakey boys, bizarre gigs, in-fighting—what's not to love?

But my dream of being a published writer never faded. When the charm (ahem) of playing to four people in a tiny club at midnight on a Wednesday finally wore thin, however, I realized I could incorporate all the best things about being in a band — namely, drama, passion, and men with unruly hair — into novels, while at the same time indulging my love of history and research. 

So I wrote The Runaway Duke, sent it to a literary agent (see the story here), who sold it to Warner Books a few months after that...which made 2003 one of the most extraordinary, head-spinning years I've ever had. 

Why romance? Well, like most people, I read across many genres, but I've been an avid romance reader since I got in trouble for sneaking a Rosemary Rogers novel out of my mom's nightstand drawer (I think it was Sweet Savage Love). Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Laurie McBain...I cut my romance teeth on those ladies. And in general, I take a visceral sort of pleasure in creating a hero and a heroine, putting them through their emotional paces, and watching their relationship develop on the page. And of course, there's much to be said for the happy ending. :) 

And why Regency Historicals? Well, for starters, I think we can blame Jane Austen. Her inimitable wit, compassion and vision brought the Regency vividly to life for generations of readers. If Jane Austen had written romances about Incas, for instance, I think, we'd have racks and racks of Inca romances in bookstores all over the country, and Warner Forever would be the Inca Romance line.

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REVIEW

I'm Only Wicked With You by Julie Anne Long
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This series to date has been one resounding success after another. Instead of losing my enthusiasm just a little bit with each new book, I only fall in love with the Grand Palace on the Thames and all of its inhabitants more each time. The charm of the quirky boarders like Mr. Delacorte, the proprietresses' atypical friendship and their equally unexpected love matches, and the quick-witted banter between the main characters are just a few things that make me greedily coming back for more. And while some things feel familiar, they aren't so much so that they become stale. Julie Anne Long managed to give this book a completely fresh feel with these main characters. The first half of the book was spent primarily in the boarding house where hilarity and verbal sparring always ensues. Then we got to venture into Lady Lillias' world of privilege as she made sense of society's expectations and where she truly fit in the world in order to find her HEA. The themes of social disparity, classism, duty vs. passion, and a love triangle square kept me hooked until the very end.

Both the hero and heroine believed themselves to be in love with someone else when they met each other. That could have easily gone very wrong, but the transition of their affection never felt too abrupt or unnatural. I think that can be attributed to the work the author put into showing the reader how they fell-despite the odds stacked against them. Not telling us. There was no insta-love to be found, and no epiphany of love switch that was flipped. The characters work for it, and in doing so, the reader reaps all of the rewards.

Lillias is nursing a broken heart, and Hugh is in London to hunt down the missing woman he has his fragile heart set on. Neither are open to romance when they meet, but from day one they sparked competitive friction off of one another.

    Mr. Cassidy, she realized, always came out fighting. 

Which she supposed was flattering: 

it was a measure of the sort of adversary he saw in her.

It becomes like a game to them to properly fluster the other with sexual innuendoes and wordplay. Yes, they had an unsettling physical reaction to each other, but that inconvenient fact keeps getting compartmentalized in a nice and tidy box. Closed tightly, and tied up with a bow. Perhaps not as tightly as they imagine.

Lillias is a the dutiful daughter of the Earl and Countess of Vaughn, but lately, a bit of a rebel. When she met Hugh in the previous book, she was defiantly smoking one of her father's cigars. Then there was that time she climbed up to the top of the tower of her church and rang the bell just for giggles. She's lived her life in society's highest echelon. She looks the part, she plays the part, but she never really FIT the part. If she felt that her suiters' affections were artificial and her value in that world purely making an advantageous match, she tends to not acknowledge that. Her world is familiar, and there's a measure of comfort in that. Hugh Cassidy is everything unfamiliar and inscrutable to her. He's a man who came from nothing and paved his own way in the world. He sees things through a different lens than her and helps her to see the world with a clarity that she never has before.

    He had cracked her open in ways she had not expected 

and did not welcome, and all the things she truly was

were emerging. If she were honest, 

she knew the cracks had begun before he’d even arrived.

When Hugh isn't working to get a rise out of her, he isn't giving much of himself away. He's seen death on the battlefield and the lost his father and brother. He keeps his feelings close to his chest and uses his smile like a weapon. What he doesn't let show is that he yearns to build a real home, his own family, and an empire that will provide for them and at the same time make a real difference in the world. He has a smart business mind, and grand ambitions in politics back in America. He thought that the woman he went to England to find was the one who would fit into all of his well crafted plans. So why is he affected mind, body, and soul by the exasperating Lady Lillias?

    She wasn’t to know that she’d stopped his breath 

then and any number of times since, 

which meant the next breath he took after that 

was like the first one he’d ever drawn. So it was like 

he was being born anew every time he looked at her.

Lillias and Hugh start playing with fire. What harm could come from exploring a little passion together? A lot it turns out. Both of their expectations for the future go up in a pretty impressive ball of flames. As often found in historical romance, they're busted being...indiscreet shall we say? Hugh does the honorable thing and they're now trapped in circumstances that they can't see a way out of.

She was no safer than opium. 

Opium only led to disaster. 

And what was this if not a disaster?

I had to admire the hell out of Hugh for never resenting Lillias at this point or any other. He didn't take out his frustration out on her and he admitted his share of the responsibility. He never took advantage of her attraction to him when she was vulnerable. He was a true gentleman in every respect more so than how the upper class defined the word. There was so much to love about him and to root for. I could only imagine how unmoored he felt when he discovered Lillias' secret affection for her childhood friend just as they were growing closer. Once again, he behaved with total respect towards her and ultimately put her happiness above his own wants time and again. Love is making sacrifice even when it hurts and he illustrated that so beautifully.

One of the things I really appreciated was that Lillias' parents weren't the clichè greedy parents looking to sell their daughter. I know that's an accurate depiction of the culture at the time for the most part, but it gets a little repetitive when reading the same conflict in the genre. Her parents did want a titled match, but they weren't evil caricatures. They truly cared about their kids and their happiness even if they had certain expectations that they expected them to fulfill. They weren't paragons of progressive virtue, they had realistic prejudices and entitled attitudes, but when it counted they made the right choices to look out for their daughter.

The last 5-6 chapters made me emotionally wrung out. Between the absolutely gorgeous writing of Julie Anne Long that made my heart drop and soar from one moment from the next, and the angst I felt for this beautiful couple fighting for their forever, I didn't want the story to end. My eyes were watery and my heart was bursting with happiness as they finally fit everything perfectly in place. And the epilogue! I couldn't wipe the silly grin off of my face. I adored this book! I didn't think anything could top the last book, but I'm Only Wicked with You has managed the impossible task. If you haven't started the series yet, I'm not sure what you're waiting for. You absolutely need these books in your life.

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Blog Tour: A Terrible Fall of Angels by Laurell K. Hamilton

Angels walk among us, but so do other unearthly beings in this brand new series by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton.

A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS 

by LAURELL K. HAMILTON

Series: Zaniel Havelock #1

Publication date: August 17, 2021

Published by: Berkley

Genre: paranormal, fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Meet Detective Zaniel Havelock, a man with the special ability to communicate directly with angels. A former trained Angel speaker, he devoted his life to serving both the celestial beings and his fellow humans with his gift, but a terrible betrayal compelled him to leave that life behind. Now he’s a cop who is still working on the side of angels. But where there are angels, there are also demons. There’s no question that there’s evil at work when he’s called in to examine the murder scene of a college student—but is it just the evil that one human being can do to another, or is it something more? When demonic possession is a possibility, even angelic protection can only go so far. The race is on to stop a killer before he finds his next victim, as Zaniel is forced to confront his own very personal demons, and the past he never truly left behind.

The first in a new series from the author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo 

For the first time in 20 years #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton launches a brand-new series with A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS (Berkley Hardcover; August 17, 2021).

 

With more than 20 million books sold, Hamilton is one of the most successful paranormal fiction authors writing today. Known for the signature blend of chilling mystery, pulse-pounding action, and sizzling sensuality that has distinguished her Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter and Merry Gentry, Fey Detective series, Hamilton is recognized as one of the first authors to usher in a new era of popular speculative fiction that combines elements from multiple genres. Now she offers a fresh take on angel mythology by creating a world where angels, demons, and other supernatural creatures walk among humans.

 

A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS introduces Detective Zaniel ‘Havoc’ Havelock, angel expert and member of the Metaphysical Coordination Unit, which investigates supernatural-related crimes. Zaniel is one of the team’s best assets because he has a direct connection to Heaven. Zaniel was an angel speaker, a human with the rare ability to see and receive messages from Celestial beings. He remains the only human ever to complete his training at the secretive College of Angels and then walk away from the calling.

 

When Zaniel is called to the murder scene of a college student, all signs point to a murderer from the angelic realm, but a cryptic message from an angel warns Zaniel that the killer is something else entirely. Something that not even the all-knowing angels have a name for. Now it’s up to Zaniel and his team to uncover what the murderer is—and how to stop it—before it can kill again. When Zaniel’s past begins catching up with him and old wounds reopen, he realizes that Heaven and the College don’t let go of their messengers easily.

Praise for A Terrible Fall of Angels:

“Wow! A Terrible Fall of Angels has it all—a terrific new character, devious twists, plenty of action, and one hell of an ending. Brava!”—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Ink and Rage

"Zaniel Havelock is a great character, part tough guy detective, part speaker to angels, in a setting where the powerful beings from every religion aren't just real, but actively messing with people's lives. It's a great ride. In a world where angels and demons walk openly among mankind, it takes a special kind of cop to solve paranormal crimes. Havoc is the man."—Larry Correia, New York Times bestselling author of Destroyer of Worlds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PHOTO CREDIT: Ma Petite Enterprises

Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the leading writers of paranormal fiction. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Hamilton writes the popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels and the Meredith Gentry series. She is also the creator of a bestselling comic book series based on her Anita Blake novels and published by Marvel Comics. Hamilton is a full-time writer and lives in the suburbs of St. Louis with her family.

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Review: Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits.

BATTLE ROYAL by LUCY PARKER

Series: Palace Insiders #1

Publication date: August 17, 2021

Published by: Avon

Genre: romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Ready…

Four years ago, Sylvie Fairchild charmed the world as a contestant on the hit baking show, Operation Cake. Her ingenious, colorful creations captivated viewers and intrigued all but one of the judges, Dominic De Vere, the hottest pastry chef in London. When her glittery unicorn cake went spectacularly sideways, Dominic was quick to vote her off the show. Since then, Sylvie has managed to use her fame to help fulfill her dream of opening a bakery, Sugar Fair. The toast of Instagram, Sugar Fair has captured the attention of the Operation Cake producers…and a princess.

Set…

Dominic is His Majesty the King’s favorite baker, the go-to for sweet-toothed A-List celebrities, and a veritable British institution. He’s brilliant, talented, hard-working. And an icy, starchy grouch. Learning that the irksome Sylvie will be joining him on the Operation Cake judging panel is enough to make the famously dour baker even more grim. Her fantastical baking is only slightly more troublesome than the fact that he can’t stop thinking about her pink-streaked hair and irrepressible dimple.

Match…

When Dominic and Sylvie learn they will be fighting for the once in a lifetime opportunity to bake a cake for the upcoming wedding of Princess Rose, the flour begins to fly as they’re both determined to come out on top.

The bride adores Sylvie’s quirky style. The palace wants Dominic’s classic perfection.

In this royal battle, can there be room for two?

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for Battle Royal:

"Battle Royal won my heart with its effortless effervescence and deep notes of aching poignancy. I adored this tale."

-- Ruby Lang, author of Acute Reactions -- (audioCD edition)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lucy Parker lives in New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes, and vineyards. She has a degree in Art History, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block. 

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting. 

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a pre-teen viewing of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.

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REVIEW

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


I've been wanting to read a Lucy Parker book for quite a while now and never seemed to get around to it. When I saw this adorable cover I was immediately intrigued. Then I read the synopsis, and I knew I I finally found the book that would introduce me to this author's work. I loved the idea of the romance centered in the cooking show world with a Simon Cowell-esque judge and a sunny contestant who epitomizes glitter and unicorns. It's an enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance loaded with witty humor on every page. Honestly, I was not expecting it to be quite as funny as it was. It reminded me when I first discovered Penny Reid's brand of wit because of how frequently I was chuckling out loud at the heroine's inner snark. Especially when it was directed at her arch nemesis, Dominic De Vere.

    She assumed that once she’d driven off 

in the early hours of the morning, 

he went back inside, plugged himself into a power outlet, 

and recharged his cyborg battery.

Four years ago, Sylvie was an up-and-coming baker, looking for a way to get ahead in the baking industry. She had the raw talent, and figured that getting her name out there in the form of a competition baking show was the fastest way to do so. Fast forward to now, and her time on the show ended up making her one of the most infamous contestants in the history of the show. Not just because she was super talented at her craft-mainly it was that one incident with the exploding glitter unicorn that went off right in the steely-eyed, cold-hearted judge Dominic De Vere's face. Their animosity made the drama happy producers giddy. The constant bickering, barbs, and glares were at an endless supply, which was pretty unbelievable considering most people cowered at the slightest hint of his disapproval.

    As usual, any aversion to confrontation went into hibernation 

the moment those cool, emotionless eyes glanced over her. 

A provocative little devil always sashayed out to sit on her shoulder, 

prodding her more vociferously with every sardonic remark thrown her way.

I loved Sylvie from page one. She's sassy, confident in herself, loyal to those she considers friends, and not afraid to be quirky and different. You have to admire anyone who builds a successful business right across the street from an established, world-renowned baker who seemingly hates her guts. He is everything that she is not. Controlled, starchy, and cold. His cakes are traditional with a capitol T. Hers are bright, odd, and probably perform some sort of awe inspiring trick. According to his criticism on the show, her talent was wasted on too much flash and not enough substance. Instead of crying in the corner, she set out to prove him wrong, and now she's his biggest opponent for the big jobs.

There are jobs...and then there are the cement your name in the history books kind of jobs. Baking the cake for a royal wedding? It doesn't get any bigger than that. Sylvie and Dominic both want the honor of producing the cake that will skyrocket their reputation and boost sales for a very long time to come. While they both have very different approaches to cake baking, the potential clients are anything but traditional royals. That gives Sylvie a fighting chance to impress them if she can come up with a concept on par with Dominic's elegant mastery. Both are determined to come out on top and have every confidence that they can blow the other out of the water. What they didn't expect was spending so much time around each other and almost...sort of...starting to like each other. Or getting to know their opponent at a deeper level and discovering that they are so much more than their initial judgements of each other.

“Four years ago, if someone had told me that one day 

I’d never find greater comfort than in 

the sound of your voice and 

the scratch of your stubble, 

I’d have questioned their sanity.”

So lightly, so easily, 

she could say things that he’d never forget.

Dominic may be cold on the outside, but he cares deeply for the well being of his employees and struggles with the damaged relationship he has with his sister. He strives every day to live up to the memory of his grandfather who founded De Vere's, and is haunted by experiences in his childhood.

As he slowly opens up to Sylvie and shows her his more vulnerable self, she sees the caring man that very few people are lucky enough to see. He's always on guard, but she somehow gets past all his defenses. The two of them shouldn't work, but once they get real with each other, it feels as if no one else could ever work quite so well. Sylvie brings smiles, sunshine, and laughter back into his life. She tames his satanic cat, and gives him a shoulder to lean on after feeling alone for more years than he cares to remember. She helps him communicate his uncomfortable emotions and start to rebuild his tenuous relationship with his sister Petunia. As the date gets closer to decision day on possibly the biggest gig that either of them could possibly land, how will this affect their budding feelings for each other? I had a feeling how this conflict would be resolved, and I won't lie, my predictions were right. I also guessed early on who was leaking Sylvie's recipes to a slimy rival. That being said, it didn't bother me that I wasn't taken by surprise.

I did wish that there had been more of the story focused on the baking show as that was what initially drew me into reading the book. I'm a big fan of competitive baking shows so I was really looking forward to watching a romance unfold in that world. However, the focus was more on the royal wedding cake, and investigating a mini mystery on the side. That didn't affect my rating or enjoyment that much, and it won't be an issue for many others. It's purely a subjective niggle for me personally. If you're looking for a book with loads of humor and a perfect opposites attract couple, this is the book for you. This was just the light read that I was looking for that delivered the goods and then some! I was so thrilled with my first Lucy Parker read and I'm really excited to see what's to come next in this brand new series. I'm thinking it's going to be Dominic's sister Pet and a certain bodyguard who couldn't take his eyes off of her. I absolutely loved Pet and I know her story is going to be just as good if not better. Let the book stalking commence.

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Review: At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis

When an ambitious female artist accepts an unexpected commission at a powerful earl's country estate in 1920s England, she finds his war-torn family crumbling under the weight of long-kept secrets. From debut author Courtney Ellis comes a captivating novel about finding the courage to heal after the ravages of war.

AT SUMMER'S END by COURTNEY ELLIS

Series: Standalone

Publication date: August 10, 2021

Published by: Berkley

Genre: historical fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

Alberta Preston accepts the commission of a lifetime when she receives an invitation from the Earl of Wakeford to spend a summer painting at His Lordship's country home, Castle Braemore. Bertie imagines her residence at the prodigious estate will finally enable her to embark on a professional career and prove her worth as an artist, regardless of her gender.

Upon her arrival, however, Bertie finds the opulent Braemore and its inhabitants diminished by the Great War. The earl has been living in isolation since returning from  the trenches,  locked away in his rooms and hiding battle scars behind a prosthetic mask. While his younger siblings eagerly welcome Bertie into their world, she soon sees chips in that world's gilded facade. As she and the earl develop an unexpected bond, Bertie becomes deeply entangled in the pain and secrets she discovers hidden within Castle Braemore and the hearts of its residents.

Threaded with hope, love, and loss, At Summer's End delivers a portrait of a noble family--and a world--changed forever by the war to end all wars.

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for At Summer's End:

“I loved everything about this book: the richly drawn characters, the evocative setting, the very heart and soul of the story within the pages. It’s everything you want in a novel for these times we are in. A sparkling debut from a new author we’re all going to want more from.”—Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

 

"Readers will be captivated by this stirring debut of love, family secrets and human frailties. Told with wit and tenderness, this story is as unique as its characters, Bertie and Julian Wakeford, an earl like no other. Ellis deftly captures the devastation of war and what it means to be comfortable in one’s own skin.”—Renee Rosen, bestselling author of The Social Graces

“Ellis’s lyrical, emotional writing brings the beauty of Braemore alive while revealing the complexity of the richly drawn characters as Bertie pursues artistic recognition alongside her emotionally charged love affair with Julian. Historical fiction fans will appreciate this.”—Publishers Weekly

“The lush setting and vivid characters are utterly captivating in Ellis' lovely debut.”—Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Courtney Ellis began writing at a young age, and developed an interest in history from her grandfather’s stories of World War II. After obtaining her BA in English and Creative Writing, she went on to pursue a career in publishing. She lives in New York.

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REVIEW

At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


You never know what to expect when you take a gamble on a debut author. You could be blown away by their raw talent, or you could feel that their writing quality isn't quite up to par. At Summer's End was a pleasant surprise filled with human vulnerabilities, family dysfunction and struggle, and one woman's determined leap of faith to find her place in the world. Not all historical fiction has a heavy theme of romance in it. This one did, and in fact, that was one of the draws for me going into it. It isn't the only area of conflict and interest by far, but it does have a solid place in the forefront of the story. There were two other major focus points: unraveling the Earl of Wakeford's family secrets through flashback chapters, and the outcome of Alberta "Bertie" Preston's summer job at castle Braemore as a struggling female artist. All of this came together to form a cohesive, compelling story that easily drew me in, enticing me to keep reading.

Bertie was what was considered a "spinster" of her time. I hate that word and all of the connotations attached to it. The story takes place in the 1920s when a woman's value was purely measured by her marriageability and child bearing capabilities. Bertie has reached her late 20s as a single woman out of choice which was considered something to be ashamed of at the time. From an early age, her passion centered around creating art and she wants nothing more than to be able to have a career doing what truly makes her happy. Her parents do not agree, and she has become almost invisible in the shadow of her sisters who have faithfully produced the requisite grandchildren.

     I’ve spent my years not looking for a husband, 

not building a family, but painting. 

I am nothing without it, and if I stay here, 

nothing I shall remain.” 

“If that’s how you feel,” said Mother, “then I have failed you.”

When Bertie wins an art contest, the newspaper article about her piece draws the attention of Julian, the Earl of Wakeford. It seems like an opportunity of a lifetime for an unknown, female artist looking to make a name for herself. Going against her parents' wishes, she banks her entire future on the success of one summer at castle Braemore. If she fails, she will have no home to return to and no prospects of commissions to support herself. You can't help but admire the courage it would have taken for a young woman to go after her dream in an all or nothing gamble like this one. Of course, her time taking care of wounded soldiers during the Great War had already shown that she has character and substance beyond her years.

After arriving at the castle, she meets Julian's three siblings: Celia, Roland, and Gwen. On the surface, they seemed like the average affluent, high society family living a life of privilege. She was surrounded by opulence unlike anything she was experienced before and it put stars in her eyes in a way. But her preconceived notions of what life was really like there quickly began to fall apart.

The Earl is a physically and mentally wounded man from the horrors of the war. He and his youngest sister Celia had a falling out which causes much friction in the house. Roland has an odd temperament-one minute exuberant, the next withdrawn. And Gwen has been through hell and back with the loss of her beloved husband and the responsibility of holding her broken family together. Soon, what was once a simple visit to paint the stately home of a noble family becomes something completely unexpected.

    How easily I’d been seduced by the Napiers, 

by their lavish life and their twisted past. 

How gratifying it had been to nurture again, 

to be Julian’s protector. But I couldn’t offer them what they wanted. 

This wasn’t a job for a nurse, and it certainly wasn’t a job for an artist.

Julian is fragile man hiding from his family and the world behind his bedroom door. The only one he allows in his sanctuary is his older sister Gwen, until the young woman he hired comes to his home and begins to open his heart again. Julian was such a quiet man to begin with. Someone who was highly reserved and comfortable in the quiet of his own thoughts. Like Bertie, he was a disappointment to his parents. They wanted someone more outgoing and aggressive to take the reins of the family's legacy. They saw him as weak where he was only kind. Powerless when he was merely soft spoken and gentle. His interactions with his siblings were such a sweet thing to read in his younger years that it was such an injustice he wasn't recognized for the rock he really was for his family.

He and Bertie had other things in common besides the ill-fitting place in their family. They also shared an affinity for art, though he doesn't have the heart to do the things that he once enjoyed. Slowly but surely, Bertie tries to ease him back to taking control of his life once again. Their friendship begins slowly and graduates to confidants and the hint of something more. But will he ever be mentally stable enough to take control of his crumbling life once again? Will his emotional wounds ever mend enough for the two of them to find some sort of happiness together in the future? Julian is very, very unwell. He suffers horribly with grief, guilt, PTSD, and a level of desolation that no one quite knows how to approach. I've heard it said that we never move on from grief, but we find a way to move on with it. Julian must find a way to do so and forgive himself for the things that he thinks are unforgivable.

What I liked about the story was that Bertie's support and love were not the magic key to solving all of his issues. Realistically, she wasn't his cure, and she understood that enough to let him find his way back to her if he could without any recrimination.

    You were always light, Bertie. I would have you know that. 

You were a light, but God forgive me, I couldn’t see past the dark.”

I enjoyed that aspect of it very much, however I did feel that the end was not quite as impactful as I was expecting. I'm not sure what was missing there, but I was left feeling just a tad deflated. Perhaps the section of the story after Bertie left the castle could have used some more exploration and detail. In a way it felt that everything fell together so smoothly and almost too easily after such a build up to the harsh realism of what Julian was struggling with internally. However, that's just my point of view and it didn't cause much of an issue for me. I loved Bertie's unconditional acceptance of Julian-at his very worst and seeing the best of him even when he could not. I also enjoyed learning more about the masks (like Julian's) that were common for soldiers who were disfigured during the war. It's a great reminder of what WW1 soldiers willingly volunteered for in order to protect their loved ones and their country. It was a sacrifice of the ideals of the world that they once knew and the comfort inside their own skin. It's a lifetime sacrifice that should never be forgotten.

If you love a historical fiction with a strong element of romance and mysterious family secrets to be unraveled, this is the perfect book for you. I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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