Kate Johnson (1)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this story, what follows is my objective review. Fun read with a great premise, the story is set in alt-universe 1815 England where magic exists but is still mostly a secret. Our couple is Lady Tiffany, who is reliant on the largesse of her older brother and his wife, and the dashing Santiago who is in London for an inheritance from his grandfather. Tiffany chafes at society's rules but abides by them anyway. Santiago plays a bit fast and loose with society's rules, given his atypical youth and upbringing but also his general personality. This is the kind of romance I prefer, where the two romantic leads have their own storylines that develop independently for a while before they fully converge rather than the story being primarily about the romantic relationship. You get to know and like them as individuals first before they become a couple, I find that makes it more satisfying to enjoy their eventual relationship. Enjoyable humor and well-rounded characters. Reluctant attraction. Nice focus on Tiffany coming into her powers. Good mystery to solve but it became a little too convoluted although it ramps up at the end. Love the cover! This is the third in an interconnected set of books, not really a series. This one works fine as a standalone. I have not read this author before and I look forward to reading her other books. Publishes 9-12-24… (more)

This is one of those stories where the house involved is as much of a character as the people in the story. Essie is a wtich, living in a house with other witches, some of whom are physically alive. The house adjusts itself for the inhabitants and overall things are fine. Essie is a little lonely, a previous relationship ended very badly and she really hasn't been dating much since. Into her life comes Josh, a lawyer who has inherited a mansion from his estranged father, a pile of debt and a determination to make his life better.
The romance felt a little forced and I loved the take on Matthew Hopkins.… (more)