Book Review Genre: Historical Romance

Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.

The Analysis:

This book was me realizing that in addition to receiving free ebooks of my choice as a part of my subscription, I also get paperbacks. I chose this as a pack of three because the blurbs for these were the most interesting. But first, follow me on Goodreads.

Here’s The Blurb:

Belles Biscuit Shop is more like a home than a place of work for Nancy MacQueen. The shared attraction between her and James Redbourne, the handsome owner of a nearby store, has been simmering for years, but she’s refused to trust his feelings for her. After all, they’re not remotely in the same social class. Until one day Nancy can no longer deny her love—only to find he’s become engaged to someone else!

Cover Critique:

This cover is pretty. Have I seen stunning covers from the brand? Yes. I wouldn’t put this on the same level. But I think this is a nice addition to any bookshelf.

Now The Story:

Book Info:
Pages: 288
Author: Jenni Fletcher

Available: Google Play

Our couple starts off as two ships in the night. Neither is outright looking for love. Although, the hero is closer to the idea than the heroine. This is displayed in several ways. One is that the chapters are a year apart and one is even five years later. This was a tad tedious. It may happen that way in real life, but it doesn’t translate to romance novels. It was too many coincidences over too many years. Nothing to take a point for. Maybe a half-point for being slightly annoying. But will see how I feel at the end.

This book is also a historical romance and yet I still got the nerve to be surprised by the heroine’s age. The woman was only 16, and she acts like it. The problem is she has a tumultuous relationship with her stepfather and that gives you an inflated sense of her maturity. Yet, when she talks the situation over with the hero (her love interest) she fails to see her mother’s perspective. Her opinion amounted to, it’s bad and I’m upset about it. It’s almost laughable. At the end of the day, her mother sees something of worth in the relationship. To be high and mighty about it because you know the relationship is wrong for her is a little entitled and immature. If you understood why she wanted the relationship then maybe you could help her leave it. But that was too much like right. Let’s stomp our feet and throw what amounts to tantrums while trying to avoid the quite obvious jerk that was her stepfather. Meanwhile, the hero is supposed to be only a little older than she is and is very mature.

Ultimately, I took a full point off for the time jumps. At the four-year mark, it was just ridiculous. We’re expected to believe that she loves him after all this time. She only stayed away because of her ambivalent feelings about love and romance thanks to her mother’s poor example. Frankly, it’s just not enough. If you can stay away that long you may be infatuated with the guy, but you don’t love him. And the infatuation counts for very little.

I’d classify this book as enemies to lovers but in the worse way. They really don’t have a reason to hate each other and it’s completely one-sided. Talk about eye roll. But this is greatfully short-lived. The heroine is honest about her feelings and why she’s been so standoffish. It’s just comes too late. The hero is engaged. And thus starts yet another insurmountable roadblock for our couple. And I’m struck by just how little time they are spending together. But yet are as committed as a regular couple.

For that reason, the chemistry between our couple doesn’t really sing until the book is almost over. There just chatting amicably and he’s checking on her health (she was sick recently) and I remembered thinking that he was so in love with her. It just felt like something a boyfriend or husband would do. It gave me all the little tingles.

If I love anything about this book it’s the moment she comes together with her mother to finally talk things through. They both listened to each other without fighting. And they admitted to judging each other. But it was the promise to reset and really love each other that had me secretly smiling.

The theme of classism is also broached in this story. I don’t think I’m too attached to our couple and thus their endearing views on wealth end up just coming off as stuck up. But it is the moment where the hero sees that he’s engaged to the wrong girl.

But he doesn’t act on it until they all visit a wealthy friend together and he’s stuck in a carriage with them both. He literally gets to compare them while their sitting side by side lol. But I’m upset when it ends up being just another moment for the heroine to turn him down. This time it’s about honor. Can I understand the point of view? Yes. Am I tired of the angst? Yes. Her reasons were many. You’re going to hate me. You will be happy with her. No, I won’t. Try with her anyway.

Excuse me. He said he won’t be, sis. Believe him.

This firmly made it into 3-star territory at this juncture. Like, please, stop it. But if anything put a smile on my face, it was the unintended villain, Emily, the woman he was betrothed to. She was cold, calculating, and more forthcoming about her feelings once she learned the truth about the heroes feelings. She wanted what she wanted and forget everybody else. It almost made me laugh.

Except, If I expected the hero to step up in a big way then I was sorely disappointed on this part because it was the heroine that saved the day. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth for the hero. My qualms about the ending aside. I quite enjoyed the friends gathering together to save the day. I loved the wealthy friend asking her posh husband to bake biscuits. It was all super cute. It reminded me of the frenzy at the end of rom coms. Where everyone comes together to bring the couple together. This book had that in spades. Everyone was so supportive and funny.

The ending certainly had its charms. From Emily’s little tumble. Too the hero’s declaration that they were skipping courting for marriage. No more waiting. It deserved my full applause.

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Book Review At A Glance:

Recommendation:  3 out of 5

Book Cover Appeal:

🍓🍓🍓🍓

Story & Narration:

🍓🍓🍓

Romance:

🍓🍓🍓

Character/(s) Personality:

🍓🍓🍓