historical - No Apology Book Reviews

Interview with Alix Rickloff (The Way to London)

October 10, 2018September 21, 2017

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Way To London by Alix Rickloff is very much a relationship story with the backdrop of World War II. It is the flip-flop Cinderella story about a rich girl and poor boy. Instead of having the military aspect the author concentrates on how the civilian population endured the war. The book starts out in Singapore in 1941, just three months before Pearl Harbor, where the population is still free of any concerns. Lucy …

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

November 16, 2019September 6, 2017

Title: The Broken Girls Author: Simone St. James Series: n/a A spooky, intelligent, character-driven thriller I would like to thank Simone St. James, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Idlewild Hall is a girls’ boarding school where the illegitimate, the mentally ill, and the troublemakers are swept under the rug. In 1950, four girls band together to survive the cold, dreadful place—and the ghost that uses their darkest …

The Scot’s Bride by Paula Quinn

October 10, 2018September 3, 2017

Title: The Scot’s Bride Author: Paula Quinn Series: Highland Heirs #6 Great characters in a messy plot I would like to thank Paula Quinn, Forever/Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Charlie Cunningham has one goal: find a cure for her sister’s affliction and get the heck out of Pinwherry. She can barely stand to look upon her father and brothers since the day they murdered the boy she …

My Fair Lover by Nicole Jordan

October 10, 2018August 14, 2017

Title: My Fair Lover Author: Nicole Jordan Series: Legendary Lovers #5 Got halfway, decided I had better things to do I would like to thank Nicole Jordan, Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t finish the book. I started it two weeks ago (three weeks ago? I don’t remember) and kept telling myself I needed to read it and get it over with (not what a …

The Dream Keeper’s Daughter by Emily Colin

October 10, 2018July 15, 2017

Title: The Dream Keeper’s Daughter Author: Emily Colin Series: n/a A frustrating mess with an identity crisis and unresolved plotlines I would like to thank Emily Colin, Ballantine Books/Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All that follows is only my opinion and how I personally perceived the book. *takes deep breath* I gave myself a day to calm down, because the first time I started to write this review, …

Beautiful Tempest by Johanna Lindsey

December 9, 2019July 13, 2017

Title: Beautiful Tempest Author: Johanna Lindsey Series: Malory Family #12 Utterly charming! Only a few issues Jacqueline “Jack” Malory has been obsessed with getting revenge on the man who stole her away from her family two months ago with the objective of luring her father to his death. She can’t believe her luck when he shows up in London and tries to bait her to come to him again. She goes—she can’t resist going—but she goes prepared, armed to the …

Blackthorne’s Bride by Joan Johnston

October 10, 2018June 28, 2017

Title: Blackthorne’s Bride Author: Joan Johnston Series: Mail-Order Brides/Bitter Creek Historical #4 Flawed upon closer inspection…only a fraction of a larger world I would like to thank Joan Johnston, Dell at Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Josephine Wentworth despises the Duke of Blackthorne. He’d saved her life, nursed her back to health, and promised to return her to her family—then shut her up in one of his …

Once Upon a Summer Night by Nancy Scanlon

October 10, 2018April 11, 2017

Title: Once Upon a Summer Night Author: Nancy Scanlon Series: Mists of Fate #3 a wonderful mix of staid modernism and fanciful notions I would like to thank Nancy Scanlon, Diversion Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Colin O’Rourke aims to expand his matchmaking business to the UK, but Miss Winifred Emsworth, a popular gossip columnist, is not a fan. She holds a lot of sway with the public, and …

To Seduce a Stranger by Susanna Craig

October 10, 2018April 11, 2017

Title: To Seduce a Stranger Author: Susanna Craig Series: Runaway Desires #3 Detailed, well-structured, impressive I would like to thank Susanna Craig, Kensington Books, Lyrical Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Charlotte Blakemore, Dowager Duchess of Langerton, is grieving the loss of not only her recently past husband, but the loss of the only person who’d ever cared about her. Her stepson is more concerned with gaining the assets the …

A Very Ruby Christmas by Lavinia Kent

October 10, 2018November 15, 2016

Title: A Very Ruby Christmas Author: Lavinia Kent Series: Bound and Determined #4.5? What is going on? I would like to thank Lavinia Kent, Loveswept, and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review. Madam Rouge aka Ruby aka Emma Scanton finds herself with a dilemma. She’s had plans to sell her pleasure house for months now, but it’s not as easy as she’d thought. She doesn’t trust anyone to run it …