Favorite: Iron Flame
Least Favorite: None
Books Read: 5
Rereads: 0
Pages Read: 2,455
Hours Listened: 59h 39m
Average Rating: 4.2
Average Pages Read Per Day: 79
Books Read: 31
Rereads: 12
Pages Read: 14,197
Hours Listened: 274h 30m
Average Rating: 4.46
Average Pages Read Per Day: 58
Title: Sunset Beach
This is my first Mary Kay Andrews book and it won’t be my last. I mostly chose to read this because other reviews said it was romantic suspense. If you go into it thinking there’s a healthy dose of romance, you’ll be disappointed. It’s very light on the romance. The romance doesn’t even show up until 70% or more into the story. Even though I was a bit disappointed due to the lack of romance, I still really enjoyed the story, characters, and setting, and the mystery aspect kept me guessing until the end.
Title: The Duke and I
THE DUKE AND I was steamy historical romance set in Regency era England that was a thought-provoking story that deals with hard subjects like child abandonment, child abuse, betrayal, forgiveness, and healing from trauma. Though some of the scenes are hard to read, I thought the story was profound and heart-felt.
There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments. I really loved Daphne and her courage to help Simon, the Duke of Hastings, overcome his past trauma, showing him that love is more powerful and healing than anger and resentment. I loved the instant connection and attraction between Daphne and Simon. I especially loved the sexual tension between the two of them. I loved the themes of family, forgiveness, redemption, and love conquering all.
The edition I read had a second epilogue written after Quinn received many requests to know how the characters were doing. It’s set 21 years after the events in the main story. Even though I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the life Daphne and Simon had together, I thought it was a bit much due to its length.
Title: Iron Flame
After reading FOURTH WING, I needed to read IRON FLAME. Now that I’m done with both and the next book in the series isn’t out until January, I’m wondering why I read these kinds of books before the whole series is out. Waiting is going to be torture.
IRON FLAME was excruciating to read because of the non-stop suspense and action. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time wondering how it was all going to go down. I loved that Yarros foreshadowed the ending, making it not quite as shocking to me as it was to some, but still just as upsetting. Why, Yarros, why?!
I love the characters in this series. I also love Violet’s dragons. Tairn reminds me of my late Daxi-cat who was just as grumpy but still lovable. I love Andarna SO much. I loved her “adolescent” attitude, her interactions with Violet and especially Tairn, and her fierce loyalty to Violet despite her youth. Andarna had me laughing out loud most of the time she was on the page. I also loved learning more about its lore and mythology. Honestly, if I could only read one type of story for the rest of my life, it would be this.
Title: Bringing Down the Duke BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE was a fun, steamy historical fiction romance. There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments. I really loved Annabelle and her willingness to speak her mind even though it was looked down on at that time. I loved the instant connection and attraction between her and Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery. I especially loved the sexual tension between the two of them.
I really loved the setting of Victorian era England, just at the beginning of the suffragette movement and the admission of women to Oxford. I thought it gave the romance and characters, especially Annabelle and Sebastian, some depth. Not only did I love the theme of women’s rights and equality, I also loved the themes of friendship, finding one’s own way, and duty to one’s country vs. being on the right side of history.