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Eamon Evernight has always lived in his older brother's shadow. While his brother is fair of hair and lithe in body, Eamon sparks fear with his fiery locks and massive frame --and rumors of a mysterious power. But when his brother has the good fortune to be betrothed to a beautiful stranger, it's Eamon's help -- and quick wit and romantic heart -- that he needs. Eamon agrees to write the noble lady...a generous offer that will forever leave him a changed man.

Lady Luella Jane Moran has no interest in an arranged marriage and tries valiantly to dissuade her betrothed from afar. Though her own letters plainly state her case, the words her husband-to-be writes her leave her aching for his touch. Will Lu give in to the desire the missives have kindled within her? Or will desire turn cold when she discovers their true author?

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2013

30 people are currently reading
2102 people want to read

About the author

Kristen Callihan

29 books14k followers
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
Profile Image for Sam I AMNreader.
1,649 reviews332 followers
April 14, 2018
4/18
Every time I think I’m not in the mood for this series, I’m so wrong. I still think this is a solid novella.3.5-4

—————-
I'm giving it a 4 for the letters & the love declaration alone. Also, Eamon's magic is badass for the record.

Delightful little pick-me-up that suited my mood perfectly. (Quick plot development and relationship building in the end? sure...but oh well.)
Profile Image for Talltree.
2,081 reviews25 followers
December 4, 2015
Adorable and sexy historical romance novella with a twist in the plot!
Penpal romance between gruff giant redhead H - who though nobility loves to work in his smithy - and sweet, passionate h eventually develops into marriage and they get a wonderful HEA after some stuff is sorted out :)) There were only a couple of love scenes but both of them were hot!!

4.5 stars!

Safety: Safe romance

Note: Can absolutely be read as a standalone! Also for some reason I couldn't buy it on Ammy but it was available on iTunes.
Profile Image for Ferdy.
944 reviews1,287 followers
November 10, 2013
Spoilers

Not usually a fan of novellas but I quite liked this one. The main characters were likeable, and the romance was rather adorable. Eamon and Lu were great together - I thought it was sweet how they fell in love through letters, and really got to know each other before meeting, it kept the romance from suffering from insta-love.
I was annoyed at how long it took Lu to figure out that Aiden (her betrothed) wasn't the one that had been writing to her. It was obvious that Eamon had been writing on his brother's behalf, how did she not realise that? She was comfortable around Eamon, she understood him, she had a connection with him, she never even clicked with Aiden, there was nothing between them at all. Yea, Lu was kind of dense about the Aiden/Eamon situation.
I did find the plot quite predictable, but yea it was still a fun read. One thing that bugged me was the lack of connection between the characters in Entwined and the main characters from earlier books. I think they were distant cousins or something but even then Eamon/Lu didn't really have any strong ties to the series… I'm guessing their children/grandchildren might play some sort of role in later books??
Profile Image for Cathy .
1,929 reviews295 followers
May 19, 2016
Highly entertaining. Silly. Full of the usual shenanigans of historical romance novels, with a small dash of the paranormal. Arranged marriage, Cyrano de Bergerac on crack, lots of lies, people keeping secrets all around and complete failiure to talk to each other. Steamy sex. Murder. Some violence and severed body parts. Great fun. 

Going back to reading this series in it's proper order now. You probably should read it in order anyway. The last line of this novella might be spoilerish for another novel. I can't tell yet, as I've definitely not followed my own advice. But I don't care. Getting the next book now.
Profile Image for Lady Heather .
1,312 reviews772 followers
October 14, 2013

This novella is a wonderful addition the the "Darkest London" series.

Although the story is short (14 Chapters) it had everything. There was suspense, mystery, a well developed romantic relationship between the H/h, and of course a 'bit' of the paranormal.

The writing, story, and characters were amazing!
The author's description of Eamon made me SO happy, because those who know me, know I have a very healthy cougar crush on Prince Harry.. well guess who Eamon is described as looking like?

HARRY

(YAY! So here you go!)

 photo princeharry2.jpg

... and Luella (Lu) was a wonderful character to read about. I loved her sass, stubbornness, wit, intelligence, compassion, and love for Eamon.


arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for h o l l i s .
2,724 reviews2,306 followers
March 20, 2018
Rounding this one up, even though I did really enjoy it, because if it had been full length it would've been pretty much perfect. Also, this was falling-in-love-by-letter done right.

"You are my waking breath, and my sleeping sigh."

How is it that Callihan does the lying/withholding of information part of her plots so well? Normally that's the element in a romance I hate the most and yetttt. The reasons are always so good, so rational, and I can't fault the characters for the occasional bit of angst and chaos they cause.

Side note, it's always weird seeing my name pop up in a book but once, just once!, it'd be nice to see it assigned to a woman. I am ever hopeful.
Profile Image for Bubu.
315 reviews411 followers
March 6, 2017
[...] For now, would you be so kind as to humour your fiancé and refer to me as E.
Your devoted, if not slightly eccentric, E.

P.S. Forget you? You are my waking breath, and my sleeping sigh.


Eamon Hollis Evernight to Lady Luella Moran, May 1826
Just imagine me melting away. "P.S. Forget you? You are my waking breath, and my sleeping sigh." That's romance; that's deeply romantic.

This little gem of a novella gives the reader of the Darkest London series the story of Holly Evernight's grandparents, the heroine of Evernight. And I want to shake my fist in anger at the author for not making this into a full length novel.

Shake my fist in anger is a slight understatement. Although, not adding much to the Darkest London world built by Ms. Callihan in the previous three books, it's beautifully set up with two very young characters falling in love over the course of 4 years by writing letters to each other. There's a little twist, though. Lu thinks it's Eamon's brother Aidan who is writing the letters to her, her real fiancé. So Lu is forced to fall in love with Eamon all over again once they're together and she realises that Aidan is nothing like the man from the beautiful letters.

The story suffers from novella-itis. It convinced me that Lu fell in love with the writer of the letters. However, I was not convinced that she'd fall in love with Eamon as quickly as she did.

Which is an utter shame, for this could have been such a wonderful story. It still is but it wasn't enough.

Thank you, Caz!
Profile Image for Ronda.
890 reviews179 followers
November 6, 2013
Oh wow... I loved this book, there was such a huge amount of detail that I was lost in the same time frame!!! I have to say though, there were moments that I had to laugh at the embarrassing sex situation, but I think Kristen Callihan got it absolutely right for that time period - an excellent piece of writing...

Although I don't quite understand the connection to the books, I still found myself loving the story... and I'm sure this is going to fit in with the next book - and if not? all is definitely not lost, this is a truly amazing story...
Profile Image for Deserie williams.
606 reviews6 followers
December 5, 2015
sweet adorable read with a twist. Hero is a sweet gentle red head giant. herione is sweet and alittle sassy. I liked both of them. I loved their letters to each other :)Enjoyable read!

safety: both H And h are virgins. h does give H's brother a kiss on the lips(more of a peck) only because she thought he was the H. you have to read it to understand. there were only two sex scenes. first one not so hot.lol it was kind of awkward and they haven't even kissed yet. second one was hot and finally we get their first kiss! totally safe otherwise!
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,712 reviews1,123 followers
November 4, 2024
My Review:

This book was beyond adorable but boy was it so HARD to find. Thank goodness I had originally purchased a nook book of it when it first came out because you can't find it anywhere unless its illegally. I hope the author does get this book published so ppl can find it as its super charming and sweet and I had forgotten how much I had loved this series. This novella though, can easily be read as a standalone though, its not even paranormal or even had much steampunk elements to it. Just more of a general historical victorian historical so even if you aren't a fan of steampunk or paranormal like aspects to your historical's I highly recommend it. Its a very quick read, I read it under a hour.

The story is basically a pen pal scenario. The hero, is a reject and not welcome to most of societey but will do anything for his brother. His brother Adrian, is in an arranged marriage with a Scottish lass, and as Adrian is unable to write, E is asked to take over correspondance with her until its time for them to get married. Over the years they exchange letters of wit and chemistry. And before either of them realize it, they are falling for each other. But Eamon knows that he can't ever have Luella because she belongs to his brother....or does she?

I truly adored Entwined, it has some conflicts but the inner conflict is surprisingly minimal which I found so refreshing. But it is also a novella so that also makes quite a bit of sense. I found their connection to be so poignant. They are also both virgins and I loved seeing them explore together especially when they are actually more shy and reserved when it comes to intimacy. Just really well written and the author wrote such a great novella that had beautiful depth to it which keeps you engaged.

Overall I had a blast with this one and highly recommend it if you can find a copy of it.
Profile Image for Jen Davis.
Author 7 books726 followers
November 18, 2013
Anyone in the mood for a virgin blacksmith hero? Do I really need to ask??

Kristen Callihan delivers again with this novella installment in her Darkest London series. If you don’t already read her books, don’t worry. This works 100% as a standalone. (But the series is so great, I tell you without reservation… go read it now.) This story only ties with the other books by the slenderest of threads.

More than anything this is a Cyrano story. Aidan has been betrothed to a woman he has never seen and has no desire to marry. (I think he is gay, but he never comes out and says so.) He does take his family name seriously, though, and does not want to go back on his father’s word. So he resigns himself to going forward with the wedding. When his betrothed sends him a letter, his inability to read and write prompts him to ask his brother Eamon to write to her on his behalf.

Eamon thinks it’s crazy for his brother to marry a stranger, so he starts the letters out with the intention of driving the girl away. However, he ends up falling for her after writing back and forth for years. She falls for him, too, only she thinks it is Aiden she is forming a relationship with. So when it’s time for her to finally go forward with the marriage, she travels to meet her betrothed and finds a man nothing like she expected.

The story is short and I don’t want to give away all the twists and turns. I will say, though, that it may be humanly impossible not to love Eamon, at least a little bit. He is such a good man. Quiet. Strong. His size and unusual gifts have made him a bit of an outcast and his red hair had his father convinced he was the devil’s spawn. But he loves Lu so much. He is so sweet with her. And he saved himself for her, even when he thought she could never be his. (*swoon*)

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I especially liked that Kristen Callihan actually allowed Eamon to be so awkward on the wedding night! The story is sweet and sexy and moved quickly. I only wish there had been more.

Rating: B+



*ARC Provided by Forever
Profile Image for Douglas Meeks.
893 reviews238 followers
November 6, 2013
The story of Eamon Evernight and his brother Aidan was surprisingly good. It seems that Aidan is one half of a arranged marriage between two families and he has no desire to be involved but will do his duty for his family.

Lu is the other half of this arrangement and is about has thrilled as Aidan is but there are several hidden surprises here that will be revealed to the reader as this novella progresses.

The whole books revolves around the fact that Eamon writes all the letters to Lu signing them as Aidan, this is just one of the many secrets that come out in this marvelous little story.

There will be a bad guy, there will be intrigue and there will be one of the most bumbling love scenes I think I have ever read, tender and hilarious at the same time ..... I think that is a new one for me.

Enjoy the book, I gave it 4.5 Stars but rounded down only because the author could have spent a few more pages giving us a bit clearer picture of the tie in with the Darkest London series of which this is a distant part.
Profile Image for Alexandra.
1,895 reviews10 followers
February 12, 2018
5 of 5 stars

The novella follows the story of Eamon, his brother Aidan and Lu who is arranged to get married to Aidan. Eamon writes letters to her under his brother name and the two of them grow close. After a family tragedy Lu moves to their mansion for the wedding and then the great part begins.

I liked the romance on the letters. It was sweet, funny and very Victorian-like. You can see the discrimination on the society as also the way of living on arranged marriages. But even for the short length the story is another great installment of Kristen Callihan's series.!
Profile Image for Annie .
2,506 reviews940 followers
November 4, 2013


ENTIWNED is a novella set in the Darkest London world. It’s the story of Eamon Evernight and Lady Luella Jane Moran. Luella is set to marry Eamon’s brother at a very young age, but he isn’t ready to settle down yet. Marriage isn’t something that interests him so he makes his brother, Eamon write a letter to Lu and pretend to be him.

Eamon isn’t as callous as his brother so he tries to let her down slowly. Except, much to his surprise, he finds that Lu has a backbone and isn’t willing to take no just yet. As they continue this back and forth through letters, it is clear that they have become affectionate and now care about one another.

When a death in the family forces Lu to see her soon-to-be husband, Eamon doesn’t know what to do. His brother will be marrying her and all this time in their correspondence, she believes their letters were real. In an interesting little twist, Callihan manages to pull off the impossible!

Novellas are often hard to write. Much of the romance is rushed, the characters aren’t always fully formed, and the stories just don’t seem to have the same potency as full length books. But Callihan uses a little trick that I think speeds up the process. The romance between E and Lu starts off in an epistolary fashion – the letters back and forth cement their compatibility. The challenge now is, how will E and Lu be together when E’s brother stands in the way? You’ll have to read to find out, but I adored this novella! Callihan manages to pack affectionate scenes, lusty scenes and funny scenes all in this tight word count. Plus, her writing just flows naturally so reading seems almost effortless.

If you haven’t read Kristen Callihan yet, you must! Not many authors can write this well while also creating passionate love stories that can make you smile and laugh!

*ARC provided by Netgalley
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 15 books613 followers
December 25, 2013
Read this review on Got Fiction? blog

Oh wow! A ginger, blacksmith, shy, virgin hero? I’m so in!

This novella may be a part of Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series, but it works well on its own. And I really loved it.

Aidan Evernight is betrothed to Luella Ballyloch and he wants none of it. But he decides that it’s probably for the best for reasons only hinted at. However Aidan can’t read or write so he goes to his younger brother Eamon and asks for him to read him the letter his new fiancée has sent him. Unfortunately she doesn’t want to marry him. So Aidan begs Eamon to write to her and change her mind.

For the next few years Luella and Eamon write back and forth. And fall in love. But Lu believes she’s writing to Aidan, and Eamon knows this will end in sorrow and longing for himself. When Lu comes to Ireland from Scotland to marry her love Aidan, she doesn’t understand his cold welcome. Nor does she understand her warm feelings for his tall ginger-haired brother.

Eamon was hated by his father, and the only joys he knows are in his smithy, for he’s a blacksmith, and his letters from Lu. But he knows it can never be. Not only is she meant for his brother, she’d never want a hulking, red-haired brute who is whispered about in the village. Oh did I mention? This is an Historical Paranormal Romance. Eamon has another secret (that I won’t spoil).

But he isn’t the only one with secrets. Lu has one of her own, and boy is it a doozy. I never saw it coming, but once I read it, it made complete sense. She slowly falls in love with Eamon while not understanding why Aidan is so distant. Until she realizes why he’s so different from the Aidan of the letters.

This is such a great story with a shy hero who you can’t help but love. I won’t tell you what happens, but what can you do when you’re in love with one brother, but promised to the other?


***ARC courtesy of Forever Romance via netgalley
Profile Image for AH.
2,005 reviews386 followers
November 4, 2013
Initial Thoughts: 4.0 stars - A novella set in the author's Darkest London series, Entwined was an enjoyable read. I loved the beginning of the novella where Eamon Evernight, posing as his brother Aidan wrote letters to Aidan's intended, Lady Luella. The letters are witty and the banter between these characters is entertaining.

The Review:
Kristen Callihan's Darkest London series is one of my favorite historical paranormal romance series. The author captures the atmosphere of early 19th century England very well and adds in her own touches of magic and a little steampunk. Add in an unlikely couple and this series is a very enjoyable read.

Entwined begins with letters written by Lady Luella Jane Moran to her intended Aiden Evernight. Aiden does not plan to marry and he is unable to read or write. He asks his brother Eamon to break off the betrothal. Eamon and Lu begin to correspond and through these letters, the two fall in love. Personally, the love letters were the highlight of this novella. I love how Eamon and Lu's personalities stood out. (In these days of instant messaging, can you imagine waiting weeks for a letter from your loved ones?)

Lu and Eamon are so very sweet together. I loved how awkward they were together, especially on their wedding night - it really gave this story a sense of authenticity.

I think that one of the aspects of the book that I enjoyed was Eamon's unique talent. His approach to his talent was a little gruesome, but his intentions were noble.

Entwined is a nice tasty morsel to read while awaiting the next installment in the Darkest London series. Shadowdance comes out December 17, 2013. I can't wait!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a review copy of this book.

Christal and I review this novella and Close to You on Badass Book Reviews.
Profile Image for ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡.
939 reviews87 followers
November 6, 2013
This author is PHENOMENAL!!! I LOVE her!! Her historical paranormal stories are the most original & creative ever! Since her first book, (which I can only describe as a cross between Beauty & the Beast/Phantom of the Opera/V for Vendetta crossed together) I have been hooked!

This one was about a man betrothed to a woman through their fathers. Luella writes to Aidan trying to convince him to go against their father's agreement. Aidan cannot write, so he has his brother do it for him. Eamon is the red headed devil's child & the total opposite of Aidan. Through the letters they fall in love, but now through tragedy, she comes to finally marry Aidan and he has no idea about her letters & what he should know. AND he insists on marrying her.

AND of course since all of these people in the series have some form of supernatural powers, someone in this story does... It's a sweet & endearing novella... I laughed a couple times... but all in all, I still love this series & cannot wait for he next book!!
Profile Image for Sharon L.
600 reviews95 followers
June 22, 2016
each hero in the darkest London series so far is joining my harem of boyfriends. ;)
Profile Image for Cynthia.
747 reviews301 followers
October 17, 2013
So I think I decided 4.5 stars;

"Never in all my living years have I seen a sight equal to you." He took a deep breath. "And you absolutely terrify me right now."

A shocked laughter left her, and the tension snapped. "Well, that's good, for you terrify me right now as well." Oh, but she liked that he liked the look of her. His shoulders eased on a deep breath.

"Good, now that we've established our mutual terror, we've got nothing to worry about."

Pretty sure my face was like this almost the entire length of the book.
I think I found my favourite gif.

Okay, first of all, how gorgeous this this cover!?  So pretty.

What a wonderful and heartwarming little novella Callihan has given us here. It was short but packed a power punch of great twist and turns and adorable moments.  The romance was so sweet, it probably gave me cavities.

I adored both Eamon and Luella so much! Both Eamon an Luella had their struggles to find their happiness and I'm so happy they found each other. Eamon always played second fiddle to his more handsome and perfect older brother and is treated horribly by his father. Yet Eamon still so so sweet and endearing, you can't not love him. Luella is quite the cute and spunky girl, and very likable too. But she too, has her dark secrets to hide.

When Eamon's brother asks Eamon to write back to Luella, there was just this chemistry between them that sets of a spark of awesome. The letters were hilarious and their banter back and forth was so adorable, and it was so cute watching them fall in love. I was a little surprised at how young they began writing letters to each other, Luella, 16, and Eamon, 17, though they don't meet until years later. But I think that's what made it so sweet, this almost puppy-love to a more grand and romantic love between them.
"They'd both known about the first few letters in which Eamon tried to set Lu in her place. But the had been boys then, arrogant and mischievous. Eamon hadn't thought he'd fall in love with the girl on the other side of the correspondence."

Like I mentioned, the story may be short, but it was still filled with a good amount of surprises and heartbreak and utterly sweet moments. Fitting in with the rest of the Darkest London series, there was of course a little bit paranormal activities and we get our connection to the series right at the end. Overall, a super cute read that left me grinning like a fool. It was a wonderful historical romance with all the necessary components for an awesome book, all wrapped up in a cute little novella. Just pick it up and read it now guys, you know you want to.

{* Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

P.S. Links of Interest - REVIEWS of: Firelight, Moonglow, and Winterblaze. (Book 1-3 of the Darkest London series)
Profile Image for Lori {Romancing the Dark Side}.
402 reviews270 followers
December 11, 2013
Originally reviewed on Romancing the Dark Side:

Entwined is a sweet and romantic novella with a touch of paranormal, another great addition to the Darkest London series!

This sweet and smexy novella set in the fabulous Darkest London world introduces us to two unlikely characters, Lady Luella Jane Moran and Eamon Evernight, a virgin bride and blacksmith brought together for an unexpected, but charming romance. It all begins when Eamon’s brother Aidan gets the news of his betrothal to Lady Luella. With a plot to end the engagement, Aidan enlists the help of his younger brother Eamon by asking him to write to his fiancee in his place.

Being a good brother, Eamon decides to help Aidan and begins a correspondence with Luella, but to his surprise he learns that she is not the wilting flower he thought she’d be. As the years go by, Eamon and Luella continue to write to each other forming a strong bond. Things become a little complicated when an a family tragedy brings Luella to the Evernight home to meet her future husband and the man she’s fallen in love with…only she soon realizes they are not one and the same!

It’s not an easy task to tell a compelling story that readers connect with in just a few chapters, but Ms. Callihan brilliantly delivers with this short installment! The foundation of the romance between Eamon and Luella is set early on via letters which makes their relationship believable when they actually meet. I love that it’s somewhat of a forbidden romance, given that Luella is Aidan’s intended bride which keeps you wondering if things will end in a HEA for the couple, especially with a couple of twists Ms. Callihan throws in.

Luella or Lu as Eamon calls her, is a bright and sweet character, but is not to be underestimated. She is able to figure out the truth before it was even revealed and stayed true to her heart, instead of feeling betrayed as is customary of some leading ladies in her shoes. Eamon is the perfect counterpart for Lu. He’s a bit of an outsider in his own family but has a pure heart and good intentions. Their flirty banter and lack of experience is great to witness throughout the story. While these two have a few secrets about themselves that eventually come to light, their affection and chemistry is never in question.

This novella is light on the paranormal elements but filled with tender moments, humor and a little bit of smexy. There is no huge link to the previous books in the series making it a good stand alone story for anyone wanting an introduction to Ms. Callihan’s exceptional writing. Entwined weaves a short but intriguing tale of secrets and swoon-worthy romance that have made me a huge fan of Kristen Callihan’s storytelling!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Profile Image for Carmel (Rabid Reads).
706 reviews393 followers
November 4, 2013
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

The first chapter of this novella was a little on the slow side; it’s hard to build any real momentum with correspondence exchanges. Luella and Eamon’s letters to each other were rather formal in the early stage which isn’t surprising considering they’re discussing their arranged marriage but the tone gradually becomes more playful and flirty as the years progress. The story gets kicked into high gear when they finally meet face-to-face and the last half of this quick read is an entertaining combination of deceit, growing pains and love. Entwined isn’t as heavy on the paranormal elements as the full-length installments are but nonetheless, you can’t help but be wooed by Kristen Callihan’s romanticized writing style.

For such a short novella, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the main plot line. Eamon and Luella’s relationship is built on lies and I enjoyed unraveling the intricate web of deceit that these two find themselves caught up in. From the blurb you’ve probably surmised that Lu falls in love with one brother while thinking he’s another and this theme of mistaken identities is prevalent throughout this story. Eamon isn’t the only one who’s hiding something though and Luella’s truth is not only shocking but somewhat serendipitous as well. I was doubtful that this couple would be able to achieve their happily-ever-after because of all the dishonesty but, in a way, they ended up being stronger because of it.

There’s one very memorable yet awkward sex scene that probably merits a re-read because of its high entertainment factor. Back-in-the-day consummating an arranged marriage must have been interesting to say the least and Callihan spares no details about their clumsy first encounter. Her poor characters! I can’t believe that she put them through that and with an audience no less! If you’re in need of a good giggle then this novella is worth reading just for that one scene. I had a hard time making the connection between this story and the Darkest London series but it still managed to put a smile on my face and for me, that’s all that really matters. Entwined gives readers a nice taste of Kristen Callihan’s writing and delivers a complex tale for its length.
Profile Image for Farrah.
1,248 reviews210 followers
October 12, 2013
Dark, romantic, and full of secrets, Entwined was a brilliant historical romance. It was an absolutely wonderful read. Loved this novella!

Luella was a lovely heroine. She was very likable and sweet. She was hiding a few secrets and they took me by surprise. I though she was a great character and I really liked her.

Eamon was just as wonderful. He was so sweet! I adored him. He's been seen as second best his entire life because, while his brother is the perfect classically handsome gentleman, Eamon is not the ideal. He's massive and red haired with more interest in his inventions than society. Not to mention how horribly his father treated him. All of that could have made him bitter, but, instead, it made him very humble in a sweet way. He was just so endearing and I completely fell for him.

The romance was very sweet. Luella and Eamon were adorable together. The way they fell in love through letters was so sweet. And, I loved that, even when she met Eamon's brother, who she though she had been writing to, she still felt a connection with Eamon. It goes to show how deeply in love these two were. And, the chemistry was super hot. These two had some serious sparks flying. I thought they were a perfect couple.

The plot was fast paced. I was hooked the entire way through. For such a short novella, there were a quite a few surprises packed in there. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.

Entwined was a fantastic historical romance. I LOVED this novella. It was dark, romantic, and just perfect. Lovers of romance, if you want a quick read that will keep you hooked, then you have to read this book.

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*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Marsha.
3,053 reviews58 followers
November 8, 2013
I am amazed at how well Kristen Callihan keeps the plots of her books so fresh. "Entwined" is a little novella about the Evernight brothers, Aiden and Eamon. Aiden is the eldest brother and unbeknownst to many, is illiterate. He relies on his brother, Eamon to handle his correspondence. Eamon is the least favorite of the sons because of his large size, reddish hair and the fact that his mother died in childbirth.

Father Evernight advises Aiden that he must marry the 16 year old daughter of a man who helped him with his gambling situation. They are to be married when he reaches the age of majority. He is not happy with this situation at all. Then, he receives a letter from the girl in question, Luella. She implores him to work with her to end the engagement. However, since Aiden cannot read, he enlists the assistance of his brother, Eamon to answer her letters. What starts out as a hostile and shakey relationship, soon develops into a love affair. The only problem, it is "Lu" and Eamon who have fallen in love; not Lu and Aiden.

Eamon feels shame for the deception he has played on Luella. However, he does not know that Luella has a secret of her own. After the death of both Eamon and Luella's fathers, they are thrown together. Aiden discovers his brother's love for his intended and takes off on a ship to New York. Now, Eamon and Lu will have to come face to face with their lies.

I really enjoyed this novella; especially, the love letters between Lu and E. It was both comical and endearing. Additionally, Ms. Callihan kept me on the edge of my seat to discover what deception Lu played on the brothers. Before you ask, "No, I will not reveal what it is!" Pick up this little gem and savor the read. It really is quite good.
Profile Image for The Window Seat.
689 reviews71 followers
November 26, 2013
Long time readers of this site will know that the prospect of any new stories in Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series make me very happy. Then to learn that the set-up for the e-novella Entwined was two people falling in love while writing to one another (one of my favorite story set-ups)… well I’m lucky none of you could see my Dance of Joy! Taking a step away from the familiar characters or the ongoing storyline, Entwined gives readers the chance to meet the patriarch of a family with strong ties to the S.O.S. and an incredible ability of his own.

A betrothal based upon power and money didn’t surprise the heir to the Evernight fortune, but a letter from his intended asking to break the betrothal was a bit of a shock. It was all the more surprising to Eamon Evernight when his brother Aidan asked for his help in convincing the reluctant bride to go through with their arrangement in the name of family honor and duty. Eamon, having long covered for his older brother’s weaknesses, takes on the task of writing back to the young woman and tries his best to open a dialog where he can convince her that marriage is the best for all parties. As the years pass and the letters move from a cordial correspondence into a warm conversation, Eamon slowly inserts more of his own personality into his words. The feelings he expresses to this unseen woman are less about his brother’s interests but more his own dreams of being with the one person he can be himself with.

For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/1...
Profile Image for Beth.
3,102 reviews301 followers
November 26, 2025
Entwined is a Darkest London novella. It might be a quick story, but Kristen Callihan still provides a highly entertaining and complete read. Where many novellas fall short in plot and emotional character connections, Entwined gives us a bounty of both.

Eamon Evernight is the second son and even though he is smart and good looking he is persecuted by his father and the villagers for his red (evil) hair. When a marriage arrangement is made for his brother with Luella Moran, his brother employs Eamon's assistance in corresponding with Luella. While Eamon can read and write his brother has never taken to it, so over the years Eamon was the one who kept in contact with Luella. Over time and many letters, E (Eamon) and Lu (Luella) have grown very fond of each other. But when Luella arrives at the estate, she is still betrothed to Eamon's brother.

The story's progression was seamless, perfectly flowing with action, romance, conflict and resolution. The paranormal element in this story is minimal, focusing more strongly on the progression of the romance. While Callihan still managed to add enough to appease her paranormal enthusiasts. Entwined gives us a brilliant peak into the Darkest London world, leaving us wanting more.

I received this copy of Entwined from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for  ❀ Minesha ❀.
45 reviews120 followers
October 29, 2013
The way they fall in love in the letters...sigh
Both Lucille and Eamon are virgins, that was refreshing! And it was so realistic they made love the first time, the awkwardness, confused thoughts and all..
And I would never have predicted Lucille's secret, just caught me off the hook :)



Random Letter:

Dearest Lu,
You have a lifetimes to address me as "Aidan". Call it selfishness on my part-though likely you'll think me rude-but I'd rather you withhold the privilege until we are face to face. For now, you you be so kind as to humour your fiance and refer to me as E?
Your devoted, if not slightly eccentric E.

Thanks Netgalley for the ebook !


Full Review to come!
Profile Image for Vero.
1,604 reviews9 followers
November 20, 2014
Charming short novella about unusual very young couple. I loved it. Just like everything else I have read by Kristen Callihan.
 
This was beautifully done - it never felt short, the story felt rich and detailed and I so liked Eamus. He was the sweet, beautiful, shy giant of a man.
 
If there is a theme in Mrs Calilhan's books it is that most characters seem to have had difficult relationships with their parents and mainly their father. This is no exception.
But I don't mind. Because this was gorgeous.
 
And on to the next one in the series!
Profile Image for Theresa .
1,847 reviews77 followers
April 1, 2018
4 Stars... When I first began this novella, I was unsure as to where it fit in the overall storyline of the series.... However, I came to realize the connections that were present in the story to the main characters of the series and I was hooked... Eamon and Lu are a dynamic and complex couple whose story is based in an old feel romance that is equal parts captivating and sensual; I loved their naivety and innocence which fueled their desires and connection... A sweet novella that provides some background to the overall storyline and relationships in the series:)
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