Charles, With Love

Letters to Love #4

by Sydney Winward

Charles Lockwood’s assignment was supposed to be easy—to escort the princess to the neighboring kingdom, poke around a bit, and get out and return to his employer before anyone noticed him. But his plans fall apart when they are attacked on the road, their party slaughtered before his eyes. He makes a stupid, impulsive decision to save the princess.

Only to discover she’s no princess at all. She’s a stand-in.

Emmaline Blythe has been threatened at knife-point to follow through with a marriage in the princess’s stead. But when she’s rescued from mercenaries by a handsome stranger with a helmet stuck to his head, she is forced to lean on him for protection from her numerous enemies who want her dead.

But Charles is keeping secrets. Lots of them. Can she trust him to keep her safe? Is keeping his dangerous company worth the price of her freedom? Or will the darkness of his past catch up to them, threatening their lives and their blossoming feelings for one another?

Genres: Romance

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2024

Reviews

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Charles, With Love,” by Sydney Winward

This was a good book and I had fun reading it. It has characters with tons of trauma and mental illness. Theres a circus trope theme and assassins. I liked the inner turmoil in the characters and how they fight to trust and fall in love. 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Hiddengems.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written retelling of Snow White with some twists. The author brings an enemies to lovers romance between Emma and Charles, adds in secrets and danger and delivers an entertaining story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a fun retelling of Snow White. Charles is pretending to be a soldier, part of the guard taking the princess to her betrothed. But they are ambushed and Charles has to attempt to save her, even though he knows he shouldn't.

As they hide in the woods and fight off their attackers, they realize neither is who they are pretending to be. Can they trust the other and will they survive long enough to find Emmaline's family?

A lot of danger and unexpected revelations. A fun story. I've never read anything by this author but really enjoyed this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Moni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is book 4 in the Letters to Love Series and can be read as a standalone, though I love this series so recommend the other books as well. The book's blurb is straightforward, though be aware the story deals with loss and grief. Charles, With Love is told through Charles and Emma's third person pov and is a great Snow White retelling.

From the start, the story is full of action and suspense as Charles and Emma flee those that are after her life. I loved how Charles was a grump and closed off yet his caring nature shined through when he didn't want it to. He had walls and scars from his past and I loved seeing him heal as he protected Emma. Though Charles did his best to keep her at arms length, it didn't stop Emma from trying to get to know him. She didn't back down and challenged him to let her be a part of her life. Like him, she also had some wounds from her past and simply wanted someone to see her for who she was.

The story was fast paced so their romance felt like it was instalove. However, given the situation that they were forced into and the amount of time that they spent together, it felt natural. And, because of the healing that he needed to do, it took some time for Charles to accept his feelings. I loved seeing his protective side but Emma was just as protective of him. The romance was a clean one consisting of descriptive, but not steamy, kisses and the violence level is pg-13. Aside from the romance and healing, I enjoyed how the aspects of the fairytale were incorporated. Overall, this was a great addition to the series.

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles, With Love is a standalone fantasy romance by Sydney Winward and is the fourth book in Letters to Love series. This is a series that gives fun, sweet retellings of well known fairytales, set in a fictional land that gives the vibes of perhaps of 18th century Europe. There is absolutely no need to get any context from the previous book, though I have loved each book in the series so far.

Charles, With Love is retelling of Snow White, giving the reader of both "Snow" and "The Hunter", but does not include certain details such as the wicked witch of a stepmother. There is adventure and danger in this book as the two main characters reveal their secrets to each other and the reader.

Charles Lockwood and Emmaline Blythe are complex and wonderfully flawed characters. They come from very different walks of life, but they have both suffered their fair share of difficulty and heartbreak, which initially set them on the path that brings them together. This book does have an element of enemies to lovers, because the road to romance between Emma and Charles is quite rocky, and one more than one occasion forces them to work together while facing mortal danger.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles, With Love, is a retelling of Snow White, but that isn't clear until roughly halfway through the novel. Up until then I was shaking my head and wondering how it could possibly be a retelling. Halfway through, everything falls into place.

Here's what happens. A young princess is on her way to marry a much older king from another country when she and her guards are ambushed. It gets violent and a little bit gory, but one of her guards saves her life. Then, though her life is still in danger, her guard stays with her to keep her safe, and she'll need him to because someone clearly wants her dead.

It turns out the princess has a secret, and you find out soon enough that so does he. The princess is named Emmaline, and the secretive (and broody) guard is named Charles. As you can probably figure out, their love is that of a fairy tale. Anyway, a lot happens before the happy ending.

This novel is plot-driven with sweet parts in the middle to allow for Emma and Charles to fall in love with each other. The romantic parts are somewhere between a rom-com and a high school romance. Each of them has their own set of friends whom they confide in as things inevitably go wrong in their relationship. Fortunately for the reader, this book is filled with fantastic characters, except for the traveling companions in the first part of the novel. They were okay. That part was more of a link between the ambush and the later stuff.

Overall, this is a good retelling. It's also a pure and sweet barely-any-kissing romance that focuses a lot on emotions as they develop feelings for each other.

One thing to warn you about, though, is that in the beginning, Emmaline seems a bit like a damsel in distress. Just read through that part because the book doesn't turn out that way. Emma is actually a fabulous character! She's strong. She's smart. And she's talented. Oh, and I loved her relationship with her brother. And, of course, despite the danger, they end up happily ever after.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I was so excited for this because I love Snow White and I’ve read two books in this series already and loved them. Of course this one was no different.
Emmaline Is forced into a life she never chose, where she meets Charles. Together they have to navigate life trying to keep her safe. The characters were pretty realistically written and of course super sweet to read about. These stories are wholesome and remind me of my childhood favorite stories. I’d definitely read if you’re wanting a squishy sweet book with some action and lots of big feelings.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mariah Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with a complimentary Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in return for providing a review. Initially, it took some time for me to immerse myself in the narrative, but halfway through, I found myself thoroughly engrossed. I selected this book due to my fondness for fairy tale retellings, and it's billed as a reinterpretation of Snow White. However, it wasn't until I reached the 60% mark that I grasped its connection to the classic tale. I do wish I had realized sooner, as it would have facilitated my engagement with the story from the outset.

[Nina Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful and unique remastering of a classic Fairytale with some unexpected but very well played out twists! The romance between the 2 MCs was beautiful and heartwarming. I couldn't put it down and read it all in one sitting

This is my first time reading anything by this author but I will definitely be going back to read more of her work.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book honestly didn't feel like a Snow White retelling until halfway through, and then I caught on to it. Someone looking for a faithful retelling would be confused, but the loose interpretation and modified elements worked for how the story was developing. I wish this wasn't the first book I've read from this author; it looks like the previous books in this series may have helped slightly with character introduction and exposition, but hard to tell since I haven't read them.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has been sent to take the princess to her wedding but they are attacked on the way. He will learn she is not the princess he was expecting. Now his mission has changed and he will need to protect her. A great Snow White retelling tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review

[Lisa H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fake princess…

Charles isn’t where he thought he would be. Nope. He’s following a princess as one of her guards.

Emmaline is a fake princess, a stand in for the real one. Shades of Snow White.

[Mimia The Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Favourite blurb: "And I can't lose my wife again!"

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is a snow white retell as seen by the characters in the story.

It's sweet and cute as in the romance and the way both characters interact is fun but a bit lacklustre as it is a cliche predictive read and the book's climax is a bit not a climax for me.

The secret becomes not mind-blowing if you do notice it is a retelling.

It's a decent read for people who like some easy romance and retelling of snow white.

Thanks to HiddenGemsBooks for this copy of ARC.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book both by this author and from this series of standalone but connected fairy tale retellings. This book was a Retelling of Snow White with several great characters and some interesting twists that I enjoyed. I plan to read more from this series in the future.

Letters to Love Series
Yours, Sterling: Sterling Winfield & Kathleen de Clare
Forever, Mirabelle: Gilberd Keats & Mirabelle Waters
Always, Ivette: Barnaby Mavis & Ivette Danvers
Charles, With Love: Charles Lockwood & Emmaline Blythe
Adoringly, Edward: Edward Beaumont & Vivienne Winfield

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.