After she finds her adoptive father dead in the forest, Catherine is determined to save his daughter from the greedy clutches of the town's corrupt watchman. With the reclusive Marquis’s power at his disposal, however, she’ll need to form some influential alliances of her own if she wants any hope of besting him—even if it means weaving a web of lies so thick even she has trouble navigating it. There is no line Cat won't cross if it means keeping what remains of her family safe.
When Dante’s best friend ceases communication after returning home to check on his father, the Marquis of Carabas, the anxiety-riddled count leaves the safety of his neatly organized home and ventures into the countryside to find him. What he discovers, however, is a Marquis shut up in his castle, a town on the brink of ruin, and a fiery young woman who threatens to not only steal his heart but turn his carefully-laid-out world upside down.
All of which pales in comparison to the monstrous secret looming within the depths of a castle that may just doom them all.
What you can
Just One BarrelHidden IdentitiesHeadstrong FMCTongue-tied MMCFairytale MonstersSpice Free RomancePiningPositive Female FriendshipsMasqueradesNot-So Meet CutesWhump
This story is utterly charming and cozy with a large scoop of adventure!
Catherine is a fiery woman who will do everything in her power to keep her beloved friend to fall into a marriage that will doom her forever. Taking on the town villain using her brains and brawn. Cat hatches a plan that will gain her an audience with the person of power that would be able to help.
She runs into two strangers who leave an impression, but one that is not flattering no matter how fine the strangers are dressed. When she puts her plan in place, she fails to keep her heart out of it. Reminding her that she is not alone and it is ok to accept help, even if it is from the last person you imagined.
Dante is a shy MC that has a hard time speaking to the fairer sex. But when his path cross with the fiery beauty, he is in awe of her spunk and bravery. Agreeing to help her overthrow the town bully, he finds himself embarking on an adventure that will discover a dark underbelly within the quiet town. Risking everything to keep everyone safe, no matter the personal cost.
I loved this story! It is one that you want to grab a warm drink, blanket and settle in. It will have you giggling and swooning. This story is well paced, intriguing with a dark mystery woven through out that will have you wanting to know how it all ends!
Perfect cozy goodness that will leave you smiling until the very end. Happy Reading! {E-ARC}
I like to thank the author for a free read as part of the ARC pre-release team.
The title had me. Mainly, girl cross-playing as a male had me. I always get a kick out of stories where a girl tries to show off she can do anything. In this, because there are no male heirs, their farm will be given to someone else. The two sisters decide to con two rich gentlemen to get them to help them out as well. But, problems arise when the eldest sister starts having feelings.
There was a fun blend of mystery, romance and action where one of the plot points didn't overshadow the other. I have not read the author's other work, so walking into this one fresh and allowing me to form an unbiased opinion.
The only reason I ranked it down a star is that maybe it could have been a bit longer, but that's me being a tad picky. Still, if you are into the same tropes I mentioned then you'll enjoy this like I did!
I absolutely devoured this romantasy fairy tale book. Inspired by Puss in Boots and Twelfth Night, it was easy to fall instantly in love with Catherine, Dante, and the rest of the characters. The pacing moved along perfectly with plenty of action, adventure, hidden identities and swoony moments.
This is one of my favorite couple types - the quiet, shy, awkward MMC and the fiery, outspoken, stubborn FMC. Dante and Catherine are absolutely a delight right from their not meet cute where she yells at him and he has hearts in his eyes, wondering if it's too early to ask her to marry him (okay, to be fair, he doesn’t decide he's going to marry her until their second meeting…) and she meanwhile is stomping home to complain about the arrogant nobles she just met.
Secret Identities is always one of my favorite tropes and we get plenty of great moments here, like the obligatory MMC thinks FMC is a guy and starts stripping down to go swimming. I mean, can you have a book where the MMC thinks she is a guy and *not* have the MMC strip down??
Not to be forgotten, the side characters of Catherine’s sister Isabella and Dante’s best friend Lorenzo are also great and provide some extra comic relief. Overall I found the book to be a great mix of humor, romance, and adventure.
E. P. Stavs is one of my go-to authors, and this is definitely a go-to book. It's a no-spice romantasy packed with tension and swoon, banter and hilarity. Dante is a tongue-tied, blushing delight of an mmc. Cat is a fiery, protective, sassy fmc you'll love from her first page. You'll love each of them, and the unforgettable side characters Ren and Isa--from their first appearance. Stavs has an amazing talent for voice in her writing, so the characters live and breathe on the page--and stay on your mind long after you've finished reading! I highly, highly recommend this fast-paced, swoon-tastic romp of a read!
Slight disclaimer: includes gay references and language, but I’m not your mama. Be intentional with what you read.
I really enjoyed this story! Catherine was hilarious and I loved the scenes of her skipping back and forth into roles she created. She is the man indeed. Dante was such a sweet mmc. I loved the two together with feisty and sweet. Her being angry at him while he is just flummoxed by her beauty was hilarious. Erin tore my heart up with the angst she put in but she wrote it so well. I loved the conclusion of this. I was getting anxious with only a few pages left but it was such a satisfying conclusion.
This is such a charming fairy tale mash-up! Full of banter, fun characters, sweet romance and Shakespearean-style hijinks, this book absolutely nailed the Puss in Boots x Twelfth Night crossover. If you're look for a light, fast-paced romance with a whimsical fairy-tale vibe, this one is absolutely for you!