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Eleanor and the Iron King
Eleanor de Lacy is forced into an arranged marriage with her father’s greatest enemy, Brac Goch, the Welsh king. All Eleanor knows of Brac is that he is a ruthless, war hungry man.
Eleanor arrives at the Welsh castle of Bryn Du already expecting the worst. When the ghost of Brac Goch’s first wife appears and warns her that the Welsh king is not to be trusted, all of Eleanor’s fears are confirmed.
As the countdown to her wedding day approaches, Eleanor must figure out who is lying, who is telling the truth, who is loyal, and who is the traitor--and most of all, if she can love an enemy king.
Eleanor arrives at the Welsh castle of Bryn Du already expecting the worst. When the ghost of Brac Goch’s first wife appears and warns her that the Welsh king is not to be trusted, all of Eleanor’s fears are confirmed.
As the countdown to her wedding day approaches, Eleanor must figure out who is lying, who is telling the truth, who is loyal, and who is the traitor--and most of all, if she can love an enemy king.
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
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1784 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
June 22, 2016
“In a moment, she must step out into a life completely unknown. Her future stretched before her like a great pit of darkness so black she could see nothing of what was to come. No candle could illuminate it. Not even the noonday sun was bright enough to light her way.”
Eleanor's life was simple; follow orders and do your duty, no questions asked. Whatever you think or feel doesn't matter. When her father announced her that the only way to stop the raging war between the English and the Welsh was for her to marry the Welsh King, she did nothing but obey, even if that meant a bleak future and a loveless marriage for her. But when she met Brac Goch, he was a man full of surprises she tried very hard to decipher. Between ongoing plots and ghosts only she could see, Eleanor tried to make choices of her own and find the truth about the Iron King, her father and the people she trusted.
“It would serve you well, Eleanor, to consider carefully what you choose to call truth.”
Eleanor and the Iron King is one of the books I loved but can't accurately describe why. Instead, when I think about it I'm overwhelmed with images, feelings and sensations. The image of a sad girl who enters a dark and mysterious tower. The image of a man with bright red hair and eyes the color of the iron teaching her how to use a bow. The image of a pale ghost woman and a chamber covered in blood. The image of cells haunted by restless spirits. The smell of herbs and nature, the whiteness of the snow, the warmth of the fire.
Julie Daines's writing is extraordinary. She narrates a story about war, politics and dark magic through the eyes of a girl who felt helpless in a world dominated by men. The mystery is something tangible that covers everything like a veil, the descriptions remind of old fairytales told to scare children but also teach them the meaning of kindness and trust and the aftermath of greed and power hunting. Eleanor is a heroine who jumps into conclusions, prejudiced against the people she will have to rule someday, her decisions are never wise but she is strong, there is a fire that burns inside her and despite her helplessness she doesn't give up.
“My dearest Eleanor”
My pulse was rapid and my breath caught every time Brac whispered those three little words, followed by scolding or amusement, hiding something deeper and devastatingly beautiful. The love was building slowly and patiently, you could find traces of it in simple gestures, in wide smiles, in acts of kindness and heartbreaking decisions. Eleanor had to open her eyes and realize that the man she thought was the enemy was in fact a friend, a protector and her soulmate.
A magical in many ways book, Eleanor and the Iron King won a place in my heart.
**ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
August 21, 2015
Oh. My. Word. I LOVE this book. Seriously, LOVE this book. I read the whole thing the same day I got it in the mail. Yes, it’s THAT good.
I didn’t expect just about anything when reading this book. Things in here were completely unexpected I had no clue! There is so much in the book, I wish there was MORE to the book, I didn’t want it to end! It has romance, a ghost story, mystery, paranormal activity, and political intrigue.
The book follows Eleanor who is forced to marry the man who has been the means of so much pain for her and her people. He has come to her lands and have caused wars and bloodshed to the point that her brother went off to fight him and never returned. So when she is forced to marry the King in order to save her people and have peace she does it out of pure duty.
When she meets her future husband, she constantly reminds herself of everything she has ever heard of him-this warrior king. Yet this man is nothing like she heard from her father.
When mysterious things start to happen to her, she has nobody she can trust and nobody she can really turn to but her fiancé.
Eleanor is such a likable character, I didn’t really have any problems with her. She’s loyal to almost a fault, she desirous to help others even her fiancé whom she fears. I just liked her.
The creepiness with this story was fabulous. There was a right amount of mystery and thrill that had to turning the page to find out what the heck is going on. The twist and turns were a bit obvious except for ONE thing and I didn’t see it coming.
The romance was perfect. Slow moving and romantic enough that it kept you invested and interested. I loved the fact that the main love interest is actually a good guy. A manly man who is GOOD. Completely won-worthy male lead.
There is SOOOOO much I could just rave about when it comes to this book. Seriously rave but I don’t want to spoil anything. THIS IS A MUST OWN!
Overall I would recommend this to ANYONE and EVERYONE, it was that good.
Sexual Content: mild
Violence: moderate (some scenes with blood, creepy ghost story that is a little disturbing but not too graphic, wounds that aren’t too gory, some sword fights-nothing too graphic)
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
Language: none
I didn’t expect just about anything when reading this book. Things in here were completely unexpected I had no clue! There is so much in the book, I wish there was MORE to the book, I didn’t want it to end! It has romance, a ghost story, mystery, paranormal activity, and political intrigue.
The book follows Eleanor who is forced to marry the man who has been the means of so much pain for her and her people. He has come to her lands and have caused wars and bloodshed to the point that her brother went off to fight him and never returned. So when she is forced to marry the King in order to save her people and have peace she does it out of pure duty.
When she meets her future husband, she constantly reminds herself of everything she has ever heard of him-this warrior king. Yet this man is nothing like she heard from her father.
When mysterious things start to happen to her, she has nobody she can trust and nobody she can really turn to but her fiancé.
Eleanor is such a likable character, I didn’t really have any problems with her. She’s loyal to almost a fault, she desirous to help others even her fiancé whom she fears. I just liked her.
The creepiness with this story was fabulous. There was a right amount of mystery and thrill that had to turning the page to find out what the heck is going on. The twist and turns were a bit obvious except for ONE thing and I didn’t see it coming.
The romance was perfect. Slow moving and romantic enough that it kept you invested and interested. I loved the fact that the main love interest is actually a good guy. A manly man who is GOOD. Completely won-worthy male lead.
There is SOOOOO much I could just rave about when it comes to this book. Seriously rave but I don’t want to spoil anything. THIS IS A MUST OWN!
Overall I would recommend this to ANYONE and EVERYONE, it was that good.
Sexual Content: mild
Violence: moderate (some scenes with blood, creepy ghost story that is a little disturbing but not too graphic, wounds that aren’t too gory, some sword fights-nothing too graphic)
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
Language: none
August 14, 2015
Loving a woman that scorns you is like licking honey from a thorn.
Or it’s like picking a rose from a bush on fire.
Whichever makes you feel better.
You can imagine what the romance in Eleanor and the Iron King is like— slow burn, light, realistic, beautiful, dangerous, and irresistible.
I’ve run out of adjectives, so let me take you to the very first page of this book. The story gets right to the matter at hand: War’s a bitch. Eleanor De Lacy is hauled off like “cattle” to her enemy in exchange for a truce between countries. Eleanor’s father, along with his right-hand-man Gilbert, delivers her straight to the doorsteps— or I should say— arms of Brach Goch, the Welshman responsible for killing her brother.
”I, Eleanor de Lacy, do plight thee, Brac Goch, my toth."
With these words, Eleanor sealed her fate.
As if leaving her English home, having been rejected by the man she has feelings for, and being married to a murderer aren’t enough, she is tormented by an apparition on the night of her arrival. Soon, she will learn she has enemies on all fronts.
The mystery unfolded reasonably and I didn’t feel like it dragged on or was underdeveloped. I honestly can’t find any fault with this book. I can not. Not with the mystery, the drama, the pace, the plot, the romance, the characters, etc. I like it all!
From a critical eye, both Eleanor and Brach are strong leads. Brach is patient and kind. Eleanor is prideful and stubborn— which I find are good equalities in a strong-headed woman. Her ignorance can easily be mistaken for hostility and I guess that’s only fair when she’s living with the enemies.
From a fangirl’s view, Eleanor and Brach are perfect for each other. Don’t argue with me otherwise. Don’t. They’re totally awesome characters. I love them.
They start as purely enemies, but when they actually meet, “stranger danger” becomes a scary reality for Eleanor. They go from enemies-strangers to frenemies to something more and I love the growth of that undeniable bond between them. Their easy bantering is cute and to die for. Yet, I wouldn’t want to be caught in the crossfire. All in all, I am surprised and pleased by how much I enjoyed the romance.
The one thing I didn’t enjoy was the healing herb information. It was interesting the first and second time. But then as the story went on and the poultice / healing process continued to be described in details several more times, my eyes just sort of glazed over the sentences. I wholeheartedly didn’t bother to care. Why? Because it was repetitive and it wasn’t worth my time to read about Eleanor giving out the same orders and “telling” us, step by step, what she was crushing or mixing. I reached the point where I had to stop caring, you know?
Other than that, every sentence of Eleanor and the Iron King was worth reading and I thoroughly liked the book from beginning to end :)
An ARC was given via Netgalley.
(Wow, I haven’t done Tumblr edits in a long time. Tumblr edits are made by me, although none of the pictures used are mine.)
September 3, 2015
Eleanor and the Iron King was a good, middle-of-the-road historical romance with a mysterious paranormal twist. This was a super quick read, that held my interest well. Eleanor was a likable enough mc and Brac Goch was a decent love interest.
In case it wasn't obvious, while I did enjoy this novel and found the story to be interesting, overall I found the book to be a bit average. It was nice, and while I had no big complaints while reading this, I also probably wouldn't bother recommending this to anyone. It just doesn't stand out, but it was still a worthy contender for my time.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Borrow
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2017
I loved this book! The setting was amazing, I felt like I was there in the castle and mountainous woodlands. Eleanor is a strong young woman, but helpless in her role as political pawn. She's an interesting mix of independence and submissiveness. Her choices and reactions were not predictable, yet offered insight to her character. She is loyal and kindhearted, feisty and impulsive. Her skills with healing herbs are an invaluable asset to those around her in a time of limited medical knowledge, and it helps her make some new friends that ease the loneliness of her new home. Brac is also a study in contrasting characteristics- unyielding and compassionate, arrogant and teasing. The gentleness and humor confuses Eleanor since it's not only unexpected, she has never experienced that with her own father/king. It was endearing to see him try to connect with Eleanor even when she wanted nothing to do with him. I could not put the book down as Eleanor learns little by little that not all is as it seems or as she had been told and she no longer knows who to trust, except by instinct. The romantic moments between Brac and Eleanor develop naturally and enhance the emotion of the plot. The creepy phantom adds heightened tension and an element of fantasy but it blends seamlessly with the world the author has created. The pacing is steady throughout and climaxes in a battle where all is finally revealed. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more by the author!
(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
August 18, 2015
I kindly received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
"Is that a chicken you're stitching? Odd choice."
"It's a flower."
I just had to start this review with this quote! It made me giggle so much!
This book was unbelievable sweet, clean and darn- right cute!
Let's discuss the plot!
This book was lovely, i enjoyed that immensely!
I'm not going to lie, Eleanor got on my nerves at times. She was being selfish and nonsensical but afterwards, i warmed up to her. But Ohhh Man! Brac TOTALLY stole my heart. That man. just saying.
"...You are like a plague, my lord. Once infected, it never goes away."
I totally wouldn't mind being plagued by him *clears throat* what? I'm just being honest.
ANYWAY,
This story has a supernatural twist that'll give you the hibby-gibbies! I really enjoyed that! It had shades of a book i can't for the life of me recall, but anyway, it was a really cool twist. Not just a dull romance, but full of action, intrigue and unknowns.
It's actually a short read, or maybe it seemed short to me because i was so invested and read it so quickly!
I don't think you'll regret reading this.
Also the romance was real! That was my favourite part. As in, it wasn't some love-sick, silly, exasperating notion of love that's more lust; that we see in so many novels today.
But no, this had a CLEAN(Thank God, i started thinking those books were extinct) notion of love that is founded on the best idea! And that is that real love is not about your own wants and gratifications, but true love is on the basis of making the other happy.
That's right ladies and gents, we have a blessed mature book here.
I liked it!
Stay Awesome!
-The Book Herald
Tweet me @thebookherald
"Is that a chicken you're stitching? Odd choice."
"It's a flower."
I just had to start this review with this quote! It made me giggle so much!
This book was unbelievable sweet, clean and darn- right cute!
Let's discuss the plot!
Eleanor de Lacy is the daughter of Baynard de Lacy, earl of Wrexbury who has been ordered to be the sacrificial lamb of her people.
She must forever be linked to a man whose name strikes fear in the heart of her father's staunches warriors.
She must forever be the source of a treaty.
She must enter an arranged marriage with-
Brac Goch. A great Warrior King.
The language is foreign, the people foreign, everything is bizarre and strange.
But one thing that stands out the most is the red-headed king who is nothing like she expects.
But things are not as they seem...a wraith lingers and soon, Eleanor finds herself incurring the wrath of other powers beyond her control.
This book was lovely, i enjoyed that immensely!
I'm not going to lie, Eleanor got on my nerves at times. She was being selfish and nonsensical but afterwards, i warmed up to her. But Ohhh Man! Brac TOTALLY stole my heart. That man. just saying.
"...You are like a plague, my lord. Once infected, it never goes away."
I totally wouldn't mind being plagued by him *clears throat* what? I'm just being honest.
ANYWAY,
This story has a supernatural twist that'll give you the hibby-gibbies! I really enjoyed that! It had shades of a book i can't for the life of me recall, but anyway, it was a really cool twist. Not just a dull romance, but full of action, intrigue and unknowns.
It's actually a short read, or maybe it seemed short to me because i was so invested and read it so quickly!
I don't think you'll regret reading this.
Also the romance was real! That was my favourite part. As in, it wasn't some love-sick, silly, exasperating notion of love that's more lust; that we see in so many novels today.
But no, this had a CLEAN(Thank God, i started thinking those books were extinct) notion of love that is founded on the best idea! And that is that real love is not about your own wants and gratifications, but true love is on the basis of making the other happy.
That's right ladies and gents, we have a blessed mature book here.
I liked it!
Stay Awesome!
-The Book Herald
Tweet me @thebookherald
August 5, 2015
I loved this book from the very beginning. It is historical fiction with paranormal elements.
Eleanor is forced into an arranged marriage. She is a pawn used by her father to broker a peace agreement with a Welch King, Brach Goch. She has only heard negative things about him from her father. He is a supposed war monger who will do anything and everything to conquer his enemies. Her father is abusive and she fears him and letting down her people more than she does about marrying an enemy.
I love reading about medieval times. This book was the perfect fit for me. The characters were well written with a strong sense of honor and integrity. Brach and Eleanor were two people who come from different view points who have to learn to respect and honor the other. Eleanor had a more difficult time with the situation.
The book also has a ghosts and dealing with witchcraft. Brach's deceased wife haunts the castle and leaves messaged in blood for Eleanor. It's kind of creepy but added an element to the story that intrigued me.
This is a great book about misunderstandings and learning to have respect for people and culture. It is a clean book with a little bit of violence.
Eleanor is forced into an arranged marriage. She is a pawn used by her father to broker a peace agreement with a Welch King, Brach Goch. She has only heard negative things about him from her father. He is a supposed war monger who will do anything and everything to conquer his enemies. Her father is abusive and she fears him and letting down her people more than she does about marrying an enemy.
I love reading about medieval times. This book was the perfect fit for me. The characters were well written with a strong sense of honor and integrity. Brach and Eleanor were two people who come from different view points who have to learn to respect and honor the other. Eleanor had a more difficult time with the situation.
The book also has a ghosts and dealing with witchcraft. Brach's deceased wife haunts the castle and leaves messaged in blood for Eleanor. It's kind of creepy but added an element to the story that intrigued me.
This is a great book about misunderstandings and learning to have respect for people and culture. It is a clean book with a little bit of violence.
November 2, 2015
4.5 stars
Wow this book really took me by surprise! I found myself glued to the pages and got absolutely nothing done for several hours because I couldn't put it down.
Set in times of knights and castles it is a marriage of convenience story... with a creepy mystery paranormal twist.
Every time I thought I had things figured out something else would happen.
Eleanor is practically sold off by her father to Brach (the iron king) to keep peace between their lands. She only knows her future husband as a war hungry monster and murderer. That is what she has been told of him and all anyone will tell her. She soon learns that nothing and no one is who or what she thought or what they seemed.
Without trying to give too much away, Brach quickly made his way to one of my top favorite heroes. I adored his character. A true knight in shining armor. :)
I was completely shocked by the spooky turn the book took and found myself having the hardest time setting it down. It did end a bit abruptly and I was loving it so much I was wishing there was another 100pgs at least...but I'm REALLY hoping there will be a book 2 so we are reunited with some of the characters. Hopefully they will have their happily ever after as well. There were a few "time period issues",not that I'm an expert by any means, that bothered me a bit. A few phrases here and there that didn't seem to quite fit along with some "decorum" problems...but honestly all in all I loved it!
Quick, clean read, although there is talk of dark magic and evil spirits.
I really enjoyed it and just writing this review makes me want to read it again!
Wow this book really took me by surprise! I found myself glued to the pages and got absolutely nothing done for several hours because I couldn't put it down.
Set in times of knights and castles it is a marriage of convenience story... with a creepy mystery paranormal twist.
Every time I thought I had things figured out something else would happen.
Eleanor is practically sold off by her father to Brach (the iron king) to keep peace between their lands. She only knows her future husband as a war hungry monster and murderer. That is what she has been told of him and all anyone will tell her. She soon learns that nothing and no one is who or what she thought or what they seemed.
Without trying to give too much away, Brach quickly made his way to one of my top favorite heroes. I adored his character. A true knight in shining armor. :)
I was completely shocked by the spooky turn the book took and found myself having the hardest time setting it down. It did end a bit abruptly and I was loving it so much I was wishing there was another 100pgs at least...but I'm REALLY hoping there will be a book 2 so we are reunited with some of the characters. Hopefully they will have their happily ever after as well. There were a few "time period issues",not that I'm an expert by any means, that bothered me a bit. A few phrases here and there that didn't seem to quite fit along with some "decorum" problems...but honestly all in all I loved it!
Quick, clean read, although there is talk of dark magic and evil spirits.
I really enjoyed it and just writing this review makes me want to read it again!
February 18, 2016
I had so much fun writing this book. I just love the interaction between Brac and Eleanor. I love Wales, and it was so easy for me to get distracted doing research. Such beautiful country and beautiful people.
December 30, 2015
4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend
Really enjoyed.
Content: Clean
Really enjoyed.
Content: Clean
March 24, 2016
I just love a well written, intriguing, clean romance novel set in medieval times(ok set in any time period works really). I've had this one sitting in my bookshelf for a couple weeks and between lack of time and reading other books I hadn't picked it up yet. It is one of those books I have been eyeing since it came out and my husband went on a business trip and happened to stop into one of my favorite bookstores and surprised me with 3 new books! Yay. Confession...I still have a huge stack of books that he gave me for Christmas that I have been trying to make my way through. All books that I picked out and want to read but life keeps happening like it always does and the pile is still there...and growing. Luckily(or unluckily) I have surgery in a couple weeks and will be down for several weeks so here's to not being too groggy from pain meds that I can devour my huge stack of books! Woot Woot!!!
I know you all wanted to hear that little deviation from the review ;)
WARNING: do not pick this up late at night to read or you might not want to put it down and end up reading all night long. Yes, I didn't follow my own advice there and was reading all night. It's spring break so I indulged one night in staying up reading this all night! It was well worth it. I want to go back and read it again right now.
I did read a couple other reviews of this book and there is a paranormal aspect to it. The ghost is pretty intense but very well written(I'm not really a scary books/movie kinda gal) that it played into the story without being scary. Eleanor is the MC and the book opens with her arriving at the Iron King's castle in Wales. She is English and her father and this king have bartered for her hand in marriage to hopefully stop the raids and battles between their people. Eleanor is not very happy about this but is going to fulfill her duty and to try to save her people.
The relationship back and forth between Eleanor and king Brach Goch(there's a pronunciation guide for all the Welsh-which I did refer to off and on) was perfectly written. There's a great balance of angst and moments of truce between them that I loved it. Not a story where they are instantly in love, they have to grow to be friends and grow to trust each other. Which is not an easy thing in their situation.
Eleanor harbors lots of anger towards Brach because her father has told her he is responsible for her brother's death. She can't allow herself to soften to somebody so cruel and as hardened of a soldier as he is. Yet Eleanor begins to see so many differences between her father and her betrothed. Her father was not afraid to ridicule her or even to hit her when she spoke out of turn or didn't meet his expectations. Brach is the complete opposite and protects Eleanor for her father several times upon their first meeting. Yet there are so many twists and turns that Eleanor doesn't know who to trust completely, her father, her best friend growing up, the ghost of Brach's deceased wife who is leaving her warnings about him, Brach's closest advisors, or Brach himself?
It was a pretty fast read. Definitely one of my unputdownable reads. ;) So if you are needing a good book to get lost in for a couple hours that has it all, clean romance, mystery, a little parnormal, a Welsh King, talk of war, and very good writing, this is definitely one I would recommend. I'd even share it with YAs.
Happy Reading!!!
I know you all wanted to hear that little deviation from the review ;)
WARNING: do not pick this up late at night to read or you might not want to put it down and end up reading all night long. Yes, I didn't follow my own advice there and was reading all night. It's spring break so I indulged one night in staying up reading this all night! It was well worth it. I want to go back and read it again right now.
I did read a couple other reviews of this book and there is a paranormal aspect to it. The ghost is pretty intense but very well written(I'm not really a scary books/movie kinda gal) that it played into the story without being scary. Eleanor is the MC and the book opens with her arriving at the Iron King's castle in Wales. She is English and her father and this king have bartered for her hand in marriage to hopefully stop the raids and battles between their people. Eleanor is not very happy about this but is going to fulfill her duty and to try to save her people.
The relationship back and forth between Eleanor and king Brach Goch(there's a pronunciation guide for all the Welsh-which I did refer to off and on) was perfectly written. There's a great balance of angst and moments of truce between them that I loved it. Not a story where they are instantly in love, they have to grow to be friends and grow to trust each other. Which is not an easy thing in their situation.
Eleanor harbors lots of anger towards Brach because her father has told her he is responsible for her brother's death. She can't allow herself to soften to somebody so cruel and as hardened of a soldier as he is. Yet Eleanor begins to see so many differences between her father and her betrothed. Her father was not afraid to ridicule her or even to hit her when she spoke out of turn or didn't meet his expectations. Brach is the complete opposite and protects Eleanor for her father several times upon their first meeting. Yet there are so many twists and turns that Eleanor doesn't know who to trust completely, her father, her best friend growing up, the ghost of Brach's deceased wife who is leaving her warnings about him, Brach's closest advisors, or Brach himself?
It was a pretty fast read. Definitely one of my unputdownable reads. ;) So if you are needing a good book to get lost in for a couple hours that has it all, clean romance, mystery, a little parnormal, a Welsh King, talk of war, and very good writing, this is definitely one I would recommend. I'd even share it with YAs.
Happy Reading!!!
August 13, 2015
I loved this book! Eleanor's father takes her to a rival king as a peace offering. The rival king, Brac Goch, has killed her beloved brother, Richard, so she is not happy about this. She's constantly looking for a way to escape and make her way back home. However, the longer she stays, the more she realizes that she may have been wrong about him after all.
The pacing of this book is fantastic! We get little bits of information at a time which kept me endlessly reading one more chapter until I was done. We know that Eleanor doesn't want to be Brac's wife but as she starts piecing things together, she realizes that she's never been given the true story of what happened in the past or even what's currently happening. Her father has treated her poorly her entire life and she expects that treatment, so she's pleasantly surprised by Brac's behavior.
Eleanor's a healer and is the only one who can see the ghost of Brac's first wife, who leaves her messages advising her not to trust him. Brac isn't thrilled with her healing abilities and it takes a while before she finds out why. It was interesting to watch Eleanor adjust to a different culture and realize that the Welsh and English were more alike than she originally thought. She met some great characters that helped her along the way and helped her see the truth.
I've only read a short story by Julie Daines, which I enjoyed, and since I loved this book, she is an author I will definitely be reading more of in the future and am already looking forward to her next book!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
The pacing of this book is fantastic! We get little bits of information at a time which kept me endlessly reading one more chapter until I was done. We know that Eleanor doesn't want to be Brac's wife but as she starts piecing things together, she realizes that she's never been given the true story of what happened in the past or even what's currently happening. Her father has treated her poorly her entire life and she expects that treatment, so she's pleasantly surprised by Brac's behavior.
Eleanor's a healer and is the only one who can see the ghost of Brac's first wife, who leaves her messages advising her not to trust him. Brac isn't thrilled with her healing abilities and it takes a while before she finds out why. It was interesting to watch Eleanor adjust to a different culture and realize that the Welsh and English were more alike than she originally thought. She met some great characters that helped her along the way and helped her see the truth.
I've only read a short story by Julie Daines, which I enjoyed, and since I loved this book, she is an author I will definitely be reading more of in the future and am already looking forward to her next book!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
August 4, 2015
This book held a few surprises for me as far as genre goes. I was expecting a historical fiction with some romance but I also got a bit of the dark magic, haunting ghost thing as well which added some flavor to the story.
Eleanor is an interesting character. She has spent a lifetime being abused by her father which makes her distrustful and wary of others. But, for some reason, she believes what her father tells her about everything. Which is just crazy. Why would you believe the person who hurts you the most?
Eleanor expects the worst from Brac Goch. He is the enemy. Even though he is nothing but kind to her. She has grown up believing he is the worst of the worst though and when the ghost of Brac's first wife shows up with creepy messages in blood, Eleanor can't ignore them. Eleanor is torn by what she believes and what she sees. It makes for a bit of suspense and intrigue and it kept me wanting to read the whole book through. I was caught up in the story and I was equally frustrated by and proud of Eleanor. The pacing of the story was really good; the characters flawed but believable. I really enjoyed this book!
Content: Clean. No swearing or sexual content. There is dark magic and some violent scenes in regards to that.
Eleanor is an interesting character. She has spent a lifetime being abused by her father which makes her distrustful and wary of others. But, for some reason, she believes what her father tells her about everything. Which is just crazy. Why would you believe the person who hurts you the most?
Eleanor expects the worst from Brac Goch. He is the enemy. Even though he is nothing but kind to her. She has grown up believing he is the worst of the worst though and when the ghost of Brac's first wife shows up with creepy messages in blood, Eleanor can't ignore them. Eleanor is torn by what she believes and what she sees. It makes for a bit of suspense and intrigue and it kept me wanting to read the whole book through. I was caught up in the story and I was equally frustrated by and proud of Eleanor. The pacing of the story was really good; the characters flawed but believable. I really enjoyed this book!
Content: Clean. No swearing or sexual content. There is dark magic and some violent scenes in regards to that.
September 18, 2015
I feel I should start out saying two things. One: many people loved this book. It has a ton of 5-star ratings here on Goodreads. Two: I wanted to be one of those people. I really liked the premise. But in the end, there were just too many things that did not work for me.
As the story begins, Lady Eleanor is being forced to marry her father's enemy to make peace. That means she must journey to the Welsh castle of Bryn Du to make a life, with nothing and no one familiar. The only things she knows about her betrothed, Brac Goch, are what she's learned from her father: that he is ruthless and cunning and that she is to be his second wife. She doesn't want to leave her English life or Gil, the man she had hoped to marry, but she is given no choice.
Right away, it's clear to the reader that Brac is not what Eleanor thinks he is. He treats her with kindness and patience. But she can't see beyond her own circumstances. The entire book is set in her point of view and I know we're supposed to sympathize with her, but she is so clearly naive and really just... unkind to Brac. It's hard to get on board with a romance where I don't like the heroine.
Another big thing that detracted from the story was the supernatural element. Don't get me wrong, I love paranormal books, but the ghostly and witchy parts of this story felt out of place. There is a real ghost wreaking havoc on Eleanor and we just have to accept that --and the fact that the ghost was a witch-- at face value. Also, all of the herbal talk about what wards away evil and such is supposed to be real, while I just kept reading it as old fashioned superstitions. I think I would have liked the book better without this thread entirely.
To call the romance a slow burn would be an understatement. That insinuates that we actually get some satisfaction if we wait long enough. I don't find any satisfaction in waiting until the last chapter for the hero and heroine to get together. I'm not talking about the HEA. I am talking about a kiss or even so much as an acknowledgement that they want each other. Too little, way too late. The book mostly consists of Eleanor being miserable and wishing she was back home. And the ghost. And an unsurprising twist about who the true villains in the tale really are.
I know I am in the minority, but this just was not for me. Maybe you'll like it more.
Rating: C-
*ARC provided by publisher
As the story begins, Lady Eleanor is being forced to marry her father's enemy to make peace. That means she must journey to the Welsh castle of Bryn Du to make a life, with nothing and no one familiar. The only things she knows about her betrothed, Brac Goch, are what she's learned from her father: that he is ruthless and cunning and that she is to be his second wife. She doesn't want to leave her English life or Gil, the man she had hoped to marry, but she is given no choice.
Right away, it's clear to the reader that Brac is not what Eleanor thinks he is. He treats her with kindness and patience. But she can't see beyond her own circumstances. The entire book is set in her point of view and I know we're supposed to sympathize with her, but she is so clearly naive and really just... unkind to Brac. It's hard to get on board with a romance where I don't like the heroine.
Another big thing that detracted from the story was the supernatural element. Don't get me wrong, I love paranormal books, but the ghostly and witchy parts of this story felt out of place. There is a real ghost wreaking havoc on Eleanor and we just have to accept that --and the fact that the ghost was a witch-- at face value. Also, all of the herbal talk about what wards away evil and such is supposed to be real, while I just kept reading it as old fashioned superstitions. I think I would have liked the book better without this thread entirely.
To call the romance a slow burn would be an understatement. That insinuates that we actually get some satisfaction if we wait long enough. I don't find any satisfaction in waiting until the last chapter for the hero and heroine to get together. I'm not talking about the HEA. I am talking about a kiss or even so much as an acknowledgement that they want each other. Too little, way too late. The book mostly consists of Eleanor being miserable and wishing she was back home. And the ghost. And an unsurprising twist about who the true villains in the tale really are.
I know I am in the minority, but this just was not for me. Maybe you'll like it more.
Rating: C-
*ARC provided by publisher
February 18, 2016
I LOVE this book!
I loved the setting.
I loved the plot.
I loved the twists.
I loved the dialogue.
I loveloved all the characters.
I loved the tension.
I LOVED the romance!
(I love the author).
So yeah. I LOVED this book.
Good, clean read!
Thanks to netgalley for the read in exchange for an honest reivew.
I loved the setting.
I loved the plot.
I loved the twists.
I loved the dialogue.
I loveloved all the characters.
I loved the tension.
I LOVED the romance!
(I love the author).
So yeah. I LOVED this book.
Good, clean read!
Thanks to netgalley for the read in exchange for an honest reivew.
Read
January 9, 2016I really enjoyed this one! Review to come...
February 14, 2017
Medieval romance set in ancient Wales with castles, dungeons, knights, and just enough touch of witchcraft to make it spooky. Eleanor, an English woman, is traded into marriage to an enemy Welsh king in order for a truce to be formed between her father’s country and Wales. She is determined to hate her betrothed for the cruel man she knows him to be, but his gentle actions towards her confuse her. Behind closed doors, he does not act like the barbaric bloodthirsty man who supposedly killed her brother. So who is he truly?
This was a great story that engulfed me in the time period. I felt like I was right there with Eleanor during her struggles to feel of worth after being traded so cruelly by an unloving father. She learns that all is not as it seems and must learn to trust her heart…but that’s hard to do when there are so many confusing voices she longs to trust, as well as a scary witch who seems bent on warning her of impending danger. Great writing, superb characters, clean and heartwarming romance, and an awesome setting. This was one of the best romances I’ve read about in this time period and I highly recommend it.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was a great story that engulfed me in the time period. I felt like I was right there with Eleanor during her struggles to feel of worth after being traded so cruelly by an unloving father. She learns that all is not as it seems and must learn to trust her heart…but that’s hard to do when there are so many confusing voices she longs to trust, as well as a scary witch who seems bent on warning her of impending danger. Great writing, superb characters, clean and heartwarming romance, and an awesome setting. This was one of the best romances I’ve read about in this time period and I highly recommend it.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 6, 2017
I loved this one! It has been on my to-read list for over a year now, and now I wish I had read it sooner.
Eleanor is 18 and is promised to the enemy king, Brac Goch. She has watched her mother's marriage to her ruthless father so she knows what she is sacrificing for the peace of her people. She is going to a Welsh kingdom where only a few people speak English, and her father is forcing her to leave behind the only friend she has.
There is some paranormal thrown in as the ghost of Brac's first wife makes appearances that only Eleanor can see. Eleanor is a healer and I loved how that played into the story line - it made Brac suspicious of her (for reasons we learn later in the story), but her healing also saved him.
There is so much information that she receives from Brac and his people that contradicts what she grew up believing. Her marriage is approaching quickly, and she needs to figure out who to trust.
Content: Clean
Source: Amazon.com
Notes: I read this as part of the Whitney challenge: Whitney Challenge
Eleanor is 18 and is promised to the enemy king, Brac Goch. She has watched her mother's marriage to her ruthless father so she knows what she is sacrificing for the peace of her people. She is going to a Welsh kingdom where only a few people speak English, and her father is forcing her to leave behind the only friend she has.
There is some paranormal thrown in as the ghost of Brac's first wife makes appearances that only Eleanor can see. Eleanor is a healer and I loved how that played into the story line - it made Brac suspicious of her (for reasons we learn later in the story), but her healing also saved him.
There is so much information that she receives from Brac and his people that contradicts what she grew up believing. Her marriage is approaching quickly, and she needs to figure out who to trust.
Content: Clean
Source: Amazon.com
Notes: I read this as part of the Whitney challenge: Whitney Challenge
August 10, 2015
This book is FANTASTIC!
I always imagined myself being very submissive if ever I was put in a situation like this--but I LOVE that Eleanor is bold and makes up her mind that if she has to go through with this arranged marriage then she was going to do it HER WAY! -- Makes for a much better story :)
I adored how the author put in tiny glimpses into the beginning chapters making you wonder if Brach really is a nice guy with a gruff exterior--or could those "attentions be nothing more than a diversion?"
And the mysteries of unexplained happenings in the castle and surrounding Eleanor are so intriguing!
Gives you a feeling of a fairy tale/medieval romance with kings and queens-to-be and warring kingdoms, but with fantasy inspired haunting events like ghosts and witches and casting of spells encircling it.
Grab a copy of this book to see what is really happening inside Bryn Du, who is involved, and who is the true enemy!
Such GREAT WRITING!
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!
You will be absolutely enthralled with this one!
I always imagined myself being very submissive if ever I was put in a situation like this--but I LOVE that Eleanor is bold and makes up her mind that if she has to go through with this arranged marriage then she was going to do it HER WAY! -- Makes for a much better story :)
I adored how the author put in tiny glimpses into the beginning chapters making you wonder if Brach really is a nice guy with a gruff exterior--or could those "attentions be nothing more than a diversion?"
And the mysteries of unexplained happenings in the castle and surrounding Eleanor are so intriguing!
Gives you a feeling of a fairy tale/medieval romance with kings and queens-to-be and warring kingdoms, but with fantasy inspired haunting events like ghosts and witches and casting of spells encircling it.
Grab a copy of this book to see what is really happening inside Bryn Du, who is involved, and who is the true enemy!
Such GREAT WRITING!
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!
You will be absolutely enthralled with this one!
September 28, 2015
ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
3.5 stars
In a way, this book reminds me of Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast. Not that Eleanor is a governess or the Iron King has a beast face, nothing like that. But in the way a mystery about the Iron King, Brac Goch's first wife and the way Eleanor's father force her to marry the Welsh king and other little things in the story. As a fan of both stories, I liked that this story has things I love from my favorite stories but not too similar to call it retelling or whatsoever because in the end this is a different kind of story, which is a good thing in my opinion.
Although the writing and the world building are simple, I don't have problem to be in the story since the first chapter. It's also so easy to connect with the characters. I really liked Eleanor. I think she's a strong character in her own way, though I also think that she can be more stubborn to demand answers and explanation for all of her questions from Brac Goch. After few chapters I can see who the man behind the war is and who tells the truth actually. So when Eleanor fails to see it time and time again, it was a bit frustrating me. I can understand why she thinks the way she thinks, though.
But it wasn't the only things that make the story predictable. When I read a blurb, I already guessed that the iron king isn't exactly what Eleanor thinks he is, though along the way I felt like the narrator wants me to feel indifference about him. It made me eliminate him to be the evil in the story right away. So I guess it fails its job instantly.
Maybe it's just me, though. Or maybe it isn't about whether the story is predictable or not. It's just I think I can use surprise or twist so that it makes it better for the story. But don't worry, it's still a nice reading and I love Eleanor and Brac Goch's relationship and also her relationship with other characters.
At the end of the page, I think I can say that I enjoy this story. And as my first experience of Julie Daines books, it is a good thing because now I want to give a try to her other books.
3.5 stars
In a way, this book reminds me of Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast. Not that Eleanor is a governess or the Iron King has a beast face, nothing like that. But in the way a mystery about the Iron King, Brac Goch's first wife and the way Eleanor's father force her to marry the Welsh king and other little things in the story. As a fan of both stories, I liked that this story has things I love from my favorite stories but not too similar to call it retelling or whatsoever because in the end this is a different kind of story, which is a good thing in my opinion.
Although the writing and the world building are simple, I don't have problem to be in the story since the first chapter. It's also so easy to connect with the characters. I really liked Eleanor. I think she's a strong character in her own way, though I also think that she can be more stubborn to demand answers and explanation for all of her questions from Brac Goch. After few chapters I can see who the man behind the war is and who tells the truth actually. So when Eleanor fails to see it time and time again, it was a bit frustrating me. I can understand why she thinks the way she thinks, though.
But it wasn't the only things that make the story predictable. When I read a blurb, I already guessed that the iron king isn't exactly what Eleanor thinks he is, though along the way I felt like the narrator wants me to feel indifference about him. It made me eliminate him to be the evil in the story right away. So I guess it fails its job instantly.
Maybe it's just me, though. Or maybe it isn't about whether the story is predictable or not. It's just I think I can use surprise or twist so that it makes it better for the story. But don't worry, it's still a nice reading and I love Eleanor and Brac Goch's relationship and also her relationship with other characters.
At the end of the page, I think I can say that I enjoy this story. And as my first experience of Julie Daines books, it is a good thing because now I want to give a try to her other books.
August 4, 2015
I'll say straight out that I loved this book. The characters, the setting, the plot, all of it I really enjoyed. Eleanor presents an interesting combination of spirit and duty as she strives to accept her father's demand that she marry the Welsh king, Brac Goch. But from the first she is determined to hate him and everything she's been told he's done. But she slowly starts to realize that what she's been told doesn't really match up with the man he seems to be, but the what she has always accepted as the truth wars with what her own eyes and heart tell her. Plus, there seems to be some spirit floating around that keeps warning her not to trust Brac. Who can she trust? What is the truth? Eleanor has quite the set of experiences in front of her adjusting to what amounts to a foreign country, language, and environment with seemingly no way out.
The secondary characters were great also, I couldn't help but fall in love with Hawis, Anise, and Lady Margaret, as well as Owain. The twists and turns were fascinating as Eleanor gradually sorts out the truth from the lies. A powerful tale about the value of truth and real love, not to mention loyalty and courage. As soon as I started reading the book I felt like I was there watching Eleanor and Brac sort through the challenges standing in their way. But the book never felt like a copy of the romance story lines that are so common, it felt wholly original and creative and I loved it.
The secondary characters were great also, I couldn't help but fall in love with Hawis, Anise, and Lady Margaret, as well as Owain. The twists and turns were fascinating as Eleanor gradually sorts out the truth from the lies. A powerful tale about the value of truth and real love, not to mention loyalty and courage. As soon as I started reading the book I felt like I was there watching Eleanor and Brac sort through the challenges standing in their way. But the book never felt like a copy of the romance story lines that are so common, it felt wholly original and creative and I loved it.
September 18, 2016
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Eleanor de Lacy has been bartered: her hand in marriage in exchange for a truce with her father's sworn enemy. Now the headstrong beauty must leave her ancestral home and the man she secretly loves to become the wife of the infamous Welsh King Brach Goch. Tales of this cruel leader paint a chilling picture of a ruthless warrior—all Eleanor knows for certain is that he is the villain responsible for the vicious attacks on her people and the death of her beloved brother. Though she must marry against her will, she vows Brach Goch will never possess her heart.
Her arrival at the inhospitable castle Bryn Du confirms her worst fears—a ghost walks the halls of the castle, and Eleanor receives an ominous warning from the uneasy spirit: Brach is not to be trusted. Though resigned to a life of misery, Eleanor soon realizes all is not as it seems, for Brach is not the monster she dreaded but is a handsome and charming man whose gentle ways soon undermine his bride's resolve to lock her heart. Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved.
MY TAKE
I recently read a gritty Welsh historical novel which I enjoyed very much. Eleanor and the Iron King was a delight. Full of fun characters, intrigue, betrayal, and love. It also has a paranormal element. I loved it.
Eleanor de Lacy has been bartered: her hand in marriage in exchange for a truce with her father's sworn enemy. Now the headstrong beauty must leave her ancestral home and the man she secretly loves to become the wife of the infamous Welsh King Brach Goch. Tales of this cruel leader paint a chilling picture of a ruthless warrior—all Eleanor knows for certain is that he is the villain responsible for the vicious attacks on her people and the death of her beloved brother. Though she must marry against her will, she vows Brach Goch will never possess her heart.
Her arrival at the inhospitable castle Bryn Du confirms her worst fears—a ghost walks the halls of the castle, and Eleanor receives an ominous warning from the uneasy spirit: Brach is not to be trusted. Though resigned to a life of misery, Eleanor soon realizes all is not as it seems, for Brach is not the monster she dreaded but is a handsome and charming man whose gentle ways soon undermine his bride's resolve to lock her heart. Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved.
MY TAKE
I recently read a gritty Welsh historical novel which I enjoyed very much. Eleanor and the Iron King was a delight. Full of fun characters, intrigue, betrayal, and love. It also has a paranormal element. I loved it.
February 19, 2016
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sort of story that gets dragged through the mud because two characters—or one, in particular—are too stubborn to sit down and have a civilized communication, instead of misinterpreting everything that each other says, jumping at each other’s throats at the smallest of misunderstandings, and refuse to show any emotion other than wariness and maybe some civility.
I mean, honestly, would it have been too hard for Ellen to stop moping about her fate for five minutes and try to figure out what was going on? She says she needs to understand what happened with Broc’s previous wife and then…doesn’t really do much investigation. Instead, we’re back to pointless arguing and running away from the problem.
I did not have a good time reading this book, did not really experience any ‘romance’ between the lead characters, did not find any true interest in the haunting—though Blodwen’s role could have become really interesting to the plot of milked a little more and given more depth to it—and was not exactly surprised by the twist at the end.
The setting of this story is one of my favorite things—because it IS one of my favorite settings in a historical fiction story—but after all, that wasn’t enough to leave its impression on me.
This is the sort of story that gets dragged through the mud because two characters—or one, in particular—are too stubborn to sit down and have a civilized communication, instead of misinterpreting everything that each other says, jumping at each other’s throats at the smallest of misunderstandings, and refuse to show any emotion other than wariness and maybe some civility.
I mean, honestly, would it have been too hard for Ellen to stop moping about her fate for five minutes and try to figure out what was going on? She says she needs to understand what happened with Broc’s previous wife and then…doesn’t really do much investigation. Instead, we’re back to pointless arguing and running away from the problem.
I did not have a good time reading this book, did not really experience any ‘romance’ between the lead characters, did not find any true interest in the haunting—though Blodwen’s role could have become really interesting to the plot of milked a little more and given more depth to it—and was not exactly surprised by the twist at the end.
The setting of this story is one of my favorite things—because it IS one of my favorite settings in a historical fiction story—but after all, that wasn’t enough to leave its impression on me.
December 15, 2015
"Eleanor" is about a young girl shipped off by her royal father to be married to a rival, war-mongering king (Brach). Told all her life that Brach is a blood thirty, brute of a man, Eleanor is terrified. The omens (Brach's red hair among them) all point to bad luck. And when Brach accuses her of witchcraft and takes away her healing herbs, Eleanor is even more suspicious and resentful. Her herbs are her passion and healing gives her purpose. Neither of them can see the truth about each other, though it doesn't stop them from having several tender moments, which then lead them to question what they believe. Even miserable as she is with her impending marriage, Eleanor finds joy in friendships and in the land she's coming to love.
Set in a middle ages era, "Eleanor" tells the story of one of life's most important truths--we make our own happiness.
Content Warning: None. A beautiful story for all ages. Highly recommended!
Set in a middle ages era, "Eleanor" tells the story of one of life's most important truths--we make our own happiness.
Content Warning: None. A beautiful story for all ages. Highly recommended!
August 12, 2016
3.5 stars! I really enjoyed this story as a whole. I thought that it was interesting and I loved the setting! I think that the thing that is hitching me up on fully loving it is the fact that I felt like it just scratched the surface. I didn't felt like the details of the story played out to my reader satisfaction. Let's just drop me down the plot holes. What happens in the romance? Can we call it that? Why are supernatural things happening? What happened to all the wars that were going on? What happens to her dad? Would the main character ever be passionate about something other than herbs? Did she ever laugh and smile at the King's future jokes? ANSWER ME BOOK! O wait...you can't because you are over. I guess we will have to leave this one up to my imagination. So for me this was all scratch-no sniff. If you want something light-I would highly recommend! :)
Erika's Amazon Link
Erika's Amazon Link
August 15, 2015
Thank You NetGalley for the copy and Cee for reviewing the book!
I enjoyed this book very much. The romance was really cute. There was witty banter. The relationship was developed well. It wasn't too fast and it made sense. Eleanor doesn't fall in love with Brac out of the blue.
I did find Eleanor to be very whiny and aggravating though. She is really negative towards Brac, even though he didn't do anything bad directed at her. She was OBSESSED with herbs. She talks about them with a bit too much zeal in my opinion. Throughout the book, you see her great knowledge of herbs (Herbology, HP references should not go to waste) and her superstitious personality. The "healing times" were too detailed. It was like reading a book for Alternative Medicine.
I enjoyed this book very much. The romance was really cute. There was witty banter. The relationship was developed well. It wasn't too fast and it made sense. Eleanor doesn't fall in love with Brac out of the blue.
I did find Eleanor to be very whiny and aggravating though. She is really negative towards Brac, even though he didn't do anything bad directed at her. She was OBSESSED with herbs. She talks about them with a bit too much zeal in my opinion. Throughout the book, you see her great knowledge of herbs (Herbology, HP references should not go to waste) and her superstitious personality. The "healing times" were too detailed. It was like reading a book for Alternative Medicine.
February 5, 2016
So I really liked this story. I wish there wasn't an info dump at the end where all questions are suddenly answered and new questions and answers come up at the same time. Too much telling in that section and it didn't totally match with the rest of the story where things were shown more. So I would have really loved if that information had been conveyed through action. But I still liked the story overall.
August 11, 2015
This is the kind of book that you'll stay up late finishing, and then reread the next day, more slowly, so you can really savor it the second time through. It has mystery, adventure, a wonderfully relatable main character, plenty of romance with a handsome ruler, and a scary ghost to boot!
November 19, 2020
A fabulous read about a period we don't know much about. Historically correct as to the arranged political marriages of the era. Wonderful characters with a bit of other-worldliness that will keep you reading long past bedtime.
August 5, 2015
I just loved this book! It is definitely one I will go back and read over again :)!
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