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Along a Breton Shore
A soldier and a young woman, on opposite sides of the revolution, must run for their lives across a war-torn France in this gripping novel of friendship, love, and survival.
France, 1794
Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. But even though the monarchy has fallen and Maxence is part of a great cause, he is still searching for a place to belong.
Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton whose father was sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries. She decides to confront the priest who betrayed her father, and as the conflict escalates, she herself is ordered to be executed—an order to be carried out by Maxence.
Maxence has seen his share of violence and bloodshed, but he also carries a tragic secret and can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment. In allowing Armelle to escape, he is forced to combat a fellow soldier, who dies in the struggle.
Though Armelle and Maxence are strangers and on opposite sides of the revolution, they find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.
France, 1794
Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. But even though the monarchy has fallen and Maxence is part of a great cause, he is still searching for a place to belong.
Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton whose father was sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries. She decides to confront the priest who betrayed her father, and as the conflict escalates, she herself is ordered to be executed—an order to be carried out by Maxence.
Maxence has seen his share of violence and bloodshed, but he also carries a tragic secret and can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment. In allowing Armelle to escape, he is forced to combat a fellow soldier, who dies in the struggle.
Though Armelle and Maxence are strangers and on opposite sides of the revolution, they find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2023
23 people are currently reading
3905 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
January 25, 2023
4.5 stars
I totally FELL IN LOVE with this clean historical romance!
Armelle (aside from having a BEAUTIFUL name) is a strong willed character who lets her passions/emotions drive her, even though they often get her into trouble. She wants to keep her family safe, even if that means becoming separated from them.
Maxence wants to make a difference in the world (and be recognized for it). Still, he has a moral compass and refuses to kill Armelle when ordered to do so. Maxence is SO sweet and charming!!!
I loved the backdrop of the French Revolution as it added an extra layer of ... romance to the story. I LOVE stories about the French revolution, especially when they show love interests with differing beliefs on the revolution!
I appreciated that the book had a pronunciation guide; I needed it. I would've loved it if it included a map (even though some of the cities were fictional).
My main complaint is that the story got a bit slow in the middle. Even though they were on the run, it never felt like they were too close to getting caught.
I would highly recommend this sweet, historical, clean romance!!!
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I totally FELL IN LOVE with this clean historical romance!
Armelle (aside from having a BEAUTIFUL name) is a strong willed character who lets her passions/emotions drive her, even though they often get her into trouble. She wants to keep her family safe, even if that means becoming separated from them.
Maxence wants to make a difference in the world (and be recognized for it). Still, he has a moral compass and refuses to kill Armelle when ordered to do so. Maxence is SO sweet and charming!!!
I loved the backdrop of the French Revolution as it added an extra layer of ... romance to the story. I LOVE stories about the French revolution, especially when they show love interests with differing beliefs on the revolution!
I appreciated that the book had a pronunciation guide; I needed it. I would've loved it if it included a map (even though some of the cities were fictional).
My main complaint is that the story got a bit slow in the middle. Even though they were on the run, it never felt like they were too close to getting caught.
I would highly recommend this sweet, historical, clean romance!!!
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2023
Set in the midst of the French Revolution, it's hard to know where loyalties lie. Maxence believes in the future of the Republique and in joining the army, hopes to prove himself not only as a competent soldier but also to his family. However, his loyalty abruptly dissolves when he's ordered to execute Breton native, Armelle. As fugitives, their fates become entwined, and they need to rely on each other in order to make it to safety.
I had mixed feelings about this story. I felt Arlem Hawks did a great amount of research on the French revolution and the difficulty in uniting a Republique after ousting the monarchy. It provided an interesting and unique backdrop. I also enjoyed the characters of Armelle and Maxence and their budding romance. However, I really missed some more background and character development on Armelle and Maxence individually. Aspects of their history were alluded to but never fully resolved in my opinion. Overall, this was an ok read for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I had mixed feelings about this story. I felt Arlem Hawks did a great amount of research on the French revolution and the difficulty in uniting a Republique after ousting the monarchy. It provided an interesting and unique backdrop. I also enjoyed the characters of Armelle and Maxence and their budding romance. However, I really missed some more background and character development on Armelle and Maxence individually. Aspects of their history were alluded to but never fully resolved in my opinion. Overall, this was an ok read for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 13, 2023
I absolutely love Lavender Fields and I feel like I might just pretend that this follow up doesn’t exist…because it hurt me and I’m not read to forgive Arlem yet. Haha Please take my review with a grain of salt because so many LOVE this book.
I loved the beginning! Arlem pays so much attention to historical detail, language and setting that you feel completely immersed! Its intellectual and makes her books worth taking note for.
(For this next part of my review I GENUINELY hope you disagree with me)
However the middle contained a lot of traveling and it started to feel a bit repetitive for me. I wanted our FMC to have more growth and understanding towards our MMC side/perspective. There were certain choices made pertaining to characters that I didn’t agree with how they were done which soured a previous book for me. It just felt kind of shockingly abrupt and unnecessary to this specific books plot. I just didn’t like how it was handled for those who loved the first two books so dearly.
I wanted to love it, I wanted to connect to these characters. I almost feel anxiously ill writing this review.
Arlem is talented beyond measure but at the end of the day this is how I feel and I’m heartbroken about it. I loved the messages of forgiveness and how the book shows the war and the people in a complicated realistic light! I think she excels at story telling and not making it wrap up neatly in a bow but always basing it off history.
I’ll still love and read Arlem forever but I feel personally triggered by this one 😂
I loved the beginning! Arlem pays so much attention to historical detail, language and setting that you feel completely immersed! Its intellectual and makes her books worth taking note for.
(For this next part of my review I GENUINELY hope you disagree with me)
However the middle contained a lot of traveling and it started to feel a bit repetitive for me. I wanted our FMC to have more growth and understanding towards our MMC side/perspective. There were certain choices made pertaining to characters that I didn’t agree with how they were done which soured a previous book for me. It just felt kind of shockingly abrupt and unnecessary to this specific books plot. I just didn’t like how it was handled for those who loved the first two books so dearly.
I wanted to love it, I wanted to connect to these characters. I almost feel anxiously ill writing this review.
Arlem is talented beyond measure but at the end of the day this is how I feel and I’m heartbroken about it. I loved the messages of forgiveness and how the book shows the war and the people in a complicated realistic light! I think she excels at story telling and not making it wrap up neatly in a bow but always basing it off history.
I’ll still love and read Arlem forever but I feel personally triggered by this one 😂
June 7, 2023
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for an ARC.
LOVED.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
There is something incredibly soothing about Arlem Hawks writing style. It is slow paced in all the best ways. I kept continually wanting to pick this up to know what happens next + taking my time with it to savor all of the goodness.
I adored this grumpy x sunshine duo of Maxence and Armelle. I can’t even begin to pick a favorite moment because I feel attached to them all. From the disasterous meeting to being chased by soldiers and learning new things about each other (and themselves), it’s all there. All of the beautiful character growth and hard things that make this book sing.
The setting is unique. Being apart of the French Revolution I learned a lot!! Especially with the notes at the end to further explain details and facts from this time period.
Alongside the main characters (and it’s dual POV y’all!!) the side characters were great too. I loved the roles the others played and was very anxious to get to the happy ending. Another fantastic historical romance read by an auto-read author.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, near executions (and mentions of executions), near death experiences, gun violence, surgery, loss of loved ones, imprisonment
LOVED.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
There is something incredibly soothing about Arlem Hawks writing style. It is slow paced in all the best ways. I kept continually wanting to pick this up to know what happens next + taking my time with it to savor all of the goodness.
I adored this grumpy x sunshine duo of Maxence and Armelle. I can’t even begin to pick a favorite moment because I feel attached to them all. From the disasterous meeting to being chased by soldiers and learning new things about each other (and themselves), it’s all there. All of the beautiful character growth and hard things that make this book sing.
The setting is unique. Being apart of the French Revolution I learned a lot!! Especially with the notes at the end to further explain details and facts from this time period.
Alongside the main characters (and it’s dual POV y’all!!) the side characters were great too. I loved the roles the others played and was very anxious to get to the happy ending. Another fantastic historical romance read by an auto-read author.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, near executions (and mentions of executions), near death experiences, gun violence, surgery, loss of loved ones, imprisonment
October 2, 2023
First thing's first, I had no idea that this was a sequel to another book, it was the first of the two that became available to borrow at my library so I went for it. I did think that the two covers seemed kind of similar, but I thought maybe it's because the author is the same, doesn't have to be the same series.
Well. I was halfway through when something compelled me to check the reviews and that was how I found out. There's a twist at the end that seems to be related to Beyond the Lavender Fields but I'm going to pretend I saw nothing because I'm planing on reading that one too.
What's funny though is that I'm seeing a few people say Georgana's Secret is related too, and you should start with that one...it's my next listen anyhow, so hopefully Beyond the Lavender Fields will flow even better after that. And I might just go and reread Along a Breton Shore when I'm done so I can experience everything properly.
Anyway, I had a really good time with this book, despite not vibing with the narrator. I did like her pronunciation though, of names, places, French words etc.
It was very emotional and very well researched. I wish that I had a physical copy or ebook to see the historical notes, and just generally because I'd like to own it.
The plot was interesting, the characters even more so. The writing pulled me into the story immediately, and the world building was excellent.
The romance was exactly the kind I love most, slow burn and you get to see them fall in love more and more each day. I was dyingggg when they were pretending to be married because they were just so cute together.
You could say that I've become an Arlem Hawks fan thanks to this book, and that I'm going to read anything she writes in the future (after going back for those two other books!!).
4.5
Well. I was halfway through when something compelled me to check the reviews and that was how I found out. There's a twist at the end that seems to be related to Beyond the Lavender Fields but I'm going to pretend I saw nothing because I'm planing on reading that one too.
What's funny though is that I'm seeing a few people say Georgana's Secret is related too, and you should start with that one...it's my next listen anyhow, so hopefully Beyond the Lavender Fields will flow even better after that. And I might just go and reread Along a Breton Shore when I'm done so I can experience everything properly.
Anyway, I had a really good time with this book, despite not vibing with the narrator. I did like her pronunciation though, of names, places, French words etc.
It was very emotional and very well researched. I wish that I had a physical copy or ebook to see the historical notes, and just generally because I'd like to own it.
The plot was interesting, the characters even more so. The writing pulled me into the story immediately, and the world building was excellent.
The romance was exactly the kind I love most, slow burn and you get to see them fall in love more and more each day. I was dyingggg when they were pretending to be married because they were just so cute together.
You could say that I've become an Arlem Hawks fan thanks to this book, and that I'm going to read anything she writes in the future (after going back for those two other books!!).
4.5
Read
June 9, 2023Arlem Hawks is an auto-read author for me! I love how much research and detail she includes in her stories and I was so excited that she wrote a sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields
Max is instructed by a superior officer to kill Armelle, a girl who was disrespectful to a local priest, but he can't bring himself to pull the trigger. Soon Max and Armelle are on the run together and find that even though they are on opposing sides, they must learn to work together. As their feelings for each other grow, they also have to decide who to trust - and what they really want - if they have any hope of surviving or of a future together.
What to expect:
French revolution
Reluctant allies on opposing sides
Historical "roadtrip" romance
Grumpy/sunshine
He falls first
Only one bed
Suspense and adventure
Lots of historical details
Fake relationship
Character depth
Sweet romance
I loved the sweet buildup of romance between Max and Armelle. The pacing felt very natural and I loved every interaction. Their plot was compelling and I loved their characters.
However, major spoilers ahead you need to read if you read and loved Beyond the Lavender Field and don't want to be blindsided by a shocking plot twist:
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
Max is instructed by a superior officer to kill Armelle, a girl who was disrespectful to a local priest, but he can't bring himself to pull the trigger. Soon Max and Armelle are on the run together and find that even though they are on opposing sides, they must learn to work together. As their feelings for each other grow, they also have to decide who to trust - and what they really want - if they have any hope of surviving or of a future together.
What to expect:
French revolution
Reluctant allies on opposing sides
Historical "roadtrip" romance
Grumpy/sunshine
He falls first
Only one bed
Suspense and adventure
Lots of historical details
Fake relationship
Character depth
Sweet romance
I loved the sweet buildup of romance between Max and Armelle. The pacing felt very natural and I loved every interaction. Their plot was compelling and I loved their characters.
However, major spoilers ahead you need to read if you read and loved Beyond the Lavender Field and don't want to be blindsided by a shocking plot twist:
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
February 14, 2023
Well, this made me so happy I read historical romance because it gave everything I love about it and in wonderful proportion: firmly focused on the couple’s romantic journey but very much intertwined with historic events, culture and language. I love a simple Regency ballroom story, but when a historical romance has an extensive glossary and has me constantly googling different sides of history and places I don’t know that much about, I just get particularly nerdcited. My first read from this author, the writing is very seamlessly transporting, and I enjoyed it inmmensely.
The trope/characterization combo was everything: mutual rescuing, perilous forced roadtrip with a philosophically at odds grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a good portion of fake marriage (oh my word, that first “ ma femme” *swoon*), one barn floor and one bed (all very awkwardly innocent), plus he falls first. Max is pretty woe-is-me for most of it, and Armelle has her impetuous TSTL moments, but the way our formerly rakish, formerly ideallistic, now jaded and insecure revolutionary soldier goes from guilt-ridden and stoic to learning to accept help and open up thanks to the unrelenting, aggravating chipping away by this teasingly combative and compassionate daughter of a carpenter was so fun and lovely to see.
The absorbing main story and its resolution, with its arc of our hero reconciling his past and his sense of value, opening his eyes to kindness beyond differences and forgiveness for himself and others, plus our heroine’s maturing and own realizations, was five star the whole way for me. However, no spoilers, but I can’t not mention that there was a pretty big damper on that third act. If I had read Beyond the Lavender Fields before this (this book takes place after and is the story of that hero’s older brother) I would’ve been very crushed at revealed continuing events for that couple. I tried to separate that from how this story ends so satisfyingly, but alas, dashed hopes that a different choice had been made to bring about the same softening of hearts just brought down my HEA fulfillment for everyone involved.
All in all, I’m so glad I read this, and if you love a generous dose of history with your tropey adventure romance, you won’t want to miss this epic journey…along a Breton shore (Had to).
Very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this as an ARC.
Content: Great tension, kissing only. Constant peril and some not graphic acts of war violence.
The trope/characterization combo was everything: mutual rescuing, perilous forced roadtrip with a philosophically at odds grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a good portion of fake marriage (oh my word, that first “ ma femme” *swoon*), one barn floor and one bed (all very awkwardly innocent), plus he falls first. Max is pretty woe-is-me for most of it, and Armelle has her impetuous TSTL moments, but the way our formerly rakish, formerly ideallistic, now jaded and insecure revolutionary soldier goes from guilt-ridden and stoic to learning to accept help and open up thanks to the unrelenting, aggravating chipping away by this teasingly combative and compassionate daughter of a carpenter was so fun and lovely to see.
The absorbing main story and its resolution, with its arc of our hero reconciling his past and his sense of value, opening his eyes to kindness beyond differences and forgiveness for himself and others, plus our heroine’s maturing and own realizations, was five star the whole way for me. However, no spoilers, but I can’t not mention that there was a pretty big damper on that third act. If I had read Beyond the Lavender Fields before this (this book takes place after and is the story of that hero’s older brother) I would’ve been very crushed at revealed continuing events for that couple. I tried to separate that from how this story ends so satisfyingly, but alas, dashed hopes that a different choice had been made to bring about the same softening of hearts just brought down my HEA fulfillment for everyone involved.
All in all, I’m so glad I read this, and if you love a generous dose of history with your tropey adventure romance, you won’t want to miss this epic journey…along a Breton shore (Had to).
Very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this as an ARC.
Content: Great tension, kissing only. Constant peril and some not graphic acts of war violence.
May 12, 2023
France 1794
Such fabulous chemistry between Armelle and Maxence! Maxence is brooding and grumpy while Armelle is spontaneous and positive. After meeting in a most unconventional way, their travels lead to hours upon hours together. Armelle presses and presses to get to know her traveling companion better. Maxence is relucant to share about anything that isn't surface.
Maxence's passion is the cause he is fighting for. Armelle cares little for politics and just wants her family to be together again.
The backdrop of the French Revolution was an integral part of their tale. The cover is lovely.
My gratitude to publisher Shadow Mountain for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Such fabulous chemistry between Armelle and Maxence! Maxence is brooding and grumpy while Armelle is spontaneous and positive. After meeting in a most unconventional way, their travels lead to hours upon hours together. Armelle presses and presses to get to know her traveling companion better. Maxence is relucant to share about anything that isn't surface.
Maxence's passion is the cause he is fighting for. Armelle cares little for politics and just wants her family to be together again.
The backdrop of the French Revolution was an integral part of their tale. The cover is lovely.
My gratitude to publisher Shadow Mountain for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
June 5, 2023
4 1/2 stars!
Have the Kleenex handy! In her second book about the French Revolution, Arlem Hawks brilliantly weaves a thought provoking story exploring family relationships, idealism, war, love, and loss that’ll pull on your heartstrings. Her books have a way of making history come alive and feel like you’re right there in the middle of it and Along a Breton Shore is no different.
Maxence Etienne is searching for his place in this world. He feels abandoned by his family especially after his brother refuses to fight alongside him for the revolution he wholeheartedly believes in. As a soldier for the Republique, his idealism starts to wane after the death of his friend, and when asked to shoot an innocent young woman. Deciding to let her go free, he soon finds himself imprisoned after struggling with a fellow soldier whom he accidentally kills.
Armelle Bernard is from Breton and on opposite sides of the revolution. When her father is sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries, she confronts the priest who turned him in. When soldiers become involved, she’s sentenced to immediate execution. But, the soldier tasked with executing her ends up sparing her life and she in turn must save his. As the two flee, hoping to escape to Saint-Malo, their animosity turns to an unlikely friendship to love as they’re confronted with dangerous situations and forced proximity along their journey. But, when they reach Saint-Malo, will they go their separate ways or explore the feelings brewing between them?
This story was so hard to put down! Along with the sweeping historical aspects, I enjoyed the romance between Max and Armelle. It has so many of my favorite tropes like grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a fake marriage! Armelle is all about family and consumed with reuniting with her brother and father. She’s strong, passionate, and a force to be reconned with. She’s also kind and thoughtful.
Maxence is the brooding hero suffering from his past and perceived abandonment. His relationship with his family is complicated. His holding on to his idealistic view of the revolution often puts him at odds with Armelle. But, Armelle has a way of getting under his skin and helps him open up and see his past in a new light. I loved how she uses dice to ask questions.
If you’ve read Georgana’s secret and Lavender Fields, you may have an inkling about what happens when they meet up with Gilles in Saint-Malo. This part broke my heart. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it’s so sad to those of us familiar with these stories. After thinking about it for awhile, I’ve decided it’s the perfect way to illustrate the times they were living in and bridge a heartfelt, human connection to the past. It could be a little jarring for those not familiar with Gilles’ story and seem to take over the story for a bit.
If you haven’t read these books, don’t worry because this book could be read as a standalone, but it’s more meaningful if you’ve read the previous books. Highly recommend to historical fiction and romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.
Have the Kleenex handy! In her second book about the French Revolution, Arlem Hawks brilliantly weaves a thought provoking story exploring family relationships, idealism, war, love, and loss that’ll pull on your heartstrings. Her books have a way of making history come alive and feel like you’re right there in the middle of it and Along a Breton Shore is no different.
Maxence Etienne is searching for his place in this world. He feels abandoned by his family especially after his brother refuses to fight alongside him for the revolution he wholeheartedly believes in. As a soldier for the Republique, his idealism starts to wane after the death of his friend, and when asked to shoot an innocent young woman. Deciding to let her go free, he soon finds himself imprisoned after struggling with a fellow soldier whom he accidentally kills.
Armelle Bernard is from Breton and on opposite sides of the revolution. When her father is sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries, she confronts the priest who turned him in. When soldiers become involved, she’s sentenced to immediate execution. But, the soldier tasked with executing her ends up sparing her life and she in turn must save his. As the two flee, hoping to escape to Saint-Malo, their animosity turns to an unlikely friendship to love as they’re confronted with dangerous situations and forced proximity along their journey. But, when they reach Saint-Malo, will they go their separate ways or explore the feelings brewing between them?
This story was so hard to put down! Along with the sweeping historical aspects, I enjoyed the romance between Max and Armelle. It has so many of my favorite tropes like grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a fake marriage! Armelle is all about family and consumed with reuniting with her brother and father. She’s strong, passionate, and a force to be reconned with. She’s also kind and thoughtful.
Maxence is the brooding hero suffering from his past and perceived abandonment. His relationship with his family is complicated. His holding on to his idealistic view of the revolution often puts him at odds with Armelle. But, Armelle has a way of getting under his skin and helps him open up and see his past in a new light. I loved how she uses dice to ask questions.
If you’ve read Georgana’s secret and Lavender Fields, you may have an inkling about what happens when they meet up with Gilles in Saint-Malo. This part broke my heart. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it’s so sad to those of us familiar with these stories. After thinking about it for awhile, I’ve decided it’s the perfect way to illustrate the times they were living in and bridge a heartfelt, human connection to the past. It could be a little jarring for those not familiar with Gilles’ story and seem to take over the story for a bit.
If you haven’t read these books, don’t worry because this book could be read as a standalone, but it’s more meaningful if you’ve read the previous books. Highly recommend to historical fiction and romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.
June 2, 2023
"Along a Breton Shore" was my first Arlem Hawks book, but it certainly won't be my last! I didn't know what to expect, but to find a new favorite couple of the year so far was not on my list! 😂 Maxence and Armelle have the PERFECT grumpy x sunshine dynamic (literally had me giggling with their banter and general adorable-ness) and I truly came to care about both of them so deeply by the time the book was over! The plot moves at a quick pace, keeping me turning the pages just to find out what would happen next. I feel like I've learned so much about the French Revolution by reading this!
So yes, overall, I had a wonderful time reading this, and I can definitely see myself revisiting it in the future! Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
So yes, overall, I had a wonderful time reading this, and I can definitely see myself revisiting it in the future! Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
April 19, 2024
Maybe it's just 1 am but this was so good
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TL;DR: angry man wants to belong to the army, pretty girl turns him inside out with yearning for her instead
Okay! Coherent self has returned and it was a little bit of that 1 am feeling and a lot of great, tension-filled writing and a slow burn that could make me weep. Tristan is the bar, and I would call Maxence Tristan Lite. He's determined, fighting for a cause to feel a sense of belonging after he lost his family and his best friend. He's YEARNING (my favorite word) for someone to care about him but you'd never know it from his harsh exterior. Gotta love it.
Armelle is the opposite, secure in her family's love, brash, reckless and optimistic. From their initial meeting (he has to kill her, oops) they're at odds, but seeing them soften as they're thrown together with survival on the line is tooo delicious. It's the slowest of burns, which I LOVED, and there is constant danger. It is a time of war, after all, and they are on opposing sides.
I did have difficulty with the politics/dynamics of the time period at first, but that's just because I'm not super familiar with the French Revolution beyond Les Miserables and guillotines. Getting thrown into it was hard, but once the plot started really ticking along it become more about Maxence and Armelle surviving than their differences. It just provided a great conflict for them, always lurking under the surface. Loved it.
p.s. if you want to read Beyond the Lavender Fields, do that first, because there are major spoilers for that one in this book. I didn't realize that they were connected so now I can't read it (:
-------------
TL;DR: angry man wants to belong to the army, pretty girl turns him inside out with yearning for her instead
Okay! Coherent self has returned and it was a little bit of that 1 am feeling and a lot of great, tension-filled writing and a slow burn that could make me weep. Tristan is the bar, and I would call Maxence Tristan Lite. He's determined, fighting for a cause to feel a sense of belonging after he lost his family and his best friend. He's YEARNING (my favorite word) for someone to care about him but you'd never know it from his harsh exterior. Gotta love it.
Armelle is the opposite, secure in her family's love, brash, reckless and optimistic. From their initial meeting (he has to kill her, oops) they're at odds, but seeing them soften as they're thrown together with survival on the line is tooo delicious. It's the slowest of burns, which I LOVED, and there is constant danger. It is a time of war, after all, and they are on opposing sides.
I did have difficulty with the politics/dynamics of the time period at first, but that's just because I'm not super familiar with the French Revolution beyond Les Miserables and guillotines. Getting thrown into it was hard, but once the plot started really ticking along it become more about Maxence and Armelle surviving than their differences. It just provided a great conflict for them, always lurking under the surface. Loved it.
p.s. if you want to read Beyond the Lavender Fields, do that first, because there are major spoilers for that one in this book. I didn't realize that they were connected so now I can't read it (:
July 2, 2023
I know I'm in the minority for this rating and believe me, it upsets me too.
overall rating 3 stars.
enjoyment 2 stars.
I adored getting to know Max. He was a lovely character and gave me serious Poldark vibes. I appreciated him and his growth.
There were a few sweet moments that touched me, and proves that Arlem knows how to write a scene that pulls at your heartstrings.
I loved the history that the author brought to light. I admire how she worked to give a different perspective of the French revolution.
THOUGHTS:
The pacing felt repetitious. It had some interesting conflicts at times, but not enough to grip me to the story until about 80% into the book.
I was hoping for more from the romance but this felt mostly tamed and not particularly memorable.
I appreciate the historical facts the author gave, but i was hoping for a deeper dive. it felt sprinkled in around the characters and romance.
There is a plot twist near the end that I was not expecting or prepared for. It ripped out my heart and stomped on it. I wanted to stop reading, and no longer cared how this book ended.
I respect the author's choice to keep events historically accurate and I often read books with this kind of twist, but I failed to see how it enhanced the characters or the plot. It felt unnecessary for this book and was presented in a way that irrevocably damaged my reading experience.
OVERALL
I will consider reading more of Arlems books because she swept me away with Beyond the Lavender Fields and I love her writing.
If you want to read this, start with Georgiana's Secret, then Lavender Fields and finally Breton Shore. You may have a better experience than me, and from the bottom of my heart, I hope you do.
overall rating 3 stars.
enjoyment 2 stars.
I adored getting to know Max. He was a lovely character and gave me serious Poldark vibes. I appreciated him and his growth.
There were a few sweet moments that touched me, and proves that Arlem knows how to write a scene that pulls at your heartstrings.
I loved the history that the author brought to light. I admire how she worked to give a different perspective of the French revolution.
THOUGHTS:
The pacing felt repetitious. It had some interesting conflicts at times, but not enough to grip me to the story until about 80% into the book.
I was hoping for more from the romance but this felt mostly tamed and not particularly memorable.
I appreciate the historical facts the author gave, but i was hoping for a deeper dive. it felt sprinkled in around the characters and romance.
There is a plot twist near the end that I was not expecting or prepared for. It ripped out my heart and stomped on it. I wanted to stop reading, and no longer cared how this book ended.
I respect the author's choice to keep events historically accurate and I often read books with this kind of twist, but I failed to see how it enhanced the characters or the plot. It felt unnecessary for this book and was presented in a way that irrevocably damaged my reading experience.
OVERALL
I will consider reading more of Arlems books because she swept me away with Beyond the Lavender Fields and I love her writing.
If you want to read this, start with Georgiana's Secret, then Lavender Fields and finally Breton Shore. You may have a better experience than me, and from the bottom of my heart, I hope you do.
February 23, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
This book seriously surprised me! First, because it goes down in the ongoing saga of Morgan-needs-to-read-blurbs-better. From the title, I immediately thought of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia… not France. Oops. Once that was quickly cleared up, everything was peachy! Second, I’m not a huge French Revolution fan, but I actually really enjoyed this book!
Armelle & Max caught my heart. They’re an amazing couple and balance each other out so well. I’m not usually a redeemed playboy fan, but combined with the tortured hero, it worked well here. Armelle is witty, spunky, and full of sunshine, while Max is grumpy, protective, and struggles with loneliness & guilt in his past. It has an enemies-to-lovers feel with a dash of the fake relationship to it (Armelle & Max are on the run & pretend to be married, nothing untoward happens). I loved them. And Quéré the priest was a favourite—such a sweet and kind fatherly figure!
The plot is intense with plenty of high stakes, and left me feeling so glad I didn’t live in this era, haha.
All in all, it gave me a new appreciation for the era! And apparently Max’s brother Gilles has a book, too, so I’m definitely going to read that!!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
This book seriously surprised me! First, because it goes down in the ongoing saga of Morgan-needs-to-read-blurbs-better. From the title, I immediately thought of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia… not France. Oops. Once that was quickly cleared up, everything was peachy! Second, I’m not a huge French Revolution fan, but I actually really enjoyed this book!
Armelle & Max caught my heart. They’re an amazing couple and balance each other out so well. I’m not usually a redeemed playboy fan, but combined with the tortured hero, it worked well here. Armelle is witty, spunky, and full of sunshine, while Max is grumpy, protective, and struggles with loneliness & guilt in his past. It has an enemies-to-lovers feel with a dash of the fake relationship to it (Armelle & Max are on the run & pretend to be married, nothing untoward happens). I loved them. And Quéré the priest was a favourite—such a sweet and kind fatherly figure!
The plot is intense with plenty of high stakes, and left me feeling so glad I didn’t live in this era, haha.
All in all, it gave me a new appreciation for the era! And apparently Max’s brother Gilles has a book, too, so I’m definitely going to read that!!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 16, 2023
I just— wow!!! Wow! Friends. I don’t have the words to describe the beauty of this book. I’m going on 4 hours of sleep right now because I stayed up and binged the rest of the book (I was at 50% last night) and I know on this little sleep I can’t give my review of this book justice, so I’ll pause for the moment. But! I’m on a major reading high and had to tell everyone that I’m saying this book will be my top favorite this year. It’s the middle of January and I’m calling it now. It’s definitely in my top 2 books of all time (#1 historical) and I’m looking forward to reading this story.
It made me laugh, it gave me allll the butterflies, I giggled at the flirting (yep. I went there) and I most definitely cried my eyes out.
LOVE this book. Absolutely loved it.
Pick it up now. (Although I truly believe you will love it 100000x more if you read the first book, Beyond the Lavender fields first)
It made me laugh, it gave me allll the butterflies, I giggled at the flirting (yep. I went there) and I most definitely cried my eyes out.
LOVE this book. Absolutely loved it.
Pick it up now. (Although I truly believe you will love it 100000x more if you read the first book, Beyond the Lavender fields first)
June 1, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5)
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: death of a loved one recounted, brief mentions of PTSD and drowning
Maxence Etienne is a soldier of the Republique at the height of the French Revolution. But he's plagued by the memory of losing his best friend in battle. When he's tasked with executing Armelle Bernard for harassing a priest and attacking an officer, he finds himself unable to kill someone who seems so innocent. Soon Maxence and Armelle find themselves on the run from the very officers he served with in an attempt to avoid paying for their crimes. As they make their way to safety they will face danger around every corner and will be forced to trust each other despite their differences. Can these two find safety and and love at the end of their journey?
After finishing Beyond the Lavender Fields, I immediately jumped right into this one. Yes, you could read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous book to get a better understanding of Maxence's backstory. Trust me, it's worth it! This book doesn't waste any time and jumps right into the moment when Maxence and Armelle meet and become fugitives. Just as in the first book, I loved how the main characters have different viewpoints on the revolution and challenge each other along the way. Armelle is full of life and hope, while Maxence has past regrets and trauma that make him believe he's not worthy of being helped or loved by others. I enjoyed seeing Armelle show him small acts of kindness, and he in turn opened up to her about his life. Seeing them fall for each other was so sweet, especially when he took care of and protected her. And the end of this story was much more emotional than I expected, especially having read the first book! Definitely have some tissues ready. I'm looking forward to whatever is coming next from Arlem Hawks!
Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: death of a loved one recounted, brief mentions of PTSD and drowning
Maxence Etienne is a soldier of the Republique at the height of the French Revolution. But he's plagued by the memory of losing his best friend in battle. When he's tasked with executing Armelle Bernard for harassing a priest and attacking an officer, he finds himself unable to kill someone who seems so innocent. Soon Maxence and Armelle find themselves on the run from the very officers he served with in an attempt to avoid paying for their crimes. As they make their way to safety they will face danger around every corner and will be forced to trust each other despite their differences. Can these two find safety and and love at the end of their journey?
After finishing Beyond the Lavender Fields, I immediately jumped right into this one. Yes, you could read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous book to get a better understanding of Maxence's backstory. Trust me, it's worth it! This book doesn't waste any time and jumps right into the moment when Maxence and Armelle meet and become fugitives. Just as in the first book, I loved how the main characters have different viewpoints on the revolution and challenge each other along the way. Armelle is full of life and hope, while Maxence has past regrets and trauma that make him believe he's not worthy of being helped or loved by others. I enjoyed seeing Armelle show him small acts of kindness, and he in turn opened up to her about his life. Seeing them fall for each other was so sweet, especially when he took care of and protected her. And the end of this story was much more emotional than I expected, especially having read the first book! Definitely have some tissues ready. I'm looking forward to whatever is coming next from Arlem Hawks!
Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 17, 2023
If this is too long and you're not going to read it in its entirety, please note that this is an ALL OF THE STARS kind of book!
'Nicole had told her her plan was idiocy. Oncle Yanick had told her. Heavens, she'd told herself. Someday she would listen to reason.'
I love a headstrong female protagonist who tends to jump in head first without looking. Armelle is just this kind of character and I knew right from the first few chapters she was going to bring a lot of fun energy to this book!
I loved the grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract trope with our two main characters.
Having met Maxence in Beyond the Lavender Fields I was excited to get his story and see where he would end up. This book has major redemption vibes!! I also loved that this picked up where it left off in a major scene from book 1 and allowed the reader to jump right back in to a war torn France and all the suspense and worry that came along with it.
This book was historically rich, which was an added bonus to the reader. I felt completely immersed into the setting and time period. I loved that this book was a journey both physically for our main characters as well as emotionally. I loved the forced proximity. I loved the push and pull tension in the romance and I loved the added suspense.
'With the world as it was, would they ever be rid of it, this feeling of always being just one step ahead of their demise?'
This book brought with it all of the feels in true Arlem Hawks fashion. I love that moment when I close the cover and immediately want to do better and be better. Another huge success from this author and one more reason why she will always be an auto-buy author for me!
Thanks to the author and publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
'Nicole had told her her plan was idiocy. Oncle Yanick had told her. Heavens, she'd told herself. Someday she would listen to reason.'
I love a headstrong female protagonist who tends to jump in head first without looking. Armelle is just this kind of character and I knew right from the first few chapters she was going to bring a lot of fun energy to this book!
I loved the grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract trope with our two main characters.
Having met Maxence in Beyond the Lavender Fields I was excited to get his story and see where he would end up. This book has major redemption vibes!! I also loved that this picked up where it left off in a major scene from book 1 and allowed the reader to jump right back in to a war torn France and all the suspense and worry that came along with it.
This book was historically rich, which was an added bonus to the reader. I felt completely immersed into the setting and time period. I loved that this book was a journey both physically for our main characters as well as emotionally. I loved the forced proximity. I loved the push and pull tension in the romance and I loved the added suspense.
'With the world as it was, would they ever be rid of it, this feeling of always being just one step ahead of their demise?'
This book brought with it all of the feels in true Arlem Hawks fashion. I love that moment when I close the cover and immediately want to do better and be better. Another huge success from this author and one more reason why she will always be an auto-buy author for me!
Thanks to the author and publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
April 19, 2023
#AlongaBretonShore #NetGalley.
This book set in the French revolution is a sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields but can also be read as a stand-alone.
Armelle Benard lives in Breton she is feisty and filled with ready comebacks. I loved her strength and determination to find solutions.
Maxence Etienne is a soldier in the French Repulique who is in turmoil and determined to hide it. When he is told to get rid of a young woman he finds that he can't follow through. He finds himself in combat with a fellow soldier.
Maxence and Armelle find themselves fleeing from their pursuers and making their way across France. I loved the interaction between these two. What a great sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields.
This book set in the French revolution is a sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields but can also be read as a stand-alone.
Armelle Benard lives in Breton she is feisty and filled with ready comebacks. I loved her strength and determination to find solutions.
Maxence Etienne is a soldier in the French Repulique who is in turmoil and determined to hide it. When he is told to get rid of a young woman he finds that he can't follow through. He finds himself in combat with a fellow soldier.
Maxence and Armelle find themselves fleeing from their pursuers and making their way across France. I loved the interaction between these two. What a great sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields.
February 2, 2023
4.5⭐️
I love this author and I loved this book. AH writes heartfelt stories with endearing romance and always an adventure. I liked the h and H so much. Armelle was everything I like to see in a female character and I loved her personality. Max was the handsome, broody character that you can’t help but notice. I smiled a lot and really liked the dude characters.
This novel told a lot about our human nature and how we reconcile are beliefs and freedoms. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.
I love this author and I loved this book. AH writes heartfelt stories with endearing romance and always an adventure. I liked the h and H so much. Armelle was everything I like to see in a female character and I loved her personality. Max was the handsome, broody character that you can’t help but notice. I smiled a lot and really liked the dude characters.
This novel told a lot about our human nature and how we reconcile are beliefs and freedoms. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.
June 25, 2023
Along a Brenton Shore By Arlem Hawks is a sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields. You really can read this book as a stand-alone, but you will get more out of it by reading the other book first. There is one family that is highlighted in both books and how The French Revolution affected their family from many different angles and POVs.
There are helps at the beginning of the book with a full list of the characters, places found in the story, and MANY French Terms. Those were kind of overwhelming for me and I read through them at first, but I didn't go back to look at them again.
This story is different from the first book and moves a little slower. The romance and relationship between Armelle and Maxence is a slow build and they go through a lot before romance blooms. They act like fighting siblings through a lot of it. There are some humorous moments amidst the angst-filled parts where they are running away from the soldiers.
This is very good historical fiction and as always, the author has done impeccable research. The Historical Notes at the end were very interesting to read too.
There is one aspect near the end of the book that absolutely shocked me. It had to do with a character from Beyond the Lavender Fields. I was sad and disappointed and questioned why it had to happen. Even though I liked the ending for Armelle and Max, this other thing deflated my feelings for the ending.
This book had me feeling so many different emotions from the beginning to the end. Arlem Hawks is a good writer and I've enjoyed her stories. This probably wasn't my favorite, but I will be happy to read more from her.
3.5-4 Stars from me.
There are helps at the beginning of the book with a full list of the characters, places found in the story, and MANY French Terms. Those were kind of overwhelming for me and I read through them at first, but I didn't go back to look at them again.
This story is different from the first book and moves a little slower. The romance and relationship between Armelle and Maxence is a slow build and they go through a lot before romance blooms. They act like fighting siblings through a lot of it. There are some humorous moments amidst the angst-filled parts where they are running away from the soldiers.
This is very good historical fiction and as always, the author has done impeccable research. The Historical Notes at the end were very interesting to read too.
There is one aspect near the end of the book that absolutely shocked me. It had to do with a character from Beyond the Lavender Fields. I was sad and disappointed and questioned why it had to happen. Even though I liked the ending for Armelle and Max, this other thing deflated my feelings for the ending.
This book had me feeling so many different emotions from the beginning to the end. Arlem Hawks is a good writer and I've enjoyed her stories. This probably wasn't my favorite, but I will be happy to read more from her.
3.5-4 Stars from me.
November 12, 2024
Magnificent! This was my first book by this author, but certainly not the last!
I was immediately plunged into this delightful tale from the first page. The stakes were devilishly high which kept me glued to the book. The complexities of post revolutionary France were splendidly laid out, creating a sense of being there with the characters. I was not well acquainted with this world before reading this book, and as a writer myself, I know how difficult it can be to make readers understand the political intricacies of a time removed from us. But Hawks mastered this entirely!
Armelle was a sprightly little thing, and even though she was willfully, rash and stubborn as a mule, she did not annoy me… *gasps*
I was very fond of her and she was easy to sympathize with even if I wanted to shake some sense into her at times. She was very brave, so I’ll give her that. Her chemistry with Maxence was agonizingly suburb. They made me laugh out loud, want to tear my hair out in frustration, and simply ACHE.
The pacing was wonderfully up beat, nary a sag or a drag to be seen. There was always something to draw my attention even if it was those little moments of splendor in the midst of the chaos.
Not to mention, the trope was forced proximity meets grumpy and sunshine which was PERFECT for Maxence and Armelle.
I wish I had more adequate words to convey what a splendid adventure this book was, but I feel this review falls much too short.
I was immediately plunged into this delightful tale from the first page. The stakes were devilishly high which kept me glued to the book. The complexities of post revolutionary France were splendidly laid out, creating a sense of being there with the characters. I was not well acquainted with this world before reading this book, and as a writer myself, I know how difficult it can be to make readers understand the political intricacies of a time removed from us. But Hawks mastered this entirely!
Armelle was a sprightly little thing, and even though she was willfully, rash and stubborn as a mule, she did not annoy me… *gasps*
I was very fond of her and she was easy to sympathize with even if I wanted to shake some sense into her at times. She was very brave, so I’ll give her that. Her chemistry with Maxence was agonizingly suburb. They made me laugh out loud, want to tear my hair out in frustration, and simply ACHE.
The pacing was wonderfully up beat, nary a sag or a drag to be seen. There was always something to draw my attention even if it was those little moments of splendor in the midst of the chaos.
Not to mention, the trope was forced proximity meets grumpy and sunshine which was PERFECT for Maxence and Armelle.
I wish I had more adequate words to convey what a splendid adventure this book was, but I feel this review falls much too short.
Read
June 15, 2023It PAINS me not to rate this book. It is so beautifully written and rich with history. I always learn something new when I read one of Arlem Hawk’s books. The slow burn of the romance was well-paced and I truly felt the love and affection grow between Max and Armelle. I enjoyed really getting to know Max after meeting him in Beyond the Lavender Fields. Armelle really was the perfect woman to balance out his broody nature. Overall, this was a lovely story of forgiveness, growth and finding out where you truly belong.
That being said…
There is a plot twist in this book that I just can’t abide. It completely washed away the enjoyment I felt from the story to that point. I didn’t really care what happened to anyone after that. I also felt that the plot twist was catastrophic but then completely glossed over and not given the justice it deserved. They both deserved more…take that as you want.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.
That being said…
There is a plot twist in this book that I just can’t abide. It completely washed away the enjoyment I felt from the story to that point. I didn’t really care what happened to anyone after that. I also felt that the plot twist was catastrophic but then completely glossed over and not given the justice it deserved. They both deserved more…take that as you want.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.
July 4, 2023
Loved this book so much! It’s such a beautiful story and pulls at all the emotions. I loved all the tension and banter and how real their relationship felt! It definitely rips your heart out at times but was so worth it and I loved it so much!!
Content: death due to war, injury
Romance: kisses
Content: death due to war, injury
Romance: kisses
June 8, 2023
Arlem Hawks continues her intriguing French Revolution saga with this adventurous tale. I was immediately transported to France in the late 1700s and came to adore these plucky characters.
Armelle is spunky and had me laughing at her antics...until I feared for her life. Maxence is the Republique soldier ordered to execute her, but fails to do so. In a romantic adventure full of passion and danger, this couple makes their way across France in search of freedom. Maxence is a brooding fellow and I loved uncovering his reasons throughout the story.
It's very apparent that Hawks does her research because the reader is completely swept away in a vivid tale. While full of the effects of war, I loved all the tropes that presented themselves: enemies to more, a fake relationship/marriage, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, and more.
Although I sometimes weighed myself down with trying to pronounce the names, places, and words correctly, I couldn't get enough of the courage, heart and soul, connection, and longing for more.
Content: mild+ war violence/death/descriptions; mild romance; mild moments of danger/peril
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Armelle is spunky and had me laughing at her antics...until I feared for her life. Maxence is the Republique soldier ordered to execute her, but fails to do so. In a romantic adventure full of passion and danger, this couple makes their way across France in search of freedom. Maxence is a brooding fellow and I loved uncovering his reasons throughout the story.
It's very apparent that Hawks does her research because the reader is completely swept away in a vivid tale. While full of the effects of war, I loved all the tropes that presented themselves: enemies to more, a fake relationship/marriage, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, and more.
Although I sometimes weighed myself down with trying to pronounce the names, places, and words correctly, I couldn't get enough of the courage, heart and soul, connection, and longing for more.
Content: mild+ war violence/death/descriptions; mild romance; mild moments of danger/peril
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
March 28, 2023
Well. I’m a mess of feels. Thank you @shadowmountainpub for the arc of Along a Breton Shore!
Here’s what I loved about this book:
• the history was amazing
• reluctant allies
• forced proximity
• the loveliest romance
• emotional
This book hit me in the feels in the most uncool way and made me feel all the things! It was a masterfully written historical romance that swept me away and I was addicted to the story.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kisses
Out June 6
TW: war times, death
Here’s what I loved about this book:
• the history was amazing
• reluctant allies
• forced proximity
• the loveliest romance
• emotional
This book hit me in the feels in the most uncool way and made me feel all the things! It was a masterfully written historical romance that swept me away and I was addicted to the story.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kisses
Out June 6
TW: war times, death
July 4, 2023
I love books rich with historical details and Arlem’s books are just that. Set in the backdrop of the French Revolution, Armelle and Maxence’s story is full of adventure and peril.
After a disastrous first encounter, Armelle and Max’s start a dangerous journey across France. I loved their grumpy sunshine attitudes. Armelle had great wit and the banter was excellent. They faced many obstacles on their journey. I loved how they were forced to really depend on each other with all the dangerous situations they faced. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance.
There was a twist near the end that shocked me. I felt like it was glossed over and not given the time it deserved. I wanted more time to deal with my feelings about it. I wasn’t as excited about Max and Armelle’s HEA as I should have been.
Overall I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
📖
🔥kisses
❓violence, near death experience/execution
After a disastrous first encounter, Armelle and Max’s start a dangerous journey across France. I loved their grumpy sunshine attitudes. Armelle had great wit and the banter was excellent. They faced many obstacles on their journey. I loved how they were forced to really depend on each other with all the dangerous situations they faced. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance.
There was a twist near the end that shocked me. I felt like it was glossed over and not given the time it deserved. I wanted more time to deal with my feelings about it. I wasn’t as excited about Max and Armelle’s HEA as I should have been.
Overall I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
📖
🔥kisses
❓violence, near death experience/execution
June 15, 2023
When I started reading this I did not realize it was a sequel to Beyond the Lavender Fields. You don't necessarily need to read it beforehand to enjoy and follow this story, but I would suggest it. It's really good. It was good to get to know Maxence. I could see potential in him from the beginning and enjoyed watching him change. Armelle was such a fun character. I loved her banter and wit. This was such a hard time for all of France. So much confusion and injustice. It can be hard to read and study. I feel the author handled this dark time really well. I loved the romance in this story, but also enjoyed the real and hard moments too.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and this is my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and this is my honest review.
June 14, 2023
Read it for the:
-French Revolution era
-Grump/Sunshine dynamic
-He falls first
-On the run plotline
-Redemption and forgiveness themes
Romance/Steam: Sweet, Kissing only
Content Warning: mild violence, death
Final Rating: 4.5/5
Arlem Hawks delivers a tale of redemption, romance, and acceptance in the incredibly written, Along a Breton Shore. Where do I being with this review, other than to urge you to read this book?
First, I would say this is a historical fiction novel, with romance at its heart. And while the historical notes are fascinating, the characters, plot, and yes, love story were at the front.
One of the things I appreciate the most about Hawks’ writing style is her talent for building up a plot while keeping the reader fully immersed in the story. From the first chapter, I was invested in Max’s intense character and his passion for contributing to freedom in a rapidly shifting country. I loved the emotional turmoil he experienced as the war progressed, and felt he was lost. His intensity is present throughout the story - and it was refreshing to see a true grumpy main character. Armelle was his opposite. She was determined, but warm and overall optimistic character. During an uncertain time, Armelle was able to keep her good-humored nature and was dedicated to piecing back together her family. She challenged Max and was unfazed in situations where she had to be brave. I enjoyed her character! Their romance was a slow burn, building up from enemies to (reluctant) friends, to more-and their journey together was everything.
In addition to the romance and plot building, there is a theme of redemption and forgiveness. Max did not leave his family on good terms in the previous book and it was emotional to see the relationship between him and his younger brother Gilles break and mend. Needless to say, seeing characters from the first book was an unexpected treat, bittersweet as it may have been at times.
I highly recommend reading the Beyond the lavender fields first as this book contains spoilers. I believe the reading experience will be better as you can grasp Max’s character development, and live the love story between Gilles and Caroline.
***Though I will not comment on the plot twist that effects the side characters (and left me reeling), it is important to note I base my review solely on the main characters storyline.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
-French Revolution era
-Grump/Sunshine dynamic
-He falls first
-On the run plotline
-Redemption and forgiveness themes
Romance/Steam: Sweet, Kissing only
Content Warning: mild violence, death
Final Rating: 4.5/5
Arlem Hawks delivers a tale of redemption, romance, and acceptance in the incredibly written, Along a Breton Shore. Where do I being with this review, other than to urge you to read this book?
First, I would say this is a historical fiction novel, with romance at its heart. And while the historical notes are fascinating, the characters, plot, and yes, love story were at the front.
One of the things I appreciate the most about Hawks’ writing style is her talent for building up a plot while keeping the reader fully immersed in the story. From the first chapter, I was invested in Max’s intense character and his passion for contributing to freedom in a rapidly shifting country. I loved the emotional turmoil he experienced as the war progressed, and felt he was lost. His intensity is present throughout the story - and it was refreshing to see a true grumpy main character. Armelle was his opposite. She was determined, but warm and overall optimistic character. During an uncertain time, Armelle was able to keep her good-humored nature and was dedicated to piecing back together her family. She challenged Max and was unfazed in situations where she had to be brave. I enjoyed her character! Their romance was a slow burn, building up from enemies to (reluctant) friends, to more-and their journey together was everything.
In addition to the romance and plot building, there is a theme of redemption and forgiveness. Max did not leave his family on good terms in the previous book and it was emotional to see the relationship between him and his younger brother Gilles break and mend. Needless to say, seeing characters from the first book was an unexpected treat, bittersweet as it may have been at times.
I highly recommend reading the Beyond the lavender fields first as this book contains spoilers. I believe the reading experience will be better as you can grasp Max’s character development, and live the love story between Gilles and Caroline.
***Though I will not comment on the plot twist that effects the side characters (and left me reeling), it is important to note I base my review solely on the main characters storyline.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
May 30, 2023
I typically am hit or miss when it comes to historical romances. Either it is love or hate there typically isn't an in between and Along a Breton Shore is definitely Love. It was a little intimidating at first just looking through all the glossary for the French and Breton words that would be helpful to know but Arlem did such an amazing job of giving the readers enough information that they didn't need to go back and forth from the glossary to know what was going on during the novel.
Armelle and Max were such great characters and really well written. They balanced each other well and were very believable in their journey together. I loved that it was as slow burn and that they really did have to work together to not only survive but grow together as a couple.
The setting of the French Revolution was perfection and added to the suspense and thrill of the romance. I have loved all of Arlem's novels thus far and will continue to read hers from now on.
Thank you to Netgalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing and of course Arlem Hawks for my eARC copy.
Armelle and Max were such great characters and really well written. They balanced each other well and were very believable in their journey together. I loved that it was as slow burn and that they really did have to work together to not only survive but grow together as a couple.
The setting of the French Revolution was perfection and added to the suspense and thrill of the romance. I have loved all of Arlem's novels thus far and will continue to read hers from now on.
Thank you to Netgalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing and of course Arlem Hawks for my eARC copy.
June 28, 2023
This was a beautiful story of once of my favorite subjects: France! I truly enjoyed everything about this book! The characters were amazing and filled with so many ups and downs! I just wasn’t sure how this story would end and was surprised by a wonderfully beautiful novel! Loved it!
November 15, 2024
Deze intrigerende en bijzondere cover geeft me het gevoel dat ik ga genieten van een bijzonder, origineel en meeslepend verhaal. Het is een cover met historisch geklede personages en een verboden liefde. Het is het eerste boek dat ik van Arlem Hawks ga lezen, maar ik ben erg benieuwd.
Frankrijk, 1794. Maxence Étienne gelooft heilig in de revolutie. Ook al nu de monarchie gevallen is wil Maxence vechten voor zijn idealen en daarbij is hij nog altijd op zoek naar een plek waar hij thuishoort.
Armelle Bernard staat hier lijnrecht tegenover. Sinds haar vader veroordeeld is omdat hij de contrarevolutionairen hielp waarbij de priester haar vader verraadde. Heeft zij hem nu met dit verraad geconfronteerd waardoor ook zij terecht wordt gesteld.
Maxence moet het vonnis van Armelle uitvoeren, maar hij krijgt het niet voor elkaar en laat haar ontsnappen. Ze slaan ze op de vlucht en worden ze verenigd, nu moeten ze alleen een manier zien te vinden om elkaar te vertrouwen. Zal het hen lukken om samen de vrijheid te vinden?
Wat een bijzonder, meeslepend en intrigerend boek. Arlem Hawks heeft een hele sfeervolle, levendige en unieke schrijfstijl. Ze weet erg goed het tijdsbeeld en de omgeving te beschrijven waardoor je je echt in 1794 in Frankrijk waant. Daarbij worden gedurende het verhaal veel Franse woorden gebruikt, waardoor dit de sfeer en het gevoel vergroot, maar het verhaal toch gemakkelijk en vlot blijft lezen.
Het verhaal is geschreven met een dubbel perspectief en daarbij volgen we de revolutionaire Maxence en de contrarevolutionaire Armelle. Beide personages staan lijnrecht tegenover elkaar in hun denk- en handelswijze, maar Arlem Hawks heeft beide met finesse uit weten te werken, zodat je je in hen beiden goed kan verplaatsen. Ook de andere personages zijn mooi en divers uitgewerkt.
De verhaallijn kent een rustige en trage opbouw, waarbij het verhaal begint met een goede omschrijving van het tijdsbeeld en de personages waarop iets later de eerste kennismaking tussen Armelle en Maxence plaatsvindt. Vanuit daar ontstaat een onstuimig en bijzonder avontuur, waarbij Armelle en Maxence elkaar aantrekken en afstoten en niet hun ware gevoelens onder ogen willen komen. Het is een bijzonder, origineel en intrigerend avontuur wat ze volgen, waarbij Arlem Hawks op mooie wijze veel politieke dingen, maar ook gebruiken uit deze tijd en klederdracht en normen en waarden in de verhaallijn heeft verwerkt. Deze slow burn romance laat bij tijden echt je hart sneller kloppen en het verlangen aanzwengelen... maar uiteindelijk wordt je beloond met een prachtig en mooi einde.
De vlucht van de Nachtegaal is een pakkende, meeslepende en intrigerende slow burn romance. Naast dat de twee hoofdpersonages met finesse zijn uitgewerkt, heeft Arlem Hawks ook het tijdsbeeld prachtig, sfeervol en indrukwekkend beschreven. De mengeling met wat Franse woorden door het verhaal, versterkt de beleving van het Franse historische verhaal, zonder dat het afbreuk doet aan de leesbaarheid. Het is echt een verhaal dat je tot aan het einde in spanning houdt over de afloop. Ik heb genoten.
Frankrijk, 1794. Maxence Étienne gelooft heilig in de revolutie. Ook al nu de monarchie gevallen is wil Maxence vechten voor zijn idealen en daarbij is hij nog altijd op zoek naar een plek waar hij thuishoort.
Armelle Bernard staat hier lijnrecht tegenover. Sinds haar vader veroordeeld is omdat hij de contrarevolutionairen hielp waarbij de priester haar vader verraadde. Heeft zij hem nu met dit verraad geconfronteerd waardoor ook zij terecht wordt gesteld.
Maxence moet het vonnis van Armelle uitvoeren, maar hij krijgt het niet voor elkaar en laat haar ontsnappen. Ze slaan ze op de vlucht en worden ze verenigd, nu moeten ze alleen een manier zien te vinden om elkaar te vertrouwen. Zal het hen lukken om samen de vrijheid te vinden?
Wat een bijzonder, meeslepend en intrigerend boek. Arlem Hawks heeft een hele sfeervolle, levendige en unieke schrijfstijl. Ze weet erg goed het tijdsbeeld en de omgeving te beschrijven waardoor je je echt in 1794 in Frankrijk waant. Daarbij worden gedurende het verhaal veel Franse woorden gebruikt, waardoor dit de sfeer en het gevoel vergroot, maar het verhaal toch gemakkelijk en vlot blijft lezen.
Het verhaal is geschreven met een dubbel perspectief en daarbij volgen we de revolutionaire Maxence en de contrarevolutionaire Armelle. Beide personages staan lijnrecht tegenover elkaar in hun denk- en handelswijze, maar Arlem Hawks heeft beide met finesse uit weten te werken, zodat je je in hen beiden goed kan verplaatsen. Ook de andere personages zijn mooi en divers uitgewerkt.
De verhaallijn kent een rustige en trage opbouw, waarbij het verhaal begint met een goede omschrijving van het tijdsbeeld en de personages waarop iets later de eerste kennismaking tussen Armelle en Maxence plaatsvindt. Vanuit daar ontstaat een onstuimig en bijzonder avontuur, waarbij Armelle en Maxence elkaar aantrekken en afstoten en niet hun ware gevoelens onder ogen willen komen. Het is een bijzonder, origineel en intrigerend avontuur wat ze volgen, waarbij Arlem Hawks op mooie wijze veel politieke dingen, maar ook gebruiken uit deze tijd en klederdracht en normen en waarden in de verhaallijn heeft verwerkt. Deze slow burn romance laat bij tijden echt je hart sneller kloppen en het verlangen aanzwengelen... maar uiteindelijk wordt je beloond met een prachtig en mooi einde.
De vlucht van de Nachtegaal is een pakkende, meeslepende en intrigerende slow burn romance. Naast dat de twee hoofdpersonages met finesse zijn uitgewerkt, heeft Arlem Hawks ook het tijdsbeeld prachtig, sfeervol en indrukwekkend beschreven. De mengeling met wat Franse woorden door het verhaal, versterkt de beleving van het Franse historische verhaal, zonder dat het afbreuk doet aan de leesbaarheid. Het is echt een verhaal dat je tot aan het einde in spanning houdt over de afloop. Ik heb genoten.
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