To Charm a Lady - Review

To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells, # 2)

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: June 6, 2024 by Rose Petal Press

294 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Cora Atherton wants nothing more than to finally fall in love—real love, not the unrequited sort. When she is invited to attend a house party without her disapproving, overbearing mother, Cora leaps at the chance, desperate to make a match of her own. That is, until she finds that Oliver Cartwell is also attending the party. Oliver, the boy she has loved since she was a girl and the man she is determined to forget.

A house party in the country is just what Oliver needs to distract himself from the shadows of his past. When he discovers that Cora, his sister’s best friend, is in need of a little matchmaking, he resolves to help her in her search for a husband. He quickly learns that no man is good enough for her, least of all himself. Why, then, does he find himself fighting his attraction to gentle, beautiful Cora at every step?

As the two draw closer together, Cora is forced to confront the feelings that have tortured her for years. With her future on the line and a deadline fast approaching, can she trust that flirtatious Oliver has changed for the better—or will he leave her heart in pieces once again?

Cora and Oliver's story was setup in A Game of Hearts. Oliver was in a flirtatious relationship with Cora and Marigold's friend, Sylvia, until she chose not to support Marigold when her reputation suffered a small blow before she and Tristan got engaged. Sylvia never did choose to reconcile with Marigold. Thus Oliver and Cora both cut ties with her. Oliver has been a party boy, not taking life or his responsibilities too seriously. 

Cora has loved Oliver since she was about ten. But her mother is overbearing and refuses to say anything nice about Oliver. She doesn't view him as a serious young man and assumes he will make a terrible husband no matter who he marries. When Cora's mother injures her leg and cannot attend a house party as Cora's chaperone, Cora jumps at the chance for Lady Englefield to play chaperone for her. Cora wants so badly to find love from without the heavy burden of her mother's disapproval. 

I think what I liked most about this book was that there were few truly awful characters. Of course, there's Oliver's friend and the married lady continually hitting on Oliver, but other than that, all of the other characters just felt normal and human and mostly "good". Oliver's parents, although loving, still said something hurtful that he overheard, and has affected him deeply. Cora unintentionally leads on Lord Stanton. Lord Stanton and Oliver have a history from their school days, but even now, he seems to have matured and doesn't take offense to plenty of things he could have. Oliver has made poor choices in his youth but finally sees his need to change. Lady Englefield wasn't as attentive of a chaperone as she should have been, but her overall goodness shines through. Cora's mother is only tainted by her own experiences and hurts and mostly wants her daughter not to be hurt by an irresponsible rake. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. The characters were not perfect, but you could see goodness shining through most of the time.

The only quote I highlighted:

-"You are too easily deceived, Cora," Mother said. "You know so little of this world, of what people can truly be like." "Perhaps," I said. "But I do not think I will ever regret being generous with my good opinion. I would much rather be kind than indifferent."

I barely touched on Cora and Oliver's relationship or their journey to each other. I haven't even touched on what each must overcome. But I will tell you that it was worth the journey. It was enjoyable every step of the way. Most of us can relate to having unrequited feelings for someone else at some point. And that makes this story one that anyone can relate to. To Charm a Lady gets 4 Stars. I can't wait to see who gets a story next. Have you read To Charm a Lady? What did you think? Let me know!

A Game of Hearts - Review

A Game of Hearts (The Cartwells, # 1)

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: October 6, 2022 by Rose Petal Press

321 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--If you can't join them, beat them.

Marigold Cartwell has only one to defeat her long-time rival on the archery field. She knows she can outshoot irritating, cynical Tristan Gates, but the local bowmen’s society—the one he belongs to—refuses to allow women to compete. Spurred on by their rejection, Marigold decides to start a new society. Naturally, it has only one no men.

Tristan Gates is used to Marigold Cartwell always getting her way, so he is far from surprised when she forms her own society. He knows how relentless she can be, something he learned firsthand facing her at the targets. But Tristan has enough worries of his own, what with his bachelor uncle falling in love with a fortune hunter. He has no time to entertain Marigold’s ambitions.

However, after a visit to the seashore ends in disaster—and scandal—Marigold and Tristan soon realize how little they know about each other. The strained tension between them quickly turns to simmering attraction, but an important archery competition looms ahead. Lines are drawn all around them, with Marigold and Tristan on opposite sides, and neither can afford to lose. Yet winning might be the very thing to tear them apart.

Joanna Barker is a sneaky author in that I often don't see much marketing for her books before they are released. Some I have found on NetGalley, but often not. Some of her books slip up on me even though I regularly check my repeat authors for upcoming books. A Game of Hearts snuck up on me. I would have loved to have read this one back when it was published, but here we are.

A Game of Hearts reminded me of Highcliffe House by Megan Walker. Marigold and Tristan have an antagonistic relationship. Marigold thinks Tristan thinks he's a better archer than her, but he generally annoys her. Tristan thinks Marigold is spoiled and used to getting what she wants. He thinks that no matter the rules of society or the situation, she will steamroll ahead until she gets whatever she wants. Often, enemies-to-lovers stories have hints of flirting, but the interactions between Marigold and Tristan weren't backed by romantic tension at first. That is until the trip to the seashore alluded to in the description.

But let's back up. Marigold is the 2nd child. She has a sizable dowry. Yet her parents were a love match, and she hopes for the same. She had one season in London and came back with an interested suitor who is likely to propose soon if given more time in her company. But most of all, Marigold has a passion for archery. And she's good. She practices constantly. Her goal has been to be accepted into a local archery club that only allows men since only clubs are allowed to compete in prize tournaments. When she sees that this isn't happening, she creates a women's club for archery and has a surprising turnout.

Tristan is the heir to his uncle's estate. His uncle is widowed, but he's young enough yet to remarry. Tristan has been living with his uncle since his parents passed away. And he's worried that his uncle is being led into a relationship with a potential fortune hunter. Tristan loves archery too, but he has more on his plate than archery at the same time. But that's easy to say when he's allowed into the club and the prize tournaments because he's male. Marigold is often an annoyance to him, but he finds himself trapped in a position of doing the honorable thing or not.

I liked that Marigold and Tristan didn't have a typical start. Both were opposed to marriage to each other at first. But circumstances pushed these two together, and I liked the work they had to put in to come out on the other side stronger. But hey, I'm a sucker for forced marriage storylines.

A Game of Hearts was a solid, enjoyable book. I liked that Tristan and Marigold mostly misunderstood each other, and were opposed to any relationship at first. I like to see what couples are forced to go through to make things go from nonexistent to allies to team to happily married. A Game of Hearts gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Game of Hearts? What did you think? Let me know!