Book Review | Masquerade: Can a street-girl fool a lord? by Joanna Taylor

I am so happy to be back reading again. I have missed my wind down hour and falling asleep with my kindle in my hand. Then I wake up from my half sleep to find my other half taking my kindle and putting it away so he can come to bed!

Blurb:

A street-girl and a lord? London is poised for scandal ... Bestselling author Joanna Taylor delivers captivating historical romance.

Can a street-girl fool Regency London? 

Lizzy Ward never meant to end up working the streets of Piccadilly. So when a mysterious lord pursues her, it seems her fortunes are changing. 

But Lord Hays wants feisty Lizzy for more than a night. He needs her to masquerade as his companion. 

So can a street-girl navigate the fashion and faux pas of London society? And will Lizzy’s wild heart be too much temptation for Lord Hays? 

Review: 

The cover for this book is definitely what drew me into this book originally. I love the semi-mysterious woman on the cover and the masquerade mask. The blurb was incredibly good at drawing you into the story and needing to know more.

In this story, we meed Lizzy Ward, a street girl working in Piccadilly London. She never planned for her life to go this way, ending up as a prostitute wasn't exactly her childhood dream. One thing she never expected was for her luck to change. A handsome Lord finds her and offers her a deal that she would be stupid to refuse. All Lizzy has to do is dress to the nines and accompany Lord Hays to balls and dinners.

The two main characters are easy to like. Lizzy is a tough woman on the outside but inside she's a little more sensitive. She was very easy to imagine. Edward is portrayed as a businessman first and foremost, but Lizzy causes his desires to be rich to grow. He turns into a caring man the further we get into the story.

Overall this book was a wonderful read, and I can't wait to read more from Joanna Taylor

Book Review | To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

It’s been a while since I have read a good book, and then written a book review striaght after reading it.

Blurb:

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Review:

Thank to NetGalley who provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Quite frankly, I feel like my childhood has been stolen from me. This story is a bewitchingly dark retelling of The Little Mermaid, AND it’s a standalone fantasy novel which is full of rewarding chapters.

To Kill A Kingdom follows Lira, the daughter of the Sea Queen and deadly siren known as the Prince's Bane. She’s a murderous siren, but also with a soft streak. Then you have Prince Elian, reluctant royalty and renowned pirate. He is captivating and asserts his power without being overbearing or vile, smart with a bit of smugness showing through, and as dashing on a ship as inside a palace.

Naturally, their fates get intertwined and we get an outstanding story about overcoming trauma, a fondness for family and there’s also a brilliant romance. (This makes my heart happy.)

I loved the dialogue in this novel. There were some great sections which could be called banterous, along with sections which will have you chuckling to yourself throughout. I loved the world-building and I was able to envision the locations in my mind.

Sadly the fight scenes weren’t as good as they could have been, but definitely not bad. I felt like certain parts that needed more pages were rushed and the opposite. A little more balance and the pacing would have ben nailed perfectly.

Overall, a very enjoyable book which I would highly recommend to friends and family.