Allyson's Literary Lounge
What have I been reading lately?
Audiobook: I love listening to audiobooks in the car, and these past couple of weeks, I’ve been listening to To Love the Brooding Baron. It’s a standalone, but also has connections to the author’s other book, Games in a Ballroom. I enjoyed this one as it’s a Regency, clean romance, and the two main characters are opposites personality wise. That always creates a fun dynamic. And since I was a theater major in college, the many Shakespeare quotes made me smile. There’s lots of intrigue and the MMC (male main character) deals with a lot of trauma, which can be relatable and gives him a good character arc. I also enjoyed learning about some of the darker aspects of London society as it gives me a greater appreciation for today, but also allows us to understand the human mind and hopefully have compassion on those who struggle.
Can I just go to Scotland now? This was such a charming book! It was fairly light-hearted but had plenty of angsty characters to make up for it. I loved the folklore aspect of it as well. There’s a love triangle between the three main characters, and I appreciate how Haley manages them. I love how sassy the FMC gets! But she’s also got a sweet, tender side. It’s a good contrast with the both of the MMCs, who each have their own distinct personalities. The character ARCs are well developed, and I was able to follow the plot. Was it a bit slow in the beginning? Yes, but I do think it was necessary to establish the background for the story so there’s even more room to grow. I’m excited for the next adventure in the series!
I’m still currently reading this one, but I love it so far! My take on the MMC: a crossover of fae and vampire. Not something I ever imagined, and I don’t know if that’s what the author was going for, but I’ll take it. There’s the forced mates trope that presents itself from the get-go, but I think it works. Also, I’m enjoying the bodyguard trope for the MMC. It works really well, and I love that he’s caring. Plus, touch-her-and-die is also present. Another really important factor that I’m enjoying is the FMC being indecisive on major decisions. I’m also that way, so I feel like I can relate. The worldbuilding so far is awesome! I really enjoy seeing authors create their own world systems. It’s such a talent and is what makes each story unique, even if there are similar tropes. I’m excited to see how the rest of the book plays out.
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