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elizabethhollar1997's review
5.0
Loved this one! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book considering I haven’t read the first one in the series, but I found myself completely enamored with Elise and Kit. From page one, I could tell the nature of Elise’s personality was young and naive. I mean, the first chapter begins with her running away from her family, so it wasn’t too hard to gauge what she was going to be like.
I loved Elise’s character in this, which is pretty surprising because I usually don’t like the heroines who are so independent that they are mean to the other characters. I wouldn’t say Elise was mean, but she definitely stood her ground on her opinions, and I appreciated that. I loved how anti-men she was because I could absolutely relate to her on that front. She had been so used to people choosing her second that all she wanted was for someone to choose her first.
I loved Kit and he was just the man for Elsie. I loved that this was more friends to lovers than anything. Kit and Elise experienced a traumatic thing together which forced them to become close and a bond flourished between them that can’t be broken.
I just loved how their friendship gradually became something more. There was mutual pining for a good bit of the book, so it made their coming together that much sweeter once it finally happened.
I can’t wait for the next book. The epilogue set up the next book's plot very well and I’m looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to going back and reading over the first book as well!
I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
I loved Elise’s character in this, which is pretty surprising because I usually don’t like the heroines who are so independent that they are mean to the other characters. I wouldn’t say Elise was mean, but she definitely stood her ground on her opinions, and I appreciated that. I loved how anti-men she was because I could absolutely relate to her on that front. She had been so used to people choosing her second that all she wanted was for someone to choose her first.
I loved Kit and he was just the man for Elsie. I loved that this was more friends to lovers than anything. Kit and Elise experienced a traumatic thing together which forced them to become close and a bond flourished between them that can’t be broken.
I just loved how their friendship gradually became something more. There was mutual pining for a good bit of the book, so it made their coming together that much sweeter once it finally happened.
I can’t wait for the next book. The epilogue set up the next book's plot very well and I’m looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to going back and reading over the first book as well!
I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
themeadowlibrary's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What a sweet romp of a romance! I love me a road trip romance and this one hits all the right spots. It’s low angst and yet the characters are well written.
Maybe it’s because I’m a pushover for forced proximity, maybe it’s because of the dog, but this really hit my sweet spot. It felt creative and unique.
The reason I gave it 3.5 and not higher are twofold- I haven’t read the first book in this series and I think that affected me; and I felt like some plot threads were left loose. However, once I read book one I might change my mind!
Star Rating: 3.5/5
Tropes: Road trip, hidden identity, forced proximity
CW: Sexual assault, classism
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
fringebookreviews's review
4.5
✨It Happened One Dangerous Night…✨
Am I completely certain this book was at least a little bit inspired by It Happened One Night? No, I’m really shooting for the moon hoping to land amongst the stars here BUT listen…
They’re on the run (to and from things), they get stranded together, and it’s an absolute delight of a road-trip romance. So yes, while I’m not willing to bet any amount of money on being right…the It Happened One Night argument ~compels me though~ and should be correct, if I do say so myself.
All that to say, I’m so glad I picked this one up!! The cover got me so good that I didn’t even read the summary before requesting the ARC or reading the book. It was one of those where I knew I was going to have a good time from page one. I sure do love me a road trip, and dare I say this could be a good comp for A Week to Be Wicked?? I think I dare!
I was laughing in public and smiling at my kindle, so yeah it had me acting foolish out on these streets! It was pretty low angst because it contains the super fun micro-trope that sometimes results from mistaken/hidden identity: Dramantic Irony. Is this a real term? No, but hear me out… Since they were both pretending/appearing to be lower/working class, for most of the book they both thought that they couldn’t end up with each other. Meanwhile—this is where I kneel at the feet of dramantic irony—WE know that they’re actually perfectly suited for each other in real life too!!*
So basically, the whole conflict that they thought was coming, simply didn’t come. Other things happened to derail some plans and separate them for a bit, but it all felt so *safe* as a reader? Like I knew I wasn’t going to have to fight a battle late in the book just to get to their HEA. They’d already slayed their dragons, so it was just a matter of tying up some loose ends (and healing some bruises lol). Simply, the book was a lot of fun and developed tension very creatively. There was also a vagabond dog tagging along for the ride. Ya LOVE to see it.
I also just really loved Elise and Kit, which is great for me since they were in the same room, on the same page for practically the entire book. Neither character was perfect—they both actively grappled with their flaws and past wrongs—but a more endearing pair of hot messes you’ll never find! There’s a part where Elise just gets to unleash her rage and flail around on the ground that…spoke to me so viscerally. She also got to ugly cry it out and to that I applaud! I too would be feeling very sorry for myself, such a relatable queen.
I do want to note that I did pause halfway through my ARC to go read book one. I’m not ~quite~ sure if I’d have connected quite so quickly with Elise if I’d have fully read book one before starting this one. Because Elise wasn’t very likable in book one. I actually think having read part of her book before that one made me like that book better as well. Do with that what you will.
Overall, if you want a classic road trip romp absolutely full to the brim with unfortunate travel mishaps and only one beds, definitely give this a try. I’m very excited for book three and now have the urge to read more from Cathy Maxwell’s backlist to fill the void 😃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5**/5 🌶️🌶️/5
*Note: This happened in Love Letters from a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle as well. The heroine wanted to marry a duke and was REAL sad she was falling for her new footman…who happened to be a duke in disguise lol.
**There were a few villains/bad guys in the book that weren’t fully dealt with for reasons that made sense, but also made me sad. There was a part with two nasty men in the middle in particular, and I really wish there would’ve been a throwaway comment saying that they were arrested or something. It just made me a bit queasy because they implied that one of them was intensely violent to a woman in the past, while attempting to hurt the heroine in the present. While Elise got away pretty unscathed, I can’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied knowing that they still exist in that world to hurt more women. This is def a me thing, but I really fixate on situations like this!!
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Am I completely certain this book was at least a little bit inspired by It Happened One Night? No, I’m really shooting for the moon hoping to land amongst the stars here BUT listen…
They’re on the run (to and from things), they get stranded together, and it’s an absolute delight of a road-trip romance. So yes, while I’m not willing to bet any amount of money on being right…the It Happened One Night argument ~compels me though~ and should be correct, if I do say so myself.
All that to say, I’m so glad I picked this one up!! The cover got me so good that I didn’t even read the summary before requesting the ARC or reading the book. It was one of those where I knew I was going to have a good time from page one. I sure do love me a road trip, and dare I say this could be a good comp for A Week to Be Wicked?? I think I dare!
I was laughing in public and smiling at my kindle, so yeah it had me acting foolish out on these streets! It was pretty low angst because it contains the super fun micro-trope that sometimes results from mistaken/hidden identity: Dramantic Irony. Is this a real term? No, but hear me out… Since they were both pretending/appearing to be lower/working class, for most of the book they both thought that they couldn’t end up with each other. Meanwhile—this is where I kneel at the feet of dramantic irony—WE know that they’re actually perfectly suited for each other in real life too!!*
So basically, the whole conflict that they thought was coming, simply didn’t come. Other things happened to derail some plans and separate them for a bit, but it all felt so *safe* as a reader? Like I knew I wasn’t going to have to fight a battle late in the book just to get to their HEA. They’d already slayed their dragons, so it was just a matter of tying up some loose ends (and healing some bruises lol). Simply, the book was a lot of fun and developed tension very creatively. There was also a vagabond dog tagging along for the ride. Ya LOVE to see it.
I also just really loved Elise and Kit, which is great for me since they were in the same room, on the same page for practically the entire book. Neither character was perfect—they both actively grappled with their flaws and past wrongs—but a more endearing pair of hot messes you’ll never find! There’s a part where Elise just gets to unleash her rage and flail around on the ground that…spoke to me so viscerally. She also got to ugly cry it out and to that I applaud! I too would be feeling very sorry for myself, such a relatable queen.
I do want to note that I did pause halfway through my ARC to go read book one. I’m not ~quite~ sure if I’d have connected quite so quickly with Elise if I’d have fully read book one before starting this one. Because Elise wasn’t very likable in book one. I actually think having read part of her book before that one made me like that book better as well. Do with that what you will.
Overall, if you want a classic road trip romp absolutely full to the brim with unfortunate travel mishaps and only one beds, definitely give this a try. I’m very excited for book three and now have the urge to read more from Cathy Maxwell’s backlist to fill the void 😃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5**/5 🌶️🌶️/5
*Note: This happened in Love Letters from a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle as well. The heroine wanted to marry a duke and was REAL sad she was falling for her new footman…who happened to be a duke in disguise lol.
**There were a few villains/bad guys in the book that weren’t fully dealt with for reasons that made sense, but also made me sad. There was a part with two nasty men in the middle in particular, and I really wish there would’ve been a throwaway comment saying that they were arrested or something. It just made me a bit queasy because they implied that one of them was intensely violent to a woman in the past, while attempting to hurt the heroine in the present. While Elise got away pretty unscathed, I can’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied knowing that they still exist in that world to hurt more women. This is def a me thing, but I really fixate on situations like this!!
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
readbyme89's review
5.0
The last time we saw Elise she was devastated the man she “loved” picked her sister. She cannot stay under the same roof has her traitor sister and her lost love she’s going back to Ireland. Her plan is almost immediately interrupted by her stagecoach crashing and only being able to rely on a man called Kit and a dog.
Now this book surprised me. I don’t usually like “roadtrip” books but I did enjoy this one! Elise and Kit are both hiding from some real truths (her real reasons for leaving her home and him his real identity) but they do trust one another. I thought this book was cute and not silly.
I really fell for Kit and Elise’s story. 5 stars!
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this ARC!
Now this book surprised me. I don’t usually like “roadtrip” books but I did enjoy this one! Elise and Kit are both hiding from some real truths (her real reasons for leaving her home and him his real identity) but they do trust one another. I thought this book was cute and not silly.
I really fell for Kit and Elise’s story. 5 stars!
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this ARC!
sabrinacamp's review
adventurous
4.0
For a book based on one night, this was a very long night, but I did read the second half of the book in a few hours. I could not put it down.
This is the story of Elise and Kit who fall in love while they are both on the run. Elise is running from her sister who married the man she was in love with and is trying to return home to Ireland. Kit is acting as Prince Hal, trying to find himself after he feels that he is a “disgrace to his family and his title” (6%). The story begins with the carriage crash that is the catalyst for these two to spend so much time together that Elise finally demands “you reek. You smell. You are--” (27%) to which Kit immediately storms off, but Elise doesn’t realize he has taken her advice to heart and the ruffian goes to bathe in the stream. God these two go through so much drama on this trip. They even adopt and train a dog, Tamsyn, on the journey.
My heart broke for Elise, when she acknowledged that in the end Michael used her to get attention from her sister, Dara. Who can blame her for running away and wanting to be free from living with the man she wanted to marry. Then the second half of the book really picks things up.
We have a big reveal with the father (which I really did not like in the story), gambling (which I also have learned I don’t care for as a character trait for a hero), and a romance that was such a slow burn and so perfect.
We get to see this couple go from animosity, to friendship: “See I knew you were an intelligent man,” she said. “All I had to do was agree with you” (58%). Then finally to love, “Real love. Not infatuation but something earthier and stronger” (58%). We watch these two fall in love, and recognize it themselves before they ever have sex or even kiss! It was so refreshing and different to read these events happening in this order.
Their first kiss was perfect, the first time they got together was so sweet, but my absolute favorite part of this book was the very ending when these two got back together. Without any spoilers, I was squealing the entire time waiting for them to be reunited once I figured out how it was going to end. And wow, I couldn’t imagine anything more romantic or perfect. The life or death situation, the stress of them being separated, then them getting back together the way that they do, all I can say is this is the emotional rollercoaster I look for in a romance novel.