historical fiction – Sydney Winward

Book Review of Thief of My Heart by Karla Kratovil

My Review

During the day, she’s a fine lady with a large family and a chaotic house filled with dogs. At night, she’s a cat burglar, stealing beautiful jewelry from the unsuspecting wealthy. But her life turns upside down when she robs the wrong house. Or perhaps the right house.

What a ride! Karla Kratovil creates such a unique but loveable heroine in Thief of My Heart. She’s fearless, extraordinary, and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty if that means creating a better life for her siblings. And of course, the DUKE. Need I say more? I already fell in love with Andrew in Captain of My Heart, and this book has lived up to my expectations and more. I enjoyed seeing the characters in the first book in this series return for another adventure full of danger, secrets, and of course, love.

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading Caroline’s story next!

My rating: 5 stars

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Shadow of the Swan by Judith Sterling

My Review

He wants a wife. She wants protection. When the two feel a pull toward the other, will only a spiritual union be possible?

This tale of letting go of past pain and hurt and finding love is so sweet. Constance is a very hesitant and wary bride while Robert is kind and patient. Judith Sterling has a knack for creating deep and interesting characters, and you can’t help but love them as they go on their own journeys to become their best self.

Shadow of the Swan is a great addition to The Novels of Ravenwood, and I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

My rating: 5 stars

February 5, 2021February 3, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Soul of the Wolf by Judith Sterling

My Review

This book surprised me. After reading the first book in the series, I expected Soul of the Wolf to be just as serious and intense as Wulfstan’s character, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be quite the opposite. Jocelyn and Wulfstan were such a funny, well-suited pair. They had me laughing throughout the entire book. Especially where all of Jocelyn’s antics were concerned when trying to gain the attention of her new husband.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Jocelyn. She was fiery and headstrong, not afraid to go after what she wanted. She drove Wulfstan crazy in all the right ways. I seriously loved this book, and I’m looking forward to finding out what the next book in the series has in store.

My rating: 5 stars

February 4, 2021February 2, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Top 5 Historical Books I’ve Read This Year

A Foreman’s Unplanned Bride by Blythe Carver

I’ve read the first book in this series, and it was great. This book surpassed all my expectations. It made me laugh. It gave me the warm fuzzies. I loved the characters and the setting. If you haven’t read a book by Blythe Carver, I highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest in this series.

Read my review here.

Forget Me Not by Sarah M. Eden

Sarah M. Eden has been a long-time favorite author of mine after I read her Longing for Home Series. I’ve never read anything in the Georgian Era before, and this book was a pleasant surprise. It made me FEEL. So much. My heart broke. I cried. I laughed. If you want to go on an incredible emotional journey, this is a great book for that.

Read my review here.

Solving Sophronia by Jennifer Moore

Can you guess what immediately captured my attention about this book? Yep, it was the beautiful cover! Murder mysteries aren’t usually on my to-read list, but I’m definitely glad I read this one. Jonathan quickly became my favorite character, and some of his scenes had me laughing up a storm. The romance between these two is so adorable.

Read my review here.

Letters and Lies by Colleen L. Donnelly

From the very first page, this book took me on an emotional journey filled with love, laughter, and heartache. There are so many little details that the author kept bringing back into the story that really added to the emotion.

Read my review here.

Captain of My Heart by Karla Kratovil

There is so much to say about this incredible book by Karla Kratovil. The details were fantastic. I loved the relationship between Jack and Vivian. Vivian’s character had me busting a gut on multiple occasions. If you love a good slow-burn romance in a historical setting, this perfect for you. I’m looking forward to reading #2 in this series!

See my review here.

December 30, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Transforming Emma

My Review

Emma Wallache fulfills her late mother’s desire of learning the ways of society. After spending a year and a half with her aunt in the city, she returns to her small hometown, new and reformed. Brett Haynes is shocked that the girl he had been in love with had come back a completely different woman. But maybe not quite as different as he originally thought…

I love the way this author writes. The descriptive details put me right there in the story, the plot gripping and making me forget I was reading at all. It was enjoyable to turn page after page, the story not once slipping into boring drudgery. I liked this book quite a lot, and I’ll definitely be adding more of this author’s books on my TBR list.

My rating: 4.5 stars

April 25, 2020June 3, 2020 by Sydney Winward