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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Lilly created this unique place in Wolverden, Merica, and Angilo. She snagged me from the first page and I could not put this story down. Creating a beautiful tale with a strong woman leading the helm, it enchanted and enraptured me. I feel like this is going to be a long post on this novel, so sit back, grab some coffee, and snuggle in. It is a five star read for me because of the humor, strength, strong female, and honor amongst those considered family.
Jacqueline is the Duchess of Wolverden. She has been given a chance no other woman in this time period has, to run a duchy without a man. Jac, as her friends call her, is not a woman to be trifled with. She is strong, faithful, loyal, and everything you want in a woman. Lilly captured every side of Jac without discrediting Jac's need for being strong and able to support her duchy. The feminine side came out in such subtle ways but it made the story all the more enjoyable. I keep coming back to add things because I loved so much about Jac. She has grit and strength of character that is admirable even in the men who serve her and know her.
Leopold is the prince of Merica and betrothed to Jacqueline. He has his own assumptions but Richard tries to assure him to give Jac a chance. His role in this story is one of strength and wisdom. How he speaks to Jac and offers her guidance as well as wisdom will melt your heart. There were times I was laughing by what his judgement clouded to, and other times I was cheering as he stood by Jac's side through it all.
Richard and Heather bring some comedic relief in this tale but also friendship and family not bound by blood. Heather is the sister Jac never had but wouldn't live without. Heather has some sass in her and I love watching it come out at the best times in this story. I was smirking and chuckling. Richard did not disappoint either and you can see why the two are in love and married.
I will admit period/historical romances are not the norm for me. I don't tend to gravitate to them. That said, I LOVED this one. It was thrilling and exciting with suspense, action, romance, and honor. Writing this review makes me want to read it again. That's how much I enjoyed it. The surprises that came out in this story only made it that much sweeter of a romance. I don't think Lilly could have had it play out any other way and end as magnificently as it did.
Jacqueline is the Duchess of Wolverden. She has been given a chance no other woman in this time period has, to run a duchy without a man. Jac, as her friends call her, is not a woman to be trifled with. She is strong, faithful, loyal, and everything you want in a woman. Lilly captured every side of Jac without discrediting Jac's need for being strong and able to support her duchy. The feminine side came out in such subtle ways but it made the story all the more enjoyable. I keep coming back to add things because I loved so much about Jac. She has grit and strength of character that is admirable even in the men who serve her and know her.
Leopold is the prince of Merica and betrothed to Jacqueline. He has his own assumptions but Richard tries to assure him to give Jac a chance. His role in this story is one of strength and wisdom. How he speaks to Jac and offers her guidance as well as wisdom will melt your heart. There were times I was laughing by what his judgement clouded to, and other times I was cheering as he stood by Jac's side through it all.
Richard and Heather bring some comedic relief in this tale but also friendship and family not bound by blood. Heather is the sister Jac never had but wouldn't live without. Heather has some sass in her and I love watching it come out at the best times in this story. I was smirking and chuckling. Richard did not disappoint either and you can see why the two are in love and married.
I will admit period/historical romances are not the norm for me. I don't tend to gravitate to them. That said, I LOVED this one. It was thrilling and exciting with suspense, action, romance, and honor. Writing this review makes me want to read it again. That's how much I enjoyed it. The surprises that came out in this story only made it that much sweeter of a romance. I don't think Lilly could have had it play out any other way and end as magnificently as it did.
*Thank you Voracious Readers and Lilly Rayman for the free copy of this book in exchange with an honest review*
The first thing I want to point out is the way this book was written, that made it a bit difficult for me to read, because I didn't really like it. I understand that we are in an era of knights and dukes and kings and so forth and that the characters are supposed to speak a bit more old-fashioned. That doesn't mean though, that the whole book should be written like that. I am not reading a book that was written in 1600s, I am reading a book written about that time and that's a line that should be clearer.
My favourite character has to be Jacqueline, how so strong-willed and clever she was. Her passion for Wolvarden was really admirable and I believe that she and Leopold make a rather fine match. Apart from them, I really loved Richard and Heather's relationship, they were simply way too cute!
Now, there were some points that I felt were not well written. For example, when Richard is asked to escort Leopold to Wolvarden, he decides on the way that he won't tell Jacqueline that Leopold is her betrothed, so as to give them a chance to know each other. Can you guess what was the first thing Richard told her when they were alone in her study, after they just arrived in Wolvarden? Yes, you guessed correctly, he told her that Leopold and her are to be married. I was like, didn't you just decide not to tell her???
When Jacqueline was captured and we supposedly didn't know who did it, first of all it was pretty obvious it was the Mercian King, because he entertained the thought just a few pages before the kidnapping happened. Also, it was kind of dumb to pay the kidnappers with Mercian gold, because then you'd of course be accused of the kidnapping! I mean, he's a king, he supposedly runs a country, he should know how to do this better!
Lastly, there's a big reveal at the end of the book. Well, it's not that big of a surprise because not so subtle hints are thrown to the reader almost from the moment we meet Jacqueline. After a while, it doesn't even try to hide it from you and I didn't like the fact that the 'secret' was so easily give away by the author.
All in all, "Red Wolf" is an easy read that could do with some altering, but other than that, it's rather enjoyable.
The first thing I want to point out is the way this book was written, that made it a bit difficult for me to read, because I didn't really like it. I understand that we are in an era of knights and dukes and kings and so forth and that the characters are supposed to speak a bit more old-fashioned. That doesn't mean though, that the whole book should be written like that. I am not reading a book that was written in 1600s, I am reading a book written about that time and that's a line that should be clearer.
My favourite character has to be Jacqueline, how so strong-willed and clever she was. Her passion for Wolvarden was really admirable and I believe that she and Leopold make a rather fine match. Apart from them, I really loved Richard and Heather's relationship, they were simply way too cute!
Now, there were some points that I felt were not well written. For example, when Richard is asked to escort Leopold to Wolvarden, he decides on the way that he won't tell Jacqueline that Leopold is her betrothed, so as to give them a chance to know each other. Can you guess what was the first thing Richard told her when they were alone in her study, after they just arrived in Wolvarden? Yes, you guessed correctly, he told her that Leopold and her are to be married. I was like, didn't you just decide not to tell her???
When Jacqueline was captured and we supposedly didn't know who did it, first of all it was pretty obvious it was the Mercian King, because he entertained the thought just a few pages before the kidnapping happened. Also, it was kind of dumb to pay the kidnappers with Mercian gold, because then you'd of course be accused of the kidnapping! I mean, he's a king, he supposedly runs a country, he should know how to do this better!
Lastly, there's a big reveal at the end of the book. Well, it's not that big of a surprise because not so subtle hints are thrown to the reader almost from the moment we meet Jacqueline. After a while, it doesn't even try to hide it from you and I didn't like the fact that the 'secret' was so easily give away by the author.
All in all, "Red Wolf" is an easy read that could do with some altering, but other than that, it's rather enjoyable.