AUTHOR: Emma Hart GENRE: Romance PAGES: 510 RELEASED: 25 October 2022 SYNOPSIS: When bestselling romance author Ellie Aarons finds herself with chronic writer’s block, she’s pretty sure all she needs is a change of scenery. A beautiful lakeside cottage with her cat seems like a good idea. She’s wrong. She needs more than a change of scenery—she needs a muse. Which is why it’s so irritating that she’s drawn to the enigmatic but grumpy Duke of Windermere who owns the estate she’s staying on. They don’t get along—not in the slightest. They could not be more different, which is why it’s so irritating that Max seems to be the muse she’s been looking for. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t help but picture him as the hero in her next book. Oh, well. There’s really not a lot she can do about it. The muse wants what the muse wants. Except Sir Winston Purrchill keeps exploring the goat barn, and Max’s delivery of him for the fiftieth time means he sees her manuscript open on her laptop. He knows instantly that she’s writing about him. The story she’s written reflects their entire relationship until now, but that spicy scene? That hasn’t happened. Yet. Max is ready to compromise—he’ll give her the inspiration she needs for her novel, but she has to stop asking why he’s so against the relationship his grandmother desperately wants him to have. With her deadline looming, Ellie has no other option but to agree. She just hopes that she won’t do what her heroine is doing. And fall in love with the duke. This book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. A love letter to romance books where fiction takes inspiration from reality and reality feels like the plot of a romance novel...
Romance author Ellie Aarons should have more written for her new book than just “chapter one”, so in an attempt to overcome her writers block and find some fresh inspiration, she hightails it out of dreary London and to the Lakes District, specifically Windermere. Turns out, the change of scenery immediately works wonders, and it’s not long before the words start flowing again. Unfortunately, she also can’t help crafting her hero after the grumpy duke whose cottage she’s renting for the next three months – apparently Max is the muse she didn’t know she needed, and it’s infuriating because she can’t understand what she’s done during their few interactions to warrant his attitude towards her. Max has learned to keep people at a distance, especially women – he’s sworn off relationships, marriage and children in an effort not to have a repeat of his parent’s extremely messy and heartbreaking relationship. But he can’t help but be drawn to the ball of sunshine that is Ellie, and it’s not long before his walls start breaking down where she’s concerned. When he accidentally sees her manuscript and that she’s writing about him and writing spicy scenes involving him and a heroine that definitely resembles Ellie, he realises the attraction is mutual. Ellie might be taking inspiration from the world around her, but it’s not long before her own life in mirroring that of the many romances she’s written, except she has no idea how this story will pan out... The newest installment in Emma Hart’s British Aristocracy universe is hands-down her best book yet – the wait has been 100% worth it because this was everything I love about Emma’s books and so much more! It’s got the swoony romance, the fun friendships, and the hilarious grandma whose equal parts kooky and animal-loving. With Ellie being a romance author, this book felt very meta and like Emma really poured her romance-writer soul into this story. It truly is a love letter to romance books, romance authors and romance readers everywhere, and that alone is reason enough to read this beauty – it definitely feels like this book was made for long-time romance readers. I’ve been really loving Emma’s recent books focusing on the British Aristocracy, and Ellie & Max’s story was no different – there’s just something about being in the gorgeous English countryside and getting an insight into the lives of the British upper-class that is so fun, even if it’s just fictional characters. Ellie and Max’s story is equal parts, sweet, swoony and hilarious, and I definitely laughed out loud more than I ever have while reading a book. There is of course, a little heartbreak, especially when it comes to Max’s story. I really enjoyed how Emma slowly hinted at and revealed his backstory, keeping you guessing and wondering as to what tragic event occurred as the story progressed. There were some beautifully touching moments, especially between Max and his grandmother Esme. Speaking of Esme, she was a hoot and a half, and I honestly wouldn’t mind reading a whole book about her antics and her pool noodle-wearing herd of goats. With Emma hinting that there are at least two more books set in this world, I can’t wait to see what stories she has in store for both of our upcoming heroes, one of whom has been referenced and/or seen in all five books set within the aristocracy. The EHBAU (Emma Hart British Aristocracy Universe) is one of my favourite places to be, and I know she has some amazing characters, romances and stories still to add to it. Romance readers everywhere need to add this book to the top of their TBR, which will have you booking a flight to England to find your own swoony duke with a crazy but loveable grandmother. |
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