Deborah M. Hathaway

An unforgettable modern day knight’s tale! I loved this book! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and wow did the sparks fly in this fun romcom. I adored Winnie & Matthew. Their delightful, unique romance had me quickly turning the pages.

Winnie Knox has two problems. The first is her overbearing father who takes it upon himself to micromanage her life. The second is a handsome knight who looks like he walked straight out of a medieval fairytale. Winnie’s a consultant who’s in England to help revitalize the massive Wintour estate. When her car runs into a ditch, on her way from the airport to the estate, it’s a handsome knight dressed head to foot in medieval armor on a horse no less who rescues her. The charming knight soon turns to an intriguing nemesis when he discovers that she’s the one his father hired to interfere in the estate and his beloved Medieval Festival.

Desperate to succeed and way out of her comfort zone, Winnie takes on the beleaguered festival determined to make it profitable. The only one standing in her way is her boss’ son who loves the history the festival represents and doesn’t want any changes made. As these two battle wits, they soon begin to grudgingly respect each other. As Winnie learns to appreciate the history and Matthew sees Winnie’s struggles and softer side, their relationship changes from enemies to friends to something more. But, can Winnie make the festival a success before her time in England is up?

From their funny meet-cute to playing hide & seek in a castle to the medieval festival, I loved how these two enemies became friends to more. I adored exploring Yorkshire with them and all the hilarious situations they find themselves in. The gorgeous descriptions made me feel like I was there and I wished I could have experienced the festival for myself. I also appreciated Matthew’s lovely family and his fun “mates!” Looking forward to Finn’s story!

One of the many things I love about Deborah M. Hathaway’s books are the heartfelt themes she weaves throughout her stories. In this case, it’s learning how to handle criticism, whether it’s helpful or hurtful. Winnie accepts the unfair criticism from her father much to her detriment. Matthew’s stubbornness prevents him from listening to helpful suggestions. I loved the way these two characters grew throughout the story and helped each other. The final scenes had me cheering!

Highest of recommendations! I can’t wait for the next book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.… (mehr)

I was absolutely charmed by this story and the world of St. Michael’s Mount. August and Livvy couldn’t be more night and day on the surface, but beneath they both share a love of the Mount, honesty, and their friendship. August doesn’t have to hide his true self, whereas Livvy feels like she must hide to survive, having been teased practically her entire life for being “odd” which is actually her authentic self. So, when she finds the one that accepts her for who she is, she can’t let go, and who can blame her!

When I first started reading the English accents in the dialogue threw me a bit, but it grew on me, and I found myself hearing the authentic English twang in my mind clear as day, which added to the charm. I really appreciated the fact that despite being teased mercilessly that Livvy likes, and is secure in, who she is. So many times when I read a story from the regency era that has a heroine that goes against the norm, I see said heroine shy away from being herself around others. Not Livvy! She is unapologetic about being odd, and I am here for it! This is something I definitely need to heed, so thank you Livvy for the inspiration.

There are moments of pure romance that had me all swoony and other moments with such heart, showing the full range of emotions entailed within these pages. There is also a sliver of mystery surrounding Livvy’s mother’s death, this question looming throughout the story that adds the perfect amount of tension.

All in all, I loved this story! The flow is so natural, the characters are lovable, and the Mount is quite charming. This read has everything you could want in a clean romance and more!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (mehr)

Set in Cornwall in 1815 and populated with colorful and interesting characters, To Know Miss May had me dreaming of a vacation to St. Michael’s Mount. It sounds like such a fascinating place, and Deborah M. Hathaway’s descriptions made it easy to visualize.

Livvy is such a sweet, shy girl who lacks self-confidence and is known for her love of books. She doesn’t socialize often and feels misunderstood. When August Moon comes back to be a gardener on the Mount, he is intrigued by Livvy. I enjoyed the interactions between the two as August brought Livvy’s personality out and helped her socialize and become more accepted. I loved that he took the time to really get to know Livvy instead of believing what others thought about her.

The epigraph quotes at the beginning of the chapters were a fun touch. They gave a bit of a hint as to the contents of each chapter. I also enjoyed the author’s notes at the end of the book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.… (mehr)

All the stars for this lovely romance! From the start, it was a book lovers dream with quotes at the beginning of each chapter from beloved classic books. I found a kindred spirit in Lavinia “Livvy” May. Her delight for reading and desire to share her books with others completely drew me in. The romance was amazing and the charming location was so well described that it made me want to visit. Definitely another winner and new favorite from Deborah M. Hathaway!

Livvy went through some difficult hardships at a young age which caused her to retreat into her book world. She struggles between her desire to find friends and fear of rejection. Those who truly appreciate her intelligence and quick wit find her delightful, but others including her own father find her an oddity and constantly admonish her not to discuss her books.

When August Moon comes home after several years, Livvy finds her crush on him has not diminished. She admires the outgoing, friendly, kind man and his love of plants and the outdoors. Their meet cute had me smiling and from there I was anticipating each meeting.

August is definitely a favorite swoonworthy hero! He’s loyal, thoughtful, and funny. His charming teasing is adorable. I loved it when he play acts with Livvy while discussing books and challenges her to grow. I also loved it when they visit the gardens at night and those sizzling, tender kisses. But, August is caught in a tangled web that will test his new found love and friendship with Livvy.

The suspense, romance, and angst near the end had me quickly turning the pages. Don’t skip the author’s note where she offers a fantastic explanation for her story choices. It’s a swoony, endearing romance that I can’t wait to read again. I received a complimentary copy from the author but also purchased the book through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.… (mehr)