Ok, I'm not sure what I was expecting with this book, but it read like a YA novel but with decidedly more mature themes than YA.

Avianna used to be a castle courtier but is now a laundry maid. She dreams of escaping poverty by luring a wealthy man into marriage. Meanwhile, her fairy friend Thorn always has her back and is a true friend. I'm not spoiling the plot by saying that in the end Avianna and Thorn end up together because she finally realizes that her ideal mate was in front of her all this time. This is a traditional storyline -- and there's nothing wrong with that. The problem was that Avianna was so incredibly shallow and prejudiced (all she wants in a man is muscles and good looks, and he has to be human, etc.). Even when she starts to acknowledge her own feelings for Thorn, she tries to tamp them down by telling herself that a fairy could never make a good lifelong mate. Nevermind that Thorn is pretty much perfect.

I guess I just found Avianna so irritating that I had trouble enjoying the story. The plotline itself was entertaining, especially after throwing in a pirate attack, and Avianna sort-of redeems herself in the end, but I still didn't like her and wanted Thorn to end up with a nicer girl. LOL ( )

Some romances are for me others are not. This was sadly a not. I wanted it to be but I will be taking a break from romances again ( )

So this one was both a hit and a miss for me. The premise is a really great "mean girl/gold digger goes good" and "love was in front of you all along" story. I'm really into that type of thing and I think that is where this book really shines. Its a slow burn and I like that. However the part that missed with me was Avianna, she was extraordinarily shallow. As someone who was valued and valued herself by her looks you'd think she'd know what its like to get written off for your looks. You'd think she's have learned to look deeper, but nope. I also was a little confused by the world. Its got a semi-medieval feel, and marriage bonds seem to be a must, but at the same time you can also work for a living instead. Idk maybe it was just viewing it through Avianna's eyes that was kind of throwing it off for me.
The overall takeaway is that the book is good, but not great. Avianna kinda brings her own story down. ( )

Avianna once lived in the castle, surrounded by handsome landowners, princes, and wealth. Her only goal was to marry well and be taken care of for the rest of her life, but she was having too much tumbling all the eligible men to settle down. When the castle fell, Avianna was left penniless. She found work as laundress but is still looking for her prince charming to lift her out of poverty. She will bed every man in town if that is what it takes to find him. Thorn is just about the only man she won't tumble, and he's not quite a man, he's a fairy. He's just a good friend who looks out for her, he's even teaching her to read and keeping her safe from scorned ex lovers. But what if being a friend is just the beginning of what he wants. He wouldn't stoop so low as to place a love spell on her, would he? A well imagined fantasy world with flawed and fun characters. Lots of steamy moments and adventure. I need to read the first book in this series! ( )

The second in a fantasy-romance series from Jane Buehler, The Village Maid focuses on Avianna, a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to use her looks and sex appeal to get it. She isn't used to hard work, having been expelled from the castle after a revolution overthrowing the king. Who wouldn't want to find someone to take care of them?

While I appreciated the sex-positive viewpoint, Avianna comes across as sort of a "mean girl" -- self-centered, unappreciative of her friends and colleagues. Made it harder to connect with her and root for her to find her HEA with her to-be-lovemate Thorn (a fairy with minor magical aspects). Some plot points could have been resolved earlier if she'd just asked the right questions, or talked to people a little better. The pirate invasion came a little bit out of left field. I did appreciate how Avianna grew and changed over her journey, and the political revolution aspect in a fantasy setting was surprising to me. Could be fleshed out a little better, but an intriguing setting. ( )