I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity

Violet Arden may have ruined herself in the eyes of society by cavorting with an engaged French art instructor (in her defense, she had no idea he was otherwise promised), but she refuses to bend to the expectations of those around her. Determined to forge her own path through her art, Violet finds refuge at her cousin's country estate amongst family and begins honing her craft in earnest. However, even amongst her new friends and art community, Violet can't shake her growing irritation at her new neighbor: Alasdair Kerr.

Alasdair publicly humiliated her earlier that year by criticizing her paintings on the worst night of her life, and the worst part is he doesn't even seem to remember her. Fuel to a generations deep feud between the Graddocks and the Kerrs, Alasdair and Violet are quite determined to ignore each other; but star-crossed lovers, an overbearing clergyman, and arson keep bringing the pair together despite their best efforts...

Enemies-to-lovers/forbidden romance, sprinkled with a light mystery, and wrapped in a Regency-era, slow-burn romance. This one wasn't my favorite, it didn't end up grabbing me for whatever reason (I'm really clueless as to why! It has everything I normally love), but if you're a big fan of Regency-era fiction and lush world building, then THESE VIOLET DELIGHTS might be for you!

I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity

4.5/5

A beloved, international toy company, Davenport Innovation Creative has made a massive blunder: the company has released a toy with a stolen design. Outraged on behalf of her community, a woman named Flo releases a video admonishing the company and their underhanded tactics, garnering major public support and outcry.

Enter Clare Davenport. Granddaughter of the founder, daughter of the current CEO, and desperate to prove herself in any way possible, Clare agrees to singlehandedly fix the Holly problem, in exchange for the unspoken promise of a promotion to the Design Department; the culmination of years of hard work and making herself smaller to appease her father.

Jack Kelly, while not the creator of the viral video bashing Davenport, hates the company and everything it represents. The primary creator of the Holly doll, Jack hates the cheap version of his creation and its AI books, its cheap plastic body, and most of all-- the devastation the loss of business could mean for his fellow Fraser Falls residents.

Sparks fly when Clare and Jack meet for the first time, neither realizing who the other is; and then, during their second meeting, sparks fly for a very different reason. But will Clare's determination to foster goodwill and genuinely help Fraser Falls eventually soften Jack's hardened heart?

Somehow Hannah Grace has managed to bottle lightening-- HOLIDAY EVER AFTER has everything that I love about Hallmark movies (the yearning, the hot chocolate/gingerbread/snowman making/etc., the corporate baddie finding her self-worth, a hot lumberjack-esque man), while avoiding becoming a cog in the soulless holiday-romance churning machine.

This book was so much fun, and would be the perfect book to read during the winter!