4.25 ⭐️

Ginny b Moore I was not familiar with your game and I’ll be taking the adequate steps to remedy that starting right NOW.

The writing? The development? The romance? My god this was just achingly beautiful and so well done. I cannot wait to delve more into this series and start at the beginning.

Lily and Philip. These two both broke my heart and put it back together again. Philip left lily on their wedding night 8 years ago due to an opium addiction. In the 8 years of his absence he fought his addiction and the story starts with him coming home on Christmas, making amends and looking for forgiveness. I think Ginny did a really good job here, I was able to see both sides of the argument and in my opinion the grovel was done beautifully and she really handled the story with the utmost care and sensitivity.

I shed a few tears I won’t lie, this isn’t your run of the mill “fluffy and light” Christmas novella. It’s deeper, it’s harder but it’s brilliant in its execution and definitely deserves the space on your festive tbr.

4.5 ⭐️

Ali hazelwood does in a novella what some authors can’t achieve in a full length novel and this was brilliant.

We got chemistry, tension and lore within the first 50% and it didn’t seem unnatural, it progressed the story along and also gave it a little bit of angst which I’ll always gladly take!

Jamie and Marc belong together. It’s evident. Jamie’s fears were extremely relatable and Marc was always there for a shoulder to lean on. The miscommunication (could you even call it that?) was warranted there’s a reason and tbh it’s more deflection and self preservation that is the conflict in this but it’s done well and didn’t get annoying. The intimacy scene was great I feel like it was enough for a novella and that’s the length and explicitness I look for when the page length is on the shorter side.

I wanted one more chapter though!! And I think that shows how much I was enjoying it.i could read 200+ more pages of them.

A fun, cosy and romantic read. Another great read from Ali!

3.75 ⭐️ “His arms came around her, gathering her close. ‘You’re perfect for me,’ he said gruffly.”

Another great addition to The Crinoline Academy series! Mimi has solidified herself as a go to historical romance author for me in the last two years and it’s just a joy to see where she’s going. The writing was great, it was so obvious that she pours a lot of love and research into her work and I especially loved her author notes at the end.

The romance. Nell and Miles, these two were fab! they’re Both authority figures, Nell is a schoolteacher, and Miles is the editor in chief of The Courant. They’re both sure and confident in their jobs and in turn confident in themselves and as the story goes along, confident in each other.

There were 3 distinct subplots outside of the romance. While I wouldn’t say the first subplot wasn’t interesting or needed it did drag on but it was vital for the last subplot so it couldn’t have been omitted. The subplot with lady belwood was my favourite that’s what kept me reading on as I needed to know what was going to happen.

I will say the only thing I didn’t like was the pacing. I feel like it could have been tighter. The first 50% was very slow but after that things seemed to ramp up. The romance had a little bit more tension and the plot was coming together.

I am a slowburn romance girlie till I die so I appreciated Mimi giving both Miles and Nell and also the reader the breathing room to grow into the story. This is a feelings forward book which I adore and it’s my favourite kind of romance to read. I think the cracked door intimacy scene was great, and very much needed to show Nell’s vulnerability and Miles’ assuredness.

Another great Mimi book, I’m guessing we’re going to get Gemma’s story next? 😏