Happy Thursday! Hugo is out today, I received an ARC.
I really enjoyed this! I’m loving all the small town meets The Princess Bride vibes this series is giving us.
This is Hugo’s (our Inigo) story, a former Olympic fencer, and Mallory, a true crime podcaster in town to uncover who killed his father. I really loved both characters! Huge was such a good guy, so kind even when he was trying to get Mallory to leave him alone.Mallory was so strong and determined which I always love in a FMC.
We also get forced proximity, pregnant-but-it’s-not-his, and a super sweet romance. Overally I just really enjoyed my time in Olive Township!
Happy Thursday! Penn by Jennifer Millikin is out today, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Princess Bride is my favorite movie, so when I saw the author was coming out with a series loosely based on it I just had to read it! This would be Westley and Buttercup’s story, though we are also getting stories based on Inigo, Fezzik, and Humperdinck (???) too!
Even if you haven’t seen or read The Princess Bride, this was still a cute small town romance, between two childhood friends who were separated in their teens but are brought back into each other’s lives as adults and just can’t stay away from each other.
Penn is in town to sell his late mother’s house, only he’s doing so under an assumed name so he doesn’t have to face his past. He’s a former SEAL who’s time in the Navy (like a pirate hehe) ended after an injury, and the physical therapist he finds in town just so happens to be his former best friend Daisy (like Buttercup!) who he has always loved. The only problem? Daisy is engaged to the town prince, only she’s not in love with him.
The relationship between Penn and Daisy was heartwarming, the connection just jumped off the pages and I loved the added angst of her being engaged to someone else. It’s definitely a slowwwww burn but it pays off by the end. It feels a bit like a fairytale, which makes sense given its inspiration.
There are quite a few references and parallels to The Princess Bride and I thought it was so fun to find them! But truly they are more like easter eggs so again if you haven’t seen it you’ll be fine.
Happy Father’s day! In honor of the holiday, here are some of my favorite fictional daddies. I am such a sucker for this trope, especially if you throw in a small town setting and a blue collar profession.
Do you have any favorites? I need all the recommendations.
Romance Reviewed 