Tag: Renaissance Faire

REVIEW: The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher

REVIEW: The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Madeline has grown up on the Ren Faire circuit, and she’s at her favorite Faire, Stormsworth. But all the ways it feels different, starting with (1) Mom isn’t here because she died last year, are too many to count. There are new owners, a full castle on the grounds, and there’s even a moat. And then there’s the bard – a boy her age who is entirely too perky and insists on following her and calling her Gwen.

The bard is Arthur, and his dads are the new owners of the Faire – the ones who have changed so much of what was her mother’s last and favorite Faire.

Arthur’s sunny disposition and relentless chatter, initially so off-putting, start to wear her down as she opens herself up to the Faire and a friend. But the pain of Maddie’s loss is still so sharp and ever-present, it’s left her to put up walls to keep anyone from getting too close. Because if she cares about anyone, she exposes herself to future pain and loss.

Review

Two years ago I read a stunningly good book called Amelia Unabridged. And it set a high bar for all other books. It was my favorite of 2021. Last year I read the author’s follow up. And while the characters and writing for Full Flight were excellent once again, the plot did not work for me. I wasn’t sure what that might mean for future books – was Amelia a fluke of a perfect book for me? Or was Flight just not a story made for me? And then I read this. And it was another perfect story for me.

I happened to be reading this on the anniversary of my own mother’s death. And the author’s depiction of Maddie’s wrestling through her grief and loss – and the approaching 1st anniversary of her own loss – was spot on. I love how Maddie’s thinking and coping are portrayed here. Her whole journey was perfect.

I’d have been happy with just Maddie’s story. But Arthur is my FAVORITE sort of sidekick/romantic interest in books like this. Confident, but not perfect. Fond of grand gestures. Funny! But also insightful and observant.

There was a thread of the story that the author pulled forward at the end that was the exclamation point on the perfection of this book for me. If it hadn’t happened, I would have still loved this book. But this extra little pay off was the cherry on the sundae that was this reading experience. Exactly the finishing touch I wanted to make the reading payoff just a bit sweeter.

Schumacher has done it again for me. Her writing is consistently top notch – I highlighted multiple passages as I was reading (I will definitely be tabbing this book the next time I read it once my personal print copy gets here!). Her characters are favorites I would be friends with. There’s a great balance of humor (one scene at the end had me cackling!) and heart. Combine that with a plot that grabs my attention (grief, books, authors in Amelia; Renaissance Faire, grief, self-esteem/confidence, body positivity in this one), and it’s going to be a winner!

Do not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Well Played by Jen DeLuca

REVIEW: Well Played by Jen DeLuca

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

At the end of the summer’s Renaissance Faire run, Emily is engaged and Stacey is feeling stuck. She gave up a career and a life in New York to help out her mom with a health scare. Her job feels like a dead end. She lives above her parents’ garage. And the only relationship she’s had is her hook up with Dex from the Faire.

After an evening of melancholy – and wine – Stacey messages Dex and lays out her loneliness. The next day, she’s mortified over her boldness and vulnerability. But he actually responds! Soon they are messaging back and forth, and she realizes he has more depth than she ever gave him credit for. Occasional messages turn into regular emails and then daily texts. And Stacey’s feelings for Dex grow.

Until the moment, a week before the Faire begins the new season where they will be in the same town for a few weeks, when Stacey realizes she’s been texting with Daniel, Dex’s cousin, for the last year and not Dex.

Review

It’s so good to be back at the RenFaire! I loved the first book in this series, Well Met (♥♥♥♥♥), and I was eager to see how things were going for Emily and Simon while digging into the new relationship at the center of this book.

I enjoyed Stacey and Daniel’s story. While I didn’t feel they had the same spark as Emily and Simon, I liked them together. In a lot of ways this is Stacey’s story alone. She feels trapped and resigned to her situation. I was eager to see how she was going to change over the course of the story.

The main conflict here – Daniel’s identity – has some layers. And it’s prickly when everything comes out. The lying is bad – he should have just told her the truth from the start. But then there wouldn’t be much of a story. So in some ways it was a plot device to give tension to the romance. But the romance is warm and sweet in the end, so you can forgive a lot.

I don’t think these books have to be read in order, but I think it’s more fun that way. Then you can see how the first relationship is growing while the second one is getting started. Book 3, Well Matched, is scheduled for next year, and I’m excited to read it. It will star Emily’s sister, April, who is a prickly character in the first book, but she softens a little in this one. I am extremely curious to see how my image of her changes as I get to know her from her own story.

I love the RenFaire setting for this series. It’s really what keeps bringing me back. Romance fans and Renaissance Faire fans should check this out. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½=Good+

REVIEW: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Meg’s grandmother, Cordelia, has recruited the family into helping with her weekend Renaissance Faire. Meg’s dad is in the first aid tent, her earthy cousin is selling potpourris, and Meg is doing blacksmithing demos and serves as Cordelia’s second-in-command. And Meg’s husband is creating the “story” for the Faire, and wrangling the actors. Michael’s story sets the Faire in a made up kingdom where various factions fight for who will succeed the queen when her reign ends.

Unfortunately, Terence, the actor playing their resident villain/troublemaker is a little too good at being the bad guy. He’s managed to alienate most of the actors and get someone fired from their job in the world outside the Faire. He’s on notice that if he puts one toe out of line, he’ll be fired.

So when Meg finds him dead, no one is really very surprised. The larger issue is weeding through all the people who had a reason to want Terence gone for good in order to find his killer.

Review

Meg Langslow and her family + a Renaissance Faire.

That’s all I had to hear before I decided this was a must read for me. I have loved Meg and her family since I first read Murder with Peacocks. Meg’s life, and the full cast, has changed over the course of 27 books, but these stories never disappoint.  Reading a Meg Langslow book is like coming home. I’d love to go back and re-read some of the early books again some time. This is a terrific series!

The RenFaire setting for this was fantastic. We used to visit one in the summers, and I miss it. I loved the descriptions here and the way Meg’s husband developed the “story” for their Faire. It’s also an excellent setting for bringing in new characters for the mystery.

The mystery here is great. I puzzled out the killer, but for a long time it looked like my guess was going to be wrong. The final confrontation was terrific as was the wrap up of all the story threads in the end.

I don’t think you have to have read the previous 26 books to appreciate this, although it does help readers have context for the major characters. But if you haven’t read a Meg story before, and you love cozy mysteries and Renaissance Faires, you should absolutely check this one out! Of course, Meg’s fans will not want to miss another terrific story. You’ll also want to put the next book, The Gift of the Magpie, on your wish list. It releases in October. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*I have a new rating system. 4 stars= “Great! Might re-read.”