Deborah M. Hathaway

All the love for Ruling Out Robyn! This third book in the Men of the Isles series completely drew me in with its grumpy vs. sunshine romance & gorgeous Wales setting. Deborah M. Hathaway brings all the charm, wit, longing, & sweet romance in this delightful story.

Robyn Lane is definitely a character I could get behind. She’s smart, funny, determined, positive, & resilient. Her troubled past has made her a bit of a nomad, & she relishes never staying in one place too long while sharing her show more adventures with her substantial social media following. Her latest undertaking is remodeling a dilapidated farmhouse in Wales while acquiring & tending a flock of sheep. First, though, she has to contend with her surly neighbor, who resents both her presence & her purchase of the land he’d hoped to buy. As they get to know one another, she admires his knowledge, willingness to help, & easy-on-the-eyes physique. But what secrets keep him hidden away in this remote Welsh town?

Cedric Davies was one of London’s best football players until an unexpected injury sent him seeking anonymity back to his Welsh sheep-farming roots. He enjoys the quiet freedom until a whirlwind social media star acquires the land he’s wanted for years. Worse, she only plans to stay a year & doesn’t know the first thing about sheep farming. Despite his best efforts to stay away, he sees she’s completely out of her element & needs his help, if only to save her future flock. From helping her start fires & mend stone walls to attending her first sheep auction, Ced willingly lends a hand. But as the gorgeous woman gets under his skin, he’s determined to help her find a reason to stay.

Robyn & Cedric completely captured my heart. I loved learning Welsh words, & Robyn’s attempts at speaking the language were pure fun, especially when she mistakenly begs for a kiss. I also loved learning about sheep farming & the lovely descriptions of Wales that really brought the country to life. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic was so good! I enjoyed watching Cedric fall fast & hard. Both he & Robyn have fears to overcome, & I loved the way they supported & encouraged each other.

Highly recommend to sweet romance fans! Though it can be read as a standalone, it’s even better if you’ve read the previous books. I received an advanced copy from the author but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. show less

All the stars for this absolute gem! Sarcasm leading to a forced marriage, matchmaking mothers, enemies to lovers, all the witty banter, reverse age gap, & an utterly romantic, charming sequel in the Gentlemen’s Gamble series! This has to be my new favorite Deborah M. Hathaway novel. I adored Charles & Marie & their struggle to overcome an impossible situation & find love. This is an absolute must read!

Charles Shepherd’s not ready for marriage—even though he & his friends made a wager show more that the last man to wed pays the others a tidy sum. Unfortunately his mother has other plans, & is determined to have him marry their neighbor’s daughter Marie Oakley. Tired of her machinations, he writes a sarcastic letter which his mother takes literally. On his next visit home, he finds himself married. What’s a gentleman to do?

Though his wife is beautiful, Charles initially finds her personality lacking. But, with each witty exchange, Marie proves a worthy opponent to his sarcastic repartee. With a wedding trip already planned, he forgoes his hunting trip with his twin & spends several weeks in close proximity with his wife while trying to figure a way out of a marriage neither one wants.

Marie Oakley only agreed to marry Charles after both sets of parents convinced her it was a sensible match. After a disastrous beginning—thanks to a flippant remark from Charles she accidentally overhears—she’s just as determined as he is to secure an annulment. In the meantime, she’s set on proving to “Childish Charlie” that she has “more personality than a handkerchief.” As sparks & barbs fly, one angry, intoxicating kiss changes everything. Perhaps an annulment isn’t quite so desirable after all.

I devoured this story. The delicious banter had me laughing out loud, & the sizzling chemistry as they go from enemies to more had me swooning. There were so many moments that made me grin in delight—the letters, the fountain, the unforgettable kiss, one bed at the inn, meeting Tristan, the fair, & Charles’s declaration. Also loved the reverse age gap, watching Charles grow in maturity while Marie becomes more adventurous.

Highest recommendations! This is the second book in the Gentlemen’s Gamble series where the order of the books is a surprise until each one is released. Though it could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order to avoid spoilers. I received an advanced copy from the author, but also purchased a copy in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily. show less

Two people sworn off marriage, a friendly competition, & bird watching adventures made Love is For the Birds a delightful new Regency romance from Deborah M. Hathaway! I thoroughly enjoyed this reluctant to fall romance! Despite their best efforts, Lark & Henry can’t fight the attraction between them & I loved seeing their mutual love of birds turn to a lovely romance between them.

Heiress Lark Fernside’s passion for bird “observing” drives her to pay an exorbitant amount of money for show more the chance to meet her hero, the famous naturalist Henry Branock & go on a bird “observing” excursion across England. Hoping to prove she’s just as knowledgeable as her male counterparts, she can’t wait to meet her “elderly” hero. She’s shocked when he turns out to be a handsome, young man who proves too tempting for a woman sworn off marriage.

Henry Branock’s beholden to his benefactor Lord Blackstone for his publications & worldwide travels. Lord Blackstone’s only provision is that Henry not get distracted by getting married. But, when he meets a beautiful woman who’s as passionate about birds as he is, he has to fight to keep his attraction at bay. To make up for their disastrous first meeting, he offers her a friendly competition. The one who documents the most birds on their tour will be crowned “Best Bird Observer in England.” It’s a competition Lark can’t resist, but will they be able to resist the pull towards each other?

I adored Lark & Henry! Their witty banter was so much fun. I loved how their reluctance to fall led them to a wonderful friendship that progressed to more. Lark’s reluctance to marry stems from a series of suitors who were only interested in her money & since Henry’s sworn off marriage too, she finds she’s able to be herself with him. I loved the friendly competition between them & Henry’s humility in recognizing Lark’s abilities.

I also enjoyed the other women on the excursion who are cheering Lark on. And, Lark’s aunt & uncle who were doting & caring. Though her uncle at times is a little too suspicious & protective. Despite the obstacles between them, the ending was definitely swoon worthy & a wonderful happily ever after!

Highly recommend this charming Regency! Though its part of the fabulous Bachelors of Blackstone’s series, each book is easily read as a standalone novel. I received an advanced copy from the author, but also purchased a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided. show less

An unforgettable modern day knight’s tale! I loved this book! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and wow did the sparks fly in this fun romcom. I adored Winnie & Matthew. Their delightful, unique romance had me quickly turning the pages.

Winnie Knox has two problems. The first is her overbearing father who takes it upon himself to micromanage her life. The second is a handsome knight who looks like he walked straight out of a medieval fairytale. Winnie’s a consultant who’s show more in England to help revitalize the massive Wintour estate. When her car runs into a ditch, on her way from the airport to the estate, it’s a handsome knight dressed head to foot in medieval armor on a horse no less who rescues her. The charming knight soon turns to an intriguing nemesis when he discovers that she’s the one his father hired to interfere in the estate and his beloved Medieval Festival.

Desperate to succeed and way out of her comfort zone, Winnie takes on the beleaguered festival determined to make it profitable. The only one standing in her way is her boss’ son who loves the history the festival represents and doesn’t want any changes made. As these two battle wits, they soon begin to grudgingly respect each other. As Winnie learns to appreciate the history and Matthew sees Winnie’s struggles and softer side, their relationship changes from enemies to friends to something more. But, can Winnie make the festival a success before her time in England is up?

From their funny meet-cute to playing hide & seek in a castle to the medieval festival, I loved how these two enemies became friends to more. I adored exploring Yorkshire with them and all the hilarious situations they find themselves in. The gorgeous descriptions made me feel like I was there and I wished I could have experienced the festival for myself. I also appreciated Matthew’s lovely family and his fun “mates!” Looking forward to Finn’s story!

One of the many things I love about Deborah M. Hathaway’s books are the heartfelt themes she weaves throughout her stories. In this case, it’s learning how to handle criticism, whether it’s helpful or hurtful. Winnie accepts the unfair criticism from her father much to her detriment. Matthew’s stubbornness prevents him from listening to helpful suggestions. I loved the way these two characters grew throughout the story and helped each other. The final scenes had me cheering!

Highest of recommendations! I can’t wait for the next book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. show less