Valentine

What a wildly adventurous novel. There was a bit of a slow start until we get into the story and the series, but by the end I was left counting down the days until the release of book 2. That said, the pace of the writing matched the action of the story. Grothaus plays with flow and tempo in a manner that highlights the action and showcases the romance. I really enjoyed how Grothaus didn’t stray far from the medieval time period in which the novel takes place, while at the same time she didn’t draw undue attention to it either. It allowed me to get fully into the story. Her descriptions gave just enough for the world to come to life in my mind and allow me a window into the story, without impeding my imagination. Grothaus had my in stitches with Mary’s antics. She was a fantastic heroine, able to stand on her own yet still needing the support of her leading man. Coupled with Valentine’s many personas this couple was a treat to follow across Europe. Seeing them bond with each other was definitely worth the journey, but that’s not all there was to this story. The overarching plot of the series comes into play as well, creating suspense beyond compare. This was an absolutely fantastic novel. Grothaus has me hooked. I definitely can’t wait to read the rest of the series, or to recommend this to others. Please note that I received a complementary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The books starts off a bit slow, but it has a great sense of humor and by the end of the book there is a tear-jerker scene. Worth the read. Definitely will read the rest of the series.

What a great adventure, enjoyed the journey with Valentine and Maria immensely and can't wait to read book 2!