Like the first book, this one focuses on regular characters in a historical setting. This time though, they're in a bit different of a setting, working fairs. When the story opens though Benedict (H) is engaged to Lizzie's (h) cousin until Lizzie speaks out against a crime and is tossed out by her family. Our H uses the circumstance to break his engagement and "substitutes" Lizzie for his bride in an agreed upon arrangement. Neither held a positive opinion of the other while he was with her c...

Like the first book, this one focuses on regular characters in a historical setting. This time though, they're in a bit different of a setting, working fairs. When the story opens though Benedict (H) is engaged to Lizzie's (h) cousin until Lizzie speaks out against a crime and is tossed out by her family. Our H uses the circumstance to break his engagement and "substitutes" Lizzie for his bride in an agreed upon arrangement. Neither held a positive opinion of the other while he was with her cousin, but they quickly begin to work well together and you start seeing hints of how perfect they are for each other and the romance that will develop fairly early. This is written in third person narrative, dual POV. No ow/om drama (H did nothing more than close-mouthed kiss h's cousin and there are no romantic hang-ups over her), h is a virgin, H is not (he had been in prison prior so had been celibate for a while), bc not used.

These were excellently drawn characters and I appreciated their growth and that they still maintained their core personalities. Lizzie is judgmental to start, opinionated, and upfront, but she's never cruel and she's pretty adaptable once she has to be. She becomes more open-minded as the story progresses but is still a bit reserved. Benedict is gruff, abrupt, and also opinionated, but he's still caring and concerned when it comes to Lizzie and those feelings are more obvious and open later in the book. There are many protective and j/p scenes. The steamy parts were well paced and I felt added to their growing intimacy and relationship.

The plot is focused on their everyday lives and the growing romance. How they go from a "respectable" area of town to traveling between fairs with Benedict boxing and living in a small wagon was interesting and gave the reader a wealth of different experiences and characters for them to come in contact with. There's some family drama given that Lizzie was thrown out of hers and Benedict has friction between his. His two brothers and grandmother made appearances in the first book and I'm hoping his youngest brother gets his own book. An awesomely sweet but protective dog adopts Lizzie as his owner and becomes part of the family as well.

The epilogue is several months in the future and while it's technically HFN, I consider it a HEA. There are still other boxers that have been mentioned or seen for the author to write about and I hope she continues writing in this series because both books out so far have been great reads.

3.5 stars
What a lovely surprise to see a new Prizefighter book out before the new year! Thank you Alice Coldbreath!!

I inhaled this romance so quickly. It has the Coldbreath touches: prim & plucky heroine, virile & moody hero tied up in loveknots over his woman, quirky supporting characters, extra long and sappy confession, fanservice epilogue. I don't mean this as a criticism. I enjoy them all.

However there didn't seem to be a driving plot, and the story tended to meander into incre...

3.5 stars
What a lovely surprise to see a new Prizefighter book out before the new year! Thank you Alice Coldbreath!!

I inhaled this romance so quickly. It has the Coldbreath touches: prim & plucky heroine, virile & moody hero tied up in loveknots over his woman, quirky supporting characters, extra long and sappy confession, fanservice epilogue. I don't mean this as a criticism. I enjoy them all.

However there didn't seem to be a driving plot, and the story tended to meander into incredulity (is it even remotely possible that one could purchase tooth powder-making ingredients at the fair????) and yet I still gorge on this story like a supermarket birthday cake because it's so goodnaturedly enjoyable. (Am I weird for being disappointed that there wasn't more descriptions of the clowns?)

I hope there are more Prizefighter stories!

Enjoyed the story of Lizzie and Benedict Toomes. Some drama, misunderstandings and sex scenes in this book. Great ending for the two of them.

Enjoyed the story of Lizzie and Benedict Toomes. Some drama, misunderstandings and sex scenes in this book. Great ending for the two of them.

Are you tired of miscommunication tropes? Tired of petty squabbles misunderstandings, and tiny issues tearing the romantic leads apart? LOOK NO FURTHER. I loved this book. It had enough action and pacing to keep me reading, but none of the frustrating parts that make me roll my eyes at most romance novels. I gobbled this up in a day, and will be making a beeline to Alice Coldbreath’s other books! A new favorite amd future reread for sure!

Are you tired of miscommunication tropes? Tired of petty squabbles misunderstandings, and tiny issues tearing the romantic leads apart? LOOK NO FURTHER. I loved this book. It had enough action and pacing to keep me reading, but none of the frustrating parts that make me roll my eyes at most romance novels. I gobbled this up in a day, and will be making a beeline to Alice Coldbreath’s other books! A new favorite amd future reread for sure!