Sophie Reads YA

January

Stacking the Shelves: January 6th 2024

10:00

Always Remember

Waiting On Wednesday: Always Remember (Ravenswood #3) by Mary Balogh

10:00

2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Otherwise Engaged by Joanna Barker

10:00

Otherwise Engaged
Series: None
Author: Joanna Barker
Published October 12th 2020 by Covenant Communications

Goodreads Synopsis
She’s never been afraid of breaking the rules—until she risks breaking her heart

Constantly stifled by the rules of Society, spirited Rebecca Rowley enjoys finding ways to quietly—or not so quietly—rebel. But riding bareback and avoiding nosy neighbors are nothing compared to the thrilling secret she is keeping from her family.

When Rebecca’s quick thinking saves the life of a young girl, she unwittingly attracts the attention of the child’s dashing brother, Lieutenant Nicholas Avery. As that attention turns flirtatious, Rebecca is forced to tell him the truth: she is secretly engaged—to the one man her family would never approve of. Fortunately, Lieutenant Avery is a navy man with no wish to marry, or so they both assume as they enter into a friendship. Rebecca hopes to change her family’s mind about her betrothed, but the more she comes to know the handsome lieutenant, the more she wonders if she promised her hand too hastily.

After all her carefully laid plans are shattered during a family crisis, Rebecca must force her heart to decide. Should she stay true to the promise she made or fight for the future she’s only just begun to imagine?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

When she found the man she wanted to spend her life with, Miss Rebecca Rowley never expected it would be so difficult. Keeping her engagement a secret from her family due to her fiancee being the son of the man who ruined her father, she longs for escape and freedom. Her moments spent alone with her horse are her lifeline, but she finds herself saving the sister of her new neighbour, Lieutenant Nicholas Avery, and crossing paths again and again. With Nicholas, she can be herself, and doesn't need to hide her bareback riding, nor her ambitions. But she soon realises that she's been thinking less of her fiancee, and more of Nicholas, but they can't be together, can they?

This was another really quick read that I don't know why I had put off for so long. I liked Rebecca and Nicholas' relationship, and the way that they worked together to help each other, and to help Nicholas' sister, Olivia come to terms with her mother's death, and their new home. I do wish that Rebecca had spoken with Nicholas about the truth of her relationship with the fiancee. However, the angst was dealt with perfectly, and there was the right amount of pining and longing to whet the appetite. A lovely read from a new to me author!

Dates Read:
June 5, 2023

Rating
3 Stars