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Awaken
Could there exist a love powerful enough to overcome the grave?
Hard times during the Great Depression force twenty-year-old Florence to leave her service at the monastery and seek employment. Fate brings her to work for a wealthy recluse, General Alexander Sterling. What she doesn’t know is that he has left his native country escaping a painful past. A past that he yearns to forget, but destiny won’t allow it as her presence brings it into complete focus.
Despite many daunting events and a meddling housekeeper with dark secrets of her own, Florence and Alexander fall deeply in love. And when an explosive truth shatters their blossoming romance, a mysterious stranger gives her an opportunity to travel back in time to unlock the secret to her existence.
Florence must strive to return to the present to save their relationship from the imminent danger that awaits them.
Hard times during the Great Depression force twenty-year-old Florence to leave her service at the monastery and seek employment. Fate brings her to work for a wealthy recluse, General Alexander Sterling. What she doesn’t know is that he has left his native country escaping a painful past. A past that he yearns to forget, but destiny won’t allow it as her presence brings it into complete focus.
Despite many daunting events and a meddling housekeeper with dark secrets of her own, Florence and Alexander fall deeply in love. And when an explosive truth shatters their blossoming romance, a mysterious stranger gives her an opportunity to travel back in time to unlock the secret to her existence.
Florence must strive to return to the present to save their relationship from the imminent danger that awaits them.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 21, 2024
My first encounter with this author, and it certainly won't be my last! The writing style is absolutely magnificent. Blending gothic elements, time travel, mystery, mayhem, and romance, the story kept me captivated from start to finish. I found myself completely engrossed and unable to put it down.
Florence and Alexander are wonderfully crafted characters, both intriguing and delightful to read about. The way the story interweaves their lives, bringing each character to life, is truly masterful. While I found myself wary of characters like Mrs. White, I was charmed by Zaira, which only added to the richness of the narrative. Despite my suspicions, nothing deterred me from giving this book a well-deserved 5 stars!
Thank You NetGalley and City Owl Press for the opportunity to read this! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Florence and Alexander are wonderfully crafted characters, both intriguing and delightful to read about. The way the story interweaves their lives, bringing each character to life, is truly masterful. While I found myself wary of characters like Mrs. White, I was charmed by Zaira, which only added to the richness of the narrative. Despite my suspicions, nothing deterred me from giving this book a well-deserved 5 stars!
Thank You NetGalley and City Owl Press for the opportunity to read this! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 9, 2024
This author has an absolute flair for all things dark and Gothic. Throw in the ghosts and things that go “bump” in the night, and a twisted love tangle worthy of the Bronte sisters, and you’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of this story. I had so many theories about what was going on in Florence and Alex’s lives, but I think the only reason I came close to the truth was thanks to the blurb for the second book. I was led on a merry chase as I got to know these characters. Though, I have to admit that I wasn’t a fan of past-Florence. A lot of her behavior during their courtship was that of an entitled spoiled brat, and that made her more difficult for me to empathize with. Now, my one-click finger is itchy to get ahold of book two to find out the rest of the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
July 9, 2024
Book Review
Remedy - Marcia Armandi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Remedy is the first book that I’ve read by this author. I absolutely loved this novel, and didn’t want it to end. I found the premise of the story absolutely fascinating. It revolves around the premise of past lives and loves admist a transcendental love story. The novel was beautifully written in such a way that you could feel the characters stepping out of the page and into the room. I cannot wait for more in this series to find out how the story continues.
Remedy - Marcia Armandi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Remedy is the first book that I’ve read by this author. I absolutely loved this novel, and didn’t want it to end. I found the premise of the story absolutely fascinating. It revolves around the premise of past lives and loves admist a transcendental love story. The novel was beautifully written in such a way that you could feel the characters stepping out of the page and into the room. I cannot wait for more in this series to find out how the story continues.
July 4, 2024
I absolutely love reading books written by Marcia Armandi and as soon as I saw Awaken on tour I knew I had to sign up because I knew this wasn't one to miss.
Awaken I felt was a little slower paced than the previous novels I've read but it still has all those lovely unique stamps of a Marcia Armandi novel - for those that have read her novels, hopefully you will understand what I mean 🩷
I really love the way Marcia Armandi writes, she pulls you into the story and you're reading through the pages, before you know it the story is over and you're sat there mouth agape, a little shook at how the story all unravelled. It's pure brilliance.
When I was reading Awaken I really didn't know what direction it was going to take, which I love about Marcia Armandi's novels, they catch me by surprise. I really liked Florence and Alexander and as characters they were both intriguing and lovely to read about. I really enjoyed how the story was interwoven and how each character brought it to life.
I could really go on into details about everything but I have a real fear of accidentally spoiling things. All I know is that everyone should read this novel, in fact everyone should read the other novels by Marcia Armandi too!
Awaken I felt was a little slower paced than the previous novels I've read but it still has all those lovely unique stamps of a Marcia Armandi novel - for those that have read her novels, hopefully you will understand what I mean 🩷
I really love the way Marcia Armandi writes, she pulls you into the story and you're reading through the pages, before you know it the story is over and you're sat there mouth agape, a little shook at how the story all unravelled. It's pure brilliance.
When I was reading Awaken I really didn't know what direction it was going to take, which I love about Marcia Armandi's novels, they catch me by surprise. I really liked Florence and Alexander and as characters they were both intriguing and lovely to read about. I really enjoyed how the story was interwoven and how each character brought it to life.
I could really go on into details about everything but I have a real fear of accidentally spoiling things. All I know is that everyone should read this novel, in fact everyone should read the other novels by Marcia Armandi too!
July 20, 2024
This was an advanced readers copy from NetGalley. Thank you so very much!
I loved this book and can't wait to pick up/see if there are other books in this series. This had a great mystery/thriller, romance vibe to it. I loved how the characters inter acted with each other. I actually want to know what has happened to some of the others from this book.
In this book General Sterling and his wife have a great and epic love story that ascends time and space. We get to see how when a chance meeting can make or break the future, past and present
Mrs. Florence Contini takes a chance on a job working for a recluse General Sterling from England during the depression. This chance meeting sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately lead to her falling in love with the General. She reminds him of someone dear to him and she's lost in a circle of frenzy trying to uncover the mystery surrounding this manor called Oak's Place. Florence can see ghosts that hang around Oaks place. Seems like everyone has something to hide. Was it the Gardener, the housekeeper, the cook or the driver? You will have to read it to find out.
I loved this book and can't wait to pick up/see if there are other books in this series. This had a great mystery/thriller, romance vibe to it. I loved how the characters inter acted with each other. I actually want to know what has happened to some of the others from this book.
In this book General Sterling and his wife have a great and epic love story that ascends time and space. We get to see how when a chance meeting can make or break the future, past and present
Mrs. Florence Contini takes a chance on a job working for a recluse General Sterling from England during the depression. This chance meeting sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately lead to her falling in love with the General. She reminds him of someone dear to him and she's lost in a circle of frenzy trying to uncover the mystery surrounding this manor called Oak's Place. Florence can see ghosts that hang around Oaks place. Seems like everyone has something to hide. Was it the Gardener, the housekeeper, the cook or the driver? You will have to read it to find out.
July 11, 2024
Awaken is a charming historical romance with a little time travel thrown in. Abandoned as a baby, Florence has always wondered about her past. When she takes a job as a personal secretary to Alexander Sterling, things seem fairly odd at first. Mr Sterling is often hidden away due to illness, and his housekeeper is fiercely protective of him, not allowing Florence to get close. They do manage to have a few strange encounters and soon develop feelings for each other, but there is something more that neither of them can yet explain.
When Florence encounters someone from her past and is able to travel back in time she find answers to many of the questions plaguing her today, where she came from, who are her family and why is she so drawn to Mr Sterling? It's a lovely story told between the two timelines, with a host of wonderful characters alongside Florence and Alex.
I look forward to reading more from Marcia Armandi.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Florence encounters someone from her past and is able to travel back in time she find answers to many of the questions plaguing her today, where she came from, who are her family and why is she so drawn to Mr Sterling? It's a lovely story told between the two timelines, with a host of wonderful characters alongside Florence and Alex.
I look forward to reading more from Marcia Armandi.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2024
Awaken was a solid 3⭐️ read for me- it had so many things going for it! World War 1 in England as one of the settings, historical romance, time travel, enemies to lovers. I didn’t see most of the twists coming and stayed up WAY too late to read the last few chapters. I just wish a little more of the romance and connection between the main characters was fleshed out- all of the scenes with Alex being NOT nice were fully detailed with dialogue and insight into how Florence felt about it, but we would jump forward months in time when the main characters were solid and falling in love, and were told they loved each other instead of shown how they got there. It made it a lot harder to connect with Alex the way I know we were supposed to.
July 8, 2024
The premise of this book was really unusual. It’s the story of past lives and the transcendental love story. It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I liked it a lot. Florence is the main character and Alex is her true love. Florence’s lives were really interesting. Alex was her love in each one. I thought the idea that their love was strong enough to transcend time was lovely. The writing style really pulled me into the story and got me invested in the characters. I really wanted them to get their happily ever after. The characters were very likable as well, with a good story. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
June 25, 2024
Thank you to the author for the copy 💕
At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like the book as I don't really like historical fiction, but the blurb pulled me in and I'm so glad it did! It was a bit confusing at what was going on towards the start but once it started making sense to me I was loving it. I loved reading about Florence's lives and how they fit into the plot of the book, as well as I loved reading about the romance between Florence and Alex in both of her lives. I also loved the twists at the end of the book and then how cute the ending of the book was.
At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like the book as I don't really like historical fiction, but the blurb pulled me in and I'm so glad it did! It was a bit confusing at what was going on towards the start but once it started making sense to me I was loving it. I loved reading about Florence's lives and how they fit into the plot of the book, as well as I loved reading about the romance between Florence and Alex in both of her lives. I also loved the twists at the end of the book and then how cute the ending of the book was.
July 6, 2024
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH - IT IS NOW MY FAVE OF 2024
This novel was written so beautifully that you could feel yourself getting sucked into the story and becoming invested in the love story between Florence and Alex. This had an element of dual time lines and when I got to that section of the story and read about the past, i realised how much i needed a good ending for them. The way that this story has been told is wonderful and I am now patiently waiting to see what happens in the next book in the series.
This novel was written so beautifully that you could feel yourself getting sucked into the story and becoming invested in the love story between Florence and Alex. This had an element of dual time lines and when I got to that section of the story and read about the past, i realised how much i needed a good ending for them. The way that this story has been told is wonderful and I am now patiently waiting to see what happens in the next book in the series.
July 3, 2024
Awaken by Marcia Armandi.
Shadows of a Forgotten Past Book 1.
I loved the cover. It was gorgeous. This is a new author for me. This was a good read. I did like the story, and it took me a while to get into it. I did like Florence and Alex. Mrs White, I didn't trust her at all. Zaira, I liked. I did like how everyone helped her. The sister and priest. Even the Dr. I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*.
Shadows of a Forgotten Past Book 1.
I loved the cover. It was gorgeous. This is a new author for me. This was a good read. I did like the story, and it took me a while to get into it. I did like Florence and Alex. Mrs White, I didn't trust her at all. Zaira, I liked. I did like how everyone helped her. The sister and priest. Even the Dr. I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*.
July 2, 2024
My rating is 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this standalone book. The storyline includes a mysterious past and love that transcends time. It is about true love triumphing over all. Awaken’s storyline was refreshingly unique and kept me guessing what was truly going on. I recommend Awaken for a easy and refreshing read. I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
July 13, 2024
I loved the sound of this one and jumped at the chance to read this. So many aspects drew me in to want to pick this up.
The cover for one, like how stunning is this, and yes, a gorgeous cover IS a good reason to pick up a book.
Add in
slowburnromance
gothicvibes
darksecrets
timeslip
and historical fiction and I was sold on this one.
It didnt disappoint.
I loved getting to know both Alex and Florence at the start. The trickle in of little clues and mysteries of the past.
A ghostly stranger in the woods, a mysterious, strange dreams, a vengeful housekeeper and Alex's mysterious illness all helped build the vibes of this story.
Yes I did guess some parts of this , but I didnt care. The suspense was there all the same, as well as a love that looked set to surpass even the restraints of time.
The romance in this was just so sweet. The tension spot on. The build up slow but steady and full of tension and clues.
I highly recommend this.
The cover for one, like how stunning is this, and yes, a gorgeous cover IS a good reason to pick up a book.
Add in
slowburnromance
gothicvibes
darksecrets
timeslip
and historical fiction and I was sold on this one.
It didnt disappoint.
I loved getting to know both Alex and Florence at the start. The trickle in of little clues and mysteries of the past.
A ghostly stranger in the woods, a mysterious, strange dreams, a vengeful housekeeper and Alex's mysterious illness all helped build the vibes of this story.
Yes I did guess some parts of this , but I didnt care. The suspense was there all the same, as well as a love that looked set to surpass even the restraints of time.
The romance in this was just so sweet. The tension spot on. The build up slow but steady and full of tension and clues.
I highly recommend this.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews