Let There Be Love (Sled Dog #1) by Melissa Storm

Here's the blurb

Lauren Dalton’s world shattered the day her father died. Now she’s willing to move four-thousand miles away from the only home she’s ever known in hopes of discovering the truth about his hidden past.

Shane Ramsey’s reputation says all anyone needs to know. He’s an amazing racer, but a terrible person. When an injury leaves him unable to work his dogs, he must swallow his pride and accept help for the sake of his team.Will Shane open his home and his heart to the young woman who already shares his greatest love? Will Lauren find her place—and the truth about her family’s past—in helping the cantankerous Shane? 

This book was really nice. I came to it with a chip on my shoulder because I bought it, and about two or three weeks later the author started giving it away for free, and that annoyance  had me putting off this book until I felt guilty about it. 

Lauren and Shane are both wonderfully complex characters, with complicated back stories and deep feelings about what they care for. Although Shane could have used more softening up in the pages (most of his change was kind of in a timeskip), as I think his personality change was way too abrupt, and the jump from friends to lovers even more so. 

However, I was a most bothered by Lauren's relationship with Barbara. I understand the reason for her reaction (choosing to forgive for herself), but I find the "always forgive bad parents who seek redemption" trope to be sad, especially when being forgiving can come to great emotional cost to a child, and could allow the parent to cause more harm. I think her character was set to be absolutely pitiful in a way that would allow for Lauren's forgiveness to be acceptable. And Barbara's actions were horribly selfish, in every single point. Even if Lauren could forgive her, she's a character I came to hate in a chapter or less.

Although I had a bit of a lengthy complaint, that doesn't mean I didn't find the book to be enjoyable, it means I am done with abusive parents being forgiven by virtue of belonging to the genetic code of the child. Shoutout to Edward Dalton, a deserving, wonderful literary dad.

The Replacement Princess by Katy Haye (Clockwork war 0.5)

Here's the summary from Goodreads

Imagine that Queen Elizabeth I never ruled. 
England and Scotland never unified. 
It's 1841 the two countries are once more at war. 

16-year-old English Princess Myrtle holds the fate of two nations in her hands. She can bring about a truce by marrying Scottish Prince James. Since he is just a boy of 14, she has two years to unlearn everything she thought she knew about Scotland and fall in love with the country that will be her home, and the boy destined to become her husband. 

The son of a Scottish Duke, Callum McAllister joins the court to teach Myrtle about Scotland and change her reluctant mind about her future. But when war has been simmering for centuries, two years is a long time. The smallest misstep could bring chaos and return the countries to war. Myrtle must tread carefully to ensure nothing goes wrong. 

I really liked this story. It really makes me want to read the Clockwork War. Myrtle, for being a princess, is a very relatable character, and I really wish she was allowed to marry McAllister. If you have an hour or so to spare, don't hesitate to get this book. 

 A worthy read, no doubt.