It was a treat to revisit the Etienne family with this follow up to Beyond the Lavender Fields!

Clean historical romance is always a win for me and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this one early!

4.5 ⭐️

This book seriously surprised me! First, because from the title, I immediately thought of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia… not France. Oops. Once that was quickly cleared up, everything was peachy! Second, I’m not a huge French Revolution fan, but I actually really enjoyed this book!

Armelle & Max caught my heart. They’re an amazing couple and balance each other out so well. I’m not usually a redeemed playboy fan, but combined with the tortured hero, it worked well here. Armelle is witty, spunky, and full of sunshine, while Max is grumpy, protective, and struggles with loneliness & guilt in his past. It has an enemies-to-lovers feel with a dash of the fake relationship to it (Armelle & Max are on the run & pretend to be married, nothing untoward happens). I loved them. And Quéré the priest was a favourite—such a sweet and kind fatherly figure!

The plot is intense with plenty of high stakes, and left me feeling so glad I didn’t live in this era, haha.

All in all, it gave me a new appreciation for the era! And apparently Max’s brother Gilles has a book, too, so I’m definitely going to read that!!


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

So so so so good!!!
Ahhh!!!
If you loved Beyond the Lavender Fields you’re going to love this one!

This author has such a way of wedding history and romance and it’s beautiful!!

Armelle and Etienne find themselves on opposite sides politically, but also indebted to each other for their very lives. This is the story of how their differences begin to fall away as they get to know each other and rely on each other. We have a little enemies to lovers meets grumpy/sunshine story within the context of the French Revolution!

I LOVED this book! Arlen Hawks did an amazing job of showing that we all have light and darkness inside of us, that the answers to the problems of humanity are rarely simple with clear answers, and that love can live even among those who disagree. So many beautiful messages for our time wound up in this wonderful story!

I received an ARC from #netgalley , all enthusiastic opinions are entirely my own!

Arlem Hawks is a good storyteller. I've read all her books to date and have enjoyed all of them. War stories aren't usually my thing because I like to read light and fluffy for the most part but I'll read Ms. Hawks.
This historical fiction was dramatic. It is a love story, definitely opposites attract, but the setting of the French Revolution gives it a darker feel. War is like that.
Maxence is not a very likeable character in the beginning but even so we see his humanity right off so the readers knows he can be redeemed. I loved watching his growth through the book. Armelle is likeable but she learns along the way as well. These two manage to save each other multiple times over the course of the book, both physically and emotionally.
I liked that the author showed us both sides of the war. We saw that both sides had valid reasons for their beliefs. I found myself wondering which side I would have been on.
I also found myself wondering how these two could ever have a happily ever after. Would this be a historical fiction story where one or both dies or would they walk away because their lives are just too different? Would I be able to bear it if it that happened? I don't like sad endings. There was only way way to find out and that was to keep reading.
Enjoyable read.

Sex: some innuendo
Language: no
Violence: yes

ALONG A BRETON SHORE follows on after Beyond the Lavender Hills by ARLEM HAWKS, and it is an equally beautiful novel which takes place in France in 1792 during the French Revolution, with the Jacobins, Chouans and Sans-Culottes, all against the counter-revolutionaries, but also fighting one another. The author portrays the horror and confusion of the time, with no one more confused than Maxence Etienne, who feels unloved by his family, let down by his brother Gilles, and guilty for the death of his best friend Emile Daubin.. A member of the barbourous Federes, he is determined to make his mark in the new French Republic. When he is called upon to shoot the beautiful Armelle Bernard for her altercation with an ungodly Catholic priest, who was the cause of her father’s imprisonment, he refuses and is himself imprisoned in the dreaded Coffee Warehouse Jail.
Armelle, who is counter revolutionary, although not a fan of the Royalistes, is as talkative and funny as Maxence is depressed and morose……
There is such a lot more to this story, in which the author has caught the essence of France and the French in this terrible time of history, but I am not goingnto tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
This is an exciting book, based on solid historical facts, with a beautiful romance and unforgettable characters, and I found it inspirational. I highly recommend Along a Breton Shore to anyone who enjoys a good historical romance.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Arlem always writes such fun historically rich books. I’m always happy when I’ve read an enjoyable book and come away with new knowledge of a certain time period. The romance was also well done and not over the top. It is a good balance that keeps you intrigued and not skipping over boring historical passages or romance drama. I would highly recommend to historical fiction readers.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well, this made me so happy I read historical romance because it gave everything I love about it and in wonderful proportion: firmly focused on the couple’s romantic journey but very much intertwined with historic events, culture and language. I love a simple Regency ballroom story, but when a historical romance has an extensive glossary and has me constantly googling different sides of history and places I don’t know that much about, I just get particularly nerdcited. My first read from this author, the writing is very seamlessly transporting, and I enjoyed it inmmensely.

The trope/characterization combo was everything: mutual rescuing, perilous forced roadtrip with a philosophically at odds grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a good portion of fake marriage (oh my word, that first “ ma femme” *swoon*), one barn floor and one bed (all very awkwardly innocent), plus he falls first. Max is pretty woe-is-me for most of it, and Armelle has her impetuous TSTL moments, but the way our formerly rakish, formerly ideallistic, now jaded and insecure revolutionary soldier goes from guilt-ridden and stoic to learning to accept help and open up thanks to the unrelenting, aggravating chipping away by this teasingly combative and compassionate carpenter’s daughter was so fun and lovely to see.

The absorbing main story and its resolution, with its arc of our hero reconciling his past and his sense of value, opening his eyes to kindness beyond differences and forgiveness for himself and others, plus our heroine’s maturing and own realizations, was five star the whole way for me. However, no spoilers, but I can’t not mention that there was a pretty big damper on that third act for me. If I had read Beyond the Lavender Fields before this (this book takes place after and is the story of that hero’s older brother) I would’ve been very crushed at revealed continuing events for that couple. I tried to separate that from how this story ends so satisfyingly, but alas, dashed hopes that a different choice had been made to bring about the same softening of hearts just brought down my HEA fulfillment for everyone involved.

All in all, I’m so glad I read this, and if you love a generous dose of history with your tropey adventure romance, you won’t want to miss this epic journey…along a Breton shore (Had to).

Very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this as an ARC.

Content: Great tension, kissing only. Constant peril and some not very graphic acts of war violence.

Quick Summary of Rating:
This book is a solid 4.5. 5 stars for the great story and characters and their development, but -.5 for the not always clear historical/situational descriptions.

Always so fun and refreshing to read a historical fiction book that is about a moment and place in history that I have some, but not extensive familiarity. The romance was wonderful. No insta-love harps and cupids immediately happening here. I loved how the characters were so human, almost to such a truly unlikeable level that is not too often found in this genres. Yet, you see the slow bit steady growth in character that it makes them both likable and relatable. My favorite stories include character growth. I feel this adds a real depth and reality to a story, as well as makes it more thought provoking and introspective for the reader.

Only negative is that sometimes the historical/situational descriptions weren’t always written in a way that were easy to follow. I had to do a lot of rereading of some of those parts, and some I still never fully understood or just kept reading if I was tired of rereading sections trying to understand each detail that wasn’t making sense to me. I have to acknowledge the difficulty of the task for an author to weave in the historical information in a way that isn’t dry and stuff or “telling” the audience so it doesn’t come off like there’s a narrator voice in the story. But, I have read many historical books where a smoothness has been achieved. In wish I could give more constructive feedback on what specifically those authors did, but because it was so seamless I didn’t even notice.

This is the third book of Arlem Hawks’ that I’ve read. I’ve given all of them 4 stars thus far. Excited to keep reading anything she has and will pen. I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

This book is simply amazing! It is so well-crafted, from the vivid characters to the authentic history setting. I always love reading anything from Arlem Hawks, and this book delivers on every level. I loved the connections to previous books (even if my heart broke a little). One of my favorite things is how skillfully written the main characters are - they don’t agree on most things, and fall on opposing sides of the political discussion of their time. However, when they each argue their case, the reader can feel their conviction and see both sides of the debate. I highly recommend for readers of historical fiction!

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I just completed the book Along a Breton Shore by Arlem Hawks, and this is the first book I’ve read by this author. The story follows Maxence Etienne and Armelle Bernard. Maxence Étienne believes fiercely in the Revolution and longs for his name to be listed among the heroes bringing liberty to France.
Maxence impresses upon me as someone who wants to belong. He never felt that he belongs anywhere. Not in his family, where his mother dotes on his younger brother, not with his father as a mariner, and through the pages of this book, not as a soldier. When Maxence is called upon to settle a disturbance between a priest and a young counterrevolutionary woman—Armelle Bernard, the argument with the priest escalates, ending in an order for Armelle’s immediate execution. Maxence has demons and refuses to murder her. From this pivotal decision, we follow Maxence and Armelle as they try to escape the city and meet family somewhere else.
Armelle is so likable, congenial, and fearless, and that’s easy to see why these characters bump heads and often disagree on the fundamentals of humanity. But then, as the story unfolds, it becomes a love story, and you get to watch these two people from different walks of life find balance.

I appreciated the historical aspects of this book as well. I never knew much about the French Revolution and wasn’t aware that there were different factions in the country that all had opinions on moving the country forward with no monarchy.

I would highly recommend this book and look for more books by this author.

Arlem Hawks does it again! I fell in love with the first book and this one was no different. We have a beautiful view into history and the injustices the people faced but also get to see the beauty in the story at the same time. Plus I love a good romance!

Everytime I read a new book by Arlem Hawks I prepare myself for it to not be as good as her last book. Every time she proves me wrong, and each new book becomes my new favorite. Along a Breton Shore did not disappoint. Arlem Hawks is a master at spinning a compelling story that grips you, pulls you in, and doesn’t let go until the very end.
You will feel all the emotions with this book. The confusions, struggles, and growth Armelle and Maxence went through became mine.
Throughout this story (which plays on favorite tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, etc) you will be kept on your toes as the characters move from one trial to the other, on their way to safety. There were times I did not know how on earth things could be resolved to a satisfying end without being completely unbelievable. As always, Arlem Hawks delivered.
I loved Maxence and Armelle. Their personalities shone through the page. The relationship between them grew reasonably (no instalove). The author did an excellent job of showing, not telling, the changing of their relationship from enemies, to friends, to lovers. The slow burn was perfect.
This is a standalone BUT there are some major spoilers to the previous book, Beyond the Lavender Fields. I would definitely recommend reading that first, as it will give you important background information about Maxence that will be helpful as you read this story.
Five out of five stars. I will be rereading this book again.

4.5⭐️
I love this author and I loved this book. AH writes heartfelt stories with endearing romance and always an adventure. I liked the h and H so much. Armelle was everything I like to see in a female character and I loved her personality. Max was the handsome, broody character that you can’t help but notice. I smiled a lot and really liked the dude characters.
This novel told a lot about our human nature and how we reconcile are beliefs and freedoms. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.

This was stunning! The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing. I highly recommend this beautiful telling of the power of love. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This was a perfect blend of historical fiction and romance. I don’t know much about this period in history so I was worried I would get lost when politics came up, but the author managed it very well-I didn’t feel lost or confused, but I also didn’t feel like I was getting a history lesson.
The MCs were so likable. Max! I loved the way they meet-that meeting seems to kind of define what kind of person he is, even if he forgets occasionally. So so good!

The epilogue wrapped everything in a nice neat bow. But…. I want to hear more about You Know Who from the previous book-I really hope that story is continued. (Vague to avoid spoilers, if ya know ya know 😉)

This is my favorite Arlem Hawks book yet! War is raging in France. Armelle is caught in a disturbance and Maxence allows her to flee rather than follow orders to end her life. Another soldier is accidentally killed in the process, and Maxence is jailed. Armelle, feeling an obligation to save her unexpected helper, hatches a daring plan to free him. Now they must help each other find safety.

I wasn’t a fan of Maxence from the previous book, so I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy his story. It was good to hear his point of view and see his growth throughout the book. And Armelle was spirited and independent and a lovely thorn in Maxence’s side. Ha!

Not gonna lie, the pronunciation/terms guides at the beginning are a little intimidating, but don’t let that stop you. This is a great love story, but it isn’t without tragedy, so be prepared.

Thank you, Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I just— wow!!! Wow! Friends. I don’t have the words to describe the beauty of this book. I’m going on 4 hours of sleep right now because I stayed up and binged the rest of the book (I was at 50% last night) and I know on this little sleep I can’t give my review of this book justice, so I’ll pause for the moment. But! I’m on a major reading high and had to tell everyone that I’m saying this book will be my top favorite this year. It’s the middle of January and I’m calling it now. It’s definitely in my top 2 books of all time (#1 historical) and I’m looking forward to reading this story.
It made me laugh, it gave me allll the butterflies, I giggled at the flirting (yep. I went there) and I most definitely cried my eyes out.
LOVE this book. Absolutely loved it.
Pick it up now. (Although I truly believe you will love it 100000x more if you read the first book, Beyond the Lavender fields first)

I made the mistake of requesting this book without having read Arlem’s previous book. While I did start this, I didn’t want to finish it because it would’ve given away things from Beyond the Lavender Fields.
What I did read I loved so much. Arlem has such a way of making history come alive and putting you right in the middle of everything. I love her characters and the plot lines she comes up with. I cannot wait to finish this!

4.5 stars

I totally fell in love with this clean historical romance!

Armelle (aside from having a pretty name) is a strong willed character who lets her passions/emotions drive her, even though they often get her into trouble. She wants to keep her family safe, even if that means becoming separated from them.

Maxence wants to make a difference in the world (and be recognized for it). Still, he has a moral compass and refuses to kill Armelle when ordered to do so. Maxence is so sweet and charming!!!

I loved the backdrop of the French Revolution as it added an extra layer of ... romance to the story. I LOVE stories about the French revolution, especially when they show love interests with differing beliefs on the revolution!

I appreciated that the book had a pronunciation guide; I needed it. I would've loved it if it included a map (even though some of the cities were fictional), though.

My main complaint is that the story got a bit slow in the middle. Even though they were on the run, it never felt like they were too close to getting caught.

I would highly recommend this sweet, historical, clean romance!!!

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.