Received an ARC for an honest review.
This particular book was interesting, it has all of the things that you would hope for (that I hope for) in a book. Magic, dragons, romance, danger, family. I really enjoyed the story line and the whole idea of this series. However, I found myself needing to slow down and re read certain parts, some of this story felt a little rushed, especially at the end. The constant use of 'ye' was also strange and was almost sporadic. I think that it had to do with what language they were speaking, depending on who the main character was talking to, but it is hard to tell.

I loved the bond between the sisters and all of the magical elements that is brought to this book, I feel that if there was just a little more plot growth this book could become a favorite.

Sorcha, one of the Enchanted kids with special abilities, ends up in enemy territory to be saved by a Robin Hood character. Despite having trust issues she and Woodsman, also Enchanted, end up fighting the same enemy while falling for each other.

This was a nice story with interesting characters. They did act somewhat strange in times, giving the whole story a bit of a high school drama feeling, thus I would definitely tag it as Young Adult if not for a couple of rather explicit sexual encounters.

Dragons, castles, magical talents, shifters, talking trees, wicked evil villains, and a love story. What’s not to love ? It was a fun read, a hard to put down storyline and there was a very sexy mysterious Woodsman. It was the perfect book to save me from watching “the big football game” LOL
Sorcha, is a princess with an attitude. She’s part of an extended family of women raised in an orphanage. She is not one to be quiet and sip her tea while the men plan, no she will get into it. I like her :D
The villains were so vile ! Seriously it was easy to hate them and wish terrible things happen to them. There is a mother, a winner of the worst mother award fro sure. The things she does ! She’s not bright, or terribly beautiful just cutthroat to the bone. Another one that just made my blood boil with a sniveling privileged man/boy who thought he was owed. I may have cheered loudly as a few of them fell.
I hadn’t read any of the Embraced Books that this series came from and was a bit lost in the beginning but quickly figured out the little details and how they fit together. The snippet for the next book at the end sounds really good. I’ll be reading it for sure.

This novel just wasn't for me. The romance aspect felt forced and progressed at such a rapid speed it left very little intrigue. For someone who has not read any other work by this author, I felt the plot was confusing and again rushed.

Additionally, I did not care for Sorcha's character. She seemed lack luster and at times annoying. Finally, I loathed the inconsistent use of "ye". Ye should remove this!

I feel like I just read a book by an entirely different author! I'm not sure what happened between the 3rd book in the series and this one, but I think the author lost her way. The heroine acted very strange, not the usual strong heroine I've become accustomed to in books by Kerrelyn Sparks. Sorcha was really very silly, and the whole conflict in the romance stemmed from her being scared because she loves too deeply (this was so weird to me) and also from believing so much in the Telling Stones that she was willing to overlook the relationship she could have with the Woodsman. It felt very forced, and when his conflict came into play about keeping her safe, I just felt it had been done before. It didn't have the usual uniqueness to it as the other books in the series.

I also felt the story was very predictable - I knew what was going to happen before it happened, so halfway through the book, I figured I could just put the book down because I already knew the ending. Of course I continued reading to the end, but everything I predicted would happen did eventually happen.

I wanted to give this a great rating, because I still love Kerrelyn Sparks. But I love the old Kerrelyn and I want her back. This book is not to her usual standards, I know she can write better than this. I look forward to the next and final book in the series, hopefully better than this one.

This is the fourth book in the "Embraced" series but the first from this publisher, thus the book #1 label. The others were published under the series title "A Novel of the Embraced."

Sorcha is one of 5 young women who are "embraced," or have magical gifts. They were sent to the Isle of the Moon to be raised, and became sisters of the heart growing up. They are now on the mainland of Aerthlan, having dangerous adventures and falling in love.

Sorcha is the biological sister of the king of Norevshki, and her "sister" is his queen. Through a treacherous event at the border with the enemy elfish land, Woodwyn, Sorcha is rescued by the Woodsman. The Woodsman is a thief--or is he? Is he actually honorable? And why is Sorcha so attracted to him when the Telling Stones said she would fall in love with an elf with lavender eyes and white hair? The Woodsman has brown hair. But their attraction to each other is undeniable. And is there more to the Woodsman than there seems to be?
***
Sorcha and the Woodsman are both likable characters, and the Woodsman is heroic. The book is full of danger, magic, murder, court intrigue, a rebellion, dragon-shifters, a master villain, and a secret.

The book is also full of Kerrelyn Sparks' signature understated humor. For instance, Sorcha's magic is fire--it's not a coincidence that her name sounds like scorch. The mild sex scenes are always humorous because of the sisters' naiveté. There's a character or two who provide comic relief, and there's a running gag about the Woodsman always having a plan. The book is just plain fun to read in spite of the suspense.

The book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the other books in the series to fully appreciate it.

I read an ARC, but this is my honest opinion, freely given.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been waiting for the 4th book in the series for a while and it did not disappoint. Sorcha being taken hostage has us learning more about the elves and why they have been attacking Norveshka. After meeting the Woodsman, she realizes not all elves are necessarily evil. Sorcha tries her best not to fall in love with anyone, but cannot deny her attraction to the Woodsman. Brody and Aleski are featured more heavily in this book and we learn more about the Circle of 5 and their goals. There were definitely parts that were predictable, but I feel like that is true of most romance novels. I can’t wait for the Maeve’s book to come out and see how this all ends.

I received this ARC from netgalley in exchange for and honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. I do think you would benefit from reading the other 3 books in this series first. I was a little lost in the beginning until I started remembering what had happened previously..
The woodsman was pretty cool, and I really loved his power over wood, and the fact that he is an elf means he can talk to the trees. Sorcha can make fire with a snap of her fingers, although she hasn't had a lot of practice due to an incident where she almost burned down a kitchen when she was 8.
While I did enjoy this book quite a bit, it wasn't my favorite in the series, that would have to go to the last one that came out.. It had Dragons.. what can i say I love Dragons...
Also I think I'll do a reread of all the books before the next one comes out that way it will all be fresh in my mind.

Sorcha thinks that she isn't strong, she suffers from anxiety when her sisters and loved ones are but in danger. So much so that she can't eat. When a plot against her sister Gwen is discovered she rides along with her as a bodyguard. When Gwen is warned of an ambush everyone flees except one dragon Alexsi and Sorcha. Alexsi is injured and can't fly and sorcha won't leave him behind. So they are captured. When the Woodsman witnesses the capture he decides he needs to rescue them and return them home. On the journey to safety the woodsman and sorcha develop feelings for each other.
The woodsman is basically robbing the generals and soldiers of things they have themselves stolen from villages and people. He then returns the stolen goods. Turns out he has a bigger plan in motion, that I don't want to spoil but its pretty big. and while I had an idea something bigger was going on I didn't know what it was until a little bit before it was revealed.
I will be buying this book once its release to add it to the rest of the series that i have. and will def. be reading more by Kerrilyn Sparks going forward..
I also really enjoyed the sneak peak of the next book for Maeve she can turn into a seal, Im really hoping that this will be her story along with Brodies..

I’ve loved each story so far of the girls who grew to be sisters, each of them embraced with special abilities. This was a great addition to the previous books! (But the beginning of a new series? I can get behind that!)

Sorcha is captured when a plan to meet Gwen’s mother fails. Even as she sets out to rescue herself, a stranger interferes. Soon she’s taken captive again, this time by the Woodsman. But the further they travel and the more she learns about him, she begins to question if she’s his captive or if he’s rescuing her.

The Woodsman was a great hero. Not over the top about the heroine, but irresistibly drawn to her. I loved that she confused him and his emotions and often times had him talking to himself. She sent him on quite a bit of a chase.

’She was definitely a sneaky one. Unpredictable. Surprising. A challenge.

His mouth tilted up. He’d always enjoyed a challenge.’


While Sorcha was tough enough when needed, she suffered from anxiety when anyone she cared for was in danger. To me, that just seemed like what any normal person would do, but for some reason it was a negative characteristic, at least for her. However, I loved her innocence (gotta read about the community picnic) and her ability to keep the Woodsman guessing.


’”The Woodsman will have a plan.”

Liz smirked. “The Woodsman always has a plan.”

The crowd gave the Woodsman an expectant, hopeful look as he came to a stop in front of them.

“So?” Father Kit turned toward him. “What’s the plan?”

Hell if I know.’

This has a lot of humor interspersed within the drama and action. With some political intrigue as well as threats from a force that wants to rule the world, this story had plenty of layers to keep me engaged. There is a lot of romance here but very little steam. Normally, that would be okay but there was also a lack of chemistry between the hero and heroine, so even when I did get to what should have been the steamy parts, I just kinda skimmed through them. However, that did not take away from my overall enjoyment of this book.

As complicated as it was to like Sorcha, the main character of this story, I really enjoyed the writing of the author and it was easy to understand the backstory despite this being one of several books in her world.
I enjoyed her writing... until it came to the romance between Sorcha and the Woodsman.

Their interaction, their banter, their lust for each other is... *shudders*
From the way they talk to each other to what they do with each other, it's - I'm sorry - awful. I guess their banter was meant to be playful and funny, but it's not executed well. And I am really sorry for that because up until then I truly enjoyed Kerrelyn Sparks' writing style as it was easy to fall into and the descriptions and dialogue were really well.

Overall, since the weird romance is a huge part of this and I'm not really connecting with the characters, I won't look for the other books in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How to Love Your Elf, I thought this was the first book in a series but I read elsewhere that it is in fact the 4th in the Embraced series. I loved the concept of embraced people and elves and the whole Robin Hood aspect, there where moments when that shown through. The book was not easy to get into, a lot of information, hard to keep my attention. I enjoyed the relationship between the Woodsman and Sorcha, it was more interesting, even if it was predictable. Overall, I didn't dislike the book but it didn't make me want to go and read the rest of the series already out.

If Paranormal Romances are your passion don't miss anything written by Kerrelyn Sparks. I have read her vampire series years ago - So long ago I don't have them listed on my Goodreads site. More recently I have become a huge fan of her Embraced Series and followed this story line that is very unique. Some story board challenges must have been involved in this endeavor because while "How to Love Your Elf is a part of the Embraced Series it seems to start a new linked series Embraced by Magic. Her pages are full of all things that make a a fantasy romance GREAT! This tale tells the meeting of Sorcha who is sister to a dragon. And... the Woodsman who is an Elf with powers to hear the Forest and telegraph news to others with his ability. "A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." Hope the next in this series "Siren & the Deep Blue Sea" publishes soon.

Sorcha and the woodsman's HEA is a light fantasy and a quick read. Enjoyable, but needed more worldbuilding and character development. This is the first book I've read, and backstory alluded to the other embraced sisters story. It was a okay standalone, with a few engaging players. It lacked grabbing my interest to continue, or looking back to the other sisters stories. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley. 2.5 stars

I read this book all in one night, up until 1 a.m. to finish it! The plot was interesting and the banter between Sorcha and the Woodsman was so perfect. I was excited to learn that this is actually the 4th book in a 5 part series so I'm definitely going to go back and read the first three books. My only complaint about the book was that the sexy scenes were pretty lackluster, and some of what the Woodsman said didn't actually come to pass. Otherwise, a solid romance!

I was given a chance to read this novel by Netgalley, and I’d first like to say thank you for the opportunity. I own the first three books in the Embraced series, and was eager to read the fourth. This book lived up to my expectations! The hero is like Robin Hood, though with far more secrets. It was lovely to see a deeper side to Sorcha, particularly how anxious she became for those she loved. Beautiful love story!

Oh, how I love this story! Action, adventure, romance, love. What's not to love. I devoured How to Love Your Elf in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. Sorcha and the Woodsman were adorable together. Loved their interactions and banter. So cute and fun. Their chemistry was great. It was just a very fun and enjoyable story to read. But there was a moment that totally made me cried so be warned. Seriously a great read. I absolutely love this series.

*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*

When I saw a new paranormal series by Kerrelyn Sparks I was all over it. Then I found out that How to Love Your Elf was the continuation of the 'Embraced' series. Same series-ish ('Embraced' vs 'Embraced by Magic'), different publishers. Yay, Kensington Books! So.... due to my want for reviewing accuracy (and book availability per my Audible Escape membership), I had some homework to do. I can honestly recommend that you hit up the previous books of the 'Embraced' series prior to reading this or else you will feel pretty lost.

Now we finally get Sorcha's book. The fourth of the five 'adopted' embraced sisters from the Isle of Moon has her turn at destiny and fulfilling the prophecy from the telling stones. I really enjoyed this tale and the Woodsman. The parallels to Robin Hood were awesome. As always, the side characters were really fun. We find out more about the circle of five (and more that we don't know) and the lengths they have gone through from world domination. We learn more about where Gwennore came from and her past although we don't get much on-page time with her. I really found Aleski and her brother, Silas, made me want to smack them at times, but... I guess that's just the overbearing big brother sort of way.

All in all, this was a fun continuation of the Embraced storyline and I still have so many questions and hypotheses about the overarching story (the Circle of Five). I was sooooo hoping that Brody's story would be in here and I was also hoping it would cross with Maeve's as well.... yay! I am soo looking forward to 'The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea'!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.*

Elves, magic, princesses, and benevolent thieves—if that sounds good to you, you might enjoy Kerrelyn Sparks’s How to Love Your Elf.

Sorcha is a recently titled Norveshki princess who’s one of The Embraced—people born with unique magical powers and believed by many to be cursed. On a failed diplomatic mission Sorcha’s kidnapped and helped in her rescue by The Woodsman, a man believed to be a thief/bandit. As she travels back to safety with him Sorcha learns that things with him aren’t quite what they seem and that greed and violence threaten an already tenuous political situation. What’s the real identity of The Woodsman and is he as drawn to her as she is to him?

Sparks creates a world that feels fresh and young even though some violent, tumultuous events are taking place. The tone of the book is earnest and sincere with occasional moments of levity and passionate characters who are immediately infatuated with each other despite the significant factors that could keep them apart. The relationship between Sorcha and The Woodsman—like all of the other action in the book—moves quickly.

I can get behind a case of instalust, but it doesn’t always work for me here. With everything moving at such a fast clip—even the introductory information about the cast of characters and the world that Sparks creates—the book has an overall superficial feel.

How to Love Your Elf is entertaining--and I enjoyed reading it--but ultimately it's not a world or a set of characters that I really connected with.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

Fantasy, romance, intrigue, danger, and romance rolled up into a neat package. Kerrelyn Sparks is a master of combining all my favorite things into a great book. I marvel at her wonderful imagination that ends up giving us this amazing series. Luciana, Brigitta, and Gwennore are now queens, married to their true loves. Now it is Sorcha's turn. Only she refuses to love, love is painful. Furthermore, when the sisters played the Game of Stones for her the colors lavender and white were shown. If the stones are true for her as they were for her sisters, it would mean Sorcha's true love is an elf with lavender eyes and white hair. The problem is that Sorcha's really does not like elves, except for Gwennora, her sister who is only half elf. Unfortunately, for her she is captured by the elf army, but is saved by the elf renegade known as the Woodman. Now she is stuck in elf country, surrounded by them. What can she do now to get out of this situation? And just what or who is the Woodman and why can he talk to the Sacred trees? Just why is she so attracted to him? Yes, he has lavender eyes, but his hair is all wrong! This is the fourth book in the Embraced series. All the books in the series are outstanding reads. They deserve to be read from book one through the series, plus they will make more sense to the reader. Only one book more left (SOB!).

This book wasn't quite my thing. I prefer my character with a bit more depth and more extensive world-building. However, the book definitely serves it's purpose for people who just want a nice light fantasy read with a lot of intense/mushy romance.