Reading the synopsis for this book, I expected to really like it and I'm glad to say that I was right. I really enjoyed the book. The writing was very good and the characters were really likeable. I left the book feeling not quite satisfied, though. I think it was because, at least for me, the climax didn't feel as...well, climactic as it could've been, and so, when everything was getting wrapped up, it all felt a little too neat. Not to say I don't enjoy nice, neat endings, but to me it just seemed a bit underwhelming. Like I said, it definitely didn't keep me from enjoying the book, I just feel like it could've better stuck the landing. Overall a great debut novel, though.

I really enjoyed this read! It was adorable and hopeful, and I’m so glad that it had a happy ending. I already want a second book focusing on Ash and Penn’s older brother. It’s a very quick read and for that I was thankful, I’ve been in such a spot where I don’t want to read because everything’s so long. The quotations took a second to get used to but otherwise was seriously amazing!

PRE-READ THOUGHTS
This sounds fun and cute and like a book that will get me out of a slump if I ever fall into one. High predictions!

STATS
⚠️ Stay Safe, Friends: animal injury/death, child abuse, scars
⛰ Cliffhanger: NO AND I AM SOARING
🌶 Spice Check: Tobasco on my spice scale (you can find it in my profile!)
⭐️ Rating (?/5): 5/5!!!
🔂 Re-Readability: Y E S

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

TROPES SPOTTED IN THE WILD
•Arranged political marriage (adjacent?)
•Lust at first sight
•Hidden identity
•Royal lovers

SUMMARY + BASIC CHARACTER INFO AND RELATIONSHIPS
Raff and Penn, known to the rest of the world as William de Foucart, meet on the night before William is due to wed his new bride in Hartswood Forest. Raff and Penn team up and escape, unaware that their lives were intertwined before their first meeting. Freedom is their original goal, but maybe love will become more important.

🗡️Raff: protective, loyal, trusting, sturdy, golden-hearted, selfless and almost self-sacrificing. He's the one you want on your team, to be your ride-or-die. He's willing to help, if he can, and he has a strong sense of justice.

👑Penn: a little feisty, no self-love to be seen, cunning, witty, intelligent, quick and strategic. He's an asset as a political strategist and great at manipulating scenarios that will benefit those he is working to protect. He may not be able to save you with a dagger, but he's able to save you with his tongue (wow).

Like every book, there's a fun cast of side characters! I definitely enjoyed Raff's family way more than Penn's. Shocking myself, I ended up loving Ash after the first little bit. (view spoiler)

WHY YOU SHOULD PUSH THIS ONE UP/DOWN YOUR TBR

UP
•It's a quick and enjoyable read! The pace is fast, reading like a contemporary romance, and it never felt sluggish or like a chore to get through.

•Raff and Penn's relationship was just so wholesome and sweet and endearing, even when things got a bit angsty or uncertain. I was rooting for both of them, as a couple and as individuals. They are a couple I know I can go back to when I need a comfort read; I feel like that is so hard to find, which just makes me cherish them and this book even more.

•Common tropes that drive me insane (like miscommunication or jumping to conclusions) happen here, but they aren't beaten to death and they are resolved pretty quickly which makes them more effective and digestible.

•Ash really added a level of (I hate to say) mystery and intrigue that I really didn't expect. He was like a thin hidden layer of darkness and grit in an overall sweet and (mostly) lighthearted historical romance. In the beginning, I was sure I would dislike Ash and would want to skim through his page time, but it didn't take long for him to grow on me. My precious troubled boy 😭.

DOWN
•I.. don't think there's anything in here that is enough to make you push this down on your TBR? Not gonna lie, I'm a little shocked to realize I can't think of a single thing that bothered me or flagged enough to actively note it as a negative.

OVERALL
I loved this so much. So, so, SO much, especially coming off the back of reading The Trouble With Hating You. It was so nice to read something and not only love it but also be so excited for any future books that may join this universe.

Finding a new comfort read wasn't on my October 2023 bingo card, but we're here and we're winning!

Until next time!

Thank you, NetGalley, Harper360 and Emma Denny for providing a copy of 'One Night in Hartswood' for review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Available 7 November 2023

One Night in Hartswood is a very cute road trip tale of Penn and Raff falling in love. Fourteenth-century England, castles, Earls, Lords, Ladies and extremely cold winter nights - this has it all.

I had a great time following Penn and Raff on their journey. It was compelling reading and I flew through this story. Raff's family is also very adorable.

An extremely solid read for those interested in medieval gay love stories and fully played-out lovemaking. No fade to black here.

I received and ARC from Netgalley for and honest review

I absolutely loved this book. I did not want the story to end but at the same time I couldn’t stop reading.

One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny is a historical romance. It follows the two main character, Raff and Penn, as they create the future that they desire together while dealing with all the mess that comes from politics, family and their own issues. I did enjoy reading this book and would recommend it to people under the caveat that I don't believe this book truly feels like historical fiction and if they are looking for a mediaeval historical romance this probably isn't for them. My main problem was the setting and time period because I was constantly left feeling as though it was an afterthought in the book and that this same book could have easily been written as a fantasy without losing much of anything in the story. It felt clumsily researched and like they weren't actually in the time period and setting that the author told us they were in.
Other then the setting, I found the writing slow at times but that honestly can be chalked up to the authors writing style not being to my personal taste. I would like to say though, if you are someone who enjoys more dialogue heavy books, this might not be the book for you. Both of the characters have distinct voices which makes it easy to follow and complex backgrounds within the story which leads to an interesting read. In spite of the issues I outlines, the romance between the two main characters is lovely and the complexities of their relationship as it develops through the book was so dramatic and interesting that I had a hard time looking away. Overall, this is definitely a 3.5 star read and I will be checking out the authors future works.

One Night in Hartswood is must read. It is sweet, suspenseful, and angsty rolled in to the perfect read. Penn is the son of the Earl and set to marry. Instead he runs away in an attempt to live happily ever after. Raff is the son of a nobleman and brother to Penn’s betrothed. Raff finds Penn lost in the woods and proceeds to help him escape; neither knowing whom the other is. What occurs next is probably the sweetest love story ever. That being said its not with out strife.
One Night in Hartswood is one of the best historical romances I have read in a while. It reads almost as a cozy fantasy instead of a historical romance, despite the struggles the boys face. The characters are lovable and relatable. Penn and Raff have the most tender of moments and both have hearts of gold. I will be rereading this!
I received an arc of this and am leaving this review of my own volition.

Unfortunately the writing style was just not working for me. It was very slow to start, and pacing continued ant a glacial speed, I also had a difficult time feeling any sort of connection to the characters. The chemistry was lackluster, and that makes it difficult to engage in an otherwise very slow burn romance.

I DNF'ed this book. I am giving it 3 stars because this is my fault, not the book or the author's. I must have misread the synopsis as I honestly didn't realize this was a historical romance.

I really loved this book! I thought the plot was a unique concept and I absolutely loved all of the traveling in it! I fell in love with Raff and Penn right away and loved seeing their story play out. There are some great side characters and a true villain in the book as well. I’d love to read more work by this author!

This book was so charming - I loved Penn and Rafe and the comedy of errors in their misunderstood identities, even when things took a darker turn toward the end. I really enjoyed seeing the two of them travel together and open up to one another, turning a natural interest and great chemistry into deeper intimacy. The stakes were high and I felt like they paid off emotionally! All in all, a fun little journey!

One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny follows Penn (William) as he flees from an utterly unwanted arranged marriage forced on him by a brutal father. He takes solace in the forest at hand, and runs into Raff, the brother of his soon-to-be-wife. Neither man knows the other’s true identity, and after the meeting, which sets sparks flying, they part—only to find themselves reuniting again, unexpectedly. Penn is fleeing under the guise of a servant, and Raff is sent to find and bring the wayward son back. He promises to help Penn escape instead, which sets off a chain of consequences that could destroy them both even as they find themselves growing closer while on the run.

This book was absolutely lovely! I stopped at like 15% for a break, and when I picked it up again, I meant only to read a bit. I ended up reading up to and past the break of dawn (!!), as the story gets more gripping as the pages fall away. I found myself devouring it in the last perhaps third or fourth of the book.

The chemistry between the two was powerful, the intimate scenes were wonderful, and the palpable ache brought forth in a couple scenes between the two…? Magnificent. Also—I’ve read a few novels with queer themes and I have to say that the 14th century generally isn’t a period setting people clamour to use. I think I’m relieved the author didn’t try to stuff the dialogue with overly flowery phrases to suit the time; I feel it would have bogged the work down and detracted from the crackling urgency that permeated the novel.

Anyway! I would definitely recommend this book to people who like a good love story, and doubly so for those who want it queer.

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

This was so unexpectedly pleasant! I barely get on Netgalley anymore but a few weeks back I was bored and decided to request a shit ton of books. Since I permanently live in my MM era now this one definitely caught my eye. I wasn’t sure how it’ll go because it’s a historical romance, and I had never read one before. However that was one of my favorite things about it!

I really enjoyed Penn & Raff a lot, how they met and how everything progressed for them. It was such a good slow burn, and everything after the discovery of the secret was amazing! I also loved to see Penn stand up for himself to his father. I enjoyed their dynamics, the side characters, their journey. It was such a sweet romance and the longing between them was 😘🤌🏻 I had such a great time and I can’t recommend it enough! So go read it! The book will be out November 7 🩵

I was really excited about the premise of this book, but it ended up falling a bit flat for me.

I thought Raff and Penn were cute together, but I started to lose interest about 1/3 of the way into the book. They spend a LONG time traveling and not much really happens. There’s one small conflict in town, but it’s not that exciting and doesn’t even really make sense (I’m pretty sure the horse would just kick that dog).

I don’t generally care much about historical accuracy, but even this one had me wondering if any research was done regarding the time period. It seems like a weird choice to set something in a specific region and year, but not fit the story to it at all. Shout out to the doctor who was able to save a severely infected shoulder wound with just like water and salve.

At least the book gave us Ash. I hope the author decides to write a book about him. I’d definitely give her a second chance and read that one.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review will appear on episode 33 of my podcast which drops Monday, November 6. My review will also appear on my website and Goodreads and I will also post something on Instagram that week.

Review:
I don't know why, but for some reason, when I think of the Middle Ages, I always tend to immediately think of dragons, unicorns, and magic, so when I find out that a book is set in this time period, I just assume it's a fantasy. I say that because when I saw this book on Netgalley, I assumed I was going to be reading a fantasy novel with a same-sex romance, but that's not what I got - and that's okay because I loved it nonetheless.

The story begins with Raff Barden, his father, and his older brother Ash escorting their sister Lily from Northern to Southern England to be married. As was customary back then, their fathers arranged this marriage, and the two have never met. While traveling, we learn that Raff intends to journey out on his own once Lily is married. Raff feels as though he has been missing something in his life and intends to set out to find it.

Once they've arrived, Raff goes out to explore the woods in the area, and it's here that he meets a young man named Penn. The two spend the evening walking through the woods and talking. The next morning, they share a very passionate kiss before going their separate ways. The next day, Raff learns that his future brother-in-law is missing and is tasked with finding him. He once again runs into Penn, and this time, Penn tells him that he is desperate to leave the area, and Raff agrees to help him. What Raff doesn't know is that Penn is actually William - the guy his sister was betrothed to. Along these same lines, Penn has no idea that Raff is the brother of the woman he was betrothed to.

The two head North toward Raff's home and, along the way, develop a deeper relationship that soon becomes physical. Eventually, they begin to fall for one another, but what will happen when both of their secrets are revealed?

What I liked most about this story was that the romance seemed believable. A lot of times, romances seem rushed, with the couple falling in love immediately. Here, we get characters who are definitely attracted to one another, but for at least the first half of the book, there's a lot of wanting, a whole lot of "what if he doesn't like me back" and "what if the kiss was a mistake" along with some light flirting, which I loved. Once Raff and Penn finally have sex, they've earned it. I love the buildup in a romance. I felt the intense attraction and the need these two had for each other. I love the whole "Does he feel the same? Should I make a move?" dance that happens. It makes the payoff so much better when the couple can't help themselves anymore and finally connect.

As far as characters go, this book is filled with some great ones. With his unwavering loyalty and determination, Raff is a protagonist that readers will root for from the beginning. Penn, haunted by the choices he has to make, adds another layer of complexity to the story. Their relationship is beautifully depicted, evolving from strangers in desperate circumstances to two souls connected by an unbreakable bond.

I also loved Raff's relationship with his siblings, Lily and Ash. They honestly had each other's backs, and I loved that. On the flip side, Penn's father is someone you love to hate. We completely understand why Penn was so desperate to leave home.

While One Night in Hartswood is a tale of love and romance, it also touches upon themes of family, honor, and sacrifice. The characters face difficult choices and must confront their own fears and prejudices. It left me reflecting on the lengths I would go for the one I love.

Overall, this is a captivating historical romance that will transport readers to another time and place. With its beautifully crafted storyline and engaging characters, it is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and LGBTQ+ romance. I adored Raff and Penn and their story. In a way, this book almost reminded me of a medieval Brokeback Mountain. It is a tale of love that lingers in the mind long after the final page has been turned.

This is a really sweet historical romance between Penn and Raff. Both are hiding big secrets about who they are but also sharing some very sensitive topics. I want to make a content warning about abuse really just talking about some severe abuse in this book.

I enjoyed this, but I did have a little trouble believing this fast connection between them. However, it's so sweet, so I did like it.

Out November 7, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

If you're looking for historical accuracy, you won't find much in this supposedly 14th Century romance. But if historical accuracy doesn't bother you, then it's a charming gay romance set against a backdrop of castles, lords and ladies, and escaping the pressures of duty.

Raff and Penn had instant chemistry and their journey towards happiness was really sweet. I'd have liked a little more research and authenticity to underpin the story, but there are plenty of straight romances that get the implausibly historical treatment, and more queer books in any genre and time setting is always a good thing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am so sad that this was a DNF for me because I was really looking forward to reading it! I found the characters and story VERY hard to follow. I continued reading and found myself having absolutely no idea what was even going on???

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader.

I’m coming to find out that I really enjoy any kind of romance as long as it’s character-driven. I’ve tried historical romances in the past, even queer ones, and couldn’t jive. I know now it’s because I need the focus to be on the characters.

That’s exactly what ONE NIGHT IN HARTSWOOD gives and I fell in LOOOOVE. I mean, Raff and Penn were just soooo good together. The angst. The pining. The stolen touches and glances. The absolute romance of it all. I am smitten. I haven’t had a book feel like this in a minute.

Emma Denny’s writing is top notch. I obviously got completely sucked in and by the time I finished it after reading more than half of it in one sitting, I forgot where and who I was. Like… oh… I’m NOT in Hartswood Forest with Penn and Raff? Okay? Rude.

I even loved the plot and the drama as it just added to the beauty that is Penn and Raff’s love story. I also really loved Raff’s family. Ugh, that one scene where Raff is watching Penn make Ash and Cecily laugh? And the one where Ash and Cecily ask Raff if he told Penn [redacted] and Raff just smiles and they all laugh? GOD. I can picture it so vividly in my head. So gorgeous.

I clearly had a blast reading ONE NIGHT IN HARTSWOOD. I am now an Emma Denny stan. CONVERTED. Read this book! I loved it!

A rather sweet and romantic book. If you are not one for pining and some serious longing in a story, then I think you might struggle with this one. However, if you genuinely do not mind that, this book would be perfect.

Overall, this is not a low angst read, but it does, eventually, have a lot of warmth in its plot. I found it truly compelling and unique in its storytelling. I love it when writers take a chance on their writing. Historical Romance with a Queer element just feels so right to me. I adored this one.

ARC provided by Harper 360 via NetGalley, and I have given my honest review.