
Member Reviews

Is this a literary masterpiece? No.
Did I still enjoy a quick read? Yes
It was difficult at times to get past the secondhand embarrassment you feel for the characters (good writing, I guess?), but there were also times that it made it really difficult to root for the FMC or the MMC. It was very insta-love and insta-lust.
First off, the FMC (Emily) has some serious trauma from her divorce from her cheating ex-husband. I can understand that. But it seems like she dislikes almost every woman she comes across at that point. Any time the MMC (Griffon) speaks to another woman, Emily gets upset or jealous. It just felt like a lot and made it hard to be supportive of her at times. But she acknowledges those flaws, so let us move on. Also, she just kisses a statue at work? That she's supposed to be getting ready and cleaning for the museum? Girl, read the job description because I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be doing that.
Then the MMC (Griffon) thinks only of sex for awhile. It is seriously the only thing on his mind. And, okay, it was a different time when he was human and before he got turned into a statue, but still. It kind of unbalanced the storyline a little.
Overall, it was really quick read, mostly enjoyable. It had some actual history backing up the information, so the author seems to have done some actual research which was nice. Would I read it again, no probably not. Do I regret reading it? Also no. It was quick and fun and a good distraction from real life.

I enjoyed the history parts of the novel and learning more about what people who work in museums do the most. The romantic scenes included too much reminiscing about past partners for me.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book but unfortunately the execution fell a bit flat for me. The narrative voice was a bit silly and I didn't connect with the main character which caused problems for me. This book requires a very high suspension of disbelief. The fact that our MC who is supposedly a professional is lusting after a statue from the get go seemed a bit over the top. The rest of the book follows suit in silliness. If you want something light to read where you can turn your brain off this might work for you.

Cute, but clunky. (Is there a suit of armor joke here somewhere?)
I enjoyed this one almost solely on principal. I'm a medievalist! Who wouldn't want to talk to a knight from the 15th century? And, if he's hot? Bonus! The story was to be expected and the ending was a little confusing. Are we setting up a series? If that's not a case, that's an awfully convenient way to wrap things up! I definitely recommended this one to a few friends who I know would find it delightful.

How I LOVED this! This was such a fun and entertaining read. I admit I didn't read the synopsis before I requested it so I was a bit scared, but it actually ended up making me love the book more. Griffin was such a sweet man, and the romance completely melted me.

*Kate and Leopold anyone?
*magical realism - he’s a man cursed and as a statue for hundreds of years, she kisses him and brings him back to fleshly life because…. logic?
*he’s a literal knight in shining armor
*he falls first
*super interesting job - MFC is an art conservator-restorer
Over the top implausible and very very fun; I enjoyed this 🙂
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC

I really wanted to like the book. The premise is right up my alley, set in a preservation studio of a museum. I just couldn't get into any characters and everything was meh instead of interesting. Wish it was better.

Honestly, I love every single book that includes a cutesy time traveling trope. The "WOW, how are the carriages moving so fast?" with wide eyes and big arms and dumb smile. I eat it up. I am a simple creature.
I adored Emily. She is such a likable character, sweet and stressed and compassionate. I wanted to fist fight Griffin. I just know me and Griffin would not get along, I just know it. There's just something about him that was so deeply annoying to me. That being said, I loved the two of them together. They're a sweet couple and pretty perfect for each other. Just so much fun. Perfect for when you need that "something sweet".
My only complaint is that I wish we had gotten more of what happened with Rose and Aaron, but alas. Definitely worth the read.

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan is a romance that will have you turning the page. Was the book a little corny at times? Yes. Did that make me love it any less? No. Donovan has done her research about Medieval Times, and even with the stretches she made to make the plot points work, as a historian, I was very satisfied.
The love story between Griffin and Emily felt a little rushed and instalove, but that didn't detract from anything. Their chemistry was great, the spice levels in the book were high, and I was rooting for Emily to fall just as hard as Griffin for the entirety of the book.
I am a huge fan of time travel romances, and it's very rare that you find one where the historical man is brought forward in time. Watching Griffin try to make sense of the modern world was definitely my favorite part of the book. I need to find more books with this premise, and read them.
There was a storyline involving the FBI and art theft that definitely kept me stressed out throughout the story, but it was a good stress, if that makes sense.
If you love time-travel romances, this is definitely the book for you. I also heard rumors this is going to be turned into a Hallmark movie, if that is true, sign. me. up.

Oh boy. I knew within the first chapter that this book wouldn’t be for me, and I really should’ve stopped then. But like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away. Rather than encapsulating the cheesy, fun vibes of a hallmark movie, this book was more cringey and outlandish. The FMC comes across as delusional and desperate, while the MMC is simply awkward. Everything about it felt forced and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this book falls in the “the cover was better than the story” category.

Language: G+ (0+ swears, 0+ "f"); Mature Content: PG13+; Violence: G+
There is content on the first page that suggests the story will have sexual content later that I do not want to read, so I put the book down.
The mature content rating is for innuendo.

I adored this book so much! This book had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time! genuinely this book had everything i NEED in a romance and more! Griffin is my favorite character throughout this whole book because his journey as a cursed knight trapped in stone was my absolute favorite and if i could read this book for the first time again i would! I loved his unique charm he had and the way he brought so much happiness to Emily's life.
Emily is such a relatable character and i loved how we saw her working through her insecurities and the growth she had during this story. The chemistry between her and griffin was so incredibly sweet and steamy! the development of their relationship was perfect and the pacing was perfect for this book! I also loved the small history facts that were scattered throughout this book. Such a fun read and highly recommend if you are into these types of romances.

The premise of this one is wildly fun. However, it didn’t take long before I started to feel like it was getting repetitive and I lost interest. The MMC seems focused almost entirely on sex and it just kind felt over done.
Not the worst thing I’ve ever read but definitely not the best. I likely wouldn’t recommend BUT I would certainly watch an adaptation.

I devoured this fish out of water, light fantasy debut that sees a 15th knight statue coming to life in the Chicago museum where curator, Emily Porter works. Struggling with how to explain the missing statue and what to do with newly animated Sir Griffin de Beauford, a man who was cursed to live in stone for centuries, Emily finds herself falling in love with the virgin knight as he woos her to his bed and she tries to avoid jail.
This steamy, dual POV romance was utterly fun, charming and full of unique unexplainable magic. I really hope there's a sequel and can't wait to read whatever Bryn Donovan writes next! Great on audio narrated by my fav, Brittany Pressley and perfect for fans of books like Knight in shining armor by Jude Deveraux or A Highlander for Hannah by Mary Warren. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

this was so cringey to read and idk it did just not give what it needed to give. some of the major plots were just not resolved at the end or the way they were resolved were so dumb that i could tell the author forgot she needed to wrap things up and starting just spitballing

I had to DNF at 10%. I couldn’t get over the cringy lines and the fact that this lady is lusting over a statue. I knew going into this that I would have to be open to magical realism or something, but I just didn’t enjoy the immature writing at all.

Read This Book If…you love the movie Enchanted!
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan
Genre: magical realism romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Setting: Chicago
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: fish out of water, he falls first, virgin
My Thoughts:
This was a very cute read! It leaned a little too far into cheesy for me, but this will make an ADORABLE movie.
The fish-out-of-water MMC was adorable and a perfect golden retriever. The FMC was very insecure and had me shouting at her several times. But overall, I enjoyed this book!
This is for fans of Enchanted, Night at the Museum, Kate & Leopold, Medieval Times, and Hallmark movies!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

This was a really fun and cute read and spicier than I expected (which was a plus in my book!) 🥵
Griffin was swoon-worthy and I loved the dynamic between him and Emily! This was a new-to-me author and I really liked her style! I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Bryn Donovan in the future.

Sometimes life sneaks up and bites you. For Emily, that came in the form of her husband cheating on her and then divorcing her, after moving her across the country. For Griffin, it came in the form of being turned into a stone statue by his ex-best friend back in the early 1400s. Their lives intersect when Emily realizes that she can hear Griffin's soul from within the statue, ultimately leading to her freeing him from his prison...and then getting accused of stealing his statue, because that's how these things work.
Even though I generally prefer my time travel romances to go back in time rather than forward, this was a sheer delight. Between a beagle named Andy War-Howl, actual research having been done on the late Medieval period, and a very sweet (and spicy) romance, this is simply a delightful read. Donovan makes an effort to have Griffin sound like he's speaking Middle English without having to use actual Middle English (you'll thank her if you've ever read <i>Sir Gawain and the Green Knight</i> in the original), and the angst isn't overwhelming. It does descend into the cheesy at times, but the ending makes up for it. This is a cozy-by-the-fire read, silly and sweet.

Emily Porter hopes that throwing herself into work will help keep her mind off her recent divorce. Luckily for Emily, the best distraction has just come across her desk in the form of a handsome medieval English knight. As an art conservator, Emily has restored countless pieces throughout history, but none have affected her as much as this recently acquired statue. Emily is inexplicably drawn to the statue and is shocked to discover something more than stone. Cursed by a sorcerer he once called friend Sir Griffin de Beauford has spent the last few centuries stuck in limestone. He can see, think, and hear but cannot touch the world around him. Until a kiss from Emily brings him back to life. But between the strangeness of the modern world and Emily being the prime suspect in an investigation into the missing statue, is their love story doomed to fail before it begins?
Listen...I'm all for a silly, goofy time. I don't mind when books are a little out there with the camp factor or plot as long as the writing is good, but this was a big ol' mess. Emily starts lusting after a statue on page one! Like, girl, you've got to get out of the house more. I should've known that things were going downhill from there. Everything felt comically over the top, and my suspension of disbelief only stretched so far. The relationship between Emily and Griffin is so instantaneous, and I didn't care for it. It felt so surface-level. Donovan's writing felt clunky, and so many moments had me cringing. The only point in its favor was that it was such a fast read, but I never found myself invested.