**Many thanks to Berkley and Bryn Donovan for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
Emily Porter would give ANYTHING to keep her mind off of her recent divorce....but luckily for her, her job as an art conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago is about to provide a delightful distraction. A new statue has arrived, and it's a doozy: a handsome medieval knight, and it's Emily's charge to restore the statue and bring it to its full potential. But what Emily DOESN'T know is that there is a lot more than meets the eye when ti comes to this particular statue, and isn't just an actual name (Sir Griffin de Beauford). After an incredibly spicy dream about the statue (in his human form) Emily is besotted and realizes she can actually HEAR the statue's thoughts....and is even more surprised when she learns there is still a soul in the statue, cursed for centuries...and guess who can provide a 'magical' kiss to break the spell? 😏
Once she does, Sir Griffin indeed comes to life, and he's every bit the swoon-worthy proper gentleman she expected. The only problem is well, he just stepped out of another time period...and might be more than a BIT conspicuous on the streets of the Windy City. Emily takes him under her wing and tries to get him up to speed on the wildly different world he now encounters, getting him vaccinated, explaining everything from showers to cell phones to him with varied levels of success. As they spend time bonding, the initial spark between them has turned into a steady flame and Emily even sees a future for them...IF she can keep everything under control. But unfortunately for her, as the person assigned to restore the statue she is also the prime suspect in the statue's "theft"...and she isn't sure how long she can keep the wolves at bay. Will this unlikely pairing 'parry' their way forward as a couple? Or will the long arm of the law lock Emily up...for good?
I went into this book expecting a light and fluffy romance, but let me just warn you...imagine a newer friend telling you their uh, 'spiciest' dream in vivid detail. You don't even know your FRIEND that well, and now you're learning all sorts of 'details' about what they like and don't like, or might fantasize about before you even know their favorite restaurant or some equally innocent proclivity...and as someone who prefers slightly tamer romances, it was CERTAINLY an eye opener. There's nothing wrong or overly TMI in this scene, but having it so early in the book when so many romances provide such a slow burn where you have to wait till 50-70% in for so much as a KISS sometimes? Let's just say you should have a handkerchief for dabbing your forehead nearby! 🥵
Once I got over this initial jolt, and got to know Sir Griffin (in a bit more of a PG way!) he was certainly every bit the stereotypical chivalrous knight, with plenty of historical accuracy tossed in to 'flesh him out'. While he seemed to adapt to certain facets of modern life with little question (the fact that he didn't so much flinch at cell phones after a bit seemed a little unlikely, but hey!) there were plenty of comical mishaps throughout the way and instances of Emily sort of guiding and having to explain how the world (and more specifically Chicago) functioned. Although this was a solid way to get to know the characters, I do wish there hadn't even been mention of Emily's former flame, because it really wasn't needed and didn't need to be a HUSBAND, that's for sure. The character read a bit young overall (despite her proficiency in her career), so in that way I honestly wish the author had just intentionally aged her down a bit. So much of this story isn't rooted in any sort of reality anyway (
at least, I don't think it is...😉
) that it would have been fun to keep it as more of a light romp rather than nodding at some emotional baggage here and there.
Although it probably goes without saying, a HEAVY dose of suspension of disbelief is required to make it through this one with a multitude of eye-rolls. As much as it is all in the name of good fun, the whole 'art thief' plot line especially seemed far fetched (to put it mildly) as I'm pretty sure the Art Institute has cameras in every room (especially guarding expensive statues), not to mention guards, security, other employees, etc. I know, I KNOW, it's supposed to just be fun...but if this were a movie a la "Night at the Museum" (Ironically!) you know the audience would be all over the plot holes. To me, this is also the aspect of the book that sort of took my rating down a bit, as it was harder for me to just let go and feel completely immersed when so much of what was going on in 'reality' didn't make too much sense. The big third act romantic conflict could easily be chalked up to minor miscommunication (at worst), so yet again, in a book so heavily relying on fantasy, a DUSTING of reality would have been nice. Optional, obviously, but nice.
Perhaps the one nod to reality that I DID see and truly enjoyed was the setting of this story - Chicago. 🏙 If you haven't been there yourself but you HAVE watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off, then you probably have a pretty good idea of what to expect in that regard. The author did an excellent job nodding to familiar landmarks, local traditions (the green river for St. Patty's Day, which I never got to see when I lived in the Midwest, but is truly iconic in its own right), and just the general 'vibe' of Chicago...enough so that when I finished this book, I actually MISSED it. Although my one actual encounter (that wasn't Midway Airport) revolved around going to a concert and not actually exploring the city streets, even driving past the stunning skyscrapers and feeling the 'beat' of the city was nothing short of magical.
(Yes, that may also be a reference to "Beat City," a song also used in Ferris Bueller...and I swear, that wasn't even intentional! 😁)
Although my left brain may have won the day when it came to this read, this book proved one point that's worth repeating: chivalry's not dead...it's just been in hiding.
...And who better than a woman to bring it out? 👸
😉
3.5 stars