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Of Trust & Heart
The Great War changed everything for Lady Harriet Cunningham. Instead of being presented at eighteen, she trained to be a nurse and shared forbidden kisses with her colleagues.
But now in 1923, at the age of 24, Harriet is facing spinsterhood.
It's not such a ghastly prospect to her, but as the daughter of the Earl of Creoch, there's a certain expectation that she must meet. So, in a last attempt to find a match for their daughter to see her safe and secure, they send her to her aunt and uncle in New York.
Only when she gets there, she and her cousin, a man who, like her, suffers from the weight of expectation from his father, decide on one last hoorah as a memory to hold close to their heart in their later life.
But when they arrive at the speakeasy hidden beneath a small bookstore, Harriet finds herself entranced by the singer. No matter how hard she wants to please her family and do her duty, she finds that there's something about the woman that she can't stay away from — that she can't ignore her heart. Which is loudly calling for Miss Rosalie Smith.
But now in 1923, at the age of 24, Harriet is facing spinsterhood.
It's not such a ghastly prospect to her, but as the daughter of the Earl of Creoch, there's a certain expectation that she must meet. So, in a last attempt to find a match for their daughter to see her safe and secure, they send her to her aunt and uncle in New York.
Only when she gets there, she and her cousin, a man who, like her, suffers from the weight of expectation from his father, decide on one last hoorah as a memory to hold close to their heart in their later life.
But when they arrive at the speakeasy hidden beneath a small bookstore, Harriet finds herself entranced by the singer. No matter how hard she wants to please her family and do her duty, she finds that there's something about the woman that she can't stay away from — that she can't ignore her heart. Which is loudly calling for Miss Rosalie Smith.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2021
15 people are currently reading
1611 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Anne Hamilton
6 books74 followersCharlotte Anne Hamilton is a blue-haired mermaid-wannabe who lives in Ayrshire, Scotland with her two fur-children, Izzy (chocolate lab) and Smudge (queen cat). She is currently studying Astronomy and Planetary Science and in her spare time she enjoys reading and gaming, as well as dabbling in all forms of art and her craft as an eclectic witch. Her main source of inspiration in writing and in life is the popular phrase: "but make it gay".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 11, 2021
I have been eagerly anticipating this book ever since it was announced. I couldn’t wait to read a book that shared so much of my identity as a Scottish lesbian while also exploring one of my favourite historical settings – the speakeasy scene of the 1920s. Unfortunately, this book was just okay. It was an entertaining read but not something that blew me away and honestly, as I sit down to write this review, I’m finding that the story hasn’t stuck with me at all.
Of Trust and Heart made for a quick, enjoyable read with an interesting setting and engaging plot. It was clear that the author had done a lot of research into the time period and its fashions which helped immerse the story in its glamorous setting. It was lovely, too, to see so much queer acceptance and positivity in a historical setting. I did also relate a lot to the main character’s love of her home country, Scotland, and to her homesickness as I, too, am currently in a foreign country away from home.
I had many of the same problems with this book as with Hamilton’s debut, The Breath Between Waves , the main issue being the romance itself. There was an instant attraction between the two women which I don’t necessarily mind, however their relationship didn’t seem to develop beyond this surface level attraction. I felt that there was a lack of depth to their relationship and individual characters which didn’t give me much to root for. It all felt very superficial to me. Additionally, I found the writing clunky and flat with repetitive descriptions. Finally, the ending just didn’t work for me at all, especially as there was another obvious and better solution.
Overall, Of Trust and Heart was a big let down for me. It was a fun, quick read but lacked substance.
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*eARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley*
Of Trust and Heart made for a quick, enjoyable read with an interesting setting and engaging plot. It was clear that the author had done a lot of research into the time period and its fashions which helped immerse the story in its glamorous setting. It was lovely, too, to see so much queer acceptance and positivity in a historical setting. I did also relate a lot to the main character’s love of her home country, Scotland, and to her homesickness as I, too, am currently in a foreign country away from home.
I had many of the same problems with this book as with Hamilton’s debut, The Breath Between Waves , the main issue being the romance itself. There was an instant attraction between the two women which I don’t necessarily mind, however their relationship didn’t seem to develop beyond this surface level attraction. I felt that there was a lack of depth to their relationship and individual characters which didn’t give me much to root for. It all felt very superficial to me. Additionally, I found the writing clunky and flat with repetitive descriptions. Finally, the ending just didn’t work for me at all, especially as there was another obvious and better solution.
Overall, Of Trust and Heart was a big let down for me. It was a fun, quick read but lacked substance.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley*
dnf
October 20, 2021DNF @ 49%
I think this is case of expectations vs. reality; this book is marketed as a Romance, but it doesn't have the typical markers of a Romance and instead reads more like Historical Fiction with strong romantic themes. I was hoping for more tension, more pining, and frankly more shared page time between our love interests, Harriet and Rosalie, than they actually get in the first half of the book. I loved the queer rep, especially the friendships between our MC and several queer side characters, as well as the 1920's NYC setting, but unfortunately the love story was underplayed and a bit too insta-lovey for my liking.
If you're in the mood for a queer Historical story you might enjoy this, but if you're looking for a Romance like I was this might not be the book for you.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I think this is case of expectations vs. reality; this book is marketed as a Romance, but it doesn't have the typical markers of a Romance and instead reads more like Historical Fiction with strong romantic themes. I was hoping for more tension, more pining, and frankly more shared page time between our love interests, Harriet and Rosalie, than they actually get in the first half of the book. I loved the queer rep, especially the friendships between our MC and several queer side characters, as well as the 1920's NYC setting, but unfortunately the love story was underplayed and a bit too insta-lovey for my liking.
If you're in the mood for a queer Historical story you might enjoy this, but if you're looking for a Romance like I was this might not be the book for you.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 3, 2022
This book means so much to me. This is the happy queer romance that I've been wanting for a while, and it totally got me obsessed with historical fiction. Charlotte's a star in the making and this is just ... so sweet.
October 17, 2021
I really hate to rate this book so low. I enjoyed my time reading The Breath Between Waves and thought reading this one would be a similar experience. I was thrilled with the premise: a 1920’s speakeasy sapphic romance sounded so exciting! And then there’s that beautiful, flashy cover that’s such a vibe. Sadly, nothing about this story grabbed me, at least not until the last 10% when things finally started to get interesting.
I found Harriet underdeveloped as a main character — I can’t name a personality trait of hers except maybe…nice? And where to begin with Rosalie, the love interest? Rosalie’s character had so much potential and from the little I could glean about her, I liked her so much! But unfortunately, she’s nothing more than a plot device used for Harriet to come to conclusions about her own life. We learn close to nothing about her. Parts of Rosalie’s backstory are alluded to once or twice but are never explored, which makes me sad. Also, the romance is extreme insta-love — after two brief interactions, we’re supposed to believe they’re in love, which doesn’t make sense to me.
I honestly think it’s misleading to market this book as a romance. It’s more of a tale of two queer cousins dealing with society’s expectations of them. Charlie, Harriet’s cousin, is much more fleshed out than Rosalie is: so much of the story is focused on Harriet trying to figure out Charlie’s problems, while potentially cute Harriet/Rosalie scenes are glossed over and only mentioned in passing. Romance-building scenes that could have lessened my distaste for the insta-love (for example, Harriet and Rosalie going on picnics, showing each other around, and just spending time together) are relegated to event-recounting, which is a shame.
Now for the reason Harriet is NYC in the first place: to find a husband. Harriet keeps acting like it’s dire to snag husband, but her ENTIRE family back in Scotland is accepting of her identity as (what we would nowadays call) a lesbian. She keeps thinking that she must marry immediately or else bring shame to her family’s name. I guess this somewhat makes sense because her family is so high-profile, and because they’re encouraging her to marry for security, but still It still seemed like a forced point of conflict. Also, so much of the story is dedicated to Harriet’s husband-searching journey. A scene or two of this is fine to build character, but after a while these scenes noticeably eat into the romance aspect of the story (a.k.a. what I came here for). We get so many scenes with Harriet and her suitors, while scenes with Rosalie are just glossed over?? At some point these suitor scenes needed to be glossed over instead, even though I did like Henry, one of the suitors.
I think I’m the only reviewer who was entirely disenchanted with the story UNTIL the ending, instead of the other way around. I found the last 10% to be the most interesting section, in which the characters come up with a clever solution that’s beneficial to them all. (Spoiler about what happens: ) While I can understand why other readers would be unhappy with this turn of events, I liked it because it’s a big “in your face” to society. They find a loophole they can work with in order to become free of the stresses they shouldn’t have had in the first place. Plus, what can I say…I needed a bit of juicy drama to ignite my interest!
There are a few other things I liked about this book. I loved the queer supporting characters, including Charlie’s LI/Rosalie’s best friend Jeffrey, a Black queer saxophonist, and Harriet’s friend and maid Martha, who is also sapphic! I also liked the overarching themes of queer joy and resilience and the acknowledgment of nonbinary people. Overall, I’m really sad that I didn’t like this book much, but I’ll still be reading Hamilton’s works in the future because I know she can write books I’ll enjoy. In the future, I’d love to read a book about Martha finding her happily ever after!
content warnings: alcohol, death of a parent, graphic sex, guilt, incest(?), misogyny, mentions of anti-Black racism
I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found Harriet underdeveloped as a main character — I can’t name a personality trait of hers except maybe…nice? And where to begin with Rosalie, the love interest? Rosalie’s character had so much potential and from the little I could glean about her, I liked her so much! But unfortunately, she’s nothing more than a plot device used for Harriet to come to conclusions about her own life. We learn close to nothing about her. Parts of Rosalie’s backstory are alluded to once or twice but are never explored, which makes me sad. Also, the romance is extreme insta-love — after two brief interactions, we’re supposed to believe they’re in love, which doesn’t make sense to me.
I honestly think it’s misleading to market this book as a romance. It’s more of a tale of two queer cousins dealing with society’s expectations of them. Charlie, Harriet’s cousin, is much more fleshed out than Rosalie is: so much of the story is focused on Harriet trying to figure out Charlie’s problems, while potentially cute Harriet/Rosalie scenes are glossed over and only mentioned in passing. Romance-building scenes that could have lessened my distaste for the insta-love (for example, Harriet and Rosalie going on picnics, showing each other around, and just spending time together) are relegated to event-recounting, which is a shame.
Now for the reason Harriet is NYC in the first place: to find a husband. Harriet keeps acting like it’s dire to snag husband, but her ENTIRE family back in Scotland is accepting of her identity as (what we would nowadays call) a lesbian. She keeps thinking that she must marry immediately or else bring shame to her family’s name. I guess this somewhat makes sense because her family is so high-profile, and because they’re encouraging her to marry for security, but still It still seemed like a forced point of conflict. Also, so much of the story is dedicated to Harriet’s husband-searching journey. A scene or two of this is fine to build character, but after a while these scenes noticeably eat into the romance aspect of the story (a.k.a. what I came here for). We get so many scenes with Harriet and her suitors, while scenes with Rosalie are just glossed over?? At some point these suitor scenes needed to be glossed over instead, even though I did like Henry, one of the suitors.
I think I’m the only reviewer who was entirely disenchanted with the story UNTIL the ending, instead of the other way around. I found the last 10% to be the most interesting section, in which the characters come up with a clever solution that’s beneficial to them all. (Spoiler about what happens: ) While I can understand why other readers would be unhappy with this turn of events, I liked it because it’s a big “in your face” to society. They find a loophole they can work with in order to become free of the stresses they shouldn’t have had in the first place. Plus, what can I say…I needed a bit of juicy drama to ignite my interest!
There are a few other things I liked about this book. I loved the queer supporting characters, including Charlie’s LI/Rosalie’s best friend Jeffrey, a Black queer saxophonist, and Harriet’s friend and maid Martha, who is also sapphic! I also liked the overarching themes of queer joy and resilience and the acknowledgment of nonbinary people. Overall, I’m really sad that I didn’t like this book much, but I’ll still be reading Hamilton’s works in the future because I know she can write books I’ll enjoy. In the future, I’d love to read a book about Martha finding her happily ever after!
content warnings: alcohol, death of a parent, graphic sex, guilt, incest(?), misogyny, mentions of anti-Black racism
I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2022
This was fine, but far too instalove for me. They barely interacted on page.
October 9, 2021
content warning: homophobia, death, misogyny, sexual assault, mentions of war, death of a parent
————
i … have no idea what to make of this. rtc maybe.
arc buddy read w may! 🤍
————
i … have no idea what to make of this. rtc maybe.
arc buddy read w may! 🤍
October 15, 2021
This book just didn't work for me. One reason was that I couldn't really buy the romance: Harriet goes to a speakeasy gay bar and hears Rosalie singing. They exchange a few sentences and the next time they go there Rosalie has already written an entire song about her and after that Harriet's heart aches when she thinks about Rosalie and that she can't be with her, because her family expects her to marry.
That brings me to the second reason the story didn't work: I also couldn't really buy the conflict. Because Harriet's family knows she's lesbian and doesn't judge her for it. They still want her to marry because a single woman would be eyed suspiciously and if she is then also frequently seen with another single woman that would cause such a huge scandal that it would dishonour hercow entire family, and would even ruin the marriage prospect of her nieces and nephews. Because it's not like something happened shortly before the 1920s that seriously decimated the number of young men, no famously there were a shitton of surplus men in that time and if any woman couldn't find one there had to be something seriously wrong with her.
So Harriet keeps talking about her loving family who only wants her to get married for her own good and all the fault is with the evil society that makes her hide her true self and would make her face horrible consequences if it came out. Now that's true in theory...but also Harriet drags her prospective fiancee in the mixed-race speakeasy gay bar because she just has a feeling that he would be fine with it so it doesn't really feel as if she is actually that worried about consequences. (And why would she when even her stuffy conservative aunt goes "Get that hot lady singer's ass before you get married because nothing a lady does before her wedding should matter"). So the conflict/danger/tension/however you want to call it never feels present. Harriet is surrounded by people with fairly progressive views - which itself isn't bad because not every historical novel featuring queer characters needs to cause tension with "my loved ones would despise me if they found out who I really am" but...then it needs a different conflict because people in pretty dresses standing around isn't a story. But that's how this book felt.
That brings me to the second reason the story didn't work: I also couldn't really buy the conflict. Because Harriet's family knows she's lesbian and doesn't judge her for it. They still want her to marry because a single woman would be eyed suspiciously and if she is then also frequently seen with another single woman that would cause such a huge scandal that it would dishonour her
So Harriet keeps talking about her loving family who only wants her to get married for her own good and all the fault is with the evil society that makes her hide her true self and would make her face horrible consequences if it came out. Now that's true in theory...but also Harriet drags her prospective fiancee in the mixed-race speakeasy gay bar because she just has a feeling that he would be fine with it so it doesn't really feel as if she is actually that worried about consequences. (And why would she when even her stuffy conservative aunt goes "Get that hot lady singer's ass before you get married because nothing a lady does before her wedding should matter"). So the conflict/danger/tension/however you want to call it never feels present. Harriet is surrounded by people with fairly progressive views - which itself isn't bad because not every historical novel featuring queer characters needs to cause tension with "my loved ones would despise me if they found out who I really am" but...then it needs a different conflict because people in pretty dresses standing around isn't a story. But that's how this book felt.
February 26, 2021
With a prohibition-era backdrop, OF TRUST AND HEART gives us a genuine, kind heroine in Harriet, a fiery, seductive romance between two female leads, and an ending that will make you feel like you've just been given the warmest hug.
October 8, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC!
Content Warning: homophobia, death, misogyny, sexual assault.
Lady Harriet Cunningham knows what she wants, and it isn't to be married to a man she knows she'll never love. During the Great War, Harriet served as a nurse and discovered her attraction and romantic inclination towards women. It's now 1923, and in order to protect her status and reputation, Harriet needs to marry. Spending the season in New York with her playful cousin, Charlie, Harriet's adventure to a gay club goes awry when she meets (and starts to fall for) the beautiful singer, Rosalie Smith. Can Harriet find a way to bring both of her worlds together? And can the relationship between her and Rosalie ever be more than a fling?
When it starts to get chilly outside, I look for two things in my books: something that will either scare me, or something that will fill me with warm, cozy feelings! This sweet romance definitely falls into the second category, and although it's being released on October 18th, this beautiful story of family and love is going to make a perfect Christmas read.
Every day I'm excited by the fact that there are so many great new releases that feature a main romance between two women. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction (which you probably know, if you read this blog or have been on my Goodreads page), and I especially love them when they include diversity -- characters of color, those on the LGBT+ spectrum, you name it! So for me, this was a perfect pick. It's fun to imagine a time when alcohol was illegal, but having a good time was not only expected but encouraged, and I enjoyed the New York (and later Scottish) setting.
The relationship that develops between Harriet and Rosalie was both sweet and sometimes steamy, and their conversations together usually brought a smile to my face. Her cousin also brings a touch of humor, as well as depth, to Harriet's life. The entirety of Harriet's journey is sweet and heartwarming, the kind of happy story we so often don't get.
I do have a few nitpicks, though: it's slightly expected in such a short book, but I sometimes felt as if the dynamics were rather underdeveloped. Rosalie was almost without personality, aside from being beautiful, kind and a bit sarcastic. The whole novel suffers from this problem, mainly because the writing does so much telling and so little showing.
Now, in spite of those issues, it didn't stop me from enjoying this book -- or rating it four stars. Sometimes, you just need a book that feels like a big hug, and that's what this provided for me. I also think it's difficult to really flesh a relationship out in such a short format, as I mentioned above, and so I think that's something you have to take into consideration with books like these. This was like watching a historical, lesbian Hallmark movie...something we've never gotten the chance to experience. If you're like me, and that idea sounds way too appealing, you should pick this one up!
I'll be looking into more books by Hamilton, and I highly recommend this novel if you're a fan of any of the listed: lesbians, Christmas, the 1920s, or having a wholesome romantic romp!
Content Warning: homophobia, death, misogyny, sexual assault.
Lady Harriet Cunningham knows what she wants, and it isn't to be married to a man she knows she'll never love. During the Great War, Harriet served as a nurse and discovered her attraction and romantic inclination towards women. It's now 1923, and in order to protect her status and reputation, Harriet needs to marry. Spending the season in New York with her playful cousin, Charlie, Harriet's adventure to a gay club goes awry when she meets (and starts to fall for) the beautiful singer, Rosalie Smith. Can Harriet find a way to bring both of her worlds together? And can the relationship between her and Rosalie ever be more than a fling?
When it starts to get chilly outside, I look for two things in my books: something that will either scare me, or something that will fill me with warm, cozy feelings! This sweet romance definitely falls into the second category, and although it's being released on October 18th, this beautiful story of family and love is going to make a perfect Christmas read.
Every day I'm excited by the fact that there are so many great new releases that feature a main romance between two women. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction (which you probably know, if you read this blog or have been on my Goodreads page), and I especially love them when they include diversity -- characters of color, those on the LGBT+ spectrum, you name it! So for me, this was a perfect pick. It's fun to imagine a time when alcohol was illegal, but having a good time was not only expected but encouraged, and I enjoyed the New York (and later Scottish) setting.
The relationship that develops between Harriet and Rosalie was both sweet and sometimes steamy, and their conversations together usually brought a smile to my face. Her cousin also brings a touch of humor, as well as depth, to Harriet's life. The entirety of Harriet's journey is sweet and heartwarming, the kind of happy story we so often don't get.
I do have a few nitpicks, though: it's slightly expected in such a short book, but I sometimes felt as if the dynamics were rather underdeveloped. Rosalie was almost without personality, aside from being beautiful, kind and a bit sarcastic. The whole novel suffers from this problem, mainly because the writing does so much telling and so little showing.
Now, in spite of those issues, it didn't stop me from enjoying this book -- or rating it four stars. Sometimes, you just need a book that feels like a big hug, and that's what this provided for me. I also think it's difficult to really flesh a relationship out in such a short format, as I mentioned above, and so I think that's something you have to take into consideration with books like these. This was like watching a historical, lesbian Hallmark movie...something we've never gotten the chance to experience. If you're like me, and that idea sounds way too appealing, you should pick this one up!
I'll be looking into more books by Hamilton, and I highly recommend this novel if you're a fan of any of the listed: lesbians, Christmas, the 1920s, or having a wholesome romantic romp!
November 3, 2021
I’m sorry but this was very boring.
The only thing that I liked in this book was the queer characters and general queer positivity that transpired. This is definitely something I’m looking for in historical fiction, but apart from that, this book had close to nothing.
I want my queer reads to have plot, fleshed out characters and a storyline that makes the reading interesting. Here, apart from the lgbtq+ cast, you have a very unoriginal story, extremely basic and uninteresting. A shame because the author’s previous book, though not perfect, had some great scenes and tension that made the reading exciting.
I was excited to read this and to be pulled into the 1920s, with the prohibition era and speakeasies. It’s a time period that has been used a lot in films and the aesthetics of it were something I wanted to read about! I was disappointed to realize that the storytelling was very detached from that atmosphere. A few scenes happen in the club, but the choice of this location adds nothing significant to the story. The writing wasn’t evocative at all, which is the opposite of what I expected for this book. Everything was extremely flat, from the setting to the characters. Clothes and locations were described in a way that was completely impersonal and irrelevant to the story. There was a total lack of tension and conflict. Basically, this is one of the most uneventful books I’ve read recently. I expected something to happen in the second half that would’ve taken the story somewhere but nope.
A sort of twist happens in the last ten percent and that resolution was… weird and so useless. There were so many other solutions and ways to end this. My only thought is: why??? Why would you do that to your characters? Why is this even something that you thought about and decided to include in your book? I’m so confused.
I hate being so negative but this book was really empty. No plot, nothing memorable, characters that had nothing special and no personality. Very bland and boring. And this very very awkward ending. There was so much potential with this idea, I’m very disappointed.
Giving two stars for the queer rep and Henry, one of the side characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and the author for this eARC!
buddy read with cossette <3
content warnings: homophobia, misogyny, sexual assault, death, mentions of war, death of a parent, incest
The only thing that I liked in this book was the queer characters and general queer positivity that transpired. This is definitely something I’m looking for in historical fiction, but apart from that, this book had close to nothing.
I want my queer reads to have plot, fleshed out characters and a storyline that makes the reading interesting. Here, apart from the lgbtq+ cast, you have a very unoriginal story, extremely basic and uninteresting. A shame because the author’s previous book, though not perfect, had some great scenes and tension that made the reading exciting.
I was excited to read this and to be pulled into the 1920s, with the prohibition era and speakeasies. It’s a time period that has been used a lot in films and the aesthetics of it were something I wanted to read about! I was disappointed to realize that the storytelling was very detached from that atmosphere. A few scenes happen in the club, but the choice of this location adds nothing significant to the story. The writing wasn’t evocative at all, which is the opposite of what I expected for this book. Everything was extremely flat, from the setting to the characters. Clothes and locations were described in a way that was completely impersonal and irrelevant to the story. There was a total lack of tension and conflict. Basically, this is one of the most uneventful books I’ve read recently. I expected something to happen in the second half that would’ve taken the story somewhere but nope.
A sort of twist happens in the last ten percent and that resolution was… weird and so useless. There were so many other solutions and ways to end this. My only thought is: why??? Why would you do that to your characters? Why is this even something that you thought about and decided to include in your book? I’m so confused.
I hate being so negative but this book was really empty. No plot, nothing memorable, characters that had nothing special and no personality. Very bland and boring. And this very very awkward ending. There was so much potential with this idea, I’m very disappointed.
Giving two stars for the queer rep and Henry, one of the side characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and the author for this eARC!
buddy read with cossette <3
content warnings: homophobia, misogyny, sexual assault, death, mentions of war, death of a parent, incest
November 9, 2021
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
My favorite element of Of Trust & Heart was how much Hamilton delves into the historical fiction element for these queer characters. How the central conflict of Of Trust & Heart is between her heart and safety/her family duty. The danger that Harriet faces because of her queer identity. All the choices she has to make to ensure not only the chance to pursue her love, but the danger and possible family fall out.
It was simultaneously heart wrenching and my favorite element. Emotional because Hamilton doesn't shy away from the fear of coming out or the difficult choice Harriet finds herself in. Of course it's emotional to realize that while it may not be illegal in the US anymore to be gay, but this is still not a reality for everyone. And it was my favorite element because of the way its handled. The ways that Harriet must figure out what future she envisions for herself.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
My favorite element of Of Trust & Heart was how much Hamilton delves into the historical fiction element for these queer characters. How the central conflict of Of Trust & Heart is between her heart and safety/her family duty. The danger that Harriet faces because of her queer identity. All the choices she has to make to ensure not only the chance to pursue her love, but the danger and possible family fall out.
It was simultaneously heart wrenching and my favorite element. Emotional because Hamilton doesn't shy away from the fear of coming out or the difficult choice Harriet finds herself in. Of course it's emotional to realize that while it may not be illegal in the US anymore to be gay, but this is still not a reality for everyone. And it was my favorite element because of the way its handled. The ways that Harriet must figure out what future she envisions for herself.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
October 19, 2021
What a fun read! Hamilton is now two-for-two on sapphic historical fiction that I really enjoyed reading. Set in the 1920's in prohibition-era New York City. Rich girl/poor girl. Generally supportive family.
Lady Harriet Cunningham is a Scottish noble-woman in her early 20s sent to the US to stay with family and find a husband. While at an underground queer club with her gay (maybe pan) cousin, Harriet meets and falls for performer Rosalie Smith. Against all the odds, can they have their HEA??
Lady Harriet Cunningham is a Scottish noble-woman in her early 20s sent to the US to stay with family and find a husband. While at an underground queer club with her gay (maybe pan) cousin, Harriet meets and falls for performer Rosalie Smith. Against all the odds, can they have their HEA??
March 25, 2021
25 March update: we have a new release date of the 18th October :D
13 Feb update: heh. it's less than 3 months until my book is released! I cannot wait for y'all to meet Harriet and Rosalie <3
So my book comes out this year!! In 5 months!! On 10th May 2021!!! AHHHHH!!!
13 Feb update: heh. it's less than 3 months until my book is released! I cannot wait for y'all to meet Harriet and Rosalie <3
So my book comes out this year!! In 5 months!! On 10th May 2021!!! AHHHHH!!!
did-not-finish
October 6, 2021I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
DNF 8%
I requested this book because I read and enjoyed this author’s recent sapphic Titanic historical romance. I was enjoying the setting and loved how there was intentional inclusion of nonbinary people, which can often be erased in historical romances. But then I felt that whole inclusion was demolished when the love interest said, in direct response to commenting on another character’s attraction to men, women, and those who are neither, that she didn’t understand why anyone would be attracted to men and continuing by saying people are scared of women. It felt very old school feminism and hit me poorly to the point I couldn’t move past that line. Based on experience with author’s previous book, I’m sure this would be an interesting and well-done historical romance with good research and setting, but I personally don’t feel comfortable continuing, especially as that line came from the love interest and not a random side character (which still would have been squick, but I’m supposed to root for this character and I feel uncomfortable with that kind of mentality).
DNF 8%
I requested this book because I read and enjoyed this author’s recent sapphic Titanic historical romance. I was enjoying the setting and loved how there was intentional inclusion of nonbinary people, which can often be erased in historical romances. But then I felt that whole inclusion was demolished when the love interest said, in direct response to commenting on another character’s attraction to men, women, and those who are neither, that she didn’t understand why anyone would be attracted to men and continuing by saying people are scared of women. It felt very old school feminism and hit me poorly to the point I couldn’t move past that line. Based on experience with author’s previous book, I’m sure this would be an interesting and well-done historical romance with good research and setting, but I personally don’t feel comfortable continuing, especially as that line came from the love interest and not a random side character (which still would have been squick, but I’m supposed to root for this character and I feel uncomfortable with that kind of mentality).
October 30, 2021
Okay this book is a short, sweet, and sometimes slightly painful book. I won’t get into any spoilers but this book takes places in Prohibition Era, New York.
So as a piece of queer historical fiction it gets into LGBTQ history and deals with ideas like the conflicts of familial duty vs love, societal standards vs being yourself, and all that jazz. (There’s literal jazz too)
Charlotte Anne Hamilton’s writing is also absolutely beautiful, and some of the scenes she writes are just, so, so wonderfully done. It has the trope of meeting eyes across the room and falling in love, which I absolutely ate up.
My favorite part about the book though was the letters that are interspersed throughout the book as reading them felt like I really was living through their era and their love.
I really enjoyed this one and if you’re looking for a sapphic historical fiction, I’d totally point you towards this one! There’s also ace, aro, Pan, bi, and gay rep here! I personally only feel qualified to judge the Pan rep, Charlie, my pure Pan baby, has my whole heart. 💛
So as a piece of queer historical fiction it gets into LGBTQ history and deals with ideas like the conflicts of familial duty vs love, societal standards vs being yourself, and all that jazz. (There’s literal jazz too)
Charlotte Anne Hamilton’s writing is also absolutely beautiful, and some of the scenes she writes are just, so, so wonderfully done. It has the trope of meeting eyes across the room and falling in love, which I absolutely ate up.
My favorite part about the book though was the letters that are interspersed throughout the book as reading them felt like I really was living through their era and their love.
I really enjoyed this one and if you’re looking for a sapphic historical fiction, I’d totally point you towards this one! There’s also ace, aro, Pan, bi, and gay rep here! I personally only feel qualified to judge the Pan rep, Charlie, my pure Pan baby, has my whole heart. 💛
October 21, 2021
This book is full of ambiance with a love story as opposed to being a love story with ambiance. The author brought the "Bright Young Things" of the post WWI era to life. I picked up some Downton Abbey meets Harlem Renaissance vibes. Harriet, the daughter of an Earl, goes to a NYC speakeasy for a final fling before bowing to societal pressures and settling down. She meets the singer Rosalie Smith, who by the virtue of being poor, is able to live her life freely. (I wish Rosalie had a better last name than the common Smith.)
I liked both main characters and wanted them to have a HEA. Harriet's cousin, Charlie was a hoot and a great gay-guide and friend to her. Moreover, he has some great ideas.
The story progressed through some fits and starts and did get bogged down a little, but not enough to drive me crazy. I really liked the ending, although it seemed a bit rushed and I was greatful to have an epilogue.
If you are a flapper at heart, I think you will enjoy this book. I give it 3.5 stars.
I recieved a free copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I liked both main characters and wanted them to have a HEA. Harriet's cousin, Charlie was a hoot and a great gay-guide and friend to her. Moreover, he has some great ideas.
The story progressed through some fits and starts and did get bogged down a little, but not enough to drive me crazy. I really liked the ending, although it seemed a bit rushed and I was greatful to have an epilogue.
If you are a flapper at heart, I think you will enjoy this book. I give it 3.5 stars.
I recieved a free copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 29, 2021
When her noble family sends Harriet from Scotland to New York, it is with one task: find a husband. But while she finds love, it's not with a suitable man like her family hopes, but with the beautiful Rosalie, a singer at a speakeasy.
There is nothing I love more than a queer romance that ends with actual happiness, and while this is rare enough in contemporary romances, this is even rarer in historical romances. Of Trust & Heart had all the trappings of a story I would absolutely adore: Scotland, speakeasies, 1920s, a lesbian MC, an almost exclusively queer cast of supporting characters, a sweet and happy ending.
Harriet, Rosalie, and Charlie were all such wonderful and endearing characters, who you can't help but root for. Secondary characters like Jeffrey, Henry, and Martha too were all so well-written, and I looked forward to every additional crumb of information I could get on them. The romance between Harriet and Rosalie was fast-paced but sweet; I ached for them through all their difficulties and cheered for all their little victories. The same goes for Charlie and Jeffrey: the pain both so clearly felt hit me just as hard as my joy when they finally managed to make everything work. There wasn't much real conflict between the main couple themselves, which I loved; the main pressure came externally, and Harriet had the support of her family every step of the way,
Both the plot and the setting were wonderful, too. I love a good 1920s story, and I love one that can highlight some of the sexier aesthetics without hiding any of the cruelties of the time period. The author makes it clear exactly how hard the world is for someone who doesn't love in a way that's acceptable to the time period--Harriet thinks on it often, how ridiculous it is that love can be illegal, and how it's both heartening and tragic that those in queer or interracial relationships (or both) have the speakeasy as one place they can be themselves. There are themes of grief and loss, too; all the characters are still affected by the war. In all, I loved how the author made it clear that the 1920s was not at all a perfect time period, without showing all the outright homophobia and racism; the stakes were clear without making the story any less light.
I loved this book..... up until about 92%. And here's where the spoilers come in, so while I'll try to keep it as vague as possible, look away to avoid. One final conflict happens in the last few chapters, and the author sets up such an easy fix for it, wherein everyone could live happily ever after and remain with the person they love.... and then the story decides that, no, incest is actually a better solution. I understand that the two cousins will not ever perform their "marital duties" and in fact will only ever appear as a couple in public, and that both of them have their own life partners, but I can't get past the solution being first cousins getting married. Especially when there was a solution that could have avoided it readily available. It just left me uncomfortable and with a bad taste in my mouth, which is really disappointing since up until this point it was a solid 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Of Trust & Heart. All opinions are my own.
There is nothing I love more than a queer romance that ends with actual happiness, and while this is rare enough in contemporary romances, this is even rarer in historical romances. Of Trust & Heart had all the trappings of a story I would absolutely adore: Scotland, speakeasies, 1920s, a lesbian MC, an almost exclusively queer cast of supporting characters, a sweet and happy ending.
Harriet, Rosalie, and Charlie were all such wonderful and endearing characters, who you can't help but root for. Secondary characters like Jeffrey, Henry, and Martha too were all so well-written, and I looked forward to every additional crumb of information I could get on them. The romance between Harriet and Rosalie was fast-paced but sweet; I ached for them through all their difficulties and cheered for all their little victories. The same goes for Charlie and Jeffrey: the pain both so clearly felt hit me just as hard as my joy when they finally managed to make everything work. There wasn't much real conflict between the main couple themselves, which I loved; the main pressure came externally, and Harriet had the support of her family every step of the way,
Both the plot and the setting were wonderful, too. I love a good 1920s story, and I love one that can highlight some of the sexier aesthetics without hiding any of the cruelties of the time period. The author makes it clear exactly how hard the world is for someone who doesn't love in a way that's acceptable to the time period--Harriet thinks on it often, how ridiculous it is that love can be illegal, and how it's both heartening and tragic that those in queer or interracial relationships (or both) have the speakeasy as one place they can be themselves. There are themes of grief and loss, too; all the characters are still affected by the war. In all, I loved how the author made it clear that the 1920s was not at all a perfect time period, without showing all the outright homophobia and racism; the stakes were clear without making the story any less light.
I loved this book..... up until about 92%. And here's where the spoilers come in, so while I'll try to keep it as vague as possible, look away to avoid. One final conflict happens in the last few chapters, and the author sets up such an easy fix for it, wherein everyone could live happily ever after and remain with the person they love.... and then the story decides that, no, incest is actually a better solution. I understand that the two cousins will not ever perform their "marital duties" and in fact will only ever appear as a couple in public, and that both of them have their own life partners, but I can't get past the solution being first cousins getting married. Especially when there was a solution that could have avoided it readily available. It just left me uncomfortable and with a bad taste in my mouth, which is really disappointing since up until this point it was a solid 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Of Trust & Heart. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2021
This was an enjoyable sapphic historical story! It foll0ws a Scottish heiress in the 1920s visiting family in Chicago and falling in love with a dancer at a queer underground speakeasy.
This time period was so fun, and was absolutely the most captivating part of the story for me.
It's told in single person POV, and I'm increasingly growing to understand that books with this POV are really hard for me. I didn't feel like I had any grasp on who Rosalie was, or what their love was like together, and for that reason it really didn't feel like a romance to me. At one point very late in the book it turns into an epistolary exchange for a chapter, which is the only time we get a glimpse into Rosalie's mind at all, and I really found myself hungering for more of that. There also didn't seem to be much of a conflict between the two; there was very little in the way of them falling in love. The story did feel grown up to me and the heroines are 24, so I'm also unsure why it's labeled as New Adult.
There was some really wonderful queer representation all throughout, including a heartbreaking and charming interracial secondary romance between two men. I really enjoyed myself while reading, and was so transfixed by the setting of the novel, I just really wouldn't call this a ROMANCE novel, so it didn't meet my expectations in the romance department.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC.
CW: Death of a parent
This time period was so fun, and was absolutely the most captivating part of the story for me.
It's told in single person POV, and I'm increasingly growing to understand that books with this POV are really hard for me. I didn't feel like I had any grasp on who Rosalie was, or what their love was like together, and for that reason it really didn't feel like a romance to me. At one point very late in the book it turns into an epistolary exchange for a chapter, which is the only time we get a glimpse into Rosalie's mind at all, and I really found myself hungering for more of that. There also didn't seem to be much of a conflict between the two; there was very little in the way of them falling in love. The story did feel grown up to me and the heroines are 24, so I'm also unsure why it's labeled as New Adult.
There was some really wonderful queer representation all throughout, including a heartbreaking and charming interracial secondary romance between two men. I really enjoyed myself while reading, and was so transfixed by the setting of the novel, I just really wouldn't call this a ROMANCE novel, so it didn't meet my expectations in the romance department.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC.
CW: Death of a parent
October 17, 2021
Of Trust and Heart by Charlotte Anne Hamilton
In 1923 many were licking the wounds of war and feeling the losses of family members who died in the Great War. Lady Harriet Cunningham has gone to stay with her aunt’s family in New York with the intention of finding a husband although men are what she is drawn to. Her cousin, Charlie, is a good friend and takes her to a speakeasy for her last hoorah before she settles down.
What I liked:
* The era, costumes, and thinking about what it must have been like to live then…
* The friendship between Harriet and Charlie
* The friendship between Harriet and her lady’s maid, Martha
* Harriet’s acceptance of her lack of interest in men, although they also wanted her safe so thought she should marry
* Harriet’s aunt who made a huge decision by marrying the man she did
* Henry: a worthy suitor but with issues of his own to deal with
* Thinking about the difficulties of the era: prohibition and other laws governing that period of time
* That it was more focused on the emotional aspects of the relationship(s) than the physical ones although I do love a steamy story
* The way the cousins eventually found a way to be happy
What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about how difficult it would be in the past to live openly with the person you loved if that person was not heterosexual or of the same color.
* Would have liked a glimpse into what the lives of the two couples were like in the future…maybe a scene with all of them together discussing something during a holiday.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? I think so
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
In 1923 many were licking the wounds of war and feeling the losses of family members who died in the Great War. Lady Harriet Cunningham has gone to stay with her aunt’s family in New York with the intention of finding a husband although men are what she is drawn to. Her cousin, Charlie, is a good friend and takes her to a speakeasy for her last hoorah before she settles down.
What I liked:
* The era, costumes, and thinking about what it must have been like to live then…
* The friendship between Harriet and Charlie
* The friendship between Harriet and her lady’s maid, Martha
* Harriet’s acceptance of her lack of interest in men, although they also wanted her safe so thought she should marry
* Harriet’s aunt who made a huge decision by marrying the man she did
* Henry: a worthy suitor but with issues of his own to deal with
* Thinking about the difficulties of the era: prohibition and other laws governing that period of time
* That it was more focused on the emotional aspects of the relationship(s) than the physical ones although I do love a steamy story
* The way the cousins eventually found a way to be happy
What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about how difficult it would be in the past to live openly with the person you loved if that person was not heterosexual or of the same color.
* Would have liked a glimpse into what the lives of the two couples were like in the future…maybe a scene with all of them together discussing something during a holiday.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? I think so
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
May 6, 2022
This book is a gay story. Harriet is a spinster by choice who loves women and her cousin is a man who loves men.
The Great War changed everything for Lady Harriet Cunningham. Instead of being presented at eighteen, she trained to be a nurse and shared forbidden kisses with her colleagues.
But now in 1923, at the age of 24, Harriet is facing spinsterhood.
It's not such a ghastly prospect to her, but as the daughter of the Earl of Creoch, there's a certain expectation that she must meet. So, in a last attempt to find a match for their daughter to see her safe and secure, they send her to her aunt and uncle in New York.
Only when she gets there, she and her cousin, a man who, like her, suffers from the weight of expectation from his father, decide on one last hoorah as a memory to hold close to their heart in their later life.
But when they arrive at the speakeasy hidden beneath a small bookstore, Harriet finds herself entranced by the singer. No matter how hard she wants to please her family and do her duty, she finds that there's something about the woman that she can't stay away from — that she can't ignore her heart. Which is loudly calling for Miss Rosalie Smith.
I haven't read a book by this author before.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
The Great War changed everything for Lady Harriet Cunningham. Instead of being presented at eighteen, she trained to be a nurse and shared forbidden kisses with her colleagues.
But now in 1923, at the age of 24, Harriet is facing spinsterhood.
It's not such a ghastly prospect to her, but as the daughter of the Earl of Creoch, there's a certain expectation that she must meet. So, in a last attempt to find a match for their daughter to see her safe and secure, they send her to her aunt and uncle in New York.
Only when she gets there, she and her cousin, a man who, like her, suffers from the weight of expectation from his father, decide on one last hoorah as a memory to hold close to their heart in their later life.
But when they arrive at the speakeasy hidden beneath a small bookstore, Harriet finds herself entranced by the singer. No matter how hard she wants to please her family and do her duty, she finds that there's something about the woman that she can't stay away from — that she can't ignore her heart. Which is loudly calling for Miss Rosalie Smith.
I haven't read a book by this author before.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
October 15, 2021
This was a good read.
It focused a lot more in the family drama aspect than I was expecting, and that, coupled with what felt like a very, very slow pace, dimmed my enjoyment of what I expected to be more of a gay roaring twenties romp with lots of speakeasy highjinks.
I did find Harriet’s relationship with Charlie to be touchingly portrayed, and kind of the heart of the novel even more than her relationship with Rosalie. It spoke to me because I’ve also both experienced and witnessed the kind of fierce, protective love queer women and AFAB people can feel for the queer men and AMAB people in their life.
Recommended for fans of slow paced, slow burn historical romances.
It focused a lot more in the family drama aspect than I was expecting, and that, coupled with what felt like a very, very slow pace, dimmed my enjoyment of what I expected to be more of a gay roaring twenties romp with lots of speakeasy highjinks.
I did find Harriet’s relationship with Charlie to be touchingly portrayed, and kind of the heart of the novel even more than her relationship with Rosalie. It spoke to me because I’ve also both experienced and witnessed the kind of fierce, protective love queer women and AFAB people can feel for the queer men and AMAB people in their life.
Recommended for fans of slow paced, slow burn historical romances.
August 14, 2023
The premise in general had foundation, however, I think it lacked something, an oomph to elevate the story.
October 26, 2021
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this cute WWII insta love story. . I loved the queer rep, especially the friendships between our MC and several queer side characters, as well as the 1920's NYC setting. I can recommend this book if you are into 1920’s history and a sweet romance with some drama
October 7, 2021
3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Of Trust & Heart is another fun twentieth century historical romance by Charlotte Anne Hamilton, this one set during the 1920s. Hamilton captures the time period, one not often portrayed in historical romances (at least not with regularity), vividly giving us an impression of life during the Prohibition era.
Harriet is a sympathetic lead and I really liked her. I appreciated that she was conscious of what she needed to do for security, even if it rivaled her own inclinations, but also that her family weren’t pushing it on her as some historical parents have been known to do, both in fiction and in real life.
I felt pretty mixed on the romance, especially as the story is told solely from Harriet’s POV. I did get a good impression of Rosalie from Harriet’s perspective, but she never felt fully fleshed out to me.
I love how unapologetically queer it is, providing visibility for not just the sapphics, but gay men and even non-binary people that is more or less positive. I also appreciated the way it takes into account the historical reality, crafting an HEA that is believable for what some queer people did at the time.
This is a sweet romance, and while I did have some issues with the execution, I still more or less enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a sapphic historical set in a different time period from the norm, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Of Trust & Heart is another fun twentieth century historical romance by Charlotte Anne Hamilton, this one set during the 1920s. Hamilton captures the time period, one not often portrayed in historical romances (at least not with regularity), vividly giving us an impression of life during the Prohibition era.
Harriet is a sympathetic lead and I really liked her. I appreciated that she was conscious of what she needed to do for security, even if it rivaled her own inclinations, but also that her family weren’t pushing it on her as some historical parents have been known to do, both in fiction and in real life.
I felt pretty mixed on the romance, especially as the story is told solely from Harriet’s POV. I did get a good impression of Rosalie from Harriet’s perspective, but she never felt fully fleshed out to me.
I love how unapologetically queer it is, providing visibility for not just the sapphics, but gay men and even non-binary people that is more or less positive. I also appreciated the way it takes into account the historical reality, crafting an HEA that is believable for what some queer people did at the time.
This is a sweet romance, and while I did have some issues with the execution, I still more or less enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a sapphic historical set in a different time period from the norm, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Read
May 16, 2022Not super believable, but like a warm blanket. Love when queer folks get a happy ending standard to books about straight folks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2021
Of Trust and Heart tells the story of Lady Harriet Cunningham, the daughter of the Earl of Creoch, who's at the house of her uncle and aunt in NYC to find a husband, but when her cousin takes Harriet to a queer club, she finds herself intrigued by the night's singer, Ms. Rosalie Smith.
I thought this was book was nice to read, though it felt too small. I believe that certain aspects of the story were not well developed — which could be solved if the book was longer. So, before saying what I liked about the book, here are some things that annoyed me:
Harriet's sister: I don't remember anyone mentioning Harriet's sister until she's close to going back home. She was not mentioned before, which felt weird. Also was mentioned in the book that Harriet's relationship with her brother was so close before they were reunited — then we get nothing of that. She even seemed closer to Charlie than to him.
Harriet and Rosalie's relationship: they met twice and talked for less than one day and suddenly are deeply in love? They are cute. But it felt rushed, which made their relationship feels artificial.
The pacing: We had too little time for certain crucial parts of the story — like Harriet and Rosalie falling in love and Charlie's struggles that were mentioned once in a while and then ignored. At the same time, we had a lot of scenes about Harriet's quest for a husband and lots of time with Henry (who is a sweetheart, who I wish we had more about who he is, which I'll be addressing next).
The lack of profundity of some characters: Maybe because the book was not long enough, some characters felt too unidimensional for part of the story, such as Jeremy and Holmes, even Henry sometimes.
I also saw some hype over the book as a love story, but I don't think that's the best nomination since even though Rosalie and Harriet's story is part of the plot, it's more of a background characteristic for Harriet's story. For the things I enjoyed:
Even though the story happens in the 1920s, the author doesn't use this as an excuse for lacking diversity. We have Jeffrey, a gay black man that is Charlie's (who's bi) love interest, lesbian protagonists, an aroace character, and a supportive family for our protagonist!
I love how there's no drama between Harriet and Rosalie. They talk about things that may affect their relationship and always try to understand the other.
In all, that was nice to read, with a positive rep, so I believe it was worth it, even with some plotholes. Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was book was nice to read, though it felt too small. I believe that certain aspects of the story were not well developed — which could be solved if the book was longer. So, before saying what I liked about the book, here are some things that annoyed me:
Harriet's sister: I don't remember anyone mentioning Harriet's sister until she's close to going back home. She was not mentioned before, which felt weird. Also was mentioned in the book that Harriet's relationship with her brother was so close before they were reunited — then we get nothing of that. She even seemed closer to Charlie than to him.
Harriet and Rosalie's relationship: they met twice and talked for less than one day and suddenly are deeply in love? They are cute. But it felt rushed, which made their relationship feels artificial.
The pacing: We had too little time for certain crucial parts of the story — like Harriet and Rosalie falling in love and Charlie's struggles that were mentioned once in a while and then ignored. At the same time, we had a lot of scenes about Harriet's quest for a husband and lots of time with Henry (who is a sweetheart, who I wish we had more about who he is, which I'll be addressing next).
The lack of profundity of some characters: Maybe because the book was not long enough, some characters felt too unidimensional for part of the story, such as Jeremy and Holmes, even Henry sometimes.
I also saw some hype over the book as a love story, but I don't think that's the best nomination since even though Rosalie and Harriet's story is part of the plot, it's more of a background characteristic for Harriet's story. For the things I enjoyed:
Even though the story happens in the 1920s, the author doesn't use this as an excuse for lacking diversity. We have Jeffrey, a gay black man that is Charlie's (who's bi) love interest, lesbian protagonists, an aroace character, and a supportive family for our protagonist!
I love how there's no drama between Harriet and Rosalie. They talk about things that may affect their relationship and always try to understand the other.
In all, that was nice to read, with a positive rep, so I believe it was worth it, even with some plotholes. Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2021
When I heard about this book being a queer romance between a Scottish heiress and an underground jazz singer set in 1920s New York City in the speakeasy scene, I was pretty much sold immediately. That isn’t a time or place you see many LGBTQ+ stories being told in, and for that reason, it was quite refreshing.
It’s evident that the author used extensive research to aid in the world building - everything felt accurate and tangible, from the clothes to the music to the etiquette. That’s something in historical fiction I always really admire and appreciate. It helps when you feel like you can simply trust the author and let them carry you through the story without feeling a need to question everything.
That being said, it did feel more like historical fiction with some romance rather than the typical historical romance. I thought the relationship between Harriet and Rosalie was sweet and I was excited for every moment when they succeeded in getting to spend time together, but I definitely wanted more depth from their relationship. I understand that they fell for each other rather quickly, but I feel like it would have been more effective if they had more reason to do so, and there was a deeper, stronger bond present between them.
Although I wanted more from the relationship and more emphasis on the romance element of the book, I still found it to be well written and having some very enjoyable moments. The characters themselves were quite lovely to read about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for an eARC to review! All opinions are my own.
It’s evident that the author used extensive research to aid in the world building - everything felt accurate and tangible, from the clothes to the music to the etiquette. That’s something in historical fiction I always really admire and appreciate. It helps when you feel like you can simply trust the author and let them carry you through the story without feeling a need to question everything.
That being said, it did feel more like historical fiction with some romance rather than the typical historical romance. I thought the relationship between Harriet and Rosalie was sweet and I was excited for every moment when they succeeded in getting to spend time together, but I definitely wanted more depth from their relationship. I understand that they fell for each other rather quickly, but I feel like it would have been more effective if they had more reason to do so, and there was a deeper, stronger bond present between them.
Although I wanted more from the relationship and more emphasis on the romance element of the book, I still found it to be well written and having some very enjoyable moments. The characters themselves were quite lovely to read about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for an eARC to review! All opinions are my own.
October 17, 2021
This is probably closer 2.5 stars, but I’m rounding up for the sweet gays. I really wanted to like this, but OF TRUST AND HEART ultimately didn’t wow me. This novel is a sapphic historical fiction set in 1920s prohibition era NYC.
WHAT I LIKED:
-The inclusion of queer side characters. In addition to our lesbian narrator, Harriet, and her love interest, the cast included the mc’s pansexual male cousin, aro/ace rep, and other queer side characters.
-Despite the queer characters not being accepted by society, Harriet’s family knew about her sexuality and accepted her. This is rare for historical fiction - we need more queer books like this that do not solely center on homophobia.
-A decent spicy scene that was probably be most well-written chapter in the book
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE:
-The characters were pretty flat. I didn’t hate them, but they didn’t feel like real, three-dimensional people to me.
-The writing was extremely elementary. I enjoyed the idea behind the book and the overall set-up, but it was simply not executed as well as it could have been.
-I wanted to see more chemistry from Harriet and her love interest, Rosalie.
I wouldn’t advise against anyone picking up OF HEART AND TRUST if they are in the mood for a light queer historical fiction read. I wish the writing and characters were stronger, but seeing queer joy in historical fiction made this worth the read for me.
WHAT I LIKED:
-The inclusion of queer side characters. In addition to our lesbian narrator, Harriet, and her love interest, the cast included the mc’s pansexual male cousin, aro/ace rep, and other queer side characters.
-Despite the queer characters not being accepted by society, Harriet’s family knew about her sexuality and accepted her. This is rare for historical fiction - we need more queer books like this that do not solely center on homophobia.
-A decent spicy scene that was probably be most well-written chapter in the book
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE:
-The characters were pretty flat. I didn’t hate them, but they didn’t feel like real, three-dimensional people to me.
-The writing was extremely elementary. I enjoyed the idea behind the book and the overall set-up, but it was simply not executed as well as it could have been.
-I wanted to see more chemistry from Harriet and her love interest, Rosalie.
I wouldn’t advise against anyone picking up OF HEART AND TRUST if they are in the mood for a light queer historical fiction read. I wish the writing and characters were stronger, but seeing queer joy in historical fiction made this worth the read for me.
October 17, 2021
I liked the story and the romance somewhat but I had a little trouble understanding why certain parts and events were rushed through and then other parts were long drawn out and very slow.
I thought this book sounded so interesting and this is actually my first sapphic romance. I have read a lot of m/m romances but never an f/f romance. But somehow I just didn’t feel the pull between the women sadly.
So instead I started reading it for the history surrounding prohibition, speakeasies, the LGBTQIA+ community and the black community in New York and Scotland in the 1920’s. An suddenly it became a lot more interesting to me.
I thought the romance between the Scottish Lady Harriet and the poor American performer Rosalie was very sweet but I didn’t feel any passion between them. Actually I felt more passion between Lady Harriet’s cousin Charlie and his romantic interest Jeffrey (the black gay saxophonist).
And I felt a lot more for Charlie and his struggles with his father than Harriet’s struggles with having to find a husband even though she is into women.
I guessed the conclusion very early on and I actually felt sorry for Henry her fiancé because she could have been his salvation too.
I can recommend this book if you are into 1920’s history and a sweet romance with some drama.
I thought this book sounded so interesting and this is actually my first sapphic romance. I have read a lot of m/m romances but never an f/f romance. But somehow I just didn’t feel the pull between the women sadly.
So instead I started reading it for the history surrounding prohibition, speakeasies, the LGBTQIA+ community and the black community in New York and Scotland in the 1920’s. An suddenly it became a lot more interesting to me.
I thought the romance between the Scottish Lady Harriet and the poor American performer Rosalie was very sweet but I didn’t feel any passion between them. Actually I felt more passion between Lady Harriet’s cousin Charlie and his romantic interest Jeffrey (the black gay saxophonist).
And I felt a lot more for Charlie and his struggles with his father than Harriet’s struggles with having to find a husband even though she is into women.
I guessed the conclusion very early on and I actually felt sorry for Henry her fiancé because she could have been his salvation too.
I can recommend this book if you are into 1920’s history and a sweet romance with some drama.
October 7, 2021
I love the cover and thought I'd enjoy the book written in a time period I don't usually read about. It is 1923 and Lady Harriet Cunningham, the daughter of a Scottish Earl has come to NYC to find a husband. Staying in the care of her aunt and uncle it is her cousin (and friend) Charlie that takes her to a speakeasy. There the beautiful singer Rosalie captures her eye.
I was interested in the club during the times of prohibition. And I liked Harriet. She is honest, straight forward. and fully plans to marry, to give herself and her family protection. Her family is aware of her inclinations and will not force a wedding but encourages it. I just didn't find this much of a romance. The attraction is instantaneous and really without any build up or conversations. It is all told through Harriet's POV with only minimal background for Rosalie. I also didn't love the resolution, but after checking I found it was a legal option. It is a good story but I needed more excitement, romance, character development or something to rate it higher.
I did enjoy the authors last book and will look for future works by her. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a review.
I was interested in the club during the times of prohibition. And I liked Harriet. She is honest, straight forward. and fully plans to marry, to give herself and her family protection. Her family is aware of her inclinations and will not force a wedding but encourages it. I just didn't find this much of a romance. The attraction is instantaneous and really without any build up or conversations. It is all told through Harriet's POV with only minimal background for Rosalie. I also didn't love the resolution, but after checking I found it was a legal option. It is a good story but I needed more excitement, romance, character development or something to rate it higher.
I did enjoy the authors last book and will look for future works by her. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a review.
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