Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (It’s a very short story, so not a ton of depth)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡ (There wasn’t much tension here! The mains rather felt like friends until they professed love)
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (Judging from the kiss scene)
Sex Scene Length: No sex on page
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): No sex on page
Humor: No, this is a darker, gothic feeling story
Perspective: third person (I think from just Mary’s POV?)
More character focused or plot focused? a bit of a mix...
How did the speed of the story feel? fast
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately
Cliffhanger: no, this ends with a happy for now
Epilogue: no
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I think I saw it on Anne Knight’s newsletter?? I was curious and eager to pick up a gothic/spooky read for October

Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone.

Basic plot:
Mary goes to stay with her friend Camilla during her confinement.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance
- F/F pairing
- gothic vibes
- short story
- spooky!
- no steam – only a kiss on page

Ages:
- didn’t see them mentioned?

First line:
Teeth rattling, Mary leaned forward and rubbed the grimy window with her handkerchief, then peered into the gloom as the carriage rumbled over the rocky, ill-used road.

My thoughts:
I grabbed this one because I am living for short stories and was eager to find something kind of spooky and gothic during October. I thought this was a perfect read for that – a great lunch time or before bed treat.

I loved the writing, but the romance was very light in this one. Not meaning it’s lower steam (though it is) but I felt like I wanted a bit more longing between the mains or at least some...wondering? They seemed solid friends, and as they jumped into a happy for now, it felt really sudden but neither was surprised – maybe I just needed a little bit more from Camilla and it felt like it was more Mary’s POV in the book.

Still, this was perfect for what I was in the mood for! I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve tried from Anne Knight so far.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: A Lord’s Guide to Marriage, Mutiny and Mistletoe

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- there are some elements of paranormal activity (spirits/possession)
- mention of child birth death, parental death, and madness

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

 
Safe sex: No sex on page
Hows the consent? 

  it’s good! 

 
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) 

  One of the heroines is pregnant in the this story and goes into labor during the story. 

 
No sex but there is a kiss!