One Night in Hartswood

A deeply romantic historical story, that left me wanting an immediate sequel. Raff and Penn are a pairing for the ages. One Night in Hartswood is brimming with romance and heartwarming affection.

Oh what a great romance. What I loved about this was actually how unpredictable it was. Even though I knew it would have a HEA, I could not foresee how it would play out and lots of bits took me by surprise.

Penn and Raff were such a great couple. Despite some misunderstandings and deceptions, I absolutely adored them together. Their relationship was passionate and tender, just a joy to read.

Great to have a queer romance story set in the 14th century! Don’t seem to get many set in this period, so was really refreshing. Would perhaps have liked a bit more historical detail, but was a great back drop for this story.

The side characters were great and I would actually have loved to have a bit more time with some of them, particularly Raff’s sister Lily. There were lots of hints about her being queer too and I’m torn between enjoying the subtlety and wanting more information!! I’d love to see her have a story!!

Very enjoyable and well written. A great setting, a little political manoeuvring and lots of feels!

I loved One Night In Hartwood by Emma Denny!
It was so good!
It was written really well and I absolutely loved Penn and Raff so much!
They were so sweet!
I also ended up really enjoying the medieval setting.
I highly recommend this book!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

5* Stars

I absolutely ADORED this book. I was hooked from the start and found it ridiculously hard to put down. If I hadn't been told it was a debut from this author, I'd never have guessed.

It's quite unique in that it's set in the 14th century. I can't think of any other M/M romance set in that period. What I loved about the author using that period is that it allowed the world to be simple and easy to fall into. It wasn't one of those overly complicated imaginary worlds that give you a headache from trying to picture everything; in fact, a lot of the book was set outdoors and it worked SO well. Every time I picked it back up, it felt cosy, like a warm hug.

The MCs in this story have so much chemistry - it's something a lot of authors don't get right, and the books end up suffering due to it. But that wasn't an issue here. The chemistry was intense and electric and so perfect. I was swooning through about 80% of the book 😍 They're both so adorable. I just loved Penn, and Raff turned my heart to mush. They're so cute together and felt so perfect for each other right from their Meet Cute. A large portion of the book was just the two MCs together, but it was never, ever boring.

I should also talk about the steamier scenes - I imagine this is the hardest part for an author to get right. In this one is was done SO RIGHT. The sex scenes were so hot and a delight to read - I can't even do justice through this review to how much I loved them - I think this was largely due to the chemistry between the pair, but the author is clearly very skilled and talented. You won't be disappointed by these parts of the book.

There are some side characters, but they only play a small role in the book. The villain is truly evil and really helped to drive the story forward.

The plot is really addictive - even though you *think* you know what might happen, there are so many twists and turns that'll leave your heart in mouth. It's an emotional rollercoaster - I found myself laughing at some points, melting at some, and bawling at others. It's been a long while since I've been this invested in a book - I'd go as far as saying it was one of my favourite books of the year.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves an M/M romance.

TL:DR - One Night In Hartswood is a perfect, addictive, steamy romp set in the 1300s. It's cosy, the characters are brilliantly crafted and the plot makes it impossible to put down. It's full of adventure and has just the right amount of angst and twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. There's nothing to fault with this story - it's an absolute must read for any M/M lover.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC. This is my honest review.

Raff and Penn’s story might be one of my favourite romances of 2022.

I adored everything about this book, the travel companion trope, the slow burn, the humour- it was perfect!

-Synopsis-

The night before the wedding, strangers Raff and Penn are desperate for some space from their stressful, strained lives so they venture into Hartswood Forest, where they share a night (and a kiss) before parting.

Raff’s sister was supposed to get married, but her husband to be mysteriously disappeared the night before the wedding. Being a skilled hunter, Raff is tasked with finding this man so the wedding can go ahead.

Penn isn’t ready for a marriage he doesn’t want, has never wanted. He wants freedom from a cruel home and is desperate for escape.

The two men find each other again, and concealing their true identities from the other, set off on a journey that will challenge them physically, and emotionally.

A wonderful LGBTQ+ historical romance with two loveable protagonists and plenty of steamy scenes.

One Night in Hartswood starts with an arranged marriage between Lily and William, the children of two powerful Lords. William, desperate to escape the fate of a marriage with someone he could never truly be with, escapes to Hartswood forest. It's here that he meets Raff, Lily's brother. Neither men know who the other are as William uses his chosen name of Penn and Raff allows Penn to presume he's a tracker, rather than related to his betrothed. The two work together to free a cruelly trapped deer and share a passionate but hasty kiss, both then running their separate ways. The following morning, and day of the wedding, Penn/William is nowhere to be found. With Raff's clear tracking skills, he is sent to find William. And he does, but has no way of knowing this as the man he finds goes by the name Penn. Together the pair travel back to Raff's father's keep, taking their time, with the idea of finding Penn (who has let Raff assume he was a servant to William's family) some work. Many cold nights and a close encounter with some angry townspeople, push Ragg and Penn closer together and romance ensues.

I loved this historical romance, and it's the first I've read with a queer love story which was very refreshing. The two characters are well developed and whilst their love story is not easy, it's tenderhearted and sweet.

The side characters are also great, especially Ash and Lily - Raff's siblings. They are supportive and encouraging throughout and the sibling banter / rivalry is evident.

This is a fantastic debut, and I'll definitely read more by Emma Denny.

One Night in Hartswood was the perfect heartwarming medieval queer romance I didn’t know I needed! If you enjoyed the Scottish Boy but wished it was more lighthearted and emotional, this is the book for you.

It follows the story of Penn and Raff— two men running away from their situations who find each other in the Hartwood. Penn is the son of a violent, controlling Lord, betrothed to marry a woman he’s never met. A woman who, unbeknownst to both of them, is Raff’s sister. When Penn goes missing Raff sets off to find him, leading to them both embarking on a journey to help Penn escape his situation and his father. Neither of them know who the other are, masquerading as a tracker and a servant, which lets them truly get to know each other and fall in love without expectations or existing ideas about the other person.

With the Medieval English setting and a little touch of political intrigue, the story was quick pasted and kept me guessing until the last moment. I knew it would have a happy ending being a romance, but I genuinely had no idea how it would work out! The progression of their relationship was incredibly believable and the author really did a great job on selling their romance and chemistry. Each of their POVs were distinct and containing their own brand of humour and personality and I loved seeing the other person through both of their eyes. I finished the book feeling so warm and happy and I genuinely couldn’t say enough positive things about One Night in Hartswood. Thank you so much Mills & Book for the beautiful ARC and a chance to read it early!

I have attempted to write this feedback a few times but struggle to put into words so I'll keep it short - I loved this book. Penn and Raff are both running when they bump into each other - Penn is running away from his life and an arranged marriage, and Raff is trying to restore the elusive groom to restore his family's honour. As they continue through the woods, their lives intertwine in a way that will impact them both forever.

Please read this book, and love it as much as I do!