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Writer's pictureSophia Rose

Review: HER KNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM by Bryn Donovan


 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A centuries-long curse is no match for rom-com shenanigans when a medieval knight is brought to life in modern-day Chicago.Forgotten by time and abandoned by hope, Sir Griffin de Beauford’s existence stretches out before him. Cursed by a ruthless enchanter to see, hear, and think, but never to move or speak, Griffin suffers the long, lonely centuries trapped in stone…until an unexpected kiss from a fair maiden breathes new life into his soul—and his body. Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago, is charged with the restoration of a statue of a medieval English knight. Breaking curses was not part of the job description. And yet, here he is, the man of her dreams come to life, resplendent in shining armor as he joyously barrels into priceless antiquities...and goes on to dismantle her defenses, wreak havoc on her senses, and tempt her to believe once more in happy-ever-afters. But the modern age tries Griffin’s patience and pride, and Emily is a prime suspect in the investigation of the missing sculpture. In a complicated world, can they find their way to a fairy-tale ending?


Illustrated book cover. White woman and blond man in suit of armor surrounded by statues
“Her Knight at the Museum” Published:  November 12 2024

OPENING LINES

Emily unwound the cloth from the head of the stone sculpture and found herself face-to-face with the knight.”

 

GUEST REVIEW by Sophia Rose

Sometimes one just needs a good old-fashioned knight in shining armor to win the fair lady. Bryn Donovan, a new-to-me author, wrote a sexy, light-hearted time travel romcom full of humor, awkward modern world moments, and a romance between a cursed knight and a melancholy art conservator.

 

I enjoy this situation when a character time travels to the present and has all the fun of fitting in.  Instead of a portal, poor Griffin was cursed to be made a statue and spent centuries waiting inside the stone until Emily is able to release him. Griffin and Emily share the narrative which worked out great getting both their thoughts as things went along.  


Griffin and Emily both are highly attracted to each other from the start. Okay, Griffin’s had a super long abstinence and, now with flesh and blood, the guy’s mind doesn’t drift far from the prize. They’re conversations about such matters were a crack up. Emily’s not much better, but she is much more hesitant for any level of commitment.

 

Between Griffin’s need to adapt and Emily’s previous heart-bruising relationship, not to mention everyone suspicious of what happened to the statue Emily was working on, they have enough conflict to keep the plot interesting. But, the humorous moments were sometimes laugh out loud funny or cute like Emily’s dog, Andy Warhowl.

 

Must mention my favorite character was quirky Rose.  There is a secondary relationship for Rose, a gal who proved herself a real friend to Emily. I enjoyed her white witchery and quirks and hope she gets a follow up story. There was those unanswered questions at the end…

 

Oh yes, one does need to ‘swallow the little blue pill’ and just go with the improbability for maximum enjoyment, but I’m up for it now and then. Her Knight at the Museum gets a hearty ‘Huzzah!’ from me, and I recommend it to others looking for a light, spicy timeslip romcom to swoon over.


Smiling red haired woman
Bryn Donovan, author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m Bryn Donovan, and I’m a writer, book editor, and optimist with a background as an executive editor in publishing. I have a new romcom novel, Her Knight at the Museum, coming out soon from Berkley! With my husband, I run Lucky Author, a book editing business. I’m a voracious reader, an altruistic kidney donor, and a rescue dog lover who never stops dreaming big.

I earned my MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Arizona (but you don’t need an MFA to be a good writer!) My work has appeared in dozens of literary magazines, including Ploughshares, The Antioch Review, North American Review, Nimrod, and Puerto Del Sol, and I’ve published articles in McSweeneys and Writer’s Digest. I’m the author of ten children’s books, an inspirational gift book, and a G-rated contemporary romance for Hallmark, and I am the creative producer of two Hallmark movies. I’ve published steamy romances as well as nonfiction books for writers, including Master Lists for Writers and 5,000 Writing Prompts

I’ve taught writing workshops at Catapult, The Writers Place in Kansas City, and at writing conferences. As a teacher, I focus not only on opportunities for improvement, but also on identifying ways that writers can make the most of their individual strengths.

You can reach me via her website and social media.


ABOUT SOPHIA ROSE, REVIEWER

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, baseball, cats, Scooby Doo, and chocolate.


As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. In 2012, she submitted her first book review and is currently an associate reviewer.


Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Sorry, no horror...or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.


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