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They were definitely on the Raff and Penn ship before Raff and Penn were even fully on it themselves. It definitely gave “okay, now kiss” vibes which I thought was incredibility endearing and sweet. 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. That’s exactly what ONE NIGHT IN HARTSWOOD gives and I fell in LOOOOVE. I mean, Raff and Penn were just soooo good together. The angst. The pining. The stolen touches and glances. The absolute romance of it all. I am smitten. I haven’t had a book feel like this in a minute. Penn is definitely the more-developed character between the two, or at least, the one who undergoes the most growth that we get to see. We hear from Raff's family that he has changed for the better, but we don't get to see much of a change other than his falling in love with Penn, which don't get me wrong, is beautifully sweet, but he is much more of a stable, loving force for Penn. Penn, by contrast, is so adrift at the beginning that to see how far he had come in the epilogue all but brought a tear to my eye. While the rest of the book did build these two up to being in love, the most exciting things happened at the end when they were already there and had to find some way to be together in what seemed like an impossible situation.
It was enjoyable to read Penn coming out of shell and finding his own talents and realizing he did not deserve his father's abuse. Once they've arrived, Raff goes out to explore the woods in the area, and it What I am happy about is definitely that a mainstream romance publisher is making a choice in favour of a soft gay historical to break up the line up of safer titles.
Users who reposted One Night in Hartswood, By Emma Denny, Read by Tom Alexander and Sebastian Humphreys 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!!
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. Beyond the romance, the novel explores themes of trust, loyalty, and the choices we make for love. The characters' journeys are filled with twists and revelations, keeping readers engaged and invested in their outcomes. As secrets come to light, Raff and Penn must grapple with their feelings and make decisions that will shape their futures. 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. When identities are finally revealed, they will have many large obstacles in the way of their happiness — including angry parents & the threat of war.
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The side characters - apart from Penn's father - helped make the story all the more enjoyable. Ash had to have been my favorite, and I would love a side story that gave us more insight into Oliver. From the first moment Raff and Penn meet, I fell head over heels for One Night in Hartswood. With two loveable but flawed protagonists, sizzling romance, heart-stopping tension, beautiful writing, and a brilliant cast of supporting characters who I'm desperate to get to know even more, Emma's found the perfect recipe for an LGBTQI+ romance. Raff and Penn stole my heart, and I can't wait for readers to start falling in love with them too. Joe Thomas, Senior Publicity Manager A wonderfully written historical male male romance, with great attention to detail with the historical setting, while also giving an almost other-worldly quality.’ When I saw that this novel was set in 1360, I immediately wanted to read it. Ultimately, I'm glad I did...despite the constant feeling I had that the setting was fairly arbitrary and it really could have been any pre-industrial time period.
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