False Impressions: a fast-paced, dramatic romance novel

Ace Bryann’s False Impressions is a gripping blend of political intrigue, family drama, and romance set in the microstate of Calina. The story follows Derek Landino, a young monarch navigating the complexities of rebuilding his country while managing political opposition and personal conflicts. His progressive push for Calina’s EU entry divides the nation, with some seeing it as a path to freedom and others as a threat to the monarchy.

 

Derek's personal life is equally complicated. His engagement to Christine, an American who saved his life, is met with mixed reactions—some admire her bravery, while others view her as a foreign influence. Their relationship, forged through trauma, is emotional and poignant. Meanwhile, the developing bond between Derek’s younger brother, Nic, and Tanya, a member of parliament, adds further layers of tension. Their secret connection, complicated by political danger and the weight of royal expectations, threatens both the monarchy and the stability of the country.

The novel’s antagonist, Enzo DiGrassi, works behind the scenes to destabilize Derek’s reign, fueling political unrest and creating a constant sense of danger. Bryann masterfully balances political drama with deeply emotional and personal storylines. The emotional depth of Derek and Christine’s relationship, along with the evolving connection between Nic and Tanya, adds richness to the narrative, complementing the political drama without overshadowing it.

False Impressions is a fast-paced, dramatic romance novel, with a well-crafted plot that keeps readers invested in the complex relationships and political machinations. The personal stakes—love, loyalty, betrayal—intertwine with the broader political conflict, making this a compelling and unmissable read.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Adult Content Warning: This novel contains one scene involving explicit sexual content

Fantasy romance filled with tension, forbidden attraction, and lives forever altered

Eve Koguce’s debut novel, Neglected Merge (book one in the Neglected Merge trilogy), serves up a captivating fantasy romance set in a world following an apocalyptic event known as the Merge. However, Neglected Merge does not unfold within a typical dystopian backdrop. Instead, the story portrayed in brighter milieus displays life in a somewhat normal and positive vein. But is it?

 

This fast-paced adventure romance balances drama and romance with an intricate plot that introduces two utopian-type cultures separated by mountains and societal norms. On one side live the Wingless,, and on the other, the Winged Ones. The story opens in an apartment of Tauria on the Wingless side, where people accept the order they’ve been born within without question. Tauria’s normal-day cascades into chaos when an injured Winged One, Doron, crash-lands into her apartment out of nowhere. “He was uncomfortable to look at – alien – and at the same time, her first impulse was to touch him. She held back.”

Tauria nurses him back to health over a few days, which turns out to be a life-changing decision, not only for Tauria and Doron but for their worlds. They become friends and quickly more than friends.

Neglected Merge is full of tension, forbidden attraction, and lives forever altered with two diverse cultures challenged to reinstate face-to-face communication. When Tauria learns that Doron is a prince, it only complicates their relationship and leads to an unpredictable plot rife with unexpected twists that keep the pages turning.

I give this book a solid 4 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy clean fantasy romance and forbidden-love woman’s sagas like the Twilight Saga series. A couple of things I found lacking in Neglected Merge were that the understanding of the Merge event remained unclear for most of the story. Secondly, Doron and Tauria’s love came off as too perfect at times, and the process of building a unique, three-dimensional character with depth, personality, and clear motivations was shortchanged, in my opinion. I’m not saying they were shallow or uninteresting in any way. They were not, but I won’t say more because I don’t want to include spoilers. Overall, I found the story entertaining, thought-provoking, and well worth the read.

As Book Hookup, I am a longtime book reviewer, and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with BookTasters. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

 

About the Author

Multi-award-winning author Eve Koguce has been in love with books for as long as she remembers herself. The typewriter her first attempts at writing had been made at still sits proudly on its shelf in the basement.

After fifteen years spent trying to fit into the office work pattern, Eve Koguce had decided to pursue her dreams and turned to writing.

Eve Koguce lives on the coast of the Baltic Sea with her husband, her son, and their two exceedingly charming ginger cats. She loves nature, history, and literature. Her hobby – and a childhood dream that came true – is horse riding.

Eve's debut novel “Neglected Merge” - book one in the Neglected Merge trilogy - has won three awards in the following book awards contests: (i) Silver Medal in the 2021 Global Book Awards in the Science Fiction / Fantasy category, (ii) Award Finalist in the 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fantasy General category, and (iii) Honorable Mention in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.

You can find out more about the author on:

Blog: Eve's Book Diary: Literary journey of an office career escapee, www.evekoguce.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/eve_koguce

Twitter: @EveKoguce

Instagram: @eve_koguce_books

Facebook: Eve Koguce Books https://www.facebook.com/evekoguce/