ARC Review: The Baron and the Enchantress by Paullett Golden

I’ll admit, Lilith had me worried in the beginning. She is just as bullheaded as her brother Sebastian (from |The Earl and the Enchantress|) and I have a rather contentious relationship with him. I liked Lilith well enough but her inability to look beyond her own skewed world view was awfully frustrating. We would start to see some improvement and then Paullett yanks it away to punish me some more. Tease! That said, Paullett expertly showed Lilith’s fierce determination and the backstory to her tendency to keep others at arms-length. It was difficult to watch her maintain that protective shell with those brief glimpses of vulnerability when the readers know that she would be far happier letting some family and friends in closer.

Walter was adorably optimistic, kind and charming. The romantic sort of dreamer that makes a reader’s heart flutter as he tries to move heaven and earth to make his beloved happy. Walter is my favorite hero from the Enchantresses series to date. He is adorably naïve and just a slight bit priggish in the beginning. Whenever Lilith would have her moments of turmoil and lashed out at Walter, I was ready to bring out the torches and pitchforks. Team Walter all the way for this reader.

The chemistry between Lilith and Walter was a delicious spark to a slow burn romance. This isn’t an all-consuming romance, but the realistic pace allowed for plenty of personal growth for both characters alongside their budding romance.

Also, quick aside to Sebbie: You don’t get to be frustrated with Lilith’s bullheadedness! You were worse and I can say that for a fact because I’m listening to your book right now. Calm down with that high horse nonsense.

Since I read/reviewed this book as a beta reader I’m not going to go into detail about issues I saw as there was still another round of editing after I sent in notes. I was confused at the portrayal of my beloved Hazel as a typical stuffy blue blood as it didn’t match up with my perception of her in the first two books. Eventually the portrayal shifted but I’ll admit to being a bit miffed. I struggled a little bit with the pacing as there were a handful of inner monologues that felt longer than necessary. I tend to get a bit squirrelly when inner musings take too long.

The Baron and the Enchantress has romance, passion, angst, and even a dastardly villain mixed together into an engaging story of two flawed individuals trying to find their way in the world and in the process find each other. The cameos of previous couples and characters made this book a joy to read. I can confidently say this is my favorite of the series so far. Now I am eagerly waiting to get my mitts on the next installment, |The Colonel and the Enchantress|!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.