I enjoyed this retelling of Robin Hood. I liked the issues that were addressed and how Mary learned to to fine with who she was and that her race didn’t have to define her. I loved how Robert loved her no matter what. I loved how Mary was willing to risk all for Robert and that as she did so other were willing to do the right thing as well. I thought this was a well written story and very enjoyable to read.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

If you’ve read the synopsis, it describes this story better than I ever could. It is so unique and beautiful! I was quite surprised by it, especially having that Robin Hood spin on it, I didn’t expect the story that unfolded, and that can make a story all the more enjoyable!!

Mary Grace is an outcast because of her race. Half Indian, half white, she sounds like an absolutely stunning woman, with this elegant persona and this unexpected strength and willpower. She’s an incredible woman!
And no doubt when Robert meets her, that is why he is so drawn to her. But he also sees something very sad in Mary Grace. This need to hide who she is from people, a fear of the light- where people can see her. How heartbreaking is that?! And how sweet is he for wanting to help her brave the light?!

Now this story has another element to it, like any good Robin Hood story, there is the underhanded and corrupt enemies making life miserable for the village. Well, it is not missing here.
As Mary Grace and Robert get to know each other in the relatively safe darkness of Sherwood Forest, there is those sinister forces also taking advantage of the cover of night. Which made for a fun mystery element to the story!

With all that being said, I found the story completely enchanting but slow. It has an adorable start, and some good fast paced moments but the romance is slow and didn’t quite pull me in.

If you love a slow burn romance with a good plot line, danger and mystery, and some little twists along the way, give this book a try!

Content: clean
Romance: mild; kissing
Violence: mild; it’s a Robin Hood retelling- shooting arrows, taunting the bad guys, near escape of danger. All very mild.
Language: none.

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Meriden Park by Julie Daines is a Regency Era story inspired by the legend of Robin Hood.

I really enjoyed this story! There are a lot of nods to the Robin Hood story, but I wouldn’t necessarily call this a retelling. The main characters know the story of Robin Hood and Robin and Marian are almost like spirit guides for Robert and Mary.

Both Robert and Mary have tragic histories and came from situations that London society would not consider respectable. But they were both fortunate to find people who saved them from their impoverished situations and raised them to be a lady and a gentleman. I love how their histories help them be compassionate toward families who are impoverished and motivate them to help however they can.

I enjoyed the little bit of mystery and adventure as Robert works to find enough evidence to bring the local villain to justice and as Mary gradually uncovers the situation Robert has become tangled in. I especially enjoyed the trial at the end. I loved how all the side characters that seemed unimportant banded together to stand up for what was right and good and true. I think it shows to some degree the how Robert and Mary have had a positive influence on the community.

Lastly I loved the sweet relationship that develops between Robert and Mary. Their connection started fairly quickly and grew very naturally. I love that Robert was never bothered by Mary’s heritage and Mary was never bothered by Robert’s tendency to wander the woods dressed like Robin Hood. Neither was bothered by their quirky family members and unique situations. They just saw each other for who they were and came to love each other for it. I love how they continually took turns saving each other. Their relationships just felt sweet and well matched throughout the whole book!

Overall this was a fun and unique story! I loved that it had lots of ties to Robin Hood but is still a unique story. It’s very different from most Regency stories, but still very enjoyable. The characters have difficult histories, but at the end of the day, they really are just like everyone else, they’re just trying to find happiness and stability in life.

I have always been fascinated with the legend of Robin Hood. How could I help not loving a hero that robs the rich to give to those truly in need?

Meriden Park is a welcome addition to the spirit of the legend. Robert Markham is a fantastic male MC. He loves Robin and all he stood for. He introduces the newest resident, Mary Grace, to the legend. It is helpful that she lives next to Sherwood Forrest. It adds to the mystery of the story. Someone is killing people in the forest. Mary Grace had the misfortune to run across a victim and put her life in danger.

I loved the interplay between Mary and Robert. During that time period, they would be an unlikely pair. She is from India and he is an Englishman. Robert was a hero to me when he saw Mary for the smart and beautiful woman she was. Their first meeting will always be a favorite of mine. He offered hot-cross buns for a kiss. I really don't think that either of them thought they were in earnest when she accepted. I believe that I was grinning from ear to ear. This event set the tone for their future interactions and the playfulness of their mutual attraction.

Julie Daines did a wonderful job of keeping an element of mystery running throughout the novel. While setting the stage for one of the villains. she was able to add twists that left me surprised at others.

I really enjoyed the book.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this Robin Hood inspired story set on the edge of Sherwood Forest.

Mary Grace is not your standard Regency Heroine. She was an orphan from the streets of Calcutta who became the ward of a wealthy childless couple stationed there. Mary Grace was treated well by her mistress, but the heir to Meriden Park and his wife are less than welcoming and Mary Grace is worried about her standing.

Robert has his own challenges, but finds himself captivated by Mary Grace. Together they work together to expose and stop a smuggling ring in the area.

This is not a traditional romance given the time period and the strictures in society, but it is beautifully written while simultaneously honoring the traditions and breaking the bonds set by others. Mrs. Welling is a good mistress, but her ailing health makes it difficult for Mary to find her footing.

Intermixed into the story is a bit of magic involving Robin Hood and Maid Marian and some of the lore in the area. I loved the way the legend was brought into play. This story was well written and the journey was magical.

I received an early copy through NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest review.

I had never thought about how much the Robin Hood fairy tale is about identity until reading Meriden Park. Julie Daines does such an incredible job of highlighting that aspect of the story and making it shine.

This story has all the adventure, all the suspense, and all romance of any other Robin Hood story, with such a beautiful underlying message of finding who you are and being okay with that.

A stunning retelling I would highly recommend.

This book has a Robin Hood flavor to it. In fact, Robin Hood is mentioned a few times. The setting of the story is next to Sherwood Forest. My favorite part of this story is the character development of Mary Grace. She is half Indian descent and half English. She was abandoned as a child and feels like she doesn’t belong. This story is well written. The characters are very likable and you are cheering for them and very invested in their story. I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it.

I am not the biggest fan of Robin Hood so I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book.
I started reading and it quickly held my interest.
I liked the characters and thought it was interesting that the male lead had physical flaws.
The plot had Robin Hood hints, but didn’t follow the story exactly.
It was well written and entertaining.

I received an ARC copy from Covenant Communications. Thank you!! All thoughts below are my own!

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I went in not knowing much about the author or book. However this Robinhood retelling with minority representation was great! Mary Anne grows so much in this book.
Mary Anne is rescue by Mrs. Welling in the gutter of Calcutta India. Brought in and raised as a daughter, Mary Anne experiences prejudice and injustices when they come back to Meriden Park. Robert selling hot cross buns on the street meets Mary Anne. (Super cute meet cute that I don't want to spoil for you). One night Mary Anne encounters something she shouldn't see in the woods. A shotgun is fired. A man is dead. Suddenly Robert is leading Mary Anne back home. However why is Robert there with a cross bow and arrows? Mary Anne and Robert soon become fast friends even though Mary Anne is suspicious of Robert. When Robert gets accused of a murder will Mary Anne save his life?


Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Read if you enjoy:
🏹Robinhood
Minority Representation
💗Proper Romance
🤵Swoony MMC


Content: murderer (not graphic), poverty, bigotry, racial comments

Fun Regency retelling of Robin Hood. This book has it all: intrigue, action, danger, mystery, romance, character growth, surprises, and even meaningful dreams that foretell events.

Mary Grace was born to an Indian father and British mother but was abandoned as a young child. Mrs. Welling took her in, treated her as a daughter, and looked past the color of her skin even though most people considered her as less. After her husband dies, Mrs. Welling takes Mary to live in Nottingham, England but their estate is being taken over by Fanny and her husband who look down on Mary.

Robert Markham is attracted to Mary partly because she is different from the others. He loves the story of Robin Hood and secretly spends time in Sherwood Forest trying to figure out who is responsible for a string of murders, despite having a physical condition that makes his work difficult. He and Mary cross paths in the dark forest. She loves the moonlight because it disguises her skin color, and she doesn’t have to hide.

I loved Mary’s character, her growth and relationship with Robert. Many quotes from Shakespeare are included since Robert’s mom is a former actress and she speaks by reciting lines from plays. Thanks to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for a temporary digital copy to use for my review.

This is a riveting regency mystery romance with a Robin Hood twist. Mary Grace, an half Indian/half British orphan, is taken in as a child by the Wellings and raised as a lady. She returns to England with Mrs. Welling as a young woman and gets caught up in a mystery in Sherwood Forest. She meets a man, who has similarities to Robin Hood, with a kiss for a hot crossed bun. When he is accused of murder, Mary Grace tries to find evidence of his innocence and also finds courage inside herself to speak up and be true to herself. If you love sweet romance and adventure, you’ll love this book!

Meriden Park is a wonderful Robin Hood retelling with a focus on both hero and heroine.
Mary, our heroine, is sweet, spunky, and hiding her true self from most people. She tries not to be noticed because her heritage comes from India and while she has found a loving home, she still feels unworthy. Some people are indifferent, but others can be hurtful, so it's easier to not stand out. However, a fun exchange of buns for a kiss is a fun meet-cute that introduces Mary to Robert - a hero who also tries to fly under the radar, because he needs to be able to keep doing his work. He sees Mary, despite her goal to not be noticed, and she sees through his acting to the man underneath. A lovely friendship develops between them.

It wouldn't be a good book if the author left it there, of course, so life circumstances and pasts come forward to challenge Mary and Robert's current lives. Can their friendship see them through? Will it only be friendship, or is there a possibility for something more?

This was a clean read that I enjoyed!

A sweet tale filled with strong references to Robin Hood. The interactions between Mary Grace and Robert were super fun. They grew to be friends and as romance develops they both hold back because of secrets they hold close their hearts. I really enjoyed this unique story.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

A little darker than I was expecting, I still enjoyed this story of two different worlds colliding and some good old Robin Hood stories.

I'm really getting into these fairytale retellings. I love catching the similarities between the original fairytale while enjoying the way the author changes the story to fit the time period. Mary Grace is biracial (English/Indian) and was rescued by the Welling family as a young child in Calcutta. Now she finds herself in England far from the familiar surroundings of India and among those who look down on her darker skintone, often mistaking her for "the help". Her first meeting with Robert Markham, the dashing hero of the story, is cute and their interaction becomes the talk of the small town.

I loved all of Mary and Robert's interactions and thought the characters were wonderful together. In today's terms Robert would be called a fanboy of Robin Hood. He loved reading about him and believed all the legends. Mary begins having dreams that she doesn't understand but because of Robert's knowledge of all things Robin, he's able to help her decipher what her dreams mean.

I liked that Robert didn't care about the color of Mary's skin; he cared about her as a person and wanted others to treat her as he did. Robert has a heart condition but that doesn't stop him from trapsing through Sherwood Forest each night trying to keep the people he loves safe. I really liked the mystery the author wove through the story and how it involved Sherwood Forest. I thoroughly enjoyed this Regency romance and all of the nods to Robin Hood.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

Robin Hood meets Regency? I'm all there for it! I can always count on Julie Daines to take me away with a wonderful story, and she really delivered with Meriden Park. The characters are unique and vibrant, with admirable strengths, and I loved getting to know them as their layers are revealed. Robert and Mary develop a friendship that provides a good foundation for a deeper relationship as they choose to trust and pursue the intrigue and get caught in the action. They have great banter which is always a pleasure to read! The story is well rounded with a variety of supporting characters that brought depth and provided suspense that moved the story along at a good pace- I didn't want to put the book down! Highly recommend to fans of retellings and sweet Regency romance!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

I loved this book! It was the perfect balance of romance and suspense with a little bit of a supernatural aspect thrown in. Also, who doesn't love Robin Hood? The way that Mary and Robert's story mirrored the Robin Hood story, while still being uniquely their own was great!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

What a little gem. A sweet, romantic tale strongly intertwined with the legend of Robin Hood, with just enough mystery and adventure to keep it fun. I think the FMCs personal background could have been fleshed out a little more…I don’t think I got to know her as well as I would normally like, but I loved her as a character. The MMC is a total sweetheart disguised as an outlaw and I’m here for it.

4.5 stars. This was a fun regency novel with a twist on Robin Hood. The story is of Mary Grace, with both an English and Indian heritage who was raised by a kind woman English living in India. When they move to England, Mary realizes that she will be at the mercy of her benefactor’s relatives after she dies, and she doesn’t quite get along with them. Her and Robert’s meet cute is over a bun and a kiss, which added some intriguing elements to the story. Also loved how daring Mary was in her willingness to play the heroine when her “Robin Hood” got into trouble. I do wish that I could have seen more of how John’s actions played into the ending of the novel, I felt like there wasn’t much foreshadowing involved, so his contributions to the story kind of blindsided me. Deducting half a star for that.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own, I was not required to share a review of this book.

A gentle-hearted romance about two people falling in love beneath the trees of Sherwood Forest, with a side of crime-solving to add extra tension. Although some elements, like the crime element and the mystery of Mary's origins, feel under-explored, I love the main characters and their allies. While Robert is relatively secure in his family and social position, Mary's Anglo Indian heritage marks her as an outsider in the English countryside, and I like how Daines uses the people around them to show how the world is becoming more connected (albeit through colonialism) and old views are slowly but surely changing. Also, as a passionate Robin Hood fan myself, I was delighted by Robert's hero worship and endlessly amused by Mary's suspicion of the legends! An engaging, easy read with plenty of humor and heart.

My thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.