I absolutely adored this book! A runaway heir, fake identities and a slow burn romance? What’s not to love?!

Penn and Ash are thrown together in the woods one night and their stories become entangled from there as they search for freedom from their respective roles and expectations. They traverse the forest side by side as their feelings for each other secretly grow until they’re forced to reckon with the burdens they’re running from.

I fell in love with these characters! They took me on such a rollercoaster of emotions! And the LONGING in this book is tangible and almost painfully real. I couldn’t get enough of this story and tore through it! This book is perfect for fans of Cat Sebastian and/or Alexis Hall, I promise!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360, Mills Boon for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"One Night in Hartswood" by Emma Denny is an enchanting historical romance that sweeps readers into the world of Oxford in 1360. With a backdrop of political intrigue and forbidden love, this novel weaves a tale of passion, sacrifice, and the enduring power of connection.

Denny's prose shines as she introduces readers to Raff Barden and William de Foucart, also known as Penn. When Penn disappears on the eve of his arranged marriage, Raff becomes entwined in a journey to bring him back and restore his family's honor. The story unfolds with vivid historical detail, immersing readers in a bygone era and skillfully creating a sense of time and place.

The heart of the novel lies in the growing bond between Raff and Penn. As they navigate challenges and rely on each other for survival, their connection deepens into a love that is both forbidden and profound. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their emotions are portrayed with sensitivity and depth, making their journey all the more captivating.

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.

"One Night in Hartswood" is a beautifully crafted debut that captures the essence of historical romance while offering a fresh and engaging narrative. Denny's ability to transport readers to a different time while delving into universal emotions makes this novel a standout in the genre. Fans of historical romance will be swept away by the intricate plot, well-developed characters, and the tender and enduring love story at its core.

<b>✰4.5 stars✰ rounded up</b>

<blockquote><b>“I was not rid of you . . . I have not been rid of you since that first evening in Hartswood Forest.”</b></blockquote>

<b>I absolutely adored this book every step of the way. [author:Emma Denny|22343292] is an amazing writer, not just in how she creates a story but in how to describes it and the prose she uses when writing.</b> It’s clear that she’s dedicated a lot of time to her craft.

This story is set in the 14th century as a historical romance, and while I do agree that it is certainly those things it almost feels as if it could fall into fantasy as well. Not because it’s unbelievable but because it’s beautiful and feels fantastical(good love stories always do) even without any elements of magic that you usually find in fantasy.

All of the tropes in this one seemed to flow and work really well together, there’s mistaken/hidden identity, there’s forced proximity from traveling and camping together and needing to stay warm, there’s fighting lessons that turn into sexual tension, and there’s “I want you but I don’t think I can have you”.

Character wise, Penn and Raff were perfect for each other. Even when they were hiding their titles from each other, they were being their true selves at the root of it all. Taking the titles away really stripped them down to what they are behind that and it gave them the chance to get to know one another on a deeper level.
I also loved Raff’s siblings and how supportive of Raff they were. They knew about Raff’s inclination towards men and despite it being taboo and wrong for the time, they didn’t care and only wanted what was best for him.
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.

The conflict here gets resolved easier than realistically possible, so if you’re about having your historical romances be completely rooted in reality then the angst and resolution of the end of the story might not be your cup of tea.
But here’s the thing, I didn’t mind at all. I’m not picking up a M/M historical romance and expecting it to be 100% realistic because the reality of that time is far less pretty and happy for most gay men in the 14th century.
This book stays true to historical views but isn't going to overly highlight those bad things every step of the way because I think this is meant to feel warm and cozy, like the love these two men begin to realize they share feels.

<blockquote><b>“We have been apart for less than a day.”
“And I have missed you for every moment of it.”</b></blockquote>

Nothing in this book felt forced or unnatural, and I can’t emphasize enough how neatly the author writes. It’s beautiful but accessible in a way that it isn’t hard to understand. Sometimes in historical romances they are written in a way that takes you longer to figure out what’s happening just because the prose is dense and unbending. That isn’t the case here and it’s done in a way that is perfect for the story.

<b>Overall, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a warm, mood read with hurt/comfort that leaves you with a cozy feeling when you finish.</b>

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Denny’s debut novel ONE NIGHT IN HARTSWOOD is set in 1360 Hartswood. The story begins with the disappearance of a groom on the even of a politically significant marriage. The groom, William de Foucart, aka Penn, impulsively decides to flee his father’s expectations, even though he lacks the skillset to survive on his own. Raff Barden, the brother of the jilted bride, is the second oldest son in his family. However, he shoulder much of the responsibility that his brother, Ash, should assume as their father’s heir. Raff’s sense of duty compels him to search for the missing groom. However, he does not search for long before before assuming the Earl’s son is deceased. Despite this assumption, Raff agrees to help Penn, whom he believes to be a servant of the de Foucart household, escape and find work away from de Foucart’s territory. When Raff and Penn first meet, they share an instant connection and attraction. During their journey, the connection between the two men grows, even though they both conceal their true identities from each other.
The premise of the story is promising as it blends historical fiction with a romance that defies societal norms, especially of the 1360s. However, while the story had potential, I felt that it fell short of delivering the depth and complexity that the premise suggests. Given that historical fiction and LGBTQ+ romance are my favorite genres, I found myself somewhat disappointed in this novel, and I felt that this story moved rather slowly.
The relationship between Raff and Penn was sweet, but I struggled to overlook the extent of their deception towards one another. Much of their individual narratives revolve around assumptions and feelings of guilt due to their lies. While the story is a fluffy romance, it misses an opportunity to delve into struggles and sacrifices that would have been inherent to a queer couple of this time. The absence of these challenges diminishes the historical authenticity and emotion that could have strengthened this story. While historical fiction allows for creative liberties, a grounding in the historical context would have made this story feel more authentic.

I had a hard time getting really engrossed in this book and never TRULY did, but I did like it. The pacing was kind of off for me, and I kept expecting to get really into it, but I just didn't find the book very engaging. However, I liked the characters and their journeys, especially the MMCs. The siblings were also so fun to read about, and I smell a spinoff.

At its core, One Night in Hartswood is a celebration of real love prevailing in a world trying to repress it. The already prevalent difficulties of pursuing a queer romance in an unforgiving world are amplified by the setting of 1300s England, making happy moments all the more gratifying and sad ones all the more tense.

Two sons of nobility, both lying about who they really are, have a tryst in the woods not knowing that their positions within their families make an already forbidden romance even more risky: Raff Barden is the brother of Penn de Foucart’s betrothed, and he is about to unknowingly help his sister’s fiancé run from the marriage.

Though the middle of the novel becomes mildly repetitive in terms of internal pining between Raff and Penn and constant worry about inevitable reveals, the travel sequence is interspersed with wilderness encounters, training, and revelations that break up the monotony.

Two drastically different families end up at odds over an unprecedented and unspeakable love, and Raff and Penn must decide where their priorities lie and what they can and cannot live without. The culmination of things is not at all unpredictable, but offers a satisfying enough conclusion for avid romance fans.

Outside of Raff and Penn themselves, characterization is vague enough that some of the more minor players come off a bit flat and stagnant. However, the knowledge that Denny’s sequel is coming along means Ash’s unexplained history, Jo’s apparent interest in Lily, and the relatively ambiguous characterization of Raff’s father may well be a well-engineered set-up for another forbidden adventure.

Solid debut novel set in a historic time period not often seen in Romance. Raff travels south with his family or his sister's wedding to the son of a newly powerful Lord. While there, he meets Penn -- a man he assumes to be a servant -- and shares a heated moment. When the mysterious son of the Lord goes missing, Raff is sent off to find him, happening to find Penn along the way. He offers to help him on his travels, setting off with him to the north.

The POV switches between Raf and Penn quite quickly, sometimes in separate sections and sometimes in separate sentences. This made it a little difficult to always know whose perspective I was reading. Mistaken identity is a common trope, but I still enjoyed it. The relationship between Penn and Raff is organic and sweet. Overall a solid debut, and I look forward to reading her further work.

It was a light read suited best for when one is in the mood to experience a historical AU mistaken identity gay romance. Please don’t come into this book expecting an immersion into history, the events firmly take place in the same Romancelandia where there is a rakish duke to reform for every sarcastic debutante, and I say that with longstanding fondness for the genre. This novel takes place in a world where everyone wears historic costumes and talks about arranged marriages and tournaments and family obligations and such. But it is a love story between two men with recognizably modern sensibilities and anxieties, adorned with some colorful historic window dressings. Is that a bad thing? Depends on what you are looking for. Personally, I don't come to historical m/m for an scientifically accurate use of cutlery and medieval hygiene. It would have been nice to have a deeper sense of place and time, but in a romance, granted, but it is faithful to the tropes promised by the package.

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.

Thanks to #Netgalley and Mills & Boon for an arc of #OneNightInHartswood.

This book 😍

Raff is ready to hit the open road after seeing his sister married off in a politically advantageous marriage. He isn’t sure what is next for him, but he’s feeling restless and ready for adventure.

Penn is supposed to be the husband in said politically advantageous marriage, but after putting up with decades of his father’s abuse he has finally had enough and decides to flee the keep.

Raff & Penn’s paths converge, with neither of them knowing exactly who the other is. But the longer they travel together, the harder it is to deny the feelings growing between them.

When identities are finally revealed, they will have many large obstacles in the way of their happiness — including angry parents & the threat of war.

This book was filled with action but still managed to be so tender and beautiful. The stolen moments between Raff and Penn were truly perfection (and their siblings were pretty cool too!)

Loved this from beginning to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

One Night in Hartswood is a historical romance that is beautiful and cozy. This is not an overly complicated world which is a change from some of the historical novels that I have read. It is a nice change of pace. It is a simple world that is easy to imagine. It takes place in the 1300s which is the first that I have read for a historical m/m romance.

Raff and Penn have such great chemistry from the moment that they meet. It was easy to see why they wanted to be together, and you wanted them become lovers. There are a lot of romances out there where I don't understand why the two characters ended up together but that is not the case here. They are both adorable and cute in their interactions. They are perfect for each other.

One of my favorite scenes was when Penn stood up to his father to protect Raff. I couldn't help but cheer, And when the two finally admitted that they loved each other I couldn't help but feel mushy.

This is a nice steamy romp that is addictive and charming. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a cozy romance.

Totally loved it! Don't read much fiction and especially not books set in the 1300's.
One Night in Hartswood really sucked in though and I kept wanting to know what would happen next. I can't believe how quickly I finished it. Will probably read it again.

I found the writing exposition-heavy and wasn't personally gripped. Stopped after chapter 1 (7%). I kind of think there was no hope for me with this one, partially because I hate when characters run away from their problems, and that's .. well, the premise of the book ;-)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC.

This was a fun read from an author who is new to me. I love a good LGBT story set in the past, and this didn’t disappoint. Raff and Penn fall in love, not realizing the other is keeping their true identity secret. Angst abounds once the secrets unravel.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book took me a little while to get into, but once I got into it I could not put it down. It was a wonderful story that I had to know the ending of as soon as possible. A great book, I definitely recommend.

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.

On the upside, the lack of strong historical worldbuilding allowed the relationship between Penn and Raff to dominate the story. They complemented each other very well, and I certainly enjoyed their chemistry. I particularly loved how gently but adamantly Raff challenged Penn's shame, the result of so many years of physical and emotional abuse. Watching Penn realize his own worth and grow into his strength was more than satisfying. And even though I knew how the story would ultimately end up (I love a guaranteed HEA!), I still thought the way it was brought about was clever.

Even though the two MCs were traveling alone for most of the story, a few of the secondary characters were surprisingly well-drawn, most especially Raff's brother Ash who shows up in the narrative a number of times. Honestly, I would have enjoyed seeing even more of him in this book, and I would absolutely love to see him get his own novel.

Overall, One Night in Hartswood was a lighthearted read that still managed to navigate some heavy themes with skill and compassion. I will definitely be recommending it during readers' advisory discussions, and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper360, Mills & Boon for an ARC of this book.

Like Penn and Raff, I sometimes want to escape and this book provided that.

This was a cute mistaken identity/straight up lying tale that I had a hard time putting down.

I think what really made me enjoy this book was the Barden family dynamic. The love and acceptance they had for Raff made him a more open and protective person, and just what Penn needed.

I need follow up stories on Lily, Jo, and Ash. This is going to be a series, right?

Thank you to Harper Collins for this eARC! Did you ever watch the BBC series Merlin and scream at your TV for those two smitten idiots to just kiss already? Then this is the book for you! The way that these two learn to protect themselves and each other and the way they fall gently into love is so special. It feels quiet and careful and dangerous all at once. Seeing Penn grow into himself and learn to stand on his own two feet all to protect the man he loves is just so excellent. This was a really lovely read and I'm very happy to have gotten my hands on it.

I loved this book, I'm truly having a Pride and Prejudice fuelled old England romance readathon right now thanks to a call out from the barbie movie and this book fucking hit the spot. There are some questions I wish were answered, mainly surrounding what happened to Penn's family i wish there was a little clearer detail, I kept expecting Leo to pop up and never did, but overall I adored this book, it had my eyes welling up at points and I lovea dramatic turning yourself in to save your love moment. overall fantastic, will absolutely be reading again

All in all, this one was sweet. Raff and his siblings roll up to the territory of an Earl their father has decided to marry their sister off to the son of. They're all bantering around about what could possibly be wrong with these people because they don't know anything about them. Raff just wants to make sure his sister is safe and then duck out into the forest to clear his head.

Penn, the groom to be, is suffocating and does not want to be married, let alone to a woman and bails. He meets up with Raff and their connection is near instant. Both of them leave some pretty big details out, like who the other one actually is, and away we go. I thought Penn's character was developed quite a bit more than Raff's but he didn't feel unfinished. I just wanted more of him.

I appreciated how much Penn stepped up to the plate when he was so terrified of his father. He's been told he's a terrible heir and would make a terrible Earl but he seems to have done alright in my opinion. His father is just a terrible abuser and I hated that he never seemed to suffer true consequences for his actions.

One of my biggest questions in this book is what exactly did Leo do to get disowned and is this a series? I kept expecting him to pop back up but I never really understood what happened with him. I would love to see him pop back up and knock surly Ash on his butt.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper 360, and Mills & Boon for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start this out by saying, I don't like historical fiction. But apparently that's not true, because I LOVED this book.

One Night in Hartswood, set in 1360, is the story of two men who find themselves on a road trip together. Both are harboring secrets that threaten to tear apart their budding relationship. What will happen when those secrets are revealed?

What I liked: Everything. This book was incredible. I could not put it down, I told everyone I knew that I'm reading this great ARC....I could not stop thinking about it. Their relationship was so filled with sexual tension, with tenderness, and you root for them the whole way.

What I didn't like: I loved the slow burn, but I would have loved to see just a touch more romance/spice. If I'm going to be teased, I want a reward :)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper360 for the ARC. I cannot wait to see what Emma Denny writes next!

Rating: 4.5