Full of matchmaking. romance, opposites attract, and sweet moments, "Calm the Storm" is a slow-burn historical romance that I simply did not want to put down!

Firstly, this cover is so beautiful!

Though neither Felicity nor Atticus want to marry, when they are caught in an accidentally compromising position, they know they must. Soon, their relationship begins to evolve and deepen the more they get to know one another, and they way they understand one another is so special and endearing. How does a letter from Lady Swan, received by Felicity before she ever met Atticus, connect to things? What happens when Atticus finds out about the letter? Will they two truly be one another's happily-ever-after? You will just have to read to find out! (Spoiler Alert: yes they most certainly will!).

I highly recommend this book if you like Historical Romance! I can't wait to read more books in this incredible series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC of this novel, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second installment of the series, Society of Swans. Lady Swan is using her expert matchmaking skills to help Felicity find her perfect match. But when she retires to the country, where everyone knows everyone and nothing exciting ever happens, she doesn't take much stock in Lady Swan's offer.
Atticus and his family have newly arrived in the country. He is awkward and shy and has trouble with social interactions. Felicity has no thoughts on marrying, but when she and Atticus are caught in a compromising situation, they are forced to marry. Although complete opposites, Felicity finds herself slowly being attracted to him and he to her. The slow burn romance was lovely and I enjoyed watching the growth of each character as they grew closer. The characters were both well-crafted and endearing and I enjoyed following their journey to their happy ending.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Opposites Attract, Historical Romance

Felicity and Atticus have their reasons for not wanting to be married to anyone. However, fate interferes and unites them. She is feisty; he is shy. Caught in a compromising situation, they must marry. Will love find them? They do not believe it will, but love has been known to strike when you least expect it. This is a low-angst historical romance. There is some tension when Atticus finds out about Lady Swan’s letter to Felicity. Who is Lady Swan, and why does the letter create strife? You will find the answers between the pages of this historical romance.

Lady Swan once again uses her matchmaking skills to offer Felicity Reeve a balance in her life with the right man. Atticus Wheadon keeps to himself always reading. He hates socializing. Felicity doesn't see herself as ever being a wife and mother considering how her parents hate her. Atticus is kind and socially awkward. Can they be friends first? It's amazing how love can bring opposites together.
Clean romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is exactly the book I needed. Felicity and Atticus, these two. Their relationship was so, so tender and pure. I'd be hard pressed to find two other people that just so belong to each other. I've been going through a rough time and this book was balm for my soul. Thank you Penny Fairbanks!!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This is not a bad book, and I think the foundations for something good are there, it is just such a bore...
The language is stilted and very flowery, which is somewhat logical for the time period, but not this much I think. It was just too much for me and bored me so much. Also, nothing really happens in the book. When I think about it now there are actually a few plot points that can make a decently interesting plot, but it is written so slowly that I lost any of that excitement unfortunately. I think if the author might try a little less, it could become so much more.

Lady Swan STRIKES Again!! But this time the victim is not for marriage and makes sure everyone know it. But life has it twists ad turns d things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes love just happens.
A romantic tale with more turns than the ballroom that’s mentioned. Two confused individuals who trip into each other and then have to live with consequences. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love as life in this novel gives them much to think about.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

Calm the Storm Penny Fairbanks is a historical fiction book where the two main characters, Felicity and Atticus, have strikingly different personalities. They have been brought together in mysterious circumstances because an anonymous Lady Swan seems to predict the future of various couples in the area even before they meet. Now it's Felicity's turn, but there is a problem. Everyone around her knows that she has vowed to remain a spinster because she believes married life is not meant for her. Unlike her twin sister Mercy, she happens not to be her mother's favorite child, and that makes her see the world differently. True to Lady Swan's words, A timid Atticus arrives together with his family and this makes Felicity more apprehensive about the mysterious letter Lady Swan wrote her. She is more determined to stand her ground, but fate has a different plan for her because they meet with the predicted future husband without planning to do so, and one thing leads to another, and they both find themselves in a seemingly compromising situation, and now, whether they are willing or not, they have to marry. How will these newlyweds go about this forced marriage situation, and more importantly, will this marriage pass the test of time?

I love the characters in the book, especially Atticus. His timid but angelic personality has made the book very fascinating. I also like the strikingly different personalities between Felicity and Atticus; I find it to be quite hilarious and cultivating.

In the first chapters, I did not like the gaps between the events. A good example is the chapter that narrates about the two being forced into marriage and without showing how the characters handled the situation, we just jumped to the wedding plans. In my opinion, the story would have been more interesting if that part had been included.

For the above reasons, I rate this book, Calm the Storm by Penny Fairbanks, 4 out of 5 stars. as the story is short but sweet, especially toward the end. The ups and downs make it even better; it is an excellent story.

I recommend this book to readers who like romantic historical fiction books whose main characters have strikingly different personalities yet blend well. Additionally, I recommend it to readers who enjoy stories about resilience and overcoming personality challenges

Calm the Storm by Penny Fairbanks is the second in a series. The ladies in their circle have been plagued, maybe graced, with a benefactor named Miss Swan. Miss Swan was obviously not her real name, as they knew no one called Miss Swan. She was a matchmaker, or rather, a predictor of matches. Their friend, Lydia, had received such a letter and was now happily married. In the day’s post a letter was received by Felicity. She was determined to thwart it. As it happened, a large home nearby had been let and Felicity had stood, hidden by shrubbery, when they arrived. Two older people and then a young man with a book in his hand, fell out of the coach. He looked toward Felicity. Had he seen her?

It turns out that Atticus was nothing more than an introvert, who spent his time reading. His parents were sympathetic to him and did not push him. It was a delight to see. Felicity no longer felt the loneliness she had felt all her life. Things changed for them when he discovered Lady Swan and he confronted Felicity. They were both endearing characters and this was a true romance. It was everything a romance should be. Their problems were simple: no kidnappings, no surprise half-siblings, no huge reveals, just two happy people. If that is what you are looking for, you have found it. Thanks Penny Fairbanks for a fun book!

I was invited to read Calm the Storm by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #PennyFairbanks #CalmTheStorm

A cute closed door romance between two people who never wanted to or expected to get married but are found in a compromising situation and forced into marriage . I did enjoy how their romance developed although the third act breakup was a bit forced imo 🤷🏼‍♀️

3.5 stars.
A sweet historical novel with a bashful hero and lots of deliciously awkward moments, “Calm the Storm”, by Penny Fairbanks, shows the super shy male lead find his HEA with a resolute heroine.
Atticus’ issues in social situations are wonderfully portrayed, and I loved how the author wrote the anxiety, fear, embarrassment, shyness, and the awkward circumstances they created to the still very charming and unexpected hero.
The reader is shown the feelings, the pain, Atticus experiences, and in result tends to empathize deeply with the uncommon historical hero.
The fact he is such a gentle, thoughtful person is another attractive trait. Even his voice is quiet and warm, we’re told.
I loved how Felicity, the heroine, was the perfect match for Atticus, with her determination, boldness and distaste of conventions. Yet she’s also a kind soul.
They’re thoughtful, attentive and honest with each other, and that’s a plus too.
Overall I enjoyed the story but felt it dragged a bit in the marriage segment.

I was not sure that I would enjoy this book as the heroine seemed belligerent and aggressive, which hardly endeared her to me, although I loved Atticus Wheadon and his eccentricities. However, I was glad that I pushed through as I began to realize that Felicity bore all the marks of a person who had suffered under the harsh abuse dished out by her vicious mother and Atticus was just the person to see her for who she really was and to start putting a balm on her wounded soul with his kind words and thoughtful gestures. Felicity also quickly caught onto Atticus' nervous disposition and shielded him whenever she could to give him breathing space. Ultimately, the novel comes to a sweet and gentle conclusion with Atticus and Felicity finding their own sweet spot. I received a copy of this well-written and emotional novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

"Calm the Storm" by Penny Fairbanks is the second book in the Society of Swans series, which offers a unique concept of an anonymous matchmaker. Although I haven't read the first book, I found that this one can be read as a standalone. The author has done a great job of building a believable world and creating relatable characters.

The story revolves around Felicity and Atticus, who are forced to marry after being caught in a compromising situation. While I enjoyed the characters of Atticus and Felicity, I felt that there was still room for more character development. The slow-burn romance was a nice touch, but it got a bit tedious in the middle. I would have liked to see more dialogue between the characters, as this would have helped to flesh out their personalities and relationships.

Overall, "Calm the Storm" is a well-written book with a unique premise and likable characters. Although there is some room for improvement, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance novels.

This is a sweet slow burn historical romance. The story was a little slow in the middle but it picked up as the story goes on. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.

3.5 Stars
After an exciting Season in London, Felicity Reeve is looking forward to a restful summer at her country home in Bainbridge until she receives a mysterious letter from “Lady Swan” with hints to help her find her perfect match. Felicity just witnessed Lady Swan’s success with her friend this past Season. Then a new family arrives to spend the summer in Bainbridge, just as Lady Swan predicted. What could Felicity possibly have in common with the nervous wreck known as Atticus Wheadon? Neither of them has a chance to find out. When they’re caught in what looks like a compromising situation, they must marry to save Felicity’s reputation.
The second book in the series but it’s easily read on its own, the pace is good although it does lag a little in the middle & the characters are likeable. I liked Atticus & Felicity but didn’t love them as I felt I didn’t really get to know them & would have liked more dialogue between them. I did like how they complemented each other & were perfect for each other. A slow burn romance which I enjoyed
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Lady Swan strikes again! When a person like Felicity is as high strung and spirited as she is, it's only part of nature's way ( Lady Swan) to pair her up with someone who's the exact opposite in order to have calmness in the universe. Atticus bring that calmness to the forefront as he struggles with his own social anxieties. A sweet story, great for any age reader with a slow, closed door, burn. Characters are beautifully defined and a great amount of detail in included. I enjoyed the story as much as I liked the first one. My only downside (for me personally) is I really enjoy more dialogue between all the characters. I recommend reading the first book as well, just to see all the connections but this can be read as a stand alone story.

Sweet story for a sweet couple🥺

Felicity despises marriages because of the only model she can look up to while growing up, but her strong principle is tested when she got a letter from the anonymous successful matchmaker known by her group of friend as Lady Swan. The letter hints that she will found her perfect match in a gentleman visiting her hometown on the property next door. She found out later the gentleman is Atticus Wheadon, someone whose character is complete opposite of Felicity's. She is determined to prove that they won't match but found herself attracted to him that lead to a seemingly compromising situation. They have no other choice but to save Felicty from the ton's gossip.

This book has great characters who are conscious about the unbalanced view of society towards men and women. I enjoy the sweetness of their interaction, especially the way Atticus treats Felicity!!

I love how they have a perfect story of their own, where one doesn't change the characters' characteristics. Felicity is very stubborn and guarded of her feelings, believing marriage is wretched and only filled with misery but actually she is very amiable and fun person. On the other hand Atticus suffers from anxiety that resulted in his awkward attitude in social gatherings, consequently make him believe that marriage doesn't suit him. A very sweet opposite characters attracting each other😍 The way the author wrote their love story is perfection in the way they slowly found solace in each other's company. Proving wrong of their prejudices and become a better people beacuse of one another. They slowly improve their characters by the encouragement out of care for each other. I also want to appreciate the social and clothing accuracy that the author wrote according to the background of that century.

By the nature of the slow burn romance, I found that the story got a bit tedious in the middle. In spite of that, I understand that it's a slow burn romance and the main attraction of the story is how the characters meet each other in the middle from a very opposite ends slowly but surely. So their story mainly evolves after they got married and shows a realistic setting for a newlywed who know very little of each other.
The author also has a particular writing style that writes long sentences between dialogs and that bummed me out, especially when it appears in a sweet scene between Atticus and Felicity. Nevertheless these objections of mine don't hinder the full sweetness of the experience while reading the story. So I'm giving 4⭐ for Calm the Storm🥰⭐

You might love this book if you love a historical romance full of sweetness!!!

P.S. I obtained an ebook ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Felicity doesn't want to get married after a lifetime of being neglected by her parents, but when a mysterious matchmaker throws her together with the visiting Atticus, they end up changing each other's lives.

This is the second book in the Society of Swans series, which revolves around a group of friends who receive letters from an anonymous matchmaker called Lady Swan. I haven't read the first book, but this works well as a standalone.

I wanted to read this book because I was intrigued by the pairing of an outspoken, fiery heroine and an anxious, withdrawn hero. On that front, the author really delivered, and I loved how the pair meshed together, enhancing each other's best qualities and shoring up where the other is weak. This is a fairly low angst, quiet romance, but there was enough going on in the slow budding of the relationship and Felicity's grappling with the effects of her neglectful parents to keep me engaged throughout.

However, the style of writing just did not work for me. The author often glosses over what's actually being said by characters, summarizing scenes between Felicity and Atticus or between other characters without actually writing out the dialogue. It left me feeling robbed of really getting to know all the little quirks and witty banter and sparking chemistry that's a hallmark of the romance genre. To have it happen repeatedly just made me feel like I couldn't get inside the story at all.

I also wished we got more of an understanding of Atticus's social anxiety. We explore how Felicity's background has contributed to the person she is and how she acts, but that just made me wonder more about Atticus. I thought the consequences of being so anxious in a society that places such weight in one's charm and conversation was worth discussing more in depth, especially as it's one of Atticus's defining traits.

No leí el libro anterior y aunque al principio tenía muchas preguntas poco a poco me dí una idea de lo que pasó, si no quieren andar adivinand, recomiendo leer Awaken the hearts.

Lo último que Felicity quiere es casarse y cuando recibe una carta de lady Swan diciéndole que pronto encontrará al indicado, enloquece, actúa impulsivamente y se mete en una situación en la que la única respuesta es el matrimonio.

Atticus es el primogénito de su familia, tiene el deber de casaque y tener hijos para continuar con el legado familiar, pero el no quiere nada se esas responsabilidades y no sabe como cumplirlas sin que su torpeza social sea evidente.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Really good 👍 story. Relaxing intriguing and suspenseful. Could not put it down Looking forward to the next story. Thank you.