This one is silly folks and it was not for me. Knowing the premise of the story, an art conservator bringing a statue back to life, I was ready for the weirdness and expecting silly. I appreciate the silly escapism books provide but even this was too much for me. But I did not like the insta-love and awkward sexual tension that occurred before he was even brought to life. I'm talking lusting after the sculptor on page one! The writing felt surface level and all around I just could not get on board.

This was a really fun and unique magical realism romance, but WOW do I hate instalove. It took an already unbelievable scenario (a statue coming to life) and made it even MORE out there in a way I didn’t like. It was just SO far fetched. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief in this book, but I did think it was really cute!

Overall: nothing special but definitely not MAD I read it? I would be willing to give this author another shot as long as the next book isn't instalove.

DNF - I wish I could have gotten into this book. Everyone I know who read and enjoyed it, did so because the plot was somehow bonkers and logical simultaneously. I just couldn't get passed the writing which I did not connect with at all.

DNF at 12%
I love a good cheesy Hallmark romance and this was... not it. It has so much potential - the cover, the synopsis! - and it's execution really didn't work for me. The insta-lust wasn't romantic and I don't need believability in a magical realism but I do need to be invested in the characters and/or plot. I would have loved to have seen a little more effort put into the character's back stories right away to have me rooting for their love story.
Thank you to Berkley Besties and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. Emily is working on restoring a statue at the museum where she starts hearing voices from the gorgeous statue of a Knight. The Knight ends up being able to communicate with her in her dreams and with a little bit of lust and magic, the statue comes to life the next day Emily works. For Emily, the Knight, Sir Griffin, is handsome, kind, and a gentleman...definitely different than her ex and other men in the city. What is there to do with a statue that comes to life other than to bring him home and have your way with him? The only problem is that now there is a missing statue and all signs point to Emily as the thief.

I thought this was a cute story and it made me appreciate seeing the growth of Sir Griffin having to learn the language we use in today's society, what clothes to wear to "fit in", and how to conduct oneself in society. Emily learned from Sir Griffin that there is so much more about the 1800's than what she studied in books.

The romance between Emily and Griffin was cute and romantic. I liked the relationship between the two of them, because it was silly and quirky, but also had a deep connection to it. It was a great mix of humour and romance that blended history in such a good way!

I'm usually not the biggest fan of time travel, but seeing it done in such a goofy way and with a character like Griffin, who can be so candid in his thoughts was really fun. I was glad to see Griffin matched the stereotypical knight in shining armour vibe without being arrogant.

Emily was also a really well-developed character, and while she had a little less dimension than Griffin did, we can probably chop that up to her not undergoing such an intense change due to time travel.

Overall, a super cute novel and I loved the inclusion of the historical moments and the museum!

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

If you're looking for a mix between Night at the Museum and Thor, this is the book for you.

Oh my, when I tell y'all that I loved this so much! The title drew me in but then I read the synopsis and I was even more intrigued. Then I started reading and I couldn't put the book down. I am so obsessed with Griffin. He is the embodiment of "chivalry isn't dead." I fell in love with him right alongside Emily. With his beautiful words, the long hair, and a face that looks like it was carved from stone (HA), how could you not love Griffin. I also loved how realistic this book is, minus the statue coming to life part of course. I really understood Emily and Griffin and their struggles and anxieties. I loved watching them struggle together. I loved watching them fall in love and learn to trust another person again. These characters felt very real and I was rooting for them the whole time. What a joy this book is. I absolutely adored it. Y'all, if you're looking for a book where the man literally worships the ground his girl walks on, pick this one up.

This was described as having Kate and Leopold vibes, so naturally I HAD to check it out and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

I absolutely LOVED Griffin. From how he talked in a medieval way, to seeing him interact with the modern world, his golden retriever, sunshine personality was definitely a highlight of the book.

Griffin and Emily’s dynamic was so much fun to read. Not only did they have wonderful chemistry, but what I most enjoyed was how Griffin’s wide-eyed wonder shook up Emily’s life. Their romance was so swoon-worthy from the very beginning, and I loved Griffin’s POV because he was so deeply infatuated with Emily, which is what she deserved.

Overall, I love a zany, fun rom-com, and this one gave me all that and more!

I loved this book— it is an *instant* favorite for me! This brought me back to my time travel romances, and I love it for that!

Emily works at the Art Institute of Chicago and is restoring a statue of Griffin… only she doesn’t know he’s been cursed.

He can see and hear what’s going on around him, but he’s frozen in stone.

But then, after having an uncanny connection Emily can’t explain and Griffin is ecstatic about, Emily accidentally breaks his curse by kissing him.

Now she has a medieval knight on the loose in Chicago and is suspected of stealing a priceless statue from the museum where she works.

What can go wrong?

I love how sweet Griffin is (he falls first) and how he helps Emily heal after her ex-husband cheated on her.

If you’ve ever been cheated on, this story is so validating.

Even though Emily was wary of Griffin (rightfully so) she was so kind. I mean who isn’t awesome if they named their rescue dog Andy War-Howl?!

Emily deserved her knight, and Griffin his lady and happy ending.

I love everything about this… especially the Cubs game! Go Cubs!

I give it the highest recommendation humanly possible.

Her Knight at the Museum was a unique story and I enjoyed those magical elements. Wondering how the curse would work out, but the romance fell flat for me. Almost immediately Emily and Griff were thinking about sex and I felt like there was no buildup and little chemistry between them.

3.5 stars. This one was cute. I thought the premise was interesting and fairly unique for a fantasy romance - to have the stone sculpture come to life and become her romantic love interest was fun and pretty well done. There is definitely a lot to account for when bringing someone to life from the middle ages and plopping them in modern day Chicago. I enjoyed the storyline the FMC had with being a conservationist at the art museum - it was well thought out to give her that experience to actually be able to relate to the MMC once he came to life (and to understand things about his time that most normal people probably wouldn't comprehend or be able to translate).

The third-act break-up felt a bit contrived - the miscommunication stemming from something that up until that point they were navigating just fine. There were also some interesting side characters that played a huge part in the overall progress of the story, but didn't feel super developed. The overall pacing was good and the story was a quick one. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!

Medieval romance is generally not my thing. I lead with that as a good thing because I absolutely loved this story. It was so unique, and Griffin and Emily's relationship was just so darn delightful. But here's the thing - Griffin is a real knight who was long ago turned to stone. Emily has the statue of Griffin in her museum. She breaks the curse, and a real life Griffin is now in her life. I absolutely loved how this romance and connection developed. It was so sweet and wonderful, and it just brought me such joy. There was also some humor baked in, as well as some unexpected twists along the way. Thanks to the publisher for this giveaway copy. I loved being a part of this world for little while and just adored this one y'all!

Rating: 3.5 rounded to 4.

Summary:
Her Knight at the Museum follows Emily, an art conservator starting fresh after a divorce. Assigned to restore a knight statue, Emily becomes captivated by it, only to discover he was not just speaking to her in her dreams, but the knight, Griffin, are real. As they navigate their connection across time, Emily helps Griffin adjust to modern life while falling for him in both dream and reality.

Short & Sweet Opinion:
This book delivered a unique blend of fantasy and romance, with swoon-worthy chemistry between Emily and Sir Griffin. The knight’s chivalry paired with his playful side made for a fun, spicy read that exceeded my expectations.

In-Depth Opinion:
Her Knight at the Museum surprised me in the best way. While the story jumps quickly into the action—especially with an early spicy scene that felt a bit rushed—the romance truly shines. Griffin’s chivalry and old-world charm, mixed with his playful reactions to modern life, brought both humor and heart to the story. The chemistry between Emily and Griffin is undeniable, balancing sweet tenderness with unexpected steam. Though the plot required some suspension of disbelief, the emotional connection between the leads kept things grounded. Overall, it’s a fun, spicy romance with a unique twist that I ended up loving.

Emily Porter is a conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago. While working on the restoration of a statue of a medieval knight she thinks the statue is talking to her. Sir Griffin de Beauford was cursed and trapped in stone until he saw Emily. After dreaming about him Emily returns to find that Griffin is there fully alive.

This is silly and fun. Griffin is heroic and caring of his fair maiden Emily. There is a lot of humor as he experiences the modern world. There is trouble brewing at the museum as they think someone has stolen the historic statute and Emily is a possible suspect. Emily and Griffin have instant attraction and he moves in with her while trying to figure out he fits in her world.

If you enjoy romances with a mix of fantasy this is entertaining and light hearted. (3.5 Stars)

Oh what a fun little magical realism book! It was full escapism and I really enjoyed the story! It was a little quirky, but fun! The book made me laugh lots and Griffin, the historical knight Emily help brings to life, was such a hilarious reaction.

Overall a fun book, filled with lots of laughs, a little steam, and an enjoyable setting if you like art and history!

This premise reminded me a lot of Kate & Leopold, a movie I highly enjoy, but unfortunately this book was just TOO cheesy for me.

Emily Porter has moved back to Chicago. After getting a divorce from her cheating ex-husband and having to walk away from her dream job, she moved back to Illinois to be closer to her parents while starting over. She found a short-term job at the museum, which could turn into a permanent position. All she has to do is to restore a newly acquired medieval sculpture for an upcoming exhibition.

The stone sculpture is a life-size knight in full armor. As Emily starts to work on the blemishes on the face, she finds herself talking to the sculpture as if it could understand. But when she thought the sculpture was answering her, Emily started to wonder if she was losing her mind. And then, he came to her in her dreams. He told her his name was Sir Griffin de Beauford and that he’d been a knight in the 1400s. He had been turned to stone, cursed by a jealous wizard. And he’d bee stuck like that ever since.

Emily goes back to the museum the next day, even more certain that she is hearing his voice in her head. On a whim, she tries to kiss him, to see if that would break the spell. And magically, it does just that. Griffin comes to life in front of her, and Emily knows that she has to get him out of the museum quickly. She tells her boss she has a family emergency and takes Griffin to her apartment. The only person she tells is her new friend at the museum, Rose, who runs their social media. Emily tries to explain to him about modern life and gets him fed and dressed in new clothes.

As Emily tries to acclimate a medieval knight to present-day Chicago, she finds herself with two big problems. First, she has no way of explaining to the museum what happened to their new, expensive sculpture she was supposed to be restoring. And second, she can’t deny the feelings that she is developing for the handsome knight. But can a relationship work out between a medieval knight and a divorced art restorer? Especially if the art restorer finds herself in prison for art theft?

Her Knight at the Museum is a light-hearted yet spicy romantic comedy about what happens when the past comes to life and steals your heart. This is a fun, fantastical romp with some super hot scenes, told in alternating viewpoints of Emily and Griffin.

While you’re clearly going to have to suspend some disbelief for this one, if you decide to dive in and go with the story, it’s a lot of fun. Griffin’s audition at Medieval Legends was particularly charming. But it does feel like Griffin acclimates to present-day life pretty smoothly, and the romance develops very quickly. It’s fun, it’s hot, but there are holes in the story. I still enjoyed Her Knight at the Museum though. It’s a sweet, light-hearted modern-day fairy tale.

Egalleys for Her Knight at the Museum were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This was a cute, fast read that reminded me of Night at the Museum and Kate & Leopold. You definitely have to suspend belief and it could be incredibly cheesy but sometimes, that's just what you need.

Centuries ago, Sir Griffin de Beauford was cursed by a ruthless enchanter to see, hear, and think, but never to move or speak. Griffin suffers the long, lonely centuries trapped in stone until Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago, is tasked with restoring the statue of a medieval English Knight. Breaking curses was not part of the job description but here he is, the man of her dreams come to life, resplendent in shining armor.

It was entertaining following along as Griffin adjusted to the modern world. The romance that develops between Griffin and Emily is sweet but felt a bit rushed. I suppose the instalove works on Griffin's part considering he's a literal Knight who's spent centuries cursed as a statue but I was hoping Emily would've needed a little more time.

Since Emily was in charge of the restoration, when the statue goes missing she becomes the prime suspect in the FBI's investigation. I enjoyed that storyline but it did feel like the “art theft” was resolved a little too easily.

Knowing this is being made into a Hallmark movie has me curious so if it happens, I’ll definitely be checking it out!

**Many thanks to Berkley and Bryn Donovan for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Emily Porter would give ANYTHING to keep her mind off of her recent divorce....but luckily for her, her job as an art conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago is about to provide a delightful distraction. A new statue has arrived, and it's a doozy: a handsome medieval knight, and it's Emily's charge to restore the statue and bring it to its full potential. But what Emily DOESN'T know is that there is a lot more than meets the eye when ti comes to this particular statue, and isn't just an actual name (Sir Griffin de Beauford). After an incredibly spicy dream about the statue (in his human form) Emily is besotted and realizes she can actually HEAR the statue's thoughts....and is even more surprised when she learns there is still a soul in the statue, cursed for centuries...and guess who can provide a 'magical' kiss to break the spell?

Once she does, Sir Griffin indeed comes to life, and he's every bit the swoon-worthy proper gentleman she expected. The only problem is well, he just stepped out of another time period...and might be more than a BIT conspicuous on the streets of the Windy City. Emily takes him under her wing and tries to get him up to speed on the wildly different world he now encounters, getting him vaccinated, explaining everything from showers to cell phones to him with varied levels of success. As they spend time bonding, the initial spark between them has turned into a steady flame and Emily even sees a future for them...IF she can keep everything under control. But unfortunately for her, as the person assigned to restore the statue she is also the prime suspect in the statue's "theft"...and she isn't sure how long she can keep the wolves at bay. Will this unlikely pairing 'parry' their way forward as a couple? Or will the long arm of the law lock Emily up...for good?

I went into this book expecting a light and fluffy romance, but let me just warn you...imagine a newer friend telling you their uh, 'spiciest' dream in vivid detail. You don't even know your FRIEND that well, and now you're learning all sorts of 'details' about what they like and don't like, or might fantasize about before you even know their favorite restaurant or some equally innocent proclivity...and as someone who prefers slightly tamer romances, it was CERTAINLY an eye opener. There's nothing wrong or overly TMI in this scene, but having it so early in the book when so many romances provide such a slow burn where you have to wait till 50-70% in for so much as a KISS sometimes? Let's just say you should have a handkerchief for dabbing your forehead nearby!

Once I got over this initial jolt, and got to know Sir Griffin (in a bit more of a PG way!) he was certainly every bit the stereotypical chivalrous knight, with plenty of historical accuracy tossed in to 'flesh him out'. While he seemed to adapt to certain facets of modern life with little question (the fact that he didn't so much flinch at cell phones after a bit seemed a little unlikely, but hey!) there were plenty of comical mishaps throughout the way and instances of Emily sort of guiding and having to explain how the world (and more specifically Chicago) functioned. Although this was a solid way to get to know the characters, I do wish there hadn't even been mention of Emily's former flame, because it really wasn't needed and didn't need to be a HUSBAND, that's for sure. The character read a bit young overall (despite her proficiency in her career), so in that way I honestly wish the author had just intentionally aged her down a bit. So much of this story isn't rooted in any sort of reality anyway (at least, I don't think it is....) that it would have been fun to keep it as more of a light romp rather than nodding at some emotional baggage here and there.

Although it probably goes without saying, a HEAVY dose of suspension of disbelief is required to make it through this one with a multitude of eye-rolls. As much as it is all in the name of good fun, the whole 'art thief' plot line especially seemed far fetched (to put it mildly) as I'm pretty sure the Art Institute has cameras in every room (especially guarding expensive statues), not to mention guards, security, other employees, etc. I know, I KNOW, it's supposed to just be fun...but if this were a movie a la "Night at the Museum" (Ironically!) you know the audience would be all over the plot holes. To me, this is also the aspect of the book that sort of took my rating down a bit, as it was harder for me to just let go and feel completely immersed when so much of what was going on in 'reality' didn't make too much sense. The big third act romantic conflict could easily be chalked up to minor miscommunication (at worst), so yet again, in a book so heavily relying on fantasy, a DUSTING of reality would have been nice. Optional, obviously, but nice.

Perhaps the one nod to reality that I DID see and truly enjoyed was the setting of this story - Chicago. If you haven't been there yourself but you HAVE watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off, then you probably have a pretty good idea of what to expect in that regard. The author did an excellent job nodding to familiar landmarks, local traditions (the green river for St. Patty's Day, which I never got to see when I lived in the Midwest, but is truly iconic in its own right), and just the general 'vibe' of Chicago...enough so that when I finished this book, I actually MISSED it. Although my one actual encounter (that wasn't Midway Airport) revolved around going to a concert and not actually exploring the city streets, even driving past the stunning skyscrapers and feeling the 'beat' of the city was nothing short of magical. (Yes, that may also be a reference to "Beat City", a song also used in Ferris Bueller...and I swear, that wasn't even intentional!)

Although my left brain may have won the day when it came to this read, this book proved one point that's worth repeating: chivalry's not dead...it's just been in hiding.

And who better than a woman to bring it out?

3.5 stars

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of Her Knight at The Museum. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the perfect read when you need to escape from all of that is going on in the world today. It really is an unbelievable story. Go into it with an open mind and you will have a fun time.

Magical Realism
Knights in Shining Armor
Fairytale Ending

If you enjoyed My Roommate is a Vampire then you will enjoy this as well.