Why I picked up this book:

The Convent’s Secret is the fifth book in the Glass and Steele series. When I made the decision to start doing book reviews, I’d already read the first four in the series and fallen head over heels in love with the characters. So, when I learned yet another book would be out soon, I was already poking the want button. Probably a lot harder than I should. Maybe even beating it with a hammer. Before I get into the review, a quick recap of the first four books.

Glass and Steele
I first found The Watchmaker’s Daughter when pilfering through Amazon searching for some free books to read. At the time I was struggling with my own stories and needed something… different. While the cover was the first thing that caught my attention, I didn’t expect much from the story. By the end of the first chapter I couldn’t put it down, and four books later I was chomping at the bit for book five. Archer has since become one of my favorite Indie authors, and her Glass and Steele series will always have a permanent place on my bookshelves. Onto book five:

This review may contain spoilers.

The Convent’s Secret

To find the one man who can fix the magic in Matt’s watch, he and India are led to a convent where the nuns will do anything to keep their secrets private. Including murder? Matt and India must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the mother superior and two babies given to her care many years ago. But sometimes, the truth is painful and its exposure can have deadly consequences. With his magic watch slowing down, Matt needs all the help India and his friends can offer before time runs out. But his nemesis will do anything to bring about his downfall, including rock Matt’s family with a scandal that can ruin them, and Matt and India’s chance of happiness.

    

What I loved:

One of my favorite things about reading this book (and the series) is that Archer has a way of writing in first person that makes it feel like third person. While I’ll read both, I prefer the latter, which allows me to connect with all the other characters on a deeper level.

Matthew Glass is seriously book boyfriend number two, a close second to Ridge from the Dragon Blood series. I love everything about his personality, from the rugged outlaw persona to the gentle heartbreaker. Even though Matt has a gentle side, it has an endearing quality without coming across as cheesy. Though, for those who know me, I’m a sucker for darker personas and love the outlaw side of him.

The romance in this story had me by the throat before the first chapter was over. Granted, I’ve followed the series and was already invested, but the deeper it got into the tale, the harder it became to watch the division happening between India and Matt.

Areas needing a touch of refinement:

In all honesty, this book is pretty stellar as-is. If I had to be super nit-picky, I’d say that the finale was pretty predictable. I won’t give away spoilers here, but in my head I already knew x, y, and z would happen so there weren’t any real surprises.

Overall:

This book, and the series, still has me. You’d better believe I’m already waiting for book 6 to be released, but I do have a lot of feelings about a certain cousin in the story and why she needs to move to a different universe. If any reader is looking for a weekend read with some romance, some mystery, and a little bit of magic sprinkled in, be sure to check out this series. The characters are absolutely wonderful and fun to read.

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