1st read: July 2021
2nd read: February 2023

A Substitute Bride for the Prizefighter is one of the first books that I read by Alice Coldbreath when I discovered her a few years ago. Since then I've bought every ebook of hers that I could find and have read every one. She's one of my absolute favorite authors. Her writing flows so perfectly and her characters and stories are so interesting.

This book in particular is amazing and one of my favorites of all time. Lizzie and Benedict are so good together, even though they have a rocky start. There's so much sweetness in this book.

I wasn't a big fan of the epilogue during my last read, but I liked it this time around. I think I didn't like it before because I wanted to read more of their story and was disappointed that the story jumped ahead eight months and then ended.

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Original review:
This book is great. It's kind of a marriage of convenience story, with a tiny bit of enemies to lovers thrown in.

I love Benedict and Lizzie together. They're chemistry is great. The story is pretty unique and I really enjoyed it.

The epilogue didn't work for me though. It felt like it was from a completely different story. ( )

Enjoying these “not an aristo” romances by AC. Didn’t buy MMC’s rationale for the marriage but enjoyed all the rest. High 3. ( )

Lizzie Anderson doesn't approve of her cousin's fiance, but she has more to worry about when she witnesses a thief. Benedict Toomes, who is now the ex-fiance rescues her, but now Lizzie is thrown into a completely different world from the one she's used to.
I really like Alice Coldbreath's books, but I've stayed away from her prizefighter series, thinking I wouldn't care for it. I was so wrong. This is a great story, and I loved the circus-like world they live in. I can't say I've read anything like it before, but it was fascinating. Lizzie and Benedict make a great couple as they adjust to their marriage, and I'm definitely reading the rest of the series. ( )

I picked this up hoping for an angsty read about an insecure spinster, and while Lizzie does lack confidence in her looks, there not really any angst, just a sweet and steamy love story in a unique setting. I liked it quite a bit considering it didn’t cater to my favored tropes! Good read. (3.5 stars) ( )

I'm giving this one 5 stars although technically it could have had a bit more conflict. Sometimes or really most times that can be a big issue. But it was such a minor thing here when there was so much else interesting to the story. It had a totally different setting than any other romance I've read. Carnival life in England in 1845? Don't see that often. The writing is stellar and even though there wasn't a lot of conflict it wasn't at all boring or draggy.

The heroine was totally sweet, just really upstanding and always trying without complaining. The hero was not broody, not a rake, not cold and sneering nor any other historical romance hero trope. He was totally on the heroine's side and considerate of her. Really a great relationship as they got to know each other within a whirlwind MOC.

Lots of interesting side characters and interesting carnival/boxing happenings. Loved the first one, loved this one, can't wait for the next one. ( )