The Maid of Sherwood Forest: A Mcquivey’s Costume Shop Romance (Proper Romance Time-slip Series)

✨Hook: A beautifully woven Robin Hood retelling filled with longing, faith, and a heroine who aches to belong. ✨Reading Mood: Cozy, reflective, a little wistful—perfect for when you want to feel both comforted and understood. The Maid of Sherwood Forest Author: Sian Ann Bessey Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) Synopsis: A time-slip retelling of Robin Hood that follows Mariah, a young woman searching for where she truly belongs, who finds herself unexpectedly swept into the world of Sherwood Forest—and into a story far greater than her own. My Review: As many of you know, I always love a good retelling—and this particular retelling of Robin Hood was beautiful. I really enjoyed it. This was my first read by this author, too, and I genuinely love the poetic way that she writes. I paired the physical book with the audiobook for a read-along that was so delightful and engaging, which made the experience even more immersive. I loved that much of the story followed the same lines of the original Robin Hood, but that it wove in an atmosphere all its own with the time traveling and the link to Mariah, aka Maid Marian. It felt both familiar and fresh in the best way. All of the characters were beautifully written and quite lovable—other than the ones we already know from the original telling to be troublemakers. Even those characters were well written, though, and added depth to the story. One of the things that stood out to me most was Mariah/Maid Marian’s deep desire to not be alone. Her feelings of loneliness and of wanting to feel as though she belonged somewhere caused an ache in my heart and soul for her, because I know those feelings all too well. I know how much it hurts to be alone and to feel like there is nowhere that you truly belong. Those are very hard feelings—very real feelings—and I deeply connected to her character in that sense. There was also a quiet sadness woven throughout the story that I didn’t fully expect, but it ultimately made it that much more compelling and meaningful. Loneliness can tend to push us into the arms of Jesus, though, as sometimes we learn He is really all we have—and I loved how that thread was gently present here. I also deeply admired how the themes of forgiveness, hope for the future, and caring for those in great need were woven in as beautiful, subtle undertones throughout the story. Those elements were handled so thoughtfully and added even more depth and heart to an already meaningful read. I loved that there were subtle Christian leanings in this book, too. It added such a depth and beauty to the story that just made me love it that much more without ever feeling overwhelming. I can definitely recommend this book. It gets a full 5 ⭐️ from me, and I look forward to reading more in the Proper Romance series. I already have book 1 on order (this is book 2, but is easily read as a standalone). A truly wonderful, heartfelt read. ✨ 💬 Question for my bookish friends: Do you enjoy retellings that stay close to the original story, or do you prefer ones that completely reimagine it?