My thougths on A Code of Knights and Deception Swords of Time Book 1 by Eliza Hampstead

A Code of Knights and Deception

Swords of Time Book 1

by Eliza Hampstead

Sophia

I thought I was trapped in history. Turns out, it’s far worse than I imagined.

I woke up in 15th-century England, a brutal world where women are silenced, superstition rules, and survival depends on obedience. Trapped far from my husband and son, nothing makes sense. I’m a scientist, not a damsel in distress, so I did what I had to—I disguised myself as a man and trained with Henry, the castle’s master-at-arms, learning to wield a sword to defend myself.

But as I carve my place in this world, my forbidden love for Henry shakes everything I believed in. Do I fight to return home—or surrender to a future I never imagined?

Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that Henry is hiding something—something that could shatter everything I’ve fought for.

Ethan

What if the woman you’re supposed to observe becomes the one you can’t live without?

I never meant to fall for her. She’s fearless, brilliant, captivating. Every lesson, every stolen moment deepens the lie—and my guilt. I’m not the man she thinks I am. That my name is Ethan, not Henry, is the least of the lies I tell her.

If she learns the truth, I’ll lose her forever.

And time is running out.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this gripping historical-time travel romance, Sophia — a scientist and modern mother — suddenly finds herself transported to 15th-century England after a violent incident. What begins as a desperate bid to return to her husband and child slowly turns into a fight for survival in a brutal, hierarchical world where obedience is demanded and danger looms at every turn. 

Sophia’s strength is one of the most compelling parts of the story: she refuses to be helpless. Disguising herself as a man, she trains under the castle’s master-at-arms, and her journey to carve out a place in this dangerous world feels very real. 

 Her developing relationship with “Henry” (who is not who he seems) is fraught with tension, deception, and longing — the emotional stakes are high, and the chemistry is powerful. 

What makes the novel really stand out is the way Hampstead explores power, identity, and truth. The historical setting is harsh and visceral, and there are moments of strong violence and emotional struggle. 

At the same time, the book plays with genre expectations in clever ways — is this real time travel, an illusion, or something more sinister? 

 The ambiguity makes it addictive.

That said, not all readers loved the pacing: some felt the first half dragged before the major twist hit. 

 But when the story fully picks up, there are intense battles, raw emotion, and a cliffhanger that promises a dramatic continuation. 

My thoughs on Changing Lanes: A Roxy Adams Mystery Book 1 by Claire Yezbak Fadden

Changing Lanes

A Roxy Adams Mystery Book 1

By Claire Yezbak Fadden

For fifty-something Roxy Adams, life is simple and beautiful. Her days are drenched in southern California sunshine and passion for Sam Reyes, the man she loves and shares a business with.

When Sam vanishes with their savings, leaving only a note behind, Roxy is faced with a harsh reality. Broke and confused, she learns they never owned the business. The actual owner will let her keep her job if she provides him with benefits.

Convinced there’s no knight in shining armor riding to her rescue, Roxy dusts off her chauffeur’s hat and returns to the career she trailblazed twenty years earlier.

With a steady income, new friends, and the possibility of romance, joy slowly replaces insecurity. Foxy Roxy is back. Life is wonderful and exciting once again. Until Sam turns up dead in the trunk of her limo. And Roxy is arrested for his murder.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Changing Lanes introduces us to Roxy Adams, a fifty-something woman whose life is turned upside down when her partner, Sam Reyes, disappears — taking with him their savings and leaving behind only a note. Roxy’s pragmatism kicks in, and she returns to her old job as a chauffeur — the very career she abandoned two decades earlier — determined to rebuild her independence. 

What makes the book compelling is the mix of cozy mystery, humor, and a touch of romantic suspense. As Roxy starts to settle into her “new-old” life, she faces unexpected twists — particularly when Sam is found dead in her limo’s trunk, and she becomes a suspect. Fadden brings Roxy to life as a resilient, relatable woman: she’s not naive, but she’s vulnerable, and the combination of her wit and strength makes her a protagonist you really want to root for.

The tone throughout the novel leans toward warm and character-driven rather than dark and gritty. There’s a comfortable pacing that allows for emotional depth and moments of levity, particularly as Roxy makes new friends and begins to rebuild trust in herself — but the stakes rise meaningfully as the mystery unfolds.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries driven by character, with a strong middle-aged heroine and a slow-build of suspense, Changing Lanes is very much worth your time.