Peaches and Honey: These Immortal Truths (The Peaches and Honey Duology) Paperback – September 5, 2023

R. Raeta’s Peaches and Honey is an exquisite, slow-burning immortal romance that transcends time and beautifully intertwines themes of self-discovery, love, and resilience. With its sweet, wholesome tone and richly layered storytelling, this book captivated me from start to finish.Summary:The story follows the FMC, Anna, a mortal turned immortal who faces centuries of trials and tribulations as she struggles to understand herself and her place in a vast, often unforgiving world. Along the way, she is guided—sometimes gently, sometimes mysteriously—by an enigmatic God who seems ever-present yet distant.As Anna grows, she begins to unearth her own strength, learning from each heartbreak, challenge, and triumph. Her journey toward self-actualization is intricately tied to her growing understanding of this divine figure. What starts as curiosity about his motives slowly evolves into admiration, trust, and ultimately love. The romance unfolds at an unhurried pace, allowing their connection to feel natural and deeply earned.The plot is further enriched by memorable side characters who bring warmth, humor, and depth to the story. These secondary relationships highlight Anna's humanity and her ability to form meaningful bonds despite the weight of her immortal existence.Review:This book is nothing short of breathtaking. The slow pace may not be for everyone, but it is essential to the story's depth and emotional resonance. Every moment, no matter how small, feels purposeful, and the gradual development of the Anna's relationship with the mysterious God is a testament to Raeta’s skillful writing. Their love story feels timeless, built on mutual respect and shared experiences rather than instant attraction.Anna’s personal growth is one of the most compelling aspects of the novel. Watching her endure hardships, question her identity, and ultimately embrace who she is makes her journey incredibly relatable despite the fantastical setting. She’s a character you want to root for, not just in love but in life.The God character, eventually known as Khiran, is equally fascinating—both distant and intimate, with an aura of mystery that makes every interaction feel significant. His complexity, paired with his subtle yet profound influence on Anna, creates a dynamic that is as much about personal growth as it is about romance.The world-building is lush and immersive, with vivid descriptions that make you feel as though you’re walking alongside Anna. The side characters add richness and levity, balancing the story’s more introspective moments with warmth and camaraderie.Conclusion:Peaches and Honey is a masterpiece of slow-burning romance, weaving a tale of self-discovery and enduring love that feels both intimate and epic. The sweetness and wholesomeness of the story, paired with its beautifully detailed world and complex characters, make it an unforgettable read. If you’re a fan of thoughtful, character-driven stories with a touch of the divine, this book is an absolute must-read.

I really, really loved this one but I had a few qualms about it, for sure.good things first:the premise. oh my gosh I loved the idea of a woman from the 1100s England living through time as an immortal & helping people as a healer.the writing style: I’m for SURE going to look up this author’s other stuff, especially in the future. her writing style was very engaging & had an almost poetic lilt to it. if you’re like me & writing style is important to you, definitely give this one a try.the not so good:I wanted it to focus more. it leapt through time & would time skip & I would get so frustrated. it would be JUST getting good & then out of nowhere, BAM time skip 50 years. This would have been a ABOVE & BEYOND 5 stars because of the premise & world building & writing style & characters if it had just slowed down & let itself take its time rather than trying to leap through the events. if it had let itself be more than a romance & allowed itself to be a true guide through humanity. if it had let me get to know the characters she meets and flesh out more detail. as it was, things would happen & I’d barely bat an eye because I didn’t really KNOW who anyone was. they were a one dimensional character set there 5 paragraphs before for the plot.it felt like the author was writing this one as backstory for the next one, so she just wanted to get it over with & touch on the main points. but I would’ve loved to have seen more. more of what Anna does, more of the impact she had on the world and how the things she does mattered. as it is, it’s almost like reading about someone’s life in list form. like the author was checking boxes. some of them I was confused why they even needed to be checked. some of the times it described she didn’t even DO anything, so they were just way too obviously contrived to further the plot/character development/world building (like the Joan of Arc part).kind of blending into the lost potential with the pacing/plot, I was so excited about the way Khiran was described at first, thinking he was going to be somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum. first off, she first meets him as a woman, & he seems to regularly shapeshift into a woman. but then the shape he shows to Anna as “himself” is described as a mix between masculine & feminine. alas, it’s never mentioned again. I was so ready for a bi MMC or something like that, but that’s it. this book is FULL of stuff like that: little tastes of something that could be great, but not a lot of follow through.I also really didn’t get Khiran as a character, to be honest. I could write whole pages on how he was kind of one dimensional & didn’t make a ton of sense but I’m getting tired so I’ll just say I wish he had been more too & not just a placeholder MMC.definitely read it as a historical fiction with romance & a little fantasy because the world building is non-existent until the info dump 90% in.last gripe: the end. dear LORD was it rushed. so, so rushed. literally the entire angst & drama was fixed because he left her alone for a decade & she had time to cool down & buy some bees? it all comes back to just ugh it needed MORE. just add some more chapters in & it wouldn’t have felt so rushed & the honey thing would’ve felt natural. as it was, it felt shoved in there so the title made sense.still really loved this book & will most definitely recommend it to anyone & read the next one. just a little disappointed because of how good it was & how much potential it had. I feel like I tend to be harder on books the more I loved them. because if I didn’t love a book, I don’t mind that it maybe didn’t have this or that but a book I loved so much, it’s disappointing when it disappoints.