Lorelei and the Traveler by Sienna Peake: Book Review (ARC)

Details

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Series: Once by a Shore (Book #2)
• Length: 116 pages (EPUB)
• Publication Date: September 29, 2026

Tropes

• Retelling

My Rating

Book Description

“Where fairy tale charm meets Regency romance

Trig Hillam has been (almost) happily avoiding his impending responsibilities, spending time exploring and scaling mountains during his Grand Tour. Everything changes when he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman seated atop a rocky cliff. For the first time in months, Trig finds a reason to stay put, finding joy in a new project and especially in his growing connection to the mysterious young woman.

Lorelei Baird has spent her life helping her father collect and preserve folktales and oral histories throughout rural Prussia. Though she enjoys her work, she longs to find her place, yet she struggles to trust again after suffering an unexpected betrayal by her father’s handsome assistant.

When a dangerous threat resurfaces, will Trig and Lorelei find their true place is with one another?”

— from Goodreads

My Review

Will their quest to record traditional folk tales lead to their own love story?

Trig may consider himself silly and aimless. But his interactions with Lorelai showed that he was a hardworking, thoughtful, and protective gentleman.

Lorelai and her father were involved in an interesting research project.  Stories are such an important part of a country’s or region’s history. (Imagine if Snow White or Cinderella had been lost to time!)

All the stories they collected were ones I’d never heard of before.

Mr. Davies and Freida were an unexpected but welcome addition. (They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  Looks like Frieda’s bienenstich did the trick!)

Thank you to Sienna Peake for the gifted ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Favorite Moments

🪻 wood carving 
🪻 cliff top rescue
🪻 the ball

Favorite Quotes

“The tale warmed Trig’s heart and made him remember the way stories could inspire one to be better — even to notice those in need. He supposed that was what Miss Baird and her father were doing. They were noticing individuals and valuing their stories and words. They were helping to preserve things that mattered.“

Sienna Peake

“He’d been wandering about the continent for what felt like a lifetime. By the end, would he have found his place in the world? Glancing at Miss Baird once again, he had the oddest feeling that he might be nearer that destination than he had ever imagined.“

Sienna Peake

“The story made Lorelei think of grief and life and the simple joys that bloom like wildflowers to brighten one’s path. It reminded her of why stories matter — of why she and Papa worked so hard to preserve them. Stories had the ability to help one feel deeply, to examine life in all its facets, and afterward live just a bit better.“

Sienna Peake

“The story made Lorelei think of grief and life and the simple joys that bloom like wildflowers to brighten one’s path. It reminded her of why stories matter — of why she and Papa worked so hard to preserve them. Stories had the ability to help one feel deeply, to examine life in all its facets, and afterward live just a bit better.“

Sienna Peake

“It had been a blessing from God indeed that had brought the two of them together. Even if their story never appeared in print, it was one he would relish reliving again and again.“

Sienna Peake

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