The Baron and the Lady Chemist ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 

The Baron and the Lady Chemist by Alissa Baxter, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

The Baron and the Lady Chemist 
The Grantham Girls #2
By Alissa Baxter

Dorothea Grantham is fascinated by chemistry. It is her passion. A passion that is frowned upon and even discouraged by her Aunt Eliza. What's worse, she is encouraged to not speak on it for fear she will ruin her chances at a good match. Everyone knows gentlemen don't want a thinking woman for a wife; rather, they seek a pretty face and a title and/or a dowry.

When Lord Castleroy (James) first meets Thea, it is in a most unfortunate setting, a little experiment has gone awry, and she is in need of rescue. James sees in Thea a chance for meaningful conversation but is puzzled at her abrupt departure for the mundane, everyday topic. But her silk shawls and scarves soon catch his attention and garner suspicion as to their true origin.

Thea's experimentation has skilled her in transforming plain silk into true works of art when she puts her needle to use. Soon she garners the attention of silk smugglers and finds herself in danger. 

But her heart is in even greater danger of falling to the charms of a certain Baron who has been paying her particular attention. But love comes with its own dangers and pains, which Thea is concerned about pursuing.

This is the second in The Grantham Girls series and just as lovely and delightful as the first book, The Duke and the Lady Gardener. This reads better in order but can be read as a standalone. The characters are engaging and I totally sympathize with Thea and her perspective on things. Another perfect escape into the Regency Era for a little bit of me-read-time. 

I was provided a complimentary of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the Book

Title: The Baron and the Lady Chemist 
Series: The Grantham Girls #2
Author: Alissa Baxter
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Release Date: August 3, 2023
Genre: Regency Romance (Sweet/Clean)

Their chemistry creates a chain reaction . . . but will love be the final result? 

Dorothea Grantham has always been fascinated by chemistry and spends most days conducting experiments in her laboratory at Grantham Place, staining silk with gold, silver, and other metals using chemical processes. 

Thea embroiders the beautiful gold and silver silk shawls she creates and enjoys wearing them, but her grandmother, Lady Longmore, advises her not to reveal to anyone outside the family circle that she has created the fashion items herself, concerned her granddaughter might be seen as an oddity. 

When Thea enters Society, her shawls attract a great deal of attention and become the talk of the town. James, Lord Castleroy, takes a particular interest in her work, having inherited a share in his grandfather’s silk mill in Macclesfield. 

Eager to invest in the ailing silk industry, the baron studies Miss Grantham’s silks with an admiring—and increasingly suspicious—eye, believing the fabrics to be smuggled imported silk. As he spends more time with the enterprising young lady, however, his interest in her quickly extends beyond his business affairs to engulf his guarded heart.  

But Lord Castleroy isn’t the only person in London interested in Thea’s exquisite creations. And when a silken web of intrigue entangles her in real danger, Thea must trust the devotion of a man she never expected—or intended—to fall in love with. 

Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!  

Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in this Series

---

About the Author

Alissa Baxter wrote her first Regency romance during her long university holidays. After travelling the world, she settled down to write her second Regency novel, which was inspired by her time living on a country estate in England. Alissa then published two chick lit novels before returning to her favourite era with her Linfield Ladies Series, a trio of Regency romances that feature women in trend-setting roles who fall in love with men who embrace their trailblazing ways... at least eventually. Her new Dragonblade trilogy, The Grantham Girls, continues this inspiring theme.

Alissa currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband and two sons. 

Connect with Alissa by visiting alissabaxter.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $30 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 8, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 15, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

The Baronet’s Lady Biologist ~ Review

The Baronet's Lady Biologist

The Linfield Ladies #3 

By Alissa Baxter

Georgiana Linfield has a passion for biology and natural history and is not inclined to put it aside to fulfill Society's expectations of marriage. But at seventeen, she is about to have a London Season whether she wants one or not.

When Sir Giles Tavistock finds Georgiana in her father's natural history museum, he assumes she is feigning interest in an attempt to gain his notice. But when he later discovers her organizing his godfather's natural history collection, he is more than a little surprised, and Georgiana is less than pleased to have to interact with him until he requests her skills as an illustrator.

The Baronet's Lady Biologist is a delightful addition to The Linfield Ladies series. There is a bit of a mystery woven throughout this Regency-era Romance. And, of course, being a Regency-era read, there is a good dash of intrigue and danger. I love how Georgiana is more than upfront about her outdoorsy inclinations, while Giles is so self-important he thinks every lady is out to "get" him. He is also quick to judge without all the facts. Let's just say if these two get together, it won't be because of Giles's first or even second impression. This book, while part of a series, can be easily read without the benefit of reading the previous two books. Highly recommended for a long afternoon or weekend read with your favorite cup of tea nearby.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Georgiana Linfield is a lady biologist who is determined to travel the world. Upon arriving in London for the Season, she decides the best way to fulfill her dreams is to find an amenable husband to indulge her every whim. Refusing to give up her interest in natural history for a dull domestic life, she sets out to forge a different path for herself.

When her father's elderly cousin asks her to set his natural history collection in order, she accepts his request with joy. However, the task brings her into almost daily contact with his godson, Sir Giles Tavistock, a renowned entomologist, who regards her with suspicion. When Sir Giles discovers her skills as a scientific illustrator, he asks her to sketch his South American butterfly collection, and they forge an uneasy truce.

However, their tenuous connection is shattered when Sir Giles believes a rumour casting Georgiana in a far-from-flattering light. Vowing to have nothing more to do with him, she keeps him at a distance. But when the baronet's butterflies attract unwanted attention, a series of events unravel, making Georgiana wonder if the famous collector might have done the impossible and captured her heart.

Miss Newbury's List ~ Review

Miss Newbury's List

By Megan Walker

Rosalind Newbury is soon to be married, and she has a list things she is determined to accomplish before her wedding day. Rosalind is convinced that once she accomplishes these ten things, she'll be ready to marry, allowing her to find happiness in the arrangement with the Duke of Marlow. 

But three weeks to accomplish everything will take some strategic planning to keep her family in the dark about what she is about. After all, the future wife of a duke should not be learning to swim. or any of the other things Ros has determined to do. But she needs help, and unfortunately, the one person most likely to aid her endeavor is her best friend's cousin. 

Mr. Charles Winston has made a mess of his life. And he isn't about to improve it anytime soon, but he never planned on meeting Rosalind Newbury. When she manages to convince him to help her, in exchange for her silence, how can he refuse her? What neither expected was a friendship that would threaten Rosalind's future.

Miss Newbury's List is a lovely and delightful read. It is a standalone title that is full of depth that explores the expectations of duty versus the desires of the heart. How does one decide whether elevating one's family is more important than love? This is the decision that Rosalind faces. She knows her duty and is content with it until she meets Charlie, a man who sees her for who she is and not who she is expected to present herself as. 

I really enjoyed Miss Newbury's List, and I have to admit I was not sure where Rosalind would direct her future. She obviously cared about her family and wanted to help them, so she was torn when she met Charlie. And then there is Charlie, who is slipping lower in his family's estimation due to his behavior. Two more unlikely people in the estimation of those who knew them, but the heart isn't always to be understood by others. I would love to have a sequel that would follow Rosalind's brother Ben. Ben seemed more in tune with his sister's feelings and put this first in his thinking. Overall this is a book I have no reservations in recommending to fans of clean reads and Regency Romance.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

England, 1820

Rosalind Newbury is counting down the days until her wedding to the Duke of Marlow, a man she has only met twice. The marriage is more an agreement between two families and less a romantic connection between two hearts, but Rosalind becoming a duchess will elevate her family’s status to dizzying heights. And the duke is a kind man who will care for Rosalind, even if he doesn’t love her.

She only has three weeks before her life changes forever, and she knows exactly how she wants to spend her days. As a child, Ros was inspired by her adventurous Aunt Alice and created a list of ten things to do before her wedding day. So far, Ros has done none of them.

She is determined to tackle each item, though she’ll have to accomplish them all in secret. After all, a soon-to-be-duchess is not usually allowed to bury treasure in the pasture, eat sweets all day, or learn how to swim. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, who brings along her cousin, Charlie, a prodigal son-turned-boxer who has come to the countryside to mend his reputation and learn how to be his father’s heir.

Together, the three of them work to complete the list, and as each item is crossed off, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Ros and Charlie. The more time they spend together, the more Ros falls in love with this imperfect man and his good heart.

With the wedding looming, Ros must decide to either admit her romantic feelings for Charlie and risk her family’s future, or keep her promise to marry the duke and start a new life as a noblewoman.

Crown and Cinder ~ Review

Crown and Cinder

The Austen Fairy Tale #2

By Kendra E. Ardnek

Lizzy, Eliza Benne is a Cinder, and most Cinders are servants, but Lizzy is the daughter of a gentleman and bound to the Forest. For years she has been summoned to the Forest to do the Mistress's bidding, but this year something is different. This year instead of the Mistress, Lizzy finds someone different upon the throne - the Gardner.

After years of keeping secrets to protect her family and her country, Lizzy doesn't know what to make of this new mistress of the Forest. Not willing to trust the Gardener and fearing for both her family and for Binfield, Lizzy decides to test her. A royal ball seems the best way to test the Gardener, but Lizzy never expected to catch the attention of anyone. Yet that is exactly what she has done. What follows is confusion as Lizzy tries to decide whom she can trust and where she truly belongs in the world.

Crown and Cinder is the sequel to Rose Petals and Snowflakes, and it is an excellent one as it continues the story of Elen and Mari. And yes, you most definitely should read the first book in the series as it provides the backstory to CandC. I love the meshing of Pride and Prejudice with Cinderella as it is brilliant and seamless but offers enough elements from each to be recognizable and yet wholly unique. This is a retelling that you don't want to miss.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Releases April 27th

Book Description:

It is a fact universally acknowledged that a girl, in possession of stepmother and stepsisters, must be in want of a fairy godmother to come whisk her away to some ball, where she might fall in love with a prince and live happily ever after... Lizzy hated facts universally acknowledged. 

Lizzy is a Cinder. However, conjuring fire at one’s fingertips isn’t considered appropriate in polite society, so she hides among her family's servants. Besides, her ruse also serves to protect her country from the Mistress's mad quest for power. No, it's much better all-around if she lets her stepsister live her life. 

But now the Gardener has taken the Mistress's throne, her motives unknown, and three royal balls have thrown Lizzy into the path of the most irritating king in the land. Meanwhile, can her beloved stepsister ever find a man willing to look past her farmer father? It's a complicated mess and Lizzy only wants out. 

Too bad the Forest doesn't care what she wants.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09B4DG79B/ 

Add Book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57722373-crown-and-cinder 

Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09GXDLZQP

Author Bio:

Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. She lives in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her dragon babies and massive herd of mini-giraffes, and she is still waiting for one of of her fifty nutcrackers to come to life and marry her. When not writing, you can usually find her sitting in a random box, and she's frequently known to act before she thinks. 

Find her online at: 

Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter || YouTube || Newsletter || Instagram || TikTok || Tumblr || Amazon

Canyon Survival ~ Review

Canyon Survival

By Connie Queen

She has no idea who she is or why someone is trying to kill her. All she knows is that she has to keep the two young children in her care safe at all costs. But can she trust the stranger who comes to their aid? 

Riggs Brenner has turned away from everything outside his canyon home. The past with its regrets are his constant companions. He let down the two most important people in his life when they most needed him and he's not about to make the same mistake twice. The young woman whose life depends on just how well he can defend her and her two young charges has put his former FBI senses on alert - is she truly a victim of amnesia? Or is it all an elaborate hoax? Only time will tell and Riggs isn't about to let the answers to his questions go unanswered.

Canyon Survival opens on a cliff, literally. We, as readers, are left wonder just how did our Jane Doe and two young children end up where they were. And like our heroine we have questions as to her identity and why someone seems intent on ending her life. Slowly answers are revealed but in the process more questions surface. 

The action and suspense are steady throughout with a slow upbuild towards the end that will have you moving closer to the edge of your seat, unless like me, you are laden down with Dachshunds. This is a book you won't want to put down as you seek to understand just what happened and why it was such BIG deal.

I have not read Connie Queen before and found her writing to be engaging, the characters have a depth to them, and the background settings provide enough to allow your mind's eye to take it all in. I highly recommend this as a good get-to-know-the-author book. I personally look forward to reading previous and future books from her.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:

Ambushed in the canyon with no memory of why… 

Waking on a cliffside with bullets firing and two unknown children at her side, Annie Tillman knows she must run—even if she doesn’t know why. Dashing to the nearest ranch leads her to former FBI agent Riggs Brenner, who just might be their best chance of surviving in the canyon. But can Annie overcome her amnesia and uncover the reason why they’re being chased? 

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense 

Release Date: March 29, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense

Safe House Exposed ~ Review with Giveaway

 

Safe House Exposed

Border Patrol

By Darlene L. Turner

She and her team put a crime boss behind bars and now they've all become targets and she is next on the list. Emma James has no choice if she wants to live and keep her daughter safe she has to go into Witness Protection. There's just one problem someone has betrayed them and now she is on the run with the one man she doesn't want to be with - her brother-in-law Mason James.

Mason has kept away from Emma since his brother's death for her own peace of mind so he doesn't remind her of what she lost.  But Emma needs him and he won't let her down the way he did his brother.  But keeping Emma and Sierra alive becomes increasingly more difficult as those targeting them seem to be in the ever-closing loop of those in the know. 

Safe House Exposed is a fast-paced action-filled offering from the Love Inspired Collection that offers a wonderful blend of suspense and romance without graphic anything. In this book, both Emma and Mason have to come to terms with the guilt that each carries all while dealing with staying alive.  The story is engaging and the characters interesting.  Emma's anger at Mason is interesting as we (as readers) are able to see the issue from both sides. I really feel for Mason with what he has gone through trying to make everybody happy, everyone except himself.

I would recommend this book for anyone how wants clean-reading suspense and romance.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

 Witness protection should have kept them safe. Instead, it left them completely exposed…

Darlene L. Turner's Safe House Exposed is the newest book in the Border Patrol series from Love Inspired Suspense!

Purchase Link – Amazon

ABOUT THE BOOK

Witness protection should have kept them safe. Instead, it left them completely exposed…

Canadian border patrol officer Emma James has only one concern after putting a crime boss behind bars: keeping her daughter safe. But witness protection has a leak, and Emma’s enemies know exactly where to find her. Now on the run with no safe haven, trusting her estranged former brother-in-law, police constable Mason James, to shield them is her only hope…

Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a $30 Amazon gift card. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on February 22, 2022.)

To Enter, FOLLOW me @darlenel.turner, @justreadtours, LIKE and SAVE this post on Instagram, and COMMENT to let us know you did

For MORE entries, TAG a friend (up to 3x per Instagram post)
VISIT each hosted post of this tour. 

The tour schedule can be found at https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ_EURXNEs8/

Silver Bells and Secrets ~ Review

Silver Bells and Secrets: a Regency Christmas romance

Twelfth Night #1

By Laura Rollins

Grace Stewart's season in London left her feeling alone, when it ended early, so she reaches out via letter to one of the young women she met there. But when his younger sister refuses to respond to this missive searching out friendship, Lord Ezra writes to Grace instead. Grace delights in this friendship while Ezra is struck by how perfectly he and Grace get along with there likes and enjoyments.

But when Grace writes about her hopes for the upcoming Christmas season and the possibility that she may make a marriage match, Ezra realizes the perfect muddle he has made of everything. He's fallen in love with Grace and she has no idea who he is. Determined to keep Grace from making a decision that will result in her marriage to someone else, Ezra does the only thing he can - he asks that he be added to the Christmas festivities.

When a stranger arrives at the Christmas House party, Grace is more than a little surprised when he can't take his eyes off of her. Has she created some some error, made a social gaffe?  Surprised at Lord Ezra Weston's attentions, Grace is left with a quandary - does she encourage the attentions of Mr. Brown or Lord Weston? Her simple background and untitled parentage finds her beneath Ezra socially so why should he pursue her?

What follows is a delightful story of holiday romance. Could a letter written seeking out friendship end in something more? And when Grace discovers the true identity of her "friend" will she be mortified, outraged, or delighted? Ezra's time to win Grace's heart is short and factors are not in his favor.

Silver Bells and Secrets is an enjoyable story that you will want to enjoy when the hustle and bustle of holiday expectations start to get to you. Take a step back to a simpler, though not less stressful, time and allow yourself to be drawn into this quest to win the heart of his perfect match. This is a delightful way to start a series and I for one can't wait to discover the future pleasures and delights awaiting me next year in Sugar Plums and Scandal.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Grace plans to marry the host of their Christmas house party.

Ezra has only until it ends to convince her otherwise.

Lord Ezra Weston has done something incredibly stupid. Through a series of events he prefers not to consider too closely, he has begun a written correspondence with Miss Grace Stewart under the guise of being his own sister. She’s witty, considerate, and as much in need of a friend as he is. So, why not continue? That is, until Grace writes and says she’s set her cap at someone. In only a few words, Ezra realizes he hasn’t only made a friend these past many months, he’s fallen in love.

As an earl, Ezra can get himself invited to the Christmas house party hosted by Grace's would-be husband. But once there, how does he plead his case? Either he loses Grace’s trust and friendship, or he loses his one chance at happiness. But that seems only fitting, seeing as he’s already lost his heart.

The beginning of a new series by sweet historical romance author Laura Rollins, Silver Bells and Secrets will have you cuddling up by the fireplace and humming carols. This short and sweet Christmas story is packed with charming characters, hilarious capers, and a clean and wholesome romance, sure to light the Christmas spirit inside you all year round.

Twelfth Night Novellas *books can be read in any order*
~Silver Bells and Secrets
~Sugar Plums and Scandal (coming Christmas 2022)
~Mistletoe and Mischief (coming Christmas 2023)

A Small-Town Christmas Challenge ~ Review

A Small-Town Christmas Challenge

Widow's Peak Creek #3
By Susanne Dietze

A holiday inheritance...

   with strings attached.

When Leah Dean is gifted half a house, she can't believe it isn't a mistake. But Rowena Hughes knows what she wants and she wants to give her house to Leah and Pastor Benton Hunt. There is just one little catch - they have to revive the Gingerbread Gala that used to be held in the old home. 

With full lives already busy with so many commitments pulling together a major Christmas event may be a bigger challenge than they were can handle. But Leah and Benton want to give Rowena one last Gala before she gives them her home. Rowena's gift could give her the means she needs for her grandmother's care. 

Working together the two form a friendship but something more isn't going to happen. Nope. Now they just have to make their hearts follow their heads.

This is a sweet read and perfect for getting you in a Christmas mood. Neither Leah nor Benton is looking for romance, much less marriage with their pasts and their current burdens, but sometimes life others you a path you hadn't planned on taking. I love the small-town setting and having lived in such a setting I can attest to the power of the small-town rumor mill and the care one needs to take in all your actions. But this was a delightful book and one can easily read it without having read the previous books set in Widow's Peak Creek. Looking for a sweet escape into a clean read you need to read A Small-Town Christmas Challenge. Happy endings, friendship, and romance what more could you hope for from a Love Inspired Romance.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Publisher Love Inspired

Available to purchase at– https://amzn.to/3ozVDgv

Book Blurb

Will reviving an old tradition be the start of something new?

When she inherits a beautiful historic house, nurse Leah Dean knows selling it could solve all her problems. But there’s just one catch—she and co-owner Pastor Benton Hunt must cohost the Gingerbread Gala in the home first. As Christmas approaches, Leah and Benton grow closer, and parting with the house—and each other—is not as easy as they thought…

A Widow's Peak Creek Story

Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a print copy of the book and a $20 Starbucks gift card. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on December 9, 2021.)

To Enter,  go to my Instagram post and follow @susannedietze @justreadtours & Tag 2 friends in the same comment on that post or any other Instagram-hosted post of this tour. Enter up to 3x per post. 

Amish Christmas Escape ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Amish Christmas Escape by Dana R. Lynn, 
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Amish Christmas Escape
Amish Country Justice #12

By Dana R. Lynn

Christy O’Malley's life, and that of her daughter, is in danger. With nowhere to turn she reaches out to the husband that she left nearly seven years ago. Can Sam Burkholder and his simple Amish life keep them safe?

The people who want her dead are relentless and are just a step behind them but Sam is determined to keep both Christy and the daughter he never knew alive. But the more time he spends with Christy the greater his heartbreak will be when she walks out of his life again.

Amish Christmas Escape is the 12th book in the Amish Country Justice series by Dana R. Lynn. Though part of a series this book can be read as a standalone title though there are references to incidents in previous books. 

This is a clean-reading romantic suspense that is an easy read. No graphic violence or rough language to offend. There are a few twists to keep it interesting. Overall I'd recommend this as a perfect weekend getaway-read. Mystery, suspense, romance, and a satisfying ending what more could you want?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Amish Christmas Escape
Series: Amish Country Justice #12
Author: Dana R. Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: November 23, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense 

Hiding in Amish country may not be enough to save her… 

In a killer’s sights after she witnesses her sister’s murder, Christy O’Malley’s only option is to flee to Amish country—and the estranged husband she left behind. But there’s something Sam Burkholder doesn’t know—they have a daughter. With enemies closing in, Sam will do anything to protect Christy and their little girl…but can he forgive the past for a chance to be a family for Christmas? 

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith. 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

 

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dana R. Lynn is a USA Today Bestselling author who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. She met her husband at a wedding and married him nineteen months later. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania with their three teenaged children and enough pets to open a petting zoo. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night.

Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group. She is a Selah Award winner, a Holt Medallion Finalist, and a New England Reader’s Choice Award winner. In addition, her books have been on the Publisher’s Weekly Best Selling list multiple times. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She enjoys engaging with readers and can be found on social media or contacted via her website www.danarlynn.com.

CONNECT WITH DANA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

---

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of Amish Christmas Escape and a $10 Amazon gift card (US print, outside of US e-book)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight November 30, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on December 7, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US print, outside of US e-book. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Enamored ~ Review

Enamored

Knights of Brethren #1

By Jody Hedlund

She's never wanted to rule but she is her uncle's chosen heir and she has choice before her. She must choose who will rule at her side. Elinor hoped for a love match but the noblemen gathered for the weeklong courtship have not touched her heart. With only a week to decide she is feeling the pressure to make a decision that will benefit the kingdom if she doesn't find the man whose heart calls to hers.

Maxim never wanted to leave Elinor behind but as a child he was given little choice - their friendship was a threat to what can be. After years away Maxim has been summoned home by the father who never approved of him. And now Maxim is slowly being trapped by Rasmus's machinations. With a mind adept at solving the most complex problems Maxim only hopes that he can find a way out of the problem he now finds himself in. 

Can he save the kingdom and people who mean the most to him? Or will he become but the latest pawn in this battle of minds?

Enamored is the first book in the Knights of the Brethren series and it will quite literally leave you wanting the next book now. This is an all too delightful book filled with intrigue, danger, daring and romance. Pick it up and you too will be enamored from the beginning. Jody Hedlund's YA books are the perfect weekend or nighttime get-away and a must read!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

During a time when legends were born . . .

ENAMORED

A princess in need of a husband, a young Sage who cannot have her, and a web of deceit that threatens their love

Having been raised by her childless aunt and uncle, the king and queen, Princess Elinor finds herself the only heir to the throne of Norvegia. As she comes of age, she must choose a husband to rule beside her, but she struggles to make her selection from among a dozen noblemen during a weeklong courtship.

With aspirations to become the wisest man in the land, Maxim is summoned home by his father Rasmus, a Royal Sage. Reunited with Elinor, once his closest friend, Maxim is quickly enamored with her even though he can never be considered a prospect for her husband.

Elinor’s feelings for Maxim are rekindled too . . . until she learns he has been unwillingly drawn into Rasmus’s scheme to take control of the throne. With the kingdom under attack both from within and without, can Elinor and Maxim overcome the deceit spinning around them? Or will it destroy their love once and for all?

The real story of Excalibur.

The Inn on Hanging Hill ~ Review

The Inn on Hanging Hill

The Beach House Mystery series #2

by Christy Barritt

Lindsey Waters is returning home - it's the one place in the world she never wanted to revisit. But life has taken the choice out of her hands. She needs to get the inn somewhat reasonable repair so that she can sell it. The trauma of a lost childhood incident has made an impression on her and someone seems determined to revisit the terror and fear upon her. Her only hope to stay ahead of the person terrorizing her is Ben Harris, the person who was there all those years ago. But could the secrets he seems to be hiding bring the danger closer?

But from the opening, we are left with questions and little clues as to where the answers could be found. I loved the suspicions the author wove throughout the present-day portion of the story. I love when there are unexpected plot twists that seemingly set a story on a different path.

This is the second book in The Beach House Mystery series of which I have only enjoyed this book. The story was easy to follow without the previous book having been read. I could totally see this book being made into a Hallmark Mystery movie. It has this same feel but is a clean read so no graphic descriptive surprises.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Series: The Beach House Mystery series #2 Publisher: River Heights Release Date: October 5, 2021 Genre: Romantic Suspense (clean) Lindsey Waters never wanted to return to the seaside inn where she grew up. Too many traumatic memories surrounded the place. But with her career on the fritz, she has no choice but to return to her childhood home. Her plan: renovate the inn, sell it, and start fresh somewhere else. Her strategy goes awry when mysterious incidents begin happening at the inn—dangerous incidents. Someone wants to scare her away. But why? When she reconnects with childhood friend Benjamin Harris, Lindsey is reminded that not all her memories here were bad. But something is different about him, something she can’t quite put her finger on. She’s certain he’s harboring secrets. Can she really trust the man he has become? With her past closing in, she’s tempted to run. Otherwise, the inn might be her final resting place.

Tacos for Two ~ Review

Tacos for Two

By Betsy St. Amant

Rory Perez has a problem - she's taken over her late aunt's food truck and she couldn't cook the Mexican fare that Salsa Street is known for to provide her livelihood. Hence her problem - thankfully none of the regulars know that and she has handy help in Grady, who does all of the cooking that is edible. 

Jude Strong has a problem equal to Rory's - he is about to be trapped in the quagmire of his family's law firm, at least if he passes his bar exam. But law just isn't something Jude is passionate about. Rather his heart longs to call a kitchen home. But before he can make a life change and get cut out of Daddy's will and possibly the family forever Jude needs a plan in place. And what could be better than getting actual cooking experience and lessons from his favorite food truck vendor? 

Well, you can imagine how that goes with Rory giving cooking lessons - the blind leading the blind - not quite since Jude actually does know his way around a kitchen. But you now have the perfect setup for a RomCom movie as these two are anonymous dating app texting pals, yeah that is a thing in this book. (Might be something to check out if it actually worked but I'm skeptical.) Anyhow if you combined a Hallmark movie with Ratatouille (yes, the cooking rat cartoon) you just might get Tacos for Two. Overall this is a cute uncomplicated read that is just pure escape reading to get you out of your ordinary. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I give my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can't cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red--and an upcoming contest during Modest's annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her a solid financial footing and keep her cousin with special needs paid up at her beloved assisted living home. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. But if he loses the contest, he's back at the law firm for good. Failure is not an option.

Complications arise when Rory's chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online the past month.

Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

You Again ~ Review

You Again

By Amanda Waters

Rosalee McDonnell is stuck in rut and she is feeling older than her 62 years, 6 of which she's lived as a widow. Her husband, Tommy had been there for her when she most needed him just as she had been for him through his last days as cancer took him. 

But Tommy McDonnell wasn't her first love. Her first love was in 1973, as a 17 year-old-girl, Rosalee fell in love with George Barnes. But when he broke her heart she never saw him again, nor did she expect to. But a last-minute invitation leads to a surprise meeting and a second chance at love.

You Again is told in both the present and through Rosalee's remembrances of the past. The first couple chapters seemed slow but as the story progressed so to did the pacing. It is interesting to compare past George and Rosalee to their present selves.  Overall I'd say this was a pretty good book.  If you are looking for something new that is a standalone read and falls into the gentle, clean (a few kisses) read category you will want to give this one a try.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

                                                                                             

About the Book:

You Again is a sweet love story starring Rosalee McDonnell, a 62-year-old widow who unexpectedly reconnects with George Barnes, her first love, the man who broke her heart at 17, and someone she thought she'd never see again. In alternating chapters, Rosalee also recalls the summer of 1973 when she and George met and fell in love. You Again is a story of first love and second chances, of resilience, family, friendship, and living a full life. 

For fans of Kristan Higgins and Katherine Reay.