Rocky Mountain Rendezvous ~ Review

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous

Sisters of the Rockies #1

By Misty M. Beller

The Collins sisters are on a journey to fulfill a promise made to their dying father. He made a seemingly impossible request - return a special set of blue beads to Steps Right, a Piegan Blackfoot woman who saved his life years ago.

But traveling alone and unchaperoned isn't the safest, not when their destination is a trapper rendezvous in the Rocky Mountains and women, specifically white women, are scarce. 

Juniper and her sisters are grateful for the assistance Riley Turner offers them - both protection and in looking for Steps Right. But finding a woman among so many camps proves more difficult than they had anticipated. Riley's knowledge soon proves invaluable. But a deathbed promise deserves their best efforts, and the one thing the sisters all know is they are determined to keep it.  

Juniper is surprised by just how free she feels in this rough land, and she isn't the only Collins sister to feel this way. But even more surprising is the connection she feels towards Riley. With plans to return to Virgina, Juniper can't allow her heart to derail the plans she and her sisters have made. 

This is was an enjoyable read that had some moments of danger. The search for Steps Right really made the story resonate for me. And the way the book ended. I can't wait for the next one. I really connected with Juniper and could appreciate her feeling of freedom. All four of the Collin sisters have a great relationship that is to be envied, and I hope they all get their own story, especially Lorelei.  

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:

In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father's deathbed request for them to return a special set of beads to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels West. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.

Riley Turner came West to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he's known.

As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return East or stay in the mountains to continue looking--and that's if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father's last request worth the danger they find at every turn?

"What an adventure! Rocky Mountain Rendezvous brought the wilds of the Wyoming area and Juniper's unique story to life."--KIMBERLEY WOODHOUSE, Carol Award-winning and bestselling author

"Brimming with vivid imagery, historical details, and a compelling storyline, this is a book Misty's readers will absolutely adore."--JEN TURANO, USA Today bestselling author

A Beautiful Disguise ~ Mini Review with Author Q & A

A Beautiful Disguise

The Imposters #1

By Roseanna M. White

She lives her life hidden in plain sight. Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother Yates Fairfax have created an illusion, showing London Society what they want them to see. But in the shadows, they seek answers - they are The Imposters!

To save their estate and provide for those under their care Marigold and Yates, along with those closest to them, have formed an investigative company. They find answers that others are unable to procure. And now they've been called on to determine the loyalty of someone they know. Can they find the evidence needed to clear him? Or will they prove he is a traitor to king and country?

A Beautiful Disguise is the exciting and intriguing debut of a new series from Roseanna M. White. All the world's a stage, as the saying goes, and Marigold, known to the Ton as Lady M, is making London her stage. With careful planning and extraordinary skill, she has convinced Society that she is something other than what she truly is. But who hides beneath the feathers and almost garish colors? Sir Merritt Livingstone is determined to discover the truth for himself, while the anonymous but skilled Imposters aid him in his own investigation, an investigation that could have far-reaching effects if his suspicions prove true.

This is a must-read as summer winds down (though the temperatures don't agree with this assessment).
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:

In Edwardian London, not all that glitters is gold as a lady and an intelligence officer’s secret mission take them from the city’s dazzling ballrooms to its covert intelligence offices.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the field, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they’re creating a new secret intelligence branch, he’s intent on showing his worth. He suspects an aristocrat of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but he needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father’s death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm for the elite to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society who want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend’s father as a potential traitor.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend’s sake, and she’s more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can’t possibly be as noble as he seems.

Genre: Historical Romance, Detective Mystery, Inspirational Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (August 22, 2023)

Length: (368) pages

Available Formats: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook 

ISBN: ‎ 978-0764240928

Learn more about the world of The Imposters.

Praise for A Beautiful Disguise

“White’s well-woven plot is engaging from start to finish with delightful threads of mystery, romance, and inspiration.”— Carrie Turansky, award-winning author.


“A Beautiful Disguise has all of the hallmarks of this beloved author’s resplendent fiction: pitch-perfect historical research, a thrilling setting and perfectly paced plot and a love story that sparks as wonderfully as Lady Marigold’s effervescent intelligence and charm. A sheer and unputdownable delight by a true master.”—Rachel McMillan, author of The Mozart Code

“5 STARS – Espionage, intrigue, and secrets abound in this beautifully crafted historical fiction set in pre-WWI Edwardian England (1909). Roseanna M White’s gift of weaving intricate, engaging plots and creating charming, lovable characters shines so clearly in this book that kicks off her new series Imposters.”— Mindy Houng, Interviews & Reviews.com.

Available at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Baker Publishing | Bookshop | BookBub |Goodreads

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. She pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of numerous novels, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Virginia.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | X (formerly known as Twitter) | BookBub | Goodreads

Author Q&A:

Can you please tell us a little bit about your new series, THE IMPOSTERS? 

   RW: I’d be delighted! THE IMPOSTERS combines quite a few super fun elements—a glittery high-society Edwardian setting that will appeal to Downton Abbey fans . . . some tension, suspense, and mystery . . . a romance (of course) . . . a sibling relationship that was a real joy to write . . . and even some circus themes! 

In A Beautiful Disguise, readers are introduced to Marigold and Yates Fairfax. Is there anything else readers show know about this interesting sibling pair? 

  RW: Oh my. Let’s just say that though Yates is now the earl and his sister is a London fashion icon, neither are quite what they seem. These two spend their leisure hours training on the trapeze, the high wire, and the rings and bars. They condition their bodies to do all the stunts that, rather than entertain under the Big Top, help them gather the information they need for their cases. They can get into and out of anywhere—and have fun doing it. 

 Where did Marigold and Yates pick up the unique skills needed to open The Imposters, Ltd.? 

   RW: Well, you see, the same entertainments that their father spent their entire fortune on— traveling circuses, acrobatic troupes, theater groups, and the like—were their greatest influences. As children, they literally dreamed of running off to join the circus, but when reality insisted they take on the duties of the Fairfax title and save their beloved estate, they decided to use their very particular skills to help them investigate their own. Their names get them into any event . . . and their ability to scale walls and put on any role through their closet of disguises and costumes ensures they can collect all the details they need. Many of your books include themes of espionage. 

Can you share with us some historical context for the setting of the novel? What major events in world history influence the story and its characters? 

   RW: England and Germany were in the middle of an arms-and-naval race that eventually led to the Great War; Germany had only recently announced a frightful warship, and England had answered with the Dreadnaught. During the months of my story, new legislature was being pushed in England for a major ramp-up of battleship production. Though England’s reigning king was the first cousin of Germany’s kaiser (and Russia’s czar), tensions had never been higher between the countries, and their politics had diverged in some key ways. 

  Then toss in, ahem, some literary mayhem. One of the most popular authors of the day was William Le Queux, who wrote—you guessed it—spy novels. They were all based on the idea that Germany had secret agents infiltrating England (totally untrue, in retrospect), and it caused a real mania. Every German was reported, and the authorities were flooded with claims of seeing spies at work. It was all nonsense, but it did convince the government to take all their different (and inefficient) intelligence branches—that of the army, the navy, and the police— and combine them into one group: MI5. 

Was there anything that you found particularly interesting in your research that you included in your book? 

   RW: Something I probably should have known before but had never looked into is the Coldstream Guard. We know them as the stone-faced guards of the palaces. You know, the ones who supposedly won’t flinch or break character no matter what you do. This Guard is, in fact, the most elite of England’s army, kind of like our SEALs or Rangers. They get the palace posting because they’ve earned it through the best training and field service. I decided to make my hero, Sir Merritt Livingstone, a member of the Coldstream Guards, but then relegated him to a desk job because of a lingering bout of pneumonia. But he brought a lot of training and honor to the new position! 

How can readers connect with you? 

  RW: You can find me on all the major social media platforms @RoseannaMWhite, and you can sign up for my newsletter and visit my shop full of signed books and other bookish delights at RoseannaMWhite.com. I love chatting with readers.

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. She pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of numerous novels, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Virginia.

Connect online at:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | X (formerly known as Twitter) | BookBub | Goodreads

In This Moment ~ Review

In This Moment

Timeless #2

By Gabrielle Meyer

Maggie has inherited her parent's time-crossing gift, but she has inherited both of their abilities, so she lives in three separate time periods. In 1861, she is the daughter of a US Senator and friends with the Lincolns as the nation teeters on the edge of war. In 1941, she lives with her time-crossing parents and is a Navy nurse. At this time, the world is caught up in a war that the US has thus far stayed out of, But Maggie knows all too soon they will join the conflict. And in her third life, she lives in 2001, a medical student well on her way to becoming a surgeon. And a world she has no foreknowledge of.

Yet her time is short; she has mere months left to live in two of her lives. But when you are only 20 years old, how can you choose which lives to give up? Which family do you say goodbye to?

As Maggie struggles to make a decision, she must weigh all her options. She has determined to not fall in love in any timeline so as to not allow romance to make her decision for her. But her heart has other plans, and in each, she meets someone who could sway her decision.

I love this series and I can say with all honesty I would not want to be Maggie and faced with such a decision. How does one decide who to leave behind forever? And how can you be sure you made the right choice in a life where you won't get a second chance, a do-over? And to be that, you have to bury any knowledge you retain of the future forever. That would be so hard, especially if your knowledge could save lives, but at the cost of your own life in that timeline.

This reads best after reading the first book in the series - When the Day Comes. And in my opinion, would make a really good pair of movies if done like the books.

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:

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

The Best Summer Of Our Lives ~ Review

The Best Summer Of Our Lives 

By Rachel Hauck

1977 was supposed to be the best summer of her life, but everything started going wrong before it even started. And by the end of summer, Summer Wilde's life was no longer on the long charted course that she and her three Best Friends - Spring, Snow, and Autumn had planned together for years.

1997 finds Summer's life once again not where she wants it. Music is the life she wants, but nothing has really worked out for her since her one big hit. At loose ends, Summer heads back to the place where everything went off course.

A decision was made to have "fun," and let's just say it wasn't the best choice to make, and as a result, the Four Seasons have their summer plans decided for them by a judge. Their bad decision leads to the four of them being shipped off to another state and "sentenced" to be camp counselors. 

The four girls never thought they could ever drift apart, but this summer is about to strain their bonds. Especially when secrets are brought to light. 

When offered a choice, would Summer choose love or fame? Summer is about to discover just where her heart truly lies. Can she make peace with the secrets and hurts of the past and move on to a future she never believed was possible? Sometimes we need to step back and reexamine what we thought we knew with what we now know. (Yeah, just a little cryptic, but it will make sense when you read the book.)

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit different from what I normally read, but it was still the same excellent writing/storytelling one has come to expect from Rachel Hauck. Highly recommend it as a beach read, a cozy corner read, or a late into-the-night 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.

Be sure to learn more about Rachel Hauck at www.rachelhauck.com

About the Book:

The summer of '77 was supposed to be the best of Summer Wilde's life. But those plans never had a chance when a teenage prank went awry. Now thirty-something, after her music career crumbles, she returns to the place where everything changed and must face a reckoning with her past and the friends she lost to gain the closure she needs to move forward.

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

The Words We Lost ~ Review

The Words We Lost

Fog Harbor Romance #1

By Nicole Deese

Ingrid Erikson has lost her way. Since the death of her best friend Cecelia (Cece) Campbell she just been surviving. She can't concentrate and her work has been suffering since, of course her work was also directly tied to Cece who was an international bestselling author. But with Cece's death she just can't do her job as an acquisitions editor for a struggling publisher. And she's been given an ultimatum find Cece's final book or lose your job. Ouch and totally unsympathetic. 

But finding Cece's final work means returning home and facing the man she thought she'd have a future with. Joel Campbell never wanted to lose Ingrid, but trying to protect her did just that. Now they will have to work together and revisit the past and its painful memories. But the search to discover Cece's final work, if it was ever written, will change everything, forcing Ingrid and Joel to work together.

This book is an emotional one as Ingrid deals with her losses, yes more than one. But Cece's was the one that affected her so unexpectedly because it highlighted just how much she had lost. This is a book it is hard to review because of the emotional aspect of it. One needs to read it to fully experience just what Ingrid was feeling. But she was also disconnected from fully experiencing life because of the trauma she was still dealing with. This book speaks to one on a personal level, but how much depends on the losses one has experienced in one's own life. This is a story that each reader must experience for oneself. The Words We Lost showcases the author's craft with words as she moves one in unexpected ways as the story unfolds. In my opinion this would make an excellent book club or community read selection.

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

About the Book:

Three friends. 

Two broken promises. 

One missing manuscript.

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony--two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she's also desperate to find the closure she's convinced will come with Cecelia's missing final manuscript.

After Ingrid jeopardizes her career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But then Joel Campbell--the man who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters--offers her a sealed envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and Ingrid to put their differences aside and retrieve a mysterious package in their coastal Washington hometown.

Honoring Cecelia's last request will challenge their convictions and test their loyalties, but through it all, will Ingrid and Joel be brave enough to uncover a twice-in-a-lifetime love?

What Happens Next ~ Review

What Happens Next

By Christina Suzann Nelson

Faith Byrne's life has taken an unexpected turn, one that finds her on the other side of a divorce. Worse, her ex is getting remarried in Hawaii and has decided that their daughters will spend the entire upcoming Summer vacation there with him and his new(almost) wife. With her summer open except for her podcast, which ironically looks for the happy, the triumph after tragedy, she's at loose ends.

But a letter draws her back to her childhood, to her happy summer. But what she didn't know was that the summer that meant everything to her until she was once again uprooted ended with questions and sorrow for those she left behind. Her best friend of that summer, and possibly of her entire life, went missing, and still no one knows what happened to Heather. Can Faith's skills in searching out the truth, of digging deeper, help her bring Heather home and closure to a family needing to know the truth?

What Happens Next is a powerful and moving story as one woman holds out hope that someday her daughter will return. But what does such hope cost? Dora's family has crumbled around her as she stubbornly, in their opinion, refuses to accept the truth - the truth that Heather is never returning. 

This is a situation that I think no one can know how they will respond to it. When someone we love is suddenly missing, how long do we hold out hope that they will be found, that they will walk through the door? The author presents well the various characters in both the past and the present day, giving us a look at the summer leading up to the moment when Heather disappears and the present-day search for the truth. This is an emotional story with depths and twists as everyone works through the pain they were left with. This would make an excellent book club selection, and as the setting is summer, would make a perfect summer read too.

What Happens Next will be what you are wondering throughout!

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:

Everyone has a story, 

and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing.

Popular podcaster and ex-reporter Faith Byrne made a name for herself telling stories of greatness after tragedy--but her real life does not mirror the stories she tells. While her daughters spend the summer in Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife, she must manage life on her own. All of that changes when she's asked to spotlight her childhood best friend's missing person case on her podcast.

Dora Crane has never accepted that her younger daughter could be dead, keeping her home looking the same as when her daughter disappeared. But when her husband leaves her and her older daughter intervenes, she agrees to counseling and to pack up her missing daughter's belongings under one condition: Faith Byrne comes to Deep Valley and sheds light on the cold case.

As the long-abandoned investigation moves forward, old wounds and long-buried secrets are exposed. Will these two women, whose lives have never been the same, finally get the answers they need to reconcile the past and the future?

The Weight of Air ~ Review

The Weight of Air

By Kimberly Duffy

Mabel MacGinnis has become the daughter her father trained her to be  - Europe's strongest woman. But when he died, her confidence died with him. On her own, she is lost and not enough. Worse, she's lost her place in the Manzo Brothers Circus unless she can reinvent herself. But her friend Jake Cummingham sees more to her than an act in her father's performance and goes with her when the secrets of the past come to light. The mother, she thought, long dead, has been living and performing in America.

Isabella Moreau has a life in America, one that her husband held her back from, questioning her strength and endurance. But claiming her it has cost her the life she could have had. But her skills as an aerialist are faltering as her body begins betraying her. Is the life she has fought for so hard about to be lost to her? 

What neither Mabel nor Isabella realizes is just how entwined their lives are. With Jake an unknown link between them soon, they will become part of one another lives. But as the three work out just who they are and what they want from life, they will have to put the past and its fears and pain behind them.

First of all, I have to say circuses are not really something I've ever been into, so this was a fairly new world for me. I found the back story of the circus to be an interesting one. The rivalry to be the top performer. Older performers were hidden in the crowd of performers, their faces behind veils to mask their age from the public. And then there was Mabel, who was expected to put her body on display because of her size and strength; her wishes for privacy and modesty were ignored. Yet there were codes of conduct the performers were expected to follow, which seemed at odds with the marketing employed. 

I feel that Mabel's father and Isabella's husband did both a disservice with his "protective" nature. Isabella wasn't allowed to move past her issues and felt rejected. While Mabel felt she couldn't work without her father at her side. And then there is Jake, who allowed tragedy to define him. It warped his view of his current situation and caused him to hurt those around him. I feel many of the problems that were faced could have been avoided if each could have listened and not just heard the words being spoken to them. 

This is a story of healing and moving on. But most importantly, learning in whom one should put their trust - God. I think the following verse was one that needed to be heeded, "I can do all things through God, who strengthens me."  Overall this was an excellent book and one I think would make a perfect choice for those who are into early Twentieth Century historical fiction or circuses. 

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:

Two women

--bound by blood, torn apart by circumstance--

find together that true strength comes in many forms.

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. When he dies unexpectedly, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham in hope of finding the mother she thought was dead.

Isabella Moreau, America's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. Then her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, and she is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

As Mabel and Isabella's lives become entangled beneath the glittering lights and flying trapeze of Madison Square Garden, their resiliency and resolve are tested as they learn the truth of what it means to be strong.

All the Lost Places ~ Review

All the Lost Places

By Amanda Dykes

Daniel Goodman made mistakes and paid the price society deemed he owed. But he knows he owes more to those he wronged, and he is determined to pay it in full. But when he learns that his mother is in need he takes on a job that will make use of his skills with language and sketching. His journey will take him from San Francisco to Venice, where he must search out a long-held secret. A secret that will mean more to him than he could have ever anticipated. What Daniel must discover is the conclusion to Sebastien Trovato's story. A story that Sebastien himself has long wondered about himself. 

This is a story of discovery. Two men, one in the nineteenth century and the other at the dawn of the twentieth, both seeking answers. Sebastien seeks to learn who he is - as a child adrift upon the waters, he doesn't know where he came from, though his early years were filled with the caring of those who took him in and raised him. But this is so much more; this is a story of redemption. No life is too far gone if the heart is willing to change. But one must choose to change. It takes time, effort, and dedication, yet it is given to those who will accept it.

This is a work of Historical Fiction, but there is a thread of mystery that runs through it. The story alternates between Daniel's and Sebastien's, with more devoted to Daniel's at the beginning of the book.

I loved the prologue. I know there are those who skip it, viewing it as unnecessary. But this one is beautiful - the language is music to the soul as it introduces the reader to Venice.

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:

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man’s identity remains a mystery . . .

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

The Metropolitan Affair ~ Review

The Metropolitan Affair

On the Park #1

Jocelyn Green

Dr. Lauren Westlake has worked hard to get where she is - assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her father's expeditions to Egypt were always taking him away from her, but he has finally offered her the long-promised chance to join him on one. But first, she has an event to plan.

But the sudden interest in Egyptology has resulted in an unexpected but not surprising uptick in forgeries. When Detective Joe Caravello seeks her out, Lauren agrees to help him in any way possible. But getting the answers they seek will bring them into a dangerous game that could cost them dearly. 

The Metropolitan Affair is set in 1925, in New York City, during the opulence of the pre-Depression era of Prohibition. Lauren has been part of the upper echelons of society, while Joe came from the working class. A chance meeting during their youth gave them a friendship that had the promise of maybe something more. But years have passed and the chance to renew an old friendship while working together is before them. 

This was an intriguing read; I mean, who knew that Egyptmania was a thing, much less one that was so deeply embedded in the bygone eras of American history. The layers of secrets are complex, and to truly get to the answers needed, they will be taken to the edge of danger where one false step could lead to danger. But are they ready for the truth? Get ready for an exciting mix of mystery and romance in Jocelyn Green's newest Historical Romance.

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

About the Book:

Bestselling author Jocelyn Green sweeps you away in a dazzling novel of secrets, betrayal, and romance within one of New York City's most esteemed museums.

For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

The Last Chance Cowboy ~ Book Spotlight with Excerpt

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for 

The Last Chance Cowboy by Jody Hedlund, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Last Chance Cowboy 

Series: Colorado Cowboys #5 

Author: Jody Hedlund 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing 

Release Date: February 14, 2023 

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

With danger drawing ever closer, their only hope of saving their futures lies in each other.

As a midwife, Catherine Remington is successful in bringing new life into the world, but she's failed one too many times in finding true love. When she's accused of a murder she didn't commit, she's forced to flee to Colorado to honor a patient's dying wish by delivering a newborn infant to his father. 

The repentant prodigal Dylan McQuaid is finally back in Fairplay. As sheriff, he's doing his best to prove to the town he's a changed man and worthy of their trust. When a woman shows up with an infant son he didn't know he had, Dylan is left with only complicated choices on what to do next. 

Having grown attached to Dylan's son, Catherine doesn't want to part ways with the infant, but what she doesn't bargain for is how easily she'll fall for the charming sheriff, or how quickly the past will catch up with her and put their love and lives in danger.

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

More Books In Series

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Excerpt 

“What’s a fine lady like you doing in this establishment at this time of day?” His words were

hard and biting, almost as if she’d imposed upon him with her presence.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve been here all night assisting one of the young women during her time

of travail.”

He cocked his head, his brows lifting.

“I’m a midwife. I’ve been here delivering a baby.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you stepped into the hallway when you did, isn’t it, boys?” Rocky

directed his question toward two men standing just inside the open doorway above the dead

body. They stepped over Stretch until they were both positioned behind Rocky, arms crossed

and staring at her.

She’d noticed the men with Rocky on occasion. Perhaps they served as his guards or his

servants. Either way, she wouldn’t let them intimidate her.

“Young lady,” Rocky said, “I’ll need you to testify to the police and the judge on my behalf, let

them know Stretch came after me and that I was left with no choice but to shoot him or lose

my life.”

Had Stretch provoked him? She glanced at Stretch’s crumpled body. There wasn’t a weapon in

sight. Blood poured out of the open wound in his bare chest, forming a dark puddle on the

floor. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kenna, but I can’t testify to that end—”

“Sure you can. You were right here.” He straightened his suit coat as though his business was

finished. “You saw everything just the way I said.”

He wanted her to lie for him? So he could get away with murder? Well, if he didn’t already

know, he was about to learn that she was a woman with as much integrity as her father. “No,

actually, I didn’t see Stretch do anything to harm you.”

Rocky started down the hallway toward her, and his men followed on his heels. Their footsteps

tapped a dangerous rhythm. If he could kill Stretch, what would stop him from killing her?

The Last Chance Cowboy • Jody Hedlund

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group © 2022 used by permission

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About the Author

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of over 30 historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats.

Connect with Jody by visiting www.jodyhedlund.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive the full paperback set of the five books 

in the Colorado Cowboys series!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. 

The full tour schedule is linked below. 

The giveaway began at midnight on February 22, 2023, 

and goes through 11:59 PM EST on March 1, 2023. 

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 

and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. 

US only. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

The Last Chance Cowboy ~ Review

The Last Chance Cowboy 
Colorado Cowboys #5 
By Jody Hedlund 

 

This is the final book in the Colorado Cowboys series which has followed the McQuaid siblings as they sought a new life in Colorado. This is a story of mistaken identity, second chances, and new beginnings. In the previous books we were given glimpses of Dylan as he sank deeper into the life he allowed to trap him. But he has seemingly overcome his drinking and gambling issues. Dylan McQuaid was the prodigal son who had to leave when his actions placed him in danger but now he is back having gotten himself straightened out.  As the new sheriff of Fairplay, Colorado he aims to keep himself out of trouble and make his brothers proud. But everything is threatened when Catherine Remington comes to town with a baby she claims is his. 

Catherine is a woman of means whose midwifery skills put her in a wrong place/wrong time situation and she used the opportunity to deliver Dylan's son to him to remove herself from danger. Determined to be a better man, Dylan makes Catherine an offer. There's just one little problem - she's not the woman he thinks she is. But one thing leads to another and Catherine soon finds herself living a life she never expected to have. But could Colorado offer her the safe place she needs?

This book could be read as a standalone but it is better read as part of the series. But no matter how you read this book if you are a fan of Jody Hedlund's books you won't be disappointed in it. It is a historical romance that finds its heart in the family that takes center stage throughout the series. Family is there for you no matter what, even when you make a mess of everything they are there to support you as you start over, ready to offer you a helping hand.

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:

As a midwife, Catherine Remington is successful in bringing new life into the world, but she's failed one too many times in finding true love. When she's accused of a murder she didn't commit, she's forced to flee and decides to run away to Colorado to honor a patient's dying wish to deliver a newborn infant to his father.

The repentant prodigal Dylan McQuaid is finally back in Fairplay. Elected as sheriff, he's doing his best to prove to the town he's a changed man and worthy of their trust. When a woman shows up with an infant son he didn't know he had, Dylan is left with only complicated choices on what to do next.

Having grown attached to Dylan's son, Catherine doesn't want to part ways with the infant, but what she doesn't bargain for is how easily she'll fall for the charming rogue, or how quickly her past will catch up with her and put their love and lives in danger.

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund brings her Colorado Cowboys series to an adventuresome close with this page-turning Western romance.

The Blackout Book Club ~ Review

The Blackout Book Club

By Amy Lynn Green

Avis Montgomery has never been a recreational reader, her reading has always leaned toward the educational - magazines that help her be the perfect housewife. But she is now the head librarian of Derby, Maine, taking her brother Anthony's position when he signed up to serve in Europe. And in an effort to save the library, she impulsively announces a new book club - the Blackout Book Club. 

Soon the Blackout Book Club grows into something more than Avis ever expected - friendship. And as the daily struggles and hardships of life and a world in turmoil continue, this could be the very lifeline they all need.

The story is told through the perspectives of the various founding members of the book club. I especially loved the "minutes" taken during the meetings. It added more depth to the characters who were relating how the meeting went through their perspective. I also found it intriguing how several of the characters seemed to be hiding something, but we are kept in the dark just what is being hidden. But other characters we learn what they are hiding almost from the beginning. Now I need to read some of the books that the Blackout Book Club read - some of them sounded interesting.

I think this would be an excellent book club selection given the title and the various books mentioned.

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

I did purchase this book in audio format and the narration by Leah Horowitz is excellent. She presents the story well and the various characters are for the most part easily identifiable. The story moves along well, I played it back 1.35 times as I listen along with my reading.

About the Book:

An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Yesterday's Tide ~ Review

Yesterday's Tide

By Roseanna M. White

Yesterday's Tide  is a delightful split-time book, which is one of my favorite types of Historical Fiction. The two settings are on Ocracoke Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks. As the story opens, we are introduced to two sets of characters whose lives are affected by war. 

In 1914, rumors of unrest had not yet drawn the world into conflict, but there's an underlying tension. Remington Culbreth is spending the summer on the island, hoping to put off a decision he doesn't want to make. He never expected to be drawn to Louisa Adair, a woman who is the opposite of everything his parents expect him to marry. Is this a summer romance or something more? But when war breaks out Remington must make a decision that could destroy his hopes for a future he longs to make his own.

In 1942, Ocracoke Island found itself on the front lines due to its coastal position. German U-boats have begun patrolling the sea lanes, threatening ships making use of the lanes. Evie Farrow has felt the pain these attacks have caused. When she finds Sterling Bertrand near her family's inn she knows that he was a victim of one of these attacks. But can she trust that he is an ally? Or could he be a threat to her family and friends? Is he truly tracking a threat on their shores? Can the two work together to stop a threat they never knew had made its way to Ocracoke, or will the secrets they hold keep them at arm's length?

I love how Roseanna M. White managed to thread characters from her other books into this one. The history and prejudices she managed to weave seamlessly into the story added a depth that made the story all the more meaningful. I can honestly say I can't pick a favorite character. I loved getting to know Evie and Louisa and their ties to both Ocracoke and their family.  

If you've never read any of Roseanna M. White's books before, this is a great book to start with, as it is a standalone title.  The writing is excellent, and the story is one that you'll want to reread. I highly recommend this book to readers of Historical Fiction, WWI, and WW2.  If you are part of a book club and are in need of a suggestion, this should move into your list.

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:

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn't count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive?

As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to two periods fraught with peril in this sweeping and romantic dual-time tale.

To Win a Prince ~ Review

To Win a Prince

By Toni Shiloh

This is a follow-up/sequel to Toni Shilo's In Search of A Prince, and it is not to be missed. I loved getting a chance to get to know Bree's BFF better. Iris Blakely never thought her trip to Oloro Ilé would lead to a life-changing event for her too. But it did, and now she is the owner of a locally sourced fashion design business. But it isn't just any business - nope, the goal is to help improve the lives of the local women by offering them steady employment that would help them better their lives and those of their families.

But being an American in Oloro Ilé, starting a business comes with a few strings attached, and that includes allowing the man who was involved in the plot against Bree and her rule to do community service hours under her watchful eye. Ekon Diallo was an instant crush as far as Iris was concerned, and when he betrayed Bree, Iris's crush was a bit tarnished. But Ekon has the necessary skills and knowledge that Iris needs to succeed. 

Ekon was raised to be a prince, and his fall has brought him to a new reality. Not only has he lost everything, but he has also fallen beneath his father's notice. He has no one to call on for help; he has absolutely no domestic skills and an ego that won't quit. You can already tell his time working for Iris will be interesting.

To Win a Prince is a story of discovery. Who is a person when they've lost everything that gave them worth in the eyes of the world? What gives a person their identity? Is it rank? Family name? Wealth? Or is it something deeper? TWAP is a spiritual discovery - sometimes, to discover our true selves and our place in God's eyes, we need to be brought to our lowest moments. 

I highly recommend this book. It is well worth the time spent reading it. As with In Search of a Prince, I read the paperback edition while listening to the audio version. It was interesting to hear the various words pronounced and to get a feel for how Iris, her family, and Ekon all talked (accents can totally change how you feel and experience a character).  You can enjoy this book as a standalone, but I think the previous book is necessary to fully grasp the backstory.

The audiobook is narrated by Tamika Katon-Donegal and has a runtime of 13 hours and 22 minutes. The presentation is excellent, and the characters are distinguishable from one another during the narrator's reading (always a BIG plus, in my opinion).

And if you need another reason to add this book to your personal library - just look at the cover - it is gorgeous. Who wouldn't want to see this sitting there asking you to pick it up? 

I was provided a copy of this book (in paperback form) with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Oloro Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a business to help citizens in impoverished areas. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins.

Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his countrymen. To pay for his actions against Oloro Ilé, he's forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely--but he can't allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.

As Iris strives to get her business off the ground while keeping her heart intact, will her dreams of "happily ever after," survive the challenges she faces?

Worthy of Legend ~ Review

Worthy of Legend

The Secrets of the Isles #3

By Roseanna M. White

Worthy of Legend is the third and final book in The Secret of the Isles series, which I'll admit is always a little sad when a series concludes. I've loved all the books in this series and was glad to see Bram get his chance to be more than a grumbling morning bear with a huge sweet tooth. Libby's older brother, who just managed to hang around as all the mystery surrounding the long-hidden pirate treasure unfolds, gets his chance to be one of the heroes he's long secretly admired. 

Bram Sinclair, the Earl of Telford, gets his story, and it was well worth the wait. We learn he has always had a secret fascination with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Or, in Libby's opinion, it's more of an obsession. But Bram's knowledge is about to come in very handy when an old diary hints at an Arthurian artifact hidden on the Isles. 

Lady Emily made her choice, and her family has cut her off until she makes her apologies. But standing for right isn't something to apologize for, and for once, Emily is going to take a stand. She just didn't realize how much it could cost her. Can the friends she's made over the summer be enough to withstand what is coming?

With Emily's family determined to make a find that will bring them further acclaim, it is a race to find and safeguard this long-lost piece of history. But more is at stake with Emily's brother Nigel searching the Isles. His utter cruelty could cost them more than a priceless treasure - it could cost them their lives.

Worthy of Legend is a fitting end to this series. I loved watching the characters change and grow. I never thought Bram would become a favorite, but he does so with this book, as we get glimpses of his strength of character (including a love of lost puppies). Mamm-wynn is one character I would love to get to know when she was younger. Did she have the special insight she shares now when she was young? I loved her character, and her words of wisdom and warning to her grandchildren and those who came to the isles added a special touch. She grounded everyone else as moments of crisis came.

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:

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they've made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother, who stops at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family--even when it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table--an interest he's kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?