Jack ~ Review

Jack

Minnesota Kingstons #1

By Susan May Warren

He is returning home for Boo, his little sister's wedding. For the last ten years, he's been trying to ignore what could have been the biggest mistake, make that regret, of his life. But it's all good. He's forgotten all about Harper, and she's sure to not be at the wedding. 

Okay, he's been running, but it has shaped him into the man he is today. He's a tracker. Sure, the pay is good, but the satisfaction of helping others drives him. Now, Harper is asking him to help her find an MIA bridesmaid. This is so bad, Boo's perfect wedding is threatened, and Harper needs his help. Jack can't help himself; he has to help, but he works alone and makes no promises.

But this is Harper, and she's not about to sit back while Jack works. Nope, she's in this, and Jack will just have to accept her help. But the deeper they dive into the mystery, the closer danger comes. And it could leave them dead.

As with all of Susan May Warren's books, there are ties to previous books and series. Just enough to whet one's appetite for another book, but not enough to detract from a story that can be enjoyed on its own. This book offers hints about what's to come in the series, but the story itself does not end in a cliffhanger. If you want romance, suspense, and a good dose of family drama Jack is waiting to be added to the top of your TBR pile.

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:

There's Trouble in the North...

Meet Jack, a tracker with a past he’s trying to escape the first epic book of the Minnesota Kingston series by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Her secret blew apart his life—and now she needs his help? If only he could say no…

Ten years should be long enough for Jack to forget the girl-next-door, his kid sister’s bestie and the woman—no, girl—who derailed his life. Now, he sort of likes his loner world as a missing person’s tracker. Well, mostly. But of course, when he returns home for his sister’s wedding, there she is…
Nope, not forgotten at all.

Of course Jack the Grump has shown up for his sister’s wedding, and by the way he looks at Harper, um, clearly her sins aren’t forgiven. So what—she’s sooo over her best-friend’s brooding, dark oldest brother. Really.

Then a bridesmaid goes missing.

And sure, Harper is a journalist who knows how to sniff out truth, but the clock is ticking and there’s only one person who can help…Perfect. No problem. She’s not going to fall for her childhood crush again. Promise.

Yes, Jack can admit that Harper’s not the girl he used to call Pigtails anymore. She’s all grown up…but he’s not going to get burned again. Still, what’s a guy going to do?

So, find her missing friend, get the bride down the aisle and ditch town before they find themselves in over their heads…or worse.

Dead.

Jack is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, grumpy-to sunshine, sweet but sizzly romantic suspense about second chances and finding the family you always wanted…

Tropes:

• Second Chance at Love
• Unrequited Love
• Return to hometown
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Secrets
• Boy/Girl Next door
• Kissing only

The Minnesota Kingstons
Book1: Jack
Book 2: Conrad
Book 3: Doyle
Book 4: Austen
Book 5: Steinbeck

A Noble Protector ~ Review

A Noble Protector

Cornerstone #8

By Madisyn Carlin

Varrick Landreth, along with his brothers and sister, has been betrayed. He is dying and left to do so in utter agony. When his sister seeks out an outcast young woman for aid, Varrick is anything but pleased. He is the family's protector and he doesn't know this stranger who could endanger Elissy. 

But this stranger in the Dead Woods has sought this refuge after being betrayed and left for dead. Gwen Yesen fears what offering her aid will mean if she is seen. Those who sought her death will never be satisfied until she meets the fate of her parents. But Gwen is the only one who can help Varrick and his brothers find the cure they seek. 

A Noble Protector is a non-magical retelling of the Wild Swans. I loved how various elements of the original fairytale were reworked to remain in the story but in an entirely plausible real-world way. The betrayal that both Varrick and Gwen faced is seen after the fact, but the repercussions are far-reaching and guide the actions of both throughout this original retelling.

I highly recommend this book for tweens and up. It is well-written and offers a wide range of feelings—despair, fear, hope, determination, love, and so much more. This book does have moments of violence but nothing graphic, just enough to set the mood for the utter hopelessness of their situation, before hope is offered. There is a definite faith element running throughout that gives hope during the darkest moments and which is appreciated.

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:

She’s an outcast. He’s a dying prince. Together, they may be the kingdom’s last hope.

Outcast princess Gwyn Yesen has resigned to live in anonymity for the rest of her life. When her only friend, the princess of the land unintentionally granting Gwyn safety, needs help, Gwyn knows she must assist—even if it risks revealing who and what she really is.

What would you do to save your family? That's the question dying prince Varrick Landreth find himself answering. Willing to do anything to save his brothers and sister, he finds himself joining forces with a suspicious woman keeping too many secrets.

As death nears and time runs out, Gwyn and Varrick must work together to save the royal family before usurpers and schemers enact their final, deadliest plan. But secrets have a way of being revealed at the worst time, and soon Varrick finds himself not only fighting for his family and kingdom, but being forced to choose Gwyn’s fate.

A Noble Protector is a New Adult Christian fantasy Wild Swans retelling and is Book #8 in Cornerstone Series. 

Each book can be read as a standalone.

Ambush on the Ranch ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for  

Ambush on the Ranch by Tina Wheeler, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Ambush on the Ranch
Red Rock Country #3
By Tina Wheeler

 

Janel Newman doesn't know why someone was chasing her, much less trying to kill her. And she has no idea who the killer is. All Janel knows is that she lost two days worth of memories, memories that may hold the answers she seeks.

 

Zach Walker is on the trail of a killer when he comes across Janel fleeing from a gunman. When it becomes obvious she is being targeted, he offers to provide protection to Janel and her twin sister Karla at his family's ranch. But even the presence of all three Walker brothers and their law enforcement ties isn't a deterrent to the person or persons after Janel.

 

This is a read that jumps into the suspense from the opening page and continues throughout, keeping the reader wondering just happened to make Janel a target. This is a story about family and trust at its core. This book is perfect for people who want to read suspense and romance that is clean and without graphic details.This was a quick read with good pacing that did not get bogged down in excessive details. It was overall a good read.

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

Title: Ambush on the Ranch
Series: Red Rock Country
Author: Tina Wheeler
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: December 24, 2024
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Seeking ranch refuge… with lethal threats at every turn. 

After running for her life through the forest, art gallery owner Janel Newman wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the past forty-eight hours. A car bomb and masked gunman make it clear she must’ve seen something she shouldn’t have. When she's forced to hide at deputy sheriff Zach Walker’s family ranch along with her twin sister, secrets are uncovered, and a murderous conspiracy is revealed. With ruthless criminals dogging their every step, will Janel and Zach be able to thwart these villains’ plan to silence Janel for good?  

Purchase Links: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

 

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About the Author

Tina Wheeler is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author and retired teacher. Although she grew up on the edge of the desert in Arizona, her favorite place to plot a new story is on a balcony overlooking the ocean. She enjoys spending time with her large extended family, brainstorming with writing friends, discovering new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon digital gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 6, 2025, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 13, 2025. Winners 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

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

Tracking the Missing ~ Review

Tracking the Missing

K-9 Search and Rescue #13

By Sami A. Abrams

Tori Campbell's camping trip with her teenage son goes wrong when their campsite is attacked. With three missing teens and someone trying to silence her permanently she has to turn to her late husband's best friend Michael Lane for help. 

Never one to ask for help, Tori has no choice when she fears for the life of Joey and his two friends. But why would someone attack their campsite during the night? Using his former contacts in the DEA Michael soon has answers, but they only increase the need to find the boys as soon as possible because as long as they are all in this Indiana wilderness the danger won't diminish.

Both Tori and Michael are both dealing with feelings of failure as they search for Joey and his friends. Michael has the added guilt of letting Tori down after failing to fulfill his promise to Ryan. Tori feels she has failed because she couldn't do it all on her own. Both have to come to terms that they are human and need to rely on God and His strength. 

This book provides suspense and danger without graphic violence, while offering inspirational moments and faith elements throughout. And big points because there is a dog involved, books are always better with dogs.

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

About the Book:

A search for three abducted teens—and a K-9 on the case.

After surviving a vicious attack in the woods, Tori Campbell awakes to her worst nightmare—her son and his two friends are missing. She calls the one person she knows she can trust, her late husband’s best friend, former DEA agent Michael Lane. Together with his search-and-rescue K-9, they must track the boys and figure out who took them—and why. Only, the Indiana wilderness is full of dangers beyond their abductor. Can Michael and Tori find the teens…even if it means falling into a sinister trap?

From Love Inspired Suspense: 

Courage. 

Danger. 

Faith.

K-9 Search and Rescue

Book 1: Desert Rescue by Lisa Phillips
Book 2: Trailing a Killer by Carol J. Post
Book 3: Mountain Survival by Christy Barritt
Book 4: Search and Defend by Heather Woodhaven
Book 5: Following the Trail by Lynette Eason
Book 6: Dangerous Mountain Rescue by Christy Barritt
Book 7: Wilderness Hunt by Lisa Phillips
Book 8: Alaskan Mountain Search by Sarah Varland
Book 9: Alaskan Avalanche Escape by Darlene L. Turner
Book 10: Tracking Stolen Treasures by Lisa Phillips
Book 11: Alaskan Wilderness Rescue by Sarah Varland
Book 12: Lethal Mountain Pursuit by Christy Barritt
Book 13: Tracking the Missing by Sami A. Abrams
Book 14: K-9 Alaskan Defense by Sarah Varland
Book 15: Searching for Justice by Connie Queen

Giver of Wonders ~ Review

Giver of Wonders

By Roseanna M. White

Giver of Wonder is an interesting read. It is a Christmas story, but not in the way most people think. Set in the early days of the Christian faith, when it was on the edge of persecution and acceptable, it follows the Visibullis family. The father is a firm non-believer, while his wife and three daughters are.

Although the Visibullis women are forbidden from worshipping with fellow believers, we are given a unique look into the lives of believers who gather in their own gathering—home worship, as many of the earliest believers did. 

The youngest daughter, Cyprus was given a gift of healing that changed her life and that of her sisters when Petros and Nikolaos came to her aid. Soon, Cyprus and her sisters began a friendship with the young men. With many ups and downs, Cyprus and her sisters grew up and faced even more significant challenges to their faith. The greatest challenge comes just as the celebration of Christ's birth arrives - only a miracle can save them.

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:

A miracle once saved her life ~ will another give her a future?

Cyprus was little more than a child when a fall left her paralyzed...and when the boy known as the wonder-worker healed her. Ever since, she has wondered why the Lord spared her, what he has in store for her. But her pagan father thinks she was spared solely so she could be introduced to the wealthy wonder-worker, Nikolaos.

Nikolaos has never questioned that his call in life is to dedicate himself to the church and to God. Never, that is, until he and his cousin Petros meet the compelling Cyprus Visibullis. For years he struggles with the feelings she inspires...and with the sure knowledge that Petros loves her too.

Petros knows he will never be good enough for Cyprus's father to consider him as a match for his favorite daughter not as long as Nikolaos is there. But when tragedy strikes the Visibullis family, he will do anything to save his beloved. Unfortunately, his beloved is determined to do anything to save her sisters ~ even at the cost of herself.

As the festival of lights bathes their Greek city in beauty, Cyprus, Petros, and Nikolaos celebrate the miracle of their Savior s birth together one last time. And in remembrance of their Lord's greatest gift, one of them will make the ultimate sacrifice for the others...and a centuries-long tradition will be born.

Rules of a Ruse ~ Review

Rules of a Ruse

Regency Christmas Brides

By Laura Beers

Great aunt Edith has decided it is time for her nephew Alden Dandridge to marry. And she dangles the proverbial carrot before him, a chance to own property. There is just a small problem, well, maybe two or four. He needs to marry for love, the horse farm is in Scotland, he needs to find a wife among the ladies living in the area of the farm, and he has to do all of this before Twelfth Night. 

Easy right? Not so much. Miss Elinor Sidney not only lives on this Scottish horse farm, she also manages it. If Alden fails to do his aunt's bidding she will inherit the farm that she loves. And when Alden asks for Elinor's help in finding a lady willing to be wed soon, she's more than willing to help him to not succeed.

But when hearts are on the line and Christmas is the season a chance at true love seems possible. But when a danger from Elinor's past makes an unexpected appearance, everything is upended. 

This is part of the Regency Christmas Brides series, which can be read as a standalone title. Love is has eluded several of her young family members and Edith is determined to help them all find true love before Christmas. What better way to accomplish such a goal than to offer them a heart's desire if they can find love? I love the idea that this older lady was concerned about her family not finding what she had-love. 

This book had moments of humor as Alden and Elinor both try to win the horse farm Overall this was a fun and sweet clean holiday read. 

I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.

About the Book:

Marriage was supposed to be the solution, 

but falling in love wasn’t part of the plan.

Mr. Alden Dandridge has received astonishing news: he is set to inherit a thriving horse farm in a quaint Scottish village. However, there's a formidable catch- he must be married by Twelfth Night. Undeterred, Alden journeys to Scotland, convinced that a marriage of convenience will solve all his problems.

Miss Elinor Sidney has been successfully running the horse farm for the past two years, and she has no intention of relinquishing it to Mr. Dandridge. Adding to the stakes, she learns that if Alden fails to secure a bride by Twelfth Night, the horse farm will legally belong to her. When Alden enlists her help in finding a suitable bride, Elinor agrees, though she has no true intention of aiding him.

As Alden spends more time with Elinor, he comes to realize that she is the perfect solution to his predicament. He just needs to persuade her to marry him. Yet, Elinor yearns for a marriage built on love, not convenience. When someone from Elinor's past reemerges, threatening her peace, Alden knows he must risk everything- including his heart- to protect her.

Love unfolds in unexpected ways in this light-hearted, clean, and wholesome holiday romance. 

Enjoy it as a stand-alone story or as the second book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

Other books in the Regency Christmas Brides series:

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connelly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker

Married by Twelfth Night ~ Review

Married by Twelfth Night

Regency Christmas Brides

By Anneka Walker

When he is promised the means to secure the future of his estate and that of his mother and sister, Richard Graham never thought fulfilling his great aunt's requirements for a bride would be so difficult. Worse, only one young lady seems to possess all the necessary qualifications. But to capture this perfect miss's heart, he'll need the help of her younger sister. Grace has none of the traits his aunt requires, but she captures his heart.

Married by Twelfth Night is a fun conclusion to the Regency Christmas Brides series. I love how Grace and Richard are convinced they are all wrong for the other. Weighing matters of the heart against his family's future is a big thing throughout this story.  

If you want a sweet Regency Christmas, read this new title from Anneka Walker. This is a no-spice, enemies-to-something-more read, and it wants to make its way to the top of your Christmas TBR list.

 

About the Book:

 Mr. Richard Graham will do anything to find a wife by Christmas, 

including calling in a favor from the one woman who despises him.

Richard Graham cannot believe his luck when his great-aunt promises him a fortune if he’s married by Twelfth Night. He can finally clear his father’s debts and save his beloved Belside Manor. Miss Ruth Steele meets all the marriageable requirements his aunt insisted upon, but he’ll need the help of her clever and beautiful sister, Grace, to win the quiet woman over. Not only is Grace a dear friend to his younger sister, with loyalties to his family estate, but she also happens to owe him a generous favor. If she can put aside her dislike for him, his Christmas miracle will be easily attainable by the looming deadline.

Grace Steele never planned to make a bargain with Richard Graham. She cares little for the overly charming man and his penchant for flirtation, and she has spent the last several years establishing this fact. But when Richard offers to scare away an unwanted suitor in exchange for her help, she relents. What harm can arise from a pretend courtship over the holidays? Besides his unsettling effect on her, it allows time for her impossibly shy sister to warm to Richard and sends a clear message to Mr. Dobson that she is unavailable. Once Ruth and Richard are married, she will be forever rid of the much-too-perfect Richard Graham.

And all by Twelfth Night. What could possibly go wrong?

*Love blooms in the least expected place in this witty, kisses only, holiday romance. 

Read as a stand-alone, or enjoy it as the last book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

Other books in the Regency Christmas Brides series:

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connelly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker

Yuletide Bride ~ Review

Yuletide Bride

Regency Christmas Brides

By Kasey Stockton

When Colin Birchall proposes marriage, no one is more surprised than Mercy Caldwell. She's been passed over by eligible men in favor of her younger sisters. But Colin needs a bride and to marry before Twelfth Night if he hopes to save his estate. 

Mercy hoped Colin might notice her, but it had been years since she had that dream. With her youngest sister soon to announce her engagement, Mercy gladly accepts this offer to not be the spinster sister helping her parents with their pastoral duties. 

Colin and Mercy might have a passing awareness of each other's identities, but nothing has prepared either for the compromises of personality and tradition they now face. Mercy believes in doing her fair share of the work, but Colin feels she should fill the role as his mother did. Can you see the problems brewing here? So when Great Aunt Edith pops in for a surprise visit to see if Colin has indeed married for love, disaster could be in their future if the estate does not crumble around them first.

This was an interesting read as Colin and Mercy navigate their marriage of convenience. Can two people who have such different backgrounds find love? They must both learn a couple of key elements, one of which is listening. This is the second book (in order of release) in the Regency Christmas Brides series and an enjoyable read if you want a break from the contemporary hubbub.

About the Book:

 When a marriage of convenience becomes inconveniently complicated...

Mercy Caldwell, the vicar’s eldest daughter, has watched her younger sisters march down the aisle while she remains resolutely on the shelf. When a chance at matrimony arrives mere hours after her youngest sister’s engagement, Mercy seizes the opportunity—and the man she’s secretly admired for years.

Colin Birchall’s grand estate is crumbling, and his aunt’s generous inheritance comes with one condition: he must be married by Twelfth Night. In Mercy, he finds the perfect candidate to meet his aunt’s exacting standards. It seems an ideal arrangement—until they’re forced to actually live together.

From differing views on marriage to clashing Christmas traditions, Mercy and Colin discover that convenience and compatibility are two very different things. But when Colin’s aunt arrives unannounced demanding proof of their love, they must convince her—and perhaps themselves—that their hastily forged union is more than just a festive facade.

Can Mercy and Colin turn their paper marriage into a love match before Twelfth Night? Or will their convenient arrangement crumble faster than Colin’s ancestral home?

Yuletide Bride is a heartwarming holiday romance that proves 

love often arrives in the most unexpected packages—no bow required.

Other books in the Regency Christmas Brides series:

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connelly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker

A Seasonal Pursuit ~ Review

A Seasonal Pursuit

Regency Christmas Brides #1

By Rebecca Connolly

Rose Portman and three of her cousins have been promised what they most desire. There is just one catch: they are all expected to find love and marry by Twelfth Night. A Seasonal Pursuit is the first book in the Regency Christmas Brides series written by four authors.

Rose wants nothing more than to avoid society and enjoy a quiet life in a cottage. With just such a promise dangling in front of her, Rose has no choice but to attend a holiday house party in York away from her family. But can she find someone willing to marry her from amongst the other guests? And more importantly, can she find someone with whom she can find love?

Webb Rixton's mother and sister are pressuring him to find a new wife. His children need a mother, and he needs companionship. Marriage is the last thing he wants to pursue, but he agrees to attend a local house party. 

Rose and Webb soon form a friendship and agree to help one another with the family pressures they are both facing.  Soon, they enjoy an unexpected friendship that could lead to something more. But love, never! Rose refuses to abandon her dream, and love would undoubtedly complicate everything. 

This was an enjoyable read, with all the good feelings of a family Christmas. I love series that are multi-author offerings, as they offer a fresh feel with each book. And I love Christmas reads. I highly recommend this book if you want a clean Regency holiday 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:

*Regency Christmas Brides: Four festive tales of romance.

'Twas the month before Christmas, and all through the house, 

four cousins have been told they all need a spouse...

Have yourself a married little Christmas…

Rose Portman, determined spinster, has a bit of a predicament. Her great-aunt has challenged her to get married before Twelfth Night and promised that, if she does, Rose will inherit the perfect country cottage with the funds to maintain it. Rose has always wanted to get away from London and Society, and this could be her chance! But the catch is that Rose has to attend a holiday house party in York and find a husband among the guests. Worst of all… she must marry for love.

Webb Rixton, Lord Downing, is attending a holiday house party hosted by his neighbor, but only because his mother and sister are making him. He knows his young children need a mother, but no one could possibly replace his late wife, so marriage and love are the last things on his mind. Still, he thinks he might have found a friend in the refreshingly frank Miss Portman, and a friend could be just what he needs to return to the land of the living. When she tells him of her situation, and her plot to thwart it, he is determined to help her, setting them both on a path of the most unexpected nature.

Will this season be particularly jolly for Rose and Webb? Or will the weather not be the only thing that is frightful?

*Decking the halls has never been quite so jolly in this sweet, snarky, swoonworthy holiday romance. Read as a stand-alone, or enjoy it as the last book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connolly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker

The Dancer and the Dragon Speaker ~ Now Available

The Dancer and the Dragon Speaker

The Intertwined Tales

By Laurie Lucking

I really enjoyed this book, which offered a unique twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Princess Emelia and her four sisters are threatened with the destruction of their kingdom, Oneska, unless they comply with Prince Leonnar of Tsantar's demands. They were to be available at his bidding to grace the court of Tsantar whenever he sent his dragons to "escort" them to his gatherings. The goal is to marry one of the princesses and gain access to Oneska's secrets. 

Emelia is stymied with little hope of thwarting the dragons until she tries to learn "Dragon Speech," which gets the attention of Merric, a new stable hand who has a way with horses. Merric has unique insights into dragons, which Emelia hopes will help. But first, she has to get past Merric's evasive wariness. 

Could dragons be as good as Merric says? Or are they the beasts of destruction that Prince Leonnar claims? Princess Emelia must choose who to believe, the future of Oneska depends on it.

This was an enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it for fans of fairytale retellings or those who like clean romance that won't make you blush or cringe. (Raise your hand if you agree!) I was thoroughly engaged and enjoyed this book in one day. I always consider a book a good read when it makes me want to read the author's other works and Laurie Lucking did that with The Dancer and the Dragon Speaker.

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:

Sisters trapped under threat of fire and destruction. 

Dragons enslaved by a power-hungry prince. 

A stable hand who must devise a plan to save them all.

Dragons circle the Oneskan palace at night, shrouding the kingdom in fear and mystery. Only Princess Emelia and her sisters know the fiends fly them to the enemy country of Tsantar under cover of darkness, where Prince Leonnar hopes to steal their secrets and gain control of Oneska. Their father’s proclamation that the man who drives away the hovering dragons will marry one of his daughters incites the princesses to redouble their efforts to escape Prince Leonnar’s tyranny.

When the enigmatic new stable hand, Merric, offers to help, Emelia finds him as frustrating as he is attractive. His superior knowledge of dragons gives her new hope, until he shatters her trust by showing more interest in protecting the vile creatures than getting rid of them. But only by finding a way to work with Merric—and with the dragons she detests—will Emelia have any chance of freeing herself, her sisters, and her kingdom from Tsantar’s clutches forever.

Retelling The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Language of the Birds

The Intertwined Tales is a multi-author series of clean fairytale retellings. Each novella entwines a famous fairytale with a lesser-known story to create one happily ever after. These standalone stories can be enjoyed in any order.

An Unexpected Journey ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

An Unexpected Journey by Ann Elizabeth Fryer, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

  An Unexpected Journey

  A Regency Hobbit Retelling

  By Ann Elizabeth Fryer

 The premise behind this story is intriguing The Hobbit combined with the Regency period. It is just that, sort of. It is indeed set in the Regency period of England and there are elements of The Hobbit but it is done in such a way that unless one was well acquainted with The Hobbit you could miss it.

  The need of a "thief" brings the Canfield family to the Grandview Estate, an estate slowly crumbling to disrepair. But also the home of Lady Laura Tamlow. Through a series of unfulfilled expectations Laura is unaware of the vital role she is expected to play in an attempt to retrieve the long stolen wealth of the Canfield and Tamlow families. Wealth lost due to scandalous events that began with Laura's grandfather's duplicitous actions more than 40 years ago. Thus the beginning of An Unexpected Journey. A journey filled with danger, intrigue, long-held secrets, and unexpected attraction. 

Sometimes God leads us to a place and changes 

our plans to enact His own plans.

I think the above quote from the book excellently describes and shares the heart of this story. The faith of the various characters is what keeps them continuing on in their journey, even in the face of doubts and unanticipated changes to the plan. But is it enough to see them through the danger and separations awaiting them? Can they stay the course? And what will the cost be to them if the succeed? If they fail debtor's prison, the workhouse, or a sentence to Australia is the best they can expect. A most unexpected reading experience is before you should you agree to go on it, but beware of the dragon, Lord Herrington who won't easily give up what and who he now claims as his!

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. 

This book was read through Kindle Unlimited.

About the Book

Title: An Unexpected Journey: A Regency Hobbit Retelling
Author: Ann Elizabeth Fryer
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: November 28, 2024
Genre: Regency Romance/Hobbit Retelling

A heritage neither of them desires, a wrong to right. A chance to end a family curse... 

When strangers tumble through the doors of once resplendent Grandview Estate, Lady Laura Tamlow is pulled into a rather unexpected journey, away from the village she's never left along with a gentleman unlike any she's ever known. 

Jonathan Canfield is out of options. And he'd do anything to restore his family fortunes in order to keep them from poverty, including roping Lady Tamlow into playing the part of thief. They must reclaim both his and her family jewels that were stolen the night of the fated Grand Masquerade of 1770, where both the Canfields and the Tamlows fell far from society's good graces. If only his thief weren't so lovely, he'd be able to focus on the mission without distraction. 

But there's a bigger problem at hand. The jewels reside at Lombard Park under the eye of Lord Herrington, a greedy dragon of a man who knows he's about to die. Yet he has bigger claims than they ever imagined and attempts to steal something far more valuable than family jewels. With deception afoot, will Jonathan ever see Lady Tamlow again? 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub  

**The author is offering free swag to the first 20 people who purchase a paperback/hardcover book. Proof of purchase required.**

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About the Author

 Ann Elizabeth Fryer loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay   the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palms of   His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she's lived in   historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard   archaeology. When she's not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels   show a flavor of her forever-passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and   three children make their home in small-town Illinois where they can hear church

 bells keep time and tradition.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a hardcover copy of An Unexpected Journey, a tote bag, swag, and a $10 Amazon gift card!

(1) additional winner will receive an ebook copy of An Unexpected Journey!

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 2, 2024, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 9, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

Lady Anna's Favor ~ Review

Lady Anna’s Favor

Proper Romance

By Karen Tuft

Lady Anna Clifton has lost her eldest brother and father in a relatively short period of time. The day of her father's death word reached that her brother Avery had been wounded and was missing. Times being what they are Avery is presumed dead and a distant entitled relative is about to named heir to the estate. Lady Anna refuses to allow what belongs to her brother to be destroyed by such a man.

Mr. James Jennings is planning to return to Paris when he is surprised to be accompanying Lady Anna on the Duke of Ayledham's yacht. Seeing Lady Anna's need in her search for her brother, James offers his assistance in language and protection in the war torn land. As James helps Anna he admires her determination in undertaking such a daunting task.

This was my first time reading Karen Tuft's work and I found it to be a delightful and enjoyable experience. I loved the bit of mystery as the search for Avery takes Anna out of her familiar and known world into something new and foreign to what she has ever experienced. Anna also managed to make James rethink his plans for the future, a future that up until now has been one of service to king and country. I now need to go back and read the previous books that were listed in the front of this book along with a really neat family tree for the characters. Highly recommended for fans of Regency romance and clean reading.

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:

London, England, 1814
Lady Anna Clifton will stop at nothing to find her missing brother—even if it means working alongside the dashingly handsome but sometimes infuriating Mr. Jennings, who just might steal her heart.

Lady Anna Clifton has arrived in London with a purpose known only to a few. Her soldier brother has been reported wounded and missing in France, and if he is dead, his title and their family’s estate will go to a horrible distant cousin, and Lady Anna will be homeless. Desperate to find her brother alive, she contacts old family friends, the Bledsoes, who vow to help her in any way they can. However, Lord Bledsoe’s efforts come up empty, except from the Duke of Aylesham, who offers his yacht to carry her to France when Anna decides she must look for her brother there herself.

James cannot board the Duke of Aylesham’s yacht to take him to France fast enough. After his sister’s rushed marriage to the duke himself, James wants nothing more than to enjoy a relaxing journey back to Paris before rejoining England’s diplomatic war efforts against Napoleon. When he boards the ship, he cannot deny his instant attraction to the strikingly beautiful young woman who will be joining him across the sea. But when he receives only a cold reception from her, James dismisses her outright—until he learns the tragic reason she has set out on such a perilous journey. As infuriating as Lady Anna’s brash behavior and indifference to him is, her search seems much too dangerous for a young lady of the ton to undertake alone, so James reluctantly offers to assist her in her quest.

Together, they embark on a search that will take them across the sea and through France to uncover the truth all while trying to reconcile their differences and the preconceived notions they have about each other. With every step, they come closer to solving the mystery surrounding Lady Anna’s brother’s disappearance—but each step also pushes their hearts closer together.

Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. ~ Review

Write Fearless. 

     Edit Smart. 

         Get Published. 

            A Master Class for Fiction Writers 

By Lisa Mangum

This is the book you'll want on your desk as a go to if you have questions about some of the basics of writing. I enjoyed getting some background on the author's past and qualifications on this topic. 

No one writer has the same weaknesses or strengths and this one addresses so many situations that we face. I loved how there are examples showing not just telling me the rules of puncuation. As everyone knows commas can be especially pesky depending on how they are used. Though this for fiction writers I don't think it needs be limited, but would be a handy guide to anyone who writes in any manner.

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:

Wherever you are in your author’s journey, this book is like teaming up with a personal writing coach who has more than a quarter of a century of editorial and publishing advice.

Thousands of writers—from first-time authors to #1 New York Times best-selling authors—have learned from Lisa Mangum’s masterful literary advice and inspiration. Now she’s collected the best of her writing and editing tips in this helpful book that covers the entire writing and querying process, from nurturing a story idea all the way to submitting a polished manuscript.

In the first half of the book, Lisa guides readers through the various steps of the writing process, including starting the story in the right place, developing characters with high-stake goals, mapping character relationships for increased conflict, and introducing tension and plot twists. She also shares tips and tricks for nailing a satisfying ending as well as helping authors discover their own unique voice that can help them break through writer’s block.

With her decades of experience, Lisa then takes writers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the many levels of editing, including a handy flowchart that unravels the mystery of where the commas go in a sentence.

Finally, she helps writers prepare to “get published” by deconstructing what makes a query letter catch an editor’s eye and how to answer the all-important question: “What’s your book about?”

Packed with Lisa’s own personal stories of encouragement and inspiration, Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is a literary adventure that’s as fun as it is informative.

The Art of Us ~ Review

The Art of Us 

By Julie Wright

This book is timely as more people find themselves homeless. It is told from the perspective of a high school student who has lost her mom and been abandoned by her father. 

Ireland Raine seems to have it all. At least, she's doing a really good job of hiding just how bad her life has become. She sleeps in a sleeping bag by night in a freezing, out-of-the-way public bathroom (little more than an outhouse). Her clothes, well washing is not possible. And food? She gets a meal at school. She just needs to hold on for a little longer to avoid foster care. When she turns 18, everything will be different; she won't have to hide anymore. She can get a job, get into college, and live the rest of her life.

That is until everything falls in on her. But before it does, she makes friends with her crush, Kal Ellis. Things seem great until the truth of her situation becomes known. But should some secrets be kept secret? Or is it better to reveal the truth, though it is initially hurtful? This choice is more fully fleshed out and has a more significant impact on readers. What is the correct answer? What would you choose?

This sensitively written book allows tweens and teens to glimpse the harsh realities of life for those without a home. I appreciate its educational qualities. I feel this is a book that schools and public libraries should have on their shelves. 

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.

*Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection*

About the Book:

Falling in love is complicated when you’re both keeping secrets.

On the surface, everything seems perfect for high school senior Ireland Raine. She’s intelligent and artistically talented, and her natural beauty and quiet charm are enviable. However, Ireland harbors a secret she’ll guard at any cost—she’s homeless.

When her crush, Kal Ellis, invites her on a date, she seizes the opportunity. Ireland has never had a boyfriend before, and Kal is not just a guitarist for the local band, he’s also an artist. Their connection is instantaneous, and he suggests they collaborate on the school mural. Working and laughing alongside Kal, Ireland can momentarily forget her problems.

However, when someone exposes her secret, Ireland ends up in a foster home alongside her most despised adversary, Mara Washington. To make matters worse, Ireland discovers it was Kal who revealed her secret.

Furious, Ireland must decide if she has the strength to forgive the boy who stole her heart or if she is better off alone.

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A Lady Most Alluring ~ Now Available

A Lady Most Alluring

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Amy Newbold

A delightful Regency twist on Cinderella that does not have a cruel stepmother or evil stepsisters. A Lady Most Alluring finds Cecilia Barnet, her older sister Miriam, and her mother leaving London behind. Following the death of her father, the family has to remove to the country and is tenants of the Colbourne family.

This book reminded me of Lizzie and Jane's closeness in Pride and Prejudice and Marianne and Elinor's in Sense and Sensibility. 

Cecilia is trying to live below the notice of others. Before her father's death, she was linked to a scandal through no fault of her own. Since then, she has been attempting to distance herself from any hint of anything being improper. So when she attracts Benedict Lockhart's attention, she is no more surprised than anyone about this turn of events. Her sister Miriam is supposed to garner attention and raise the family's standing to what it once was. 

Even more disturbing, Cecilia finds herself drawn to the gentleman, who is trying to avoid any and all romantic entanglements to the point of societal rudeness! 

This sweet story is appropriate for tweens, teens, and those who want clean, no- or low-spice 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 Books:

A scandal. 

A wager. 

A masquerade ball.

Cecilia Barnet flees London and a scandal for a fresh start in the countryside. Desperate to keep a low profile, her sole focus is finding a match for her sister, Miriam.

As Benedict Lockhart arrives with his mother at their country estate, he is determined to avoid romantic entanglements. He makes a wager with his friend that he can rebuff the attentions of the rural ladies.

When Cecilia and Benedict meet, it’s dislike at first sight. But within the small country social circles, they are repeatedly thrust together. An undeniable attraction sparks between them, and Cecilia fears rejection if Benedict learns of her past. As she strives to protect her secret from him, Benedict fights his growing feelings for her. He clings to his wager and plans to return to London unattached.

If Cecilia can't find the courage to be truthful, it will cost her a chance at unparalleled happiness. And if Benedict can't set aside his pride, he will lose the only woman who's ever spoken to his heart.

This charming Regency romance novella is inspired by Cinderella.

This series reimagines classic Grimm Brother tales as Regency romances. Sit back, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy these stories of sweet romance and loveable characters.

A Grimm Regency Tale series

• A Lady Most Engaged by Audrey Glenn
• A Lady Most Fitting by Sienna Peake
• A Lady Most Untamed by Amanda Panhorst
• A Lady Most Intrigued by Jenni Ward
• A Lady Most Entangled by Mary-Celeste Ricks
• A Lady Most Isolated by Heloise C. Kensington
• A Lady Most Alluring by Amy Newbold