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

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.

Across the Ages ~ Review

 Today, I am thrilled to feature Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer, the fourth book in the Timeless series.

One woman. Two separate lifetimes. A life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

This series has an intriguing premise: there are people among us who live in a second time period. Going to sleep finds you living your second life. You don't dream; you live.                                

In Across the Ages, Caroline dwells in 1727 and 1927. In both, she seeks answers about the "curse" she was born with. Could the answers she seeks come from the mother who abandoned her as a baby?

When a series uses a unique split-time scenario, such as this one, one would think it would become stale, but each time, it comes across as fresh and new. And with pirates in one timeline and gangsters in another, it is not boring.        

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. 

---

Purchase at: 

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/across-the-ages/422230
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209357000-across-the-ages (or another link with purchase info 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Series: Timeless #4
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Time-Travel Romance Fiction

Caroline holds a deep secret. Living in 1727 and 1927 simultaneously, each night she goes to sleep in one life and wakes up in the other. In search of answers to her unique existence, Caroline stumbles upon a letter from her mother hinting at her own experiences as a time-crosser, sending Caroline on a daring quest to uncover the truth. In 1727, Caroline disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins a ship sailing for the Bahamas, her mother’s last known location, where she crosses paths with a ruthless but handsome pirate and is caught in a web of secrets, deception, and unexpected alliances.

In 1927 St. Paul, Minnesota, Caroline grapples with her other life as the daughter of a renowned preacher. Her two older brothers have fallen prey to the corruption rampant during Prohibition, and Caroline struggles to keep their involvement hidden to save her father’s career. As her search for answers about her time-crossing leads her to the dangerous yet exciting world of speakeasies, Caroline enlists the help of a childhood friend who is now a police officer. But with her family’s future at risk and their loyalties tested, Caroline faces a life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

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A Trick of Fate ~ Review

A Trick of Fate

Agents of the Convent #4

By Rebecca Connolly

Lucy Allred is returning home for the holidays. This is her first visit to her father's home since he retrenched. The carriage takes her into an area of London Lucy is unfamiliar with. Her father has sunk lower than she imagined if the condition of the streets were to indicate the society they would be keeping. When she is suddenly left adrift on the streets of London at night, she finds herself in a precarious situation. 

Trick (aka Hunter Mortimer) never expected to rescue a young woman while waiting for a meeting with a fellow operative. Clearly a lady of refinement, Lucy is ill-suited for the streets of London's underbelly. Trick has no choice but to be her protector until her father can be found.

Lucy is introduced to a whole new world, one not so far away from the one she has spent most of her life in. A world filled with danger, false names, and independently thinking women. Lucy has never seen herself and the life she had lived quite so clearly. How can she return to it if and when her father's new lodgings are located.

This is the fourth book in the Agents of the Convent series, but it can be read as a standalone title. The reader would truly experience Lucy's situation without any foreknowledge of previous cases. That being said, reading the previous books is recommended just to enjoy it. 

For those who want to know about the content, there are scenes with kissing, kidnapping attempts, suggestions of violence, some mild language, and drinking, all of which are to be expected given the setting and storyline. None of which would make my grandma blush or burn the book. (Yes, she did burn books she felt were garbage and unfit to be read ever again)

I was provided an ARC of the book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

If secrets lead a fool to love...

Hunter Mortimer, known in the operative world as Trick, is only doing his duty when he steps in to save a young woman in the streets of London. Thinking she is a fellow spy, what else could he do? But when the victim proves to be just an ordinary young woman in dire straits, everything in his world grows more complicated. To add to that complication, she is beautiful and fiery and makes him smile far too easily.

Lucy Allred did not intend to be a problem for the man who saved her but being lost in London left her helpless. When her father's new lodgings prove difficult for Trick to find, she must remain in his care and company for her safety. The more time she spends with him, the more her eyes open to a world that she had never imagined. And her heart opens to all new possibilities. 

Across the Star-Kissed Sea ~ Review

Across the Star-Kissed Sea

(Proper Romance ~ Regency)

By Arlem Hawks

This book is a sequel/companion to Georgana's Secret. But if you haven't read it, that is not a problem, as this book is told from the perspectives of May Byam and Elias Doswell, who were not in the previous book. That being said, this was another lovely Regency read with a naval theme. 

May Byam needs a job, and respectable employment for ladies is difficult to come by. She makes haste to apply when she sees an advertisement for a lady's maid/companion on a naval ship. There is a wee misunderstanding of her purpose for boarding the ship. This misunderstanding results in a less-than-favorable first impression of Elias Doswell, who happens to be the ship chaplain.

Life in the navy is not Elias Doswell's ideal, but he is fleeing a broken heart—not his first. When some off-hand remarks are made, Elias fears for May and her need for any employment available. His embarrassment could not be any worse, and now he's made an enemy out of the young lady the captain's wife just hired.

May hopes to fulfill her late cousin's dream of serving, though she will never be the seafarer he or her uncle was. However, when she learns who her employer is, she begins to regret her decision, but she's given her word and refuses to break it. Her knowledge has prepared her, but her experience is all from the stories she was told, not firsthand.

This was an excellent read set in the Regency era. It is a book of new beginnings, second chances, and facing fears, all within the confines of a ship. The path before May and Elias is uncertain, much like the sea they sail. With the threat of sea battles with the French, danger draws ever closer. But the greatest danger may be to their hearts if they can't get beyond their pasts.

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 May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure 

but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love.

The Gentleman's Confession ~ Review

The Gentleman's Confession

Matchmaking Mamas #3

By Anneka R. Walker

Jemma Fielding never planned to marry but her deathbed promise to her grandmother changed everything. Now she needs help from the Matchmaking Mamas Society and her best friend Miles Jackson. She needs the Mamas to find her perfect match. And Miles to help her understand love and learn how to make a man fall in love with her.

Miles would do anything for Jemma, but when she asks him to give her lessons on how to understand love, he balks. He's always loved Jemma and the thought of helping her find love with another man is torture. Miles knows that he is not worthy of Jemma or her love, but the promise of an hour with Jemma is just too tempting. 

Everyone has assumed for years that Miles would marry Lisette (Jemma's cousin). Just because he rescued her years ago when they were children. But Miles has always viewed Lisette as a sister and a friend. If only everyone else could quit with the expectations. Even worse is all the unattached ladies of the neighborhood who think he is in want and need of a wife. It is almost enough to make a gentleman run away. 

This is the third book in the Matchmaking Mamas series and this time the Matchmakers have made a doozy of a choice. A gentleman new to the area is there match for Jemma. Some of the situations Miles and Jemma find themselves in are just too much. Jemma's first meeting with Mr. Bentley had disaster written all over it. But some creative awkwardness kept it from becoming a wardrobe malfunction scandal. 

A promise made must be kept. But marrying for love seems more than achievable in Jemma's opinion. If she can find someone she can like surely that is a good place to start. And the Matchmaking Mamas have never been wrong before. But could the Mamas skills gone wrong this time?

There are a few humorous events that keep this book from becoming weighed down with the whole helping the woman you are in love with find love with someone else thing.  Miles is determined to be selfless in regards to Jemma but it grows harder as he is expected to help her. Jemma is more than clueless in how her very good friend treats her compared to his treatment of her cousin. One feels like giving Jemma a good shake to make her open her eyes to what is going on around her. And the rest of the Rebels other than Ian seem just as clueless. 

This was a fun read, even if I felt Miles and Jemma had made everything so much more complicated than it needed to be. But societal expectations, loss, promises, and broken dreams have a way of getting in the way of even perfect insight, so I'll give them both a pass. This book can be read as a standalone title and fully enjoyed without having read the first two books. I have no qualms about recommending this book to ages 13 and up. 

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.

Available to purchase at https://shadowmountain.com/product/the-gentlemans-confession/

About the Book:

Inexperienced in courtship and love, Jemma turns to her best friend, Miles, for guidance on how to win a man’s heart—not knowing that Miles has secretly loved her for years.  

Brookeside, England, 1822 

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Despite his selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

Of Gold and Shadows ~ Release Day

It's Release Day

for Michelle Griep's

Of Gold and Shadows 

 

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford's most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor's determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin--rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk--surfaces, and they're left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .

AUTHOR BIO

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is a Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She's an Anglophile at heart, and you'll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it's probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com.

 

So True a Love ~ Review

So True a Love

By Joanna Barker 

There is nothing better than a mystery and when it is a historical mystery too all the better. Verity Travers can't help herself, not when she witnesses a crime right in front of her. But the mugger didn't know who he was attacking when he struck. The violence made her forget herself and pursue the man But when she unexpectedly gets in the path of a man connected with the Bow Street Runners she literally loses her suspect.   

But soon there are other matters that force Verify and Nathaniel Denning to work together to catch a thief and protect their hearts. Yeah , that is so not happening. But they can try. 

So True A Love is much more than a Historical Romance, it is a story of a parent's love for a child and what they are willing to do protect their child. It is a discovery of learning ones own heart and learning that sometimes asking for help is a sign of strength. 

This was an engaging read. There are so many layers of secrets throughout that one is shifting through to get to the truth of just what is going on. Romance and mysteries make this a must read! 

 

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

About the Book:

Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society —and the last woman one would suspect of working as a private investigator. But after one case nearly costs her everything, she makes the hard decision to hang up her hat and live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of a harrowing armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. While she appreciates his keen mind and quick wit on a case, his interference is muddling her progress—and her heart. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as she constantly bumps into Nathaniel, who is determined to keep her out of danger.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

The Cloverton Charade ~ Review

The Cloverton Charade

The Houses of Yorkshire #3

By Sarah E. Ladd

Olivia Brannon lives in the world of antiques. Her father stoked her interest in rare and unique pieces and promised her the chance to see the world. But since his death the family business has been in her uncle's less than capable hands.

When Olivia and the son of her father's former business partner are invited to the same house party a family/business feud is revived. Both are appraising parts of the Cloverton Estates vast holdings. But when some concerns arise Olivia and Lucas Avery must work together to determine what is going on. 

The Cloverton Charade is a delightful read. Deception and intrigue abound at this Regency House Party. Oh what a web has entrapped those who now call the Cloverton Hall home. There are twists that will keep you wondering just what is going on behind the elegant facade of genteel civility. 

Sarah Ladd can weave a story that will capture and hold your attention from cover to cover. Her stories never disappoint. This book is part of The Houses of Yorkshire series but it can easily be read as a standalone title. The book is a clean read in the romance department, a must in my opinion.

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 long-held family feud reignites when two rival antiquities brokers arrive at the same house party in Regency England.

Olivia Brannon knows her goals are unconventional. As a young woman in Regency England, her best bet—according to society—is to marry well and secure a steady future for herself. But Olivia has never been interested in convention. She’d prefer to follow in her deceased father’s footsteps and journey to foreign lands in search of rare and valuable antiquities.

Eager to make a name for herself in the antiquities world, Olivia jumps at an invitation to join a wealthy widow at the famed Cloverton Hall to evaluate her private antiquities collection. Secrecy of the task is vital, and in order to conceal her efforts Olivia must pretend to be a house party guest to avoid suspicion and to explain her presence.

Lucas Avery, whose father was a rival of Olivia’s father, has also arrived at the Cloverton Hall house party, hired by the new master of Cloverton Hall—the widow’s nephew—to appraise the renowned Cloverton Hall collection. When Lucas discovers Olivia masquerading as a party guest while covertly conducting her own assessment, he’s keen to renew the family rivalry. But as their paths frequently cross, he’s unprepared for the effect the refreshingly honest—and beautiful—Olivia has on him.

Yet all is not as it seems. Both Olivia and Lucas are shocked by the astonishing discovery of counterfeit pieces, and when the unexpected occurs, everyone is a suspect . . . and Olivia and Lucas both must choose whom they will trust. Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.

• Sweet Regency romance set in the same time period as Bridgerton
• Part of the Houses of Yorkshire series but can be read as a stand-alone novel
• Book length: 83,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the Book:

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who has always loved the Regency period—the clothes, the music, the literature, and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period, and she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has released several novels set during the Regency era. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. She lives in Indiana with her family. 

Visit Sarah online at SarahLadd.com

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So True A Love ~ Now Available

 Joanna Barker's So True A Love is now available!

Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society —and the last woman one would suspect of working as a private investigator. But after one case nearly costs her everything, she makes the hard decision to hang up her hat and live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of a harrowing armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. While she appreciates his keen mind and quick wit on a case, his interference is muddling her progress—and her heart. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as she constantly bumps into Nathaniel, who is determined to keep her out of danger.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

A Lady Most Engaged ~ Review

A Lady Most Engaged:
A Grimm Regency Romance
By Audrey Glenn

This was a delightful read. Thanks to a series of misunderstandings, the two main characters find themselves engaged to perfect strangers. 

Bram, Lord Rosedale, has had his presence at a house party demanded by his mother. FYI, Lady Rosedale is a tyrannical monster in the personality department. Said house party has been arranged so Lady Rosedale can have a say in who her son marries. Bram's need to marry soon has just become realized. If he hopes to inherit, he has to do so within three months. Surprise!

Harriet Thornhill, is at the house party only because she is accompanying her cousin. But when she accidentally finds herself in an innocent accident with Lord Rosedale, propriety demands that they marry. If Harriet doesn't agree to marry, her cousin and younger sisters will be tainted by her shame. Note to self: only try to awaken a sleeping person if you have witnesses to the event.

I loved the subtle nod to Sleeping Beauty in this story: the roses, the spindle, the cottage. This is a truly unique and enjoyable Regency romance. And if for no other reason than the cover, you should pick up this book. I loved Harriet's character; she could not be forced into anything until she could weigh the effects of her choices. And I absolutely loved Harriet, and it was evident that she was the person one would want in their corner. Perfect for Bram if he could get rid of the overbearing mother. Lady Rosedale makes Lady Catherine de Bergh look like a saint!

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:

Sometimes it takes more than a kiss to wake a sleeping heart...

Harriet Thornhill prides herself on propriety and sense of duty. The last thing she ever expected was to find herself at a house party in a compromising position with the Earl of Rosedale. Now engaged to a man she barely knows, Harriet must navigate a precarious balance between duty and her own happiness.

Lord Rosedale has spent years avoiding his domineering mother. In his absence, she’s run his estate precariously close to ruin. But when circumstances force Bram into an engagement with the spirited Harriet, he begins to see the world—and himself—in a new light.

As Harriet and Bram's reluctant alliance blossoms into something more, they must contend with the schemes of his manipulative mother and the neglect that threatens the estate and its tenants. Can Harriet learn to put her own happiness first without hurting those she loves? And can her determined spirit awaken Bram’s courage to defy his mother, or will the curse of least resistance doom them both?

This sweet Regency romance presents a gender-swapped reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. It's an enchanting story of love, self-discovery, and the courage to fight for one's own happily ever after that will make your heart flutter without venturing into steamy territory. At around 40,000 words, it's the Goldilocks of books - not too long, not too short, but just right for a fun and immersive read!

The Winged Tiara ~ Review

The Winged Tiara

By J'Nell Ciesielski

Esme Fox never meant to get married. Her mother warned her over the years that it was to be avoided; men couldn't be trusted. Yet she somehow finds herself married to a stranger and regretting it mere hours later. To save herself from the heartbreak she knows is coming, she slips away leaving her husband with only her wedding band as a remembrance of what might have been.

Jasper Truitt has never stopped looking for his wife. Four years have passed with no sign of Esme until the night he gets a lead on the highly sought-after Valkyrie tiara—a tiara both he and Esme are determined to procure for interested parties. But they are not alone in their pursuit, and some are willing to kill to get what they desire. 

The Winged Tiara takes place following the First World War. Those who survived are grateful for their lives, but there is also a shocking amount of excess and decadence. Esme and Jasper have both only wanted to find someplace where they belonged. Being a thief is a skill that has developed over the years. (Surprise, dear, you married someone with sticky fingers.) 

In this game of cat-and-mouse, Esme and Jasper are offered a chance to get to know one another and maybe a future together. At least Jasper has to try.

The Winged Tiara is an entertaining read and perfect for fans of Historical Fiction. There is plenty of witty dialogue as Esme and Jasper spar over their less-than-noble endeavors. Although published by Thomas Nelson, there are no moments that make one think that this book is Christian. This book is entertaining and well-written, with moments of hope, but faith is lacking, which, considering the world portrayed, is not surprising. This title would be an excellent choice for a book club selection. For those who enjoy audio on their commutes, the reading by Ann Marie Gideon is well presented.

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.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Diamonds and danger dazzle in Ciesielski's latest enchanting romp through post-war Europe as estranged spouses and jewel thieves hunt an elusive Valkyrie tiara.

November 12, 1918. It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up, and Esme Fox awakens the morning after celebrating the end of the Great War to find herself shockingly and accidentally married. She gathers her belongings and slips out before her new husband can stop her. After all, she knows it's best to leave before he does.

Four years later, Jasper Truitt, after having made a name for himself in the underground world of jewel thieves, is on the hunt for a valuable heirloom: a one-of-a-kind winged tiara--the last Valkyrie tiara ever created. So it's with great surprise that he discovers it at a charity event atop the head of a woman he's never forgotten. His long-lost wife . . . who happens to be pursuing the tiara for a vengeful opera diva desperate to obtain the jewel for herself.

The reunion is cut short when Esme vanishes--again--but their separation is temporary. With a hitman on their heels and a deadline looming, the pair find themselves in an epic game of cat and mouse across Europe following leads from the French Riviera to a shop of wonders in Venice, a fairy-tale castle in Bavaria, and a veritable circus thrown by a champagne heiress, all before a dramatic horseback flight through the French countryside.

In the end only one can win, and with both of their hearts on the line, the winner may well turn out to be the loser.

In her latest glamorous historical romance, J'nell Ciesielski spins a sparkling story filled with her signature snappy dialogue and vivid atmosphere that will keep you reading late into the night to see what happens next.

AUTHOR BIO

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.

Release Day for Saved By the Matchmaker

Today is the Release Day for

Jody Hedlund's

Saved By the Matchmaker

 

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

After her annulment is finalized, Enya Shanahan finds herself caught in a web of scandal and obligation while carrying a secret that threatens to shatter her family's reputation. Determined to find a suitable marriage for Enya, her father turns to a wily matchmaker to save them from their circumstances.

Sullivan O'Brien, a steamboat captain committed to aiding enslaved people on their path to freedom, is faced with an ultimatum from his father. Forced to marry or lose his livelihood, a marriage of convenience seems to be the only solution. As he and Enya face the trials of their pasts and a city consumed by fire, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust in love, even when darkness threatens to engulf them.

AUTHOR BIO

Jody Hedlund (JodyHedlund.com) is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels and is the winner of numerous awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle.

A Kingdom to Claim ~ Review

A Kingdom to Claim
By Sian Ann Bessey

I'll admit it: I love Historical Fiction. I love getting glimpses of what was. A Kingdom to Claim was a wonderful blend of fact and fiction that was entertaining. This book presented information that I had previously read, but it was wrapped up in shiny new packaging that made it new and fresh.

I loved getting to know Aisley, a young woman determined to keep her home and her people free of Viking rule. She's not about to let her father's death be for naught. No, she'll do what is needed to fight for the land and people she loves. And she'll do it with the help of a man she knows to be loyal to King Alfred, even if it means standing against her own brother.

I enjoyed this book. It was fresh and new, though the basics of the story itself are old. The presentation was attention-holding and not just a stale retelling of the historical details. The author has a way with words so that you care about the outcome (though if you remember your English history, you already know what happened). I love when history comes alive and becomes relevant as one works through the book. I would recommend it to those who enjoy early English history, and if you are a high schooler in need of a suggestion for a historical fiction read, here you go!

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:

Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack.
Now, working alongside the one man she trusts,
she is ready to fight for her people—and for love.

Wessex, AD 878

Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.

It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the king’s newest warrior.

Treason Trail ~ Spotlight with Excerpt

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Treason Trail by Kit Hawthorne,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Treason Trail
Series: Cape Fear Legacy #3
Author: Kit Hawthorne
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Genre: Sweet Historical Romance

A mysterious stranger holds the key to the fate of the nation. 

In the final days of the American Revolutionary War, Nessa Shaw tends to the sick and wounded at the Continental Army camp in Charlestown, South Carolina. When she stumbles upon a man lying unconscious on a forest trail, she quickly realizes he is unlike any patient she has ever encountered. With no memory of his past, his only clues to his identity are his first name—August—and the certainty that he is a Patriot. Against her better judgment, Nessa grows closer to August, trusting him with secrets that could cost her dearly. But when she discovers a deadly plot that could change the course of the war, Nessa must question everything she thought she knew about August and his true allegiances.

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

Excerpt

Her eyes filled with fresh tears. “What if the war isn’t ending at all? What if the British have been stalling for time for their conspiracy? Can they truly mean to go on fighting? Both sides are exhausted—at least, our side is, and their side appears to be, but maybe that’s part of their plan, to make us think that, when in fact they’re just gathering their strength to strike again.”

She was gripping his hands with both of hers. “I can’t do it anymore, August. I can’t keep changing sheets in the hospital and spoon-feeding broth to men who are never going to get better. I want to leave this dirty, overcrowded camp forever, and go home to my family, and breathe the clean air. I can hardly remember what peace is like. It seems to belong to some mythical past. I want to get up in the morning and make a good breakfast, eggs and porridge and milk, and real coffee, and not a scrap of salt pork in sight. I want to buy dress goods, and make new gowns, and not mend the same shirts over and over until there’s nothing left of them but patches. I want to plant a garden without wondering if British raiders will come and destroy it. I want to see cattle and horses grazing in green pastures, with plenty of flesh covering their bones. I want to lie down at night in a soft bed with a real roof over my head, and hear the wind in the pine trees, and not be afraid.”

He put his arm around her again and drew her to him. She clung to him and wept. He wished he had words of comfort to offer, but what could he say? That everything would turn out all right in the end? That he wouldn’t let anything hurt her? He hadn’t even managed to discover something as simple as his own identity. Nay, he would not insult her with empty promises. Action, not speech, was what was needed.

More Books in This Series

 

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About the Author

A lifelong resident of the American South, Kit Hawthorne makes her home on a Texas farm that has been in her husband’s family for seven generations. She spent many years singing, composing, and playing Irish pennywhistle in a Celtic folk band. All those ballads and boat songs awakened in her a love for a Scottish heritage that spans both sides of the Atlantic. She’s an avid reader, especially of history, biography, mystery, theology, and romance, and enjoys logging her reads (and plotting her life) in her Bullet Journal. She also enjoys drawing, sewing, quilting, knitting, and restoring old furniture to beauty and usefulness.

Connect with Kit at kithawthorne.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each win print copies of all 3 books in the Cape Fear Legacy series!

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 2, 2024, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 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 the prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The 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!