Pearl and the Baker ~ Review

Pearl and the Baker

Once in a Wood #1

By Sienna Peake

 

What's a young woman to do when she overhears her step-mother plotting against her and her young brother? Why run away into the woods, of course. Pearl Hartley refuses to allow her young brother to be sent away to the worst boarding school in the land. And she refuses to be sent into service to support her step-mother's excessive lifestyle. With her father slipping deeper into his detached existence, Pearl has no choice but to leave. Henry's life depends on it.

 

But slipping away in the night does not solve all their problems. Pearl needs to seek work and shelter so that she can keep Henry and herself safely hidden away from her step-mother. An unfortunate mishap finds Pearl and Henry seeking shelter with Rowan Barrington and his aunt. Pearl being Pearl refuses to accept their aid without working in someway to not be an unexpected burden. Can this hidden cottage in the woods provide the safety Pearl and Henry seek, at least until they can again set out on their own?  

Pearl and the Baker is a sweet retelling of Hansel and Gretel that most definitely has a Regency feel to it. This story would be appropriate for readers 12 and up in my opinion. This is a clean read that has all the main elements of the classic fairy tale while presenting them in a unique and original way.

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 girl. A baker. A cottage in the woods.

Pearl Hartley is determined to protect her brother from being sent away, even if that means fleeing into the forest by night.

Rowan Barrington wants nothing more than to work peacefully as a baker deep in the woods, forgetting his painful past.

When an accident leads Pearl to Rowan's doorstep, will they discover they no longer have to struggle alone?

Pearl and the Baker is a sweet, clean Regency romance inspired by the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. It is the first book in the Regency fairy tale retellings series Once in a Wood.


Once in a Wood series--Where fairy tale forests meet Regency romance

Pearl and the Baker - inspired by Hansel & Gretel

Rosalyn and the Wolf - inspired by Little Red Riding Hood

Guinevere and the Three Brothers - inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Hannah and the Nightingale - inspired by The Nightingale

 

 

 

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

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.

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

A Lady Most Isolated ~ Review

A Lady Most Isolated

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Heloise C. Kensington

Arabella's has been hidden away from everyone and everything. Her guardian has kept her very existence a secret from all but her most trusted servants. Years have passed with little hope for friendship or marriage. That is until Charles Fairfax is sent to the family's estate in Dorsetshire at his uncle's request. 

Charles never expected to find a young lady hidden away. When he sent back to address a neglect an unusual friendship is formed. A friendship forbidden considering Arabella's seclusion, yet one that is needed by both.

I love this meshing of fairytales with Regency settings. It is a fresh and totally unique story that captivates one's attention. I have no qualms about recommending this book to teen and adult readers.

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 tower by the sea.

An unexpected attachment.

A lie capable of devastating the future.

Hidden away by her guardian, Arabella Stewart longs for the chance to experience society and dreams of finding friendship. When company arrives, being forced to live in a tower destroys her prospects.

Sent to an estate on the Dorsetshire coast at his uncle’s behest, Charles Fairfax is relieved to avoid London’s matrimonial traps. When he discovers a maiden in a tower, he begins to reconsider his reluctance to marry.

When a forbidden friendship between them grows into more, will they be able to free themselves from the constraints that bind them? Or will disapproval and deceit confine their hopes?

A Lady Most Entangled ~ Review

A Lady Most Entangled

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Mary-Celeste Ricks

Rupert Stilson is incognito, working in his family's mill to learn the ins-and-outs of how it works. His boss, Mr. Chernock is a hard-hearted, nasty individual and Rupert is looking forward to the day when he can replace him and improve conditions for those working there.

Charlotte Dawson has been working to keep her father from trouble. But when her father makes a deal to get out of debt Charlotte is the loser no matter how it turns out. She will be married to a man she's never met before, a man willing to take advantage of a man in a vulnerable condition. 

Can Rupert Stilson stop her unwanted marriage to Mr. Chernock? And what of the rumors that some young ladies are spreading about Mr. Stilson? Could he be the true villain in this tale? 

I really liked Rupert, his character is a true gentleman and kindness itself. I loved how this story retold Rumpelstiltskin in such a unique and delightful way. I loved how instead of spinning gold the task was to spin fabric - perfect for a Regency setting involving mills. This was a cute 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:

What if the knight in shining armor wielded a loom instead of a sword?

Rupert Stilson can never resist a damsel in distress. When Charlotte Dawson becomes entangled in a plot to rob her father of his daughter and his estate in one fell swoop, Rupert rushes in with flax and loom to save the day. But the danger is hardly over once the wager is won. If Rupert cannot trust Charlotte with the secret of his real identity, her family will never truly be safe.

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

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.

Murder in Highbury ~ Review

Murder in Highbury

A Emma Knightly Mystery#1

By Vanessa Kelly

Emma Woodhouse is no more, rather she is Emma Knightley, newly married, and enjoying life in Highbury. But in an instant everything is disrupted when she and Harriet (Smith) Martin find a body in the church. If finding a body wasn't shocking enough the identity is even more so, Mrs. Elton is dead! And Emma is convinced she was murdered even before anyone else has been summoned or the inquest is held. Highbury's idealic charm is shattered with fears that a murderer is now in their midst.  

Fearing that justice won't find the true killer, Emma flaunts expectations and takes it upon herself to find the killer. With the skills she formerly employed as a matchmaker she turns to sluething. 

Murder in Highbury is the next chapter in the life of Emma Woodhouse and all the characters who called Highbury home. This was a fun read mostly, excepting for Mrs, Elton. There is a familiarity with the characters. The writing makes this feel like this the next logical step in the lives of the people one got to know while enjoying Jame Austen's original work Emma. An enjoyable read for fans of Jane Ausen or Regency who-dunits. This easily a potential reread, in my opinion. I look forward to the second book in this series.

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:

First in a captivating new series, Jane Austen’s Emma Knightley entertains a different role in Highbury—going from clever matchmaker to Regency England’s shrewdest sleuth.

Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .  

But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .  

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.

ADVANCE PRAISE

• “Brimming with all the wit and charm one can expect from a visit to Jane Austen’s world, Murder in Highbury presents Austen’s beloved and interfering character Emma with a murder. When Emma puts her clever wits to use to discover the murderer who hides among them, danger and humor mingle to provide us with mystery, delight, and a clever new sleuth. Author Vanessa Kelly writes with an experienced touch and clear fondness for her well-beloved characters, giving us the sequel we formerly could merely long for and imagine.”— Christina Dodd, New York Times bestselling author.

About the Author:

Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph. D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.

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.