A Noble Friend ~ Review

A Noble Friend

Cornerstone #15

By Kendra E. Ardnek

Joah was abandoned when he was 7 years old. When he was first left on the Rowanshaw doorstep, Joah was raised as if he were a sibling to Charles, Anton, and Aloise. But once the brothers were sent away to school, Joah discovered his true place within the family: that of a servant. 

Since that time, he has devoted his life to being there for Lady Aloise Rowanshaw. However, the time has come for Aloise to get married. When Joah is assigned as her personal guard, the dynamics of their relationship shift once again. 

Joah is to be a silent sentinel, ready to give his life if need be, but never to address Aloise. There is just one little problem, Aloise asks him to share his insights on her potential suitors. Yes, that works so well when Aloise is instantly smitten with a suitor, whom Joah names Bluebeard.

This is when the Bluebeard retelling really becomes apparent. Overall, it is a good story. The more gruesome aspects of the original fairytale are omitted from the story, making it suitable for teen readers.

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

 

About the Book:

He'll follow her to the ends of the earth, even as she marries another. But what happens when her husband proves to be a monster?

A Noble Friend is a New Adult Christian fantasy retelling of Bluebeard. 

Book #15 in the Cornerstone Series.

Rosalyn and the Wolf ~ Review

Rosalyn and the Wolf: A Regency Retelling
Once in a Wood #2
By Sienna Peake

This is a sweet Little Red Riding Hood-inspired retelling within a Regency setting. Rosalyn Lennox is expected to marry well. Her parents favor a certain young man, but Rosalyn isn't so sure. In their youth, George Foster was a bully and was best avoided. He has changed, maybe.

Four years ago, Jasper Wooldridge was sent away to join the navy. But the time has left a darkness in his being. Only when he spends time with his childhood friend does the darkness lift. Rosalyn brings back some of the lightness of his youth, but he fears the duties of war have made him unsuitable to pursue her hand. With her parents partial to his childhood nemesis, he knows he cannot win her heart. 

This book has elements from the original fairy tale but presents them in such a way that this story is original. This was an easy read and one that can be enjoyed over a weekend. There are a few tense scenes but nothing to take away from the sweet, clean aspects of the rest of the book. This is a friends-to-something-more, feel-good read that is appropriate for tweens and up, in my opinion. It's less scary than the original tale!

I was provided a complimentary ARC 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 wolf wasn't the problem?
Rosalyn Lennox wants nothing more than to please her parents and stay close to home until her childhood friend returns from the navy and makes her question everything she thought she needed in a match.

Jasper Wooldridge is back after four long years at sea, scarred by the realities of warfare and hoping only for a bit of respite until he reconnects with his dearest childhood friend and begins hoping for more.

When an unwanted proposal and a call back to sea interrupt their reunion, will Rosalyn and Jasper find a way to come together?


Rosalyn and the Wolf is a sweet, clean Regency romance inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. It is the second book in the Regency fairy tale retellings series Once in a Wood. The books in the series may be enjoyed in any order.


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

Arrows and Gems ~ Review

Arrows and Gems: 
A Retelling of Robin Hood and Snow White and Rose Red
The Roumaterra Chronicles #4

By Erin Halbmaier

Poor Princess Helena has so many problems. Hidden away because she was cursed as a child, then she fell into a long sleep and was forgotten by her family. Then when her curse was broken she discovered her true love had fallen in love and married someone else. What's a princess to do when she is ordered by the council to wed before the year is up? Run away and join a band of outlaws in another kingdom, of course.

Now I will admit this would not have been my solution to the problem, but then I'm not a princess who has her life completely upended. The plan is clever really, who would suspect a princess to go so totally rogue? Unfortunately for her the leader of the outlaws thinks it is all an elaborate trap to capture him. With Caps distrust of Helena so strong he doesn't trust her with anything. There may be one little problem, his heart has other plans.

This was a fun addition to the Roumaterra Chronicles series. This can be read as a standalone title but it reads so much better if read in series order. Arrows and Gems is a mashup of Robin Hood and Snow White and Rose Red totally works. The characters are believable in this story world that Erin Halbmaier created. Royalty in disguise. Noble purpose. Missing prince. Court intrigue. Misplaced trust. Thwarted love. But all woven together in a clean, attention-grabbing book. Yes, I stayed up to read this one. I should have been doing other things like sleep, but what can I say other than Helena and Cap won my empathy.

I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All
thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A runaway princess. An honorable outlaw. A crime that hasn’t been paid.
Princess Helena has always struggled to belong. When she wakes from her twelve-year enchanted sleep, she tries to 

adjust to the changes in her life. But her childhood sweetheart’s marriage and the council’s plan to choose her husband 

push her too far.

Cap just wants to protect the people suffering from the tyrannical regent’s rule. But his less-than-legal methods have 

put a target on his back. He’s wary of the woman he believes has been sent to trap him, but she has a way of slipping 

past his defenses. And he’s afraid she might be another sign that he shouldn’t trust his own judgment.

Can Helena and Cap work together to bring down the regent? Or will their insecurities and secrets destroy everything 

they care about?

Arrows and Gems is a clean, no-spice retelling of Robin Hood and Snow White and Rose Red. It is book four in The
Roumaterra Chronicles, a series of interconnected, standalone fairy tale retellings perfect for readers of Brittany Fichter,
Celeste Baxendell, and Annette K. Lars.

 

Seer of the Wildwood ~ Review

Seer of the Wildwood

Bonded Realms #1

By Regan Allen

 

This book opens with Marya Santelyn running. Her curse made itself known in a public setting, and whatever she said while in its grip could cost her, her life. Her only hope of escape is in requesting aid from one of the Barbarians crossing through her city. 

 

When a young woman asks him to take her with him, Tam Randene can't refuse her. When he learns she has been blessed with the gift of visions, he vows to be her protector and to hide her in the Wildwood among his people. Now he needs to convince her that her feared curse is the hope of his people.

 

With the immediate danger gone, Marya wants to return home, but Tam is convinced that she must stay safely hidden away. And he can't help himself, he has to win her heart and help her discover just who she truly is. But what Marya sees, scares her. Danger is coming.

 

This is the first book in a new fantasy world. This book finds the main characters dealing with their miscommunications as they confront their feelings. There is a bit of angst amidst various escapes and perilous journeys. Apparently being the first seer in generations is a big thing, and each group wants her for an ability she doesn't want and cannot control. 

The idea behind the book has promise, and it is obvious that it is part of a series, while wrapping up the main focus in this book. There is the potential of additional stories for several of the secondary characters. If you like books that have angsty stories that find the characters in doubt of returned feelings and periods of suspense and danger, you will enjoy this book which is most definitely in the Romantasy category.  

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 might be his prize, but she can see things he can’t, like a future together.

Marya Santelyn, pampered daughter of the Merchant’s Guild, hides a secret. A power stirs within her, one that could destroy everything she holds dear, or save it. When her ability to see the future becomes too apparent for comfort, the spunky Marya takes matters into her own hands and runs, right into the arms of the enemy.

Tam Randene, warrior of the ancient race that makes the mysterious wildwood their home, never expected one of his tribe’s sworn enemies to request his aid to escape her pursuers, but he swiftly recognizes Marya’s value. The land of Alyna hasn’t had a seer in generations. The man who protects her would have a powerful ally, and the man who wins her heart could well rule all.

Captive among his tribe, Marya begins to learn how to embrace her gift even as she begins to feel far too at home with Tam’s rambunctious family. As her visions become increasingly more dire, she and Tam realize that danger is coming to Alyna, danger that will require her people and his to band together to survive. Can she convince her people to listen, or will they tear her from Tam’s arms? Because her heart tells her something her visions never could: Nothing is more important than being together.

If you like closed door, swoon-worthy fantasy romance—featuring intelligent, determined heroines and untameable, honorable heroes; dual points of view (hers and his); and a happily-ever-after with ongoing world conflict—in a land designed to sweep you away, grab this series starter perfect for fans of Kenley Davidson, K.M. Shea, JA Andrews, and Tara Grayce.

 

Legacy of Roses ~ Review

Legacy of Roses: A Beauty and the Beast Tale

Kingdoms of Legacy #1

Melanie Cellier

Rosalie is trapped, she will be forced to live the life of a fairy tale. The land is enchanted and she fits the mold as the third daughter of a merchant. It's not her fault that her youngest sibling was, in fact, triplet brothers. It may be her fault that her family lost everything. But she refuses to be trapped into living out the rest of the story. Of course, that was before Dimitri moved into neighboring castle.

Dimitri has no idea of the trouble he's walked into by returning to his family's abandoned home. He knows nothing about the kingdom of Glandore or the Legacies. All he knows is that his nearest neighbor seems determined to see him gone as soon as possible. But when changes start occurring around the castle grounds, he just might have to start believing in them. But will he truly turn into a beast? 

This is the first book in the Kingdoms of Legacy series which offers a new twist on the fairy tales one has grown up with. What if fairy tales repeated themselves on new generations? The basic story played out but with unexpected differences that could change something important making the expected conclusion uncertain. This was a fun read that is appropriate for tweens and older readers who love fairy tales.

I borrowed a copy of this book through Kindle Unlimited.

About the Book:

A returned royal with no interest in becoming an enchanted prince.
A merchant’s daughter who knows better than to pick roses.
A Legacy determined to force them into a story neither wants.

Rosalie’s family has already lost everything, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect them from further harm. Even if that means stopping ignorant newcomers from picking enchanted roses.

Dimitri knows little about his new kingdom, and he can’t help being captivated by the fiery girl who holds the answers. But Rosalie seems horrified by both his presence and his handsome face, and it turns out she has good reason. In the kingdom of Glandore, it’s a dangerous thing to be a young man of royal blood living alone in a castle. Almost as dangerous as being the youngest daughter of a merchant.

Enter a world where tales of the past shape the enchanted landscape—where glass can bend like a slipper and picking a rose courts danger. A world where the inhabitants must overcome the fabled Legacies as they find romance, adventure, and friendship.

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

 

 

 

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds ~ Review

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds

By Jennifer Moorman

Josephine Reynold's is lost. Her whole being was wrapped up in her late husband, and now she is floundering. Her withdrawal from the world outside her home has caused her sister Katherine to speak up. 

This intervention results in Josephine selling the home that Nate designed to his tastes. In a lucky happenstance, her great-grandmother's house comes on the market. But when Josephine starts restoring the house's outer appearance, including the front door, strange things begin happening. Cue the creepy music!

Josephine can now enter 1927 with its Jazz music, speakeasies, prohibition, and unique clothing! She is so out of her element, but she needs to spend some time-period cramming when she discovers she has wished herself out of existence piece by piece. Yikes!

But how do you undo a wish you made at a low point? Josephine needs to save her great-grandmother's life and restore her family's history before it is erased forever.

This is an interesting premise, the ability to erase one's entire existence through a wish made in grief and despair. When I was presented with an opportunity to read this book, I thought it was published by Thomas Nelson (Harper Collins Christian). No, rather, it was published by Harper Muse, totally my mistake as it was noted in a smaller font. So, there are a few elements that I was surprised to discover within the pages. Nothing graphic, but it does depict the era in its glitzed-up party atmosphere - smoking and drinking and hints at relations outside of marriage. 

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:

Can one thoughtless wish erase a life?

Widowed at thirty-five, Josephine Reynolds wishes she could disappear, but her concerned sister convinces her to buy their ancestral home, a Craftsman bungalow in disrepair and foreclosure. It's a welcome distraction, and Josephine can't believe her luck when she finds the home's original door in a salvage yard.

When she installs the door and steps through it, Josephine is transported into 1927, where she meets her great-grandmother Alma, a vivacious and daring woman running an illegal speakeasy in the bungalow's basement. Immersed in the vibrant Jazz Age, Josephine forms a profound bond with Alma, only to discover upon her return to the present that history has been altered. Alma's life was tragically cut short in a speakeasy raid just a week after their fateful meeting.
Josephine has a chilling revelation--her own existence is unraveling/vanishing--and she must race against time to rewrite history. Josephine is desperate to not only save Alma but save her own future in a time-bending journey where past and present intertwine in a desperate battle for survival.

Infused with Jennifer Moorman's signature blend of magical detail and heartfelt storytelling, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is a tale of resilience in the face of loss and a testament to the timeless bond of family.

Street Team Opportunity

Do you want to help spread the word about an upcoming multi-author collection?

Do you love fairy tale retellings? 

 

If you answered yes, you should apply to be part of the 

A Garden of Fairy Tales Street Team.

 

 

 

Your inbox won't overflow with countless tasks, and your email will not be shared with anyone. You also won't be obligated to share every task; we understand how crazy life can become. We're just grateful for your help!

 

The purpose of this street team is to spread the word about the series, beginning with cover reveals and ending with the final book's release. Don't worry---you won't be spammed with numerous emails per week. Tasks will include cover reveals, fairy tale retelling reveals, release day posts, and at least one countdown. 

 

The form link is https://forms.gle/f9uVhbVr9cVDSmdG7 

 

About the Series:

Spring has sprung with these eight swoony, sweet retellings. Each novella finds its happily ever after amidst themes of rebirth, hope, and new life. Each book is fully independent and they can be read in any order.

Release dates run from late March to early May.
Bleeding Heart by Kendra E. Ardnek,
Daylily by Madeline Kersbergen,
Snapdragon by Sarah Beran,
Carnation by Yakira Goldsberry,
Peaflower by Jessica A. Tanner,
Forget-Me-Not by J.F. Rogers,
Golden Lotus by Meagan Myhren-Bennett,
and Lilac by Madisyn Carlin.

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.

Coming Soon ~ A Garden of Fairy Tales

 Series Announcement

A Garden of Fairy Tales

a multi-author collection of

Fairy Tale retellings

is coming this Spring...

Spring is Coming...

A GARDEN OF FAIRY TALES features:
Bleeding Heart by Kendra E. Ardnek,
Daylily by Madeline Kersbergen,
Snapdragon by Sarah Beran,
Carnation by Yakira Goldsberry,
Peaflower by Jessica A. Tanner,
Forget-Me-Not by J.F. Rogers,
Golden Lotus by Meagan Myhren-Bennett,
and Lilac by Madisyn Carlin.

Spring has sprung with these eight swoony sweet retellings. 

Each novella finds its happily ever after amidst 

themes of rebirth, hope, and new life. 

Each book is fully independent, 

and they can be read in any order.

Cover reveals coming soon!

My book Golden Lotus is available for

preorder on Amazon for

a special precover release price of $0.99

Preorder Golden Lotus with this link

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