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!

Dangerous Christmas Investigation ~ Review

Dangerous Christmas Investigation 

Lone Star Defenders #1

By Virginia Vaughan

Deputy Sabrina Reagan is on a mission, and nothing is going to get in her way. She will bring down the man she blames for her brother's overdose, and threats won't stop her. Her grief and anger turned against the man she loved and planned a future with. Now Detective Jake Harris is back in town working undercover to bring down the same man that Sabrina is after.

But there is a little secret between them, a four-year-old son that Jake never knew about. Jake's reaction is understandable - shock, anger, and loss. But if the two of them can't work together and get past their feelings of betrayal, they may not live to see what the future holds for them.

Dangerous Christmas Investigation is the first book in Virginia Vaughan's Lone Star Defenders series. If you have read her in the past, you won't be disappointed in this newest offering. I have to be honest; Sabrina annoyed me. Her whole attitude was just out of proportion concerning Jake. She took risks and allowed herself to be blinded to other matters of importance in her drive to get justice. I do get it: grief made her respond in a certain way, and then she was left to live with the consequences of those moments. Overall, this was good series debut.

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:

An undercover mission…

turns into a fight for survival.

Agreeing to take his late twin brother’s place in an undercover DEA operation reunites detective Jake Harris with a familiar face—and throws him into the line of fire. After he and his ex-girlfriend, Deputy Sabrina Reagan, survive a drive-by shooting, they’ll have to work together to capture a merciless drug trafficker. But when a price is placed on her head, Jake discovers Sabrina has a secret—his four-year-old son. With armed criminals out for blood, can Jake dismantle this drug operation to protect the family he didn’t know he had?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Lone Star Defenders

The Noble Princess ~ Review

A Noble Princess

Cornerstone Series

By Saraina Whitney

Princess Aurelia of Galandra is soon to be the future queen of Nordenberg. But how can she leave her ailing mother and journey to a strange land and marry a prince she does not love? The answer is simple duty. Aurelia knows her duty and will fulfill it even if it tears her heart in two.

Wilder Beckington is the man tasked with seeing the princess safely to Nordenberg. But he Jas also been ordered to keep from a secret, a secret that could destroy everything if it comes out. But Becks is also Aurelia's friend and keeping the truth from her just feels wrong, but he knows his duty.

A Noble Princess was an enjoyable read. Duty is an interesting concept and one that is explored throughout this book. Duty versus wants, hopes, or needs. Who decides which is greater? One's self-worth is also explored, as both Aurelia and Becks struggle to see the!selves in the light others see them in. Becks sees the boy he used to be and Aurelia contrasts her skills against those of her mother. Both find themselves lacking even as they push on for the sake of duty and honor, no matter the cost. I feel that this book is appropriate for tweens 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.

About the Book:

What happens when duty and love tear you in opposite directions?

Wilder “Becks” Beckington knows his duty as a royal bodyguard. Protect, no matter the cost. But when the elderly queen summons him while on her sickbed, she gives him an impossible command he somehow must fulfill. Escort the princess to marry her betrothed, all the while keeping a life-changing secret from her, one that could prove deadly in the wrong hands. He would rather die than lie to the woman who’s become his unlikely friend, but with her entire future at stake, he swears to secrecy.

Princess Aurelia of Galandra knows her duty as the daughter of the queen. Obey, no matter the cost. But with her mother’s health on the brink, she’s also reeling from the discovery of a terrible secret, one that shakes the very foundations of her reality. While anxieties about her future marriage plague her and nightmares about her past leave her sleepless, she undertakes the journey to the Kingdom of Nordenberg, as her friendship with her bodyguard, Becks, becomes more tentative and fragile by the day.

While Aurelia struggles to make sense of who she is and Becks battles to push down the rogue feelings he has for her, danger and unforeseen obstacles haunt their every step. The truth must stay safely hidden, or disaster will strike. Can Wilder Becks fulfill his mission, or will his heart and dark past overcome him, to the detriment of the princess?

A Noble Princess is a NA Christian fantasy Goose Girl retelling for readers 

who love hidden identity, forbidden love, and happily-ever-afters.

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

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. 

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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.

optional hashtags: #timetravel #historicalromance #buzzingaboutbooks #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #currentlyreading #bookworms #newreads #booknerd #bookstagram #whatimreading #bookaholic #bookwormproblems #tbrpile #igreads #readallday #bookaddicts #bookpic #justread #whattoreadnext #instaread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #lovetoread #bookishphotography #bookpost

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.

Terminal Danger ~ Review

Terminal Danger

Guardians Unleashed #5

By Jerusha Agen

Phoenix Gray has spent most of her life on this cold case. She is going to be sure justice is served on the serial killer she has long sought. She has set the perfect trap for him, and she's the bait. 

What Phoenix didn't anticipate was Callum Ross, an FBI agent called in to help with tracking down the killer's latest target. He somehow gets how Phoenix thinks; because he understands her, he could be a distraction and a danger to her plans.

In Terminal Danger, we finally get Phoenix's story—a story that no one knows. It is not pretty and has shaped her into the unreadable woman she is today—disconnected from her emotions. She has turned her back on God. He wasn't there when she needed Him, so why should she believe? Callum should understand where she's coming from, but what he's seen and experienced hasn't turned him from God. 

This time, Phoenix may need the women she has employed with Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency more than she ever expected. The time for secrets has ended, or this case could destroy her. 

This book can be read as a standalone title, but since it concludes the series, it is best read and enjoyed in order. If you enjoy suspense and books that examine the human spirit, you will want to delve into this book and 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:

This woman and her K-9 are being hunted. 

Exactly as she planned.

When a busload of schoolchildren disappears, Phoenix Gray knows the kidnapper is the unidentified serial killer she’s spent her life trying to catch. This time, she’ll find the killer and bring him to justice no matter what it takes. She and her Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency join the search for the hostages, but they aren’t the only ones who want the criminal captured.

Callum Ross, an FBI agent who specializes in catching serial criminals, is about to resign. But not until he finds one last culprit, the killer behind a famous twenty-year-old crime Callum vowed to solve.

Despite the FBI agent’s uncanny understanding of her psyche, Phoenix refuses to be distracted from her goal. When the serial killer turns into the cat instead of the mouse, Phoenix thinks she’s ready. But will she need the God she rejected to achieve the justice she’s given her life to obtain?

Terminal Danger concludes the thrilling story of the elite Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency that began with Hidden Danger (Guardians Unleashed, #1). (Each book can stand alone or be read as series installments.)

Praise for Jerusha Agen:

"Jerusha Agen once again delivers top-level suspense and thrilling action. Fast-paced suspense at its best.”
– DiAnn Mills, bestselling author of Concrete Evidence on Covert Danger

"Fast-paced, explosive thriller. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."
– Carrie Stuart Parks, award-winning, bestselling author of Relative Silence on Rising Danger

A Lady Most Intrigued ~ Now Available

A Lady Most Intrigued

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Jenni Ward 

This was as intriguing a read as the title indicates. Hannah Sheppard doesn't fit the mold her mother tries to force her into. It is this very non-conformity that brings about her meeting with John Ingham. Falling into a pond while in a ball gown is not best way to meet a man but it is what it is. And she did drop the forbidden golden ball in the water. John agreed to come back and find it for her. John has always longed for more than the life of a cotton mill worker. But he needs the pay to support his mother. Then, the workers organize a strike, demanding better pay and better work conditions. The potential hardships of a strike allow John and Hannah the opportunity for more interactions. Hannah uses this unexpected opportunity to seek answers. Answers she could never expect to get from her mother. I really enjoyed this book, which is based on The Frog Prince and has elements involving the cotton mill industry, which brought to mind Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. The weaving together of these vastly different pieces was expertly done to create a unique and enjoyable story with romance, mystery, and a proper villain. I highly recommend this newest Grimm Regency tale, which was most delightful. I was provided an advance copy of this title with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion.All thoughts expressed are my own.

A Forbidden Love.

A Hidden Inheritance.

A Truth That Could Cost Them Everything.

Hannah Sheppard yearns for more than the stifling expectations of Regency society. Duty, and her mother, demand she marry a man of wealth and status. Then, she meets John.

John Ingham dreams of a life beyond the harsh realities of working in a mill. When he rescues a lady from the lake at Frogmere Manor, he never expects their paths to cross again.

But fate has other plans, entwining their lives through a mysterious family heirloom that unlocks a long-buried secret. But a ruthless enemy lurks in the shadows, willing to silence them forever to keep the past buried.

Can their bond withstand the weight of a legacy built on lies, or will the cost of unravelling the truth be too high to pay?

A captivating sweet Regency romance set amongst the cotton mills of Lancashire and filled with heart-stopping twists, memorable characters, and a love that dares to defy the rules.


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.

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

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES & HASHTAGS

X: #saraheladd @ThomasNelson @austenprose

Instagram: @sarahladdauthor @thomasnelson @austenprose

Hashtags: #theclovertoncharade #saraheladd #historicalfiction #historicalromance #regencyromance #inspirationalfiction #newbooks #bookreview #bookx #bookstagram #booktour #bookrec #austenprosepr 

Firestorm ~ Review

Firestorm
Chasing Fire: Montana #4
By Lisa Phillips

Charlie Benning has screwed up enough lives, and he refuses to hurt his 17-year-old daughter anymore than he already has. He has a plan, maybe not a great one, but it should work. And his plan includes working with the Jude County Hotshots amid one of the worst fire seasons ever.  

Jayne Price runs Wildlands Academy, teaching teenagers firefighting skills. Now, her academy is caught in the middle of several fires and maybe a killer. Her job has just gotten a whole lot more complicated, especially when Charlie walks into her academy. Okay, so he didn't walk in; it was more like he rode in on an ATV. And now the past that they shared years ago is about to come to light.

This is the fourth book in the Chasing Fire series, and a whole slew of secrets are about to be revealed. Secrets that are life-altering. And then there are the second chances. Because everyone deserves a second chance.

The suspense will keep you turning these pages. And while this book can be read as a standalone, there are hints at previous books in this series. You will feel the tension build as the story moves towards its climax. This story is driven equally by the the characters as it is the action, making for a compelling read that you won't be able to put down. 

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:

Series: Chasing Fire #4
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: July 30, 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.

THIS TIME, THEY’RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

He thought his life was over…and then she walked back in.

Charlie Benning has always been a rescuer—first with the Last Chance County Fire and Rescue team, and now as a firefighter with the Jude County Hotshots. But this summer isn’t about saving lives—it’s about hiding his own terrible secret. A secret he’s keeping from his estranged daughter, Alexis.

But fate is about to intervene.

Will their secrets destroy their second chance?

Jayne Price raised her son, Orion, on her own just fine, thank you. And now, she runs Wildlands Academy, a summer camp that teaches kids how to fight forest fires and confront their own teenage angst—kids like Alexis Benning, who clearly has a chip on her shoulder about her semi-estranged, firefighter father.

And Jayne has her own issues, like not wanting her only son to join the elite smokejumping corps. It’s enough that he’s risking his life as a hotshot on the Jude County team.

Then the wildfire turns its force onto the camp and suddenly the hotshots show up to help her fight it. Only problem…the last person she expects is for her former flame, Charlie Benning—the man she can’t forget—to show up working alongside her son.

Rather, his son.

Who he doesn’t know exists.

And then Charlie discovers the secret she’s been keeping, and he’s torn between anger and the long-simmering love that refuses to die. And Jayne isn’t about to let go of the man she loves a second time. But if the blazing wildfire isn’t enough, a dangerous and relentless killer is on the prowl in the woods…
Now, with the camp cut off from the outside world and the fire closing in, it’s a race against time as Charlie, Jayne, Orion, and a team of courageous smokejumpers join forces to protect the campers against a merciless inferno and a murderer. But the biggest threat of all might be Charlie’s devastating secret that could destroy the happy ending they’ve waited for so long.

Prepare for an edge-of-your-seat journey that will leave you breathless until the very last page, in book four of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

Hidden Mountain Secrets ~ Review

Hidden Mountain Secrets

Tunnel Creek #3

By Kerry Johnson

A mysterious death.

    A secluded mansion.

        This investigation could be fatal…

Brielle Holt was just supposed to handle the dispersal of the estate's antiques. Instead, she finds herself the target of a killer and she has no idea why. She'll need the help of Lucas Scott, CSI agent, and childhood friend if she hopes to stay alive long enough to figure out why. And she is not crushing on her former teenage crush, nope absolutely not, well maybe just a little. (He did save her life.)

Lucas is back in Tunnel Creek investigating a suspicious death. When his case seemingly crosses with the attack on Brielle, he is more than willing to help protect his best friend's little sister. What he didn't expect was to have feelings for her, a BIG NO-NO. She's his best friend's little sis, and he knows Jasper would object. 

But as the danger draws closer and the killer remains just out of reach Lucas will do everything to keep Brielle safe. He can't lose another woman he loves on his watch.

Hidden Mountain Secrets is a clean Romantic Suspense offering from Love Inspired Suspense. There isn't graphic anything so no late-night sleeplessness from nightmares just the excuse of one more chapter. After all one needs to know the who and why behind the attacks on Brielle. And whether or not Lucas and Brielle have the chance at a tomorrow together. Overall a good read, that, though this book 3 in a series, can easily be read as a standalone title.

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. 

⇒ Instagram Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a copy of the book and a $30 Amazon gift card!

TO ENTER

⇒ LIKE, SAVE, and SHARE this Instagram post

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⇒ VISIT each Instagram-hosted post of this tour for more entries. Schedule at @justreadtours. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on May 21, 2024.)

Purchase Links – LoveInspired.com    Amazon

About the Book:
Release Date: May 21, 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense (Clean)

A mysterious death. 

A secluded mansion.

This investigation could be fatal…

Antique dealer Brielle Holt uncovers more than just priceless relics when she overhears a secret that puts a target on her back. Caught in the crosshairs of a deadly family feud, Brielle has nowhere safe to hide…until CSI agent Lucas Scott steps in to protect her. With assailants following their every move, Lucas and Brielle must stay one step ahead of someone desperate to hide the truth…and bury them with it.

Flashpoint ~ Review

Flashpoint
Chasing Fire: Montana #1

By Susan May Warren

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.

THIS TIME, THEY’RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

The Hollywood heartthrob and the firefighter with a secret…

Emily Micah is determined to finally prove herself as a firefighter with the elite Jude County Hotshots wildfire team. But when she reacts rather than following proper protocol she finds herself assigned to the movie set of Drifters, to hopefully prevent any more special effect fires. No pressure there! 

And of course, Storm Spenser being on the set is just an added bonus. And she won't go all crazy fangirl on him, even if she is (or rather was) in one of the exclusive fan clubs when she was younger. And when Spenser asks for her help with the child actor on the set, what's a girl to say but YES! 

Storm is trying to rebuild his acting career. After a crazed stalker derailed him, he needs to make a comeback soon and this film could make or break his career. But a series of accidents threatens not only the film but the lives of those on the set. 

Flashpoint is the first book in the Chasing Fire: Montana Series. With the land a tinderbox one mistake, one spark could become an inferno. And when evidence points to something other than an accident these heroes will need to be prepared for anything. 

This is a fast-paced read that draws one into the action from the beginning. The main characters Emily and Storm are dealing with the demons of their pasts as they try to find their place. Emily hasn't found where she fits yet. And Storm needs to rediscover where he belongs - the family ranch or in front of the camera. But more than fire threatens them, and they'll have to be prepared for what's coming. 

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://amzn.to/44eZeVw 

About the Book:

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.

THIS TIME, THEY’RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

The Hollywood heartthrob and the firefighter with a secret…

Rookie firefighter Emily Micah is determined to prove herself as a new recruit to the elite Jude County Hotshots wildfire team. Assigned to the film set of The Drifters, Emily’s mission is to protect the cast and crew from the special effects that could ignite the tinder-dry Montana forest and start a wildfire.

If only her favorite actor—TV star Spenser Storm—wasn’t getting in her way.

What could go wrong?

Haunted by the memory of a rabid stalker, former child TV star Spenser Storm is hoping to revive his career, but he’s torn between the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the life of a cowboy on his family’s ranch in Montana. It doesn’t help when he sees the movie that’s supposed to launch his future is going up in flames.

And then there’s beautiful and brave Emily Micah, who not only saves his life, but seems to understand him, maybe better than she should.

As an arsonist threatens the film production, seemingly with the goal of destroying the movie entirely, Spenser realizes he’ll stop at nothing to protect his future and the woman now stealing his heart.

But Emily harbors a secret…one that could destroy the flame between them. And when it comes out, it could cost them everything, and ignite an inferno that could destroy all of the northern Montana forest.

Chasing Fire: Montana Series, Book One—Flashpoint—delivers a thrilling and emotional rollercoaster ride that will leave you breathless, yearning for more, and eager to dive into the next chapter of the thrilling series.

Mask of Deception and Sacrifice ~ Available Now

Mask of Deception and Sacrifice by Callie Thomas is now available! This is the third book in the Sacrificed Hearts series.

If she can remove the monster’s mask, she will earn her freedom…but failure will cost her life.

Thirteen years ago, Princess Fiona fled the bloodshed within Ravenwood Castle. She has no desire to return to the place of her childhood nightmares, especially not as a prisoner locked in chains. Using the power of illusion, she glamours her appearance to conceal her royal identity, hoping that her facade won’t crumble before she can escape.

When the usurper king forces her on a deadly mission to subdue a wild man terrorizing his kingdom, Fiona must earn the trust of a masked monster who uses his sharp tongue and shifting personalities to keep her away. But the longer she’s with him, the more she sees beyond his disguise and succumbs to his charms.

With her life on the line, the last thing she needs is a distraction. But when he offers her another path to freedom, will she sacrifice everything for him?

Mask of Deception and Sacrifice is book 3 in the Sacrificed Hearts multi-author series, a collection of stand-alone fantasy romances inspired by monsters of legend and packed with strong heroines, swoony heroes, and sacrificial themes.

Sacrificed Hearts website: https://everlyhaywood.com/sacrificedhearts/

Order Mask of Deception and Sacrifice at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRB9DRYW

The Berlin Letters ~ Review

The Berlin Letters

By Katherine Reay

Luisa Voekler is good at what she does - breaking codes that have been encrypted. While the rest of the code breakers in her secret CIA division have moved on to the Cold War, her work is during WW2 and will stay there for the foreseeable future, if not longer. But when a colleague reaches out for help, Luisa notices something from her own past. Something that could change everything she thought she knew about herself.  Worse, she begins to question what she knew about the grandparents who raised her.   

This book is told in an alternating fashion from Luisa's viewpoint and that of her father, Haris Voekler, a man she has long believed dead. We are given a glimpse into the nightmare that divided friends, families, and neighbors overnight when the Eastern sector was cut off from the Western. Overnight, lives were destroyed while the rest of the world did nothing. A handful of people wasn't worth risking another war over.

The Berlin Letters offers an interesting look at a world that many, myself included, know little about. This is an interesting bit of history that is often overlooked or just given a brief mention.  Enter into a world of spies, codes, and a war fought not with weapons but with policy, propaganda, and words. This book spans nearly 30 years (1961 - 1989), is set in Berlin and Washington, D.C., and covers nearly as many emotions as years.   

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:

Bestselling author Katherine Reay returns with an unforgettable tale of the Cold War and a CIA code-breaker who risks everything to free her father from an East German prison.

From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past, decoding messages from World War II.

Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law, who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.

As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.

About the Author:

Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children. 

You can meet her at katherinereay.com.

or on SOCIAL MEDIA 
X: @Katherine_Reay     Instagram: @katherinereay