11.09.2018

The Spinster and I ~ Review with Author Interview and Giveaway

The Spinster and I
The Spinster Chronicles #2
By Rebecca Connolly

Prudence (Prue) Westfall has a secret and the rest of London Society is about to learn it thanks to her mother. She's inherited a fortune and will now, most, unfortunately, come to the attention of gentlemen. As one of the Spinsters (with a capital S) she has been mostly ignored and with her propensity to stutter when under stress or in proximity to her mother, her hateful cousin Eliza, or when paid attention to in general she is ignored at most social settings. But her comfort is about to change starting with the house party that her mother has insisted that she attend.

When the attention of the gentlemen become too much Prue escapes only to be discovered by Camden Vale a gentleman, who is no gentleman as his reputation will attest (at least the rumored reputation he has attained will). But to Prue's surprise, Camden doesn't seem put off by her shyness or her stammer. In fact, he offers her his protection during the house party while warning her of his less than ideal reputation.

As the house party, to which none of the other Spinsters was invited, progresses Camden and Prue form a unique friendship, one that they know will not continue once they return to London. Prue brings out the best in Camden, bringing forth a protective nature that he never knew he had. While Camden seemingly understands her soothing her agitation and managing to converse with her so that her stammer goes away in his presence.

Returning to London brings Prue's worst fears with it - she has become an heiress to be hunted for her fortune! With her mother once again firmly in control, Prue is about to lose herself unless she can find a champion to help her. To the Spinsters shock and horror, she accepts the attentions of Camden Vale! Can they trust Prue's judgment in this matter or has the stress and abuse of her mother and Eliza finally proven too much?

The Spinster and I is a delightful new addition in The Spinster Chronicles as Prue takes center stage in this one. The other Spinsters are in this one though not as prominently as in The Merry Lives of Spinsters and my goodness are they protective of Prue almost to the point of suffocation at times. If you are looking for a delightful read for your long weekend or for an after-work unwind this is just what you are looking. This is a clean, gentle read which is set in the Regency Period and appropriate for teens and up.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through SLB Book Tours with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


Series: The Spinster Chronicles
Genre:  Adult, New Adult, Romance
Publisher: Phase Publishing
Publication date: November 1, 2018

 About the Book:

Poor, unfortunate Spinster…

Prudence Westfall, a spinster, has unexpectedly had the greatest misfortune of all: she has inherited a fortune and is now an heiress. But as a Spinster, and a stammering shy one, nothing could be worse than having a bevy of suitors pay her attention. Opportunity strikes at a house party when the most unlikely person offers the perfect solution.

Camden Vale is no gentleman, and he’s not prone to saving anyone, but something about Prue changes all that. When his offer to befriend her extends beyond the house party, and his feelings extend beyond expectation, no one is more surprised than he. Except, perhaps, for the other Spinsters, and they have much to say on the subject.

 Author Interview:
1) Who is your favorite comfort read author?

Ooooh, I love Heather B. Moore, Becky Monson, Amber Lynn Perry, Nichole Van, Janelle Daniels, Jen Geigle Johnson...and ANY of the Timeless anthologies!

2) What do you most like about the Regency era?

I love the manners and the fashions, the way of life, and the restraint, strangely enough. It is so much fun to play with romance in a time of such restrictions!

3) What one author past or present would you like to mentor you?

Oh, Jane Austen. She has so much wit in her writing, and I have a feeling she would not only be a fantastic mentor, but an absolute riot to be around!

4) How do develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)?

I take in everything I can, honestly. Photos of estates, the countryside, or fashions. A song that suddenly inspires a ballroom scene. Actors that I see. Lines that I hear. Trips that I have taken absolutely play a huge role, and I hope to take many more to get inspiration!

5) If you could share a cup of tea (or coffee) with anyone who would it be?

Julie Andrews. I would hang on her every word.

6) Do you have a favorite Regency period author that you would recommend?

Hmm. Well, if you haven’t read Jane Austen, you need to… Sally Britton is fabulous, and so is Jen Geigle Johnson. Actually, picking up some of the Timeless Regency collections will get you some AWESOME names! It works for me every time!

7)Who is your favorite character in your book?

I just adore Prue. She is so sweet, but surprisingly witty, and just has such a good heart and deserves so much!


8)What one question do you wish you would be asked and how would you answer it?

“What is the best period drama out there?” And I would respond with Poldark. Hands down.

About the Author:

Rebecca Connolly headshot
Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.

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11.07.2018

Retrieval ~ Review

Retrieval
Javin Pierce #4
By Ethan Jones

Someone is out to stop Javin and the price on his head is pure hate getting satisfaction - the fury of a woman scorned has nothing on an ISIS jihadist out to bring him down! Javin and Claudia are on a mission that will allow them to return to CIS after their previous mission in Geneva went wrong.

But finding the intel they need goes wrong when their possible source goes missing from the refugee camp and their safe house is attacked. When the local officials start the clock ticking on when they have to be out of the country any source of information becomes an option.

Seeking aid from the few people that they can trust Javin and Claudia find themselves heading back to the very country that brought them to their current situation. Geneva neutral in name but profiting from the various sources using them to hide their ill-gotten gains.

This is a high action movie for those who would rather read than see it their action. Ethan Jones manages to keep his books fresh and not repetitive so one never feels as "I've read this before." Not happening here. And you'll be kept in suspense from the first line until you finish and then there is the anticipation of what can possibly happen next. Don't miss out on this latest thrilling mission that only a corrector can find themselves in.

About the Book:

Can a lethal assassin have a soft side?

After a botched operation in Geneva, Javin Pierce and his partner are offered the chance to return to the CIS if they eliminate two senior ISIS leaders hiding in Iraq. Dispatched to the lawless lands, Javin and Claudia start to gather intel, and soon find themselves immersed in a sinister corruption scheme that reaches top-level Iraqi officials. Javin isn’t about to walk away.
Now, being hunted down by ruthless ISIS fighters, the team fights to survive and navigate crooked, ever-shifting allegiances. As Javin and Claudia forge bonds with unlikely local allies from a refugee camp, Javin gets more than he bargained for. The evidence leads to Europe and an elaborate retrieval that, if successful, will tear down the entire corruption scheme and bring desperate relief to the camp workers.
Javin now realizes his ticket back into the agency might be his most dangerous but satisfying mission yet. How will Javin clean up the targets, get back into the agency, and execute the seemingly impossible retrieval, all without leaving a trace?
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11.06.2018

The Unwanted Suitor ~ Review with Interview and Giveaway

The Unwanted Suitor
Regency House Party: Somerstone #1
By Michelle Pennington

Cornelia Greystock made a rash decision when she refused Sir James Hawkston's offer of marriage. She left her family behind and became a paid companion for the Countess Du'Breven. No longer able to take part in what Society had to offer she has severely limited her future prospects. And when the Countess determines to hold a house party at Somerstone Manor Cornelia is expected to help keep everything running smoothly.

To Cornelia's dismay, Sir James Hawkston is on the guest list and he has accepted. Determined to pair the man who broke her heart with one of the young ladies in attendance, Cornelia's efforts are thwarted when James realizes that Cornelia is in attendance and not hiding away in the country.

As Cornelia proves that she is the hoyden that she has always been in her mission to exact revenge on James she just might steal his heart - unless she kills him first. Determined to right the wrong he committed James and Cornelia just might be playing right into the Countess's scheme.

This is a sweet and easy read that is set in the Regency period (in case you couldn't determine that from the series name). Cornelia is a most entertaining individual as she schemes and plans how to best torment James. And the Countess Du'Breven, well all young ladies in search of a suitable match would do well to end up on her invitation list. And who couldn't help loving Wellington, I mean pugs are just such individuals - I know from experience having a "cousin" who was one and babysitting a couple of them over the years.

I would recommend this book to fans of cute, clean, fun reads. And if you like historical Regency fiction ENJOY!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through SLB Book Tours with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion ~ All views expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Series: Regency House Party
Genre:  Adult, Historical, Regency, Romance
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: September 2, 2018
When Cornelia Greystock received a proposal from Sir James Hawkston, she couldn’t bear it. It had been inspired, she knew, from pity and remorse—not love. Unable to face him afterward, she leaped at an offer of employment from the Countess, Lady Du’Breven. Serving as her companion, Cornelia struggles to adjust to the change in her social status, but the hard work distracts her from her broken heart. That is, until the Countess decides to hold a summer house party at her family estate and invites Sir James.
Sir James has never recovered from his disappointment when Miss Greystock refused his proposal and then fled, according to her family, to live with an unheard-of aunt in Ireland. When he grudgingly accepts an invitation to Lady Du’Breven’s house party, however, he is astounded to find Miss Greystock there. One thing is certain—this time he’ll court her the way he always should have. He is almost certain she returns his feelings, but he must tread carefully. If she refuses his proposal a second time, it would not be gentlemanly to ask a third. As time grows short and she continues to hold him at arms-length, will he find a way to at last win her hand?

About the Author

1-Michelle Pennington
Michelle Pennington writes clean, heart-pounding, sigh-inducing romance across multiple genres. Her books include Young Adult, Contemporary, Regency, and Fantasy. The genre might change, but her characters will always be falling in love.

She spends her days quoting movies with her husband and making messes faster than her four kids. She also has a cat her kids call Boots, but is really Hessian Boots, the perfect Regency gentleman, complete with a snowy white cravat. She loves to make magic by stringing words together, but she also creates designer sugar cookies, sings loud in church, and kills too many house plants.

Author Interview

1) Who is your favorite comfort read author?

I can fall into one of Georgette Heyer’s Regency romance at any time in any place and call that day perfect.
2) What do you most like about the Regency era?

I love the unique tension created by the rules of society. The fashions were more elegant and natural than during the periods before and after, including hairstyles. Plus, the combination of the political climate and the burgeoning technology and social change created a unique backdrop on England’s history, like the whole country was in this tense but experimental waiting phase.


3) What one author past or present would you like to mentor you?

Who else can I say besides Georgette Heyer. Because of her, I fell in love with the Regency genre. In my opinion, there’s no one better.

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11.05.2018

The Merry Lives of Spinsters ~ Review

The Merry Lives of Spinsters
The Spinster Chronicles #1
By Rebecca Connolly

Georgiana Allen is determined to keep foolish young women from ruining their lives either by marriage by ruination or a life of shame by allowing her reputation to be reduced by scandal. Too many a young woman was lost to the momentary fancy of a rake with no consequence to the "gentleman"! Well, Georgie is determined to help out these poor innocents if at all possible and with her friends in the Spinsters (with a capital S, mind you,) she's going to offer what advice she can. The Spinster Chronicles is a much talked about column in the paper. A column that offers advice on social settings, fashion, and the like.

The gentlemen of London society are tired of the interference of the Spinsters when it comes to their entertainment. And it is to this setting that Captain Anthony (Tony to his friends) Sterling returns. HIs younger cousin Hugh begs him to enter the fray and stop these meddling spinsters before they know what has hit them. But upon reading The Spinster Chronicles for himself, Tony makes other plans. He determines to infilter this band of women and discover for himself just what is true and if possible to offer his services to these ladies.

Georgie is suspicious of this captain who happens to offer to join the Spinsters and to be their eyes and ears in society. What follows is a battle of wits and words as Georgie and Tony spar at every meeting but soon both are looking forward to these encounters. But marriage, not a thought on the mind of either. But when Tony's stepmother comes to town, he better be on guard because she's determined to see him married by autumn! And the lady she's chosen for him..., well, Georgie had better watch out or her status as Spinster may soon be at an end.

This is a delightful and fun read as society is tested by a group who should just stick to quiet corners makes its presence known. And known they are. Those who like anything Jane Austen will enjoy this book, which has a mention of her works and is set in the Regency era. This is a clean read and so is appropriate for most readers.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through SLB Book Tours with no expectations other than to give my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

Come back on Friday, November 9th as book 2 
The Spinster and I is reviewed
and Rebecca Connolly is interviewed

Series: The Spinster Chronicles
Genre:  Adult, New Adult, Romance
Publisher: Phase Publishing

 About the Book:
Spinster is as spinster does...
Georgiana Allen is a spinster and everybody knows it. She also happens to be one of the writers for the Spinster Chronicles, and everybody knows that as well. She's accepted her lot in life, and, along with the other spinsters in her circle, takes great pride in the articles she writes and the influence she has. Then Captain Anthony Sterling infiltrates their group, and her life, and Georgie impossibly begins to hope once more.
Tony Sterling had no idea what to expect when he agreed to break up the Spinsters for his cousin, but he certainly did not expect Georgie Allen. From the very first meeting, she upends everything he thought a spinster would be, and her beauty and wit keeps him on edge in thrilling ways. The more he gets to know the Spinsters, the less he wants to break them up. And the more he wants Georgie in his life. Permanently.

About the Author:

Rebecca Connolly headshot
Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.

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10.31.2018

A Convenient Engagement ~ Review

A Convenient Engagement
Brides of Brighton #1
By Ashtyn Newton

Miss Amelia Buxton longs to see Brighton. Her life in Nottingham is so dreary and the suitors her father is determined to see her wed to are even more dreary. What's a lady to do when her deepest desire is to be a spinster. But to Brighton, she'll never go if her father cannot be convinced otherwise. In a moment of desperation, Amelia agrees that she will become engaged while in Brighton or agree to an engagement with Mr. Clinton, an old graying bore who used a cane and has to be twice her age!

In Brighton, Adam Claridge is desperate his sister is missing and he can find no sign of her anywhere. Worse his father's fragile health seems to be declining further with Eleanor's disappearance. Convinced that Eleanor's disappearance is the result of nefarious deeds because she would never willingly leave their father in his current state Adam is no closer to the truth than the day she disappeared. When a charming visitor offers her help Adam is forced to admit a woman's perspective may help him in his search.

But helping Adam will hinder Amelia's own search - one that her Aunt Margaret unfortunately reveals. With an offer to help Amelia obtain the engagement her father demands in exchange for her assistance, Amelia soon finds herself in a most uncomfortable situation entertaining the unwanted attentions of a gentleman who may be linked to Eleanor's disappearance.

What follows is a series of emotional ups and downs as Amelia, Adam, and Aunt Margaret enjoy the delights of Brighton that are not too delightful. And then there is that pesky engagement that Amelia must secure within three months - will Adam's plan allow her to satisfy her father's demand while allowing her to live the life she's long desired? Only time will tell.

Ashtyn Newbold has done it again with this first book in her new series. The characters are a delight to become acquainted with. And fans of her previous works will enjoy revisiting the Regency period once again. Amelia and Adam are well suited and it is interesting observing them fight against losing their hearts in their most convenient engagement. And then there is Aunt Margaret who one can only hope will someday meet a man worthy of her.

Find a cozy corner and get ready to visit Brighton for a day or two!


About the Book:

A false engagement. 
A mysterious coast. 
Two reluctant hearts. 

Much to her father’s dismay, Miss Amelia Buxton aspires to become a spinster, just like her eccentric aunt. Growing up with parents who married for every reason but love, she has never seen a joyful marriage. When Amelia requests a summer trip to the legendary waters of Brighton, her father allows her the excursion, but with one requirement: she must return engaged or agree to the proposal of the man of his choosing. 

Crawling with tourists, Brighton is not the town Adam Claridge once loved. When his sister Eleanor disappears without warning, Adam is desperate to bring her home. In his search, he happens upon Miss Amelia Buxton, a young tourist that proves vital in his search for Eleanor. But Amelia is conducting a search of her own—a search for a husband—and Adam has little choice but to offer a fair trade: he will play the role of Amelia’s betrothed in exchange for her assistance in finding Eleanor.

Convenient at first, Amelia and Adam’s arrangement quickly plummets into disarray. Falling in love had not been part of their bargain. 

A Convenient Engagement is a sweet and clean regency romance novel. 
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10.30.2018

The Light Before Day ~ Review

The Light Before Day
Nantucket Legacy #3
By Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Light Before Day is the third book in the Nantucket Legacy series. In this book, Henry and Hitty Macy are grown up and their grandmother Lillian has died. Lillian Coffin has left her vast wealth to Henry and Hitty with strings attached. The money is not to leave the Island and there are conditions on whom they can marry and they both must marry within a specified time frame. And Lillian's daughter Daphne nary a kind word was left to her.

Henry and Hitty knew that this gift was their Grandmother's last attempt at controlling their lives, but Henry has a plan to thwart her machinations while fulfilling the mandates of the will. But as the existence that Henry and Hitty have always known shifts so too is Nantucket shifting. The rights of Blacks and women has become a catalyst of contention that could very well divide the Island permanently.

The Light Before Day is an enjoyable addition to the Nantucket Legacy series. I really like how Great Mary's, aka Mary Coffin Starbuck, journal entries are scattered throughout the books and how the person to whom the journal is aided by her words of wisdom. Mary's journal also details her own path to "Finding the Light" (becoming a Quaker), after her stance against allowing a church, or religious affiliation, to be linked to Nantucket. And that treasure of Spanish gold that was discovered in the first book and used in the second, well it is again referenced by Mary in her journal and put to good use.

The historical notes at the end of the book are a welcome addition as the reader is allowed a chance at further study. This would be an excellent book club selection. And though these books should be read together it is not absolutely necessary but it allows the reader a foundation on which each story builds. But to get Mary's entire story you'll need to read all three books.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell with no expectations except that I offer my honest opinion ~ all thoughts shared are my own.


About the Book:

"Henry, this . . . fortune, this 
sudden wealth . . . I fear it will 
change our lives. And I don't 
want my life to change."

After three years on a whaling voyage, Henry Macy returns to Nantucket to news that his grandmother has passed, bequeathing her vast fortune to him and his sister, Hitty. And it was truly vast. But Lillian Coffin was no fool. The inheritance comes with a steep cost, including when each should marry and whom--a Quaker in good standing, of course. But if they relinquish the inheritance, it all goes to Tristram Macy, their father's thieving business partner.

As Hitty and Henry seek a way to satisfy the will's conditions, they'll be faced with obstacles on every side--and it may be that Lillian Coffin will have the last word after all.
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Things Left Unsaid ~ Release Day Blast

Things Left Unsaid Release Day Blast Blog

About the Book:

Things Left Unsaid
An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.

Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.

But Lyndie isn’t the only one with secrets.

Cassie’s mother, father and brother, still struggling with the loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart—to escape the darkness and all its regrets and to finally come to terms with the past and, especially, with each other.


About the Author:

courtney-walsh-orig_3_orig
Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theater director, and playwright. Change of Heart is her fifth novel and is set in the same town as Paper Hearts. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two additional books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois where she and her husband own a performing and visual arts studio. They have three children.








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