Suitors for the Proper Miss ~ Review

Suitors for the Proper Miss

Lords for the Sisters of Sussex #4

By Jen Geigle Johnson

Lucy Standish has known most of her life that she was destined to marry very well - she of all the sisters has been declared the most suitable to marry a duke. She knows this is so and it will not be a love match, though she hopes there may be a little affection. But she must do this to provide for her children and her sisters - she never wants to be poor and hungry again. And she will do what she can to secure not only her future but the future of all she holds dear.  There is just one little problem getting her heart to agree with her thinking.

Mr. Sullivan has a way with horses and if she were honest she's found him to be the closest thing to a friend she has outside of her sisters. But nothing more could ever come of it - not even a true friendship because nobility and servants are to observe the boundaries that society has set in place. But somehow Mr. Sullivan has a way of seeing past the carefully constructed persona she has crafted for herself. After all, if she wishes to be a duchess she must always behave like a duchess. But when she is with Conor Sullivan she feels a freedom she never expected. 

A chance at a London season is the best thing that could have been offered to Lucy. First, it will take away from Conor and the confusion of feelings that he stirs within her. Second, it will afford her the chance to secure the future she so desperately wants. 

When a change comes into the Sullivan family's situation will it sway Lucy from one path to another? Or will the fears of the past keep her from following her heart? 

But what happens when your dreams change and what you've had suddenly becomes dear? Is the promise of security worth turning down the chance for love? Lucy's future depends on choices before her.

Suitors for the Proper Miss is the fourth book in the Lords for the Sisters of Sussex series and it is as delightful as the previous books. You can read this book as a standalone title but it reads better if you first read the other books so that you are aware of the backstories that are referenced in this book. But either way that you read this book you won't be disappointed. A lovely Regency era read perfect for spending the weekend with! 

There is an added bonus, a short excerpt from book 5 that will tease you with what is to come.

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

About the Book:

She wants to marry a Lord, as Lordly and titled as possible. 

He wants nothing more to do with her than saddle her horses.

Miss Lucy Standish has wanted to marry a future duke for as long as she could remember. Days in the cold, with little coal for their small cottage and little to eat, she would dream of the day she saved all her sisters with marriage to a man of such elevated title that they would never be poor again, that her children and their children forever would be cared for.

Mr. Conor Sullivan has never overstepped the lines of propriety. He does everything he can to treat Miss Lucy with respect. But his heart is overcome with love for the middle Standish sister, and he assumes he will spend his dying breath still wishing she was his.

But fortune changes for the Sullivan family. With new attention from the crown and past family secrets revealed, a path opens that just might mean happiness for Lucy and Conor. But will they be bold enough to seize the opportunity when it comes?

Read book Four in the Lords for the Sisters of Sussex Series for a hefty dose of delicious family relationships, Jane Austin type fun, and a delicious forbidden romance.

Fourth Sister ~ Review

Fourth Sister

Hearth and Bard Tales #2

By M.L. Farb

Shisei is cursed, she's known it most of her life. She is followed by death. She is responsible for her twin brother's death, and she feels she must do what she can to fulfill the promise of what his life might have been. When she brings about another death she is compelled to leave her home and family behind. Disguising herself, Shisei apprentices herself to a mask maker. But the four-tailed fox, a white kitsune, that has plagued her life has followed her - a trickster that is determined to ruin the new life she is now creating for herself. 

When Shisei returns to the village of her family she brings death with her. When the only son of the village Kazoku dies the blame is laid at the feet of her youngest sister - the penalty death! To save her sister's life, Shisei must become more than she has ever believed possible. She must become a leader and lead her sisters in a deception that could free one or cost them all their very lives.

Shisei has believed lies and allowed them to shape her life and undermine her worth in her own eyes. She's lived her life in penance but to save her sisters she must discover who she is.

Fourth Sister is a delightful story that takes the reader into a world that many are unfamiliar with. Combining myth, fantasy, and the beauty of haiku the reader is taken on a journey - a journey that one wishes would continue on. The story is well worth the time spent within its pages. It celebrates the bonds of family and explores the power of words. 

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:

Shi, shi, fourth and death.

Fourth sister and twin to death.

Brother born silent.

Blamed for her twin brother’s death, Shisei, the outcast fourth of seven sisters, apprentices herself to a mask maker; but when the local Kazoku accuses the youngest sister of killing his son, Shisei must lead her sisters in a deception that will either save the youngest or condemn them all.

Fourth Sister is a Japanese fairy tale retelling with sparse poetry and gold-mended brokenness. A Studio Ghibli type story that invokes reflection.

Little Women x Spirited Away

Driven ~ Review with Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour 
for Driven by Sara Davison, 
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Driven

Night Guardians #3

By Sara Davison

Holden Kelly's life just got a whole lot worse - he lost his unborn son and is losing his wife. And now his dreams are haunted by a young boy who seems to need his help. 

When a name gets put with the child in his dreams Holden feels that he has to track down this young boy. But he is not alone on this mission - his sister-in-law's sister Mikayla Grant knew the boy and feels lead to help. And then there is Jax Rodriguez- a PI who has a talent for annoying Mikayla. 

As their search for the last child that Gage Kelly helped "rescue" takes them from Toronto to Chicago they find themselves at the center of a dangerous game - one that they have no idea that they are a part of.

This book like the previous books in the series follows the aftermath of when caring people try to help those who are most vulnerable. When a child falls through the cracks and is caught in an abusive situation how far will you go to protect them? And what will you do to prevent them from ever being found? With their lives in danger, they need to stay one step ahead of whoever is after them. But how can you protect yourself when you don't know that danger is closing in? And time is against them.

I would recommend that readers read the first two books in the series as the previous actions of the characters have a direct bearing on this book. That isn't to say that one cannot enjoy this book without reading Vigilant or Guarded, but the backstory will allow one to more easily follow along. Overall this a well-written, well-paced book that fans of romantic suspense - especially the Love Inspired Suspense type reads will enjoy.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Driven
Series: Night Guardians #3
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Children aren’t the only ones who can disappear.

Driven by ongoing grief and relentless dreams, Holden Kelly is determined to track down the child his brother Gage abducted eight years earlier. The kidnapping that saved Matthew Gibson’s life had cost Gage his. Proving his brother hadn’t sacrificed his life for nothing might be the only way Holden can start fully living his again. And it could be the last chance he has to find his way back to the wife he loves but who is also mired in grief and a crisis of faith.

Mikayla Grant has nightmares of her own. A road trip with private investigator Jax Rodriguez—a man she is drawn to even though his primary goal seems to be to drive her crazy—can’t be the way to heal from a terrible loss. Can it?

As Holden, Mikayla, and Jax follow the missing child’s trail from Toronto to Chicago, their mission is not as secret as they thought. Someone knows they are coming and will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding Matthew.

And to make sure that no one ever hears from the three of them again.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Davison is the author of three romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, and The Rose Tattoo Trilogy. She has been a finalist for ten national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, a Selah, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a Word and Cascade Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children. The words on the mug she uses every morning pretty much sum up her life—I just want to sleep, drink coffee, and make stuff up. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

CONNECT WITH SARA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Driven and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

The full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway began at midnight February 1, 2021, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 8, 2021. The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Full tour schedule and links to hosts can be found at Launch Page at JustRead

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Fortune Favors the Sparrow ~ Review

Fortune Favors the Sparrow

Agents of the Convent #1

By Rebecca Connolly

Clara Harlow's life is dedicated to her students and her fellow teachers at Miss Masters Finishing School. But her skills as an artist and her command of the French language are about to introduce her to a side of the school she never imagined existing. All too soon she finds herself assuming the identity of the late Duke of Kirklin's ward to gain access to his estate in Kent and puts her artistic skills to work. She never expected to meet the new Duke of Kirklin...

George (Hawk) Russell is bored with the life of a duke. His late uncle's estates all but run themselves, leaving him with nothing to occupy his time. Worse than living a boring life, Hawk finds that he bores himself. But what's a Duke to do? Why break the rules of convention, of course. As Hawk begins the annual tour of his estates he never expected to find a most captivating young lady residing within the walls of Kirkleigh. And soon he finds himself reluctant to out of Clara's presence. Her company has brought something into his life and he doesn't want to give it up.

But when Hawk learns of her deception will their connection be severed? Or will she just disappear when her mission is completed, leaving him with a broken heart?

This book continues with the plot uncovered in To Sketch a Sphinx and the effort to thwart the overthrow of the English government by those with French sympathies. This is the first book in Rebecca Connolly's new series Agents of the Convent, and fans of her previous works will not be disappointed. This Regency Era book can be read as a standalone if you have not read the author's previous series as it features, for the most part, characters new to this world.

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

About the Book:

Mischief is as mischief does...

Clara Harlow is perfectly content with her life as a teacher of art and French at the Miss Masters Finishing School, so nothing startles her more than to discover that the school is far more than it seems, and its purposes more complicated than anything she could have imagined. She finds herself accepting an assignment from the highest powers in England to use her talents for a particular mission: to impersonate the ward of the late Duke of Kirklin, gain access to the estate, and to discern how a strip of the Kent coastline there is being used against the security of England.

The present Duke of Kirklin, George Russell, better known as Hawk, does not know what to make of the appearance of the former ward of his late uncle, but he is captivated by her. Her skills in art are unlike anything he has ever seen, and her company grows more agreeable with every passing day. His boring, bachelor life grows less and less appealing, and the company within his walls more perfectly suited for the place than he ever dreamed.

What could possibly go wrong?

Beauty Among Ruins ~ Review

Beauty Among Ruins

By J'nell Ciesielski

Narrated by Kate Rudd

Lily Durham has flaunted her lack of regard for societal rules for the last time. Her mother won't allow her to further endanger the family's standing with her carefree, thoughtless behavior and thus banishes her to spend the summer in England. But war with Germany extends Lily's exile, trapping her on the island nation. What's a girl to do? Why take up nursing and help care for the convalescing soldiers.

But Lily's skills as a nurse are sadly lacking and her American ways do little to endear her to the matron or the family who have given their home over to serve as a convalescent home. 

Kinclavoch Castle has fallen on hard times, debt has allowed it to deteriorate, though the current laird, Alec MacGregor, is doing all in his power to preserve and hold onto his family's ancestorial lands and provide a home for those who have served. Alec wants to remain in the shadows and out of the judgmental eye of any who may disapprove of his lack of service. Though contact with the family is strictly prohibited Lily somehow manages to get lost and always ends up exactly where she shouldn't. But sometimes that is exactly where one needs to be.

As Lily comes to love and care for the stark beauty of the land that has become home to her, she grows into a person that she never could have been surrounded by the wealth and society she had been born into. And she finds her heart softening towards a certain laird who is determined to go it alone as his world crumbles around him. Can two opposites find common ground in their loneliness and their love of the land they stand upon? But someone has targetted Alec and Kinclavoch seemingly with an intention to destroy them both. 

Beauty Among Ruins takes the reader to the lowlands of Scotland during the height of the Great War, the War that was to end all wars. The world is in a time of upheaval and change, and it is in this world that Lily comes into her own. She brings light and joy to a world that has lost its way brightening the life of Alec and the soldiers by giving them hope.

The narration by Kate Rudd is well done. The pacing suits the story, moving it forward as we are introduced to the various characters. In no way does her presentation detract from the story. 

I have not previously had any familiarity with the author's works and was more than a little pleased to discover a new to me author. J'nell Ciesielski has a delightful way with words and I for one plan on further discovering her works - her previous work The Socialite is already on my tbr list for 2021.

I was provided a complimentary digital text copy of this work but purchased the audio version to complement my daily commute. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected.

American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.

Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light.

Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threaten to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love?

Hunger ~ Cover Reveal

 It's time for another cover reveal!

The second book in Jill Williamson's Thirst Duology is

about to be revealed. And it is an excellent companion look

to Thirst.

But before we get to the cover, I'm sure you want

to know a little about the book first.

In the wake of a pandemic, Eli and his friends find a thriving community that offers free housing, food, and thankfully, safe drinking water. But something is amiss. The residents spend most of their time partying and attending concerts. No one seems concerned that the virus is still out there. When Eli tries to leave, he discovers a fence has been built to keep him, and everyone else, inside.

Hannah is tired of running. When she is conscripted to work in the hospital, she hopes she’s finally found a place to belong, but Admin’s disregard for a doctor’s pledge to “First do no harm” is unsettling.

As Hannah starts to wonder if she will ever be safe again, Eli clings to his hope for freedom. In a world filled with lies, can they learn to trust each other? Or will their hunger for safety trap them in a world that’s not so safe after all?

Now Thirst is scheduled to be released on April 8, 2021, in hardcover, paperback, and eBook.

If you are planning on going the eBook route, you can preorder it at:

https://amzn.to/39JUziM

You can learn more at:

www.JillWilliamson.com/thirst

Now it is time to check out the cover.

Lethal Intent ~ Review

Lethal Intent

By Cara Putman

This book features several of the characters from The Hidden Justice series, so I'm assuming it is, if not part of the numbered series, a companion book that continues following the lives of lawyers who call the D.C. area home.

In this book, we get to know Caroline Bragg, who has just started a new job as legal counsel for Praecursoria, where she is tasked with keeping the company on the right side of the law as they develop new genetic therapies. But the drive to save kids who are succumbing to cancer can be a powerful temptation to cross the line.

Brandon Lancaster has been Caroline's best friend for years and she admires his dedication to providing a home to foster children who otherwise would lose contact with their siblings. When one of his foster kids starts to lose her battle to the cancer wracking her body, Brandon will do all in his power to help her fight it. And Praecursoria's newest trail offers hope that Brandon has been looking for. 

When Praecursoria has a rash of tragic events occur within a short period of time, Caroline has some suspicions but no way to prove them. Is someone out to damage Praecuroria or is it just a coincidence what has been happening? Can she protect the company and Brandon while keeping the confidence the law requires? 

Lethal Intent is a legal romantic suspense that will keep you guessing as to who is doing what. We are shown glimpses of the person working against Preacursoria but not enough to discern their identity. Who is the killer's next target? Caroline needs to walk carefully if she hopes to outwit an opponent who seems to be waiting for her next move. Another good read that is not to be missed.

I found some of the background information that all the science that was going into the treatments being developed/ Some of it is a bit beyond what I remember from High School science but it all has a plausible feel to it.  I found this to be an easy read that is the perfect choice for a long weekend. You won't regret reading this one.

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:

If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman. 

Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home. 

When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda? 

Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her? 

This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.