5.01.2022

Fatal Code ~ Review

Fatal Code
 
The SNAP Agency #2
By Natalie Walters 

Her grandfather's death has rocked her world, making her feel abandoned, but at least Elinor Mitchell has her work and her grandfather's notebooks. And when she survives a near accident thanks to her neighbor, one of her grandfather's notebooks is almost lost in a muddy puddle. 

In the six months he's been living in his apartment, Kekoa Young hasn't really communicated with his next-door neighbor, but an inattentive bicyclist changes all of that when he nearly runs her down. Preventing a fall is the most interaction he has had with her to date, and then his less than stellar rescue of her notebook brings her to tears. Ouch!

When Kekoa learns that he is suppose to keep an eye on Elinor because his previous investigations skills (cryptography) have cast doubts on Elinor and her loyalties. There is just one problem Kekoa doesn't believe Elinor is guilty of selling company secrets to competitors or foreign governments even though his work that pointed SNAP in Elinor's direction isn't wrong.

As Kekoa deals with proving Elinor's innocence she discovers that she needs Kekoa's skills in helping her understand the hidden message in her grandfather's notebooks. But soon the two mysteries seem to be overlapping as danger seems to be lurking around the corner. Are the two related even though nearly six decades separate them? 

Fatal Code gives one an insight into Kekoa by sharing parts of his history. An incident in his past caused Kekoa to leave home and family behind. Kekoa is an interesting person - caring, intense, focused, and loyal. Elinor is a fairly private person who seems to trust people but only so far due to her relationship with her parents.

Fatal Code doesn't ignore the other members of SNAP and I have to admit I love Lyla's character. She is sassy, intelligent, capable, and caring. Her relationship with the other SNAP team members is interesting.

If you haven't read the previous book or novella in the series you can read this book and still follow along with no major problems. But I really think you will enjoy this book more fully if you read Lights Out (book one) and Intitium (series prequel novella) first.

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:
In 1964, a group of scientists called the Los Alamos Five came close to finishing a nuclear energy project for the United States government when they were abruptly disbanded. Now the granddaughter of one of those five scientists, aerospace engineer Elinor Mitchell, discovers that she has highly sensitive information on the project in her possession--and a target on her back.

SNAP agent and former Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is tasked with monitoring Elinor. This is both convenient since she's his neighbor in Washington, DC, and decidedly inconvenient because . . . well, he kind of likes her.

As Elinor follows the clues her grandfather left behind to a top-secret nuclear project, Kekoa has no choice but to step in. When Elinor learns he has been spying on her, she's crushed. But with danger closing in on all sides, she'll have to trust him to ensure her discoveries stay out of enemy hands.

Natalie Walters sucks you into the global race for space domination in this perfectly paced second installment of her SNAP Agency romantic suspense series.
 

4.30.2022

Face of the Enemy ~ Character Profile, Book Spotlight and Giveaway


Face of the Enemy
Heirs of Roxbury #1
By Paige Edwards








Today I'm featuring the Face of the Enemy by doing a character profile of Elise Taylor and Harry Benson. 
 


Elise Taylor is the MI6 name that Lady Elise Henderson uses to separate her two lives.
Was seriously injured two years ago and is trying to make a final push to get into shape before her last few weeks of medical leave are up.
Has made an enemy of 'The Professor".
Had dated Harry Benson in college before parental disapproval broke them up.
She is loyal, driven, and protective.






Harry Benson was born and raised as the son of servants.
Dated Elise Henderson while in college until she broke his heart.
Previously married and has a young son.
Been stationed in the Mideast, where he uncovered information about UK weapons being funneled to terrorists.
Has been with MI6 for several years and was paired with Elise Taylor as his training agent before her accident.
He is loyal, steady, and dedicated.





Face of the Enemy is the first book in the Heirs of Roxbury series, and it is most definitely a book you don't want to miss out on.  The book is Contemporary Romantic Suspense, but something about the way it reads could easily place it in the 1940s. Both Elise and Harry are characters one can easily connect with. The book is well-paced and action-driven though there are contemplative moments as well.

To read my full review, click here.



About the Book:
Lady Elise Henderson lives two separate lives. At home in Scotland, she’s the titled daughter of the Marquess of Roxbury, an heiress in her own right. In London, however, she’s Elise Taylor, a top MI6 operative for the “home office.” But when a devastating accident threatens to end her career, Elise is left with far too much time for self-reflection and the regret of a decision made long ago that features one man: fellow MI6 agent Harry Benson.

Harry Benson, the son of servants, has loved Elise for the better part of a decade. But life took them on separate journeys until their worlds converged once more. An immediate assignment to the Scottish Borders leaves Harry little time to make provisions for his small, rambunctious son, Sammy. Harry knows only one person he can rely on for the boy’s care—Elise. When Elise brings Sammy to her ancestral estate, she never imagines that a nemesis from her past looms in the shadows, hungry for revenge. Stalked at every turn, Elise and Harry discover that fighting their feelings for one another is futile, but can they survive long enough to get another shot at true love?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

4.29.2022

The Valet's Secret ~ Review

The Valet's Secret
By Josi S. Kilpack

Rebecca Parker never expected to be almost run off the road by a horse. But Mr. Malcolm Henry is not only apologetic but concerned about her welfare. And there is something about him that draws her to him, and this seemingly chance meeting leads Rebecca to make decisions that effect her future.  

Kenneth Winterton never wanted to be the heir to the earldom, but his cousin's unfortunate death forced him into a life his is ill prepared for. Worse his uncle is pressing him to make an advantageous match and soon. Kenneth already has two son's from his first marriage and the earldom is secure for the foreseeable future. And the ladies that are paraded before him though well suited for the roll don't inspire him to seek their hand in marriage. Only one lady has caused him to pause and she isn't a lady of rank, worse she works as a maid and would never meet his uncle's expectations. But with her he can be himself, well, mostly himself - Rebecca knows him as Mr. Malcolm Henry, valet to Lord Winterton. Ah, what a tangled web Kenneth finds himself.

To say Rebecca is more than a little hurt when the truth comes out would be a disservice to her feelings. And when the truth comes out it could not have been at a more inconvenient moment - during the serving of dinner.  

The Valet's Secret is a delightful read that looks beyond rank and status when feelings develop between a Lord and a maid. But society may have something to say when the truth comes out. But sometimes the person the world deems least likely to be the perfect match is exactly who is needed to ensure the best future possible. 

This is a twist on Cinderella - a daughter serving in the home of her father, an advantageous marriage deemed necessary, and a benefactress who could easily be a kindly godmother. The Valet's Secret is a Regency era, clean romance that is a second-chance story. 

I love this quote "There will be objections, there will be frustrations and expectations and a great deal to learn, but when two people choose to love one another and work side by side, they can build something remarkable and, in their way, they change the world. I have lived that reality. I know the possibility can be true if you can believe it for yourself.”

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 passionate kiss from a handsome valet becomes a 
Regency Cinderella story when he is revealed 
to be the heir to the earldom.

York, England, 1819

As a once happily married woman, Rebecca Parker had a good life, but now widowed, working for a living, and her only child grown, she feels invisible, tired, and lonely. That is until the day a valet speeding by on a horse nearly runs her off the road. Mr. Malcolm Henry is apologetic, gentle, and handsome. She’s instantly drawn to him, which is why, rather than stopping him from kissing her, she kisses him back, reigniting a nearly forgotten passion. But love at first sight only happens in fairy tales—never to an ordinary woman like her.

She sees Mr. Henry again and feels the possibilities growing until, while working in the kitchens during a dinner party, she sees the valet she kissed sitting at the right hand of the baroness. Mr. Henry is not the earl’s valet; he is the heir to the earldom—Kenneth Winterton.

Heartbroken, angry, and betrayed, Rebecca does not trust Lord Winterton and refuses to accept his apology. But when Lord Winterton proves he is as kind and gentle as “Mr. Henry” was, she finds herself willing to give him a second chance. But will he take a chance on her? He needs a wife to help him in his place in society, and nothing about Rebecca's life does that . . . except how he feels when she is with him.

Trust, love, loneliness, and passion collide in this story about a man who will risk it all to fight for the woman he loves and a woman who does not believe in fairy tales—until she finds herself living in one.

Mask of Scarlet ~ Review with Snippet

Mask of Scarlet
Bastian Denell, PI #3
By Sarah Pennington

Bastian isn't too sure when a potential client seeks his assistance in finding the most beautiful woman ever. But all he has to do is discover the identity of this mystery woman and that can't be too difficult, surely someone at the party got her name. It seems easy enough with the greatest danger being that his new client won't like the answer that Bastian uncovers.

All too soon this new case proves to be more difficult than it first appeared. No one knows the identity of the mysterious woman. And the Families are involved - YIKES!!!! But Bastian isn't easily dissuaded.

Now, if he could just figure out what's going on with Dayo. For some reason, she seems to be giving him the brush-off. Can Bastian find true love not only for himself but also for his client? Maybe if he can keep the Fair Folk and the Families out of his case. 

Mask of Scarlet is a fun twist on Cinderella set in a 1920s era with a good dash of fantasy thrown in just to keep it even more interesting. This is the third book in the Bastian Denell, PI series, and each book goes together chronologically, but each book can be read as a standalone title. (But I personally think it reads better in series order.) I highly recommend this series and book as it is a fun and engaging read.

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

Book Description:

Bastian Dennel is a detective, not a matchmaker.

But he’s also not one to turn down easy mazuma. So when one of Innsjøby’s richest young sheiks hires him to find his so-called true love — a girl he’s met only once at a masked party — Bastian is on the case. After his last few high-risk adventures, he’s ready for a job where the hardest part will be collecting his payment. Sure, all he has to go on is a guest list and a description . . . but how hard can it be?

Of course, easy money always has a catch, and what should’ve been a simple search turns out to be anything but. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on who this mystery girl should be, whether or not it matches reality, and even the Families are getting involved. To make matters worse, Dayo is acting cagey, and Bastian doesn’t know why.

Bastian’s business is the truth. But what can he do when everyone around him has already decided what they want the truth to be? Find out in this Jazz-Age take on “Cinderella,” book three of the Bastian Dennel, PI mysteries! 

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09RQFLHCM 

Add Book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60307521-mask-of-scarlet 

Find the rest of the series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09869T5NJ



Author Bio:

Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. When she isn't writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list. 

Find her online at: Author Site || Wordpress Blog || Blogspot Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Amazon

Book Snippet:

Bastian’s office door swung open so hard it banged against the wall. A burst of early autumn wind and a swirl of drying leaves halfway between red and brown swept in, along with a young man wearing a bold purple suit in a cut that said it cost more than Bastian made in a good year. “Bastian Dennel?” the man asked.

 

“That would be me.” Bastian stood, taking in the figure who’d invaded his office. Short red curls poked out beneath a fedora that matched the suit. Blue eyes gleamed in a face a few shades too dark to be purely Stjernesøkeren or Daoinoic, a face whose lines Bastian had seen in the papers more than a few times—typically in the gossip section. The man moved in sudden, eager bursts, though with the particular grace that came with the certainty that he was too important for anyone to refuse.

 

In short, he looked like trouble. But he was trouble with money, so Bastian wouldn’t complain. The slow shift from high summer to mid fall had brought with it a dry spell so far as work was concerned. And while his money hadn’t run out yet, with two additional people in the house, his savings were dropping lower than he’d like.

4.28.2022

Cover Reveal for Magic Hunters The Journey Begins


Don't you just LOVE cover reveals?


Today I’m thrilled to celebrate with author Jill Williamson and her husband Brad 
as they reveal the cover for MAGIC HUNTERS: THE JOURNEY BEGINS, book 1 
in their new middle grade fairytale mash-up trilogy.

This cover was a compilation of two talented artists. The character sketch was done 
by Hannah Prewett and Emilie Hendryx, who used Hannah’s sketch in the cover design. 

Here is the back cover description: 
✨✨✨
Hunter, the son of the huntsman who nearly killed Snow White, is tired of the shame that labels his family. Tricked into making a wish upon a magic mirror, he accidentally unleashes a curse that banishes magic from the Story Realms. 

In order to right this wrong, Hunter sets out to find a wizard who might be able to help. Along the way he meets Izzy, a girl with no memory. Together, the pair embark upon an epic quest to restore the magic—and memories—that have been lost. Do Hunter and Izzy have what it takes to bring magic back to the Story Realms? Or is magic is lost forever?
✨✨✨

From now until release day, which is June 23, you can preorder signed paperback copies
of MAGIC HUNTERS on Jill’s author website with FREE shipping. On release day 
(June 23), the free shipping deal ends, and the book will go on sale through regular 
retailers along with the eBook version. 

For more information about the book, to pre-order the paperback, or to add the 
book to your Goodreads account, visit jillwilliamson.com/magic-hunters.

Now for the COVER REVEAL which everyone knows is why you stopped by!









The Viscount’s Lady Novelist ~ Review

The Viscount’s Lady Novelist 
The Linfield Ladies #2
By Alissa Baxter

Harriet Linfield is an oddity in her family, where their interests and passions run towards the scientific hers runs towards the artistic. She is soon to have her London Season though she has little use for one now. Her heart was broken, and she has sworn off marriage and romance. And now, she doubts not only herself but the interest of any man. 

When her brother's friend Viscount Wentford becomes their guest, Harriet is more than a little displeased. The last thing she wants is an eligible man breaching the safety and tranquility of her home and her life. And his interest in her is soon tempered when she decides that he, too, is just another fortune hunter.

Oliver is more than a little delighted to make the acquaintance of Harriet. She is well-studied and an excellent conversationalist. If only she could believe she has merit to attract attention that is not based on what wealth she'll bring to a marriage. Unfortunately, their first encounter is less than stellar, with Harriet viewing him as the newest villain in her life.  But when the man who broke her heart and threatened her family is observed nearby, Harriet's resolve to distance herself from Oliver is tested. Can she ever trust herself or any gentleman ever again? Harriet is about to find out.

The Viscount's Lady Novelist is a delightful and enjoyable clean read. It is the second book in the Linfield Ladies series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. This is the perfect weekend getaway from the comfort of your favorite reading corner. A sweet read that I recommend if you a looking for something with a touch of romance and historical fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.                      
                               
About the Book:

Harriet Linfield is a lady novelist who has been disillusioned by love. She sets out to write more realistic tales about the emotion when she returns home to Linfield Court for the summer. Vowing to avoid any romantic entanglements along the way, she focuses instead on her writing and her plan to turn the estate she inherited from her uncle into a refuge for orphans.

Oliver, Viscount Wentford, is determined to restore his family's fortunes. But his plans for the estate he inherited are in direct opposition to the wishes of Harriet, his new neighbour. Upon meeting her, Oliver is amused when, in response to his provocative comments, she informs him that she intends to make him the villain of her next book. But his amusement swiftly turns to dismay when circumstances align to show him in that exact light.

When an enemy comes back into Harriet’s life, she sees that love isn’t as clear-cut as the romantic tales she pens. But will the viscount manage to discard his villainous mantle to become Harriet’s real-life hero?

Cindy Ellen ~ Review

Cindy Ellen 
Wunstaponia #3 
By Rachel Roden

Cindy Ellen's life was fairly good though the loss of her mother was hard. When her father remarried a lovely and delightful widow with twin daughters it seemed they would once again have a happy home. 

But, as with all Cinderella retellings, all happiness must come to an end, and when it did Cindy Ellen was forced into near servitude in her family's general story. The one bright spot was when Old Prospector Dan would make his quarterly visits to Wunstaponia. Dan's stories would brighten Cindy's day and bring back happy memories of her late father.

When the Mayor holds a ball to celebrate his younger brother's return to Wunstaponia, Cindy thinks that she'll have a chance to attend but alas, her greedy step-mother and step-sisters have taken everything as their own. What's a girl to do in a fairy-tale-retelling when no magic is involved? Cindy is about to find out in this delightful short story that hits all the well-known key points of Cinderella while crafting a unique and enjoyable reading experience.

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. 

Releases April 28th 

Book Description: 

Once upon a time, way out west... 

Cindy Ellen runs the local store, selling supplies to foresters, ranchers, and prospectors while her stepmother gives her never-ending orders and spoils her stepsisters. She can't do anything right, even as she's the only one doing anything. Can one ball change her life forever? Perhaps not, but at least it might give her one night of freedom. 

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099BC33F3/ 

Add Book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com

Find the rest of the Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JNLXKR 



Author Bio: Rachel Roden is a natural storyteller, capable of weaving the most hilarious of fairy tales. She fell in love with the Lone Ranger in her teens, but ended up with a basketball referee instead. A homeschool mom of four, she also teaches with VIP Kids and tutors any other kid who wanders across her path. She might also be the sole human who still uses math after college. 

Find her online at: Blog || Goodreads || YouTube || Instagram || Twitter