A Haunting at Linley ~ Review

A Haunting at Linley

A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Mystery #7

By Michelle Cox

So first off this is the first book in the series that I have read. I will say that reading the previous books would have been a good first step as there are backstories that would have more fully explained the current situations of the various characters. That being said this book can still be enjoyed on its own if one doesn't mind a bit of a mystery about the backstory, which is kind of like meeting new people. I know I don't quiz people to tedium just to learn their whole life story upon meeting them, so I was good reading this book as a standalone title.

Clive and Henrietta Howard are drawn to mysteries and there is a bit of a mystery at the home of Clive's cousin. Wallace has invited Clive to Linley Castle, which is facing an inheritance tax (two as it was left to his mother). Yes, Linley Castle doesn't have the financial resources to sustain itself for much longer. 

But when they arrive Henrietta feels as though something is off about the home. Could Lady Linley, Aunt Margaret be right, could a ghost be haunting the castle. Being who she is Henrietta can't leave things as they are and soon she and Clive are caught up in another mystery.

Now there are other parallel stories taking place (this is where I regretted  not reading the previous books). Though intriguing I found myself more drawn to Henrietta and Clive's portion of the story. I liked the mystery and the various characters and their reactions to the events around them just added to the draw, in my opinion. Are there nefarious deeds taking place at Linley? Or does a ghost (or two) indeed walk the grounds?

 

And the cover alone should be a draw when deciding to at least give this book a perusal. I mean look at it - a mysterious woman dressed so she can't be totally identified. Is she dressed as a bride with her wedding veil? Is it her ghostly disguise? There is only one way to know. Read the book and discover the answers you seek.

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 would be a PG-13+ read in my opinion.

About the Book:

In this seventh book of the series, Clive and Henrietta return to England to find Castle Linley in financial ruin. When Clive’s cousin, Wallace, invites an estate agent in to assess the home’s value, the agent is later found poisoned, throwing all of the Castle’s guests into suspicion. Clive and Henrietta are soon drawn into an investigation, which is slowed by an incompetent local inspector and several unexplained phenomena—the cause of which many, especially the frail Lady Linley, believe to be the workings of the ghost of a hanged maid.

Meanwhile, Gunther and Elsie have begun  life on a farm in Omaha. Circumstances are difficult, but they are content—until Oldrich Exely appears, proposing an option Elsie finds difficult to ignore.  Melody Merriweather, still masquerading as a nun to aid Elsie’s escape, likewise finds it difficult to ignore a letter with tragic news from home, while Julia, on the other hand, receives a very different sort of letter from Glenn Forbes.

Back in England, Clive is called away to London on suspicious business, leaving Henrietta to carry on with the investigation alone.  When she is mysteriously locked in the study one night, however, things take on a more deadly, supernatural feel, leaving her to fear that  Lady Linley's “ghost” might just be real after all…

Guard Her Heart ~ Review

Guard Her Heart
Crown of Promise #2
By Hannah Currie
Published by WhiteCrown

Lady Mykah feels the call to aid those who are in need. She has never questioned that. But she has kept her identity secret as she moves through the night, leaving aid at the door of those whose needs she knows. But Mykah has made an enemy, an enemy who seeks her death.

Sir Finnigan has long sought his elder brother's approval. He's never questioned the orders he's been given until now. When Finnigan shoots and nearly kills the young woman who stole his heart years ago, he determines that his loyalty lies not with his brother but with the king and the young woman known as the Guardian of Raedonleith.  

Determined to make amends for his actions, Finnigan rides to give warning and to win the heart of the lady who captured his heart years ago.

I really enjoyed this book, which is set in the time of knights and chivalry. It was interesting watching events unfold and seeing how the various characters were woven together. Even more so when saw events from differing perspectives. Who do you trust, and who do you hold at arm's length. I liked Mykah, but I also felt her feelings about Finnigan were most interesting, considering her position on other matters.  And I felt Finnigan showed a strength of character in both his dealings with his brother and his later efforts in Raedonleith.  This is the second book in the Crown of Promise series but it can be read as a standalone title. I'm sure the first book provides information that would explain more about King Lior and Mykah's sister Evangeline, but it could easily be read later to answer any questions that arise while reading.

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:

To all bar a few, the Guardian of Raedonleith is a mystery. To Lady Mykah, the second daughter of King Lior, it’s her calling. For the past four years, the mask has given Mykah a way to care for her people in her father’s stead while she hides from them how distant their king has become. She has never questioned her mission or thought the cost too high—until the night an arrow finds her. Though she has the courage of a knight and the calling of the Almighty, Mykah admits she would have died if not for the man who carried her to safety. A man who is as determined to keep his identity hidden as she is.

 Six years ago, Sir Finnian lost his heart to a mysterious young archer. Though he searched, he never learned her name until the night he shot her…on his brother’s orders. Wracked with guilt, Finnian makes protecting Lady Mykah his new mission, never guessing how difficult it will prove to be. The Guardian has more enemies than she knows, and they’re closer than she realizes.

The longer Finnian stays, the clearer the price of his vow becomes. Because the only way to win Mykah’s heart will be to break his own. And the only way to keep hers beating will be to break it altogether.

Order at: https://bit.ly/490SmgE 

About the Author:

Hannah Currie has loved royals—both real and fictional—for as long as she can remember and has always been fascinated by their lives. They started making their way into her writing somewhere around first grade and never stopped.

While she never dreamed of being a princess for real (way too many expectations and people watching), she certainly wouldn’t say no to the gorgeous gowns, endless wardrobes, chefs, and cleaners that come with the job. A crown or two wouldn’t go astray either. Or Belle’s library. Where she’d just sit and stare at the books with a giddy smile on her face for hours.

Hannah lives with her husband and three kids in Australia, where they proudly claim Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family as their own. She is very honored to be one of the launching authors for the new WhiteCrown Publishing line with her Crown of Promise series full of faith, romance, and—of course—royals.

Author Links

Instagram | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | BookBub

Jane and the Final Mystery ~ Review

Jane and the Final Mystery

Being a Jane Austen Mystery #15

By Stephanie Barron

First, I must admit this is my first Being a Jane Austen Mystery book, and unfortunately, it is also the final book in the series. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quick and easy to get into without any previous knowledge of the series. 

The book is written in the language and style of Jane Austen herself, which gives it an authentic feel. I'm always surprised how language and spelling evolve over time and yet one can easily slip into what was with little to no effort. 

This book is set during the final months of Jane's life as her health fails, but when the son of a dear friend asks for help, Jane obliges, as is her nature. To see a young man destroyed when another is found dead raises her to the occasion. But the very environment and culture of Winchester College has lent itself to hazing and abuse of younger students. And when one of the most volatile of the bullies is found dead, his latest victim is accused of, if not doing the deed, of driving his tormentor to the taking of his own life. Yeah, right, blame the poor smaller kid who has no money to his name, sounds perfectly reasonable. Jane is of the same thought, though with better wording, and is determined to seek out the truth. With Jane and her nephew Edward on the case, the truth will surely come out, though it may prove a touch dangerous.

This was an enjoyable read, and seeing Jane Austen as a detective was fun. This book was most definitely able to be read as a standalone title. But since I just discovered this series at the very end, I have a new series and author to add to my TBR list. A very long list, I might add.

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.

QUICK FACTS
 Title: Jane and the Final Mystery
 Series: Being a Jane Austen Mystery (Book 15)
 Author: Stephanie Barron
 Genre: Historical Mystery, Austenesque Fiction
 Publisher: Soho Crime (October 24, 2023)
 Length: (312) pages
 Format: Hardcover, eBook, and audiobook 
 ISBN: 978-1641295055
 Tour Dates: October 16 – 31, 2023

BOOK DESCRIPTION
The final volume of the critically acclaimed mystery series featuring Jane Austen
as amateur sleuth

March 1817: As winter turns to spring, Jane Austen’s health is in slow decline, and
threatens to cease progress on her latest manuscript. But when her nephew Edward
brings chilling news of a death at his former school, Winchester College, not even her
debilitating ailment can keep Jane from seeking out the truth. Arthur Prendergast, a
senior pupil at the prestigious all-boys’ boarding school, has been found dead in a
culvert near the school grounds—and in the pocket of his drenched waistcoat is an
incriminating note penned by the young William Heathcote, the son of Jane’s dear friend
Elizabeth. Winchester College is a world unto itself, with its own language and rites of
passage, cruel hazing, and dangerous pranks. Can Jane clear William’s name before
her illness gets the better of her?
 
Over the course of fourteen previous novels in the critically acclaimed Being a Jane
Austen Mystery series, Stephanie Barron has won the hearts of thousands of
fans—crime fiction aficionados and Janeites alike—with her tricky plotting and
breathtaking evocation of Austen’s voice. Now, she brings Jane’s final season—and
final murder investigation—to brilliant, poignant life in this unforgettable conclusion.

PRAISE FOR JANE AND THE FINAL MYSTERY
 “Poignant . . . Elicits deep emotion out of Jane’s struggles against her own
mortality. This is a fitting send-off for a beautifully realized series.”— Publishers
Weekly, Starred Review
 “Barron developed Jane’s narrative voice by reading Austen’s collected and
published letters, and it is neither spoiler nor surprise to say that series readers
will be sorry to say goodbye to Jane Austen, amateur sleuth.”— Booklist
 "[Barron] has brilliantly combined authentic historical and biographical details with
skillful plotting and a credible evocation of Austen’s wry, distinctive voice. She
brings the English author’s final investigation to a poignant, unforgettable close.
Fans of this historical series will not be disappointed.”— First Clue

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher | BookShop | Goodreads

About the Author:

Stephanie Barron is a graduate of Princeton and Stanford, where she received her Masters in History as an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow in the Humanities. Her novel, THAT CHURCHILL WOMAN (Ballantine, January 22, 2019) traces the turbulent career of Jennie Jerome, Winston Churchill's captivating American mother. Barron is perhaps best known for the critically acclaimed Jane Austen Mystery Series, in which the intrepid and witty author of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE details her secret detective career in Regency England. 

A former intelligence analyst for the CIA, Stephanie—who also writes under the name Francine Mathews—drew on her experience in the field of espionage for such novels as JACK 1939, which The New Yorker described as "the most deliciously high-concept thriller imaginable." She lives and works in Denver, CO.

Connect online at:

 |  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest |  Bookbub |  Goodreads |  

Release Day for Summon the Light

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is the Release Day for Summon the Light: a retelling of The Tempest by Tor Thibeaux.

This is the 6th book in the A Classic Retold multi-author series, and it’s out today! 

BLURB:

            Everything he ever loved is gone.

            Can what is broken ever be restored?

    In a quiet, seaside town, Nick works as a smuggler, disguising himself as a human and hiding his secret past as the servant of the magician Prospero. It’s been two years since the attack that devastated the great magician’s island leaving it dark and ruined. Prospero and his beautiful daughter, Miranda, are dead, and even Nick’s best friend, the spirit Ariel, has slipped into a coma. Nothing is left.

    Nick has resolved himself to mere survival when a voice from the past suddenly begins to call to him, urging him to rebuild the magic island’s ruined chapel. No matter how futile the task, Nick cannot ignore the haunting call to restore the heart of the island.

    But hope is not the only thing awakening. Darkness is stirring as well—darkness that understands the meaning of Nick’s task better than he does.

    As Nick begins his work, he is stalked on land and sea—by enemies human and inhuman—all of them prepared to do whatever is necessary to keep him from summoning the light.

    Tor Thibeaux re-imagines Shakespeare’s The Tempest in an epic story of good and evil in a high-stakes fantasy adventure.

Available Now on Amazon 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/165772740-summon-the-light

Author Website: https://www.tspecfiction.com/

Running to You ~ Review

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Running to You by Robin Patchen hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Running to You 

The Wright Heroes of Maine #1 

By Robin Patchen 

Five years ago, she left him with a broken heart. Now Eliza is back and has no idea that she left him and seemingly disappeared without a trace. 

Sam Wright has moved on from the one woman he was mere moments away from proposing to. Or he thought he had. But Eliza is back and she needs him to help keep her safe. 

There is just one little problem. Well, actually it's a rather big problem. Eliza has no idea where she's been for the last five years. And no idea why anyone would be after her. So, yeah, keeping her safe is a really big problem. Especially since they seem to know where she is! No question about it, Sam just might need to spend some of his money to keep her safe and to get answers, answers he may not like.

Running to You is a suspense-filled read that keeps the reader guessing as to what exactly going on and why Eliza is in danger. Partial bits and pieces are slowly revealed as her memory slowly comes back. But often what she remembers leaves more questions.      

Now as Sam attempts to help Eliza figure out what is going on, what happened, etc. he has some serious issues. The main being his anger at Eliza having left him. Eliza saw something and per Sam never gave him a chance to explain. Well, when the truth comes out (memory is revealed) one can understand Eliza's reaction to a point. And yet her sudden decision is what put her in the position she now finds herself in.

I have to be honest, I really didn't connect with Sam. Some of his attitude just really rubbed me wrong and I can't see why Eliza liked him, but she did, and we got a story out of it. I did like the mystery/suspense aspects of the book. As for Sam's brothers I look forward to learning more about them in future books in this 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

Title: Running to You 

Series: The Wright Heroes of Maine #1 

Author: Robin Patchen 

Publisher: JDO Publishing 

Release Date: October 10, 2023 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

From a USA Today Bestselling author...

Sam never understood why Eliza left him five years ago, ghosting him without explanation. He’s avoided romance ever since, focusing on building his business. Money might not keep him warm at night, but it can sure buy a lot of blankets. 

Then Eliza shows up on his doorstep and throws herself into his arms. She can’t explain her bruises or the head injury that’s left her with no memories of the past five years, including their breakup. No matter how good it feels to hold her, though, there’s no way he’s getting sucked into romance again. 

He’ll deliver Eliza to her mother, and that will be that. But instead of finding her mom, they’re met by two attackers and barely escape alive. Despite the danger to his life and his heart, he can’t leave Eliza to fend for herself. 

Together, they embark on a journey to reconstruct her past while evading the men chasing her. As Sam and Eliza close in on the truth, their romance reignites, but her secret threatens to destroy them both. 

Prepare to be enthralled by this gripping story of amnesia, a second chance at love, and a secret baby. Running to You is an edge-of-your-seat Christian romantic suspense set in Maine that will keep you reading all night long. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

 

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About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. After college, working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

Connect with Robin by visiting robinpatchen.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive hardcover copy of Running to You, a "Welcome to Nutfield" mug, and a $50 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 18, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 25, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Lost and Found ~ Review

Lost and Found

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Sometimes we allow the holds of the past to take root and keep us from actually moving on, from growing up. This is a story of friendship that has the hope of becoming something more, until a message from the past convinces Micah Weaver to take actions he might not have. 

Trudy Yoder has long had feelings for Micah. But for years Micah could only see her older sister Shelley. But their shared enjoyment over birding, finding that one unique bird, locating a hidden nest has allowed them to form a friendship. And now Trudy has hopes for a future with Micah. But then Shelley intrudes even though she is miles and miles way. And until Micah can truly decide what he wants she will always be a second choice.

This book is set in Stoney Ridge, which is a little like visiting a familiar haunt. The setting and characters are comfortable and known (IF you've read any of the author's other Stoney Ridge books /series). And what is nice about this book is if you haven't read any previous Stoney Ridge books you can fully enjoy this one. The author writes in such a way that each book can be read as a standalone title. The story is complete in and of itself. 

I feel that that this book is a story about growing up. Yes, Micah is in all senses of the word a grown-up but he needs to mature internally. He needs to make the decision to move on in his life to the next place that he needs to be. This doesn't mean physically moving, though it is a possibility for those living in Stoney Ridge. No rather this is a mental moving forward, a mindset to move on to the next phase of his life. And this journey is one that offers a most intriguing story in the process. 

I really like books that are about internal growth. And no this isn't a self-help book but rather in the entertaining it provides an opportunity to look internally at one's own life. And it is just a subtle thread so if you are reading just for the story it isn't something that will jump out and go "Look at this. Key moment of internal change coming up." No I think it is something that is all about mindset and during the reading certain scenes they just clicked with me.

But no matter how you read this was an enjoyable book and one I would recommend. It isn't a heavy read and easily read over a few days or if you like to consume your books as soon as you get them a long afternoon could certainly be undertaken and enjoyed. And the title Lost and Found perfectly suits.

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:

Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver--and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy's older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she's started to leave distressing phone messages for him.

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he's confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don't want to be found.

What Micah doesn't know is that what you're looking for isn't always what you find.

On Moonberry Lake ~ Review

On Moonberry Lake

By Holly Varni

When her mother moved Cora Matthews away from her grandparents and their home on Moonberry Lake she never felt like she belonged or was home. Worse for years she thought her grandparents were dead because of her mother's lie. But now she knows the truth, but too late to reconnect with her grandparents. But she has inherited their home on Moonberry Lake. And it couldn't come at a better time. Her life is in flux; her mother has just died and her fiancé is now her ex-fiancé.

I really enjoyed this book as Cora works to deal with her past while trying to understand why her mother took her away all those years ago. As she connects with those who knew her grandparents and makes connections of her own, she has to decide if she is willing to settle down and call Moonberry Lake home or do as she has always done - move on and start over.

I really enjoyed this book from Holly Varni who is a new author to me. The setting is contemporary. And who doesn't enjoy a lake setting for no reason other than the peacefulness it portrays. I felt that Cora's growth as a character was what propelled the story. Why did she do what she did and how is returning to the one place she always felt was home change her? This is the story, and I felt it worked well with the various characters who entered her life, offering her insights and new motivations. This is a contemporary romance, and it is, but the romance isn't the focus but rather the thread that works its way in and slowly grows as a possibility. I would recommend this book as it was an enjoyable read and yet not one that intrudes but rather like a good friend who stops in to say, "Hey, how's your day?" You visit and then get on with your day, happier for the exchange.

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:

"Delightful! Charming! Full of characters who take up residence in your heart. The best of 'News from Lake Wobegon' and Father Tim combined."--Lauraine Snelling, bestselling author of the Red River of the North series

Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

It certainly isn't what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.


"An uplifting novel about the power of small-town community."--Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of The Sweet Life

"Rich characters, a delightful setting, and a heartwarming story. You'll love everything about On Moonberry Lake!"--Ginny L. Yttrup, Christy Award-winning author of Words