Pride and Preston Lin ~ Review

Pride and Preston Lin

By Christina Dudley

Lissie (Elizabeth) is the middle Cheng sister who were taken in by her aunt and uncle when their parents died. When Lissie is overworked one night at the family restaurant she makes what could have been a fatal mistake - she serves a customer with allergies a dish that contains shellfish. Not good and then Preston Lin starts throwing his "privileged" opinion about the situation around. He might be good looking but his wealthy family and self-righteous personality make him an instant cringe for Lissie. Especially after the shellfish incident. It's not like she meant to make such a huge mistake.

Pride and Preston Lin is a modern take on Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice with a twist. Preston is a star student at Stanford, and stellar when it comes to swimming. Everything Lissie isn't. And he has his very own fan club in Hazel Bing, the young woman Lissie had the unfortunate incident with. And her brother Charles has a thing for Lissie's sister Jenny, which means more chance encounters with Preston, ugh!

It is really interesting seeing how the author changes up Jane Austen's classic and makes it hers. This is definitely a modern twist, but it all plays out in such an original way that someone with only a passing familiarity with Pride and Prejudice might not recognize it. It is fun seeing the similarities and just how different they come across in a different time period, setting, and culture. Highly recommend to anyone who reads any and all Jane Austen iterations. 

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.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 

In this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the quick-witted and contrarian Lissie Cheng must navigate societal pressures and her growing attraction to the rich and enigmatic Preston Lin.

 

Lissie is the middle of three sisters, orphaned and taken in by their aunt and uncle. Both she and her older sister, Jenny, work in the family restaurant while pursuing their education and career dreams. When Lissie accidentally serves a dish containing shellfish paste to an allergic customer, she runs afoul of the wealthy Lin family. Their golden boy, Preston, star swimmer and Stanford Ph.D. student, is as handsome as he is self-righteous. Lissie hates him and everything he stands for, but circumstances keep bringing them together. Can she overcome her pride and her initial misgivings about Preston Lin and his condescending mother? Will love prevail, and will these enemies turn into lovers?

 

Pride and Preston Lin by popular Regency romance writer Christina Hwang Dudley is a hilarious and earnest contemporary riff on Jane Austen’s classic work. And readers will undoubtedly root for Lissie Cheng, a sassy new Elizabeth Bennet for our times, to find lasting love and happiness.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Christina Dudley's books have been called "enchanting," "sparkling" and "swoon-worthy" by reviewers like Austenprose and Austenesque Reviews. She's authored two award-winning Regency series: The Hapgoods of Bramleigh and The Ellsworth Assortment, as well as PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN, a contemporary riff on Austen's classic which was chosen as a February 2024 Editor's Pick by Kirkus Reviews Magazine and received starred reviews from both them and Booklist. She and her family live in Bellevue, Washington.

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

 

"In a world with so many Pride & Prejudice adaptations, a new one has to be truly special to stand out, and this one is. Dudley’s contemporary debut is faithful to its source material but finds clever ways to make it work in a modern setting, while also adding an authentic Chinese American perspective on the beloved story. A warm, sweet story with all the witticisms Austen fans savor."— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

 

"Like Crazy (not) Rich Asians meets Jane Austen, Pride and Preston Lin is a delightful retelling of a beloved classic that had me smiling from page one."— Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of The Hundred Loves of Juliet

 

Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice ~ Now Available

 Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice, book 2 in the Sacrificed Hearts series by Everly Haywood, is now available!

“He may think he’d stolen a princess who needed saving, but he was wrong–he’d caught himself a feral queen.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Not every damsel is in distress…

When a monstrous creature attacks her homeland, can a swashbuckling princess sort out her suitor drama and solve the mystery of the forbidden Death Pearl before everyone she loves is dragged beneath the sea?

Loosely inspired by Perseus and Andromeda, this hilarious romantasy set on the high seas is sure to enthrall fans of The Princess Bride, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Howl's Moving Castle.

~

Make time to read this swoony, no-spice fantasy romance series featuring all the monsters, maidens, and mayhem you could ask for.

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

Order Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CR9L9GB1

Between You and Us ~ Review

Between You and Us

By Kendra Broekhuis

What if you were given a choice between two divergent paths—paths that had already been chosen, paths that are vastly different yet have similarities, paths that diverged because of a single moment—a moment in which you either shared the truth or hid and buried it deep within yourself?

This is the choice before Leona—and what a choice it is: a cold husband and her very much alive daughter or a loving, caring husband with no daughter in her arms. Wealth or financial struggles? Is one path worth the other? Which life is better? How is she to choose? And more importantly, can she choose? If she chooses the life she knows, is there a way to return to it?

This story is presented in a back-and-forth between the present and the past. The past shows Leona's life in relation to her husband, David, from before they were married. The present starts with a trip across town in a taxi that Leona had to save for to share a pricey dinner, she had also saved for, to enjoy with her husband. This was the start of a new beginning, to try to step out of their shared grief. Well, it was a new beginning, just not one that anyone would have believed possible.

I think anyone who has lost a child would be torn by the choice Leona was facing. I have to be honest if given the choice of having a loved one back in your life but at the cost of something else dear, it could be tempting and yet not. I think it was interesting to see the whole relationship thing between Leona, her mother, her in-laws, and even her friend and sister.

This is a well-written read that has an emotional draw that will pull you deeper into the story as Leona tries to figure out everything. The characters are compelling and the contrast between the timelines is interesting. Well worth the time spent 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:

When a grieving woman unexpectedly steps into a different version of her life, she must choose between the husband she loves and the daughter she lost in this brave, gripping novel.

Three lives. 

Two outcomes. 

One impossible choice.

When Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived.

Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love?

Chapter 3 of Yours, Mine, and Hours is now available to read!

 

You may or may not be aware that I have been taking part in the Story of the Month club for the last two years. 

What's the Story of the Month?

Well, I'm glad you asked. It is a collaboration between several authors to provide new and exciting stories for you to enjoy for free. Last year (2023), four authors wrote three stories each, and each month, one of them was offered online for readers to enjoy at their leisure. 

This year, Michelle Francik and I decided to do something different. We are collaborating to write a story, a chapter per month, with each of us alternating chapters (and months). So far, we have been having a blast seeing just where the story is going next because until we get the next chapter from one another, we don't know either.

Chapter three of Yours, Mine, and Hours is now available for you to read at Chapter 3 - Phoebe. 

You missed the first two chapters? That's no problem; they are available to read at Story of the Month 2024. And the best part is the reading is still free!

Tangled Up in Love ~ Review

Tangled Up in Love

A Trinity Lake Romance

By Carolyn Miller

Ellie Reilly has been living her dream, traveling Europe, enjoying the history, and meeting someone special. Returning to Trinity Lakes is just so ordinary. And what was her everyday life before Europe has changed, leaving her feeling unsettled and at loose ends. And then there is her best friend Jasper, something just feels off about him.

Jasper Cohen has been counting down the days until Ellie's return since the day she left. He's been hiding his feelings for her for years and when he sees after all those weeks away, lefts just things get just a tad awkward. Of course, Ellie has no idea why, just assumes it's because of his dad's health issues.

When Ellie gets an unexpected job offer - reopening the local museum - it seems like a dream come true, if not for her recent taste of Europe and travel. But this is an opportunity she can't pass up. With the encouragement of those who know her best she takes on the challenge and recruits Jasper to help her bring her vision back to life. And then she gets word that Sebastian is coming to see her.

Tangled Up in Love finds Ellie having to decide just what she wants out of life and just how important her faith and values are to her daily life. Will it take a crisis for Ellie to see what she truly wants out of life? Or will she be blinded by what she thinks she wants?

This is a contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone title. The Trinty Lakes series is written by several authors, each focusing on different people within the community. In this book the main focus is on Jasper, Ellie, and Ellie's family-especially big brothers Jackson and Mitch. Trinity Lakes seems like it would a lovely community, smaller but not tiny. A bedroom community, one could say, of Seattle or Walla-Walla. Tight with bonds that hold them together in a good way. I would highly recommend this title for fans of friends-to-something more.

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:

One kiss didn't mean much. One kiss could mean everything. When Ellie Reilly returns from a dream overseas trip, a too-long hug from her best friend Jasper Cohen clues her in that his feelings might be more than what she suspected. He's unsure about pushing their friendship further, and doubly uncertain when her European friend, Sebastian, seeks her out in Trinity Lakes. Uncertainty is something Ellie knows all too well. Since returning from her vacation, Ellie feels like she doesn't fit at her family's ranch or in small town life. When she is asked to take on responsibility for reopening Trinity Lakes' historical museum - a dream she's always wanted - she can't help but wonder if settling for life in the familiar is all that God has for her, or whether she dare trust Him for more? Can these two best friends push past mistakes and insecurities and find a future together? Preorder at https://books2read.com/TangledUpInLove

Trapped in Yosemite ~ Review

Trapped in Yosemite

By Dana Mentink

It seemed like a simple job, help someone identify what was ailing his trees, but it soon became obvious it was something more when someone started shooting. Suddenly Stella Rivers is running for her life and into the presence of the man who broke her heart 18-months ago.

Yosemite National Park is in the midst of a major earthquake when Von Sharpe notices a vehicle driving in an area where it shouldn't. What he never imagined was that someone was attempting to kill the driver. Nor did he suspect that the intended victim was his ex-fiancée, Stella. And when he learns the secret Stella has been keeping, let's just say what drove them apart is readdressed and provides some new food for thought for them both.

The earthquake was just the first and the damages have trapped Stella and Von at MDWG along with the rest of the camp's staff and five campers. With no power, aftershocks, mudslides, floods, and blocked roads things could be worse. And when the killer again takes aim at Stella, they realize just how trapped and isolated they are. And even more concerning, how does the killer always seem to know where Stella is! 

Trapped in Yosemite is a suspense-filled read that is driven by secrets. And secrets are a powerful motivator to protect what you hold close. Powerful enough to kill for. This is also a book of second chances. And there are dogs, I mean who doesn't love having dogs in their books and when the dogs are also heroes, what could be better?

With so much already thrown into the mix, I admit it the killer wasn't who I was expecting out of the list of potential suspects.

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:

When a massive earthquake levels the region, secrets and unknown dangers are exposed…

The ground in still-icy Yosemite National Park isn’t stable, and K-9 handler Von Sharpe fears the worst. But his worries are pushed aside when he sees an SUV viciously forced off the road…with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. It’s only when Stella Rivers steps out of the vehicle that the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake. 

When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child.

Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time to get to safety. And every fissure reveals a new secret that will shake them to their foundation…

Mountain Dragons and Sacrifice ~ Now Available

 

Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice

By Tara Grayce

is now available

Available to purchase at the following link

 https://books2read.com/u/4E8rA0

About the Book:

It’s a tale as old as myth and legends: the village maiden sacrificed to a monster.

Every year, Nessa’s village sacrifices a maiden to the dragon in the mountain. If they don’t, the dragon will sweep down from his lair and destroy them all.

When Nessa is chosen to be that year’s sacrifice, she’s prepared to be eaten, as much as anyone can prepare for such a thing. Instead, she finds herself swept away to a world of dragons, gnomes, and fae creatures beyond her imagination, leaving her with more questions than answers. If the maiden’s purpose isn’t to be eaten, then what is the dragon’s reason for the sacrifices? And why is the dragon nothing like what she had been told he would be?

And, most frightening of all, what would happen if she lit the candle and looked upon the dragon’s face?

Loosely inspired by the myth of Psyche and Eros, this humorous romantasy features dragon shifters, quirky fae, and swoony no-spice romance, perfect for fans of Sylvia Mercedes, Kenley Davidson, and K.M. Shea!