Into the Starlight ~ Review

Into the Starlight

Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #3

By Amanda Cabot

After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that weren't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The only thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas was the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, she's changed so much that the place she once loved no longer feels like home.

 

After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.

 

As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.

 

Get swept away by this emotional tale of family, friendship, and the kind of love that overcomes every obstacle.

Product Details

Joanna Vaughn has returned to Sweetwater Crossing. Everything, including her, has changed since she left for Europe. Her parents are dead, her sisters are married, her home turned into a boarding house, and she lost her husband. Her homecoming isn't what she expected. And two strangers have  shown up seeking answers from the past. 

Burke Finley has come to Sweetwater with his aunt of the heart Della Samuels seeking  answers about his Uncle Clive Finley and the last days of his life. But all they discover is more questions, questions that led them into danger. 

This is a book that will hols your attention throughout. It is well-written but there are mo!rents that just standoit from others. And the unexpected, well there was more than one thrown in that surprised me. This book is best read after reading the previous two books in the series. It will make the twists more impactful. Highly recommend to fans of historical mystery fiction.

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:

After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that weren't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The only thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas was the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, she's changed so much that the place she once loved no longer feels like home.
 
After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.
 
As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.
 
Get swept away by this emotional tale of family, friendship, and the kind of love that overcomes every obstacle.

Arabella's Song ~ Coming Soon

 Arabella's Song will be released on September 26, 2024!

Arabella's Song is a work of love, a project I thoroughly enjoyed and dedicated myself to.

It was created as a part of the
Arista Lost Kerchiefs Challenge (2023)
hosted by Kendra E. Ardnek.

The theme behind the challenge was retelling the Goose Girl. Creating a totally new story while keeping key elements intact was indeed a challenge. What did or didn't I like about the original? As with all fairy tales, there is a story underneath; capturing that essence was the end goal. 

But what was that essence?
I'll let you discover that for yourself.

I further challenged myself by adding an additional layer by bringing in the Pied Piper of Hamlin.

I hope you will enjoy Arabella's Song,
the first book in the series The House of Sorah. 

The ebook is currently available for pre-order. But if you prefer to wait, there will also be a paperback edition.

The Naturalist's Daughter ~ Review

The Naturalist's Daughter
By Tea Cooper

Two women divided by time but united by a fascination of platypus and a search to understand this unusual animal. But as the story unfolds we learn that more than a quest for knowledge links them. Both are seeking for answers about their family.

But as so often the case the search for truth is buried deep. What is fact? What is deception? And where in this merger does the truth lie? 

The book opens in 1808 and then there is a shift between Rose Winton's story and Tamsin Alleyn's in 1908. Rose is determined to see her father, Charles Winton's work recognized while Tamsin searches for this long lost research.

This book offers more as both Rose and Tamsin work to accomplish their goals. Rose faces a world unlike the one she has grown up in. While Tamsin must fight for the collected work of Charles Winton. And there is a mystery that further ties these two stories together. A mystery forged of lies and betrayal. A mystery that crosses oceans. 

This was and is an intriguing read. I experienced it as both a written book and an audiobook. No matter how you decide to enjoy you will be drawn into it. There is danger. There is intrigue. There is romance. And all play together into a fascinating blend of historical fact and fiction. I was surprised about some of the information in regards to platypus, especially the dangerous aspects concerning them (let's just say I found it shocking when presented as it was). Overall, this was a good read and one I would say is well suited to a book club discussion. I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction, split-time fiction, or those who just want a book that is out of their ordinary reading fare.

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

Two fearless women—living a century apart—find themselves entangled in the mystery surrounding the biggest scientific controversy of the nineteenth century: the classification of the platypus.

1808 Agnes Banks, NSW

Rose Winton wants nothing more than to work with her father, eminent naturalist Charles Winton, on his groundbreaking study of the platypus. Not only does she love him with all her heart but the discoveries they have made could turn the scientific world on its head. When Charles is unable to make the long sea journey to present his findings to the prestigious Royal Society in England, Rose must venture forth in his stead. What she discovers will forever alter the course of scientific history.

1908 Sydney, NSW

Tamsin Alleyn has been given a mission: travel to the Hunter Valley and retrieve an old sketchbook of debatable value, gifted to the Public Library by a recluse. But when she gets there, she finds there is more to the book than meets the eye, and more than one interested party. Shaw Everdene, a young antiquarian bookseller and lawyer, seems to have his own agenda when it comes to the book. Determined to uncover the book's true origin, Tamsin agrees to join forces with him.

The deeper they delve, the more intricate the mystery of the book's authorship becomes. As the lives of two women a century apart converge, discoveries emerge from the past with far-reaching consequences in this riveting tale of courage and discovery.

AUTHOR BIO

Tea Cooper is an established Australian author of historical fiction. In a past life, she was a teacher, a journalist, and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including The Naturalist’s Daughter; the USA TODAY bestselling The Woman in the Green Dress; The Girl in the Painting, The Cartographer's Secret, winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award; and The Fossil Hunter.

Firestorm ~ Review

Firestorm
Chasing Fire: Montana #4
By Lisa Phillips

Charlie Benning has screwed up enough lives, and he refuses to hurt his 17-year-old daughter anymore than he already has. He has a plan, maybe not a great one, but it should work. And his plan includes working with the Jude County Hotshots amid one of the worst fire seasons ever.  

Jayne Price runs Wildlands Academy, teaching teenagers firefighting skills. Now, her academy is caught in the middle of several fires and maybe a killer. Her job has just gotten a whole lot more complicated, especially when Charlie walks into her academy. Okay, so he didn't walk in; it was more like he rode in on an ATV. And now the past that they shared years ago is about to come to light.

This is the fourth book in the Chasing Fire series, and a whole slew of secrets are about to be revealed. Secrets that are life-altering. And then there are the second chances. Because everyone deserves a second chance.

The suspense will keep you turning these pages. And while this book can be read as a standalone, there are hints at previous books in this series. You will feel the tension build as the story moves towards its climax. This story is driven equally by the the characters as it is the action, making for a compelling read that you won't be able to put down. 

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:

Series: Chasing Fire #4
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: July 30, 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.

THIS TIME, THEY’RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

He thought his life was over…and then she walked back in.

Charlie Benning has always been a rescuer—first with the Last Chance County Fire and Rescue team, and now as a firefighter with the Jude County Hotshots. But this summer isn’t about saving lives—it’s about hiding his own terrible secret. A secret he’s keeping from his estranged daughter, Alexis.

But fate is about to intervene.

Will their secrets destroy their second chance?

Jayne Price raised her son, Orion, on her own just fine, thank you. And now, she runs Wildlands Academy, a summer camp that teaches kids how to fight forest fires and confront their own teenage angst—kids like Alexis Benning, who clearly has a chip on her shoulder about her semi-estranged, firefighter father.

And Jayne has her own issues, like not wanting her only son to join the elite smokejumping corps. It’s enough that he’s risking his life as a hotshot on the Jude County team.

Then the wildfire turns its force onto the camp and suddenly the hotshots show up to help her fight it. Only problem…the last person she expects is for her former flame, Charlie Benning—the man she can’t forget—to show up working alongside her son.

Rather, his son.

Who he doesn’t know exists.

And then Charlie discovers the secret she’s been keeping, and he’s torn between anger and the long-simmering love that refuses to die. And Jayne isn’t about to let go of the man she loves a second time. But if the blazing wildfire isn’t enough, a dangerous and relentless killer is on the prowl in the woods…
Now, with the camp cut off from the outside world and the fire closing in, it’s a race against time as Charlie, Jayne, Orion, and a team of courageous smokejumpers join forces to protect the campers against a merciless inferno and a murderer. But the biggest threat of all might be Charlie’s devastating secret that could destroy the happy ending they’ve waited for so long.

Prepare for an edge-of-your-seat journey that will leave you breathless until the very last page, in book four of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

The Naturalist's Daughter ~ Release Day

 Today is the release day for
Tea Cooper's
The Naturalist's Daughter

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Two fearless women—living a century apart—find themselves entangled in the mystery surrounding the biggest scientific controversy of the nineteenth century: the classification of the platypus.

1808 Agnes Banks, NSW

Rose Winton wants nothing more than to work with her father, eminent naturalist Charles Winton, on his groundbreaking study of the platypus. Not only does she love him with all her heart but the discoveries they have made could turn the scientific world on its head. When Charles is unable to make the long sea journey to present his findings to the prestigious Royal Society in England, Rose must venture forth in his stead. What she discovers will forever alter the course of scientific history.

1908 Sydney, NSW

Tamsin Alleyn has been given a mission: travel to the Hunter Valley and retrieve an old sketchbook of debatable value, gifted to the Public Library by a recluse. But when she gets there, she finds there is more to the book than meets the eye, and more than one interested party. Shaw Everdene, a young antiquarian bookseller and lawyer, seems to have his own agenda when it comes to the book. Determined to uncover the book's true origin, Tamsin agrees to join forces with him.

The deeper they delve, the more intricate the mystery of the book's authorship becomes. As the lives of two women a century apart converge, discoveries emerge from the past with far-reaching consequences in this riveting tale of courage and discovery.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Tea Cooper is an established Australian author of historical fiction. In a past life, she was a teacher, a journalist, and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including The Naturalist’s Daughter; the USA TODAY bestselling The Woman in the Green Dress; The Girl in the Painting, The Cartographer's Secret, winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award; and The Fossil Hunter.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES & HASHTAGS

X: #teacooper @harpermusebooks @austenprose

Instagram: @tea_cooper @harpermusebooks @austenprose

Hashtags: #thenaturalistsdaughter #teacooper #historicalfiction #historicalromance #inspirationalfiction #newbooks #bookreview #bookx #bookstagram #booktour #bookrec #austenprosepr

 

The Winged Tiara ~ Review

The Winged Tiara

By J'Nell Ciesielski

Esme Fox never meant to get married. Her mother warned her over the years that it was to be avoided; men couldn't be trusted. Yet she somehow finds herself married to a stranger and regretting it mere hours later. To save herself from the heartbreak she knows is coming, she slips away leaving her husband with only her wedding band as a remembrance of what might have been.

Jasper Truitt has never stopped looking for his wife. Four years have passed with no sign of Esme until the night he gets a lead on the highly sought-after Valkyrie tiara—a tiara both he and Esme are determined to procure for interested parties. But they are not alone in their pursuit, and some are willing to kill to get what they desire. 

The Winged Tiara takes place following the First World War. Those who survived are grateful for their lives, but there is also a shocking amount of excess and decadence. Esme and Jasper have both only wanted to find someplace where they belonged. Being a thief is a skill that has developed over the years. (Surprise, dear, you married someone with sticky fingers.) 

In this game of cat-and-mouse, Esme and Jasper are offered a chance to get to know one another and maybe a future together. At least Jasper has to try.

The Winged Tiara is an entertaining read and perfect for fans of Historical Fiction. There is plenty of witty dialogue as Esme and Jasper spar over their less-than-noble endeavors. Although published by Thomas Nelson, there are no moments that make one think that this book is Christian. This book is entertaining and well-written, with moments of hope, but faith is lacking, which, considering the world portrayed, is not surprising. This title would be an excellent choice for a book club selection. For those who enjoy audio on their commutes, the reading by Ann Marie Gideon is well presented.

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

Diamonds and danger dazzle in Ciesielski's latest enchanting romp through post-war Europe as estranged spouses and jewel thieves hunt an elusive Valkyrie tiara.

November 12, 1918. It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up, and Esme Fox awakens the morning after celebrating the end of the Great War to find herself shockingly and accidentally married. She gathers her belongings and slips out before her new husband can stop her. After all, she knows it's best to leave before he does.

Four years later, Jasper Truitt, after having made a name for himself in the underground world of jewel thieves, is on the hunt for a valuable heirloom: a one-of-a-kind winged tiara--the last Valkyrie tiara ever created. So it's with great surprise that he discovers it at a charity event atop the head of a woman he's never forgotten. His long-lost wife . . . who happens to be pursuing the tiara for a vengeful opera diva desperate to obtain the jewel for herself.

The reunion is cut short when Esme vanishes--again--but their separation is temporary. With a hitman on their heels and a deadline looming, the pair find themselves in an epic game of cat and mouse across Europe following leads from the French Riviera to a shop of wonders in Venice, a fairy-tale castle in Bavaria, and a veritable circus thrown by a champagne heiress, all before a dramatic horseback flight through the French countryside.

In the end only one can win, and with both of their hearts on the line, the winner may well turn out to be the loser.

In her latest glamorous historical romance, J'nell Ciesielski spins a sparkling story filled with her signature snappy dialogue and vivid atmosphere that will keep you reading late into the night to see what happens next.

AUTHOR BIO

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.

Shield of the Mighty ~ Review

Shield of the Mighty
The King's Men #2
By Connilyn Cossette

 Zevi's whole life is focused on serving as a soldier and getting vengeance on the Philistines. He's never forgiven them for the pain they put him through. Rather ironic as the man he calls father is a Philistine, but it is what it is. And now he is returning to the town that sent him away as a child - Maresha. He needs to convince to supply men to serve in King Saul's army and to supply skilled workers for Saul's court.

Maresha has suffered loss as men lose their lives in service to a king they don't accept. Yochana lost her husband mere months after they were wed. She is no fan of a king who would squander the lives of his men, and she has no intention of using her skills as a perfumer in his court. And she'll gladly see Saul's recruiters gone. 

But when events force Zevi and Yochana to see events from a different perspective, the Lord might give them peace and new beginnings more than they ever expected. But they must both let go of the resentments they stubbornly cling to.

This is a fascinating step back in time that doesn't rely on gimmicks to hold one's attention but on research and attention to detail. Both characters have compelling stories that elicit sympathy, and their growth moves the story forward. The story, though the second in the series, is complete and does not leave one hanging waiting for what comes next. This an excellent read and one I highly recommend.

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:
Captured by the Philistines as a young boy, Zevi has grown into a formidable warrior. As a captain in King Saul's army, he is assigned a crucial mission: Recruit soldiers, gather tribute for the royal coffers, and find talented artisans for the king's court. But when he is sent to Maresha, the town he was forced to leave as a child, he faces a startling truth--the elder council rejects King Saul and his campaign against their enemies.

Yochana, a widow and skilled woman of business, is captivated by a stranger who enters her perfume shop. Upon discovering he is not only a soldier but a captain responsible for enlisting young men to die in battle, fury and pain from her past loss resurfaces, threatening to consume her. But when Zevi's actions in Maresha entangle Yochana in his radical scheme, they're forced to confront present dangers and past scars.

Embark on a journey through ancient Israel with bestselling and award-winning author Connilyn Cossette in this exhilarating tale of vengeance, justice, and healing.