An Unexpected Journey ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

An Unexpected Journey by Ann Elizabeth Fryer, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

  An Unexpected Journey

  A Regency Hobbit Retelling

  By Ann Elizabeth Fryer

 The premise behind this story is intriguing The Hobbit combined with the Regency period. It is just that, sort of. It is indeed set in the Regency period of England and there are elements of The Hobbit but it is done in such a way that unless one was well acquainted with The Hobbit you could miss it.

  The need of a "thief" brings the Canfield family to the Grandview Estate, an estate slowly crumbling to disrepair. But also the home of Lady Laura Tamlow. Through a series of unfulfilled expectations Laura is unaware of the vital role she is expected to play in an attempt to retrieve the long stolen wealth of the Canfield and Tamlow families. Wealth lost due to scandalous events that began with Laura's grandfather's duplicitous actions more than 40 years ago. Thus the beginning of An Unexpected Journey. A journey filled with danger, intrigue, long-held secrets, and unexpected attraction. 

Sometimes God leads us to a place and changes 

our plans to enact His own plans.

I think the above quote from the book excellently describes and shares the heart of this story. The faith of the various characters is what keeps them continuing on in their journey, even in the face of doubts and unanticipated changes to the plan. But is it enough to see them through the danger and separations awaiting them? Can they stay the course? And what will the cost be to them if the succeed? If they fail debtor's prison, the workhouse, or a sentence to Australia is the best they can expect. A most unexpected reading experience is before you should you agree to go on it, but beware of the dragon, Lord Herrington who won't easily give up what and who he now claims as his!

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 book was read through Kindle Unlimited.

About the Book

Title: An Unexpected Journey: A Regency Hobbit Retelling
Author: Ann Elizabeth Fryer
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: November 28, 2024
Genre: Regency Romance/Hobbit Retelling

A heritage neither of them desires, a wrong to right. A chance to end a family curse... 

When strangers tumble through the doors of once resplendent Grandview Estate, Lady Laura Tamlow is pulled into a rather unexpected journey, away from the village she's never left along with a gentleman unlike any she's ever known. 

Jonathan Canfield is out of options. And he'd do anything to restore his family fortunes in order to keep them from poverty, including roping Lady Tamlow into playing the part of thief. They must reclaim both his and her family jewels that were stolen the night of the fated Grand Masquerade of 1770, where both the Canfields and the Tamlows fell far from society's good graces. If only his thief weren't so lovely, he'd be able to focus on the mission without distraction. 

But there's a bigger problem at hand. The jewels reside at Lombard Park under the eye of Lord Herrington, a greedy dragon of a man who knows he's about to die. Yet he has bigger claims than they ever imagined and attempts to steal something far more valuable than family jewels. With deception afoot, will Jonathan ever see Lady Tamlow again? 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub  

**The author is offering free swag to the first 20 people who purchase a paperback/hardcover book. Proof of purchase required.**

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About the Author

 Ann Elizabeth Fryer loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay   the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palms of   His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she's lived in   historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard   archaeology. When she's not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels   show a flavor of her forever-passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and   three children make their home in small-town Illinois where they can hear church

 bells keep time and tradition.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a hardcover copy of An Unexpected Journey, a tote bag, swag, and a $10 Amazon gift card!

(1) additional winner will receive an ebook copy of An Unexpected Journey!

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 2, 2024, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 9, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

Lady Anna's Favor ~ Review

Lady Anna’s Favor

Proper Romance

By Karen Tuft

Lady Anna Clifton has lost her eldest brother and father in a relatively short period of time. The day of her father's death word reached that her brother Avery had been wounded and was missing. Times being what they are Avery is presumed dead and a distant entitled relative is about to named heir to the estate. Lady Anna refuses to allow what belongs to her brother to be destroyed by such a man.

Mr. James Jennings is planning to return to Paris when he is surprised to be accompanying Lady Anna on the Duke of Ayledham's yacht. Seeing Lady Anna's need in her search for her brother, James offers his assistance in language and protection in the war torn land. As James helps Anna he admires her determination in undertaking such a daunting task.

This was my first time reading Karen Tuft's work and I found it to be a delightful and enjoyable experience. I loved the bit of mystery as the search for Avery takes Anna out of her familiar and known world into something new and foreign to what she has ever experienced. Anna also managed to make James rethink his plans for the future, a future that up until now has been one of service to king and country. I now need to go back and read the previous books that were listed in the front of this book along with a really neat family tree for the characters. Highly recommended for fans of Regency romance and clean 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:

London, England, 1814
Lady Anna Clifton will stop at nothing to find her missing brother—even if it means working alongside the dashingly handsome but sometimes infuriating Mr. Jennings, who just might steal her heart.

Lady Anna Clifton has arrived in London with a purpose known only to a few. Her soldier brother has been reported wounded and missing in France, and if he is dead, his title and their family’s estate will go to a horrible distant cousin, and Lady Anna will be homeless. Desperate to find her brother alive, she contacts old family friends, the Bledsoes, who vow to help her in any way they can. However, Lord Bledsoe’s efforts come up empty, except from the Duke of Aylesham, who offers his yacht to carry her to France when Anna decides she must look for her brother there herself.

James cannot board the Duke of Aylesham’s yacht to take him to France fast enough. After his sister’s rushed marriage to the duke himself, James wants nothing more than to enjoy a relaxing journey back to Paris before rejoining England’s diplomatic war efforts against Napoleon. When he boards the ship, he cannot deny his instant attraction to the strikingly beautiful young woman who will be joining him across the sea. But when he receives only a cold reception from her, James dismisses her outright—until he learns the tragic reason she has set out on such a perilous journey. As infuriating as Lady Anna’s brash behavior and indifference to him is, her search seems much too dangerous for a young lady of the ton to undertake alone, so James reluctantly offers to assist her in her quest.

Together, they embark on a search that will take them across the sea and through France to uncover the truth all while trying to reconcile their differences and the preconceived notions they have about each other. With every step, they come closer to solving the mystery surrounding Lady Anna’s brother’s disappearance—but each step also pushes their hearts closer together.

Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. ~ Review

Write Fearless. 

     Edit Smart. 

         Get Published. 

            A Master Class for Fiction Writers 

By Lisa Mangum

This is the book you'll want on your desk as a go to if you have questions about some of the basics of writing. I enjoyed getting some background on the author's past and qualifications on this topic. 

No one writer has the same weaknesses or strengths and this one addresses so many situations that we face. I loved how there are examples showing not just telling me the rules of puncuation. As everyone knows commas can be especially pesky depending on how they are used. Though this for fiction writers I don't think it needs be limited, but would be a handy guide to anyone who writes in any manner.

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:

Wherever you are in your author’s journey, this book is like teaming up with a personal writing coach who has more than a quarter of a century of editorial and publishing advice.

Thousands of writers—from first-time authors to #1 New York Times best-selling authors—have learned from Lisa Mangum’s masterful literary advice and inspiration. Now she’s collected the best of her writing and editing tips in this helpful book that covers the entire writing and querying process, from nurturing a story idea all the way to submitting a polished manuscript.

In the first half of the book, Lisa guides readers through the various steps of the writing process, including starting the story in the right place, developing characters with high-stake goals, mapping character relationships for increased conflict, and introducing tension and plot twists. She also shares tips and tricks for nailing a satisfying ending as well as helping authors discover their own unique voice that can help them break through writer’s block.

With her decades of experience, Lisa then takes writers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the many levels of editing, including a handy flowchart that unravels the mystery of where the commas go in a sentence.

Finally, she helps writers prepare to “get published” by deconstructing what makes a query letter catch an editor’s eye and how to answer the all-important question: “What’s your book about?”

Packed with Lisa’s own personal stories of encouragement and inspiration, Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is a literary adventure that’s as fun as it is informative.

The Art of Us ~ Review

The Art of Us 

By Julie Wright

This book is timely as more people find themselves homeless. It is told from the perspective of a high school student who has lost her mom and been abandoned by her father. 

Ireland Raine seems to have it all. At least, she's doing a really good job of hiding just how bad her life has become. She sleeps in a sleeping bag by night in a freezing, out-of-the-way public bathroom (little more than an outhouse). Her clothes, well washing is not possible. And food? She gets a meal at school. She just needs to hold on for a little longer to avoid foster care. When she turns 18, everything will be different; she won't have to hide anymore. She can get a job, get into college, and live the rest of her life.

That is until everything falls in on her. But before it does, she makes friends with her crush, Kal Ellis. Things seem great until the truth of her situation becomes known. But should some secrets be kept secret? Or is it better to reveal the truth, though it is initially hurtful? This choice is more fully fleshed out and has a more significant impact on readers. What is the correct answer? What would you choose?

This sensitively written book allows tweens and teens to glimpse the harsh realities of life for those without a home. I appreciate its educational qualities. I feel this is a book that schools and public libraries should have on their shelves. 

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.

*Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection*

About the Book:

Falling in love is complicated when you’re both keeping secrets.

On the surface, everything seems perfect for high school senior Ireland Raine. She’s intelligent and artistically talented, and her natural beauty and quiet charm are enviable. However, Ireland harbors a secret she’ll guard at any cost—she’s homeless.

When her crush, Kal Ellis, invites her on a date, she seizes the opportunity. Ireland has never had a boyfriend before, and Kal is not just a guitarist for the local band, he’s also an artist. Their connection is instantaneous, and he suggests they collaborate on the school mural. Working and laughing alongside Kal, Ireland can momentarily forget her problems.

However, when someone exposes her secret, Ireland ends up in a foster home alongside her most despised adversary, Mara Washington. To make matters worse, Ireland discovers it was Kal who revealed her secret.

Furious, Ireland must decide if she has the strength to forgive the boy who stole her heart or if she is better off alone.

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A Lady Most Alluring ~ Now Available

A Lady Most Alluring

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Amy Newbold

A delightful Regency twist on Cinderella that does not have a cruel stepmother or evil stepsisters. A Lady Most Alluring finds Cecilia Barnet, her older sister Miriam, and her mother leaving London behind. Following the death of her father, the family has to remove to the country and is tenants of the Colbourne family.

This book reminded me of Lizzie and Jane's closeness in Pride and Prejudice and Marianne and Elinor's in Sense and Sensibility. 

Cecilia is trying to live below the notice of others. Before her father's death, she was linked to a scandal through no fault of her own. Since then, she has been attempting to distance herself from any hint of anything being improper. So when she attracts Benedict Lockhart's attention, she is no more surprised than anyone about this turn of events. Her sister Miriam is supposed to garner attention and raise the family's standing to what it once was. 

Even more disturbing, Cecilia finds herself drawn to the gentleman, who is trying to avoid any and all romantic entanglements to the point of societal rudeness! 

This sweet story is appropriate for tweens, teens, and those who want clean, no- or low-spice romance. 

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 Books:

A scandal. 

A wager. 

A masquerade ball.

Cecilia Barnet flees London and a scandal for a fresh start in the countryside. Desperate to keep a low profile, her sole focus is finding a match for her sister, Miriam.

As Benedict Lockhart arrives with his mother at their country estate, he is determined to avoid romantic entanglements. He makes a wager with his friend that he can rebuff the attentions of the rural ladies.

When Cecilia and Benedict meet, it’s dislike at first sight. But within the small country social circles, they are repeatedly thrust together. An undeniable attraction sparks between them, and Cecilia fears rejection if Benedict learns of her past. As she strives to protect her secret from him, Benedict fights his growing feelings for her. He clings to his wager and plans to return to London unattached.

If Cecilia can't find the courage to be truthful, it will cost her a chance at unparalleled happiness. And if Benedict can't set aside his pride, he will lose the only woman who's ever spoken to his heart.

This charming Regency romance novella is inspired by Cinderella.

This series reimagines classic Grimm Brother tales as Regency romances. Sit back, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy these stories of sweet romance and loveable characters.

A Grimm Regency Tale series

• A Lady Most Engaged by Audrey Glenn
• A Lady Most Fitting by Sienna Peake
• A Lady Most Untamed by Amanda Panhorst
• A Lady Most Intrigued by Jenni Ward
• A Lady Most Entangled by Mary-Celeste Ricks
• A Lady Most Isolated by Heloise C. Kensington
• A Lady Most Alluring by Amy Newbold

Dangerous Christmas Investigation ~ Review

Dangerous Christmas Investigation 

Lone Star Defenders #1

By Virginia Vaughan

Deputy Sabrina Reagan is on a mission, and nothing is going to get in her way. She will bring down the man she blames for her brother's overdose, and threats won't stop her. Her grief and anger turned against the man she loved and planned a future with. Now Detective Jake Harris is back in town working undercover to bring down the same man that Sabrina is after.

But there is a little secret between them, a four-year-old son that Jake never knew about. Jake's reaction is understandable - shock, anger, and loss. But if the two of them can't work together and get past their feelings of betrayal, they may not live to see what the future holds for them.

Dangerous Christmas Investigation is the first book in Virginia Vaughan's Lone Star Defenders series. If you have read her in the past, you won't be disappointed in this newest offering. I have to be honest; Sabrina annoyed me. Her whole attitude was just out of proportion concerning Jake. She took risks and allowed herself to be blinded to other matters of importance in her drive to get justice. I do get it: grief made her respond in a certain way, and then she was left to live with the consequences of those moments. Overall, this was good series debut.

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:

An undercover mission…

turns into a fight for survival.

Agreeing to take his late twin brother’s place in an undercover DEA operation reunites detective Jake Harris with a familiar face—and throws him into the line of fire. After he and his ex-girlfriend, Deputy Sabrina Reagan, survive a drive-by shooting, they’ll have to work together to capture a merciless drug trafficker. But when a price is placed on her head, Jake discovers Sabrina has a secret—his four-year-old son. With armed criminals out for blood, can Jake dismantle this drug operation to protect the family he didn’t know he had?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Lone Star Defenders

The Shifter and The Mage ~ Available Now

The Shifter and the Mage

The Intertwined Tales

By Lucy Winton

Shyla Merrigan is anticipating an apprenticeship that will bring her one step closer to becoming a King's Mage. But her connection to her brother-in-law has tainted her and an apprenticeship is not offered to her. She is understandably unhappy and disappointed. And she is angry, so angry that she agrees to kill a lindenworm. 

Andriel can shift between his two forms as a man and a thrush and requests Shyla's help with getting rid of the lindenworm. They will travel together, pretending to be married for Shyla's protection. This is the chance Shyla needs to try to get the apprenticeship she was denied so she agrees.

As Shyla and Andriel travel and work to provide for their food and lodging a friendship forms. But Shyla senses that Andriel is hiding something, something that keeps her from totally trusting him. But she can't command her heart or her feelings in regards to her brother-in-law Alarick or Adriel. And then there is the linden worm she has agreed to rid the region of.

This was an interesting twist on the world of fairy tale retellings of King Thrushbeard and Little Wildrose. For those wondering there is magic involved. A given with the title. The romance is light and clean. This is story of growth and discovery, as Shyla comes to terms with various situations in her life, situations that she has no control over and yet has to live with the outcome.

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 mage with a temper. A shapeshifter with a secret. A fake marriage that starts to feel real. Shyla Merrigan wants to become a King's Mage, but after graduating from the Academy she is told she will not be starting an apprenticeship as she'd thought. If that wasn't bad enough, she is invited to attend a party hosted by Alarick of the Wolves, the brother-in-law she despises. When she hears that Alarick is planning to marry her off, she lashes out in a rage and storms away from the banquet. On encountering Adriel, a young man with the ability to turn into a thrush, she discovers there is a lindenworm troubling his home. If Shyla kills the lindenworm, she may have a chance of becoming a King's Mage after all. Adriel offers to be her guide. He also suggests they pretend to be married to protect her reputation. Shyla agrees without hesitation, but as they travel together she begins to suspect Adriel is not who she thinks he is. Worse, she might be starting to develop feelings for him. She must decide which is more dangerous: fighting a monster, or losing her heart to someone who could destroy it. The Intertwined Tales is a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each novella entwines a famous fairy tale with a lesser-known story to create one happily ever after. These standalone stories can be enjoyed in any order.