Sonya MacTavish is happy in her job and engaged to be married–until she walks in on her fiance and her cousin having sex in her bed. As her life’s plans are in an uproar, she is hit with another bombshell. Her late father, who was adopted, had a twin, and that twin has left Sonya a gorgeous estate in Maine. The only stipulation is that she has to live there for three years. Sonya ultimately decides to move to the estate and start over her life and her career. But the house has a history of “lost brides” and many ghostly inhabitants. And at least one of them does not want Sonya there.
This was just a wonderful reading experience. The characters and the story drew me in right away. I was immediately transported to this haunted mansion and caught up in the legend of the lost brides. The spirits, some of them fun-loving and one of them definitely not, make this book unique. The distinct personalities of al the spirits are so well portrayed. My only slight critique is that the book ends on a cliffhanger. I hope Book 2 comes out soon because I want to read more of this story!
Nora Roberts has hit a home run with this one, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical realism.
I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she’s destined to remain a spinster forever–a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours.
Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his investigation. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend–and one of high society’s leaders–to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable. When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon’s case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good–along with their lives.
BOOK REVIEW
TO SPARK A MATCH is a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and inspirational romance. “Mystery alludes me because I’m simply not mysterious.” is Adelaide’s response to one of her mother’s many attempts to make her more attractive to the men on New York’s Gilded Age marriage mart after five seasons. She really seems to be headed back home once again to her books and her cats, which would be just fine with her. Then she finds herself in the middle of an adventure at one of the parties she has long been forced to endure.
This is such a captivating book. The dialogue is playful and humorous, and the author takes gentle but clever jabs at the “marriage mart.” The romance is sweet and clean, but the focus truly stays on Adelaide and her individuality. The portrayal is authentic and the reader will be transported to the Gilded Age. The mystery is bookish in nature, which was a pleasant surprise. I just can’t get over how FUNNY this is. In addition, it’s so witty, it’s bookish, and it has cats! Check this one out.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House via Austenprose PR. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from RT Book Reviews, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado.
“Turano charms with her offbeat characters, and she has a knack for funny, flirty dialogue…fans will find this irresistible.”— Publisher’s Weekly
“Turano delivers a rousing second installment in her THE MATCHMAKERS historical inspirational romance series set in New York’s Gilded Age. This is a delightful novel about individuality and unexpected love that balances humorous hijinks and the intrigue of criminal activity within the rare book world. It shimmers with spunk and stars a most admirable leading lady whose unapologetic acceptance of herself is what refreshingly captivates her hero’s heart.”— Booklist
“This book is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, hilarious encounters, slow burn romance, bookish characters, cats, and a dash of mystery! I highly recommend it, friends!”— Tasha, Clean Read Book Club
Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors with marketing. Marketing is probably the biggest task authors have, and if I can help even a little, I’m happy to do it. You can help too by sharing this far and wide with your social media followers. Indie authors will appreciate that SO MUCH. Below please see my review of A Tryst in Paris, a time travel romance by Anne Armistead.
BOOK DESCRIPTION (FROM THE AUTHOR)
When Mirabelle Montgomery visits the Luxembourg Carousel in Paris, a mysterious time shifter sweeps her into the Carousel’s time travel vortex and transports her to 1900 Paris. Her return will be allowed once she completes her mission to restore a man’s fate gone wrong. But whose?
Upon meeting dangerously sexy Jacques Thibaut, Mirabelle believes she has found her man. His life’s purpose as a stellar police detective has been derailed by accusations of his plotting with anarchists to overthrow the French government.
If she proves Jacques to be innocent, his life will be reset to its rightful providence. He will win back his job and those who once believed in him, including the woman he planned to marry. Mirabelle’s determination to complete her mission kindles passion between them. But their falling in love will jeopardize everything, for his true destiny does not include her. Besides, even if her heart desires, she cannot remain in 1900 Paris . . . can she?
Join Mirabelle Montgomery and her adventures as a time traveler in Paris of the past. A Tryst in Paris is Book One of The Carousel Time Traveler series.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a time travel romance that is set in 1900 Paris and takes us to the Exposition Universelle, also known as the 1900 Paris Exposition. The descriptions of the Exposition definitely made me feel transported there and the author has researched this well. The Second Olympics of modern times are also going on as part of the Exposition, which is something I learned from this book. One of the things I require from historical fiction is that I learn something, and this book did not disappoint. The main character, Mirabelle Montgomery, is compelling and her time travel adventure is captivating.
As always, every time travel novel needs a method of travel and a set of rules implemented by the author. The method is fantasy-based, involving a mysterious man and a carousel. The rules of time travel in this book are simple. Mirabelle is told upfront that she is being sent back to correct and restore a man’s fate. The butterfly effect, a popular time travel theme, is very important here. It states that the smallest flap of a butterfly’s wing can cause big changes in consequent events. In this novel, history has been changed, Mirabelle is sent back to correct this, and she is not allowed to leave until she has done so. That is the main rule.
In some ways, the time travel is too easy. When Mirabelle arrives, she is miraculously dressed for the period and can speak French, although she didn’t know how to speak it before. That makes her transition to 1900s France much too simple, in my opinion. A difficult period of adjustment would have further elevated the book. The ending of the book is also tied up a little too neatly.
There are hints of romance and bits of history woven throughout this novel in ways that fans of historical romance will enjoy. There are elements of the supernatural and a surprise that I appreciated. Overall, this is a satisfying mix of fantasy, history, romance, thriller, and time travel that readers will love.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no partial star option.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
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Christmas reviews are coming in. I will have quite a few to share in the coming weeks! Here’s one I LOVED.
This is a feel-good Christmas book and I loved it. Diana is a home health worker who believes that she should care for her patients, but not share their personal problems. She is also scared about letting her fiancé Linus’s family get too close to her because her mother disappointed her so many times. When Linus is in a serious accident and lies in the hospital in a coma, Diana’s world turns upside down. As she is wishing for one more chance to make things right, an enchanted snow globe changes everything..
This is such a delightful book with lessons about opening up and trusting others after being hurt. There is a definite Groundhog Day vibe, and the book rightly pays homage to the movie as Diana repeats the same day over and over, trying to prevent Linus’s accident. It was a joy from start to finish. It wasn’t complicated or hard to figure out. It was just a Christmas pleasure. It’s not a complex book. It’s a pleasing holiday story that everyone will enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley. My review is voluntary, and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Annie Rains is a USA Today Bestselling author of small-town contemporary romances full of hope and heart. After years of dreaming about being an author, Annie published her first book in 2015 and has been chasing deadlines and happily ever afters for her characters ever since.
When she isn’t writing, Annie is usually spending time with her husband and 3 children, bingeing Netflix, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors.
Sign up for Annie’s newsletter to stay informed about new releases and sales here.
When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.
While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever.
The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth.
BOOK REVIEW
The Connellys of County Down is a riveting combination of family drama and romance that deals with making mistakes, starting over, and judging others. It’s also about a family that is worn down from hard times, but still tries to help each other. It’s a heartwarming novel.
Issues that some of the characters deal with are control, keeping secrets, prison sentences, and hoarding. The romance is a nice touch that does not overtake the main themes of the book. The relationships between the siblings are very realistic and show their ups and downs. They are far from a perfect family, and that makes the book better.
The audiobook was narrated by Barrie Kreinik, who expertly conveyed all of the personalities, emotions, trials, and fears of the characters. I was riveted by the performance.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to five on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tracey Lange was born and raised in New York City. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in psychology before owning and operating a behavioral healthcare company with her husband for fifteen years. While writing her debut novel, We Are the Brennans, she completed the Stanford University online novel writing program. She currently lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband, two sons, and beloved German Shepherd.
Barrie Kreinik is an actor, singer, writer, and audiobook narrator based in New York City. She was nominated for a 2023 Audie Award for her narration of A House Full of Windsorby Kristin Contino.
On January 29th, Barrie performed in the first public reading of Dublin Noirby Honor Molloy as part of Origin Theatre Company’s 2023 1st Irish Festival.
Barrie’s narration of Michelle Hart’s debut novel We Do What We Do in the Dark was named one of the Best Audiobooks of 2022 by the New York Times.
*I did this review for the May edition of Historical Novels Review, the Magazine of the Historical Novel Society.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
When one of her readers asks for advice following a suspected murder, Victorian countess Amelia Amesbury, who secretly pens the popular Lady Agony column, has no choice but to investigate in this first book in a charming new historical mystery series.
Amelia Amesbury—widow, mother, and countess—has a secret. Amelia writes for a London penny paper, doling out advice on fashion, relationships, and manners under the pen name Lady Agony. But when a lady’s maid writes Amelia to ask for advice when she believes her mistress has been murdered—and then ends up a victim herself—Amelia is determined to solve the case.
With the help of her best friend and a handsome marquis, Amelia begins to piece together the puzzle, but as each new thread of inquiry ends with a different suspect, the investigation grows ever more daunting. From London’s docks and ballrooms to grand country houses, Amelia tracks a killer, putting her reputation—and her life—on the line.
BOOK REVIEW
This Victorian mystery is the first book in the A Lady of Letters mystery series. In London in 1860, Amelia Amesbury is a countess and widow, having lost her husband to illness after a short marriage. She also has a secret. She writes an advice column for a London paper under the name Lady Agony, doling out clever answers to readers’ questions about romance, family, fashion, and more. When she receives a note from a lady’s maid who believes her mistress has been murdered, it does not end there. Amelia soon finds out the maid has been killed as well. With the help of her best friend, and assisted by a handsome marquis with secrets of his own, Amelia begins to investigate both murders. All the while, she is still trying to keep her scandalous alter ego of Lady Agony a secret.
This is a fascinating, well-thought-out mystery that will keep you guessing. The fact that a countess is writing an advice column, which would open her up to scandal if it became public knowledge, is intriguing. Each chapter heading starts with a question to and answer from Lady Agony, which is a great touch and adds a bit of humor. The main characters are engaging and well written, especially the fun-loving favorite of high society, Kitty Hamsted, who is Amelia’s best friend and sometimes partner in investigating crime. During Amelia’s investigation, we get to see both sides of London society, from Kitty’s popular parties to a peek inside the life of a servant. This is a fun take on the cozy mystery genre, and it provides a unique premise that will delight readers. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this from Berkley via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Winters is the author of A Lady of Letters Historical Mystery series, coming from Berkley in 2023. A longtime reader of Victorian fiction and an author of two other mystery series, Mary decided to write a new book set in Victorian London after taking a trip to England. Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery—and another trip! Please visit her website here.
My publisher invited me to attend an all-expenses paid writing retreat at the posh new Hartfield Regency Resort in Loveland, Colorado. Carole isn’t nice like that—there must be a catch.
There is. His name is Ryder Hawk, the outlaw leader of the all-male Western writers who work for the same publishing company. He thinks he’s agreed to attend an all-expenses-paid week at a dude ranch.
Yeah, no. Carole has other ideas. She wants to break into the cowboy romance market. If I want to renew my writing contract, I have to do more than put up with Ryder and his gang of cowboy cronies for a week. We have to write together.
The problem is, Ryder and I have a history.
And it’s more like war than peace.
PRAISE FOR REGENCY THERAPY
“Fun, sweet, slow burn. I was rooting for them!”— Liselotte, Goodreads
“You don’t have to be an Austen fan to love this series!…If you’re looking for a clean, well-written book with some truly laugh-out-loud moments, grab this one today!”— Lorie AH, Amazon, on Matchmaking Therapy
BOOK REVIEW
This is a sweet, clean contemporary romance that will make you smile. When two rival authors are thrown together at Hartfield Regency Resort, sparks fly. Lucy is a Regency Romance author and Ryder writes Westerns. They do not hit it off at first, but are assigned to write a contemporary Cowboy romance together. Their constant, teasing banter adds a lighter note to the book. Lucy’s pride in being a Regency Romance author and her prejudice against Westerns is a fun nod to Jane Austen.
Although this is a very modern, very contemporary romance, there is a lot of discussion of Jane Austen. As a fan of historical fiction, I definitely appreciated this. Contemporary romance is not usually my go-to, but I think fans of that genre will enjoy this light enemies-to-lovers romance. It will be a nice, quick read this Spring and Summer.
I received a free print copy of this book via Austenprose PR. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Catmull writes sweet contemporary romances and clean and wholesome romances in the Victorian era. Her books have been nominated for Swoony, RONE, and Whitney awards.
She taught Middle School English and History for seven years before pursuing screenwriting and writing. She currently lives between a canyon and a lake in Utah with her husband, two cats, and two rambunctious children.
Her books can be found on Amazon and are always free for Kindle Unlimited readers.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
This week’s theme is a genre freebie. I originally was going to post this for Valentine’s Day but didn’t have time. Romance is not my favorite genre, but I chose my top five tragic romances, books that I really liked. One of them is not a romance but is based on a real-life tragic romance. I didn’t pick ten books because that’s just too much tragedy. And I don’t have Romeo and Juliet on the list because I never liked it (Sorry Shakespeare).
Check out the awesome book swag I got from Austenprose Book Tours for a book I’ll be reviewing soon. I got a signed book, a scented candle, chocolate, bookmarks, and more. Below is a book description and a link to To Win Her Hand on Amazon.
*The chocolate did not last long after the picture was taken.
Click on the cover below for the Amazon link.
Lord Featherstone has the world on his shoulders. Or at least his world. With two brothers and a failing estate he must make funds somehow. But what happens when he falls for a woman? Will his tactics work when the situation is so close and personal?
Everyone thinks Lady Loveluck is a wealthy widow. What they don’t know is that she is on the brink of hiring herself out as a Governess in order to pay for her next meal. The only thing keeping her from employment is a growing reputation as a matchmaker. As long as she never falls for another man, as long as she doesn’t allow herself to be fooled into marrying, she will be just fine.
But she never counted on being caught up in the beguiling tactics of London’s renowned and not-so-secret matchmaker for men.
I read this book back in September for the November issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. See my review below.
When Tansy White is betrayed by her intended, she fears she is fated to be alone. Encouraged by her three aunts, she visits Rose Cottage, the home of her late mother. Tansy has dreamed of this cottage her whole life and wonders if it can provide the answers she seeks. But after getting caught in a storm and waking up in a strange house, she meets a man with secrets of his own. Marcus Taylor, the brother of a duke, also has troubling dreams. Working together, can they find out hidden secrets and piece together fragments of dreams?
This second book in the Enchanted Regency Romance series is such a delight. What a treat to read a Regency Romance with a bit of magical realism that is also a Sleeping Beauty retelling! With many nods to the timeless legend running through it, this is a fresh, original, and intriguing romance. Tansy’s ability to dream her future is just the right touch that adds an extra layer to this well-woven story. Readers will become enchanted themselves while piecing together a tapestry made out of dreams, secrets, magic, and lies. Fans of romance and magical realism will enjoy this book.
My rating is 4.6 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no partial star option.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via the Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anneka R. Walker is an award-winning author raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor’s degree in English and history. When she isn’t dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she is busy living her own with her husband and adorable children. Visit her website here.
BUY LINK
*Click on the image to purchase this book on Amazon.
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