Tag: blog tour

Blog Tour and Review: An Unfamiliar Duke

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by Sian Ann Bessey

Publisher : Covenant Communications (May 16, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524419915
ISBN-13 : 978-1524419912

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At eleven years of age, Rosalind Ainsworth was convinced that Sebastian Lumley, the future Duke of Kelbrook, was the most odious young man she’d ever met. And ten years later, after having had no contact with the nobleman in the intervening time, her opinion of him has not changed. Unfortunately, neither has the marriage contract their fathers signed soon after her birth.

As Rosalind’s twenty-first birthday and the appointed wedding day approaches, Sebastian makes a rare appearance in London. His first meeting with Rosalind since childhood goes less than perfectly, but Sebastian has a compelling reason for honoring their marriage contract―a reason outlined in a document kept behind his workshop’s locked door. 

After a quick wedding, the new couple relocates to Finley Park, where their acquaintanceship slowly blossoms into affection. But when Sebastian’s secretive work threatens their fledgling relationship and Rosalind’s life is placed in jeopardy, Sebastian finds himself forced to choose between the man he has pledged to help and the woman he has come to love. 

Rosalind Ainsworth has been engaged to the Duke of Kelbrook since birth. As a gangly 14 year old, he bars her from his all boys tree house, and she wants nothing more to do with him. Ten years later he appears back in her life right before their expected wedding, and all she knows about him is the little boy from the tree house.

Rosalind and Sebastian have a slow burn relationship. They are finding out all the things they have in common while navigating their way through this new unknown relationship.

I love how they communicated with each other with the sweet little notes under the door. As someone who banned girls as a child, I love how now Sebastian respects his wife enough to listen to her comments on math and take them seriously.

Sian Bessey always includes interesting historical information in her books, and I enjoyed learning more about the different inventions during this time. I even looked up the Iron Bridge to find out more about it, since I found it fascinating. I also loved how the love of math brought Rosalind and Sebastian closer together.

I have been loving this series. Each book has been different but all have the history, adventure, and characters I adore.

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Blog Tour and Review: Bargaining for the Barrister

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by Anneka R. Walker

Publisher : Covenant Communications (March 7, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524421499
ISBN-13 : 978-1524421496

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Louisa Cox is tired of fortune hunters pursuing her dowry. So when Lady Kellen offers to help her find an eligible suitor, Louisa eagerly accepts and makes a list of what she wants in a husband. The man selected is barrister Paul Sheldon. He may be a complete stranger, but he has one thing in his favor: he is unaware of her fortune. What Louisa did not anticipate was his curious behavior―or being so attracted to him.

When Paul catches wind of the matchmaking organization his mother and her friends are establishing, he pities the fellow who will be caught in their scheme―until he realizes he is to be their first victim. Horrified, Paul determines to thwart his mother’s plans by whatever means necessary. After meeting his intended, however, his increasing desire to be near her threatens to disrupt his convictions. Louisa is everything he could want in a wife, and when an unexpected adventure sets in motion the very plan he had determined to halt, he almost wishes his mother’s plot could succeed. But Paul harbors a secret and a past that make it impossible for him to give Louisa the life she deserves.

Paul Sheldon has gone through a lot of things growing up, and he feels like he has to prove himself and earn his own way in life before even considering marriage.

“A man of intelligence could easily retain his fortune—unless, of course, he also possessed a charitable heart.”

Louisa Cox has always been pursued for her dowry by fortune hunters. She believes that a match made by the Matchmaking Mamas would be best for her.

“This petite woman hid her spirit behind her sweet smiles and soft voice, but he knew better. Louisa Cox was a force strong enough to knock the sense from a man and make him question all his life choices.”

Anneka Walker gives us complex characters with a lot of heart. Both the main characters are going through difficult struggles, but they face them in very different ways.

I loved that there were so many funny scenes in this book, but they were never over the top.

I loved all the Rebels, and I hope that every one of them gets to have their own story. I didn’t want to leave these characters, and I’m glad we will get to see them again.

“A place of retreat was often not the ordinary or the convenient; it was whatever place brought peace and escape.”

This book really was an emotional rollercoaster that I didn’t want to put down. I highly recommend reading it!

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Blog Tour and Review: Her Country Gentleman

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by Sian Ann Bessey, Sarah M. Eden, Rebecca Connolly

Publisher : Mirror Press (March 8, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 300 pages
ISBN-10 : 1952611210
ISBN-13 : 978-1952611216

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Not all love is found in London . . .

Spring at Tribbley Hall by Sian Ann Bessey
When Charlotte’s grandmother invites her to accompany her to Norfolk, Charlotte jumps at the chance to visit the sea and escape the fuss surrounding her sister’s wedding preparations in London. Lord William Cheston, on the other hand, is most unhappy when his mother informs him that her old friend and a granddaughter are coming to stay. Not only is it lambing season, but he’s also dealing with the mysterious loss of several sheep. The last thing he needs is a child underfoot. When Charlotte and William first meet, he does not realize that the lovely young lady is the granddaughter in question, and she assumes that the man dressed in work clothes in the barn is a servant. A dinner party at the house introduces Charlotte to some of the gentry living nearby but cannot compare to her experience the next evening, when she and William battle to save the life of a newborn lamb. Soon afterward, Charlotte stumbles upon a clue to William’s sheep’s disappearance. And when her life is placed in jeopardy, William is forced to choose between saving Charlotte and catching the thief.

Love of My Heart by Sarah M. Eden
Cordelia Wakefield has never lived anywhere but London and is not overly happy when her family is forced to retrench to a small estate near Teviotbrae, Scotland. An ill-fated game of battledore and shuttlecock brings her face-to-racquet with Sebastian, who runs the home farm at nearby Teviot Castle. What begins as a clash of personalities, expectations, and preferences, soon leads to a friendship neither had expected. As the magic of Teviotbrae weaves its spell, the possibility of something more than friendship begins to blossom. But what future is there for a lowly farmer and a London lady?

Miss Smith Goes to Wiltshire by Rebecca Connolly
Martha Smith wants to marry for love, and will not be persuaded otherwise. She is highly sought after in Society for her beauty and status, but refuses to consider any suitor whose only claim is that his prospects meet with her mother’s approval. Her widowed mother has had enough of Martha’s romantic sensibilities, and is sending her to stay with unfortunate cousins in Wiltshire to show her that marrying for love is a risk that is too great. Benjamin Steele, Lord Hillier, is working on his new and dilapidated estate when he first catches sight of the striking Martha Smith. Becoming Lord Hillier has only brought him a house that needs significant repairs, tenant farms that had been abandoned, and only the money he’d already possessed. He wants meaning in his life, and he’s more than willing to work for it. Though worlds apart in all else, on this point they can agree: a life of meaning would change everything.

I have always loved how Timeless Collections brings together such great authors, but this book may be one of my favorites. Not only do I love the authors and their stories, but this was such a great theme. I also loved how there were different locations included in every story.

Spring at Tribbley Hall by Sian Ann Bessey

William is a Baron who is not afraid to get his hands dirty taking care of his sheep. When an unknown person threatens them, he steps in to protect his sheep and find the culprit.

Charlotte has always loved animals, but has had little chance to express that love. She has always tried to maintain a lady-like appearance, but seems to get herself in one messy situation after another since her arrival.

Spring at Tribbley Hall had scheming relations and a couple perfect for each other. I loved all the animals in this sweet story. I also liked that William allowed Charlotte to make her own decisions even if he didn’t agree with them.

Love of My Heart by Sarah M. Eden

After being raised in England, Sebastian returns to Scotland after the death of his parents to be near his only relative, his grandfather the laird. His grandfather believes that one cannot be respected unless they have worked the land and earned the trust of the locals, so Sebastian becomes a home farmer.

Cordelia loves everything about London and dreams about having a real season. Instead, her family is forced to retrench due to financial issues.

This story makes me totally want to have a pet lamb. Shadow was adorable!

I really liked learning more about the home farmers and the céilidh’s.

Cordelia’s parents were awful. They clearly don’t care about their daughters, and they spend far outside their means. It is no wonder they had to retrench.

I really enjoyed this story.

Miss Smith Goes to Wiltshire by Rebecca Connolly

Martha has always wanted to marry for love. Her mother is appalled, and to punish her for her beliefs, she sends her to a cousin in the country so she can see what marrying for love will get you.

Benjamin has inherited an earldom, and the broken down estate that goes along with it. He cannot afford to hire anyone, so he must work the land himself.

Neither Benj or Martha is what one would expect the upper class to be. They have no problems fitting in with the rest of the locals.

Having lived in London her entire life, I love how wide eyed and excited Martha got about everything in the country.

I also loved the scene with the little piglets and the epilogue. This was a great story.

Blog Tour and Review: Summerhaven

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by Tiffany Odekirk

Publisher : Covenant Communications (February 14, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 274 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524421464
ISBN-13 : 978-1524421465

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Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear―so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.

Damon Jennings, Oliver Jennings, and Hannah Kent grew up together. At age 12, Oliver and Hannah promised to get married, and Hannah has loved him ever since. Damon and Hannah had always had a difficult relationship, with Hannah hating the tricks he played on her. Years later, she still considers him her adversary.

Oliver comes off as the fun loving brother, but he is often putting his own wants above other people. Damon doesn’t want to only be wanted for his future title, and he hides who he really is from others.

I love Damon and Hannah’s relationship. I adored their sweet moments and their funny moments, and I love their deeper moments. This book was really hard to put down. I love finding new authors I love!

Summerhaven is a twist on my favorite trope of childhood love, and I love it even more for the twist.

The main characters were strong and fully developed, and I felt a connection to them. I also liked the side characters. I really look forward to reading more from this author.

This book releases on Valentine’s Day, which is the perfect date for it. It’s the exact kind of romance I love.

P.S. There was less than an hour to go before my alarm would go off when I finished the book. Summerhaven 1 Sleep 0. I regret nothing.

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Blog Tour and Review: An Accidental Romance

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by Karen Tuft

Publisher : Covenant Communications, Inc. (December 6, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524420409
ISBN-13 : 978-1524420406

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Rebecca Jennings’s first London Season has been absolutely ruined, and one person alone is responsible: Mr. Ben Fortescue. If her new neighbor hadn’t startled her, she would never have broken her ankle, leaving her bored and frustrated at home in the country while her sister enters the London Season alone. Although, it was rather gallant of him to carry her home . . .

For his part, Ben feels terrible about the role he played in Miss Rebecca Jennings’s accident. In the days that follow their first disastrous meeting, he finds himself inexorably drawn to the surprising young woman—first out of guilt and then out of a stirring affection. But Ben hides a secret: he has not been completely forthright about his identity or about the dark secrets of his past that would make it impossible for romance to blossom with Miss Jennings. Despite his love for her, he knows he must let her go.

With her ankle finally healed but her heart now broken, Rebecca is left with little choice but to throw herself into the Season. With eligible men circling this late addition to the Marriage Mart, it seems that Rebecca will have no shortage of suitors. If only her heart were free to give.

After being delayed for a number of reasons, Rebecca Jennings is finally going to have her first season in London; then she is injured right before it.

Ben Fortescue feels terrible that he is the cause of Rebecca missing out, so he determines to keep her entertained even if it goes against his plans to hide away from society.

Ben would often come off as moody and abrupt, but I like that he wanted to make sure that Rebecca knew her feelings and got to experience things because she had been so sheltered and could sometimes still act immature and fickle.

There were also a lot of cliché remarks about all the couples constantly gazing into each other’s eyes adoringly that got to be a little much. The book also had a modern feel, like the immediate use of their first names.

I think my favorite part of the book were the scenes with the kids. They were adorable! I also liked Ben’s staff.

I always like when characters from past books make an appearance, and Susan and her husband the Duke of Aylesham are in it quite a bit along with a few others like Foster who I am always a fan of.

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Blog Tour and Review: An Alleged Rogue

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by Sian Ann Bessey

Publisher : Covenant Communications, Inc. (November 8, 2021)
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 1524418994
ISBN-13 : 978-1524418991

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Lord Adam Dunsbourne is a tyrant. At least, that’s what everyone says. The tales are shocking: accounts of a man who gambled away the family fortune and keeps his younger sister, Emily, captive in their home at Dunsbourne Manor. So when Adam and his sister make an unexpected appearance at a dinner party, the scandalized whispers cannot be contained.

New to the town, Phoebe Hadford hears the condemning rumors and determines to do all she can to help the baron’s oppressed sister. Upon entering Dunsbourne Manor, however, she quickly discovers that all is not what she has been led to believe.

Adam, though unsure of whether he can trust the intentions of his beautiful neighbor, is quickly drawn in by Phoebe’s genuine nature. But even as Adam and Phoebe’s connection deepens, a dangerous enemy from Adam’s past reemerges. For years, Adam has hunted for the man who betrayed him, not realizing he had only to wait. His foe has returned, and this time, he will threaten everything Adam cherishes most―including the woman he loves.

Lord Adam Dunsbourne and his young sister Emily’s lives are first ruined by a villain who steals all their money, and then their father dies. If that isn’t bad enough, people then make up rumors and lies and turn Adam into the villain.

Their neighbor Phoebe Hadford has seen what false rumors can cause, so she is determined to make her own decision about the siblings and befriend Emily.

There were a lot of descriptions on Adam’s apple orchards and how they made cider in those days. I found it all incredibly fascinating, and it even inspired me to visit apple orchards myself while I was reading this book. I really like how Adam worked so much in the orchard because he loved it and didn’t care about his status as a Baron.

Autumn is my favorite season, and this book gives you all the autumn feels. It’s the perfect book for this time of year.

I have really enjoyed reading the Georgian Gentlemen series.

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Blog Tour and Review: The Debutante’s Code

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by Erica Vetsch

Publisher : Kregel Publications (December 7, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 0825447135
ISBN-13 : 978-0825447136

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Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn’t spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They’ve been living double lives as government spies–and they’re only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family’s legacy.

Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spy craft. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors–not to mention nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner Daniel Swann, who suspects her of a daring theft.

Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents’ last mission? Or will it lead her to a terrible end?

Best-selling author Erica Vetsch is back with a rollicking, exciting new series destined to be a hit with Regency readers who enjoy a touch of mystery in their love stories. Fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, and Anne Perry will love the wit, action, and romance.

Sent away to school at 13, Daniel Swann is the illegitimate son of a housekeeper. After graduating, he can work in his chosen profession until his 25th birthday. At that time his wealthy benefactor will cut him off. With his birthday fast approaching, he is eager to prove himself on his first real case as a Bow Street runner.

Lady Juliette Thorndike is finally returning home from school abroad and excited to see her parents. Instead, her parents are gone, and she’s thrown into the world of spies, murder, and stolen artwork.

I absolutely loved that Juliette’s father would write to her in code, and she learned how to figure them out from a young age. Solving ciphers is a hobby of mine. I would have loved to hear some more details of the code Juliette was working on.

I didn’t like that they both constantly questioned God’s presence and thought that He was only there if He instantly helped them with what they wanted.

I liked that the Duke of Haverly from The Gentleman Spy was in this. I always like to catch up with previous characters, and I loved that book.

The combination of the Regency time period, mystery, and interesting characters made for an excellent read. This book was strong in the mystery and espionage elements, and a little more subtle in the romance. I enjoyed how the plot advanced with some added twists.

The description of Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes is very accurate, and I’m excited for more from this series. There are some questions I am very impatient to know the answers to, and I look forward to more of Daniel and Juliette’s adventures together.

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Blog Tour and Review: Love and Lavender 

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by Josi S. Kilpack

Publisher : Shadow Mountain (November 2, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1629729299
ISBN-13 : 978-1629729299

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Hazel Stillman is a woman of rare independence and limited opportunities. Born with a clubbed foot, she was sent away as a child and, knowing her disability means a marriage is unlikely, she devoted herself to scholarship and education.

Now working as a teacher in an elite private girls’ school, she is content with the way her story has unfolded. When her uncle Elliott Mayfield presents her with the prospect of a substantial inheritance if she marries, Hazel is offended. What kind of decent man would marry for her money? Besides, she loves her freedom as a professional, respected woman. When she hears rumors of the school possibly being sold, however, she knows she must consider all her options.

Duncan Penhale has a brilliant mind and thrives on order and process. He does not expect to marry because he likes his solitary life, shared only with his beloved cat. When Elliott Mayfield, his guardian’s brother, presents him with an inheritance if he marries a woman of social standing, Duncan finds it intrusive. However, with the inheritance, he could purchase the building in which he works and run his own firm. It would take an impressive and intellectual woman to understand and love him, quirks and all.

Hazel and Duncan believe they have found a solution to both of their problems: marry one another, receive their inheritances, and then part ways to enjoy their individual paths. But when Uncle Mayfield stipulates that they must live together as husband and wife for one year before receiving their inheritances, Hazel and Duncan reluctantly agree. Over time, their marriage of convenience becomes much more appealing than they had anticipated. At the end of the full year, will they go their separate ways or could an unlikely marriage have found unsuspecting love?

Hazel is not like the rest of her family. She has a “deformed” foot and was sent away to school because of it. She never developed close relationships with other family members, and she has grown up very independent.

Duncan appears to be on the spectrum. He takes everything you say very literally and is incredibly intelligent in so many areas. He has an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

Hazel and Duncan both had very difficult upbringings for very different reasons. They were not considered “normal”, and that’s what I loved about them. I adored them together. They had a very sweet, innocent sort of romance that slowly developed.

I definitely enjoyed the story, but it felt a little slow. I felt like I kept waiting for something else to happen in the story, and it never did.

I love characters who are real and not “perfect”. I also loved that this book didn’t try to fix everything and make it unrealistic. Duncan and Hazel got to be exactly who they were meant to be.