Where the Stars Meet the Sea Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

Juliet Graham fervently counts the days until her twenty-first birthday, when she can claim the inheritance that will grant her the freedom she has always craved and the guardianship of her younger brother. Until then, she is trapped under her aunt Agnes's domineering will. When forced to accompany the family to a house party at Shaldorn Castle, Juliet's only objective is to keep to herself. That is, until a chance encounter with a boorish stranger stirs up an unexpected whirlwind of emotions in her. Thrown off-balance, Juliet does the unthinkable: loses her temper and insults the man who turns out to be her unwilling host, the Duke of Halstead. Fully expecting to be sent away, Juliet is surprised when the brusque and callous duke instead takes an interest in her.
Drawn to the duke in unguarded moments, Juliet finds herself more and more intrigued by the man who shuns Society's rules as completely as she does, and over the next few weeks, their unlikely friendship deepens into a connection neither expected.

But even as Juliet comes to recognize her true feelings, her scheming aunt issues an ultimatum that threatens the future she was just beginning to hope for. Juliet must choose: either break the promise she made to herself years ago, or lose the man who has captured her heart and soul.

Review - Where the Stars Meet the Sea instantly became a new favorite after reading it. If you like Regency romance, you need to read this book. The protagonists were not only likeable but they had a great built up of romantic tension. The dramatic tension was amazing and there wasn't any dull lulls in this story. It was very well crafted. The antagonists were complex and dynamic. It was quite the page-turner for me. The descriptions were really well done as well as how she introduced the characters. I could easily visualize the settings, the characters and the scenes. This book is a five star "guilty pleasure" book. I would definitely recommend reading this book. Click here to learn more about Where the Stars Meet the Sea.

Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book!

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Please note that I received this book for free, however, this is my honest opinion. Please also note that there are affiliate links in this post. The giveaway is run by the publisher.

 

A Clever Alliance Book Review

Lady Madalene Ramsbury has been summoned home from Miss Bell’s Finishing School to some unfortunate news. In three weeks, she is to be married to a man she’s never met. Rather than face a life she does not want; she flees from her own engagement party and elicits help from a most unlikely source.

Society’s golden boy, Everett, the Marquess of Northampton, was outraged when a young woman suddenly appeared in his curricle. Was she attempting to trap him into an unwanted marriage? It would be just like some overzealous mother to put her up to such a ploy. However, it doesn’t take long for him to discover that Madalene is unlike any woman he has ever known.

With her reputation in shambles, Lady Madalene and Everett hatch a plan to solve both of their problems, a fake engagement. But as they spend time together, they realize more is on the line than just a blossoming friendship. And with danger ever present from her jilted suitor, Everett and Madalene find themselves relying on one another in ways they’d never imagined… but can they trust each other with their hearts?

Review

A Clever Alliance was a fun and amusing romance. I enjoyed reading and discovering about the main character, Lady Madalene. She had a fresh energy that was refreshing and fun. I loved Beers's description of her and her character traits. She makes quite an entrance into Everett's life. It was a great meet-cute. I think Madalene is one of my favorite characters written by Beers. She loves climbing trees, smart and resourceful. Everett and Madalene have a great chemistry that was enjoyable to read. The story moves quickly and is easy to read. This is a must read for regency romance readers. To learn more about A Clever Alliance, click here.


Please note that I received a free e-book to review, however my opinion is my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

A Lady's Maid Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

Molly O' Malley, lady's maid to the progressive Lady Amanda Halloway, is determined to continue the life's work of her lost love, killed in the Peterloo Massacre. But when her efforts and a trip to Lady Halloway's charitable orphanage culminate in her own abduction, Molly's eyes are opened to the horrifying crimes transpiring in the city's slums. Despite the risks, she broadens her mission and is drawn ever closer to the peril all around them.

Thomas Flaherty, a footman in the Halloway household, has been with Molly from the beginning, but he fears she will never trust him with her heart. Even though her cause and happiness are of foremost importance to him, his loyal patience is tested by the fears that keep her at a distance. But with their safety on the line, Thomas is resolved to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves.

Risking their lives and their love, Molly and Thomas and a team of nobles on their side will stop at nothing to empower the powerless, no matter the personal cost.

Review - A Lady's Maid takes the reader into the households of the privileged and the unfortunate. The slums described in A Lady's Maid reminded me of Dicken's Oliver Twist. The feelings that I felt during Oliver's plight were similar to reading about Molly's escapade in the slums. The imagery and descriptions were very powerfully written. Johnson has a way of making the story come alive in the reader's imagination even if it's not pleasant. Johnson doesn't write light or fluffy romances. She tackles the politics and troubles of the time period. I would also suggest reading her notes after the story. Some of her notes about the history were fascinating. A Lady's Maid is a stand-alone novel, but has some of the same characters as Johnson's The Nobleman's Daughter. I've read The Nobleman's Daughter and Scarlet, and I think by far this is my favorite. The detail is rich and imaginative. The main characters are inspiring and likeable. Even though this is a stand-alone novel, I think the reader should probably read The Nobleman's Daughter first. There are scenes and background information that carry over into this book. The title of the book makes it seem like this is just Molly's story, but there are also other characters that take center stage at times and it's also their story as well. There is some scenes dealing with prostitutes and rude comments made to the women that were appropriate for the scene and doesn't go beyond that. This is a clean novel. To learn more, click here.

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Please note that I received a free copy to facilitate this review, however, my opinions are my own. The giveaway is facilitated by the publisher. There are affiliate links in this post that help to facilitate the maintenance of this blog. 

Love in Disguise Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

Marion Watt is set to embark on her first London Season, and her parents have spared no expense to help her secure a suitable husband. Unlike most of the social-climbing women in her position, Marion has no desire to marry hastily or for anything less than love. But when she learns of her mother's declining health, she knows she must keep an open mind and allow herself to be courted. What she does not anticipate, however, is that the attentions of the insufferable Lord William Everton will be placed squarely on her. He might be the most sought-after bachelor of the Season, but she sees in him nothing but a frivolous cad.

Until William inherits his father's title and seat in parliament, he must rely on his own devices to change the world. Dressing like a ridiculous dandy serves its purposes, but he is certain his newest disguise will help him find a wife to please his parents and further his own agenda. From among the glittering group of debutantes, William finds only one woman who passes his test. Unfortunately, the perfect choice is the only woman in all of London who despises him.

 Love in Disguise was a fun, clever read. It was hard to put down. The characters were interesting and there were several unexpected twists and turns in the story. I felt like Marion and William were a little slow at times in understanding each other and I wish that it was drawn out so much, but otherwise the story moved rather quickly. I would have liked more explanations on some of the minor characters. It would be interesting to learn their backgrounds and how William came to know them. It would be interesting to read a prequel to this story. I think most readers that like regency novels would enjoy this story. It's a clean romance. To learn more about Love in Disguise, click here.

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Please note that I received a free copy to facilitate this review, however, my opinions are my own. The giveaway is facilitated by the publisher. There are affiliate links in this post that help to facilitate the maintenance of this blog. 

The Heart of A Vicar Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

Young love is all too fleeting, as Harold Jonquil painfully discovered years ago when Sarah Sarvol, the niece of a neighboring landowner, captured his heart. After an idyllic few weeks in the throes of blossoming love, reality intervened. They could have no future. Following their disastrous parting, Harold attempted to push aside thoughts of love and regret, but Sarah has never left his heart. Now, years later, he has achieved his lifelong aspiration of becoming the local vicar. However, the role proves more difficult than he imagined. He feels hollow and uninspired -- until the most important person in his past returns, challenging him as no one ever has.

When Sarah's ailing uncle summons her back to the family estate in England, there iso only one person from her past she is reluctant to see again: Harold Jonquil, the only man who has ever claimed her heart. But when she comes face-to-face with her former beau, she hardly recognizes the aloof and dull man before her. She is determined to help Harold rediscover the passion he once felt toward his chosen profession. Soon, despite their exasperation with each other, they cannot deny the stirring of feelings long buried-- but is it too late for second chances?

Sarah Eden created a fictional family called the Jonquils with seven sons and an honorary son. Each son has/or will have a novel telling the story of how they met their spouse. Each story also references what is going on in the lives of the other brothers and build on each other. She also created a second family for regency romance readers called the Lancasters. The last Lancaster book, Loving Lieutenant Lancaster, sets place at the Jonquil home and some of the plot elements from that story carry over into The Heart of a Vicar.  The Heart of a Vicar tells the story of Harold and is the seventh book in the Jonquil series. Here are the books that are part of the Jonquil family's story:

• The Kiss of a Stranger (Honorary Brother, Crispin)
  
• Friends and Foes (Philip Jonquil)
  
• Drops of Gold (Layton Jonquil)
• As You Are (Corbin Jonquil)
• A Fine Gentleman (Jason Jonquil)
  
• For Love or Honor (Stanley Jonquil)
• The Heart of a Vicar  (Harry Jonquil)

Here are the books of the Lancaster series:

• Seeking Peresphone
• Courting Miss Lancaster
• Romancing Daphne
• Loving Lieutenant Lancaster

I've read Eden's other books in the series (some several times over) and Harold is usually portrayed as a tightly wound vicar that has trouble interacting socially. The Heart of a Vicar really shows a different side of Harold and how lost he feels within his role as a vicar. Sarah inspires him to be himself and to figure out what he wants in life. I liked Harold better after reading his story and understood him a bit better. In the other novels, he comes out a bit pompous and socially awkward. I usually cringe a little when he interacts with his brothers. It was interesting to see the reasons behind his behavior and get to know his character better. I loved getting to know his hobbies. It really made his character more interesting and dynamic. He's now one of my favorites. I was annoyed at times with Sarah for pushing Harold too hard to change, but I knew what Harold was going through as a reader and she didn't. The Heart of a Vicar also revisits several of the other characters from Sarah Eden's books. If you read them out of order, it would ruin the twists and suspense leading up to this story. I've been anticipating this book for a while and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to read the next book in the series! I know it'll be at least a year before the next one comes out, but I can't wait! If you haven't read about the Jonquils and you enjoy romance, I would very highly suggest reading these books. I own most of the series and reread them almost yearly. To learn more about The Heart of a Vicar, click here.

I would also suggest following Sarah Eden on social media. Sometimes, she does giveaways for her books and gives "slight" hints at what is to come. Her Facebook page is here and her Instagram is here.

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Please note that I received a free copy to facilitate this review, however, my opinions are my own. The giveaway is facilitated by the publisher. There are affiliate links in this post that help to facilitate the maintenance of this blog.

Love & Secrets Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Genre:  Adult, New Adult, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Regency, Romance
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publication date: August 14, 2018
Wealthy socialite Christine Harrison’s life seems perfect until the man she planned tomarry, Mr. Davenport, proposes to someone else. Heartbroken, Miss Harrison vowsnever to love again, and to distract herself, she sets out to rescue a fallen youngwoman. Little does she know that her journey will reveal more than she expected about her friends, her seemingly perfect life, and her own heart.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

From writing an award-wining tale of a dragon falling from the stars in the 3rd grade to regency romance written at thirty, Sarah McConkie has always had a passion for creating intriguing stories. After years of singledom looking for romance (and teaching Junior High Choir to fill up real life), Sarah began a Master’s degree in Literacy. When love finally found her, she married and became a wife and eventually a mother. After tucking in her own little princess one January evening she determined to attempt her life-long dream to write and publish a novel. Using her many years of experience in the single realm, a robust knowledge of regency classics, and a love of all things old fashioned and proper, Sarah wrote Love and Secrets at Cassfield Manor. She now lives with her own Mr. Right and her two daughters, and believes providing stimulating and moral stories promotes literacy in a world which needs more readers. This is her first novel.

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Author Interview

1-What make your book different than other romance novels?   

McConkie - The GUYS! You are in their head, and they are more dynamic and have more of a presence. 

2-Who is your favorite character from this book? 

McConkie - William Robertson, although he was hardest to write. His brother Robert was the easiest and most fun to write. They are based off of two real-life brothers. 

3-What do you hope the readers learn/gain from this story?

McConkie - That love only works if we have hope. You must treat people and a relationship you care about like you know it will work out. Hope is what makes the difference. Also, I hope the readers see and feel that people can change and become better. 

Snippet

Christine breathed deeply, circling her arms around herself. As she stood among those high, stalwart cliffs, she formed a resolution. Their presence spoke to Christine once more, reminding her that she could change. She could be more steadfast in her desires. She determined then to look outward, toward others, and stop caring about herself and her status in life. She affirmed that day that she did not need high connections to validate her existence. She did not need a man to establish or promote her social standing. And perhaps most importantly, Christine resolved to never again let these base motives stand in her way of real and lasting relationships with the people around her.

Review

Love & Secrets at Cassfield Manor was a little hard for me to get into at first as a reader. There were a lot of characters introduced in the very beginning and it took some time to become invested in the story and care what happened to the main characters. As I continued reading the plot became more involved, secrets more pronounced and the plot started twisting and turning in such a way that my interest peaked and I couldn't wait to find out how the story ended. The turning point in the romance with the two main protagonists was a little rushed and it almost felt liked it was missing a more pronounced turning point from disgust/disdain to love. The way the secondary characters are involved with the plot and storyline was fairly interesting and the surprises made the story fun and compelling. The way the story ended kind of reminded me of a Shakespearean comedy where the romance is mostly a mess until it's wrapped up very nicely in the end. It was a light, fun read. I would be interested in reading more from the author. To learn more, click here.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway HERE.

Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.

Tour Schedule

September 17-Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | Paulette’s Papers
September 18-Mindy Houng (reviewer) | Blooming with Books
September 19-Emily Yager | Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
September 20-Heidi Reads… I Life Is What It’s Called
September 21-Pause for Tales | Bookworm Lisa
September 22-Jorie Loves A Story

Please note that this post contains affiliate links to Amazon. I received a free copy of this book to help facilitate this review, however, this does not influence my opinion. The prize for the giveaway is handled by the book tour manager, Singing Librarian.

The Secret of Haversham House Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

About the Book

 

Genre:  Christian, Fiction, Historical, Regency, Romance

Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publication date: June 12, 2018
Francesca Haversham is eighteen years old and about to step into a glittering future – all she has to do is secure her wealth with an advantageous marriage. Then she learns the truth:her entire identity is a lie. Now Francesca faces a horrible choice. Will she give up all she knows or continue to lie about her past and risk everything, including her heart?

GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

Julie Matern is a resident of Utah. She attended the University of Exeter in Exeter, England, and graduated with a double major in French and Education. She was born and raised in England, moving to America after her marriage and is the mother of six children. She has served in the PTA for over 20 years, taught tap dance, and enjoys amateur photography. She is the author of ‘British War Children’ ( for which she received a “Recommended Read” award from the League of Utah Writers) and ‘British War Children 2: An Enemy Among Us’.
Hometown: Highland, UT

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

Snippet

Francesca stopped breathing as Mr. Ashbourne gently took her gloved hand in his and expertly spun her around the room, leaving her former partner spluttering at the lack of manners, in the center of the dance floor. She became dizzy at the realization that Mr. Ashbourne was actually dancing with her. After several turns, he lowered his head and whispered into her ear, his nose tickling her skin and sending a thrill up her spine, causing a delicious sensation in her midriff. “Are you unwell?” he asked. “You look faint.” She recovered herself and observed that he had a playful smile on his lips, fully aware of the power his presence had on young ladies. Not wanting to appear as inexperienced as she really was, she blurted out, “Oh no, you merely surprised me, that is all.” “Then I shall take pleasure in surprising you whenever I can as it only serves to heighten your beauty!” Francesca’s cheeks burned under his scrutiny and she bent her neck to avoid his piercing gaze and gather her confused thoughts.

Review

The Secret of Haversham was an interesting and a worthwhile read. It's a book that I will definitely reread again in the future and I look forward to reading more books by this author. The writing style of the author reminded me of classical 19th century writers that wrote fictional short stories and novels of Americans visiting and touring Europe. I am not sure if that was the writing style the author was going for, but it seemed to have an older quality to it. The story was driven more by actions and secrets then the characters dialogue or development. The story was in constant motion and with each chapter I felt like I was peeling away layer after layer. I highly suggest checking out this book and reading it. To learn more, click here.

Author Interview

Life Is What It's Called - What's your inspiration for this book?

Julie Matern - Social class. It is still alive and well in England but not to the extent it was in this period. One day I wondered what would happen to a person who discovered that they were actually from a much lower class. Would it change the way friends and family treated them? I decided it would and thus a main character with a secret past was born.

Life Is What It's Called -What do you hope the readers get out of the book?

Julie Matern - I hope they are transported back in time and escape into this glittering world of privilege. I also hope they root for Francesca and Phillip and that other characters evoke strong negative emotions in them. If they come to examine their own prejudices that would be icing on the cake.

Life Is What It's Called - Who/What was your inspiration behind the characters?

Julie Matern - Francesca and Annabelle are such good girls - young and naive, just as they should be after their sheltered upbringings. I needed some villains to contrast with them and we all love to hate diabolical literary characters. Matt Bomer (White Collar) was my inspiration for Langley, physically. He is so classically handsome and pleasant to look at and that was what I needed Langley to be. As for his character, Langley is a  combination of many selfish and narcissistic traits all rolled into one individual.

My inspiration for Lady Augusta was Lady Catherine DeBourgh. She is so haughty but I needed Augusta to be conniving and malicious as well. I would love to see these two characters meet at a soiree!

As for Phillip, physically I used James Norton (Grantchester and Death Comes to Pemberley) as my inspiration but he is very like my husband in his personality.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway HERE.

Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.

Tour Schedule

Tour Landing Page

July 23-The Power of Words | Paulette’s Papers
July 24-Life is What It’s Called | Encouraging Words From the Tea Queen | Blooming with Books
July 25-Pause for Tales | Reading Is My SuperPower | Singing Librarian Books
July 26-Heidi Reads… | Bookworm Lisa | Why Not? Because I Said So!
July 27-Remembrancy | Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic 
July 28-Edits and Reviews by Leslie | Jorie Loves A Story​

Please note that I received a free copy of this book to facilitate this review. The giveaway prize and selection of the winner is handled by Singing Librarian. Please note that there are also Amazon Affiliate links on this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases that help in running this blog.

A Tangled Ruse Review

For her protection, Lady Rachel is sent into hiding on her uncle's estate in Rockcliffe, Scotland. As she struggles to forget the haunting memories of abduction and attempted kidnapping, she discovers even more danger for herself and England.

Luke Beckett, the Marquess of Downshire, stumbles upon Lady Rachel and begins a peculiar friendship with her without the constraints of his title or wealth and starts to fall in love. When the truth of his identity is revealed, will Lady Rachel trust him enough to keep each other safe from the looming dangers?

A Tangled Ruse is the fourth book in The Beckett Files series by Laura Beers. Since the novels build off of each other, I would suggest starting with Laura Beers' first book of the series, Saving Shadow and then continuing on to A Peculiar Courtship, To Love a Spy and A Tangled Ruse. I enjoyed reading, A Tangled Ruse. It was a fun, action romance and continuation of the series. Lady Rachel was an interesting and relatable character - wanting adventure, lover of books, and independent. Luke Beckett's character reminded me of "the beast" in the fairytale, Beauty and the Beast. He was grumpy, isolated and self-centered until Lady Rachel begins to chip at his interior and icy heart. The romance between the two characters was fun, intriguing and charming.  A fun read for the summer! To learn more about A Tangled Ruse, by clicking here.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book to facilitate this review. Please note that there are also Amazon Affiliate links on this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases that help in running this blog.

The Earl's Betrothal Review

In The Earl's Betrothal by Karen Tuft, Captain Lord Anthony Hargreaves returns from war wounded both mentally and physically from the Pennisular War in 1812. Hargreaves discovers his older brother died placing him the next in line to inherit the estate. He's hesitant to accept those responsibilities until his dying Father pleads with him to marry and produce a heir to preserve their legacy. Hargreaves begins to find himself captivated with his mother's companion, Amelia Clarke and when he puts her in a compromising situation, he vows to protect her.


It was hard to like the characters in beginning of The Earl's Betrothal. The hero seemed very condescending to the heroine, Amelia and selfishly compromised her situation. The Earl grew on me the more he protected her standing and reputation despite that he was the one who brought it into question. Amelia also grew on me the more she stood strong during adverse trials. The characters in The Earl's Betrothal have depth and aren't afraid to show their flaws or to change for the better. I also enjoyed the twists in the story. There were several surprises that I wasn't expecting. Overall, the book was enjoyable read. To learn more about The Earl's Betrothal, click here.

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