Charming Artemis Blog Review and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Charlie Jonquil is mild-mannered and kind—except when it comes to his one true adversary, Artemis Lancaster. Though Charlie has a brilliant mind for mathematics, Artemis poses a problem he can’t seem to comprehend: how can one be so lovely and so infuriating? A party in London brings him into the company of the maddening young lady, and it is clear that Charlie’s disdain is mutual. But when an unfortunate incident between the pair involving Charlie’s jacket and a glass of raspberry shrub leads to scandal, the sworn enemies are left with only two options: be ruined or be married.

So it is that Artemis finds herself in a most outrageous predicament: she must wed a gentleman she’s hated for years—and she pledges to avoid him at all costs. But it is only when they enter into this mockery of a marriage that Charlie and Artemis learn things are not as simple as they once appeared. As their tentative ceasefire leads to friendship, it seems their marriage born of desperation might lead them to a love that was destined to be.

REVIEW

Charming Artemis is the final book to close off two series by Sarah Eden - the Jonquil Family and Lancaster Family Series. Fans have waited for this book for a long time. The story of Artemis and Charlie ties the two series together well. I enjoyed seeing Artemis and Charlie's story play out and how their romance developed. The romance was sweet and there were tender moments throughout the book.  There were also moments that felt forced as the author tried to also tie the book to a third series. I liked how Charming Artemis echoed the first books of each of the series -  marriage not initially for love like in Seeking Persephone and foes falling in love like in Friends and Foes.  I thought that was well done and tied the two series together well. Artemis and Charlie are likable characters and it was fun to read their banter and development. It's a quick and entertaining read. If you're a fan of the series, I would suggest reading this to complete the series. The series as a whole was well planned out. The author was able to manage a vast number of characters, their relationships and stories. I felt like both series came together in this final book. To learn more about Charming Artemis, click here.

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Please note that I received a free copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains Amazon affiliate links that help support the maintenance of this blog. This post is in cooperation with the publisher.

Scrumptious Cookbook Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

If you can't be left alone with warm cinnamon rolls or a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies, or if you enjoy creating photos of your culinary creations almost as much as eating them, Christy Denney, the blogger known as "The Girl Who Ate Everything", has the perfect cookbook for you.

Scrumptious from the Girl Who Ate Everything combines Christy's expert professional experience as a recipe writer for both Betty Crocker and General Mills with her life experience as a mother of five and one of ten siblings. Christy knows food often is the centerpiece of family life and can be a major undertaking, requiring creativity, planning, practice, and purpose.

Christy showcases 101 of her favorite recipes, each beautifully photographed using natural light from a window in her home, and includes detailed instructions for prep time along with helpful tips.

From unforgettable Sunday brunches with Banana Muffins, to easy weeknight one-pan dinners like One-Pan Chicken Enchilada Skillet, to low-carb meals like Egg Roll in a Bowl, to rolling out the works for a game-day crowd, including her NFL-husband's favorites like Jalapeno Popper Bread and Garlic Parmesan Wings, this is the family-friendly cookbook for anyone looking to plan quick-and-easy meals and wants a way to bring people together, feasting on food which can only be described as scrumptious.

REVIEW

When I read about Scrumptious, I wanted to check it out. It sounded appealing when I read the description. When I first flipped through the cookbook, I was surprised. I found several recipes that I was interested in trying and could see my family enjoying. It's hard for me to find cookbooks with several recipes that peak my interest.  So far, I've made the Salsa Verde Chicken Skillet and the One-Pan Chicken Fajita Rice. Each of the recipes turned out fairly good except I didn't cook the rice long enough. It was something new so my kids weren't too interested in it, but they have to see a dish a few times before really enjoying and trying it. My husband enjoyed the meals especially the One-Pan Chicken Fajita Rice. He suggested that we add it to our regular meal rotation. 

The recipes were not-too time consuming and flavorful. Usually, it seems like easy recipes skip the flavor, but I thought these recipes were delicious. I found the prep time and the cook time to be fairly accurate. The ingredients were mostly pantry staples for us, which I felt was a plus.  There are several more recipes I would like to try and I gravitated toward the recipes in her "tried and true," "low-carb favorites," and "one pan dinner" sections. Those were the strongest sections to me. I felt like this cookbook offers more dinner options for my family that aren't overly time consuming. I would recommend checking it out. Click here to learn more about Scrumptious.

Please note that I received a free book to review, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains Amazon affiliate links that help support this blog. This post is in cooperation with the publisher.

Love and Lavender Book Review

Hazel Stillman is a woman of rare independence and limited opportunities. Born with a clubbed foot, Hazel knows marriage is unlikely, so she devotes herself to teaching at a private girls’ school.

When her uncle offers Hazel a substantial inheritance is he marries, she is offended. What kind of decent man would marry for her money? But when she learns the school might be sold, she knows she must consider all her options.

Duncan Penhale thrives on order and process. He has no interest in marriage, so when Elliott Mayfield, his guardian’s brother, offers him an inheritance if he weds, Duncan finds it intrusive. However, an inheritance means he could purchase a building and run his own firm.

Hazel and Duncan believe they have found a solution to both of their problems: marry one another, claim their inheritances, and then part ways to enjoy their individual paths. But then Uncle Mayfield stipulates that they must first live together as a couple for one year.

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?

REVIEW

Love and Lavender is the fourth installment in the Mayfield Family Series by Josi Kilpack. I would suggest reading these books in order. A great uncle is trying to fix some of the mistakes his family has made over the years and offers nieces and nephews an inheritance if they can abide by his terms. In Love and Lavender, the author introduces us to Hazel and Duncan. Hazel faces physical limitations and Duncan seems to be autistic. Hazel and Duncan are one of my favorite character pairs written by Josi Kilpack. The characters come together and learn how to love each other. Although neither one of the characters are the typical romance characters, I found their romance to be really sweet and enjoyed hearing about the little things that they did for each other. I enjoyed several of the minor characters as well and enjoyed seeing their interactions with the main characters.. I think it's one of the best of the series so far, although, the other books are entertaining to read as well. To learn more about Love and Lavender, click here.

The other books in the Mayfield Family Series are:

Please note that I received a free ebook to review, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links that help support the maintenance of this blog. This post is in cooperation with the publisher.