Launch Day Blitz & Giveaway: One Wild Winter's Eve By Anne Barton

Series: A Honeycote Novel (Book 5)
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455551821

ONCE YOU'VE HAD A TASTE OF SCANDAL...

As the Duke of Huntford's sister, Lady Rose Sherbourne follows the rules of well-bred society. Always chaperoned. Never engaging in unseemly behavior. Well, except for that one summer, years ago. And yet she's never been able to forget that handsome stable master or the stolen moments they shared. She's always wondered what might have happened if he hadn't disappeared without a word... Now she's about to find out.

YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK

Charles Holland never expected to see Lady Rose again. And yet the years haven't lessened his devotion—or his desire—in any way. Despite their differences in class, Charles cannot stop himself from wanting to possess her. But as they uncover one intimate secret after another about her family, they realize that, this time, their love may come at a very dear price...

About Anne Barton 

Anne Barton began swiping romance novels off her mom's bookshelf as a teenager, so when she had the chance to spend a semester in London-home to her favorite heroes-she packed her bags and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anne found her way back to writing the stories she loves and in 2011 won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband (who, sadly, is not a peer of the realm-but a great guy nonetheless) and her three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and caffeinated beverages of all kinds.

Author Website * Twitter * Facebook

Excerpt:

 “What are you doing?”

The voice was authoritative, rich, and deep. And hauntingly familiar.

She turned, hiding the letter behind her. She made a clumsy attempt to shove the drawer shut with her bottom but only succeeded in bumping the desk, which rocked on spindly legs. The man must be a servant. If she could manage a haughty tone, she could probably talk her way out of the situation. But she’d never been particularly good at haughty. Her face burned.

“I was looking for something.” She looked at the man, hoping he wasn’t half as intimidating as he sounded, and froze.

Dear God. It couldn’t be.

“Rose?” He blinked, clearly as stunned as she, then quickly corrected himself. “Lady Rose?”

“Charles.” The sound of his name on her lips was surreal. She’d thought that her feelings for him had withered, dried, and blown away like dead leaves.

She’d been wrong.

Review: Snowflakes On Silver Cove By Holly Martin

Series: White Cliff Bay - Book #2
File Size: 1461 KB
Print Length: 300 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: October 30, 2015
Language: English
ASIN: B014T4W7BM

Libby Joseph is famous for her romantic Christmas stories. Every December, readers devour her books of falling in love against the magical backdrop of the Christmas season. If only Libby believed in the magic herself…

Struggling to finish her current novel, Libby turns to her best friend and neighbour George Donaldson to cheer her up. But George also needs a bit of support himself. Nervous about getting back into the dating saddle after splitting from his wife, he and Libby strike a deal. She will teach George how to win over the ladies, and Libby will in turn be inspired to inject her novel with a good dose of romance.

As Libby and George explore the beautiful White Cliff Bay on a series of romantic Christmas-themed dates, Libby finds herself having more fun than she’s had in ages and…discovers feelings that she never knew she had for George.

But is it too late? Will George win someone else’s heart or can Libby act like the heroine in one of her stories and reach for her own love under the mistletoe this Christmas?

Snuggle up with a piece of Christmas cake and mulled wine, and spend the festive season at White Cliff Bay. You won’t want to leave! Christmas at Lilac Cottage also out now.

My Thoughts:

In this second installment in her White Cliff Bay series, Holly Martin once again serves up a wonderful romance sprinkled with several laugh aloud moments and a generous offering of holiday magic! I absolutely loved returning to the quaint village of White Cliff Bay and meeting up once again with its many endearing characters.  It's quite apparent to everyone in White Cliff Bay that Libby and George were meant for each other....well, everyone but George and Libby.  The best of friends, Libby and George are completely at ease with each other and accepting of each others' quirks and differences with all the makings for a long-term relationship.  As Libby agrees to help George work his way back into the dating scene after the heartbreak of a failed marriage, Libby quickly finds herself falling in love with her best friend.  But are these dates with George merely "practice runs" or are they truly falling in love with each other?  Holly Martin's wit and humor makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read that had me laughing to the point of tears on several occasions.  I enjoyed the style of continuity in which Martin interwove characters and events found in Christmas At Lilac Cottage.  She effectively takes the reader back to the same period in time with a new romantic focus.  Very well developed and extremely enjoyable! FOUR stars.

Review: The Bargain By Jane Ashford

Print Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Language: English
ASIN: B00KM5F828

 

A scientifically minded nobleman
Lord Alan Gresham is the sixth son of the Duke of Langford and, as such, has been allowed to remain at Oxford to pursue his scientific studies. When the prince regent asks him to debunk the "ghost" of a dead actress haunting Carlton House, he cannot refuse, and is forced back to the Society he deplores. But upon meeting the daughter of the alleged ghost, his calm, logical investigation is disrupted.

Learns the breathless chemistry of desire
Ariel Harding doesn't believe in ghosts, but she's determined to investigate this haunting. Her mother recently committed suicide, and Ariel is desperate to find the reason. She'll work with Alan because he has access to Prinny's resources, but she never dreamed she'd make a perilous bargain with a man who's as maddeningly arrogant as he is confoundedly attractive...

Review: Silk Is For Seduction By Loretta Chase

Series: The Dressmakers Series (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon; Original edition
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061632686

From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot: The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold: ladies would die to wear it . . .and gentlemen would kill to remove it!

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot is London's rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning the future duchess's patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are . . . not.

The prize seems well worth the risk—but this time Marcelline's met her match. Clevedon can design a seduction as irresistible as her dresses; and what begins as a flicker of desire between two of the most passionately stubborn charmers in London soon ignites into a delicious inferno . . .and a blazing scandal.

And now both their futures hang by an exquisite thread of silk . . .

My Thoughts:

First in The Dressmakers Series By Loretta Chase, Silk Is For Seduction is a breath-taking historical romance filled with endearing characters, unexpected twists and turns, and heated passion that is sure to warm any reader's heart.  My overall favorite aspect of this novel is our heroine, Marcelline Noirot.  She's fiercely independent with brazen self-assurance and has a talent for dressmaking like no other with ambition to match.  Her character is extremely well-developed and will quickly become a reader's favorite.  But will her amibition and determination be enough as Marcelline sets out to win the patronage of the future Duchess?  Although Marcelline can be charming and conniving in the most elegant ways,  the Duke of Clevedon proves to be quite a match of wits and charm.  The journey to a happy ending is never an easy one and Marcelline's is no exception.  She is faced with challenges and set backs that would leave most feeling utterly hopeless and unwilling to move forward but she continues forth with heightened determination not only for her own success but for that of her family as well.  But, will Marcelline have to push her own needs and desires aside in order to achieve that success?  Loretta Chase has created a wonderful beginning to this series that is sure to delight fans of historical romance.  I'm looking forward to reading the next two installments in this series, Scandal Wears Satin and Vixen In Velvet.  FOUR stars!

Review: The Amish Midwife By Patricia Davids

Series: Lancaster Courtships
Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Language: English
ISBN-10: 037387992X

An Unexpected Family...

Amish midwife Anne Stoltzfus is used to late-night visitors—but she's shocked to find reclusive bachelor Joseph Lapp on her doorstep with a baby in his arms. Their neighborly quarrels are pushed aside when Joseph explains that his sister has left her daughter in his care—and Joseph needs Anne to be her nanny. Soon they're bonding over baby Leah, and the love they feel for her is healing them both. When Joseph makes an offer of marriage, Anne's painful past resurfaces and she's unsure of what to do. But taking a chance could mean love—and family—are waiting just across the fence.

Review: Christmas At Lilac Cottage By Holly Martin

White Cliff Bay Series Book #1
File Size: 1165 KB
Print Length: 297 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: September 25, 2015
Language: English
ASIN: B013I80HAS

Welcome to the charming seaside town of White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air…

Penny Meadows loves her home – a cosy cottage decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights and stunning views over the town of White Cliff Bay. She also loves her job as an ice-carver, creating breathtaking sculptures. Yet her personal life seems frozen.

When Henry and daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage to rent the annex, Penny is determined to make them feel welcome. But while Daisy is friendly, Henry seems guarded.

As Penny gets to know Henry, she realises there is more to him than meets the eye. And the connection between them is too strong to ignore…

While the spirit of the season sprinkles its magic over the seaside town and preparations for the ice sculpting competition and Christmas eve ball are in full swing, can Penny melt the ice and allow love in her heart? And will this finally be the perfect Christmas she’s been dreaming of?

My Thoughts:

Holly Martin's romance novel, Christmas At Lilac Cottage, combines British wit and humor with romance and holiday goodness to create an enchanting love story sprinkled many laugh aloud moments. Set within the small coastal village of White Cliff Bay where everyone knows each other and gossip runs rampant,  Penny Meadows suddenly finds herself falling in love with her new neighbor and tenant, Henry, giving a whole new meaning to "love thy neighbor."  But is this new found attraction simply physical yearning or is it quite possible these two endearing characters are falling in love?  Holly Martin's writing is absolutely wonderful!  Filled with so much humor and tender emotions, I found myself laughing aloud on several occasions and at other times I was reaching for the box of tissues.  With endearing characters and a very well-developed story line with unexpected twists and turns, I found it quite impossible to put this aside (I practically read this in one sitting!) This was my first encounter with Holly Martin and I just simply can't praise her enough.  She is certainly a very gifted and talented story teller that I look forward to reading more from in the very near future. Christmas At Lilac Cottage is sure to warm your heart this Holiday season! FIVE stars!

Christmas At Lilac Cottage is now available in both Kindle and Paperback formats.  However, the e-book is currently on sale for $2.99 (regularly priced at $11.99) For my UK followers, this is also available  in both formats from Amazon UK. The Kindle format is priced at £1.99 .  A wonderful bargain and one that I highly recommend this Holiday Season!


Disclaimer: In accordance with current FTC Guidelines, please let it be known this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review: The Last Chance Christmas Ball By Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Bourne, Patricia Rice, Nicola Cornick, Susan King, Anne Gracie and Cara Elliott

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1617739235

Christmas 1815. Upstairs and downstairs, Holbourne Hall is abuzz with preparations for a grand ball to celebrate the year’s most festive—and romantic—holiday. For at the top of each guest’s wish list is a last chance to find true love before the New Year…

Review: Reading The Sweet Oak By Jan Stites

Paperback: 386 pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1503945154

Along the banks of the Sweet Oak River, deep in the heart of the Ozarks, a romance novel book club takes five women on stunning journeys of self-discovery.

After losing first her husband, then her daughter, seventy-eight-year-old grandmother Ruby wants to teach her risk-averse granddaughter, Tulsa, that some leaps are worth taking, no matter how high the potential fall. Tulsa loves her grandmother dearly, but she has a business to run and no time for romance—not even the paperback version. But when Ruby ropes her into a book club, Tulsa can’t bring herself to disappoint the woman who raised her.

Together with Ruby’s best friend, Pearl, as well as family friends BJ and Jen, the women embark on an exploration of modern-day love guided by written tales of romance. What they discover is a beautiful story that examines the bonds of friendship and the highs and lows of love in all its forms.

My Thoughts:

Beautifully written with the most endearing characters I've encountered in quite some time.  Set against the enchanting backdrop of the Ozarks, Reading The Sweet Oak is a novel of family, friendship, love, and the ability to forgive not only others but one's self, as well as a journey of self-discovery.  Each of the five women are so well-developed and true to life that I felt as though each one was an old friend with unique qualities and personal experiences that I could easily identify with on some level.  Whether it be BJ's diagnosis of ELS (Empty Life Syndrome), Ruby's desire to see her grand-daughter happily married, Pearl's struggle with accepting her grandson's recent revelation, Jen's strained relationship with her mother, or  Tulsa's aversion to romance in general, each of these women are absolutely endearing and are sure to tug at any reader's heart.  However, the most prevailing characteristic of this novel is the author's ability to evoke such a wide array of emotions; I found myself often laughing aloud and simultaneously reaching for a box of tissues. Only a truly gifted and talented writer can evoke such emotions.  With a well-developed plot filled with unsuspecting twists and turns throughout, this would certainly make for an excellent reading group selection and questions for discussions are provided as well.  Easily deserving of FIVE stars and highly recommended!

Reading The Sweet Oak is scheduled to be released on September 29th and is currently available for pre-order in both Paperback and Kindle versions. And, for subscribers to Amazon Prime this title will be available to borrow for free.
Dislosure: In accordance with current FTC Guidelines, please let it be known this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession by Charlie Lovett

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition
Release Date: May 27, 2014
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143125389

Description:
A mysterious portrait ignites an antiquarian bookseller’s search through time and the works of Shakespeare for his lost love

Guaranteed to capture the hearts of everyone who truly loves books, The Bookman’s Tale is a former bookseller’s sparkling novel and a delightful exploration of one of literature’s most tantalizing mysteries with echoes of Shadow of the Wind and A.S. Byatt's Possession.

Nine months after the death of his beloved wife Amanda left him shattered, Peter Byerly, a young antiquarian bookseller, relocates from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to outrun his grief and rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, he discovers a Victorian watercolor of a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Amanda.

Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture’s origins and braves a host of dangers to follow a trail of clues back across the centuries—all the way to Shakespeare’s time and a priceless literary artifact that could prove, once and for all, the truth about the Bard’s real identity.

My Thoughts:
Every now and then I am fortunate enough to encounter a novel that exceeds all expectations.  The Bookman's Tale By Charlie Lovett is one such novel and is destined to be one of my favorite books read in 2014.  Lovett has created not only a unique and fascinating Shakespearean mystery, but also a compassionate and intricately woven story of love, loss, and finding closure.  The course of the novel travels graciously through three different time periods and tells three different stories that all lead to the present moment and Peter Byerly's future.  Extremely well-developed characters, thorough pain-staking historical research, and great attention to detail, make this a literary gem to behold and a must for all book lovers and fans of Shakespeare alike.  Not a Shakespearean scholar, you say?  Not to worry...Charlie Lovett has presented a magnificent and easy to follow introduction to the Shakespearean controversy that is quite easy to follow and one that actually makes decades of debate much more understandable.  I look forward to reading Lovett's next novel, First Impressions: Or, A Cautionary Tale of Pride and Prejudice  which is sure to delight Jane Austen fans!   I highly recommend The Bookman's Tale and easily give this FIVE stars!