England | Daysong Reflections

Dusk’s Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller

by admin | May 26, 2021 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I first read and reviewed The Elusive Miss Ellison in March, 2017 and have read and reviewed most, if not all, of Carolyn Miller’s subsequent novels since then. To say that she has become one of my must-have authors is an understatement. I have also enjoyed watching as this author has honed her craft and finely tuned each book along the way. I have thoroughly enjoyed them all but Dusk’s Darkest Shores may just be her best novel thus far.

Not only is this book a lovely romance but it plumbs the depth of human emotions and brings hope for those who believe they have none. Mary and Adam were characterized so well that I found it easy to care about their lives and struggles. I also appreciated how each of them matured as they recognized how true character is revealed by how one reacts to unexpected circumstances and hardship and that true beauty is much deeper than a pretty face.

Dusk’s Darkest Shores was one book I did not want to put down until its end and that end came much too quickly for me. The story was filled with all the requisite elements to make me one happy reader. If you have not read a book by Carolyn Miller, this one would be the perfect place to start.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England’s beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it’s a peaceful life.

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary’s caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer–but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he’s plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?

Adam wants no charity, but he’s also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem. Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leads to scandal–and both Mary and Adam must search the depths of their closed hearts for answers if they hope to find any future path with happiness at its end.

Best-selling author Carolyn Miller is back with a fresh series that will not only thrill readers eager for more of her work, but bring in new fans looking for beautiful writing, fascinating research, deftly woven love stories, and real faith lived out in the Regency period.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, Winning Miss Winthrop, Miss Serena’s Secret, The Making of Mrs. Hale, A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh, Underestimating Miss Cecilia, and Misleading Miss Verity, all available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc Her contemporary novels include Restoring Fairhaven and Regaining Mercy, as part of the Independence Islands series.

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An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen

by admin | Dec 11, 2020 | Books, Christmas, England, Historical, Regency, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Having read all of the previous books in the Tales From Ivy Hill series, I was delighted to read An Ivy Hill Christmas. What better setting can one imagine for a Christmas novella than the small town of Ivy Hill in Regency era England? With gorgeous cover art, well developed characters, a nod to many of the Christmas traditions of that time, and a meaningful transformation through faith, this book is a perfect read for the season, especially for history buffs.

It was fun to encounter characters from the previous novels but of course Richard and Arabella stole the show. Confirmed bachelor Richard Brockwell has his reasons for avoiding marriage but his reputation is less than spotless. Arabella Awdry is the young woman Richard’s mother hopes he will marry by Richard is deliberately rude to her, hoping to foil his mother’s plans. Arabella is also uninterested in marriage and plans to spend her life helping others. At this point most romance readers have a pretty good idea what direction this story will take but believe men, the fun is just beginning.

I loved Richard’s character and seeing the changes in his attitude over the course of this short tale. His little dog was especially fun and it was entertaining to imagine what he looked like when Richard dressed him in clothing to match his own. I liked Arabella well enough but this is definitely Richard’s story. In addition, readers will witness more than one other romance take place before the end.

All in all, this is a satisfying read and I highly recommend it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: An Ivy Hill Christmas

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christmas Historical Romance

Release Date: September, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

Richard Brockwell, the younger son of Ivy Hill’s most prominent family, hasn’t been home for Christmas in years. He prefers to live in the London townhouse, far away from Brockwell Court, the old family secret that haunts him, and the shadows of his past mistakes. But then his mother threatens to stop funding his carefree life–unless he comes home for Christmas. Out of options, he sets out for Ivy Hill, planning to be back on a coach bound for London and his unencumbered bachelor life as soon as the festivities are over.

But Christmas in the country presents many surprises, including encounters with an orphaned apprentice, the first love he disappointed years ago, and Arabella Awdry, a young lady who is far more appealing than he recalled–and determined to have nothing to do with him.

Will Christmastime in Ivy Hill, with its village charm, kissing boughs, and joyous songs, change his heart . . . and hers as well?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane–Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for 16 years and now writes full-time. Her novels have sold over 1 million copies, and three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and a Christian Retailing‘s Best Award, and has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards and ACFW’s Carol Awards. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

MORE FROM JULIE:

My fascination with England began as a girl when I read The Secret Garden and Jane Eyre, and watched A Christmas Carol. I have now been to Great Britain several times, and my affection for the place has only grown. I love the country villages with their stone buildings and thatched roofs, the narrow, winding roads (though not driving on them), the ancient churches, friendly people, plummy accents, and history. Writing fifteen novels set there has been a real pleasure.

An Ivy Hill Christmas includes all the elements of an idyllic Olde English yuletide: A charming village setting, snowfall, mistletoe, caroling, gifts for less fortunate neighbors, and festive gatherings of friends and family. I thoroughly enjoyed researching 19^th century Christmas traditions and weaving them into this novella.

In the story, a confirmed bachelor is determined to remain aloof from the celebrations going on around him—and from his mother’s matchmaking schemes. But divine hope, friendship, and unexpected romance change his heart…and his mind. I love a transformation story; don’t you?

If you’ve read the TALES FROM IVY HILL series, you will enjoy returning to the village and spending time with favorite characters. But rest assured, the novella is a standalone, meaning you can enjoy it whether or not you’ve read the other books, as these reviews attest:

“[A] standalone novella that not only beautifully captures the kindness, hope, love, and faith of Christmas but also skillfully evokes the period holiday atmosphere of Regency England.” —Booklist

“This feel-good tale of love and redemption will delight Klassen’s fans and new readers alike.” —Publishers Weekly

And if you like the novella, I think you will like the other books as well. An Ivy Hill Christmas would also make a lovely gift for a reading friend.

Finally, if you want to add a British flair to your own modern-day celebrations, buy (or make) mince tarts or Christmas pudding, place Christmas “crackers” (pull-apart gift tubes) on your table and wear the included paper crowns. Refer to Father Christmas instead of Santa; and instead of “Merry,” wish everyone a hearty, “Happy Christmas.”

Happy Christmas!

BLOG STOPS:

Through the Lens of Scripture, November 30

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 30

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 30

Christian Bookaholic, November 30

Andrea Christenson, November 30

Texas Book-aholic, December 1

KarenSueHadley, December 1

Robin’s Nest, December 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 1

Blessed & Bookish, December 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2

Mia Reads, December 2

Wishful Endings, December 3

lakesidelivingsite, December 3

Through the Fire Blogs, December 3

For Him and My Family, December 3

Just Your Average reviews, December 3

She Lives To Read, December 4

Remembrancy, December 4

deb’s Book Review, December 4

Writing from the Heart Land, December 4

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 5

Quiet Workings, December 5

Blogging With Carol, December 5

Spoken from the Heart, December 5

The Christian Fiction Girl, December 6

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 6

Connect in Fiction, December 6

Artistic Nobody, December 6 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Worthy2Read, December 7

Genesis 5020, December 7

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 7

Inklings and notions, December 7

Life of Literature, December 7

For the Love of Literature, December 8

Connie’s History Classroom, December 8

Batya’s Bits, December 8

L abor Not in Vain, December 8

Hallie Reads, December 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 9

Older & Smarter?, December 9

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, December 9

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 9

Betti Mace, December 9

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 10

Faery Tales Are Real, December 10

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, December 10

Mary Hake, December 10

Daysong Reflections, December 11

Bigr eadersite, December 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 11

Splashes of Joy, December 11

Vicky Sluiter, December 12

To Everything There Is A Season, December 12

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 12

Blossoms and Blessings, December 12

The Write Escape, December 12

A Baker’s Perspective, December 13

Bizwings Blog, December 13

Simple Harvest Reads, December 13 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Pause for Tales, December 13

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Julie is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of An Ivy Hill Christmas and the other three books in the Ivy Hill series, plus the winner’s choice of Bingley’s Tea!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/103f5/an-ivy-hill-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway

Joy to the World By Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch

by admin | Nov 23, 2020 | Anthology, Books, Christmas, England, Historical, Regency, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Lovers of Regency romance novels and/or Christmas should find this Regency Christmas Collection a perfect companion for those long, cold evenings of the holiday season. Inside the gorgeous cover is a compilation of three individual novellas by three of my favorite Regency authors. Each novella is based on a line from longtime favorite Christmas hymn Joy to the World, thus the name of the collection. Each one easily stands on its own and can be easily be read in one evening by many readers. I enjoyed getting a head start on the season with this amazing book.

“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller

Due to certain family circumstances Edith had turned down George’s proposal a year ago and was perplexed to learn that he would also be a guest at the Christmas house party she was attending. With their hostess attempting to play cupid at every turn, Edith found it difficult to avoid George while longing for his presence at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the vivid descriptions of Christmas activities and decor during that historical period. Entertaining dialogue and interesting characters made this novella a fun read. I particularly liked the interest in music shared by the couple. I thoroughly enjoyed reading something new by Carolyn Miller and look forward to a full-length novel in the near future.

“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt

Dwight Inglewood, Earl of Amberly was not only alone in the world but had further isolated himself due to grievous injuries suffered during the war. When he crossed paths with a critically ill young woman and her sick baby during one of his nightly strolls, he instinctively took them home to care for them. Hating to send her back out on her own after she recovered, he hired her as a maid for his family estate where her joyful spirit brings life to the once somber home. At times this story made me think of Beauty and the Beast or Phantom of the Opera but the tale was infused with a hope, love, and faith that offered such encouragement.

“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch

The story of a young widow who is totally dominated by her demanding mother-in-law who obviously has plans for her life, Wonders of His Love features Lady Priscilla whose sister-in-law has become the Duchess. An artist has been hired to paint portraits of the new Duke and Duchess and Priscilla is inappropriately more attracted to him than the man her mother-in-law wishes her to marry. As always, this author has applied her own delightful twist to the story and I enjoyed every minute of it. I found it such fun to observe as Cilla became less compliant under the influence of Hamish and grew into the strong and capable woman she was meant to be. I also enjoyed spending time with a few characters from previous books by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Kregel Publications. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors

In Joy to the World, three popular authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas in one book have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome their obligations and fears to find their way back into each other’s arms?

“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter with a hidden identity finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he’d fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

	Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. Check her out at www.carolynmillerauthor.com.
	Amanda Barratt is the ECPA best-selling author of several novels and novellas, including My Dearest Dietrich. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a two-time FHL Reader’s Choice Award finalist. She and her family live in northern Michigan. Visit her at amandabarratt.net.
	Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more about Erica at ericavetsch.com.

A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

by admin | Sep 8, 2020 | Books, England, Historical, Romance, World War 1

MY REVIEW:

I have found that reading a book by Roseanna M. White is akin to climbing into a time machine and taking a trip across the years to the setting of the story. In A Portrait of Loyalty I stepped into the plot and walked beside Zivon and Lily as they experienced life in London during World War 1, complete with danger, intrigue, tragedy, and romance.

The author paints a vivid picture with her words and it is obvious that she has researched her subject well. My history classes always seemed to run out of time before we ever reached this era and we barely touched on WW2 if we studied it at all. I hate to admit that I have learned far more about the Great War from fiction authors such as Roseanna White than I ever learned in school. I found everything about the work of the codebreakers and Lily’s skill at retouching or recreating photographs to be fascinating. So much went on behind the scenes to help win the war.

It was so encouraging for me to see God at work in the pages of this book and the difference love and forgiveness can make in the lives of even the most misguided people. I found it so gratifying the way one particular situation was handled at the end when it could have easily been handled in a less redemptive fashion.

I have loved the Codebreakers series and am a bit sad to see it end. I will miss some of the characters from the three books but who knows, some of them may make an appearance in another series one day. It has been fun to witness that happening a time or two in A Portrait of Loyalty. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book is a must; however I do suggest reading the entire series for the full experience.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

He sees patterns in what she deems chaos.
She sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed.

Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father’s connections in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon’s loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple’s future dreams–it becomes a matter of ending the war.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Roseanna M. White (www.roseannamwhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, designing book covers, editing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

GIVEAWAY:

A Portrait of Loyalty PRIZE PACK Includes:

One (1) Gift Certificate to Shutterfly of $25
One (1) Eiffel Tower Framed Print (photo taken by my daughter)
One (1) “Capture Life” Bracelet
One (1) A Portrait of Loyalty T-Shirt
Complete Print set of The Codebreakers, signed. Includes one (1) copy of The Number of Love, one (1) copy of On Wings of Devotion, and one (1) copy of A Portrait of Loyalty.

Enter via the Rafflecopter link below. Prizes subject to change due to availability. Open to US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited. Giveaway open 9/8/2020 – 9/15/2020. One (1) winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and will be notified via the email provided. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize before a new winner is selected. See roseannamwhite.com for more information.

The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y’Barbo

by admin | Sep 7, 2020 | American Crime, Books, England, Historical, Historical Mystery/Suspense, Pinkertons, Romance, Texas, True Crime

MY REVIEW:

Kathleen Y’Barbo’s contribution to the True Colors Historical Stories of American Crime, The Black Midnight is brilliant! It is such a clever blend of true, unsolved crimes with fictional characters and imaginary scenarios that I was captivated by it. It is evident by the way both Austin and London came to life on its pages that this author has done her research and done it well. And how inspired was it to feature a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria as a Pinkerton detective!

Once again this author has contributed to an evening of my reading pleasure with a well-balanced combination of mystery, danger, suspense, and romance. It was fun to imagine the possibilities behind both the Jack the Ripper and the Midnight Assassin unsolved cases and how they might be connected.

I highly recommend The Black Midnight to all lovers of true crime fiction. I have enjoyed all the previous books in this series but this one is a must. Do pick up a copy for yourself soon.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: The Black Midnight

Author: Kathleen Y’Barbo

Genre: Christian Historical Suspense

Release Date: August, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

Death Seems to Follow Harriet’s New Friend

Book 7 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Three years before Jack the Ripper began his murderous spree on the streets of London, women were dying in their beds as The Midnight Assassin terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas. Now, with suspicion falling on Her Majesty’s family and Scotland Yard at a loss as to who the Ripper might be, Queen Victoria summons her great-granddaughter, Alice Anne von Wettin, a former Pinkerton agent who worked the unsolved Austin case, and orders her to discreetly form a team to look into the London matter.

The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.

Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of more than sixty novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad.

MORE FROM KATHLEEN Y’BARBO:

I am a tenth generation Texan, but London has held a place in my heart for over ten years. You see, I have a son who has lived there for more than a decade. Thanks to him and his family of three—my granddaughter was born there on New Year’s Eve 2019—the city will always be special to me. There is absolutely nothing like walking those streets with a thousand years of history close enough to touch.

It was on a walk with my son through this great city that the stories of nineteenth century London came alive. With fog shrouding the rooftops of buildings that were hundreds of years old and our footsteps echoing on the cobblestones, I could imagine a time when lack of electricity and CCTV would make this place less than charming on a dark night. What reminded me of my favorite childhood movie, Mary Poppins, quickly became more reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. And then a story was born.

Only I just had half the story.

The other half came to me several years later when I stumbled across an article in Texas Monthly magazine about a serial killer who rampaged through Austin, Texas in 1884 and 1885 and was never caught. Some surmised this madman, called “The Midnight Assassin” by some, might have been Jack the Ripper honing his skills before he crossed the Atlantic to begin his famous crime spree in Great Britain.

But Austin? Ironically, my other two sons lived in Austin. So while part of my heart was in London, two more parts of that same heart resided in the Texas capital. I thought I knew Austin inside out. Between one of my sons getting not one but two degrees from the University of Texas (this Aggie grad is still proud of him in spite of what I jokingly call his burnt orange rebellion) and my other son living there and managing a restaurant at the time (and who just graduated from Texas A&M Galveston last month!), I had spent many years in the city. And yet I had never heard of the Midnight Assassin.

Research turned up a tale that sounds so close to fiction I had to write about it. Discovering the theory that the Austin killer might also be the Ripper just added to my interest—neither had been caught. And I like to write about Pinkerton detectives.

From there the story unfolded. If you’ve read any of my historical romances, you know that I love incorporating actual history into my stories. As you’ll see when you read The Black Midnight, this book is no exception. While I will continue writing the historical romances I love to bring to you, I will confess that writing this book has me itching to research another one like it.

What’s next in my foray into true crime novels? Maybe Houston. You see, I have a daughter who lives there…

In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy reading The Black Midnight as much as I enjoyed writing it!

BLOG STOPS:

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 27

Genesis 5020, August 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27

Inklings and notions, August 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 28

Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 28

Older & Smarter?, August 29

Texas Book-aholic, August 29

Artistic Nobody, August 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

For the Love of Literature, August 30

Connie’s History Classroom, August 30

For Him and My Family, August 31

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 31

Betti Mace, September 1

Robin’s Nest, September 1

Bigreadersite, September 1

deb’s Book Review, September 2

Splashes of Joy, September 2

Just Your Average reviews, September 2

Rebecca Tews, September 3

Just the Write Escape, September 3

Emily Yager, September 3

Christian Bookaholic, September 4

reviewingbooksplusmore, September 4

KarenSueHadley, September 4

Remembrancy, September 5

Through the Fire Blogs, September 5

21st Century Keeper at Home, September 6

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 6

Blogging With Carol, September 6

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 7

Life of Literature, September 7

Mary Hake, September 7

Godly Book Reviews, September 8

Back Porch Reads, September 8

Daysong Reflections, September 8

Pause for Tales, September 9

Blossoms and Blessings, September 9

Hallie Reads, September 9

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ffb7/the-black-midnight-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Gentleman Spy by Erika Vetsch

by admin | Aug 2, 2020 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I have been a fan of books by Erica Vetsch since I read my first one. It is a given that I want them all permanently on my bookshelf. I am particularly enjoying her Serendipity & Secrets series and The Gentleman Spy met my every expectation and beyond.

The characters have a mind of their own and definitely do not adhere to the usual stereotypes. A hero who is too involved with his career and has his life carefully regimented to keep every aspect of it separate, suddenly finds himself in need of a wife. Naturally he believes he can conveniently place her in her own special spot and go on with his life. Yeah, right! Even his friends found that laughable. Our heroine has been under the thumb of a very controlling father her entire life, a father who would like to marry her off as soon as possible because she tends to think for herself and has difficulty keeping her mouth shut. How embarrassing is that when you would like to protect your impeccable image for society?

As you might have guessed, these two find themselves with wedding plans but nothing goes quite as expected. That is really where the fun begins. It would be easy to share more details but why ruin your enjoyment? You need to read The Gentleman Spy for yourself. Witty and romantic, this book offers an enjoyable journey back to Regency England. I would also recommend picking up a copy of The Lost Lieutenant as well.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author’s influencer team. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

He only wanted a duchess for a day–but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life. When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life–as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society–the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

Click here to read an excerpt!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more about Erica at www.ericavetsch.com.

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