The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

by | Oct 18, 2021 | Books, Historical, Humor, Mystery, Regency, Romance

MY REVIEW:

The Mistletoe Countess may just be one of the most perfect romance novels I have ever read. A delightful combination of humor, romance, and mystery, I couldn’t read fast enough yet was so disappointed to reach its end.

What reader would not love heroine Gracelynn, the innocent yet outspoken booklover who agrees to take her sister’s place in an arranged marriage to prevent the scandal her parents fear. I didn’t expect to like Lord Frederick Percy very much but he too quickly earned his place in my heart.

It was such fun getting to observe the pair as they negotiated their new life as a married couple as they also got to know each other better. Their witty exchanges and romantic tension were perfectly timed and the scattered incidents that hinted at attempts on Percy’s life added just the right touch of mystery and suspense.

I will restrain myself from giving away more of the story because this is one you will want to read for yourself. I am hoping to find time to read it again very soon. Yes, it was that good!

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Both her contemporary and historical romance novels consistently receive high ratings from Romantic Times, with Just the Way You Are as a Top Pick. Most recently she’s introduced readers to Bath, UK through her novellas, Second Impressions and Jane by the Book, and taken readers into the exciting world of WW2 espionage in her novella, Façade. The second novel in The Pleasant Gap series, When You Look at Me, arrives in October and her contribution to Barbour’s wonderful My Heart Belongs series hits the shelves in January 2019 with My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can get to know Pepper on her website, www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley.

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

by | Sep 2, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Husband Auditions is Christian Rom Com at its best. I’ll admit that the reader doesn’t have to be very psychic to know what direction the romance will take almost from the get go but oh what fun it is to follow along its twisted path.

The tale opens with Meri moving into her brother’s house after her room mate’s wedding. She is pretty discouraged because she is the last of her group of friends that is still single. It does not help that her other housemates happen to be a man she considers totally lacking in ambition and a drop-dead gorgeous woman who leaves a trail of men behind her without even noticing. When she opens the envelope slipped to her by her newly married friend, she discovers that it is the 1950s era magazine article on how to win a husband with 100 suggestions. When house mate Kai reads the list he suggests that Meri let him film her trying out some of the suggestions to post on Youtube. She finally agrees to go along with him just once and “Meri Me” turns into a viral internet sensation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Husband Auditions and all the laughs it afforded me. Angela Ruth Strong definitely has a talent for the type of romantic humor that I enjoy. The story was filled with so many funny mishaps that turned into perfect scenes for their videos. But putting the humor aside, what I also loved about Husband Auditions was the character growth and maturing of faith that was obvious in both Meri and Kai as their story progressed.

All fans of Christian Rom Com definitely need to read Husband Auditions. Take my word for it.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?

Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about.

She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions.

Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook (Angela Ruth Strong Fan Page), Twitter (@AngelaRStrong), and Instagram (@ang_strong). 

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angela Ruth Strong is also doing a big giveaway for a free roundtrip airline ticket on Allegiant Air.

Click HERE to enter.

To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

by | Aug 27, 2021 | Books, Historical, Humor, Mystery, Romance

MY REVIEW:

To Write a Wrong is Jen Turano’s latest entertaining  and humorous romantic historical mystery novel. Its pages abound with numerous quirky characters that includes a delightful heroine, a dashing hero, and some absolutely loathsome villains. What could be better than that for an evening’s enjoyment?

Featuring Miss Daphne Beekman of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency who is also secretly a famous mystery author who writes under an assumed male moniker, the tale begins when the agency is hired by another famous mystery writer Mr. Herman Henderson who has received death threats from an unknown person. Daphne is sent to pose as Herman’s secretary during a house party at his country estate and from that point on it is anybody’s guess what might happen next.

As in all of Turano’s novels there is quite a bit of dialogue, especially between the featured couple. I did find that to be a bit tiresome during one evening but I suppose it was just my own mood because when I picked the book back up the next day, I was no longer annoyed by the abundance of conversation.

The story moved along at a good pace with plenty of amusing accidental incidents interspersed with numerous suspicious characters as well as enough plot twists and red herrings to keep the best detective confused. As always secrets were revealed and the case was solved to everyone’s satisfaction.

To Write a Wrong is one more example of why Jen Turano’s books are so popular. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. To borrow and alter a famous commercial “You can’t read just one!”

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Miss Daphne Beekman is a mystery writer by day, inquiry agent by night. Known for her ability to puzzle out plots, she prefers working behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of an attempted murder case she’s determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he lives a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished on an expedition when he was a child. But when he experiences numerous attempts on his life, he seeks out the services of the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency to uncover the culprit. All too soon, Herman finds himself stepping out of the safe haven of his world and into an adventure he never imagined.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed Daphne’s way as well, Herman and Daphne must determine who they can trust and if they can risk the greatest adventure of all: love.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano

by | Nov 28, 2020 | Books, Historical, Humor, Romance

MY REVIEW:

For various reasons I found myself with very little time to read this book before my assigned review date and numerous distractions made it difficult to concentrate. How I wish I had had more time to savor this fun and entertaining tale that was exactly what I have come to expect from the talented Jen Turano. Her quirky sense of humor never fails to make me laugh and is especially welcomed during this difficult time in our nation.

To Steal A Heart is book one in Turano’s latest series,The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency which features a diverse group of young women who have decided that they have a unique ability to obtain answers to problems experienced by other women that men tend to ignore. This particular tale centers around Gabriella Goodhue whose past as a child street thief equipped her with skills that made her the perfect person to carry out certain activities required to solve mysteries. Of course there has to be a man to add a bit of aggravation and romance to Gabriella’s life. This role is perfectly filled by her long lost childhood friend Nicholas Quinn who is now a member of society.

To Steal A Heart may well be Turano’s best novel yet with its convoluted yet brilliant plot, delightfully quirky characters, and so many twists and turns plus a surprise or two. Within the story are several other potential romantic stories  for future books involving other characters and I look forward to reading them all. I particularly expect Daphne’s tale to be particularly fun. I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.

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: To Steal A Heart

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Comedic Historical Romance

Release Date: November, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend–until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agrees to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado.

MORE FROM JEN:

“To Steal a Heart” is the first book in a new series. How did you come up with the idea for this series?

Oddly enough, this series was inspired by a lot of different things. I keep this idea box, and whenever I stumble on something interesting, I throw the idea into the box. When I was getting ready to assemble a proposal for a new series, I took out the box and began rifling through it. Unfortunately, nothing struck my fancy. What did strike my fancy though, was the movie “My Fair Lady.” I’d recently watched it for the millionth time, and I thought…hmmm…what could I do with that? Well, I didn’t want to do a recreation of “My Fair Lady” and that’s when it hit me – what if I used a gentleman instead of a lady and improved his circumstances in life with the help of a professor? That wasn’t really enough, though, for me to formulate an entire series, but then I went to New York City for a research trip. While there, I roamed around Bleecker Street for hours. It was the perfect place to set a series, and then I saw this older building that my tour guide thought might have once been a boardinghouse. That was what really started me thinking, and before I knew it, I’d created an inquiry agency run by women that came about when a resident of a boardinghouse was unjustly accused of theft. When the police would not investigate further, believing they had the true culprit behind bars, the ladies who lived in the boardinghouse felt compelled to step up and clear their fellow boardinghouse resident of the charges brought against her. The series took off from there, the first book centering around one of the lady inquiry agents, Miss Gabriella Goodhue, who used to live on the mean streets of the Lower East Side and, at one point in her life, was best friends with Nicholas Quinn, the man who has now found his circumstances vastly improved from the time he knew Gabriella. Throwing the two of them back together made for an interesting storyline, especially since Gabriella believes Nicholas abandoned her all those years ago, which makes it next to impossible for her to trust him.

Are there other interesting characters in this series?

Of course. All of the lady inquiry agents come with their own secrets. Miss Daphne Beekman is a reclusive author who lives in the attic of the boardinghouse. She has the propensity to faint at the drop of a hat, which makes for a few amusing scenes in the first book. She’ll get her own story in “To Write a Wrong,” coming out later in 2021. Then there’s Eunice Holbrooke. She’s the owner of the boardinghouse, and she only wears full mourning garb, covering her face with numerous veils and refusing to speak to anyone about her past. Clearly, there’s a mystery just waiting to be solved there, one that will be solved in book three, which I’m just now beginning to work on. The other residents of the boardinghouse provide a lot of color to the story, from the two sisters who work as paid companions by day to gossip collectors and carriage drivers by night, to the resident artist, Miss Judith, who has recently decided to dip her toe into the portrait market even though she’s really not proficient with painting people. There’s also a one-eyed, patch-wearing dog by the name of Winston, a parrot that likes to nick sparkly items named Pretty Girl, and a neurotic poodle that falls for Winston that goes by the name of Precious.

Did the pandemic affect the writing process at all for “To Steal a Heart?”

Luckily, I had already turned in the book before the pandemic hit. With that said, though, I then had to do some of the edits during the first few months of the pandemic. That was interesting. I have very specific conditions I need in order to write and edit and having Al (the husband person) working from home isn’t one of those conditions. It took me far longer than it normally does to complete the editing process, which threw off my schedule for the next book in the series, “To Write a Wrong.” Drastic measures were needed. That’s why I’m now the proud owner of a she-shed. Al thought I was joking when I first broached the subject of a she-shed, but after I had my millionth meltdown, he decided that might be a really good idea. Turns out sheds are in high demand at the moment, so getting a shed in a timely fashion wasn’t possible. It took 6 weeks for us to get a shed delivered and then we had to frame the inside and put up a ceiling and walls. I was not actually very involved with that process because I’m a danger to everyone surrounding me when nail guns are being used. ? I did paint the outside of the shed, then painted the inside. Of course the air conditioning unit I had to order was delayed, so I painted in 100 degree heat. Lost about five pounds doing that, so…unexpected bonus there. I just recently finished decorating the inside, and I’m typing this interview from my new space. I’m thinking I’m going to call it “Jen’s Novel Nook” but that might change, so don’t quote me on that.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Just that I hope everyone is surviving these crazy days. I know there are many people out there who are suffering from many different problems this pandemic has caused. Know that you’re not alone, and that brighter days will show up again. Until that time, try to remember to smile and, perhaps, read a few books.

Wishing all of you the very best!

Jen

BLOG STOPS:

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 17

Soulfully Romantic, November 17

Hebrews 12 Endurance, November 17

Blessed & Bookish, November 17

Robin’s Nest, November 17

Through the Fire Blogs, November 18

The Avid Reader, November 18

Losing the Busyness, November 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 18

She Lives To Read, November 19

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 19

Wishful Endings, November 19

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 19

Artistic Nobody, November 20 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

lakesidelivingsite, November 20

21st Century Keeper at Home, November 20

Reviewingbooksplusmore, November 20

The Write Escape, November 20

Older & Smarter?, November 21

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 21

Christian Bookaholic, November 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 21

The Christian Fiction Girl, November 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 22

Mia Reads, November 22

Writing from the Heart Land, November 22

Betti Mace, November 23

Inklings and notions, November 23

Blogging With Carol, November 23

Life of Literature, November 23

Texas Book-aholic, November 24

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 24

Southern Gal Loves to Read, November 24

Batya’s Bits, November 24

Joanne Markey’s blog, November 24

For Him and My Family, November 25

Inside the Wong Mind, November 25

Mary Hake, November 25

Godly Book Reviews, November 25

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, November 26

EmpowerMoms, November 26

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 26

Novels Corner, November 26

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 27

Connie’s History Classroom, November 27

Captive Dreams Window, November 27

Book of Ruth Ann, November 27

deb’s Book Review, November 28

Blossoms and Blessings, November 28

Daysong Reflections, November 28

Bigreadersite, November 28

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 29

Splashes of Joy, November 29

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 29

Simple Harvest Reads, November 29 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Vicky Sluiter, November 30

Pause for Tales, November 30

Spoken from Hallie Reads, November 30the Heart, November 30

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away the grand prize package of copy of To Steal a Heart, plus all three books in the American Heiresses series and a 30 second mystery kit (Link: https://amzn.to/3nqrIpC)!!

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/103a4/to-steal-a-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Hometown Honey by Jessica Patch

by | Jul 15, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Novella, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I read my first book by Jessica Patch after I learned that she lives in my general neck of the woods. She may be an hour or so away but that’s pretty much local and I need to support local authors if I can. The first few of her books I read were Love Inspired Suspense and I found them to be well crafted and good enough that I added her to my must read list. Then came the Honeyhaven novellas and I learned that this author also has a talent for light-hearted romantic comedy.

Hometown Honey is the third volume of the Honeyhaven series. It features single mom Zayda Miller who dreams of expanding her business to a larger building and her former best friend Stratton Shay who has become a famous chef and has returned to town for the annual pageant. Stratton has a dream of his own and is finally in the position to achieve it but what if his dream and Zayda’s dream collide?

Hometown Honey is the perfect summer read with its lovable characters, humorous situations, and warm-hearted romance. In addition to the primary characters, other Honeyhaven residents play excellent supporting roles. It was fun to catch up with the stars of the previous books and to learn a bit more about Crockett and Scout (aren’t those great names?) who I hope will be featured in the next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hometown Honey from the very beginning to its perfect end. If you haven’t had a chance to read anything by this author, this series would be an excellent place to start.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Welcome back to Honeyhaven!

The town is gearing up for the bicentennial and all the festivities including the annual Hometown Honey Pageant. Single mom, Zayda Miller has never been a fan of pageants, particularly this one, but she needs cash and if she could pull it off and win, she could use the sweet prize money to help her achieve her dream. With zero talent or skill in the kitchen—why baking pies is part of the pageant is beyond her—she’s off to a pathetic start. When her high school sweetheart, up and coming chef, Stratton Shay returns to town for the grand event, she reluctantly allows him to help her in the kitchen, but they might be cooking up more than pies for the competition. Until they discover they both want the same thing. And for one of them to win, the other will have to lose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica R. Patch is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a contemporary romance or romantic suspense. When she’s not hunched over her laptop (or in physical therapy because she’s been hunched over her laptop), you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home watching way too much Netflix with her family, going on “adventures” in the name of book research, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook. Sign up for her newsletter “Patched In” at www.jessicarpatch.com. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.

Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

by | Aug 30, 2019 | Books, Gilded Age, Historical, Humor, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I was ready for a light-hearted book when I opened Diamond in the Rough and its opening line let me know quickly that I had the right book. I can always count on any book by Jen Turano to provide me with plenty of giggles and maybe even a restrained belly laugh or two and this book was no exception. As usual, this book takes place mostly among the high society of that era.

With a leading lady who cares little for the demands of high society and who seems to be followed by trouble with a capital T, and a starched, impeccable, and proper English hero, readers can be assured that Diamond in the Rough is a recipe for disaster blended with lots of fun. I loved Poppy whose good intentions sometimes tripped her up but her good humor kept her likeable. It was such fun watching Reginald fall under Poppy’s spell and lose some of his starchiness. I also loved some of the secondary characters, especially wimpy Murray whose entire persona changed due to his association with Poppy and Reginald.

Loved, loved, loved this book! As long as the author will keep writing them, I will most assuredly keep reading them!

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Miss Poppy Garrison accepts her grandmother’s offer of financial help for her family in exchange for Poppy joining the New York social Season, she quickly realizes she is far less equipped to mingle with the New York Four Hundred than even she knew. As she becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, becoming the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs her to be looks more impossible by the day.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, is in New York to help his cousin find an American heiress who can help save his family’s estate. But when his very proper British manners lead Poppy’s grandmother to request he teach etiquette to Poppy, he quickly finds himself in for much more than he bargained for.

And while they couldn’t be more opposite, Reginald and Poppy just might find they have more to teach each other than they ever could have expected.

Read an excerpt HERE.

Purchase a copy HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jen Turano, the USA Today bestselling author of eleven books and two novellas, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.