by admin | Jan 16, 2020 | Books, Historical, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Lorri Dudley is a new author to me and I am delighted that I took a chance and agreed to review her novel The Duke’s Refuge. I actually was expecting the usual Regency era tale filled with ballrooms, debuts, and calling cards. What a pleasant change to find a story set primarily on a leeward island as well as several perfectly fascinating characters.
I loved the idea of a runaway Duke who was disenchanted with English society after the death of his beloved wife. Harrison Wells spent his time attempting to raise his son properly and help educate the underprivileged children of the island. I also loved Georgia Lennox whose attempt to gain her mother’s approval by becoming the perfect lady in order to find an acceptable husband. Unfortunately practicing her feminine charms and wearing pink actually made her miserable. Georgia’s first encounter with Harrison was a disaster and subsequent encounters did not improve either one’s impression of the other.
The island setting was so well described that I could almost feel the humid heat and hear the crashing of waves. The imaginative plot was such fun with plenty of laugh inducing scenes for my enjoyment. Both Georgia and Harrison were painted with a broad brush with all their perfections and blemishes exposed. It was refreshing to watch as not only Georgia and Harrison’s relationship developed but also how her bond to her father grew stronger. And lest I forget, there is at least one perfectly awful person who probably gave the word evil its meaning.
By all means, grab a copy of The Duke’s Refuge as soon as possible. I can almost guarantee that you will not want to put it down until the very end.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital 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 Duke’s Refuge
Author: Lorri Dudley
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: January 7, 2020
Click here to get your copy! |
 |
When love comes in a tempest, who knew it would wear pink?
Georgia Lennox has traded in her boyish ways for pink gowns and a coy smile to capture the eye of the Earl of Claremont. However, on the day she’s convinced the earl will propose, Georgia is shipped off to the Leeward Islands to care for her ailing father. But when she arrives on Nevis, the last thing she expects is to learn that her abrupt departure was not at her father’s bidding but that of the infuriating, yet captivating, island schoolmaster. And now her plans may well be shipwrecked.
Harrison Wells is haunted by the memories of his deceased wife and hunted by the subsequent women who aspire to be the next Duchess of Linton. Desiring anonymity, he finds sanctuary in the Leeward island of Nevis. He’s willing to sacrifice his ducal title for a schoolmaster’s life and the solace the island provides. That is until unrest finds its way to Nevis in a storm of pink chiffon—Miss Georgia Lennox.
As Georgia and Harrison’s aspirations break apart like a ship cast upon the rocks, a new love surfaces, but secrets and circumstances drag them into rough waters. Can they surrender their hearts to a love that defies their expectations?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.
MORE FROM LORRI:
After being buried under the largest snowfall in Massachusetts history, I wrote The Duke’s Refuge as an escape to warmer tropical climates, and what better respite than a romantic Caribbean isle with a mysteriously missing Duke? In the process I fell in love with the beauty of Nevis, it’s rich culture, and history.
My heroine Georgia lured me in the moment I realized she only wore pink. My psychology background had me digging deeper. I needed to know why. Why the obsession? What was the root behind the hurt? Why pink? How did she go from being a Tomboy to a dignified, Regency socialite? And how did she wind up in the Leeward Islands? Enter her beloved, sick father who always saw Georgia’s potential even when it was hidden under boy’s clothing and often smelled of marsh. Although, he held the best of intentions, his relocating to Nevis left Georgia with deep abandonment issues.
Harrison was a completely different beast. After reading about Mudlarks who trolled the Thames River searching for treasure and even picking the pockets of dead people washed up on the shores, I knew Harrison’s would wind up caked in the Thames’s thick mud and devastated at the loss of his wife. The Leeward island became not only a reprieve from his grief but also from the women who snuck into his carriage or cornered him at parties clamoring to become the next Duchess.
Oddly enough, part of the story formed when a friend of mine spoke of their family trip to visit his mother. She happened to own a parrot, and after a week of the kids yelling each other’s names, the parrot imitated their shrieking. Even long after they returned to the U.S. the bird still screeched out their names. I couldn’t resist adding a mimicking parrot to add a comical element and harass my main characters.
The Duke’s Refuge is meant to be a fish-out-of-water, case-of-mistaken-identity, love triangle romance with a happily-ever-after. It demonstrates how God’s love fervently pursues us, no matter how far we run, and that sometimes, something we would never have chosen can bless us in a way we would never have expected.
To learn more, check out my website at lorridudley.com or click here to watch The Duke’s Refuge’s book:
BLOG STOPS:
| Batya’s Bits, January 9
Genesis 5020, January 9
Texas Book-aholic, January 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 10
Betti Mace, January 11
KarenSueHadley, January 11
janicesbookreviews, January 12
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12
Remembrancy, January 12
Reading Is My SuperPower, January 13
Through the Fire Blogs, January 13
Reflections From My Bookshelves, January 14
Kat’s Corner Books, January 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 15
Books, Life, and Christ, January 15
She Lives to Read, January 16 |
Blessed & Bookish, January 16
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16
Daysong Reflections, January 17
Mary Hake, January 17
Inklings and notions, January 18
April Hayman, Author, January 18
For Him and My Family, January 19
Britt Reads Fiction, January 19
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 20
Hallie Reads, January 20
Pause for Tales, January 20
deb’s Book Review, January 21
Life of Literature, January 21
Just the Write Escape, January 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 22
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 22 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
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/f468/the-duke-s-refuge-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 14, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
If you enjoy adventure novels with a frontier setting along with a touch of romance, then Freedom in the Mountain Wind just might be for you. A story about a young woman who sets out on a journey to the Rocky Mountains with her dying father to fulfill his last wish to see the mountains. Neither of them expected the trip to be so arduous or for his health to fail so quickly. Just when Susanna thought they would no longer be able to go on, they encounter a young Indian man who agrees to help portage their boat past the waterfall. His act of unexpected friendship encourages Susanna to continue their journey.
The well paced plot and vivid descriptions of the vast wilderness makes the story a pleasure to read. Susanna and Beaver Tail’s story is filled with hardship, dangers, friendship, compassion, romance, and a beautiful story of salvation. A grizzly encounter as well as other accidents leaves more than one character injured and even fighting for their life.
I was so impressed by the way these three strangers took Susanna and her father under their wings and abandoned their own plans to protect them and help them reach their goal. The author brought out the tenderness in these rough men in such a way that it was perfectly believable. I could say so much more but I’ll leave it to you to discover the depths of this most excellent novel by a very talented author. I will definitely be reading more books by Misty M. Beller!
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: Freedom in the Mountain Wind
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Click here for your copy. |
 |
The last epic journey before her life changes forever.
Susanna Wilkins will do anything to make her father’s final dream come true, including trek along the path Lewis and Clark explored into the untamed wilds of the Rocky Mountains. Every mile is more crucial now that lung cancer is stealing Pa’s last days faster than she can come to terms with losing him. The journey becomes harder than she ever expected, but paddling upriver through fierce rapids and fighting hungry grizzlies isn’t what terrifies her the most.
Beaver Tail endured more than he can stand from the women in his Blackfoot camp, but the last disaster gave him the final shove he needed to join this band of brothers searching for one of their group who’s gone missing. The last thing he expected was to find a white woman and her sick father stranded at the base of massive waterfall. His plan is to help them carry their oversize canoe and supplies, then leave them to their strange mission. Yet, the more he learns about the pair, the more he realizes his life is about to be derailed—again.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
MORE FROM MISTY:
When God Directs a Google Search…
I’m a history lover, but you may have guessed that since I write historical romance stories. ? Most of my books are set in the Rocky Mountains during the mid-1800s, but as I began brainstorming ideas for this new series, my heart became drawn earlier to the earlier part of the century—a time period with which I wasn’t quite as familiar with the history.
I love when God orchestrates even the most mundane part of our lives, including Google searches! During one particular search (I can’t even remember what I was originally looking for), I stumbled across part of a journal entry from the Lewis and Clark expedition, which trekked across Montana during the time period I was looking into. I’d forgotten that expedition had even entered the territory that would later become Montana, but now I was fascinated.
After finding an audiobook of the abridged journals of Lewis and Clark, I happily listened to almost 19 hours of fascinating stories from the Corp of Exploration’s journey up the Missouri River and across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, then back mostly the over the same path they’d come. The stories the men told were so amazing, and the detail of their trials so absorbing, I’ve actually re-listened to the audiobook twice! Many of the true tales wouldn’t be believable in fiction, but as I listened, my mind formed the premise for Freedom in the Mountain Wind: a father/daughter duo who sets out almost two decades after Lewis and Clark’s journey, determined to retrace the steps of that famous expedition.
I hope you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it! And whether you’re a history lover or not, I pray that you too will be touched by this “epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.”
BLOG STOPS:
| Simple Harvest Reads, January 15 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Daysong Reflections, January 15
My Devotional Thoughts, January 15
Genesis 5020, January 16
Blossoms and Blessings, January 16
Connect in Fiction, January 17
SPLASHES of Joy, January 17
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 17
Emily Yager, January 18
Deanne’s Book Thoughts, January 18
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, January 18
A Baker’s Perspective, January 19
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 19
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 20
Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 20
Mary Hake, January 20
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 21
Wishful Endings, January 21
All-of-a-kind Mom, January 21 |
Pause for Tales, January 22
Bigreadersite, January 22
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 22
Through the Fire Blogs, January 23
Betti Mace, January 23
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 23
Older & Smarter?, January 24
For the Love of Literature, January 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 25
Rebecca Tews, January 25
For Him and My Family, January 25
She Lives to Read, January 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 26
Inklings and notions, January 26
Blessed & Bookish, January 27
janicesbookreviews, January 27
deb’s Book Review, January 27
Texas Book-aholic, January 28
Hook Me In A Book, January 28 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
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/f49e/freedom-in-the-mountain-wind-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 12, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I grew up watching westerns on TV with my dad and I tend to enjoy a good western novel from time to time. I would have to say that Heather Blanton’s Defiance series comes closest to the shows I remember so fondly from so many years ago. At first glance one might consider her books to be a bit violent or to touch on objectionable subject matter. My husband has been watching a lot of old westerns lately and I have been surprised at their content. I guess as a child, much of it was over my head. Anyway, those were supposedly the good old days of TV and was considered family friendly. The author’s books do contain some violence and a few inappropriate characters but what shines out to me is that she has woven the word of God throughout the narrative. In her stories, even the most hardened characters have a chance of redemption and mercy always triumphs over justice, although justice is also very important.
A Destiny in Defiance continues the Defiance story with many of the same characters from the previous books. This novel can be enjoyed on its own but reading the previous three gives the reader more background on what has gone before which makes certain aspects of the story easier to understand. I won’t go into details here but the story features a continuing rivalry between two men and at least one love story. Plenty of action and danger fill its pages and the reader can expect some twists and surprises along the way. And like I mentioned earlier, following the Lord plays an important part in the lives of many of the characters which I certainly appreciate.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Destiny in Defiance as well as the previous books of the series. I hope you will take a chance on them too. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read it there or it can be purchased in paperback or kindle format.
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:
Romances and rivalries are simmering in Defiance…
Charles McIntyre’s dark past is dead and buried. Now, he is a peaceable man striving to serve God, love his new wife, and bring respectable industries to the once lawless town of Defiance.
When his nemesis threatens everything Charles cares about, though, will he give the fight to the Lord, or unchain his demons? The choice is clear because no one is going to hurt his family. No one.
Hope Clark comes to Defiance intent on proving a woman can be as fine a doctor as any man. To accomplish the task, however, she’ll have to keep her medical background a secret for a bit. When her lies force some ugly choices between life and death, love and loneliness, will hiding the truth be worth the sacrifices?
In a town turning as explosive as a keg of dynamite, no one is in Defiance by accident. No one is without hope or love—if they’ll lift up their eyes…
Grab your copy today of book 4 in this exciting series!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Heather Blanton is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the “Romance in the Rockies” series which was recently OPTIONED for a LIMITED TV SERIES.
She is a former journalist and avid researcher who endeavors to seamlessly weave actual history in among fictional storylines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.
“Heather Blanton is blessed with a natural storytelling ability, an ‘old soul’ wisdom, and wide expansive heart. Her characters are vividly drawn, and in the western settings where life can be hard, over quickly, and seemingly without meaning, she reveals Larger Hands holding everyone and everything together.”
MARK RICHARD, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AMC’S HELL ON WHEELS, and PEN/ERNEST HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER
Her novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets her write about feisty pioneer women who struggle to find love and keep their faith. Like all good, old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and often a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. Her work is inspired by authors like the great Louis L’Amour, Francine Rivers, and Linda Lael Miller, to name just a few.
She grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! Her daddy also taught her to shoot and, trust us, she can sew on buttons with her rifle.
She is a proud member of Western Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers.
by admin | Jan 11, 2020 | Books, Gold Rush, Historical, Montana, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
The Forever Sky is book 4 on Voigt’s Montana Gold series and features several characters from earlier volumes. Although the primary characters are Maisey and Rob, it was fun to catch up with Shane and America. Widowed Maisey’s daughter Phoebe also added an entertaining addition to the story.
In this novel, Rob has returned after three years away, hoping to continue his future with Maisey but she isn’t interested in letting him hurt her again. Unfortunately she is unable to keep her heart under control and the love she had for Rob refuses to remain buried. Every time Rob thinks he might have another chance, something happens to cause another misunderstanding and once again his hope is battered. How can he prove to the wounded Maisey that he loves her and can be trusted with her heart?
I always love a good historical novel, especially one with a western setting. The Forever Sky contains a steady plot, excellent characterization, and enough action, danger, and suspenseful moments to hold a reader’s attention. A touch of humor and a complicated romance add extra interest to this exciting tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to all historical fiction lovers.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: The Forever Sky
Series: Montana Gold, Book 4
Author: Janalyn Voigt
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Genre: Western/Historical Romance
Can a young widow with no faith in love, hope for a future with the man who broke her heart?
Maisey isn’t about to give Rob another chance to reject her love. Why should she believe that the man who left town without a backward glance three years ago cares about her? Life had taught her all about broken dreams, and she didn’t want to hope again. If only her young daughter would stop adopting Rob as a father, ignoring him—and her own emotions–would be a whole lot easier.
Thoughts of the woman he’d left behind haunted Rob for three long years. It wouldn’t have been fair to ask Maisey to wait while he mined a gold claim. After making his fortune, he’d returned to his family in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Rob was ready to settle down, and he’d rather do so with Maisey. But after their first encounter, it was clear that he’d lost her forever.
Circumstances force Maisey and Rob into one another’s company. They learn, through hardship and loss, that the only way to one another is to surrender first to God’s love.
Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, The Forever Sky explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics to her at night. After Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with bedtime stories “written” in her head. Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in multiple genres. The same elements–romance, mystery, adventure, history, and fantasy/whimsy–appear in all her novels. Janalyn Voigt is represented by Wordserve Literary. Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at her website.
CONNECT WITH JANALYN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub
by admin | Jan 10, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, NCIS, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Rachel Dylan is quickly becoming another of my go-to authors when I want to read a good action-packed suspense novel. End Game affirmed my choice with its nonstop action and lots of twists and surprises along the way.
I loved how Dylan portrayed the members of various agencies and how well they all worked together – both men and women with no one-upping between the agencies. These agents were shown to be dedicated to their jobs, with integrity and determination to solve the murders as quickly as possible. This riveting suspense had me second guessing the characters and on the edge of my seat at times. I appreciated the subtle Christian message that flowed throughout the narrative as well as the fact that the romantic relationship between Bailey and Marco did not overshadow the plot.
End Game was a fun and intriguing tale that left me sorry to reach its end. I look forward to the author’s next offering.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author through Bethany House. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Each New Clue . . .
Every Crime Scene . . .
Brings Them Closer to Discovering the End Game
When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper who Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.
When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, they wonder if there’s a deeper cover-up at play. After Bailey is targeted, it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets.
With the stakes getting higher by the moment, Bailey and Marco rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust in this twisted conspiracy. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of them all.
Read an excerpt here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Dylan (www.racheldylan.com) was a litigator in one of Atlanta’s most elite law firms for over eight years and now works as an attorney at one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers. She is the author of Deadly Proof and four Love Inspired Suspense novels and lives in Michigan with her husband.
