Showing posts with label Sian Ann Bessey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sian Ann Bessey. Show all posts

Friday, November 17, 2017

Review & Giveaway: For Castle and Crown by Sian Ann Bessey





My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

After years spent fighting alongside King Richard in the crusades, Lord Edmund of Hawksford is finally returning to his ancestral home. But far from a joyful reunion, what awaits him is devastation. His elder brother is dead, killed in a tragic fire at Hawksford Castle—and the title of duke now falls to Edmund.
When he strives to rebuild the fire-scarred castle, Edmund learns that his was not the only life the fire shattered: his childhood friend Lady Phillipa survived the flames that took Edmund’s brother, but badly burned, she has hidden herself away from those she loves. Yet as the pair renews their acquaintance, they find that their affection runs deep—perhaps even deeper than they’d ever realized. 
As Edmund and Pippa begin to question whether the fire was truly an accident, they must discover the truth of the past before they can plan for their future. While coming perilously close to the answers they seek, Edmund and Pippa find themselves at the mercy of a dangerous foe who will stop at nothing to lay claim on Hawksford—and he will destroy any who stand in his way.
My Review

Sian Ann Bessey has quickly become one of my favorites, and once again I was completely transported to medieval times and immersed in the story. I loved the characters from the beginning and really felt for them with the intense trials they endured with strength. It has a steady pace with action interspersed and a climax that had me biting my nails! Childhood friendship that blossoms into love is one of my favorite types of romance, and I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet relationship between Edmund and Pippa. There are powerful themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and inner beauty that made the story deeper and more meaningful. Highly recommend!!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Review & Giveaway: To Win a Lady's Heart by Sian Ann Bessey


Heidi Reads... To Win a Lady's Heart by Sian Ann Bessey

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/to-win-a-lady-s-heart?autocomplete=true&variant_id=147124-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

For eighteen years, Lord Gilbert has been tortured over a grievous lapse in judgment. Bitterness has tainted his interactions with the people of Moreland and his relationship with his only daughter, Lady Joanna. With a wolfhound guarding her around the clock and no freedom to leave the castle grounds unattended, the only time Lady Joanna can be alone is when she sneaks out through an old castle tunnel to visit the healer Agnes in her cottage by the sea. One morning as Lady Joanna approaches the cliffs, she discovers an injured man. She immediately goes to Agnes for help. The wounded stranger is Sir Lukas, and while he recovers, he makes plans to identify his attackers and their motive. Upon learning that Moreland’s wool has been stolen, Sir Lukas comes to believe that the crimes are related and point to a much more sinister plot. When Lord Gilbert announces an archery tournament, the prize being Lady Joanna’s hand in marriage, it attracts noblemen from across the land, and suddenly Sir Lukas’s pursuit of the villains takes a different turn. As Lady Joanna’s and Sir Lukas’s feelings for each other grow, the stakes soar, and only Sir Lukas’s skill with a longbow can save them.

My Review

A wonderful cast of characters give heart to this medieval tale of loyalty and betrayal. I loved Lady Joanna's compassion for the peasants in her father's land, and her determination to champion their cause since they couldn't for themselves. Her secret relationship with Agnes and the two young men Agnes cares for proves to be beneficial when they come to her aid as the kingdom seems to be falling apart. The arrival of Lukas was timely as he helps solve the mystery of the stolen wool and reveal the culprits who are behind the plot to rob Joanna's father of everything. His goodness shines through in his kindness and devotion to Joanna, and I was rooting for him to win the tournament and her heart. Lord Gilbert's loyal knight Sir Edwyn was a steadying influence in Joanna's life as a father figure and his connection to Lukas brought the story full circle. This is a book that will be enjoyed by fans of Melanie Dickerson and I highly recommend it for both young adults and adults.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

E-book sale: Mail Order Bride Collection


http://amzn.to/2920gu5

Only 99 cents for A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection!

I absolutely loved these novellas and this collection is now one of my favorites. Don't miss this fabulous deal!!! (Read my 5 star review here)

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Monday, February 29, 2016

Review & Giveaway: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection by Stacy Henrie, Kristin Holt, Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Sian Ann Bessey


Heidi Reads... A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection by Stacy Henrie, Kristin Holt, Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Sian Ann Bessey

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection. Six historical romance novellas set in the Old West.

WRITTEN IN HER HEART, a charming novella by Stacy Henrie, Georgeanna is getting desperate. She can’t fund her favorite orphanage unless she marries and secures the rest of her inheritance left by her father. But her father’s financial planner, Clay, can't understand why she's not content with her current situation. Georgie determines to send out a notice as a mail order bride to attract suitors who won’t know her financial situation. Little does she know, Clay takes up the pen and sends her letters of his own under an assumed name. After years of working for Georgie’s father, Clay realizes he isn’t ready to watch her marry another, not when his heart is already claimed by her.

In Kristin Holt’s delightful novella WANTED: MIDWIFE BRIDE Dr. Naomi Thornton thinks she has it all: a beautiful house, a loving husband, and a fulfilling career. But when everything she holds dear is ripped away, Naomi has no choice but to start over. What will she find in the wild and untamed Wyoming Territory? Dr. Joe Chandler has waited years for a wife with the knowledge, skills, and tender heart he yearns for in a medical colleague and lifetime companion. When a midwife arrives with more expertise and secrets than he counted on, Joe quickly discovers there’s more to love and marriage than a simple mail order contract.

In THE SOUND OF HOME, a captivating novella by Annette Lyon, Marilyn is given the choice of either marrying the despicable Victor or being charged with a murder she didn’t commit. Refusing to believe that either is her fate, she finds a third option: she answers a mail order bride advertisement and boards a train to Wyoming to wed a man named Harry. Moments after her arrival, she learns that Harry isn’t who he seemed to be, and the advertisement turns out to be a giant mistake. Harry’s brother Thomas agrees to let her stay until she can figure out what to do next—after all, she simply cannot return to New York—but Marilyn quickly finds herself developing feelings for Thomas.

In Sarah M. Eden’s endearing novella FOR BETTER OR WORSE Gerald Smith, on the advice of his well-meaning neighbors, has decided it’s time to change his lonely existence. Mary Hill, on the advice of her empty pocketbook and non-existent roof over her head, has decided it’s time to secure herself a future. A mail-order marriage, they both realize, is no guarantee of happiness, but it is a risk they are willing to take. However, coming face to face on the train platform, the hapless couple discovers an unexpected truth: marriage to a perfect stranger is sometimes far preferable to the prospect of a lifetime with someone you used to know.

Heather B. Moore’s sweet novella AN INCONVENIENT BRIDE sees Carmela traveling from Boston to Colorado, eager to meet the man she’s been corresponding with and will soon marry. Her brother’s new marriage leaves little room for Carmela in her old life. Upon arrival in Leadville, she faces a rude awakening, and the only one who can understand her predicament is her fiance’s brother, Samuel. But Samuel can’t possibly help her out of an awkward situation, can he? It would be better for all if she returns immediately to Boston and pretends she never traveled to Colorado in the first place.

THE PRICE OF SILVER, an engaging novella by Siân Ann Bessey, Katie leaves New York for Idaho to marry Jake, a man she’s written to a couple of times. But when she steps off the train, his brother Caleb is there to greet her. Jake has gone to take a mining job he couldn’t pass up. Caleb takes Katie back to the family ranch to wait for Jake’s return. The more Caleb gets to know Katie, the more he envies his brother, but he can’t let his heart overrule his head unless Jake changes his mind about his intended bride.


My Review

For a collection of stories with such a specific theme, I was amazed by how individual and unique each plot is! What they had in common is well-developed characters, a vibrant setting, an unexpected twist on the theme, sweet romance, and a satisfying conclusion. In a novella collection usually just two or three stories stand out as my favorites, but I can honestly say that I absolutely enjoyed each of these stories equally. I loved reading about the uncertainty and anxiety of each situation that leads at least one member of the couple to take desperate measures to hopefully improve their circumstances. The blind faith it would take to be willing to make a life with someone you barely know astounds me, but loneliness, the desire for love, protection or just companionship compels the characters to move forward and trust that there is the potential for a better life waiting as long as they can work for it. The romantic moments were built up to which made me want to savor them. This is one of my favorite Timeless Romance collections and I highly recommend it!

(Thank you to Heather B. Moore for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Learn more about the Timeless Romance series:

**Amazon #1 Bestselling series in Clean Romance**

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Monday, November 16, 2015

Review & Giveaway: One Last Spring by Sian Ann Bessey


Heidi Reads... One Last Spring by Sian Ann Bessey

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/one-last-spring-ppr?autocomplete=true&variant_id=127668-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

The quiet village of Llanwddyn has long been a safe haven for Gwen, a young Welsh country girl whose life has been fraught with tragedy. Following the untimely death of her parents, it was her aunt's home in Llanwddyn that provided Gwen and her brother a refuge from their grief. Now, with the unwelcome news that the village is to be razed in the name of progress, an inescapable wave of change has begun.

When her brother departs to follow his dream of sailing the high seas, Gwen is left alone to navigate the shifting world around her. She soon finds herself relying on the support of her brother's best friend, Lewis, a gentle blacksmith whose kindness stirs her heart. Resigned to the fact that Lewis may never see her as more than a child, Gwen is soon swept off her feet by Thomas, a prosperous young Englishman. Torn between two men and two very different paths, Gwen has little time to determine what course her heart will follow. With time running out for her beautiful valley, will love come too late?


My Review

What a lovely book. It was so easy for me to relate to the main character Gwen, one who is sentimental, stubborn, and has a difficult time adjusting to change. I love that she is an artist, sketching her changing village from her perch on the mountain. Her way of coping with life is admirable, to make each day meaningful in some small way, whether it's taking a moment to appreciate nature or helping someone in the community. Even though the book is not fast-paced, it was one that I wanted to take my time reading and enjoy every page as it steadily moved forward with Gwen's feelings of anxiety and conflict along her journey of transition. The Welsh setting and words were completely charming. Highly recommend!

(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)


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