COVER REVEAL: Night at the Opera by Stacy Henrie

From USA Today bestselling author Stacy Henrie, comes NIGHT AT THE OPERA, an American Heiress Novel.

Available for Pre-order! Releases on October 16th!

Synopsis

NIGHT AT THE OPERA - Book 1 (1908)

When American heiress Gwen Barton aids an injured gentleman in an opera box in London, she shares a kiss with the stranger that changes her life. More determined than ever to be herself, in spite of the limp she’s sustained since childhood, she will marry for love and not a title. She also resolves to learn the identity of the man she helped—and kissed. Surely he can’t be the irritating Avery Winfield, though. But as circumstances continue to throw Gwen and Avery together, she begins to wonder if there is more to this man than she first thought.

While most of London only knows him as the nephew of a duke, Avery Winfield is actually working for the Secret Service Bureau to ferret out German spies from among the ton. It’s a profession that gives him purpose and a reason to remain a bachelor. But the more he interacts with Gwen Barton, an heiress from America, the more he begins to question his plans and neglected faith. Then he learns Gwen is the young lady from the opera box who helped him. Now his most important mission may have nothing to do with saving Britain from danger and everything to do with risking his heart for the woman he met that night at the opera. 
More American Heiress books:

Beneath an Italian Sky (April 2019)
Among Sand and Sunshine (October 2019)

Review: Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen

 My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Doctor Isla Cooper is cursed. Literally. Each night, at the stroke of midnight she falls into a death-like sleep from which she cannot be awakened for six hours. To make it worse, the curse has an expiration date--after a year, it becomes permanent. And the year is almost up.

In a desperate attempt to find Malette--the witch who cursed her--Isla blackmails her way onto Daniel Pickett's private airship bound for the Caribbean, only to discover she's traveling with three illegal shapeshifters and the despicable Nigel Crowe, a government official determined to hunt down and exterminate every shapeshifter in England. Isla and Daniel must work together to keep the identities of the shapeshifters hidden while coming to terms with their own hidden secrets, and their blossoming attraction to each other.

Filled with suspense, intrigue, and plenty of romance, Kiss of the Spindle is steampunk Sleeping Beauty story. It is a race against the clock as Isla and Daniel try to hunt down the elusive Malette before Isla's death-like sleep becomes permanent.


My Review

Wow. This is the first steampunk book I've ventured to read, and it was such a fun ride! It took me a little bit to get comfortable with the some of the terminology and concepts, but the story and characters immediately grabbed me and pulled me into the intriguing plot. I loved Isla's grit, confidence, and determination. I loved Daniel's strength, charisma, and protective nature. I loved the dynamics between the passengers on the airship, the race against time, and the mysterious spell that Isla is desperate to reverse. The friendship and romance between Isla and Daniel develops naturally but swiftly, and their chemistry was amazing! I appreciated that they allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other; it instilled a foundation of trust in their relationship that made the quick timeline work for me. The adventure was epic and this book would make such a great movie! Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the first book in the Steampunk Proper Romance series . . .

Synopsis

Jane Eyre meets Beauty and the Beast

When Lucy Pickett arrives at Blackwell Manor to tend to her ailing cousin, Kate, she finds more than she bargained for. A restless ghost roams the hallways, werewolves have been reported in the area, and vampires lurk across the Scottish border. Lord Miles himself is clearly hiding a secret. He is brash and inhospitable, and does not take kindly to visitors—even one as smart and attractive as Miss Pickett. He is unsettled by the mysterious deaths of his new wife, Clara, and his sister, Marie. Working together, Miles and Lucy attempt to restore peace to Blackwell Manor. But can Lucy solve the mystery of Miles? Can she love the man—beast and all?

Review & Giveaway: Veins of Gold by Charlie N. Holmberg

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Desperate to save her siblings from poverty, a young woman discovers magic fueled by gold . . . and a love for the man who wields it.

Abandoned by their father for the gold rush, Gentry and her siblings labor to survive alone in the inhospitable west. When bizarre natural disasters begin wreaking havoc on the land, Gentry discovers a world of magic. Desperate for help, she accepts aid from a mysterious stranger.

Winn not only sees the magic, but controls its hunger by feeding it gold—the very thing Gentry’s father left to acquire. But the earth’s unrest only grows worse, and Gentry’s fear leads her to a terrible choice: marry a wealthy man she does not love, or trust in Winn’s unpredictable power to save her family.

My Review

This is the first book I've read by the author, and I didn't really know what to expect, other than she had great reviews from reader friends and authors. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing, and was easily drawn into the story and its characters. I always enjoy a western setting, and the addition of the paranormal/magic element made it exciting and new, with lots of unknowns. It was a nice balance of 1800's reality and imaginative fantasy. Gentry is strong and devoted to her family, and their increasingly desperate circumstances worry her to the point of anxiety. She has support from the Mormon family who adopted her half brother, and they help keep her grounded and hopeful. Winn is charming and sweet, and Gentry doesn't quite know what to make of her new friend. There are themes of self-reliance, trust, grief, and forgiveness that brought depth to the story. The concept of gold mining and the effect it had on the spirit of the land was intriguing, and I liked the way the author wove in elements of a Native American tribe, the crickets, and the seagulls- nods to the rich history of Utah. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

About the Author

Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie N. Holmberg was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally adopted a dog. Her fantasy Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine and lives with her family in Utah.

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Review: Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Book Two in the Shadows of the Wilderness series

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as "pervaded with divine light."

Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford fashioned her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region's wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.

After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he's faced with the choice of becoming a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?

As Clark helps open Olivia's eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park's story as its vistas-- a revelation that may bring her charade to an end.

My Review

There are two things I especially appreciated about this book- that it's set in Yosemite, a place I've visited several times, and that the main character Olivia is an artist. The author really made the time period come to life, and though it's not my favorite era for fiction, once Olivia got to Yosemite and began to shed her flapper girl facade, I was a happy camper ;) She really undergoes quite a transition,  from fearful and desperate to courageous and confident. Clark's frank demeanor influences her to make the effort to get in touch with the spirit of the landscape, enabling her paintings to evoke more emotion and touch the viewer. Clark is on his own spiritual journey, seeking for guidance with his purpose and future. These two lost and hurting souls have a bit of a rocky start, but in time form a friendship as they learn to trust and reveal their hidden secrets. There is plenty of intrigue and angst while Olivia faces pressure from various sources, all of which is balanced nicely with the beauty and grandeur of the location. I loved all the little nuggets of history of Yosemite's early days as a National Park sprinkled into the story, and it made me look forward to camping and backpacking there again.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the first book in the Shadows of the Wilderness series . . .

Book One

Read my 4 star review

Synopsis

In 1927, Margie Lane, an avid naturalist, convinces her Senator father to procure her a position at the fledgling Mount Rainier National Park. Since Ranger Ford Brannon lost his father in a climbing accident, he doubts his ability to protect the park and its many visitors. He certainly doesn't relish the job of watching over an idealistic and privileged young woman with no practical survival skills.
 

When Margie's former fiance sets his mind on developing the Paradise Inn and its surroundings into a tourist playground, Margie and Ford will have to work together to preserve the beauty and simplicity of this mountain hideaway, but the developer's plans might put more than just the park in danger.