GOALS:
Read 15 review books
Write the review before starting the next book
Post reading challenge prompts on Instagram and Facebook
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Thursday, November 1, 2018
Thankful For Books Reading Challenge! #TFBRC
I'm so excited for another reading challenge! This one looks super fun and I'm already thinking about what my picks for each prompt will be.
Join the challenge here!
New Release: Starstruck by Carla Laureano
NOW AVAILABLE! Only $2.99 for the e-book!
Novelist Christine Lind has achieved her lifelong dream—a string of best-selling books and a cable-TV adaptation about to go into production. But on her way to London FanFest for the cast reveal, disaster strikes: their leading man is injured in a motorcycle accident… and his replacement is the one person she hoped she’d never seen again.
Nick Cleary has clawed his way to recognition as a Hollywood actor, but it’s long past time he get the chance to show he’s more than a pretty face and a chiseled set of abs. His big break comes in the form of a juicy lead role in a new steampunk fantasy series. There’s just one catch—casting has to be approved by the author… a woman he once devastated through his own youthful stupidity.
Christine is the last person to be starstruck by the handsome heartthrob, but as the clock ticks down to the cast announcement and Nick races to show that he’s really changed, she begins to wonder if there’s more to her ex than his Hollywood persona. Except now the consequences of being wrong no longer apply only to her career… but also to her carefully guarded heart.
About the Author
Carla
Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary
inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of
Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly
a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She
currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes
during the day and cooks things at night.
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Get the first Discovered by Love novella for free here.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Review: Never Envy an Earl by Regina Scott
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
The saucy Yvette de Maupassant is used to danger. She’s spent the last 10 years spying for England in Napoleon’s court. Now that her work has been discovered, she must hide, and what better place than the remote wooded estate of the Earl of Carrolton? Her friend Miss Thorn and that delightful cat Fortune place her in a position where she can pretend to be companion to the earl’s sickly mother. Yet one look at the earl has Yvette rethinking why she wants to stay.
Gregory, Earl of Carrolton, is used to power. So why does one moment in the company of his mother and spinster sister leave him feeling powerless? And why does the look in a certain Frenchwoman’s eyes leave him weak at the knees? As danger draws closer, Gregory and Yvette must work together to protect her, his family, and the future of England, as they discover the greatest danger and delight is falling in love.
My Review
I love how individual the characters in this series are! The author does a wonderful job of giving each one a distinct personality with a range of mannerisms, strengths, and struggles. Yvette is especially unique because she is a former French spy (for the British) with a tragic history, yet she has a way of improving the situation she finds herself in. I loved her spirit and the way she stood up to Gregory's mother and sister, while still staying in their good graces. It was interesting how she had such compassion for Gregory and felt safe with him, yet is not sure about him and his true nature because of her trust issues.I liked getting to know Gregory and how he dealt with his family dynamics. It was nice to see how Yvette's influence on them all improved their own relationships with each other. A lovely Regency romance, as always!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Check out the other books in the Fortune's Brides series . . .
Excerpt
Men. They must have
been discussing what to do about her situation, yet they all stared at
her as if she’d floated down from the ceiling dressed in chicken
feathers. Mr. Villers’s mouth even hung open.
“Vite, vite,” Yvette said, coming to join them. “You must be quick. Meredith is with her ladyship, but I will be wanted shortly.”
Mr. Mayes brightened. She’d met the solicitor last month at Foulness Manor, the home of her friend Harry. Of course he would want news of Meredith—unless Yvette missed her guess, he intended to court the lady.
“Miss Thorn is still here?” he asked.
“For the time being,” the earl told him. Then he stepped forward to take Yvette’s hand in his. Such a large hand. Hers disappeared inside it, yet she felt perfectly comfortable.
“Miss de Maupassant,” he said, “Mr. Mayes and Mr. Villers came to let us know they have identified the man pursuing you. You must be brave. It is your cousin.”
The room dimmed. She must have swayed on her feet, for his hand slipped around her waist as if to hold her upright. She clung to his hand, to his warmth. She could not let her fear rule her.
“I should have known Claude would be involved,” she made herself say. “I am only surprised he crossed the Channel himself. Where is he now?”
“We’re not sure,” Mr. Mayes admitted. “One of our best men, Lord Trevithan, nearly caught him in London, but he managed to escape.”
He would, even from the dashing Lord Trevithan, who’d recruited her for a spy. Her cousin was a survivor. So many wrongs could be laid at his door, yet he always escaped capture, like a cockroach scuttling away from the light.
“You’re safe here,” the earl said in his deep voice, hand still holding hers. “He has no idea where you are.”
Yvette shook her head. “He had no idea where I was. Why do you think he allowed you to see him in London? He wanted you to know he was in England. You hurried to tell me, and he will hurry to follow you.”
Mr. Villers straightened, and Mr. Mayes’ handsome face tightened.
“You’re right,” the solicitor said. “We were fools. Carrolton, there’s nothing for it now. We’ll have to find another place for Miss de Maupassant.”
The earl stiffened, but once more the room seemed to darken. Leave Carrolton Park? She had only been here a few days, but she felt as if ribbons bound her to the place.
“Vite, vite,” Yvette said, coming to join them. “You must be quick. Meredith is with her ladyship, but I will be wanted shortly.”
Mr. Mayes brightened. She’d met the solicitor last month at Foulness Manor, the home of her friend Harry. Of course he would want news of Meredith—unless Yvette missed her guess, he intended to court the lady.
“Miss Thorn is still here?” he asked.
“For the time being,” the earl told him. Then he stepped forward to take Yvette’s hand in his. Such a large hand. Hers disappeared inside it, yet she felt perfectly comfortable.
“Miss de Maupassant,” he said, “Mr. Mayes and Mr. Villers came to let us know they have identified the man pursuing you. You must be brave. It is your cousin.”
The room dimmed. She must have swayed on her feet, for his hand slipped around her waist as if to hold her upright. She clung to his hand, to his warmth. She could not let her fear rule her.
“I should have known Claude would be involved,” she made herself say. “I am only surprised he crossed the Channel himself. Where is he now?”
“We’re not sure,” Mr. Mayes admitted. “One of our best men, Lord Trevithan, nearly caught him in London, but he managed to escape.”
He would, even from the dashing Lord Trevithan, who’d recruited her for a spy. Her cousin was a survivor. So many wrongs could be laid at his door, yet he always escaped capture, like a cockroach scuttling away from the light.
“You’re safe here,” the earl said in his deep voice, hand still holding hers. “He has no idea where you are.”
Yvette shook her head. “He had no idea where I was. Why do you think he allowed you to see him in London? He wanted you to know he was in England. You hurried to tell me, and he will hurry to follow you.”
Mr. Villers straightened, and Mr. Mayes’ handsome face tightened.
“You’re right,” the solicitor said. “We were fools. Carrolton, there’s nothing for it now. We’ll have to find another place for Miss de Maupassant.”
The earl stiffened, but once more the room seemed to darken. Leave Carrolton Park? She had only been here a few days, but she felt as if ribbons bound her to the place.
Check out the other books in the Fortune's Brides series . . .
Book One
Synopsis
After spending the last
ten years following her late husband on campaign, the irrepressible Jane
Kimball finds herself badly in need of a position to support herself.
Marriage holds no appeal; she’s not likely to find a husband like her
Jimmy again. But when Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency offers
her a post with the Duke of Wey, Jane feels drawn to help the lonely
widower with his three daughters. He may seem a bit aloof, but Miss
Thorn’s cat Fortune approved of him. Why should Jane doubt a duke?
Alaric, Duke of Wey, commands his staff, his tenants, and the halls of Parliament, managing vast holdings in England and across the seas. Why is it he cannot manage his own daughters? As an old danger rears its head, he comes to rely on Jane’s practical nature, her outspoken ways to navigate the waters of fatherhood. And when necessity dictates he take a wife, thoughts turn to an unlikely governess who might make the perfect bride.
Alaric, Duke of Wey, commands his staff, his tenants, and the halls of Parliament, managing vast holdings in England and across the seas. Why is it he cannot manage his own daughters? As an old danger rears its head, he comes to rely on Jane’s practical nature, her outspoken ways to navigate the waters of fatherhood. And when necessity dictates he take a wife, thoughts turn to an unlikely governess who might make the perfect bride.
Book Two
Synopsis
After caring for a
crotchety countess, Patience Ramsey wants a more purposeful position.
So, when Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency offers her the post
of assistant to amateur apothecary Augusta Orwell, Patience jumps at
the chance. Then her new employer introduces her at an Easter house
party as the bride-to-be of her nephew Sir Harold Orwell. Miss Thorn’s
cat Fortune may approve of Sir Harry, but Patience has no interest in
borrowing the handsome baronet. She’s had her heart trampled on by false
promises before.
Sir Harry has enough on his hands trying to restore the family name while spying for the English against the French. But the pretty Patience could cover for him when he must ply his trade during the house party, so he convinces her to agree to the charade. As Harry’s work brings danger closer, he begins to realize Patience embodies everything he could want in a wife. Can he convince her to overlook the scandals surrounding him and exchange their false engagement for a true love?
Sir Harry has enough on his hands trying to restore the family name while spying for the English against the French. But the pretty Patience could cover for him when he must ply his trade during the house party, so he convinces her to agree to the charade. As Harry’s work brings danger closer, he begins to realize Patience embodies everything he could want in a wife. Can he convince her to overlook the scandals surrounding him and exchange their false engagement for a true love?
Book Four
Releasing November 2018!
Synopsis
Lydia Villers is
determined to leave behind her life as a social butterfly and do what
she's always dreamed of doing--pursue a career in science. A shame the
only scientist willing to assist her is the one man she had once hoped
to wed. Frederick, Viscount Worthington, Worth to his friends, has been
betrayed once too often. How can he believe Lydia's intentions are true?
With the help of Miss Thorn and her beloved cat Fortune, a determined
young lady and a jaded lord might just discover that only together do
they make the perfect chemistry.
Review: Just a Name by Becky Monson
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
If there’s one thing Holly Murphy loves, it’s a solid plan. She has her entire life figured out—or so she thinks. But when life pulls the rug out from under her, she’s left to deal with a canceled wedding—hers, to be precise. And the promotion she’s worked toward for years is now in jeopardy because the team she supervises doesn’t like her management style.
Thinking that Holly is too tightly wound and needs a break from everything, her boss demands she take a vacation. But how can she take a vacation when her promotion is on the line? Trying to help out, her best friend, Quinn, suggests she still go on her honeymoon and conduct a nationwide search to find a man with the same name as her ex-fiancé to use his plane ticket. Leaving Holly to wonder if she’s the only sane person left on the planet.
Yet when her boss gets wind of the idea and loves it, Holly finds herself in a corner she can’t get out of. And when handsome Nate Jones from Newport Beach gets picked to go with her, she wonders if this whole thing won’t be so bad after all.
Can Holly learn to let go? Or will this crazy adventure send her running right back to her safety net?
My Review
What a fun book! Holly is flawed in ways I can't quite understand, not being a workaholic myself ;) The author did a great job of getting me in her head and even though I thought she was more than a little crazy for not wanting to take time off from her frustrating work situation to travel *to Europe*, I liked when she started to listen to her friends and stretched outside her comfort zone. She learned some invaluable life lessons and I enjoyed seeing her progress on her journey. There's a great balance of humor, angst, and romance. My favorite parts were with her ex-fiancee's best friend who obviously has an unrequited thing for her that she is oblivious to. I loved how patient he is with her and has to start from scratch to build a new friendship with her. Such great romantic tension! Perfect for fans of contemporary romance of the chick-lit-with-depth variety :)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
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