Monday, October 11, 2021

Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough by Josi S. Kilpack, Anneka R. Walker, Sarah L. McConkie #meetmeunderthekissingbough



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

 

Synopsis

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happily ever after! This special holiday historical romance anthology featuring three heartwarming novellas proves that no matter the obstacles, ’tis the season for love.

Meet Me under the Kissing Bough by Josi S. Kilpack
Deborah Winfrey hasn’t had the heart to host a holiday party since her husband’s death. But this Christmas, it’s time to move forward. The festivities bring renewed life to her home, and the attentions of two very different men promise a chance at new love.

Healing Hearts for the Holidays by Anneka R. Walker
Julia Hunt is strictly forbidden from associating with the family in the nearby manor—including the handsome younger son, Esmond, who quickly steals her heart. With Christmas around the corner, an old bundle of hidden love letters may be the key to her own happily ever after.

A Christmas Correspondence by Sarah L. McConkie
In this novella inspired by the timeless tale A Christmas Carol, John Charleston finds himself on an unexpected journey in the company of the insufferable Lady Caroline Morleigh. But the magic of the season has a way of softening even the hardest of hearts.

My Review

I enjoyed this sweet collection of stories with a common theme of Christmas romance and mistletoe "kissing boughs." They are all set in the Regency era and are written by some of my favorite authors of the genre. The first story is a slow burn, with both main characters moving past their grief of losing a spouse. Even though they are perfect for each other, the issue of societal class and climbing ranks complicates their future, especially when an unexpected guest arrives. 
 
The second story was full of family drama and feuding, conflict and secrets. I liked how Esmond pursued Julia in spite of the obstacles, and was reluctant to give her up. They had some fun banter and great chemistry. The third story featured character growth as it echoed the classic Christmas story, and it was neat to see the way John was able to see into Caroline's heart. A lovely collection of stories perfect for holiday reading!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

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Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Society of the Watchers by Scott Keen

On Tour with Prism Book Tours
 
The Society of the Watchers
(Kilhaven #1)
By Scott Keen
Mystery, Middle Grade Fiction
Paperback & ebook, 227 Pages
July 24, 2021 by Scott Keen Books

The beasts came and destroyed our world. Kilhaven's founders defended themselves, and for the past 150 years, the walls of this small village, where Jarvis Graye lives, have kept them out. This fall, though, something feels different. 13 year-old Jarvis is living his usual life, dreading school, cleaning up after pigeons at his courier apprenticeship, and trying not to humiliate himself in archery class. At least he’s got his best friend, and there's even an interesting new girl around. But... the strange noises, the dead deer, now the missing boy – the clues are there that something sinister is afoot. Jarvis suspects his weird neighbor is to blame. But first, he must find proof. With Jarvis’s life and the safety of the village on the line, he and his friends race to uncover the truth and stop the one who is behind it all.

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Excerpt

It was the witching hour. Thirteen-year old Jarvis Graye ran as fast as he could through the forest. The shadowed rabbit zigzagged ahead of him, leaping off the ground in bursts of soft thuds. Jarvis scrambled after it, panting, trying his best to keep up, but the animal was too quick. It leapt over downed logs and darted through bushes. From the way it ran, Jarvis knew the animal feared for its life, though it didn’t need to. Jarvis wasn’t going to kill it, or even hurt it – he just wanted to catch it and make it back to the fort. He could see the animal slice through the silver rays of moonlight that cut through the dark branches overhead.

Looking up, Jarvis saw the silhouetted, stone wall in the distance – the one that surrounded both preserve and village. It loomed around thirty feet in the air. Jarvis surmised this was where the rabbit headed as the animal bounded across the ground. The wall approached quickly with every one of Jarvis’s strides.

He could see the rabbit’s hind legs, but just barely. It was too fast. Jarvis was losing it. He had one chance, and one chance alone. Stretching out his arms, Jarvis dove and… CRACK!... landed on a branch.

“Oww!” Jarvis moaned.

He rolled over and pulled the branch from his shirt. The end of it had definitely pierced skin. Jarvis lifted up his shirt and tried to look at his wound in the moonlight. It was still too dark to see. Rubbing his stomach, Jarvis slowly rose to his feet, walked over to the wall, and placed his hands against the cold, jagged slab of mortar and stone. Now that he had stopped running and was standing in the midst of an eerily quiet forest, alone in the middle of the night, he no longer felt brave. He could almost taste the fear as it rose from his stomach and lingered in the back of his throat like a horrible, gassy burp.

Excerpted from The Society of the Watchers by Scott Keen, Copyright © 2021 by Scott Keen. Published by Scott Keen Books. 

About the Author


Scott Keen is married and has five daughters. He graduated in 2006 with a Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting. He is also the author of three young adult novels: Scar of the Downers, Rise of the Branded, and War of the Downer King. He currently lives in New York.


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Ends October 20, 2021


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Sunday, October 10, 2021

Review: Timeless Regency Collection: The Inns of Devonshire by Sally Britton, Annette Lyon, Deborah M. Hathaway


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

    

Synopsis

Three novellas, three times the romance, and three times the love . . . in this brand new Timeless Regency Collection: The Inns of Devonshire

THE SEVENTH STAR INN by Sally Britton
After years of looking after one another, Susan Baxter and her mother view their neighbors in Totnes as family. When a new landlord inherits the leases on their homes and businesses alike, Susan dreads knowing her world could change at the whim of a stranger. But when she meets Collin Stonecroft and his inquisitive daughter, her feelings shift quickly from cautionary to hopeful. Collin has lived in the confines of London boarding houses all his life, and he’s determined to give his daughter more. They check into the Seventh Star Inn with plans to return to London as soon as possible, but both find Miss Baxter and her local history lessons far too enchanting to leave behind. When Susan learns of Collin’s proposed changes to her beloved neighborhood, will she be able to help him see that some things are perfect the way they are?

THE TRUTH ABOUT MR. BLACKMORE by Annette Lyon
Leigh’s life at the Old Grey Inn is drudgery broken by flights of fancy thanks in part to novels by Simon Blackmore. When Mattias McGrady comes to the inn for a fortnight, Leigh captures his attention. A relationship develops, and she dreads the end of his stay, which will mean a return to an unhappy life. An urgent letter to Mattias leads to him inviting Leigh to an event that stands to change both of their lives forever. If all goes well, Leigh will have a life of her choosing after all. But half-truths and lies have a way of complicating matters. When their plans go awry, Leigh loses her reputation and Mattias almost surely loses his career. Can either of them find happiness?

THE COACHMAN'S CHOICE by Deborah M. Hathaway
Ever-reliable Mary Thorne has helped her widowed mother run The Golden Mermaid Inn for years. She spends her days greeting guests, ensuring the inn runs smoothly—and dodging flirtatious remarks from passing coachmen. But she’s far too busy to pay any attention to such men, even the enticingly attractive Mr. Northcott. Known far and wide for his horsemanship, punctuality, and dallying reputation, Robert Northcott relishes his life as a coachman, especially his freedom to flirt with numerous women from inn to inn, all without the messy details of commitment. There’s just one woman who's immune to his charms: the lovely, single landlady of The Golden Mermaid. Robert is determined to win Mary over, just as heartily as she is determined to keep her distance from him. But his carefree life is threatened when his pursual of Mary becomes more than just a game...

My Review

This collection is delightful from start to finish! I loved the countryside setting with inns as a main feature. The role of the inn was different with each story, and I appreciated the variety. A similarity between them is that the heroine is in a situation with low marriage prospects, considered a spinster, when the opportunity for love arrive unexpectedly. I was enthralled with each story, and loved them each equally, which is the best thing ever in a collection! I give credit to the authors for creating characters that I could quickly relate to and connect with, interesting plots, and fun relationships of sweet romance blossoming with attraction and chemistry. Adding this one to the faves folder on my Kindle for re-reading in the future!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

About the Authors

Sally Britton is a wife, mother, and author who loves the world of romance, received her BA in English from Brigham Young University, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.

Sally primarily lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and Izzie the Aussie Shepherd. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.


Annette Lyon is a USA Today Bestselling author. She's won a Whitney Award (2010) and is an eight-time recipient of Utah's Best of State medal for fiction and short stories. She's the author of more than a dozen novels, even more novellas, a cookbook, a grammar guide, and some 120+ articles. She's worked as a professional editor for publishers and bestselling authors and graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.


Deborah M. Hathaway graduated from Utah State University with a BA in Creative Writing. As a young girl, she devoured Jane Austen's novels while watching and re-watching every adaptation she could. She finds inspiration for her novels during her travels with her English husband to the United Kingdom, where she draws on the beauty of the country in such places as Ireland, Yorkshire, and her beloved Cornwall. Be sure to sign up for Deborah's Newsletter to stay updated on new releases, free and discounted Clean Romance novels, and more!

 

Join the virtual book tour of THE INNS OF DEVONSHIRE, a collection of novellas by bestselling authors Sally Britton, Annette Lyon, & Deborah M. Hathaway, October 4-17, 2021. Thirty-five popular on-line influencers specializing in Regency romance, historical romance, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of the release of the 18th book in the bestselling Timeless Regency Collection with a spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new anthology set in Regency England.

Oct 04 Fire and Ice 
Oct 04 Austenprose 
Oct 04 Timeless Novels 
Oct 05 Lu Reviews Books 
Oct 05 Beauty in the Binding 
Oct 05 For Where Your Treasure Is
Oct 06 Probably at the Library 
Oct 06 Our Book Confessions 
Oct 06 Bookworm Lisa 
Oct 07 Literary Time Out 
Oct 07 Reading with Emily 
Oct 08 Bringing Up Books 
Oct 08 Gwendalyn's Books 
Oct 09 Becky on Books 
Oct 09 Books and Socks Rock 
Oct 10 The Christian Fiction Girl 
Oct 10 Heidi Reads 
Oct 11 My Jane Austen Book Club 
Oct 11 Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen 
Oct 11 Wishful Endings 
Oct 12 So Little Time… 
Oct 12 The Caffeinated Bibliophile 
Oct 12 Laura's Reviews 
Oct 13 Austenesque Reviews 
Oct 13 Storeybook Reviews 
Oct 13 Rosanne E. Lortz 
Oct 14 From Pemberley to Milton 
Oct 14 Chicks, Rogues and Scandals 
Oct 14 Christian Chick's Thoughts 
Oct 15 A Darn Good Read 
Oct 15 Relz Reviewz 
Oct 15 Reading is My Superpower 
Oct 15 Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina
Oct 16 My Bookish Bliss 
 
 
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