Review: Love Unbound by Michele Paige Holmes

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

  

About the Book

Graham Murray Raymond, the Seventh Duke of Warwick, has little care for his title and even less for society. Suspected of murder and known as the Black Duke, for his misdeeds and those of his father, he is intent on spending his lifetime alone, without a wife or children, to ensure he does not continue the family tradition of violence.

Unlike most young ladies her age, twenty-year-old Sophia Claybourne would rather go to university than to the altar, but furthering her education is forbidden, and she is expected to marry well. Sophie does her best to avoid the latter while seeking knowledge wherever she can, walking a constant line with her father, who is determined to use her marriage to his advantage.

When Graham receives a letter from Lady Claybourne, requesting his assistance saving Sophie from marriage to a viscount who is his nemesis and has his own reputation of ill deeds, Graham agrees to help, as it will advance his interests as well. But Sophie has made her own plans, does not care to be rescued, and has a will as strong as his. Graham may have met his match in her and found the one person who can save him from his past.

My Review

This author is one of my favorites, and I was excited to start a new series by her. The premise sounds like one I would enjoy- brooding hero, bluestocking heroine, marriage of convenience... but Sophia and Graham defied the trope norms and made things more complicated than they needed to be. They are both stubborn and prideful, having their own reasons for uniting- or not. Sophia does not want to be used as a pawn in her father's business plans, and Graham does not want her father to be able to unite businesses with his own enemy, and marriage to him would prevent that. So he's not being entirely altruistic by offering to marry her to save her, and Sophia does not want to be used as a pawn by Graham either. Their romance develops slowly due to inner and outer obstacles, and I struggled to enjoy the connection between them. The ending is a bit abrupt, and I  imagine the overarching story involving Sophia's family will be continued in the next book in the series. 

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.

Book two in the Love Unbound series . . .

 

 

 

Review: The Crime Brûlée Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

An unexpected romance. A haunting mystery. Pastries to die for. The Great British Baking Show meets a cozy mystery with a contemporary romance and a Regency-era twist.

Amateur baker Claire Walker is thrilled to be a contestant on Britain’s Battle of the Bakers. She can almost smell the fresh pastries wafting through the air. If she can win the grand prize, she can ditch her teaching job and launch her baking career.

The Viscount of Colburn, Jonathan Ainsley, is the custodian of Blackfirth Park and an eligible bachelor. He reluctantly agrees to allow the cooking competition show to film on his estate, but when a contestant is found dead soon after filming begins, Jonathan is forced to get involved. To make matters worse, the baker’s death stirs up rumors of the legendary death of the tenth Viscountess of Colburn two hundred and fifty years earlier.

Even as suspicion falls on some of the bakers, a decidedly different kind of heat begins to simmer between Claire and Jonathan. If they are to have any hope of a future romance, they must first solve the mystery before the show gets canceled or someone else falls prey to what some believe is the Blackfirth Park ghost.

My Review

I'm a fan of The Great British Baking Show so it was so fun to read this!!! It was easy to imagine the beautiful setting on an English estate and the pressure and drama involved with filming an elimination style show. The murder and subsequent investigation ramps up the tension even more, and I was glad that Claire had Jonathan as a friend and emotional support. Their romance develops naturally, but it definitely takes a backseat to the plot of this cozy mystery that weaves together a historical mystery with the present day crime. I love that Johnny was so protective of Claire and how they worked together as a team. The author doesn't skimp on describing Claire's baking in the contest, and the book includes recipes to try!

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.

Review: An Amish Marriage of Convenience by Rachel J. Good

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

When widower Stephen Lapp moves his five children from New York State to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, his only plan is to buy his family’s farm stand, Lapp’s Pastured Pork. That way, his brother can move closer to his fiancée and open his own stand. But on Stephen’s first trip to the market, his brave act of kindness nearly ends in catastrophe—until strong-willed Nettie Hartzler saves him—and makes an impression he can’t forget . . .

A widow with private heartaches of her own, Nettie has no interest in getting involved with any man, though she doesn’t discourage their respective children’s new friendships—despite Stephen’s contentious oldest daughter. But when Nettie runs into serious money worries and Stephen proposes a marriage of convenience, she’s distressed and conflicted. She’s come to know Stephen’s gentle heart and generous soul, and she can’t believe he’ll want her if she reveals the sins of her past. God has His own plans for the faithful, however, and this time they may include a second chance at love . . .

My Review

I wasn't a fan of Nettie from the previous book where she tried to interfere with her brother-in-law Gideon's courting, so it was good to see things from her perspective in this book. She's driven by fear- of the security of her future and providing for her children. I admired that she worked so hard and was such a loving mother, even though she has rough edges for everyone else. Stephen is a bit thick-headed and it takes some effort, as well as aid from local Christian philanthropist Mrs. Vandenberg, for these two wounded souls to come to understand each other. Be sure to read the other books in the series to appreciate the cast of characters and the good they do in the community!

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.

The Surprised by Love series

 

 

 

 

Review: The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can't see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don't know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.

When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can't ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work-- something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments' downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.

In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

My Review

This book is aptly named, as layers of secrets are revealed in a twisty-turvy manner that keeps the reader on their toes. While the previous book can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the series in order before completing it with this final book. The characters we've grown to love have more to overcome as all is brought to light and issues that were introduced in the first book come to a resolution. It's more plot-heavy and told from multiple perspectives, and I missed the deeper development of the central romance. I appreciate the storytelling skill of the author and look forward to more from her!

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.

The Inn at Eagle Hill series

 

Review: Signed, Sealed, and Smitten by Melanie Jacobson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

The last thing she needs is another off-limits work romance. He’s fine playing the friendly flirt . . . until he falls for real.

Embarrassing breakups at work cost you promotions. Phoebe learned that the hard way. So when a patron’s will names her as the director of a new museum in Serendipity Springs, she jumps at the chance to prove her professionalism.

Her new plan: focus on work. Ignore distractions. Definitely ignore men. Easy peasy.

But then the mailbox in Phoebe’s quirky apartment building starts delivering a series of old love letters written between strangers…sixty years ago.

She can’t afford the distraction, but she also can’t ignore the letters, so she enlists the help of Jay, the flirty heir to her benefactor’s fortune, to help her solve the mystery of who they belong to.

Jay is exactly the history pro she needs, but he’s also the kind of handsome charmer Phoebe always falls for, and since he’s on the museum board, she’s not about to risk her recovering reputation. Despite their sizzling chemistry, she quickly sends Jay to the friend zone.

Until the mysterious letters from the past lead them to surprising discoveries in the present, and serendipity steps in with an irresistible nudge and a memorable, magical kiss.

My Review

This is such a fun series! The magical paranormal parts aren't spooky, but more of a charming device to further the plot. The reader and the characters themselves have to suspend reality for a bit, but the setting is otherwise grounded and it didn't feel too fantastical. The idea of an old building helping couples find love is unique, and each author in the series presents this "interference" in different ways. In this story, Phoebe focuses on her museum work and the letters mystery so well, that I felt like the romance took a backseat to the plot. Jay was lovable in the flirty friend zone, but it was frustrating that Phoebe ran so hot and cold with him. When characters do that it makes me wonder why the other sticks around... unless they can sense the reason for it and help break down the obstacles. Overall it was a fun read and I enjoyed the creativity of the writing.

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.

Only Magic in the Building series

 




 

Review: Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing!

About the Book

I turned to him, and he winked at me. Winked! We needed clear lines in place between us. We would not be flirty friends. We'd be friends, period. The sooner I made that distinction, the better.

Forty-year-old Kate Landry's carefully planned life has become as messy as the powdered sugar on her famous beignets. Juggling the responsibilities of running her café, raising her teenage niece, and the emotional baggage from her breakup, Kate finds her world once again turned upside down when her first-ever crush, Micah Guidry, returns to town as the hunky local librarian.

As Kate struggles to implement her plans to expand her café amid the New Orleans Mardi Gras madness and the meddling of her conniving ex-fiancé, Micah becomes the unwitting hero of her misadventures, stirring up feelings she thought she'd long buried. How can falling in love in the Big Easy be this hard?

My Review

This book was a joy to read! I loved the setting of New Orleans and the tight community of Kate's neighborhood. She works so much as a business owner and worries constantly about her niece. Her smarmy ex keeps sniffing around, and her parents are society-strict that are unable to be pleased. Micah really shakes up her world in all the best ways (adorable chemistry!), and the new dynamic helps to shift her perspective on the past and align her priorities with the most important things in her life. I especially enjoyed Kate's relationship with her niece and the way Micah connects with her as well. The cast of side characters is amazing as well, with vibrant personalities and mannerisms that bring charm and humor. Once again I started a series out of order, but now I can't wait to read Julia's story in the previous book!

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.

Don't miss the first book in the Beignets for Two series . . .