Four Stars, Historical Fiction, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Moderate Violence, Regency Romance

The Flip Side

Being a regency and historical romance lover, I have heard the Battle of Waterloo referenced extensively. I have to confess however, I don’t know that I’ve yet read a book whose setting took place in such close proximity to the famed battle.

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She has loved him for as long as she remembers. He is fast discovering his newfound attachment. And now they may never see each other again. Phoebe Tunstall has lived her entire life in the shadow of her outgoing twin sister and in service to her maiden aunt. When she suddenly finds herself alone and free of all responsibility to others, she decides to heed the challenge thrown out by the man she has long admired-her brother’s best friend, Lord Ingram.

Frederick Ingram is reeling from the shock of learning that his first love has married someone else upon mere weeks’ acquaintance. Filled with frustration, he is unable to watch his friend’s little sister, Phoebe, living meekly and waiting for happiness to come to her. He tells her to live more boldly. What he does not expect is for her to take it to heart and travel to Brussels as Napoleon begins his march northward.

Frederick arrives in Brussels for his military duty and-contrary to his expectation-does not find Phoebe cowering in fear at the threat of the emperor’s invasion. Instead, she appears to be the center of Society with every male eye in the city on her. Phoebe is eager to show Frederick exactly what he has been missing out on all these years, and he is finally ready to declare his love. Then war breaks out.

Jennie Goutet had obviously done her research. The setting was stunningly described and unique for a regency. I was fascinated with the way she was able to convey the opinions and fears of both the English soldiers and the people of Brussels. She was able to give me new insight to a well discussed topic and I love it when a writer does that.

While I love the historical details Jennie always includes in her stories, there were times in this one that it felt a little heavy on the details. As one who loves historical details, the only reason I would bring that up, is for me personally it seemed to affect the pacing of the story.

I adored, as I always do, Jennie’s character development. Both in Frederick and Phoebe. Jennie wrote Phoebe coming out of her shell in such a natural yet bold way. It was beautifully done and emotionally compelling. As was the slow realization of Fredericks feelings. Both their character growth and their relationship was wonderfully written.

Though some of the information seemed to slow down the emotions of the battle and the fear of the people, the reality of it all was alive on each page and I was impressed with the overall story.

**** Low Langauge, Low Romance, Moderate Violence (She doesn’t sugarcoat the battle, but I never felt her descriptions were gory, just real.), Low Religion

Contemporary Romance, Four Stars, Low Language, Low Violence, Moderate Romance, Moderate Violence

Ridiculous and Real

Two of my least favorite tropes are second chance romances (which is ironic considering that’s technically what my own love story is) and royal romances. However, some authors make it entirely possible to overlook your own personal preferences, because their stories are just that good. Emma St. Clair is one of those authors for us, we’ll read anything she writes, regardless of genre or trope.

You know what else I don’t love, first person point of view. That gave Royally Rearranged two strikes. That’s how much we like Emma St. Clair. So much so that we eagerly looked forward to a book I knew contained both of those things.

I must admit that the pretentiousness of the royalty did get to me a time or two, but Emma’s writing is so witty and so emotionally driven that I found myself really liking the story.

Even with the first person, I loved the dual perspectives. The reader was given a glimpse into what was real and what was a mask giving the characters good development.

I did feel like while we got a lot of background on Rafe and you love him more and more with each thing you learn. I didn’t feel like we got that same character background with Seraf. We get to see her current life and a lot about her dealing with the concept of love and what it means, but I feel like all her past memories are tied into Rafe and Callum and not many are just her. I think the moment she steps up for her country and for Rafe would have been a little more powerful if we knew a little bit more about her than just her ice princess façade and her relationship with the two boys.

I liked it more than I expected to for a royal romance, but I shouldn’t have been too surprised considering how much we love Emma’s writing.

**** Low Language, Moderate Romance (there were quite a few innuendos in this one just a heads up), Moderate Violence (I put it here, just to give a trigger warning for those that might need it about the emotional and physical abuse of Rafe’s childhood, though never very descriptive, it is a major plot point to the story, but one that was handled really well by Emma.)

The Buy-In

I think one of the reasons I don’t love second chance romances is the whole hindsight thing. I look at how the relationship failed the first time and I think, if they would have just done ____, all this pain and drama could have been avoided. But that’s not human nature is it? And I love it when an author gets real with their characters.

Emma’s characters and her writing is so witty and fun, but they don’t ever loose that realness. The town of Sheet Cake for instance, is hilarious. It is over the top and ridiculous, but you can picture it. Emma writes it in such a way that its real. You close the book reminding yourself that’s it’s fictional. You can’t take the next plane to TX and visit this town and these people, who you feel like you know. But you want to, cause the writing is just that good.

The one thing I couldn’t picture though, was the giggling. Both of us that read it thought the same thing. I have never heard a grown man giggle and I couldn’t picture it. I admit that the odd trait did pull me out of the story when it happened, but so much else about Pat was endearing that we still both loved the character.

My favorite part of the story was how well Emma wrote their relationship. Even with the initial fall out, and all throughout the story; neither of them were all right and neither of them were all wrong. Real life is never that black and white and the way Emma balanced that just added to the realism.

Emma also had some awesome foreshadowing throughout the story. In so many ways. With Pat and Lindy, the town of Sheet Cake, and the stories to come. It’s the kind of writing that leaves you anxious for the next in the series.

**** Low Language, Moderate Romance (Pat and Lindy are married early on in the story and do have married people conversations and there is one closed door scene at the very end of the book, but the way Emma handles it all I still wouldn’t put this in a High category), Low Violence

Contemporary Romance, Four Stars, Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Moderate Romance, Three Stars

Music to my Ears

Recently on Instagram I talked about being a mood reader. I’m wholeheartedly a mood reader. Sometimes there’s a book I know I’m going to love, but I put off reading it, because I’m not in the right mood. When I read So Not My Thing by Melanie Jacobson I was definitely in a romcom mood and I loved it.

26-year-old New Orleans native Elle Jones used to be the internet’s most famous meme for rejection thanks to an embarrassing teenage TV appearance. But she’s finally put that past behind her and now she’s killing it as a commercial real estate agent in the coolest neighborhoods in the city.

When Miles Crowe—the former pop star who made her notorious—insists on hiring her to find a property for his jazz club, she’ll do everything she can to get herself fired before he realizes who she is.

But Miles has grown up too, and Elle soon discovers that he is as passionate about the city as she is…and even sexier now than he was then. Will she risk exposing her humiliating past to claim a future with the guy who once nearly ruined her life?

I don’t know that I’ve read a story that so accurately deals with the fall out of social media. Melanie handled the whole thing with such emotion and realism from both points of view, I was really impressed.

I loved how though Miles and Ellie were both trying to move past their experiences and were at good places in their lives, they were still both a little bit broken inside. Melanie did a fabulous job of helping us see that brokenness and it’s ramifications.

There were so many beautiful moments of growth and acceptance while still keeping the story light and firmly in the romcom category with it’s quick-witted conversations and comedic moments.

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence

I also just recently finished reading Here for It which is the second book in this series. I was highly anticipating this story. I love it when we get to learn more about side characters from a previous book as a series progresses. I however didn’t connect with Anneke as much as I had hoped to.

When Anneke flits into town between high fashion shoots to help her best friend open his new jazz club, the last thing she’s looking for is a reason to stay. She’ll explore the city, make her appearances, and then she’s off to the next adventure. Until she realizes that her massive online crush is the proprietor of a dusty old record shop in town…
At twenty-nine, Jonah has already been there, done that, and he’s over it. Fame and fortune? Ha. Keep it. He’s had a front row seat his whole life to the way it changes people. Not even the flirty supermodel he keeps crossing paths with can change his mind…
Until Jonah discovers that Anneke is the woman he’s been half in love with for months already. But…she’s everything he’s never wanted. Isn’t she?

There were quite a few things I loved about this book.

I loved the Mardi Gras history. Melanie either has first hand knowledge or has definitely done her research. She did an excellent job of giving us a behind the scenes look at everything Mardi Gras and you definitely felt right in the middle of New Orleans, with both her descriptions and her background.

I loved the music banter. Melanie wrote their opposites attract and private versus public persona’s really well. Resulting in some really awesome push and pull between the to main characters. As well as some fabulously worded chemistry. Near the end of the story however, I was hoping that the climax would give us something other than the push and pull that had been so well done through the first part of the story.

For the last third of the book it almost felt like Jonah was the one always “fixing” things, even though there was misunderstanding and miscommunication on both their parts. And Anneke’s “flags” felt more like a soap box than things to seriously be concerned about.

In the end, I loved that Melanie had both of their characters compromise to make their relationship work, and I loved the realizations that being together brought their respective characters. Melanie did write some incredibly emotional character growth moments for both these characters. So while I didn’t personally love some writing choices for these characters, I did enjoy the overall story.

*** Low Language, Moderate Romance (I felt like there were a quite few more innuendos in this one than the first), Low Violence

Five Stars, Four Stars, Holiday Stories, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Moderate Romance, Regency Romance, Victorian, Westerns

Somethin’ about Sally

We’ve all been there, the reading burn out. The, I need something to read that’s different and new. You know whose a perfect solution to a reading rut? Sally Britton. There’s something about Sally’s writing, I could read three or four Sally books in a row and still feel like I was reading something new and lovely.

Which is exactly what I did recently.

All three of these came out relatively close to each other and I loved how different each of the story lines and characters were. They were all signaturely Sally, but all uniquely wonderful.

Her Unsuitable Match

Lady Philippa Gillensford is three and twenty, an heiress, and sister to a penny-pinching earl. Though she doubts she’ll marry for love, she is more than willing to marry for freedom from her family’s influence.

Myles Cobbett has withdrawn from Society, content to remain alone after surviving the horrors of the Napoleonic wars. When a friend convinces Myles to attend a ball benefiting wounded veterans like himself, Myles meets the lively Lady Philippa. Shortly thereafter, to help Philippa avoid scandal, Myles rescues her from a complete cad.

Sensing a chance to escape her family’s control, Philippa convinces Myles he must marry her to save her reputation. In exchange for this favor, Philippa promises him the very thing he thought he always wanted: a quiet life, alone in the country.

While the two put on a show of marital happiness for their neighbors, both realize they want much more from this arrangement. Can they take a marriage of convenience and turn it into a love match?

We loved this story!

Sally did such an amazing job of showing the realities a veteran faced in this time period and the misconceptions about PTSD and war life.

The characters in this story was slowly developed. As was their romance, but it was just the right kind of slow burn. Near the beginning of the novel, I kept feeling like I wanted to know more about Myles. More of his background. The more I read however, I actually ended up loving the slow and deliberate way we came to know Myles. It felt very fitting for his character.

I loved the cameos in the book and all the fleshed out side characters pulled me in and made this book beautiful. -MV

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

A Mistletoe Mismatch

Christmas comes but once a year—a relief for Jessica Nettle, because that means she need only see the horrid Mr. Webb when he visits his cousin. Jessica has been at war with Mr. Webb for seven long years. What started as innocent pranks accelerated into a war. This year promises to be the worst of all, especially when Jessica learns that her sister is falling in love with that cousin. A match between the two of them would be a disaster.

Ellis Webb spends every Christmas in the country with his cousin. The holiday is one of the highlights of his year, despite the prickly Miss Nettle’s attempts to ruin it for him. This year, Ellis’s cousin has a mind to marry, and he’s looking with increasing interest at Miss Nettle’s younger sister. Such a marriage, with such a family, will surely end in disappointment and broken hearts. When Miss Nettle proposes to Ellis that they join forces to keep the ill-fated couple apart, he swallows his irritation and agrees to her plan.

Amid the merriment of celebrations, Jessica and Ellis scheme to keep two hearts apart. But as the days pass and the magic of season works upon Jessica, she realizes she may have lost her clever game—and her heart—to her enemy.

This was a brilliantly done friends to enemies to lovers story. The conflict between Jessica and Ellis seemed upfront though slightly juvenile. The more you get into the story, however, the more you realize just how complex the feud is. I loved the meaningful metaphors Sally used in this story. The layered emotions make the story that much more fun to read. Sally wrote the story with so much heart you love seeing the magic of the season work on these two. -NC

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

Copper for the Countess

Lady Evelyn Lyon lost her husband and her fortune on the same day. Daughter in hand, she makes her way to the copper mines of Arizona, hoping her husband’s stock in the Bisbee Copper Queen mine will make it possible for her to raise her little girl. When the stock certificates in her possession prove fraudulent, Evelyn and her little girl are more alone than ever. 

Chris Morgan, never expected to have a family. When his cousin back east dies and leaves Chris with two children to raise, Chris has no choice but to change his plans. But raising children and running a ranch at the same time is a tall order. He’s at his wit’s end when he comes across a British noblewoman who has no business wandering around the desert without protection. When he learns her story, Chris knows they might be the solutions to each other’s problems.

With children to raise and cattle to herd, Evelyn and Chris have no choice but to trust each other. But in the west, trust is hard won, and it’s hard to grow anything…especially love.

I really loved the iconic imagery used in this story. Sally’s understanding and research of both the Regency/Victorian era and the American West allows her to blend the two showing us the realities of both sides in a way that makes this series stand out.

Sally is so good at giving just the right amount of information at the right time. They way she unfolds her stories always leaves you loving what’s happening, but wanting more.

The characters in the novel were written so well. The children were a darling part of the story. And Evelyn’s background was emotionally driven, yet delicately handled. The melding of their lives was heartwarming and genuine because of the characters Sally created and the foundation she built upon from the first novel. I can’t wait for more from this series. -NC

***** Low Language, Moderate Romance (the marriage happening so early does mean there are more mature conversations and ups the steam factor slightly, but Sally handles it all in a respectful and clean way), Low Violence, Low Religion

Four Stars, Giveaway, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

Accidentally In Love

Rebecca Jennings’s first London Season has been absolutely ruined, and one person alone is responsible: Mr. Ben Fortescue. If her new neighbor hadn’t startled her, she would never have broken her ankle, leaving her bored and frustrated at home in the country while her sister enters the London Season alone. Although, it was rather gallant of him to carry her home . . .

For his part, Ben feels terrible about the role he played in Miss Rebecca Jennings’s accident. In the days that follow their first disastrous meeting, he finds himself inexorably drawn to the surprising young woman—first out of guilt and then out of a stirring affection. But Ben hides a secret: he has not been completely forthright about his identity or about the dark secrets of his past that would make it impossible for romance to blossom with Miss Jennings. Despite his love for her, he knows he must let her go.

With her ankle finally healed but her heart now broken, Rebecca is left with little choice but to throw herself into the Season. With eligible men circling this late addition to the Marriage Mart, it seems that Rebecca will have no shortage of suitors. If only her heart were free to give.

We are and always will be fans of Karen Tuft. We loved reading this book. Though this book could easily be read as a stand alone, it is part of the Jennings family series. We loved the interconnecting timeline and the familiar characters. We feel like the novel would be enjoyed most in you’ve read The Duke Meets His Match first.

Karen has such fun banter and clever one liners. She has a way of using them in just the right places that they add to the flow of work.

The book moved at a well written pace and we were impressed with Karen’s ability to create drama without all the deception and secrets. She wrote genuine, vulnerable characters that grew from their experiences and their interactions with each other. Especially the relationship she developed between Rebecca and Ben. The healing they both went through and the plot devices she used to help them recognize true love work incredibly well.

The ending felt a little rushed, but we both thought the whole thing was very sweet. -NC & MV

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

Fairy Tale Re-tellings, Four Stars, Giveaway, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Moderate Violence, Regency Romance

Trust and Pixie Dust

In 1817, Wendy Darling returns from London to her family in Devon, where she meets Captain James Hooke, a dashing naval officer who both infuriates and intrigues her. But Wendy is hiding a dark secret—and running from a past that makes it impossible for her to trust the incorrigible captain. And James has secrets of his own, secrets he’s afraid will interfere with his desire to win Wendy’s heart.
When the Darling family takes in a young orphan boy named Peter, the two newcomers in Wendy’s life help her learn to open her heart and begin to trust again. But when a gang of pirates sails into port in search of Peter, will trust be enough to save Wendy and those she loves from danger?
Varnell takes J. M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan characters and introduces them to risks and romance that go far beyond the average fairy tale. As Wendy and Hooke fight for new beginnings, they learn that happy endings aren’t always guaranteed.

This story is not quite regency, not quite fairy tale. It’s a fanciful merger of them both that some how works.

Rebecca’s descriptions are at the heart of the fairy tale undertone. They have a mythical quality that leave you hanging in a world between reality and fantasy. Some how despite the plot holes and the jumbled character background, this story is wholly delightful.

Though the characters’ background is slowly built and a bit all over at times. The development of Wendy and James’ character is done remarkably well. There is emotion built into every moment these two characters are on the page. Mrs. Darling and Michael’s characters seem a little one dimensional, but their whispyish presence just added to the allusive nature of the story.

Rebecca wrote into being a regency world, that though frightening, was wholly historically possible. As well as emotionally possible. Having watched people close to me grieve and the consequences of their grief linger for years, I had no problem believing the actions of the characters. Their grief was written well and dripped through the pages. There were some plot parts of the story that seemed unfinished or unclear, but they didn’t ever completely pull me out of the story.

Maybe because the emotions and the descriptions gave this novel just the right feeling. I loved how well she weaved in little moments of the original story, and found myself frequently smiling at her creativity. It was so beautifully Peter Pan and so beautifully Regency, I really enjoyed reading every moment of it.

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Moderate Violence, Low Religion

Four Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence

And they lived….

I’m a happily ever after kind of a girl. I have a really hard time with books that don’t end that way. I know that’s not realistic, but maybe that’s why I crave it so much.

Melanie Cellier is one of our favorite authors that does fairy tale re-tellings. These two books are prime example of why. She takes tales we know and love and tilts them just a little bit. Enough that you love the “do you trust me” nods , but not so much that you have any idea of what’s coming next. Her plot twists constantly surprise and delight me.

Her descriptions paint vivid pictures in your mind whether you’re in a forest or a desert, you can see, feel, and taste the setting.

Her characters are broken and vulnerable enough that when they succeed, when they triumph, it’s believable and incredible at the same time. Her stories are fabulously empowering for all ages, and I always anxiously await her next book.

Daria has spent her whole life caring for others. So when she’s rescued by traveling merchants while fleeing for her life, she’s more than happy to work for them in return for her safety.

But danger follows her, as does Prince Percy. Daria thought she’d left the complications of balls and royalty behind her, but she can’t hide as a servant forever–not when whole kingdoms are in peril. As the threat grows, so do the risks Daria is willing to take. But even as she puts herself in danger, Daria doubts she could ever be enough–for the people who need saving or the prince himself.

In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella, the overworked orphan must face dangers, doubts, and traitors before she can hope to triumph in a ballroom.

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion


Cassie knows she was made for more than a life buried away in her uncle’s remote forest estate. Eager to meet the great spymaster, Aurora, she jumps at the chance to travel to her distant kingdom. But meeting Aurora isn’t enough—Cassie wants to prove her worth. So when she’s presented with an opportunity to gather intelligence, she acts.

When her plans go awry, Cassie finds herself living on the streets in a distant city. But despite the failure that brought her here, Cassie can’t afford to give up. Kingdom-shaking danger is brewing in these lands, and she may be the only one who can save the Four Kingdoms. Cassie won’t let anything stand in her way—not the biting heat of the desert, not the distracting way her heart responds to the mysterious, attractive stranger who insists on staying close, not the layers of secrets hiding beneath the surface of her new home.

In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Aladdin, a girl from the streets must navigate treasure caves, palaces, and a magic lamp if she wants to rescue herself and save four kingdoms as well.

***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

Four Stars, Giveaway, Holiday Stories, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

The Kissing Bough

Did you know, that until I was in about middle school, I thought mistletoe was holly. True story. I love the kissing bough tradition, especially when it’s used in regency romances. Maybe because it adds just a little sass to an otherwise proper time period. That’s probably what I’d say about this series as a whole, just the right amount of sass and a whole lot of holiday spirit.

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  • 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.

I loved the uniqueness of this story. Sometimes we have stories about young widows, but it’s not often that we get stories about middle aged widows in the regency era. I thought it was remarkably done. Josi created with all the maturity and concern her life experience has given her. She treated both Deborah and Philips’ past relationships with respect, while still giving them the chance to love again in a beautiful way.

  • 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. 

I loved that this story was in the same world as her novella from last Christmas season. It was definitely a stand alone. But like all good stories from the same world, I believe you’ll be missing out on a little depth if you haven’t read her first. I loved that both stories contained a little bit of mystery and a lot of healing Christmas magic.

  • 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 Carolyn Morleigh. But the magic of the season has a way of softening even the hardest of hearts.

I don’t know that I have ever read A Christmas Carol retelling like this. I was so impressed. She wove a story so like the original that you smile at the subtle nods, yet so original that the characters and story line are refreshing. She wrote Lady Carolyn’s transformation both as a youth and through her experiences with John so believably and genuine. I was rooting for them both the whole way through the story and loving every minute of their journey together.

I really enjoyed all the stories in the series and would definitely recommend it!

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

Four Stars, Low Language, Low Religion, Low Romance, Low Violence, Regency Romance

It’s a Quiet Village

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?

This story was adorable. I loved the dichotomy of their opposing backgrounds and current situations, it added a beautiful depth to the relationship Sally built. The way Sally developed and resolved the conflict between the two was impressively done. Both of them had their ideas challenged and grew through their interactions together. I loved reading this novella. The added interactions of both Susan and Collin with Beth made the book even that more fun to read.

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?

This story had just the right touch of whimsy and mystery. I loved the magical elements brought to life in their perspective imaginations and how that brought the two of them together. The story was so compelling that I must admit I thought the story ended a little too soon. There were a few things I had hoped would be tied up and were left open ended, but Novella’s are like that and it didn’t detracted from the enchanting nature of the story.

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…

Deborah did a fantastic job of showing the push and pull of attraction verses logic and goals in this story. It was really well done and created a fun tension in the plot and in the chemistry of the characters. I felt like she did an amazing job of developing her characters in the short spans of the novella.

I think my favorite part of these stories was the status of the individuals. There were no parties or drawing rooms. These kinds of regency stories aren’t told often enough, and I loved them!

**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion

Four Stars, Low Language, Low Romance, Moderate Religion, Moderate Violence, Suspense

Redemption

 

One of my favorite tropes to read are redemption stories. I love it when an author expertly redeems a previously misunderstood character. While I believe there are some characters that can’t, or shouldn’t be redeemed, I love it when it’s done well.

And Traci Hunter Abramson does it well.

Redemption

Gage Stewart has spent five years trying to overcome his past. Once an abused and troubled teenager, he has worked tirelessly to move beyond the fateful day he was manipulated into holding a group of teenagers hostage. Now, with a new identity and a college degree in criminal psychology, he accepts an unlikely job teaching others what to do during mass shootings.

At the hotel where his class is held, Gage is immediately drawn to Skyler Prescott, the daughter of the wealthy hotel owner. Gage and Skyler quickly discover a shared desire for normalcy, and their easy friendship soon develops into something more. But after a night out ends in horror when a gunman opens fire in the crowded venue, they make an alarming discovery that threatens more than their relationship. The attack was little more than a publicity stunt to draw out the real target: presidential candidate Senator James Whitmore. Unwilling to become someone’s scapegoat, Gage must now work in tandem with the very men who ended his own life of crime before it began—the Saint Squad.

I must confess that this is the first Sant Squad book that I’ve read. It wont be the last, but I did feel like that gave me a bit of a disadvantage. Traci did a phenomenal job of developing her characters. Even though this was my first encounter with them, by the end of the book I felt like I knew them. However, I think there were little moments, inside jokes if you will, that may have added a little bit more to the book had I read the others first.

The pairing of Gage and Skyler was really well written. Traci gave us two people who were perfect for each other in personality, but whose background naturally brought out challenges making for a really interesting dynamic.

I appreciated that the book was told from so many different points of view. No one deals with trauma in the same way and watching how those who were familiar with Gage’s past and those who were just learning about it came to accept his redemption was really compelling. It added a layer of emotion to the the story that I loved.

The suspense, the romance, the humor and the redemption were all weaved together into a great read.