Sweet Historical Romance Review And A Giveaway!

I'm so excited to be part of the blog tour for Rachael Anderson's new book, The Pursuit of Lady Harriet. We return to Tanglewood for the final book in this series so Lady Harriett can have her story told. And what a story it is!

Harriett has completed her first season and though it was a success, she didn't find anyone who captured her heart. She is visiting Tanglewood as she awaits the start of her second season, when Jonathon Ludlow's friend, Lieutenant Christopher Jamison arrives. He angers her, charms her, and generally confuses her. But can this man who loves a good joke ever be serious enough to capture Harriett's heart?

I enjoyed going back to Tanglewood again and glimpsing previous couples and how their lives were turning out. Harriett has appeared in the other books and I was glad to hear this was to be her story. She is such an interesting heroine who gets herself in a lot of funny situations as she tries to put the lieutenant in his place, yet he refuses to fit into her expectations. Some of those instances painted her in a petulant and immature light at first, but what will draw readers to her character is that she has a believable growth arc throughout the book that really redeemed her. I thought it was relatable that she had self-esteem issues and of course, couldn't read our hero's intentions very well which led to several misunderstandings between them. All of those misunderstandings heightened the angst of the story and made it so readers will be turning pages long into the night to see if Christopher and Harriett get their happy ending!

This was a fun, romantic, afternoon read, especially if you love Tanglewood and the world Ms. Anderson has created through this series. (Although this book can stand alone, you'll definitely want to read the other two if you haven't already!)

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

You can download your copy of The Pursuit of Lady Harriett here

Here's the back copy:

When wills clash and hearts collide, who will reign victorious?

 Termed an Incomparable during her first London season, Lady Harriett Cavendish is beautiful, spirited, and confident, capturing the attention of a great many suitors. Unfortunately, they all failed to capture her attention, and she concluded the season as unattached as she’d begun it. Only weeks prior to her second season, Harriett encounters Lieutenant Christopher Jamison while visiting Tanglewood Manor. Recently returned from war, the lieutenant is everything that Harriett's previous suitors were not. He’s arrogant, ungentlemanly, irritating, and challenges her at every opportunity. When he goes too far, Harriett decides that it’s time to turn the tables on him. But as she sets out to put the lieutenant in his place once and for all, she discovers there is more to him than meets the eye, and when it comes to matters of the heart, she has no control whatsoever.

EXCERPT 

Harriett looked at what remained of the cake. Apparently, he didn’t intend to finish it off after all, so she collected their forks and stood. “Forgive me for saying so, but you look quite done in, Chris. If you do not go up to bed now, you will probably fall asleep here. Only imagine what Mrs. Caddy might say if she discovers you here with the mostly-eaten cake. For your own sake, you ought to retire. I will do my best to tidy things up.”

Before she could move away from him, he grabbed her hand and guided her to sit back down, keeping hold of her fingers. “Not so fast, my lady. I meant it when I said that I’m in desperate need of the distraction that only you can provide. Thus far, all I have done is burden you with my troubles.”

“I do not feel at all burdened, sir.” Indeed, Harriett suddenly felt breathless and somewhat giddy. The effect this man had on her was something of a wonder.

“Sir?” he asked. “I thought we were beyond that.”

“I thought so as well, but you only just called me ‘my lady.’”

He frowned and blinked as though he hadn’t realized he had. “Forgive me, Harry. I fear my exhaustion has muddled my thinking.”

This time, she did not let the name slide. She snatched her hand free and frowned at him. “Obviously it has.”

He laughed—not a tired attempt at a laugh, but a real one filled with the richness that warmed her straight through. Only this time, it did not bother her at all. In fact, it felt wonderful, almost like a compliment. “I knew you’d come through for me,” he said, leaning close enough to touch shoulders with her. “You have no idea how much I needed to laugh or how good that felt. I could honestly kiss you right now.”

Harriett tried her best not to blush or appear astonished by the suggestion—he had obviously made the comment in jest—but when his smile widened into a devilish grin, she knew she’d failed. He leaned in closer, and his gaze wandered briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes. She could smell vanilla and lemon and a hint of something else—leather perhaps? A delightful pulse whipped down her arm, and she was hard-pressed not to shiver.

“Admit it,” he said. “You have missed me.”

 

 

  

Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Website

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 10/1/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Movie Premiere for Joseph Smith, American Prophet

I just got back from the movie premiere for the new PBS documentary of Joseph Smith, American Prophet. One was done back in 1999 and now there's a new one out. It was a beautiful production that added so much to the narrative with reenactments and interviews including experts both within and without the LDS church. They did keep the late Gregory Peck's voice-overs and I was glad. He has an amazing voice!

I took my family to the show and it was interesting to see their reactions. There were details presented that one of my children hadn't known before and it led to a wonderful discussion on the way home. We got to meet (and sit by) some of the actors, as well as listen to the men who pitched the show as well as produced and directed it---Lee Groberg and Mark Goodman.  From their speeches, it sounds like there were several miracles that took place from the idea to the actual realization of the movie.

It will be out on video next month, but you can request it from your local PBS station right now. It is definitely well worth your time if you ever wanted a fair and balanced peek into the history of the LDS church and more specifically, Joseph Smith himself.

Here's the teaser:

Millions of people around the world know of him. Yet this American frontier prophet of the early 1800's found little honor and eventual martyrdom at the hands of an angry mob in his own country. Who was this Joseph Smith and what was it about his remarkable life story, which inspired such impassioned rancor or unflinching loyalty and even reverence?

Using all new interviews, new footage and new historical reinactments, and infused with the classic narration of the late Gregory Peck, Lee Groberg has created a wholly new and engaging film about the life of Joseph Smith.

First Date Disasters In This Book Review & Giveaway!

Today's book review is Wish Me Love by Michele Ashman Bell. There are so many laugh out loud moments in this one, you won't want to put it down!

Charlotte Wells is trying to get through the day---what would have been her second wedding anniversary---if her best friend hadn't married her ex-fiance. Luckily, her co-worker Jack looks out for her and encourages her to put herself out there again. They strike a bargain over a wishing bracelet---Charlotte will go on fifty first dates, if Jack will wear a wishing bracelet. He agrees and I love how that wishing bracelet figures in the story for both of them. Charlotte gives out her phone number to friends and goes on so many disastrous first dates that were funny and groan-worthy at the same time.

I really enjoyed the banter and connection Charlotte has with Jack, as they're starting a business together, and trying to help each other. They are such close friends and he's so sweet, always looking out for what's best for Charlotte. Loved him. (And how respectful they were of Jack's engagement.)

When Charlotte goes to her cousin's wedding in Brazil, things start to change for her on the romance front and the author has made Charlotte so relatable and realistic that you will definitely be hoping she gets the happy ending she deserves. I loved the Brazilian setting and how the author really makes it feel like you're there, experiencing it all with Charlotte. This was such a cute romance! A fun afternoon read.

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Here's the back copy:

Charlotte Wells does not date. After surviving a broken engagement, she’s taken a leave of absence from the social scene. So when her best friend and coworker, Jack, challenges her to get back in the game, she’s not so sure she’s ready to play. But ultimately, curiosity gets the best of her, and Charlotte accepts the daunting challenge: she will attempt to have fifty first dates in her effort to find “the one.” Unfortunately, she quickly realizes that the dating pool mostly holds clown fish as she goes on one lousy outing after another. Without a good man in sight as summer ends, Charlotte cuts her losses and sets her sights on a fun-filled trip to her cousin’s destination wedding in Brazil.

Brazil is a land of beautiful sights and delicious offerings—including Max, the charming brother of her cousin’s new husband. Max has all the makings of a Prince Charming in soccer cleats, and Charlotte’s happily ever after seems to be within reach. But love is a funny thing, and soon Charlotte finds herself wondering: could it be that her true love has been right in front of her all along?

a Rafflecopter giveaway .

Tour schedule:

*Sept. 18th: http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 19th: http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*Sept. 20th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://readingismysuperpower.org/

*Sept. 21st: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 22nd: http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

Freebie Friday For Romance Fans!

It's a rainy, drizzly day here which means I want to curl up in a soft blanket with a good book. Sigh. Maybe even have some chocolate chip cookies and a roaring fire in the fireplace? Too much?

Well, I can at least have the blanket and book part. I've read Lucy McConnell books before and enjoyed them, and she is offering her sweet romance of A Reclusive Billionaire for free today! 

If you need a new book to read, too, you can get your free copy here (and I'll give you bonus points if you can spot the typo on the back copy that made me smile just because of the context of it.)

Here's the back copy:

Lucas Scott, a world-renowned microbiologist, is desperate to find a cure for the butterfly flu before it spreads. Hounded by the media, he escapes to his houseboat in Santa Barbara where he meets a vivacious veterinarian with a penchant for taking in strays. While he searches for the key to unlocking the butterfly flu, Becca somehow unlocks his analytical heart.

Becca Lee isn't impressed with her new neighbor. His clothes are constantly wrinkled and he's grumpier than a cat with digestive problems. However, Luke isn't easy to brush off. He's always around, has a magnificent mind, and is full of surprises. But, what she can't figure out is why her instincts tell her to trust this rouge billionaire. It doesn't take long to realize he is the only one alive who can save the world and Becca has to make a choice--open her heart or watch Luke sail off into the sunset.

This is the first book in the Destination Billionaire Romance series. Included is a sneak peek at the next two books in the series, Almost Everything, by Taylor Hart, and The Lucky Billionaire, by Jeanette Lewis.

Freebies for Western Romance Fans!

There's a great deal being offered today if you love western romance. The first TWO books in Liz Isaacson's Brush Creek Brides romance series are free!

You can download your copy here

Here's the back copy:

A Wedding for the Widower:

Former rodeo champion and cowboy Walker Thompson trains horses at Brush Creek Horse Ranch, where he lives a simple life in his cabin with his ten-year-old son, Michael. A widower of six years, he's just trying to provide a life for Michael that his late wife would've approved of. He's worked with Tess Wagner, a widow who came to Brush Creek to escape the turmoil of her life to give her seven-year-old son, Graham, a slower pace of life. Together, they run a cotton candy stand at the town's Heritage Festival every fall, donating the money they raise to the National Widows & Widowers Foundation to help those who've suffered the way they have.

Walker's boss and best friend, ranch owner Landon Edmunds, has encouraged him to start dating, and Walker looks no further than Tess. She's interested in him too, but neither of them wants to inflict more sorrow and suffering on the other than they've already endured. So when Tess confesses that her breast cancer has flared up again, Walker backs off. Way off.

In the end, he'll have to decide if he'd rather spend even a short time with Tess and Graham than not have them in his life at all. Tess wants to feel God's love and power, but she'll have to discover and accept God's will in order to find her happy ending.

A Companion for the Cowboy:

Cowboy and professional roper Justin Jackman has found solitude at Brush Creek Horse Ranch, preferring his time with the animals he trains over dating. With two failed engagements in his past, he's not really interested in getting his heart stomped on again. But when flirty and fun Renee Martin picks him up at a church ice cream bar--on a bet, no less--he finds himself more than just a little interested.

Renee's living with her cousin in Brush Creek, having just graduated from college. She's not ready to be an adult, has no idea what she wants to do for a career, and generally wishes everyone would just let her figure things out. She starts working for Dinosaur National Park, which has an hour-long commute that she spends thinking about Justin. With a decade separating their ages, she comes to realize that they're from different generations.

His Gen-X attitudes are attractive to her; her Millennial behaviors drive him nuts. Can Justin look past their differences and take a chance on another engagement? And if he does, will Renee be mature enough and ready for a serious relationship? Justin and Renee will have to figure out how to pray and how to listen to God to find a way to their happily-ever-after.

Love Remains Review And A Giveaway!

As you all know, I am a huge Sarah Eden fan, but for her Hope Springs series, I am firmly in the TeamTavish camp. He's had a rough time of it in all the books, so I was SO happy to hear that her new book, Love Remains, is Tavish's love story. And oh, it was so worth the wait.

In the last book there was a horrific fire that injured the youngest O'Connor brother, Finbarr, and rendered him blind. That terrible night changed the O'Connor's forever, and Tavish has been valiantly trying to hold his family together at the expense of his own happiness and well-being. Nearly at the end of his rope, the family decides to hire a tutor for Finbarr that could help him navigate his new world, and Cecil Attwater arrives---only it's not Cecil, but Cecily, a beautiful Englishwoman.

Cecily has known heartache of her own as she is slowly losing her own eyesight. She wants to help Finbarr, but he is lost in self-pity and sure he'll never be able to have a life of his own. But the more she gets to know the O'Connor family, the more she comes to love them, especially Finbarr's older brother Tavish. Surprisingly, old wounds and hurts from her background as an Englishwoman and theirs as Irish surface and threaten to tear down the fragile foundation Cecily has built. Can she move past the prejudice of those she's become attached to, or will she forever be on the outside of a family looking in?

I loved everything about this book. The gentle teasing and witty repartee between Cecily and Tavish made me laugh, and the emotions of everything the O'Connor's have been through made me cry. Cecily and Tavish's love story was so sweet and tender, slowly coming to know each other in a way that didn't rely on looks, but sounds, smells, emotions, and touch was sigh-worthy. There were so many wonderful scenes that stood out to me, I don't think I could pick a favorite, but I loved the way that Tavish opened his heart to heal the wounds of the past and allowed himself to see a future. It was so realistic and well-written that I wanted to cry with happiness for him. And that Cecily was such a big part of that, even though she had her own demons to face, made the whole thing complete. Sarah Eden is well-known for her ability to tug at the heartstrings, and this book is no exception. It's the kind of romance that immerses you in the time and place, and makes the characters seem so real that you want to sit and visit with them yourself. This is one of my favorite stories of hers. Well, to tell the truth, the entire Hope Springs series has an honored place on my rainy day shelf. It's that good!

If you haven't read this series yet, you need to run out and get your copy right away!

You can download your copy of Love Remains here

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway.

Here's the back copy:

For nearly a year, Tavish O’Connor has carried the crushing weight of his family’s future on his shoulders. He has taken on the care of his youngest brother, Finbarr, who lost his eyesight in a terrible accident. But the lad needs more than Tavish can provide. Finbarr needs hope.

Cecily Attwater specializes in hope. As a tutor to the newly blind, she has dedicated her life to helping others overcome the obstacles she herself has conquered. Her new assignment in a remote corner of Wyoming proves trickier than usual: Finbarr refuses to learn. To make matters worse, his family—and the other Irish townspeople—are less than thrilled to discover an Englishwoman in their haven.

Cecily’s only hope lies in securing the cooperation of her pupil’s brother Tavish, who happens to be her harshest critic and quite possibly the most frustrating man she’s ever known.

For Finbarr’s sake, Tavish and Cecily forge an uneasy alliance that, as the weeks pass, tiptoes toward something deeper than either dares admit or face, and toward a future they know to be impossible. There can be no hope of a happy outcome for an Irish man and an English woman amongst a people reeling from violence and centuries of hatred between their two homelands.

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Griffin Force Series Boxed Set Is Here!

It took longer than expected, but Griffin Force series boxed set is finally here including The Captive, The Captain, and The Capture! (Say that fast three times, haha!)

I can't even tell you how excited I am to see all three of these books together. It was a long time coming. And now you can binge-read all the action, adventure, and romance all over again!

Download your copy here