Book Review & Giveaway---Historical Romance Fans Will Love This One!

I was really intrigued by the back copy and cover for From Ash and Stone by Julie Daines. The story sounded SO good and it really lived up to what I was expecting. I LOVED this one!

This takes place during the reign of Henry VIII who is too busy trying to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn to care much about what is happening on the borders. And there's a lot going on! Margaret Grey, the daughter of a knight, has everything taken away from her when reivers attack her home and kill her family. Six years later, she's back for revenge.

The author sets a scene that is so vivid and couples it with a plot that is hard to put down. I loved Margaret and how she is so focused on her revenge, but when she meets Angus Robson, he becomes the distraction she cannot shake. Their buildup was sweet and riveting, especially as Margaret starts to let Angus in, despite all her best efforts to remain alone. And there's also the fact that Margaret has a curse that might prevent her from being with anyone. I couldn't wait to see how that would turn out. The secondary characters were well-drawn and the people closest to Margaret and Angus have stories that will tug at readers' heartstrings. (I hope the author will give some of those characters their own books!)

This was an exciting, well-written story that I literally could not put down and carried with me everywhere so I could finish it! Historical romance fans will really enjoy this one.

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

You can download your copy here

 

Here's the back copy:

Lady Margaret Grey of Hartfell wants for nothing. The daughter of a knight, she has a loving family, wealth, and even a secret romance with the blacksmith’s son. But all that is torn from her one fateful night when her home is attacked and her family killed. She is left with nothing but bitterness, an unwavering mistrust of men, and a strange and mysterious curse that allows her to feel the thoughts of anyone who touches her.

Now, after six years away, Margaret is returning home for one reason: revenge. She hopes that by avenging her family’s deaths, she will somehow be freed from her curse. But it won’t be easy. The identities of the raiders are still unknown, she has little left to her name, and traveling alone in the Northumbrian hills during the border wars is dangerous. Matters are further complicated by handsome Angus Robson, a Scotsman whose charm threatens to distract her from her plans. But the raiders are closer than she knows, and Margaret soon realizes that what she believed to be a curse may be the key to finding those she seeks. One touch will reveal the truth . . .

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Blog Tour Schedule:

*Dec. 10th: http://mybookaday.com/ , http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 11th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 12th: https://rachellechristensen.com/, https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 13th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, https://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 14th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/

Book Review and a Giveaway! (Regency Fans Will Enjoy This One!)

    

I was excited to read Rachael Anderson's new book My Brother's Bride. I enjoyed her last regency and was looking forward to a continuation. 

Abby has had a rough childhood without a mother and a mostly absent father. Her close friend offers to help launch her into society (Lady Knave from the last book) and Abby is looking forward to it. Unfortunately, the wonderful Season she anticipated twists into a terrible nightmare that Abby fears she can't recover from. A darling of the ton, Lord Jasper come to the rescue and he gives her the protection of his name by hastily marrying. They retreat to the family seat, where Jasper's brother, the Marquess of Brigston is residing with his mother. Abby is anxious to fit in with the family, but things take a complicated turn when she finds herself increasing and Jasper is suddenly killed in an accident. If that isn't enough of an emotional roller-coaster, Abby and the Marquess begin to spend time together as they grieve, and their feelings turn into something more---but the law prevents them from being together. I admit, I was beginning to wonder if there would be a happily-ever-after and with as much as this couple goes through, I really wanted that!

I thought the author did a wonderful job painting the characters with a three-dimensional brush. Readers will sympathize with Abby and all she goes through and root for Morgan to find a way to be with her. The setting is also well-done and I could really picture the beautiful Grange. This is a sweet book full of emotions that will pull the reader right along with the characters. 

Here's the back copy: 

Aigail Nash leads a lonely existence. Her mother died giving birth to her, her father’s business dealings took him away more often than not, and her ailing great-aunt, unable to provide much in the way of companionship, was a lack-luster guardian at best. So when her dear friends offered to launch her into London society, it appeared Abby’s life was taking a turn for the better, with suitors and social engagements aplenty. When she marries a proclaimed darling of the ton, it seems she will at last settle into the life of her dreams. But appearances aren’t always what they seem, and dreams often become disappointments. Just months into her marriage, Abby finds herself widowed, penniless, increasing, and determined to never hope again. But when her late husband’s brother, the Earl of Brigston, attempts to thaw the numbness surrounding her heart, Abby must decide if she has it in her to risk another chance at happiness, knowing the odds are not in her favor.  

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Excerpt

When Brigston entered the kitchen, Abby’s back was partially to him, so she didn’t immediately see him. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she whipped something in a bowl. She paused to lift the spoon, only to frown at the white liquid dripping from it.

“Are you certain this will thicken into a cream?” she asked.

A flash of irritation crossed Monsieur Roch's face until he spotted Morgan and seemed to think better of it. He managed a patient tone in his accented French. “It takes time, my lady.”

Morgan stifled a chuckle as Abby examined another spoonful of the liquid. “I’ve been whipping it for several minutes, but it doesn’t seem even a little thicker to me. Have I forgotten to add something?”

“No,” said the cook in clipped tones.

Morgan stepped forward and leaned in close. “If your arm is tired—”

Abby jumped, and what liquid remained on the spoon splattered across Morgan’s face. She spun around, her eyes growing wide with horror when she saw what she’d done.

He wiped a dab from his nose and tasted it. “A little more sugar, perhaps?”

“Brigston! I’m so dreadfully sorry.” She dropped the spoon into the bowl and grabbed a rag from a nearby wash basin, dabbing it across his face.

“Not that rag!” cried the cook. “It was only just used to mop the floors.”

Abby dropped it as though it had burned her, and Morgan tried not to cringe at the thought of filthy 

water coating his face.

Monsieur Roch retrieved a clean rag and held it out to him, appearing apologetic. He flicked another irritated glance at Abby before returning to his work.

As Morgan wiped the cream from his face, he wondered what Abby would do or say next. Offer another fumbled apology? Make her excuses and flee? Pretend the incident never happened and return to her labors? He never knew what to expect from her.

Her face scarlet, she cleared her throat and lifted her adorably determined chin. “You are most welcome, my lord.”

He raised a brow. “For what, my lady?”

“I have heard that cream does wonders for one’s complexion, and it seems the rumors are correct. Your skin appears much . . . creamier.”

   

  Praise for My Brother's Bride   I haven't read a book by Rachael Anderson that I didn't absolutely love and this awesome book didn't fail to meet that grade. ~Vicki Enjoyed reading this book.

The characters, dialogue, and plotline kept me entertained. Highly recommend this book to those who enjoy clean romances. ~Michele

This forbidden Regency romance was excellent! Once I started, it was hard—almost impossible—to put down. The characters—Abigail and Brigston—were super well done. I became invested in their lives, their troubles, their hearts really fast, and the author did a superb job of not letting me go. The plot twist was unique. ~Charissa

 A lovely, well-written story. Highly recommended. ~Linda

   

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.

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BookBub * Goodreads * Amazon Author Page

   

   

Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/1/19 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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My New Release, A Giveaway, AND A Sale! Don't Miss Today's Blog Post!

My new romantic suspense, Second Look, is finally out! I can't wait to hear what you think of Nate's story! *happy dance* You can get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

When the most wanted terrorist in the world escapes from a high security prison, Nate Hughes is part of the task force sent to recapture him. During the mission, he meets Abby, a fellow investigator that seems to have it all together. He’s drawn to her and hopes they can join forces, but when her past is revealed, loyalties are called into question. Could she have turned against the country she once held dear?

The CIA wants her captured and interrogated, but with a terrorist attack imminent, Abby may be the only person in a position to help them stop it. Nate must make a choice to either trust her or turn her in—but the wrong decision would clear the path for the largest attack on freedom the world has ever seen.

And time is running out.

And, in order to take the celebration up a notch, there is a $25 Amazon giveaway going on right now. It's easy to enter! Click here for all the details

But that's not all! The boxed set of the first three books in my Griffin Force series is on sale for only $1.99! You can download your copy here

Freebie Friday for Romantic Suspense Fans!

If you love romance and intrigue, you have to read Sheralyn Pratt's book, The Pimpernel. I really enjoyed this one and it's free today!

You can download your free Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

For centuries, the elite of the world have sought the Pimpernel everywhere. Some want to kill him, others want to hire him, but Jack Cavanaugh knows that the love/hate relationship comes with the job title.

At present, Jack is trying to dismantle an investment scheme centered in Las Vegas, but "trying" is the operative word. It's been a month since he put the face of the scheme behind bars, yet the scam is still going strong. As Jack tries to uncover who has stepped in as the new head, what miniscule evidence there is all seems to point him back to Claire Ramsey, an introverted PhD student studying at UNLV.

If ever there as an unlikely head of an investment scheme, Claire's it. She has a genius IQ, but from all Jack has seen, Claire’s intelligence is as much a blessing as a curse when paired up with her acute OCD. Claire can barely make conversation with the cute guy down the hall, which makes it hard to believe she could be the charismatic salesperson who is getting international businessmen to invest $5—50 million a pop.

So what is Jack missing? What is the real story behind Claire Ramsey? And once Jack learns it, will he be able to walk away?

Book Review and Giveaway: Wager for a Wife

I was really looking forward to the new regency romance, Wager for a Wife, by Karen Tuft. I really enjoyed the connection that this book has to her last one, The Earl's Betrothal. Very clever!

This book starts out with a lot of point of view changes and that threw me at first as I tried to get to know the characters. Once I got a little further in and felt more grounded, though, I was able to really enjoy the story.

William, the new Viscount Farleigh, has returned home to clean up the mess the previous viscount, his father, has made of his estate. It is in dire straits, and the people and servants he loves will be adversely affected if he can't figure a way out of the financial mess. There is one avenue that could save them all---years ago, a bet was made and if William calls in the vowel, he will marry an heiress with a sizable dowry. Enter Louisa. She is making her debut and has caught the eye of the Earl of Kerridge. He asks for her hand and Louisa accepts, only to find out that her grandfather had bet her hand in marriage and lost---and now she must marry William! Needless to say the relationship with Louisa and William gets off on a bad start.

I really loved how the author showed us the differences in William and Louisa (which led to many misunderstandings) but also slowly revealed all the things that could bring them together as a couple if they would only trust in that. The hero and heroine and three-dimensional and relatable and the secondary cast was also well done. The author really works the rules of society in regency times in and those strictures and worries add to the authentic feel of the book.

This was a really sweet love story, with a lot of emotional ups and downs as William and Louisa try to find their happily-ever-after. So many great moments including some laugh out loud ones as well as sigh-worthy. Another gem by Ms. Tuft.

Be sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway! 

You can download your Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

William Barlow’s life has been forever altered: his estranged father is dead, and William has inherited the title of Viscount Farleigh. Along with the title comes a neglected estate, an enormous amount of gambling debt, and one astounding acquisition that will turn William’s world upside down . . . It is her first London Season, and Lady Louisa Hargreaves could not be more pleased. She has attracted the attention of the Earl of Kerridge, and the two are on the cusp of an official betrothal. That is, until she learns of a generations-old family debt: her grandfather gambled her hand in marriage and lost, and now Louisa must pay the price. She will marry not the earl but a man she just met, who has taken her freedom in one fell swoop. Even as she struggles to understand the handsome and aloof man she is to wed, Louisa is irresistibly drawn to him—and he to her. But she soon realizes he is harboring secrets, and as her wedding day approaches, she must discover what her future husband is hiding before she makes the gravest mistake of her life.

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Blog Tour Schedule:

*Dec. 3rd: http://mybookaday.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 4th: https://www.lovebugsandpostcards.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 5th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

*Dec. 6th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/

*Dec. 7th: https://brightlystreet.com/, https://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/

$300 Holiday Cash Giveaway!

$300 Holiday Cash Giveaway

December 1st to 21st

Could you use an extra $300 this holiday season? This awesome group of authors & bloggers have joined together to make that possible for one lucky reader. Just scroll down and enter the rafflecopter. Easy to enter and win! (A huge thanks to our sponsors for making this giveaway possible.)

Sponsor List 

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Giveaway Details $300 Amazon Gift Code or $300 in PayPal Cash Ends 12/21/18 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 may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.     

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Friday Freebie for Romance Fans!

It's a Taylor Hart week! Her cute billionaire romance, The Christmas Groom, is free today! It looks like a fun, fluffy weekend read.

You can download your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

Nathan Pennington, aka billionaire attorney, had only one idea on his mind the week before Christmas…forget about the past year and enjoy the beautiful Park City ski slopes. His plan was working, until some annoying ski bunny sprayed snow in his face. Her rudeness wasn’t something he could let slide. Nathan chases the woman down the hill intent on chewing her out, but when face-to-face, he’s struck by the vulnerability and anger in her eyes.

Storm Goodman has heard every weather joke in the book—and she’s not in the mood for another. Lately her life has lived up to her name. After a year of personal setbacks in her skiing career and her grandfather passing, she thought the worst of it was over until Four days before Christmas her lawyer tells her she can’t inherit the ranch her grandfather left her—unless she’s married by noon on Christmas day. Good thing she has a guy to marry—too bad he’s also the same guy who cheated on her last year. She’ll have to put up with him if she wants to keep the land from being turned over to the BLM.

When a mysterious guy shows up, chewing her out for spraying snow on him, she never would have imagined she’d end up on a date with him. Or kiss him! Why does her life have such rotten timing? After night skiing, soaking in the hot tub, and dancing at an old folk’s home, Storm begins to wonder if she can really go through with the marriage to her ex.

Now she and Nathan are faced with a choice—walk away or let the timing of love sync up once and for all.