Cover Reveal of Resort Bliss by Samantha Chase

We are thrilled to share the cover  of Samantha Chase's new novel #Resort Bliss. 

#Resort Bliss by Samantha Chase

Samantha Chase has revealed the cover for #Resort Bliss, the next book in the Lakeview Harbor series!

 

Releasing: March 24, 2026

About #Resort Bliss

 

Lexie Scott’s life feels like it’s out of her control.

Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to find a fresh start. At least that’s what Lexie keeps telling herself as she returns to the one place she told herself she would never go back – the Lakeview Harbor Resort. But for her four-year-old daughter, she’ll do whatever it takes. Even go back to a place full of bittersweet memories…and the boy who once promised her forever. 

Connor Winslowe finally has control of his life.

After years of living under his family’s control, Connor is finally free to build the life he’s always wanted. A thriving career, a second chance with his daughter, rebuilding the Lakeview Harbor Resort – it’s all going perfectly until Lexi walks back into his life, needing the one thing he can’t refuse – help.

Spending every day working side by side forces them to confront their history and revive the connection that’s always existed between them. But fifteen years apart is a long time. Can this truly be their second chance at love?

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Amazon

Apple Books: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Apple 

Barnes & Noble: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Nook

Kobo: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Kobo

Google Play: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Google

Audible: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Audible

Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/ResortBliss-Goodreads

 

 

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot.  She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023!  She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Connect with Samantha

Website ❤ Goodreads ❤ Amazon 

Facebook  ❤ Facebook Group 

Instagram ❤  X/Twitter 

TikTok ❤  Bookbub 

Pinterest ❤  Verve

Gayle's Review of Pretending to Love a Lyon by Dayna Quince

They clash like fire and ice, but their attraction is undeniable.

Lady Amelia Clark finds herself in a desperate gamble when her twin brother, the Earl of Alston, falls victim to a tragic accident. To protect them both, Amelia must keep his dire condition a secret from their enemies, and Amelia’s only ally is the man who loathes her—her brother’s best friend, Mr. Graham Blakewood.

Despite their tumultuous past, Graham vows to protect Amelia at all costs, even if it means masquerading as her fiancé. As they navigate societal expectations and lurking threats, their fake engagement becomes dangerously complicated. And when their facade unravels and long-buried feelings come to light, they must confront the consequences of their tangled web of lies.

In a final, desperate attempt to save her brother’s life, Lady Amelia strikes a bargain with the notorious Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, the Widow of Whitehall, for her discreet services and powerful influence. But there is always a price to pay when gambling with love and death.

Will Amelia and Graham risk everything for a chance at true happiness, or will the stakes prove too high?

Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon's Den Connected world titled Risking It All by Dayna Quince.

Book 1 - Pretending to Love a Lyon
Book 2 - To Steal a Lyon’s Heart
Book 3 - The Lyon Won’t Lose

A fantastic new series from Dayna Quince.

Lady Amelia Clark is engaged in a complex deception with Mr. Graham Blakewood. Graham is her brother’s best friend. Everything in Amelia's life is hanging by a thread and the only one who can help her is Graham, Graham is an annoyance to Amelia . . . until he isn't. I loved Dayna Quince's writing style and the way this story unfolded. Dayna Quince drops you right into the story and it's a wild ride with so much tension. Great beginning to a three-part series. Graham is a very desirable and likable hero in an incredibly awkward situation. Amelia is inexperienced, impulsive and everything she does is to protect her brother. This book packs a punch loaded with emotion, tension and a believable slow building romance.

Very entertaining and emotional.

Reviewed by Gayle

Review ARC provided by Dragonblade Publishing 

Gayle's Review of Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

Available Now!

The second hilarious and heartwarming novel in the Miss Pretence’s Protégées Regency romp of a series

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, was publicly humiliated when a reckless romantic gesture went very wrong. Despite that, his mother held tight to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching that milestone birthday, there’s not a grandchild in sight. His heart now lies with his land and work is his life. In desperation, his mother decides that if he refuses to venture back into society to find her future daughter-in-law, the only solution is to bring society to him via a weeklong houseparty so that she can find one for him. The first Guy knows about her plan is when her hand-picked gaggle of debutantes arrive at his estate, all competing to be his wife.

After failing miserably as a governess, Lottie Travers isn’t proving to be any better at being a lady’s companion. As the only girl in an all-male household growing up, she’s developed several bad habits she can’t shake and keep getting her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings, Lottie still climbs a tree better than she embroiders, and still cannot seem to curb the desire to gallop astride a horse in breeches whenever an opportunity arises. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages to keep it afloat, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all and concentrate on her career.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one that catches Guy’s eye, as much as he tries to deny it. And succeeding in her new role is easier said than done for Lottie when the Wennington Estate is filled with horses and she can’t help but feel a spark around the grumpy Lord. By the end of the week, will the two of them remain stuck in their ways, or will they learn that they may just be the perfect match?

Do you love grumpy heroes and feisty heroines? Look no further than Look Before You Leap by the talented Virginia Heath. Look Before You Leap is the second book in Miss Prentice’s Protege’s, but it easily reads as a standalone. Lottie Travers and her friends were students at Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies and she has returned to the school after losing her job as a governess. Lottie is at a crossroads and her future looks gloomy. She needs to find employment soon to help her family farm. Lottie’s love of horses and her creative way of finding a horse to ride has caused issues in her past employment. Yet despite the trouble it has caused she continues to need to ride and the faster the better. On one such wild ride in Hyde Park on a borrowed horse she meets Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington and sparks fly. Or hooves. Such a great meeting and Lottie and the Guy are destined to annoy each other all the while fighting a growing mutual attraction. This couple are obviously soul mates and there is more than their love of horses that bring them together. Throw in great side characters such as the hero’s widowed mother who just wants to throw him a birthday party, his outrageous but caring aunt who happens to be Lottie's new employer and a party of unwanted conniving debutantes, this story rolls right along with chaos and charm. Guy and Lottie are a well-matched pair who navigate the pitfalls of their blooming relationship with humor and passion. There are funny situations and touching ones as well. Look Before You Leap is perfect for old and new fans of Virginia Heath. Look Before You Leap is one of my favorite books that Virginia Heath has written. Do yourself a favor and grab this book, I know you will love it. 

☆☆☆☆☆ Reviewed by Gayle  Review ARC provided by St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley Publication date: June 24, 2025

#Entertaining #Funny #Happily-Ever-After #Favorite Author #Wonderful characters

Gayle's review of Love, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Coming April 1

 

LOVE, THE DUKE

Say I Do, Book 3

When the Duke of Hurstbourne receives a letter from his childhood friend asking him to marry his sister, Hurst declines. He’s not adverse to taking a bride, but he believes in love at first sight—not marriage sight-unseen. So it is with heightened interest that the well-heeled person standing in front of his desk, attired in tailored finery, challenges his quick instinct and tells him this is no man. Rather, a resourceful and fiery young lady disguised as a man. And a superb disguise at that.

Adhering to society’s strict propriety for ladies, Ophelia Stowe has no choice but to present herself as a man to seek the Duke of Hurstbourne’s favor. If not for the dire situation she finds herself in, she wouldn’t have asked for help from a man who had rebuffed her. When the handsome duke’s response is a plan of his own, Ophelia never dreams it would be a proposal of a marriage of convenience.

But the stakes are high, and the good name of the Stowe family will be damaged if a missing antiquity isn’t found. When she accepts his offer, she quickly finds she isn’t immune to the passion building between her and her new husband--or how real the marriage begins to feel.

Love, The Duke is a quick read, with a likable hero and heroine and is the third book in the Say I Do Series. I am not familiar with Amelia Grey's writing, and I haven't read the first two books in the series, but the book worked for me as a standalone. Love, The Duke is a very visual story, and I enjoyed the author’s description of the characters, clothing and objects. The story was entertaining overall and really started off strong. Ophelia Stowe and The Duke of Hurstbourne have an instant attraction once they get past the awkwardness of their initial meeting. There are several entertaining moments, and my favorite was when Hurst must extract Ophelia from an awkward situation of her own making. The story falters for me when the hero starts to parent Ophelia's behavior, and the couple argue about things they have gone over before. The end picks up with a mad dash to the finish as the couple must resolve the mystery as well as navigate their budding relationship. There is an emotional and touching moment between Hurst and Ophelia that wrap things up nicely.

Love, The Duke is perfect for existing fans of Amelia Gray and those who like a sweet romance with a bit of mystery.

Review by Gayle

Review ARC provided by St. Martin's Press, via Netgalley

Publication Date: 4/1/2025

#entertaining #funny #hea #readromance

Susan’s Review of Baking it Merry by Samantha Chase

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.


One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

Samantha Chase is one of my favorite authors and I look forward to her holiday stories each year. Baking it Merry is a slow burn romance with great characters, a bit of drama and lots of sweet treats.

I loved that instead of a swoony, romantic hero Baking it Merry has a grumpy hero who has no holiday spirit!! Think Cindy Lou Who meets the Grinch on top of Mt. Crumpet!

Daphne Noel sets up her pop up bakery in the lobby of an upscale office building in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her storefront is a life size gingerbread house decorated with large candy canes, ornaments and colored twinkling lights.

Daphne has no idea that architect Tristan Knight cringes each year when the lobby is filled to capacity with the small Christmas shops. Tristan is a Grinch. He is not a fan of the holidays, decorations or the people who crowd the bake shop. He complains to the landlord about the bake shop and about Daphne’s cherry holiday spirit!

I loved Daphne and Tristan’s story. Samantha Chase has created two complex yet; relatable characters. Daphne is a graphic designer and her goal to save money from the holiday shop to open a bakery. Tristan loves order and structure. The holiday season and its chaos interferes with his work goals.

Loved the slow burn opposites attract romance. Tristan’s snarky attitude towards Daphne when she presents her ideas for his holiday parties is perfectly written—I imagined Tristan rolling his eyes and shaking his head.Tristan’s was speechless when his family and friends were wowed by the décor, food and cocktails and Daphne!

Baking it Merry is feel good story about celebrating the holidays and with family and friends. Daphne genuinely loves to spread the joy of Christmas. Tristin learns the true meaning of the season as he and Daphne work together on his holiday parties. Loved that Samantha Chase added several plot twists in this story – it made me root for the couple’s HEA!

With its holiday baking theme, charming characters and opposites attract romance—Baking it Merry would be the perfect Hallmark movie!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Purchased via Amazon kindle

Susan's Review of In The Air Tonight by Marie Force

The strong characters, suspenseful storyline and the small town setting immediately drew me into Marie Force's In The Air Tonight.

Denise, Blaise and Houston were strong, relatable and believable characters. I could relate to the teenage Blaise-the small town atmosphere, the peer pressure and how she internalized her experience. What she saw never left her—she was put in an untenable position.

Blaise’s decision moves the storyline forward and impacts every character in the novel. Houston makes the decision to contact Denise knowing that if she wanted justice; his relationship with his brother, friends and his standing in the community would never be the same. Everything would change—and it did.

The novel is fast paced and the suspense builds with each chapter. The chapters are told from alternating POVs which helped me gain insight into the characters thoughts and actions. The author perfectly captured the small town vibe and the high school popular kid mentality.There several unexpected plot twists throughout the story which kept me on the edge of my seat.

The story made me stop and think several times about what I would have done if I were Blaise. Would I have been too afraid to speak up? Would I have had the courage to speak up? Loved that the author explored the actions vs consequences theme this novel.

If you are looking for a suspenseful novel set in a small town filled with secrets - pick up a copy of In The Air Tonight!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book provided by the author

Cover Reveal for Samantha Chase’s Baking It Merry!

We are thrilled to share the adorable cover Samantha Chase's new holiday novel Baking it Merry!

A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Holiday Romance from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Chase! which debuts on November 19, 2024.The adorable cover was designed by Laura Hidalgo of Spellbinding Design.

Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.

Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not. If it were up to him, there wouldn’t be a hint of Christmas in the building.
For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.

One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, he’ll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with her—and the more awkward situations she saves him from—he begins to realize there’s more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when you’re with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.

Pre-order your copy today!
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Audible: Coming soon!

Add to Goodreads!!
Pre-order your copy today!

Gayle's review All's Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath

Today is the day!

In the first installment of a Regency romp of a series, a governess who believes in cultivating joy in her charges clashes with the children’s uncle who hired her, only to find herself falling in love.

When Harry Kincaid’s flighty older sister decides to join her husband on an Egyptian expedition, Harry, a former naval captain, is left in the lurch, minding her three unruly children and giant, mad dog. But Harry has a busy career at the Admiralty that requires all his attention, and he has no clue how to manage the little rascals or when his sister is coming back. In desperation, he goes to Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies prepared to pay whatever it takes to hire an emergency governess quick sharp to ensure everything in his formerly ordered house is run shipshape again.

Thanks to her miserable, strict upbringing, fledgling governess Georgie Rowe does not subscribe to the ethos that children should be seen and not heard. She believes childhood should be everything hers wasn’t—filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery. Thankfully, the three Pendleton children she has been tasked with looking after are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional educational approach. Their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, however, is another matter entirely.

Georgie and Harry continue to butt heads over their differences, but with time it seems that in this case, their attraction is undeniable—and all is indeed fair in love and war.

Imprint Publisher
St. Martin's Griffin

ISBN
9781250896070

A new series by Virginia Heath is always reason to celebrate. 

All's Fair in Love and War is the first in Miss Prentice's Protegees. Miss Prentice run's a school for governesses and she hand picks the students that will be trained there. All's Fair in Love and War is Georgina Rowe's story. Georgie is sent to the school by her indifferent and regimented stepfather. While she is at Miss Prentice's school she makes friends with three very different young ladies, who each have their own interests. Horse crazy Lottie, Portia the resident bluestocking and Kitty who is easily lost to daydreams. I would have loved to read about their training, but that would have to be a different series. There is a time jump to the present, May 1820, when the young ladies are either getting their jobs or have jobs as governesses. Three out of the four young ladies are able to get jobs, but Georgie's personality and opinions stand in her way of finding employment. She is stubborn and has a hard time getting through the interviews with prospective employers because she speaks her mind and believes in a more open system of learning. Georgie ends up teaching at the school until one fateful day Harry arrives in desperate need for a governess for his sister's children. 

Sparks fly at once between Georgie and Harry but instead of sparks of attraction they are sparks of annoyance. The physical attraction is immediate and mutual, but their personalities are incompatible. Their attraction builds slowly, and it goes against what either one of them wants for themselves. Georgie is resigned to her life in service and a loveless life without a family of her own. Harry is resigned to his life in the navy and does not want entanglement. Both characters are chained to the past and it takes the present-day chaos to shake things up. 

All's Fair in Love and War is filled with charming characters, fun situations and witty dialogue that is Virginia Heath's trademark. The author infuses a sense of history in the world that the characters live in, and it gives the book a lovely cinematic quality. I loved the slow burn romance between Georgie and Harry. The children were fun and individual in their pursuits and dog lovers will enjoy Norbert the children's furry companion.

All's Fair in Love and War is another entertaining five-star read from Virginia Heath. If you love a slow burn romance with a dash of family chaos and memorable characters, then All’s Fair in Love and War is for you. 

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Reviewed by Gayle

Review ARC provided by St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley

 

Find Virginia Heath at Instagram, Facebook and her website. 

Susan's Review of The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis--Sunrise Cove #5

Review of The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives.

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm. 

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets. 

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis. The novel is filled with quirky characters, a barn full of rescue animals, family secrets and the perfect slow burn romance!

The meet cute between Luna Wright and Suit aka Jameson Hayes wowed me—great banter mixed with lots of humor! Suit charmed Luna and their chemistry sizzled as they shared Hawaiian margaritas and sliders at the local bar.

Luna is surprised to discover that investment manager Jameson has been hired by Silas, the farm’s late owner, to work with her in an effort to get Apple Ridge Farm solvent. Luna is shocked to discover that Silas had many secrets—both personal and financial—and these secrets affected the farm and herself.

Although she might not be a numbers person, Luna understands how the farm runs, her community and her family members who are dedicated to preserving the farm. Jameson ditches his expensive suits for jeans and flannels and sets up an office—to work through piles of paperwork scattered all over Luna’s office. I loved that he understood that Apple Ridge was a working farm but, most importantly it was Luna’s home and the home to her family, friends and the rescue animals.

Luna and Jameson have issues to resolve. Jill Shalvis writes this piece of the couple’s journey with compassion, humor and adds the perfect amount of romance. I adored the romance between the couple, their conversations and late night meals. Loved that Jameson became a part of the Apple Ridge community and that Luna’s family of friends embraced him.

The Bright Spot is filled with fabulous secondary characters; Willow &Shayne, Stella, Chef, Milo and Ziggy the scene stealing goat AND had a entertaining secondary romance!

The Bright Spot is has all of the story elements that I adore: complex family relationships, fabulous secondary characters and a swoon worthy, feel good romance. Fans of Kristan Higgins, Robyn Carr and RaeAnne Thayne will adore this fantastic novel!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BRIGHT SPOT, is out now, and THE SUMMER ESCAPE comes out in June!

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:

http://instagram.com/jillshalvis

http://facebook.com/JillShalvis

http://twitter.com/jillshalvis

Review of Deb Marlowe's A Killer in the Crystal Palace

 

A grand showcase for technology, art, design and . . . murder.

Welcome to book one in the thrilling new series titled The Kier and Levett Mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author Deb Marlowe.

London, 1851, and the Great Exhibition is on. A soaring success despite months of dour predictions, it is the event of the year, on front pages and wagging tongues the world over—and Miss Kara Levett is thrilled to be in the middle of it. The daughter of a baron and an exhibitor herself, she happily demonstrates her elaborate automatons and case clocks to the crowds.

But her situation grows perilous when a man is murdered in the Crystal Palace and she becomes the prime suspect. With the unexpected aid of Mr. Niall Kier, a reserved Scottish blacksmith, artist and fellow exhibitioner with secrets of his own, Kara begins the work the Metropolitan Police show no inclination for—finding the true killer.

Together, Niall and Kara dig up international espionage schemes and sordid family secrets, and chase clues from Victorian high society to the London slums, all while trying to stay ahead of the villains who seek to make her the next victim.

Available Now!
The Kier and Levett Mystery series
Book 1 – A Killer in the Crystal Palace
Book 2 – Death from the Druid’s Grove
Book 3 – Murder on the Mirrored Lake

Deb Marlowe has always been one of my favorite authors and to say that I was thrilled that she was writing a historical mystery is an understatement. A Killer in the Crystal Palace. This is another book that I grabbed both the ebook and the audiobook. The audiobook is by narrated by Henrietta Meire who does a fantastic job.

A Killer in the Crystal Palace begins with a brutal murder during The Great Exhibition of 1851 where Miss Kara Levett is displaying her automaton works including a mechanical man. She soon finds herself implicated and embroiled in the murder as part of her display was used to commit the crime. She finds a staunch supporter in Mr. Niall Kier. Niall is also an exhibitor at the Great Exhibition displaying his intricate metal works. He met Kara briefly when they were both trying to become exhibitors at the prestigious and male dominated exhibition..

The story is clever and very entertaining. The chemistry between Kara and Niall is natural and draws you into the mysteries of both their pasts. This is a slow burn romance behind the mystery and the attraction between the characters is very believable. Niall is exactly the kind of hero that you want to show up when you are in trouble. He has many connections throughout the city and beyond. Kara is clever and has connections of her own, so she is not waiting around to be saved in the situation.  

Atmospheric, entertaining and clever A Killer in the Crystal Palace is a must read for Deb Marlowe fans and fans of historical mysteries as well. 

A Killer in the Crystal Palace a five star read and listen and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  

Reviewed by Gayle

Reasons I enjoyed the book. 

#Witty # Entertaining # Action-packed #Wonderful characters  #Page-turner #Informatiove #Historical mystery

The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for Grand International Exhibition of 1851

Review of The Footman and I

How did I wait so long to read The Footman and I? 

She thinks he’s a footman. He’s really an earl. Hijinks ensue.

Let the games begin . . .

Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes. What could possibly go wrong?

May the best footman win.

Miss Frances Wharton is far more interested in fighting for the rights of the poor than in marriage, but her mother insists she attend a summer house party—and find herself a husband. Frances would rather wed a goat than the pompous man her mother has in mind, so in order to dissuade the would-be suitor, she vows to behave like a shrew. The only person she can be herself with is the kind, handsome footman she runs into at every turn. Their connection is undeniable, and the divide between them is no match for the passion they feel. But what will happen when Frances learns that the footman she adores is actually the earl she despises? In a game where everything is false, can they convince each other that their love is true?

How did I wait so long to read The Footman and I? The Footman and I is a charming story and first in the Footman's Club series by Valerie Bowman. The year is is 1814 and four gentleman are drinking in the Curious Goat Inn. Their lives are about to change based on a bet, some intrigue and the most interesting house party of their lives.

 
I really enjoyed this romance between Miss Frances Wharton and Lucas, the Earl of Kendall. The characters were believable, and the dialogue was entertaining. The situations the hero and heroine has humor and heart. The side characters and especially the Earl's friends, Worth, Bell and Clayton, are great characters and I'm really looking forward to reading their books. 

Without giving away too much, you will enjoy this book if you like secret identities, secret rendezvous and a house party romances. I really liked the peek into the politics and the social rules of the time. I listened to the audiobook, but I picked up the ebook version as well because The Footman and I is a feel-good romance that I plan on reading over and over again.

 

Reviewed by Gayle

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
#Happily Ever After #Witty #Wonderful characters #Romantic #Entertaining #Feel Good Romance 

How to Woo a Wallflower is delightful.

Throwback Thursday Review 

I reviewed How to Woo a Wallflower  August 21, 2022 on Goodreads and various vendors but I forgot to post it here. What can I say, I found this review in drafts and it deserves to be published. It's a terrific book. 

He could have any deb

Except his best friend’s sister…

Jasper, the Earl of Beaufort, hasn’t seen Lady Harriet Fitzroy since her serious riding accident. She has grown into a kind, spirited woman, whose sinful smile plays havoc with his jaded emotions! Hattie’s family disapprove of Jasper’s rakish past, but when she risks her reputation to help him, the least he can do is pull her from the wallflower chairs and out of the shadows…

I really loved this book by Virginia Heath. How to Woo a Wallflower has great characters, an interesting setting and enough obstacles on the way to happily ever after to make this an entertaining read.

How to Woo a Wallflower expertly explores the outsider status the main characters find themselves in. Jasper, the Earl of Beaufort is disapproved of by polite society because he is a self made man and as the owner of a gaming club has a past laced with scandalous rumors. In his world another scandal threatens to erupt and he is not looking for love when he runs into Hattie his friends younger sister. Hattie is a wallflower because a horseback riding injury has left her with a limp. She has always taken a shine to Lord Jasper, but has no expectations of him. Hattie ends up helping Jasper with his scandal out of the kindness of her heart and in return he helps her discover freedom within her wallflower status. I love how the characters friendship developed into a delightful love story.

If you like your regency romance with with humor, kindness and heart then How to Woo a Wallflower by Virginia Heath is the book for you.

Reviewed by Gayle 

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
#Entertaining #Happily Ever After #Romantic #Witty #Wonderful characters

Review of Rook

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This standalone adventure set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series brims with humor, heart, and—of course—a hefty dose of supernatural mayhem.
 
Abigail Rook never intended to be the mortal bridge between the human and supernatural world. But now, the power of the Sight–and all the chaos that comes with seeing the essential truth of everything, every human, fairy, werewolf, enchanted slip of paper, and municipal building, at all times–is hers alone. With this overwhelming new gift, she should be able to solve crimes and help New Fiddleham, New England find calm in its supernatural chaos. 
The only problem? She has no idea what she’s doing.
 
And New Fiddleham isn't waiting for Abigail to be ready. Local witches and other magical beings are going missing, as tensions between human and supernatural residents curdle into a hatred that could tear the city apart. Abigail's fiance, Charlie, works alongside her to unravel the magical disappearances, but as a shapeshifter, he's under threat as well. Then Abigail's parents appear, ready to take her back to England and marry her off to someone she's never met. Abigail has no choice but to follow her Sight, her instincts, and any clues she can find to track a culprit who is trying destroy everything she holds dear.

Rook by William Ritter | Algonquin Young Readers  | Hachette | 

Aug 22, 2023

The Entertaining World of New Fiddleham

I will never get tired of William Ritter's vision of the magical world of R. F. Jackaby and Abigail Rook. William Ritter’s magical way with words and world building is very compelling and his masterful story telling keeps me wanting more. Never have I been so relieved to get a follow-up book to a series. Rook was an instant pre-order for me. The description states that it can standalone, but I would recommend reading the Jackaby series first for a richer experience. Rook is a fast-paced dive into the consequences that unfolded in The Dire King. The books centers on Abigail Rook former assistant to R. F. Jackaby. Despite Abigail’s new abilities and her changing role in the household, she must solve a mystery in New Fiddleham. Abigail must put aside her personal issues and move forward with the support and sometimes dubious assistance of a menagerie of characters found in The Jackaby series. Nicola Barber's wonderful voice delivers a multilayered performance as the varied inhabitants of New Fiddleham, and the experience is like listening to a full cast recording. Rook is a magical book. Three generations in my household have read and loved all The Jackaby stories and Rook is a welcome addition to the series. Step through the portal, my friend, a magical world awaits. #wonderful characters 

#great world building #entertaining #witty #fantasy adventure #original #action packed

Reviewed by Gayle

Purchased at Audible