Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Because of Miss Bridgerton

by Julia Quinn

It's been a while since I read a Bridgerton

story. I have loved them all though.

But good golly, this one is fabulous!!

We all come to a time in our life when we realize

that the world does not circle around us. That we are

not in charge of everything and everyone. Usually we 

start getting that in our teens. 

But some of us take a little longer.

Sybilla Bridgerton has always felt that she is different

from other females. As though she doesn't fit in anywhere.

Thing is, she doesn't realize that everyone feels that way.
But Billie handled it a little different than most. She

jumped fences and wore britches. She climbed trees and

rescues cats. Billie is certain that she will never marry. She

will never find a man that she could tolerate. And deep

down, she is very insecure.

The Rokesby family has lived next door to the Bridgertons

forever. The children have grown up in each others pockets.

George being the oldest child and heir, missed out on much

of the fun growing up. He watched his brothers dash off on

adventures. Defending king and country. While his responsibility

was to guard the homeland as much as possible. While George

has always been envious of his brothers, he is now realizing that

his job is important too. Now, he must marry and produce the

next generation.

 While it was always taken for granted that Billie would marry one

of the Rokesby sons, no one, absolutely no one (well, maybe one

someone, mothers know these things, don't they?), thought it

would be George. Billie and George have always been like

oil and water. It would be Edward or Andrew that she would

marry. She always felt that one is as good as the other.

The story takes up when Billie and George are both at a turning
point in their lives. There is a family crisis. Since the Bridgertons
and the Rokesbys have always considered each other family, 
everyone circles around to help. Billie begins to feel like her
life is lacking. Perhaps helping on the estate and leading her
life with little concern for anyone else isn't perfect anymore. George
is noticing that maybe his father needs more and more help with
business. It's time for George to find a wife.

Billie is not sure at all that any man will want her. How will the
estate continue if she does find a man and marry? George wishes
to have a less stiff and formal life. But where will he find a wife
that will be happy with that sort of life?
They are both confused and wondering where oh where
did these feelings for each other come from? There is
something very wrong when they are being drawn to each other.

I absolutely loved this story. I did not want to sit it down.
Billie and George are fabulously done. I loved the rest of the
families as well. The guests fit perfectly with these neighbors
that are so familiar with each other. I especially loved 
Chapter 24. It does not go as most stories like this do. It did
surprise me in a pleasant way.
Very well done, Julia Quinn. Now I am ready to get on
with the next Bridgerton story.
Review by Lisa Hutson
I bought my kindle copy from Amazon.



Samantha Chase’s Love Walks In | Spotlight

The Shaughnessy Brothers are back!

He lives by a schedule

Aubrey Burke is on the run from an about-to-be-disastrous mistake when resort owner Hugh Shaughnessy catches her climbing through his office window. Until Aubrey tumbled into his life, Hugh had relied on work and discipline to safeguard a heart damaged by family tragedy. Now his careful world will never be the same.

She lives for the moment

Hugh’s approach to life and love is the opposite of Aubrey’s, but she soon finds herself falling hard for the handsome hotel mogul. There’s a darker reason behind her “live for today” attitude than Hugh could possibly know, but for the first time Aubrey dares to hope this man’s love might make it worth taking a chance on the future.

Samantha Chase, a creative writing teacher, released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Since then, she has published seventeen more titles and has become a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She lives with her husband of twenty-four years and their two sons in North Carolina. http://www.chasing-romance.com/

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Aubrey was curled up in bed with the TV remote, flipping through the channels, trying to find something to watch. Honestly, with hundreds of channels, it shouldn’t be this hard, she thought.

It was late for her. The eleven o’clock news was over and all of the late-night talk shows were starting up. It had been so long since she’d watched any of them, she wasn’t sure which channel to go to or what she’d find.

“Maybe I should read,” she muttered, looking around for her Kindle. She was a one-click addict—there had to be something on there to pique her interest. Shutting off the TV and reaching for the nightstand drawer, she let out a squeak of surprise when the phone rang. A slow smile crept across her face when she saw Hugh’s name on the screen.

“Hey,” she said softly, relaxing back onto her pillows.

“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Hugh asked.

“Nope. I was just sitting here trying to figure out what to do with myself. It was a toss-up between late-night TV and a book.”

“Book. Always go for the book. You’ll sleep better.”

She chuckled. “I’m not too sure about that. I found I sleep better when you’re next to me. And we didn’t read a single word.”

He groaned. “You’re killing me.”

“Okay, sorry,” she said. “So tell me how your first day at home was. Did you get to have dinner with everyone?”

“Oh…yeah,” he said sourly, and Aubrey knew something was up.

“Out with it, Shaughnessy. What’s going on?”

He told her about his father’s plans for the house and why he wasn’t particularly thrilled about it. “What about your brothers? Do they feel the same?”

“Hell no. They spent a good portion of the night telling me why I was wrong.”

She could hear the pout in his voice and her heart went out to him. “I’m so sorry. What can I do? Do you want to come here for a few days?”

“I do…but if I leave it’s just going to give them more ammunition.”

“You’re entitled to feel the way you feel, Hugh. They don’t have to agree with it or even like it, but you don’t have to change for them. Chances are they do things you don’t like or agree with. Right?”

He sighed. “What’s your point?” There was no animosity in his tone, only curiosity.

“Just because they think or do things differently than you, do you love them any less?”

“Well…no.”

“So don’t let this bother you. You’re probably the only one still thinking about it. Take this time to enjoy your visit with your father and your brothers. If they give you grief about it, just shake it off.”

“Easier said than done. And you should know that. Weren’t you on the receiving end of family grief only a week ago?”

Aubrey was quiet for a moment. “That’s different, Hugh. Your brothers aren’t being mean to you or belittling you for the sake of being cruel. They’re probably doing it more out of good old-fashioned sibling teasing.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

It still stung. “So,” she began cheerily, “what are your plans? Anything exciting?”

He outlined his plans to help his dad with the yard work, to see his brother Aiden’s house, and to look at some property for a potential new resort.

“Sounds like you’re going to have a lot to do.”

“I suppose.”

There was that tone again. “Hugh? Come on. There’s something wrong. I can hear it in your voice.”

He was silent for a long moment, and just when Aubrey thought she’d have to prompt him, he said, “I miss you.”

Her heart melted at his words. “You just saw me this morning,” she said quietly.

“I know, but this last week we’ve been around each other all the time. And now…now I wish you were here with me.”

Samantha Chase’s Love Walks In is a wonderful opposites attract romance. Runaway bride Aubrey Burke climbs into hotel owner Hugh Shaughnessy’s window and into his heart. The characters and their stories drew me into this flawlessly written story which centers on the subjects of forgiveness, second chances and family ties. 

Each member of the Shaughnessy family has dealt with the loss of their mother during the past 17 years. Love Walks In provides insight into Hugh’s struggle with his perceived role in the tragedy. Hugh is a by-the-book, detail oriented person. He sticks to his work schedule and thrives on routine. At first, I wasn’t sure if I could relate to the character of Hugh. He helped Aubrey escape from her fiancé but I felt that he didn’t feel for her situation until he heard her crying on his deck. Hugh understood that Aubrey needed someone to comfort and support her, not judge her. This simple, well-crafted scene sets both the stage and the tone for the couple’s romance. 

Aubrey reminded me of a caged bird. She longed to escape from her disapproving, controlling parents. Aubrey sees life as an adventure, she wants to try new things and travel. Hugh and Aubrey get to know each other as they work on a major wine campaign for the resort. The author does a fabulous job with the careful pacing of the couple’s romance. The progression from friends to lovers works perfectly in this novel. Travelling for the campaign puts Hugh and Aubrey in close contact; they work together, eat together and confide in each other. 

Samantha Chase has the ability to write honest, emotional dialogue for her characters which enables the reader to closely identify with them. I loved the from- the-heart conversations between Hugh and Aubrey and the humorous back and forth banter between Hugh and his family. 

Love Walks In amazed me because it’s so much more than an opposites attract romance. The author mixes the right amount of humor, drama and family in this contemporary novel. Hugh and Aubrey’s story resonated with me. The conclusion and the epilogue were perfect for this couple—the last few chapters were fabulously written and full of surprises!

Reviewed By Susan Gorman

Edited By Brian McGee 

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Wind Chime Wedding by Sophie Moss

Wind Chime Wedding

by Sophie Moss

This is book 2 of the Wind Chime Novel series.

We are back to the island. This one is the story

of Becca. She is a teacher at Heron Island Elementary.

Becca is proud of her home and the school she works

at. One day, she is told that the school is going to

be closed down and the children will have to go to 

bigger schools outside of their area. Many of the 

teachers will lose their jobs. Becca has been engaged

to Tom for a long time. They have a deep 

emotional connection from when they were very 

young. They have been together really ever since.
The wedding is coming in only 3 weeks. And then, 

she will follow him and move to Washington, DC. 

She will give up her job and her home to be with him. 

Colin is working hard to build a center to help 

veterans coming home from war. He came home

with one prosthetic leg. So Colin feels like he can

relate and help them. Colins father is a big time 

politician. He demands that his son is visible in the

political world. His father loves Colin and he uses

his sons service record to get people to pay attention.

His father has helped a lot getting the funding needed

for the center. Which is why Colin goes along with

his fathers demands.

There is a lot to this story. The people of the island are very 

involved. They are interesting to say the least. Becca 

knows where her heart is happiest. But she has been waiting 

to marry Tom for most of her adult life. 

Which does she give up?

"All love is risk, Becca," her father said gently.
"I would rather have a love as strong

as I had with your mother for a single day

than a lukewarm love that lasted a lifetime."

 Wind Chime Wedding is full of love. From every 

corner of the island. It's a place of soothing comfort.

Trusting your neighbor. The old saying about it taking

a village to raise a child. The people here live that.
I do recommend these stories if you enjoy happy,

dependable reading filled with much emotion and hope

for the future. Sometimes, the hope for the future

is brought by a wind chime. 

I was given this copy of Wind Chime Wedding in

exchange for an honest review.
Review by Lisa Hutson