Susan's Review of A Season of You by Emma Douglas

It’s Christmastime in the quaint island town of Cloud Bay, where love is always in season... Will has believed in love at first sight since the day he first laid eyes on Mina Harper five years ago. There was only one problem: She was happily married. Then, when Mina’s husband was killed by a drunk driver, Will figured she’d want nothing to do with a guy who owns a whiskey distillery. So he’s kept his feelings locked away, knowing that not even a Christmas miracle would be enough to melt Mina’s heart. . .

Mina believes her days of true love are behind her. Since losing her husband she’s kept to herself, content to do her own painting and stay out of the limelight that comes with her famous family. But when, after a freak accident, Will comes to her rescue, Mina can’t quite get him out of her mind. As curiosity turns into a fling during Cloud Bay’s first Christmas Festival, she finds it harder to convince herself that her feelings for Will are just mistletoe-inspired. Could Mina be ready to lay the past to rest and finally admit that what she really wants for Christmas—and forever—is Will?

 

A Season of You by Emma Douglas is set in the small island town of Cloud Bay during the Christmas holiday season. The characters in A Season of You appealed to me. The novel features bar owner Will Fraser and widow Mina Harper.

Will has been attracted to Mina for years. He has not acted on his feelings because he understands that Mina is still grieving for her late husband. Mina keeps busy with her family, job and her dog. Will finds an unconscious Mina by the side of the road and takes her and her dog to the local clinic. He offers to drive Mina home and stay the night. The couple begins a tentative friendship when Mina brings Will thank you cookies and discovers that her dog chewed the leather seats in Will’s car while she was in the clinic.

A talented artist, Mina has been obsessed with painting the ocean since her husband died. Mina’s work reflects her solitary nature and her deep emotional feelings about her husband’s death. The paintings depict crashing waves and stormy seas. Loved the symbolism used in the novel as there are no paintings with calm seas or people in the studio. The author crafted a perfect “AH HA” moment for Mina and a turning point in the novel when she asks Will if she can paint him.

Enjoyed the pace of the story, although there was chemistry between the couple, the romance between them developed slowly. Will let Mina set the tone and tempo of their relationship. He truly cared for Mina and did not want to rush her or make her feel uncomfortable. Emma Douglas crafted this important piece of the couple’s journey perfectly. I loved their first date- painting plywood Christmas trees and candy canes for the town’s holiday celebration. The conversations between Mina, her sister Faith and her step mother Lou were fabulously written. Am hoping the author has a story for Lou planned.

The conclusion to the novel caught me by surprise! There were several unexpected plot developments which were woven in the last few chapters. I am looking forward to seeing them resolved in the next Cloud Bay book.

I enjoyed A Season of You very much. It’s the perfect blend of romance, family, friendship and new beginnings.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by St Martin's Press

Holiday Q & A with Emma Douglas

When do the holidays official start for you?

After my mom's birthday which is early December!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Getting together with my family and friends and just having a good time with the people I love.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Making the plum pudding with my mum and watching Carols by Candlelight which is broadcast on TV here in Oz on Christmas Eve.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Die Hard 

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R Tolkien. Gorgeous illustrations and funny! They're letters he wrote to his kids (as Father Christmas) each year, telling the stories of what had been happening at the North Pole that year.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

O Holy Night because I love the melody.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I do Christmas in summer here in Oz so that makes it swimming or otherwise avoiding the heat. But in winter I have a weird liking for walking in the cold, as long as I can thaw out with a good book afterward.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

Both my current cats I gave myself for Christmas but that probably doesn't count. I got a membership to the local zoo which was fun as I like to wander around there. Other than that, like a true bookworm, every year I love getting books.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Nothing big but I'm sure I'll come up with a list of books and art supplies that would be great to get.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Both to write more and to have more time for non-writing things. Maybe I need a clone for Christmas?

Emma Douglas would love to live in a world where professional napping was a thing. But until then, she thinks writing books is a pretty awesome alternative. When not writing about imaginary people, she can be found reading, doing something crafty, binge-watching TV, playing her latest song crush on repeat, or singing badly in her car. She lives in Melbourne, Australia in a tiny house stuffed full of books, too many craft supplies and two cats who take up more space than you would expect. Find out more about Emma at www.emmadouglasbooks.com.

Caught by the Scot by Karen Hawkins - Audible version

Caught by the Scot

by Karen Hawkins

Made to Marry Series, Book I

☆☆☆☆

I have to admit, it was the cover that sold me on this one.

I have read and liked Karen Hawkins before. But this one,

it was the cover and the Scottish accented narrator.

I am so glad to be able to put this audible clip on here.

 

 

 

 

 

Theodora & Conner have grown up knowing each other.

Theodora has long been in love with Conner. But he is a man after all.

They aren't always the most observant. He has been off living a

silly, wasteful life. Theodora is finally tired of waiting for him.

So she finds herself a predictable, kind man to marry.

Conners beloved sister has died and her only wish was for her

brothers to marry.  She wanted each of them to marry a good woman.

Conner knows he must follow his sisters final wish. But where

will he find such a woman willing to marry him in a short time?

Well, of course, it would be his old friend, Theodora. He likes

her. They get along well. She knows him so she would not have

high expectations. Perfect.

He goes to find her only to find out she has

run off to marry her predictable land owner.

Now, Conner has competition. Not only does another man

want to marry Theodora. But she has decided he is not worth

the certain heartache that would come with marrying him.

She has no intention of being Caught by the Scot.  

She does not want him.

 Conner isn't even sure what he would be willing to give up.

But Theodora is certain about what she is willing

to settle for. Can Conner get it all together before

it's too late? Can he convince her that he is serious?

Will Theodora be willing to take a chance on Conner?

 

The narrator is Gary Furlong. I hope you will enjoy the

audio clip above. You can make up your own mind.

 

I bought my copy from Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson

 



Susan's Review of Wilde in Love by Eloisa James

Book 1 in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series

Lord Alaric Wilde, son of the Duke of Lindow, is the most celebrated man in England, revered for his dangerous adventures and rakish good looks.

Arriving home from years abroad, he has no idea of his own celebrity until his boat is met by mobs of screaming ladies. Alaric escapes to his father’s castle, but just as he grasps that he’s not only famous but notorious, he encounters the very private, very witty, Miss Willa Ffynche.
Willa presents the façade of a serene young lady to the world. Her love of books and bawdy jokes is purely for the delight of her intimate friends. She wants nothing to do with a man whose private life is splashed over every newspaper.

Alaric has never met a woman he wanted for his own…until he meets Willa. He’s never lost a battle.

But a spirited woman like Willa isn’t going to make it easy…

The first book in Eloisa James’s dazzling new series set in the Georgian period glows with her trademark wit and sexy charm—and introduces a large, eccentric family. Readers will love the Wildes of Lindow Castle!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Wilde In Love

by Eloisa James

Series

The Wildes of Lindow Castle #1

Genre

Adult

Historical Romance

Publisher

Avon Books

Publication Date

October 31, 2017

About Eloisa James

ELOISA JAMES is a New York Times best-selling author and professor of English literature who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight. Visit her at http://www.eloisajames.com.

Author Links

    

Wilde in Love captivated me from the first page! The opposites attract romance between the famous Lord Alaric and the very private Willa Ffynche was exquisitely written-- it’s romantic, funny and charming!

Alaric Wilde has returned to England to discover that he’s a famous celebrity. He is amazed that the books he wrote about his adventures are best sellers, ladies are enamored of him and that they swoon when they read about his escapades. He’s not amused when he learns there’s a sold out play entitled Wilde in Love which features his fictitious romance with a lovesick missionary’s daughter and his escapades with a pack of cannibals!

His desire? To travel home to Lindow Castle to see his father, stepmother and assorted brothers and sisters.

Willa Ffynche and Lavinia Gray are invited to a house party at Lindow Castle in honor of the engagement of Lavinia’s cousin, Diana, to Alaric’s older brother, North. Lavinia has read all of Alaric’s books and wears a much coveted Lord Wilde gold locket while Willa has no interest in Lord Wilde or his adventures. Although Willa is very smart and well read, she is a very private person. She is not impressed with Lord Wilde believes that Alaric enjoys his celebrity status and all of its’ perks.

Her decision? To avoid the handsome, charming man that intrigues her.

Alaric and Willa’s romance appealed to me because even though the chemistry between the couple sizzled, the passion between the couple developed slowly. Alaric took time to show Willa that he was Alaric Lindow, not Lord Wilde. He understood that there was more to Willa than the ladylike image she portrayed to the public. The conversations between the couple were witty, honest and at times poignant.

Wilde in Love is a fantastic read; the characters are multi-faceted, the romance between the hero and heroine is relatable and there is just enough social commentary woven through the storyline. Loved both Alaric and Willa and enjoyed reading their romantic journey. The secondary characters of North, Parth, Diana and Lavinia are fabulous. I enjoyed the relationship between Lavinia and Parth---she annoyed him—or was it attraction? (I can’t wait for their story!) There are many characters in the novel and each of them played important roles in the story. The last few chapters of the book are suspenseful and contain several surprising plot twists. I loved that Alaric never wanted to be a hero, but was given the chance to be a hero to the woman he loved.

The epilogue is perfect for Alaric and Willa—it made me smile! I adored the teaser for the next book in the series.

Reviewed By Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

Chapter One

June 25, 1778

London

There wasn’t a person in all England who’d have believed the boy who grew up to be Lord Alaric Wilde would become famous.

Infamous? That was a possibility.

His own father had given him that label after Alaric was sent down from Eton at the age of eleven for regaling his classmates with stories of pirates.

Piracy wasn’t the problem—the problem was the uncanny way young Alaric had depicted his small-minded Etonian instructors in the guise of drunken sailors. These days he avoided portraying self-righteous Englishmen, but the impulse to observe had never left him. He watched and summarized, whether he was in China or an African jungle.

He had always written down what he saw. His Lord Wilde books were a consequence of that impulse to record his observations, a drive that appeared as soon as he learned to write his first sentences.

Like everyone else, it had never occurred to him that those books could make him famous. And he didn’t think any differently when he rolled out of his berth on Royal George. All he knew in that moment was that he was finally ready to see his family, all eight siblings, not to mention the duke, duchess, and a stepsister or two.

He’d stayed away for years, as if not seeing his eldest brother Horatius’s grave would make his death not true.

But it was time to go home. He wanted a cup of tea. A steaming hot bath in a real bathtub. A lungful of smoky London air.

Hell, he even missed the peaty smell that hung over Lindow Moss, the bog that stretched for miles to the east of his father’s castle. He was drawing back the curtain over the porthole when the ship’s boy knocked and entered. “There’s a mighty fog, milord, but we’re well up the Thames, and the captain reckons we’ll be at Billingsgate Wharf any minute.” His eyes shone with excitement. Upon on deck, Alaric found Captain Barsley standing in the prow of the Royal George, hands on his hips. Alaric started toward him and stopped, astonished. Through the fog, the dock glimmered like a child’s toy: a blurry mass of pink, purple, and bright blue. It separated into parts as the ship approached.

Women.

The dock was crowded with women—or, more precisely, ladies, considering all the high plumes and parasols waving in the air. A grin tugged at the corners of Alaric’s mouth as he joined the captain.

“What in the devil is going on?”

“I expect they’re waiting for a prince or some such foolishness. Those passenger lists they print in the Morning Chronicle are utter rubbish. They’re going to be bloody disappointed when they realize the Royal George hasn’t a drop of royal blood aboard,” the captain grumbled. Alaric, who was related to the crown through his grandfather, gave a shout of laughter. “You have a noble nose, Barsley. Perhaps they’ve discovered a relation you never heard of.”

Barsley just grunted. They were close enough now to discern that ladies were crowded as far back as the fish market. They appeared to be bobbing up and down like colored buoys, as they strained to see through the fog. Faint screams suggested excitement, if not hysteria.

“This is Bedlam,” Barsley said with disgust. “How are we supposed to disembark in the midst of that?”

“Since we’ve come from Moscow, perhaps they think the Russian ambassador is on board,” Alaric said, watching a rowboat set out toward them, manned by a dockworker.

“Why in the devil’s name would a flock of women come looking for a Russian?”

“Kochubey is a good-looking fellow,” Alaric said, as the boat struck the side of the ship with a thump. “He complained of English ladies besieging him, calling him Adonis, and sneaking into his bedchamber at night.”

But the captain wasn’t listening. “What the devil are those women doing on the wharf?” Captain Barsley roared, as the dockworker clambered over the side from the rowboat. “Make way for my gangplank, or I won’t be responsible for the fish having a fine meal!”

The man dropped to the deck, eyes round. “It’s true! You’re here!” he blurted out.

“Of course I’m here,” the captain snarled.

But the man wasn’t looking at Barsley.

He was looking at Alaric.

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