Cover Reveal-- A Reckless Redemption by Laura Trentham

A Reckless Redemption

by Laura Trentham

Series: Spies and Lovers, #3

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: December 5, 2017

Can a single night’s deception lead to a lifelong love?

On the eve of her wedding to a man she detests, Brynmore McCann can think of only one way to escape—by ruining herself—but the local lads leave her wholly uninspired. Just as she’s ready to accept her fate, she spots Maxwell Drake, home after nearly a decade. Even though he had loved her sister when they were young, Bryn has always considered him hers and she can’t think of anyone she’d rather have bed her for the first time. Only she never intends for him to find out who she is.

Upon returning home, Maxwell is stunned by the news that his father may have left him an inheritance. As the unacknowledged by-blow of a local nobleman, Maxwell struggles with resentment over the way he and his mother were treated by his father and the village. To add to his troubles, he discovers the lass he spent an incredibly satisfying night with was not the village whore, but the high-born sister of his first love. He insists Brynmore travel with him to Edinburgh until they determine if she is with child. Because if she is, she’ll marry him whether she wants to or not.

Along the road to Edinburgh, they are attacked by persons unknown. As the list of suspects who want them dead grows longer and his worries deepen, Maxwell prepares for an even more personal battle—how to keep from surrendering his heart to Brynmore.

Warning: Contains a broody Scotsman, a fiery-haired lass, and a night of passion that changes everything. Readers are encouraged to bring a fan.

A man’s murmur rose through the occasional nicker and whinny. For a long moment, Bryn stood still, letting the cadence soothe her like a wild pony. The deep, rich voice mesmerized her, and she found herself under its spell, moving inexorably closer to the open stall. She peered around the door to see a man rubbing down his horse with sweeping, graceful strokes of a blanket.

He exchanged blanket with brush and methodically groomed the horse’s flanks, all the while talking nonsense to his besotted mount. The low timbre of his voice lilted with a Scot’s brogue. The horse nuzzled the man during his ministrations. A greatcoat and brimmed hat kept his identity a secret.

The edge of his coat and boots were muddy and road-worn but of excellent quality. How had such a fine gentleman ended up in such an out of the way village as Cragian? For her wedding? Why then wasn’t he at the house with all the other kowtowers?

He circled to the horse’s opposite flank, and she caught sight of the lower half of his face. Weakness crawled into her knees, and her stomach took a fearless leap. She knew him.

Dark stubble covered a strong, square jaw. In juxtaposition, his mouth was sensuous, the bottom lip full and curled up in a smile as if caring for his horse was a pleasure and not a chore. Something deep inside of her, something she hadn’t even known was lying dormant, stirred to life after almost ten years.

It would be this man or no one. The man who’d once loved her sister. The man she’d loved from afar for too many years. Maxwell Drake. The Fates had made her decision.

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Book 1: An Indecent Invitation

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Book 2: A Brazen Bargain

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An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. KISS ME THAT WAY, Cottonbloom Book 1, won the Stiletto Contest for Best Long Contemporary and finaled in the National Readers Choice Award. THEN HE KISSED ME, Cottonbloom Book 2, was named an Amazon Best Romance of 2016 and was a finalist for the National Excellence for Romance Fiction. TILL I KISSED YOU, Cottonbloom Book 3, is a finalist in the Maggie contest. LEAVE THE NIGHT ON, the latest Cottonbloom book, was named an iBooks Best Book of the Month and a Recommended Read from NPR.

When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she's shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

Visit her at www.LauraTrentham.com or connect on Twitter at @LauraTrentham or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LauraTrenthamAuthor) or Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/lauratrentham/)

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Email:  laura@lauratrentham.com

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Highland Ruse by Madeline Martin

Highland Ruse

by Madeline Martin

☆☆☆☆☆

Mercenary Maidens Series

Book Two

 

Delilah is much more than she appears.

But by the time Kaid realizes that, he is in

over his head. Can he come to his senses in time?

 

Delilah has had to make her own way. She is 

willing to do whatever it takes. However hard

she must work. Any danger she must face.

She has her first mission. Delilah is prepared.

Kaid has his family to protect. There are many

people counting on him. He comes up with a

plan that he believes will end the destructive

and dangerous revenge. It's a complicated

plan but if it is successful, it will bring peace.

Both Delilah and Kaid have everything at stake.

Can they find a way to make it work for everyone?

Will they have to give up any hope of a happy

ending for them together?

 

 

Highland Ruse is a story of fighting to give

romance a chance to come to life.
Madeline Martin has written characters that

are not afraid to know what they want and

do what they must to succeed.

 

Review by Lisa Hutson



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.