📖 Book Review ~ The Laird's Runaway Wife by Sarah Mallory

Harlequin
22 May

Lairds of Ardvarrick #3

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

A gripping marriage-reunited story set between the Highlands and London.Finding his wife…Puts them both in peril!

When they were newly married, their lives had been full of joy, but tragedy has struck, and Grant Rathmore’s wife has run away to her father—a dangerous Jacobite sympathizer. Fearful for Madeleine’s life, Grant finds her at a London ball, looking more beautiful than ever and dancing without a care in the world. Now Grant vows to do whatever it takes to keep her safe...

📖My Review ..

When Grant Rathmore, Laird of Ardvarrick, returns to his highland home he is devastated to discover that his wife Madeleine has left him. Tracking her to London, Grant is equally concerned when he sees that Madeleine is in company with her father who, as a known Jacobite, is heading into a very dangerous situation. Despite the strain in their marriage, Grant is determined to protect Maddie from harm, however, as the story progresses this becomes increasingly difficult especially when Maddie attracts the attention a particularly noxious character.

As always this talented author combines history with passionate relationships and even though Grant and Maddie are estranged in this story, there is still a viable connection between them. Moving effortlessly from the Scottish highlands, to the sumptuous salons of Georgian London, this final book in the trilogy looks at the continued support for the Jacobites and the clandestine nature of those who would put the exiled Stuarts before their allegiance to the House of Hanover. 

Whilst each book can be read as a standalone story, I think in the case of the Lairds of Ardvarrick trilogy it does make more sense to read the books in the order they were written, that way the the emotional connection between the lovely characters who have featured so strongly in the series are allowed to grow and develop over each story. However, as this is definitely the final book in the trilogy there is a sense of bringing everything together and whilst I won't give anything away I will conclude that, as with the previous two books, there is a lovely sense of satisfaction at the ending. 

🍷Best read with..a decanter of rich wine

About the Author

Sarah Mallory was born in the West Country and grew up with a love of books and history. She has had over 40 historical novels published and won the Rona Rose Award from the Romantic Novelists Association in 2012 and 2013.

Website

Twitter @SarahMRomance

Facebook  

Amazon UK

Lairds of Ardvarrick Series

Book 1: Forbidden to the Highland Laird

Book 2: Rescued by Her Highland Soldier

Book 3: The Laird's Runaway Wife 

📖 Blog Tour ~ Through the Water, Darkly by Victoria L Short

 

Independently Published

My thanks to the author and to Random Things Tours for my copy of the book
and the invitation to be part of the tour.

What if their future lay in her past?

Caroline Curtis is an avid horticulturalist, who is injured during the restoration of a local country estate.

She wakes in a familiar body, but a different time, and with mixed memories of her twenty-first century life and those of a seventeenth century lady, which causes difficult conflicts not only in herself but the people around her.

The first English civil war is over, and the king deposed.

The Prince of Wales is fleeing the country, and, as Caroline fights to change the future of the man with whom she has fallen in love, she begins to realise that time is not a straight line.

📖 My Review...

Caroline Curtis has the extraordinary experience of falling through time only to discover that she is entangled in a very different England. Waking up in the seventeenth century with only hazy memories of her life in the twenty-first century, Caroline has to adjust very quickly especially as she takes on the persona of a young noblewoman called Carolina Sackville.  When she meets the handsome, Nicholas Trevilian, Caroline not only gets caught up in the political intrigue surrounding his involvement in the English Civil War but she also starts to feel a deep emotional connection to Nicholas which transcends time.

What then follows is a historical time slip novel which whisks us back to a time of great danger especially as King Charles I is facing uneasy opposition and to be on the wrong side of the political divide during the Civil War is tantamount to treason. The author brings to life the historical aspects in a lively way and the romance between the two main characters is handled with care. 

Reminiscent, in places, of the Outlander novels, albeit in a different time-frame Through the Water, Darkly looks at the concept of time travel in an adventurous way with, at its centre, a dramatic love story between two characters who are lost in time and find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

🍷Best Read with...a glass of chilled wine.

Follow the Blog Tour

Twitter @Vlshort #ThroughTheWaterDarkly

Instagram @toriajames

@RandomTTours

Blog Blitz and Giveaway ~ The Maiden and the Mercenary by Nicole Locke

 

Delighted to host one of the stops on the final day of this blog tour

Mills & Boon
1 December 2020

#10 Lovers and Legends

My thanks to the publisher for my ecopy of this book
and Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

Keep your friends close…

But your enemies closer?

In order to find a legendary treasure map, mercenary Louve of Mei Solis must infiltrate his enemy’s fortress under the guise of a servant. There, Louve meets beautiful maiden Biedeluue, a fellow servant with her own hidden agenda…to save her sister from the malevolent Lord’s clutches! Their high-stakes missions may be at odds with one other, but their attraction cannot be denied even in this most dangerous of situations…

What did I think about it...

Serving woman, Biedeluue, is doing all she can to try to rescue her sister, Margery from the clutches of the evil, Ian of Warstone. However, when Bied comes into contact with the enigmatic mercenary, Louve of Mei Solis, who is posing as the castle usher, she is ill prepared for the effect that this man has on her peace of mind. That Louve is not who he says he is adds a certain piquancy to what is, after all, quite a complex medieval adventure. 

Filled with an array of rather dastardly villains the story takes some getting used to but once I had the characters firmly in place I found the story moved along at quite a fast pace. I enjoyed getting to know both Bied and Louve, both are complicated characters, and whilst their attraction to each other is obvious, they each have other, more important, things to worry about. However, as with all medieval adventures, nothing is going to run smoothly for this couple in this complicated tale of family politics and whilst I can't say too much for fear of spoiling, I can add that I was intrigued by the complexity of the overall plot.

The author is an accomplished historical fiction writer and brings to the story a distinct air of medieval skulduggery and an interesting sense of time and place. The Maiden and the Mercenary is now the tenth book in the Lovers and Legend series of historical novels which can all be read as standalone stories but as with all series it is better to start at the beginning to see just how the story line progresses through the medieval timeline. 

About the Author

Nicole first discovered romance novels hidden in her grandmother’s closet. Convinced that hidden books must be better, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural she should start writing them (but now not so secretly).

🌠 Giveaway to Win a £20 / $20 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally) 🌠

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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🌠 Publication Day Book Review ~ A Marquis in Want of a Wife by Louise Allen

 

🌠 Happy Publication Day 🌠

Mills & Boon
26 November 2020

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

Ross Vincent, Marquis of Cranford, with his scarred face and formidable disposition knows he’s hardly a catch. But he needs a wife to take care of his motherless son. Shy, scholarly Prudence Scott seems ideal: she has no expectation of love or passion. She’ll care for his baby in return for the protection of his name. Yet seeing Prudence on their wedding day tests Ross’s willpower to not take his new wife to bed…

My thoughts..

Prudence Scott has no romantic expectation from her hastily arranged marriage to Ross Vincent, Marquis of Crawford, other than to save her reputation, and to keep her from being the subject of scandalous gossip. It would seem that, likewise, the Marquis simply wants a mother for his motherless son, and love and passion are definitely not on his agenda when he thinks about his new wife.

Whilst this is very much a marriage of convenience there are undercurrents in the relationship between Ross and Prudence which the author describes with lively dialogue and a fine eye for detail. The niceties of Georgian society with all the subtle references to what is right and proper is maintained and the author brings a refreshing sense of honesty to this Regency romance.

There’s a lovely balance between the first stirrings of romance and the awareness of growing passion between this enigmatic couple which works really well against the exciting developments which occur when Ross, much to Prudence’s consternation, gets drawn into a very dangerous situation. I found that I was reading with bated breath hoping that everything would work out for both Ross and Prudence as each deserve to find happiness.

The author is an accomplished writer of Regency fiction which shows itself in the effortless way the story evolves bringing the  Georgian era to life in a very enjoyable way. A Marquis in Want of a Wife continues the Liberated Ladies series of historical novels and whilst it is perfectly possible to read each book as a standalone story there is a little overlap with some characters which helps to give the series a lovely sense of continuity. 

A Marquis in Want of a Wife has all the right ingredients for an engaging read, lively excitement, smouldering passion, and a thoroughly likeable hero and heroine.

 

About the Author

Louise Allen was born and brought up in Hertfordshire and now lives on the North Norfolk coast with her husband and a garden full of bossy wildlife. She is the author of over seventy books – historical romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon, indie-published time travel romance mysteries and historical non-fiction. Virtually all her books are set in the ‘long Regency’ and she is a keen collector of original fashion plates of the period and anything to do with the history of London.

Twitter: @LouiseRegency 

Facebook page

Website: www.louiseallenregency.com & https://janeaustenslondon.com

Hist Fic Saturday ~ The Mysterious Miss Fairchild by Sarah Mallory

On Hist fic Saturday

Let's go back to .....1814

Mills & Book
30 April 2020

My thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book

An accomplished beauty…

But a most unsuitable match!

Natalya Fairchild can’t help but be drawn to Tristan Quintrell, Lord Dalmorren, with his effortless charisma, even if he’s not her intended bridegroom. Tristan is an eligible society catch…whereas Natalya’s unknown heritage could label her ruined! As he helps Natalya investigate her mysterious past, she starts to hope the truth of her conception won’t destroy her prospects…of a life with Tristan!

What did I think about it..


When Tristan Quintrell's hapless nephew, Freddie, expresses his undying love for a mysterious young lady he has met in Bath, Tristan is determined to know more about Natalya Fairchild before giving his consent to a hasty marriage. When Tristan arrives in Bath and takes his place in polite society his investigations into Natalya's past bring up rather more questions than it does answers, and it doesn't help matters that Tristan finds that he too is irresistibly drawn to this beautiful, but mysterious young lady.

This is such  a lovely story and is filled with all the trademark details that regular readers have come to expect from this talented author. Once again we have a fascinating heroine, Natalya Fairchild is a beautifully accomplished young woman whose deportment, manners and gentle breeding would make her a perfect marriage prospect for any eligible bachelor. However, there are hints of a dark mystery which overshadows Natalya's natural personality, and it is this secret which draws Tristan Quintrell ever deeper into the ambiguity which surrounds Natalya's life.

I have read several of this author's work to date and I am always impressed by the way she draws the reader quickly into the story with a delightful setting, this time the beautiful city of Bath can be seen in all its Georgian splendour. She also gives us such delightful characters, men and women, who leap off the page and into your heart, especially the handsome heroes who make more than one heart go aflutter, and the strong young women who are certainly no shrinking violets when they find their true love. ♡

Charming, fun, entertaining, and gloriously romantic, The Mysterious Miss Fairchild is a delightful standalone story which, if you enjoy a captivating heroine, a brooding lord with  heart of gold, and an intriguing mystery with an unexpected twist, then I am sure that you will be as captivated as I was by this lovely visit to Georgian  England.

About the Author

Sarah Mallory was born in the West Country and grew up with a love of books and history. She has had over 40 historical novels published and won the Rona Rose Award from the Romantic Novelists Association in 2012 and 2013.

Website

Twitter @SarahMRomance

Facebook as Melinda Sarah Mallory Hammond 

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ The Last Village by Audla English

 ❆❆ Thrilled to host today's stop on this Blog Tour ❆❆ 

October 2018

My thanks to the author and random Things Tours for my copy of this book
and the invitation to take part in this blog tour

2019 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS FINALIST- ROMANCE: HISTORICAL

The majestic Souter Lighthouse stands proudly at the edge of the cliff top surrounded by open grassy empty fields and overlooking a vast blue wilderness. Anna Charles knows nothing of the life that her grandmother once had here. It wasn’t until an unexpected engagement, that Anna discovered the past of her Gran and the truth behind an enduring love.

Seventy years earlier, Lillian Smith, had been part of the close-knit community that once thrived in the village that existed next to the lighthouse. A chance meeting with a sailor one day, would change the course of her life forever.

A moving novel set in the North East of England. The Last Village is an enduring love story which spans the 1940's and modern day, binding the generations.


What did I think about it..

There’s a real sense of the warmth, and also the importance of community, in this dual time novel which looks at what is happening to Anna, and her relationship with her boyfriend James, in the present day, alongside the story of Anna’s grandmother, Lily, in the 1940s.

The author writes with a real sense of warmth, bringing both the characters and the place to life in lovely detail. I particularly enjoyed Lily’s story in the 1940s which allows a fascinating glimpse into life in a small coastal community. Even though the individual stories of Anna and Lily move forwards and backwards in time there's a real sense of continuity and I enjoyed spending time in both time frames. Anna didn’t know very much about her grandmother but as the story progresses we learn what life was like in the shadow of the Souter Lighthouse in this small corner of the North East. 

The Last Village is mainly about relationships, and of the complications of those which are taking place in the here and now, and also of romances which survive despite the difficulties of the past. I read the book over the space of a couple of afternoons, it's a really lovely story and whilst it’s not a very long read, it’s still packed with lots of precious, warm-hearted sentiments which bring to life lovely treasured memories of family, friendship and love.

About the Author

Audla English grew up in the North East of England. Born in Sunderland, a graduate of Newcastle University and living in South Tyneside , she is passionate about this wonderful region.

Website

Twitter @AudlaE #TheLastVillage

Facebook

#RandomThingsTours

Blog Tour ~ The Wicked Lord's Mistress by Scarlett Jameson

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be part of this Blog Tour

Victorian Lovers
E-Book
9 September 2019
The Lord's Seduction book #2

My thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book
and to Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to be part of this blog tour

The Wicked Lord’s Mistres is set in the late Victorian period (1886) for fans of upstairs/downstairs dramas such as Downton Abbey and steamy romances. It explores the continuing love story between

Lily, a lady’s maid at Torrington Hall, and a handsome, mysterious aristocratic hero called Lord Edgar Wilson.

Lily is surrounded by challenges from all sides. She is being blackmailed by the evil Mallkins, she has a secret past that she is trying to hide, and her forbidden love affair with Lord Wilson grows more

risky every day. Can their lusty affair transform into the tender and lasting love that Lily craves? And

given the differences in their class, is a happy ending possible for them?

Then a new enemy comes into Lily’s life, someone who is determined to destroy her. Lily finds herself facing the greatest challenge of her life, and hopes that Lord Wilson will be her hero.

What did I think about it..

This steamy, sexy romp through late-Victorian England continues the story which began in the first book of the series, The Wicked Lord and the Lady's Maid which introduced us to Lord Edgar Wilson and Lily, the eponymous lady's maid.  The Wicked Lord's Mistress continues where the previous story left off with Edgar and Lily's clandestine relationship moving forward despite all the trials and tribulations of Lily's life as a maid in an aristocratic household.

This is such a fun read with all the necessary ingredients for a lively romp through the drawing rooms and gentleman's clubs of Victorian high society as Lily continues to try to make the best of what her life has become. That she is enamoured of the handsome Lord Edgar is without doubt, but both of them have some reservations, and also Lily has a huge secret which, if Edgar finds out, she will be lost to him forever.

I raced through this novel, it's an interesting story with a few unexpected twists and turns. There's also a nice sense of how life is for those who work below stairs, opposed to those who have all the trappings of wealth and prosperity. I particularly enjoyed the mystery surrounding Lily and a rather unsavory person who seems hellbent on ruining her reputation. However, it is Edgar and Lily's erotic relationship which sizzles and sparkles with all the passionate intensity of a forbidden love affair.

At the start of this novel, the author does a nice precis of what's happened so that for those who haven't read the first book, you can very easily pick up the story, but of course, as with all series it's best to read them in the order they were published.

If you enjoy steamy, sizzling historical romances then The Wicked Lord's Mistress will keep you entertained from start to finish.

About the Author

Scarlett Jameson works in publishing by day and by night enjoys writing steamy historical romances. 

A lover of all things Victorian, she lives in London with her cat.

Sign up for Scarlett's newsletter by clicking here

Twitter @rararesources

Amazon UK

Hist Fic Saturday ~ The Highborn Housekeeper by Sarah Mallory

On Hist Fict Saturday

Let's have some Regency Romance

Mills & Boon
June 2019

Saved from Disgrace #3

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

A disgraced lady

Turned lowly housekeeper

Earl’s daughter Nancy turned her back on the aristocracy when she fled a forced marriage, working as a cook and housekeeper. But in nursing an injured man back to health, Nancy uncovers a deep longing for the dangerously attractive Gabriel, and a surprise: he’s working to protect government secrets! She wants to help him. But to do so, Nancy will have to return to the life she once cast aside…

What did I think about it...

Nancy is travelling home, with her companion, when she comes across a man who has been gravely injured. Nancy's kind hearted nature is such that she cannot leave the man to fend for himself, however, making sure that Gabriel Shaw survives, not only puts Nancy in considerable danger, but also her contact with this very handsome stranger will open up the secrets of Nancy's past which she has successfully kept hidden for twelve years.

There's no doubt that Nancy is a fascinating enigma, she has an air of delicious mystery around her, and yet, as her connection to Gabriel shows, she has a passionate nature and a real zest for life. However, circumstances have made Nancy wary and rather cautious which makes her attraction to Gabriel all the more captivating. Gabriel is every bit as charming and dangerously addictive as all of this author's fine literary heroes. He is gloriously handsome and the powerful sexual attraction between Nancy and Gabriel sizzles right from the start which very quickly make this into a sparkling, and very passionate, romance.

The Highborn Housekeeper has all the trademarks of just what we have come to expect from this series. There is a large amount of danger and intrigue, especially when Nancy and Gabriel become involved in a secret investigation, but there's also a sizzling amount of passion which smoulders between the couple and which tests their burgeoning relationship to the absolute limits.

Those who have read books one and two in the Saved from Disgrace series will already be familiar with Nancy's story, indeed, she and her companion, Mrs Yelland, were active participants in Beauty and the Brooding Lord, and so, this story takes us very nicely into what happened next for them.

Of course, as with all the stories in this series, The Highborn Housekeeper is perfectly capable of standing on its own merits and is a complete story in itself but, as with all series and for greater enjoyment, it's best to invest in this series right from the beginning, and let these wonderful historical romances take you back to Regency England.

  

About the Author

Sarah Mallory was born in the West Country and grew up with a love of books and history. She has had over 40 historical novels published and won the Rona Rose Award from the Romantic Novelists Association in 2012 and 2013.

website

Twitter @SarahMRomance

Facebook as Melinda Sarah Mallory Hammond 

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ Sins of the Sire by Emily Royal

Jaffareadstoo is thrilled to host today's stop on the Sins of the Sire Blog Tour 

Tirgeaar Publishing
13 March 2019

Dark Highland Passions : Book #1

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my ecopy of the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

Two years ago, English noblewoman, Elyssia De Montford, risked her life to free the Highlander held prisoner by her sadistic fiancé. She cannot forget the man who first stirred her heart–a memory that burns anew when she finds herself once more on the road to Scotland. 

Tavish MacLean has sworn vengeance. It’s been six years since his beloved sister was raped and murdered by an English lord, a tragedy which almost destroyed his family. On his deathbed, his father demanded retribution and Tavish pledged before his clan to enslave the lord’s daughter then send her back to her father, pregnant with a Scottish bastard. When he learns that she is travelling north, he seizes his opportunity and orders her abduction. 

But when his men fling the prisoner before him, Tavish recognises Elyssia, the woman who once saved his life. Loyalty to his clan trumps the debt he owes her and he claims Elyssia as his captive. Though she’s one of the hated English, her willing body ignites passion in him at night, though she fights him at every turn during the day. As time passes, he questions his loyalty, finding himself increasingly enthralled by his fiery captive. 

Treachery surrounds Clan MacLean. When long-buried secrets come to light, Tavish must risk his life and his clan, or all that he holds dear will be destroyed.

My thoughts..

Treachery, recklessness and danger abound in this first of a proposed series of medieval historical fiction. Set in the brutal world of the Scottish highlanders, with their constant struggle against the English, this story doesn’t pull any punches in terms of painting a harsh picture of what it was like to be at the mercy of treacherous strangers. 

Elyssia De Montford and Tavish MacLean meet in dangerous circumstances when Tavis is the prisoner of Elyssia’s English fiancée, and whilst an English woman and a Scottish highlander, wouldn’t normally have any contact in these circumstances, their attraction is obvious from the start. However, their relationship, throughout the rest of the story, is fraught with misunderstandings and deceptions.

The author's obvious passion for storytelling comes across in the way that the story develops with strong themes of vengeance and retribution which run throughout its entirety. I thought that Sins of the Sire was a good start to a new series, and whilst the book is graphic in terms of sexual content, and with scenes of brutality which may not be to everyone’s taste, there is, however, an underlying story about two people who, despite all the odds, are attracted to each other, in a relationship which only comes about after an incredibly convoluted and dangerous journey for both lead characters.

About the Author

Emily Royal is a mathematics geek who grew up in Sussex, UK and has always had a passion for romance and strong alpha heroes. After graduating from Oxford University and enjoying a brief dream of becoming an airline pilot, she started a career in financial services in order to indulge her love of mathematics. 

She now lives in rural Scotland with her husband, two daughters, and a menagerie of pets including Twinkle, an attention-seeking boa constrictor. She reignited her passion for romance when she joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association under their New Writers’ Scheme. 

When not working on algebra or keeping Twinkle from slithering over the keyboard, Emily enjoys painting and playing the piano. She can often be found wandering about the hills of Scotland looking for inspiration.

Twitter @eroyalauthor

@Tirgeaar @RaRaresources

Facebook

Website

Amazon UK


The Sins of the Sire will be 99p until 7th May

Emily Royal is running two giveaways for newsletter subscribers:

Giveaway #1 - notebook + mug with cover image + Scottish treats (UK only)

Giveaway #2 - notebook + 2 Scottish coasters (International)

So long as you are on Emily Royal’s mailing list by 10^th May when the draw is happening, you will be eligible to win. 

To sign up to her list click here 

Blog Tour and Giveaway ~ The Earl's Runaway Governess by Catherine Tinley

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to host today's stop on The Earl's Runaway Governess Blog Tour

Harlequin Historical
19 March 2019

My thanks to the author and Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my signed copy of the book
and the invitation to be part of the blog tour

Who knew living with an earl......would lead to such temptation?

Marianne Grant’s new identity as a governess is meant to keep her safe. But then she meets her new employer, Ash, Earl of Kingswood, and she immediately knows his handsome good looks are a danger of their own! Brusque on first meeting, Ash quickly shows his compassionate side. Yet Marianne doesn’t dare reveal the truth! Unless Ash really could be the safe haven she’s been looking for..

My thoughts..

When Marianne Grant flees her abusive stepbrother she takes up employment as governess to the twelve year old niece of Ash, the new Earl of Kingswood. The new Earl has much to consider, not just in the way his life has changed dramatically but also in the way that his new responsibility for house and estate involves curtailing his rather reckless London activities. Whilst looking after her young charge at Ledbury House, Marianne is also keeping her own secrets, learning to adapt to all the changes in her new way of life, whilst at the same time trying to keep safe.

What then follows is a really lovely Regency story which this author does only too well. Beautifully written with a fine cast of characters who you quickly start to care about, especially Marianne who is such a determined and yet compassionate heroine. The Earl of Kingswood is  absolutely delightful and the author brings him to life in such a glorious way that I could quite easily picture him in his knee breeches and coat of dark blue superfine.

Whilst the book is unashamedly romantic and the will they, won't they aspect of the relationship between Ash and Marianne is done really well, there is also a rather dark element to the story which is done with a realistic and quite dangerous edge.

The Earl's Runaway Governess is a lovely standalone historical romance from an author who has developed a real niche for herself within this genre. She is fast becoming one of my favourite historical writers of Regency romance.

About the Author

Catherine Tinley writes witty, heartwarming Regency love stories for Harlequin Mills & Boon. She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, NHS management, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now works in Sure Start. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, and dog.

Website

Facebook 

Twitter @CatherineTinley

@rararesources

Purchase Link

✨✨ GIVEAWAY ✨✨ 

Giveaway -Three winners will each receive a signed copy of The Earl’s Runaway Governess, plus a mystery book by another romance writer. (Open INT) 2 x UK winners and 1 x International Winner 

*Terms and Conditions–Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Review ~ The Bladesmith by Melinda Hammond

On Hist Fic Saturday

Let's go back to ...Northumberland, 1745

12 February 2019

My thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book

A tale of high adventure in the turbulent days of the Jacobite Rebellion

1745: John Steel takes a consignment of swords to Warenford Keep on the wild Northumberland coast. He suspects that the swords are destined for the rebel army of Charles Edward Stuart, but matters are complicated by his growing attraction to Katherine Ellingham, daughter of a known Jacobite and betrothed to the powerful Lord Warenford.

With Carlisle in the hands of the Jacobites, and government troops patrolling Northumberland, John makes a desperate bid to retrieve the swords from the Keep before his family is implicated in the uprising, but can he succeed, and protect Katherine and her family at the same time?

My thoughts..

This lovely romantic adventure takes us back 1745 and to the uncertain days of the Jacobite uprising. John Steel comes from a long line of sword makers who is given the task of taking a consignment of his family's swords to Lord Wallingford, a powerful adversary who lives in a strong fortress on the rugged Northumberland coast. To be caught supplying weapons to the enemy is a dangerous activity and John finds to his cost that the price of his association with Lord Wallingford will change his life forever.

There's a nice mixture of both romance and historical adventure in The Bladesmith , as not only does John get embroiled in some dangerous political events, but also his growing attraction to the beautiful Katherine Ellingham makes for interesting reading. The attraction between them is powerful and, despite their differences, the challenge for them to be together, whilst all-consuming, proves to be filled with danger.

I think that the author captures this uncertain period in history really well, the wild and rugged nature of the Northumberland coast is described beautifully, and it all becomes so atmospheric that I felt as if I walked the area alongside John, his manservant Matthew, and of course, the beautiful Katherine. The attention to detail comes across in the way that the political uncertainty is shown to impact on those characters who rely on Lord Wallingford for their existence and who are living nervously in such uncertain times.

Primarily a love story, The Bladesmith, combines history, adventure and romance to really good effect and, I'm delighted to say, is this author writing at her absolute best. I loved it 😊

Read an interview with Melinda  where she explains the background to The Bladesmith

by clicking here

Melinda on the battlements 

Website

Goodreads

Twitter @SarahMRomance

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ The Earl's Irresistible Challenge by Lara Temple

On Hist Fic Saturday

Jaffareadstoo is thrilled to be hosting today's stop on 

The Earl's Irresistible Challenge Blog Tour

Mills&Book
December 2018
Book#1 in the Sinful Sinclair Series

My thanks to the publishers and Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of this book
and the invitation to be part of the blog tour

Could this infamous rake finally have found his countess? Part  One of The Sinful Sinclairs. 

When Lucas, Lord Sinclair, receives a mysterious summons from a Miss Olivia Silverdale he’s skeptical about whether he can help her. But Olivia, although eccentric, is in earnest about her quest to restore her late godfather’s reputation. Lucas’s curiosity is piqued, and not just by Olivia’s intelligent eyes and lithe form. A new challenge quickly presents itself: keeping Miss Silverdale at arm’s length!

My thoughts about it..

Olivia Silverdale is a woman on a mission to find out as much as she can about the circumstances surrounding her godfather's untimely demise. To do so she enlists the help of Lucas, Lord Sinclair, a man whose reputation as one of the 'Sinful Sinclairs' goes before him and yet, against Lucas's better judgement, Olivia's feisty eccentricity appeals to him in more ways than one.

The Earl's Irresistible Challenge gets off to a really good start and pretty soon I was completely entranced by Olivia, who, it must be said can be a little bit exasperating at times, however, her steely determination shines through and her ability to handle the irrepressible Earl is to her credit. Lucas is a completely different sort of character, a bit of a rogue most certainly, and yet, his handsome good looks and smouldering passion is, for me, what sets the story alight.

I found much to enjoy in this story which is the first that I have read by this author. Her sense of style and light and easy touch brings both place and people alive. The hoi poloi of Regency London with all of its complicated social nuances comes to life, and whilst perhaps, Olivia is allowed rather more freedom than some Regency young ladies, her strength of character is what makes her so appealing as a leading lady.

With a real sense of history and a good sized dollop of smouldering passion, The Earl's Irresistible Challenge gets the Sinful Sinclairs miniseries off to a really good start. I'm already looking forward to meeting up again with the Sinclairs in the not too distant future.

About the Author

Lara Temple writes strong, sexy regency romances about complex individuals who give no quarter but do so with plenty of passion. After moving around the world for her career as a financial analyst and business consultant she returned to her childhood love of making up stories, and was surprised to discover that other people don’t mind reading them. 

She lives with her husband and two children who are very good about her taking over the kitchen table for her writing (so she can look out over the garden and dream while Oscar the dog keeps her feet warm by sitting on them as she works). 

The Earl’s Irresistible Challenge (out December 2018) is the first in her Sinful Sinclair series. In May 2019 Unlaced by the Highland Duke, part of a four book series with three other Harlequin Mills & Boon authors will be released.

Website

Twitter @LaraTemple1

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Amazon UK

Review ~ The G I Bride by Eileen Ramsay

Zaffre
2018

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

When trainee nurse April suffers a personal tragedy during the London Blitz she decides to move to Cornwall where she hopes to find out more about her mother's family. Taken in by the kind hearted landlady, Mrs Teague, April starts to put her life back together again. Continuing her nurse training at the hospital in Truro and making new friends helps April to come to terms with all the losses in her life. Romance starts to blossom when April meets a dashing American GI, but she finds out, to her cost that the course of true love, particularly in wartime never runs smoothly.

I really enjoyed this WW2 romantic saga which has just the right amount of tragedy interspersed with some lovely romantic interludes. The characterisation is charming, particularly Mrs Teague, whose motherly care of April is truly heart warming. The excitement comes from the interaction between April and her nursing friends and the GI soldiers who are stationed in this small Cornish town.

The author writes this genre really well and whilst there are no real surprises to be had throughout the story, overall it's an entertaining and  heartwarming historical saga.

About the Author

Eileen Ramsay was grew up in Dumfriesshire. After graduation she went to Washington DC, where she taught in private schools for some years, before moving to California with her Scottish husband. There, she raised two sons, finished her Masters Degree, fell in love with Mexico, and published her first short stories and a Regency novel. The family returned to Scotland where Eileen continued to teach and write and to serve - at different times - on the committees of The Society of Authors in Scotland, The Scottish Association of Writers and The Romantic Novelists Association. In 2004, her novel SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERE was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. Eileen is currently Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Website

Twitter @BonnierZaffre

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ What Kitty Did Next by Carrie Kablean

☆
Happy Publication  Day
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Jaffareadstoo is delighted to host today's stop on What Kitty Did Next Blog Tour

Red Door Publishing
28 June 2018
My thanks to the publishers and to Love Books Group for my e-copy of this book
 and the invitation to be part of the blog tour

What's it all about..

England, 1813 – Nineteen-year-old Catherine Bennet lives in the shadow of her two eldest sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, who have both made excellent marriages. No one expects Kitty to amount to anything. Left at home in rural Hertfordshire with her neurotic and nagging mother, and a father who derides her as ‘silly and ignorant’, Kitty is lonely, diffident and at a loss as to how to improve her situation. When her world unexpectedly expands to London and the Darcy’s magnificent country estate in Derbyshire, she is overjoyed. Keen to impress this new society, and to change her family’s prejudice, Kitty does everything she can to improve her mind and manners – and for the first time feels liked and respected. However, one fateful night at Pemberley, a series of events and misunderstandings conspire to ruin Kitty’s reputation. Accused of theft –a crime worse almost worse than murder among the Georgian aristocracy – she is sent back home in disgrace. But Kitty has learnt from her new experiences and what she does next does next will not only surprise herself, but everyone else too.

Based on Jane Austen's much-loved characters, this is the story of one young woman’s struggle to overcome the obstacles of her time and place and truly find herself.

Here's what I thought about it..

It always fascinates me that such is the appeal of Jane Austen's great novel, Pride and Prejudice that so many authors attempt, in their own way, to continue the story. Some succeed and some don't and I'm pleased to say that What Kitty Did Next worked for me. 

I've always felt really sorry for Kitty Bennet, so often overshadowed by her more high spirited sisters, she always seemed to be derided as silly Kitty, so it’s been really lovely to see her have her own exciting story where her personality is allowed to shine just as brightly as her feisty older sisters.

The author writes well and certainly captures the essence of Pride and Prejudice whilst at the same time allowing a new and fascinating story to unfold. There are the usual quirky moments at home, at Longbourn, as with three of her sisters now married and settled, poor Kitty is left at home with the irascible, Mr. Bennet, and with Mrs Bennet still confounded by her nerves and intent on match making, Kitty is delighted when she receives an invitation to London to stay with the Bingleys and then to Derbyshire and the magnificent Pemberley estate. 

What then follows is a lovely coming of age story which is really quite charming and which captures the spirit of this iconic novel with good humour and a fine eye for historical detail. I enjoyed watching Kitty grow in confidence and maturity and as the title of the novel suggests, discovering just what Kitty does next makes for a really lovely Austenesque spin-off.

About the Author

Carrie Kablean began her career in London, where she was born, and now lives in Australia. Arriving in Sydney in 1990 (via eight years in Papua New Guinea, during which time she edited the local newspaper on Bougainville), she was with The Australian newspaper for more than 20 years, and was, concurrently, a theatre critic for the Sunday Telegraph.

Twitter @CarrieKablean #WhatKittyDidNext

@RedDoorBooks

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