Month: November 2017

Miss Wilton’s Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack

There is such a rare gift for me to open and become engrossed in a wonderful story that you simply cannot put down until you’ve finished. I got that pleasing feeling when I fell into Victorian England and met Lenora Wilton, a spinster, schoolteacher and master musician. I could feel her pain as she had to deal with a totally obstinate student named Catherine. I felt her struggle with deciding to love Aiden Asher; to take a chance while guarding her heart. I loved her Aunt Gwen and all the decorum that women had to follow in that era. But most of all, I loved the engaging storyline that warmed my heart and had me silently begging that it would never end! But, of course it had to end, so I hope that Josi Kilpack will write more and I’ll be waiting for another rare trip to somewhere! A huge recommendation for educators, readers who love historical fiction and those who love historical romance.

Miss Wilton’s Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack will be available May 1, 2018 by Shadow Mountain Publishing. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

n 1974, the Vietnam War had caused a perilous situation in the United States. Many of the men and women who had served had been drafted into this very unpopular war and spent time in an “unwinnable” situation. They also returned home to find that they were not appreciated and even viewed with disdain by some. Ernt Allbright returned from the Vietnam War with the added burden of being a prisoner of war. When he came back to his wife, Cora and thirteen year old daughter, Leni, he is a different man. Ernt finds out that he inherited a homestead in an off-the-grid location of Alaska and he immediately packs up his family and hits the road in search of a new beginning. I don’t want to reveal any more of this excellent story because I believe that each reader should experience it through their own eyes. Kristin Hannah is a fabulous author of many bestsellers but I love this book the best of all that I have read. I appreciated the story of surviving in the bush and Ms. Hannah’s careful development of complex and emotional characters and situations. This novel has it all! You will be thrilled by the beauty of Alaska, haunted by the specter of cruelty and abuse, then uplifted by the sweet, heartbreaking love from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to all!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah will be available February 6, 2018 by St. Martin’s Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Cowboy Up by Harper Sloan

Caroline is visiting with her best friend in the bar that he owns where she meets a dark, mysterious cowboy. She decides to “be bad” and to go out for a night of fun with this cowboy she only knows as Davis. Months later, she finds out who he really is, THE Clayton Davis. Their attraction is real as their relationship evolves and they deal with two crazy exes. A good solid romance that will keep you reading way past your bedtime!

Cowboy Up by Harper Sloan will be available December 19, 2017 from Simon Schuster Publishers. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan

Piper Walsh has always been the girl from the other side of the tracks. Everyone knows about her wild family and their constant brushes with the law! Her brother is in prison and she’s working hard to earn a living for herself and her younger sister. This time she has a brush with the law and she runs into Sheriff Hale Walters. He may be handsome and rugged but he has a heart under all that arrogance. There’s something that he sees in Piper that makes him want to get to know her and to keep her in his life. Enjoyable story with great characters and a sweet turn of events!

Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan will be available December 26, 2017 from Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. An egalley of this book was made available by the publishers in exchange for a honest review.

A Marchioness Below Stairs by Alissa Baxter

Lady Isabelle Axbridge is a young widow who has decided never to marry again. She was forced into a loveless marriage by her father and had to give up her true love, Lord Fenmore. Isabelle and her mother are visiting her Cousin George as members of a large house party. One of the guests is Marcus Bateman, a rugged, handsome man who is a friend of the host. Isabelle and Marcus are compelled to work together ” below the stairs” when a member of the staff falls ill. Isabelle finds the situation almost impossible when she finds out the Lord Fenmore is arriving with his fiancé. A satisfying story that is a good addition to the Historical Romance genre.

A Marchioness Below Stairs by Alissa Baxter is available from Regency Reads. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini

The story of Ada Byron King, daughter of the famous poet, Lord Byron, and his wife, Lady Annabella Byron. The story begins with Annabella as a young, single woman meeting Lord Byron and regardless of warnings from friends and family, agrees to marry him. The story traces the young life of Ada through rough family times and showing her to always be a child and woman who loved to learn. Her favorite subjects were mathematics and music and her station in life allowed her to meet some of the most brilliant people during that time period in England. She also had an analytical mind that astonished innovative, mechanical engineers and she is considered to be the first computer programmer in the world. An excellent story that was written in a beautiful, loving way! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read historical fiction that closely follows true life! I loved it!

Enchantress of Numbers: A Novel of Ada Lovelace by Jennifer Chiaverini will be available December 5, 2017 from Dutton, and imprint of Penguin Group. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert

Amy Webber is the library director of the small town of Taylorsford’s Public Library. She’s moved to the town to care for her aunt after an injury. Amy meets her new neighbor, Richard Muir, when he comes to the library to look at their archives. Amy and Richard find more than library records in the archives. They come across the dead body of a library patron that has been murdered. Together they work to solve the murder and to also find out the real story behind the murder that was committed in Richard’s house in 1925. A well-written cozy mystery that will please any lovers of mystery.

A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert will be available December 12, 2017 from Crooked Lane Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Earl Interrupted by Amanda Forester

Emma St. James must get away from her stepmother and stepbrother. They are trying to get her to marry her stepbrother and have him get her inheritance. Away she goes and then she runs into the “Pirate Earl”, The Earl of Darington. The dashing earl is in for a new type of adventure with Emma. This swashbuckling tale takes you aboard his ship with plenty of great characters and exciting adventures! This book is not classified as a Christian historical romance but it does have many references to the scriptures of the bible and prayer. Enjoyable story!

Earl Interrupted by Amanda Forester will be available January 2, 2018 from Sourcebooks Casablanca. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.