Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts

Saturday, July 9, 2022

[Review] - 'The Songs That Could Have Been' by Amanda Wen

Available on Paperback and Kindle


About the Book 


Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace. 

After a devastating tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love, and the man who broke her heart threaten to throw her well-balanced world out of control. 

Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But his old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. Is he courageous enough to make a different choice this time around? 

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

[Review] - Midnight's Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller

Available on Kindle and Paperback



About the Series 


While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.”

Monday, April 11, 2022

[Review] - Victoria Winters by Marilyn Ross


Most tie-in novels tend to stay in the continuity of whatever television or movie series it's from, but that wasn't such the case with the Dark Shadow novels by Marilyn Ross (William Edward Daniel Ross). Between December 1966 to March 1972, Paperback Library published thirty-three Dark Shadows books (minus the House of Dark Shadows novelization), and all shared a different continuity than the 1966 - 1972 soap opera series. 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

[Review] - Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill


About the Book 


Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves—or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he’s been sent to track down? 


After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name--and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors’ threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn’t all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home--and the truth. 

Saturday, December 25, 2021

[Review] - The Christmas Promise by Richard Paul Evans


If my memory serves me correctly, I was 17 years old when I stumbled upon The Christmas Box Collection, an omnibus paperback featuring The Christmas Box, Timepiece, and The Letter by Richard Paul Evans. It was my first venture in the sentimental holiday romance genre, and I've been a fan of Evans's stories ever since.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

[Review] - The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch

Available on Kindle and Paperback


About the Book


Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series.


Newly returning from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn't spent much time with her parents and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family's legacy.

Monday, September 6, 2021

[Review] - Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin


It's another day, and here's another book from my TBR stack that's been collecting dust on my desk. The title is Far Side of the Sea, written by Kate Breslin and published by Bethany House in 2019. It's set in my least favorite historical setting - World War I. Typically, I don't care to read about the era. I prefer my historical romances set in the 19th century. Nevertheless, like any reading champ, I turned to Chapter One on page 9 and gave the novel everything I have, which means it received my full attention in between rounds of coffee.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

[Review] - Meant To Be by Jude Deveraux

Published by Mira (Harlequin Books). 


New York Times Bestselling Author Jude Deveraux released her newest romantic novel, Meant To Be, way back in early March. I, for one, was excited about this standalone title. For those who don't know me, let me give a quick history lesson. My mother was a big fan of Jude Deveraux's historical romances in the 1980s and early 1990s. At an early age, I read a few of my mother's Deveraux books. As an adult, I became a follower of Jude Deveraux's writings, which explains why I'm writing a review for Meant To Be.

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

[Review] - Dusk's Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller

Available on Paperback & Kindle.



About The Book

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness? 

 

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England's beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it's a peaceful life. 

 

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary's caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer--but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he's plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition? 

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

[Review] - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier


I am assuming most readers have already read the classic gothic tale REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier. I, for one, am late in the game with this novel. I saw the Albert Hitchcock Oscar-winning adaptation way back during my childhood, and while the plot details are scarce in my memory, I did like the film. In early January, I watched Netflix's 2020 remake starring Lily James, Armie Hammer (the less I talk about him, the better), and Kristin Scott Thomas. Even though the gothic-aspects were watered down compared to Hitchcock's vision, for the most part, I liked it enough to rewatch it twice. Later, I remembered seeing the book with a tie-in cover at a Walmart the previous month. I had almost picked up the book but decided against it at the last minute. Of course, I had regretted it after viewing the Netflix film, and luckily for me, the store still had the book in stock.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

[Review] - The Wicked Sister by Virginia Barlow

 

 

About the Book

 

With her stepfather's sudden death, Lady Anastasia Covington goes from living a privileged lifestyle to selling vegetables in the village marketplace in the blink of an eye. Alone and at the mercy of her nefarious stepsister, she yearns for love and acceptance.

Disguised as a simple soldier, Prince Percival catches a dark-haired emerald-eyed beauty in his arms. He is bewitched. The more he sees her, the more intrigued he is by her contradictions. Forced to keep his identity a secret, he must somehow convince Lady Anastasia he is the right man for her. But time is running out. Lady Anastasia's mother is determined to find a proper suitor and see her wed. And someone wants her dead.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Romances, an Escapism for Men


Why is it the lonely hearts are the ones who read the most romance novels? Is it because we believe there is a soulmate out there for us? Are we just more romantic than others? Or is it a distraction from our loneliness? 

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Review - Grave Humor by R.J. Blain



Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Google Play

About the Book


Most days, Anwen regrets working at a funeral home despite the good pay. With the residents no longer inclined to stay in their coffins where they belong, she’s got her hands full making sure everyone follows the rules:

In the funeral home, there is no screaming, no murdering, no mutilation, no possessions, no kidnappings, no resurrections, and no cursing of any type. Be quiet and stay polite.

The day Old Man McGregor decides to take a walk and disturbs her peace, Anwen learns there’s a lot more to the basement in the funeral home than a vampire and a handsome gentleman on ice.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Review - The Unlucky Ones by Stacey Marie Brown



While cleaning up the downloads folder on my laptop, I came across The Unlucky Ones by Stacey Marie Brown (Audible, Kindle, Paperback). Caffeinated Reviewer sent me the audiobook (along with another title) in August 2019. I reviewed the other audiobook fairly quickly, and later; I listened to the first two hours of The Unlucky Ones. Forgetfulness? Procrastination? Whatever the reason might be, I spent the last few days listening to the 520-minute story.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Review - Forsaken by Sara Reinke

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Purchase on AMAZON * Add To Goodreads
Jason Sullivan has everything he could have wanted in life -- his own business, the perfect girlfriend and the perfect opportunity to ask her to marry him. Then, in one violent, unexpected moment, he loses it all. Murdered in cold blood, wrongly condemned and enslaved to a sadistic demon, Jason must fight to reclaim not only the life and love he'd once known, but also his soul.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Finding a New Book To Read

*This is a sponsored post.

Reading is a relaxing activity that allows you to live in a different place and time for a while. There are many genres on the market that can hold your attention and keep you entertained. Here are some popular themes to consider.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Review - Met Her Match by Jude Deveraux


*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Available on Kindle!

Way back in my elementary days, I was probably the only student who was well aware of the romance author Jude Deveraux because my mother was big fan of her novels. With my passion for books, naturally I ended up reading a few of the author's titles; though, reflecting back on it now, I was probably a bit too young for the steamy love scenes. Nevertheless, that was my introduction to Jude Deveraux, and now as an adult, I have become a fan

Jude Deveraux's newest novel, Met Her Match, was published in September, and I was lucky enough to get a review copy from NetGalley. Now I didn't read the book right away because I had 13 horror novels lined up for October so I didn't begin reading it until Halloween night. To be precise, I read a few paragraphs at a time while waiting to give out candy to the trick-or-treaters. I finished reading the book the following Sunday afternoon. Why did it take me so long to write my review? Due to setting up my annual Holiday Gift Guide, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was swamped during November and December so I put off writing the review until today.

Anyway, Met Her Match is sequel to 2016's The Girl From Summer Hill (Read my review here). It's set in the fictional small town of Summer Hill, Virginia and centers around Terri Rayburn, a woman who runs a summer resort, which is owned by her father. After taking a short trip, she returns home to find a stranger living in her house. That stranger happens to be Nate Taggert, who has spent the last 12 years working in the Middle East as a diplomat. After his fiancé takes a sudden trip to Italy for three weeks, he goes back home to Summer Hill with plans of opening up a business. His uncle sets it up so he can stay in a private house, which happens to belong to Terri!

This is a romance so you can pretty much guess what comes next — sparks fly between Nate and Terri. However, there are rumors that Terri is a heartbreaker, which leads Nate to investigate into her past.

Final Thoughts

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Review - Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans


*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.


Noel Street
by Richard Paul Evans


#1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans is back with his newest holiday romance — Noel Street (Gallery Books; $21.99; 290 pages).


"The year is 1975. Elle Sheen—a single mother who is supporting herself and her six-year-old, African-American son, Dylan, as a waitress at the Noel Street Diner—isn’t sure what to make of William Smith when his appearance creates a stir in the small town of Mistletoe, Utah. As their lives unexpectedly entwine, Elle learns that William, a recently returned Vietnam POW, is not only fighting demons from his past, but may also have the answer to her own secret pain—a revelation that culminates in a remarkable act of love and forgiveness."



Where To Purchase?




Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Review - The Red Door Inn




I have a bad habit of letting books pile up on my desk and collect dust. For the next few weeks, I'm going to make it my goal to get these books read (well, the ones I haven't read yet) and reviewed. 

Way back in the early spring, I received an advanced copy of The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson, book one in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I had never heard of the author before receiving the original press release about the title. What appealed to me the most was the the unique cover art. Plus, I like ready any story that is set at an Inn or a bed-and-breakfast.

So is the book set at a bed-and-breakfast?

Well, the novel is set on Prince Edward Island, and the main plot does involve a bed-and-breakfast.

Who are the characters?

There are two main characters:

Marie Carrington & Seth Sloane 

What is the actual plot?

Monday, September 5, 2016

Fall Reads: Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall



Heritage Beacon; 290 pages; Buy Link; Blog Tour
Participating in blog tours gives me the opportunity to read titles by new authors. Well, that just happens to be the case with Starving Hearts written by Janine Mendenhall and published by Heritage Beacon Fiction (an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). Originally, I wasn't going to sign up to review the title as the cover art didn't appeal  to me. Note: The mansion on cover reminds me the one from Downton Abbey (which I've never taken the time to watch). Later, I gave it some thought and decided to give the novel a try anyway.

Typically, I prefer my romance reads to be set in the 1800s; however, this title is set in England in the late 1700s. It centers on two characters -Miss Annette Chetwynd and Mr. Peter Adsley.

Annette is worried about her mother trying to set up an arranged marriage. She would love to find someone to rescue her from her life, but she is still haunted from being assaulted.

Peter is becoming a pastor and is on the lookout for a wife, which is where Annette comes into the pictures. However, they are both haunted by their pasts, which might jeopardize any sort of future they could have together.

Starving Hearts Janine Mendenhall