Mail-Order Duchess by Misty M. Beller

 

What is your weirdest reading habit? When I was younger, I used to like to sit in trees and read.  I haven’t done that since my teen years, but I still remember it fondly.  Now I sit under trees when I can.  I love reading outdoors. 

Widow Mandie Beaumont needs to leave her hometown of Savannah to escape her evil brother-in-law who has raped her and is trying to force her into marriage.  She answers an advertisement seeking a bride in Montana and she moves out west.  When she arrives, she discovers that her prospective groom, has passed away.  His brother, Enoch, will become the next Duke of Clarence.  He finds himself drawn to Mandie.  Will these two be able to move beyond past hurt to find new love?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the Enoch was so accepting of the fact that Mandie was pregnant and sympathized with her when she explained that she had been raped.  He said the baby was innocent and that he would accept it as his own.  What a good guy and how romantic.

·       This was a very romantic book and a quick read.

·       The tropes in this novel included mail order bride, amnesia, and marriage of convenience.

·       It is set in the Rocky Mountains which were both beautiful and rugged.

·       The Balfour family is living in Montana even though they are English aristocracy to protect the family from nefarious people back in England who want to destroy them.

·       Mandie hits her head before her arrival and has amnesia at first.

·       Enoch lost his previous love and is afraid to move on.

·       It is a sweet story and very readable.

·       I am currently reading the second book in the series, and I am loving it.

·       Trigger alert that rape is discussed, but the act is not described in detail.  Besides the topic of rape, this was a clean read.

·       I loved the development of Enoch and Mandie’s relationship.

·       There was great tension and action at the end!

Overall, Mail-Order Duchess by Misty M. Beller is a riveting family saga and western historical romance.  I greatly enjoyed this novel!

Book Source:  Thank-you to author Misty M. Beller for an e-book review copy of this novel.

 

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

Title: Before We Were Us

Author:  Denise Hunter

Narrated by:  Kim Churchill

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 9 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible. Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @tnzfiction for the review copy of the paperback version of Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter.

Do you prefer rustic cabins, fancy villas, or high-end resorts? 

Lauren Wentworth is a new graduate with a hospitality degree.  She takes a temporary job at Pinehaven Lodges in New Hampshire to gain experience before she starts her dream job I the big city.  While there, she falls in love with Jonah, the owner’s son.  Jonah is ready to propose one night, but Lauren falls from a ladder and loses her memories of the last four months.  Is their love gone forever?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This novel was what if in an enemies to lovers storyline, one of the lovers loses their memories from the last few months and still thinks you are enemies?

·       It was heartbreaking to Jonah that the love of his life Lauren, no longer remembers him after the fall.  That would be terrible.

·       The story is told in two timelines – the present and the past (four months ago) as Lauren and Jonah fall in love.

·       Lauren and Jonah have interesting bonding between the two as Lauren was abandoned at age five by her mother and grew up being shuffled between foster families.  Jonah’s mother died when he as young, but his aunt and uncle raised him.  Neither had a biological father in their lives.

·       The romance was very sweet.  I love that Jonah loves Lauren enough to let her follow her dreams

·       I loved the setting at the rustic resort in New Hampshire.

·       This novel was a clean read.

·       It has a beautiful fall cover.

·       My attention was captured by this novel as it had such a happy first chapter, and then it all came crashing down.

·       Kim Churchill was a great audiobook narrator.  It was a charming storyline that kept me interested during long drives for work this week.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter was engaging amnesia and enemies to lovers romance.  I enjoyed it!