Counting on Love by Carol Coventry (Review and GIVEAWAY)

 

Which fictional character would you love to have as a best friend?  I would love to be friends with Lady Georgiana Stewart in Counting on Love with Carol Coventry.

Lady Georgiana Stewart is a math prodigy, but she must hide her proficiency to fit into society and try to attract a suitor.  As the daughter of a Duke and a beauty, she received many marriage proposals in her first season. She refused them all as she wants to feel the spark and have the loving relationship that her parents have.  As she starts her second season, will she be able to find true love?

Reginald Taverston is the third son of an Earl. As the third son, he has been slated for the church, but he would rather translate a Greek manuscript and work on other intellectual pursuits.  He is not sure he is well suited for the church.  Should Reginald pursue the path his family wants for him, or should he strike out on his own path?

The Earl is on his deathbed so his eldest son, Jasper needs to find a wife.  He is sure that Lady Georgiana will make the perfect wife.   His wife invites Georgiana, her mother, and cousin to their country estate for a small house party so that the Earl can meet Georgiana and the romance between Jasper and Georgiana can proceed. Will all go as planned?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The novel is a the first in a new series “The Taverstons of Iversley.”  I can’t wait to read more in this series.

·       I love, love, loved that the heroine enjoyed mathematics and was a genius in that regard.  It was sad she had to hide it, but I loved her finding a man that valued her mind.

·       The entire Taverston family was fun.  They each had their own unique personalities.  They love each other but aren’t above pranking each other.

·       The romance was slow build and mostly clean (until the last chapter).

·       Most of the novel was set at a house party in the country. 

·       I liked the look into how keeping mistresses impacts people and their families.

·       The love triangle between Georgiana, Reginald, and Jasper is well done.  It can be awkward when the love story is a woman and two brothers. Georgiana and Reginald fall in love without it being “icky” or making Jasper a villain.  Jasper is a good guy, but not for Georgiana. 

·       I didn’t think that sparks could fly with just two pinkies touching, but they do.

Overall, Counting on Love by Carol Coventry is a lovely Regency Romance with great characters and a fun STEM storyline.

GIVEAWAY

Check out the giveaway on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/laurasreviews_1/p/DDvzJzbuFrI/

Persuasion: A BabyLit® Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams, Art by Alison Oliver (Austenprose PR Book Tour and Giveaway)

Do you like classics that are reformatted for children?  I was a great fan of Children’s Illustrated Classics growing up.  They gave me a taste for the stories that I later read in entirety as a teen and as an adult.

When my daughter was younger, we read and enjoyed Little Miss Austen Emma: An Emotions Primer and Little Miss Austen Pride & Prejudice:  A Counting Primer both by Jennifer Adams and illustrated by Alison Oliver.  I would give her a review of the general story and how it related to the book.  She really enjoyed it. My daughter is older now, but I thought it would be fun to review Persuasion: A BabyLit® Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams, Art by Alison Oliver

Persuasion: A BabyLit® Colors Primer has beautiful illustrations and is formatted as a board book.  The illustrations and colors focus on characters and objects from the original story.  The colors are more sophisticated as compared to other children’s books about color with sage, navy, ivory, mauve, chestnut, umber, gray, scarlet, and periwinkle as the colors in this board book.  I myself learned what color umber is with this book. If I was reading this one to my child, I would definitely be telling the story of Persuasion along with the pictures and colors.

Overall, the Persuasion: A BabyLit® Colors Primer is a fun book to learn about more unique colors for your future Austen loving child.  It is also a fun book for an Austen loving adult to read as well.

Book Source:  Review copy from @babylitjen @alisonoliverdesign @babylitbooks @austenprose as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The million-copy selling Classic BabyLit® series now has a new title to add to your toddler’s bookshelf.

BabyLit ® is a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. With clever, simple text by Jennifer Adams, paired with stylish design and illustrations by Allison Oliver, these books are a must for every savvy parent’s nursery library.

Persuasion: A Colors Primer exposes little ones to the world of Jane Austen through words and artwork that offer an awareness of the Regency era and the preferred color palette of the time period: beige, olive, navy, ivory, chestnut, lavender, umber, grey, scarlet, and periwinkle.

AUTHOR BIO

Jennifer Adams is the author of more than 60 books for children. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Parents magazine. Jennifer has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Salt Lake City, where she works weekends as a bookseller at The King's English Bookshop. Visit her website at jennifer-adams.com.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO

Alison Oliver is the author-illustrator of Moon and Sun, and the illustrator of 32 BabyLit board books. Alison lives in New York City, where she runs a creative studio called Sugar that focuses on design and illustration.

GIVEAWAY 

In celebration of the release of Persuasion: A BabyLit® Colors Primer, author Jennifer Adams, illustrator Alison Oliver, and their publisher BabyLit are generously offering a giveaway contest open to US residents.

Grand Prize Winner – 4 board books in the BabyLit series including Persuasion, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, and Emma to one lucky winner.

To enter the giveaway, go to my Instagram Post at:

https://www.instagram.com/laurasreviews_1/p/DDPbNdQJ5lI/

My Dear Friend by Heather Moll (Book Tour and Giveaway)

 

Have you ever been on a blind date or used an app to find a match?  My Dear Friend explores matchmaking, Regency style.

Elizabeth Bennet is in London visiting her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, while consoling her sister Jane after her heartbreak.  The town is a twitter with news of a new matchmaking service.  People are put into anonymous tiers based on their social status, wealth, looks, etc.  You then can pick an anonymous person from your tier and write them letters.  You only meet if both people agree.  Elizabeth Bennet decides to subscribe to raise her sister’s spirit.  Unbeknownst to her, Mr. Darcy has also subscribed to try to stop his feelings for her.  As the two correspond, they get to know each other better.  Will their mutual admiration continue once they know the identity of their mysterious friend?

My thoughts on this novel:             

·       This is a sweet novel that I read quickly.  

·       I enjoyed the fun and witty letters that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth wrote back and forth to each other.  I thought it was a unique way for the two to develop their relationships.

·       The side characters, Jane, Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and the Gardiners were also wonderfully drawn.

·       This story reminded me of a movie I’ve always enjoyed, The Little Shop Around the Corner starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan.  Or of the newer version, You’ve Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

·       I also enjoyed that Elizabeth discussed the plight of women during that time and how the matchmaking service might give them agency to help find a good partner to support them.

·       This novel is a clean read.

·       Author’s note was very interesting and described real matchmaking services that did exist during the Regency time.

·       I also enjoyed the “Coming Soon” section about the new book Without Undue Pride that is coming in April 2025.  It sound like a fascinating variation.

Favorite Quote, “For herself, she saw the value in both.  She wanted to engage with the world and could mix with strangers, but she needed moments alone for introspection and to regain her spirits to be sociable once again.  For all her friendliness there were few people she truly loved, and F appeared to the be the same.”

Overall, My Dear Friend by Heather Moll is a captivating Pride and Prejudice Variation with a unique spin that puts one in mind of You’ve Got Mail or The Little Shop Around the Corner.

Book Source:  Review copy from author Heather Moll as part of the Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Heather Moll writes romantic variations of Jane Austen's classic novels. She is an avid reader of mysteries and biographies with a masters in information science. She found Jane Austen later than she should have and made up for lost time by devouring her letters and unpublished works, joining JASNA, and spending too much time researching the Regency era. She is the author of Rising Courage, An Affectionate Heart, Nine Ladies, and My Dear Friend. She lives with her husband and son, and struggles to balance all the important things, like whether to clean the house or sit down and write.

About the Book

My Dear Friend

THEY NEVER GET ALONG WHENEVER THEY UNFORTUNATELY CROSS PATHS. BUT WHEN A MATCHMAKING SERVICE ANONYMOUSLY LINKS THEM UP, WILL THEY PEN A ROMANCE?

Elizabeth Bennet is an excellent judge of character. Eager to prove to her brokenhearted sister that worthy men do exist, the spirited and witty young woman subscribes to the new matchmaking service taking London by storm. And she’s pleasantly surprised when the female-empowering agency anonymously connects her with a fascinating correspondent. 

Fitzwilliam Darcy is determined to move on from unwanted feelings for the alluring but inappropriate Bennet girl. He hopes his captivating prose partner from the matchmaking service might be the distraction he needs. But when he inadvertently reveals his inner thoughts, he can’t keep the letter-exchanging relationship from becoming something more.

As Elizabeth starts to fall for the mysterious man, her dislike for Mr. Darcy only grows whenever they meet in person. While the man in question still admires Elizabeth, he realizes in alarm that he may have also given his heart to his anonymous correspondent…

Have their letters opened an unexpected path to happily ever after?

RAFFLECOPTER SWAG GIVEAWAY

Swag Grand Prize Giveaway

1 entrant will win:

• Signed paperback copy of My Dear Friend
• Art of the Love Letter mini kit
• Black feather quill pen

The giveaway is open from 09/06/2024 12:00am EST through 09/20/2024 12:00am EST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email on September 21, 2024. Winner will have 24 hours to reply and claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

Entrants must leave a comment on the blog or subscribe to Heather Moll's newsletter to enter. Entrants can leave a comment at every blog.

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Social Links 

website: heathermollauthor.com 

FB: @HeatherMollAuthor 

Instagram: @HeatherMollAuthor 

Book Bub: bookbub.com/authors/heather-moll 

Goodreads: goodreads.com/heathermoll 

Twitter: @HMollAuthor

Rising Courage by Heather Moll (Book Tour) and GIVEAWAY!

 

Have you read any books that feature kidnapping?  The book I always think of that featured kidnapping was The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney, which I read in middle school.  I always enjoy the suspense of kidnapping, and especially enjoy when the main character escapes and is able to return home.

Rising Courage is a Pride and Prejudice variation which asks the question, what if Elizabeth and Darcy were kidnapped after his first proposal?  How will forced proximity alter their romance?

My thoughts on Rising Courage:

·       I love that instead of reading a response letter from Darcy after her refusal of his first proposal, she learns everything directly from him while they are held hostage.

·       I REALLY loved the forced proximity.  I felt like they really got to know each other better than a typical couple would during Regency times.

·       The romance was tender and romantic.  The novel does get steamy.

·       I chuckled when I realized that of course Lady Catherine was the cause of all the problems.

·       I thought it was an interesting side note that Darcy didn’t use sugar due to the slave trade and I loved learning about his bees and beekeepers.

·       I enjoyed the action in this novel as well, although I was worried about what the kidnappers would do.  It was thrilling.

·       I enjoyed the child Kirby in the story.  He had a difficult life, and I liked the humanity that both Darcy and Elizabeth showed him.

·       Author Heather Moll has a great writing style and really captures the personalities of Elizabeth, Darcy, and other Pride and Prejudice characters.  I especially like the inside jokes that Elizabeth and Darcy had with each other.

·       Elizabeth makes a decision towards the end that I did not agree with, but I did enjoy the suspense.

·       Isn’t the cover of this novel beautiful?  I love it.  Darcy is very dreamy.

Overall, Rising Courage was an enjoyable romantic suspense story with a great forced proximity storyline.  This is a great read for all lovers of Austenesque fiction.

Book Source:  Review copy from author Heather Moll as part of the Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Loving Miss Tilney by Heather Moll (Book Tour and GIVEAWAY)

 

What secondary character from a favorite novel would you like to see get their own story?  I was so excited to read this novel where Eleanor Tilney from Northanger Abbey finally gets her own story.

Loving Miss Tilney starts at the point where Catherine Morland has been thrown out of Northanger Abbey by General Tilney.  Eleanor also sees her beloved brother Henry leave to follow Catherine.  She decides that she can no longer stand to live with her father General Tilney.  He whisks her away to a house party and she decides she will find a rich husband among the gentleman attending the house party.  Complicating matters is that her second cousin, Philip Brampton is also attending the house party.  Eleanor loves Philip, but he is unacceptable to her father because he does not have money.  How can Eleanor find happiness for herself?

I enjoyed both Eleanor and Philip as characters. I loved how they enjoyed the same things and had great conversations.  Eleanor and Philip had such great chemistry too.  They had a very passionate kiss after an argument about the choices Eleanor had for the future.

It was hard to see Eleanor looking for another husband with Philip right there, but it was also understandable with the limited choices that women had at that time.  It made me really think again about the impossible situation that many women found themselves in during that time period where marriage was your only option, and you had no choice of your own. 

I liked that Philip was a mathematician.  I love it when math, science, or engineering show up in novels.

General Tilney is one of Austen’s best villains and he is really brought to life in this novel.  He would be a very difficult man to live with.  He doesn’t appear to care for his children except for how their success reflects onto him.

Heather Moll’s writing really brings the Regency world to life.  I have enjoyed her novels in the past.  I really liked that this book was a Northanger Abbey variation.  I have always wondered about what happened to poor Eleanor and this book gives the reader the details.  As much as I love Pride and Prejudice variations, I love to read variations for her other novels as well.

I would say the steam level is medium as there is one steamy scene in this novel.

Book Source: Review Copy from author Heather Moll.   Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the book tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Heather Moll writes romantic variations ofJane Austen's classic novels. She is an avid reader of mysteriesand biographies with a masters in information science. Shefound Jane Austen later than she should have and made up forlost time by devouring her letters and unpublished works,joining JASNA, and spending too much time researching theRegency era. She is the author of An Appearance of Goodness, An Affectionate Heart, Nine Ladies, and Loving Miss Tilney.

She lives with her husband and son, and struggles to balance allthe important things, like whether to clean the house or sit down and write.

Social Links

website: heathermollauthor.com

FB: @HeatherMollAuthor

Instagram: @HeatherMollAuthor

Book Bub: bookbub.com/authors/heather-moll

Goodreads: goodreads.com/heathermoll

Twitter: @HMollAuthor

Newsletter: https://bookhip.com/DQDJWVP

About Loving Miss Tilney

SHE’S FORBIDDEN TO WED A NOBODY.

HE’S NOTHING IN SOCIETY’S EYES. WILL THEIRDESPERATE SCHEMES BACKFIRE BEFORE THEY FINDA WAY TO BE TOGETHER?

Northanger Abbey. Eleanor Tilney can’t bear her lonely life any longer. Distraught when her tyrannical father throws her friend out of the house because the girl lacks an inheritance, the long-suffering general’s daughter decides anything is better than a future all alone. So in a frantic bid for freedom, she puts aside her tender feelings for a man of no standing to pursue a wealthy husband.

Philip Brampton understands that fortune is against him. And he tries gallantly to bury his distress and support his lonely beloved, even after she starts pursuing an arrogant buffoon. But when he catches the fellow about to kiss her, their resulting harsh words cause a heartbreaking rift.

Stiffening her spine in a world that refuses to acknowledge her value, Eleanor attempts to navigate the impossible situation without quashing her desires. And though his shy nature abhors a scene, Philip braces himself for a confrontation with her cruel and abusive patriarch.

Do these childhood sweethearts have any hope of achieving lasting happiness?

Available in paperback, audiobook, and ebook.

Published on August 1, 2023 by ExcessivelyDiverted Press

194 pages

book link: https://mybook.to/LovingMissTilney

Loving Miss Tilney RAFFLECOPTER SWAG GIVEAWAY

The giveaway is open from 08/01/2023 12:00am EST through 08/12/202312:00am EST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email on August 12, 2023. Winner has 24 hours to reply and claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

Entrants must leave a comment on the blog, tweet about the blog post, or subscribe to Heather Moll's newsletter to enter. Entrants can leave a comment at every blog and tweet once a day.

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Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour and GIVEAWAY)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @kensingtonbooks for the review copy of Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.

Do you enjoy cooking?  Do you have a favorite chef? 

I love cooking, but I haven’t watched cooking shows that much.  I love reading and learning about Julia Child, but I’ll admit, I’ve never seen her classic show!

Tabitha Knight has recently moved to Paris to stay with her French Grandpere.  She has become friends with Julia Child who lives across the street from her.   After a woman is discovered dead in the basement of Child’s building, killed with one of her knives, Tabitha is using all of her skills to solve the crime before her friend is put into jail.

I loved the description of France and the delicious food.  I was ready to fly to Paris when I was reading this.  I loved the 1950’s setting and the characters.  Julia Child was larger than life and had a great repartee with Tabitha.  Tabitha was the narrator of the novel and she was originally from Detroit.  I loved the Detroit references that were in the novel.  I also loved Grandpère and Oncle Rafe.  There were hints of a great backstory for the two of them in World War II and I am hoping we learn more about it in future novels.  Their dog and cat were cute as well.  The mystery was cozy and kept me guessing.  I am ready for book 2!

To enter a Giveaway to win a copy of this novel, please go to my Instagram Post.

COVER REVEAL - Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally (and GIVEAWAY!)

I am very excited today to be able to reveal the cover of a new book that sounds wonderful.  I can't wait to read this myself - it's exactly the type of book I love!  What do you think of this cover?

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord: A Mystery

·       Author: Celeste Connally

·       Genre: Historical Mystery, Regency Mystery, Cozy Mystery

·       Publisher: Minotaur Books (November 14, 2023)

·       Length: (304) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, & eBook 

·       ISBN: 978-1250867551

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era cozy series with a feminist spin.

When Lady Petra Forsyth’s fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, she makes the shocking proclamation―in front of London’s loosest lips―that she will never remarry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life has passed, nor does she intend to become confined to her country home. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations.

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper―uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Lady Petra has reason to believe her friend is not dead, but a prisoner, her own headstrong actions and thirst for independence are used to put her own freedom in jeopardy.

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

AUTHOR MESSAGE

Hello, Dear Readers,

I’m incredibly honored you’re here to help me reveal the cover for the first book in my new historical mystery series, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.

The idea for this book took hold during the pandemic, when I was watching period dramas on the regular, including all my favorite Jane Austen adaptations and Downton Abbey. And of course, in nearly every one, there was the notion of the unmarried woman being a rather pitiable character. I began thinking about how the spinsters never got to be in the limelight, especially in the Regency period. They were hardly ever seen as strong, or capable, or worthy of respect, and I thought to myself that a main character who valued her independence and embraced her decision not to marry would make for a heroine I would like to write.

And thus, dear readers, I am overjoyed to introduce you to Lady Petra Forsyth. Daughter of the Fifth Earl of Holbrook, accomplished equestrienne, goddaughter to the Duchess of Hillmorton, and a woman in possession of her own fortune.

After the death of her fiancé three years ago, Lady Petra’s already headstrong ways—which include occasionally riding astride in her brother’s old breeches—came to include living her life on her own terms. That is, without a husband—though not everyone sees her decision as the right one, or the ladylike one. And when the purported death of a dear friend seems intertwined with mentions of a mysterious physician, Petra does the most unladylike thing she can: she starts asking questions.

When Petra formed in my mind as a character, I saw her with little bits of some of my favorite…well, almost-spinsters. Such as Emma Woodhouse, who was initially willing to go her own way and remain unmarried in a time where doing just that was an incredible risk for a woman, no matter what her financial status. And then there’s Downton Abbey’s Lady Edith, who recognized her talents and carved out a satisfying life for herself as an entrepreneur and businesswoman. She didn’t let it stop her from romance, either…

Another thing my inspirations for Petra have in common is that I feel they would all have made excellent amateur sleuths. Some would say it’s because spinsters have an inclination toward nosiness, but I would say it’s their sharp minds and a refusal to give up on what’s important. I think Petra certainly begins to develop the knack for investigating—whether or not those around her approve—and I very much hope you’ll enjoy riding alongside her for her very first adventure.

All my best,

Celeste

 

AUTHOR BIO

Celeste Connally is an Agatha Award nominee, and a former freelance writer and editor. A lifelong devotee of historical novels and adaptations fueled by her passion for history—plus weekly doses of PBS Masterpiece—Celeste loves reading and writing about women from the past who didn’t always do as they were told.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

GIVEAWAY CHANCE

Author Celeste Connally and her publisher Minotaur Books are generously offering a fabulous giveaway for your readers that you can add to your post and on social media.

Giveaway Details:

Two (2) winners (selected at random by Rafflecopter) will receive one (1) advanced reader’s paperback copy of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.  One (1) winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) will receive one (1) advanced reader’s paperback copy of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord and a gift prize package containing the following:

1.     A Jane Austen 'Obstinate, Headstrong Girl' mug from the Jane Austen Centre giftshop.

2.     A bookmark, and a bookplate signed by the author.

3.     A medley of Harney & Sons teas in various flavors individually wrapped teabags.

4.     A handmade ceramic tea tidy in the shape of a teapot for teabags.

5.     A box of English tea biscuits.

Giveaway period: Open from 12:01 am Pacific time 02/22/23 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 03/19/23.

Terms & Conditions:

The giveaway is hosted by Celeste Connally and Minotaur Books. No purchase is necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. All information will remain confidential and will not be sold or otherwise used, except to notify the winner and to facilitate postage of the books and prizes to the winners. Void where prohibited. One giveaway item per eligible entrant.

Announcement of Winner:

Visit author Celeste Connally’s website on March 20, 2023, to see if you won one of the three prizes.

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The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (Austenprose PR Book Tour and Giveaway!)

 

What is your favorite fairy tale?    My two favorite fairy tales growing up were Beauty and the Beast and The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I loved fairy tales and reading all of the different versions of them.  I still love them.

I was excited to review The Belle of Belgrave Square and discover it was a Beauty and the Beast story.  I loved, loved, loved The Siren of Sussex and I felt the same way about The Belle of Belgrave Square.  Although this is a series, these are standalone novels.  The characters were first introduced in The Siren of Sussex, but The Belle of Belgrave Square is its own independent story.

Julia Wychwood is a sheltered heiress who has never left London.  Her parents are always on their sickbed and her only escape is through reading novels or riding her horse, Cossex.  When Captain Jasper Blunt starts to take notice in her, Julia is not sure what to do.  He is hailed as a hero from the Crimea, but the tales of his treatment of his soldiers is horrifying.  Since his return, the stories of his haunted estate and illegitimate children do not paint a better picture.  As Julia gets to know him thought, she believes maybe he has changed.  After her parents take bloodletting too far on her, she realizes she needs to make a change.  Would marrying Captain Blunt be just the change she needs?  What secrets is he hiding?

I felt like this was a perfect book for the fall.  It had perfect Gothic vibes.  Matthews had wonderful notes at the end to fill in the history of the Victorian times discussed in the novel.  I also loved that she said it was also based not only on Beauty and the Beast, but also The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery which is another one of my favorite novels.  After I read that, I connected the dots and saw how much it was inspired by The Blue Castle.  I was able to figure out the twists in The Belle of Belgrave Square ahead of time, but that probably was because it was inspired by some of my favorite works.  I enjoyed it just the same.  My favorite scene was Jasper showing Julia his library for the first time.  Now that is love!

I liked the inner look into Julia and Jasper as well.  For Julia she had to deal with anxiety, especially at social events that she was required to attend.  She was constantly working on ways to deal with her anxiety.  Jasper is dealing with both the internal and external scars from being a soldier in the Crimea as well as a traumatic childhood.  I love how they both had to build trust with each other and understanding through the novel.

This book has a very low level of spice at the end.  It is a marriage of convenience trope – which I love.

I can’t wait for the next book, The Lily of Ludgate Hill, which is previewed at the end of this book!

Review Copy from Berkley Romance and Netgalley as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: The Belle of Belgrave Square

·       Series: Belles of London (Book 2)

·       Author: Mimi Matthews

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

·       Publisher: ‎Berkley Romance (October 11, 2022)

·       Length: (432) pages

·       Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-0593337158

·       Tour Dates: October 3 - 23, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A BookBub Best Romance of 2022

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.
 
For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.
 
In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

“A grand cross-class romance, a twisty mystery, and emotional internal struggles combine to excellent effect…fans and new readers alike will root for this well-earned love story.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

 
“[C]ombines deception, risk, and a resourceful heroine to create an intoxicating, suspenseful romance. Highly recommended.”— Library Journal (starred review)

 
“If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, this regency romance will rapidly become a new favorite of yours. Wallflower meets an infamous war hero in this fascinating and intriguing love story.”— BuzzFeed

 
“Mimi Matthews never disappoints, with richly drawn characters and couples whose individual shortcomings become strengths, when paired together. In this Beauty and the Beast retelling, we get to root for two underdogs who get to rewrite their own stories.”— Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

 
“The Belle of Belgrave Square is such tremendous, good fun: a heroine with a big horse, an even bigger novel-reading habit, and a hidden anxiety; a hero with a crumbling estate, a trio of wary children, and a literary secret—what's not to love? Mimi Matthews paints Victorian England with vivid humor, and her Belles of London is set to go on for at least a few more much-anticipated installments. Julian Fellowes fans will rejoice!”— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

 

AUTHOR BIO

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

 

VICTORIAN READING ROOM

Join Mimi at her Victorian Reading Room Facebook Group for exclusive access as she shares her love of writing, historical romance, Victorian fashion, brooding heroes, independent heroines, and of course, her beloved pets

READ AN EXCLSUIVE INTERVIEW WITH MIMI MATTHEWS

Discover intriguing insights into The Belle of Belgrave Square and Mimi’s writing life in this exclusive interview at austenprose.com.

 GIVEAWAY

Mimi has generously offered a fabulous giveaway that book tour participants can add to their post and on social media. Here are the details:

Giveaway period: October 3 – October 30

Terms & Conditions:

Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. All information will remain confidential and will not be sold or otherwise used, except to notify the winner and to facilitate postage of the book to the winner. Void where prohibited.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) receives a paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square, signed and annotated by the author with personal comments, underlining of her favorite lines, and other highlights by Mimi Matthews.

Giveaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time 10/03/22 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 10/30/22.

 The winner will be announced on Mimi's blog on 10/31/22.

a Rafflecopter giveaway