All for Love by Jen Geigle Johnson

 

Who is your favorite actor/actress?  I have many, but I will go old school with Cary Grant.

Sarah Siddons is distraught when her theater burns to the ground. As sad patrons surround her for support, she sits down and tells them the story of her life.  Her family was a traveling theater troop.  When she was a teen, her star started to shine and attract male suitors with unsavory designs upon her.  Her parents do not approve her love for her fellow actor Sid, so they send her away to be a lady’s companion.  How did she become a star?

My thoughts on this problem:

·       Based on the true story of Sarah Siddon; the famous Shakespearean actress of the Georgian era (17^th century).  She was especially known for playing Lady Macbeth.

·       She did not have an easy life and gave everything to keep her family alive.

·       I love this book cover, it is beautiful!

·       I had never heard of Sarah Siddon, and I enjoyed learning about her.

·       Sarah loved performing, but she is devoted to her family and must sacrifice and do everything she can to keep her family together.  She was the sole provider for the family.

·       Sarah was a strong multi-layered character, and her story was fascinating.

·       It creeped me out how men began objectifying her as a teen and thinking she had loose morals because she was an actress.

·       I have never realized there were family theater groups that traveled the countryside together.  It was a way to make a living doing what you love and to keep women safe. 

·       It was a clean read and inspirational.

·       The story was very engaging and well researched.

·       I loved that it was a unique historical fiction story that gave a new life to a famous actress from the 18^th century.

·       This book had a love story, but it is also a life story filled with many tragedies.  Have your tissues handy as you read it.

Overall, All for Love by Jen Geigle Johnson was a captivating and immersive story of an intriguing actress in history, Sarah Siddons.  I enjoyed this book!

Book Source:  Thank-you to @author.jen.geigle.johnson @sarah.siddons.story @cedarfort @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour.

To Win Her Hand by Jen Geigle Johnson (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What are your thoughts on Daylight Savings Time?  Yay or nay? 

I feel like I lost an hour of reading time this weekend!  I wish we just stuck with one time all year round with no time changes.

I did read To Win Her Hand by Jen Geigle Johnson very quickly.  It was a gentle and enjoyable story.  Lady Loveluck appears to be a wealthy widow, but she has a secret.  Her late husband gambled away their fortune and she can hardly make ends meet.  In order to eat and keep the roof over her head, she has turned to being a paid matchmaker.  Lord Featherstone also is keeping his finances straight by being a matchmaker for gentleman.  As the two meet over their clients, will they discover that they may be the most perfect match of all?  Will Lady Loveluck be able to trust a man again after her disastrous first marriage?

I loved the characters.  Lord Featherstone was a worthy gentleman and Lady Loveluck was a wonderful woman.  I also loved their clients.  The setting was also fantastic.  It was mostly set at a Regency house party.  The dialogue was witty and the ending was one that you want to celebrate.

This was the first novel in the new Gentleman’s Match series.  It looks like Lord Featherstone’s brother is next which I am eager to read.

This novel was a clean read.

Review Copy from author Jen Geigle Johnson.   Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: To Win Her Hand

·       Series: A Gentleman’s Match (Book 1)

·       Author: Jen Geigle Johnson

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: King’s Row Press (December 15, 2022)

·       Length: (272) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, & eBook 

·       ISBN: 978-1737592174

·       Tour Dates: February 27 – March 13, 2023

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

An expert at winning a woman's hand. A woman who cannot be won.

Lord Featherstone has the world on his shoulders. Or at least his world. With two brothers and a failing estate he must make funds somehow. But what happens when he falls for a woman? Will his tactics work when the situation is so close and personal?

Everyone thinks Lady Loveluck is a wealthy widow. What they don't know is that she is on the brink of hiring herself out as a Governess in order to pay for her next meal. The only thing keeping her from employment is a growing reputation as a matchmaker. As long as she never falls for another man, as long as she doesn't allow herself to be fooled into marrying, she will be just fine.

But she never counted on being caught up in the beguiling tactics of London's renowned and not so secret matchmaker for men.

 

PRAISE FOR TO WIN HER HAND

• "I loved the character growth, watching them learn more about the other’s heart and hardships, and the realization that perhaps they had more choices than they first thought. Such a sweet regency. I’m so grateful I had the chance to read this one."— Makayla Branson, Reading Past Bedtime
• “The house party, the quiet moments, the collection of other characters, and much more all combined together made this is delightful read.”— Julie Carpenter, Goodreads
• “Two matchmakers with a wager. What fun for all! [A] heart touching story.”— Shauna Jones, Goodreads

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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

 

AUTHOR BIO

Jen Geigle Johnson is an award-winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy's top award for Romance,

Jen has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. History is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well.

Six children and an inspiring husband keep her going and make certain she doesn't stay glued to a keyboard or lost in obscure fascinating details of old castles.

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

To Kiss a Wallflower by Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, and Anneka R. Walker (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title:  Timeless Regency Collection – To Kiss a Wallflower

Author:  Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, and Anneka R. Walker

Narrated by:  Shane East & Shakira Shute

Publisher: Mirror Press

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 31 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Mirror Press.  Thank-you!

 What would be the perk of being a wallflower?  I have never read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I realized as I listened to this audiobook collection that all of the ladies have a reason why they like being a wallflower.

 To Kiss a Wallflower is a Timeless Regency Collection of three delightful novellas.  I had an enjoyable time listening to these stories and I was only sad that they had to end.  I just love the Timeless Regency Collections.  I have enjoyed every one I’ve read.  This is the first time I have listened to one as an audiobook experience, and it was wonderful.  There were two narrators, Shane East & Shakira Shute who alternated chapters depending on what perspective was narrating.  It was very entertaining.

  I will give my thoughts on each of the novellas below.

 “The Wallflower’s Dance,” by Jen Geigle Johnson

Lottie is tongue tied in social situations, but she always has her good friend Denny to help her out and have someone to dance with.  After she unexpectedly inherits a fortune, she finds herself suddenly no longer a wallflower and pursued by many eligible young men.  But what if the only man she wants has really been there all along?  This was a friends to lovers trope and I loved it.

“Letters to a Wallflower,” by Heather B. Moore

Ellen has been proclaimed a “diamond of the first water,” and her mother is pushing her into marrying a titled gentleman.  After betting with her cousin Dinah, Ellen dresses down and joins the wallflowers hoping for an evening of peace.  What she doesn’t know is that Lord Ravenshire’s mother has told him to dance with all of the wallflowers in his search for a wife.  Lord Ravenshire just wants to do the minimum to appease his mother so he can return to his estate.  When Ellen and Lord Ravinshire meet, they find they have a lot to talk about.    Will they be able to find common ground?  This had fake dating and I loved this story.

 “To Marry a Wallflower,” by Anneka R. Walker

Charlotte has been betrothed by her father to a man she has never met, Lord Templeton.  Charlotte would rather stay a wallflower, but she is curious about the man she is going to marry.  When she finds a man who knows Lord Templeton, she pretends to be her cousin to find out more information from Mr. Luke.  What she doesn’t realize is that Lord Templeton had the same idea.  This was a cute story of mistaken identity.

I didn’t have one favorite story, I enjoyed all three.  I loved that the ladies all embraced their own natures and their wallflower status.  I also liked that they all decided they were going to stand strong and forge their own path in the world.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: To Kiss a Wallflower

·       Series: Timeless Regency Collection (Book 19)

·       Authors: Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, & Anneka R. Walker

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Mirror Press (June 21, 2022)

·       Length: (305) pages

·       Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-1952611261

·       Tour Dates: June 20 – July 1, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

To Kiss a Wallflower is the nineteenth book in the Timeless Regency Collection, a bestselling anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from acclaimed historical romance authors whose stories reveal that eventually, all wallflowers will have their chance at love . . . This is where it begins.

“The Wallflower’s Dance,” by Jen Geigle Johnson

Lottie Hughes likes people, as long as they aren't too close. Does it bother her that no one asks her to dance? Yes, but she's not sure how to drum up dance partners when she has almost no dowry, no title, and freezes up when anyone tries to talk to her. When she suddenly inherits a huge amount and is the new center of attention all over London, her secret dreams might come true but also her worst nightmares. Suddenly everyone wants to talk to her. Men ask her to dance. And she is inundated with interested suitors. She fights to stay close to the few friends she knows are true. One man saw her before her life changed forever. But does she want to accept his help when he, too, might be insincere?

“Letters to a Wallflower,” by Heather B. Moore

Ellen might be beautiful and considered a diamond of the first water by Society, but she is so very tired of the pressure to marry a titled gentleman so that her beauty won’t go to waste. When her cousin Dinah dares Ellen to attend a ball with no frills and to stand with the wallflowers, Ellen takes on the dare. What’s in the wager for her? The prize cuttings of her aunt’s extraordinary roses. But what Ellen isn’t expecting is Lord Ravenshire to engage her in the most interesting conversation. When she confesses to him of her opposition in marrying for a title, he confesses his distaste of the London scene. They strike a bargain together, one which will either push them apart or lead to a future sweeter than either of them could have imagined.

“To Marry a Wallflower,” by Anneka R. Walker

Charlotte Winters is destined to spinsterhood until she turns down an unwanted proposal and everything changes. With gossip rampant, her father attempts to salvage her reputation by betrothing her to another. Soon she is sent off to her aunt’s to meet Lord Templeton, her intended. Anxiety-ridden, Charlotte begs her aunt to let her observe Lord Templeton from afar before their introduction. She never planned to pretend to be her fictional cousin to learn more about him, or to fall in love with Lord Templeton’s friend in the process. Lord Templeton dreads returning to the empty halls of Newcliff Manor. When his father’s old friend, Mr. Winters reaches out for assistance, Lord Templeton finds himself returning home engaged to a woman he has never met. Desperate to learn more about Miss Winters, he befriends her cousin. He wouldn’t have spoken to her, or lied about his identity, if he’d known the quiet woman would sneak into his heart.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Since 2015, Mirror Press has been presenting the Timeless Regency Collection, a curated anthology of novellas and short stories featuring bestselling authors from the contemporary and historical romance genres. The collection has hit the USA TODAY bestselling list and charted at #1 at Amazon.com. Learn more about the series and other anthologies published by Mirror Press at their website.  

ADVANCE PRAISE

·       “5 STARS - I loved the unique twists that each author used in their stories and how they tied them into the theme.”— Julie Carpenter, Goodreads

·       “What a great set of stories! If you have read any of these three authors you know you are in for a treat. If you aren’t familiar with them, prepare to add their names to your list of favorites.”— Shauna Jones, Goodreads

·       “I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these novellas. They were lighthearted, fun, and took me away from my worries for a while.”— A Bookish Romantic, Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIOS

Jen Geigle Johnson

An award-winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy's top award for Romance, Jen Geigle Johnson has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. History is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well.

She loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

WEBSITE |  TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

Heather B. Moore

 Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestseller and award-winning author of more than seventy publications. She's lived on both the east and west coasts of the United States, including Hawaii, and attended school abroad including the Cairo American College in Egypt, and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about anything in history and, as an author, is passionate about historical research.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

Anneka R. Walker

Anneka Walker is an award-winning author raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor's degree in English and history. When she isn't dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she is busy living her own with her husband and adorable children.

WEBSITE | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS