To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters

 

Title:  To Love and to Loathe

Author:  Martha Water

Narrated by:  Joel Froomkin, Anais Inara Chase

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 10 minutes

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What are your favorite flowers this time of year?  I love anything colorful in the gloom of winter.

Diana, Lady Templeton is a widow and loves to match wits with a known rake, Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham.  They make a wager of 100 pounds that Jeremy will marry within the year.  As Diana is his good friend that he trusts, Jeremy also goes to her with a troublesome problem that his latest paramour criticized him in the bedroom.  Will she be able to help him out with his technique?  Diana thinks that if she takes Jeremy up on his offer, this will only help her win the bet.  At a house party, things go awry as the try to both win their side of the bet.

This book is very steamy.  I loved the witty banter.  It had me laughing out loud in several spots.  I love a good Regency house party and this book was a lot of fun.  I loved how Diana was a strong willed and independent woman and I also love how Jeremy and Diana could talk honestly to each other.

Joel Froomkin and Anais Inara Chase took turns as narrators for the chapters narrated by Diana or Jeremy.  They were fun narrators, and I enjoyed their characters.  Froomkin in particular had a charming aristocratic drawl that I found to be quite delightful.

This is the second novel in the Regency Vows series.  I’ve read books 1 and 3.  I thought I should get book 2 read before the new book 4 comes out!

 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Title:  Pride and Prejudice

Author:  Jane Austen

Narrated by:  Rosalyn Landor 

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 36 minutes 

Source: Checked out with Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

“What do you find most interesting in Jane Austen?” is the prompt today for #JaneAwesome Wednesday hosted by @nonesense.and.sensibility.    I think her books are soothing.  Just as World War I soldiers read her books during times of trouble, I recently listened to a new to me audiobook version as I have having a hard time settling on any one book after the recent deaths of my Grandma and friend/former teacher Mrs. Smith.  I loved the book all over again while listening to it.  It is masterfully written and was also written to be read aloud to entertain.  This time through I thought that the first proposal scene is probably one of the best written scenes in literature.  It is perfect.  I also felt worse for Lydia this time around.  Now that I have teenagers, I keep thinking – she’s only 15!  I am glad that they did let her visit the family before she heads up north.  I have read this book so many times, but I love it each and every time through.  I tend to focus on different tidbits.  It is definitely a comfort read for me.

Rosalyn Landor is a great narrator and acted out the parts with different distinct voices.  It was very enjoyable to listen to.

“Are you collecting in order to connect with Jane?  What are you collecting?” was the prompt for last week.  I love everything Jane Austen.  My family and friends have started to notice and I’ve received these neat gifts through the years.  I collecting books about Jane, variations, and retellings, mysteries, etc..  

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

 

Do you really know your neighbors?

Nina Hayes and Lily Scott teach together at a local school.  Nina is married to surgeon Jake Hayes.  After a fight, he disappears.  At first, she thinks it is because he is so angry about their fight, but as the days pass, she starts to think something sinister has happened.

Christian is surprised when his pregnant wife Lily arrives home upset.  She was hiking when she had an altercation with Jake and may be the last person that has seen him.  What exactly happened during that hike?  What lengths will Christian go to in order to keep Lily safe?

Just the Nicest Couple was a slow burn suspense read written with very short sentences. I did figure this one out before the end.  I read and loved Local Woman Missing last year and I felt like Just the Nicest Couple didn’t keep as enthralled as that one.  The book is told from the point of views of Nina and Christian.  They both made a lot of questionable choices.  This book was an okay suspense read.

Book Source:  Purchased from Barnes and Nobles with a Christmas gift card from my sister Katie.  Thank-you!

A Calder at Heart by Janet Dailey (TLC Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite western book or movie?  We were on a western kick the past few years as a family and watched a lot of classic westerns.  I think my favorite of the mix was The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, but there were a lot of great movies.

A Calder at Heart is a historical fiction western set in Montana in 1919.  Kristin Dollarhide is a doctor who has returned from WWI to her small town of Blue Moon.  She wants to set up a practice and be with her family again.  She tries to forget her sweetheart who died tragically.  When she meets Logan Hunter, she feels something again.  Logan is searching for a new life and to feel something again himself.  A Major in WWI, he returned home to Texas to find that the Spanish flu had killed his entire family.  He sells what is left and decides to move near his Calder relatives in Montana.  He discovers that there is a feud going on between the Dollarhides and the Calders.  Is he a Calder at heart that will get caught up in the feud or will he be able to move on?

I loved this book.  The setting and characters were fantastic. There were just enough characters and build-up that I felt that I knew them all. The chemistry between Kristin and Logan sizzled off the page.  I love reading about this time period and the family drama was riveting.  I also enjoy a Romeo and Juliet type story of two feuding families and a couple who finds love.  I loved that Kristin was a strong and capable woman and Logan was an honorable man.

There were several subplots in this novel that were also very suspenseful including bootlegging, a young woman in trouble, and water rights.  It kept me reading nonstop through the end of the novel.

This is the third novel in a series, but it worked well as a standalone.  It made me really want to read the rest of the series.  I hadn’t read any Janet Dailey novels in awhile, so I looked her up.  Janet Dailey passed away ten years ago, but there is now a ghostwriter writing her novels.  I just wish they had written in the book who the ghostwriter is for A Calder at Heart as I would definitely read more of their works.   There is a nice set of book club discussion questions at the end of this novel.

I keep seeing comparisons of this novel to the series Yellowstone.  I have wanted to watch this series, are you a fan?

Review Copy from Kensington Publishing   Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the TLC Book Tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety by Zachary Auburn

 

What is the last funny book that you read or what is your favorite funny book?  I love funny books and they are really needed during stressful times or after reading a heavy book.

I received a hilarious book as a Christmas gift titled The American Association of Patriots: How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety and Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers that Threaten Their Nine Lives.  With a title like that, how can you go wrong?  I loved this synopsis of the book from Goodreads:

“The cats of America are under siege!

Long gone are the good old days when a cat’s biggest worries were mean dogs or a bath. Modern cats must confront satanists, online predators, the possibility of needing to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and countless other threats to their nine lives.

For over four decades, the American Association of Patriots have stood at the vanguard of our country's defense by helping to prepare our nation's cat owners for the difficult conversations they dread having with their pets. Written in a simple Q&A format, How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety answers crucial questions such as, “What is the right age to talk to my cat about the proper use of firearms?” and “What are the benefits of my cat living a lifestyle of abstinence?” and especially “Why does my cat need to use the internet? Can’t he just play with yarn like cats used to do?”

Our country—and our cats—stand at a precipice. It will take courage, and it will take hard work, but armed with the knowledge within these pages, we can make our cats—and America—great again!”

The book is set up like a series of pamphlets that a zealot would give out warning you of the terrors you cat could face from a wide variety of sources.  I love the near constant puns and the pictures of cats holding guns.  I found it better to read a section at a time and not the entire book at once.  My fourteen-year-old son also found this book to be hysterical.

Favorite Quotes:

“…if there is one hard-and-fast rule on this topic, it's this: under no circumstances should you provide your cat with a gun equipped with a laser scope, as your cat is likely to be more interested in the dot it makes than in the deer, burglar, or communist in their sights.”

“It is frequently said that curiosity killed the cat, but what is often left unsaid is that the actual cause of death was the improper discharge of a firearm by a poorly trained feline.”

Book Source:  Christmas present from my friend Jen.

Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo

 

Title:  Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom

Author:  Ilyon Woo

Narrated by:  Janina Edwards and Leon Nixon

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 54 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you @simonandschuster #BookClubFavorites for the free books!

What book would you like to see made into a movie?  Master Slave Husband Wife is the true story of Ellen and William Craft and their daring escape from slavery in 1848.  It was a riveting book and I can’t believe their story has not yet been made into a movie!

Ellen was a light skinned woman who was enslaved by her half-sister.  William was a cabinet maker and was rented out to ply his trade.  When Ellen’s half-sister’s husband was faced with trying financial times and started selling off slaves, the two came up with a daring plan to escape north.  Ellen dressed up as a fragile young white man who was traveling with his slave, William.  The two took trains, boats, and carriages as they traveled north.  There were many moments of suspense that the two would be caught along the way, but they did make it.

Soon after their escape, they traveled through the north on a speaking tour with William Wells Brown and Frederick Douglass telling of their escape.  After the tour they settled down and William owned his own business. Unfortunately, this safety was not to last as the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850.  Soon there were people after Ellen and William, and they had to make another escape to Canada and then on to England. 

This was an eye-opening book.  I find it horrifying that someone would own their own children and gift one child to another.  Ellen was a particularly troublesome child as she was often mistaken for a legitimate child with her light skin.  Reading about how William’s family was broken up was also heartbreaking.

 I liked that Ellen and William were able to fake their confidence to make it.  They needed that confidence to act like a gentleman and servant.  I also loved just how smart their plan was.  Ellen wore a shoulder harness to appear like she had an injury so that she couldn’t sign her name (she couldn’t read or write).  She also had poultices on her face to appear ill to help cover up her lack of facial hair.   Such a sickly person would definitely need a slave with her at all times. 

It was disturbing that once they fled to Canada, they were still treated with prejudice and had a hard time getting out of the country. Once they made it to England they were surprised to be treated as human beings with dignity.

Author Ilyon Woo did a masterful job of weaving a compelling narrative.  Woo also included a lot of great background information on the abolition movement that I thought was very interesting.   Janina Edwards and Leon Nixon were captivating narrators.

I read this in February for Black History month, but I’m a bit late on my posting.

COVER REVEAL - A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen

 I am super excited today to be revealing the beautiful new cover of Julie Klassen's new novel A Winter by the Sea which is coming out on December 5th.  It is the second book in the new On Devonshire Shores series.  I LOVED the first book, The Sisters of Sea View.  Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors.  I highly recommend reading The Sisters of Sea View and her other novels as you wait for A Winter by the Sea to be released later this year.  What do you think of this cover?  I love the colors!

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: A Winter by the Sea

·       Series: On Devonshire Shores (Book 2)

·       Author: Julie Klassen

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (December 5, 2023)

·       Length: (448) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, Trade paperback, & eBook 

·       ISBN: 978-1250867551

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple's male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they've invited mysterious secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers approaches a local publisher in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming an author. When he turns her down, his dashing competitor promises to consider her novel if she will first write a new Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily accepts and begins researching with the help of the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she used to hold dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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

 

AUTHOR MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

I am excited to give you an insider’s look at my December 2023 novel, A Winter by the Sea. This is the second book in the On Devonshire Shores series. Book One, The Sisters of Sea View, has been enthusiastically received and reviewed. I am grateful for each of you who helped spread the word about it!

During my research, I learned that the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their baby daughter stayed in Woolbrook Cottage (very near fictional Sea View) during the winter of 1819-1820. I instantly knew I wanted to include them in the novel to give readers a glimpse of the early life of Queen Victoria and her parents. The royal party arrived with too many attendants to accommodate at Woolbrook, so some were lodged elsewhere. I thought it would be fun to have a few staff members stay at Sea View, including a pastry chef who invades their kitchen, a man in desperate straits, and the duke’s handsome private secretary.

It was also interesting to write a seaside novel set during wintertime (it was unusually cold and snowy that year). Because I live in frigid Minnesota, cold weather details and sensations were easy to imagine. 😊

When I began writing this series, I had not yet traveled to Sidmouth, where the series is set. I am happy to say I was able to visit in August 2022 and was thrilled to experience this delightful town in person. The highlight of that trip was meeting the staff and volunteers of the Sidmouth Museum who have been extremely helpful in answering research questions and checking setting details for me.

A Winter by the Sea focuses on beautiful Emily Summers, who finds herself caught up in two rivalries. First, while striving to further her writing aspirations, Emily is torn between her loyalty to a well-established publisher & bookseller and his flamboyant competitor. Second, despite her best intentions, she is attracted to one of their new guests, but an old love comes to town, determined to renew their courtship.

I hope you are eager to return with me to the English seaside for Book Two of the On Devonshire Shores series. Thank you for all you do to support my books, and readers everywhere!

Gratefully, Julie

 

AUTHOR BIO

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than a million copies and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also been honored with the Minnesota Book Award, Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

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.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite fairytale?  Do you like when fairytales are incorporated into other books?  The Maid of Ballymacool is a Cinderella type story and I loved it!

Brianna Kelly has worked at Ballymacool House her entire life. Ballymacool House is a boarding school for wealthy girls.  She was left there as a small child and all she has of her own was a locket that was left with her.  She works from early morning far into the night.  Her only pleasure is treasure hunting in the woods near Ballymacool House.  Why are there treasures in the woods and what do they mean?

Michael Wray is the son of a local gentry and has been sent to Ballymacool House to help deal with his cousin, Adeline.  He is dismayed by his cousin and her actions, but he is also drawn to Brianna.  Why does she seem so familiar?

I loved the characters and story in this one.  I especially liked the evil headmistress Magee.  There was a mystery involved with Magee that I liked learning more about.  I also enjoyed the Irish setting and the use of Gaelic throughout the novel.

This was a clean read and I loved the slow build sweet romance that grew between Brianna and Michael.

The author’s note at the end was very interesting as well.  Ballymacool House and woods is a real historic location.  I’m putting it on my bucket list of places to visit!  I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland.

The Maid of Ballymacool is a good Cinderella story with a great clean and sweet romance.  I highly recommend it.

Review Copy from Revell a division of Baker Publishing   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: The Maid of Ballymacool: A Novel

·         Author: Jennifer Deibel

·         Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

·         Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Co (February 21, 2023)

·         Length: (352) pages

·         Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, & eBook 

·         ISBN: 978-0800741747

·         Tour Dates: February 13 – 27, 2023

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

ADVANCE PRAISE

·         “Deibel’s update on the “Cinderella” story features sympathetic, three-dimensional characters that readers will find easy to root for as they navigate the page-turning plot and find their way to one another. This heartwarming entry will keep readers hooked till its satisfying close.”— Publisher’s Weekly

 

·         "A slow-building, delicious romance wrapped in a mystery!"— Erica Vetsch, author of the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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

 

AUTHOR BIO

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance) and The Lady of Galway Manor (a Parable Group bestseller). Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS