The Call of the Sea Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book:

Title: The Call of the Sea
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Genre: Inspirational Historical/Viking Romance

A Viking Historical Romance

On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.

Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter—Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Author Interview:

How did you choose the title of the book?
The hero and the heroine both have a special connection to the sea. “The Call of the Sea” came to me as a way of expressing the emotions they were each feeling.
What made you want to write in this era?
I love including lesser-known historical events in my books. I grew up in Wales and so setting a book based on an actual event that involved the Vikings in my homeland was exciting.
What kind of research did you have to do to write this book?
It involved so much research. I did historical research on the Vikings, the Cymry, and the Irish, and specifically on the events that led to the rift between Owain Gwynedd and his brother.
How did you come up with the names of your characters?
Many of the names are the actual names of the people who lived through this time in history. The other names are names that would have been used in that era by those of the different nationalities.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
The research, and meshing the real events with fictional characters.
Did you have a character that you related more to?
There were aspects of both Rhiannon’s and Lief’s characters that I could relate to. I particularly related to their love of their homelands and their desires to be true to their hearts.
How do you deal with historical accuracy?
The 1100s was a messy time in history. Historians do not all agree on the details of certain events and much remains unknown. Whenever possible, I read multiple sources to learn about specific events and everyday life. It was fascinating to learn more about this era.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend university in the U.S. and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in English.

She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children’s books. She is a USA Today best selling author, a Foreward Reviews Book of the Year finalist, and a Whitney Award finalist.

Although Sian doesn’t have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.” She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she’s home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.

Connect with Sian by visiting sianannbessey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Call of the Sea, $25 Amazon Gift Card, swag bundle (including stickers, bookmark, button, cross necklace), virtual book club kit, and ebook of The Heart of the Rebellion.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 31, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 7, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

The Danger with Diamonds

About the Book:

The Danger with Diamonds by [Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey]

Title: The Danger with Diamonds
Series: Falcon Point Suspense #1
Author: Sian Ann Bessey and Traci Hunter Abramson
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 11th, 2022
Genre: Romantic Suspense

When Lars Hendriks arranges to meet Marit Jansen in Vienna, he is hoping their friendship will blossom into romance. What he doesn’t expect is a surprise visit from his cousin Cole or the loose diamonds he brings with him.

As a CIA operative, Cole Bridger is used to uncertainty, but when his work takes him back to Vienna, he looks forward to reconnecting with Isabelle Roberts, the fellow agent he dated briefly before duty took him away from Austria. Unfortunately, his silence over the last few months has created a chasm that he can’t cross without help. He barely takes a step toward repairing the damaged relationship when a brazen jewel heist seemingly links Cole, Lars, Marit, and Isabelle to the crime. The group is drawn into a deadly mystery, and once again, the treasures of Falcon Point are threatened. It doesn’t take long for them to realize they have stumbled upon something far bigger and more dangerous than a simple robbery. And someone on the inside knows it.

Book Review:

Wow! Another amazing book by two awesome authors. The Danger with Diamonds is a companion novel to Heirs of Falcon Point. I was beyond excited to hear that there was going to be another book. I knew that some of the characters still had a story that needed to be told. It was fun to see Lars and Cole again and get to read their story.

Cole was a CIA Operative. He was used to being undercover and working under pressure but he was not used to courting a girl. It was sweet to read about Cole fighting for Isabelle, but Cole also had to figure out how to find his family’s jewels. Isabelle was so cool. I loved how she was able to handle herself and yet she knew when she needed help. Isabelle was hurt when Cole ghosted her but she was willing to put aside her feelings to get to the bottom of the heist. However, as Cole and Isabelle spent time together, they found themselves falling for each other.

Lars was a sweetheart. I really liked him. You didn’t get to see much of him in the last book so it was cool to learn more about him. He wasn’t an operative but he wasn’t willing to let his family’s jewels just be taken. It was cool to see Lars step up and fight. Marit was also wonderful. She was one of Lars’ closest friends and it was sweet to read about them falling in love. Marit had to learn to trust Lars and his family especially as things got complicated. Marit and Lars always had a connection but as they interacted, it grew to more.

It was interesting to read about Cole and Lars and see them falling in love. I loved both of the characters and reading about their romance. They were both unique characters and they made the book fun to read. All of the characters had a part to play that was exciting to see. The characters were likable and I was able to connect with them. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how this story was going to end. The plot was engaging and I didn’t know what they were going to find out about the bank heist.

The Danger with Diamonds is a must read! It is an exciting suspenseful romance. I felt as if this was the perfect blind of romance and suspense. I am crossing my fingers that there will be more books to come in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ae98b8a319/?widget_template=5cf8617cb5df9c301e802fff

The Danger with Diamonds

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book:

Some secrets are worth keeping. Others are not.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Interview:

Where did you get the idea for this book?

We really came up with the idea for The Danger with Diamonds while we were still
working on The Heirs of Falcon Point. Both of us knew that our characters had
more stories to tell, and it didn’t take long for the basic plot to take shape.
How did you choose the title of the book?

We offered several title suggestions to our publisher, but Sian came up with this
one based on the diamonds that are integral to the plot and the danger that
follows them.
How did you co write this book?

We wrote together using a Google.doc with the basic idea of what the first couple
scenes would look like. Then each day Traci would write a scene or two in the
morning. When Sian woke up (she is in a time zone two hours behind Traci), she
would then work on her scene. Often when Traci would wake up, Sian would have
another scene waiting for her. Every 8 to 10 scenes, we would have a zoom call to
plan out the next portion of the book.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Sian will tell you it was getting Traci to help figure out the bad guy. Traci will tell
you it was trying to figure out the bad guy. This is what happens when two
discovery writers come together, and one (Traci) has absolutely no idea what is
going to happen next.
How much research did you need to do in order to write this book?

Traci’s CIA background saved us hours of research into the ins-and-outs of law
enforcement. There were a few times when we felt it necessary to check on
specific protocols, but for the most part, her knowledge borne of experience was
our best resource. Having grown up in Wales, Sian’s European upbringing helped
make our European characters more authentic. We have both visited Vienna, which
helped us as we decided on locations for various scenes. Our most time-consuming
research involved uncovering small details like: When does the Christmas Market at Stephansplatz open? Which U-bahn lines run underground? What are the toppings offered at a typical doner stand?

Do you like writing the romance or suspense parts better?

We both find romantic and suspense scenes challenging to write. The suspense
build up is not as difficult as a fight scene. And the increase in romantic tension is
not as difficult as a kissing scene. Given a choice, we’d both avoid writing fight
scenes and kissing scenes completely if we could.
Where do you get the ideas for your characters?

The main characters in The Danger with Diamonds originally appeared in Heirs of
Falcon Point. Lars and Cole are cousins who only recently learned of each other’s
existence. Neither of them has brothers, and it was really fun to develop a
brother-like relationship between them. Isabelle and Marit, our primary female
characters in this book, also had cameo appearances in Heirs of Falcon Point, but
we really enjoyed fleshing out their characters and allowing their individual
strengths to shine. Most of our characters are a blending of people we know and
people we’ve observed over the years.
How do you write relatable characters?

No one is perfect, including fictional characters, but at their core, our heroes and
heroines are good people trying to do the right thing. We enjoy using humor to
endear our characters to readers. We also show our characters making mistakes,
overcoming difficult things, and trying to improve. Ultimately, when readers finish
one of our books, we’d like them to feel a bond with the characters and be glad for
the time they spent with them.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas for suspense novels as well as the skills needed to survive her children’s teenage years. She has gone on to write a number of bestselling suspense novels that have consistently been nominated as Whitney Award finalists. She considers shoes an optional accessory which became evident when she won her first three Whitney Awards in 2013 (Code Word), 2014 (Deep Cover), and 2016 (Failsafe.) Safe House won Whitney Awards for both the mystery/suspense category as well as 2017 Adult Novel of the Year. She added two additional awards in 2019 (Mistaken Reality – best mystery/suspense and Sanctuary – Adult Novel of the Year.) She currently lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys sports, travel, writing, and recently retired from coaching high school swimming.

Connect with Traci by visiting traciabramson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Connect with Sian by visiting sianannbessey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of The Danger of Diamonds, and book-themed swag (including stickers, bookmark, and postcard).

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 17, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 24, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

The Holly and the Ivy

About the Book:

The Holly and the Ivy by [Sarah M. Eden, Esther Hatch, Dana LeCheminant, Anneka R. Walker]

Title: The Holly and the Ivy
Author: Sarah M Eden, Esther Hatch, Dana LeCheminant, Anneka R. Walker
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 3rd, 2022
Genre: Historical Romance

Spend the holidays with four of your favorite historical romance authors, whose stories of Yuletide romance will brighten the season with humor, hope, and the promise of true love.

The Holly and the Ivy by Sarah M. Eden

As nursemaid to the eight-year-old Duke of Kielder, Robbie will spend her holidays with her young charge as a guest of Lord and Lady Jonquil. While the couple makes the child’s holiday magical, the handsome gardener works his own magic on Nurse Robbie’s heart.

Hiding Christmas by Esther Hatch

Celebrating Christmas in Scotland will only invite persecution. But that never stopped Kirstine’s English grandmother. When they are almost caught, Kirstine is forced to beg for the help of the one man she cannot abide.

A Twist of Christmas by Dana LeCheminant

A Christmas house party offers two members of the ton an irresistible opportunity: a weekend of anonymity. But their charade comes with unexpected romantic consequences.

A Season to Love by Anneka R. Walker

Alice Hunt is searching for a Christmas miracle: a husband of her choosing. With the threat of an arranged marriage looming, she looks to an unlikely matchmaker for help.

Book Review:

Um, all of these authors are amazing so I was just beyond excited to read this collection! And all of these novellas were just so good! The Holly and the Ivy is written by Sarah M Eden, Esther Hatch, Dana LeCheminant, and Anneka R Walker. I mean what a stellar line up.

So this first one looked good and it definitely did not disappoint. The Holly and the Ivy is written by Sarah M Eden and it is Adam, the Duke of Kieder’s nursemaid, Robbie. Mr. Simpkin was an interesting character, I had to warm up to him but I still liked him. This was cute and sweet. I loved getting to see Lucas and Julia again, it was fun to see them through different people’s eyes.

Hiding Christmas by Esther Hatch

The concept seemed a bit awkward for me, but I ended up really enjoying this one. Hiding Christmas is written by Esther Hatch and it is the second novella in the book. Kirstine did not like Isaac but she needed his help to get to England to celebrate Christmas. I liked the characters and enjoyed the story. It was fun to read about the characters getting over the past and starting over.

A Twist of Christmas by Dana LeCheminant

I adored this one! It was so sweet and fun! I loved the concept, two people pretending to be someone else and falling in love. A Twist of Christmas is by Dana LeCheminant and I loved the characters. I really wish that this novella was longer; it was just so fun to read. Beth and Graham were characters that I could relate too and I wanted to see how they would end up together. They had a lot of roads to cross but it was definitely a wonderful story.

A Season to Love by Anneka R Walker

I had a harder time getting into this one, but as I read more I grew to love the story. A Season to Love is written by Anneka R Walker and it is the last novella in the book but still wonderful. Alice and Thomas were such wonderful characters. Alice was looking for a husband and Thomas was the clergyman helping her in her search. I really enjoyed their interactions and the easy banter. I liked how they were both unique characters and it was sweet to read about them falling for each other.

All of these stories were wonderful and I would definitely recommend them. They were such fun Christmas historical romances. They reminded me of the Christmas spirit and I enjoyed reading about the characters connecting and fallin in love. The Holly and the Ivy is a wonderful book with engaging novellas.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ae98b8a318/?widget_template=5cf8617cb5df9c301e802fff

Healing Hazel

Book Review:

Healing Hazel (The Blue Orchid Society #3) by [Jennifer Moore]

Title: Healing Hazel
Series: The Blue Orchid Society #3
Author: Jennifer Moore
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: August 8th, 2022
Genre: Historical Romance

Hazel Thornton has one great ambition: to help the sick and wounded as a nurse. But that dream can never become a reality. After a devastating childhood trauma, she has spent her life battling fits of panic that make it impossible to finish her studies. Everything changes, however, when a trip to Spain takes a perilous turn that derails her plans to visit her father for Christmas and immediately plunges her into the dangers of a brutal war.

With single-minded focus, she springs into action to help her fellow travelers. To ensure their continued care, she begins work at a Spanish hospital alongside Dr. Jim Jackson, a man whose only emotion seems to be wariness of his new assistant. Armed with gifts of support from each of her dearest friends, a group that dubs themselves the Blue Orchid Society, Hazel embarks on a journey of hope and healing to battle the demons of her past with the help of the doctor who has captured her heart.

Book Review:

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. But first a disclaimer, I have not yet read the first two books in the series but it did not affect my understanding and enjoyment of this one. Healing Hazel is the third book in Jennifer Moore’s The Blue Orchid Society.

Hazel was so sweet. She wanted to make her friends proud and she was trying to reach for her dreams of becoming a nurse, but she never felt able. However when a trip to Spain takes a dangerous turn, she finds herself in the midst of the war helping to care for the sick and injured. Dr. Jim Jackson just wanted to care for his patients and do some good in the world. He did not want to deal with a woman who thought herself a nurse. But as he spent time with Hazel, he began to see her in a different light.

I really loved reading about Hazel. She had a quiet strength. She truly cared for those she was trying to help and she didn’t allow her own struggles to keep her from reaching out. It was cool to read about Hazel overcoming her fears and learning to stand up for herself. She learned to be strong in her own way.

Jim was another wonderful character to read about. He comes off as harsh and a little gruff but he had a kind heart. He truly did care for the patients brought to him and he wanted to help as many as he could. However Jim had to learn to let go of the past and look to the future. He had to see that there was a life to live.

Hazel and Jim had a sweet romance, it grew out of respect. They did not always see eye to eye, but they learned to trust each other as they worked together to save lives. It was cool to read about them from each other’s eyes and to watch them fall in love. It was a gradual thing but no less sweet.

The plot and storyline were very interesting. Hazel had to figure out how to make herself useful as she waited for her companions to heal, while Jim was trying to keep his hospital up and running. I was intrigued by the story from the beginning and I could not put it down. There was excitement and romance, it was the perfect book!

I adored this book and I would totally recommend it! Healing Hazel is a wonderful book and I now need to read the other two books. Healing Hazel is a clean historical romance book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ae98b8a317/

A Tenuous Betrothal

About the Book:

A Tenuous Betrothal (Royal Regency Romance Book 3) by [Jen Geigle Johnson]

Title: A Tenuous Betrothal
Series: A Royal Regency Romance #3
Author: Jen Geigle Johnson
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: August 8th, 2022
Genre: Historical Romance

Rhianna Davies is well-acquainted with heartache after the painful loss of her parents. At the arrival of her ghastly uncle, she is brought even lower: Rhi has been banished from her family’s estate home and must rely on the kindness of her tightly knit Welsh miners for help. Without the protective love of her parents, Rhi has no illusions that hers will be a happy ending—until an addendum to her father’s will arrives in the hands of a prince.

Marc Wilhelm, Prince of Oldenburg, is in Wales with one purpose: to claim his betrothed. A long-ago promise between their fathers forges an indelible link between Rhi and Marc, but there remains just one problem: neither wants to marry a stranger. With no remaining ties to Wales, Rhi agrees to accompany Marc to Oldenburg, where he will forfeit their betrothal so she may have her pick of husbands. But their journey takes them down unexpected paths, from the depths of a Welsh mine to the marriage mart of London to a warm reception in Oldenburg. Rhi and Marc discover that their connection and their challenges run deeper than either anticipated, but whether from their own hesitations or from danger that threatens without, the couple might be thwarted before they can even begin the happily ever after they so richly deserve.

Book Review:

This was a sweet book! The characters were a lot of fun and full of life. A Tenuous Betrothal is the third book in Jen Giegle Johnson’s Royal Regency series. I have really liked Johnson’s other books so I was excited to try this one out. I haven’t read the first two but I was still able to enjoy this one!

Rhianna Davies was just trying to get by. She was trying to help the workers under her family’s mines, but her uncle had taken control upon her father’s death. Rhi was struggling, ans she didn’t know what to do. But then she finds herself betrothed to a prince who doesn’t want to marry her but may be the answer to her problems. Prince Marc Wilhelm is only in Wales to find his betrothed and hopefully break their engagement without upsetting his father. However as he spends more time with Rhi, he finds a woman to admire and maybe even love.

I liked Rhi and her spark. She was fearless and kind. There were times when she was a bit impulsive and got on my nerves, but I still enjoyed reading about her. She was a character that I could connect with and someone that I wanted to find a happy ending. It was fun to read about Rhi as she learned to find herself and even trust Marc that he was the kind of man who wanted to help. But Rhi would have to learn how much she was willing to risk for love and if love was worth all of the potential heartache.

Oh, Marc. He tried so hard to protect his heart. I did like Marc, he had me from the beginning. He was kind and noble, but he was not looking to get married. Rhi was an obstacle that he did not know how to deal with. But it was a lot of fun to read about him falling for Rhi and trying to fight his feelings. Marc had to learn to trust others and that falling in love wasn’t a bad thing. He needed to see that it was okay to ask for help.

Rhi and Marc had an easy chemistry that made it fun to read about them. Their romance was gradual and I think that it fit the characters. They struggled through their feelings but it didn’t feel rushed. I liked the plot and I was drawn into the story, but it did take me a bit to really get invested. So while it was more of a slower start for me, I would still recommend this book. The side characters, Marc’s brothers, were also a wonderful addition and I am excited for their books.

A Tenuous Betrothal was a great book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy regency novels with royalty. A Tenuous Betrothal is a clean regency romance book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

The Dreaming Beauty

About the Book:

The Dreaming Beauty by [Anneka R. Walker]

Title: Breaming Beauty
Author: Anneka R Walker
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: July 11th, 2022
Genre: Regency Romance

Once upon a dream, two cursed people fell in love . . .

Tansy White doesn’t want to end up alone like her three aunts who raised her, but when she is betrayed by her would-be betrothed, she fears she might never change her fate. At her aunts’ suggestion, she seizes the chance to visit Rose Cottage, the country home of her late mother. For years, dreams of the cottage have haunted Tansy, and she is convinced it holds the answer to her hidden past. But after getting caught in a terrible storm, she meets a man who is just as determined as she is to learn all her secrets.

Marcus Taylor, brother to the Duke of Westmorland, is also troubled by vivid dreams. On a sleepless night, as a tempest rages outside his brother’s estate, he makes a discovery far more mysterious than any dream: a young woman, cold as ice, lies unconscious in the library, and he is sure she is the key to solving his problems. When she wakes, what begins as a shared quest for information turns into an unexpected friendship. As they piece together the fragments of their pasts, they discover a tangled web of lies, and their feelings for each other become just as entwined. But is their love as strong as their dreams . . . or their fate?

Book Review:

Wow! This book was just stunning and full of twists and turns! I am in awe. I have to admit that it took me a bit to get into the book but once I really got into it, I was hooked. The Dreaming Beauty is a sequel to Anneka R Walker’s book, The Masked Baron. The Dreaming Beauty is a regency book inspired by Sleeping Beauty

Tansy was an interesting character. I am honestly not quite sure how I feel about her. She was stubborn, but she was also looking for love. She was searching for the answers to her dreams and trying to find herself. Tansy grew a lot in this book. She learned to stand up for herself and also that happy endings could happen.

Marcus was lovely. I really liked him in this book and I enjoyed reading about him. He worked hard to be a good man and help his brother. I loved how Marcus cared for the people under him and around him. But Marcus was also still learning how to let people in and how to fight for what he believed in. There were also secrets of his pasts that would come back to haunt him.

Marcus and Tansy were cute together. They were able to help each other be the best. They each had their own issues to deal with, but it was sweet to read about them connecting. However, they had to fight for each other because there were a lot of obstacles and secrets standing in their way.

The plot was really interesting and engaging. It started off slower but as I kept on reading, I was soon drawn in. I was amazed by everything that was going on and on the edge of myseat to find out what was going to happen. I also really enjoyed Marcus’ brother, Simon. He was a fun addition to the story, I hope that he gets his own book.

The Dreaming Beauty was a really fun book! I would definitely recommend it! The Dreaming Beauty is a clean regency romance

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ae98b8a313/?widget_template=5cf8617cb5df9c301e802fff

Not Dead Yet

About the Book:

Not Dead Yet (Guardian, #6) by [Traci Hunter Abramson]

Title: Not Dead Yet
Series: Guardian #6
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: June 13th, 2022
Genre: Suspense

Cassidy Edgemont has been dead for four years. At least, that is what the world has been led to believe. After becoming unwittingly entangled in a group called the Coalition, known for using fake news to generate political unrest in the United States, Cas was offered a devastating choice: stage her own death and join her rescuers, the guardians, or risk the wrath of the organization she betrayed. She chose death.

As an invisible government operative, Cas has been living in Paris with no complications—until her family pays an unexpected visit to the European city, changing everything. They think Cas is dead, and she has to keep it that way. But when a bomb is detonated nearby and fake news incites riots in the city, Cas recognizes the mark of the Coalition.

Donovan, a fellow guardian, is summoned to join her in Paris to attempt to untangle the intricate web linking Cas’s past with the recent bombings. But as the threat level escalates, Cas must again make an impossible decision: face possible exposure to her family in her race to uncover the truth or risk the loss of innocent lives.

Book Review:

Another winner by Traci Hunter Abramson! Not Dead Yet is the sixth book in Traci Hunter Abramson’s Guardian series. I have to admit that I haven’t read the first five yet but it did not take away from the amazing book except that there were some characters who I did not really know, but otherwise it was great!

Cassidy Edgemont was a great character, she really drew me in from the beginning. I loved reading about Cas and reading about her trying to save her family. She had suffered a lot and lost a lot, but she was still trying to do the right thing through it all. It was definitely sweet to read about her interacting with Donovan and learning to trust him though. Cas was so strong and I just loved her character throughout the book

Donovan was also lovely. I loved him from the beginning. It was fun to read from his perspective and see him learning to trust Cas, and then falling in love. He was also a guardian and he wanted to find his own family. Donovan worked hard to protect Cas and help their mission.

Donovan and Cas were cute together and I definitely loved reading about their interactions. However romance was not the only thing that kept this book going. There was suspense and mystery. Oh my goodness, I was on the edge of my seat reading this book. I didn’t know what was going to happen or how Cas was going to protect her family. It was so exciting and I was engaged the whole time

Not Dead Yet was wonderful! I loved everything about it! It was fun to see the other characters, I need to go read their books. I would definitely recommend Not Dead Yet. Not Dead Yet is a clean romantic suspense book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Romancing Daphne

About the Book:

Title: Romancing Daphne
Series: Lancaster Family #3
Author: Sarah M Eden
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: June 1st, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance

As her first London Season looms before her, the thought of the impending social whirl fills Daphne Lancaster’s timid heart with dread. She hasn’t her sisters’ beauty nor their talent for conversing easily. Even her family’s enviable connections may not be enough to prevent disaster. But Daphne’s misery turns to surprised delight when the first event of her Season brings an unexpected visitor to her door—James Tilburn, whose tender kindness stole her heart in her youth. When the handsome young gentleman expresses his desire to court her, Daphne is elated. Their feelings for each other quickly grow, and it appears that, much to Daphne’s disbelief, her happily ever after is within reach.

Yet nothing is as it seems. The couple finds themselves caught in a tangled web of greed and deceit, leaving James and Daphne to determine whether they are willing to risk everything for true love. “Sarah M. Eden has a knack for just the right pacing in her books while endearing the characters to us and showcasing a more universal human dilemma.”

Book Review:

I have finished 3 of the Lancaster Family books in 2 days! They’re just that good, and my favorite one so far was probably Romancing Daphne. Daphne is so relatable, and she and James are adorable together. I loved their relationship together! It was so fun to see everyone else again too. The parts with Linus in it just made me want to read his book more 🙂

Daphne Lancaster is terrified to be making her way into Society. She already knows she is both plain and completely incapable of making a conversation. She is certain it will be a complete disaster, and she will spend the rest of her life alone. So she is overjoyed when James Tilburn shows interest in her and begins to court her. His kind manner captured her heart when she was a girl, and it seems like her happily ever after is within her reach. But her courtship is not what it seems, and suddenly, Daphne’s fragile heart looks like it is in danger of being broken again. James and Daphne will have to decide whether they will risk everything for true love.

Let’s start off with Daphne because she’s awesome! Daphne is convinced that she does not measure up or is enough for anyone. When she was a child, she was constantly dismissed by her father, and those scars stayed with her. I felt for her soo much. I think almost everyone can relate to her feelings at some point in their lives, and Ms. Eden masterfully wrote her in a believable way. She had to choose whether she was willing to give her heart to James even if it meant more pain.

James was such an honorable character. He was determined to protect his family even if it meant pain for himself. I loved watching him fight for Daphne. He was soo nice to her, and it was sweet to watch him fall in love with her. This book was honestly amazing! The characters were so compelling, and the story was interesting without being too intense. I’m not a huge Regency fan, but I loved it! Sarah M. Eden is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors🥰🥰

Engaging Emma

About the Book:

Title: Engaging Emma
Author: Elle M. Adams
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: May 2nd, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance

As a successful doctor in Los Angeles, Tucker Madsen left his small-town roots behind long ago, trading his flannel shirts for a glossy lifestyle and a beautiful fiancée. But when his mother requests his help to sell the family farm, Tucker reluctantly returns to a place that holds more memories than he cares to admit. Normal, Missouri, was the site of the golden days of childhood—and the blush of first love.

Tucker fell in love with Emma McAllister at seventeen, but when youthful promises of forever ended in heartbreak, he and Emma both moved on. Or so they thought. When they are unexpectedly reunited at the Madsen family farm, both are unprepared for the rush of feelings that brings into question everything they thought they knew. They could never have imagined that now, years after they were torn apart, fate would offer them a second chance in the place where it all began. But when faced with the realities of the separate lives they’ve built, history seems doomed to repeat itself.

Book Review:

This was a fun debut novel. I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into the story, but once I really started it I ended up enjoying it. Engaging Emma is written by Elle M Adams and it is a clean contemporary romance.

Emma was an interesting character. I did not really connect with her but I was able to get to know her. She had been hurt before and she was just trying to protect herself and build a life for herself. I did feel for her as she worked to run her company well. I loved how she cared for the people around her, especially Miss Lily. Emma had to learn to forgive and also how to let people past her walls. The past did not have to define her.

Okay so Tucker, I did like. I felt bad for him. He tried hard to care for his family but he was also dealing with guilt. Tucker had left his grandmother’s town and in a sense never looked back. He wanted to leave those memories behind but he never recovered from his summer romance with Emma. Tucker had to figure out what he wanted in life and make sacrifices for the things that are most important to him.

Tucker and Emma were second chance lovers so they had a lot of hurt to work through. There were things that were out of their control and they had to learn to work together again. It was interesting to read about them interacting and getting to know each other for a second time. They had a lot of ground to cover, but in the end it was sweet.

The side characters were a lot of fun! I thought that Miss Lily, Tucker’s grandmother, had quite the personality. Nina, Emma’s best friend, was also a nice addition to the series.

Overall, I enjoyed Engaging Emma and I am excited to see what else Adams writes. Engaging Emma is a wholesome, clean contemporary romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.