Tuesday, May 30, 2017

The Girl With The Make-believe Husband by Julia Quinn



A charming tale of good intentions gone awry and a love strong enough to span the Atlantic.

When word arrives that her brother, Thomas, has been injured in the Colonies, recently orphaned Cecilia Harcourt travels to Manhattan Island with the intention of nursing him back to health. But as it turns out, Thomas is missing in action, and the only person who might be able to help Cecilia, is his friend, Edward Rokesby. The only problem with this is that (a) nobody will let her see him because (b) he's unconscious, prompting her to (c) tell the doctor and his commanding officer that she is his wife.

When Edward finally wakes up in hospital, Cecilia's presence makes his amnesia a little more bearable. He already feels as though he knows her from all of the letters she's been sending her brother, some of which have included little notes for him. What he did not know, however, is that he and Cecilia - according to her - were married by proxy. Parts of her story don't quite add up, but on the other hand, why would she lie? 
As the days go by and they move in together, Edward becomes increasingly pleased with how things have turned out, while Cecilia grows increasingly concerned about how he'll react when the truth eventually comes to light.

This story has all the humor and wit that makes Julia Quinn's novels so entertaining and unforgettable. It is definitely on par with other Bridgerton favorites like, Romancing Mister Bridgerton and On The Way To The Wedding. Historical romance lovers will fall in love with this wonderfully romantic treat - a story that I would highly recommend diving into.




Friday, May 12, 2017

Three historical romance recommendations for the weekend

Mother's day is on Sunday, so why not treat yourself to some delicious reads? I'm going to recommend three books that have stuck with me over the years because of how memorable they were. One was even written by a man! So dive on in and take a look before heading on over to your favorite online retailer.

1.

When a woman who's ready for love meets a dangerous, passionate man, she can easily get Swept Away....

Bestselling, award-winning author Marsha Canham's breathtaking new novel transports readers to Regency England as a young woman rescues a mysterious man, only to find love, danger, destiny....


"They have to know the truth. Before it is too late." Those were the half-naked stranger's only words as he opened his eyes, looked into her soul, then lost consciousness in the shallow tidal pool. Annaleah Fairchilde, heiress and noblewoman, soon learned the identity of the man she saved: Emory Althorpe, adventurer, accused traitor, and Napoleon's spy. Even as she bound the dangerous scoundrel's wounds, she fell deeper under the spell of a man handsome as the devil, sent to her by fate.


He remembered nothing. Only the need to escape. Emory Althorpe was wanted for treason, yet his only hope was a shadowy memory hovering just beyond his grasp, and beautiful Anna, who aroused unexpected passions. He had no choice but to abduct her, needing her to gain access to London's ballrooms, where he could prove his innocence. Together they raced into the face of danger, determined to find the key to his past and live--or die--together, as destiny decreed....





2. 

"The bluest of blood, the boldest of hearts; the de Montforte brothers will take your breath away."

England, 1776: Lord Gareth de Montforte is known as an irresponsible rake with a heart of gold. When he takes a bullet for boldly thwarting a stagecoach robbery, he is stunned to discover that the beautiful young woman he has heroically rescued, Juliet Paige, is his deceased brother’s American fiancĂ©e, accompanied by her infant daughter. Despite his brother the duke's refusal to acknowledge Juliet, Gareth is determined to do right by the courageous woman who crossed an ocean to give her baby her rightful name. But Juliet is wary of marrying this black sheep aristocrat, even while she is hopelessly charmed by the dashing devil. Never has she met anyone who embraces life so thoroughly, who makes her laugh, who loves her so well. And, even when it seems the odds are against them, Juliet has absolute faith that Gareth will go beyond the call of duty, risking his life itself to give her and her daughter a home — and a love that will last a lifetime.




3. 

Brett Westbrook knew he wanted Kate from the moment she stumbled into the room, her nightgown barely concealing her stunning curves. Kate’s youthful innocence and womanly sensuality awoke a passion within him, which only intensified when he witnessed her brother’s callous treatment. Horribly betrayed by her brother, Kate was offered to Brett as payment for his gambling debts. Brett accepted the golden-haired beauty with good intentions, but soon found himself under the spell of her sapphire eyes, wondering if they may truly belong together.

Kate believed that Brett was her savior, sweeping her away from her brother’s torment. While her headstrong nature found against the idea of belonging to a man, her body was slowly won over by his gentle touch, awakening new desires she had never dreamed of. Rather than protest Brett’s advances, Kate became more than willing to fulfill the Seductive Wager.



Monday, May 8, 2017

Sweepstake - Win more than 25 historical romance novels!

I’ve teamed up with more than 25 fantastic historical Regency romance authors to give away a huge collection of novels to 2 lucky winners, alongside a number of bookstore gift cards, PLUS a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet to the Grand Prize winner! 

You can win my novel His Scandalous Kiss, plus books from authors like Collette Cameron and Christi Caldwell.

Enter the giveaway by clicking here: http://bit.ly/rsm-may17




Good luck, and enjoy!

Saturday, April 29, 2017

The Truth About Love and Dukes by Laura Lee Guhrke



I think this book contains the best ending I've ever read. It was so satisfying and well thought out, bringing the whole story together in a few brilliantly written pages.

When Henry, Duke of Torquil discovers that his mother plans to marry an Italian painter, he's not the least bit pleased. When he finds out that she has been advised to do so by an agony aunt named Lady Truelove, he decides to seek the woman out and give her a piece of his mind. But the newspaper publisher he encounters, and whom he suspects to be Lady Truelove herself, is anything but the older, plump, redheaded, velvet-clad woman he expected to encounter. Rather, she's young, independent and beautiful. And she is not about to cower when faced with Torquil's wrath. These qualities, when combined, provoke a passionate response in the duke, prompting him to forge a plan that forces the publisher to spend one week under his roof.

Having taken over the running of her father's newspaper publication, Irene has implemented a gossip column and an advise column, both of which have become immensely popular. But when the Duke of Torquil shows up in her office, furious with her involvement in his mother's affairs, she suddenly faces an ultimatum: stop the dowager duchess from marrying her Italian painter or lose her beloved newspaper to the duke who threatens to buy it from her father. Incensed by the arrogant aristocrat, Irene refuses to notice how handsome he is or how irresistible he can be, because to do so would be detrimental to her plans. But when a private moment in the library leads them both into temptation, she begins to wonder what an entire night might be like in his arms.

The working class meets the aristocracy in this wonderful story with well-crafted characters. I fell in love with the hero and the heroine - both were fantastic - and I look forward to reading the next book Laura Lee Guhrke has to offer.




Monday, April 24, 2017

Goodreads Giveaway

The first of several awesome giveaways celebrating A Most Unlikely Duke opens today on Goodreads. It is available worldwide!!! 




Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Tall, Dark & Wicked by Madeline Hunter



I loved this story just as much as I loved the first book in the Wicked series. Madeline Hunter's plots are so intriguing with twists and turns that just keep the pages flying into the early hours of the morning. 

With her father charged with fraud against the Crown and imprisoned in Newgate, Padua seeks out the best barrister she can find, only to discover that he is not the old and gray-haired man she expected, but rather a very attractive rogue with a wicked gleam to his eyes - the sort of man who sends her pulse racing at a most inappropriate pace. Unfortunately, it turns out that he is also the man the Crown has asked to serve as prosecutor in the case. 

Ives is a man of principle. He never strays from duty or honor. Why then, is he suddenly acting out of character, engaging in spontaneous rendezvous with the daughter of a criminal and, worse yet, helping her save the man he is meant to condemn? Perhaps because there's just something about Padua Belvoire...something he has't been able to resist since she set foot in his study, tempting them both to embark on a passionate affair that could cost them everything they both hold dear: her father's freedom and his honor.

As clues begin to emerge, the unlikely pair embarks on a mission to find the truth behind Padua's father's conviction, but the more time they spend together, the more difficult parting will be once the trial begins. 
This is a beautifully written love story full of passion and a touch of adventure. Madeline Hunter is an exceptional author and since I cant wait to read more of her stories, I'm off to grab the third book in this delicious series: The Wicked Duke.




Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Southern Writers Magazine - The Re-Write



A little over a month ago on March 1st, I was approached by the communications director for Southern Writers Magazine with an invitation to write a post for their blog. Always ready to grab a publicity opportunity that comes my way, I readily agreed to do it, and since it had just been decided a couple of days earlier that my most recent manuscript would have to be re-written, I even had a subject ready to go.
So if you're a writer who's facing a similar situation and you'd like to be assured that you're not alone, or if you're a reader/fan who would like a bit of insight into my writing experience, just head on over to Suite T and take a look at my post. And if you find it interesting, please take a second to share :)