Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Brentwood's Ward

GIVEAWAY

Grieps, Michelle
Brentwood's Ward

It takes a criminal to find one, and Nicholas Brentwood is just the man for the job. Reformed in more ways than one, the rough-around-the-edges Brentwood is a member of the Bow Street Runners, London's early nineteenth century fledgling police force. There's none better than Brentwood at catching the felons who ravage the city's streets, and there's nothing he loves more than seeing justice served.

Beautiful and beguiling, Miss Emily Payne is not the sort of miscreant Brentwood usually hunts down. When he is assigned as her bodyguard. he vows to protect her for her father's enemies, who will stop at nothing to carry out their mission fueled by greed and revenge.

All her life, Emily has longed for love, but it remains beyond her grasp. This season she's determined to find a husband, which is quite the undertaking with a hound-dog guardian like Brentwood watching her every step. If he would just give her some measure of freedom, she is sure she could win the heart of society's most eligible bachelor.

Emily's headstrong persistence, challenges Nicholas in ways he doesn't expect, but of one things he's certain -- of all the cunning criminals he's dealt with in the past, this time he's met his match.

My Review:

This was such a fun read in a menacing sort of way! A Regency that packs a wallop. If you combined Dickens with Austen and added a dash of Sherlock Holmes you'd come close to describing Griep's writing style as her imagination runs rampant through the pages of this book. She certainly grabbed my attention -- from the complex, sinister plot to the rapid fire pacing, I could barely catch my breath. Just when I'd think things were calming down...they weren't! The author definitely reveals the darker side of Regency London in an all too realistic way. Honestly, my head was spinning and my voice was hoarse from shouting dire warnings at the oblivious heroine.

Miss Emily Payne could be a...well, real pain. When we first meet her she is sheltered, definitely spoiled and extremely obstinate. As circumstances change and real life infiltrates her protective bubble she stretches and grows into a woman of strength and compassion and....okay she stays obstinate but that's Nicholas's problem now.

Speaking of the hero -- insert swoon here. I was smitten the minute we met. Rough around the edges yes, but there's a noble heart beating in that manly chest. He believes in justice (though not always mercy) and is passionate about his work as a Bow Street Runner. That whole angle is utterly fascinating and at the roots of an organized police force in London. History in the making.

Brentwood's Ward has received rave reviews from a multitude of big name authors and I heartily agree with their assessment. I only wish the publisher had given the author another thirty pages or so because the ending did seem to come upon me in a rush. Some of the threads had to be tied up with  dialogue after the fact rather than the reader actually witnessing them first hand.

All in all a brilliant (and edgy) blend of suspense and historical and I enjoyed every minute of the read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Brentwood's Ward please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

49 comments:

  1. Ugh, number one again. Ever since you told me you were going to do a giveaway on this one I've been waiting. Lol Not just to try to win the book, but I so wanted to read your review on it. And what an awesome review it is, and your take on it is the same as my friend's who highly recommended it. Thx so much for the fabulous review!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Diana. LOL, you and your #1 phobia. I'm thinking you'll really like this one too -- however you come by it. Good luck.

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  2. Historical suspense sounds right up my alley. Count me in, Kav!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. The best of both worlds, Cheryl. Good luck.

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  3. Brentwood's Ward sounds very intriguing! Thank you for sharing a fantastic review and giveaway.

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. Intriguing is definitely the descriptor for it. Good luck, Britney.

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  4. I enjoyed A Hear Deceived by Michelle. Looking forward to this new release.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. This is the first book I have read by this author. I guess I need to backtrack and see what else she's written. Good luck.

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  6. Sounds like a fun read and definitely in my fave genre. Thanks for the review and giveaway. huletthouse (at) mchsi (DOT) com

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  7. I enjoy Regency books and the complex, sinister plot would for sure hold my attention!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Honestly, you won't want to blink while reading this one. LOL. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  8. Ahh! I so want to read this book! Would love to be entered for a chance to win, Kav!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  9. Oh, I love your description! I really enjoy Regency stories and this sounds delightfully different. :)
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    1. Definitely different -- more Dickensish than Austenish. Good luck, Merry.

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  10. I love your review of this book! I look forward to reading it someday. Thanks for the chance to win, and I appreciate the warning about the abrupt ending. Those endings that feel there need to be more pages bother me, but if I can know in advance that it will happen, I can prepare myself for it a bit!
    Brittany McEuen
    kbmceuen(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. And it's not that there are any loose threads, or cliff hangers it was just like -whoosh, we're done! LOL Good luck Brittany.

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  11. Wow .. what a review, now I'd really like to read this book, and a new author as well. Sounds like a good one. rrwalter34AtGMAILdotCOM

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    1. I think it's definitely worth reading. :-) Good luck, Becky.

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  12. Love the regency and suspense combination. I like intense!

    Diane
    dianemestrella at gmail dot com

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    1. I do too, Diane. Love any combo of historical and suspense actually. Good luck.

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  13. The more I hear about this book, the more I want to read it! Thanks for the chance to win it! :)

    crazybooklover7 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  14. I am certainly intrigued by this one, Kav! Thank you for your great review and giveaway.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Definitely intriguing, Melanie. Good luck.

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  15. I love regency novels. I haven't read anything by this author, but this book sounds really good from your review. Would love to win it. : )

    sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

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  16. Yay on the dark side of regency! So often this period is sugar-coated and we tend to foget that people were...real, then. I would love to read Michelle´s take on this! And manly-chested hero is welcomed as always :)

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. LOL, I'm with you on manly chested heroes, Janka! And you're right -- we're used to the delicate, drawing room scene kind of Regency novel and this one definitely isn't that. Lots of sinister and brooding aspects to this tale. Good luck.

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  17. Oh, I am so looking forward to reading this one! Regency is one of my favorite time-frames and adding mystery and suspense just makes it better! Thanks for the giveaway!
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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  18. I thinketh... I must readeth!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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  19. I do enjoy reading this type book.. thanks for the giveaway :)
    dkstevensne AToutlookDoTCoM

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  20. Historical and Suspense in one book!
    Can't wait!
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. I can't wait to read this one! It was on my list of TBR. Would be great to win and not have to buy. But either way it will get read, especially after your great review.

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    1. It is definitely worthy of your TBR list. Bump it to the top. Good luck, Lori.

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  22. I was just looking at this book the other day, thinking how good it looks!
    I'm in!
    lieniitte(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. And, bonus, it's as good as it looks. Good luck, Lieniitte.

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  23. This is another great review of Brentwood's Ward. This has been on my "want to read" list for awhile. I'd love to win!

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  24. I always love a good suspense book, i will have to put this on my to read list.

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  25. Hello Kav.Thanks for the review of Michelles book. And yes Diana does have a phobia of #1 not winning. I have tried to tell her a lot of my wins have been when I was the first and some when I was the last. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
    Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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    1. It's the randomness of it all, Maxie. LOL Good luck.

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    2. MAXIE! :o No wonder my ears were burning! LOL!

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