Tuesday, July 12, 2016

An Elegant Facade

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
AN ELEGANT FACADE

Lady Georgina Hawthorne has always known she must marry well. After years of tirelessly planning every detail of her debut season, she is poised to be a smashing success and have her choice of eligible gentlemen.

With money and powerful business connections but not title, Colin McCrae is invited everywhere but accepted nowhere. He intends to marry someday, but when he does it will not be to a shallow woman like Lady Georgina, whose only concerns appear to be status and appearance.

But beneath her flawless exterior, Georgina's social aspirations stem from a shameful secret she is desperately trying to keep hidden -- and that Colin is too close to discovering. Drawn to each other despite their mutual intent to avoid association, is the realization of their dreams worth the sacrifices they'll be forced to make?

My Review:

Oh, I do love good Regency banter! And Hunter excels at creating rapid fire conversations between her characters. I was either gasping or laughing over some of the outrageous dialogue between Georgina and Colin.

This is the second book in the Hawthorne House series and I adored A Noble Masquerade mainly because of its intrepid heroine, Miranda. Georgina was a secondary character in that novel -- Miranda's petulant, conniving sister. To say I wasn't a Georgina fan is an understatement so I approached An Elegant Façade with some trepidation. Especially since there's quite a bit of overlap between the two stories and the first part of Façade is a repeat of the last part of Masquerade only with different character viewpoints.

And that means that Georgina is just as calculating and shallow (or so it seems) for the first hundred pages or so. Hunter just gives us hints at motives for this entitled behaviour but it's up to the reader to hang in there, digging deeper into the story to uncover the heartbreak and fear that has ruled Georgina from childhood. She may appear to be cold and self-serving...and frankly, she definitely is at times...but there are reasons behind her actions and that was a fascinating story thread to uncover.

Colin 's business acumen has made him a wealthy man and earned him a place on the fringes of elite social circles. Of course, aristocratic lineage trumps new money so Georgina gives him little regard. She has specific goals for her debut season -- to nab a very wealthy and very titled bachelor. Colin is both amused and repelled by Georgina's blatant husband campaign. It isn't long before he becomes intrigued as he begins to suspect there is more to Georgina than meets the eye.

This is very much a story of transformation. Mostly Georgina's as she comes to terms with her secret and begins to understand that she is valued by her Father in Heaven. Once she grasps that truth she finds the courage to alter her life course. And Colin is very much a part of that change. He's gently relentless as he pushes Georgina to accept herself and join in relationship with God. The last quarter of the book made my spirit soar and my heart sing. Is it any wonder that I became a Georgina fan by the end?

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  An Elegant Facade 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 July 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

57 comments:

  1. The cover is everything.
    And I very much love the stories of transformation!

    Count me in, please.

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

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    1. Isn't it a beguiling cover? Good luck, Janka.

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  2. This sounds like a winner, for sure! Thank you, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  3. I've been looking forward to reading this series. I have A Noble Masquerade, but I like to get at least a couple in a series before I start reading. This second one sounds good. Thank you for offering a copy.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. These would definitely be good to read back to back because of the overlap. Good luck, Kay.

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  4. You're welcome, Kate. Good luck.

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  5. This sounds like a series I would love! Thanks so much for sharing, Kav!

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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  6. I had only heard the best comments about A Noble Masquerade and was so encouraged that it would be my kind of story, that I recently purchased the paperback in anticipation of this one. I just need to make sure it doesn't get relegated to the bottom of my tbr since I own it. This is why I need reader accountability. :) tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com.

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    1. I forgot to ask. Did you read the prequel novella, A Lady of Esteem and, if so, would you recommend it before I start A Noble Masquerade?

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    2. I haven't read the prequel novella because I don't read ebooks. (no ereader and it's too painful to read on a laptop) so I can't advise you on that. I did read A Noble Masquerade without reading the novella without any problem though.

      Oh -- and because of the story overlap issue, I'd read Masquerade and Façade back to back...or close to it. Good luck, Terrill.

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  7. I have heard great things of this one. lattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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  8. This book is on my TBR list. I really can't wait to read it! Ooohhh, for more time!

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    1. I know -- time is the enemy when it comes to have enough to read all the books we want to. Good luck, Becky.

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  9. I'm really enjoying the Hawthorne House series. An Elegant Facade looks like a wonderful addition.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  10. I read and reviewed the first book on our blog, A Noble Masquerade. How could I possibly NOT read the second one? Gasp! Thanks for the lovely review, Kav. I'm still not convinced that I could love Georgina, but if you say so....

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. I know, Georgina was a hard sell at first. Snicker. It's good to exercise our empathy reader muscles once in a while. Good luck, Diana.

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  11. I LOVE regency-era books! This one looks to not disappoint!
    J.C. -Indiana-

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    1. It's one of my favourite historical time periods. Good luck, J.C.

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  12. I LOVE this book! Just saying HI. Already have this, so no need to enter me. Thanks Kav!!

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    1. Saying Hi back. Glad you love this series too.

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  13. I haven't read either one of Kristi's books but I'm looking forward to reading them. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  14. Beautiful cover! Regency-era books are a favorite of mine too.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. That alluring cover is going to sell a lot of books. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  15. I really enjoyed the first book, thank you for this chance! :) katie07edgarATgmailDOTcom

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  16. I love Regency Christian fiction! I have read the prequel of this series, A Lady of Esteem, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I'm excited to continue this awesome saga! Sounds like An Elegant Facade just keeps the suspense rolling! Yay! I have to agree with you, Kav, that even in the prequel Georgina certainly didn't win any popularity contests. I'm excited to read her story to find out why she is the way she is and the intriguing addition of Colin :)

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. You must hunt down the first book too, agboss. And yes...Georgina wouldn't win any popularity contests at the beginning. Good luck!

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  17. I adored this one probably even more than A Noble Masquerade. Though both were THAT GOOD, I too loved the thrust and parry of words between Colin & Georgina! Colin don't take no guff from her for certain! :-)
    And the ending had my heart beating and tears moistening my eyes and a smile so big, I looked like the Cheshire cat! Especially when he said (spoiler alert)"You look good in green"...Oh. My. Heart. I thought I'd faint from sheer anticipation, lol!

    And that's all I'm saying...;-)

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    1. P.S. If you haven't already, check out my review on Goodreads for this Kav! We have such similar tastes :-)

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    2. We're kindred reading spirits for sure, Trixi. And gah to Goodreads because I never get notifications for reviews by people I'm following. Will check your review up.

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  18. I can't wait to read this! I read A Noble Masquerade while visiting my parents earlier this summer, and now I'm so excited for An Elegant Facade! I can't wait to see what kind of growing up Georgina does! ;-) mylittlebirdie (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Oh, you're already to start this one then. I think they are best read in quick succession. Good luck, Karen.

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  19. I can't wait to read this book! I'm looking forward to Georgina's turnaround, and hunter is fabulous with her banter!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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    1. I wish I was as clever in real-life banter. I wonder if she's as pithy in her modern day conversations as she is in her writing ones? LOL Good luck, Nicole.

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  20. Love this cover! The first book is in my TBR stack so would love to read this, too. Thanks for the giveaway!

    garfsgirl AT hotmail DOT com

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  21. I read the novella at the beginning of this series and really liked it! Haven't read book 1 yet...

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo.com

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    1. Oh, you must get on that, Patty. :-) Good luck.

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  22. I have seen quotes from this book all over social media and I can't wait to get my hands on it to read and review! Thank you for such a great opportunity. bree.the.bibliophile.reviews (at) gmail (dot) com

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  23. The cover says it all. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom.

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  24. I do love a good regency and the reviews have been great! Can't wait to read this one. Thanks for the review and the giveaway.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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  25. I just love that this book takes a character that wasn't liked and gives you their story. I remember having that in one of Laurie Alice Eakes series. I didn't like a character from one book but when she got her own story I ended up liking her the best! Thanks for the review and giveaway Kav.
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. Yes -- and it's a good life lesson too, isn't it? Good luck, Loraine.

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  26. This series is on my MUST read list. Kav, thank you for the chance.

    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  27. I'm going to enter this giveaway because I love Regencies, especially in the CBA. The previous book is somewhere on my Kindle, but I don't have this one yet. And in addition to that, I believe the author lives in my town. Thanks, Kav.
    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

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    1. You need to hunt down Masquerade and read it first, Carole. Good luck.

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  28. Great cover art! This sounds like an awesome red!! Thanks for a chance to win! Have a Blessed day!
    swanphillips4(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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