Winning the Gentleman

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HUNTER, KRISTI ANN

WINNING THE GENTLEMAN

Aaron Whitworth hasn't had control over most aspects of his life, but he's always taken pride in being an honorable businessman and better-than-average horseman. When both of those claims are threatened, he makes the desperate decision to hire the horse trainer of a traveling circus as a temporary jockey for his racehorses.

Sophia Fitzroy knows that most horsemen don't take her seriously because she's a woman, but she can't pass up the opportunity to get away from the tumultuous world of travel and performing. As she fights for the right to do the work she was hired for, she learns the fight for Aaron's guarded heart might be an even more worthwhile challenge.

As secrets come to light and past vulnerabilities are confronted, will Aaron and Sophia sacrifice their former dreams and forge a new on together?

My Review:

Let it be known that after reading the first Hearts on the Heath novel back in August I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on this second book. No surprise then to note that Winning the Gentleman didn't have to jockey for position on my TBR pile...it never made it that far. That's because I had difficulty reining in my excitement and raced right into reading...er listening...the second I woke up on release day. Alas, I galloped through with unbridled enthusiasm and it was over all too soon. Therefore, I suggest you approach your reading using a different tack by pacing yourself so the thrill lasts longer. :-)

Ahem, I shall put aside me long buried horse-mad tweenish self and attempt to come up with a proper review. Excuse me if intermittent squeals burst forth because...well, why don't I get the biblio-theatrics out of the way right from the start?

Sqqquuuuueeeealllllllll!!!!! (sorry for any pierced eardrums)

THUD! (no worries, fainting couch on hand)

and repeat, multiple times during the course of this read.

Because...

Aaron!!!! And not only Aaron but a bevy of previous Hunter heroes manage to gather on multiple occasions causing my delicate reader's heart to race in giddy euphoria. The banter and smirking and honorary brothers backing brothers when the chips are down! I'm still grinning.

And, of course, their heroines make appearances too, which is a little overwhelming for poor Sophia because that sisterhood is a force to be reckoned with. More banter and laughter along with gentle kindness and passionate support for the scandalous horsewoman. Honestly, just these friendly bonding scenes make this book a worthwhile read. But when Hunter puts Aaron and Sophia on the same page...more swooning and squealing and general fangirling ensues.

These two have chemistry! But they are in an impossible situation (a lot of which is their own doing Stringing words into sentences has the power to clarify issues, just sayin'.) But Sophia and Aaron are both battling feelings of inferiority for different reasons and finding a place for themselves within the strict confines of England's rigid class system makes it that much harder. 

The plot is delightfully complicated with enough twists and turns to keep me on high alert until the very end. Hunter deals with very real, raw emotions with grace and humour...and faith! This is truly an inspiring read and there's no doubt about Winning the Gentleman being Christian Fiction. But that doesn't mean it's preachy or stilted. Faith flows naturally and brings added depth to an already richly layered story.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Ann Marie Gideon and I enjoyed every delectable second.

Oh -- and no worries if you haven't read the first book in this series, Vying for the Viscount, or any other books by Kristi Ann Hunter (though I am worried over how much you are missing out on!) Winning the Gentleman reads beautifully as a standalone novel as well.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Winning the Gentleman, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday May 1  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Vying for the Viscount

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
VYING FOR THE VISCOUNT

For Hudson, the newly titled Viscount Stildon, moving to England from India where he was born and raised was already an arduous enough endeavor. When he learns the fate of the racing empire he inherited along with his title depends upon him getting in the good graces of another stable owner, he's even more at a loss.

The stable at the neighboring estate has been Miss Bianca Snowley's refuge for years, and when a strange man appears to be stealing the horses, she jumps to their protection without a second thought. Upon learning Hudson is actually the new owner, she can't help but be intrigued by the area's newest eligible bachelor.

Any thought of romance is quickly set aside, however, when Hudson proposes they work together to secure suitable spouses for each other. As their friendship grows, Hudson and Bianca begin to reconsider what they truly want in life. But will societal expectations and the weight of their responsibilities keep them from pursuing their true desires?

My Review:

Oh, my heart!!! I'm a sweet dithering mess of swoonalicious goo! Gather all your Regency accoutrements (fainting couch, smelling salts, fans) because you're going to need them! What a rapturous start to a new Kristi Ann Hunter series.

I love her Regency world building. I feel like I've fallen into an Austen novel only the heroines are a bit more...spunky? (No booing from the Austen crowd!) and the secondary characters are just as alluring as her main characters. In fact, there are a couple of gentlemen that better star in their own stories (pointed hint to the author.) I'll expire if she doesn't! Cue a graceful swoon onto my fainting couch.

Ohhhhh -- and speaking of swooning!!!! Hudson!!!!!!! He is so out of his element when he arrives in England. He's lived in India his whole life, but always preparing for the time he would take his place among the English aristocracy. He's had tutors aplenty and constant instruction from his father but there are holes in his education and that leaves him floundering.

Cue the horse-mad girl next door. Bianca has had free reign of the Stildon stables in the absence of a Viscount. Her first encounter with Hudson is hysterical!!! And really showcases their personalities. Sheer brilliance! So these two set up a friendship of sorts and agree to help each other source out suitable spouses...and you know how that's going to go, right?

Into drawing rooms and ballrooms and early morning rides chock full of cutting dialogue. Oh, my, how this author knows how to wield a witty turn of phrase!  Makes for a delicious read.

There's even a bit of danger -- and an evil (well, almost evil) stepmother to contend with. And a lot of soul searching to do as Hudson and Bianca struggle to find their own personal version of a happily-ever-after. I love the way Hunter has included a gentle, but significant faith thread as both hero and heroine discover the joys -- and fears -- that come with sacrificing their will in favor of seeking out God's plan for their lives.

I listened to the audible edition of this book narrated by Anne Marie Gideon who did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life. I'm still grinning madly and might just have to give this one a relisten -- especially since book two, Winning the Gentleman (yay, one of my hero requests!) doesn't release until April 2021!!!!!!!!

Oh...oh...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh....I forgot to mention that there are a bunch of exciting cameos from characters of previous Hunter books in this one. It was so much fun to spot them...I might have squealed a time or two. Love fun bonuses like that.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Vying for the Viscount, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 8 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Love at Last : 3 Historical Romance Novellas of Love in Days Gone By

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
CAMDEN, ELIZABETH
DYKES, AMANDA
LOVE AT LAST : 3 HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELLAS OF LOVE IN DAYS GONE BY


Three acclaimed, award-winning Christian historical fiction authors' romantic and intriguing novellas are combined in one Readers will be delighted by these inspiring stories of love in print for the first time.

Kristi Ann Hunter's A Search for Refuge tells of solictor Nash Banfield, hiding from society in a market town, and Lady Margaretta Fortescue, on the run from a mysterious threat and in desperate need of refuge.

Elizabeth Camden's Summer of Dreams follows the whip-smart daughter of an army general determined never to marry a man in uniform, and a charismatic West Point cadet just as determined to change her mind.

Amanda Dykes's Up from the Sea follows the granddaughter of a Southern lumber baron and the local lumberjack who helps her investigate the legend that could save her family's land.

My Review:

A trifecta of super authors make this a historical fiction reader's dream!

Please note: these novellas have all been published in ebook format but this is the first time they've been compiled into print format. Perfect for the discerning reader's keeper shelf.

A Search for Refuge by Kristi Ann Hunter -- I read this series inside out so it was nice to fill in some of the missing pieces through reading this novella. Loved being present at the inception of Haven Manor! Nash and Margaretta's love story is sweet and intense and threatened by a cruel, power-hungry man. Cue a page- turning frenzy and call me one blissfully happy reader!

Summer of Dreams by Elizabeth Camden -- It's 1886 and Evelyn's father considers her "biologically unsuited" for pursing an education in engineering but that doesn't stop her from creating some ambitious projects on her own. When a rakish West Point cadet lends assistance on a complicated electrical issue sparks fly! Only she's vowed to never become involved with an army man and he's already committed to the Engineering Crops. Yep, it's complicated. Camden packed a lot of emotional depth into this 'not so doomed' romance as both Evelyn and Clyde struggle with issues from their past threatening their future.

Up From the Sea by Amanda Dyke  -- "Lord, you created the dark just as you created the light. Help me find life there, and not fear." (p 252) A lyrical, evocative tale that explores what really matters. It's 1925  and Savannah is a displaced Southerner in the wilds of Maine trying to reconnect with her deceased mother's family. She's a farmer's daughter and they are nouveau riche thanks to the marvels of the stock market. But her mother has left her a story and a map and Savannah's determined to uncover treasure buried long ago with the help of a taciturn lumberjack. And yes, I swooned all over Alastair!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Love at Last, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 25 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

A Pursuit of Home

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
A PURSUIT OF HOME

In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave the past behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.

Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle.

As Jess and Derke race to find the hidden artifact before her family's enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth and set history to right lead to a future together?

My Review:

Sob! It's over, isn't it? This is the last book in Kristi Ann Hunter's Haven Manor series and I think I need to bring out the bookish widow weeds and mourn the end of this series in true Regency style. Sniffle.

I listened to the audible version (yay Beverley A. Crick -- excellent narration!) and I was so reluctant to say goodbye to these characters that I made the book last a week. I'd listen to a chapter and then pause while I relived every exquisite moment and had some fun plotting what might or might not happen next. Then I'd linger with those sweet memories until I couldn't stand it any longer and listen to another chapter and do it all over again. I needed to savor every last delectable second of this spectacular series. If it really had to end (that's debatable) this was one amazing grand finale!

I've been waiting forever for Jess's story. So prickly and aloof and lethal. She intrigued me from the moment I first met her -- waaaayyyy back in A Noble Masquerade (Hawthorne House series) and then she popped up again at Haven Manor being all kinds of mysterious (which is what Jess does best.)

The romance takes center stage and Hunter takes her time developing it. From enemies to frenemies to allys to...? I love the role reversal! It works brilliantly -- with Jess the knife-wielding spy and master of disguise while Derek is an ordinary scholar (well....more like extraordinary) who is so completely absorbed in art and architecture that he becomes befuddled by simple social niceties. Women rather scare him and he finds Jess truly terrifying...and compelling.

Sqwooooeeep Alert!!! (That's squeal, swoon and eeep smooshed into one hearty, blissful sigh of readerly satisfaction.) Barbed banter, intrigue and danger and a family mystery to solve. It all builds into a frenzy of bibliophile ecstasy -- especially since Hunter includes previous book heroes in all their besotted glory. I can't even express how thrilling that was!

The most romanticalist romantical Regency romance ever!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  A Pursuit of Home, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 16 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Christmas Heirloom : Four Holiday Novellas

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

WITEMEYER, KAREN
HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
THOMAS, SARAH LOUDIN
WADE BECKY
THE CHRISTMAS HEIRLOOM : FOUR HOLIDAY NOVELLAS

Four festive and heartwarming romance novellas that celebrate the magic of Christmas.

Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job...and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

My Review:

published in 2018

One of my favourite Christmas reads so far this year (and yes I know I'm a year late to the party.) I don't read a ton of novellas but I'm fond of Christmas collections and these stories do justice to that beautiful cover. I love the heirloom brooch connection to all four stories and the way we get to follow it through the generations.

Loved the opportunity to time travel with four of my favourite authors, savoring spectacular love stories that span centuries. Each one reads like a full length novel with all the complexities of character and plot. Think toe-curls and swoons time four! Leaves a romantical reader kinda breathless! And you can't beat four happily-ever-after Christmas themed love stories to get you in the holiday spirit! A perfect pre-Christmas gift for any avid reader on your list (including you!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Christmas Heirloom, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 16 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Defense of Honor

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
A DEFENSE OF HONOR

When Katherine 'Kit' FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and to raising innocent children caught in the crossfire. But as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, the risk of revealing the truth may come at too high a price for those she loves.

My Review:

I am reading this series from the inside out -- started with the second book, then the novella -- which comes between the first and second book and finally landed on Defense of Honor where it all begins. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the release of A Pursuit of Home which comes out next week. All that to say...

Eeeeeepppppp!!!! I'm in a full-blown, tailspinning Regency swoon!!!! Electrified by a tizzy of post-reading aftershocks while my anticipation for Jess's story has me in a permanent twitterpated state. Phew!  This is me brimming with Regency Euphoria. :-)

Love Kit and Graham's story!!! The first time they meet is absolute perfection -- intriguing, mysterious, playful. Lighthearted banter with an undercurrent of urgency. Be still my heart! I went into rabid reader mode and didn't come up for air until I finished the book.

Kit is so determined and resourceful, but she has a vulnerable side too. As dedicated as she is to the women and children she serves, there's a part of her that yearns for what she's exiled herself from -- her own happily ever after. And her spiritual epiphany is so touching! Grace versus works and placing complete trust in the Lord really challenge her and I love the way Graham helps her figure things out.

Speaking of Lord Wharton! Prepare your fainting couches! Grab your smelling salts and a fan or two and be prepared to be be swept off your feet. His pursuit of Kit is toe-curling and the rambunctious way he plays with the children....I have no words. He's not perfect, mind you and comes to his own reckoning, but he is Kit's perfect match. If only she realized that!

A scrumptiously delightful must-read for Regency lovers who enjoy an inspirational romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Defense of Honor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Return of Devotion

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
A RETURN OF DEVOTION

Daphne Blakemoor was content living in her own secluded world for the last twelve years. She had everything she needed -- loved ones, a true home, and time to indulge her imagination. But when ownership of the estate where she works as a housekeeper passes to a new marquis with an undeniable connection to her past, everything she's come to rely upon is threatened.

William, Marquis of Chemsford's main goal in life is to be the exact opposite of his father. Starting a new life in the peace and quiet of the country sounds perfect...until his housekeeper turns his life upside down.

Both Daphne and William have spent their lives hiding from the past. Can they find the courage to face their deepest wounds and, perhaps, forge a new path for the future together?

My Review:

Sqqqqueeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Swoonworthy Regency alert! Clear off your fainting couch (I know you've been piling books on it) and lay in a supply of chocolate...and perhaps a tissue box or two and be prepared to be dazzled by the sweet perfection that is A Return of Devotion.

 I listened to the audible version and loved the narration. Something about a British accent stirring my imagination up into a vivid frenzy! I usually listen while I work around the house or exercise but I finally gave up any pretense of work and just sat entranced. There's something about being limited by the narrator's pacing that's both exhilarating and exasperating because I had no control over the timing. Mind you, it made me savor every sweet word all the more so even though my tummy was tied in knots a lot longer than if I'd read this book, I really did enjoy the prolonged shivery delight the audible version brought me. :-)

Hunter does justice to this classic Regency genre. Delightful details, exquisite banter, the machinations of a class conscious society and...most important of all --- a hero to swoon over! (cue that fainting couch!) And it will do double duty as a soft landing for when you laugh yourself silly over the riotous humours moments. And then you'll be reaching for a tissue when an unexpected heart-stirring scene sneaks up on you. Or the whole box as the faith thread builds. Forgiveness and self-worth and the courage to hope for the future God has designed for you. Hearty sigh! The Epic-iest of all epic Regencies. :-)

And yes, this is the second book in Kristi Ann Hunter's Haven Manor series and I somehow missed the first book! What??? I need to sharpen my Regency spotting skills! Don't know how A Defense of Honor slipped right past me. Even so, I had no trouble enjoying this second book. In fact, it was kinda fun because I was just as befuddled as William about all of Daphne's secrets and I had fun uncovering them right along with him.

If you love to be held enthralled by a good Regency romance, A Return of Devotion is definitely the book for you.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Return of Devotion, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 8 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

An Inconvenient Beauty

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
AN INCONVENIENT BEAUTY

Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, so he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. While he's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, she is strangely elusive, and he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.

Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, she has no choice but to agree to a bargain that puts her at odds with all her romantic hopes -- as well as her conscience. And the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she regrets the unpleasant obligation that presents her from any dream of a future with him.

As all Griffith's and Isabella's long-held expectations are shaken to the core, can they set aside their pride and fear long enough to claim a happily-ever-after?

My Review:

Swoonworthy Regency Alert! Dust off those fainting couches and grab your smelling salts because at long last it is the Duke of Riverton himself who is destined for romance. And what a deliciously decadent though  bittersweet read this one is. That's because An Inconvenient Beauty is the last book in the Hawthorne House series. I'm currently inconsolable over this dastardly fact. Luckily I'm still basking in the warm glow of Regency euphoria brought upon by this spectacular grande finale.

No worries if you haven't read the first three books -- this easily reads as a standalone. But, if you are a Kristi Ann Hunter fan, you will love her all the more for the exquisite details she brings to this last story. Griffith's siblings and their spouses are all present and accounted for. In fact, the author has done a tremendous job of weaving diverse personalities together in an incredible series climax.

We have Griffith, the staid duke and eldest son, burdened with leadership at a very young age, actually seeking out his younger siblings for advice. Riotous scenes with all the brothers (I'm including in-laws here) giving him such a hard time along with some sage advice on courtship. And at his most dire moments he seeks out the women in his family where his woes are spun into comedic masterpieces as all things female clearly befuddle him. I laughed and cried and raged my way through the pages of this book.

Griffith is determined that his brain will lead his heart in his quest for a wife. To this end he has spent a year -- a year! -- studying and researching a certain lady to ensure suitability. Because he firmly believes that: "By applying a little logic to the situation, he would have no problem finding love with someone who wouldn't throw his life into utter chaos and put him through complete turmoil before finding his way to happiness." (p 65)

Yeah, right, cue the chaos! And it comes in the form of his 'intended's' cousin. Conflicted and intrigued, Griffith finds himself drawn to Isabella who is the exact opposite of his 'ideal wife' candidate. Witty dialogue, heated...make that scorching...glances across a crowded ballroom and all the machinations of polite society in the early 1800s make this a Regency page-turner of the highest class.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Inconvenient Beauty, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 31 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

An Uncommon Courtship

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
AN UNCOMMON COURTSHIP

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier he is not the duke in the family. Free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, he has grand plans of someday wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he barely knows, his dream of a loving marriage like his parents' seems lost forever.

Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier when she hid in her older sister's shadow -- which worked until her sister got married. But even with her socially ambitious mother's focus entirely on her, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience before she's been introduced to society.

With nothing going as expected, can Trent and Adelaide's marriage of obligation survive their own missteps and the pressures of London society to grow into a true meeting of hearts and minds?

My Review:

This is the third book in the Hawthorne House series and while you don't need to read the earlier books in order to enjoy this one you will get a better feel for the family as the heroes and heroines of book one and two get some prime time in this one.

Love Adelaide -- she's spent a lifetime being invisible and suddenly finds herself thrust into the limelight in a most outrageous way. Overshadowed by a domineering mother and dazzling older sister, she has created an outer shell that doesn't match who she really is inside.

Trent doesn't know that in the beginning. In fact, he knows very little about Adelaide other than he can't abide her shrewish mother and fears his new wife might possess some of the same tendencies. Oh Trent -- for an upstanding member of aristocracy who never seems to make a wrong move -- he totally bungles his role as husband. In absolutely every way. I wanted to smack him upside the head. A lot! I will give him points on deciding to court his wife though. That's definitely a highlight in this marriage of convenience story.

There's an incredibly funny scene when all the male relations gather together to offer Trent marital advice. Snort. I fear they had way too much fun at the poor man's expense. But by then I had no mercy because he really deserved it.

There's not as much witty banter between the hero and heroine as in the other books. Lots of introspection from both of them though which put this reader on edge. If only they'd actually say what they were thinking! To each other!!

True confession: Griffith is the brother who caught my attention and I might have swooned a time or two...or three or more...whenever he was in a scene. Something about a confident Duke who thinks he has his whole life planned out. I'm really looking forward to his story -- I suspect Kristi Ann Hunter is going to turn his well-ordered life upside down. I think it's going to be a doozy!

Book was provided courtesy of Baker Publications and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of An Uncommon Courtship please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 5 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

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!

A Noble Masquerade

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
A NOBLE MASQUERADE

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, a duke--with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she's heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother's new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.

When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men--one she's never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marcus is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.

My Review:

Thrilled me to my toes. I adore Regency novels -- but Regency novels full of tongue-in-cheek humour is in a category all its own. Stupendous. And not the genteel laughter kind of humour -- more like the snorting guffaw kind. Very unladylike. Miranda's mother would so not approve, but I snorted and chuckled my way through A Noble Masquerade with complete abandon.

This is the kind of book that you want to make last. I found myself putting it aside in order to savor the delight of the read. I'd play over a scene, twist it around in my mind, imagine where the plot was heading and only when I couldn't stand the suspense any longer, I'd pick up the book and start reading again. It took my three days to read this book. Three days!!!!! (says the woman who usually reads a book a day.)

Captivating plot, delicious intrigue, and an endearing, funny, outlandish romance that will keep you alternately laughing and swooning -- honestly, what more could you want in a story?

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Noble Masquerade 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 September 27 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!