The Best Intentions

GIVEAWAY

EDEN, SARAH M.

THE BEST INTENTIONS

In the eyes of London Society, Gillian Phelps is suitable enough. Though the ton whispers about her change of residence, any speculation remains just that: ballroom gossip. No one -- not even the other Huntresses, the group of ladies she calls her dearest friends -- knows that she is harbouring a devastating family secret. Gillian has become adept at hiding the reality of her circumstances, but the close quarters of a house party will test her ability to conceal the crushing truth. And wish so many people to deceive, the late arrival of another guest is a most unwelcome surprise.

Despite his standing as a gentleman of the ton, in truth, Scott Sarvol possesses little more than two debt-riddled estates. When an opportunity arises to survey one of his properties, he travels north, only to find himself  an unwitting guess at Artemis Jonquil's house party. He is warmly welcomed by all -- except the aloof Miss Gillian Phelps. But when Scott proves himself unexpectedly helpful in a crisis, his acquaintance with Gillian shifts from wariness to something warmer.

As both her charade and her feelings for Scott deepen, Gillian realizes that the truth could spell not only a devastating fall from Society but also a shattered heart.

My Review:

Sublimely happy sigh of supreme bibliophile joy! Sarah M. Eden does it to me every time, so why haven't I caught up on all her books yet?! That will definitely be a 2023 goal. 

I made some headway this year but petered out with the Jonquils though I have read some of that series so I was thrilled to meet up with this delightful family in 'The Best Intentions' too. Rest assured that this reads fine even if you haven't made any Jonquil acquaintances yet. I haven't read Artemis and Charlie's story either, which I think, introduces the Huntresses concept, but I had no problem diving right into this first of the Huntresses series.

And can I say, I just love that concept?! Young ladies with unique challenges who band together to support each other and make lasting friendships. The best kind of exclusive club ever! My guess is that each lady is going to get her own book and Eden has introduced them all in such a way that I am mightily intrigued and can't wait for more! Especially if they are as good as Gillian's story!

This author is known for writing witty banter and she doesn't disappoint here. Flirtations, heart-to-hearts, even haughty rebuffs were all swoonworthy to this Regency Romance lover. And I love the historical details the author has included -- from fashion, to games, to the ridiculous ins and outs of high society and a myriad other things as well. Makes it so easy to lose sense of time and place in my real world!

I can't say a whole lot about the romance without posting spoilers. Let's just say exquisite is too tame a word to describe the depths of emotion, the heights of giddy excitement and the profoundly thought-provoking moments. Of course, the hope for a happily ever after is not without complications which just made the read all the richer. And I will happily report that I figured out a solution to their major problem way before Gillian and Scott did. I'm pretty chuffed about that -- though it was a bit nerve-racking when neither hero or heroine heeded my advice. :-)

I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Luone Ingram. She does most, if not all, of Eden's book narrations and I love the familiarity of that partnership.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- Winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Best Intentions, 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 December 17 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Goodwill for the Gentleman

GOODREADS
RANDOM RETRO READ

KEYES, MARTHA

GOODWILL FOR THE GENTLEMAN

He jilted her sister. She will never forgive him for it. What kind of sparks will fly when they find themselves snowed in together at Christmas?

Emma Caldwell doesn't hate anyone -- except for Hugh Warrilow, the man who jilted her older sister and left like a coward to join the army. Men are clearly not to be trusted, and Emma is determined not to give her heart to one. No, a marriage of convenience is the very thing to suit her.

Hugh Warrilow has been secretly in love with Emma Caldwell for years, so when the time comes to live up to both families' expectations and marry her sister, he can't find it in himself to do it. Disgraced and misunderstood, he joins to fight Napoleon on the Continent, hoping he will forget Emma and be forgotten by everyone he has disappointed.

An injury brings Hugh home -- just in time for Christmas and the snowstorm that leaves him trapped under the same roof as Emma. How will he explain that his unforgivable act was motivated by how desperately he loved her? Her icy reception doesn't leave him the chance, nor does it offer much hope for the season's expectation of peace on earth and goodwill to men.

My Review:

published in 2019

Ah, the enemies to lovers trope, what could be more Christmas-y?! Bwahahaha! 

On the surface, it seems such an outlandish reason to be at odds - a couple who had family expectations to marry broke off the...well, it wasn't even an engagement...the equivalent of a bad break up today, maybe. Nothing for a sister to hold a life long grudge over. But, back in the day things were very different. Reputations could be ruined. Family names slandered. Oy, as much as I like to romanticize the Regency era there are aspects of class and culture that irk me greatly. Like a perfectly swoony gentleman being ostracized for 'jilting' the young lady everyone else expected him to marry. So, that all happened five years ago...

And, everyone has mostly moved on. The jilted lady is over her heartbreak and has found new love. Her sister, however, is guarding her intense grudge and vows to never forgive or forget what that blackguard Hugh did to her sweet sister...

Until the unexpected happens. Snowed in at Christmas! Eeeep!!! I do so love a good stranded scenario in a romance, and oh, my do sparks fly in this one. All on Emma's side though. Hugh is the epitome of a wronged hero who makes a noble effort to make amends. Only Emma's having none of it and it looks like it's going to be a very uncomfortable holiday at the Warrilow estate until they form an uneasy truce for the duration of the storm. :-)

I loved Hugh right from the start but it took longer to warm up to Emma. On the one hand, I admired her intense loyalty to her sister BUT she carried it too far and for much too long. I enjoyed watching her attitude slowly thaw allowing her to  see Hugh in a new light. She starts to question the integrity of her unforgiving nature and that leads to...well, you'll have to read this festive novella to find out.

I appreciated all the yuletide details and the lighter, playful moments that brighten the darker aspects of the story. Keyes packed a lot in this little novella and it made for a riveting read.

Well, listen, actually, because I enjoyed Marianne Robinson's narration of this second book in the multi-authored Belles of Christmas series.

Goal Update: #1 Read more indie authors, #4 Read more new-to-me authors, #7 Start new-to-me series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Goodwill for 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 winner announced on Saturday December 3 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

The Dreaming Beauty

GIVEAWAY

WALKER, ANNEKA R.

THE DREAMING BEAUTY

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. Fr 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 past, 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?

My Review:

Fantastical Romantical!!!! I'm not sure if I'm sufficiently resuscitated from my swooning frenzy to be articulate enough in order to write a review, so bear with me here.

The best Sleeping Beauty retelling I've read -- and I've read a ton over the years. Why you ask? Because...

- The way the author weaves the legend into her story 

- The familiar details transformed into something splendiferously unique and exciting 

- The myriad of twists and turns in the plot

- The romance so sweetly tender but fraught with impossibilities

- The layers of mystery!

- The Regency setting

- Tansy's aunts!!!!!!!!!

- 'The Masked Baron' cameos (book one in the 'Enchanted Regency Romance' series) This can totally be read as a standalone though.

- And I listened to the audible edition narrated by Noah Wall which made it all the more thrilling. 

If you enjoy clever (brilliant even) fairytale retellings, 'The Dreaming Beauty' should definitely find it's way onto your TBR pile. ASAP

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the The Dreaming Beauty, 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 October 29 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

 

Penny's Yuletide Wish

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ!

BRITTON, SALLY

PENNY'S YULETIDE WISH

When Penny and Robert meet again on Christmas Eve, will their childhood love bloom into something more? They only have the Twelve Days of Christmas to find out.

Robert Ellsworth, born the son of a wealthy gentleman, is now a mere steward in the service of another. While his position brings him satisfaction, it does not make him much of a matrimonial catch. It hardly matters, as Robert's heart has long belonged to his childhood friend. When a chance meeting brings them face to face on Christmas Eve, he cannot bring himself to hope that she feels the same.

When she lost her parents years before, Penelope Clark also lost contact with her dearest friend. Visiting the community where she grew up, Penny is taken aback by how handsome Robert has grown, and how little her girlhood infatuation has diminished. But when a Christmas Ball leads to a mistletoe kiss, she finds herself as much in love as ever before. Unfortunately for her, Robert confesses his heart already belongs to a mysterious woman.

Through the Twelve Days of Christmas, Penny and Robert each make a wish for the other's happiness. Will they realize only confessing their hearts will grant those wishes before their time together is spent?

Penny's Yuletide Wish is a sweet Regency romance novella, and continuation of the Branches of Love series by Sally Britton. It can be read as a standalone romance.

My Review:

published in 2019

Nothing says Christmas quite like a Regency holiday romance and this one is unique in that it starts on Christmas Eve and goes through to Epiphany. Love the yuletide details and traditions the author has incorporated into the story. Times were so much simpler back then! 

This is very much a doomed-but-not-really-doomed romance. :-) And by that I mean that both Penny and Robert harbour feelings for the other but, a) don't reveal those feelings and b) are certain the other doesn't feel the same way. So we have lots of pining looks across the ballroom and befuddled conversations that lead to misunderstandings and there's always that yearning for what one knows one can never have! Swoon! 

It would get tiresome in a full-length novel, but works wonderfully well in this shorter novella length story. Keeps the tension taut and the reader on edge. And I loved the teasing and banter between Robert and his brothers! Nice lighthearted moments to sooth the unrequited love ones. :-)

This book just plain made me happy and put me in a festive mood despite the fact that I read (listened) to it in the middle of a July heatwave!

Penny's Yuletide Wish is the seventh book in the Branches of Love series but reads fine as a standalone. I've only read one other book in the series and I had no problems diving into this one.

 

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Jessica Elisa Boyd and enjoyed my visit to Regency England very much.

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on a series I'm behind in, #5 Diversify my reading

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Penny's Yuletide Wish, 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 30 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Never Borrow a Baronet

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SCOTT, REGINA

NEVER BORROW A BARONET

After caring for a crotchety countess, Patience Ramsey wants a more purposeful position. So, when Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency offers her the post of assistant to amateur apothecary Augusta Orwell, Patience jumps at the chance. Then her new employer introduces her at an Easter house party as the bride-to-be of her nephew Sir Harold Orwell. Miss Thorn's cat Fortune may approve of Sir Harry, but Patience has no interest in borrowing the handsome baronet. She's had her heart trampled on by false promises before.

Sir Harry has enough on his hands trying to restore the family name while spying for the English against he French. But the pretty Patience could cover for him when he must ply his trade during the house party, so he convinces her to agree to the charade. As Harry's work brings danger closer, he begins to realize Patient embodies everything he could want in a wife. Can he convince her to overlook the scandals surrounding him and exchange their false engagement for a true love?

My Review:

published in 2018

More Regency bliss from Regina Scott! Complete with banter and intrigue and entangled hearts! I mean, really, what could go wrong with pretending a false engagement for a week?! Bwahahaha!

So much to love about this Regency romance -- including the dashing spy hero who lives out a lie in order to serve his country! All kinds of lovely angst to muddle through on that count! Harry finds it hard to keep the pretence up with Patience though as sparks fly at the most inconvenient times. He has a war to win and she's a very proper lady just beginning her employment with his aunt.

And speaking of Aunt Gussie...one of my favourite secondary characters ever. What a riot! And a force to be reckoned with! And the whole household...village really...so loyal to Harry and his family. They all provide a wonderful backdrop for this 'fake relationship' romance, keeping things all stirred up and moving along nicely. :-)

Loved the extra element of suspense as Harry searches for a traitor in their midst. Scott has created a lovely balance between action and adventure and a classic Regency romance. Sublime from beginning to end.

We also get a little more back story on the mysterious Miss Thorn which was fun. This is the second book in the Fortune's Brides series and, while it can be read as a standalone, information about Miss Thorn and her unusual agency (and cat!) seem to be a continuous thread linking the books and I hope Miss Thorn will find her happily ever after as well before the series comes to an end.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition narrated by Janine Meisberger.

Goal Update: #1 Read more Indie authors (hybrid author), #2 Catch up on a series, #5 Diversify my reading.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

SPECIAL NOTE: The first two books in this series along with a prequel novella packaged under the title "It Started with a Duke" was free last week on Amazon Kindle. For those who took advantage of that offer, feel free to select another title in this series as your win if your name is drawn.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Never Borrow a Baronet, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 18 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

Courting Miss Lancaster

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

EDEN, SARAH M.

COURTING MISS LANCASTER

Harry Windower adores blonde, green-eyed Athena Lancaster, but alas, a penniless man like himself has no hope of winning a young noblewoman's hand. To add insult to injury, Athena's brother-in-law and guardian, the Duke of Kielder, has asked Harry to assist Athena in finding a gentleman of her dreams. But the lovesick Harry is cunning as well: as the weeks pass, he introduces Athena to suitors who are horrifically boring, alarmingly attached to their mothers, downright rude, astoundingly self-absorbed and utterly ridiculous.

Athena can't comprehend why she is having so little success meeting eligible and acceptable gentlemen. Indeed, her circle of admirers couldn't be less admirable -- nothing like the loyal, gentle friend she's found in Harry. But how long can Harry's scheme be hidden before it is discovered? And what will Athena do when she uncovers Harry's deception?

Escape into a charming regency world in this delightfully romantic comedy of manners that will entertain you to the very las word.

My Review:

published in 2010

No one does Regency banter like Sarah M. Eden! I grinned like a fool all the way through this listen -- laughed out loud more than once, which garnered me alarmed looks from fellow pedestrians as I walked around my neighbourhood. Gotta love bluetooth air buds that make it impossible for people to know you're listening to a riveting book while getting your steps in. :-)

This is the second Lancaster Family book and, while it can be happily read as a standalone, I was delirious with delight over the reappearance of the notorious Duke of Keilder (hero from Seeking Persephone.) He plays a major role in Athena and Harry's story and stole the show every single time he was on page. I'm still besotted with the man even though (or maybe because) he's just as taciturn and grumpy as ever. His cutting remarks kept me howling with laughter and Harry knows how to poke the bear with hilarious results. 

Poor Athena just wants her season and a successful match by its conclusion. Poor, impoverished Harry loves her from afar and is tasked with introducing her to 'eligible' bachelors with even more hilarious results. I think this is the funniest Eden book I've ever read.

But don't worry, there are toe-curling moments as well. In fact, I don't think I'll ever look at handholding in the same way ever again (she says, fanning herself furiously.)

A slow-burn romance between friends punctuated by copious amounts of hilarity throughout.

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on series I'm behind in, #5 Diversify my reading, #8 Play author catchup

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ecopy of this book. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Courting Miss Lancaster, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 11 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

Never Doubt a Duke

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

SCOTT, REGINA

NEVER DOUBT A DUKE

After spending the last ten years following her late husband on campaign, the irrepressible Jane Kimball finds herself badly in need of a position to support herself. Marriage holds no appeal; she's not likely to find a husband like her Jimmy again. But when Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency offers her a post with the Duke of Why, Jane feels drawn to help the lonely widower with his three daughters. He may seem a bit aloof, but Miss Thorn's cat Fortune approved of him. Why should Jane doubt a duke?

Alaric, Duke of Why, commands his staff, his tenants, and the halls of Parliament, managing vast holdings in England and across the seas. Why is it he cannot manage his own daughters? As an old danger rears its head, he comes to rely on Jane's practical nature, her outspoken ways to navigate the waters of fatherhood. And when necessity dictates he take a wife, thoughts turn to an unlikely governess who might make the perfect bride.

This sweet, clean Regency romance is the first in the Fortune's Brides series.

My Review:

published in 2018

I am in a state of twitter-pated stupefaction so don't expect coherency from me at this point...or any time in the future. Because....

Eeeeeppppp....literally everything I LOVE in a Regency to the nth degree!

And, can I say for the record, I never doubted this duke once during the course of my read! :-) There's a little bit of a Sound of Music vibe going on here as the very practical and decidedly ungoverness-y governess arrives at the Duke of Wey's estate. She manages to rock the austere household to its very foundation, from upstairs to downstairs and everything in between. All in a very good way, of course. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching and often swoonalicous (enter Duke stage left.) I'm still in the glory haze of reader delirium.

Love Jane -- she's. a unique heroine with an equally unique background. The widow of an army officer, she has lived an exotic life where she's had to eke out her own codes and standards which are very different from what the Duke's domineering mother expects from her granddaughters. Ha, let the clashing of wills begin as Jane sets out to show this upper crust matron (and the duke, insert silly fan-girling grin) that there's much more to a young lady's life than deportment and conniving for the perfect match...especially when the young ladies in question are all under the age of twelve!

Our duty bound Duke wallows in his responsibilities, so much so that he's turned over the raising of his daughters to his mother. Until Jane turns up and helps him connect with the little girls who clearly adore him. And in the process, the impossible happens. Attraction between a Duke and a governess? Not unheard of, but marriage between the two? Impossible!

Love the way this story flows, the expectional secondary characters who add depth and dimension and even a hint of sinister into the mix. And the romance...be still my heart. Perfectly paced in the most breathtaking way!

And I love the mysterious Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency. We get hints of her backstory and why she has come to be a champion of suddenly impoverished women. Plus there's her cat, Fortune, who is as royally smug as only a cat can be. Really looking forward to continuing the series...I can't believe I have gone without for four years!!!! I mean to catch up now though.

I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Janine Meisberger. I enjoyed the story all the more for her winning performance.

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, #7 Start new-to-me series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Never Doubt a Duke, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 11 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

Love and Lavender

GIVEAWAY

KILPACK, JOSI. S.

LOVE AND LAVENDER

A Mayfield Family Romance

Hazel Stillman is a woman of rare independence and limited opportunities. Born with a clubbed foot, Hazel knows marriage is unlikely, so she devotes herself to teaching at a private girls' school.

When her uncle offers Hazel a substantial inheritance if she marries, she is offended. What kind of decent man would marry for money? But when she learns the school might be sold, she knows she must consider all her options.

Duncan Penhale thrives on order and process. He has no interest in marriage, so when Elliott Mayfield, his guardian's brother, offers him an inheritance if he weds, Duncan finds it intrusive. However, an inheritance means he could purchase a building and run his own accounting firm.

Hazel and Duncan believe they have found a solution to both of their problems: marry one another, claim their inheritances, and then part ways to enjoy their individual paths. But then Uncle Mayfield stipulates that they must first live together as a couple for one year.

Over time, their marriage of convenience becomes much more appealing than they had anticipated. At the end of the full year, will they go their separate ways or could an unlikely marriage have found unsuspecting love?

My Review:

Gobsmackingly good and so very different from other Regency Romances! Neurodivergent hero paired with a physically disabled heroine makes for a unique love story. Touching and sweet and absolutely hysterical at times! 

The way Duncan takes things so literally and has no boundaries -- oh my, so many laugh out loud moments!!!! I love the way Hazel accepts him for who he is and quickly learns to adjust to his quirks while he is equally solicitous of her physical limitations. Acceptance plays a huge role in this romance and I love the way the relationship develops. There's a letter writing part in the beginning which was just delightful! And then, when they move in together....all kinds of fun and a wee bit of mayhem!

I really connected with Hazel since she has a disability similar to my own -- not quite the same, but the closest I've seen in fiction. So her struggles with constant pain, difficulty walking, the need for specialty footwear, the feeling of being 'broken' and the fierce push for independence resonated with me. I love the way Duncan finds practical ways to support her and how he introduces faith into her life. 

If you are looking for something a little different that celebrates the extraordinary with a unique perspective, this is the romance for you!

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on a series I'm behind in #5 Diversify my reading

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Love and Lavender, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 4 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

An Uncommon Earl

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

BESSEY, SIAN ANN

AN UNCOMMON EARL

Alexander Allerton, the Earl of Bloxley's, greatest desire is to alleviate the suffering of the poor and less fortunate of England. So when his hackney carriage is involved in an accident that results in the death of one of those he is determined to help, he is devastated. Alexander vows to keep the promise he makes to the injured woman as she takes her final breaths: he will not rest until he finds her young son.

After a crippling accident years ago, Jane Hadford is accustomed to being largely ignored at social events. But being overlooked has allowed her to hone her observational skills -- and she quickly perceives that all is not well with the handsome Lord Bloxley. When an unexpected opportunity arises to talk to the earl, he surprises them both by sharing with her his fruitless search for the child. Touched by Lord Bloxley's story and by his desire to make things right, Jane determines to help him fulfill his promise. What she cannot anticipate, however, is that the quest she has chosen to undertake will bring into her life a small boy who will steal her heart and a gentleman who might well do the same.

My Review:

published in 2021

I am in a state of twitter-pated bibliophile ecstasy over this one! I'm calling it a Regency even though the series title is Georgian Gentlemen. From my pokey attempts at research it looks like the Georgian and Regency eras overlapped for a decade or so and this book has all the divine elements I've come to love in a Regency Romance.

Let's start with our hero, shall we? A very uncommon Earl so the title is spot on! Alexander is the rare kind of nobleman who cares about the plight of the poor and the rights of the working class. His work in parliament is concentrated on benefitting both. Absolutely loved the social justice elements of this novel.

Of course, he's highly sought after as husband material but the only woman who has caught his eye is Miss Jane Hadford but no one would consider her an advantageous match because...well, you have to read the book to find out. Just know that Jane isn't like all the other flighty females flitting about London's Season. She's compassionate and intelligent and eager to help the Earl on his quest to grant a dying mother's last wish.

What follows is a charming blend of bantering wits, oh-so-very-proper (mostly) letter exchanges and even a country outing or two. Along with the desperate search for an orphaned boy and the even more desperate bid to save him once found.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Jason Tatom and, while I prefer a female narrator if there is only one, I quite enjoyed Tatom's performance.

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on series I'm behind in, #5 Diversify my reading

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Uncommon Earl leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 28 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

The Letter from Briarton Park

GIVEAWAY

LADD, SARAH E.

THE LETTER FROM BRIARTON PARK

In Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman's fate when it summons her to Briarton Park -- an ancient place that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future.

Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But Cassandra's world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family's identity. Stung by betrayal, she travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.

James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.

The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything -- or everyone -- is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.

My Review:

Jane Austen-esque with a hint of mystery. 

There are all kinds of secrets just waiting to be exposed -- from Cassandra's past to Briarton Park's complicated family dynamics...not to mention the mysteries the house itself holds within it's walls. Plus there's a village brimming with locals who might just be harbouring things they want kept hidden as well. And Cassandra's arrival proves to be the catalyst that stirs up an emotional tempest of intrigue and romance. What a thrilling read!

Loved the pacing and the way the author slowly reveals key bits of the plot until you think you finally have all the pieces to solve the mystery...only you don't because there are even more startling discoveries lying ahead! And the way Ladd develops the relationship between Cassandra and James is sweet perfection and not without it's own drama!

I'm always thrilled when I see that Sarah E. Ladd has a new book coming out and, after reading The Letter from Briarton Park I'm reminded why. 

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, Yorkshire setting, #7 Start new-to-me series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or e book copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Letter from Briarton Park, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 26 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

To Con a Gentleman

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

ADAMS, SARAH

TO CON A GENTLEMAN

He was her target. She was his diversion. Falling in love was never something they wanted.

As a con woman who has spent her entire life fending for herself on the streets of London, Rose Wakefield knows how to scam a gentleman out of his money without ever getting caught. That's until she knocks on the wrong earl's door and is faced with Carver Ashburn Earl of Kensworth and not the notorious rake she thinks she is approaching.

Carver is a good man, but even a good man will not pass up an opportunity to escape his grief. What better way to avoid his feelings than to play into a con woman's ruse and to marry her?

Things only grow more complicated when Carver sweeps Rose off to his family estate and circumstances force them both into continuing the ruse. Carver needs to protect his family, and Rose needs to protect herself -- and her heart.

With so much set against them, will Rose and Carver have a chance at love and freedom? Or is the possibility of more heartache not worth the risk?

My Review:

published in 2019

Carver Ashburn, Earl of Kensworth...be still my heart! There's something about an emotionally wounded hero that pulls me right into a story. Especially one who is somewhat jaded, a little bitter and in possession of an unexpected wry sense of humour. Swoon. My fainting couch got a work out during this read!

At first I wasn't sure about Rose, being that she is a con woman but I'm happy to say that the author did an incredible job of turning her into a relatable heroine. Adams deftly drops in bits of back story and hidden depths to Rose's character so that I couldn't help but be drawn in. Enchanted even. Avidly on her side despite her attempt to scam that most swoonworthy of Earls. Oh, that meet-cute! Hysterical! I laughed and cringed and laughed some more.

And then what follows is an amazing story of pasts conquered and broken hearts mended, all told with equal doses of humour and hope...and, yes, a healthy dollop of angst as well. Brilliantly done! My first book by Sarah Adams, but it won't be my last! In fact, since this is first in a series (Dalton Family) I'm hoping to dive into the next book asap!

I listened to the audible edition of this book beautifully narrated by Rachael Beresford.

Side note: for sensitive readers: the author occasionally uses expletive substitutes such as 'deuce' and 'blast'. 

Goal Update: #1 Read more Indie author, #4 Read more new-to-me-authors, #5 Diversify my reading (setting) #7 Start new-to-me series

 

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an e copy of this book.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of To Con a Gentleman, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 12 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Twilight at Moorington Cross

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WILSON, ABIGAIL

TWILIGHT AT MOORINGTON CROSS

Amelia Pembroke is in a unique position in Regency England. She can obtain financial freedom. But in order to do so, she must marry one of two gentlemen. The trouble is, she might be falling in love with another man entirely.

1819, Kent, England -- Everything changed the moment Amelia became heiress to Moorington Cross. A young widow and patient at Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital, Amelia is stunned to learn that her doctor -- and the only father figure she's ever known -- has altered his will naming her his primary beneficiary. Such an opportunity is beyond what any Regency-era woman could dare to dream -- especially one with a sleeping disorder that find her falling asleep at the most random of times.

There is, however, a perplexing condition attached to the will: she must wed one of two named men, wholly unknown to her. Doing so would prove her with a secure future. But how can she marry one of these men when her heart is intrigued by the charming solicitor, Mr. Hawkins?

Everything takes on a new sense of urgency -- and danger -- when Mr. Cluett is found dead in his bedchamber only hours after announcing his updated will. Now Amelia only has thirty days to decide which man she will marry. But she is just as determined to uncover the truth of her benefactor's demise with the help of Mr. Hawkins. After all, this sudden turn of events couldn't merely be a coincidence -- could it?

From award-winning author Abigail Wilson, Twilight at Moorington Cross is a mysterious Regency romance full of intrigue, mesmeric treatments, and abandoned corridors that proves love is the greatest testament of all.

My Review:

Atmospheric and mysterious and deliciously intriguing. I mean, there are mysteries you don't even know are mysteries until they're solved! And the revelations keep coming right up to the very end.

Love the obscure historical details Wilson brings to light in this novel. I actually googled mesmeric to get a better understanding of the kind of treatments Amelia is undergoing. Mind boggling, that's all I'm going to say about that! And what an interesting affliction to place upon a Regency heroine. Amelia's life has been difficult, she's been judged and found wanting and eventually tucked away out of sight. She's thankful for finding a safe place to land under the compassionate (if misguided!) care of Dr. Cluett...until his outlandish proposal for securing her future. 

Married to a stranger?! No worries, Amelia, the good doctor has chosen two unlikely candidates and you get to choose! So I'm settling in to enjoy all that lovely emotional turmoil (and the welcome distraction of a certain charming solictor) when her benefactor's sudden and suspicious death throws the whole household into turmoil. 

Giddy shiver. Moortington Cross is delightfully creepy and mysterious. It seems that every one has a secret to hide, including the house itself (!) and Amelia's determined to discover them all so she can make a sensible decision about her future. And she has a whole month to do so! No pressure there at all.

Compelling read from start to finish!

Goal Updates: #5 Diversifying my reading, Uk setting, heroine with chronic condition

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Twilight at Moorington Cross, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 19 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck