Tag Archives: historical romance fiction

Spotlight on Historical Romance — The Desert Manna Series

6 May

Desert Manna Series Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for the Desert Manna series by Karen Baney, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Books

Beauty for Ashes

Title: Beauty for Ashes
Series: Desert Manna #1
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: March 7,2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Uplifting Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1871.

As a widow who lost her husband in Sherman’s fiery march to the sea, Rebecca Elliot struggled to provide for her son. When she hears from her brother in Prescott, Arizona, she makes the journey west to start over. An unexpected tragedy on the last leg of her travels changes the trajectory of her heart and life as she never could have imagined.

Perry Quinn finally said goodbye to his late wife when his life is turned upside down. When he loses everything that he worked hard to accomplish, he must humble himself and start over while trying to find the answers to why he lost everything. Along the way, a kind woman steals his heart and reminds him that there is beauty in the middle of the ashes of his life.

Will he let go of his grief to find true love?

If you like these authors, you’ll enjoy this book too: Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Lacy Williams, Jodi Hedlund, Misty M. Beller

Excerpt

In this excerpt from Beauty for Ashes, Rebecca and Mr. Pike come upon Perry Quinn after Perry’s ranch has been burned to the ground.

“This way,” Mr. Pike said.

As they neared the cabin, he slowed. “I must warn you, he’s alive, but barely.”

Rebecca rounded the corner, and her legs grew weak. Morgan! Her heart screamed as she stumbled forward. Mr. Pike steadied her.

She closed her eyes. This was not Morgan. The poor charred man was Perry Quinn. A rancher. A man in desperate need of help. Just like those poor soldiers she helped during the war. Just like Morgan when someone tried to nurse him back to health.

Fear. Doubt. Insecurity. Fear.

She straightened her back and lifted her chin. She would do what she could to help the poor man.

Rebecca stroked her thumb across Perry’s hand as she wondered what would happen to him. Would he recover? If he did, what would he do? It sounded like he had nothing left on his ranch and no family. Who would care for him and nurse him back to health?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Joy for Mourning

Title: Joy for Mourning
Series: Desert Manna Series #2
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: April 25, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1872.

Grace Talbert spurns every suitor her father finds. She longs for the spark of romance and is unwilling to settle for something less. Her passion is running the Women’s Aid Society, which organizes many charitable events to help the poor and the Indians. When a trip to deliver goods to the reservation leaves her stranded with a handsome stranger, she discovers the love she longed for.

After many years of wandering and building up his freight business, Joshua Harrison decides to return to Prescott. As bachelor, he is ill-equipped to raise the orphaned daughter of a friend. He hopes the stable life of a small town will bring what he needs to become a good father. Having failed at love twice, he is afraid to try again, until he is stranded with the unconventional and beautiful Grace Talbert.

Can he move past his heartache to open himself to love again?

If you like these authors, you’ll enjoy this book too: Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Lacy Williams, Jodi Hedlund, Misty M. Beller

Excerpt

In this excerpt from Joy for Mourning, Grace is headed to the freight office to ship some donations for the charity she runs. She is caught off guard when a stranger is working there.

When Grace stepped into the freight office, she did not see Ira at the counter, so she rang the obnoxious cowbell. She found it annoying, but it seemed like the teamsters could hear the thing even when working in the back storeroom.

“Ira,” she said when she heard footsteps down the hall. “It’s Grace. I’m here about shipping…”

A tall man, who was most definitely not Ira, appeared from the back. My what wonderful blue eyes. They sparkled and reflected the light. Such a nice contrast to his lightly tanned skin. He was thin but still well built. His wavy light brown hair flopped over part of his forehead. A dimple in his chin added to his handsome appearance that nearly stole her breath away. When he smiled, she let out a quick breath and willed her heart to stop slamming into her chest.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said, trying to recover. “I’m Grace Talbert.”

His smile dimmed. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

She glanced down at her dress. No, it was the blue dress she wore, the same blue as his amazing eyes.

He cleared his throat and rushed to explain. “I saw you. The funeral.”

“You,” she whispered. The man in the wagon who passed by—the one she could not stop thinking about. She looked away, lest her gaze revealed her thoughts.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Oaks of Justice

Title: Oaks of Justice
Series: Desert Manna Series #3
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Gripping Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1873.

Mel Larson is used to being underestimated as a female attorney. When her life is threatened, her mentor takes her home to Prescott. As the defense attorney for her innocent client who is on trial for murder, she goes head-to-head with the new District Attorney. When she apologizes to him for using some unconventional tactics, sparks fly, and she finds a love she had not been looking for.

Alex Glassman was ready to settle down but after a failed courtship, he doubted if he would ever find the right match. When a major court case falls into his lap, he is unprepared to argue the case against a fiery red headed woman. When the case is over and he humbles himself to admit his mistakes, his heart is captured, and he dares to hope that she could be the one.

When Mel’s life is threatened, can Alex save her in time?

If you like these authors, you’ll enjoy this book too: Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Lacy Williams, Jodi Hedlund, Misty M. Beller

Excerpt

In this excerpt from Oaks of Justice, Alex had just stopped by opposing counsel’s office to meet Mr. Mel Larson. Except Melissa “Mel” may have misled him. When he leaves, her boss Virgil questions her odd behavior.

Mel let out a long breath.

“What was that all about?” Virgil asked.

“He thinks I’m your secretary. I never gave him my first name.”

Virgil cocked his head to one side. “Oh, I see where this is going.”

“You and I both know our client is innocent and the crux of this case is mistaken identity from what you told me earlier,” she said. “What better way to illustrate this point to the court than to show that our esteemed District Attorney is as susceptible as the next person to mistake someone’s identity?”

“Are you sure you want to do that, Mel? He is the District Attorney.”

“Yes.”

“Alright. For this to be fully effective, you’re going to have to sit in the gallery for jury selection and let me lead it.”

“That is an excellent idea.”

Pick up Oaks of Justice to see if Mel follows through with her plan.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Buy The Complete Series in One Volume

About The Author

Karen Baney

Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

Connect with Karen by visiting karenbaney.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each win signed copies of all 3 books in the Desert Manna series plus a $25 Amazon gift card!

Desert Manna JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 6, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 13, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Spotlight On Historical Romance — Walking on Hidden Wings

1 May
Walking on Hidden Wings JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Walking on Hidden Wings

Title: Walking on Hidden Wings: A Novel of the Roaring Twenties
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: April 23, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes’s marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband’s plane crashes a few short months after their nuptials. When the authorities suspect murder, Geneva sets out on a wild mission to find his killer–and to prove it wasn’t her!

When mysterious notes surface pointing to Geneva’s guilt in his death, they only strengthen her resolve. She has little to go on except for a detective friend’s cryptic list of locations connected to her dead spouse. When the friend also disappears, she trades her sparkling gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles.

Armed with a new name and career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in hopes of unearthing clues and locating her missing friend. But Geneva discovers that her past may not belong to her . . . what she once believed as truth may be nothing more than lies and deception.

“A tangled web, a sleuthing adventure, a rekindled romance . . . Walking on Hidden Wings has it all.”

–Rachel Fordham, author of The Letter Tree

“Fans of intelligent mysteries, butterfly-inducing romance, and the Roaring Twenties, prepare yourselves–Walking on Hidden Wings will sweep you away to the skies! McDaniel’s lyrical prose is a delight, and readers will be fascinated by the daring beginnings of aviation. A true gem.”

–Joanna Barker, author of A Heart Worth Stealing

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

My heartbeat drummed at the base of my throat. I pried my resolve from the murky depths of my mind and took a step forward. Then another. A tremor rocked the plane. I defied the instinct to stoop and brace myself. Instead I stilled, adjusting to the new angle as if the wing were an extension of my feet. Good thing Tex hadn’t jerked the controls. One panicked jolt could’ve knocked me off-balance and into the slicing blades of the propeller.

I strode two remaining paces, positioning close to the wing’s edge, and my gaze swept over the crowd.

Those below had no idea whom they stared at. My stunt in the air wasn’t my only performance. Nor my most dangerous one. That particular act had begun the moment I’d run away from the glitter. For I’d shed the vulnerable identity of golden-haired Geneva Ashcroft Hayes, society’s angel, to become raven-locked Stella Starling, showman of the skies.

(pg 10)

About The Author

Rachel Scott McDaniel

Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. She currently enjoys life in Ohio with her husband and two kids.Connect with Rachel by visiting rachelmcdaniel.net to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book plus book-related extras!

Walking on Hidden Wings JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 1, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 8, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Top 10 Tuesday — More Randomness

30 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is petty reasons to DNF a book (did not finish). I am more apt to have petty excuses to DNS a book (did not start 🙂 ), so I am going off topic yet again and pulling random books from my shelves that still need to be read. If you have suggestions on which for me to read, please, please speak up! LOL!

For more on topic bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Random Books from My Shelves

Catching The Wind by Melanie Dobson

Change of Heart by Courtney Walsh

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

Love in A Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

Outbreak by Davis Bunn

The Rose And The Thistle by Laura Frantz

A Sacred Duty by Rhona Weaver

Snow Day by Billy Coffey

Waiting on Love by Tracie Peterson

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First Line Friday — Butte Montana

26 Apr

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring historical romance writer, Ruth Trippy. I love that Trippy set her novel, Butte Montana, in the real life 1890s boom town. This is a book that promises to capture the place and time well. I love that the author includes historic photographs of the town — it helps to make the story come alive in a reader’s imagination.

Here’s the first line:

Maximilian made himself comfortable in the velvet cushioned armchair.

ROMANCE IN FLAMBOYANT BUTTE, MONTANA

Maximilian Strang lost his wife in the horrendous Kenyon-Connell warehouse explosion and now seeks to numb his sorrow in the comforts of the elegant, but notorious Dumas Hotel. Giselle, one of its most beautiful and alluring “ladies of the night,” has him contemplating marriage.

As owner of a Butte copper mine, Max learns of the tragic death of a young employee, and to stifle his finer feelings, tries to deaden them in the questionable entertainment in the Theatre Comique. Hidden behind a screen in its upstairs balcony, he witnesses a fresh new act: a ballerina, Anna, who artfully expresses life and loveliness. Though she cannot see him, at the end of her dance, she instinctively reaches her arms in his direction, drawing him warmly toward herself.

Lively and paradoxical, Butte is a city that provides work in its copper mines for some 50 nationalities and is called “the richest hill on earth.” With plenty of money to throw around, its inhabitants have no lack of choice between virtue and wantonness. In this city with so many carnal delights, how will Maximilian choose to live his life?

Ruth Trippy was born in western Michigan to a Dutch family with values similar to the Victorian era she loves. She left home to teach high school language arts in Florida, focusing on American and British literature, and also pursued her interest in apologetics. In addition, she worked as Public Service Director for a radio station in Ft. Lauderdale.

Her writing originated from experiences in her marriage. Her husband was a tough, adventurous Louis L’Amour type individual and needing encouragement in the relationship, she found it in the pages of a 19th century romance novel. Identifying with the characters helped her focus on the roses rather than the thorns in her marriage and inspired her to pick up her pen to help others. Romance fiction, she believes, can bring both encouragement and, just as importantly, be a metaphor for the love between Christ and His bride the church.

Ruth and her husband live near Atlanta and have two grown children.

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Spotlight On Historical Romance — An Unlikely Arrangement

18 Apr

An Unlikely Arrangement JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for An Unlikely Arrangement by Cindy Patterson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

An Unlikely Arrangement

Title: An Unlikely Arrangement
Series: Brides of Biltmore #1
Author: Cindy Patterson
Publisher: Springbrook Press, LLC
Release Date: March 11, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance, Christian, Clean & Wholesome

In 1902, Abigail Dupree is but a breath away from her grand societal failure. To save her family from humiliation and financial ruin, Abigail becomes a bargaining trade in her mother’s eyes. A bargain that will extinguish Abigail’s last hope of a happily-ever-after. If only she could return to the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, she might have a chance to reunite with the only man who has the power to save her reputation.

Garrett Barringer arrives in Charlotte, North Carolina to escape a past that no longer wants him. He takes an undisclosed position with Mr. Dupree. When it is revealed that part of Mr. Dupree’s purpose for bringing him on board is to chaperone his beloved daughter, Garrett abruptly discovers that he has taken on more than he bargained for. Abigail Dupree is more beguiling than any other woman he’s encountered, but he must resist his heart for the sake of propriety and to keep a promise made to her father.

When her father hires Garrett Barringer, a man that seems far too young to be a lawyer, and possesses far too many favorable characteristics, Abigail resists his charm but cannot deny her heart is compelling her toward him. But she will not allow the man to ruin an opportunity she has waited for nearly five years.

Garrett is suddenly aware what his life was and what it could become in the presence of Abigail Dupree. Will he be able to give up the woman who has stolen his heart, for her happiness?

Abigail stands to lose all if Garrett Barringer sees past her physical beauty and uncovers the ugliness of her imperfect past. Will Abigail continue on the condemned path she’s fashioned for herself, or trust that God wants a future for her she never believed possible?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop| BookBub

Excerpt

Foolish woman. Abigail remained by the fireplace in the parlor, eyes slid closed in humiliation for the hundredth time since Garrett Barringer’s departure. She had stood on the threshold of spending time alone with the man. On the day before her departure, no less. An opportunity she never believed would have occurred.

Why then had she ruined her chances by blurting out most of her faults within the span of not even a full minute’s time? Faults he may not have even realized. Speaking liberally as if she were eager for his forgiveness. His approval.

Why had she not stayed upstairs instead of running back down, desperate to see him? Because she was eager to be near the man. More eager than even she had realized.



About The Author

Cindy Patterson

Award-winning author Cindy Patterson believes in captivating romance and happy endings. In her stories, she loves to give glimpses of how God can use brokenness and make them whole. She reads a lot, drinks too much coffee, and wishes she had more time to write. Author of Chasing Paradise, Broken Butterfly, and Shattered Treasure, she loves to connect with her readers.

Connect with Cindy by visiting cindypattersonbks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed print copy of An Unlikely Arrangement and other book related gifts!

An Unlikely Arrangement JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 16, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Top 10 Tuesday — Bookish Inns

16 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today I am again tweaking the TTT prompt. Surprise, surprise! 😉 Instead of listing characters I would like to vacation with, I am spotlighting real life and fictional inns featured in books. While some of the places I’ve traveled to in my reading leave a bit to be desired as destinations (ghosts, disappearances, murders), I have enjoyed my vicarious stays. There are a variety of genres, so you should be able to find a book that sparks your interest.

For more on topic TTT posts, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Bookish Inns

Real Life Inns/Hotels Featured in Books

Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett (Old Faithful Inn)

The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman (Menger Hotel)

A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble (Jekyll Island Club)

What The Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway (Grove Park Inn)

One Person’s Dream . . .

Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney

On A Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon

Another Person’s Nightmare . . .

The Inn on Hanging Hill by Christy Barritt

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble

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If You Liked . . . A River Between Us

30 Mar

My book club absolutely loved A River Between Us, the Civil War-era historical romance by Jocelyn Green. This book taught our Georgia-based group a thing or two! It is based on the little known capture of Georgia mill workers (mostly women and children) by Sherman’s army who were then sent to spend the rest of the war in the North. Most never returned to their home towns. If you liked it too, here are a few more reading recommendations.

Underground Railroad

Engraved on The Heart by Tara Johnson

Reluctant debutante Keziah Montgomery lives beneath the weighty expectations of her staunch Confederate family, forced to keep her epilepsy secret for fear of a scandal. As the tensions of the Civil War arrive on their doorstep in Savannah, Keziah sees little cause for balls and courting. Despite her discomfort, she cannot imagine an escape from her familial confines―until her old schoolmate Micah shows her a life-changing truth that sets her feet on a new path . . . as a conductor in the Underground Railroad.

Dr. Micah Greyson never hesitates to answer the call of duty, no matter how dangerous, until the enchanting Keziah walks back into his life and turns his well-ordered plans upside down. Torn between the life he has always known in Savannah and the fight for abolition, Micah struggles to discern God’s plan amid such turbulent times.

Battling an angry fiancé, a war-tattered brother, bounty hunters, and their own personal demons, Keziah and Micah must decide if true love is worth the price . . . and if they are strong enough to survive the unyielding pain of war.

Andersonville Prison

The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot

Near the end of the Civil War, inhumane conditions at Andersonville Prison caused the deaths of 13,000 Union soldiers in only one year. In this gripping and affecting novel, three young Confederates and an entire town come face-to-face with the prison’s atrocities and will learn the cost of compassion, when withheld and when given.

Sentry Dance Pickett has watched, helpless, for months as conditions in the camp worsen by the day. He knows any mercy will be seen as treason. Southern belle Violet Stiles cannot believe the good folk of Americus would knowingly condone such barbarism, despite the losses they’ve suffered. When her goodwill campaign stirs up accusations of Union sympathies and endangers her family, however, she realizes she must tread carefully. Confederate corporal Emery Jones didn’t expect to find camaraderie with the Union prisoner he escorted to Andersonville. But the soldier’s wit and integrity strike a chord in Emery. How could this man be an enemy? Emery vows that their unlikely friendship will survive the war—little knowing what that promise will cost him.

As these three young Rebels cross paths, Emery leads Dance and Violet to a daring act that could hang them for treason. Wrestling with God’s harsh truth, they must decide, once and for all, Who is my neighbor?

The Destruction of Atlanta

Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green

When soldier Caitlin McKae woke up in Atlanta after being wounded in battle, the Georgian doctor who treated her believed Caitlin’s only secret was that she had been fighting for the Confederacy disguised as a man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta.

Trained as a teacher, she accepts a job as a governess to the daughter of Noah Becker, a German immigrant lawyer, who enlists with the Rebel army. Then in the spring of 1864, Sherman’s troops edge closer to Atlanta. Though starvation rules, and Sherman rages, she will not run again. In a land shattered by strife and suffering, a Union veteran and a Rebel soldier test the limits of loyalty and discover the courage to survive. Will honor dictate that Caitlin and Noah follow the rules, or love demand that they break them?

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Top 10 Tuesday — Movies in Books

26 Mar

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It should come as no surprise to anyone that I am again twisting this week’s TTT topic. I am not a movie connoisseur and can count on one hand the number of movies I have watched in the past few years. It wasn’t always like this, but I am not generally Hollywood’s target audience, so I never really am interested in the latest offerings. But . . . I have read books in which movies play a role, directly or indirectly. So that’s how I came up with this week’s list — Movies, Actors, and More Hollywood Type Stuff. There are a variety of genres — I hope you find one you will love!

Again, for more on topic posts, please check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books Featuring Movies, Actors, and More Hollywood Type Stuff!

Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers

Duchess by Susan May Warren

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner (releases in May 2024)

Hollywood Lost by Ace Collins

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

The Love Script by Toni Shiloh

Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter

The Memoir of Johnny Devine by Camile Eide

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel

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Top 10 Tuesday — Spring TBR

19 Mar

Spring has definitely sprung in my corner of the sunny South. Looking out the window of our office I can see redbuds, cherry trees, wisteria, and azaleas blooming. If a freak freeze doesn’t sneak in, we are in for a beautiful Easter! I also have some great looking books on my Spring TBR. I have a variety of genres to keep me from falling into any kind of reading rut. And really with this lineup, I am not worried!

For more fabulous Spring TBRs, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books on My Spring TBR

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

Darkness Calls The Tiger by Janyre Tromp

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner

Embers in The London Sky by Sarah Sundin

Falling Night by Phil Clarke

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon

Water’s Break by Sophia L. Hansen

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner

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First Line Friday — To Win Her Hand

15 Mar

Happy Friday! It is pollen city outside my window. Just about everything is in bloom around here — azaleas, redbuds, cherry trees, blueberry bushes, peach trees. And the temps are fabulous. I see there’s snow in other parts of the country that bodes for a lot of reading time. 😉

I am featuring a historical romance today — To Win Her Hand by Jen Geigle Johnson. I have not read this one yet, but this Regency-era novel looks really good.

Here’s the first line:

Lord Charles Featherstone made his customary inspection of the outfitting room.

A man to teach men how to win a woman’s hand. A woman who cannot be won.

Lord Featherstone has the world on his shoulders. Or at least his world. With two brothers and a failing estate he must make funds somehow. But what happens when he falls for a woman? Will his tactics work when the situation is so close and personal?

Everyone thinks Lady Loveluck is a wealthy widow. What they don’t know is that she is on the brink of hiring herself out as a Governess in order to pay for her next meal. The only thing keeping her from employment is a growing reputation as a matchmaker. As long as she never falls for another man, as long as she doesn’t allow herself to be fooled into marrying, she will be just fine.

But she never counted on being caught up in the beguiling tactics of London’s renowned and not so secret matchmaker for men.

An award winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy’s top award for Romance, Jen Geigle Johnson has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. HIstory is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well. Six children and an inspiring husband keep her going and make certain she doesn’t stay glued to a keyboard or lost in obscure fascinating details of old castles. She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She waterskis like a boss and hits the powder, falling down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep’s roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love with the man who would become her everything.

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

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