Review: Better Off Wed by Susanna Craig

Laura Hopkins stalks the night as the vigilante Lady Sterling, avenging mistreated maids and blackmailing the men who prey on them. Jeremy Addison, the reluctant Viscount Sterling, would rather be cracking codes than tracking down a potential traitor with a coincidental name to his own. When a carriage accident forces them together and undercover as husband and wife, the temporary allies realise there's nothing they'd like more than to make the ruse a permanent one.

Having heard a lot of good things about both the preceding books (this is book 3), I had high expectations for this book and somehow it managed to deliver. It's a chaotic caper of deception and manipulation, some of it against each other, but it's also full of witty banter and steamy tenderness, with strong characters and a reasonable plot. There are contrived coincidences and ONLY ONE BED.

Basically, it's a well-written trope fest with Regency spies and so if any of that sounds good, pick up this book.

Better Off Wed is available now in ebook and hard copy

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley; all opinions are my own

Blog Tour: A Laird for the Governess by Catherine Tinley (with international giveaway!)

A penniless governess

And the dour Laird of Ardmore

Lydia Farnham must travel to a remote Scottish island to work for widower Alasdair MacDonald, who doesn’t trust her or her unconventional teaching methods! Yet as his daughter flourishes, so, too, does the intense connection between Lydia and Alasdair. Only she should know better than to fall for the handsome laird when it could leave her without a job, or a home…

Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/lairdgoverness

Review

Lydia finds her beauty less of a blessing and more a of curse, because when 'gentlemen' force their attentions on the governess, it's never the man who is blamed. Kind, clever, and beloved by children, she's almost too good to be true, except years of victim blaming have left her self-esteem in tatters. I enjoyed her passion for learning and how she didn't just fit in immediately, but made an effort to learn the language and customs of Ardmore.

Alasdair fell once for a pretty face and finds he has hired another to care for his beloved daughter. His blanket dismissal of Lydia for her looks (and foreign Englishness) is quite jarring but I adored how he learnt to unbend without losing his core of honour. In particular, he was very aware of his position as Lydia's employer and his responsibilities thereof.

Their romance is helped along by a castle of eager matchmakers, but none more so than Alasdair's beloved daughter Mairead. Weakened by a childhood illness and a very reluctant pupil, Mairead is a delightful breath of fresh air and an absolute sweetheart while still having character in spades.

Best enjoyed with a glass of whiskey and a roaring fire, this is a delightful story about two people learning to see past their own fears to the happiness that awaits. It's not all sunshine and roses - this is Scotland, there's more than one storm - but I believed in Lydia and Alasdair's romance and their hope for the future.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Catherine Tinley is an award winning author of historical romance. She writes witty, heartwarming Regency love stories for Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her first book, Waltzing with the Earl, won the Rita Award for Best Historical Romance 2018, while Rags-to-Riches Wife won the RoNA Award for Best Historical Romance 2021 as well as the 2021 HOLT Medallion for Best Historical Romance.

She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now manages a maternity hospital. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, cats, and dog and can be reached at catherinetinley.com, on facebook, twitter, and instagram.

Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/CTinley

Giveaway to Win Two signed copies of A Laird for the Governess (1 x UK/Ireland Winner, 1 INT Winner)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Light in the Dark by Kate McWilliams

When Alex moved to Moon Harbour to put down roots, she didn’t expect to run into her summer fling and first love. It’s been twelve years since Sam broke both their hearts but they’re older and wiser and the fire between them has never been hotter. Alex just wants to settle down and see if they can make something work, but the little township is hiding some ugly secrets and someone is dangerously unhappy Alex came to Moon Harbour.

I liked how while Sam and Alex have painful history, there’s no resentment or a secret baby, just an acknowledgment that they were two teenagers who made poor choices. Now they’re together again, they have a chance to build a future, if they can shake the growing sense of threat. It was awesome that Alex put up boundaries around finding her own feet before starting a relationship and Sam not only respected those, he communicated his own as well, even if he did get a tad overprotective.

Backing up the romance are a cast of new friends (some clearly setting up for their own book) and some background villagers, all happily matchmaking Sam and Alex from day one. Now, there are a couple of plot threads that don’t go anywhere (at least in this book) and a few unanswered questions but nothing huge.

It’s low angst, open door, and on the shorter side. If you’re looking for a steamy second chance romance with plenty of sexual tension and a side of danger, this one deserves a look!

Light in the Dark is available now

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Indie Pen PR; all opinions are my own

Publication Day Push: The Earl's Inconvenient Houseguest by Virginia Heath (with international giveaway!)

The earl she loved to hate…until she stayed in his mansion!

Sophie Gilbert has thwarted the standoffish new earl’s plans to sell his country estate and the quaint village which forms part of it. But when disaster strikes and he offers her refuge, she must reconsider everything about this vexing, determined man. After the heartbreak in her past, it’s a revelation to feel her pulse racing and her body yearning for his touch…

Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/veryvillage1   

Review 

Rafe Peel, Lord Hockley, is your classic Regency hero - a former soldier returned to England, ready to settle down. I liked that he was neither rake nor spy. Instead, he was a good man seeking a quiet life, utterly unprepared for an inheritance and in a realistic twist, utterly uninterested in being Lord of the manor. His main flaw is in his stubborn overprotection of his brother, in which I am unable to find fault.

Sophie Gilbert is equally as admirable - devoted to her aunt with a backbone of steel, and ready to believe the best of their new landlord until she learns he plans to sell their home out from under them. It is a delight to see her and Rafe circle each other as they slowly let down their guard. I liked her forwardness and that while she is determined to be strong, she is not above being vulnerable as well.

However, it is Archie who steals the show. He is a delightful character who brightens every scene he is in and who pushes the plot along simply by being himself. If the romance is the heart of this book, Archie is the soul, and the sprinkles on top are the varied cast of villagers (forgive the mixed metaphors), particularly Sophie's darling Aunt Jemima. Low on plot but high on character growth, the tight setting never feels claustrophobic or rushed.

Best enjoyed at home, wherever that may be, and with a modicum of housing security - pick up the Earl's Inconvenient Houseguest, where a reluctant Earl finds the only thing more inconvenient than an unexpected houseguest is falling in love with her.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own.

Author Bio

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty-two books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaheathwrites 

Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of The Earl’s Inconvenient Houseguest (Open INT)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Blitz: The Dating Game by Susan Buchanan (with UK giveaway!)

Work, work, work. That’s all recruitment consultant Gill does. Her friends fix her up with numerous blind dates, none suitable, until one day Gill decides enough is enough.

Seeing an ad on a bus billboard for Happy Ever After dating agency ‘for the busy professional’, on impulse, she signs up. Soon she has problems juggling her social life as well as her work diary.

Before long she’s experiencing laughs, lust and … could it be love? But just when things are looking up for Gill, an unexpected reunion forces her to make an impossible choice.

Will she get her happy ever after, or is she destined to be married to her job forever?

Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/u/4EKvVe

Review

When workaholic Gill decides to find love, she doesn't do things by halves. Throwing caution to the winds, she signs up for a dating agency and soon finds herself juggling dates and her already-hectic professional life, supported and egged on by her eclectic group of friends.

I don't think I could do what Gill did. Her life sounded exhausting before throwing dating into the mix, but I liked how it made her realise that her work-life balance was nothing of the sort. The prose delves deep into Gill's day to day, really highlighting how busy she is, but her series of quirky dates are interspersed with the occasional male point of view. They are a welcome and interesting change of pace, and a chance to see both Gill and her dates from another perspective, as much like most dating, not everything or everyone is always what they seem. No spoilers as to how it all shakes out, but it's a long rollercoaster of a ride to get there!

I felt this is as much a story about Gill's friendships as it was her love life. Her friends are bold characters in their own right, each bringing their own flavour to the story even if I didn't agree with all of them all of the time.

Best enjoyed when on a nice break - one where work is not on your mind - or shared with a good group of friends.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Susan Buchanan lives in Scotland with her husband, their two young children and a crazy Labrador called Benji. She has been reading since the age of four and had to get an adult library pass early as she had read the entire children’s section by the age of ten. 

Susan writes contemporary fiction, often set in Scotland, usually featuring travel, food or Christmas. When not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, Susan loves reading (obviously), the theatre, quiz shows and eating out – not necessarily in that order!

Social Media Links

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Susan_Buchanan 

Facebook – www.facebook.com/susan.buchanan.author

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/AuthorSusanBuchanan/ 

Giveaway to Win Paperback copies of Just One Day – Winter and The Dating Game (UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: A Very Modern Marriage by Rachel Brimble (with international giveaway!)

He needs a wife...
Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan...
But the only woman who's caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she's hardly respectable, but she's determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose's mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William's a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she's very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won't follow them wherever they go.

In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble's exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for...

Purchase Link - http://mybook.to/modernmarriage 

Review

It's very refreshing to read a historical romance that isn't about the aristocracy and Rachel Brimble is very good at them. Rather than a debutante, Octavia Marshall is - well, she's a whore. Recent changes have left her dissatisfied with her lot and interested in striking out on her own as a woman of business. The only problem is that she has no idea where to start. Enter William Rose, mill owner from Manchester (and yes, there are strong North & South vibes). William has pulled himself and his family from poverty only to find certain business deals are closed to him due to his unmarried status.

If you're seeing a fake engagement on the cards, you would be right, but there are so many more layers to this romance, particularly Octavia's relationships with her friends as she strives for independence and the ever-increasing crackdowns on brothels. The couples of books one and two both feature strongly here as well, though this book does mostly stand alone.

While I found William's devotion to his family both charming and admirable, it's Octavia who is the star of the show here. Her determination and flirtation masks deeply held insecurity and she must put aside a past both privileged and abusive to decide what she wants for her future.

For a story more courtesan than patrician but no less a fantasy for it, this is a book best enjoyed among those who love you for who you are and not what you've done.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own.

Author Bio

Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of over 25 published novels including the Ladies of Carson Street series, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin).

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. 

To sign up for her newsletter (a guaranteed giveaway every month!), click here: https://bit.ly/3zyH7dt

Social Media Links
Website: https://rachelbrimble.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelbrimbleauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/?hl=en

Giveaway to Win £15/$15 Amazon Gift Certificate (Open INT)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Redeemed by Her Midsummer's Kiss by Liz Fielding

Escape to the English countryside with Liz Fielding’s emotional and uplifting summer romance.

An escape to the country 

A kiss to reawaken them both…

Honeysuckle Rose finds much-needed solace in her great aunt’s garden. But her peace is threatened by her distracting and brooding neighbour, Lucien Grey. Once a high-flying news reporter, Lucien returned from the front line a changed man. Honey can see that beneath his frosty exterior is a heart waiting to be thawed. Can their unexpected but impossible-to-ignore midsummer kiss be the beginning of a fresh start…together?

Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Redeemed-Midsummer-Kiss-Mills-Boon-ebook/dp/B09DK1VNFP/
https://mybook.to/Midsummer

Review

Despite a classic meet-ugly, Lucien Grey and Honeysuckle Rose have more in common than they thought and the electricity between them almost crackles off the page. As their tumultuous relationship moves from verbal sparring to tenderness and care, their rough edges fit together. Knowing and caring for one another helps them both heal and move on, so that I fully believed in their happy ending.

I loved Honey's care for her garden and her infectious passion for rewilding. The love of plants underpins Lucien and Honey's growing relationship, and informs their future. With so many gorgeous flowers and flower-derived goodies, I was dying for a bit of greenery myself!

Sit yourself in the garden (or by the garden!) and enjoy a lovely story about two hurting people healing together.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Best selling author, Liz Fielding worked as a secretary in Africa, the Middle East and the UK before writing full time. Her award winning books are published worldwide in multiple languages and she has more than 15 million books in print.

Katie Fforde wrote, when honouring her with the Romantic Novelists' Association's Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 said - "Liz Fielding's books, with their warmth, humour and emotion, have charmed millions of readers. She is a true star of the romantic fiction genre..."

Social Media Links
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lizfieldingauthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lizfielding
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liz.fielding/