Blog Tour: Secrets of Her Forbidden Knight by Ella Matthews

She’s rescued a knight

 Now she needs the favour returned…

When widowed Lady Johanne happens upon an injured knight, she sees an opportunity to form an alliance and protect her home, Castle Brae, from her enemies. The betrothal she proposes might be merely for appearances, but the very real attraction between her and Sir Alewyn thrills and disturbs her. For it’s clear he’s hiding something… Can she trust him, with so much at stake?

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Her-Forbidden-Knight-Knights/dp/0263301885
US - https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Her-Forbidden-Knight-Knights/dp/0263301885

Review 

Secrets of Her Forbidden Knight is a fast-paced medieval romance with a bit of action and one of my favourite tropes - a fake relationship! However, it is not the only deception at play...

Johanne is holding on to her Barony by the skin of her teeth. When she comes across a stranger unconscious in the road, she takes him in - and when a neighbouring Baron demands her hand in marriage, there's a handsome stranger on hand to fake a betrothal. Sir Alewyn is torn - he's only too happy to stick around the beautiful Johanne - because he's there to investigate her for treason!

Despite the plots flying around, this is a shorter read that still has time for character growth. I found Johanne prickly and stubborn to begin with, but it's easy to empathise with her reasons for putting up a stridently brave front. As Alewyn works his way into her heart, her walls come down. Alewyn's path as he juggles honour with his heart is quite different but no less satisfying. They truly are good for each other and I finished the book smiling.

It's a great mix of action and romance with engaging leads and a satisfying ending - and now I'm curious to read about Benedictus getting his own happy ending!

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

Author Bio
Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. She writes medieval romances for Mills & Boon. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).

Social Media Links
www.ellamatthews.co.uk
Twitter @ellamattauthor
Instagram @ellamatthewsauthor

Review: The Shopgirl's Forbidden Love by Jenni Fletcher

Nancy has had a long standing affection for James, but she considers the difference in their stations too immense to take a chance on man. James has loved Nancy for just as long, yet he will not trespass where he is so clearly not wanted. Just as Nancy realises she doesn't want to grow old alone, she discovers James is engaged. It will take all their friends and a great deal of soul-searching for them to finally make a match of it.

I loved both Nancy and James - unlike the many romances about the ton, they are common folk who nonetheless have a keen awareness of class. Jenni Fletcher has done an excellent job of writing two realistic characters and their respective worlds. Not only that, but she brings in previous characters (Nancy's workmates at the bakery) in a way that makes we want to explore their own stories. This is a superbly enjoyable read and I'm keen to read more by Jenni in the future!

(Oh, but if Kitty Palmer is to get her own story I won't complain!)

The Shopgirl's Forbidden Love is available in ebook and hard copy.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author; all opinions are my own.

Blog Tour: One Last Day of Summer by Shari Low

As a flight to St Lucia leaves the runway, four passengers meet for the first time.

After escaping her controlling husband, Bernadette Manson is taking the first extravagant holiday of her new life. But when her best friend cancels, will she be strong enough to fly solo?

Tadgh Donovan is about to jet off to his destination wedding when he sees a shocking text. Has his bride-to-be written her wedding vows… or already broken them?

Hayley Ford is the wife of a top fertility specialist yet her battle to get pregnant has almost broken her marriage. Can a trip to the sun heal their relationship or should she brace for a crash landing?

Dev Robbins is crossing oceans to track down the woman he fell in love with at first sight. Will it be a one way trip to happy ever after or a return journey to singledom?

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3kKtjX2

Review

This book had me hooked from the very first page! Four strangers, unlucky or unhappy in love, find themselves unexpected seat mates on a nine-hour flight to St Lucia. Over the course of one day they share their lives, their hopes, and their fears - and by the end of the day, everything has changed.

Each of the characters are great in their own distinct way. Bernadette is a nurse, taking a risk for the first time since exiting her abusive marriage. She is loving and stable and the voice of reason of this little bunch. Tadgh is supposed to be getting married but a killer hangover and insistent doubts have soured his mood. Hayley misses the outgoing, carefree woman she used to be but new friends and a change of scenery might help her find herself. Good-natured Dev is trying to write a romcom (a little meta, but I'll allow it) but is stunningly oblivious to the real world around him. Even the side characters add richness and depth to the relationships - new, old, loving or dysfunctional.

Add some free-flowing alcohol (gleefully supplied my my new fave cabin crew Stefan) and the forced intimacy of a long haul flight, and you have an entertaining, clever, and feel good story that kept me up past my bedtime. Beware, it's not without its share of emotional moments - keep an eye out for emotional abuse, fertility problems, and infidelity - but all so well-written and balanced that the payoff is worth the journey. There are tons of clever one-liners and quoteable lines to lighten the mood.

Best enjoyed when wishing you were anywhere but here because if you read this on a plane you might miss a conversation that would change your life!

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

Author Bio
Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 30 novels, including My One Month Marriage and One Summer Sunrise and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

Social Media Links
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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shari-low