Blog Tour: Her Banished Knight's Redemption by Melissa Oliver

A lady’s need for protection 

A knight’s chance for redemption

 Exiled Knight William Geraint answers only to himself. Yet, a mission to find and reunite lost heiress Lady Isabel de Clancey with her family is Will’s chance to finally atone for the torment of his past. With every rushed mile, their intense attraction becomes dangerously thrilling. He swore to protect Isabel not seduce her, but their desire for each other could threaten the redemption he’s worked so hard to achieve…

Purchase Links
Mills and Boon - https://bit.ly/3opfj5I
Harlequin Books - https://bit.ly/3234EEv
Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/31LLVga
Amazon US - https://amzn.to/3kyXj6K

Review

As a child, Lady Isabel is saved from an ambush by a young Will Geraint. Traumatised, she is sent to a convent and adopted by a miller and his wife to grow up in anonymous safety. Years later, Will is hired to retrieve the lost de Clancey heiress and escort her to her now-widowed mother, but danger is around every corner, danger that wants to find Isabel for reasons entirely their own.

The strength of this book is in the relationship between Will and Isabel as they get to know each other and fall in love. The ambush is merely the pinnacle of Isabel's painful past and I am glad for the relative peace and joy she found as a simple miller's daughter. Will's history is more shadowed but no less painful and I really liked how Isabel listened to him and encouraged him to step out of the darkness and self-recrimination. Will carries a lot of anger and resentment under the guilt and I love how Isabel outlines new perspectives that might help him let go. Will and Isabel believed in each other and brought out the best in each other which helped me believe in them together.

I did find the pacing a little unsteady - this is the medieval equivalent of a road trip story but they only get on the road at 20% after Will spends far too long trying to convince Isabel to go with him without really hearing out any of her objections. Slightly pettily, I also wish we got the scene where Isabel's adopted sister is informed that she is indeed not lost nobility and the handsome knight is here for her helpful and unassuming sister.

Once we get on the road, the true bonding time begins - as does the danger, which wasn't entirely expected based on the blurb. The tension did build nicely, but there did seems to be a few continuity errors. I especially wonder at the wisdom giving a Lady a knife during a combat situation, when the last time that happened it ended with the same knife at her throat. For a smart man, I can't believe that Will would make that mistake. Twice. You think he'd learn.

However, pacing and quibbles aside, this is a fine medieval romance between two lost souls who bring out the best in each other and I enjoyed it.

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

Author Bio

Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, palaces and all things historical.

Melissa is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight -  Book 1 Notorious Knights.

Social Media Links
Twitter - @melissaoauthor
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/melissaoliverauthor/

Blog Blitz: Trust Me by Candace Hutton (with giveaway!)

Brooke Anderson never pictured herself as a divorcee at twenty-eight. But when she mentions getting a post-nup to her husband Garrett after one deliciously sex-filled year, he promptly serves her with divorce papers. Admittedly, she could’ve told him about how her father left her and her mother homeless when she was young, and how she’s never been wired to trust anyone. Especially those closest to her. Now, all she wants to do is avoid anywhere he might be so she won’t have to face him again.
 
But she’s not the only one who can’t seem to trust.
 
Garrett Call grew up with parents who married for money and wants no part of a life that puts material possessions above love. He reinvented himself in college, complete with a new last name so he couldn’t be tied to his family’s lucrative business. He never even told Brooke the truth. Admittedly, he could’ve handled the issue of a post-nup better with his ex-wife. Maybe he didn’t count on how much he was going to miss having her in his life.
 
When their best friends’ wedding forces the exes to see each other again, a dangerous man from Garrett’s world threatens Brooke’s life. And they realize the only way to save themselves is to finally learn to trust each other.

Purchase Links
US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QCXKLG9
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QCXKLG9 

Review

Trust Me is the story of a tragic lack of communication and serious trust issues. Both Garrett and Brooke have good reasons for their attitudes towards money - but neither are willing to share those reasons with their spouse, leading to two people who love each other getting a quick divorce.

Quick being the operative word. I was left a little confused by the timeline of this book because it seems that they went 10 days from fight to divorce finalisation which seems unnecessarily hasty. Of course, the timeline is shortened by the upcoming wedding of their friends and their trust issues are put to the test when danger looms. Honestly such a lot happened, this could definitely have been a longer book. A little more page space could've reduced the awkward beginning infodumps as well.

Overall I enjoyed this book and found it a short and sexy read but it did feel a little rushed.

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

Author Bio

Candace Hutton was born and raised on books. She spent a great deal of her teenage years in libraries and bookstores and still tries to sneak off to them as often as possible. Some of her other favorite things are coffee, puppies, and the smell of rain. You can connect with her on Twitter @authorcandace 

Giveaway to Win a $30 Amazon Gift Card (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

Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire

Y'all. I made a mistake.

I've been really good at going to bed recently. I'd hit the sack between ten and eleven o'clock, maybe closer to midnight if I'm going a bit late. But for this book? I started reading and didn't get off the couch until I was done, somewhere after two am.

As a quick note, Calculated Risks is not a good place to start this series. The best place to start would be at the beginning with Discount Armageddon, or perhaps with one of the many short stories on Seanan's website. Calculated Risks picks up directly where Imaginary Numbers left off, stranded in an alien dimension by semi-sentient math.

Trust me, it makes sense in context.

Sarah is a delight to read because she's so aware that's she's different - non-human, raised as a Price - and circumstances have her viewing her own family from the outside. They're as weird and scary as you would expect from a paranoid set of cryptozoologists. We get more understanding of Sarah and her species, and we get to explore a whole new world. Seanan manages to weave together the familiar and the fantastical into a cohesive if sometime confusing whole, and I loved it.

This book had me riveted to the very end and immediately after finishing I wanted to go back and read it again, so this makes this an easy five stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

By Mistake by Sigal Ehrlich

A digital chance encounter that springs an online friendship that slowly crosses the borders of the digital realm into real life, bringing along the bazillion-dollar question, what do you do when you meet The One at the most impossibly wrong time?

There’s so much going on in Anna’s life. Teaching countless hours at the studio and nurturing the three major relationships of her life – her group of tight-knit friends, all while attempting to not screw up this whole adulthood thing leaves very little time to waste on yet another dating app. At this point, a relationship is off the menu. Being “self-partnered” is more than enough.

A serious relationship has been crossed off Liam Brody’s list of goals, at least for the foreseeable future. Completing his residency and becoming a trauma surgeon is his only priority. Casual relationships, his friends, and books are the only things he’s willing to lose his precious free time to.

When an accidental email starts a deep online connection, both Liam and Anna dive in with zero concern . . . because there’s really no harm in getting close to someone who you’ll never meet in real life, right?

Wrong.

When a turn of events brings their “safe” virtual connection to an unexpected face-to-face, Anna and Liam learn their online chemistry pales in comparison to the real deal. A realization that brings along the bazillion-dollar question – what do you do when you meet The One at the most impossibly wrong time?

*by Mist@ke is book 1 in a standalone series with connected characters, but independent storylines.

Review

Neither Anna nor Liam have time for a relationship. He's busy doing his residency, she's on the verge of owning her own fitness studio. A mistyped email address leads to an unexpected connection but Liam's life plan doesn't include a serious girlfriend for at least another few years. Maybe it's better they stay as friends.

It was fun watching Anna and Liam banter their way from penpals to friends to lovers. The slow progression let them build upon all the little conversations and connections until they made a believable couple.

I really liked Liam and could understand where he's coming from even though his insistence on following his well-defined plan nearly derails them completely. His reservations came from a place of wanting the best for Anna and stemmed from a catastrophic failed relationship (though I don't think he should take the blame for his ex's depression but that's another conversation). Apart from his reluctance to commit he sounds practically perfect (and he gets bonus points for his honesty regarding the no-commitment boundary).

Anna was more difficult to like because her emphasis on healthy living sometimes felt like I was being preached at by a well-meaning but misguided and judgy influencer. For instance, she cleans yoga mats with cleansing essential oils and refers to canned cheese as poison in a canister. Most frustratingly, her idea of bare minimum makeup is mascara and blush which is two products more than the actual minimum. However, I did love her friendship group as the supported and challenged each other through trials, tribulations, and drunk fishing (sounds fun but possibly a very poor idea in practice).

The book could do with a little extra editing particularly in terms of continuity. The most egregious error comes early on, when Liam and Anna bond over a Tolkien quote. Supposedly. There was no discernible Tolkien quote in that email. I'm willing to be wrong and hope this would be fixed in an update.

Overall, I found this a charming and funny novel with an engaging premise with a few hitches in the execution.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Blog Tour: The Lake House by Christie Barlow

There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend.  Ella is ready to start afresh ––and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…
Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B086115DK9/
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086115DK9/ 

Review

Ella has had a horrific few months after her fiancé absconds with her inheritance leaving her with a broken heart and credit card debt for miles. When her friend Callie invites her to Heartcross, it's a much-needed fresh start and a chance to put her life back together. Fortunately for Ella, it can only get better from here.

Sometimes, you need a happy book. A book where things go right, not wrong. A book free from secondhand embarrassment or third-act dark moments full of moping and miscommunication. 

This is that book.

Despite being fifth in a series that I haven't followed, it was easy to dive into Heartcross. It was a delight to sit back and watch Ella regain her confidence as she makes new friends and settles into a new village. Does it require a suspension of disbelief? A little, but it's refreshing to read about wrongs being righted and finding success after failure without the fear of the rug being pulled out from under you.

If you're wanting a light and fluffy read, perhaps as an antidote to the world outside of books, this may be just the novel you've been waiting for.

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

Author Bio

Christie Barlow is the author of ten bestselling romantic comedies including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs. Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. When Christie isn’t writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture. Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Social Media Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/
Twitter @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook page Christie Barlow author
 

Blog Tour: His Unlikely Duchess by Amanda McCabe

Money can buy her marriage

But will it lead to love?

Miss Lily Wilkins hopes her American money will compensate for her lack of etiquette, as she needs a prestigious marriage to save her sisters’ prospects. Raised to believe wealth was her greatest attribute, she’s stunned when her unconventional ways catch the eye of the notorious Duke of Lennox. He’s far from the safe, sensible match she’d planned on—but Lily might just discover he’s the one she needs!

Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unlikely-Duchess-Historical-Dollar-Duchesses-ebook/dp/B08Q7MS4H4/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Duchess-Dollar-Duchesses-Book-ebook/dp/B089YTPXSW/

Review

Lily Wilkins knows that when the proper English debutantes look at her, they laugh behind their fans at the daughter of 'Old King Coal'. She's rich, untitled, and utterly unsuited to join their ranks. Aiden, the new Duke of Lennox, never expected to be responsible for the crumbling manor and rising costs of the Lennox estate. He's utterly unprepared to be a Duke and even less prepared to be a husband, but when circumstances put Lily and Aiden together, they might just find they are exactly what the other needs!

In fact, they are definitely what the other needs. She is an heiress with a matchmaking mama, he's a penniless duke with a spendthrift mama. They like each other from the get-go, so I'm not entirely sure why it takes them so long to get together! There's a lot of introspection that doesn't really go anywhere as Lily has no idea what she wants and Aiden doesn't think he'd be a good husband for Lily but never goes into detail.

The period and setting, especially the dresses, are sumptous, and the side characters, particularly Lily's sisters, are awesome. If you're looking for a slow burn romance with minimal conflict, this may well suit you. I found it a little too slow for my tastes and it bugged me when characters called the Duke 'Duke' as if it was his first name or in any way appropriate but I'm sure other people would not mind that at all.

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

Author Bio 

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion.  She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.

Social Media Links
http://ammandamccabe.com
https://www.facebook.com/amandamccabebooks/
https://www.instagram.com/amandamccabeauthor/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/amandamccabe/_saved/
https://twitter.com/AmandaMcCabe01

Blog Tour: One Summer in Monte Carlo by Jennifer Bohnet

Monte Carlo means different things to different people; a billionaires playground, overflowing with glitz and glamour but also where dangerous secrets hide.

For Nanette Weston, and her then fiancé, F1 racing driver Zac Ewart, their dream life came to an abrupt halt 3 years ago following a car accident which Zac walked away from, but left Nanette being airlifted back to the UK, never to return and never to see her fiancé again.

Monte Carlo was a place she wanted to forget, not revisit. But when her friend and employer, Vanessa asks Nanette to look after her children in the Principality for a few months, Nanette knew she had no choice but to return.

As the F1 circus once again comes to town, with Zac in pole position, mistakes of the past, leave legacies for the future...

This book was previously published as Follow Your Star by Jennifer Bohnet.

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

Review

Three years ago, Nanette lived in the Principality of Monaco, loving her life and engaged to a rising star of Formula One. After a devastating car crash destroyed Nanette's relationship, her reputation, and her memories of the night in question, an obligation to a friend has her returning to Monaco for the summer. As the crowds (and her ex) gather for the Monaco Grand Prix, it seems everyone has secrets. Maybe Nanette should've stayed in England...

This is a lovely story about forgiveness and redemption, but also about setting boundaries and learning to let go and move on. It is not, despite the blurb, a second chance romance. It's women's fiction with a thriller undercurrent and romantic elements. There's also a secondary plotline following Nanette's friend Jessica through the Amazon which provided an interesting contrast to the glitz of Monaco, and we also get comedic glimpses of Nanette's sister Patsy as she deals with an overbearing MIL back in England.

The three stories weave in and out of each other in an absorbing escapist read. There's an awful lot going on (and quite a few characters to keep track of) but it's quite enjoyable to sit back and go with the flow. My one quibble was around logistics, in particular a funeral that only had nine attendees, which made no sense given the context. At all.

Overall, it's a lovely read set against the beautiful backdrop of Monte Carlo - and can't we all do with a little escape right now?

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

Author Bio

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women's fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

Social Media Links
http://www.jenniferbohnet.com/
http://facebook.com/Jennifer-Bohnet-170217789709356
http://twitter.com/jenniewriter
http://instagram.com/jenniebohnet
Newsletter sign up link: http://bit.ly/JenniferBohnetNewsletter
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-bohnet