Blog Tour: When Only Pride Remains by Natalie Kleinman

A enchanting story of love, loss and healing set in Regency England! For fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Balogh, Jane Aiken Hodge and Jane Austen.

Can two estranged friends find their way back to each other…?

 Regency England 

When her father —Major Angus Fairham — returns home from the Napoleonic wars, Prudence is excited to welcome him home to Fairham Manor. 

However, tragedy strikes when Angus loses his estate to his close friend and comrade — young Captain Jack Staveley — in a drunken game of cards. Unable to face his loss, Angus takes his own life. 

Distraught, Jack tries to restore Fairham Manor to Prudence, but she is too proud to accept his offer. 

Overcome with grief and anger, she retreats to her aunt’s house in Bath and distances herself from her once close friendship with Jack. 

But as the initial shock of her sorrow begins to dull, Prudence is soon missing the support of her most trusted confidant.

And when they once more find themselves in each other’s orbit, she must decide whether she can put aside her pride and open her heart…

WHEN ONLY PRIDE REMAINS is a historical romantic tale set in Regency England, with a feisty heroine and a moving love story at its heart.

Purchase Link  - https://amzn.to/3w0s60Y

Review

This is a charming, gentle story about life, loss, and love, filled with house parties and extended rides through the countryside. It's a story where the happy ending is less important than the path to get there.

It was interesting to see Prudence discover her place in the world after seemingly losing the one place she thought would always be hers. Like an unfolding puzzle box, her life trips from one relative to another as she realises she's not as alone as she thought. Jack's struggle with returning from the war is all too common and his efforts to combat boredom while helping others were admirable. Their love blooms slowly but it is clear that its roots are buried deep.

There are many supporting characters - I adored Pru's aunt Becky - and the dialogue takes a while to get into but both deepen the atmosphere and add colour to a rich picture. Pick up this book, sit back, and rusticate with Pru and Jack for a while.

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

Author Bio 

Natalie’s passion for reading became a compulsion to write when she attended a ten-week course in creative writing some sixteen or so years ago. She takes delight in creating short stories of which more than forty have been published, but it was her lifelong love of Regency romance that led her to turn from contemporary romantic fiction to try her hand at her favourite genre. Raised on a diet of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, she is never happier than when immersed in an age of etiquette and manners, fashion and intrigue, all combined into a romping good tale. She lives on the London/Kent border, close to the capital’s plethora of museums and galleries which she uses for research as well as pleasure. A perfect day though is when she heads out of town to enjoy lunch by a pub on the river, any river, in company with her husband and friends.
Natalie is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. 

Social Media Links
https://nataliekleinman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NatalieKleinmanAuthor/
https://twitter.com/NatKleinman
https://www.instagram.com/nataliekleinman6279

Blog Tour: Snug in Iceland by Victoria Walker

Rachel Richards is stuck in a rut. Her boyfriend Adam barely notices her most of the time and her life in London isn’t as exciting as it should be. When the company she works for, Snug, asks her to oversee the opening of a new store in Iceland, she jumps at the chance for a change of scenery. Exploring Reykjavik with the help of Icelandic tour guide Jonas, Rachel discovers that life is out there waiting to be lived. As she falls in love with Iceland, she begins to see what is important to her and wonders whether the life she left behind is what she wants after all…

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snug-Iceland-heart-warming-romance-Northern-ebook/dp/B09F7WQ56C
US - https://www.amazon.com/Snug-Iceland-heart-warming-romance-Northern-ebook/dp/B09F7WQ56C

Review

Warning: this book is like a travel ad for Iceland and it's almost cruel, to make me yearn to visit at a time when it's so unlikely. The descriptions of glaciers, hot pools, and the Northern Lights through Rachel's eyes are just gorgeous. It's easy to see why she begins to doubt her life back in London, when this amazing place is right there. Especially as Jonas is the biggest sweetheart ever, compared to the distant Adam. The love-triangle angst did carry on for a little too long for my tastes though.

My favourite part was seeing Rachel find her feet doing a job she loved, exploring a new place, and making new friends. It reads almost like a second coming of age. Her job and her passion for it is described in loving detail, although I know very little about homewares.

The ending did feel a little abrupt - while it did end happily, I had a few questions left about how some parts would play out. I think an epilogue would've help to round this out. Overall this was a charming and comforting novel that made me fall in love with a place I've never been.

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

Author Bio 

Victoria Walker lives in the Malvern Hills with her husband and two teenage children. She is an avid reader of contemporary romance but tempers this addiction by being a member of a book club where she is often surprised by her enjoyment of other genres. She also loves sewing and knitting and Scandinavian dramas.

Social Media Links
Twitter -@4victoriawalker
Instagram - victoriamakes

Publication Day: How Not to Chaperon a Lady by Virginia Heath (with giveaway!)

His childhood nemesis…is the woman he can’t resist!

Chaperoning Charity Brookes while she’s on a singing tour should be easy for Griffith Philpot—he’s spent his whole life sparring with her over her flighty ways! But as he discovers that she’s much more than the impetuous girl he thought he knew, a passion ignites between them… Sharing a steamy kiss leaves him torn – he’s supposed to be responsible for guarding her virtue!

Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/talkofbeaumonde3 

Review

Youngest daughter of a supremely talented family and a rising star of the opera, Charity Brookes has the world at her feet. If only she could banish her long-time crush on the older brother of her best friend. Nothing she does is ever good enough for Griffith Philpot and now he's been assigned as her chaperone on a singing tour of the north. Expecting him to stifle her with rules and restrictions, she's surprised by his care - and then by a kiss. Could it be there's something else underneath his gruff exterior?

Funny, steamy, and sometimes too sweet for words, this is the perfect end to the tales of the Brookes sisters. Pretty, flighty Charity gets her time in the spotlight - not that the budding diva has ever left it - and it turns out her life isn't all songs and roses like her sisters assume. It's been fascinating to see how each of them have deeply held insecurities about their talents and Charity is no different. She might be a success at the start of the story (unlike the other two, whose search for recognition is an integral part of their plots) but Charity's story is less about making it and more about how to cope when you do.

And then there's Griff. Deep in denial about his feelings for Charity, I really can't condone the jealousy, but when he steps up to take care of her you can't help but swoon. He's clever and persistent with a Charity-sized blindspot in the middle of his feelings. I like that he's not a member of the aristocracy, and I like that no-one in the Brookes clan cares one bit.

The camaraderie between Piers, Luke, and now Griff was simply delightful, though I do wish we got more sisterly interactions. There was also a confrontation that occurred off-page that I would've loved to read first-hand, but that's a minor gripe about - and who knows, maybe it'll turn up as a deleted scene!

Best enjoyed in a long flowing gown with a bit of opera in the background - a wonderful conclusion to a great series!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher 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 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://twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_

Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of How Not to Chaperon a Lady (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.

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Blog Tour: Red Velvet by Carla Luna

Faking it has never been so much fun… 

In her ultra-competitive family, April Beckett is used to taking last place. For years, she’s put up with jabs about her modest job and her pathetic love life. Especially after she tried to impress her older sisters with a fake boyfriend in college and failed miserably. But now she has a smoking-hot date for her brother’s wedding, guaranteed to wow them.

Until he bails. Cue total desperation.

Without April’s friendship, Brody Blackwood wouldn’t have survived his last breakup. So, if she needs a plus-one for a family wedding, he’s all in. Even if it means pretending to be her boyfriend. And committing to six days of activities at a wooded resort in Wisconsin. But how hard could a relaxing getaway with your best friend be?

Too bad there’s a grueling 10K race and a cutthroat trivia night to endure. Not to mention a massive secret to protect. But will the biggest secret of all turn out to be that this fake relationship feels more real than April or Brody ever imagined?

Purchase Links
Website: https://www.carlalunabooks.com/red-velvet
Books2Read Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0KQrW

Review

When April's plus-one to her brother's wedding falls through, her best friend Brody steps up to the plate. He's nursing his own broken heart but April was there for him during his own bad break-up and the miserable months that followed. Pretending to be her boyfriend at a destination wedding is the least he can do. April's family might be ultra-competitive and she might have been nursing a crush on him for the last few years, but they can pull this off, right?

Like the namesake cupcakes, Red Velvet is sweet and delicious, full of banter and character growth. I loved both April and Brody, seeing their similarities and differences - April is the short and curvy graphic designer in a family of competitive corporate high-fliers, whereas Brody is the second son of a multimillion dollar business, and both feel like they can never live up to their parents' expectations. They complemented each other so well - April helps Brody realise what he actually wants out of life and he helps her stand up to her overbearing family. Both felt like real people with real problems, and yet I fully believed in their happily ever after.

Family is a strong theme through this book (and likely the whole series) and April's family surely deserve an honourable mention here, especially the decent ones. They might push and prod too far but it comes from a place of love - and this book does a good job at respecting that love while still drawing boundaries. The trivia quiz was possibly my favourite scene and even though the series is about Brody's family, I surely hope Ginger gets her own book (and away from her parents!).

Light, sexy, and entertaining: I'm definitely interested in reading more by this author! Best enjoyed on the couch with a glass of wine.

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

Author Bio
Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her spoiled Siberian cat.

Social Media Links
Website: www.carlalunabooks.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlalunacullen/

Blog Tour: the Dating Game by Sandy Barker

‘Hilarious and highly original’ ~ Julie Houston, bestselling author of A Village Affair

Once upon a time, twelve women joined the hottest reality TV show looking for love. Except one had a secret identity . . .

Abby Jones is a serious writer. Or at least she will be, one day. Right now, she spends her time writing recaps of reality television under a secret identity.

When a recap for The Stag – the must-watch dating show – goes viral, her editor thinks she should be on set, writing the drama as it happens. The good news: the next season will be filmed in Sydney. Sun, sea and a glamorous trip abroad, this could be Abby’s big break.

The bad news: the producers don’t just want Abby to write the recaps, they want her to be on the show. Abby can’t think of anything worse than being undercover and followed around by cameras. But her career depends on it, and when she meets gorgeous producer Jack, Abby begins to wonder if this job might not be so bad after all . . .

Review

Abby Jones pays rent by writing snarky recaps of The Stag, a Batchelor-type reality show where multiple women, nicknamed 'Does', vie for the affections of a handsome 'Stag'. When one recap goes viral, Abby is offered (ordered) the chance to go undercover as a Doe on the next season to write her recaps from inside the Manor. Armed with a makeover, a new background, and dossiers on her competition, 'Doe Abby' jets off to Sydney. Unfortunately, it's a lot harder to be clever when the subjects aren't just characters, they're fast becoming friends, and soon Abby is juggling her secret identity, the Stag, her competition, and the attention of one of the producers - as well as getting her recaps in on time!

I seriously enjoyed this book. It's a little slow to start as it introduces Abby and gets her to Sydney, but once she arrives at Stag Manor the book really gets going. This is a story about love, but it's also a story about friendship, as the friendships Abby makes among some of the Does drive the story just as much if not more than the eventual love story. I was a little apprehensive at the start, given Abby's rather catty review of the previous season of the Stag, and yes, some of the Does are written as Fillers or out-and-out Villains, but the majority of them are layered and complex characters with their own voices and motivations (and given the cast list is at the back, reducing some of the Does to stereotypes does help one keep track of who's who). Her mum gets one of the best scenes in the book.

Abby is a hoot and her recaps are entertaining if sometimes confusingly entwined with her inner monologue (I received an ARC so I'm hoping the formatting will make the distinction clearer in the final copy). I enjoyed watching her mature and learn to reconcile her multiple identities (Abigail Jones, would-be journalist; 'Doe Abby', hopeful contestant; Anastasia Blabbergasted, witty recapper) in order to claim her own happy ending.

Laugh-out-loud and deliciously entertaining, this book has all the drama of a so-called reality show but no celebrities were harmed in the making! Best enjoyed with a fruity cocktail while wearing some strappy stilettos

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

Purchase Links
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dating-Game-romantic-comedy-Santorini-ebook/dp/B096TBRT6B/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-dating-game/id1571261358
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sandy_Barker_The_Dating_Game?id=iwQyEAAAQBAJ
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dating-game-sandy-barker/1139650830
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/the-dating-game-30

Author Bio
Sandy is a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list, and many of her travel adventures have found homes in her novels. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob. She lives in Melbourne Australia with her partner, Ben, who she met while travelling in Greece. Their real-life love story inspired Sandy’s debut novel One Summer in Santorini, the first in the Holiday Romance series with One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins. 

Follow Sandy:
https://twitter.com/sandybarker
https://www.facebook.com/sandybarkerauthor
https://sandybarker.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sandybarkerauthor/

Blog Tour: The Knight's Maiden in Disguise by Ella Matthews

Risking her life

To save a knight!

Disguising herself as her late twin brother keeps Avva Carpenter, and her family, safe. Until Sir William Devereux arrives in her town. As the castle’s stable master, Avva can’t avoid the knight—or the desire he instantly stirs in her. He’s everything she never knew a nobleman could be: honest, kind, brave. When danger surrounds them, the only way to help William is to reveal her true identity, but can she trust him enough?

Purchase Links
UK  - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knights-Maiden-Disguise-Mills-Historical-ebook/dp/B09127FJ29
US - https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Maiden-Disguise-Mills-Historical-ebook/dp/B09127FJ29

Review

Avva Carpenter has no reason to trust noblemen, not until Sir William Devereux rides into town. He's one of the King's Knights, there to announce the King's visit, only the Baron isn't home and there's something very suspicious about the whole situation. William needs to marry a rich heiress to fund his parents' excesses, and for that he needs his mission to be a success. What a pity there's treason afoot and William can't take his eyes off the stablemaster...

It wasn't long ago that I read a book set in the court of Isabella, mother of King Edward III, and this story takes place in those years just following his successful revolt against her regency. The land is ostensibly at peace but years of war have taken their toll, which marks our protagonists in different ways. Avva outright states that as a Welsh woman she has no loyalty to an English king, whereas William is in the service of said king - a potentially advantageous but precarious position.

The electricity between Avva and William just about crackles off the page, even when Avva's deception stands between them and they are both fighting the very inconvenient attraction to each other. It's a relief when the walls come down because while the tension doesn't abate, it's leavened with some fabulous banter. The story is a little light on supporting characters so it's a relief that the leads are so engaging.

Their relationship is intertwined with a plot against the king which clips along nicely, adding dramatic tension and aids the final resolution - though not as much as William facing his inbuilt resolve against falling in love. It really is quite delicious when a romance hero decides they're not going to fall in love, because mate, you have no idea... I liked Avva's loyalty and determination, although her stubbornness did sometimes verge into TSTL which got a little frustrating.

Overall this is a good romance with great leads and tension that had me putting down my phone for a breather.

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

Author Bio

Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. 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
https://twitter.com/ellamattauthor
www.ellamatthews.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/ella.matthews.524381

The Rose Kiss by Esme Rome

In this retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Lana Moreau is named the Belmorta (beautiful death) by a local prophet and framed for poisoning one of her unwanted suitors. Fleeing into the forest, she finds refuge at an enchanted castle with invisible servants and a host who requests she never try to look at him. As soldiers search outside, the two become close - but the magic that hides the castle from Lana's pursuers is also hiding them from a greater threat - one who will stop at nothing.

This was definitely an interesting twist on Beauty and the Beast! I like that while Lana enjoyed reading, she wasn't a carbon copy of Belle. The world has a magic all of its own.

I did find the world-building inconsistent and this led to enough plot holes that the pacing felt off. The fairytale feel with two lost souls bonding in an empty castle morphed into a frantic fantasy adventure and it was a rather rocky transition. I also found it hard to like Lana as she came across as judgey and self-absorbed.

I can definitely see potential in the author and that cover is gorgeous, but it's definitely a first novel and I hope the next ones get a little more polish and a tougher editor.

The Rose Kiss is available now.

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