"The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot"--by Marianne Cronin--a charming, fiercely alive and disarmingly funny debut novel—a brave testament to the power of living each day to the fullest, a tribute to the stories that we live, and a reminder of our unlimited capacity for friendship and love

 

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

An extraordinary friendship. A lifetime of stories. 

Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined.

As their friendship blooms, a world of stories opens for these unlikely companions who, between them, have been alive for one hundred years. Though their days are dwindling, both are determined to leave their mark on the world. With the help of Lenni’s doting palliative care nurse and Father Arthur, the hospital’s patient chaplain, Lenni and Margot devise a plan to create one hundred paintings showcasing the stories of the century they have lived—stories of love and loss, of courage and kindness, of unexpected tenderness and pure joy.

Though the end is near, life isn’t quite done with these unforgettable women just yet.

Delightfully funny and bittersweet, heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot reminds us of the preciousness of life as it considers the legacy we choose to leave, how we influence the lives of others even after we’re gone, and the wonder of a friendship that transcends time.

Reviews

 

"A gorgeous, heartbreaking story readers won't soon forget." -- Elle (Most Anticipated Books of 2021)

"A heart-warming story about how friendship can grow between people of different generations." -- BBC

"Cronin has just struck the right balance between sensitivity and sentimentality, making her one of those admirable writers who does exceptionally fine work both celebrating life and addressing death." -- Booklist

 “Graceful, intelligent, beautiful writing. Full of wisdom and kindness. It is just the kind of book I adore.” -- Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

"Cronin’s touching debut is a joyous celebration of friendship, love, and life." -- Publishers Weekly

“Sharp and funny, warm and wise, a remarkable friendship sparks two lifetimes of shared stories in one unforgettable book. I loved it.” -- Jess Kidd, author of Himself

“A beautiful debut, funny, tender, and animated by a willingness to confront life’s obstacles and find a way to survive. . . . It celebrates friendship, finds meaning in difficulty and lets the reader explore dark places while always allowing for the possibility of light. Lenni and Margot are fine companions for all our springtime journeys.” -- Harper’s Bazaar, UK (Author of the Month)

“This multi-generational novel about friendship is something special: moving, joyful, and life-affirming.” -- Good Housekeeping, UK (Book of the Month)

"With it's uplifting message, the story is both poignant and also comical." -- Cosmopolitan (20 Book's You're Going to Want to Read this Summer)

“With a sensibility that's as compassionate and quirky as those of her two indelible heroines, Marianne Cronin offers a deceptively lighthearted response to life’s heaviest questions. As Lenni and Margot leave their mark on one another, so too does this tearjerker of a book leave its mark on the reader.” -- Kathleen Rooney, author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey    

“Gorgeously poignant novel . . . unexpectedly funny, touching and so uplifting.” -- Good Housekeeping

“Glorious debut about friendship . . . Touching, honest, and funny.” -- Prima (Book of the Month)

“You need a hanky to hand for this exquisite story of friendship . . . Their story is the most beautifully written love letter to friendship, managing to make you laugh and cry uncontrollably. It’s quite simply brilliant!” -- Woman & Home, UK

“Cronin’s characters are fully drawn, and chime together to tell a sweet story about connection, loss, and living.” -- Irish Tim

 

"A gorgeous, heartbreaking story readers won't soon forget." -- Elle (Most Anticipated Books of 2021)

"A heart-warming story about how friendship can grow between people of different generations." -- BBC

"Cronin has just struck the right balance between sensitivity and sentimentality, making her one of those admirable writers who does exceptionally fine work both celebrating life and addressing death." -- Booklist

 “Graceful, intelligent, beautiful writing. Full of wisdom and kindness. It is just the kind of book I adore.” -- Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

"Cronin’s touching debut is a joyous celebration of friendship, love, and life." -- Publishers Weekly

“Sharp and funny, warm and wise, a remarkable friendship sparks two lifetimes of shared stories in one unforgettable book. I loved it.” -- Jess Kidd, author of Himself

“A beautiful debut, funny, tender, and animated by a willingness to confront life’s obstacles and find a way to survive. . . . It celebrates friendship, finds meaning in difficulty and lets the reader explore dark places while always allowing for the possibility of light. Lenni and Margot are fine companions for all our springtime journeys.” -- Harper’s Bazaar, UK (Author of the Month)

“This multi-generational novel about friendship is something special: moving, joyful, and life-affirming.” -- Good Housekeeping, UK (Book of the Month)

"With it's uplifting message, the story is both poignant and also comical." -- Cosmopolitan (20 Book's You're Going to Want to Read this Summer)

“With a sensibility that's as compassionate and quirky as those of her two indelible heroines, Marianne Cronin offers a deceptively lighthearted response to life’s heaviest questions. As Lenni and Margot leave their mark on one another, so too does this tearjerker of a book leave its mark on the reader.” -- Kathleen Rooney, author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey    

“Gorgeously poignant novel . . . unexpectedly funny, touching and so uplifting.” -- Good Housekeeping

“Glorious debut about friendship . . . Touching, honest, and funny.” -- Prima (Book of the Month)

“You need a hanky to hand for this exquisite story of friendship . . . Their story is the most beautifully written love letter to friendship, managing to make you laugh and cry uncontrollably. It’s quite simply brilliant!” -- Woman & Home, UK

“Cronin’s characters are fully drawn, and chime together to tell a sweet story about connection, loss, and living.” -- Irish Times

 

 

Marianne Cronin

 

 

Marianne Cronin was born in 1990 and grew up in Warwickshire, England. She studied English at Lancaster University before earning a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham. She now spends most of her time writing, with her newly-adopted rescue cat sleeping under her desk. When she's not writing, Marianne can be found performing improv in the West Midlands, where she now lives. Her debut novel, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, is to be translated into over 20 languages and is being adapted into a feature film by a major Hollywood studio/

https://www.instagram.com/itsmariannecronin/

"FALLING"--by T.J. Newman--sharply-written, fast-paced, suspense thriller--fasten your seat belts

  

Falling

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

 

Reviews

 

“One of the year’s best thrillers . . . This novel is like the films Die Hard and Speed on steroids . . . Newman keeps up an extreme pace from the first page.”  —Library Journal (starred review)  

“Falling is the best kind of thriller (for me as a reader anyway). Characters you care deeply about. Nonstop, totally authentic suspense.”—James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“T. J. Newman has taken a brilliant idea, a decade of real-life experience, and crafted the perfect summer thriller. Relentlessly paced and unforgettable.”—Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Amazing . . . Intense suspense, shocks and scares plus chilling insider authenticity make this one very special.”—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A bullet train of a thriller with incredible tension and personal stakes. The real engine of this stunning and relentless book is how far would you go to save your family? I read Falling with my heart in my throat—this is Jaws at 35,000 feet. An extraordinary debut and the perfect summer page-turner.”  —Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Force and The Cartel   

“Heart pounding. Heart wringing. Heart STOPPING! A great book! One of those where you’re afraid to turn the next page, but you can’t stop.” —Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series 

“Buckle up for a completely original edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the final nail-biting pages. Save your family or save the hundred passengers who have put their lives in your hands. You cannot save both. T. J. Newman’s chilling novel stayed with me long after I finished reading it. This is the best thriller I’ve read in years.”—Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain  

“A jet-propelled thriller that will have you in its grip from first page to last. A truly astonishing debut and an incredible work of pure suspense.” —Steve Cavanagh, #1 bestselling author of the Eddie Flynn series

“Falling redefines the phrase roller-coaster ride. It redefines the term edge-of-your-seat thriller. Falling is that rarest of things, a book that is even better than everyone says it is. T. J. Newman has delivered a stunning debut.”—Dervla McTiernan, #1 internationally bestselling author

 

T.J. Newman

 

T. J. Newman, a former bookseller turned flight attendant, worked for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 to 2021. She wrote much of Falling on cross-country red-eye flights while her passengers were asleep. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Falling is her first novel.  

https://twitter.com/T_J_Newman

 

"We Are the Brennans"--by Tracey Lange--explores the staying power of shame—and the redemptive power of love—in an Irish Catholic family torn apart by secrets

 

We Are the Brennans

When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it’s not easy. She deserted them all―and her high school sweetheart―five years before with little explanation, and they've got questions.

Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family’s pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets―secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes―and ultimately find a way forward, together.

Reviews

"Reading this novel is like getting a view through a lighted window on a family sitting around a table after dark. Who are they? What are they talking about? All families have their own story and the ways they tell it to themselves, and untangling the many strands of this one was deep and richly satisfying. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I read it in one long delicious slide."―Sarah Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest Book

"In We Are the Brennans, Tracey Lange expertly captures the way one harrowing night can forever change a family. The Brennans are a tight-knit Irish family, carrying enough secrets to topple most families. Instead, Lange offers them a chance to heal, reminding us that it’s never too late to mend old wounds and that the things that tear us apart can ultimately put us back together. I devoured every page of this confident, accomplished debut."―Amy Meyerson, internationally bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays and The Imperfects

 

Tracey Lange

 

Born in the Bronx and raised in Manhattan, Tracey Lange comes from a large Irish family with a few secrets of its own. She headed west and graduated from the University of New Mexico before owning and operating a behavioral healthcare company with her husband for fifteen years. While writing her debut novel, We Are the Brennans, she completed the Stanford University online novel writing program. Tracey currently lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, two sons and their German Shepherd.  

http://traceylange.com/

"Lightning Strike (A Cork O'Connor Mystery)"--by William Kent Krueger--the author of the instant New York Times bestseller "This Tender Land" returns with a powerful prequel to his acclaimed "Cork O’Connor" series—a book about fathers and sons, long-simmering conflicts in a small Minnesota town, and the events that echo through youth and shape our lives

Lightning Strike

Aurora is a small town nestled in the ancient forest alongside the shores of Minnesota’s Iron Lake. In the summer of 1963, it is the whole world to twelve-year-old Cork O’Connor, its rhythms as familiar as his own heartbeat. But when Cork stumbles upon the body of a man he revered hanging from a tree in an abandoned logging camp, it is the first in a series of events that will cause him to question everything he took for granted about his hometown, his family, and himself.

Cork’s father, Liam O’Connor, is Aurora’s sheriff and it is his job to confirm that the man’s death was the result of suicide, as all the evidence suggests. In the shadow of his father’s official investigation, Cork begins to look for answers on his own. Together, father and son face the ultimate test of choosing between what their heads tell them is true and what their hearts know is right.

In this masterful story of a young man and a town on the cusp of change, beloved novelist William Kent Krueger shows that some mysteries can be solved even as others surpass our understanding.

Reviews

 

"William Kent Krueger is a master storyteller at the top of his game with Lightning Strike.  A pitch perfect, richly imagined story that is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and an evocative, emotionally-charged coming of age tale that explores the complex bonds between fathers and sons and the long simmering animosities of the past.  This is a beautifully written novel that packs a powerful punch.  I loved it." —Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Four Winds and The Nightingale

"A brilliant achievement, and one every crime reader and writer needs to celebrate." —Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Devils Are Here

“There’s a feel that you get from a master craftsman, a saddle that sits right, a fly rod that casts with its own agility, or a series of books written with a grace and precision so stunning that you’d swear the stories were your own.” —Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire series

“Among thoughtful readers, William Kent Krueger holds a very special place in the pantheon. Kent showed the mystery reading world that a protagonist need not be a chain-smoking loner with lots of emotional baggage but he could be an honest and admirable family man doing his best for all the right reasons.” — C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Pitch-perfect, wonderfully evocative. . . . In Frank Drum’s journey away from the shores of childhood—a journey from which he can never return—we recognize the heartbreaking price of adulthood and its ‘wisdoms.’ I loved this book.” -- Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Live by Night and The Given Day

Cork O'Connor Mystery (18 book series) 

  

Cork O'Connor Mystery

 

William Kent Krueger

 

Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He’s been married for nearly fifty years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last nine novels were all New York Times bestsellers.

Ordinary Grace, his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. The companion novel, This Tender Land, was published in September 2019 and spent nearly six months on the New York Times bestseller list.

https://williamkentkrueger.com

"Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)"--New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas continues her charming and heartwarming series set in Honey Creek, Texas, a little town nestled in the rolling hills bordering the Brazos River, where friendship and love are always close at hand, ties run deep, and lives intersect in unexpected ways (see my reviews)

   

Picnic in Someday Valley

The charming and uplifting new novel from the legendary author of dozens of unforgettable romances! Travel to the small town of Honey Creek where ties run deep and happiness is just around the next river bend…

Marcie Latimer longs to run away from Someday Valley—especially since her ex-boyfriend spun a web of lies that almost led to tragedy in neighboring Honey Creek. Little wonder so many locals have turned their backs on her. But not Brand Rodgers. The quiet cowboy comes to listen every time she sings at Bandit’s Bar, offering a glimpse of safety and calm that Marcie’s rarely known.

After Texas Ranger Colby McBride saved Honey Creek’s mayor, Piper Mackenzie, from a fire, she claimed him with a kiss. That was five months ago, and Colby still isn’t sure where they’re headed. Piper loves her town—but does she love Colby? And is he even ready for what comes next?

Pecos Smith, Honey Creek’s emergency dispatcher, is grateful to have a new bride he adores and a baby on the way—even if one vital piece of the puzzle is missing. But as trouble comes stalking through the valley, lives will cross surprising paths. And Marcie, who’s always felt that a forever love was out of reach, might discover that Someday is the perfect place to find it . . .

MY REVIEW: Author Jodi Thomas is a superb storyteller who never disappoints and often amazes. After reading "Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe", Book One in the "Honey Creek Series", I knew the next book would also be a wonderful read, but I have to say: Wow! "Picnic in Someday Valley" is a real reader's treat, with all the "bells and whistles"--and then some. The small-town Texas setting gives an immediate sense of place. Characterizations are so vivid that you'd swear the author is reading their minds instead of creating their identities. Piper Jane Mackenzie, born into politics and public service, is still the mayor of Honey Creek. Recent tumultuous events in the community had brought about much change for the residents--especially Piper. Surviving scandal, an attempt on her life, and being rescued by a handsome state trooper sent by her two Texas Ranger brothers was a lot to deal with, and there was more to come. Trooper Colby McBride was now a Texas Ranger, a dream come true, but one that kept him away from Piper more than either one of them wanted. They were both married to their careers, and matters of the heart frequently gave way to matters of business. Marcie Latimer, who lived in nearby Someday Valley, was a young woman whose heart and trust had been broken more than once. She had been an unwilling player in the sick scheme of the man who had threatened Piper. Marcie, who was trying to find her place in the world, was a talented singer and guitar player, and she had one special fan who came to her shows at the bar where she worked. Brand Rodgers, a tall, quiet man with rock-hard muscles and cowboy stoicism, saw everything in Marcie that she didn't see in herself. Brand was a patient man--a man of hidden depths--and he would wait for Marcie to come into her own as he watched out for her. Pecos Smith, a young man with a big heart, and great determination, had married Kerrie, the girl he loved who was pregnant with another man's child. Both of their families disapproved, but Pecos knew in his heart that if they kept moving forward, no matter how slow the pace, someday love would find its way. These three couples, plus a great group of supporting characters, will once again face danger and uncertainty as new threats come to light. How will they resolve the obstacles they face? Jodi Thomas fills her stories with humor, elements of surprise, poignancy, and, of course, passionate romance and true love. It's that trademark element of surprise, combined with masterful storytelling, that keeps readers coming back for more. I look forward to future Texas tales in the highly enjoyable "Honey Creek Series"..

Book Copy Gratis Author  

 

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café

From Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of "Mornings on Main" and "Indigo Lake", comes this heartwarming new novel set in Honey Creek, Texas—a small town where family bonds and legends run deep, and friendship and love are always close at hand . . .  

Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won’t let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart, or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she’s willing to welcome undercover detective Colby McBride, hired to help solve the mystery behind her wannabe fiancé’s disappearance. Colby’s cover? That he is an old boyfriend now begging Piper for a second chance—always when there are plenty of townsfolk around to witness his shenanigans.

Piper hardly knows whether to laugh or cry, especially when she finds herself drawn to the handsome rascal. He's not the only newcomer she has to deal with. There’s a new interim preacher in town, Sam Cassidy. Drifting from one assignment to another since his one love died, Sam isn’t sure he’s the right fit for Honey Creek. But as Piper knows, this is a place chock-full of surprises. And if she can keep her town—and her heart—from going completely off the rails, there may be a sweet, unexpected future in store . . . 

MY REVIEW:  No one tells Texas tales better than author Jodi Thomas--she's a true Texan who has stayed true to her Texas roots. A master storyteller, she builds her characterizations and story lines with layers, and there are always elements of surprise for the reader. Her latest release, "Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe" is a compelling contemporary romance filled with characters you'll want to get to know, plus small-town politics and a touch of mystery. The heroes are sigh-worthy, the heroines are smart and sassy, the humor is heartfelt, and the town itself is quaintly quirky. Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, TX, comes from a long line of politicians and public servants. Dedicated to her job, Piper envisions herself someday advancing her political career to the governor's office. When Piper's longtime acquaintance and sometime photo-op partner mysteriously disappear at the same time the local sheriff goes missing, speculation and nasty rumors begin to swirl. One of Piper's Texas Ranger brothers calls in state trooper Colby McBride to head to Honey Creek as an undercover investigator who will keep a very close eye on Piper. As events escalate around them, the sparks fly between Piper and Colby. He finds her lovely and appealing , and she is hard-pressed to resist his outrageous charm. The new preacher in town, Sam Cassidy--son of a "traveling preacher"--arrives for a short-term stay and is soon involved in the lives of the townsfolk. Somewhat at a crossroads in his life, Sam finds himself drawn to the area and the people--especially a certain sharp-tongued redhead named Anna Presley. As the mysteries deepen and dangers loom, Colby is working hard to protect Piper and keep safe the growing admiration between them. When all truths are revealed, will there be a happy future in sight for the mayor and the lawman? Will Sam's restless heart find its home in Honey Creek? This book made my romance-lover's soul smile for all the right reasons, and I greatly look forward to the next book in the series.

Book Copy Gratis Author


PRAISE FOR JODI THOMAS
 
“Tender, heartfelt and wonderful. . . . I loved every word.”—RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author, on The Little Teashop on Main

“Compelling and beautifully written, it is exactly the kind of heart-wrenching, emotional story one has come to expect from Jodi Thomas.”—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Ransom Canyon

“Deeply poignant moments and artfully rendered characters create a rich story that transports readers to an idyllic place.” —Publishers Weekly on Mistletoe Miracles

“Highly recommended.” —Library Journal (Starred Review) on Sunrise Crossing

“A pure joy to read.” —RT Book Reviews on the Ransom Canyon series 

 

UPCOMING OCTOBER 2021

 

Dinner on Primrose Hill

Benjamin Monroe is pretty sure how his life will play out. He’ll continue teaching chemistry in his small college, and spend his free time biking through the valley. Eventually, he’ll retire to putter around in his garden and greenhouse.

His colleague, Virginia Clark, is not one for routines. She’s chatty, spontaneous, and bubbly, and before Benjamin realizes what happened, she’s talked him into collaborating on a research project—studying the mating habits of college students. Virginia knows her desire to work with Benjamin is motivated by more than the potential prize money . . . and hopes he might not be quite as indifferent as he seems to be.

Ketch Kincaid, one of Benjamin’s star students, returned to college after serving in the army. He needs something to get his mind off his recent breakup and collecting research data might do it. And there’s another distraction on the horizon—a woman who looks like she, too, knows about heartache.

Soon enough, their project, “The Chemistry of Mating,” is gaining notoriety. Friends, neighbors . . . the whole town has become involved. But no matter what the data determines, one conclusion seems inescapable: love follows its own rules . .

 

Jodi Thomas

 

New York Times and USA Today's bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels "Distinctive...Memorable," and that in her stories "[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes." In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN'S REWARD. She also received the National Readers' Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.  

With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 novels and a dozen novellas. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world. Jodi has been inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. When not working on a novel, Thomas enjoys traveling, renovating a historic home, and "checking up" on her grown sons and four grandchildren.

http://www.jodithomas.com

"THE DECOY" and "THE SETUP"--by CAROL ERICSON--the "A Kyra and Jake Investigation Series"--follow the same couple, Kyra Chase and Jake McAllister, as they investigate four copycat serial killers, an investigation that will have devastating personal consequences for both of them (see my reviews)

  

The Decoy

She changed her name and identity to escape her violent past.

But she didn’t run far or fast enough.

Therapist Kyra Chase fights for victims and their families. But she harbors her own tragic secret: the unsolved murder of her mother. Now a new threat is terrorizing the City of Angels—a killer who mimics another killer’s MO. LAPD homicide detective Jake McAllister has to help his partner solve crimes in both the past and present before Kyra becomes the victim in a chilling vendetta of violence that’s far from over…

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

MY REVIEW: Author Carol Ericson draws readers in with another pulse-pounding romantic suspense tale in "The Decoy", Book Two in the "A Kyra and Jake Investigation Series". The lethal legacy of "The Player", a serial killer from two decades ago, continues to terrify residents of Los Angeles. While the original fiend was never found, one copycat killer was recently captured. Now, another murderous mimic was on the loose, and law enforcement agents were striving mightily to bring the killing spree to an end. Homicide Detective Jake McAllister and victim's advocate and police consultant Kyra Chase, along with Jake's partner, Billy Crouch, and retired Detective Roger Quinn, pooled their considerable skills and experience to solve the mysteries of "The Player" and his sickening spawn. As the investigation intensifies, so does the fiery attraction between Kyra and Jake. Will secrets revealed bring them closer together, or drive them apart? Can they protect each other's lives --and their own hearts--as danger swirls all around them? Author Carol Ericson's detailed, descriptive storytelling just gets better and better with each book. I look forward to the next entry in "A Kyra and Jake Investigation Series".

Book Copy Gratis Author

 

The Setup

With a serial killer on the loose…Secrets get you killed.

Detective Jake McAllister isn’t aware Kyra Chase is connected to a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. He sees his new case partner only as an unwelcome distraction. But with the body count rising, they’ll need to trust each other to help them catch a killer who seems to know more about Kyra than Jake does.

MY REVIEW: "The Setup" is Book One in author Carol Ericson's romantic suspense "A Kyra and Jake Investigation Series". Detective Jake McAllister is assigned to lead a special task force investigating a serial killer wreaking deadly havoc in Los Angeles. The killings are eerily similar to the murders perpetrated twenty years earlier by a sadistic fiend known as "The Player", who was never caught. Jake is not pleased when therapist Kyra Chase is assigned to the task force as a liaison between the families of the victims and the ongoing investigation. He had been burned by a previous encounter with a victim's advocate, and he was wary of going through the same experience again. Kyra has her own very personal reasons for wanting to find the killer--reasons that go back twenty years. Sparks--both personal and professional--fly between Jake and Kyra from the very beginning, but they must work together and combine their skills and determination to catch a ruthless killer. Author Carol Ericson is a skilled romantic suspense writer, and she has set this chilling mystery in her hometown of Los Angeles, so she knows the turf well. "The Setup" is a taut thriller--a great beginning to a new series. Where one mystery ends, another begins.

Book Copy Gratis Author

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

For more action-packed stories, check out the other books in the A Kyra and Jake Investigation series by Carol Ericson!

 

Carol Ericson

Best-selling, award-winning romance author, Carol Ericson, has written more than 50 books, mostly romantic suspense. A California girl and graduate of UCLA, Carol lives near the ocean with her husband and their giant dog. Carol has an eerie fascination for true crime, a weakness for reality TV, and a fondness for really hot salsa. For more information about Carol’s books, please visit her website at www.carolericson.com, join her newsletter, and like her on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEricson/

"Haven Point"--by Virginia Hume--a sweeping debut novel about the generations of a family that spends summers in a seaside enclave on Maine's rocky coastline--over seven decades of a changing America, through wars and storms, betrayals and reconciliations, Haven Point explores what it means to belong to a place, and to a family, which holds as tightly to its traditions as it does its secrets

  

Haven Point

Over seven decades of a changing America, through wars and storms, betrayals and reconciliations, Virginia Hume's Haven Point explores what it means to belong to a place, and to a family, which holds as tightly to its traditions as it does its secrets.

1944: Maren Larsen is a blonde beauty from a small Minnesota farming town, determined to do her part to help the war effort––and to see the world beyond her family’s cornfields. As a cadet nurse at Walter Reed Medical Center, she’s swept off her feet by Dr. Oliver Demarest, a handsome Boston Brahmin whose family spends summers in an insular community on the rocky coast of Maine.

1970: As the nation grapples with the ongoing conflict in Vietnam, Oliver and Maren are grappling with their fiercely independent seventeen-year-old daughter, Annie, who has fallen for a young man they don’t approve of. Before the summer is over a terrible tragedy will strike the Demarests––and in the aftermath, Annie vows never to return to Haven Point.

2008: Annie’s daughter, Skye, has arrived in Maine to help scatter her mother’s ashes. Maren knows that her granddaughter inherited Annie’s view of Haven Point: despite the wild beauty and quaint customs, the regattas and clambakes and sing-alongs, she finds the place––and the people––snobbish and petty. But Maren also knows that Annie never told Skye the whole truth about what happened during that fateful summer.

Praise for Haven Point:

"Fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Beatriz Williams will appreciate this sweeping, multigenerational family story.”––Booklist

"Unfolding from WWII to the present day, this delicious, intricate novel is woven together with romance, tragedy, family secrets and breath-taking surprises. I will read Haven Point over and over. I’ll give it to my friends. I’ll read anything Virginia Hume ever writes." ––Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Summer

“Haven Point checks all the boxes for a great summer read: generations of strong women, an idyllic but insular coastal town, and an emotionally-rich story that explores the peaks and valleys of life in all its complicated glory. The Demarest family will stay with you long after their final secrets have been revealed.”––Jamie Brenner, nationally bestselling author of The Forever Summer

"Haven Point has all of the elements of a great beach read: sparkly summer town, beautiful people, sun-kissed cocktail parties and rambling mansions overlooking the sea. But don’t be fooled: No one is perfect. Hume has created unforgettable characters in the three generations of Demarest women whose stories unravel the dark secrets swirling around Haven Point, all while testing their character and family bond. A powerful novel of families trying to understand the forces that shape them just as the ocean shapes the elegant coastline they're summering on."––Brooke Lea Foster, author of Summer Darlings

“A shimmering debut novel about four generations, a summer community in coastal Maine, and the secrets, grief and prejudices that are unwittingly passed down through the years. Rewarding and atmospheric, with deeply drawn characters and a setting you won’t soon forget. Delicious!” ―Jennie Fields, author of Atomic Love

 

 

AUTHOR VIRGINIA HUME SAYS:

"I've come to fiction writing after a long series of professional adventures.

Suffice it to say: I spent the first few years of my career in marketing before I was bitten by the political bug, after which I spent a couple of decades in politics and public affairs communications. They say truth is stranger than fiction. At some point, I decided politics had gotten a little too strange, and I turned to fiction.

My debut novel, Haven Point (St. Martin’s Press) will be released on June 8, 2021. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. I live in Chevy Chase, Maryland with my husband, Drew Onufer, our two daughters, and the aforementioned undergroomed Bichon, Chester. I'm hard at work on my second novel."

https://virginiahume.com/

"The Show Girl"--by Nicola Harrison--1920s glitz and glamour come to life--gives a glimpse of the unique mix of style, sophistication, and sheer spectacle that was the Ziegfeld Follies, through the eyes of a young Midwestern woman who comes to New York City to find her destiny as a Ziegfeld Follies star

 

The Show Girl

It's 1927 when Olive McCormick moves from Minneapolis to New York City determined to become a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. Extremely talented as a singer and dancer, it takes every bit of perseverance to finally make it on stage. And once she does, all the glamour and excitement is everything she imagined and more--even worth all the sacrifices she has had to make along the way.

Then she meets Archie Carmichael. Handsome, wealthy--the only man she's ever met who seems to accept her modern ways--her independent nature and passion for success. But once she accepts his proposal of marriage he starts to change his tune, and Olive must decide if she is willing to reveal a devastating secret and sacrifice the life she loves for the man she loves.

Reviews

“Harrison creates a heady mix of history, drama and romance in a seductive novel guaranteed to transport the reader to a different place and time." –Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of All the Way We Say Goodbye

"In The Show Girl, author Nicola Harrison paints her characters with such a precise brush and sympathetic strokes that they live long after the last page." –Betsy Carter, bestselling author of Lost Souls at The Neptune Inn

“Nicola Harrison brilliantly captures the last gasp of the roaring twenties in this indelible story of love and ambition.” –Jamie Brenner, author of Blush

“Harrison beautifully portrays the trials and tribulations of a Ziegfeld Follies dancer in her new novel, which is brimming with juicy details of Roaring Twenties New York City. Fans of City of Girls will adore this exploration of love and ambition.” –Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

"Harrison has created a heroine so complex and endearing, so utterly fearless and full of life, that readers will not be able to forget her. THE SHOW GIRL is a story as intricate and dazzling as one of Ziegfeld’s legendary revues." –Lynda Cohen Loigman, USA Today bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters

“A delicious and entertaining exploration of the life of a Ziegfield girl with Harrison’s trademark ability to plunge the reader deep into the experiences of her characters. The Show Girl is a fast-paced and engaging read that will leave readers giving a standing ovation to Olive and to all women who choose to live life on their own terms.” –Susie Orman Schnall, author of The Subway Girls and We Came Here to Shine

"Harrison has written an energetic, propulsive, delightful book." -Amy Poeppel, author of Small Admissions

 

Nicola Harrison

  

Nicola Harrison is the author of two historical fiction novels, Montauk and The Show Girl (August 10, 2021). 

 

Born and raised in England, she moved with her family to Southern California when she was 14. She is a graduate of UCLA and received her MFA from Stony Brook. 

 

Prior to writing novels she worked as a fashion journalist in New York City and now lives in Manhattan Beach, California with her husband, two sons and a high-maintenance chihuahua named Lola.

 

https://www.nicolaharrison.com/ 

 

"Drake Isle Series"--from author Allie Boniface--set on the New England coastline--small-town contemporary romance with a little bit of mystery and a lot of second chances (see my reviews)

 

 

Chasing You (Drake Isle Book 4)

He’s the island’s sexiest bachelor in uniform, obsessed with solving an unexplained death. She’s a broken-hearted divorcee who’s about to stop him in his tracks...

Andy McCabe is Drake Isle’s charismatic police chief and most eligible bachelor. But following the leads in a college student’s unexplained death has become an obsession for him, until a young divorcee moves onto the island and turns his world upside down.

Kate Kinney is forced to move to Drake Isle after her ex-husband’s infidelity. A newcomer to the island, she knows nothing about being a homeowner. When the chief comes to her rescue more than once, she finds herself falling for the island’s most powerful man.

But the more Andy follows clues in the island’s unsolved mystery, the more he finds himself torn between the woman he’s falling for and a woman whose death deserves justice. When he discovers Kate’s stunning connection to the case, he’ll have to decide whether love in the present is more important than answers about the past...

MY REVIEW:  Author Allie Boniface brings her intriguing "Drake Isle Series" to a reader-gratifying conclusion with Book Four. "Chasing You". Seventeen years ago, Drake Isle rookie cop Andy McCabe had been called to the scene of a young woman's death on the campus of Misterion College. The unresolved case--did she jump, or was she pushed from the roof--would haunt residents of the island for years to come. The community was affected in many different ways. A black cloud of doubt and mystery seemed to hang in the air. While tourism on the picturesque island recovered fairly quickly, the college itself was closed for ten long years before it finally reopened and offered classes to students. Now almost forty, and the chief of police on the isle, Andy had never let go of the image of Piper Townsend's crumpled, lifeless body. Solving the case was never far from his mind--it affected every aspect of his life. When he meets Kate Kinney, a beautiful woman struggling through a nasty divorce, he begins to think more of Kate and somewhat less of his obsession with Piper Townsend's death. Kate is equally smitten with Andy--he's everything her ex-husband is not--and she is very ready to move forward to finding happiness in life. As their friendship and attraction grows, so do deeper feelings,--more permanent feelings--grow between them. However, each has their own troubling issues to overcome. Andy needs to find the truth of Piper's death. If it really was murder, then the killer must be brought to justice. Kate has to leave the past behind, learn to find joy in each day, and hope for a brighter future. Does that future include Andy? When all truths are revealed, will there be healing and new beginnings, and will Piper's restless spirit finally find peace and be at rest? I have greatly enjoyed this well-written, involving series, and I am looking forward to the upcoming spin-off series. 

Book Copy Gratis Author

    

Ghosts of You (Drake Isle Book 3)

Quinn’s world shattered when his college girlfriend fell to her death. Will returning to Drake Isle help him find closure or raise unanswered questions about the night she died?

Quinn Nolan lives a solitary life outside Chicago, working as a contractor and moonlighting as a ghost hunter. When he hears about the haunting of the Delta Eta Chi fraternity house, he decides to return to Drake Isle to try and make contact with the woman he’s never gotten over.

Local science teacher Polly Parker has heard all the stories of Drake Isle’s haunted house, and she spends her days trying to explain away the ghostly sights and sounds. But her efforts are complicated by the return of Piper’s gorgeous college boyfriend, who turns Polly's world upside down.

As the theories grow and the ghostly sightings multiply, Quinn and Polly find themselves drawn to each other despite their opposing beliefs. When a night in the Delta house turns sinister, can they put aside their differences to save each other? Or will the secrets of Piper’s death reach beyond the grave and prevent them from ever finding happiness?

MY REVIEW: Author Allie Boniface once again invites contemporary romance readers to the beautiful Drake Isle community on the Massachusetts coast with "Ghosts of You", Book Three in the series. This time, with added elements of paranormal suspense, we meet new acquaintances and touch base with old friends as the local residents try to move forward from the unsolved death of Piper Townsend so long ago. The tragic loss of Piper, a student at Misterion College, had a lasting effect on the inhabitants of Drake Isle. None was more devastated than Quinn Nolan, Piper's sweetheart, who left the area when Piper died. Quinn, who had moved to Chicago and worked his way to success as a contractor, had an unusual sideline--he was a "ghost hunter". Hearing reports that Misterion College was "haunted", and a "woman in white" made appearances on the dorm roof from which Piper had fallen to her death, Quinn heads back to Drake Isle. Glad to reunite with his college buddies, Quinn is quite taken with someone new in his life--Polly Parker. A science teacher, and the daughter of a scientist, Polly is not a believer in ghosts, but she knows one thing for sure: her attraction to Quinn is undeniable. Sparks fly between them from the start, and soon Polly is accompanying Quinn as he investigates the haunting of Misterion College. Each of them has known loneliness in their lives. Polly had endured a solitary childhood with her remote-minded father after the death of her mother. Quinn had never found happiness after Piper's death. The mutual attraction between Polly and Quinn is a welcome surprise to them both--is there a chance for something more--maybe even love? As they work to solve the mysteries of the past, can they survive present dangers and look forward to a happy future together? "Ghosts of You" is an involving romantic suspense tale with a just-right touch of spookiness, and I read it all in one sitting. Allie Boniface is a talented story teller, and readers will also enjoy the first two books in the "Drake Isle Series", "Because of You" and "Finding You".

Book Copy Gratis Author

Finding You (Drake Isle Book 2)

When Piper Townsend fell to her death twelve years ago, she took Trey’s secrets with her. He’s never trusted another woman. Until now.

Lillian arrived on Drake Isle twenty years ago pregnant, broke and alone. Since then she’s raised twins and opened a renowned beauty salon. Fiercely independent, she has no interest in settling down. Then she meets Trey.

Trey lives a jet-set lifestyle on the mainland, a billionaire who's hidden a shockingly abusive childhood from the world. His best friend, the only woman who knew his secrets, died in a tragic accident twelve years earlier. Since then he's mastered the art of carefree living, with little emotion and no commitment.

Their attraction is instant. Their desire is powerful. But when Trey's former life catches up with him, it threatens to destroy everything they’ve built together. Can two people from different worlds find love on Drake Isle, or will past secrets tear them apart for good?

If you like small town island romance, second chances, and a hint of mystery, then you'll love Book Two in the emotional Drake Isle series.

MY REVIEW: Author Allie Boniface returns readers to the beautiful Drake Isle community on the Massachusetts coast with "Finding You". Appealing characterizations and compelling story elements make for an involving tale of unexpected love with the hope of new beginnings. Lillian Santini had not meant to end up on Drake Isle, but that's just where a wrong ferry ride had landed the broke and overwhelmed pregnant young woman. Twenty years later, she was a successful businesswoman with a hair salon of her own, and she was the proud mother of grown-up twins, Matt and Sarah. Their father, a married man who had misled Lillian, had never been a part of their lives. Lillian had settled in to the quaint little village and made a steadfast friend in Tilly Drake, who ran a B&B and also rented a house on her property to Lillian. Trey Jeffries, who had attended college on the isle, had made a fortune at a young age. Visiting with friends, he meets Lillian, and despite her being eight years his senior, sparks immediately fly between the two. Trey sets out to woo Lillian, and she finds him oh-so-hard to resist. Each of them have issues from their childhood which have shaped their outlook on life and the way they interact with others. Lillian has a mistrust of men due to the way she was treated by the twin's father. Trey's childhood was filled with abuse, and later, the one person he trusted the most, his college friend, Piper Townsend had died in a mysterious incident on the college campus. Her death had not only devastated Trey, it had rocked the whole community and the college had closed. Now,with a reopening of the university and a new investigation into Piper's death, the truth may finally come to light. Is the love between Lillian and Trey strong enough to make peace with the past and open the way to a bright and happy future? "Finding You" is Book Two in the "Drake Isle Series", and readers will also enjoy Book One, "Because of You".

Book Copy Gratis Author

Because of You (Drake Isle Book 1)

Ten years ago, Piper Townsend fell to her death from the top of a fraternity house, and no one on Drake Isle has ever been the same. Blake Carter's fraternity was scandalized. Misterion College closed down altogether. And Blake's girlfriend, Emerson Doyle, fled the island after her best friend died and never looked behind her.

Now they're back.

Blake's the CEO of a multi-million dollar tech firm looking to relocate to the island. Emerson owns a yoga studio in the building he wants to buy. They haven't spoken in ten years. They're on opposite sides of the bargaining table.

But old flames die hard.

And the more Blake and Emerson fight both the past and each other, the more they realize that coming to terms with tragedy is their only chance of finding love again...

MY REVIEW:  Author Allie Boniface begins her new contemporary romance "Drake Isle Series" with "Because of You", an intriguing second-chance love story. Carrying the weight of a painful past makes it hard to move forward. A decade ago, Emerson "Emmy" Doyle and Blake Carter were college sweethearts, very much in love, and looking toward the promise of a bright future together. Just as their time at Misterion College, located on beautiful Drake Isle on the Massachusetts coast, was coming to a close, an unthinkable tragedy occurred. Emmy's best friend, Piper Townsend, fell to her death from the roof of the fraternity house of which Blake was the president. Losing Piper was more than just a great personal loss for Emmy--the resulting turmoil and scandal eventually closed the college, and the effects spread wide through the community. Blake's family had deep roots in Drake Isle, and his corporate executive's father attempts at damage control had separated Emmy and Blake, who were each grieving in their own way. Now, ten years have passed, and Misterion College is set to reopen. Blake is sent to Drake Isle by his father to obtain the ideal property for their software company, which will serve the IT needs of the college. The problem is, that ideal property is the site of Emmy's yoga studio. The reunion between Blake and Emmy is an electric shock to them both--especially when Emmy learns the real reason for his sudden reappearance. The same need, want, and awareness of each other is still as vibrant as ever, but there is much for each of them to reconcile. Is that once great love still alive, and is it strong enough to overcome all the obstacles they face? "Because of You" is a very well-written story, told in three viewpoints: Emmy, Blake, and Tilly Drake, a longtime resident--and observer--who runs a cozy B&B on the island. The mystery element of Piper's death is left open, with a new investigation beginning that will be further explored in the next book in the series, and I look forward to a return visit to Drake Isle.

Book Copy Gratis Author

ALLIE BONIFACE

 

USA Today best-selling author Allie was born and raised in a very small town in upstate New York, which probably explains her fascination with the magic of small town life.

She earned her B.A. in English, with a minor in Education, from the University of Rochester in New York and then moved to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where she earned her M.A. in English Literature.

Since 1997, Allie has enjoyed life in the northern NYC suburbs, where she lives with her husband and teaches high school English during the day. When she isn't teaching, she's writing about small towns (with lots of secrets and spice!). Copy and paste this link into your address bar to sign up for Allie's newsletter and receive notices for upcoming releases, fun giveaways, contests, review opportunities, and more! http://eepurl.com/9TO79

http://www.allieboniface.com/

"God of Wonders: 40 Days of Awe in the Presence of God"--by Faith Blatchford--wonderfully-written and beautifully-realized devotional which guides readers through 40 days of inspirational meditations (see my review)

 

God of Wonders: 40 Days of Awe in the Presence of God

Scientific research has shown numerous benefits from the emotion of awe: sharper brain function, increased sense of calm, better connection with others, greater generosity, and a stronger immune system. To live in awe means to live in health--and to face stress, anxiety, and fear with peace of heart and mind.

Invitations to wonder are everywhere. They are precious gifts left in your path by the God of awe. These miracles of life amid destruction whisper hope and release healing. Our spirits are lifted each time we connect with the God who gives beauty for ashes.

Author and creativity coach Faith Blatchford invites readers to meditate for 40 days on the glorious God of wonders, and rediscover their childlike awe through Scripture, reflection, imagination, and prayer. In these pages, you will encounter God as he reveals himself from the Garden of Eden to the Revelation of John. This God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he is waiting for you in the wonder!

MY REVIEW:  "God of Wonders: 40 Days of Awe in the Presence of God", by Faith Blatchford, is a wonderfully-written and beautifully-realized devotional which guides readers through 40 days of inspirational meditations. So appropriate to soothe unsettled spirits in troubling times, this powerful little book reminds us not to dwell on what we can't change, but to focus on what never changes: The profound love of our Creator, evident in the awesome wonders to be found in the world around us. The message for each day includes a scripture passage, a Bible-themed short story, an invitation to imagine yourself in that story, a prayer, encouragement to "look up", and an inspiring quote. So much of this book really resonated with me--I live in a small mountain town surrounded by natural scenic beauty. Many times in my life, I have drawn comfort from the steadfast mountains, so lovely as they change their palette from season to season. An indigo night sky with millions of bright stars seems to hover close overhead and then gently wrap around me like a soft cotton quilt. There is a state park just a short drive from my home, and there you can walk through dense forest, enjoy lakes and waterfalls, breathe clean air, and "listen" to the silence. None of these things are man made--they truly are "Wonders of God". As author Faith Blatchford advises us: "As you take time to "look up". you may be surprised to experience stunning encounters of your own. The Lord is waiting for you in the wonder."

Book Copy Gratis Chosen Books

Faith Blatchford

 

Faith Blatchford, with a B.A. in religion from Vassar College, serves as an ordained pastoral counselor at Bethel Church in Redding, California. She is also a regional facilitator-at-large of the International Bethel Sozo network. Faith speaks at conferences and seminars around the world, meets with leaders for strategic planning, and is a creativity consultant and coach. Visit www.faithblatchford.com for more information. 

"A Waterfront Wedding: A Heart's Landing Novel from Hallmark Publishing"--by Leigh Duncan--In the dream destination wedding town of Heart's Landing, two rival wedding venue managers compete to host the wedding of the year--Have the managers met their own match? (see my review)

 

A Waterfront Wedding (Heart's Landing #3)

It’s the wedding of the year…

But who will get to host it?

In Heart’s Landing, Evelyn wants to prove she’s a good manager of the Captain’s Cottage by the bay—a favorite place for weddings. Meanwhile, Ryan has invested his life savings to remodel the town’s old boatworks into a brand-new wedding venue.

When a Marine and his bride win the Wedding in a Week contest, they have seven days to put together a romantic, all-expenses-paid event. It’ll be written up in Weddings Today magazine. But will they choose Evelyn’s cottage or Ryan’s boatworks?

The rival business owners cozy up to the bride and groom, helping them plan their military wedding. And even though Evelyn and Ryan both grew up in Heart’s Landing, they learn they never truly knew each other until now. But can they trust each other when only one of them can win?

This sweet, heartwarming romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for "Slow-Braised Lamb with Apricot Madeira Sauce"

 

MY REVIEW:  "A Waterfront Wedding" offers a return to Heart's Landing--the quaint little Rhode Island town where hearts find each other and wedding dreams come true. Author Leigh Duncan's beautifully-descriptive writing, interesting characters, and involving story lines ensure a real reader's treat for lovers of contemporary romance. The characters learn about themselves as they learn about each other. They grow as individuals as they grow closer together as a couple. Evelyn Heart has stepped up to manage The Captain's Cottage, a premier wedding venue, while the operations manager, her cousin Jason, is on his honeymoon. The annual "Wedding-in-a-WeeK" contest sponsored by "Weddings Today" magazine is won by a Marine and his bride-to be, who will have to choose between The Captain's Cottage and a new competitor, The Boat Works. Ryan Court, a friend since childhood of Jason and Evelyn, and a natural-born carpenter, had done an impressive job of restoring the boatworks in just over a year's time. He had put his heart and soul, and his life's savings into the project, and he very much needed to win the competition. As the competition becomes more intense, sparks fly between Evelyn and Ryan--but can rivalry lead to romance? I loved coming back to Heart's Landing--my own romantic imagination is captured by the legend of the town's founder, seafaring Captain Thaddeus Heart, and his own love story. Readers will also enjoy the first two books in the series, "A Simple Wedding" and "A Cottage Wedding".

Book Copy Gratis Hallmark Publishing

 

SEE ALSO:

 

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2020/06/a-cottage-wedding-by-leigh-duncan_14.html

 

 

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-simple-wedding-captivating.html

Leigh Duncan

 

Leigh Duncan is an Amazon best-selling author and a National Readers' Choice Award winner, the author of more than two dozen novels, novellas and short stories. However, the biggest thrill of her career--so far!--came when she saw her book, Journey Back to Christmas, featured on the Home and Family Show after Hallmark Publishing chose Journey to introduce its new line of romance novels. Her newest Hallmark Publishing release, A Simple Wedding, and her upcoming A Cottage Wedding (6/2/20) are the first of several books in Leigh's Heart's Landing series. These sweet, contemporary romances take place in a small town known as America's Top Wedding Destination, and each book centers on one couple who fall in love in Heart's Landing.

Leigh lives on Central Florida's East Coast where she loves to stay in touch with readers through social media. 
www.facebook.com/LeighDuncanBooks 
www.leighduncan.com

"THE BRIDES OF MAYFAIR SERIES"--from author Linore Rose Burkard--Regency Romance to Warm the Heart--Fiction to Stir the Soul--Where Faith, Hope and Happy Endings Meet (see my review)

  

Miss Tavistock's Mistake (The Brides of Mayfair #1)

Regency Romance in the vein of Georgette Heyer will delight the romance fan! 

Young Miss Tavistock is promised in marriage to Captain Rempeare by the wish of her dearly departed papa. But the captain’s been at sea for a decade. When she finally meets him, tempestuous sparks fly, and she impulsively adopts a daring false identity. Going by “Lady X,” she vows never to marry such an infuriating man.

Captain Gabriel Rempeare is prepared to fulfill his duty and marry Miss Tavistock—if only he can clap eyes on her. One circumstance or another keeps them apart, though he cannot seem to avoid the beautiful, maddening, Lady X. When fate throws them together in London, Miss Tavistock discovers the real nature of the captain, and regrets her subterfuge. But can such a noble man forgive deceit? Or has her mistake already cost her everything?

MY REVIEW:  As a reader, my earliest love stories were Regency Romance. They captivated me then--and they bring me great enjoyment to this day. Author Linore Rose Burkard's "Miss Tavistock's Mistake", Book One in her "Brides of Mayfair Series", is an entertaining and romantic tale full of all the story line elements that Regency Romance fans adore. Feodora Margaret Tavistock, orphaned at a young age, and raised by her wealthy and remote uncle, had been promised since childhood to wed Gabriel Rempeare. They had met once, when Margaret was nine-years-old and had just suffered the loss of her parents. Gabriel, a middle son not to inherit a title, soon entered His Majesty's Navy, and it would take a decade, and the end of Gabriel's naval career, before they would be reunited. Margaret had been pampered by her uncle, but isolated by his desire to avoid city life and remain in the country. Gabriel at last returns from the sea, but postpones visiting his betrothed. An inadvertent, brief meeting between Margaret and Gabriel provokes her into unwise behavior and will set in motion an eventful chain of events. At age nineteen, Margaret is determined to experience a societal debut. With the help of her devoted companion, Mrs. Filbert, she persuades her uncle to allow her a visit to London. Gabriel has his reasons for delaying a visit with Margaret to discuss their engagement. Beset with a scandal-prone older brother and a self-serving younger brother, Gabriel must deal wit matters of estate and family. When circumstances surprisingly place Margaret and Gabriel in each other's company, she struggles hard to maintain an unwise pretense--and all the while she is finding Gabriel to be a quite pleasant companion. He is unsure of who she really is, but he is sure of the increasing fondness and attraction she stirs in him. With fortunes and futures on the line, and hearts yearning and vulnerable, will truths revealed bring about happiness or heartache? I very much enjoyed "Miss Tavistock's Mistake", and I look forward to reading more works from author Linore Rose Burkard.

Book Copy Gratis Author via Reading, Writing, and the Stuff In-Between     

Reviews

 

"Burkard combines elements of Sense and Sensibility and The Importance of Being Earnest to craft a delightful and comedic story that will certainly please historical fiction aficionados and those who enjoy wholesome,romantic stories."Kirkus Review

"Thoroughly enjoyable! A witty romp that will have you smiling and swooning throughout."Reedsy Discovery

"Burkard has a deft way of helping the reader immerse themselves in the genre's conventions...This includes Almacks, balls, and curricle rides.The scenes are also fairly fast paced and entertaining, and there is some intrigue and villainy to keep the plot moving forward. Readers looking for a sweet, kisses only Regency in the tradition of Cotillion or Friday's Child will likely enjoy Miss Tavistock's Mistake for its historical details, gentle romance and follies of youthful manners." THE REGENCY READER

"An exuberant heroine.The secrets, lies and misunderstanding are a perfect basis for an amusing, exciting plot.(And) Captain Gabriel Rempeare is the perfect hero." Elizabeth Lloyd, LOSTINAGOODBOOK Blog

"What fun! Rarely does a book make me laugh so hard. I couldn't put it down!" MaryLu Tyndall, Award-Winning Author,  She Walks in Power

"Miss Tavistock's Mistake is a delightful, effervescent, and fast-moving Regency with undertones of Jane Austen ...I highly recommend this book as the perfect antidote to the pandemic and/or political fatigue!" Dana McNeely, Author, RAIN

 

 

Miss Fanshawe's Fortune (The Brides of Mayfair #2)

Respectability was all she needed to win his heart…and precisely what she lacked.

Miss Frances Fanshawe’s past is shrouded in mystery. Raised genteelly as an heiress to a fortune, she is forced to question everything after her mother dies and leaves her with only a single clue to the money. Unless she can locate her father or otherwise prove her heritage, not only the fortune but her very respectability is at stake.

In line for a baronetcy, Sebastian Arundell has no time for sorting out questionable tangles for young women with dubious histories. No matter if they are young, appealing, and have ridiculously large chocolate eyes to melt a man’s heart. But when it becomes apparent that other people are after Frannie’s supposed fortune, he is drawn to investigate. As the search deepens, Frannie falls in love with handsome, proper Sebastian. But if it only proves what he suspects—that she's an illegitimate pauper—will all hope to win his heart be lost?

 

 

Miss Wetherham's Wedding: The Brides of Mayfair, Book Three

Every step she takes to ensure his happiness is a nail in the coffin of her own.

Miss Wetherham, a matchmaker, must agree to the devious plan of a society rogue before she finds herself destitute. Helping him gain back his lost love will protect her independence and survival. But can any amount of money protect her guileless heart from falling for his charms?

Nick Dellacort is determined to restore his pride and gain back the bride he lost. Miss Wetherham is the woman able to help him do it and he’ll make it worth her while. But once he sets the devilish wheels in motion, can he persuade her to abandon the scheme and choose instead a scoundrel like him for a wedding of her own?

Linore Rose Burkard

 

Linore Rose Burkard ( L.R.Burkard) is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite, and hopeless romantic. An award winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first novel (Before the Season Ends) opened the genre for the CBA. Besides historical romance, Linore writes contemporary suspense (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard), contemporary romance (Falling In), and romantic short stories (ie., "Three French Hens"). Linore has a magna cum laude English Lit. degree from CUNY which she earned while taking herself far too seriously. She now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, where she turns her youthful angst into character or humor-driven plots.

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Linore is Vice President of the Dayton Christian Scribes, and a Regional Director of CAN, Christian Authors Network. Her biggest guilty pleasure aside from ice cream is cheering the NY Mets. Her husband knows how they're doing from the other side of the house! (It's true what they say, "You can take the girl out of New York, but....." )  

http://www.linoreburkard.com