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Spotlight Review: DUKE SEEKS BRIDE by Christy Carlyle

September 12, 2023

Love on Holiday, Book 3

From the publisher:

In the swoon-worthy finale of her Love on Holiday series, Christy Carlyle takes readers to the breathtaking coast of Ireland where a pretty, young countess’s secretary agrees to impersonate her mistress to help a duke appease his fortune-hunting family…until he falls for her instead.

Miss Evelyn Graves has never had a holiday. She is much too busy as the personal secretary to the Countess of Waverly. But the Duke of Ballymore Castle in Connemara, Ireland, has invited the countess to visit—and as the countess cannot travel, she has insisted Evelyn go in her stead. Except when Evie arrives, everyone mistakes her for the countess—and it’s clear the family who owns crumbling Ballymore were hoping to match the widowed countess with Alexander Pierpont, Duke of Rennick. Though Alex knows the truth of Evie’s identity, he has an unusual request. He’ll happily show her hospitality if she’ll agree to let others think she’s the countess during her visit.

There’s just one problem: as time runs out on their arrangement and Alex increasingly fears he must in fact marry an heiress to save his family’s fortunes, he finds that his heart now belongs to Miss Evie Graves…and he can’t bring himself to let her go.

“Carlyle completes her Love on Holiday trilogy (after Lady Meets Earl) with characters fans will adore. Hand to readers who love the fake-dating trope and the hijinks of a romantic comedy.” — Library Journal

“With its charming Cornish setting, lively writing enhanced by a blithe sense of wit, and a memorable cast of characters, Duke Gone Rogue, which kicks off Carlyle’s Victorian-set Love on Holiday series, blossoms into an absolute delight.” — Booklist
https://amzn.to/3NKW4lU

I’m not sure how I missed the first two books in this series, but this third one was so much fun to read that I will hunt down the first two. I always enjoy Carlyle’s books and this is no exception.

I love the setting in Ireland; I’m not sure I’ve ever read a historical romance set there. Usually, it’s England, sometimes Scotland, and occasionally America. I also like the Duke falling for a commoner trope, which is so popular that it has become a subgenre of historical romance, as far as I’m concerned.

The Duke was actually a second son, and he never planned on becoming Duke, but when his eldest brother and his father died, he inherited the title. Unfortunately, his father was a terrible steward of the family fortune, and they are now in dire straights. The only solution is for the Duke to marry someone with a large dowry. Except he really doesn’t want to. But there is stipulation in the will that says if he isn’t married within six months, his uncle will inherit the castle in Ireland, and that is the only place the Duke really cares about.

His family set about matchmaking but he isn’t being too cooperative until he accidentally meets Evelyn Graves in the garden at a ball. They have a strong connection, but he doesn’t know who she is and she takes off. He next sees her when she appears at his home instead of her employer, a rich widow his family is trying to matchmake for him. Confusion soon ensues, but while parts of their story may be fake, their feelings for one another are very real.

I really enjoyed this story; there were a lot of laughs, some heart-wrenching scenes, and some heat as well, making this a terrific read. Now I’m off to find the first two books in this trilogy!

Book 1: Duke Gone Rogue

Book 2: Lady Meets Earl

9/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DUKE SEEKS BRIDE by Christy Carlyle. Avon (August 22, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063054516. 368p.

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AN EARL TO REMEMBER by Stacy Reid

August 25, 2023

Unforgettable Love, Book 2

From the publisher:

Miss Georgianna Eleanor Heyford may be naught but a gentleman’s daughter, but even she’s heard the rumors about the Earl of Stannis’s exceptional charm and good looks. Surely she can cater his luxurious yacht party without getting swept away. But a terrible misunderstanding leaves Georgianna fired, furious, and with little recompense. Which is precisely when her opportunity for vengeance washes ashore…

Daniel Rutherford, the Earl of Stannis, has absolutely no memory of who he is. They tell him he must have fallen overboard, and the only person he seems to recognize is the lovely Georgianna―who strikes a chord of familiarity…and the faintest memory of heating his blood. Only now this inelegant, poorly dressed woman claims to be his wife!

But the truth is, Georgianna is finally getting her revenge. The dashing earl will work off the money he owes her and no one will be the wiser. Except the longer he stays with her and her younger sisters, the more it feels like he belongs there. And that perhaps he’d find a forever place in Georgianna’s heart…at least, until his memory returns…

Each book in the Unforgettable Love series is STANDALONE:
* A Matter of Temptation
* An Earl to Remember
https://amzn.to/44nbFNI

This is a historic rendering of the film Overboard. This book is closer to the characteristically-reversed remake with Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez rather than the original with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, but either way, it is a fun read.

Georgiana has lost her parents and is basically parenting her younger sisters and running the household. Money is very tight, but Georgiana loves to cook and decides to try it as a paid position. She lands a gig for the Earl of Stannis, cooking for a hedonistic party aboard his yacht. Unfortunately, he is very attracted to her, which his mistress notices. She insists that he fire the chef, and he does, and in the ensuing argument with his mistress, she pushes him overboard. He bangs his head on the ship, and the next thing you know, he floats ashore in the small town where Georgiana lives. When he wakes up, he has amnesia.

Georgiana had been promised £300 to cook for the weekend, but only receives a small portion of the money. She is quite upset as that money would have carried her family for a year. So when she realizes who the man is who washed up on shore, she claims he is her husband. She takes him home with her and puts him to work, fixing up the house that had fallen into disrepair. Earls don’t work with their hands, or work much at all, but with no memory, all the Earl can go on is his gut feeling that something isn’t adding up here. But the more time he spends with Georgiana and her family, the more he feels like he belongs there.

When his memory suddenly returns, the Earl leaves for London and his home. There his mother and grandmother are bound and determined to get him married, but he shocks them when he says he is married. Yes, they are in love, but there are so many deceptions and other obstacles to overcome that it just feels impossible. They get their happy ending, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I loved it.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

AN EARL TO REMEMBER by Stacy Reid. Entangled: Amara (August 22, 2023). ISBN: 978-1649372727. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by Patti Callahan Henry

July 4, 2023

From the publisher:

When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.

In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.

But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?

As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.

“[A]ffecting…Henry’s offering shines most in its exploration of the ways relationships grow and adapt to time and trauma, making for a poignant meditation on the bonds of sisterhood. This captivates.”—Publishers Weekly

“Magical…an enchanting tribute to the power of storytelling.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A charming story that weaves fairy tale, mystery, and historical importance with a good dose of romance, The Secret Book of Flora Lea will appeal to all ages, as the author unfurls a fantastic story about ‘an invisible place right here with us.’” New York Journal of Books

“In this heartfelt novel, Henry deftly examines the bonds of sisterhood while seamlessly melding the horrors of war with the comfort of fairy tales, reminding us that “telling stories is one of the greatest powers we possess.” The Washington Post
https://amzn.to/3Ptlhma

This was my first book by this author, and I’m not sure how she has escaped me! This was such a lovely book about storytelling and families and sisters and first loves, set in a backdrop of war but moving back and forth in time. It is a wonderful book, and everyone should read it.

I had never heard of Operation Pied Piper, but it was a real program where children from London were sent to live with strangers out in the English countryside to keep them safe from all the bombings during WWII. They packed up a few clothes, their gas masks, and were packed onto busses. In this story, Hazel, a young teenager, and her little sister Flora get lucky and a warm, loving woman agrees to house them during the War. That was not always the case; they meet another girl in the same village who was taken in by a “hag,” a nasty woman who, like some foster parents, took her in for the money she would be paid and to put her to work. But Hazel and Flora were very lucky, and Bridie is such a warm, loving mother figure to them, it makes the transition that much easier. She has a son, Harry, who is around the same age as Hazel, and he is an artist. He draws beautiful pictures of Flora and the lovely countryside and slips them under their bedroom door each night.

But that is only part of this story. Hazel has a vivid imagination, and she invents a fairytale for her younger sister, set in a small enchanted town with a “river of stars” running through it. She begins every story the same way, and the two girls are always in the story, sometimes as girls, but often as other fanciful beings, fairies, owls, etc. But then tragedy strikes; Flora goes missing and is never found. Hazel was with Harry at the time, and she can’t forgive herself or Harry for not keeping an eye on Flora, and she vows to never see him again.

Fast forward many years to 1960, and Hazel is working for a rare books dealer. It’s her last day on the job; she has gotten a new position at Sotheby’s. On her last day of work, her boss asks her to unpack a new shipment, which she does. To her shock, it is a fairytale about the place she invented as a child. The author’s name is unfamiliar, and she lives in the United States. Along with the book are some illustrations, and before she even realizes she’s done it, Hazel has taken them all and gone home.

Hazel has never accepted that Flora died. A few years later, a body of a young girl is found not that far from where they lived and the police consider the case closed, but Hazel does not. So when she finds this book, she is convinced more than ever that Flora must still be alive.

It’s a beautifully written, totally engrossing story that I hated to end. Book groups will find lots to discuss here. Put it on your summer reading list and enjoy!

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by Patti Callahan Henry. Atria Books (May 2, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1668011836. 368p.

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THE BEAST AND THE BOOKSELLER by Eva Devon

June 30, 2023

Once Upon a Wallflower, Book 1

From the publisher:

She’s about to make a beast of a bargain in this clever and deliciously engaging fairytale twist, from USA Today bestselling author Eva Devon…

All of London gossips about the Duke of Montrose. A recluse. Inflicted with a terrible disease. A gargoyle with a terrible temper. But he’s also the most important patron of the centuries-old book shop that belongs to Miss Elizabeth Sharpe’s family. Now she’s been charged with delivering books to the Gargoyle of London herself—or risk their shop falling into ruin. But surely a duke can’t be that ghastly…

Garrett Maximilian doesn’t give a tinker’s damn what society says about him. Most of them are sycophants, bowing and scraping in his presence. But not this proud, redheaded spitfire of a woman standing before him. In fact, nothing makes him feel more alive than Miss Elizabeth tartly criticizing his books. Perhaps he just needs a plan to keep her close…

The duke’s glower doesn’t terrify Elizabeth as much as it fascinates her. And worse, he looks at her with a dark hunger that should make her shake with fear—not desire. But Elizabeth’s father has sinister plans in store for his daughter…and this beastly duke might be her only salvation.
https://amzn.to/3XkswyO

I love when I start a new series with a book as good as this one. I’ve enjoyed other books from this author, so it was a no-brainer to pick up this one.

Elizabeth helps her father run their family-owned business, a bookstore. In reality, ever since her mother died, her father has taken to the bottle, leaving Elizabeth to do everything in the store. Much to her amazement, one day the Duke of Montrose comes to the store. Her father has been delivering books every week to the Duke’s home forever, so she can’t imagine why he’s come to the shop. Until he tells her – her father hasn’t been making his deliveries, and Elizabeth wasn’t aware of that. The Duke is their biggest and best client – he basically keeps the store afloat, so without his patronage, there is little hope for the store to remain solvent.

Out of desperation, Elizabeth starts making the deliveries herself and thoroughly enjoys discussing books with the Duke. He has a terrible reputation as a recluse and a man of little to no patience. But to his amazement, she has no qualms about standing up to him, and he greatly enjoys their conversations. As they get to know one another, other feelings emerge, and while Elizabeth knows that nothing could ever happen with their class differences, nonetheless, she falls for the Duke.

Then her father gets the idea of marrying her off for enough money to keep the shop going a little longer. Elizabeth is horrified by the man he wants her to marry but doesn’t seem to have much say in the matter. But then her father gets an even worse idea.

It’s easy to see that the solution to Elizabeth’s dilemma would be if the Duke offered for her, but forcing him into that position is next to impossible. Until he decides it’s the best idea he’s ever had…

This was a good story – I’m all in any time there are books central to the plot! There are some steamy scenes between the Duke and Elizabeth, but their romance is what makes the pages sing. This is a short book at 240 pages, but the characters come to life on the page, and while it’s a fast read, it never feels like anything is missing. That is no easy feat for a short book like this, but Devon has the story-telling chops to pull it off. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series; The Duke and the Dressmaker comes out in August.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BEAST AND THE BOOKSELLER by Eva Devon. Entangled: Amara (June 5, 2023). ISBN: 979-8397765213. 240p.

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THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel

June 23, 2023

From the publisher:

From the bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names comes a gripping historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of the Nazi occupation.

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

An “exquisite and gut-wrenching novel” (Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author) you won’t soon forget, The Paris Daughter is also a sweeping celebration of resilience, motherhood, and love.

The friendship between two American expats in WWII Paris leads to life-altering events in the powerful latest from Harmel…Harmel brings the novel’s historical moments to life through deep research and enriching historical facts, and she conveys an acute sense of her characters’ emotions as they face tragedy upon tragedy. This is Harmel’s best to date. Publishers Weekly, starred review
https://amzn.to/3p3v7jP

I don’t read a lot of these WWII/Holocaust novels because I find them upsetting, more so now in light of the rise of right-wing neo-Nazis and antisemitic attacks, and their embrace by our former twice impeached, twice indicted president. But it’s been a while and I heard good things about this book so I dove in.

I like that the two main characters aren’t Jewish, although a strong secondary character is. The book opens just as hints of the war in neighboring Germany are intensifying. As the Nazis move into France, tough decisions have to be made.

Elise is married to an artist with a good reputation, and she is an artist herself. Her husband doesn’t think much of her work, and her studio is shoved into a small, windowless room leaving the room with light for his studio. The marriage isn’t great, to say the least, but Elise is fairly content, if not happy. But as the war escalates, her husband becomes increasingly involved with an underground group of communists. Then Elise gets pregnant.

While walking through a park, she meets a young mother, Juliette, who is also pregnant. When Juliette realizes that Elise may be going into labor, she insists on bringing her to her nearby shop, a bookstore, and summons the doctor. It turns out to be false labor, but a real friendship is formed.

The women become best friends. Their daughters are born close together, and the little girls become best friends as well. And then the war moves in. Elise gets some devastating information and is forced to flee, but she will be easily recognized if she has her daughter with her. She begs Juliette to keep her daughter until she can safely return.

When the Americans start bombing the nearby car factory, many shops in the neighborhood are “accidentally” flattened as well, including the bookshop. When Elise finally arrives to claim her daughter, all she finds is the rubble of the store, and no one seems to know where Juliette is or what happened to her family.

This was an engaging story for sure, although the conflicts and resolutions can be seen from miles away. Even so, I shed a few tears along the way. Harmel is a good storyteller, and this was a really good read. This was the first book I’ve read from this popular author, and I am looking forward to seeing what she does next. If you like historical fiction, especially WWII fiction, give this book a try.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel. Gallery Books (June 6, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1982191702. 384p.

Note: Amazon lists a paperback for sale, but it costs more than the hardcover. That usually means it is a large print edition, but it doesn’t explicitly say that.

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HIGHLAND WARRIOR by Heather McCollum

June 16, 2023

Sons of Sinclair, Book 2

From the publisher:

Joshua Sinclair was once the fiercest and most notorious warrior of the mighty Sinclair clan of Northern Scotland. But now there’s nothing and no one that can make him take up arms again. Except a beautiful woman, it seems.

When Kára Flett, daughter of a fallen Norse chief, finds herself unexpectedly sheltering the strongest, most brutal warrior in the land, she throws together a risky and outrageous plan to bring him to her side. Threats of violence bounce right off him. Offers of gold seem to entice him even less. Desperate enough to use the pleas of the village children to sway him, she’s shocked when he’s completely unmoved. There’s only one tactic left for her: seduction.

Her hasty proposition falls completely by the wayside, though, as she and the Highlander come together in a carnal inferno. But bringing him into her life also brings his enemies to her clan’s doorstep―the very clan Kára is trying to protect. And as their feelings deepen, Joshua will have to decide between duty and love once and for all.

Each book in the Sons of Sinclair series is a STANDALONE:
* Highland Conquest
* Highland Warrior
* Highland Justice
* Highland Beast

Coming Oct 2023: Highland Surrender

https://amzn.to/43GRyu0

I really enjoy the setting of this series and they can each be read as a standalone. The stories are built around these four brothers, whose father has named them after the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Their sister will probably be the heroine in the last book of the series.

This book focuses on Joshua, the Warrior. He has been fighting for most of his life, but the last battle he fought was terrible, with too many losses on both sides. He is especially affected by a young man who was just too young to die. So instead of warring, he is training the men in this small isle on how best to defend themselves from attack, and the best way to fortify their castle.

As he is heading home, he passes through the small village where he learns that the men he was training were actually tormenting and enslaving these people. They fear their chief is dead, as he was taken by force to the castle. His daughter, Kára, is now head of these people and desperate to keep them safe.

Kára became a widow when her husband was killed, and she was almost killed herself. Somehow, she survived along with her baby, who is now about 9 years old. But her people are starving and scared, and she begs Joshua to help them defeat the men he just helped train. He refuses, and she seduces him, hoping to get him to change his mind.

Joshua wants to help but knows this small village will be massacred if they attack the castle. Then Kára’s son is kidnapped and held at the castle. Desperate, he agrees to help get him back and devises an intricate plan that just may work.

There are some politics involved, adding to the tension, and as Kára and Joshua work together, they become very close, to the point where Joshua can’t imagine living his life without her. Some real obstacles are in the way, but they eventually reach their happy ending.

I missed this book in the series, so I hunted it down. These truly can be read in any order, so if you like historical Highland romances, grab any book in the series and hunker down for a good, sexy read.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HIGHLAND WARRIOR by Heather McCollum. Entangled: Amara (April 25, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1649370778. 384p.

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HIS STUDY IN SCANDAL by Megan Frampton

June 2, 2023

School for Scoundrels, Book 2

From the publisher:

Megan Frampton’s deliciously witty A School for Scoundrels series follows the adventures of five gentlemen who navigate life—and love—in London. Here, a dashing young businessman enters into a liaison with a widowed Duchess. Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean and anyone who loves Bridgerton!

Alexandra, Duchess of Chelmsworth, is tired of pretending to mourn a husband who squandered a fortune and never bothered to give her the time of day, much less any attentions at night. So, the still-beautiful duchess cuts up her mourning gowns, deciding to experience the pleasures long denied her by daringly visiting the Garden of Hedon. It is there the ton anonymously gives in to their deepest desires, and where Alexandra finds herself in the arms of a mysterious man. She willingly gives in to the passion he offers her, fully believing she would never see him again.

But she is shocked to soon discover he is none other than Theo Osborne, who is continually being pushed forward as a husband—for Alexandra’s own daughter! While his wealth would save the family from financial ruin, his intentions are clear: he has no interest in anyone but Alexandra. And though he tempts and teases her, she is determined not to give her heart to any man. But what started as a sensuous game turns into something much more…

“Frampton serves up both spicy sex scenes and hefty emotions that will leave readers wanting more. This passionate love story keeps the series going strong.” — Publishers Weekly

“Frampton follows up the first “School for Scoundrels” book, Her Lessons in Persuasion, with another scorching pairing. Recommended for romance fans who like it hot, hot, hot.” — Library Journal
https://amzn.to/43CYvw4

Frampton writes steamy historicals, and this one is no exception. The sex starts early on and continues, on and off, for what feels like most of the book. Not that I’m complaining – she writes great sex scenes.

Alexandra is a duchess who has been in mourning for two years since the death of her husband. Well, she looks and acts like she’s in mourning, but in actuality, she is glad to be rid of her arrogant, domineering, despot of a husband. Unfortunately, his son is now the Duke, and he learned well from his father. If anything, he is even worse because he has mismanaged the family’s money to the point where he is arranging a marriage for Alexandra’s daughter, his half-sister, based solely on finding someone willing to forgo a dowry and pay off his debts.

The day her mourning is up, Alexandra destroys her black clothing and her stepdaughter, who is older than she is, takes her to the Pleasure Garden for the evening. There, Alexandra meets Theo, and he introduces her to sex for pleasure. Theo is a self-made wealthy man who comes from humble beginnings. He was orphaned as a baby, and was eventually adopted by Mr. Osborne, who was alone and longed for a family. Theo is part of a group of men from similar backgrounds; they were children in the same orphanage and have stayed friends. He is also an owner of the pleasure garden and often spends time there.

Theo, who is 32, is completely smitten with Alexandra, who is 40. I loved that May-December aspect to this romance. Unfortunately, it is his last night at the pleasure garden, as he is going to be engaged soon and he is a most honorable man. Much to their surprise, it turns out that Theo is the man set to marry Alexandra’s daughter. Talk about a nightmare!

I don’t want to ruin the story, so I’ll just say that everything gets resolved with the requisite happy ending, but there are a lot of twists and turns, drama and more drama, plus all that sex before it gets there, and that is half the fun!

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HIS STUDY IN SCANDAL by Megan Frampton. Avon (May 23, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0063224223. 352p.

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HIGHLAND BEAST by Heather McCollum

May 26, 2023

Sons of Sinclair, Book 4

From the publisher:

Bàs Sinclair is the cold and brutal hand―and sword―of justice across the Highlands. He has one destiny: to bring fear into the hearts of guilty men. But when he is called to execute a midwife for her crimes, he cannot raise his weapon. For Bàs already knows this lovely, part-wild creature. After all, she gave him his first and only kiss…

Shana Drummond will do anything to protect her beloved sister. Now her cruel, merciless brother-in-law has called upon Bàs to have Shana killed for crimes she didn’t commit. She can’t reconcile the cold, lethal warrior before her with the gentle one she met―nay, kissed―only days before.

But mercy from Bàs can only lead to one thing: war among the clans. A war that will test allegiances, tear families apart, and challenge everything Bàs knows about himself and his heart. Because once this Highlander knows love, nothing will stop him from keeping Shana safe…even if it means destroying his own destiny.

Each book in the Sons of Sinclair series is a STANDALONE:
* Highland Conquest
* Highland Warrior
* Highland Justice
* Highland Beast

Coming Oct 2023: Highland Surrender

https://amzn.to/3Ll3udk

I really enjoy the setting of this series and they can each be read as a standalone. That said, the stories are built around these four brothers, whose father has named as the Four Men of the Apocolypse. There is a sister, too, and I guess her story will be the last book in the series.

This book focuses on Bas, who name means Death. He was named Death because his mother died when he was born, not an unusual circumstance in the 16th century. He is the executioner of the family. He has been brought up to kill those who have been found guilty and condemned to death. It’s his job, and he is very good at it. But because he is feared by everyone who sees him, he has never met a woman who didn’t cower or hide from him. Until Shana.

Bas discovers Shana as she enters his property with a newborn baby in her arms. Turns out it is her sister’s baby, and they think the father is going to kill the newborn because he found out his wife was cheating on him. There is much more to the story than that, and it takes a lot of finagling before the whole story comes out. Meanwhile, Bas is determined to keep them safe.

Bas has been with a woman, his brothers paid for the privilege, but Shana is the first woman who seems unafraid of him. In fact, she is really drawn to the gentle giant. She has no knowledge of his job, only sees that is kind and good natured and takes care of all sorts of animals in his care. He adopts any kind of stray and as long as he names them, they will be safe with him.

They have a lot of hurdles to get over in this story, and there is a lot of action and fighting before they reach their happily ever after. I love the way the family are always backing each other up, even when Bas declares war, which is not his role in the family. Nonetheless, they all fall in behind him.

Shana and Bas make a perfect couple; if he’s death, then she is life as she is a midwife and Bas loves that about her. All in all, this was a very fast paced story and the main characters are brought to life on the page. Another excellent entry into this Scottish series.

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HIGHLAND BEAST by Heather McCollum. Entangled: Amara (April 25, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1649370778. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline

April 18, 2023

From the publisher:

#1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline presents Loyalty, an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.

Loyalty can save a soul—or destroy one.

    Franco Fiorvanti is a handsome lemon grower toiling on the estate of a baron. He dreams of owning his own grove, but the rigid class system of Sicily thwarts his ambition. Determined to secure a better future, Franco will do anything to prove his loyalty to the baron. But when the baron asks him to kidnap a little boy named Dante, Franco makes a decision that will change his life—and even the history of Sicily—forever.

    Gaetano Catalano is an idealistic young lawyer whose devotion to justice is tantamount to a calling. He’s a member of the Beati Paoli, a real-life secret society of aristocrats who investigate crime in Palermo, a city riddled with graft. Gaetano sets out to find the boy and punish the kidnapper, but his mission leads him to a darker place than he had ever imagined.

    Meanwhile, Mafalda Pancari is a new mother rejoicing at the birth of her daughter, Lucia, when disaster strikes. And Alfredo D’Antonio is a reclusive goatherd under constant threat of being discovered as a Jew. How the lives of these unforgettable characters collide makes Loyalty an epic tale of good versus evil, as the story twists and turns to its monumental showdown.

    Readers will be transported to the dramatic and ruggedly beautiful island of Sicily, the jewel of the Mediterranean, where lush lemon groves and mouth-watering cuisine contrast with a turbulent history of colonization and corruption. Scottoline brings her decades of thriller writing to historical fiction, creating in Loyalty a singular novel that no reader will be able to put down.

“Scottoline brings nineteenth-century Sicily alive in this historical thriller…Every scene is a full sensory experience, as Scottoline weaves lemon-scented breezes, the ocean’s sounds, and sun-baked piazza stones into a timeless, tragedy-strewn story of love, power, and redemption. History fans will appreciate the novel’s well-researched foundation, especially concerning the origins of the Sicilian Mafia and early mental-health institutions.” —Booklist (starred)

“Scottoline brings her characters to life, instilling them with wit and intellect as they navigate the corruption of Sicily’s law enforcement. Historical crime fiction fans will be riveted.” —Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3KfQULR

I love Lisa Scottoline – she is an incredible writer and a truly special human being. Many years ago, I was assigned her book Killer Smile for review at Library Journal. I loved that book and gave it a starred review. I was working for the Palm Beach County Library System at the time when one of my co-workers came running up to me to say I had a phone call, and it was Lisa Scottoline. Everyone was jumping up and down with excitement! We’d never had a New York Times bestselling author call our library, and everyone followed me to the back so I could take the call. Lisa called to thank me for my review, which had never happened before (or since!) I had never met her, but I did several years later at a library convention. And she remembered me! It was just the most surreal experience. I’ve met her several times since then, and she did a standing-room-only book talk for my library. A truly remarkable human being I am proud to call a friend.

With that out of the way, yes I can still do an unbiased review of her books, mostly because as I pointed out when I started this review, she is an incredible writer. She takes complicated stories like this one and makes them not only engrossing reading, but seriously unputdownable. I dreamt about these characters during the two nights I spent reading this book.

The publisher provided a good synopsis, and I don’t want to muddy the waters except to say that these characters propel the story and will be staying with me for a long time. Sicily is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, and Scottoline brings that beauty to the page in addition to all the drama – but it’s the drama that is at the heart of this story. Book groups will find a lot to discuss here as well.

I hope you’ll read it and love it as much as I did.

4/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline.‎ G.P. Putnam’s Sons (March 28, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0525539803. 432 p.

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Spotlight Review: THE PROSPECTOR’S ONLY PROSPECT by Dani Collins

April 4, 2023

From the publisher:

After eight days in a cramped stagecoach, divorcée Marigold Davis already regrets her decision to come to Denver City to marry. She certainly didn’t realize she’d signed up for mosquitoes, mud, and scores of rough men eyeing her like a hot meal on a cold day. But with her life in Kansas all but incinerated, Marigold needs a husband. Even if she’s not the bride that gold prospector Virgil Gardner is expecting…

Virgil Gardner has a reputation as a grumpy hard-ass, and he’s fine with it. He’s also no fool―this is not the woman he agreed to marry. It takes a tough-as-nails woman to survive the harshness of a Rocky Mountain gold claim, and this whiskey-eyed, gentle beauty is certainly not the type. Now it’s just a matter of how quickly she’ll quit so he can find a wife who will stick. Someone who can care for the only thing he values even more than gold–his children.

But Marigold isn’t about to give in. Cramped in a one-room shack. Berry picking turned into a bear escape. Or cooking for an entire crew of bottomless pits. She’s got more grit than most. And just when Virgil starts to realize his replacement bride might be the treasure he’s been looking for, an unannounced guest arrives…to change everything.

“Collins mines the setting for both danger and humor, providing the perfect backdrop to this sensuous romance. Readers won’t want to put this down.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review
https://amzn.to/3LV52fV

I love cowboy romances, and this historical story is a good one. Set in the Kansas territory long before statehood, Virgil Gardner runs a gold mining operation. His wife is gone, leaving him with three children – two of whom are his. He takes care of all of them as best as he can, but he needs a wife, so he advertises for one.

The woman who shows up, Marigold, is actually the sister of the woman he agreed to marry. Virgil is a good man, albeit short-tempered and suspicious of most people, especially women. He cannot abide liars or cheats and feels like he was taken advantage of by this woman. He agrees to allow her to be his housekeeper but takes marriage off the table. Marigold loves children and is educated, so she is happy to take on her new role. She has never lived under such rugged conditions, and there is a definite learning curve. But she enjoys the children and even becomes friendly with the men working for Virgil, much to his displeasure.

Virgil is also surprised to find that he is drawn to the sassy woman and isn’t quite sure what to do about it. Eventually, they realize they have a strong physical attraction, which surprises Marigold – she had a horrible marriage, yet something about Virgil is warming her heart. Virgil and Marigold’s relationship blows hot and cold, and the men are all seeing more to it than they are. Just when you think everything is finally going to work out, there is a wrench thrown in the works that causes a massive setback. But no worries, a happy ending is just around the corner.

The historical aspects of this book were really interesting, and seeing how people lived under such extreme conditions was also fascinating. I liked these characters a lot, and this was a really good story. If you like historical westerns, this is a good one. The romance is just the icing on the cake!

4/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PROSPECTOR’S ONLY PROSPECT by Dani Collins.‎ Entangled: Amara (March 28, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1649373410. 352 p.

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