12/1/2021 THE HOOKUP DILEMMA By Constance Gillam

 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Entangled: Amara (November 16, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1682815722

What happens when a random hookup turns into the ultimate dilemma?

Rashida Howard has never been a one-night-stand kind of woman, but she has good reason for making an exception with Elliott after meeting him in a bar. Cliché? Yes. Utterly amazing? Absolutely. Regrets? None.

Elliott Quinn is a workaholic. The one night he decides to break his routine, he has an encounter with the woman of his dreams. But no matter how amazing they are together, work will always come first.

Both of their lives get turned upside down when they find themselves on opposite sides of an ongoing fight between Elliott’s company and Rashida’s community. Though their chemistry is undeniable, neither of them will risk their integrity…or their heart.

And just when they think they might have found a solution that benefits both sides, they uncover a secret that will change everything.

Editorial Reviews for THE HOOKUP DILEMMA by Constance Gillam

"The Hookup Dilemma is a heartwarming, own-voices story about what was supposed to be a one-night stand but ended up being an enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved the banter between the main characters but also greatly enjoyed the personalities and storylines of the supporting characters - especially Rashida's grandmother." -Marie's Journey


"Woah. This book immediately starts off hot and s t e a m y." -Bookish Bethany


"AHHHH I absolutely LOVED this book! The sexual tension, the focus on family and loyalty, ELLIOT!! So heartwarming and hot." -Isabella Ko


"As much as they should not be together, their connection draws them in closer as they learn to compromise and make difficult choices. I loved the happily ever after ending! So adorable. This book had the perfect blend of steam and swoon worthy romance." -Veronica's Bookshelf

"[D]efinitely a great book to help put a smile on your face!" -Three Girls and a Book

"This is definitely going up with my top reads of this year! It's such a good book." -Brit Girl Reads

"[A]n enjoyable romance, with a wonderful HEA!" -Echoes Out Loud

"I was thoroughly entranced by this book. The story line is funny and sad and cleverly written. The Hookup Dilemma is sweet, charming, fun, not to mention sexy." -Rubie
Reads

MY THOUGHTS:

 

This was my very first introduction to Constance Gillam's writing, and I could not be more pleased. This romantic comedy was everything I needed - it was fun, moved in a very fast pace, and was this book really 400 pages? I just could not devour this book fast enough. The hookup really started hot and quick, and the meet cute was one of the best I have read. 

The characters were so lovable and enjoyable, which went from lovers to enemies to a joyous HEA. The conflict and the heartwarming love and loyalty for family came through the pages in a wonderful way. I was ahhhing and ooohhing all the way. 

For a delectable and sexy read while tugging at all your heart strings, don't miss reading the Hook Up Dilemma. If you are a romance reader or just need a fun and entertaining read, do pick this one up. You will love it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Constance Gillam grew up in the Midwest among ice and snow. She now lives in the sunny South and loves it. As a child, she was a precocious reader and would sneak into the adult fiction section of the library. At age eleven she read Gone with the Wind and never looked back.

Romance is her love, and she fills her books with mystery and suspense, conflict and emotion.

11/12/2021 LOVE AND LAVENDER: A MAYFIELD FAMILY ROMANCE (Book 4) VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR

 

·         Title: Love and Lavender: A Mayfield Family Romance (Book 4)

·         Series: Proper Romance

·         Author: Josi S. Kilpack

·         Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction

·         Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (November 2, 2021)

·         Length: (320) pages

·         Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·         Tour Dates: November 1-28, 2021

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Hazel Stillman is a woman of rare independence and limited opportunities. Born with a clubbed foot, she was sent away as a child and, knowing her disability means a marriage is unlikely, she devoted herself to scholarship and education.

Now working as a teacher in an elite private girls' school, she is content with the way her story has unfolded. When her uncle Elliott Mayfield presents her with the prospect of a substantial inheritance if she marries, Hazel is offended. What kind of decent man would marry for her money? Besides, she loves her freedom as a professional, respected woman. When she hears rumors of the school possibly being sold, however, she knows she must consider all her options.

Duncan Penhale has a brilliant mind and thrives on order and process. He does not expect to marry because he likes his solitary life, shared only with his beloved cat. When Elliott Mayfield, his guardian's brother, presents him with an inheritance if he marries a woman of social standing, Duncan finds it intrusive. However, with the inheritance, he could purchase the building in which he works and run his own firm. It would take an impressive and intellectual woman to understand and love him, quirks and all.

Hazel and Duncan believe they have found a solution to both of their problems: marry one another, receive their inheritances, and then part ways to enjoy their individual paths. But when Uncle Mayfield stipulates that they must live together as husband and wife for one year before receiving their inheritances, Hazel and Duncan reluctantly agree. Over time, their marriage of convenience becomes much more appealing than they had anticipated. At the end of the full year, will they go their separate ways or could an unlikely marriage have found unsuspecting love?

ADVANCE PRAISE

“What a lovely romance. The historical details, the depth of the authentic characters, and the realistic dialogue all contribute to an immersive story. [A] beautiful and inspirational story about loving people just as they are.”— Katie Jackson, Regency Proofreading

“Phenomenal. This book was phenomenal. The very best in the series.”— Lyssa Armstrong, For Where Your Treasure Is

“This love story was unique and such an uncommon take on a marriage of convenience! [S]weet and well worth the wait!”— Ashley Johnson, Bringing Up Books

“Beautifully written, sensitive, poignant addition to the Mayfield Family series.”— Susan K., The Flipped Page

 

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

Oh my heart this book is so fun to read - and with my favorite trope fake dating/fake marriage in this historical fiction romance by Josi S. Kilpack it was everything I needed and loved. 

The story is about Hazel Stillman and Duncan Penhale whose situations in life find themselves in need of a spouse. The writing of the story and with characters that are unique, such as Hazel with her disability or Duncan and his neurosis and quirks (neurodiverse), causing their situation for a fulfilled marriage difficult and most likely impossible. The writing of each of the characters brings these two together in the most impactful way. I loved the pacing and the gentleness of the story - it is just absolutely beautiful. 

I highly recommend this beautiful novel by Kilpack for those that love non-traditional characters in a historical fiction romance genre. 

AUTHOR BIO

Josi S. Kilpack has written more than thirty novels, a cookbook, and several novellas. She is a four-time Whitney award winner, including Best Novel 2015 for "Lord Fenton's Folly, and has been a Utah Best of State winner for Fiction. Josi loves to bake, sleep, eat, read, travel, and watch TV--none of which she gets to do as much as she would like. She writes contemporary fiction under the pen name Jessica Pack.

Josi has four children and lives in Northern Utah.

 

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

 

Book Tour Participants

• Nov 01          Storeybook Reviews (Review)
• Nov 01          Austenprose (Review)
• Nov 01          Getting Your Read On (Review)
• Nov 01          Wishful Endings (Review)
• Nov 02          Reading Ladies Book Club (Review)
• Nov 02          Bookworm Lisa (Review)
• Nov 02          Captivated Reading (Spotlight)
• Nov 02          Literary Time Out (Review)
• Nov 03          Timeless Novels (Review)
• Nov 03          Our Book Confessions (Review)
• Nov 03          The Bibliophile Files (Review)
• Nov 04          Chicks, Rogues and Scandals (Excerpt)
• Nov 05          Heidi Reads (Review)
• Nov 06          Reading Is My Superpower (Review)
• Nov 07          Reading with Emily (Review)
• Nov 08          Austenesque Reviews (Review)
• Nov 09          Between the Lines Books 'n' Stuff (Excerpt)
• Nov 10          The Book Diva's Reads (Excerpt)
• Nov 11          Novels Alive (Review)
• Nov 11          Gwendalyn's Books (Review)
• Nov 12          Nurse Bookie (Review)
• Nov 13          Christian Chick's Thoughts (Review)
• Nov 14          The Christian Fiction Girl (Review)
• Nov 15          Wishful Endings (Excerpt)
• Nov 16          A Bookish Way of Life (Review)
• Nov 17          Lady with a Quill (Review)
• Nov 18          Relz Reviewz (Review)
• Nov 19          The Lit Bitch (Review)
• Nov 20          Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen (Spotlight)
• Nov 21          For Where Your Treasure Is (Review)
• Nov 22          My Jane Austen Book Club (Excerpt)
• Nov 23          My Bookish Bliss (Review)
• Nov 24          Laura's Reviews (Review)
• Nov 25          Library of Clean Reads (Review)
• Nov 25          The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Review)
• Nov 26          Books and Socks Rock (Excerpt)
• Nov 26          Greenish Bookshelf (Review)
• Nov 27          Literary Quicksand (Review)
• Nov 28          CozyNookBooks (Review)

11/09/2021 Every Word Unsaid: A Novel, by Kimberly Duffy — A Review

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers (November 2, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764235656

Augusta Travers has spent the last three years avoiding the stifling expectations of New York society and her family's constant disappointment. As the nation's most fearless--and reviled--columnist, Gussie travels the country with her Kodak camera and spins stories for women unable to leave hearth and home. But when her adventurous nature lands her in the middle of a scandal, an opportunity to leave America offers the perfect escape.

Arriving in India, she expects only a nice visit with childhood friends, siblings Catherine and Gabriel, and escapades that will further her career. Instead, she finds herself facing a plague epidemic, confusion over Gabriel's sudden appeal, and the realization that what she wants from life is changing. But slowing down means facing all the hurts of her past that she's long been trying to outrun. And that may be an undertaking too great even for her.

REVIEW:

This is my first book by Kimberly Duffy, and I am glad I took a chance on this tour and have the best experience in reading her novel EVERY WORD UNSAID. I love reading books about historical stories that details the beautiful and exotic countries, and reading about characters going through difficulties and challenges that explore complex relationships, families, and siblings. This was the perfect such read I was craving for. 

I devoured this gorgeous novel about a woman's fight in finding herself without losing her being in the process. I love the historical research that went into this novel as well as the beautiful prose that describes all the adventures in this novel as we ride along with Gussie through all the ups and downs. 

I just could not put this book down. I really enjoyed it!

I am immediately going to look up all of Kimberly Duffy's backlists and ordering them all.

Tour Participants

Nov 01 Heidi Reads (Excerpt)
Nov 01 Austenprose (Review)
Nov 02 The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Review)
Nov 02 A Darn Good Read (Review)
Nov 02 Reading with Emily (Review)
Nov 03 A Bookish Way of Life (Review)
Nov 03 Bookfoolery (Review)
Nov 03 All-of-a-Kind Mom (Review)
Nov 04 Between the Lines Books ‘n’ Stuff (Spotlight)
Nov 04 Library of Clean Reads (Review)
Nov 04 Wishful Endings (Review)
Nov 05 Captivated Reading (Spotlight)
Nov 05 Laura’s Reviews (Review)
Nov 06 My Bookish Bliss (Review)
Nov 06 Beauty in the Binding (Review)
Nov 07 Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen (Spotlight)
Nov 08 Novels Alive (Review)
Nov 08 Bookworm Lisa (Review)
Nov 09 Nurse Bookie (Review)
Nov 10 Our Book Confessions (Spotlight)
Nov 10 Literary Time Out (Review)
Nov 11 Chicks, Rogues and Scandals (Excerpt)
Nov 11 Storeybook Reviews (Excerpt)
Nov 11 Life of Literature (Review)
Nov 11 Among the Reads (Review)
Nov 12 Books and Socks Rock (Review)
Nov 13 Silver’s Reviews (Spotlight)
Nov 13 Reading Is My Superpower (Review)
Nov 14 Literary Quicksand (Review)

Every Word Unsaid: A Novel, by Kimberly Duffy

Bethany House (November 2, 2021)

Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook (368)

ISBN: 978-0764235658

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

The London House

 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Muse (November 2, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0785290206




Uncovering a dark family secret sends one woman through the history of Britain’s World War II spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris to save her family’s reputation.

Caroline Payne thinks it’s just another day of work until she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But pleasantries are cut short. Mat has uncovered a scandalous secret kept buried for decades: In World War II, Caroline’s British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover.

Determined to find answers and save her family’s reputation, Caroline flies to her family’s ancestral home in London. She and Mat discover diaries and letters that reveal her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the “Waite sisters.” Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs, and romance. The buoyant tone of the correspondence soon yields to sadder revelations as the sisters grow apart, and one leaves home for the glittering fashion scene of Paris, despite rumblings of a coming world war.

Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline’s great-aunt actually a traitor and Nazi collaborator, or is there a more complex truth buried in the past? Together, Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941 that changed everything.

In this rich historical novel from award-winning author Katherine Reay, a young woman is tasked with writing the next chapter of her family’s story. But Caroline must choose whether to embrace a love of her own and proceed with caution if her family’s decades-old wounds are to heal without tearing them even further apart.




Praise for The London House:

“Carefully researched, emotionally hewn, and written with a sure hand, The London House is a tantalizing tale of deeply held secrets, heartbreak, redemption, and the enduring way that family can both hurt and heal us. I enjoyed it thoroughly.” —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The Book of Lost Names

“An expertly researched and marvelously paced treatise on the many variants of courage and loyalty . . . Arresting historical fiction destined to thrill fans of Erica Roebuck and Pam Jenoff.” —Rachel McMillan author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code
A stand-alone split-time novel
Partially epistolary: the historical storyline is told through letters and journals
Book length: approximately 102,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs

MY THOUGHTS:

I loved Katherine Reay’s books, having read Of Literature and Lattes, as well as, The Printed Letter Bookshop last year, I knew I had to read this book. So when I saw that Reay has a new book out, and in the historical fiction genre, I was even more excited to read The London House.

Emotional Engrossing Epistolary

The London House will delight readers who enjoy a split time historical fiction read about a family secret unearthed during WWII that involves a shocking revelation. Desperate to find the truth, Carolyn goes to their family home in London with friend Mat, to try to piece together information from letters and diary entries.

This was a story of family, love, brave women, political drama, and the amazing fashion of the time. The richly detailed and well researched writing immersed me into this amazing read!


I really enjoyed this one!

About the Author

Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy and Jane, The Brontë Plot, A Portrait of Emily Price, The Austen Escape, and The Printed Letter Bookshop. All Katherine’s novels are contemporary stories with a bit of classical flair. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and is a wife, mother, former marketer, and avid chocolate consumer. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine now happily resides outside Chicago, IL. You can meet her at www.katherinereay.com; Facebook: KatherineReayBooks; Twitter: @katherine_reay; or Instagram: @katherinereay.

11/3/2021 Down a Dark River (An Inspector Corravan Mystery) by Karen Odden @HFVBT

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (November 9, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1643858696

In the vein of C. S. Harris and Anne Perry, Karen Odden’s mystery introduces Inspector Michael Corravan as he investigates a string of vicious murders that has rocked Victorian London’s upper crust.
London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only Senior Inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles.

An Irish former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London’s seedy East End, Corravan has good street sense and an inspector’s knack for digging up clues. But he’s confounded when, a week later, a second woman is found dead in a rowboat, and then a third. The dead women seem to have no connection whatsoever. Meanwhile, Mr. Stiles makes an alarming discovery: the shipping magnate’s missing wife, Mrs. Beckford, may not have fled her house because she was insane, as her husband claims, and Mr. Beckford may not be the successful man of business that he appears to be.

Slowly, it becomes clear that the river murders and the case of Mrs. Beckford may be linked through some terrible act of injustice in the past—for which someone has vowed a brutal vengeance. Now, with the newspapers once again trumpeting the Yard’s failures, Corravan must dredge up the truth—before London devolves into a state of panic and before the killer claims another innocent victim.


Praise for Down a Dark River:

"A harrowing tale of unbridled vice that exposes the dark underbelly of Victorian society."
—Kirkus Reviews

“A must read for mystery fans!”
—Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Rutledge mysteries

"This twisty-turn-y mystery introducing a new and charismatic detective will delight readers also looking for well-researched history."
—Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series

“Odden’s latest is intricately plotted and filled with a cast of wonderful characters, including a worthy and relatable hero."
—Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author

“Sparkling prose, vivid description, a haunting and satisfyingly complex story . . . Down a Dark River a must read for fans of any genre of crime fiction.”
—Edwin Hill, author of The Secrets We Share

“Gritty, compelling and vividly written . . . Like Anne Perry, Odden demonstrates a commanding grasp of authentic period detail."
—Susanna Calkins, author of the Lucy Campion historical mysteries and Speakeasy Murders

“An original, street-smart detective, an intriguing mystery, and delicious Victorian flavor. All my favorite things!”
—Laura Joh Rowland, author of The Ripper's Shadow, a Victorian Mystery

“No one does Victorian England like Karen Odden . . . Fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch will welcome Inspector Michael Corravan."
—Mariah Fredericks, author of the Jane Prescott mystery series

MY REVIEW:

As soon as I received this book, I devoured this Victorian era mystery set in 1878 London almost immediately. I was so intrigued by the gothic, and dark book cover that was just the perfect read for the season. In DOWN A DARK RIVER, Karen Odden introduces a new character which I am sure to want to read more of, and that is Inspector Michael Corravan. 

I absolutely love the gritty back story of Inspector Corravan - he is a tough guy having been a former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London's East End making him the perfect investigator with much experience in the streets as anyone ever can be. His investigatory style and knack for digging up clues may just be what Scotland Yard needs to save its reputation. 

The writing was so immersive and talk about a page turner - this was so incredibly fun to read with the way the stories weaved into each other just as the River Thames, into a most satisfying conclusion. Karen Odden's books are just so incredible and this latest one I already know will be a phenomenal Inspector Corravan series. 

KAREN ODDEN received her Ph.D. in English literature from New York University and subsequently taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has contributed essays and chapters to many academic books and journals; she wrote introductions to novels by Dickens and Trollope for the Barnes and Noble Classics Series; and she served as an Assistant Editor for the journal Victorian Literature and Culture. She freely admits she might be more at home in nineteenth-century London than today, especially when she tries to do anything complicated on her iPhone.

All of her mysteries are set in 1870s London. Her first novel, A LADY IN THE SMOKE, was a USA Today bestseller and won a New Mexico-Arizona 2017 Book Award. Her second novel, A DANGEROUS DUET, introduces readers to Nell Hallam, an ambitious young pianist in 1870s London, who stumbles on a notorious crime ring while playing in a Soho music hall. In A TRACE OF DECEIT, Annabel Rowe, a young painter at the Slade School of Art, must delve below the glitter of the art and auction world to uncover the truth about her brother's murder.

In her fourth mystery, DOWN A DARK RIVER (November 2021), Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, a former thief and bare-knuckles boxer, is faced with a series of young women's corpses placed in small boats and sent floating down the Thames.

11/11/2021 Sissie Klein Is Completely Normal: A Novel (The Enchanted Rock Series, 2) By Kris Clink

 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ SparkPress (November 9, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 392 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1684630991

One mistake can steal your innocence. One promise can plague a friendship. One secret can tear apart a family.

Sissie Klein barely remembers the night that tore her from the carefree life she knew. Not long after the shocked teen is pushed into marriage, she’s rushed to the hospital where a catastrophic delivery seals her destiny.

Sissie is determined to give her daughter the opportunities she forfeited, but some fates can’t be avoided. Tragedy strikes, leaving behind a legacy of deceit—and an orphaned toddler.

Told with heartbreaking honesty and shrewd humor, Sissie Klein Is Completely Normal examines the ties that bind us—some inherited, others chosen—none without their share of agonizing tangles.

REVIEWS

"A warmhearted tale about second chances that will satisfy fans of romance and family dramas."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Reading Sissie Klein Is Completely Normal feels a lot like coming home. Kris Clink's stories are filled with warmth, heart, and characters you'd swear are real people. Don't miss this lovely book!"
--Trish Doller, author of Float Plan

"Sissie Klein Is Completely Normal is a bittersweet and compulsively readable reminder that no matter what life may hand you, it's never too late to carve your own path. Kris Clink is a gifted storyteller and I can't wait to read what she writes next."
--Camille Pagán, best-selling author of Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around

Once again, Clink delivers a beautifully crafted story, rich with family drama and all the emotions that come with it. Told with impeccably sharp wit, superb dialogue, and unrelenting heart, Sissie Klein Is Completely Normal is sure to keep readers up too late, eager to turn to the next page."
--Bethany Crandell, author of See Jane Snap

MY THOUGHTS:

This is a remarkable story about a young woman faced with unimaginable hardships yet persevere, no matter what life throws at her. The writing was easy to read, with great character building that endears the reader to the characters' story making them relatable and with the reader ready to root for their cause. Though I did not read book 1, which I will be fixing immediately, I still enjoyed the story arc and what I noted to be some reappearance of well loved characters from book 1.

This was an enjoyable and heartwarming read - well written. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kris Clink’s relatable characters rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat. When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mic and an understanding audience. Her pups run the house Kris shares with her doctor husband, who’s stretching his skills as an editor-in-training. Kris is a mom, an empty nester, and a huge fan of Willie Nelson. She loves talking about writing and books, and looks forward to attending your book club by Zoom until she can meet you in person. Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas.