A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER by @VirginiaHeath_ @HarlequinBooks @MillsandBoon #SundayBlogShare

A Warriner to Protect Her by Virginia Heath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Warriner to Protect Her is a Harlequin / Mills and Boon regency romance and is due for publication in May 2017. I read an ARC copy for review.

Violet Dunstan is a Tea heiress. Her family wealth was made through the tea trade and she is due to inherit upon her upcoming twenty-first birthday. However, her guardian uncle has other ideas—he agreed to her kidnapping by the Earl of Bainbridge for an enforced marriage at Gretna Green. The pair would then split her inheritance after the marriage.

However, Violet, or Letty as she prefers to be called, is a wilful young lady. She seizes an opportunity to jump from the carriage that thunders through the night, and dashes for the cover in the woods. Hours later, drenched and freezing cold, local landowner, Jack Warriner, discovers her whilst returning home.

Jack takes her to the home he shares with his three brothers, where they bring her back from the brink of death. A cautious Letty tells them essential snippets of her circumstances, and a covert trip to the village reveals that Bainbridge’s men are searching for Letty, with a reward offered for her safe return.

A determined Jack vows they will protect her until her birthday, when they will take her back to London. Letty brings warmth and friendship to the Warriner family home. She soon charms the menfolk, although Jack’s behaviour towards her blows hot and cold. He finds Letty both intriguing and frustrating, yet he battles with his responsibilities to his brothers, the family home and his fears about his family reputation.

Regular readers of this genre know the story arcs: boy meets girl, the ups and downs of their will they won’t they relationship and the expected wrapped up ending. The pull for the reader is how they actually get there, the details of those ups and downs, the break-up and make-up moments.

I enjoyed Jack and Letty’s tale; this is the first of the Wild Warriner series, with books promised for each of the brothers in turn. Look out for book #2 in July.

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Book Description

An heiress in distress and an earl in disgrace…

When heiress Violet Dunston escapes from an abduction she finds an unlikely protector in Jack Warriner―a member of one of England’s most infamous families. Ensconced with mysterious Jack behind his manor’s walls, soon escape is the last thing on Letty’s mind!

Jack may be an earl but his father’s exploits have left him with nothing to offer except a tarnished name. He’s turned his back on the ton, but with Letty tempting him day and night, he finds himself contemplating the unthinkable―a society marriage!

About the author

I live on the outskirts of London with my understanding husband and two, less understanding, teenagers. After spending years teaching history, I decided to follow my dream of writing for Harlequin. Now I spend my days happily writing regency romances, creating heroes that I fall in love with and heroines who inspire me. When I’m not doing that, I like to travel to far off places, shop for things that I do not need or read romances written by other people.

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THE WHISPERER by @ElsaWinckler #Romance with a #SouthAfrica setting @HarperImpulse

The Whisperer by Elsa Winckler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Whisperer is a Harper Impulse romance set is South Africa. Cilla Stevens is a school teacher who has the ability to communicate with animals. Cilla has been asked to assess a difficult stallion; however, when she arrives she overhears a heated argument between the owner and his stable hand, primarily about her methods.

Cameron Rahl is a tough scientific based farmer, and horse whispering goes against all his beliefs. He’s hostile to both Cilla and her methods; however, when he finally meets her, he is floored by her beauty and his body’s reaction to her touch.

Cilla approaches Bravo, the difficult stallion, talks soothingly to him, calms him down and gains his confidence. She opens a connection to him and sees images which tell of his plight: he’s frightened, wants the freedom to run and has a yearning for a mare he’s scented, yet cannot find.

All this is re-told to Cameron and Ken, as well as the need to get Bravo checked over by the vet for anaemia. Cameron refuses to listen, he’s bad tempered, confused and grumpy about it all. Cilla has turned his world upside down, with her ideas, beauty and constant presence in his thoughts.

Cameron isn’t the only one feeling confused. Cilla too feels how her body reacts when she sees Cameron, but she can’t help Bravo if he won’t accept what she does. Can the desire to help the troubled horse make them put aside their own relationship issues, or will Cameron’s self-coping brick walls around his heart stay bound forever?

This was a sweet romance and the South African setting a lovely touch. For me there was one too many “will they, won’t they” situations for the couple to get through. Just occasionally the dialogue was also a little stilted, but I’m well aware this might be my British reading of a book from a South African author and we will have different speech expectations.

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Book description

Loving him could destroy her…

High school teacher Cilla Stevens has always been different, especially in how she connects with animals. When she calms a stray dog during an incident at school, she’s asked to help a nearby farm with a difficult horse.

Cameron Rahl has had a very different relationship with animals since his mother died in a horse riding accident. But now he’s inherited his family’s farm, he’s determined to never let anyone affect him that way again.

Until he meets Cilla. He tries to stay away from the gorgeous horse whisperer with the potential to tame him, but something keeps pulling him close. And as much as Cilla tells herself she can keep it casual, she knows they’re too connected to be ‘just a fling.’

Will Cilla’s heart win out? Or will it take history repeating itself for Cameron to realise just how much he needs her?

About the author

I write love stories because I love reading them. I like the heroines to be feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity and should of course, be gorgeous!

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Black Waters (Tainted Water #2) by @TheIndiaRAdams #NA #Romance series #wwwblogs

Black Waters by India R. Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blackwater is book #2 in the Tainted Water New Adult romantic novella series. This is Reether Jones’ story of events which we read about in book #1 Blue water. As well as being from Reether’s POV (or Link as he’s also called) I felt it answered some of the questions and gaps which readers may have had whilst reading the first book.

Reether prefers the peace and quiet of underwater swimming; he’s lucky to live with a lake in his backyard. For years he’s swum in the lake with best friend Whit, but the book opens with him horrified as she begins to drown whilst trying to save another.

With adolescence, Link and Whit have moved from best friends to falling in love with each other; however, everyone sees this, but them. Connie is currently Link’s girlfriend, but when Whit and Crash get together, Link is consumed with jealousy.

Crash, aka Harold Thompson, is the son of a drug baron. When Link finds out, he tries to keep Crash away from Whit, especially as Crash’s dad was behind the drugs which killed Whit’s brother. Link vows to keep Whit safe as she sleeps alone in her home; he camps outside her house each night, but he’s not the only one on night patrol. Crash, too, is keen to protect Whit. Their sole purpose turns them from enemies to friends; Link learns more about Crash, his tortured life and the real danger that Whit is in.

Shocked to learn that Crash, Link and Whit’s parents were once all friends, Link reels from new information about his own parentage. As the net around Whit closes in both Link and Crash vow to put their lives first before that of the girl they love.

Heart-warming heightened passion from two young men as they sit on the cusp of a dangerous adult world. I enjoyed book #1 and it was good to see the story from Link’s eyes. I will warn you that this book deals with the horrors of human trafficking; however, it shows them in a suitable way for the new adult readership.

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Book Description

THIS NOVELLA IS THE SEQUEL TO BLUE WATERS. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU READ BLUE WATERS FIRST.
The blue water Whit once loved now looked black because it was claiming her, taking her from me.
Whitney Summers is Link’s best friend. He would do anything for her, even sacrifice their friendship to protect her. Whitney believes she understands what is transpiring in her life, but so much stirs beneath the surface. As her closest friend and protector, Link faces the darkness in his own life to guard the girl he loves. 
This is Link’s story…
There was no beauty in her dying that day…

About the author

India R. Adams is an author/singer/songwriter who has written YA and NA novels, and the music for the Forever series.

To talk with India, you can join her Goodreads group Empowering Perfect Imperfections: 
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/…

or visit her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/IndiaRAdams/

or comment on her pictures at:
https://www.instagram.com/indiaradams/

Being a survivor of abuse, has inspired India to let others know they have nothing to be ashamed of. She put her many years of professional theater background to the test and has written fictional stories with a shadow of her personal experiences. She says, “I’m simply finding ways to empower perfect imperfections.”

Another cause India feels needs change, is Sexual Slavery. She has joined forces with jewelers to design beautiful ways to raise money for non-profit organizations. 

Even though India writes about serious subjects such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, and Human Trafficking, she has a magnificent sense of humor, as do the characters she creates. Perfectly balanced between laughter and tears, her readers see how to empower their own perfect imperfections.

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EAGLE RIVER by Isabelle Kane #NA sports themed #Romance @KaneIsabelle #weekendblogshare

Eagle River by Isabelle Kane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Eagle River is a New Adult sports themed romance set in and around Wisconsin and revolves around the sport of American football.

Kjersten and Galen were school sweethearts but broke up when Galen’s mother died. Unable to deal with the loss Galen cut Kjersten off, but never forgot her. When he sees her with a rival football star at a local fair, Galen’s jealousy rockets. He vows to apply to a college away from Kjersten.

Galen’s father is a disabled drunk, but Galen’s always had lots of support from his football coach, a man troubled by a secret he holds. At coach’s wedding, Galen and Kjersten are brought together once more, but their relationship path is still a rocky one, just how many times can a girl be left dangling before she walks away?

This storyline theme is a popular one, with high spirited players and a love triangle. I would like to see it have another run through editing to iron out areas with clunky dialogue, typos and areas where it needs it a bit of a polish to make it more of an enjoyable read.

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Book Description

Rivals, Galen Odgers and Cam Fawst have shared many things. Both are favored sons of Eagle River Wisconsin, quarterbacks of the same legendary football team. Both have been raised by strong women, and both love the same beautiful girl. But there is a secret about one of them, a secret that a mother took to her grave, that his high school coach swore never to reveal, and one whose consequences continue to reverberate. Can love survive the ultimate betrayal and the revelation of a decades old secret?

About the author

Isabelle Kane believes that romance and love are among the most delightful aspects of the human experience. She seeks to provide her readers with rich tapestries of stories in which love is just one element of the forces that intertwine the lives of her protagonists. She believes every dreamer deserves the adventures and escape offered by an exciting novel. The greatest sources of joy and inspiration in Isabelle’s life are her husband and their three children. Isabelle is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and holds an MA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 

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Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT ECLIPSE LAKE by @MaeClair1 #Romance #Mystery

Today’s team review is from Noelle, she blogs at http://saylingaway.wordpress.com

Noelle has been reading Eclipse Lake by Mae Clair

Eclipse Lake is the latest book from popular author Mae Clair. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of romance, but I enjoyed this book because the romance had a good dash of mystery thrown in.

The story takes place mainly in the small town of Onyx, which lies on the edge of Eclipse Lake. As you might suspect, it has some dark secrets, and one of them is the troubled past of widower Dane Carlisle, owner of a successful security company. Dane left Onyx under a cloud fifteen years earlier and now wants to reconnect with his older brother Jonah, a park warden. He returns to Onyx with his adopted teenage son, Jesse, child of his wife. The reader is quickly ensnared in the enmity between Dane and his brother, who can’t forgive Dane for failing to return when their mother was dying. Adding to the tension is Roy Harland, sheriff of Onyx and father of Brenda, who disappeared around the time Dane left Onyx. Harland has always thought Dane has something to do with her disappearance.

Romance rears its head with the arrival of Ellie Sullivan, world-traveling nature photographer, whose latest assignment brings her to Eclipse Lake. Her first encounter with Dane is contentious, but as things go, she finds herself overwhelmingly attracted to him. Jesse also finds puppy love with Paige Taggert, daughter of the town’s deputy and quickly becomes enmeshed in the lives of the teens of the town, all of whom are super nice.

The mystery begins when a rain storm reveals the skeletal remains of the sheriff’s daughter, and Dane’s past comes back to haunt him.

The story made me think of Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” Dane is the strikingly handsome, super-rich, clean-as-a-whistle man, Ellie is the beautiful young woman, and Jesse alternates between mature, rationale adult and whining teenager. I know this is the traditional format for a romance but the characters are a little too good to be true. The sheriff, who brings the real tension to the story, is one dimensional.

What does ring honestly is the relationship between the brothers, once close, now bitter. The resentment of Jonah comes through loud and clear, as the various facets of their lives are shown to be complicated by the past.

This is a fairly squeaky-clean romance with an unexpected ending to the mystery of the who killed Brenda Harland. This saved the book for me, the non-romance reader. It’s well-written and -plotted, which are the hallmarks of the author and undoubtedly why she has so many ardent followers.

I would have to recommend this book to any die-hard romantics.

Book Description

Small towns hold the darkest secrets.
Fifteen years after leaving his criminal past and estranged brother behind, widower Dane Carlisle returns to his hometown on the banks of sleepy Eclipse Lake. Now, a successful businessman, he has kept his troubled past a secret from most everyone, including his seventeen-year-old son. 
But memories in small towns are bitter and long.
Ellie Sullivan, a nature photographer for a national magazine, has a habit of ping-ponging across the map. Her latest assignment leads her to Eclipse Lake where she becomes caught up in the enmity between Dane, his brother Jonah, and a vengeful town sheriff. When freshly-discovered skeletal remains are linked to an unsolved murder and Dane’s past, Ellie is left questioning her growing attraction for a man who harbors long-buried secrets.

About The Author

A member of International Thriller Writers, Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. 

Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, mystery, suspense and a hint of romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats. 

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at www.MaeClair.net

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Rosie’s Review Team #RBRT THE CROWN SPIRE by Catherine Curzon @MadameGilflurt #TuesdayBookBlog

Today’s team review is from Liz, she blogs at https://lizannelloyd.wordpress.com/

Liz has been reading The Crown Spire by Catherin Curzon and Willow Winsham

Do you yearn for the world of dashing highwaymen and spirited women in glamorous 18th century dresses? Then be careful what you wish for. This is also a world in which only men have power and marriage can be a trap.

In The Crown Spire we become acquainted with Alice Ingram married for 20 years to an abusive, unpleasant man and her young niece, Beth, who is completely unaware of her aunt’s unhappiness. Fleeing along the Great North Road, they are suddenly in dire danger until two masked men save them and deliver them into the safe hands of the Bishop of Edinburgh. Both women find it difficult to forget their rescuers but once in Edinburgh they become entangled with two other men. Beth is quickly captivated by charming innkeeper Edward Hogan, even though he is well below her station but Alice maintains her dignity and has constant arguments with respectable doctor, James Dillingham.

Edinburgh of 1795 is, as you might expect, a city of charm and danger, but the lack of propriety shown by Beth is astonishing. Alice is a more empathetic character and the reader enjoys becoming closer to the reticent doctor. As in all good fiction, they have secrets, but love and passion will conquer all, until the dramatic events of the last section of the book threaten everyone’s happiness.

The description of the taverns give a sound historical authenticity to events but personally I would have liked to have read more about everyday life in the streets of Edinburgh. The fast-moving story is difficult to put down and I hope that there will be other romantic adventures, in this style, to follow.

Book Description

Scotland, 1795

When the coach carrying Alice Ingram and her niece, Beth, to Edinburgh is attacked, they’re grateful for the intervention of two mysterious highwaymen who ride to their rescue. Beth is thrilled by the romance of it all, but Alice, fleeing her brutish husband, has had more than enough drama in her life. 

As the women find sanctuary in a tavern on the Great North Road, Beth is thrilled to meet Edward Hogan, the roguish publican. Despite the difference in ages and backgrounds, the couple have instant chemistry and when Ed invited Beth to visit his Edinburgh tavern, she resolves to get to know him even better. Yet Beth is also taken with the highwayman who rescued her; after all, there’s something irresistible about a rogue. 

Shaken from the attack, Alice grudgingly allows herself to be seen by Doctor James Dillingham, Ed’s best friend. Though Dillingham sees the telltale signs of physical abuse on Alice, she refuses to speak of it. Dillingham is dour and Alice frosty, and the two take an instant dislike to each other, so why does their shared coach journey to Edinburgh the following day seem to sizzle?

Once in Edinburgh, Beth starts secretly spending time with Ed, who she begins to think might know more about those highwaymen than he is letting on. By day, Alice sorts Dillingham’s paperwork at the charity hospital he runs yet by night she sneaks off to meet her own highwayman, travelling the backroads of the city with the masked figure. Slowly, Alice is coming back to life. But will the husband she is fleeing find her out? And will her highwayman come to her rescue again? 

Set during the heady days of the Georgian era when bodysnatching and highwaymen were never too far away, The Crown Spire is a thrilling romantic adventure rich with excitement and packed with historical detail.

About the authors

Catherine Curzon

Catherine Curzon is a royal historian, best known for her non-fiction books Life in the Georgian Court and Kings of Georgian Britain.  She also writes a fascinating 18th century history blog under the nom-de-plume of Madame Gilflurt.

Her work has been featured on the official website of BBC History magazine and in publications such as Explore History, All About History, History of Royals and Jane Austen’s Regency World.

She has provided additional research for An Evening with Jane Austen at the V&A, which she has also presented around the country.

Willow Winsham

Willow Winsham is the author of Accused: British Witches throughout History and she brings readers regular tales of witches and witchcraft on her blog The Witch, the Weird and the Wonderful

Combining a passion for research and history with a love of storytelling, she dedicates her time to investigating some of the most intriguing stories from the history of the British Isles.

When she isn’t digging out tantalizing historical tit bits or tracing elusive family members, she is busy home educating her two children.

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INTO THE SHADOWS by @MarieJones14057 Irish #Romance #SundayBlogShare

Into The Shadows *** NUMBER 1 BOOK *** by Marie Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Into The Shadows is a romance set in Dingle, Ireland. Lily Crossways recently found a ghostly figure in the background of a beach photo she’d taken whilst on holiday. Lily swore the beach was empty when she took the photo, yet Lily is convinced the woman needs her help.

The draw to return to Dingle is so strong that Lily sets out for Ireland once more. She begins showing around her photo and finds she opens a Pandora’s box of suppressed memories.

David’s sister has been missing for several years, searches have been fruitless, but when Lily shows him the photo, he can’t believe his eyes. At first he thinks it is a hoax, but Lily wins him round and they begin a new search. Their digging also opens old wounds which link Lily’s family to Dingle and more than one person needs to face their past before they can move forward.

This is a light easy read in a lovely setting and the paranormal thread was an interesting storyline, I wasn’t quite convinced with Lily’s character leaping from a shy introvert type to a strong adventurous leader and all round heroine, perhaps she just hadn’t found her passion in life and Dingle was meant to be her true life path? Recommended for lovers of Irish themed romances.

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Book Description

Arriving home from a short holiday in Dingle, Lily Crossways makes a staggering discovery – on one of her photos taken on ‘Inch’ beach, a woman’s desperate face is staring directly at her. Yet Lily knows she was alone that day on the beach. 
Who is she, is she even real, and why has she appeared to Lily? 
Unable to let the woman go, Lily makes the uncharacteristic decision to leave behind her safe world in England and return to Dingle to try and find her. Her search eventually leads her to cafe owner David Carson, this woman’s brother, who hasn’t seen his ‘missing’ sister in five years. 
Lily must now convince him to trust in her, taking bold steps to prove herself to him, and together track down his sister before it’s too late. 
Yet are either prepared for the hidden secrets they are about to uncover in their earnest desire to find her, and the impact it will have on those they love? 

About the author

where I loved nothing more than writing stories into my special A4 lined exercise book.

I remember my English teacher reading out one of my stories to the whole class and encouraging me to keep writing.  Later in life, I went on to study creative writing at evening class.

My favourite place to write is in my lounge when the house is quiet and my kids are out (though have learnt to write around noise!).

I have always been an avid reader from the first moment I could read, and some of my favourite authors are Kate Moreton, Santa Montefiore, Philippa Gregory, and Nicholas Sparks to name a few. Any book that grips me, will always pull me in.

Around writing and family life, I also work part time as a Teaching Assistant at a local primary school, every day encouraging the budding talent of our future writers.

I’m married, and we have two gorgeous children. I’m loving being in my 40s and highly recommend it!

My other passions include photography, travelling and pencil drawing. I ran my own photography business for a few years and had my photos exhibited.

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many countries around the world, yet Ireland still remains one of my all time favourite countries. What an amazing world, full of God’s beauty and creation, we live in…

Whether I am writing stories, photographing or drawing, everyday men and women with all their amazing complexities will always fascinate and inspire me.

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#NewRelease WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DUBLIN by @AmandaLaneley #Romance #Dublin #fridayreads

What I love about dublin by Amanda Laneley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What I Love About Dublin is a HEA ending romance. Twenty something Sara has come to Dublin for five months to teach Spanish. She’s leaving behind a broken heart in Chile when she broke up with her ex after they wanted different things from their relationship.

Her contact at the University gives her an address for a flat share but her new start is shaky when she’s told they are only taking boys for flatmates. With no where else to go it’s up to Sara to try to win round Daniel. Daniel wants to adhere to the “no girls” rule but struggles with his attraction for Sara and their common love of travel. There follows a tempestuous on / off relationship between the couple, fortunately ending in a HEA finale.

This is a dialogue lead story, relying on the dialogue to move the storyline forward, for this reason it is slow paced and takes away the delight of the setting. There are some good secondary characters which support the two main characters and add some interest to the story.

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Book Description

Let’s suppose you are a heartbroken woman trying to get over the pain of a failed relationship. You’ve always wanted to see the world. What do you do? Perhaps you would do what Sarah does: travel alone to Dublin and leave your worries behind. She wants to start from scratch, to forget about it all; to enjoy the lush green countryside, the Celtic music, the famous pubs. However, her life turns upside down when she finds herself living under the same roof as Daniel, a handsome yet stubborn Irishman. 
Both Daniel and Sarah have their reasons for not falling in love, but love has other plans. 
Things become more complicated because love affairs are prohibited between housemates. This is an unbreakable rule that also applies to the three other residents: a shameless womanizer, an absent-minded musician and a new female best friend, intrusive and meddling. It’s a fun and exciting intercultural household for Sarah to adapt to! And as if that wasn’t enough, she also has to deal with Daniel’s heated misunderstandings, with an insistent ex-boyfriend and some compromising situations with a very sexy Frenchman.
This is a new life in Dublin and there is certainly a lot to love!

About the author

Amanda Laneley is passionate about writing and exploring the world. She has traveled through five continents, collecting anecdotes and stories that she turns into novels.
She loves the movies of Meg Ryan and the novels of Jane Austen. She adores learning and thinks that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it. She loves to dance, laugh and share a beer with good friends.
She was a professor, entrepreneur and hypnotic therapist before devoting herself to writing.

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THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE by @VirginiaHeath_ @HarlequinBooks #TuesdayBookBlog

The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide by Virginia Heath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide is a Georgian historical romance from the Harlequin stable. The book is set in London in 1816.

Amelia Mansfield is a companion to Lady Worsted, they are travelling from Bath to spend a month with her nephew in London, once the daughter of a Viscount, Amelia suffered a terrible loss when he turned both her mother and Amelia out, in a cold-hearted move. Left penniless, they did the best they could on the streets of London. When Amelia’s mother died in the work-house, Amelia became determined to improve her position and worked hard to get a job and a place to live. But her interest and support of those wanting radical change in the city got her into trouble. Her luck changed when she applied for the job as ladies companion, but it took her away from London.

Returning now to the city Amelia has plans to visit her old haunts and help the poor at a local soup kitchen whenever possible. She’ll need to be discreet as they’ll be staying with the sixteenth Duke of Aveley.

Bennett Montague was a Duke and a politician. Dedicating his whole life to follow the plans and footsteps of his father, his life is rather lonely. The need for a wife has lead to him make a list of potential candidates. His guidelines for suitability of a wife-to-be are from a book he once wrote from lessons learnt from his own father, and there is a long line of ladies who would love to make the final cut.

Amelia has read Bennett’s book describing it as “drivel”, she’d never marry an aristocrat, they are pompous and out of touch with reality and she shows no qualms at voicing her opinion and challenging Bennett about his.

Bennett’s search for the perfect bride are soon turned upside-down with Amelia’s presence in his life, but how could a Duke ever consider marrying a mere ladies companion?

There were some great sub-characters in this book; Lovett, the butler, Bennett’s Uncle George and Lady Worsted, to support Bennett and Amelia is this charming rags to riches romance.

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Book Description

“Choosing a wife is not a task that should be undertaken lightly.” 

Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, is seeking the perfect bride. He’s narrowed his search to five worthy “Potentials”…until the arrival of his aunt’s companion unravels his carefully laid plans. 

Having fought for everything she has, Amelia Mansfield is incensed by Bennett’s wife-selection methods. But as she’s forced to spend time in his company, she begins to see another side to Bennett—and that man is infinitely more tantalizing and enticing… 

About the author

I live on the outskirts of London with my understanding husband and two, less understanding, teenagers. 

After spending years teaching history, I decided to follow my dream of writing for Harlequin. 

Now I spend my days happily writing regency romances, creating heroes that I fall in love with and heroines who inspire me. 

When I’m not doing that, I like to travel to far off places, shop for things that I do not need or read romances written by other people.

AFTER THE FALL By Carissa Lusk @ckelley_lusk #NA #Romance #TuesdayBookBlog @UFBooks

After the Fall by Carissa Lusk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After The Fall is a New Adult (NA) Paranormal romance set in West Virginia. The book opens with a prologue involving dreams of falling in love by the sea. Amity Day is studying English at college, as the new term starts she is feeling a little lost after her long term boyfriend transferred to a different University.

Marcus Riley seems to have eyes only for Amity in the classes he shares with her and she can’t help feeling intrigued and attracted to him, yet she’s in love with Alex and she feels guilty about spending time with Marcus.

Marcus is a talented artist and he is very attentive and determined. He writes poetry for Amity and she finds herself in a love triangle. Behind it all are dreams which feel more like memories, jumbles of messages which Amity tries to grasp.

At Christmas it looks like Alex is about to propose to Amity and fear of losing Marcus forces her to decide between the two but has she made the right decision? Her family knew all about Alex, but she keeps Marcus a secret and lies to her family. When Marcus reveals that they’ve shared past lives together Amity begins to understand some of her dreams, but still something isn’t right, why are there questions which Marcus refuses to answer?

The love triangle theme is very popular in the YA / NA romance market, it works well and adds intensity and drama. Who wouldn’t want men fighting over them? It’s good for the female ego. The intrigue and mystery surrounding Marcus and Alex makes you want to find out their connection and thus keep turning the pages.

My review is based on a free copy of the book given to me as part of this Ultimate Fantasy Book Tour.

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Book Description

Amity cries out into the darkness that surrounds her, hoping for a solitary voice to provide direction; she hears two.

Amity knows she loves Alexander, yet the loneliness brought on by the miles that separate them can only be curbed by the cryptic affection of Marcus Riley. She can’t understand the strange familiarity she finds in the wild blue of Marcus’s eyes, but she will soon learn his secret.

Plagued with dreams and memories of lives beyond her own, a tragic fate will emerge from the ashes of a love scorned. Eventually, she will discover the dark truth that will leave her running for her life, and she will learn who sacrificed everything to save it.

Buy Links

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About the author

Carissa Lusk grew up in a small town in West Virginia and never moved far from home. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Concord College. She credits her love of reading and writing to Kate Chopin, Emily Bronte, and her mom. After the Fall is Carissa’s debut novel.

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