The Bird of Bedford Manor

 

About the Book

Book: The Bird of Bedford Manor

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction / Regency

Release Date: February, 2026

Bedfordshire, England, 1820: Ruined by the sins of her father, Juliet Finch is cast into a life of self-reliance. Survival is a harsh taskmaster, but she is a quick learner and excels at tracking and snaring wild game to feed herself. Juliet embraces her new identity until the day Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land—a crime punishable by death. Henry, however, has other offenses on his mind: namely, the troublesome stalker who’s making a misery of his sister’s life. To try to put a stop to her torment, Henry charges Juliet with tracking the elusive villain so he can be brought to justice. Using her skills, Juliet hunts down the rogue. . .but may just become the prey herself.

Reader favorite Michelle Griep has penned yet another masterpiece with this page-turning adventure that has it all:

• swoon-worthy romance
• clever turn-of-phrase
• colorfully memorable characters
• charming British setting

 Review: 

Ms. Griep has written a romantic Regency story with a twist that was unique and interesting. As a poacher, Juliet Finch lives in a state of catching just enough game to survive, and not wanting to rely on this for her and her aunt’s existence. When she finally got caught by Lord Henry Russell, whose land she was hunting upon, she faces the real possibility of either death or deportation. Surprisingly, Henry offers her a different option of using her stealthiness and observations skills to find the person who sends his sister, Charity, threatening messages. Taking this golden opportunity she determines to do everything she can to apprehend the culprit. With red herrings and clues along the way, I was invested to see if I could solve the case too. I loved the twists of justice, the faith the characters, and the relationship that grows between Juliet and Henry..

If you are a fan of historical romance this is a book to add to your TBR list. After the story the author has included interesting information pertaining to history to further the knowledge of certain things that were included in the novel.

I received a copy of this book from the author, Celebrate Lit, and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

 

 

More from Michelle

The Waltz: The Dance That Shocked Regency England

Post by Michelle Griep

I’ll be the first to admit it…I can’t dance a lick. Not a jig, not a reel, and certainly not anything that requires turning in rhythm without stepping on someone’s toes. If you ever spot me on a dancefloor, it’s because someone shoved me there or I lost a bet. Which is probably why the waltz both fascinates and terrifies me. A dance that actually expects you to glide gracefully while holding someone close? Absolutely not. And yet in Regency England, it became the talk of the town.

When the waltz swirled onto the dancefloors of England in the 1790s, it caused more shock than delight. Imported from Austria and southern Germany, it was a turning, closely-held dance—far too close for the comfort of polite society. Many called it indecent, warning that no respectable couple should stand chest-to-chest before a room full of onlookers. Some critics even claimed the dance “ignited dangerous feelings” and threatened to erode proper English restraint.

Shocking, right?

But fashions shift, and all it took was the Prince Regent giving the dance his approval in 1814. Overnight, the waltz transformed from scandal to sensation. By the 1820s, it was everywhere.

Here are a few fun bits of waltz trivia from the era:
• Some etiquette books warned that too much turning could cause “disorientation” or “undue excitement.”
• Early chaperones sometimes counted the number of turns, convinced it reflected a couple’s level of impropriety.
• A lady’s hemline was said to act like a “barometer” of a gentleman’s behavior—if it swayed too wildly, he was holding her too tightly.

In The Bird of Bedford Manor, set in 1820, this same world of rigid rules and whispered scandals forms the backdrop for Juliet Finch—resourceful, determined, and driven into the woods by her father’s downfall. When Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land, everything changes. What begins as a crime punishable by death becomes something far more dangerous as he charges her with tracking the stalker tormenting his sister.

Juliet can track anything. But this time, she may become the hunted.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 24

Devoted Steps, February 24

Bizwings Blog, February 25

Book Looks by Lisa, February 25

Where Faith and Books Meet, February 25

Sylvan Musings, February 26

Sydney Schmied Books, February 26

Lily’s Corner, February 27

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 27

Inspired by Fiction, February 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28

Texas Book-aholic, March 1

Simple Harvest Reads, March 1 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 2

For Him and My Family, March 3

The Bookish Pilgrim, March 3

Betti Mace, March 4

Cover Lover Book Review, March 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5

Blogging With Carol, March 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 6

Blossoms and Blessings, March 6

Stories By Gina, March 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 7

Holly’s Book Corner, March 8

Pause for Tales, March 8

Vicky Sluiter, March 8

Devoted To Hope, March 9

To Everything There Is A Season, March 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/zqeQC/the-bird-of-bedford-manor-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Novel Engagement

 A reckless wager. A forgotten promise. Two enemies in a race to the altar.

When a stormy night leads to a wager among bachelors, Rowan Ashworth finds himself bound by a formidable challenge: the last man to wed must pay one hundred pounds to the others. With several friends already married and another close behind, Rowan has little choice but to follow through on a childhood promise—to marry the woman his parents intended for him, a vexing woman who despises him.

Arabella Delafield has no intention of becoming Rowan’s bride—promises or otherwise. Rowan hurt her deeply when they were younger, and to forget it would be foolish. To escape the match, she launches a marriage campaign of her own, desperate to find a husband before Rowan can claim her hand. But when an unexpected encounter with a charming, bookish stranger derails her plans, she’s unprepared for just how familiar he feels.

A war of wills, mistaken identities, and surprise chemistry turn a childhood promise into a second chance neither expected—and a love neither can outrun.

Review: 

“It was quite possible that she hated me more than I detested her.” This is the perfect enemies to more story as Rowan Ashworth and Arabella Delafield have always been at odds with each other since childhood. Arabella has such a deep seated hatred of Rowan that she takes things in her hands to thwart her family’s plans of an engagement between the them. Her decision makes for some forehead-slapping and head-shaking that adds levity throughout the story.

Things to love:
dual POV
bookstore meeting
secrets
writer/ literary critic
Miss Page and Mr. Prologue
verbal sparring
humor
artwork
Mr. Clodwick

You’ll enjoy seeing how Rowan’s patience, understanding, and determination win Arabella’s heart. This is part of the six book in the Gentlemen’s Gamble series. I recommend reading this if you love historical novels you’ll want to read this clean Regency romance.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

An Unconventional Lady

Ella Wilde is no ordinary young woman. Outspoken, curious, and fiercely independent, she grew up in a world of natural philosophy, encouraged by her scientist parents to question everything. But when her mother dies mysteriously while studying phrenology in Austria, Ella is left with more questions than answers. Especially when a study is released claiming that a phrenological examination of Ella's mother prior to her death indicated mental instability, calling into question what really happened the night of her death. Years later, at a scientific symposium hosted by her father's school and focused on phrenology, Ella seizes the chance to clear her mother's name and debunk phrenology as pseudoscience.

Gabriel Rowe is a barrister with a mission of his own. Tasked with finding a runaway girl linked to the same phrenologist who will be speaking at the symposium, Gabriel's path leads him back to Keatley Hall--and to Ella, his childhood friend.

As the symposium unfolds, Ella and Gabriel join forces to expose the phrenologist's fraud. But with the audience enamored by the charlatan's charm and the stakes rising, they must navigate a web of deceit and danger. When the missing girl is found and the phrenologist vanishes with the symposium's funds, Ella and Gabriel embark on a thrilling journey to reclaim their reputations and discover the love and acceptance they've been seeking. 

Review: 

Ella Wilde has had the unique opportunity to grow up in a boys’ school. With a father as the headmaster, Ella is unlike other young women of her time. She is able to study, investigate, and attend the symposiums that the school hosts annually. Her mother died as a result of a fire, but was labeled as mentally unstable due to findings of a Regency-era science called phrenology. Ella is determined to prove that this was not true and to expose Dr. Bauer, the key speaker of the current symposium, as a fraud.

Gabriel Rowe, a former student of the school, is now a solicitor who also has questions concerning the doctor. Discovering the truth about Dr. Bauer was exciting and provides a very surprising ending. Seeing Ella and Gabriel’s relationship grow throughout the story through the investigation was done well. It wasn’t the primary focus, but yet you find yourself wanting to see what will happen next in their developing love story.

The study of phrenology was a central aspect of the book and one that I found unique to Regency romance. While I love reading about balls, I also appreciate learning about topics that I otherwise know little about through an interesting story such as this. Readers who enjoy history, mystery, and romance will enjoy this book.

I received a gifted copy from the publisher, UpLit Reads, and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.

Before the Dawn

 

About the Book

Book: Before the Dawn

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

A determined wife and a blind mining engineer—separated by fear, connected by love, and tested by darkness that threatens to tear them apart.

David Mackenzie was the most capable mining engineer in Colorado until a cave-in left him blind and filled with guilt over the deaths of his workers. Now he fears he’ll never be worthy of love or respect again. When his fiancée returns from nursing her sick aunt, he must find the courage to break their engagement before she wastes her life caring for a broken man.

Karen refuses to give up on the man she loves, but David has built a wall between them that grows higher with each passing day. When he tries to call off their engagement, she forces him into marriage through an unconventional lawsuit. Now she must find a way to break through his bitter shell and prove that her love hasn’t changed—before his fears and pride drive them apart forever and she loses not only the man she loves but also her chance at the family she’s always longed for.

When David’s cousin reveals a deadly secret about the cave-in, Karen and David find themselves trapped underground, forced to work together to survive. In the darkness, they must confront the fears that threaten to destroy them both. But even if they survive, can they find their way back to the love they once shared?

My Review: 

Karen Worth and David Mackenzie are planning on marrying soon, but when Karen returns after an out of town trip, she discovers that there has been a terrible mining accident that leaves David blind. What follows is a difficult time for the couple as they navigate miscommunications and David’s feelings of failure. I admired Karen that she did everything she could to help David adjust to his new normal and never gave up. There is a mystery that involves the mining accident that keeps you wanting to find out what really happened. The faith of Karen and David was evident and I appreciated seeing them lean on God when things got difficult. 

“David, blind or not, is what I want, and I’m willing to fight for him. I’m willing to do whatever I can to assure him of my love.”

This is part of the Brides of the West series, which are novellas. I have enjoyed reading these clean romances and can recommend them to readers of all ages. 

I received a gifted copy from the publisher and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

 

 

 

 

More from Erica

My story, Before the Dawn, is set in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As a girl born and raised in Central Kansas, the first time I visited mountains, I was in awe…and also a little worried. Having grown up in a land where you can watch your dog run away for three straight days, not being able to see very far when in between mountains was a bit claustrophobic.

My children, growing up in SE Minnesota, had a similar experience. We were able to take the kids to Colorado several years ago, which is where I first became interested the history of Colorado Mining.

We took the kids to Idaho Springs, where we toured a mine and ore processing facility from the 1880’s. The Argo Mine was fascinating. When I ask my kids about what they remember, it’s always the panning for gold. My daughter reminded me that I was the first in the family to find any gold in my pan, a few little bright flakes, upon which many an adventurer has wagered his life.

The kids also got to sift through a box of sand and dirt to find colorful stones. As my son was enamored with agates and polished rocks at the time, this was the highlight for him.

When I wrote Before the Dawn, I tried to make the setting a character. The story is so tied to the setting, that if I changed where the story took place, it wouldn’t be the same story at all.

I hope, as you read Before the Dawn, you are drawn into the mountains, that you can feel a bit of the same sense of awe that I felt the first time this prairie girl saw the Rockies.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 5

Sydney Schmied Books, February 5

Books Less Travelled, February 6

She Lives to Read, February 7

Devoted Steps, February 7

Book Looks by Lisa, February 8

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 9

Lyssa Loves Books, February 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 10

lakesidelivingsite, February 11

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 11

Texas Book-aholic, February 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 13

For Him and My Family, February 13

Bizwings Blog, February 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 15

Blossoms and Blessings, February 15

Cover Lover Book Review, February 16

Holly’s Book Corner, February 17

Devoted To Hope, February 17

Pause for Tales, February 18

Simple Harvest Reads, February 18 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/QhNDV/before-the-dawn-celebration-tour-giveaway

Even After This

 When you're ready to live again, love often has a way of finding you.

Four years after tragedy, Meredith Harper is tired of hiding in her corner of Texas and living life like a game of dodgeball. She packs up her grief, awkward social graces, and sizable life insurance in search of a vacation and investment property in Colorado Springs. A botched dinner reservation throws her into the path of a bona fide movie star, and Meredith pushes through her comical celebrity neurosis to discover he is charming but a terrible dancer.

A viral video of a daring rescue makes Harlan Holcombe's celebrity star stronger, with millions of his fans deeming him a real-life Hercules. But a minute of heroism doesn't absolve his past mistakes.

As Harlan and Meredith spend more time together, he helps her believe there might be more for her not just in life but in love. And she might be part of the solution to restore the legacy he fears is tarnished. But what happens when the path to redeem his mistakes collides with the path to redeem her loss?

Review: 

“Is it possible that there’s still something left for me in this life?” 

Meredith Harper has endured a tragic accident that no mother or wife should ever have to experience. After four years of grieving, she decides to take a giant step of faith get out from under the dark cloud that has been a part of her life and go to Colorado to see about purchasing property. Ms. Clack did a remarkable job of showing the process of going through grief and finding a new beginning. 

Harlan Holcombe should be a man to avoid since he is a movie star and Meredith becomes an awkward, babbling mess. But Harlan can see past all of that and recognize a woman who could really use a friend. He doesn’t tiptoe around Meredith’s grief, but instead helps her through it. He is there to defend her, to comfort her, and push her to do things she wouldn’t do otherwise. 


Things to love:

humor

Famous People Probation

dancing

he falls first

Skee-Ball tournament

childhood friends

mom stickers

Thanksgiving

Abba ringtones

skiing

overcoming fear

I highly recommend reading this book. You are sure to love the humor that is threaded throughout the story along with seeing love in action. This is the first book in the Shelter and Sky series, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books. 

Thank you to Haven Fiction and UpLit Reads for a gifted copy. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. 

Marrying the Matchmaker

 

As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn't share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she's caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents' anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis's Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker's turn to be lucky in love?

Hedlund delivers another captivating romance with sizzling chemistry in this romantic conclusion to her beloved matchmaking series.

Review: 

Bold and impetuous Zaira Shanahan finds herself in a difficult situation with the up-and-coming matchmaker Bellamy McKenna. Her laser focus of wanting first-hand experience for a romance scene that she is writing had me shaking my head and thinking, “This is going to get messy!”. Bellamy is a complex man; while he has an uncanny ability to find matches for people, he is reticent to further his attraction and relationship with Zaira. This is mostly due to his fears as he states, “The matchmakers have advice on relationships for everyone else, but they can never make the advice work for themselves.”

Things to love:
humor
secret careers
fake engagement
close family
orphans
Irish superstitions
claddagh ring
art gallery

I was so happy to see Bellamy get his own HEA. He has been my favorite character throughout the series, and I have been eagerly awaiting his story. It was even better than had imagined with great character development and the message of truthfulness, and trust over fear.

Sadly, this is the fourth and final book in the series, A Shanahan Match Book. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Shanahans and the matches that Bellamy made for this tight knit family.

Thank you for my gifted copy from Bethany House Fiction and Great Reads Book Promotion. I was not required to write a positive review.

An Appearance of Impropriety

As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.

Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.

Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.

A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.

My Review: 

I haven’t read many courtroom dramas, but I enjoyed the cases that were presented. Not only is there the lawyer, James Dean Cash, but there is also a rising in ranks judge, Mahalia Jackson. First impressions and appearances are challenged as Mahalia sees an advertising billboard of Mr. Cash before meeting him and categorizes him as an ambulance-chasing lawyer. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Mahalia is “voluntold” to assist with Cash’s Junior Jurors program, she sees that he is a compassionate man who feels called to help widows and orphans, and at-risk teens.  

Mahalia knows that she has to prove herself to be capable and competent in order to advance in her career. She has built up walls and finds it difficult to let others in. I loved seeing James stand with her in difficult times. He let her be vulnerable with no judgement. He shared his past with her so she could be comfortable and realize that he had come through awful things but did well with God’s help. 

Things to enjoy: 

elevator incident

Mahalia’s clothes

junior jurors

military vet

faith thread

I received a copy of the book through the publisher and Let’s Launch. I was no obligated to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.