The Piano Teacher

 

Melody Creston’s desperate escape from the abhorrent and villainous suitor, Fenwick Peele leads her to become a pianoforte instructor to the young and rambunctious Lady Victoria Roderick in the small village of Roderick Glen. Here we are introduced to wonderful characters in both the family estate and the village, some whom you would love to have as friends, and others who you’d rather avoid, but all you would like to learn more about their lives.

The suspense that was created as Mr. Peele’s endless desperate search for Melody and the inevitable encounter that occurs made this a highly engaging and exciting story. This is the first book in The Ladies of Roderick Glen and I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you to the author for an advanced reader copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Book:

She longs to escape a dreadful secret from her past, but can she ever run far enough to truly forget?

Melody Creston is left penniless following the death of her father. Desperate to escape the threat of an unwanted and dangerous marriage, she flees to the small village of Roderick Glen in the English countryside to begin life anew as a pianoforte teacher. She is hired to teach the daughter of the Earl of Rockingham and soon falls in love with the quaint village and its quirky residents. Despite her newfound freedom, she is haunted by the secrets of her past, as well as the constant fear that she will be discovered and forced to return to London.

Lord Henry Roderick is the younger son of the Earl of Rockingham and has no desire to obey his father’s wishes and help his brother attend to their family’s estate, Cheswick Park. Carefree and fun-loving, his reputation as a scoundrel often hides the true nature of his heart. Upon meeting Melody, he is instantly captivated by the beautiful piano teacher, and is determined to do whatever it takes to win her heart and become the man she needs.

Melody is intrigued by Henry and encourages him to follow his own path as he searches for his purpose in life. Shy and reserved, she is reluctant to admit her feelings for him, but as they grow closer, he begins to break through the barriers of fear and mistrust that surround her heart. As their love deepens, she becomes increasingly afraid of what will happen when he learns the truth of her turbulent past. Can love forgive a secret hidden in the shadows when it is exposed to the light of day?

A Gilded Lady

 

Caroline Delacroix is much more more than a personal secretary to the First Lady of the United States. Yes, she can plan events; yes, she can calm Ida McKinley when she is having emotional episodes, but she is much more than those things. She is a loving sister, a confidant, and is looking for a way to free her brother from a political prison in Cuba with President McKinley's possible assistance.

I admired Caroline's willingness to put aside her pride and own personal plans, to suffer ill treatment from the First Lady, and to be at her beck and call. She changes from a privileged socialite to a more compassionate and forgiving young lady. 

This is the second book in the Hope and Glory series with the third book soon to be released. Elizabeth Camden continues to write historical fiction in a compelling fashion, adding romance and suspense as masterfully as ever. I highly recommend this book! 

About this book:

Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the First Lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.

Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately attracted to Caroline's quick wit and undeniable charm, but his job leaves no room for distractions. Anarchist plots have led to mounting threats against the president, forcing him to put duty before his growing love for Caroline.

Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel face danger and heartbreak that shakes them to their core and tests all they know about love and sacrifice. 

A Castaway in Cornwall

 

More is happening in North Cornwall than you think. Suspense, superstition, suspicion, and a survivor are all wrapped up in this story of the dangerous coast of England. Being a fan of historical fiction I was appreciative of the language and customs of the area that Julie Klassen incorporated throughout the story. The apple peel tradition of finding your true love's name reminded me of some of the things we did when I was a child. 

About the Book: 

Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.

While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast--known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors--Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?

All is Mary and Bright

 

With the opening of the book of the Frost Fair where Mary literally falls for Andrew it sets the perfect backdrop for the rest of the story. Mary's selflessness, loyalty and duty to her family made me her such an endearing character. Her fiancé was horrible and self-serving and I was so glad to see that Mary got her happy ending and her future looks Bright. :)

Five Christmas romances and the Frost Fair that started them all.

This is the second book in the clean and sweet Regency romance Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair series. Although this forbidden love romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order.

Book 1: Her Silent Knight by Ashtyn Newbold

Book 2: All is Mary and Bright by Kasey Stockton

Book 3: Thawing the Viscount's Heart by Mindy Burbidge Strunk

Book 4: On the Second Day of Christmas by Deborah M. Hathaway

Book 5: The Christmas Foundling by Martha Keyes

A Daring Pursuit

Stephenia McGee not only brings to life the aftermath of the assassination of President Lincoln through historical documents but through that of Annabelle Ross, Lily Rose, and the Daniels brothers in this third and final book of the Accidental Spy series. 

This story further fleshes out the characters of the series, raising some in attitudes of people after the war of both the North and the South. The very serious social issues of race were addressed through personal conflict and relationships, exposing unjust prejudice and reconciliation. 

Listening to an Audible production of the exciting events of John Wilkes Booth’s escape and confrontation with the Union soldiers and Matthew Daniels’ encounter with a crazed Confederate ex-comrade made time fly by.  

If you are a historical fiction fan, I highly recommend reading these books since the plot is excellent and the events of the series were well researched. As an afterward in this book, Ms. McGee shares the source of the journal entries and newspaper accounts that she used. These were fascinating and you can read further details for yourself if you so choose since she shares where she found the information.

Thank you to the author for a free audible version of her book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Description of the book: 

When Annabelle failed to stop the nation’s first presidential assassination, not only did the country plunge into chaos, but she’s mistaken for one of the conspirators. Imprisoned and berated while waiting for trial, she wants nothing more than to return to Rosswood Plantation. But in order to gain her freedom she must decide between trusting a man from her past or keeping her faith in the increasingly distant soldier she’s come to love.

Forced to choose between his allegiances and the safety of the people he loves, Matthew finds himself swept into the most massive manhunt in history. John Wilkes Booth has disappeared, and everything Matthew holds dear rests on finding the assassin. But to finally bring the conspirators to justice, Matthew must first conquer his own demons. Can he discover the power of redemptive love, or will his future with Annabelle be another casualty of war?

★ A Daring Pursuit is a 2020 rewrite of the previously published title Labeling Lincoln (The Liberator Series book three)

The Duke's Refuge

 Lorri Dudley draws you immediately into the story as we see Georgia Lennox struggle to retrieve her trunks that have deliberately been pitched into the ocean as she disembarks.  Regardless of her safety, she is determined to rescue her belongings. Harrison Wells, who has been given the task of escorting to her father’s home, is both amused and alarmed as he watches her struggle with this impossible task. Thus, begins the relationship between spoiled, insecure Georgia, and wounded, cynical Harrison.

There are several aspects I enjoyed about the book. 1) The clever way the correspondence that opens every chapter tells another story that is occurring simultaneously. 2) The comedic events of Georgia’s clothing and how this plays a part in the story.  3) The flaws, struggles, and changes that occur in both Georgia and Harrison.  4) A rival suitor who has determined he wants Georgia. 

This is the first book in four of The Leeward Islands series.  I am looking forward to reading the next book, The Merchant’s Yield. 

About the book: 

Georgia Lennox has traded in her boyish ways for pink gowns and a coy smile to capture the eye of the Earl of Claremont. However, on the day she's convinced the earl will propose, Georgia is shipped off to the Leeward Islands to care for her ailing father. But when she arrives on Nevis, the last thing she expects is to learn that her abrupt departure was not at her father's bidding but that of the infuriating, yet captivating, island schoolmaster. And now her plans may well be shipwrecked.

Harrison Wells is haunted by the memories of his deceased wife and hunted by the subsequent women who aspire to be the next Duchess of Linton. Desiring anonymity, he finds sanctuary in the Leeward island of Nevis. He's willing to sacrifice his ducal title for a schoolmaster's life and the solace the island provides. That is until unrest finds its way to Nevis in a storm of pink chiffon—Miss Georgia Lennox.

As Georgia and Harrison's aspirations break apart like a ship cast upon the rocks, a new love surfaces, but secrets and circumstances drag them into rough waters. Can they surrender their hearts to a love that defies their expectations?

About the author: 

"Why I write...
I believe readers should be led on a heart journey. Romance should allow for an escape from everyday life. It should also lead us to a better understanding of the human condition and how God views us. I believe readers, like the heroines and heroes of stories, are not static creatures and can discover different aspects of themselves through empathizing with characters' comical mishaps and dramatic misunderstandings. I believe romance novels can depict a fallible human heart that can be made whole again by a merciful creator and remind us of the hope for the same."

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master's degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone-filled household.

Occasional Moments of Happiness: A Memoir

 I just finished Shana's autobiographical inspirational account of her struggles with bulimia, a terrible eating disorder. I admire her transparency and sharing her story of redemption. Through the account of her life she shares the struggles she had and how God brought good from it all. This remarkable story brings hope and knowledge that we are loved no matter what we face or decisions we make. Should you know of anyone who is struggling with an eating disorder or an addiction, Shana's story shares how it can be overcome.

About the author:

Shana Donyaei looks forward to her favorite holiday each year- summer. A time when she enjoys watching the ferry float by from her deck, gardening, and sunset walks along the beach with her husband, three kids, and her German shepherd. On any given day, you can find her in the checkout line at her favorite grocery store and in her kitchen, where she loves to whip up yummy ethnic cuisine. She resides in beautiful Kitsap Peninsula, near the town of Manchester, in Washington state.