Review - Of Love and Betrayal by Louise Lyndon + GIVEAWAY

Today's review is for a lovely historical fiction full of romance, 

Of Love & Betrayal by Louise Lyndon.

TITLE:    Of Love & Betrayal

AUTHOR:    Louise Lyndon

INFO:    Fiction, 231 pages

PUBLISHED:   Wild Rose Press, 2015

SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review 

ABOUT:   Aveline de Bondeville is on the run. Determined to keep out of the hands of the cruel Raimbaut de Blois she will do whatever it takes to stay alive. And so when she finds herself in the company of Troy de Gysborne she must quickly decide if she can trust him. But can she confess to murder knowing it would mean her certain death?

Troy de Gysborne did the unthinkable; he tore the bonds of brotherhood and left a path of destruction in his wake. And now Troy must face those he betrayed, including the father who long ago renounced him. But to confess to the crime he committed will cost him everything. Including Aveline. But can he remain silent if it means losing the woman he loves?

EXCERPT:  “What have they done to you?” Troy’s deep, baritone voice rumbled through her. She could not look him in the eye. “You needn’t be scared of me, wee fille. You have my word I will honor and protect you. I am not like those other men. I will do you no harm.”

Before she could say she truly wanted to believe him, Troy pulled her gently toward him and positioned her so she sat between his thighs. She did not lean back against him, her distrust like a solid piece of ice wedged between them. She gripped the edges of her blanket tightly and held it against her like a shield.

“You have only my word I will not hurt you.” The fine hairs on her arms stood on end as his warm breath danced across her neck. She closed her eyes and kept her back ramrod straight. Heat burned her cheeks as he nuzzled her neck. “And I pray in time you will accept my word as being truthful.”

She leaned ever so slightly against him. And when he wrapped his strong arms around her, she released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“It’s late. We should go back to bed.” Yet, she made no move to leave his embrace. Instead, she placed her hands on his thighs. The heat of him seeped into her palms, up her arms, and straight in to her heart. While she believed Troy when he said he would do her no harm, physically, Aveline knew there was more than one way to hurt someone.

~~~~~

MY TAKE:    This is the second book I've read by Louise Lyndon and I think she just keeps outdoing herself. I really enjoyed this story right from the beginning. She captured my attention and never lost it. 

The characters of Aveline and Troy were very well written. The interplay between them as well as the very obvious chemistry began building and just kept getting better. The fact that they were thrown into a relationship before they were in love. It really put an interesting spin on the tale.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

AMAZON  /  BARNES & NOBLE  /  KOBO

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Louise grew up in country Victoria, Australia, before moving to England, where for sixteen years she soaked up the vibrancy of London and the medieval history of England. She has since returned to Australia and now lives in Melbourne.

In 2013, Louise won first prize in the historical romance category of the Crested Butte Sandy Writing Contest for her story, The Promise, which has since been retitled and is now known as, Of Love & Vengeance.

When not writing, Louise can be found covered in mud, crawling under barbed wire and hoisting herself over twelve foot walls!

EMAIL  /  WEB   /  FACEBOOK  /  FACEBOOK 2 
TWITTER  /  PINTEREST  /  GOODREADS

Louise is generously gifting one lucky winner with a $10 gift card from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You can enter below. Be sure to visit all of the other tour stops for extra chances to win as well as to learn more about this lovely book. Good Luck!

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November 2: Unabridged Andra's
November 2: Straight from the Library
November 9: Romance Novel Giveaways
November 9: The Snarkology
November 16: LibriAmoriMiei
November 23: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

SPOTLIGHT - Lady Overton's Perilous Journey by Vikki Vaught + GIVEAWAY

TITLE:    Lady Overton's Perilous Journey

AUTHOR:   Vikki Vaught

INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 280 pages

PUBLISHED:  Enticing Pleasures Romance, 2015

GENRE:   Historical Romance

ABOUT:  When her son’s life is threatened, Anissa, Marchioness of Overton, seeks refuge by sailing to America. Before the ship reaches the high seas, sparks fly between her and Captain Alex Hawks. Although the young widow may be lonely, and afraid, she cannot risk the diversion a romantic entanglement could bring, no matter how much she wants to lose herself in the captain’s embrace.

The Captain vows to protect the young Lord Overton, but can offer no assurance that the marchioness will leave his ship with her virtue intact. Alex is drawn to Anissa’s beauty and courage, as a hummingbird is to the nectar of a flower. How long can he fight a losing battle before he surrenders and makes her his own?

Will Alex be able to keep this remarkable woman and her child safe? Will his passion for Anissa be enough or will their differences keep them apart?

EXCERPT:  At four o’clock in the morning, someone pounded on his door, waking him from a deep sleep. He jumped out of bed, grabbed his breeches, and pulled them on. By the swaying of the ship under his feet, he realized they must have traveled into a storm. He dashed to his door and threw it open. His boatswain stood in the doorway with worry written across his face.

Saluting, Elmer said, “Captain, we’ve run int’ a powerful storm, and I fear our foresail may be in danger o’ comin’ apart. I’ve got th’ men workin’ on it. I knew ya’d want t’ take a look at th’ damage.”

“I’ll come up as soon as I’m dressed. Inform Lawson I’m on my way.” After Elmer left, he threw on a shirt and grabbed his oilskin jacket, then ran out of his cabin, then up the companionway, bursting through the hatch and out on the deck. The turbulent seas tossed the ship around as if it were a small fishing boat. Waves crashed over the sides, drenching the deck. Fighting against the wind and rain, Alex struggled up to the bridge and took over for Lawson, then sent him to help his boatswain.

With the helm in his hands, Alex tried to steer them away from the storm. The fierce wind and rain bombarded the side of the ship. His muscles taut, he kept his footing as the rollicking deck moved beneath his boots. The jacket he had donned proved little protection against the fierce wind and rain. His drenched shirt clung to his body while the spray from the raging ocean mingled with the rain. Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the bridge as thunder boomed in the distance.

The ship veered to the left and he pulled sharply, righting the ship. He continued to battle the storm for hours, and finally, at the break of dawn, the storm died down, and the rain slowed to a steady drizzle. His arms trembled from the strain he had put on them while battling the storm. Once he had steered the ship out of danger, Lawson relieved him, and he went to assess the damage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Vikki Vaught started her writing career when a story invaded her mind and would not leave.

Over the last few years, she has written more than a half dozen historical romances and is presently working on her next. Her new release, Lady Overton’s Perilous Journey, is the first book in her Honorable Rogue series.

Vikki loves a "Happily Ever After", and she writes them in her stories. While romance is the central theme of all her books, she includes some significant historical event or place in all her novels.

While all her books are love stories, she has also written short contemporary sweet romances as Vikki McCombie and erotic romances using the pen name of V.L. Edwards.

For the last decade, Vikki has lived in the beautiful foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with her beloved husband, Jim, who is the most tolerant man in the world to put up with her when she is in a writing frenzy. When she is not writing or working her day job, you’ll find her curled up in a comfortable chair reading her Kindle, lost in a good book with a cup of tea at her side.

Website / Email  / Facebook / Twitter / Google+  

Pinterest / Amazon Author Page / Goodreads Author Page  

Amazon Smile

NOTE: The book will be on sale for $0.99 during the tour

Vikki is generously giving away a $15 giftcard to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble to one lucky winner. Be sure to visit all of the stops on the tours for extra chances to win.

October 26: Straightfrom the Library

October 27: UnabridgedAndra's

October 28: BooksChatter

October 29: TheReading Addict

October 30: Queenof the Night Reviews

November 2: Book-o-Craze

November 3: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

November 4: ChristineYoung

November 4: Paranormal Romanceand Authors That Rock - review

November 5: LouiseLyndon Romance Author Hear Me Roar

November 6: MarlowKelly History and other Ponderings

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Thank you Vikki and Goddess Fish Promotions for including  One Book Shy of a Full Shelf on this tour.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - My Lady Faye by Sarah Hegger

TITLE:    My Lady Faye
AUTHOR:    Sarah Hegger
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 230 pages
PUBLISHED:   Lyrical Press, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  

The Lady
The fair Lady Faye has always played the roll allotted her. Yet the marriage her family wanted only brought her years of abuse and heartache. Now, finally free of her tyrannical husband, she is able to live her own life for the first time. But someone from the past has returned. Someone she has never been able to forget. 

The Warrior
After years of servitude as a warrior for King and Country, Gregory is now free to pursue his own path: to serve God by becoming a monk. The only thing stopping him is Faye. Gregory has loved Faye since the moment he saw her. But their love was not meant to be. How can he serve God when his heart longs for her? He can neither forsake God nor the woman he loves. 

The Promise
When Faye's son is kidnapped, Gregory answers her family's call for help, only to find that even in the most dangerous of circumstances, neither can fight their forbidden attraction. An attraction that now burns brighter than ever before. And it is only a matter of time until it consumes them both. 

MY TAKE:   Most of you regular readers know that historical romance is my favorite type of love story. I'm a history buff and a sucker for love so it is the best of both worlds combined. This book hit all of the right notes for me. While it is the 2nd in the series, it is very much a stand alone read. Of course, I already have the 1st book in the stack to be read. Sarah Hegger is a new-to-me, must have author.

Faye and Gregory's story is full of depth. There is a lot of dark history on both sides that keeps them from being together. I enjoyed seeing the changes and growth in both characters as the story progressed. Neither they, nor the story ever became stale or stagnant as can happen sometimes in medieval tales. It kept me riveted until the last page and left me wanting even more of their story. 

I highly recommend this book and as I noted, I have already bought the first - Sweet Bea (Sir Arthur's Legacy: Book 1) so I can enjoy more of this setting by this talented author. 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

This book is available at:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

    

About the Author:

Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble. Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother. She currently lives in Draper, Utah, with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books.

For More Information

Visit Sarah’s website. Connect with Sarah

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Bold Seduction by Karyn Gerrard

TITLE:    Bold Seduction
AUTHOR:    Karyn Gerrard
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 121 pages
PUBLISHED:   Lyrical Press, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  An Intriguing Proposition

Passion. Seduction. Pleasure. These are the qualities of any courtesan worth her salt. As owner of The Starling Club, London's most notorious house of ill-repute, Madam Philomena McGrattan has seen it all, heard it all, done it all. There is little that surprises her anymore, and even less that excites her. So when she is presented a chance at an irresistible seduction, she can't help but rise to the challenge.  

A Dangerous Game

Studiousness. Practicality. Discipline. Such are the attributes of a good scholar, and such are the principles of Lord Spencer Hornsby has built his life around. Alone in the Welsh countryside, with only his wolfhounds for company, Spencer has thrown himself into his work. There is little time for the pleasures of society, not even to think of the joys of the fairer sex. But when an unexpected guest arrives at his isolated hunting lodge, Spencer cannot help but be baffled by the presence of this dangerously beautiful woman. And when he discovers the reason for her arrival, and the pleasures she promises, he cannot help but find himself irresistibly intrigued. 

MY TAKE:    This was a very enjoyable story. The author has done a thorough job of fleshing out her characters (no pun intended). They have the depth and backstory needed to make you really care about them and what is happening to them in the present story. 

Phil(omena) and Spencer are a perfect match with her being world-weary and he being world-wary. They balance each other out quite well. I think their strengths and weaknesses sort of dovetailed each others. 

If you are a fan of historical romance with a little bit of heat, this will suit you quite well. The sex scenes are very well written, not too explicit but just right. I highly recommend this story and am looking forward to the upcoming books starring Spencer's two brothers.
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

This book is available at:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

About the Author:

Karyn Gerrard lives in a small town in the western corner of Ontario, Canada. She whiles away her spare time writing and reading romance while drinking copious amounts of Earl Grey tea. A multi-published author with a few bestsellers under her belt, Karyn loves to write historical and contemporary romances. As long as she can avoid being hit by a runaway moose in her wilderness paradise she assumes everything is golden. She has been happily married for a long time to her own hero. His encouragement keeps her moving forward.   Find out more at karyngerrard.com.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Wedding Matilda by Heather Hiestand

TITLE:    Wedding Matilda (Redcakes Book 6)
AUTHOR:    Heather Hiestand
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 254 pages
PUBLISHED:   Lyrical Press, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS: Sugared violets, buttercream...but he craves her kisses most of all...  

Orphaned as a boy, Ewan Hales is proud to make his living as secretary to the manager at Redcake's Tea Shop. But the startling news that he's heir to the Earl of Fitzwalter changes everything. While tendering his resignation to lovely Matilda Redcake, however, Ewan is struck by her spirit, the luscious bow of her lips - and a realization, Matilda might not marry a working man - but will she wed a future nobleman?

Ewan's unruly hair and roguish kisses are tempting, but Matilda has far too many problems to consider romance. With sabotage at a cake factory threatening the family empire, she must focus her considerable willpower on keeping Redcakes from ruin - until she learns that her young son has been kidnapped. Together, she and Ewan must uncover the truth before they can savor the sweet freedom of love....

MY TAKE:   I was not familiar with the author or her delightful Redcake family before being sent this book for review. I usually don't like to come into the middle of a series, but this book is very much a stand alone read, and an enjoyable one at that. It is an easy read that flows from one scene to another and has definitely drawn me in to wanting to know more about this family and their adventures.

One of the things I noted in this book was that the story wasn't all pure romance. There was a lively thread of mystery and suspense running through it as well. I enjoyed trying to guess who the bad guys were and what would happen next. I also liked the fact that the sex scenes weren't overly or gratuitously done. It can be tiring if the main characters are always jumping into bed and there is no real story other than that. Ms. Hiestand's book is nothing like that. The scenes are natural feeling and fit well in the storyline. It makes for a believable progression with just the right amount of spark.

I highly recommend this book and am personally looking forward to starting in on the other books in this story. 
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

You can grab your copy of Wedding Matilda in print or ebook HERE.  Plus check out the rest of the series and get to know the Redcakes.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The King's Agent by Donna Russo Morin

Happy Release Day!

TITLE:    The King's Agent
AUTHOR:    Donna Russo Morin
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 418 pages
PUBLISHED:   Kensington, 2012
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

FROM GOODREADS:   The King’s Agent is based loosely on the life of Battista della Palla-a patriotic plunderer, a religious rogue-of the 16th century, a lifelong friend to the great Michelangelo. 


As the cloistered ward of the Marquess of Mantua, Lady Aurelia is a woman with a profound duty, and a longing for adventure. In search of a relic intended for the King of France, Battista and Aurelia cross the breathtaking landscape of Renaissance Italy. Clues hide in great works of art, political forces collide, secret societies and enemies abound, and danger lurks in every challenge, those that mirror the passages of Dante's Divine Comedy. It is an adventurous quest with undercurrents of the supernatural, powers that could change the balance of supremacy throughout Europe.

MY TAKE:   A fun book that I was very happy to get a chance to review. It is a historical romp set in Italy of the 1500s with a thief/hero/mystery man and a beautiful, secretive woman at the heart of the tale.  This doesn't even begin to describe it though..


A lot of ingredients and flavors spice up this engaging story from the beginning.  There are touches of fantasy, history and romance mixed in with a healthy helping of adventure in the vein of "Indiana Jones", "National Treasure" and "The DaVinci Code".  The references to various masterpieces like Dante's "The Divine Comedy" and appearances of such august persons as Michelangelo add lovely substance to a well-written fictional tale.  The real historical backdrop of Italy's changing political and religious scene sets the stage for many twists and turns that the reader won't see coming.  


I enjoyed the main characters of Battista and Aurelia.  The reader will become invested in their lives and their progress as they hunt down an elusive and legendary piece of artwork.  They have such dissimilar lives and backgrounds and yet they connect at a deep level.  The author did a great job of laying the groundwork for their paths to intersect and converge.  Their journey was peppered with a lot of ups and downs and other colorful characters.  I wanted to hate Federico, the marquess of Mantua, but he proves himself to be true.  As do Battista's best friend Frado and their wild bunch of merry men. 


Ms. Morin is very adept at describing the surroundings and details of what the characters are seeing and experiencing.  It makes it very easy for the reader to be right there with Battista and Aurelia as they traipse across the country in search of the elusive prize!  She also keeps you guessing with well-placed clues peppered throughout the story.  I did manage to figure part of the mystery out before the big reveal, but it was well worth the journey.  


A very helpful and thought-inspiring reader/discussion guide is included at the end of the book.  It would be great for a book club as this book has so many elements that any reader should be able to find something that resonates with them in this story.  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

The King's Agent is out TODAY and available at most retailers including:

Amazon, Kindle, The Book Depository, 

Barnes & Noble, Nook

Donna Russo Morin

Donna Russo Morin was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1958. Her writing endeavors began at age six and covered such timely topics as The Pink Pussy Cat for President and The Numbers 2 and 4 are in Love.


Traveling through adolescence on the wings of the ‘60s gave Donna a lot of grist for her writing   mill. Feminism, civil rights, the Vietnam War were all a disturbing yet highly motivating muse.   Donna found her voice in fiction and with the appearance of a new horror writer on the book scene, a little known author named Stephen King, she turned her pen to the gruesome and the grotesque.


After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Donna worked in marketing and advertising for large corporations and small non-profit arts organizations. When she had her children, she knew with a certainty that she needed to show them, by example, that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
In addition to writing and teaching writing, Donna has worked as a model and actor since the age of seventeen, when she did her first television commercial for Sears. Since then she has appeared in more than thirty television spots and print ads, everything from changing the oil in her car (that was acting) to modeling fur coats. She also appeared in three episodes of Showtime’s THE BROTHERHOOD, as well as in Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED.


Donna lives peacefully, close to the beautiful shoreline of Rhode Island that she loves so much, with her two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works in progress.


Connect with Donna:  website, Facebook, Twitter

I'd like to thank the author and Amy from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for including me in this tour.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter by Mary Ellen Dennis

TITLE:    The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter
AUTHOR:    Mary Ellen Dennis
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 474 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  A fast-paced and passionate retelling of the story of two timeless lovers who would die for each other. If only they didn't have to. This gorgeous romance by author Mary Ellen Dennis gives the poem a whole new depth and a happy ending.

"Take one highly successful Gothic romance writer who just happens to be an innkeeper's daughter; add one disillusioned, devil-may-care highwayman who robs only the rich on principle; set them down in the turbulent, hypocritical times of late 18th-century England; season with a dash of humor, a splash of the paranormal, and a dollop of danger; and let the adventures begin... A fast pace, fluid writing, and an exceptionally well-crafted plot..." - Library Journal

MY TAKE:     Loreena McKennitt's haunting musical version of "The Highwayman" by poet Alfred Noyes is what drew me immediately to this book.  I have always loved that poem and then Ms. McKennitt's lovely voice brought life to the words for me. It is one of my favorite CDs and gets plenty of play at our house.


So, on to the book by Mary Ellen Dennis.  I had high hopes that the story would basically be a fleshed out version of the original.  While the poem did provide a slight backbone for the book, it was more of a suggestion than a foundation.  I do realize that trying to create an entire full fledged tale out of a poem of 1000 or so words would be tough, but I really did expect a bit more resemblance to the original.


That being said, I did enjoy the story.  Elizabeth is a fun heroine.  She is strong and opinionated and her being an accomplished writer drew me to her.  I loved that she wrote Gothic Romance novels.  The fact that her book is what finally connects her and Rand is a lovely touch.


Rand is a perfect "Robin Hood" character.  He is suave and swashbuckling while still having what counts - a heart.  He and his "Bess" really do make a great couple and drive the story.  The supporting cast weren't especially helpful and I didn't care for most of them.


While I did say I'd have liked it to follow the poem a bit more, I really am glad that the ending for The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter is more upbeat than the tragic ending of the original Highwayman and his Bess.


Elements of adventure, romance, historical fiction and a bit of paranormal activity make for a fun read.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Available now at:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble



The Book of Secrets

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.