Blog Tour: Review of Mail Order Cowboy by Victoria James

Author: Victoria James

Publisher: Entangled: Amara (December 27, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: 364 pages

Hope Roberts has a strict No Cowboys Allowed policy. Between raising her daughter, running her business, and trying to settle into her new ranch, Hope has no room for romance?especially when it comes to cowboys. What she needs is someone to help fix her ranch. But the only person to respond to her ad is the one man Hope still blames for her husband’s death… 

In Wishing River, Dr. Dean Stanton is pretty much a legend. Cowboy, doctor, heir to his family’s ranching empire?everyone knows and loves him…with the exception of Hope. But Dean doesn’t trust a complete stranger to keep Hope and her daughter safe. And despite their troubled past, he’s still the best cowboy for her job.

Bit by cautious bit, Hope’s little family of two is making room for the man she once thought of as her enemy. Until one day, Dean looks like the perfect exception to her “no cowboys” rule. But he’s been keeping a secret from her that could destroy their newfound family…

Each book in the Wishing River series is STANDALONE:
* The Trouble with Cowboys
* Cowboy for Hire
* Wishing For A Cowboy
* Mail Order Cowboy

Mail Order Cowboy is the fourth book in the Wishing River series.   This is Hope  and Dean's book.  As a series overall, the books have been enjoyable.  They are fairly clean romances and each can stand on its own.  This one was a sweet romance between two people who need each other, but aren't ready to take that leap.   I have been looking forward to Dean and Hope finally getting together.  They had been teased for a while.  I had a lot of fun watching them figure things out.  I loved Dean in the end.  I was cheering him on in that scene with his father.  I also really enjoyed the epilogue.  I do recommend this one as well as the series.

About Victoria James

Victoria James is a romance writer living near Toronto. She is a mother to two young children, one very disorderly feline, and wife to her very own hero. Victoria attended Queen’s University and graduated with a degree in English literature. She then earned a degree in interior design. After the birth of her first child, she began pursuing her lifelong passion of writing. Her dream of being a published romance author was realized in 2012. www.victoriajames.ca.

Instagram features:
Monday, December 26^th: @pastbookish
Monday, December 26^th: @randi_reads
Monday, December 26^th: @booksandcoffeemx
Tuesday, December 27^th: @nurse_bookie
Wednesday, December 28^th: @nsiabblog
Thursday, December 29^th: @gallaghergirlreads
Friday, December 30^th: @nerdy_book_lover_1987
Thursday, January 5^th: @megsbookclub
^{Friday, January 6th}: @everlasting.bookworm 

REVIEWS:
Tuesday, January 3^rd: @sarahs.bookish.reviews 
Tuesday, January 3^rd: Jathan & Heather
Tuesday, January 3^rd: SusanLovesBooks
Wednesday, January 4^th: @temmathomas
Thursday, January 5^th: @kingarthurof_cat_onsville 
Friday, January 6^th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers 
Monday, January 9^th: @jenniaahava
Monday, January 9^th: Stranded in Chaos
Monday, January 9^th: The Romance Dish
Tuesday, January 10^th: @edensbookden
Wednesday, January 11^th: @bookish.heidi
Thursday, January 12^th: @books_and_biewers 
Friday, January 13^th: @lowkey.bookish 
Friday, January 13^th: From the TBR Pile
Monday, January 16^th: @readaholicdeb
Wednesday, January 18^th: @infinite.readlist 
TBD: Friday, January 6^th: @thesleepybookworm

Blog Tour: review of The Sweetheart Fix by Miranda Liasson

Author: Miranda Liasson
Publisher: Entangled: Amara (November 29, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages

Juliet Montgomery absolutely loves her small town of Blossom Glen, Indiana, and everyone loves her. Except for the fact that she’s a couples counselor who suffered a very public breakup that no one can forget. And now her boss asks her to take a step back…which is exactly when the town’s good-lookin’ and unusually gruff mayor offers her an unexpected job.

Jack Monroe absolutely loves being the mayor of his small town. Except when he actually has to talk to people. Can’t he just fix the community problems in peace? Like right now, he’s mediating the silliest dispute two neighbors could possibly have. When the town sweetheart steps up and solves everyone’s problems in five minutes flat, Jack realizes what this town really needs…is a therapist.

Juliet is able to soothe anyone–other than the surly mayor, it seems. But there’s a reason they say opposites attract, because all of their verbal sparring leads to some serious attraction. Only, just like with fireworks, the view might appear beautiful–but she’s already had one public explosion that’s nearly ruined everything…how can she risk her heart again?

Each book in the Blossom Glen series is STANDALONE:
* The Sweetheart Deal
* The Sweetheart Fix

My thoughts:

The Sweetheart Fix is the second book in the Blossom Glen series.  This one is Juliet and Jack's story. It definitely works well as a stand alone.  While I didn't love this one as much as the first book, I still quite enjoyed it. It took a little while to get going in the beginning. I thought Jack and Juliet were cute together.  It was fun to watch them fall in love while working on themselves.  I appreciated Juliet wanting to figure herself out before really committing.  The way the town ended up embracing the both of them was quite endearing.  I do recommend this one. 

About the Author

Miranda Liasson is a RWA Golden Heart winner and an Amazon bestselling author whose heartwarming and humorous small-town romances have won accolades such as the National Readers’ Choice Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and have been Harlequin Junkie and Night Owl Reviews Top Picks. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and three kids in a charming old neighborhood which is the inspiration for many of the homes in her books. mirandaliasson.com

IG features:
Monday, November 28^th:  @nerdy_book_lover_1987
Tuesday, November 29^th: @nsiabblog
Tuesday, November 29^th: @randi_reads
Tuesday, November 29^th: @booksandcoffeemx 
Wednesday, November 30^th: @nurse_bookie
Wednesday, November 30^th: @whatkarinareads
Thursday, December 1^st: @gallaghergirlreads
Friday, December 2^nd: @subakka.bookstuff
Friday, December 2^nd: @mary.mary_library 
Saturday, December 3rd: @shook_sbooks
Saturday, December 3rd: @bookedwithheather
Sunday, December 4^th: @coffee.break.book.reviews
Sunday, December 4^th: @purrfectpages
Tuesday, December 6^th: @travelerswife4life
Wednesday, December 14^th: @everlasting.bookworm

Reviews:
Thursday, December 1^st: SusanLovesBooks
Monday, December 5^th: Books and Bindings 
Monday, December 5^th: @onemused
Tuesday, December 6th : Jathan & Heather
Wednesday, December 7^th: @kingarthurof_cat_onsville 
Wednesday, December 7^th: THE ROMANCE DISH
Thursday, December 8^th: @readaholicdeb
Friday, December 9^th: View from the Birdhouse
Tuesday, December 13th : Stranded in Chaos
Wednesday, December 14^th: @readingwithremy
Wednesday, December 14^th: Books Cooks Looks
Thursday, December 15^th: @sarahs.bookish.reviews
Friday, December 16^th: @kristens.reading.nook
Monday, December 19^th: @amysbooketlist
Monday, December 19^th : Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers 
Monday, December 19^th: FROM THE TBR PILE
TBD: Thursday, December 8^th: @books_and_biewers   
TBD: Monday, December 12th : @bookmom22 
 

Blog Tour: Review of Hide by Tracy Clark

Author: Tracy Clark
Publisher: Thomas and Mercer
Publication Date: January 1, 2023

From acclaimed author Tracy Clark comes a page-turning mystery featuring hard-boiled Chicago detective Harriet Foster, who’s on the hunt for a serial killer with a deadly affinity for redheads.

When a young red-haired woman is found brutally murdered in downtown Chicago, one detail stands out: the red lipstick encircling her wrists and ankles.

Detective Harriet Foster is on the case, even though she’s still grieving the sudden death of her partner. As a Black woman in a male-dominated department, Foster anticipates a rocky road ahead acclimating to a new team and building trust with her new partner isn’t coming easily.

After another victim turns up with the same lipstick markings, Foster suspects she’s looking for a serial killer. Through a tip from a psychiatrist, Foster learns about Bodie Morgan: a troubled man with a twisted past and a penchant for pretty young redheads with the bluest eyes. As Foster wades into Morgan’s sinister history, the killer continues their gruesome assault on Chicago’s streets.

In her desperate race to catch the murderer before they strike again, Foster will have to confront the darkest of secrets–including her own.

My thoughts:

Hide features Harriet Foster, a seasoned detective starting in a new precinct hoping for a fresh start after the death of her partner.  Her first case out sends her on the hunt for a serial killer.  I wish I could say I enjoyed this one.  For me, it was a bit slow.  I am not a fan in general of the "tortured detective".  Harriet just had too much happen to her before the book even got started.  Her partner killed herself, her son died and she was divorced.  I mean how much can happen to one person?  The msytery was fine.  But I just wasn't a fan of the characters.  Not enough to read the next book.  However, just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean it won't be for you.  Give it a try.

About Tracy Clark

Tracy Clark is the author of the highly acclaimed Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring Cassandra Raines, a hard-driving African American PI who works the mean streets of the Windy City dodging cops, cons, and killers. Clark received Anthony Award and Lefty Award nominations for her series debut, Broken Places, which was shortlisted for the American Library Association’s RUSA Reading List and named a CrimeReads Best New PI Book of 2018, a Midwest Connections Pick, and a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Broken Places has since been optioned by Sony Pictures Television. Tracy’s short story “For Services Rendered” appears in the anthology Shades of Black: Crime and Mystery Stories by African-American Authors. She is the winner of the 2020 and 2022 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award, also receiving a 2022 nomination for the Edgar Award for best short story for “Lucky Thirteen,” which appears in the crime fiction anthology Midnight Hour. A Chicago native, she works as an editor in the challenging newspaper business and roots for all Chicago sports teams equally. She’s a proud member of Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime, and she sits on the boards of Bouchercon National and the Midwest Mystery Conference. Find her on Facebook (https://facebook.com/tclarkbooks), Twitter (@tracypc6161), Instagram (@tpclark2000), or her website (https://tracyclarkbooks.com).
Instagram features:
Tuesday, December 6th: @coffee.break.book.reviews 
Friday, December 9th: @allys.book.corner
Tuesday, December 13th: @just_another_mother_with_books
Friday, December 16th: @nissa_the.bookworm 
Saturday, December 17th: @megsbookclub
Wednesday, December 28th: @allthebooksalltheways
TBD: Wednesday, December 7th:  @nurse_bookie  
TBD: Thursday, December 8th: @mrsboomreads 
Reviews:
Wednesday, December 7th: Reading Reality
Saturday, December 10th: @whatkarinareads
Monday, December 12th: @books_and_biewers   
Monday, December 12th: @brigittereads on TikTok
Tuesday, December 13th: @amysbooketlist 
Tuesday, December 13th: From the TBR Pile
Thursday, December 15th: @groundedinreads
Thursday, December 15th: @hellobookstash
Friday, December 16th: @lovemybooks2020 
Saturday, December 17th: @biblio.jojo
Saturday, December 17th: @shobizreads 
Sunday, December 18th: @erynereads
Monday, December 19th: @bookishblondegirl
Monday, December 19th: @abookwormwithwine
Tuesday, December 20th: @addictedtobooks86 
Wednesday, December 21st: @thebookishalix
Thursday, December 22nd: @seasonedreader
Friday, December 23rd: @bookish.kels
Friday, December 30th: IG: @welovebigbooksandwecannotlie and TT: @welovebigbooks

Blog Tour: Review Of The Matchmaker and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman

Author:  Robin Bielman

Publisher: Entangled: Amara (October 25, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages

Callie Carmichael has a gift for making bridesmaid dresses, some even call them magical. Somehow, every person who’s worn one of her dresses has found love. Real love. And as long as that happily-ever-after is for someone else, Callie is happy. Because she’s fully over getting her heart broken…which is why her new roommate is definitely going to be a problem.

After being overseas for six months, Callie’s only choice is to stay with her best friend’s ridiculously hot brother, Hunter Owens. Cowboy, troublemaker, and right now, the town’s most coveted bachelor. Only, Hunter isn’t quite the player she thought. And if it weren’t for her whole “no more love” thing, their setup could get confusing really fast.

Now, Hunter wants Callie to make him a best man suit?a “lucky for love” kind of suit. But what happens if she makes the suit and he finds true love…and it isn’t her?

Each book in the Windsong series is STANDALONE:
* The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy
* The Matchmaker and the Cowboy

My thoughts:

The Matchmaker and the Cowboy is the second book in the Windsong series.  This is Callie and Hunter's story.  So, I did ultimately like the story.  I just didn't love it as much as the first one.  I'll be honest it was because of Callie.  I just couldn't warm up to her.  She did grow on me toward the end, but I just didn't love her for Hunter for a lot of the story.  She just really had too much to work through.  I did like the ending.  I also look forward to reading the next book.  

About Robin Bielman

Robin Bielman is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, frequent coffee shops (and by frequent she means daily but she’s trying to break the habit), and spend time with her high school sweetheart husband and two sons. Visit her online at robinbielman.com.

FEATURES:
Monday, October 24^th:  @nerdy_book_lover_1987  
Monday, October 24th: @readingforamoment 
Wednesday, October 26^th:  @nsiabblog 
Wednesday, October 26^th:  @everlasting.bookworm
Thursday, October 27^th: @randi_reads 
Friday, October 28^th: @onemused
Friday, October 28^th: @bookish.heidi
Saturday, October 29^th:  @lowkey.bookish 
Wednesday, November 9^th: @books_and_biewers

REVIEWS:
Tuesday, November  1^st: SusanLovesBooks
Tuesday, November  1^st: ROMANTIC READS AND SUCH
Wednesday, November 2^nd: @readaholicdeb
Thursday, November 3^rd: @bookmom22 
Friday, November 4^th: Stranded in Chaos
Saturday, November 5th: Helen’s Book Blog
Tuesday, November 8^th: JATHAN & HEATHER
Wednesday, November 9^th: @daniereads87
Wednesday, November 9^th: Books Cooks Looks
Thursday, November 10th:  @secretreadinglife
Monday, November 14^th: From the TBR Pile
Wednesday, November 16^th:  @purrfectpages
Thursday, November 17^th:  @sarahs.bookish.reviews
Thursday, November 17th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Friday, November 18th: @abduliacoffeebookaddict23 
TBD: Friday, November 11^th: @travelerswife4life
 

Blog Tour: Guest Post from Patricia Crisafulli, Author of The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor

Author: Patricia Crisafulli

Publisher: Woodhall Press (September 6, 2022)
Paperback: 394 pages

Amid a mountain of rain-soaked donations to the Ohnita Harbor Public Library rummage sale, Gabriela Domenici finds a small box that contains an odd-looking cross. When the carved center turns out to be ivory and a clue links the cross to Catherine of Siena, a medieval saint, Gabriela turns to her expertise as an authenticator of historic documents to lead the quest to discover the truth about this mysterious object. But the cross isn’t the only secret in town: first, a beloved Ohnita Harbor resident is found floating in the harbor and then someone else is murdered on the library lawn. As Gabriela races to solve the mystery of the cross, she discerns between infatuation and what could be the start of true love. All the while, she must stay one step ahead of the danger that slowly encircles her.

Enjoy this guest post from Patricia Crisafulli:

How a Long-Ago Poetry Class Helped Me Write Mysteries

 

By Patricia Crisafulli

 

            I am not a poet—not by a long shot. I neither think nor write in rhyme or meter. But there I was, sitting in a small classroom on the Northwestern University campus for “Poetry for Prose Writers,” a required course for the master’s in fine arts (MFA) degree program.

Dutifully, I learned rhyming couplets and composed a final project in iambic pentameter, which I enjoyed for the challenge, if nothing else. But the real value of this class was the importance choosing just the right word in each line of poetry, for sound as well as meaning.

Of course, we prose writers also pay close attention to word choice. But arguably, the stakes are even higher for poets because they put comparatively fewer words on the page. Adopting the discipline of making every word count, the professor told us, would help make us better prose writers because we would not settle for a serviceable noun, verb, or adjective when a more precise or descriptive choice could be found.

As a mystery writer, I returned to what I learned in “Poetry for Prose Writers,” particularly in describing the setting, conveying emotions, and evoking sensations. Each time, I tried to challenge myself to swap out words and use phrases that evoked the senses. This is an ongoing endeavor and, I believe, there will always been room for my improvement. Nonetheless, here are a few examples from my new novel, The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor.

·         Capturing the “castle.” My novel is set in a library that was built 160 years earlier in the Norman Revivalist style to look like a castle (just like the library in my hometown). This afforded me many opportunities to use language to describe not only this unique setting, but also the mood. For example, in the opening, the protagonist, Gabriela, finds an abundance of donations for the Friends of the Library rummage sale: “Boxes of every size and shape crowded the steps, piled like a hoard of invaders against the library’s double doors with their heavy iron hinges.” This isn’t generosity in Gabriela’s view, but an intrusion into her orderly world.

·         Fraying threads of fear. In another scene, Gabriela is stalled in a taxi in the Midtown Tunnel between Queens and Manhattan because of an unexplained traffic delay. As her mind conjures disaster scenarios—“an attack, bombs going off, the tunnel entrances and exits blocked, the air filled with smoke and chaos, and all of them trapped in the tunnel”—her fear builds. But Gabriela is in the back seat of a cab, so her actions have to be small. Here’s what I choose to show her unraveling mental state: “Gabriela worried a loose button on her jacket, feeling the threads start to give.” Then, when the cars suddenly begin to move again and the taxi exits the tunnel, Gabriela’s relief is as oversized as her panic: “Sunshine and blue sky greeted them like a second chance.”

·         The scent of blood. One of my characters, Mike, has a physical reaction to an artifact found among the donations—his hand blisters and bleeds, sometimes profusely. “Blood oozed from the largest wound and dripped onto the floor. Each spatter made a gruesome starburst, and a yeasty, meaty smell hit Gabriela’s nostrils.” More than just describing the sight of blood, I tried to create a visceral reaction in the reader:

 

As the poet Mary Oliver observed, “The language of the poem is the language of particulars.” And so it should be for all creative writing, especially mysteries. With so much at stake—plot, pacing, character development, conflict, danger, and ultimately resolution—we need to lean on each word to do more than merely convey information. Indeed, fear, danger, despair, hope, love, and redemption—all that and more must reside within each word we pluck from our vast store of language and put on the page.

 

Patricia Crisafulli as an award-winning, New York Times Bestselling author and received her MFA degree in fiction from Northwestern University. Her latest book and debut novel is The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor, the first in the Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series, from Woodhall Press (September 2022).

 

About the author:

Patricia Crisafulli is an award-winning author. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Northwestern University, where she received the Distinguished Thesis Award in Creative Writing. She also received the grand prize for fiction from TallGrass Writers Guild/Outrider Press for a story, Loon Magic and Other Night Sounds, for which she was also nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Patric ia is the author of a collection of short stories and essays titled Inspired Every Day, published by Hallmark, and is also the founder of FaithHopeandFiction.com.

TLC tour schedule:

Saturday, September 17th: The Cozy Book Blog – author guest post
Monday, September 19th: From the TBR Pile – author guest post
Saturday, September 24th: @abduliacoffeebookaddict23
Monday, September 26th: Bookchickdi
Wednesday, September 28th: @kristens.reading.nook
Thursday, September 29th: @paws.read.repeat
Friday, September 30th: @fashionablyfifty
Monday, October 3rd: Laura’s Reviews and @laurasreviews_1
Monday, October 3rd: @kenzathome
Tuesday, October 4th: From the TBR Pile
Thursday, October 6th: What is That Book About – author guest post
Thursday, October 6th: Kahakai Kitchen
Sunday, October 9th: Subakka.bookstuff and @subakka.bookstuff
Wednesday, October 12th: @thebookishalix
Wednesday, October 12th: @always_reading1
Friday, October 14th: @books.ashley.reads
Monday, October 17th: @welovebigbooksandwecannotlie
Monday, October 17th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks
Wednesday, October 19th: @booksandcoffeemx
 

Blog Tour: Review of Much Ado About Dukes by Eva Devon

Author: Eva Devon 
Mass Market Paperback: Entangled: Amara (August 23, 2022)
Publisher: 352 Pages

Shakespeare meets Bridgerton in this witty and lively marriage-of-inconvenience romance.

As far as William Easton?the Duke of Blackheath?is concerned, love can go to the devil. Why would a man need passion when he has wealth, a stately home, and work to occupy his mind? But no one warned the duke that a fiery and frustratingly strong-willed activist like Lady Beatrice Haven can also be a stunning, dark-haired siren who tempts a man’s mind, body, and soul.

Lady Beatrice is determined to never marry. Ever. She would much rather fight for the rights of women and provoke the darkly handsome Duke of Blackheath, even if he does claim to be forward-thinking. After all, dukes?even gorgeous ones?are the enemy. So why does she feel such enjoyment from their heated exchanges?

But everything changes when Beatrice finds herself suddenly without fortune, a husband, or even a home. Now her future depends on the very man who sets her blood boiling. Because in order to protect his esteemed rival, the Duke of Blackheath has asked for Beatrice’s hand, inviting his once-enemy into his home…and his bed.

Each book in the Never a Wallflower series is STANDALONE:
* The Spinster and the Rake
* Much Ado About Dukes

My thoughts:

Much Ado About Dukes is the second book in the Never a Wallflower Series.  I'll be honest, I think I liked this one less than the first book.  Maybe this series just isn't for me. Since I'm not a fan of Shakespeare or Bridgerton, I guess that should have been a sign.  I had a hard time connecting with the characters.  I didn't feel any chemistry between William and Beatrice, other than being told they were hot for each other every page.  I found Beatrice to be overbearing and exhausting.  The book was a bit repetitive.  Constantly being told they were hot for each other, but could never love each other got old.  The ending was predictable.  It was just a miss for me.  However, it has gotten good reviews, so maybe try it for yourself.

About Eva Devon

USA Today bestseller Eva Devon was raised on literary fiction, but quite accidentally and thankfully, she was introduced to romance one Christmas by Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory novella The Present and a romance addict was born. Now, she loves to write her own roguish dukes, alpha males, and the heroines who tame them.

Features:
Monday, August 22nd: @nsiabblog
Monday, August 22nd: @latestbookcrush
Tuesday, August 23rd: @barr_bookworm
Wednesday, August 24th: @everlasting.bookworm
Thursday, August 25th: @nerdy_book_lover_1987 
Friday, August 26th: @kingartherof_cat_onsville
Saturday, August 27th:  @lowkey.bookish 
Tuesday, August 30th: @reading.with.rylanne
Wednesday, August 31st: @a_stylish_bookworm 
TBD: Wednesday August 24th: @beastreader
TBD: Monday, August 29th:  IG: @bookswithsamantha and TT: @bookswithsamantha
 
Reviews:

Monday, August 29th: @temmathomas 
Tuesday, August 30th:  @infinite.readlist
Thursday, September 1st: Stranded in Chaos and @sarastrand9438
Thursday, September 1st: @daniereads87
Friday, September 2nd: What is That Book About  – feature
Tuesday, September 6th: Books, Cooks, Looks
Wednesday, September 7th: @onemused
Wednesday, September 7th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, September 8th: @plottrysts 
Friday, September 9th: @fringebookreviews 
Monday, September 12th: @sarahs.bookstack
Tuesday, September 13th: Laura’s Reviews  and @laurasreviews_1
Wednesday, September 14th: @lpm_reads
Thursday, September 15th: @shopcoffeekids 
Friday, September 16th: @christireadsalot
Friday, September 16th: From the TBR Pile
Monday, September 19th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Wednesday, September 21st: @sarahs.bookish.reviews
 

Blog Tour: Review of A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid

Author: Stacy Reid

Mass Market Paperback: 400 Pages
Publisher: Entangled: Amara (June 28, 2022)

A sexy, sumptuous Victorian start to a new historical series from USA Today bestselling author Stacy Reid.

Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford is desperate. Having been ruined in the eyes of society years ago for one foolish, starry-eyed mistake, she spends her days secreted away at her family’s crumbling estate, helping her brother manage the land but not able to truly live life the way she’s always dreamed. When her brother admits to just how dire their finances have gotten, she takes it upon herself to procure employment…but the only one who will even consider the scandalous idea of a female secretary is the brilliant, ruthless, and infuriating Earl of Creswick.

A Matter of Temptation is the first in a new series set in Victorian England.  It is Mina and Simon's story. Simon hires Mina as his secretary.  She needs money to help save her family estate.  The biggest problem is both of them spend their time trying to resist temptation.

 I really enjoyed this one.  It was a lot of fun watching this couple fall for each other.  Their banter was wonderful and made me laugh. Their attraction was intense and steamy.  I loved Simon, especially what he was willing to do for Mina in the end so that they could be together.  It was cute how he kept firing her only to have her say, "no thanks.".  I did get a little slowed down by the reform political talk. At times, it felt a little like an info-dump/history lesson.  Despite that, I still loved this book.  I highly recommend it.

About Stacy Reid

Stacy Reid is an avid reader of novels with a deep passion for writing. She especially loves romance and adores writing about people falling in love. When Stacy is not writing, she spends a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead, watching Japanese anime, and playing video games with her love, Du’Sean Nelson. stacyreid.com

Features:
Monday, June 27th: @latestbookcrush
Monday, June 27th: @onemused
Monday, June 27th: @fringebookreviews
Tuesday, June 28th: @shopcoffeekids
Tuesday, June 28th: @a_bookish_dream
Wednesday, June 29th: @bookrecsbymel
Thursday, June 30th: @katiemreads on TikTok
Friday, July 1st: IG: @bookswithsamantha  TT: @bookswithsamantha
Saturday, July 2nd: @lowkey.bookish
Friday, July 8th: @everlasting.charm
Review schedule:
Friday, July 1st: Book Reviews and More by Kathy (spotlight)
Tuesday, July 5th: @romantically_swept_away
Tuesday, July 5th: Stranded in Chaos and @sarastrand9438
Wednesday, July 6th: @plottrysts
Thursday, July 7th: @1bookmore
Friday, July 8th: @transportedlfl
Saturday, July 9th: @sarahs.bookish.reviews
Monday, July 11th: @ladywithaquill
Monday, July 11th: @bookedonlattes
Tuesday, July 12th: @reading.with.rylanne
Wednesday, July 13th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Wednesday, July 13th: @kingarthurof_cat_onsville
Thursday, July 14th: Cheryl’s Book Nook and @beastreader
Friday, July 15th: @readinginfairyland
Saturday, July 16th: @thealissadecimalsystem
Monday, July 18th: @daniereads87
Wednesday, July 20th: @nerdy_book_lover_1987
Wednesday, July 20th: Laura’s Reviews and @laurasreviews_1
Thursday, July 21st: @temmathomas
Friday, July 22nd: What Is That Book About – spotlight
TBD: Friday, July 15th: From the TBR Pile
TBD: Monday, July 18th: @moonlight_rendezvous
 

Blog Tour: Review of First Bride to Fall by Ginny Baird

Author: Ginny Baird
Mass Market Paperback: 352 Pages
Publisher: Entangled: Amara 

Publication Date: June 28, 2022

A fun, wholesome romp of a story about family duty, a bet between sisters that gets way out of hand, and trying to lose a fake fiancé in thirty days that just might end in love.

Nell Delaney will do almost anything for her parents and her two sisters. But enter a marriage of convenience to save the family’s coffee shop? Too far. So Nell and her sisters strike a deal: whoever hasn’t found love in thirty days has to step up to take one for the team. The good news? Nell knows the perfect guy to fall in love with. The bad news? She’s going to have to pretend she likes the outdoors…a lot.

Adventure guide Grant Williams knows immediately that Nell is not exactly Little Miss Outdoorsy. She’s a walking natural disaster—an amazingly adorable disaster. And whoa, their chemistry is unbelievable. Everything between them is so perfect, he’s not even a little bit shocked when he starts thinking of forever…

My thoughts:

In First Bride to Fall, three sisters find out that one of them must have a marriage of convenience in order to save  their family business.  They make a bet that the last of them to secure an engagement will be the one to marry the rich billionaire, Aiden.  Nell knows the perfect person to pursue.  

This one was a cute romance.  Nell has been in love with Grant forever.  So for her, falling for Grant was easy.  For Grant, it was very fast for me.  They do only have 30 days, but it was still insta-love.  There is a lot of miscommunication in this one.  A lot could have been soled with one conversation.  But, it did lead to some really funny scenes where they basically both know what is going on, but neither will admit it.  I did find myself laughing a lot. I loved the ending.  It was very sweet.  I highly recommend this one. 

About Ginny Baird

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird writes wholesome contemporary stories with a dash of humor and a lot of heart. She enjoys taking walks in the park, cooking with her husband, and creating worlds where romance is a given and happily ever afters are guaranteed. After spending many years in Virginia, she returned to her home state and now lives in North Carolina with her family. Visit her website for more about Ginny and her books. www.ginnybairdromance.com.

Features:
Monday, June 27th: @nsiabblog
Monday, June 27th: @bookedonlattes
Tuesday, June 28th: @literannie
Tuesday, June 28th: @chill_jilland_read
Wednesday, June 29th: @readresa
Thursday, June 30th: @biblioreviews
Thursday, June 30th: @subakka.bookstuff
Saturday, July 2nd: @chapterobsessed on TikTok
Sunday, July 3rd: @rozierreadsandwine
Sunday, July 3rd: @booksandcoffeemx
TBD: Friday, July 1st: @everlasting.charm

Reviews:
Tuesday, July 5th: @moonlight_rendezvous
Wednesday, July 6th: @shook_sbooks
Wednesday, July 6th: @hereforthehea
Thursday, July 7th: @thealissadecimalsystem
Thursday, July 7th: @kathreadsya
Friday, July 8th: @lovemybooks2020
Friday, July 8th: From the TBR Pile
Monday, July 11th: @suethebookie
Wednesday, July 13th: @jenniaahava
Thursday, July 14th: @that.bookmom
Thursday, July 14th: Stranded in Chaos and @sarastrand9438
Friday, July 15th: @tammyreads62
Saturday, July 16th: @bookish_sbe
Monday, July 18th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks
Tuesday, July 19th: @webreakforbooks
Wednesday, July 20th: @shopcoffeekids
Thursday, July 21st: @bookmom22
Friday, July 22nd: Cheryl’s Book Nook and @beastreader
Monday, July 25th: @delightfully.brittany
Wednesday, July 27th: @travelerswife4life
Friday, July 29th: Girl Who Reads
 

Blog Tour: Review of Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke

Author: Marissa Clarke
Publisher: Entangled: Amara 

Publication Date: February 22, 2022
Mass Market Paperback: 400 Pages

Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.

Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.

But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects–and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…

My thoughts:

Accidentally Perfect is a small town romance featuring Lillian and Caleb.  Lilian is a big city girl who is on a forced vacation in the small town of Blink, Maine.  For me, this was just OK. It was cute and quaint, but almost too much.  I kind of felt like there was nothing new here and I've read this before. I didn't really feel any chemistry between Lillian and Caleb.  The one thing I did like was the secondary characters in the town.  They added a bit of flavor to the book.  I think if you are a fan of the Hallmark channel, you will like this one.  It just dragged for me.

About Marissa Clarke

Marissa Clarke is a multi award-winning, RITA® nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on an island in the middle of a river. Seriously, she does. When not writing, she wrangles her rowdy pack of three teens, two Cairn Terriers, and one husband.

She also writes young adult novels as Mary Lindsey for Penguin USA. www.marylindsey.com. She loves to connect with readers and can be found at www.marissaclarke.com and on Instagram at @maryl_marissac.

Features:
Saturday, February 26th: @reading.is.my.happy.place
Monday, February 28th: @lovemybooks2020
Monday, February 28th: @readingforamoment
Wednesday, March 2nd: @z.readz.bookz
Thursday, March 3rd: @backporchpages
Friday, March 4h: @nerdy_book_lover_1987
Sunday, March 20th: IG @welovebigbooksandwecannotlie and TT: @welovebigbooks
TBD: Sunday, February 27th: @bookswritingandmore
TBD: Tuesday, March 1st: @everlasting.charm

Reviews:
Monday, February 28th: @pickagoodbook
Tuesday, March 1st: Books and Bindings
Friday, March 4th: SusanLovesBooks
Monday, March 7th: From the TBR Pile
Wednesday, March 9th: @nsiabblog
Thursday, March 10th: What is That Book About
Friday, March 11th: @literannie
Sunday, March 13th: Girl Who Reads
Monday, March 14th: @nurse_bookie
Wednesday, March 16th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife
Friday, March 18th: @randi_reads
Wednesday, March 23rd: @jenniaahava
Friday, March 25th: Buried Under Books
Sunday, March 27th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks
Wednesday, March 30th: @fashionablyfifty
Thursday, March 31st: Cheryl’s Book Nook and @beastreader
Monday, April 4th: @webreakforbooks
TBD: Wednesday, March 2nd: Books Cooks Looks