Review: Romancing the Earl by Darcy Burke #historicalromance #BibPleaseReview @KHeniadis

Title: Romancing the Earl (Regency Treasure Hunters #2)
Author: Darcy Burke
Publisher: Intrepid Reads
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Acquired Via: Author
Major Elijah Hollister never wanted to be an earl, particularly not when it meant losing his brother. When a bold adventuress shows up at his door seeking a treasure map, Elijah suspects his brother’s death may not have been accidental and that the lady knows more than she’s willing to share. Whether she’s a friend or foe, Elijah plans to keep her close—and hope the temptation of her kisses doesn’t ruin them both.

Miss Catriona Bowen can almost taste the fruits of her years-long quest to find one of Britain’s greatest treasures. The discovery will deliver the recognition and respect she deserves as an antiquary, despite the fact that she’s a woman. However, to find the map that will lead her to success, she must ally herself with a stoic, yet provocative gentleman with a different goal. And when a villain threatens their lives, she realizes too late that love is the greatest treasure of all.

My Review

This is the second book in Darcy Burke’s Regency Treasure Hunters series. It can be read as a standalone book, but if you were to read the first one in the series, The de Valery Code, you will get even more out of some of the side characters. And you will know a lot more about Catriona’s (or Cate) parents.

Review: The de Valery Code by Darcy Burke #historicalromance #regency #BibPleaseReview #5starreview @kimheniadis

Title: The de Valery Code (Regency Treasure Hunters #1)
Author: Darcy Burke
Publisher: Intrepid Reads
Release Date: August 18, 2014
Acquired Via: Author
In the quest for fortune, love may be the greatest prize...

Miss Margery Derrington and her dear aunts are in dire straits. Their discovery of a rare medieval manuscript will hopefully stave off their creditors—if it’s worth what they hope. Margery reluctantly allies with a reclusive scholar to use the book to pursue a treasure that could exceed her expectations. Amidst danger, secrets, and an insatiable attraction, is Margery gambling just her financial future...or her heart?

Academic Rhys Bowen can’t believe he has his hands on the elusive de Valery text. Solving its hidden code and unearthing its legendary treasure would establish him as one of Britain’s leading antiquarians, finally casting him out of his brilliant late father’s shadow. But when a centuries-old organization convinces Rhys of the perils of disturbing the past, he must choose between his conscience…and the captivating woman he’s sworn to help.

My Review

I was very excited when I received a copy of The de Valery Code. I’ve been reading Darcy Burke’s Ribbon Ridge series and have been enjoying it, so I was eager to try one of her historical romances. And the Regency Treasure Hunters series was a perfect one with which to start. I have always enjoyed stories regarding treasure hunting. I can not even begin to count how many times I have watched the various Indiana Jones movies. And I also enjoy the Arthurian legends, though my interests lie more toward Morgan Le Fay and Merlin.

Blog Tour (Guest Post): The Beautiful One by Emily Greenwood #romance #giveaway @SourcebooksCasa

Title: The Beautiful One (The Scandalous Sisters #1)
Author: Emily Greenwood
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: June 2, 2015
A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS...
The ton is buzzing about The Beautiful One, a striking figure in a scandalous book of nude sketches. Only two men know the true identity of The Beautiful One, and they are scouring the countryside, determined to find her.

BUT NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES
The unlikely center of the scandal, Anna Black is forced to flee home as disaster looms. Her tomboy’s heart and impertinent tongue serve her well when she meets the most brooding viscount ever to darken a drawing room. Will Halifax, Viscount Grandville, has his reasons for pushing people away, and when his tempestuous teenaged ward arrives on his doorstep, he presses Anna to take on her care. As Anna begins to melt the Viscount’s frozen heart, she knows the more she loves, the more she has to lose. For although Will cares nothing for what makes Society titter, he has yet to see The Beautiful One.

Guest Post

A Historical Scandal
Emily Greenwood
With the release this month of the first book in my Scandalous Sisters series, The Beautiful One, I’ve been thinking a lot about scandals. So is it any surprise that Regency era bad boy Lord Byron came to mind—especially since, like Viscount Grandville, the hero of my new release, he’s oh-so brooding?

Lord Byron was famously said to be “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” With his dark good looks, his keen intelligence, and his perceptive poetry, he was irresistible to hordes of women, and certainly participated in his share of scandals, including a reputed affair with his half-sister, Augusta Leigh.

Blog Tour (Guest Post): Night of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper #giveaway @SourcebooksCasa

Title: Night of the Highland Dragon (Highland Dragons #3)
Author: Isabel Cooper
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: June 2, 2015
“They say,” said the girl, “that people disappear up there. And I heard that the lady doesna’ ever grow any older.”
“The lady?” William asked.
“Lady MacAlasdair. She lives in the castle, and she’s been there years, but she stays young and beautiful forever.”

In the Scottish Highlands, legend is as powerful as the sword—and nowhere is that more true than in the remote village of Loch Aranoch. Its mysterious ruler, Judith MacAlasdair, is fiercely protective of her land—and her secrets. If anyone were to find out what she really was, she and her entire clan would be hunted down as monsters.

William Arundell is on the trail of a killer. Special agent for an arcane branch of the English government, his latest assignment has led him to a remote Highland castle and the undeniably magnetic lady who rules there. Yet as lies begin to unravel and a dark threat gathers, William finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Highlands...and the woman he can neither trust nor deny.

He prays she isn’t the murderer; he never dreamed she was a dragon.

Guest Post

My Typical Writing Day
Isabel Cooper
This is very prosaic, I’m afraid.

A typical day of writing for me is just a typical day. I wake up, swear a lot because for some reason it’s morning *again*, work out, shower, eat some variety of breakfast, catch a train, hate everyone on the train for taking up too much space, get to work, and so forth. Usually either during my lunch break or sometime later in the afternoon, when I’ve gotten my work done and am waiting for people to send me email, I’ll get my day’s worth of writing in.

Blog Tour (Excerpt): A Match for Marcus Cynster by Stephanie Laurens #Giveaway

Title: A Match for Marcus Cynster (Cynsters #23)
Author: Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin)
Tour Organizer: TLC Book Tours
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Duty compels her to turn her back on marriage. Fate drives him to protect her come what may. Then love takes a hand in this battle of yearning hearts, stubborn wills, and a match too powerful to deny. #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns to rugged Scotland with a dramatic tale of passionate desire and unwavering devotion. Restless and impatient, Marcus Cynster waits for Fate to come calling. He knows his destiny lies in the lands surrounding his family home, but what will his future be and with whom will he share it?

Of one fact he feels certain: his fated bride will not be Niniver Carrick. His elusive neighbor attracts him mightily, yet he feels compelled to protect her—even from himself. Fickle Fate, he’s sure, would never be so kind as to decree that Niniver should be his. The best he can do for them both is to avoid her.

Niniver has vowed to return her clan to prosperity. The epitome of fragile femininity, her delicate and ethereal exterior cloaks a stubborn will and an unflinching devotion to the people in her care. She accepts that she cannot risk marrying and losing her grip on the clan’s reins to an inevitably controlling husband. Unfortunately, many local men see her as their opportunity.

Soon, she’s forced to seek help to get rid of her unwelcome suitors. Powerful and dangerous, Marcus Cynster is perfect for the task. Suppressing her wariness over tangling with a gentleman who so excites her passions, she appeals to him for assistance with her peculiar problem.

Although at first he resists, Marcus discovers that, contrary to his expectations, his fated role is to stand by Niniver’s side and, ultimately, to claim her hand. Yet in order to convince her to be his bride, they must plunge headlong into a journey full of challenges, unforeseen dangers, passion, and yearning, until Niniver grasps the essential truth—that she is indeed a match for Marcus Cynster.

Excerpt

In the end, it was agreed that, without any fanfare, Sir Godfrey would reopen the cases of her father’s and the Burns sisters’ deaths, and exonerate Nigel of the crimes by virtue of Nolan’s confession and the subsequent confirmation that it was, indeed, he who had been the villain in all three cases. Catriona, who, through her position as Lady of the Vale, maintained a close connection with the local minister, volunteered to explain matters to Reverend Foyle, thus easing the way for the clan to arrange the appropriate funeral and burials.

Review: A Long Trail Rolling by Lizzi Tremayne

Title: A Long Trail Rolling (The Long Trails, #1)
Author: Lizzi Tremayne
Publisher: Blue Mist Publishing
Release Date: January 10, 2015
Acquired Via: Personal Collection
Escaping her father's killer, Aleksandra rode the Pony Express—full speed into the middle of the Indian Paiute Wars.

Seventeen year old Aleksandra, trained in the Cossack arts from infancy by her father, finds herself alone and running to prevent her Pa's killer from obtaining a secret coveted by the Russian Czar, one which could alter the forces of power in Europe. Disguised as a Pony Express rider in 1860's Utah Territory, she finds herself in even deeper trouble.

Her Californio boss Xavier has a strength to match her own, but can they overcome their differences before the ever-increasing odds overtake them?

With this debut Western Historical Adventure, Lizzi Tremayne won the 2014 RWNZ Pacific Hearts Award and was a finalist in the 2013 Great Beginnings Competition.

My Review

I went to the NZ launch of A Long Trail Rolling earlier this year (2015) and was intrigued by the author’s passion for horses and history. This passion is clearly demonstrated throughout the story. The protagonist, Aleks, shares Tremayne’s love for horses and cares for them more than she does for herself. Besides her interest in and love of horses, Aleks displays great skills in riding and combat.

Blog Tour (Review and Giveaway): Freedom to Love by Susanna Fraser

Title: Freedom to Love
Author: Susanna Fraser
Publisher: Carina Press (Harlequin)
Release Date: January 5, 2014
Acquired Via: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Louisiana, 1815

Thérèse Bondurant trusted her parents to provide for her and her young half-sister, though they never wed due to laws against mixed-race marriage. But when both die of a fever, Thérèse learns her only inheritance is debt—and her father’s promise that somewhere on his plantation lies a buried treasure. To save her own life—as well as that of her sister—she’ll need to find it before her white cousins take possession of the land.

British officer Henry Farlow, dazed from a wound received in battle outside New Orleans, stumbles onto Thérèse’s property out of necessity. But he stays because he’s become captivated by her intelligence and beauty. It’s thanks to Thérèse’s tender care that he regains his strength just in time to fend off her cousin, inadvertently killing the would-be rapist in the process.

Though he risks being labeled a deserter, it’s much more than a sense of duty that compels Henry to see the sisters to safety—far away from the scene of the crime. And Thérèse realizes she has come to rely on Henry for so much more than protection. On their journey to freedom in England, they must navigate a territory that’s just as foreign to them both—love.

Praise for the novels of Susanna Fraser

“[Susanna Fraser is] a go-to writer for Regency romance that is actually set in the Regency rather than in that Never-Neverland mash-up that’s been dubbed ‘The Recency’ or ‘Almackistan.’” — Willaful at Karen Knows Best

“This is easily one of the best historical romances I’ve read.” — Romantic Historical Reviews on An Infamous Marriage

“…the romance in this story was very sweet. Sydney was immediately relatable and likeable, because she faced such a serious conflict and wanted to make an ethical decision that would preserve the lives of her loved ones.” — Dear Author on Christmas Past

My Review

I enjoyed Freedom to Love even though I don't normally read historical romance set in pre-Civil War America. I liked that it discussed tough issues surrounding slavery and mixed-race couples in that time period. I wish that it would have been set more in New Orleans (less than 20% is set there) and had less of a concentration on English customs in the later parts of the book.

Blog Tour (Review): The Sharp Hook of Love by Sherry Jones

Title: The Sharp Hook of Love: A Novel of Heloise and Abelard
Author: Sherry Jones
Publisher: Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster)
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Acquired Via: Publisher
The first retelling of the passionate, twelfth-century love story since the discovery of 113 lost love letters between Heloise d’Argenteuil and Pierre Abelard—the original Romeo and Juliet.

"While I sleep you never leave me, and after I wake I see you, as soon as I open my eyes, even before the light of day itself." —Abelard to Heloise

Among the young women of twelfth-century Paris, Heloise d’Argenteuil stands apart. Extraordinarily educated and quick-witted, she is being groomed by her uncle to become an abbess in the service of God.

But with one encounter, her destiny changes forever. Pierre Abelard, headmaster at the Notre-Dame Cloister School, is acclaimed as one of the greatest philosophers in France. His controversial reputation only adds to his allure, yet despite the legions of women swooning over his poetry and dashing looks, he is captivated by the brilliant Heloise alone. As their relationship blossoms from a meeting of the minds to a forbidden love affair, both Heloise and Abelard must choose between love, duty, and ambition.

Sherry Jones weaves the lovers’ own words into an evocative account of desire and sacrifice. As intimate as it is erotic, as devastating as it is beautiful, The Sharp Hook of Love is a poignant, tender tribute to one of history’s greatest romances, and to love’s power to transform and endure.

Praise for The Sharp Hook of Love

"Heloise is the sort of heroine you cannot help rooting for: brilliant and naïve, vulnerable and tough. The Sharp Hook of Love will have you up all night holding your breath as you turn each page." - Rebecca Kanner, author of Sinners and the Sea

"Jones weaves history and passion in a tale full of emotional heft that questions what it means to truly love someone..." - Kirkus Reviews

"A sensual journey into twelfth century Paris. With a sharp eye for historical detail, Jones weaves an unforgettable, compelling tale about enduring love." - Lynn Cullen, nationally bestselling author of Mrs. Poe

"Passion and treachery mingle in Sherry Jones's explosive novel The Sharp Hook of Love. Wrenching and erotic, this is a grand romance in every sense of the word." - Mary Sharratt, author of Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen

My Review

It's not very often that I can go into a historical novel that I'm interested in and not know anything about the story. I tend to gravitate to the stories set in historical periods that I'm interested in, and being a history major, I've studied them quite a bit. I adore church history, so I have no idea how I missed out on Heloise and Abelard. (It was probably the Crusades that distracted me.) Anywho, going into The Sharp Hook of Love was a rare treat because I got a tragic love story, as well as some new (to me) history to study. Hooray!

Waiting on Wednesday (82): Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



Title: Grave Phantoms (Roaring Twenties #3)
Author: Jenn Bennett
Publisher: Berkley Sensation (Penguin Random House)
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Feisty flapper Astrid Magnusson is home from college and yearning for the one thing that’s always been off limits: Bo Yeung, her notorious bootlegging brother’s second-in-command. Unfortunately her dream of an easy reunion proves difficult after a violent storm sends a mysterious yacht crashing into the Magnussons’ docks. What’s worse, the boat disappeared a year ago, and the survivors are acting strangely...

Bo has worked with the Magnusson family for years, doing whatever is needed, including keeping his boss’s younger sister out of trouble—and his hands to himself. Of course, that isn’t so easy after Astrid has a haunting vision about the yacht’s disappearance, plunging them into an underground world of old money and dark magic. Danger will drive them closer together, but surviving their own forbidden feelings could be the bigger risk.


I just love Jenn Bennett's books, so I'm so excited about the newest in her Roaring Twenties series. I can't wait to read about Astrid's and Bo's romance, especially since Bo thinks that Astrid is off-limits.

What are you waiting on this week?

Blog Tour (Spotlight): The Sharp Hook of Love by Sherry Jones

Title: The Sharp Hook of Love: A Novel of Heloise and Abelard
Author: Sherry Jones
Publisher: Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster)
Release Date: October 7, 2014
The first retelling of the passionate, twelfth-century love story since the discovery of 113 lost love letters between Heloise d’Argenteuil and Pierre Abelard—the original Romeo and Juliet.

"While I sleep you never leave me, and after I wake I see you, as soon as I open my eyes, even before the light of day itself." —Abelard to Heloise

Among the young women of twelfth-century Paris, Heloise d’Argenteuil stands apart. Extraordinarily educated and quick-witted, she is being groomed by her uncle to become an abbess in the service of God.

But with one encounter, her destiny changes forever. Pierre Abelard, headmaster at the Notre-Dame Cloister School, is acclaimed as one of the greatest philosophers in France. His controversial reputation only adds to his allure, yet despite the legions of women swooning over his poetry and dashing looks, he is captivated by the brilliant Heloise alone. As their relationship blossoms from a meeting of the minds to a forbidden love affair, both Heloise and Abelard must choose between love, duty, and ambition.

Sherry Jones weaves the lovers’ own words into an evocative account of desire and sacrifice. As intimate as it is erotic, as devastating as it is beautiful, The Sharp Hook of Love is a poignant, tender tribute to one of history’s greatest romances, and to love’s power to transform and endure.

Praise for The Sharp Hook of Love

"Heloise is the sort of heroine you cannot help rooting for: brilliant and naïve, vulnerable and tough. The Sharp Hook of Love will have you up all night holding your breath as you turn each page." - Rebecca Kanner, author of Sinners and the Sea

"Jones weaves history and passion in a tale full of emotional heft that questions what it means to truly love someone..." - Kirkus Reviews

"A sensual journey into twelfth century Paris. With a sharp eye for historical detail, Jones weaves an unforgettable, compelling tale about enduring love." - Lynn Cullen, nationally bestselling author of Mrs. Poe

"Passion and treachery mingle in Sherry Jones's explosive novel The Sharp Hook of Love. Wrenching and erotic, this is a grand romance in every sense of the word." - Mary Sharratt, author of Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen

Buy Links
Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | B&N (Nook)
B&N (Paperback) | Books-a-Million | iBooks | IndieBound


About the Author

Book Deals: November 18, 2014

Title: The Duchess War (Brothers Sinister #1)
Author: Courtney Milan
Price: Free
Sometimes love is an accident.

This time, it’s a strategy.

Miss Minerva Lane is a quiet, bespectacled wallflower, and she wants to keep it that way. After all, the last time she was the center of attention, it ended badly--so badly that she changed her name to escape her scandalous past. Wallflowers may not be the prettiest of blooms, but at least they don't get trampled. So when a handsome duke comes to town, the last thing she wants is his attention.

But that is precisely what she gets.

Because Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, is not fooled. When Minnie figures out what he's up to, he realizes there is more to than her spectacles and her quiet ways. And he's determined to lay her every secret bare before she can discover his. But this time, one shy miss may prove to be more than his match...

This book has an average of 3.89 stars out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I gave it 4 stars. Courtney Milan is one of my favorite Historical Romance authors, and this is the series that started my love affair.

Please remember to check prices before buying. These prices are subject to change without notice.

Buy Links
Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

Blog Tour (Excerpt & Giveaway): Night of a Thousand Stars by Deanna Raybourn

Title: Night of a Thousand Stars
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Release Date: October 1, 2014
Acquired Via: Historical Fiction Blog Tours
New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn returns with a Jazz Age tale of grand adventure...

On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat’s wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father’s quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.

With only her feisty lady’s maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels incognita—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. Danger abounds beneath the canopies of the silken city, and Poppy finds herself in the perilous sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan—one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear.

Excerpt

Chapter One
March 1920

“I say, if you’re running away from your wedding, you’re going about it quite wrong.”

I paused with my leg out the window, satin wedding gown hitched up above my knees. A layer of tulle floated over my face, obscuring my view. I shoved it aside to find a tall, bespectacled young man standing behind me. His expression was serious, but there was an unmistakable gleam in his eyes that was distinctly at odds with his clerical garb.

“Oh! Are you the curate? I know you can’t be the vicar. I met him last night at the rehearsal and he’s simply ancient. Looks like Methuselah’s godfather. You’re awfully young to be a priest, aren’t you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“But I’m wearing a dog collar. I must be,” he protested. “And as I said, if you’re running away, you’ve gone about it quite stupidly.”

Waiting on Wednesday (75): Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



Title: Lion Heart (Scarlet #3)
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: May 19, 2015
The eagerly-awaited conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy delivers another action-packed and romance-filled adventure.

Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.

Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?


Scarlet book three!!! King Richard! The first two in this trilogy have been phenomenal, so I'm expecting nothing less from the ending. A.C. Gaughen said on her blog that this was the hardest thing she had ever done. I can't wait to see where all her hard work and turmoil created. Although, I'm a a little underwhelmed by the cover; the first two covers were much better. I think it's that filigree on the side that is so off-putting for me.

What are you waiting on this week?

Blog Tour (Review): Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb

Title: Becoming Josephine
Author: Heather Webb
Publisher: Plume (Penguin)
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Acquired Via: TLC Book Tours
Rose sails from Martinique to Paris to trade her plantation ways and Creole black magic culture for love and adventure. But her haughty Parisian husband dashes her hopes when he abandons her amid the tumult of the French Revolution. Through her savoir faire, Rose secures her footing in high society, reveling in handsome men and glitzy balls—until the heads of her friends begin to roll.

After narrowly escaping death in the blood-drenched cells of Les Carmes prison, she reinvents herself as Josephine, a socialite of status and power. Yet her youth is fading, and Josephine must choose between a precarious independence and the unwelcome love of an awkward suitor. Little does she know, he would become the most powerful man of his century—Napoleon Bonaparte.

Becoming Josephine is a novel of one woman’s journey to find eternal love and stability, and ultimately to find herself.

Praise for Becoming Josephine

“Exceptionally concise and colorful. A worthy fictional primer on Empress Josephine.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Webb holds up a light into the inner recesses of a fascinating and contradictory woman... Becoming Josephine is an accomplished debut.” — New York Journal of Books

“Heather Webb’s epic novel captivates from its opening in a turbulent plantation society in the Caribbean, to the dramatic rise of one of France’s most fascinating women: Josephine Bonaparte. Perfectly balancing history and story, character and setting, detail and pathos, Becoming Josephine marks a debut as bewitching as its protagonist.” — Erika Robuck, author of Call Me Zelda

“Heather Webb’s deft storytelling sweeps the reader into the world of Rose Tascher, the Creole girl who would become the Empress Josephine Bonaparte. Rose leaps to life from the first page, a lovable, believable character who must seek her own place in a tumultuous, almost unbelievable era in France. Her compelling tale, enriched with sumptuous detail, dazzles. Don’t miss it!” — Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe

“Vivid and passionate.” — Susan Spann, author of Claws of the Cat

My Review

I know most of you who are regular readers here at Bibliophilia, Please have read my ramblings about my studies in history, and I thank you for your continued patience. That being said, one of my history professors was a Napoleonic scholar, so my brain is a bit inundated with his history. However, what I've learned about Josephine was minimal, as well as skewed. Becoming Josephine, though historical fiction, introduced me to an extremely fascinating woman that I wish I would have studied years ago.

Becoming Josephine essentially begins in Josephine's childhood Martique, where she still went by her "Rose".

Blog Tour (Review): The Unexpected Earl by Philippa Jane Keyworth

Title: The Unexpected Earl
Author: Philippa Jane Keyworth
Publisher: Madison Street Publishing
Release Date: September 20, 2014
Acquired Via: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Six years after being jilted without a word of explanation, Julia Rotherham finds Lucius Wolversley standing before her once again--unexpected, unannounced, unwelcome. With her heart still hurting and, more importantly, her pride, Julia must chaperone her younger sister, fend off fortune hunters, orchestrate a fake engagement, and halt an elopement--all whilst keeping the man who jilted her at arm's length. But what Julia doesn't know is that this time, the Earl has no intention of disappearing, and this time, he has more than an explanation to offer....

Read an Excerpt

My Review

The Unexpected Earl felt a little bit like a Pride and Prejudice retelling. Julia and Wolversley were struck with both pride and prejudice. There was even a stubborn younger sister determined to ruin herself. It also felt that way because it was a really clean historical romance. There was possibly one kiss in the entire book, and definitely no steamy sex scenes. This worked for me, though, as I generally skip over sex scenes in books anyway.

Review: Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Evernight (Darkest London #5)
Author: Kristen Callihan
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Acquired Via: NetGalley
Once the night comes . . .

Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him—until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.

Love must cast aside the shadows . . .

Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable—and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.

My Review

This review will not contain spoilers for Evernight but will possibly contain spoilers if you have not read the previous books in the series.

Darkest London is one of my favorite steampunk/historical romance series out right now. Will Thorne and Holly Evernight may have just been my favorite couple yet!

I felt so bad for both Thorne and Holly - Holly for being forced into hurting people, Thorne included, and Thorne for being tortured into a monstrous being and a painful wreck of who he used to be. From the beginning, these two make for an interesting and amazing story. The novel almost immediately begins with a bang, with Holly protecting herself from Thorne and other assassins trying to kill her (because Thorne blames Holly for his current maddened state). Then, once Thorne realizes that Holly can calm him and make the metal retreat, they make a deal. Thorne will protect Holly from whomever is trying to kill her, and Holly will calm and soothe Thorne from the madness and metal.

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Would Recommend to Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Romance

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Ten Authors I Would Recommend to Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Fiction



1. Courtney Milan
Milan does not write the traditional historical romance. The heroines do not need saving from some rich lord, because they are smart and capable. Also, there are political issues such as female suffrage in the 1800s. My favorite series of hers so far is Brothers Sinister which starts with the prequel novella The Governess Affair.



2. Sarah MacLean
I have never read a Sarah MacLean novel I have not loved. You can start with either The Rules of Scoundrels series or Love By Numbers. Both contain clever and engaging dialogue with likable heroines and yummy heroes.

Blog Tour (Review): A Triple Knot by Emma Campion

Title: A Triple Knot
Author: Emma Campion
Publisher: Broadway Books (Random House)
Paperback Release Date: July 8, 2014
Acquired Via: TLC Book Tours
The critically acclaimed author of The King’s Mistress brings another fascinating woman from history to life in an enthralling story of political intrigue, personal tragedy, and illicit love.

Joan of Kent, renowned beauty and cousin to King Edward III, is destined for a politically strategic marriage. As the king begins a long dynastic struggle to claim the crown of France, plunging England into the Hundred Years’ War, he negotiates her betrothal to a potential ally and heir of a powerful lordship.

But Joan, haunted by nightmares of her father’s execution at the hands of her treacherous royal kin, fears the king’s selection and is not resigned to her fate. She secretly pledges herself to one of the king’s own knights, one who has become a trusted friend and protector. Now she must defend her vow as the king—furious at Joan’s defiance—prepares to marry her off to another man.

In A Triple Knot, Emma Campion brings Joan, the “Fair Maid of Kent” to glorious life, deftly weaving details of King Edward III’s extravagant court into a rich and emotionally resonant tale of intrigue, love, and betrayal.

Praise for A Triple Knot

“A colorful and historically detailed saga.” — The Seattle Times

“A well-written, comprehensive view of the period in which women were marginalized, their glittery, gem-laden gowns reflecting the corruption of the times.” — Historical Novels Review

“A medieval lover’s dream novel.” — RT Book Reviews

My Review

I'll be honest - most of my historical fiction reading that romance-related (I refuse to label intelligent books such as these "historical romance") has been set later in the Medieval period. *cough*Tudor*cough* Because of this, A Triple Knot was a piece of history that was fresh to me and left me feeling smarter...erm...more educated.

Early Review: Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Title: Salt & Storm
Author: Kendall Kulper
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette)
Acquired Via: Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: September 23, 2014
A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future.

Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.

Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.

My Review

It's been a while since I've been well and truly surprised by a book, but Kendall Kulper pulled it off with her debut novel, Salt & Storm. There were issues that I had with the execution, but the style and symbolism were almost flawless. Though parts of Salt & Storm were difficult to read, those gritty parts lent credibility to the portrayal of the whaling industry.

Review: The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan

Title: The Suffragette Scandal (Brothers Sinister #4)
Author: Courtney Milan
Publisher: Self
Acquired Via: NetGalley
Release Date: July 15, 2014
An idealistic suffragette...

Miss Frederica "Free" Marshall has put her heart and soul into her newspaper, known for its outspoken support of women's rights. Naturally, her enemies are intent on destroying her business and silencing her for good. Free refuses to be at the end of her rope...but she needs more rope, and she needs it now.

...a jaded scoundrel...

Edward Clark's aristocratic family abandoned him to die in a war-torn land, so he survived the only way he could: by becoming a rogue and a first-class forger. When the same family that left him for dead vows to ruin Miss Marshall, he offers his help. So what if he has to lie to her? She's only a pawn to use in his revenge.

...and a scandal seven years in the making.

But the irrepressible Miss Marshall soon enchants Edward. By the time he realizes that his cynical heart is hers, it's too late. The only way to thwart her enemies is to reveal his scandalous past...and once the woman he loves realizes how much he's lied to her, he'll lose her forever.

My Review

It’s no secret that I adore Courtney Milan’s books, and Free has probably been my favorite side character throughout the Brothers Sinister series. I was so excited when I found out that she was going to be the next and last book in the series.

Milan writes awesome heroines because they are intelligent and capable, and Free is one of the most capable of the bunch. Edward was the perfect match for Free, even though he did not believe it. Edward believes that he is a scoundrel, but he is back in England to help his best friend’s little brother out of a jam. At the center of that jam is Free. It was wonderful watching Edward try to scoundrel his way into helping Free. Free would not be bullied or blackmailed, and Edward was charmed by Free’s cleverness and idealism. My favorite kind of romantic hero is the one that believes he is a bad man, but who does bad things for good reasons, and finds redemption in the heroine. Edward finds something to believe in when he finds Free.