The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M. White

Ladies and Dukes... don't you just love to read about the era of nobility?  This era is always fun to read about with their balls, fancy clothes.  Roseanna M. White has released her second book in the Ladies of the Manor series.  In The Lost Heiress, we are introduced to the Duke of Nottingham, Brice Myerston.  Find out about his story below.

From the Back Cover:

Will Fleeing the Scottish Highlands Only Leave Her in More Danger?
Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she's never felt good enough--not for her father, not for the man she thought she'd marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she's willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping those threatening her life.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, yet the last thing he needs is the distraction of the newly introduced Lady Rowena. He has enough on his plate having recently come into possession of a rare treasure for which many would kill, yet those around him seem intent on pairing him with this desperate but beguiling girl.

Rowena is reluctant to marry this notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears she'll end up in more danger than she fled.

My Review:
 This is an interesting story.  The history of this area is quite complicated since the English and Scottish are not exactly friends.  Lady Rowena has been thrust into a troubling situation and seems to have no way out until the Duke of Nottingham shows up.  The Duke is a highly sought-after bachelor thinking he was just going on vacation.  Little did he know that the Earl of Lochaber has other plans for him.  Brice and Rowenna have a quite a story and much to overcome.  I appreciated the author's insight in having the Duke listening to the still, small, voice of God prompting him in what he should do in each situation.  A good reminder for us as well to always listen and  be open to God's plan for us even when it doesn't make sense. I liked how the author included the familiar characters from the first book in this second novel.  I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this series coming out September 2016.

***I received this free book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson

 Who doesn't like a fairy tale where the poor and lowly servant has a chance to become a Lady?  For years, little girls have had those grand dreams of becoming a princess. Melanie Dickerson is great at telling fairy tale stories and her newest one, The Beautiful Pretender, is out! I was so excited to pick this newest book up after reading The Golden Braid last November.  Find out what I thought of this newest book.

From the Back Cover:

 

After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?
The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king’s approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.
Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn’t select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.
Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences.

My Review:
 I loved this book!  Melanie did a fabulous job weaving together a beautiful story.  There is romance, of course, but also, murder attempts, spying and a mystery to solve.  Avelina's character has known such hardship in her life, and only dreams of the chance to have a future that is full of love and happiness.  The Margrave of Thornbeck is a man that seems so gruff on the outside, that no one really knows the caring man he is on the inside.  Reading through the story, the reader is kept wondering if the Margrave will pick the servant, Avelina, or not.  But if he does pick her, what will she do knowing that she can't marry him?  Melanie Dickerson has written another great book that you'll definitely want to add to your library!

***I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Sarah Sundin’s ‘Anchor in the Storm’ All Hands on Deck Giveaway

The second book in Sarah Sundin's Waves of Freedom series is out!  Anchor in the Storm is another great book filled with mystery, romance and lots of great history.  Find out below why you should pick this book up and add it your library!  Also, take time to enter the awesome giveaway that is full of great prizes. Find out how to enter below.

My Review:
Anchor in the Storm tells the story of Jim's sister, Lillian Avery and Jim's best friend, Arch Vanderberg. Lillian has so much to overcome with her disability of a missing leg from the knee down.  Not only do people stare and recoil from her, but it is also hard to find a job!  I enjoyed seeing her character flourish throughout the story by overcoming such hard obstacles, but she also had much to overcome with her heart.  Lillian was good at closing people off so that she could protect her heart, but in reality she was only hurting herself. Arch has something to overcome as well in this story. He has experienced a lot of prejudice from others because of the wealth of his family.  Both of these characters have a hard time accepting the fact that people could really love them just because of who they are and not because of physical appearance or money.  This story was a good read.  I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and watching them both try to solve the problems happening both aboard the USS Ettinger and at Lillian's pharmacy job.  I would say some of the book was a little predictable, but a great story non-the-less.  Look for book 3 in the Waves of Freedom series coming in Spring 2017 which will the tell story of Lt. Dan Avery and Quintessa Beaumont.

See what others are saying about this book on the blog tour by clicking here.

Giveaway Info:

 In a time of sacrifice, what price can one put on true love? Pharmacist Lillian Avery and Ensign Archer Vandenberg are about to find out in Sarah Sundin's new book, Anchor in the Storm. During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions Lillian has been filling? As the danger rises on both land and sea, the two must work together to answer that question. But can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Celebrate the release of Sarah's Anchor in the Storm by entering to win her All Hands on Deck Prize Pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A signed copy of Anchor in the Storm
• Nautical tote bag lined with anchor fabric
• Anchor necklace made from copper reclaimed from the USS Constitution in Boston during restoration
• 365 Devotions for Hope by Karen Whiting
• Shine: Nautical Inspirational Adult Coloring Book
• "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• Set of two nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 8th. The winner will be announced June 9th on Sarah's blog.

***I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Becky Wade’s ‘Her One and Only’ Porter Prize Pack and $100 Cash Card Giveaway

Becky Wade's newest book in the Porter Family series is out!  Her One and Only shares the story of the youngest Porter Family member, Dru.  Make sure to check out the awesome giveaway and enter.  Hurry, the contest is from May 12--31!

About the Book:

After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

My Review:

This book definitely met my expectations, and was such a fun read.  It isn't just a story filled with romance, but includes quite a bit of danger and mystery. Dru is such a fun character who is always trying to prove that she is quite capable of anything that gets thrown her way.  I love the banter that happens back and forth between her and the football star, Grayson Fowler.  I also love the fact that there are several possible suspects in this case so that it is hard to predict who is the real threat.  It will keep you guessing all the way up until the end.  I also liked that this book isn't just about Dru and her life, but also brings in all the other family members of the porter family.  Becky Wade has done another fabulous job with this book, and is a great series to add to your library!

Click here for a first look at Her One and Only.

Check out what others are saying on the blog tour by clicking here.

Giveaway Info:

Meet Dru Porter, former Marine, expert markswoman, and black belt—who also happens to be assigned as a bodyguard to star NFL tight end Gray Fowler. Don't miss the final Porter family novel by Becky Wade, Her One and Only. Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, and Dru is determined to find his stalker. Every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives—and their hearts—to one another.

Join Becky in celebrating the release of Her One and Only by entering to win her Porter prize pack and $100 cash card giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Her One and Only
• A $100 cash card
• Follow Your Heart tote bag
• 24 oz Tervis Wonder Woman Tumbler
• The Blind Side DVD
• Necklace with star charm
• Porter Family navy jersey

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 31st. The winner will be announced June 1st on the Litfuse blog.

***I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

The Inheritance (Secrets of the Shetlands book 1) by Michael Phillips

Back in high school, I had read a series by Michael Phillips called The Secret of the Rose.  It was one of my favorites and Michael Phillips quickly became a favorite author.  I was so excited to see that he has written a new series called Secrets of the Shetlands!!  Read below to find out what I thought about his first book in this new series called The Inheritance.

About the book:

The Inheritance (Bethany House, April 2016)

The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whale's Reef into turmoil.

Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch's heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David's grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island's land. And while Hardy doesn't enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate's assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island-and its traditional way of life-hangs in the balance.

Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .

Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips's dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QpMpIN

My Review:

I loved this book!  I will say that this book is not easy reading.  It is a story that uncovers past secrets and you'll have to put your "thinking cap" on to keep it all straight.  But by the time you get to the end of the story, you'll feel like you've met some life long friends and learned a lot about the Tulloch family history.  The story has many twists and turns making you wonder what way the author will take the story.  I enjoyed seeing the stories of multiple people fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.  Michael Phillips has a way of engaging his reader and making them a part of the story.  I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and continuing the story of the Tulloch family.

Make sure to head over the blog tour page by clicking here and find out what others are saying about this book!

Don't forget to enter the 5 book giveaway. Just click on the picture and follow the link!

 

About the author:

Michael Phillips is a bestselling author with more than 70 of his own titles. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly 30 more books. He is known as the man responsible for the reawakened interest in George MacDonald of the last 30 years. In addition to the MacDonald titles adapted/edited for today's reader, his publishing efforts in bringing back full-length quality facsimile editions also spawned renewed interest in MacDonald's original work. Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland but make their home near Sacramento, California.

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***I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.