Review: My Last Duchess by Eloisa James

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Wildes series with a prequel about the Wilde children's parents, Hugo, Duke of Lindow, and Ophelia, Lady Astley.

MY LAST DUCHESS by ELOISA JAMES

Series: The Wildes of Lindlow Castle #0.5

Publication date: October 27, 2020

Published by: Avon Romance

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Every Duke needs a Duchess...

Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has a drafty castle, eight naughty children—and no wife. Ophelia, Lady Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter—and no husband.

Hugo takes one look at Ophelia and loses his heart, but she doesn’t want more children or a castle. She takes one look at him and heads for her carriage.

Desperate to find a duchess, Hugo identifies an appropriate lady to woo. Yet when he meets Ophelia again, the duke realizes that he will marry her, or no one.

Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life.

He must convince Ophelia that their blazing sensuality, his exquisite castle, and his eight charming children add up to a match made in heaven.

When duke finds his duchess, can he win her heart?

 

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | BAM | Apple | Google Play

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.

After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.

Eloisa...on her double life:

When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.

When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.

So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.

One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram


REVIEW

My Last Duchess by Eloisa James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    “We have a choice in every moment of life,” 

he said, his voice brushing her body. 

“I choose to spend every possible one of them with you, Phee.”

I'm loving this series and the Wildes so much! Once again, Eloisa James has charmed me-this time with the Duke and Duchess of Lindlow. My Last Duchess takes us back in time to show us how the parents of the Wilde children met and fell in love. This was a simple and straightforward romance that allowed me to surround myself with the Wildes again and enjoy their endearing family dynamic. I'm so happy the author decided to give us this piece to the family's history.

Hugo is a widower and recent divorcé with eight children in need of a proper mother. His last wife Yvette ran off after a scandalous affair and abandoned the family leaving him floundering. I've always had the deepest respect for Hugo, but now after reading his story and stepping into his perspective, you really see how deep his love goes for all of his children. He always puts them first above all else and makes their happiness and well being his #1 priority. After being betrayed horribly by his wife, his only goal is to find a new wife (which he really has no personal desire to attain) in order for his kids to have stability in their lives again. Not only does he show them all the love that they deserve, he treats them all equally. Even though he shares no blood with his ward Parth, and possibly Joan who is suspected to be fathered by another, no one is made to feel less. Naturally, if he's forced to marry again after his last disastrous marriage, he would look for a woman more maternal. A woman like Lady Ophelia Astley.

You, his soul said. You too. 

It was the same feeling he had had 

after each newborn child was presented to him: 

the moment in which the world adjusted 

so that his heart could recognize one of his tribe. 

One of his beloveds.

Ophelia is a recent widow with a young daughter whom she's intensely devoted to. Her marriage had been civil, pleasant, and probably more than a little boring. While mutual respect and friendship is more than a lot of aristocratic wives achieve in their marriages, passion and romance is certainly rare. Her marital relationship was satisfactory, but now she happily focuses all of her time and attention to Viola.

Most women were not expected to take a hands-on approach to raising their children at that time. Nannies and other caregivers did the messy day to day work involved while they enjoy their freedom to socialize with the ton. Ophelia shuns the societal norm and revels in motherhood which I found to be really refreshing. So many historical romances feature feminist themes with heroines who want no part of marriage or children. They're brave, brash, and rare creatures of the time who want a career or the freedom to pursue other interests. Don't get me wrong, these are enjoyable. But sometimes it's nice to read an old fashioned romance that celebrates motherhood and the value that a mother has in her children's lives. When Ophelia steps into the Wilde childrens' lives, she gives them a home life that helps them grow into the wonderful adults we see later.

It's essentially a case of love at first sight when the two of them meet at a ball. At least for Hugo, that is. From the moment he sets eyes on her, he starts to believe he's capable of having the love he found with his first wife Marie once again.

    His life had jerked to a halt with Marie’s death. 

In the years since, he took care of the estate, 

went through the motions of being married to Yvette, 

tried to be the best father he could to the children. 

But now, unexpectedly, strangely, 

with no more than the sight of a tantalizing woman . . . 

His heart was thumping in a rhythm he’d forgotten.

Yes, it's an insta-love scenario, which I didn't mind in this case. While Hugo immediately goes into passionate pursuit, Ophelia backs off in retreat. They don't go from point A to point B in a heartbeat-it's a little more complicated than that. While Ophelia loves her role of being a mother, she doesn't feel the need to remarry again because she never really found fulfillment with her first husband. She has financial security, and the freedom to do what she chooses, when she chooses to do it. And yet...Hugo's passionate promises of a future together niggle away at her willpower to remain alone. The chemistry the two of them have is instantaneous, and for her, very unsettling. She was willing to share a passionate night together, and he wanted her promise to share a future together. After coming to a stalemate, they were forced to move on. Or were they?

One of my favorite things about the Wildes is Hugo's amazing sister, Lady Knowe. She's smart, sassy, and hilariously keeps her brother and the rest of the family in line. I really enjoyed seeing her interact with the family again, and laughing over the witty dialogue. She knows her brother better than anyone else, and sometimes she has to give him a little nudge of encouragement in the right direction. The direction is heart is pleading with him to go.

    “Don’t tell me again that you made up your mind for her 

that she’d be better off without you. 

You have moments when I think the title 

has addled your brains, and this is one of them. 

Your job is to grovel at her feet 

and beg her for marriage. 

Do you hear me?”

The children were just delightful as always, and the romance warmed my heart as I watched it take root and bloom. If you're a fan of the series, but hadn't decided if you want to read the parents' prequel, don't hesitate! It was such a light, fast, and sweet read that gave me the best historical romance feels.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself... And an intoxicating romance. 

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED by KERRI MANISCALCO

Series: Kingdom of the Wicked #1

Publication date: October 27, 2020

Published by: Jimmy Patterson

Genre: fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is at is seems...

Purchase your copy now:

Amazon |  B&N | BAM | IndieBound 

Praise for Kerri Maniscalco:

"A marvelous yet somewhat gruesome mystery...an unexpected twist makes the ending worth the wait. A must-have."

---School Library Journal (*starred review*)

"Kerri Maniscalco once again combines adventure, romance, murder and Victorian manners into an intoxicating cocktail that brings the story of this tenacious young forensic scientist to a satisfying conclusion."―Knoxville News Sentinel

"There are plenty of suspects and red herrings as well as tense escalations....A scenic, twisty mystery."

--- Kirkus Reviews

"Maniscalco has created a serious, sharp-minded, and forward-thinking protagonist in Audrey Rose, whose fearlessness will endear her to readers looking for an engaging historical thriller. Abundant red herrings and a dash of romance round out this gruesome but engrossing story."

--- Publisher's Weekly

"Audrey Rose Wadsworth prefers breeches to ball gowns, autopsies to afternoon tea, and scalpels to knitting needles. Though her father, Lord Edmund, has forbidden it, Audrey covertly studies forensic medicine...while "the Ripper" remains two steps ahead, lurking where Audrey least expects....Maniscalco's portrayal of scientific invention in a newly industrial era will serve as a fine first foray into Victorian classics."

---Booklist

"Audrey is a young woman eager to use her brains and willing to flaunt society's rules....This mystery pays homage to classics like Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [and] will satisfy those readers looking for historical mystery, a witty heroine, and a little romance."

---School Library Connection

"Audrey Rose is a witty, resourceful feminist who refuses to bow to Victorian-era gender norms. This dark, gothic landscape is peopled with nuanced, diverse characters who keep readers enthralled. A gripping mystery with a compelling heroine and just the right touch of romance."

--- Kirkus Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm mostly on instagram--where I'm always ready to talk fictional crushes and nerd out over books. (Okay, okay. And I've also been known to share snippets and teasers from my upcoming novels, if you're into that sort of thing...) Please feel free to chat with me there @KerriManiscalco. I love talking with fellow readers!

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram


REVIEW

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Emilia is a young Sicilian witch who has been living in hiding with her family her whole life. She and her twin sister Vittoria wear matching horn shaped amulets infused with magic by her grandmother to protect and shield them. They were told never to allow the two necklaces to physically touch, but in their childhood they foolishly broke that rule and they set a chain reaction into motion that would have catastrophic consequences. Not only would their family eventually be ravaged when Vittoria is inexplicably murdered, the underworld will soon be escaping the bonds that keep the human world safe.

In The Kingdom of the Wicked, Kerri Maniscalco carefully crafts a sophisticated, ominious world full of witches, demons, and other supernatural beings. However, the two main groups are the witches who descend from La Prima Strega, the original witch, and the seven demon princes of the underworld. The princes all represent one of the deadly sins-Wrath is one of the main protagonists opposite Emilia. I had some reservations about reading a story about a demon-not knowing how he would be represented. If he was too good, he wouldn't be a realistic character which would make him unbelievable as a demon from hell. If he was too evil, I wouldn't be able to overcome detachment from him. There's something to be said for redeemable anti-heroes, but there is a fine line for me as a reader. Thankfully, I think the author did a great job balancing his fierce and brutal characteristics with clear hints of a conscience and ability to think outside of his own selfish desires. That really set him apart from his vicious brothers.

    “There are seven demon princes, 

but only four di Carlos should fear: 

Wrath, Greed, Envy, and Pride. 

One will crave your blood. 

One will capture your heart. 

One will steal your soul. 

And one will take your life.”

Emilia and Vittoria had a very close sibling relationship as many twins do. In the beginning of the novel, Emilia starts to see her sister acting strangely, but dismisses her odd disappearances and anxious behavior. Based on the synopsis, I knew what was coming, but her death still hit hard. It was not only gruesome, but traumatic when Emilia discovers her lifeless body. She quickly transitions from grief to anger, to vengeance. Her innocence is forever lost as she ventures down a dark path of danger.

    A twig was just a bit of broken wood 

until it had been sharpened into a spear. 

Grief carved me in half. 

And fury honed the pieces into a weapon. 

Now it was time to unleash it.

Her sister is only one in a string of connected witch murders that are unsolved. Someone is targeting young witches and she isn't sure if it's the demons her grandmother warned her about, witch hunters, or some other unknown entity. Her first clue is a savage man standing over the body of her lifeless sister. He escapes, but leaves behind a mysterious snake adorned dagger. She uses his dagger to hunt him down and demand answers. Emilia jumps into the investigation with no hesitation right from the start. She isn't afraid to put her own life on the line and make difficult choices that could have irrevocable consequences. That includes the choices she makes when it comes to a very hardened, furious demon who has been (literally) spellbound and captive to her mercy. He's not the type to be forgiving and doesn't care at all for her rash actions in tying them together in a way that will be almost impossible to break. Eventually they become a reluctant team and frenemies who don't trust each other even for a hot second.

This book was seriously action packed. It's highly plot driven, and that's what I really needed in order to get immersed in a longer length fantasy right now. I needed something with the ability to capture my attention and solidly hold it there, and Kerri Maniscalco achieved that with flying colors. I enjoyed the sarcastic dialogue between Emilia and Wrath, the subtle character development, and the beauty in her writing. This is my first book by the author and I can say without a doubt I will be continuing the series as well as venturing into her other work in the future. The ending was pretty brutal-not just because of the big cliffhanger (come on guys, it's a series so it's to be expected) but the actual events that take place in the climax are heartrending.

Emilia makes a decision to descend into darkness but I hold onto hope that whatever her plan is, she will come out the other side into the light. I feel like this is possibly a five star read, but something was holding me back so I shaved off a mere half star. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the five star "wow factor excitement" wasn't quite there for me so I went with my gut in my rating. However, this book is unlike so many I've read before it, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a dark (and occasionally humorous) story to set the Halloween mood.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Blog Tour with Excerpt: The Mirror Man by Jane Gilmartin

Meet Jeremiah Adams. There are two of him.

THE MIRROR MAN by JANE GILMARTIN

Series: Standalone

Publication Date: October 20, 2020 

Genre: science fiction, suspense, thriller
Publisher: Mira

Purchase:
 Amazon | B&N | Google Play | BAM | Kobo

 

Synopsis

The offer is too tempting: be part of a scientific breakthrough, step out of his life for a year, and be paid hugely for it. When ViGen Pharmaceuticals asks Jeremiah to be part of an illegal cloning experiment, he sees it as a break from an existence he feels disconnected from. No one will know he’s been replaced—not the son who ignores him, not his increasingly distant wife—since a revolutionary drug called Meld can transfer his consciousness and memories to his copy.

From a luxurious apartment, he watches the clone navigate his day-to-day life. But soon Jeremiah discovers that examining himself from an outsider’s perspective isn’t what he thought it would be, and he watches in horror as “his” life spirals out of control. ViGen needs the experiment to succeed—they won’t call it off, and are prepared to remove any obstacle. With his family in danger, Jeremiah needs to finally find the courage to face himself head-on.

EXCERPT

Charles Scott glared down at him with a glint in his green eyes that felt like a warning, and Jeremiah replayed in his head the man’s ambiguous threat during their first meeting several weeks before.

“You now know as much about this project as anyone else involved,” he’d said. “It wouldn’t do to have too many people walking around with this kind of information. Our investors have a tendency to get nervous.”

Although Scott had quickly followed that remark with the matter of Jeremiah’s substantial compensation, there was no mistaking the implication: the moment he’d been told about the cloning project Jeremiah was already in. That first meeting hadn’t been an invitation so much as an orientation, and the contract he’d later signed had been a formality, at best. And the entire thing had done nothing but gain momentum from that moment on.

Dr. Pike continued to affix the wires to Jeremiah’s head. Jeremiah focused on the man’s gleaming black hair and the deep brown of his sure, professional hands, and he struggled to remember the allure of the $10 million payout he’d get at the end of the whole thing. That kind of money could fix a lot of problems. It would change things. The prospect of that fortune had been enough to make him turn away from principles he thought were unshakable. Every man has his price, he supposed.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he also acknowledged the real temptation of a twelve-month sabbatical from his own life. It had seduced him every bit as much as the money had. Maybe more. Between a job that had already begun to make him question his own morals, and a marriage that felt increasingly more like a lie, stress was eating him alive. And into his lap fell a chance to just walk away from all of it—without consequence and without blame. A free pass. He could simply walk away without anyone even knowing he was gone. There isn’t a man alive, he told himself, who would have refused. Despite the ethical question, despite that human cloning was illegal the world over, it would have tempted anyone.

Dr. Pike injected the clone with Meld and then turned wordlessly to Jeremiah with the second syringe poised above his left shoulder.

Jeremiah closed his eyes and rolled up his sleeve.

After the initial stab of the needle, he felt nothing. Which is not to say he didn’t feel anything; he literally felt nothing. Seconds after the injection, he became aware of a total emptiness, like a towering black wave that threatened to sink him into an immeasurable void. The experience was unlike anything he’d ever known. He imagined an astronaut suddenly untethered from his ship, floating helplessly into unending darkness. Without thinking, he immediately felt his body recoil. His mind screamed against it.

I’m dying!

From impossibly far away, he heard Dr. Pike say something about a heart rate and felt the slight pressure of a hand on his shoulder. He couldn’t see anything of the hospital room anymore. He was drowning in the blackness. His chest felt suddenly constricted. He fought just to find his breath.

“This is all perfectly normal, Mr. Adams. You have nothing to worry about. Concentrate on the sound of my voice. Nod if you can hear me.”

With considerable effort, Jeremiah managed what he hoped was a nod of his head. He was suddenly gripped by the alarming certainty that if he couldn’t communicate somehow, he’d be lost—swept away forever.

“Good. Good. Listen to my voice. It will keep you grounded.” Pike still sounded far away, but Jeremiah nodded again and struggled to focus. “What you are experiencing is to be expected. Do you remember when you took the Meld with Dr. Young? Do you remember the way you could feel her thoughts for the first few minutes?”

He nodded. It had been an unnerving thing to perceive her consciousness mixing with his like that. Flashes from her mind—odd, alien things like the feel of a blister on the back of her right heel, the familiar gleam in the eye of an old man he’d never seen—had swirled into the very structure of his own mind and fought for a place to settle. He had railed against that, too, and she had grounded him by flashing a penlight in his face, making him focus on that while the Meld took effect. Afterward, once he had sunk in, it had been easier.

“This is no different than what you experienced then,” Pike said. “This time, though, you are connected to an empty mind. There’s nothing there. But the more you resist, the longer this will take. You need to relax, Mr. Adams. Give in to it.”

Jeremiah nodded again and then shook his head with as much grit as he could muster. How does one give in to this? He didn’t think he could do it.

“Once your thoughts begin transferring into the mind of the clone it will be easier for you,” Pike urged. “Focus on a memory, as I suggested. Something vivid. It will help to fill that void you’re experiencing now. It will give you something to hang on to.”

Without the benefit of his full faculties, Jeremiah had little choice but to grab the last thing he’d been thinking about—his initial conversation with Charles Scott, the day all of this began.

He’d been surprised when he’d received an invitation to lunch from ViMed’s head of Engineering. The man was an icon in the science world, and although he’d quoted him a hundred times for the company, Jeremiah had never actually met him. He’d been intrigued enough to accept the invitation, especially when Scott had told him it involved a “proposition that could make him a very wealthy man.”

Flashes of that encounter and snatches of conversation now flitted through his mind like so many fireflies. He fought to catch them.

“We’ve been watching you, Mr. Adams.”

“All we ask is one year of your life. Isn’t that worth $10 million?”

“We can do this. The science exists. And with Meld, the clone will even share your thought patterns… Your own mother won’t know the difference.”

“This is sanctioned by powerful people—we have millions in secret federal backing. There are billions more in eventual funding… There’s no need to be so suspicious, Mr. Adams.”

From somewhere far away, Jeremiah heard Dr. Pike repeating his name. He had been so engulfed in his efforts to hold on to the memory that he’d almost forgotten where he was. As soon as he realized it, the void loomed again in his mind.

“Mr. Adams,” Pike said, “you’ve got to listen to me. The clone cannot pick up on any memory of the experiment. What you’re thinking about is not going to help. You need to think about something else, some memory that won’t be filtered. His mind is still empty.”

Jeremiah panicked. He couldn’t think. And now that he wasn’t focused on anything, the blackness began to take over again, creeping closer and threatening to swallow him. He fought for breath.

“Relax, Mr. Adams,” Pike said. “Think about your job here at ViMed. Remember something the clone can actually use. Something he’ll need to know.”

He felt a dull jab at his shoulder.

“This should help. I’ve given you a mild sedative. Take a few deep breaths. Concentrate on your breathing.”

With everything in him, Jeremiah tried to turn his mind away from the void that seemed to be all around him. He inhaled deeply and tried to focus on the rise of his own chest. Exhaled, and he felt his chest fall.

“Very good, Mr. Adams. Very good. Pulse is returning to normal. Deep breaths. Now, think about a typical day at work. Something ordinary and mundane.”

Inhale. Exhale. After a moment, Jeremiah began to relax and, as the sedative took hold, he found he could let his mind wander without the frantic thought that he’d never get it back. An oddly comforting fog seemed to expand in front of him, pushing the blackness away slightly, and Jeremiah retreated into it.

He began to think about the morning of the Meld fiasco—the day the New Jersey housewife had killed herself. The press had been circling. He’d arrived at his office with a terse mandate from his superiors to “get these fuckers off our back” and no idea how to accomplish that. It hadn’t been lost on him that not a single soul seemed bothered enough to stop and feel sorry about it, and he’d taken a quick moment behind his office door to offer silent condolences. It wasn’t thirty seconds before someone had come knocking, pushing him to get something done.

Weeks before, he’d heard talk of Meld being used to detect brain activity in a sixteen-year-old football player who had been comatose for nearly six months. Time to cash in. He tracked down the doctor somewhere in Delaware and the man started gushing about Meld, calling it “magical,” “a godsend” and “the most important medical advance of a generation.”

“After so many weeks,” he said, “the parents were hopeless.”

Meld was a last resort before pulling the plug, and it gave them the first clear signs of neural activity in the boy.

“Not only was he aware and awake in there, but he was cognizant of everything that was going on around him—including the fact that his parents were losing hope. He even heard them talking about funeral arrangements at one point. The kid was scared, terrified. He was begging for his life in there. That’s what I saw when I took the Meld with him. Meld absolutely saved his life. There is no doubt in my mind.”

Jeremiah had almost smiled. It was pure gold. A few hours later, the story was in the hands of every major news outlet, and that doctor was spending his fifteen minutes of fame touting Meld as “a medical miracle.”

Jeremiah focused on that now. Maybe Meld did have some silver lining, after all, he thought. Maybe it was miraculous.

Praise for The Mirror Man:

"A remarkable debut...Great concept and brilliantly executed."

-- "John Marrs, internationally bestselling author"

"A story that is both profound and artfully contained. Claustrophobic and disturbingly intimate. Simply brilliant."

-- "Sylvain Neuvel, author of the Themis Files trilogy"

"An incredible debut, fascinating in concept with characters that grip you from the get-go. A timely and touching novel."

-- "Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author"

"Part Twilight Zone episode and part medical thriller, The Mirror Man seamlessly weaves together clones and family for a fascinating story about the lies we tell ourselves--and what we might do with second chances. Tense, poignant, and frequently funny, Gilmartin's debut waxes lyrical on the human condition while racing to an unforgettable finish."

-- "Mike Chen, author of Here and Now and Then"

About the Author

Jane Gilmartin has been a news reporter and editor for several small weeklies and enjoyed a brief but exciting stint as a rock journalist. A bucket list review just before she turned 50 set her on the path to fiction writing. Also crossed off that bucket list: An accidental singing career, attending a Star Trek convention, and getting a hug from David Bowie. She lives in Massachusetts with a human family, an elderly cat and a very good dog.

Connect with the Author:

Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads 

Read More

Review: All About Us by Tom Ellen

A chance encounter leads to the journey of a lifetime in this powerful and emotional love story, perfect for fans of One Day, Me Before You and In Five Years.

ALL ABOUT US by TOM ELLEN

Series: Standalone

Publication date: October 13, 2020

Published by: Harlequin

Genre: holiday fiction, time travel, romance

 

SYNOPSIS

If you could turn back the clock, would you choose a different life?

Ben’s always loved the month of December, but this year, with his relationship with Daphne on the rocks, it’s missing its usual magic. And then his old friend Alice gets back in touch. Ben’s always thought of Alice as the one that got away, and he can’t help but wonder: what if he’d done things differently all those years ago?

He never imagines he might get to find out… but when a stranger sells Ben a mysterious watch one freezing winter’s night, he’s astonished to wake up the next morning on 5th December 2005: the day he first kissed Daphne, leaving Alice behind.

Now Ben must make the biggest decision of his life, all over again. But this time around, will he finally find the courage to follow his heart?

All About Us is a captivating novel of heartbreak and loss, friendship and hope – and how the choices we make throughout our lives will shape our destiny.

Purchase your copy:

Amazon |  B&N | BAM | Kobo | Google Play

Praise for All About Us:

”'Magical and beautiful.”

-Josie Silver, author of One Day in December

”'An insightful, nuanced look at modern relationships, I LOVED it. A Christmas Carol meets Love Actually.”

-Holly Bourne, author of Pretending

”'Has all of the feels - the messy complexities of family and friends, the power of love and a sprinkling of magic. Gorgeous.”

-Clare Pooley, author of The Authenticity Project

”'I loved it so much. Brilliant, lovable characters. So sharp, funny and poignant.”

-Rachel Winters, author of Would Like to Meet

”'A heart-warming and surprisingly feminist Christmas Carol-esque novel of 'what if' and 'who am I' - this really left an impression on me. The best novel of the festive season!”

-Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop

”'An outstanding story about regrets, self-reflection and love. Fantastic to have such a warm, genuine male voice in this genre. It’s a sure hit for 2020 - LOVED IT!”

-Roxie Cooper, author of The Day We Met

”'A warm, cosy delight. It’s SO honest, funny and sad about relationships and love, plans and dreams and living up to your own expectations. Most of all it is full of hope. It tugged at ALL of my heartstrings, and I loved it to bits.”

-Cressida McLaughlin, author of The Cornish Cream Tea Bus

”'A magical, compelling and thought-provoking story, full of depth and heart. The perfect holiday read.”

-C.J. Skuse, author of Sweetpea

”'Clever, funny and romantic. I hope the Netflix adaptation comes swiftly after.”

-Melinda Salisbury, author of The Song of Sorrow

”'Funny, warm and touching, perfect for Me Before You fans.”

-Suzy K Quinn, author of The Bad Mother’s Diary

”'Oh my gosh, it’s wonderful! I cried so much!”

-Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child

”'Romantic and gloriously life-affirming.”

-Rachel Marks, author of Saturdays at Noon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom is an author and journalist from London, England. He is the co-writer of three critically acclaimed Young Adult novels: LOBSTERS (which was shortlisted for The Bookseller's inaugural YA Book Prize), NEVER EVERS and FRESHERS. His solo adult debut novel is the romantic comedy ALL ABOUT US (HQ/HarperCollins, published October 2020). His books have been widely translated and are published in 20 countries. He is a regular contributor to Viz magazine, and has also written for Cosmopolitan, Empire, Evening Standard Magazine, The Daily Mash, Glamour, NME, ESPN, ShortList, Time Out London, Vice, Stylist and many more.

Follow him:

Amazon | Goodreads | Twitter 

REVIEW

All About Us by Tom Ellen
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


When I saw that there was time travel involved in this book, I didn't hesitate to request a copy to give this new author a try. Time travel is one of my favorite tropes to read and unfortunately there isn't a huge selection to choose from. This kind of holiday book is typically much more up my alley. Something with a more serious tone rather than fluffy, over-the-top cute. It's about "what ifs" and figuring out how to get your life on the track that it was always meant to be on. The problem is, most of the time we're just fumbling through life. How are we to know which direction is the right way? This story is about one man getting the chance to redo his past in order to possibly change his future.

Ben is at a crossroads in his life. He's unhappy in his professional and personal life and wonders how he could have gotten everything so wrong to arrive where he is. His wife Daphne has a successful career in publishing, and he can't help but feel inadequate because his career is non-existent. He once aspired to be a writer like his father who abandoned him and his mother, but that dream fizzled out when he accepted that he would never measure up. He loves his wife, but as the years have gone by, they've drifted so far apart that he's afraid that it's too late to bridge the gap. Their home is filled with heavy silences and cynical stares. They've been through challenges and heartache in their fifteen year relationship, but he can hardly say they've been through it together. Secretly he admits to himself that he's been unforgivably selfish in how he handles things. Guilt eats him alive for things he's said and done-and he pushes it all deep down as tight as he can fit it without cracking. He just doesn't know how to fix it.

Everything changes when he goes out for a drink with his best friend. He runs into a man who offers him the opportunity of a lifetime: reliving pivotal days in his past to help guide him into the future. If he had done things differently, would he have the perfect life? One that didn't fill him with shame and regret? At first he believes that his bizarre trip is meant to give him the chance to rewrite what already happened. But he soon discovers that the events that have occurred can never be altered. You know the expression, "Hindsight is 20/20?" Going through the motions of his past experiences, he's sometimes appalled at he took the most important people in his life for granted. How he treated them shabbily, always expecting a tomorrow to make things right again. Ben was much too consumed with self-pity and feelings of inadequacy to see his own worth.

To be honest, Ben becomes pretty hard to take for a while. He's insufferably rude at times, selfish, and contributes nothing to his marriage-emotionally he checked out long ago. There were times I wondered how his wife Daphne put up with his behavior for as long as she did. It helped that it was told from his POV, because he isn't without remorse. He's bursting with it. That softens that harsh edges of him considerably, but when we finally get to the Paris chapter he disappointed me big time in how he relived it. It didn't make sense to me that something that at him alive with guilt happened in the same way the second time around. If it destroyed him even thinking about what he did...why do it AGAIN? He did other things differently and felt he'd learned something about himself in the process. I was kind of pulling my hair out over that one because it was a massive mistake on his part that caused a great deal of harm.

The most touching moments were the ones Ben spent with his mother. After he lost her suddenly, he was never the same again. It was just the two of them growing up, but he always had her in his corner cheering him on. When she was gone, there was an emptiness there that couldn't be filled. Just imagining being in his shoes as he steps into the past and comes face to face with his mother again was really poignant. There are so many of us who have lost loved ones and we would give anything in order to have one more day with them. To say all of the things that we didn't and maybe take back some of the things we did. When he broke down over the gift of more time with his mother my heart ached for him.

It wasn't clear in the beginning of the book, but as things wore on, I realized that All About Us is something of a modern Christmas Carol retelling with romance. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I also loved the watch-seller's impish moments. He took such calm delight in ruffling poor Ben's feathers. He couldn't seem to pin down straight answers from the man for the life of him. But then again, where would the fun be in that? Ben must discover what-and most importantly-who he wants in his life when this crazy trip he's on is over. Or will he even have a choice? Towards the end, the suspense really ramped up because you could see disaster looming. It was only a question of how and when.

Ben wasn't always the most well-adjusted person. As a matter of fact, he's pretty much the opposite. But I can appreciate the emotional journey he went on to become a healthier version of himself in the end. He discovered that happiness isn't handed to you on a silver platter. You have to put blood, sweat, and tears into earning it. Not only did he figure out a fulfilling career to pursue, he learned how to have a deeper relationship with the people in his life by giving back just as much as he took. I had to give him full credit and respect for that which rounded the book off on a very high note. I really appreciated the uniqueness of this holiday story, and would definitely read another by this author in the future. If you're like me, and prefer a holiday book with heavier themes woven through, this will be a good bet for you.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world.

A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS by JENNY HOLIDAY

Series: Standalone

Publication date: October 13, 2020

Published by: Avon

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Leo Ricci's already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a "princess" in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he's got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car. 

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn't be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time. 

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

Purchase your copy:

Amazon |  B&N | Apple | Kobo | Google Play

Praise for A Princess for Christmas:

“The novel is charming and self-aware and successfully plays with the conventions of the ‘commoner falling in love with royalty’ script…Sizzling chemistry and witty banter elevate a common Christmas romance premise into a royally entertaining fairy tale.” –Kirkus

“Opposites attract in this thoroughly charming Christmas romance…The snappy prose, charming atmosphere, and Hallmark movie–style plot combine to create a delightful romance, underpinned by strong supporting characters. This Christmas treat, with its intoxicating blend of heat and sweet, is a winner.” –Publishers Weekly

Read an Excerpt here!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny Holiday started writing in fourth grade, when her awesome hippie teacher, between sessions of Pete Seeger singing and anti-nuclear power plant letter writing, gave the kids notebooks and told them to write stories. Most of Jenny’s featured poltergeist, alien invasions, or serial killers who managed to murder everyone except her and her mom. She showed early promise as a romance writer, though, because nearly every story had a happy ending: fictional Jenny woke up to find that the story had been a dream, and that her best friend, father, and sister had not, in fact, been axe-murdered.

From then on, she was always writing, often in her diary, where she liked to decorate her declarations of existential angst with nail polish teardrops. Eventually she channelled her penchant for scribbling into a more useful format. After picking up a PhD in urban geography, she became a professional writer, spending many years promoting research at a major university, which allowed her to become an armchair astronomer/historian/particle physicist, depending on the day. Eventually, she decided to try her hand again at happy endings—minus the bloodbaths.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook


REVIEW

A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A Princess for Christmas was a very cute and light holiday read for when you get into the Hallmark movie/rom-com mode. I know I may get a lot of slack for this, but personally I have never been into those sugary sweet made for tv movies. The cheese factor was always a little over the top for me, but I know I'm in the minority there. Usually with this kind of storyline, the hero is the royal falling in love with a commoner, and the woman living "happily ever after" with her fairy tale prince. However, the author reversed the roles in this case which was an interesting twist from the norm.

Princess Marie of Eldovia visits New York to make a speech at the UN, and while she's there, she meets Leo Ricci and his sister Gabby. As you can imagine, these two are opposites in just about every way. They come from backgrounds that are lightyears apart, She's prim and proper, he's blunt and casual. He's grumpy, she's determined to be optimistic. She's had a privileged life, he's middle class and knows what it's like to really struggle. On the other hand, they have one big thing in common that helps them understand each other at a level a lot of others can't. They both recently lost parents and still struggle with grief and acceptance. I've been told that this tragic history is a common trope for Hallmark Christmas movies. So while there were original aspects to the story, it wasn't without its cliches.

Marie was a strong heroine. She picks up the pieces after losing her mother to cancer and steps into her father's duties-all without his support or comfort. From the stories she tells about him throughout the book, he's always been a difficult person to adjust to, but ever since losing his wife he's been flat-out unbearable. I have to say that he never did grow on me much. Not only was he selfishly uncaring about the grief his daughter was going through, he tried to manage her personal life, and was so rude to Leo and Gabby when they were his guests it makes you grit your teeth in disgust. The pure snobbery he displayed had a vicious edge to it that was bad enough towards an adult, but to treat a child like that? Yeah, I just couldn't bring myself to look past the nastiness. It was all a bit sudden in the end-too little, too late.

The story is a simple one. Marie hires Leo to be her driver while she's staying in New York and during the few days they spend together, she's able to loosen up and feel some form of happiness. Marie is far from a snob like her father is, and she revels in doing touristy, simple things with him. She has a huge load of responsibility on her shoulders, expectations about her personal life that she's not ready to accept yet, and a public image to uphold. When it's time for her to go back home, she's not quite prepared to say goodbye to the new friends she's made and invites them to her home for the holidays. The invitation is the first sign that she is pushing boundaries on family expectations and finding the strength to stand up for the things that are important to her. Duty towards her country is still top priority, but she's not willing to sacrifice her happiness for an archaic arranged marriage.

The story progresses pretty quickly from strangers to love, but this is kind of standard fare for a holiday romance. Once Leo and his sister arrive at Eldovia, the two fall into a sexual relationship and kind of tiptoe around their feelings. It all feels kind of impossible. The odds are highly stacked against them-her father, their backgrounds, the culture differences, financial differences...it's pretty substantial. But one thing I can say about these two characters is that they're honest. And they appreciate that quality in each other. There's no miscommunication, misunderstandings, or over-the-top unnecessary drama. Once they search their own heart, they won't let anything or anyone stand in the way of a future together. And yes, there is the standard big romantic gesture scene in the end as they resolve their conflict as you would expect with this genre. It was nice to get a peek into their future with the epilogue so we could see how they dealt with the challenges they faced.

There was definitely some hints that Max and Dani had something brewing between the two of them, so I'll be keeping my eye out for information on a possible book for them. Overall, this is a great read if you're looking for something light with a moderate amount of steam and a strong dose of humor. There were points I was laughing out loud-especially at Leo's bumbling, panicked attempts at parenting his sister. His internal dialogue was absolutely hilarious. Even if you're not a huge holiday romance fan like me, this could be the sweet story you've been looking for. I'm looking forward to discovering more books from this author in the future.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More