Review: Crush the King by Jennifer Estep

A fierce gladiator queen must face off against her enemies in an epic battle in this next thrilling installment of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep's Crown of Shards series. An action-packed adventure full of magic, murderous machinations, courtly intrigue, and pulse-pounding romance.

CRUSH THE KING by JENNIFER ESTEP

Series: Crown of Shards #3

Publication date: March 17, 2020

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Genre: adult fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Queen Everleigh Blair of Bellona has survived the mass murder of the royal family, become a fearsome warrior trained by an elite gladiator troupe, and unleashed her ability to destroy magic. After surviving yet another assassination attempt orchestrated by the conniving king of Morta, Evie has had enough. It’s time to turn the tables and take the fight to her enemies.

There is no better opportunity to strike than during the Regalia Games, a time when warriors, nobles, and royals from all the kingdoms come together to compete in various sporting events. With the help of her loyal friends, Evie goes on the attack at the Regalia, but things don’t turn out the way she hopes. Soon, she is facing a terrifying new threat, and she will have to dig deep and learn even more about her growing magic if she has any chance of defeating her foes.

Because to secure her throne and ensure her kingdom’s survival, Evie must think like a true Bellonan: she must outsmart and outwit her enemies . . . and crush the king.

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Praise for Crush the King:
"Estep knows how to create strong and relatable fantasy female leads. Evie's rise into her power in deeds and magic is a fabulous, inspiring read. Solid writing, bold characters, and action-filled sequences create an exciting finish for this trilogy."
-- "Library Journal"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

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REVIEW

Crush the King by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Evie has evolved so much from book one that it's like she's been reborn into the bolder, fiercer woman she was meant to be. Once she existed in the shadows, simply trying to blend into the background to keep from becoming a target. In the second installment, she had an adjustment period where she settled into being the new queen. In Crush the King, all of Evie's preparations and plans will now be put to the test. Maeven isn't the only enemy she has, in fact, the king of Morta and the DiLucri family pose the biggest threat to her safety. We all know that the Mortans have been attempting to kill the Blairs in order to take the kingdom of Bellona. The DiLucri's are far less transparent, but whatever the reasons for their attacks, it seems to be far more sinister than Evie anticipates.

Evie is inundated with assassination attempts in this book. It seems like it's a constant stream coming from every direction, but since the massacre of her family, she's worked hard to be prepared to fight for her life at a moment's notice. And fight she does. Her large group of friends and protectors are always nearby to assist her in dispatching any difficult enemies, but she's more than capable of handling things on her own. Not only is she physically strong, but she really has a firm grip on the capabilities of her magic. She used to think that her magic was weak, simply something to use on the defense, but her immunity can also be used in powerful ways to attack as well. I enjoyed seeing her flex her magic muscles in this book.

    I had just kicked a nest of coral vipers. Now all I could do was wait and see how many of them slithered out and tried to kill me.

As much as I enjoyed the plentiful fight scenes, the games between the royals were something to behold. All of the kingdoms converged at the Regalia competition, and the plotting and backstabbing started the instant the festivities began. Evie didn't hesitate to face off with anyone who challenged her or attempted to make her look weak. She had a strong plan going in, and if she was successful, she'd be well on her way to having a more secure kingdom for her people.

    Being queen was about far more than just plotting to kill your enemies. I had come to the Regalia with a three-pronged attack in mind to accomplish three separate things: crush the king, advance Bellona’s fortunes, and manipulate Maeven.

We really got to understand the depth of King Maximus' depravity in this installment. We knew from the beginning that he was dangerous when it came to Evie, but even his family members and countrymen were not exempt from his wrath. He rules with fear and cruelty, whereas Evie earns loyalty with respect and love. I really loved the bond she has with her friends, and Paloma in particular had a developed history that is just starting to be revealed. I'd seen hints of it coming earlier on, and my suspicions were basically confirmed. This side story as well as Maeven and the mystery of the DiLuca family is left up in the air which leads me to believe there are more books to come in this series. I always though this would be a trilogy, but the ending potentially left room for more.

I would have liked to have seen Sullivan play a bigger role in this book. He felt more like just another person on her team rather than her love interest. But overall, the lack of romance didn't bother me all that much. If the series ends here, it would be in a good place for all, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the possibility to continue on with more in the Crown of Shards saga.

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Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway: In Bed With the Earl by Christi Caldwell

Christi Caldwell, USA TODAY bestselling author of the Wicked Wallflowers series, combs Londons underground and finds romance and danger for a missing lord and the lady who loves him.

IN BED WITH THE EARL by CHRISTI CALDWELL

Series: Lost Lords of London #1

Publication Date: March 17, 2020 

Genre: Historical Romance 
Publisher: Montlake

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Synopsis

To solve a mystery that’s become the talk of the ton, no clues run too deep for willful reporter Verity Lovelace. Not even in the sewers of London. That’s precisely where she finds happily self-sufficient scavenger Malcom North, lost heir to the Earl of Maxwell. Now that Verity’s made him front-page news, what will he make of her?

Kidnapped as a child, with no memories of his well-heeled past, Malcom prefers the grimy spoils of the culverts to the gilded riches of society. Damn the feisty beauty who exposed the contented tosher to a parade of fortune-hunting matchmakers. How to keep them at bay? Verity must pretend to be his wife. She owes him.

The intimacy of this necessary arrangement—Verity and Malcom thrust together in close quarters—soon sparks an irresistible heat. But when the charade ends, the danger begins. Will love be enough to protect them from a treacherous plot devised to ruin them?

Guest Post: Flaws Make the Man in Christi Caldwell’s In Bed with the Earl 

My newest release, In Bed with the Earl, features an unlikely Regency hero. He was born to nobility, was kidnapped, and grew up in the roughest streets of London, as a ‘tosher’…a sewer scavenger. Nothing about Malcom or his past is in any way conventional, but he also represents how our pasts shape who we are. And there is no doubting, his past molded him into who he is… a man who doesn’t let people close…and who protects what he does have. Which is why…when he does meet Verity, someone who wants to be close for him (first, for reasons related to her work…and then, the more she knows him, simply because she’s falling for him) he resists.

People are impacted by life, in different ways. We all have many layers; and for Malcom, those layers are protective ones; a shield to protect himself from being hurt…because he’s already known so much. Yes, he’s coarse and ragged, and rough, but beneath that, readers (I hope) will see what Verity sees…that he has a good heart, and is deserving of a happily-ever-after, not only for who he is to others, but because, with the life he’s lived, he deserves it for himself.

     

EXCERPT

Excerpt: In Bed with the Earl by Christi Caldwell

“May I help you, Miss Lovelace?”

That lethal purr sounded from the front of the room, a silky taunt.

With a gasp, the page slipped from her fingers and fluttered to a damning place at her feet.

Mr. Bram yanked the cloths from his eyes, and he took in Verity beside Mr. North’s open desk. And all the color left his face. “Oh, bloody hell.”

Oh, bloody hell, indeed. And all thoughts of having been rescued by a savior, and even the importance of this story, fled in the face of the danger staring back at her in his ruthless gaze.

He is going to kill me…

Verity swallowed hard. “If you’ll excuse us?” Mr. North murmured.

Verity took a step toward the door.

“Not you, Miss Lovelace.”

Mr. Bram climbed awkwardly to his feet. “Oi’m so sorry,” he said hoarsely, an apology that went ignored by Mr. North.

Her heart lurched. Every muscle in her body lurched. This was bad. Which would have been the understated statement of the century. She curled her toes into the soles of her borrowed slippers and followed the stranger’s—nay, he was no longer a stranger in name—the Earl of Maxwell’s gaze. As dread slowly wound its way through her, Verity curled those digits all the tighter.

And as it was all the easier to focus on matters within her control, she looked to her older patient as he limped across the room. “Be sure and try out those remedies, Mr. Bram.” She felt Mr. North sharpen his gaze on her person. “And I’ve something that might help with that limp, too,” she promised.

The older man stopped. “Do ya, now?”

She may as well have promised him the sun, moon, and stars for the way he looked at her. “Oh, yes. You’ll require—”

“Bram,” Mr. North snapped, and the older man instantly scuttled off, but not before flashing her an apologetic look.

“It is really not Mr. Bram’s fault. He’s not done anything wrong. You really shouldn’t take your…”

Not taking his eyes from her person, he reached behind him with an agonizing slowness and drew the door shut. Click. That soft but decisive snap that served as a seal of her fate.

Just like that, Verity’s bravado flagged. She clutched at the fabric of her skirts. Wanting to be the composed reporter gathering her research, and undaunted in the face of peril.

And she came up … pathetically empty.

That cold smile affixed to hard lips remained in place, a grin that no person would dare mistake for anything but the feral threat it was. He pushed away from the door and started a languid stroll toward her.

Had she truly been relieved about determining the identity of her savior and captor?

It was now all muddled.

“Now, Miss Lovelace? If that is your name?”

“M-my name?” Wasn’t it? Even her name eluded her in that moment. “Of course it is.” Her voice ended on a croak as he drew ever closer; the ice that frosted his gaze sprang her to the reality now facing her, the menace that spilled from his broad frame. Mayhap she’d been wrong. Because she’d experience with earls—was, in fact, the daughter of one. They were nothing like the predatory devil that stalked her now. “I am Miss Verity Lovelace. What grounds would I have to lie?” She hurried to place the chair of his desk between them as another barrier.

He stopped his pursuit. “And how may I help you?”

Ironically, the stranger—the gentleman—could have uttered no truer words than those.

They fortified her, and sent resolve creeping back into her spine as she brought her shoulders back. Verity met his gaze squarely. “Are you the Earl of Maxwell?”

Except, she already knew as much … she simply sought the confirmation from the gentleman’s mouth.

His eyes grew shuttered, but not before she caught the flash of horror in their blue-black depths.

He was a man unaccustomed to being challenged. And his unsettledness eased away further frissons of fear. Verity slid out from behind his desk chair and glided slowly across the room. She stopped when only a handful of steps separated her from the very stranger who’d put a knife to her earlier that night.

“Do I look like an earl?” he countered, belated with that reply—that deliberately evasive one.

Taking that as an invitation to study him, Verity peered at Mr. North. That slightly hooked nose, which had been broken one or more times, did little to conceal the aquiline appendage that served as a signal of his birthright. The small white nicks and scars merely marred a canvas of otherwise flawless high, chiseled cheeks and a hard, square jawline.

Glorious. Her pulse throbbed a beat harder. His features, melded with those flaws, only served to mark him beautiful in his masculinity.

His mouth crept up in a tight, one-sided smile that didn’t meet pitiless eyes. “Did you have a good look, Miss Lovelace?”

He’d noted her appreciation. Verity’s cheeks burnt, and she curled her toes into the soles of her borrowed slippers. He merely sought to disconcert her. It was a familiar state she’d found herself many times before, with many men before him. Feigning nonchalance, Verity gave her head a little toss. “You have the look and the tones of an earl,” she pointed out. “And more…” She gestured to those private missives she’d availed herself to. “You have letters written regarding the Baron Bolingbroke.” Verity stretched up on her tiptoes so she could at least hold his gaze and not be peered down at. “Therefore, Mr. North, I would say you are, in fact, the Earl of Maxwell, after all.”

***

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About the Author

USA Today Bestselling, RITA-nominated author Christi Caldwell blames Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance. While sitting in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut, Christi decided to set aside her notes and pick up her laptop to try her hand at romance. She believes the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she rather enjoys torturing them before crafting them a well deserved happily ever after!

Christi makes her home in southern Connecticut where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances and caring for her three spirited children!

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Spotlight: The Operator by Gretchen Berg

A clever, surprising, and ultimately moving debut novel, set in a small Midwestern town in the early 1950s, about a nosy switchboard operator who overhears gossip involving her own family, and the unraveling that discovery sets into motion.

THE OPERATOR by GRETCHEN BERG

Series: Standalone

Publication date: March 10, 2020

Published by: William Morrow

Genre: historical fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

In a small town, everyone knows everyone else’s business . . .

Nobody knows the people of Wooster, Ohio, better than switchboard operator Vivian Dalton, and she’d be the first to tell you that. She calls it intuition. Her teenage daughter, Charlotte, calls it eavesdropping.

Vivian and the other women who work at Bell on East Liberty Street connect lines and lives. They aren’t supposed to listen in on conversations, but they do, and they all have opinions on what they hear... especially Vivian. She knows that Mrs. Butler’s ungrateful daughter, Maxine, still hasn’t thanked her mother for the quilt she made, and that Ginny Frazier turned down yet another invitation to go to the A&W with Clyde Walsh.

Then, one cold December night, Vivian listens in on a call between that snob Betty Miller and someone whose voice she can’t quite place and hears something shocking. Betty Miller’s mystery friend has news that, if true, will shatter Vivian’s tidy life in Wooster, humiliating her and making her the laughingstock of the town.

Vivian may be mortified, but she isn’t going to take this lying down. She’s going to get to the bottom of that rumor—get into it, get under it, poke around in the corners. Find every last bit. Vivian wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be.

But as Vivian is about to be reminded, in a small town like Wooster, one secret usually leads to another. . . .

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for The Operator:

“I finished reading The Operator in an unstoppable rush and it was every bit as glorious, gossipy, delicious, and perfect as I’d hoped. Absolutely heaven!”

- Jill Mansell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Maybe This Time

"With great humor and insight, The Operator by Gretchen Berg delivers a vivid look inside the heads and hearts of a group of housewives and pokes at the absurdities of 1950s America, a simpler time that was far from simple. Think 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' in the suburbs -- with delicious turns of jealousy, infidelity, bigotry, and embezzlement thrown in for good measure. The Operator is irresistible!"

- Kathryn Stockett, author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Help

“Berg's storytelling is warm, sympathetic and witty. . . . There are more than enough quotable lines to fill a couple of reviews.”

- Kirkus Reviews

“[W]hat began as an unassuming story about life in a small town turns into an exploration of identity and family in 1950s Ohio. . . . highlights the diversity of life experiences often overlooked in recollections of the time. This original look at Midwestern life is recommended.”

- Historical Novel Society

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gretchen spent many years working in the fields of education and travel. Her parents had always encouraged her to write, but she waited until she heard “you are a writer" from more trustworthy advisors: a London psychic, and a taxicab driver in Athens, Greece. The taxicab driver also said they had been lovers in a previous life.

After finishing a humorous memoir in 2010 she ventured into the field of genealogy, and compiled narratives and research reports for clients, while also working on her family's history. It was during her family research that she came across an interesting bit that then became her debut novel, The Operator.

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Feature: My Way to You by Catherine Bybee

A woman’s journey through tragedy leads to the discovery of love in a novel about hope and survival by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

MY WAY TO YOU by CATHERINE BYBEE

Series: Canyon Creek #1

Publication date: March 10, 2020

Published by: Montlake Romance

Genre: women's fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

When a wildfire nearly destroys Parker Sinclair’s family home, it’s just one more disaster to add to her mountain of stress. For the past two years, she has shouldered the responsibility of raising her younger brother and sister after their parents’ untimely deaths. Forced to leave college for a crappy job that barely pays the bills, Parker manages her family property, which consumes every aspect of her life. Now winter is coming and the forecast isn’t spreading sunshine on the dark cloud over her head. The last thing Parker needs is a mudslide destroying everything she has worked so hard to maintain.

Colin Hudson’s job as a public works supervisor is to protect Parker’s property and neighborhood from further damage. But it’s a little hard when the owner of the land is a control freak who tries to do everything herself. The hardworking, attractive young woman is far from the “hot mess” she claims to be. In fact, her tight grip of control is one of the things that attract him the most. It’s also the hardest to crack. Now Colin’s working overtime to help Parker open up her heart, trust him, and let him in.

As Parker and Colin work together to keep her home and neighborhood safe, they may be in for another disaster. Or they may just realize that sometimes it takes destruction to create something new.

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Feature: Interview with Catherine Bybee

Please tell us about the fire that inspired your newest novel My Way To You.

I was taking my youngest son to his senior pictures for the school when we noticed a plume of smoke in the rearview mirror. I have lived through many fire scares in the twenty years I lived in my home. Only this time, it wouldn’t be a false alarm.

You had to evacuate your house because of the fire. How did you feel in those moments?

I was thankful my children and I escaped, and terrified that I would come home to nothing but ash and debris. I’d packed up the cars with pictures and things I felt I couldn’t replace, but had to leave one of my cars behind because the fire engine was blocking my ability to drive it away. But none of that truly mattered. I felt like all the work I had done to keep my children’s family home after my recent divorce was for nothing. That fire was going to undermine the stability I had desperately tried to preserve. In short, I was an emotional mess.

While your property suffered immense damage, thankfully your home was left standing. Did this experience change the meaning of that word for you—home?

Home is stability. It’s a base for all the things we cherish. But it’s the people who make it so. I had a conversation with my youngest son not too long ago. I asked him if he missed the home he grew up in. (I’ve since moved to San Diego and sold my property in Santa Clarita.) This is what he said, “The day we ran from the fire, I stopped caring about the house. I didn’t think it would be there when we came back.” So no, he doesn’t miss his childhood home. I was shocked to hear this since my youngest tends to hold back his feelings. I lived in that house for 21 of my 51 years of life. There were memories in every corner. But in the end, the fire and flood… and exhaustion made it easier for me to sell it and walk away. Now that I’m in a new place I’m reminded that my family and memories are always with me—and a house is wood and stone. Whether I like it or not, however… it is stability. And that was shook to its core because of the fire.

Your life changed drastically in just one day, which is something your heroine Parker experiences—twice. The first time is when her parents die. How does this one event inform the course of her life?

She has to stop thinking about herself and put others before her. She had to grow up. Trauma changes you! Period. And I needed Parker to experience that so she could realize just how strong she was.

She has to find that strength again when fire almost destroys her home. Tell us how your heroine changes during all of this.

She needed to learn to lean on others again. Her parents death took that away and made her a very controlling person. (Ahummm… that’s my own epiphany.) It’s through the course of the book, and all the other players, that she learns to open herself up to live a full life. I think she also learns to be a big sister again and not the parental figure she took on.

In what ways is Parker like you? In what ways is she different?

She learned to let go, I still can’t do that.

She fell in love… That’s not me.

She had a privileged childhood with tons of options… Not me.

Parker fought to keep her home and make it right to live in it. I fought to keep my home and make it right to sell it. After so many years and so many struggles, it just wasn’t the peaceful place it once was. And with an empty nest and no Colin there to give it meaning, I needed to let go and start new.

***

EXCERPT

“Excuse me?” 

Parker turned toward the sound of the male voice and brushed aside hair that had fallen out of her ponytail. The sun glared in her eyes, making it difficult to get a clear picture of the man standing on the other side of her gate. 

“Hello,” she greeted him. 

“Do you live here?” 

Probably a neighbor, she thought to herself. They’d shown up constantly after the fire to see how close the flames had actually come to their homes. Many of them invited themselves in without knocking. That was until she paid to have someone come in and fix the broken gate and stop the trespassers. 

“I would hope so,” she said, waving the pruner in her hands. “I don’t think I would take this job for actual money.” The closer she got to the gate, the better the features of the man came into focus. He stood at least three inches taller than her, no easy task when she was five nine. Broad shoulders and arms that didn’t look like they slaved in an office all day. He wore jeans. It had to be over a hundred degrees, and the man wore jeans. 

And filled them out nicely, if she wasn’t too tired to notice. 

Parker forced her gaze back to his face, his eyes hidden by his sunglasses; his thick brown hair wasn’t covered by a hat. 

She stopped in front of him, the gate to the property a clear division. The intense set of his jaw softened slightly. “Is your, ah … husband here?” 

Three years ago, in a bar … or while out with friends, she would have instantly denied a lack of a husband. Out here, with a stranger … even an attractive one standing at her front door, she wasn’t about to correct him. “Who’s asking?” 

The man’s smile fell and he quickly removed his sunglasses. “I’m sorry. My name is Colin Hudson. Colin to my friends.” 

“What can I do for you, Mr. Hudson?” She wasn’t about to call him by his first name. 

“I work with the Public Works Department and wanted to see if you’d let me take a quick look at the wash that runs through your property.” He reached into his back pocket and removed his wallet. Out came a business card that he handed her through the bars of the iron gate. 

She had to move close enough to take the card, but retreated once she had it in her fingertips. 

He instantly shoved his hands in his front pockets and took a step back. 

The card looked legit. Parker reminded herself that anyone with a computer could make a business card. “Does your department work on Saturdays, Mr. Hudson?” 

“All the time.” 

She peered beyond the gate, didn’t see a car. “Did you walk here?” 

Mr. Hudson looked over his shoulder, pointed his thumb down the street. “I have a company truck. I parked around the corner.” 

“Ah-huh.” She wanted to believe him. His caramel brown eyes looked kind enough. “Even Ted Bundy was good-looking,” she said loud enough for him to hear. 

Parker looked up to find him staring, his mouth gaped open. “That’s a first.” 

“Sorry.” Not sorry. “By-product of being a lone woman on a large piece of property with a stranger asking to come in. Business card aside, you could be anyone.” 

He lifted his hands in the air. “Very wise. I hope my sister would do the same. I was just hoping to get an eye on the canyon before Monday’s meeting. But I can wait.” 

She relaxed her grip on the tree pruner. “What meeting?” 

“The city and county are meeting to discuss the concerns of the watershed after the fire. We’re developing a plan to preserve property during the winter. If I could take a quick look it would help.”

“You mean prevent mudslides?” 

“Control mudslides,” he corrected her. 

She shifted from foot to foot. “You can do that?” 

“It’s a big part of our job.” He smiled, looked over her shoulder. “I can wait. I don’t want to make you uneasy.” 

Parker looked back toward the house. “Tell you what. You go get your company truck and I’ll grab a snake fork and show you the wash.” 

His eyes narrowed with an unasked question. 

“It’s summer. Rattlesnakes are a thing,” she explained. 

“You sure?” 

Yeah, she was sure. “I’ll open the gate. You can park inside.”

***     

Praise for My Way To You:

“A healthy, mutually supportive relationship is at the center of the touching first Creek Canyon romance from Bybee (Faking Forever). Romance fans will be pleased with this tender love story.” —Publishers Weekly

“A fascinating novel that aptly balances disastrous circumstances.” —Kirkus Reviews

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written thirty-four books that have collectively sold more than seven million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. For more information on the author, visit www.catherinebybee.com.

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Review: Lord Holt takes a Bride by Vivienne Lorret

USA Today Bestselling Author Vivienne Lorret launches a charming new trilogy about three debutantes who get more than they bargained for when it comes to the mating habits of scoundrels . . .

LORD HOLT TAKES A BRIDE by VIVIENNE LORRET

Series: Mating Habits of Scoundrels #1

Publication date: March 31, 2020

Published by: Avon Romance

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Heiress Winnifred Humphries refuses to marry the odious man her parents have chosen. She’ll marry for love or not at all. But how does a woman know a man truly loves her? Needing answers, she sets out to discover the marriage habits of London’s aristocrats. Yet when her friends kidnap a lord for research, Winn knows they’ve gone too far. Now she’s facing a wickedly handsome scoundrel who wants revenge.

Lord Asher Holt has the perfect plan to free himself of his father’s debts. But when a trio of foolish debutantes abducts him, their scheme ruins everything! Fuming and tied to a chair, Holt overhears that one of them is an heiress. Perhaps he isn’t above a little kidnapping either.

Yet, when the heiress runs away from her own wedding and straight into his waiting carriage, Holt finds himself on an adventure he’ll never forget, falling in love with a woman worth more than any treasure. But will Winn ever believe his heart only desires her . . . and not her fortune?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author VIVIENNE LORRET transforms copious amounts of tea into words. She is an Avon author of works including the Wallflower Wedding series, the Rakes of Fallow Hall series, the Season’s Original series, and the Misadventures in Matchmaking series. For more information on her books, please sign up for her newsletter @ www.vivlorret.net

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REVIEW

Lord Holt Takes a Bride by Vivienne Lorret
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    “You’re a tempting armful.” Another puffed exhale of disbelief left her, bemusement in her expression. “And you’re the adventure I never expected."

This is my second read by Vivienne Lorret, the first being The Rogue to Ruin. I wasn't wowed by that particular story, but my issue was with the characters themselves, not the author's writing. I'm so glad I gave her another go, because this was the light and fun historical romance romp I didn't know I needed. Right off the bat, I clicked with Winn and her quirky group of friends. Each and every one of them are unique (not to mention entertaining) with their own fully developed personality. Jane, Ellie, and Prudence give me something to look forward to in the following books.

Winn is a young woman with a common problem of the times. She's been forced into an advantageous marriage by her parents that has nothing to do with love. In fact, it promises to hold nothing but embarrassment and loneliness. Her fiancé has a mistress, and has no plans to change that fact once their wedding is over. Her mother assures her that it's better to go into marriage with no expectations of love than to have your hopes crushed later, which is just about the worst pre-marital advice I've ever heard. You certainly don't get the best first impression of either of her parents, but as the book wears on, they have their own story arc that was actually surprisingly sweet. They won me over in the end.

Winn tries to accept the fate chosen for her, but quickly realizes she can't go through with the wedding. Her friends hatch a crazy scheme to help her escape her dismal future and she grasps onto it with both hands. Of course things don't go as planned, and hilarity ensues. After jumping into Asher's dilapidated carriage in her wedding dress, they set off on a wild ride to end all wild rides.

Lord Asher Holt has a hidden agenda when they begin their journey that will come back to bite him in the butt later on. He's a desperate man taking desperate measures. I couldn't really hate the man for any of his dishonest actions. His father is one of the most infuriating characters I've come across. Shettlemane was a narcissistic man who was indifferent to the pain he repeatedly brought on his son, and the wreckage he made of his life. I instantly sympathized with Asher because of their toxic relationship, and I was rooting for him to find a way to be free of him once and for all. There was no hope for a happy future with Winn if his father wasn't dealt with. His malice would infect her life as well, and that's something that made him distance himself out of fear.

    He wanted her to be his. In fact, he’d never wanted anything or anyone so much. He ached from wanting her. To see her face every morning. To lie beside her every night. To hear her voice and to make her laugh. And if the circumstances were different, he’d give himself over to this love that was burning like an ember inside his chest. He’d let the flames consume him.

What should have been a fairly quick trip to her aunt's home is derailed by one disaster after another. Trouble seems to find the two wherever they go, but as they escape each mishap, their attraction for each other grows. I loved how Asher not only accepted Winn, but made helped her to grow more confident in herself. Her mother's condemnation over her appearance has damaged her self-worth, but she was finally able to shed the insecurities that have accumulated over time. I liked her character growth in that area, but especially the fact that he found her beautiful inside and out from the start.

    "For most of my life I’d felt like I was wearing the wrong skin, and had the wrong hair, and needed to do something to change it all. Yet, when I was standing there and looked across at you, I felt like I’d been in the right skin all along. It’s peculiar, isn’t it? But it seems that I had to step away from everything I knew in order to appreciate the person I really am.”

My one complaint about the book is the speed in which they fall for each other. You do have to suspend disbelief over the two of them finding love in a matter of a couple of days. The insta-love was strong. However, in this case there were so many other factors that made the book enjoyable as a whole, that it didn't detract very much from my reading experience. The humor, the secondary characters, and the jaunty adventure and heartwarming conclusion, made for such a fun time.

Asher had some groveling to do after his ticking time bomb of a secret did its damage. I think he went above and beyond proving to her that his feelings were genuine and that he cherished their moments together. There was a scene where he went to one of her friends' houses to plead his case that made me laugh out loud. Her friends are loyal to their core, and Jane got creative in how she made her displeasure known.

The hero of the next book happens to be a secondary character from The Rogue to Ruin, one that I was already intrigued about. I couldn't be more excited about reading My Kind of Earl, Jane and Raven's full length story. It's scheduled for publication September 2020.

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Review: Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie

BONE CRIER'S MOON by KATHRYN PURDIE

Series: Bone Grace #1

Publication date: March 3, 2020

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Genre: YA fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for Bone Crier's Moon:

“Brimming with rich mythology, deadly romance, and fantastically flawed characters—absolutely spellbinding!”

- Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

“Beautiful, entrancing, deadly.”

- Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author

“A magical story of compassion, forgiveness, and self-acceptance. This book might break your heart, but it will also warm your soul.”

- Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling co-author of My Plain Jane

“Richly imagined, compelling, and darkly romantic, this book will leave you begging for more!”

- Sara B. Larson, author of the Defy trilogy

Praise for the Burning Glass trilogy: “Sonya’s first-person narration is filled with descriptions of the emotions of those around her. With this second installment, the Burning Glass trilogy hits its stride.”

- Kirkus Reviews

“Filled with mystery and intrigue, betrayal and passion, Purdie’s political debut will sweep readers away to a world that is not that different from their own.”

- School Library Journal

“Purdie expertly weaves a complex storyline with well-developed characters in a vividly described world to entrance readers with her words.”

- Deseret News

“Dark, intricate and utterly immersive, Burning Glass will take you on a journey you’ll never forget. Heart-pounding action meets deadly intrigue and aching romance, drawing you deep inside a story full of complex questions.”

- Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryn is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the BURNING GLASS series. Her love of storytelling began as a young girl when her dad told her about someone named Boo Radley while they listened to the film score of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Kathryn is a trained classical actress who studied at the Oxford School of Drama. She also writes songs on her guitar for each of her stories and shares them on her website. Kathryn lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children.

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REVIEW

Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The best thing about Bone Crier's Moon is the originality. I liked the fresh concept of the Bone Criers, or Leurress as they refer to themselves. This family completely composed of women who draw their extrasensory powers and physical strength from the animals they hunt and kill. The purpose of the bones are to be a strong enough fighter to "ferry" the chained and unchained souls to their final destination. All of this was great stuff.

What wasn't so great was their ritual killing or in their words, rite of passage. Unfortunately, they have to murder an innocent man in order to prove their dedication to the God of the Underworld. I don't know about you, but that's not exactly something I can root for. They way they casually speak about luring these men and stabbing them as if it's an honor is disconcerting. These men aren't even just random unfortunate souls, they're amourés, a predestined soulmate. They make a lot of justifications in order to feel better about what they're doing. After they call their amouré with the bone flute, they are linked by the ritual and will both die in a year if they don't kill him. So...they have to! It's self-preservation. Then there's the fact that they're committing their lives to nobly rid the world of these sentient souls who would harm the living if left to roam among them. This does alleviate some of the turmoil over the setup. At the same time, they're killing innocent men. No matter how I tried to rationalize it, you can't really do it.

    “Without the Leurress,” she says, “the dead would wander the land of the living. Their unmoored souls would wreak havoc on the mortals we are sworn to protect. Our task is to keep the balance between both worlds, the natural and unnatural, and therefore it is our privilege to be born a Leurress and our great honor to become Ferriers.

There are three main characters in this story: Sabine, Ailesse, and Bastian. Sabine and Ailesse are best friends who are complete opposites. Ailesse is Odiva's daughter, the heir to the leadership role in the famille. She's a fierce warrior who pushes herself to become a woman her mother could be proud of. She has no compunction over any aspect of their culture and is excited to not only hunt animals but reach the level of Ferrier. For me, Ailesse's best trait was her loyalty and love for Sabine. Through internal dialogue, you realize that she doesn't have a catty or unsupportive thought towards her. Despite her mother (seemingly) inexplicably favoring her friend over herself, there is no bitterness or blame because of that.

Sabine was my favorite of the two female characters. She sees herself as weak because she's eaten up with guilt over hunting animals of any size. She has only been able to force herself to kill one of the three animals required before she's able to have her rite of passage. The paltry salamander bone she killed for its graces still weighs heavily on her conscience. She's equally loyal to her friend and puts her needs in front of her own on numerous occasions. She's sweet, though noticeably naive, and that creates issues later when she discovers that a woman in her circle is not as trustworthy as she makes herself out to be. More that once I thought to myself, this might as well be a neon sign proclaiming: Evil! Liar! Beware! She doesn't really like to listen to that inner voice telling her to stay away. At one point, she decides to deliver the sacred bone flute to the person she caught worshipping Tyrus, the God of the damned. Not the smartest move based on her confusion and suspicion over the woman's actions.

Bastian is a homeless thief out for revenge for the murder of his father. He witnessed the killing when he was a young boy and ever since then has researched the Bone Criers and plotted a plan of attack. After discovering Ailesse one night, he kidnaps her along with his friends Jules and Marcel. His plan hits a snag when he's told that killing her would kill himself at the same time since they are soulmates. Because of this soulmate bond and learning more about the "sacrifice" process, he quickly discards his hate for her and falls hard and fast.

    She draws a breath and releases it. “What if you and I didn’t meet on a bridge? What if I was a normal girl who didn’t wear bones or see the dead? Would you feel anything for me if I never lured you with a song?” My mouth curves. “Would you feel anything for me if I wasn’t your soulmate?”

This wasn't exactly the most realistic thing, especially since this concept was inconsistent. We learn later that Ailesse's mother spent time with her soulmate in order to conceive a child, yet never developed an ounce of feeling for him. Why then do Bastian and Ailesse fall so hard, so fast? Maybe this will be explained in more detail in the following book, but so far, the romance and soulmate aspect wasn't quite there for me.

There were several action scenes where Ailesse, Bastian, and Sabine defend themselves against the departed souls. These were all generally very similar and I found myself fighting the urge to skim over parts that didn't really add anything to the story. I quite liked the addition of the mysterious owl, and how it would silently aid Ailesse and Sabine. It wasn't explained yet, but it seemed to be a sign of assistance and approval from the goddess Elara. I also liked the addition of the new character at the end who proves to add a new direction and depth to the plot.

There is a cliffhanger at the end, which is to be expected with a book in a series/duo. The antagonist lived to wreak havoc another day, and the three main characters are separated and in a dire situation. Bastian's feelings towards his friend Jules was left ambiguous at the beginning but it was hinted that he was planning to pursue more with her after he got revenge. Then he meets Ailesse and it's never referenced again. So I'm curious is this will crop up again, and I foresee more happening regarding the "possession" that occurred with her. That will undoubtedly cause more issues for the group in the future. In the end, I was left a little conflicted over my feelings about the characters, but I do think the potential is still there for the next book to put some of my issues to rest. I'll be interested to see how some of these loose ends are tied together.

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Spotlight: The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn

A cache of unsent love letters from the 1950s is found in a suitcase on a remote island in this mysterious love story in the tradition of the novels by Kate Morton and Elizabeth Gilbert .

THE FORGOTTEN LETTERS of ESTHER DURRANT

by KAYTE NUNN

Series: Standalone

Publication date: March 3, 2020

Published by: William Morrow 

Genre: historical romance, historical fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

1951. Esther Durrant, a young mother, is committed to an isolated mental asylum by her husband. Run by a pioneering psychiatrist, the hospital is at first Esther’s prison but soon surprisingly becomes her refuge. 

2018. Free-spirited marine scientist Rachel Parker embarks on a research posting in the Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast. When a violent storm forces her to take shelter on a far-flung island, she discovers a collection of hidden love letters. Captivated by their passion and tenderness, Rachel determines to track down the intended recipient. But she has no idea of the far-reaching consequences her decision will bring.

Meanwhile, in London, Eve is helping her grandmother, a renowned mountaineer, write her memoirs. When she is contacted by Rachel, it sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to reveal secrets kept buried for more than sixty years.

With an arresting dual narrative that immediately captivates the reader, The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant is an inspirational story of the sacrifices made for love. 

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Praise for The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant:

"Nunn’s U.S. debut is an engaging, dual-period narrative that unravels slowly, tracing Esther’s journey toward healing and wholeness as well as Rachel’s attempts to move beyond her wanderlust and unwillingness to commit to a home, job, or relationship. The romance is unexpected yet authentic, and the ending highlights the enduring power of love and forgiveness. Ideal for readers of Lucinda Riley and Sarah Jio."
- Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Without being really aware of it, I have always written - angst-ridden teenage diaries, bad poetry, little bits of stories and so on. After studying English and publishing at university I worked in book publishing as an assistant and then an editor. Realising that I wanted to do more of my own writing, I went to work in magazines, first as a features writer, a copy editor and then an editor.

I have been a freelance features writer and project editor for five years, and it was during this time that I began to write fiction. ROSE'S VINTAGE came about as I was musing one day what it would be like to arrive in Australia and find it completely unlike anything you'd expected. Its vineyard setting came about as a result of many visits to wineries during the years I edited Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine. I loved the sense of community I found in these regions, and wanted to capture that in the novel.

Since then, a second book in the series, The Angel's Share has been published in Australia and both books sold at auction to Piper verlag in Germany.

And now, my third novel, The Botanist's Daughter, will be published on 31 July 2018 in Australia, with future editions to come in Germany, Spain and Italy. Set in late-Victorian England and Chile and contemporary Sydney and Cornwall, its the story of the search for a powerful, mythical plant.

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