Mel's Shelves: Blog Tour/Review: Catherine's Intrigue by Paige Edwards

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Blog Tour/Review: Catherine's Intrigue by Paige Edwards

Catherine's Intrigue, by Paige Edwards
2019, 320p, LDS Romantic Suspense
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way

To fulfill her mother's last request, twenty-four-year-old historic design specialist Catherine Pressley-Coombes travels to England in order to investigate an elusive family line. Armed with an illegible diary, she is determined to discover the identity of her mysterious ancestress. Distracted by an Elizabethan manor and unused to British country roads, Catherine runs her car into a ditch. Luckily, Nick Davidson, a handsome, hard-working local rides in on his tractor to save the day. As the down-to-earth manager of his family's estate, Nick also happens to be one of England's most eligible aristocrats.

Nick is certainly not the kind of man Catherine would fall for a man dogged by media and rumor. So why does she find the English lord so irresistible? Even though she can't overlook their differing values and beliefs, as she and Nick spend time together, their attraction deepens. While she battles through romantic turmoil, Catherine is beleaguered with far more sinister concerns: a series of unexplainable misfortunes that are not mere accidents. With her heart on the line, Catherine discovers her life is in jeopardy, and she has no idea who the perpetrator is but she has a growing suspicion that the danger might be connected to whatever secrets lie hidden in her ancestor's diary.

Catherine heads to England to stay with her brother Jack while she searches for an ancestor that she only has a first name for, as well as a hard to read diary. When she first arrives, she drives herself and Jack into a ditch, and a handsome man named Nick rescues them. It turns out that there's more to Nick than she originally thought, and they are attracted to each other. There is a major complication, as well as someone after her, so it's anything but smooth sailing.

This book took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down. The author clues us in on the villain early on so the reader knows who to watch out for. We switch back and forth between Catherine, Nick, and the villain so we know what all the characters are thinking and feeling. I don't think that took away from the suspense, and I thought it helped wrap everything up nicely in the end. I liked the way Catherine and Nick's relationship developed and I was rooting for them to find a way to be together. There were some other great characters that I enjoyed getting to know, including her brother, Jack, and her best friend, Gillian.

There is a religious element to the book regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which works well with the storyline and doesn't come off as preachy. I love that this is a clean read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense! This is the author's debut novel and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future!

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Born and raised in Southern California, Paige Edwards is a multi-award-winning author who enjoys clean romances and thrillers. A BYU-I alumna, she went on to graduate summa cum laude from NOVA with a degree in interior design. Her husband’s job transferred their family to the mid-Atlantic states where they have lived ever since. As a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and former chapter registrar, she has spent time researching applicants’ genealogical credentials. When she needs a break from writing, you can find her shooing deer out of her garden, biking battlefields, or kayaking on the lake.

Please join Paige’s newsletter at authorpaigeedwards@gmail.com where you’ll hear about upcoming projects, research trips, fun trivia, and deals on books by other clean and wholesome authors.

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