Blog Tour/Review: Daisies and Devotion by Josi S. Kilpack

Daisies and Devotion, by Josi S. Kilpack
2019, 291p, Clean Regency Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Timothy Mayfield is ready to marry for love, but, since his personal finances are thinner than he’d like, he knows he’ll also need to find a wife with wealth. After receiving an unexpected inheritance, Timothy’s circumstances change, and he is free to pursue his “perfect woman”—one with blonde hair, blue eyes, a light laugh, arched eyebrows, elegant fingers, and a dazzling smile, among nearly twenty other characteristics.

Maryann Morrington doesn’t match anything on Timothy’s list—except for wealth. An heiress in her own right, she is tired of men pursuing her only for her money. But at nearly twenty-two years old, and not a particularly stunning beauty, she can’t be as picky as her friend Timothy is.

The two friends end up playing matchmaker for each other. Timothy will find a decent gentleman for Maryann, and Maryann will prove to Timothy that his “perfect woman” doesn’t exist.

Until Miss Shaw comes to London.

Now, with Timothy’s heart captivated by the blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Maryann must decide if she should risk her heart and reveal her true feelings for her friend, or if she should settle for someone else. It’s an up-and-down game of “he loves me, he loves me not” with both hearts and friendship on the line.

I love Josi Kilpack and this book didn't disappoint! Timothy starts out being very honest with Maryann. He is her friend but also wants to be her suitor based on her financial situation, and he's hopeful that love will come in time. She's not sure what to think of his honesty. Then his situation changes and he is able to look for his perfect wife. 

I loved how Maryann and Timothy's relationship developed. They were able to remain friends as they each pursued other love interests. There were times that Timothy made me laugh, especially when it came to the list of qualities that his perfect woman would possess. 

This was a fun book to read! I loved all of the characters, the plot, the romance, and especially that it's clean. I didn't realize this was the second book in this series, and I haven't yet read the first one, but this definitely works well as a standalone. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys clean Regency romance!

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Josi S. Kilpack is the author of twenty-five novels and one cookbook and a participant in several coauthored projects and anthologies. She is a four-time Whitney award winner--Sheep's Clothing (2007), Wedding Cake (2014), and Lord Fenton's Folly (2015) for Best Romance and Best Novel of the Year--and the Utah Best in State winner for fiction in 2012. She and her husband, Lee, are the parents of four children.

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Blog Tour/Review: A Proper Scandal by Esther Hatch

A Proper Scandal, by Esther Hatch
2019, 222p, Clean Regency Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Grace Sinclair has been callously cast out of her home. And though taken in as an orphaned child by the vicar and his wife, her unsurpassed beauty makes it impossible for her to remain in the vicar’s household—with two daughters of their own about to enter Society, the vicar and his wife see Grace as nothing but competition. Thankfully, Grace’s estranged Aunt Bell has agreed to take her in to her home in London. But Grace soon learns her situation has just gotten much worse.

It takes only a moment’s acquaintance for Grace to ascertain that her aunt has married a detestable rake. And Aunt Bell, recognizing the danger of having her lovely niece too near her husband, gives Grace an ultimatum: the young woman has two weeks to find a man to marry, after which she will be turned out. With no experience in the art of attracting a husband, Grace quickly realizes that a worthy suitor might not be so easy to ensnare.

I love Regency romance and this one didn't disappoint! Grace Sinclair is in a tough situation and needs to get married quickly. She goes to live with her aunt and uncle and her cousin, Georgina, has the perfect man for her to marry, Nate Barton. Grace already had an awkward meeting with him at the train station but is highly motivated to leave her current situation, so she begins her quest to marry him.

The awkwardness of Grace and Nate's first meeting and several after that made me laugh out loud. Their interactions were definitely my favorite parts of the book. There were complications, as Grace kept secrets from him. Grace's uncle was odious and made my skin crawl, and I was ready for her to get away from him. I was mixed on Lord Bryant. He was a scoundrel, for sure, but had a couple of redeeming moments. There were some other great characters that I enjoyed getting to know.

I loved this book from beginning to end! Grace and Nate were easy to root for and had great chemistry. I loved the humor, secrets, and romance. I would highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys clean Regency romance!

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Esther Hatch grew up on a cherry orchard in rural Utah. After high school, she alternated living in Russia to teach children English and attending Brigham Young University in order to get a degree in archaeology. She began writing when one of her favorite authors invited her to join a critique group. The only catch was she had to be a writer. Not one to be left out of an opportunity to socialize and try something new, she started on her first novel that week.

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Blog Tour/Review: Rescuing His Secret Child by Maggie K. Black

TLC Book Tours is hosting a tour for four Love Inspired titles. Click here to learn more about the books and check out the tour stops.

Rescuing His Secret Child, by Maggie K. Black
2019, 224p, Clean Romance/Suspense
My Rating=4.5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way

A train heist unearths family secrets? The next exciting True North Heroes story

Trapped with armed hijackers aboard a speeding train, Nick Henry is determined to free the hostages--especially his ex-girlfriend and the son he never knew existed. The army corporal must use his training to save them, but this mission's personal. Nick broke a promise to Erica Knight once, but he won't let her down now, because something precious is on the line: his family.

This book starts out fast and doesn't let up the entire time! All but the last chapter takes place in the span of 24 hours. Erica works on a train that gets held up and her young son enlists the help of Nick, a soldier who he immediately trusts. Due to lots of miscommunication that we learn about in flashbacks, Nick has no idea he's a father. Erica knows she needs to share her secret with Nick, but there doesn't seem to be a good time to do that. 

Nick takes to Erica's son, Zander, right away, and is determined to keep them safe. Nick and Erica find themselves in plenty of dangerous situations as they try to figure out why this is happening and who is behind it. Their past history stirs up emotions that they know they need to keep on the back burner until the crisis is over. 

This is the third book in this series, but works well as a standalone. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, even the unlikable ones. I loved the fast pace of the book which made it easy to read in a short period of time. And, of course, I love that it's clean! I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading clean romantic suspense.

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Maggie K. Black is an award-winning journalist with a thirst for adventure. She's lived in the American South, Europe and Middle East, and left a piece of her heart in each. She now makes her home in Canada, where she writes stories that make her heart race, chases her dog around the park and shares her adventures with her one true love and and their two daughters.

Blog Tour/Review: Finding Anne de Bourgh by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Finding Anne de Bourgh, by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
2019, 263p, Clean Regency Mystery/Romance
My Rating=4.5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way

As heiress of Rosings Park, Anne de Bourgh’s health is of utmost importance to her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Thus, following the shock of a recent fire at Rosings Park, the young woman is spirited away to Brighton to take the cure. While her domineering mother is bent on healing her daughter’s sickly constitution to secure her a suitable match, Anne herself is far more concerned with sketching the flora and fauna of the lovely sea town. It is in pursuit of artistic inspiration among the flowers that Anne becomes acquainted with Mr. Owen Talbot, a charming man with whom Anne feels an immediate connection, notwithstanding their differing stations.

But despite their growing esteem for one another, the couple faces an insurmountable problem: Lady Catherine has set her sights on a rich, well-connected man for her daughter, and Mr. Talbot is simply too common. With their love in jeopardy, the couple soon faces far graver problems. There has been a murder in Brighton, and Anne is innocently drawn into an amateur investigation that ultimately traces its roots to her own family. With a frightening foreshadowing regarding the de Bourghs, Anne begins to question whom she can truly trust.

It was fun to read about Anne de Bourgh, a secondary character in Pride & Prejudice, who is the main character in this book. Her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is domineering and Anne wants to please her. However, Anne and her mother have different ideas about who Anne should marry so she needs to assert herself if she wants to marry for love. 

Anne is an easy character to like. She desires to marry for love rather than a good connection. Owen Talbot is a kind man that she feels a connection with but his parentage isn't good enough for her mother. I loved how their relationship developed and how much each of them grew. 

I enjoyed reading this book and I loved the mystery element the author included. It was foreshadowed through the point of view of one of the characters but it took a while to find out the who and why. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Pride & Prejudice, as well as mystery and clean romance.  

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Award-winning author, Ronda Hinrichsen (also writing as Kathleen Marks) and her family own a small farm located between the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake where she regularly sees eagles, hawks, owls, and ducks. Lots of ducks. She is the author of independently and traditionally published non-fiction, romantic suspense and speculative books as well as numerous magazine articles and stories for children and adults. She also enjoys teaching about writing in conference and classroom settings.

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Blog Tour/Review: A Perfect Amish Match by Vannetta Chapman

TLC Book Tours is hosting a tour for four Love Inspired titles. Click here to learn more about the books and check out the tour stops.

A Perfect Amish Match, by Vannetta Chapman
2019, 288p, Clean Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy which did not affect my review in any way



After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah’s perfect match becomes clear—it’s Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn’t planned on love or marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she’s been missing?

It's been a while since I've read an Amish romance and this was the perfect one to read. Olivia is an easy character to love. She takes care of her grandparents and doesn't want anyone to know about her struggles. She helps others find the perfect match but doesn't consider anyone for herself. Noah isn't interested in her matchmaking services, but after some hilarious failed dates with two different women, realizes that he needs serious help. I loved their interactions and was rooting for them to find a way to make their relationship work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and once I picked it up, had a hard time putting it down. I loved the storyline and all the characters. It's the third book in this series, but this works well as a stand alone. I haven't read the first two books in this series and now I want to. This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely read more of her books in the future!

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Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series, and Plain and Simple Miracle series. Vannetta is a Carol award winner, a Christy finalist, and she also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She currently writes Christian suspense, Amish romance, and Amish mystery. She was a teacher for 15 years and resides in the Texas hill country.

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Blog Tour/Review: Undercover Honeymoon by Kari Iroz

Undercover Honeymoon, by Kari Iroz
2019, 336p, LDS Contemporary Suspense/Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Wedding bells are finally ringing for Jacklyn “Jack” Wyatt and her FBI-agent fiancé, Damon Wade. After their adventurous beginning, the happy couple finds the relative calm leading up to their big day a huge relief. Unfortunately, it seems the peace and quiet were too good to last. As they embark on their honeymoon, a weeklong cruise, Jack can’t shake the feeling that something is off with her new husband. When she stumbles upon a secret plot—one in which her husband is a key player—she realizes this getaway will be anything but smooth sailing. When she delves into the shady happenings aboard the ship, Jack realizes Damon’s involvement is just the tip of the iceberg—she has become an unwitting player in a deadly conspiracy, and in such close quarters, there is no escape. Now, Jack has no choice but to work with her new husband to unravel the truth before their happily ever after—and their lives—are ended all too soon.

I loved the first two books in this series, and was excited to start reading more about Jacklyn ("Jack") and Damon. The book starts with Jack preparing for her wedding. Of course, things don’t go smoothly so there was plenty to laugh about from the beginning. Damon plans a cruise for their honeymoon and it starts out well. Then Jack realizes that Damon is working a case and things quickly change.

I love Damon and Jack! They have great chemistry and are a great match. They have some issues to work through as well, which makes them easier to relate to. Jack is hilarious, and her thoughts and actions make me laugh. She is one of my all-time favorite characters.

There are so many reasons why I love this book and highly recommend it: It’s clean, suspenseful, funny, romantic, and has great characters that are easy to root for. You don't have to read the first two books in order to enjoy this one, but they are fun to read as well, so you will want to! The ending is satisfying and I was happy that the author left an opening for more Damon and Jack in the future!

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About the Author
A veteran of the Utah dating trenches, Kari Iroz was once just another ordinary Mormon girl looking for love. She had lived these clichés and agonized through these awkward blind dates to laugh about them with you. Now a wife (he's dreamy) and mom to the three cutest girls in the world (disagree if you like, it's her bio), she writes comedy and speculative fiction. Kari has twice been a finalist for the Whitney Award and is honored to champion everyday heroines like Jack and her fantastic readers. Keep coming back for more Jack!

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