Den of Liars (The Devious #1): Review

August 14, 2025Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: Den of Liars

Author: Jessica S. Olson

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Pages: 400

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.

Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.

Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief’s mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own.*

I have loved Jessica S. Olson since I read her debut Sing Me Forgotten, and her sophomore novel, A Forgery of Roses. I was ecstatic to read Den of Liars! I’m happy to say it did not disappoint, and I absolutely loved it. If you like unique magic systems, slow-burn romance, morally grey characters and high stakes competitions, I think you will love this one too!

Lola St. James has a target on her back since her father lost the Liar’s Dice Tournament. She is rescued by the Thief, the head of The Tentacles gang and has been living in secret. The price she paid for her rescue, is to share her heart with the Thief. Lola and the Thief forge a bond and are able to feel each other’s emotions through their shared heart.

Now living under the alias Astra, Lola wants to officially become one of The Tentacles. When a heist goes wrong, she finds herself having to enter the Liar’s tournament herself. The Thief warns her that the Liar is not to be trusted. She is confident in her abilities to pull off heists, but the Liar, the Thief’s own brother, turns out to be more than she could have imagined. Despite the Thief’s warnings, Lola finds herself attracted to the Liar. She will soon be forced to confront her past and the truth of the brothers history.

I really enjoyed Lola’s journey throughout this story. She started out as very naive and trusting of everyone, and grew into a character that started asking questions and trying to find out things on her own.

I can’t wait for book two, and will be eagerly awaiting it’s release. Highly recommend!

About the Author:

Jessica S. Olson claims New Hampshire as her home, but has somehow found herself in Texas, where she spends most of her time singing praises to the inventor of the air conditioner. When she’s not hiding from the heat, she’s corralling her four wild—but adorable—children, dreaming up stories about kissing and murder and magic, and eating peanut butter by the spoonful straight from the jar. She earned a bachelor’s in English with minors in editing and French. She is the author of Sing Me Forgotten and A Forgery of Roses.

Jessica is represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency, and can be found @jessicaolson123 on Twitter and Instagram.

The Floating World (The Floating World, #1): Review

July 2, 2025June 30, 2025Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: The Floating World

Author: Axie Oh

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

I have been a fan of Axie Oh since her debut Rebel Seoul, and she has not disappointed me yet! The Floating World is her triumphant return to fantasy! I really enjoyed this one, and I love how it’s a reimagining of the Korean legend of the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden. The world building is amazing with The Floating World and the Underworld, and I am excited to explore that more in the sequel. The writing was whimsical, the romance was sweet, and the cast of characters were unforgettable.

This has been comped to Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone. I think if you’re a fan of either of those, or fantasy in general, you will find this up your alley.

I definitely recommend and I can’t wait for the sequel coming this fall!

About the Author:

Axie Oh is the New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, XOXO and ASAP, and the Rebel Seoul series. Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, she studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad at the University of California San Diego and holds an MFA in Writing for Young People from Lesley University. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea, and she currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her dogs, Toro and Leila.

The Beautiful Maddening: Review

July 1, 20251 Comment

About the Book:

Title: The Beautiful Maddening

Author: Shea Ernshaw

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Pages: 304

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Contemporary

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw comes a haunting romantic contemporary fantasy about a teen navigating her family’s love curse that blooms with their enchanted tulips every year.

Seventeen-year-old Lark Goode wants only one to escape her small town of Cutwater and the history of her family name. It’s a history that began during the Dutch tulip mania of 1636, when Lark’s ancestor stole the last remaining tulip bulbs and fled to America. But when the tulips bloomed on American soil, madness sprouted from their snowy white petals.

The madness was love.

Now, generations later, the Goodes remain cursed—the unnatural flowers outside their home causing locals to fall helplessly in love with anyone carrying Goode blood in their veins. While her brother embraces the strange power, Lark wants nothing more than to be free from it.

But when she meets a boy who seems unaffected by the family curse, Lark finds herself falling headlong into a feeling she’s spent her whole life trying to avoid. Yet, all curses and magic come with a price, and the town of Cutwater soon sinks into a dangerous sickness tied to Lark and the ill-fated tulips.

To save the town, Lark will need to sacrifice everything—even true love—to break the spell. Because in the Goode family, love has a way of destroying everything.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

Shea Ernshaw is one of my favorite authors, and she continues to amaze me with her writing. I literally will read anything that she writes! The Beautiful Maddening was magical, bewitching, and ethereal. I really enjoyed it!

This story was inspired by the tulip madness and the main characters are a set of twins, Archer and Lark Goode. They are cursed to be loved by everyone. Archer seems to like the attention the tulips bring, while Lark resents it and tries to keep everyone at a distance.

Lark meets someone who seems unaffected by the family curse and finds herself falling headstrong into a feeling she’s been spending her life trying to avoid. Like all magic, the magic of the tulips comes with a price. The town of Cutwater falls into a sickness that’s tied to Lark and the tulips.

To save the town, Lark needs to sacrifice everything, even true love. Will she be able to do it?

I took off one star as the ending wasn’t quite as satisfying as I had hoped. Other than that, it was a great read!

I definitely recommend for fans of YA and fantasy!

About the Author:

Shea Ernshaw is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestselling author of THE WICKED DEEP, WINTERWOOD, A WILDERNESS OF STARS, LONG LIVE THE PUMPKIN QUEEN, and A HISTORY OF WILD PLACES. Her novels have repeatedly been chosen as Indie Next Picks and A HISTORY OF WILD PLACES was a Book of the Month selection. She is also the winner of the Oregon Book Award.
She often writes late, late, late into the night, enjoys dark woods, scary stories and moonlight on lakes.

A Language of Dragons: Review

June 30, 2025Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: A Language of Dragons

Author: S.F. Williamson

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Pages: 432

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

EVERY ACT OF TRANSLATION REQUIRES SACRIFICE

Welcome to Bletchley Park… with dragons.

London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivian Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get an internship studying dragon languages, and make sure her little sister never has to risk growing up Third Class. By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.

With her parents arrested and her sister missing, all the safety Viv has worked for is collapsing around her. So when a lifeline is offered in the form of a mysterious ‘job’, she grabs it. Arriving at Bletchley Park, Viv discovers that she has been recruited as a codebreaker helping the war effort – if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.

At first Viv believes that her challenge, of discovering the secrets of a hidden dragon language, is doable. But the more she learns, the more she realizes that the bubble she’s grown up in isn’t as safe as she thought, and eventually Viv must What war is she really fighting?

An epic, sweeping fantasy with an incredible Dark Academia setting, a clandestine, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and an unputdownable story, filled with twists and turns, betrayals and secret identities, A Language of Dragons is the unmissable debut of 2025, from an extraordinary new voice.

Review:

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I loved A Language of Dragons and thought it was a fantastic debut for S.F. Williamson! It was fast paced, takes place in 1920’s England, has slow burn romance, and last but certainly not least, dragons! I really thought the world building was done well, and I enjoyed the whole aspect of linguistics being included in a fantasy novel. I found it quite fascinating!

I absolutely can’t wait for the sequel after that ending!

About the Author:

S. F. Williamson is fascinated by the way languages are born and was surrounded by them long before she undertook a degree in French and Italian.

From her Grandma’s rolling Scottish R’s and her Nan’s ability to slip from English to Welsh, to the dialect spoken in the French village she grew up in, Steph has always known that languages are creatures that live and move and breathe.

As a child she learned that speaking them meant accessing ideas, traditions and people she would only otherwise know from a distance. Her debut novel, A Language of Dragons, is inspired by her work as a literary translator and the fact that no matter how intimately a linguist knows their languages, some meaning is almost always lost in translation. A graduate of Bath Spa University’s MA Writing for Young People programme, Steph now lives in France with her husband and two cats.

A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love: Review

April 30, 2025April 29, 2025Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love

Author: Sally Britton

Publisher: Pink Citrus Books LLC

Release Date: April 30, 2025

Pages: 287

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency

Synopsis:

A reluctant guardian. A determined spinster. A battle of wits that might just end in love.

Former military officer Edward Halstead never imagined his quiet bachelor existence would be upended by the unexpected guardianship of a spirited young lady. When his late comrade’s daughter, Daphne Price, is placed in his care, Edward is faced with a challenge unlike any battlefield he has ever encountered, especially with her fiercely protective aunt, Felicity Price, staying in his home to ensure he doesn’t fail in his duty.

Felicity has dedicated her life to her beloved niece, and she has no intention of leaving Daphne in the hands of a gruff and emotionally distant bachelor. If Edward Halstead believes he can simply house, feed, and marry off her niece without regard for her well-being, he is sorely mistaken. Felicity will remain at Briarwood House as long as necessary to ensure Daphne’s future and to make certain Edward doesn’t ruin it. After all, she doesn’t want her niece to end up a spinster…like Felicity.

With Felicity and Edward at odds over Daphne’s upbringing, propriety, and the girl’s future, tension sparks and tempers flare. Yet, beneath the clashes and differences of opinion, an undeniable attraction grows. As Daphne’s entrance into Society looms and Edward’s past resurfaces in unexpected ways, Felicity and Edward must decide if their partnership is merely one of convenience or if love has been the lesson they’ve both been waiting to learn.

Perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and fiercely independent heroines, A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love is a Regency romance filled with heart, humor, and unexpected love. Part of the Bachelors of Blackstone’s series, the books may be read and enjoyed in any order.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the author for review. Thank you for the opportunity! All thoughts are my own*

This was my second book I’ve read by Sally Britton and it did not disappoint. I loved A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love! If you enjoy a slow burn romance, witty banter and strong female characters set in the regency era, this one is for you!

Bachelor Colonel Edward Halstead unexpectedly finds himself the guardian of his former comrade’s daughter. His ward, Daphne Price, is much older than he originally anticipated and is about to make her debut into society. Her spirited Aunt, Felicity Price, has accompanied her to be sure that Halstead does not fail in his duties.

Felicity and Edward start out at odds and are continually arguing over Daphne’s upbringing, propriety and her future. They both have past experiences that have shaped their strong opinions. For the sake of Daphne, they decide to work as a team. The more they work together, an attraction sparks between them.

Is their partnership simply one of circumstance, or something more?

I fell in love with Edward, Felicity and Daphne! Both Edward and Felicity took their roles as Daphne’s caretakers seriously and worked hard to help her make her debut. It was great watching Daphne’s relationships with both of these characters change and grow. It was also amazing watching the romance blossom between Edward and Felicity. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the story, and I also cried at a couple of parts. Very heartwarming!

I highly recommend! This beautiful story is out today.

About the Author:

Sally Britton is sixth generation Texan, received her BA in English forever ago, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.

Sally lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and their overly energetic Australian Shepherds, cat, and snake named Nancy. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.

Miss Austen Investigates (#2): A Fortune Most Fatal: Review

April 7, 2025April 7, 2025Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: A Fortune Most Fatal

Author: Jessical Bull

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Pages: 384

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

A witty, engaging murder mystery featuring Jane Austen as an intrepid sleuth—the second installment in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

When Jane Austen arrives at Rowling House to visit her wealthy brother, Neddy, she hopes that some time away will distract her from her broken heart and the dashing Tom Lefroy’s lackluster proposal. Little does she know that her sister-in-law Elizabeth has other plans to help Jane come out to society and find a respectable husband of good status and wealth.

Meanwhile, when a mysterious foreign princess is taken in by Mrs. Knight, Neddy’s adoptive mother, Jane and her family fear that Neddy’s inheritance could be at risk, jeopardizing them all. Jane is determined to unmask the beleaguered princess as a con artist and reveal her true identity. But when Jane’s sleuthing leads her to believe that Neddy is involved in an unspeakable crime, she must try to save a traumatized young woman. And she must do it without destroying her wealthy brother, whom all the Austens rely on.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via the publisher and Netgalley for review. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you also to @austenprose for having me on the tour. All thoughts are my own*

After reading and enjoying the first book in the series, I was thrilled to be able to read the second book. It did not disappoint and has endeared this author to me even more. I love how much research and thought were put into the story. I really hope there are more books coming!

In book two, Jane travels to her brother Edward “Neddy” Austen’s home to look after his children as his wife is expecting their next child. Her sister-in-law hopes to find Jane a husband while she is there. Jane however hopes to further her writing whilst visiting. She soon realizes that she must help her brother’s adoptive mother discover the identity of her houseguest claiming to be a princess, before she is swindled out of her fortune. The Austen’s have come to rely upon this much-anticipated inheritance, so it is imperative that Jane solves this mystery.

All in all, a compelling historical mystery that fans of Jane Austen will enjoy! I definitely recommend.

About the Author:

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband and two daughters. A former librarian and communications consultant, she studied English literature at Bristol University and information science at City, University of London. Miss Austen Investigates; The Hapless Milliner is her debut novel.

You can find her on…

X, formerly Twitter: @NovelistJessica

Instagram: @jessicabullnovelist

Murder In Highbury: Review

October 26, 2024October 25, 2024Leave a comment

Murder in Highbury Book Tour Graphic V3

About the Book:

Title: Murder In Highbury

Author: Vanessa Kelly

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Pages: 400

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:

First in a captivating new series, Jane Austen’s Emma Knightley entertains a different role in Highbury—going from clever matchmaker to Regency England’s shrewdest sleuth.

Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .  

But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .  

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.

Review:

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book for review from Austenprose/Kensington Books/Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

Fans of Jane Austen’s Emma, rejoice! Vanessa Kelly’s Murder in Highbury is the start of a new murder mystery series featuring Emma Woodhouse (now Knightly).

Emma has been married to George Knightly the town magistrate not even a year, when she and her dear friend Harriet Martin stumble upon the body of Mrs. Augusta Elton inside Highbury’s church. The town is in a complete uproar as they grapple with the fact that a murder has taken place, and they have no idea who could have murdered poor Mrs. Elton. Emma decides to trade her match making skills for detective skills to assist George and the bumbling town constables.

I absolutely adored this cozy, Regency mystery! It was so well written; it felt like a continuation of Emma. It was wonderful to spend more time with Emma and George Knightly and the whole cast of characters. I appreciated the wit and humor throughout the story and found myself chuckling often. Although I had some suspicions about who the murderer could be, I enjoyed every minute of this story from beginning to end.

I do hope this series will continue as I need more detective Emma Knightly in my life! Sign me up!

Bottom line, I highly recommend for fans of Austen, mysteries and historical fiction.

About the Author:

Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph. D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband. Vanessa Kely headshot 2024

Advance Praise:

“Brimming with all the wit and charm one can expect from a visit to Jane Austen’s world, Murder in Highbury presents Austen’s beloved and interfering character Emma with a murder. When Emma puts her clever wits to use to discover the murderer who hides among them, danger and humor mingle to provide us with mystery, delight, and a clever new sleuth. Author Vanessa Kelly writes with an experienced touch and clear fondness for her well-beloved characters, giving us the sequel we formerly could merely long for and imagine.”— Christina Dodd, New York Times bestselling author

Past Present Future (Rowan & Neil #2): Review

August 26, 2024Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: Past Present Future

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: June 4, 2024

Pages: 384

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual points of view sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow . 199310463

When longtime rivals Rowan Roth and Neil McNair confessed their feelings on the last day of senior year, they knew they’d only have a couple months together before they left for college. Now summer is over, and they’re determined to make their relationship work as they begin school in different states.

In Boston, Rowan is eager to be among other aspiring novelists, learning from a creative writing professor she adores. She’s just not sure why she suddenly can’t seem to find her voice.

In New York, Neil embraces the chaos of the city, clicking with a new friend group more easily than he anticipated. But when his past refuses to leave him alone, he doesn’t know how to handle his rapidly changing mental health—or how to talk about it with the girl he loves.

Over a year of late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and East Coast adventures, Rowan and Neil fall for each other again and again as they grapple with the uncertainty of their new lives. They’ve spent so many years at odds with each other—now that they’re finally on the same team, what does the future hold for them?

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I was so excited when this book was announced as I loved Today Tonight Tomorrow so much! This sequel did not disappoint, and it was just as good as the first. This story follows Rowan and Neil as they navigate the first year of their relationship, at the same time that they’re both attending their first year of college while in different cities. They’re both going through some major life changes while figuring out exactly what they mean to each other.

I really loved seeing things from both Rowan and Neil’s viewpoints and the growth in their characters throughout the story. It brought me back to my college days. I love Rowan and Neil so much and I’m so happy that I got to spend more time with them.

I highly recommend to those that enjoyed the first book and for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon.

About the Author:

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk, Today Tonight Tomorrow, and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Her books have been translated into more than fifteen languages and optioned for film. Originally from Seattle, she’s currently navigating expat life with her husband in Amsterdam, where she can often be found exploring the city, collecting stationery, and working up the courage to knit her first sweater. Connect with her on Instagram @rlynn_solomon.

Wedded to His Enemy Debutante: Review and Book Tour

January 29, 2024January 28, 2024Leave a comment

Wedded to His Enemy Debutante

About the Book:

Title: Wedded to His Enemy Debutante

Author: Samantha Hastings

Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Release Date: January 23, 2024

Pages: 258

Genre: Historical Romance

Synopsis:

Enjoy this enemies-to-lovers Regency romance Signed, sealed… Seduced! Lady Frederica is the last person Samuel, the new Duke of Pelford, wants to marry! His childhood nemesis might have grown into a beautiful woman, but she’s as bold, outspoken and badly behaved as ever! Except marrying her is the only solution to the debts he’s inherited. As memories of their tense years growing up make way for a surprising desire, Samuel realizes the walls he put in place between him, and his convenient wife are quickly crumbling! From Harlequin your romantic escape to the past. 136500942

Review:

*I received a complimentary copy for review. All thoughts are my own. *

Hastings has done it again! I absolutely loved this next installment in the Stringham Family series. I feel as though Samantha continues to impress me with each book she writes. Fans of historical/regency romance please pick up this series!

Lady Federica Stringham has blossomed into a beautiful young woman, but she is the last person that Lord Samuel Pelford wants to marry. She is still bold, outspoken and mischievous. Federica doesn’t exactly want to marry her childhood nemesis either. Their two families however have always wished that the two would marry. Marriage seems to be the solution for the debts that Samuel has inherited and plans that Federica has for her future. The two reluctantly agree to marry, and as they spend more time together, some of the walls that they have put up between them begin to slowly crumble.

I thought it was fascinating that this took place during the Napoleonic wars. The story starts off in England, and then quickly moves to Belgium/France. Samuel is an officer under Wellington, and Wellington requests that Lady Federica assist Samuel on his intelligence mission. Federica agrees adventurer that she is. She and her mother find a home not far from military quarters. I found it so thrilling Federica was able to help on a spy mission! Things really amp up between Federica and Samuel as the story progresses and I could feel the attraction between them coming off the pages. The chemistry was *chefs kiss*! On another note, I appreciated that the story was able to show the terrible toll that a war takes on people.

I really hope that there are more books in this series, as I can’t get enough of the Stringham family adventures! Wedded to His Enemy Debutante captivated me from start to finish, with adventure, intrigue and a scorching enemies to lovers romance. Highly recommend!

About the Author:

Samantha Hastings has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North Texas. She met her husband in a turkey-sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her kids. She writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen. 6927274._UX200_CR0,35,200,200_

Book Tour Stops and Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3109171a10/

Visit each stop for a chance to win one of 3 paperback copies!

January 23: https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog

January 24: https://www.instagram.com/hiding.in.the.pages

January 25: https://www.instagram.com/my.bounteous.bookshelf

January 26: https://www.instagram.com/larameefox

January 27: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

January 28: abbigailraineb.wordpress.com

January 29: www.ashleighsbookshelf.com

January 30: https://thecleverreader.wordpress.com/

January 31: singinglibrarianbooks.com

February 1: https://www.instagram.com/minreads15

The Cash Countess: Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway

July 2, 2023June 27, 2023Leave a comment

About the Book:

Title: The Cash Countess

Author: Samanta Hastings

Publisher: Scribbling Pens

Release Date: July 1, 2023

Pages: 289

Genre: Historical Romance, Mystery

Street Team Sign-up! (1) (1)

Synopsis:

Rapunzel meets “Downton Abbey” in this sweet Gilded Age romance! 156346931

Miss Cordelia Jones is an American Princess, but her story is no fairytale.

Eighteen-year-old Cordelia Jones is locked in her tower until she promises to marry Lord Thomas Ashby, the eighth Earl of Farnham. Cordelia doesn’t want to leave her American home or Stuyvesant Bradley, whom she has loved since childhood. But Stuyvesant leaves on a trip and Cordelia is pressured by her overbearing mother to marry a stranger.

Coerced into a loveless marriage, Cordelia finds herself an alien in a decaying English country house where customs and manners are so different from home. Worst yet, accidents seem to befall her at every corner. The more she begins to care for her husband, the more perilous her life becomes. Is she unlucky, or is someone trying to kill the newest cash countess?

Review:

*I received an e-arc of this book from the author for review. Thank you to the author and publisher. All thoughts are my own*

I was hooked on this book from page one and could not put it down! I LOVED this one, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to read and review. Samanta Hastings stories get better and better! If you are a fan of Downton Abbey, Rapunzel, Historical Romance and a HEA, this one is for you!

Eighteen-year-old Miss Cordelia Jones is an extremely wealthy American heiress. She lives the life of a princess, but her story is no fairytale. Her mother locks her in her room until she promises to marry Lord Thomas Ashby, the eighth Earl of Farnham. Cordy doesn’t want to leave her home or her love since childhood, Stuyvesant Bradley. When Stuyvesant leaves on a trip and hasn’t returned, she feels pressure from her overbearing mother to marry a complete stranger.

After being coerced into marrying Thomas, they head to his home in England. He lives in a decaying English country house and the customs and manners are so different from home. Unusual accidents begin to befall Cordy around every corner. As she begins to fall for her husband, things become even more dangerous. She begins to wonder if she’s just unlucky, or is someone actually trying to kill her?

It was fascinating to read about the history of society during this time period. I felt like I learned something new about the American cash countesses. With all of the riches and prestige that these people had, they actually were prisoners of societal expectations. I thought this book was well researched, and I appreciated the author’s note at the end.

I loved Cordelia and the journey she went through from being a spoiled rich girl to someone who dove into her new role and embraced her new life as best as she could.

I really hope that you’ll give this one a try and add it to your TBR!