The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Sep 172012
 

The Forgiven Duke (Forgotten Castles #2)

Author: Jamie Carie

Publisher: B&H Bookes

Published Date: July 2012

Paperback/Kindle/Nook; 320 pages

Genre: Historical Romance/Adventure

ISBN# 978-1433673238

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon – the path of least resistance – Alexandria Featherstone sets off toward Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. A glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton – the path less traveled by – on Dublin’s shore still haunts her.

Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able,” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

The powerful yet wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

Review

A few weeks ago I reviewed the first book in this series, The Guardian Duke. The Forgiven Duke picks up right where the first book leaves off in the story.

Alexandria is determined to find her parents by any means necessary, or so she thinks. It isn’t long before she begins to doubt whether she can go through with marrying John Lemon, not when the memory of the look in the Duke’s eyes as she sailed away keeps coming back to haunt her. Then she finds John going through her letters and reading personal information about her wealth. She gets upset with John but he manages to convince her he was just curious about her relationship with the Duke.

This is where I had an issue. In the first book, John is the one that takes Alexandria to the bank to get a credit against her fortune in the name of the Duke so she can continue on her quest. She clearly states that the Duke is in charge of her large fortune and estate, so John must already be aware of it. Unless he thinks she was making it up just to get credit in the Duke’s name, but John never mentions that he doubts it or doesn’t believe her completely. I may be misunderstanding something here, but I even went back to the first book and reread the scene. I don’t know if it was fixed before final printing though, as I have an uncorrected galley.

The adventure picks up when the Duke wants to buy a boat and hire a crew to follow Alexandria to Iceland but is kidnapped instead. As she and her group travel through the towns and landscape of Iceland, the clues Alexandria finds give her hope that she is getting closer to finding her parents. The reader is introduced to more interesting side characters. There is an incident when Alexandria first reaches Iceland that sets up for something later in the book, but to me it felt contrived. Alexandria gets her first real break from a very interesting character on the island.

For those of you who are wondering if the Duke and Alexandria actually come face to face in this book, I can assure you they do. It isn’t until 70% of the way through the book, but they do meet in a romantic and dramatic rescue, followed by something drastic that changes everything. With all of the action and suspense that builds up to the Duke and Alexandria finding each other, the remainder of the book is considerably less intense. The author still manages to end the book in a way that makes the reader want to pick up the next book immediately.

The third book, A Duke’s Promise, was released in early September and concludes the series. If you are one who likes historical romantic adventure stories, then you will most likely enjoy this series by author Jamie Carie.

Find The Forgiven Duke:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK 

 

 

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 272012
 

The Guardian Duke (Forgotten Castles #1)

Author: Jamie Carie

Publisher: B&H Books

Published Date: February 2012

Paperback & Kindle; 320 pages

Genre: Historical Romance/Adventure

ISBN# 978-1433673221

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a galley ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

First Line

“Heaven could be found in music.”

Review

I love good, clean historical romance. I could read them all day long. Especially if they have Scottish Highland lairds or English Dukes. I know, it’s cliche, but I still love it.

The Guardian Duke begins with Gabriel Ravenwood, Duke of St. Easton, enjoying an opera. He finds peace in the music, away from the pressures of the life of a duke. All of that changes when he receives a letter appointing him guardian of Alexandria Featherstone. Quite suddenly he is overcome with a mysterious malady that renders him unconscious and affects his hearing at various times throughout the book. His ability to hear music and escape from life is gone. He exchanges letters with Alexandria, intrigued by this young woman he has never met and yet seems to understand him so well.

Meanwhile, Lady Alexandria Featherstone decides to defy the King’s orders and search for her missing parents on her own. For me, this is where the book becomes more adventure and a lot less like a romance. If I had read the summary above before starting The Guardian Duke, I wouldn’t have spent so much time anticipating their first meeting. I started to get a little frustrated as Alexandria dodged the Duke again and again and I got closer and closer to the end of the book and they STILL hadn’t met yet. They do eventually meet, briefly. Most of their relationship develops through the letters they exchange. Knowing this ahead of time might have spared me that frustration.

Other than not realizing about the letter-writing, I enjoyed the rest of the story. It felt more like a romantic adventure novel rather than the typical “historical romance.” After Alexandria sets off on her journey, she meets a few additional characters who become her traveling companions and protectors: an older, former soldier, his handsome son, and an Irish giant married to a woman who looks like a fairy and sings like an angel. I found these characters interesting, with depth and stories of their own.

I received an uncorrected galley proof, so there were some formatting and proofing issues which were most likely fixed before publication. The writing was well-done for the most part, and the pacing of the story carried me through without feeling too rushed. I kept wondering when we were going to find out about what was wrong with the Duke, but that question isn’t answered in this book as the doctors are unsure about what is going on. I hope it is something we do find out before the end of the trilogy, though, as otherwise it will feel like a plot device.

There are mentions of God and prayer, but it isn’t preachy at all. There isn’t a big cliffhanger at the end of the book, though I was glad to discover that I had the galley for the second book in the trilogy on my Kindle. (Yes, I’ve read it and yes, I will be reviewing it soon.) If you like clean historical romance with a large dose of adventure, then you will most likely enjoy The Guardian Duke.

Find The Guardian Duke:  GOODREADS | AMAZON

 

Whisper Hollow by Carol Warburton

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jun 212012
 

Whisper Hollow

Author: Carol Warburton

Published Date: October 2011

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Softcover; 222 pages

Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60861-760-9

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Summary

Talitha Evangeline Spencer enjoys a happy life with her parents in the tiny mountain hamlet of Whisper Hollow, but the onset of the Civil War brings the simplicity of her girlhood to a sudden end. When rebel soldiers wreak havoc on her family, unraveling her mother’s already fragile state of mind, Tally must take charge of the family farm alone. The burdens of providing for the household prompt her to consider a marriage proposal from Ollie, her childhood friend, but Tally determines to hold out for love.

My Review

I don’t recall ever reading a book that takes place in the Smoky Mountains before Whisper Hollow. The author did a great job with the setting, using descriptions that brought detail to my  mind without weighing down the story. Whisper Hollow has character and personality all its own. Combine the beautiful location with interesting and memorable characters during one of the country’s most defining time periods and you get the unexpected pleasure that is Whisper Hollow.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Whisper Hollow at first. The book started a bit slow and didn’t pick up for me until page 80 or so. After that point, however, I was swept into the story and am so glad I stuck with it. I was pulled into a tale of sorrow and triumph, struggle and victory, prejudice and forgiveness, hatred and love. Not only did I enjoy the characters, location, and storyline while I read the book, it persisted with me for several days afterward.

As far as characters, there were many I really liked, a few I was ambivalent toward, and some that I simply couldn’t stand. I enjoyed the growth I witnessed in the main character. I adored her father, never really connected with her mother, and experienced fear and love right along with Tally. There were a few points in the story that I expected to go a certain way and was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t quite turn out like I thought they would. I was satisfied with the end and found myself hoping for a chance to visit Whisper Hollow again.

While I was unsure at first, I now gladly put Whisper Hollow on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again in the future. Readers who like historical novels with depth and emotion will enjoy Whisper Hollow.

 

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Sep 262011
 

Seeking Persephone

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: September 2011

Softcover; 280 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60861-281-9

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Seeking Persephone was actually a re-read for me. I first read it as a Whitney judge in the Romance category when it was released a few years ago. I was new to regency romance at the time and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I really enjoyed the story, the setting, and the main characters that were very different from the contemporary romances I was accustomed to reading.

I was so excited for Sarah when she announced that Covenant would be publishing Seeking Persephone. Clean Regency-style romance has such a large following (much bigger than I realized before becoming a fan myself) and yet most national publishers won’t publish it without additional….content, if you catch my meaning. I am thrilled that Covenant is publishing Sarah’s books. Both Courting Miss Lancaster and Kiss of a Stranger have been released within the last year or so.

Seeking Persephone tells the story of Adam, Duke of Kielder, and Persephone, the oldest daughter in a poor family. Adam may be technically living a life of privilege, but it has not been an easy one. Born with a small deformity, a number of surgeons scarred the right side of Adam’s face in search of his missing ear. Years of teasing and being shunned, along with feeling abandoned by his mother, have turned him into a hardened, defensive man who strikes first and asks questions later. This gruffness, along with the power of his position in society, make Adam a force to be reckoned with. Nobody dares cross him, with the exception of his long-time friend, Harry.

Adam is unhappy with the idiot cousin who is next in line to inherit Falstone Castle if he dies. Adam’s man of business suggests a solution, marrying and producing an heir of his own, but he will have none of it at first. His man of business makes the arrangements and Persephone’s family receives an offer they simply can’t refuse. Persephone and family are soon on their way to Falstone Castle, set to arrive the morning of the wedding.

As soon as Adam sees Persephone, he is angry that his requirements of a plain, poor woman with absolutely no prospects of marriage otherwise have not been met. Persephone is young and pretty, quiet and long-suffering. She is not what Adam expects or wants, and he keeps his distance. Persephone is determined to make the best of her marriage, though, and in her own strong and patient way starts to bring out the best in Adam. Despite his gruff and unapproachable manner, she sees the goodness in him and her affection for Adam grows.

Persephone is very likable. Sarah has a way of writing characters that bring them to life. Even the apothecary, who is present for only one scene, has personality and dimension. Seeking Persephone has a nice, even pace with plenty of tender moments and “almost” touches. I fell in love with Adam right along with Persephone.

If you haven’t read Courting Miss Lancaster yet, you may want to start with Seeking Persephone, though they are each strong enough to stand on their own. I have enjoyed every one of Sarah’s books so far, and I can’t wait for her next novel to be released. No one writes Regency romance quite like she does. Sarah is known as the queen of research. She knows that time period very well and it shows in her writing.

If you want a good laugh, follow her on Twitter @SarahMEden and ask her to share a Regency-era insult or some slang. She knows some great ones.

I give Seeking Persephone 4 stars out of 5 for great writing, memorable characters, and a wonderfully romantic story.

Have you read any Regency-era (Jane Austen and that time period) romance before? If so, what have you read?

Heart of a Hero by Marie Higgins

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Sep 022011
 

Title: Heart of a Hero

Author: Marie Higgins

Publisher: Walnut Springs

Release Date: September 15, 2010

ISBN: 978-1935217763

Size: 292 pages, 5.5×8.5, hardcover

Genre: Romance

Reviewed by: Sheila

FTC: FYI I was given a review copy of Heart of Hero by the publisher. In no way did this influence the review that was given.


There’s a new hero in town . . .

When Summer Bennett returns to Richfield after a five-year stint at her aunt’s finishing school, she discovers a lot has changed. Her father has suffered a crippling injury, and Summer is desperate to get the money to pay for surgery that could allow him to walk again. She hears of a reward offered for the capture of a cunning gang of bank robbers, and her years of etiquette training fall by the dusty roadside.

What Summer doesn’t count on in her quest to capture the bandits is the competition from her family’s longtime friend, Jesse Slade. Now a deputy marshal and local hero, Jesse keeps thwarting Summer’s plans, just like he did when she wore pigtails. She would like nothing more than to use Jesse’s head for a slingshot target, but soon Summer finds her aim shifting from his head to his heart. Problem is, Jesse is engaged to her sister Violet.

For seven years, little Summer Bennett was the burr under Jesse’s saddle. Now he feels a different irritation as Summer is always on his mind—whether he wants her to be or not. But Summer’s father expects him to marry Violet, and he won’t let him down. So why does Jesse find himself encouraging Summer’s attentions, and why do sparks fly every time they are together?

Heart of a Hero is such a fun read. The tension between the two main characters keeps this story moving along. Summer and Jesse dance around each other through most of the book. I found myself “telling” them to quit being dumb and admit to loving each other. The beauty of Summer and Jesse is that they are not the perfect couple you usually find in a romance. They once were just children/teens that lived to annoy each other. As you can see, this makes for a rocky road at times, but also shows the deep intimacy they have.

Summer is a great character as the tomboy turning into a lady. Jesse is a young man, now a deputy marshal, engaged to Summer’s sister, but deep down in love with Summer.Many funny things happen as they try to stay away from each other, but keep being pulled together. Marie Higgins always does a wonderful job with her romances. They are clean, but she has a way of writing really wonderful kissing scenes.

You have to read this excerpt from the book that shows the tension, but deep attraction, the two main characters have for one another:

The deputy marshal must be the one holding me. She let her body relax against the contours of his body. Normally, she wouldn’t want to be protected and cared for by a man, but at the moment she was reluctant to break the spell.

She dared a peek at his face. His deep blue eyes grabbed her attention. Kind eyes. Sunlight glinted off the golden tones of his light brown hair. He must have sensed her watching, for his square jaw changed shape and a soft smile bracketed his mouth.

He was very handsome. She couldn’t have dreamed up a better vision of a hero, and dream it must be because things this good just didn’t happen to her. Safety and security spread over her like a warm blanket and she melted against him, closing her eyes while his long fingers continued to stroke her cheek. It was the first time in her life she had allowed a man to touch her like that—a soft stroke, a gentle caress—and the first time she had ever really relaxed in a man’s presence.

She sighed. Wonderful.

“How do you feel, Summer?”

The soft baritone voice rumbling in his chest seemed oddly familiar. Summer frowned and took a second peek at his hair and his mouth. He gave her a full smile. Awareness tugged at her memory and a large knot formed in the pit of her stomach. When recognition came, it struck like a thick piece of wood right between her eyes. She jerked, moving off the comfortable nest she had made of his chest.

“Jesse Slade?”

A crafty smile claimed his face. “The one and only, darlin’.”

She widened her eyes. “Darlin’? I’m not now, nor will I ever be your darling, Jesse Slade.” She couldn’t believe her rotten luck. She fought to move from his grasp, batting his hands away. “Get your hands off me.”

“Be still Summer, or—”

“Let me go,” she demanded.

“Tarnation, Summer.” His hands moved to her waist. “You’re as slippery as a wet weasel.”

“Quit touching me and put me down.”

Although he tried to hold onto her, she managed to slither from the horse.

“Of all the confounded foolish female stunts.” He pulled the horse to a halt and dismounted.

The moment her feet touched the ground, dizziness overtook her and she plopped down on her bottom. When Jesse reached for her, she slapped at his hands.

She glanced up at him from her undignified position and clenched her teeth. “You. Of all people, it had to be you.” Holding onto a stirrup, she pulled herself to her feet and gazed into the heavens. “Why Lord? Why me?”

“There’s no need to get your feathers ruffled.” Jesse looked at the blood oozing from her shoulder wound. “Look what you’ve done. You’re bleedin’ again.”

She glanced at her injury. It was worse than she thought, but she’d die before admitting it to him. She was not riding into town perched on Jesse’s lap for the whole town to see.

If you like a good, old fashioned romance, wrapped up with a lot of tension and angst set in the old West, you will love Heart of a Hero. If you are not patient and want to see the love interests get together right away, you would be reading the wrong book. Half the fun of this novel is the adventure of Summer and Jesse finally admitting their love and getting together. So hop into your saddle, grab the reins and ride on over to get your copy of Heart of Hero, you won’t regret it!

Heart of a Hero can be purchased here at
http://www.amazon.com/  OR http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes – Countdown to Summer 2011

 Posted by  Countdown to Summer, Special Features
Jun 072011
 

14 days until summer!

Michele Paige Holmes felt that getting six hours of sleep per night was a little too much, so several years ago—in her spare, middle-of-the-night time when she wasn’t busy with her husband and five children—she began writing novels. Three of those, Counting Stars, 2007, All the Stars in Heaven, 2009, and Captive Heart, April 2011, have been published by Covenant Communications. A fourth novel, My Lucky Stars (working title) has been accepted for publication in spring 2012. Michele feels so blessed to belong to the most amazing critique group on the planet. She is also married to the tall, dark, and handsome love of her life, and his support makes it possible for her to pursue her dreams.

Visit Michele’s website: www.michelepaigeholmes.net and her blog: My Paige

LDSWBR: If you had an entire day to read (on the beach, at the lake, by the pool, etc.), what book(s) or genre would you reach for first?

MICHELE: If I had an entire day at the beach to myself to read (just contemplating that is delicious!), I would spend it reading young adult fairytale retellings. I’ve always loved that genre, and a few years ago I began writing my own retellings. I am still working my way through every fairytale (original as well as retellings) I can get my hands on, in order to know this market better and improve my writing in it.

LDSWBR: What book(s) do you look forward to reading the most this summer?

MICHELE: What books do I look forward to reading most this summer? Currently I have HB Moore’s latest, Ammon, on my nightstand, as well as Carla Kelly’s first LDS offerening, Borrowed Light. I’ll be reading both of those in the next week or two. I’m eager to read Ally Condie’s Crossed (I loved Matched) and to have an actual copy in hand and reread Rob Well’s YA dystopian, Variant—though I guess that one has to wait until fall. I’d also like to continue reading Carla Kelly’s other titles, Georgette Heyer’s regencies, and Susan Evans McCloud’s books. On the schedule to read with my younger children this summer are the Great Brain Series and the Anne of Green Gables series.

LDSWBR: How would you describe the perfect summer day?

MICHELE: My perfect summer day would be (indulge in fantasy here for a moment, okay?) spent at Disneyland with my husband and children. The weather is great—not too hot and not too cold— and no one is fighting, no one is tired, grumpy, or hungry. No one’s feet hurt; no one spilled their drink all over their t-shirt or left their wallet on the last ride. The camera batteries aren’t dead. Everyone is smiling and laughing for pictures. I am getting some seriously good shots (for all that scrapbooking I never do anymore). Just as we are exiting the Indiana Jones ride, my cell phone rings. I take the phone from my pocket (it is a new phone, by the way, not the ancient, duct-taped thing I currently have and am embarassed to use in public) and see that it is my agent texting to tell me that my YA fairytale has been sold to BIG PUBLISHER NAME HERE. My family is as estatic as I am (now they won’t have to eat the squished PB&J sandwiches I packed for dinner). We celebrate by dining with Mickey at the Blue Bayou, then sit in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to watch the fireworks, where I reminisce that dreams really can come true.

LDSWBR: Now THAT sounds like a perfect summer day. Thanks, Michele!

Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes (Covenant; April 2011) is available for purchase from Deseret Book and for Kindle at Amazon.

How many of you would include the magic of Disneyland/Disneyworld in your perfect summer day?

***

***Countdown to Summer 2011 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 25, 2011 for a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors featured in the Countdown. This will be a raffle-type drawing, so more entries means more chances to win. There are several ways to enter the Countdown to Summer 2011 contest. See details below.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

  • The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley
  • Gifted by Karey White
  • Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey
  • Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes
  • The Perfect Fit by  Michele Ashman Bell
  • River Whispers by Kathi Oram Perterson
  • Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden
  • Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins
  • Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys
  • The List by Melanie Jacobson
  • The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum
  • The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden
  • Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack
  • **Bonus Prize** An autographed copy of BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke (released August 2011)

Do ANY of the following to enter:

  • Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2011 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2011 through June 24, 2011). Only one comment per person per Countdown to Summer author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Send LDSWBR an email to ldswbr AT gmail DOT com telling us which of the following you have completed. If you already do these things, email us and let us know. Each item gets you 1 entry.
  1. Follow LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook
  2. Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter
  3. Subscribe to LDSWBR by email (see top right sidebar on website)
  4. Follow LDSWBR with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar beneath “Follow LDSWBR”)
  • On each Countdown to Summer author post, leave a comment telling us which of the following you completed or already do. Each item gets you 1 entry.
  1. Follow the author’s blog (if they have one)
  2. Follow the author on Twitter (if they tweet)
  3. Follow the author on Facebook (if they have a Facebook page)
  • Tweet this message each day. One entry per day. Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw @ldswbr
  • Blog about this contest on your blog then send us the link to your specific blog post. You can find the Countdown graphic badge/button to include in your blog post here. (5 entries)
  • Post the following on your Facebook page (3 entries) then send us an email (ldswbr AT gmail DOT com) telling us that you did: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw

Here are the rules:

  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 24, 2011.
  • Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 2, 2011 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

Let’s keep counting down to summer with some great reads!

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