The Darkest Hour (A Darkest Season Novella) by Rebecca J. Greenwood

When dutiful Lady Hester Douglas, over thirty and long on the shelf, receives word that her brother Adam, the Duke of Blackdale, has survived the Battle of Waterloo, she abandons propriety and heads to Brussels to be by his side. Her widowed minister, Mr. Alasdair Gilchrist, escorts her on the journey from Scotland into a Europe recovering from years of war.

Once she reaches her injured brother, Hester must fight to keep Adam alive and tightly guard her heart’s deepest secret—she’s been in love with Mr. Gilchrist for years.

Will the pain of being with the minister, the man she loves and can never have, distract her from her purpose? Or will she overcome the barriers of age, rank, and station, and seize the love she’s dreamt of?

The Darkest Hour is a standalone inspirational Regency romance novella, and is also a prequel to The Darkest Summer.

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I was especially interested in reading this novella because it is a prequel to The Darkest Summer which I read and reviewed  last month. (and really liked!!)  This book gives some back history Adam, the main character in The Darkest Summer and gives us the full story of Hester, Adam's sister.  You can read these books in any order.

Hester's story is a sad one.  My heart was breaking the whole way through for her.  How did she survive such verbal and emotional abuse and remain so kind and sweet?!  Hester has a generous and good nature and it was so easy to love her.  I wanted all good things for her but most especially I wanted someone to love her.

I thought this novella was well developed.  Sometimes novellas can feel rushed due to their length but I thought this one was perfectly done.  I had all the feelings and emotions and became personally invested in the characters.  What more can you ask for?  

Content:  clean, some kissing

- I received a copy of this book for free.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Rebecca J. Greenwood is an author, artist, and designer with a love of stories, especially Regency romances. She grew up in Texas as the oldest of six and studied visual art with a music minor at Brigham Young University. Rebecca lives in Utah with her husband, where she listens to audiobooks, cooks experimentally, has an interest in alternative health, and constantly has a new project in mind. Visit rebeccajgreenwood.com to experience more of her art, writing, and upcoming projects.

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No Way Up (Cimarron Legacy #1) by Mary Connealy

When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Badly injured, Chance demands that his will be read and its conditions be enforced immediately. 

Without anyone else to serve as a witness, Heath is pressed into reading the will. If Justin, Sadie, and Cole Boden don't live and work at home for the entire year, the ranch will go to their low-down cousin Mike. 

Then Heath discovers the avalanche was a murder attempt, and more danger might follow. Deeply involved with the family, Heath's desire to protect Sadie goes far beyond friendship. The danger keeps them close together, and their feelings grow until being apart is the last thing on their minds.

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It's release day for this new book by Mary Connealy!  It's also the beginning of a new series- The Cimarron Legacy.  I am always on the lookout for new books by Mary Connealy- she is one of my favorite authors in the inspirational romance genre.  Her books are always more than inspirational romance though, they are full of adventure and usually some mystery as well.  That's what I love the best.

This book, while good, was not my favorite.  I've been trying to determine why that might be and the only thing I can really come up with is that I felt less connection with the characters than I usually do.  This book was more plot driven and there were a lot of characters.  I felt like I was getting a lot of information, sometimes in a way that felt like I was getting a lot of information.  Usually the characters shine with personality in Connealy's books and I felt like this one lacked a bit of that for me.

Having said that, I did enjoy the book- especially toward the end when things really got moving.  The action picked up and I was fully engaged as a reader.  I definitely felt the plot setting up for future books and I will be picking up the next book.  Even though there were some things that lacked for me in this book, I am a Mary Connealy fan and I'll be coming back for more by her.  Plus, now that I know more of the "story" perhaps the next book will bring out the character connections I'm looking for.

Content:  Clean

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter

She daydreams of whipping up sauces and souffles in her own restaurant. His heart is set on helping foster children. Both dreams are at stake. So are their hearts.

With grand plans to open her own bed & breakfast in Chapel Springs, PJ McKinley can't afford the most crucial part: the brick and mortar. But when the owner of a local historic home announces a contest and promises her property to the worthiest candidate, PJ makes a fervent wish and tosses her name into the hat.

Cole Evans is cool, confident, and successful, but he'll never forget his roots. He's thankful for how far he's come and knows his life could have turned out drastically different. If he can win the stately old mansion, he'll turn it into a home for children aging out of the foster system.

When the eccentric house owner narrows the entries down to only two applicants, she extends the contest, giving PJ and Cole one year to prove which one of them can make the best use of her beloved home. As the pair competes in close proximity, something deeper than rivalry sparks between PJ and Cole. And in this battle, they're likely to lose their hearts.

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Whenever I see a new book by Denise Hunter coming out, I grab it on NetGalley if I can.  I love reading anything by her.  If you are looking for inspirational, clean romance then you should read this book.  Or any books in this Chapel Springs series, really.  I've enjoyed them all.

PJ and Cole have a very interesting first meeting.  You will love PJ from the very first few moments of this book.  Cole may take you a few chapters longer but you will love him too.  He is determined to do the right thing all the time.   As Cole's story unfolds, it will break your heart.  Both PJ and Cole are determined and have worthy dreams and goals.  The sparks fly between them from the start and we all know where sparks lead, right?  

If only that stalker-ish ex boyfriend would go away.  If only PJ and Cole could forgive themselves.  If only.

This book was easy to read and a great diversion.  I loved the time I spent with PJ and Cole.  I was sad when it was over because I really wanted more!  

Look for this title to be released December 9th.

Sealed with a Kiss (Inspy Kisses, #2) by Janet Tronstad, Margaret Daley, Camy Tang and Lacy Williams

A new anthology from some of your favorite inspirational authors--no reprints here! 
Enjoy this collection of love stories with a theme of "love letters". The SEALED WITH A KISS anthology includes: 
    
From USA TODAY and Publisher's Weekly Bestselling Author Janet Tronstad comes a new historical romance Mail-Order Sunshine Bride 
When mail-order bride, Eleanor O’Reilly, arrives in the Montana Territory the only one on the railway platform to greet her is a dangerous-looking man who claims to be the sheriff. Where is her intended husband? Janet Tronstad delights readers with another of her popular mail-order bride stories. 
    
From #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Margaret Daley comes a new romance suspense Deadly Intent   
Texas Ranger Sarah Osborn is sent to investigate the kidnapping of a prize stallion from the Shamrock Ranch, owned by Ian O’Leary, an ex-FBI agent and Sarah’s high school sweetheart. Someone from Ian’s past has a grudge against him and intends to make him suffer. Can Sarah help Ian find who wants him dead? 
    
From award-winning author Camy Tang comes a new romantic suspense Unshakeable Pursuit   
A mysterious young woman warns Dr. Geoffrey Whelan and nurse Maylin Kinley that they are in mortal danger, and then two Asian hit men attack them at the children’s clinic where they work. Geoffrey and Maylin run for their lives, determined to figure out who is after them and why. When they discover the threat is connected to a young teenager whose life they saved, they must race to stop the person who wants them dead—before everyone they care about is caught in the crossfire. 
    
From fan favorite Lacy Williams comes a new contemporary western romance With Love, Cowboy   
When the love of his life is injured in combat, Ryan Michaels promises himself he won't let any more time go by without declaring his love. Veteran Ashley Reynolds returns home a changed woman, but is she ready to see the truth about the cowboy she left behind? 

I have to say that I sure do love this growing trend of bundled ebooks, both full length and novella size, by various authors.  It gives variety at an awesome price and you get to  know authors that you maybe haven't read yet.  In this collection, you also get some different genres of romance.  The first is old west, followed by two that have more suspense.  The last is a contemporary western.  It's fun to have that change up.

This was a fantastic novella collection.  I loved settling in with these stories.  They were the perfect sweet, clean romance stories for me.  And, if I had to pull out a favorite, it was With Love, Cowboy.  I fell in love with Ryan.  Who wouldn't?!  That guy is perfection.

These novellas are the perfect bite size reads.  If you don't have much time or you just want a quick romantic fix, try these out, one at a time.  Or, if you are more like me, you can read them all, straight through.  Read = Devour  

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