A Holiday in Bath (Timeless Regency Collection) by Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield and Jaima Fixsen

TRIAL OF THE HEART by Julie Daines
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family. She dreads coming face to face with the monster of her nightmares, but finds surprising comfort under the care of a charming barrister, Harby Northam. Despite his kindly attentions, Mr. Northam is a shrewd and discerning man of law with an awful secret. Marianne is put to the test as she deals with the evil of her past and her growing affection for the mysterious Mr. Northam.

 LORD EDMUND’S DILEMMA by Caroline Warfield
Lucy Ashcroft doesn’t share her stepmother’s belief that she might find a husband during her sojourn in Bath, but she does enjoy a respite from a household full of half-siblings and a younger sister preparing for her London Season, something Lucy can’t even dream about. In Bath, she enjoys the company of the elderly ladies in her aunt’s circle, and happy to be out from under her stepmother’s watchful and speculating eye. But when Lucy meets Lord Edmund Parker, all of her expectations for a quiet, unassuming holiday suddenly change.

THE ART OF KISSING IN THE PARK by Jaima Fixsen
Caroline Trenholme is not pleased with Bath, the fussy, antiquated resort of the shabby-genteel. She ought to be in London, finding a man—not here, coddling her irrational grandmother. In the park, she crosses paths (literally—this is Bath, after all) with a nameless, mannerless rogue, intent on stealing a kiss. As if his proposition weren’t insult enough, even her dog seems to like the man better. It's impossible! Especially once she suspects she might like him too…

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I love reading these anthology collections!  The Timeless Regency Collection's are some of my favorite and this group of authors provided such a reading treat!  I don't think I've read anything by Caroline Warfield before so it was fun to be introduced to an author new to me.

I loved all three of these books.  Although all three were set in Bath during the same time period, each book had a very different feel to it.  The authors writing styles were distinct and that made me happy.  These are novellas, so each book is a quick read.  I read through them one right after the other but this is a great book to pick up if you only have a couple of hours to dedicate to reading something.  A quick romantic fix.  

I really loved this one!

Content:  Some kissing

- I received this book free.  A positive review was not required and all opinions express are my own.

Sense & Second Chances by Brittany Larsen + $25 and Book Giveaway

Emily Carter is on the fast track to success when the unthinkable happens: a tragic accident claims the lives of her parents. Now Emily must set aside her dreams and raise her two younger siblings, Annie and Bryce. Emily and Annie are sisters, but that doesn’t mean they are anything alike. Whereas Emily reacts to the tragedy with her characteristic stoic calm, passionate Annie spirals into depression. Just when things seem like they can’t get any more difficult, Emily’s older half-brother and his fiancée arrive not to help, but to claim the family home he’s inherited from their parents. Without a place to call their own, Emily must take action—and fast. When an exciting employment opportunity arises in Utah, the displaced Carters decide to build a new life in a new home. But it soon becomes clear that their future prospects will go far beyond professional, as each sister is faced with an unexpected romance. Yet love is never simple, and in matters of the heart, one sister must proceed with caution while the other needs to take a leap of faith . . .

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

First, I have to note that this is an LDS fiction book and in this one, there are a lot of references to things very specific to the LDS religion.  

I love a good, new spin on an old classic and that's what this book is.  A modern setting, a few twists on the plot but not so much that you cannot recognize the parallel to the original story.  I was quite caught up in the drama of it all.  The characters were well defined and had recognizable strengths and weaknesses which gave them the very human element that we can all relate to.  Especially Emily.  She was the glue keeping everything together and she definitely felt the pressure of that.  She was so strong when it came to others and helping them deal with tough situations but when it came to herself, she was much weaker.  I felt a lot of connection to Emily because of that.

This was a fun book!  I think this is the second book I've read by this author and I'll be on the lookout for the next one!  

Content:  Religious matters, some kissing

*May 8th: http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

*May 9th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

*May 10th: http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

*May 11th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/ 

* May 12th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/

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Shatter by Nikki Trionfo + $30 Giveaway!

“We never knew there could be people in the orchard. Dangerous people.”


When a mysterious explosion kills her sister, Salem becomes convinced the death was no accident--it was a conspiracy. But no one else at her high school believes her, and all she has so far are theories and clues. With Carrie's killers still out there, Salem's not sure who she can trust. If she can't she prove she’s right before it’s too late, the conspiracy might take another life—hers.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I'm excited to share with you a bit about Shatter today!  This will come as no surprise to people who know me or follow my reviews but I'm a very lazy blurb reader.  And, if I do happen to read a blurb, chances are that I'll forget it by the time I actually read the book.  Then I'm completely surprised when I start reading because I have no idea what is coming at me!  That's what happened with this book.

This book is a YA murder mystery with a dash of suspense and danger.  As with most murder mysteries, there are a lot of characters in this book but the author did a good job of introducing them so I didn't feel too overwhelmed.  Everyone was suspicious at one point or another so that was awesome.  There were moments of intensity and then moments of quiet when Salem was just in her head, thinking and feeling but the story always had a good forward momentum.  

Salem was a very likable character.  As a reader, I couldn't help but feel compassion and even a little pity for Salem who found herself in a very sad and lonely situation.  She was so desperate to figure out what exactly happened to her sister.  I loved how Salem listened to her intuition.  She wasn't always exactly right, but close.  Her intuition never steered her completely wrong.  I loved how she gradually found a small circle of people she trusted and how they all worked together to solve the mystery.

This was a good change from my usual reading fare and I enjoyed it!

Content:  some violence (gang violence, murder, shooting, beatings, guns)

Enjoy the following excerpt:

The class is dead silent. Mr. White’s lips tighten. He swallows. There’s something dangerous about the new guy. The teacher leans over AddyDay’s desk and spins her packet so he can read the list of partnerships. “Fine. We’ll break up the threesome. You’ll pair with . . . Salem Jefferson.”

At the sound of my name, I turn to look at my new partner.

The guy near the door is tall. He has the kind of incredible good looks that invite stares, but that’s not the only reason he’s getting them now. The cursive lettering of a tattoo rises from the opening of the guy’s worn flannel shirt. Two gold chains hang from his brown neck. A guy accessorized in gang paraphernalia, not caked with it. His only completely visible marking is an upside down V inked onto his right cheekbone, black and distinct. The tattoo calls my attention for some reason, even though I’m sure I’ve never seen a symbol like that before. An upside down V . . . it seems so familiar.

His expressionless, dark eyes dart to meet my gaze from under a stiff, backward-facing ball cap. My classmates watch him stare at me.

“Salem Jefferson,” he says slowly, putting a slight emphasis on my last name. He waits for my response.

I realize he knows exactly who Salem Jefferson is. Exactly who I am. I’m Carrie’s sister.

Terrified, I whirl back around to face forward. Gang members targeted Carrie, made her frightened. Was he one of them? The skin between my shoulder blades tightens. Why were gang guys after Carrie?

About the author:

Nikki Trionfo lives in Riverton, Utah with five kids, a CrossFit-training husband who writes computer code, and lots of hip hop background music. Her teen murder mystery, SHATTER (May '17 from Cedar Fort), won grand prize in LDStorymakers’ First Chapter Alongside Heather Clark, she hosts free writing webinars on YouTube at #50FirstChapters.

A committed party-girl, Nikki serves as the social coordinator of LDStorymakers Conference and chair of Storymakers Tribe. Other notable stuff includes an honorable mention in Writers of the Future and a spot in Utah Horror Writer's shorty-story anthology. This all sounds really serious, but if you run into her, she gets down. Truly.  www.nikkitrionfo.com/Shatter

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Moriah dances her way through life until she meets a blond Adonis who reminds her too much of her son's father.

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Every stage actress wants fans, but what happens when one goes too far?

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Maddie escapes from pirates, but is in a different kind of danger when she lands on the island of an ex-Olympian and a former Most Beautiful Man in America.

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The Noble Servant by Melanie Dickerson

She lost everything to an evil conspiracy . . . but that loss may just give her all she ever wanted.

Since meeting Steffan, the Duke of Wolfberg, at Thornbeck Castle, Lady Magdalen has not been able to stop thinking about him. She knows—as a penniless lady with little to offer in terms of a dowry—she has no real hope of marrying such a highly titled man, so it comes as a great surprise when she receives a letter from him, asking for her hand in marriage.

But all is not what it seems at Wolfberg Castle. Steffan has been evicted by his scheming uncle, and his cousin has taken over the title of duke. Left for dead, Steffan is able to escape, and disguised as a shepherd, hopes to gain entry to the castle to claim the items that will prove he is the true Duke of Wolfberg.

Journeying to the castle, Magdalen has no idea what awaits her, but she certainly did not expect her loyal maidservant to turn on her. Forcing Magdalen to trade places with her, the servant plans to marry the duke and force Magdalen to tend the geese.

Without their respective titles—and the privileges that came with them—Steffan and Magdalen are reunited in the shepherd’s field. Together they conspire to get back their rightful titles. But they must hurry . . . or else they risk losing it all to the uncle’s evil plan.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I'm thinking this is the first Melanie Dickerson book I've read but how can that be?  I feel like I've been reading under a bushel.  Ha.  Well friends, here it is.  My very first Melanie Dickerson book review! 

Magdalen (poor girl) has a lot of rotten things thrown at her.  She has an awful mother, she is betrayed by people close to her, she is put in a position doing things she has no clue about, people are mean to her, she feels the weight of letting her people down, . . .  I'm telling you, Magdalen is having a rough time.  Plus, one of the geese bites her.  Poor Magdalen.  Despite all that, Magdalen is a thinker and a fighter.  She is always trying to find a way to change her circumstances and put things right.  I really loved her pluck.

Steffan isn't faring much better.  Well, he has a bit of money, but other than that, his circumstances are just about as grim.  I loved the when Magdalen and Steffan were working together and making each other stronger.  Of course, even that wasn't all smooth sailing, but the struggle was worth it in the end.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was a fun, adventurous journey with a happily ever after ending.  What could be better than that?!

This may be my first MD book, but it won't be my last!  I hope to read many more books by this author and maybe convince my daughter to read them as well!

Content:  mild violence

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

Cover Reveal for Whatever After by E.M. Tippetts!

Check out this amazingly fun cover of Whatever After by E.M. Tippetts!

Whatever After (Someone Else's Fairytale #5) by E.M. Tippetts

NA Contemporary Romance
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Blurb:

Chloe’s got it all: a happy marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, her first child on the way, and the chance to be the maid-of-honor in her best friend, Lori’s, upcoming wedding. The stresses of the past year are behind her… almost.

Chris Winters, Chloe’s half-brother, still isn’t in jail, even though he’s the main suspect in a double homicide. The police don’t have enough hard evidence to charge him with the crime, but Chloe is certain it was him. After all, he tried to kill her when she was a child.

When Chris begins to stalk Lori, Chloe is furious and decides it is past time he was locked up for good. She has the best security team money can buy, yet she knows they’re missing something, and mistakes in this business can be deadly. The deeper she digs, though, the less the facts add up.

Chloe’s got mere weeks to figure out how to keep her best friend safe, save the wedding from disaster, and get Chris back in jail where he belongs. That is, if she can gather enough evidence before he strikes again.

Emily Mah Tippetts writes science fiction as Emily Mah and sweet romance as E.M. Tippetts. A lifelong New Mexican, she lives with her family in Santa Fe, though she's been known to spend years at a time in the UK, her second home. Aside from being a writer, she's been a lawyer and jeweler, and is currently a stay at home mother, polymer clay artist, book designer/formatter, and owner of E.M. Tippetts Book Designs.

Links:
Mailing list: eepurl.com/vS_wz
Website: www.emtippetts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emtippetts
Twitter: twitter.com/emtippetts (@EMTippetts)

True to You (Bradford Sisters Romance #1) by Becky Wade

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother.

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I'm excited about this new series by Becky Wade!  What a fun, classy cover on this book, don't you think?  I love the font too.

This is a contemporary christian fiction romance.  Nora starts off the book a bit mousy.  She dresses in large, bulky sweaters and focuses on her business and genealogical pursuits.  Nora is smart and I loved her passion for those things.

John is Nora's complete opposite in almost every way but he has need of her professional help and knowledge with genealogy.  As they begin working together, Nora finds herself a bit enamored with John but he has a girlfriend and of course, Nora suffers from a bit from a lack of self confidence when it comes to men.  Luckily she has good sisters to help her navigate some of the unfamiliar waters she finds herself in.  I loved how the friendship between Nora and John progressed so naturally and normally.  They slowly gained trust in each other and it felt solid and real.

I'm excited to read about Nora's sisters in future books.  This book set the stage for some stories to come!

Content:  Moderate Christian elements throughout.  Light romance.

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.