Book Review: Recipe For Disaster

Allie York is back but with her first-ever YA novel, Recipe for Disaster. For Aimee, all it took was a misdialed number to bring “Muffin Guy” into her life and a texting relationship that ends up changing her life. Fans of Kasie West and Miranda Kenneally will adore this humorous, angsty wrong number young adult romance.

About Recipe For Disaster

Title: Recipe for Disaster

Author: Allie York

Release Date: December 12, 2019

Publisher: self-published

Genres: Young Adult

Word Count: 72K

World’s best muffins:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375

Step 2: cream the butter and sugar until light

Step 3: Add eggs one at a time

Step 4: Forget you have a new phone in a new area code and call a random guy

Step 5: Continue to text random guy until you develop not-so-random feelings

Aimee’s life was stable, normal, and loving; until it wasn’t anymore. In the blink of an eye, she lost her childhood home, her best friend, and her sanity in one swoop.

But a misdialed number brings her an unexpected friend and a lot of new feelings.

Life is finally looking up and Aimee sets out to live life to the fullest with her newfound friend. That is until...Aimee’s text life and real-life collide to ruin everything.

Read Now and Read FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082DVWCDH

Add to Goodreads here!

Goodreads → http://bit.ly/2oXfP0V

Excerpt

Copyright @ Allie York 2019

Muffin Guy: Marry me. Now.

Muffin Guy: Okay that was a little creepy. Sorry. I don’t think I have ever had anyone quote The Dude for me. It’s amazing.

Muffin Guy: I would need to try to muffins before proposing marriage anyway. What if they suck? I think about leaving him hanging, just to see how many texts I can rack up before he gives up, but I can’t.

Aimee: My muffins are world-class. I’m talking good enough for the Queen Amidala and The Emperor or some royalty from this universe. Don’t ever doubt my muffin making abilities. Now let’s talk about that marriage proposal. We can’t base a whole relationship on one cult classic and some Star Wars references. And what if you’re ugly? If he can insult my muffins, I can insult his appearance. It’s only fair.

Muffin Guy: Touché. I already told you how hot I am, so that is absurd. Don’t let the eye thing throw you off, it only adds to my sex appeal. Where can I get one of your muffins? I’m not sure I can take that at face value. I need to do research.

Aimee: Only place you can get my muffins is from me. I need to go get ready for a thing tonight. Have a nice night, Muffin Guy. I know if he keeps texting me, I’ll never get ready for the event, and Dad will kill me. Without Hali to get my hair and makeup done, it will take me an eternity.

Muffin Guy: Date?

Aimee: Only with my family. My life is very boring. So boring that I spend the day texting strangers.

Muffin Guy: Mine too. Have fun tonight. If it gets too boring, shoot me a text. If nothing else, I am good comedic relief.

Review: Recipe For Disaster is an absolutely sweet Young Adult novel. This is a genre that I don't usually read because well...because I'm 45 and I don't usually identify with teenagers anymore.

I have to admit I kind of identified with Aimee, in that I prefer to stay home and didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life after high school (Even though I went to college)

Aimee and Muffin Guy are perfect. I adored their texts and I really wanted them to have their meet cute ASAP.

Speaking of Muffin Guy, he was easily identified, but that made things even sweeter.

I felt so bad for Aimee especially with her best friend Hali who was the biggest jerk. Her reappearance proved that she wasn't much of a friend. In fact, everything about her reappearance made me want to shake Aimee and get some sense put into her. (There are a few times when she didn't exhibit much sense at all)

The mother situation was probably the only thing that didn't sit well with me. I wanted it to be a little fleshed out. Plus the time frame kinda freaked me out. Mom leaves and they pack up and move and then mom shows up..and knows exactly where they are now and everyone, except Aimee is happy about it.

Truthfully I felt Aimee was the only one with the "real" reaction to her mother's return.

This was really a fun story that will delight readers of any age.

Rating: 4 flowers

Author Allie York:

Allie is a mom and dog groomer by day. At night she is posted at her laptop writing or reading in a cozy corner. She has a soft spot for gooey romance, over-creamed coffee, and anything cute and furry.

Follow Allie: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Instagram

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/authorallieyork/

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Book Review: Model Behavior

Author:  M.E. Carter & Andrea Johnston

Title: Model Behavior

Release Date: Dec 12, 2019

Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2BH8aGW
AmazonUK: https://amzn.to/2BQuCND
AmazonCA: https://amzn.to/2pjrfMy
AmazonAU: https://amzn.to/341dotd
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ModelBehavior_GR

50% of ebook release proceeds donated to Wildlife Center of Texas
https://wildlifecenteroftexas.org

BLURB:🔸

He thinks he’s so perfect with his model behavior . . . and he just might be.

Reading and reviewing books is my hobby. Rescuing wildlife is my passion. It never occurred to me that both my hobby and passion would collide in the strangest of ways one day.

I was perfectly content in my quiet little world. Working, reading, and supporting my favorite authors left little time for dating or a relationship. Besides, when you take the horizontal mambo off the table, you sort of limit your prospects.

Then one night, Matthew Roberts in all his cover model glory blew into my life and swept me off my feet.

~

Life as a single dad is not for the weak. Especially when your daughter is a spunky six-year-old with a passion for singing and a weakness for baby animals. I’ve been strictly focused on being her dad and smiling for the camera to provide for her future. Having my abs splashed on the cover of romance novels hasn’t left much time for a personal life. Much to my mother’s dismay.

When a storm dropped—literally—a wild animal into my life, I knew there was one person who could help us—Carrie Myers. I just never expected her to save not only the small squirrel but to also find her way into my heart.

Sometimes the most unlikely person can be your greatest gift.

I totally love M.E. Carter and Andrea Johnston's Charitable Endeavors books. They bring the book world to life for readers and the stories, while not totally interconnected kind of are, if that makes any sense.

This book was sweet...like Hallmark/Lifetime movie sweet. No really it is!

I loved Carrie and Matthew so much and as they became friends and then more than friends (that didn't have benefits, because ...of some notion of celibacy Carrie has) you really fall for them. You also for Calypso, Matthew's daughter and the dog Olaf and all the squirrels.

About the only thing that I wasn't fond of was Carrie's book blog profession. Most of us, are just typical average women who just enjoy sharing our feelings about our favorite books. Sure there are people out there making money off of reviewing, but that's not most of us.

I was more tickled by Carrie's job with animal rescue.

Probably the sweetest thing was the interaction between Carrie and Calypso. Its hard to imagine a never married girl taking to a young child so easily, but really this book goes down Harlequin romance territory here. Of course, what little girl isn't going to fall madly in love with a lady that rescues baby squirrels?

So if you are prepared for a book that's full of giggles and feels, because Carrie's life is full overthinking and well hilarity.

Here are some of my favorite quotes

"Of course, this morning when she put her shoes on the wrong feet and attempted to make her way out of the house without changing them, I wondered for a brief moment if college was a pipe dream."

"What a coincidence. He has washboard abs. I have a washboard forehead. It's a match made in Maytag heaven."

"At twenty-two you've been through college and can drink and stuff. At eighteen you're just..not even really adulting yet."

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Scarlet Fever

Scarlet Fever: A Novel ("Sister" Jane)

by Rita Mae Brown

About Scarlet Fever

Scarlet Fever: A Novel ("Sister" Jane)

Cozy Mystery

12th in Series

Ballantine Books (November 26, 2019)

Hardcover: 304 pages

ISBN-10: 0593130006

ISBN-13: 978-0593130001

Digital ASIN: B07P8J8KVM

Winter blizzards bring a flurry of cases to solve in this riveting new foxhunting mystery featuring “Sister” Jane Arnold and her incorrigible hounds from New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown.

Frigid February air has settled into the bones of the Blue Ridge Mountains, making for a slow foxhunting season, though “Sister” Jane Arnold’s enthusiasm is not so easily deterred. With the winter chill come tweed coats, blazing fireplaces—and perhaps another to share the warmth with, as the bold hunting scarlets worn by the men in Sister Jane’s hunting club make the hearts of women flutter—until someone’s stops entirely.

Harry Dunbar, a member of the Jefferson Hunt club with a penchant for antique furniture, is found with his skull cracked at the bottom of the stairs to a local store. There are no telltale signs of foul play—save for the priceless (and stolen) Erté fox ring in his pocket. Sister and her hounds set out to uncover the truth: was this simply an accident—a case of bad luck—or something much more sinister?

Steeped in the deep traditions of Virginia horse country and featuring a colorful cast of characters both two- and four-legged, Scarlet Fever is another spirited mystery from Rita Mae Brown.

Review: Scarlet Fever is the first book that wasn't a "Sneaky Pie" book of hers that I have read. I love the Sneaky Pie series.

This is fun book with a quirky cast of characters and animals play a central part in their lives. Sister Jane is a master of the hounds. But really its the animals that always make me fall for the story.

I had a harder time getting into this one, because it is book 12 in a series and well...I didn't know a lot of the cast, but once I sorted everyone out I was fine, and I definitely want to go back to the beginning someday and meet everyone properly from book 1. The thing about this one that kept it from being a great read was that the mystery got buried in so many other things. I thought that the Harry storyline was the main mystery, but then there's Morris who has dementia and his family and well that part of the story is disturbing for anyone that's taken care of a parent with failing health regardless of the health issue.

I wish if Rita were going to write a mystery, she would have stuck to one story, not two that weren't connected. It kept me from really enjoying the story the way that I would have liked.

This is a fun cozy, like all of Rita's other book, perhaps not one of her best one's but still a good solid story that will delight her fans.


Rating: 4 flowers

About Rita Mae Brown

Rita Mae Brown is the bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries; the Sister Jane series; the Runnymede novels, including Six of One and Cakewalk; A Nose for Justice and Murder Unleashed; Rubyfruit Jungle; and In Her Day; as well as many other books. An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and a poet, Brown lives in Afton, Virginia, and is a Master of Foxhounds and the huntsman.

Author Links 

Website – http://ritamaebrownbooks.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RitaMaeBrown

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

November 26 – Baroness' Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 27 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

November 27 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – THANKSGIVING – OFF

November 29 – Ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Laura's Interests  - REVIEW

November 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – This Is My Truth Now – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Literary Gold = SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – The Book Diva's Reads - SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

December 4 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

Beck Valley Book Tours Book Review: Over The River & Through The Woods

A holiday pastiche from the authors of Mindful Writers Retreat, sure to light your festive candles!

From a Thanksgiving snow storm that mends old feuds… to the family misunderstandings that fuel new ones… a quirky elf and some romantic stardust will get you ready to go Over the River and Through the Woods on a journey through time!

Proceeds benefit Ligonier Camp & Conference Center Home of the Mindful Writers Retreats, Ligonier, PA

Available at....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Paperback

Book Excerpts

LIMITED TIME OFFER

by Phil Giunta

***

A GIFT

by Lori M. Jones

***

Also available in the Mindful Writers Retreat Series...

Into the Woods is the title and theme for this assortment of short stories, poems, essays, music, and one walking meditation. Each piece is unique in tone and genre and the result is that the collection captures the fascinating, frightening, fun, healing, and fantastical wonder of time spent in the woods. The twenty-six contributors who attend Mindful Writers Retreats in the mountains of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, are donating one hundred percent of the proceeds to support the research and work of The Children’s Heart Foundation.

Available at....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo   iBooks   Paperback

Mindful Writers Retreat Authors 

Many of the writers who contributed to the anthology. 

The retreats happen at Ligonier camp and conference center in Ligonier, PA. 

Twenty-one Mindful Writers Retreat Authors contributed to OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS. The group consists of bestsellers, award-winners, first-time authors, seasoned veterans, poets, memoirists, essayists, musicians, journalists, novelists, and short story writers who are traditionally, self and hybrid published. At Mindful Writers Retreats the labels don’t create a hierarchy, but instead reveal the richness of those who attend. Every single writer contributes to the magic and the fun that results from meditation, walking in the woods, and hour upon hour of mindful writing.

“Thanksgiving Traveler” – Janet McClintock

“Solstice” – Eileen Enwright Hodgetts

“Magic Sleigh Bed” – Michele Savaunah Zirkle 

“Tidings of Comfort and Joyce” – Kimberly Kurth Gray

“The Bridge on the River Obi-Wan” – Ramona DeFelice Long

“Reminiscing on the Nostalgia of Happier Times” – Amy Morley

“Christmas Pearl” – Demi Stevens 

“Once Upon a Life Well Spent” – Hilary Hauck

“The Christmas Tree” – Kathleen Shoop

“Tink” – Abigail Drake 

“Limited Time Offer” – Phil Giunta

“Cranberry River” – Lorraine Donohue Bonzelet

“The Christmas Angel” – MaryAlice Meli

“A Gift” – Lori M. Jones

“Stars of Peace” – N.J. Hammer

“Fathers and Daughters” – Jennifer Diamond

“The Day the Magic Died” – James Robinson, Jr.

“Shaping Christmas” – Denise Weaver

“Buon Natale” – Cara Reinard 

“First Nativity” – Larry Schardt

“’Twas a Hard Day’s Night and Another Auld Lang Syne” – Sherren Elias Pensiero

Many of the writers who contributed to the anthology. 

The retreats happen at Ligonier camp and conference center in Ligonier, PA. 

Find the Mindful Writers Retreat Series on Facebook HERE

Review: Over The River and Through The Woods is a wonderful collection of short stories that tie in to the holiday season. This is a collection that has something for everyone. You'll laugh and cry through some of the stories.

My personal favorite was Tidings Of Comfort and Joyce a story about a woman who attempts to get arrested each Christmas to avoid her mother in law, but there are so many great stories here. Tink was another fabulous tale. Elves and drug addiction at the North Pole? Yup. It really can't get much better than this

There are stories of love lost and forgiveness, a little bit of everything. There's fantasy and sci-fi and a little bit of family drama too.

You can devour these stories in an afternoon or read them at your leisure. Most stories are only a few pages long, but all will warm your heart and make you think

I loved that the writer's retreat is in an area close to me. I have been in Ligonier many times, and it is a beautiful town, that definitely could fuel any writer's inspiration.

Rating: 5 flowers

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I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Winners Prize - 
$50 Amazon.com Giftcard plus Over the River and Through the Woods paperback
Second prize - Over the River and Through the Woods paperback
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Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Review: This Son Of York

This Son of York by Anne Easter Smith

Publication Date: November 10, 2019

Bellastoria Press

eBook & Paperback; 504 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Read an excerpt.

"Now is the winter of our discontent, Made glorious summer by This Son of York..." -- William Shakespeare, Richard III

Richard III was Anne's muse for her first five books, but, finally, in This Son of York he becomes her protagonist. The story of this English king is one of history's most compelling, made even more fascinating through the discovery in 2012 of his bones buried under a car park in Leicester.

This new portrait of England's most controversial king is meticulously researched and brings to vivid life the troubled, complex Richard of Gloucester, who ruled for two years over an England tired of war and civil strife. The loyal and dutiful youngest son of York, Richard lived most of his short life in the shadow of his brother, Edward IV, loyally supporting his sibling until the mantle of power was thrust unexpectedly on him.

Some of his actions and motives were misunderstood by his enemies to have been a deliberate usurpation of the throne, but throughout his life, Richard never demonstrated any loftier ambitions than to honorably discharge his duty to his family and his country.

In a gentler vein, despite the cruel onset of severe scoliosis in his teens, Richard did find love, first with a lover and then in his marriage to Anne Neville. Between these two devoted women in his life, he sired three and perhaps four children.

Bringing the Plantagenet dynasty to a violent end, Richard was the last king of England to die in battle. This Son of York is a faithful chronicle of this much maligned man.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Review:  From the time I was a little girl, I was fascinated with all things to do with England. Maybe it had to do with my huge crush on Davy Jones, and then Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Whatever it was that made me so interested, that interest stuck. And authors like Anne Easter Smith fuel my hunger for more when it comes to learning about the kings and queens of England.

Richard III isn't one of the royals I've read much about, so I dove into this book straight away. It took me awhile to finish it, because I have a very short attention span these days, but oh was it worth it. Anne has a great flair for bringing these historical figures to life again, and making them seem much more human than any history book ever could.

Richard's story is very moving. I remember when they unearthed his remains in 2012. I vaguely remember reading about him in one of Philippa Gregory's books.

It took me a long time to finish this one, but as I tell people, I usually take quite a bit of time with chunky books and ones that I want to do research with as I read. I have googled so much about Richard and Anne while reading this one. It was a major history lesson for me.

I really like the favorable way Richard was portrayed. The more I read, the more I could tell, he was given the bad deal in history, and some of the things he was accused of doing likely weren't done by him, or weren't done any differently by any other member of royalty at that time. And that play by William Shakespeare...well its not at all accurate and Richard's short period of time as king should really have him painted as a good king.

My heart ached for him most of the time.

If you are looking for a great read and have an interest in UK history, this is your book.

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author
Anne is the award-winning author of The King's Grace and the best-selling A Rose for the Crown, Daughter of York, Queen By Right, and Royal Mistress. She is an expert on Richard III, having studied the king and his times for decades. Her sixth book, This Son of York, will be published soon. She grew up in England, Germany and Egypt, and has been a resident/citizen of the US since 1968. Anne was the Features Editor at a daily newspaper in northern New York State for ten years, and her writing has been published in several national magazines.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule
Sunday, November 10
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Monday, November 11
Excerpt at Words and Peace
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Tuesday, November 12
Review at Passages to the Past
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, November 13
Review at Macsbooks
Interview at The Writing Desk

Thursday, November 14
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Friday, November 15
Excerpt at The Lit Bitch
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Saturday, November 16
Review at Curling up by the Fire
Review & Excerpt at Nursebookie
Review at Red Headed Book Lady
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Sunday, November 17
Review at Bookramblings
Review at Just One More Chapter
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books
Review at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of Royal Beauty Bright by Ryan Byrnes! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

- Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 14th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
- Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
- Only one entry per household.
- All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
- The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

This Son of York

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Tell Me No Lies

Tell Me No Lies: A Lady Dunbridge Novel

by Shelley Noble

About Tell Me No Lies

Tell Me No Lies: A Lady Dunbridge Novel

Historical Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series

Forge Books (November 5, 2019)

Hardcover: 368 pages

ISBN-10: 0765398745

ISBN-13: 978-0765398741

Kindle ASIN: B07LF6FR2L

Miss Fisher meets Downton Abbey in Tell Me No Lies, part of the critically acclaimed Lady Dunbridge Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble.

Rise and shine, Countess, you’re about to have a visitor.

Lady Dunbridge was not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s come to New York City, ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm. The social events of the summer have been amusing but Lady Phil is searching for more excitement---and she finds it, when an early morning visitor arrives, begging for her help. After all, Lady Phil has been known to be useful in a crisis. Especially when the crisis involves the untimely death of a handsome young business tycoon.

His death could send another financial panic through Wall Street and beyond.

With the elegant Plaza Hotel, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the opulent mansions of Long Island’s Gold Coast as the backdrop, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

Review: I've read most of Shelley's contemporary novels and I have to say that Tell Me No Lies ranks right up there. If you love Rhys Bowen's style mysteries, you'll love this series too. Its the perfect mix of historical fiction and cozy mystery. This is the second book in the series, but don't worry you can dive right in

Set in the early 1900s, we meet Lady Dunbridge a destitute widow that has fled to New York and now she finds herself investigating the death of a young businessman who was the suitor for a friend's daughter.

There's a lot going on in Phil's life, a little romance, possibly a love triangle because Mr. X and the detective I think have a thing for her. She's definitely a modern lady or perhaps a merry widow would be a better description.

What starts out as just a murder of a young rich man, turns into something much more as Phil and her friends start investigating. There are so many possible reasons that someone might want Perry dead and a business dealing that isn't on the up and up. Lots of red herrings and loads of intrigue that will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

This was a delightful mystery that will keep the pages turning from start to finish with all the fun characters! I can't wait for more.

Rating: 5 flowers

About Shelley Noble

Shelley Noble is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary women’s fiction. (Beach Colors, Whisper Beach, Lighthouse Beach.) And the author of the Lady Dunbridge Gilded Age  Manhattan mysteries. Tell Me No Lies is the latest of the series.

She has written eighteen amateur sleuth and historical mystery novels and novellas as Shelley Freydont. (The Sudoku Murders,  Celebration Bay mysteries, The Gilded Age Newport mysteries.

A former professional dancer and choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore where she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses, vintage carousels, and the past.

Author Links

Website https://www.shelleynoble.com

FB https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyNobleAuthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/ShelleyNoble3

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shelleynobleauthor/

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5560617.Shelley_Noble

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book  – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Reading Reality – REVIEW

November 5 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 6 – Here's How It Happened – GUEST POST

November 6 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

November 7 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 7 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT - Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

November 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST

November 8 – Diary of a Book Fiend – REVIEW

November 8 – Laura's Interests – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 10 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW

November 12 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW  

November 12 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

November 13 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 13 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours: The Highlanders Christmas Bride

The Highlander's Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Publication Date: October 29, 2019

Zebra Books

eBook & Paperback; 432 Pages

Series: Clan Kendrick, Book #2

Genre: Historical Romance/Scottish

Summary:  In bestselling author Vanessa Kelly’s irresistible Clan Kendrick series, Christmas in the Highlands means family, celebration—and for one brother, the beginning of a passionate adventure . . .

Being thrown over by the man she expected to marry was humiliating enough. Now that Donella Haddon, grandniece of the Earl of Riddick, has also proven a failure as a nun, she has no choice but to return to her family’s estate. The brawny Highlander sent to escort her is brash, handsome, and the only thing standing between Donella and a gang of would-be kidnappers. But the scandal in her past can’t be so easily outrun . . .

Wealthy widower Logan Kendrick was expecting to meet a plain, pious spinster—not a gorgeous, sharp-tongued lass who can hold her own in any ambush. Though she’s known as the Flower of Clan Graham, Donella is no shrinking violet. In fact, she might be the perfect woman to bring happiness back to his lonely little son’s life, just in time for Christmas. But first he must protect her from ugly gossip and a mysterious threat—and convince her that their wild, unexpected desire is heaven sent.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Review:  Vanessa Kelly is a new to me author and what better way to discover a new author than with a holiday book. When I was much younger I used to dive into Christmas romances and read nothing but from Nov through January.

I am a little on the fence with this one, because very early into the book, the language felt a little too modern for me. The story is set in 1819, so I just had a hard time especially at the beginning dealing with how Donella and Logan talked, especially to the nuns.

I also couldn't fathom how such a high strung lady, could want to sequester herself as a nun, when she was obviously doing such a lousy job at it. It took a long time to learn the real reason for that, much to long in my book.

The story itself is an enjoyable one and fast paced for a book of its length (around 430 ish pages). The characters are fun and you definitely will come to appreciate all of them and their quirks.

I was more in love with Logan's character. He had a good head on his shoulders. Donella was a little bit annoying to me. She feels like the typical strong historical heroine that won't listen to sense and always goes traipsing off into trouble because she's so "smart." My favorite though is Logan's son, Joseph, who was absolutely precious.

This is a nice light read, more for fans of romance than historical novels, as I again felt a lot of the characters actions and speech were a little out of the time period. Still, it is a good way to warm yourself up on a cold winter night



Rating: 4 flowers

About the Author

Vanessa Kelly is a USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.” Her Regency-set historical romances have been nominated in a number of contests, and she has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Her books have been published in nine languages.

Vanessa’s latest book, The Highlander Who Protected Me, was a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, and BookScan bestseller. Her Renegade Royals Series was a national bestseller, as was The Improper Princesses Series. My Fair Princess was named a Goodreads Romance of the Month and is a USA Today and BookScan bestseller. The Highlander’s Princess Bride, book 3 in the series, was a Barnes and Noble top 50 bestseller.

When she’s not dreaming of plots for her next Regency novel, Vanessa is writing USA Today Bestselling books with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.

You can find Vanessa at vanessakellyauthor.com or at vksykes.com. For all of Vanessa's latest news and contests--and to receive a free story--please sign up for her newsletter on her website.

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Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, October 29
Review at Coffee and Ink

Wednesday, October 30
Feature at A Book Geek
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, October 31
Review at Amy's Booket List

Friday, November 1
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, November 2
Review at Fictitiouswonderland

Monday, November 4
Review at Nursebookie
Review at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, November 5
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Wednesday, November 6
Review at Bookish Rantings
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Thursday, November 7
Review at Unabridged Chick
Guest Post at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Friday, November 8
Excerpt at Maiden of the Pages
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Monday, November 11
Review at Jessica Belmont
Review at Stephanie's Novel Fiction
Guest Post at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, November 12
Excerpt at The Lit Bitch
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away signed copies of THE HIGHLANDER’S PRINCESS BRIDE and THE HIGHLANDER WHO PROTECTED ME + a $20 Amazon gift card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The Highlander's Christmas Bride