A Foreign Crown by Jen Geigle Johnson **Pre-order this book today!

A Foreign Crown by Jen Geigle Johnson
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Source:  Received to Review
Genre: Regency Romance



Book Description:  A ROYAL REGENCY ROMANCE

Following a devastating series of misfortunes, Lady Aribella Bardsley has bravely shouldered the responsibilities of her household. But just as the bleakness of her situation threatens to overwhelm her, a summons arrives from the Queen with a providential offer: Aribella’s presence is requested as a lady-in-waiting at the palace.

Prince Layton Wilhelm’s family has clung to their neutrality in the war for far too long. As the youngest of the King of Oldenburg’s eight sons, Layton is determined to prove his worth and is unwilling to turn a blind eye to Napoleon’s encroaching privateers. When Layton embarks on a journey to England, it is for one purpose: to petition the British navy for aid. But when he becomes acquainted with the lovely Lady Aribella, he cannot deny their powerful connection. Amid the intrigues and schemes within the walls of the palace, Layton and Aribella know a future together is impossible—but torn between loyalty and love, will they risk everything to follow their hearts?



My thoughts:  Oh my goodness! A Foreign Crown was a fun book to read. I loved that the book was based primarily in the royal court before the Regency of Prince George became King. I was fascinated with the intrigue and the illness of King George III.

I really liked Lady Aribella. She was a down to earth lady and was kind to everyone, including the servants. She was put in a hard position as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. But somehow, she remained an example of grace and integrity.

Prince Layton was also a man of honor. He worked hard to help his country and wrangle his way through the social structure of the Royal Court of England. I loved the banter and the attraction that he and Aribella shared. With the setting, they had to be careful to not cause some sort of scandal or political faux pas. It was interesting to see how they were able to circumvent expectations while remaining true to each other.

This is the first book in a series and I can't wait to see what Jen Geigle Johnson will come up with next!

Pre-order an ebook at a discount for a few more days!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

About the Author:  (Taken from Goodreads)  Jen Geigle Johnson once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. Other vital things to know: the sound a water-ski makes on glassy water and how to fall down steep moguls with grace. No mountain is too steep for her to climb, yet. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager.

Now an award-winning author and mother of six, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure. She is a member of the RWA, the SCBWI, and LDStorymakers. She is also the chair of the Lonestar.Ink writing conference.

https://www.jengeiglejohnson.com

Coming Home to Bellingham by Katie Stewart Stone #booktour #cleanromance #giveaway

Coming Home to Bellingham by Katie Stewart Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source:  Received to Review
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Description:  What begins as a pleasant holiday with a new friend in Brighton quickly turns to devastation for Anabelle Milton when she receives the tragic news: her parents are dead. Turned out of the only home she’s ever known, Anabelle is sent to live with an aunt and uncle who are strangers to her. Heartbroken, she arrives at Bellingham Cottage, a cozy home on the sprawling grounds of the Bellingham estate, to find an unexpectedly warm welcome—not only from her own family but also from the family of their aristocratic neighbors, Lord and Lady Bellingham.

Anabelle soon attracts the attention of the heirs of Bellingham—brothers who, though connected by blood, could not be more different. As she slowly begins to distance herself from the polite and obedient young woman her mother trained her to be, Anabelle is free for the first time to choose her own path. She knows she must be true to herself, even if it means risking unrequited love—but can she trust that the gentleman who has stolen her heart will not break it?

My thoughts: This is a sweet debut book by Katie Stewart Stone. I was very impressed with her first book. She did a good job and it felt as if it may have been written by a more seasoned author.

Annabelle's parents are suddenly taken from her. Her healthy parents were taken with a deadly illness. It was a shock. She was visiting a friend and didn't get the chance to say goodbye. To make it worse, the heir to her home packed up her belongings and sent them to an aunt and uncle she wasn't familiar with. She didn't receive the closer that she needed emotionally.

The bright spot is that her aunt and uncle have a young son who brightens her day. He is the sibling that she did not have. I was impressed with her patience and her willingness to spend time exploring with him. Her aunt and uncle live in a cottage on a great estate. The Lawrence family immediately welcomed her and tried to help fill in a void left with the death of her parents. They have sons that evoke different responses: Peter, the eldest, is brooding and carries a great weight on his shoulders. Nathan is the new vicar but he is worldly and reckless. Robert is the youngest and immediately bonds with Annabelle. They become great friends.

The pacing of the book was fast and slow. There were moments that didn't feel like they were fully explained or explored while others were a little repetitive. Those moments didn't last long and I did not lose interest in the story.

This is the story of a young woman who finds herself and the things missing in her life. While she is undergoing the process she helps those around her.

This is a job well done by a new author. I look forward to seeing what she has "up her sleeve" in the future.

Online Purchase Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book * Seagull Book

I asked Katie Stewart Stone when a moment "clicked" in her writing?

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I suppose everything clicked after I quit my day-job. I had written all my life, but never really finished anything. I wrote and rewrote the beginnings of novels, never satisfied with them. But after I quit back in 2019, I actually finished Coming Home to Bellingham and felt confident enough to share it with my family for feedback. I finally realized that if I wanted to become a real author, I had to 1. Just finish something and 2. Become comfortable with critiques. 

The most important thing I have learned is that it is okay to have a terrible first draft. Just finish the book and go back and change everything if necessary, but you first must GET IT OUT! 

Second, I have realized that no author can be truly great unless they can take feedback without feeling attacked. I was always pretty sensitive about my writing, but somehow I was able to overcome my insecurities and take criticism like a professional. Once I came to terms with these two truths, I set out to get published. You have no idea how surprised I was to receive an email that my work was accepted for publication! It was truly a miracle, one I am thankful for every day.

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You can find more about Katie at www.absolutelyausten.com!

  I'm a Mother, Wife, Blogger, Author, and Jane Austen Addict

Enter the blog tour giveaway!

(The prize and winner notification will be provided by Covenant Communications.)

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The Viscount's Vow by Julie Coulter Bellon Book Blog tour + #giveaway

The Viscount's Vow by Julie Coulter Bellon
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Regency Romance

Book Description:  A man changed by war. The woman who loves him. And a secret that could tear them apart.

Edward Rutledge, the newly minted Viscount Carlisle, has come back from war a changed man. The echo of the battlefield and the death of his best friend Marcus haunt him to the point that he decides to break his betrothal to Charlotte---the only woman he’s ever loved.

When he’s summoned home to Hartwell Manor, he comes face-to-face with her. Slowly, her strength and love make him see that he might be able to reclaim what he thought was lost. But when word reaches him that Marcus might not have died in Spain and yet lives, Edward will do anything to bring his friend home. As the mystery deepens, however, Edward is drawn into an intrigue that forces him to confront the demons that have plagued him since he returned to England. Will he have to sacrifice everything he’s built with Charlotte in order to keep her safe?


My thoughts:  Viscount Carlisle is a haunted man. He has nightmare's from serving his country in the war against Napoleon. He has survivor's guilt and is has reoccurring nightmares about the loss of his best friend. He doesn't feel as if he can offer a good life and is willing to break his vow to Charlotte. He doesn't feel as if he worthy of love and worries what he may do to her during one of his episodes.

Charlotte disagrees and is unwilling to release him from their betrothal. She is not afraid to stand up and voice her opinion or let him know how she feels about his change of heart. She is a force to be reckoned with.

This is a cute story and a good read. Somewhere it felt a little forced and didn't have the flow that I am used to with one of Julie Coulter Bellon's stories. Not to say that I don't recommend this book. I do!

It's available using Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon

About the Author:  Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of nearly two dozen romantic suspense books. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense, Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense and The Captain was a RONE award finalist for Best Suspense. Most recently, her books The Capture and Second Look were both Whitney finalists for Best Suspense/Mystery.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. In her free time she loves to read, write, teach, watch HawaiiFive-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

If you'd like to be the first to hear about Julie's new projects and receive a free book, you can sign up to be part of her VIP Readers Group at juliebellon.com  

Enter the Giveaway!

(The prize and winner notification will be provided by Julie Bellon.)

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At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer

At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source:  Received to Review
Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Book Description:  Ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries who defend the innocent, but when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they seek out help from Dr. Josephine Burkett. When Josephine's brother is abducted and she is caught in the crossfire, Matthew may have to sacrifice everything--even his team--to save her.



My thoughts: This is a series that I look forward to reading. The problem is that this is the first book and I have to wait for the next installment.

Matthew Hanger is a great character. He has a strong sense of loyalty and right vs. wrong. He knows how it feels to follow orders when they are against his character and convictions. I loved how he took the sorrow and the shame and turned it around to fight for those who are in need of a hired mercenary. The good thing is that he's a mercenary with a conscience. He does not shoot to kill, just shoot to stop. His band is made up of men with integrity, that is the reason that you can't help but love them.

Doc "Jo" is a woman Dr in the frontier (yay)! She is not afraid to help those in need and chase down the men who are holding her wayward brother for ransom. She is also a woman of compassion and faith.

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This novel is fun to read.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 
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Online Purchase Links:

Amazon *Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

About the Author: For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. A transplant from California, Karen came to Texas for college, met a cowboy disguised as a computer nerd, married him, and never left the state that had become home.

Winner of the National Reader's Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and a finalist for both the RITA and Christy Awards, Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.

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