Tag: Historical Romance

Promised + Giveaway

Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.

Worwickshire, England, 1812

Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.

There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match — to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage — to Lord Williams.

Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind. Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.

My Review:

This one gives me all kinds of Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth vibes and I loved every second. The banter, the misunderstandings, the deliberate verbal barbs….sigh, I was in bibliophile euphoria. And the cast of secondary characters are just as strong as the hero and heroine, which made for some lively interactions. And lots of humour too.

Another Grumpy/Sunshine trope only in reverse with the heroine being the grump, which was all kinds of fun too, though sometimes I wanted to shake some sense into Margaret. But she is bound by the societal norms of the day so I guess I can understand some of her reasoning…but how she held off from falling for Lord Williams for so long….honestly, I have no idea. I was a goner pretty early on. And then the ‘plot twist’ happened and I was ‘whhhhaaaatttttt????’

Another Regency triumph and a new-to-me author to pursue!

I listened to the audio edition which was narrated by Justine Eyre. She’s an amazing performer and one of my favourites to listen to so I was all kinds of happy with both the story and the delivery.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere with a .com kindle account 

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice; or also audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Promised, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 20, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Falling for the Cowgirl + Giveaway

Years ago, he shattered her heart. Now she must trust him with her life.

As the only girl in her family, and with four older brothers, Ivy McQuaid can rope and ride with the roughest of ranchers. She’s read to have what she’s always longed for — a home of her own. She’s set her heart on a parcel of land south of Fairplay and is saving for it with her winnings from the cowhand competitions she sneaks into — but her dream is put in jeopardy when the man she once loved reappears in her life.

After two years away, Jericho Bliss is back in South Park as an undercover Pinkerton agent searching for a war criminal. He has no intention of involving a woman in the dangerous life he leads, but one look at Ivy is all it takes for him to question the path he’s set out for himself.

Even though Jericho tries to resist his longtime attraction to the beautiful and vivacious Ivy, he finds himself falling hard and fast for her. In the process, his worst fear comes true — he puts her smack dab in the middle of danger. With Ivy’s life in the balance, will Jericho give her up again, or will he find a way back to her, this time forever?

My Review:

I am loving this Colorado Cowboys series. The McQuaid family is the stuff heroes…and heroines…are made of and it’s time for Ivy to shine in this fourth book (though that doesn’t mean her bossy older brothers don’t horn in on some of the fun!) No worries if you haven’t read any of the other books in the series, this one reads fine as a standalone…though if you’re a Colorado Cowboys fan, you’ll be thrilled with all the page time given to Flynn, Wyatt and Brody and their lady loves as well. 🙂

Ivy was a gutsy little dynamo in the first book and she still is for all that she’s a woman grown now. One with an interesting take on life and her future and what females apparently can and cannot do. Part of that comes from being raised by her brothers and though the influence of sisters-in-law have softened her somewhat, she’s still very much the stubborn, outspoken and pesky sister the McQuaids all love…and grow frustrated with on a regular basis.

And, oh my, but Ivy has always had a thing for Jericho Bliss. That girlhood crush has matured into full-fledged love which she’s not about to give into now that he’s back. Talk about sizzling attraction and clashing wills. These two don’t know how to do anything but fight…until they discover kissing and then, boy howdie, grab yourself a fan and an ice bucket or you’ll be at risk of melting into a puddle and then how will you turn the pages so you can read more?!

Action, adventure, toe-curling romance and the McQuaid clan in all it’s wondrous glory! The Wild West doesn’t get any better than this.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook for anyone anywhere who has an Amazon.com kindle account

US – paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice

Canada -paperback or ebook (in form of an Amazon gift card) or audible.ca audio book – winner’s choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Falling for the Cowgirl, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 13, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Worthy of Legend + Giveaway

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Schofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother who will stop at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family — even if it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table — an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the island that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archaeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure…or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

My Review:

What do pirate lore, buried treasure and King Arthur’s legends have in common? A brilliant-minded, creative-thinking author named Roseanna M. White! ‘Worthy of Legend’ is the resounding conclusion to her ‘Secrets of the Isles’ series, full of adventure, danger, intrigue and, of course, toe-curling romance!

The mystery includes the vilest of villains and — gah — but I was steaming mad on Emily’s behalf so many times! The addition of Arthurian legends made this final book all the more captivating. Bram and Emily and the whole gang are united once again in a treasure hunting alliance that sends them on a fantastical quest they can hardly believe is real.

I’ll pause here to mention that I feel it would be best to read these books in order. You’ll have a better understanding of the large cast of characters and the history behind the pirate treasure and how everyone has come to the Isles. If you do decide to jump into the series at this point, just be patient, you’ll likely get the gist of things after a few chapters (though it might be a good idea to jot down some character notes as you go.)

There’s such depth in these characters and their personal growth and faith journeys are inspiring. “The Lord knew. The Lord saw her, no matter how dark and small the place in which she was locked. He saw her, and He cared enough to send someone to pray over her when she never would have asked for it.” (p 101)

Swashbuckling adventure + swoonworthy romance + the kind of friendships that are destined to last a lifetime = a memorable read that buoys the spirit and thrills the heart.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

SPECIAL NOTE: Because I think it is best to read this series in order, this giveaway is for the winner’s choice of EITHER #1 The Nature of a Lady, #2 To Treasure an Heiress or #3 Worthy of Legend. Please note your choice in your comment or email entry.

ebook for anyone anywhere who has an Amazon.com kindle account

US – paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice

Canada -paperback or ebook (in form of an Amazon gift card) or audible.ca audio book – winner’s choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Worthy of Legend (or the first or second book in the series), leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 13, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Art of Victory + Giveaway

Diana Donovan was raised aboard a naval ship on a steady diet of war strategy, so when her orphaned friend, Lucy, is denied a perfectly respectable love match by her controlling guardian, Diana sees an opportunity to put her battle knowledge to use in service of a deserving friend.

But Marmaduke Russell is not the middle-aged curmudgeon Diana is expecting. He is a maddeningly cool, unmarried gentleman who seems uniquely able to parry her tactics — and infuse her with even more determination to win. As battle ensues, though, it becomes clear that there may be more hearts in the balance than just Lucy’s.

My Review:

I’m a tad shy of giddy over discovering a new-to-me author writing in one of my favourite genres! And this is the first book in a new series, so what an opportune time to jump onto the Martha Keyes bandwagon! I’ll be singing her praises with gusto forevermore, because this book is that good.

An enemies to more trope written in spectacular fashion. It’s a brilliant battle of wills that is only exceeded by a battle of wits — and the two combined make for such a fun read! If I wasn’t laughing hysterically, I was furiously fanning myself and then, when things really heated up, it was all swoon and repeat until the very end. My fainting couch got a real workout so I suggest you dust yours off and check the springs before starting in on The Art of Victory. (Such a clever title too!)

So, I just checked the author’s webpage and she not only writes Regency Romances — she writes Scottish (Historical) ones too. Eeeeeepppppp!!!! I’ll be happily playing catch up for awhile.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

paperback — US, Canada, UK.

ebook — with an Amazon.com account

audible — Canada

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Art of Victory, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 6, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

A Duchess for the Duke + Giveaway

The Duke of Monfort takes a wife.

Gregory Diner, a young duke caught unprepared for his role, needs a companion. When he meets Cecilia, he knows she has the grace and intelligence his duchess will need.

Lady Cecilia never expected more than a marriage of mutual benefit, but she’s still surprised when the duke proposes an alliance between them.

Will love find a place in this practical arrangement?

My Review:

Fun and flirty and delightfully swoonworthy!

This is a case of the prequel being written after the series (Clairvoir Romances) and I think it’s because Sally Britton fans have been clamouring for the duke and duchess’s love story after reading their children’s romances. I’ve read all but one of the Clairvoir novels so I found this sweet novella extra enchanting. I think you could also enjoy it as an introduction to the series though.

It’s a fast, snappy read, but don’t let the shorter length fool you — this novella has all the romantical elements I’ve come to expect (and thoroughly enjoy) from this author. Banter. Characters with depth. More banter. Social etiquette that both delights and appalls. Even more banter! A toe-curling kiss…or two. And…oh…just all that delightful b-a-n-t-e-r!!! (Can you guess what my favourite part of a Sally Britton book is?)

I listened to the audio edition and loved it as much as all the other books in this series. Jessica Elisa Boyd has become the voice I hear in my head when I think of all these characters — really love it when the same performer narrates an entire series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Duchess for the Duke, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 29, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Not a Sparrow Falls + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO READ!

Schoolteacher Charlotte Brindle is relieved that her long journey from Boston to Wyldhaven is about to come to an end. And then the bullets start flying! As she sprawls on the floor of the coach and curls her arms around her head, she wonders whatever in the world possessed her to give up the civility of a Boston school for the promise of adventure on the wild frontier?!

Her fellow passenger, and elderly man named Patrick Waddell, has obviously angered the men outside. And he has no intentions of going down without a fight — or without a bargaining chip!

Sheriff Reagan Callahan grinds his teeth in frustration when Patrick Waddell emerges from the coach with the tiny slip of a schoolteacher as his hostage. Reagan’s perfectly planned-out capture has just been shot to smithereens. What had the town’s founder been thinking when he hired a woman like her? A petite and prim woman was not the kind of teacher Wyldhaven needed. He should be back at his desk drinking coffee! Instead, he now has to mount a rescue!

Take the next stagecoach to Wyldhaven, where the coffee’s perked hot, the sheriff likes his apple pie fresh from the oven, and adventure invariably waits just around the next river bend.

My Review:

published in 2017

Christy meets Doctor Quinn! Has that same citified schoolteacher totally out of her element paired with the kind of struggling town with heart you see in the Doctor Quinn series. Plus, we get a few extra POVs, so that really brings the town to life.

Not a Sparrow Falls was a total impulse buy — on sale on Chirp — and that cover beguiled me so, even though I’m not a huge western romance reader, I couldn’t resist finding out more about that woman on the cover. Aimee Lilly is an amazing narrator — I love the way she gave each character a unique voice and she read it as if she was relishing every word right along with me.

Charlotte intrigued me from the very beginning when we meet her in Boston and discover exactly why she’s so keen to leave the city! But I was well and truly hooked from the first Wyldhaven scene. It doesn’t get more block buster Wild West than bullets flying and outlaws and lawmen in a battle of wits .And poor Charlotte is stuck in the middle of it all. And her day just keeps getting worse.

The meet-cute between Charlotte and her sheriff is funny and touching and exasperating. This schoolmarm has opinions and she’s not afraid to share them and poor Reagan is plumb flummoxed. And when she finally sees the ‘town’ for the first time….bwahahahaha!

Bonner (new-to-me-author! yay!) does an incredible job of painting pictures with her words, engaging all my senses and making me feel like I was right there, living every second right along side Charlotte. Love the town and its diverse mix of citizens and the way they welcome the newcomer into their midst.

Charlotte is a captivating mix of spunk and doubt. I had no trouble believing she could do anything she set her mind to, but I so related to her struggle to understand God’s will in her life. Her uncertainty comes not from any lack of faith in her Heavenly Father, but rather in her own ability to interpret His will. And, my, but she kept me on my toes while she figured all that out!

Sometimes an unexpected ‘unknown’ novel can bring as much bibliophile delight as the most anticipated ones — that’s the case with Not a Sparrow Falls. It went deeper, read richer and entertained me way more than I thought it would. Now I’m eager to move on to the second book in the Wyldhaven series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Not a Sparrow Falls, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 29, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Return to Satterthwaite Court + Giveaway

A reckless Victorian heiress sets her sights on a dashing ex-naval lieutenant, determined to win his heart as the two of them embark on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery.

Lieutenant Charles Heywood has had his fill of adventure. Battle-weary and disillusioned, he returns to England, resolved to settle down to a quiet, uneventful life on an estate of his own. But arranging to purchase the property he desires is more difficult than Charles ever imagined. The place is mired in secrets, some of which may prove deadly. If he’s going to unravel them, he’ll need the assistance of someone as daring as he is.

At only twenty, Lady Katherine Beresford has already earned a scandalous reputation. As skilled with pistols as she is on horseback, she’s never met an obstacle she can’t surmount — or a man she can’t win. That is until she encounters the infuriatingly somber Lieutenant Heywood. But Kate refuses to be deterred by the raven-haired soldier’s strong, silent facade. After all, faint heart never won handsome gentleman.

From the wilds of Somersetshire to the glittering ballrooms of early-Victorian London, Charles and Kate embark on a cross-country quest to solve a decades’ old mystery. Will the greatest danger be to their hearts — or to their lives?

My Review:

Of note: Charles and Kate are children of Mimi Matthews’ previous heroes and heroines (The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim.) I’ve only read The Work of Art and will admit to being thrilled to get a peek into the future of those characters — seeing Phyllida and her captain in all their domestic bliss, happy, happy sigh! But I haven’t read Gentleman Jim, so wasn’t acquainted with Kate’s family’s history. It didn’t impede my enjoyment of this novel though, so you could definitely read Return to Satterthwaite Court as a standalone.

Now to get on with my twitter-pated ramblings because this book….thud! Definitely swoonworthy! And beguiling. And amusing. Matthews has impeccable pacing — the way she moves the plot along, mixing banter and lighthearted moments with an air of mystery is sweet perfection!

Love the unusual spin on the romance — where Kate is the one in pursuit, daring to be open and frank and willing to accept the challenge that is Lieutenant Charles Heywood. The poor man doesn’t stand a chance. Bwahahaha!

There’s plenty of family time with all the hijinx that entails — especially in Kate’s boisterous family! And a mystery to solve as well. It actually concerns Charles’ family, but Kate isn’t about to be left out of things! The dynamic between these two is sublime! The kind of romance that curls your toes and keeps you in a giddy state of euphoria all the way through!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Return to Satterthwaite Court, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 22, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Undercurrent of Secrets + Giveaway

Two women, a century apart, expose a secret aboard a steamboat.

As wedding coordinator for the 100-year-old steamboat The Belle of Louisville, Devyn Ashbury takes pride in seeing others’ dreams come true, even though her engagement sunk like a diamond ring to the bottom of the Ohio River. When the Belle becomes a finalist in the Timeless Wedding Venue contest, Devyn endeavours to reclaim some of her professional dreams. What she hadn’t planned on was Chase Jones showing up with a mysterious photo from the 1920s.

A century earlier, Hattie Louis is as untameable as the river that raised her. As the adopted daughter of a steamboat captain, her duties range from the entertainment to booking. When strange incidents occur aboard the boat, Hattie’s determined to discover the truth. Even if that means getting under First Mate Jack Marshall’s handsome skin.

My Review:

published in 2021

So, I might be a tad obsessed with steamboats now. Before I started reading Undercurrent of Secrets, I thought steamboats were mostly a Mississppi River thing. I couldn’t resist checking to see if Canada had any in our history and — surprise! — yes we do! Steamboats transported troops during the War of 1812, and they ferried gold seekers up to the Yukon and they’re even the reason Ontario has a sophisticated inland canal and lock system! Who knew? And, I know you don’t care and this isn’t pertinent to my review but I do so adore a book that inspires me to do my own research.

Plus — steamboats seem so romantic to me now! McDaniel does such a wonderful job of bringing the Belle to life — honestly, she’s as much a heroine in this story as Devyn and Hattie are! And the idea of a steamboat wedding venue is such a great backdrop for the contemporary timeline. It makes a nice contrast to the working life of the steamboat in the 1920s.

And the way the author expertly interweaves these two timelines is just mind boggling. I was equally invested in both stories, as desperate as Devyn to find out what happened to Hattie. I was on tenterhooks all the way through.

Of course, there’s romance — times two! Eeeep!!! I honestly don’t have a favourite hero — I fell for them both. Hard. Which kept me a wee bit discombobulated until things got sorted out. So many ‘aha’ moments. Oh — and both meet-cutes are hysterically funny! I love the way McDaniel blended comedy with drama and included layers of faith. The perfect combination for an unputdownable read.

I listened to the audible edition, narrated by Leonor Woodworth and she did a wonderful job of breathing life into these characters.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Undercurrent of Secrets, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 22, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Forged in Love + Giveaway

When sparks begin to fly, can a friendship cast in iron be shaped into something more?

Mariah Stover is left for dead and with no memory when the Deadeye Gang robs the stagecoach she’s riding in, killing both her father and brother. As she takes over her father’s blacksmith shop and tries to move forward, she soon inds herself in jeopardy and wondering — does someone know she witnessed the robbery and is still alive?

Handomse and polished Clint Roberts escaped to western Wyoming, leaving his painful memories behind. Hoping for a fresh start, he opens a diner where he creates fine dishes, but is met with harsh resistance from the townsfolk, who prefer to stick to their old ways.

Clint and Mariah are drawn together by the trials they face in town, and Clint is determined to protect Mariah at all costs when danger descends upon her home. As threats pursue them from every side, will they survive to build a life forged in love?

My Review:

Yeehaw! This new series is off to a rip-roarin’ start with a classic Connealy flare.

I always brace myself for this author’s opening scenes — because, wooheee, but she knows how to start a Wild West adventure off with a bang. She does not go easy on her poor characters — I bet she has to give her heroines hazard pay just so they stick with her to the end of the story. lol But, mercy, ‘Forged in Love’ (great play on words since the heroine is a blacksmith!) has to be the most heart-breaking, hair-raising, nerve-racking opening scene out of all Connealy’s books! I was hooked into speed-reading my way through after this first line: “A bullet slammed into the side of the stagecoach carrying Mariah Stover, her pa, and her older brother.”

This book starts with action, ends with action and is just plain full of action! The kind of frenzied page-turner of a read that makes you hit pause on the rest of your life until you’ve seen Mariah and Clint safely through every last desperate encounter.

This author is known for her strong female characters and she definitely delivers that here, not only in our heroine, but her two best friends. (I’m hoping Nell and Becky are the featured heroines in future books in this series.) And I love the contrast Clint brings to the romance. He’s quite a departure from the usual western hero — because Clint’s a French-trained chef! Delighting the inhabitants of Pine Valley with his tasty, but strangely named, concoctions. And he’s been attracted to Mariah since he came to town two years ago. Mariah, of course, is oblivious.

So the romantic stage is set, and Clint is finally contemplating making a move when tragedy and chaos strike as Mariah’s world implodes. Then it becomes all about keeping her alive.

Captivating plot, witty dialogue, lots of humour, a few touchingly vulnerable moments and a whole lot of action make ‘Forged in Love’ an unputdownable marvel.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Forged in Love, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 15, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

After the Shadows + Giveaway

A brighter future awaits — if she can escape the shadows of the past.

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the handsome new schoolteacher, Craig Ferguson, and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Along and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father’s death — and to aid Craig, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. As they work to uncover the truth, they just may find the key to unlock a future neither could have imagined.

My Review:

This book is all about relationships — in a fractured family, between old friends…and new, and in a romance that promises hope after a long stretch of hardship. Cabot has captured the essence of frontier life with all its complexities and threw in a mystery to liven things up even more!

I ached for Emily from the very first page. After enduring a horrific marriage she returns home only to find so many devastating changes. I felt as overwhelmed as she did, but this lady has grit and a stubborn streak that just won’t give up. Plus she has innate kindness and a propensity for compassion that has her reaching out, despite her circumstances.

Soon her life is filled with the unexpected when she opens her family’s large home to boarders. Some of them are wonderful surprises –like the new school teacher and his son, who go a long way towards easing Emily’s fear of men and others are…well blood pressure rising nasty and I won’t say more — you’ll meet them soon enough. 🙂

This is very much a character-driven story where we get to really know not only the hero and heroine but some key secondary characters as well. I really felt as if I was one of Emily’s boarders with a ringside seat on all the happenings. I love when I feel that involved in a story!

Then there’s the ever present mystery that grows slowly as the story progresses. I wouldn’t classify this as a mystery read — more like a Historical Romance with a mystery element. It develops gradually, and I’ll admit to figuring it out by the half way mark. Which just made it deliciously frustrating while I waited for Emily and Craig to catch up. 🙂

A compelling adventure in the Texas Hill Country that kept me enthralled to the very end.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of After the Shadows, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 15, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.