Tag: Historical Romance

The Winged Tiara + Giveaway

After a hasty wartime marriage and an even quicker divorce, two jewel thieves risk it all to obtain the grandest prize of them all, the last Valkyrie tiara, but their hearts may have something else in mind.

It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up and divorce papers were issued just in time to ring in the end of the Great War. Jewel thieves and ex-lovers Jasper and Esme find themselves circulating among the elite of British aristocracy where the diamond-lined pockets are ripe for picking. But when the last Valkyrie tiara ever created becomes the talk of the season neither will stop to obtain it, not even when they inadvertently find themselves in the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse where their lives are suddenly at stake.

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski’s latest novel combines her signature blend of thrilling adventure, glamorous atmosphere, and sweeping romance in a story readers are sure to be thinking about days after turning the final page.

My Review:

That gorgeous cover sets the stage for the classic black and white movie vibe in this story. I’m a visual reader — where I see things playing out in my mind as I read — and ‘The Winged Tiara’ was like ‘watching’ an old movie reel. Loved that campy feel.

The author stays true to the opulence of a post-war/pre-war European elite. I couldn’t relate to a lot of it — especially the drinking morning, noon and night — but who am I to argue with historical accuracy?! And I could totally understand the frenzied ‘live loud’ mentality after enduring the deprivation of four years of war. So, do the hero and heroine make great choices I can identify with? Definitely not all of the time, but this is fiction after all, and I was all in for the hijinks and banter right through to the end.

A beleaguered soldier and a war weary nursing assistant impulsively marry in the frenzied celebrations on Armistice Day. She sneaks away the next morning and they don’t meet up again until four years later — under the most unusual circumstances….they are both jewel thieves after the same prize!

Bwahahaha! This was such a fun cat-and-mouse romp across Europe! Professional adversaries with a romantic history (albeit a brief one) make Jasper and Esme intriguing opponents. And the way they keep one-upping each other is hysterical. I didn’t know who to root for! But there’s something more sinister afoot and adventure turns to danger and then…wow…that ending!!!!

A thoroughly enjoyable read…well, listen, since I got to appreciate Ann Marie Gideon’s wonderful narration for the audio book. She captured the personalities of these characters beautifully and pulled out an arsenal of accents for the varied supporting cast. So. Much. Fun.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the The Winged Tiara, 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 August 24 2024.

Beyond Ivy Walls + Giveaway

Beauty and the Beast meets A Light Between Oceans in historic small-town America where a wealthy reclusive bachelor and an unlikely ally join forces to solve a family secret and inadvertently find belonging along the way.

Early 1900s. When an accident leaves Sadie West’s family in dire financial need, she nervously leaves the land she loves to work in the Hoag duster factory. But sending all her money home means that she has nowhere to board, and she’s forced to take up residence in an abandoned building–a choice that throws her in the path of the town’s mysterious bachelor.

Recently returned from exile, and determined to keep his arrival a secret, Otis Taylor makes the impulsive decision to hire the woman he finds hiding on his family’s property with the strict instructions she tell no one he has returned. The dark halls of his boyhood flood him with memories he’s long tried to forget. The only bright light is the woman he has hired. Can the optimistic Sadie teach the wounded Otis to trust again? To love? Can the pair unravel the family secrets that have long cast a shadow over the mansion and those who reside within?

With the same heart as Rachel Fordham’s fan-loved previous historical novels, Beyond Ivy Walls takes readers on an emotional journey full of character development, historical nuance, and a deeply satisfying happily ever after.

My Review:

Picture me happy dancing all around my bookshelves in a bibliophile victory dance because…..Squuuueeealllll!!!!!….This book! These characters! Their story! The fairy tale connections! The swoon factor! My brain is in an overdrive kafuffle of post readerly daze so excuse me if this review resembles a jumble of disjointed thoughts. Here we go!

Fairy tale retellings are a favourite, especially when an author can spin new in with the old like Fordham did with ‘Beyond Ivy Walls‘. This is very much an original story, but there are nods to the familiar ‘Beauty and the Beast’ tale as well and it was so much fun making those connections! Beautifully and imaginatively done.

Love the ‘real life’ historical midwest setting – such a juxtaposition from the classic fairy tale.

And the grumpy/sunshine romance (eeeeeepppp!!! one of my favourite tropes) is written so well. Nothing keeps our sunshiney heroine down for long. Love Sadie’s persistence in helping her family and in making the most out of a desperate situation. She’s not perfect by any means, but she tries. And her intentions are always good…though sometimes the execution leaves something to be desired which just makes things all the more interesting.

I’m still swooning over our beastly hero! Otis has reasons for being a brooding grump and he is splendid at wallowing…until Sadie begins to work her magic. The romance develops in true fairy tale fashion, with humour and banter and annoying misunderstandings to overcome.

I listened to the audio edition which has dual narrators which is always fun. I enjoyed Em Eldridge’s and Jason Keller’s interpretation of these characters. Their performance helped bring this story to life and made for a memorable listening experience.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com) 

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of an ebook OR an audible copy. Winner’s Choice.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of Beyond Ivy Walls, 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 August 17 2024.

The Light at Wyndcliff + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

In the third book of this sweet Regency Cornwall series, one young man must search for truth among the debris of multiple shipwrecks on his newly inherited property.

When Liam Twethewey inherits the ancient Wyndcliff Hall in Pevlyn, Cornwall, he sets a goal of fulfilling his late great-uncle’s dream of opening a china clay pit on the estate’s moorland. When he arrives, however, a mysterious shipwreck on his property—along with even more mysterious survivors—puts his plans on hold.

Evelyn Bray has lived in Pevlyn her entire life. After her grandfather’s fall from fortune, he humbled himself and accepted the position of steward at Wyndcliff Hall. Evelyn’s mother, embarrassed by the reduction of wealth and status, left Pevlyn in search of a better life for them both, but in spite of her promise, never returns. Evelyn is left to navigate an uncertain path with an even more uncertain future.

When the mysteries surrounding the shipwreck survivors intensify, Liam and Evelyn are thrown together as they attempt to untangle a web of deceit and secrets. But as they separate the truths from the lies, they quickly learn that their surroundings—and the people in it—are not as they seem. Liam and Evelyn are each tested, and as a romance buds between them, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their growing differences.

My Review:

An atmospheric Regency with a Gothic flare that brings to mind classics written by Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart. I made the acquaintance of those authors waaaay back in high school when I was finally allowed to venture into the adult section of the public library. I was completely entranced by this type of trope and I felt the same sort of thrill embarking on this delightfully mysterious visit to Cornwall. Love when a story brings nostalgia into the reading mix.

Also love the fresh twists Ladd brings to the genre. It’s Liam who has inherited the gloomy, long neglected estate and Evelyn who has lived there most of her life as the steward’s granddaughter. That role reversal was not only fun to read but brought different kinds of tension into play. And mercy, but there is tension galore in this novel! Between the villagers and the new lord. Between the steward and the new lord. Between Evelyn and the new lord. Get my drift? Liam’s welcome isn’t very…well…welcoming. 

And then we have the wild Cornish coast — the moors and the sea and all manner of dangers both natural and man-made. The sordid and complicated lives of smugglers and wreckers and excise men. Loads of shivery delight as Liam and Evelyn draw together to solve the mystery on their doorstep. All that and a sweet, budding romance besides. It’s a Regency Reader’s Heaven!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Light at Wyndcliff , 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 August 17 2024.

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

In Regency England an advantageous match could set up a lady for life. Julia knows Matthew Blake, copper mine owner and very eligible bachelor, is the gentleman she should set her eyes upon. But why can’t she steal her gaze away from his younger brother, Isaac?

Cornwall, England, 1818

Julia Twethewey needs a diversion to mend her broken heart, so when her cousin invites her to Lanwyn Manor, Julia eagerly accepts. The manor is located at the heart of Cornwall’s mining industry, and as a guest Julia is swept into its intricate world. It’s not long, though, before she realizes something dark lurks within the home’s ancient halls.

As a respected mine owner’s younger son, Isaac Blake is determined to keep his late father’s legacy alive through the family business, despite his brother’s careless attitude. In order to save their livelihood—and that of the people around them—the brothers approach the master of Lanwyn Manor with plans to bolster the floundering local industry. Isaac can’t deny his attraction to the man’s charming niece, but his brother has made clear his intentions to court the lovely visitor. And Isaac knows his place.

When tragedy strikes, mysteries arise, and valuables go missing, Julia and Isaac find they are pulled together in a swirl of strange circumstances, but despite their best efforts to bow to social expectations, their hearts aren’t so keen to surrender.

My Review:

published in 2020

Poldark meets Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South, Cranford, Wives and Daughters — novels and BBC miniseries) with a distinct Gothic flare. Dust off those fainting couches and grab your smelling salts and a fan or two and settle in for a mystery-steeped Regency that will have your heart performing somersaults and your tummy doing loop-de-loops. I’m a tad shy of giddy after finishing this one.

Beautifully written — Ladd’s word choice enhances the Regency vibe and her descriptions bring layered depths to the story. And her characters! Loved Julia right from the start (and adore that last name — Twetheway — so much fun to say!) She has honor and backbone and such a giving heart. But, goodness her Aunt Beatrice! I might have bald patches from tearing my hair out over her histrionics! The perfectly imperfect character-I-love-to-hate in a novel!

Two suitors — but rest assured because one is definitely not really in the running so this isn’t quite a love triangle. More like a stumbling block which kept me rabidly reading so I could get to the part where all things romantical are put to rights. Phew! The author put me through my paces though.

The mystery brings some Gothic ambiance to the story. A cursed house with mysterious goings on. Thievery and threats and all things sinister. Cue the creepy organ music and keep some comfort chocolate on hand as you mull over all the diabolical possibilities.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Thief of Lanwyn Manor , 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 August 10 2024.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.

Cornwall, England, 1811
Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.

Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

My Review:

published in 2019

Sqqqqquuuuueeeeeee!!!! THUD. I’m bruised from head to toe from all the body slams onto my fainting couch (I’m an energetic swooner when it comes to Gothic + Regency.) And…oh my…I’m still reeling in a kaleidoscopic state of tizziness after finishing this sublime read. It took me back to my early teens when I discovered a treasure trove of Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney books at my public library. I got that same thrill of anticipation as I started to read Governess of Penwythe Hall. I mean — Cornish coast — a struggling ancestral home — a reticent hero — smugglers — danger! I feel a surge of fangirling excitement welling up inside of me just remembering it all!

“If you lean on your faith, you’ll arrive at a destination created just for you.”

And what a journey Ladd takes Jac and Delia on! Enticing descriptions and a mysterious ambiance lulled me into a stupor of bibliophile bliss. A romance that manages to be both sweet and passionate, the specter of danger, a shroud of mystery and cutthroat action — all the elements essential for this genre with the added bonus of a gentle faith thread woven throughout. Sweet Perfection! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Governess of Penwythe Hall , 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 August 3 2024.

Meeting Her Match + Giveaway

Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn’t expecting.

After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.

Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen’s proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she’s ever made–her own.

My Review:

Snicker. I can’t wipe the silly grin off my face from the sheer absurd goings on in this novel! From the meet-cute fraught with mix ups to the bedlam that ensues afterwards, ‘Meeting Her Match’ is Jen Turnano at her zaniest best!

Honestly, no one can write riotously convoluted dialogue that, oddly enough, makes sense…eventually like this author can. The fine art of talking at cross purposes is perfected in nearly every exchange between Camilla and Owen and it’s hysterical! Definitely laugh-out-loud funny in places, so consider yourself forewarned if you are planning to read this book out in public. 🙂

And once Camilla arrives in West Virginia the fun explodes off the page! I can’t even…Owen’s family!!! Oh, mercy, his grandmother and his aunt! Two of the finest secondary characters ever. I will never take an apple pie recipe for granted ever again! Bwahahaha!

Riotous hijinks, sweet romance, characters to love (and a few to love-to-hate) along with a wee bit of intrigue and danger makes ‘Meeting Her Match’ the very best kind of escape read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Meeting Her Match, 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 July 27 2024.

Even Forever + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

The last thing Rosalie Tomkin wants is another man trying to control her life. Her abusive jailbird father and her ne’er-do-well brother have cured her of that. Not even the wealthy visitor staying in her beleaguered mother’s boarding house can tempt her. She plans to leave Boulder Creek as soon as she can scrape together the funds to do so, and when she does, she won’t ever look back.

Michael Randolph is in a high-stakes competition for the family business and intends to beat his half-brother, no matter what. So when an innocent encounter with Rosalie threatens to cost him everything he hopes to achieve, he’s willing to pay the price demanded by her no-good father. Even if it means marrying a damsel in distress.

Strangers placed in an impossible position, Michael and Rosalie can agree on one thing. Neither of them wants to stay together any longer than they must. What they don’t know is that fate might have a better future in store for them than either could imagine.

My Review:

published in 2021

A classic Western Romance with complex issues that kept me on an emotional rollercoaster all the way through! Robin Lee Hatcher knows how to incorporate faith and hope in the midst of struggles and turmoil and turns out a stunning novel every time!

Marriage of Convenience. Happy sigh (which is so weird, but love it in fiction.) A husband who doesn’t want a wife gradually realizing he does and then the wooing begins. Swoon! But this is the Wild West so their love story is nearly thwarted by the vilest of villains. Kept me on tenterhooks all the way to the end.

Honestly, my emotions were all over the place during this read. Loved Rosalie’s spunk and determination to get out of an untenable situation. But, oh my heart hurt for her! And her mother! Gah! That woman…there are no words. I mean, I could see why she acted the way she did and it fit the circumstances, especially for the time period, but 21st century ‘girl power’ me was spitting nails in an angry/sad jumble of emotions. Phew!

‘Even Forever’ is touching and tender with a healthy dose of grit. Sometimes a reader craves a good marriage of convenience story and this one delivers!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of Even Forever narrated by Eve Passeltiner. She delivered an emotional performance that matched these characters and their story perfectly.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Even Forever, 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 June 15 2024.

Bitter and Sweet + Giveaway

Two sisters at a crossroad in life find the answers to their problems in the lessons from the past…

Mariah never pretended her marriage was perfect but that didn’t mean she ever suspected her husband of ten years would not only ask for a divorce but steal the business she built for them. Defeated and depressed, she’s not sure how to bounce back from the manipulative betrayal. Sabrina has been self-destructing for years, maybe since she was born, but certainly since the death of her long-time boyfriend. Barely scraping by and living in her van, she’s struggling to figure out what’s next for her, when all she’s ever wanted to do is bake cakes like her mother did.

When Mariah and Sabrina’s grandmother sends them a cryptic text message summoning them to Georgetown, South Carolina, both assume their ailing grandfather’s health has declined. Instead, the estranged sisters are faced with their grandmother’s undeniable request–save the family restaurant. Through letters written by their great-great-grandmother, Tabitha, Mariah and Sabrina learn a heartbreaking yet powerful story of struggle and survival. As the whole truth about Tabitha’s complicated past unfolds, the sisters are inspired by her ability to forge her own way in Charleston, a beautiful and prosperous city that was also rife with oppression under Jim Crow.

With the lessons in their family’s past guiding them, both sisters have a chance at a different life–if they can find a way to bridge the gap that tragedy and unhealed trauma forced between them. Told in a dual timeline that alternates between the 1920s and present-day Charleston, SC, Bitter and Sweet is an emotional story about love, one family’s perseverance, and the bonds of family and heritage.

My Review:

This is the kind of book you dread writing a review for because there is no possible way to convey the brilliance of the storytelling or the emotional impact it made. So excuse me if words fail.

First, I listened to the audio edition and was completely captivated by the trio of narrators. Janice Abbott-Pratt, Angel Pean and Lynette R. Freeman gave stunning performances, adding to the rich vibrancy of Rhonda McKnight’s words. The result — an exceptional listening experience. I savoured every second.

And, oh my, these sisters and their stories! Deep layers of personal and family drama culminating in divine healing. I was an emotional wreck by the end. (Gentle warning: don’t listen to or read this book in public, especially if you are an ugly crier like I am. Don’t ask me how I know 🙂 )

The author expertly weaves Mariah and Sabrina’s great-great-grandmother’s story into the mix, so – yay – dual timeline. ‘Bitter and Sweet’ honours the legacy of faith and family through generations. So much wisdom and insight! I’ve preordered a print copy because there are so many impactful quotes that I need to highlight and pour over again and again.

A stunning, emotionally-stirring, faith-filled read!

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Bitter and Sweet, 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 June 15 2024.

The Best of Friends + Giveaway

Daria Mullins just accomplished the seemingly she successfully convinced her parents to grant her one final London Season. Though their concession comes with certain expectations, Daria is determined to enjoy every moment alongside her dear friends, the Huntresses, as they make their annual foray into the Marriage Mart.

Toss Comstock has no interest in marriage. His only purpose in London is to enjoy his Bachelor Season before he’s forced to follow whatever path his elder brother deems best. But his plans are quickly turned upside down when he strikes a bargain with the lovely Miss Mullins at the Debenham Ball. The longtime acquaintances discover that they share the maddening affliction of familial pressures, leading them to hatch an outlandish they will engage in a friendly competition. Whoever participates in the most activities their family would disapprove of will be crowned the winner. But amid the fun and games, Daria and Toss never imagined that true love would become the ultimate prize.

My Review:

I’m in a tilt-a-whirl swoon of epic Regency Bibliophile Delight! There’s just something about a Sarah M. Eden novel that makes me giddy with anticipation before I read it and happy sighing afterwards…though there’s a bit of melancholic woe mixed in because it’s all over. But that’s okay because I still have her backlist to tackle so I won’t be Eden-less for long!

‘The Best of Friends’ is a delightful romance between…no spoiler here…friends! We get more than a glimpse of a London Season and attend some wonderful parties — oh my, the games! We need to revive these genteel home parties. Why have they gone out of fashion?!

Love Daria and Toss together — the banter! The teasing! The tenderness! And they both have horrid families who do not have their best interests at heart. Love the central theme of being true to yourself and the encouraging friends who support them along the way.

And, happy dancing (!), those friends! You might have met one or two…or ten(!) in previous books by this author which will just add to the fun. In fact the Duke of Kielder has A MOMENT, well more than one actually, but there’s one in particular that had me in stitches. And I’m sure I enjoyed it all the more because I listened to the audible edition narrated by Luone Ingram who does the Duke’s growl so very well. 🙂

No worries if you’re not familiar with the Jonquil or Lancaster families or the Huntresses — ‘The Best of Friends’ reads brilliantly as a standalone too. Though, be forewarned, it will likely send you into a deep dive of Sarah M. Eden’s backlist. I’m heading there now!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Best of Friends, 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 June 1 2024.

The Last Gasp + Giveaway

At the pinnacle of his Hollywood career, Garrison Prince’s reign ends tonight.

As plain old Gary Prinz, he can pursue his Bible education, buy a bungalow in Pasadena, acquire a few chickens, and marry the girl of his dreams. He just never imagined trading the silver screen for a pulpit would wreak such havoc.

A cigarillo girl, Lucinda Ashton spends her days with her boyfriend, Gary, and her evenings selling candy and “gaspers” to the Hollywood elite at the Taj Mahal Theater.

However, when gunshots ring out just as intermission begins, Lucinda finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a brouhaha that leaves three dead, and no one has a clue why.

All the police know is that the evidence points to Lucinda as the killer and Gary as the intended target.

Four new friends, one young orphan, and a potluck of clues that don’t seem to fit anywhere leave the police baffled, Lucinda in fear for her freedom, and Gary ready to trade in his acting shoes for gumshoes if it’ll save his “Cinda.”

The first book in the Ever After Mysteries combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries, The Last Gasp. This Cinderella retelling blends a murder with enough crime and story clues to keep you on the edge of your seat.

My Review:

Seriously, how did I not know there was a whole reimagined fairy-tale mystery series roaming around in bibliophile land?! Aptly titled ‘The Ever After Mysteries’ and Chautona Havig’s ‘The Last Gasp’ is the first book and my introduction to the series.

The book cover sets the tone with the campy, atmospheric ‘classic mystery’ influence which the story carries on. This reads very much like a golden age mystery. It’s set in the right era and I love the author’s use of the ‘current’ slang to add authenticity to the time and setting.

I’m not a Hollywood fan in this decade but, ironically, I had a huge fascination for the industry in it’s infancy. Did an extensive high school project on silent movies so this turned into an unexpectedly nostalgic read for me. 🙂

So, we have Hollywood glam vs poor working girl which lends itself beautifully to the Cinderella detailing…only not in a predictable way. I love how the author included all those beloved fairy tale elements in such a topsy turvy manner. They cropped up unexpectedly throughout the story and I got a bookish thrill every single time. Such fun. And so clever!

The mystery was pretty easy to solve (perhaps because of the fairy tale element) but I had a great time watching Gary and Cinda piecing together the clues. And, for an author who claims to not like romance, this one is pretty sighworthy!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition to ‘The Last Gasp’, narrated by Christa DelSorbo.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the The Last Gasp, 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 25 2024.