Tag: Rushmeyer Mollie

The perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles retreat–or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.
  
Harrison Lundquist, Zoe’s podcast producer and best friend’s brother, reluctantly agrees to attend the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe’s methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her ideal checklist might be holding her back, she must decide if she’s willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.   
  
With this Regency-infused spin on a contemporary rom-com, Mollie Rushmeyer’s witty characters, touch of whimsy, and sweet romance will win hearts.

My Review:

What a deeeeelightful read! Who knew Mollie Rushmeyer could write rom/coms? I wasn’t sure what to expect, being familiar with her first two deeply thought provoking and emotional novels,’The Bookshop of Secrets’ and ‘The Lost Manuscript.’ I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the same author infusing this much humour into her storytelling but, woohoo, comic genius for the win!

The setting is brilliant! Our heroine is a crazed Austen/Regency era mega-fan who has made it her life’s work to infuse the genteel courting rituals of the era into a wildly popular podcast. She spins Regency etiquette and traditions into expectations for potential suitors for the modern woman.

And when Zoe is invited to participate – and record – her experiences at a Regency themed singles retreat, complete with costumes and chaperones (!) well, that’s when the fun really begins. Because her new podcast producer just happens to be a man she has a very complicated history with. Best friend’s brother. Once-upon-a-time good friend. Witness to her most embarrassing moment. Possible secret crush. And the man she has been studiously avoiding for the past eighteen months.

Harrison and Zoe are thrown into the whirlwind activity of a 21st century Minnesota Marriage Mart. Courting with Regency rules of engagement. While in period dress. What could possibly go wrong?! If you’re Zoe, quite a lot actually.

The comedy is priceless. The romance, exquisitely torturous because of the pacing – we wait a loooonnnnggg time for Harrison and Zoe to ‘fess up to their feelings. Lots of agonizing inner battles to not feel the attraction and nefarious suitors to thwart. But, oh my, when Harrison finally makes his declaration and takes the pursuit of love seriously…well, clear off the fainting couch and prepare for a swooning marathon.

And our stubborn heroine? She’s so married to her impossible checklist in her search of the perfect ‘gentleman’, that she’s at risk of ignoring the perfect ‘gentle man’ who has been at her side all along. Sniffle sigh!

A modern day Regency Romance that made me laugh and swoon!

I listened to the audio edition of this novel and Emma Faye and Kyle Tait’s flawless narration elevated my enjoyment of this story so much. They really captured the characters’ personalities and the comedic beats brilliantly. Made this a listening experience to savour.

My thanks to RB Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

Canada – ebook or audible — 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 Rules of Falling for You,  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 September 6 2025

A priceless manuscript could be one woman’s key to finding her missing grandmother—and to her own second chance.

It’s not just Ellora Lockwood’s home that’s being emptied as she prepares to sell—her heart seems to be empty too. Since the mysterious disappearance of her beloved Grandma June and separating from her husband, Alex, Ellora has felt adrift. Then comes an invitation from Alex to teach history at a summer program at Alnwick Castle in England. He’s even found information about the location of a medieval manuscript that was her grandmother’s obsession before she vanished.

Warily, Ellora accepts Alex’s offer. Surrounded by lush English countryside and captivating history, she pieces together clues about the manuscript’s whereabouts—and uncovers new questions. Could someone have been sabotaging her grandmother’s work? Anonymous threats lead Ellora to suspect she too may be in danger, but as she and Alex work together, she’s finding strength, new purpose and the courage to see this quest through, wherever it may lead…

My Review:

First off, I’ll say that I’m not really a fan of estranged marriage romances. It’s not a trope I gravitate towards, and, in fact, will go out of my way to avoid. BUT — wowzers! did Mollie Rushmeyer ever bowl me over with all the emotional nuances of Ellora and Alex’s love story. I felt as raw and bruised and hurting as both of them did — but I had the added bonus of being party to their inner most thoughts so I could really understand how things fell apart in such a spectacular fashion. And that just made me all the more emotionally invested in their love story. Let’s just say Rushmeyer isn’t particularly kind to her characters. 🙂

Totally captivated by Alex! And if you told me I’d be fan-girling over the guy who walked away from his marriage I’d have uttered an emphatic ‘pshaw!’ But, I’d have been wrong. There are so many reasons to love Alex and I can’t tell you any of them without posting spoilers. You just have to meet him for yourself. But have a fainting couch handy for when you do.

And Ellora is as old-fashioned quirky as her name. She’s not only a history professor, but she rocks vintage fashion with flare! And she’s nursing a mountain load of hurt that’s turning into a grudge bordering on bitterness. But, somehow, she’s still lovable!

This is very much a redemption story — the redeeming of a marriage and the author writes with such beauty and truth that it brought tears to my eyes.

“They hadn’t chosen love or at least the type of selfless, truth-giving love they were called to as God’s children and husband and wife to each other. And when they inevitably messed up, they did not forgive as God forgives…” (p 121-122)

Then there’s the lost manuscript quest and the missing grandmother mystery and a summer in England to try to figure it all out…and learn how to fall in love all over again, this time with Christ as their foundation!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Lost Manuscript, 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 September 16, 2023