Book Review with Featured Author: A Cowboy of Legend by Linda Broday

A cowboy of Legend by Linda Broday

 

 

Publisher & Release: Sourcebooks Casablanca, April 27, 2021

Setting:  Spring 1899, Ft. Worth, Texas

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 379 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

It's time for a new generation to become Legend.

Deacon Brannock is determined to make a name for himself and the saloon he's worked his whole life to afford. He was prepared for life in the Wild West, but he hadn't counted on Grace Legend...

Grace has always fought hard for what she believes in, and after her best friend is killed at the hands of her drunk and angry husband, that includes keeping alcohol out of her town. When the owner of the new saloon turns out to be a kind and considerate man, she can't help but wonder if they could have a future together...if they weren't on opposite sides of every issue.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Cowboy-Legend-Lone-Star-Legends-ebook/dp/B08BW3RH93

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cowboy-of-legend-linda-broday

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-cowboy-of-legend

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Linda_Broday_A_Cowboy_of_Legend?id=HSUgEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Cowboy-of-Legend-Audiobook/1666508845?qid=1619216138&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=QTXQJZQ03P40KYHD04RF

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54508130-a-cowboy-of-legend

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-cowboy-of-legend-lone-star-legends-book-1-by-linda-broday

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary electronic copy of A Cowboy of Legend by Linda Broday. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

A Cowboy of Legend is a well written western historical romance with endearing characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last and kept me enmeshed throughout the story. Some of the secondary characters stole my heart and added greatly to my enjoyment.

 

Grace Legend is the heroine in this tale. She’s not the typical historical character, but that didn’t bother me in the least. She’s feisty, determined and yet sweet and feminine. I quickly fell in love with her and her genuine desire to help others.

 

Deacon Brannock is a great hero with many of the characteristics I most enjoy. While his past could have made him cynical, he doesn’t let it bring him down. He has goals and is determined to rise above his past. 

 

The romance between Grace and Deacon touched my heart, and I truly wanted them to find their happy ending. While I don’t usually enjoy enemies to lovers romances, Ms. Broday managed to keep them from being too confrontational, so I enjoyed that aspect of the story.

 

If you enjoy western romances with characters who will grab your heart and not let go, then you will love A Cowboy of Legend as much as I did. This novel sets the pace for another great series, and I can’t read the next one. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

I'm a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance novels. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed my love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. I reside in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and Comancheros once roamed with ghosts lurking around every corner. Texas is rich in history. I love research and looking for little known tidbits to add realism to my stories and quite often make a nuisance of myself at museums and libraries. Besides writing, I love to travel and explore out of the way spots. Just don't ask me to work in the garden. I kill everything I plant.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://lindabroday.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindabrodayauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbroday

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linda.broday/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lindabroday1/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-broday

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1204489.Linda_Broday

 

Book Review with Featured Author: A Cowboy Kind of Love by Donna Grant

A Cowboy Kind of Love by Donna Grant

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, April 27, 2021

Setting:  Clearview, Texas

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 281 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A dashing cowboy gets his second chance at romance in A Cowboy Kind Of Love, the next book in the Heart of Texas series by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

Who wants to rodeo again?

Jace Wilder has been rebuilding his life since the love of his life, Taryn, up and left town unexpectedly. But when she mysteriously returns, Jace’s dependable world comes crashing down. Taryn is hiding a dangerous secret, and no matter how hard he tries, Jace can’t stay away—especially when Taryn is at risk. And especially when the attraction he thought he’d buried long ago is back and hotter than ever. Will he be able to trust Taryn again?

Taryn Hillman’s world fell apart one horrifying night, and it’s never been the same since. When she sees a small chance at untangling herself, she takes it, though it means returning to Clearview—and seeing Jace again. But when he vows to protect her, will Taryn take a chance, and this time, never let him go?

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Cowboy-Kind-Love-Heart-Texas-ebook/dp/B08FZ924QJ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cowboy-kind-of-love-donna-grant

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-cowboy-kind-of-love

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Donna_Grant_A_Cowboy_Kind_of_Love?id=J873DwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Cowboy-Kind-of-Love-Audiobook/1705287107?qid=1619212911&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=8FPPP7MVJA3A3SKQD0VN

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55131757-a-cowboy-kind-of-love

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-cowboy-kind-of-love-by-donna-grant

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary electronic copy of A Cowboy Kind of Loveby Donna Grant. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

A Cowboy Kind of Love is a well written western romance with engaging characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me into the story from the first page to the last. Ms. Grant adds greatly to the story with her suspenseful scenes!

 

Taryn Tillman is the heroine in this tale. She hasn’t been back to Clearview since she took off five years ago. I enjoyed her character a great deal, even though I questioned several of her decisions. 

 

Jace Wilder is a great hero, and I quickly became vested in his character. He’s ex-military and hasn’t forgotten how to plan or how execute a covert operation. His loyalty and love for Taryn is amazing, even though I questioned why he was still carrying a torch for her after so many years with no contact.

 

The romance between Taryn and Jace heats up fast, and they pick up where they left off. I enjoyed them as a couple, but I struggled with believing they both fell into each other’s arms so easily after five years. Jace gets over his anger and hurt very fast. Nonetheless, I did want them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy contemporary romances with a good bit of action and nail-biting suspense, then you will love A Cowboy Kind of Love as much as I did. I’ve enjoyed the Heart of Texas series. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://donnagrant.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant/

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/donnagrant1/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-grant

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant

 

 

Butterflies and Hazel Eyes by Katie Mettner

Butterflies and Hazel Eyes 

by Katie Mettner

 

 

Publisher & Release: Breaking Night Press, April 22, 2021

Setting:  Plentiful, WI

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 276 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

When the Lady of the Lake speaks, she expects you to listen…

Never one to linger, computer security expert Charity Puck doesn’t expect to be romanced by the small-town charm of her latest job. But when her RV rolls into Plentiful, Wisconsin, nestled along the breathtaking shores of Lake Superior, she’s convinced nothing could be more alluring—until she gazes into the delectable hazel eyes of her new client.

Underestimated due to the crutches on his arms and braces on his legs, CEO and researcher Gulliver Winsome doesn’t expect his job to put his life in danger. But as he rushes to bring an eco-friendly pesticide to market, in an attempt to save the pollinators, he finds himself the target of a sinister plot—uncovered by the tiny blonde dynamo he hired to fix his servers. 

Someone is trying to steal Gulliver’s research, and they’ll stop at nothing to bury the evidence. With feelings in bloom and the would-be couple’s lives in peril, it’s up to Charity to decipher the clues before they both end up in the Lady of the Lake’s cold-water castle.

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Butterflies-Hazel-Eyes-Superior-Butterfly-ebook/dp/B08T7RTFLH

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/butterflies-hazel-eyes-katie-mettner

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56699099-butterflies-and-hazel-eyes

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/butterflies-and-hazel-eyes-a-lake-superior-romance-butterfly-junction-book-1-by-katie-mettner

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary electronic copy of Butterflies and Hazel Eyes by Katie Mettner. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Butterflies and Hazel Eyes is a well written, emotional novel set on the shores of Lake Superior with astounding descriptions of that beautiful area and characters that grab you from the first page to the last. 

 

Charity Puck is the heroine, and she has not had an easy life, which makes her wary of trusting others, so she chooses to take temporary positions and live in a traveling home. I enjoyed her struggle with the attraction between her and the hero and how the town wraps her in love and kindness.

 

Gulliver Winsome is a unique hero, and I thoroughly enjoyed his characterization. It’s unusual to have a beta hero, but the few that are in books always appeal to me. I enjoyed his determination to convince Charity she no longer needs to move from place to place.

 

The romance between Gulliver and Charity is lovely. The chemistry is strong from the start and builds beautifully as the story progresses. They are perfect for each other, and I truly wanted Charity to realize his value and accept the warmth and caring from the small community.

 

If you enjoy small-town romance with engaging characters, and an intriguing plot that has a good deal of suspense as well, then you will enjoy Butterflies and Hazel Eyes as much as I did. I look forward to reading other books by Ms. Mettner. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of, 'the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill,' and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest -- now that she's quit trying to make the things she pins.

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.katiemettner.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wisconsinwriter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieMettner

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarlipswi/?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sugarsballroom/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie-mettner

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5443295.Katie_Mettner

 

Book Review with Featured Author: How to Train Your Earl by Amelia Grey

How to Train Your Earl by Amelia Grey

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, April 27, 2021

Setting:  Regency London

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 350 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A roguish earl must fight using his honor and not his sword to win his lady’s hand in How To Train Your Earl, the third book in the First Comes Love trilogy from bestseller Amelia Grey.

Brina Feld has settled into a life devoted to helping others since the sinking of the Salty Dove left her widowed. She has no need for a man in her contented life. But when the notorious and handsome Lord Blacknight returns and awakens her desires, her peace and serenity vanish. If she agrees to an alliance with him, she knows she will have to battle her heart to keep from being snared under his spell.

Zane, the Earl of Blacknight, was never supposed to inherit the earldom, so he didn’t much care to lead a respectable life before then. Fistfights, card games, and drinking are the order of the day. Now he’s determined to change his rakish ways and he knows the proper lady who can help him. There’s just one problem: He's already bet he’ll win her hand before the Season is over. With her resolve to out-scheme him, how can he show her that his love is true?

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Train-Your-Earl-First-Comes-ebook/dp/B08FZ8GV47

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-train-your-earl-amelia-grey

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/how-to-train-your-earl

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Amelia_Grey_How_To_Train_Your_Earl?id=tcz3DwAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55217151-how-to-train-your-earl

BoobBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/how-to-train-your-earl-by-amelia-grey

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary electronic copy of How to Train Your Earl by Amelia Grey. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

How to Train Your Earl is set in Regency London, and it’s an opposite attracts romance. While the characters are likable, I struggled with the pacing of the tale. The opening scene was fantastic, so I had high hopes for this book, and the ending is satisfying, but it has a bit of a sagging middle.

 

Brina Feld is the heroine, and her character is very charitable. She does not want to remarry and for a good bit of the book, it’s kept a secret. When I learned what she was hiding, it was a bit of a disappointment. I have mixed feelings concerning her character. While her desire to help others, especially the young fatherless girls, is admirable, it’s because she holds such guilt. Not because she has a true giving heart.

 

Zane is the hero, and he’s the typical Regency wealthy aristocrat. He never expected to inherit the earldom, so he had lived a carefree existence. I do believe he accepted the responsibilities well, but his uncles were unreasonable.  I liked Zane a great deal which helped me enjoy the story enough to continue to read.

 

Now about the romance. I did not sense any chemistry between Brina and Zane. They really didn’t seem to fit together. One of the aspects I love most in Regency romances is the sexual tension that builds between the couple. That is missing in this tale.

 

If you enjoy historical romances on the mild side with engaging characters and an intriguing plot, then How to Train Your Earl may be an excellent choice for you. While I didn’t fall in love with this novel, I have enjoyed other books by Ms. Grey, including Gone with the Rogue which I adored, so I will certainly look at future books by Ms. Grey. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Amelia Grey read her first romance book when she was thirteen. She's been a devoted reader of love stories ever since.

Amelia has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest Florida.

With more than twenty-five books published, she is a two-time winner of the prestigious Booksellers Best Award. She's also won the Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill Awards. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the Maggie Award. Amelia's books have been published in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and Japan.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.ameliagrey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmeliaGreyBooks

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amelia-grey

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/491465.Amelia_Grey

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

The Last Bookshop in London 

by Madeline Martin

 

 

Publisher & Release: Hanover Square Press, April 6, 2021

Setting:  WWII London

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 251 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

“An irresistible tale which showcases the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighborhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest.”

—KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.

Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Last-Bookshop-London-Novel-World-ebook/dp/B087ZMTBRX

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-bookshop-in-london-madeline-martin

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-last-bookshop-in-london

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Madeline_Martin_The_Last_Bookshop_in_London?id=5vzgDwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=the+last+bookshop+in+london+a+novel+of+world+war+ii&ref=a_pd

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55317113-the-last-bookshop-in-london

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-last-bookshop-in-london-by-madeline-martin

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the electronic copy of The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. An absorbing novel that takes place in war-torn London. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing influenced my rating.

 

The Last Bookshop in London is a well written historical fiction story, and the descriptive writing is so vivid. I could feel the tension when the bombing started. The fear pulsated as I read, making me feel like I was right there experiencing what with the characters were going through. I loved the aspect of the book where Grace starts working at the bookshop with no love of reading, and she finds that books open the world to in a way she never expected.

 

Grace Bennett is the main protagonist, and I quickly became vested in her. Her character development is incredible. She goes from a scared eighteen-year-old to a mature young woman refusing to let the devastation of the war dampen her perspective of the world. I loved everything about her. While this book is not a romance, it does have a lovely romantic element, and I enjoyed how that played out. I really wanted Grace to find happiness after so much sadness.

 

This is a real tribute to the Londoners who lived through WWII. As an American, our country only saw the war from a far. The Londoners lived through the brutality of it every day for years. In 2016, I visited England, and while in Plymouth, the touring coach past a shelled-out church. I asked why the church had never been torn down, and the guide explained it was left that way so they would never forget the horrors of that terrible war.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction novels with compelling characters and an intriguing plot, then you will love The Last Bookshop in London as much as I did. I didn’t want it to end! If it were possible to give this amazing book more than 5 stars I would. This is the best book I’ve read in quite some time, and it will go on my list of books I will reread. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of historical romance and historical fiction.

She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), one incredibly spoiled cat and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while giggling over cat videos. She also loves to travel and attributes her love of history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany. 

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.madelinemartin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadelineMartinAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/madelinemmartin

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MadelineMartin9/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/madeline-martin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12062937.Madeline_Martin