Book Review with Featured Author: Escaping the Duke by Melanie Rose Clarke

Escaping the Duke by Melanie Rose Clarke

 

Publisher & Release: Dragonblade Publishing, June 17, 2021

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 269 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Ignore powerful dukes who sabotage your plans.

Welcome to book 1 in the debut series The Secret Crusaders from the talented Melanie Rose Clarke!

Priscilla Livingston has dedicated her life to social causes, fighting to right the cruel injustices the world ignores. Under the guise of a lord, she sends messages to Edmund Hawkins, the powerful Duke of Bradenton. He doesn’t know his informant is a lady, even as he investigates to uncover her identity. When her father demands she find a husband, she cannot choose Edmund, who would demand total surrender. 

But when he catches her spying, she may not have a choice.

Edmund is intrigued by the beautiful lady caught snooping through a dangerous lord’s home. Lady Priscilla may act the perfect duke’s daughter, but fiery mystery burns beneath the flawless façade. He sees the passion she cannot hide, the spirited woman who would make the perfect duchess. He will discover her every secret.

Then he will make her his.

 

Buy Link:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Escaping-Duke-Secret-Crusaders-Book-ebook/dp/B094WYQ55K

 

Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58080197-escaping-the-duke

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/escaping-the-duke-the-secret-crusaders-book-1-by-melanie-rose-clarke

 

Excerpt: 

“What a gracious honor, Your Grace. How I wish I could say yes, but all my dances are taken.”  

Instead of disappointment, challenge lit his eyes. Focused. Unrelenting. Unstoppable. 

“You appear to have several spots remaining.” He pointed to her card, which was hanging at an angle to reveal empty lines.  

“I left those blank on purpose. I have something to do.” 

“I see. If you don’t mind my asking, what do you have planned?” 

Investigating. “I get a little tired after dancing and need a rest.” She batted her eyelashes. “Besides shopping, resting is my favorite thing to do.” 

The duke’s eyes lit again. The schemes that worked so well with other men had little effect on the clever lord.  

“That something you have to do is dance with the duke who was gracious enough to ask.” Her mother snatched the card off her wrist, her lips stretched in a smile so wide, it looked as if her face might crack. She handed the card to the duke. “Take as many dances as you would like, Your Grace.”  

Priscilla fought not to grab the card back. Of course as a gentleman, he would just hand it back to her– 

He scribbled his name across two lines. 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Escaping the Duke by Melanie Rose Clarke. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this Regency romance prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Escaping the Duke is a well written debut novel with engaging characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing is good and kept me involved from the first page to the last. I enjoyed the light banter between the characters a great deal.

 

Priscilla, daughter to a duke, is a quirky woman determined to right the wrongs that plague the poor of London. She forms a sewing group, but the topic discussed have nothing to do with needlework. While she’s a bit of a do-good type, she has plenty of backbone and is not afraid to speak her mind.

 

Edmund, Duke of Bradenton, has all the qualities I enjoy most in a hero. He too, wants to help the downtrodden by backing bills that will make their lives easier. While he could easily come across as too good to be true, he has such a charming side, it makes up for that.

 

As a couple, Priscilla and Edmund are ideal for each other, and I could see them having a convivial union. While the romance is a slow burn and based on mutual interests instead of blinding passion, I enjoyed their love story. I’m all for keeping one’s card tight to one’s chest, but I did get a bit frustrated with her big secret. That went on too long, and I would have liked a less abrupt ending. It felt rushed to me.

 

If you enjoy traditional Regency romances with enchanting characters and a lovely plot, then you will love Escaping the Duke as much as I did. I’m amazing by the talent and potential Ms. Clarke shows in this delightful novel. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Melanie Rose Clarke has wanted to be a writer since she was a little girl. Sixteen years ago, she married her own hero, and now she creates compelling stories with strong heroines, powerful males and, of course, happily every afters. She writes historical (regency) romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense and women's fiction.

Melanie is a three-time Golden Heart® finalist. Her manuscripts have earned numerous awards in writing competitions, including several first-place showings. With over two decades of professional writing experience, Melanie has written thousands of pieces for businesses and individual clients. She has worked in advertising and marketing, and her freelance articles on the web have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.

She writes amidst her five beautiful children, her dream come true. Besides writing, she loves to read, exercise and spend time outdoors. She is a member of Mensa. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://melanieroseclarke.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/MelanieRoseClarke

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21196556.Melanie_Rose_Clarke

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Soothsayer by Kathryn Amurra

Soothsayer by Kathryn Amurra

 

 

Publisher & Release: Independently Published, May 2, 2020

Time and setting:  Ancient Times, Roman Empire

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 281 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Aurelia has always valued love and happiness over titles and power. Though her kind-hearted father has allowed her to turn away suitor after suitor in pursuit of a love she cannot yet define, when he dies her choices die with him. Knowing that marrying the elderly governor of a neighboring province can secure her mentally challenged brother's safety, she gives up on her dream of finding love in return for his protection.

Cassius is the ill-fated captain of the governor's guard tasked with escorting the Lady Aurelia and her unpleasant aunt to the governor's estate. Since the soothsayer Tullia foretold an early death for him, Cassius wants nothing more than to keep his hands busy with labor and his heart free from any connections to the world he believes he will be leaving soon. As they work through a series of misfortunes on the road to the governor’s province, the words of the soothsayer start to make sense, and together they find the courage to allow their true destiny to unfold.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Soothsayer-Kathryn-Amurra-ebook

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soothsayer-kathryn-amurra

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/soothsayer

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53872482-soothsayer

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/soothsayer-by-kathryn-amurra

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks goes to the author for bring Soothsayer by Kathryn Amurra to my attention. While Ms. Amurra offered me an advance reader copy, butI chose to purchase the book instead since I wasn’t sure it would grab me. My regret is, it took me way too long to move this to the top of my TBR list! 

 

Soothsayer is set 115 CE in what is today, Lyon, France, but then part of the Roman Empire. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enmeshed until the last. This novel has the traditional romance arch, and Ms. Amurra does a credible job of sprinkling in enough of what it must have been like during this ancient time, but this novel is not historical fiction, instead it’s historical romance and that is the central focus of this book. That in no way took away from my enjoyment.

 

Aurelia’s the heroine of this tale, and her loyalty to her disabled brother gained my desire to read her story. Her willingness to sacrifice herself to protect him touched my heart, and I quickly became fully vested in her character. In no way does she come across as a martyr though. 

 

Cassius is the hero, a captain for the Governor’s guard is tasked with delivering Aurelia to him as his bride. At first, I expected this to be an enemies to lovers troupe which is not one I’m overly fond of, but this tale turns quickly as the two main characters find common ground. 

 

The romance between Aurelia and Cassius appears ill-fated from the start. Her obligation to her brother keeps her locked into what will be a loveless marriage to the elderly Governor. Thank goodness this is romance, so held hope they would find a way to be together.

 

If you enjoy romance set in an historical setting with just enough detail to sweep the reader to the long-ago time, then you will love Soothsayer as much as I did. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Happy reading!

 

Excerpt: 

 

Aurelia watched as Cassius struck again, and again, each strike more forceful than the last. She could see from the way he brought down the sword with each try the mounting tension in his body. Finally, no more than two steps into the field of thorns, Cassius growled a barely audible curse, then turned to face Aurelia. He wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand, his chest visibly rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath.

She knew better than to say anything, and in any case the intensity of his eyes as he looked at her told her everything she needed to know.

As his breathing slowed and his temper cooled, he sheathed his sword and stepped closer to her. “These vines do not intend to be cut today, but perhaps we do not need them to be cut. My lady, please forgive the impropriety of this request, but if you will follow my instructions, I think we may be able to make some progress against this terrible field of thorns.”

Aurelia replied without hesitation. “Ask, and I will do as you say.”

Looking as though he had expected more of a fight, Cassius nodded. “Please, if you would come closer, my lady.”

Ignoring the lightness in her stomach at his request, Aurelia moved closer to him.

“If we cannot cut the stubborn vines, then perhaps we can move them away, far enough and for long enough a time that we may pass by.”

He took his shield in his left hand and held it in front of him. It was an oval piece of wood covered in leather that extended from his shoulders to his knees.

“I will hold my shield in position and move forward through the brambles, as though charging the enemy. If you will walk closely behind me—and I mean closer than my own shadow—then I can be your shield, and we can both get through to the other side. Do you understand?”

“I do,” she began, “but your shield is not big enough to protect you from the thorns.”

“It is true, I would give anything for my legionary's shield at this moment, but this shield is what we have, and it will do.”

He took a breath and turned around to face the enemy thorns.

She stood a couple steps behind him and did not move.

He turned his head to look at her and motioned for her to come to him with his free hand. “My lady,” he said, almost shyly.

Aurelia felt a tingling in her chest, but took a step toward him.

“My lady, I cannot protect you unless you are right behind me. Please.”

She took another step, until her toes were nearly touching his heels.

“I sincerely apologize for the seeming impropriety of what I am about to suggest, but, if you would, please, have your feet touch mine, so that we may take each step as one. And I think it may be easier if you would—if you don't mind, that is—put your arms about my chest and bury your head in my back. Just let me lead you. Trust me, my lady.”

“I trust you, Cassius,” she said, just loud enough for him to hear. She had not intended on saying his name.

Cassius nodded, then looked away from her and raised his arms. She appreciated the fact that he could not watch her tentative movements as she willed each arm to be raised to the level of her chest, her hands still gripping the edges of the cloak he had put on her. She slid her feet forward until her toes touched the heels of the soldier's shoes, at the same time bringing her arms full circle around his broad chest.

She felt his right hand gently grip each of her wrists in turn through the cloak she still held tightly in her balled fists and pull her arms more closely against him, until she had no choice but to allow the fronts of her thighs, abdomen, and chest to be pressed against his body.

She swallowed hard and, closing her eyes, brought her forehead to rest against the soldier's back. At her touch, she felt his strong body tense up, then gradually relax.

“Are you ready, my lady?”

She answered softly, speaking into his back. “Yes”

 

Author Bio:

 

 Kathryn has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and writing since grade school. She is an intellectual property attorney by day and a writer of Romance novels by night. Some of her best writing takes place between the hours of 10PM and midnight (or later), when she has "logged off" from my day job and her hubby, three girls, and boxer are asleep. Her second novel Admonition is scheduled for release in June 2021. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://kathrynamurra.wixsite.com/mysite

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmurraKathryn

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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathryn-amurra

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1055416

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20280375.Kathryn_Amurra

 

 

 

Book Review with featured author: Fated Always by Becky Flade

Fated Always by Becky Flade

Publisher & Release: Tirgearr Publishing, August 12, 2020

Time and setting: Present Day, Trapper’s Cove

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 211 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Friendship. Secrets. Murder.

When her best friend, Sawyer Gavin, roars into town on his motorcycle, Tala Gael thinks life couldn’t get any better. What she couldn’t have anticipated was his appearance heralding a time of change in her quiet, comfortable existence.

With her life turned upside down, Tala resists Sawyer’s advances, clinging to the familiar. Tragedy changes her mind, but as she takes the leap of faith into Sawyer’s arms, they find themselves suspects in a murder investigation. And Tala learns she’s not the only person in Trappers’ Cove keeping an impossible secret.

Jealousy is when you worry someone will take what you have; envy is coveting what someone else has; and both can lead to murder.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Fated-Always-4-Becky-Flade-ebook/dp/B08CMNRKLF

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fated-always-becky-flade

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fated-always

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/fated-always/id1522714448

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1031829

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54449954-fated-always

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/fated-always-the-fated-series-4-by-becky-flade

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the publisher and author for the complimentary copy of Fated Always for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

Fated Always is a novel with plenty of action and suspense. The pacing pulled me in from the start and kept my in its thrall until the last page. The writing flows smoothly with the just the right amount of description.

Tala Gael’s character is a loner due to the secrets she keeps and her career choice as a researcher of wildlife. Tala is satisfied with her life and her current boyfriend, but when her childhood friend roars into town on his motorcycle, all that changes. Her confusion when she realizes there’s a strong attraction between them helped me to become vested in her character.

Sawyer Gavin has returned to take over the veterinarian practice in town. He and Tala were best friends as children, but now he wants more than friendship. I enjoyed his determination to pursue the attraction between them.

The romance takes a while to develop because of the man in Tala’s life, but when she discovers he’s nothing like the man she believed him to be, things heat up quickly. The passion between the couple is combustible, and I enjoyed the love scenes.

The suspense is ever building and kept me reading as fast as possible. The scene when her boyfriend turns ugly when she attempts to break it off with him, is exciting and graphic, turning this into a bit of a thriller. The climax was well above my expectations, making this book a fantastic read.

If you enjoy romantic suspense with a great second chance romance, and with engaging characters, then you will love Fated Always as much as I did. This is book 4 in Ms. Flade’s Fated series, but reads well as a stand-alone novel. Happy reading!

Excerpt:

“Do you feel that?” he asked. 

“Of course I do, Sawyer. It’s pressing into my hip.” 

He laughed, he blushed, and Tala tried with all her being not to be seduced.  

“Not that. Well, not just that.” He tucked his finger under her chin and raised her face until their mouths aligned. 

Tala held her breath. Did he mean to kiss her? Why aren’t I backing away?

“Can’t you feel how right this is? I can feel you in every bit of me, Tee. It’s an awareness that is always with me, like the sensation of being watched but better. It’s the knowledge that we belong together. That we fit. Be honest—don’t you feel it too?” 

She twisted away, but he held on. He keeps pushing me. 

“What if I said I did? Then what? When it falls apart, we’ve lost more than a lover. We’ve each lost our best friend.” She touched his cheek. “I couldn’t live with that. You’re too important. Let it go.”

“Who says it’ll fall apart? Why would it? Who is your mom’s best friend? Your dad’s?” He did not wait for an answer. “Why can’t we have both too?”

She didn’t have an answer. She was too proud to admit she was too afraid to risk it. She closed her eyes against the weight of his stare and the truth reflected in it. She wouldn’t give him what he wanted. She loved him too much.

Author Bio:

When I was little I thought everyone had stories in their head. When I found out that wasn’t true and that only special people had stories to tell, I wanted to be one of the people who shared their stories with the world. Here I am, making my own dreams come true, one happily ever after at a time. 

I'd love to have you visit with me at any of my virtual homes or write to me directly at beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com  

Sign up for her quarterly newsletter & be entered for a chance to win a free book (one winner per month)!  http://eepurl.com/7WDZj

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Book Review: Home to Me by Catherine Bybee

Home to Me by Catherine Bybee

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, July 14, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, California

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 316 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A brave woman’s flight from the past leads her toward new love in a novel about courage, hope, and second chances by Catherine Bybee, New York Times bestselling author of My Way to You.

After Erin Fleming escapes from her controlling and abusive ex, she finds refuge in the heart of Santa Clarita, California. Eager to start over, she has a new name, a new look, and a new career. Settled into a private guesthouse, Erin can breathe free. Far from the shadows she’s outrun, Erin is finally learning to live for herself. Her new unexpected friendship with her landlord starts to crack open the armor Erin’s enclosed herself in. But it’s Matt who speeds up the pace of Erin’s heart and makes her wish for things she believes she can never have.

Matt Hudson, a firefighter in one of California’s wildfire epicenters, has a passion for danger. He lives for the adrenaline rush his profession awards him. But his protective instincts take over once Matt meets Erin. So does an attraction he can’t deny. Above all else, he’s determined to prove to Erin that she can trust him. As the sparks between them ignite, so does a real-world danger. Erin’s past is not letting go. It’s just in hiding.

Before Erin’s ex finds her, she and Matt have to find him. And finally put an end to everything that’s becoming a threat to their love, and to Erin’s life.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Home-Me-Creek-Canyon-Book-ebook/dp/B07Z5V27HB

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-to-me-catherine-bybee

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48568197-home-to-me

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/home-to-me-creek-canyon-book-2-by-catherine-bybee

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for providing me an advance reader copy. I appreciate the chance to read and review Catherine Bybee’s newest novel, Home to Me, book 2 in her newest series. My opinions are my own and are not influenced by the complimentary copy.

Home to Me is another emotional novel with amazing characters. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enthralled until the last. Ms. Bybee has become an auto-buy author for me. Her novels are brilliantly written with compelling situations and characters that always touch me heart. 

Erin Fleming’s character is running for her life from her husband. She has settled in southern California and renting a small guest house from Parker Sinclair, heroine in My Way to You, the first book in this amazing series. Her character is endearing and strong. Although she is terrified, she is determined to stand strong. I truly admired her character and was intrigued by her in the first book. Now, I love Erin.

Matt Hudson is a fantastic hero with all the characteristic I love most in a male lead. He is determined to be a part of Erin’s life, and even though he senses she holds her secrets tight, he’s willing to give her time to trust him and doesn’t give up.

The romance between Erin and Matt is amazing! It is realistic and what you would expect when the heroine is so terrorized by her past. While I normally am turned off by a relationship developing between a couple where one is still attached, but she has done her part to end the unhealthy situation with her ex, so Erin deserves to have someone who can love her as she deserves.

If you enjoy  contemporary romance with an emotionally charged plot and characters that will pull on your heartstrings, then you will love Home to Me as much as I did. Ms. Bybee’s writing just keeps getting better. I’m so glad I found her novels. Happy reading!

Excerpt:

She glanced in the mirror and took a long look at herself. “One day at a time,” she said to the air. She pulled the tie out of her thick hair and brushed it back into place before twisting it on top of her head. The red was fading fast, and her natural blonde was trying to show.

She hardly recognized herself.

But that was the point, wasn’t it?

New look, new name, new home . . . new everything. She’d legally changed her name, social security number . . . Nothing was as it used to be.

She heard her phone ringing from the kitchen where she’d left her purse. The sound caught her by surprise. Very few people had her num­ber, and as of yet, the telemarketers hadn’t discovered her.

Caller ID said restricted number, so instead of answering it, she let it go to voice mail. After a minute, she pressed the playback button.

A familiar female voice brought gooseflesh to her arms. “It’s me. I have an update.”

All at once, every nerve stood on end and her sympathetic nervous system moved into hyperdrive.

Erin moved to her small dinette table, pulled out a chair, and sat down before the dizziness took over and she ended up on the floor.

Renee picked up on the first ring.

“Hello, Renee.”

“It’s so good to hear your voice. How are you? Did you try that coconut water yet?” Renee, her advocate, attorney, and savior, asked their coded question.

“I’m fine, and yes. The coconut water was delicious.”

There was no coconut water. Or beet juice, or whatever organic food Renee came up with next. Didn’t matter. The answer was always yes if Erin was safe and not being overheard. So far, she hadn’t needed to respond with a no. God willing, she never would.

“You sound good.”

“I’m a little better every day.”

“Are you eating?”

Erin considered her diet, decided to keep things positive. “I’m a good five pounds overweight.”

Renee huffed. “Lying sack of shit.”

They both laughed.

“I’m good. Truly.” She wanted to tell her that the sunshine was doing wonders for her, but that wasn’t allowed. Renee didn’t know where Erin was or even the name she was using. “Tell me the news.”

Renee sighed. “None of it’s what you want to hear.”

Erin swallowed. “Are my sister and her family okay?”

“They’re fine. I wouldn’t have started with chitchat if they weren’t.”

Erin squeezed her eyes shut, felt the familiar pain in her chest with the memories of everyone she left behind. “Spit it out.”

“You’re not divorced yet,” she told her. “And Asshat is seeking another hearing to contest the protection order.”

Erin placed her head in her hand. “This is never going to end.”

Author Bio:

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written thirty-four books that have collectively sold more than seven million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. For more information on the author, visit www.catherinebybee.com.

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