Courting Miss Lancaster: A Review (The Lancaster Family #2)

Goodreads (Description):

Harry Windower adores blonde, green-eyes Athena Lancaster, but alas, a penniless man like himself has no hope of winning a young noblewoman's hand. To add insult to injury, Athena's brother-in-law and guardian, the Duke of Kielder, has asked Harry to assist Athena in finding a gentleman of her dreams. But the lovesick Harry is cunning as well: as the weeks pass, he introduces Athena to suitors who are horrifically boring, alarmingly attached to their mothers, downright rude, astoundingly self-absorbed, and utterly ridiculous.
Athena can't comprehend why she is having so little success meeting eligible and acceptable gentlemen. Indeed, her circle of admirers couldn't be be less admirable - nothing like the loyal, gentle friend she's found in Harry. But how long can Harry's scheme be hidden before it is discovered? And what will Athena do when she uncovers Harry's deception? Escape into a charming regency world in this delightfully romantic comedy of manners that will entertain you to the very last word.

My Review:

Ahhhh! Harry is such a sap it's freaking ridiculous. I want a Harry Windower. His humor and loyalty are two things I absolutely love about him. He's incredibly smart and definitely swoon worthy, and altogether, I wonderful strong character.

Harry is the best and only friend of Adam, the Duke of Kielder, and he is also in love with Adam's sister-in-law, Athena.

Unfortunately, Adam asks Harry to help Athena find a worthy gentleman for the girl to marry in her First Season.

Being poor, Harry is what the ton and society deem as a fortune hunter and therefore deems him unworthy of Athena.

So this book is quite hilarious and heartbreaking as Athena is subjected to the dullest and even one of the worst of society's men as Harry shows her what she doesn't want in her future husband. During the many social events they attend (where he is introducing her to these guys), he laughs with her and jokes with her and holds her hand when it technically isn't proper.

Ah, Harry! He's so obviously in love with her but is terrified Adam will get mad because he is so poor and Athena's dowry is quite expansive.

Athena is also losing hope of ever finding her fairy tale man, of having the magical first meeting. If only she was able to read and understand her own heart. Though she isn't the brightest of girls, she has a good wit and learns quickly--which is a much needed quality among the ton.

Wonderful Persephone comes to the rescue in the end of course, essentially returning the favor to Harry (as he also was a key part in her's and Adam's relationship). And all ends well, and quite funny actually. Adam's reaction to the truth is not what you would expect. (This series has some great humor).

Another great story by Eden! I give this a 5 out of 5!

Seeking Persephone: A Review (The Lancaster Family #1)

Goodreads (Description)

When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses, and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he's offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger. Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke's castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul. But the Duke's steely determination to protect his heart at all costs is challenged by his growing attachment to his lovely and gentle bride. With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke's armor and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without.

My Review:

Well, well, well. Another great story by Sarah M. Eden. I have never been disappointed when picking up one of her books. In fact, now I buy her books simply because she wrote them. I don't have to know what the story is, she's written several books now that I love, so I know she'll keep bringing us wonderful stories.

This book is about the grumpy hermit named Adam, the Duke of Kielder, who needs to find someone to marry so his idiot cousin does not take his inheritance and sell off all the incredible, historical artifacts. So of course, he finds a poor family's eldest daughter who is supposed to be dull and unassuming to wife.

What he got instead was the lovely, patient, and incredibly kind Persephone Lancaster.

This love story reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. Poor Adam was born without one of his ears and through his childhood was forced through many surgeries to try and remedy this, when eventually they simply removed the stump--while leaving behind loads of scars.

Adam is incredibly shy and he shows this by being angry and intimidating. Basically he rules England. And I'm not joking.

Seeing him fall for Persephone is perhaps the most frustrating thing on the planet. Poor Persephone can't figure him out because he is so close minded, and she does everything she can to make the best of her situation and be the good wife the 1800's demanded of women. Honestly, Persephone is one of the most innocent and purely GOOD girls I've read about in a long time. Yes, she has her insecurities, but she is smart and capable and knows how to hold her own. She came to love Adam, despite his many flaws and has tried to show him this, but his thickheaded-ness won't let him see what's really going on.

Until it's ALMOST too late.

*Sigh*

Adam and Persephone's love story was one of the most frustrating I've read about in a long time, but of course, I loved it. (I also thoroughly enjoyed the help they both needed from the wonderful Harry [I love him too] to get their relationship on a roll). If you like a great historical romance, get this one.

5 out of 5!

The Bad Boy's Baby: Guest Post

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

The Bad Boy's Baby

(Hope Sptings #3)

by Cindi Madsen

Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 284 pages

May 16th 2016 by Entangled: Bliss

There are certain words that have always described Cam Brantley: Town bad boy. Soldier. Protector. But never, ever dad. Until he returns home from his latest military tour to discover the girl he had one smoking-hot night with is now mom to the adorable two-year-old Zoey. Who has his eyes.



Plenty of words could describe Emma Walker these days. Mom, dutiful granddaughter, budding designer, the town’s golden child. But when her longtime crush Cam Brantley comes back to town, she knows the perfect word to describe herself: screwed.



Cam and Emma are both shocked to discover he truly wants Zoey in his life. But Cam’s not sure he’s ready to be a dad, and Emma can’t gamble her daughter on maybes. As the long-simmering heat between Cam and Emma reaches a boiling point, he’ll have to work past his demons in order to be the man both girls need.



Daddy duty might be his toughest mission yet…

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Hope Spring’s Town Setting

Hope Springs is a tiny town in Wyoming where everyone knows everyone, one of the town committee members has CIA-type spy skills, despite her grandmotherly exterior, and events like picnic basket auctions are a yearly thing. There’s also a quilting group that has the beat on the happenings in town, whether it’s gossip or who’s in need of meals and extra support.

Most events take place in the town center, the chapel has seen plenty of weddings, and there’s an alternative ranch camp for youth run by a former rodeo star. The town committee gets involved in who buys what property—and when the townsfolk find out about it, they take sides and cheer for and help their favorite, and there’s an annual small-town parade with floats built by volunteers (or people who’ve been volunteered by the town committee) and there’s also a 4th of July rodeo if you want to watch some cowboys in action or listen to Hope Spring’s own Sadie Hart, country singer of the band Dixie Rush, sing the national anthem.

The paternity of Emma Walker’s blond little girl has been the source of much speculation, and for a while there was even a town pool going to see who could guess the baby’s daddy. No one ever imagined it was the former town bad boy and soldier who just returned to Hope Springs to help run the Mountain Ridge lodge with his brother. That last part (the part about Cameron Brantley being back in town for good) is a surprise to Emma as well.

Seth’s Stake and Saloon, known as the Triple S by the locals, is the best place to grab a steak and fries, a drink, or to do a little dancing, whether it’s fast country swing or slow dancing nice and close.

Think the western version of Bluebell from Hart of Dixie with a little Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls thrown in.

—Cindi

Other Books in the Series

Second Chance Ranch

(Hope Sptings #1)

by Cindi Madsen

Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 232 pages

September 15th 2014 by Entangled: Bliss

Sometimes love is right where you left it.

Sadie Hart has a plan: return to her small town of Hope Springs so she can regain her confidence—and bank account—before giving one more shot to her country music dream. The dream that means more to her than anything. The dream she chose over her high school sweetheart, the brooding and sinfully handsome Royce Dixon.

Royce has moved on from his memories of the beautiful Sadie. Now he’s focused solely on running Second Chance Ranch, where he rehabilitates troubled teens through ranch work. But when he needs a new employee and Sadie’s the only one to volunteer, he has no choice but to offer his old flame a job.

Whether riding a horse with the wind in her hair or mucking out the stalls, Sadie can still get Royce’s heart beating like no one else. But Nashville is her dream, and Royce can’t settle for second best.

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Crazy for the Competition

(Hope Sptings #2)

by Cindi Madsen

Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 277 pages

June 9th 2015 by Entangled Publishing: Bliss

The road to trouble is paved with sweet temptation… 

Always the rebel in her ultra-conservative family, Quinn Sakata dreams of quitting her dad's real-estate business and restoring the old Mountain Ridge Bed and Breakfast in her hometown of Hope Springs. Except that Quinn's not the only person bidding on it. Worse still, her competitor is her high school crush, Heath Brantley, who is all kinds of ripped, tattooed hotness...

So much for her "nice, conservative boys" rule.

Heath has his own reasons for bidding on Mountain Ridge, and he won't give in without a fight - even to the red-lipped hottie with a sailor's mouth. But when their rivalry shifts into an unexpected zing of chemistry, Heath realizes he's in deep trouble. Because it's inevitable that emotions will get involved, and he needs to keep his eyes on the prize before they both get hurt.

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Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Pinterest

Tour Schedule

May 15th: Launch

May 16th: LibriAmoriMiei, The Written Adventure & With Love for Books

May 17th: Booksomereads, Katie's Clean Book Collection & Colorimetry

May 18th: Becky on Books, & Bottles & Books Reviews & underneath the covers

May 19th: Harlie's Books, Zerina Blossom's Books & EskieMama Reads

May 20th: Getting Your Read On, deal sharing aunt & Fangirls Ahead

May 22nd: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card

ebook of Crazy for the Competition

Open internationally

Ends May 27th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Suspect's Daughter: A Review (The Rogue Hearts #4)

Goodreads (Description):

Determined to help her father with his political career, Jocelyn sets aside dreams of love. When she meets the handsome and mysterious Grant Amesbury, her dreams of true love reawaken. But his secrets put her family in peril.

Grant goes undercover to capture conspirators avowed to murder the prime minister, but his only suspect is the father of a courageous lady who is growing increasingly hard to ignore. He can’t allow Jocelyn to distract him from the case, nor will he taint her with his war-darkened soul. She seems to see past the barriers surrounding his heart, which makes her all the more dangerous to his vow of remaining forever alone.

Jocelyn will do anything to clear her father’s name, even if that means working with Grant. Time is running out. The future of England hangs in the balance...and so does their love.

My Review:

I FINALLY READ IT!!!

Ever since I started Donna Hatch's The Rogue Hearts Series, I have been waiting for Grant Amesbury's story.

Because yes, I like those dark, handsome, brooding heroes of stories.

And man, oh, man. Hatch did NOT let me down. This book was addicting. I hated when I had to put it down. 

Grant has finally found love!

And his backstory was far more devastating than I thought. His poor heart had been broken so severely, so ruthlessly. It's no wonder he kept his heart so guarded.

As for Jocelyn, I connected with her instantly. We have many a thing in common (which yes, includes falling for dark, brooding heroes who deep, deep, DEEP down are fantastic men who have simply been dealt the belt for far too long).

Just. Ah. It was so frustratingly beautiful. Their love story. To fall in love with Grant, Jocelyn had to have thick skin. He wasn't outright unkind to her, but his words were harsh at times whenever she got too close to his vulnerabilities. But FINALLY, Grant realized what a kind and beautiful woman Jocelyn was inside and out. She wasn't the picture of beauty, but she was the picture of kindness, always doing everything she could for those she cared about.

I will admit, there was great humor in this book too. Grant's dry responses to some things were just so fantastic, had I been there with him, I would have had to stifle my laugh.

The mystery in this novel was also quite fun to follow. Who really was the bad guy? Who wanted Jocelyn's father framed? What was their plan? Were they really going to try and murder the Prime Minister?

Grant was just the man to find out who.

It was fun to see the previous Amesburys and their wives. Really, this series has been so beautiful. I am so sad to say goodbye to the brothers. Grant, I'll admit, has been my favorite. I love all four books in their own way, but this one, was by far the best.

If you love Historical Romances, this is a book and series meant for you!

5 out of 5!

Library of Souls: A Review (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children #3)

Goodreads (Description):

A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom.

The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.

They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

My Review:

Wow. This series has been quite the explosion of weirdness and adventure. Basically, it's the kid version of X-Men, with characters who have far more, er, odd abilities.

Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom and their band of peculiar friends have been sent on a goose chase, trying to save Miss Peregrine.

This book starts right off where the second one ended, literally.

Emma and Jacob are forced to face really hard decisions in this book. As in, how will they save their friends and who is more important? Miss Peregrine and her sisters or their peculiar friends?

We also learn an incredible amount about the peculiar world, huge, almost terrifyingly amazing things. Of which Jacob and Emma must endure to save their friends.

I love all these characters (there are quite a few, but the awesome cover of the hard bound book has all their signatures on it--quite clever and cool). They have a great sense of family and love for each other, despite everything they've gone through.

Jacob has grown up a ton, too. He's no longer your typical teenager, but a young man who knows hardship and knows what he wants.

Even the bad guys were really well developed and gave us lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting.

Can I just say the ending was beautiful? Well, it was. I am sad to say goodbye to this series, but it has been wonderful.

5 out of 5!