Month: June 2019

The Earl Next Door by Amelia Grey #BlogTour

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

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ABOUT THE EARL NEXT DOOR:

The Earl Next Door_cover

What does a fiercely independent young widow really want? One determined suitor is about to find out…

When Adeline, the widowed Countess of Wake, learns of her husband’s sudden death, she realizes she’s free. At last, she can do, go, and be as she pleases. Finally, she can have the life she has always dreamed of. She doesn’t need, or want, to remarry. Especially not the supremely dashing future Marquis of Marksworth, who makes Adeline yearn for his desire…

Lord Lyonwood, son of a philandering marquis, will not be like his father. He wants to run his estates and watch them flourish—and find a wife who brings love to his life. When he meets spirited and self-reliant Adeline in a case of near-scandalous mistaken identity, Lyon feels he’s met his match. But Adeline isn’t interested in a marriage proposal. She will only accept becoming his lover—and Lyon finds it hard to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amelia Grey_credit Marcia Reynolds

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author AMELIA GREY read her first romance book when she was thirteen and she’s been a devoted reader of love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award. Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and most recently to Japan. Several of her books have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of over twenty-five books. She’s been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest Florida.

Connect with Amelia:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Connect with the Publisher:

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts ~ SMP Romance Website

Tracy’s Review:

The Earl Next Door (First Comes Love, #1)The Earl Next Door by Amelia Grey

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: First Comes Love, #1

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Adeline, the widowed Countess of Wake meets Lyon Marksworth, Earl of Lyonwood when he barges into her home and mistakes her for a madam of a bawdy house. She is outraged and sets him straight right away. She along with her friends Julia and Brina lost their husbands two years ago when the ship they were traveling on sunk. Now that their mourning period has ended, not only are they preparing to reenter society, but they decided to open a school for girls, specifically the girls related to the workers on the ship that sank. Adeline’s marriage was not a happy one and after the nightmare she endured for two years ended, she has no desire to be controled by a man again – no matter how good looking he is!

Lyon is in equal parts intrigued and annoyed by his new neighbor, she is lovely and feisty, but intends to keep his distance. But when the school opens and the girls arrive, he once again has a run in with the fiery widow and becomes even more intrigued. When yet another incident with the school interupts his life, he confronts her again and they both give into the passion that has been simmering since they met. But when Lyon decides he wants more than just secret trysts, he learns how stubborn and singleminded Adeline can be – can he convince her that he loves her and that he would never treat her the way her late husband did? Or will she hold on to her fears and lose the man she has come to love?

I thought this was a cute story, but there really wasn’t a whole lot of depth to this book and I found a lot of it repetitive and it began to drag towards the end. There were also some things that puzzled me – didn’t any of the widows have family of their own? The only references to family were that of their husbands – Adeline is only 22 in this book, so I would think at least one of her parents is alive – why no mention of them? I thought the secondary characters – especially his father the Marquess of Marksworth – were great and I thought the author did a good job introducing the other widows and I am looking forward to reading their books. The book didn’t have a lot of action, but the love scenes were well done, Lyon was a wonderful hero, his father added comedic relief and the epilogue was sweet. Personally, I was not a fan of how the author decided to overcome their impasse to give them a HEA, I would have rather she had a bit more faith in him. Overall, it was a light, uncomplicated, easy read with likeable characters and a happy ending.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to my by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Death In Kew Gardens by Jennifer Ashley

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Death in Kew Gardens (Kat Holloway Mysteries, #3)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Kat Holloway Mysteries #3
Publication Date: 6/4/19
Number of Pages: 320

OMGoodness! This series just gets better and better! We have learned more and more about the supporting characters – the mysterious and enigmatic Daniel, James his son, quirky and fun Tess, Davis, the stuffy (not) butler, Lady Cynthia who chafes at having to dress and act as a woman is expected to, Daniel’s friend, the very intelligent scholar Thanos, Kat’s daughter Grace – and just maybe we’ve added a new regular – Mrs. Redfern as the new housekeeper. Together, they are quite a crew and you’ll love them all. We didn’t learn too much new about Daniel in this book, and that was a disappointment. I’m really anxious for the further development of the relationship between Daniel and Kat as well.

Kat Holloway is young for a cook, barely 30, but she is one of the best cooks in England. She is very careful about who she works for and has very, very specific requirements for her employment. Luckily, her employment for the last eight months has been in a household she enjoys and that accommodates her requirements. She’s happy there even if she and Mr. Davis have been splitting the duties of housekeeper since the last one left. This sets up a fun subplot for the book – and tells you a lot about the author’s abilities because I quickly learned to detest Mrs. Daly, the new housekeeper. My reaction to her was very strong and it takes a good author to evoke that sort of reaction from me. So, the sub-plot was a great addition to the story.

Just as an FYI, there is also a second sub-plot flowing around Lady Harkness – and that makes it sound like there is too much going on in the story, but that isn’t the case. The sub-plots fit into and add to the story rather than detract from it.

The main plot of the story revolves around the murder of the next door neighbor, Sir Jacob Harkness. He was a very wealthy man who had been granted a knighthood for services to the empire. He was an expert in all things Chinese and had lived there for many years before returning to England. His collection was eclectic and large. He collected what took his fancy rather than only what was valuable – but – he had many valuable things in his collection. When he was found in his bed, stabbed to death, and an open window in the drawing room, it was assumed that the robbery was the motive – if there was a robbery. Except – a Chinaman had been seen just outside the house . . . What could that mean?

Kat was hurrying to run some errands one day and wasn’t paying attention and plowed right into an older Chinese gentleman, knocking him to the ground. She apologized profusely and helped him up. They spoke briefly, introduced themselves, and she liked Mr. Li very well. Later, he turned up at the home where she worked and presented her with a lovely gift to thank her for her kindness.

When a witness places a Chinese gentleman near the victim’s house at the time of the murder, and Mr. Li is arrested, Kat has to stand up for him because she is convinced that he is not the guilty party. The investigation takes us through lies, deceit, another murder, a very valuable stolen item, and an unexpected villain. The author throws a lot of red herrings at you – and you may suspect who the perpetrator is, but you won’t know for sure until it is all wrapped up.

This book is part of a wonderful series, but it could be read as a stand-alone – although you would be missing (and possibly a bit confused) about some of the relationships and back-stories of various individuals. It would be my suggestion to read the series from the beginning – especially since this is only the third book.

I definitely recommend this well-written and interesting book. You’ll love the characters and puzzle over the mystery.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.