Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Gaming Hell Christmas by Kathy L. Wheeler & Amanda McCabe #BlogTour

On By TracyIn Anthology, Author Collaboration Series, Blog Tour, Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Mystery, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Gaming Hell Christmas

KathyLWheeler_GamingHellChristmasVol1_1400

GAMING HELL CHRISTMAS – VOLUME 1: Mysteries abound at the newest Hell in town.

A Gift for the Duke’s Illegitimate Daughter – Kathy L Wheeler
Miss Alexandra Blessing, the Duke of Winsome’s illegitimate daughter longs for anonymity and a home of her own where her younger half-siblings don’t commandeer every moment of her day. Escape is imminent—right after her family’s annual Christmas fete.

But Alexandra is missing from the ball, and Theodore Millburn must find her before he loses something important: his chance for love.

The Merry Widow’s Christmas Adventure – Amanda McCabe
Annabelle, Lady Ranstruther, after a year of lonely widowhood is ready for new love—and she knows exactly who she wants—her wild friend, the gorgeous William, Lord Deansley. She fears he doesn’t want her, until they meet again at the exclusive, discreet gaming hell la Sous Rose, at Christmas.

Will it mean a future of love—or the end of all her dreams?

Purchase Links:
US ~ UK

Author Bios:

Gaming Hell Christmas - Amanda McCabe Author1

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)

She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook.

Amanda also writes as Laurel McKee for Grand Central Publishing, the Elizabethan Mystery Series as Amanda Carmack, and the Manor Cat Mystery Series as Eliza Casey.

“Miss McCabe’s talent for lively characters and witty dialogue is always a winning combination.” ~ Romantic Times Reviews

Visit her website to learn more

Gaming Hell - Kathy square

Kathy L Wheeler loves the NFL, the NBA, musical theater (don’t ask how her how many times she’s seen Phantom of the Opera (12); or Wicked (7), travel, (Europe, Grand Cayman, Mexico, All over the US), reading (practically a book a night), writing (25 published books and counting) and karaoke (well… what can I say). She assists other authors in critiquing, formatting, and creating covers for their publishing dreams.

She writes contemporary and historical stories where the heroines save themselves and the heroes who honor their courage with suspense and humor.
She migrated from Texas, to Oklahoma to the Pacific Northwest with her musically talented, lawyer husband, her adorable dog Angel (who lives up to her name…mostly).

Connect with Kathy:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ BookBub ~ GoodReads ~ Amazon

Tracy’s Review:

Gaming Hell ChristmasGaming Hell Christmas by Kathy L. Wheeler

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: N/A

Release Date: December 1, 2021

This anthology treats the reader to two long novellas in one great book.

A Gift for the Duke’s Illegitimate Daughter by Kathy L Wheeler – 4 stars: As the illegitimate daughter of a duke, Miss Alexandra Blessing longs for her own home and she plans to make her wish come true, but what she didn’t realize is that someone wants the same thing, with her. Will Theodore Millburn be able to find Alexandra or has he waited too long? This was my first Kathy L. Wheeler book, but won’t be my last!

The Merry Widow’s Christmas Adventure by Amanda McCabe – 4.5 stars: A chance meeting at la Sous Rose, an exclusive gaming hell, gives widow Annabel, Lady Ranstruther a second chance at love with a man she longed for, but who rejected her years ago. William, Lord Deansley has wanted Belle for years, and now that she is finally free, he won’t waste the opportunity that fate has given him.

Two well-written, well-paced novellas that are sure to delight!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Someone Perfect by Mary Balogh #BlogBlitz

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

9780593335291

As a young man, Justin Wiley was banished by his father for mysterious reasons, but now his father is dead, and Justin has been Earl of Brandon for six years. A dark, dour man, he nonetheless takes it as his responsibility to care for his half-sister Maria when her mother dies. He travels to her home to fetch her back to the family seat at Everleigh Park.

Although she adored him once, Maria now loathes Justin, and her friend Lady Estelle Lamarr can see immediately how his very name upsets her. When Justin arrives and invites Estelle to accompany Maria to Everleigh Park to help with her distress, she begrudgingly agrees, for Maria’s sake.

As family secrets unravel in Maria’s homecoming, Justin, too, uncovers his desire for a countess. And, while he may believe he’s found an obvious candidate in the beautiful Lady Estelle, she is most certain that they could never make a match.

Mary_Balogh_credit Sharon Pelletier[17929]

Mary Balogh has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, several of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivor’s Club series, and the Westcott series. Learn more online at marybalogh.com.

 

Tracy’s Review:

 

Someone Perfect (Westcott, #9)Someone Perfect by Mary Balogh

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Westcott, #9

Release Date: November 30, 2021

Justin Wiley, the Earl of Brandon has come to Prospect Hall to collect his younger half-sister Maria and bring her home to Everleigh Park. For the last six years, since their father’s death, Maria and her mother have lived at Prospect Hall, but when her mother died a year ago, Maria has lived there with only her governess/companion and even though Justin knows she dislikes him, he is determined to bring her home and introduce her to society.

He knows it will not be easy on either of them, but he truly loves his sister and wants what is best for her. Years ago they were close, but at the age of 22 Justin’s father turned him out and all but disowned him, so he has not seen her in years and has no idea what stories his stepmother told her about him. So to smooth her transition, he asks her neighbor and good friend Lady Estelle Lamarr, the daughter of the Marquess of Dorchester, and her twin brother Bertrand, Viscount Watley to join a house party he has put together – he hopes having her friends near will ease the transition. But Justin is not prepared for his reaction to Estelle and soon wonders if he could tempt her into becoming his countess!

Lady Estelle is positive that she and Justin will never suit – but the more time she spends with him, the more she wonders why he was sent away – society at large has offered many theories over the years, but none seem to fit the man she has come to know. But as it happens, secrets have a way of coming to light and the truth is almost more shocking and painful than any scenario she could have imagined. Can she help him heal from the past and find that this dour, imperfect man is in reality, her someone perfect?

This was a well-written, gentle read, with wonderful characters and a good helping of emotion. The romance between Justin and Estelle is slow-burning and doesn’t always feel like the prime focus of the book and it is a bit on the wordy side, but it is a lovely story nonetheless. The book has wonderful secondary characters, warmish love scenes, secrets, heartache, regrets, and an especially fun, sweet relationship between Estelle and her twin Bertrand before culminating in a very nice HEA. This book is part of the Westcott series, but it is loosely connected and you should have no problem reading this book as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*