Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

Wine & Book Release: July 20, 2020
Available in Paperback & eBook (Audio coming in October)

ABOUT THE BOOK

With quills and fantasies, they write their future.

Percival Randall lives an uncomplicated life of luxury, as he likes it. Not even an ultimatum requiring marriage can tip the scales. A conniving young lady who compromises his name to force a betrothal, however, is an impediment to happiness Percival must confront.

Abigail Walsley dreams of publishing novels rather than marrying dashing heroes. An unexpected proposal and a subsequent Banbury tale tumble her into a betrothal with a man she has never met. Following her dreams proves a challenge with a marriage of inconvenience on the horizon.

This is the love story of Percival and Abigail, two dreamers who write their love story one scene at a time.

From second chance romances to mistaken identities, experience A Dash of Romance in this collection of one short novel and fourteen bonus flash fiction pieces.

BARBARA’S REVIEW

Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 7/20/20

What a great new reading experience for me! I had never heard of Flash Fiction until this author mentioned it to me and it has been such a fun read. Evidently, there isn’t much of it in the romance world, so this is really unique – you should definitely give it a read. Flash fiction includes a main story (novella) and then a number of additional shorter (short stories) – sometimes a page sometimes more – stories. I think some Flash Fiction even include drawings, etc. as part of the ‘flash’ portion. I’m sure I’m not explaining this very well, but it is a novel (HA!) concept and it was a really good read.

The main story features Percival Randall, the middle son of an earl. Randall has just sort of been drifting through life with no goals, no plans for his future – more existing than living. His father has finally given him an ultimatum – find a wife and grow up or lose his allowance. He’s trying, but his heart definitely isn’t in it, so when he learns that he is supposedly already betrothed – and the girl he’s been courting breaks things off – he’s really not too terribly upset. Well – not upset other than he doesn’t want to come out of it with a damaged reputation. I love the things Percy learns about himself as the tale progresses.

Abigail Walsley is the youngest daughter of a vicar and she dreams of becoming a published author. She’s never considered marriage and a family of her own – she just assumes she’ll live with her father and take care of him and continue with her writing. Most likely, a husband would never allow her to continue with her writing and other pursuits she enjoys – so, she doesn’t need one. Then, when she receives a most awkward and unwelcome proposal – one she really can’t refuse – she does what any self-respecting, intelligent young woman would do – she LIES. Little does she realize the consequences of that lie.

Abigail has a poor opinion of Percy from the beginning. She believes he’s a frivolous, unfocused, rake who has never given his future a thought. She’s right, to a point. I love the way both Abigail and Percy grow into their relationship and how bright and funny each of them can be.

I loved this wonderfully entertaining and well-written story and I hope you will as well.

In addition to the main story, you get to read and love fourteen short-stories. Each of them is unique and special and a really fun addition to the book. They have interesting titles like – Arrival, Beguiled, Highwayman, Shipwreck, Entangled, Midsummer, Candor, Requited, Persephone, Haunted, Masquerade, Homecoming, Beneficence, and Gorgeous.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paullett Golden is a Houston, Texas native who now divides her time between Northumberland, England, and her hometown. She has been a university professor for over 20 years. When an oncologist told her she had three months to live, she decided it was time to fulfill her dream of being a novelist. As a survivor, she focuses her attention on writing. Her debut novel has hit the Amazon bestseller list multiple times and has won literary awards. She loves historical fiction of all kinds as a way to transport us to a different time and place. All research comes from authentic resources of the era and from scholarly and peer-reviewed articles from researchers specializing in the time period. Though she may take liberties with the fictional aspects, she does aim for the fiction to reflect the mores, culture, laws, and environment of the time. When not writing, she can be found in her butterfly garden or on a race track.

BUY LINK

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJFSBHS?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

July 13-21
Prizes: autographed book of choice from any book in The Enchantresses series; autographed A Dash of Romance

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If clicking on the image above doesn’t work – click on the link below:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e81cec7d5/?

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE
https://www.paullettgolden.com/a-dash-of-romance
Facebook: @paullettgolden
Twitter: @paullettgolden
Instagram: @paullettgolden

A Dark and Stormy Knight by Kerrigan Byrne

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Victorian Rebels, #7

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Since his appearance back in the first book The Highwayman, I have wanted to see Sir Carlton Morley get his HEA – we have had glimpses of the man and with each new book, it became clear that there was way more to Carlton Morley than meets the eye and in the last book The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo – big revelations about Morley came out. So, FINALLY we get Carlton’s story!! Long overdue and yet worth the wait!!

Chief Inspector Sir Carlton “Cutter” Morley is a complex man with humble roots, born to London’s streets, he had plans to change his life and that of his best friend Dorian Blackwell and his twin sister Caroline. But tragedy changes everything, Cutter is laid to rest and Carlton is born. Seemingly dedicated to upholding the law, Carlton leads a double life – upstanding officer of the law by day, vigilante by night. His nighttime activities have been noticed and papers call him the Knight of Shadows. It is in that guise that Carlton follows a lead about a cold case and finds himself in a garden surrounded by men and women taking their pleasure. He is contemplating his options when he is mistaken for a “Stag of St. James” by a very lovely woman. This encounter leads to a night of passion with a complete stranger that Carlton has never allowed himself and will be a night that changes him forever!

Prudence “Pru” Goode is to be married and has just learned that her fiancé George, the Earl of Sutherland doesn’t love her and needs her dowry to shore up his finances and provide for his bastard children! Determined to find pleasure for herself, she seeks out the Stags of St. James, men who for a price will give a woman pleasure for a night. And pleasure is exactly what she finds with her masked lover. She shares a night she will never forget with Carlton and they part, never expecting their paths to cross again. But three months later, they do cross when Carlton is attending the wedding of his superior’s daughter. Moments before the ceremony is to begin, Carlton is called to the back of the church – the groom has been murdered and he walks in to see his garden lover, dressed in a wedding gown, covered in blood and clutching a knife, while standing over a dead man!

When Carlton learns that Pru is pregnant with his child, he immediately takes charge – he marries her and will do whatever is necessary to save her. Pru is intrigued by her new husband, but wonders what happened to the lover she knew. These two will have much to overcome before they find their HEA, but when they do – WOW, just WOW!

I have loved every book in this series, some more than others and The Highwayman is still my favorite, but Carlton’s story is every bit as good as the other books and I loved it. Carlton is a good man, his past shaped him, but amazingly, didn’t break him, he has a deep sense of right and wrong and will give his life to protect the ones he loves. Pru is also a wonderful person, loving, giving and gracious to all and the chemistry between her and Carlton is incendiary. The book is well-written, perfectly paced, has wonderful characters, cameos with Ash, Farah, Dorian and Argent, steamy love scenes, betrayal, murder, secrets, locked doors, a villain that gets his due and an HEA with a sweet epilogue. While I did love this book, I do wish that we learned what happened to Honoria and I really, really wish the author would take the time to learn proper use of titles and formal address of nobility. Other than those minor things, I loved this book and I would happily recommend it! It is the seventh book in the series and could be read as a standalone – but I would strongly recommend reading the series in order for maximum enjoyment.