Blog Tour Review | A Pirate's Command by Meg Hennessy

A Pirate's Command by Meg Hennessy
Historical Romance published July 28, 2015  
Entangled: Select Historical
Author's Website | Goodreads | Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

His secrets could destroy her... 

New Orleans, 1817

Colette Kincaid once knew such love and delicious passion in the arms of her pirate husband, Donato de la Roche. Yet Colette could not continue to live as the wife of a pirate, when reunited with her family. So she fled, taking their son with her and reconciling herself to never seeing her husband again...

Until their son is taken.

Donato is convinced his wife is behind his son's disappearance-just as she is convinced he is the villain. Now they're unable to leave each other's side as they seek their child, forced to confront the desire that still smolders between them. But Donato knows that soon he must face the secret about Colette he's been hiding for so long. And it's a secret for which there is no forgiveness...

What I Think....

If you are looking for a historical romance novel that is passionate, exciting, and overflowing with love, this is the book for you! I'm a sucker for pirates, so when this tour came available, I thought, "heck yes"! I wasn't familiar with the author, but I still wanted to give it a try and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. To say I enjoyed this novel is an understatement!

Hennessy brings to life two very diverse, intense characters, that can only be satisfied with each other. Colette Kincaid is the type of woman you don't take for granted. She's humble, compassionate, and loyal to almost a fault. Which is why she is living in New Orleans with her brother Jordan instead of her husband, Donato de la Roche. She loves Donato, but won't risk their son Enio's safety for her love of a pirate. Donato is a wanted man, known all over the ocean as a fearless warrior who shows no mercy in battle. She cannot be expected to raise their son in an environment like that. However, when Enio is abducted, Donato and Colette must work together to make their family whole again. Wild seas, dark nights, and deep hidden secrets are the least of their worries. True love is the only way they can piece back the broken pieces of their relationship. 

Now, what I loved most about this novel is the amount of love that seeps out of each page. Seriously, every motive, every choice, every single situation is handled with love in this novel. There were no ulterior motives behind any hidden doors that I found. It was just breathtaking to see such devotion from such a diverse family. Being a parent myself, I really connected with Colette and just adored her character. Donato was also a great example of a "family man". Today, we don't see nearly enough reputable men being written about and so this was definitely a seller for me! 

Hennessy does a great job with incorporating both the Spanish and the French customs into the novel, as well as accurate historical information. My only negative comment is that the pace was a bit slower then what I would have preferred. I felt like there could have been more "pirate-y" events and less lengthy descriptions. Nevertheless, I still loved it! 

Victoria ♥


{The reviewer was given an ARC  for an honest review}

About The Author

Meg Hennessy read her first historical romance when Rosemary Rodgers', Sweet Savage Love, swept the college campuses. She won't admit how many years ago that was, but was forever hooked on the genre of happy-ever-afters. Meg grew up immersed in the culture of her father's old Southern family and writes with a Southern flavor. It was her sense of wonderment when visiting her grandmother's home as a child that now bubbles upward into her writing of today, creating steamy nights of intrigue and romance.

She had been writing for years, but seriously pursued publication in 2009. Seeking authenticity for her first novel, she researched hundreds of books, visited numerous battlefields, and toured antebellum homes. When it came to putting pen to paper, Meg found her story-telling voice, as her heroine simply stepped into Shadows of a Southern Moon, winning the 2010 EPIC Award for best Historical Romance and launching her writing career.

Meg lives amid the beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Wisconsin. Besides writing and spoiling her much-loved horse, she enjoys backyard birding, nature walks, and admits to being a gardening addict. Having spun stories for years, she enjoys seeing her dream come true as her characters spring to life and step within the beautifully bound pages of a romance novel.

Blog Tour Schedule

August 10- undercover book reviews– Spotlight

August 10- Coffee Books & Art– Excerpt

August 10- girlygirlbookreviews– Review

August 11- Books That Hook– Excerpt / Spotlight

August 11- A Bookaholic’s Fix: Feeding the Addiction– Excerpt / Spotlight

August 12- Nerd Girl Official– Excerpt

August 12- A Dirty Book Affair– Excerpt / Spotlight

August 12- Mythical Books– Excerpt / Spotlight

August 12- Indy Book Fairy– Spotlight / Excerpt / Playlist

August 12- Bellas Book Bag- Excerpt / Spotlight

August 13- deal sharing aunt– Spotlight

August 13- Warrior Woman Winmill– Review

August 14- Literature Litehouse– Excerpt

August 14- Whispered Thoughts– Excerpt / Playlist

August 14- Jacklynn Love’s Reading– Excerpt / Spotlight / Playlist

August 14- Romantic Fanatic– Review

August 14- {Dive} Under The Cover– Review

August 14- Rose’s Book Blog– Review

August 14- The Chronic Romantic– Review / Excerpt / Spotlight

August 14- purpinkrosesbookcorner– Review / Excerpt

Blog Tour | TO TAME THE WIND by Regan Walker

To Tame the Wind by Regan Walker
Historical Romance published May 9, 2015
CreateSpace
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“A sea adventure like no other, a riveting romance!” 
– NY Times Bestselling author Shirlee Busbee

Paris 1782… AN INNOCENT IS TAKEN

All Claire Donet knew was the world inside the convent walls in Saint-Denis. She had no idea her beloved papa was a pirate. But when he seized Simon Powell's schooner, the English privateer decided to take the one thing his enemy held most dear... her.

A BATTLE IS JOINED

The waters between France and England roil with the clashes of Claire's father and her captor as the last year of the American Revolution rages on the sea, spies lurk in Paris and Claire’s passion for the English captain rises.

This is the prequel to the Agents of the Crown trilogy but can be read as a stand alone.

My Thoughts...

This way my first Regan Walker book, but I have to say that I really enjoyed it.  There was a time, close to 15 years ago or more that the only books I read were historical romance.  I devoured them like they were going out of style for several years until I stumbled upon Nora Roberts' Irish trilogies and was introduced to paranormal/supernatural romance.  It's literally been years since I read a book like this one.

This book starts out when Claire is only about 16. She is living in a convent school and it's clear from this opening scene that she isn't cut out for the convent lifestyle.  She is a wild child who decides to "crash" a masquerade ball late one evening.  This is where she gets her first glimpse of "The Golden Eagle".  He's beautiful and Claire isn't the only woman who thinks so since he's in the process of seducing another party guest when Claire loses her footing and quite literally "crashes their party".  She's mortified as she races back to the convent with Elise, a younger girl who followed her, in tow.

Fast Forward 2 years and a now 18 year old Claire is a completely different woman.  She is planning to join the order and become a nun when she receives word that her father has arranged for her to marry.  Meanwhile Simon, Claire's Golden Eagle has had one of his ships taken into custody by none other than Claire's father who is also a pirate turned privateer.  They are on opposite sides of the war. To retaliate Simon kidnaps Claire from the convent in the middle of the night and takes her aboard his ship The Fairwinds while he attempts to regain his other ship and it's crew.

They travel from Paris to London and back again over land and sea.  Claire makes friends aboard the ship as well as in each place they spend any amount of time.  She comes to learn that she is her own person capable of making the decisions that are right for her.  She falls in love with Simon and he with her so they have to find a way to make their relationship work in a time where women aren't necessarily allowed to make these choices themselves.

I thought that this was a great story and it had all the elements needed to make is a page-turner for me.  This is not the last book by Regan Walker that I will be reading for sure.  If you like a good Historical Romance then I highly recommend picking this one up.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bestselling author Regan Walker loved to write stories as a child, particularly those about adventure-loving girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of her professors encouraged her to pursue the profession of law, which she did. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding sovereign who taps his subjects for “special assignments.” And in each of her novels, there is always real history and real historic figures. Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses. For more information please visit Regan Walker’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, July 27
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, July 28
Review at Diana’s Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 29
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Guest Post at Susan Heim on Writing
Thursday, July 30
Interview at Yelena Casale’s Blog
Friday, July 31
Review at Kristin Un-Ravelle’d
Saturday, August 1
Spotlight at Genre Queen
Monday, August 3
Review at “Good Friends, Good Books and a Sleepy Conscience: This is the Ideal Life.”
Tuesday, August 4
Review at Shelly’s Book Shelves
Thursday, August 6
Spotlight at Long Ago Love
Friday, August 7
Review at Book Nerd
Thursday, August 13
Interview at Books and Benches
Friday, August 14
Guest Post at Passages to the Past

Blog Tour Review | "Seldom Come By" by Sherryl Caulfield

Please join Sherryl Caulfield as she tours the blogosphere for Seldom Come By, the first book in her Iceberg Trilogy, from November 24-December 13, and enter to win an eBook or Autographed copy!

Publication Date: December 10, 2013
Cedar Pocket Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 490
Series: Iceberg Trilogy
Genre: Historical Fiction



READ AN EXCERPT

Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, fifteen year-old Rebecca Crowe’s fascination with icebergs leads her to save a shipwrecked survivor, Samuel Dalton, the nineteen-year old son of a Toronto medical family.

Love sparks in the crystal cave of an iceberg but is thwarted by an unreasonable father and the Great War that drags Samuel and his brother, Matthew, to the Western Front as medical officers. Knowing Rebecca is home and safe in Newfoundland brings Samuel great comfort. But as the war moves towards its final harrowing days, they both discover that tragedy and terror can strike anywhere, setting their love on an unforeseen path.

Only when Samuel and Rebecca can fully come to terms with such devastating loss and their impossible choices can their love soar. With an emotional intensity reminiscent of The Bronze Horseman, Seldom Come By, named after an actual place in Newfoundland, is an unforgettable journey across waves and time and the full spectrum of human emotions.

My Review...

I just finished this book about an hour ago and I quite enjoyed it.  It is a fairly lengthy read, but I took advantage of the extra time I have on my holiday break to sit down with it and really dig in.  I ended up reading the book in just 3 sittings.   This story is an epic love story that spans over 25 years.  Most of the story takes place in smallish chunks of time and the rest spans the years with mention of only the big moments or events.  That makes no sense really when I re-read it, but if you've read the book you will understand!  

Rebecca and Samuel meet by chance when she saves his life after the boat he is travelling on is shipwrecked somewhere off the cost of Newfoundland.  She is nearly 15 and he is 19 at the time.  They fall in love over the course of the summer that he is recovering in the home of her family.  It's not long before he is saying goodbye to return to his family in Canada.  They don't see each other for nearly 3 years, but the love they have grows stronger even though they are apart.  They reunite briefly and make plans for the future, plans that are thwarted by her overbearing father.  When Samuel returns home he almost immediately ends up with his brother Matthew on the Western Front of the war.  It's another year again before they see each other again and those years are full of turmoil and the most unimaginable loss.  

This book will most definitely take you on a journey.  I was caught up in the story from the very first chapter.  I will have to say that there were sections of it that I did skim read.  There were parts that I didn't think were completely necessary to the story, but I do see why she added them.  Overall, I really enjoyed the book.  I felt like the characters were very well developed and I came to care very deeply for Rebecca and Samuel.

If you like historical romance then I completely recommend this book.  It's an adult read so there are lightly descriptive love scenes, although they are very tastefully written and there is no profanity in the book whatsoever.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.*

Buy the Book

eBook

Amazon  |  iTunes  |  Kobo  |  Nook  |  Smashwords

Paperback

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Chapters  |  CreateSpace

Praise for Seldom Come By

“Seldom Come By is a haunting love story set against the windswept coast of Newfoundland. The story draws you in from the opening lines and takes you on a compelling journey across time and continents, through love, loss, heartache and healing. It is a beautiful and memorable story — a great accomplishment and a wonderful read.” – Julie Fison, Australia

“A wholly engaging read that wraps you up in another world. The story of how Samuel and Rebecca met and fell in love will always stay with me — and leaves me feeling as if I have already visited Newfoundland.” – Carolyn Wood, New Zealand

“If you love deep, epic, romantic stories this is one for you.” – Jeannie Zelos, United Kingdom

“Historical fiction is by far my favorite genre and this book captures the elements perfectly. An engaging, strong heroine, a dashing, honorable stranger, a brutal daily life existence in Newfoundland set during WWI. The story and characters are made more rich by the superb writing. I look forward to reading more from this author.” – Diane Tyson, USA

“This book was a real treat to read. By 30% in I was completely invested in the characters. The strength, passion and adversity that the couple have to endure are reminiscent of The Bronze Horseman, but beyond that, Rebecca and Samuel find their own way of handling things. I have already found myself recommending this book to others that have loved The Bronze Horseman. I do believe that if you enjoy an epic love story, this will make a fine reading suggestion.” – Karen Scott, Canada

About the Author

Australian-born Sherryl Caulfield is a marketer, writer and traveller. After twenty years working for some of the world’s leading technology brands and a stint with Outward Bound, she longed to write about the human experience and the redemptive qualities of nature.

In 2006, haunted by an encounter with a woman she met in Canada, Sherryl started what has now become known as The Iceberg Trilogy. From her home in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, she distilled the lives of three generations of women – Rebecca, Evangeline and Lindsay – over the course of a century. In the telling of their stories she crafted a series rich in landscapes – of sea, land and the human soul.

For more information please visit Sherryl Caulfield's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Review | "A Bride in Store" by Melissa Jagears

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears
Historical Romance/Christian Fiction published September 2, 2014
Bethany House Publishing
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell is on her way to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store business when her train is held up by robbers and she loses her dowry. She's further thwarted upon arriving in Salt Flatts only to find Axel, her groom, away on business.  

Hoping a wife would push Axel to become a better business partner, William Stanton had encouraged him to seek a mail-order bride. With Axel gone, Will feels responsible for Eliza, so he finds her a place to stay and lets her help in the store. 

Working together isn't what they'd expected, and when Axel is further delayed, neither can ignore the sparks that fly. But Eliza is meant for Axel and is set on a future with the store, while Will is biding time until he can afford medical school. 

Their troubles are far from over when Axel returns to town, however, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

My Thoughts...

This was another win from Melissa Jagears and Bethany House.  I really enjoyed this book maybe even more than the first one in the series.  The male lead in this book was in the last book as well.  He is the oldest son of the family who were Everett's best friends.  We do get to see Everett and Julia a little bit in this story so that was nice.

Eliza in obviously the mail order bride here, she has decided to surprise her intended by showing up a week earlier than planned.  On the way, the train she is on in robbed and Eliza loses her entire inheritance.  She is also injured in the process and meets Will when he is called to help care for her injury.  Eliza and Will form a friendship while they work together in the store that Eliza will help her husband run if only he will return.  Will is working in the store with Axel for the time being, but he is meant for greater things.  He wants to be a doctor and actually does attend to a good many of the people in town.  They don't care that he doesn't have schooling, he cares for them and treats them in a much kinder way than the regular town doctor does.

The longer Will and Eliza work together the more he comes to care for her, and she for him, but she knows that once Axel returns she will have to marry him.  She made him a promise and she's not going to back out unless she has a very good reason.  She also has a dream of running her own store someday and this may be her only chance, plus there is the chance that she could learn to love Axel someday.  From the moment Axel return, things take an unexpected turn.  He's not the man he presented himself to be, in fact he's done things that even his business partner Will knows nothing about.  How will Eliza know which path to choose?  Will she and Will find their way to each other in the end?

I really did enjoy this story.  It is a religious story, but it's more subtle in this book than in the first one.  For me this one read more like historical fiction and less like religious fiction.  I felt like this definitely reflected the beliefs of the time it's set in so it's less "in your face" than some of the religious fiction I have read.

If you like a good historical romance, you like clean romance and you don't mind that is religious fiction then give this book a try!

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Review | "A Bride for Keeps" by Melissa Jagears

Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears
Historical Romance/Christian Fiction published October 3, 2013
Bethany House Publishing
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him. 

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas. 

Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?

My Thoughts...

As you know, if you follow the blog here, I don't read much Religious Fiction.  I will, however, occasionally accept a book from Bethany House for review and I have yet to read one that I have not enjoyed.  This book falls firmly in that category.  Actually, I think this is probably my favorite of the books I have received from them.  

This book is set in Kansas in 1876.  Everett is a farmer who has had a bit of bad luck when it comes to finding a wife.  The girl he loved when he was young left him for someone else.  He goes off to war and comes back to start working his land and decides that maybe a mail order bride might be the thing for him. After three disastrous attempts he comes to the conclusion that maybe it's not meant for him after all.  This is when a meddling, albeit well meaning friend decides to find him a bride on her own.  She starts communicating with Julia and when Julia tells her about certain situations in her life, Rachel invites her to Kansas to be Everett's mail order bride.  Unfortunately for Everett, he doesn't know anything about this until her train arrives on a day when he just happens to be in town picking up supplies.

So, without giving too much away Everett believes Julia to be too "high-class" to ever be satisfied being the wife of a simple homesteader.  He doesn't think she has what it takes to live the lifestyle that he and his wife will have to live to make a go of the farm.  Julia, on the other hand, is running from her past in a sense and so she's pretty well determined that she's going to do whatever it takes.  They take a little time to try to get to know one another before she agrees to marry him, but in name only.  She will be his wife and she will help him with the homestead and the like, but she has no intention of ever becoming intimate with him for reasons known only to her.  He agrees, partly because he's at a point where he doesn't think he will ever find anyone else, but partly because he does like her and he thinks that given time she will come to feel the same for him.

They have a rough go of it, a lot of assumptions and misplaced anger.  Some of it is childish stuff, in fact most of it is, but thankfully for them they have Rachel and Dex to help them see things the way they really are.  They are even able to help some others along the way.  Everett has a very deep connection to God and believes that above all God will help him find the right path.  Because of this faith he is able to help Julia find her way to God.  He sets an example that she is not able to overlook.

This is a good clean romance and it does have a pretty strong religious undertone.  I don't normally like books that push this too much, but in the case of this book there is a nice balance and there were some parts that had me thinking awfully hard about how I felt.  I would not hesitate to pick up more books in this series, in fact I just saw on Goodreads that Dex and Rachel's story is told in a novella the proceeds this book and it's free on Amazon for Kindle so I picked that up this morning.

If you like a good historical romance, you like clean romance and you don't mind that is religious fiction then give this book a try!

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Historical Romance Review "Dark Road Home" by Elizabeth Ludwig

Dark Road Home by Elizabeth Ludwig
Historical Romance released August 2013
Bethany House Publishing

Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Ana Kavanagh’s only memories of home are of fire and pain. As a girl she was the only survivor of a terrible blaze, and years later she still struggles with her anger at God for letting it happen.

At a nearby parish she meets and finds a kindred spirit in Eoghan Hamilton, who is struggling with his own anger–his sister, Cara, betrayed him by falling in love with one of his enemies. Cast aside by everyone, Eoghan longs to rejoin the Fenians, a shadowy organization pushing for change back in Ireland. But gaining their trust requires doing some favors–all of which seem to lead back to Ana. Who is she and who is searching for her? As dark secrets from Ana’s past begin to come to light, Eoghan must choose which road to follow–and where to finally place his trust.

My Thoughts...

This is the second book in the Edge of Freedom series.  Originally, when I decided to review this book, I thought it was a continuation of Cara and Rourke's story.  It is not.  This is a new story that takes place just after the events in the first book.  The main characters in this book are Eoghan, Cara's twin brother, and Ana a young woman who lives in the boarding house that Cara lived in during the first book.  This book is a continuation of the the whole Fenians/The Celt story line, however.

Ana is a damaged young woman who has been in America for some time after being more or less "spirited away" as a young girl to save her from someone who would do her harm.  As a child she lost her mother and younger sister to a house fire.  She didn't escape unscathed, however.  She is physically and emotionally damaged and is trying very hard to work past all her anger, most of it directed at a God whom she believes abandoned her.

Eoghan has found himself in a situation where he is working in and living at the local church.  He basically turns up on the doorstep in a miserable state and is put to work in exchange for a place to sleep and eat.  He is bitter and angry with his sister for marrying someone he considers to be a traitor and an enemy.  He has kept his distance from her not even allowing her to have a chance to explain their side of the situation.  He is having some trouble working in the church because his faith is just as shaky as Ana's.

Ana finds herself, at first against her will, volunteering at the church.  She meets Eoghan and is drawn to him immediately, but keeps her distance at first when she learns that he is Cara's brother.  She doesn't like keeping things from her friends and she wants more than anything for them to reconcile.  There are extenuating circumstances that tie Eoghan and Ana together, events that are tied to her past and his dealings with the Fenains.  Even when they try to keep their distance there are things bringing them back together over and over again.

In order for them to be happy they each have things they have to reconcile.  Ana with her past, Eoghan with his family and both of them with their faith.  I didn't like this book as much as I did the first one.  I wasn't as connected to the characters in this one for some reason.  The religious aspect of this book was way more "in your face" than in the first book.  In this one each character was dealing with issues concerning their faith and that's the reason it's more prevalent.  I didn't dislike that, it was just different than the previous book.   I felt like this book was a little more predictable and at times cliche.  For me, it lacked the suspense and excitement of the first book.  

This was a good clean historical romance.  If you like this kind of book then you may want to give this one a try.  I would recommend reading the first book though since that one give a lot of the history of the Fenians that isn't really re-covered in this book.  Also, the first book is pretty good!

*Disclaimer:  I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.*