Sunday, March 16, 2025

Kate Landry Has a Plan

About the Book:

I turned to him, and he winked at me. Winked! We needed clear lines in place between us. We would not be flirty friends. We’d be friends, period. The sooner I made that distinction, the better.Forty-year-old Kate Landry’s carefully planned life has become as messy as the powdered sugar on her famous beignets. Juggling the responsibilities of running her café, raising her teenage niece, and the emotional baggage from her breakup, Kate finds her world once again turned upside down when her first-ever crush, Micah Guidry, returns to town as the hunky local librarian. As Kate struggles to implement her plans to expand her café amid the New Orleans Mardi Gras madness and the meddling of her conniving ex-fiancé, Micah becomes the unwitting hero of her misadventures, stirring up feelings she thought she’d long buried. How can falling in love in the Big Easy be this hard?

My Review:

Kate Landry is one determined lady to keep things neatly arranged in her life. That way, she has some control and normalcy after she has suffered some devastating losses.I loved that Kate was a woman in her forties; I felt that added depth to her character. She has experienced a lot in her life, with the death of her beloved sister, a broken engagement, and running a successful restaurant. But, life is rarely kept in a neat box and events checked off on a spreadsheet, unexpected things happen. I love that Kate had to rethink those ideas and decide to take some chances on new beginnings.

Kate was so cute when she learns that she was to be her niece’s legal guardian. She created spread sheets on parenting, vitamin percentage charts, etc. When Hayley enters teen hood, the spreadsheets aren’t working as well as they had when she was young. She’s a great character, and I I thought it was funny how she petitioned (frequently) for a dog. Kate has a very trusting nature and when things are revealed about Ryan, her ex- fiancé, I wanted give him a piece of my mind; he was really rather deplorable.

I loved Micah because he never gave up and chose to see the positive things in life. Being a librarian; helping Kate; returning home for family reasons, and planning fun library events made him such an endearing character. I was glad he looked past Kate’s reluctance to see there could be more for them.

Things to love:

New Orleans

childhood crush

funny sayings

Hawaiian shirts

humor

water guns

pro/con spreadsheet

Operation Friends Only

faith aspect of the characters

This is the second book in the Beignets for Two series, but it can be read as a standalone. I look forward to reading more of this author’s books. I highly recommend this book; it will make you smile and looking forward to reading more of the series.

death of parents

infertilty

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and AustenProse. All opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Rescued Duty

About the Book:

After growing up in foster care, investigative reporter Naya Michél has learned there’s usually more to a situation than meets the eye. When she’s assigned a story about the current water contamination crisis in town, Naya is ready to show her boss she has what it takes to secure a promotion—especially since the events surrounding the story have personal ties to her childhood. When her investigation makes her the target of someone who wants the truth kept quiet, how far will Naya’s determination take her before the cost becomes too much?

Rescue Squad firefighter and former foster kid Zack Stephens is ready to step up his game at work when his boss hands him a cold case for hazmat training. As Zack delves into the case, he uncovers a shocking revelation—his parents’ deaths weren’t accidental. Determined to find their murderer, Zack throws himself into the investigation. But he doesn’t expect his search to collide with Naya, the girl he promised to protect when they lived in foster care together.

As threats mount and Naya is caught in the crosshairs, can Zack reconcile the mistakes of his past and find a killer before someone deals a lethal blow? And can the two of them learn to trust—and love—each other again despite the pain of their past?

My Review:

A terrible event brings Naya and Zach together to figure out what is happening. The more involved they become, the more they are being targeted. The interesting thing is that they had known each other as children and never had closure from past events. I liked seeing their relationship heal and move forward. Things to look forward to in the story:

second chances

strong female character

mystery

rivals

action

danger

found family

faith element

fire rescue team

Favorite quote:

“The truth is beautiful because it sheds light on the darkness and exposes it.”

This is the fifth book in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue, but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed reading it and you will too if you like to read books by similar authors such as Susan May Warren or Elizabeth Goddard.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Written in Secret

Written in Secret JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

About the Book

Title: Written in Secret

Series: The Art of Love and Danger #1

Author: Crystal Caudill

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall's only lead is Lydia's fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the "Killer Queen of Romance." Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati's citizens, but for their own hearts too.

My Review:

When a plan to rescue a circus animal goes awry, Lydia Pelton finds herself caught up in the mayhem and the wrong side of the law. Officer Abraham Hall is immediately attracted to this bold and daring young lady who he must take in for questioning. I loved the friendship and camaraderie of Lydia and her two friends who are known as The Guardians who stand with each other through thick and thin, including a trip to the police station.

Lydia learns a valuable lesson and experiences firsthand the saying that “the pen is mightier than the sword” as a vigilante brings to life her novels of punishing criminals. She must face hard questions about her motives behind her writing. Do her books really bring about the justice that she set out to achieve? With several suspects and plot twists, I was surprised to discover who was the perpetrator of the murders that were inspired by her books.

This is the first book in the new Love of Art and Danger series. I love the setting of the Gilded Age in Cincinnati with streets named that are actually real locations. I look forward to reading more of these books that have strong faith elements.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Also Available

About the Author

Crystal Caudill

Crystal Caudill is the Christy Award–winning author of “dangerously good romance,” including the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalcaudill.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Written in Secrets and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 12, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 19, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Driving Maisie Crazy

My Review:

Have you ever taken a bus tour trip? It takes a special person to be the guide/host, and Finn O’Meara does a terrific job in telling jokes and making people feel welcome. When Maisie King captures his attention, it’s hard for Finn not to want to be her personal guide for the sites. Balancing his obligations and trying to find a way to get to know Maisie better provides its own set of challenges.

You can’t but love Finn with his Irish sayings and his deep caring nature for his family. He has a generous heart and puts aside his wants in order to meet the needs of others. He is quite the selfless person and when something happens on the tour, I couldn’t help but root for Finn and thinking that he should come out on top of things.

Maisie was cute with her dresses and her white tennis shoes. I especially loved when she found a solution to riding a bike while being clothed as she was. Finn’s response was great and had me laughing as he described her.

There are so many things to love about this book. Here are just a few of them:

Bob the bus
witty banter
karaoke singing
local band
food journal
goose bump rating
Irish landscape and sayings
Fifteens and heaven
friend group
family

This is the second book in the Men of the Isles series. It was fun to see Winnie and Matthew from Winning Winnie’s Hand, the first book in the series, be a part of the story. I highly recommend this romantic comedy. While this is a standalone, you’re sure to want to read the first book too. I am looking forward to book three and hope it comes out sooner than later!

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

About the Book:

She vowed to solve a murder.
Now she’s in danger of losing her heart … and her very life.

Diana Taylor, a bright and spirited governess who has sworn off love, is sent to Pendowar Hall in Cornwall to honor a pledge. She vows to teach her godmother’s niece and to find out who was behind the suspicious death of the former baronet. But her new charge is also a mystery, as is the man who inherited the ancient coastal estate—the charismatic but brooding Royal Navy Captain William Fallbrook, who is home on leave to recover from an injury.

As Diana investigates, her feelings for the enigmatic Captain Fallbrook blossom, and her guard goes up. Pendowar Hall is brimming with secrets as well as a frightening legend about a Mermaid’s Curse. What is behind the mysterious footsteps in the night? Is there more to the story of the tragic deaths of the former baronet’s wife and son? What secrets is Captain Fallbrook hiding? Can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?

He looks to be entranced by Diana, even though her determination to dig up the past seems to get on his last nerve. Soon, Diana’s bold quest to unmask his uncle’s killer leads her into terrifying danger, for someone is determined to end her life before she can discover the truth.

My Review

Diana Taylor is the perfect person to investigate on behalf of her godmother, Mrs. Phillps, the circumstances of her brother’s death. Courageous in the face of danger and eager to get the answers needed to get justice, Diana is just the young lady to investigate what happened at Pendowar Hall. She also was such a caring young lady who brought hope and help to her student, Emma.

I love the Gothic atmosphere of this story with dark stormy nights, the brooding and pensive Captain William Fallbrook, and mysterious footsteps late at night. It has several twists and clues to keep you intrigued throughout the story. If you enjoy a romance story that has the elements of suspense and foreboding castles, this is the book for you.

Things to love:
governess
Jane Eyre feeling
mermaid legends
a curse
rugged setting
Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire
dyslexic character
forgiveness

Favorite Quotes:

“Guilt and regret are like cancer, Captain. They can eat one away from the inside out if we let them.”

“Nothing is impossible, Miss Taylor. The word itself says, “I’m possible.”

“Forgive them, “ he said again. “Not for their sakes, but for your own. For your peace of mind. It’s the only way forward.”

I highly recommend this first book in the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire series. I can’t wait to read more of the stories of these ladies. I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley and AustenProse. All opinions are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Saturday, March 1, 2025

His Grace's Governess

About the Book

Book: His Grace’s Governess

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historic Romance

Release date: February 4, 2025

A governess with a secret. A duke with a broken heart. Can love heal their wounds?

Miss Eleanor Clairbridge, at five and twenty, has resigned herself to a life without love. With her family’s London townhouse threatened by dwindling finances, she accepts employment as a governess to help support her widowed mother and preserve her cherished childhood home. When Eleanor arrives at Ivy Grange Estate, the last thing she expects to find is a spark of attraction between her and her new employer. Determined not to risk her position, she resolves to keeps her distance. There is more than one reason a romance between them can never be.

Edmund Colhampton, the Duke of Albemarle, has no intention of finding love. Since losing his family in a tragic carriage accident five years ago, he has devoted himself to protecting his young niece, the only family he has left. But when his niece’s enchanting governess arrives at the estate, Edmund finds himself reconsidering his vow never to love again. Why then, as he seeks to know her more, does she seem determined to avoid him at all costs?

As Eleanor fulfills her role as governess, her past begins to catch up with her, threatening to unravel the secrets she holds dear. Both Eleanor and Edmund must confront their deepest fears and decide whether to succumb to the darkness within or brave the path to healing and love.

My Review:

Forced to seek employment as a governess or face destitution, Eleanor Clairbridge receives an offer from the Duke of Albemarle to teach his niece, Rosie. Immediately drawn to Eleanor, Rosie flourishes and so does Edmund. Both he and Eleanor have lost their parents and it takes someone like Ellie who has experienced grief to bring Edmund out of his deep suffering and help him see a brighter future. Edmund also helps Ellie to see that she is a beautiful person, both in character and appearance. The staff added a welcoming feeling and depth to the story. I enjoyed this Regency romance. This is one story that will appeal to readers of all ages. It is the first book in the Saving the Spinsters series. It will be interesting to see what the next spinster's story will be like. I received a copy of the book through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

More from Jackie

In His Grace’s Governess, much trouble befalls Edmund and Eleanor as they attempt to sort out their close proximity to and burgeoning feelings for one another, but there is one scene in particular that I enjoyed researching.

In one scene of the novel, Mr. Roskilly(the gardener at Ivy Grange Estate) worries at Eleanor plucking the plant Rabelera–otherwise known as Greater Stitchwort–from the ground. He fears that danger will befall Eleanor if she takes it from the garden and Eleanor, misunderstanding him, even believes at one point that Mr. Roskilly might be threatening her. But, why is Mr. Roskilly so worried? Is he really so concerned that Edmund’s hackles will be raised when he sees that Eleanor has plucked a few mere flowers from the garden–and with his niece, no less?

Indeed, that is not where his concern lies, for if you read the passage closely, you’ll see that Mr. Roskilly is Cornish. This is an important factor. When doing my research for the novel, I found that, in Cornwall, it is believed that Greater Stitchwort is the property of the pixies. It is believed that to pick it is to take it from them and to anger them, and if you anger them then there is all the chance that they may well retaliate for you having stolen what was theirs. Truly, they may even enchant you, according to legend. Having read this and being sufficiently intrigued, the scene was born! I do hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I do.

Here is an excerpt from it so you know what I’m referring to:

“Hope yer walk’s went well. ’Tis a fine day fer one.” He grinned, revealing a mouth full of crooked teeth. His Cornish accent was thick, with a friendly tone to his voice.

Eleanor returned his smile and nodded. “It certainly is. What better way to spend a morning than to enjoy the sun in these beautiful gardens? They’re the finest I’ve ever seen.”

She could’ve sworn there was a hint of a blush on the man’s tawny face. “I than’ ye, miss. We do our righ’ bes’, and keepin’ i’ as i’ is makes ’is Grace ’appy. Ever since…” The man trailed off, a growing look of concern on his face.

What had he been about to say? Something about the duke or his family?

“Greater Stitchwort.” He spoke with a grave edge to his words, looking intently at the flower in Rose’s hand.

Eleanor’s gaze flitted from the man to the flower, her brows furrowing. “Is something wrong, sir?”

The man tilted his head, flicking his eyes to the side in a plea for a private conversation.

I will not say whether this decision to pick the plant affected Eleanor later on in the story or not, but I’ll leave you with this: Do consider all of the plants you touch before you decide to place your hand upon them and pull them from the ground.

Happy reading!

Jackie Killelea