Sunday, May 23, 2021

Dusk's Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller

 


ABOUT THE BOOK

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England's beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it's a peaceful life.

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary's caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer--but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he's plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?

Adam wants no charity, but he's also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem. Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leads to scandal--and both Mary and Adam must search the depths of their closed hearts for answers if they hope to find any future path with happiness at its end.

Best-selling author Carolyn Miller is back with a fresh series that will not only thrill readers eager for more of her work, but bring in new fans looking for beautiful writing, fascinating research, deftly woven love stories, and real faith lived out in the Regency period.


MY REVIEW


Loved loved this book!

When I opened the book I had no idea what to expect but I was soon immersed and finished this book in a day!

Such a beautiful story! Very well written with awesome characters!

Yes, Adam was a bit ornery but who wouldn't be after he went through! I found myself rooting for him throughout the story and clapped my hands too!

Sweet Mary? Gotta love her. She wears her feelings on her sleeve for everyone to see just like me! Just like me she loves helping everyone in need. I admired her very much. 

The scenery was absolutely gorgeous! The way Ms. Miller wrote, I felt like I was there!

I really love how this story encourages and offers hope at the same time. 

It is chalk full of inspirational messages that we can use even today. 

God's word never changes. It's us who do. We think we can do it all on our own but really we can't. It's why God sends us certain people to help is along the way.

Of course there are some unsavory characters but that's what make this story good and what adds up to a good mystery.

I was very happy with the ending. It left me thinking about Adam and Mary long after the book was over. I know they still have a story to tell! I hope to see more of them in future books!

This is my favorite of all of Ms. Miller's books!

I highly recommend!

My thanks for a copy of this awesome book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own!



About the Author


Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia with her husband and four children.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel and food.

A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. 

Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com or find her on Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author)Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor)


Book Giveaway



The Hotel by Pamela Kelly

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Hotel
By Pamela Kelley
Women's Fiction, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 270  Pages
June 8, 2021 by Piping Plover Press

Secrets and lies...at Nantucket's most exclusive and glamorous, family-owned hotel.

The Whitley is Nantucket's most exclusive waterfront hotel--a sprawling collection of pristine white cottages and an elegant main building on a long stretch of private, white sandy beach.

It's a family owned business--brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, all work there in various capacities.

Paula is happy in her back office accounting position. But changes are in store when her grandfather promotes her and fires her cousin--who then blames Paula.

Meanwhile, a blond romantic comedy superstar is hiding out at The Hotel for a few months. She meets Paula's brother, a chef--who has no idea who she is--and she likes it that way.

Paula's grandfather also hires a consultant to help her settle into her new role. But she isn't sure what to think of David, who grew up on Nantucket but now lives in Manhattan.

He's a brilliant consultant and will be assessing Paula's suitability for the role. He's also home for another reason, a difficult family issue that makes Manhattan seem very far away.

A new family saga from the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller author of The Nantucket Inn and The Restaurant.

(Affiliate links included.)

MY REVIEW

The author is right about one thing! This book made me hungry and I found myself drooling right from the beginning! Oh my!
I loved " being" on Nantucket once again. I enjoyed my "visit" so much that I didn't want to leave.
I even like the name of the hotel The Whitley Hotel. I had an awesome visit and made new friends as well. 
I felt that the author did an excellent job with the mother's progressing disease. Not a whole lot or not too much. It's a terrible thing. Made me want to cry.
I think my favorite character was Paula. I enjoyed reading about her. The way she took everyday life and handled it like a pro. Even though there were things she didn't like she took it very well. (Something I don't think I can do.) 
In my opinion, Paula's grandfather was the coolest character of all. He knew what he was about and I loved how he encourages people to do their best and works with those that are not so good. I wish we had more people like him in the restaurant world. I think things would go so much better and that people would want to get out and work more.
I "felt" for Andrea. Her thoughts and feelings would have been exactly like mine at first. So I sort of understood her a lot! But she really didn't have to go out of her way to be ornery.
I learned quite a few things from this book and I definitely loved the author's note at the end of this book.
I think it would be awesome to try a job like that!
Anyway, a wonderful book and one that I finished on a day because it was so good!
Fans of foodie's will definitely love this book!
I recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book.
I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.




About the Author


Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a gorgeous Kate Space totebag with two signed paperbacks, one of The Hotel and one of The Nantucket Inn (US only)

Ends June 23, 2021

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Sunday, May 9, 2021

The Ack Ack girl by Chris Karlsen

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Ack Ack Girl
By Chris Karlsen
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 221 Pages
February 14, 2021

Love and War

A country under attack and the story of one woman's fight to protect England and her heart.

1941. The German war machine has crushed all of Europe-only England holds fast. To force a surrender, the German Luftwaffe bombs cities and villages the length of the country. As the battle rages, Britain is in desperate need to put more pilots in the air.

To free up more men a new unit is formed: The Ack Ack Girls. These special teams of courageous women will now fight in the anti-aircraft stations. Determined to be part of the effort, Ava Armstrong, volunteers for one of the special teams.

Her unit just happens to be located near an RAF airfield teaming with pilots. Sparks fly, and not just from artillery, When Ava crosses paths with Chris Fairfield, a handsome and cocky pilot stationed there. But nothing is easy in time of war, not even love.

(Affiliate links included.)

MY REVIEW

Loved loved this new story about WW2.
I learned something new while reading this book. 
The author has certainly done her research for this brand new story. 
I was intrigued from the beginning and enjoyed every minute of the book.
I have never heard of the Ack Ack girls until I seen this title. I was looking for something different to read and this caught my eye. I wasn't disappointed. I spent my Sunday afternoon lost in a time that I've only heard my grandpa talk about but I'm probably pretty sure he's not heard of these girls. But then again since he's never talked about it much I don't know. It's possible he did. He was too busy fighting the Germans himself.
There were some spots that I didn't care for but otherwise I loved it.
Here's a favorite quote and one reason it's a favorite is that it hits too close to home for me. I wished I had this advice years ago but I was too hard headed and wanted my own place. 

"Don't choose him just because he's handsome or charming, just be certain that you can trust him with your heart".

I love this advice from Ava's mother to Ava. 
Highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Five stars!



About the Author


I was raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor, and my mother, a voracious reader who passed on a love of history and books to me along with a love of travel.

I am a retired police detective. After twenty-five years in law enforcement, I decided to pursue my dream of writing. I write a historical-time travel romance series called Knights in Time and a historical suspense called The Bloodstone Series.

I also have a historical romance series called Love & War. A free copy of the first book in this series is available through my newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Moonlight_Serenade.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


Two winners will each receive a $20 USD Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)

Ends May 19, 2021

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The Songs that could have been by Amanda Wen

ABOUT THE BOOK Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace. After a tailspin in her late teens, Lau...