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Category: Romance

Review: The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden

[ 1 ] May 14, 2012

Reviewed by Meg Massey

Libby Sawyer and her father are stunned when a Romanian man named Michael Dobrescu overtakes their home, claiming that he owns it. Libby soon learns that Michael claims to be a descendant of the previous owner, and that he and his family were never notified of his uncle’s death.

Libby finds herself in a predicament as the novel continues, and not just because she’s no longer living in her own home. She soon finds herself growing more and more attracted to Michael, and the more she learns about him, the more she disagrees with her father that Michael and his family are imposters. As the court case to decide the fate of the house looms closer, Libby must decide if she sides with Michael and his family, or the father she’s never really understood.

The Rose of Winslow Street is a delightful historical, Christian fiction novel by librarian Elizabeth Camden. In the beginning of the novel, Libby is a young woman living with a shameful secret, and by the novel’s close, she had matured into a woman who knows what she wants, with the gumption to get it. And Michael is a man who often makes mistakes with his words, but always knows how to encourage and show love to those he cares for. My only complaint is that it ended too quickly!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Library professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Bethany House. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Courtesan’s Lover by Gabrielle Kimm

[ 3 ] May 7, 2012

Reviewed by Colleen Turner

Francesca Felizzi, the beautiful, quick-witted and caring courtesan we first met in Gabrielle Kimm’s novel, His Last Duchess, is back and center stage in The Courtesan’s Lover.

Two years have passed since she ran from the Duke of Ferrara and her life as his paid mistress, taking their twin daughters with her. Francesca is now enjoying the life of a well-paid courtesan in Napoli. She has two houses: one for her life with her daughters and one for her work. She has all the money she could need and is able to live an opulent, lascivious life on her own terms. She gives her body to her patrons in any manner of lewd ways and entertains patrons who can be quite brutal. But, she is paid very highly to do so and has always been able to keep her heart her own and stay in control of what happens behind closed doors. No matter what, she strives to keep the end goal in mind: to keep her daughters innocent of her work and to ensure that they will never have to sell themselves to survive.

When her services are paid for to deflower a young man named Gianni Della Rovere, he shows Francesca a touch of kindness she isn’t used to and she begins to long for someone who would truly love her. Out with another patron and disguised as his virtuous, widowed cousin, she meets Gianni’s father, Luca, and they share an instant attraction that shocks them both. She knows she wants him more than any other man and must do whatever it takes to try and make a life with him. But Luca is not the sort of man who would want a courtesan and she will have to give up the life that has helped her to survive all these years. But even when she gives up that life, will he accept her tainted reputation?

As Francesca’s lies about her life become too much and she resolves to tell Luca the truth, her life, and the lives of her daughters, are put in jeopardy by her past. She now must not only tell Luca the truth but enlist him to help her save her family. Will he be able to forgive her? And will she ever be able to be anything other than a courtesan?

I absolutely adored His Last Duchess and was so excited to read The Courtesan’s Lover. Gabrielle Kimm does not disappoint and this book is juicy, dramatic and thoroughly enticing. Readers who tend to shy away from sexualized stories may feel uncomfortable with some passages but I found that Kimm was able to communicate the bawdy parts of the story without being vulgar. While there are a few characters that I thought could have been left out of the story to condense its length, everyone served a purpose and all details were neatly wrapped up by the end.

The book stands alone from His Last Duchess but I would definitely recommend reading both books because they are both wonderful. If you like racy but well written historical fiction you can’t go wrong with either.

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Colleen lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, son, their dog Oliver and their fish Finn. When not working or taking care of her family she has her nose stuck in a book (and, let’s face it, often when she is working or taking care of her family as well). Nothing excites her more than discovering a new author to obsess over or a hidden jewel of a book to worship.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Giveaway: Helen Keller in Love by Rosie Sultan

[ 44 ] April 30, 2012

Enter to win a copy of Helen Keller in Love by Rosie Sultan!

About the book

Sultan, fascinated by Helen Keller since she was eight years old, was inspired by a brief note found in the Helen Keller Archives at the American Foundation for the Blind in a file labeled “Peter Fagan.” The note, from Fagan’s grown daughter, read: “I remember my father…showing us a lovely photograph of you, and beneath it a penciled note in your handwriting…I would certainly appreciate it very much if you remember him and would care to send me whatever recollections you have of him.” Helen never wrote back.

Helen Keller in Love begins when Helen is in her thirties and Annie Sullivan falls too ill to keep up with their grueling schedule on the lecture circuit. Annie’s estranged husband, John Macy, sends a young, ambitious reporter named Peter Fagan to step in as Helen’s private secretary. Their interactions—signing into hands and lip-reading with hands and fingers—soon blossoms into the full-fledged romance for which Helen has long yearned.

Finally liberated from the physical and moral constraints she has been forced to live under, Helen and Peter find their affair met with stern disapproval from both Annie and Helen’s family. With Helen already struggling to maintain crowds at her events and cash in her accounts, her new relationship ratchets up tension between those she holds most dear, most keenly with Annie Sullivan, the guide who led her journey from darkness to light.

A captivating love story of triumph and imaginative sympathy, Helen Keller in Love takes us into the mind and heart of an American icon.
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Blog Tour & Kindle Fire Giveaway: Baroness by Susan May Warren

[ 2 ] April 29, 2012

Please welcome Susan May Warren, author of Baroness, who is touring the blogosphere with Litfuse Publicity Group!

Reviewed by Meg Massey

The second in Susan May Warren’s Daughters of Fortune series, Baroness picks up several years after where its predecessor, Heiress, left off. Esme’s daughter Lilly is spending time in Paris with her cousin Rosie, Jinx’s daughter, but not of her own free will. She’d much rather return to Montana, a place she feels that her mother has long forgotten. Rosie, in the meantime, is longing for fame on the silver screen. But when both jump into relationships with men they barely know, will their broken hearts prevent them from pursuing their dreams?

From the streets of Paris, to the lights of Broadway, and to the wild west, Susan May Warren’s Baroness takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget. A wonderful follow-up to the story of Esme and Jinx in Heiress, this tale creates unique heroines in Rosie and Lilly. Lilly’s untamed nature is part of her charm, but is it destined to lead her to trouble? And Rosie wants to create a life of her own, apart from her mother and stepfather, but it leads her, and the man she loves, onto a dangerous path.

I loved that this story allowed its new heroines, Lilly and Rosie, to shine, but it also provided an update on the lives of Esme, Oliver, Jinx and Bennett, which I very much enjoyed. And with just the right amount of romance and drama, you can’t go wrong. If you liked the first installment of the series, you’ll love where the second book takes you.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Also by Susan May Warren:

Heiress | My Foolish Heart | Licensed for Trouble | Double Trouble

Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Library professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Summerside Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Baroness Roaring 20s Kindle Fire Giveaway from @SusanMayWarren!
Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

Expected to marry well and to take the reins of the family empire, they have their lives planned out for them. But following their dreams –from avant garde France, to Broadway, to the skies in the world of barnstormers and wing-walkers –will take all their courage.  And if they find love, will they choose freedom or happily ever after?

Celebrate with Susan by entering her Roaring 20′s Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire
  • Signed copies of Baroness and Heiress by Susan May Warren

But hurry, the giveaway ends on 5/7/12. The winner will be announced on 5/9/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Susan’s giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

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Review: The Three Colonels by Jack Caldwell

[ 3 ] April 27, 2012

Reviewed by Meg Massey

Colonels Buford, Fitzwilliam, and Brandon are three men in the midst of courtship or early marriage with three beloved Austen heroines. Romance is the rule of the day, until Napoleon escapes from exile in Elba, and draws all of Europe into chaos. Suddenly these three men find themselves heading back into battle, and Caroline, Anne and Marianne find themselves struggling with the possibility of losing those they love.

Jack Caldwell’s The Three Colonels is a refreshing continuation of Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility. Caldwell creates a storyline in which our favorite characters from both novels, like Elizabeth and Marianne, become friends and interact regularly. We also see a wonderful transformation in Caroline Bingley, and a change in her relationship with the Darcys and the Bennet sisters.

In addition to Caldwell’s believable characterizations, this novel features action-packed battle scenes at Waterloo and the growth of romances that we never would have thought possible. In short, The Three Colonels is the ideal read for Austen fans, and one of the most enjoyable Austen sequels I’ve read in a long time.

Warning: This novel does contain some sexual content.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Library professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: More Than You Know by Penny Vincenzi

[ 2 ] April 26, 2012

Reviewed by Ann Liu

Historical fiction that takes off in the 1950′s, More Than You Know describes how different the lives and expectations of the wealthy and working class were and what happened when someone tried to break out of the mold. The privileged were expected to marry the privileged and the men had the financial control in the household while the women stayed home and took care of the kids.

Eliza Clark, the main character, is more of a feminist, choosing to pursue her dream career in fashion instead of getting married. She comes from a privileged family and all her mother wants is for her to marry the man who can give her everything money has to offer. Enter Matt Shaw, a working class citizen. The two are introduced by Eliza’s brother, and become involved in a relationship. When she becomes pregnant, she quits her job, marries Matt – despite her mother’s wishes – and becomes a stay at home mom.

The marriage becomes challenged as Eliza’s dissatisfaction with being a stay at home mom grows. She misses the fast paced career life, and has difficulty dealing with a demanding daughter. Her relationship with Matt becomes more and more strained over time, especially when they lose their second child at birth.

Matt’s very sexist beliefs about the role of a woman in the house, his views on money, and traditional views of a woman’s place in the marriage are dispersed throughout the story. He controls the money, and he refuses to allow Eliza to work even when she has great job offers. Eventually, Matt becomes successful through his business ventures and suddenly feels powerful, forgetting where he started from. This shift in dynamics makes it hard to relate to him at all. As Matt and Eliza eventually distance themselves from one another, Eliza is caught in a one-night affair and divorce proceedings begin.

And that is where the book suddenly becomes engaging! I could feel the emotions of both sides and their custody battle was a very traumatic process. I felt very disconnected from both Eliza and Matt, not believing in their marriage, only because the view of marriage nowadays is so different than what it seemed to be for them. I lost even more respect for them when the divorce started.

Penny Vincenzi does give insight as to why Eliza fell in love with Matt in the first place; the era where women took a back seat to men seems foreign yet real at the same time. The only person I really felt bad for was the little daughter who was caught up in the tumultuous battle. I learned quite a bit about how things were back in the old days and despite growing up in an era where women have equal rights, it is infuriating to think how limited roles were in generations past. More Than You Know definitely reminded me of how far women have advanced since the ’50s!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Ann Liu loves to read women’s fiction, chick-lit, romance, and self help books. She lives in sunny Southern California, where she can enjoy her time reading outdoors.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Doubleday. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green

[ 2 ] April 20, 2012

Reviewed by Ann Liu

Thirty-seven year old  Andi gets married for the very first time.  She not only gets a husband but also two of his kids from a previous marriage. Andi has always wanted children so she lovingly raises them yet the parenting does not come easy. The eldest child Emily, age 11, challenges her and creates chaos at every turn.  Emily resents Andi for marrying her dad and feels she is in the way. It is a tense relationship for many years.

Things build up slowly as we see how manipulative Emily becomes.  Andi struggles with a husband who constantly sides with his daughter and just when you think the marriage is going to crumble, things take another turn.  Emily does not take responsibility for her actions and ends up becoming a rebellious,  misunderstood teenager, and seeks a place to belong.  She makes one bad choice after another and yet never takes responsibility for her actions. Her behavior leads her to continue to play out her dysfunctional role in the family and keeps all members locked in this unhealthy dance.

Another Piece of My Heart has a beautifully designed cover with a fitting title, but what lurks beneath is much more complicated.  Part of me thinks that in real life things would not play out the way they do. I kept wondering why this dysfunctional family didn’t seek any family counseling since there were deeply unresolved issues between the husband and his ex-wife. It was frustrating to read about the struggles that Andi had to go through and I always felt very sorry for her.

This story will anger you and also warm your heart by the end.  I finished the book in two sittings since it grabbed my attention and drew me into the depths of each family members’ perspective, allowing me to feel each person’s pain.

Jane Green writes with such intensity and creates real characters who are flawed yet redeem themselves in some way as they work through the challenges. I was only concerned with a minor story line about Andi’s infatuation with another man.  It was so minor that I didn’t see the point or even the possibility of it being significant to the whole story.

The beginning half of Another Piece of My Heart moved very slowly but I am glad I got through it because the second half was intense. Just when I thought things were calm in the family, they only became disturbed again because the past never rests. This book certainly leaves a lot to think about in terms of what defines a family and the troubles that result from issues that are not dealt with openly.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Also by Jane Green: Promises to Keep

Ann Liu loves to read women’s fiction, chick-lit, romance, and self help books. She lives in sunny Southern California, where she can enjoy her time reading outdoors.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by St. Martin’s Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

[ 4 ] April 19, 2012

Please welcome Rachel Hauck, author of The Wedding Dress, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Amanda Schafer

Charlotte Malone owns a bridal shop where she helps brides-to-be find the perfect dress. She’s also supposed to be finding the perfect dress for herself since her own wedding to Tim Rose is just a few weeks away. But Charlotte is feeling out of sorts so she goes up to Ludlow Estates (a well-known mountain attraction) to think and have quiet time. What she finds instead is a beautiful old trunk at an auction and impulsively buys it. However, a short time after Charlotte buys the trunk, she and Tim break off their engagement. They both realize they rushed things and are not really ready to get married.

Emily Canton gave her love to Daniel Ludlow before he went off to play baseball. Since Daniel didn’t write to her to profess his mutual love, Emily decided to marry Phillip Saltonstall. Phillip is a young and handsome man who is a part of a wealthy and prominent family in Birmingham. But when Daniel comes back and tells Emily that he did in fact write to her while he was gone, she begins to doubt her decision. When she suspects Phillip of being unfaithful to her, she questions herself even further.

Emily’s mother insists on a particular wedding dress, made by a popular designer in town. But Emily’s heart is set on wearing the wedding dress designed by Taffy Hayes, a black seamstress from the “other” side of town. Taffy’s dress is simple, elegant, beautiful, and timeless.

Charlotte finally decides to open the trunk with Tim’s help and discovers a beautiful wedding dress inside that looks as if it’s never been worn or altered in any way. But who would part with this dress and lock it away in a trunk? In the process of finding out about the dress, Charlotte also finds out that she is deeply connected to the dress in ways she never imagined.

Rachel Hauck is a great writer and can really draw a reader in. I was a bit disappointed at first because The Wedding Dress did not “grab” me in the way her books usually do. But I kept reading and within a few chapters I was hooked!

While at first I was expecting the book to be about a dress that was handed down through generations in a family, The Wedding Dress was about so much more. A wedding dress and generations, yes, but Hauck threw in plenty of twists and turns that made the story more exciting.

At the end of the book Rachel Hauck states that the book is a symbol of the Gospel in that it never wears out, is timeless, and fits everyone who tries it on. But I also came away with the idea that we’re always connected to past generations even when we don’t feel like we are. Charlotte felt completely alone in the world because she had no immediate family. What she didn’t realize at the time was that she has always been connected to her ancestors through her town and through the people she met.

Again, Rachel Hauck has done a great job with The Wedding Dress and her writing style is very easy to read. The only thing about the book that disappointed me was that she never came back to address Daniel’s letter to Emily while he was away. She found them and started to read them, but stopped and hid them away. We never get to finish those letters to know what else he said in them. However, this was a minor issue for me and did not affect the plot at all. As a whole, this was a very enjoyable book!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

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Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband, two sons, and one daughter. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book!

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Thomas Nelson. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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