Death At The Abbey by Jan Durham

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Totally gripping

Liz discovers a dead body near Whitby Abbey whilst walking her dog early one morning and ends up more involved in the police investigation than she may have planned

I liked Liz, she is an older character who shows that it’s still possible to have a proper life after retirement whilst also restoring 2 cottages. She gets pulled into the investigation and ends up uncovering certain clues in a Miss Marple type manner which help her to unravel the mystery which I thought was really well done and blended into the story so she felt like a real person to me 

I think a part of the reason this story worked so well for me was the supporting characters from Liz’s close circle of friends and some of the people in the town who made the book come alive

The main mystery runs throughout with other things coming together to challenge the characters and make them wonder if everything is connected and if it is then how and why

This book caught my attention from the beginning and I ended up reading it all in one go which was so not planned but which shows how the story pulled me in and had me gripped and determined to find out more, especially following each new twist and turn

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a mystery novel that will pull you in and have you so entwined in the story that it’s possible to forget it’s fiction!

AM 🐾 x

The Lost Laird from Her Past by Jeanine Englert

A second chance…With her first love!

Lady Brenna Stewart is grateful to be saved from her burning carriage—only her rescuer is Laird Garrick MacLean, the man she once loved and lost! He seems determined to protect her from the unknown enemy pursuing her across the Scottish Highlands. But, bitterly hurt by his past betrayal, she needs answers. Why did he abandon her? And how can she keep her heart safe now, when the connection between them is as strong as ever…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Totally gripping 

Garrick finds Brenna after a carriage accident and once they realise that someone is trying to kill her they make plans to get to her sisters house for safety but Garrick and Brenna were once close to being engaged and he disappeared without a trace… 

I loved Brenna, she is strong and determined, even though she doesn’t always feel that way, she is smart and was trying to take control of her life, even if things don’t always quite go to plan! Garrick left to go to rescue his sister but she is killed and he feels responsible so he kept away from his home and family, believing that he wasn’t worthy of them, and especially not worthy of Brenna. He is stubborn and resourceful, he is determined to keep Brenna safe but she makes him look inside himself and question his beliefs 

This book is full of danger and drama, set at a time when the English King was trying to take over the Scottish Highlands, Brenna and Garrick find themselves in the middle of a plot that could change their world but they must work together to find out what is going on and to keep Brenna safe, even if their feelings for each other aren’t quite as in the past as they had hoped 

I loved this book from the very first page, we were first introduced to Brenna and Garrick as part of her sister Moira’s story and I’m so glad that I was able to read their story, and become entwined in their lives. The danger at times felt so real that I had to remind myself that I was at home and safe, but that just shows how pulled in I was. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romance full of drama and danger that will catch your attention and at times leave you gasping for breath with characters who you will adore

AM 🐾 x 

Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/u/b6Mwnp

Author Bio 

Jeanine Englert’s love affair with mysteries and romance began with Nancy Drew, Murder She Wrote, and her Grandmother’s bookshelves full of romance novels. She is a VIVIAN® and Golden Heart® Finalist as well as a Silver Falchion, Maggie, and Daphne du Maurier Award Winner in historical romance and mystery. Her Scottish Highland historical and historical romantic suspense novels revolve around characters seeking self-acceptance and redemption. When she isn’t wrangling with her characters on the page, she can be found trying to convince her husband to watch her latest Masterpiece or BBC show obsession. She loves to talk about books, writing, her beloved rescue pups, as well as mysteries and romance with other readers. Visit her website at www.jeaninewrites.com.

Social Media Links –

FB: https://www.facebook.com/JeanineWrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanineWrites

Website: https://www.jeaninewrites.com

Goodreads:  The Lost Laird from Her Past by Jeanine Englert (goodreads.com)

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jeanine-englert?list=about

Instagram: https://www.instragram.com/JeanineWrites

 

While Away the Hours in Scotland Giveaway! (Open to UK / US)

Whether it’s too cold, too hot, or too rainy where you are, you can while away the hours with the first two books in the Falling for a Stewart Series: Eloping with the Laird and The Lost Laird from Her Past! Your prize also includes two Scottish blessing bracelets, one for you and one for a friend, and some lovely book swag! Happy reading!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494507/?

*Terms and Conditions –UK & US entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

A Defiant Maiden’s Knight by Melissa Oliver

A knight’s protection…That she doesn’t want…or need?

Joan Lovent may be losing her sight but she refuses to lose her independence too. So when Sir Warin de Talmont tells her it’s too perilous to be out alone in the city, she doesn’t pay him any heed. But with threats surrounding them, she begins to value his protection and helps with his dangerous work in return. If only the powerful connection between them wasn’t so impossible to ignore!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Totally brilliant and amazing

Warin is one of the Knights of Fortitude, tasked with protecting Henry III but his friend and fellow knight Thomas has also asked him to keep an eye on and protect his sister Joan whilst he is away from London 

I loved Joan as a character, she has an eye condition that is worsening and will one day make her blind but she is still determined to lead a relatively normal life and doesn’t let her condition stop her from doing anything she wants to. She is smart and protective of those she cares about and won’t let someone telling her that she can’t do something stop her which made me love her even more as a character. Warin doesn’t want to have to look after Joan and definitely doesn’t want her involved in the investigation of a plot against the King but she won’t take no for an answer and he soon learns just how valuable she can be. Warin is haunted by the death of his first wife but that doesn’t stop Joan getting under his skin and I loved seeing this big, strong, brave knight coming under her spell

Warin and Joan’s story caught me from the very first chapter and reminded me that anything can be possible, you may just have to do things for yourself or fight for what you believe in. They are both characters who are determined to get their own way but those sparks just made me love them more and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to find out more about the investigation Warin and his fellow knights are doing, the intrigue, drama and danger of it pulled me in and now has me wondering about what is happening and if the knights can stop the plot in time 

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a story with characters who you will love right from the start, a mystery and a story of personal change and development that will have you hooked right from the start

AM 🐾 x

UK Harper Collins- https://bit.ly/3isA6ng

Harlequin US https://bit.ly/3Jwt397

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09N1RD4D2/

Amazon US https://amzn.to/3udgZmC

Author Bio 

Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, palaces and all things historical.

Melissa is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.

When she’s not writing she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.

Social Media Links

Instagram @melissaoliverauthor

Twitter @melissaoauthor 

Facebook @melissaoliverauthor

www.melissaoliverauthor.com

The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple

This very handsome earl…Is the one man she cannot fall for…
War widow Lily Walsh has left her aristocratic family behind, but she can’t deny her younger sister’s request to come to London to meet her fiancé. Though not a love match, Lord Sherborne is kind, amusing and ideal for her sister on paper. But as Lily gets to know him, she’s finding him alarmingly attractive! And the forbidden look in the earl’s eye shows the feeling is mutual…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely amazing!! 

Marcus is engaged to Anne but it’s an arranged marriage and not a love match. When Anne’s sister Lily comes to London to support her sister before her wedding, her and Marcus find themselves drawn together

I totally loved this book from the very first page, Marcus and Lily are so obviously drawn together and seeing them both deny their feelings but still being drawn together made me love them even more. They are both independent people who have strong personalities which made them feel so real to me and I could so easily see their story being played out in my head 

Lily and Marcus must be some of my favourite characters and their story had me hooked, their relationship shouldn’t happen but being together is stronger than anything else

My kindle copy of this book is full of highlights of passages that I totally adored and which love reading again, something that always seems to happen whenever I read any of Ms Temple’s books! This story caught my attention and drew me in so deeply that I really didn’t want to say goodbye to Lily and Marcus and to be honest, I kind of don’t have to as I know I will be rereading their story many times again

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a forbidden romance with amazing characters who will stay with you long after the final page 

AM 🐾 x

Purchase Links

https://books2read.com/ThreeKisses

https://bit.ly/MarcusLily

Author Bio

Lara Temple writes strong and sensual Regency romances about complex individuals who give no quarter but do so with plenty of passion. She lives with her husband, two children, and one very fluffy dog and they are all very understanding about her taking over the kitchen table so she can look out over the garden as she writes and dreams up her Happy Ever Afters.

Author Links:

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/LaraTempleAuthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaraTemple1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/laratemple1

Amazon author page US: http://bit.ly/LaraTemple

Amazon author page UK: http://bit.ly/LaraTempleUK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LaraTemple

Website: www.laratemple.com

Giveaway to Win 3 x e-copies of The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple (Open INT)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494494/?

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

The Knight’s Tempting Ally by Ella Matthews

A knight’s enemy

Becomes his closest ally…

Knight Theo Glenville will do whatever it takes to discover who’s plotting against his King. So befriending—and even romancing—his target’s middle daughter, Medea, is merely part of his sworn duty. But what isn’t? Falling under the spell of a woman who’s anything but plain in his eyes! Yet every day they become closer, the more torn he is between his allegiance to king or his heart…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Totally fabulous

Theo is one of the Kings Knights sworn to protect Edward III and there is a plot to try and draw England into a war with France. Medea’s father is suspected of being in league with the plotters and Theo has been tasked to investigate but things may not be as simple as they first seem

I loved both Theo and Medea, they are both independent people who aren’t fully accepted by the world around them but between the 2 of them, they have a chance to change the future. Neither wants to marry and they form an unlikely friendship whilst they look into what has been happening in court and the more I got to know them the more I loved them

This book is filled with drama and intrigue whilst also looking at the developing relationship between Medea and Theo. They are drawn to each other and as I reader I could see their feelings towards the other much sooner than they did but I think their denial and determination not to get hurt like they have been in the past makes perfect sense to their characters. If I could wish for one thing it would have been to hear more of the story from Theo’s point of view, there were times when hearing from him would have made the story work even better but that is me being picky! 

I totally loved this book, it kept me on my toes with the traitors plot and had me guessing who it might be from very early on

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romance full of drama with characters you will love and plot twist that will keep you guessing 

AM 🐾 x

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knights-Tempting-Mills-Historical-Kings-ebook/dp/B09HGDZX9P

US – https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Tempting-Mills-Historical-Kings-ebook/dp/B09HGDZX9P

Author Bio

Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).

Social Media Links –

www.ellamatthews.co.uk

Twitter @ellamattauthor

Winning Back His Duchess by Amanda McCabe

Escape to beautiful Venice for this Victorian marriage reunited story…

An invitation to Venice…

To save their marriage!

Suggesting divorce to her estranged husband, Jamie, Duke of Byson, takes all of Rose Wilkins’s courage. Years of distance and heartbreak have taken a toll—she needs a new start. But Jamie won’t hear of divorce, because of the scandal alone. His counteroffer is a trip to Venice… Might discovering Venice’s delights together rekindle the still-simmering desire that drew Rose to Jamie as a starry-eyed young American heiress?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my gosh!!!

Rose and Jamie’s marriage broke down when they lose their baby and Jamie started neglecting her and turned to drink but now he has changed and is determined to win back his wife 

Rose is considered a society beauty and is frequently out but it is taking its toll on her physically and she has become unwell. Rose is under such immense pressure in her life in London and it’s so clear to see how that impacts her life and seeing her start to unwind and allow her to be more herself made me warm to her so quickly. Jamie had a hill to climb as initially we see him through Roses eyes as the person and husband he was but as I started to get to know him, I realised that he had changed and that Rose really was very important to him which made me love him more and more. The only thing I would have wished for is to hear more of the story from Jamie’s point of view, to be able to understand him better but also to see his plans for winning Rose back and how he really felt about her being in his life more again

I totally loved Rose and Jamie’s story, they were so far apart, even to the stage where Rose went to him to request a divorce but she was willing to give him another chance, especially when it took them away from London. I really enjoyed reading about their time in Venice, it took them out of the traditional and allowed them to experience the sense of wonder and discovery of a new place. Thinking about it, it does actually reflect their relationship and how it changes and develops throughout the story which was written in so subtly that I almost missed it 

As you can tell, this has been one of my favourite books for a while and I would recommend it to so many people but especially those who enjoy a story full of emotions and drama where the characters find out more about themselves and what is important to them 

AM 🐾 x

Purchase Links –

US – https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Back-Duchess-Dollar-Duchesses/dp/1335407758/

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winning-Back-Duchess-Dollar-Duchesses/dp/1335407758/

Author Bio 

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)

She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion.  She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook.

 

Social Media Links

(4) Amanda McCabe Books | Facebook

Amanda McCabe (@amandamccabeauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

http://ammandamccabe.com

Amanda McCabe (@AmandaMcCabe01) / Twitter

The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Utterly gripping 

Father Michael Dominic works in the Vatican Archives and he stumbles upon a document that leads him and journalist Hans Sinclair into an investigation that may shake the entire foundations of the Catholic Church

Both Michael and Hana were characters who I could get behind so quickly and I bonded with them almost instantly. They both have a passion and dedication that came across so strongly and their determination to uncover the truth made me like them even more. There were a lot of supporting characters and a part of me struggled to keep up with who everyone was and the role that they played, especially as the story bounced about between lots of different character viewpoints however as the story progressed and I learnt more about them it was easier to follow and i could see how everything was more connected than I had realised 

I loved the mysteries and suspense that ran through this book, it caught my attention right from the very off and had me unable to stop reading. It looks at regular religious legends but is written in such a way that I would forget that it is fiction, or is it? Maybe I’m still so entwined with the story as I write this review that I’m questioning the truth… 

There are so many things going for this book and it’s really hard to write a proper review because of the amount of spoilers so it’s one that people who enjoy a book that will catch your attention from the start with a mystery that will have you wondering and puzzling over (and if you are anything like me, possibly ending up googling at 2am!) with some brilliant characters 

AM 🐾 x

A Quiet Place to Kill by N R Daws

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Strange but addictive

A serial killer is roaming Scotney village and RAF station brutally murdering the girls of the ATA but can police detective Kenber and psychologist and ATA pilot Lizzie work together to catch them 

Lizzie has issues but she is also brilliant at what she does and without her insights Kember may not have been able to catch the killer, however at times I struggled with her as a character. She has a lot of internal struggles which can overwhelm her and makes it hard as a reader to connect to her, mainly because there are a lot of changes in her personality which can make it tough to fully understand her. However, now I have read her story I can see her as a more rounded character and I look forward to getting to know her more in the rest of the series 

Kember is a police detective of his time, he is stuck in his ways and is very suspicious of things he doesn’t know about or understand, including Lizzie’s use of psychology to look into the mind of the murdered and create a profile of the killer. He is good at his job and I found myself warming to him so quickly and I could picture him in my minds eye going about and conducting his investigation 

Two things initially drew me to this book, the first being the location where it is set, I live in Kent and have been to Scotney Castle many times before so it was easy for me to see the village and the Battle of Britain airfield, even though those in the book are fictional as they are places I know. The other thing that interested me was Lizzie’s job as an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot, without the crews of the ATA it would have been much harder to recover damaged aircraft for repair without using the resources of frontline pilots. It just so happened that a few weeks ago I heard a lecture from the Maidenhead museum which houses the ATA museum which charts the work of the ATA and the challenges that the crews, especially the women faced, to be able to fly all aircraft and not just the more basic ones like the Tiger Moth. I think that having this understanding of the ATA and the struggles going on behind the scenes really helped me to connect to the characters, their delight in flying as well as their frustrations and determination came through so strongly that I felt so connected to them and absorbed by their story

This means that there is a brilliant supporting cast of characters in this book and they work together to make it so addictive that I couldn’t put it down. The story telling and the descriptions were so vivid and compelling that I could see everything happening in my minds eye, it also kept me guessing right up to the end and I totally wasn’t expecting the killers identity 

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a historical murder mystery full of drama and twists that will catch your attention and have you unable to put it down 

AM 🐾 x

An Antique Murder by Norman Russell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A murder mystery with a fabulous twist

A resident in a retirement home for actors has been murdered with a Nazi dagger and the police must work out what has happened 

This book is written from so many view points that it isn’t possible to talk about individual characters but they have all been created perfectly and the personality of each person shines though, more than once I ended up giggling from some of the residents antics. The characters and their lives came to life for me and more than once I went to google them and their care home, only to remember that it’s fiction and I think the shows how much I was drawn into the book

I’m not going to lie that at times this book was difficult to read as it does look at the Holocaust but it was written sympathetically and although I’m not sure of how much is written is true, it’s inclusion in the story works and gives the reader a different perspective on some of the characters

This story looks at how the image that people project to the world may not always the the truth and this is done several ways by different characters and it drew me into the story more wanting the know the truth

This book has the perfect blend of seriousness and humour that comes together to form a story that will stick with the reader long after the last page and as such I would recommend it to a lot of people but especially those who enjoy a murder mystery full of twists that will keep you wondering all the way to the end 

AM 🐾 x

The Return of Her Long-Lost Husband by Joanna Johnson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A story full of emotions

After years abroad following the sinking of his ship, Nathaniel has returned to his home and his wife Hester but his return isn’t quite how he expected 

I’m not going to lie, at times I really disliked Nathaniel. Whilst he couldn’t control the circumstances he faced overseas, he is self centred, blinkered and determined to think the worst of Hester even when she proves again and again that she isn’t the person he believes she is. I did however really like Hester, she is a complex character who has gone through some troubling times and even through she is initially doubtful of Nathaniel she allows him in and starts to hope that maybe things will be different this time around 

No matter what I thought of the characters at times, this book still drew me in and had me caught up in Nathaniel and Hester’s story right from the start. I wanted them to wake up and become the deeper, more complex characters that I knew they could be and by the end they did start to emerge and become that person

I really enjoyed reading Nathaniel and Hester’s story and I think in a way that my feelings towards Nathaniel wouldn’t have been as strong if I didn’t get emotionally involved in the characters and their story. As a result I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a historical romance that will draw you in and that will have you caring about the characters and their lives right from the start

AM 🐾 x