To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano

This is definitely a book you will find hard to put down before you finish it. This will make you laugh throughout the story. I am so glad that we got to learn all about Eunice. I have loved all the books in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. Each of these characters were wonderful and you will want to read all of the books in the series. Each of the women that run this agency have become stronger and help their men to be stronger. This is a fun mystery that will have you chuckling all the way through. I am looking forward to whatever this author comes up with next. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

When Arthur Livingston arrives out of the blue at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire the agency to seek out a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her. Having fled from the scene of her grandfather’s murder seven years before, Eunice is a lady with secrets–the most important that she is the missing heiress Arthur is seeking. She has no intention of allowing him to learn she’s been disguising herself, especially when she has reason to believe Arthur could hold her responsible for her grandfather’s death. In order to avoid Arthur and conceal her real identity, Eunice takes on another case that requires her to go deep undercover. With secrets from the past–and Arthur–appearing wherever she looks, she wonders how she will ever uncover the truth behind her grandfather’s murder. Will what she discovers set Eunice free or place her in peril’s way?

The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith

This author takes biblical fiction to new heights. She gives each of these characters such wonderful personalities. I loved how we get to know Judah as much as Joseph. She shows why Josephs brothers hated Joseph so much. She shows that Joseph was a spoiled person though that did not give the brothers the right to try to kill him. I always look forward to this authors stories to see what type of personality she weaves into her stories. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Joseph is the pampered favorite son of the patriarch Jacob. His older brothers, deeply resentful of his status in the family, take advantage of the chance to get rid of him, selling him to slave traders and deceiving their father about his fate. It seems like their troubles are over. But for Joseph and older brother Judah, they are just beginning.While Joseph is accused of rape and imprisoned, Judah attempts to flee the memory of his complicity in the betrayal of his younger brother. After decades apart, the brothers will come face-to-face in a stunning role reversal that sees Joseph in a position of great power while Judah begs for mercy. Will forgiveness or vengeance win the day?Bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith brings her considerable research and imaginative skills to bear in this vivid retelling of one of the most popular stories found in Scripture–a story of jealousy, betrayal, and a reconciliation that only God could bring about.

Slashed Canvas by Liz Tolsma

This is a quick and good historical romance with some mystery added in. Katarina is depressed since she lost her husband and had to leave Russia. She is hard to like at first since she seems spoiled and she does not spend time with her twin daughters while she stares at a piece of art in the museum all day long. The twins are hard to like since they are spoiled and never told no. Both Katharine and Georges learn how to let their depression go during this short tale. I really enjoyed the ending. This is an emotional roller coaster. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a four out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Held prisoner by all she’s lost, Katarina’s about to lose all she has.

Princess Katarina Volstova barely escaped the Russian revolution, arriving in Paris just before the birth of her twin daughters. With her heart still captive in her homeland, she haunts the Louvre each day, spending hours gazing at one painting, lost in her pain.
Not the man he once was before the Great War, Georges Velvey hides himself away doing janitorial service in the Louvre and watching the beautiful woman whose pain seems riveted on one painting.
When Katarina returns home to find her daughters and their nanny missing, the loss opens her eyes to all she has to lose now.
Frantic to find her girls, her distress causes Georges to offer his assistance. Together they put together clues to a puzzle they must complete before the kidnapper ensures Katarina and her daughters are never reunited.
Slashed Canvas offers a retelling of The Lost Princess that mingles self-centered grief, spoiled little girls, and proof that nothing will stop a mother from saving her children.

Never Court a Count by Regina Scott

This is a fast romantic read taking place in London in 1825. Callie is my favorite of all the sisters in this series. She is quiet but very strong. I really like Fritz also. It will be nice to see who Fortune likes for Belle and Tuny in the next books. This has romance and some intrigue. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Being engaged to the most dashing bachelor in London isn’t all fun and games.Lady Calantha, middle daughter of the Duke of Wey, has the unique ability to turn invisible in company. Well, not entirely invisible, or the eligible Frederick, Count Montalban, wouldn’t have noticed her at all. But Callie’s shy nature and plain features tend to make people overlook her. And they say the most outrageous things around her as a result, which is why she accidentally overhears strangers plotting to harm the count and his royal brother and father. What can a lady do but warn him?

Fritz, Count Montalban, is determined to keep his family safe. But he can’t drag Callie all over London to identify those plotting against them unless she has a reason to be alone with him. Pretending an engagement sounds like the perfect plan. After all, his dashing demeanor hides a wounded soul that demands he hold a true fiancée at a distance. But there’s something about Callie that pulls him closer.

As the danger grows along with their attraction, Fritz and Callie must work together to protect both their families, and Fritz finds his heart cracking open. Can he prove to the sweet Callie that she will never be invisible, to him?

If you like warm, witty historical romances, with a touch of intrigue, then you’ll love this historical romance by an award-winning author.

“Regina Scott writes some of today’s best Historical Romance novels!” Huntress Reviews

Start courting a count, today.

Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston

I always love Amy Clipston books and this is no exception. I really love that this book is about an older father who loses his wife and finds love again. Both Crystal and Duane have known loss in their lives and they click the first time they meet. I am looking forward to the next books in the series to see how Duane, Crystal and his sons handle being together. The romance is sweet and this is an emotional book. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Get swept away in the first installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Legacy series.They were “only friends” . . . but they wanted so much more.Crystal Glick is grateful to live with her brother’s family since her father died and her fiancé, Owen, broke their engagement. Crystal loves her bruderskinner and cheerfully helps her sister-in-law through a difficult pregnancy with babies number seven and eight, but she yearns for a husband and children of her own.Duane Bontrager is mourning the recent death of his wife, Connie, after twenty-four years of marriage. He and his grown sons have a thriving roofing business but can’t get used to life without her. As the young men prepare to launch out on their own, Duane can’t imagine life alone—nor with anyone but Connie.When a roofing job at the Glicks introduces Duane and Crystal, they’re attracted in spite of their fourteen-year age difference. But their bishop thinks Duane is better suited for the sweet widow Tricia, and Duane’s sons object to his interest in any woman. Crystal’s family fears losing her indispensable help. If she must go, they’d rather she be reunited with Owen in spite of his betrayal.They’re the only two who believe they’re a match made in heaven, can Duane and Crystal overcome the obstacles to love?“Amy Clipston has once again penned a sweet romance that will have her readers rooting for a heroine who deserves her own happily-ever-after.” —Kelly Irvin, bestselling authorSweet, inspirational Amish romanceFull-length novel (85,000 words)First book in Amy Clipston’s Amish Legacy seriesIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

Lumberjacks and Ladies by Jennifer Lamont Leo, Naomi Musch, Candice Sue Patterson, and Pegg Thomas

This is a set of four stories that revolve around lumberjacks and the women they fall in love with. The first story is set in Maine and revolves around a true scam that took place here. I loved learning about this scam and I loved Winifred and how she helped her family when her father and brothers left to find gold. This is a great love story set around this scandal.
The second story is a wonderful love story set in Michigan after the Civil War. Eliza Beth and Wesley are a great love story.
The third story is fantastic. Maggie needs a husband to help her with her farm after her husband dies. Jack answers her letter and I love how they work things out between them.
The fourth story takes place in Idaho is full of romance and intrigue. I love Carrie and Mike. Mike had to grow up here in Idaho so he could make his father proud of him. I love how this story works out.
Do not miss these stories. I love them all. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Lumberjacks and Ladies Work Together to Build AmericaStruggling to remain independent in the 1800s, four women reluctantly open up to help from lumberjacks–and love.All That Glitters by Candice Sue Patterson1851–MaineWinifred finds herself running the family lobstering business when her father and brothers join the California gold rush. Will she stubbornly reject help from a local lumberjack?Winter Roses by Pegg Thomas1865–MichiganElizabeth cooks for a logging crew, spurning the men’s advances, until reoccurring gifts capture her attention. Will she heed her mother’s warning about “shanty boys”?Not for Love by Naomi Much1881–WisconsinWidowed, Maggie seeks a husband–in name only–from the logging camps, but the man who answers her letter is a surprise. Can she open her heart to love again?Undercover Logger by Jennifer Lamont Leo1890–IdahoCarrie will not sell her timberland and allows the banker’s nephew to sign onto her logging crew to ferret out the reason she is losing money at an alarming rate. Will truth be revealed to her forlorn heart?

Beach Wedding by Michael Ledwidge

This story tells a great tale of what can happen between townies and rich people. This is a story that starts at a wedding on the beach and then goes on to tell a story of what happened in the past. Then we get to know what is happening again during the 30 days before the wedding. This has a lot of suspense and a murder is solved. I love that the chapters are short. I love the characters. I loved Tom and Viv. There were some surprises in the story. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a five out of five stars.

On Sale Date: February 15, 2022

9781335425751, 1335425756

Hardcover 

$27.99 USD, $34.99 CAD

Fiction / Thrillers / Crime

352 pages

About the Book:

A high-society wedding party stirs up new evidence in an unsolved murder in this thrilling stand-alone from the New York Times bestselling coauthor of James Patterson’s Now You See Her and The Quickie.

Hamptons sand… Hamptons money… Hamptons murder…

When Terry Rourke is invited to the spare-no-expense beach wedding of his hedge fund manager brother, he thinks that his biggest worry will be flubbing the champagne toast. But this isn’t the first time Terry has been to the Hamptons.

As the designer tuxedos are laid out and the flowers arranged along the glittering surf, Terry can’t help but take another look at a decades-old murder trial that rocked the very foundations of the town—and his family. He soon learns that digging up billion-dollar sand can be a very dangerous activity. The kind of danger that can very quickly turn even the most beautiful beach wedding into a wake.

About the Author:

MICHAEL LEDWIDGE is the writer of seventeen novels, the last dozen being New York Times bestsellers cowritten with one of the world’s bestselling authors, James Patterson. With twenty million copies in print, their Michael Bennett series is the highest-selling New York City detective series of all time. One of their novels, Zoo, became a three-season CBS television series. He lives in Connecticut.

Social Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMichaelLedwidge/ 

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/_mikeledwidge 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike.ledwidge/ 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Wedding-Novel-Michael-Ledwidge/dp/1335425756 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beach-wedding-michael-ledwidge/1139389743 

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/beach-wedding-9781335425751/9781335425751  

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/beach-wedding-3?utm_source=google_action 

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/be/book/beach-wedding/id1565660058 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Ledwidge_Beach_Wedding?id=7lMsEAAAQBAJ 

Libro.FM: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781488213182-beach-wedding 

Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/beach-wedding/9781335425751-item.html 

Target: https://www.target.com/p/beach-wedding-by-michael-ledwidge-hardcover/-/A-83983021

Sunrise by Susan May Warren

I loved this story that has action and romance. There is lots of emotions that Echo and Dodge have had to work through since they last saw each other ten years before. I loved the action and the characters and I am looking forward to getting to know Dodges brothers. There were laughs and some tears. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Pilot Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after a terrible family fight, he left to become a pararescue jumper. A decade later, he’s headed home to the destiny that awaits him.

That’s not all that’s waiting for Dodge. His childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true Alaskan–a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. Most of all, she’s living a life Dodge knows could get her killed. One of these days she’s going to get lost in the woods again, and his worst fear is that he won’t be there to find her.

When one of Echo’s fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. Plus, there’s more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

Will Dodge be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

Sunrise is the first explosive volume in a new nail-biting series from USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Water by Erin Bartels

This is a very emotional story. Some people may find it hard to read. This will bring tears to your eyes for a lot of this story. Kendra comes back to her home and learns many truths about what happened to her many years ago. I could not put this book down. Kendra meets new people and must learn to live again. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give the book a five out of five stars.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

The best fiction simply tells the truth.
But the truth is never simple.

When novelist Kendra Brennan moves into her grandfather’s old cabin on Hidden Lake, she has a problem and a plan. The problem? An inflammatory letter from A Very Disappointed Reader. The plan? To confront Tyler, her childhood best friend’s brother–and the man who inspired the antagonist in her first book. If she can prove that she told the truth about what happened during those long-ago summers, perhaps she can put the letter’s claims to rest and meet the swiftly approaching deadline for her next book.

But what she discovers as she delves into the murky past is not what she expected. While facing Tyler isn’t easy, facing the consequences of her failed friendship with his sister, Cami, may be the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.

Plumb the depths of the human heart with this emotional exploration of how a friendship dies, how we can face the unforgivable, and how even those who have been hurt can learn to love with abandon.

Praise for the novels of Erin Bartels

“Bartels proves herself a master wordsmith and storyteller.”–Library Journal starred review of All That We Carried

“A story of love found in the written word and love found because of the written word.”–Booklist on The Words between Us

“A deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family.”–Publishers Weekly starred review of We Hope for Better Things

The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull

This was an interesting story. If you are interested in how Nicholas ll and his family handled the last years of his reign from 1913-1918 you will like this story. This concentrates on the oldest daughter Olga and what she is feeling as her families reign is slowly destroyed by socialism and the tsar believing he is led by God. This shows the family as real people not just autocrats. This was a very tragic tale and there did not seem like there were a lot of happiness for this family in the last years of their lives. I did like Olga but I was not fond of her parents. I received a copy of this book from Mira Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a four out of five stars.

THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS: A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution

Author: Bryn Turnbull

ISBN: 9780778311706

Publication Date: February 8, 2022 

Publisher: MIRA Books

Buy Links: 

BookShop.org

Harlequin 

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Books-A-Million

Powell’s 

Social Links:

Author Website

Instagram: @brynturnbullwrites

Twitter: @brynturnbull

Facebook: @brynturnbullwrites  

Goodreads

Author Bio: 

Bryn Turnbull is the bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis. Equipped with a master’s of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master’s of professional communication from Ryerson University and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto.

Book Summary:

This sweeping new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Romanov, the first daughter of the last Tsar.

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.

But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumors about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.