A Time Traveler's Masquerade by Sian Ann Bessey

A Time Traveler's Masquerade (A McQuivey's Costume Shop Romance)
By Sian Ann Bessey
Published by Shadow Mountain

Description from the publisher:

 
Romance blossoms when Isla Crawford steps into McQuivey’s Costume Shop in London and is swept back in time to 1605, where she and Lord Bancroft attempt to thwart Guy Fawkes’s Gunpowder Plot.

One moment, Isla Crawford is inside McQuivey’s Costume Shop trying on a Jacobean-style gown for the parliamentary Autumn Ball, and the next, she is standing in an unfamiliar garden, barefoot, coatless, and at the mercy of a fierce storm. Confused, she seeks refuge in a Tudor manor, where she discovers that she has inexplicably traveled back to 1605, mere weeks before the culmination of Guy Fawkes’s infamous Gunpowder Plot.
Simon Hartworth, Lord Bancroft, finds his orderly seventeenth-century life disrupted when a mysterious woman appears on his sister’s doorstep during a storm. Intrigued by the stranger’s quirks and bewildering speech, he feels compelled to protect her and heed her warnings about a fatal plot against Parliament. As Simon is drawn into Isla’s dangerous scheme to stop the evildoers, he can’t help but also feel drawn to her.
With seemingly no way to get back home, Isla uses her twenty-first-century knowledge of the past to try to thwart Guy Fawkes and his coconspirators without altering the course of history forever. She and Simon must race to unravel the threads of the treasonous plot even as they wonder how their hearts will navigate their deepening connection and the seemingly insurmountable four centuries that separate their lives.

My review:
Heading into this book, I knew next to nothing about Guy Fawkes (I had heard of Guy Fawkes Day and knew that Fawkes was a villain, not a hero), but I also knew that Sian Ann Bessey's books are awesome (I've read several and they've all been four or five star books), so I was quick to snap up the chance to read this one. I enjoyed learning more about Fawkes and his plot as well as the Jacobean Era in general. Isla and Simon were fantastic leading characters. I found myself really appreciating that they quickly came to trust each other and that Simon's family was accepting of Isla, too; while some skepticism certainly wouldn't have been unreasonable, it was kind of a relief to have them quickly accept Isla and all work together, with the conflict in the book not stemming from internal issues but rather from external. The romance was sweet and the plot was engrossing.
4.5 stars--and I'm so eager for the next book in this series to come out!

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Tides of Time by Sarah M. Eden

The Tides of Time (Storm Tide #1) 

By Sarah M. Eden 

Published by Shadow Mountain 

Description from the Publisher: 

In 1793, a storm propels Lili forward through time, kindling a love that transcends the ages. 

Fleeing the clutches of Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France, Lili Minet makes a desperate escape on a ship headed to England, but her dangerous flight takes an unexpected turn when a violent storm catapults her off the ship and eighty years into the future, leaving her stranded in the unfamiliar world of 1873 England. 

When lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce rescues a woman from the tumultuous sea, he does not anticipate her silent, cold response to his gallant efforts. Though he is wary of this woman and her odd behaviors, he finds she is just as wary of him. And he can sense that she is not telling him something of great import to her. Only Armitage’s grandfather, a man seasoned by the mysteries of the sea, can seem to penetrate Lili’s defenses to offer her support. But as Lili heals from the physical and emotional wounds of her ordeal and Armitage continues to offer light and safety to her, a tender friendship blossoms between the two. 

Yet the shadow of danger looms as the threat that chased Lili from France all those years ago reemerges in her new present. Together Lili and Armitage must navigate the challenges of a romance that grows to defy the boundaries of time and the perils that reach across the decades to ensnare Lili. As the storm clouds gather, Lili and Armitage face the ultimate test—discovering whether their bond is strong enough to rewrite the pages of history itself to save them and their love. 

My Review: 

Neither time traveling nor the French Revolution are things I ever seek out in a book; they're not just big draws for me (and in some cases, they can be big turnoffs). However, Sarah Eden's researching and writing are always superb, so I figured I'd at least like this book--but I more than liked it. I really enjoyed seeing Lilli and Armitage fall for one another. I also loved Armitage's grandpa and the people in his village. There were a couple of twists that I did NOT see coming at all. I do feel like it wrapped up a bit quickly--I have to be careful here so I don't give anything away, but the last 20% of the book could have had a lot more added to do it without bogging it down. I wanted more details there of what happened and how! There is at least one more book to follow this one, so I'm sure some of my questions will be answered there, but I still would hae liked a bit more to explain how certain things were brought about in this book. My one other quibble with this book is the amount of French it; of course it SHOULD have French in it, given that Lilli is French and parts of it take place in France, and there were times when I could get the gist of what was being said just from context...but for obsessive readers like me, who have to go translate every French passage because we want more than just the gist of what is being said, it kinda disrupted the flow sometimes. Not a huge problem, but just something perhaps to be aware of if you're a similar sort of reader. 

All in all, 4.5 stars and I'm very much looking forward to the next book! 

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham

Some Like It Scot 

By Pepper Basham 

Published by Thomas Nelson Fiction 

Publication Date: April 8, 2025 

Description from the Publisher: 

She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together? 

 Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people's stories. She's built a career as "Miss Adventure," known for saying yes to anything new--country, food, or experience--and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures. 

Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman. 

Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn't venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme's comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister's death, he's even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan. 

As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what's familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life's story when "home" is in two very different places? But maybe home--and the future--isn't quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person. 

My Review: 

I absolutey adored this book. Everything about it just worked completely for me. I loved Katie--her personality and her fears and her quirks just made her such a fun and relatable character, and her backstory made her believable and endearing. Graeme also stole my heart--his worries and his reactions were also believable. I appreciated how both characters were willing to do some self-examination and try to grow and not just hide away. Despite being a homebody at heart, all of the descriptions of Scotland (and the Scottish words thrown in!) made me want to book a trip to see the beauty of the country for myself. I also adored the supporting characters (at least, the Scottish ones. Some of the other participants in the Edwardian Experience had me shaking my fist at them!) All in all, this book was just delightful! I loved it. I'm definitely going to have to snag the audio version as well because I'm sure it will be even more fun to listen to! 

5 stars! 

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

An Overdue Match 

by Sarah Monzon 

Published by Bethany House 

Publication Date: February 18, 2025 

Description from the Publisher: 

Can a librarian's matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories? If the covers of every romance book ever published didn't convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn't heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what's a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that's what. Armed with library patrons' check-out histories, she's determined to make at least one love connection--even if it's not her own. 

Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn't surprise him when the town's quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can't help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline's secret matchmaking scheme, he's not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can't judge a book--or each other--by the cover. 

My Review: 

This book started out a bit slowly for me but I ended up really liking it. I liked Tai from the get-go but I wasn't quite as drawn to Evangeline. I thought having a character with alopecia was really interesting and I definitely felt for her with her past experiences and her fears regarding dating. I didn't quite buy into her desire to be a matchmaker, especially using patrons' checkout histories. As any librarian (including this one!) will tell you, it's not really ethical for librarians to look at patrons' histories (some library computer systems don't even have an option for storing them), so that was a bit off-putting to me. Once the plotline moved to feature her and Tai much more than the matchmaking efforts, the book picked up for me a lot. Evangeline's emotions and fears came through really strongly and realistically. The scene where she finally has to tell Tai about her illness--oh my! My heart hurt for her! There is a lot of great banter and fun book references that were super fun to read. Secondary characters were fun as well. 

4 stars. 

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer

Cloaked in Beauty (Texas Ever After #3)
By Karen Witemeyer
Published by Bethany House

Description from the Publisher:
Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.
Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty's resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm's way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

My Review:
I enjoyed this book so much! Philip and Letty are such likable characters--good, practical people who don't play games but are honest about their feelings. I like how they were both strong and could work together and rely on each other; Letty took the lead sometimes and Philip did at others.
I also loved the Christian themes; the characters' faith was truly part of their lives and they trusted in the Lord to help them and guide them.
While I really enjoyed the characters, the plot was a bit less interesting to me. The threat was off-screen for so much of the book (we don't really see Letty's uncle much) and thenwhen it was front and center, it all got resolved fairly quickly. I also felt like Philip's legitimate concern about why he and Letty might not have a future together got resolved perhaps a bit too easily (or quickly, in terms of pages in the book)--but I really appreciated the problem was NOT have the stereotypical "I'm not good enough for her because she's so wealthy" theme. Still, the sweet romance, the great characters, and the inspiring messages make this an excellent book.

4.5 stars.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Meeting Her Match (The Matchmakers #3) by Jen Turano

Meeting Her Match (The Matchmakers #3)
By Jen Turano
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: July 16, 2024

 
Description from the publisher:
Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.
After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.
Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made--her own.

Baker Book House (40% off and Free Shipping) | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christian Book | Goodreads | Book Bub | Sneak Peek

About the Author: 

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com. Photo Credit: © Emilie Haney, EAH Creative
Facebook | nstagram | Website

My Review:
Jen Turano's latest book has all the hallmarks of her writing that fans love: charming characters (including several eccentric ones), hiliarious happenings, entertaininlgy digressive dialogue, and, of course, a lovely romance (or two...or three...or...I lost count in this one! There were a lot!) There are so many funny moments and this book is guaranteed to keep readers giggling. My one quibble is that I wish we'd seen Owen and Camilla together more--there were so many side characters that they took up a lot of page time...and while I can't pinpoint any scenes that I'd get rid of, Camilla and Owen were just so cute together that more of them together would have been nice.

4 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the author. All opinions are my own. 

Into the Starlight by Amanda Cabot

Into the Starlight (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #3)
By Amanda Cabot
Published by Revell
Publication Date: July 16, 2024

Description from the publisher:
After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that weren't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The only thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas was the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, she's changed so much that the place she once loved no longer feels like home.
After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.
As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.

My review:
Having highly enjoyed the other two books in this series, I was eager to read Joanna's story. and see how some questions for the earlier book (especially what happened to Clive) would be answered. I liked both Joanna and her leading man, Burke--and it was fun to have a sweet side romance with Burke's "aunt" Della and the minister. I liked how Joanna and Burke were friends, working together to solve problems and answer questions, and that blossomed into love. I thought the resolution of the book came a little too easily--there was some pretty grus3ome stuff that happened and that they found out and they just seemed to move on from it really easily; things just wrapped up a little quickly for my liking.
Overall, I do recommend this for those whole like smart protagonists and a dash of mystery with their romance.
4 stars.
I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.