Cover Reveal! Timeless Regency Collection: Wedding Wagers

I'm excited to share the cover of the latest Timeless Regency Collection. Wedding Wagers comes out in three months, so mark your calendar! Authors Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, and Michele Paige Holmes are all terrific writers, so I'm sure this will be a fantastic collection!

Pre-order on Amazon here! Amazon: http://a.co/8xPrdbJ 
Mark it to-read on Goodreads here.

Who else is super excited to read this?

A Defense of Honor

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

While someday Graham., Lord Wharton, will inherit his father's earldom, for now, he doesn't really have a purpose and he's bored with what society has to offer. So when he spots a woman hiding behind a potted plant at a ball, he decides to go meet her. But Kit can't give him anything more than her nickname; too many people are depending on her. She has spent years trying to help women who have been ruined--hiding them away until they can give birth and return to society--and their illegitimate offspring, providing them a home at Haven Manor and preparing them for the future. If she has to resort to blackmailing the men who fathered the children to get them to provide funds for the children, so be it. She doesn't expect to ever see Graham again, but when he sets out to help a friend, he winds up finding Haven Manor--and Kit.

This book started out a little slowly for me, but it picked up and I loved it. There are so many endearing characters, from Graham to Kit to the children. The plot is so interesting and fresh--it's set in the Regency Era but instead of the glittering of balls and high society, readers get to see the struggles and the triumphs of those who don't have the advantages of the gentry. I really want to see how things play out in the rest of the series for other characters in the book. I enjoyed the themes of God's grace and mercy, forgiveness, trusting in God to help with trials, etc.

4 stars.

 I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Tiger Called Tomás

A Tiger Called Tomás
By Charlotte Zolotow

Tomás has moved to a new town, and while his mamá encourages him to reach out to those around him, Tomás is afraid they won't like him and doesn't talk to anyone. When Halloween comes, Tomás, in his tiger costume, sets out for a night of trick-or-treating--and finds that his neighbors know who he is, even in his costume, and that they really do like him.

I don't think I've read the earlier versions of this story (this is the fourth version), but I really liked this book. The text wasn't too heavy-handed, and the illustrations were absolutely beautiful. Really nicely done.

4 stars.

 I read an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

How to Catch a Mermaid

How to Catch a Mermaid
By Adam Wallace

Two friends and a dog try to catch a mermaid, but their best-planned traps aren't enough to catch the elusive creature.

With simple rhyming text and bright, colorful illustrations, this is a great summertime picture book. The illustrations are as vivid as the narrator's imagination. This book is really adorable and lots of fun.

4 stars.

I read an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Grump

Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff

Most dwarves want nothing to do with the Surface or with humans--they love their lives deep underground, where they work in teams to mine. Borlen, however, is born near the Surface, rather than deep down like most dwarves, and as a result, he can't stand depths and can't rid himself of the desire to see the Surface and all the wonders that are above ground.
Borlen's parents help him to join a mining crew, hoping that will help him to find his place among the dwarves. He doesn't fit in, though, and soon earns the nickname "Grump." One day, Grump finally has the chance to go to the Surface and he takes it--and soon finds himself embroiled in a mess.

Being a bit grumpy myself, I loved the chance to read Grump's version of the Snow White story. This story was so much fun to read; now I'm going to have to go read the author's other books. Totally great choice for fans of middle grade fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and awesome books!

4.5 stars.

I read an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Love Letter

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

Chloe Daschle wants to finally be cast in a role where she doesn't die--she's tired of being the actress who is always killed. When she reads a script about a love story from the 1700s, she desperately wants to play Esther Longfellow, a young woman who desperately loves Hamilton Lightfoot. When she meets the screenwriter, Jesse Gates, who wrote the movie script based on a letter from his ancestor, Hamilton, to Esther, Chloe finds herself wondering if Jesse just might be the man she's been hoping to find. But Jesse is haunted by tragedy, and while he cares for Chloe, if he can't forgive himself for his past, they'll have no chance at a future.

This novel is interesting because it has four narrators in two time periods--we get to see Chloe and Jesse in the present and Esther and Hamilton in the past. It can be difficult to straddle two time periods and keep the reader engaged, but Rachel Hauck does a great job with that. There are some unexpected twists and turns, meaningful themes (redemption, love, and even letting go), and the awesome element of real, handwritten letters combine to make a great story.

4 stars.

I read a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Road to Gretna Green

Road to Gretna Green (Timeless Regency Collection)
This collection features three historical romances:


Saving Grace by Lucinda Brandt
When a family wedding brings Royston Meredith face to face with Helen, Lady Dysart--the woman he had planned to marry until she married someone else. He is still drawn to her, but he also doesn't know how to speak to her. Helen wants to know why Royston broke her heart. As they cautiously start to explore their history, Royston's younger sister Grace heads off to Gretna Green with the steward's son, and Royston and Helen must work together to keep her from creating a scandal.

Fools Rush In by Julie Daines
Eliza Barnes will do just about anything to avoid marrying Mr. Barrington--including accepting a fake proposal from Richard Arden who needs a wife in order to collect his inheritance--his younger sister Lucy. As Richard and Eliza set out to save his sister, Mr. Barrington follows after them, and as they face unexpected obstacle and adventures, they find themselves reluctant to end their fake engagement.

A Lady of Scandal by Heather B. Moore
Bridget's husband died only four hours after their wedding--which actually brought relief to Bridget, who never wanted to marry the rake in the first place. As her year of mourning ends, she is focused on helping her sister make her debut in society, but that brings her face-to-face with her former husband's cousin, Lord Hugh Wilde. Hugh initially blames Bridget for his cousin's death, but when his other cousin sets off for Gretna Green with Bridget's sister, the two become allies in stopping the couple--and begin to see past their animosity toward one another.


This was another great Timeless Regency Collection. I really liked the Gretna Green theme, and the stories were a lot of fun. They're all clean, sweet romances reads, with great characters and story lines. Although Gretna Green ties the stories together, they are all distinct and they all feel fresh. There were some really great lines and moments that totally made me sigh. If you're looking for something quick and fun to read, this is a terrific choice.

4 stars.

 I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.