Regency House Party

I think this sounds like such a fun idea! If you love Regency romances, be sure to stop by this party and get your fix.....and take note....it starts today.

About Regency House Party:

Five amazing Regency romances told by five authors, all based at one decadent house party. On Wednesday, January 10th, the first five chapters will be posted, followed by five more on Friday, January 12th. Then read two new chapters every Wednesday and Friday until the party ends. It's all totally free and you'll get to enjoy a host of fascinating characters, their stories intertwining and building toward five happy endings. Follow our Facebook group to get your invitation to the party so you never miss a moment of fun.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RegencyHouseParty

https://regencyhouseparty.com

Here are the 5 Authors and their stories:

Michelle Pennington:

The Unwanted Suitor — She refused his proposal made in pity, but what will she do now that he seems sincere?

Michelle Pennington spends her days quoting movies with her husband and making messes faster than her four kids. She writes clean young adult, contemporary, fantasy, and regency romance. The genre might change, but her characters will always be falling in love.

She spends her spare time, what little there is, making designer sugar cookies, singing loud in church, and killing way too many house plants. Follow her at www.michelle-pennington.com

Jen Geigle Johnson:

Tabitha's Folly — She recklessly dodges four over-protective brothers while trying to gain attention from the man who holds her heart.

Jen Geigle Johnson discovered her love for uncovering fascinating pieces of history while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. Now an award-winning author and mother of six, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure. She is a member of the RWA, the SCBWI, and Storymakers. She is also the chair of the Lonestar.Ink writing conference. Her first book, The Nobleman's Daughter, was published November 2017. And her second, Scarlet in May 2018. Follow her at https://jengeiglejohnson.com

Sara Cardon:

The Stable Master's Daughter — He needs to steer the innocent woman away from his rogue of a brother, and not fall in love with her in the process.

Sara craves happily-ever-afters. She has four kids, a dog, and a true-blue husband. He laughs at her hero-crush on George Washington. She and her family are putting down roots near Dallas where there's plenty of wide-open sky, cattle, and sunshine. You can find her at saracardonwrites.com and fb.me/authorsaracardon.

Heidi Kimball:

An Unlikely Courtship — He knows fighting attraction only makes it grow. And why would he when she has a secret he's determined to uncover?

At a young age Heidi perfected the art of hiding out so she could read instead of doing chores. One husband and three daughters later, not much has changed. She has an abiding love for peanut butter M&Ms, all things fall, and any book that can make her forget she’s supposed to be keeping her children alive.

Heidi recently received an offer to publish her first book, “Mended Affections,” and is enjoying the thrill of the author rollercoaster ride. You can learn more and keep up with her latest news at authorheidikimball.com

Mindy Strunk:

Mistaken Identity — Can they really fall in love when she believes him to be someone else?

Mindy loves all things history and love, which makes reading and writing regency romance right up her alley. When she isn’t living in her alternate realities, she is married to her real life Mr. Darcy and trying to raise five proper boys. They live happily in the beautiful mountains of Utah. You can follow her on her blog at http://mindyburbidgestrunkauthor.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook at @mindyburbidgestrunk.

Jessica & James: A Love Story by Kimberley Montpetit {Review}

Jessica & James: A Love Story 
by Kimberley Montpetit
Kindle Edition, 303 pages

Published December 17th 2017

JESSICA & JAMES: A LOVE STORY is a boxed collection of two romances set in Snow Valley, Montana; Risking it all for Love and Sealed with a Kiss—the story of world-renowned ballerina Jessica Mason and James Douglas.

This boxed collection includes a Brand New Bonus Wedding Chapter! Newly revised, new material, and all new title and cover.

You will love the saga of ballerina Jessica and the sparks that fly between her and James Douglas, the new pastor in town.

Can Jessica forgive herself for that fateful night when Michael, her childhood love was killed in a car accident? She can't, until she meets James Douglas who is unlike any minister-in-training she’s ever met. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

When April Murphy, a war widow with a young daughter, shows up in Snow Valley, James reluctantly begins to wonder if he and Jessica who is now dancing with a premiere ballet company in New Orleans almost two thousand miles away, are really meant to be. April would make the perfect pastor’s wife and he’d have an instant family and the stability he craves.

But Pastor James can’t get the spitfire Jessica out of his mind and when she returns to Snow Valley to accept an inheritance, her male ballet partner in tow, their love takes on a new edge.  

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My Review: 5 Stars

I love a story with very different characters. Jessica is sarcastic, hardened through life experience, and very dedicated. She's lost her faith and on paper, really wouldn't make a great pastor's wife, but a run-in while back in her hometown throws her into the path of new pastor, James, and the sparks ignite from the first meeting. James is very compassionate, patient, and human, but they are definitely an "opposites attract" kind of connection.

Reading these stories together, with the bonus chapter, was so much fun. I loved seeing the progress and growth in a solid reading, because it was very apparent and really captured my heart, especially as they each try to figure out what they truly want from life and their relationship. They both have histories to move past and the journey was definitely a touching one.

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again--I LOVE and adore Snow Valley and it's inhabitants. I loved visiting once again and my time there was well spent. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to a wonderful stay.

Content: mild romance (kissing); very mild language

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Something to Treasure by Virginia McCullough {Book Tour Spotlight, Excerpt, and Giveaway}

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Something to Treasure
(Two Moon Bay #2)

by Virginia McCullough
Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
January 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

If anyone can save him, she’s the one

Jerrod Walters hopes relocating to the coastal town of Two Moon Bay can be the fresh start he and his young daughter need. But the single dad is caught off guard when a beautiful PR professional offers to promote his diving excursions to legendary shipwreck sites. There’s so much he admires about Dawn Larson, starting with the woman’s upbeat, can-do personality. Dawn’s boundless capacity for joy might be the only thing capable of bringing him back to life after his tragic loss…

Goodreads│Amazon│B&N│Harlequin│iBooks│Kobo│GooglePlay

Other Books in the Series

Girl in the Spotlight

(Two Moon Bay #1)

by Virginia McCullough

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages

June 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming

The daughter they never knew

When Miles Jenkins sees the graceful young figure skater on TV, he can't believe how much she resembles Lark McGee, the girl he dated briefly in college. Could this aspiring star be the child Lark gave up for adoption eighteen years ago? He has to find out.

Locating Lark ignites conflicting emotions in Miles—including regrets for what might have been and romantic feelings that take the two single parents by surprise. As they prepare to meet their daughter, this deeper connection between the two just might be the chance at love they never got.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin

Excerpt:

(Note: Their attraction building, at least in Dawn’s eyes, she decides to confront what’s going on 

between them.)

“Is there something wrong? A problem we need to address?”

“It’s personal, Jerrod.” She stopped and turned to face him. “It seems like one of us has to 

acknowledge the proverbial elephant in the room, and it might as well be me.”

The flicker in his warm eyes revealed surprise.  

Without adding to her preamble, she blurted, “I like you, Jerrod. I get the sense you like me.” 

She shook her head. “Are we ever going to acknowledge this thing between us?”

His head jerked back. In an instant, the air around her changed. The sound of the waves lapping 

the shore grew louder. The slightly fishy smell in the air intensified.

Jerrod grimaced, as if in pain, and looked past her, gazing out into space. What happened? She 

couldn’t have been that wrong. She hoped.

“Say something, will you?” Was he going leave her standing there feeling like a fool?

“I don’t what to say, except I’m sorry.” He took a couple of steps away from her. “You don’t 

want to like me in any way other than as a client and friend. Good friend.”

In for a penny and in for a pound. In an instant that old saw had popped into her head. Why? 

Maybe because she was trembling inside and wasn’t thinking straight. But the adage fit. She’d 

taken a chance and might as well commit to it all the way. “Is that so? Well, then go ahead, tell 

me. Why is that?”

“Because I’m no good to anyone.” He puffed out his cheeks and exhaled in obvious frustration. 

“Coming here to try out a new location for my business is the first substantial step I’ve taken in 

two years.”

“Since the awful tragedy.” Her tone was matter-of-fact. She’d understood that. He didn’t need to

 point that out.

“Yes. But a few moves in the right direction don’t mean I have anything…uh, anything to give 

you.” He planted one hand on his hip, and widened his stance. “This is all wrong. You have so 

much to offer the right person. You should find someone who can freely take what you want to 

share. You’re a special—”

“Don’t… you… dare patronize me with empty flattery.” Her voice rose on each word.

“I’m not.” He lifted his hands in air, appearing helpless to find the right response. “I’m not 

going to apologize for saying what’s obvious to anyone who knows you.”

“Yeah, well, my ex-husband told me how special I was as he tossed his clothes in a couple of 

suitcases and carried them out the door. I was still so special when he shoved them in the 

backseat of his car and drove off to Carla’s house.” She paused and in a lower voice added, 

“I’m not kidding. And the next time I saw Bill he still went on and about how smart I am and 

how he’d fallen so hard for me. Oh, and by the way, we built such a great life.”

“Dawn…please. I’m sorry.”

She pretended he hadn’t interrupted and kept on going. “But he fell in love with someone else 

all the same. So, forgive me if I don’t want pat reassurances about how terrific I am.”

Jerrod let his head fall back. “I know you won’t like to hear this cliché, but it’s not you, it’s me. 

I’m the one who’s emotionally numb—dead. You’re a woman with enthusiasm for life—you 

understand joy. I have all I can do to be any kind of a dad at all. To my one child. I’ve got 

nothing left over to give.”

When she made mistakes they were almost never insignificant little nothings. No, not her. This 

was a real whopper.

Her emotions surprised her though. She might have been really hurt, like she’d fallen on her 

face. Oh, she was bruised, all right, but not humiliated or in pain from rejection.  

Maybe because she didn’t believe him.

  

About the Author

A writer all her adult life, Virginia McCullough has had the opportunity to write the stories of her heart in her novels, including Girl in the Spotlight, the first book in her Two Moon Bay series for Harlequin Heartwarming. (Book 2 is scheduled for release in January 2018). Her award-winning romance and women’s fiction titles include The Jacks of Her Heart, Amber Light, Greta’s Grace, The Chapels on the Hill, and Island Healing.

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia has been lucky enough to develop her writing career in many locations, including the coast of Maine, the mountains of North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and currently, Northeast Wisconsin. She started her career in nonfiction, first writing articles and then books as a ghostwriter and coauthor. She’s written more than 100 books for physicians, business owners, professional speakers and many others with information to share or a story to tell.

Virginia’s books feature characters who could be your neighbors and friends. They come in all ages and struggle with everyday life issues in small-town environments that almost always include water—oceans, lakes, or rivers. The mother of two grown children, you’ll find Virginia with her nose a book, walking on trails or her neighborhood street, or she may be packing her bag to take off for her next adventure. And she’s always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Bookbub│Amazon│Newsletter

Tour Schedule

January 8th:
Launch
Reading Is My SuperPower
Hearts & Scribbles
January 9th:
Bookworm Lisa
Katie's Clean Book Collection
Book Lover in Florida
January 10th:
Canadian Book Addict
Nicole's Book Musings
It's All About the Romance
January 11th:
Inside the Mind of an Avid Reader
underneath the covers
Locks, Hooks and Books
January 12th:
Among the Reads
Heidi Reads...
Rockin' Book Reviews
January 13th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


1st Prize (open internationally*):
- One $25.00 Amazon gift card
- A deep cranberry red scarf-shawl—so soft your skin will sigh and thank you!
- Inspirational art—a book of 20 pull-out 10” x 12” posters—each is a unique design and ready to frame, put on your fridge, or send to a friend who needs an uplifting message
- Two delicious Equal Exchange organic, fair-trade dark chocolate bars, one almond, one caramel crunch

*If an international winner is pulled, a second gift card will be received instead of the shawl, inspirational art, and chocolate bars.

2nd Prize (open internationally):
- One $25.00 Amazon gift card

Ends January 17th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stone Silence by Taylor Dean {Review}

Stone Silence (Sound of Silence #1) by Taylor Dean

Paperback, 264 pages

Published November 1st 2017 by Taylor Dean Books 

Great big beautiful love.

Does it really exist?

Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”

I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.

I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.

Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.

That’s when I meet Stony by chance.

He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.

That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.

But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.

I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

My only hope is . . . he does.

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My Review: 5 Stars

I can't stop obsessing about this story and it's fantastically flawed and real characters. Love sometimes comes when it's least expected and that's just what Spencer discovers. A very scary and bad experience ends up being the best thing that ever happened to her.   

Although Spencer is in her late twenties, she's naive in the ways of relationships and love and I adored watching her discover her passion and emotional and romantic connections, especially with someone like Stony. He is like a stone--so hard to read. He has big secrets, a tragic past, and doesn't show emotion, yet there's something there that captivated Spencer...and me, especially with the way he would really talk to her. 

Taylor Dean is a fantastic story teller! The way the story unravels through her words is seriously fantastic. I loved every single minute--the good times, the hard times, and especially the swoony romantic times. I felt that I really got to know these characters--what made them tick, what drove them, what they were passionate about. Who knew that the middle-of-nowhere Texas would steal my heart?! Must read the rest of the series, ASAP, because I've got a serious book hangover.

Content: mild-moderate swoony romance (kissing, some mild innuendo); very mild violence

*I received a copy through eBooks for Review, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions.* 

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Buy Links:

Bringing Rosie Home by Loree Lough {Blog Tour Spotlight, Excerpt, and Giveaway}

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Bringing Rosie Home

(By Way of the Lighthouse, #2)
by Loree Lough
Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
January 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

A kidnapping shattered their family…

Rena and Grant VanMeter lived every parent’s worst nightmare when their preschool daughter was abducted. Riddled with guilt and hoping time apart would help them heal, Rena made the hardest decision of her life. But stunning news reunites her with Grant. Rosie has been found.

Putting up a united front for their child’s sake isn’t as easy as they thought. Grant hasn’t forgiven Rena for taking her eyes off Rosie for a few critical seconds. And Rena has yet to forgive herself. But their little girl needs them more than ever…

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin

Other Books in the Series

The Man She Knew

(By Way of the Lighthouse, #1)

by Loree Lough

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages

June 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Don't they both deserve a second chance?

Fourteen years ago, one reckless act cost Ian Sylvestry everything, including the girl he planned to marry. Since then, he has fought hard to turn his life around. Returning to his Baltimore town after serving a prison term was the first step. Winning back Maleah Turner's trust is a far more daunting challenge. From their first sparks-flying reunion, it's obvious they still have powerful feelings for each other. In fact, they might be even stronger together now. But if their second chance is going to work, Maleah has to believe that Ian is a changed man. She really wants to believe…but she simply isn't convinced.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin

Excerpt:

Grant hadn’t realized how much he’d missed the sound of her voice. Even with the shock 
of hearing this news, Rena had been calm and quiet. One of the things he’d admired most 
about her had been her ability to maintain her composure, even during the most stressful 
moments. 

Like the time Rosie fell off the monkey bars at the playground and broke her arm. He’d 
totally freaked out, but Rena kept her cool and orchestrated a trip to the ER for x-rays, 
told jokes and made silly faces while the tech set the bone and wrapped the arm in a cast. 
And the day he’d nearly electrocuted himself trying to add a circuit breaker to the electrical 
panel. He’d thought surely he’d bought a one-way ticket to heaven, but her soft, reassuring 
voice was all it took to make him believe he’d be fine.    

Fine. It's what she said when he asked how she was, and what he'd said when she returned the
question. In truth, he'd only felt this frazzled on one other occasion: The day Rosie went
missing...because Rena had been paying more attention to somebody else's kid than to their
little girl.

He felt a little crazy, waffling between loving her, still, and despising her for putting them in
the middle of every parent's worst nightmare.

About the Author

Bestselling author LOREE LOUGH once sang for her supper, performing across the U.S. and Canada. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two, but mostly, she writes novels that have earned hundreds of industry and "Readers' Choice" awards, 4- and 5-star reviews, and 7 book-to-movie options. The Man She Knew, #1 in her “By Way of the Lighthouse” series, her 3rd for Harlequin Heartwarming, is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Harlequin.com.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Pinterest

Tour Schedule

January 8th:
Launch
The Power of Words
It's All About the Romance
Katie's Clean Book Collection
January 9th:
Rockin' Book Reviews
Becky on Books
Rainy Day Reviews
The Bookworm Chronicles
January 10th:
Janice's Book Reviews
Paulette's Papers
Heidi Reads...
Hearts & Scribbles
January 11th:
Leels Loves Books
Book Lover in Florida
Among the Reads
Teatime and Books
January 12th:
Inside The Mind of an Avid Reader
Nicole's Book Musings
Thoughts of a Blonde
underneath the covers
January 13th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

- Two winners will receive a print copy of BRINGING ROSIE HOME (US only)
- Three winners will receive an ebook of BRINGING ROSIE HOME (open internationally)

- Ends January 17th

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An Unexpected Angel by Janet K. Halling {Review}

An Unexpected Angel by Janet K. Halling

Paperback, 115 pages

Published October 9th 2012 by Sweetwater Books 

 

 

Ella Davies hates Christmas. Every year she spends the holidays working, trying to forget the pain of a childhood tragedy that left her all alone. But this season, Ella's about to learn something only an angel could teach her. This modern twist on a Christmas classic will remind you that the best gifts of all are the loved ones you learn to treasure!

 

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My Review: 4 Stars

 

I love the way Ella is described, right from the start. She's no-nonsense and doesn't have time for anything but work. Of course, living in New York City requires a certain amount of distance, but Ella exhibits an extremely complicated aloofness that really puts people off. In an interesting take on both It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, this story comes together in a way that really packs a heavy punch to the heart and makes you think.

I love what happens with Ella and the outcome of her experience. The little blurb on the cover sums it up nicely: "Sometimes finding peace means finding a different perspective." This is a great read for any time of the year, but especially for the Christmas season (and yes, I'm a little behind).

Content: mild violence

 

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Buy Links:

 

 

Love in the Details: A November Wedding by Becky Wade {Review}

Love in the Details: A November Wedding
(A Year of Weddings Novella) by Becky Wade

Kindle Edition, 132 pages

Published October 27th 2015 by Zondervan 

 

 

She left him to save his future, but they’ve never gotten over each other.

When Josh returns to his hometown of Martinsburg, Texas, to help his best friend get married, he didn’t intend to run into church wedding coordinator—and ex-girlfriend—Holly. He can’t help but pine after the girl he never got over.

Holly broke up with Josh years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. But she loved him then and still loves him now. As she helps him plan his best friend’s wedding, she can’t help but feel horrible for the pain she caused him. And even though she longs to be with Josh, she doesn’t feel worthy of his big-time lifestyle when she is more comfortable in her small town world. Will Josh and Holly be able to keep things as they are when their true feelings threaten to surface at every turn?

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My Review: 5 Stars

There's something about a wedding that I just adore. Although it's not Holly's wedding, she's the church's volunteer wedding coordinator and a big Thanksgiving wedding brings her high school sweetheart back to town.

Josh and Holly have had years to come to terms with their breakup and neither of them have any intention of trying to get back together. The reason why Holly broke up with Josh in the first place was crazy to me, but she was a young and impressionable young lady, sacrificing herself for her love for Josh. It's so tragic when you can't really ever get completely over your first love and I was so happy that they could meet again to find peace and resolution. But instead of resolution, they find an undeniable chemistry. The emotion is tangible with this one--so much longing, a tinge of sadness, an undercurrent of hope, and those sparks of attraction, yearning to burst into a relationship once again.

I really enjoyed this sweet story--it's one of the good ones of this series!

Content: mild religious elements; mild romance

*I received a copy through Netgalley, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions.*

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Buy Links: