Review of Love Lessons at Midnight by Shirl Henke

Love Lessons At Midnight by Shirl Henke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautiful characters with a sweet happily ever after Love Lessons at Midnight does not disappoint. Running away from an abusive husband, Amber finds a home with Grace at her House of Dreams in London. Amber and Rob are wonderful together. They both seek to right social injustices such as child labor. They both have secrets about their past they are each afraid to reveal. Also, Amber and Rob need lessons in love. Under the disguise of Lady Fantasia and Gaby, Amber is able to hide her real identity to avoid recognition from the destructive husband she left long ago. The focus of the story is learning to overcome the past.


Rob is conflicted on his feelings for 2 no make that 3 women! But what he doesn't know is 2 of the women he likes is one and the same - Amber. She'd make the perfect actress on stage. Her ability to convince Rob that as Gaby, she's a native of France yet as Fantasia/Amber she is all English lol! I think it's funny how in the beginning Rob had his eyes set on the widow and even sought out lessons in how to please her yet he begins to dislike her the more time he spends around Amber.


The secondary characters are what really make the story good. I like books that use secondary characters to make the story. Without all their help and guidance Rob and Amber wouldn't even have a story to begin with. Her French bodyguard/friend is my favorite character. She is willing to risk her life in protecting Amber and keeping her safe from Amber's husband. She even plots to sneak into his home and kill him.


I'm rating Love Lessons at Midnight a 4 out of 5 stars - excellent characters throughout and a great but somewhat predictable ending. Very good historical romance!


I received this ebook from the publishers for my honest review.


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Review of A Fine Imitation by Amber Brock

A Fine Imitation by Amber Brock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Must read historical fiction of 2016! There are so many good things about A Fine Imitation I don't know where to start. The cover of the book is beautiful with art deco design that gives the reader an idea of the time period setting. I really like reading fiction based around the 1920s because the attitudes and styles changed so dramatically during that time. Also, the politics and women's right to vote happened so it was definitely a time of great change but I'm not here to give history lectures. Let's get back to the review, the book jumps back and forth between a 10 year period of 1913 and 1923. The time that the main character, Vera was in college and later the time she is a married New York wealthy socialite.

Vera has only known the life that her parents molded her for, a life among New York's elite with only the best taste in everything including friends. You can't blame her for the internal struggle she faced when enjoying life with her best friend Bea and constantly trying to please her strict mother. I'm surprised Vera didn't crack long before college and become rebellious. I know I would have rebelled if my mom was as strict as hers. Luckily my parents were laid back hippies so I didn't have to go through much of a rebellion LOL! Vera constantly battles between what is expected of her and what she wants to do even to the end. I am so glad she had a change of heart after seeing the finished mural.

The ending is my favorite part of A Fine Imitation because the reader is left guessing almost to the end, what is Vera going to do? Is she going to finally follow her heart? Some books I hate to finish but surprisingly I am happy and content to let Vera go because she got her happily ever after in the best possible way. I'm happy to say goodbye to her and hello to the next book I read.

I'm rating A Fine Imitation 5 out of 5 stars - superb writing, great storyline, and interesting characters - Poppy and Bea gave me a few laughs. I would have liked to have seen the mural but the description of it was very good.

I received a hardback ARC from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

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Ascension Spotlight Sale

ON SALE FOR THE WHOLE MONTH OF JUNE FOR ONLY 99CENTS!

Ascension

The Demon Hunters, #1

When demons threaten London, Lady Belinda answers the call.

Lord Gabriel Thurston returns home from war to find his fiancée is not the sweet young girl he left behind. She’s grown into a mysterious woman who guards her dark secrets well. When he sees her sneaking away from a ball, he’s convinced it’s for a lover’s rendezvous. Following her to London’s slums, Gabriel watches in horror as his fiancée ruthlessly slays a man.

Lady Belinda Carlisle’s only concern was her dress for the next ball—until demons nearly killed her and changed everything. A lady by day, and a demon hunter by night, she knows where her duty lies. Ending her betrothal is the best way to protect Gabriel from death by a demon’s hand.

Gabriel soon realizes, like him, Belinda has been fighting for her country. He joins in the fight, determined to show her that their love can endure, stronger than ever.


Ascension Links

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Author Bio:

A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful IT career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She's never looked back.

A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.

Multi-published in paranormal, contemporary and historical romance with Ellora's Cave Publishing. You can learn more about her books at http://asfenichel.net or visit her on her Facebook page, where she spends entirely too much time https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel.

Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.

Review of Monday by E.L. Todd

Monday by E.L. Todd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emotionally charged novel that is more than just a romance. This novel is about the struggles we face with true to life characters. Hawke has difficulty coming to terms with his aggressive tendencies after growing up in a physically abusive home. Frankie comes into his life and is a breath of fresh air for him. Hawke has never been in a relationship before but that all changed with Frankie. There is no denying the connection between them is strong. Frankie refuses to let him go and is the best influence on Hawke.


There's a transformation that takes place in Hawke after he meets Frankie and it changes him for the better. He sees what a normal family is really like when he is around Frankie, her brother, and their grandmother Yaya. Hawke's mom is still living in the abusive home that he escaped from and she keeps drawing him back every time his father drinks. What hurts him the most I believe is Hawke has the same temper as his father and doesn't know how to control it. Although he vows not to be anything like his father. I can't help but feel sadness for his damaged childhood. Struggling with his overwhelming emotions, Frankie is his rock keeping him grounded.


The book ends on a sad note but luckily it's only part one of a series so the next book, Tuesday is a continuation - thank goodness!! I can't wait to get started on reading what happens next between Hawke and Frankie. Is their bond strong enough to endure the fear and pain Hawke is experiencing? How will Frankie come to terms with his big move?


I'm rating Monday a 4 out of 5 stars because this was an enjoyable read and made me feel emotionally invested in the characters. Hawke is the most realist character in a book I've met. So many men can relate to his childhood and life.


I received this ebook from the author for an honest review.


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Review of Storm Damaged by Kerry Adrienne

Storm Damaged by Kerry Adrienne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mermaids, a hurricane, revenge, love, and a cute gift shop/bar is what you'll find when you read Storm Damaged.

Chase is torn between a life by the sea where reminders of his brother surround him and starting a new life in Kansas away from everything he's ever known. Mari is hopelessly in love with Chase, only problem is he's a human. She is promised to a merman back home in the sea.

Being an only child I can't imagine the pain of losing a sibling especially one as close as Chase and his brother were. They were brothers, best friends, and business partners. So I can sympathize with him for wanting to move far away and began again. The only obstacle in his path is Mari who he is beginning to have feelings for.

On the same token, Mari is escaping her mermaid life and her arranged wedding to a violent evil merman. From what I saw of him, she is much better off independent on land away from all that drama. She is quirky, fun, and easy going. The perfect match for Chase who always seems so serious and focused on running his bar.

I'm rating Storm Damaged 4 out of 5 stars because it was a fun under the sea contemporary love story. This is the first mermaid romance I've read since The Little Mermaid Disney book I read growing up. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more "under the sea" shifter books.

I received this ebook from the author for free in exchange for my honest review.

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Review of All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All the Missing Girls is an excellent thriller. I was up till 3 something this morning because I couldn't go to bed without finding out what happened to Annaleise and Corinne. I'm really tired today and will probably need a nap later but it was worth it!

The book is unique in that it goes backwards in time from day 15 to day 1 which works perfectly in the story. As the reader goes through each day the mystery unwraps little clues at a time like peeling an onion. Every layer of the story gets the reader closers to the truth.

I'm rating All the Missing Girls a 5 out of 5 stars. I love a good thriller mystery that keeps you guessing to the end and this book delivers! Even after finishing at 3 in the morning I couldn't sleep right away as I kept thinking about the book. The character development is superb.

I received this book as an eARC from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

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Review of A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears

A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where do I start? This book is amazing - the writing, the characters, the cover, the plot line - I loved everything! A Heart Most Certain is one of the best christian historical romances I've ever read. Gah!

Okay enough of my crazy raving haha. Lydia is a caring young woman who knows what it's like to be poor and have to ask for assistance. Thanks to the private and very wealthy Nicholas, the reader sees how Lydia's views on the world change. Her eyes are opened to the harsh realities of those even less fortunate than her.

Prostitution is a taboo subject that people don't like to discuss and those involved in it are looked at negatively today. So you can imagine what the general population felt about it in the early 1900s which is the time period A Heart Most Certain takes place. I can just imagine the fear and embarrassment Lydia must have felt when Nicholas took her around the red light district to help the children and women.

I am rating A Heart Most Certain a 5 out of 5 stars. The feels I felt for all the characters in this book especially the secondary characters...I didn't want the book to end. It's like I had to say goodbye to these people who became like friends to me. I sure am gonna miss Lydia and Nicholas ♡

I received this eARC from Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

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