Thursday, August 24, 2017

BLOG TOUR w/ GIVEAWAY: Double Eagle Double Cross by M.R. Durbin


ABOUT THE BOOK

After an unexpectedly thrilling summer with his grandfather, Oregon State student Charley Sawyer is ready to catch his breath at his late parents' Oregon beach home. Hoping for some rest and relaxation, Charley is met instead by devastation: the house has been ransacked. In his inventory of the damage, Charley stumbles across the item the trespasser must have been after, the only things that seems out of place: a mysterious key. And when he learns what it unlocks, Charley is drawn into yet another adventure with a ragtag group more than willing to help.

Mac Bowman, the brainy and beautiful anthropology student who joined Charley in his summer escapade, is thrilled when she is presented with the opportunity to conduct research in Oregon. Maybe a little time together will allow the pair to explore their feelings for one another. But when she arrives, she is disturbed by what she finds: Charley has disappeared without a trace.

As Charley and Mac each work to unravel their mysteries, their searches collide dramatically. Only one thing is clear: the moment he found the key, Charley unwittingly opened the door to a long-held secret—one that could cost him his life.

REVIEW

Combining archaeology with a treasure mystery creates a rather intriguing story. While I have not yet had the opportunity to finish the book since school has started and I've been rather preoccupied and exhausted, I'm enjoying what I'm reading so far.  Charley's discovery of a mysterious key and the sudden realization that his parents' car accident may not have been an accident create many questions from the first few chapters.  This is a follow-up book to Beyond the Narrows by Durbin, which I haven't read, so the relationship between Charley and Mac already exists.  The author does give enough background to make the circumstances under which Charley and Mac met clear.  This background also explains why the two aren't certain where they stand.  And unfortunately, when they meet again, circumstances haven't really improved.  And it's clear that neither Charley or Mac are comfortable in romantic relationships.  I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the book and will update this review when I've finished it.

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Thursday, August 17, 2017

BLOG TOUR w/ GIVEAWAY: The Search by Clair Poulson


ABOUT THE BOOK

Young private investigator Jayden Spaulding has cracked his share of tough cases, but nothing like this one.

When stunning professional basketball player Nadia Fairchild walks through his door, her story seems simple enough: two days ago, her mother disappeared along with a member of the women’s college basketball team she coached. Jayden and Nadia delve into a baffling maze of motive and opportunity with a lengthy list of possible suspects.

As they work together amid their growing attraction to one another, the unlikely duo seems no closer to discovering the truth. Then the threats begin. Soon, the pair begins to suspect that this case is much more complicated than a simple disappearance—they have unwittingly stumbled on a conspiracy of corruption, greed, and murder far more deadly than they ever imagined.

Others are also searching for the missing women, and they will eliminate anyone who stands in their way . . .

REVIEW

Unfortunately with the business of the week and a trip out of town, I haven't had a chance to finish this book yet.  But as soon as I have I will post a review.

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Thursday, August 10, 2017

BLOG TOUR w/ GIVEAWAY: Havencross by Julie Daines


ABOUT THE BOOK

When a shocking scandal involving her father spreads through London society, Elaine Cardinham and her parents are forced to retreat to their country home in Cornwall for refuge. But Havencross is no sanctuary for Elaine. She is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her brother—and the heartbreak she left in her wake all those years ago. It has been five long years since Gareth Kemp last saw Elaine—when she rejected his marriage proposal. Her reappearance convinces him of one thing: he has never stopped loving her. To put his feelings for her aside, he focuses his attention on the dangerous smuggling plaguing the Cornish coast. As Elaine attempts to run from her past, she ventures ever closer to a dangerous truth—and Gareth may be the only one who can save her from a deadly finish.

REVIEW

I've long loved the Regency time period, especially romances.  But in a specific genre like that it's easy for stories to start to sound the same.  But like all historical periods, the Regency time period was a lot more than seasons and wealthy, aristocratic people socializing, so it's always refreshing to me to read a story that includes a different aspect of that time period.  And Havencross involves several different elements: scandal (a common story line in regencies), smuggling (not so common), and a handsome hero who works for a living and owns a mine through his and his father's hard work (not so common).  The story also takes place outside of London or fancy country estates.  Elaine and her family come home in shame, after her father's behavior becomes the talk of the town.  Elaine isn't happy to be home because of some bad memories relating to her brother's disappearance five years earlier.  She's also afraid that her father's scandal will make it impossible for her to ever get away from her past.  And continual run ins with Gareth Kemp, who once proposed marriage to Elaine isn't helping.  But when Lord Chiverton arrives from London and proposes marriage, Elaine is so anxious to get away she immediately accepts without stopping to wonder why he'd come so far, especially with her family under a cloud.  But Gareth's ongoing efforts to discover the group of smugglers who murdered his father complicates things greatly, and before she knows it Elaine finds herself wondering where her heart really lies.  Julie Daines has written another thoroughly entertaining, intriguing book.

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Tuesday, August 8, 2017

PROPER ROMANCE REVIEW: The Secret of the India Orchid by Nancy Campbell Allen


ABOUT THE BOOK

Anthony Blake, the Earl of Wilshire, is in love with his best friend's sister, Sophia Elliot. But his plans to court her are put on hold when he is forced to resume his role as an undercover spy for the Crown. A secret document listing the names of the entire network of British spies—including his own—has been stolen. To protect Sophia, Anthony cuts off all ties to her and exchanges his life as an honorable earl for the facade of a flirtatious playboy.

Heartbroken and confused, Sophia travels to India, hoping to find healing in one of the most exotic regions of the British Empire. But the exotic land isn't as restful as she had hoped. Instead, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery of a missing sea captain, a possible murder, and a plot that could involve the prince of India. And when Anthony appears at the British Residency, asking questions and keeping his distance from her, she is stunned.

She still loves him, and, in her heart, she knows he loves her too. But how can she rebuild her relationship with him if he won't confide in her? Does she dare offer her heart to him a second time, or will their love be lost under the India sun?

REVIEW

After thoroughly enjoying Allen's My Fair Gentleman I eagerly picked up this sequel about the sister of the previous protagonist.  The book starts with Anthony Blake, whose planning on courting Sophia Elliot has to be put on hold when he receives the news that he needs to become a spy again to retrieve a dangerous revealing document.  Chapter two picks up two years later as Sophia continues to work on putting her feelings for Anthony behind her.  But Sophia and Anthony meet again in India and it's clear from the beginning that their feelings for each other are as strong as ever.  But Anthony's mission is not yet over and as such he can't reveal his reasons for backing off to Sophia.  But Sophia finds herself getting involved in the mystery when a man ends up being attacked with a young boy as the witness.  I enjoyed both the romance and the mystery/action parts of the book.  Both Sophia and Anthony are likable, great characters.  Shadow Mountain's Proper Romance series has become my favorite source for romance because they are clean with great stories and characters.