Book Review: Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

Friday 12 August, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Title: Midnight on Julia Street
Author: Ciji Ware
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: August 1, 2011
Paperback: 512 pages
ISBN: 978-1402222726
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance


From the Publisher:

Scandal transcends time in the Big Easy

Feisty reporter Corlis McCullough isn’t afraid to push boundaries in the name of journalistic integrity. When passion for the truth lands her in New Orleans in need of a job, an assignment at a TV station pits her against her old college nemesis, King Duvallon.

The sultry streets of the French Quarter, the glamorous Garden District, derelict riverfront cotton warehouses, and gritty back alleys come alive as the reporter’s story inexplicably slips between the nineteenth century and today. A long-forgotten drama of blackmail, swindles, and a love affair that is still changing lives leaves Corlis and King wondering if their burgeoning, unholy attraction will render them pawns in a matrix of mystery and deceit.

My Review:

Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware is an exhilarating historical romance novel set in New Orleans and split between two eras with one dating to the 1830s where to the present day, an unsolved mystery has captured the attention of Corlis McCullough, a television reporter for WWEZ who seeks information on city buildings of historical significance that are being targeted for demolition.  Encountering King Duvallon, an adversary from her college years, brings Corlis into a part of New Orleans society with which she was unaware.  Readers will be entertained with Corlis’ investigations and intrigued by her ability to sense things from the past.  It is here where Ware brings full circle the swindling and corruption of the past with their manifestations of today in New Orleans.  Of course the romantic tensions are there between Corlis and King and while I did not fully buy into the supernatural aspect of Ware’s tale, I did find it exciting at times, and her characters as well as the fell for New Orleans are brought to life through her gift for descriptive prose.  I think historical romance fans will enjoy Midnight on Julia Street, but for me, the unrealistic aspects took away from the realism I most often enjoy in Ciji Ware’s historical fiction books.

To learn more about Ciji Ware and her books please visit her website at: cijiware.com

I received a complimentary ARC of Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: , ,

Book Review: Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck

Thursday 16 December, 2010 By 6 Comments


Title: Dining With Joy
Author: Rachel Hauck
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November 16, 2010
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-1595543394
Genre: Fiction, Christian, Romance

From the Publisher:

“Chef” Joy Ballard longs for a simpler life. But when a good-looking outsider arrives and spices things up, life becomes deliciously complicated.

Host of a regionally syndicated cooking show, Joy Ballard has a little secret: she can’t cook. But when her show is picked up by a major network and given a prime time slot, her world heats up faster than a lowcountry boil.

Enter Luke Redmond: handsome, creative, and jobless after having to declare bankruptcy of his Manhatten restaurant. When her producers ask him to co-host the show, Joy sees Luke as her way out. But Luke sees much more than just a co-host in Joy.

Their relationship begins to simmer on and off set. Until Joy’s secret is revealed and her reputation is ruined on national television by her rival, Wenda Devine.

But could Devine’s cruelty be a divine gift? Losing Luke–and her sister–forces Joy to consider where her worth really comes from. Could God be cooking up an even bigger adventure from the mess? And will Joy hang on long enough to find out?

My Review:

Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck is a fun, witty, and whole-heartedly charming book about Joy Ballard, host of Dining With Joy. As Joy’s popularity gains, so do the stakes when a major network picks up her show and she is worried her secret will be exposed. Thankfully, the timing could not be better since chef Luke Redmond can indeed cook, unlike Joy, and after closing his restaurant, he has been asked to co-host Dining With Joy. At first, Joy and Luke hit it off about as well as oil and water, but everything is about to change. Dining With Joy is part of Hauck’s Lowcountry romance series, but the first I have read and is a definite stand-alone book. Hauck’s characters are clever, witty, delightfully flawed, and adaptable. I found myself enjoying Dining With Joy far more than I envisioned, it is extremely well written with enough going on throughout the story to keep the reader’s attention and interest. I should mention the book is indeed Christian fiction, but in a non-preachy manner and I did not even realise it was classified as such while I was reading the book. I would recommend Dining With Joy to any reader who likes a charmingly witty plotline with delightful characters and a clean romance.

About the Author:

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author and award winning of Sweet Caroline and Love Starts With Elle, and numerous other fiction titles.

She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets.

Rachel earned a degree in Journalism form Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor. Visit her blog and web site at www.rachelhauck.com, follow on Twitter, and Facebook.

For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.

I received a complimentary copy of Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

Filed Under: A Book review, Book Tour Tagged With: , , ,

Spotlight: Ethan’s Chase by Bronwyn Storm

Friday 10 December, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: Ethan’s Chase
Author: Bronwyn Storm
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: May 16, 2010
Paperback: 196 pages
ISBN: 978-0984428106
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Book Synopsis:

Still wounded from a disastrous love affair, advertising executive Ethan Phillips has spent the past five years outwitting Cupid with a series of dekes and fakes. Who knew the tricky cherub would get wise?

Rather than piercing Ethan’s heart with an arrow, he douses it with amaretto-flavored milk. A quick visit to the drycleaner and a stern lecture on the dangers of gorgeous, charming women, and he figures he’s made another clean getaway. But when the sexy woman turns out to be Chase Logan, his new systems programmer, Ethan’s got nowhere to run. Suddenly, the man who spent his time running from Cupid, is now looking to borrow a few arrows. Ethan’s ready to give chase and pursue love.

Will he catch the heart of his programmer or just be left catching his breath?

About the Author:

There was only one thing Bronwyn wanted to be when she grew up: a superhero. Sadly, this goal was made moot when she realized that being a klutz was not, in fact, a super power, and her super-weakness for anything bright and shiny meant that a magpie with self-control could easily defeat her in a battle of wills. So, she turned to writing as a way to unleash her inner superhero. She doesn’t get to live on a secret space station orbiting the earth (and thank goodness because she gets motion sick on a merry-go-round), but she still get to wear leotards, a cape and say things like, “STAND ASIDE! THIS IS A JOB FOR WRITING-GIRL!”

You can visit her website at www.bronwynstorm.com.


Bronwyn Storm’s ETHAN’S CHASE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1 and will end on December 17, ‘10. here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Ethan’s Chase by Bronwyn Storm from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review, Book Tour Tagged With: ,

Spotlight: Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown

Wednesday 8 December, 2010 By 2 Comments


Title: Honky Tonk Christmas
Author: Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1402242014
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Western

From the Publisher:

She Means business…

Sharlene Waverly is determined to have the “new and improved” Honky Tonk up and running before the holiday. For that, she’ll need Holt Jackson, the best darn carpenter in the state. But his warm, whisky-colored eyes make her insides melt, and before she knows it, she’s sharing her darkest secrets and talking about the nightmares…

He’s determined to keep things professional…

Holt Jackson needs the job at the Honky Tonk, but is completely unprepared to handle the beautiful new bar owner he’s working for.

Sharlene and Holt try like crazy to deny the sparks flying between them, but their love may just be the best Christmas present either one of them ever got.

About the Author:

Award winning author, Carolyn Brown has been a full time author for the past ten years and has sold sixty books. She and her retired English teacher husband live in southern Oklahoma. They have three grown children: Lemar, Amy and Ginny and too many grandchildren to list! Please visit Carolyn Brown’s website for more information.

I received a complimentary copy of Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review, Spotlight Tagged With: ,

Book Review: Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee

Friday 3 December, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: Duchess of Sin
Author: Laurel McKee
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-0446544764
Genre: Fiction, Romance

About the book:

Blonde and beautiful Lady Anna Blacknall is in the mood for mischief. Entering Dublin’s most notorious den of vice, she finds herself in the arms of a mysterious, emerald-eyed Irishman. And although he is masked, his tender kiss is hauntingly familiar.

Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair, has come to Dublin to fight for a free Ireland. But he’s suddenly reunited with the young Englishwoman who had once claimed his heart, and his passion turns from politics to pleasure. When their sizzling encounter brings danger to Anna’s door, she must decide where her loyalties lie-and quickly. For someone will do whatever it takes to destroy Conlan . . . and anyone he dares to love.

My Review:

Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee is book two of the Daughters of Erin Trilogy. While I did read and review the first book, Countess of Scandal, it is not necessary to have read it to understand Duchess of Sin. The trilogy details the lives of the Blacknall sisters, where in the first novel, the reader learned about Eliza Blacknall and in Duchess of Sin the reader learns about the middle sister, Lady Anna Blacknall. Since it is indeed a romance novel, we meet the dashing and complex Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair. While I have finally concluded that romance novels are not my favaurite genre, I must give credit where credit is due and McKee writes a very compelling story filled with intriguing characters, plots and history which make even those not overly fond of romance, such as myself, interested in the story. As with the first novel, I flipped through the steamy parts and focused on the historical aspects of the book. McKee’s passion for Ireland shows through her writing. In the first novel I met all three sisters and the only one I sort of enjoyed was Anna, so I was looking forward to learning more about her. The third sister, Caroline Blacknall, will be featured in the final installment of the Daughters of Erin Trilogy, Lady of Seduction, which will be available this summer. As with the previous novel, Duchess of Sin is a wonderful choice for those who enjoy vivid romance novels.

About the author:

LAUREL McKEE lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a bossy miniature poodle. She loves dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network-even though she doesn’t cook. Writing as Amanda McCabe, her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. Please visit her website at www.LaurelMcKee.

Behind the Scenes

Five Fun Facts

Author Website

I received a complimentary copy of Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee from Hachette as part of the tour. Receiving a free copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Thursday 2 December, 2010 By 7 Comments


Title: The Winter Sea
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Publication Date: December 1, 2010
Paperback: 544 pages
ISBN: 978-1402241376
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

History has all but forgotten…

In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.

Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write.

But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth—the ultimate betrayal—that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her…

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis for The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley, I was almost convinced I had read another book very similar, so it was with hesitation that I began reading. Fortunately I discovered an engrossing historical book, which took me to Scotland and the shadows of Slains Castle where writer Carrie McClelland moves to write her next book, and soon finds the story is writing itself. In a seamless manner Kearsley weaves together present events along with the unfolding memories of past events from 1708. Kearsley’s writing is touching, her imagery is vivid and her characters are deep, intense and intriguing. The Winter Sea successfully tells two stories at the same time leading up to an absolutely brilliant ending. I found the two stories to be compelling and enjoyed the historical aspects of the book and learned a lot more about the Jacobite uprising. The Winter Sea has so much to offer the reader it was difficult to set the book down as the story moves along at just the right pace to keep the reader alert and wanting to know more. The Winter Sea is a beautiful work of historical fiction and the blending of history and romance. I highly recommend The Winter Sea to any reader who enjoys historical fiction.

About the Author:

After studying politics and international development at University, Susanna Kearsley worked as a museum curator before turning her hand to writing. Winner of the UK’s Catherine Cookson Fiction prize, Susanna Kearsley’s writing has been compared to Mary Stewart, Daphne DuMaurier, and Diana Gabaldon. Her books have been translated into several languages, selected for the Mystery Guild, condensed for Reader’s Digest, and optioned for film. The Winter Sea was a finalist for both a RITA award and the UK’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and is a nominee for Best Historical Fiction in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awareds. She lives in Canada, near the shores of Lake Ontario. For more information, please visit http://www.susannakearsley.com/.

I received a complimentary copy of The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: , ,

Book Review: Unforgivable by Laura Griffin

Tuesday 30 November, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: Unforgivable
Author: Laura Griffin
Publisher: Pocket
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Paperback: 416 pages
ISBN: 9978-1439152966
Genre: Romance Mystery, Suspense

From the Publisher:

TRACING KILLERS IS MIA VOSS’S BUSINESS. AND HER WORK JUST GOT PERSONAL.

At first, Mia Voss thinks it’s just bad luck when her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, but what seems like a random incident is followed by another sinister episode. A DNA expert, Mia has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals. Suddenly, she’s become the target of one. And the only way to protect the people she loves most is to deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free.

Once, Mia trusted Detective Ric Santos, but that was before Ric let his turbulent past ruin his chances with Mia, the sexiest, most intriguing woman he’s ever met. But he can tell when she’s lying—and when she’s scared. The key to catching a sadistic madman lies within a long-buried cold case that has haunted Mia for years. Only she can uncover the truth, but first, Ric will have to get her to entrust him with her secrets . . . and her life.

My Review:

Laura Griffin has done it again in her third Tracers series book Unforgivable.  Griffin has successfully written a series of brilliant stories based on a group referred to as Tracers, a specialized and eclectic group of Forensic experts.  Unforgivable reads as a stand alone novel, yet the series is so wonderful that in my earlier reviews of Untraceable and Unspeakable I highly recommended them and still do.  Griffin has a wonderful writing style in which she combines the genre of romance along with high tech forensics along with an intriguing suspense that captures the reader’s attention and does not let go.  Fast paced, intense, and rich in detail and fabulous characters, Unforgivable does not disappoint.  Griffin will take the reader on a wild ride, this time her main focus is on the characters of Mia and Ric, one a DNA expert, the other a detective, both attracted to each other. But is there time for romance while being chased and while pursuing a killer?  Emotionally charged, highly suspenseful with enough plot twists, secrets and romance to keep the reader thoroughly engaged until the last word has been read, the worst part is waiting for the next book in the Tracers series.  I highly recommend Unforgivable to any reader who enjoys well-written suspense.

About the Author:

LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense with her novels for Pocket Books. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards, including a 2010 RITA (Whisper of Warning) and a 2009 RT Reviewers Choice Award (Untraceable). Her debut novel, One Last Breath, won the Booksellers Best Award for romantic suspense. Laura currently lives in Austin. Visit her website for more information.

I received a complimentary copy of Unforgivable by Laura Griffin from Simon & Schuster to review. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review and Tour: Nightingale by Susan May Warren

Friday 19 November, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: Nightingale (Book 2 in the Brothers In Arms series)
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Summerside Press
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
Paperback: 320 Pages
ISBN: 978-1609360252
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

About the book:

Esther Lange doesn’t love her fiancé—she’s trapped in an engagement after a mistaken night of passion.

Still, she grieves him when he’s lost in battle, the letters sent to her by the medic at his side giving her a strange comfort, so much that she strikes up a correspondence with Peter Hess, an Iowa farmboy. Or is he? Peter Hess is not who he seems. Indeed, he’s hiding a secret, something that could cost them both their lives, especially when the past comes back to life. A bittersweet love song of the home front war between duty and the heart…a battle where only one will survive.

My Review:

A beautiful, touching and sweetly innocent romance, Nightingale by Susan May Warren is a book about redemption and finding one’s way home. Set during WWII, the reader is introduced to Peter Hess and Ester Lange an ocean apart, yet two kindred souls who find solace in the letters that they write to each other. Warren captures the feel of the latter half of the 1940s and writes a moving, mysterious, and beautiful story of romance, salvation, and forgiveness through letters and through the eyes of mainly Ester, Peter and Rachel. Nightingale is not a typical WWII romance novel, nor a strictly Christian novel, but rather Warren blends together an extraordinary mixture of belief, faith, feelings of unworthiness, and the despairs of those in the war along with those who risk everything to make things better. I have always enjoyed Susan May Warren’s books and expected from the synopsis to like the book, but it turned tout to be far better than I even thought it would be. I would recommend Nightingale to any reader.

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota. Learn more about Susan on her website. For more information please visit: http://brothersinarms.susanmaywarren.com.

The Letters From Home Giveaway!
Enter the Contest: Nightingale is about letters, the power of written correspondence to convey thoughts and emotions to those far away. And sometimes near. Letters are forever, they are something we savor and pull out to read again and again. They are often cherished and kept in a special place.

To celebrate the release of Nightingale, Susan would like you to write a letter. One grand prize winner will receive a Flip HD Camcorder. 5 runner’s up winners will win a signed copy of Nightingale. There are two ways to enter the contest by writing letters.
1. Write a letter to a soldier. At the end of the contest we’ll print out and mail your letter for you.
2. Write a letter to a friend, loved one, family member, enemy. Tell them something you wished you’d told them before. Tell them you love them, or maybe how they touched your life. Perhaps an apology is in order or a thank you. Or perhaps you’d like to relate a funny tale or just share life. Whatever it is, submit it here along with your email address and we’ll send it for you. Enter here or at the SHARE page on the Brothers in Arms website.

Follow the blog tour and read other reviews.

I received a complimentary copy of Nightingale by Susan May Warren from LitFuse Publicity Group.   Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review, Book Tour Tagged With: , ,

Book Review and Tour: The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Tuesday 12 October, 2010 By 3 Comments

Title: The Waiting
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Paperback: 311 pages
ISBN: 978-0800733865
Genre: Fiction/Romance/Amish

From the Publisher:

She was waiting for love–and found it in the most unexpected place.

Jorie King’s life is on hold. She has been waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for him to settle down and join the church. Waiting to marry him.

But when news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie is devastated. She finds unlikely comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. Friendship ripens into love, and two broken hearts plan for a life filled with the promise of a fresh beginning–until their worlds are turned upside down.

With her realistic characters whose weaknesses develop into strengthes, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers a reading experience that rises above the others. You will love growing in spirit with these complex people living the simple life as The Waiting transports you into a world where things aren’t as simple as they seem.

My Review:

An absolutely charming and delightful read, The Waiting by Suzanne Fisher Woods is the second book in the Lancaster County Secrets series, the first being The Choice and each can be read independently of the other.  Woods has set up a unique stage for an Amish story in The Waiting, which occurs during the Vietnam War and opens with a fair share of tragedy both within the close-knit Amish community and overseas.  Woods’ characters are exceptionally well developed and one cannot help but be drawn into their way of life, their hopes, dreams, desires, as well as the deep sadness that is experienced in this book.  The Waiting is a book of love, family, and choices with a beautifully described backdrop, lovely narration, and exceptional characters, especially Jorie King and the Zook family.  Whether or not one is new to Amish fiction or has read a lot of it, I strongly recommend The Waiting to anyone looking for a delightful and sweet book to curl up with.

About the Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California.

Please visit the other blog tours for this book.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is holding a contest.

Suzanne will announce the winner during her FB party on October 28, 2010.

I received a complimentary copy of The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher from LitFuse Publicity Group. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review, Book Tours Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review: A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

Monday 4 October, 2010 By 3 Comments


Title: A Season of Seduction
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: September 28, 2010
Paperback: 416 pages
ISBN: 978-0446540285
Genre: Fiction, Romance

From the Publisher:

Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London’s cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There’s just one problem: Jack isn’t interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn’t have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack’s past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he’ll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

My Review:

A rogue, a widower, and secrets surround A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore. The book opens in 1837 London where the reader is introduced to Lady Rebecca; a widower who has kept herself closed off and is now looking, not for love, but rather, looking for excitement.  Jack Fulton, recently home from being away at sea is searching for a lovely woman with money, for money is what he thinks he is most desperately in need of by Christmas.  Both Rebecca and Jack are no strangers to misery; they both have lived with their fair share, which makes what Jack is thinking of doing all the more troubling, but I cannot go into more detail. Why spoil one of the many intriguing threads in this delightfully complex book?  Haymore writes a clever novel with a well-rounded cast of characters both major and minor while offering her readers a charming, intelligent, and wounded heroine in Lady Rebecca.  While reading A Season of Seduction I found myself unable to set the book down, as I needed to know what was going to occur next.  Haymore has crafted a clever plot with enough surprise twists to keep the reader thoroughly engaged as well as mesmerized by 19th century London and the numerous secrets to be unveiled throughout the novel.    I would recommend A Season of Seduction to all readers as it has a bit of something for everyone and a rather enjoyable way to begin thinking of the holiday season.

About the Author:

I’ve been writing since I could pick up a pencil….

Wait, no…that’s what every other writer says! I started writing just before my eighth birthday, and it wasn’t on my own volition. I was sailing with my family in a 42-foot sailboat across the Pacific, and since there were no local schools (except those pertaining to fish) nearby, my mother homeschooled me. She was a strict taskmaster! A veritable slave driver! She demanded a new story every day.

So I’d sit in the boat’s galley and write. And stare out the porthole, and write some more. And doodle, and write some more. By the time we arrived in Hawaii the following year, I had a portfolio of stories, and I was hooked. Since then I haven’t stopped. (Well, much. I did take breaks now and then, for things like college, young kids, and a master’s degree.)

I love to read just as much as I love to write, and actually the reading bug hit me at about the same time my mom was cracking the whip over my head and commanding me to write. What else to occupy your time with when there are no other kids to play with and nothing to do but stare at the endless sea? Some of my most recent favorites: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, River God by Wilbur Smith, and anything by Laura Kinsale and Loretta Chase.

I received a complimentary copy of A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore from Hachette. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts