Historical Romance

Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano – Review

August 14, 2018 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

I have been waiting for Jen Turano’s Caught by Surprise since her last book because I knew that it would be a delightful read that made me smile and laugh. It did not disappoint!

In My Opinion…

One of the great things about a Jen Turano book is the smiles and laughs it elicits while reading. In Caught by Surprise, the third and final installment of the Apart from the Crowd series, Turano’s trademark humor is alive and well from the first pages to the last.

The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham – Review & Giveaway

July 22, 2018 by Suzie Waltner 2 Comments

In My Opinion…

While The Hope of Azure Springs pulled me in from the first page, the story tended to get bogged down in places. There is a lot to learn about Em. The young woman has lived a difficult life and experienced heart-wrenching loss.

My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas by Kathleen Y’Barbo

July 10, 2018 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

The full title of Kathleen Y’Barbo’s book is My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas: Madeline’s Search, and if you’ve enjoyed visiting new places through this series, this one is a great introduction to another area I’ve not visited (yet).

In My Opinion…

I love a plucky and capable heroine, and Madeline Latour is both. An investigative report from a family known for their ability to keep secrets, Madeline is tenacious when she scents a story. When she’s partnered with a Pinkerton Agent she’s well acquainted with, arguments ensue, trust must be won, and sparks fly.

The Road to Magnolia Glen by Pam Hillman – Review

June 29, 2018 by Suzie Waltner 1 Comment

So, this is a little off topic from the book review (but the title made me think of it), but I love magnolia trees. I have one right outside my place and every year, I watch for the magnolia blossoms to bloom. There’s just something about the trees. They are fairly non-descript most of the year, blending in with their dark and waxy green leaves with the rest of the landscape. Yet, when those flowers start to bloom, you can’t help but take notice of them. The flower’s don’t last long, they’re delicate, often like the southern belles who live among them, but there is a strength in the tree itself, with roots deep in the southern soil.

The Road to Magnolia Glen — The magnolia tree outside my home

And (I take a very circuitous route back to the book here), that’s the truth about the Breeze Hill plantation in Pam Hillman’s Natchez Trace series. Its blooms have faded, it’s in the winter of its existence, renewing and rebuilding to something beautiful again. So how fitting is it that book two of this series includes the magnolia in its title?

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter – Review & Giveaway

June 21, 2018 by Suzie Waltner 6 Comments

Kristi Ann Hunter tackles a topic that is often brushed over in Regency fiction. We read about the ton, the balls, parties & dinners, and even the scandals. But rarely do we read about what happens to those whose lives are ruined when the men of the upper echelon of society cast them away.

A Defense of Honor, the first book in The Haven Manor series, introduces readers to three women who refuse to forget or ignore the women and children who need to disappear.

In My Opinion…

After a close call of her own twelve years ago, Kit FitzGilbert pours her life into caring for those society would rather forget (after a run through the ton gossip mill, of course). Perhaps her methods are not the best, but her heart is in the right place. On one of her trips to London to secure funds for the manor, Kit meets Graham (aka Lord Wharton).

In an attempt to forget about an intriguing woman he’d learned little about, Graham sets out on a mission to find the sister of one of his friends. What he doesn’t expect is to run into that same woman who has been on his mind in the country.

Graham is a likable character from the beginning—charming, a little bit of a flirt, and someone who holds family and friends in esteem. And the first time he interacts with a child, I was smitten.
As Graham digs to uncover Kit’s secrets, and she struggles with handing control of the women and children she assists over to God, the two find a mutual admiration for the other.

In usual Hunter style, laughter and smiles are mixed in with heavier moments of questioning, disappointment, and concern.

Shining a light on both the trial and joys of helping those less fortunate, A Defense of Honor reminds readers that caring for even one person less fortunate than us makes a difference. The ending of Kit and Graham’s story is perfection while whetting my reading appetite for more about Daphne and Jess, the two women who help Kit run Haven Manor.

My Rating:

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

About the Book

When Katherine “Kit” FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she’s forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend’s missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she’s telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can’t matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. And as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn’t worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.