Read my review of The Practice Boyfriend: A Fake Relationship Romance (The Boyfriend Series Book 1) by Christina Benjamin #YoungAdult #ContemporaryRomance @AuthorCBenjamin

Clearing out my Kindle, Part 5

 I have countless unread books on my Kindle, and I had a week on my blog where I didn't have anything else going on. Thus, five days of reviews of books that have been sat on my to-read list for so long I don't remember what they're about.

The Practice Boyfriend: A Fake Relationship Romance

(The Boyfriend Series Book 1)

By Christina Benjamin

Practice makes perfect...or so she thought.

4 weeks to find Mr. Right?
No problem.

At least not for Hannah Stark.
The straight A high school senior has never met a challenge she couldn’t conquer.
With 4 weeks left before graduation she’s determined to land a date with her lifelong crush, Harrison Cohl.
The problem?

He’s Stanton Prep’s most popular bachelor!
But like all things in life, Hannah believes practice makes perfect.
Her plan?

Bribe bad boy, Cody Matthews into teaching her everything he knows about dating.
He’s the perfect guy for the job.
Quiet, broody, outcast . . . she’d never fall for someone like him.

And if Cody wants Hannah to continue tutoring him so he can graduate, he can’t say no.
I mean what’s the harm?

Fake feelings can’t get you hurt, right?

Genres: Young Adult/Contemporary Romance

Page Length: 230

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

MY THOUGHTS

Hannah Stark has done the right thing her entire life. She has worked hard to be the best in school, to get the best grades, and get into the best college. But, when it comes to writing her valedictorian speech, she looks up other people’s speeches for inspiration, and realises that they all talk about their high school memories, and about their friends. That is something she never made time for in high school – being a teenager. 

Desperate to get in with the ‘Goldens’, the highest on the social ladder at Stanton Prep, Hannah consults, or rather blackmails, Cody Matthews. He used to be a Golden, before his fall from grace involving a drunken car crash, a dead girlfriend, and various other things, like juvie and rehab. But still, he knows how to get in with the Goldens, how to get into the biggest party to be thrown at the end of the year.

Cody quickly realises Hannah is more of a lost cause than he originally thought. She has no experience with anything, and clearly won’t fit in with the Goldens. There is no way they would ever take her in. But, she has this pesky little idea that practice makes perfect, and Cody finds himself a part of a fake relationship, wherein he will teach Hannah how to be a normal teenager, and Hannah will not turn in his real test scores and make sure he doesn’t graduate.

Hannah, though, starts to learn that Cody also isn’t quite who everyone thinks he is. He isn’t a degenerate kid who killed his pregnant girlfriend in a drunk driving crash and just moved on, he was greatly affected by everything that happened. He has panic attacks, and can’t talk about what happened. He has been thrown aside by everyone, just when he needed them. His old friends mock him, making jokes about what he is most sensitive about. Hannah might need Cody in order to get into the party, but it quickly becomes clear that Cody might need Hannah as well.

Hannah is incredibly naive and trusting of the people around her, but, I suppose, she has no reason not to trust them. It does not take reading many YA romance books to know that the Goldens are unlikely to be nice people, or have good intentions, but Hannah is determined. Practice makes perfect, and she has to be the best. The Goldens are the highest on the social ladder, and so they are who she must befriend. Her naïvety, though, isn’t annoying. You don’t get mad at her cluelessness, but rather, you fear for her, and hope she can make the right decisions. She is an incredibly likeable character.

Cody, also, is a character I could not help but like. He has everything going against him, and yet, he is immediately a contradiction. He is described as moody, dangerous – and yet, Hannah wakes him up at five in the morning, and he is sarcastic, and likes making her blush and laugh. The Cody we spend time with isn’t the Cody other people describe, so while you may be a little wary of him, it is almost impossibly not to fall in love with him as you read. 

Hannah and Cody’s relationship is a complicated one, to say the least. She is technically using him, and he is just along for the ride. A fake relationship, one that should be shown, or dumped, when beneficial. But, neither Hannah or Cody seemed to be able to spend that amount of time pretending to be intimate without feelings starting to stir. While Hannah may not be entirely sure about what she is feeling, Cody is certain, and that is dangerous. He can’t lay his heart out for someone else, not after he lost Elena. But, being around Hannah takes away the pain. Their relationship is built on make-believe, but pretend doesn’t make you feel like that.

Sometimes, you just want a quick romance book to read, and sometimes, you want a bit more than that. This had that bit more, with some darker themes running alongside Hannah’s quest, mainly revolving around the car crash and Cody trying to deal with the repercussions, both to his mental state, and with the reactions of everyone around him. I loved reading this, and would definitely check out more books by this author.

Author, Christina Benjamin, lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets, where she spends her free time working on her books, eating chocolate and drinking wine.

Christina is best known for her bestselling Young Adult romance novels, The Prep School Boyfriend Academy series, which proves that book boyfriends are like chocolate… you can never have enough. Check out the series for fast, fun, YA romance reads. These destination novels let you fall in love in a new city with new characters, every time.

Make sure to check out her newest series, How To Date a Tomboy, for some YA sporty fun.

And don't miss her new Billionaire Boyfriend series for fun and flirty romance reads.

Christina loves to read and write across genres. She also writes under C.J. Benjamin and her best-selling novel, Geneva Sommers and the Quest for Truth, (FORMERLY THE GENEVA PROJECT) has won multiple awards and stolen the hearts of YA readers everywhere. Packed with magic and imagination, her epic tale of adventure hooks fans of mega-hit YA fiction like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson.

To Find info about all of her books and sign up for her newsletters please visit: www.crownatlanticpublishing.co

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Read my review of All The Things We Lost (River Valley Lost & Found Book 1) by Kayla Tirrell #ContemporaryRomance #YoungAdult @ThatsTirrellble

Clearing out my Kindle, Part 4

 I have countless unread books on my Kindle, and I had a week on my blog where I didn't have anything else going on. Thus, five days of reviews of books that have been sat on my to-read list for so long I don't remember what they're about.

All The Things We Lost

(River Valley Lost & Found Book 1)

By Kayla Tirrell

I never thought I'd return to River Valley. But after my mom's death, everyone thought a change of scenery might help. Now I'm busy rebuilding my relationship with my dad and working at a local diner. I was even happy to hear my childhood best friend works there as a cook. Too bad he's cold and distant. He acts like he doesn't know who I am. So why can't I stop thinking about him and wondering what happened while I was away?

Genres: Young Adult/Contemporary Romance

Page Length: 194

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

MY THOUGHTS

Katie had known her mother’s death was coming, her mother had spent her time preparing Katie, teaching her how to live by herself. But knowing how to look after herself and being able to live without her mother are two very different things. In a bid to get her out of the house, not to move completely on, but to get moving, Katie’s grandparents suggest she travel to stay with her father for a while. 

Julian’s life took a rapid and very steep descent. His father up and left, with no prior warning, and his brother fell in with the wrong crowd, and now only talks to him when he wants someone to push around. Julian works as hard as he can as a cook at a diner, just to scrape up enough money to keep a roof over his and his mother’s heads and food on the table. He has a reputation around town, rumours spread about him, but he is not his brother, no matter what people may think or the tough exterior he shows. 

Katie and Julian were best friends as children, and Katie can’t deny she is looking forward to seeing him again. But, when Katie’s father shows up at Julian’s house, asking him to keep an eye on her as she learns the ropes as a waitress at the diner, he is less than thrilled. He has enough to worry about already, he doesn’t have time to accept another person into his life. And yet, slowly, both Julian and Katie realise they are desperate to be around each other, to return to their carefree childhood friendship or, maybe, go further than that. 

Both Julian and Katie have a lot going on in their lives, although neither know the others problems. They keep their distance from each other, especially since Julian is reluctant to even talk to her. As Katie starts to settle in, though, they start spending a little more time together. This is not a slow burn romance, Julian and Katie actually don’t spend too much time together. There is more about them as individuals, trying to figure out their own lives. This is not a complaint at all, their awkward reunion fits perfectly with Julian’s struggles at home, and when the time is right, things seem to just click into place. There isn’t a torturous build up, because the build up is itself the story of these two teenagers, only just having passed into adulthood, and already having so much on their shoulders to deal with. 

While I loved Katie and Julian, there is another character that has to be mentioned. Gwen, another waitress at the diner, Julian’s only friend, and Katie’s first when she arrived. She is outgoing, fun, and also incredibly kind. She is there for Katie, especially, when she needs her, and she is one of the only people who knows that Julian is not the person the rumours say he is, and who knows the truth behind the walls he puts up. She is a beacon of support and always seems up for a coffee and a chat, or ice cream and a movie. Maybe even a shopping spree. She is the kind of friend I think everyone needs. 

This is a quick read, and although there are some tough subjects, with the trouble Julian has at home and with his brother, as well as Katie trying to work her way through the loss of her mother, it is not too heavy a read. There is a lot of focus on moving onwards and upwards, with Katie finally getting out the house, and Julian trying to figure out how to move forwards after losing his dreams as his family walked away. It almost seems like they both needed to meet each other again, childhood best friends reunited, to remember the good times, and that there can be joy in the world, no matter how tough it may get. 

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the kind of book you can pick up and sink into, delving into the lives of the characters as if you are there with them. Unfortunately, I was not with them, and could not give Julian or Katie a big hug, but still, I loved reading it and following them from the sidelines. 

Kayla has loved to read as long as she can remember. While she started out reading spooky stories that had her hiding under her covers, she now prefers stories with a bit more kissing.

When she gets a chance to watch TV, she enjoys cheesy sci-fi and superhero shows.

Most days, you’ll catch her burning dinner in an attempt to cook while reading just one more chapter.

Kayla lives in the sunshine state with her husband and three boys.

Connect with Kayla online:

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Read my review of The Circle by K.M. Montemayor #YoungAdult #Paranormal

Clearing out my Kindle, Part 3

 I have countless unread books on my Kindle, and I had a week on my blog where I didn't have anything else going on. Thus, five days of reviews of books that have been sat on my to-read list for so long I don't remember what they're about.

The Circle

By K.M. Montemayor

He was created for only one person. She was never supposed to be the One. It is 1988 and Lilly, a shy high school senior with a non-existent social life, is forced to live out her romantic fantasies through the fictional characters of her books. That all changes when she issues a spur of the moment invitation to the strange new kid. The world Charlie comes from is much different than Earth. Almost every aspect of a Sentrian's life is under complete government control. There is only one right the intrusive authorities may not violate: that God chooses your soul mate. While on his planet, Charlie never found his One, so when he develops an attraction to Lilly, he is torn. Should he ignore his feelings for the Earthan, or pursue a doomed relationship with the only girl he has ever cared about? His contact with Lilly does not go unnoticed. Involvement with an Earthan is considered blasphemy, and Charlie is condemned as a criminal of the state. The couple is faced with a difficult choice: accept eternal separation or risk everything to stay together.

Genres: Young Adult/Paranormal

Page Length: 281

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

MY THOUGHTS

Lilly’s social life mainly revolves around band practice and her two sophomore band friends who she adopted as her band ‘children’. She takes her ‘children’ out for MacDonalds after most practices, and it is on a quick decision that she invites Charlie, the new kid, to join them. He has sat alone since he arrived at school, and she wants to make him feel included.

Charlie’s mission, unfortunately, involves him having to socialise with the Earthan teenagers, get to know them, join extracurricular clubs. Being musical, he decides to join the marching band, thinking it’ll be an easy way to meet the required criteria. But when the Earthan, Lillian, invites him to hang out, he finds himself on a path leading to friendship, and a much deeper understanding of the Earthans than he ever had before.

This is a novel filled with secrets. Charlie is always keeping something from someone. He is going to band because he likes it, not because he has to. He enjoys spending time with Lillian, not that his parents know of her existence. He is technically an alien – that’s probably the biggest secret he is trying to keep hidden. He leads a double life, pretending to be behaving so his parents leave him alone, and pretending to be a normal teenage boy, so Lillian will spend time with him. Even if he has to duck aside and look up the meaning of a word or term to keep his facade up, he seems determined to keep his secrets hidden.

Lilly has never been social, and yet, suddenly she not only has her band children, but she has another friend. But, Charlie is not a new band child, nor is he really a friend. He might dress strangely, and he may not be what others would consider handsome, but she wants to be more than friends with him. She knows that much for certain. Unfortunately, secrets have a tendency to reveal themselves, and, not that Lilly knew it, but their relationship was doomed from the start.

The idea of soulmates is presented in this novel, but in a strange way. On Charlie’s planet, they believe in the ‘One’, the person you are meant to marry and be with. Once you meet your One, that is it. But, finding the One can be difficult, especially if you’re not particularly interested in doing so. The difference I found, while reading this, is that usually, soulmates are depicted as a wonderful thing, that you may find your soulmate at any point in your life, and while you can’t decide who your soulmate will be, you have freedom around finding them. Finding the One is depicted as a very forced, urgent task. At eighteen, Charlie is already behind, as many marry several years before that if they have found their One. Finding his One is something Charlie is pressured into, something that he needs to do quickly, and it almost destroys the whole idea of soulmates. Charlie doesn’t necessarily want to meet his One, the amount of effort it takes is something he is expected to put into the task, not something he wants to do.

I found the pacing of this story a little strange. I would say that it moves quite slowly, but when I think about it, it doesn’t. At times, several days will go by in the span of a paragraph or two. The writing is laid out, at times, in a very factual way, telling what Charlie and Lilly are doing, without much about the details of anything. There is rarely a moment to pause, to get to know how the characters think, or feel, because the scenes move by so quickly, and I struggled to connect with the characters. I wanted them to have a happy ending, but I wasn’t entirely sure who they actually were.

This is not, in itself, a science fiction novel. It is a forbidden romance, set in the 1980s, and it just so happens that one of the characters comes from outer space. This is an easy book to read, and I definitely enjoyed the time period it was set in. It was refreshing to read a book where the characters weren’t glued to their phones, and the lack of more modern technology really showed itself in the second half of this novel, where things start to get more tense. I was a little disappointed with the ending, because the book is left on such a massive cliff-hanger, there is no way you can leave the story feeling satisfied if you are not planning on buying book 2. 

I am a native Texan and have lived in the Houston area for most of my life. I am a wife and mom who loves to read. When I'm not kicking an idea around in my head for a story, I read and review books on Good Reads Occasionally, I sleep.

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Read my review of Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer #YoungAdult #ContemporaryRomance

Clearing out my Kindle, Part 2

 I have countless unread books on my Kindle, and I had a week on my blog where I didn't have anything else going on. Thus, five days of reviews of books that have been sat on my to-read list for so long I don't remember what they're about.

Just Your Average Princess

By Kristina Springer

Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin Milan Woods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can’t imagine it was easy for Milan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, population one thousand. But it’s kind of hard to feel sorry for her since (a) Milan’s drop-dead gorgeous; (b) she’s the daughter of two of Hollywood’s hottest film stars; (c) she’s captured the attention of everyone in town, including Danny, Jamie’s crush since forever; and (d) she’s about to steal the title of Pumpkin Princess right out from underneath Jamie!

Genres: Young Adult/Contemporary Romance

Page Length: 208

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

MY THOUGHTS

Jamie Edwards has everything set out in front of her to become Pumpkin Princess this year. She is hardworking, works on her father’s pumpkin patch, and is well known and liked among the customers and community. This will be the year she sits upon that carnival float, and Danny, who Jamie has been crushing on forever, will finally notice her.

That is until all her plans come crumbling down with the arrival of her cousin, Milan. Milan’s arrival was supposed to bring joy and fun, like when they were little, but Milan has changed since Jamie last saw her. Being the daughter of two Hollywood stars is one thing, but Milan is gorgeous and stands out among all the country folk. Slowly, Milan seems to steal everything Jamie loves, and Jamie is left wondering how she can possibly compete for Pumpkin Princess and win when even Jamie’s parents seem to prefer Milan over her.

Jamie is an incredibly likeable character. She adores her job, even when it involves running up a pumpkin tower to rescue a small child before a pumpkin avalanche can cause damage and destruction. The Patch is described in such a way that I am now desperate to visit it, and I maybe even want to work there. It sounds like a wonderful place, and Jamie seems like a friend I would love to have. She is fun, easy-going, not to mention incredibly awkward whenever Danny is around, or even mentioned. 

Jamie’s frustration about Milan invading her life is more than clear. I started to hate Milan as well. She is incredibly rude, stuck up, and somehow everyone loves her. She is supposed to work on the Patch, but gets away with the bare minimum and gets more praise than Jamie ever has. The family’s entire diet even changes when Milan announces she is a vegetarian and basically only eats things that are green or tofu. And, for some reason, Jamie’s parents change everything to accommodate. Jamie is sent back and forth, and Milan gets the praise. Somehow, even Danny seems to speak to Milan more than he speaks to Jamie. It is infuriating for Jamie, and the emotions come across so well I was infuriated for Jamie. Everything is unfair, especially considering how hard she works. 

Of course, Jamie has her friends who see Milan how Jamie sees her, but those friends are few. It is mainly just Sara, who works at the candy apple stand on the Patch. And while she can try and subside Jamie’s anger with sweets, it can’t work forever. Jamie has been dreaming of being Pumpkin Princess for years, and then Milan announces she is entering the competition? An outsider, who knows nothing about the honour of being Pumpkin Princess, and seems to hate everything about the area? After everyone else has already chosen Milan over her, Jamie is obviously scared that she is going to lose her dream to Milan. Who wouldn’t vote for the daughter of two Hollywood stars over her, a country girl with pigtails and overalls?

Jamie is not a perfect character, she does make some mistakes, and nothing is without consequences. But, the consequences, while bad, teach her that becoming bitter and petty is not the way to go forwards, no matter how bad the initial situation was. 

This isn’t a particularly long book, the writing style is easy to read and the pages fly by. It is the kind of book you can sit down with in the evening and finish within two hours. It is not a deep book, full of emotions and difficult scenes, but rather a light read that you won’t want to put down. 

Kristina Springer is the author of Cotton Candy Wishes, Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker, My Fake Boyfriend Is Better Than Yours (a Scholastic Bestseller and 2012 YALSA Quick Pick book), The Espressologist (a 2010 Society of School Librarians International Honor Book and 2014 Illinois Reads Book that has been purchased for film by Michael Eisner’s Vuguru), and Just Your Average Princess. She has a Masters in Writing from DePaul University and resides in a suburb of Chicago with her husband and children. Learn more about Kristina on her website: KristinaSpringer.com.

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Read my review of Incubation (The Incubation Trilogy Book 1) by Laura DiSilverio #YoungAdult #Dystopian #SciFi @LauraDiSilverio

Clearing out my Kindle, Part 1

 I have countless unread books on my Kindle, and I had a week on my blog where I didn't have anything else going on. Thus, five days of reviews of books that have been sat on my to-read list for so long I don't remember what they're about.

Incubation

(The Incubation Trilogy Book 1)

By Laura DiSilverio

Bio-chemistry whiz Everly Jax wants one thing: to know who her parents are. Raised with other repo kids in InKubator 9, she has pinned her hopes on Reunion Day, the annual event where sixteen-year-olds can meet or reunite with their parents. When her Reunion Day goes horribly awry, she and her pregnant friend Halla escape the Kube, accompanied by their friend Wyck who has his own reasons for leaving.

In a world where rebuilding the population is critical to national survival, the Pragmatist government licenses all human reproduction, and decides who can--and must--have babies. The trio face feral dog packs, swamp threats, locust swarms, bounty hunters looking for "breeders," and more dangers as they race to Amerada's capital to find Halla's soldier boyfriend before the Prags can repo her baby and force the girls into surrogacy service.

An unexpected encounter with Bulrush, an Underground Railroad for women fleeing to Outposts with their unlicensed babies, puts them in greater peril than ever. Everly must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to learn her biological identity--and deal with the unanticipated consequences of her decisions.

Genres: Young Adult/Dystopian/Science Fiction
Page Length: 302

Grab a copy HERE!

MY THOUGHTS

Everly Jax has, like all the other children, been waiting for one thing all her life – Reunion Day, when the sixteen-year-olds can meet their parents, for what may be the first time. They have spent their lives in Kube 9, learning what they need to succeed in society, but working on solving the crisis of the locusts determined on eating what little food they have isn’t enough for Everly. She is desperate to know who her parents are, who she is.

Reunion Day comes and goes, and Everly’s questions remain unanswered when the worst thing she could’ve thought of happens. Instead of sticking around, she finds herself following her friends, Wyck and Halla. Halla is pregnant, to a boyfriend who is away with military training, and while an unlicensed baby is one thing, Halla is determined to keep the child, which is simply impossible. So, together, the three run.

While they spent their lives being taught everything they need for life in society, the three quickly realise they are woefully unprepared for the outside world. From bandits who would steal their only mode of transportation, to bounty hunters who would sell Halla and Everly as ‘breeders’, forcing them into a life of birthing baby after baby for the good of Amerada, they have a difficult time staying alive, let alone safe. Wyck and Everly take on the role of protecting Halla, of trying to keep her safe as they journey, but it is a task they have trouble doing. Neither of them know how to survive in the outside world. They struggle to find clean water and food, and whenever they seem well off with their supplies, some tragedy will strike and leave them even worse off than before.

Everly is a very interesting character to narrate this story. While she runs with her friends, she is always sympathetic towards Amerada’s cause and turns a blind eye to things others might immediately see as wrong. She has been brought up to want to help better the world, and even after leaving society, she still wants to do her part and wants others to do their part. The way she thinks of some things is almost like she is quoting things she has been told before, such as how surrogates are helping save Amerada. Even when she comes across proof that what she knows may not be right, or even humanitarian, it takes a lot to shock her into realising the reality of the world. 

While a lot of this book is focused on the paths taken by Everly, Halla, and Wyck, there is also a lot of focus on the reproductive ways of this futuristic society. A flu destroyed the world, spreading around and killing millions. In attempts to stop the spread, countries shut their borders, destroyed bridges and highways, so the people who were already in would stay in, and everyone else would stay out. With such a blow to the world’s population, repopulating the world seems to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and babies are one of the most precious things there can be. But, a couple can rarely have their own child. They must apply for a licence, and get approved. In reality, most of the children come from surrogates, babies who are taken and passed into families who will raise them to be an integral part of society. Genetic selection ensures the babies will grow to be scientists, smart enough to help fix the world. There is a very sterile view on family, and love seems to be in short supply. Halla loving the child growing within her is something Everly has trouble understanding because it isn’t common. People don’t love their own children, because parents do not raise their own children. 

There is an organisation, Bulrush, which I will not talk about too much so I don’t spoil anything. Bulrush is focused on helping women get to Outposts safely, women who have unlicensed babies, children who they would not have any right to without new identities and help getting to safety. With so much happening to them, it can be difficult to know who Everly and her friends should trust, but this organisation, one working to secure the bond between mother and child, is one that I immediately knew was trustworthy. Rebels, not working for their own good, but for the good of others. One might even call them under-cover vigilantes.

This is not a book without tough topics, with the whole ideology in this society about babies, and the way they should be brought into the world and raised, but it also is not too heavy. There are definitely parts, especially nearer the end, when the book darkens, but it is mainly about the three friends trying to get to safety. A journey they must take, but also one that helps them learn who they really are. It has a recommended reading age of 13-18 – I would definitely say it is more of a 16 onwards kind of book, I think there are themes in it that are not at all suitable for a 13 year old, but for that slightly older audience, it is a great book.

Laura DiSilverio is the national best-selling author of 21 (and counting) novels, including Close Call (one of the Top 5 mysteries of 2016, according to Library Journal),The Reckoning Stones (2016's Colorado Book Award winner for best mystery), and the Readaholics Book Club series. She spent 20 years as an Air Force intelligence officer before retiring to write and parent full-time. Her teen daughters coaxed her into writing a young adult novel, and the result is the dystopian Incubation Trilogy (because three is better than one, right?). She is a past President of Sisters in Crime and a frequent keynote speaker and teacher at writers conferences and events. She plots murder and parents teens in Colorado, trying to keep the two tasks separate.

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Read an interview with Rachel Brimble, author of A Very Modern Marriage #HistoricalRomance #VictorianHistoricalRomance #Interview @RachelBrimble

Let's have a look at Rachel Brimble's book, A Very Modern Marriage! While you're here, have a read of my interview with Rachel!

A Very Modern Marriage

(The Ladies of Carson Street Book 3)

An absolutely gripping and unputdownable Victorian saga

He needs a wife...

Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan...

But the only woman who's caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she's hardly respectable, but she's determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose's mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William's a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she's very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won't follow them wherever they go.

In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble's exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for...

Genre: Victorian Historical Romance

Page Length: 313

Grab a copy HERE!

INTERVIEW

Writing Interview questions.

Why did you choose to write your book in this era?

Because I absolutely love the Victorian period for all the amazing changes taking place – especially for women. This was the time when women started to demand change, whether that be in the home, the workplace or in the first baby steps towards gender equality. The underlying feeling of change runs through almost every part of society because of the industrial revolution.

Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?

My latest release, A Very Modern Marriage, is my seventh Victorian novel so I am quite familiar with the period now but, for this novel in particular I researched cotton mills and the people that worked there, which was a whole new subject for me.

I found that tough reading sometimes…the conditions could be absolutely awful and the ages of the children unthinkable in this day and age.

Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?

Yes! In the blurb it says Octavia (my heroine) is ‘one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street’ but not what that means! I have had readers somewhat surprised when they learn Octavia is a prostitute. 

This is the third book in a trilogy (all can be read standalone) where I have three friends who live and work together – my mission with this series was to show how different these women’s circumstances were that led to them living the lives they are and – most importantly – to give them each the happy ever after they each deserve!

If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?

Strong, caring and intelligent – Octavia has already been through so much before the book opens but she is a survivor. She passionately cares about her best friends, Louisa and Nancy as well as everything else to do with their home. She is well-educated, escapes into the pages of books and longs for more in her life – she knows she’s worth more and I adore her!

What was the most challenging part about writing your book?

I always find plotting difficult at the beginning of the process but 28 novels in, I know everything will work out in the end – the other part that is always a challenge is the middle of the book. I get to around 40,000 words and things begin to flag a little, then once I reach 60-65,000 words, I’m flying high again. It happens EVERY time!

Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?

I can’t think of anything, and I don’t think I’ve ever come across this with any of my books – I tend to write the story the way I believe it should be told but I’m also open to my editor’s suggestions and changes. So far, there has not been anything too drastic!

What are you currently working on?

I am currently editing the first book in what I hope will be an ongoing series - each book will be set in a different British royal court and revolve around the romance of a royal maid.

Book 1 is set in Queen Victoria’s court and should be out in the summer and I am working on book 2 set in the court of Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra…

What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?

You can do this!!

So many aspiring writers think they are not good enough but that is never the case – writing takes practice, practice and more practice. The best advice I was ever given was ‘give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft’ – getting to the end is the first challenge. With that done, you can edit to your heart’s content!

If there are any aspiring romance writers out there looking for some help with that all-important first chapter, I run a First Chapter Critique service and would love to help! Here’s the link: https://rachelbrimble.com/first-chapter-critique-service/

Personal Interview questions.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I am an avid knitter as well as a voracious reader – if I am not doing either of these things, you will usually find me walking the wonderful English countryside with my husband and our mad chocolate Labrador, Tyler!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer! I feel so blessed that I am doing what I’ve always wanted to do – when I was about 8 or 9, I discovered Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series and vowed that one day I would be paid to write books. My first book wasn’t published until 23 years later, but I got there in the end – that’s why I am so completely committed to helping aspiring writers. Take your passion and go for it!

What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?

Oh, my husband and I are out tonight so we’ve booked dinner at our favourite Mexican restaurant – chicken enchiladas are in my future!

What would be a perfect day?

Writing outside in the warm sunshine all day, following by dinner with a glass of wine on the patio…bliss!

What is the best part of your day?

I love the evening – work done for the day, a long bubble bath with a book followed by some favourite TV.

Either or!

Tea or coffee: Coffee

Hot or cold: Hot

Movie or book: Book

Morning person or Night owl: Both!

City or country: Country

Social Media or book: Book

Paperback or ebook: Paperback (although I love my Kindle, too!)

Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of over 25 published novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin). In January 2022, she signed a contract with the Wild Rose Press for the first book in a brand new series set in past British Royal courts.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. 

To sign up for her newsletter (a guaranteed giveaway every month!), click here: https://bit.ly/3zyH7dt

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Have a look at The Virgin of the Wind Rose: A Conspiracy Thriller by Glen Craney #HistoricalThriller #HistoricalMystery #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @glencraney @maryanneyarde

The Virgin of the Wind Rose: A Conspiracy Thriller
By Glen Craney

A Templar cryptogram has confounded scholars for centuries.

Is it a ticking cipher bomb just hours away from detonating a global war?

Rookie State Department lawyer Jaqueline Quartermane was never much good at puzzles. But now, assigned to investigate a ritual murder of an American in Ethiopia, she and a shady stolen-art hunter must solve the world's oldest palindrome—the infamous SATOR Square—to thwart a religious conspiracy that reaches back to the Age of Discovery and an arcane monastic order of Portuguese sea explorers.

Separated by half a millennium, two espionage plots dovetail in this breakneck thriller, driven by history's most elusive mystery....

... the shocking secret that Christopher Columbus took to the grave.

Praise:

"If you love Steve Berry, Dan Brown or Umberto Eco, you may have a new author favorite in Glen Craney." -- BESTTHRILLERS.COM

"An exciting journey across time, with more twists and turns than a strawberry Twizzler." -- QUARTERDECK MAGAZINE

Publication Date: January, 2014

Publisher: Brigid's Fire Press

Page Length: 407 Pages

Genre: Historical Mystery-Thriller

Grab a copy HERE!

A graduate of Indiana University School of Law and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Glen Craney practiced trial law before joining the Washington, D.C. press corps to write about national politics and the Iran-contra trial for Congressional Quarterly magazine. In 1996, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences awarded him the Nicholl Fellowship prize for best new screenwriting. His debut historical novel, The Fire and the Light, was named Best New Fiction by the National Indie Excellence Awards. He is a three-time Finalist/Honorable Mention winner of Foreword Magazine’s Book-of-the-Year, a Chaucer Award winner, and a Military Writers Society of America Gold Medalist. His books have taken readers to Occitania during the Albigensian Crusade, the Scotland of Robert Bruce, Portugal during the Age of Discovery, the trenches of France during World War I, the battlefields of the American Civil War, and the American Hoovervilles of the Great Depression. He has served as president of the Southern California Chapter of the Historical Novel Society.

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Check out the cover for Kingdom of Songs and Curses (Kingdom of Sirens and Monsters, #2) by Tara Quinn #Fantasy #YoungAdult #Retelling @XpressoTours @taraquinnauthor

Kingdom of Songs and Curses

(Kingdom of Sirens and Monsters, #2)

By Tara Quinn

All of Coral’s worst fears have come true.

Her father is dead thanks to her wretched, siren step-mother, and as a fully transformed mermaid, she’s a prisoner in the Undersea. But turning to sea-foam is the last of her worries when she realizes that her battle with Melody has caused her to inherit the title of Reigning Queen.

Now, with her heart magic twice as valuable, she must tread carefully in her attempts to adjust to mermaid life and reclaim her best friend’s soul from the treacherous Sea of Souls. But Coral soon finds herself in trouble once more, and she realizes that if she’s going to accomplish any of her goals, she may need the help of the very siren step-mother who destroyed her life in the first place… 

Lysander’s newfound emotions have been an adjustment.

As tension builds between the kingdoms, Lysander and Coral know they must present a united front against Eugene’s forces—that their bond is the only thing maintaining Coral’s Reigning Queen status, and without it, she won’t survive the Sea of Souls, nor have enough power to dethrone Eugene.

But despite Lysander’s attempts to navigate life as a fully moral being, he can’t help feeling like his relationship with Coral is crumbling. Especially now that Coral’s twin has arrived in Veranis, proving to be everything Coral is not. And though he doesn’t want to admit it, he’s beginning to think that he picked the wrong sister…

Curses will fall, songs will bind, and kingdoms will go head to head in this stunning conclusion to Tara Quinn’s dual retelling of Snow White and The Little Mermaid.

Publication date: November 5th 2022
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult, Retelling, Young Adult 

Goodreads

Tara Quinn is a fairytale retelling author with a love of blending contemporary worlds with fantasy.

When Tara isn't writing, she's binging chocolate and The Office—neither in moderation—and fantasising about long train rides through the countryside and trips to Greece.

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Read my review of The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance @ThisGalsJourney

The Lady of Galway Manor

By Jennifer Deibel

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the "lies" the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.

Grab a copy HERE!

MY THOUGHTS

With the ongoing disputes between the Irish and British, the people of Galway Parish are less than happy when the De Lacy family move from England to take the place of landlord. Bored of her life at court, Annabeth is desperate for something different to do and manages to convince her father to allow her to apprentice for the Jennings at their jewellery shop.

Stephen Jennings is fed up with working at the shop, a broken heart having turned him cold to love and the legend of the Claddagh Ring that he must recount to nearly every customer. He has plans to leave, to move away and take on an ironworks apprenticeship in Spain, but his plans are delayed when his father introduces Lady Annabeth De Lacy as his new apprentice and tells him that he must teach her their craft.

While Anna is desperate to earn Stephen’s friendship, she begins to realise things she had never thought about before, about the Irish and the relationship between her country and the new one she is discovering. She had been led to believe the Irish needed English intervention, that the Irish couldn’t get by alone, but the place she arrives in is in no need of saving. So, she begins to question what her family is doing there, and why the English are so intent on ‘saving’ the Irish. Why, for the Irish seem to hate everything the English do? Perhaps all her lessons have only told her one side of the story...

Stephen acts incredibly distant towards Anna, and from his perspective, he has good reason to. She is an Englishwoman, who has come into his country in a position of power over him and his friends, and demanded to learn the craft that has been in his family for generations. But, as he finds himself showing her the real Ireland, and realises she is not the person he thought she would be, but someone who is capable of understanding when she was wrong about something, and willing to switch out her skirts for a pair of trousers and get her hands dirty, he finds himself growing worried. He has had his heart broken before, and he hasn’t believed in true love since. But how can he keep his heart safe while she is around? Throughout the entire novel, Stephen is incredibly back and forth with his emotions and moods, as he tries to figure out whether he can put his heart on the line again, frequently drawing back into himself to guard his emotions against whatever might be happening with Anna. 

There is a big theme of the differences in social class in this novel. Anna is a lady, and yet, sometimes she wishes she weren’t, that she didn’t have the responsibilities that came with a title, and that she could do what she wanted. While Stephen is of a much lower social class than Anna, he at least has a house, a business, and enough money to keep food on the table. As Anna learns, there are those much worse off than she ever believed. Anna’s desire to help in whatever way she can is admirable, although often rebuked once she speaks and her accent gives her away as an English Lady.

The relationship between Stephen and Anna grows painfully slowly, it is not at the front of this novel at all. To begin with, Stephen dislikes even being around Anna, and all she wants is something to do with her time. But, as they get to know each other, they start to realise they enjoy each other's company and grow more comfortable together. With talk of revolution in the air, there is enough drama to stir the pot and keep things moving, especially to push Stephen and Anna towards each other. With Stephen being Irish, Anna’s family think themselves greatly above him and Anna has a secret that means she already has no chance to ever be with Stephen.

The setting of the novel is beautiful, you can almost see the streets, hear the sound of people going about their lives, and smell the sea air as you read. This book does not go deeply into some of the heavier topics, such as Anna’s social commitment to her family, and things she may be forced to give up for the sake of her father’s title, but focuses more on Anna and Stephen as they slowly begin to like each other. It is a sweet read, one that you might read on a quiet afternoon of relaxing. If you are after a gentler read, but one still set in a turbulent time, with social issues, revolution, and love, this is the one you should get.

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and freelance writer. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic Magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona.

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Read an interview with Juliane Weber author of Under the Emerald Sky (The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1) #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @Writer_JW @maryanneyarde

Under the Emerald Sky

(The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1)

By Juliane Weber

He’s come to Ireland to escape his past. She’s trying to run from her future. 

It's 1843 and the English nobleman Quinton Williams has come to Ireland to oversee the running of his father’s ailing estate and escape his painful past. Here he meets the alluring Alannah O’Neill, whose Irish family is one of few to have retained ownership of their land, the rest having been supplanted by the English over the course of the country's bloody history. Finding herself drawn to the handsome Englishman, Alannah offers to help Quin communicate with the estate’s Gaelic-speaking tenants, as much to assist him as to counter her own ennui. Aware of her controlling brother’s hostility towards the English, she keeps her growing relationship with Quin a secret – a secret that cannot, however, be kept for long from those who dream of ridding Ireland of her English oppressors.

Among the stark contrasts that separate the rich few from the plentiful poor, Under the Emerald Sky is a tale of love and betrayal in a land teetering on the brink of disaster - the Great Famine that would forever change the course of Ireland's history.

Publication Date: 23rd October 2020

Publisher: Independently Published

Page Length: 468 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance 

Grab a copy HERE!

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

INTERVIEW

Writing Interview questions.

Why did you choose to write your book in this era?

That was something of an accident. I had thought about writing a book for several years before actually getting started. I knew only that it would be a historical fiction novel, but not when or where the story would take place. When inspiration refused to come, I turned to Google for help, where I came across the Great Famine in Ireland. I was immediately drawn to this setting, as I liked the idea of the 19th century; I liked the idea of Ireland, with its beautiful scenery and its myths and legends; and I liked the idea of writing about a time in history that hasn’t been written about quite as much as some others. 

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while you were researching this era?

The most surprising thing I discovered while researching 19th century Ireland was that the peasants were not, in fact, already starving before the famine hit. Although the majority of the population was wretchedly poor, the potatoes they lived off did actually see them reasonably well fed, not least of all because potatoes are far more nutritious than bread, for example. 

Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?

What isn’t covered in the blurb is that the book contains a good dose of lighthearted material, including bits of Irish folklore, wedding and festival scenes, and the like, which I hope will make for an entertaining as well as an enlightening read.  

If you had to describe your protagonist, in three words, what would those three words be?

Alannah O’Neill is intelligent, determined and loyal. 

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on the second book in The Irish Fortune Series, which is tentatively called Beneath the Darkening Clouds. While Under the Emerald Sky takes place in the years leading up to the famine, in the second book, the potato harvest actually starts to fail and the famine begins. But of course, it won’t be all doom and gloom! There will be trips to London and Dublin (including an accidental visit to a Dublin brothel!), as well as a sprinkling of Irish folklore and the like to brighten up the mood.  

  

Personal Interview questions 

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing I enjoy reading and spending time with my family, as well as playing volleyball. 

What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?

Dinner tonight is butternut soup, and I’m entirely happy eating that, especially with a few slices of fresh bread! 

What’s your favourite food?

I am quite a chocoholic, so that’s high on my list, but I really just love food in general! If I had to choose, I would say pasta, but I also love potatoes and pastries, just about all things vegetable in nature, and and and…   

What is the best part of your day?

Either or!

Tea or coffee: coffee

Hot or cold: hot

Movie or book: book

Morning person or Night owl: night owl 

City or country: country 

Social Media or book: book 

Paperback or ebook: paperback 

Juliane is actually a scientist. She holds degrees in physiology and zoology, including a PhD in physiology. During her studies she realised, however, that her passion lay not in conducting scientific research herself, but in writing about it. Thus began her career as a medical writer, where she took on all manner of writing and editing tasks, in the process honing her writing skills, until she finally plucked up the courage to write her first historical novel, Under the Emerald Sky. The book is the first in The Irish Fortune Series, which is set in 19th century Ireland around the time of the Great Famine.

Juliane lives with her husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.

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