Monday, November 4, 2024

Halloween With A Vampire (Holiday Romance, Book 1) by Jennifer Snyder ~ #Review #Shifters #Paranormal #PNR #BookLover #BookBlogger #Books #Bookworm #Read


Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0BHR8JZFZ
Publication Date: ‎ October 8, 2022
Print Length: ‎ 91 pages

Amazon
Goodreads


About the Book:

He's a vampire haunted by his past. She's a cursed black cat shifter. This Halloween, will love finally set these two tortured souls free from the shadows of their past?

Joe Evensen has never been a fan of Halloween. However, as the owner of Last Drop bar, each year he hosts a Halloween Bash for Crescent Creek. It's a business decision, but it also serves as a distraction from the ghosts of his past who torment him while the veil between the living and the dead is thin. Joe doesn't expect this Halloween to be any different, but it is.

Ivy Pendle has been cursed since her eighteenth birthday. She's spent years only allowed to walk in her human form on Halloween in search of her mate and never finding him. Doubting she ever will, she decides to spend her last Halloween allotted as a human enjoying herself instead of stressing about being stuck in her shifter form forever.

When the two meet by chance, there's a spark of something between them. But is it simply a case of misery loving company, or something more?

Halloween With A Vampire is a standalone Halloween story set in the larger Paranormals of Crescent Creek world.

My Review:

Halloween with a Vampire is a sweet shifter/vampire romance. Ivy Pendle is a cursed kitty. This is her last Halloween to find her fated mate before she's destined to roam the earth solely in her black cat form. Resigned to her fate, instead of going home to see her parents one last time, or even truly search for her mate, Ivy stays in Crescent Creek and finds herself in the Last Drop Bar owned by Joe Evensen.

Joe is being haunted by the sins of his past - literally. Figuring this Halloween will be the same as all of the previous ones, he prepares to wallow in grief and misery. Fortunately his Halloween Bash should distract him, if for only a little while. When a stranger shows up in his bar, and the torments from his past lessen, he realizes who and what she is, but not why she's there. 

Ivy and Joe are fantastic characters. I loved them each individually but even more so when that spark hits. They had chemistry from the get go. I was impressed by the spectacular development of such a short story. The reader is given enough information about each character, allowing us to watch them grow just a little bit throughout the book. I loved the world-building and vivid descriptions. 

I love the originality of the story. The curse placed upon Ivy is different (to me, anyway). I enjoyed how the author spun her story.

My Rating:

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

#Review ~ Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters' Letters and Mementos, Written and Folded by Hand (Handwritten Classics) by Barbara Heller and L. M. Montgomery

The must-have volume for Anne of Green Gables fans: This special edition invites readers inside the beloved story with gorgeous replicas of the characters' letters and mementos.

 

Book Details:

Edition: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9781797227689
Publisher: ‎Chronicle Books 
Publish Date: October 22, 2024
Hardcover: ‎220 pages
ISBN-10: 1797227688
Goodreads

About the Book:

Anne of Green Gables has been treasured by generations of dreamers and free spirits. For those who love to indulge in flights of fancy, Anne’s world offers escape and inspiration. Now, your imagination can take tangible form with this deluxe edition of L. M. Montgomery’s classic novel, the latest volume in the swoon-worthy Handwritten Classics series curated by Barbara Heller.

Throughout these pages, you will find pockets containing replicas of thirteen items from the story recreated with charming handwriting and loving attention to historical detail. Discover the notes passed between Anne and her bosom friend Diana in the Avonlea schoolhouse; the official program of the Debating Club, where Gilbert Blythe memorably recited “Bingen on the Rhine”; and of course, Marilla’s recipes for both raspberry cordial and currant wine. Each piece of ephemera transports you to idyllic Prince Edward Island.

For anyone who loves Anne of Green Gables and for anyone who still cherishes the joy of paper mementos, this collector's edition will illuminate a classic story in a whole new way.

FAN FAVORITE BOOK SERIES: Anne of Green Gables has a special place in readers' hearts. Fans from all over the world make pilgrimages to Prince Edward Island, and there have been countless adaptations over the years, including the award-winning and highly acclaimed Netflix series Anne with an E.

UNIQUE FORMAT: From the masterful calligraphy and painstaking attention to historical detail to the hand-folding of letters and the high quality of the materials, each book is an object made by fans for fans. This edition offers an immersive experience of the story and makes for a truly lovely gift and keepsake. Additional titles in Barbara Heller's Handwritten Classics series include Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Little Women.

LITERARY NOSTALGIA: Anne of Green Gables transports readers to an idyllic time and place. This deluxe hardbound edition brings history to vivid life and reminds us of the pleasures of handwritten notes and paper ephemera.

My Review:

I am a huge fan and lover of anything and everything Anne of Green Gables. When NetGalley offered up a review copy of the special edition version with mementos I leapt at the chance to grab an early copy. The forward was a sweet acknowledgement of so many children's love for the Annie of Green Gables tales but also includes a grown-up adult perspective. 

There are additional documents listed at the end of the digital book. The documents include newspaper articles and an appendices. The appendices provides information on the letters and mementos scattered throughout the the hardcover version of the book. That's the only problem with reading the electronic version of the book. The replicas from the story are not included in digital format. I would have liked to see everything included. I'm sure they are splendid, and purchasers of the hardcopy will be in for a treat.

Barbara Heller's addition of Anne of Green Gables into the Handwritten Classics series will delight fans of Heller and Anne, alike.

I was provided a digital copy of this book.

My Rating:


This blog uses affiliate links.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

#Review ~ Chasing Yesterday by Lynn Ricci ~ Second-Chance Romance #Romance #NotAllIsAsItSeems


Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0DFTZCPYH
Publication Date: ‎ September 26, 2024
Print Length: ‎ 236 pages


About the Book:

A grieving widow is struggling with the death of her high school sweetheart, while a mysterious woman is struggling to make her own amends. Can secrets from their entwined past hold the key to their futures?

Katelyn Murray moves to a small town in Massachusetts as a high school senior and quickly finds she has a secret admirer. As she responds to his written notes, she falls in love with the man behind the beautiful words and endless questions.

A dozen years and a rocky marriage later, her life is shattered by her husband’s sudden death, leaving confusion, unanswered questions, and guilty grief while mourning him and the love she initially felt for the boy from those letters. Katie leans on her friends to overcome this loss but feels something is amiss. She searches for answers, never expecting who may hold the key or where it could lead.

With the unconventional help of a stranger with secrets and aspirations of her own, a chain of events unfolds, and Katie starts to find the journey she was meant to be on and a second chance at chasing yesterday.

My Review:

I don't even know where to start with my review of Chasing Yesterday. I'm sitting here at my computer trying to put some descriptive prose together for this masterpiece. I went into this book thinking it is going to be your typical second chance romance and I was wrong. So very wrong.

Chasing Yesterday is a well-written novel that will take you by surprise. Katelyn Murray is a recent widow who discovers things about her past that are about to change her life. Katie's perception of her high school years, dating her husband Bryan, and their not-so-perfect marriage change with the appearance of a stranger Katie can't seem to shake.

The author wrote a fantastic and emotional story. Heartbreaking yet heartwarming, Chasing Yesterday dives into a lot of everyday situations that may resonate with the reader. The author did a great job creating this world, setting it up, and developing the characters. There are realistically written stressful situations and hard decisions, but also ones filled with love, support, and new journeys. 

I typically stay away from books involving loss of parents, husbands, or children. My poor heart and head can't take it; however, I'm glad I took a chance on Chasing Yesterday. This is one of my favorite reads of 2024.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:


This blog uses affiliate links.

Monday, September 23, 2024

#FiveStar #Review ~ Lady by LCW Allingham - Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+ ~ @LCWAllingham @MirrorWorldPub ~ #History #LGBTQ #Romance


Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the 1-week virtual book tour for 
Lady by LCW Allingham


About Lady:

In the year 1464, while England recovers from the devastation of the War of the Roses, Baron Alexander FitzRoland is dying in his northern castle. His young wife, Rosalynde, recovering from the stillbirth of her first child, succumbs to despair like a dutiful lady should.

When the castle gates are threatened, only Alexander’s reputation as a brutal fighter is enough to frighten off their opportunistic enemy. The proper thing for Lady Rosalynde to do is to pray and submit to devastation. Instead, she puts on her husband’s armor and rides to the gate disguised as the baron.

From there, things only get more complicated. Between mastering the art of war, meeting with witches, struggling with self-doubt and maneuvering her complicated relationship with Alexander’s lover, Robert, Lady Rosalynde balances on the razor thin line between duty and destiny.

Follow the Tour:

Release Date: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
Paperback: ‎ 364 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 1998360059
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1-998360-05-5
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-998360-04-8

My Review:

Lady is a brilliantly told historical fiction novel. Lady Rosalynde is alive during a time when men reigned supreme and women were not regarded as highly. She's in a marriage union suitable for her and Baron Alexander FitzRoland of Casstone. Not one borne of love but of respect, necessity, and friendship. Alexander's boyhood friend throws an uncomfortable monkey wrench in their blessed union but Lady Rosalynde calls for him when Alexander is taken ill shortly after the stillbirth of their child. When rumors start swirling through the realm, enemies begin appearing at the gate, circling the castle like packs of hungry wolves. Rosalynde does what she feels is necessary to protect her land and people.

This novel is so much more than a historical fiction romance novel. Not all inside the covers are matches made in heaven, perfect relationships, and easy lifestyles. This story is brutal yet tender, normal in terms of the time period yet full of lovable misfits, emotional yet stoic. Lady Rosalynde is such a strong female lead character. She's resilient despite every hit she takes from the very first paragraph. She's strong even when she's healing both her mind and body, supporting her ill husband, and defending the barony from those with evil intent. 

Rosalynde's love for her husband, his lover, their attendants, and her people flows through the pages. Unconventional love in some circumstances, conventional love in others, but a lot of love threaded throughout the story. The author wrote three-dimensional and realistic characters. LCW Allingham's ability to infuse her novel with emotion that is felt by the reader gives Lady even more depth. 

There are so many passages that had me tearing up. So much loss, so much agony, but even more love and understanding. Lady Rosalynde's losses seem insurmountable, yet there are times through the book that I teared up not because of sadness, but because she had the support of those around her. When she's before the King and all he says to her is to stand up I couldn't help but get emotional. Her self-professed oddities are not seen as bad things by those with intelligence. Love abounds and in a more profound way than a classic romance.

As the author states in the post on her website dated September 20, 2024, "Lady is a love story, not a romance." https://lcwallingham.com/2024/09/20/lady-is-a-love-story-not-a-romance/

I was provided a copy of this book to read.


Praise for Lady:


"A captivating tale. This lady rides to her own rescue." - Bestselling Author of the Elizabeth of England Chronicles, G. Lawrence


"Amid uncertainty, betrayal, and treason during the War of the Roses, Lady Rosalynde emerges as an avatar of power, courage, and fierce loyalty as she defends her home and her very life. Battling turmoil within her heart and enemies at the gate, she defines what it means to be fully woman in a world fully run by men. Mourn with her, rejoice with her, and celebrate her message: Home is where love is found." - Abyss & Apex Editor and Author of the Twins of BellesfƩes series


"A compelling and strong female lead with a great cast of supporting characters. Loved the time frame of the 1400's. This was listed as a first novel but the writer is not new to the skill and it shows."


" I was hooked from the first page and really enjoyed the medieval element of this story, it uses the time-period perfectly and was hooked with what I was hoping for. The concept worked overall and enjoyed how the love story was going on, it was realistic and enjoyed the overall feel of this. LCW Allingham has a great writing style and was engaged with what was going on and can't wait for more."


" During the early days of the War of the Roses a young noblewoman living in a remote castle is mourning the miscarriage/stillbirth of her son when her husband Baron Alexander falls ill. To make matters even worse a neighbour's son keeps attacking the castle. Uncommon in this kind of novels this is a very layered story and not a romance although there is all kind of love between the group of main characters. Our heroine survived a very traumatic event when she was still young and her warrior father knew only one way to deal with that to give his daughter confidence: he trained her to fight. She is a very androgyne tall woman with an unusual upbringing what made her very unpopular at court. Still, handsome and kind, fierce warrior Alexander marries her because he wants heirs but he has a dangerous secret to keep.

It is a story that has a genuine and realistic feel to it. It handles diversity but in a natural way. Also in the Middle Ages people fell in love with people they could not marry. And there would also have been people from far places.

The author said in her final comments "I realised in the end the story was about love" and that is exactly it. Not just sexual attraction, no hanky panky, love. In all kind of forms.

I was very impressed and went to bed late in the hope to finish the story. Failed. And then in the morning I hated reaching the end."

Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing:

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:


Meet the Author:


LCW Allingham (she/her) is a Philadelphia area author, artist, musician and editor. Her early education was uniquely rich in the arts, learning music, performance and fine art all of her life, but she was always compelled toward the written word and storytelling. She received her degree in journalism and wrote home renovation articles before turning her focus exclusively to fiction. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and publications and she is an editor for the Collection of Utter Speculation series, and her horror novella, Muse, was released in April 2024, to critical acclaim.

In 2022 she co-founded the indie press, Speculation Publications, with her long-time editorial partners and serves as executive editor. She writes in many genres but particularly horror, fantasy, historical and speculative fiction. She is an active feminist and human rights advocate and lives in Pennsylvania with her family, her pets and her ever expanding art collection.

Lady is her debut novel.

Connect with the Author:

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3XisNUB

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Looking for Hosts ~ 1-Week Book Tour for Lady by LCW Allingham - Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+ (September 17-23, 2024) #Bloggers #Influencers #SocialMedia @LCWAllingham @MirrorWorldPub


Sign Up Form is Open for

Lady by LCW Allingham

About Lady:

In the year 1464, while England recovers from the devastation of the War of the Roses, Baron Alexander FitzRoland is dying in his northern castle. His young wife, Rosalynde, recovering from the stillbirth of her first child, succumbs to despair like a dutiful lady should.

When the castle gates are threatened, only Alexander’s reputation as a brutal fighter is enough to frighten off their opportunistic enemy. The proper thing for Lady Rosalynde to do is to pray and submit to devastation. Instead, she puts on her husband’s armor and rides to the gate disguised as the baron.

From there, things only get more complicated. Between mastering the art of war, meeting with witches, struggling with self-doubt and maneuvering her complicated relationship with Alexander’s lover, Robert, Lady Rosalynde balances on the razor thin line between duty and destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+

I don't require top or only post of the day for any of my tours. Materials will include a standard post, an HTML, and an Instagram/social media post. Post on any social media platform - a blog/website is not required!



Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Need Hosts ~ 1-Week Book Tour for Lady by LCW Allingham - Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+ (September 17-23, 2024) #Bloggers #Influencers #SocialMedia @LCWAllingham @MirrorWorldPub


Sign Up Form is Open for

Lady by LCW Allingham

About Lady:

In the year 1464, while England recovers from the devastation of the War of the Roses, Baron Alexander FitzRoland is dying in his northern castle. His young wife, Rosalynde, recovering from the stillbirth of her first child, succumbs to despair like a dutiful lady should.

When the castle gates are threatened, only Alexander’s reputation as a brutal fighter is enough to frighten off their opportunistic enemy. The proper thing for Lady Rosalynde to do is to pray and submit to devastation. Instead, she puts on her husband’s armor and rides to the gate disguised as the baron.

From there, things only get more complicated. Between mastering the art of war, meeting with witches, struggling with self-doubt and maneuvering her complicated relationship with Alexander’s lover, Robert, Lady Rosalynde balances on the razor thin line between duty and destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+

I don't require top or only post of the day for any of my tours. Materials will include a standard post, an HTML, and an Instagram/social media post. Host on your blog, website, and/or social media platforms. You choose!


Sunday, September 8, 2024

1-Week Book Tour Sign Up Invitation - Lady by LCW Allingham - Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+ (September 17-23, 2024) #Bloggers #Influencers #SocialMedia @LCWAllingham @MirrorWorldPub


Sign Up Form is Open for

Lady by LCW Allingham

About Lady:

In the year 1464, while England recovers from the devastation of the War of the Roses, Baron Alexander FitzRoland is dying in his northern castle. His young wife, Rosalynde, recovering from the stillbirth of her first child, succumbs to despair like a dutiful lady should.

When the castle gates are threatened, only Alexander’s reputation as a brutal fighter is enough to frighten off their opportunistic enemy. The proper thing for Lady Rosalynde to do is to pray and submit to devastation. Instead, she puts on her husband’s armor and rides to the gate disguised as the baron.

From there, things only get more complicated. Between mastering the art of war, meeting with witches, struggling with self-doubt and maneuvering her complicated relationship with Alexander’s lover, Robert, Lady Rosalynde balances on the razor thin line between duty and destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+

I don't require top or only post of the day for any of my tours. Materials will include a standard post, an HTML, and an Instagram/social media post. You choose where to post - blog, website, and/or social media.