Review - - One Night in Hartswood

One Night in Hartswood

by Emma Denny

Publisher: Mills & Boon

Release Date: November 7, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

Oxford 1360

When his sister’s betrothed vanishes the night before her politically arranged marriage, Raff Barden must track and return the elusive groom to restore his family’s honour.

William de Foucart — known to his friends as Penn — had no choice but to abandon his fiancé, and with it his own earldom, when he fled the night before his enforced marriage. But ill-equipped to survive on the run he must trust the kindness of a stranger, Raff, to help him escape.

Unaware their fates are already entwined, their unexpected bond deepens into a far more precious relationship, one that will test all that they hold dear. And when secrets are finally revealed, both men must decide what they will risk for the one they love…

PJ's Thoughts:

Oh my gosh, the feelings in this story. So. Many. Feelings. I was invested almost from the first page, immersed into the medieval lives of these characters. And once Raff and Penn set off on their journey? Well, there was no putting the book down until I had reached the end and knew, finally, how their tale would play out. I was well and truly hooked. 

Medieval romance is one of my favorite eras, especially in the hands of an author who brings it to life on the page, as does Denny. Not once did I feel as if I was reading a "modern" romance dropped into the 1300's. Everything about this story felt authentic and true to the times, further enhancing my enjoyment. The danger, adventure, hardships, parental cruelty, and lack of control over one's own life had me feeling as if I was right there with these characters. 

And speaking of characters, what a wonderful cast Denny has created. There are more than the lead couple to whom I've become emotionally attached. I have my fingers crossed for more stories from this debut author. There are three secondary characters begging for a story of their own and I would love to read them. 

While Raff's and Penn's siblings contributed to my overall enjoyment of the book, as well as to Raff's and Penn's relationship, there is no doubting that the lead couple are the heart and soul of the story. They captured my emotions with their endearing, achingly romantic, soul-deep love and the lengths to which each of them would go to protect the other. They have continued to live in my mind and my heart since finishing their story. I have no doubt I'll be revisiting them again in the future, whenever I need a dose of romantic, endearing, enduring love. This one's a keeper. 

Tour Review - - Lilian and the Irresistible Duke

Lilian and the Irresistible Duke
by Virginia Heath
Secrets of a Victorian Household - Book 4
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Publisher: Mills and Boon
Release Date: January 23, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
  

A reunion in Rome…Sparks an affair to remember!

Responsible widow Lilian Fairclough is persuaded to travel to Rome for a hard-earned break and to let down her hair! She’s surprised to be reunited with passionate, cynical Italian duke, Pietro Venturi. He reawakens her sensual side and intrigues her with glimpses of pain beneath his rakish surface. Enticed into a secret and temporary affair – what will happen once she returns home?

PJ's Thoughts:

I enjoy reading about characters at all stages of life but being a woman "of a certain age," I have to admit I do have a special fondness for a hero and heroine with a bit of seasoning. There is, after all, no expiration date on desire and romance. Both the hero and heroine in this book are past their 40th birthdays, widowed, and have no interest in marrying again. Lilian deeply loved her husband and had a wonderful marriage while Pietro, whose father forced him into an arranged marriage at a young age, has never loved. But both are still vibrant, sensual people and the attraction between them, immediate and fierce. 

I love that Heath takes Lilian out of her English comfort zone and away from friends and family for whom she would have remained "proper." By setting the story in Italy, she allows Lilian to blossom, throwing off societal restrictions, and engaging in a glorious love affair under the Roman sun. While it was a joy to watch Lilian embrace the latent sensuality that had always been a hidden part of her, it was equally enjoyable to watch Pietro, a notorious playboy who has indulged his sensuality frequently, learn to gradually open himself to emotions of the heart. 

The city of Rome features prominently in the story, with Heath bringing various parts of the ancient city alive through her descriptions. For someone who has visited multiple times, it was as if I was walking through ancient ruins and scenic hillsides along with the characters. For readers who have yet to visit Rome, it will make you want to book a ticket and pack your bags.

Pietro and Liliana's love story takes a leisurely path yet there was enough conflict, and growth, to hold my interest throughout. It can be read as a standalone, although references made to past events, and people, in Lilian's life left me wondering if there was more to learn about her character than what was included in this book. I began to question whether this book was part of a series and discovered that it, in fact, is the fourth book in a multi-author series with the first three books telling the stories of Lilian's three children. I enjoyed Lilian and the Irresistible Duke, and can recommend it as a standalone, but I have a feeling I might have had a deeper appreciation for Lilian's character, and the events that had brought her to this stage of her life, had I read the previous three books first which, after reading the epilogue, I am now inclined to do. 


Do you enjoy heroes and heroines with a bit more life experience?

Have you read any of Virginia Heath's books yet?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Despite that, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/virginia-heath

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaheathwrites/

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Book Tour - - Spotlight on The Earl's Runaway Governess

The Earl's Runaway Governess

Who knew living with an earl…

…would lead to such temptation?

Marianne Grant’s new identity as a governess is meant to keep her safe. But then she meets her new employer, Ash, Earl of Kingswood, and she immediately knows his handsome good looks are a danger of their own! Brusque on first meeting, Ash quickly shows his compassionate side. Yet Marianne doesn’t dare reveal the truth! Unless Ash really could be the safe haven she’s been looking for…

Purchase Link -  getbook.at/EarlGoverness

Catherine Tinley writes witty, heartwarming Regency love stories for Harlequin Mills & Boon. She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings.

After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, NHS management, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now works in Sure Start. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, and dog and can be reached at www.catherinetinley.com , as well as www.facebook.com/CatherineTinleyWriter  and @CatherineTinley on twitter.

Social Media Links –

www.facebook.com/CatherineTinleyWriter

www.twitter.com/CatherineTinley

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Giveaway - Three winners will each receive a signed copy of The Earl’s Runaway Governess, plus a mystery book by another romance writer. (Open INT)

2 x UK winners and 1 x International Winner

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Terrific Templetons!

by Anna Campbell

I love discovering a new Harlequin author!

As anyone who's hung around the Second Helpings reviews for a while knows, I read a lot of category romance. I grew up reading Mills and Boons (Harlequins, although all ours came to Australia via the English office back in those dim, dark days) and I've retained a real fondness for something short and sharp that still gives me my romance fix.

Somehow in all this category romance, I've missed out on reading many Special Editions. Not sure why - maybe the authors haven't crossed my path yet. I've liked the Christine Rimmer books I've read, although again, she's a fairly new discovery for me. Love it when I find an author with a big backlist!

Another Special Edition author who's only recently crossed my path is Karen Templeton. So far I've read two of her books, but I've really enjoyed both, so I thought I'd share them with you here today.

I'm not usually a huge fan of the twofers that Harlequin are bringing out more and more regularly. You know, to get the book you want, you have to buy a second book that perhaps you're not so keen on reading. I suspect they're not quite as prevalent in North America as they are in Australia. But this is one occasion where the twofer thing worked for me. I read the book in the first half of the twofer and then thinking, why not?, I read the second. Partly because it was a continuity The second book was Karen Templeton's FORTUNE'S CINDERELLA and I just loved it.

By now, I'm sure lots of you are yelling at me to ask what particular rock I've been hiding under. It turns out Karen has won TWO RITA awards and is nominated again this year for A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS. Clearly I've been missing out!

Both of these stories fall firmly into the 'heartwarming' basket of the romance genre. The people are pretty nice all round. Even the not so nice ones have redeeming features. There's not much melodrama or over the top operatic emotion. Instead, you get deeply felt, realistic stories about people finding redemption and love and fulfilment where they least expect it. And life asks them to step up to the plate - show courage and gumption and forgiveness - before they get their happily ever after. Lovely, lovely stuff all wrapped up in beautiful writing and great use of setting. There's a texture of real life about these romances that I really enjoyed. I could imagine these people living next door to me - and they wouldn't spoil the neighborhood either!

I'm not sure if it's an ongoing theme in Karen Templeton's work, but both these books feature women from everyday backgrounds who fall in love with exceptional men. Or at least men who are recognized as exceptional in their world, whereas the heroines while remarkable, are remarkable in a quiet way.

In FORTUNE'S CINDERELLA, rich and handsome Scott Fortune finds that his life and attitudes change in a major way after a tornado traps him inside a wrecked airport. All his previous dreams, ambitions and romantic relationships seem petty, now that he's looked into the face of death.

His companion through this harrowing experience is down-on-her-luck waitress Christina Hastings. Christina is one of life's survivors and she's done it with a smile on her face and impressive guts and determination. Her courage and good humor through their agonizing ordeal so impresses Scott that he decides he can't let her go.

Instead of acting like the original Cinderella and developing an obsession with footwear and a yen for life in the palace, Christina is much less trusting. Scott comes from a world of privilege and money. She's from the wrong side of the tracks. Even as she finds herself falling in love with Scott, much against her better judgement, she knows she doesn't belong with him.

It's an emotional rollercoaster watching these two come together and the ending is lovely. Both Scott and Christina learn from one another and as in all the best romances, they're better, more complete people at the end, not just as part of a couple but as individuals. Big sighs of satisfaction all round!

So after reading this delightful romance, I rushed to the Book Depository to grab another Karen Templeton book. I settled on WELCOME HOME, COWBOY. I didn't realize until I wrote this review that it won the best category romance RITA Award in 2011. I can see why! It's a doozy of a read.

Again, we have an outwardly ordinary heroine. Recent widow Emma Manning is struggling to keep the family farm afloat, but she's pregnant, she's trying to cope with caring for two children as a single parent, she's deeply in debt, not to mention grappling with her grief over the loss of her beloved husband Lee. But for all these troubles, Emma isn't a tortured heroine. She's refreshingly grounded and independent and stubborn. I grew up on a farm and she's very believable as a down-to-earth farmer.

As if she hasn't got enough troubles, Cash Cochran stumbles into her world and shows every sign of causing trouble, however good his intentions. Cash is a world-famous but burnt-out country singer who as a teenager abandoned his home and his best friend Lee for the bright lights. He's back now to make amends to Lee's widow and to the land where he grew up. But how can he make amends when he finds himself helplessly attracted to Emma?

Wow, talk about an emotional punch. Guilt. Forbidden love. Old sorrows and secrets. Not to mention a tortured hero (he's just so tortured, which is one of the reasons he and Emma make such great foils for one another). Cash is really sexy - I kept thinking of Keith Urban when I read it - and he's spent a lot of time running from his demons. His journey toward becoming the man he was born to be is heart-wrenching and unforgettable.

A three hanky read, although there's plenty of humor and some sizzling love scenes, WELCOME HOME, COWBOY is worth hunting down. A lovely affirmation of the power of love and the human spirit.

So are you a Karen Templeton fan? Which ones should I read next? Have you read her RITA nominee this year, A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS? Do you like reading about celebrities like actors and singers in romance?

PJ here, popping in with an editorial note from the RWA National Conference.  On Saturday night, Karen Templeton won the RITA for Best Long Contemporary Series Romance with A Gift for All Seasons.  It was Karen's third RITA win and secured her a place in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame.  Congratulations, Karen!

Liz is the Biz!

by Anna Campbell

First of all, do Americans use that phrase that something is 'the business'? Meaning it's the bee's knees, the cat's miaow, the cream in my cawfee, the salt in my stew? Anyway, just in case you're wondering, it's an expression of the highest approval!

Liz Fielding is one of the best writers in romance today. Two RITA Awards don't lie!

Liz is a British writer who, as far as I know, has written exclusively for Harlequin Mills and Boon's Sweet/Romance line. But if you're not familiar with her books, don't be fooled that there's anything sugary about these stories, nor that they're anything less than passionate. I find the sexual tension in a Liz Fielding keeps me turning the pages with the best.

I first discovered Liz's work in 2004 when I went to the Romance Novelists Association conference in Leicester (it's the British equivalent of RWA Nationals - lots more tea involved!). A couple of people recommended her books and when I came home after my lovely four months of wandering around the U.K., I took their advice.

Wow!

Liz has since become one of my favorite writers. There's a stack of stuff I love about her books. They're absolutely perfectly pitched when it comes to the emotion (and there's LOTS of emotion in a Liz Fielding, I regularly shed several tears, sometimes more, she just gets it so right!). They're intelligent and they feature intelligent, realistic characters. You absolutely fall in love with the people in a Liz Fielding. They're flawed and they're real and usually they really have to struggle to get their happy ending - by which stage, you've stopped crying (well, mostly) and you're cheering.

I find myself in awe of what Liz can pack into a measly 180 pages. She gives you a whole world of love and desire and romance and closes with a sigh-worthy finish.

My most recent Liz Fielding read is probably my favorite. It's called A WEDDING AT LEOPARD TREE LODGE. On the surface, it's a terrifically simple story. Wedding planner Josie Fowler hides her vulnerability and the scars of her difficult past under a cocky attitude and thick punk makeup. When she finds herself responsible for the society wedding of the year at the luxurious Leopard Tree Lodge in Botswana, she expects problems. What she doesn't expect is that she'll fall in love with the owner of the resort, Gideon McGrath. Gideon has tragedy of his own to overcome and it's heart-wrenching to watch these two wounded souls edge towards trust and love. It's a bit like trying to coax a leopard to eat from your hand, if you'll pardon the obvious simile!

There's a couple of scenes in this that are just so perfectly written and so deeply true to the emotions, I dare you not to get misty eyed. And the ending just takes my breath away, it's so beautiful.

As you can gather, this month's second helping is highly recommended! I haven't read a book of Liz's that I haven't liked, but this is one of the best romances I've ever read. Just gorgeous.

So do you like a book that brings a tear to the eye (even if the characters get their happy ending!)? What was the last book you read that made you cry?