Harlequin Tour Review - - A Proposal in Provence

A Proposal in Provence

by Donna Alward

Heirs to an Empire - Book 5

Publisher: Harlequin Romance

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

An escape from scandal...rescued by the tycoon!

PR assistant Anemone Jones loves working in Paris for the glamorous Pemberton family...until she discovers she is in fact their half-sibling! When the scandal hits the tabloids, it's her gorgeous boss, Phillippe Leroux, who sweeps her off to his idyllic home in Grasse. Phillippe's proposal in Provence gives Annie breathing space to process her new life - - and even find a place in his...

PJ's Thoughts:

It's been more than two years since I boarded a plane, off to distant locales for new adventures. Is it any wonder I was all over this title when it crossed my desk? Glamorous events in Paris? Gorgeous fields of flowers in Provence? A sweet and sexy Frenchman to seal the deal? Yes, please!

I'll start off by saying that this is the fifth book in a family-centric series. It's written in such a way that I never felt lost or confused about the journey of the main couple. However, there are several family members who figure prominently in the story, in such a way that I wanted to know more about the motivation behind their actions and attitudes. They are the antagonists for much of the book but presented in such a way that I felt the need to dig into their layers and discover what had brought them to this place. I'll be going back to the beginning of the series and reading all of their books. 

I really enjoyed the relationship between Annie and Phillippe. I appreciated the way he put himself between Annie and the family who owns the company where they both work, the way he stood up for her as a valued member of his staff. I liked his integrity and his sense of honor. It meant a lot to me that he refused to engage romantically with her while he was her supervisor. 

Annie really was in a no-win situation. I liked her, respected her honesty, and understood her desire to know the people from whom she had been hidden. I enjoyed her interactions with Phillippe's parents and the seamless way she fit into the Provence life. I also liked the fact that when she made mistakes, she owned up to them quickly. 

The romance in this book was sweet, steamy, and heartwarming. I had no doubts by the end that Annie and Phillippe were exactly where they were meant to be, doing what they were meant to do. Annie's family situation was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly for me, considering what had come before. Maybe, after reading the earlier books and getting to know the family members better, I'll be able to buy into that conclusion more completely.

If you're in the mood to escape to the dazzling lights of Paris and the lush, fragrant countryside of Provence with a likeable couple who will have you cheering them on to their happily ever after, pick up a copy of Donna Alward's A Proposal in Provence and let yourself be swept away. 

Review / Special Sale / Giveaway - - Island Queen

If you missed my review of Island Queen by Vanessa Riley when it posted back in July, 2021, here's another opportunity to check out an incredible book that was one of my top reads of last year. If you're intrigued by the story, hop on over to your favorite online book-buying site and download Island Queen in e-book format for only $2.99 (limited time sale). I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 

Visit Vanessa Riley's website for direct buy links and more information about the accolades earned by Island Queen, including being optioned for TV/Film! 

If you're a print reader, be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post! 

A Tale That Had to Be Told

ISLAND QUEEN is a historical fiction novel based on the compelling life of Dorothy "Doll" Kirwan Thomas who rose from slavery to become the wealthiest woman landowner in the early 1800's Caribbean. A mistress to royalty, the future King William IV of England, Dorothy advocated for women's rights and successfully appealed the unfair taxation of free persons of color on the colony of Demerara.

Island Queen

by Vanessa Riley

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: July 6, 2021

Reviewed by PJ (originally posted July 13, 2021) 

Born into slavery on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, Doll bought her freedom—and that of her sister and her mother—from her Irish planter father and built a legacy of wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier, and planter that extended from the marketplaces and sugar plantations of Dominica and Barbados to a glittering luxury hotel in Demerara on the South American continent.

Vanessa Riley’s novel brings Doll to vivid life as she rises above the harsh realities of slavery and colonialism by working the system and leveraging the competing attentions of the men in her life: a restless shipping merchant, Joseph Thomas; a wealthy planter hiding a secret, John Coseveldt Cells; and a roguish naval captain who will later become King William IV of England.

From the bustling port cities of the West Indies to the forbidding drawing rooms of London’s elite, Island Queen is a sweeping epic of an adventurer and a survivor who answered to no one but herself as she rose to power and autonomy against all odds, defying rigid eighteenth-century morality and the oppression of women as well as people of color. It is an unforgettable portrait of a true larger-than-life woman who made her mark on history.

PJ's Thoughts:

Two years ago this month, I was at a romance conference enjoying a late-night slice of cheesecake with a group of authors. One of those authors, Vanessa Riley, began telling us about a woman she had discovered through research - a rich, powerful, strong, complex woman of color; a former slave who had endured the horrors of that life before buying her own freedom - and whose eventual influence stretched from the islands of the Caribbean to the royal halls of London. Riley wanted to tell the story of this woman none of us had ever heard of. Wanted readers of all colors to know who Dorothy (Doll) Kirwan Thomas was, what she endured, what she accomplished, why her life was meaningful, why this woman mattered. I could hear the passion in Riley's voice, her determination to tell this story the right way. I couldn't wait to read it.

I just turned the final page of Island Queen. I'm not sure I have words to do it justice. But Vanessa Riley did. What she has created is nothing short of a masterpiece. This impeccably-researched recreation of an extraordinary life immersed me into Dolly's world, from the terror and bloodshed of a young slave child's first rebellion, to the ninth decade of a life lived to the fullest. Riley held nothing back, giving readers a front-row seat to the uncensored lows and highs of this fascinating and complicated woman's life. By the end of the book, I didn't only know about Doll. I knew her. Riley brought her to life, with all her flaws, strengths, fears, fierceness, and vulnerability. She may not have secured page space in our history books but I would wager that no one who reads Island Queen will ever forget Dorothy Kirwan Thomas. I know I won't. 

This is a long book - almost 600 pages - but the narrative never lost me. I was fully engaged from beginning to end. Not a single sentence or character was extraneous. Each carefully considered word was necessary to do this story justice. 

Be sure to also read the Author's Notes at the end of the book as they are filled with fascinating facts about Riley's research as well as more information about Dolly's children, grandchildren, and other real-life characters in the book. 

Island Queen is one of the best books I've read in 2021. Vanessa Riley did not only fulfill the promise of that story idea she told our group about back in 2019. She far surpassed it. This book has my highest recommendation.

CW: Readers should be aware that some parts of the book involving rape, incest, death, and slavery may be difficult to read but, in my opinion, are necessary to understand the full scope of Dolly's life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you enjoy historical fiction?

Had you heard of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas prior to Island Queen being published?

What's the last book you read that blew your expectations out of the water?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 11, 2022 will receive a signed, hardback copy of Island Queen. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Winner - - The Duke Undone

 

The randomly chosen winner of a 

print copy of

The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell is:

Annette N

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - Bold Love

 

The randomly chosen winner of a print copy of

Bold Love by Lauren Accardo is:

Patty B from NY

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winners - - February Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winners of a

package of books are:

catslady

Patricia B

petite

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - Anne Gracie

 

The randomly chosen winner of

a print copy of

The Scoundrel's Daughter by Anne Gracie is:

Di

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review & Giveaway - - The Runaway Duchess

The Runaway Duchess

by Joanna Lowell

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 18, 2022

Reviewed by Santa

Pretty and pampered, Lavinia Yardley always dreamed of becoming a duchess. But family disgrace forces her into marriage with the most vile duke in England, and she finds herself desperate for a way out. When a rustic stranger mistakes her for globe-trotting botanist Muriel Pendrake at a train station, Lavinia has a split second to decide whether to submit to her fate or steal someone else's.

Neal Traymayne spent his youth traveling the world as Varnham Nursery's most daring plant hunter. Now he runs the nursery and is ready to settle down with a like-minded wife who'll fit right in with his large, happy, down-to-earth family. His correspondence with Muriel Pendrake proved they're the perfect match. Odd that the woman in the flesh seems more like a society belle than a scientist.

As they tramp the Cornish moors together, Lavinia and Neal discover a wild and rare desire. But this blossoming love is rooted in lies, and when the real Muriel Pendrake shows up, they can't hide from who they are. The truth may wither their hopes of happiness, or it may bloom into the sweetest love of all.

Santa says:

The Runaway Duchess by Joanna Lowell is the second book in this series and another five star read for me. Lowell takes us across Cornwall and enchants at every turn. Can a plant hunter and a duchess on the run - who he mistakes for a famous botanist - arrive at love? Lowell crafts a story that does just that. 

I have to say that the role of a plant hunter and the whole infrastructure behind the gardens of the wealthy of Victorian England is a revelation to me; as is the book’s hero Neal Tramayne. Neal is a world traveling plant hunter for Varnham Nurseries. Heroes do not, in fact, have to be dressed by Weston and Neal is proof of this. He is a well rounded character and, if you will forgive the phrase, very down to earth. 

We were introduced to Lavinia Yardley in Joanna Lowell’s previous book The Duke Undone.  She was Anthony, the Duke of Weston’s fiancé. That is until it is revealed her father nearly swindled him out of a fortune. She and her mother are destitute and shunned by a fickle ton now that her father is in jail. Their situation is so dire that her mother sees the only recourse is for Lavinia to marry. The only man who will have her is an abusive, old, lecherous reprobate, the Duke of Cranbrook.  

Lavina reluctantly agrees to marry him. She is repulsed at every turn and can’t bring herself to consummate the marriage. Fortune seems to shine on Lavinia for once in her life when they somehow get separated on the train ride to his estate. She meets Neal on that platform where he first mistakes her for Mrs. Pendrake. He whisks her off to forage the wilds of Cornwall. However, this Mrs. Pendrake comes off as more debutante than intrepid world traveler.

They grow close as Lavina spends time with Neal. Love enters their journey. He takes her to meet his wildly eccentric, genius of a family. He brings to Lavinia Yardley, aka Duchess Cranbrooke, a clearer vision of herself. He actually sees her even as he mistakes her for Mrs. Murial Pendrake.  

No man in her life has ever actually seen her. They’ve manipulated her as her father had. They used her as the man she gave herself to did. They married her just to use and abuse her. But Neal’s love causes the scales to fall from her eyes and see the potential she has in herself.  

This is not to say that their relationship is an easy one. He realizes that Lavinia is indeed not his Muriel Pendrake. Lavinia returns to London and continues to remain hidden as the duke is still at his estate. Neal and Lavinia meet up again at his nursery when the real Mrs. Pendrake appears and Lavinia feels lost again.  

It’s crazy but through it she discovers her truer self and that she is, of all things, a writer. It is through the intervention of their friends, and fate finally giving Lavinia a good turn, that they reach their happily ever after. Such delicious angst and her richness of characters are a treat. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Runaway Duchess.

Are you a plant person? What types of plants do you grow?

Have you read Joanna Lowell yet?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 6 will receive a print copy of The Duke Undone. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review & Giveaway - - Bold Love

Bold Love

by Lauren Accardo

Forever Adirondacks - Book 3

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Playing house in the mountains was supposed to be temporary, but a woman would have to be made of stone to resist the most eligible bachelor in Pine Ridge and all his small-town charm.…

Denny Torres needs a break. After a series of embarrassments on and off the field, the Adirondacks provide the perfect hideout for his new, quiet, post-football life. The fresh mountain air is a welcome balm for his soul, but what’s even more soothing? The sexy, sweet touch of fellow Pine Ridge newcomer Bethany Jones. If only she planned to stay....
 
Bee does not have time for a hunky former athlete—no matter how good he looks shirtless. Her artistic ambitions are in ruins, her brother is a disaster, and while Pine Ridge has its charms, the small town is nothing more than a pit stop on her way to getting back on track. Bee’s just going to ignore the fact that when Denny offers her the chance to channel her creative energy into redesigning his house, she finds herself building the home—and the life—of her dreams.
 
With their time together coming to an end, Denny will have to move quickly to prove he can be the man Bee needs. Who better than a defensive back to knock down those walls?

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been looking forward to this book since the moment Denny Torres hit the page earlier in the series. Happy to say he lived up to all of my expectations. I adored him. 

I enjoy complex, multi-layered characters at a crossroads in their lives. Accardo gives readers that with both Denny and Bee. While on the surface Denny appears to have everything, he is actually a roiling ocean of emotion and uncertainty, dealing with familial expectations and unsure of his next steps. Bee knows exactly what her next steps will be...until a call from her brother changes everything. Now she's in Pine Ridge, decorating Denny's new home, re-earning the money she needs to take those next steps, and maybe building a new version of herself along the way. Neither of them expected love to enter the equation.

Accardo has once again created a story, and characters, who reeled me in and kept me invested from start to finish. I love the small community so vividly depicted in this series and the characters who float in and out of all three books, adding to the richness of the stories without detracting from the main couple. I enjoyed the extra layers incorporated into the book, such as the teen book club that causes push back from some parents, the lessons Denny learns - and teaches - during his interactions with the high school football team, and the growth Bee experiences in finally confronting long-held fears. These two challenge each other, open one another's eyes to new possibilities, help each other heal emotionally, and let's not forget their chemistry. So good. 

Bold Love is my favorite book in a really good series. I highly recommend it. This book can be enjoyed on its own but because of intersecting characters and storylines, I think the series is best enjoyed by reading the three books in order. 

Have you read any of the books in the Forever Adirondacks series?

Are you a football fan? Who's your pick in the Super Bowl?

Denny and Bee have some interesting encounters on their hikes around Pine Ridge. Are you a hiker? What's your favorite outdoor activity?

One person who posts a comment on this post before 11:00 PM, February 5 will receive a print copy of Bold Love. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

 

Harlequin Tour Review - - Rancher's Forgotten Rival

Rancher's Forgotten Rival

by Maisey Yates

The Carsons of Lone Rock - Book 1

Publisher: Harlequin Desire

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Chance Carson is the one man in Lone Rock who gets Juniper Sohappy all riled up. His family is ranching royalty. He’s arrogant, insufferable and obnoxiously charming—she’ll keep her distance, thanks. But when Juniper finds him on her property, injured and without his memory, she saves his life…and sort of lets him believe he’s her ranch hand. Making the entitled rancher work a little is one thing…but actually liking the man is another. Falling for him? No way. And yet the passion between them is as undeniable as it is unexpected. Will it survive the truth?

PJ's Thoughts:

I can always count on Maisey Yates for complex, emotional, and steamy western romance. In this first book of her new series, she brings readers an enemies-to-lovers story complicated by both amnesia and a generations-long feud between families. She sure doesn't make it easy for Juniper and Chance!

I enjoy a story where the main couple has a history of animosity and mistrust. Throw in secret attraction and that makes it even better. I'm not always a huge fan of amnesia but in this book I felt it was a good way to allow Juniper and Chance to see different sides of each other and take tentative steps away from the feud that defines the suspicion between their families. Yates let it go on just long enough to get them over that initial hurdle before giving them the opportunity to start building something in a better direction. I will say that while I appreciated the plot device, I had a real issue with the way Juniper handled Chance's amnesia and the lies she told, especially in light of his medical condition and her job as an EMT. It took me a while to get beyond that. 

I enjoyed peeling back the layers of both Chance and Juniper and discovering the events in their lives that had been a driving force in molding the people that are today. The author touches on life-altering issues such as loss, guilt, and prejudice, dealing with the topics with candor and care. 

The steam is real in this one, folks but it never feels gratuitous. I enjoyed the progression of that part of their relationship as much as the emotional journey.

This was an enjoyable start to a new series and has me intrigued enough about secondary characters (Chance's brothers and Juniper's sister) to return for the next book in the series. 

 

Coming Attractions

 

It's February, the month of love and romance and we have plenty to go around. Here's what's on the schedule at The Romance Dish this month.

Stop by Wednesday, February 2 when I share my thoughts about Rancher's Forgotten Rival by Maisey Yates. This new Harlequin Desire brings the steam and utilizes some of my favorite romance tropes, including enemies-to-lovers and family feuds. 

Thursday, February 3 brings a review (and giveaway!) of Bold Love, the third book in Lauren Accardo's Forever Adirondacks contemporary romance series. I fell hard for hero, Denny Torres and I think you will too.

Santa shares her thoughts about The Runaway Duchess by Joanna Lowell on Friday, February 4. This historical romance is described as "A runaway bride dumps a duke and rewrites her own love story." I'm in! 

Let's do a little chair traveling on Wednesday, February 9 when I share my thoughts about A Proposal in Provence by Donna Alward. Come for the scenery. Stay for the family drama and sigh-worthy romance. 

Stop by Friday, February 11 for a review of A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett. This second book in the Secret (women) Scientists of London series had me glued to the story from start to finish and sent me running to download book one the minute I turned the final page. 

The Sweetheart Deal launches Miranda Liasson's new Blossom Glen contemporary romance series with a charming enemies-to-lovers story that has me eager for more. Stop by on Monday, February 14 for a review, excerpt, and special Valentine's Day giveaway from Liasson. 

Wednesday, February 16 brings a tour review and excerpt from Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke by Michelle McLean. A marriage of convenience between a bookish heroine and a rule-breaking duke with a sense of mischief? Yes, please!

Emotion, banter, and plenty of steam. Kate Meader returns to the Chicago Fire Department with Up in Smoke, a workplace romance that gave me all the feels. Stop by Thursday, February 17 for my review of this first book in Meader's new Hot in Chicago Rookies contemporary romance series. 

Debbie Mason takes readers back to Highland Falls, NC with book 4, The Inn on Mirror Lake. Romance, dysfunctional family dynamics, mischievous seniors, and a touch of danger and suspense. All the things Mason writes so well. I've loved the first three books in this series and can't wait to dive into this one. Check out my review on Friday, February 18.

On Monday, February 21, I'll be sharing my thoughts about Kate Pembrooke's Say You'll Be My Lady. Fans of Pembrooke's debut should be delighted to learn that this second book in The Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair series features Lady Serena Wynter and Charles Townshend, two favorite secondary characters from book one. 

I'm excited to read this third book in Harper St. George's The Gilded Age Heiresses series, especially after the sizzling chemistry between American industrialist Maxwell Crenshaw and the young, radical widow, Lady Helena March. Don't miss my review of The Lady Tempts an Heir on Tuesday, February 22.

Julia London returns to the royal world of Wesloria with the first book in her new A Royal Match series, Last Duke Standing. Stop by Wednesday, February 23 for my thoughts about this upcoming historical romance that had me laughing and sighing in equal measure. 

Mystery, danger, and a second-chance romance. Visit us on Thursday, February 24 for a review of Before Buckhorn by B.J. Daniels. 

That's what's happening here at The Romance Dish during February. What are you looking forward to this month? What are you reading now? 

Three randomly chosen people who comment on this post before 11:00 PM, February 3 will each receive a package of books from my home library (yes, I have been cleaning my book shelves again). Good luck! 😊

*Must be 18

*U.S. only 

*Void where prohibited