#@KensingtonBooks

[triviareads]

Releases May 23rd

Summary:

Cecile Trembley is a French markswoman who makes her living running a circus. She and Guy Darlington used to be lovers, but when Guy wanted to set her up as his mistress, she broke off their relationship and all contact. Now Guy has returned, sans fianceé, sans title, and he wants Cecile back too. And he's willing to do anything to win her over again.

Some background:

I came into this book with high expectations because I am a fan of Minerva Spencer's (and a bigger fan of her pseudonym she uses for erotica, S.M. LaViolette). Her plots are always excellent, the sex is usually pretty great too, and there's always something a little subversive about them. Reading the blurb for The Dueling Duchess convinced me it would be along the same vein, so I was excited to start.

My review:

I knew it was a good sign when I read that the heroine was thirty-six, (the hero was four years younger). More mature heroines is definitely something of a pattern I'm seeing in historical romances (recently in The Portrait of a Duchess by Scarlett Peckham and The Countess by Sophie Jordan), and I personally really enjoy it because it usually means the heroine is more level-headed in her approach to intimacy and sex because they have experience.

The plot can be summed up by "Titled Man joins circus to find a friend's relative during the Hundred Days, has affair with markswoman, they part ways unhappily, but now he's back because he needs a job". It's a little convoluted but also, I've long since stopped caring about how improbable a story is since this is historical romance and all I need to be sold on is the romance of it all (and I ABSOLUTELY was). The structure goes back and forth: a "present" section, then a "past" section where we see how Guy and Cecile first met, and another "present" section where most of the plot occurs, and we see what happened after the fallout of Cecile and Guy's affair, and what happens why Guy is rehired as a stagehand (which does involve getting shot at by his ex-lover.... multiple times a day) in the circus just so he can win back Cecile. Honestly, I respect that level of desperation.

SPEAKING of desperation, I appreciate that this was pretty much a book-long grovel. As far as the egregiousness of Guy's actions, it was pretty standard aristocratic fare ("I can't marry you because Money so will you be my mistress?" *cue slap in the face), but Cecile's feelings matter too, right? So when the tables have turned, you really can't fault Cecile for taking advantage. And hey, he consents to the menial labor and whatnot.

Something else I also appreciated was that Cecile does, in fact, have a lover during the time Guy is trying to "woo" her back while working for her. It's very "how the turns tables" of Minerva when it comes to genre conventions. It's not like Cecile is with Guy at the time, right? She has the right to do as she pleases, and if that means aggressively making out with this other man in front of Guy even after rejecting other man's marriage proposal, then so be it.

The sex:

Fabulous. Fantastic. Well-written. Hot. The give-and-take they have going on during sex is great. She's a little imperious and a little bratty at once. He's a little unhinged but also definitely likes being ordered around. There's roughness and there's tenderness where it fits (and "good girl". There is many a "good girl"). It was the best I've read in a long while.

Overall:

I adored this book and would strongly recommend it for anyone looking to read a regency romance set outside the ballroom. It's a book that definitely keeps you on toes all the way. Apart from the romance (which I loved loved loved), I also like how Minerva interwove feminism and the very real trials of being a woman, in this case a female business owner, in that era. There's also a significant found family vibe (the circus is pretty much one big family, plus Guy and Cecile take in a street urchin) in this book, and Minerva did a great job of setting up her next book The Cutthroat Countess, which I'm very excited to read next.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[darlenefblog]

The Duke's Christmas Bride (Drop Dead Dukes #3) by Anna Bradley

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zebra Books (September 24, 2024)

Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2024

Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages

4 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley, Zebra Books, Kensington Books, and Anna Bradley for providing this advance reader copy of the book. I'm providing my honest review.

What a romantic tale. I was enchanted by the sleigh ride across the sparkling fresh snow. It's sigh worthy. The run-down manor house limping along due to the love and care of a plucky young lady is classic. Mean wealthy man trying to kick her out of said house had me invested in the outcome. I know romance books must have a happy ending, but the journey should make you wonder if it will happen at all. Max, nicknamed The Duke of Ice, is an anti-hero who 's heart is black and way too small. Luckly, he meets the one woman who can thaw him out. Rose is the kind of person who's a smiling, singing, happy to greet the day kind of person I couldn't live with. I'm grumpy without coffee and she's a hot chocolate girl. At first Max is irritated by everything she does but bit by bit she gets under his skin and changes his perspective on life and his history. Max is wealthy and unhappy while Rose is happy and broke. He confused by her outlook and stubborn manner. At first Rose sees Max as something to be fixed and saved not realizing that he'll save her too. Max goes to great and romantic lengths to win the heart of his Rose, it's sweet.

An enjoyable read from page one to the epilogue. This is the end of the three Dukes in the Drop Dead Dukes series. I liked them all.

[doodlesink]

Pumpkin Spice Puppy by Laurien Berenson -- A Book Review

Happy Thursday!  Pumpkin Spice Puppy by Laurien Berenson is a fun fall whodunit.  Stop by to learn more about the 30th A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery & what I had to say about it.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2024/08/pumpkin-spice-puppy-by-laurien-berenson.html

[bucolicbook]

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl by Bart Yates US pub date - 7/23/24

A life story told in twelve chapters, each lengthy, going into rich, (mostly) descriptive (that’s not even really fair to say, as the chapters were as detailed as the author saw fit to write even if I wanted more at some chapters. With awful acts of nature and man in each, by the time I was reading chapter three, I wondered if perhaps I’d made an awful this-is-going-to-possibly-be-not-good-for-my-mental-health-comfort-level-regarding-consumerable-media mistake. The kind that makes me wonder if I should just stop reading, because although this story is gorgeously written and I really want to know what happens to Isaac and all the other characters, it’s still wrecking me. 

This is one of those books - I can already tell that I’ll appreciate this book even more in the future. This wasn’t an easy read for me, not at all, but it was a beautiful one. As a reader of history and historical fiction, I greatly appreciated and respected the research Mr Yates put in (as I’m sure you’ve quite possibly experienced yourself, not every author does and it bothers me each time). The result of this combined with the author’s terrific storytelling talent was an engrossing tale that I didn’t want to stop reading. 

Content warnings abound and tissues will be necessary and you will likely continue to think about it, but this story was gorgeous, and if your own mental wellbeing is in a good place, I would recommend this. 

Thank you to A John Scognamiglio Book and NetGalley for the DRC 

[fredhandbag]

Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea is a thriller you'll want to add to your summer reading list. "It's been ten years since Alexandra Quinlan was arrested for killing her family. When evidence pointed to her not being the killer charges were dropped. Alex testified at her highly publicized defamation lawsuit against the police department. With the help of her lawyer, a family friend, she won a large judgement. Alex changes her name and moves away because the True Crime junkies all believe she got away with murder. But Alex never stops looking for the person responsible for killing her family. Now she's an investigator for a law firm and finds similarities with one of her cases to that of her parents. Will she finally have the answers she's looked for?" Donlea grabs you from the very beginning. You are mesmerized by the trial and the events of the evening where Alex's family was gunned down. Donlea eventually jumps to Alex as an investigator while also filling in the background of the story. It all leads to a wild ending. And a twist you feel coming but never believe he'll actually go there. The middle third of the book is slower than the beginning and end but still worth it. I did not want to stop reading this book. Vivienne Leheny does a fabulous performance with the audiobook narration. There are many emotional moments and she nails them. Another great thriller to add to the beach bag this year. Thanks to @macmillan.audio and @kensingtonbooks for the advanced copy. #thoseemptyeyes #charliedonlea #macmillanaudio #kensingtonbooks #vivienneleheny #audiobooks #springthriller #beachreads #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookphotography #bookcommunity #bookblogger #sodacityreads #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs #vacationreads https://www.instagram.com/p/CqSqWf8Lt_2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[victoriagleasuredesigns]

“I have no expectations, only an overwhelming desire to end the power this monster has had over my life”. - All the Dark Places by Terri Parlato Today’s Into the Evergreen photo challenge by @words.and.whimsy and @theOCnest is Hope is a Powerful Thing: Defiance in the Face of Evil. Molly has been hiding from her past all her life. When her husband is murdered, she is no longer safe. Thank you @kensingtonbooks and Terri Parlato for the ARC. You can see my full book review on Goodreads. The wonderfully spooky quilt featured in this picture is the Owl Flying Over a Snowy Cabin throw quilt! 🌲🦉❄️ #allthedarkplaces #terriparlato #thriller #kensingtonbooks #owlcrate #thenest #words&whimsy #bookstagram #bookish #bookblogger #quiltsandbooks #quilting #bookreview #bookrecommendation #quiltlife #winterreads #januarybookchallenge #cozyquilt #quiltsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CnhuDdaPThZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[books4us]

Let’s go, SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT 2023! We had a great 2022 and now we’re ready to share book thoughts throughout 2023. Always helping readers make decisions about what books to spend time with. And this one qualifies as worthy of your time. My 💭; Impressive. This is adult novel-ing at its finest. Just very well written wrapped in realistic dialogue and adult situations. The story is an enjoyable one with a well paced road trip that is between Frankie and her older Aunt, who she doesn’t really know a lot about, but will find out a great deal about her Mom’s sister on their extended if unintended road trip. Some interesting Los Angeles history surrounding the opening of the first Black hotel in LA and the story moves back and forth between late 1920s LA and ‘68 Chicago. Denny S. Bryce does an an excellent job of building the back stories of Daisy and Frankie. The dilemmas they face are realistic and working through these conflicts puts the reader front and center in an engaging story. Thanks to Edelweiss and Kensington for a DRC. Read and Enjoy👍🏾. #sundayspotlight2023 #bookpusher #pushingbooksainteasy #bookblogger #bookreview #ownvoicesreviews #inthefaceofthesun #dennysbryce #kensingtonbooks #readmorebooks #readologist2023 #blackbibliophile #blackbooksmatter #blackbookveteran #blackbookcentered (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnJ-0GkLxvM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[leannareneehieber]

Darlings! I'm SO excited! More Ghosts! This time, with GOTHIC feeling!!!! This goth is happy-dancing through haunted houses.

Publisher’s Marketplace Deal Report:

America’s Most Gothic by Leanna Renee Hieber, Andrea Janes

Imprint: @kensingtonbooks

Bram Stoker award finalists and authors of A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA’S GHOSTS Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes’s AMERICA’S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION, an examination of America’s most Gothic places and hauntings, featuring the weird and wild trappings of Gothic tradition such as hidden passages, wailing women, family curses, and more, with an emphasis on female spirits and the cultural narratives surrounding their stories, to Elizabeth May at @kensingtonbooks , in an exclusive submission, for publication in 2025, by Chelsea Hensley at KT Literary (world).

Non-fiction: History

August 14, 2023

[bargainsleuthbooks]

#ARCReview #MurderataCapeBookstore #MaddieDay #Cozycapersbookgroupmystery #BookReview #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #KindleDeals

I just love a good #cozymystery and the #cozycapersbookgroup #mysteryseries is a good one. The forthcoming book #Murderatacapebookstore, had me guessing. #Maddieday #netgalley #kensingtonbooks #arcreview #bookreview #arc #kindledeals #capecod #Doorcounty

Everyone loves a festival, though Mac has a few concerns about the Spring equinox event organized by the new Chamber of Commerce director, Wagner Lavoie. After all, March weather is unpredictable. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy, between flower-shaped candies at Salty Taffy’s, spring rolls at the Rusty Anchor, and a parade of decorated bicycles. But the festivities soon take a stormy turn . .…

[dollycas]

Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket (A Jaine Austen Mystery) by Laura Levine #Spotlight / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @LauraLevineBooks

I am delighted to shine the spotlight on Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket (A Jaine Austen Mystery) by Laura Levine today! Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket (A Jaine Austen Mystery) Cozy Mystery 20th in Series Setting - California Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (June 25, 2024) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 149672819X Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CK5DPMSG Freelance writer and long‑time Ben & Jerry’s addict Jaine Austen uncovers murderers on the mean streets of Beverly Hills, with a little help from her snarky cat, Prozac, in this witty mystery series from acclaimed TV comedy writer and novelist Laura Levine—a lighthearted treat for cat cozy fans and readers of Joanne Fluke, Miranda James, and Laura Childs. What could be more idyllic than starting a new gig with an exclusive train ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara? Turns out, a whole lot. Jaine must figure out how to tolerate her client—Chip Miller, aka Iron Man, a wealthy gym chain owner—who Jaine soon discovers is a tyrant and a bully with an ego as pumped as his pecs. Practically everyone on board seems to have it in for Chip—his dysfunctional family members, his beleaguered staff, even his supposed best buddy from the gym. So it’s no shocker when he’s found dead in his cabin. Unfortunately for Jaine, she’s the one who finds Chip’s body, leaving her DNA on the murder weapon, and making her a prime suspect in the police investigation. Forced to save her own caboose, can Jaine chug on through an unexpected love connection and ID the killer—or has she finally reached the end of the line? About the Author Laura Levine is the author of the Jaine Austen Mystery series and a comedy writer whose television credits include The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons and Three’s Company. She lives in Los Angeles and can be found online at JaineAustenMysteries.com. Thanks to the publisher I have 1 ARC paperback copy to give away! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old with a US or Canadian mailing address. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Follow Kensington Books on Twitter for 2 Bonus Entries! Follow Kensington Publishing on Facebook for 2 Bonus Entries! Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The contest Will End October 4, 2024, at 11:59 PM CST The winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Read the full article

[triviareads]

ARC Review of The Cutthroat Countess by Minerva Spencer

Summary:

Josephine Brown, a spy known onstage at an all-female circus for her knife-throwing act as "Jo Blade" has always found it difficult to open her heart to friends and lovers alike. But during a covert mission, she finds herself falling for Elliot Wingate, a spy for the Home Office. For his part, Elliot is immediately smitten with Jo, but knows he has to be careful, particularly as Jo's old family secrets come to light, endangering the both of them...

My review:

I would recommend reading the first two books in the The Wicked Women of Whitechapel series before reading The Cutthroat Countess. Part I in particular touches on a lot of events that need the context of the first book, specifically when the circus members and their love interests are in France to rescue their friends and family. Part I also feels very separate from the rest of the novel; the only thing that connects it to the rest of the book is Jo and Elliot's burgeoning relationship.

And it doesn't take very long for Jo and Elliot to get together (she kills half a private army in Part I, he IMMEDIATELY goes down on her). They're both spies with a "particular set of skills" (well, Jo more than Elliot), and respect one another's competence, which leads to an immediate attraction. However, because of Jo's scattered upbringing (she was always on the run), it's difficult for her to trust or make friends, so Elliot is the one initially doing a lot of pushing for them to be in even a short-term relationship. I thought it was particularly adorable that both their "pining" came in the form of stalking each other before they finally broke during a ball, had sex on a garden bench, and admitted they wanted to be together. After this, their relationship actually feels very domestic; they come home to each other after long days, they share meals and share pets (good old Angus the raven), and have a lot of very relationship-y sex.

The rest of the novel is split between old espionage secrets related to Jo's family being uncovered, and a bit of a My Fair Lady plot as well. Like I said earlier, I would recommend reading the previous books in this series because the plot of the first two books are actually happening somewhat concurrently. So we see Marianne and Sin's rescue and Marianne's societal debut, as well as Guy and Cecile during Guy's grovel-by-getting-repeatedly-shot-at era. Through the course of the book, Jo also opens up more to her friends at the circus, and I thought this was a good continuation of the overall theme of female friendship in this series.

The sex:

Jo and Elliot are a fan of a quickie, in part because of them having sex in the middle of fraught situations (see: Napoleonic France), and also because Jo is afraid of intimacy due to her past. As they get more comfortable with one another, they settles into having more relaxed, relationship sex (though they still seem to favor minimal foreplay). It's well-written as per Minerva's usual, though I think I'd have been happier if there were longer sex scenes overall. I actually think my favorite moment was at the veeeery end when Jo makes Elliot masturbate in front of her in a place they lovingly refer to as the "torture cottage", an unofficial government residence where.... "interrogations" take place. And they deffo sneak off to have sex at the torture cottage afterwards.

Overall:

I enjoyed reading this book; it's a fun continuation of The Wicked Women of Whitechapel series, full of adventure and mystery. I think Jo and Elliot are a more lowkey couple compared to the first two so don't expect much relationship drama or an intense build-up before they admit their feelings for one another. Like I said about The Dueling Duchess, if you're looking to read a something outside of a ballroom romance that's still set in the Regency era, then this is a great choice for you!

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[sidlaw7]

Cozy Wednesday - Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery) by Darci Hannah #Review / #Giveaway @authordarcihannah @KensingtonBooks - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours

[doodlesink]

Death Scene by Carol J. Perry -- A Book Review

Happy Wednesday!  Death Scene by Carol J. Perry has Lee investigating a murder during Halloween season in Salem.  Check out my review of the 14th A Witch City Mystery.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2024/08/death-scene-by-carol-j-perry.html

[bucolicbook]

One Cursed Rose (Grimm Bargains, #1) by Rebecca Zanetti 

US pub date - 6/25/24

.

.

While reading this, I was incapable of shutting off my rational brain which tells me that if whoever the incredibly wealthy and dangerous obsessed stalker MMC is wasn’t wildly rich, they’d simply be viewed as a creepy predator. I don’t enjoy this dichotomy. 

.

I didn’t enjoy the writing, the characters all felt incomplete, and I wasn’t able to get into the story. And that knife scene? Yeah, absolutely not. 

.

This one really wasn’t for me.

.

.

.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the DRC 

[lzteach]

Showcasing and My Thought On “Follow the Stars Home” by Diane C. McPhail, Kensington Books, August 2024. On Tour with Biblolifestyle

I am appreciative and thrilled to receive “Follow the Stars Home” @Dianemcphail123 @Keningtonbooks, On @Bibliolifestyle  #followthestarshome #dianecmcphail #historicalfiction #bibliolifestyle     @bibliolifestyle @kensingtonbooks @dianemcphail123                   Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @kensingtonbooks     #gifted @bibliolifestyle @kensingtonbooks     @bibliolifestyle…