A Historical Christmas Event with Sherry Thomas

USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, and a wuxia-inspired duology. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.

Her latest book, The Hollow of Fear, is the third entry in the gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series. All three books in the series have been selected by NPR as a Great Read of the year.

And by the way, English is her second language.  

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A Historical Christmas Event with Sherry Thomas

USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, and a wuxia-inspired duology. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.

Her latest book, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, is the second entry in the gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series. A Study in Scarlet Women, book 1 of the series, is an NPR and Kirkus Reviews best book of 2016.

And by the way, English is her second language.  

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A Historical Christmas Event with Sherry Thomas

USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, and a wuxia-inspired duology. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.

And by the way, English is her second language.

You can find out more about Sherry’s books at SherryThomas.com

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Learning a Secret...with Sherry Thomas and Giveaway

USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed romance authors working today—and one of the first to be reviewed by the New York Times Book Review. Her books regularly receive starred reviews from trade publications and are frequently found on best-of-the-year lists.  She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® Award.  

English is Sherry's second language—she has come a long way from the days when she made her laborious way through Rosemary Roger's Sweet Savage Love with an English-Chinese dictionary. She enjoys digging down to the emotional core of stories. And when she is not writing, she thinks about the zen and zaniness of her profession, plays computer games with her sons, and reads as many fabulous books as she can find.

Sherry also writes young adult fantasy and historical mystery. A Study in Scarlet Women, book 1 of the Lady Sherlock series, releases October 2016.   

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Audiobook Review: My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas, Narrated by Charlotte Anne Dore

Sherry Thomas always intrigues me and I’ve read many of her books. I’ve read “My Beautiful Enemy” also but I wanted to have the audiobook experience. I liked it in book format but I felt a level of frustration with the story. So here goes.

First, this is a very demanding and complex story line. When I read it the first time I felt very lost and confused and irritated because the author not only jumps around in between the past and the present but also her characters have two names and the author uses them both.

I do have to say that I enjoyed the audiobook much more and it could be because I already read the book so all the previous frustrations did not surprise me. I do have to say that it is a story worth reading/ hearing and the plot is very satisfying.

As I mentioned already, the plot is very complex as are the characters but I have to hand it to Thomas, this is an incredibly original, completely unpredictable, action-packed, mystery -packed and ultimately satisfying love story.

Catherine Blade is Ying Ying. When she is in London and in British society her pseudo is Catherine. When she is in Turkestan she is Ying Ying. Because the story runs parallel with the present and the past we know that Ying Ying had a lover-Captain Leighton Atwood. When the story starts she has a chance meeting with him when she saves his fiancé’s aunt! Neither Catherine nor Leighton acknowledge their shared past. In fact, except for a few awkward exchanges and the flashbacks it’s the only way we know about just how impactful their relationship was.

Catherine is so fascinating. She trained to become a killer/ spy for the chines government but she carries the shame of her birth on her shoulders. She finds out that her mother was a courtesan and her father and English man. Many of her insecurities and her fears are derived from this. She is also incredibly smart, quick and when she first meets Leighton he often complements her not only on her wit and intelligence but her strength. Catherine and Leighton fall in love and he saves her life but through a series of miscommunication and divided loyalties they are parted and do not see each other for eight years. During those years neither stopped thinking of the other but when their lives finally come together in England they are on different paths.

The story is filled with secrets. Ying-Ying is searching for Jade tablets to bring honor to her family and she realizes that Leighton has one of the three. She has also been carrying around a huge secret for many years and Leighton finally finds out what it was. Actually she has a lot of secrets and it’s only towards the end when her life is again in danger from the Centipede that they finally open up to each other and uncover their secrets.

I really enjoyed this book although I was overwhelmed with so much going on and so many layers to the story. Thomas brings in many Chinese customs that I thought were interesting. For me, Leighton was hard to get. I didn’t understand him. Even when he seems Ying-Ying again I could not read him. Needless to say, Ying-Ying is one butt-kicking force to be reckoned with. I loved what Thomas did with Leighton’s fiancée and I can honestly say I did not expect the story to develop as it did. I made a huge mistake when I read this story because I had not read “The Hidden Blade” which is the first book and I’m guessing many of the questions I had are probably answered there. In true Thomas fashion, this is not a quick and light read. It is demanding and there are a lot of different elements, cultures, languages, experiences involved. Ultimately it is a romance so the anticipation of how Leighton and Ying-ying will find their way back together is fascinating and intriguing. I loved how their past was so intertwined in ways that they did not even know themselves.

Charlotte Anne Dore is a phenomenal narrator. She seemed as interesting in telling this story as I was in hearing it. She was able to give all the different characters their own presence, which is no small feet considering how many there are.

**Audiobook provided by Tantor**

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Learning a Secret...with Sherry Thomas and Giveaway

Learning a Secret on Christmas Eve - Sherry Thomas

USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed romance authors working today—one of the first to be reviewed by the New York Times Book Review. Her books regularly receive starred reviews from trade publications and are frequently found on best-of-the-year lists. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® Award.

English is Sherry's second language—she has come a long way from the days when she made her laborious way through Rosemary Roger's Sweet Savage Love with an English-Chinese dictionary. She enjoys digging down to the emotional core of stories. And when she is not writing, she thinks about the zen and zaniness of her profession, plays computer games with her sons, and reads as many fabulous books as she can find.

Sherry also writes young adult fantasy. The Immortal Heights, volume three of the Elemental Trilogy, releases fall 2015.

Find Sherry at:

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ARC Review: Seven Wicked Nights by Courtney Milan, Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle, Caroline LInden, Carolyn Jewel, Erin Knightley and Sherry Thomas

Seven Wicked Nights is a collection of short stories by seven different authors. The stories are all historical romances. These authors are all well-known and some of these stories were their earlier work. I thought this was a nice collection and a great way to experience different authors in one collection.

Unlocked - Courtney Milan

I read this short story a while back. It was one of the first introductions I had to Milan. After reading this I read a lot of her other books. I loved its originality. Elaine Warren was a really great heroine. She is considered a spinster. All her season she was bullied and harassed by her peers. One of them Evan Carlton. When Evan reappears after having left society to mourn the death of his brother he is a very changed man. Honestly, he was a real jerk before. Him and his cousin Diana use to harass Elaine because she was really quirky and she has a very unique laugh. I really liked Elaine but she was definitely a special type of heroine. Evan realizes that he was a terrible persona and goes out of his way to make amends to Elaine, in the process he can’t help but fall in love with her. I enjoyed re-reading this short story and was reminded of why I like Milan. She always tells stories like no other. Her characters are never perfect but always engrossing. I liked Elaine and Evan’s chemistry, also. They really built a friendship and then a relationship and Evan does become a true gentleman.

When I Met my Duchess - Caroline Linden

This was my first time reading Caroline Linden and it was an enjoyable experience. The story quickly begins with an upcoming wedding. The Duke of Wessex’s is about to get married, fortunately or unfortunately things don’t go as planned. When Wessex meets his fiancé he is more interested in her widowed sister than his intended bride. Cleo was a fun heroine. She is happy for Helen and her upcoming wedding. Cleo is the black sheep of the family. Her parents don’t approve of her because she eloped with a working man and she runs a shop. Her parents are quick to disdain her and are really brutal in their treatment of her. Their only consolation is that Helen will marry Wessex. Wessex is a proper gentleman and is ready to do his duty but Cleo is really the sister who his attention gravitates to and the woman that interests him. Even though the both deny it, they are in love with each other. Cleo and Helen’s parents are none too happy when they realize that Cleo has won Wessex’s heart. I didn’t think that Cleo and Wessex had great chemistry but they were a sweet couple and it was enjoyable to watch them fall in love.

How to Catch a Wild Viscount - Tessa Dare 

This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. I loved the characters and their unfulfilled story. Luke is a wounded solider. Years before heading to fight against Napoleon he gives Cecily Hade a kiss. Throughout the four years he was fighting that kiss kept him sane and fighting to stay alive. Luke returns a wounded man. The war has affected him and even though he still loves Cecily he does not think he deserves her. He goes out of his way to seem indifferent and nonresponsive to Cecily. When Cecily is in the forest with a hunting party she is attacked by an animal and saved by a mystery man. It was obvious who the mystery man was but Cecily lets Luke believe that she doesn’t know. Although Cecily begins the story wounded and alone she transforms into a stronger woman. She realizes that she is not going to sit back and lose Luke again. Their story was so sweet my heart ached for them. Both Luke and Cecily were incredibly sweet and loving characters. The secondary characters were also fun. Instances like these it would be better for the story to be longer because there was a lot more that could have been added. But this was my favorite story and I really enjoyed it.

One Starlit Night - Carolyn Jewel

This story was really intense. Portia and Lord Northword were a very interesting couple. They grew up together and were each other’s first love. Through a series of events Northwood ends up married and eventually widowed. Portia never married but is feeling the pressure from her sister-in-law to make a match and find her own home. Portia carries a big secret and wound inside of her. I really liked her and felt bad for her situation. Lord Northword was also an enjoyable character but he was harder to understand. Although Portia forgave him, I had a harder time feeling compassion for him. Eventually realizing that she and Northword were not meant to be Portia begins to contemplate a marriage to another person. Do Portia and Northword eventually get their happily-ever-after? It was an interesting ending.

Claiming the Duchess - Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas is one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy her work and “Claiming the Duchess” was no exception. This was a very short story, probably the shortest of the collection but it did not make it less enjoyable. When the story begins Clarissa is married to a man that does not make her happy. The only comfort she has is her stepson, whom she adores. She meets Mr. James Kingston at an event and feels a strong attraction to him. But because she is married she does not act on her feelings. Four years later she is a widow and is hosting a gathering at her house. She invites James under the excuse that someone else wants him there. During the years of her marriage she developed a friendship via letters with a Miss Julia Kirkland. During this gathering she will finally meet her friend. When Clarissa and James meet again their feelings have not changed and now there is nothing standing in their way. This was a great read and the characters had great chemistry.

The Misbehaving Marquess - Leigh LaValle

Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, was abandoned by her husband a short time after getting married. Through a series of misunderstandings Jaime, her husband believes that she had an affair. Jaime is devastated because Catherine has always been the love of his life. He leaves her and goes off to travel the world, never once sending even a letter. Catherine realizes that she made a mistake when she is caught in an unflattering situation but she is never given the chance to explain what really happened to Jaime. When his family is left without an heir, he has to return home and tell his wife that they need an heir. Catherine is ready to end their marriage and has an annulment drawn up. Overall this was a sweet story but the misunderstanding seemed a little week. I enjoyed the story and liked the main characters but found some holes in the excuse that Jaime gave for leaving.

Ruined by a Rake - Erin Knightley

Eleanor Abbington is happily a spinster. She is content with her life and more than happy on the shelf. When her uncle has other plans for her she is desperate for a solution. Nicolas Norton is back home and ready to see Eleanor. They grew up together and were tomboys and the best of friends. Throughout the years they have never seen each other as a boy and a girl but when Nick learns that Eleanor is going to be married he quickly realizes that he is not ready to lose her to another man. Nick and Eleanor were really sweet, my only complaint is that they didn’t have as much chemistry as I would have liked. But overall it was an enjoyable story.

Overall

These stories were all very sweet. Most of the hero’s and heroines grew up together and realized that their feelings changed. One of my favorite aspects of this collection is the diverse authors. All of them have a very unique way to tell a love story and all were very individual. This was a fun read.

**ARC provided by Authors**

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ARC Review: My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas

So, I’ve read Sherry Thomas before and really like her. Since I have such high expectations of her writing and story I might be a little harsh with three stars but I don’t think four stars would be right.

My Beautiful Enemy starts off with a big action scene. While I LOVE stories where there is action and the heroine is kicking butt it was too much. I had to re-read the scene because I kept thinking, what the heck is going on? Also, because the author jumps right into the story I couldn’t figure out who the characters where. I love when a story doesn’t take forever to get started but I think Ms. Thomas jumped the gun or in this story she jumped the knife.

After I pushed through the beginning I tried to sort out who the characters were or who they weren’t… Our heroine is Catherine. Catherine or Ying Ying is the illegitimate daughter of a Chinese courtesan and an English man. She grew up longing for acceptance and a place to belong. Her stepfather is a part of the high ranking society in China. Her stepfather sends her on a mission to England. Catherine was trained in different arts and is a type of warrior/ spy. When she is in England she meets her ex-lover-Captain Leighton Atwood. However, both are in disguise… Ying Ying (now Catherine) met Leighton before on a mission disguised as a boy. He sees through her disguise and they become involved.

Ok, so a lot is going on in this book. The story jumps around so much I felt like I needed to draw a graph and follow who the characters were and where they were. The story also jumps around from the past to the present, from China, India to England. I think this is a Thomas signature. She’s done this before in her other books (different countries and present and past) but in this book it all felt very chaotic… and I struggled to stay engaged and interested.

As the story unravels, we learn that Leighton and Catherine are on similar missions and that they share a common enemy although the enemy is pretty well hidden (I have to admit I did not guise who the “traitor” was. I personally think that the book would have worked better if Thomas dealt with the past first and then made her way to the present instead of mixing it up. Catherine and Leighton eventually work out their differences and clear up big misunderstandings that happened in their past. They had great chemistry and great adventures just a very chaotic storyline. Also, because there is so much going on I never really understood Leighton. I didn’t really get him as a character. I really liked Catherine and I think this book would have worked better if it was an adventure instead of a romance. Overall, I will continue to read Thomas and anyone that likes a book packed with adventure, mystery and travel will enjoy this book.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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