ARC Review: Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh

Someone to Honor is the sixth book in Mary Balogh's Westcott series. This book focuses on Abigail Westcott and Gil Bennington. If you need a reminder, Abigail is one of the three children discovered to be technically illegitimate in the first Westcott book because her father married her mother whilst having already being wed to another. This book takes place about six years after that first book.

Abigail Westcott has been pushed by her meddling (but full of love) family to return as best she can to society and find herself happiness through marriage. However, she finds herself no longer interested. She has gotten over the "Great Catastrophe" that happened to her mother, brother, and sister, but no one else seems to see that. They only see her as being lonely.

Gil Bennington is on his way back to England when he stumbles upon a healing Harry Westcott. Gil and Harry served together against Napoleon, and became friends. Gil insists on helping Harry get back home to recover from his wounds there. He stays with Harry even once they get to England to help Harry get his strength back. He doesn't realize the stampede of family determined to check on Harry as soon as they have word of his return. It is almost overwhelming to Gil, whose upbringing was very different to the love and concern shown to Harry.

Abby along with the rest of her family are over the moon to have Harry back home, but they are all worried about his weakened condition. She happens to find Gil chopping wood on the grounds when needing a moment and mistakes him for a servant. She lectures him about his state of dress (or lack thereof since he is bare from the waist up). Gil lacks to correct her incorrect assumption and just grits his teeth at yet another annoying lady of society.

Throughout their encounters, they find themselves disliking each other and yet being drawn to each other upon learning more of each other's character. Gil is struggling with personal/legal issues while he is there, and stemming from that, they find they need each other.

I found this book to not be very romantic. However, it touched my heart a lot! Gil is a tough guy with a hidden heart and I just wanted to give him hugs all the time! Abby was sweet and she was doing a lot of finding herself and figuring out what she wanted. It was a little too much for me with Abby though as I felt I didn't truly get to know her. I liked her; I just struggled to empathize I guess.

I did still very much enjoy this story. I believe the series will continue, and I am excited to see where it goes!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Review: Elizabeth Vaughan

Warprize is the first in Elizabeth Vaughan's Chronicles of the Warlands series. It is also a debut book for me of hers. The book has been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read honestly for years. Having finally picked it up, and devouring every page, all I can do is ask myself why I waiting so long to read this book!

Xylara "Lara" is a princess of Xyland. Her older half brother is the current ruler and he is in the middle of a war with the "firelanders" as the Xylander's call them. Lara has defied custom and convention by becoming a healer for her people. This is something uncalled for because of her royal heritage. However, her father allowed it when he was alive, and though her brother doesn't like it, he allows her to continue her work. During the war she is helping with the wounded Xylander warriors, but she is also caring for the prisoners of war. She is the only person with the guts to help them against the King's wishes, but she feels the duty to help all in need because of the oaths she took.

While helping the foreign warriors, she initially begins learning their language to help treat them better. Lara is one of only a few who can communicate with them. Then she discovers that one of her patients is of the higher ranks. She worries that his position will cause her brother to execute him, so she keeps his secret while healing him. After this, she is confronted in the market by a man named Keir who demands to know of her patient's condition and to pass along a message to him. She refuses to pass any information, but does update him on the patient's condition. But by telling the POWs about her conversation with Keir, it seems they've gotten the message regardless.

Very soon after, Lara is happy to hear that peace negotiations are taking place. Until she discovers that she is to be sacrificed to their King as a slave as a part of the agreement. She agrees to the condition (though her brother never even truly asked her) to save her people. Lara is surprised to discover Keir is the king. So he takes her back to his camp. And thus begins a relationship between two people of different cultures that don't completely understand each other. It is also starting with lies. Lara struggles to learn her place, and she is terribly confused.

This is a book written in the first narrative, which is something I typically don't enjoy. However, this story line was best suited with that narrative since the reader is trying to understand this unique culture with her, and it didn't bother me in the slightest. While I loved the supporting cast the most, Keir did end up growing on me. Lara was strong and brave but also naive and too cautious to ask questions. For the most part, I liked her though. The story is full of unknowns that pull the reader in because they want to understand. 

I am excited to have finally read this romantic fantasy, and I cannot wait to continue the series. I only wished I had picked it up sooner!

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ARC Review: Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz

Book three of the Cutler, Sutter, and Salinas series this book is the conclusion to the guys past. This could be read as a standalone their history is explained in each book with the main character personal history as the focus but to get the full effect of hatred these guys have for Quinten Zane I would recommend reading all the books. I have been a fan of JAK for years now so I’m no stranger to Burning Cove or Jack and Winter’s landlady, Arizona Snow, I was so happy to see her.  

Jack Lancaster is special he can see patterns where no one else can its one reason he makes such a good cold case investigator. Winter Meadows comes from a long line of hypnotist it’s an innate talent that also has a long line of screwing up lives so Winter reinvented herself as a meditation coach and a dream guide. Jack has vivid dreams that seem to get away from him and no doctor or sleep expert has been able to help they just think he’s delusional. Jack is skeptical about Winter when he first meets her but one session proved him a believer in her.  After a month he’s already got a handle on his dreams and when he’s in her company he’s the most comfortable he’s ever been. On the night of their first date Winter’s past comes tearing into her living room and tries to kill her. Jack manages to save her but when her attacker mysteriously dies at the hospital before he can talk to the police Jack realizes it was more than just a coincidence and it all goes back to Zane. 

Zane and Jack engage in a mental game of chess as they try and out guess the other. Zane’s plans are finally coming together but first he must get rid of Jack, Cabot, and Max but despite Jack’s lack of police training he is the most dangerous one to Zane and must be taken care of first. However Zane’s first mistake was going after Winter after that it was a back and forth struggle because this time Zane isn’t working alone and Jack and Winter are dodging two mercenaries at every turn. Up and Down the coastline Winter and Jack try and figure out Zane’s end game and how to stop him before he gets away again. 

Overall, I loved this book it was a great way to close that chapter on their past with Zane. I do hope that JAK isn’t done with them yet they are great characters and I’d like to see their business expand to include more investigators, but if not it was a great conclusion. This is written third person, you really think your being omniscient as it has a shared perspective of Jack and Winter and also the bad guys but it still manages to surprise you. I liked the uncertainty of the relationship between Jack and Winter and how hesitant they both were to start or admit anything but once they did they were all in 100% and nothing could stop them or keep them from winning.  

 **ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Someone To Trust by Mary Balogh

Someone to Trust is the 5th book in Mary Balogh's Westcott series. This book follows Someone to Care to the second, time wise. Someone to Care finishes with Marcel and Viola's wedding at Christmas. Brambledean court is where the entire family (which I admit is hard to keep track of, but there is a family tree included in the book for your reference) comes together for Christmas.

Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, has been a very interesting character throughout the first four books. She always seems to be poised, intelligent, and unafraid to have fun. She seems to have an ease to conversing with everyone. Seeing that her sister-in-law's brother, Colin, off to the side alone, she approaches him and starts a conversation. The two seem to act like they're close confidantes from the beginning. They tease each other a little, but also stray a little into more deep subjects about their lives. Elizabeth goads Colin into snow filled activities.

Colin, Lord Hodges, falls in love with the family togetherness for Christmas and cannot help but yearn for something similar within his own family. He and the rest of his siblings are estranged apart from Wren (Elizabeth's sister-in-law). He throws himself full on into all the fun at Brambledean from sledding to snowball fights. One fortunate accident with the sled leads Colin and Elizabeth into an impromptu kiss amid the snow (how romantic)! However it affects them both, they just try to brush it off considering she is almost 10 years his senior, which is an unheard of thing in Regency England.

The two agree to keep their "friendship" strong throughout the Season coming up and arrange to share the first Waltz together at every event they both attend. Elizabeth is considering remarrying, and Colin is also considering marriage. It was hard for me to completely understand the way they kept pushing the idea of themselves as a couple away because it isn't so unheard of in our times. I kept wanting to shake them for not seeing what was happening. However, I can acknowledge that times were different then. 

Both Elizabeth and Colin have parts of their pasts that shape the way they act (as all people do) but as usual Mary Balogh really seems to go to the right depth with it. I love how she seems to understand a person's inner thoughts and motivations. Her work is perfect in my opinion on that. This romance was a sweet one, and it was perfect for Elizabeth (who up to this point has been my favorite side character in this series). I want to share the ending with you, but don't want to spoil either. Mary Balogh handled it perfectly and with a spice of humor. I hope the series will continue, or at least for some of these amazing side characters get their own stories in some way, too!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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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, 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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ARC Review: Someone to Care by Mary Balogh

Someone to Care is the 4th book in Mary Balogh's Westcott series. It was a very strong book full of character growth and inner reflection. However, I was looking for more of a romance and a "make me feel good" book. With those expectations in mind, the book was pretty much a bust for me.

Miss Viola Kingsley used to be a countess, until light came upon the fact that her deceased supposed husband actually married her bigamously a short while before his previous unknown to the world wife passed away. This knowledge put Viola and her children into some serious turmoil since everything about their lives was changed. This kick-started a feeling I think of not really knowing who she was anymore. She had always been the countess, or the mother, or the sister, but who was she? She felt as though no one cared about about her just as Viola. This inner confusion led her to "escape" a family christening and flee for home early. Unfortunately for Viola, her hired carriage ended up needing repairs mid trip, so she finds herself in an obscure little town on the day of a local fair, alone.

Marcel Lamarr, Marquess of Dorchester, coincidentally finds himself stranded in the same little town with his younger brother. He is surprised to see Viola, the woman who told him to "go away" 14 years prior when he was in what I would call "puppy love" with her. He has not spoken to her since that day, but is intrigued enough to try again, especially since he knows of her supposed husband's death. He sends his brother off with his carriage, and he and Viola spend an impromptu day together at this local fair. Marcel is not without his own past demons and is known as quite the rake who has been with numerous women. And Viola lets herself live a little and let loose the tight reins of her life to be with him for this one magical day. At least that's how it began, then it stretches to a bit longer of a time table for their little love affair.

Both characters have very active thoughts. I felt like the beginning and some parts throughout the rest of the book took way to long to get through because of all the inner musings of the characters. I think the first 15% is the same scene played out twice from each Viola and Marcel's viewpoints that in reality probably was the time span of 15 minutes? That's definitely an estimate, but the idea is there. On the flip side, because of all the inner monologue, I did feel like I really got to know these characters. Mary Balogh really dug down to figure these two out so that you understand their actions. Both Marcel and Viola grow a lot in this book, and I admit that portion is very strong and well thought out. It just bored the heck out of me, and I really didn't feel the "love connection" because of it.

One thing I did find interesting was in most romances the big moment is realizing you don't just love someone, but that you are "in love" with them. This book had a backwards take on that notion. Viola was looking for someone to love (or care) for her, not just be in love. It was a different perspective on the timing of a relationship that I liked. I did become increasingly frustrated with Viola not feeling cared for by her family. She says that she just feels cared for in her roles as mother, sister. daughter, etc. But she always took on those roles with such single mindedness, how did she expect anyone to know her true self when she kept it so tightly hidden?

My favorite parts of this book were the portions of Viola and Marcel's family. I think that speaks a lot about the romance for my tastes. I really really hope Mary Balogh writes stories for Marcel's twin children, Estelle and Bertrand! I adored them a ton. This is a very strong and well thought out tale, but it just wasn't what I was looking for. I am still excited to follow this series, and love Mary Balogh's writing as a whole. She is a genius when examining characters and making you understand the way someone acts from their history and thoughts. Despite my feelings for the content, this book definitely is what I would call art.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Dreamer's Song by Lynn Kurland

The Dreamer's Song by Lynn Kurland is the 11th book in her Nine Kingdoms series, but it is the 2nd in the trilogy starring Acair and Leirsinn. I was saddened by how much this book bored me.

The story line picks up right where The White Spell left off, and I don't really feel like the plot advanced at all in this book. As with I think all of these books (if my memory serves) the characters travel from place to place and hang out in libraries or different person's personal collections looking for more information. The two main characters continuously avoid thinking on subjects that make them uncomfortable (i.e. their feelings for each other), and the female character continues to struggle with the fact that magic is real.

Lerisinn has seen with her own eyes that magic exists. The proof is undeniable, and yet she continues to act like it isn't real and grasps on to naivety tight by "not thinking on it". When I read the first trilogy within this series, this plot line was great. A strong female character who grew up not believing in magic, and she has to come to terms with it's existence. She travels to many places learning more and meeting new people. But that plot line is now being overused in my opinion.

As I said in my review of The White Spell, I was excited to see the new aspects of having a reformed black mage as our hero. I have know determined that I am also disappointed in that aspect. It felt like Kurland was trying to make all of these dark situations be scary, but they ended up being absolutely fine. She overly dramatized different "bad" situations that weren't all that bad, and then when we do finally get to a scene with real danger, everything happens so fast, I had to reread it to figure out what happened.

Honestly, the story may have been decent had I not felt as though I had already read it multiple times in the previous books. However, I felt distrustful of Kurland after the many times the book claimed peril when there was none, and then when the danger was actually there it was downplayed. That partnered with the (to me) unrealistic reactions of her characters confrontations with magic took this book way down for me. This is beyond frustrating because I really used to love Lynn Kurland's storytelling. I am disappointed to say that this book has made me decide to stop reading this series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Marry in Scandal by Anne Gracie

Marry in Scandal is the second book in Anne Gracie's Marriage of Convenience series. I loved it, and I think it was much better than the first book in the series, Marry in Haste.

Lily is a very sweet girl who looks for the best in everyone. While this is normally an admirable quality, it lands Lily in quite the predicament. Through a bad sequence of events, she is abducted. Lily is quite the heiress, and that is what tempted her abductor. What I find marvelous, is her determination and her smarts to get herself out of the situation. I admired that about her immensely.

To be fair however, she did get a little assistance from her brother's best friend, Ned. Ned is in the right place at the right time, and is able to help Lily escape. Ned is a very troubled gentleman who seems to push people away. It pulls at every girls' instinct to try to save him from his inner demons. I'm not sure Lily realizes it's effecting her at first. But he also becomes her hero, despite his adamant proclamations that it is not the case.

Despite every effort to keep Lily's reputation clean, rumors are flying. The whole ordeal has become quite the scandal and it basically forces the two into a marriage of convenience. Ned resists all inclinations that what they have will ever be love. Sometimes love is irresistible however.

This romance was so adorable and everything sweet! It was just what I needed. It has Anne Gracie's flair of dreamy romance. I felt like doing the cliche sigh that women do when seeing romantic gestures in the movies. I cannot wait to continue this series!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Midnight Wolf by Jennifer Ashley

Shifters Unbound #11. Man, I love this series. Jennifer Ashley’s writing is always so consuming, I open the book and I’m sucked into the work of shifters, fae, and humans. The characters in this book, Angus and Tamsin, both have quite a bit of character growth through the book. Angus and Tamsin start off one way; Angus very stern and quite, very set in his ways and willing to do just about anything for his son, Ciaran. While Tamsin an uncollared shifter on the run still maintains a very optimistic view on the world. These two opposites balance each other out and bring out the best in each other, and Ciaran (I just love that name) is such a cute kid, so open and honest. I enjoyed the story and think you can probably read this as a stand-alone but there is enough past book stuff to tantalize you into reading the other books, at least the last two or three books.

Angus Murray is a scowling and grumpy shifter when he’s not working as a bouncer he is raising his cub, Ciaran. Angus’ brother, Gavan, was an idiot who tried to go against the Shifter Bureau and it ended in his own death as well as that of Angus’ mate. Angus had nothing to do with his brother’s movement but still managed to lose his position in the pack. Tamsin Calloway has managed to avoid detection, she’s been lucky enough that she always manages to escape undetected or leave just before something goes wrong. But the death of two Bureau agents has finally brought her into the spotlight and now a sinister Bureau agent has his sights set on Tamsin. Agent Haider kidnaps Ciaran and forces Angus to hunt down Tamsin or else he’ll never see his son again. Finding her was easy enough it’s catching her that gave Angus trouble and if the alligator hadn’t of caught her first Tamsin would have probably gotten away. Tamsin, now severely injured, has no choice but to go with Angus, instead of taking her straight to the Bureau he takes her to Ben and the sentient house (I so love this house!) and calls Zander down to heal her, while he comes up with a plan. There is no choice in not turning her in because of Ciaran but that doesn’t mean she can escape right after the hand off. It doesn’t quite go as planned once Haider admits to Tamsin that he plans to dissect her to find out how she works. Now all three of them, Angus, Tamsin, and Ciaran are on the run. They end with an uncollared shifter, Dante (who I can picture as Jason Momoa) and his half fae/half human mate, who run a carnival and travel with them for some time.

The attraction between Tamsin and Angus is pretty much instantaneous but it takes them a bit before they act on it. Angus mate claims Tamsin in order to protect her but afterwards he realizes just how much he wants her to stay in his life. Once Tamsin completely trusts Angus she reveals the reason everyone if after her, and together with their friends Ben, Zander, and Tiger they must figure out what to do about this and make it to where the only ones who want Tamsin are Angus and Ciaran. Overall, I positively loved this book, it’s not my favorite of the series but it’s really up there in the list. The characters are fantastic and of course it’s the strong silent type for me again Angus really fits the bill for a book boyfriend. Tamsin is so wonderfully optimistic even when her life is falling apart she still singing along to the radio and smiling. I am so happy that Ben is going to get his HEA finally.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick

Burning Cove #2, I love Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz) I have been reading her books for years. I love that she went in this direction and moved up her historical timeline to the 1930’s. I love the movies from the 30’s and the actors Cary Grant, Shirley Temple, Kathrine Hepburn, Mae West just to name a few. Just like today celebrities pretty much gave up their freedom once they hit it big but there were places where they could go to get away from it all, where they could still be seen but not harassed Burning Cove is just the place to be. The movies and their stars were a great escapism for people in the depression era everyday people could live vicariously through the movies, but the glitz and glamour can hide such dark secrets.

Adelaide Blake needed a place to disappear, a place where no one knew her and Burning Cove seemed the best place to hide in plain sight, after all who really takes notice of a waitress. Jake Truett is a recently widowed business man who is on vacation to sooth his nerves, or so he wants everyone to think. Madame Zolanda is faking it until she can make it, she became famous for being a psychic to the stars but she become rich from blackmailing them and now in Burning Cove is she going to finally get what she always wanted or what she deserves? Dr. Paxton the creator of the Diet Tonic for the stars and rumored to be having an affair with Hollywood’s Most Beautiful Woman, Vera Westlake, has reason of his own why he’s in Burning Cove as does Vera.

Adelaide spent two months in an insane asylum put there by a husband she doesn’t remember marrying and just barely escaped after witnessing one of her tormentors jump from the window. Months later she’s still nervous that they will find her and take her back but she has friends now she is part of the community and if she goes missing people will look for her. Her tormentors devise a plan but at every turn they are thwarted by Jake Truett. It all starts with Madam Zolanda unknowingly predicting her own demise but how this is all connected to Adelaide and her tormentors is still a mystery one Jake and Adelaide are going to discover no matter how many times they are almost killed. With the help of Raina Keller and Luther Pell, Jake and Adelaide discover how everything fits together.

Overall, I loved this book. The chemistry between Adelaide and Jake is subtle at first Jake is more open about it than Adelaide, but after what happened to her she is right to err on the side of caution. They work together well and Jake respects her opinion and treats her as an equal but is still very protective of her. The overall feel of this book really reminds me of some of Quick’s older books with a much stronger heroine (less damsel in destress and more than ready to take on her enemies head on) and not quite as domineering hero. The mystery keeps you on your toes and even after it’s all over it’s not. I greatly enjoyed this one and I can’t wait for Raina and Luther’s book. This can be read as a standalone so you don’t have to worry about not having read the first book.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Blind Date with a Book Event with Sylvain Reynard

I’m a Canadian author who is interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition – particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I’m also interested in how art, landscapes, and music can be used to tell a story. In my writing, I combine these elements with the themes of love and redemption.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: WorldVision, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. 

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