Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 49

Interview with Fred Tippett II, WOMEN IN WHITE

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

My latest book is actually my debut novel. It’s called THE WOMEN IN WHITE, and it’s a YA Mystery novel featuring a sixteen-year-old boy named Greg Chase as the lead. Greg is a wunderkind whose heightened observative powers have earned him a role as the New York Police Department's youngest ever civilian consultant. He’s had—and loved—that job for about a year, but he’s forced out of it when his actions contribute to the inadvertent killing of a suspect in one of his cases. Greg goes back to school, but he doesn’t stay out of trouble for long. He quickly gets into a relationship with the new girl, Mel Locket, only to learn that she’s actually the prime suspect in the murder of her former friend and classmate from her last school. The police, Mel's therapist, and even her own mother think she did it. Greg, however, comes to believe that they’re off base and that Mel is actually innocent. And being naturally unable to let the matter rest, he sets out to prove her innocence by any means necessary.

 

THE WOMEN IN WHITE is part of a series—the first in a series of YA Mystery novels called “Greg Chase Mysteries.” Assuming positive reader response to this one, there will be many more!

 

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?

It was largely about wanting to retain full control of the characters and the general world that I had created. When you go down the traditional publishing route, you essentially sell a substantial portion of your book rights to a publisher. And until you’ve hit enough success that your voice carries sufficient weight with that publisher, the publisher has a large degree of say regarding the direction that you can take future stories in the series or even if you CAN CONTINUE the series.

 

I just mentioned that I envision WOMEN IN WHITE as the first of several Greg Chase Mysteries. I didn’t want to lose the power to continue the story that I started in book one, and I saw VERY many ways that that could happen if I took WOMEN IN WHITE down the traditional path.

 

If the book didn’t sell well traditionally, the publisher likely wouldn’t want to buy and publish yet more stories in that universe—meanwhile, because the publisher would own a great deal of the rights, I likely wouldn’t be able to just write a new Greg Chase story on spec and publish elsewhere. Or the publisher might be willing to buy future Greg Chase stories but might not want me to take them in the direction that I desired.

 

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

For me, it all starts with an idea. If I like the idea, if I think it has good potential as a book, I’ll get it down in outline format.

 

While I’m outlining, I do prefer absolute silence. But once I’m done outlining, as I’m writing my first draft from that outline, I’m okay if things are a bit louder. I still enjoy the relative quiet even then, but I don’t absolutely require it.

 

Once I’ve gotten a good first draft down, I tend to take a step back from that particular book and world for a little while (usually one or a few months) before picking it back up again to complete additional drafts (the third of which is usually done with the help of a proofreader/editor). And during those additional drafts, I do again tend to want absolute silence. Writing a first draft from an outline (particularly outlines as detailed as I make them) is relatively easy. Outlining the whole story and completing the editing process is hard and requires quite a bit of focus.

 

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I outline. ALWAYS. I am very much the type of person who needs to know where the story is going before I commit to writing it. In my mind, it’s the only way to be certain that I’m writing a book as opposed to, say, a short story or even maybe TWO books that need to be split up.

 

That being said, there are exceptions. I do see an outline more as a general road map than an undisputable bible. I always get to the general storytelling ending that I’d planned, but sometimes not in the way that I’d originally intended. Sometimes, as I’m writing from my outline, the characters or the story will lead me in a different direction. Sometimes, they or it will take a minor detour from what’s written in the outline but ultimately get right back onto that preplanned path.

 

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

I was actually fortunate enough that I didn’t have to! I happen to have a very good personal relationship with a sterling editor who offered to do the job as a courtesy (and in exchange for my giving him some technical advice regarding launching his own debut novel). He went through my book chapter by chapter and edited for such things as grammar, typos, sentence structure, etc. But he also gave me a large amount of very good advice regarding the general nature and story structure of WOMEN IN WHITE. I think that the overall work truly benefitted from it all—and hopefully, my readers will too!

 

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

I have a limited-time exclusivity deal with Amazon, so for the moment, THE WOMEN IN WHITE is exclusively for sale there (in both Kindle and print form). However, those who visit my website (fredtippett2.com) can easily access the book on Amazon via several well-placed links.

 

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

My book is most extensively marketed on my personal website (fredtippett2.com)—and anyone who wants the fullest picture of my authorship or what WOMEN IN WHITE is about should check it out! (I also offer some exclusive tie-in content there!) I heavily promote via my Instagram and Twitter accounts (both @fred_flinstone8) as well. And I’m currently going through a very arduous process of conducting interviews with some book blogs and shopping copies of THE WOMEN IN WHITE to others for public reviews.

 

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Well, fortunately enough for me, the manuscript for my next book has actually already been written for quite a while now! I drafted it back in early 2018, and I’ve been furiously editing and proofreading it since! I will say, though, that it has required a not insubstantial amount of commitment to stick to my plans for editing that manuscript while also handling the necessary duties associated with marketing WOMEN IN WHITE. I spent plenty of time making sure that the launch for WOMEN IN WHITE was just right. But now that it’s been released, it’s taking my spending even more time to make sure that the book takes off in the way that I so desire.

 

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Be sure that it’s what you want. That’s about as succinctly as I can say it.

 

I think there’s a bad rumor out there that self-publishing is basically the easy way out for authors who don’t want to put in the time or the work to perfect their craft so that they can get an agent and publish traditionally. But in reality, the exact opposite is the truth. Granted, you do have some free riders who just want to pump out a book fast and who don’t care about the quality of their work. But for those who actually want a future and a fanbase as self-published authors, choosing that route means choosing a MUCH harder path than traditional publishing. It means finding your own GOOD editors and proofreaders, designing covers that will unequivocally draw potential readers in (or paying someone to do it for you), and doing your own marketing plus self-promotion.

 

There are perks—and once you succeed, the rewards are comparable to (and debatably better than) those of the traditional route. But until you do succeed, the work is likely going to be at least twice as hard. And as you’re starting out, the fruits of your labor are almost certainly going to be incremental, not exponential.

 

What’s next for you?

Well, as of right now, I’m in the final stages of editing my next novel. It too will be a YA Mystery novel, though this one will feature a strong female protagonist, as opposed to THE WOMEN IN WHITE’s Greg Chase. I’m hoping to release this novel next year—either via traditional publishing or independently through Trinity Power Productions LLC, my own content creation company.

 

Author bio:

Fred Tippett, II, is the author of the Young Adult Mystery novel THE WOMEN IN WHITE, which released on Amazon in November 2020. Fred currently lives in Alabama, though he is a Washington-DC-barred attorney. He holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania—and primarily uses his legal education to bolster the credibility of police procedural elements for his novels.

​

You can find Fred at @fred_flinstone8 on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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#Review: THE HEART OF LOVE by Meara Platt

 

4 of 5 stars 

Robert MacLauren has loved Heather Farthingale the first time he set his eyes on her, but there was a problem. She was engaged to a marquess which was her childhood dream to marry into a title. As much as Robert wanted to steal her away, Heather had not said she had feelings for him and had procrastinated for months to avoid reading the Book of Love. She denied her feelings for Robert and instead focused on her upcoming marriage to Lord Tilbury, but is she making a huge mistake and condemning herself to a loveless marriage?

This book was so cute. I loved Robert. He was so honorable even though he loved Heather, his pixie, to distraction. She was the one for him and he'd never love another. As with the other books in the series, there are repeat appearances by many of the characters in previous books. Heather's character was young and that definitely helped with the predicament she found herself in. The author does a great job of teasing out the ending. Could Robert convince Tilbury to release Heather from their betrothal or would he suffer for the rest of his life with a broken heart?

I voluntarily read this advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own. 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas: Edge of Your Seat--POLITICAL THRILLERS by Mark Terry

Are you looking to find a gift for someone who's impossible to buy for? Here's some ideas by author Mark Terry. I've read a few of his books and they will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

 

Blurb:

When political fixer Austin Davis is hired by Congresswoman Julia Lancaster to investigate her son's death, he knew it was going to be nothing but trouble. Secret Service agent Jeff Lancaster died when a group of white supremacists attacked a visiting dignitary. The FBI, Secret Service and Homeland Security were all over the case and what was there to investigate, anyway? But if there's one thing Austin knows from working for politicians, everybody has secrets. And if you dig, you're going to find dirt. He just hopes the secrets he uncovers don't get him killed.

"Terry writes like Lee Child on steroids."--Lansing State Journal

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0875N3SBQ

Blurb:

A serial killer known as the Chemist has ravaged the city of Chicago, finally stopped by Lieutenant Sandra Beach. Now, only days later, she is approached by Dr. Derek Stillwater, Special Agent with Homeland Security.

There were three victims of the Chemist who were copycats.

Together, Stillwater and Daniels, with the clock ticking, will hunt an international assassin called the Ronin, before he can murder his final victim.

But Ronin has two more assignments—take out Stillwater and Beach!

Includes the Derek Stillwater short story, "BLACK RUSSIAN."

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/DIRTY-BLOND-Derek-Stillwater-Thriller-ebook/dp/B07FJMZYFM

Here's the link to all of the Derek Stillwater books.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0749T67PC

Author bio:

Mark Terry is the author of the Derek Stillwater thrillers, THE DEVIL'S PITCHFORK, THE SERPENT'S KISS, and THE FALLEN, as well as several standalone thrillers, including DIRTY DEEDS, CATFISH GURU, and DANCING IN THE DARK. 

Born in Flint, Michigan in 1964, he graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in microbiology and public health, which has informed his Derek Stillwater thrillers and other fiction. After spending 18 years working in clinical genetics, he turned to writing full time. 

When not writing or reading, Mark Terry is a gym rat, lifting weights, biking, running, kayaking, studying Sanchin-Ryu karate, and playing the guitar. Otherwise he spends his time with his wife and two sons in Michigan

#Excerpt: THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Alexandrea Weis

The Christmas Spirit
Alexandrea Weis
Published by: Rosewind Books
Publication date: October 27th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

“Ghostly occurrences and ancient folklore make this feel like a modern, romantic twist on A Christmas Carol.” ~Library Journal

SOMETIMES IT TAKES ONE BROKEN HEART TO HEAL ANOTHER.

Courtney Winston is a writer on a deadline. Eager to finish her book and get over a recent break-up, she ditches Christmas with her family and retreats to a secluded cabin in the mountains.

Appliances rarely work, and cell service is spotty, but Courtney senses there is more to her rustic rental—something dark and haunting.

Then Peter, the attractive Stone Mountain Lodge owner, and a meddling cook, Mrs. Finn, keep coming around, shattering her peace and offering advice on how to fix her heavy heart.

Courtney grows closer to Peter, but Mrs. Finn warns her of his troubled past. Undaunted, Courtney sets out to win him over. But being with the brooding stranger may end up costing her more than she ever imagined.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Peter collected the chopped wood and set it on top of the pile against the house. Then he went around a corner, still not looking at her.

She waited on the step, refusing to go after him, but not mad enough to head inside and get out of the cold.

When he returned, he had three more heavy logs in his arms. Peter dumped them by the stump, keeping his eyes on the wood.

“Good morning,” she said, unable to stand the silent treatment any longer.

He ignored her and set one of the logs on the stump. He lifted his ax, centering the blade over the wood.

The ax came down, perfectly splitting the log in two. He worked methodically as he retrieved one of the halved pieces.

Another thunk cleaved the wood into smaller portions.

“Are you still mad about me beating you?”

He collected the pieces and brought them to her woodpile, keeping quiet.

She folded her arms, growing annoyed.

“I didn’t do anything to you that isn’t done a hundred times a day in any hockey rink across the country.”

He picked up another log and set it on the stump.

The heat in her cheeks rose. “Was leaving me in those woods your way of getting even? Well then, congratulations. One cheap shot deserved another.”

He lifted his ax and ran his hand up and down the handle. “I didn’t leave you. I made sure you could follow me back.”

“Am I supposed to be grateful to you for scaring me to death?”

He poised the ax blade above the log. “You’re not dead. Not even close.”

A loud crack reverberated as the ax drove into the wood.

A slither of satisfaction coiled through her when the blade got stuck halfway through the log.

With one arm, he picked up the ax and slammed the jammed log against the stump, but the stubborn log held on. Peter’s cheeks reddened as he raised the ax again and kicked at the determined chunk of wood.

“You need to sharpen your ax,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

He finally looked up at her. “What would you know about chopping wood?”

She smirked. “I know a dull tool when I see one.”

Her point made, Courtney turned back into the cabin, leaving him to stew.

But the moment she shut the door, it flew open. He stood in the doorway, the vexation in his eyes mirrored the knots in her stomach.

He put his hands on the doorframe, digging his nails into the wood. “I’m not mad about the game. I’m not a child.”

She pulled her robe closer. “Then why are you acting like one?”

The harsh lines in his brow softened. “I should never have come to you. I should have stayed away and left you alone in this cabin.”

Her first reaction was to balk at his confession, but then the meaning behind his words sank in, hitting her harder than any blow from his ax.

“Is that why you ran off the other day? Because you regretted knowing me?”

“I could never regret that. You have been a shining light in my very dark world.”

Author Bio:

Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, advanced practice registered nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable.

Weis writes romance, mystery, suspense, thrillers, supernatural, and young adult fiction and has sold approximately one million books. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans where she is a permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and rescues orphaned and injured animals.

She is a member of both the International Thriller Writers Association and the Horror Writers Association. www.AlexandreaWeis.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

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#Review: THE LORD'S DESPERATE PLEGE by Kate Archer

 

 

4 of 5 stars 

Hayes Summersby, Viscount Ashworth, has pledged not to marry for another 2 years standing strong with his friends who will defy their fathers against being forced into marriage by a declining income. Ashworth is trying hard to pull the dukedom back into the black and supplements the title's income with his gambling skills, that is, until Lily Farnsworth with her photographic memory, soundly beats him. He's convinced she used some kind of trickery, but the more he gets to know her, the more attractive to him she becomes. Will he abandon the pact and finally succumb to love?

I really enjoy this series. 3 duke's sons down with 3 more to go. It's a great premise for the series and each story is inventive. Ms. Archer slowly teases out the details into Ashworth's need to gamble. It's not what you think and there's a few twists and turns in the book that will keep you turning the pages until the end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own. 

 

#Review: AN UNEXPECTED TEMPTATION by Sophie Barnes

 

3 of 5 stars 

I read the previous story in this series and really enjoyed it. I couldn't wait to read Robert and Athena's story. Robert, Marquess of Darlington, was humiliated 6 years ago when then 14 year old Athena announced that her brother loved Bethany when Robert and Bethany were at the altar. Robert basically withdrew from Society following that scandal and to deal with the crushing debt his father left behind. When Athena decides she just must see Robert to apologize in person for her interference and scandal, she has no idea it will change her life forever.

I realize this is only a novella, but I thought Robert and Athena both falling in love with each after only two days, a bit of a stretch. Not much else happens until their wedding day. It was a good twist, but throughout the book I kept hoping for more depth for both characters.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own. 

 

 

#Review: TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT THE DUKE by Loretta Chase

 

  5 of 5 stars

Cassandra Pomfret and Lucius, the Duke of Ashmont collide into each other with Cassandra paying the price for his drunken prank. Her groom was hurt and her vehicle shattered in pieces, Ashmont does what he usually does--throw money at the problem and it usually goes away. Cassandra loathes Ashmont for his recklessness and especially since as a duke he could do so much good in the world. Ashmont starts a long road to sobriety and can't stop thinking about Cassandra. With her groom injured, Cassandra needs a male to help with some of the charity work and she writes to Ashmont. He jumps at the chance to prove himself worthy of her affections. Can he redeem himself enough to win Cassandra's heart?

 

I started reading this book, then put it down, read a few other stories and then came back to this one. I'm so glad I did because I absolutely loved this book! Ms. Chase weaves a story full of twists and turns and finally a HEA. I especially loved Cassandra--a strong woman willing to do anything to help others even putting herself in danger. Ashmont grew on me, but one of the stars of the book is Cassandra's mother. In her own quiet way, she cleaned up a mess that could derail the happiness of Cassandra and Ashmont. I was sorry to see the book end as I would have loved to see what good these two could do together.

 

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

 

 

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#SALE .99: Boxed Set Books 1-3 AGE OF INNOCENCE series by Debra Elizabeth

 

Want to catch up on what happened in the first 3 books before delving into book 4 and 5? The boxed set is currently ON SALE for ONLY .99 

Grab this deal before the price reverts back to $4.99

LOVE BY SECRETS
Eighteen-year-old Emily Stanton is excited to attend this Season’s balls and begin her search for a husband. She is thrilled when the dashing and handsome Connor Preston begins to court her. After each ball, Emily finds a love note in her drawstring reticule, and she expects a marriage proposal from Connor any day.

When her father objects and forces Emily to accept the proposal from Lady Tisbury's shy nephew, Ethan Richardson instead, her heart is broken. How can she love her new husband when her heart belongs to the man who wrote her such beautiful love letters?

LOVE BY DECEPTION
Isabel Knott learns the father she never knew has left her a sizeable dowry. The news comes with one restriction--she can never reveal his name. During her first Season, Isabel falls madly in love with Colby Tisbury, but she's afraid his father, Viscount Tisbury, will never accept her as his daughter-in-law because of her lack of connections.

Colby Tisbury must marry, and soon. If he doesn't find a bride before the end of the Season, his father will supply one. Then Colby meets sassy Isabel Knott, and everything changes--but can he go against his father's wishes and marry a girl utterly lacking in family and connections? Isabel is forced to make an impossible choice - reveal her secret identity and bring shame to her true father or lose Colby forever.

DARE TO LOVE A SPY
Miss Hannah Richardson is enjoying a Season in London. She's not looking for a husband, at least not this Season. She wants to enjoy herself before settling down to married life. All that changes, however, when she sees the Duke of Wetherby. He's tall, dark and impossibly handsome and someone Hannah wants to get to know better.

Camden Darkin, the Duke of Wetherby, is not fond of attending soirees, dinners or balls, but his latest mission for the Crown demands he mingle with the ton. He has vowed not to marry because of his dangerous work and the constant bevy of beauties anxious mothers throw into his path is not tempting him in the least. That is, until he meets Hannah Richardson, a young woman unlike any other he's ever met. Can he learn to love or will his hardened heart rob him of the very thing he needs the most?

 

 

#Excerpt: O NIGHT DIVINE Boxset by various authors

O Night Divine: A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales
Publication date: December 17th 2020
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance, Romance

A MASTERPIECE OF HOLIDAY STORYTELLING…

Enjoy this stunning holiday collection from some of your favorite Dragonblade Publishing authors in this collection of never-before published seasonal tales!

Imagine, if you will, that it is Christmas Eve.

The candles are guttered, one by one, and a hush falls over the parlor. The children have gone to bed, and a tall, gloriously decorated Christmas tree looms in the shadows of the hearth’s dying embers. A tattered copy of Charles Dickens’ masterwork, “A Christmas Carol” sits, cold and lonely, upon a table nearby.

A small gust of wind, hurling from the seam of an ill-fitting window, blows the cover open. The first chapter appears… “Marley’s Ghost”…

The clock on the wall chimes midnight.

Now, the magic happens.

From the gaily bedecked halls of Regency England to the cold and crisp air of the Scottish Highlands, and everything in between, enjoy the magic of a holiday collection that has drawn inspiration from Charles Dickens’ most beloved literary works. Where the ghosts of Christmas, the incandescent spirit of a tiny disabled boy, and the joy that is the very heart of the Christmas season come alive.

USA Today and Internationally bestselling authors bring you their version of a Dickens’-inspired holiday in O NIGHT DIVINE.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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This collection includes:

Twas the Executioner Knight Before Christmas by Kathryn Le Veque

A medieval version of the Ghost of Christmas Future…

No one survives an Executioner Knight and least of all, Maxton of Loxbeare. But when he married his wife and had children, three little girls right away, Maxton grew a heart. He became a devoted and dedicated father who loved his children dearly. But the Executioner Knight in him still lived. So after a very bad dream, Maxton sees that, for his daughters’ sake, he must change.

Learn more about Kathryn Le Veque: https://kathrynleveque.com

The Laird’s Yulebringer by Caroline Lee

The Mackenzies are in mourning… none so much as their laird. Since the loss of his wife, leaving Callan to raise a young son alone, he believes he’s lost his chance at happiness. As his extended family gathers to celebrate the Yule together, they can do naught to raise his spirits… until a midnight visitor—of the ghostly variety—brings him hope for the future.

Learn more about Caroline Lee: https://collettecameron.com

Making Spirits Bright by Chasity Bowlin

After a lifetime of secrets, scandal, and disappointment… Elizabeth doesn’t believe in happy endings, at least not for herself. But an unconventional nobleman, with the help of a novice Spirit of Christmas, may just change her mind…

Learn more about Chasity Bowlin: https://chasitybowlin.com

The Haunted Scot by Hildie McQueen

The allure of a reformed rake…

She’s as determined to pursue him as he is to keep his distance. After a heartbreaking debacle, Thomas Sullivan decides to give up his roguish ways and considers the priesthood. Unfortunately, the beautiful arrival gives him second thoughts. Mary Asher is not sure why the handsome new driver tries to avoid her at all costs. After being told he follows her every move, Mary decides to test him.

Learn more about Hildie McQueen: https://www.hildiemcqueen.com

Never Keep a Secret at Christmas by Maggi Andersen

’Tis not the season to be surreptitious…

Alice Dountry’s father has gout, and she must spend Christmas with her sister, Marian, Lady Belfries. Their neighbor, the gruff, bad-tempered Earl of Hawkinge, refuses Marian’s invitation to Christmas dinner.

While chatting with him over the garden wall, Alice suspects something deeper lies beneath his humbug opinion of Christmas. Hawkinge and his grandson, Hugh Gifford, are at odds. Alice writes to Hugh but must keep it a secret from her sister.

When the handsome Lord Gifford arrives, there is an immediate spark between them. But Lord Hawkinge is hardly welcoming, and now, Marian and her husband argue over the secret letter.

Learn more about Maggi Andersen: https://maggiandersenauthor.com

Her Star from the East by Mary Lancaster

Miss Emma Sayle has enjoyed two London seasons and rejected many suitors. Her heart was given long ago to an exciting prince of the east, a man of another country and another faith. As Christmas approaches, she daydreams of what her life with him might have been – until his ghost walks out of the freezing fog. But is it the ghost of his past or her future?

Learn more about Mary Lancaster: https://www.facebook.com/mary.lancaster.1656

The Remembrance of Love by Meara Platt

Hyacinth Farthingale has known and loved Lord Innes Buchan since the day she was born. She is now in her debut season, and as Christmas approaches, it is high time this aloof and lonely lord realized his happiness depends on marrying her.

Learn more about Meara Platt: http://www.mearaplatt.com

How to get an Earl of Christmas by Violetta Rand

Learn more about Violetta Rand: http://www.violettarandromance.com/

Yuletide at Gillingham by Alexa Aston

A lonely holiday…

One boy abandoned by a greedy gambling father. Another boy watches his father slowly dying. A lasting friendship that will see them through the hard times—and beyond…

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Can two lonely boys draw strength from one another during a Yuletide season that only promises heartbreak?
Learn more about Alexa Aston: https://alexaaston.com

A Thrill of Hope by Anna Markland

Foiling an attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria earns Parker a medal and royal gratitude. The lunatic’s bayonet plunged into his thigh leaves him with a pronounced limp and reassignment to a small constabulary. Particularly trying is having to spend Christmas Day with his

miserly uncle.

During her family’s Yuletide celebrations, Samantha discovers she doesn’t love her straitlaced fiancé. A bleak future looms large.

Neither realize that anarchists are plotting to blow up a newly-constructed railway bridge—although Parker might if he’d heed the mysterious warning voices he hears.

A tale of the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Learn more about Anna Markland: https://www.annamarkland.com/

A Gift for Agatha by Anna St. Claire

A visit and a warning…

Years after her husband’s death, Lady Agatha Wendt has become a surly, cold-hearted miser, increasingly left to her own company. Childless and with little family, the wealthy widow fears

falling into poverty and spurns even the smallest gestures of Christmas giving. A determined spirit visits the wealthy widow and warns her change must happen.

Charles Bentley, her butler, sees goodness in her, and finds himself attracted to the real Agatha—despite knowing they could never be.

Can the spirit awaken Agatha to her real fears and help her to overcome them in time to realize the gift she has always wanted?

Learn more about Anna St. Claire: https://www.annastclaire.com

The Heart is Never Silent by Aubrey Wynne

Miss Etta Rose Comden is desperate to protect her younger sister, Horatia, after the death of their father. When the heir—and Tia’s new guardian—finds out his ward is deaf, he makes plans to send her away and marry Etta. With no one to turn to, the sisters flee in the middle of the night.

Dr. Gus Wharren, disillusioned with his practice in London, retreats to his late grandmother’s estate. Instead of a much-needed respite, he finds two lovely females stranded along the road.

Two sisters on the run. A London physician who has given up on humanity. The spirit of a loving grandmother. The stage is set for a holiday full of coincidence, a little Christmas magic, and a happy ever after.

Learn more about Aubrey Wynne: https://www.aubreywynne.com

Of Christmas Past by Charlotte Wren

Pride and promise before forgiveness

At the volatile age of seventeen, Percival Josiah Northcott storms out of Highfield Hall on Christmas Eve, vowing never to return. It is a vow supported solely by pride, which, as the old adage goes, generally comes before a fall.

Five years later, Percival has fallen about as low as a man can get. He secretly longs to return home, but pride and fear stand in his way. That is, until he’s visited by someone from his past, someone who gives him the courage to seek his family’s forgiveness.

But first, he must promise to complete a very special task.

Learn more about Charlotte Wren: https://www.facebook.com/Wrenbook/

Tidings of Comfort by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

A boy with a remarkable talent…

In the lead up to Christmas, Captain Kit Hardacre is in London looking for his long-lost parents. After a disappointing initial search, he finds himself in the city alone. Bringing him out of his self-pity is a call to help in a search for a missing little boy. But which one of them is more lost?

When Kit finds Pip, he discovers a youngster with a remarkable talent for going directly into the heart of those he meets. After seeing Pip safely returned, Kit’s faith in family is restored and a kind word gives him the courage to continue his search.

Learn more about Elizabeth Ellen Carter: https://eecarter.com

A Christmas Miracle by Elizabeth Johns

Alex Hartmere, Duke of Frompton, has endured enough heartache to make any man bitter.

Having lost his wife and child in the war in Canada, he returns to England, only to inherit a dukedom from a father who dies in a scandalous duel soon afterwards.

Repairing to his family estate for Christmas, Alex finds his first love now widowed and penniless. Can a Christmas miracle, in the form of a crippled little girl, bring them the happiness which was once stripped away from them?

Learn more about Elizabeth Johns: https://www.elizabethjohnsauthor.com/

Her Christmas White Knight by Elizabeth Keysian

England, Yuletide 1587

The dice have really been loaded against Mistress Julia Wentworth. Little wonder she no longer trusts a soul—except for the urchin she rescued from the poorhouse. Having fallen in love with—and been abandoned by—a murderous traitor, Julia’s been turned out by her family and left to scrape what living she can on the brutal London streets. When a goose strays into her yard, it looks as if she’ll at least have something to feast on at Christmas.

Exploding into her life in pursuit of his goose is Myall Farrar, a scarred nobleman who loathes his miserly father and can’t afford to lose the fowl for which he’s scrimped and saved all year.

Can there be any common ground between the mismatched Myall and Julia? Is there any hope of goodwill within their families? And—perhaps more importantly—will the goose prove itself worth saving from the butcher’s knife?

Learn more about Elizabeth Keysian: https://elizabethkeysian.com/

Always the Mistletoe by Emily E K Murdoch

When a woman loves a man, it’ll take more than a little Scrooge like behavior to stop her standing by him. Her family, on the other hand…

Learn more about Emily E K Murdoch: https://emilyekmurdoch.com

A Libertine’s Christmas Miracle by Emily Royal

Christmas is a time for miracles

Alice and Ross Trelawney are enjoying a quiet Christmas in Cornwall, until their daughter Amelia strays onto the nearby estate of Mr. Scrimgeour, the infamous Beast of Boscarne. When Amelia comes home in tears after a terrifying encounter, Alice resolves to teach the Beast a lesson.

Haunted by his late wife’s ghost and taunted by the locals, Edward Scrimgeour hides away in his crumbling mansion. His peace is shattered when his neighbor’s hellion of a wife storms into his home on Christmas Eve. But she’s no ordinary trespasser. When events threaten to take a tragic turn, Edward is given a chance at salvation, showing that miracles can occur in the unlikeliest of places.

Learn more about Emily Royal: http://www.emroyal.com/

Past, Present, Future by Lynne Connolly

Rhona sent the love of her life away once, but now Frederick is back. He doesn’t care that she’s a housekeeper, and he’s a wounded soldier and the brother of a duke. For the three nights of Christmas, he’ll give her three gifts; wooden figures he carved for her in the long nights before his last battle. They represent their past, their present, and what they could have in the future. If she doesn’t accept his love this time, he’ll leave for good.

Learn more about Lynne Connolly: https://lynneconnolly.com

A Yuletide Yearning by Maeve Greyson

Regret is a sly enemy…

Captain Tait Mackenzie doesn’t regret a life of pirating, but it’s Christmas and he’s lonely. Thoughts of dying alone trouble him. What woman would settle for a life with a pirate lord?

If wishes and dreams were oceans and streams, she’d sail her way to happiness…

Ellie has always loved Tait, but he politely ignores her. She intends to change that with a little help from the North Star.

Can three pirate ghosts on Christmas Eve scare some sense into a Scottish rogue and make him see that the love he needs has been right in front of him all along?

Learn more about Maeve Greyson: http://www.maevegreyson.com/

A Strange Christmas Game by Whitney Blake

Mr. Charles Mason doesn’t expect a December summons to end in his own love story…

Learn more about Whitney Blake: https://www.whitneyblakeauthor.net

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#Review: WHEN A ROGUE MEETS HIS MATCH by Elizabeth Hoyt

 

  5 of 5 stars 

This book had me on the edge of my seat from the opening pages until the end. Such a well crafted story full of intrigue, pain and also love. Watching Messalina's different feelings thoughout the book spoke volumes, but it was Gideon who really captured my interest. He was a flawed man full of self-loathing for not protecting his younger brother and it was only with Messalina's love that finally taught him the meaning of family. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Greycourt series.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.