Bethany Swafford's Blog, page 6

Blood for Ink (Scarlet Plumiere #1)

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Blood for Ink

by L.L. Muir

Edition: Kindle, 2014

Synopsis: If he unmasks her, she’s as good as dead…

As the mysterious writer who exposes gentlemen’s secrets, it is not the first time The Scarlet Plumiere has been hunted. But this time it’s different. This time, she interferes with one of the Four Kings, and the brotherhood will not rest until they marry her off and place her securely under a man’s thumb. Only they have to catch her first.

The Earl of Northwick is falling for this writer, sight unseen. Will she be pretty? Will she have all her teeth? In his rush to claim her for himself, regardless of who she might ultimately be, he places her in grave danger–her desperate enemies are watching closely for the moment her mask is removed.

For several years, the Scarlet Plumiere has used her pen to hold the gentlemen of society accountable for their deeds, saving many a young lady from a bad match. Now her pen has falsely attacked one of the “Four Kings”, and they will not let this stand. Ramsey Birmingham, Earl of Northwick, vows to find and marry her. But the Scarlet Plumiere hides for a reason. Will North’s quest end in tragedy?

This is a fun read, even with a second reading. Following North and his friend search out the Scarlet Plumiere was entertaining. North is fascinated by the wit of his prey, falling for the woman without seeing her, which is a bit silly in my opinion. This makes the romance a little unbelievable.

The strength of the story is in the friendship between the four men. They have stuck together through thick and thin, helping each other through some truly horrible situations. Their interactions were often humorous, and I really enjoyed it!

As a mystery, it was easily solved, but watching the characters work it out was entertaining. The romance was sweet if a bit rushed.

For readers looking for a Regency with a bit of mystery, romance, and adventure, I would recommend this one. 

End of One Year, Beginning of Another….

Well. It finally happened. 2020 is over. There were times I wasn’t sure time would actually march on correctly. I mean. It was just a strange, strange year.

In 2020, I had a goal of reading 150 books. I just managed to meet that goal, reading my last book in the final days of the year. Goodreads was kind enough to provide me with some stats. In total, I read 43, 176. The shortest “book” I read was A Pressing Engagement, a Lady Darby short story (83 pages) and the longest book I read was Gemina (The Illuminae File #2) at 659 pages.

Although. I will confess that last book was actually an audiobook and was just under 13 hours long.

The first review I logged for the year was for Nothing Daunted, the true story of two society girls who went west to teach. This had been on my shelf for some time and I was happy to finally read it. In fact, I think might be worth a reread in the future. And the last review I wrote was for Forever Phoebe, an ARC by CHalon Linton (watch for my review here sometime soon).

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

As for my writing…

2020 was also the year where I attempted to write every day and keep track of what I wrote. I say attempt because I failed in the second month. I never did manage to get into the habit. I’d say that I wrote MOST days. In total, I wrote over 142,000 words from January 1st to December 31st. Not too shabby, if I have to say so myself.

On January 28th, I released my first novella, which is connected to my Sinclair Society series. On June 25th, I released the second book in that series, The Debutante. Over the summer, three of my books: Emily’s Choice, A Chaotic Courtship, and My Hands Hold My Story were made available on multiple sites instead of being exclusive to Amazon Kindle.

So. What does 2021 hold? Well, over the past few months, I have been working on the audiobook narration for my YA historical fiction, My Hands Hold My Story. And I did the narration myself. In my closet. That will release about the middle of January.

Also releasing in January (if my editor ever gets back to me) is the second novella for my series. And then, if all goes to plan, book three of my series in the summer. Oh, and I have a short story in an anthology releasing….well, today!

I’m currently editing the novel from NaNoWriMo, which is a bigger mess than I thought it would be.

I hope we all have a better year. Happy reading (and writing)!

Georgana’s Secret

Cover via Goodreads

Georgana’s Secret

by Arlem Hawks

Edition: ARC, 2021

Synopsis: A Regency romance on the high seas.

1811, HMS Deborah

Georgana Woodall dreams of freedom—freedom from her past and freedom from her secret. She has been living on her father’s ship for years, disguised as a cabin boy named “George.” But hiding her true self is becoming more difficult, and she yearns to break free of her life on the sea.

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton has no time in his life for love, not with his dedication to His Majesty’s Royal Navy claiming his full attention. Determined to prove himself to his new captain, he strives to be an exemplary officer and leader. When he sees the captain’s cabin boy being harassed by the crew, he immediately puts a stop to it and takes the boy under his wing.

Georgana quickly loses her heart to Dominic’s compassion and care, but needing to maintain her disguise as a cabin boy, she is convinced nothing can come of her affection. 

When he becomes aware of how his mother abuses his only child, Captain Woodall makes the only decision he thinks is open to him to protect his daughter: he dresses her up as a boy and brings her with him on board his ship. For three years, “George” and her father keep the secret. When lieutenant Dominic Peyton arrives on board,it isn’t long before the secret comes out. A ship at war is never safe. What chance does love have when mutiny is in the air?

This was a fun read. I especially loved the detail of life on ship. The setting really came to life with those details. It was interesting to read how life on a ship might have been like, especially when the Admiralty decreed no women on board. It’s this reason that is given for Georgana becoming “George.”

However, the fact that captains could choose to enforce that rule on their ships made the plot seem unlikely. Captain Woodall could have taken his daughter and few would have batted an eye. 

Of our two leads,I found Dominic the most interesting. He is concerned with his mother and refuses promotion to captain to ensure he has the pay he needs to provide for her. He is kind to “George”, seeing a boy who needs to learn how to defend himself and earn respect. 

One other detail annoyed me: any time she was unsatisfied with one of her sketches, she would throw the paper out into the ocean. For a time when paper was precious, doubly so on a ship in the middle of the ocean, this came across as careless and wasteful.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to readers looking for a Regency romance with a hint of adventure. I received a free copy for reviewing purposes from NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Grace By Contract (Once Upon a Duchy #1)

Grace by Contract

by Rachel Rossano

Edition: ARC, 2020

Synopsis: After her father uproots the family to the northern duchy of Brackenhurst, Grace Eldon and her four younger sisters struggle with a new life of hardship. Desperate to keep a roof over their heads amid mounting debts, she and her youngest sister seek employment in the Duke of Brackenhurst’s household despite fearsome rumors.

Scarred and maimed from a terrible fire Silas Isling, Duke of Brackenhurst, buries himself in his work to avoid the stares of pity and fear. When one of the new maids shows no fear at his appearance, he is intrigued. That is until his meddling steward gives her the task of cleaning Silas’ bookroom. It is a most unwelcome disruption since he prefers to be alone.

While a thief plagues his castle, an old nemesis reappears, and enemies invade in the guise of guests. Amidst the distractions and chaos, Grace brings some unexpected order. Once convinced his scars had stolen all hope for love, Silas finds his life forever changed by the quiet maid. Could she love a scarred Duke?

Inspired by Beauty and the Beast

Debt hangs heavy over Grace’s head, and she is desperate to protect her youngest sister from a lecherous friend of their father. She indentures herself to the Duke of Brakenhurst, hopeful to find safety. Her skills at reading and writing soon make her invaluable to the Duke, who is not as beastly as his reputation had led her to believe. But danger is just around the corner, waiting for her to take the wrong step.

From the cover, I was expecting a medieval tale based more in history, so I was surprised when there was no date for me to place the story. I didn’t realize this Beauty and the Beast retelling was a fantasy, no magic but not set in our history. Even though it was not what I thought it would be, it was still enjoyable.

The tale alternates between Grace and Silas, the Duke of Brakenhurst. Both have had difficult lives. Silas is scared from a fire where he lost his sister. Grace’s father was revealed as a thief and brought the family down in the world. Trust does not come easily for either one. Watching them slowly fall for each other made for a pleasant afternoon.

The story is well told, and I liked the details that I DID recognize from history. Readers who are looking for a fairy tale retelling that is creatively, if not historically accurately, told, I would recommend this.

I received a free copy through Loving the Book for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

  Rachel Rossano is a happily married mother of three children. She spends her days teaching, mothering, and keeping the chaos at bay. After the little ones are in bed, she immerses herself in the fantasy worlds of her books. Tales of romance, adventure, and virtue set in a medieval fantasy world are her preference, but she also writes speculative fantasy and a bit of science fiction.

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Inheriting Trouble (Bequest #1)

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Inheriting Trouble

by Wendy May Andrews

Edition: Kindle, 2019

Synopsis: The inheritance was meant to better her life, not muddle it.

Georgia Holton, wellborn but nearly penniless, is best friends with one of the Earl of Sherton’s five daughters. When she is invited to accompany her friend for two weeks of the Season, Georgia jumps at the opportunity to have a little adventure away from her small village.

The Earl of Crossley is handsome, wealthy, widowed, and jaded. He has no intention of courting any of this Season’s debutantes. After all, every woman he’s ever known has been dishonest, including his late wife. But when a chance encounter throws him into contact with the Sherton ladies and their lovely friend, he can’t help being drawn to Georgia’s beauty and endearing personality.

When confusion about Georgia’s small inheritance becomes known, a sense of obligation to right a wrong forces the earl and Georgia into close association.

But is she really different from any of the other women, or does she have an ulterior motive?

And can Georgia even consider getting close to a man from High Society, when all she wants is to return to her simple village life?

Sparks fly between these two, but it will take forgiveness and understanding on both their parts to reach a happily ever after. 

Though Georgia Holton is delighted to join her best friend in London for a fortnight, she has no expectation of finding romance. She has her motherless brothers and sisters to care for, after all, and only a meager inheritance of ten pounds to look forward to. When she crosses path with the wealthy but jaded Earl of Crossley, can she help him find the good in life?

I found Georgia’s realistic approach to life refreshing. She isn’t set on marrying a title in her brief visit to London. At times, though, her critical look at what was common at the time made her a bit tiresome. Still, her background made it realistic for her to raise an eyebrow at the goings-on of the ton.

On the other hand, I didn’t warm up to the earl at all. I didn’t feel like there was enough time or meetings between him and Georgia for him to change his view of the world so much.

Overall, this was a lovely weekend read. I would recommend it to readers looking for an easy and sweet read.

As Death Draws Near (Lady Darby Mystery #5)

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As Death Draws Near

by Anna Lee Huber

Edition: ebook, 2016

Synopsis: June 1831. In the midst of their idyllic honeymoon in England’s Lake District, Kiera and Gage’s seclusion is soon interrupted by a missive from her new father-in-law. A deadly incident involving a distant relative of the Duke of Wellington has taken place at an abbey south of Dublin, Ireland, and he insists that Kiera and Gage look into the matter.

Intent on discovering what kind of monster could murder a woman of the cloth, the couple travel to Rathfarnham Abbey school. Soon a second nun is slain in broad daylight near a classroom full of young girls. With the sinful killer growing bolder, the mother superior would like to send the students home, but the growing civil unrest in Ireland would make the journey treacherous.

Before long, Kiera starts to suspect that some of the girls may be hiding a sinister secret. With the killer poised to strike yet again, Kiera and Gage must make haste and unmask the fiend, before their matrimonial bliss comes to an untimely end…

Lady Darby and Sebastian Gage are enjoying their honeymoon in the Lakes District. A message from Lord Gage concerning the murder of a nun interrupts their peace. They set off for Rathfarnham Abbey school and soon after they arrive, a second nun is killed. Are the murders connected to the civil unrest or is the answer more personal to the victims?

It was lovely to see Kiera and Sebastian at ease together at the beginning of the story. They are reluctant to leave when Lord Gage’s note arrives, but they know they might be the only chance of finding the truth. I especially liked how their relationship is still growing. Marriage did not automatically cause trust between them, they still have to find a routine for their investigations. 

The mystery was all right. It had twists and turns. It was a little frustrating that while Kiera and Sebastian followed the clues; the mystery was solved with sudden revelations to the story. Still, it was well written and the details of the time were fascinating.

Fans of the series will definitely enjoy this one. 

Catastrophes and Heroes: True Stories of Man-Made Disasters

Catastrophes and Disasters

by Jerry Borrowman

Edition: ARC, 2020

Synopsis: Sometimes we are the authors of our own disasters

Catastrophes and Heroes takes a close look at eight man-made disasters that span nearly a century, from the boiler failure and subsequent sinking of the Civil War-era steamship Sultana to the completely avoidable landslide that overtopped the Vajont Dam in Italy in 1963, destroying the towns below and rendering the dam inoperable. Some were honest mistakes, some were the result of overconfidence, hubris, or greed. Some were even the result of planned malice.

In all these stories, both heroes and villains emerged. Some heroes sought out the wounded or dead, and some heroes did the difficult, tedious labor of investigating the disasters and guarding against similar events ever happening again. Villains emerged as well, from self-taught engineers who built dams without a firm grasp on the principles involved, to greedy quartermasters who saw money to be made by exploiting recently released prisoners of war. In Catastrophes and Heroes, author Jerry Borrowman gives us a view of the extremes of human behavior and what is revealed when things go horribly wrong.

The industrial era brought many advancements to the world. But with progress comes the risk for things to go horribly wrong. Here is a collection of eight man-made disasters that could have been avoided.

Of the disasters contained in this book, I was only really aware of the one: the 1865 steamship Sultana catastrophe. Even then, I only knew it had happened and not the circumstances surrounding it. With each disaster, the author outlines who the victims were, why it happened, the heroes who tried to help, and the good that came from the situation.

The author narrows down three causes for the eight disasters he outlines: malice (sabotage to a high-speed train in 1939), greed (the Sultana and 1963’s Vajont Dam in Italy), and finally hubris (excessive pride or self-confidence) for the other five stories. I would say all of them come down to someone having a gross lack of respect for human life.

Since I read an advance reader copy, I did not see the pictures that will be included in the final version. These, I think, will add something more to the book, and I look forward to seeing these when the book releases. For readers looking for a sobering look at real-life tragedies, I would recommend this.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

Lakeshire Park

Lakeshire Park

by Megan Walker

Edition: ARC, 2020

Synopsis: Brighton, England 1820

Amelia Moore wants only one thing—to secure the future happiness of her younger sister, Clara. With their stepfather’s looming death, the two sisters will soon be on their own—without family, a home, or a penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia grasps at the chance. If she can encourage a match between Clara and their host, Sir Ronald, then at least her sister will be taken care of.

Little does she know that another guest, the arrogant and overconfident Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his own sister. Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter—and eventually playing by his rules—makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim: her heart.

With her stepfather’s death imminent, Amelia is determined to secure her sister’s future when she accepts the invitation for a house party at Lakeshire Park. If she can encourage Sir Ronald to offer for Clara, all will be saved. However, Mr. Peter Wood ahs the same intention with his sister. COmpetition may just turn to love, but will love win in the end?

This is the kind of Regency story I expect from Proper Romance Series. It was brilliantly written, with Amelia’s character jumping off the page. From the start, we are sympathetic to the position she is in. Though everything is against her, she is not morose. She puts all her effort into achieving the solution to the impossible situation she is in.

I really liked that Amelia and Peter are at odds but they are antagonistic. They do not snip at each other to hurt each other. There is an attraction from the start, but their relationship is allowed to grow through conversation. My only nitpick would be just how quickly Amelia thinks of him as ‘Peter’ and not as Mr. Wood. The informality did not seem quite true to the era.

The pace is good. The interactions between all the characters were fun and interesting. Realistic is a word I would definitely use.

I would recommend this to any reader looking for a clean, sweet Regency romance. I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Gentleman and the Thief (The Dread Penny Society #2)

The Gentleman and the Thief

by Sarah M. Eden

Edition: ARC, 2020

Synopsis: A gentleman scribes penny dreadful novels by night and falls in love with a woman who is a music teacher by day—and a thief at night. 

LONDON 1865

From the moment Hollis Darby meets Ana Newport, he’s smitten. Even though he’s from a wealthy, established family and she isn’t, he wishes he could have a life with her by his side. But Hollis has a secret: the deep coffers that have kept his family afloat for generations are bare, so he supports himself by writing penny dreadfuls under a pseudonym. If not for the income from his novels, he would be broke.

Ana Newport also has a secret. Though she once had a place in society thanks to her father’s successful business, bankruptcy and scandal reduced his fortune to nothing more than a crumbling town house. So Ana teaches music during the day, and at night she assumes the identity of the “Phantom Fox.” She breaks into the homes of the wealthy to reclaim trinkets and treasures she feels were unjustly stolen from her family when they were struggling.

When Hollis’s brother needs to hire a music tutor for his daughter, Hollis recommends Ana, giving him a chance to spend time with her. Ana needs the income and is eager for the opportunity to get to know the enigmatic gentleman. What neither of them expects is how difficult it will be to keep their respective secrets from each other.

When a spree of robberies rocks the city, Ana and Hollis join forces to solve the crimes, discovering that working together deepens the affection between them. After all, who better to save the day than a gentleman and a thief?

Though he is the son of a wealthy and established family, Hollis Darby pens penny dreadfuls to support himself and keep the secret that his father and grandfather drained the family fortune. He uses his influence to help rescue children off the street, but doesn’t feel like he belongs. He and his friends are on the trail of the “Phantom Fox”, hoping to get the young thief off the streets but the truth might just be more fantastical than a penny dreadful tale.

While I adored the first book, I felt a little let down by this one. Hollis was an enjoyable character. His plight as a gentleman secretly supporting himself was sympathetic as was his desire to help improve the lives of children on the street. I understood his initial attraction to the talented Miss Ana Newport, but she was less interesting. Their romance seemed a bit flat.

I found it difficult to believe she was the talented and secretive thief. Her motivation seemed weak and did not help me understand her better. Stealing from the rich to feed the poor a la Robin Hood would have been interesting, thieving to retrieve items of sentimental value that were “stolen” from her family made her seem selfish. And reckless. I was left wondering how she learned to be a thief. She couldn’t have been naturally good at it.

The story is well written, as I have come to expect from this author. I did not enjoy the serial stories that came in between chapters, since supernatural elements are not my thing.

I would recommend this to fans of Sarah M. Eden and historical reads. I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3)

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets

by Nancy Springer

Edition: hardcover, 2008

Synopsis: Everyone knows Dr. Watson is Sherlock Holmes’ right-hand man – so when he goes missing, it’s a shock. Even Sherlock hasn’t, well, the slightest clue as to where he could be. Enola is intrigued, but weary; she’s still hiding from her older brothers – and getting involved could be disastrous. 

But when a bizarre bouquet shows up at the Watson residence, full of convolvulus, hawthorn, and white poppies, Enola must act. She dons her most discerning disguise yet to find the sender – and quickly, for Enola knows the blossoms symbolize death!

Hold your breath, because Enola’s about to take it away. The stakes are higher and the mystery deeper than ever before…

When Enola Holmes hears that her brother Sherlock’s friend, Dr. Watson, has gone missing, she knows must do all she can to help. Armed with her unique knowledge of flowers, she untangles the malicious threads that hold the kind doctor captive.

After narrowly escaping death and remaining out of her brothers’ clutches, Enola has to decide what to do with herself. She isn’t sure if her alias, Ivy Meshle, is known by her brother and so she is forced to keep close to the rooms she calls home. She dons a new disguise, one of beauty, and so slips easily in and out of wherever the clues take her.

I thought it was fascinating how the language of flowers was woven through the narrative. I knew about the romantic messages flowers could send, but had no idea about the malevolent, threatening ones! I am eager to learn more about this topic.

This is a fantastic continuation of Enola’s adventures!