Her Royal Spyness is a thoroughly fun, clever, well-constructed cozy. Of course, it's by Rhys Bowen, so that's not surprising. I had hesitated to begin the series, not particularly excited to read about a "royal" -- it just didn't sound cozy -- but Lady Georgiana is a wonderful character. Georgie to her friends, she is only half-royal. Not only is she a great-granddaughter to Queen Victoria, she is also flat broke and has an independent streak. The combination makes for a comedy of errors and plenty of unusual circumstances, some, of course, involving murder.
The book, really, the whole series, gives us a glimpse of Britain's history in the 1930s. The supporting cast is absolutely funny and loveable -- her somewhat removed, but very glamorous actress mother, her socialite best friend, her cockney grandfather, and, of course, the delicious Darcy O'Mara. I listened to the book with Audible. Katherine Kellgren does a brilliant job with all the voices. She has an amazing talent for accents. Whatever the format, Her Royal Spyness is a fun and often hilarious escape. Highly recommended!
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![]() I honestly haven’t dropped off the planet, but it’s true that my world has changed these past few weeks. This month, repairs and renovations have finally gotten underway at our house, damaged a few months back during Texas “historic deep freeze”, one among thousands. Despite all our precautions, pipes burst. I’d never realized how much damage water could do to ceilings, walls, and floors. In the meantime, we’re staying with our sweet children and having so much fun. What a spectacular bonus, not to mention a balm to my soul. I’m sure that I’ll have withdrawal symptoms, especially from our little grands, once we move the several blocks back to our own house. In fact, I’ve gotten to spend more time with all my dear loved ones. We’re a close family, anyway (for which I am very thankful), but I always struggled with my daily routine. Now, I don’t have one. I LOVE IT. My brother is surely pleased because he can tease us all in one visit! And I’ve grown even closer to my sister-in-law, who is a natural with colors and decorating. My husband and I are not great (= terrible) at deciphering colors from those little squares at the paint store, nor would we be prone to paint samples on the walls. But Mich is dauntless, not to mention tireless, when it comes to paint, tiles, everything to do with homes and décor. She is also patient. I would have killed me by now. It’s funny. Ever since we moved to our current, suburban home from a gorgeous, rural neighborhood, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it. Worse, I’ve felt guilty about my attitude and rightly so. But I experienced sorrow at its devastation, which made me realize that I actually do like my house more than I thought. And I’ve always thought of myself as uncomplicated! In the midst of all this, my book Tremors was picked up by The Wild Rose Press. It really is a dream come true and my experience with them so far has only reinforced the dreamy feeling. Everyone I’ve interacted with has been warm, encouraging, and professional all at once. I am thrilled. Under my new contract, I’ve had to pull Tremors from Amazon. It will be published under a new name and with a new cover. For now, edits have begun. Strangely enough, I feel more like myself than I have in years. This last decade has been a tumultuous one in our lives. But now, with all sorts of work ahead, I feel calm and relaxed. My zen has returned. That might change once we return to our house, layered as it is with construction dust, and our garden was the focus of improvements well before the freeze. But I don’t think so. I’m not sure if I’ve been revived or reinvented -- probably a little of both -- but it feels too good to give it up. And that, my friends, is the proverbial silver lining. More soon! She belonged to another… But was destined to be his… Happy Medieval Monday! It's Week 12 of "First Kiss" and I am proud to host Eliza Knight. I love this week's snippet from her historical romance The Highlander's Reward.
For more medieval romance, be sure to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on FB. We can also be found on Twitter, #MedMonSpring21. To see more of Eliza's dazzling selection of books, stop by her website. Enjoy the snippet: “Hmm… That is one thing Glenda was wrong about then.” She wiped slightly trembling hands down the front of her skirt. He raised a questioning brow. “Who is Glenda?” “My maid. She told me all about the ruthless Scots before we left England.” For last week's snippet, visit Celeste Barclay's blog. For next week's snippet, follow along with Ashley York. About the book:Lady Arbella de Mowbray abhors the idea of marrying an English noble occupying Scotland. When she arrives in Stirling, she is thrown into the midst of a full battle between the Scots and the English. Besieged by rebels, she is whisked from her horse by a Highland warrior who promises her safety. But when he kisses her, she fears she's more in danger of losing herself. The last thing Magnus Sutherland wants is to marry the beautiful English lass he saved. As the laird of his clan, he has a responsibility to his clan and allies. But when Arbella is attacked by one of his own men, he determines the only way to keep her safe is to make her his. A decision that promises to be extremely satisfying. Magnus brings Arbella to his home of Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands. And that’s where the trouble begins… Their countries are at war and they should be each other’s enemy. Neither one considered their mock marriage would grow into a deeply passionate love. What’s more, they were both unhappily betrothed and those who've been scorned are out for revenge. Can their new found love keep them together or will their enemies tear them apart? "For fans of Highlander romance, this series is a must read!" ~ Night Owl Reviews, TOP PICK! Buy Links: ➡️Amazon: https://amzn.to/31v9rxZ ➡️Apple: https://bit.ly/HighlandersReward ➡️B&N: https://bit.ly/BN-Reward ➡️Kobo: https://bit.ly/KoboReward Love is a leap. Sometimes you need to jump… Happy Medieval Monday! I'm pleased to welcome author Sherry Ewing. This week's snippet is from her irresistible time travel romance To Follow My Heart.
For more medieval romance, be sure to visit Medieval Romance Lovers on FB. We can also be found on Twitter, #MedMonSpring21. For more about Sherry's books, stop by her beautiful website. About the book: After a gut wrenching break up with her fiancé, Jenna Sinclair heads to the coast to do a little soul searching. To say everything is subject to change is putting it mildly. Her world is not only turned upside down, but pretty much torn asunder when she is pulled through a time gate on the beach beneath the Cliff House and transported more than eight hundred years into the past. Fletcher Monroe, captain of the garrison knights at Berwyck Castle, has wasted too much time pining for a woman who will never be his. When he finally decides to move on with his life and focus on his duties, he is suddenly confronted with a woman who magically appears at his feet. This could either be the best thing that has ever happened to him or another cursed event in a string of many. He soon finds he is wildly attracted to her, but she’s scared to death of him - not a very encouraging beginning. From the shores of California to twelfth century England and back again, Jenna and Fletcher must find a way to reconcile their two different worlds before Time forever tears them apart. Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo Now for the snippet: He had been waiting for her all his life. Jenna would complete him as no other woman on this earth ever could. Common sense began to seep into his brain, and it took every ounce of control within him to pull her from his arms. See last week’s snippet on Ruth A. Casie’s blog: www.RuthACasie.blogspot.com Follow along next week and find Sherry’s snippet on Judith Sterling’s blog: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/ Fate brought them together. Free will binds them. appy Medieval Monday Week 10! I am pleased to welcome Celeste Barclay. Talk about a passionate First Kiss! To my way of thinking, this week's snippet has slightly philosophical slant -- beautiful and sooo sweet. Love this couple!
For more medieval romance, be sure to visit Medieval Romance Lovers FB page. You can also find us on Twitter -- #MedMonSpring21. Now for the snippet: Sigrid sighed as if she was explaining something to a young child, and as if her patience was wearing thin. “I’ve already told you the gods determined you and I were to meet. They showed this would come to pass. I admit I didn’t know someone would bind me and prepare me for sacrifice. I only knew fate planned for you to rescue me. It was not my place or even my right to go against what the gods have in store for any of us. I can only be a conduit to their ideas, but I can’t foresee or influence their motivations. Even when I cast runes, I only get glimpses into the plans fate has. People can still change those when they act of their own free will.” “You had that much faith in me? That I would arrive in time and that I would know where to find you?” Check out last week’s with Daryl Devore: https://daryldevore.blogspot.com/ Follow along next week with Eliza Knight: https://eknightauthor.com/news/ About the book: After months at sea, Leif Ivarrson wants nothing more than to revel in the comforts of home. Yet when word arrives that a new threat has invaded their land, Leif is forced to take up his sword once more. Tasked with rescuing a jarl’s niece, Sigrid, from this malicious enemy, Leif departs on a journey that will alter the course of his fate. Since she was a young girl, Sigrid Torbensdóttir’s visions have been both a blessing and a curse. Now a grown woman and powerful seer, she knew enemies would come for her, eager to exploit her gift. Yet her visions taught her that fate could not be denied or ignored. As she had foreseen it, the heroic Viking would save her and sweep them both up in the raging storm of inescapable destiny. Drawn together by the will of the gods, Leif and Sigrid battle to save their people from a rival tribe’s scramble for power. Will their blossoming love survive the tests of war and family? Can a match created by fate withstand the machinations of man? Set sail for adventure in this steamy Viking romance sure to leave you breathless! Norse lore meets passion and intrigue in Leif, written by Celeste Barclay! Buy Links: www.books2read.com/leifvikingglory For this week's peek at Tremors, be sure to visit Celeste's blog. He is her key to return to the 21st century. She is the only one who can save him. Welcome to Medieval Monday! For Week 9 of First Kiss, I am thrilled to host Ruth Casie. Her time travel romance Knight of Runes is at the top of my TBR list! For more medieval romance, be sure to stop by the Medieval Romance Lovers FB page. We can also be found on Twitter: #MedMonSpring21
Don't miss this week's snippet from Tremors! You'll find it at Ruth's wonderful blog. About the book: England May, 1605 When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka Tyler wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he's intrigued. Rebeka is no ordinary seventeenth-century woman—she's travelled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return to her own time. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what's killing Arik's land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik. As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik's household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart. “Ruth A. Casie, weaves an exciting and beautifully told legendary tale that is both rich and engaging. It is full of, ‘on the edge of your seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama and a forever-after romance. Ms. Casie's sparkling new novel, KNIGHT OF RUNES is a winner!” ~ Romance Junkies Onto the snippet: Reluctantly, he released her, and she moved away, the soft gown that hugged her body accentuating every curve. His eyes gravitated to the large sapphire in its resting place. “There have been several times during this evening that I’ve envied that gem.” His voice sounded husky even to him. His arms circled her. * * * Follow along next week (April 12) for excerpt #10 here https://sherryewing.com/blog/ Please leave a comment below. Miss last week and a chance to comment? Check it out here: https://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs-author-blog To get your copy: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2C73zRV |
A Little of This, a Little of ThatKeep me away from the wisdom that does not cry, the philosophy that does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children. – Gibran Khalil Gibran Archives
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