A London season in search of love set in Regency England... Secrets and Suitors by Joanna Barker (Review & #Giveaway)



Welcome! I'm excited to share a short interview with the author as
well as my review and the tour giveaway! Check it all out below...

Q&A with the Author

What would Nora, the heroine from SECRETS & SUITORS, say her least and most favorite things are about a London Season?

Oh, good question. I would say her least favorite thing would be attending balls. She hates to have anyone looking at her, and balls would be the worst case scenario of that! Her favorite thing about the Season would probably be spending time with her family.

What is your favorite part or aspect of this story?

The scene at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens was my favorite! This particular scene was in my head from the very early stages of plotting this story, and I wanted so badly to do it justice. I researched Vauxhall pretty intensely to make sure I got the details right, and I actually rewrote the scene a few different times because it just wasn’t measuring up to what I wanted it to be. I think I finally got it right though, and I hope readers will think so too!

What’s one of your hobbies or something we might not know about you?

The first thing that popped into my head was that I love music! I’ve played the violin since I was seven years old, and I also sang in choirs all through high school and college. Since I’ve started to write more, music has kind of taken a back seat, but I’d love to get back to it someday.

Secrets and Suitors
By Joanna Barker
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages
October 1st 2019 by Covenant Communications, Inc.

Summary

Reluctantly returning to London for yet another Season, shy Nora Hamilton has nearly given up hope that she will ever find the love match she longs for. After all, the one man she does harbor feelings for—her closest friend, James—has made it perfectly clear he views her as just that: a friend. With James traveling half a world away and Nora's father pressuring her to marry for wealth and status, Nora is forced to set aside her desire for love and accept the future she has always dreaded.

Until James returns unexpectedly and Nora's feelings once again rush unbearably close to the surface. Determined to save what is left of their friendship, Nora ignores her own heart and allows herself to be swept up in the London Season, soon finding herself the object of two very different gentlemen's affections. Though she should be thrilled, both men come with a glaring fault: neither is the one man who holds her heart.

But there is much more at stake than heartbreak. When long-kept secrets are laid bare, Nora must face the fears that have plagued her all her life and decide what true love is worth.

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My Review

SECRETS AND SUITORS is a story that is a delight to read from the first page to the last. Readers won't be able to resist falling in love with the heroine, Nora, with all her insecurities, shyness, and bravery, and wish for her to find happiness. With an endearing family dynamic, friendship, and a sweet romance, this is the perfect read for sweet historical romance fans!

I'm a big fan of friends-to-romance stories and this one did not disappoint. Nora was such a reserved character who lacked confidence in herself, but under James influence she literally blossomed before my eyes. I loved their friendship and teasing. I also loved how well the author conveyed feeling through looks and a touch here and there, besides words. The chemistry was definitely palpable. There was a bit of a love triangle, or maybe square, here which is normally not my thing but it worked and made sense to me. There was even enough of chemistry between Nora and one of the suitors that I felt the story left a bit of a question as to how things might have turned out, making me question that maybe Nora wouldn't end up with the person I thought she should. I enjoyed seeing Nora develop as a character, as well as how her friendships developed, and the way her family joined together and the changes there. This story pulled emotions from me with the decisions these characters faced and the realizations they came to.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This story was full of so much heart, with lovable characters and an endearing plot. Highly recommended!

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

Other Books by the Author

(Linked to my reviews.)

About the Author


Joanna Barker was born and raised in northern California. She discovered her love for historical fiction after visiting England as an eleven-year-old, and subsequently read every Jane Austen book she could get her hands on. After graduating Brigham Young University with a degree in English, she worked as an acquisitions editor before devoting herself full-time to writing. She enjoys music, chocolate, and reading everything from romance to science fiction. She lives in Utah and is just a little crazy about her husband and two wild-but-loveable boys.


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Would you want to go through a London season during the Regency era?

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