Weekly Update #356, March is here...


Welcome to my Weekly Update where I share what's been going on and what's coming up!

I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This week was busy and then I had some health issues that made sleeping impossible, so my brain has been a bit muddled with so little sleep. Not fun at all, but I'm hoping that's ending. I'm enjoying what I'm reading, thank goodness. I hope you all have a wonderful start to a new month!


This Week


Last Week

No Chance Meeting by Jaye Elliot (Tour Grand Finale & #Giveaway)

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Author Interview

What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

The core of the story is never to give up because God is always working behind the scenes and can bring people into our lives or change our circumstances right when we most need it. Another big aspect of the book is that things and circumstances don’t define us. Our faith and how we live do.

Rockin' Book Reviews - Review & Guest Post

"An exceptional story of life and love. I love the way the author shows us parts of life of a hero of the military. The things they go through and the pain and suffering it brings to family and friends. . . . I highly recommend this story to everyone who like to read and receive a lift as an extra reward."

My Publishing Journey

I’ve been writing for a long time. Ever since I was eight, to be exact. I still have the ugly, beat up, green notebook that I wrote my very first little stories in. I had no idea then that I would be a published author. It wasn’t even something I aspired to. I just loved to tell stories, something I inherited from my mom. I might not have even started writing if I hadn’t seen her doing it first. . .


She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Instead, he switched the topic back to her. “What about your parents? What do they do?”

“Well, my dad’s a farmer and my mom was always a stay-at-home mom.” Simple and straightforward. They loved their lives, and she had loved growing up in it. However, her dreams had always been a bit beyond that. Maybe she’d been foolish.

“A country girl, then.”

Unbidden, a tiny laugh escaped Alex. “Yes, pretty much. A country girl with big dreams.”


"What an outstanding and feel-good-in-the-end book! Two characters, both living a life other than what they had planned, both struggling emotionally. . . . I adored their love story and how they were able to help each other and the faith that finds it's way back into their hearts. . . . I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Christian Contemporary Romance lovers!"

Hallie Reads - Guest Post

No Chance Meeting Character Casting

It’s always great for an author when they can have someone “cast” as their character. It really helps bring the character to life in our minds. Here are a few of my celebrity casting choices for the characters in No Chance Meeting. . .


Had Alex received the text two weeks ago, she would have ignored it for a few days, hoping Mindy just thought she was busy and forgot to call. She tapped on Mindy’s name to bring up her contact information and stared at the call button. She would have to be honest about how she had been lately. Mindy would know just by her voice if she tried to conceal her struggles. Did she really want to delve into it? However, today had become about making things right. She hit call. The phone rang twice before Mindy’s voice filled her ear.

“Alex! I’m so glad you called!”

“Hey, Mindy,” she said through a smile.

“It’s so good to hear your voice.”

“Yours too.” Really, her friend’s bubbly enthusiasm was like a balm. She should never have avoided calling.


"No Chance Meeting by Jaye Elliot is a character-driven romance with realistically flawed characters and strong spiritual themes. I’m a firm believer in the way God is always working behind the scenes, leaving nothing to chance, so the title is especially meaningful. It’s refreshing to see a Christian fiction book where God is actually the main character."


How I am Like/Not Like My Character

Writers always leave pieces of themselves within a story. This can be especially true in regards to their main character. Here are 5 ways my main female character, Alex, and I are alike and then 5 ways we are not alike. . .

Splashes of Joy - Excerpt

“Alex,” she said cheerfully when she looked up. Her gaze drifted to Riley and then back to Alex, sparkling with curiosity.

Alex paused with Riley at her side. “This is Riley Conrad. We work together and . . . he’s my boyfriend. He’s taking me out to dinner tonight.” She shared a quick smile with Riley.

Dia looked positively delighted. This would certainly dominate tonight’s conversation with her friends.


"I loved Alex’s and Riley’s story. . . . This is a new author for me. I enjoyed her writing. I loved how Alex and Riley were so supportive of each other. I plan on reading more by the author."

Jorie Loves A Story - Interview

Chance meetings, meet-cutes and serendipitous encounters are some of my favourites within Romance & Sweet Romance - how did you want readers to react to the one you've given Riley & Alex? What did you love about setting the scene itself and giving a first look at how your life's trajectory can alter itself in one singular moment?

Elliot responds: The first meeting between Alex and Riley isn’t the cute, swoon-worthy or funny meeting that a lot of romance novels have. Alex is at the lowest point in her life. It’s absurd to her that she, a girl who’s never been on a date in all her near-thirty years, would meet someone right then. But I love it because it shows that God is working even when we think our lives have hit a dead end. He can bring people and things into our lives right when we need them most, even if, in our human minds, the timing seems ridiculous. The whole theme of the book is that things don’t happen by chance. They are part of God’s plan.

JeanBookNerd - Guest Post

TEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT NO CHANCE MEETING

1. I wrote No Chance Meeting for NaNoWriMo 2016. It was the first time I ever participated in NaNoWriMo. I wasn’t sure I ever would and really didn’t think I’d actually make it to 50,000 words. I ended up completing the month with over 60,000. . .


She moved toward the kitchen counter. “Do you want coffee?”

“Always.” With a cheeky grin, Mindy slid onto one of the barstools on the opposite side of the counter.

Alex filled the coffeemaker with the coffee Riley had brought her after his appointment. While waiting for it to brew, she peeked over at Mindy, who was checking her phone.

“He kissed me the other night.”

Mindy’s eyes shot up, and her phone rattled on the counter. Her mouth fell open with a squeal. It was a good thing Alex had given her the news now instead of after handing over the coffee or her friend might have choked in her giddiness.

Heidi Reads... - Spotlight


Top 10 Romantic Pairings

​I’m a hopeless romantic, so I tend to do a lot of shipping fictional characters. Here is a look at my top 10 in no particular order. Only one pairing is actually from a book. I’m a very visual person, so I tend to do more shipping of characters from movies and TV than I do for books. I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but these are the ones that jumped to mind immediately. . .


Riley turned to Alex with a smile and held out his arm, drawing her closer. “Granddad, this is my girlfriend, Alex Jennings. Alex, my grandfather, Joseph Preston.”

His smile grew even brighter, if that was possible, and he held out his hand for Alex to shake. Though his skin was wrinkled, his grip was strong.

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Alex. It’s about time Riley found himself a good woman.”

It was impossible not to grin at his enthusiasm. “I’m very pleased to meet you as well, Mr. Preston.”

Remembrancy - Review

"Elliott tackles the difficult topic of depression with grace and gentleness, never glossing over the internal battle that Alex wages on her emotions. The faith element of the book is also authentic to the story. I’ll be watching for more from this author."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...

No Chance Meeting
(No Chance Love #1)
By Jaye Elliot
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 393 Pages
February 11th 2020 by Living Sword Publishing

Alex Jennings is done with life. After losing her brother in Afghanistan, everything has collapsed around her. Getting laid off from her day job and failing in her art career, she has nowhere left to turn. She once had faith to believe that all things would work together for good, but that faith died with her brother. Now she just wants the pain to end.

Riley Conrad served thirteen years in the military until three bullets sent him home. After a year and a half of physical therapy and scraping together a living, all he wants is to live a simple life and perhaps even open the coffee shop he dreams about. However, the weight of failing his parents’ expectations doesn’t make it easy, and working as a bartender isn’t getting him anywhere fast.

Could a “chance” meeting between Alex and Riley set them both on the path God always intended?

(Affiliate link included.)
About the Author


Jaye Elliot is an award-winning author, country girl, and hopeless romantic at heart. She loves a good hero and will always sigh happily during the lights scene in Tangled. She writes from her home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, which she shares with three cats she considers her kids. When not writing romance novels, she pens fantasy and adventure stories as Jaye L. Knight.


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a signed copy of No Chance Meeting, a coffee mug, a bag of chocolates, and a hand painted watercolor bookmark (US only)

Ends March 4, 2020

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New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for February 24th - March 1st #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
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(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


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Come back and check out the new selection every week!

Check out a Q&A for this new fantasy... The Killing Fog by Jeff Wheeler (Interview & #Giveaway) @JeanBookNerd @muirwoodwheeler


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out an interview with the author and enter the giveaway below...

The Killing Fog
(The Grave Kingdom #1)
By Jeff Wheeler
YA Fantasy
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 412 Pages
March 1st 2020 by 47North

Summary

The Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain series conjures an epic, adventurous world of ancient myth and magic as a young woman’s battle with infinite evil begins.

Survivor of a combat school, the orphaned Bingmei belongs to a band of mercenaries employed by a local ruler. Now the nobleman, and collector of rare artifacts, has entrusted Bingmei and the skilled team with a treacherous assignment: brave the wilderness’s dangers to retrieve the treasures of a lost palace buried in a glacier valley. But upsetting its tombs has a price.

Echion, emperor of the Grave Kingdom, ruler of darkness, Dragon of Night, has long been entombed. Now Bingmei has unwittingly awakened him and is answerable to a legendary prophecy. Destroying the dark lord before he reclaims the kingdoms of the living is her inherited mission. Killing Bingmei before she fulfills it is Echion’s.

Thrust unprepared into the role of savior, urged on by a renegade prince, and possessing a magic that is her destiny, Bingmei knows what she must do. But what must she risk to honor her ancestors? Bingmei’s fateful choice is one that neither her friends nor her enemies can foretell, as Echion’s dark war for control unfolds.  

Praise for THE KILLING FOG

“Wheeler (Broken Veil) opens the Grave Kingdom series with this winding tale of valor and sacrifice, set in a realm where using magic summons a heavy fog that kills every living thing it touches. [T]he threat of the fog looming in the background adds atmosphere and tension…This excellent introduction to the prolific Wheeler’s work will appeal to fans of Asian-influenced fantasy.” —Publishers Weekly  

(Affiliate links included.)

Interview

Would you tell us a little more about the main characters from THE KILLING FOG?

The main character in the story is Bingmei, an orphan who was raised in a martial arts school with her grandfather and parents. She’s different from others because she was born with the ‘winter sickness’ which she tries to hide by wearing wigs. She also has a rare form of synesthesia where she can smell people’s emotions.

Also in the story is Quion, who is the son of a fisherman and joined the team as a cook and wilderness survival guy. Although he can’t fight like the others can, his ideas and woodland skills end up saving the day many times.

One of my favorite characters is Marenqo – he’s always cracking jokes and can be rather sarcastic at times. He’s not the best warrior but he helps break the tension sometimes with his comments.

Was there anything challenging in starting a new series with a new fantasy world, and what do you love about this fantasy world?

I’ve written multiple series which have been interwoven in plot or magical elements. This series is the first time I’ve broken away and done something completely new where I had to invent a new world, magic system, and culture that was different than my normal fare and took a lot more detailed planning and research than what I’ve done in the past. I was able to spend a month in China for the International Writer’s Conference which really immersed me in the culture and lore of that ancient country. It really inspired my imagination and gave me ideas for food, clothing, and even many of the bizarre names that appear in this story.

If we were to visit, what would we need to know, such as what to wear, eat, what to be wary of?

While the culture of the world of The Killing Fog is distinctively Chinese, the setting is more like Alaska. So yes, you’d need to dress warmly depending on the time of year you visited. And also realize that the number of daylight hours will also fluctuate wildly. In my world, there are two seasons – the Season of the Dragon of Day (Spring/Summer) and the Season of the Dragon of Night (Fall/Winter). I looked at tables to know when the seasons change in Alaska, how cold it gets, and I’ve even had a lot of experience camping in the snow. The food is also very Chinese and you’ll find interesting things on the menu, things that I actually ate during my visit to China, like spicy fried scorpions.

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

I actually sing tenor in the choir at my church. That’s something that most people don’t know about me. I was never able to hear the tenor line until I was asked to be a choir director years ago (a temporary gig) and have sung that part ever since. I was once asked to sing a solo at a funeral. That was intimidating. I much prefer singing with others.

What are you working on next?

One of the things my fans appreciate is that I’m a prolific writer. I’m wrapping the third and final book in this series so that all three are available to buy this year. With some authors, you have to wait years between books to find out what happens next. Not with me. The wait is only in months and the final book is nearly done with the editing process as we speak.

Other Books in the Series

 (Coming soon - linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author

Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times (for The Thief’s Daughter, The King’s Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and Prism Cloud) and have sold more than 4 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German.

He is also the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a quarterly e-zine featuring amazing short stories, novellas, and sample chapters.

You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences.

He welcomes hearing from readers: jgwheels /at/ gmail dot com

PHOTO CONTENT FROM JEFF WHEELER


Tour-Wide Giveaway


- 5 Winners will receive a Copy of THE KILLING FOG by Jeff Wheeler.
- Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter | Ends March 17, 2020

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is this one on your list to read? What did you think of the interview?

Enter to win a copy and find out more about this cozy mystery... Maggie's Place by Annette Haws (Interview, Excerpt & #Giveaway)


Read my review here. Find an interview with the author, an excerpt, and giveaway below...

Maggie's Place
By Annette Haws
Adult Cozy Mystery, Women's Fiction, Christmas, LDS
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 272 Pages
November 1st 2019 by Covenant Communications

Inspiration & Synopsis
(From the Author)

My favorite aunt lived the last ten years of her life—her happiest years—at the Eagle Gate Apartments. During frequent visits, I met her delightful collection of neighbors who were docents at the Church History Museum and the Church Office Building. They regularly attended the temple, the symphony, concerts at the tabernacle, and free lectures anywhere they were offered. They played Scrabble, shared late night pizzas, visited back and forth, made shopping expeditions to Harmon’s and City Creek Mall; but most importantly, they cared for each other. Everyone had a story to share and most had secrets tucked away in the past.

Inspired by what I observed, I’ve sketched a story about people, still vibrant, entering the third act of their lives. Determined to be happy, Maggie Sullivan, the main character, changes her name, boxes up her previous life, hides her dark memories in the chicken wire storage unit in the basement, and moves into a one bedroom apartment on the seventh floor. Secrets, of course, have an inconvenient way of surfacing when people least expect them to reappear.

Three weeks before Christmas, two thieves--one an elegant man in the penthouse and the other a homeless girl--invade Maggie’s carefully circumscribed life. In different ways each is connected to Maggie’s difficult past. The young girl is easy to love, but Maggie’s feelings for the gentleman in the penthouse twist as she struggles to give what he desperately needs, forgiveness. A week before Christmas, a nasty encounter with the homeless girl’s cohorts tosses Maggie’s life into chaos. Secrets exposed, Maggie experiences a Christmas epiphany, she’s wasted too much of her life wallowing in a past that can’t change.

(Affiliate links included.)

Interview

Would you tell us about the characters in Maggie’s Place?

For years over chicken salad or mixed greens, two college friends have pestered me to include them in a novel, and so I did. Jan and Sue, the perfect neighbors. Rosie is inspired by a dear friend who is very much alive and wasn’t thrilled to have her character die a lingering death beneath a pile of cardboard boxes.

What advice would Maggie give about getting older?

“It beats the alternative.”

What aspect of this story do you love the most?

Friendship is ageless. I collect dear friends like pearls on a necklace. Each one is not only precious, but also part of my history. Time with friends is infused with laughter and sprinkled with tears.

What impressions will remain with readers after reading Maggie’s Place?

Impressions? Life is a journey, and occasionally, a slog that can go on for years, but sharing the experience with friends lessens the load and increases the joy.

What’s something we might not know about you?

Hummm? I wrote my first novel when I was nine. It wasn’t particularly long and I don’t remember the title, but it was about a girl who went to Hawaii for a summer. When I was seventeen, I spent summer semester on Oahu. Six months after I turned in the manuscript for Maggie’s Place, my husband and I moved downtown. My fiction seems to predict my future.

What have you learned about writing that might help other authors?

I was in a writing group for fifteen years with women I didn’t previously know. We established monthly deadlines, edited each other’s work, laughed over breakfast, learned each other’s secrets, and became treasured friends. The discipline of deadlines helps immeasurably.

What are you currently working on?

I just turned in a manuscript about a high status male running for the Senate, and someone is sabotaging his campaign—and it’s not the opposition candidate. Who’s doing it? And why?

What are you currently reading?

I just finished Dear Edward. It’s the story a boy, the sole survivor of a plane crash. I loved it.

Excerpt

Maggie touched her palms against the glass sliding door, felt the cold, and watched snowflakes drift down from a cloudy sky. No stars. The tentative pressure of Ed’s hand on her shoulder surprised her, and she smelled the musky cologne he was wearing and the hint of starch in his shirt.

She asked, “Why did you move here?” Which was absolutely none of her business, but his hand on her shoulder felt like permission granted to ask personal questions.

“I like the city. I thought this would be a convenient place to live, where everything was already familiar.” His eyes flickered away. His story sounded plausible, but a piece was missing, something he wasn’t admitting.

Nodding toward the bright windows across the street and the people inside milling about tables covered in white cloths, she said, “What do you think they’re doing?”

“Not much. Boasting about portfolios. Making connections. This and that.” He stood a little straighter, perhaps relieved to have such a simple question to answer. “I’ve been a member of the Alta Club for years.” He cleared his throat. “We could go over for dessert. Cheesecake or a chocolate torte.”

Was one of the elegant people she’d watched from her dark perch seven stories above? “I don’t have the right clothes.” She raised a hand to her collar.

“You look great.” The half-smile he gave her wasn’t convincing. “An inch of make-up and expensive clothes don’t cover much. We wear what we are.”

And what was he? Besides being profound in a pinch.

She buttoned her navy coat up to her chin and covered her hair with a scarf. No bows on the toes or heels crusted with rhinestones, her black shoes looked like a prescription from a podiatrist. “Lead on, Mcduff,” she smiled.

As they left the building, the frigid air stole her breath. They slid once on black ice in the intersection, but they clung to each other and entered the Alta Club without any serious mishaps. Walking through the heavy oak door, Maggie gasped. She’d stepped back in time, and perhaps that was the club’s charm. The whole building was an antique, a Victorian Christmas card with pine garlands on the banister, candles on a tree, and the stink of cigars wafting out from the lounge. The Maître de greeted Ed by name and showed them to a small table by the fireplace blazing with a couple of logs. The waiter arrived on cue as if he were making an entrance in a play A well-dressed gentleman stood from a table nearby and strode over to greet them.

“Johnson, good to see you. Glad to see you survived your move.”

After a quick introduction, “This is Mrs. Sullivan,” the man returned to his table. As if she’d been sitting too close to the fire, warmth flushed her cheeks. What if Ed had introduced her as Mrs. Memmott? The holiday bubble would have burst in a collective horrified gasp, and she would have been bustled out the front door like a rat chased out of the dining room with a broom.

Maggie glanced across the white linen tablecloth at this man whose shirt never wrinkled—and how was that possible?—and tapped her fingernail on the table. Who was he? A cook, a plastic bottle magnate, a dispenser of free dental care to strangers, and a determined intruder into her life, her inconsequential, happy existence, her contented third act. Something here didn’t make sense. Did he think she held the key to some secret?

“Who are you really?” she whispered. “FBI? Retired CIA? Santa Claus?”

He leaned toward her until he was inches away from her face. She couldn’t escape his eyes. “I thought you’d have me figured out by now, Maggie,” he spoke softly, a pensive smile flickering on his face, “I’m a thief.”

About the Author

A stealth people watcher from an early age and a native of Logan, Utah, Annette Haws examines the tribulations and the foibles of colorful characters playing their parts on a small stage. She’s convinced metropolitan settings have nothing on small towns when it comes to intrigue, comedy, and quixotic romance.

After fourteen years in the classroom, Annette set aside her denim skirts and practical shoes to pursue her interest in writing fiction. “I’ve taught seventh grade English, senior English, and everything in between. I’ve coached debate and mock trial teams, and I swear I will never ride on a school bus with adolescents again, ever. That said, four talented teams I coached won state championships. I graduated from Utah State University. I did honors graduate work in American Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa. I have four children whose life experiences I have shamelessly mined in my fiction, and I have an affectionate, indulgent husband; but unfortunately, no dog.”

Maggie’s Place portrays young love, homelessness, suicide, knitting, dementia, and the personal baggage that encumbers people entering the third act of their lives. The Association of Mormon Letters is considering Maggie’s Place for the Best Novel of the Year Award.

Her first novel about the travails of a schoolteacher, Waiting for the Light to Change, won The Best of State Award in 2009, a Whitney Award for Best Fiction, and the League of Utah Writers award for Best Published Fiction. Her second novel, The Accidental Marriage, is a delightful story of a new marriage that runs amuck. It was released in December of 2013.

Three of her short stories, Fish Stories, The Gift of Tongues, and Come to Zion, have been published in Dialogue Journal. All three short stories are available for readers on Annette’s website annettehaws.com


Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of Maggie's Place and some fun book-themed swag
US only
Ends March 13, 2020

a Rafflecopter giveaway
What did you think of the interview or excerpt?

Perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice... Promised by Leah Garriott (Review) @LeahGarriott @ShadowMountn


Welcome! I'm excited to be sharing my review from this debut author from
one of my favorite line of books today! I posted an interview with the
author last week that you can check out here. Read my review below...

Promised
(A Proper Romance)
By Leah Garriott
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 362 Pages
February 18th 2020 by Shadow Mountain

Summary

Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.

Warwickshire, England, 1812

Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.

There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match—to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.

Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.

EARLY PRAISE:

"Promising Regency-set debut. Vivid period details and the hero's grand romantic efforts will please fans of historical romance."—Publishers Weekly

"Debut -author Garriott's smooth prose and character-driven story will enthrall readers looking for sweet historicals with Austenesque plots."—Library Journal

"Garriott's impressive debut distinguishes itself with its expertly evoked Regency setting, a cast of realistically flawed yet eminently relatable characters, and a sweetly satisfying love story. Teen fans of Austen-era love stories will fall hard for this impeccably crafted romance."—Booklist

“Promised is a sweet regency romance and one that I recommend to all of you romance fans, especially those of you that enjoy stories inspired by Jane Austen.”—The Book Diva’s Reads

“…a fun, entertaining, and perfect addition to the Proper Romance collection.”—The Readathon

“With an Austen-like focus on minute emotional detail and some amusing secondary characters, Garriott’s gentle novel promises a treat for Regency fans who like their characters well-bred, their interiors comfortable, and the romance no racier than the hero turning up in a wet shirt.”—Historical Novel Society

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

PROMISED is a heartwarming and marvelously entertaining Regency romance. The characters are charming and easy to like, the romance is sweet, and there is plenty of tension with enough twists to keep readers engaged. An ideal story for sweet historical romance fans.

This book... It was exactly what I was in the mood for. It's not a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but there are definitely similarities, and as I'm a big P&P fan, it definitely worked well for me. There is a wealthy lord who is a bit arrogant and his rakish cousin who are after the same girl (a bit like Darcy and Wickham vying for Elizabeth). The heroine is bookish and loves long walks. There's also a fun family dynamic with the heroine being closest to her father. But there, the similarities end as there are some twists and turns to the story. It also has one of my favorite tropes, a hate-to-love romance. 

I loved Margaret from the start! I didn't agree with her desire to marry a rake who she would never love, even though I understood how she was trying to protect her heart. I particularly loved the relationship she had with her brother and family. I also loved her interactions with Lord Williams. They're quite humorous with some great banter and an attraction that starts small and slowly grows towards the end. Lord Williams I liked from the start, but he definitely grew on me as the story progressed. The romance had plenty of challenges that kept things from being too easy.

My one complaint was that the end did get a bit too mushy for my taste, but that would be it.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed this story so much! The back and forth of these characters as they banter and pursue (or try to not pursue in the heroine's case) a relationship was very entertaining. The characters were complex with much more to the story than just the romance. Highly recommended to fans of Pride and Prejudice and sweet Regency romances.

Content: Some innuendo, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author


Though she earned degrees in math and statistics, Leah Garriott lives for a good love story. She's resided in Hawaii and Italy, walked the countryside of England, and owns every mainstream movie version of Pride and Prejudice. She's currently living her own happily ever after in Utah with her husband and three kids. Leah is represented by Sharon Pelletier at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.


Follow the Tour

Debut novelist Leah Garriott tours the blogosphere February 17 through March 15, 2020 to share her new historical romance, Promised. Forty popular book bloggers specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature guest blogs, interviews, exclusive excerpts, and book reviews of this acclaimed Regency romance novel.

PROMISED: A PROPER ROMANCE BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

February 17                 My Jane Austen Book Club (Guest Blog)
February 17                 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (Review)
February 18                 Katie's Clean Book Collection (Review)
February 18                 Wishful Endings (Interview)
February 19                 RelzReviewz (Character Spotlight)
February 20                 Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen (Spotlight)
February 21                 The Lit Bitch (Excerpt)
February 22                 The Debutante Ball (Interview)
February 23                 Adventure. Romance. Suspense (Review)
February 24                 A Bookish Way of Life (Review)
February 24                 Austenesque Reviews (Guest Blog)
February 24                 Half Agony, Half Hope (Review)
February 25                 Frolic Media (Excerpt)
February 26                 Heidi Reads (Guest Blog)
February 26                 The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Interview)
February 27                 Wishful Endings (Review)
February 28                 Lu Reviews Books (Review)
February 29                 KJ's Book Nook (Review)
March 01                     My Vices and Weaknesses (Excerpt)
March 02                     Bringing Up Books (Review)
March 02                     Christian Chick's Thoughts (Review)
March 02                     For Where Your Treasure Is (Interview)
March 03                     Heidi Reads (Review)
March 03                     So Little Time…So Much to Read (Excerpt)
March 04                     Romance Junkies (Guest Blog)
March 04                     Gwendalyn's Books (Review)
March 05                     Laura's Reviews (Review)
March 06                     Scuffed Slippers Wormy Books (Spotlight)
March 07                     Fiction Aficionado (Review)
March 08                     The Christian Fiction Girl (Review)
March 09                     Austenesque Reviews (Review)
March 10                     Bookfoolery (Review)
March 10                     From Pemberley to Milton (Review)
March 11                     Faithfully Bookish (Interview)
March 12                     Impressions in Ink (Review)
March 13                     Robin Loves Reading (Review)
March 13                     The Green Mockingbird (Review)
March 14                     Inkwell Inspirations (Review)
March 15                     The Calico Critic (Excerpt)
March 15                     Bookworm Nation (Guest Blog) 


Other Proper Romance Books


 
  
   
   
   
  The Lady of the Lakes: The True Love Story of Sir Walter Scott (Historical Proper Romance #2) The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
Beauty and the Clockwork Beast Forever and Forever (Historical Proper Romance) A Lady's Favor My Fair Gentleman
Heir to Edenbrooke Lord Fenton's Folly A Heart Revealed 
   
(Books linked to my review or an Amazon affiliate link.)


Will you be reading this one? Are you a Pride and Prejudice fan?