I Can't Wait for... Royal Duty by Traci Hunter Abramson (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #booktwitter #newbooks #royalduty #tracihunterabramson #theroyals #romancebooks #cleanreads #suspense @covenantcomms


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I have loved The Royals series and am so excited for another addition! It's my pick this week...

Royal Duty
(The Royals #5)
By Traci Hunter Abramson
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Paperback & eBook, 280 Pages
September 12, 2024 by Covenant Communications

Summary

The ink on her diploma is barely dry, but Princess Victoria of Sereno is ready to tackle her first project as CEO of the new family business venture, The Royal Sands Resort. Only a month remains until their distinguished guests arrive for her sister Cassie’s coronation, and Victoria has her work cut out for her. Busy with preparations, she assumes that all eyes are on her sister. It’s an assumption that nearly kills her . . .

CIA operative Alan Neisler and his canine partner have been tasked with protecting the royal family of Sereno in the days leading up to the coronation. The job seems straightforward—until he finds himself diffusing a bomb the first day he’s on duty. When a second device is found at the family’s beach resort, Alan’s prime objective shifts to protecting Princess Victoria. As Victoria learns to trust Alan with her safety, sparks fly with the man who saves her life. Twice. But if they have any hope of making plans for a happily ever after, Alan and Victoria must outwit a deadly adversary who will stop at nothing to destroy the monarchy.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

The newest release from this bestselling author... The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken (Review) #newbooks #bookx #TheMirrorofBeasts #AlexandraBracken #tbrbeyondtours


Welcome to my tour stop! I've been a fan of this author since her debut, Brightly Woven, so I'm looking forward to sharing my review of her newest soon.

The Mirror of Beasts
(Silver in the Bone#2)
By Alexandra Bracken
YA Fantasy
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 496 Pages
July 30, 2024 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary

With the dream of Avalon in ruins, Tamsin and her friends are all that stands in the way of Lord Death’s plans to unleash the horrors of Anwnn on the world of the living. As the Wild Hunt carves a bloody path across continents, Tamsin is mustering allies, tracking down powerful artifacts, and traversing into new otherlands in search of a way to stop him.

Legend tells of a “Mirror of Beasts,” powerful enough to trap even Lord Death in its accursed glass, but the mirror is not all that it seems. Tamsin must confront her own darkest secrets if she hopes to tap the mirror’s strength to defeat her enemies.

Arthurian legend bleeds into contemporary action, and scars of the past are torn open anew by a starcrossed love that refuses to go quietly. This riveting conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology will hold you in its thrall until the very last page.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

Review coming...

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author


Alexandra Bracken was born in Phoenix, Arizona. The daughter of a Star Wars collector, she grew up going to an endless string of Star Wars conventions and toy fairs, which helped spark her imagination and a deep love of reading. After graduating high school, she attended The College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she double majored in English and History. She sold her first book, Brightly Woven, as a senior in college, and later moved to New York City to work in children’s book publishing, first as an editorial assistant, then in marketing. After six years, she took the plunge and decided to write full time.

Alex is a #1 New York Times bestselling and USA TODAY bestselling author. Her work is available across the world in over 15 languages.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.


Are you a fan of this author? Have you read any of her other books? Is this one on your list?

The matchmaker finally meets her match... Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #histfic #historicalromance #christfic #romancebooks #romcom #bhpfiction #meetinghermatch #jenturano #bethanyhousefiction #austenprosepr @JenTurano @bethany_house @austenprose


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new historical romcom below...

Meeting Her Match
(The Matchmakers #3)
By Jen Turano
Christian Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages
July 16, 2024 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.

After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.

Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made--her own.

(Affiliate links included.)

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my review and an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author


Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from RT Book Reviews, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and at JenTurano.com.


Are you a fan of this author or series? Do you enjoy books with the addition of pets or animals to liven things up?

I Can't Wait for... The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #booktwitter #newbooks #romcom #romancebooks #TheMostWonderfulCrimeoftheYear AllyCarter


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I've been a fan of this author for a long time. This is her second book not in the young adult genre and it sounds like it'll be a fun read. It's my pick this week...

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
By Ally Carter
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 304 Pages
September 24, 2024 by Avon

Summary

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Read an excerpt from this new historical romance... The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton (Excerpt) #newbooks #bookx #romancebooks #historicalromance #histfic #romcom @BerkleyPub

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love
(Love's Academic #1)
By India Holton
Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 384 Pages
July 23, 2024 by Berkley

Summary

Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.


Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon.

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals.

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.

Praise for the Book

“This book is so riotously clever it almost defies description. It's like an alchemy of romantic elements held in perfect harmony. India Holton infuses the story with wry wit and meta inside jokes. Every sentence is positively vibrating with the kind of charm that will have you pressing your lips together with laughter. And yet amid all the outrageous and camp fun, Holton also succeeds in building a genuine love story – between two people who have kept the world at a distance for years but somehow find a home within each other. And if that doesn't sell you, then you should at least know this book has one of the funniest twists on the ‘one bed’ trope I've read in a long time.” —NPR

“Holton continues to be the world's leading engineer of the romp. The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love is positively confectionary: a sweetly earnest love story wrapped in layers of sharp word-play, deadly magical birds, and cheeky narrative awareness.” —Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House

“Few things are as delightful as an India Holton book, and every time I get the chance to read one, it feels like Christmas morning. Clever wordplay, gorgeous prose, adventure, and romance that made my heart happy-sigh over and over—The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love has EVERYTHING that I want in a novel and the reading experience was like sitting in a magic cauldron, bubbling over with joy. I want to read about Beth and Devon and magical birds forever. I want a nine hundred page sequel about these two lovebirds (!) ambling all over the world. I knew before opening this book that it was going to be tremendous fun, and IT WAS.” —Sarah Hogle, author of Old Flames and New Fortunes

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

Suddenly, the trees rustled. Hippolyta and Beth paused, their faces lifted and their senses straining for a sight, sound, or magical vibration of the pileated deathwhistler. Behind them, the servants took this opportunity to lay down their burdens (literal: tool bags, birdcage, heavy boxes, picnic hamper, picnic table and chairs; and metaphorical: weariness for the drudgery of their job). They wiped their brows and pushed up their sleeves in a manner Beth would have envied had she not been so intent upon the trees.

"There!" Hippolyta tossed aside her glass of lemonade without looking (braining a red-tufted mousetwitter that happened to be pecking about in the undergrowth, thereby bringing an end to its species on the Continent and losing herself, had she but known it, several thousand pounds). Her attention focused instead on a flutter of gold among the leaves. "Quick, the net!"

But even before Rupert could order a servant to obtain the net from a porter and bring it to him, whereupon he could present it to Hippolyta, the deathwhistler was off. With a swoop of wings, it lifted its coin-colored, peacock-size body from a branch and began to fly away along the forest path.

"After it!" Hippolyta shouted.

Beth lifted the hem of her long white skirt and hastened after the deathwhistler, Hippolyta hot on her heels with a rustle of yellow taffeta. They ran along the path, parasols bobbing, dust billowing as their boots struck the dry earth. The servants watched them blankly.

"Faster!" Hippolyta urged.

But suddenly, Beth staggered to a halt. The bird glided on a short distance, then descended to the path, its wings folding, its bronze crest glinting in the sunlight.

"Why do you stop?" Hippolyta demanded-and, at Beth's urgent reply, staggered to a halt herself before she ran headlong into a chasm. Dropping her binoculars in surprise, she watched them plummet several hundred feet to break against jagged rocks below.

"By Jove!" she shouted.

"The deathwhistler seems aware of our predicament," Beth said wryly as the bird flickered its long-feathered tail at them.

"The chase is not over yet!" Hippolyta averred. "I am determined to protect that bird from unscrupulous hunters [i.e., her rivals] and see it safe in the Duke of Wimbledon's aviary. No deathly chasm shall stop me! Propellers!"

Beth tugged on a cord attached to her parasol handle. Hippolyta did the same with hers. Long metal shafts arose from atop the parasols' caps and, with a whirring buzz, began to spin. The two ladies proceeded to rise from the path.

Behind them, the servants sagged down onto boxes, hamper, and chairs. Before them, the pileated deathwhistler pecked the ground as if entirely undisturbed by the introduction of this boisterous new avian species. A glint in its small dark eyes suggested, however, that it was amused and intended to wait for the most aggravating moment possible before taking off again.

Hippolyta and Beth angled their parasols in such a manner as to traverse the deep but narrow cleft in the earth, then alighted on the other side. As they drew the parasols shut, Hippolyta held out a hand toward Beth, palm up, without removing her steely gaze from the bird.

"Net," she commanded.

"Er . . ." Beth said.

Hippolyta snapped her fingers impatiently, but to no avail. They had forgotten to bring the net with them.

"Bother!" Hippolyta said. "Well, never mind." After all, she had not become the preeminent field ornithologist of the British Empire, and the slightly-less-eminent but still famous field ornithologist of the Continent, without being able to bounce back from such calamities. She began divesting herself of her puff-sleeved jacket. "We shall sneak up on it and toss my jacket over its head."

"Good plan," Beth said. She was about to wish Hippolyta luck for such a risky venture when the older woman handed her the jacket.

"Now, remember, Elizabeth! When frightened, the deathwhistler makes a dreadful, fatal noise, like-"

"Oi! Look out below!"

At this holler, Hippolyta and Beth did exactly the opposite of what it commanded: they looked up, into the canopy of the forest. A man came leaping down from a tree, his long brown coat soaring behind him winglike.

Birds startled and took to the air. For one awful moment, Beth heard the first perilous notes of the deathwhistler's cry. But even as her heart began to shudder, the man snatched the bird and tucked its beak beneath his arm, rendering it silent. Tawny feathers ruffled wildly, briefly, then settled into calm.

The interloper bowed as much as was possible with a sizable bird in his arms. He was slightly unshaven, and a lock of black hair fell over one dark eye roguishly. "Good afternoon, ladies," he said, grinning.

"Mr. Lockley!" Beth's exclamation shook her vocal cords, which were used to only gentle employment. "What do you think you are doing?" His grin deepened. "I think I'm stealing your bird, Miss Pickering."

"Who is this rogue?" Hippolyta demanded.

"Devon Lockley," Beth explained as the man brushed back his hair. "He's a professor in Cambridge's ornithology department." She had been introduced to him during the annual Berkshire Birders meeting last month. He'd not made much of an impression-shabby coat, nice smile, more interested in the sausage rolls on offer than in talking to her. A typical male professor. He certainly impacted more today, jumping down before them in a style that evoked derring-do, bravado, and no cumbersome petticoats. It was provocative behavior, to say the least, and his unstarched trousers, clinging to strong thighs, only made matters worse. Beth absolutely would not blush, for she was an Englishwoman-but inside, her heart was fanning itself urgently with a handkerchief.

"Cambridge," Hippolyta said in the same manner with which one might open their steak pie and say "maggot." "And what sort of name is Devon Lockley?" she added, never mind that her own name, Hippolyta Albertina Spiffington-Quirm, ought to have disqualified her from asking.

"The sort that unimaginative parents living in Devonshire give their child," the man said. "It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Quirm, especially as you so kindly shepherded the pileated deathwhistler into my trap. Both myself and my associate, Herr Oberhufter, thank you."

"Oberhufter!" Hippolyta immediately withdrew a dainty silver pistol from a pocket of her dress and aimed it at him. But Devon's smile only quirked.

"I sympathize, madam, but there is no need to do that."

"There certainly is! Hand over my bird at once, you rapscallion, or I will shoot you!"

"Perhaps I misspoke," he replied calmly. "What I meant was there is no point in doing that. We took the liberty earlier of removing your bullets."

Excerpted from The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton Copyright © 2024 by India Holton. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author


India Holton lives in New Zealand, where she has enjoyed the typical Kiwi lifestyle of wandering around forests, living barefoot on islands, and messing about in boats. Now she lives in a cottage near the sea, writing books about uppity women and charming rogues, and drinking too much tea.

Find the author here.


Have you read any of this author's other books? What did you think of the excerpt? Did it make you want to read more?

A delightful romance set along the Oregon Trail... Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses by Katrina Emmel (Review) #NearMissesAndCowboyKisses #TBRBeyondTours # KatrinaEmmel @tbrbeyondtours @DelacortePress


This book was just adorable, and I loved every minute! Read my full review below...

Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses
By Katrina Emmel
YA Contemporary Romance
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 288 Pages
July 23, 2024 by Delacorte Romance

Summary

A swoon-worthy YA rivals-to-lovers romance between a Nebraskan cowboy and California girl, thrust together on the Oregon Trail.

Anything’s possible under a prairie sky…


Riley Thomas is feeling stuck—she’s moved from California to Nebraska, she’s on a weeklong Oregon Trail family bonding excursion, and her luggage is lost. There’s no one her age on the trip except a tall, dark and irksome cowboy who wrongly assumes she has zero ability to handle the great outdoors. She can’t wait for this misery to end—even though going “home” isn’t even possible anymore.

Lone wolf Colton Walker loves the simpler life of the plains and his family’s tourism business that helps protect them. He’s a stand-up guy—not a love ‘em and leave ‘em type like his rival, Jake. And he knows better than to take his chances with a prairie princess like Riley.

But Riley’s got more sense than Colton thinks--and he’s not nearly as inflexible as he seems. And under a wide prairie sky of puffy clouds and bright stars, everything comes into focus--including a cowboy’s heart.

Katrina Emmel’s Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses will take you on a sweeping journey across the American prairie . . . once you love a boy in a Stetson, you’ll never be the same.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

NEAR MISSES & COWBOY KISSES is a delightful romance set along the Oregon Trail. Likable characters, a fun family dynamic, romance with plenty of chemistry and a slight triangle, with a bit of danger thrown in makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Young adult contemporary romance fans, especially those who find rugged and sweet cowboys attractive, will definitely enjoy this adorable story full of heart and swoons!

I didn't know what to expect when I first began reading this story and I've had a bit of a run of not great books, so it was a relief to finally read something that I enjoyed from beginning to end. This was a refreshing read with a unique setting as the heroine goes with her family on a wagon ride for a taste of pioneer life along the Oregon Trail. There were a lot of opportunities to create friction, surprises, friendship and romance with this setting. 

From the first chapter I knew I'd like these characters and story. Riley is a fairly level-headed teenage girl who is about to enter her senior year of high school but has had her whole life completely ripped up with a move across country. She seems a bit plagued my mishaps to add to her challenges, including getting wrongly judged to be someone she's not. Colton is one of the cowboys who works the Oregon Trail with his dad. He's rugged and steady with a sweet side. He's not usually known to be a flirt or get involved with anyone, especially short term. These two don't start of well with a bunch of misconceptions about each other. It was fun to see how one kind of tension turned into another as they got to know each other and faced some surprising challenges. I enjoyed how well the author balanced all the emotions and how the emotional intensity grew as the story unfolded. I appreciated the humor, the contemplative and learning moments, the relationships, the surprising run-ins with animals, and the romance.

Read this story if you like:
- A unique setting along the Oregon Trail
- A sweet, rugged cowboy
- A girl who is perfectly relatable
- A slight love triangle
- Chemistry with sparks
- A heroic rescue
- Plenty of humor
- Sleeping under the stars
- Fun family dynamics
- A story that will leave you smiling

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an adorably delightful story! I loved reading it and am looking forward to picking up this author's next release.

Content: Some swearing (including a couple s-words).
Source: I received a complimentary NetGalley copy through TBR & Beyond Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author


Katrina grew up in New Hampshire, and has a love for literature and science. She studied biochemistry in college before moving to the Midwest for graduate school, where she earned her Ph.D. in chemistry. Continuing her journey to the West Coast, Katrina lives in an active household that includes her husband, two children, father-in-law, and their rascally pup. She works as a chemistry consultant, and writes YA fiction and children’s fiction and non-fiction. Katrina loves chai, science and nature, trying out new recipes, music, and crafting.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.

Have you read any contemporary romances where the characters travel along the Oregon Trail or journey through an historical reenactment? This was my first and it made for a unique setting that I really enjoyed.

A story of loss and romance set in Poland during WWII... Until Our Time Comes by Nicole M. Miller (Review & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #UntilOurTimeComes #NicoleMMiller #histfic #historicalfiction #romancebooks #cleanreads @RevellBooks @justreadtours

Until Our Time Comes JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours! Find my review and a giveaway below...

Until Our Time Comes
Until Our Time Comes
By Nicole M. Miller
WWII Historical Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 384 Pages
July 2, 2024 by Revell

Summary

American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn. 

Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other. 

Drawn from true events of World War II, this epic story of escape, capture, resistance, and love from debut novelist Nicole M. Miller will thunder into your heart like a herd of beautiful horses across a raging river.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

UNTIL OUR TIME COMES is a story of resilience, loss and romance as an American horse trainer tries to keep Arabian horses safe in Poland and a British spy tries to keep her safe and continue his work. Set during World War II with both physical and unseen threats during German occupation set the stage for a suspenseful read that will keep readers turning the pages while also warming their hearts. A story that historical fiction and romance fans will enjoy!

This story immediately arrested my interest. I've never read a story about the Arabian horses in Poland and thought about how hard it would be to see them taken away and killed by invading armies in two wars. More than that, these characters were written vividly with their relationships, hopes and struggles. I loved the humor and romance, but also moments of seriousness as these characters faced devastating odds, risks and threats. I loved Ewan and the different personalities of the horses and how they came alive on the page. I adored Adia and Bret in all their stubbornness and heart. My only complaint would be some of the wording and phrasing didn't quite work for me in places. It seemed like the author was trying to add additional emphasis or drama in places that felt a bit forced. Otherwise, no complaints about this story. It was a difficult journey for these characters and horses, filled with hard choices, but it was balanced with the friendship and heart of these characters. I fell in love with them and their resilience and cheered them on to the very end.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a heartbreaking, but also warming story with great characters, sweet romance, challenges and stubborn determination to keep these horses safe. A unique story that is definitely recommended to fans of the genre!

Content: Some war violence and death, animal death, assault.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Nicole M. Miller

Nicole M. Miller lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons, along with her Arabian horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and guinea pigs. As a longtime horse owner, she's been involved in many horse organizations, including serving on the Clark County Fair Court and as Miss Teen Rodeo Washington. She's received national and regional awards for her nonfiction from American Horse Publications and the Society of Professional Journalists. See her stories in The Horse of My Heart, The Horse of My DreamsThe Dog Who Came to Christmas, and Second-Chance Horses.

Connect with Nicole by visiting NicoleMillerWriter.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Schedule

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tour-Wide Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Until Our Time Comes and a $25 gift card to Bookshop.org!

Until Our Time Comes JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked above. Giveaway began at midnight July 17, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

JustRead Publicity Tours

Have you read any stories about evacuating horses or other things during WWII? What appeals to you about this story?

I Can't Wait for... So True a Love by Joanna Barker (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #regencyromance #romancebooks #cleanreads #histfic #properromance @ProperRomance @ShadowMountn


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I always love romantic suspense and this one is set in the Regency era and from one of my favorite lines of books, so it should be delightful. It's my pick this week...

So True a Love
(A Proper Romance)
By Joanna Barker
Historical Romance
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 256 Pages
September 3, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

Summary

Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society—and the last woman one would suspect as having worked as a private investigator. But she has hung up that dangerous hat to live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of an armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as his keen mind, quick wit, and determination to keep her out of danger muddle her progress—and her heart.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Read an excerpt from this new release... Her Part to Play by Jenny Erlingsson (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #christfic #christianromance #romancebooks @justreadtours @revellbooks


Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours! Read an excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

Her Part to Play
By Jenny Erlingsson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 320 Pages
June 18, 2024 by Revell

Summary

Desperate for extra income after her mother's passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She's working to save her parents' legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.

John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he's ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set--and definitely not a fan.

Sparks of tension--and could that be attraction?--fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John's scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what's right in front of them?

Debut author Jenny Erlingsson's diverse cast comes alive with faith, romance, and a touch of humor to create a story worthy of the big screen.

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Excerpt

Adanne swallowed. How’d she go from a sleepy makeup artist to standing in as an extra? Most of the scenes were blocked before she finished applying the makeup. Surely someone else could do this with the stunt double instead of her standing in the last place she wanted to be . . . at the center of everyone’s attention.

Before she could come up with a better alternative, the stand-in sauntered out of an office building adjacent to the general store. Except, it wasn’t a double.

He approached her, adjusting the suspenders attached to his trousers as he listened to the production assistant who was walking beside him. Adanne blinked, swallowing down the bile rising in her throat. Surely the Lord would allow the Alabama clay to open and swallow her right up. Away from the man she’d been grateful to avoid since she’d stepped foot on set. The careless actor whose antics got her fired three years ago.

About the Author


Jenny Erlingsson is an author and speaker of Nigerian descent. After twelve years working in junior high and women’s ministries, she moved with her family from Alabama to Iceland. When she’s not running after her four kids or ministering alongside her husband, she can be found writing romantic fiction and creative nonfiction to inspire deep faith in diverse settings, as well as encouraging other writers. Her writing has been featured on (in)courage, Live Original, Velvet Ashes, and more. And in the margins, you might find her reading five books at a time with a side of Icelandic chocolate.

Connect with Jenny by visiting JennyErlingsson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Schedule

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tour-Wide Giveaway


(1) winner will receive a print copy of Her Part to Play and a $25 gift card to Bookshop.org!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked above. Giveaway began at midnight July 10, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 17, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


Does this sound like a book you'd enjoy? Did you like the excerpt?

A new multicultural romantic comedy... The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos by Melissa de la Cruz (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #yalit #yabooks #romancebooks #romcom @tbrbeyondtours


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new romantic comedy below...

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos
By Melissa de la Cruz
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 304 Pages
July 9, 2024 by Union Square & Co. 

Summary

A sweet and spicy multicultural romantic comedy that that blends the rich tapestry of Filipino courtship rituals with the modern complexities of love, family, and cultural expectations, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Evan Saatchi can’t keep his eyes off his new co-worker, Dalisay Ramos.

Newly arrived from Manila to lead their travel app’s Asia division, nothing matters more to Dalisay than tradition and family. When Evan asks her out, she soundly rejects him for his cheek.

Evan learns from his Filipino friends that Dalisay expects more from potential suitors. If he wants a chance with her, he’s going to have to go through the Five Stages: the courtship ritual that lovers in the Philippines have performed for generations.

At first, Evan is skeptical—what, exactly, does “servitude” entail? And he has to sing?! But when Dalisay bets Evan that he doesn’t have the nerve to make it through the stages, the game is on.

As Evan attempts to prove to Dalisay that he can win her heart—and the bet—Dalisay is driven to distraction by Evan’s sexy labors, and soon their “courtship” turns into a sizzling secret.

But when modern love and family expectations collide, Dalisay and Evan must find a way to carry a rich history into a shared future.

Featuring a memorable cast of characters navigating the intersection of cultural traditions, workplace dynamics, and the magic of true love, this heart-warming Asian American romance is perfect for fans of Kevin Kwan books, Red String Theory, and other voicey Asian American authors. Melissa de la Cruz thoughtfully explores the push and pull of contemporary desires and deep-rooted familial expectations, all set against the backdrop of a will-they-won’t-they workplace romance that will leave readers swooning.

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About the Author


Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Her books have topped USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and been published in more than twenty countries. She is best-known for her Blue Bloods series (with more than three million copies in print), The Descendants books based on the Disney Channel films, and the Witches of East End novels, which were turned into a two-season drama series on Lifetime Television. Melissa de la Cruz lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.

Have you read any of this author's other books? Does this sound like a book you'd enjoy?

A fairy tale reimagined... The Lady Glass by Anneka R. Walker (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #historicalromance #romancebooks #cleanreads #cleanromance #fairytale #retelling #theladyglass #AnnekaRWalker @covenantcomms @austenprose


Welcome to my tour stop! Find out more about this fairy tale reimagined below...

The Lady Glass
(An Enchanted Regency Romance #3)
By Anneka R. Walker
Historical Romance, Fairy Tale Retelling
Paperback, Audiobook & eBook, 288 Pages
July 9, 2024 by Covenant Communications

Summary

Nothing shapes glass like fire.

Theresia Dvorak has nothing left of her parents—nothing save her dowry, a priceless crystal vase stolen and sold by her own stepmother. Theresia will do anything to secure what is rightfully hers—even assume a false identity and steal her future back. When she gains entrance to a house party and has a memorable run-in with the handsome naval captain Rolland Reese, her mission is compromised. She swore never to trust an Englishman again, but when he makes a daring proposal she cannot refuse, she must work side by side with him if either of them is to achieve their aim.

Rolland is stunned when his homecoming from the war takes a decidedly deadly turn. The quickest solution is to throw a house party and invite all the suspects. With the stakes incredibly high, Rolland must root out the killer before they turn their sights to the next potential victim: his own father. The mysterious Theresia is undoubtedly the most suspicious of his guests, but against all odds, he finds himself risking everything to protect her. As Rolland unravels a tangle of clues, he faces the greatest threats of all: a heart of fire and a future as fragile as glass.

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Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my reviews.)

About the Author


Anneka R. Walker is a best-selling author of historical and contemporary romance. With humor and an abundance of heart, she crafts uplifting stories you won't soon forget. She is the winner of the Swoony Award, the LDSPMA Praiseworthy Award, and various chapter contests. Her books have received praise from Publishers Weekly, Historical Novel Society, Midwest Book Review, and Readers Favorite. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in English and history and hopes to never stop learning. She is a blessed wife, proud mother of five, lover of Jesus, connoisseur of chocolate, and believer in happy endings.



Do you enjoy stories based on classic fairytales? Do you have a favorite?

A marriage-of-convenience historical... Toward the Dawn by Mary Connealy (Review) #newbooks #bookx #christfic #christianfiction #christianromance #romance #suspense #bhpfiction @justreadtours @Bethany_House


Toward the Dawn
(A Western Light #2)
By Mary Connealy
Christian Historical Western Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 304 Pages
June 18, 2024 by Bethany House Publishers 

Summary

Despite trials that threaten their path forward, hope dawns for a future filled with love.

Kat Wadsworth and Sebastian Jones never imagined their lives would entwine so closely. Forced to flee on a wagon train from a vengeful uncle and an unknown gunman, they live in a hidden canyon with the family that rescued them. But as the days turn into months, they each have separate reasons for wanting to move back to society, and the best way to the independence they desperately crave might be through a marriage of convenience. 

However, settling into their homestead in Cheyenne, Wyoming, reveals a different reality for Kat. Her new husband becomes consumed by his inventions, leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. And just when they think they've left the danger behind, a mysterious attacker lurks in the shadows, threatening the new life they've built. Together, they must confront the perils from their pasts to forge a future with hope and the prospect of love.

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My Review

TOWARD THE DAWN is a story about two people who marry for convenience. They find that love develops as they learn to appreciate and rely on each other as they build a new life, and as that life is threatened. Readers will appreciate the likable characters, threads of faith, and some light romance as the danger intensifies to a climatic conclusion.

This story had all the parts of a good tale, but I felt like they were a bit disconnected. It was kind of like the author was going from one plot point to the next without too much emotional investment. Something happened and then something else happened and this was how the characters felt or what they thought without any humor (which this author is usually known for) and without much depth. Everyone felt somewhat one dimensional, the main characters and the villains. I also wasn't completely on board with the secondary story. I think I just didn't buy into it and it came off feeling pretty forced. It also was a story that you could easily skim and not miss a whole lot except in a few places. For me, I wanted a lot more depth and emotional connection. It was still a nice story and that was pretty much it.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an overall likable, very light story. I would have liked to relate better to the characters or felt more emotionally connected, but I do plan on reading the next book to find out how things settle for this group of characters.

Content: Some violence, references to abuse, murder (nothing overly descriptive).
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through JustRead Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my review.)

About the Author

Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise and The Lumber Baron's Daughters and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

Connect with Mary by visiting MaryConnealy.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

JustRead Publicity Tours

Are you a fan of this author? Did you read the first book in this series? Do you have a favorite historical fiction book or what's the last book in this genre you read?