Author: Marsha

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

Posted May 21, 2023 by Marsha in Entangled Publishing, Historical Romance, NetGalley, Sexual Content, Standalone / 0 Comments

As the middle—and least marriageable—sister in a bevy of swans, Lavinia Wynnburn is quite content being the odd duck out. This way, she’s free to commit social faux pas without anyone much noticing. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage.

Alexander Reddington doesn’t particularly care for social niceties, nor is he particularly good at them. But now that the spare has become the heir, he must marry…and soon. When he stumbles into the same corner as a socially awkward wallflower, he knows he’s found the perfect wife: one who won’t bother him to attend every simpering event of the season.

Only, Alexander’s shy and pretty new wife is finding her new position surprisingly exciting and keeps accepting every invitation that flutters past their door. And worse luck, he might even be falling for her. Now he must hide the truth about why he really proposed…before his unexpectedly happy marriage is dashed to pieces.

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Standalone Title

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There’s Something About Merry by Codi Hall

Posted April 29, 2023 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com), Series, Sexual Content, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments

Merry Winters has the holiday blues. She’s spent the last year learning to love herself, and now she’s ready to find the right guy. But the pickings are slim in Mistletoe, Idaho, and it’s just her luck that the man who catches her eye is the stoic new foreman at her family’s Christmas tree farm. Too bad he wants to keep a 39-and-a-half-foot pole between them.

Single dad Clark Griffin isn’t looking for romance, but he wouldn’t mind a friend to snuggle with on a cold winter’s night. When he signs up for online dating, he doesn’t expect to connect with the sassy, crafty Knottygirl25 and get wrapped up in every message she writes.

But when Merry turns out to be his blind internet date, his surprise causes him to miss his chance under the mistletoe. Can a little Christmas magic give these two a second chance at a first impression?

Titles in the Mistletoe Romance series include — Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist —♥— There’s Something About Merry —♥—

Previously Published

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Aura of Night by Heather Graham

Posted April 29, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Crime, Mystery, Owned, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Series, Sexual Content, Thriller / 0 Comments

True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark.

All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet.

FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.

Titles in this trilogy portion of the entire series include — Sound of Darkness —♦— Aura of Night —♦— Voice of Fear —♦—

The entire Krewe of Hunters series includes — Phantom Evil —◊— Heart of Evil —◊— Sacred Evil —◊— The Evil Inside —◊— The Unseen —◊— The Unholy —◊— The Unspoken —◊— The Uninvited —◊—  The Night Is Watching —◊— The Night Is Alive —◊— The Night Is Forever —◊— The Cursed —◊— The Hexed —◊— The Betrayed —◊— The Silenced —◊— The Forgotten —◊— The Hidden —◊— Haunted Destiny —◊— Deadly Fate —◊— Darkest Journey —◊— Dying Breath —◊— Dark Rites —◊— Wicked Deeds —◊— Fade to Black —◊— Pale as Death —◊— Echoes of Evil —◊— The Summoning —◊— The Seekers —◊— The Stalking —◊— Seeing Darkness —◊—Deadly Touch —◊—Dreaming Death —◊—  ♦ The Unforgiven —◊— The Forbidden —◊— The Unknown —◊—  Sound of Darkness —◊— Aura of Night —◊— Voice of Fear —◊—

While I’ve read the entire Krewe of Hunters series over the years, I have not reviewed each novel, and to go back now would be quite daunting and time-consuming.  So, I stick to reviewing the more current trilogy.  

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Making the Marquess Mine by Karla Kratovil

Posted April 28, 2023 by Marsha in Author ARC, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Series, Sexual Content, Tule Publishing / 0 Comments

Miles Weston, the Marquess of Hawksridge, longs for a holiday from his life. He is tired of all the politics in and out of the ballrooms. Ever since his aborted wedding, his aunt has tried to match him with blank-faced debutants at every turn. The only entertaining thing in his overscheduled life is observing the antics of Lady Susanna Ashby, whose beauty and vibrancy brighten the greyest day.

Susanna’s spirit for adventure is matched only by her loyalty to her friends. Determined to help the distractingly handsome, but overwhelmingly serious, marquess, Susanna concocts a plan to distract his matchmaking Aunt Diana. She’ll reunite Diana with her long-lost lover who wrote her passionate letters of love and longing. If only Susanna could discover the whereabouts of the mysterious James Marlow.

As Susanna launches her ill-fated plan, heedless of the danger, her worried friends send Miles to fetch her home. But Susanna has no intention of letting anything derail her quest to find the man from the letters. Not bad weather, broken carriage wheels, or highwaymen. Not even a sexy, managing marquess.

Titles in The Maidens of Marbury series include — A Perfect Engagement—♥— Saving a Scoundrel —♥— Christmas at Belhaven Hall —♥— Making the Marquess Mine —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Tule ARC

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Mail Order Cowboy by Victoria James

Posted April 27, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Entangled Publishing, Modern Western Romance, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Hope Roberts has a strict No Cowboys Allowed policy. Between raising her daughter, running her business, and trying to settle into her new ranch, Hope has no room for romance—especially when it comes to cowboys. What she needs is someone to help fix her ranch. But the only person to respond to her ad is the one man Hope still blames for her husband’s death…

In Wishing River, Dr. Dean Stanton is pretty much a legend. Cowboy, doctor, heir to his family’s ranching empire—everyone knows and loves him…with the exception of Hope. But Dean doesn’t trust a complete stranger to keep Hope and her daughter safe. And despite their troubled past, he’s still the best cowboy for her job.

Bit by cautious bit, Hope’s little family of two is making room for the man she once thought of as her enemy. Until one day, Dean looks like the perfect exception to her “no cowboys” rule. But he’s been keeping a secret from her that could destroy their newfound family…

Titles in the Wishing River series include — The Trouble with Cowboys —♥— Cowboy for Hire —♥— Wishing for a Cowboy —♥— Mail Order Cowboy —♥—

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Sound of Darkness by Heather Graham

Posted April 27, 2023 by Marsha in A TBR Read, Connection to another series, Crime, Mystery, Owned, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Series, Thriller, Trilogy / 0 Comments

The cries of the dead are deafening

Women are being taken in Virginia, and FBI agent Mark Gallagher is determined to put a stop to it. Certain he’s closing in on the killer known as The Embracer, Mark is less than thrilled when he’s partnered with rookie agent Colleen Law, worried she’s a liability when there’s so much at stake.

But like everyone in the Krewe of Hunters, Colleen has talents that extend beyond the usual investigative toolbox. She can hear the voices of the victims in her head, and they’re telling her she and Mark are near to uncovering the truth.

When Mark’s prime suspect takes a liking to Colleen, he’s surprisingly protective of his new partner, even as he admits her connection to the victims is key. But tense interrogations turn dangerously personal when someone close to Colleen goes missing, luring the agents deep into the shadows of wooded rural Virginia, where nobody can hear them scream.

The Krewe of Hunters world is vast; most of the novels are part of a trilogy which then moved on to the next case that will begin a new trilogy.

Titles in this trilogy portion of the entire series include — Sound of Darkness —♦— Aura of Night —♦— Voice of Fear —♦—

The entire Krewe of Hunters series includes — Phantom Evil —◊— Heart of Evil —◊— Sacred Evil —◊— The Evil Inside —◊— The Unseen —◊— The Unholy —◊— The Unspoken —◊— The Uninvited —◊—  The Night Is Watching —◊— The Night Is Alive —◊— The Night Is Forever —◊— The Cursed —◊— The Hexed —◊— The Betrayed —◊— The Silenced —◊— The Forgotten —◊— The Hidden —◊— Haunted Destiny —◊— Deadly Fate —◊— Darkest Journey —◊— Dying Breath —◊— Dark Rites —◊— Wicked Deeds —◊— Fade to Black —◊— Pale as Death —◊— Echoes of Evil —◊— The Summoning —◊— The Seekers —◊— The Stalking —◊— Seeing Darkness —◊—Deadly Touch —◊—Dreaming Death —◊—  The Unforgiven —◊— The Forbidden —◊— The Unknown —◊— Sound of Darkness —◊— Aura of Night —◊— Voice of Fear —◊—

While I’ve read the entire Krewe of Hunters series over the years, I have not reviewed each novel, and to go back now would be quite daunting and time-consuming.  So, I stick to reviewing the more current trilogy.  

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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A Movie Magic Christmas by Caitlin McKenna

Posted April 26, 2023 by Marsha in Author ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Actress Catalina Jones has no intention of spreading Christmas cheer. She’s in St. Nicholas, Colorado, to save her career, not uncover the truth behind the famous “Scrooge Legend.” Besides, there isn’t enough magic in the world to fix the trust issues years in show business have given her.  

When Hollywood director turned wildlife photographer Jay Townsend hears Catalina is the lead in the production, he has no intention of lending a hand. She’d been his leading lady once…before she broke his heart.

But some things are just meant to be.

Together again in a winter wonderland filled with someone’s little helpers determined to spread Christmas cheer, Catalina and Jay find themselves on a journey of rediscovery and learn that love is the most powerful magic of all.

Titles in the Christmas in St. Nicholas series include — Colorado Christmas Magic —♥— A Movie Magic Christmas —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson

Posted April 25, 2023 by Marsha in Author ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

When sparks start flying, these total opposites discover Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

To raise enough money to start her own business, Nola Bennett needs to sell “The Castle,” her beloved grandmother’s historic house, and get back home to the city. But Heart Lake’s most eligible bachelor is insisting she hangs on to the property. He may be one of the hottest, grumpiest men she’s ever seen, but Nola has no time to pine over her high school crush.

All woodworker Tanner Dean wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet, but that’s not going to happen with the infuriating, irresistible Nola Bennett back in town. How can he persuade her to keep The Castle out of the hands of greedy developers when sizzling attraction flares every time they’re together? And the more time he spends with Nola, the harder it becomes to picture a future without her—unless he can convince her, once and for all, that Heart Lake is exactly where she belongs.

Includes the bonus novella The Christmas Wish by Melinda Curtis!

Titles in the Heart Lake series include — Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas —♥— The Little Bookstore on Heart Lake Lane —♥—

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The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Posted April 25, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Small Town Romance, St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

When newly divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit, she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

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That’s It For April ARCs

Posted April 24, 2023 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

I’ve hit publish on the last ARC for Keeper Bookshelf for April 2023.

It’s always a satisfying moment, but also that moment when I take a look at my TBR or the other books that still need to be reviewed and… well, then I sigh, for there sometimes aren’t enough hours in the day for all I need to do.

For the rest of April, I’ll be putting up some overdue reviews.  A few of them will seem out of season to some, but then I can read a Christmas Romance at any time of the year. 🙂

If you don’t want to, then I sincerely hope that you’ll just mute @keeperbookshelf on Twitter instead of unfollowing me… who knows, maybe someday you’ll want to read thoughts on romance novels once again.

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How to Best A Marquess by Janna MacGregor

Posted April 21, 2023 by Marsha in Historical Romance, NetGalley, Regency Romance, Series, Sexual Content, St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

Beth Howell needs to find her dowry, post haste. After her good-for-nothing first husband married her—and two other women, unbeknownst to them all—she’s left financially ruined and relegated to living with her brother, who cares more for his horses than he does his blood relatives. If Beth fails to acquire her funds, her brother will force her to marry someone fifty years her senior and missing half his teeth. She’d prefer to avoid that dreadful fate. But her now-deceased husband, Meri, absconded with her money mere days after their illegitimate marriage. To find it, Beth will have to leave town and retrace Meri’s steps if she’s to take her future into her own hands.

Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, cares not a whit for social norms and generally growls at anyone in his path. Grayson has had a heart of stone ever since his engagement to Beth Howell went down in flames—long before she married that cad, Meri, and sealed her own fate for good. But now she’s on his doorstep, asking for use of his carriage and accompaniment on the hunt to find her lost dowry. Surely Grayson cannot go on the road with the woman who has occupied his thoughts for the past decade. Yet, knowing she needs him, how can he resist helping her this one last time? And maybe that’s just enough time to change the ending to their over-too-soon love story.

Titles in The Widow Rules series include — A Duke in Time —♥— Rules for Engaging the Earl —♥— How to Best a Marquess —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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