Echoes of the Sea Review

About the Book

 A modern-day London actor is hurled back to 1803, where a love that defies the centuries awaits.

For Kipling Summerfield, the glamour of Hollywood is becoming a distant memory. After losing the role of a lifetime, he’s forced to take a lesser job as a historical reenactor on England’s Guilford Island. But a sudden storm changes everything, casting him into the ocean—and into the care of a mysterious lighthouse keeper. Kip assumes everyone he meets and the island’s historical setting are just an elaborate performance—until he meets the captivating Amelia Archibald, whose quiet strength feels too real, making him question everything about Guilford.

Amelia has spent her life as an unimportant poor relation and is now trapped by her late grandfather’s will on an island she loathes because of her great fear of the sea. When Kip stumbles into her world, his strange ideas and warm presence are both a disruption and an unexpected light.

As Kip and Amelia work to save Guilford Island, an undeniable connection blooms between them. But when Kip uncovers the truth about where—or when—he is, he must make an impossible choice: rise to meet the expectations of Amelia’s world and build a life worthy of her station or walk away from the love that has redefined his very existence. (Goodreads)

Purchase Here. 

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Kipling gives this story life, and the unique way that the author uses historical reenacting is brilliant. Kip manages to time travel but without knowing it. A good part of the book has the main hero totally clueless as to what has happened-and for the plot it works! Amelia is a determined to do her best no matter what life throws at her and I really admire her character. The romance, while predictable, is simple and sweet. There are a few twists and turns that I was not expecting but I really couldn't put the book down. There are some pieces that seemed rushed and a little thrown together, especially at the end. Overall this is a quick read with a unique take on time travel. This is my favorite of the series so far. 

4.5 Stars. 

"I received a complementary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review."

The Queen and the Knave Review + Paperback Giveaway!

 

 

About the Book

 Romance and mystery come full circle in the fifth and final book of Sarah M. Eden's best-selling Victorian Proper Romance series.

London, 1866

Móirín Donnelly has spent the last five years working in the shadows for the Dread Penny Society, a secret fraternity of penny dreadful authors who use their profits, influence, and street smarts to protect the poor and vulnerable of Victorian London. But spending so much of her life in secret is taking its toll on her soul—and her heart.

When members of the Dread Penny Society begin disappearing, Móirín turns to her friend Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington for help. The two have developed a friendly rapport, and Móirín feels like she can trust him, though perhaps not with all of her secrets.

Fitzgerald Parkington has a sixth sense when it comes to tracking down criminals, which is why he's recently been transferred to the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. But when roadblocks and red tape keep him from tracking down the criminal mastermind known as "The Tempest", he must rely on the one woman who has unexpectedly captured his heart—the brash, bold, and fiery Irish lass, Móirín Donnelly.

As the Tempest's deadly reach threatens to overwhelm all of London, Móirín and Fitz are caught in an elaborate game of cat and mouse that leads down back alleys, through dark London buildings, and right to the gates of Kensington Palace. Móirín has one chance to save Fitz and the Dread Penny Society from the Tempest, and she might have to sacrifice her one chance at love to do so. (Goodreads)

 Releases September 5th!

 PRE-ORDER HERE

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

GIVEAWAY 

I am giving away a paperback ARC of both The Queen and the Knave AND The Merchant and the Rogue! Both are paperback ARC copies. US entries only.

My Thoughts

This is the last book in the Dread Penny Society series which has been quite the adventure. I never knew much about penny dreadfuls until this series and it has been really fun to get an idea of what they could be like and also do more research on them myself. You do need to read the rest of this series, or at least most of it, before you read this final book. I wouldn't recommend reading this as a stand alone novel. I had fun with the characters and of course the setting I always enjoy. The mystery is pretty unique in this one and I found myself flipping the pages in curiosity more than anything. While this wasn't my favorite in the series I did still enjoy it. A lot of strings are pulled together and it makes for a good solid ending to the series. Sarah M. Eden has an incredible way of creating fictional worlds and you simply don't want to miss reading one of her books. 

Three and a half stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

 

 

 

 

Books on My Summer 2023 To-Read List

 Oh, I have a mountain of books I want to read. These are some that are at the top of my list!

Leave a comment so I can check out your TTT list!

 

 

My Thoughts On Wyoming Wild

 

About the Book

 

Hearts collide when a sheriff’s daughter asks a hardened US Marshal to join her fight for justice and rid a small town of her corrupt father.

Wyoming Territory, 1876

US Marshal John “Hawk” Hawking is one of the most respected lawmen in the West, so when a telegram arrives from the small town of Sand Creek warning him of a death threat against him, he immediately begins an investigation.

Posing as a farmer, Hawk heads to Sand Creek, a town ruled by a violent and corrupt sheriff. Only one person is trying to stop him—Liesl, the sheriff’s own daughter. When she meets the self-assured and attractive new farmer, John, she hopes he might help her in the fight for justice.

John is completely unfazed by Sheriff Hodges’s attempts at intimidation, and Liesl is quickly swept up by Hawk’s courage and integrity. Just as quickly, Hawk finds himself falling for Liesl’s strength and bravery, as well as her grace and beauty.

When Liesl discovers John’s true identity, she feels betrayed. Despite her lingering distrust of him, Liesl agrees to work with him to enact a dangerous plan that will put the criminals away forever. Liesl must put her life, and her heart, in the hands of his lawman if she has any hope of saving her family and her town. (Goodreads)

 Releases March 7th!

PRE-ORDER HERE!!! 

 

 My Thoughts

 I am a big Sarah M. Eden fan. She writes some of the most beautiful stories and I just love her never ending knowledge with the research she does for her books. 

This is a follow up story that ties in with The Sheriffs of Savage Wells and Healing Hearts. It is set in Wyoming and takes on a wild west adventure. I love the setting and my favorite character still remains to be Paisley who plays a big role in this novel. You do not have to read the previous books to enjoy this story but it does add a lot if you do!

I enjoyed this book, as it was a fun change of pace from Sarah's typical novels. It is not my favorite book of hers as I had a hard time connecting with the two main characters at times. But I still really enjoyed the unraveling mystery and the rough western small town setting. I felt like I was a part of an old John Wayne film. 

Four stars. 

Great for Sarah M. Eden fans AND those who love historical westerns!

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain publishing for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Favorite Books of 2022

Top Ten Tuesday

 Oh my goodness but 2022 just flew by in a rush. It was a fantastic reading year and there were so many wonderful books is difficult to narrow it down to ten! I have come up with ten that I really loved and they are in no particular order. I typically choose books that have stuck with me well past reading the last page.

 

Paperback Book Giveaway!!

I have an extra copy of Sarah Eden's Lily of the Valley and also Bargaining the Barrister by Anneka R. Walker! Both are tremendous story tellers so these are books you will enjoy!

The winner will receive both paperback books. USA entries only please.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Lily of the Valley Review with Celebrate Lit Tours

 

About the Book

Book: Lily of the Valley

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Genre: Georgian Romance

Release date: April 11, 2022

 

Amateur inventor Kester Barrington prefers the peace and quiet of his estate to the bustle of Society. But when his tightknit group of friends, the Gents, descends on Livingsley Hall for their annual gathering, he stoically joins in their activities. It all seems exhausting—until an unexpected addition to the party catches his eye: his new neighbor, the lovely Violet.

Violet Ridley longs to make friends in this new corner of the country, but her family’s fortune was made through investments rather than inheritance, and Society can be fickle. So when tragedy forces her family to shelter at neighboring Livingsley Hall, Violet is delighted to receive a warm welcome from the Gents. In particular, Violet finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kester. The pair is a study in contrasts: Violet, with her sunny disposition, and Kester, with his prickly facade. Their connection is impossible to deny, but both Kester and Violet harbor heavy constraints. As their association becomes increasingly tangled and confused, their only hope of pursuing a life together is to trust one another with the very truths that could tear them apart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

 

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2020’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, Forget Me Not, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.

 

More from Sarah

Research is one of my favorite aspects of writing. Lily of the Valley offered ample opportunities for researching incredibly interesting topics. One main character is an amateur inventor, which tossed me deep into the realm of innovations of the 1780s and 1790s. The other main character has an interest in engineering and mechanics, allowing me to delve into what was known and understood in these fields at the end of the 18th Century. Amongst the supporting cast are a variety of interests, strengths, and passions, all of which saw me pouring over everything I could find from this era on those topics.

 

A particularly fun area of research I tossed myself into was parlor games played in late 18th Century England. Among my favorites I learned about:

• The Three Kingdoms, a game very much like modern-day “Twenty Questions.” The guesser has up to six questions to gain clues about what the others in the group have decided among themselves is the thing the guesser is trying to discover. One twist: the first question is always “To which Kingdom does the item thought of belong? (meaning animal, vegetable, or mineral)

• Short Answers, a game of wits and creativity. The group sits in a circle and one at a time, ask the person to their right a question which that person has to answer in only one word. However, the word cannot be repeated during that round. Once someone has answered a question “Yes” no one else can answer with that word until the round is over. A round ends when someone cannot think of a one-word answer to the question they have been asked and is, subsequently, eliminated.

• A centuries-old version of musical chairs

• A game that involved determining which fabricated crime the various players would pretend to have committed.

• Plenty of games involving forfeits of kisses or handkerchiefs or other shows of affection that the very staid rules of Society would have otherwise looked down on.

 

Discovering more about the historical context of this book was intriguing and delightful. I hope readers will enjoy learning more of this bit of the past, lose themselves in romance, enjoy the delightful friendship between the characters, and perhaps even find a few new games to try.

-Sarah Eden

Blog Stops

Inside the Wong Mind, June 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 6

Inklings and notions, June 7

Reading with Emily, June 7

For Him and My Family, June 8

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 8

Texas Book-aholic, June 9

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, June 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 10

deb’s Book Review, June 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 12

The Book Club Network, June 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 13

Pause for Tales, June 13

Connie’s History Classroom, June 14

Sylvan Musings, June 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 15

Rachael’s Inkwell, June 16

Wishful Endings, June 16

Through the Fire Blogs, June 17

Britt Reads Fiction, June 18

Labor Not in Vain, June 18

To Everything There Is A Season, June 19

Miriam Jacob, June 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, print copy of book, and Exclusive Sarah Eden vinyl stickers!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

 

GIVEAWAY

 

My Thoughts

I simply can't read enough of the world that Sarah M. Eden has created. I LOVED this first book in this series Forget Me Not and this second book I really couldn't put down. I love the Gents and what I love all the more is reading the back story of all the characters I came to love in her Jonquil series. She ties so many things together throughout many of her books. While this book could be read as a stand alone, I don't recommend doing that. Start with book one and then you will fully understand the many side stories happening. Kester's character is so unique and fun and more relatable to me than many of the other Gents. While there is romance and some predictable aspect to this story, the Gents and their antics make this one stand out. I love the games they play and how different each character is that I can't choose a favorite! I truly can't recommend Eden's books enough and if you haven't read any you simply need to! 

Five Stars. 

"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."