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"A well written, sweet romance with wonderful characters & family members." ★★★★★ — Lana Birky (Amazon review) No Lady for the Lord She was only supposed to care for his wards…not fall in love with him. He was a carefree rogue… Lord Ronan Brockman had a perfect life. Handsome, wealthy, and beholden to no one, he was charmed. But that was before he was unexpectedly named guardian to two young girls—and before he met their fascinating governess. Acting on his attraction to the witty beauty would be utter madness. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be enough to dissuade him from pursuing her… She can never let her guard down… Mercy Feathers knows more about responsibility than a rogue like Ronan could ever fathom. But to her great consternation, despite his many flaws, she wants him with an all-consuming passion that’s as shocking as it is forbidden. It’s just her misfortune that there’s only one way a relationship with him could end—and it isn’t with happily ever after… Is their love enough? Can Ronan and Mercy overcome all that stands between them—including the ghosts of her past—and take a shot at true love? Only if they’re willing to open their hearts and break a few rules… Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple | Google Play The Author USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author COLLETTE CAMERON ® scribbles Scottish and Regency historical romance novels featuring dashing rogues, rakes, and scoundrels and the strong heroines who reform them. Blessed with an overactive and witty muse that won’t stop whispering new romantic romps in her ear, she’s lived in Oregon her entire life. Although she dreams of living in Scotland part-time. A confessed Cadbury chocoholic, you'll always find a dash of inspiration and a pinch of humor in her sweet-to-spicy timeless romances®. Website: collettecameron.com Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Series: Scandalous Ladies, book 2 Publication date: May 12, 2021 Content Rating: View rating system

“Please Mommy, can Tessa and I go play on the swing by the creek?” the little girl begs, pushing a blonde curl from her eyes. “We’ll stay together, and we promise to be safe.” Hours later, their mother waits anxiously for her darling girls to arrive home with a list of reasons why they are late. But the front door never opens… The Fragile Ones When the bodies of eleven and twelve-year-old sisters, Tessa and Megan, are found at the bottom of a ravine—dressed in matching pastel summer outfits, their small bodies broken from the fall—Detective Katie Scott is called to one of the most shocking and heartbreaking crime scenes of her career. Carefully picking through the fragile remains, Katie makes the first of many disturbing discoveries: the girls were not biological sisters. The youngest, Megan, is a DNA match to a kidnapping case years before. The tiny number burnt into her skin the mark of a terrifying killer intent on keeping count of his collection. Her PTSD from the army triggered, Katie is left reeling as she maps other missing children in the local area. Has this twisted soul found a way to stay nearby his victims? Could he be watching now as Katie hits one dead end after another? A wild storm building, matching a fiber found during the autopsy to a nearby boatyard is the break Katie needs. But when another girl goes missing, just as lightning strikes and the power goes out, Katie only has her instincts, her team and her service dog to rely on. As time runs out for Katie to finds the stolen child alive, who will become the next number on this monster’s deadly list? Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh, you better buckle-up for the ride of your life! BEWARE – this gripping crime thriller is guaranteed to keep you up all night! AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | IBOOKS ". . . truly a gripping mystery and suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page." — Readers' Favorite In the author's words . . . A Q&A with Jennifer Chase B&B: Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Chase, with her latest suspense novel, THE FRAGILE ONES! It sounds like an exciting and thrilling ride filled with surprises and unexpected twists. Without further ado, here is Jennifer Chase. Does writing energize or exhaust you? How or why? This is a great question. The easy answer is writing crime thrillers exhaust me, but the correct answer is that it energizes and exhausts me. Both. I love what I do and I'm energized to write crime fiction in order to bring the stories to life, but at the same time it's exhausting. High tension, action, and close calls for my lead characters make it extremely fun but tiring. I usually need a break after writing a high tension scene. In your words, can you tell us a little more about The Fragile Ones ? Detective Katie Scott is an ex-military K9 handler, who has only recently returned home to Pine Valley and is still settling back into regular life. She brought home with her K9 partner, Cisco, and unfortunately the aftermath of PTSD she struggles with. Now, Katie heads the Cold Case Unit for the Pine Valley Sheriff's Department with one partner, Deputy Sean McGaven in the crime thriller The Fragile Ones. As a favor for the sheriff and mayor of Pine Valley, Katie escorts a documentary team to some of the most rural areas in the mountains to obtain footage of ghost towns. Everything stops when the bodies of eleven and twelve-year-old sisters, Tessa and Megan, are found at the bottom of a ravine—dressed in matching pastel summer outfits, their small bodies broken from the fall—it's one of the most shocking and heartbreaking crime scenes of her career. Following various clues and dead ends in The Fragile Ones , the investigation takes Katie and her partner to a small town of Rock Creek where the town isn't cooperating and more children go missing. With a storm of the century building, Katie and her partner are trapped in the small town with the killer. Can she stop the killer from taking another child before it's too late? Can she stop her PTSD from complicating the investigation? What story are you working on next, and what inspired it? I've just completed the next adventure for Detective Katie Scott, book #6, which will be out in August. My avid studies and degrees in forensics and criminology has always been my driving inspiration to write crime fiction. I love to create a story with fresh and entertaining forensics. I'm also working on a novella with my other series of Emily Stone who is a vigilante detective. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? This is an interesting question and one that I haven't really thought much about until recently. I receive many questions and posts about Cisco, Katie's K9 from the military. Most want him in the story more. I can't complain, I love writing about K9 work. Also, I've received many questions about the love interests in Katie's life—which way it might go. I mostly write original, but I do take into consideration now what readers might want to see in the next Detective Katie Scott thriller. Enjoy an Excerpt from The Fragile Ones PROLOGUE “Please can we go?” whined Tessa as she followed her mother through the living room and into the kitchen. “Please,” she said again, pushing her blonde curls away from her eyes. “I really want to go to the swing by the creek.” “Not by yourself,” countered Mrs. Mayfield, ignoring her daughter’s angry stare. “We’ve talked about this before.” “Yes, and you said I couldn’t go alone, and I’m not. Megan will be with me.” Tessa’s older sister was barely a year older and her best friend. Her mother began emptying the dishwasher, putting plates and glasses away in the cabinet. It was unclear if she was thinking about what Tessa had said or not, so she tried again. “I’m almost eleven and Megan is almost twelve. We’re practically teenagers,” she said. “Besides, Janey and her brother will probably be there.” Mrs. Mayfield laughed. “You know, you would be a good lawyer the way you make your case.” “I don’t want to be a lawyer. I’m going to be a vet,” Tessa said, grinning. “Well, I know you are going to be whatever you want to be.” Mrs. Mayfield laughed to herself as she slipped the last piece of silverware into the drawer and turned to face her daughter. At the sound of her name, Megan had joined Tessa in the doorway and they both stood quietly waiting for an answer. Glancing at the wall clock with a sigh, she said, “You both have to be back by four thirty, not a second later. Understand?” “Thank you! Thank you!” Tessa said, grabbing her sister’s hand in glee. Both girls were in denim shorts and pastel T-shirts with their favorite matching blue sneakers. “Be home on time,” their mom called after them. “We will,” chimed the girls. Mrs. Mayfield heard the front door shut, followed by the sound of running footsteps. She smiled and went back to her chores as the afternoon ticked by. At 4:45 p.m. Mrs. Mayfield was waiting impatiently to hear the girls enter the house with a list of a dozen reasons why they were late—but the front door never opened. An hour after that, unable to wait any longer, she looked outside, thinking that the girls might be in the yard. Debris from a croquet set littered the lawn; the wooden mallets abandoned and colored balls scattered as if the girls had been playing only moments ago. The trampoline in the corner had one of the girls’ bright blue sweatshirts hanging on the edge. It swayed slightly in the breeze. There was no sign of them. She ran through the house to the backyard, but it, too, was deserted. No whispers. No giggles. No shrieks of laughter. The wind was picking up and whistling through the branches and leaves of the surrounding trees—almost whispering a warning. Mrs. Mayfield pulled off her apron and reached for her coat, deciding to walk to the creek and bring the girls back herself. At this point, she was more angry than concerned, knowing how they could be forgetful when they were having fun, and often lost track of time. But surely they would be on their way home by now? she thought to herself as her pace quickened from a fast walk to a jog. Against her better judgment, and knowing that she couldn’t shelter them forever, she had crumbled and let them go down to the creek where one of the neighboring boys had constructed a swing that they loved to play on. And now fear ripped through her body. “Tessa!” she yelled. “Megan!” Terrible scenarios shuffled through her thoughts as she tried desperately to keep her emotions on an even keel. “Tessa! Megan!” She yelled their names over and over until her voice went hoarse. Her chest felt strangely heavy and her vision blurred as she ran, but her strength and mother’s instinct pushed her forward, down the trail leading to the creek. The trail was well-worn by local kids looking for adventure and fun. Stumbling as she ran, she frantically turned left and then right. There wasn’t a soul around… She was alone. She kept moving. Looking up at the tall pine trees, everything spun in a dizzying blur of forest and darkening sky. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and open again, then stopped for a moment to listen. The swing was only visible at the bottom of the path just above the creek and she could hear the water rushing below. Peering over the edge, there was no sign of them—or anyone. She kept turning, expecting to see her girls everywhere she looked. They weren’t there. All around her were discarded candy wrappers and remnants of fast food containers. Proof that children played here often. There was no sound apart from the whisper of the trees. No children laughing nearby. “Megan! Tessa!” she yelled again, but there was only silence. She ran all the way up the trail to the street, still calling their names in a full-blown panic. Mrs. Mayfield turned her attention up the road, her mother’s instinct in high gear. Something blue lying beneath a bush caught her eye and she ran towards it. She leaned down and her hand trembled over the light blue canvas before she forced herself to grab the abandoned blue sneaker. “No,” she said, barely breathing. Written on the side tread of the shoe with a thick black pen was one word: Tessa. End of Excerpt Excerpt Copyright © Jennifer Chase. The Author Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today bestselling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. Website: https://authorjenniferchase.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jchasenovelist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferChase Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2780337.Jennifer_Chase Genre: Crime Thriller Type: Novel Publisher: Bookouture Publication Date: March 8, 2021 Content Rating: PG-13 View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

A Reader's Opinion Lovers of Scottish romances, will be captivated again! A Highlander's Christmas Kiss is another wonderful romance written by talented author Paula Quinn! It's a great way to continue her amazing series, The MacGregors: Highland Heirs. This book is the fifth story and the beautiful journey of Temperance Menzie and Cailean Grant. What a great Scottish romance to devour! I could not put it down! A real page turner! Fast paced with a well planned plot that keeps you wanting to know more. Again, Ms. Quinn didn’t disappoint me! A Highlander's Christmas Kiss is filled with rich characters, romance, action and humor, but it's also about lies, betrayal, trust and hope! Some scenes made me giggle so much! You have to read it to really know what happened! I really enjoyed her two main characters Temperance and Cailean! Their adventure will be packed with twists and turns, as they go along during their beautiful Highland journey. Temperance, has just lost her dear father, and is now planning a revenge to kill the man responsible for his death. Suddenly, Cailean, appears in her life as a wounded and tormented man who will need her help to heal. Will this magic moment reunite two stubborn man and woman who need love and passion in their lives? Can their love survive under these conditions? Will they finally find happiness? Another captivating story for The MacGregors: Highland Heirs! Fans of Scottish adventures are in for a real treat! Let yourself get swept away to Scotland's Highlands. A Highlander's Christmas Kiss A STRANGER'S SMILE Christmas may be coming to Linavar, but Temperance Menzie is far from joyful. Grief-stricken over the death of her father at the hands of the Black Riders, she almost didn't see the wounded stranger in the woods. And now she's determined to give this braw, brooding Highlander the help she couldn't give her father. But there's a secret lurking in the depths of his blue-gray eyes. And Temperance won't rest until she uncovers it . . . A LOVER'S KISS A killer for hire. It's the last thing Cailean Grant ever thought he'd become, but being part of the Black Riders was his only way to survive. Now, his guilt grows day by day, along with his desire for the beautiful, brave lass nursing him back to health. As Christmas, the season of miracles, draws near and the truth of his identity threatens to come out, Cailean must risk the only thing he has left to lose-his heart. Series: Highland Heirs Get Your Copy Scottish Historical Romance | Pub: September 27, 2016 | 342pp Format Read: E-Book | Source: Provided by the author or publisher Content Rating: 5 Hearts* | Read by: Nicole Laverdure *As of Aug 2020, we do not give ratings to books, except for content. We review and share only those books we have enjoyed and think others will enjoy, too. Learn more . This book was reviewed on the original Books & Benches site sometime in 2016, and has been reposted on the new blog for indexing purposes.

A Foreman for Fiona Dark-haired spitfire Fiona O'Hara is the last of five young women who came to Kansas as mail-order brides seeking a new start at the Lazy Q Ranch. Her friends are all married now and have been encouraging her to do the same, but things didn't work out with her intended, and that's just fine with her. She was never interested in marriage anyway, not really, and now that she has a job and can support herself, she sees no reason to tie herself down. Big Mike Denton, the foreman at the Lazy Q, sent for a mail-order bride because he thought it might be useful to have a companion. He never imagined that when she came, she'd be so feisty, and he was relieved when they decided to call off the arrangement. He also never imagined that she'd be so beautiful, and as he gets to know her, he realizes that maybe Old Sully, that old romantic match-making rancher, knew what he was up to after all . . . Kindle Unlimited The Author Amelia C. Adams is the author of the bestselling Kansas Crossroads series, as well as a contributor to River's End Ranch and Mail Order Mounties. She is a wife, a mother, and a taker of naps. She spends her days dreaming up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you might just see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels. Website: www.ameliacadams.com Genre: Historical Western Romance Type: Novel Series: Kansas Cowboys, book 5 Publication date: May 7, 2021 Content Rating: View rating system

Elizabeth Adams shares her latest Austenesque tale filled with humor, romance, and a dash of what makes her writing so special. How to Fall in Love with a Man You Thought You Hated For Elizabeth Bennet, Charlotte is the friend who is—annoyingly—always right. Colonel Fitzwilliam is the mischievous brother she never had. And if their convictions that Mr. Darcy is in love with her are correct, he could be the lover she’s always wanted. There’s only one problem—he tried to ruin her favorite sister’s life, and she made an absolute fool of herself in front of him. Can lasting happiness come out of such a beginning? And can a man die from chasing a woman too quick to be caught? Darcy is about to find out. AMAZON | GOODREADS Enjoy an Excerpt Elizabeth had had the strangest dream. She had been crying in Rosings’ gardens with Colonel Fitzwilliam, then she had flirted quite brazenly with Mr. Darcy in Charlotte’s parlor! Never had her dreams been so vivid, nor so full of eligible men. She awoke shortly after dawn—for she had gone to bed at sunset—with a prodigious thirst. She felt somewhat similar to mornings after a party where she drank too much wine, but she had not had anything at all last night. In fact, she could not remember even eating dinner. Her stomach made a loud grumbling noise and she quickly dressed and put up her hair before skipping down to the kitchen. A village woman came to the parsonage to cook most days and was generally there early in the morning to bake bread. She had been very kind to Elizabeth and often packed her a scone or muffin to take with her on her walks. “You’re up early, Miss.” “I believe I went to bed rather early.” “Molly said you had an upset yesterday. I hope all is well with your family.” “Yes, everyone is well, thank you,” said Elizabeth hesitantly. What upset was Mrs. Hopkins referring to? “I’m glad to hear it, Miss.” She pulled a tin of muffins from the oven and set them on the worktable to cool. “I suppose you’ll be wanting to take some of those on your walk?” “Yes, please.” Mrs. Hopkins was wrapping a few muffins when Molly came in. “Are ya feelin’ better, Miss?” Elizabeth looked at her in confusion. “I am quite well, Molly. Why would you expect otherwise?” “You were awful upset yesterday. And then the gentleman came to see ya and you went straight to bed before it were full dark!” Elizabeth felt the floor tilt beneath her and grabbed the back of a chair. “Have a care now, Miss!” cried Mrs. Hopkins. She pulled out the chair and guided Elizabeth to sit down. “What gentleman, Molly?” she asked, dreading the answer. “Why, Mr. Darcy, of course. Do you not remember?” asked Molly. Elizabeth fell back in the chair and was vaguely aware of Mrs. Hopkins telling Molly to bring her a cup of tea and that good lady chafing her hands. “There, there, dear. It’s nothing that can’t be solved. All will be well soon enough.” Elizabeth turned to face Mrs. Hopkins with a desolate expression. It was all coming back to her now. She had sat in the dirt and cried with Colonel Fitzwilliam. And she had flirted with Mr. Darcy in Charlotte’s parlor. It had not been a dream. He had called her ‘my sweet,’ and held her hand, and looked into her eyes quite intimately. End of Excerpt Excerpt Copyright ©Elizabeth Adams. Shared with permission. The Author Elizabeth Adams is a book-loving, tango-dancing, Austen enthusiast. She loves old houses and thinks birthdays should be celebrated with trips—as should most occasions. She can often be found by a sunny window with a cup of hot tea and a book in her hand. She writes romantic comedy and comedic drama in both historic and modern settings. You can find more information, short stories, and outtakes at www.EAdamsWrites.com . You can also find her on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Goodreads . Genre: Historical Romance/Austenesque Type: Novel Publication Date: April 5, 2021 Content Rating: PG View our rating system Tour Giveaway Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card! The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on May 6, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

A remarkable novel of the Civil War and the Most Famous Female Militia in American History from Glen Craney. The Cotillion Brigade Georgia burns. Sherman’s Yankees are closing in. Will the women of LaGrange run or fight? Based on the true story of the celebrated Nancy Hart Rifles, The Cotillion Brigade is a sweeping epic of the Civil War’s ravages on family and love, the resilient bonds of sisterhood amid devastation, and the miracle of reconciliation between bitter enemies. “Gone With The Wind meets A League Of Their Own.” 1856. Sixteen-year-old Nannie Colquitt Hill makes her debut in the antebellum society of the Chattahoochee River plantations. A thousand miles to the north, a Wisconsin farm boy, Hugh LaGrange, joins an Abolitionist crusade to ban slavery in Bleeding Kansas. Five years later, secession and total war against the homefronts of Dixie hurl them toward a confrontation unrivaled in American history. Nannie defies the traditions of Southern gentility by forming a women’s militia and drilling it four long years to prepare for battle. With their men dead, wounded, or retreating with the Confederate armies, only Captain Nannie and her Fighting Nancies stand between their beloved homes and the Yankee torches. Hardened into a slashing Union cavalry colonel, Hugh duels Rebel generals Joseph Wheeler and Nathan Bedford Forrest across Tennessee and Alabama. As the war churns to a bloody climax, he is ordered to drive a burning stake deep into the heart of the Confederacy. Yet one Georgia town—which by mocking coincidence bears Hugh’s last name—stands defiant in his path. Read the remarkable story of the Southern women who formed America’s most famous female militia and the Union officer whose life they changed forever. AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | IBOOKS In the author's words . . . A Q&A with Glen Craney In this book, you write about a piece of Civil War history many people aren't familiar with. Will you tell us something about the writing of The Cotillion Brigade? Thank you for inviting me to Books and Benches. The Cotillion Brigade is based upon the true Civil War story of the Nancy Harts of Georgia, the most famous female militia in American history. I stumbled upon the exploits of the Nancy Harts thirty years ago while working as a political journalist with the Washington, D.C., press corps. Several years later, I visited LaGrange, the town saved by the Nancy Harts, and fell in love with the area. I wrote the story first as a movie treatment and nearly had it sold as a movie to Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, but the executive who championed the project moved on from the company. So, a few years later, I turned it into a novel. What sparked your interest in history? I caught the history bug as a boy. A great uncle lived in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, where Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark defended the blood-soaked ground on which a reconstructed 18th-century palisades fort now stands. He would take me to the nearby Civil War battlefield of Perryville and share stories about his father, a captain in the Union army who served there against his own brother, a Confederate cavalryman with Morgan’s Raiders. A couple of years ago, I traced the steps of my great-great-grandfather, who kept a diary while fighting with Grant during the Vicksburg campaign. I’m always struck by how much more there is to learn about these most important four years in American history. The Cotillion Brigade is the first novel I’ve written about the Civil War, but it’s always been my favorite era, and I return to it again and again. Which scene, character, or plot-line changed the most from first draft to published book? In my initial draft, I focused primarily on Captain Nancy Colquitt Hill Morgan and the women in her militia. But as I delved deeper into the research, I found equally fascinating the character of Colonel Oscar Hugh LaGrange, the Union officer and ardent Abolitionist who confronted the women in the climactic scene of the novel. I realized after the first draft that to properly tell the story, I had to use a dual timeline, following my two protagonists, Captain Morgan and Colonel LaGrange, through the war as their destinies slowly but inexorably converged. What appeals to you most about writing historical fiction? I’m drawn to stories about the underdogs of history whose voices were suppressed or silenced. Historical fiction is the perfect genre to bring those voices back to life. Often such stories suffer gaps in the annals, which are usually written by the victors. Second, because I took the unusual route of learning and practicing screenwriting first, I tend to see stories visually, as if on a screen in my mind’s eye. Dramatizing history is much easier with historical fiction than with nonfiction. Finally, historical fiction can draw a larger audience. For example, of the thousands of books written about the battle of Gettysburg, the one that has had the most influence and reach--to the dismay of historians--is the Killer Angels, a novel by Michael Shaara that was turned into a movie. Do you have a favorite phrase that inspires you? “Welcome to your gory bed or to victory.” It’s a line from the poem “Scots What Hae” by Robert Burns, about the exploits of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence. My college roommate and I would mutter it as we walked into the classroom to take an exam. Little did I know that, thirty years later, I would be writing an historical novel about Robert Bruce and his best friend, James “the Black” Douglas. I used that same line in THE SPIDER AND THE STONE. The Author A graduate of Indiana University School of Law and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Glen Craney practiced trial law before joining the Washington, D.C. press corps to write about national politics and the Iran-contra trial for Congressional Quarterly magazine. In 1996, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences awarded him the Nicholl Fellowship prize for best new screenwriting. His debut historical novel, The Fire and the Light , was named Best New Fiction by the National Indie Excellence Awards. He is a three-time Finalist/Honorable Mention winner of Foreword Magazine’s Book-of-the-Year and a Chaucer Award winner for Historical Fiction. His books have taken readers to Occitania during the Albigensian Crusade, the Scotland of Robert Bruce, Portugal during the Age of Discovery, the trenches of France during World War I, the battlefields of the Civil War, and the American Hoovervilles of the Great Depression. He lives in Malibu, California, and has served as president of the Southern California Chapter of the Historical Novel Society. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | GOODREADS Genre: Historical Fiction Type: Novel Publisher: Brigid’s Fire Press Publication Date: March 15, 2021 Content Rating: PG-13 View our rating system Tour Giveaway We have ten eBooks of The Cotillion Brigade by Glen Craney up for grabs! The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on May 14, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

A Reader's Opinion Touching love story! A.S. Fenichel is a new author for me! I loved her first story, Tainted Bride , in the Forever Brides series. I'd like to say "It's a real rollercoaster ride of emotions," and some scenes are so touching, dramatic and emotional. This story is all about finding peace and happiness after a tragedy. I liked her two main characters, Sophia and Daniel. Tainted Bride is mostly Sophia's story. The heroine leaves America to move to England with her great aunt Daphne, a very strict person who wants to find her a proper husband. Unfortunately, Sophia only wants to forget a tragic event that happened to her in the past! She doesn't trust men anymore . . . until she meets Daniel! With time and trust, she will share her dark secret with him, but Daniel only wants to protect and avenge her. Let’s say that Sophia is a very complex character. They will embark on a journey of twists and turns! What will happen to Sophia and Daniel? Will she finally find peace? Tainted Bride Only trust can save her…. Sailing to London, Sophia Braighton only hopes to escape certain ruin. But when she arrives, her Great Aunt Daphne has other plans for the American-born beauty. Determined to marry off her niece to a man of means, she propels Sophia into London society, not knowing that the young woman’s trust in men is shattered. In fact, Sophia never expects to ever feel anything for a man. Then again, she never expects to find herself in the company of the dashing earl of Marlton…. From the moment he sees Sophia, Daniel Fallon feels alive in a way he has not since his broken engagement. Though the vulnerable beauty shies from the passion burning bright between them, Daniel is determined to court her and make her his bride. And when he learns of the painful secret she harbors, he is equally determined to take revenge on the man responsible. But will the quest destroy him—and his future with his beloved? Series: Forever Brides, book #1 Get Your Copy Regency Romance | Pub: September 27, 2016| 234pp Format Read: E-Book | Source: Provided by the author or publisher Content Rating: 5 Hearts* | Read by: Nicole Laverdure *As of Aug 2020, we do not give ratings to books, except for content. We review and share only those books we have enjoyed and think others will enjoy, too. Learn more . This book was reviewed on the original Books & Benches site sometime in 2016, and has been reposted on the new blog for indexing purposes.

Voting is open for the May 2021 book cover contest. View the finalists and c ast your vote on the cover contest page.

Congratulations to Jo Ann Brown, author of A Wish for Home , winner of the April 2021 Readers' Choice Cover Contest! Thank you to all those who voted and supported the wonderful authors and their books! Vote in the new cover contest >

We're thrilled to welcome New York Times Bestselling Author, Linda Broday, to our bookish community. She's here to talk about secrets, temperance, and sexy saloon owner Deacon Brannock, plus she has a question for you! Read through for a fun post, short excerpt, and a book giveaway. There are a lot of goodies here, so don't miss anything! "This book has so many storylines that all tie together. A Cowboy Of Legend was one beautiful story which will pull at your heartstrings. Congrats to Ms. broday for continuing to write such amazing books with new and explosive adventures." — Tonya (Goodreads) A Cowboy of Legend It's time for a new generation to become Legend. Deacon Brannock is determined to make a name for himself and the saloon he's worked his whole life to afford. He was prepared for life in the Wild West, but he hadn't counted on Grace Legend... Grace has always fought hard for what she believes in, and after her best friend is killed at the hands of her drunk and angry husband, that includes keeping alcohol out of her town. When the owner of the new saloon turns out to be a kind and considerate man, she can't help but wonder if they could have a future together...if they weren't on opposite sides of every issue. Buy the Book Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | IndieBound | Amazon (Mass Market) Add to Goodreads “When it comes to historical westerns, I always love reading Linda Broday, as she always gives us wonderful stories, great characters and continues to make us fall in love with the couples in her western historical romances.”— Netgalley review From the author . . . I loved the turn of the century setting and it was the first time I set any series there. The world was changing very fast with all kinds of social reform in addition to a big industrial revolution so it was perfect. Grace Legend is a firebrand and neck deep in the Temperance Society and determined to change what she can and make a difference. Excuse Me, What's Your Name? This question wasn’t asked much on the American frontier and if you were so bold, you were liable to get shot. The old West offered a man a multitude of places to disappear into and leave behind whatever trouble he found himself in. It was super easy and there was no way to check on anything. No telephone. No internet. No Social Security numbers. Nothing. It was perfect. There were probably hundreds of men back then looking to change their identities and disappear and did. Outlaws checked into hotels and boardinghouses under an alias as did most politicians and famous people. In my upcoming release, A Cowboy of Legend , Deacon Brannock has taken a fake name in order to disappear. All is well and good until firebrand Grace Legend marches into Hell’s Half Acre with burning determination to shut down his saloon, The Three Deuces. She’s a member of the Temperance Society and hellbent on running him out of business. All her life, she’s taken up one cause after another but this one springs from her heart and is the one she’s most passionate about. But, here’s the thing…Grace is also a reporter and writes a weekly column under an alias. Like a bloodhound, she discovers that Deacon Brannock is hiding a juicy secret. Oh, I love it! A Cowboy of Legend contains a lot of secrets. Writing about secrets is fun for an author. Where there are secrets there’s conflict and those are what drives a story. I just love it when a book contains mysteries. I can’t turn the pages fast enough. Here’s a short excerpt a ways into the story: The ends of Brannock’s dark hair hugged his thick neck above the collarless shirt. A look she’d never seen before simmered in his gray eyes. He got to his feet. “I’ll see you out.” Her skirt swished against his pantlegs as they moved down the stairs and she thrilled at the sound. At the bottom, he took the empty cups and set them on a small table. “A truce is in order don’t you think, Grace?” “Maybe. But I haven’t changed my position. I still think selling liquor is wrong.” “Even if I do so responsibly?” His voice was quiet. He slowly moved closer until mere inches away, so near she could hardly breathe. “I’ll make a deal. I won’t cause any more trouble if you and Harry will keep the drunks out.” Why was she so breathless, for God’s sake? Brannock brushed the pad of his thumb across her cheek. “You drive a hard bargain, pretty lady.” Awareness rippled inside Grace and she couldn’t have tingled more than if lightning had struck her. “I must be loco but I’d sure like to kiss you.” The blood in Grace’s veins raced. She tilted her head in invitation and leaned toward him, eyes lowered, her heart hammering. He stood at least a foot taller and seemed like a giant tree when he placed a large hand at the small of her back. The touch of his lips to hers sent tingles skipping up her spine while the faint scent of shaving soap floated around her like autumn leaves after the first frost. She’d been kissed by a lot of boys and a few men, but none even remotely resembled this rugged, gray-eyed saloon owner who’d taken in a terrified girl and given her a safe place to hide. Grace slipped her hand around Deacon Brannock’s neck, wound her fingers in his hair, and prayed he wouldn’t end the kiss. For once, she had no intention of hurrying. Her job, the world, and sleep could wait. ***** You can find a longer excerpt on my webpage: https://lindabroday.com/books/lone-star-legends/a-cowboy-of-legend-1-lone-star-legends/ This is Book 1 of a new series called Lone Star Legends and releases April 27th. Book 2 - A Cowboy Christmas Legend follows in September. Excerpt Copyright © 2021 by Linda Broday. GIVEAWAY (1) winner will receive an autographed copy of A Cowboy of Legend ! Complete the form below, PLUS earn a bonus entry by answering this question from Linda: If you could change your identity and disappear, would you? My generation really overdid the Lindas and I’ve hated that so I think I’d chose to be Sierra or maybe Summer or Sapphire. What would you choose? Giveaway begins will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 10, 2021. 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. This giveaway is sponsored by the author. "Linda Broday knows how to write in-depth books with passion, humor, and suspense! Wow!" — Kathy (Goodreads) The Author Linda Broday is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 30 full length western romance novels and short stories. Watching TV westerns during her youth fed her love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. She resides in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian, Comancheros, and early cowboys once roamed and often hears their voices whispering in the breeze. She loves research and looking for little known tidbits to add realism to her stories. She considers herself a collector of everything from old coins to dust bunnies. https://lindabroday.com Title: A Cowboy of Legend Publisher: Sourcebooks Genre: Historical Western Romance Type: Novel Series: Lone Star Legends, book 1 Publication date: April 27, 2021 Content Rating: 5 Hearts View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts! Question: If you could change your identity and disappear, would you? My generation really overdid the Lindas and I’ve hated that so I think I’d chose to be Sierra or maybe Summer or Sapphire. What would you choose?

A Reader's Opinion 1804 London Melinda Starling is enjoying her first Masquerade party with her best friend Lavinia. For three years she's been on her best behaviour, not to disappoint her tyrannical grandmother or tarnish the Starling name. Even though her grandmother never let her forget that she was tarnished, and the result of her mothers indiscretion. Being a romantic at heart, she's helping her friend Lavinia elope with Mr. Fellowes. When her friend gets cold feet, Melinda takes it upon herself to advise the would-be-groom there will not be an elopement. Miles Warren is Lord Garrison, and he's helping his friend with an elopement. Miles is labelled a rake and a libertine (far from the truth) who has been falsely accused of ruining a young miss. Without wanting to attract attention, he poses as Mr. Fellowes driver. Thinking that Melinda is Lavinia, he abducts her from the ball and proceeds to meet his friend. Realizing he took the wrong girl, Miles tries to return her home but the damage is done! Melinda's grandmother is furious and washes her hands of her. Being the gentleman, Miles has no choice but to marry Melinda and avoid scandal. The romantic in Melinda always dreamed she would marry for love, and now she sees her dreams have been just dreams. Miles and Melinda have many obstacles to overcome and their attraction to each other isn't one of them. They both have secrets that ultimately bind them together. One abduction of one wrong girl makes for a wonderful romance! Definitely a must read! To Kiss a Rake WHEN A LADY IS ABDUCTED BY MISTAKE . . . Melinda Starling doesn’t let ladylike behavior get in the way of true love. She’s secretly assisting in an elopement . . . until she’s tossed into the waiting coach and driven away by a notorious rake. REVENGE REALLY DOESN’T PAY. Miles Warren, Lord Garrison, comes from a family of libertines, and he’s the worst of them all—or so society believes. When Miles helps a friend to run away with an heiress, it’s an entertaining way to revenge himself on one of the gossips who slandered him. Except that he drives off with the wrong woman . . . and as if that wasn’t scandalous enough, he can’t resist stealing a kiss. Series: Scandalous Kisses, book #1 Get Your Copy Regency Romance | Pub: July 29, 2015 | 217pp Format Read: E-Book | Source: Provided by the author or publisher Content Rating: 4 Hearts* | Read by: Maria Rose Dariotis *As of Aug 2020, we do not give ratings to books, except for content. We review and share only those books we have enjoyed and think others will enjoy, too. Learn more . This book was reviewed on the original Books & Benches site sometime in 2016, and has been reposted on the new blog for indexing purposes.

We're thrilled to welcome Denise Weimer, author of the historical Christian romance novel Bent Tree Bride , on her tour hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! Bent Tree Bride Caught between who she is…and who she was. Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Lieutenant Sam Hicks, he’s leading a string of prisoners into a frontier fort, and he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman. As both Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. He wants a better match for Susanna—like the stuffy doctor who escorted her to Creek Territory. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart. Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook "The Five Best Bits of Writing Advice I Can Give" from Denise Weimer When I started out as a bright-eyed writer clutching my journalism degree with a minor in history, many surprises awaited me, not all of them pleasant. Now, a dozen traditionally published novels and several novellas later and serving as a managing/substantive editor myself, I wish I could go back and give my newbie self some advice. I never could have imagined how much the publishing industry would change over twenty years—or that every time I reached a goal, a dose of reality simply reset the bar. Thinking of writing a novel? Maybe you’ll find some of my tips helpful. 1. Research what’s trending in publishing. When I first started writing, literary-style historical fiction with a narrator’s voice and many points of view was popular. The reader could expect lots of speaker tags like “he said,” “she gasped,” etc., and phrases such as “she wondered/thought/felt.” For standard fiction today, most publishers are looking for deep point of view, where you write as though you are in the character’s head. You can only think and sense what that character does in that moment. I’d advise getting a book on writing deep point of view or attending a conference or class. 2. Get other eyes on your project —and not just your mom or best friend. After you’ve written your story and edited it at least once yourself, run it by an experienced critique partner or beta readers before sending it to an editor or agent. What should you and your beta readers be looking for? Check out this list at https://www.deniseweimerbooks.com/freelance-editing. 3. Build an online presence before pitching your story. Publishing is so competitive these days, most credible houses expect a debut author to have built an online presence with a web site and a large social media following on at least two platforms. You can do this even before publication by blogging about your research and writing journey or reviewing books or hosting guest blogs by other writers. If you self-publish, you can build this more gradually, as you gain new readers, but if you ever approach a traditional publisher, they will still expect those numbers plus good sales for your indie titles. A poorly edited and poorly marketed title can haunt you forever. 4. Don’t be afraid to start small or to collaborate . My first published novella cost me more money than it made me but garnered a historical mentor whose generosity opened the door for the writing and publication of my first historical fiction series. I also eventually realized I needed to start with a regional publisher rather than my big dream publisher. Other great ideas? Join a MAP—Multiple Author Project—or a novella collection. You can learn so much from other authors, and joint projects also expand your readership. Big surprise—the most important open doors in my career have come from other authors. 5. Don’t compare your writing journey to someone else’s. It’s just plain hard and confusing to see your friends, or newer writers, get contracts or bigger contracts when you’ve been stuck for years. You might want to bang your head against your computer when a similar book sells as though it’s the last title available on earth while your sales barely cover printing costs. And the reviews? Don’t even get me started. But don’t go down the comparison rabbit hole. It will only hurt you. God has us each on a unique journey in life. There is more than one valid publishing path. Sometimes our writing may stall or even be completely dormant for a season when He wants us to focus on other things. Wherever you are, He has you there for a reason. Seek the reason and embrace it, and you’ll find that growth will come in unexpected ways and moments. Enjoy an Excerpt from Bent Tree Bride In this excerpt, Lieutenant Sam Hicks of the Cherokee Regiment has been assigned by his colonel to guard the colonel’s daughter and son while they are at Fort Strother in hostile Creek Territory. Susanna and George have talked Sam into demonstrating tomahawk and knife throwing at the practice range. “What is your other requirement?” “What?” Sam snatched his gaze from Susanna’s lips to her eyes. Her cheeks, already rosy in the cold, darkened another shade. “For letting me throw your little bitty knife.” “My little bitty knife?” Indignation laced his repetition of her words. “Let there be no doubt, this dagger could gut a man.” “Very well. Your lethal weapon, although you seem to think I can’t handle the larger one, much less the tomahawk.” “Why do you care about throwing a knife or a tomahawk or any weapon when your father would order his entire regiment to fight to protect you?” Susanna released a gusty sigh. “Because as much as I would like to think he will always be there, he may not. What if I lose him in battle? What if this lung sickness returns when he goes out on the next campaign and Polly can’t save him? Then what will I have left?” For one, Dr. Hawkins would rush to the rescue, although Sam would be wiser to bite his tongue than suggest that when she was this betwattled. Thankfully, she continued without pausing to solicit any answers. “I should at least be able to defend myself. The lessons at finishing school may have taught me how to speak French and snare a husband, but they are useless out here.” “You know he will send you home at the first opportunity.” As much as the thought pained him. Fort Strother would seem a cheerless place without Susanna Moore. “But that’s just it. I shouldn’t have to leave.” She balled her hands into fists at her sides. “I want to show him I am as strong as Polly. That I can survive, and not only survive, but be helpful on the frontier. I don’t have to have Cherokee blood to do that, do I?” The yearning for acceptance in Susanna’s words echoed a similar longing in Sam’s heart. She searched his eyes as she had earlier, but this time, he didn’t close his soul. If she needed strength, and he could help give it to her, what cause had he to deny her? End of Excerpt Excerpt Copyright ©Denise Weimer. Shared with permission. TOUR GIVEAWAY (1) winner will receive a print copy of Bent Tree Bride and related story, The Witness Tree (2019), a pair of silver feather earrings, and a $20 Amazon gift card! (retail value $60) ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE Giveaway began at midnight April 20, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 27, 2021. 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. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and organized by JustRead Tours. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here . Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops! The Author Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense, mostly set in her home state of Georgia. She’s authored a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas. As a managing editor for the historical imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she also helps others reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses. Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Twitter Title: Bent Tree Bride Type: Novel Author: Denise Weimer Publisher: Smitten Historical Romance Release Date: April 13, 2021 Genre: Historical Christian Romance Content Note: 1 Heart View our rating system Author's Note on Content: "Romance (just kisses) and some violence. Even though I tried not to describe the scenes in excessive detail, battles are part of the plot of a novel set during the War of 1812 and on the frontier where three people groups clashed." Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!