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THE BOOK A Royal Newfoundland Regiment Love Story A READER'S OPINION Heartrending and tender, A Splendid Boy by Melanie Martin is a beautiful love story spanning two time periods. The author writes of two young people who have the kind of love talked about in books and movies. In 1981, both Daniel and Emma are approached to be invited to and talk about their time during the war as part of a war commemoration. We're then transported to 1914 where their stories begin. Their remarkable love suffered, endured, and struggled through a time when so much ugliness and horror took place. I rarely read books set during WWI. However, the author swept me in with her easy writing style, and the fascinating history of a time and place I know little about, and she accomplished what few authors of WWI fiction have—she left me wanting more. I cared about Daniel and Emma so deeply, that by the end of the book, I don't mind saying I had shed a few tears. A Splendid Boy is a treasure of engaging history and incredible love. Well done, Melanie Martin. Content Rating: 3 Hearts | Reviewed by: MK McClintock This book has already been reviewed and rated for Books & Benches and received our Reader's Top Pick Seal of Distinction. Read the other review and learn more about the book. #AReadersOpinion #HistoricalFiction

Please join us in welcoming author AnneMarie Brear to Books & Benches for a 5 Question Q&A. Where Dragonflies Hover is the latest novel from Anne, a prolific writer of sixteen novels and short stories. "The book is written in such a way it made me feel as if I was in both time periods and could relate to the characters in more ways than one. I could not put this book down and love reading stories which pull me in so deeply. I did not want the story to end. " — Amazon reviewer, UK 5 QUESTIONS FOR ANNEMARIE BREAR In 250 words or less, what can you tell us about your newest release? My latest release, Where Dragonflies Hover , is a split era story set in modern day England and World War I France. In modern day, Lexi is unhappy with her marriage and seeks to change the rut she has developed in her life. She goes against her husband’s wishes and buys an old house. Within the grounds of the house she finds a diary written by an Australian WWI nurse, Allie. As Lexi’s marriage crumbles she finds comfort in reading the diary which journals Allie’s love affair with a Captain of the British Army and the horrendous conditions she suffers while nursing soldiers at the war front. The story slips between Lexi’s modern problems and Allie’s anguish as she copes of being in love and serving her country during the war. Where Dragonflies Hover has received some wonderful reviews. What story are you working on next, and what inspired it? I’ve just started writing a new story new set in the WWI era again. It is about the grandchildren of one of my previous books, Kitty McKenzie. Kitty’s grandsons join the war from Australia, and her granddaughter joins as a nurse, they travel from the quiet countryside of Australia and are thrust into the middle of the mayhem and carnage that is the First World War. I am often asked by readers who have read Kitty McKenzie , and the sequel, Kitty McKenzie’s Land , as to whether I would write any more about the family, but I’ve had other stories I’ve wanted to write. Now, ten years later, I thought I’d give it a go. I’m hoping to have it finished by next year. How much research do you do? I do a lot of research as I enjoy it. However, the key is to not bog the story down with too much detail that slows the enjoyment of the reader. Novelists are story-tellers. We tell a story and we should try to get it as correct as possible, but, that said, we will make mistakes. We aren’t writing factual documentaries. I write historical novels, so I will research the era I’m writing in to the best of my ability, but I’m not an historian and I don’t claim to be. However, I do enjoy writing about my favourite eras such as Victorian, Edwardian and WWI so I will spend a lot of time researching to get the flavour of those times into my stories. Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? My writing develops through the characters. I find it tough going to write to an outline or a plot written in advance. I have tried it in the past and not liked it. My characters tend to go off and do their own thing, I just go along for the ride. It is far more enjoyable for me as a writer to see where the story goes. I’m usually always surprised by the twists and turns my characters insist on happening. What else have you written? Kitty McKenzie - historical novel Kitty McKenizie's Land - historical novel To Gain What's Lost - historical novel Broken Hero - historical novel Where Dragonflies Hover - spilt era novel To Take Her Pride - historical novel The Gentle Winds Caress - historical novel The House of Women - historical novel The Day Embroidered - historical novel Long Distance Love - contemporary novel Hooked On You - contemporary novel "What He Taught Her"- short story "Art of Desire"- short story "A New Dawn" - short story "The Right Man" - short story New Beginnings: short story anthology "I absolutely loved this book and spent two days of my holiday doing nothing else but reading it. The timeslip, along with the modern day story gave the book a distinct difference. I loved the way the diary brought the past to life, the descriptions of life during the war were amazing and the author brought both stories together at the end, in a very clever conclusion. Loved it." — Amazon reader, UK THE AUTHOR Annemarie Brear writes historical novels and modern romances. Her passions, apart from writing, are reading, researching, genealogy, roaming historical sites, buying books and gardening. She is an author of historical women's fiction, contemporary romance and several short stories. http://annemariebrear.blogspot.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/annemariebrear Twitter @annemariebrear FEATURED BOOK "This was a beautifully written novel, with an emotional thread that tugged at my heart-strings while I read. The dual timeline and voices were interwoven seamlessly by the author to create a wonderfully romantic plot tinged with some sadness. The protagonists, Allie and Lexi, were well-drawn, strong women whose lives did not follow the path they had hoped for and yet rallied against what others would perceive as unfairness of life. Recommended." —Amazon reviewer, UK Sometimes a glimpse into the past can help make sense of the future … Everyone thinks Lexi is crazy when she falls in love with Hollingsworth House – a crumbling old Georgian mansion in Yorkshire – and nobody more so than her husband, Dylan. But there’s something very special about the place, and Lexi can sense it. Whilst exploring the grounds she stumbles across an old diary and, within its pages, she meets Allie – an Australian nurse working in France during the First World War. Lexi finally realises her dream of buying Hollingsworth but her obsession with the house leaves her marriage in tatters. In the lonely nights that follow, Allie’s diary becomes Lexi’s companion, comforting her in moments of darkness and pain. And as Lexi reads, the nurse’s scandalous connection to the house is revealed … Genre: Contemporary (split era) Romance Publisher: Choc Lit Format: E-Book (198 pages) BUY AT AMAZON #AuthorInterview

THE BOOK Two great medieval dynasties come together. Le Veque’s De Wolfe Pack and Markland’s Montbryce~FitzRam family. The world will never be the same. A READER'S OPINION Romantic Contemporary with a touch of Medieval! Hungry Like de Wolfe , written by Anna Markland, is an excellent short novella to devour in an afternoon. It's a real page turner! Beware, because you won't be able to put it down. Anna Markland has done her magic again! I loved her two characters, Blaise Emery Quentin de Wolfe and Anne Smith. This novella starts as Anne, a young widow and professional Genealogical researcher, is asked to do a research on the de Wolfe heritage. Blaise needs confirmation of his de Wolfe ancestral roots in order to keep De Wolfe Hall, where he resides. Let's say that both have lost loved ones and wish to stay independent. However, as they start sharing memories and secrets, a beautiful friendship starts to bloom! As they spend more time researching about the Montbryce and de Wolfe ancestral roots, trust will come back and love will be in the air! Hungry Like de Wolfe is the beautiful short contemporary story of a knight and his lady! Anna Markland is an excellent storyteller, she never disappoints me! ​ Format Read: E-Book Book Source: Provided by the author or publisher Reviewer's Rating: 5 Stars | Content Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Reviewed by: Nicole Laverdure Available 9/6/2016 | VIEW OUR RATING SYSTEM #AReadersOpinion #MedievalRomance

THE BOOK One soul bound mate...one quest to find her. Year 1210, Scottish Highlands. Kidnapped as a wee lass by a fierce Highland chief, Kyla MacKenzie has been raised for the past twenty years as the chief’s foster daughter, the ruthless chief a man who threatened to kill her parents should she ever speak the truth about her abduction. The chief covets her fae blood and when she’s asked to tend to a captured enemy warrior and discovers they hold a soul bond, all her secrets could be exposed and her parents’ lives endangered. Warrior Ronan Matheson discovers his chosen one is the foster daughter of his clan’s greatest enemy, a lass he’s been searching for his entire life, although when his fellow warriors come to his rescue and he escapes from within the enemy’s walls, he must then turn around and find a way to get back in, and all without his actual identity being discovered. It’s time to bind his chosen one to him, and for her to learn all about her true clan. Theirs is a battle of lost love, of passion flaring hot and strong, and of a journey to bridge the gap between two warring clans. A READER'S OPINION Highlander’s Bride offers an interesting twist on Fae mythology. Filled with rich descriptions and a thorough history, you feel the wind and smell the sea, as though you are walking through the Highlands yourself. The writing is excellent and the story flows easily (after the prologue). My only complaints about this book are limited to two. The book began with a bit of a slow start. The extensive list of character’s left me a bit lost at times and the Prologue slowed down the flow of the story. However, once you jump into Chapter One, the story finds its rhythm. I was able to connect and sympathize with the two leads, Kyla and Ronan. There was no shortage of romance or action, and the drama of “What will happen next?” kept me turning the pages. If you are looking for an original spin on the Fae and Celts, this book is for you. I will mention that coming into this book, as a ‘new to the series’ reader, I found myself a little lost and a bit troubled to keep up. There is a large list of characters that clearly come from the author’s previous series, Clan Matheson. I do believe that it would be beneficial to read her previous series before jumping into this one. If I didn’t feel a bit lost from the start, I would have been better able to connect with the characters, and this would have been a five-star book! This story has time-travel, romance, passion, magic, and danger. I’d definitely recommend! Reviewer's Rating: 4 Stars | Content Rating: 4 Hearts | Reviewed by: Veronica Moss BUY AT AMAZON | VIEW OUR RATING SYSTEM #AReadersOpinion

THE BOOK Can love’s legacy bring two war weary souls together? Drawn by a flicker of light coming from the ruins of Babylon Castle, Rebecca Sumerfield is driven to investigate. The last thing she expects to find is the castle’s owner, a Captain in the British Army. Still devastated from her brother’s death in battle, she despises all things military. Having survived Waterloo, Captain Camden Le Bec isn’t in the market for romance. He stops at Babylon Castle, the perfect place to gather his thoughts, only for the spirited Rebecca to storm his castle and demand he leave at once. Her fearless defiance and selfless heart awaken a desire Camden has never known. He’s determined to possess her, but Rebecca refuses to risk another broken heart. Will they find solace in each other’s arms, or has war pushed them both beyond any hope? A READER'S OPINION Babylon Castle is a medieval ruin that has been in Camden Le Bec's family for hundreds of years. Having survived Waterloo, he feels the need to recoup before he heads home to his family, and finds himself at Babylon. Rebecca Summerfield is broken-hearted over her brother's death at Waterloo, and has sworn never to marry a soldier—EVER. She's drawn to Babylon Castle which borders her parents' estate. She's able to view the ruins from her bedroom window. Many times she's walked the castle walls wondering what secrets it holds. A flickering light in the distant castle draws her attention, and she vows to investigate. She never expected to find a trespasser—a good looking trespasser—and her heart tripped, stopped beating and resumed! Camden can't believe his eyes, at first he thought she was a figment of his imagination! He was hit hard with the sudden driving need to make her his. Will Rebecca let her fears destroy her chance at love? Can Camden fight for her and make her realize that love is worth fighting for? Even though this was a short story, it had all the sweetness of a wonderful romance. Rebecca and Camdon really have great chemistry! Amanda Mariel really does a great job in writing sweet romance that's perfect for young readers who want a taste of the beautiful world of romance. Reviewer's Rating: 4 Stars | Content Rating: 2 Hearts | Reviewed by: Maria Rose Dariotis BUY AT AMAZON | VIEW OUR RATING SYSTEM #AReadersOpinion

THE BOOK An unorthodox woman with a restless spirit… In her youth, Evarette D’Auvrecher was nicknamed the “restless fire” child. Now a woman grown, she retains that fiery nature. Many men seek her hand in marriage. They want her beauty, generous dower and an alliance with her influential family. They expect from her a meek spirit and implicit obedience - the hallmarks of a proper noblewoman - but she hungers for a man who desires her for herself. Meets a warrior with a sense of inadequacy - and a slightly misplaced sense of humor. Sir Javain d’Olgeanc is a powerful knight whose strength lies in battle strategy and the leadership of warriors. Then his father falls ill and he is called home to care for and protect hearth, home - and heaven forbid, helpless, defenseless innocents - a task for which he has little training. To make matters worse, he must manage this feat while falling in love with an unconventional beauty and staying one step ahead of a murderer. Fate brings them together. Sensual attraction binds them. But they might well kill each other before love can claim them. A READER'S OPINION Enjoyable Read! This is the first time that I read a book written by Màiri Norris ! The Trouble with Roses is a short novel filled with intrigue, adventure and romance. I liked the characters Evarette and Javain. The plot is well developed and filled twists & turns, treachery and betrayal. The Trouble with Roses is the third story in the Ballads of the Roses series. Since I love historical romances with a touch of Medieval, I decided to give this author a chance to discover her style of writing. This author has a very descriptive way with details, which makes this tale more fascinating. Evarette is a feisty woman in search of a man who will desire her for herself and soon, Javain, warrior knight, enters her life. Will destiny reunite these two against all odds? Just follow their journey! Reviewer's Rating: 4 Stars | Content Rating: 3 Hearts | Reviewed by: Nicole Laverdure BUY AT AMAZON | VIEW OUR RATING SYSTEM #AReadersOpinion #HistoricalRomance

From the author of The Poland Trilogy and winner of a gold medal awarded by The American Institute of Polish Culture, James Conroyd Martin delivers an "alternately romantic and brutal love story" set in 1683 and seeped in European history. THE BOOK On the eve of September 11, 1683, a massive Muslim Ottoman horde was besieging the gates of the imperial city of Vienna and had been doing so since the previous July. Now, however, they were just hours from capturing this capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The Turks’ intent was to bring Islam to all of Europe, and this city was seen by East and West alike as the gateway. With the window of time closing for Vienna, the walls were about to be breached on September 12 when the vastly outnumbered Christian coalition, led by Polish King Jan III Sobieski and his famous winged hussars, descended Kahlenberg Mountain to engage the Turks in an attempt to lift the siege. As crucial and consequential as the 1066 Battle of Hastings, the ensuing battle changed the course of European history. (Was it the first 9/11? Some people believe that the date for the September 11th attack in 2001 was chosen to symbolically resume the effort that began in 1683.) Aleksy, a dark-complected Tatar raised by a Polish peasant family, holds in his heart the wish is to become a Polish hussar, a lancer who carries into battle a device attached to his back that holds dozens of eagle feathers. As a Tatar and as a peasant, this is an unlikely quest. When he meets Krystyna, the daughter of the noble who owns the land that his parents work, he falls hopelessly in love. But even though she returns his love, race and class differences make this quest as impossible as that of becoming a hussar. Under the most harrowing and unlikely circumstances, one day Aleksy must choose between his dreams. Publication Date: September 1, 2016 Paperback; 358 Pages ISBN13: 9780997894509 Genre: Historical Fiction BUY AT AMAZON | ADD TO GOODREADS Praise for The Boy Who Wanted Wings “A poor archer in medieval Poland takes aim at the love of his life in this epic novel from Martin. The anxious Aleksy Gazdecki, a young farmhand, embodies the ethnic and political tensions of Europe during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. The believability of this novel, which is sprinkled with period-specific details, is never in question. Martin sets the stage so tidily that the plight of Aleksy and Krystyna, who desire to move beyond the social classes that keep them apart, transcends the historical moment. Sprawling but never slow, the plot moves naturally from battle to intimacy and back again. A gripping, transporting story of self-determination set against fate.” ~ Kirkus Reviews “Amidst class and religious warfare, this alternately romantic and brutal love story is also a reminder that the struggle between Christianity and Islam is a great deal older than 2001. Culminating in the re-creation of the Siege of Vienna in 1683, where monstrous killing was perpetrated in the name of God and power, this is a meticulously researched and convincingly written tale of love’s triumph that will surprise historical fiction readers with its little known historical backdrop. In an ethnically diverse Poland that is now long gone, the main characters struggle with loyalties to family, race, and country as they come to understand that no fear or evil is unchangeable.” ~Leonard Kniffel, Past Editor in Chief of American Libraries Director, Polish American Librarians Association ABOUT THE AUTHOR James Conroyd Martin is the award-winning author of The Poland Trilogy ( Push Not the River, Against a Crimson Sky , & The Warsaw Conspiracy ), a saga inspired by the diary of a countess in 1790s Poland. Hologram: A Haunting was inspired by a house he lived in in Hammond, Indiana. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon. For more information please visit James Conroyd Martin’s website . You can also connect with him on Facebook , Twitter , and Goodreads . This release day blast is hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours . #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #GuestAuthor

Congratulations to Heather Blanton, author of A Promise in Defiance , winner of the August 2016 Readers' Choice Cover Contest. Head on over to check out the cover finalists for September . Voting opens 09.01.16! #CoverContestWinner

When the infamous King Richard dagger is stolen from Highland chief, Dugald MacKerrick, he will do whatever it takes to reclaim it, even abduct the wife of the aristocratic thief, but what if his beautiful French hostage isn't who he thinks she is? Deep in the rugged Scottish Highlands, Dugald discovers not only is his captive, Camille Bouchard, more than he expected, so is the passion raging between them, threatening everything he thought mattered to him. **This novella was previously published in the Captured by a Celtic Warrior anthology.** A READER'S OPINION Vonda Sinclair knows how to steam up a page! Stolen by a Highland Rogue introduces us to two delightful characters, Dugald and Camille. I would have liked more build up in their romance but I did feel the sparks between them. We start right off with the mystery of the missing dagger and I did feel like I came in at the middle of a story, but soon found my way. There were times when I felt like I was in the 1600s with the Highlanders and other times when I felt like I'd come back to modern times. With more bed play than story, this quick and easy read is a nice way to spend an afternoon. Reviewer's Rating: 3 1/2 Stars | Content Rating: 5 Stars | Reviewed by: Kaylie Morgan BUY AT AMAZON | VIEW OUR RATING SYSTEM #AReadersOpinion #HistoricalRomance #HighlandRomance

A Reader's Opinion The Texas landscape comes alive in Sunrise Crossing by talented author Jodi Thomas. Every bit as colorful and vivid as the paintings in the book, the wildflowers and sunrise hues jump off the page like magic. The author gave us a lot of characters to get to know in one book, and offered up multiple storylines that neatly came together as the story moved along. While I enjoyed the individual stories, Parker Lacey and Clint Montgomery stole the show for me. Crossroads, Texas is a place where wounded hearts and battered souls can come to heal and start anew and that's what happens here. Yancy and Tori are two unlikely hearts that find each other by chance but end up finding their peace. Gabe's story turned out a lot different than I expected and I like surprises. The end felt very rushed, but Parker and Clint's tender romance, with her fears and his gentle heart, made for a touching and melt-into-each other kind of love story.   Book Description Return to peaceful Crossroads, Texas, where community comes first and love thrives in the unlikeliest places…  ​ Yancy Grey is slowly putting his life back together after serving time for petty theft. As he rebuilds an old house, he finally has a sense of stability, but he can't stop thinking of himself as just an ex-con. Until one night, he finds a mysterious dark-haired beauty hiding in his loft. But who is she, and what secret is she protecting?  ​ The art gallery Parker Lacey manages is her life—she has no time for friends, and certainly not lovers. But when her star artist begs Parker for help, she finds herself in a pickup truck, headed for the sleepy town of Crossroads. A truck driven by a strong, silent cowboy…  ​ Gabe Snow has been a drifter since he left Crossroads at seventeen after a violent incident. When he accepts a job in his hometown, he'll have to decide whether he can put the worst night of his life behind him and build a future in the community that raised him. ​ Series: Ransom Canyon Content Rating : 3 1/2 Hearts PURCHASE BOOK | VIEW OUR RATING SYSTEM Contemporary Romance | Release: August 30, 2016 | 384pp | HQN Books Format Read: Mass Market | Source: Provided by publisher #AReadersOpinion #ContemporaryRomance #2016Review

In 898 AD she wasn’t just from another land. Wrecking a marriage is generally no problem for the divorce obtaining, Lady Malice Mallender. But she faces a dilemma when she’s asked to ruin her own. Just how businesslike should she remain when the marriage was never consummated and kissing her husband leads to Sin--a handsome Viking who wants her for a bed slave in name only? She came from another time. Viking raider Sin Gudrunsson wants one thing. To marry his childhood sweetheart. Only she’s left him before, so he needs to keep her on her toes, and a bed slave, in name only, seems just the thing. Until he meets Malice. One kiss is all it takes to flash between two worlds. But when one kiss is no longer enough, which will it be? Regency London? Or Viking Norway? Will Malice learn what governs the flashes? Can Sin? Where worlds collide can love melt the iciest heart? A READER'S OPINION A real page turner! I usually don't have a problem writing a review, but this story, The Viking and The Courtesan , written by Shehanne Moore, has so many twists and turns that I don't know how to start! What happens when two headstrong women, Malice and Snotra, compete for the same man, a Viking named Sin? The story starts in London 1819 and wanders into 898 AD, back and forth. Forced to marry Cyril, Malice becomes the victim of this arrangement because he really doesn't love her . . . he only wants her money. But a single kiss will send her into the arms of a Viking named Sin, who is betrothed to another woman, Snotra. Sin will make her his bed slave. This story is filled with twists and turns to kept your attention! Follow their journey to discover the true nature of Malice and her discovery of how she can control her destiny. Which men will choose to love for eternity? Which woman will win the Viking’s heart for eternity? The Viking and The Courtesan is an historical tale—well-written, fast paced and intriguing, with a touch of time travel! Reviewer's Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Content Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Reviewed by: Nicole Laverdure #AReadersOpinion #HistoricalRomance #TimeTravelRomance

Believing he is cursed, Tristram, Lord Trevena, the Earl of Longstone, agrees to do just one favor for a friend, to dance with the man’s sister, but the beautiful and headstrong Isabel Albryght will settle for no less than claiming his lonely heart. A PROPHECY FORETOLD Raised by her doting older brother, Isabel Albryght grew up cosseted and protected. She enjoyed her life in the country, her books and her freedom. Then Weston married. Within months Isabel's best friend married. It seemed it was time for Isabel to marry, too, except, socially awkward and a bit too keen for most of the ton, she proceeded to have the most horrible season on record…until she was approached by Tristram, the Earl of Longstone. Two dances. That was all Tristram could offer anyone when considering his family curse, which had taken all he loved in the last ten years, so his promise to the beautiful Miss Albryght’s brother was simply that. The ton would soon see she was a desirable partner, her awkwardness would fade and other young swains would beat feet to her doorstep. But then he held her in his arms, and the delightful Isabel became his beating heart. Headstrong and full of passion, she believed she might waltz them away from Death. She alone could tempt him to try. A READER'S OPINION Tristram, Lord Traverna is the Earl of Longstone, and the last living member of his family. A curse and a waltz has Tristram cursing the fates. Believing that anyone he loves will come to a tragic death has him running away from what could be the love of his life. Lady Isabel Albright is beautiful, kind-hearted, and loves the country and her books. She longs for love and family—the kind her brother and her best friends have found. Accepting a wager with her brother, Weston, that if she loses, she has a season. Wager lost, she has to endure the ton. Poor Isabel is socially awkward and nervous, not one of the ton's darlings, and she suffers through humiliating events. Her brother, being the overprotective type, asks his best friend Lord Traverna to help. Only two dances should help and maybe change her luck. Lord Traverna is a lost man . . . that's all it took to loose his heart! Can he walk away from the woman of his dreams? Will Isabel let the only man that makes her heart come alive like the best book in the world? Can true love break the bonds of the curse? Alanna Lucas pulls the heartstrings in this love story! Truly an enjoyable read. This is what true romance is—falling in love with love! Reviewer's Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Content Rating: 2 Hearts | Reviewed by: Maria Rose Dariotis #AReadersOpinion #HistoricalRoma