Louise's Christmas Champion

 Louise's Christmas Champion

The Bookshop Belles #3

Catherine Bilson & Ebony Oaten

Reviewed by Helen

I am loving this series and it is now Louise’s turn to find love and happiness, when a stranger arrives in town he is tall, so tall and this is so very good for Louise as she is also very tall but that is only the first thing that Louise notices, he is very handsome and helpful, and for the first time Louise finds herself actually attracted to a man, could she find love like Estelle and Marie?

Shaun Jackson arrives in Hatfield on the coach, he is not in a hurry to get back to London after the war with France he has sold his commission and is looking for a place to settle and when he delivers a box of books to Baxter’s Fine Books and meets the lovely Louise Baxter maybe he has found his place.

Shaun soon finds himself hunting an arsonist and doing his best to protect not only Louise but her sister Bernadette and the bookshop but the town as well, but his feelings for Louise are growing daily and he is sure that she feels the same way but with rumours going around about his past things don’t always run smoothly not only is the arsonist still lose but there are bullies in this town that need to be set straight.

This story is fabulous, a beautiful romance with intrigue running through the pages, fabulous characters that are so easy to love and Louise is so strong and Shaun is caring and loving, I do highly recommend this one and the series it is so good.

5 stars

April 8, 2025 by Shenanigans Press

Tempting the Duchess

 Tempting the Duchess

Disgraceful Duchesses #2

Sara Bennett

Reviewed by Helen

Second book in this series and we meet the youngest of the Mallory sisters, Ellis and see if she can find her HEA, she is now a Dowager Duchess after the loss of her Duke but she is running for her life as The Duke’s cousin Theo is determined to get what he thinks should be his either by forcing her to marry him or kill her but Ellis is made of sterner stuff and escapes his clutches only to fall into the hands of another man.

Ellis married her Duke after being pushed by her mother but it was a marriage on paper only but Ellis was happy to while away her life in the country her husband was a good friend and happy but Ellis has always longed for a man to love and have him love her and when she knocks on the door after running through the forest it is answered by a man who might just be the answer to her wish.

Owen, Lord Lyndhurst likes his quiet life in the country where he draws pictures of beautiful woman in some very brazen poses they sell well and he is happy doing it when he has a beautiful sitter but his last sitter has burnt him and run off and now here is a beautiful woman needing help on his doorstep, could she be the answer to his wish for a new sitter.

After Ellis see some of Owen’s drawings she wants very much to sit for him and soon they are tempted in ways that neither of them expected but will they find what they both deserve with danger lurking?

This is a fabulous story that is devoured, sensual, beautiful and moving, it is one that I highly recommend, I loved it, now to read book three in the series.

5 stars

August 29, 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Woodstock

 Woodstock

Michelle Montebello

Reviewed by Helen

Just WOW this book is another masterpiece from Michelle Montebello, her words and characters leave a place in my mind after reading one of her stories, stories that are emotionally beautiful, filled with characters who come to life within the pages and this is one that I just loved so much, come along for a trip back in time to none other than Woodstock the most memorable music festival ever, you will not be able to put this one down.

It is 1969 and Dawn Ellis is eighteen just finished school and waiting to go to college, with the help from her sister Ruth she convinces her strict parents to let her travel across America with four of her friends, Patty, Carol Keith and Tommy in Tommy’s Kombi van to attend Woodstock music and arts festival, this weekend is a sure to be a weekend of peace, love, freedom and music from some of the best bands and musicians. This weekend will also change their lives forever, some of them drafted for the Vietnam War but life will never be the same for these friends.

2010 Sydney Meredith who is a fashion photographer is visiting her parents when she gets a phone call from a hospital in Santa Monica to say that she is down as next of kin for a woman called Destiny who in in an induced coma and they would like her to come and be there for her, the only thing is that Meredith has never heard of this woman before and when she questions her parents she detects that they know something, and when the hospital rings again Meredith goes to Santa Monica and what she discovers with upend all that she has known.

The discoveries Meredith makes takes her back to Woodstock and the lies, secrets and sacrifices that those young people made all those years ago, the world was a very different place back then, I was totally captivated and enthralled from the start as the story came alive on the pages, the music rang in my ears as Dawn and her friends lived through all that was Woodstock and then Meredith’s search for answers had me cheering her on, this is such a brilliant story, truly.

I cried, I smiled and I felt every emotion throughout this story my heart broke at times and then it was put back together, I do highly recommend this one it really is a must read. Thank you Michelle Montebello for another awesome story that I loved. The research was fabulous.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

June 18, 2025

Beguiled by the Highlander

 Beguiled by the Highlander

Daughters of the Isle #1

Christina Phillips

Reviewed by Helen

I loved this one so much, I do love a good Scottish historical and Christina Phillips did not disappoint, my trip back in time to The Isle of Sgur and the woman who run the Isle they are decedents of a Pict Queen, proud and strong, Isolde is the eldest of three daughters and this is her story come along and meet her and these fabulous woman.

Isolde knows that she is destined to stay on the Isle forever, proud of her heritage and bound by the prophecy of these long ago woman this is where her life is but ten years ago her beloved grandmother promised her to, the Campbell Clan namely Willian Campbell and Isolde is determined not to marry him.

Then a stranger washes up on their beach a handsome man who has no memory of who he is and Isolde feels the spark instantly could he be the man who will win her heart and stay on her Isle?
Although he has no memory he knows that he will go to any lengths to win this woman’s heart it feels like they are destined to be together, she is strong and independent and knows how to handle a claymore but he must first find out who he is and if he has anything to offer her.

When his memory returns the truth just may well tear them apart especially when he remembers what happened on the ship, but one thing is for certain he wants Isolde and Isolde cannot fight her grandmother but will they be safe?

Christina Phillips has written a beautiful romance filled with so many emotions, it is sensual and there is danger for both of them will they find that love and happiness, I do highly recommend this one it was hard to put down, a fabulous read and I can’t wait to read more in this series.

My thanks to Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing Inc. for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

June 3, 2025 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc

The Reluctant Countess

 The Reluctant Countess

Little Foxbury #1

Elizabeth Leydin

Reviewed by Helen

I loved this one so much I think it might be my favourite Elizabeth Leydin so far, it is moving, filled with emotions, fabulous characters and a wonderful setting, come along for a visit to Little Foxbury.

Diana Tilney is a strong independent woman living in a man’s world and marriage is something that Diana is not going into and has made it clear to most people, but when her sister and her husband are lost in a boating accident and leave their two daughters, Vicky and Dora in the care of Diana and Ned Faulkes the new Earl, there are a few matters that need to be settled.

Ned never expected to be the Earl he was happy with his life, a widow who is determined to not marry again but now there is the welfare of his nieces that needs to be taken care of and he wants them back in the family home, Swanstead but he has to convince their Aunt Diana that it is the right thing to do.

They decide on a marriage of convenience for the children’s sake, Diana has strict rules as she will not be controlled by a man and Ned doesn’t want an heir after his first wife died in childbirth but can they control the feeling sand chemistry that is growing within both of them the more they get to know each other?

MS Leydin has a beautiful voice for writing regency’s she takes me back to that time and makes me feel like I am sitting in a drawing room with the characters in her story and this is one that I highly recommend, a short quick read that ticks all of the boxes for a fabulous regency romance, I am looking forward to more in this series.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

May 15, 2025 by Improbable Fictions

An Earl of Bluebells

 An Earl of Bluebells

An English Garden #2

Steffy Smith

Reviewed by Helen

This series is about four Rakes and the four women who will tame them, I thoroughly enjoyed book one and this one is a steamy, sensual read as Lucas Belmont, the Earl of Chester and Lady Emma Finley find their HEA.

Lady Emma is no meek and mild lady, she knows what she wants and is not afraid to let people know either, she wants to start an orphanage and will go all out to do it, then there is Lucas the man she wants in her life she has felt this way about him for some time now, will she be able to get him?

Lucas and his friends lead a life of Rakes but he wants Lady Emma, will he be able to win her over, she is strong willed and determined and that is one of the things he loves about her, but will he be able to be his true self with her?

This is a steamy romance as they marry and find the love that has been there for some time, being themselves is best honesty and love will win through. This is a quick read and one I recommend to any historical romance reader.

My thanks to the author and Booksprout for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

May 1, 2025 by Steffy Smith Books

The Mademoiselle Alliance

 The Mademoiselle Alliance

Natasha Lester

Reviewed by Helen

Natasha Lester has done it again with her new book, taken a true story and turned it into an excellent story that shows the strength and courage of the resistance group, Alliance who worked throughout World War 2 with the backing of the British MI6 team to help bring down the Nazis and it was run by Marie-Madeline, a young mother and adventurer who never gave up.

Marie-Madeline was born in France, spent her younger years in Shanghai and at eighteen married and moved to Morocco, helping her husband with intelligence work, here her true adventurous self-came out learning to fly, driving rally cars, then giving birth to her son Christian but the marriage was not always a happy one and when she became pregnant for the second time with her daughter Beatrice she returns to France and here she stays with her two children.

1938 and Europe is on the verge of war, meeting a man named Navarre, who recruits her to help with the resistance group Alliance this turns her life upside down but she loves France, her children and her family and is determined to do what she can to save them all, but her real identity and gender is not known to many people. She also meets a man and at first meeting the chemistry is there, Leon Faye hero from the Great War will also become the man she loves.

Alliance is one of the biggest resistance groups there was during WW11 having sectors in every part of France, but there was danger every day, with the Gestapo moving in there are also traitors who cause death and trouble, will Marie-Madeline survive till the end and how many of the other Alliance members will?

This story is absolutely brilliant so many emotions as MS Lester brings to life the true story of Marie-Madeline Fourcade and showed what a truly amazing woman she was, this story is an heroic story of love, tragedy, heartbreak but above all else such courage and strength as we get to know and love the characters in this story and yes there were many tears from me.

I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a fabulous historical fiction, you will not be disappointed, and I loved it.

5 stars

March 26, 2025 by Hachette Australia