Sunday, July 31, 2022

RRR presents... WELCOME TO WEAVER STREET by Chrissie Walsh - REVIEW!

HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we've got our sights set on a Historical Fiction title currently making the rounds of the blogosphere with Rachel's Random Resources. It's a book that takes us back to the early 1900s when tensions ran high, and outsiders with accents were viewed as anything but friendly. Okay, so that doesn't sound too far off from some things we hear today, but I digress...let's get between the pages of today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...


Welcome to Weaver Street
by
Chrissie Walsh


About the book...
Kitty and Tom Conlon arrive in Liverpool in July 1916 to claim the house Tom’s great-uncle has bequeathed him in his will. The move to England couldn’t have come at a better time. Dublin is in turmoil following the Easter Uprising and Kitty’s brother is now in prison.

The house in Weaver Street is all they hoped for, and after a shaky start with her new neighbours, Kitty believes the world is her oyster. Until that is, Tom is conscripted into the navy.

With Tom away, it’s up to Kitty and the women of Weaver Street to get each other through the war.







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What starts as an adventure to see what an unexpected inheritance may hold, turns into a life path of challenges that will forever change their lives.

Kitty and Tom are a newly wed couple. They have hopes, they have dreams, they have desires, but above all...they have each other, and with young love, that's more than enough. When a relative of Tom's passes, he gains the deed for an unexpected dwelling...and upon deciding to investigate things in person, they set themselves on a new path they could never have foreseen. Strangers in a strange town, but a step above that because there's a war going on and their accents set them apart from the local scene...and not in a good way. There are plenty that voice their opinions and several that have what they consider good reasons for the way they act, but in the end, they're prejudice against them both is not their undoing. No that is brought on by themselves in the distance they allow to grow between them, the pride they let get in the way of necessity, the honesty that flees in the face of lies, and the trust that is broken beyond repair. How and when is along the way...but in the end, a comeuppance comes, and despite being dark, despite being gruesome, despite being wrong on several levels, it fits rather right with all that transpired.

So take a journey far from home to a place that could be paradise...if only we aren't blinded by all that glitters to the things and PEOPLE that are most important.




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About the author...


Chrissie Walsh was born and raised in West Yorkshire and is a retired schoolteacher with a passion for history. She has written several successful sagas documenting feisty women in challenging times for Aria. Welcome to Weaver Street, the first title in her new WW1 saga series for Boldwood.







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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!



Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Friday, July 29, 2022

RRR presents... A WEDDING AT SANDY COVE by Bella Osborne - REVIEW!

Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we welcome back Rachel's Random Resources as we show our support for another title currently on tour throughout the blogosphere. It's part Contemporary Romance, part Romantic Comedy, and all heart! If you've ever wondered about the lives of those that work the wedding world, here's your chance to take a fictional peek. Ladies and gents, future brides and grooms, let's get between the epages of today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...


A Wedding at Sandy Cove
by
Bella Osborne


About the book...

Escape to Sandy Cove, where the scent of summer and the sound of wedding bells are in the air!

Ella makes brides’ dreams come true - there’s no dress she can’t make perfect with her sewing skills and some sparkle. But Ella’s own love life is no fairy tale. Recently dumped, surrounded by fussy brides and with the prospect of wearing a hideous brown bridesmaids dress to her friend’s wedding, Ella feels more alone than ever so agrees to go on a blind date.

A mix up on the night introduces her to Kit.

Kit is definitely not the man she was supposed to meet, but he could end up changing her life in ways she never thought possible…

A perfectly funny, feel-good summer romance that will whisk you away to sandy beaches and a seaside wedding. Fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson will adore Bella Osborne.




AMAZON  UK  |  US



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First, take another look at that GORGEOUS cover!
I know, I do this from time to time, but it warrants it, am I right?  The colors, the title, the image, all work to provide a little magic before we even crack the spine...virtually even.  Anywho, while your mindset is all prepared for what's to come...is your heart?

Ella and friends were a touching group.  They all play their parts, and have much to learn in the love department, but they stick to reach other through thick and thin.  No matter the dicey adventures between the sheets one chooses, nor the extramarital affair that might not be everything it seems...there is no situation too big, or moment too small for this trio, and they seriously have each other's backs.  Our gal Ella, though, gets a lot of page time and with good reason.  She's probably got the most going on in her life, right now, and she's treading water trying not to go under.  Good friends, close family, and a great job go a long way in supporting her...well, at least the first two...or rather the first ONE does.  Her friendships are strong, definitely a quality not quantity situation, but her family ties are about to experience a pretty big shift that eventually develops into its own version of the Marianna Trench...but never say never because it'll all come right in the end.  For better or worse, right?  😉

The missteps, the hiccups, the face offs that lead to new life paths to follow, and the misunderstandings that could have been sorted with a few questions and answers in lieu of stewing, and imposed distance, all go into making you love the characters THAT much more, as you turn epages into the night.  It's a great pick for your summer reading nights, and a match made in heaven for fans of either genre mentioned previously.  So, go ahead...take a walk down the aisle, and reach for your happily-ever-after...between the pages of this lovely book!





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About the author...


Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written a number of best-selling romantic comedies and book club reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award 2022.

Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. She lives in The Midlands, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.

For more about Bella, visit her website at www.bellaosborne.com or follow her on social media:





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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!



Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Thursday, July 28, 2022

TCBR AWARENESS TOUR: Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone by J.T. Michaels - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!
Welcome back to round two, here on Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...where we celebrate the insatiable reader in you!



Next up, we've got our sights set on a Young Adult Fiction novel filled with magic, mystery, and a story most curious. From the cover to the "about", it's not a book easy to forget, and really, why would you want to? The more the merrier, and this title definitely sounds like a merry sort to add to the old TBR, so KEEP READING to check out the introductions, and then READ SOME MORE as we share a special GUEST POST from the author too!


Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone
by
J.T. Michaels
9781778035203


About the book...

Author J.T. Michaels brings a fantasy tale of an ancient war, a modern-day murder mystery, mystical creatures, and memorable characters in his masterfully written young adult novel, Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone.


The Great War ended a century ago. Peace reigns across the eight countries. Epic tales of heroic men and women of those times are recounted in song and story. Yet, history seems to have forgotten a young battlefield healer, Tessa Marlise…

Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Chartron has just enrolled at the Navale Academy of Eagleon, his mind set on becoming an electrician. A chance magical encounter binds him to the trapped soul of Tessa Marlise. As Jimmy struggles to deal with this shocking development, murder and mystery unravel in the academy. Caught in the middle of everything, Jimmy realizes that a larger evil is afoot and that only two things can stop it: himself and the ghost in his head…







~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



~~~ GUEST POST ~~~

The Art of Combining Genres in a Novel for Kids
with Author J.T. Michaels


Is there really an art of combining genres in a children’s book? Probably. I’m still learning, but I thought I’d share some thoughts.

For me, the whole purpose of the novel is to entertain while having some semblance of realism that will keep your readers grounded. I try to remind myself that there should be a quantity of fancy for your readers to float but laced with enough truth to keep them from flying. At least, that’s what I tried to do when I wrote Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone.

There are several genres that are woven into Jimmy’s story: a fantasy adventure, a murder mystery, and a ghost story. The main thrust of the novel, though, is a boy beginning his journey from a sheltered upbringing into manhood. So, at its heart, Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone is a coming-of-age novel. Everything else serves this purpose: to form situations where Jimmy is forced to grow.

It’s a delicate balance and I often found myself rewriting scenes to make them feel suitable for Jimmy’s age. For instance, if I had overblown the mystery aspect of the novel, Jimmy would have assumed more of a detective role. The way I saw it, this would have run into two issues: either Jimmy would have to be extremely intelligent and/or street-smart, or the main villain would have to be dumbed down. Either choice didn’t feel realistic to me. I wanted Jimmy to be relatable. Really, who solves murder mysteries at sixteen years of age?

Instead, the murder simply raises an opportunity for Jimmy’s world to expand. As Jimmy attempts to solve the mystery—not quite successfully, I might add—he dives into a fantastic world of adventure where he is continuously challenged to learn and grow. Again, it’s about Jimmy’s growth. So, what about the ghost aspect of the story?

Every main character needs a mentor. Harry Potter had Dumbledore, Frodo had Gandalf—yes, he lost that one-third of the way, but still—and Percy Jackson had Chiron. The one area where Jimmy Chartron differentiates itself from the other stories is the duration that the mentor has with our protagonist. Dumbledore would phase in and out of Harry’s story, leaving Harry to deal with challenging situations himself. Same with the others. I wanted Jimmy’s relationship with Tessa, the ghost, to be different. Rather than appearing throughout the novel at random points and leaving Jimmy to amazingly overcome challenging obstacles himself, having Tessa as a ghost allowed Jimmy to have his personal guide whenever and wherever.

This not only allows Jimmy to confront challenges with a grown-up’s help (which, to me, seems more realistic), but it also gives him the opportunity to reflect on past events. Throughout the novel, Tessa constantly gives Jimmy advice and criticism at the right moments, which helps develop Jimmy as a person. And don’t we all need strong feedback from time to time?

So, if I were to give anyone advice on mashing multiple genres together, it would be this: have one main genre, and everything else must support it. And that main genre should support your protagonist’s trajectory. It’s like building a pyramid out of genres. At the end of the day, everything leads up to a single point: your protagonist.




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About the author...


Author J.T. Michaels has always loved storytelling, no matter the medium. Being immersed in a different world, whether it’s through books or video games, has also been an obsession for him. Years after writing for his school magazine, he discovered he wanted to create his own worlds for readers, and his journey to fantasy writing began with Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone, the first volume in his epic fantasy series.

J.T. gets inspiration for his books from everything around him, incorporating his friends as character ideas to make his stories as relatable and realistic as possible. He hopes his young readers come away from his stories having escaped from the real world for a bit and with a spark of magic that lasts long after the book is closed.

When he isn’t writing enchanting fantasy novels for teens, J.T. enjoys running and spending time outside in the sunshine and hunkering down in a bookstore or library on rainy days. He lives in British Columbia, Canada, where he likes to indulge in a great cup of coffee. Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone is his debut novel, the first in a planned fantasy trilogy.

For more information, visit https://www.jtmichaels.ca/.





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Enter for a chance to win a Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone prize pack!



One (1) grand prize winner receives:


The Comfy Couch Reader Prize Pack
- Two Alice in Wonderland throw covers
- A side lamp with a unique horse stencil design
-A signed copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone




One (1) grand prize winner receives:


The Books and Beverage Lover Prize Pack
- A Jimmy Chartron mug
-A Magic Mug with 3 Reveal Characters
-A signed copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone




Three (3) winners receive:


A signed paperback copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone






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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the author for the guest post. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!


TOUR SCHEDULE


Monday, July 18, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Tuesday, July 19, 2022
A Growing Readers Podcast interview with author J.T. Michaels

Wednesday, July 20, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Thursday, July 21, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Friday, July 22, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Tuesday, July 26, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Wednesday, July 27, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Thursday, July 28, 2022
An article by author J.T. Michaels

Friday, July 29, 2022
A book giveaway of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Monday, August 1, 2022
An Instagram Video Review

Tuesday, August 2, 2022
An article by author J.T. Michaels

Wednesday, August 3, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Thursday, August 4, 2022
A book review of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone




Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!




RRR presents... A SUMMER OF CASTLES by Rachel Walkley - SPOTLIGHT!

Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources as we set our BOOK SPOTLIGHT to shine on a story that is steeped in the past, but with very real consequences for the future. It's got mystery, a touch of magic, and a synopsis that will definitely make you want to know more! Ready or not, let's take a closer peek at today's title in the spotlight...


A Summer of Castles
by
Rachel Walkley

About the book...

A Summer of Castles. A secret in ruins.

At the beginning of the sultry 2003 English summer, Robyn Yates quits her job to photograph fifteen castles for a man she’s never met. A man who won’t tell her his real name.

What motivates her is an unusual ability she can’t explain nor understand. Somebody does though and is keen to exploit her secret.

But Robyn isn’t alone on her journey. An artist is painting pictures of the same castles. Wherever she goes, so does he, like a stalker. But is he dangerous? And could this man be the same person who wants her photographs?

She decides to challenge him, never anticipating that the confrontation will change the path of both of their lives.

The stifling summer will eventually end, but will Robyn find out the truth in time?



AMAZON  UK  |  US




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About the author...


 
Aspiring writer who pens Women's Fiction and magical tales about family secrets.

What else?

An East Anglian turned Northerner - almost.
Information professional, always.
Biologist, in my memories.
Archivist, when required.
Amateur pianist and flautist.
Reluctant gardener.
Scribbler of pictures.
And forever.... a mother and wife.
Oh, not forgetting, cat lover!







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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Wednesday, July 27, 2022

RRR presents... CAPER CRUSH by Kathy Strobos - GUEST POST!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we're shining the book spotlight on a title currently touring with Rachel's Random Resources. It's a rom-com where opposites certainly attract, but can the feelings they bring be sustained? That, my friends, is the million dollar question, and on that note, I'm going to get to the introductions because AFTER that, you get to indulge in a special GUEST POST from the author, herself! Ready, set, READ ALL ABOUT IT...



Caper Crush
by
Kathy Strobos


About the book...
A feel-good, opposites-attract, slow burn romantic comedy

Somebody stole my painting! The one I need for the career-defining Vertex Art Exhibit. This upcoming art show is my chance to finally be recognized as an artist—after ten years of waitressing and being asked if I still have that “lovely painting hobby.”

I have mere weeks to find my painting or lose my artist dream forever—but it’s going to mean working with William.

William Haruki Matsumura. Good-looking, if you like the Secret Service type. You know, law-abiding, protector of women and children. That’s all fine, but I can never tell what he’s thinking. Which drives me crazy.

He insists on coming along to do “damage control.” As if “accidentally” wandering into certain areas is “breaking and entering.” I may be an emotional artist, but William shouldn’t dismiss my investigative skills yet.

William is definitely my opposite, and, if there’s one takeaway from my parents’ divorce, it’s that opposites might attract, but it doesn’t last. But detecting with William is kind of fun—and fluttery. I definitely can’t trust these feelings, or can I? However this caper ends, I think this may be more than a crush.




AMAZON UK | US




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~~~ GUEST POST ~~~
...with Author Kathy Strobos

What inspired you to write Caper Crush?

I wanted to write a book with an emotional action heroine. I tend to tear up quite easily (at people giving up their seat for pregnant women or elderly people), and so I wanted to write a character like that. And I wanted to celebrate that vulnerability as a strength. 

But then my favorite trope is opposites attract, so William needed to be more strait-laced. And maybe appear less emotional on first impression. 

Because my protagonist was going to be an emotional action heroine, I needed action in my plot, so that inspired the mystery plot. Plus, I like old films like THE THIN MAN, SOME LIKE IT HOT, BRINGING UP BABY, and so I wanted to give it a caper feeling. Watching romantic comedies and Korean dramas have been a huge solace to me during the pandemic, and Korean dramas tend to have both romance and action plots, so I think that definitely influenced my writing as well. 

I also love modern art. When I was in high school, I used to meet my best friends at the MoMA, and we’d walk around and chat. Then in my twenties, I joined a social group at the MoMA and we’d meet up to visit art galleries. (That’s why I set my newsletter magnet at the MoMA. I made up a scavenger hunt party at the MoMA—in costume as your favorite art piece). I also was on the board of the Dumbo arts center in Dumbo , Brooklyn, and I used to give tours of artists’ studios in Dumbo to raise money for the dumbo arts center. So I decided to make her an artist. 

At my son’s public elementary school, a parent band performs at our annual school fundraiser, and I’ve always been impressed by the mom singers, so that’s why I added Miranda’s talent as a singer. I, unfortunately, have absolutely no talent for singing. 

Because I want to celebrate diversity (given current world and NYC events), I made William Japanese-American. I worked at Sony as a lawyer for many years before I left to pursue my dream of writing romcoms, and I do miss visiting Japan and interacting with colleagues from around the world. 

Once I started writing Caper Crush, I just had so much fun. It really made me so happy to write and to read, so I hope you enjoy it as well. 



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About the author...


Kathy Strobos is a writer living in New York City with her husband and two children, amid a growing collection of books, toys and dollhouses. She grew up in New York City and graduated from Stuyvesant High School, Harvard-Radcliffe University magna cum laude, and Columbia Law School. She spent two semesters abroad at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. She previously worked as a lawyer. She left law to pursue her dream of writing fiction full-time and getting in shape. She is the author of Partner Pursuit, Is This for Real?, A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, and Caper Crush. She is still working on getting in shape.






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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the author for the guest post. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!



Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Rockstar Book Tours presents... KENZIE'S KINGDOM by Shea Fontana - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are proud to be shining the BOOK SPOTLIGHT on KENZIE'S KINGDOM by Shea Fontana & Agnes Garbowska, available now...and ask you to help share the news! 

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below. 

This blitz also includes a giveaway for 2 finished copies of KENZIE'S KINGDOM courtesy of Wonderbound  & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 


Title: KENZIE'S KINGDOM

Author: Shea Fontana, Agnes Garbowska (Illustrator), Rebecca Taylor (Editor)

Pub. Date: July 26, 2022

Publisher: Wonderbound

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

When modern meets medieval, Kenzie must help a squire get back to the past in this time-traveling fantasy adventure!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRINCESS

Kenzie hates that her family moved to a castle to start a Medieval-themed resort, but all that changes when a time-traveling squire needs Kenzie’s help to get back home to the past! From the best-selling creative team behind DC Superhero Girls, this is a perfect read for fans of Phoebe and her Unicorn, The Baby-Sitter’s Club, or Witches of Brooklyn.

 



EXCERPT:







 

About Shea Fontana:

Shea Fontana is a writer for film, television and graphic novels. Her credits include developing and writing the DC Super Hero Girls animated shorts, TV specials, movies and graphic novels; Polly Pocket (developed and story editor), Doc McStuffins, The 7D, Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets (wrote show bible and first season), Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (story editor), the new Muppet Babies series; two Disney on Ice shows where she wrote new material for the worlds of Mickey Mouse, Inside Out, Disney Princesses, Finding Dori, Frozen, and other Disney and Pixar properties; and the feature film, Crowning Jules. She has also written for top comic titles including Justice League, Wonder Woman, Batman: Overdrive (coming 2019), Catwoman/Looney Tunes, and contributed anthology pieces starring Deathstroke and Teen Titans.

Her DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels have been New York Times Best Sellers. Her debut graphic novel, Finals Crisis, was honored with Diamond's 2016 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel, and DC Super Hero Girls: Past Times at Super Hero High won the 2017 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel as well as the Comixology Reader's Pick award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel of 2017. DC Super Hero Girls won the 2018 Ringo Award for Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel. She was listed 61st on Bleeding Cool’s Power List of Comics for 2018. The London Free Press declared her “not afraid to be corny,” which is an accurate assessment of her persona both on and off the page.

She lives in sunny Los Angeles where she enjoys hiking, hanging out with her beagle, Ziggy, and changing her hair color. Using the secret identity “Shea Q. Off,” Shea played roller derby until her angry knees forced her into early retirement. 

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 



About Agnes Garbowska:

Agnes has worked with many of the major comic book publishers illustrating such titles as the New York Times Best Sellers & Gem Award winner DC Superhero Girls for DC Comics, My Little Pony, Care Bears, and Jem and the Holograms for IDW, Grumpy Cat, Boo: the World's Cutest Dog, and Li’l Vampi  for Dynamite Entertainment, Sonic Universe Off-Panel Stripes for Archie Comics, and Victories for Dark Horse. She has worked with Marvel Comics, providing artwork for Girl Comics and Spider-Ham 25th Anniversary Special. She is also the artist for the 2014 Halloween Comic Fest comic, The Adventure of Ernie from Aspen Comics.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

 





Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of KENZIE'S KINGDOM, US Only.










Sunday, July 24, 2022

RRR presents... THE DUKE'S BLUESTOCKING by Josie Bonham - REVIEW!

HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we're back with Rachel's Random Resources as we host a stop on her current tour featuring the work of author Josie Bonham. The name sounded familiar when I came across the promotion, so I dove back into my own reading, and discovered I had read another of her works, once upon a time.  Would this one live up to my expectations?  You're about to find out...and so, if you're a Historical Fiction, or Romance fans, I invite you to come closer to the screen and take a look at today's ebook of choice...


The Duke’s Bluestocking
by
Josie Bonham


About the book...

Temptation like never before for the fashion-loving bluestocking when she meets an unconventional duke.

Headstrong Grace Bamford is determined to remain unwed and keep her independence. Which means interesting, marriageable men are best avoided. Her classical studies and philanthropy are more important to her than a husband and a lot safer.

Angus Medley's life is turned upside down when he unexpectedly inherits a dukedom. He is wrenched from the career he loves as an Edinburgh advocate to take up responsibility for the Duchy of Evesham and the people relying on it for their livelihoods.

Grace rescues Angus from a knife-wielding attacker outside the London orphanage she helps to run. He dismisses the attack as a failed robbery but Grace suspects foul play. Is someone from Angus's past trying to kill him? Grace offers to help him investigate, concerned for his safety, even though it means spending time with the most attractive man she has ever met.

Marriage is the last thing on Angus's mind as he grapples with his new responsibilities and his hidden enemy, until he falls in love with Grace. Will Grace find the courage to follow her heart?

Georgette Heyer meets Mary Balogh in this romantic adventure.



AMAZON  UK  |  US





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Okay, so here's the nit to my grit...the bares bones of my review.
I love the cover.  I love the characters.  I love the overall story.  I didn't love the length of time it took to get that story progressing...but once it did, it came together like a moth to a flame, and the ending was a perfect match.  There.  How's that?  What...you want more?  Happy to oblige!

As I said, the cover is lovely...gorgeous colors, a beautiful couple, and the promise of that magical moment coming to pass captured just before said magical moment.  The characters...why, I think these are some of my favorite actually!  Grace and Angus would have obviously come together naturally without the interference of her brother, aunt, or anyone else, for that matter, but having to put their two cents in set these two on a much longer, bumpier road than strictly necessary.  Grant it, it was well worth following, but so much more happiness could have ensued, if they had just held their tongues!  I adored the strength of Grace's character, and how she wasn't afraid to stand out in a crowd, or make the ton gossip.  I loved how Angus was at ease admitting his lack of knowledge in areas pertaining to the ranks, and such, and was happy to accept the assistance of those that he trusted in order to better himself and his household.  He was charming without being overbearing, and it was wonderful to see just how well he and Grace would work...if they ever got passed everything else going on.  You couldn't help but want to see them both happy, and together would be all the better!

All in all, a great story (as I said!) with memorable characters that endear themselves to you in both action and word.  The forward motion of things is carried on through murder attempts, investigations to uncover who is behind the threats, the placement of orphans into paid stations to improve their futures, and potentially love...so yes, a bit of something for everyone that calls this genre their own!




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About the author...


Josie lives in the English midlands, surrounded by towns full of history such as Evesham, Stratford-Upon- Avon, Warwick and Worcester. Which is perhaps why her favourite reads are historical. Out of all the periods to choose from the Regency Era stirs her imagination the most. The true Regency lasted from 1811 until 1820 but dates as wide as 1789 to 1837 have been included in the extended Regency period. For Josie the true flavour of this period emerges after the iniquitous hair powder tax of 1795, unsurprisingly, scuppered the fashion for hair powder almost overnight.

Josie has always dabbled in stories but it took the combined efforts of her sister and eldest niece to set her on the path to writing novels. Her Regency romances, with a dash of adventure and intrigue, are the result.







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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!