Hello Friends and Welcome To My Stop On The Blog For The Paperback Release Of The Surgeon’s House By Jody Cooksley

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Title: The Surgeon’s House
Author: Jody Cooksley
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Format: Paperback (out 22 January 2026)

Thank you so much to Jody Cooksley and Allison & Busby for my fab book mail – returning to Evergreen House in this sequel was exactly the dark, gothic escape I was hoping for.

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Set in London, 1883, The Surgeon’s House picks up the threads from The Small Museum and tightens them into something even more ominous and emotionally charged. Evergreen House, now a refuge for “fallen” women and their children, is supposed to be a place of second chances – until the brutal murder of beloved cook Rose Parmiter shatters that fragile sense of safety.

From there, the story descends into a deeply unsettling Gothic mystery as Rebecca Harris, proprietor of Evergreen House, must confront not only the immediate threat but also the festering legacy of the Everley family, whose long-buried sins still seep from the walls. The unnerving sense that the house itself remembers—and resents—what has transpired within its rooms lends the entire novel a suffocating, haunted atmosphere that captures the Victorian Gothic mood with chilling precision.

Rebecca makes for a compelling, stubbornly hopeful heroine: caught between patriarchal scrutiny, moral hypocrisy, and a society obsessed with science and respectability, she is still determined to protect the women and children in her care. Her relationship with George, and the fragile community they have built at Evergreen, adds a thread of warmth that stops the book tipping into pure despair, even as the body count rises and the threats close in.

This is a harsh, unflinching read; scenes of cruelty and injustice lay bare the stark imbalances of power in Victorian society, especially for vulnerable women and children

The atmosphere is where the novel truly dazzles: shadow-drenched corridors, furtive conspiracies, so-called medical “advances” concealing quiet horrors, and an unshakeable awareness of how easily these women can be discarded. Yet running through all that darkness is a defiant thread of hope – the sense that solidarity, courage, and an unblinking commitment to the truth still have the power to change everything.

If you’re in the mood for a grim, gripping Victorian Gothic mystery with a fiercely determined heroine, a genuinely unsettling antagonist and a house steeped in blood and secrets, The Surgeon’s House is an excellent choice – and a hugely satisfying return to Evergreen House.

About the author

Jody Cooksley studied literature at Oxford Brookes University and holds a Masters in Victorian Poetry, which shows in the lush, period-evocative detail of her writing. Her earlier work includes The Glass House, a fictional account of pioneering Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, and How to Keep Well in Wartime, both published by Cinnamon Press. She went on to win the Caledonia Novel Award in 2023 with The Small Museum, a chilling Victorian gothic that paved the way for The Surgeon’s House and confirmed her talent for dark, atmospheric historical fiction.

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Where to buy The Surgeon’s House

• Publisher page (Allison & Busby):
  https://www.allisonandbusby.com/book/the-surgeons-house/ 
• Barnes & Noble (US readers):
  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-surgeons-house-jody-cooksley/1146976127 
• AbeBooks (various retailers/editions):
  https://www.abebooks.com/9780749031725/Surgeons-House-thrilling-Gothic-historical-0749031727/plp 
• Easons (Ireland/UK):
  https://www.easons.com/the-surgeons-house-jody-cooksley-9780749031725 
• Chapters Bookstore (indie option):
  https://chaptersbookstore.com/products/jody-cooksley-the-surgeons-house-2026 

Hello And Welcome To My Stop For

Remember That Day By Mary Balogh

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About the Book:

A soldier and a pacifist make the unlikeliest of pairs, but when passion sparks, there’s nothing that can prevent their love from igniting.

Winifred Cunningham, the adopted daughter of a portrait painter, hopes that her new close friend, Owen Ware, will soon ask for her hand in marriage. But when Owen introduces Winifred to his elder brother Nicholas, the late Earl of Stratton’s second son, the slow burn between them begins.

Nicholas is a cavalry colonel—a hardened soldier whom Winifred at first despises. She finds him intimidating and cruel-looking, while he finds her strange and startlingly forthright. During a summer at Ravenswood, however, Nicholas and Winifred are unwillingly thrown together on several occasions, until they realize the passion that drives their disagreements is not due to dislike—it is because of attraction.

Winifred still awaits Owen’s proposal, and Nicholas has made his intention to marry his commanding officer’s daughter quite clear. With allegiances to other marriage prospects and brotherly bonds at risk, not to mention the age difference between them, Nicholas and Winifred know it would be wholly improper to pursue a romance…

And yet, romance is irresistible. Perhaps even inevitable.

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REVIEW

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers

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REMEMBER THAT DAY 

Mary Balogh 

Series: Ravenswood #5

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Berkley | Penguin Random House

Thank you so much @mary.balogh, @berkleypub & @penguinrandomhouse for the chance to return to Ravenswood with this story.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Mary Balogh once again proves why she’s one of the reigning queens of Regency romance.

Remember That Day, by Mary Balogh is the fifth installment in the Ravenswood series is everything I love about her work—graceful prose, emotional depth, and that slow, breathtaking build from conflict to connection that only Balogh can deliver.

Winifred Cunningham, with her honesty and impulsive spirit, meets her match in Colonel Nicholas Ware—a stoic, battle-worn soldier who embodies honor and restraint. From the very first meeting (which, true to Balogh form, goes terribly wrong), their story unfolds with all the tension, tenderness, and quiet longing that define the author’s best romances. There’s friction, misunderstanding, moral clashes, and—beneath it all—a current of mutual respect that blossoms into something far deeper than either expected.

Winnie completely won me over. She’s forthright and flawed in the most endearing way, while Nicholas stole my heart with his steadfastness and quiet vulnerability. The pairing of a warrior and a pacifist sounds impossible, but Balogh makes their journey feel utterly inevitable. Each conversation, each stolen look, feels infused with meaning. By the time love finally conquers duty and doubt, it’s impossible not to sigh in satisfaction.

I also adored seeing familiar names from the Westcott world appear alongside beloved Ravenswood characters—it felt like stepping into a grand Regency reunion. And while this can absolutely be read as a standalone, long-time readers will catch all the subtle emotional echoes woven in from earlier books.

Balogh’s writing here is rich, introspective, and deeply romantic, with a satisfying balance of tenderness and restraint. It’s not just about falling in love—it’s about earning it, learning from it, and finding the courage to choose it.

Lush, tender, and quietly powerful—Remember That Day is classic Mary Balogh at her best. A soulful, mature love story that lingers long after the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

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About the Author:

Mary Balogh grew up in Wales and now lives with her husband, Robert, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series.

Hello And Welcome to My Stop on Blog Tour For

The Falconer’s Lost Baron by Susanne Dunlap.

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A sweeping Regency tale of identity, devotion, and unexpected romance.

Lady Antonella thought she knew who she was—until a shattering family secret strips her of her name, her place in society, and her future. Cast adrift in Cornwall, she finds an injured goshawk in a poacher’s net and begins to nurse it back to health. But the hawk belongs to the war-scarred Lord Atherleigh—a man haunted by loss, determined to dismantle his mews, and certainly not expecting a spirited young woman to upend his solitude.

In London, her twin sister Belinda—radiant, poised, and newly on the marriage market—has only one goal: to find a worthy match… for Antonella. But when Hector Gainesworth, a charming rogue with laughter in his eyes and secrets of his own, turns his attention to Belinda instead, her heart begins to spin in an altogether unexpected direction.

As the sisters navigate betrayal, desire, and the demands of their hearts, two men must decide whether to risk everything for love. And Antonella’s goshawk may be the wild, winged thread that binds their fates.

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REVIEW

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

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The Falconer’s Lost Baron by Susanne Dunlap
Genre: Regency Romance
Tour Dates: 1st – 8th December 2025
Publication Date: 1st December 2025
Standalone | Book 4 in the Double-Dilemma Romance series

The Falconer’s Lost Baron by Susanne Dunlap is the fourth installment in the Double-Dilemma Romance series.

Two sisters, one shocking secret, and a winter full of unexpected love. The Falconer’s Lost Baron is a tender and uplifting Regency romance that weaves together themes of identity, sisterhood, and second chances against the charming backdrop of falconry.

Antonella and Belinda Ambleton grew up believing they were twins. But just before their long-awaited visit to London, they learn a life-altering truth: only one is legitimate, and the other—Antonella—has no claim to her name or position. Cast out of the only world she’s ever known, Antonella retreats to the solace of her falcons. There, fate brings her face-to-face with Malcolm Tennant, Lord Atherleigh, a scarred war hero who has lost both his hand and his hope.

Meanwhile, Belinda faces her own challenges as she tries to safeguard her sister’s future—while battling the increasingly complicated affections of the charming Mr. Gainesworth. What unfolds is a story of rediscovered worth, sacrifice, and the restorative power of love.

Susanne Dunlap once again deliverers a beautifully written story full of heart, historical depth, and emotional truth. Her pacing feels effortless, and the dual-romance structure balances perfectly—one story grounded in quiet healing, the other in fiery temptation.

The falconry element is a refreshing and fascinating twist; it ties beautifully into the novel’s themes of freedom and recovery. Watching Antonella’s bond with the birds evolve felt symbolic of her journey—learning to trust herself, her instincts, and her place in the world again.

What stood out most to me, though, was the portrayal of sisterhood. The love between Antonella and Belinda carries just as much emotional weight as the romantic plots, reminding readers that devotion and courage come in many forms.

If you love emotionally rich Regency tales with independent heroines, layered relationships, and a touch of the unusual, this one belongs on your December TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Susan Dunlap, Comfortable Prose Publishing and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

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AUTHOR

Susanne Dunlap is the author of over a dozen historical novels featuring strong women, from Medieval times to the 20th century. This is the fourth Regency Romance in her series of Double-Dilemma Romances. Susanne lives and writes in Biddeford, Maine.

 

You can follow Susan here: 

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  LinkedIn  |  You tube

Book links:

Amazon UK |  Amazon US

 

Check out the rest of the tour!

Hello And Welcome To My Stop On The Book Tour For

No Stone Unturned By Jenelle Hovde

@jenellehovdeauthor @crazy4fiction @tyndalehouse #NoStoneUnturned #JenelleHovde #RegencyRomance #historicalromance #historicalfiction #christianfiction @tlcbooktours

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𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: No Stone Unturned

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Jenelle Hovde

𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: Hawthorn Abbey #1

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: Tyndale House

𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: July 2025

Thank you to @jenellehovdeauthor @crazy4fiction @tyndalehouse @tlcbooktours for the gifted copy!

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Add To Your Goodreads TBR List

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Summary

She wants to uncover the past. He wishes to build a future. In this Regency romance set in rolling hills of West Sussex, two opposing wills discover their fate may lie in the common ground.

Miss Bridget Littleton’s passion for history and antiquities defies most social conventions, even in her small village nestled in the beautiful English countryside. When a local farmer discovers an elaborate mosaic buried in his field, Bridget dreams of making a name and future for herself by excavating the Roman ruins. Unfortunately, her quest puts her at odds with the ambitious new lord who recently inherited the title and Hawthorn Abbey from his estranged uncle.

Recovering from wounds of both body and spirit, Captain Rafe Hawthorn is intent on restoring his long-neglected ancestral home. His plans to rebuild the abbey’s once thriving orchards require a road that will pass straight through Bridget’s potential trove of artifacts. He will not–cannot–fail again, even if he is moved by Bridget and her passion.

Yet this impasse might not be their greatest obstacle. A natural disaster and a series of suspicious accidents threaten both their plans, along with the livelihood of the nearby villagers dependent on their success. With their dreams in the balance, Bridget and Rafe must work together to fend off an unexpected enemy that may prove more dangerous than either could have imagined.

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Sweet Regency romance filled with hope, faith, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic

Historical fiction that’s perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, or Abigail Wilson

Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Review

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

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Thank you to @jenellehovdeauthor @crazy4fiction @tyndalehouse @tlcbooktours for the gifted copy!

Set in the peaceful English village of Bramnor, this story follows Bridget Littleton, a bold young woman passionate about uncovering the past—and Captain Rafe Hawthorn, a wounded veteran determined to secure his future. When their dreams clash over a newly discovered Roman mosaic, sparks fly, secrets unravel, and hearts are tested.

Told in dual POVs, this novel is a masterclass in slow-burn romance, with layers of faith and forgiveness at its core. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic simmers deliciously, and the emotional growth of both characters is deeply satisfying. Hovde’s prose is lyrical, her research is rich, and her message is hopeful.

Whether you’re in it for the brooding hero, the clever heroine, the archaeological mystery, or the spiritual journey—this book delivers. Highly recommended for fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, or anyone craving historical romance with depth

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Jenelle Hovde, an award winning illustrator, pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother, ventured off the beaten path by transitioning from her career as a doctor of audiology to pursue her passion for writing. With eight novels under her belt, her literary journey spans the rich tapestries of ancient worlds to the tumultuous landscapes of World War II. Her favorite genre includes sweet Regency romance that enchants readers with tales of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of 19th-century England.

Purchase wherever books are sold.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Tyndale

Books A Million

Christianbook.com

IndieBound

TLC tour schedule:

Monday, July 21st: @beckys_bookshelves

Tuesday, July 22nd: @nerdy_book_lover_1987

Tuesday, July 22nd: @sarahs.bookish.reviews

Wednesday, July 23rd: @kristis_literary_corner

Thursday, July 24th: @gwendalyn_books

Friday, July 25th: @edensbookden

Friday, July 25th: @_jenniferreads_

Saturday, July 26th: @reading.with.mama.kenna

Sunday, July 27th: @subakka.bookstuff 

Monday, July 28th: @infinite.readlist 

Tuesday, July 29th: @melissas_bookshelf 

Wednesday, July 30th: @dana.loves.books

Hello Gracious Readers And Welcome To My Stop on The Blog Tour for

The Soprano’s Daring Duke by Susanne Dunlap

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Newly widowed Princess Adelheid Kinsky thought she was free—until she learns of her abusive late husband’s final betrayal. The son she believed dead, the illegitimate child of a forbidden love, still lives. To secure his future, she must marry within a month—without revealing the truth. Her best prospect? The Duke of Hartland, a notorious rake drowning in debt.

Meanwhile, Hartland sets his sights on Olivia Fontenoy, an heiress whose fortune could solve all his problems. But innocent Olivia dreams of music, not marriage, and seizes the chance to perform in disguise at the King’s Theatre—unwittingly ensnaring everyone she knows in scandal.

A princess with a scandalous secret. A duke desperate for a wealthy bride. A debutante torn between duty and passion.

As deception and desire collide, Olivia finds herself drawn to Hartland’s closest friend, the quiet yet passionate Marquess of Lewiston—a man who offers her something far more profound than mere security. And for Adelheid, an unexpected alliance may hold the key to her dreams.

With a surprising ending worthy of grand opera, The Soprano’s Daring Duke is a sweeping Regency tale of love, risk, and the courage to defy expectations.

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REVIEW

The Soprano’s Daring Duke is the second installment Book in the Double Dilemma Romance Series by the  very talented author Susanne Dunlap

The Soprano’s Daring Duke is a richly layered Regency romance that delivers scandal, secrets, and soaring emotion in equal measure. Set in a society where appearances are everything, this novel explores what happens when love—and music—refuse to stay hidden.

At its heart are two strikingly different heroines, both struggling under the weight of society’s expectations, both dealing with their own secrets.

Princess Adelheid Kinsky is newly widowed and finally free from a cruel husband—or so she thinks. But when she learns that the child she believed lost is alive, she must obey her late husband’s codicil if she wants to inherit anything, and marry a  respectable nobleman and must claim her illegitimate child as his heir. 

So she travels to London during the height of the season and sets her cap on infamous Duke of Hartland, a charming rake with a mountain of debt. Yet beneath his devil-may-care attitude, we glimpse a man capable of true loyalty and affection.

Olivia Fontenoy is a debutante that dreams of marrying for love, and a chance to let her voice fly free. Restricted by society and bullied by her over bearing mother to secure a good match. When she is pursed by the fortune-hunting Duke, Hartland she feels trapped. Olivia takes her reputation into her own hands and does the unthinkable and steps onto the King’s Theatre in disguise. Her risky behavior could well be her undoing, and her is drawn to a kindred spirit the Marquess of Lewiston.

Susanne Dunlap meticulously weaves dual storylines beautifully, blending high stakes with heart, deception with desire. Themes of sacrifice, freedom, and choosing love over convention give this novel a resonant emotional core. 

♡ I was captivated from start to finish, and I especially enjoyed that music played such a central role. I am looking forward to the next book in this stunning regency series. 

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 🎼 Read If you’re a fan of:

• Secrets 
• Musical Heroine
• Princess 
• Redeemed rake
• Gentlemen 
• Regency scandal & disguise
• Music

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AUTHOR

About Susanne Dunlap

Susanne Dunlap is the award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels for adults and teens, as well as an author of Regency romance. The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl is the bestselling Book 1 in her Double-Dilemma Romance Series. Book 2, The Soprano’s Daring Duke, will be published in June. She is also an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach.

Follow Susanne Dunlap

https://www.instagram.com/susanne_dunlap/

https://www.facebook.com/SusanneDunlapAuthor

www.linkedin.com/in/susannedunlap

https://www.youtube.com/@operasus

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Happy Reading

Hello Gracious Readers

Welcome to my Review of Rules For Ruin By Mimi Matthews

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No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful lord’s systematic attack on women’s rights in Parliament, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

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Review

🩷 Rules For Ruin 🩷

𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: Rules for Ruin

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Mimi Matthews

𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: The Crinoline Academy, book 1

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: Berkley Romance 

𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: ⁣5.20.2025

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Historical Fiction/ Proper Romance 

🩷📖🫶

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthew’s is stunning first installment in her latest new book series The Crinoline Academy. 

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Victorian England in the Spring of April 1864, readers follow Effie who is called back from France to England, by Miss Corvus’s who runs Benevolent Academy For The Bitterment of Young Ladies. Orphaned at a young age Effie attended the unconventional academy for young ladies. A ladies companion to Madame Dalhousie, she now has travel experience, behind her and sophistication.Miss Corvus tasked her with bringing down and ruin a sinister politician. 

Lord Compton, an influential and corrupt politician who opposes the Married Women’s Property Act. Posing as young debutante Effie sets out to infiltrate the close family circle of Lord Campton when she crosses paths with a self proclaimed lord of the inner slum area of London known as the Rookery. Gabriel Royce is brute force to be reckoned with. 

He has known hardships just like his fellow patrons who happen to live in an area of extreme poverty. He raised himself up and now controls his the empire he created. His heart is into making a substantial difference to the people who are in need help. He seeks to create better living conditions and education for those less fortunate.

Mimi Matthews spectacular new book is absolutely brilliant. The characters within this storyline are top notch. I feel in love with Effie and Gabriel Royce, they are by far my favorites of all her novels. Mimi’s signature style writing insured that I was captivated by plenty of swoon worthy moments. More suspense and with higher stakes, the three dimensional out characters kept me engaged from start to finish. I especially adored Effie’s little side kick toy poodle named, Franc. The storyline has more depth with a focus on systemic inequalities and injustices faced by women.

Edgy and fierce, Mimi Matthews’s Rules for Ruin shows us that ladies crinolines be very handy in concealing daggers 🗡️ 🩷

I highly recommend this book for its morally grey hero and spunky heroine. 

🩷📖🫶

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Favorite Quote ::

“After all these years, I thought I’d finally find the place I belonged.” “You have,” he assured her. “It’s here. Right here, with me.”

Tags 🏷️ 

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#mimimatthews #historicalromance #rulesforruin #berkleyromance

Hello Gracious Readers

Welcome to my Review of

MYSTERIES OF PENDOWAR HALL by Syrie James 

https://gwendalynsbooks.com/

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𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: MYSTERIES OF PENDOWAR HALL

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Syrie James

𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: Dragonblade Publishing

𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: ⁣February 22, 2025

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Historical Mystery/ Proper Romance

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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣{⁣𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒}⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 

She vowed to solve a murder.

Now she’s in danger of losing her heart … and her very life.

Diana Taylor, a bright and spirited governess who has sworn off love, is sent to Pendowar Hall in Cornwall to honor a pledge. She vows to teach her godmother’s niece and to find out who was behind the suspicious death of the former baronet. But her new charge is also a mystery, as is the man who inherited the ancient coastal estate—the charismatic but brooding Royal Navy Captain William Fallbrook, who is home on leave to recover from an injury.

As Diana investigates, her feelings for the enigmatic Captain Fallbrook blossom, and her guard goes up. Pendowar Hall is brimming with secrets as well as a frightening legend about a Mermaid’s Curse. What is behind the mysterious footsteps in the night? Is there more to the story of the tragic deaths of the former baronet’s wife and son? What secrets is Captain Fallbrook hiding? Can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?

He looks to be entranced by Diana, even though her determination to dig up the past seems to get on his last nerve. Soon, Diana’s bold quest to unmask his uncle’s killer leads her into terrifying danger, for someone is determined to end her life before she can discover the truth.

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{REVIEW}

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The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall by Syrie James is a stunning gothic tale.

Readers follow a bold and curious, female MC, Diana Taylor. Who finds herself tasked by her ailing stepmother to uncover facts about the suspicious death of the late Sir Thomas, her stepmother’s brother. She travels to Pendowar Hall, to take up a position as a as governess to her stepmothers niece, the late of Sir Thomas’s daughter. The late Sir Thomas’s daughter Emma, has been a challenging pupil to her past governess. Her inability to grasp the concept of traditional reading comprehension has proven a key factor for having so many governess resigned from their positions. The master of Pendowar Hall in Cornwall has a new master, Captain Fallbrook. Diana finds herself drawn to her broody new employer. She will need to keep her wits about her as strange occurrences, along with a mythical legend add to the mystery. 

Syrie James has exceeded all my expectations, in this fabulous historical mystery. Through her seamless narration her characters come to life. The mystery and the historical setting was betrayed perfectly. Rich atmospheric details, along with some of the best narrative framework, make this a stand out book. 

I highly recommend this book for those looking for a true gothic mystery and a delightful sweet romance !

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{AUTHOR}

SYRIE JAMES

SYRIE JAMES is the author of fourteen critically acclaimed novels of historical fiction, mystery and suspense, and romance that have been international and USA Today bestsellers and won numerous awards. Her books have been published in more than twenty languages. Syrie is also a screenwriter and playwright and is committed to taking her characters on challenging journeys of growth and discovery.

Hello everyone! I am super excited to be on the blog tour for A Tempest of Tea (Paperback) by Hafsah Faizal.

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A Tempest of Tea (Paperback)

by Hafsah Faizal.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publishing date: February 25, 2025

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Rep: South Asian, POC

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SYNOPSIS

Why save the world when you can have tea?

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling on some of the city’s most skilled outcasts, Arthie hatches a plan to infiltrate the sinister, glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it.

From the New York Times—bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame comes the first book in a hotly anticipated fantasy duology teeming with romance and revenge, led by an orphan girl willing to do whatever it takes to save her self-made kingdom. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

Content Warning: death, violence, death of parents, racism, colorism, kidnapping, colonization, grief, human trafficking, drugging, abuse.

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REVIEW

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

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Arthie Casimir has climbed up from the bottom to become a fierce crime boss. Using secrets she has acquired to remain on top. Her brother by choice, Jin and her run an illegal tearoom known as Spindrift, that under the cover of darkness caters to Vampires. When everything Arthie and Jin has worked for is threatened they find themselves taking on the colonizing rulers. Pulling together a team they must enter the dark vampire world of the Athereum.

Exceptionnel world building, with multi POV’s and a diverse cast of characters make this book stand out. Heavy on political intrigue, this heist fantasy has budding romance and vengeance. 

Tea 

Heists, 

Found family

Darkish fantasy

Vampires 

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AUTHOR

Hello Gracious Readers !

Today is my stop on the blog tour for

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson.

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Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publishing date: February 18, 2025

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Rep: LGBT+, Queer, chronic illness, endo

SYNOPSIS

A teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school located deep within the Scottish moorlands after a deadly incident at her old school, but the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic—in this dark academia fantasy perfect for fans of Curious Tides.

 Page Whittaker has always been an outcast. And after the deadly incident that destroyed her single friendship at her old school, she needs a fresh start. Which is why when she receives a scholarship offer from Agathion College, an elite boarding school folded deep within the moors of Scotland, she doesn’t even consider turning it down.

Agathion is everything Page has ever a safe haven full of dusty books, steaming cups of tea and rigorous intellectual debate. And for the first time in her life, Page has even managed to become part of a close group of friends. Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey and Oak help her feel at home in Agathion’s halls–the only problem is, they’re all keeping secrets from her. 

Page doesn’t know it yet, but her perfect new school has dark roots–roots that stretch back to its crooked foundation, and an ancient clandestine society with rumored ties to demonic magic. Soon, Page will be forced to learn that not everyone at Agathion is who they say they are. Least of all, her friends.

Agathion claims to teach its students history…but some histories should stay buried.

Content Warning: death, blood, murder, gun violence, car accident, amputation, self harm

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REVIEW

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

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Page Whittaker secretly longs for a place to fit in, and just maybe the exclusive Agathion boarding school might be the place. Set deep in the Scottish moors, the isolated school’s ideology of mind over body, and heavy Classical Latin and Greek and Roman philosophy make for the perfect dark academia setting. After a violent incident at her last school she excepts a scholarship to attend Agathion and hopefully have a new start. Once there she finds school a challenge, and just when she is on the edge of becoming excepted into a close nit circle of friends, she realizes that they and the school’s magistrates are keeping mysterious secrets from her. 

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AUTHOR

Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is A Hunger of Thorns.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Hello everyone! Today is my stop on the blog tour for

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli.

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Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli.

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing date: February 18, 2025

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

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SYNOPSIS

The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.

A WITCH…
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER…
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE…
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli’s Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

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REVIEW

Thank you to @tbrandbeyond, @wednesdaybooks, and @kristenciccarelli for the #gifted copy! 

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

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Rebel Witch, by Kristen Ciccarelli is the stunning conclusion to the Crimson Moth Duology. A binge worthy action packed, romantasy, that have reader completely satisfied. This book was everything that I hoped it would be and more! Supreme character development along with expanded world building. So much sass and banter between Rune and Gideon. A perfect example of Enemies to Lovers done right.

I am excited to read this talented authors next book 📕 

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Kristen Ciccarelli is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and Indie bestselling author of Heartless Hunter (Book 1 in The Crimson Moth duology), Edgewood, and the Iskari series. Before writing books for a living, she dropped out of college and worked as a baker, a potter, and a bookseller. She currently resides in the Niagara region of Ontario with her husband and daughter. 

Visit her online at http://www.kristenciccarelli.com or on Instagram at @kristenciccarelli.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

Hello everyone! I am so so excited to apart of the book the tour for The Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake.

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The Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing date: February 11, 2025

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

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SYNOPSIS

For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, The Forest King’s Daughter is an enemies-to-forbidden-lovers romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Frostblood.

Once upon a time, among the bloodred trees of Thirstwood, a young forest princess became friends with a lonely demon boy. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket…or so he thought…because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the demon queen and forest king declared war.

Years later, Cassia is a crucial force in her father’s army, wielding her ring of light that can blind and disorient hundreds of demons at a time. Then battle-hardened Zeru abducts her, planning to steal the ring back to fix his costly childhood mistake. Exhausted, terrified, and more than a little mistrusting, Cassia is forced to travel with Zeru to a place they both believed only existed in storybooks, one where their childhood friendship slowly rekindles into something much more. But it’s only a matter of time before the war they’ve escaped comes for them, and a hidden threat to forest folk and demons alike grows in the shadows.

From the author of the Frostblood Saga comes the first book in an enchanting, adventure-filled fantasy series about the daughters of the powerful forest king, sure to leave readers breathless and desperate for more.

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REVIEW

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

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The Forest Kings’s Daughter is the first instrument in the Thirstwood book series

Zeru from Dracu, an unground civilization, loves sneaking above ground to the forest of the Sylvans. There in the forest he has befriended Cassia, and he secretly awaits with a special gift, a ring.

This events sets into motion a long a grilling war that last ten years. Where Zeru and Cassia who were once childhood friends became sworn enemies. Cassia needs to save her people only if she can master the rings magic. Zeru needs the ring back so kidnaps Cassia only they find themselves catapulted to somewhere else entirely. 

Blake delivers an immersive reading experience. I enjoyed the world building and fantastical creatures, along with the lively banter between the two MC’s. Some twist and the slow burn kept me reading from start to finish.

An Engaging YA Fantasy 

 

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AUTHOR

Elly Blake is the NYT bestselling author of FROSTBLOOD. After earning a BA in English literature, she held a series of seemingly random jobs including project manager, customs clerk, graphic designer, reporter for a local business magazine, and library assistant. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and a Siberian Husky mix who definitely shows Frostblood tendencies.

Her work is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Hello Gracious Readers

Welcome to my stop on the Book Tour for

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold

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Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Publishing date: January 7, 2025

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Rep: LGBT, Sapphic, Lesbian

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Synopsis

This searing YA debut follows two teen girls as they fall in love and fight for survival in an abandoned bookstore, just weeks before another cataclysmic storm threatens to bring about the end of the world. Perfect for fans of Station Eleven and The Last of Us!

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The world is about to end. Again.

Ever since the first Storm wreaked havoc on civilization as we know it, seventeen-year-old Liz Flannery has been holed up in an abandoned bookstore in suburban New Jersey where she used to work, trading books for supplies with the few remaining survivors. It’s the one place left that feels safe to her.

Until she learns that another earth-shattering Storm is coming . . . and everything changes.

Enter Maeve, a prickly and potentially dangerous out-of-towner who breaks into the bookstore looking for shelter one night. Though the two girls are immediately at odds, Maeve has what Liz needs—the skills to repair the dilapidated store before the next climate disaster strikes—and Liz reluctantly agrees to let her stay.

As the girls grow closer and undeniable feelings spring up between them, they realize that they face greater threats than the impending Storm. And when Maeve’s secrets and Liz’s inner demons come back to haunt them both, they find themselves fighting for their lives as their world crumbles around them.

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Review

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Readers follow Liz Flannery, as she is etching out what’s left of her life after a post apocalyptic Storm that has obliterated the world as she and everyone else has known. Living in abandoned bookstore that she used to work at in post-Storm New Jersey. She trades books for supplies, and people stop by to post letters for loved ones. She journals the coming and going of the people who pass by. As another horrific storm is approaching she finds herself in desperate need of more supplies, also the bookstore needs repairs fast. Her situation changes when the book store is broken in by another teen named Maeve. Liz gives shelter to Maeve and realizes that Maeve just might be what she has needed.

This moving human element storyline completely surprised me. Set to a futuristic post cataclysmic storm, the tender romance was perfectly executed. Through Lily Braun-Arnold narrative I fell in love with the engaging character and the detailed setting. 

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Author

Lily is currently a junior at Smith College studying English. When she isn’t writing, she can be found working at her local independent bookstore or daydreaming about living in outer space. At Smith, she enjoys playing trombone in her school’s wind ensemble and hosting a late-night radio show. Her first novel THE LAST BOOKSTORE ON EARTH is being published by Delacorte in Spring 2025.

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