Review: Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano

About the Book

When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.

When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.

Author Joanna Davidson Politano's stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance. 

Amazon / Goodreads / Barnes and Noble / ChristianBook.com

My Review

Five Stars

I'd heard such amazing things about Lady Jayne Disappears, so I was beyond excited to read it. I've gotta say, all the praise is well warranted! I was held captive from the first page to the last. I absolutely loved the author's writing style. It's wholly unique and had me reading as fast as I could. It was a perfect Gothic mystery that constantly kept me guessing.

Aurelie was infinitely likeable. The way she handled everything, the way she held herself in less than ideal situations was so admirable. And Silas... what can I say about him? He was so intriguing! I could never get enough of him. I loved all the great nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout the novel.

Lady Jayne Disappears is one of those books that's so astoundingly good that I have a difficult time putting into words my feelings about it and describing exactly how awesome it is. I just want to shout to everyone to go read it right now! You won't be disappointed! I can't say enough good things about this book! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

To learn more about Joanna Davidson Politano, visit her website, on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Can't Wait Wednesday: One Enchanted Noël: A Novella (Enchanted Christmas Collection Book 3) by Melissa Tagg

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring One Enchanted Noël: A Novella (Enchanted Christmas Collection Book 3) by Melissa Tagg releasing November 21.

About the Book

Secrets, Sparks and Second Chances…a Heartwarming Holiday Romance

Seb Pierce isn’t exactly a cowboy, but after fifteen years on a ranch in Texas, he might as well be. And he’d do just about anything to keep the rancher who took him in so many years ago from losing his land…including returning to the wealthy roots he’s long since abandoned. Seb agrees to work for his stern grandfather for one year in return for an early draw on his inheritance. But he never expected the agreement to land him in a quirky small town in Iowa at Christmas-time, renovating a dilapidated theater…and running into a woman he never thought he’d see again. She might not remember him, but he remembers her.

After too many years away from her hometown—and too many failures to count—Leigh Renwycke is finally back in Maple Valley and living the stable life she used to wish for. If only she could shake the old restlessness that used to get her into trouble. When Seb Pierce waltzes into her world and begs for her help planning the theater’s holiday reopening, it could be the solution to her discontent. If she pulls it off, it might be enough to jumpstart a new career…and to prove once and for all that the new-and-improved Leigh is here to stay.

But between old secrets and new sparks, restoring a town treasure in time for Christmas may not be as easy as it seems…especially once Leigh learns the truth about Seb.   

Why I Need It

It's getting close to Christmastime, so that means lots of new Holiday Romances are being released. I'm a big fan of Melissa Tagg, so I can't wait to start reading One Enchanted Noël!

What book are you eagerly anticipating? Leave a comment below and let me know.

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters Who Would Make Great Leaders

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

The topic for this week is Characters Who Would Make Great Leaders.

Silas Ballantyne

The Ballantyne Legacy Series by Laura Frantz

Winter Reeves

Ring of Secrets (The Culper Ring #1) by Roseanna M. White

Charlie Lionheart

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

Tess Beaumont and Lt. Dan Avery

When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin

Gabi and Lia Betarrini

The River of Time Series by Lisa T. Bergren

John Lawson

True to You (Bradford Sisters Romance #1) by Becky Wade

Cole "Tox" Russell

The Tox Files by Ronie Kendig

Beth Whitaker

Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh

Braxton Luther

The Uncloaked Trilogy by J. Rodes

Yelena and Valek

The Chronicles of Ixia Series by Maria V. Snyder

Which characters do you think are or would make great leaders?

Review: Reign of Error (The Worst Detective Ever #2) by Christy Barritt

About the Book

Sometimes in life, you just want to yell “Take two!”

When a Polar Plunge goes terribly wrong and someone dies in the icy water, former TV detective Joey Darling wants nothing to do with subsequent investigation. But when her picture is found in the dead man’s wallet and witnesses place her as the last person seen with the man, she realizes she’s been cast in a role she never wanted: suspect.

Joey makes the dramatic mistake of challenging the killer on camera, and now it’s a race to find the bad guy before he finds her. Danger abounds and suspects are harder to find than the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. But when Joey finds a connection with this case and the disappearance of her father, she knows there’s no backing out.

As hard as Joey tries to be like her super detective alter ego, the more things go wrong. Will Joey figure this one out? Or will her reign of error continue?

Amazon / Goodreads

My Review

Four Stars

Reign of Error, book two in the Worst Detective Ever Series, was SO good! I think I might've even liked it better than the first. It's a fascinating mystery that left me guessing until the end. I read it as fast as I could. There was a lot of action and I found it to be unputdownable. (Is that a word?)

Joey's hosting and participating in the Polar Plunge Challenge. The event takes a turn for the worse when a body washes ashore... the body of a man Joey had just talked to right before the Plunge. She takes it upon herself to investigate his death.

Joey is such a likeable character. She does have a tendency to do occasionally outrageous things while she's investigating, leaving me shaking my head. But I think that makes her more likeable and relatable because she's trying to do something good (just maybe not in the best way, lol). There's a definite love triangle brewing and I honestly don't know who to root for. Jackson and Zane are both great guys. There was some progress made in the disappearance of Joey's dad, so I'm curious to find out what happens next. I love the setting of this series! The Outer Banks seems like a really great place to go for a visit. I had such a great time reading REIGN OF ERROR and am eager to start book three!

To learn more about Christy Barritt, visit her website, Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Reign of Error (The Worst Detective Ever #2) by Christy Barritt

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Reign of Error (The Worst Detective Ever #2) by Christy Barritt. I just finished this book and will have my review up for it Monday. Even though it's book two in the series, I believe it can stand alone just fine.

Book Beginning

"I don't want to do this." I rubbed my goosebump-freckled arms. I was freezing, and I hadn't even gone in the ocean yet. Still, the churning water in the distance taunted me, as if it knew the pain I was about to endure and delighted in my future suffering.

Friday 56 (56% on my Kindle)

Maybe you should kick this investigation up a notch. Don't make us spell everything out for you. Watch Episode 210. Signed, Your biggest fans.

About the Book

Sometimes in life, you just want to yell “Take two!”

When a Polar Plunge goes terribly wrong and someone dies in the icy water, former TV detective Joey Darling wants nothing to do with subsequent investigation. But when her picture is found in the dead man’s wallet and witnesses place her as the last person seen with the man, she realizes she’s been cast in a role she never wanted: suspect.

Joey makes the dramatic mistake of challenging the killer on camera, and now it’s a race to find the bad guy before he finds her. Danger abounds and suspects are harder to find than the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. But when Joey finds a connection with this case and the disappearance of her father, she knows there’s no backing out.

As hard as Joey tries to be like her super detective alter ego, the more things go wrong. Will Joey figure this one out? Or will her reign of error continue?

What have you been reading lately? Leave a comment below and let me know.

Review: Taken by Dark by Christy Barritt

About the Book

Widowed single mom Willa Summers can’t deny that something strange is going on in her North Carolina hometown. She fears her pregnant sister-in-law, singer Daleigh McDermott, is the target of mysterious threats. Little does Willa know that she’s the one in danger.

When Declan Donovan shows up in the house next door, things seem to turn from bad to worse. Declan broke Willa’s heart more than a decade ago when he deserted her and chose a career with the FBI over small-town life with her. But now he may be the only one who can help keep everyone safe.

Declan must get to the bottom of things before the mysterious threats become reality. As the darkness closes in, everything Willa holds dear may be snatched from her—including a second chance at love. Will she be overtaken by the dark or will she escape its clutches in time?

Amazon / Goodreads

My Review

Four Stars

Taken by Dark is another great romantic suspense by one of the masters at the genre, Christy Barritt. Like most of Barritt's stories, there was never a good place to stop. The danger was palpable and continued to build until the end. Willa and Declan were likeable characters. I was definitely rooting for them. This was the first 'Carolina Moon' story I've read. It was so good that I'm definitely gonna check out the previous books in the series. (I read this novella as part of the Targeted for Danger Collection.)

To learn more about Christy Barritt, visit her website, Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Out of the Ordinary (Apart from the Crowd Book #2) by Jen Turano

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Out of the Ordinary (Apart from the Crowd Book #2) by Jen Turano releasing November 7.

About the Book

Rollicking New Release from Humorous Historical Romance Author Jen Turano

Miss Gertrude Cadwalader hoped her position as the paid companion to Mrs. Davenport would be easy. But as she becomes acquainted with her employer, she realizes the wealthy Mrs. Davenport has a strange tendency to be a bit light-fingered with other people's trinkets. Gertrude is relieved when Mrs. Davenport decides to have a quiet summer away from the social scene--until the woman changes her mind in order to help a young socialite launch into society.

When Gertrude is caught in the act of trying to return one of the trinkets by Mrs. Sinclair, the mother of shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair, the woman jumps to an unfortunate conclusion. Harrison is determined to mend fences with Miss Cadwalader, but he's unprepared for the escapades a friendship with her will entail.

Why I Need It

Okay, so I haven't been able to read book one in this series yet. (I did read the prequel, though.) But I LOVE Jen Turano's books. They're always so funny and put a big smile on my face. And this book sounds HILARIOUS!

What book are you eagerly anticipating? Leave a comment below and let me know.