Blog Tour and Review - 'Her Dear and Loving Husband' by Meredith Allard

Welcome to the blog tour for Her Dear and Loving Husband, a historical romance novel with a paranormal twist ...

Her Dear & Loving Husband (The Loving Husband Trilogy Book 1) – Meredith Allard

What they say:
‘James Wentworth has a secret. He lives quietly in Salem, Massachusetts, making few ties with anyone. One night his private world is turned upside down when he meets Sarah Alexander, a dead ringer for his wife, Elizabeth. Though it has been years since Elizabeth's death, James cannot move on.

Sarah also has a secret. She is haunted by nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials,  and every night she is awakened by visions of hangings, being arrested, and dying in jail. Despite the obstacles of their secrets, James and Sarah fall in love. As James comes to terms with his feelings for Sarah, he must dodge accusations from a reporter  desperate to prove that James is not who, or what, he seems to be. Soon James and Sarah piece their stories together and discover a mystery that may bind them in ways they never imagined. Do vampires and witches live in Salem? Will James make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Sarah and prevent a new hunt from bringing hysteria to Salem again?

Part historical fiction, part romance, part paranormal fantasy, Her Dear and Loving Husband is a story for anyone who believes that true love never dies.’

~ Click Here To Buy This Book - UK ~

~ Click Here To Buy This Book - US ~

My Review - 'Her Dear & Loving Husband (Loving Husband #1)' by Meredith Allard ~ 5 Stars!

‘Her Dear and Loving Husband’ was a stunning novel, and a heart-warming journey to read.

Infused with a beautiful and heart-warming love story, this book is a definite must for everyone who believes that true love never dies, even after the death of the body. ‘Her Dear and Loving Husband’ tells the beautiful spiritual tale of love after death and having a second chance with the one you love.

I loved the characters that I was introduced to throughout the novel, and I really felt connected to Sarah as she struggles to make a place for herself in Salem after the breakdown of her marriage, and sympathised with her desire to avoid making any romantic connections for the foreseeable future.

I can’t say how impressed I was with the cleverly written dreams that Sarah has. Meredith Allard presented a realistic, and scary image of the Salem Witch Trials, and these sequences were brilliantly contrasted with the writing style of the present day action. The voices and speech of the past was clearly well researched, and made the reading experience so much more believable, and making me feel as though I was actually there in that era. Brilliantly done!

I loved the elements of fantasy that were introduced throughout the novel, which although made up a large part of the story, what with our discovery of James’ true form, and Jennifer and Olivia’s true powers, didn’t seem forced or unrealistic. Not once when reading this book did I think that the fantasy elements were taken too far, and I really admire the author for being able to balance the fantasy and contemporary storylines so well.

The spiritual past life elements were spoken of in a way that made the idea of past lives seem not only possible, but probable. I think this story will resonate greatly with pagans, like myself, those who are interested in the worlds other, unseen elements, and those who believe that there is more to life than what we are told.

I adored James as a character, and greatly admired the devotion he had for his long dead wife, and how he made it his mission to prove to Sarah that he loved her for herself and not because of the possible connection between her and his wife. The scenes that were written after the death of James’ wife were heartbreaking and poignant, and shows the struggle that people who are left behind after the death of their loved ones must face. I cried when I read some of the simple yet overpowering lines.

“I miss my Lizzie.”

This story was cleverly crafted and in some ways I’d describe it as a suspense or thriller. There was a real focus on the issues that have been brought to the world’s attention since the days of the Witch Trials, and Meredith Allard showed a heartbreaking reality where we see the true dangers of stigmatism and prejudice. One worry or fear of something that can’t be seen or explained, can easily turn communities against each other, eradicate whole towns, and kill innocent men, women and children in the crossfire. It was a powerful message that gave me chills.

The pace of the novel was perfectly set, making the story a fluid and believable journey to read. It was a fantastic and beautifully written story, with an incredible amount of feeling put into every word.

5 Stars and a definite recommended read!

~

***GIVEAWAYS***

Win a copy of The Salem Witch Trials: A Day by Day Chronicles of a Community Under Siege by Marilynne K. Roach. This is a factual book Meredith used to research the Salem Witch Trials:

What they say:
‘Based on over twenty years of original archival research, this history unfolds a nearly day-by-day narrative of the Salem Witch Trials as the citizens of Salem experienced the outbreak of hysteria.’

Entry via Rafflecopter. Giveaway open to US residents only and closes on August 27th.

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Win a dinner for 2 at Salem’s very own Adriatic Restaurant & Bar! Enter our giveaway and you could be the lucky winner of a sumptuous meal for 2 at Mediterranean eatery Adriactic Restaurant & Bar. Set within a warm interior, you’ll not only be treated to excellent, fresh cuisine but you’ll also find yourself in the heart of Her Dear & Loving Husband’s setting. Entry via Rafflecopter. Giveaway is for food only. Airfare is not included. Closes on August 27th.

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Win 1 of 5 e-copies of Her Dear & Loving Husband by Meredith Allard

Entry via Rafflecopter. Closes on August 27th.

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Author Bio – Meredith Allard:



Since 2000, Meredith Allard has been the Executive Editor of The Copperfield Review, an award-winning literary journal for readers and writers of historical fiction. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from California State University, Northridge, and she has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction seminars at Learning Tree University, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Writers Conference.

Her short fiction and articles have appeared in journals such as The Paumanok Review, Moondance, Wild Mind, Muse Apprentice Guild, Writers Weekly, CarbLite, and ViewsHound. She is the author of the Amazon Best-Selling Loving Husband Trilogy, as well as the historical novels Victory Garden, Woman of Stones, and My Brother’s Battle.

Victory Garden and Woman of Stones have also been Amazon Best-Sellers in the Historical Fiction and Religious Fiction categories.

Find out more about The Loving Husband Trilogy:

Find Meredith Allard:

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~ Goodreads ~

Book Review ~ 'The Selkie Spell (Seal Island Trilogy #1)' by Sophie Moss.

Book Review - 'The Selkie Spell (Seal Island Trilogy #1)' by Sophie Moss ~ 5 Stars!

Well wow! What an AMAZING book! Why did I wait so long to read this?

I absolutely adored Sophie Moss' fluid and stunning writing style with beautifully detailed prose that linked the story together. It gave an incredible sence of place, and just her wonderful descriptions had me feeling wet sand beneath my feet and the cold foamy ocean lapping over my chilled toes. Stunning, just stunning!

The storyline was so cleverly put together with their being a perfect balance between the fantasy elements and the contemporary romance and suspense that formed the story. The care and delicacy with which Sophie Moss wrote of Tara's marital abuse whilst also painting a harsh, terrifying and realistic view of this issue was done without fault, and perfectly balanced with the strength that Tara had to find within herself and the connection her story had with that of the Island's Selkie.

Her relationship with Dominick was paced perfectly, and I loved the turbulent start they had when he was distrustful of her and protective of further harm to his family and friends. His continued scepticism of her intentions was great fun to read, as I loved witnessing his harsh mask occasionally falling away as he noticed her vulnerability, and he felt himself fighting between his head and heart.

I loved the balance of the story, with lots of gorgeous descriptions of the Island, the people that Tara slowly begins to trust and befriend, and the everyday life on the small Island, as well as the development of the intriguing Selkie storyline and how Tara fits into the legend. I adored how both Tara and the Selkie's freedom were closely tied to each other, and the final chapters in which the group of main characters desperately struggle to rescue Tara from her abusive husband and free the Selkie was intense and had me gripped and on the edge of my seat.

I loved all of the characters that we were introduced to on the Island and am excited to see the relationships that are formed between them. I'm especially eager to see Sam again, as I was so intrigued by his character and he provided some great lines, impulsive actions and a hope for further romance with the brilliant Glenna.

A stunning debut novel from Sophie Moss. 5 Stars and a definite recommended read!

'The Selkie Spell' is the first book in the 'Seal Island Trilogy' and is available to buy on Kindle and in Paperback.

~Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~

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Book Review - 'Of Water and Madness (Dryad Quartet #4)' by Katie Jennings.

Book Review - 'Of Water and Madness (Dryad Quartet #4)' by Katie Jennings ~ 6 Stars!

Here I am again, struggling to express just how much I loved this book, this series, and all the characters that have been shaped so wonderfully.

As I returned to the world of Euphora for its last story, I felt both emotional and desperately sad. Emotional for having witnessed the amazing journeys these characters have gone through, and sad that their stories were drawing to a close.

‘Of Water and Madness’ tells Liam’s story as a Water Dryad. Since reading Rhiannon’s story in ‘A Life Earthbound’ I’ve been eagerly awaiting reading Liam’s point of view on their relationship.

Liam’s story is both as witty and clever as I’d expected. His desire to have fun and be a good, hard working Dryad is commendable and I loved the influence his ‘happy go lucky’ personality had on Rhiannon, as we see her further blossoming though Liam’s love and devotion.

The way all of the Dryad’s were now closer, especially Blythe and Rhiannon, despite their still sceptical attitudes towards each other was heart-warming, as I’ve been hoping for a reunion between the dryads without past grievances and issues getting in their way. Blythe looking out for Rhiannon during Capri’s wedding and calling her ‘honey’ had me tearful and so happy despite the reason that Blythe’s comfort was necessary.

Liam’s story in this book broke my heart. To see him become nothing more than a puppet through dark magic, yet still fighting in his mind for Rhiannon was beautifully written. I was so connected to Rhiannon’s character that I felt her pain as my own and felt angry at Thea for not taking Liam’s out of character behaviour more seriously.

It is a credit to Katie Jennings as a writer that she can make me feel so many emotions all at once, something that I haven’t experienced since reading each Harry Potter book for the first time.

The conclusion to this story was brilliantly written as the awaited battle finally arrives, and despite the formation of cliques among the inhabitants of Euphora, and the bitter rivalries that have been forged, all of the characters fight as one for each other and for their home. It was brilliant to see characters who hated each other take arms and fight together.

Without giving too much away, I especially loved reading further about Capri and Rian, whose relationship is so beautiful and devoted that I now hold out hope for my own Rian.

All I can say now is how grateful I am to the author for taking me on such an incredibly beautiful, emotional and fantastical journey which I know will be a part of me forever. 'Of Water and Madness' was such a beautiful conclusion to the Dryad Quartet and reading Liam's story was just as brilliant as I hoped it would be!

6 Stars and if you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for? Links below!

'Of Water and Madness' is the Book Four in the 'Dryad Quartet' and is available on Kindle and in Paperback

'The Dryad Quartet Special Edition' is a compilation edition where you can get all four books (Breath of Air, Firefight in Darkness, A Life Earthbound, and Of Water and Madness) in one book. This edition also includes beautiful illustrations and a brand new epilogue scene! The Special Edition compilation is available on Kindle and in Paperback.

~ See My Reviews for; ~

~ Breath of Air (Dryad Quartet #1)  ~

~ Firefight in Darkness (Dryad Quartet #2) ~

~ A Life Earthbound (Dryad Quartet #3) ~

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Book Review - 'Sunlounger' by Belinda Jones Travel Club.

'Sunlounger’ by Belinda Jones Travel Club ~ 5 Stars!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When my parents went off on a two week holiday to Italy without me, major jealousy issues ensued. However after having read ‘Sunlounger’, when I received their postcard from ‘Sorrento, Italy’, I could only laugh and think, ‘Oh, I’ve been there, and Ibiza, Turkey, Australia, Greece, Spain, Cairo, Argentina, Paris, Mexico, Marrikesh, Mauritius, Jamaica, Thailand, Brazil, Cambodia, Iceland, Russia, Dubai and Mallorca. So there!’

This was a wonderful collection of stories to read, and I absolutely loved each one. There were those that were downright hilarious, so hilarious that I literally cackled like a lunatic whilst reading them. There were those that were shockingly sad and emotional, those that made me cry, those that gave me a warm glow and those that made me think ‘Wow!’.

But most of all, every single story made me think ‘I would love to go there.’

I loved how all the writers approached the holiday prompt and had their story give a different message. For example, some of the stories were romantic comedies, but all spoke to the reader in a different way.

All the stories brilliantly depicted the cultural barriers that travellers face when in a different country for the first time. One that really resonated with me in this way was Carrie Duffy’s ‘At First Sight’ (Holiday Destination – Dubai) where an interior designer who is married to her work, is ushered into a shop of robes and experiences a glimpse of the life of a Dubai women, where she is covered head to toe with only her eyes on display. It was a brilliant story that showed just how different life is in different cultures. A man in Dubai may fall in love with a woman after only glimpsing her eyes, whereas in other cultures, there tends to be a focus on entire body image.

Kate Guest’s ‘Hanoi Jane’ (Holiday Destination – Vietnam) was great fun as we see character Jane defy the health laws of the country and skip out onto her very own adventure with loveable American Toby. It was both hilarious and dealt with serious issues. I loved it!

Two stories that particularly express the dangers of travelling to other countries were Kate Harrison’s ‘Holiday Reading’ (Holiday Destination – Barcelona, Spain), where we see the dangers of women being prey to muggers, and Wendy Rigg’s ‘From Elvissa With Love’ (Holiday Destination – Ibiza) which describes the dangers of young girls travelling alone, being captured and forced into illegal activities in order to gain their freedom. Sadly these are real issues that face travellers today, and I liked how these stories subtly expressed these warnings without forcing the information on you.

Rosie Blake’s story ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ (Holiday Destination – Iceland) had me in fits of laughter throughout, starting with realistic glimpses of the everyday life of a couple, with them greeting each other in the morning with grunts, yet how despite their petty arguments, are still in love and can be incredibly romantic when the occassion calls for it.

Valerie-Anne Baglietto’s heartbreaking story ‘Genie of the Rock’ (Holiday Destination – Gibraltar) tells the tale of a young recently widowed woman having a miracle happen, and the story really touched me. There was an added element of fantasy that wasn’t too overpowering and gave a wonderful balance to the story, which made it both realistic and magical. Despite this being the second story of the forty-four in the book, this story stayed with me right till the end.

The award for 'Story that had me most intrigued' and 'wishing for a whole novel devoted to the story,' was Margaret James' ‘The Anniversary’ (Holiday Destination – Tuscany, Italy). I loved the mystery infused within the story and how the reader is left guessing and pondering over what exactly happened. Who was the man and why was the woman his ‘project’? Why and how did the events happen the same day every year? And what was the woman’s accident she mentioned? It was a brilliant mysterious and heart-wrenching story that I adored!

I am a sucker for friends turned lovers stories, and loved Pernille Hughes' ‘Fia McQueen’s Great Escape’ (Holiday Destination – Mauritius) where we see a young girl Fia grieving after being jilted by her fiancé, and is brought back to life by her closest friend Simon. It was a funny, touching and heart-warming story.

And not all of the stories had a happily-ever-after. I really connected to some of the deep emotional stories where I could feel the writer’s pain as I read, as though they had literally poured their soul into their characters. ‘Love at First Kiss’ by Lisa Heidki (Holiday Destination – Venice, Italy & Sydney, Australia) was a moving story about a woman pining after a man who she kissed whilst holidaying in Venice. Seeing her unable to move on and live in the present was sad, and although there was no romantic reunion at the end of the story, I rejoiced to see the heroine realise that she needed to find a better place for herself. A stunning piece of writing.

Holly Martins ‘One Hundred Proposals’ (Holiday Destination – Australia) was a fantastic addition to the book, which makes the reader really think about what they themselves want. What is the Perfect Proposal? And what makes it perfect? A brilliant story!

And what better way to send off the readers than with Tiffany Wright’s work of art ‘Signs from Sydney’ (Holiday Destination – Sydney, Australia).  This was a brilliant story about the journey of self-discovery and had the greatest twist at the end that had me swooning and squealing in equal measure.

‘Sunlounger’ has taken me on my very own holiday this year and has made me laugh, cry, ponder life, and rethink romantic displays of affection (I’m so climbing a tree to get a lime for a guy’s beer one day. Just to see the look on his face! As seen in Emily O'Neill's 'La Posada Amor' (Holiday Destination - Mexico)) I wish I could talk about every story in detail because I loved them all so much, like Nicola Moriarty’s ‘The Red Glove’ (Holiday Destination – Australia) and Miranda Dickinson’s ‘Midnight in St. Petersburg’ (Holiday Destination – St Petersburg, Russia) but I’ll just give a mention to every other author who contributed, as I loved every single one of these stories!

5 Stars, and a definite recommended read!

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'Sunlounger' is available now to download on Kindle

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~

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To find out more about this project click the link below.

~ Website ~

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Book Review - 'A Life Earthbound (Dryad Quartet #3)' by Katie Jennings.

Book Review - 'A Life Earthbound (Dryad Quartet #3)' by Katie Jennings ~ 5 Stars!

Here I am again, completely speechless and awestruck at how much I love this series. ‘A Life Earthbound’ is the third book in the ‘Dryad Quartet’ by Katie Jennings, and quite honestly nothing makes me happier than this book, so much so that I was crying emotionally when I finished it purely because I had been so happy reading it.

Since the beginning of the series, I have always loved Rhiannon’s character and was desperately sad to see how Blythe thought of her in ‘Firefight in Darkness’. Where I feel many readers may have viewed her as self-important and snobby, I always saw through this front she presented to the world and really wanted to know more about her lonely character. ‘A Life Earthbound’ was such a beautiful tale in which we finally see the true Rhiannon.

I really connected to Rhiannon’s character in this book and maybe due to being quite similar in some respects, I really sympathised with how her hard upbringing had caused her to have a focused view of life and a unromantic view of love and marriage. Most people will identify with wanting to make their parents happy, but Rhiannon, instead of being the selfish girl that Blythe portrays her to be, is actually the most selfless person in the series. Where Capri is so easy to like due to her innocence and sweet nature, Rhiannon is quiet in her caring for others and puts herself on the line to help others silently, meaning her true kindness is not made clear to everybody, and she is misunderstood. A scene that broke my heart was Rhiannon using her own saved money to pay for a shopping trip with her sister because she didn’t want to cause any problems by asking her parents for money. Rhiannon’s scenes with Dante also showed just how much she is undervalued compared to the characters of the other dryads, despite her utter devotion to her calling, and her natural skill.

Rhiannon’s relationship with Liam was one that I have been eagerly awaiting since I started the series. If anyone could help Rhiannon become a young girl who could live and love, it is Liam. Their scenes together were beautiful and I loved seeing how their relationship developed throughout their early childhood. Unlike the other books so far, ‘A Life Earthbound’ starts at Rhiannon’s birth and follows her story until adulthood. It was heartbreaking to see how Serendipity’s indifference to her daughter caused Rhiannon to believe that she was not worthy of love, and it was somehow her own fault. Her fear of allowing herself to feel love for those around her was constant throughout the novel and I really enjoyed following her story, which although was not as action-packed as Blythe’s, showed a beautiful flourishing that had my heart pounding in my chest, and me reaching for a box of tissues at regular intervals.

I felt so strongly in this storyline, perhaps more so than in the last two books as I felt that all the hurt that Rhiannon felt, I felt too. When Jax, in passionate defence of Blythe, cruelly insulted Rhiannon, I felt my own heart break and my own tears fall as though they were aimed at me. Katie Jennings has a wonderful skill in really making the reader connect with the characters and I don’t just feel as though I have read a book, but have lived the story as the characters have.

This was such a stunning piece of literature, and I absolutely love losing myself in the world of Euphora, and this book in particular really resonated in me, and I was so glad to have facts that backed up why I have always loved Rhiannon’s character.

And a special note to Katie Jennings; thank you so much for Capri’s announcement in the last chapter, that made my day!

A stunning, beautiful tale of love and sacrifice.

Five dazzling, shiny stars!

'A Life Earthbound' is the third book in the 'Dryad Quartet' and is available to buy both on Kindle and in Paperback.

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'Illicit Love (Marlow Intrigues #1)' by Jane Lark ~ Blog Tour and Review!

'Illicit Love (Marlow Intrigues #1)' by Jane Lark Blog Tour!

Welcome to Stop One on the Illicit Love blog tour! Jane Lark is celebrating her first instalment in the Marlow Intrigues series with a HUGE giveaway - including a one night stay in London's Regency Hotel, a novella, Amazon gift voucher, signed copies of Illicit Love and plenty of swag!

Illicit Love - What they say:

'Ellen Harding longs to be free of the life she is trapped in - her husband died at the battle of Waterloo and her family disowned her and now she lives under the reign of a cruel protector. When her eyes are drawn to a beautiful man for no other reason than his looks, she imagines escaping her chains for a night by giving her body to him – to a man of her choosing – even if only to infuriate her captor.

But Edward Marlow is kind and gentle when he touches her and her subconscious whispers that this man could save her. Yet how can he help her when she has secrets which prevent her ever being free. She has too many battles to fight.

Edward is restless, lonely and a little angry with his lot in life – it is his only excuse for being drawn to another man’s mistress. The woman’s dark hair and pale eyes are striking and he cannot take his gaze off of her while she watches him over the top of a fan with an illicit intent in her eyes. But once he’s known her he cannot forget her - and once he’s seen how brutal her protector is, how can leave her with the man? But she will not run anymore than she will speak of her past, so how can he help her…'

Click Here To Buy This Book - UK

Click Here To Buy This Book - US

Check Out Jane's New Novella Available At Amazon:

Captured Love - What they say:

'Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, is missing his cousin’s company. He has too many burdens weighing down his shoulders, including the task of finding his sister, Rowena, a husband.

Meredith Divine has one friend in all the world, Lady Rowena Stanforth. She clings to their friendship as though it is a rope, when she is drowning in a lake of social isolation. Even Rowena’s elder brother cannot stand Meredith. Everyone judges her poorly, simply because her father is in trade. But despite Lord Morton’s constant rejection, Meredith’s heart still favors Rowena’s proud, judgmental brother.

Lord Morton would break the friendship his sister has with Miss Divine if he could, but the more he disparages Miss Divine, the more Rowena favors the girl. He’s ceased his complaints, in the hope the friendship would wither and die, believing the girl would make a wrong step soon. He just did not anticipate what that step might be...'

Want To Win A Night In London's Regency Hotel?

The Regency Hotel has been kind enough to support the Illicit Love blog tour by donating a one night stay for two lucky winners this August! Located in the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington, you could find yourself relaxing in one of hotel's plush new bedrooms or sampling the delights of their incredible traditional afternoon teas.

Readers have plenty of chances to win:

Either entry via the Rafflecopter below AND/OR add your review of Illicit Love to Amazon and Goodreads and email the review link to Charlotte@BestChickLit.com.

The winner will be emailed a voucher, which can be redeemed for stays during August 2013 only. Giveaway closes 19th July 2013.

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Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional love stories. She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis. When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write. You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book that drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality. Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots. 'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.' Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life. Check out Jane's musical inspirations HERE and HERE.

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Win £30 (or $40) Amazon Gift Voucher! Entry via the Rafflecopter below AND/OR add your review of Illicit Love to Amazon and Goodreads and email the review link to Charlotte@BestChickLit.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway closes 19th July 2013 and is open to UK and USA residents only. Win One Of Three Swag Packs With Signed Paperback Copy of Illicit Love Entry via the Rafflecopter below AND/OR add your review of Illicit Love to Amazon and Goodreads and email the review link to Charlotte@BestChickLit.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway closes 19th July.

Book Review - 'Illicit Love (Marlow Intrigues #1)' by Jane Lark ~ 5 Stars!

A wonderful break from the real world, ‘Illicit Love’ is a beautiful story of the strength of love in the face of adversity and the importance of the bond of family. There is so much that I love about this story but can’t talk about in case it spoils the story development for potential readers, but I will say that this is a superbly written book. I absolutely adored Jane Lark’s writing style, and I am in awe at how beautifully the descriptive prose flowed throughout the novel.

‘Illicit Love’ is very different to a lot of books in the ‘Historical Romance’ genre, and with its very real characters, I feel it gave a more realistic view of life in an era which most of us tend to think of as extremely romantic. Whilst we all tend to swoon at characters such as Mr. Darcy for their respectful and appropriate treatment of women, I really loved the way that hero Edward Marlow was depicted and particularly how he acts with Ellen during their first meeting. Whilst he abhors the treatment young mistresses receive from their ‘owners’, the author is clear to show that above all else, he is still a man, and despite his virtues he still engages in a sexual relationship with heroine Ellen during their first encounter, even if he later regrets his actions. I think a lot of us tend to forget when reading historical romances that men are still men, no matter what era they were born into, and I loved seeing this different side to a romantic hero.

From this I loved everything about Edward and Ellen’s relationship, especially how Ellen blossomed when she was in Edward’s company, but also how she feared that he was too good for her. I liked how despite Edward being a few years younger than Ellen, he seemed wiser than his years, and his experience of the real world therefore didn’t make him seem too young for her.

Despite being at risk of being attacked by feminists everywhere, my favourite character was Edward’s brother Robert. From our first glimpse of Robert I found myself so intrigued with his character, and the obvious pain and heartbreak he was hiding behind a mask of disinterest and sarcasm. Whilst I felt furious at his behaviour towards Ellen during their first meetings, I always had hope that his actions were all due to his desire to protect his brother from harm, and I loved how his character developed throughout the course of the story.

The pace of the novel was so different to many novels, and I really loved it. In many novels you have a huge build-up to the main drama at the end part of the novel, however in ‘Illicit Love’, the story has many peaks and falls in the intensity of the drama, starting well before the mid-way point of the book. It was a brilliant way of keeping the reader’s attention and also giving little snippets of new information that is uncovered from each crisis that is then added together in a stunning conclusion where we finally understand the feelings and actions of the different characters.

The historical context of the novel was well depicted, and I loved the brilliant descriptions of the clothing of both the men and women. I loved how attention was given to the fashion of the time, as it really helped me to integrate myself into the story and feel myself as part of it, rather than merely reading about it from the outside.

This was a fantastic read which I highly recommend to all lovers of romance. A superbly written tale of love, loss, family and bravery, this is one not to be missed. 5 Stars!

Book Review - 'First, I Love You (The Downey Trilogy #1)' by Genevieve Dewey.

Book Review - 'First, I Love You (The Downey Trilogy #1)' by Genevieve Dewey ~ 5 Stars!

To start, all I can say is WOW! This is an absolutely amazing book that has something for everyone in it. It has a mix of genres including gangster crime, detective, mystery, romance and family. This is a book not to be missed.

I genuinely applaud the author Genevieve Dewey for how incredibly well this book was written. With six main characters and the narration skipping between each character for each chapter, I was worried at first that too many points of view would get confusing especially with this kind of fast-paced detective storyline, but I need not have worried as it was handled superbly, with the different characters stories intertwining brilliantly. I absolutely loved how easily I connected to all the characters, especially those whom you would not expect to appreciate or have any respect for if you hadn't read their story from their point of view.

Reading Mickey's storyline was a real experience for me as it really made me see that even though the gangsters in this story have done bad things, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are people with no feelings. We can see that the love Mickey has for all his children transcends all the feelings he has for his work, and his inability to earn his son Tommy's respect isn't necessarily his own fault, but due to the circumstances and lifestyle that he himself was brought up in. His relationship with Tommy's mother was also brilliantly written, and it really emphasised the importance of family and how the love of a parent can outweigh that of romantic love.

James and Kiki's storyline was so much fun, and I really connected with Kiki and felt her turmoil at the life she lived, and her worry over her growing relationship with James. At many times I wanted to bang her and James' heads together and just yell at them to talk to each other, which I loved as it really shows how much I connected to the story and the characters. Throughout this book, I also really wanted to reach into the pages and give Tommy a huge hug. I look forward to seeing how his growing friendship with Ginny will develop, as I love the connection they share and how their devotion to their work gets in the way of them taking the next step in their relationship.

The author's decision to use an epilogue was brilliant, as there are far too many books which end with a cliffhanger and leave you feeling a little let down that you don't get a little closure from the books storyline. This epilogue left me feeling greatly excited for the next book in the series, as it gave me closure to some of the issues that were risen during the first book, and raised intriguing questions that the characters will have to answer in the next book of the series.

Overall this book is a real gem that if I could give more than five stars, I definitely would! It is a beautiful story of love, friendship and most of all family that will have you laughing and crying. Go and check it out! You won't be disappointed.

First, I Love You is available to download on Amazon Kindle

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