Book Review: Across the Star-kissed Sea

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love.

My Review:

This was an enjoyable romance that is a companion/sequel to Georgana’s Secret. The main focus in on May and Elias. The story itself has it all: adventure, romance, and tender moments. A must read.

Another beautiful book.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain for being a dependable publisher of clean and awesome romances.

Book Review: Immortal

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

“What the gods did not give us, I would take.”

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal… even if it means losing her heart.

My Review:

A beautifully written, heavy on descriptions, tale of love and longing. I love xianxia style fantasy romance, so this was right up my ally.

That said, there’s a couple of things. The FMC Liyen annoyed me fof a chunk of the book. I understood her in the beginning. But just when we are supposed to believe she is falling in love with Zhangwei and trusting him, she takes a dozen steps back. Of course, after several times of tricking him, she finally allows herself to be vulnerable. Zhangwei is obviously keeping secrets, but he’s plead with her to trust him. To really trust him. And with how powerful he is as an immortal, Liyen should have. I really liked how he didn’t give upon her.

I loved the twists and how Liyen ends up connected to it all. (And I won’t spoil it.)

I said the prose was beautiful. The other problem is that it is soo heavy on the descriptions that it was almost to the point of distraction. Especially in a first person story.

This story also has some spicy scenes that fade to black.

That said, I did enjoy this story, so that’s the bottom line. Sue Lynn Tan is one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I’m so happy I got to read this early.

Featured Book: A Dragon’s Smile

Published on by Erica

David’s life is hollow after his grandmother passes away. He becomes isolated, and though he finds joy in his various pursuits, he misses a crucial part of living–the true closeness that can come only with a real, genuine friendship.

Sara has come alone into Belfast, Maine, escaping from a past that torments her. Her cheery disposition and quick smile lead her to form an easy, sincere friendship with David, as they find in each other what they have lacked throughout their lives: Someone they can trust.

But will their trust survive Sara’s many secrets?

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Kobo Sale

Published on by Erica

Kobo has a Labor Day Sale and you are invited!

Eun Na and the Phantom is on sale for 99 cents at all major ebook retailers!

This is a great time to get this timeless romance that reads like a Korean drama.

Featured Title: Secret Bond of Love

Published on by Erica

One job interview changed my life forever….It was Storm, my ex-boyfriend standing in front of me as my future Boss.

Years ago, Storm and I were separated by his parents’ misbeliefs.

Worst part was Storm did not support me and lost my trust.

Although I hated him, I accepted the job offer, because I was in need of money.

Day by day we made progress in our projects together and rebuilt trust in each other.

With our hard work, we received work awards.

On the other side our old memories resurfaced.

As old misunderstandings dissolved, and new friendships took hold.

I found myself drawn to him like never before.

Will this new beginning bring us together again?

Will Storm be pulled back down his old path?”

get your free copy via bookfunnel

Book Review: So True a Love

Published on by Erica

Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society —and the last woman one would suspect of working as a private investigator. But after one case nearly costs her everything, she makes the hard decision to hang up her hat and live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of a harrowing armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. While she appreciates his keen mind and quick wit on a case, his interference is muddling her progress—and her heart. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as she constantly bumps into Nathaniel, who is determined to keep her out of danger.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

***

My Review

I loved this book. I loved the chemistry between Verity and Nathaniel. I loved the tie into A Heart Worth Stealing, which was my favorite read last year. (Shadow Mountain has some publishing some extraordinary books, which I find refreshing.)

This book has steamy kisses. It had attraction. And a most wonderful plus in my books, no smut. This is a smut free, high tension, awesomely executed romance.

Verity is not your typical Regency era heroine. She is a private investigator, or she was at the beginning of the book. A theft and a plea from her friend Elizabeth gets her involved in a case again. On top of her romantic journey, she also has a journey about family and her relationship with her mother, a well known actress.

This book will really hit you in the feels.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

If you head over to Goodreads there’s a giveaway for this book right now! But hurry, it ends in 12 days!

Featured Book: Inujini

Published on by Erica

Kaori, Yuki and Shigeko are indigenous Ryukyuan girls on the edge of womanhood who find themselves trapped in a fictionalized Battle of Okinawa. They survive by connecting to their intuition, shiisaa guardians specific to Okinawa, and each other. Based on true events, shamanistic magic may be what brings them together, but the girls must ultimately find the power within themselves. Their sisterhood is what defies and defeats those that threaten them.

Trigger warning: Sexual violence is an essential part of the plot to represent the real life situation women in Okinawa face to this day, but there are no graphic depictions of the act in this story. It remains only a threat to the characters.  

grab your free copy via bookfunnel

Featured Book: Match Made in Heaven

Published on by Erica

Jade Winters has always believed there was one perfect match for her. When she was younger, she believed in anything and everything. As an adult, she converted to a faith that conflicted with her upbringing.

Now she must choose between following her mother’s guidance and what her heart is telling her. When she meets a single father named Eric Parker, her world changes, but is she ready for him and his precocious daughter?

This was previously published on Kindle Vella and can still be read on that platform.

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Featured Book: Falling for my Bashful Boss

Published on by Erica
This romance is a Clean/Sweet Read.

My guarded, bashful boss lends a friendly hand to this damsel in distress.

I fled to Willow Creek to escape my charming but thieving ex and start a new life.

Love is the last thing on my mind, and it’s certainly not on Ethan’s radar.

He’s my new boss, a kind and bashful doctor grieving the loss of his father and a broken engagement.

But life in a small town has a way of surprising you.

A heavy snowfall destroys my roof, leaving me stranded with nowhere to go.

He offers me temporary shelter in the quaint “granny flat” behind his clinic.

As we weather the storm together, our friendship blossoms amidst the snowflakes.

Just when we start to believe that love might be possible, my past comes back to haunt me.

Willow Creek may not be the peaceful sanctuary I’d hoped for.

But I refuse to give up on my chance with the doctor who has captured my heart.

Free on Ku, learn more at Bookfunnel.com