My American Duchess

My American Duchess by Eloisa James

American heiress Merry Pelford has finally found the man of her dreams in Regency England after two failed attempts at the altar. His name is Lord Cedric Allardyce. Charming and incredibly handsome, she counts her blessings that a man of his stature has come her way. There's just one problem...she's in love with his twin brother, the Duke of Trent.

Just moments after accepting Cedric's marriage proposal, Merry encounters a mysterious stranger that she immediately feels drawn to; the inexplicable attraction can't be denied. How ironic that this stranger she just met is Trent, the brother of the man she promised to marry. It is apparent that the twins do not get along, and soon Trent begins to make Merry keenly aware of his brother's love of liquor and reckless, extravagant ways. She dismisses his warnings as simply a case of wanting a woman he cannot have. That is, until her engagement is sealed, and she begins to see that Trent's forewarning of impending trouble is valid indeed. Cedric wants to mold Merry into the perfect wife. He begins to find fault in his betrothed's unconventional, embarrassing ways. And the aristocracy is not blind to the outspoken Merry, either.Trent, however, accepts her playful, unabashed enthusiasm for life wholeheartedly, quirks and all. When a social blunder shames a hostess, Trent's response to the situation has surprising results. But can their attraction be enough to ensure happiness?

 Merry wants to follow her heart but another broken engagement will certainly mean ruin for this Boston socialite. Passion with the forbidden versus a marriage to the perceived perfect match....quite a quandary for this lovely heiress.

What a perfect book selection in the month of February from an author who excels at writing historical romantic fiction.The characters come to life in a make-believe world that readers will welcome during the dreary days of winter. Some may find it just a little too sweet and far-fetched, but if you are a hopeless romantic, it may be just what you need. With wit, royal grandeur, and memorable characters, this novel perfectly embodies the intricacies (and frustrations) of love.

The Good Goodbye

The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckley

Cousins Arden and Rory share an indescribable bond; it's almost as if they are one. Only they know how deep the connection and how dangerous and obsessive it's become.


Both girls lie unconscious in hospital beds, badly burned in a mysterious dormitory fire, clinging to life. Arson is suspected and one life has already been taken. Their parents pretend to show solidarity while animosity and tension fills the air. A once successful business venture between Arden's mother and Rory's father is floundering, creating a financial crisis.  Jealousy, indiscretions, and regrets permeate the rooms where Arden and Rory's lives remain in limbo.What these parents don't know is that their troubles are minor compared to the secrets their children never revealed. Those secrets are ready to explode and shatter a once happy, peaceful existence.

Author Carla Buckley artfully tells a story that begs the reader to decipher each and every clue until the very end of a compelling story. How much do parents really know about the challenges their daughters face to be popular and fit in? What's it like to feel the shame of a learning disability? How far can you bully someone you love until she reaches the breaking point?  All of these relevant topics including a love triangle, and a child's burning desire to live up to unreachable standards, come together to create another engaging book by a talented author.

Much like her previous mystery, The Deepest Secret, ( reviewed under Mystery in February of 2014), this novel requires the reader to pay close attention to details. Perhaps the ending is just a little too compact, but overall, you'll find this suspense thriller a perfect addition to your 2016 "books I want to read".

Secret Sisters

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

It's a place she never wanted to see again. But as the heir of her grandmother's small hotel chain, Madeline Chase had no choice but to return. It was somehow reassuring to think that  the horrific, painful memories from eighteen years ago were safely hidden in the farthest corner of her mind. But now as she looks at the charred ruins of  the abandoned hotel, she realizes that was wishful thinking. It was here that Tom, the hotel's caretaker, attacked her when she was just twelve-years-old. Madeline and best friend, Daphne, her "secret sister' vowed never to reveal what they knew about the assault. The authorities had their man..He could never hurt her again....

Now Tom lays dying from an apparent fall, and his last words make it quite clear that someone knows all about those secrets the two young girls thought were hidden forever. After all these years, could they have accused the wrong man? An eerie unknown presence begins to follow Madeline making her believe that Tom was not the victim of an accident after all; he was murdered, and she may be the next target.

As panic sets in, Madeline contacts Jack Rayner, the head of security for the small hotel chain she's inherited from her grandmother. Along with reunited friend, Daphne, and Jack's friend, Abe, the four set out to find out the truth about the man who was the true attacker. The deeper they get into the mystery, the more dangerous their determination to unveil the facts becomes. Add in the mutual attraction between Madeline and Jack, and the plot becomes one of intrigue and smoldering passion, A winning combination.

Rich in character development, Krentz combines spine-tingling suspense with enough romantic sparks to satisfy the reader who is looking for both . If you haven't read this author before, her other novels may interest you.  Often writing under a pen name (Amanda Quick, being one) she is a talented writer who has the ability to cover different genres with ease.

Start the New Year with a sizzling mystery sure to please.
    

The Day We Met

The Day We Met by Rowan Coleman

Claire writes in her memory book with an unsteady hand, knowing that this moment of lucidity may end at any time. The muddled "fog" inside her brain lifts for a while, so she seizes the opportunity to record precious memories for the family she will eventually leave behind. Once she was an aspiring writer. That was before her mind started to fade and gradually slip away. The pages of her unpublished book are tucked away in a room she no longer enters. Now she lives with fear and frustration in her inability to tell time or grasp the simplest of words  Just like her father, Claire suffers from early on-set Alzheimer's disease. There is no cure.

Claire is a determined, fiery, red-haired teacher with a temperament to match. Her stubborn, independent daughter, Caitlin, was born out of wedlock, and for years it was just the two of them facing life's hurdles alone. Then a much younger home contractor named Greg appeared at her door, and much to her surprise, Claire was like a giddy teenager in love. Now married and the parents of precocious Esther, Claire and Greg are a surprisingly happy couple until Claire begins to exhibit the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

History repeats itself when Caitlin reveals her own unplanned pregnancy. Claire reacts with a new sense of urgency, terrified that the Alzheimer's gene may be passed on for generations to come. Claire's Mum, often a thorn in her side, becomes the anchor her daughter needs. Much to Greg's dismay and sorrow, his wife looks at him as a stranger, unable to grasp the passion they once shared. As Claire deals with the total upheaval in her life, she finds that those she loves believe in her and will do anything to hold on to her memory.

British author Rowan Coleman wrote this touching novel based on her own life experiences. The novel wasn't born overnight, but evolved over a period of time in which Coleman contemplated the devastating effect dementia and Alzheimer's have on families. From that contemplation, Claire's story was created.

Anyone who has experienced the cruel effects of Alzheimer's disease on family will relate to this novel. In comparison to Still Alice, written in 2010, Coleman takes a different approach to the traumatic effects of this illness. Chapters of overwhelming sadness and grief are intermingled with humor and candid thoughts of a strong woman facing an uncertain future. Read through the tears to experience a superbly written book.

An emotional story about the bond between mothers, daughters, husbands, and wives; this book is a true celebration of life and love.

Twain's End

Twain's End by Lynn Cullen

"The man who does not read is no better than the man who cannot read"

Just one of the insightful quotes attributed to author and humorist Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Beloved and admired by so many, his life story was immortalized on stage with esteemed actor Hal Holbrook portraying the icon.


Now historical author Lynn Cullen (Mrs. Poe, 2013)  reveals a distressing, little-known side of the famous writer.  According to her extensive research, (diaries, writings, and letters) he was a man riddled with flaws. Often cruel and demoralizing to anyone who crossed his path, his spoken words were vastly different than his illustrious words on paper.

The book concentrates primarily on the relationship between Clemens and his long-suffering assistant, Isabel Lyon (affectionately referred to as The Lioness). Beginning at age 25, she devoted seven years of her life to "The King".  She repeatedly endured his ridicule, bullying, taunts,and tantrums while secretly, longing for a more intimate and permanent relationship with him. Samuel led her to believe he had honorable intentions. But then he seemed to have a penchant for impressionable young women in general. Surrounded by young girls who worshiped him, they were flattered by his flowery words and subtle advances. In her heart, Isabel knew she was different somehow; that her undying devotion to him would result in marriage. How wrong her assumptions proved to be....

The years Isabel spent with Clemens included his ever-present wife, Livy. A sickly, tormented invalid, she exuded a certain "hold" over her husband.  Daughter Clara was unlucky in love and often sought Isabel's advice during troubled times. In an instant she could turn on her father's confidante, however, and treat her shamefully. Jean, the mentally ill daughter, was a constant source of concern, and it was Isabel who often soothed and comforted her, not her own father. In the end, Isabel's loyalty proved to be a fruitless endeavor.

Eventually, Isabel recognized the fact that life was passing her by. She married Ralph Ashcroft, the business manager that Clemens relied upon. The fury and wrath bestowed upon Isabel by Clemens and Clara after her marriage was unfathomable. In a 429 page tirade, the pair proceeded to denounce Isabel as" a traitor....and salacious slut".

Many might question why Isabel would tolerate such abuse over the course of their relationship.
It's certainly a valid response and one only she could answer. Isabel died at the age of ninety-four, still unwilling to speak candidly of the man she adored.

Along the Infinite Sea

Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

Europe 1936 collides with swanky Palm Beach 1966 to set the stage for the final chapter in the lives of the effervescent Schuyler sisters. The focus now is on Pepper, the youngest and most volatile of the three women. This historical fiction novel is filled with romance, unbridled passion, and mystery. If you haven't read the books leading up to Pepper's adventures, no worries. This one can stand alone.

Pepper Schuyler sighs with satisfaction as she examines the sleek, black Mercedes in front of her. What a stroke of luck, finding this abandoned, valuable vehicle in the garage at her family's Cape Cod estate. Some anonymous buyer is willing to pay a great deal of money for this vintage beauty. That will secure Pepper's future, uncertain as it may be. As she stares down at her swollen, distended belly, she feels an overwhelming burst of love for her unborn child. How could a beautiful, self-assured woman like herself from a prominent ( but dysfunctional) family wind up in such a predicament? Maybe falling in love with a married, high-profile politician wasn't a wise thing to do, but with cash in hand, she can put her problems behind her....

For Annabelle Dommerich, the 1936 Mercedes is more than just an engineering masterpiece.  It's a symbol of the astounding events that shaped her life in the 1930's. She is more than willing to pay handsomely for resurrected memories. Feisty, stubborn Pepper Schuyler doesn't know the history behind the car, and Annabelle plans to keep it that way. The two women become comrades over a gleaming automobile.  Annabelle slowly offers guidance and support to this unsuspecting renegade. She takes Pepper on a trip to a small town off the coast of Georgia, surmising that a powerful man is determined to make claims on Pepper's child.  At the same time, Annabelle comes face to face with her own secrets from long ago. Secrets like a clandestine affair with a Jewish lover, and a royal title bestowed upon her from marriage to a high-ranking German officer. Two incredibly strong women, years apart in age, yet with so much in common. Determined to survive.

If you choose to explore the history of the Schuyler sisters, check out Tiny Little Thing and The Secret Life of Violet Grant.  Also recommended is  A Hundred Summers reviewed on this blog in September 2013; it's another engaging historical romance with characters that appear in the author's other novels.

Thoroughly entertaining, the saga of Pepper Schuyler and Annabelle Dommerich is sure to appeal to the hopeless romantic in all of us.

God Whispers Nudges, Fudges, and Butterfly Moments

God Whispers
Nudges, Fudges, and Butterfly Moments
by Liz Thompson

We've all had those moments, that "gut" feeling when it comes to making decisions, whether they be big or small. The subtle whisper, the slight nudge, all could be God's way of leading us in a new direction. Listen and the rewards may be worthwhile.

For those that believe in chance, this may not be the book for you. For those who believe in the power of a Greater Being, I would encourage you to read the words of the many followers who have heard the whispers from Him in their hearts and souls.

This book is a compilation of stories, short essays and poems written by those who have experienced overwhelming peace and joy from recognizing what they believe is an inner voice leading them through both the good and bad times in life. The "butterfly" moments in our lives can occur at any age; times when we break out of our cocoons to finally realize our full potential. They often happen unexpectedly when we think that life has passed us by. The encouraging and moving words of those who have found an inner strength from their faith is uplifting and reassuring. Overcoming obstacles and forgiving ourselves and others are themes reiterated throughout this inspirational book.  

This is the second book written by author Liz Thompson, a columnist featured in 23 suburban newspapers across the Columbus, Ohio area.  I reviewed her first book  Day by Day  in August, 2015, which described her struggles and challenges in overcoming progressive hearing loss. Much like that book, this second one offers spiritual hope and guidance to those who believe in a higher power. Filled with biblical passages and personal testimonials and quotes, I found myself reading a few pages at a a time to contemplate the thought-provoking material.

Listen closely for the "whispers" and savor the "butterfly" moments.