Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dear Abby - Happy Thanksgiving! With Vintage Images

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good day.  I'm posting a little early this week because I plan to take some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday.  I hope to get some extra naps in and I just know there is going to be extra good food around next week.  (I can't wait!)   I'll be back the first Friday in December.

I wanted to share some cute vintage cards and postcards with you that feature dogs enjoying Thanksgiving.

Vintage Thanksgiving greeting card -- a dachshund dances with a girl in a pilgrim costume. She's holding a turkey up very high, out of his reach!


A little terrier dog is chased by a turkey on this vintage postcard:


A little girl and two dachshunds meet turkeys on a farm.  Those dachshunds look so curious about the turkey!


Vintage greeting card featuring two shaggy terrier dogs who have made a pumpkin house. (It looks very cozy!)
A hound dog watches as a boy says grace at Thanksgiving dinner:


A dog and cat are interested in the turkey that a pilgrim woman is carrying:


However you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope your day is happy and full of many blessings!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo


Book Spotlight and Giveway - A Bad Hair Day Cookbook: Recipes from Nancy J. Cohen’s Cozy Mystery Series

Book Synopsis
Are you having a bad hair day? Whip out your whisk, snatch up your spoon, and prepare your palate. Inside the pages of this cookbook are recipes that will bring you good cheer.

Enjoy 160+ tasty recipes from Nancy J. Cohen’s popular Bad Hair Day cozy mystery series. Included in this cookbook are excerpts, cooking tips, and anecdotes written by hairstylist and savvy sleuth Marla Vail. From appetizers to desserts, Marla offers cooking tips and tricks along with commentary about the dishes she prepares for her family. Whether you’re a skilled cook or an eager novice, this cookbook will unravel the mystery of cooking. Put on your apron and plan to make some killer recipes. Bonuses Include:

•Meet the Sleuth
•Introduction by Marla Vail
•Cooking Tips
•Excerpts from Series Titles
•Themed Menu Suggestions
•“A Sabbath Dinner” by Nancy’s Mother

For Home Cooks, Food Lovers, Mystery Fans and Cookbook Collectors

Recipes are listed in these categories:

APPETIZERS
BEVERAGES
BREADS
SAUCES
SOUPS
ENTREES – BEEF
ENTREES – LAMB
ENTREES – POULTRY
ENTREES – FISH
ENTREES – VEGETARIAN
SIDE DISHES
DESSERTS

Author Bio
Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won a Readers’ Favorite gold medal, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Nancy’s instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery, was nominated for an Agatha Award and won a gold medal at the President’s Book Awards from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. When not busy writing, Nancy enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping.

Author Links
Website:  https://nancyjcohen.com
Blog: https://nancyjcohen.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJCohenAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyjcohen
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nancyjcohen
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/njcohen/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-j-cohen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nancyjcohen

Purchase Links –  Amazon Kindle   Amazon Print   Apple Books    Nook    Kobo    Books2Read    BookBub   Goodreads

Giveaway
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Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Katherine Tudor Duchess by Tony Riches

Book Synopsis
Attractive, wealthy and influential, Katherine Willoughby is one of the most unusual ladies of the Tudor court. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Katherine knows all his six wives, his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and his son Edward, as well as being related by marriage to Lady Jane Grey.

She marries Tudor knight, Sir Charles Brandon, and becomes Duchess of Suffolk at the age of fourteen. Her Spanish mother, Maria de Salinas, is Queen Catherine of Aragon’s lady in waiting, so it is a challenging time for them all when King Henry marries the enigmatic Anne Boleyn.

Following Anne’s dramatic downfall, the short reign of young Catherine Howard, and the tragic death of Jane Seymour, Katherine’s young sons are tutored with the future king, Prince Edward, and become his friends.

Katherine and Charles Brandon are chosen to welcome Anna of Cleves as she arrives in England. When the royal marriage is annulled, Katherine’s good friend, Catherine Parr becomes the king’s sixth wife, and they work to promote religious reform.

When King Edward dies, his Catholic sister Mary is crowned queen and Katherine’s Protestant faith puts her family in great danger – from which there seems no escape.

Katherine’s remarkable true story continues the epic tale of the rise of the Tudors, which began with the best-selling Tudor trilogy and concludes with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

 

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Author Bio
Tony Riches is a full-time writer and lives with his wife in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. After several successful non-fiction books, Tony turned to novel writing and wrote ‘Queen Sacrifice’, set in 10th century Wales, followed by ‘The Shell’, a thriller set in present day Kenya. A specialist in the history of the early Tudors, he is best known for his Tudor Trilogy. Tony’s other international best sellers include ‘Warwick ~ The Man Behind the Wars of the Roses’ and ‘The Secret Diary of Eleanor Cobham’.

For more information please visit Tony’s website and his blog The Writing Desk. He can also be found on FacebookTwitter, and Goodreads.

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperbacks of Katherine-Tudor Duchess by Tony Riches! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.  

Giveaway Rules 
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter. 
– Paperback giveaway is open internationally. 
– Only one entry per household. 
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. 
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.  
Katherine Tudor Duchess
 

Friday, November 15, 2019

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes - Andy The Dachshund Walks Again, Thanks to 3-D Printing

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday to you!  I hope you are having a good week.  My week has been nice, but unexpectedly chilly.  I think it jumped ahead to winter temperatures here.  Brrr!

As a result, I've had extra time to enjoy some dog videos on Youtube.  I found one that I particularly like, and thought you might find it interesting too.

This short video tells the story of Andy the dachshund.  When Andy went down with his back, he needed emergency spinal surgery.  The doctors were able to make a model of his spine with 3-D printing so they could have great success.  You will love the scene of Andy walking and even running afterward!   This video is from The Today Show.  I really liked Andy's story a lot.

You'll find Andy's story here:



Thanks for visiting today, and have a great weekend!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock

Book Synopsis
In a historical debut evoking the style of The Crown, the daughter of an impoverished noble is swept into the fame and notoriety of the royal family and Princess Margaret’s fast-living friends when she is appointed as Margaret’s second Lady-in-Waiting.

Diana, Catherine, Meghan…glamorous Princess Margaret outdid them all. Springing into post-World War II society, and quite naughty and haughty, she lived in a whirlwind of fame and notoriety. Georgie Blalock captures the fascinating, fast-living princess and her “set” as seen through the eyes of one of her ladies-in-waiting.

In dreary, post-war Britain, Princess Margaret captivates everyone with her cutting edge fashion sense and biting quips. The royal socialite, cigarette holder in one hand, cocktail in the other, sparkles in the company of her glittering entourage of wealthy young aristocrats known as the Margaret Set, but her outrageous lifestyle conflicts with her place as Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister. Can she be a dutiful princess while still dazzling the world on her own terms?

Post-war Britain isn’t glamorous for The Honorable Vera Strathmore. While writing scandalous novels, she dreams of living and working in New York, and regaining the happiness she enjoyed before her fiancé was killed in the war. A chance meeting with the Princess changes her life forever. Vera amuses the princess, and what—or who—Margaret wants, Margaret gets. Soon, Vera gains Margaret’s confidence and the privileged position of second lady-in-waiting to the Princess. Thrust into the center of Margaret’s social and royal life, Vera watches the princess’s love affair with dashing Captain Peter Townsend unfurl.

But while Margaret, as a member of the Royal Family, is not free to act on her desires, Vera soon wants the freedom to pursue her own dreams. As time and Princess Margaret’s scandalous behavior progress, both women will be forced to choose between status, duty, and love…


 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


My Review
The Other Windsor Girl begins in 1949 with Vera Strathmore, a British woman who lost her fiance in the war, and who is writing romance novels.  Vera lives with her family - titled but far from wealthy. When she unexpectedly has the opportunity to become a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, she jumps at the chance.  Although this means giving up her own aspirations, she finds herself in the middle of a lot of excitement and drama, including Margaret's love affair with Captain Peter Townsend.

I wanted to read this novel because I am a great fan of The Crown and a casual royal watcher.  I was curious about a novel involving Princess Margaret.

At first I was not as interested in Vera's life, and found myself reading quickly to get to the Princess Margaret sections.  After a while though, this reversed and I was much more interested in Vera's life.  It was very interesting seeing her perspective on palace life as an outsider.

Princess Margaret is seen as a very volatile and impulsive personality.  At one point she throws her vodka and orange juice in the face of another lady in waiting and fires her on the spot.  As a result, Vera is always on edge and concerned about her position at the palace.  As Vera gives up more and more for her position, she particularly feels the precariousness of her place.

This was a fascinating read and a real peek into Princess Margaret's life over a pivotal decade (1949 - 1960).  The author does a fine job at drawing two strong and different characters, Princess Margaret and Vera, and telling their personal and interrelated stories simultaneously.

Anyone who is interested in the life of the royal family will enjoy The Other Windsor Girl.  I found it fascinating and unique, and feel sure other historical fiction readers will as well. 

Author Bio
Georgie Blalock is an amateur historian and movie buff who loves combining her different passions through historical fiction, and a healthy dose of period piece films. When not writing, she can be found prowling the non-fiction history section of the library or the British film listings on Netflix. Georgie writes historical romance under the name Georgie Lee. Please visit www.georgieblalock.com for more info about Georgie and her writing.

Follow Georgie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Memories and Murder (A Tourist Trap Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon

Book Synopsis
It’s October in South Cove, California, and the locals in the quaint resort seem to be happily pairing off in the lull before the holidays. Everyone, that is, except for Jill Gardner’s elderly aunt, who just dumped her besotted fiancé—and she won’t say why. 

When Jill hosts a talk at Coffee, Books, and More on the topic of elder abuse, all that’s really on her mind is lunch. But the topic hits close to home when she discovers Aunt Jackie has been getting mysterious calls. Jill’s certain the caller is a con artist, of course, but her feisty aunt claims to understand this, though she’s still shaken—and Harrold’s still heartbroken. Who’s behind the scam and why was her aunt targeted? When a volunteer from the Senior Project is found murdered, Jill’s detective boyfriend is on the case—and it soon becomes clear no one is safe when a caller from beyond becomes a killer in their midst.


Author Bio
Lynn Cahoon is the award-winning author of several New York Times and USA Today bestselling cozy mystery series. The Tourist Trap series is set in central coastal California with six holiday novellas releasing in 2018–2019. She also pens the Cat Latimer series available in mass market paperback. Her newest series, the Farm to Fork mystery series, debuted in 2018. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies. Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com.

Author Links
Website – https://www.lynncahoon.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKobo

Giveaway
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Friday, November 8, 2019

Dear Abby - A Love Like No Otter

Dear Friends,

I have a short and sweet post for you today. I would like to thank my friend Jean for sending me a special video.  It is called "A Love Like No Otter" and it is about Gail Fisher, who takes care of otters at the Georgia Aquarium, and who really loves the otters! 

There is a special story on the video about Cruz, an orphaned sea otter who was rescued.  I love the way he holds paws with Gina, and he even gives kisses.  (Just like a dog!)

You'll find this wonderful video below.  It is just over 5 minutes and I bet it will make you smile.



The photo at the top of this post is of the otters at the Georgia Aquarium. I haven't been there, but my Momma has and she says it is an amazing place.

More next week - hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo
 

Book Review - The Poppy Wife by Caroline Scott

Book Synopsis
In the tradition of Jennifer Robson and Hazel Gaynor, this unforgettable debut novel is a sweeping tale of forbidden love, profound loss, and the startling truth of the broken families left behind in the wake of World War I.

1921. Survivors of the Great War are desperately trying to piece together the fragments of their broken lives. While many have been reunited with their loved ones, Edie’s husband Francis has not come home. Francis is presumed to have been killed in action, but Edie believes he might still be alive.

Harry, Francis’s brother, was there the day Francis was wounded. He was certain it was a fatal wound—that he saw his brother die—but as time passes, Harry begins questioning his memory of what happened. Could Francis, like many soldiers, merely be lost and confused somewhere? Hired by grieving families, Harry returns to the Western Front to photograph gravesites. As he travels through battle-scarred France and Belgium gathering news for British wives and mothers, he searches for evidence of Francis.

When Edie receives a mysterious photograph of Francis, she is more convinced than ever he might still be alive. And so, she embarks on a journey in the hope of finding some trace of her husband. Is he truly gone? And if he isn’t, then why hasn’t he come home?

As Harry and Edie’s paths converge, they get closer to the truth about Francis and, as they do, are faced with the life-changing impact of the answers they discover.

Artful and incredibly moving, The Poppy Wife tells the unforgettable story of the soldiers lost amid the chaos and ruins, and those who were desperate to find them.


 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


My Review
The Poppy Wife is the story of lives torn apart by World War I. Francis, Harry, and Will are British brothers who go to war. Will is killed in action. Francis and Harry are in love with the same woman (although Francis married her).  Francis is presumed killed, but his body is not found.  Harry returns from war, a broken man.  Edie is Francis's wife, left in limbo wondering what happened to him.  One day she gets a photograph in the mail that looks like an older version of her husband.  She goes off to France searching for answers, traveling a path that crisscrosses with the one Harry is traveling as he photographs gravesites for families.

I wanted to read this novel because the subject matter is so intriguing.  I have read historical fiction about World War I, but never a book focusing on stories like the one of Francis in this book.

This is absolutely the most beautifully told, heartbreaking book.  The imagery is extraordinary.  I was struck, over and over, by the images of Harry traveling through France, photographing gravesites and places that soldiers last visited for their families.  On his travels he befriends Rachel, a woman whose husband is also presumed killed - and who desperately seeks answers.  He also befriends Gabriel, a stonemason and former soldier who is working on a war memorial.

And then there is Edie.  She is a fascinating character, looking for answers and at the same time scared at what she can find.  Even before he went missing, her husband was distant and changed.  She is drawn to Harry and confused about her feelings.

The book is told in short chapters, some from Edie's viewpoint, and some from Harry's.  The chapters begin with a location heading - locales through France and Great Britain.

The descriptions in this book are breathtaking.  For instance, Edie wakes up in Arras, France:

"The morning light is creeping across the rooftops.  Once upon a time this skyline would have been spiked with belfries and church steeples, but today the towers have all come down and the roofline is tattered.  The white shape of the cathedral is like a ghost of a building.  Smoke starts to rise from the chimney opposite Edie's window and a flight of starlings streaks along the street below and then wheels above.  She envies the birds the lift of their wings as she turns away" (p. 85).

I was so engrossed in this book that I felt like time stopped while I was reading.  I literally could not put it down.  I have been thinking of it since. 

I cannot recommend The Poppy Wife highly enough for fans of historical fiction. This book is sure to be one of my favorite reads of 2019, and I think it will top many other lists as well.
 

Author Bio
Caroline Scott is a freelance writer and historian specializing in WWI and women’s history, with a PhD from Durham University. Born in the UK, Caroline currently resides in France. The Poppy Wife is partially inspired by her family history.

I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway - Tell Me No Lies: A Lady Dunbridge Novel by Shelley Noble

Book Synopsis
Miss Fisher meets Downton Abbey in Tell Me No Lies, part of the critically acclaimed Lady Dunbridge Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble. 

Rise and shine, Countess, you’re about to have a visitor. 

Lady Dunbridge was not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s come to New York City, ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm. The social events of the summer have been amusing but Lady Phil is searching for more excitement—and she finds it, when an early morning visitor arrives, begging for her help. After all, Lady Phil has been known to be useful in a crisis. Especially when the crisis involves the untimely death of a handsome young business tycoon. 

His death could send another financial panic through Wall Street and beyond. 

With the elegant Plaza Hotel, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the opulent mansions of Long Island’s Gold Coast as the backdrop, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

My Review
Lady Phil Dundridge is a British countess living in New York during the Gilded Age. She is clever, worldly - and a gifted amateur detective. When a young society man is killed and stuffed down a laundry chute, Phil becomes involved in solving the mystery.

I wanted to read this book from the description that compared it to Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and Downton Abbey. It certainly did not disappoint!  I absolutely loved the beautiful glimpse of Gilded Age New York. The period details were perfection, down to the smallest nuances of language.

Tell Me No Lies is the second book in the Lady Dundridge mystery series. I have not (yet) read the first book, but had no problem enjoying this book as a standalone read.

Phil is a fascinating character - very witty and bright, able to work well with society friends as well as the police detective working on the case.  She is assisted by her lady's maid and butler, and in their spare time they even study books on detection!

This was a complex, sophisticated mystery with a large cast of characters. I would find a cast of characters page helpful in keeping track of family/society relationships.  The mystery was well written and kept me guessing until the resolution.

There is an intriguing sub-plot about Lady Phil's relationship with Mr. X - a mystery man who appears and disappears, always in disguise, with mystery clues and romance. Even Phil does not know his true identity.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tell Me No Lies and would recommend it highly for fans of historical mysteries.  I look forward to continuing the series and going back to read the first book as well.


Author Bio
Shelley Noble is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary women’s fiction. (Beach Colors, Whisper Beach, Lighthouse Beach.) And the author of the Lady Dunbridge Gilded Age  Manhattan mysteries. Tell Me No Lies is the latest of the series.

She has written eighteen amateur sleuth and historical mystery novels and novellas as Shelley Freydont. (The Sudoku Murders,  Celebration Bay mysteries, The Gilded Age Newport mysteries.

A former professional dancer and choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore where she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses, vintage carousels, and the past.

Author Links
Website https://www.shelleynoble.com
FB https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyNobleAuthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/ShelleyNoble3
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shelleynobleauthor/
Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5560617.Shelley_Noble

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKobo

Giveaway
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Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Three Widows and a Corpse (A Food Blogger Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder

Book Synopsis
Food blogger Hope Early finds one item not on her scavenger hunt list—a dead husband . . . 

Between developing her food blog, Hope at Home, and choosing low-cal recipes for a feature in Cooking Now! magazine, Hope has a full plate. Still, she’s never too busy to compete in a Jefferson, Connecticut, tradition—the town’s annual scavenger hunt. 

But as she races with her team to check off the next item, Hope discovers a grisly surprise—the body of shady real estate developer Lionel Whitcomb, shot in a parking lot. His wife Elaine, who’s also in the hunt, gasps and nearly faints. But two other women on the scene cry out that their husband is dead. 

 It turns out this louse of a spouse was more than a little lax in legally divorcing his former wives. Did one of them put a bullet in the bigamist? Number one suspect and number three wife Elaine begs Hope to investigate. Now Hope is on a new kind of hunt—for a cold-hearted killer and triple widow-maker . . . 

Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!

Author Bio
Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy. 

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.

Author Links:
Website – Facebook – Goodreads 

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound

Giveaway
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Friday, November 1, 2019

Dear Abby - Otters and Pumpkins

Dear Friends,

Happy November to you!  Although it is after Halloween, I have a few special pictures including jack o' lanterns that I want to share with you.  One of my friends sent me these and I liked them so much I saved them to share with you.  They are all pictures of otters enjoying pumpkins.

I like otters!  They are shaped a lot like dachshunds and are close in size.  I think they are silly to like water so much, but I am glad it makes them happy!

This little otter reaches into a pumpkin. I wonder if he has hidden a treat inside?


An otter going trick or treating!


 Lots of otters and lots of pumpkins:


Only two pumpkins for all those otters!


My favorite -- one otter has made a little pumpkin house.


Here are a few fun facts I learned about otters:

Otters are part of the weasel family.

Some otters spend most of their time in the water, while others like both land and water.

A group of otters can be called a bevy, lodge, romp, or family.  If there is a group in the water they are called a raft.

Baby otters are called pups, kits, or kittens.

Sea otters have the thickest fur of all animals.  It keeps them warm even in very cold water.

Sea otters sometimes hold hands while sleeping in the water so they don't drift apart.

Otters eat 15% - 25% of their body weight in food every single day!  (Now why does that not work for dogs as well?!)

I hope you enjoyed these photos, and wish you a happy November!  Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo 
 


Book Review and Giveaway - The Highlander's Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Book Synopsis
In bestselling author Vanessa Kelly’s irresistible Clan Kendrick series, Christmas in the Highlands means family, celebration—and for one brother, the beginning of a passionate adventure . . .

Being thrown over by the man she expected to marry was humiliating enough. Now that Donella Haddon, grandniece of the Earl of Riddick, has also proven a failure as a nun, she has no choice but to return to her family’s estate. The brawny Highlander sent to escort her is brash, handsome, and the only thing standing between Donella and a gang of would-be kidnappers. But the scandal in her past can’t be so easily outrun . . .

Wealthy widower Logan Kendrick was expecting to meet a plain, pious spinster—not a gorgeous, sharp-tongued lass who can hold her own in any ambush. Though she’s known as the Flower of Clan Graham, Donella is no shrinking violet. In fact, she might be the perfect woman to bring happiness back to his lonely little son’s life, just in time for Christmas. But first he must protect her from ugly gossip and a mysterious threat—and convince her that their wild, unexpected desire is heaven sent.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


My Review
The Highlander's Christmas Bride is the story of Donella Haddon and Logan Kendrick.  Donella has been asked to leave the abbey where she had hoped to spend her life as a nun.  Logan is sent by her family to help her safely travel home.  Sparks fly as they get acquainted - although they seem unlikely as a romantic couple.

I wanted to read this novel because of the Regency period and Scottish setting.  Both elements were important parts of the novel, especially as Regency propriety met the wild Scottish countryside. 

I enjoyed Donella as a protagonist. She is independent for the times and looking for her place in the world after leaving the convent:

"It was perplexing, because she used to be good at things, whether it was managing a large household, helping the local vicar in his charitable work, or excelling at her studies and music.  These days she seemed to be stumbling about in the dark without a clue to do next" (p. 21).

Logan is also at a crossroads.  His wife passed away, leaving him with a young son to raise.  

Although Donella, the former nun, and Logan, the Scotsman adventurer, appear different on the surface, they find a place of real connection.  This makes their story particularly enjoyable to read.

I especially enjoyed their adventurous trip from the convent to Donella's home -- set with danger and some comical subterfuge as Donella masquerades as a young man.

This is my first read in the Clan Kendrick series.  It worked fine as a standalone, although I would enjoy going back to catch up with the first book in the series.  

I recommend The Highlander's Christmas Bride for fans of historical romance, and especially for anyone who enjoys a Scottish setting.  It is a fun read!


Author Bio
Vanessa Kelly is a USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.” Her Regency-set historical romances have been nominated in a number of contests, and she has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Her books have been published in nine languages.

Vanessa’s latest book, The Highlander Who Protected Me, was a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, and BookScan bestseller. Her Renegade Royals Series was a national bestseller, as was The Improper Princesses Series. My Fair Princess was named a Goodreads Romance of the Month and is a USA Today and BookScan bestseller. The Highlander’s Princess Bride, book 3 in the series, was a Barnes and Noble top 50 bestseller.

When she’s not dreaming of plots for her next Regency novel, Vanessa is writing USA Today Bestselling books with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.
You can find Vanessa at vanessakellyauthor.com or at vksykes.com. For all of Vanessa’s latest news and contests–and to receive a free story–please sign up for her newsletter on her website.

 

Clan Kendrick Facebook Group | Facebook Author Page | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads


Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away signed copies of THE HIGHLANDER’S PRINCESS BRIDE and THE HIGHLANDER WHO PROTECTED ME + a $20 Amazon gift card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen. 

The Highlander's Christmas Bride