Friday, June 28, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway - Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor

Book Synopsis
Wanted: an engagement of convenience. Found: A noble suitor.

Raised on a remote Scottish estate by her adoring grandfather, Lady Theodora Worth has inherited an earldom as well as the land itself. But when an upstart duke challenges her claim to the title and the Ladykyrk estate, Thea is suddenly in need of a husband—in name, at least. An elderly neighbor with a thoroughly modern sensibility and a dashing great-nephew just might be the answer to Thea’s prayers. Except she has no intention of marrying the first man she meets. That would be utterly ridiculous.

It just can’t be him. . .

Lord William Cavensham is entirely too devoted to his family’s estate—ever since he was jilted as a lad–to wed, but he agrees to meet the woman his aunt has taken under her wing—and introduce her to possible suitors. But after just one meeting with beautiful, spirited Thea, Will is determined to help her reclaim her title. And even moreso, he can’t stop thinking that perhaps marriage to this bold, passionate woman may be the one thing he’s been missing all along?

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My Review
Lady Theodora Worth (Thea) inherits an earldom and Ladykyrk estate when her beloved grandfather dies.  The problem? She needs to find a husband.  Her elderly neighbor does some matchmaking with Thea and her great-nephew.  There are obstacles ... but will they find their way together?

Rogue Most Wanted is a very enjoyable historical romance.  I really liked Thea, with her independence and her occasional social awkwardness, and the kind and dashing hero, William.  I particularly liked that they started out as friends, despite an immediate attraction, and their romance built from that. They were thwarted at several turns by an evil duke who wants both Thea and her estate.

Each chapter begins with a quote from a local newspaper called The Midnight Cryer.  These quotes tend to be swipes at Thea, and they help set the scene for the action in the upcoming chapter.

The setting of Northumberland near the Scottish border was delightful, as was William's family estate in London, and I enjoyed the period details.  The author does a good job at creating a world and introducing it to readers.  I loved details like the maze on the estate, and the folly that Thea's grandfather built for her eighth birthday:

"The bucolic scene was breathtaking by itself, but the majestic folly sitting regally before them demanded center stage.  The stone pavilion had four separate entrances under elaborate porticos, each guarded by Boreas, Zepher, Notus, and Eurus, the gods of the four directional winds.  A small dome centered in the middle of the building was topped with a weather vane in the form of a welcoming Aeolus, the King of the Winds, with an outstretched hand" (p. 83).

This is the fifth book in the Cavendish Heiresses series.  I have not read the previous books, but this book worked fine as a standalone read.  

Rogue Most Wanted is an enjoyable read.  I recommend it especially for readers who enjoy historical romance and the Regency period.


Author Bio
Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs.

 

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Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. 

Giveaway Rules 
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter. 
– Giveaway is open to US only. 
– Only one entry per household. 
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is 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. 
Rogue Most Wanted

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Strangled Eggs and Ham (A Country Store Mystery) by Maddie Day

Book Synopsis
Robbie Jordan’s rustic country store is growing in popularity. But when a dead body appears, it turns out that Robbie’s home-style cooking attracts hungry customers—and murder!

While Robbie scrambles through breakfast orders for her expanding clientele at Pans ‘N Pancakes, tempers run as high as the sticky August heat in South Lick, Indiana. Real-estate developer Fiona Closs plans to build a towering luxury resort at one of the most scenic hilltops in Brown County, and not everyone can see the sunny side of the imposing proposition—including Robbie’s furious Aunt Adele, who doesn’t waste a minute concocting protests and road blockades. When tensions boil over and a vocal protester is silenced forever at the resort site, Robbie ditches the griddle to catch the killer. But if slashed tires are any indication, she’ll need to crack this case before her own aunt gets served something deadly next . . .

Includes Recipes for You to Try!

Author Bio
Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-nominated author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts.

As Edith Maxwell, she writes the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Midnight Ink).

You can find all Maddie’s/Edith’s identities at www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every weekday with the other Wicked Cozy Authors at wickedcozyauthors.com. Look for her as Edith M. Maxwell and Maddie Day on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter.  

Purchase Links
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Giveaway
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