Hi friends!
I hope you are having a good week. It is warm and summer-like here; all is good in my corner of the world.
I have some fun little dachshund memes to share with you today. Some of these were pictures I have posted on Doxieposse Pals on Facebook.
"Behold the Loch Ness Wiener."
I think this dachshund definitely deserves a bone!
As a semi-wiener (Dachshund - Jack Russell mix), my ears don't flip, but I hear this is very common with dachshunds!
I agree wholeheartedly with this!
Not a meme, but a cute little dachshund in a raincoat - and rain boots! (from Pinterest)
"Life is Good!" This dachshund looks so cool in his sunglasses.
Two dachshunds deciding whether to bark or not ...
I hope you enjoyed these pictures and I hope you have a great weekend too!
Love,
Abby xoxoxo
A southern girl chatting about books, ephemera, life, love, dogs and all things vintage!
Friday, June 5, 2020
Book Review and Giveaway - Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson
My Review
Masquerade at Middlecrest is a historical novel set during the Regency period. Elizabeth is a young unmarried mother. She marries Lord Torrington in haste and goes to live at his estate. However, not all is as it appears at the manor. Lord Torrington is a spy for the king, and there is murder and mischief afoot. As Elizabeth gets to know her new husband, she also has to stay safe - and keep her young son, Isaac, out of danger.
I wanted to read Masquerade at Middlecrest because I love Regency fiction. The synopsis was appealing and the author was new to me.
What a fun read! This novel combines Regency romance, a Gothic setting, and a mystery with adventure. It is very fast paced and one of those "stay up past my bedtime" novels.
Elizabeth was a brave, resourceful, and intelligent heroine. I admired her great care for her son and her willingness to look out for Lord Torrington's young adult children as well. She was also very smart. There was a secret code in the storyline and it was interesting watching her break the code.
Adrian (Lord Torrington) was a thoroughly dreamy hero! He is strong, courageous, and just the right amount of vulnerable. From the beginning I thought he and Elizabeth were a perfect match.
The storytelling is clever and the descriptions really add to the book. I enjoyed the Gothic elements, like:
"The air turned bitter that evening as a harsh storm billowed against
Middlecrest’s thick walls, rattling the windows like an anxious prisoner
terrified to escape. Though I fell into a fitful sleep early on, I was
shaken awake by the wind’s persistent howl and the ravaging bursts of
hard rain. I sat up in bed, darkness haunting every corner of my
bedchamber. The fire had smoldered to ashes in the grate, and the
obstinate chill of night had already crept over the floorboards and
climbed the bedposts, intent on covering every inch of the room. I
hugged the coverlet beneath my chin as lightning framed the window,
illuminating the unseen for seconds at a time before plunging the room
back into a black abyss" (Kindle location 2210).
This is my first read by Abigail Wilson, and I look forward to reading her other novels. I recommend Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey for fans of historical fiction and Regency romance -- especially for anyone who also enjoys some Gothic and adventure elements. This was a very enjoyable read!
Book Synopsis
n this new Regency romance, Elizabeth knows she must protect her
heart from the charm of her new husband, Lord Torrington. She is not,
however, prepared to protect her life.
When the widowed Lord Torrington agreed to spy for the crown, he
never planned to impersonate a highwayman, let alone rob the wrong
carriage. Stranded on the road with an unconscious young woman, he is
forced to propose marriage to protect his identity and her reputation,
as well as his dangerous mission.
Trapped not only by her duty to her country but also by her limited
options as an unwed mother, Miss Elizabeth Cantrell and her infant son
are whisked away to Middlecrest Abbey by none other than the elder
brother of her son’s absent father. There she is met by Torrington’s
beautiful grown daughters, a vicious murderer, and an urgent hunt for
the missing intelligence that could turn the war with France. Meanwhile
she must convince everyone that her marriage is a genuine love match if
her new husband has any hope of uncovering the enemy.
Determined to keep her son’s true identity a secret, Elizabeth will
need to remain one step ahead of her fragile heart, her uncertain
future, and the relentless fiend bent on her new family’s ruin.
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
Author Bio
Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue
and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A registered
nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her
spare time hiking the national parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic
meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s
Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well
as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for
Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.
She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and
currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and
children.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 5 paperback copies of Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– 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.
Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Sprinkles of Suspicion (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series) by Kim Davis
Book Synopsis
One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.
Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect.
With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her?
Includes recipes!
Author Bio
Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats. She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, and has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Author Links:
Website: http://kimdavisauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Davis-Author-1532277473479031/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kookiesandbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14713259.K_A_Davis
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimdavishb/
Purchase Links: Amazon
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.
Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect.
With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her?
Includes recipes!
Author Bio
Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats. She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, and has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Author Links:
Website: http://kimdavisauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Davis-Author-1532277473479031/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kookiesandbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14713259.K_A_Davis
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimdavishb/
Purchase Links: Amazon
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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