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 – Amazon – B&N – Kobo
Giveaway
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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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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 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.
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
Book Synopsis
The mysterious Alex Archer returns to England in Book 3 of Mimi Matthews’ USA Today bestselling Parish Orphans of Devon series.
She Needed A Husband…
It’s been three years since Laura Hayes’s father died, leaving her
and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family’s
failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she
needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all
from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems
a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might
be the opposite.
He Wanted a Fortune…
Alex has no tolerance for sentiment. He’s returned to England for one
reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey
seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway
station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And
it’s all the fault of Laura Hayes–a lady as unsuitable as she is
enchanting.
From the beaches of Margate to the lavender fields of Provence, a
grudging friendship slowly blossoms into something more. But when
scandal threatens, can a man who has spent his entire life playing the
villain, finally become a hero? Or will the lure of easy riches once
again outweigh the demands of his heart?
Author Bio
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews (A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, The Matrimonial Advertisement)
writes both historical non-fiction and traditional historical romances
set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history
have been published on various academic and history sites, including the
Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated weekly at BUST Magazine.
In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with
her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties,
and two Siamese cats.
For more information, please visit Mimi Matthews’ website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, Pinterest, Google+, and Goodreads.
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a signed paperback copy of A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 15th. 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.
