From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. Between the charming banter, the growing romance, and the suspense woven throughout the story, I found myself saying, “Just one more chapter” long past my bedtime

Luca completely won me over. The way he cared for Charlotte and made her feel seen, valued, and loved was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their relationship developed so wonderfully.

The mystery added just the right amount of intrigue without overshadowing the romance, creating the perfect balance of heart and suspense.

This was such a wonderful addition to the series and once again Laura Beers delivered a story I couldn’t put down I think I found one of my new favorites

Tropes
Historical Fiction
Hidden Identity
Fake Engagement 
Suspense & Mystery
He Falls First
Enemies to Lovers Vibes

: Kisses Only
: 3 uses of d*mn

BLURB: Unmasking the truth means risking everything—even love.Miss Charlotte Winslow may be the diamond of the Season, but beneath her flawless exterior lies a secret—she writes for the Society pages. Years of hiding behind her carefully crafted mask have left her doubting her own worth and believing happiness to be a luxury meant for others. That is, until she crosses paths with Lord Luca Dexter—an infuriating, perceptive man who sees far too much and refuses to be ignored.

Luca may be the younger son of a duke, but unlike most men of his rank, he earns his living as the owner of The London Gazette. When he discovers Miss Winslow’s secret talent, he’s determined to recruit her to write for his newssheets. But Charlotte refuses to be reduced to mere gossip columns—if she writes for him, it will be for something that matters.

Luca and Charlotte agree to have her write something of substance. When their investigation uncovers a dangerous conspiracy, Luca finds himself torn between his growing affection for Charlotte and his desperate need to protect her. But Charlotte is not a woman who wishes to be saved. And as tragedy looms, Luca must risk everything—including his heart—to rescue the one woman who taught him that love is worth unmasking for.

As the seventh novel in the Courting the Unconventional series by author Laura Beers, Unmasking the Debutante continues the series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.

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The post Unmasking The Diamond by Laura Beers appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Historical Fiction
Triple POV
Royalty
Friendship Themes

: Kisses Only, Mild Innuendo
: 3 uses of dmn, 7 uses of hll

There are mentions of child loss, miscarriages, death, molestation, fear for one’s life, violence, rebellion, execution, and tragedy

BLURB: Abigail Adams, Queen Charlotte, and Marie Antoinette—three women form an unlikely sisterhood, navigating revolutions, royal pressures, and personal losses as they shape their own legacies.
After the end of the American Revolutionary War, Abigail Adams crosses the Atlantic to reunite with her husband, John, after five long years apart. But she is unprepared for the glittering courts of England and France that are so different from her experience in the newly established United States. Undeterred, Abigail sets her sights on forging bonds with the queens of Europe, believing their support is key to her nation’s future. 
In England, Queen Charlotte carries the weight of an empire on her shoulders. Her husband, King George III, battles a private madness, while political tensions rise and her eldest son schemes for power. Charlotte struggles to maintain order and propriety—while clinging to the solace she finds in her correspondence with her friend Marie Antoinette in France. 
Revolution has gripped France, and Marie Antoinette must watch as her world crumbles. Vilified by the public and neglected by a king who refuses to see the storm coming, she faces growing unrest with dwindling allies. As tragedy strikes her family, she reaches out to her friends—Charlotte and Abigail—in a last attempt to find a path forward, possibly even escape. 

The paths of these three women cross in unexpected ways in public, in private, and through letters. They forge a quiet sisterhood across borders and upheaval, each one facing love and loss, sweetness and strife, revolution and regrets.

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The post Three Queens by Rebecca Connolly appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Historical Fiction
He’s An Earl
She’s An American Heiress
He Falls First
Protective MMC
Sizzling Chemistry

: Kisses Only
: None

BLURB: She’s running from London’s marriage mart. He’s running out of time to save his estate. Neither intends to fall in love–but their hearts have other plans.

American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London’s high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named “the debutante of the season” back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she’s been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated–an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune?

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The post A Deal With A Debutante by Chelsea Bobulski appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: This was such a fantastic addition to the series! So far every book has been a 5 read for me and this one was no exception! It is a fast paced story that is impossible to put down with just the right amount of suspense to keep you guessing! The MCs were so fun to read about
I loved Charlotte so much and Lady Jane’s Aunt as well! 
Overall this was such a fun read and I can hardly wait for more in this series to be released! 

Protective MMC 
Friends to Lovers
Historical Fiction 
Touch of Suspense 
Disowned Lady 
She Saves His Life
Slow Burn 

: Kisses Only 
: None 

BLURB: Society turned its back. So she rewrote her fate.

Lady Jane Lyttelton had always done precisely what was expected of her—until the moment she stood at the altar beside an aged duke. Rather than seal her fate, she ran. Disowned by her family and shunned by Society, her future seemed hopeless… until an unexpected inheritance offered her a chance at independence and a second chance at life.

Alistair Winslow, Viscount Alcott, returned from war with more than a title and scars. Haunted by what he had been forced to do to survive, he now shoulders the weight of protecting his sister and upholding the family name. When Jane saves his life in a dark London alley, he finds himself drawn into her troubles and into feelings he cannot afford to have.

But danger lurks in every shadow. As Alistair’s investigation regarding the questionable deaths of men in his Army company takes a deadly turn, Jane refuses to remain safely out of harm’s way. To protect her, he must confront his past and the man intent on destroying them both. Yet the greatest battle he faces may be against his own heart, for to love her could cost them everything.

As the sixth novel in the Courting the Unconventional series by author Laura Beers, A Brilliant Defiance continues the series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.

The post A Brilliant Defiance by Laura Beers appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: Absolutely riveting!  The banter between the MCs was phenomenal! I loved this book so much! Megan Walker did such a great job with this one! I can’t wait to read more from her

Witty Banter
Reluctant Allies to Lovers
Historical Fiction 
Age Gap 
He Falls First 
Protective MMC

: Kisses Only 
: None

OVERVIEW: Ruined by scandal, Georgiana bargains with a duke to regain her place in Society. But their pretend friendship sparks real love, risking reputations, duty, and unexpected happily-ever-afters.

Eight months after a stolen kiss ruined her reputation, Miss Georgiana Wood is a recluse, cast out of Society without any hope of ever finding a suitable match. Longing for redemption, she never expects her salvation to arrive in the form of a handsome, temperamental duke. 

After a failed bargain left the Duke of Marlow without a promised wife and heir, he must face courtship a final time. He plans to entice his future bride with a priceless family heirloom—one now in the possession of Miss Wood, who agrees to return it if he takes her on three outings in London during the Season to restore her reputation. 

As the pair navigate Society’s expectations and whispered gossip, Marlow soon sees a new side to Georgiana—an ally and friend. Her wit and courage, grace and allure far exceed that of the eligible ladies he intended to court, and soon, he’d do almost anything to secure her happiness. 

As Marlow wrestles with duty and desire, Georgiana begins to hope that she could be loved not despite her past, but because of who she truly is. When hearts are tested, truth and secrets revealed, will love be enough to risk it all?

The post The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: The suspense in the book is amazing! So many twists and turns you won’t see coming! It will have you on the edge of your seat right up to the very end! Jaime Jo Wright did a phenomenal job with this one. I already want to re-read it and annotate it

Some quotes I loved:

• “If she allowed her romantic side to awaken, Minnie imagines she would have traveled to London in 1859 and engaged in conversation with the then-alive Victor Barringsworth. Instead it was almost thirty year later, and she was a husbandless female falling for a dead man and his writing.”
• “Minnie was a romantic at heart, a pragmatist by necessity.”
• “Love sometimes fell short when worlds collided in a battlefield of warring beliefs.”
• “Why was it when a soul sought peace and truth, they were tempted to venture into the dark and mysterious?”
• “Just know that sometimes you have to define the darkness before you can step into the light.”
• “Those who do not fight against evil will read evil, and those who tender acquaintances with the wicked of heart…should expect no less in payment for their affections.”
• “How one views God influences how they view those who have wronged them.”

Slow Burn Thriller
Dual Timelines
Splash of Romance
Ghostly Elements
Deep Thoughts
Christian Fiction

: None
: None

OVERVIEW: The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls. 

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.

The post The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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OVERVIEW: Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls school in 1865s Victorian London. She is also a well-respected author of silver-fork novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories–the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Charles King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats, intelligent detectives solving grisly murders, and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.
 
Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Charles King started taking all of his readers. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of  authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the social and political causes of their working-class readers. The group knows King could be an asset with his obvious monetary success, or he could be the group s undoing as King s readership continues to cut into their profits.
 
Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered. What neither author anticipated was the instant attraction, even though their social positions dictate the impossibility of a relationship.
 
For the first time Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.

The post The Lady And The Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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: Kisses Only : None

OVERVIEW: After Aggie Dunkirk’s career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her rambling old home. She didn’t plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene–even going so far as to re-create it in the dollhouse. 

Mystery seems to follow her when she finds work as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the cemetery. Forced to work with the cemetery’s puzzling, yet attractive archeologist, she exhumes the past’s secrets and unwittingly uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep quiet–even if it means silencing Aggie. 

In 1946, Imogene Grayson works in a local factory and has eyes on owning her own beauty salon. But coming home to discover her younger sister’s body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the newly burgeoning world of criminal forensics and not particularly welcomed as a woman, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister’s case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice . . . even if it costs her everything.

The post Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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: None : Kisses Only

OVERVIEW: Bridging the past and present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is an enchanting, interwoven story of three resilient women connected by a storybook castle that stands witness to their lives.

1789: Aveline Saint-Moreau is a wealthy and beautiful young aristocrat preparing for her betrothal to the Duc et Vivay’s heir Philippe, but the French Revolution looms as the Bastille is stormed in Paris.

1944: Viola Hart is a Resistance fighter in France during World War II, desperately trying to root out the evil taking hold in her country as the Nazis occupy France.

Present day: Ellie Carver is in a race against time to deliver a decades-overdue message as her grandmother fades into the shadows of Alzheimer’s. Embarking on a journey to France’s Loire Valley, Ellie can only hope to unearth the secrets of the mysterious castle before time silences them forever.

As Ellie’s journey unfolds, so too do the journeys of the two other women, each of their stories woven together through their connection with the forgotten French castle—a castle that plays a part in saving each one of them.

With tales of loves won and lost, battles waged in the hearts of men, and a legacy of faith spanning generations, The Lost Castle is a sweeping story of three strong women making history.

The post The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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: None : Kisses Only

OVERVIEW: The first book in bestselling author Linda Chaikin’s new series of contemporary mystery/romances, Monday’s Child was conceived in the poem “Monday’s child is fair of face; Tuesday’s child is full of grace….” Each book of this uncommon series uses a line from the poem to tell the story of a woman facing incredible odds as she searches to understand God’s plan for her.

For Krista von Burren, a beautiful model whose fair face and form have opened doors all over Europe, life seems perfect. Then Jordan Lucas appears. Jordan is working with an investigative journalist to uncover an international banking scandal dating back to Hitler’s Germany. When he tells Krista that the heirloom ring she wears did not come from her German grandmother, as she thought, but from his aunt who died in a concentration camp, Krista is stunned. Could her grandfather and father, both Swiss bankers, possibly have been involved in such a thing? Dark ripples of fear and haunting guilt begin to move through her family, and Krista suddenly finds herself involved in a stunning, unforeseen series of events.

In the midst of her search for truth, a tragic accident changes Krista’s life in ways she could never have imagined. She comes to learn that her true source of happiness lies not in her fair face, but in her faith in God. And she finds the kind of love she has always prayed for—a love that goes beyond outward beauty and reaches to her very heart and soul.

The post Monday’s Child by Linda CHaikin appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.