Title: Her Heart’s Surrender

Author: Allison Merritt

Published by: Three Worlds Press

Date published: April 9, 2015

Genres: Historical

Book Length: 167 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Ealasaid & Hella

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

“I adored this book. I loved the story line, the historical aspect of things, the romance, the challenges they faced and the ending left me hoping for a second book! (You can’t ask for more than that!)” ~Becca

After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it’s too late and the Vikings slaughter or enslave all the inhabitants of Suibhne. In attempt to save her family, Ealasaid stabs a young Viking warrior, but her father is killed, her family scattered, and she’s taken to Solstad Hall where she serves as a thrall for the Viking king. Years later, the king’s son, Hella, ventures on many raids and to trading sites across Europe, but his desire is to set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. He tells her of his plan and they expression their passion for one another. When Hella petitions the king for her freedom, but is turned down and order to the Frankish lands in retaliation for raids on the Viking coastal villages. Ealasaid, aware the king would never free her, tells him that he should look for a brighter future across the sea, away from his father and resigns herself to be his slave for the remainder of her life.Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father’s final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Furious with his father’s orders and worried about being left without lands or money, Hella looks to the thrall who’s always captured his attention—Ealasaid. Ealasaid harbors a secret—the single afternoon she spent in Hella’s arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living.

When it comes to Historical romance novels I am always skeptical. I just never know if I’m going to enjoy them or not…okay let me explain…

-I worry that the author will take the language too far and it be to a point where I have to use a glossary just to understand the page to page story. (So not cool…)

-I can’t help but compare the story line to what I know of actual history…

-The balance between time period accuracy and boring explanation is hard.

Those are the basic 3 reasons that I steer away from most historical romances. However, when I was approached about Her Heart’s Surrender something grabbed me and told me that this was a book I wanted to read. I’d like to say that it was the blurb…but while it did initially grab my attention and make me want to read the book, I was rather disappointed to realize that the blurb gives away way too much information about the story line. There aren’t many surprises left. I would rather see the blurb look something like this:

After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it’s too late! Her father is killed, her family scattered, and she is taken to Solstad Hall where she serves s a thrall for the Viking king.

Years later, the king’s son, Hella, feels it is finally time to obtain that which he desires most; set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. After telling her of his plan and their expression of passion for one another things do not go as hoped.

Ealasaid harbors a secret — the single afternoon she spent in Hella’s arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living. But the king nor Hella must never know of her sons parentage.

Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father’s final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Will his father’s demand lead to the life he has always desired? Or will it lead to disaster?

I’m not a blurb writer or whatever they are called, but I guess I just feel that the current blurb just gives away too much!

Allison’s writing style is unique and works so beautifully for a historical romance. The characters in Her Heart’s Surrender are each very well developed and I was easily able to relate to them even though they live in a different world than the reader. I understood why each decision was made and why things were handled the way that they were (Yep I know…vague..sorry no spoilers from me!), it all just made sense. As I read the book I was taken back in time and felt like I was a part of everything as it developed.

The relationship between Hella and Ealasaid was wonderful. While the beginning was a little lacking (I sort of wish there had been a little more sneaking around and hidden sweet moments…but I also get why there weren’t.), the relationship flowed well and made sense with the time period. 

I adored this book. I loved the story line, the historical aspect of things, the romance, the challenges they faced and the ending left me hoping for a second book! (You can’t ask for more than that!)

A life-long love of reading turned Allison Merritt into an indie author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she’s not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.

Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that’s gathering dust after it was determined that she’s better at writing fluff than hard news.

She serves as the newsletter editor during the 2013-2014 year for Ozarks Romance Authors in Springfield, Missouri and has been a member since 2009.

Website | Pinterest | Facebook | GoodReads | Twitter | Google+

Have you ever read a book and then wished the blurb hadn’t given quite so much away?

Title: Scandalous Endeavors

Author: Amanda Mariel

Published by: Three Worlds Press

Date published: Dec. 12, 2014

Genres: Historical

Book Length: 137 pages

Steam Rating: Sweet

Main Characters: Lady Amelia & Lord Goldstone

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

” I could visualize everything that was going on which is really good. Some books can be boring and not get into the storyline.”~Karen

Lady Amelia has only known the comfort of life in mid-eighteenth century English aristocracy. But when first her mother and then her father die, she finds herself alone, grief stricken and….. not of age. Her appointed guardian, an American uncle, has ordered her travel to his plantation where she must remain for at least two years when she will come of age.

With the help of Lady Grace and Lady Sarah, Lady Amelia gets her uncle to agree to give her four weeks to settle her affairs and unbeknownst to him…find an English lord to marry so she can remain in her beloved England. Despite her mourning period she endeavors to trap one of London’s eligible bachelors in matrimony.

Lord Goldstone, Lady Grace’s nephew is devilishly handsome, but a Scottish Duke and so entirely unacceptable as a possible husband. After all Scotland is not her beloved London and environs. He also has a nasty habit of showing up at all the wrong moments and thwarting her carefully laid plans to ensnare a suitable husband. Sparks fly as the pair find themselves at odds with each other and drawn to each other at the same time. Can they find a way to stop arguing long enough to explore their growing passion? Is it strong enough to make Lady Amelia give up her English home after all? Or will Lady Amelia find a suitable English lord and avoid social exile in America? Time is running out.

Lady Amelia – Viscountess of Everthorne was extremely sad after her father died. Her mom also passed on when she was young. She was now parentless. What was she going to do? She didn’t want to leave her townhome or London for that matter. Amelia’s Uncle Lewis, (her mother’s brother), from America has come to get her. She has only 1 week to get all of her affairs in order

A week? How is this even possible?

This is definitely not enough time to pack, close the townhome, and let the servants go. Lady Amelia visits her friend Lady Sarah to get a plan in order.The plan is to find an English husband for Amelia within a week!

Is this possible? Will It actually work? What will Amelia have to do so she can stay in London and not go to America with her Uncle Lewis?

Lady Sarah and Amelia together visit Lady Grace Abernathy who has been good friends with Amelia’s Dads’ side of the family. There’s no way she would say no, or would she? Will Lady Grace become a chaperone for Amelia? Of course, an approval would be needed too by Uncle Lewis!

Lady Sarah’s brother; Lord Roseington is single and she would most definitely would like Amelia to be part of her family. They have been friends forever. They plot that at an upcoming ball, Lady Sarah will ask her brother to retrieve a book from the library that lady grace will lend to her where Amelia will be sitting as well to make a commotion by falling in the lap of Lord Roseington to have a kiss planted between them. This will cause major chaos!

Someone overhears the plan that is set forth in action? Who is it? What does this person do? How will Lady Amelia react to this?

Lord Goldstone is visiting in town. He is the nephew to Lady Grace. Amelia goes to her horse ruby by the stables is trying to put her thoughts together but says them out loud. She thinks she is alone but someone is there and startles her. She gets alarmed! She is being laughed at by Lord Goldstone. Even though she looks him in the eye she must admit there is an attraction there that she just can’t figure out and even why! He is a Scottish Lord, not an English Lord!

Scandalous sensations went through Lady Amelia’s body when she relived Lord Goldstone kiss between them. It sent shivers through her body.

What I liked about this book?

It took me 2 days to read and finish this book! I could visualize everything that was going on which is really good. Some books can be boring and not get into the storyline. I didn’t have this problem here. I kept reading as I wanted to know more of what was going on and happening! I do wish there is a part 2 Sequel of this book! I think there is more to write about with these Characters: Lady Amelia, Lady Sarah, Lady Grace, Uncle Lewis, Lord Roseington, and Lord Goldstone!

What I didn’t like about this book?

I was looking for more Scandalous sections! I didn’t find a lot of Scandalous activity here. That was a little bit of a disappointment. 

And there you have it! Head on over to Amazon and give it a go!

~Karen L. (Guest Reviewer)

Amanda Mariel dreams of days gone by when life moved at a slower pace. She enjoys taking pen to paper and exploring historical time periods through her imagination and the written word. Her hobbies include reading, writing, crocheting, traveling, photography, and spending time with her family. Some of Amanda Mariel’s favorite places in the continental U.S. are Harper’s Ferry West Virginia and Sea Brook New Hampshire. She loves the history that surrounds them and visits them every chance she gets.

Amanda Mariel lives along the Lake Huron shore line in northern Michigan with her husband and two kids. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts Degree with a concentration in literature and has a long standing love affair with sugary junk food.

    Lady Meredith Ann Merrick does not want to be tamed by a man. Varian Morgan is a man no woman can resist. Thrown together on a ship, will Varian’s charms conquer Meredith’s love of freedom?Meredith is born at time when women have but two choices: marry or face social ruin. Determined to master her own fate when her father concocts a devious plan to force her into marriage; she takes matters into her own hands. She embarks on a foolhardy adventure to free herself from an impending marriage contract, only to find herself trapped by the mysterious and beguiling Varian Morgan.

Varian Morgan is a man of myth and legend. Known as much for his exploits with women, as for his for his piracy on the high seas; a vexing young girl, taken hostage in Cornwall, is no challenge for his prowess. When it becomes clear that she is hiding something from him, it only makes him more determined to ignore his desires and withhold from her the pleasures of his bed.

Trapped on a ship of men, the last thing Meredith anticipated was days at the mercy of a vile pirate crew and nights yearning for its captain. When fierce arguments give way to fiery passion, is desire enough to make a girl determined to remain free of men, be willing captive in the bed of a sinister pirate, who is a master of seduction?

* AMAZON *

  I’ve written 26 books in 25 years. I write contemporary romance novels about messed up rich girls with perfect looking lives & naughty little souls and the hot mercurial men they take captive…and on occasion messed up rich girls from exciting periods in US and British history, and the poor Lords and Pirates they hold under their spell.

* FACEBOOK * TWITTER * WEBSITE *

Title: Runaway

Author: Renee Donne

Published by: Anaiah Press

Date published: July 29, 2014

Genres: Historical

Book Length: 

Steam Rating: Sweet

Main Characters: Marianne & Aaron

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

 “By this point I was totally attached to Aaron with his chivalry and southern boy charm and Marianne with her sweetness and willingness to do things she never thought she would.” ~Becca

After Marianne discovers her bankrupt stepfather sold her into marriage to the highest bidder, she flees Philadelphia and heads west to start a new life.

Unfortunately for her danger follows. First, a stage coach accident leaves her stranded in the middle of nowhere – with an injured driver. And henchmen, hired by her spurned would-be husband, are hot on her trail, threatening to return her to Philadelphia and the man who is determined to own her.

Just when things seem hopeless, Marianne is rescued by a handsome, cowboy who offers temporary refuge. Knowing she can’t refuse, yet wary of his intentions, Marianne finds herself drawn to this quiet, enigmatic hero. But is he someone she can trust?

This was my first Historical Romance and I was very nervous about reading it. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to give it the review it deserved due to my hesitance to read it. I’ve never been a big history buff and generally won’t be caught dead watching a western! That being said, the synopsis grabbed me and had me willing to give it a shot.

The story starts off very well and definitely gets your attention and makes you care for Marianne and her circumstance. I can’t imaging being thrown into  the situation that she is in with this prearranged marriage. I quickly became engrossed in the characters so much so that I just had to keep reading and see where it would lead. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the story line and setting. It was a nice change of pace to read about carriage rides and gun fights in the most beautiful of settings. Even though the synopsis gives you a pretty good idea of where the book will go, Renee Donne manages to fit in a few twists and turns that are a little unexpected. I did find myself wishing that there had been a bit…well just MORE to the story. I found myself wanting to drag out the book, learn more about the individual characters and their lives, I wanting to get some details during the “courting” process! I really just feel that the author could have taken the book to a whole new level had she expanded on the story a bit.

There is a HUGE Christian theme in Runaway. Basically, Marianne’s life is guided by God’s hand and she is put where she needs to be, with who she needs to be, at the time she needs to be there.  This is even taken a step further by Aaron and his unwillingness to “court” someone that hasn’t found the Lord and doesn’t pray. There were a few times that I honestly felt like this was a bit “in your face” and not so much a back set or part of the book. I think that it could have been worked in a bit more smoothly and gotten the moral across a little better. In my opinion the focus often fell on the religious side and not the side of romance. 

Let’s talk about this romance a bit. There isn’t a ton I can say without spoilers, so this will be short, sweet and to the point! This is a historical, western romance and as such it follows how things would have been done in that time. Things flow slowly, but it seems to fit. While Marianne and Aaron’s bond grows from strangers into a friendship of sorts there are absolutely NO “steamy” bits to be found. This means that the most romance you will see here is a hand holding or two and a few private talks on the porch and at the creek. When things finally progress past the point of friendship (Some major things happen in the story line that I can’t say here…but read it and you will understand!) Aaron asks to “court” Marianne! Here is where I got excited! My first thought was, “YAY! Now we get to watch them grow from friends to romance!” 

Sorry to disappoint you guys…that doesn’t happen! We don’t get ANY of the “courting”! It flashes from the scene above to a quick Epilogue where we still don’t get so much as a kiss I was very saddened by this! By this point I was totally attached to Aaron with his chivalry and southern boy charm and Marianne with her sweetness and willingness to do things she never thought she would. Dang it, I wanted to read about at least one sweet kiss! lol

Okay, enough about my disappointment with the romance, no kiss issue. Overall, this was a sweet and quick read. I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the story line, which totally threw me for a loop! I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it so much! I say head on over to Amazon and give it a try, it’s definitely worth the read.

Renee Donne is a native Floridian with a penchant for writing books with a western theme. In her head she’s a world traveler and an amateur chef. In real life, she’s a hometown girl with an affinity for fine wine and good friends. Her favorite place to write is sitting on her veranda, overlooking the beach.

Twitter     Facebook

Describe your book/series in 15 words or less!

Fleeing an arranged marriage, Marianne flees west to start a new life. Danger follows.

​

Tell us about your protagonist? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her?

Halsted is a lecherous old man, who will stop at nothing to possess Marianne as his bride. He is pure fiction, but easy to depict.

​

Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

I think I like Aaron best. He is a strong Christian and lives his beliefs, a real hero. And, he is handsome.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I guess it would be the final chapter, where everything comes to a head. But, I don’t want to give away too much.

Are you the driver or a passenger in your book? (Are you in control of where the story goes or does it sort of just happen?)

I am definitely the driver.

​

What books are on your nightstand or by your chair?​

The Bible, my devotional, and I am currently reading Full Disclosure, by Dee Henderson

​What’s next for you?​

I have a YA that is scheduled for release this fall,with Anaiah Press, and I am currently working on a Romantic Suspense.

Chapter One

Marianne leaned against the wall and tilted her feet so her weight balanced on the outer edges of her soles. Her legs, from the knee down, were killing her. Dancing always did that to her. She watched the other guests circulating about the room, which was bright for such a late hour. Was she the only one there who found the whole thing tedious? She’d rather have been curled up in an armchair, reading. But her stepfather insisted she come to Maxwell Halsted’s Constitution Day ball.

As if conjured by her thoughts, Halsted came up behind her and put an arm around her slender shoulders. The contact made her uncomfortable. Something about the way he touched her reminded her of a cat toying with a mouse. She tried to pull away, but his hand tightened on her shoulder, his fingers digging in almost painfully. She dared a glance up at him. He was tall and slender with wavy, silver hair and piercing blue eyes. But something cold lurked in those eyes, something that made her wish to never be in a room alone with the man.

“Come, my dear, dance with me.” He guided Marianne toward the center of the dance floor. It was more a command than a request, but he was very wealthy and probably quite used to people acquiescing to his every want, however unreasonable. He was an accomplished dancer, and Marianne almost enjoyed the waltz. Until his hand started a slow roam in the direction a gentleman’s hands should not go. “I must admit, I had considered offering to make you my mistress, but when Jacob approached me with the proposition to bail him out of debt in exchange for your hand, I could not refuse. You will make me a happy man as my wife.”

Halsted’s words hit home just as the dance ended. Taking advantage of the swell of people leaving the dance floor, Marianne pulled out of Halsted’s arms and insinuated herself into the crowd, out of reach. Then, she set out to find Jacob. This could not be true; Halstead was at least sixty years old, and a letch to boot!

She found her stepfather standing on the terrace, staring out at the landscape below. The lines of his face looked harsher than usual, the circles under his cloudy, brown eyes darker. The tense hand he lifted to stroke through his greying, blond hair was thin and bony, gaunt.

At the moment she reached him, the confrontation began. “Is what Halsted just told me true? How could you?”

“Surely you know what a beautiful girl you are, Marianne?” It was more a question than a comment. She nodded, and he continued, “Over the last few years, many men have expressed interest, asked permission to court you.”

That was news to her. Not once had Jacob ever mentioned any suitors. Men had spoken to Jacob about courting her? Why was he just now telling her this?

He cleared his throat and looked so much like he was mustering courage. “You must have noticed the changes lately. I’ve lost quite a bit of money, and it has become increasingly difficult to maintain the lifestyle we are accustomed to.” That explained why he’d released the entire staff save for the housekeeper.

Jacob continued, “I devised a plan that would enable us both to continue living in the comfortable style we have always enjoyed. I put the word out that I was looking for a suitable match for you, but this was not to be the typical arrangement. Rather than me providing a dowry for you, your hand would be given to the one who offered the highest sum of money. Maxwell agreed to settle all my debts, and then some.”

Marianne’s world tilted on its axis. “No, I won’t do it. We can sell some things, move to a smaller home, but I will not be sold!”

Jacob was calm. “The matter is settled. I provided for you for these last fifteen years after marrying your mother, but she’s dead now. I have continued to care for you as though you were my own child, giving you a life filled with luxury. Now it is your turn to repay the favor.” 

What do you think? Do you like to read Historical Romance?