GIVEAWAY - Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

Published 2021

I have an unread extra paperback copy of Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong I'm giving away. This book was on my Top Reads in 2021!! Just a snippet from my review -- "Rom-com between the pages is a great way to describe the story and it would definitely make for a hilarious movie."

You can read the full review here at

Author Interview & Review ~ Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong + GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment letting me know what you've been doing these final weeks of winter, or summer if you're that far away ;) And please follow this blog. It's much appreciated!

This giveaway is US ONLY (48 contiguous states). Sorry, postage is a bear!

I'll pick a winner on March 3rd. Don't forget to leave an email so I can contact you if you win!!! No email, no entry.

Side note: My blog has sat unattended once again for several weeks as I have been dealing with a health issue. It's an ongoing one but I am now feeling quite a bit better. I do hope to share soon several books I've read (none of them for official review, just ones I've found on Kindle Unlimited) while resting and gaining the upper hand on this condition. I also hope to get back to regularly visiting some of my dear online friends! I have certainly read your newsletters and blog posts in my email and enjoyed them. I just didn't have the stamina to get around to commenting. ~May the Lord be with you always,

Review ~ I'm Not Charlotte Lucas by Kasey Stockton

Paperback, 240 pages

Expected publication: February 7th 2023 by Covenant Communications

Northern California girl Charlotte “Charlie” Lucas has two great loves: Diet Coke and Pride and Prejudice. But her passion for Regency classics is tempered by a very real fear: Charlie is terrified of having to endure the fate of her namesake—spinsterhood. Despite her best attempts to maintain a modern sensibility, she can’t say no when an elderly neighbor asks Charlie to attend a charity ball with her grandson. Blind date or not, Charlie is powerless to resist the allure of a real-life ball. Soon it’s clear that she will struggle to resist the charms of her blind date too.

Liam Connell is every bit the swoon-worthy leading man, straight out of Charlie’s daydreams. But he’s completely unattainable—his last girlfriend was a gorgeous actress and a far cry from Charlie’s world. So after a magical evening with Liam, Charlie is ready to get back to reality, even if her best option right now is a former boyfriend who wants to give it another shot. Unfortunately, despite imagining she’ll never see Liam again, he seems to be everywhere. How is a lady to move past a fantasy when life suddenly seems to be imitating fiction to an alarming degree?

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My Review 4 STARS

Charlotte (Charlie) Lucas is filled with insecurities so at almost age 27 she is feeling much like one of the characters in Pride and Prejudice that she is named after. Charlie has only ever dated a "Mr Collins" so with no hope of finding her own "Mr Darcy", she agrees to a blind date with her neighbors grandson, Liam. Low and behold he is tall, dark, and handsome, and she figures with his job and connections in Hollywood he is out of her league. But she sure feels a spark of attraction to him and much to her surprise, he feels the same way toward her. Working through feelings of inadequacy leads Charlie on an enlightening discovery about self with her own "Mr Darcy" by her side.

Fans of Austen will undoubtedly enjoy this delightful rom-com from Stockton. She is a talented wordsmith. I'm Not Charlotte Lucas is a clean contemporary romance that makes for a fun and diverting afternoon read. 

I received an electronic copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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Have you read any of Kasey Stockton's books? I've read most of her Regency's and loved them. I was delighted to find that she is just as talented writing contemporary romance. Click over to her book list in case you want to go in search of a good, clean read. https://kaseystockton.com/bookshelf.html

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I know I've been off the radar for a while but the holidays proved to have many distractions, mostly a grandbaby that many of y'all know about. He is 10 months old now and walking!!! He spends a lot of time with us but I hope to have a better handle on time management this year so I can have more time to sew, craft, read, etc.

Review ~ Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham

I missed launch day yesterday because I was loving on our sweet little 8 month old grandson but I do want to encourage any of you who have read epistolary novels to definitely give this newest from Pepper Basham a go!!! I absolutely loved it!!! 

#authenticallyizzy #BlameItOnABashamBook

About the Book

“Dear Izzy—I feel certain there’s a book-loving man living relatively nearby waiting to speak bookish to you ’til death do you part. You just haven’t met yet.”

Izzy Edgewood is a wannabe bookstore owner, quote queen, and Lord of the Rings nerd who has been waiting for Prince Charming to sweep her off her sneakered feet. But it’s hard to meet people when you spend more time with fictional humans than real ones. Which is why her pragmatist cousin Josephine decides to take Izzy’s future into her own meddling hands and create an online dating profile for the hopeful romantic.

To Izzy’s shock (and suspicion), Josie’s plan works. Soon, she’s dialoguing with a Hobbit-loving man named Brodie who lives in a small town an ocean away from her home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But is their shared love of books, family, and correspondence enough to overcome Izzy’s fear of flying and the literal distance between them? And is a long-distance relationship even worth considering when a local author has been frequenting the library where she works and is proving to be a perfectly fine gentleman?

In this epistolary novel from award-winning author Pepper Basham, bookish dreams and happily-ever-afters collide to create a beautiful sort of magic that’s even better than fiction.

Purchase:

Amazon

Baker Book House

Christianbook

My Review 5 STARS

I have seen glimpses of Basham’s humor for years in her stories but I was unprepared for the level of wittiness that she has produced in Authentically, Izzy. Outstanding is all I can say.

A long time fan of epistolary novels, this one utterly delighted me with its fast pace, charming characters, and entertaining plot. I waited on pins and needles for the proverbial ball to drop and when it did I found myself muttering to Brodie and Izzy about how stupid they had been/were being. But of course without this tension the whole time it wouldn’t be any fun to read.

If you are looking for your imagination to be captivated by solid imagery, character growth, family dynamics and faraway lands, look no further than Authentically, Izzy. While much of it is written communication—texts and emails—there is plenty of face time (see what I did there ha-ha) between Brodie and Izzy and his family which adds an extra dimension to the story. The descriptions are so vivid I had no problem visualizing anything.

I highly recommend this book to Basham fans and fans of contemporary romance that enjoy epistolary style novels.

I received an electronic copy from the author with no expectation of a positive review.

Review ~ The Sisters of Sea View (on Devonshire Shores Book 1) by Julie Klassen

Paperback, 448 pages

Expected publication: December 6th 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

About the Book

When their father’s death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers convinces her sisters to open their seaside home to guests to provide for their ailing mother. Emily and Georgiana agree, but Viola, who wears a veil to cover a scar, detests the idea. Determined to stay together, the sisters begin the new venture. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family. Meanwhile, the new situation exposes Viola’s scars--both the visible and those hidden deep within--and her cloistered heart will never be the same.

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My Review 4 STARS

There are many nods to Jane Austen’s classic novels in this latest accomplishment from award winning author Julie Klassen. Delightful words of wonder grace the pages of The Sisters of Sea View in a gentle yet engrossing manner. There is a slow pace to this story that rings true to the time period while exerting just enough adventure to keep readers turning pages. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, perhaps this one will offer you several hours of diversion from life’s cares. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the lives and loves of The Sisters of Sea View. I received an electronic copy from the publisher through Netgalley with no expectation of a favorable review.

 

"I Spy" Premonition GIVEAWAY!!!

This is a fantastic *giveaway* to promote this equally fantastic new release from the highly acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright. Her stories have what it takes to leave this reader breathless on many occasions!! 

My review is posted here in case you want to know what I thought about the book. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to win some awesome swag!!!

Join the "I Spy" Premonition GIVEAWAY! How does it work? See Premonition online? Save the link and submit it! See Premonition in a store? Snap a pic and submit it! See Premonition in your library? Snap a pic and submit it! We're playing "I Spy" to see where "The Premonition at Withers Farm" shows up and we need YOU to find it! Once you find it, use this form https://forms.gle/k7XQCmzZNQXN3cvMA to submit your entry!

You'll be entered for the giveaway of a SIGNED COPY OF PREMONITION, a cozy FLANNEL BUFFALO PLAID SCARF, and your choice of COFFEE or TEA! What are you waiting for? Be on the lookout! Contest ends midnight 10/31/2022

One entry per person

 USA entries only

*Stuff & Nonsense is not affiliated with this giveaway in any way, shape, or form.