Book Tour for The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (REVIEW)

It’s an exhilarating beginning between a young woman longing for adventure and a man forced into living a lie in support of his country in this historical romance that reunites readers with a family that has a permanent place on bookshelves.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn, along with my impressions of this third installment in the Rokesbys series, then add it to your own bookshelf.  You can learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour too!

She was in the wrong place...

Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers’ hideaway tucked inside a cave. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain’s bed...

He found her at the wrong time...

Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he’s stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Surely, his imagination is getting the better of him. But no, she is very real—and his duty to the Crown means he's stuck with her.

Can two wrongs make the most perfect right?

When Andrew learns that she is a Bridgerton, he knows he will likely have to wed her to avert a scandal—though Poppy has no idea that he is the son of an earl and neighbor to her aristocratic cousins in Kent. On the high seas, their war of words soon gives way to an intoxicating passion. But when Andrew’s secret is revealed, will his declaration of love be enough to capture her heart…?

EXCERPT:

He motioned with his arm, urging her a few more steps forward. “Careful,” he murmured.

Poppy looked to her toes. The deck came to an abrupt halt in front of her, its elevation dropping by several feet.

The captain hopped down. “The beakhead, my lady,” he said with a gallant wave to the triangular deck that formed the pointy front of the Infinity. He reached up and placed his hands on her hips to help her down.

But when she was steady, he didn’t let go.

“This is as far forward as one can stand on deck,” he told her.

She pointed to a spot a few feet ahead. “What about—“

“As one can stand safely on deck,” he amended. He adjusted their position so that he was standing behind her. “Now close your eyes.”

“But then I can’t see the stars.”

“You can open them later.”

She tilted her head to the left, right, and back again, as if to say, Oh, very well, but she closed her eyes.

“Now tilt your head up. Not all the way, just a bit.”

She did, and maybe it was that motion, or maybe it was just because she’d closed her eyes, but she felt instantly off-balance, as if something far greater than the ocean had stolen her equilibrium. The captain’s hands tightened on her hips. “What do you feel?” he asked, his lips coming close to her ear.

“The wind.”

“What else?” She swallowed. Licked her lips.

“The salt in the air.”

“What else?”

“The motion, the speed.”

He moved his mouth closer. “What else?”

And then she said the one thing that had been true from the beginning.

“You.”

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  AVON BOOKS  |  BN  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  iBOOKS

FIND THE ENTIRE BRIDGERTON SERIES AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

It’s an exhilarating read found amongst the pages of this historical romance that sweeps readers into a warm embrace with its sweet and sensual connection as two people longing for more find it in each other’s arms.  Just as they catch a glimpse of HEA though, the danger of his job pulls them apart and leaves readers on edge as the story races to its cheer-worthy conclusion.

Poppy Bridgerton isn’t your average heroine.  From the moment she was born she longed to be more, longed to learn more and soak up every answer to every question.  Being a woman makes it hard to gain that freedom she’s longed for though, keeps her from all the answers to love and life, and in this story it has her tied up and kidnapped by a pirate living a life she’s only read about.  While many heroines might be reduced to tears, Poppy soaks up every facet of the journey and shows herself to be strong-willed.  She wanted to live a life of excitement...and oh my goodness is this journey full of living!  She discovers more about the world in that small cabin she’s being held in, learns more about matters of the heart from a pirate who’s not all that he seems, and it made for an empowering and endearing journey.  Poppy’s a breath of fresh air, always thinking and quick to take a chance when given one.  Every new experience brought out joy in her and put a smile on my face.  Her attraction to Andrew came upon her slowly, brought out a playful side at first before the sexual tension kicked in in a relationship that captivated me yet frustrated me too for how long they danced around their attraction before giving in.  On a whole Poppy became an unforgettable heroine, protective of others and willing to fight for her HEA in a story that had me cheering her on every step of the way.

Andrew James has always felt restless.  Even as a boy he longed for something beyond what could be found within his own backyard.  He went from being a soldier traveling the world to wage war, to recovering from an injury that changed the course of his life, to becoming an even more vital piece of the war through his ability to charm.  It’s a talent that has him living a life of lies, lies towards both himself and his family.  What was once exciting now feels like a burden and it’s keeping him from the HEA he sees the more time he spends with Poppy.  He sees her as nothing but trouble the moment they meet, but as the days pass he finds himself opening up to her like no one else.  She challenges him, she gives as good as she gets in their verbal battle that felt more like foreplay.  Being around her reminded him of what it means to be a gentleman, both the good where he does whatever he needs to to protect her and the bad where he’s left fighting an attraction he’d much rather give in to.  This fight within himself made him immensely likable and easy to relate to though.  On a whole he was a drool-worthy hero who embraced the pirate facade but remained a good man which made his interactions with Poppy all the more heartwarming.

From the first page to the last this was an exhilarating thrill ride, the journey of a lifetime for two souls longing for more.  It’s a journey full of heart and soul, a slow-burn romance that kept me wholeheartedly invested because of its witty banter and crackling connection between an immensely appealing main couple. Romance with a bit of suspense is perfectly balanced in a story that’s a delightful addition to the Bridgerton family saga, who make a rowdy appearance towards the end, to wrap this up with a bow and has me counting down the days until we revisit this likable family.

My rating for this is a B+

*I got this book from Edelweiss for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

JULIA QUINN started writing her first book one month after finishing college and has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since. The New York Times bestselling author of more than two dozen novels for Avon Books, she is a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges and is one of only sixteen authors ever to be inducted in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Blurb Blitz for Within a Captain's Fate by Lisa A. Olech & Veiled In Blue by Lynne Connolly (GIVEAWAY)

Fans of the historical genre will be drawn to these stories of pirates and deposed royalty that I'm introducing you to today.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Within a Captain's Fate by Lisa A. Olech and Veiled In Blue by Lynne Connolly and the action and romance found amongst the pages of these sensual reads and learn even more about these compelling romances by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of these two releases from Lyrical Press make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win copies of these books too!

WITHIN A CAPTAIN’S FATE by Lisa Olech

Wherever the tides take you...

Guided by the winds of fate, Henry ‘Ric’ Robbins arrives on a hot June day in Port Royal. But the moment he sets foot on what should be a pirate’s paradise, he’s driven to steal a woman destined for slavery, survives the worst natural disaster to ever hit the isle of Jamaica, and answers the call to be captain of the Scarlet Night.

Jocelyn Beauchamp’s life is one of privilege—until she is rudely thrown into the hands of pirates. Freed from the chains of her cloistered society, Jocelyn is drawn to her newfound life at sea—reckless, thrilling, and utterly unpredictable. And the man who saved her life not once, but twice—why not do it all over again?

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  KOBO  |  BN

FIND ON NETGALLEY here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Lisa A. Olech is an artist/writer living in her dream house nestled among the lakes in New England. She loves getting lost in a steamy book, finding the perfect pair of sexy shoes, and hearing the laughter of her men. Being an estrogen island in a sea of testosterone makes her queen. She believes in ghosts, silver linings, the power of a man in a tuxedo, and happy endings.

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

VEILED IN BLUE by Lynne Connolly

It is up to the Emperors of London to protect the throne—without risking their hearts...

Governess Eve Merton would have fallen into serious trouble on her walk home if a handsome stranger had not stopped to help her. But when Mr. Vernon gives her a lift on his horse, he makes no secret of his attraction. As a well brought-up young lady, Eve does her best not to notice, but when he sets about courting her, she knows she’s in trouble. For she has a secret: she is the daughter of a deposed king, which means not only is she without a dowry, but also that her life is in danger...

Little does Eve know that Mr. Vernon has secrets of his own. In truth, his name is Julius, Lord Winterton, and he’s well aware that Eve is the offspring of the Old Pretender. In order to save his sister, he must convince Eve to wed—though he wants nothing to do with love. But as the two grow closer and an attempt is made on Eve’s life, Julius may realize that fighting his heart’s true desire is a battle most pleasurably surrendered…

EXCERPT:

He swung from the saddle and reached for her. The horse was too weary to take advantage of his lightened load and stood patiently while Mr. Vernon slid his hands around her waist and lifted her effortlessly to the ground. He did not release her immediately.

Eve held the empty basket like a shield, the only protection she had against more intimate contact.

He smiled down at her.  He was half a foot taller than her, if not  more. “Do you think you can take your own weight, or should I carry you to your door?"

“Sir!” Scandalized, she opened her eyes wider while heat rushed to her cheeks. The notion of all the residents of the green watching while he picked her up was unthinkable. Or almost. The small part remaining was her romantic self, the part she ruthlessly crushed. It lingered this time to whisper, What if I let him? in the dark recesses of her mind.

Showing nothing but polite gratitude, she thanked him kindly. “I daresay you will be away in a few days, so I doubt we will meet again. So allow me to thank you now. I am deeply grateful for your help, sir."

Now, looking directly at him, she sensed danger lurking in the clean-cut features. This man had a wild edge, well concealed but there. Intelligence gleamed in his eyes, together with the wry humor he had displayed during their journey. For one reckless moment, she thought he might tighten his hold, force her to drop the basket, and kiss her. His lips were full, eminently kissable. Not that she had much experience.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  KOBO  |  BN

FIND ON NETGALLEY here.

AUTHOR INFO:

I was born in Leicester, England, and lived in our cobbler’s shop with my parents and sister. It was an old house and most definitely haunted, but I didn’t find out until I left that my great uncle had hung himself in the living room! But I think our ghost might have been older than that. It was built on the site of the old Roman cemetery, and the land had been constantly inhabited, being in the centre of town. Then, when the council bought the house from us to build a road, my grandfather retired and my father went and worked for the Post Office. My mother was a sample machinist; that is, she worked with designers on the prototypes (models or samples) of garments. So I was very well dressed! We bought a relatively modern house in the country, and my mother was blissfully happy. It’s all very well living in a large old house, but it’s a dreadful task to keep it clean and warm!

My mother's side of the family are Romany gypsies, although sadly we haven't any of the old trailers that are so astonishingly beautiful. I was taught to read the Tarot cards, and I usually use two packs; the Rider pack for simple readings and the Crowley Thoth pack for the complex stuff. I've always had an interest in the paranormal and it's been a delight to be able to put some of this into my novels.

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Book Spotlight on What the Duke Doesn't Know by Jane Ashford (GIVEAWAY)

Readers who enjoy action-packed romances set on the high seas will be drawn to this romance that brings two very different people together.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of What the Duke Doesn't Know by Jane Ashford, and learn a secret about the Duke as well, then add it to your bookshelf when it releases on September 6th.  In honor of this second installment in the Duke's Sons series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 10 copies of the first book in this series too!

With five adventure seeking sons, there’s a lot that the Duke of Langford doesn’t know. Luckily for us, Jane Ashford has agreed to pull back the curtain and reveal one of the Langford family’s secrets – just remember, don’t tell the Duke!

One thing the Duke doesn’t know: That his son James is finding it hard to feel at home in England, after ten years spent mainly at sea.

A proper English wife, or the freedom of the sea?

Lord James Gresham is the fifth son of the Duke of Langford, a captain in the Royal Navy, and at a loss for what to do next. He’s made his fortune; perhaps now he should find a proper wife and set up his nursery. But the sea calls to him, while his search for a wife leaves him uninspired. And then, a dark beauty with a heart for revenge is swept into his life.

He can’t have both, but he won’t give up either.

Half-English, half-Polynesian Kawena Benson is out to avenge her father and reclaim a cache of stolen jewels. There’s nothing for James to do but protest his innocence and help Kawenasearch for the jewels, even though it turns his world upside down.

EXCERPT:

James had just started his letter to Nathaniel when there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” he called without looking up.

He heard the door open, and a lilting voice say, “Hello."

James turned in his chair. Kawena stepped through his bedchamber door, shut it, walked over, and sat down in the armchair by the empty fireplace. “I wanted to thank you,” she began.

“You can’t sit here,” James said.

She looked down at the comfortable chair, back up at him. “Why not?"

“This is my bedroom.” The moment he said it, he became acutely conscious of the bed just a few feet away.

“I know. I came up to thank--"

“It isn’t proper,” he blurted out.

“But you are taking some trouble to help me. When you don’t really wish to. I can see that, you know. It is only right that I thank--"

“Not that. You shouldn’t be in a man’s bedchamber. Alone. With him. Me.” He heard himself stammering like a callow youth, and was revolted. She was just so very beautiful. Utterly alluring, really. The effect seemed multiplied here in his private quarters. And she appeared so at ease—as if they knew each other far better than they actually did. James could almost imagine her coming over to him, offering a hand to pull him to his feet, and closer… No, this line of thought was unacceptable. He stood and moved toward the door instead. “It isn’t done,” he added. “Young ladies do not visit gentlemen in their bedchambers.” Well, some did, if what he’d heard about country house parties was true, but that was…irrelevant to this discussion.

“We must speak only downstairs?” wondered Kawena. “Is that an English rule?"

Her honest bewilderment was rather charming. “If a man and a woman are alone in a bedchamber, people assume they’re…up to something improper,” James explained.

“Getting into bed together, you mean?” Kawena replied without a trace of embarrassment. She gazed at the wide four-poster as if it was on exhibit.

James felt his cheeks redden. Years at sea might have left him unused to polite female company, but even his brother, Robert, the town beau, would have been confounded by this quite unusual young woman. “Er, yes."

“But we are not."

“No… Not in this case. However--"

“And no people know that I’m here,” she pointed out. “I told no one I was coming up."

“You can never tell when there’s a servant about,” James replied. The staff at Langford always seemed well aware of everyone’s movements.

“Do they hide and watch?” said Kawena, looking surprised.

James choked back a laugh, and then wondered if maybe they did. How else would that housemaid have seen Sebastian with the frogs…? But that was beside the point. He needed to remove a lovely young woman from his bedchamber—didn’t he? Yes, yes. And wasn’t that a problem he’d never imagined having? When had it become his job to preach the proprieties? He felt like a fool even trying. But if she didn’t go soon, he might not be able to resist… James decided to shift the onus off onto someone else. “This is my brother’s house. I wouldn’t wish to upset him, or his wife."

Kawena cocked her head. “Your brother and Ariel would not approve of my being here?"

James assumed so. No, of course they wouldn’t. And that was beside the point. He nodded.

To his relief, Kawena rose at once. “I would not wish to offend them. They have been very kind to me.” She shrugged as she moved toward the door. “My father always says…” She paused, swallowed. “Said that it is rude to disregard others’ customs when it does you no harm to observe them."

“Pr…precisely.” She passed quite close to him on her way out. Her long fall of black hair swayed seductively with each step. Was he really throwing her out of his room? Her initial words came floating back. She’d come up to thank him. Perhaps with something warmer than words? Some marvelous island custom? No. She hadn’t meant that. Clearly, obviously. No sign whatsoever of any such thing, despite her unembarrassed mention of bedding. Besides, it would be an awkward complication, as they were living together in his brother’s house. Not together. As fellow guests. Strangers, in fact.

“Good night,” said Kawena.

“Good night,” James replied, shutting the door firmly behind her.

He leaned against it, listening to her soft footsteps retreat along the corridor. Perhaps helping her wasn’t quite such a burden. It would give him a chance to become better acquainted with one of the loveliest, and most unusual, girls he’d ever encountered. Her courage and fire drew him—now that she’d stopped calling him names. How many women, how many people, would have done as she had, sailing halfway around the world to find justice? Very few, hardly any, really, he thought. She’d looked positively intrepid, stepping out of the shrubbery with her gun. And under his hands, on the turf, she’d felt… James fell into a pleasant reverie. It was some time before he returned to his letter.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BAM  |  BN  |  CHAPTERS  |  iBOOKS  |  INDIEBOUND

AUTHOR INFO:

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Her historical and contemporary romances have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Twenty-six of her new and backlist Regency romances are being published by Sourcebooks. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. She is currently rather nomadic.

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