Category: Rachel’s Random Resources

Author Guest Post | Lara Temple visits Jorie whilst sharing a bit of insight into “Lord Ravenscar’s Inconvenient Betrothal”

Posted Tuesday, 27 February, 2018 by jorielov Lara Temple, Mills and Boon 0 Comments

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

As you might have noticed, I have become a bit smitten with Mills & Boon Historicals lately – in fact, my first introduction to to the infamous line of Romance novels was through my readings of The Captain’s Disgraced Lady wherein I found myself quite keenly thrilled for the chance to finally read my first Mills & Boon Historical Rom! I’m quite familiar with Harlequin as both of these publishers (as they are one of the same) are equally well-known irregardless of which side of the ‘Pond’ you live on – what caught my eye this particular year are the story-lines and the writers who are writing them.

I am thankful I started hosting with Rachel in order to bring spotlights about these stories but also, having the chance to read a few of them as well. For this particular tour, I had the pleasure of crafting together a topic I felt would inspire my regular readers & blog tour visitors alike to feel better acquainted with Ms Temple and the series she has started to create wherein this novel is the second entry! As you know, I recently have floundered a bit with my Harlequin & Mills and Boon stories – in relation to ‘order of sequence’ for the series themselves – despite that small hurdle, what will be a happy affair is chasing down copies of the stories! As I learnt via Mills & Boon DM on Twitter – the stories themselves are only offered for a limited print run before they are ‘retired’; ergo, it shall be a treasure map of joy once I sort out where they all went in used book channels!

This particular series is a bit of a step outside my usual wanderings – as sometimes I like to do that – pick something rather random which has elements of what is familiar to me and read about a character who may or may not be considered a charming gentleman but perhaps he has a few coveted secrets of his own he’s trying to hide? In other words, I am not generally the girl who regularly seeks out the ‘bad boys’ of Romance – yet every so often, I find myself attracted to a story like this one which has ‘something’ inside it which intrigues me. I think it’s healthy to read in and out of our comfort zones – seeking stories we might overlook otherwise & taking the risk to see if something new might warrant a refreshingly new interest into the writers we might not have known otherwise.

Similar of course, to the theory of thought behind Ms Temple’s response – of how even she, as a writer likes taking her characters outside their own elements of comfort – seeing how they will react & if they will take a leap of faith to find where they will fall afterwards. After all, life without a bit of risk is a bit too boring and I, for one, agree with Ms Temple – spicing up our lives a bit by daring to read or experience something which intrigues us is what gives us a hearty jolt of joy.

I personally love the depth and breadth of these characters she’s created – I can tell I shall be wholly engaged with their journey and most likely, on pins to see how it concludes! What do you say dear hearts!? Do you like to push the envelope a bit on your readerly endeavours? Seeking stories you might have overlooked if only to see if you can find a writer who writes not only with conviction but gives such a firm rounding of scope for their characters your thankful you took the risk to wander outside your normal literary realms of interest?!

I look forward to seeing your comments & thoughts on behalf of this novel or any of the lovely Mills & Boon stories you’ve found to your likely. I look forward to seeing what you’ll be sharing – and may you leave some notes for Ms Temple, too! She left behind a wicked brilliant introduction to this novel! Til next time – enjoy a hearty cuppa of your favourite brew & may your reading adventures fill you with blissitudes!

Lord Ravenscar's Inconvenient Betrothal
by Lara Temple

“Women either ran from Lord Ravenscar or ran to him.”

A Wild Lords and Innocent Ladies story

Alan Rothwell, Marquess of Ravenscar, is furious when unconventional heiress Lily Wallace refuses him purchase of her property. He can’t even win her over with his infamous charm. But when fever seizes him and they’re trapped together, horrified, Alan realizes Lily’s attentions will compromise them both! His solution: take Lily as his betrothed before desire consumes them completely…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

Find on Book Browse

ISBN: 9780263932737

on 1st March, 2018

Published By: Mills & Boon (@MillsandBoon)
an imprint of HarperCollins UK + Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

Wild Lords & Innocent Ladies Series:

Lord Hunter’s Cinderella Heiress | Synopsis

Lord Ravenscar’s Inconvenient Betrothal

Formats Available: Mills & Boon Historical paperback and Ebook

Converse via: #HistFict + #HistRom or #MillsAndBoon #Historical

Topic I selected to ask the Author:

“I personally love the lead-in to the plot behind “Lord Ravenscar’s Inconvenient Betrothal” because there is a measure of realism in how it builds round the ‘unexpected jolt of being placed together’ which leads into a romance no one was expecting to happen. What inspired you most by telling the story in this manner and by taking both your lead characters off-guard in such a dramatic way?”

Posted Tuesday, 27 February, 2018 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Rachel's Random Resources, Reader Submitted Guest Post (Topic) for Author

Author Interview | Richard Dee on behalf of his series feat. Andorra Pett and her sweet adventures in Space!

Posted Monday, 12 February, 2018 by jorielov 4starSciFi, Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Cafe, Cindy Koepp, Richard Dee, Rimrider, The Clan Chronicles 4 Comments

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

You know how much I *love!* Speculative Fiction, right!? You might have seen my admiration & wicked sweet joyfulness each time *November!* pops back round wherein I’m gushing about my participation within the realms of our lovely book blogosphere event #RRSciFiMonth!? Or, maybe you’ve seen me threading the stories I’m reading in both Fiction & Non-Fiction with my personal tag of happiness known as #FuellYourSciFi? As the tag explains it all really – I have a hearty appreciation for the genre & the world-building found within it! I’ve been reading Science Fiction with a tendency towards disappearing into worlds lit in the Cosmos (a la Space Opera) since I was seventeen – the year, where I not only discovered the Sci Fi Book Club (those wonderful hardback editions arriving by postal mail) but I started to curate my fascination with specific authors who were drawing my eye and heart into their stories.

In recent years, I’ve happily read EPIC serials within the tomes of Space Opera (ie. The Clan Chronicles) whilst I have also sought out wonderfully quirky stories (such as the untitled series by Cindy Koepp) as much as the odd audiobook which truly not only rooted me straight into the world itself but left me wanting more out of the sequel (Rimrider). I truly move in and out of the genre – seeking reads which not only strike the hearty balance of being character-driven with this realistically spun world by which they live but I love seeing the writers who push the boundaries – of giving us wondrous new portals of joy in which to reside within their Sci Fi escapades!

Thus, when I first learnt about Andorra Pett – I thought she would be a keen character to get to know and I was overjoyed I could host her writer, Mr Dee during the blog tour which celebrates her debut story within a series which has already inked out *four!* installments thus far into her development. Therefore, if like me your hankering for a cleverly plotted series set in Space, maybe you’ll be as overjoyed as I am finding out this lovely is available in *print!* I nearly thought it would be in audiobook – as it has something about it which I think would do well with spoken narrative!

Be sure to add your comments & thoughts for the author below my conversation – I’d be interested to hear what you thought about *Andorra Pett*, the developing series & why you personally love stories set in Space! Brew a cuppa, heat up a scone and settle in for some fun!

Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Cafe
by Richard Dee

Meet Andorra Pett; with her trusty sidekick, she’s taken over a derelict café. On a mining station. It just happens to be orbiting Saturn! She’s hoping for a fresh start, away from all the drama of her old life. It’s a chance to relax and start again in a place where nobody knows anything about her or her past.

But the café holds a secret, and secrets have a habit of coming out; whether you want them to or not. And being accident prone doesn’t help. The more you try to pretend that you know what’s going on, the worse it gets. Andorra’s plans for peace and quiet get lost amid the revelations and skulduggery and she soon realises that the fate of the whole station lies in her hapless hands.
In space, you can still trip over your feet; the question is, will you land upright?

Genres: Cosy Mystery, Science Fiction, Space Opera

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

Find on Book Browse

ISBN: 978-0995458161

on 15th June, 2017

Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook

Converse via: #AndorraPett or #RichardDee + #SpaceOpera +#SFF or #SpecFict

Aside from taking the traditional lead-in of a beach cafe to the outer limits of where a cafe could become the center focus out in Space – what initially drew you to writing a character like Andorra and why do you think she’s finding traction with readers?

Dee responds: Initially, Andorra was written as a response to a challenge, to write a sci-fi version of the rom-com, cosy crime sort of novel. As I did so, I realised that there was more to it; now I see Andorra as a symbol for independent people who discover that they can do so much more than they ever thought. And what they perceive to be their weakness can often be their strength. All they need is the chance to show it. Read More

Posted Monday, 12 February, 2018 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Rachel's Random Resources, Reader Submitted Author Interview, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction

Author Guest Post | Jorie pitches a topic to Jackie Ladbury to better understand her character, Sapphire in her latest release “The Magic of Stars”!

Posted Tuesday, 30 January, 2018 by jorielov Jackie Ladbury, The Magic of Stars 0 Comments

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

As you might remember, I started hosting for Rachel’s Random Resources as [2017] was about to fold into [2018] whilst happily *celebrating!* the New Year with my first Mills & Boon Historical reading wherein I found I truly appreciated finding the writing style of Ms Catherine Tinley!

Today, I am spotlighting a Digital First release which I do hope goes into a print run in the future – allowing me to ‘meet it’ against the page properly – however, until the day arrives where it is released into more formats outside it’s digital debut, I wanted to ask the author a topic which would seek to better understand her character & the motivations of her character to grow through the journey she undertakes in this novel.

When I first read the premise – I was quite taken by the circumstances, as it’s not your traditional set-up and queue for a Rom Com nor for a Contemporary Romance novel – it has a few right angles inside it where you could see the character Sapphire truly has to sort out her life, put to rights the misunderstandings others have on her behalf and somehow, through it all in the end, find a reason to still have hope within her life for a happier ending than the rocky beginning she’s undertaken.

Lately, I have been keeping my eye out for Contemporary Romances and Contemporary Women’s Fiction stories – including those like Sapphire which might not be stories I might readily have sought out in the past, but ones I felt I might enjoy now in the present. When it comes to Contemporary stories, I tend to vacillate which ones I want to read because I’m quite particular about the kinds I enjoy reading. This one seemed to have something unique within it’s pages and therefore, I enjoyed assembling the guest feature for Ms Ladbury on today’s tour stop!

I hope if your a visitor through the tour route you’ll take a kind moment to leave the author a comment or question in the threads below; especially if this is a title you were considering to read yourself?

The Magic of the Stars
Subtitle: Sometimes all you need is a little starlight to guide you home.
by Jackie Ladbury

Sapphire Montrose always felt like a loser in the struggle of life, but when she becomes the airline manager of a run-down airline she starts to believe she is a winner – until she unwittingly propositions her new boss and all her hard work is undone.

In a moment of recklessness air stewardess, Sapphire Montrose throws caution and her dress to the wind by propositioning a handsome stranger in a hotel in Florence, only to find herself waking up alone and embarrassed in her hotel room.

Unfortunately for Sapphire, it turns out that her new boss, Marco Cavarelli, is the man she failed to seduce and she is now fighting for her job and her self-respect when he tells her there is no place in his revamped airline for an alcoholic woman with lascivious tendencies. To make matters worse she is increasingly attracted to him and he seems to be giving out the same vibes. Or is he simply testing her? One wrong move could be the end of her career. But what if he really is offering love – and is he worth the risk?

Genres: Contemporary (Modern) Fiction (post 1945), Contemporary Romance

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

on 1st January, 2018

This is a Digital First Release | one which I hope goes into print!

Topic I selected to ask the Author:

What do you think grieved Sapphire the most for being impulsive rather than cautious when it came to having a fling with an unknown suitor especially in regards to when his true identity (as her boss) was revealed? Do you think this experience altered her perception about herself or how others are quick to judge her out of turn? What do you think changed her the most through this ordeal?

Posted Tuesday, 30 January, 2018 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Rachel's Random Resources, Reader Submitted Guest Post (Topic) for Author, Women's Fiction

Blog Book Tour | #JorieReads her first Mills & Boon #Regency #HistRom with “The Captain’s Disgraced Lady” by Catherine Tinley

Posted Friday, 5 January, 2018 by jorielov Catherine Tinley, Chadcombe Marriages series, The Captain's Disgraced Lady 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I started hosting for Rachel’s Random Resources at the end of [2017] booking several guest features for [2018] whilst noting I had a lovely opportunity to review a novel for one of the New Year’s tours. This blog tour marks my second with this touring company, as Rachel and I met through my chat #ChocLitSaturday which has since been renewed @SatBookChat! I look forward to spotlighting her authors, conversing with them and seeing how they respond to my guest topics. I may review a book here or there, but as most of her authors are in the UK / Europe market, I mostly was excited to cheer for their stories whilst awaiting to gather their stories stateside in print or audio.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Captain’s Disgraced Lady” direct from the author Catherine Tinley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

Initially, I thought The Captain’s Disgraced Lady was the first novel in the Chadcombe Marriages series – I even checked the series list on Fantastic Fiction – however, wherever the glitch was in my research, the answer was found in the Author’s Note of this novel. Apparently, the series began with Waltzing with the Earl and it is a story I look forward to reading one day – if only to see how the stage was originally set within this series which focuses on one family’s legacy in the 19^th Century where the backdrop of the Regency is countered against the wars raging in Europe and other century specific events which lead in and out of the dramas within the series itself.

I grew up reading Regencies and Victorian Romances – they were my first foray into the Romance genre itself and remain to this day my favourite entreaties therein. There is just something about the Regency itself – from the time-line of it’s era to what was occurring in the background of where the stories are set. This is why when I first learnt of this blog tour, I knew I wanted to become a part of it – the blessing of being able to read the novel was not lost on me! Especially as this also marked the first novel I’ve read by Mills & Boon! I’ve had my eye on their novels for a long time – though trying to sort out an easy way of acquiring the stories has been a bit tricky over the years as I remember it used to be a bit easier to purchase novels by UK and European authors pre-2000. I am finding a bit of renewed hope in certain online book shoppes which are giving us new opportunities to read the stories we’re interested in but evenso, I do wish it would be a bit more streamlined.

Mills & Boon is part of Harlequin Books – of whom I’ve known about for most of my life, as Harlequin made quite a name for itself back in the ‘80s. In the ‘90s and 2000s, I found myself drawn into reading Harlequin titles and even had joined a few of their mail-order book clubs, such as Mira which allowed you to new releases each month. More recently, as I started to host for Prism Book Tours, I’ve had a renewed interest in reading Harlequin releases as Prism hosts a number of their authors each year which is why I talked about why I enjoy the publisher. This time round, I was elated Rachel’s touring company was featuring the other side of Harlequin’s releases – a Mills & Boon novelist who focuses on Regency Historicals!

Speaking about the ‘changes’ in cover art design and the brand changes as well – I started to notice the changes in the book stores already before I saw them online via Mills & Boon’s webpage and Twitter account. Their not the only ones changing as I saw evidence the cover art for American Harlequin titles are different now as well. Their a bit harder to credit which title goes with which imprint as the front of the books are focused more on the cover art for the title than for disclosing the imprint’s name – which ironically is why I liked them prior to these changes as you knew what you were picking up based on the imprint you were familiar with – now however, they all have the tendency of ‘blurring’ into the recent batch of releases on the shelf. I’m unsure what prompted the changes – but I wager it will take time getting used too.

In regards to reading a series out of order – (le sigh) – yes, this is something I strive to avoid, but in this particular case, I had misleading information about the order of sequence – so I am unsure how I could have prevented reading this particular series out of order ahead of reading the second for review. One thing I liked about the note the author left for us inside her novel is there seemed to be leeway to read these out of context of the previous installments – it seems each of the installments focuses on one couple or one character in particular who has weight in the series itself of being important to see how their lives move forward in this time-line. Having said that – I still want to seek out the first and then re-read The Captain’s Disgraced Lady to see if I can pick up the nuances of the first through continuity revelations in the second.

The Captain's Disgraced Lady
by Catherine Tinley
Source: Author via Rachel's Random Resources

Who is Captain Harry Fanton?

When Juliana Milford first encounters Captain Harry Fanton, she finds him arrogant and rude. There’s no way she’ll fall for his dazzling smile! Her visit to Chadcombe House was always going to prompt questions over her scandalous family, so she’s touched when Harry defends her reputation. She’s discovering there’s more to Harry than she’d first thought...

A man so plagued by the demons of war, he’s sworn he’ll never marry, no matter how tempted...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance Fiction

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9780263932591

Also by this author: Interview (Catherine Tinley) about the Chadcombe Marriage Trilogy, Waltzing with the Earl

Also in this series: Waltzing with the Earl

Published by Mills & Boon

on 28th December, 2017

Format: UK Edition Paperback

Pages: 368

Published By: Mills & Boon (@MillsandBoon)
an imprint of HarperCollins UK + Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

Chadcombe Marriage series

Waltzing with the Earl | Book One

The Captain’s Disgraced Lady | Book Two

Yet to be Revealled Title (Olivia’s story, Harry’s younger sister!) | Book Three

Formats Available: Mills & Boon Historical paperback and Ebook

Converse via: #HistFict + #HistRom or #MillsAndBoon #Historical

About Catherine Tinley

Catherine Tinley writes witty, heartwarming Regency love stories. She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech and language therapy, NHS management, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now works for Sure Start. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, and dog.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | LibraryThing | FantasticFiction

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

2018 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Posted Friday, 5 January, 2018 by jorielov in 19th Century, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Castles & Estates, England, Family Drama, Flashbacks & Recollective Memories, Grief & Anguish of Guilt, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Inheritance & Identity, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Multi-Generational Saga, Napoleonic War era, PTSD, Rachel's Random Resources, Romance Fiction, Siblings, The London Season, the Regency era, Unexpected Inheritance

Author Interview | Featuring a new Christmassy series by Helen J. Rolfe starting with “Christmas at the Little Knitting Box”!

Posted Wednesday, 29 November, 2017 by jorielov Christmas at the Little Knitting Box, Helen J. Rolfe, Self Published, Snowflakes and Mistletoe at the Inglenook Inn 0 Comments

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

Remember when I shared recently: I’m a bit ahead of the curve in regards to my annual tradition of ‘Holiday Reading’ queues! I’ve already begun to share my experiences reading Holiday Romances – curled up inside the Regency through Ms Carla Kelly’s visions of Sweet Romance whilst tucking into a small towne for a short spell in Contemporary times! I have other stories planned as November leans into December and before Twelfth Night arrives in January! This is the time of the year of garland and Yule; of heaps of snow & loads of family being round a tree lit and outfitted nicely with all the accompaniments of Christmastide! Where stockings are hung over hearths and a ready fire helps keep your favourite brewed in your cuppa of choice!

You could also say, I’ve happily sorted out a few new stories to showcase this year set during the Christmas Season – this is my second interview, as my first was for Ms Halton, of whom I found out we shared an amazingly similar background full of the bliss of Christmas memories & the connectedness of close-knit families!

I get quite giddy whenever I browse through the Authors I am following on Twitter – of whom I’ve placed on my “Authors Keen to Read” List and/or are randomly found whilst browsing the twitterverse – some of these authors are writing Christmas and/or Wintry stories I find most fascinating – most of which I must confess are being published in the UK! I am finding each year I am blogging, more of the stories I am personally seeking are coming from British authors! Not always, but there is something to be said for the fact most of the stories are also set in the UK!

The author I am interviewing today crossed my path awhile ago on Twitter – she’s actually one of the Authors on my List to be read – a list which has grown in four years to nearly *700!* authors! I was quite gobsmacked realising this – as I thought for sure it was under that mark by at least 300! It’s my intention of course to make a dent in the number of authors who are left ‘unread’ each year, but the past several years, you can see I’ve only been able to ‘add’ rather than ‘subtract’.

When I read the premise on behalf of this novel, being a knitter, I felt like the author had captured something I have been seeking in Knitty Fiction! I’ve tried reading most of the stories published set in yarn shoppes or from knitting circle POVs – most are very well-known novels, yet I never could feel myself attached inside them. Something felt ‘off’ or just didn’t seem my cuppa tea – as I read about this story-line and then, joyfully realised the series was taking off quite quickly thereafter – I thought perhaps, I finally can settle into some crafty backlit stories by an author who can write a series which hold’s my attention!

As I interviewed the author, we’re all celebrating the 1st Birthday of the novel whilst acknowledging the sequel is being released this Christmas & Holiday Season! Isn’t that smashing!? I thought so!

The series shifts perspectives – it starts with a yarn shoppe & the sequel takes us into innkeeping – something else I’ve always have loved: Bed & Breakfast’s!! As I showcase both novels in this series today, I hope you’ll enjoy the conversation which flowed between Ms Rolfe and myself! Due know, this is one series I look forward to picking up and reading as soon as I’m able too! Before you read our convo, make sure you have your favourite brew in a cuppa to keep you company!

Christmas at the Little Knitting Box
Subtitle: A heartwarming Romance for Christmas

Christmas is coming and New York is in full swing for the snowy season. But at The Little Knitting Box in the West Village, things are about to change …
The Little Knitting Box has been in Cleo’s family for nearly four decades, and since she arrived fresh off the plane from the Cotswolds four years ago, Cleo has been doing a stellar job of running the store. But instead of an early Christmas card in the mail this year, she gets a letter that tips her world on its axis.

Dylan has had a tumultuous few years. His marriage broke down, his mother passed away and he’s been trying to pick up the pieces as a stay-at-home dad. All he wants this Christmas is to give his kids the home and stability they need. But when he meets Cleo at a party one night, he begins to see it’s not always so easy to move on and pick up the pieces, especially when his ex seems determined to win him back.

When the snow starts to fall in New York City, both Cleo and Dylan realise life is rarely so black and white and both of them have choices to make. Will Dylan follow his heart or his head? And will Cleo ever allow herself to be a part of another family when her own fell apart at the seams?

Full of snow, love and the true meaning of Christmas, this novel will have you hooked until the final page.

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

Find on Book Browse

ISBN: 978-1540764829

on 13th December, 2016

Christmas Romances have a particular niche of joy in my reading life – what gives you the most happiness in creating a story set round such a joyous time of the year? What do you love most about setting lives and hearts in sync during the holiday season?

Rolfe responds: I love reading Christmas romances as well as watching movies with holiday themes. I think it can be a very special time of the year, a stressful occasion for some, and the time when true feelings are often put on the line whether it’s a declaration of love, the revelation of a secret or people pulling together in times of need. Setting books in the holiday season is really exciting because I get to experience a lot of Christmas and I hope people can delve into my stories and fall in love with the characters.

I think you have picked the best time of the year to tell stories, truly! The Christmas season is full of a lot of mirth for me – it’s one of my favourite times of the year, but it’s more than that – as we all have our own traditions, two of mine are reading the Christmas Romances & Dramas whilst trying to find time to watch the lovely Christmas movies I hold so very dear in my heart! I think stories which are character driven are my absolute favourites – I look forward to meeting yours one day! Read More

Posted Wednesday, 29 November, 2017 by jorielov in Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Rachel's Random Resources, Reader Submitted Q&A, Women's Fiction