December 2023 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord (Lady Petra Inquires #1)

Title: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord (Lady Petra Inquires #1)
Author: Celeste Connally
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin.

When Lady Petra Forsyth’s fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, she makes the shocking proclamation—in front of London’s loosest lips—that she will never remarry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life has passed, nor does she intend to become confined to her country home. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations.

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper—uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Lady Petra has reason to believe her friend is not dead, but a prisoner, her own headstrong actions and thirst for independence are used to put her own freedom in jeopardy.

Review:

Lady Petra Forsyth declares that she will never marry following the tragic death of her fiancée. She has independent wealth, but her announcement still sent a shock throughout society. While attending a ball, Petra learns that a close friend died suddenly of “melancholia” following treatment by an unusual doctor in an asylum. Petra is suspicious of this news, especially when her friend’s former footman says he has seen the woman alive. Petra uses her status in society to find out what is happening to the women who are sent to the asylum by their husbands or male relatives.

I really enjoyed this story. It started out a little humourous. Petra was a strong, independent woman, who questioned a lot of things that were assumed to be true in society. The story became quite dark as Petra investigated the asylum. Many of the women who were there were tested on with horrific treatments, just because they were women who didn’t do what the men in their lives expected of them. Those parts were hard to read, but I’m sure they were based on real experiences of women. The story ended on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to read what happens next.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a great Regency mystery!

Thank you Minotaur Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: misogyny, murder, surgery, sexual assault (off page)

Have you read Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord? What did you think of it?

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a great Regency mystery!

Thank you Minotaur Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: misogyny, murder, surgery, gaslighting

Review: How to Survive in Tudor England

Title: How to Survive in Tudor England
Author: Toni Mount
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 25, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Imagine you were transported back in time to Tudor England and had to start a new life there, without smartphones, internet or social media. When transport means walking or, if you’re lucky, horseback, how will you know where you are or where to go? Where will you live and where will you work? What will you eat and what shall you wear? And who can you turn to if you fall ill or are mugged in the street, or God forbid if you upset the king? In a period when execution by beheading was the fate of thousands how can you keep your head in Tudor England?

All these questions and many more are answered in this new guidebook for How to Survive in Tudor England . A handy self-help guide with tips and suggestions to make your visit to the 16th century much more fun, this lively and engaging book will help the reader deal with the new experiences they may encounter and the problems that might occur.

Enjoy interviews with the celebrities of the day, and learn some new words to set the mood for your time-traveling adventure. Have an exciting visit but be sure to keep this book to hand.

Review:

This book explains how to survive in Tudor England (1485-1603) if you travelled through time back to that era. It started out with a reference to the show Doctor Who (which is about time travel) so I knew I would enjoy this book.

It was a fun read that tells you what to eat, wear, and how to behave. Almost all the chapters had a fictional interview with a famous person associated with that chapter, which was so funny. All of the interviews made me laugh.

How to Survive in Tudor England is an entertaining read for anyone interested in the Tudors!

Thank you Pen and Sword for providing a digital copy of this book.

Have you read How to Survive in Tudor England? What did you think of it?

Review: A Princess for Christmas (Christmas in Eldovia #1)

Title: A Princess for Christmas (Christmas in Eldovia #1)
Author: Jenny Holiday
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 13, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world.

Leo Ricci’s already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a “princess” in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he’s got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car.

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn’t be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time.

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

Review:

Leo Ricci is busy driving a cab in New York and being the sole caregiver for his little sister after the death of his parents. One day while they are driving home, his sister notices a woman in a gown trying to hail a cab outside of the UN. She insists they stop and help the woman, who turns out to be the Princess of Eldovia, a small country in Europe. Princess Marie has had to take on a lot of responsibility for the country following the death of her mother. When she gets into Leo’s cab, he is kind to her in a way she hasn’t experienced in a long time. He offers to personally drive her around New York while she’s visiting. Marie appreciates his help so much that she invites Leo and his sister to Eldovia for Christmas. Leo and Marie can’t deny the attraction they feel, but Marie has expectations for her future marriage, so it can only be a holiday fling, unless they can find a way to break the rules.

This story was like an adult version of The Princess Diaries. Marie had an innocence about her, since she hadn’t been exposed to a lot outside of the palace. Leo was gruff, but kind, especially when it came to his sister. Marie and Leo had a steamy romance, and I was hoping they would find a way to be together. I’m so glad this is the start of a series because I really enjoyed reading about these characters.

A Princess for Christmas is a sweet holiday read.

Content warnings: death of parents, car accident (off page), cancer

Other books in the series:

Duke, Actually (Christmas in Eldovia #2)
So This is Christmas (Christmas in Eldovia #3)

Have you read A Princess for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: Snowed In for Christmas

Title: Snowed In for Christmas
Author: Jaqueline Snowe
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Forever
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sorority mom Becca Fairfield is used to guys not taking her seriously. She’s too blond, too quirky, or Just. Too. Much. So she’s ditched dating to focus on her job and a house filled with drama and plenty of tea. Now with the holidays and a major blizzard on her doorstep, Becca has everything she needs to survive the next two weeks on her own. Hot cocoa, plenty of books . . . and the memory of a steamy kiss with a certain sexy, grumposaurus next-door neighbor to keep her warm.

Only Becca’s seriously underestimated this Snowpocalypse. So when the power goes out and Harrison Cooper—football coach, master crank, and the guy who acted mega-awkward after said steamy kiss—offers her shelter, it only makes sense to accept. They’ll just be Blizzard Buddies. Hang out, stay safe, and maybe indulge in a little R-rated cuddling . Becca knows that Harrison isn’t the dating kind, and what happens during the storm lasts only as long as the storm. But are they keeping warm . . . or playing with fire?

Review:

Becca Fairfield is the sorority mom at a sorority house where she looks after a bunch of college girls. She’s focused on her job, and hasn’t found the right guy yet. She’s quirky and the guys she’s dated haven’t understood her. That includes the football coach next door, Harrison Cooper. When Becca and Harrison went on a date two years ago, he ghosted her. Now, they’re both home alone during a huge blizzard. When the power goes out and one of the sorority house’s windows breaks, Harrison insists that Becca come to his house to wait out the storm. The freezing temperatures force them to cuddle to warm each other up with their body heat. They agree to just be “Blizzard Buddies” and have a short romance during the storm, but it isn’t easy to let go of these new feelings once the snow clears.

I have to admit, I felt cold while reading this story about the snow storm. It was scary to imagine a storm like that, especially when they lost power in severely cold temperatures. Becca and Harrison’s romance was out of convenience, since they were attracted to each other while they were snowed in, but they did have some things in common that made it seem like the relationship would last. The story had a really cute ending too!

Snowed In for Christmas is a cute holiday romance!

Thank you Forever for providing a digital copy of this book.

Content warnings: car accident, drunk driving

Have you read Snowed In for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: A Kilt for Christmas (The Enchanted Highlands #3)

Title: A Kilt for Christmas (The Enchanted Highlands #3)
Author: Tricia O’Malley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Lovewrite Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: November 17, 2023
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Legend has it that wishes made at the standing stones during Christmas come true. As if.

Maisie Barron is over it. A small-town girl with big dreams, her frustrations lead her to make a silly wish at the standing stones outside Loren Brae. Little does she know, the magick found there will transform her wish into a catastrophic event that threatens the upcoming Christmas Book Festival.Weston Smith needs a break. Burnt out from his tenure-track professorship, he decides that a holiday in little Loren Brae, Scotland, will be the perfect escape he needs to recharge his batteries. The last thing he expects is to find the woman he’s been waiting his whole life for. With the over-zealous help of a gaggle of elderly book club members, West finds himself on a real-life mission to woo the woman of his dreams.There’s more than magic at play when sparks ignite. Snowed in, with an undeniable attraction brewing, only West and Maisie can save Loren Brae from the snowstorm of the century.Author’s a handsome American takes on a lonely Scotswoman in this stand-alone, small-town, Scottish romance. Wicked banter, a highland ghost coo, and dogs dressed in kilts make this magical Christmas story the perfect happily-ever-after.

Review:

Weston Smith is a professor in California who decides to take a vacation in Loren Brae, Scotland before Christmas. The town is hosting the Christmas Book Festival, which West is excited to help out with. He meets Maisie Barron, a girl from the town who dreams of being an author. West instantly knows she’s the woman of his dreams. Maisie makes a wish at the standing stones outside the town, which causes a catastrophic snow storm that snows in Maisie and West together. They can’t help but succumb to their attraction while they’re stuck in the storm of the century.

This was a short Christmas read. It’s part of a series, which I haven’t read, and I think that put me at a disadvantage. I wasn’t familiar with the town or characters, who may have been introduced more thoroughly in previous books. Maisie and West fell in love at first sight. I’m not a fan of the instant love trope, because it doesn’t feel genuine or long lasting.

Unfortunately, A Kilt for Christmas didn’t work for me.

Thank you Dreamscape Select for providing a copy of this audiobook.

Other books in the series:

Wild Scottish Knight (The Enchanted Highlands #1)
Wild Scottish Love (The Enchanted Highlands #2)

Have you read A Kilt for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: Season’s Schemings

Title: Season’s Schemings
Author: Katie Bailey
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc.
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Format: Ebook
Release Date: December 1, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

‘Tis the season to get even…

When Maddie Grainger’s longtime boyfriend dumps her on TV for the entire world to see, she thinks she’s hit rock bottom.Until her parents announce that they’re spending the holidays with her ex’s family… And he’ll be bringing the woman he left her for.All Maddie wants for Christmas is to stick it to her cheating ex. But how?Enter Sebastian Slater, the NHL’s most infamous player.On a drunken night out in Vegas, Maddie asks the superstar athlete to pose as her new boyfriend. She’s kidding, mostly. But Seb shocks her by making a counter he doesn’t want to date Maddie for the holidays… he wants to marry her.Show up at her ex’s cabin alone, or with a surprise new hockey-playing husband? Maddie opts for the ultimate level up.Because maybe, just maybe, revenge is a dish best served betrothed.

Sparks fly and Christmas cheer is abundant in this festive marriage of convenience rom com. Season’s Schemings is a closed door/fade to black romance that includes mild language, innuendo, and tons of sizzle without the spice.

Review:

When Maddie Grainger’s boyfriend dumps her on a cooking show, she thinks her life has hit rock bottom. Then her parents announce that they will be spending Christmas with her ex’s family and his new fiancé, and she’s expected to go with them. Maddie starts a new job for the NHL and meets star player Sebastian Slater. Sebastian gets the devastating news that his work visa has expired and he won’t be able to play hockey. Maddie asks Seb to be her pretend boyfriend for the holidays, but he suggests they get married temporarily so that he can keep his job. This revenge is even better since Seb is Maddie’s ex’s favourite player. As Maddie and Seb spend the holidays together, unexpected sparks start flying, which makes them wonder if this temporary marriage is meant to last.

This story was such a great holiday book. It was funny, romantic, and a quick read. I loved the revenge that Maddie got on her horrible ex, by marrying someone else who was way better than him. Each of the characters were distinct and had their own quirks and subplots. I’ll definitely be checking out this author’s other books!

Seasons Schemings is a fun holiday rom com!

Have you read Season’s Schemings? What did you think of it?

Review: Time to Shine

Title: Time to Shine
Author: Rachel Reid
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Carina
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A merry and bright hockey romance about finding your place, finding your people and finding your way back to the one you love the most.

For Landon Stackhouse, being called up from the Calgary farm team is exciting and terrifying, even if, as the backup goalie, he rarely leaves the bench. A quiet loner by nature, Landon knows he gives off strong “don’t talk to me” vibes. The only player who doesn’t seem to notice is Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks.

Casey treats Landon like an old friend, even though they’ve only interacted briefly in the past. He’s endlessly charming and completely laid-back in a way that Landon absolutely can’t relate to. They couldn’t have less in common, but Landon needs a place to live that’s not a hotel room and Casey has just bought a massive house—and hates being alone.

As roommates, Casey refuses to be defeated by Landon’s one-word answers. As friends, Landon comes to notice a few things about Casey, like his wide, easy smile and sparkling green-blue eyes. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on.

Review:

Landon Stackhouse is a goalie who’s called up to play for Calgary in the NHL when their backup goalie is injured. Landon is terrified, but his new teammate Casey Hicks makes it a bit easier because he’s so friendly. Casey invites Landon to stay with him at his huge house, but he has an ulterior motive because he has a crush on him. Landon is quiet and standoffish, so it takes a while for him to warm up to the outgoing Casey. As the holidays get nearer, romance is in the air, but Landon’s time in Calgary is almost up.

This was my first hockey romance and I loved it. It was so cute because it was between two hockey players on the same team. I loved how supportive everyone was around them. Their friends and family loved both guys and wanted them to be happy together. This story had such a cute ending too!

Time to Shine is a steamy hockey romance!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing a copy of this book.

Content warnings: death of sibling, car accident (off page)

Have you read Time to Shine? What did you think of it?

Review: Faking Christmas

Title: Faking Christmas
Author: Kerry Winfrey
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays–complete with a fake husband and kids–in this delightful, cozy rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.

Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She is most definitely not an owner of a farm…but one tinymisunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she’s happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired.

And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm’s big holiday dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm’s Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she’s basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.

Laurel and Holly come up with a plan–all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But when Laurel shows up at the farm, an unwelcome guest is there: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly’s wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel’s husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages…

Review:

Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for an Ohio tourism magazine and website. When she got the job, she led her boss to believe that she owned a farm and had a family outside of the city, which resulted in him giving her a monthly column on the farm life. That job was too important for her to give up, so she let her boss believe she owned a farm, which is actually owned by her twin sister. Her boss invites himself to her family’s famous Christmas Eve Eve dinner, so Laurel has to scramble to make him believe that she’s actually living her sister’s family farm life. Laurel only has to make him believe it for one dinner, but she doesn’t realize that her sister has invited Max Beckett, Laurel’s nemesis, to pretend to be her husband. Though the dinner goes well, everyone gets snowed for the holiday weekend, so Laurel has to keep up the ruse of being Max’s wife on the farm in order to keep her boss from discovering her lie.

This story combined my two favourite tropes: enemies-to-lovers and fake dating! The tension between Laurel and Max was there from the beginning, but he didn’t seem as angry with her as she was with him. It was entertaining to see her have to scramble around and make her boss believe her fake life, which was the complete opposite of her real life.

Faking Christmas is a fun Christmas rom com!

Thank you Berkley Romance for providing a digital copy of this book.

Have you read Faking Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1)

Title: Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1)
Author: B.K. Borison
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 10, 2021
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.

Review:

Stella Bloom owns Lovelight Farms, a Christmas tree farm that is struggling after a series of mysterious events. To save the farm, Stella submits an application to a contest to be featured on the social media pages of Evelyn St. James. The prize comes with publicity and $100,000. Evelyn will visit each applicant to make her decision. However, to make her application more appealing, Stella said that she owns the farm with her boyfriend, even though she’s currently single. She asks her best friend, Luka Peters, to pretend to be her boyfriend during Evelyn’s visit. Their fake dating escalates into a relationship that is what they’ve both always wanted.

This was such a sweet story. Stella and Luka were a great couple. I loved how they were friends and then had to “fake date” their way to a real relationship. I would have liked to see more of their visit with Evelyn. There was one surprise when she arrived, but I think there could have been more funny moments. Evelyn did speed up the romance though, which made for a cute ending.

Lovelight Farms is a fun Christmas rom com!

Thank you Berkley Romance for providing a digital copy of this book.

Content warnings: death of parent, parental abandonment