Town(Shipped) by Savannah Scott

 Town(Shipped) by Savannah Scott  is a delightful dual POV story. This is the third in the series, but I was fine coming in on book three.  Mallory has just broken up with her fiancé and is taking her honeymoon alone.  Aiden works from home and also lives on a goat farm in Bordeaux, OH.   Mallory crashes her car, bumps her head causing Amnesia and then lands in Aiden’s front yard. 

This had all the feels for me. Mallory, “Em” is a delightful character who you can not help, but love.  Aiden is all that and a bag of chips and has the kindest heart.    Both have not been lucky in love and this is their story.  The small town of Bordeaux is delightful and the townspeople had me laughing out loud.  I may have connected some of them to others in my small town in Ohio. (But, don’t tell them.)   The author does a great job helping you to delight in the everyday parts of life especially in a small town.    

This story has great chemistry, sweet banter, and a wonderful small town feel. The author makes everyday life interesting, explores harder topics, and has a great way of keeping it all real.  I highly recommend Town (Shipped) by Savannah Scott 

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.  

MY DREAM

I love love love writing.

In April 2020 I took a big leap and started writing fiction. I didn’t know if I could, but some writer friends encouraged me. Turns out, I’m not half bad at this gig, and I LOVE IT! (Did I tell you how much I love it? I do. I really do.)

Writing sweet romance has become the joy of my life. And, as of December 1st, 2021 a new journey begins as Savannah Scott, author of romcom stories with Friend(shipped) being the first book out under that pen name. If you want to know why I use a pen name, go here.
LET’S CONNECT!

You can definitely choose to simply enjoy the stories I craft and leave it at that. But, I do love connecting with readers, so if you want to connect with me beyond the books, you have several options.Send me an email: I love hearing from readers. You can email me at admin@pattyhscott.com. Even better, you can sign up for my romcom reader email weekly here or my clean romance reader email here.
Join my sweet reader group on Facebook: We have a great group of women on Facebook who share books and life together. You can join us here. We’d love to have you!
Follow me on Instagram: I have an instagram account where I share about my writing, post humorous posts, or share pictures of our family doing life. If you want to follow me head here.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens

Before I Do starts with a bang as the bride, Audrey, comes running out of her wedding that did not happen with a bump on head. This wonderful story tells the tale of Audrey's life from many years, many months and hours before and after her wedding. Audrey is trying to decide how she feels about love.

In Before I Do the author examines the theme of if falling in love with someone is a choice or if a certain person is your destiny. I loved watching the very relatable characters mature and change throughout the story. The back and forth timeline held my interest while leading me to believe I already knew the ending while in reality I only knew part of the story.

I am a huge fan of Sophie Cousins, and was so excited to read Before I Do. The author has a way of weaving in thoughtful themes with humor and the grittiness of life to write a wonderful story that I thought about long after I turn the last page. I appreciate the depth of  the author's writing and how she explores the harder themes of life in such a relatable and profound way. I highly recommend this story.

I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a positive review.

Sophie Cousens writes romantic comedies. Before becoming a full time writer, she worked as a TV producer in London for more than twelve years, working on shows such as The Graham Norton Show, Russell Howard's Good News and Big Brother.

She now lives on the island of Jersey in the UK, and balances her writing career with taking care of two small children. Sophie yearns for a time when she can add a miniature dachshund to her brood, and wishes for the ability to read books faster than she keeps buying them.

Drawing Outside the Lines by Susan J. Austin

Drawing Outside the Lines by Susan J. Austin is a fictional account of Julia Morgan’s early life. She was one of the first women architects to obtain an architecture license in California. The author does a wonderful job using information from historical letters, interviews with Julia’s friends, and expanding on history to write this delightful story. Little is known of Julia’s early years making this a treasure.

I was so drawn into this fascinating story. The author did a great job drawing on the known parts of Julia’s early life and using her imagination to create the story of Julia’s education through college. I very much appreciated those who paved the way for women in science, math, and engineering programs in the late 1800’s. It was hard to hear of the discimination faced by women in the sciences during this time. I found this account of Julia’s life very interesting and I kept reading to find out what had happened.

Drawing Outside the Lines is a great book that looks at the early years of Julia Morgan’s life, and is appropriate for ages 10 and up. As an adult I found it captivating and would highly recommend it.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

I live in Northern California with my biggest fan, my hubby whom I have known since the age of fifteen. We reside in a cozy 1924 bungalow with a garden populated by lemon, lime and orange trees, fussy but elegant rose bushes, and birds of every variety. While I spend considerable time in my writing studio, if you happen to walk by our house on a nice day, you may see me writing from the comfort of my front porch, a mug of coffee by my side.

Did I mention how much I love libraries and bookstores? Collecting books? Talking about books? Being inspired by books?

A Whimsical Notion by Jennie Goutet

A Whimsical Notion by Jennie Goutet is a delightful Regency read. It is the first book in the Daughters of the Gentry series. Main character, Honoraria, is a sweet soul with a gift for helping others heal. She lives with her parents next to Phillip’s estate. Phillip has been trying to rebuild his earnings after the damage his father had done to the estate and surrounding countryside which included alienating Honoria’s father.

This was a sweet Regency read that took place in the country among the landed gentry. The author has a wonderful way of setting the scene and giving you details that allow you to come away with a great understanding of the time period. I enjoyed attending a Regency ball, learning how to work effectively with a housekeeper, and visiting with neighbors. There were many secondary characters who I enjoyed meeting, and I imagine will be a part of future stories. I greatly enjoyed my time in Lincolnshire.

The idyllic setting, endearing characters, and the lovely explanations of the time period by the author made this a wonderful Regency read. I felt immersed in the time period and can not wait for book two to learn what happens next. I highly recommend A Whimsical Notion.

I was given a copy and not required to write a positive review.

Jennie Goutet is an American-born Anglophile, who lives with her French husband and their three children in a small town outside Paris. Her imagination resides in Regency England, where her upcoming romance, A Regrettable Proposal, is set. Jennie is author of the award-winning memoir, Stars Upside Down and the modern romances, A Friend in Paris and A Noble Affair. A Christian, a cook, and an inveterate klutz, Jennie writes about faith, food, and life—even the clumsy moments—on her blog, aladyinfrance.com. You can learn more about Jennie and her books on her author website, jenniegoutet.com.

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

 

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has set his sights on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.

For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.

In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around in his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes….

My Review:

Stories like the ones we read in novels help us understand the human condition,” he said. “They teach us empathy. In that way they’re more than an escape from the world. They’re an aid for living in the world. For being better, more compassionate people.”

Oh, The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews is absolutely amazing and I am still in my book hangover. Captain Blunt is a war hero with a past from the Crimean War. He is on the hunt for a wife for his children back in York. Julia is an anxious bookish spinster who lives with her ailing and sick parents who are far from loving.

I loved everything about this book. I was drawn in and literally enchanted! The slow burn romance, the mystery involving Captain Burk, and all the bookish references. The story has all the great parts of a Victorian romance with balls, the rules of society, and servants with strong opinions. A fantastic read!

Mimi Mathews is a favorite of mine and she has written a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend The Belle of Belgrave Square.

“Real life was more complicated than that. And Real love was more complex still. It wasn’t faint or feeble. It was rich and nuanced and strong. So relentlessly strong. It had to be. Human beings were fallible. They stumbled and fell. They made mistakes. Love didn’t crumble in the face of those errors. It held fast and true. “

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Photo by Vicki Hahn  2021

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. Learn more online at mimimatthews.com.

Within These Gilded Halls by Abigail Wilson

Within These Gilded Halls by Abigail Wilson is a Regency romance and mystery that is a stand alone novel though I recognized a few characters from past novels. I am a huge fan of Abigail Wilson, and I have been anxiously waiting to read Within These Gilded Halls. In our story Phoebe Radcliff is currently working with Miss Drake, a renowned painter, to complete a ballroom renovation at Avonthorpe Hall. Lt. Graham Burke, Miss Drake’s nephew, will inherit the house and has come to visit.

I felt the story had a perfect blend of romance and mystery. I enjoyed following Phoebe and Lt. Burke’s love story as they searched for hidden treasure and solved a murder. There were many great secondary characters who kept me wondering who was the murderer, who was innocent and who was truly on team Phoebe/Graham. I stayed up too late reading the ending and have no regrets!

The story’s themes of redemption, forgiving yourself, and remembering people are not always who they seem. I highly recommend this Within These Gilded Halls.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review

Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s diving meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss

 

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss is a sweet story. Eleanor is meeting her old friends from private school for a week-long wedding celebration at a castle. We learn about their history, life long friendship, and how they each fit into the social strata in the story. Isaac is a childhood friend who studies horticulture and is now the gardener at the castle.

I loved Nory and learning about her secondhand book store. Her store and love of books resonated with me. I was invested in the secondary characters at her bookstore, her friends from school, and Nory’s family. The author does a nice job talking about heavier topics such as suicide, race and classism without being too heavy. Isaac is a sweet hero who get Eleanor and I found myself easily routing for him. 

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is the perfect story as you get ready for the holidays. I loved the setting in London and the British countryside. The story has wonderful characters, a touch of romance, and pulls at your heart. I recommend it.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Jenny Bayliss lives in a small seaside town in Kent, England, with her husband; their children having left home for big adventures. She went to university aged 39 to study part-time for a degree in Creative and Professional Writing, whilst she continued to work as a baker. She now writes for a living. She loves reading books, listening to books, and writing books. She likes long walks, baking days, and is obsessed with stationery.

Jenny doesn’t believe in saving things for best and shamelessly wears party dresses to the supermarket. She keeps a small wand in her handbag for luck and is rarely seen without her beloved Dr Martin boots; her husband always hoped they were a phase she’d eventually grow out of. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.