Samantha Hastings

  MURDER IN SEASON by Mary Winters. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amelia Amesbury continues to enchant! And solve murder mysteries, of course. Since this is the third book in the A LADY OF LETTERS MYSTERY, I’m just going to list what I loved: The Agony Aunt letters at the beginning of every chapter have so much wit and wisdom. Multiple mysteries at the same time: jewel thefts and murder, oh my!  Amelia’s (Lady Amesbury) love and close relationships with her niece and aunt-in-law. The London season and coming-out balls.  Amelia’s sister, Madge, is a feisty new character that was easy to love. Amelia is such an enjoyable heroine who isn’t afraid to investigate and go under cover. Or fall in love.  I guessed wrong on the whodunnit of one of the mysteries…which will remain a mystery.  A slow burn romance with two kisses that were worth the wait!  Simon. Everything about him! Or should I say Lord Bainbridge?  The Epilogue. You’ll know why when you read it! 

  LADY FLYER by @authorhbmoore  Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ History can be more fascinating than fiction and Heather B. Moore masterfully combines the two in LADY FLYER. Miss Nancy Harkness was a real person and a pioneer of women’s aviation. She received her pilot’s license as a teen and during WWII advocated and led programs (WAFS and WASPS) that allowed female pilots to ferry airplanes for the army. As well as training more women to be pilots. She faced a lot of sexism (women weren’t allowed to fly during their menstrual cycles), but continued to lead by example. I loved all of the historical details, but my favorite parts were the romance between Nancy and Bob Love. A must read for historical fiction fans.  Other recommended books about female pilots during WWII: FLYGIRL by Sherri L. Smith and AMONG THE RED STARS by Gwen C. Katz.

An Unlikely Proposition by Rosalyn Eves Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Move over John Keats. Step aside Samuel Coleridge. There’s a new Regency poet on the scene: Miss Thalia Aubrey! After a botched elopement in AN UNLIKELY SEASON, Thalia is working as a lady’s companion and pursuing her poetry. Her employer is widowed teenager Eleanor who is being harassed by her dead husband’s nephew for her fortune. Eleanor enters into a fake engagement (fake dating trope anyone?) and hijinks ensue when she meets another handsome young man. Love and poetry are messy too when Thalia starts falling for Eleanor’s fiancé! Jane Austen fans will love this curtsy to the Regency period and modern young ladies will appreciate the two prickly and strong-willed heroines who fight for control of their own futures.

  The Spy and I by Tiana Smith Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Smart, sexy, and spies! What more do you want from a book? Seriously, I absolutely loved it. Dove Barkley is a cyber security specialist (aka penetration tester) who is mistaken for her super spy sister! She teams up with a hot CIA operative named Mendez to clear her sister's name. I loved all the spy details. If you liked the TV show "Chuck" and/or "Mission Impossible" film series you will devour this book! The romance is a longing, slow burn, where Dove isn't sure what is real and what's not. Steamy kisses, but no bedroom scenes. The action and fighting is exciting. And the twists kept me on the edge of my seat. I can hardly wait for the companion book! #TheSpyAndI #TianaSmith #Berkley @berkleyromance #RomCom #SpyBook #Romance #BookReview #BookRecommendation

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: ONCE UPON A MURDER February 15 –  Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense   –  CHARACTER GUEST POST February 15 –  The Mystery of Writing  –  AUTHOR GUEST POST February 16 –  Cozy Up With Kathy  – REVIEW February 17 –  Reading Is My SuperPower  – REVIEW February 17 –  MJB Reviewers  – SPOTLIGHT February 18 –  Maureen's Musings  – SPOTLIGHT February 19 –  FUONLYKNEW   – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT February 20 –  Socrates Book Reviews  – SPOTLIGHT February 21 –   Novels Alive  – REVIEW February 22 –  Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books  – REVIEW February 22 –  Celticlady's Reviews  – SPOTLIGHT February 23 –  #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee   – SPOTLIGHT February 24 –  Baroness Book Trove  – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT February 24 –  Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book  – AUTHOR INTERVIEW February 25 –  The Book Diva's Reads  –  AUTHOR GUEST POST   February 25 –  Bigreadersite  – REVIEW February 26 –  Sapphyria's Book Reviews   – SPOTLIGHT Februar

  The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another fantastic Victorian romance from Mimi Matthews. You don't have to have read the other books in the Belles of London series to enjoy this story, but I highly recommend it because they are wonderful reads.   Lady Anne Deveril was once secretly engaged to Mr. Felix Hartford, but they quarreled. Six and half years later, the sparks are still there when Anne asks Felix for a favor. He agrees to help her, however, the source of their quarrel is still a problem. Anne's mother, the dowager Countess of Arundell, can't cope with the death of her husband and has turned to spiritualism, laudanum, and obsessive mourning. Meanwhile, Felix is struggling with his own family problems. Anne must choose a second time between duty and love.  Fans of Victorian novels will appreciate the nods to Queen Victoria's strict mourning rituals and spiritualism. This romance features 'enemies to lovers' and 'second cha