Review + Giveaway: Before She Became a Lady by Wareeze Woodson

Review

A Sweet Historical Romance Novel: Love Conquers All
Rating: 5 Stars

Before She Became A Lady is a sweet romance novel depicting how even during historical past, love still overcomes no matter what challenges lie in its path.

The story centers around Laurel Collingsworth, only 17 years of age but already set to marry Lord Robert Lanningham.  Reading the first few pages, I had this initial impression of her being immature and how she may not yet be primed for marriage. As the story developed, I started seeing a transformation within her, and by the very last page, she had become a totally different person, one definitely fit to be called a Lady.

Perhaps it is the different clashes, conflicts and challenges she faced all throughout the story that molded her character. It is not only the new environment that she found herself in, or the new faces that she had to live and contend with day-in day-out, but also having to adjust to married life and even to live with and love a "different" Robert.  Through all this, we see Laurel started portraying courage, a steely determination and a new level of maturity in her character to rise above all these odds.

The pace of the story is just right. Personally, I had hoped for a more intense resolution on the mystery aspects in the story. This would have added  a few thrilling moments.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the story as a whole, especially the historical nature of the story. Fans of historical romance will definitely love this.

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Blurb

Laurel Collingsworth, seventeen and deeply in love, expects to marry her hero and live in wedded bliss forever after. Instead, with the ink barely dry on the marriage lines, Lord Robert Laningham is called away to Spain and the war. With a heavy heart, she sends her husband off with a kiss and a prayer for his safe return.

Now alone in her new role of Lady Laningham, she faces a series of terrifying events, shadowy intruders, missing jewelry, and mysterious footfalls in the night. Added to her alarms, she must fight her hostile sister-in-law for the reigns of her husband’s establishment.

When Lord Robert Laningham returns, can she convince him danger stalks the halls of the ancient mansion? In his wounded state, will he listen or must she protect her child, her recovering husband, and her household by herself?

Giveaway

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About Wareeze Woodson

I am a native of Texas and still live in this great state. I write period romance tangled with suspense. I married my high school sweetheart, years and years ago. We raised four children and have eight grandchildren, and grandchildren are Grand. At the moment, all my children and my grandchildren live within seventy miles of our home, lots of visits. My husband and I still love each other after all these years the stuff romance is made of, Happy Ever After!

Visit the official Website of Wareeze Woodson:
http://www.wareezewoodson.com

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Review: Romantic Road by Blair McDowel

An Interesting Plot
Rating: 5 Stars
Available at: Amazon, Reading Alley

A good mix of heart-pumping action, exciting chase scenes balanced off by slow, romantic moments, Romantic Road is a nice and intriguing weekend read.

Still reeling from the death of her husband Igor, Lacy was shocked when she was accosted and demanded to hand over some manuscripts that she has no knowledge of. Thus start a journey of realization that her husband is actually more than who she is led to believe, a journey that leads her to a “romantic road” to her husband’s mysterious past, and a journey that leads her to Max, someone who makes her feel trusted, cared for and loved once again. And just whet the appetites of readers, the story leads to a surprising revelation towards the end. I enjoy the mixture of fast-paced action with slow-paced moments that Ms. McDowell interspersed throughout the story. This has given Lacy and Max more time to relax and get to know each other before they are pursued once again. The story provides a good characterization of Lacy, being a normal and simple woman caught up in her late husband’s web of intricacies, and this shows in the wrong decisions she made. Yet for all that, she does her best to keep up and think fast on her feet in emergency situations. I remember when she dumps the beer over her assailant's face so she could get away. That was quick thinking! Part of the reason why I enjoy this book is also the great chemistry between Max and Lacy. Beyond that, the constant drop of small hints throughout the story will keep your mind thinking — could there be something more about Max than just someone who is interested in Lacy? Could he be more than who he portrays himself to be? Set predominantly along different parts of beautiful Europe, Ms. McDowell’s fine writing will give you a vivid picture of where Max and Lacy went throughout their adventure. In retrospect, perhaps the one thing I felt might be good to have is a further extension to the story, an epilogue of sorts, to cover some unanswered points. I am also intrigued to find out more about the mysterious manuscript of Igor. Nevertheless, I was totally entertained and find this an enjoyable read.

A good mix of heart-pumping action, exciting chase scenes balanced off by slow, romantic moments, Romantic Road is a nice and intriguing weekend read. Still reeling from the death of her husband Igor, Lacy was shocked when she was accosted and demanded to hand over some manuscripts that she has no knowledge of. Thus start a journey of realization that her husband is actually more than who she is led to believe, a journey that leads her to a “romantic road” to her husband’s mysterious past, and a journey that leads her to Max, someone who makes her feel trusted, cared for and loved once again. And just whet the appetites of readers, the story leads to a surprising revelation towards the end. I enjoy the mixture of fast-paced action with slow-paced moments that Ms. McDowell interspersed throughout the story. This has given Lacy and Max more time to relax and get to know each other before they are pursued once again. The story provides a good characterization of Lacy, being a normal and simple woman caught up in her late husband’s web of intricacies, and this shows in the wrong decisions she made. Yet for all that, she does her best to keep up and think fast on her feet in emergency situations. I remember when she dumps the beer over her assailant's face so she could get away. That was quick thinking! Part of the reason why I enjoy this book is also the great chemistry between Max and Lacy. Beyond that, the constant drop of small hints throughout the story will keep your mind thinking — could there be something more about Max than just someone who is interested in Lacy? Could he be more than who he portrays himself to be? Set predominantly along different parts of beautiful Europe, Ms. McDowell’s fine writing will give you a vivid picture of where Max and Lacy went throughout their adventure. In retrospect, perhaps the one thing I felt might be good to have is a further extension to the story, an epilogue of sorts, to cover some unanswered points. I am also intrigued to find out more about the mysterious manuscript of Igor. Nevertheless, I was totally entertained and find this an enjoyable read.

Review Copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Sword of Osman by Tim Symonds

A Treat for all Sherlock Holmes Fans!!
Rating: 5 Stars
Available at: Amazon, Reading Alley

I got fascinated with Sherlock Holmes after having been introduced to his adventures in the recent BBC series. The TV series came off as funny, witty and engaging for me, and I was eager to read what a book on Sherlock has in store. It has made me a greater fan of Sherlock more than ever! I enjoyed the story and the plot very much. It definitely has a lot of depth, and gives an insightful glimpse into the teamwork and camaraderie of Sherlock and Watson in solving mysteries. Sherlock and Watson are off to a case to uncover a plot to steal the Sword of Osman and prevent the destabilization of the Ottoman Empire. It is set in 1906, at a time where tensions in Europe are mounting, and any destabilization can cause far wider implications. The element of mystery is intriguing, worthy of any Sherlock Holmes mystery. Mr. Symonds has done a fine job fitting and weaving the plot inside a historical setting, slowly revealing bits and pieces of the puzzle, with plot twists and turns nicely injected as the story moves along. Furthermore, the narration is done from Watson’s point of view. This has given me an in-depth appreciation of Watson’s character and his thought process. But in my opinion, the beauty of this is that told from his point of view, it has magnified the mysterious vibe surrounding Sherlock’s character, in that even from a close comrades’ point of view, how Sherlock’s mind works is still surprising, astounding and downright admirable. The effect is that it leaves you in awe of his brilliance, oftentimes wondering how he managed to deduce a piece of the puzzle.
The research that Mr. Symonds has done is very extensive and detailed. The historical timeline, background, the characters, the people’s way of life, nothing has been left out of context. It has led to a very realistic feel and a feeling of being transported to that period in time. Frankly, it is not one of the easier books for me to read as oftentimes I would come across terminologies used that are unfamiliar, and upon further research were because they existed only during those times. This has simply added to the authenticity of the story. Overall, it has added to the immense quality of story writing Mr. Symonds has devoted on this book. There is a reason why Sherlock Homes is a character that stands the test of time in the literary world. I would highly recommend this to all Sherlock fans, old and new. For those who have been introduced to Sherlock from the TV series, as I have been, this is certainly a very interesting read and gives you a different yet perhaps more authentic look into a Sherlock Holmes classic. I am interested to read how old time fans of Sherlock would receive this story. In any case, I look forward to other Sherlock books by Mr. Symonds.

I got fascinated with Sherlock Holmes after having been introduced to his adventures in the recent BBC series. The TV series came off as funny, witty and engaging for me, and I was eager to read what a book on Sherlock has in store. It has made me a greater fan of Sherlock more than ever! I enjoyed the story and the plot very much. It definitely has a lot of depth, and gives an insightful glimpse into the teamwork and camaraderie of Sherlock and Watson in solving mysteries. Sherlock and Watson are off to a case to uncover a plot to steal the Sword of Osman and prevent the destabilization of the Ottoman Empire. It is set in 1906, at a time where tensions in Europe are mounting, and any destabilization can cause far wider implications. The element of mystery is intriguing, worthy of any Sherlock Holmes mystery. Mr. Symonds has done a fine job fitting and weaving the plot inside a historical setting, slowly revealing bits and pieces of the puzzle, with plot twists and turns nicely injected as the story moves along. Furthermore, the narration is done from Watson’s point of view. This has given me an in-depth appreciation of Watson’s character and his thought process. But in my opinion, the beauty of this is that told from his point of view, it has magnified the mysterious vibe surrounding Sherlock’s character, in that even from a close comrades’ point of view, how Sherlock’s mind works is still surprising, astounding and downright admirable. The effect is that it leaves you in awe of his brilliance, oftentimes wondering how he managed to deduce a piece of the puzzle. The research that Mr. Symonds has done is very extensive and detailed. The historical timeline, background, the characters, the people’s way of life, nothing has been left out of context. It has led to a very realistic feel and a feeling of being transported to that period in time. Frankly, it is not one of the easier books for me to read as oftentimes I would come across terminologies used that are unfamiliar, and upon further research were because they existed only during those times. This has simply added to the authenticity of the story. Overall, it has added to the immense quality of story writing Mr. Symonds has devoted on this book. There is a reason why Sherlock Homes is a character that stands the test of time in the literary world. I would highly recommend this to all Sherlock fans, old and new. For those who have been introduced to Sherlock from the TV series, as I have been, this is certainly a very interesting read and gives you a different yet perhaps more authentic look into a Sherlock Holmes classic. I am interested to read how old time fans of Sherlock would receive this story. In any case, I look forward to other Sherlock books by Mr. Symonds. Review Copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Iced Out: An Abby & Henry Caper by Melanie Harvey

Brilliant and Witty with Plenty of Twists!!
Rating: 5 Stars
Available at: Amazon, Reading Alley

With a witty storyline that has full of nice twists, Iced Out is a light, refreshing and delightful read from Melanie Harvey.

I truly enjoyed the story from start to finish. Something about plots that involve heists and thievery has always resonated well with me. As I read the first few pages, I suddenly had a recollection of similar themed plots, such as If Tomorrow Comes by Sydney Sheldon and the movie The Thomas Crown Affair, both of which I really like for the wit, the humorous portrayal of their escapades.  And I was not disappointed with Iced Out either. Beyond the actual heist, the story has more than its fair share of twist and turns sprinkled with witty conversations throughout the book. If this is what you are looking for in a story, I would highly recommend this book.

The characters though not your average hero and heroine, are both very likeable in their own ways.  Henry is not your usual hero. He does not come to me as an exceedingly confident person, but he has the right attitude and a sound conscience. What I like most about him is that despite a seemingly shady past, his character does not waver when it comes to integrity and loyalty to friends, something that is truly admirable even on his dealings with Abby.

And so, enter Abby, our heroine and the hottest person Henry has met. Being innocent to the plans that Henry and his friends are making, Henry tries to balance between pulling off the heist and growing his relationship with Abby. Little did he know that Abby is not really the person who he thinks she is! So together, Henry and Abby’s relationship develop to complement each other rather well.  In the end, both will worm their way into your heart — Henry being someone you love to have as a lead character, and Abby, being such a likeable person that you will end up rooting for her throughout the story.

The romantic element is sweet, and I liked the progression of how their relationship grew. It certainly is realistic. I liked the perspective of Henry throwing his love for Abby despite not being sure on whether it will be reciprocated. And Abby, for all the confidence that she has, has grown a sense of dependency on Henry. This is what makes the story sweet and romantic.

Combine all of the above with excellent story telling, witty conversations all throughout, and a vindictive ending, this has certainly made for an excellent read. I am not sure if the author will have a sequel involving Henry and Abby, but if there is, I will certainly not hesitate to pick it up.


Review Copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.