My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

The Garden

Gillian Linscott

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical

*Introducing a New Author to the Blog*

Back to my own personal default setting for today's selection .... historical fiction:

Holders Hope. Herefordshire. 

In the long summer of the Edwardian age, the roots of a great garden are laid 

But it's beauty and calm are deceptive - for this is a home with a secret. 

For two generations the lives of two families are bound up with the garden. 

The Allegri family, mine owners with the money to pay for it. 

The Thomas family, mine workers from the Welsh valleys, whose care and skill help to shape it. 

Three children – an unhappy rich girl, a musician and a boy dreaming of revolution – meet in the garden and share a secret that will affect the rest of their lives.

Over some of the most turbulent years of Britain’s history, through the First World War and the industrial strife and poverty of the 1920s, the garden grows, suffers and is almost destroyed by the forces that created it. 

It waits, lost and overgrown, for a man from the twenty-first century with his own secret who will finally solve its mystery and bring a hope of its rebirth.

It's published by Endeavour Press, who normally have decent books, so take this Best Seller in the Historical Fiction category and run with it.  You can download your free copy HERE.  As usual, I'm not sure how long it's long to be available free.

I had a great night at the Hailsham WI Book Club last night (thank you ladies for a lovely time), and met Mr Patrick Easter, the Author of 'The Watermen'. He was such an interesting and lovely man too - I thing I might have a bit of a crush!  Diane, at the Book Group, very kindly lent me a copy to read, and I'm really looking forward to giving it a go.  Click HERE for details on his books.  There is a third book due out shortly.



On Amazon today my rating is (static) 3,562. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

#15 - Devil's Bride ~ Stephanie Laurens

ISBN: 0-7499-3716-5

I simply couldn't put this one down, and read it in one day - Stephanie Laurens at her most sparkling.  I am now completely in love with Devil Cynster .... perhaps not quite so much as Tony Blake, but definitely a close second.

This is another in the Cynster series, the story of Devil (Sylvester) 6th Duke of St Ives and Honoria Prudence Anstuthers-Wetherby.

Having just taken up another post as a finishing governess, aristotricatic and independently wealthy Honoria is trying to search out the elusive name of the Duke that her charge is apparently set to marry.  Everyone merely refers to him as "the Duke", but the Duke of where?

On her first day off to visits the Church (pretending to discuss the church roof) to further her investigation, and gets caught in a storm on the way back to her employers, and takes a short cut to get back in time.  Unfortunately, heading down the track as the weather worsens she comes acrosss the body of a young man, who has been shot, but is still cling to life.  With nobody else around she attempts to help him, and her horse bolts leaving her fully alone.  Enter a sataic figure riding a black devil horse to her aid.  He recognises the lad, and between them they get him to shelter in a woodman's cottage.

The storm rages on and they spend the night together, unfortunately poor Tolly doesn't make it through the night.   Next morning two separate search parties descend on them, one from Somersham Place and one from Honoria's employer ....they each converge on the cottage.  Obviously her employers are scandalised and dismiss her on the spot, the Duke comes to the rescue and advises all present that they are fortunate to meet his intended Duchess - nobody is more astounded the Honaria at this point.

Honoria from then comes under his protection, with even her Brother colluded with him to keep her under his roof.  The search for Tolly's murders commences, and the reason behind it.

Cynster men have a habit of making their ladies see the error of their ways, with a peppering of hot and steamy passion,and eventually Honoria agrees to marry her Duke, and then he has several attempts on his life.  Honoria then also comes/and puts her self into danager.

All ends happilly in the end .... and the Church even gets a new roof.  A 5 STAR ***** rating.

I am going to read a Julia Quinn novel next, as I can't really do yet another Stephanie Laurens review for Love Romance Passion can I?  Not yet anyway.

Happy reading.

Kay

#14 - A Taste of Innocence ~ Stephanie Laurens

ISBN: 978-0-7499-3863-5

The story of Charlie Morwellan, Eighth Earl of Meredith and Miss Sarah Conningham, Daughter of Lord and Lady Conningham.

I will see more about it that that at present, as I submitted a review to Love~Romance~Passion and just heard from Kiera that it will be published as a guest reviewer on 21st October.

A4 out of 5 rating.

EDITE TO ADD: You can read the review HERE.

Happy reading.

Kay

#13 - A Secret Love ~ Stephanie Laurens

ISBN: 978-0-7499-3720-1

A overpowering debt that will ruin her family drives Lady Alathea Morwellan to seek help from her childhood friend and combatant Rupert (Gabriel) Cynster.  Except that she feels she can only do so disguised as a Widowed Countess to ensure that she gains his full support, and he doesn't just leave the matter to his men of business.

As is always obvious with the Bar Cynster he will of course seek, and claim a reward ... her.

His desires get higher along with the stakes and eventually thanks to the mistake of a tweenie she reveals herself to him in a ballroom, simply by the perfume she has used in error.

Eventually sufficient proof to get the debt overturned is obtained, and both declare their love ... apparently not something easy to obtain from a Cynster.

It made me cry a big fat 20/10.

Happy reading.

Kay

#12 - On A Wild Night ~ Stephanie Laurens

#12 - On a Wild Night ~ Stephanie Laurens ~ ISBN: 978-0-7499-3723-2

Oh dear, 2 books this weekend ... as you can guess pretty little crafting has been done ....

I won't bore you with all the details on these, except that they do live up to the usual expectations.

A Cynster Twin, Amanda hasn't found anyone to tempt her into marriage during her several seasons, and so takes matters into her own hands and descends to the demimonde to tempt out a suitable mate.

Suffice to say Martin Fullbridge, Earl of Dexter now returned from banishment after ascending his title proves to be exactly the thing once he has declared his love and solved the scandal that allowed him to return to his true place within the ton.

Another 9/10.

Happy reading

Kay

#11 - The Truth About Love ~ Stephanie Laurens

I am still not sick of these books, she writes so beautifully that I am completely enthralled and just want to learn more about the loves, lives and characters in her literary world.

This time the story of Gerrard Debbington (Brother of Patience Cynster - wife of Vane) a celebrated landscape painter, who also dabbled in portraits of people very close to him, but not any other in the ton, despite many requests to do so) who is lured down to Cornwall by Lord Tregonning to be the only person to paint the famous (and closely guarded gardens) at Hellebore Hall.  All he needs to do in return for free access is to paint what he sees in his Lordships daugher, Jacequeline face.

The book weaves together the reason for the two murders, and why another murder is attempted.  The killer is unamasked, and all becomes clear at the end in regards to the Truth About Love - be it the right or the wrong kind. Completely enchanting story that kept me guessing til the end a 9 out of 10.


Happy reading.

Kay

#10 - Mastered by Love ~ Stephanie Laurens

ISBN:  978-0-7499-4013-3

The darkly mysterious Royce Varisey, 10th Duke of Wolverstone, and leader of the Bastion Club members, returns to his home on the death of his father (after serving his country for decades) and literally runs into Minerva Chesterton at the top of the stairs of his ancestral home.

She's outwardly serene, aloof and determinedly wilful but with a smouldering sensuality beneath ...... and he's everything you'd expect from an autocratic marcher lord - from that fateful moment she invades his waking thoughts and dreams, and eventaully teaches him to love.

Smut as usual, always fully expected with Ms Laurens ... I especially love the battlement sex scene .... worst nightmare getting caught in the act!

Another splendid read 10+/10.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#9 - A Gentleman's Honour ~ Stephanie Laurens

ISBN 978-0-7499-4029-7

A Bastion Club novel featuring Anthony Blake, Viscount Torrington and desparate and penniless Alicia Pevensey (pretending to be a young widow, Alicia Carrington).

Sinfully sensual novel, peppered with humour, and a big fat 10/10 .... actually I think thus far Tony has been my favourite.

I have my next read Mastered by Love waiting for me by my PJ's.....so laters folks.


Happy Reading

Kay

#8 - The Untamed Bride

The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third Black Cobra novel featuring Colonel Derek Delborough and Miss Deliah Duncannon. Upon his arrival carrying the decoy letter she saves him from being shot, and he has to take her on the journey to delivery the missive into the hands of the Cynsters'/Wolverstone - accounting for 14 or so cultists or so on the way. As usual, steamy and so very well written .... wouldn't by now expect anything else from this particular author and another 9/10.

Happy Reading

Kay

#7 - The Brazen Bride

The Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, how absolutely well named, Linette Trevission definitely was brazen, wanton even! When fate smiled on her in a very strange way indeed, and dropped a dark haired fallen angel (Logan Monteith) badly injured and unconscious in a cove that she owned in Guernsey. She treated him, warmed him up, and when is memory returned, assisted him in taking his vital evidence onwards to England.

A second book in the Black Cobra Quartet, and some really unexpected turns and twists in this one too. Possibly the best of the Stephanie Laurens books read so far .... somebody please make them into films!

A big fat 5+ review for this gripping and compelling read from the get go!

Be prepared for more of these, as I have a whole stack of them waiting in the wings to read, and the Parental Care will be ordering more from the library next week ~ they let you have 30 each out at a go!!!

Happy Reading

Kay

#6 - The Elusive Bride

The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first in the Black Cobra Quartet, and what a read .... I thoroughly enjoyed it ~other than the about the first chapter which was a bit diffcult going.

Emily Enworth Niece of the Governor of Bombay has to unexpectedly ride for her life when one of her military escorts it seems is carrying vital information about the Black Cobra and his cult. Capital Macfarlane elects to stand and fight it out with the cultists and Emily does her duty and get the information back to the barracks in Bombay. Here she meets Garath Hamilton, a colleague of Macfarlanes, and the dangerous and thrilling journey back to England begins for both of them. With lots of steam and indecision about whether they were made for each other along the way.

I love the way all of her books inter-mingle and the plots run along side each other, but it really doesn't matter in what order you read them. Actually, they would be perfect for a set of films.

Lots of twists and turns in the plot, as well as their journey - 9.5 out of ten.

Happy Reading

Kay

#5 - Temptation and Surrender

Temptation and Surrender by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh yes dear blogerettes, a bit of a relationship is building up with this author ..... I am simply loving the whole series of Bastion, Cynster and Black Cobra novells ... how they weave and intermingle, yet can be read purely as a story on their own. They you leave you wanting to read more and piece it all together.

It helps, of course, that the Parental Control is also heading along the same happy highway, and we are enjoying the journey.

This is part of the Cynster series and the story of Joans and Em. With a bit of a treasure hunt going on .... love finally conquers all .......... a 9/10 for this.

Happy Reading

Kay

#4 - The Perfect Lover

The Perfect Lover by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've just finished this one this morning, in between packing Toodles off to school (not my turn for the school run today) and packing orders......and it might be heading to the top of the list of Stephanie Laurens titles read thus far - an easy read of Simon Cynster and Portia Ashford, friends/adversaries since childhood and their slow discovery of love that develops. More saucy scenes and a murder ~with Simon and Portia trapping the murderer at the end all ends happily ~ just what I would expect.

I think this one is book 10 in the Cynster series, but as before you can read any of them as stand-alones ... actually though, pay attention they do weave together very nicely!

Right, enough reading for now ~although I have selected another Cynster one, which is ready and waiting to go .... Temptation and Surrender.

Actually, whilst thinking about this there is one point I might have touched on before, but I feel the need to expand: I most assuredly DO NOT like the trashy drawn illustration covers that the books are currently being sold with. The one I have been reading (above) has a much nicer cove. I accept that perhaps the publisher wants to suggest at the saucy nature that lies within, but come on ...... a real photograph of people in the relevant historical period in a saucy pose would give their books the due homage they need .... the trashy illustrated versions just remind me of cheapo books without much going on in them, and written by an entirely less worth author. I would be interested to hear other peoples opinions on this.

Happy Reading.

Kay

#3 - The Promise in a Kiss

The Promise in a Kiss by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think Stephanie Laurens might well become one of my favourite authors ~obviously not No. 1 that distinction goes to another Stephanie .... Meyer~ I really love her easy style of penning a romantic novel.

I think I might have got one with an old cover, as this image of the cover I have been reading was quite hard to find ~the newer ones by Harper and Collines give the novel a much trashier feel, which is a huge shame ....but then, is it right to judge a book by its cover?

The 7th one in the Bastion Club stable, it still stands alone and was a thoroughly good read, with no need to have read any of the others before .... just as well, I have only just read one other in the series ... actually only 2 from Stephanie Laurens so far anyway LOL.

Again, it's steamy, and again, I loved it ~a thoroughly good read~ trust me I've read a LOT of romantic historical novels over the years.

Happy Reading

Kay

#2 ~ The Edge of Desire

The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think Stephanie Laurens might well become one of my favourite authors ~obviously not No. 1 that distinction goes to another Stephanie .... Meyer~ I really love her easy style of penning a romantic novel.

I think I might have got one with an old cover, as this image of the cover I have been reading was quite hard to find ~the newer ones by Harper and Collins give the novel a much trashier feel, which is a huge shame ....but then, is it right to judge a book by its cover?

The 7th one in the Bastion Club stable, it still stands alone and was a thoroughly good read, with no need to have read any of the others before .... just as well, I have only just read one other in the series ... actually only 2 from Stephanie Laurens so far anyway LOL.

Again, it's steamy, and again, I loved it ~a thoroughly good read~ trust me I've read a LOT of romantic historical novels over the years.

I'm going to start "The Promise in a Kiss" which is a part of the Bar Cynster Series by her.

Happy Reading

Kay

#1 ~ The Lady Chosen

The Lady Chosen by Stephanie Laurens






My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yay, I re-joined the library and started to read one recommended by the Parental Control ~that's how old people spend their time then reading steamy novels!!!!!

Actually, if you love historical romances (this one is Regency) then you will love this as much as I have ..... it's the first in a whole series of Bastion Club novels, and revolves around the romance of the Earl of Trentham and Leonora Carling. For me it is a big fat 10/10.

I've devoured it in less than 24 hours, and for me is a big fat 10/10.

Buy it on Amazon HERE.

Happy Reading.

Kay