#465 - For Love of Sarah

For Love of Sarah by Hazel Statham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am without a shadow of a doubt a Hazel Statham fan. She is such an easy an entertaining read.

This book didn't, therefore, disappointing. Clean, efficient and endearing to the end. As always from Hazel, there language is period appropriate and delightfully put together.

Another lovely offering.

Happy Reading

Hugs

Kay xoxo

#388 - His Shadowed Heart

His Shadowed Heart

Hazel Statham

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance

Description:

Can a shadowed heart be healed? Can love grow where least expected? The Earl of Waverly believes not. How wrong can he be!

After the death of his wife, the Earl of Waverly, believing his heart irreparably damaged, enters into a marriage of convenience. However, he is not prepared for the healing influence his new young bride has on his life.

Despite the couple’s new-found happiness, nefarious deeds abound and strange happenings are attributed to the ghost of his former wife. Will their love stand the test or will the perpetrator emerge the victor?

...... and now an excuse to add in the video:





Product Details:

Hazel Statham, the Author, very kindly provided me with a ebook copy of this book,  ....  I'd been wanting to read it for a very long time.  Thank you so much Hazel, it was very kind of you.

It is available as a Kindle Download HERE, with a listing price of £2.72.

235 pages in length.

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Summary/thoughts:

I find that there is something truly beguiling and timeless about Hazel's writing, and "His Shadowed Heart" lived up to my usual expectations.

Probably, I have said this before about her, but I find she's very close to Georgette Heyer in her style and pace.  With her characters' always believable, layered and worth investing in.  You are not simply going to get from A to B, there are nice twists along the way.

It always makes me happy to get my hands on a true Regency Romance crafted with the loving care that Hazel takes.  She one of the best novelists around for that period, with the books being readable over again, and still coming up fresh.


Rating:

A big fat 5 ***** Stars from me for this delightful love story, who wouldn't fall in love with the Earl of Waverley.

Get this book, read it and then keep it for those snuggle down by the fire winter nights, with a bottle of wine and fall in love with the Earl all over again.


Errors/Bug Bears:

A couple of tiny errors, but easily overlooked within the whole work.

18%:  "....it would be easier to say what I have come to say if you did not appeared prepared for instant flight".

Correct to:  appear prepared for instant flight.

21%: "....being not at all surprise at her disinterest in the subject ..."

Correct to:  ... being not at all surprised at her disinterest in the subject.

Hugs

Kay

I know that I've posted this before, but ............

I love the music, and I really want to read this one.  I simply adore Hazel Statham's writing.

#363 - The Portrait

The Portrait

Hazel Statham

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance

Description:

England 1812 Severely injured at the battle of Salamanca, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, returns home to his beloved Fly Hall. Determined not to present his prospective bride with the wreck he believes himself to have become, he decides to end his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer, for vastly differing reasons, has reached the selfsame decision. Throughout the campaigns, Edward was often seen relying greatly on a miniature he carried, and it is to this token he clings upon his return. Will he eventually find happiness with the girl in the portrait, or will he remain firm in his resolve not to wed? Reason dictates one course, his heart another.

Product Details:

Unusually for me this year, I paid for my Kindle Download for this book.  Particularly, as Hazel is always worth paying for, and I'm taking part in the Dilly Dally PR Blog Hop.

You can get a copy of the download at Amazon by clicking HERE.  This listed price is currently £3.49.

Novella - 194 pages (1048 KB) in length.

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Summary/thoughts:

Hazel is one of my favourite authors as I love the feel of her work each and every time ... for me she's strongly reminiscent of Georgette Heyer's.

As this read formed part of Dilly Dally's Blog Hop, I left it quite late to review it because we had a trip to the Beating Retreat planned for 13th June at Horse Guards Parade Ground in London (bonus for us we had front row seats really near the Royal Box, and have a fabulous view of Her Majesty).

They featured a short enactment of the Battle of Vitoria (21st June 1813), which was part of Wellington's campaign in the Peninsular.

As our Hero, Edward, was injured at Salamanca, and it seemed like a perfect way to get some idea of just what it might have been like for him to fight, let alone be so badly injured.

Believe me when I say that it really must have been terrifying.  Just being in the audience at Horse Guards listening to the jangle of harness, the sound of the gun carriages and the shot of just one cannon with lots of smoke and fireworks was awe inspiring.  Let alone being under heavy fire, the many cannon being fired, the smell of gunpowder hanging in the air, as well as that of blood and guts and death.  Coupled with cries of his Comrades in Arms and horses.

It's no wonder the poor man suffered so badly from night terrors, brought on no doubt by what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress.  It was also completely understandable that he would also feel less of a man because of it and the loss of his arm to boot.  No small wonder then that he cried off his engagement to Lady Jennifer.

Rating:

Hazel's writing was just delightful as always, and it was completely enchanting to find that Edward had carried the portrait of the girl he'd fallen in love with through the Campaign, and looked to it for comfort whilst he went on with the rest of his life.

For me it had to be no less than a 5 star rating for the quality of the writing and plot.  It's never difficult to engage with her characters'.

Errors/Bug Bears:

Nothing to note down.  Kudos to Hazel for a well delivered and quality product.

Hugs

Kay

#313 (#31 of 2013) Dominic ~ Hazel Statham *NEW AUTHOR

Description:

London 1776 Dominic Blake, Earl of Vale, is a young man of privilege and breeding whose world is turned upside-down by Jack, a beautiful young girl in boys' clothing whom he finds sheltering on his doorstep after fleeing an attack by her abusive brother. 

Despite leaving his protection, Jack is once more destined to enter Dominic's life when, injured in a horse race, Dominic is forced to rusticate to his father's estate and again meets Jack in her boyish guise.

In turn, she becomes his pupil and his love and despite danger and misunderstandings, this is the story of their unconventional and delightful courtship. 

Product Details:

This is another freebie picked up from Amazon as a Kindle Download.  However, it is currently listed at £2.56.  Obviously if you are reading this post retrospectively it may well not be the case.

Length:  220 pages

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Summary:

Endearing and sweet read, with a lovely plot.

It reminded me a little of the Georgette Heyer "These Old Shades".

This is the second time I have read this author, and I really appreciate her style of writing.  She could welcome become a firm favourite.

Hugs

Kay

His Shadowed Heart Trailer ~ Hazel Statham

I really like the look of this one .... lovely gentle trailer too: