By Author Archives

Wondering Sight and Abounding Might by Melissa McShane

April 18, 2018 by bubblebathbooks 1 Comment

Wondering Sight:

Sophia Westlake is an Extraordinary Seer, gifted with the ability to see past, present and future in Dreams and Visions. Her talent led to the destruction of the Caribbean pirates plaguing England’s shipping and gained her renown and the accolades of her peers. But when she accuses a prominent politician, Lord Endicott, of embezzling from the Army, her Dream is “proved” false and she is disgraced, her reputation ruined and her career in the Army’s War Office over.

Humiliated, Sophia returns to London, but Lord Endicott follows her, intent on making her life increasingly miserable. Furious and desperate, Sophia takes the only course left to her: she sets out to discover Lord Endicott’s criminal enterprises, to expose him as the fraud he is and bring him to justice.

And always watching her is the mysterious Mr. Rutledge, who claims to be interested in Sophia’s friendship—and possibly more than that—but who has an agenda of his own. Sophia’s Dreams and Visions are leading her to just one place: the destruction of Lord Endicott. But the cost of her vengeance may be too high—and may demand the sacrifice of her own life.

Abounding Might:

Calcutta, 1813. Lady Daphne St. Clair, who as an Extraordinary Bounder is capable of transporting herself anywhere in the world with a thought, has longed to serve in the Army for years. But an unexpected weakness at the sight of blood makes her responsible for a good man’s death in battle. Unable to serve on the battlefield, Daphne is sent to India to be transportation for the Governor-General’s wife and children.

A chance encounter with Captain Phineas Fletcher leads to Daphne being given a new opportunity: help Captain Fletcher discover the truth behind a series of strange occurrences in the town of Madhyapatnam. Daphne is willing to do anything to restore her reputation. As the days progress, her attachment to the members of the team grows deeper, as does her growing attraction to the captain.

Bubby:

Back in 2016 we reviewed Burning Bright by Melissa McShane, which was the first in The Extraordinaries series. Since then, two more Extraordinaries novels have been published; Wondering Sight and Abounding Might. The books are great as stand alone stories, but if you have read more than one, you’ll pick up references to other stories in each.

Sissy:

Regardless, each tale is filled with adventure and magic, along with a rich historical setting–which makes the series quite unique. A little romance is added as well, to sweeten things up.

Bubby:

We absolutely loved these books, and fantasized about having our own “extraordinary” powers (whilst wearing beautiful Regency gowns?). The ability to conjure and control fire? Yes, we’ll take that.

Sissy:

Being able to see past, present and future in dreams and visions? Quite useful. How about transporting oneself anywhere in the world with just a thought? That’s our first pick!! If only… Anyway, readers, take a moment to whisk yourself away to another era where magical possibilities are truly extraordinary!

Click HERE to buy Burning Bright (The Extraordinaries #1) by Melissa McShane

Click HERE to buy Wondering Sight (The Extraordinaries #2) by Melissa McShane

Click HERE to buy Abounding Might (The Extraordinaries #3) by Melissa McShane

The Killing at Kaldaire House by Kate Parker

April 11, 2018 by bubblebathbooks 1 Comment

A dying man. The painting within her reach. What’s a thief to do? Talented London milliner Emily Gates creates amazing hats for Society ladies, but to collect from those who don’t pay her bill, she burglarizes their homes. She needs every penny to send her deaf brother to school. Late one night, she sneaks in to find Lord Kaldaire badly injured in his study. Unwilling to abandon him, she calls for help. When Kaldaire dies without revealing who attacked him, his widow agrees to keep Emily’s secrets ― if Emily will help find her husband’s killer. A bigger danger is a Scotland Yard inspector who threatens to arrest Emily — unless she spies on her father’s family of swindlers and conmen. Worst of all are the attacks from an unknown assailant. What will Emily face first, jail or death?

Bubby:

Go ahead. Judge this book by its cover. It’s ok this time, because the cover is a fantastic representation of what you’ll find inside. London society? Check. A touch of royalty? Check. Fabulous turn of the century fashion? Check! Our heroine, Emily Gates, was an instant favorite for me. She’s smart, sassy, driven and not afraid to speak her mind. Reminds me of someone I know…

Sissy:

Yourself?

Bubby:

I was thinking of you, but sure! I’ll take that description.

Sissy:

Sassy, for sure, but I’m certainly not as driven as Emily Gates. But what a delightful setting for a cozy mystery! The early 20th century is buzzing with new inventions and social ideas. It was fun to read about the new motorcars, which people had drastically mixed feelings about. Emily is smart in using the car experience to come up with a new product to sell–driving veils for times when ladies are in a 12 mile per hour speeding horseless carriage.

Bubby:

I think I pull out of the driveway going faster than 12 miles per hour. I can’t imagine living life that slowly! How things have changed. Emily is trying so hard to just be a respectable millinery shop owner and take care of her deaf brother. She just wants to have her bills paid on time and make beautiful things. But before she knows it, she’s embroiled on all sides by people who want something from her. Lady Kaldaire, who wants her husband’s murderer found. The Scotland Yard Detective who wants her to stay out of it all, but also to spy on her crime ring family. Her family, who want her back in the fold. What’s a girl to do?

Sissy:

I think the character of Lady Kaldaire was painted well. She was just nice enough to make you think that she had new ideas about social class disparity but just mean enough to let you know that she still thought she was better than everyone. Emily and her family have a complex relationship as well. She knows what they are doing is wrong but she loves them, won’t turn them in and relies on their help and protection at times.

Bubby:

I loved the whole premise of this story which is book one of a new series – The Milliner Mysteries. It’s the spunk of Eliza Doolittle and the class and nurturing of Mary Poppins, all wrapped up in a fashionable dress with a spectacular hat. I haven’t read Kate Parker’s other series (The Victorian Bookshop Mysteries and A Deadly Mystery Series) but if those characters are as entertaining as these, they deserve a place on my TBR list!

Sissy:

Emily is a complicated but likeable character and in The Killing at Kaldaire House, she even finds a little romance with an unlikely chap. I can’t wait to see what her next adventure will be! Don’t forget to click on the Rafflecopter link below to win a great prize!

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Click HERE to buy The Killing at Kaldaire House by Kate Parker

Entwined Tales – 6 Fairy Tale Novellas

March 28, 2018 by bubblebathbooks 3 Comments

Sissy:

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Why do we care about more fairy tale retellings?” I’ll tell you why. These retellings are unique and present the stories in such a light that you recognize the original but you also discover a whole new exciting tale.

Bubby:

I don’t care what anyone says. I will read fairy tales till the day I die. I’m a wee bit obsessed. I could go all literary critic on you and talk about how fairy tales are a metaphor for the human condition, but then Sissy would whack me in the face with her freshly painted nails.

Sissy:

How could you even say something like that? People will think I’m a monster. I’d only ever whack you in the face with something soft, like a feather boa.

Bubby:

I guess that’s better?

Sissy:

In my opinion, any contact with a feather boa is a life enhancement. Also in my opinion, The Entwined Tales are the best fairy tale retellings that I’ve ever come across.

Bubby:

I completely agree. And bonus, I was introduced to some fantastic authors that I hadn’t read before. Gotta love that! We strongly urge you to give these ones a try. You’ll love them!

Sissy:

I can’t even pick a favorite. You’ll have to read the synopses below, then click on the titles that interest you.

Bubby:

Or just read them all!

A Goose Girl by K.M. Shea: As a royal lady’s maid, Rynn has one task: Escort the princess of Astoria to her intended’s kingdom and return home. Unfortunately, the princess has other plans.When her charge flees, Rynn’s not only forced to take the princess’s place, but she must also contend with a spiteful fairy horse and Conrad…who consumes more of her thoughts than he should. But with war looming on the horizon, Rynn stands to lose more than her heart. Can she convince the princess to return, end the charade, and make peace between the kingdoms? More importantly, can she possibly avoid a death sentence when the truth is revealed?

An Unnatural Beanstalk by Brittany Fichter: Eva never doubted her place in her happy little world. All she ever wanted was to care for her siblings and to play the harp. Unfortunately, when her fairy godfather’s gift-giving goes awry, Eva receives an unusual talent that gets her abducted and betrothed to a loathsome duke with giant plans for the kingdom. Jack never ventured far from his mother’s farm. But when Eva’s fairy godfather forces Jack to take some magic beans and responsibility for saving Eva, Jack finds himself in as much danger as the girl he came to save. Follow Jack and Eva as they attempt to outsmart the duke, save the kingdom, and just possibly find their own happily ever after as well.

A Bear’s Bride by Shari L. Tapscott: After her father threatens to marry her to a dull farmer, free-spirited Sophie runs away from the only home she’s ever known and sets off into the world, seeking adventure and romance. But instead of excitement, she finds a forlorn castle and the solitary prince who lives there. For twenty years, Henri has been shrouded in mystery and speculation. Though Sophie knows it would be wiser to return home, she’s inexplicably drawn to the man of shadows. But it doesn’t take Sophie long to realize that falling for the cursed prince might prove to be more of an adventure than she ever bargained for…

A Beautiful Curse by Kenley Davidson: When a bumbling fairy godfather gifts a humble woodcutter’s fourth child with extraordinary beauty, she spends the next eighteen years trying to hide it—behind a book. Now, Elisette is ready to follow her dreams but her admirers keep getting in the way. Ellie knows better than to rely on her fairy godfather, but she’s desperate enough to risk asking him for help. After a bit of vengeful fairy magic, Ellie discovers that webbed feet and green skin are even harder to manage than beauty. No one cares what happens to a frog, except maybe quiet, unassuming Prince Cambren.Will Ellie find a way to break her curse and live happily ever after? Or will she spend the rest of her life eating flies and living in a pond at the back of the palace garden?

A Little Mermaid by Aya Ling: All Clio wants is to make her crush notice her. She isn’t interested in the people on land, much less a certain Prince Lukas, who was stupid enough to fall off a ship on his birthday. But when a bumbling fairy godfather misunderstands her, Clio finds herself in the worst situation imaginable—stranded on land with her tail and voice gone. And her troubles are just beginning. Not only must Clio learn how to behave like a human, but she also needs to discover the identity of a mysterious assassin, all while guarding herself against flirtatious advances from Lukas, the very person she wants to avoid.

An Inconvenient Princess by Melanie Cellier: Penny is a seventh child and they’re always blessed, especially in a fairy-favored family like Penny’s. But there’s nothing magical about her at all. She’s perfectly ordinary, even outshone by her own twin, Anneliese. Anneliese ran away to find adventure, but now it sounds like she needs rescuing—if only Penny knew where to find her. Penny is soon embroiled with a rogue fairy, a tower without doors, a charming prince, and one highly inconvenient princess. With more and more people looking to Penny to secure their happily ever afters, will Penny ever have a chance to find one for herself?

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

March 15, 2018 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

The Heart Between Us: Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks. When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship. As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.

Bubby:

I do love books about sisters. I do! I guess it’s because I have an amazing sister of my own and I want everyone to see how awesome that can be. Unfortunately Megan and Crystal have drifted apart during the years that Megan has been sick. Megan is afraid to live a full life even though she has a new healthy heart and Crystal prioritizes her career above anything else. So not the relationship that Sissy and I have!

Sissy:

What a lovely thing to say. Even if you weren’t my only sister, you’d be my favorite!

Bubby:

I know.

Sissy:

I adored this story. The premise is different and refreshing and I couldn’t get enough of it. The main story of Megan and Crystal’s bucket list journey was a great adventure in and of itself, but the side stories of the heart donor and her family, Crystal’s husband and job, and long-lost Caleb added such warmth and depth to The Heart Between Us.

Bubby:

I think I have a bucket list somewhere that I wrote when I was a teenager. I should go find it. Now, I had no life-threatening issues, so it’s probably a pretty tame (yet insipid) list. Might be fun to see how I’ve done with it though. I feel that if I had a daughter whose heart I had donated, it would be such a fulfilling experience to have my daughter’s life goals accomplished. It must have brought such closure to Amanda’s parents.

Sissy:

The relationship Megan established with Amanda’s parents grew into something beautiful for sure. But please no having our daughters have to donate their hearts! From my lips to God’s ears!

Bubby:

I couldn’t agree more with you. The Heart Between Us was far more than what I was expecting. I got the happy ending and the romance that I was looking for, but I also got a deep satisfaction from reading a story with such a finely woven plot. I am thrilled that Lindsay Harrel has a previous stand alone novel out (One More Song to Sing) and I intend to read it this very evening! Can’t wait for more from this accomplished writer.

Sissy:

Heartwarming and captivating, The Heart Between Us delivered everything I desire in a novel, and did it in an original way. Now that Bubby and I don’t have to fight over hard covers, I’m going to read One More Song to Sing immediately as well. Hooray for Kindle Unlimited!

Click HERE to buy The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

Against the Magic by Donna K. Weaver

February 23, 2018 by bubblebathbooks 2 Comments

Reese Hamilton has big plans to help make the world a better place and a new job lined up to help her do it. Before starting work, she heads to England for a Regency immersive experience. She doesn’t expect her best friend to invite her heart-destroying brother to join them. Two years hasn’t been long enough for Reese to forget him. Then fae magic rips them back to 1850. It’s a time when women have few rights. It’s also a time when a determined woman could make a difference, with the right man at her side. Reese finds she will have to choose between two men and two times. Jem Taylor messed up big when he walked away from Reese to pursue his dream job. He hasn’t been able to forget her and jumps at his sister’s invitation. Suddenly hurtled into Victorian England, he has the chance to woo Reese again. But to do it, he’ll have to fight the magic that brought her to 1850 and an Earl with the means to keep her there.

Sissy:

I didn’t know about Against The Magic at first. I couldn’t get the melding of Regency and Victorian eras with the modern era and fae magic time travel…didn’t quite work for my left brain.

Bubby:

Which is the only part of her brain she has nowadays…

Sissy:

Wow. You’re so rude to me. I’m so offended you’ll probably need to give me a prize if we’re to even have a chance of continuing on.

Bubby:

I bought you lunch. Like 20 minutes ago. Diet coke and everything.

Sissy:

O.K. Guess we’re fine. Anyway, at a certain point I reminded myself that my right brain rules and I could suspend disbelief and just enjoy Against The Magic.

Bubby:

I didn’t have that issue at all. I guess my brain is really good at suspending reality…not sure what that says about me. But I had a hard time with Reese and her inability to “keep her tongue between her teeth”. I’m such a sci-fi/fantasy nerd and it’s important in most time travel books to be extremely careful about what you say as to not affect the timeline. Not the case here. It’s o.k., though. I got over it and became utterly enthralled in Reese and Jem’s story pretty darn quick.

Sissy:

To quote Aunt Nellie, “Time is a fuzzball.” Which means time absorbs all your aberrant speech and behavior and fixes things the way they are supposed to be. Therefore you needn’t have worried about Reese’s outbursts. Besides, when have you EVER kept your “tongue between your teeth,” my dear? Also, it’s Reese’s refreshingly non-Victorian behavior that causes her to become interesting to the Earl and beloved by his people.

Bubby:

I suppose you’re right. In any case, Against The Magic was a fresh twist on the Regency/Victorian Romance genre. I love it when people come up with something new! I was concerned that Reese wouldn’t choose the fate I wanted for her, but it all worked out nicely in the end. I’d love to see another book featuring these same characters – I want to know what Reese and Jem’s friends Cora, Kaitlyn and Cyrus were up to during their time in the Victorian Era! I smell a romance or two brewing there, also, and I MUST KNOW what happens!

Sissy:

This time-travel romance is different from others in that a whole group of people travel together, and some people in the past time period (the fairy people) not only know what’s going on but are orchestrating events so that they follow the magic. As far as another book, the way Against The Magic ends tells me there is more to come. So we will most probably find out what happens to not only Reese’s contemporaries, but other people we have become attached to in the Victorian Era as well. I, for one, can’t wait!

Bubby:

Make that two of us. I hate waiting. I want all the sequels and all the TV episodes right now. No waiting. Ever. But I don’t think I’m going to get what I want, so…guess I’ll try to be patient. I really enjoyed Against The Magic and I’m excited to see what comes next. Even if I have to wait for it.

Click HERE to buy Against The Magic by Donna K. Weaver