A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden

 

Elizabeth Camden's A Guilded Lady continues the tale that began in The Spice King. In his book Caroline Delacroix, Gray Delacroix's younger sister gets a job as the First Lady's social secretary. Caroline has always been thought of as an empty-headed heiress, but she proves there is more to her than meets the eye. Nathaniel Trask is tasked as one of the first secret service agents. He suspects that Caroline has a secret. I really enjoyed the dialogue and interaction between Caroline and Nathaniel. So grab a pitcher of ice tea and settle in for a fun read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.

Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.

About the author:

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Biography

Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in gilded age America featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.

Court Of Swans by Melanie Dickerson

 

Melanie Dickerson's Court Of Swans is a fantastic retelling of The Six Swans fairy tale. I loved Delia and Geoffrey. They were honorable people in a time of false accusations. The plot was engaging and fast-moving. I read this in two sittings, only because I could not stay awake any longer to finish the first night. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series. Although this is supposed to be YA I believe anyone who enjoys Medieval Tales would enjoy this.

So grab a pot of tea and settle in for an enjoyable read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Where there is wealth and power, there’s always someone willing to do anything to take it.

England, 1381: Delia’s idyllic life as daughter of an earl is shattered when her father dies and his wife accuses Delia’s seven brothers of treason and murder. The youngest is only ten years old, but this doesn’t stop the guards from hauling them off to the Tower of London. There they await a grim fate, as child-king Richard II is executing anyone who poses a threat to his throne. Delia is their only hope for pardon and freedom.

Sir Geoffrey did not expect his first assignment as captain of the guard to be the arrest of boys so young. He dutifully imprisons the brothers, but he can’t ignore the sense, rooted in personal experience, that injustice and treachery are at work.

Determined to rescue her brothers, Delia secures a position as a seamstress for the queen. Her quest is all but impossible as the executions continue. Sir Geoffrey offers to be her ally, but should she trust him in a court where everyone has an agenda?

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes a tender retelling of “The Wild Swans,” where the virtues of loyalty and love face a harrowing showdown with power and fear.

“Set in the harsh society of fourteenth century England, Court of Swans tells a powerful story of forgiveness, love, and choosing joy amid trials. Dickerson continues to impress with her masterful balance of plot and message, capturing attention with a strong heroine and tugging at heartstrings with themes of trusting God when life seems to fall apart. A book perfect for teen and adult readers alike.” —Caroline George, author of Dearest Josephine

• First in a brand-new series set in England: The Dericott Tales
• Full-length clean fairy-tale reimagining
• Includes Discussion Questions for Book Clubs

About the author:

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Biography

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author who combines her love for all things Medieval with her love of romance and fairy tales. She also loves Regency Romance and has drawn on her Southern heritage to write a romance set in the late 1800s called Magnolia Summer.
Her books have won the Christy Award, two Maggie Awards, The National Reader's Choice Award, and the Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor's degree from The University of Alabama and has taught children and adults in America, Germany, and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing stories of love and adventure near Huntsville, Alabama. Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.MelanieDickerson.com.

She Walks In Majesty by MaryLu Tyndal

 

She Walks In Majesty is the fabulous ending to a powerful series. I loved all 3 books and am sad to have to say goodbye to these folks I have come to love.

All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Danger around every corner. Intrigues in everyone’s past. And a romance that’s swoon worthy. She Walks in Majesty is all that and more, with a plot that twists and turns and truths that are hard-hitting. Truly, this is author MaryLu Tyndall at her finest!
—Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas


With only a worn document in hand and the Spear of Destiny strapped to her thigh, Seraphina de Mobray, the new Protector of the Spear, must convince the king that her friends are innocent of treason and witchcraft. Who is she to embark on such a lofty task but a lowly servant, an orphan abandoned at birth? Yet each step of the way, the Spear grants her favor and opens a path for her to enter the royal palace. What she finds there is naught but lies, greed, and a danger that threatens her very existence.


Sir Damien LaRage, knight of the elite King's Guard would do anything to protect Seraphina and save his friends, anything except give up his quest for revenge against the person who murdered his parents. Returning to court, to a world of secrets, deceit, and power is exhilarating at first. Then things become dangerous when he must protect Seraphina from those would do her harm. Even himself. For he soon discovers that he must choose between saving her or avenging his parents’ deaths.


The king is ill, and evil takes over the throne as Seraphina must run for her life, and Damien is left to battle against forces not of this world. Meanwhile, darkness suffocates the Knights of the Eternal realm. leaving them defenseless against wicked powers that have taken over Luxley. Only Seraphina and the Spear of Destiny can save them now.

About the author:

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Biography

Award winning and best-selling author, MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of pirates and sea-faring adventures during her childhood days on Florida's Coast. After obtaining a degree in Math and working as software engineer for 15 years, she decided to test the waters as a writer. With now more than seventeen books published, she makes no excuses for the deeply spiritual themes embedded within her romantic adventures. As a follower of Christ, her stories often reflect her own journey and walk with God. Her hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. In a culture that accepts the occult, wizards, zombies, and vampires without batting an eye, MaryLu hopes to show the awesome present and powerful acts of God in a dying world. MaryLu makes her home with her husband, six children, two grandkids, and three cats on the California coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea.

A Blessing To Cherish by Lauraine Snelling

 

Nice ending to an awesome series! I will miss Blessing North Dakota and all of the people there. I see myself going back and revisiting old friends.

From Amazon:

Though she has known hardships in her life, Ingeborg Bjorklund chooses to focus on all she has been given. Blessed with children and grandchildren, she enjoys the friendship and support of the entire Blessing, North Dakota, community. And after several years of widowhood, she has reached a place of contentment with her life.

Meanwhile, her stepson Thorliff is raising two children alone since his beloved Elizabeth died. But there is a new schoolteacher in town, Louisa Gutenburg, and Thorliff doesn't seem to be himself whenever she's around. It isn't just his obvious fascination with Louisa, but the fact that he seems completely oblivious to it that makes Ingeborg smile. How long before Thorliff realizes what everyone else can see a mile away?

But not everything is comfortable for Ingeborg. One of her dearest friendships is changing--and she will have to decide if her settled, predictable life is worth more to her than a future she hardly dares to imagine.

About the Author:

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Biography

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.


Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.


As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

 

The Holy Bible New Living Translation

 

I have always read the King James Version of the Bible. While I love the poetry of The KJV I must admit I enjoyed reading God's word in everyday English. I would recommend this version to anyone who wants a clearer understanding of The Word Of God.

A Castaway In Cornwall by Julie Klassen

 

 

A Castaway In Cornwall is Julie Klassen's newest novel. I loved all of the descriptions of bygone days in Cornwall. Julie obviously did quite a bit of research into the customs and language. The characters were realistic and I loved the dialogue. The plot was a little slow to develop but picked up towards the end. I do recommend this book to all who love Great Britain and Regency era books. 

So Brew a pot of tea and settle in for your latest Historical fix.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.

While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast--known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors--Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?

About the author:

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Biography

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas! Please take time to remember the reason Jesus came...to provide the gift of eternal life to all who will accept His gift.

God bless you all!

Joseph's Story by Shawn Stanley

 

I really enjoyed Joseph's Story. Shawn Stanley obviously researched the culture of the time and using scripture created a story of what Joseph may have thought and experienced. Can you imagine being asked to raise the Son of God? This is a fantastic story that makes you think. I highly recommend adding Joseph's Story to your Christmas reading.

So settle around the Christmas tree, grab some hot chocolate and cookies. You will enjoy reading about the First Christmas!

I read the free Kindle copy. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Joseph was the happiest man alive. He was going to marry the most beautiful girl in Nazareth. He had some of the best friends anyone could want. His carpentry business was taking off. His furniture and other products that he had built were the talk of the town. Everything seemed to be going Joseph’s way. He had his whole life planned out... Then it all changed. Join me as we plunge into an adventure, based on biblical events, of what Joseph's life may have been like before Jesus was born. A life of oppressive Roman rule, where greed and power and corruption seemed to be rampant; A time of love, betrayal and forgiveness; A time where the heavens touched the earth in helping usher in the most anticipated birth in human history. This is Jospeh's Story

About the author:

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Biography

Shawn Stanley lives in the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon, with his wife Stephanie, six children, one dog and two cats. He has completed four years of theological training and taught a Christian seminary class, consisting of high school students, for three years. Along with his love of stories and family, he enjoys construction, camping and boating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0kaRe3SZN0]

Release Day for: A Castaway In Cornwall by Julie Klassen

Releasing today December 1, 2020 

available to order at:

https://smile.amazon.com/Castaway-Cornwall-Julie-Klassen/dp/0764234226/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XV367AUAE1DD&dchild=1&keywords=a+castaway+in+cornwall+julie+klassen&qid=1606823503&sprefix=a+catsaw%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1

 

Besotted by Jody Hedlund

 

Besotted is my favorite book in The Fairest Maiden series by Jody Hedlund. I would say it is Sleeping beauty with a plot twist. Although I liked Rory from the start, I really did not care for Kresten. Both characters showed growth and I grew to really appreciate Kresten. I am sad that Besotted is the final book in this series.  so avoid Queen Margery and have a cup of tea with some of Aunt Elspeth's baked goods. You are in for a fantastic read! And isn't the cover gorgeous!!!

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

In a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . .

A young queen trying to stay alive until she comes of age to rule, and a prince turned into a pauper.

Queen Aurora of Mercia has spent her entire life deep in Inglewood Forest, hiding from Warwick’s Queen Margery, who seeks her demise. As the time draws near for Aurora to take the throne, she happens upon a handsome woodcutter. Although friendship with outsiders is forbidden and dangerous, she cannot stay away from the charming stranger.

Only two months away from completing his royal testing, Prince Kresten of Scania is ready to be finished with the poverty and hardships of being a woodcutter. When he meets a beautiful peasant woman, he doesn’t plan to fall in love, especially when he must soon leave and return to his homeland.

As Queen Margery’s forces close in, Aurora finds herself in mortal danger. Kresten knows a future with Aurora is impossible, but he is desperate to save her and bring an end to the queen’s threat. To do so, he joins the ultimate battle against the evil queen, risking everything, including his chance at true love.

The real Sleeping Beauty story.

The Fairest Maidens
Book 1: Beholden
Book 2: Beguiled (Oct 2020)
Book 3: Besotted (Nov 2020)


Other YA books by Jody Hedlund:

The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Foremost
Book 3: Hereafter

The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel

For a complete list of Jody's novels, visit her Amazon page or website - jodyhedlund.com

About the author:

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Biography

Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

The Kissing Tree by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese

I really enjoyed The Kissing Tree. I knew I would like the stories by Regina Jennings and Karen Witemyer as they are among my favorite authors. Amanda Dykes and Nicole Deese are new to me, but I will definitely be looking for more books by them in the future. The main character in all four stories is an old oak tree that has seen a lot of the romantic history of the town of Oak Springs Texas.  Each of the authors has penned a tale relevant to a different time period., sharing the romances of four different couples. All of the plots were engaging and I loved the characters. So grab a pot of tea and a cozy chair. You will want to settle in for four unique tales of love beneath The Kissing Tree!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Bestselling novelist Karen Witemeyer joins award-winning authors Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese for this Texas-sized romance novella collection. Each of the authors' unique voices is on display in stories where courting couples leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak's bark.  

In Regina Jennings' Broken Limbs, Mended Fences, a small-town teacher has her credentials questioned by a traveling salesman.

In Karen Witemeyer's Inn for a Surprise, two opinionated collaborators with conflicting visions must turn a doomed business venture into a successful romantic retreat.

From Roots to Sky by Amanda Dykes follows a young WWII naval airman who heads to Texas to meet the sister of a lost compatriot.

Heartwood by Nicole Deese is a modern-day romance about the groundskeeper of a historic inn who's reunited with someone from her past while she fights to save a town landmark.

About the authors:

About the Author

Karen Witemeyer is a winner of the multiple Carol Awards and has been a finalist for the RITA Award and National Readers' Choice Award. She lives in Abilene, Texas. Visit her at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Regina Jennings is the acclaimed author of The Fort Reno Series and winner of the National Readers' Choice Award. She lives with her family outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Visit her at www.reginajennings.com.

Amanda Dykes is the author of Whose Waves These Are, a Booklist Top Ten Debut Romance of 2019 and acclaimed by Publishers Weekly as an "impressive debut." Visit her at www.amandadykes.com.

Nicole Deese is a Carol Award winner and a RITA Awards and INSPY Awards finalist. She lives in small-town Idaho. Visit her at www.nicoledeese.com.

 

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Karen Kingsbury

 

I don't know about you, but I love a series of books. The longer the better. Well Truly, Madly Deeply by Karen Kingsbury is part of her Baxter family books.  I have followed the trials and the joys of the Baxters since book 1, Redemption. It is always fun to visit with the extended family and see who is doing what these days. Karen has kept the plot interesting and ever-changing as if it were a real family.  I love the way Faith is portrayed as necessary to the characters as breathing. So grab a comfy blanket and a mug of hot. Settle in for a great visit with old friends.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER

In love for the first time, a son’s decisions about the future divides his family in this fearless and thought-provoking novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of life-changing fiction.

When eighteen-year-old Tommy Baxter declares to his family that he wants to be a police officer after graduation, his mother, Reagan, won’t hear of it. After all, she’s still mourning the death of her own father on September 11 and she’s determined to keep her son safe from danger. But Tommy’s father, Luke, is proud of Tommy’s decision. He would make a kind and compassionate cop.

Meanwhile, Tommy is in love for the first time. His sweet relationship with Annalee Miller is almost too good to be true. Tommy begins seriously thinking about the far off day when he can ask her to marry him but she hasn’t been feeling well. Tests reveal the unthinkable.

While his girlfriend begins the fight of her life, Tommy is driven to learn more about the circumstances surrounding his birth and the grandfather he never knew. Secrets come to light that rock Tommy’s world, and he becomes determined to spend his future fighting crime and bringing peace to the streets. Or is this just his way to fight a battle he cannot win—the one facing Annalee?

Blending romance and family drama, Truly, Madly,Deeply shows us that, in the shadow of great loss, the only way to live with passion is truly, madly, deeply.

About the author:

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Biography

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty-nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

 

Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason is a fantastic, edge of your seat military suspense. I loved Sarah and Gavin. Both were outstanding characters. The romance was subtle but there. I loved the setting.. Ms. Eason does a fantastic job of weaving faith through her story. I will never hesitate to buy a book by Ms. Eason, she never fails to engage my mind.

From Amazon:

Sarah Denning is a military journalist with the Army in the Middle East when her convoy is attacked and she's taken hostage. When former Army Ranger Gavin Black is asked by his old unit commander--Sarah's imposing father--to plan an extremely risky rescue, he reluctantly agrees and successfully executes it.

Back in the US, Sarah is livid when she's discharged on a false psychiatric evaluation and vows to return to the Army. Until she learns of her brother's suicide. Unable to believe her brother would do such a thing, she puts her plans on hold and enlists Gavin to help her discover the truth. What they uncover may be the biggest story of Sarah's career--if she can survive long enough to write it.

Strap in for another breakneck nail-biter from bestselling romantic suspense author Lynette Eason that will have you up turning pages long into the night.

About the author:

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Biography

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

Besotted by Jody Hedlund Release Day

 

At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer

 

At Love's command is an old fashioned western romance that satisfies a need to read of cowboys and frontiers. I loved Dr. Jo and Matthew Hanger is a hero worth drooling over. I really enjoyed the interaction and banter between these two characters. Both were witty and they had real depth. The setting of the old west is always fun. I loved the fact that Dr.Jo and Matthew were not ashamed of their faith. Karen Witemeyer is to be commended for another great book!. I hope to read more about Hanger's Horsemen in the future.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own

From Amazon:

Haunted by the horrors of war, ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries known as Hanger's Horsemen who have become legends in 1890s Texas. They defend the innocent and obtain justice for the oppressed. But when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they're the ones in need of saving.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is used to men taking one look at her skirts and discounting her medical skills. What she's not used to is having a man change his mind in a heartbeat and offer to assist her in surgery. Matthew Hanger's dedication to his friend during recovery earns Josephine's respect, and when she hears of her brother's abduction, he becomes her only hope for rescue.

Matt has stared down ruthless outlaws, betrayal, and injury, but when a bossy lady doctor crawls under his skin, his heart is tempted to surrender. And when she is caught in the crossfire, he may have to sacrifice everything--even his team--to save her.

  

About the author:

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Biography

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warm-hearted historical romances with a flair of humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. A transplant from California, Karen came to Texas for college, met a cowboy disguised as a computer nerd, married him, and never left the state that had become home.

Winner of the HOLT Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, National Reader's Choice Award, and a finalist for both the RITA and Christy Awards, Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.