Wey Castle, Surrey England, 1825

Winsome, spirited Abelona Dryden, or Belle for short, has concocted a plan to connect two uncooperative friends, Petunia and Owen Canady. Her creativity and determination to get those two together is delightful. I admire her tenacious and persuasive nature.

House guest, Owen Canady, doesn’t really feel that he fits with high society. Yet because of his deceased parent’s former connections, he is allowed into social circles, which also sets him up for a demand that he can’t find a way to decline. His parents passed away when he was young so he was raised by his uncle in very unfavorable circumstances. Regina dives into the early years of this character just enough to use his experiences to create a loner who fits perfectly in this historical romance.

Underneath Belle’s very nose, scandalous secrets hide. Such bold spying will affect her family and her soon-to-be family—the Leopolds of the Batavarian court if something isn’t done. There is so much more to this story, including a hint of romance in a future novel!
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If you enjoy romance, tough choices with high stakes, and clever personalities, then this will be a novel you don’t want to miss. I was given this novel to read so that I could place an honest review online. I have enjoyed revisiting some characters from previous novels such as Aunt Meredith and Fortune, the cat. If you enjoy reading a series that follows a particular family and incorporates previous characters in the newer releases, then I can’t wait to hear back from you about your reading experience with NEVER ROMANCE A ROGUE!
 

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Okay! I’m writing about two books from The Windy City Saga in one review post. Busy just gets in the way of my letting writing/reading friends know about all of the really, really good novels that I’ve read! Well, this is a catch-up review. Now, less about me and more about Jocelyn Green. She is a favorite author of mine, and I’m going to give a review about why!

I reviewed the novel and interviewed Jocelyn Green for VEILED IN SMOKE, book 1, on 8/31/2020 if you want to learn about the beginning of this series.

SHADOWS OF THE WHITE CITY, Book 2

Chicago December 1880 – August 1893

Sylvie Townsend’s story opens up a very different Chicago than what Jocelyn Green’s VEILED IN SMOKE, book 1, shares about the Chicago Fire in 1871.

In 1880 Sylvie took in a young Polish immigrant girl named Rozalia Dabrowski, though Sylvie had never married. The girl’s grief is fresh and raw, but Sylvie’s compassionate heart and ability to provide pave the way for this new relationship.

Later in 1893, the Chicago Fair drew people from all over the United States and the world. Later in 1893, the Chicago Fair drew people from all over the United States and the world. In Jocelyn’s gifted way, she plops the reader into the characters' honest anxiety and conflicting desires while accurately inserting historical situations. Mothers and daughters can have fissions, and difficulties and though Sylvie isn’t Rozalia’s natural or adopted mother, they struggle with and against each other while the plot thickens. I loved Sylvie’s loyalty in the face of rejection. Her determination to love in the middle of pain and adversity. This novel encompasses the beauty and danger of Chicago and very relatable struggles and triumphs.
 
DRAWN BY THE CURRENT, Book 3

Chicago 1915

Insurance agent, Olive Pierce, and her best friend board the Luxury ship, SS Eastland, for a birthday celebration. Many passengers perish in the icy Chicago River when the boat rolls on its side. Olive survives and begins the painful investigations to confirm those who perished in this tragedy. Also, she tries to discover what happened to her friend after they were separated when the boat took on water.

Who is sabotaging Olive’s investigation? And why? When Erik Magnussen, a newspaper photographer, helps Olivia out of a scary situation, he offers more assistance. He is inspiring and a natural, leading her to more success. Yet, this story is not without twists and turns. Jocelyn leads the reader through pain and intrigue while danger lurks and secrets abound. This fabulous multi-layered plot will pull you in and cause you to appreciate the courage and determination of real-life people and the fictional ones in this tale. This story is based on the actual SS Eastland disaster of July 1915.  Well done, Jocelyn! I highly recommend Windy City Saga series!

You may find Jocelyn Green at:

https://www.facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor
https://www.jocelyngreen.com/

This is a tale that has enough creepy-old-house, unmet resolutions, judgments, deception, revenge, and secrets lurking in the darkest of corners that will keep an eager creepy-mystery reader focused. 

The main character, Lindsey Waters, suffered trauma in her childhood, and circumstances compel her to meet old memories and questions head-on. The hired handyman introduces himself to be her childhood and long-heard from friend Benjamin Newsom. Nearly immediately after meeting at the Inn on Hanging Hill, they hear footsteps on the upstairs floor. This intruder triggers the angst and mystery of who he or she is and what this person is after. 

There are a host of interesting characters that play a vital part in unfolding this story. Old friends, memories, and threats make this a page-turning favorite of mine. Christy Barritt is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, and in my opinion, she has earned that title.

​This story entertained me while I listened on Kindle during my battle with Covid. Light hurt my eyes which were so sensitive when reading or watching television, and exhaustion hindered me from doing what I wanted. 

I will always view this story as one of those novels that spared me from dull, endless days during my healing and recovery. I highly recommend Christy Barritt’s THE INN ON HANGING HILL. Let me know what you think of her novel! 

Greetings all,
 
I just wanted to give a shout-out to my friend, Amy Robnick Joob, who is so inspiring and genuine! I’m celebrating her Christian Indi Award! If you’ve not read UNSTUCK, Step into the New I hope that you will give it a try! You may just come away inspired and closer to the Father God and feel that your time in these pages equates to time well spent!
 
Blessings to you,
Susan Marlene 

 
This exciting regency steampunk adventure, THE EMPEROR'S AERONAUT, begins in 1819 Truro, located in Cornwall, England with Loveday Penhale holding a hammer! She is a spicy lady who uses her intelligence and doesn’t allow society to dictate who she should be. Her interactions are genuine and laughable as she meets each challenging person and the social rules of her day—with courage. Her creativity with things steam-powered or cogs and pulleys is fascinating.

Captain Arthur Trevelyan of Gwynn Place, Cornwall suffers an injury that had drastically altered his life, but not his worth. He must find a way to believe that. The man is a marvel of strength and determination and I enjoyed seeing how he pressed on and overcame difficult circumstances even though hampered by injury. His handsome face and wealth make him quite the catch but does he want to be caught?

Celeste Blanchard is a young lady who enjoyed educational opportunities that were unique for this time period in Paris, France. Her mother is a disgraced Air Minister, and her deceased father sparked love of flight and ballooning in her when she was a child. Napoleon is Napoleon--his expectation for Celeste to marry an undesirable stoked strength in her character, and she will not allow herself to submit. I love how every bit of her security unravels as she tries to succeed.   

Emory Thorndyke, of Trevithick Steam Works, is hard working, compassionate, and extremely passionate about making steam engines work safely. If Loveday is right, the man doesn’t think women should work in a man’s world. Still this man has a some twists and turns concerning people’s opinion of him.

This novel was given to me for an honest review. It is my first Steampunk adventure to read—ever. I’m ready to plunge into book 2 for my heart is in a great hurry to enjoy those pages. This sweetly romantic and cleverly written story holds twists and turns written with the most delightful voice. Well done Shelley Adina and R.E. Scott—these novel pages reveal a match well made between writers. My hope is that you two continue to invent and create even more amazing characters and plots that twist my worry into a knot like you did with THE EMPEROR’S AERONAUT!
 
QUESTIONS FOR SHELLEY ADINA AND R.E. SCOTT:
Curiosity got the better of me, and I had to look and see if there was a Truro in Cornwall, England! How did you find this quaint place? Have either of you visited this real location (in our time period, of course.)
 
Regina: Some readers may be familiar with Truro, as it was featured in the Poldark series. We chose it in part because that’s where Richard Trevithick, England’s inventor of the steam engine, practiced his craft.
 
Shelley: My best friend is from Truro, and I’ve visited there. The visual connections and sense of familiarity that Poldark might create in readers’ minds only add to our world-building of a steampunk version of this 12th-century town.
 
Who came up with Prinnypunk? What a clever intro to your story. 
 
Regina: That was Shelley’s brilliant idea! Prinny was the affectionate name for the Prince Regent during the Regency period.
 
Shelley: And the “punk” part is the subversive nature of women daring to pursue their potential as inventors and engineers in a time when such a thing was unheard of in polite society.
 
Since you wrote this novel together, did one of you write Loveday scenes and the other Celeste into the story? Did you decide how the whole story would go before your words hit the ink on the pages? This just fascinates me! 
 
Shelley: We spent a lot of time talking over all our choices in the mechanics of writing, since we live a thousand miles apart! In some partnerships, one author writes a draft, and the other revises it. There’s the James Patterson method where one writes a detailed synopsis that the other turns into a novel. But with our very full writing schedules, it seemed to make the most sense for each of us to take a heroine and write her chapters turn about. So once we’d agreed on a synopsis, I wrote scenes from the point of view of Loveday and Arthur…
 
Regina: …and I wrote the scenes from the point of view of Celeste and Emory.
 
Shelley: And it appears that our voices blend so well that people can’t tell who wrote which!
 
What are your favorite qualities about Loveday, Arthur, Celeste, and Emory? 
 
Shelley: For Loveday, her mind fascinates me. She doesn’t see a piece of furniture like a chest of drawers, for instance—she sees what it could do if only this or that bit of engineering could be applied. For Arthur, I love his nobility. Not in a snobby sense, but in his sense of justice and fair play. And, of course, his ability to see past society’s conventions to the nature of Loveday’s and Celeste’s talent.
 
Regina: For Celeste, I love her determination. When she sets her sights on a goal, she achieves it, one way or the other! For Emory, I like his matter-of-fact nature. He takes things at face value and takes people at their word. So, even when some thought Celeste a spy, he accepted her claim otherwise.
 
Is there anything you would like to share about your story with your readers?
 
Shelley: Readers have already sussed out that Loveday and Arthur are the great-grandparents of the heroine of my 22-book Magnificent Devices series. I hope they enjoy the Easter eggs I’ve planted! If a reader hasn’t been introduced to that world, they can enjoy ours for its own sake—we have such fun in it!
 
Regina: I can’t wait for readers to dive into book 2!
 
Do you have any maps, drawings, or historical facts you would like to share about this story?
 
Regina & Shelley
We have a Pinterest board at https://www.pinterest.com/reginascottpins/the-regents-devices-steampunk-adventure/ where readers can see some inventions, clothing, and other pictures that inspired our stories.
 
Where do you want to meet your readers concerning social media?

Website: https://www.reginascott.com
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Website: www.shelleyadina.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnificentdevices/
Twitter: @shelleyadina
 
 

Seattle, Washington, 1876


Ada Williamson has perfect intentions to soften the blow of her sister’s rejection of the mail-order bride proposal from Thomas Rankin. So, taking a trip to Seattle, Washington, to tell him that her sister jilted him, in the gentlest of terms, seems like the logical decision—until she sees the flowers and warm welcome. The crowd of men at the docks call his name—giving him unwelcome advice. She steps onto the wooden planks covered with crimson carpet as she leaves the boat to meet him. Thomas has spared no expense but he hushes the crowd with a look. She must tell him the sad and embarrassing news, but he mistakes her for her beautiful sister, Melinda. The overwhelming greeting locked her lips tight. How could she shame him in front of his neighbors? After all, she knew how that felt.

Thomas “Scout” Rankin has made his way in life because of the goldfields. He is wealthy and looking for a bride. The woman who wrote the letters to him seems perfect, but he wants her to be sure that she really wants him. His family history is enough to give anyone pause. He wants to take this relationship slowly and see if this could be a perfect match for him and his extraordinary mail-order bride. Something is off in the middle of feeling oh-so-right.

This tale shows the importance of those who are often passed by. These characters may be everyday people to the world, but the world can not contain their spirit. Challenges stimulate a response from these hardy personalities in interesting and entertaining ways. THE PERFECT MAIL-ORDER BRIDE entertained me and kept me turning pages. Many previous characters from the FRONTIER BACHELORS series appeared in a way that supported this story wonderfully well. Each remembered character made me smile and reminisce about some of my favorite stories written by Regina Scott.

THE PERFECT MAIL-ORDER BRIDE was given to me for an honest review, and I have done so. My but this story resonated and entertained! I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. Yes, this is a story that I’m eager and excited to recommend! 

QUESTIONS FOR REGINA
 
Who was the trickiest character to write in THE PERFECT MAIL-ORDER BRIDE?
Thomas! I knew his character, because he had been in the previous series as a good friend of the main family. I knew how he’d grown. But I receive letters from readers frequently, begging to know when his story will be told, and I knew there were a lot of expectations riding on this book! I think—I hope—I did him justice!

What is the favorite flaw that you created in your hero?
His vulnerability. I don’t personally see that a flaw, but I imagine it would have been for him, especially in a time and place where men were expected to be rugged and above such things as doubts and disappointments. Thomas has had to carry a heavy burden with the reputation of his despicable father hanging over him. He had to learn to respect himself.

Was it amazing for you to revisit the characters you originally wrote in your FRONTIER BACHELORS series?
Absolutely! I went back and reread my own books, which is something I rarely do. Then I wove in little moments with some of my favorite characters, showing the changes in their lives too.

What message about THE PERFECT MAIL-ORDER BRIDE do you wish to share with our readers here today?
Never forget—no matter what you’ve done and who you think you are, there is a Father in heaven who loves you!

Do you have a favorite social media for your readers to visit so that they can get to know you?
I’d love to have you follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorreginascott.

Do you have any fun info on your website that would be of particular interest to those in love with THE PERFECT MAIL-ORDER BRIDE?
I started a page for Washington State pioneer legends, including a couple of real-life characters readers may recognize from the book. You can find it here: http://www.reginascott.com/pioneerlegends.html.

Ciara O’Rourke, the main character in the next book in this series, seems like she will have an interesting story to tell.  (I can hardly wait for the next book!) How did you come up with her name?
Ciara first appeared in Instant Frontier Family, when she and her younger brother, Aiden, traveled from New York to meet their older sister, Maddie, who is Seattle’s premiere baker. Maddie and her father immigrated from Ireland after the Potato Famine, though Ciara and Aiden were born in the U.S. With her having an Irish background, I went looking for an Irish name that fit in the time period. In my head, I heard See-AIR-a, but a friend with Irish family tells me it would have been pronounced something closer to Sharra. Either way, it fit her!

When will book 2 be published—not like I’m impatient or anything!   
I hope every reader is as eager! Her Frontier Sweethearts is available for preorder now and, if all goes to plan, will be out October 17, 2022.

​Thank you, Regina, for another wonderful interview! Blessigns!

The back one-liner about this story is, Uncover the Story Behind A One-Hundred-Year-Old Bookish Love Note, and so I did, and I hope that you will also.

August, 1915 Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina & Present Day, Biltmore Village, North Carolina and a touch of The Lake District, England

Oh, yes, this is a delicious tale that is actually two entwining stories, which diverge into one satisfying ending. The present-day characters, Clara Blackwell, Robbie Claflin, Julian Claflin, and Maxwell Weston, the 1915 characters, Sadie Blackwell, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Oliver Camden and Victorian Camden, and more supporting characters were delightful or challenging in their own ways.

So much is woven into this story that can be related to by so many. Struggle, sacrifice, compassion, and overcoming are experienced by these characters in an inspiring way. The connections between these tales are perfectly moving, emotionally engaging, and entertaining. The struggles and courage of these characters touched my heart, and I have a stinking suspicion that if you give this story and Pepper Basham a chance, you will be moved too!
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Of course, I will not tell you every juicy detail in Clara and Sadie’s unfolding tales. I would never invade the pleasure of your journey through these pages. Some stories you just wish someone would make a movie of it. This is one of those stories!
 

Susie’s book is so affirming—uplifting. Words are definitely powerful, and we can add to the burdens or offer strength to others with the weight of our spoken words. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. What life and encouragement we bring to others and ourselves when we truly look at the wisdom of God’s Word, the Bible.

This book shares a special focus on relationships with the Lord and for mothers and children. I feel encouraged and grateful for the example that this book provides, and the selected scriptures are perfect for the blessings that Susie shares!
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I highly recommend this book for mothers and their children. Every book that Susie has written that I’ve had the pleasure to read has touched my heart and spirit in positive and uplifting ways. Her books have caused me to want to come up higher in my relationship with God and others in the most affirming and joyful way! I smile to think of how her readers are being strengthened in God and their walk toward Him! ​

When I purchased this novel, I paid a “super saver” price, and for once, I wished I’d paid the original price. And I have Scottish in me, so that is saying something! The adventure here was wonderfully spun around a precious heroine and hero. Amelia Balfour has skill, courage, and a really huge heart. A fantastic once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is offered to Amelia, but at the same time, a request from her recently deceased father directs her path to a new direction. A direction that will affect more lives than she can imagine. Amelia’s brother had challenges and a boatload of character that made him a most beloved personality for me.

Graham Lambert is a surgeon looking for the opportunity to grow and make a living while benefiting suffering people needing medical attention. He has found a doctor that he admires, and he has read in medical journals that this is a doctor who thinks out of the box. His hopes are high to join in partnership and have the real freedom to provide modern care to people. He is a hero to be admired, and yet has a lot to work through to become the hero this story needs.

This is a tale of sacrifice, decisions on who to trust, courage to move forward—when making the most stressful decisions a person can make. Every bit of LOST IN DARKNESS is wrapped up in the anxiety of the unknown and adorned by adding historical writer, Mary Godwin, who —in this story—is inspired to write about the character, Frankenstein.

I absolutely enjoyed this story and give you the green light to pursue its pages! Well done Michelle Griep. LOST IN DARKNESS is a unique, entertaining, and inspiring story that I’m so glad that I didn’t miss! 
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Lady Calantha Dryden, daughter of the duke of Wey, is a special soul in book 2 of The Wedding Vow Series, NEVER COURT A COUNT. Her invisibility is a special touch to this character’s personality. Instead of the not standing out being a deterrent that piles on insecurity and victim mentality, this character exudes a natural charm, adding benefit to those she loves.

Frederick Archambault, Count Montalban, or Fritz as he wishes to be called, is the brother of Crown Prince Otto Leopold of the Batavarian Court. He is quite the heroic man. A man of duty and action and loyalty, with a secret vulnerability of his own.

I enjoyed Fortune the cat’s involvement in this historical romance. Regina’s various characters and plot twists kept my interest the whole way through. This novel has the endearing quality that makes this reader feel as though she has spent time with an old friend. Callie’s story has that home time feel. This is clean fiction that is well written and memorable!

This novel has that wonderful quality of bringing up loved characters from earlier novels. If you like books that have those cameo mentions or visits you will love NEVER COURT A COUNT.
 
QUESTIONS FOR REGINA:

How did you happen to develop Callie’s invisibility—not being noticed in a crowd—being the character’s strength? I love that you did that!
All four of the young ladies in The Wedding Vow series were children in a previous series, Fortune’s Brides. As a girl, Callie heard everything and tended to blurt out the stories at the worst possible moment. She’s also the middle child of three, and middle children often have a hard time differentiating themselves in the family and can feel overlooked. How would a child like that grow into a young lady thrust into the Regency social scene? She’d have lots of expectations, being the daughter of a duke. How would she rise to meet them, or struggle to meet them? Thus, Callie’s adult character was formed.

You add such layers to your characters. Was it difficult to come up with Fritz’s vulnerability since he is such a strong and dependable man?

Fritz, as Prince Otto Leopold of Batavaria’s twin brother, started making his presence known as I wrote the previous book in The Wedding Vow series, Never Pursue a Prince. I find my characters talk to me as I write my first draft, sometimes doing things that surprise me. Fritz reacted in ways I didn’t expect for a fellow who had led the Imperial Guard and fought in the Napoleonic Wars. I dug a little deeper and realized he was suffering from what we might call PTSD today. Why? He finally confessed to the answer, which promptly went into the books. Yes, my characters may start out having secrets from me, but in the end, they don’t have secrets from readers!

You’re weaving in the difficulties and tensions of royalty and higher-class England structures seems to ring true. Did make up those tensions or did you do a hefty amount of research? 😊 (Reader, if you have never visited Regina’s website, and you love history, I encourage you to do so post-haste!)
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Well, you know, I can’t help researching! I love it almost more than the writing! 😉 The difficulties and tensions were definitely there, both on the macro level in the reapportioning of Europe following the Napoleonic Wars and on the micro level with families expecting sons and daughters to make advantageous marriages. It makes for a heady time to set a story!

What would you like to share about how you chose to write Callie’s story—how her invisibility applies to so many?

As someone who felt that invisibility as a child, I’ve been surprised how the trait resonates. It seems many of us feel alone or isolated at times, and this pandemic hasn’t helped. Like Callie, we all need someone who sees our best traits and honors us for them. And we need to remember there’s Someone to whom we will never be invisible.
What is your next novel in this series going to be about? 

Callie’s youngest sister, Belle, was the one who instigated their vow: that Larissa (their oldest sister), Callie, Belle, and their best friend, Petunia Bateman, would see each other wed by harvest. With Larissa and Callie engaged, Belle’s determined that it should be Petunia’s turn, and she knows the perfect man—charming, handsome, and an excellent rider, which is a big deal in her family. But is he the perfect man for Petunia, or Belle? Look for Never Romance a Rogue in June.

Where can readers find you? What social media is your favorite?

Readers can find me the following places. I will admit a fondness for Pinterest, although I can also be regularly found at a Facebook Group for lovers of sweet (low-heat) Regency romances, Lady Catherine’s Salon at https://www.facebook.com/groups/LadyCatherinesSalon.
Website: www.reginascott.com         
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/authorreginascott       
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/reginascottpins
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/reginascott
Newsletter signup form: https://subscribe.reginascott.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/regina-scott