The Christmas Ruse by Jennie Goutet

I like to read or listen to one or more holiday themed reads each year if possible based on time and interest. 

It just so happens that my last read for the month of November was a holiday themed novella titled, The Christmas Ruse by Jennie Goutet. This regency romance is a quick listen at just over 2 hours in length and is well narrated. Overall, I felt The Christmas Ruse had a decent storyline, interesting plot twists, a romance, and filled with fairly well developed characters despite the short length. It is a predictable read as to the story's outcome/ending. 

Even though I wasn't wowed by this novella, it is a clean, wholesome read that is worth the read if you enjoy regency romance novels/novellas.

Below is the plot summary for The Christmas Ruse by Jennie Goutet I found in the description section in YouTube video itself.

Nicholas Cranleigh suspects his meddlesome sister is up to something when she invites him to stay at Cothill Manor at the same time as Miss Dresden. He’s on his guard, but it’s hard to resist a woman with luminous eyes, who’s in need of a savior. Lavinia Dresden is ready to sacrifice herself to save her family from financial ruin in the only path open to a woman of gentle breeding. But she hadn’t counted the cost on her sacrifice until Lord Cranleigh came into her life—a man she knew to be her ideal. There remain only five days until the Christmas ball when Miss Dresden’s fate will be decided, and it soon becomes apparent to Nicholas that the question is not whether he wants to save Lavinia, but whether he is able.

I was able to listen to this unabridged novella for FREE on YouTube and so can you by clicking on the video link above.

I am giving The Christmas Ruse by Jennie Goutet a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee

I became aware of author, Bonnie Dee, last year when I read her novel, Bone Deep, on my Kindle. I loved reading Bone Deep so much, that I read it twice last year! Bonnie Dee is a really good storyteller and really enjoy the characters she creates. With that in mind, I knew that I wanted to read another novel written by Bonnie Dee in the future!

I began following Bonnie Dee's Facebook page last year. I noticed that she was hosting a few giveaways on her Faceback page for some of her novels. One of the giveaways Bonnie Dee was offering on her Facebook page was for the MP3 audio version of her novel, A Hearing Heart, which is one I had been wanting to read. Lucky me, I received an MP3 copy of A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee for FREE from the author! 

Below is my honest, unbiased review for the unabridged audio version of A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee and narrated by Natasha Soudek. 

Listening time for A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee is 11 hours, 33 minutes.

A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee is a historical, romance novel with a few erotica scenes mixed in throughout the novel. A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee takes place in a small town in Nebraska in 1902. I enjoyed the storyline, plot development, and the characters very much in this novel. Bonnie Dee is a natural born storyteller and has once again created another fabulous novel that readers will want to devour if they like reading historical romance novels with a touch of eroticism in them.

My only struggle for the audio version of A Hearing Heart was that of the narrator, Natasha Soudek. Ms. Soudek is a slow narrator with a mediocre voice. If you can bring yourself to move past the narrator for this novel, you'll enjoy the audio version very much. If you are unable to move past mediore narration in an audiobook, then definitely read A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee instead of listening to the audio version.

Below is the plot summary for A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee from Amazon:

The heart conveys messages beyond what ears can hear.

After the death of her fiancé, Catherine Johnson, a New York schoolteacher in 1902, travels to Nebraska to teach in a one-room school. When violence erupts in the sleepy town, Catherine saves deaf stable hand Jim Kinney from torture by drunken thugs.

As she begins teaching Jim to read and sign, attraction grows between them. The warmth and humor in this silent man transcends the need for speech, and his eyes tell her all about his feelings for her. But the obstacles of class difference and the stigma of his handicap are almost insurmountable barriers to their growing affection.

Will Catherine flaunt society's rules and allow herself to love again? Can Jim make his way out of poverty as a deaf man in a hearing world? And will the lovers overcome a corrupt robber baron who has a stranglehold on the town? Romance, sensuality, and adventure abound in this heartfelt tale.

I am giving A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard

Historical Romance Short Story

A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard is a historical romance short story approximately 44 pages in length.

I was able to download A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard.

Usually, I enjoy historical romances as they can be sweet and charming. However, I thought that A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard was very bland, boring, and predictable short story. It's a very forgettable read. I don't have plans to further explore any of the author's other works.

Below is the plot summary  for A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard from Amazon:

When Charles French of Berkely, Massachussetts accepted a position in North Carolina, he thought he would save enough money to fund his law studies. He would spend two years tutoring Dr. James Manney's children and then return north for a clerkship. He had not expected to fall in love with the daughter of his employer. Over the course of his two years in the Manney house Charles realizes that the future he wants to build has to include her.

Nancy Manney is the bright, bookish daughter of one of Beaufort's most prominent families who longs to experience the world outside their small seaside town. She finds a kindred spirit in the adventurous young family tutor. They keep their love a secret from her family and plan marry when Charles becomes a lawyer. The only thing standing in their way is her father's pride and determination that she marry into one of the state's leading families. As Charles leaves for his clerkship their love comes up against the wall of Dr. Manney's plans for Nancy setting off a battle of wills that spans decades.

I am giving A Fond Kiss by Meredith R. Stoddard a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!