Books, Reading

Cover Reveal: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Cover Reveal: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally

You had me at Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie! This book sounds like an absolute DELIGHT and I couldn’t be more excited to share a bit about this books today as well as reveal the cover! If you are a fan of historical fiction you will definitely want this one one your radar!

Let’s also take a minute to appreciate how lovely this cover is too. This cover has eye catching details and colors that will surely make you take notice of it and with this exciting and tantalizing summary, you will surely not want to miss it. Take a look at all the details below and an option for a giveaway!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era cozy series with a feminist spin.

When Lady Petra Forsyth’s fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, she makes the shocking proclamation―in front of London’s loosest lips―that she will never remarry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life has passed, nor does she intend to become confined to her country home. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations.

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper―uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Lady Petra has reason to believe her friend is not dead, but a prisoner, her own headstrong actions and thirst for independence are used to put her own freedom in jeopardy.

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books

Review: Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo (Trouble in Paradise #3) by Carrie Doyle

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo (Trouble in Paradise #3) by Carrie Doyle

Right about now is the time where I start getting really tired of the Oregon rain and cold weather. I start to randomly look for tropical vacations that are anywhere with sun and warmth. Sadly, my budget doesn’t allow for tropical travel every year so I have to make do with what I have on hand which is usually a book set in a sunny location. Sometimes tropical book setting can be hard to find, but when I do find one, I am usually game to check them out.

When I saw this book come up for review, I was like HECK YES, tropical cozy murder mystery sounds like just the ticket to cure the winter blues. So I decided to give this one a shot, plus I love the cover. It is super cute. I haven’t read anything by Carrie Doyle before and actually I hadn’t even heard of any of her books but once this one came into my orbit, I was curious to see what other books she has put out. This one here is third in a series so obviously there are other books before it as well as another series that Doyle has written.

She seems to have a flair for cozy mysteries and this particular series is set in a tropical destination which to me is rare. Tropical destinations always feel transient. Like people weren’t meant to be there for any length of time. But I love that this book series make a home of the tropical island Paraiso. It gives readers roots to a location that often just feels like a short escape but readers of the series will feel like they are coming home to the island of Paraiso.

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen

Author Lynn Cullen has penned a number of historical fiction novels, but I think the one she is best known for is Mrs Poe. I love Poe so naturally I wanted to read Mrs Poe when it came out. I loved it and was so excited to see what other books Cullen put out. Since I read that book, she had come out with a number of other novels, but I think that Mrs Poe remains her most well known book.

I love how well researched Cullen’s novels are and she often takes the untold, behind the scenes stories of unknown figures in famous people’s lives and brings them out of the shadows and into the light. She has written books not only about Poe, but also about Mark Twain, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo all from the perspective of characters in their orbit. If you are a fan of historical fiction, there is no doubt Lynn Cullen is on your radar already but if for some reason you haven’t heard of her then you need to check out her books!

When this one came across my desk for review, I couldn’t pass on it. It just sounded too good! Plus while it might be a piece of historical fiction, it could also have modern relevance as this book features a pandemic. I mean how much more relatable can you get with that? I have never actually heard of Dorothy Horstmann, so I was eager to read more about this woman and see how she impacted the world with her knowledge and research.

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Books, Reading

Special Feature/Excerpt: The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature/Excerpt: The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

Who doesn’t love a historical fiction, Cinderella retelling set on the Emerald Isle?! I haven’t been reading a ton of historical fiction lately which makes me sad, but this book caught my eyer as an option! I love Cinderella and It thought the plot sounded really interesting as well as having a hint of romance which made me even more excited to check this one out. Plus the Emerald Isle? YES PLEASE! I need some escapism during these long cold winter months even if it’s equally as rainy and dreary there, I love dreaming about my next escape destination.

While I couldn’t fit this one on my review schedule for this month, I think this might be a good option if you are looking for a new spring read that had some sweet, clean romance, with the promise of a HEA. I know that a lot of people have been reading this one lately for the tour and really enjoying it so if you are thinking about picking this one up, be sure to check out the other stops on the tour to see what other readers are saying about it!

This book contains some Gaelic words which I think adds to the authenticity of the story, and it sounds like author Jennifer Deibel put a lot of historical research into the story. Early readers are saying the books has some great Gothic elements as well as interesting and smart characters which makes me even more excited to check this one out. If you are a fan off historical fiction, then you are not going to want to miss this one. Because to keep reading to find out what readers are saying and to see other stops on the tour!

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Books, Reading

Cover Reveal: The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Cover Reveal: The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau

The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau

Publication Date: August 10, 2023
Lume Books

Genre: Historical Thriller

There is a certain hour, in the dead of night, when the orchid’s scent can put you under a spell…

“Nancy Bilyeau has created a beautifully layered and utterly seductive tale… and, at its living, tender heart, a strong-willed and magnetic heroine.” – Emilya Naymark, author of Behind the Lie, finalist for the 2023 Sue Grafton Award

Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown and The Blue, returns with a tantalizing novel about one woman caught up in a secret nightclub that one can only reach through a certain florist on a cobblestone street.

New York City, 1923. Zia De Luca’s life is about to be shattered. Having lost her husband to The Great War, she lives with her son and in-laws in Little Italy and works at the public library. But when a quiet poetry lover is murdered outside the library, the police investigation focuses on Zia. After a second tragedy strikes even closer to home, Zia learns that both crimes are connected to a new speakeasy in Greenwich Village called The Orchid Hour.

When the police investigation stalls, Zia decides to find her own answers. A cousin with whom she has a special bond serves as a guide to the shadow realm of The Orchid Hour, a world filled with enticements Zia has shunned up to now. She must contend with a group of players determined to find wealth and power in New York on their own terms. In this heady atmosphere, Zia begins to wonder if she too could rewrite her life’s rules. As she’s pulled in deeper and deeper, will Zia be able to bring the killers to justice before they learn her secret?

To be published August 10, 2023, in the U.S., the UK, Canada, and Australia, in original paperback and ebook.

The pre-order is on a special discount for the ebook: geni.us/TOHPre-Order

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