Review: Banquet of Lies by Michelle Diener

In Sweden one fateful night, the life of a young English woman changes forever. Giselle Barrington witnesses the murder of her father, a spy for the British crown. While in Sweden, Giselle’s (Gigi) father procures a dangerous document that if discovered could mean a political nightmare for England, France, Sweden, and Russia!

It’s for this document he is killed for. He gave the document to Gigi to keep safe shortly before he will killed. After witnessing the murder Gigi knows three things–she must take the document safely back to England and second, the person who killed her father was also British which means there is a traitor in her father’s circle, and finally that man who killed her father will surely come for her next.

She needs to get it in into the hands of someone she can trust but she’s been away from the English court for so long and her father basically kept her in the dark as to his dealings.

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Review: Mrs Poe by Lynn Cullen

The greatest love affairs are between two souls that speak to each other in a language that no one else but them can understand.

On a fateful night in 1845, Frances Osgood meets the most famous writer in all of New York society, the dark and mysterious Edgar Poe. From the moment they are introduced, Frances can’t help but feel a strange and unexplainable connection to Poe.

A writer herself, they run in the same circles of New York society. At the time, Frances’s philandering husband has taken up with a rich divorcee and basically abandoned Frances and their children.

Frances and the girls are staying at the home of the Bartlett’s while Frances tries to get more of her poetry published so they can have money.

Meanwhile, Poe’s fame is taking off with the success of his poem, The Raven. Poe is also married and has been for some time, but his wife is in ill health and has been for a number of years. He has not been especially happy with Virginia Poe for some time, but like everything in his life he just accepts it and moves on…..until he meets Frances Osgood.

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Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

1916 occupied France, a young artist named Edouard LeFevre, leaves his wife, Sophie, to fight in the Great War.

Before he left, he painted her portrait and titled it ‘The Girl You Left Behind’. This painting has become her most prized possession.

When her husband and is imprisoned, Sophie clings to the painting. Unfortunately the painting is admired by many in the small village…particularly the local Kommandant.

He not only falls in love with the painting but with the real life subject as well and essentially holds Sophie captive.

Sophie is soon faced with some tough decisions. She loves her husband desperately but she is stuck in an awkward situation with the Kommandant’s attention.

She is desperate to see Edouard again and ultimately decides to put her life and reputation on the line for that dream to come true.

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Review: Covet by Tracey Garvis-Graves

What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else?

Claire Canton is your typical suburban housewife. Her and her husband Chris live in a nice house in a nice suburb with their two kids.

Claire is a freelance graphic designer and holds down the household while Chris is out bringing home the big pay check. Until he loses his job.

A year passes and before they know it, Claire and Chris’s marriage is in serious trouble. Chris continues to pull away from Claire while Claire becomes increasingly lonely.

One afternoon Claire gets pulled over by Officer Daniel Rush….who happens to be ridiculously good looking.

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Review: His Last Mistress by Andrea Zuvich

The illegitimate son of King Charles II is nothing more than a treacherous rake with nothing to look forward to except war and whoring.

For James Scott, the Duke of Monmouth life doesn’t get much better than drinking, fighting, and whoring…..but after many years of meaningless sex and one too many hangovers, Monmouth knows there must be something more to life.

Sweet and innocent Lady Henrietta Wentworth has been brought up the way that every respectable girl at court should be…..virtuous.

For a woman in Tudor England virtue is the most treasured of things next to position and wealth. Without her virginity a woman’s reputation and marriage prospects are ruined.

For a woman like  Henrietta who has little to offer in the way of a dowery, she can only hope to bring some position and purity to marriage, so she guards it above all else.  Until she meets Monmouth.

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