Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of SECRETS AND SUITORS by Joanna Barker

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that by publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of SECRETS AND SUITORS by Joanna Barker, published October 1, 2019.

Blurb for SECRETS AND SUITORS:

Reluctantly returning to London for yet another Season, shy Nora Hamilton has nearly given up hope that she will ever find the love match she longs for. After all, the one man she does harbor feelings for—her closest friend, James—has made it perfectly clear he views her as just that: a friend. With James traveling half a world away and Nora's father pressuring her to marry for wealth and status, Nora is forced to set aside her desire for love and accept the future she has always dreaded.


Until James returns unexpectedly and Nora's feelings once again rush unbearably close to the surface. Determined to save what is left of their friendship, Nora ignores her own heart and allows herself to be swept up in the London Season, soon finding herself the object of two very different gentlemen's affections. Though she should be thrilled, both men come with a glaring fault: neither is the one man who holds her heart.

But there is much more at stake than heartbreak. When long-kept secrets are laid bare, Nora must face the fears that have plagued her all her life and decide what true love is worth.

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Connie’s Review:

Nora Hamilton, age 21, and the eldest daughter of Baron and Baroness Denford, is attending a ball but wishing she could hide. Nora is shy and feels uncomfortable in these situations. Mr. Weston, who is in line to inherit a barony, is quite taken by Nora, but she just wants to be away from him.

The only man who interests Nora is James Allen, her neighbor and good friend. He has just returned from his family’s sugar plantation in Jamaica. They have been friends from the time she was a little girl and promised to never have any secrets from one another. Nora loves James but fears that he does not feel the same. Unfortunately, her father does not approve of her friendship with James.

Nora’s younger sister, Susanna, is looking forward to her debut and loves to hear all about the soirees that Nora attends.

Nora’s father tells her that Mr. Weston wants to marry her and he insists that she accept. She finally agrees, but only after she and Susanna have a season together in London. In addition, her younger brother, Ralph, gets to go to London too so she can show him the London sights he wants to see.

When Nora falls ill, her family is very worried about her and it takes quite a while for her to recover as it left her very weak. Then she learns a family secret that her parents have been hiding from her that is very sad. But opening up about it brings healing and family unity. What about James? Will Nora still be forced to marry Mr. Weston and leave behind the man she truly loves?

Yet another totally delightful book by Joanna Barker. I love her stories. They are complex and bring in several plots that tie together perfectly. I know readers will love this story!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

SECRETS AND SUITORS by Joanna Barker, Covenant Communications, available now in ebook, print, and audio at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of THE TRUTH ABOUT MISS ASHBOURNE by Joanna Barker

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of THE TRUTH ABOUT MISS ASHBOURNE by Joanna Barker, published November 1, 2018.

Blurb for THE TRUTH ABOUT MISS ASHBOURNE:

Governess Juliana Ashbourne has dreams reaching far beyond the confines of her current position, hoping to someday establish her own school for girls. When she inherits a fortune from her late grandfather, she is shocked to learn that "someday" may soon be within reach. However, there is one condition: she must spend a month at the estate of Havenfield--with the very family who disowned her mother. Intent on securing the money she needs to start her school, Juliana accepts the invitation, vowing to guard her heart against those who shunned her all her life.

But Havenfield is far from what she expects. She discovers a grandmother seeking forgiveness, a cold and disapproving aunt, and a painfully shy cousin. And then there is Mr. William Rowley. Though the heir to the estate is a merciless tease, Juliana finds in him a friend and confidant--and perhaps something more. As she struggles to make sense of her new place in the world, her stubborn independence clashes with a yearning to belong and the even more confusing desires of her heart.

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Connie’s Review:

Miss Juliana Ashbourne, age 19, is governess to Charlotte and Daniel Seymour in London. Mrs. Seymour is berating Juliana for taking the children to the park for a fun, but educational, day. Irritated at the woman’s scolding, Juliana wishes she had enough money saved to open her own school which is her dream.

Juliana receives a letter from a solicitor requesting her to visit him regarding a sensitive matter. She learns that her maternal grandfather, Sir Charles Rowley, has recently passed away and she was left 10,000 pounds. With no male issue, the estate itself passed to a cousin, William Rowley. He is a wealthy man in his own right as he also owns a shipping business. However, Juliana’s inheritance comes with a condition: she must spend one month at the family estate of Havenfield. Her grandmother and aunt live there. When Juliana’s mother, Katherine, married her father did not like her choice of husband so he disowned her. But her parents had a wonderful married life and were content and now they have passed away. The solicitor gives Juliana a letter from her grandmother begging her to go to Havenfield and she agrees.

The place is lovely and her grandmother is so happy to see her. William Rowley is welcoming as well. He is attracted to Juliana and is amused by her tendency to say what she thinks. He enjoys teasing her because he recognizes her stubbornness and hurt from her mother’s family that had abandoned their own daughter. She wants to forgive and is trying to do so.

As she is introduced to the neighbors, she finds some people welcoming and others who look down on her because she was a governess. Juliana is proud and stands up for herself. The attraction between Juliana and William continues to grow and blossom. At the end of her month at Havenfield, will she decide to perhaps stay or leave and return to London?

This is a clever and clean rags to riches love story complete with the perfect hero. Totally swoon-worthy romance. I really liked the hero but got a bit frustrated at times with the heroine’s stubborn ways. But in the end, this is a good one.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THE TRUTH ABOUT MISS ASHBOURNE by Joanna Barker, Covenant Communications, available now ebook, print, and audio at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of MISS ADELINE'S MATCH by Joanna Barker

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of MISS ADELINE’S MATCH by Joanna Barker, published April 1, 2019.

Blurb for MISS ADELINE’S MATCH:

Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady's companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when her closest friend, Charity Edgeworth, breaks off her arranged marriage without explanation, even Adeline's superior skills are put to the test. Charity's father banishes the two young women to the country, sending Adeline with a charge to find Charity a husband or suffer dire consequences.

As Adeline takes on the role of reluctant matchmaker, she discovers more than one obstacle in her path. Not only does Charity prefer escaping in books to socializing, but Adeline soon finds her own attentions distracted by the standoffish—and irritatingly handsome—Mr. Evan Whitfield. Amidst an eventful foxhunt and the unexpected arrival of Charity's former betrothed, Adeline simply doesn't have time for a battle of wits with Evan. But the two are continually drawn together until Adeline begins to question her tightly guarded convictions about love and marriage.

However, when secrets are revealed and truths made known, Adeline must face her most fearsome obstacle yet: herself.

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Connie’s Review:

Charity Edgeworth has recently broken her engagement to Mr. Henley, but she refuses to say why. Her father is furious with her because she has had two seasons to make a match. The gossips have had hurtful comments about it too. Mr. Edgeworth is a wealthy man and since Charity has a large dowry, he wants her to marry a titled man. Mr. Henley is heir to a Barony.

Charity’s companion is Adeline Hayes. The two young women have long been friends. Charity’s father is a country physician slowly sinking into dementia. The little money Adeline makes as Charity’s companion is being used to support her father and her older sister who takes care of him.

Now, Mr. Edgeworth has decided to send Charity to stay with her Aunt Caroline at Crawthorne Hall in Leicestershire. Her aunt and uncle will be having a house party and her father wants Charity to meet someone there to marry. He tells Adeline that if she does not see to it that Charity marries, he will remove her ailing father from his house because Mr. Edgeworth owns it.

Charity does not care for social events for she would rather be reading. The first night of the house party, Charity meets Mr. Townsend with whom she has some interesting talks. Adeline meets Mr. Evan Whitfield who owns Rothby Manor and surrounding lands close to Crawthorne Hall. Adeline is taken aback as the man tends to be disagreeable and is said to enjoy his solitude.

As the party continues, we get to know the people attending and Adeline hopes that Charity has taken a liking to Mr. Townsend. But her own attraction to Evan Whitfield is one she knows can go nowhere as she is just a companion.

When Adeline takes it upon herself to make a serious decision that she has no right making, it blows up in her face with severe consequences. Now, she must learn from her mistake and do everything she can to redeem herself for it.

I really liked this story and the characters. Adeline tends to take her role of companion to the extreme and sometimes acts like Charity’s mother instead of her friend. However, the story is very good and the ending sweet. Enjoy this nice, clean romance.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

MISS ADELINE’S MATCH by Joanna Barker, Covenant Communications, available now in ebook, print, and audiobook at Amazon.

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of A GUARDED HEART by Heidi Kimball

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of A GUARDED HEART by Heidi Kimball, published March 1, 2019.

Blurb for A GUARDED HEART:

Three years after a shocking scandal destroyed her family and forced her into isolation, Eleanor Hayward finally has an opportunity to put her painful history and dashed hopes behind her. But reentering society is no simple task. In her cousin's glittering ballroom, Eleanor is stunned when she comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart those years before.

Edmund Fletcher thought he had laid the past to rest until he unexpectedly encounters the woman who so nearly became his wife. Soon to be engaged to another, Edmund knows he must let go of the complicated feelings he harbors for Eleanor. However, when the Hayward scandal resurfaces and the truth behind their parting is revealed, Eleanor and Edmund are left reeling. Tormented by thoughts of what could have been, they realize it is impossible to rewrite history. But is there a future in which they might both find happiness—and true love?

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Connie’s Review:

Herefortshire - 1816

Miss Eleanor Hayward, her cousin, Miss Caroline Warwick, and Caroline’s parents are hosting a ball to introduce Eleanor to their friends and neighbors. She has recently come from her home in Kent. She is nervous about meeting these people, but many are kind. There is a past event involving her brother that brought shame to her family. When she is introduced to Mr. Edmund Fletcher, she is shocked that he doesn’t seem to remember her from three years ago. Ah - but he does remember her and their past association when she had broken his heart when he found her in the arms of another man.

Kent - 1813

Eleanor has walked to her friend’s home called Claremont and home of the Clark family. Beatrice came out to meet her along with her older brother, Charles, and younger sister, Louise, who all welcomed her. Among the group is Edmund Fletcher. The group then set off to tour an Abbey and Castle. Eleanor and Edmund spend time together getting to know one another and enjoying chatting.

The story switches back and forth from the time Eleanor and Edmund came to know one another to three years later after something had happened that tore them apart. Edmund haughtily suggests that Eleanor treated him badly but she doesn’t know what he means. She thinks he just decided back then that his higher station in life compared to her modest one meant that they would not suit.

Both of them are hurting but are reluctant to discuss the past. Eleanor is hiding a family secret that Edmund doesn’t fully understand. If there a way that they can open themselves up honestly and see if their love can be rekindled?

This is a story of miscommunication and pride: two things that can wreck relationships. It is clean, and the verbiage is true to the time period. I found the book to be somewhat sad and depressing, however, that’s what the plot is about.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A GUARDED HEART by Heidi Kimball, Covenant Communications, available now in ebook, print and audio at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.