Today’s topic is Quick Reads or Books to Read when Time is Short (under 150 pages). I’ve gone back through my reading lists to compile this list of romance novellas and short stories. I don’t gravitate toward novellas, but I do appreciate the skill it takes to develop a moving story with such brevity.
These are some top novellas I recommend — and this list happens to include some fantastic authors whose full-length stories are just as enjoyable, too! I have listed 5 contemporary or historical novellas and 5 Christmas novellas.
Today’s topic is a FREEBIE! I decided to go with a list of books & the foods to enjoy while reading them because they are part of the story themselves.
I’ve had a version of this list in my drafts for way too long… it’s making me hungry, and I decided I needed to make you hungry, too! If you’re like me, the best kind of reading moment is one spent with a leisurely snack, hot beverage, and good book. I can recommend all of these stories and give you some ideas of foods to pair with them, but note that some might require a little more work to obtain the snacks. hehe.
10 Eat This, Read That Books & the Foods to Enjoy While Reading Them
Love in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan and an Einspänner (hot espresso and whippped cream, the Viennese hero’s drink of choice
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner and applesauce. A bit of a tongue-in-cheek food choice because it shows up as a nickname in this story, but still, talk of applesauce will always make me want some.
The Broken Hearts Bakery by Carla Laureano and eclairs. You could choose any of several yummy baked treats in this story, but those eclairs just called to me from the beginning.
What did you post this week for the TTT freebie? Have you read any books on my list? What is your go-to reading snack? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Today’s official topic is Characters from Different Books Who Should Team Up (or date, be friends with, etc.). I’m doing a spin on that topic and matching up 5 sets of heroes and heroines, along with a few of their traits, and deciding whether I think they would be good friends or a romantic pair.
Maggie Honeywell. Spirited. Fights for what she wants. Regaining the strength of her youth.
Thoughts on this couple: Funny, these are the two Matthews characters I picked and they ended up together! They are very similar in temperament, both needing to champion and assert. I think they would make great friends.
Meg Whitaker. Protective of her fam. Not afraid to learn something new (lobster!). Prickly when it comes to her past.
Thoughts on this couple: I think these two would make a good romantic match! Their personalities are complimentary and they both value straightforwardness. Plus, seeing a Texan and a Prince Edward Islander together would be fun.
Bree Camden. Secretly in love with her bff. Loves kids. Selfless. Can fake date with the best of them.
Thoughts on this couple: These two share in common a friends-to-lovers romance. And, Bree does love a charming man! I think they would make a cute, century-crossing romantic match.
Diana Somerville. Can keep a secret. Super intelligent. Loves her hero and her friends through some hard things and in spite of their flaws. Can’t cook.
Thoughts on this couple: Diana and Stephen share an academic appreciation and intelligent nature that I think would see them becoming fast friends. Diana just might appreciate his mountain cabin, too!
Remy Reed. Artist. Unwitting rescuer. Problem and mystery solver. Recipient of a wonderfully persistent hero’s affections.
Thoughts on this couple: these two, though from completely different times, would make an interesting romantic match. Xander’s natural patience would be just the thing to woo Remy, and I think he’d be fascinated with her island tine, art, and passion for life.
Whew! That list was a little more work than I expected, but super fun to put together! I might have to do a matchup like this again in the future.
Have you read any of these stories? Do you agree with my choices of friends or lovers? What did you share for TTT this week?
Thanks for stopping by to read my review of The Castle Keepers, a collection of three novella-length historical romances by Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan all connected by generations of a single family and a Northumberland castle setting.
Leedswick Castle has housed the Alnwick family in the English countryside for generations, despite a family curse determined to destroy their legacy and erase them from history.
1870. After a disastrous dinner at the Astor mansion forces her to flee New York in disgrace, socialite Beatrice Holbrook knows her performance in London must be a triumph. When she catches the eye of Charles Alnwick, one of the town’s most enviably-titled bachelors, she prepares to attempt a social coup and become the future Marchioness of Northridge. When tragedy and scandal strike the Alnwick family, Beatrice must assume the role of a lifetime: that of her true, brave self.
1917. Artist Elena Hamilton arrives in Northumberland determined to transform a soldier’s wounds into something beautiful. Tobias Alnwick’s parents have commissioned a lifelike mask to help their son return to his former self after battle wounds partially destroyed his face. But Elena doesn’t see a man who needs fixing—she sees a man who needn’t hide. Yet secrets from their past threaten to chase away the peace they’ve found in each other and destroy the future they’re creating.
1945. Alec Alnwick returns home from the war haunted but determined to leave death and destruction behind. With the help of Brigitta Mayr, the brilliant young psychoanalyst whose correspondence was a lifeline during his time on the Western Front, he reconstructs his family’s large estate into a rehabilitation center for similarly wounded soldiers. Now Alec’s efforts may be the only chance to redeem his family legacy—and break the curse on the Alnwick name—once and for all.
The Castle Keepers is an enjoyable story collection which shares story elements and a fascinating Northumberland family castle setting. Through three different generations all affected by war (the Bhutan War, WWI, & WWII), the men of the Alnwick family battle trauma and a family curse to find their way to happiness and love with three influential, strong heroines.
1870 – The Truth Keepers by Aimie K. Runyan
This story set on the cusp of the Gilded Age features an American heiress or “Dollar Princess” seeking position and personal solace on a new continent: England. It introduces the Alnwick family well and sets up a legacy which has great influence on the subsequent stories in the collection. I like the balance of practicality and independence Beatrice finds in a match with Charles, though their early challenges are tricky and full of intrigue.
1917 – The Memory Keepers by J’nell Ciesielski
The Memory Keepers has an artist of a heroine, Elena, trying to aid in the WWI aftermath with her skills in painting masks for disfigured soldiers. Sent on a mission to the north and to assist a reclusive heir to Leedswick Castle, she instead finds Tobias Alnwick to be her match in wits and camaraderie, offering him a compassion that draws him out of his dark place and into a vibrant world. Ciesielski’s voice shines in this situation, depicting a Downton Abbey-like era with aplomb and a bit of an adventure while Elena and Tobias banter AND contend with some foreboding visitors.
1945 – The Dream Keepers by Rachel McMillan
I have two names for you: Alec and Brigitta! Alec Alnwick is just returning from WWII and dealing with all the mental strain that entails. His letters exchanged with Brigitta, a lovely, intelligent aspiring psychoanalyst, are the beginning of a relationship leading to a respite spent at his home, the castle. While Alec’s fellow soldiers gather in an effort to restore and adjust to civilian life, Brigitta’s presence is a balm to all as she offers her expertise in analysis to all — and a wonderfully deeper friendship and connection to Alec besides. In true McMillan style, this story checks all her boxes to include a friends-to-lovers romance that compliments and strengthens, music and waltzes, a Viennese element (Brigitta herself), a cat!, and a reference or two to churches :).
One of the things I love most about this whole collection is the inclusion and influence of a heroine with a different cultural background in each tale (the men of the British Alnwick family unite the stories). Beatrice is an American heiress, Elena an English citizen but her upbringing on the Continent has make her a product of a Bohemian lifestyle, and Brigitta a science-y Viennese psychoanalyst. I especially love the way each story weaves hope and romance together in a voice unique to each author. As a huge fan of J’nell and Rachel already, reading The Castle Keepers is a treat — and I now have a particularly soft spot for Sigmund the cat.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Welcome to my blog! I’m sharing a review today of a new historical romance from a beloved author: The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan. She has graciously answered a few questions for my today AND provided an exclusive “deleted scene” from the novel, too! (If you’ve already read The Mozart Code and want to scroll down to the deleted scene, I won’t blame you a bit!)
The Mozart Code is a companion novel of sorts to The London Restoration. While it happens second in a timeline sequence, the books are standalones that feature two different couples, though you will see some overlap of familiar characters if you’ve read The London Restoration.
No matter how you might try to hide in a war to escape your past, it is always close at hand.
Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre’s covert team in post-war Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to infiltrate the world of relics: uncovering vital information that could tilt the stakes of the mounting Cold War. When several influential men charge her with finding the death mask of Mozart, Sophie wonders if there is more than the composer’s legacy at stake and finds herself drawn to potential answers in Prague.
Simon Barrington, the illegitimate heir of one of Sussex’s oldest estates, used the previous war to hide his insecurities about his past. Now, he uses his high breeding to gain access to all four allied quarters of the ruined city in an attempt to slow the fall of the Iron Curtain. He has been in love with Sophie Villiers since the moment he met her, and a marriage of convenience to save Simon’s estate has always kept her close. Until now, when Sophie’s mysterious client in Prague forces him to wonder if her allegiance to him—and their cause—is in question. Torn between his loyalty to his cause and his heart, Simon seeks answers about Sophie only to learn that everything he thought he knew about his involvement in both wars is based on a lie.
The Mozart Code is a thoughtful and engaging romance that intertwines secrets, loyalty, and intrigue in early cold war eastern Europe. While the relationship develops as a marriage of convenience with a strong foundation of friendship between Sophie and Simon, the true nuances of romance shine through in tiny moments between them when the reader realizes their insightful knowledge of each other — how in tune each is to the other’s emotions behind carefully constructed facades of bravery and class, and sometimes in the intimacy of a shared cigarette 😊.
Rachel McMillan’s authorial voice glistens with her unique way of painting the setting as an active character. In this case, the cities of Vienna and Prague in their post-WWII turmoil and beauty. Her lyrical style lends itself to the slow-burn romance unfolding between Simon and Sophie, as does the timeline of the novel with carefully placed, pointed flashbacks enlightening their backstories and heightening the tension of the present.
Major themes of love, sacrifice, and bravery play out in the lives of the characters. Loyalty, especially, is a strong element present in the recovery of Vienna and Prague, in the friendships of the leads with the Somervilles, in the ever-present threat of betrayal, and in the way loyalty looks a lot like love — even when Sophie tries to maintain her careful heart’s barricade. The use of names is also a clever part of Simon and Sophie’s progression, with the power of identity and names explored through assertion, class, endearment, heritage, and belonging.
The ROMANCE of the story is my favorite part, of course! Simon is a carefully guarded beta hero whose history with Sophie is bittersweet and endearing. As he grows through the events of the novel, he comes into his own in many ways, seeing beyond processing the world through a chess scenario. Sophie is tough and independent, and her growth comes through her opportunity to keep her word and her loyalty sacred to Simon alone. A slight switch in gender norms of emotional vulnerability plays out in their relationship, yet Simon remains the protective hero and Sophie the intelligent complement to his soul. I love the way Sophie loves Mozart and music! The title “Mozart Code” has special meaning between them and ties up all the ways they are intertwined and committed.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the early review copy. This is my honest review.
Thank you, Rachel, for taking to time to answer some behind-the-scenes questions about The Mozart Code and to share an exclusive deleted scene!
Can you tell us a little more about your hero and heroine’s personalities? Quirks or endearing qualities?
They’re both playing at being something they’re not in some fashion— at least to the world at large. When it comes to themselves they know each other so intimately that they can finish each other’s sentences but also have this amazing homing device that allows them to sense when the other is near. I just love that about them. They’re both daft little bunnies desperate to keep their independence and so fearful of being hurt and yet the undercurrent of their relationship is just pure love. Strong, earth-defying love. Sophie and Simon are each other’s worlds. Simon I love because he’s this big nerd wrapped up in a Savile Row suit and gold-rimmed glasses and presenting the world a confident, dashing portrait whereas really, inside, he’s still a little boy forever trying to win love and approval. I love how he sees the world as a chess board. From the very first chapter he is setting up his board and assembling all of the major players that will factor into his story. He’s very kind at heart he just has a terrible way of showing vulnerability. For Sophie, I love that she is forever convincing herself and us that she is this strong and capable woman who doesn’t need love and doesn’t want Simon ( and she is—both strong and capable—)but she is absolutely mad for him and she just doesn’t realize it yet. I love how Sophie always rushes to Simon’s defense and believes in him as far more than the illegitimate heir who is such a burden to his family. The anger and frustration she shows on his behalf, to me, is one of the most amazing parts about her. When she gives her loyalty to him that is far more powerful than most women declaring love.
Setting is often another important “character” in your stories. What can you say about the settings included in The Mozart Code?
I really love Vienna, obviously and it is such an interesting counterpart to Prague. Because in the Kalter Krieg (Cold War) both were very close to falling behind the Iron Curtain — but only Prague did. I also found they had other fascinating parallels that made me choose them as the two starring cities: one they both had close ties to Mozart because he lived and composed in both. Yet, Prague celebrated him in his lifetime and Vienna saw his early demise met with a Pauper’s grave. Another interesting reason to pair them was the work of Anton Pilgram: one of the architects whose churches and designs are housed in both cities ( if you read The London Restoration, you know I am a nut about church architecture, lol). I am also quite in love with the themes of restitution and restoration and finding beauty in the rubble by being able to see (as my heroine Diana Somerville does), the prospect of what the city will be after it is made new. Hitler forbade his pilots from bombing Prague whereas Vienna suffered a lot of bombing (especially near the very end of the war): so while Vienna is scarred, Prague was still intact— at least surfacely: we soon learn that there are a lot of Communist undercurrents and the Czech Republic would be under Communist rule after the events of The Mozart Code for almost half a century.
But I am a lot like Diana in that I believe “each city had chosen human portals through which to whisper their secrets.” I am personally passionate about and fascinated by Vienna and Prague so I really wanted to convey their romance and hardships to the reader.
Are there any interesting historical tidbits you came across in your research you were not able to include in the story?
Anything to do with the churches! I really, really, really wanted to include so many more churches in both Vienna and Prague but I had to remind myself ( as did my editor), this is Sophie’s story not Diana’s. Heck, Diana needed another book just for the churches here lol. I also had to cut more about Mozart and the Mozart family. Readers may not realize I do five times as much research as funnels into the novel so that I can hopefully confidently relay that my characters are experts in these things.
I also had to cut a lot of the Bletchley Park flashbacks: especially as Sophie worked with the Bombe machines and I did a TON of research on those machines so it was a shame to have them gone.
What are you currently reading, OR what is the best book you’ve read lately?
I loved The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. I also read and loved an early copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews because it is SUCH a Beauty and the Beast meets The Blue Castle type book and has some of my favourite tropes. I reread The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn to review for Austenprose ( it’s the book the most recent season of Bridgerton is based on). I love a tortured hero who just wants love and a marriage of convenience so it was a fun re-read! I also am MADLY in love with the new Elizabeth Camden book Written on The Wind which I think is her best to date and her editor calls me “the patron saint” of that book and I think I am … I LOVE IT
As readers enjoy this new release and are already eager for another novel from you (I’m talking about myself here, HAHA!), can you tell us what’s next for you?
True story: if I press ALT and TAB on my macbook there is always a Three Quarter Time novel in progress. I really love writing those but alas the paying contracts have to come first. But I do hope to get (finally) Memory in Three Quarter Time finished someday! I have a collaborative novel coming out in March 2023 with two authors—J’Nell Ciesielski and Aimie K. Runyan—for Harper Muse called The Castle Keepers. In this book, it is a Yorkshire castle set across three wars with three different romances. Aimie is doing The Boer War, J’Nell WWI and my romance is set just after WWII when the castle is commandeered as a retreat for soldiers suffering from shell shock. There’s a cat named Sigmund Freud ☺
Next September I have a novel coming out that is as of yet untitled but that I call Pimpernel –and with good cause— it is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel story set in Nazi Occupied Rouen and Paris and it features a daring adventure and a classic love story. I think you will all love Phineas and Marlena!
Is there anything readers need to know to set up this “DELETED SCENE” from The Mozart Code?
One of the things I had to balance in writing The Mozart Code was making it a standalone story while still nodding to the established events of The London Restoration. And the careful reader will remember that Simon got pneumonia and Sophie is clearly worried about him and Diana tries to coax her friend into admitting what she’s feeling but Sophie shrugs it off. We, of course, move on and Simon gets better because we see their world through Di’s eyes but I always knew what was going on beyond the surface there as I knew Simon and Sophie’s true relationship while writing that book.We just are seeing the same time period in Simon and Sophie’s viewpoint instead of Diana’s and so I had to cut this moment in flashback where Sophie sneaks out of her Bletchley boarding flat and goes to visit him. I confess, it is not perfect or edited but I hope it gives you a glance of what I wanted to do with their relationship ☺
If Simon couldn’t be healthy, she would be strong for both of them, she determined. Later, as an air raid siren shrilled and a formation of planes took low over the fields and downs, she suspected that while others wires and radars were attuned to their spouses, their mothers and fathers, their brothers and sisters in times of constant peril, her frequency was leveled with Simon’s. As it had been when she defended him in front of his father and brother. As it had been when she was briefly installed in the SOE. As it would be while he was ill in hospital and she failed at keeping her emotions in a straight, rigid line.
But frequencies, like wires, could stretch and bend and snap leaving each recipient at the end of their wave vulnerable to the consequences of a terminated signal. Sophie didn’t fancy being so disconnected from Simon.
So, later that night after she had listened to Diana yip on about the chess game she lost against Fisher Carne at the pub, Sophie took action.
She tiptoed out of the house and locked the door quietly behind her. It was past curfew and getting into the Park would take a not inconsiderable amount of care. Fisher had left a note that Simon had been moved home from hospital to spend the last part of his convalescence. He also told her that when he had been at Simon’s billet flat, he had been able to enter through a side door near the garden.
Sophie knocked softly. She hated making him get out of bed when he was ill but she’d rather that than fall through the window and scare him half to death.
A moment later, the light flickered on to dispel the shadow of the narrow, stone path and the door creaked open.
Simon was pale, thinner than usual and subsequently his blue eyes seemed wider as they bore out at her in the darkness. He tied his robe.
“Let me in so you don’t catch your death…again.” She whispered.
He stepped back and she joined him. He turned on a few lights and was winded with the movement.
“Sit down.” She grabbed his arm and led him to the sofa. Once he was seated, she grabbed a quilt draped over a neighbouring chair and tucked it up over his shoulders. “Oh Simon, what a mess.”
“Villiers…” his voice was a little raspy. “What are you doing here?”
Sophie smoothed his unkempt hair from his forehead. “Who is taking care of you?”
“I’m feeling much better.” He shivered and winnowed down in the blanket.
“I can see that. You look dismal, Simon. I’ll make tea.”
He waved his hand in the direction of the kettle and cooktop and Sophie started to work, aware that Simon’s gaze was on her slightest movement.
“I can wrangle a Tetley’s bag into a pot.”
“I didn’t say anything.” Simon whispered.
“You were thinking it.”
Several moments later she ensured Simon’s hand was wrapped around the steaming mug. She took her own mug to the arm chair, stirring the liquid– not out of preference –but occupation for her fingers.
“You must be bored out of your tree.” She observed after a long moment.
Simon blew on the tea and slowly raised the mug to his cracked lips. “I’ve a lot on my mind.”
“Do you?”
“I thought I was going to die.”
“Pshaw. People don’t die from pneumonia.” “Yes they do.” He wheezed. “All the time.”
“Well, you are not people.”
“If my landlady finds you here.”
“It’ll besmirch my reputation.” Sophie waved a hand. She watched Simon take a slow sip. Then she looked around the tidy but compact flat, her eyes settling on a decanter on the side table near the wireless. “Ah!” She rose and strolled toward it. She opened the lid and smelled. “Here…” she turned to Simon. “Give me your mug.” She poured a liberal splash of brandy into each of their tea mugs.
“Are you sure…?” Simon began.
“Medicinal.” Sophie said.
Simon’s eyelashes fluttered over his cheekbones.
“Villiers.”
“Yes, Simon.”
“If I don’t…”
“Oh Lord. I didn’t risk my spotless reputation to hear you profess anything.” Sophie sipped her brandy-laced tea. “So don’t profess anything.” She studied Simon’s modest but comfortable surroundings: mahogany wood, lace curtains, neatly lined books and a few gold-garnished picture frames. He was going to say something. Something that might hold the word she told him never to say and she steadied herself to prepare for it.
“Villers…”
“Simon.”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about what happens after this war.”
“This war. Tut tut. I’ve had enough war.”
“Villiers…”
“Simon.”
He coughed through his smile. “It’s like we’re a vaudeville routine.” Simon sipped tea. Stretched. “If I survive…”
“Do not bore me, Simon Barrington. You know very well you are going to survive or else they wouldn’t have sent you home.”
“Home?” he lifted the quilt demonstratively. “Is that where I am? Anyhow, Villiers,
if I don’t survive…”
“You’re fine.” It rolled easily off of her tongue. She had used it in a long line of syllables to convince herself time and again since he was in hospital.
“Then I need you to know…”
Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t tell me. Don’t loop those letters together. Don’t make me frightened of you when you are at your weakest.
Today’s topic is a FREEBIE! This concept has been sitting in my drafts for a while, and I’ve added to it along the way. I’m talking here about bespectacled book boyfriends! I know this is a superficial way to categorize a hero, but it’s just so darn fun to recognize glasses as a little everyday accessory that add a bit of intelligence to any face (I say this as I wear them myself 😉 ). So, welcome to my new fan club.
Simon from The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan AND Oliver Thorne in Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan (shoutout to Hamish from her Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries!)
From my TBR
I have been told these are wonderful heroes, who also happen to be bespectacled
Have you “met” any of these book boyfriends? Do you have any bespectacled characters I need to add to my list? What did you feature for this week’s TTT?
Welcome to my blog! I’m sharing some mini reviews (once again) of books I have read and enjoyed recently across a few different genres. Please visit the Goodreads links to learn more about each book!
A Rainer Carol short story by Rachel McMillan – Contemporary Christmas Romance | Goodreads
Devoted fans of McMillan’s “Three Quarter Time” series will delight in this short story featuring Rose and Oliver, the couple from Rose in Three Quarter Time. With a sparkling Viennese Christmas backdrop and a Dickens-esque Christmas Carol spin on perspective and time, Rachel McMillan takes readers back into her story world where Oliver is as smitten as ever with his wife, Rose, while she is reluctantly making decisions his heart doesn’t fully grasp. This sets off a series of what-if chapters where Oliver experiences his world without Rose — and unexpectedly, with her — where their connection is unmistakable as ever though their circumstances separate them further. It’s really a love-letter to music, Vienna, and a soul-deep connection Oliver and Rose share that transcends anything mundane and fleeting. I love how McMillan uses perspective to show Oliver being drawn to Rose across time and possibilities. All of this is neatly wrapped up in a happily-ever-after, of course, which sees Oliver and Rose grow in the depth of their relationship and character, too.
A Wing and a Prayer by Julie Lessman – WWII Romance | Goodreads
Strong themes of trust and the importance of faith are expressed throughout A Wing and a Prayer. The heroine, Gabe, has many lessons to learn. Her life is shaped by choices (and sometimes consequences) and greatly influenced by her loving family and the hero, Alex Kincaid. He is perfectly her match in determination and stubbornness, just with the added perspective of a little more wisdom and a strong faith. As Gabe’s headstrong ways get her out of one scrape and into another, a great saga plays out against the well-researched backdrop of WWII activities, including elements of the WASPs, medevac personnel, journalism, and bravery. They don’t refer to Julie Lessman as the queen of kisses for no reason! This story has some very intense kisses – some of them moments that become pivotal points in the growth of the characters and their friendship/romance.
The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Historical Fiction/Romance, 1911 Kentucky | Goodreads
This novel is a historical piece with a fascinating true-life setting. The mountainous setting is heartfully depicted. A secondary character, Cora Wilson, was a real-life champion for literacy. A slight thread of romance happens in the background, gentle and unexpected in some ways. The plot goes in a direction which surprised me (in a good way!).
At Summer’s End by Courtney Ellis – (General Fiction) Historical Romance, 1922 England | Goodreads
While it has many (lovely) parallels to the classic Beauty and the Beast story, it tells a much deeper story than it would appear at the surface. One of sacrifice and healing, family and choices. I love how Bertie gets to know Julian (a beta hero!) and see beyond his hurts to his quiet character and strength—even when he can’t see it himself. His scars are more than physical and those form the trauma of war. It means so much to him for her to see his family and his history and accept/love him anyway!
I thought it smart that a bit of a family mystery unfurls through flashback portions (cleverly told through 3rd person POV of his sisters!) while Bertie has the narrative of present day in first person.
Content note: this is a general fiction story with a few expletives and a few barely open-door romance scenes.
The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep – Victorian Mystery/Romance, 1885 London | Goodreads
This is a Victorian mystery full of intrigue and twists. While Constable Forge and his unlikely compatriot Kit Turner crisscross the streets (and tunnels of various kinds) of London searching for clues to find a missing jarvey, they become reluctant friends. The pace and action never stop but does slow down just enough for some emotional moments and development of the friendship into something more thanks to their unmistakable attraction and chemistry. I love seeing them banter and work together, especially the way Kit has heroic moments right alongside Jackson – and he loves that about her. From secret identities, a grand ball, scouring the Thames, and chases down dark alleys, this novel has romance and adventure aplenty.
At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer – Western Romance/Adventure, 1890s Texas | Goodreads
A book with everything I love in a western-romance! A take-charge cowboy leader, a strong heroine with a nontypical profession (yet plausible!), a brothers-in-arms group of friends with great camaraderie and dynamic, high stakes action throughout. The Doc situation allowed for some great moments of romantic tension through patient relations 😊 and gave Josie page time to be a “hero”, too. Not every book would translate to the screen, but I think the original action storyline would make a fantastic movie. I really enjoyed the audiobook version, as well.
Thank you to the publisher for the copy of The Moonlight School, The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, and At Love’s Command. These are my honest reviews. The other books were purchases I made and I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.
Today’s topic is “Favorite Book Settings”. I could go SO MANY directions with this topic, because setting is a very important part of story to me. A well written, immersive setting is like an armchair adventure to a place (or time) the reader has never been. I’ve decided to keep my choices to the UK and Ireland, or the British Isles as those islands are collectively known.
A Tour of the British Isles in Fiction
Scotland
Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano | Contemporary adventure and love story (with a chef!), and an exploration of the Isle of Skye. My Review
Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski | An estate in the idyllic Scottish Lowlands is the setting for this WWI mystery and romance. My Review
A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz | This heart-deep story begins on the Isle of Kerrera, an island in the Scottish Hebrides, during the 18th century. My Review
England
The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan | Historical romance that explores the architecture of the city — and of a relationship — in post-WWII London. My Review
The Winter Companion by Mimi Matthews | Historical romance set on the coast and rambling moors of Devonshire, complete with a Dartmoor pony.My Review
Just the Way You Are by Pepper Basham | A witty romance unfolds between an Appalachian single mom and an English actor, with a healthy dose of humor and a family mystery, too. My Review
The Brontë Plot by Katherine Reay | A contemporary story of self-discovery sees the heroine, Lucy, travel to England and the Brontë’s ancestral town of Haworth — with plentiful literary references! My Review
Wales
A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White | A little suspense and beautiful music combine in this WWI-era romance set mostly in Wales. My Review
Ireland
Star Rising by Janet Ferguson | This contemporary romance finds the characters in an unlikely pairing while on a tour of Ireland. Beautiful sights and comical mishaps combine with depth in this adventurous story.
As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber | This enthralling historical tale finds newlywed investigators trekking from England to Dublin to solve a mystery. My Review
Did you share a TTT post this week? What is your favorite setting? Have you read any of these books?
With summer in full swing, I thought it would be fun to share some themed book recommendations! If you are packing a stack of books with you in your suitcase or just want to escape to an idyllic setting through an armchair adventure before summer is over, I hope you find something on this list to add to your TBR!
This whole “Supper Club” series showcases Denver and its nearby mountainous region, but this second book in the series showcases it from the air, too (pilot hero!). Perfect for lovers of romance with depth and lots of food.
This forever-favorite epistolary novel has nods to classic literature aplenty yet explores its own Chicago setting through the life of Samantha, the heroine.
Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and SensibilityGoodreads | Review
This loose retelling of Austen’s Sense & Sensibility has sisters moving across the country to experience the culture of Austin, Texas through fresh eyes.
Melissa Tagg’s “Walker Family” romcom series is perfect for fans of small town life as most of it is set in the fictional community of Maple Valley, Iowa. This one combines an orchard, baby goats, and a tiny bit of a prodigal’s return with a romance.
Neighborhood life and a rivalry anchor this hilarious rom-com set in Abingdon, Virginia.
traveling abroad
Love in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan Goodreads | Review
This favorite novella takes readers to caffeinated corners of Vienna, Austria (with a brief trip to Prague!) on a journey that explores the romance of history and culture — and love, of course.
See Sydney, Australia through the eyes of a Paige — an American transplant to the country whom the hero, Josh, never hesitates to initiate into the Aussie culture through pranks and humor. A heart-deep story of healing and romance can be found between these pages, too.
This books takes the characters on a tour of Ireland through some hilarious (and relatable) travel mishaps and an unexpected romance.
What is your preferred destination for summer travel? Would you rather read at the beach or beside a mountain lake? What’s your favorite “armchair adventure” destination?
Last week, author Rachel McMillan released a surprise Christmas novella: Christmas in Three Quarter Time! It’s no secret I have LOVED her previous two “Three Quarter Time” novellas set in Vienna. This one explores the city AND the Viennese countryside at the most wonderful time of year.
“Felix Huber told me that the only thing wrong with my love story was that it was in the wrong time signature. That if I didn’t find the rhythm and meter aligning with the romance I deserved, I merely needed to allot a tempo change.”
Freelance reporter Johanna Murphy declared war on charming Felix Huber the moment he stole an exclusive interview that cost her a vital promotion. Now, with time ticking to turn her temporary work visa into a permanent one, she needs a scoop that will capture the magic of Vienna at Christmas to entice international press syndication.
Inspired by the delicious lore of Vienna’s famed Sachertorte, she is determined to chase it before any rival reporter. But, the return of an unexpected and unwanted blast from her past drains her determination like a decaf espresso mélange. When Felix proposes they forge an unlikely alliance against this common enemy—for the span of Christmas only—Johanna has no choice but to follow him on a road trip across Austria culminating in the picture-perfect Tyrolean Alps where a buried hurt from Felix’s past is the secret ingredient to the bittersweet truth they find about the torte’s presence in his family history.
As Christmas approaches with the deadline of their temporary truce, Johanna learns to slow the world down and open her heart to a country, its traditions and the last man on earth she ever imagined under the mistletoe.
Christmas in Three Quarter Time is an enchanting escape to Vienna at Christmas! Traditions and torte, coffee and the countryside, Christmas markets and carvings all entwine two rival reporters as they navigate connection and explore romance. Rachel McMillan conveys the romance of the setting, too, as the Tyrol region and streets of Vienna find Johanna and Felix stepping in each other’s path toward the next byline.
The pacing of this story is perfection! The first few chapters see Johanna and Felix have a *moment* and near friendship, then time passes quickly as their relationship grows taut. The romance to come is more apparent as the story progresses toward Christmas. ❤ This almost-enemies-to-friends-and-romance spin is new for Rachel McMillan, a trope she applies well with plenty of verbal sparring (I’ve missed her dialog and banter like with Merinda Herringford and Jasper!).
While Christmas in Three Quarter Time has its sparkling moments and an idyllic setting, it is very much propelled by two unique and relatable characters. Johanna experiences personal growth, further lending to the depth of the story. The way she interacts with the world shifts because of her time with Felix. I LOVE how he sees her, calls her out on the emotional walls she’s built, then gives her the space to be herself. (And aren’t those the best kinds of friendships?!) The result is a maturity to the romance I appreciate. The warm fuzzies, Viennese traditions, bunny rescue, and Sachertorte baking are all present, but Johanna’s discovery, the theme of belonging, and the revealing of Felix’s heart are the most impactful.
Speaking of Felix, he is such a romantic. And a beta hero. I love how it’s not initially apparent because the story is in first person POV from Johanna’s perspective (or Murphy, as he always calls her). Instead, he comes off as confident until Johanna peeks behind the curtain and glimpses his vulnerability. *swoon* Now I need to go reread my favorite bunny, niece, and woodshed scenes!
I believe readers of this novella will end it with a new appreciation for family traditions, Austrian confections, European Christmas markets, and a wish to visit Vienna at Christmas. Fans of Rachel’s previous Viennese novellas will be happy to see tiny cameos familiar characters, too!
The Green Mockingbird 