Carole's Monday: Flirtation and Folly

Author: Elizabeth Rasche

Title: Flirtation & Folly

(A Season in London #1)

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Published:  November 9th 2020 

Pages: 326 

Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: MARIANNE MOWBREY is a responsible country rector’s daughter who longs for the novelty and excitement she reads about in novels. When her crusty Aunt Harriet agrees to give her a Season in London, Marianne vows to dazzle the world, win a husband, and never go home again. But the Londoners who determine social success are inclined to pass over plain Marianne in favor of her beautiful, reckless younger sister.

In a world of ambition, fashion, flattery, and deceit, how can Marianne stay true to her real self—when she is not even sure what that real self is?

Review:

Couldn't resist picking this one up. The cover and the summary. Totally up my alley 

The story follows Marianne who is a country rector's daughter. She longs for a life of excitement like the heroines in the novels she reads. Her Aunt Harriet agrees to give her a Season in London and help her maybe find a husband. Marianne vows to dazzle the world, find love, and never go back to her boring home. However, the Londoners seem to pass over her in favor of her younger and more beautiful sister. Will Marianne find everything she wants, but stay true to her real self. 

Bless Marianne's heart. She just wants to be loved and have a life of her own. Can you blame her? Her parents are not cruel, but they demand so much of her and expect her to help since she is the eldest and they have no faith she'll find a husband. They let Belinda do whatever and she is obviously the favorite. Such a pity and you can't help but root for Marianne to get everything she wants and deserves. 

Oooo the ton. They never disappoint. They are so fake and rude and I do not think I would do well. I guess I would just end up as a spinster in the country. Fine by me if I can avoid people like Emily and even Belinda. Ugh. Maybe I could be like Aunt Harriet ;)

Sure there is a romance element to this, but it was mainly focused on Marianne and her journey to finding herself and maybe finding love along the way. I loved this and it was refreshing. It was very Austen-like so I really appreciated this story and the characters. 

The ending made me grin ear-to-ear. Loved it!!

I really enjoyed the story overall. The author really did a wonderful job bringing this large cast of characters to life and this world. We get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of this society and these characters. Sometimes someone or something is not as it seems. 

Overall, this was a really good book. I adored it. I liked Marianne and it was fun watching her grow into herself and try and make her way through Society. The ending was good and I loved it. I'll stamp this with 5 stars. 

No good dragon goes unpunished by Rachel Aaron

Narrated by: Vikas Adam

Series: Heartstrikers, Book 3

Length: 18 hrs and 51 mins

Release date: 09-13-16

Publisher: Audible Studios

Urban Fantasy

Own

Sheesh, that was a LOT of omgs in my previous review

I can not remember why I decied to re-listen, but I am enjoying it. They are just so good!

This one was about politics, and yes most of my old omgs are of course about things that happen, now I know they happen, but before, dang, this happen! Especially the Chelsea and F bits has me wanting, well those things to happen.

Vikas Adam is a narrator God. 

If you have not started this series than damn it, what are you waiting for?!

When Julius overthrew his mother and took control of his clan, he thought he was doing right by everyone. But sharing power isn't part of any proper dragon's vocabulary, and with one seat still open on the new ruling council, all of Heartstriker is ready to do whatever it takes to get their claws on it, including killing the Nice Dragon who got them into this mess in the first place.

To keep his clan together and his skin intact, Julius is going to have to find a way to make his bloodthirsty siblings play fair. But there's more going on in Heartstriker Mountain than politics. Every family has its secrets, but the skeletons in Bethesda's closet are dragon sized, and with Algonquin's war looming over them all, breaking his clan wide open might just be the only hope Julius has of saving it.

The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths

Paperback, 384 pages

Published May 12th 2020 by Mariner Books (first published February 7th 2019

Series: Ruth Galloway #11

Mystery

Library

I do know why I like these. They are not detective novels. It is about Ruth, her family and friends, and that is what I like. The characters drive me to wanting more, and if there is some drama and murder on the side then all the better.

In this one things from the past comes back to haunt them. Another missing girl, and more digging into lost things.

As for Ruth well the drama there is that Nelson is waiting for his son to be born, and who knows maybe it is not his son after all. I might be cruel, but I doubt I have been the only one wishing it would not be and that they could be together. Instead I got angry at Nelson, you can not have your cake and eat it! Ruth deserves better, instead she has ha 10 years of longing.

And as always a great book an I have already started the next one, but then, omg, I am all caught up. The next one will be out first next year.

DCI Nelson has been receiving threatening letters. They are anonymous, yet reminiscent of ones he has received in the past, from the person who drew him into a case that’s haunted him for years. At the same time, Ruth receives a letter purporting to be from that very same person—her former mentor, and the reason she first started working with Nelson. But the author of those letters is dead. Or is he?

The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson, and its grip is deadly

Audio: Looking for a cowboy by Donna Grant

Narrated by: Rebecca Estrella

Series: Heart of Texas Series, Book 5

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins

Release date: 10-27-20

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance

To review

Omg, that is really the way to start this. This was dark, ok so the book is not dark, but the thing it touches upon. Damn!

Someone is murdering pregnant women, and cutting out their babies and selling them. I mean damn!

Marle's sister was a victim 10 years ago and Marlee became a PI and is not trying to solve her sister's case, and more. Which brings her to a little town to see if a newly adopted baby is one that had been cut out a week earlier. Again, dang!

Cooper is this super sweet, like awww Cooper, all the hugs!

They meet, she is investigating his friends, I thought there would be more drama around that but omg they talked!! The real drama is trying to take down the evil preggo killing baby snatcher ring. And that drama was plenty and chilling.

I did believe that these two could fall fast for each other, she does have a way of making you believe. Good romance, good drama and suspense.

I have listened to the narrator before and I do like her cowboy books, she does them so well. Great distinct voices and you just fall into the flow of things.

A beautiful stranger has come to Clearview, asking questions that are nobody's business. Cooper Owens also wasn't born yesterday. He knows that this out-of-towner is hiding a dark secret of her own. Much as he knows he should head in the other direction, he can't make himself turn away....

PI Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered - and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee's come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can't believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister...and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth - and keep her safe in his arms.