Today I’m participating
in the Cephalopod Coffeehouse’s monthly blog hop to discuss the best book I’ve
read this month.
Well, I’ve been tearing
through books this month, so I’m featuring not one, but three “best books.”
I’ll start with one for
the Regency genre. Lord Fenton’s Folly by Josi S. Kilpack. I just recently
learned about this author. She has several historical several titles to her
name, and after reading Lord Fenton’s Folly, I can definitely say I will read another
… and soon.
This novel is a
romance, but its flavor is a little different from the usual fare.
Lord Fenton’s animosity
toward his father makes him rebellious, and he assumes the role of a dandy,
gambler, and drinker. By the time he is of age, his father threatens to disown
him if Fenton does not mend his ways. One way of doing this is to find a wife
and settle down. Although Fenton has no desire to marry, he figures his
long-time friend Alice Stanbridge is as good as any woman. Alice has carried a
torch for Fenton since she was a little girl and readily agrees. She is later
devastated to learn that his intent is for a marriage of convenience. Even so,
she goes through with the nuptials and tries to make the best of it. A few
weeks into the marriage, she is unable to stand her husband’s antics and
excessive drinking. When family secrets emerge, Fenton and Alice must decide
whether their marriage will remain a sham or develop into something more
meaningful.
Kilpack is a talented
writer and storyteller. This is a page-turner with rich, well-developed, flawed
but sympathetic characters. Lord Fenton is fascinating. He tries hard
to be unlovable with his foppish behavior and dress, but somehow that makes him
all the more attractive. Although I was not completely astounded by the ending,
I was surprised at how the ending came about. I highly recommend this to
Regency readers who are looking for a great story rather than hot and heavy
romance scenes.
The Five Times I Met Myself is James L. Rubart’s seventh book (his eighth just came out a couple of
months ago). I first read Rubart’s book Rooms back in 2010, and I was hooked.
His books are spiritual, haunting, and life-altering. They strike at the very core
of what so many of us struggle with—a desire to reclaim youth, repair mistakes.
Brock Matthews regrets
some of the decisions he’s made in his life. Now his marriage and business are
both falling apart, and he wishes he could have a “do-over” for the trajectory
of his life. When he discovers a deep, psychological dream technique called
lucid dreaming, he embraces the method, traveling back in his dreams (and in
real life) to encounters with a younger version of himself. Unfortunately,
changing the past has unexpected—and undesired—results. Brock must decide if
he’s willing to let go of some of the most important things in his life and
whether a do-over is such a great idea after all.
The tag line of this
book is “What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would
you say?” This novel is about looking over your shoulder, wondering if you
could have done it better, if you should have done it differently, and how to
deal with the decisions that have been made—good or bad. Jim Rubart says this
book will set you free, and I believe it. Powerful, powerful message.
Thought-provoking fiction.
Always with You is
Elaine Stock’s debut novel. It is a unique contemporary novel and a real
page-turner! I could not put it down. I was up late into the night reading—a
testament to Stock’s fabulous writing and gifted storytelling.
Isabelle and Tyler meet
under dangerous circumstances, when Tyler saves Isabelle from a violent attack.
Two people with unusual pasts, they are drawn to one another and quickly fall
in love. Threatened by dark family secrets, a religious sect, and uncertain
odds, Isabelle and Tyler forge ahead with love and marriage despite the
warnings of friends and family. When physical danger threatens Isabelle and her
unborn child, she must choose whether to remain with the man she loves or run
in search of safety.
Part love story, part
psychological thriller, Always with You spins a haunting tale of love and hate,
truth and lies, good and evil, while delivering a message of the need for
discernment and forgiveness in all our lives. And it's on sale for $.99
this week!
Read any good
books lately?
