Bride of A Distant Isle

Since Downton Abbey, I've grown to truly appreciate traditional regency genre's and one of the very best authors I have found is Sandra Byrd. I've read quite a few of her novels and the attention to detail is what really makes me feel like I'm part of the novel not simply reading it. I can't imagine how difficult life was in England in the mid to late 1800's and when the parents died leaving behind no male heir, the fortune went the way to the next male descendant in the family, be it cousins or even more removed than that. Daughters were left with nothing, and that is why many families chose to find suitable matches for the women in the family before anything happened to the father.

In Bride of A Distant Isle, Miss Annabel Ashton has found herself in such a precarious situation. Her mother died while being committed to an insane asylum and since she was born without a father being married to her mother, the family estate of Highcliffe Hall falls under the hands of her cousin Edward. Annabel's mother wasn't married, was committed an insane, so all the property that would have been hers has been handed over to the next male heir in line. Since Annabel was too young when her parents died, she is left destitute and the only thing Edward can do to cover the debts owed on the estate is to sell it or find a suitable match for Annabel even if she isn't interested in marriage.

While Edward struggles to find a way to salvage the estate, he asks Annabel to be a spy to a possible business partner to a sea captain from Malta, Captain Marco Dell'Acqua. She soon learns that her and Marco have more in common than physical attraction when Annabel discovers some mysterious family artifacts and jewelry that begin to appear in her things. They seem to have a Maltese background and all of them may lead to the fact that Annabel is the proper heir to the estate, unless of course the mental illness of her mother starts to manifest itself in her at the same time her mother was committed.

I received Bride of A Distant Isle by Sandra Byrd compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained here are my own honest and personal evaluation of the novel. For fans of traditional regency, you will absolutely love this novel. It has a bit of suspense added to keep the reader engaged in the story line as Annabel makes some startling discoveries of her mother and of her family background that could be detrimental to her own safety if they are brought into the open. I love the subtle clues that Annabel and Marco give to one another based on a sense of propriety for ones reputation during that time frame. I personally believe this one deserved 5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion since I read it in one sitting in a matter of hours and could not put it down. This is the second novel in the Daughter's of Hampshire series with Mist of Midnight being the first!

For more information about Bride of A Distant Isle, Sandra Byrd or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Bride of A Distant Isle by Sandra Byrd

You can find Sandra Byrd on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Bride of A Distant Isle, please visit Howard Book's website. 

Mist of Midnight

As long as we have someplace to call home, we have a sense of security no matter what happens in life. When Rebecca Ravenshaw left England years ago to work with her family as missionaries in India, she found a second home among the lower castes of people. People who appreciated what she did to improve their lives and it was those very same people who saved her life when the uprisings began. Her parents did not survive. All she had hoped was to head home and try to salvage something of the life she had known from her families home in Hampshire, England.

What she wasn't looking for was out right suspicion on who she claimed to be. Apparently for several months, Rebecca Ravenshaw had returned to Headbourne House along with her Indian maid and only recently died leaving the estate to the only heir left, Captain Luke Whitfield. With very little to prove she is who she claims, she visits Headbourne House and confronts Captain Whitfield. He agrees to give her time at the estate for her claims to be proven that she is who she claims without being left on the street with nothing and no one to care for her. He agrees to move to the guest home for the time being until their solicitor can iron out who gets the estate and all it's withholdings.

The more Rebecca digs into the mysterious death surrounding the women impersonating her, the most suspicious she becomes that the one did not commit suicide and may have been murder. But if that is the case, is she now running the same risk? Why would someone want Rebecca murdered? Who had the most to gain if she were dead? Does the charming and handsome Captain Whitfield have anything to do with the apparent ease at which he acquired the estate after the imposters death? What will happen if Rebecca can't prove who she is?

I received Mist of Midnight by Sandra Bryd compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are my own. This is such a wonderful novel because it combines the aspects of a traditional regency alongside a bit of suspense and mystery. It keeps you guessing who is responsible until almost the very end and now I can't wait for more novels in this series. Rebecca Ravenshaw is the epitome of a strong women who isn't about to let her dire financial situation and what people think of her, keep her from taking back what is rightfully hers even if it means stepping on a few politically correct toes to do it. Hands down a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. This is the first novel in the Daughters of Hampshire series!

For more information about Mist of Midnight, Sandra Bryd or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Mist of Midnight by Sandra Bryd

You can find Sandra Bryd on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Mist of Midnight, please visit Howard Book's website. 

Don't Kiss Him Goodbye

Savannah Smith is back and better than ever in her latest sequel, Don't Kiss Him Goodbye by Sandra Byrd in the London Confidential series. Savannah is still getting use to the differences between her old life in America and making her first official year now in Wexberg Academy in England.

She is still struggling with trying to fit in, even though she has been assigned a column in the school paper, Asking For Trouble, an advice column that she has to write for secretly so no one knows its her. She is still hoping for an opportunity to prove herself as a true journalist but unfortunately just when an opportunity pops up, the girl who use to write for the paper returns with a vengeance to take Savvy or Savannah out.

When faced with the challenge of attending the very first major dance in school, Savannah learns from her best friend Penney that most people plan on this dance for months to know who to ask. Since the dance is a few weeks away, the likelihood of Savvy finding a date isn't easy if not down right impossible.

When a handsome boy named Rhys asks Savvy to the dance, she jumps at the invitation but later wonders what his real motives are. Find out what happens to Savvy in the latest book by Tyndale House Publishers. This is the third book in the London Confidential Series and without a doubt is just a great as the first one. I would easily rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and my daughter was super excited when this one came in after enjoying the first one so much.

I received this book compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review.