Summer in the Spotlight

 

Summer in the Spotlight, by Liz Johnson, is tells the tale of two former schoolmates, Levi Ross and Kelsey Ahern, who are now working in the same school.  Kelsey is a teacher, as well as a drama coach, while Levi is the facilities director.  When they get caught in the school during an intense hurricane, Kelsey is trapped by a fallen tree and ends up with piece of glass in her shoulder.  Levi is suddenly at a loss at how to help her!

After Levi successfully performs first aid for her injury, Kelsey is back to her life of making plans for her drama department.  She cannot believe it when she suddenly learns that the drama program is being canceled.  The theater is too damaged to use for any productions!

Levi and Kelsey work hard to save the local theater.  When Gunner Raines, a popular weatherman shows up on the scene, you 

wonder how Levi will respond.  This man seems to have he eye on Kelsey; however, she is not sure what she will do when she discovers that this man cannot act.  Regrettably, Kelsey has already given him a lead acting spit!

When Gunner bails on performing in the show, you wonder how Kelsey fill his spot.  In the midst of all the theater confusion, Levi’s father suddenly shows up years after he abandoned his family.  It is interesting to see how Levi responds to this man who hurt him years ago!

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Hearts of Gold

 

Hearts of Gold, by Grace Hitchcock, contains three novellas.  The book begins with The Bridal Shop, next you read Miss Beaumont’s Companion and the book concludes with The Becoming of Miss Blanche!

You meet Alice Turner on the opening pages of The Bridal Shop.  Alice hopes positive feedback will come from her work with her latest client, a very wealthy bride.  When Giles Clayton, the bride’s brother, needs a quick repair to his pants, he steps into Alice’s bridal shop.  Giles is amazed when he first lays eyes on Alice.  They meet up again when Alice performs a fitting at the Clayton home.  When feelings begin to grow between Alice, a seamstress, and Giles, a wealthy banker, you wonder if their relationship with be approved of by society!

In Miss Beaumont’s Companion, Aria St. Angelo is asked to pretend to be her boss’s daughter, Mildred Beaumont, in order to meet the senator’s son, Byron Roderick.  As she is looking to escape in the midst of the masquerade, she accidentally runs into Roderick in a dark hallway.  Before you know it, “Mildred” has a date scheduled with him.   After Roderick’s date, he suspects something in not quite right.  As Roderick continues to date Mildred his suspicions are realized.  His first date was with Aria.  You will not believe how complicated this situation actually becomes by the end of this tale!

The Becoming of Miss Blanche opens in the year 1885 with Tacy Blanche taking a job as a Harvey girl.  She had lost everything in a fire and needed to start anew.  As Tacy tries to find a place to fit in at the resort, she meets Jasper Caffery, a Pinkerton agent, as he identifies her as Eustacia Gibbs.  Tacy had changed her name to escape from Jasper’s brother Camden.  This tale gets complicated when Jasper converts his vacation into a job handling the resort’s mule rides.  Tacy’s world becomes very complicated when Camden suddenly shows up and before she knows it, Jasper drags her into chasing after a known criminal.  Hope tight for a surprise ending!

A Stormy Season

 

A Stormy Season, by Melanie Dickerson, tells the tale of Mr. Luke Watley, a handsome young widower.   Following his wife’s death, he continues to have trouble dealing with her infidelity.  When Jane Gilchrist suddenly meets Luke and his young son in Hyde Park, she knows her life will never be the same!

When Luke arrives back at his home, he finds the townhouse ransacked and some of his staff injured.  He fears one of his wife’s lovers is behind this violence.  Now he must find a way to protect his son!

After an attack at Jane’s house is thwarted, she knows she must be on high alert.  This is an interesting tale to follow.  Not only do Jane and Luke pretend to be engaged, but they also attempt to bring these criminals to justice!

A Deadly Secret

A Deadly Secret, by Melanie Dickerson, opens on the Isle of Wright.  Lillian Courtney’s husband has been physically and emotionally abusive for years and finally she and her young daughter have come to the cottage she inherited from her grandfather.  After several days, Lillian’s husband shows up.  Yelling and banging on her locked doors.  She knows he will be back.  The next day, Lillian is surprised to learn his body was found at the bottom of a cliff!

No longer does Lillian need to worry about her husband; however, now she must be concerned about her mother-in-law.  Shortly after returning to her former home, Lillian crosses paths with Nash Golding when he steps to save her from a strange man who is accosting her.  She has no idea that eventually Nash will help her find freedom from her mother-in-law.  He allows Lillian to rent a cottage on his family estate!

After Lillian and her daughter have happily settled into their new home, she learns that her mother-in-law wants to have her declared unfit and take custody of the child herself.  Lillian and Nash plan to marry in an effort to thwart her mother-in-law’s evil plans.  Hold tight to see how Lillian’s life changes if they move forward with a marriage!

A Treacherous Treasure

 

A Treacherous Treasure, by Melanie Dickerson, opens with Rebecca Heywood.  She is out visiting neighbors when she is suddenly called home.  Rebecca’s husband had been found in the woods.  Shot dead!  During their marriage, Rebecca’s husband had been unfaithful to her with several women.  She wonders - Could it be one of their husbands who that took it into their hands to end his life?  

When Rebecca escapes the house to find some quiet away from her wailing mother-in-law, she encounters a man in the woods.  This man is holding a gun and actually shoots at Rebecca.  As she runs for her life, she encounters Thomas Westwood, the neighbor her husband had warned her to stay away from!

It seems people believe there is a chest of gold doubloons somewhere on her husband’s property.  When Rebecca discovers that Thomas is actually a man she can trust, they join together to discover why she was shot at and why the man  CBC a was actually digging a hole on her property.  After Rebecca discovers clues about the actual existence of gold on her land, she and Thomas dive in to see what they can discover!

Rebecca, Thomas and his family are soon busy on a treasure hunt.  You will not believe what they discover at the end of all the hunting!

A Perilous Plan

 

A Perilous Plan, by Melanie Dickerson, tells the tale of Penelope Hammond.  This young woman loses her husband after only five years of marriage.  She has been left as a widow with very little means to survive.  Penelope wonders how she will ever discover why her husband, David was targeted and murdered!

When Penelope is befriended by Henry Gilchrist, a colleague of her husband’s, she has no idea how her world is about to change.  Henry and David had been on a committee together that was intent on protecting England from France.  However, after David stole some critical papers, his death was eminent!

Now Penelope and Henry must locate both these papers and the criminals behind all the devious activity.  When Penelope is kidnapped by some French spies, you will not believe what she does to escape their trap.  Hold tight for an exciting end to this tale!

Independently Published

Fleur de Lis

 

In Fleur de Lis, by Sarah Eden, you will see Henri Fortier on his way to a gathering of his friends, The Gents.  These friendships had formed during their college days.  It had been a salvation to Henri as he attempted to assimilate into the English culture.  Now thirteen years later he is about to come face-to-face with someone he hoped to never see again.  Nicolette Beaulieu, the woman who had shattered his heart several years before!

After Henry learns that Nicolette had a painful experience herself in the years they had been apart, you will see a friendship slowly developing.  However, when the man responsible for her pain actually shows at the party, you have no idea how anyone will respond!

It is interesting to watch Henry and Nicolette’s 

interactions.  Does Nicolette have different feelings now or is she secretly involved in a new activity?  Henri soon will be surprised to find the answers to these questions and so much more!