Love’s Perilous Road: A Review
November 15, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Book Reviews tagged as A review, Alina K. Field, anthology, Bluestocking Belles, new release, Regency romance
Love’s Perilous Road
A Bluestocking Belles Collection with Friends
Ebook ISBN 978-1-965509-03-6
Print ISBN 978-1-965509-04-3
ASIN B0DZPKDMXV
Publisher: Bluestocking Belles
October 31, 2025
Regency Romance
I’ve been a fan of the Bluestocking Belles’ anthologies for years, probably since Alina K. Field first joined them. I’ve been a fan of Alina K. Field since she first published Rosalyn’s Ring and it won the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best contest. (It absolutely lived up to its reputation.)
So I was pleased to read and review Love’s Perilous Road, a collection of ten Regency Romances all centered around the mysterious highwayman, Captain Moonlight. All the characters have an encounter with the man, and there are brief journal entries from The Casebook of the Principal Office Robert Pierce who is planning Captain Moonlight’s capture—even if he leaves his ill-gotten gains in the chicken coops of young widows with children to feed.
As with all Bluestocking Belles Collections that I have read, all the stories are well written and very entertaining, which is not always the case with anthologies. I appreciate the care the authors take with their stories, adding in the clues to Captain Moonlight’s true identity.
Having said that, I still had my favorites: Charred Hope by Caroline Warfield in which an honorable man returns a miniature and finds a future. Sir Westcott Steals a Heart by Alina K. Field: Sybil Dunsford disguised herself as a boy to protect her brothers but, of course, Sir Westcott Twisden follows her, and hijinks ensue and they get locked in barn overnight. A Duke in Peril by Meara Platt: Lady Florence Swann rescues a wounded soldier from the side of the road near her home. But he’s more than just a soldier.
I’m looking forward to the Bluestocking Belles next collection.
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More Books by Alina K. Field
A Slight Change of Plans—A Review by Veronica Jorge
August 22, 2025 by Veronica Jorge in category Book Reviews, Book Reviews by Veronica Jorge, Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as A Slight Change of Plans, Denise M. Colby, new release, review, Reviewed by Veronica Jorge
A Slight Change of Plans
Best-laid Plans Book 2
Denise M. Colby
Scrivening’s Press
2025
ISBN 978-1- 64917-470-3
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…. Well, sort of.
Last summer, in Denise M. Colby’s, When Plans Go Awry, Book One of the Best-laid Plans books, we met Olivia Carmichael in the small ranching community of Washton, California, (you see, there really is a ranch), where Olivia had fled to escape a scandal and start a new life as a school teacher. As luck would have it, love loomed on the horizon for her with Luke Taylor. To get those dreamy details, you’ll have to read the book, and the review I posted on this site July 22, 2024.
In this second book, A Slight Change of Plans, Olivia is still in Washton and welcomes Jenny Millard, her friend and fellow teacher, into the community, helping her to settle in. But for Jenny, settling in means more than just finding a job. Although she has travelled far from home, the miles and the distance have not helped to leave the rejection behind. How can she ever erase or put to rest all of the years of hurt and her wounded heart that won’t heal?
The past is not so easy to shake loose as both women discover.
Jenny makes a connection with another newcomer, Ren Lyman, a blacksmith, and a loner due to the scars of his own life. She is strongly attracted to him, but is not sure she can overcome her past and learn to trust, much less love.
A story of second-chances, hope, friendship, gratitude, and yes, the redeeming power of love, A Slight Change of Plans, satisfies at many levels. As the title suggests, things may not always work out the way we plan or expect. Colby encourages us to believe that there is a good plan for our lives, and a Master Planner who knows how to put all of the pieces together in the right place if we would only trust Him and let Him.
See you next time on September 22nd!
Veronica Jorge
Other Books Reviewed by Veronica Jorge
Faery Swap by Susan Kaye Quinn
January 24, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Book Reviews tagged as Faery Swap
Faery Swap
Susan Kaye Quinn
ISBN: 9798348298463
Publisher: Twisted Spaces LLC
Pub date: 12/12/2013
Two souls, one body. A missing brother. A missing father. Stonehenge. And math-based magic. All the elements necessary to conjure up an engaging and fast pace story that will keep kids (grades 3 to 6) on the edge of their seats.
Both Finn, the 14 year old whose body gets snatched trapping him in the Otherworld fighting spriggans and faeries and walking trees, and Zaneyr, the faery who does the snatching and must fight off his father’s seekers, have compelling and sympathetic reasons for the choices they make.
Finn needs to get out of the Otherworld to protect his sister from Child Protective Services and neighborhood bullies. Zaneyr wants to hide himself from his father who is planning a World and Otherworld catastrophe—regardless of the humans or faeries he destroys.
Add to all of this is the ticking clock of Midsummer’s eve. Once it’s over, the boy and the faery are stuck just where they are—likely for a lifetime.
The book is published in ebook (free for January 2025), paperback and audio. There are links in the back for a cool two minute book trailer, a virtual author visit video and a downloadable teacher’s guide. The teacher’s guide included discussion questions, activities, and a card game for classroom play.
The Last Mile: A Review
June 2, 2022 by marianne h donley in category Book Reviews, Spotlight tagged as Kat Martin, Kensington, New book release, New York Times Best Selling Author, romantic suspense, The Last Mile
The Last Mile
Kat Martin
Kensington
May 31, 2022
978-1496736802
A treasure map, a treasure hunter, the Devil’s Gold, suspense, romance and a lot of twists and turns.
Abby Holland inherits a treasure from her beloved grandfather, King Farrell. Farrell was a famed explorer and treasure hunter until he allowed his obsession for the Devil’s Gold to destroy his reputation. With map in hand, Abby vows to find the gold and restore her grandfather’s good name.
Knowing she is out of her league and that others will stop at nothing to steal her treasure map, she hires another professional treasurer hunter, Gage Logan, to help her.
Gage is skeptical but still intrigued by the map and Abby. At first, he tries to dissuade her expedition. But when he realizes she’s determined to go with or without him, he reasons that the least he can do is to keep Abby safe while she uncovers the hidden messages left by her grandfather.
Heat, flash floods, winds, and a host of bad guys compound the problems Abby and Gage encounter while racing across the Superstition Mountains following King Farrell’s clues. Their growing attraction to each other doesn’t help the situation.
Abby and Gage must decide if finding the Devil’s Gold and restoring King Farrell’s reputation is worth the danger they face.
Note: I received a free e-book from Net Galley in exchanged for an honest review.
Buy Links for The Last Mile
Other Books by Kat Martin
A Review of Neanderthal Seeks Duchess by Laney Hatcher
May 16, 2022 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Book Reviews tagged as Laney Hatcher, Neanderthal Seeks Duchess, new release, Penny Reid Universe, Regency Romances, Smartypants Romance
Neanderthal Seeks Duchess
Laney Hatcher
978-1949202977
Released wide May 3, 2022, and to Kindle Unlimited May 5, 2022.
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33Yj8cQ
Neanderthal Seeks Duchess A Review by Marianne H. Donley
Holly cow. What could be better than Neanderthal Seeks Human but set in Regency England?
Three things you need to know about me:
- I may have squealed with delight when I heard about this book.
- 2. I one clicked bought it way back in March.
- 3. I still signed up for a digital ARC so I could review it before its release. (Yes, I will have two copies of this book.)
If you enjoyed Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series, you’re going to love reading Laney Hatcher’s Neanderthal Seeks Duchess.
Neanderthal Seeks Duchess absolutely lived up to my expectations. While the heroine and hero, Lady Jane and Q, are similar to Janie and Quinn, they are very much their own quirky characters.
Lady Jane is smart and a wizard with numbers, but not so great with people or social situations. She sometimes panics and gets herself into even more trouble—all the while trying to avoid gossip.
The enigmatic Q, also called Lord Dashing by Lady Jane’s friends, is direct but worried his identity will send Lady Jane running. Not an unreasonable fear. Associating with Lord Dashing will invite all manners of gossip.
So, what could be better than Neanderthal Seeks Human but set in Regency England?
Turns out—not much. This book was great fun, with a bit of a mystery, some nefarious characters, and a wonderful group of friends. I’m happily looking forward to the release of London Ladies Embroidery series, Book #2—Eliza’s story.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review, but I bought the book, anyway.
About the book
“Full of all the swoons, a dash of mystery, and punches of humor, you are going to fall head over heels with Neanderthal Seeks Duchess.” – Catherine Cowles, author of Tattered Stars
Neanderthal Seeks Duchess, an all-new charming historical romance from debut author Laney Hatcher, is coming May 5th to Kindle Unlimited! Laney introduces readers to Smartypants Romance’s new and exciting Out of This World imprint.
There are three things you need to know about Lady Jane Morrison:
1. She frequently finds herself the talk of the ton and for all the wrong reasons.
2. A dashingly mysterious gentleman has caught her attention and even more dangerous…she has caught his.
3. She’s rubbish at embroidery.
After scandalous events during the London season, Lady Jane is attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her reputation is at risk as well as all her carefully laid plans for the future. And for better or worse, a chance encounter with a mysterious lord sets forth a series of events that will change their lives forever.
‘Neanderthal Seeks Duchess’, a Penny Reid Universe Reimagining, is a full-length historical romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the London Ladies Embroidery series, Smartypants Romance Out of this World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Grab your copy today!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3h0HoOb
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ByTl7t
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3I0hWo6
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3H4csre
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33Yj8cQ
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