CelebrateLit Book Review & Giveaway: Archer by Camille Elliot

About the Book

Book: Lady Wynwood’s Spies 1: Archer
Author: Camille Elliot
Genre: Christian Historical Romantic Suspense
Release date: December 8, 2020

A Christian Regency Romantic Adventure serial novel with a supernatural twist

Lady Wynwood’s Spies volume 1

She met him again by shooting him.

Part one in a Christian Regency Romantic Adventure epic serial novel with a supernatural twist. After four seasons and unmarried because she is taller than most of her dance partners, Miss Phoebe Sauber receives the shocking news that she is being callously banished from her father’s estate because he is remarrying. Feeling betrayed by her father and by God, and wanting to escape her family’s presence, she attends an archery tournament with her friends.

But her perfect aim fails her, and her arrow hits a piece of paper held by Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones, whom she hasn’t seen much in society in several years. But strangely, her arrow tears a section of the paper with a partial symbol that looks eerily familiar to her.

He met her again while searching for a killer.

Michael had quit his work as a spy for the Foreign Office when his brother was poisoned. His search for the murderer leads him to Apothecary Jack, a criminal underworld leader with a penchant for poisons, who is gathering a powerful army through an alchemical potion that can give men supernatural strength.

But his path unexpectedly crosses again with Miss Sauber, who saves him from a trap laid by Jack. She and her Aunt Laura, Lady Wynwood, have found a vital connection to Apothecary Jack and the mysterious group he works for.

Now Michael, who had vowed to never again allow civilians to come to harm, must work with a nobleman keeping dangerous secrets, a human lie detector, a chemist, a fellow former spy, and the one woman he’s never allowed himself to get close to.

And it is only this ragtag group that stands against a traitorous organization that could enable Napoleon to conquer the world.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Camy writes Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Camy Tang and Regency romance as USA Today bestselling author Camille Elliot. She lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She was a staff worker for her church youth group for over 20 years and she currently plays on one of the Sunday worship teams. Visit her websites at http://www.camytang.com/ and http://www.camilleelliot.com/ to read free short stories and subscribe to her quarterly newsletter.

My Thoughts

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer
by Camille Elliot
Romantic Suspense Serial Novel
Rating: 4/5

Having read everything by Camille Elliot (aka Camy Tang), I was excited to get a chance to read this fast-paced romantic suspense with some supernatural elements. It ended on a cliffhanger with some unanswered questions, and I need the next book now.

Miss Phoebe Sauber has never been able to get Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones out of her mind after dancing with him a few years ago until seeing him again after accidentally shooting at his document with an arrow during an archery contest where her opponent cheated. She is surprised at his appearance (or disguise) but easily recognizes him. Phoebe had been distracted by her opponent and her emotions were all over the place because of her father’s announcements that he was getting remarried and she was being sent to Bath to care for her aunt. Phoebe picks up a part of the torn document that has a mysterious symbol that looks very familiar to her. Phoebe’s struggling relationship with her father drives her to seek out her favorite Aunt Laura, Lady Wynwood. Away from her father’s criticisms and disappointments, Phoebe is able to flourish under her aunt’s influence, and she finds a confidence to track down Michael and figure out that he was searching for clues to find his brother’s killer. With the help of some friends, Phoebe and Michael embark on an adventure to discover the truth and find a way to stop the ones making and distributing a new drug that seems to give superhuman strength and hearing.

As someone who loves reading about supernatural creatures, I was pleasantly surprised that a regency novel included some supernatural elements. I always love when the author throws in some botany into her scripts, which lends some credibility to her plot. Her characters are quirky and fun with heart and passion and spunk. I was impressed with how descriptive the story was while still being full of action and intrigue.

Highly recommend if you enjoy reading romantic suspense during the Regency period with some supernatural aspects thrown in. It’s a clean read you won’t want to miss.

My thanks to the author and CelebrateLit for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Camy

I love Regency romances! I started reading them when I was 13 years old and haven’t stopped since.

There’s something about the Regency time period and culture that’s glamorous and decadent and the epitome of elegance. The resplendent dresses! The brooding, romantic Lord Byron and the distinguished Beau Brummell! Dashing naval captains and army lieutenants, glittering ballrooms and winsome debutantes!

The flip side of my personality loves romantic suspense and action adventure. I love seeing strong women face danger with courage and smarts, and strong men willing to do anything to protect their loved ones and fight for justice.

So, basically, the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series grew out of my desire to see Mission: Impossible in the Regency era!

My Regency “IMF” team is brought together when my spinster heroine, a botanist and a skilled archer, discovers that her late uncle had ties to a mysterious group. She goes to her aunt’s best friend, a gentleman who has secretly been a spy for decades, and he forms his team of ex-agents and uniquely gifted civilians to battle this group of alchemists who want to ensure that Napoleon wins the war with England. (Cue the Mission: Impossible theme music!)

I’ve also structured the series a little differently. It’s a very long serial novel, similar to a Japanese manga or light novel series, with 12 volumes that each have a completed story arc, but the main plot isn’t resolved until the end.

I hope you’ll join me on this epic Regency romantic adventure!

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 15
CarpeDiem, February 15
Hebrews 12 Endurance, February 16
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 16
Artistic Nobody, February 17 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Inside the Wong Mind, February 17
Through the Fire Blogs, February 18
Mia Reads, February 18
Sara Jane Jacobs, February 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 19
HookMeInABook, February 19
Betti Mace, February 20
Inklings and notions, February 20
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 21
Texas Book-aholic, February 21
Connie’s History Classroom, February 22
The Artist Librarian, February 22
Pause for Tales, February 22
For Him and My Family, February 23
Labor Not in Vain, February 23
deb’s Book Review, February 24
Fiction Book Lover, February 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 25
Just Your Average reviews, February 25
Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 26
Blossoms and Blessings, February 27
Britt Reads Fiction, February 27
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 28
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 28
Blogging With Carol, February 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Camy is giving away the grand prize of a 1-year subscription to Kindle Unlimited!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1074a/lady-wynwood-s-spies-1-archer-celebration-tour-giveaway

February 17, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Book Review: The Reclaimed Kingdom by Dana Claire

The Reclaimed Kingdom
by Dana Claire
Book 1 in the Syphon Series
Rating: 4/5
Release date: February 14, 2021

Wow. This is literally the second book that I’ve read from Dana Claire and once again, she did not disappoint. This story is full of non-stop action and reminds me of a mashup between Robin Hood and Snow White.

After her father is sent off to war, Princess Andrua “Dru” of D’Land is forced to flee her home when her wicked stepmother starts using her to hurt her people. Dru must hide her identity and gender to join the Band of Brothers who are stealing from the rich to redistribute to the poor. Trained as a warrior since she was little, she has no problems ascending the ranks and becoming a feared leader – even after they discover she is a female. Hiding her past from her new friends is imperative but one fellow, Hawkins, can’t seem to keep asking her questions and wanting her to open up. He sees her differently ever since they found out she was not a lad, so she tries to keep her distance. She chooses to keep her syphon powers hidden but can’t stop herself from healing a wrongfully injured soldier, who just so happens to be the personal guard of her former childhood best friend, Prince Edward “Dodge”. With her secrets exposed, Dru must rise up before the evil queen destroys what’s left of her kingdom. She needs the help of Hawkins, Dodge and the rest of her Band of Brothers to reclaim her birthright and discover the truth behind her mother’s tragic death.

So I do not care for love triangles (frustrated sigh) but I do appreciate what the author is trying to portray especially in this magical fantasy world with interesting creatures. My frustration really only comes up near the end of the story, but since this is part of a series, this is just the beginning so I’ll have to reserve final judgment till the end. LOL. This story is full of fairly violent action (especially in the last act) and there is some talk of rape but no descriptive scenes. Just wanted to give a heads up if you have any triggers. Overall, I wish there was more about Dru – I am left feeling like there’s more to her but I haven’t been able to get to know her yet. It might be because she doesn’t realize who she fully is yet – this is only the first book in the series though so there’s definitely room for more development. You won’t regret picking up this book to read, and I cannot wait to read what comes next.

Highly recommend this fantasy adventure with romance and mystery.

Content: PG-13.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

February 11, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Cast the First Stone by David James Warren

Cast the First Stone
by David James Warren
Book 1 in the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: February 9, 2021
Preorder here!

I am a huge fan of Susan May Warren and was super excited to be chosen to be an early reviewer of this new series by multiple authors; however, I had a hard time reading past the first few chapters of the book but then BAM! The story really picked up, and I couldn’t stop reading till the end. So if you start this book, please give it a chance and you will not be disappointed.

Rembrandt Stone’s life is not perfect as a struggling author and former police investigator, but he doesn’t hate his life. His wife, Eve, and daughter, Ashley, are the loves of his life, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. When his old boss leaves him his watch and a box of cold case files, Rem’s life gets very strange very fast. He remembers the unsolved case that haunts his nightmares and suddenly, it feels like he’s traveled back in time to try to solve the case before it’s too late. Can he discover what he missed previously? And at what cost?

Wow. Simple enough premise, but the authors did a great job of bringing Rembrandt Stone’s past to life. I felt like I was right there with Rem experiencing the investigation and its many twists and turns. Getting into his head was interesting as he tried to sort through what he already knew from what he had forgotten. Although I wasn’t quite hooked from the first few chapters, they were still necessary to establish Rem’s background and home life. I expected the cliffhanger ending since it’s a series and felt it was necessary. If you’ve ever seen the TV show, Continuum, you may enjoy this story that has some similarities but also has its own nuances. I can’t wait to read what comes next!

Highly recommend if you enjoy time travel and crime thrillers with a hint of romance. I feel like the book (and series) has something for everyone.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.