#histfic

Labor of Love by Marguerite Martin Gray

About the Book

Book: Labor of Love
Series: Gardens in Time #1
Author: Marguerite Martin Gray
Genre: Christian Historical  Romance
Release date: February 15, 2022

Something sinister lurks in Pitti Palace.

Despite having spent eight years as companion to her cousins, Ana Geovani still questions her role and place in the Medici household. This uncertainty compounds and alarms as her cousin’s marriage approaches and a marriage is arranged for Ana.

With no say in her own future, fear and despair dulls even the splendor of the gardens she holds so dear.

As the newest under gardener at the palace, Marco Rossi should have everything he’s dreamed of–beautiful gardens to tend and master architects and gardeners to learn from. Yet a secret mission threatens his peace of mind, his position, and even the love of Ana. Although God is always with him, reminding him of a bigger plan, Marco feels the weight of the consequences he will face if he challenges a Medici member.

The desires of men and women, both royal and common, create costly dilemmas and potential disasters of hearts and souls. What will it take for Marco and Ana to prevail against everything driving them apart?

Click here to get your copy! Also available on Kindle Unlimited.

About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. She has two grown children and currently lives with her husband in north Louisiana. She writes historical fiction.

Connect with Marguerite: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Bookbub | Pinterest | Instagram | Amazon


My Review

Labor of Love
by Marguerite Martin Gray
Book 1 in the Gardens in Time series
Rating: 4/5

It’s always fun to be introduced to a new author and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author can weave a beautiful story about love, life and faith in a historical setting.

First, the book cover is beautiful. They really captured a beautiful garden backdrop which is part of who the heroine is.
Second, the story wastes no time jumping into the story and finding where the conflict is. The story always kept moving along but after reading a lot of suspense, it’s definitely not as fast-paced. It still has some mystery but it is more like a steady stream than a rushing river if that makes sense.
Third, the love story is very fun and flirty while still having to face each of the character’s insecurities and baggage.
Fourth, the way the author weaves in her faith is beautiful and delicately done. The message has a way of staying with you and searching out your own heart.

Highly recommend this historical Christian romance with humor, mystery and a lot of heart!

My thanks to the author and publisher 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 the Author

Are you a gardener? My mom calls me the accidental gardener. Is there such a thing? Well, I threw a pumpkin off my deck into a flower bed in December. By March, I had a garden full of beautiful, big pumpkins and luscious vines.

I love the idea of gardening, although I’m not very successful with my planting and grandiose plans. I stick with zinnias, potatoes, and onions. But I admire all kinds of gardens—flower and vegetable. Gardens are full of surprises—zingers in my ordinary life.

From the beauty of organized formal gardens like Versailles and Boboli to quaint, colorful English gardens, I relish the assault to all the senses. I’m refreshed, renewed, and relaxed just by being in a garden.

The birth of my Gardens in Time series arose from my travels. Labor of Love, set in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, springs from memories of wonder and beauty as I roamed the avenues and paths as a child and then an adult. I never had the adventures of Ana as she struggles and grows in the court of the Medici, but I walked in the Medici’s steps and let my imagination journey with Ana. She now has her own story.

I hope that you can experience some of the awe and amazement through Ana’s wanderings. I invite you to roam the Boboli Gardens with Ana.


Blog Tour

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 19
Texas Book-aholic, March 20
Inklings and notions, March 21
For Him and My Family, March 22
Betti Mace, March 23
deb’s Book Review, March 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 25
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 26
Connie’s History Classroom, March 27
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 28 (Spotlight)
Mary Hake, March 28
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 29
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 31 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Persuasion, March 31
Blossoms and Blessings, April 1
Inside the Wong Mind, April 2


Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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/1bc99/labor-of-love-celebration-tour-giveaway


Read an Excerpt

CelebrateLit Epic Book Launch: A Warrior’s Heart by Misty M. Beller

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

About the Book

Book: A Warrior’s Heart
Series: Brides of Laurent Book #1
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: August 31, 2021

Brielle Durand still feels haunted by the massacre that killed her mother a dozen years before. Vowing to never let it happen again, she’s risen to be the key defender for her people’s peace-loving French settlement living in hidden caves in the Canadian Rockies. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way and insists he can be trusted?

Hoping to escape past regrets, Evan MacManus ventured into the unknown, assigned to discover if the northern mountains contain an explosive mineral that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on the promise he’s made to his government or take a risk on the path his heart is leading him down? Either choice will cause harm to someone.

Brielle and Evan must reconcile the warring in their hearts, if they’ve any hope to find the peace the seek.


BOOK EXCERPT FOUR

He could investigate which tribe had made the weapon later. If he survived this attack. At the moment, he had to find a way to ensure he didn’t get a more personal introduction to whoever shot him.

No movement flashed in the morning light beyond the trees. Only a cluster of scraggly bushes marked the other side of the trail. But the warrior had likely been shooting from farther ahead, maybe even from the bend in the path, where the bases of two mountains met to form a narrow opening between them. The gap created a natural gateway where an enemy could find cover and wait.

A spasm seized Evan, doubling him over as he fought to stifle a groan. He had to keep breathing, or this lightness in his head would take over.

“To the ground. Now,” barked a voice behind him. The tone held an accent, but not any Indian tongue he’d ever heard.

Evan twisted, biting back a grunt as he tried to focus his wavering vision on the figure standing not five strides behind his horse, bow and arrow at the ready. He had no doubt that second arrow would find its way into his flesh if he didn’t obey the order.

MISSED ANY EXCERPTS, GO HERE:

Excerpt One
Excerpt Two
Excerpt Three
Excerpt Four (mine)
Excerpt Five
Excerpt Six
Excerpt Seven

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple Books | Google Play | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Christian Book


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Connect with Misty: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Secrets of Stonebridge by Anita Stansfield

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

About the Book

Title: Secrets of Stonebridge
Author: Anita Stansfield
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: July 1, 2021

Since the untimely death of her young husband, Regina Everleigh has been consumed by her grief. After more than a year spent sequestered in her rooms at Stonebridge Manor, the once lively young woman is encouraged to venture into town—her first small step toward healing. But Regina is shaken out of her stupor when she makes a most unexpected discovery: a foundling baby girl. Regina is instantly enthralled with the infant and determines that she will claim the child as her own—a deception that seems, in the moment, to be harmless. But when her husband’s cousin Radcliffe comes back into her life, Regina quickly becomes entangled in a tenuous charade. 

Radcliffe is immediately taken with both the charming baby girl and the woman he believes to be her mother. As Regina and Radcliffe are drawn together, first as friends and then as something much deeper, the future is bright with unspoken promise. But when the truth of the baby’s parentage is revealed, Regina stands to lose all that she has come to cherish.

Click HERE to purchase your copy!


About the Author

Anita Stansfield has been the reigning queen of LDS romantic fiction for more than two decades, although her general market releases have been among her readers favorites. Her work has shattered the stereotypes of romance novels with her trademark ability to combine great storytelling with intense psychological depth as she focuses on the emotional struggles of the human experience. Her novels cover a huge spectrum, from the eighteenth century to the present, from heart warming to heart stopping. Hundreds of thousands of readers agree: Anita Stansfield’s characters and the lives they lead are not easy to forget.

Connect with Anita: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads


My Review

Secrets of Stonebridge
by Anita Stansfield
Rating: 4/5

With such an interesting premise, I knew I had to read this book right away. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this story before. The miscommunication and hidden secrets were not new but the Moses arc was new for a regency story. I have never read anything from the author before and was surprised at how quickly I became invested in Gina’s life and her secrets. For this book, I kept wanting to read Sir Radcliffe’s perspective but the book was only written from Gina’s point of view. I always think the most frustrating part of these stories is when there’s a secret that needs to be revealed but the main character keeps putting it off. The romance between the leads was very sweet and gradual which I liked. The characters were full of their own backstories and baggage which gave them depth and motivation. The story gives me the feeling of Jane Eyre due to some darker themes but it still stands on its own.

PG content.

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean, regency romance with endearing characters and lots of heart.

My thanks to the author and publisher 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.


Read An Excerpt

“Gina knew that some form of a lecture was coming. In most situations, a maid would never speak so comfortably and casually to the person for whom they worked. But Emerald and Ruby had grown up with Gina, and they mutually shared an attitude of responsibility for Gina’s best interests, every bit as much as they worked together to care for her daily needs. Occasionally they both shared tea or a meal with her since she’d not eaten any meals outside her rooms for months now. But she couldn’t recall both being in her room together at this time of day. She sensed some kind of conspiracy and discreetly slithered deeper beneath the covers until they flew abruptly from over her face and she found herself looking up at Emerald, with the much shorter Ruby at her side. Both were scowling with determination, and Gina wished she could feign ignorance regarding what this might be about, but she knew exactly why they might feel the need to unite in confronting her. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean she wanted to discuss the matter—even with these women she trusted completely. She only wanted to continue on as she had been doing since Dwight’s passing. Life beyond her bedroom, sitting room, and personal parlor held no interest for her whatsoever. She had devoted herself to Dwight in every way, perhaps believing that her efforts could eventually create positive changes between them; but now she would never know. She’d worked hard to convince herself that there was a happy and hopeful future with him. And then he’d abandoned her. Of course, she knew he’d not intentionally met with a riding accident that rainy spring morning, but he had gone out riding when she had requested that he stay in due to the weather being so dreadful. He’d promised he wouldn’t be gone long, insisting that he only felt the need for a brief jaunt to get some fresh air. But the drizzle had turned to a downpour, and the meadows and woods through which he frequently rode had become muddy—or at least that’s what she’d been told by those who had found his body. When he’d not returned after many hours, his cousin and some of the servants had gone searching for him. It had been the unanimous opinion of all who had seen the location of the accident that the horse had apparently lost its footing on a muddy incline and Dwight had fallen from the saddle. The horse had loyally remained with its owner of many years, unharmed but very dirty. Apparently, Dwight had died instantly, according to what the local doctor had said about the way he had hit the ground. Gina found some comfort in knowing he hadn’t suffered, but in the depths of her grieving she had never been able to shake the feeling that he’d abandoned her, even if he’d never meant to do so. And with his death, all hope of creating a better marriage—and becoming a mother—had shattered into far too many pieces to ever be mended.”


Follow along on the Blog & Bookstagram Tour!

July 26
Inside the Wong Mind
Life Is What It’s Called

July 27
Inklings and Notions
My Book A Day
@inklingsandnotions
@emflynnreads

July 28
Lisa is a Bookworm
@clarkecornercleanreads

July 29
Why Not? Because I Said So
@kaileybechtel
@ssdawn2002

July 30
Reading with Emily
@mara.harvey

July 31
She Lives To Read


Giveaway

WIN a PAPERBACK copy of Secrets of Stonebridge by Anita Stansfield (US addresses only).

Enter here: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ae98b8a275/