Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.  ~Daniel Webster

Remember your Moms on Mother's Day! Give them kisses and flowers! Take them out to eat! Cherish them while you have them with you. Mine was taken from me so very long ago. I wish I had her here now to spoil her.

Title: The Earl, a Girl, and a Promise

Author: Kate Rothwell

Genre: Historical Fiction

Review Rating: Five Stars

Reviewer: Linda Hays-Gibbs

    Paul Denton visits his uncle the Earl of Latterly on his deathbed and discovers that he is not the new Earl upon his death. He promises the Earl he will search for this other relation.  He has a cousin in America that should inherit and his uncle kept this marriage secret from everyone including the woman he was presently married to. Paul travels to New York  to check out this new information. 

     While he is investigating; a naked woman runs into him scattering his brains into a lust filled obsession. He cannot stop himself from wanting her and having her. He hopes the episode is over and continues searching for his cousin.

     Finally; with a street urchin named Tad he finds his cousin Johnny Smith. He is bailing him out of jail when the beauty from last night walks in. He finds she is his cousin's half sister and he is appalled by the amount of lust he still has for her. He tries to control himself but finds he must reeducate the new Earl. He removes Tad, Johnny, and Emma, his beautiful seductress to the country to further educate them in the proper deportment of an Earl. There he meets their mother Rita, a loud out spoken woman with no refinement.

     Paul tries to control himself around Emma but when her old beau, Mr. Bishop shows his interest in Emma; Paul goes crazy. His father had a mental breakdown and he is convinced this is the start of his demise.

     The new cousin that is set to inherit is a loud mouthed street trained pick pocket and all around scoundrel. However; on Johnny's credit Paul finds he has a good heart and is eager to learn. Johnny is quick to learn and wants to do right by his family but is no good at pretense. He sees that his half sister and Paul have an intense interest in each other and thinks it a grand development. His mother is so outspoken and irreverent she didn't care that people thought her an unwed mother when all along she was the Earl's rightful wife. 

     Paul is having a nightmare thinking how all this will be accepted by London's aristocratic society especially the Tun.

     Emma thought she was the only one keeping them from starving and was trying a job out singing at a club when a brut tried to take advantage and literally ripped her costume off. That was the state she was in when she ran into Paul. Now she has to swallow her humiliation for her brother's sake and pretend she doesn't want Paul with all her heart.      

    There are so many twists and turns to this story it keeps you guessing. They go to London and Paul tries to teach them all to behave. He has a hard time making himself behave around Emma though.

     I loved each and every character because they were so human and funny, fully fleshed and enchanting.

    This story is hilarious and endearing with a great love story too. 

     I laughed out loud at parts and kept turning pages for the rest of the book. It was a delight to read.

      I gave it Five Stars and wish I had more to give. 

Sincerely,

Linda Hays-Gibbs

Title:The Perfect Game

Author: Jenn Langston

Genre:Historical Romance

Review Rating: Five Stars

Reviewer: Linda Hays-Gibbs

     Greyson Thorpe, Viscount Merrick was a gambler and a bastard, but his father loved him and left him his heir. The problem was he wanted to be accepted by London society as his title should. He was a great card player so he decided to gamble with a respected Duke for his support in society. He had to pauper the Duke and strike a deal to return his estates and IOUs for respectability. It took Greyson over a year to maneuver the Duke into this position but he finally succeeded. The Duke had a daughter and a marriage with her would seal his fate into society.

     Hammond Everett, Duke of Donetic was the perfect mark for Greyson. The game went well and they agreed. Greyson would marry his daughter and he would get his estates back.

    Willimena Abigail Everett was the Dukes daughter and punching bag. He beat her at least once a week and her mother knew too. The supposed grand Duke was an unholy horrible man. Abigail wore extra padding and armor to keep her father from making her marry for all men were brutes. She also wore black powder on her hair since a child because he hated red hair and would become enraged when he saw it.

   This is an interesting scenario a she is abused by her fathering and assured by her mother that she will be abused in marriage.

Abigail become throughly confused by her suitor and tries to continue her masquerade into their marriage. It is confusing to her new husband too.

Abigail has a lot if hang ups that are hard for her to overcome. Greyson is a vet patient man and realizes she needs time but becomes frustrated several times with Abigail's persistence.

Their personalities are suited though you wonder if Greyson is winning or losing at times. He has a hard time trying to prove his love.

    You find yourself rooting for Greyson and praying that Abigail can overcome her father's abuse. The people in this story are very real to you. I know of people in this day and time that have similar hang ups. This only increases your sympathy for them both.

     This is tragic and funny and throughly enjoyable.

I gave it five stars for the personalities of the characters and the determination of the hero. Thank God for heroes.

Linda Hays-Gibbs

Remember Your Moms
My mother was fearless, relentless, 
powerful, loving, honorable full of integrity, 
a petite&beautiful lady, compassionate&smart.
I loved her!