Skip to main content

Featured

The Dressmaker's Secret by Susanne Dunlap #Review

We are diving into the past to the nineteenth century with the Regency romance, The Dressmaker's Secret Earl by Susan Dunlap . It was published by Comfortable Prose Publishing on 25 Mar. 2025 .   A marriage of convenience to a scoundrel? Not if Augusta can help it. The impoverished daughter of a baronet, Augusta has no intention of being bartered away like a prize horse. Instead, she flees to London, determined to forge her own path as a modiste. But fate has other plans. On her very first day in the city, she crosses paths with a brooding earl—one burdened with a clubfoot and a reputation nearly as scandalous as the proposal she ran from. His captivating sister, Mariana, is not only Augusta’s employer’s best client but harbors a secret ambition of her own: to marry the one man society deems wholly unsuitable. Drawn into Mariana’s reckless schemes of masquerades, cross-dressing, and Whig intrigue, Augusta soon finds herself entangled in more than just scandal—she’s lo...
Post a Comment
Read more
Labels

The Faking Game by Portia Macintosh #Review

 

I'm loving the opportunity to be on the tour for Portia Macintosh's latest romcom, The Faking Game. It was published by Boldwood Books on 5th October.

 

After years of being everyone's favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.

But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can't face letting them down.

So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they're as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be...?

Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it til they make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all...?


 My Thoughts

I think that the reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of how likeable I found Cara and also Millsy to be. Their individual characters stood out and their actions chimed with my impressions of them. There is plenty of humour in the situations and the dialogue and I absolutely loved how they got themselves into scrapes and then worked together to get themselves out of them. Family is central to the story but relationships are not always straightforward between Cara's Aunt Mary and Flora and Cara's side of the family. Cara's mother's patience is amazing.

    Set over the festive season, this is a lovely read for this time of year. You get a real sense of people trying to keep the peace and at the same time, enjoy being with each other. You see three generations as you would at Christmas.  It does keep you guessing as to what the outcome of Cara and Millsy's deception will be. You are pretty clear on what Cara's feelings are but Millsy, being an actor, is more difficult to read. With lots of heart, this is a warm and endearing romcom.

In short: festive fun on the surface but what lies beneath it? 


About the Author

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 romantic comedy novels. From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

You can follow Portia here: Website  |  Twitter |  Instagram   |  Facebook  | Newsletter sign up  |  Bookbub 

 
 
 Thanks to Portia Macintosh, Boldwood Books, and Rachel of Rachels Random Resources  for copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Check out the rest of the tour!
 

 

 





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment