Sunday, April 5, 2026

MY THOUGHTS - A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries by Samantha Larsen

A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries by Samantha Larsen

A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries
by Samantha Larsen

A Staged Death is responsible for my latest book hangover, keeping me up to the early morning hours. It was worth every minute. Ms. Larsen is a fabulous storyteller, and I eagerly await each new installment of this series. I am excited to say this is the 1st book to receive my Paradise rating this year, landing it on my Best Reads List for 2026.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

Dramatics abound in A STAGED DEATH where complex family relations make for an ingeniously plotted mystery.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: fans of historical mysteries should not miss out on this series! I’ve read all the books so far in this series and they are all so great.
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books

5-STAR
A Staged Death is a highly entertaining historical mystery in the Georgian Era. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first page to the last.
~Novels Alive

If you enjoy historical cozy mysteries, then I recommend you pick up A Stage Murder. I know I will be watching for other books in this series. 4 Stars:
~Carla Loves To Read

About A Staged Death

A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries
Historical Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – 1787, Bath.
Publisher: Dreamscape First
Audible.com Release Date: March 31, 2026
Listening Length: 8 hours and 30 minutes
Author: Samantha Larsen
Narrator: Marni Penning
ASIN: B0GCGRPKHW

A cozy historical mystery set in the 18th century—perfect for Bridgerton fans!
1787, Bath. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop has catalogued the entire library at Astwell Palace and is feeling rather dull when Mr. Thomas Montague invites her and her husband Samir to visit Bath. Thomas begs Tiffany to help reconcile his mother Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood, on his engagement to the famous actress Miss Rosalyn Arden—a beautiful young woman with bright red curls and eyes of mismatched color.
Eager to see his beloved, Thomas stops at the Theatre Royal with Tiffany and they discover a dead body wearing a red wig in Rosalyn’s dressing room. The body is that of Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy and the person who has been blackmailing members of the acting company. Not only are the actors behaving suspiciously, but so are Rosalyn’s newly reconciled relatives that cast her off nine years before when she jilted Sir Frederick Bingham, who then married her younger sister.
If all the world is a stage, then someone acting innocent must be the murderer. Can Tiffany solve the mystery before the final curtain?
©2018 Samantha Larsen (P)2026 Dreamscape First

About Samantha Larsen

Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, having tea parties, and chauffeuring her four kids. She teaches World Literature at Brigham Young University. Her young adult fiction books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and her historical romances are published around the world. She also writes murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen that Publisher’s Weekly called “wildly enjoyable.”

Author Links

Website www.SamanthaHastings.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/samanthahastingsauthor/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHastingsAuthor

X https://x.com/HastingSamantha

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-hastings

Purchase Links: Dreamscape – Amazon – B&N

MY THOUGHTS

A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries by Samantha Larsen. I was so excited to get to listen to this audiobook. This is a new to me author, and she can move into my TBR anytime. This book is set in 1787. Which is not a time period that I read about very often.

Librarian Tiffany Lathrop is at it again! She can’t seem to go anywhere without stumbling across dead bodies & a mystery to solve. This time she’s off to Bath with her husband, Samir. They have been invited by Mr. Thomas Montague. He wants them to come along to help smooth out the announcement of his engagement with hs mother.

Rosalyn, his fiance, is a actress - and her understudy is found dead. Tiffany digs in and the question becmes, was Rosalyn the target?

While this is part of a series, I did not have any issues following along, The narrator did a beautiful job in bringing these characters to life. This was a joyful book - with the perfect blend of history, mystery and cozy vibes.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours - for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

March 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

March 31 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 1 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

April 1 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

April 2 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 2 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

April 2 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 3 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 3 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – The Editing Pen – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

April 5 – Connie’s History Classroom – REVIEW

April 5 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 6 – Hall Ways Blog – REVIEW

April 6 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 26, 2026

My Thoughts - Mail-Order Baroness Author: Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: Mail-Order Baroness

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

James Balfour, the charming middle son of an English duke, is determined to prove he’s capable of taking leadership of his family’s Montana ranch as the next deadly winter approaches. With the household stretched to its limits, James crafts a clever plan to hire Rose Prescott—his childhood best friend—and to right an old wrong.

Rose’s remarkable singing voice was meant to be her gift, but in Virginia City, it’s become her curse. Forced by her stepfather to perform nightly shows, she dreams of escape and a life free from his control. When a newspaper ad for a housekeeper offers her a way out, she risks everything and flees, hoping her stepfather can’t find her. She never expected to return to the Balfour ranch, nor to see James again, whose charm now reminds her too much of the men who’ve betrayed her before.

James’s desire to protect Rose is shaken when his old friend treats him like an enemy. Winning her trust becomes his greatest challenge yet. As tensions rise on the ranch, old secrets and new dangers threaten everything James and his family have built.

With enemies closing in, Rose must decide whom she can trust—and whether she’s willing to fight for the freedom and love she’s always longed for.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, a second chance romance, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is an ECPA and USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books sold. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

Hello Reader Friends!

I’m so excited to be back with you in the Lords of the Rockies world—where Regency roots and Montana grit collide in the best kind of way.

When I first dreamed up this series, I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if five sons of an English duke were raised far from ballrooms and titled expectations…out in the wide-open wilderness instead. No polished drawing rooms. No London Season. Just rugged mountains, hard work, and the kind of faith that’s tested (and strengthened) when survival itself requires perseverance.

And now I’m thrilled to share the newest installment with you…

Welcome to Mail-Order Baroness!

One of my favorite things about writing romance is getting to explore the truth that God is always in the business of redemption—of taking what’s been broken and offering something new. That’s one reason I especially love the second-chance romance trope.

There’s just something so moving about two people who have already been hurt—by life, by circumstances, sometimes even by each other—and yet are given an unexpected opportunity to try again. Not because everything is suddenly easy, but because they’re different now. Wiser. Humbled. More aware of what truly matters.

In Mail-Order Baroness, you’ll find a love story rooted in that kind of hope—the kind that doesn’t ignore the past, but doesn’t let the past have the final word either.

If you enjoy stories with:

old wounds that still ache
hard-earned forgiveness
trust rebuilt one choice at a time
and the gentle reminder that God can restore what feels beyond saving

…then I think this one will tug at your heart.

At its core, this book is about a fresh start that doesn’t come from pretending yesterday didn’t happen—but from bravely stepping forward anyway, learning to hope again, and discovering that the Lord can write something beautiful even after disappointment.

I pray you love Mail-Order Baroness! J

Blessings!

Misty

MY THOUGHTS

In this book, We meet James. He is the middle son of an English Duke. He wants to show that he is capable of running the family Montana ranch - and he realizes that he needs to hire some help. So he hires his childhood friend, Rose. Rose has had rough life She has a beautiful singing voice, but she is forced to perform every night. Her stepfather does not care about her, just the money she is able to make. When she answers the housekeeping ad, she has no idea what she is walking into. She is so used to being hurt, so she has a lot of trust issues.

I really liked how when James realized that his childhood friend was the one applying, he became protective of her. He wants to help keep her safe and wants to ensure that her stepfather does not find her. The theme of this story is redemption. I love how Rose evolves throughout the book. I loved catching up with the Balfour family - and look forward to the next book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Sydney Schmied Books, March 14

Madi’s Musings, March 14

Pause for Tales, March 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 15

Holly’s Book Corner, March 15

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 16

Simple Harvest Reads, March 16 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 17

Texas Book-aholic, March 17

Slyvan Musings, March 18

Devoted To Hope, March 18

Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 19

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

She Lives To Read, March 21

For Him and My Family, March 21

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 22

Book Looks by Lisa, March 22

Cover Lover Book Review, March 22

lakesidelivingsite, March 23

Lyssa Loves Books, March 23

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 24

Fruitfully Planted, March 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 25

Connie’s History Classroom, March 26

Artistic Nobody, March 26 (Guest Review from Donna)

Blossoms and Blessings, March 27

Mary Hake, March 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://gleam.io/F0qYE/mail-order-baroness-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, March 21, 2026

My Thoughts The Convict’s Courtship Author: KyLee Woodley

About the Book

Book: The Convict’s Courtship

Author: KyLee Woodley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 3, 2026

A remote mining town, an aspiring journalist, and the reformed convict who saves her life.

When Clara Alexander returned from finishing school to Virginia City she had two goals: to become a reporter and make peace with the father who betrayed her mother. But even in the West, there is no room for her in the newsroom or in the family her father made when he married his mistress. Clara is forced to take desperate measures to prove her worth to an editor—including a reckless venture into a dangerous mine shaft.

Reformed convict Beau Vulpe lives a quiet life of obscurity in a remote mining town in Nevada. When he rescues a beautiful woman from a sweltering mine shaft, he’s welcomed into her home as a hero, only to discover that they are the same family he deeply wronged the summer before. Now, with winter’s grip choking the mountain town and rumors of mines going bust, he is forced to stay, praying Clara won’t discover the truth before the spring thaw.

As Clara pursues her dreams of writing for the renowned Territorial Enterprise, she continually crosses paths with the mysterious Frenchman who saved her life and is drawn to him a little more with each interaction. Beau finds himself not only falling for the lovely lady but befriending her family as well. Can he protect his freedom and atone for his wrongs without losing his heart in the process? And what about Clara—will her attraction toward Beau Vulpe lead to the disappointment her mother warned her about?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas, where she lives with her husband of eighteen years and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.

In her spare time, she cares for a rescue mutt—Lucky Dog—a feisty feline named Hazel, and three adorable Boston Terrier puppies. She listens to Cricket Country and K-Love radio, reads classic books with her children, and watches Marvel movies with her husband, who might resemble Superman.

More from KyLee

A Heart in Exile: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Heroine

We all carry “wounds”—those hurts from our past that shape how we see the world today. For Clara, my heroine in The Convict’s Courtship, that wound is deep and it’s personal.

In her youth, Clara loved to write fanciful stories. With a love of history and a strong faith in God, she strove as a teen to write Bible studies for young ladies. But she comes from a troubled home, the daughter of an impulsive father and a mother she believes died of a broken heart after her father’s betrayal. Weeks after her mother’s death, her father married his mistress, who gave birth to a baby boy just months later. At this point, a sixteen-year-old Clara hoped they might finally be a family, only to be sent away to an elite boarding school—Miss Porter’s School. This was the same prestigious school attended by Nellie Grant, President Grant’s daughter. Everyone said her father sent her there out of love, but Clara knew better. It was time for Clara to grow up.

During her time in the East, she discovered the pioneering work of 19th-century female journalists and activists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jane Swisshelm, and Anne Newport Royall. She admired these strong women, seeing them as a stark contrast to her mother’s perceived weakness. This shift led Clara away from “fanciful” notions of hope toward a life built on facts, proof, and logic—so much so that rather than pray, she now seeks guidance through the analytical study of the Bible.

After four years of exile, Clara returns to a Virginia City that is soon decimated by the Great Fire of 1875.

Now, she must find a way to reconcile her mother’s memory, her own search for significance, and her desire for a family. It is among the ruins of the city and of her family that she encounters Monsieur Beau Vulpe—a convict on the run with deep wounds of his own and a secret connection to her family that makes her the last woman in the world he would choose to love. Will the mysterious Frenchman be part of her healing or her final ruin?

Clara’s journey is one of healing, hard truths, and finding hope in the midst of the ashes. Have you ever had to face a “wound” from your past that felt impossible to heal? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you’re ready to see how Clara and Beau’s story unfolds, you’ll want to read The Convict’s Courtship.”

Extinguishing flames on C Street While this picture does not depict the actual fire in 1875, it does show how the fire department and the town fought the flames. Source: The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum. http://fourthwardschool.org/events/virginia-citys-great-fire-of-1875/.

MY THOUGHTS

The Convict’s Courtship is written by KyLee Woodley. Well, this book is part of a series. I have not read the other books and did not have any issues following along. One of the things that I love with historical fiction. Books is being transported back in time. The author has done a really great job and bringing remote mining town to life.

Clara Alexander has returned back home from finishing school. She soon finds out that despite being known as the wild West there is no war room for a woman in the newsroom. Her whole life has also changed since her father has now built a new family with his mistress. You gotta love when family drama is preparative throughout a story.

Beau is a reformed convict who enjoys his life in the quiet town. He ends up rescuing Clara when she ventures into a dangerous mind shaft. He doesn’t want her to know about his past. He wants to show her that he has a changed, man I really like the chemistry between these two characters.

The book is well written. The storyline is engaging. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 10

Pause for Tales, March 10

lakesidelivingsite, March 11

Texas Book-aholic, March 12

Bizwings Blog, March 13

Sydney Schmied Books, March 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 14

For Him and My Family, March 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 16

Devoted Steps, March 17

Devoted To Hope, March 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 19

Stories By Gina, March 20 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, March 20

Cover Lover Book Review, March 21

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 22

Holly’s Book Corner, March 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, KyLee is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a gift basket, which includes the whole series!!

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

https://gleam.io/sErXk/the-convicts-courtship-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, March 15, 2026

My Thoughts Stars in Her Eyes Author: Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Book: Stars in Her Eyes

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

A determined minister and a talented actress—bound by love, tested by prejudice, and challenged to choose between heart and conventions.

Pastor Silas Hamilton defied his father’s plans for his life in order to follow God’s call to a small Colorado church. But when he falls for Willow Starr, a gifted actress new to town, his congregation threatens to fracture. Though he’s certain she’s the one God intends for him, mounting pressure forces him to question everything.

Willow has never known a life beyond the theater, following in her parents’ footsteps alongside her domineering sister. When she meets Silas, she discovers a love worth more than any stage role. But with a career-making opportunity in New York beckoning and a church suspicious of actresses, Willow must decide if she’s brave enough to step into an entirely new life.

As rumors and lies threaten to tear them apart, Silas and Willow discover that sometimes the hardest choices lead to the greatest blessings.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

One of the questions I often get as an author is, “Where do your ideas come from?”

The answer is “All over!”

I often get ideas while watching movies or reading books, delving into history books, visiting historical sites, or daydreaming.

For the story Stars in Her Eyes, the idea came from a photograph. A portrait of a pretty girl. Her name was Maude Adams, and her photograph stayed in my mind for a long time.

Those gray eyes, the regal tilt to her chin, the ‘touch-me-not’ expression.

Willow Starr was born.

Stars in her Eyes is the third book in a trilogy set in a mining town in Colorado. Such boomtowns had acting troupes moving through to entertain the minors and bring a bit of ‘class’ to those who were making their fortunes.

So of course, I had to imagine the least likely person to fall in love with an actress. A pastor.

Silas has a rare ability to see the talents of others, not as a threat or oddity, but as a potential asset to the church. He believes that God gifts individuals for the purpose of edifying the church, and that God’s people are found everywhere, even on a lamplit stage.