Tuesday, October 20, 2015

REVIEW: A Lady Never Lies (+$20 Amazon GC Giveaway!)

Title: A Lady Never Lies
Author: Stephanie Burkhart
Series: Windsor Diaries #3
Pages: 182
Date Published: 2015
Publisher: Desertbreeze Publishing 
Format: Kindle
Genre: Romance/Historical
Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours


Synopsis:
Jocelyn Dunkirk is not your typical Victorian lady. She dresses in leather, wears goggles, and is not afraid to get a little grease under her fingernails. Gentlemen avoid her like a dirty rivet.

Richard Windsor, the Prince of Wales, travels through time to claim Jocelyn's heart, but if it isn't one challenge, it's another. He determines to be a constant, steady presence in her life, hoping to prove he'd make a worthy husband.

Jocelyn's facing a bucket full of problems. The prime minister wants her to assist in ending a coal strike before it cripples the nation while her father attempts to recover from a serious injury. Will Jocelyn's dedication to her country and family ruin the one chance she has at love?
~My Thoughts~
Jocelyn, Richard, Alice, Grayson and all the rest are back for another glorious steampunk, historical, science-fiction, romance adventure! (Wow, what a mouthful!) 

This book focused primarily on Jocelyn and Richard, though the others from past books made appearances and acted like very good side characters. I found that while I liked Jocelyn previously, this book she irked me something terrible. She seemed suspicious of Richard for reasons that I didn't respect... Her dad got hurt while wearing a gift that Richard gave them? What? Richard though, seemed to plow through Jocelyn's simpering and equivocating to actually be a good guy. Respect. 

I liked that the majority of the plot took place in the past. The Victorian era is still my favorite and I choose to live much of my reading life there! Still, it was really cool to see the few reflections of story happening in 2011 and how they affected the past and vice versa. 

While these books are somewhat light on the depth, they are still a fun affair. They are a bit "fluffy" but definitely capture the imagination and the heartstrings, for an enjoyable and fun afternoon or two. Give this one a try if you are new at blending genres and like historical fiction or romance. That way you'e be able to get a flavor of sci-fi/steampunk without getting overloaded. 
~Try an Excerpt!~
She swatted her hand next to her head like she was swatting a fly. Love could flitter away from her heart like a hummingbird for all she cared. Who needed it? Love hurt.

A knock rapped on the door, but before she could voice a reply, Richard walked in. He crossed the room, raw concern splayed over his face and he knelt before her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You look annoyed."

"A lady never cusses," she replied.

His lips tipped in amusement. "What else does a lady never do?"

"They never wear the same dress twice."

He pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. "I believe that."

"And a lady never lies," she said.

He slid his hand over hers and laced their fingers together. A sweet jolt pulsed up her arm and she smiled despite herself.


"So what's bothering you?" he asked.
~Meet Stephanie!~ 
Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.
Stephanie will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

11 comments:

  1. When you attend book signings do you dress up in period costume?

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  2. Is there anything you wished would come back into fashion?

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  3. If you could only read on book for the rest of your life, what would it be? :)

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  4. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, sounds like a really good book!

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  5. Just wanted to say, "Welcome back!" Nice to see you here again!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for having me here today. It's always a treat to visit Unabridged Andralyn's!

      I've never tried period dressing for a book signing, but it's something to consider going forward. :) What clothing would I bring back? Gosh, I'm a child of the 80's and I don't know if I want to relive the fashions again. lol!! I couldn't fit into them.

      If I could only have 1 book, what would it be? That's a tough one. I'm going to say JK Rowling's, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

      Smiles
      Steph Burkhart
      Romance Under the Moonlight

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  6. The cover is great. I enjoy historicals and this sounds great !

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  7. I've got to get this series! Thanks for the excerpt!

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  8. interesting book! Thanks for sharing :)

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