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I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart; I am, I am, I am. —Sylvia Plath
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Guest Review: THE AUSTEN AFFAIR by Madeline Bell
Sophia Rose reviews THE AUSTEN AFFAIR by Madeline Bell.
With a touch of wry humor, new-to-me author Madeline Bell pens a blend of romantic comedy with time travel romance. Her enemies-to-lovers pair of film actors playing the roles of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey leads find themselves suddenly two centuries in the past and playing parts for a live Regency era audience.

Sophia Rose
3 days ago4 min read


Review: SMOKE ON THE WIND by Kelli Estes
Christina Boyd reviews SMOKE ON THE WIND by USA Today bestselling author Kelli Estes: "Smoke on the Wind is an engaging story about two mothers, centuries apart, connected by a shared path through the Scottish Highlands. USA Today bestselling author Kelli Estes creates a vivid setting—the rugged beauty of Scotland adds a strong sense of place, almost as if another character."

Christina Boyd
Sep 112 min read


INTERVIEW: S.L. Woeppel Loves Books with a Gut Twist
Christina Boyd interviews S.L. Woeppel, BookLife finalist.

Christina Boyd
Sep 94 min read


Review: RELATIVE STRANGERS by A. H. Kim
Christina Boyd reviews A.H. Kim's "Relative Strangers," a heartfelt and insightful variation on Jane Austen’s "Sense and Sensibility," reimagined for the modern age.

Christina Boyd
Sep 43 min read


INTERVIEW: Margarita Longoria’s Anthology was Born from Words of Hate
Christina Boyd interviews Margarita Longoria, a nationally recognized, award-winning librarian, educator, speaker, and passionate advocate for diverse literature based in South Texas. A former English teacher, she holds a BA and MA in English, as well as a Master of Library.
She is the founder of Border Book Bash, a literary festival that celebrates teens and tweens of the Rio Grande Valley, and the editor of the acclaimed anthology Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican

Christina Boyd
Sep 25 min read


Review: An Offer of Marriage by Amy D’Orazio
Christina Boyd reviews new release, AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE. Amy D’Orazio once again delivers a captivating page-turner…

Christina Boyd
Aug 263 min read


INTERVIEW: Nev March Hopes Readers Enjoy More Stories About Other Cultures
Christina Boyd interviews author Nev March. March is the first Indian-born writer to win Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America’s Award for Best First Crime Fiction. Her debut novel, Murder in Old Bombay, was an Edgar and Anthony finalist. Nev’s books deal with issues of identity, race, and moral boundaries. Her sequel, Peril at the Exposition, is set at the 1893 World’s Fair, during a time of conflict that planted the seeds of today’s red-blue political divide.

Christina Boyd
Aug 267 min read


Review: A TARNISHED CANVAS by Anna Lee Huber
Sophia Rose reviews A TARNISHED CANVAS by Anna Lee Huber. "A Tarnished Canvas" extends the Lady Darby mysteries to the thirteenth installment and remains fresh and engaging for long-time fans or for those just discovering the early Victorian era series about a female artist who once lived a macabre life with her first husband, but now shares a loving partnership with her husband, Gage, a professional inquiry agent.

Sophia Rose
Aug 214 min read


Favorite Jane Austen Scene by Laura Hile
Laura Hile, a favorite Austenesque author, takes us into a cherished scene from Jane Austen's EMMA—and explains why it resonates with her.

Christina Boyd
Aug 194 min read


Review: SHADOWS IN CHINATOWN by Jolie Tunnell
Guest Review Sophia Rose says of Shadows in Chinatown by Jolie Tunnell, "Not to be missed."

Christina Boyd
Aug 143 min read


INTERVIEW: Jacqui Clarke Says So Many Doors Have Opened to Her Since Becoming an Author
Christina Boyd interviews Jacqui Clarke, an International award-winning author of Stop Worrying About Money, is a trusted advisor, board member (to both listed and private companies - including Chair of SMEG), executor and veteran business executive. As a personal wealth and money management expert with over three decades of experience, 25 years at Deloitte and PWC, she has helped high-net-worth families, individuals, and business owners to build, manage, and preserve their w

Christina Boyd
Aug 125 min read


Review: FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild
Christina Boyd says of debut novel, Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild, "A powerful and beautifully written story about forgiveness, love, and the courage it takes to confront the past, Finding Grace is a standout debut that delivers emotional weight and moral resonance in equal measure. Highly recommended."

Christina Boyd
Aug 112 min read


INTERVIEW: Kay Smith-Blum, Authenticity in Every Line
Christina Boyd interviews author Kay Smith-Blum. Kay Smith-Blum, a former fashionista, chaired Seattle’s first marketing campaign as a downtown business owner. She served as Seattle School Board President, a publicly elected position, between 2009 and 2013. An avid gardener, Smith-Blum founded Environmental Endeavors, the first greenhouse program in Seattle Public Elementary Schools. A fan of mid-20th-century history, Smith-Blum has penned two other manuscripts set in Texas..

Christina Boyd
Aug 55 min read


INTERVIEW: Helen Hollick Has Been Scribbling Stories Since She Was Thirteen
Christina Boyd interviews USA Today bestselling author Helen Hollick: Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures set in the early 1700s. She also writes the Jan Christopher cozy mystery series set du

Christina Boyd
Jul 295 min read


INTERVIEW: Author Rod Haynes Says Give Yourself & Others Permission to Err
Christina Boyd interviews fellow Washingtonian Rod Hayes. Rod recently retired after nearly 30 years of service at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with locations in Seattle and San Francisco. A former naval officer, Rod has taught U.S. History at the university and community college levels. Rod Haynes has written numerous non-fiction books. His latest work, Unauthorized Disclosures: A Naval Memoir About the 1980s, will be published by Ingram in July 2025.

Christina Boyd
Jul 223 min read


Review: THE GOVERNESS AND THE ROGUE by Mimi Matthews
Christina Boyd reviews USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews' latest, The Governess and the Rogue. Matthews continues to prove why she’s a standout in historical romance. Her ability to blend adventure, emotional depth, and sparkling dialogue is unparalleled. I can’t recommend this one enough—especially if you’ve been following the series. Jack and Bea’s journey is everything I hoped for and so much more. It was just the escape I needed.

Christina Boyd
Jul 173 min read


Review: THE FOURTH DAUGHTER by Lyn Liao Butler
REVIEW by Christina Boyd. Lyn Liao Butler’s The Fourth Daughter is a beautifully woven family saga that tenderly explores the unbreakable bond between grandmother and granddaughter, set against the rich cultural tapestry of Taiwan. From the very first page, you fall deeply in love with Liv, a rising chef in Manhattan whose life is suddenly upended by trauma, and her beloved Ah-Ma, whose past holds a heartbreaking mystery spanning decades.

Christina Boyd
Jul 163 min read


My Favorite Jane Austen Scene by Harry Frost
Voice actor and writer Harry Frost shares his Favorite Jane Austen Scene.

Christina Boyd
Jul 155 min read


Review: THUS WITH A KISS I DIE by Christina Dodd
Christina Boyd says of THUS WITH A KISS I DIE by NY Times bestselling author Christina Dodd, "Rosie’s sharp tongue and intentional commentary to the reader feel like a wink shared across centuries—a charming reminder that she knows exactly how ridiculous (and thrilling) her world is. The tone is warm, witty, and irreverent in the best possible way."

Christina Boyd
Jul 105 min read


INTERVIEW: Austenesque Author Paige Badgett Started Writing During the Pandemic
Christina Boyd interviews Paige Badgett, a historical romance author of Austen-inspired fiction. Paige is a lifelong storyteller who credits her love of reading to her mother and her book club that has been reading together for seventeen years. Her debut novel, Against Every Expectation, published in 2022. The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh is her second novel.

Christina Boyd
Jul 85 min read
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