Blog Tour — March 28-April 12

My Sister’s Intended (2018) by Rachael Anderson is the first book in her Serendipity series. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 256 pages in length. With a full-time job and a fantastically precocious five-year old at home, My Sister’s Intended took me ONE day to devour. I purchased my own copy of this novel in paperback form from Amazon on March 18, 2018 in order to review. I also received a copy of this novel in eBook form from HEA Publishing. In no way has this influenced my opinion of the story. All opinions expressed in my review are my own. I give My Sister’s Intended 5+++++ STARS. This novel is a Clean Read Romance set in England during the Regency Period.

About the Book

For as long as Prudence can remember, it has been understood that her sister will one day wed the eldest son of their nearest neighbor. Such an alliance will benefit both families and bring a great deal of joy to all parents involved.

Unfortunately, Prudence has never been able to feel as joyful. She believes her sister is mad to consider marrying a man she hardly knows, even if he will one day make her a countess. Titles and wealth shouldn’t factor into matters of the heart, and as an aspiring romance novelist, Prudence cannot fathom how anyone could even think of settling for less than love. She certainly wouldn’t, and she doesn’t want her sister to either.

Unable to stand by and do nothing, Prudence sets out to help the awkward couple discover the best in each other with the hope that they will eventually find love. What she neglected to foresee, however, was the possibility that she might fall in love with Lord Knave herself.

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About the Author

A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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Excerpt

When Prudence lifted her eyes to his again, they sparkled with a challenge. “I was going to save this question until later so as not to shock you from the get-go, but I really do need to know . . . What does it feel like to kiss a woman?”

A large lump formed in Brand’s throat, and his mouth went dry. What the deuce? She had promised not to ask questions that would make him uncomfortable, but already he wanted to flee like a frightened kitten. How could he possibly explain how it felt to kiss a woman?

Brand searched his mind for a way to avoid answering until he heard a snicker escape her lips. She was laughing at him. Him! Hildebrand Ethan Cannon, Viscount Knave—a man at least eight years her senior and a great deal higher in social standing.

Unbelievable.

 “You are teasing me,” he said, hoping it was true. If she’d posed the question to make him squirm—and perhaps make him more inclined to answer her other questions—then she wouldn’t be expecting an answer.

She shook her head, still smiling. “I’m afraid not, my lord, although I did find the look of terror on your face vastly amusing.”

“I’m glad I could entertain you.”

“I hope you will be equally glad to instruct me on a few things as well. The first scene in my book will include a kiss, and I have no idea how to describe the experience. Do a woman’s lips feel warm or soft or even moist? Would your pulse quicken? Aside from touch, what other senses are engaged? How would it make you feel and what would you notice when you held a woman in your arms?”

If she thought he’d appeared terror-stricken before, there would be no word for how he looked now. Did she earnestly expect him to answer such questions? Surely even she knew how inappropriate it would be to discuss such things, her being an innocent.

“I cannot say,” he finally muttered.

Her brow puckered in confusion. “Have you never kissed a woman, my lord?”

Brand was sorely tempted to lie and say he had not, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Any man of six-and-twenty who had never experienced a kiss would be laughed out of his manhood. Women were expected to remain innocent until married. Men were not.

“Yes, I have kissed a woman,” he finally admitted, “but I have no intention of discussing any of the details with you.”

“Why not?” she asked, her large brown eyes blinking at him curiously. “Would you rather I invent the information?”

“Yes.”

She obviously didn’t appreciate his retort because she scowled. “Can you not tell me at least a little?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because a kiss could never be described with any sort of accuracy, at least not by me. It involves too many feelings and sensations and complexities of thought. If you wish to know what a kiss feels like, you’ll have to experience it for yourself.”

Too late, Brand realized his mistake. Her expression became contemplative, as though she was actually considering doing just that. Good gads, had he really just encouraged an innocent young woman to go hunting for a kiss? Who would she ask? A groom? Stablehand? The next peddler that came to town?

“I think you are right,” she said at last. “I really must experience a kiss for myself if I am to describe it with any sort of accuracy.” She blinked up at him with that innocent expression again. “Will you kiss me Lord Knave? No, how silly of me. You are to marry my sister, so that would never do.” She pursed her lips for a moment before musing, “Perhaps one of the footmen would be kind enough to show me how it’s done.”

Kind enough? Brand could think of a great many reasons a footman would comply with such a request, and kindness did not factor into any of them. Brand would kiss her himself before he allowed a footman near her.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Perhaps I can try to explain what it feels like after all.” Better that than having her chase after a footman.

“But you only just said you couldn’t do it justice,” she pointed out. “I realize I sound dreadfully forward, but I really must know, and experience is the best teacher, is it not?”

“No, it isn’t,” he lied. “And you are not going to kiss a footman.”

“Then who? Felix or Lionel, perhaps? I’m fairly certain I can convince one of them to do it, if given the opportunity. The question is how to go about it?”

It was plain to see by the firm set of her jaw that she would not rest until she had experienced a kiss of her own. She didn’t seem to care who did the deed, only that the man did a thorough job of it. A quick peck on the lips wouldn’t satisfy her curiosities.

“Perhaps I could send a note to Felix and ask him to call on me,” she continued to muse. “We could take a stroll through the maze in the gardens. There is a hidden alcove on the south side, which could be quite perfect. We would have to evade Ruth, obviously, but—”

“Devil take it,” Brand growled as he pulled her to him. Her quick intake of breath was the only sound she made before his mouth covered hers.

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My Thoughts

My Sister’s Intended is my FAVORITE kind of book to read. It is the kind of story I will save in my Kindle forever so I can re-read again and again. What makes this story so good? Everything! This book is pure perfection.

The KISS! It is the sweetest, most innocent, most hilarious first kiss ever. Brand, the hero, is helping Prudence, the heroine, with research. Prudence wants to be a novelist, but she is 18 and knows she is lacking life experience. She utilizes Brand as her key into the male’s mind. It is HYSTERICAL!!! To watch Brand become so flustered by Prudence’s questioning into how the male mind works is truly one of the BEST parts to this book. One of the many things Prudence asks Brand about is kissing. Prudence wants to know what it is like for a man to kiss a woman. How can she write an appropriate kissing scene in her novel if she doesn’t know what a man feels before, during, and after a kiss? Prudence, as she does, goes off on wild tangents about men kissing women — which had me in stitches, by the way — and has Brand so flustered. How can a Regency-era man of polite society actually discuss this topic with a naive and innocent 18 year old woman? Rachael Anderson’s writing talent shines in this moment as the entire kiss scene is illustrated through Brand’s perspective, which makes it all the more fantastic as the reader is privy to Brand’s inner turmoil. When Prudence starts in on needing to find a suitable research partner for the kissing information she wants, Brand has had enough, and what follows may be one of the best kisses in fictional history.

As mentioned above, Prudence wants to be a novelist, and she absolutely adores romance novels. Much to the dismay of her mother, Prudence is always sneaking off to read books. Her mother finds novels to be beneath her daughter’s station. She deems them inappropriate for a woman who should be more concerned with the dictates of society, finding a suitable match, and becoming the mistress of some great man’s estate. According to Prudence’s mother, Prudence needs to be a better socialite. Nobody wants a bluestocking girl for a wife! With such vehement feelings regarding reading and novel writing coming from her mother every day, Prudence keeps her passion for writing a secret. She tells no one about her dream, until she meets Brand, her sister’s intended. As with most secrets, keeping them can often lead to hurting others, and Prudence’s secret does end up negatively impacting her parents, sister, and Brand’s family. Prudence learns along the way that keeping secrets and then making up lies to cover up the secrets is no way to go in any relationship. When her secrets get the best of her, Prudence feels awful, and in this she learns the value of forgiveness and reconciliation. I found this to be a very sweet and timely lesson for today. When we make mistakes like keeping secrets from those we love, we need to find the courage and strength to be honest with our loved ones, reconcile with them, and ask for their forgiveness.

I could talk about this book for hours, it’s that good! But I won’t because I don’t want to chance a spoiler. Suffice it to say, My Sister’s Intended is a fast-paced, highly engaging story filled with wonderful characters and an exceptionally fun plot. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are looking for a truly enjoyable Regency story to escape into, then I encourage you to run to your nearest bookstore and purchase a copy of this story today. You will not be disappointed that you did!

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Giveaway #1

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in Paypal Cash

Ends 4/22/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Giveaway #2

I am giving away ONE (1) paperback copy of My Sister’s Intended by Rachael Anderson. The giveaway begins today, 4-8-18 at 5:00 am (PST) and ends on Wednesday, 4-11-18 at 12:00 pm (PST). To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below. Good luck!

Congrats to Kay G.!

You have won this giveaway. Thank you for your participation. It is greatly appreciated.

***Please Note: Open to Continental U.S. mailing addresses only.*** One winner will be notified via email at the end of the giveaway, and will be announced here on this page. For full giveaway disclosures and policies, click HERE.