First Chapter Review: To Murder a Marquis by Arabella Sheraton

 

This Regency time-travel romantic suspense mystery from Arabella Sheraton is on tour with Pump Up Your Book. 

BLURB: Escape into the drama and romance of the Regency era with To Murder a Marquis, an immersive time travel adventure full of mystery and passion. When modern-day Jane Carstairs awakens in nineteenth-century England, she's thrust into a captivating world of lords and ladies, grand estates, and old-fashioned courtship. But Jane soon realizes there's a sinister murder plot afoot. As Jane works to discover the truth, she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue. Will she solve the mystery in time or fall victim to the assassin? And can Jane resist the magnetic pull of attraction in this unfamiliar era? Transport yourself back to the richly detailed Regency world and join Jane on her unforgettable quest for justice and love. With vivid descriptions, gripping suspense, and passionate romantic encounters, To Murder a Marquis is a time travel adventure you won't want to miss. Embark on the journey today and discover why readers are raving about this unique, spellbinding tale of courage, connection, and timeless romance.

COVER: One of the reasons I've been drawn to Regency romance is that the cover art is always stunning. The cover for To Murder a Marquis clearly displays the genre with its elegant font and gold accents. I like how the marquis' face is partially hidden. The background of dark, mysterious woods ties into the meeting of the main characters in the opening chapter. This cover designer knows how to attract readers.

FIRST CHAPTER: Jane Amelia Carstairs is awoken from her nap under a tree by the furious barking of an unknown dog wanting her attention. Suddenly dressed in period costume, Jane wonders who carried out this odd prank. She decides to follow the distressed dog through the trees, where she discovers an even bigger surprise. 

KEEP READING: Most definitely! Sheraton has chosen a first-person point of view for the opening book in her Regency Time Slip Mystery series, which is pleasantly unique. Jane quickly engages the reader as she ponders what the heck happened to her while she slept. I love when authors drop you right into the action, which Sheraton did so well. It appears Jane carries a bit of personal baggage into this story with her, so it will be interesting to see how much of an impact that has on her along the way. I loved this chapter so much that I ordered a Kindle version so I can read the rest at my leisure. 

Book Excerpt:

Furious barking woke me from a very nice dream in which my ex-fiancé Allan Hunter was on his knees, begging me to stay, and I had just flung his ring back in his face in a most satisfying manner. The fact he’d dumped me for a full-breasted bistro waitress called Tawnee—that’s right, with a double “e”—who clearly said all the right adoring things, had the intelligence of a single-celled organism, and was a tigress in the bedroom was something I chose to ignore.

The dog wouldn’t stop barking. I opened my eyes, and there he was, a beautiful russet-coloured retriever, barking like mad, but with his tail wagging. Still slightly dazed, I shook my head. What the hell was I doing lying under a tree? I was supposed to be in the library at Chelston Hall, helping Dad, who was in hospital in London with bronchitis, collate the archives of the Hadley family. I could almost hear him say, “Jane Carstairs, what on earth are you doing there when you should be working?”

The dog was still barking. I’m not afraid of dogs so I raised myself on one elbow. “Here, boy. What’s the matter?”

I held out one hand for him to come over and have a sniff as an introduction. The dog took a few steps forward, then ran back to his original spot, and barked once. Clearly, a clever canine. He was telling me something. But what? I struggled to sit up. For some reason, my clothes were constricting; something like a straitjacket encircled my chest. Instead of my casual T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, I wore an ankle-length flowing dress, and short lace-up boots, along with a tight, short, long-sleeved jacket. I was in period costume straight out of Pride and Prejudice. Not funny! Someone had obviously pranked me but managing to undress and get me into this suffocating costume was beyond a joke. Plus, how did I get from sitting in a chair in the library to lying under a tree? 

Back to the dog again, which now seemed very agitated. He ran back and forth a bit and whined. By pulling my dress and copious amounts of petticoat up to my knees, tearing something at the jacket shoulder in the process, I managed to stand. The dog ran off through the trees as if on a mission. Maybe someone was hurt, and the mutt was looking for help? Dogs can be so clever that way. Running in the narrow skirt was impossible so I hitched the skirt as high as I could and chased after the dog. Ten minutes later I arrived, panting, at the scene of a bloody accident. Bloody is no exaggeration. A man, also dressed in period costume—riding gear—lay on his back, his arms flung out. He was either asleep, or unconscious, or ... I didn’t even want to consider the last option. The dog stood next to him, its tail wagging. It looked at me, whining as if to say, “Help him.” I knelt and took a closer look. Robert William Edward Hadley, the Marquis of Coleston, lay before me. An arrow protruded from the top of his left shoulder, a massive amount of blood soaked the front of his fawn-coloured coat, and he looked very dead.

– Excerpted from To Murder a Marquis by Arabella Sheraton, Bublish, Inc., 2020. Reprinted with permission.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bublish, Incorporated
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 8, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1647048966
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1647048969

I received a copy of this book from the author. This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Hearts Across Time Series by LoRee Peery

When event planner Amanda Totten falls through a barn trapdoor and finds herself in the arms of an 1890's cowboy, she scrambles to find a way back to the future. She has a life and obligations—her fledgling business and her mother's financial needs. But the less stressful lifestyle, and her deepening love for Gavin Medley, is calling to her heart and she is torn between past and future.

Has God given her a chance at love?

Gavin Medley has been working for years to regain his family homestead. As ranch foreman, he has nothing but a dream of a place and family of his own. But his love for Amanda is making him think that having his own ranch isn't as important as having someone to love for the rest of his life.

When Amanda returns to the future, Gavin is shattered. He tries to go forward in time, but fails. Believing it's God's will, Gavin resigns himself to living without the love of his life.

But love transcends time, and Amanda and Gavin need each other. Can Amanda return to her cowboy?

Purchase from PelicanBookGroup.com with a 50% OFF Release Day Special

Available at other online retailers (prices may vary)

Nolan Riley can't believe his eyes when woman in historical dress lands on top of his lighting van while they're filming a Western. She claims she's from 1891. He knows he shouldn't believe her. He's stayed away from women after a disastrous relationship, but something about the lost look in Phoebe's eyes makes him feel protective, despite his distrust of women and Phoebe's unbelievable claim. Against his better judgment, he takes Phoebe home and gets her a job on the movie set.

As they explore their relationship, they discover that old wrongs need to be righted before they can move on. Phoebe's fledgling faith demands she go back to 1891 Nebraska to ask forgiveness from her family and obligations she left behind. Nolan has to deal with his inability to trust a woman. Separated by time, both are uncertain of their lives, but they throw themselves upon God's mercy.

But love transcends time. Is their love is strong enough to secure a future together?

Pre-Order Book Two Today!

First Chapter Review: Time and Forever by Susan B. James

Time and Forever by Susan B. James is a time travel romance novel. I read the first chapter from the sample on Amazon.

BLURB: When Sherry's best friend, Lorena, promises her a virtual reality adventure for her sixty-third birthday, neither of them expect a trip back in time. But when Sherry bumps into the handsome stranger she’d once kissed on a London train in the summer of ‘69, she knows it couldn't be anything else.

And this time she doesn't want to run.

COVER: What a superb cover. It captures the setting, the genre, and the ticket used to enter the virtual reality adventure in one attractive and eye-catching package. Well done.

FIRST CHAPTER: Celebrating her sixty-third birthday with her best friend, Lorena, Sherry admits to missing having a special someone around to share her life with. Now that she's alone, Sherry is looking for a bit of adventure. That's when Lorena mentions a place she's heard about that offers virtual reality adventures. So the two women decide to sign up to visit London in 1969.

KEEP READING: What a neat first chapter. The opening lines hook you right away and encourage you to continue. I like how James has blended mature women with adventure seeking and modern technology. You don't often find a romance novel featuring people in their sixties, so this makes it a fresh story worth exploring. The friendly banter between the two women is funny and true to life. I'm eager to see where the story goes from here.


File Size: 3651 KB
Print Length: 210 pages
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (January 27, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00I3PFF40

I read the first chapter using the Look Inside feature on Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

February Featured Book: The Ultimate Passage by Jean Hackensmith & Kathe Birch

Today we'll highlight another romance novel from my never ending bookcases. The Ultimate Passage by Jean Hackensmith and Kathe Birch is like no other romance novel I've ever read.

It is a time travel romance, the fourth and last book in the "Passage" saga by these two talented ladies. The story begins in the year 2320, where President Darius Calhoun and the rest of the world live in domed cities where sex is illegal because it transmits disease.

But when Darius is transported back to 14th century Scotland, his life begins to change in ways he could never have expected. And he isn't the only one who has time traveled. Other characters who readers have met in the first three books of this saga also come together to provide a satisfying conclusion to the four-book journey readers have taken.

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book because time travel and magical amulets are not my usual interests when choosing reading material. But I am so glad that I took a chance on The Ultimate Passage. It remains one of my favorite romances.

The Ultimate Passage by Jean Hackensmith & Kathe Birch--Book Review

In the year 2320, Darius Calhoun is President of the United States. The men of his family have been appointed as presidents for generations; ever since Michael Calhoun solved the world's problems. Due to fatal diseases caused by pollution, in addition to, overpopulation and sexually transmitted diseases, the citizens of Earth now live in domed cities where sex has been outlawed and no one experiences emotion of any kind...except the rebels who live outside the domes who prefer to act more like humans than mind-numbed robots.

But the cost is high--they die at alarming rates from cancer and a new strain of AIDS that kills within months; not to mention that they have to grow their food in greenhouses because the soil is contaminated.

Darius is horrified when he is suddenly plucked out of his own time period and dropped into 14th century Scotland. Not only are the conditions unsanitary, he's expected to advise Robert the Bruce, the self-proclaimed King of Scotland, on war tactics, even though war hasn't existed in his time for over two hundred years.

Lara Macgregor, the oldest daughter of the lord of the castle, is a big help to Darius and they quickly become friends. But Lara wants more than friendship--she wants a mate. Darius knows that means having sex and he sure isn't about to do something that he's been brought up to believe is wrong. Funny thing is his body and mind have begun to change since Darius arrived and for the first time in his life he begins to feel and to want things he never did before.

When six other time travelers appear in 14th century Scotland they know it must be for a reason--especially when many of them knew each other at some period in time. As the war for independence in Scotland gains momentum, Darius and the other time travelers are thrust into the tumultous events that unfold and try to uncover why they are all there in the first place. When one of the lord's most trusted knights becomes an enemy, everyone at Castle Macgregor is put in grave danger...particularly Darius, who this knight sees as a rival for beautiful, spunky Lara's affections.

I can honestly say that I have never read a book like The Ultimate Passage ever before, but after reading it I am determined to read the rest of the books in this saga.

Since I hadn't read the first three books--Charmed Passage, Destined Passage and Doomed Passage--I couldn't possibly have known all that transpired between the six time travelers that dropped into 14th century Scotland. Hackensmith provided just enough detail so that I could piece together their pasts, but left out plenty that would keep readers of the past three books from getting bored learning what they already knew.

Each character is so well-developed that I swear in a different place and time I could have known him and her. To watch Darius put in a position where he was forced to call into question all that he had been taught made him a sympathetic character, but the reader also encourages him to reach out for Lara's love and all it entails.

A perfect mix of historical events and people tossed together with several lively fictional characters makes The Ultimate Passage a must read. A complex and riveting plot is expertly delivered by Hackensmith. And Birch must be commended for her thorough research that places the reader into 14th century Scotland and the time of knights and chivalry.

My only disappointment is in knowing that this is the end of The Passage Saga.

Action, adventure, and most of all romance make this a book you won't be able to put down. The Ultimate Passage by Jean Hackensmith and Kathe Birch is every romance lover's dream.


Title: The Ultimate Passage (Book 4 of The Passage Saga)
Authors: Jean Hackensmith and Kathe Birch
Publisher: Port Town Publishing
ISBN-10: 1-59466-101-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-59466-101-3
U.S Price: $22.95

Find out more about The Passage Saga here. And look for Jean Hackensmith's new romantic thriller Checkmate, which is due to be released in May 2008.

Jean Hackensmith & Kathe Birch's Passage Saga

To kick off December, we have a rare treat for you. Jean Hackensmith and Kathe Birch have recently released the fourth and final book in the Passage Saga (Port Town Publishing). The Book Connection is helping them celebrate by featuring a synopsis of each book in this time travel romance saga and some personal reflections by Jean.



CHARMED PASSAGE

Kristie Somers is happy in her life. She has a promising career ahead of her, grandparents who love her--and no time for a man. Or so she thought, until she was dropped in the year 1864 at the close of the Civil War.

The handsome Colonel Eric Langston was a man to be hated. Her grandparents told her so. Her family has despised him for generations. He commanded the Union regiment that invaded her ancestral home; he was responsible for Whispering Willows being burned to the ground. Why then, does her heart pound every time he enters a room? Why do his fiery kisses stir her like no man ever has before? And how can she just overlook the fact that she knows he is destined to die an alcoholic?

Charmed Passage is the first book in the "Passage Trilogy," which follows the life of an ancient amulet whose awesome powers include the ability to transcend even time itself. The reluctant Kristie Somers is the charm's first "rightful owner," but she will not be the last...

Author's reflections: Kathe and I began writing “Charmed Passage” back in 1986. Our first attempt at collaboration, it was a long process. It was also a very rewarding one. Until that point, I had been writing on my own, but having a “partner” to bounce ideas off of and to take on the brunt of the research was invaluable. Writing “Charmed Passage” was a labor of love. Time travel romance was in its infancy, so at the time, we were writing something unique. “Charmed” wasn’t meant to be the first in a trilogy, however. It was supposed to be a story in itself--a story about Kristie Somers, a modern day medical student, who ended up finding a pretty piece of jewelry in her grandparents’ attic--in truth, an amulet that could induce time travel. This amulet would then take her back to the time of the Civil War, where she would meet and fall in love with Eric Langston, a man her ancestors hated--a man who was destined to die of alcoholism. The last few paragraphs of “Charmed,” though, kind of wrote themselves and, lo and behold, it literally screamed for a sequel. Consequently, the idea for “Destined Passage” was born.



DESTINED PASSAGE

Brittany Cavanaugh, an oceanographer from the year 2001 and the second "rightful owner" of a mysterious Haitian amulet, travels through time; first to the doomed ocean liner, Titanic, and then to the post Civil War era, where she is mistaken for the leader of an elusive White Slavery Ring.

She meets the infamous Jacques Devereaux, a dashing and extremely sexy Civil War blockade runner turned White Slaver, but her heart is torn when she must choose between the pirate and Clay Gentry, a refined southern gentleman who is in the midst of a desperate search for his missing twin sisters -- and the President's daughter.

Author's reflections: When Kathe and I first began plotting “Destined Passage,” we knew that we needed a whole different story and a totally different type of hero and heroine. Since we wanted the new characters to eventually meet up with the old ones, though, we knew the time periods had to be virtually the same. Therefore, it was decided to put “Destined” in the post Civil War era…and to make white slavery the main plot. “Brittany Cavanaugh,” the heroine, they knew, had to make the spunky Kristie Somers from “Charmed” look like a baby in comparison. Likewise, the hero had to be a notch up from Eric Langston. Well, Jacques Devereaux ended up being a foot or two above Eric in character. He was a pirate, in every sense of the word…and he captained a white slavery ship that transported kidnapped women to a slave island off the coast of Florida. Add Clay Gentry, a southern gentleman, to the mix and that left poor Brittany torn--and more than a little miffed--when she ended up sleeping with both men…men she thought were the same person. This story was just plain fun to write. We knew that each successive story in the trilogy had be better than the last (and, yes, by this time we had decided on a trilogy) and the characters in “Destined Passage” made it easy. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the reader saw Eric and Kristie again by the end of the book.”



DOOMED PASSAGE

Ian Buchanan was separated from his fiancée, Brittany Cavanaugh, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic when the infamous ocean liner, Titanic, sank. Where she is, he has no idea, but the ancient Haitian amulet that transported the couple from the twentieth century has now chosen to drop him in the year 1692--at the time of the Salem Witch Hunts.

Ian meets young, innocent Ariana; a woman who, despite the fact that she is only sixteen years old, stirs Ian's blood. Even more disturbing to the twentieth century man--she is a self-proclaimed witch, who wears the same amulet that he last saw around his beloved Brittany's neck.

When the fanatical Puritans decide to hang Ian and Ariana as witches, too, the young woman screams a frantic plea to Aveena, the "mother of all high priestesses in Haiti." The couple is then transported through time again, to Fort Sumter at the beginning of the Civil War.

The transport begins a tempestuous journey that spans ten years, leaving Ian to feel a sense of obligation to Ariana and her unborn child. Ian looks after them, supports them, and grows to care more than his conscience will allow. Finally, following a single night of unforgettable passion, Ariana admits her love. Ian though, admits to only an overwhelming lust that leaves him with a self-loathing he can no longer abide.

Can Ian forget his committment to Brittany? Will he ever see her again? Will fate determine their destinies once again and join the two time-travelers in the end? Or will they be forever left to find their own way and alienate even those who love them most?

“Doomed Passage” brings the story of the amulet full circle and, by the end, all of the "previous owners" will strive to drive the evil from a powerful talisman that, to this point, has worked only for the good.

Author's reflections: In all honesty, this book is a little “off the wall.” It deals with witchcraft and demon possession…but, again, it had to be a step “up” from “Destined.” The amulet also turns evil in “Doomed” (hence, the title) which added yet another twist to the plot. Add to that innocent little Ariana--only sixteen years old when she meets thirty-two year old Ian. She’s a witch. No, not a crabby heroine, but a bonafide, caldron-stirring witch. In fact, Ian met her in the year 1692 at the time of the Salem Witch Hunts. This book was one of the most fun to write. Ariana’s “talent” wasn’t quite perfected yet, so making her screw up periodically (at one point she set Ian’s shoes on fire) was enjoyable all in itself. And Ian wasn’t always the nicest guy--he just came out that way. Our characters always kind of invent themselves and, admittedly, there were a lot of readers who did not like Ian. Oh well, he’s probably more human than most heroes. But he does the right thing in the end. And the end is what it was supposed to be. The “Passage” saga was finished. We had moved on to “The Gitche Gumee Saga.” That’s when the letters and emails started. The readers wanted more…and “The Ultimate Passage” was born.



THE ULTIMATE PASSAGE

Darius Calhoun is President of the U.S.--in the year 2320. Citizens of earth now live in domed cities, because pollution has reached the point where the air is no longer fit to breathe. They no longer feel hatred, jealousy, envy or love. They don’t have sex either, and haven’t for nearly two hundred years. Why? Because it’s messy, unsanitary and can transmit disease. Imagine Darius’ horror then, when he suddenly finds himself displaced in time at the whim of the goddess Aveena--goddess of love.

His trek to 14th century Scotland is every man’s nightmare. He is forced to live in a cold, drafty castle, wear a kilt, and use the ghastly “privy” when it comes time to take care of nature’s call. Worst of all, he is expected to be an “advisor” to Robert the Bruce, the self-proclaimed King of Scotland. How is he to counsel the king on tactics of war when, where he came from, that barbaric institution, too, had been extinct for over two hundred years?

Only one thing in this godforsaken time period enables Darius to keep his sanity. Her name is Lara Macgregor. Her father is lord of the castle and its surrounding lands. Lara is beautiful, spunky--and looking for a mate. Of course, in this day and age, that means having sex and Darius wants no part of it. He feels nothing for Lara but friendship…at least he didn’t at first. Now though, strange things are happening to his mind and body and, with the war for independence in Scotland gaining momentum, so does Darius’ resolve that at some point in time, government leaders in his own world did something terribly wrong.

Author's reflections: Hmmm…where do we begin. I'm talking about writing both the book and this little blurb. In short, “The Ultimate Passage” was never supposed to be written. The amulet went back to the goddess Aveena in the end of “Doomed,” so where do we go from here?

Kathe and I spent countless hours hashing over ideas for this book…ideas that would allow us to override that little problem at the end of “Doomed.” It took a while--a long while, in fact--but we came up with what we think was an “ultimate” idea; again, hence the name of the book. I had played with the idea for a number of years of yanking a guy out of the future: a future where people live in domed cities, where war and disease are no more--and where sex had been outlawed because it’s messy, unsanitary and can spread sexually transmitted disease. Put this guy in the past then, where people are still very sexually active, and have him fall in love, and man have you got a love story! Of course, they still had to deal with that little problem of the amulet going back to Aveena at the end of “Doomed.” So, what could we do? Ah ha! Send this guy back to a time just after the amulet was created, before all the other stories in the saga took place. Hence, the location of “The Ultimate Passage”--14th century Scotland. Then, of course, to be consistent with the other books in the saga, they had to bring in all the heroes and heroines from the other books. So, how do you avoid telling the same old stories over again? Ah-ha! You pull each of those characters from different time periods--before they met each other. Or, in a couple of cases, where one character knows the other, but the other is clueless. Talk about romantic tension! Trust us, “The Ultimate Passage” has that and more.

A note to the reader: The “Passage” Saga books are long. So long, in fact, that all the books except for “Charmed” come in two-book sets. (For the simple reason that the small publisher who produces the books has a binder that will glue a maximum of only 250 double-sided pages.) So, be prepared for an extended and exiting journey that you will never forget.

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