May 2021 Reading Recap & June 2021 TBR

My May 2021 Reads:

1. The Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 


2. Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. Is It Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review coming soon.


4. Let It Be Me by Becky Wade - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


5. Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund -  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review coming soon.


6.  A Stage for Harriet by Mary-Celeste Ricks - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review..


7. A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


8. The Audacious Miss Eliza by Laura Rollins. - ⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


9. The Piano Teacher by Kristie Self. - ⭐⭐⭐ - Review coming soon.

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Expected June 2021 Reads:

In June, I hope to read:

1. The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White.


2. Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette.


3. Shadows of the White City by Jocelyn Green - sequel to Veiled in Smoke.


4. When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin - My local book club's June selection.


5. A Companion for the Count by Sally Britton.


6. Then Again, Maybe by Susan L. Tuttle.

What will you read this month?

Book Review: A Stage for Harriet by Mary-Celeste Ricks

About the Book:

When farmer's daughter Harriet Shore flees her small seaside town to accept a position as a governess in London, attending lavish balls and parties is the last thing on her mind. She long ago gave up her childish notion of acting, but when the Duchess of Dorset notices Harriet's uncanny resemblance to her own daughter, Virginia, the duchess offers Harriet the role of a lifetime.

Befriending and impersonating Virginia is easy enough at first, but Harriet's double life quickly becomes complicated. When her childhood sweetheart, Stephan Grimsby, arrives on the scene, along with some unwanted suitors, the entire charade threatens to unravel.

If Harriet maintains the illusion and pleases the duchess, her dreamed-of happy ending would be within reach, but her new friend Virginia might suffer a terrible fate.

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My Thoughts:

A Stage for Harriet by Mary-Celeste Ricks boasts a rich, eye-catching cover that invites the reader into this British Regency period romance. Harriet and Stephan’s childhood friendship blossoms into romance early in the novel, leaving most of the story to focus on this couple confirming their affections and pursuing a way to overcome the obstacles separating them. Sweet, romantic moments laced in with their efforts and kept me reading.

A Stage for Harriet offers a clean romance with young characters who experience limited character development. The friendship between Harriet, Virginia, and Mandie stands as a prominent element in the story and is filled with teasing and sarcastic humor. Although there are some serious situations in the storyline, it maintains a light, YA historical fiction feel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

First Line Fridays: A Stage for Harriet by Mary-Celeste Ricks

Happy Friday!

First Line Fridays is hosted by Hoarding Books and participants share the first line from a nearby book.

Today, I'm sharing the first line from A Stage for Harriet by Mary-Celeste Ricks.

"Virginia wrestled the carriage window open and took a gasping breath of fresh air."

Have you read A Stage for Harriet? If not, check out the book blurb below. As it happens, this novel is currently sitting in my TBR stack, but I look forward to reading it soon.

What are you reading this weekend? I'd love for you to share your book's first line!

Happy reading!

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About the Book:

When farmer's daughter Harriet Shore flees her small seaside town to accept a position as a governess in London, attending lavish balls and parties is the last thing on her mind. She long ago gave up her childish notion of acting, but when the Duchess of Dorset notices Harriet's uncanny resemblance to her own daughter, Virginia, the duchess offers Harriet the role of a lifetime.

Befriending and impersonating Virginia is easy enough at first, but Harriet's double life quickly becomes complicated. When her childhood sweetheart, Stephan Grimsby, arrives on the scene, along with some unwanted suitors, the entire charade threatens to unravel.

If Harriet maintains the illusion and pleases the duchess, her dreamed-of happy ending would be within reach, but her new friend Virginia might suffer a terrible fate.