May 11, 2020 by mmcheryl

#BlogTour A Shop Girl at Sea by Rachel Brimble

Today it’s the BlogTour A Shop Girl at Sea, the fourth part of the Pennington series, by Rachel Brimble.About the Author

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath, England. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018, A Rebel At Pennington’s February 2019, Christmas At Pennington’s September 2019 and A Shop Girl at Sea April 2020.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. To sign up for her quarterly and new release newsletter, click here to go to her website: https://rachelbrimble.com/

Connect with @RachelBrimble @Aria_Fiction on Twitter, on BookBub, on Goodreads, on Instagram, on Amazon, And with Rachel Brimble on Facebook, Rachel’s Readers Group on Facebook,Visit rachelbrimble.blogspot.com, Buy A Shop Girl at Sea

About the book

Bath, 1912.

Amelia Wakefield loves working at Pennington’s, Bath’s finest department store. An escape from her traumatic past, it saved her life. So when Miss Pennington sets her a task to set sail on the Titanic and study the department stores of New York, she couldn’t be more excited – or determined!

Frustrated with his life at home, Samuel Murphy longs for a few weeks of freedom and adventure. Meeting Amelia on board the Titanic, Samuel can’t help wonder what painful history has made the beauty so reserved. But he already has too many responsibilities for love.

Ruby Taylor has always kept her Pennington co-workers at a distance. Making sure her little brother is safe has always been her priority. But when that means accepting Victoria Lark’s offer of sanctuary, more than one of Ruby’s secrets is under threat of being revealed…

Review

This is the fourth book in the Pennington series, and although there are some characters we meet again in every book these can all be read as standalone novels.

Amelia is a woman throttled by her past, but determined to overcome it. When Miss Pennington picks her to discover what the US department stores do to draw shoppers in she is thrilled. Ruby gets to step up in her absence, which brings a certain amount of jealousy from certain corners with it.

Samuel has landed a cushy sailing job on the Titanic, which Amelia will be boarding shortly, and both of their lives become linked forever as they experience a terrible tragedy.

It’s a romance with poignant social issues of the era woven into the plot.

Brimble makes an interesting point about the way male survivors were treated in the aftermath of the disaster. Why did so many of them survive when others didn’t, especially with women and children being the first to supposedly be rescued – except those in the lower classes of course. The guilt on top of the trauma of the event would have been a terrible burden made ten times worse by people who weren’t there making assumptions and blaming them for surviving.

It was interesting how the author took the event, and the survival of Amelia and Samuel, and turned it into a message or a sign instead of something so dark it could potentially destroy their psyche. It becomes the turning of a corner if they allow it to be.

Brimble always endeavours to deliver a read that has important messages along with historical facts and a good feeling to it. She doesn’t shy away from difficult or uncomfortable topics, despite having the genre platform to just give readers all the happy they want.

Buy A Shop Girl at Sea (Pennington’s #4) on Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Aria; 9 April 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my reviews of Mistress of Pennington’s, A Rebel at Pennington’s and Christmas at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble.

October 21, 2019 by mmcheryl

#BlogTour Christmas at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

It’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Christmas at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win a £15 Amazon Gift Card (UK Only)About the Author

Buy Christmas at Pennington’s

About the book

Gripping drama as Pennington’s department store prepares for a glittering Christmas in 1911, but a killer stalks the women of Bath.

Christmas sees Pennington’s at its most glorious, thronged with shoppers, its grand staircase and balcony adorned with holly, mistletoe, tinsel and lights. It should be the happiest time, but dramas are seething beneath the surface.

For Cornelia Culford, in charge of jewellery, a divorce hearing looms, where she could lose custody of her young sons to her overbearing and unfaithful husband.

For Stephen Gower, being head of security at Pennington’s is the perfect refuge from a tragic past at Scotland Yard. But soon the past will call him back, as Joseph Carter and Elizabeth Pennington beg him to help solve the murder of Joseph’s first wife, now that it seems as if the killer has struck again.

For Joseph and Elizabeth, their marriage depends on exorcising the past. But can it ever be laid to rest?

Review

Although this series is more of a cosy romance series that addresses important topics of the times, this book seemed to take it up a notch. The crime element of the story was a bit more gritty and full of emotional turmoil, and the domestic violence element played out quite well.

Brimble brings the confusion, behavioural issues and the blame game of the children to the plot, and shows the extreme situation Cordelia finds herself in.

There is a lot going on in this story, the murder, the domestic violence, the aspect of child abuse and women living in a patriarchal society, and much more. At times it seems as if one storyline has to be cut short to make room for another one, sometimes less is more.

Saying that, the author manages to maintain the feel of the Pennington books and the aura Elizabeth brings to the story. The elegance and atmosphere of the store, the struggle to claim her place in society because she has no rights as a woman. More importantly the strong friendships and bonds that form despite class and gender distinctions.

It’s a cosy romance and crime with poignant social issues of the era woven into the plot. The author wants readers to take something away from the story, whilst simultaneously giving them a good read. I enjoy the contradiction of the pleasant and controversial in the same plot – it makes for a good read.

Buy Christmas at Pennington’s at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Aria pub date 19 Sept. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Mistress of Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

Read my review of A Rebel at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

Enter the Giveaway to Win a £15 Amazon Gift Card (UK Only)

Click here to Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*

February 10, 2019 by mmcheryl

#BlogTour A Rebel at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

Today it’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour A Rebel at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble. It blends romance with historical facts to create a powerful read.

Don’t forget to enter the Giveaway below to win a £15/$15 Amazon Gift Certificate (Open Internationally).

About the Author

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest.

When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Connect with @RachelBrimble @Aria_Fiction on Twitter, on BookBub, on Goodreads, And with Rachel Brimble on Facebook,

Rachel’s Readers Group on Facebook,

Visit rachelbrimble.com and rachelbrimble.blogspot.com

Buy A Rebel at Pennington’s

About the book

One woman’s journey to find herself and help secure the vote. Perfect for the fans of the TV series Mr Selfridgeand The Paradise.

1911 Bath. Banished from her ancestral home, passionate suffrage campaigner, Esther Stanbury works as a window dresser in Pennington’s Department Store. She has hopes and dreams for women’s progression and will do anything to help secure the vote.

Owner of the prestigious Phoenix Hotel, Lawrence Culford has what most would view as a successful life. But Lawrence is harbouring shame, resentment and an anger that threatens his future happiness.

When Esther and Lawrence meet their mutual understanding of life’s challenges unites them and they are drawn to the possibility of a life of love that neither thought existed.

With the Coronation of King-Emperor George V looming, the atmosphere in Bath is building to fever pitch, as is the suffragists’ determination to secure the vote.Will Esther’s rebellious nature lead her to ruin or can they overcome their pasts and look to build a future together?

Review

Esther is a character driven by her passion for equality. It surpasses nearly everything else in her life. Her involvement has caused an estrangement and disagreements within her family, and threatens to ruin her budding career at Pennington’s. All of those reasons are still not enough to persuade Esther to change her position on achieving a world where both women and men have the legal right to vote.

She is part of a suffragette movement, who believe in peaceful protests and making their point without resorting to hurting anyone else in the process, and yet it feels as if she isn’t doing enough to promote the vote for women. She is thinking about joining the Cause, the more militant part of the suffragette movement.

This is where things get interesting, because what Brimble really wants to explore in this story is whether it is always a valid option to use excessive force to push your agenda. Militants is a word usually reserved for what are essentially domestic terrorists nowadays. Is any cause important enough to warrant hurting the innocent and those who aren’t involved in the agenda? Or is the exact opposite true? Does the importance of the cause sometimes warrant extreme actions?

Brimble uses her comfortable Edwardian series to approach difficult cultural, political and socio-economic topics. She blends romance with historical facts to create a powerful read.

A story, which will hopefully generate discussion about supporting what is morally right and standing up for ourselves. Perhaps put more emphasis on how lucky we are that women of every persuasion and status were willing to stand up, be tortured, and be counted, so that the women of today can cast a vote without even thinking twice about it.

Buy A Rebel at Pennington’s at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Aria; pub date 5 Feb 2019. Buy at Amazon com, Kobo, Google Play,

Read my review of The Mistress of Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

Enter the Giveaway below to win a £15/$15 Amazon Gift Certificate (Open Internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*

September 4, 2018 by mmcheryl

#BlogTour The Mistress of Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour The Mistress of Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble. It’s a story about a woman who wants to be acknowledged and taken seriously by the men in her life. To make her father understand her gender isn’t an obstacle when it comes to business sense. Don’t forget to enter the Giveaway at the bottom of the post to win a £20 / $20 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally).

About the Author

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a brand new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

Connect with @RachelBrimble @Aria_Fiction on Twitter, and with Rachel Brimble on Facebook Rachel’s Readers Group on Facebook Visit rachelbrimble.com and rachelbrimble.blogspot.com

Buy The Mistress of Pennington’s

About the book

1910 – A compelling tale of female empowerment in Bath’s leading department store. Perfect for the fans of the TV series Mr Selfridge and The Paradise.

Elizabeth Pennington should be the rightful heir of Bath’s premier department store through her enterprising schemes and dogged hard work. Her father, Edward Pennington believes his daughter lacks the business acumen to run his empire and is resolute a man will succeed him.

Determined to break from her father’s iron-clad hold and prove she is worthy of inheriting the store, Elizabeth forms an unlikely alliance with ambitious and charismatic master glove-maker Joseph Carter. United they forge forward to bring Pennington’s into a new decade, embracing woman’s equality and progression whilst trying not to mix business and pleasure.

Can this dream team thwart Edward Pennington’s plans for the store? Or will Edward prove himself an unshakeable force who will ultimately ruin both Elizabeth and Joseph?Review

In an era where women are striding towards their own empowerment and to have their voices heard, which includes the vote and the suffragette movement, the main character is fighting for her own independence. Elizabeth is the only child of Edward Pennington, the owner of a large successful department store. A concept of shopping, which ended up connected the worlds of all social classes, genders and all kinds of products. It changed the face of sales and the retail industry.

It’s a world Elizabeth loves to inhabit and hopes to one day control as the sole heir of her father’s fortune. Just one minor problem, her father believes women are incapable of doing business or taking care of themselves. They all need a capable man in their lives to make all the important decisions for them. Women should be at home, taking care of the household and supervising their children.

This creates a lot of animosity between Elizabeth and her father, who is only interested in marrying her off and keeping her quiet.

In the 21st century we are still fighting for equality, but we should take a moment to remember all the women who fought, struggled and died to ensure we got the rights we deserve. That our daughters, and granddaughters can keep on establishing themselves, working in any industry and being equal members of society.

Brimble’s main character is strong and intelligent. She is passionate about advancing her future and that of others, by recognising hard-work and original ideas. The premise is very much about the struggle she has with her father and not wanting to be controlled by any man.

The author gives the reader an excellent sense of the ambience and the charm of the department store, where every detail can mean a sale or no sale at all. The exclusivity and magic of seeing all these products in one place at the same time. It’s a tale of struggle, controversy, love and determination mixed with the magic of progression and development.

Buy The Mistress of Pennington’s at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Buy books by Rachel Brimble on Amazon com Barnes & Noble Kobo Google books

Publisher: Aria (ariafiction.com)

Enter the Giveaway below to win a £20 / $20 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*