Blog Tour: ROAD TO ROSEWOOD by Ashtyn Newbold

Today's Wednesday Wonders is part of a blog tour for 

Road To Rosewood

by Ashtyn Newbold

About Road to Rosewood:

Lucy Abbott's carriage is besieged by highwaymen as she returns to the country estate she fondly remembers from her childhood. A familiar man leads the band of outlaws, and Lucy must decide if she can trust him to safely guide her to her destination.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Deseret Book

Excerpt:

          Rachel stood, brushing one of my dark curls from my forehead. “I will visit again in two months.” Dropping her voice to a whisper, she added, “And when I do, I expect you to be at Rosewood. You must write me of all your adventures there.” Her lips twisted into a sad smile. She didn't like to see me like this.

          “I will.” I squeezed her hand.

          “When do you plan to leave?”

          My fingers twitch over the letter in my lap. “As soon as I am able.”

          She threw me a look of suspicion. “Surely you plan to involve Mama and Papa in the travel Arrangements? Papa will insist on everything being good and proper.”

          I bit my lip.

          “Lucy.” Rachel's eyebrow arched.

          It felt as if I were being forced to confess to a stern nanny, much less my caring sister. “I did not plan to inform them. I need to do this on my own.”

          “Lucy, I must insist that you make proper arrangements.”

          I almost snapped at her, but saw that she was genuinely concerned. “I plan to travel by mail coach. It is the most affordable option.”

          Rachel was quiet for a long moment.

          “You won't tell them, will you?” My heart pounded with dread. This was my grand opportunity. I could not afford to have anyone stop me. My heart would break all over again, this time at the hand of shattered dreams. I couldn't carry on day-to-day with the same coastline, the same storms, the same bleak shops. The only thing that Craster shared with the countryside was the sky, but it was a different color there. I felt choked in confinement, seeing what I longed for but unable to touch it. Rachel had found love, joy, and contentment. I wanted the same.

          “You should not be angry with them, Lucy.” Rachel's voice was soft. “Mama and Papa had their reasons for keeping away these years.”

          My jaw tightened and I looked out the window again. Yes, reasons that they would never speak of. Secret things.

          When I didn't reply, Rachel stood, smoothing her skirts. “I will not stop you from leaving. But please write to me often. Be safe.” When she met her husband at the door, she gave me a final glance over her shoulder before disappearing from sight.

          What Rachel did not know is that I had already replied to that letter from Kitty. It had come weeks before, and I was leaving within the week.

          I had been wrong, Rachel didn't always understand completely. Mama and Papa may have had their reasons for keeping me away from Rosewood, but I also had my reasons for being angry. By keeping me away from the countryside, they had deprived me of five summers—five summers I could have changed Nicholas's mind. What if he has seen me grown up? I was no longer a little child. Year after year, I beg to be allowed to visit again. I told my parents it was because of my cousins, and the sunshine, and the beautiful village, and it was, but they knew that I missed Nicholas the most.

My Book Review: 

 

This was quite the exciting story. “Road” as it is used in this story has more than one connotation, and all of them were interesting to travel. The heroine, Lucy—far from perfect and a little difficult at times—finds she must deal with challenges she never anticipated when she left home. Although she remains single-minded about what she wants, part of the enjoyment of this story was wondering what kind of a fix she was going to get herself into next.

The author developed the characters well, and I could picture them in my mind as I read. I also enjoyed the window into the era as she unfolded the plot and described the surroundings.

This was an enjoyable and exciting read that kept me in suspense most of the story. Surprise revelations kept it interesting. The romance elements were sweet and clean. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Regency-era novels or a great romantic suspense story set in any era.

About Ashtyn Newbold:

Ashtyn Newbold discovered a love of writing early in high school. Inspired by regency period romance, she wrote her first novel at the age of sixteen. Because she can’t vacation in her favorite historical time periods, she writes about them instead. When not crafting handsome historical heroes, she enjoys baking, sewing, music, and spoiling her dog. She dreams of traveling to England and Ireland. Ashtyn is currently studying English and creative writing at Utah Valley University. She lives in Lehi, Utah with her family.

Connect with Ashtyn Newbold: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Wednesday Wonders & Book Review: RIGHT NEXT TO ME by Rachel Ward

This week's Wednesday Wonders features 

Right Next to Me

by Rachel Ward

and includes my book review

About Right Next to Me:

She has a crush on her boyfriend's best friend.

How long can a good thing last? Sydney was sure Gavin was the perfect boyfriend until he moved across the country for school. After spending more time with her best friend, James, she’s now rethinking everything. Sydney’s once sure footing in life slips even more as she discovers new details about her own father’s betrayal. Scared she’ll hurt Gavin like her father hurt her, Sydney must decide if she’ll stay with the perfect boyfriend, or the perfectly flawed boy who’s been there all along.

Excerpt:

          There is a moment at the end of the graduation ceremony where everyone is supposed to throw their caps. But the senior advisors told us not to. Several times. Per minute.

          “If you lose your cap, you don’t get it back."

          “If you lose your cap, you lose your tassel.”

          “If you lose your cap, it won’t be in any of your graduation pictures.”

          So, only about half of us threw our caps. It was very anticlimactic. And then after the ceremony, it took about half an hour to find everyone. Piper was closest. (Madison, Piper, Morris, Sydney). It seemed appropriate though, that we ended this together: Piper and I had been friends since first grade. We wandered toward the exit and spotted James easily, almost a head taller than the rest of the blue and white herd. Piper found her boyfriend, Sean, and ran to him, throwing her arms around him and laughing. As we approached the dais, Gavin appeared at my side.

          “You did good, man,” James praised as Gavin pulled me in.

          “You did,” I repeated from his embrace, my voice muffled by his gown.

          “Thanks,” Gavin kissed the top of my head, a few copper strands attaching themselves to his five o’clock shadow, and then pulled on my hand. “Let’s get out of here.” He navigated out of the doors and we stepped out into the sunlight, immediately surrounded by parents. I glanced around at the crowd. Moms were crying, kids were yelling, and there was a lot of hugging and photography

           “I see my mom,” I exclaimed, pointing through the crowd. “And yours,” I announced to James. “C’mon.” I let go of Gavin’s hand and grabbed James, dragging him through the crowd. “Mom!” I shouted over the din. Somehow she heard me and turned in my direction. She was beaming. My sister, Whitney, was next to her, tapping the program against her leg impatiently. I released James and threw my arms around Mom’s neck.

          “Congratulations,” she said, hugging me tightly. “You did it.” She pulled away and posed me under a nearby tree for a picture. “Whitney,” she called, “come be in the picture.” Whitney made a face and trudged over. She plastered a fake smile on her face and as soon as Mom’s camera clicked she was gone again.

          “James,” my mom called. He stood between his parents, laughing at the empty diploma cover. He turned toward us when he heard his name. She waved him over. “Come take a picture with Sydney.” He handed his diploma to his mom and was next to me in a matter of strides. He wrapped his arm around me and we smiled as the camera clicked. He wrapped the other arm around me and pulled me into him.

          “How you feeling?” he asked softly.

          “Weird,” I laughed. He pulled back and nodded. For most of my high school career it had been the five of us. Gavin, Sean, James, me, and Piper. The group had evolved naturally during our freshman and sophomore years. Gavin and Sean had been close since junior high school. Then Gavin and I got together after freshman year. James had moved into my neighborhood the summer before sophomore year and clicked immediately with all of us. And Piper and Sean hooked up at the beginning of junior year. We were always together, at least in some combination. But starting in the fall, that would change.

          We were all set to head our separate ways. Gavin would go to Yale in Connecticut; he was the pride of our high school and the only one to be accepted into an Ivy League school. Piper was headed to USC. None of us are entirely sure how she got in, but I have a theory that it had something to do with generous donations from her father. Sean had gotten a full scholarship to Utah State and would be moving to Logan. James was accepted to the University of Utah, and was planning on living at home since it was only minutes away from campus. And I was headed north to Boise State University in Idaho to study graphic design.

          “Sydney!” Gavin yelled my name across the crowd. Sean and Piper were next to him. I turned and smiled at him and beckoned to them.

          “Come take pictures,” I called. James stepped behind me and Gavin positioned himself on my left side. Piper snuck in and wrapped her arm around my neck and Sean stood next to James.

          “Smile,” Mom called. James’s mom had sidled up next to her as well, camera at the ready. I knew that we had the whole summer before us, but there was something so final about this moment that my breath caught momentarily in my chest. Everything was changing.

          “You want a ride tonight?” Gavin asked me as we finished with the pictures. Sean and Piper had disappeared and James had returned to his family. Mom and Whitney were waiting to take me home. I nodded. “I’ll text you in a bit.” He bent down and kissed me quickly and then he was back with his family as well.

           My eyes scanned the crowd apprehensively as we walked back to the car. Whitney shot me a look. “You know he’s not here, Syd.”

          “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied quickly, shifting my eyes to my feet. I felt Mom’s hand on my arm. “I’m fine,” I snapped, pulling away slightly, immediately sorry. It wasn’t her fault that my dad couldn’t care less about us. He lived out of state and only showed up very occasionally. I had hoped that maybe my graduation would warrant a visit, but it was stupid to get my hopes up. Something as minor as my high school graduation apparently wasn’t worth a plane ticket.

My Book Review:

This was a thoughtful coming of age novel covering many of the challenges facing young adults as they prepare to leave the cocoon of safety they enjoyed in high school and go off to college. Told in the first person, Sydney Morris is one of five tight-knit friends who spent most of their high school years doing almost everything together. Sydney’s personal life is also complicated by her parents’ divorce. The story starts at the time of high school graduation, but includes flashbacks to relevant scenes in her past life.

At graduation, the five sense the changes that are coming in their lives even though they have the summer ahead of them to still enjoy each other’s company. Several of them work, Gavin is off to Yale, James will go to the local college and live at home due to finances, Sydney’s application to her first choice of colleges, Cal Art, is rejected, so she must settle for her second choice. All of them are facing the challenges of moving in different directions. Sydney and Gavin face the decision of whether or not to try to continue a long-distance relationship with him attending college back east and her being in Idaho with the hope of eventually transferring to California. Some relationships in the group solidify, some drift apart, not everything is as it appears on the surface. Then there are the complications of Sydney and her siblings dealing with their relationships with their father.

This story is well-written, character and situation-driven story. It held my interest as I empathized with the difficulties and choices they faced as they solved their individual challenges. It held my interest, it captured my empathy, and I recommend it to readers from high school age and up.

 

Right Next to Me Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books & things | Deseret Book

About Rachel Ward: 

Rachel grew up reading every book she could get her hands on and spending time with her cat. At least, that was the report in every annual Christmas letter.  The humiliation was enough to spur her into action, and she began writing.  And she never stopped.  Rachel studied English at Brigham Young University-Idaho and then wrote and blogged in between the births of her six children. She currently lives in West Jordan with her family, and while she no longer has a cat, she still reads every book she can get her hands on.

 

Connect with Rachel Ward:

Blog  |  Twitter   |  Facebook