Suitors & Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

I'm not exactly sure how Cindy Anstey first came into my life. It may have been via NetGalley or Goodreads or just randomly stumbling upon her first book. However it happened, I am exceedingly glad that it did because every time I pick up one of her books I know that I am about to fall in love with whatever she has written. I loved the first book, tossed aside Mr Darcy and Colonel Brandon over the second, and the third? Well, the paperback won't be released until this coming April but I pre-ordered it after the first chapter had been read because it needs to be on my shelf with the other two and my beloved Jane Austen collection.

Now, you probably know that I read more than a bit of Regencies. Many have I loved, but few have I felt the need to own. It says a lot.

Suitors and Sabotage has a bit of humor, a bit of mystery, and a whole lot of "just admit how you feel already" frustration. Cindy Anstey has once again written a delightful romp suitable for the younger and more delicate fans of the genre, while still being engaging enough for those of us who also enjoy the more bodice-ripping end of the Regency spectrum.

Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Friday 56 (today is page 156 from the paperback) is hosted at Freda's Voice & 

Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

I have a confession to make : I stopped reading the ebook I received from NetGalley of this on Thursday morning. (Well, except for the bus-ride in to work Thursday night. I just couldn't NOT read a little bit more.... Anstey is positively addictive!) BUT I did so because I knew that on Friday I'll be receiving the actual book in the mail from Amazon and it's so flipping good that I know I'll want to finish it up with it actually in my hands flipping the pages in the comfort of my recliner and pajamas.

That's a good reason, right?

(The page 156 above is thanks to the "Surprise Me!" preview pages on Amazon. I can't wait to find out what's going on!!! But, of course, I can ... because I need that book in my hands!)

Oh, and in case you were wondering, it's a standalone novel. It has the same general feel and era as Love, Lies and Spies, but it isn't necessary to read one before the other. You know that I'm a bit obsessive about reading things in the proper order and here it's really okay if you don't!

***UPDATE -- 16 APRIL 2017***

I was spot-on over needing this book as an actual book. I even took it to Easter lunch at my sister-in-law's to read and had a good chuckle over the amazement that I had my head in an actual book instead of just my phone or tablet.

This book is needed on my shelves and will, without a doubt, be re-read over the years just as my Jane Austens have been and will be. Anstey, once again, has penned a delicious Regency romance with a tinge of intrigue -- this time around Miss Lydia Whitfield. Her father had passed on years earlier and she has been managing her family estate with the assistance (or lack thereof) of her mother's brother. When a disagreement about the management forced the involvement of her solicitor to get involved, the solicitor's clerk (and soon-to-be apprentice) Mr Robert Newton entered the picture.  

Oh, Robert. 

My adoration of this man so far surpasses my previous longings for a Mr Darcy or a Colonel Brandon. From this day forward, all of my Regency daydreams will be his... at least, until Anstey's next book is released.

Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

No, I am not spending my entire work shift reading Cindy Anstey's ever-so-amazing Love, Lies and Spies. It's actually only going to end up being about half of my shift ... plus the bus ride in ... and a good amount of time when I should have been sleeping before coming in to work ... and a whole lot of Tuesday. Suffice it to say, I'm loving this book. In fact, as soon as I had read the first paragraph of the digital copy, I hopped on to Amazon and ordered the paperback so I could have it on my shelves and in my hands.

From the back cover:

"In this hilarious homage to Jane Austen, a lady with a penchant for trouble finds a handsome spy much more than merely tolerable."

I keep thinking it's like Elizabeth Bennet still falls for Colin Firth ... but this time he's playing Harry Hart from Kingsman instead of Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. (Although, Taron Egerton is more accurate age-wise by about 30 years ... but you understand where I'm coming from, right?)


Okay. Now I'm going to obsess about a Love, Lies and Spies movie being made and Egerton being cast as Spencer... and Sophie Cookson would be a most excellent Juliana... and now I want to watch Kingsman again as soon as I finish this (and before I begin Anstey's next book -- Duels & Deception!).

Anyway, back to the book...

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.