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13 March 2012

Guest Review by Debbie Lynne Costello of Laurie Alice Eakes's A Necessary Deception




Review of Laurie Alice Eakes's
A Necessary Deception
(Revell, 2011)

By Debbie Lynne Costello

The year is 1812. England and France are at war. Lady Lydia Gale is a young confident widow of a military man. In order to honor her dead husband’s wishes, Lady Lydia arranges parole for a French prisoner. Believing she will never see the man again, she feels she has fulfilled her duty and heads to her family’s home to help her ailing mother with her youngest sister, Honore’s, entrée into London Society and her other sister Cassandra’s wedding.

Before she makes it to London she is interrupted walking her cat at night by a man of mystery who keeps his identity hidden other than a name. He claims she is a traitor and has freed a French Prisoner and he has proof. He blackmails her into playing a dangerous game.
As if Lydia’s troubles aren’t enough the French prisoner she helped obtain parole, Christien de Meuse, shows up in her home wanting entrance into society. Lady Lydia finds herself having to make hard decisions to keep her family safe from harm and ruin.

As Lady Lydia is pulled deeper into the intrigue of spies, her two younger sisters are forever causing her trouble. But they aren’t the only troubling things in her life, Christien de Meuse has worked his way into her heart, but the question is can she trust him?

I love Laurie Alice Eakes’ unique ability to sweep you away into another world. Every historical aspect of her stories read true to time. You can be sure she’s done all of her homework. As she takes you from Dartmoor Prison, to Society in London, to balls and masquerades you can taste a bit of England history.

 I love her characters. It doesn’t matter if it is the hero, heroine, parents, sisters or one of the much lesser characters in the story, you will always find them well thought out and developed. You won’t find a cardboard character in one of Laurie Alice books. When you finish the book you’ll feel you are saying good-bye to an old friend.

Her ability to start a story out and hook you from page one and continue to keep you glued to the pages as you flip them frantically to find out what happens next is a true art. I can’t wait to read her upcoming Regency, Flight of Fancy due out October of 2012 in which Cassandra pursues her interest in balloon flight, her fiancé gets entangled with the Luddites, and they both pay what might be too high a price for their intemperate behavior.








 Bio: Debbie Lynne Costello's tagline is Southern-Kissed Historical Romance. She is a member of ACFW and  HisWriters and writes Christian historical romance. She chairs the CROWN promotional group and is a member of HEWN which promotes Christian historical fiction in European settings. Debbie Lynne lives in South Carolina with her family. Debbie Lynne is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can learn more about her at her websites www.debbielynnecostello.com and www.theswordandspirit.blogspot.com.  Debbie Lynne also is co-hostess of www.fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com.





GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Laurie Alice Eakes’s books, choice of format.

47 comments:

  1. I love the cover of the Book, the Review was great, thank you do much, please enter me in your drawing, I would love to win this Book.
    God Bless



    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. Thanks for stopping by, Ingrid. Good Luck!

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  3. I have read a few of Laurie's stories (hahaha) and they are wonderful.

    I look forward to reading the two listed here already. Please enter me in the drawing. ginger[dot]solomon[at]gmail[dot]com

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  4. Wonderful review Debbie Lynne. But I'm already sold! I'd live to be in the drawing

    Isn't Laurie Alice an amazing writer?

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  5. Thank you for your kind words on my books, Ginger. Thank you for stopping by Ingrid. I've always been a storyteller.

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  6. These books look beautiful and sound great. Please enter me.

    mafinnegan(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. Sounds like a wonderful book! Kudos to Laurie!

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  8. Okay, Deb, you reeled me in with that review, girlfriend, although to be honest, the cover and Laurie Alice's writing pretty much hooked the old jaw!!

    Laurie Alice, LOVE that cover, my friend, and I already have it staring at me from my TBA list, so can't wait to dive in!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  9. What a wonderful review. I would love to win a book.
    slc925@yahoo.com

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  10. Thank you, ladies, for stopping by.

    I hope you like it, Julie. A positive comment from you would be worth its weight in gold.

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  11. Great review Debbie Lynne! Laurie I can't wait to read this one, too! It sounds really good. :)

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  12. Thank you, Debbie Lynne, for being our guest this week on OTT-WGH, and for the awesome review! Laurie Alice is such brilliant talent, it just leaves me awestruck to be honest with you. The whole time I was reading her newest release, Heart's Safe Passage; I found myself say "wow!" (honestly) all the way through the book. She is blessed, too, with the most beautiful covers for her books. When I am reading her books, I just can't stop looking at the cover!

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  13. Hey Ginger, I love all of Laurie Alice's books. Deb, Yes!!!! She is an awesome writer. I am forever marking things to come back and reread to see how she does what she does!
    Melissa and Penelope Good luck in the drawing.

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  14. Hey Julie! Laurie Alice's name on the book is all that one needs to know it is going to be awesome! I love love love her stuff!

    Thank you Sandi and Teresa. Good luck. I know you'll love the book.

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  15. Hey Diane, Thanks for having me! Those covers are breathtaking. And the heroines always look like they should. Which I really love.

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  16. Beautiful cover! I am looking forward to reading this book! angadair@nwcable.net

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  17. I enjoy historical fiction and the cover is gorgeous!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  18. I had this posted and it poof!...disappeared so if it duplicates later, sorry, Debbie!

    I mentioned that all the time we have been FB friends, I didn't realize you live in SC! Whereabouts? I live right on the borderline between Lexington and W. Columbia, SC.

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  19. It is! I love the smile on her face and the carriages in the background.

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  20. I love the historical aspect along with the suspense of the two men involved with Lady Lydia Gale. Would love a chance to win. Please enter me.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  21. Diana, I live in Clover, SC. Up state SC. My niece lives in Columbia. Small world!

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  22. Hey Linda. Did I mention this is a great book? ;o)
    Good luck on the drawing!

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  23. I have been blessed with beautiful covers indeed. The art department has a nack for taking my vague ideas and running with them.

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  24. DIANA, Debbie Lynne and I have been privy to the advance copies of the covers in the HisWriters group that Laurie Alice and we are in. Those Revell covers have been gorgeous.

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  25. Oh, I have been wanting to read this book so badly, since the cover was first released! Regency is my favorite era :) Your review had me hooked by the 2nd paragraph, Debbie! I just have to get this book!!! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy, Carrie!

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  26. I should go up and put that new Regency Reflections blog address on there. Great to see you Anne! Debbie Lynne is a sweetheart. And a beautiful lady! You two would get along great, Anne!

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  27. This sounds like a great book. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy. I havent read anything by Laurie yet. :-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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  29. I read Laurie's Lady in the Mist and loved it. This one sounds most wonderful too. and I love, love, love the cover. thanks for chance to win

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  30. Great review Debbie! Would love to win a copy of this book, it is beautiful cover!
    Sharon
    smoore at tcq dot net

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  31. I love the regency era. I enjoyed Lady in the Mist. I can't wait to read this book also
    ldwrncpn@comcast.net

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  32. a wonderful posting...and a great giveaway :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  33. Thank you for the awesome review Debbie Lynne! I have this book staring at me from my bookshelf, but haven't read it yet. Too many good books are coming out lately... I need more hours in a day. ;)

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  34. This review has me drooling for Laurie Alice's new book. Yes, please sign me up!
    mahereenie (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  35. Regency is one of my two favorite time periods. When I was told selling Regency in the Christian market was going to be difficult, I wrote Lady in the Mist with a Regency-like hero. That opened the door for this one and it's fellow books.

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  36. Hey GWEN! I am surprised because you often read what we are reading. Well, you have quite a selection to choose from!

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  37. I've haven't read any of Laurie's books although Lady in the Mist is in my TBR pile. I'd love to win a copy o fone of her books. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  38. Oh my goodness! I fix dinner and run out to the store and I missed all these posts! Anne I'm so glad you enjoyed my review! I'm always afraid of giving away too much. Gwendolyn, it is a wonderful book. Apple Blossom this is every bit as good as Lady in the Mist. Laurie Alice doesn't know how to write a bad book!

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  39. Thank you Sharon, all of Laurie Alice's covers a gorgeous! Lori I see you were the one that read Lady, sorry Apple Blossom! Waving to you, Karen and thank you. Wishing you all the best of luck on winning a copy.

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  40. Marian and Liz, you need to pull it off the shelf and TBR pile! I'm promising you, you will thank me for the advice! Kathy you have been around those Newfoundlands too long! heehee Good luck Ladies!

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  41. Oh this book sounds awesome!!! I was swept away in the first paragraph! I've yet to read Laurie's stories; I can see I need to start!
    Thanks for the great review and the opportunity to win!
    Darby
    darbyscloset@yahoo.com

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  42. I would love to win this book!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  43. Hey Darby. Once you start reading Laurie Alice's books you'll be waiting and watching for the next to come out. Thanks for coming by and good luck.
    Thanks for stopping by Marissa. Good luck

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  44. I love Laurie's books! I actually have this book, but would love to win a print copy of Heart's Safe Passage! Meganleigh844@gmail.com Thanks for the opportunity! Megan S.

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  45. This book sounds like a fun ride! I love high-seas adventure (big fan of Marylu Tyndall's pirate/romance series). Would love the chance to win this! Thank you for the giveaway.
    -Emily
    emily_reynolds(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  46. CONGRATS to LIZ who is the WINNER of Laurie Alice's ebook - The Glassblower. This is one of the first batch of Heartsong books to release in ebook format and was a Carol award finalist in 2011.

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  47. DARBY CONGRATS YOU ARE the WINNER of Laurie Alice Eakes's week. Choose any book of hers paperback or ebook! Thanks for visiting us!

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