Time is not a river. It is a vast cosmic sea. Where each life exists as rippling circles on its surface, past and future being eternally present. And occasionally, one expanding ring intertwines with that of another, weaving the lives of two people together. . . .
In 2012, Emme Wilde can't find the right guy. In 1812, James Knight has given up finding the right woman.
Time is not a river. It is a vast cosmic sea. Where each life exists as rippling circles on its surface, past and future being eternally present. And occasionally, one expanding ring intertwines with that of another, weaving the lives of two people together. . . . Georgiana Knight-born in the nineteenth century, but now living in 2013-has certain standards when it comes to mysteries: they must involve blood curdling threats, late-night rendezvous and the terror of Imminent Danger. In 1813, Sebastian Carew has his own mystery to solve.
In 2014, Marc Wilde-martial artist and actor-finds his life a mess. In 1814, Kit Ashton has problems of her own.
In 1815, Timothy, Viscount Linwood-handsome, arrogant, privileged-never veers from the refined rules of his world. In 2015, Jasmine Fleury just wants her happily-ever-after.
In 1828, Daniel Ashton, Lord Whitmoor, faces a problem of epic proportion. Fossi Lovejoy knows she is too odd, too intelligent, too old and too poor to ever marry.
Each life is tethered to others, tendrils wrapping through time itself . . . drawing people to each other . . .
This post really should be titled: "How Sissy ruined my life and made me abscond from all my duties." Yep. I was just going along, quietly living my life, when Sissy said, "Hey! I found these books! Read them!"
I wondered if you'd fall headlong into them like I did. I devoured them without coming up for air. Who needs sleep, anyway? Then I hungrily snatched up Nichole Van's next series, but that's another post.
Seriously. I had things to do this week, you know? But no. I got nothing done except to read books 1-5 of the House of Oak series - Intertwine, Divine, Clandestine, Refine and Outshine. Now, I have always had a thing for Regency romances. And a thing for time travel. And a thing for strong female characters. And for authors who are witty. I never thought I'd find all my things in one series.
You didn't. I found the series. And all the things. You're welcome. The week I read them, I felt fortunate that my husband was obsessed with zoodles (you know, zucchini noodles). Every night he pulled out a plate of zoodles and a jar of Costco pesto for dinner so that my reading time was not intruded upon. Finding the whole series on Kindle Unlimited was like getting a birthday surprise every day.
If you don't happen to have Kindle Unlimited (by being a member of Amazon Prime) I'm pretty sure there's an ad to the right of this post that will give you a free no obligation trial. But guys. These books are so good that I'm probably going to buy them in hard copy just so I can read them on a desert island and/or line them up on my bookshelf and admire the lovely covers. Look at them. Look! They are beautiful!
Sometimes Regency romances can be the most stilted and boring milquetoast ramblings in the universe. But throw in the aforementioned things, including as, Bubby mentioned, sparklingly clever dialogue, and you've got entertainment gold. A lot of the humor in the House of Oak series is mined from juxtaposing 21st century language into the Regency period and it is spot on.
For example, the phrase "Princess Pepsi of Toyota-Camry" shows up in several of the books. I can't explain how or why (SPOILERS!) but holy cow. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to wake up the whole house. Because it was the middle of the night. Because I had to read just. one. more. chapter.
Jasmine Fleury is the central figure in the series, although that is not made clear at the beginning. All those near and dear to her are blessed to find their soulmates, after much madcap mayhem and adventure, of course. All the leading ladies and gentlemen have different personalities and their road to their HEA is unique, so you never feel like it's the same story over and over again, and the different characters show up in each other's stories too, which is cool.
We've read novellas by Nichole Van before, but for some reason, never sought out her full length books until now. Wow. Boy were we missing out! I can't express how much sheer enjoyment I got out of the House of Oak series. Yes, I have laundry and dishes and projects galore to catch up on now, but it was TOTALLY worth it! Go now! Abandon your responsibilities! Order pizza for dinner! Whatever it takes so that you can read these books - do it now!
Obviously I dove into the House of Oak series like it was a bowl of milk chocolate after a sugar fast. So what better endorsement could I possibly give? Nichole Van is definitely one of our new favorites. And by the way, Nichole, I'm waiting most impatiently for the third book in the Brothers Maledetti series...
