Courted by Fall Release Day!

 Camille Covington thought she had it all: the perfect life, the perfect future, and the perfect suitor; until it went downhill just days before her 18th birthday. Now struggling to pick up the pieces, she did everything she could to not let anyone know just how depressed she’d become. She did such a good job that she fooled even herself.

Newcomer to Hyacinth, Jerod Kinsley, offered friendship but used to the more traditional way of Hyacinth life, Camille didn’t know what to do with it. Set on a path of destruction, she quickly found out just how supportive her family and Jerod could be. As he and her family encouraged her on a life she never even imagined existed before, Cami began to find her inner strength. When her and Jerod’s relationship solidified through the Hyacinth Courting system, she found out just how freeing discipline from the man she loved could be.

After reading the first book in the series, Courted by Discipline, I was really excited to read this one for two reasons.
Reason one: With how the book ended about Cami, I was just *dying* to find out what had happened, and what was going to happen to her. 

Reason two:  Because it would be great to see how someone who has been raised in Hyacinth approached the whole “courting” thing since they have been around for it for so long; and have been looking forward to it as well.

I can say that when I started reading the book, I was so interested and drawn into the story that I didn’t want to put it down; no matter what.  I just couldn’t get enough of the story that Ms. Cariad created and the story was over way before I wanted it to be!

I did love how Cami’s character was in this book.  She was your typical girl, even though she had been raised in the town she was.  It was also great that she was dealing with the issues she was.  It showed how *real* the town could be.  I really enjoyed being able to follow long with Cami as she started to learn more about herself, and learn what it was she wanted to do with her future.

Jerod was a great character, and I loved how the relationship between them was very slow going, to the point where Cami didn’t have a clue what was going on!  I thought that Jerod was a great match for her because he was able to give her something that she didn’t realize she needed.

Overall, I thought that this was a great second book in the series and I really can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released!

(Set up – Camille is at her first courting dinner. The suitor who has come to call owns his own business – which just happens to be dealing in manure.)

As dinner was ready, and the get-to-know-you dinners were kept strictly to the meal itself, she was grateful when Charlotte suggested they go into the dining room. Their dining room table could seat twelve if needed, but her mother had set it for five, all of them at the head of the table. At first, she feared that would put Gregory next to her, but was relieved when he was pointed to the seat next to her mother. Which put her between Drake and her father. With her mother in her direct sight, she only had to look at her suitor if she forced herself to.

Dinner consisted of her father and Gregory discussing business with the occasional question pointed in her direction. She managed to answer each query politely, but shortly as well, so as not to invite further inquiries. Things were going well until dessert was served. When they made dinner, Camille hadn’t paid attention to whatever her mother made for dessert, but now, looking at it, she was slightly appalled. Chocolate mousse with a dark cookie crust. Drake got a big kick out of it. He held his fork firmly in his hand and when Gregory wasn’t looking, acted as though he was shoveling it and hefting it into his mouth. With the discomfort she felt, it should have been enough to stop the giggles, but it wasn’t. In no time at all, Cami was laughing hysterically, snorting and gasping for air. Drake joined her and even with the three adults staring at them as if they had lost it, they couldn’t stop.

“You two, in my study,” Alex said sharply.

Hiccupping, Cami followed her brother out of the dining room into the closet-sized study. As soon as she entered, the giggles disappeared, just as Drake’s laughter. Laughter and this room did not mix.

He grimaced. “Sorry, sis. Didn’t mean to get you into trouble. But really. Chocolate mousse when he, well, you know what he does for a living.”

Snickering, Camille nodded. “Yes, I was a bit surprised myself.”

They both waited in front of the chair, listening to the front door close. Then their father’s footsteps came down the hall. He walked in, holding something behind his back. A little worry struck her stomach. They had been threatened in the past with a whipping with one of his crops. Her mouth dried up and her eyes bugged out. Uh-oh. Had they truly gone that far? He shut the door and walked over to his chair and sat down, placing the item he was holding on the chair arm. A plate of chocolate mousse.

She stared at it, part of her wanting to giggle and yet knowing that was beyond a bad idea.

Alex cleared his throat. “You know I despise rudeness. And being rude in front of guests makes it even worse. However,” he said, clearing his throat again and picking up the plate. “What was your mother thinking?”

Spluttering a laugh, Cami slammed her hand over her mouth. He looked up at her and winked. “The humor in this situation is not lost on me, dearest daughter. However, your rudeness does need to be dealt with.” He pointed to the corner. “Nose there. Hands on top of your head. You’ll be there for a while.” She quickly moved to do his bidding. His next words made her wince. “But you, my son, were the instigator. As such, grab the paddle.”

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Bree enjoys good books with great characters. While she may be an adult, her favorite memories are from her teenage years reading inspirational romance with girls just like her and strong heroes. That's one of the reasons she's written In Hyacinth, a series of Courting Romances.

Courting Romance - where contemporary romance meets traditional values.

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About the series "In Hyacinth" by Bree Cariad:

Hyacinth, Washington is all about old-fashioned values. In Hyacinth words like trust, honor, and kindness aren't just buzzwords. Hyacinth is a community built on tradition and trust, where men are the head of the home and women are encouraged to follow their lead.

Each story in the series is of a young woman (18-20) and her struggle to figure out who she is in this little town while at the same time going through Hyacinth's old-fashioned courting system. On their way to meet, get to know, and finally marry their princes, these heroines grow in ways they and their town never expected.