About the Book:

Buried underneath are truths bent on keeping them apart. . . .

In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is haunted by guilt over her parents’ deaths while struggling to care for her blind sister and manage her family’s crumbling estate. With the tax deadline looming, Eva’s situation looks dire until an ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Despite superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed acres, Eva’s need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics.

Cambridge professor Bram Webb must prove a legendary Christian Roman settlement exists, or he’ll risk exposing his uncle’s deteriorating memory and they’ll both lose their positions. Then Eva steps into his office with the prospect of an archaeological dig that might lead to the very evidence Bram requires–provided he and Eva can set aside painful memories of a time they would rather forget. As the dig forces the two to confront their pasts, the work becomes fraught with challenges that threaten Eva’s and Bram’s hopes, as well as the growing attraction between them.

My Thoughts:

Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt?

This archaeological mystery (and romance) is a delightful page turner. Bram cares deeply for his uncle and has put himself in a precarious position in order to try to protect him from losing his place and his pension. Eva is already in a precarious position with taxes due and no money to pay them. They each embark on a journey of discovery, hoping for the grace to overcome their circumstances. What they find is far better than they would have imagined.

I enjoyed this novel immensely. It is the second in a series and while it could easily be read as a stand alone, the first book in the series, Of Gold and Shadows, is also excellent.

I received a free digital copy of this novel for review.

About the Book:

LESSON ONE: Stand in the way of the Windy City’s criminal world and expect a most improper proposal from an eligible gentleman in return.

With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather’s privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she’s inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves by any means necessary.

Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences–walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors–arise within the castle’s grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family’s safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.

Laugh-out-loud witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age string together this entrancing series starter. Fans of clean romance, Christian fiction, and strong female characters will enjoy this read.

My Thoughts:

Jen Turano is one of the authors that I turn to when I want to read something light-hearted that isn’t all fluff. She never disappoints. Drusilla, her family, her friends and Rhenick were all delightfully quirky characters. I loved the way they developed and the way the story navigated through their preconceived notions and turned them upside down. In overcoming challenges, developing relationships and holding on to faith the cast of the book took me on a journey of hope while keeping me chuckling page after page. A Lesson in Propriety was absolutely delightful.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review.

About the Book:

A clever young woman, a contested will, and an estate that does not easily give up its secrets.

It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she’s never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on.

The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people–including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle’s death, the late master’s nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate’s butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master’s brilliance as well as his property–or someone else will.

My Thoughts:

I completely enjoyed this novel. Politano is an excellent writer and I was immediately drawn into the story. I like to tinker with things and have endless curiosity about the way things work so the house and all it’s inventions felt fascinating. The characters were as curious as the house itself and the pacing of discovery kept me turning page after page. The ending was satisfying. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review.

About the Book:

Nothing would please her family more than her securing an admirable match, but true love and loyalty are harder to come by than she imagined.

At twenty-two, Elena Bradford has never met a man who made her consider marriage. But when her father dies and leaves the family deeply in debt, Elena becomes their only hope. Her mother uses their last funds to take Elena and her younger sister to Graham Springs, Kentucky, where people find healing by drinking the mineral spring water and healthy recreation through the many daily activities–including dances almost every evening.

As her mother schemes to find Elena a wealthy husband, Elena finds herself drawn to two men her mother would never consider. Charming artist Kirby Frazier spends his days drawing and painting the guests, but his real mission is to find a wealthy bride to finance his dream to go west. Melancholy Andrew Harper has come to Graham Springs in need of healing after a broken heart.

When a beautiful young lady shows up at the Springs with no chaperone and a story that seems suspicious, nearly everyone is charmed and intrigued. But when an unexpected tragedy occurs, Elena, Kirby, and Andrew will all be faced with decisions of life, love, and loyalty.

With a Southern flair and a spark of intrigue, this stand-alone clean historical romance will charm readers with masterful artists, colorful dances, a love triangle, and endearing family relationships.

My Thoughts:

I’ve previously read Ann Gabhart and I chose this book because of the author, more than the description. In this regard the book met my expectations. I deeply appreciated Elena’s character growth. Though she had no desire to be married and was content with a “small” life as a spinster in the family home, she was thrown into a journey that challenged her assumptions and shook up her complacency. Elena gains a new perspective on the relationships around her and her own place in the world. Kirby and Andrew are also characters that show considerable growth in this novel and I applaud Gabhart’s skill in taking us on a journey of development.

I also appreciated that I could actually place myself in every scene. The descriptions were natural and engaging. It’s not every author who can take you inside the character’s heart and mind while also placing you clearly in the physical space around them.

On the other hand, I felt like this novel suffered a bit from an identity crisis. Midway through the novel I wasn’t sure what the driving narrative was meant to be. I assumed it was Elena and her relational choices, but then a mysterious young woman shows up and steals the show. All of a sudden the novel becomes focused on the mystery and all the other story-lines take a backseat. I understand from the postscript that the author was including real historical events, but honestly it felt like the book was trying to accomplish too much and couldn’t decide which story to tell. Both narratives were interesting and Gabhart did a fair job of trying to weave things together, but personally I think the competing narratives disrupted the flow of the book, especially as the mystery remained a mystery and left me feeling a bit dissatisfied with a loose thread that felt like it hadn’t belonged in the first place.

This book has a little bit of everything.

Romance – yes.

Adventure – yes.

Mystery – yes.

Family, values, and identity – yes.

Would I recommend the book? Yes.

Is it Gabhart’s best? I don’t think so, but it’s still good.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review. My opinions are my own.

About the Book:

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty’s resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm’s way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. I liked both main characters equally and I was invested in their narrative from the beginning. Even the creative inclusion of a wolf and the spin on the traditional fairy tale felt delightful. However, toward the end of the book the plot seemed to get more and more dramatic so that by the time they are actually facing the villain of the story I was rolling my eyes a little about the sheer incredulity of it. I reminded myself it was a fairy tale retelling and remembered the melodrama theater engagements that we went to as a family when I was a child. This definitely fit the boo-hiss audience participation and over-the top drama of one of those long ago performances. It fit well with the western “Texas” theme and it didn’t diminish the enjoyment that I had in the story itself. It did feel like a significant shift in the tone of the tale that I wasn’t expecting though so I’ll mention it to you.

I recommend the book to you. I received a free digital copy and offered in exchange to give my honest opinion.

About the Book:

In the trying art of balancing investigations and love, a detective must determine his priorities when faced with dangerous circumstances that could threaten everything he holds dear.

As the leader of the Imposters, an elite private investigative firm, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon something much more dangerous.

Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects her longtime friends hold more secrets than they’re willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they’re the esteemed Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. While she is happy for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia’s own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing bringing laughter back into her life–her friendship with Yates–lands her squarely on the disagreeable side of her best friend: his sister.

Tormented by a past she doesn’t dare voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the dark side of society, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia learn anew that the gentry isn’t always noble . . . even as they fight to hold fast to their own honor.

My Thoughts:

I love this series. The relationships are beautifully complex and real, the problems relatable and the mysteries intriguing. In this book I wasn’t initially sure who I was rooting for when it came to Yates heart, which means the author did her job well. What I was sure of was my response to the deep injustice and abuse being both exposed and shut down.

Though there are no dramatic descriptions, people who have a history of abuse and manipulation should be sure they have done enough processing to not be triggered by the situations that the Imposters uncover in the course of their fight for justice. I actually think the book is beautifully written and deals very tastefully with depravity, but I would offer the light caution that the evil that is being opposed is in fact distressing.

This book is about relationships, as friends, as family and in a romantic setting. And it is about healing. And it is about love and faith and the power that the gospel brings for us live in freedom even when we are trapped in our circumstances. It’s a powerfully engaging story about a set of characters I’ve come to love. I’m glad I read it.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the Book:

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .

My Thoughts:

I fell straight into this story and didn’t want it to end. Griep kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved Ami and her quirks. I’m not entirely sure I believe in the behavior of the characters in light of the time period, but I didn’t mind at all. I found the whole story to be delightful.

The author dealt well with superstitions and curses, the history of artifacts and belief systems, the complexity of business verses philanthropy and greed, and while again not necessarily keeping with the time period, the author also broached the subject of imperialism and repatriation of treasures. And all of these themes were rather seamlessly woven into a page turning mystery with a romantic flair.

I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review. I am giving you my honest opinion.

About the Book:

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruel-hearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family’s misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

My Thoughts:

If you are looking for a book to tuck away for a Christmastime indulgence or to tuck in someone’s stocking, then look no further. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor has all the Christmas vibes, a bit of romance and some deeper lessons on hope, assumptions, humility and redemption. It’s the perfect kind of book for the holidays.

I most often read series by Roseanna White so a novella was a different choice, but it had all of the author’s skill and ability to look beyond the surface. I enjoyed the book’s playfulness, but it wasn’t all fluff. The novella wasn’t overly short and though I wondered early on if the character’s would be fully developed, I wasn’t at all disappointed. I especially appreciated the shifts toward the end that left me feeling utterly satisfied with the story as a whole.

And isn’t that cover gorgeous?!

I received a free digital copy of this book for review. I’m giving you my genuine opinion.

About the Book:

An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong

Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams’s story.

Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose? 

Read also:
Laurel’s Dream by Pepper Basham
The Heart of the Mountains by Pepper Basham

My Thoughts:

Having read Laurel’s Dream and The Heart of the Mountains I was pleased that Basham decided to take us back to Appalachia to tell us Kizzie’s story. You could read this book as a stand alone, but I enjoyed it more for the curiosity the other books sparked about Kizzie.

This is the story of a girl growing into a woman, not because of an unplanned pregnancy, but because she begins to discover her worth, both as a woman and as a child of God. And as she begins to discover what real love looks like (and that fact that she is worthy of real love) she begins to make choices to build her life on a solid foundation of wise choices.

Kizzie’s story is one of heartbreak and triumph. From being an object of manipulation to becoming a blessing to all around her, this tale is a heartwarming read.

The book is broken up into distinct segments of Kizzie’s life and I found the flow of that a bit challenging. The first third of the book was almost a novel in itself. Noah isn’t introduced as a character until much later in the in narrative and yet, his character, his losses and the things that he learns provide a significant overlap to what Kizzie is learning so that this tale becomes not just a tale of a woman’s growth, but of a man’s journey to value and courage and belonging as well.

The book was well done and satisfied my curiosity for the untold tale alluded to in the previous novels.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review. The opinions are my own.

About the Book:

In a world where paintings become portals and adventure lurks behind every canvas, the young Restorationists discover that every Gift was made to fight the darkness in the second novel of the thrilling series from the award-winning author of Beneath the Swirling Sky.

Twelve-year-old Georgia assumed she would one day be the last Restorationist protecting art from evil forces. So she was thrilled when her cousin Vincent finally joined the family calling.

But Vincent’s flashier Gift makes Georgia feel like a sidekick rather than a hero. And things only get more complicated and perilous after he willingly steps into the heart of danger.

Will the remnants of the Restorationists’ society fracture under the pressure of the Distortionists’ schemes? Or is Georgia’s Gift really enough to rescue her family, the art world, the Restorationists—and ultimately save the day?

My Thoughts:

I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this series. While it’s marketed as middle grade fiction I can not imagine anyone not loving these books. The art, the relationships, the exploration into the reality that how we see things matters, it’s so well written. And who wouldn’t love to be able to explore a painting from the inside???

In this second book in the series, Georgia discovers that her perspective on the value of her gift and her idea of her place on the team matter more than she realized. Becoming who you are without comparing yourself to anyone else, celebrating everyone’s gift and how pride can disguise itself are all themes skillfully written into a fast paced and imaginative story of art, family, connection and bringing restoration to broken things.

And Vivienne To’s illustrations are absolutely delightful!

I received a free digital copy of this book for review, but I will certainly be picking up a copy for my bookshelf. I recommend that you do too.