Such A Fun "Peter Pan" Retelling! --"Wendy's Ever After" by Julie Wright—Review

  My Review: 

"Wendy's Ever After" by Julie Wright is such a fun "Peter Pan" Retelling! It is more like a sequel because it takes place several years after “Peter Pan” ends. In this sweet coming of age story, Wendy Darling meets Mr. Blackwell, a mysterious and intriguing stranger who says and does things that remind her of Neverland. Wendy follows him after a ball to find out why he has such an effect on her and gets swept up in a great adventure back to Neverland, meeting old and new friends. I love the chemistry between Wendy and the enigmatic Mr. Blackwell. Ms. Wright makes Neverland come to life with lush descriptions and she writes with humor and wit. I love that we see Neverland through an older Wendy’s eyes. She must figure out who the real villain is and what is ailing the realm of Neverland (something nefarious is afoot!).

It was fun to try to guess whether the pirates were bad (like Wendy originally thought when she was a girl) or to ponder whether Peter Pan was the problematic one. Or are things not as black and white as they once seemed? I love the fact that there are pirates, and I think anyone who loves the character “Hook” from the television show “Once Upon a Time” will enjoy this story. The romance was wonderful, and I love the theme of loss and hope. Fans of retellings will love this story!

Content: I give this a PG rating. Some examples of the content: a man is about to strike a child; mention of ghosts and a place being haunted.

TW: possible child abduction and loss of a child; hallucinations; abandonment by a parent. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 

 

A Wonderful Regency Romance with Gothic Vibes--"No Stone Unturned" by Jenelle Hovde—Review

 My Review:

"No Stone Unturned" by Jenelle Hovde is a wonderful Regency romance with Gothic vibes and great faith content! I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet and beautifully written story. Fans of Mimi Matthews, Julie Klassen, and “Jane Eyre” will especially love this book. I loved the descriptions of the untamed, isolated Abbey, the ancestral home of our hero, Captain Rafe Hawthorn. Miss Bridget Littleton, our loveable heroine, is delightful and I love that she is a bluestocking interested in artifacts. The romance was wonderful, and the book was well researched and rich with historical detail. I appreciated the faith content and the message that God is in control, even when we doubt and it is only by His strength that we can do anything. There are also themes of forgiveness, friendship, and loyalty. I think lovers of Regency romance with Gothic vibes will love this book! I cannot wait to see what this author writes next!

Content: I give this a PG rating. Some examples of the content: mention of gambling, a gaming hell, alcohol and laudanum; mention of a demon and a ghost; brief mention of past animal abuse and animal harm; mention of affairs, a mistress, and a couple sleeps together out of wedlock; someone curses, but the words aren’t actually written; a person born out of wedlock is called a “bastard” and someone is pregnant out of wedlock.

TW: Domestic violence in the past; mention of possible madness, PTSD; mental illness; alcoholic in the past.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

An All-Time Favorite! --"Waterfall" by Lisa Bergren--Review

 

My Review:

“Waterfall” is the first book in the bestselling “River of Time”series by Lisa Bergren. I read this series when it first released in 2011 and since then it has been an all-time favorite series! Ms. Bergren is now releasing new editions of this series. Reading this new edition felt like coming home. Upon my reread of “Waterfall,” I loved it just as much, if not more, as I did the first time around. This time-travel book is an exciting and breath-taking adventure that sweeps the reader away to medieval Italy! Ms. Bergren wanted to write a book with the romance of “Twilight” and the action of “The Hunger Games” and she achieved just that. It is perfect for teens and adults alike. The reader gets to be inside our heroine Gabi’s head as she and her sister find a portal through some tombs to medieval Italy and meet hot knights and get caught up in battles between opposing forces. I love the way we hear Gabi’s thoughts and Ms. Bergren does an excellent job writing from a teenage girl’s point of view. The story is addictive and easy to read. It really feels like you are in medieval times and the author obviously did her historical research. Readers will love Gabi’s brave and strong character (the girl rappels down a castle wall and is not afraid to pick up a sword) and is in danger of losing her heart to the handsome knight, Marcello. I love the side characters (whom you will see more of as the series continues [Team Greco!]) Ms. Bergren writes amazing action sequences, and I was never bored. I also love how she adds subtle faith themes, which she expands upon as the series continues. Now I need to reread the rest of the series. The books just get better as the series goes on. I highly recommend this book and series! 

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: blood, gore, and torture; mention of alcohol and people pretend to be drunk; assumption that a woman sleeps around; se*ual innuendos.

TW: intended r*pe, unsuccessful.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A Fast-Paced Adventure! --"Quarter Labyrinth" by Victoria McCombs—Review

 My Review:

"Quarter Labyrinth" by Victoria McCombs is a fun, fast-paced fantasy perfect for fans of “The Hunger Games.”  McCombs excels at creating an elaborate world and descriptions where people enter the labyrinth at their own risk to win a prize and the stakes are high (sometimes life and death). I love the aesthetic and world in this book. It is so creative and imaginative, especially all the descriptions of the labyrinth. I enjoyed the island and sea community setting. The labyrinth includes castle ruins, green hedge walls, magical properties, and a person can begin in spring and end in winter. Of course, we cannot forget the stone gods (which all have their own backstory and lore, which is told throughout the book with impressive illustrations of each god). The gods are not always safe. I got some “Inheritance Games” and “Hunger Games” vibes while reading the book. Ren, our heroine, wants to find her father and win her legacy by winning the labyrinth. Her loyal friend (and possible love interest), Clark, reminded me a bit of Samwise Gamgee. The story asks the question of whether fate is sealed, and Ren learns that she must guard her heart (or does she learn that lesson?). There is a bit of a love triangle, and I would have liked to see more of the one love interest and see that relationship be more fleshed out. It felt a little bit like insta-love. I am excited to see more of that relationship and how that plays out in the sequel. Overall, this was an enjoyable book, and I am excited to see what happens in the sequel!

Content: I give this book a high PG to low PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: mention of alcohol; there is a fortune teller; blood, death; the words “bastard” and “hell” are used; mention of people being lovers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A Fun Murder Mystery! --"A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder" by Dianne Freeman—Review

 

My Review:

"A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder" by Dianne Freeman is such a fun murder mystery! It is book eight in the “Countess of Harleigh Mystery” series. This book is a cozy mystery set during the Victorian era and takes place in Paris. Ms. Freeman gives a good recap of what the reader needs to know from previous books. You need not have read the previous books, but there are some continuing storylines. This book transports readers to Paris where both the Olympics and the Exposition are occurring. It was interesting reading about and learning more about those events. As the spouses-turned-sleuths team up to solve yet another murder, the reader is taken along with them as they investigate on the Seine, at the theater, at the opera, at a picnic, and even while golfing! Frances, her husband, and even her mother team up to try and help another mother and daughter. I love that there are a lot of family relationships and dynamics, especially mother-daughter relationships. During the course of the book, Frances is also helping her sister as she’s navigating new motherhood, helping a friend investigate a man her daughter is interested in, and working other cases as well, all while trying to solve two murders. Ms. Freeman writes such great mysteries, and I was not able to figure it out until everything was revealed at the end. This is such a fun series and cozy mystery lovers will want to get their hands on this newest installment!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: mention of alcohol, gambling and smoking; lots of mentions of people having affairs and “kept” women although it is never condoned; a man was drunk; the word “da*n” is used; children are born out of wedlock; a man slapped a servant; talk of losing a baby.

TW: domestic physical abuse.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

An Impressive Austen-Inspired Mystery! --"The Rushworth Family Plot" by Claudia Gray—Review

 My Review:

"The Rushworth Family Plot" by Claudia Gray is an impressive Austen-inspired mystery! It is the fourth book in the “Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney” series but can easily be read as a standalone. Ms. Gray, the author, gives a good recap of what the reader needs to know from previous books, which is helpful because there are some continuing storylines. This book has become one of my favorite cozy mysteries! This book and series are so fun because the son of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy (“Pride and Prejudice”) and the daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney (“Northanger Abbey”) team up to solve mysteries! I loved seeing all of Jane Austen’s characters from her different novels interact in this book. Ms. Gray writes the characters so they act true to the way Jane Austen portrays them in her novels. Of course the daughter of imaginative Catherine (Morland) Tilney would help investigate murders! I love that our male main character, Jonathan Darcy, is neurodiverse. He is excellent at discovering clues (he may also get that from his smart mother, Elizabeth (Bennet) Darcy). Jonathan is written very realistically, and I appreciated the scene where he got overstimulated (as someone who is also neurodiverse). The story and the mystery are so well done, and I love the slow-burn romance between Jonathan and Juliet. Ms. Gray had me wondering who the murderer was until the very end when the secrets were revealed. I cannot wait to go back and read the rest of this series while I eagerly anticipate the next release! Jane Austen fans and cozy mystery lovers will absolutely love this book with its clever, witty writing and engaging story!

Content: I give this a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: a married woman had an affair in the past; the word “hell” is used; the Lord’s name is taken in vain; a child is born out of wedlock; characters curse, but the words aren’t actually written; mention of alcohol; mention of bestiality in a work of art; mention of prostitution. 

TW: a character struggles with infertility; miscarriage; a character was su*cidal in the past; depression; panic attack.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A New Western Historical Romance--"A Steadfast Heart" by Lacy Williams and Martha Hutchens--Book Feature

Book Blurb:

When his family legacy is on the line, rancher Drew McGraw becomes desperate for someone to tame and tutor his three children. Desperate enough to seek a mail-order bride. But when the wrong woman arrives on his doorstep, Drew balks.

Heiress Kaitlyn Montgomery runs straight from the scandal chasing her toward a fresh start on a secluded ranch. She strikes a bargain with Drew—a marriage convenient for both of them. One with an end date.

But the more Kaitlyn adapts to ranch life and forms a bond with Drew’s children and their enigmatic father, she realizes that this ranch is where she is meant to be. And then her past catches up with her…

This sweet historical romance is perfect for fans of the following tropes:

• marriage of convenience

• ready-made family

• nanny/tutor

• single dad

• fish out of water

About the Authors:

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see on Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published fifty books in almost a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at www.lacywilliams.net/vip.

Martha Hutchens writes Historical Inspirational Romance filled with hope, heart, and a touch of small-town charm. A winner of RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award, she draws on her experiences as a retired homeschool mom, lifelong knitter, and former chemist to craft stories rich in faith, perseverance, and historical detail.

A self-proclaimed history nerd, Martha enjoys exploring historical sites and imagining the lives of those who walked there before her. She lives with her husband in the beautiful Ozarks, where she takes long walks with her bossy miniature poodle and dreams up new adventures.

Whether writing about 19th-century frontier life or the challenges of World War II, Martha’s stories are filled with history, heart, and a deep love of storytelling. She’s always happy to connect with readers who share her passion for faith-filled fiction and the resilience of the human spirit.