Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows ~ Review

Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows

A Marriage of Convenience Anthology

By Jody Hedlund, Lacy Williams,

      and Misty M. Beller

There is nothing better than a Christmas book, and Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows offers 3 stories within its pages. In each, love is not an expectation as three couples agree to marriages of convenience. But with Christmas taking center stage in each story, you know a little bit of romance will make its way into each.             

Claiming the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund is a must-read for fans of her Colorado Cowboys and her Colorado Cowgirls series. In this story Weston Oakley gets his chance at marriage when Serena Taylor decides he'd be the perfect father for her son. And with his claim that he'd be married by Christmas her need for a husband couldn't have come at a better time. But will the secrets between them destroy their chance for love?

Doctor's Snowflake Bride by Lacy Williams finds Minnie stuck in town while her intended rides out a blizzard hours away in his cabin. Meanwhile she makes a place for herself in the small town when disaster strikes. Aiding Doctor Jeb Dawson and befriending his son gives her glimpse at life she's always dreamed of but never had. No matter what the future holds this is one Christmas she'll never forget. But will she finally find a place to belong and be wanted? 

Marrying the Mountain Man’s Best Friend by Misty M. Beller finds Two Stones, a Salish warrior, making a deathbed promise to his dearest friend, to marry his daughter Heidi. But marriage is the last thing Heidi wants. Not now that she is widowed and free of her late husband. But she needs protection and agrees to marry Two Stones but only for the protection it provides against the danger Virginia City provides to any and all unmarried women. But could her father's final plea actually be the life she has long desired?

These delightful Christmas tales of Historical Fiction are just what you are looking to find under your pre-Christmas TBR list. Each is a standalone novella that introduces the reader to a series by each author. Reading the previous books in the various series isn't necessary to enjoy these Christmas tales. Experience talking here as I've only read Jody Hedlund's coresponding series and enjoyed all three with no issues.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:           

From bestselling and award-winning authors, experience Christmas on the rugged western frontier with three novellas filled with unforgettable adventures, enduring romance, and the timeless message of hope found in the Savior’s birth.

Order a copy at https://a.co/d/fXtnNwO

Claiming the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund
Serena Taylor is hiding in Colorado’s high country to keep her son safe, and she knows the best way to protect him is by marrying again and giving him a father. Weston Oakley needs a wife by Christmas to placate his meddling family, but after being spurned one too many times in love, he’s reluctant to give his heart away again. When they agree on a marriage of convenience, both of them get much more than they bargained for.

Doctor's Snowflake Bride by Lacy Williams
Minnie steps off the train ready to become a mail-order bride, but she finds the well-dressed man waiting for her isn't her intended husband. The protective oath Jed took when he became a doctor doesn't cover stranded women, but he can't leave the beautiful stranger alone in a building blizzard two days before Christmas. When circumstances force them into close proximity, Jed and Minnie find that their growing feelings aren't convenient at all.

Marrying the Mountain Man’s Best Friend by Misty M. Beller
Two Stones, a Salish warrior accustomed to navigating between tribes and miners, unexpectedly finds himself summoned to the side of a dying friend in Virginia City. Sworn to honor the miner’s last wish, Two Stones agrees to marry his daughter, Heidi, but plans to take her to live with his parents. He’ll provide all her needs, make sure she’s safe, and visit her on occasion when his path leads him that direction. As they set out on the journey, their path is fraught with challenges that defy Two Stones' plans and reveal a surprising depth to Heidi's character. As they near the end of their trail and join the Christmas festivities at the Coulter Ranch, Two Stones begins to realize this inconvenient marriage might really be a Christmas gift he’ll always treasure.

In This Moment ~ Review

In This Moment

Timeless #2

By Gabrielle Meyer

Maggie has inherited her parent's time-crossing gift, but she has inherited both of their abilities, so she lives in three separate time periods. In 1861, she is the daughter of a US Senator and friends with the Lincolns as the nation teeters on the edge of war. In 1941, she lives with her time-crossing parents and is a Navy nurse. At this time, the world is caught up in a war that the US has thus far stayed out of, But Maggie knows all too soon they will join the conflict. And in her third life, she lives in 2001, a medical student well on her way to becoming a surgeon. And a world she has no foreknowledge of.

Yet her time is short; she has mere months left to live in two of her lives. But when you are only 20 years old, how can you choose which lives to give up? Which family do you say goodbye to?

As Maggie struggles to make a decision, she must weigh all her options. She has determined to not fall in love in any timeline so as to not allow romance to make her decision for her. But her heart has other plans, and in each, she meets someone who could sway her decision.

I love this series and I can say with all honesty I would not want to be Maggie and faced with such a decision. How does one decide who to leave behind forever? And how can you be sure you made the right choice in a life where you won't get a second chance, a do-over? And to be that, you have to bury any knowledge you retain of the future forever. That would be so hard, especially if your knowledge could save lives, but at the cost of your own life in that timeline.

This reads best after reading the first book in the series - When the Day Comes. And in my opinion, would make a really good pair of movies if done like the books.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Entrusted ~ Review

Entrusted

Knights of Brethren #6

By Jody Hedlund

The race to save their country from their neighbor is coming to a close as time has run out. The enemy has crossed their border and has advanced deeper into Norvegia. Kristoffer Prestegard is the last Knight of Brethren with any hope of capturing the holy lamp from Swaine's troops. But what he doesn't realize is that there are other forces at work, forces that are bent on toppling King Ansgar and putting Kristoffer on the throne in his stead. 

But Kristoffer's loyalty is to Norvegia and King Ansgar. And he is determined to stop the Dark Warriors, who are aiding King Canute's efforts in taking Norvegia. When he and his squires come face to face with these formidable warriors in the dark of night, Kristoffer never imagined he might come away from the battle with something that could aid him in his quest. Princess Birgitta of Swaine was leading the warriors, holding their blood thirst in check. At least, she was before she became a prisoner.

What follows is a battle of wits and intellect as Kristoffer seeks to prevent his prisoner's escape and Brigitta attempts to lull him into complacency. What neither expected was the spark of attraction to grow between them. Falling in love with the enemy can't happen.

Entrusted is the sixth and final book in the Knights of Brethren series, and it is the definite climax as everything comes together. Will Norvegia withstand the threats, or will she fall as forces within and without conspire against her? As the final book, I can only say, "WOW!" This book was excellent and draws the series to a conclusion that can't be missed. Treachery, betrayal, a kingdom teetering on the brink, and a thoroughly impossible attraction. Yes, Jody Hedlund knows how to weave words so that one enters a world and becomes thoroughly engaged so that when the end comes, one is disappointed that the end has come. 

I do recommend reading all the books in the series as they build upon one another. But the immediate predecessor, Enflamed, is an absolute must, as it too deals with the third quest - the search for the holy lamp and focuses on Kristoffer's family, providing needed background for Entrusted. Now I know this series is over, but I would love a companion series that would touch on some of the other characters and what happens to them. That, in my opinion, is the best endorsement of any book or series when you want more from this world.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

During a time when legends were born . . .

ENTRUSTED

The feisty enemy princess, 

the cunning knight holding her captive, 

and the ultimate battle that will determine their fate.

Hoping to minimize the death and destruction of the coming war, Princess Birgitta of Swaine leads the Dark Warriors as part of her brother King Canute’s efforts to take the throne of Norvegia. As she engages in a skirmish with a band of elite Knights of Brethren, she’s kidnapped by Kristoffer Prestegard, a cunning warrior.

While searching for the holy lamp that can help defeat the Dark Warriors, Kristoffer realizes that Swaine has already seized the ancient relic. Since King Canute is fiercely protective of his sister, Kristoffer offers to return Princess Birgitta in exchange for the coveted holy lamp.

While trying to keep his feisty prisoner from escaping, Kristoffer learns that his father and uncle have set in motion a scheme that would give him the kingship of Norvegia. Where will Kristoffer’s loyalties lie, and how will he choose sides without losing everything, including the princess he’s grown to love?

The real story of the Holy Lamp continues . . .

Enflamed ~ Review

Enflamed

Knights of Brethren #5

By Jodi Hedlund

Sylvi Prestegard has always considered Espen as someone she could depend on to aid her, and if ever there was a time she needed his aid, it was now.  But Espen, like her brother Kristoffer, is on a quest for the king. To stop King Canute's Dark Warriors, the Holy Lamp must be located with all haste to prevent Norvegia from falling to Swaine.

But when Espen's entreaties on Sylvi's behalf are denied and met with scorn, Sylvi knows she must thwart the evil plans being made that will destroy her future and threaten Norvegia's throne. The only way that she can see to save the kingdom and her future is to wed Espen.

But Espen knows he will never be worthy of any noblewoman, much less, Sylvi, who has been groomed all her life, to use her beauty as a tool in her father's quest for greater worth and prestige. But he must save Sylvi, and Espen only hopes he can be strong enough to do what must be done to keep her protected until she is free from her father's threat.

Filled with all the adventure and daring of the previous books in the Knights of Brethren series, Enflamed will keep you reading until the very end. You won't want to put this one down, and it will keep you reading until the early hours of the morning. There are some unexpected twists as Espen and Sylvi's quest reveals a threat no one knew about - one that could spell the end of all of Norvegia's hopes to stop Swaine and the threat she and her king pose.

Enflamed could easily be read without first reading the first four books in the series but reading the books in order will make for a more satisfying reading experience. This is one series I highly recommend reading in order.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Don't you just love this cover?

About the Book:

During a time when legends were born . . .

ENFLAMED

The most beautiful noblewoman in the kingdom, 

the lowly knight who can never have her, 

and the forbidden love they share.

When Sylvi Prestegard discovers that her father has arranged for her to marry a wealthy nobleman known for his thieving ways, she’s desperate to avoid the union. She turns to her childhood friend Espen, a Knight of Brethren, counting on his loyalty and kindness to help her escape.

Espen has been given an urgent mission to locate the holy lamp, an ancient relic necessary to defeat the enemy invading their country. In addition to his royal quest, he’s determined to protect Sylvi, the woman he’s always secretly loved. When she suggests the two of them marry to thwart her father’s plans, Espen cannot deny her request.

As they search for the holy lamp, Lord Prestegard pursues them, intent on reclaiming his daughter. With Espen’s life at stake, Sylvi must conspire to save them both. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that stand between them, or are the flames of their forbidden love destined to be extinguished?

The real story of the Holy Lamp . . .

Enriched ~ Review

Enriched

Knights of Brethren #4

By Jody Hedlund

Torvald, one of the Knights of Brethren, has been called home - he must marry to save his family estate from ruin. He has no choice in the manner, though marriage is the last thing he wants. Marriage destroyed his father and he refuses to ruin himself by loving his wife. Love is a weakness and he refuses to fall into its entrapment. He'll marry and then return to his quest for the sacred chalice that holds the promise of healing for the queen, after all, he has a duty.

There is just one problem with Torvald's plans, Lady Karina is not only lovely in appearance but in spirit. Karina has spent the last three years in a convent fully intending to take her vows to the church when her father makes a request of her. Can she give up her dreams of being a nun and marry a man she has never met? Duty to her family finds her agreeing to her father's wishes but with no promise of a future marriage with love, she feels rejected. Can she love him and hope to change his mind?

As the threat of war draws ever closer Torvald does what he must in service to the kingdom all while fighting to keep his vow of never loving his wife. Karina does all that she can to keep Torvald safe even if it breaks her heart. And sacrificing all her happiness may be the only way she can save the man she has come to care for.

Enriched is the fourth book in the Knights of Brethren series and it in no way disappoints or backs away from the quest that has bound the Knights together. This book continues the quest into Hardanger Forest that was begun by Gunnar in Ensnared (Book 3). Now if you haven't read any of the previous books, I would recommend reading them first as this series needs to be read in order to fully understand and appreciate all the layers to the series. Each book builds on the previous one so reading out of order will throw you off.

As with all of Jody Hedlund's books, this is another must-read. The setting is medieval so if you love books that are set within this time frame and want them to be on the clean side of romance with not a lot of graphic anything you will want to add this to your tbr list.  A perfect teen read selection.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:

During a time when legends were born . . .

A wealthy noblewoman with a heart of gold, a wounded knight closed off to love, and the sacrifices for a chalice that can bring healing.

Lady Karina lives in a convent and expects to become a nun someday. When her wealthy father asks her to help his textile business become more successful by marrying one of the popular Knights of Brethren, Karina complies, ever the dutiful daughter.

During a royal quest to find the sacred chalice, Torvald is called home to save his family’s estate through an arranged marriage to a wealthy maiden. Although willing to do his duty, he’s vowed never to give his heart to anyone after watching his father suffer heartbreak over a woman.

As Torvald weds the kind and lovely Karina, he resists the pull of attraction to his bride. Even though Karina feels the sting of Torvald’s rejection, she chooses to love him unconditionally. As he resumes his search for the chalice and puts his life in jeopardy, Karina makes the ultimate sacrifice for him. Will he have the chance to love her in return before it’s too late?

The real story of the Holy Grail continues . . .  

Ensnared ~ Review

Ensnared

Knights of Brethren #3

By Jody Hedlund

Mikaela has been a bondservant all her life, having been born into it as were her parents and grandparents. Her days are spent caring for the young daughters of the Earl of Likness. But life isn't easy with little food and even less to share with her family. The Earl is a cruel, harsh taskmaster whose only pleasure seems to be in enacting unjust punishments on his servants for crimes he falsely lays at their feet. 

Due to the Earl's indifference to his daughters, Mikaela has managed to go undetected in his household. But her growing desire to seek justice for the suffering of her friends and family is sure to bring her to his attention. 

Gunnar has had to hide his feelings for Mikaela. His brother would surely use her to bring him under his control. But in so doing he broke the heart of the only woman he has ever loved. Coming home to search for the sacred chalice that could potentially save the life of the Queen will come with both a blessing and a curse - allowing him an excuse to see Mikaela. 

When rumors point to a dangerous and foreboding forest, Gunnar knows that there must be more to the whispers than mere stories based on unfounded fears. But can he find what he seeks while avoiding the danger that could cost him his life and keeping Miaela safe from his brother's manipulations? 

This is the third book in the Knights of Brethren series and it picks up the story that finds the kingdom on the verge of war with the queen's future and very life in danger because of a curse that is passed from mother to first-born daughter. Time is short in a search for a cure to save the queen and the kingdom from those who would seek to take the throne by force. I have to be honest I was so disappointed when the book ended because I wanted more. And there is a teaser for book four that fortunately will release very soon. 

This is one series that you absolutely have to read in order. So be sure to get Ensnared and Entwined before reading Ensnared. You need the backstory to fully understand what is going on and the urgency of the Knights of Brethren's quests.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

During a time when legends were born . . .

A poor maidservant struggling to survive, a brave knight who secretly loves her, and a chalice that has the power to unite them.

Nursemaid to the Earl of Likness’s two young daughters, Mikaela despises the earl for his cruelty to his subjects, and she longs for the day when she can make a difference in the lives of her suffering friends and family.

As one of the Knights of Brethren, Gunnar is on a mission to find the sacred chalice for the queen, convinced it’s the cure for her deadly bleeding disease. His quest takes him home, and he soon learns his brother, the earl, may know more about the chalice than he lets on.

As Gunnar reunites with Mikaela, the maiden he’s always loved, he tries to keep his feelings for her a secret, desperate to protect her from his brother. But as they venture into the perilous Hardanger Forest and battle to survive, will Gunnar realize her love is worth fighting for?

The real story of the Holy Grail . . . 

Pangur Bán Celtic Fantasies Series ~ Spotlight

For St. Patrick's Day,

I'm featuring the Pangur Bán Celtic Fantasies Series

by Fay Sampson.

The books in this series include Pangur Bán the White Cat, Finnglas of the Horses, Finnglas and the Stones of Choosing, Shape-Shifter: The Naming of Pangur Bán (which is actually a prequel), The Serpent of Senargad, and The White Horse is Running.

Finnglas of the Horses was my introduction to this series and it was in one of those fun mystery boxes with 10-20 books in it. Well, I loved the book and had to track down the other 5 books which took more than 15 years, and a few purchases from used online books stores in England.

Shape-Shifter was my least favorite book in the series, but it was set in the time when the old ways were fighting against the new when Christians came to share the Good News with the Celtic people.

The rest of the books seem to flow together better from one story to the next. Princess Finnglas is in the five remaining books and her personality and determination along with her friends make this an excellent series to read and enjoy (if you can locate them).

Shape-Shifter: The Naming of Pangur Bán

Deep in a mountain cave a witch is plotting mischief: "We need something small, something sly, to carry a spell . . . and then we shall see who reigns on the Black Mountain!"  The kitten Shape-Shifter is her victim.

 

But before the charm is complete, the kitten escapes. He flees, in a terrifying chase, caught in a spell gone wrong and a shape that he cannot control. He brings disaster even to those who want to help him. Is there another power that can break the spell?

Pangur Bán the White Cat

“Now! Now you shall see what happens to those who would break the spell of mermaids!” 

Deep down in the underwater kingdom, Princess Finnglas is in the deadly grip of an evil sea monster, and the mermaids have bewitched Niall. Pangur Bán, the white cat, is desperate. He must rescue them—but how? Only Arthmael can do it. But who is Arthmael? And where is he? Can Pangur Bán find him in time?

Finnglas of the Horses

Princess Finnglas is on a quest to find her beloved lost horse, but this is only the beginning of a great adventure and a continuing struggle against dark forces.

Finnglas and the Stones of Choosing

"On, Cloud–Clearer, on!" screamed Princess Finnglas. But she knew her horse was already pouring out all his strength. And the rival black stallion was still ahead. 

Finnglas is riding for her life and the crown. If she loses, she will die and the Summer Land will fall into the grip of evil powers. But this race is only the first of the Seven Trials. There are more terrifying tests ahead.

The Serpent of Senargad

Under the spell of the evil Rhymester the once peaceful kingdom of Senargad has become a place of fear, death, and destruction, where the savage Wolf-Guard roam the country and prisoners are held captive in subterranean caverns by the terrible Serpent of Senargad.

The White Horse is Running

Princess Finnglas and the white cat Pangur Báan set out to recapture an unbroken white colt which, according to legend, may unwittingly force their people into battle.

Duncan decided to help me pose the books and in honor of the day wore a cute Shamrock vest and tie.

A Time to Seek ~ Review

A Time to Seek

The Time Travel Journals of Sahara Aldridge #1

By Tracy Higley

Sahara Aldridge is working to make a name for herself in Egyptology. A field, that in 1922, is dominated by men. Her love began as a young girl as she traveled with her parents as they made their own inroads into this field. But when she was 15 years old she lost them. Fortunately, the family that took her in allowed her to continue her studies of Egypt and archeology. 

Sahara has one last chance to secure her place in Egyptology before the funds that have supported the digs she has participated in are gone. But this year she has two goals while in Egypt - help make the find of a lifetime and determine the truth behind her parents' deaths.

When her dear friend Evelyn finds something that casts doubt on all she knew about her parents, Sahara begins to question events from her own past. Could she and her parents have been more than she always knew? With a journal entry as her only clue, Sahara is about to dig into not only Egypt's past but her own as well. Her future may depend on what she discovers. 

And then there is Jack Moretti, an American photographic journalist who may have ties to the answers she's seeking. Is Jack a friend or a foe? Sahara has secrets to guard both as an Egyptologist on a dig and as a person who may have a gift of time travel and Jack may be a threat to everything. 

A Time to Seek takes the reader on a journey through time not by revealing discoveries of ancient cities and sites of importance but by seeing it through the eyes of a young woman who is about to discover just who she truly is. Sahara has the ability to slip into the past. But entering a world, a place, a time without the proper knowledge could be the death of her. 

A Time to Seek is the first book in The Time Travel Journals of Sahara Aldridge and it is an excellent read. I don't want to reveal too much and spoil it for any reader but really this is a not-to-be-missed book. And it will leave you in anticipation of book 2. I highly recommend this book if you have a love of the unexpected, time travel, mysteries, and speculative fiction. Or if you just love a well-written book you can't go wrong with this offering from Tracy Higley.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Her Future Destiny is Hidden in the Ancient Past.

Sahara Aldridge, a young Egyptologist in 1922, is making a name for herself on the digsite soon to become Egypt’s most sensational discovery—the tomb of the boy-king, Tutankhamun.

Despite opposition from a mostly male profession, Sahara fights to continue the legacy of her Egyptologist parents, who died tragically at sea when she was a teen.

But then a childhood friend finds a lost journal written by Sahara’s mother, hinting at the bizarre possibility of time-travel, and a crazy suspicion forces Sahara to confront a freak incident years earlier…

Is it possible her parents were time travelers?

And has she inherited this mind-blowing ability?

When the American journalist Jack Moretti begins asking too many questions, Sahara suspects he knows more than he’s telling.

Did her parents truly perish in an accident? Or did someone target and murder them because of their time traveling gift?

There’s only one way to unearth the truth.

Sahara must travel back in time, to the days of King Tut.

But the biggest surprise is yet to come… the truth about her parents, and about her own destiny, discovered in the whispers of conspiracy around the death of Egypt’s most famous Pharaoh.

But what secrets are better left buried?

Legacy of Love ~ Review

Legacy of Love
Haven Manor #1.5
By Kristi Ann Hunter

Sometimes one just needs to escape into a book and this novella was just what I needed. This sweet Christmas story finds Sarah Gooding in service to the Dowager Countess of Densbury, as her companion. But the Countess is in failing health, something her family doesn't seem to realize but Sarah sees it as the woman, who has become more than an employer, becomes frailer as Christmas approaches.

Randall Everard is more than a little shocked at his grandmother's deterioration since his last visit. And when he hears his family's plans to put her aside he is more than a little surprised at his grandmother's companion speaking out so forcefully against their lack of regard for her comfort. Sarah's championing of his grandmother allows Randall to see her as something other than a mousy, silent shadow. 

As the Countess sets plans in motion for her final Christmas she brings Randall and Sarah together in her own special way allowing them to get to know one another for who they truly are rather than their societal station. And her final gift is a legacy of love.

This novella is part of the Haven Manor series but it can be read as a standalone title. A perfect introduction to the series or Kristi Ann Hunter's work if you have never before read her.

About the Book:

When Sarah Gooding returned a valuable brooch to the elderly Dowager Countess of Densbury, she had no idea it would lead to a job as the lively woman's companion. Nor did she expect to admire the Dowager's youngest grandson so much, even though the difference in their stations means nothing will ever come of her daydreams.

The Dancing Princess ~ Review

The Dancing Princess
A Twist of Adventure #5
By Kendra E. Ardnek

Katrine wants nothing to do with dancing - it is her nightmares come to life. But when the Young King of Chalik-Alexi asks her to dance she refuses. But refusing to dance cannot save her from the nightmare as the music draws her in. But refusing the music's call is something she is simply unable to do.

But Katine is offered a chance to free herself from the curse she now lives under. A curse that Alexi and the forgotten princes have been trapped in for twenty years. Can this one offer truly free her if she freely accepts it?

Trapped by his folly Alexi has spent years trying to undo the damage he did. But always his attempts have been stymied by the person whom he refused years ago. Can an ageless king and princess whose nights are a prison of a song not her own hope to defeat a powerful being with the power to erase them forever from time and memory. This is a fight that cannot be won without risk and the risk is their very lives.

The Dancing Princess is a twist on a well-known fairy-tale that readers of this genre will enjoy. The story at 45 pages is not overly long and moves at a nice pace. One might actually feel that is longer than it is just because one can get drawn in so quickly. It is nice if you have an hour or two of spare time and want to get the satisfaction of sitting down and finishing a book in one sitting this is perfect for doing so. There is an unexpected character of Russian origin who makes an appearance and is a vital character to the story - want to know the identity well you will just have to read the book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

 About the Book:

A Twist of Adventure #5: Plagued by nightmares for the last few years, Katrine only wanted answers. Instead, she finds herself trapped in a tangled web of melody as she tries to free a cursed king and his brothers. No one deserves existence such as theirs, but dare she risk her very life? 

Purchase Link: Amazon 

Add Book on Goodreads

Author Bio:

Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. She lives in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her dragon babies and a massive herd of mini-giraffes, and she is still waiting for one of her fifty nutcrackers to come to life and marry her. When not writing, you can usually find her sitting in a random box, and she's frequently known to act before she thinks. 

Find her online at:

Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter || YouTube || Newsletter || Instagram || TikTok || Amazon

Enter the Tour Giveaway here

Tour Schedule:

Five Reasons to Read:

Knitted by God's Plan
Light and Shadows

Author Interviews:
Erudessa's News Blog
Elrich's Expressions
Dreams and Dragons
Rachel Rossano's Words
Paper, Ink, & Lizard
A Backwards Story

Character Interview:
Abby's Blog: Katrine

Reviews:
Live. Love. Read.
A Synethete Writer
Cobonham
The World of the Writer
Blooming with Books
Morgan Elizabeth Huneke
TJ's Musings
Reality Reflected + Mini Interview!

Let the Ghosts Speak ~ Review

Let the Ghosts Speak
By Bryan Davis

Justin Trotter seems like your average hard-working individual. But as we get into the book, we learn that he and his twin sister Justice were sent from England to France following the execution of their father and their mother's disappearance. The book appears to be a journal of Justin's life in Paris and addressed to his mother.

Justin has become friends with Marc Noël, a young man of means who insists that Justin join a party that his mother is hosting in a soon to be destroyed abandoned schoolhouse. Reluctantly Justin agrees, the deciding factor being his infatuation with Marc's sister Francine. It is an invitation Justin may regret for the rest of his life accepting.

Let the Ghosts Speak is a tad slow at the opening, but all too soon, the tone shifts as the party Justin is invited to becomes a meeting of the most interesting characters and is highlighted by murder. And due to an unfortunate chain of events, Justin finds himself the prime suspect. And the only individuals who believe in Justin's innocence are four beings who have come back from the grave.

Let the Ghosts Speak is one book that will keep you from putting it down. As the story progresses, the suspense continues to climb. Doubt is cast on several as to being the potential killer. But can Justin trust his own memories of events when he is speaking and listening to ghosts? Do they genuinely have his best interests at heart? Or are they figments of a mind teetering on the very edge of sanity?

Those who are familiar with Bryan Davis's previous works are in for something different from him. This is a standalone book that is easy to get into and has a clearly defined ending. There is not a dragon present in this work, and it has a contemplative thread through it that speaks to the reader as plainly as the ghosts talk to Justin. All too often, we are blind to what we don't want to see, we allow our heart and mind to not see the truths that others see clearly. Highly recommended enjoyable reading and, in my opinion, perhaps the author's best work to date, at least of the books I've read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Supernatural suspense set in 1860 Paris.

In nineteenth-century Paris, Justin Trotter, an immigrant from England, is making his way as a book translator while paying for his blind twin sister's care. One evening, Marc Noël, Justin's well-to-do friend and fellow thespian, invites him to a masquerade party at an abandoned schoolhouse. Justin hopes this will be an opportunity to get to know Marc's lovely though sharp-tongued sister, Francine.

At the event, Justin meets four ghostly strangers—two adults and two children—who warn him that the party guests are in danger and must leave at once. True to their prediction, a murder takes place, and Justin is the prime suspect. He escapes and becomes a fugitive, hiding in the Paris catacombs.

Mystery and intrigue swirl as the ghost of Joan of Arc and other martyrs guide Justin on a lonely journey to prove his innocence and protect his sister from an abusive caretaker. Who really committed the crime? Marc? Francine? A ghost? And does seeing these ghosts mean he is going insane? Maybe he really is the murderer after all.

There is only one way to find out, let the ghosts speak as they reveal the mysteries within Justin's mind.

On Wings of Devotion ~ Review

On Wings of Devotion
The Codebreakers #2
By Roseanne M. White

Major Phillip Camden should have died that day - if he had he wouldn't have to live with the guilt or the nightmares. And he wouldn't be known to all of England as that traitor Black Heart. But live he did and now he finds himself not in the prison cell he expected to live out his few remaining days but rather in service to the Admiralty's codebreaking division. He tries to avoid everyone and any possibility of friendship or attachments - he doesn't deserve any.

When Camden's sister Cassandra gets herself into a situation he must use his persuasive charms (some of which are less than charming) to help her out. But first, he needs to convince Arabelle Denler to break off her engagement.

Arabelle, or Ara to those who know her best, is doing her bit for king and country as a nurse caring for soldiers who have come back injured in the war. The work is hard and heartbreaking but she feels called to help the hurting to heal. As she obverses the Black Heart as he goes by the hospital where she works she sees not the villain he has been labeled but rather a man hurting and in need of God. What she never expected was actually meet him, having her own dreams destroyed in the process, and starting an acquaintance that would have the most unexpected results.

Ara knows no man would ever look twice at her and her only attraction is her fortune. When Phillip Camden begins to escort her home she is at a loss as to reason until he admits to his guilt at the situation she is soon to find herself in - with her fortune and the potential, it will offer to gentlemen in need of capital being the draw. She wants nothing to do with Camden's plan but he is just as stubborn as she is and she feels that he needs to do this.

What neither Ara or Camden know is that someone is working against him and he is about to become the means to their goal - a goal that could severely cripple England and allow Germany to obtain the upper hand in the war. Will the codebreakers of Room 40 uncover the truth before it is too late?

On Wings of Devotion is a fantastic sequel to The Number of Love. And those who have followed Roseanna M. White's previous series will be delighted to have some of them make an appearance in this book. The book is most definitely one you won't want to put down once you start reading so set aside a weekend or a long afternoon and read away - you won't regret it. I read this last night when I got the mail at 6:30 pm and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning (4:30 am) because for some reason the "just one more chapter" promise to myself was too easily broken when the end of the said chapter came.

This book is Historical Romance Fiction and is set in England during the early months of 1918. The war is the backdrop throughout as it is an ever-present threat affecting the lives of all who live beneath its shadow. The characters are well developed and easy to click with. Even though this is the second book of the series it can easily be read as a stand-alone, though once you've read it you will want to read the first book. An altogether lovely book that I highly recommend adding to your home as you'll want to reread this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Against Every Warning,

She’s Drawn Ever Closer to 

the Man Known as “Black Heart”

All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved.

As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed “Black Heart,” she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing–and some of her own to do as well.

With Camden’s court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the crosshairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope–and to each other–if they want to survive.

Available for Purchase at:

Signed copy from Roseanna's website  | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christian Book 

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. 

Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 

You can learn more about her and her stories at: 

www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

You can also connect with her online at: 

Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter |

Cover Reveal ~ Nadine Brandes Historical Fantasy

You know you l♡ve cover reveals

a little peek into what is to come.

Today is the reveal of

Nadine Brandes's

upcoming Historical Fantasy.

Did you read Fawkes?

Well, this is in the genre

and, as she previously revealed,

her new work will be about

the Romanovs.

Specifically, this is an Anastasia retelling

for the popular YA audience

which we all know includes the

YA at heart reader.

Before the cover is revealed 

a little about the book.

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even 

like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

You can learn more 

AND 

(drumroll, please)

Pre-order it 

https://nadinebrandes.com/romanovlinks

Time to start that 

2019 late Spring/early Summer

reading list.