Category: Book Review

Book Review | Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing my review of one of Victoria Bylin’s earlier novels. Someone Like You is a great Christian romance set in the real world.

Victoria Bylin doesn’t shy away from the tough topics.

In fact, anyone who scoffs at romance novels in general and Christian romance novels in particular should read Someone Like You. Whether they like it or not, they can’t call it soft or shallow or any of the other less-than-complimentary terms people use.

As an aside, it’s fascinating how some Christians exhort others to follow their God-given calling at the same time as decrying romance novels. Do they forget God is the author of the ultimate romance? Or reject the idea that He might call authors to model godly sacrificial love in fiction as well as non-fiction?.

Anyway, Someone Like You covers it all.

Faith, loss of faith, premarital sex, single parenthood, men with control issues, men with personality issues, men with faith issues. Fortunately, these issues are balanced out with a good dose of sense.

Zeke Monroe is the General Manager of the Caliente Springs resort, a position that might be temporary if he can’t pull the resort out of a financial tailspin and convince the co-owner not to sell. He’s hoping to land a big contract with Carter Home Goods . . . but doesn’t expect the event planner here to review the resort to be his college girlfriends, Julia Dare.

Julia has recently left her partner, the father of her four-year-old son, and become a Christian—in part, because of the influence of her college boyfriend, Zeke—the guy she dumped to hook up with suave lawyer Hunter Adams, Max’s father.

She’s now struggling to set up an event planning business to support herself and Max, and manage a relationship with a narcissistic ex who seems set on sabotaging her childrearing methods and her life in general. Especially when he finds out she’s in contact with Zeke again. Even though that’s purely professional. Isn’t it?

Basically, Someone Like You had everything a Christian romance should have.

Loveable hero. Intelligent and likeable but flawed heroine. A strong Christian theme that achieves challenging without being preachy. And excellent writing. Recommended.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Victoria Bylin

Author Photo - Victoria BylinVictoria Bylin is known for tackling tough subjects with great compassion. In 2016, Together With You, a story of grace and healing, won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance.

Her other books, including historical westerns, have finaled in the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and RT Magazine’s Reviewers Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky.

Find Victoria Bylin online at

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About Someone Like You

Julia Dare is trying to run her own business, raise her young son, Max, and help her widowed mother. Her biggest worry, though, is keeping Max’s father from being a bad influence while still allowing the boy to spend time with his dad. When an account from her event-planning business sends her to Caliente Springs resort, she’s shocked to encounter Zeke Monroe, her college sweetheart.

Zeke is determined to keep Caliente Springs running despite financial trouble. When Julia walks back into his life, he’s surprised at the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client’s wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. With Zeke and Julia both pushed to their limits, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

Find Someone Like You online:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook |Goodreads | Koorong

Read the introduction to Someone Like You below:

And click here to find Someone Like You (and other great Christian fiction) in my Amazon store!

 

 

It was said a wolverine could never be tamed. I suspected this was also the case for the Bolsheviks.

Book Review | Romanov by Nadine Brandes

It’s 2019, which means it’s over a hundred years since the Russian revolution overturned the Romanov dynasty, and the rumours about Anastasia have yet to die. In Romanov, Nadine Brandes has melded the facts with the rumours, added a fantastical element of spellmasters and magic potions, and created a brilliant novel in the style of Fawkes (but different).

Anyone who knows the Romanov story will know the basics of the plot of Romanov.

But I’m not going to spoil any of the details for those who don’t. I suspect readers who know the story will find it easier to get into Romanov, but the background knowledge isn’t necessary.

Romanov is the story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna.

At sixteen, Anastasia is the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas of Russia. But Nicholas is no longer Tsar, and Nastya is no longer a princess. All she and her family want is the opportunity to live their lives as normal Russian citizens in a village somewhere. And Nastya wants to learn the secrets of spells, so she can care for and perhaps even heal Alexei, her younger brother.

The story brings out Nastya’s intelligence, determination, and devotion—both to her family, and to the Russian people. Brandes does a convincing job of showing her as a resourceful young woman who, despite her privileged upbringing, genuinely cares for the people and wants the best for them. But, like the rest of her family, she does not believe the Bolsheviks and the new Soviet government will bring that best.

Imprisonment brings out the best in Nastya and the rest of her family, and many of the guards are loyal to the family while still supporting the Bolshevik cause.

Yes, there is a fantasy element to Romanov—this is a world with magic.

However, the family pray to Iisus (Jesus), and are of strong faith. So while Romanov isn’t an overtly Christian novel, it has definite Christian themes. I enjoyed Romanov even more than I enjoyed Fawkes, and I look forward to seeing what historical characters Nadine Brandes next chooses to feature … and what fantastical twist she will put on them.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Nadine Brandes

Find Romanov online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click here to find Romanov and other great Christian fiction in my Amazon store.

Most people are waiting for someone to give them hope. If you can do that, then they’re more than happy to give you their money in exchange.

Book Review | Flirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell

I’ve just found out Siri Mitchell has a new book coming … so I’m resharing my review of one of her historical romances, Flirtation Walk.

About Flirtation Walk

West Point History Comes Alive in this Warmhearted Romance

Trying to escape the shambles her con-man father has made of their reputation, Lucinda Curtis arrives in West Point, New York, determined to land a husband from the military academy. Campbell Conklin is first in his class and preparing to embark upon a storied career in the U.S. Army. Lucinda thinks Campbell will make the perfect husband . . . as long as he does not find out about her father.

Seth Westcott also has taken a liking to Lucinda. He’s kind, smart . . . and working extremely hard to graduate last. Tradition states that the worst cadets are assigned to the cavalry out west. And west is where Seth must head to track the swindler who stole all of Seth’s mother’s money. Seth is smart enough to vie for the top spot, but life isn’t fair and this is his chance to catch the man who ruined his family. It’s too bad Campbell is all shine and no substance, but Lucinda will surely see through all of that, won’t she?

My Review

Seth Westcott is the top cadet in his year at West Point Military Academy, a rank which sees him destined for a coveted position in the Corps of Engineers. When he finds his sister has been swindled of the money from the sale of their family farm, he decides a cavalry posting out West would be a better idea . . . somewhere he can protect his sister, and hunt down the swindler. To do that, he’s going to have to become an Immortal—ranked at the bottom of the class.

When Miss Lucinda Pennyworth’s father dies, she goes to stay with family in Buttermilk Falls, near the military academy where her uncle lectures. Here she learns that some of what her father told her over the years wasn’t true, and she begins to question the values he raised her with, and his views on the military . . . and on God.

Lucinda finds herself having to learn a new set of rules.

Rules in which she considers others and doesn’t do everything to best meet her own needs, but considers the needs of others and the lessons mistakes can sometimes teach us. It’s not an easy journey, especially as many of her father’s philosophies and sayings are as real in 2016 as they were for Lucinda in 1855. Lucinda also learns she doesn’t have to look and be perfect all the time:

“I would think that would be tiring, trying to make sure you were perfect all the time.”

Perhaps. But even today many people fall into the trap of believing that it’s enough to look perfect and behave properly, that our underlying motivations and beliefs are less important than the image we project. (Social media doesn’t help this perception, when people curate their lives to only show the nice bits). While this isn’t necessarily a Christian message, it’s still a strong message, one worth thinking about, and Flirtation Walk did it well. I’ve found some of Siri Mitchell’s novels push a theme at the expense of the story, but this didn’t.

I liked the way Flirtation Walk emphasised that God is a god of love, not rules.

But I would have liked to have seen the characters show some faith in God, rather than merely attending church (which seemed to be more of doing the right thing). But I did like the overall theme about the balance between obeying the rules and doing the right thing.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Read the introduction to Flirtation Walk below:

And don’t forget to click here and check out Flirtation Walk and other top Christian fiction in my Amazon store!

Quote from Fawkes by Nadine Brandes: Fighting for what you believe in is subjective. We need to fight for truth. Your beliefs can be misguided.

Book Review | Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing my review of Fawkes by Nadine Brandes (which previously appeared at International Christian Fiction Writers). Fawkes is an intriguing mix of fantasy and historical fiction, and so is her new novel, Romanov, which releases next month. But now, let’s check out Fawkes!

About Fawkes

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th-century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

You can find Fawkes online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

My Review

Remember, remember, the fifth of November …

Fawkes begins in 1604, not long after King James I has ascended the throne of England and joined the thrones of England and Scotland. The country is filled with tension as two factions fight to rule.

The history books has this fight as being Roman Catholic vs. Protestant, with King James (and Queen Elizabeth before him) being firmly of the reformed Protestant faith. But Fawkes twists this into a fight between Keepers and Igniters, both blaming the other for the plague of stone that is at risk of taking over the land.

Fawkes begins with Thomas Fawkes, the narrator, at boarding school on the eve of his Color Test.

Yes, there are echoes of Harry Potter and Divergent here, in that every adult has a Color which they can control to a greater or lesser extent. Keepers believe each person can and should only control one Color. Igniters believe the Keepers have been hiding the White Light from the public for centuries. Both sides believe the other caused the plague which kills by turning its victims to stone.

Thomas Fawkes is the son of Guy Fawkes, the most famous of the thirteen men who plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament to kill King James I and restore a Catholic king to the throne (I live in New Zealand. We still “celebrate” Guy Fawkes with fireworks on 5 November every year). Those who know history (and know history is written by the victors) know the plot was foiled and Guy Fawkes has gone down in history as the bad guy.

Fawkes places us in the mind of Thomas.

While he and his father have been estranged for years, both are Keepers. At least, Thomas thinks he’s a Keeper … except he keeps hearing the voice of the White Light. He has been raised to believe Keepers are right, and he has no reason to doubt that.

But he’s never actually stopped to consider what is true.

And that’s an unexpectedly modern theme—that what we believe to be right and true isn’t necessarily so. Instead, we need to search for truth. Find truth. And fight for truth.

All of which are difficult in this modern era of #FakeNews.

Anyway, students of history will understand that while Fawkes is trying to persuade us that Thomas Fawkes (and the thirteen conspirators) are the “good guys”, history tells us they are not. That makes the early chapters an uncomfortable read. But students of history will be pleased to know the story does run true to history. Well. Kind of. History doesn’t have Keepers and Igniters and the Stone Plague. Fawkes does not have Roman Catholics and Protestants at loggerheads. But the parallels are there for those who know or care to look.

I’m not a big fantasy reader. But Fawkes worked for me, perhaps because it was a Harry Potter-esque twist on truth that allowed the reader to consider Truth.

It got me thinking without taking me out of the story, and that’s high praise.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

You can read the introduction to Fawkes below:

Who cares if we know ourselves better? The point of life is to know God better.

Book Review | Sweet on You by Becky Wade

I loved True to You, the first book in this series, and I’ve been waiting two long years to read Britt and Zander’s story. Zander was the secondary character who most caught my attention in True to You, so I wanted to know more about him and his unrequited love for Britt.

But when I started the story, I was in that strange place of desperately wanting to read it, but also not wanting to read it … because once I’ve finished it, then the series will be over. And that brought a major reader dilemma: did I want to read it slowly and savour the experience, or did I want to read it quickly to find out what happens.

Okay, I have no self-control when it comes to Becky Wade, so I read it quickly.

On the surface, Sweet on You is a sweet (!) romance about a chocolatier and the novelist who has loved her for close on half his life … and she’s never noticed. Underneath, it’s a story about overcoming the lies we believe about who we are, about finding ourselves in God, and about becoming the people he meant us to be.

Britt’s problem is that she is independent—too independent, in that she’s never learned to depend on God. I suspect this is a problem for a lot of modern women, who have been raised to be independent rather than depending on fathers or husbands. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean that we forget we’re supposed to trust and depend on God.

Zander’s problem is the same, but from a different angle.

He’s been praying Britt would fall in love with him for years, yet God hasn’t answered that prayer (I’m sure we all have prayers we’ve prayed for years that God hasn’t answered yet). Zander has allowed that to separate him from God:

“He hadn’t worshipped from a place of gratitude. He’d worshipped from a place of duty.”

I suspect that’s also true of many people. And it’s these internal issues that make Sweet on You such an excellent example of Christian fiction. Let’s face it, I’ve known for two years that Britt was eventually going to fall for Zander. I’ve been looking forward to it, because I love the friends-to-something-more plot. And that played out more or less how every friends-to-more romance plays out.

There was also a suspense plot, which I enjoyed because I’ve always loved romantic suspense. That element of the was less predictable (good) and meant there were external events driving Britt and Zander together. This is the aspect of the plot which kept me reading … but it’s not the element I’m thinking about now I’ve finished.

What makes Sweet on You different is the Christian element, the way it allows us to explore some of the lies of the modern world, and to better understand God’s solutions.

I think I’m going to have to read it again to understand this even better. This time I’ll read slowly.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Becky Wade

Author Photo Becky WadeBecky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of heartwarming, humorous, and swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

These days, you’ll find Becky in Dallas, Texas failing to keep up with her housework, trying her best in yoga class, carting her three kids around town, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniel on her lap, hunched over her computer writing, or eating chocolate.

You can find Becky Wade online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About Sweet on You

Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best of friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long.

Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who’s spent the past 18 months traveling the world. He’s achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him–Britt’s heart.

When Zander’s uncle dies of mysterious causes, he returns to Merryweather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. But while Britt is determined to resist any change in their relationship, Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

As they work together to uncover his uncle’s tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also, finally, come to light?

You can find Sweet on You online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click here to find Sweet on You and other great Christian fiction at my Amazon shop!

Quote from Falling for You by Becky Wade

#ThrowbackThursday | Falling for You by Becky Wade

Falling for You is the second novel in the Bradford Sisters series, and it’s the story of an internationally famous model and a retired football star.

Here’s the Amazon description:

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family’s small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin–and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he’s never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he’s determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they’re forced to confront their past and who they’ve become–and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

My Thoughts

Injury has forced Corbin Stewart to retire from football. He’s bought a house in Shore Pine, Washington, to be near his only remaining family. What he didn’t know was that it also put him near ex-girlfriend Willow Bradford, now on a sabbatical from modelling, living in nearby Merryweather and managing her family B&B.

Charlotte Dixon, Corbin’s twelve-year-old niece, has discovered a family secret.

She’s convinced Willow Bradford will help her uncover the mystery behind the secret, and convinces Corbin to introduce her to Willow. Willow agrees to help, even though helping will bring her into too much contact with ex-boyfriend Corbin. Who is still devastatingly attractive, despite the way he broke up with her four years ago.

Falling for You follows the same pattern as True to You and the free prequel novella, Then Came You. It intersperses the present-day story with letters, emails, and text messages from the past and present. It’s a novel (!) way to tell a story, and it works as we see the past and present stories of Willow, Corbin, and others.

And it’s a strong story.

It’s the romance of two people who messed up years ago, and have to work out if there’s a way through that mess to find happiness. Part of that mess was because while Willow is and always has been a strong Christian, Corbin called himself a Christian but didn’t live the life (football star, remember?). He’s now become a Christian, but finding life hard.

Willow has her own problems with faith, and they are so deep-seated it actually takes her a while to realise they even exist. This, to me, was the depth in the book—Willow coming to terms with her past choices, and what that means for her faith. And there was a fascinating suspense plot around Charlotte’s secret.

I loved True to You because I related to Nora, the librarian. She’s bookish, and that meant I could relate to her in a way I can’t relate to an internationally famous model. But I could still relate to Willow as a woman who has made mistakes, who has to learn what forgiveness really means.

Falling for You is a touching tale of love lost and love found again, underpinned by an intriguing mystery, and the power of God to forgive.

Now I’m looking forward to the third book in the Bradford Sisters series, the story of the pastry chef who doesn’t realise her best friend of forever is in love with her (and has been forever). He knows it. I know it. Her sisters know it. But she doesn’t, and that’s a trope I love.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Becky Wade

Author Photo Becky WadeBecky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of heartwarming, humorous, and swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

These days, you’ll find Becky in Dallas, Texas failing to keep up with her housework, trying her best in yoga class, carting her three kids around town, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniel on her lap, hunched over her computer writing, or eating chocolate.

You can find Becky Wade online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

You can find Falling for You online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

You can read the introduction to Falling for You below:

But if one were to marry, Caroline would much rather feel there to be a degree of mutual respect and esteem for herself as a person, rather than mere respect and esteem for her dowry.

Book Review | A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller

Daughters of Aynslley,A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh is my favourite Carolyn Miller book so far.

As usual, the writing is excellent, the sense of period is perfect, and the characters. I liked the way Miss Caroline Hatherleigh went through a complete yet convincing change in her character. I also liked the way what could have been a lighthearted romance showed unexpected depths.

Caroline Hatherleigh has been raised to believe that feelings of love in marriage are for the lower orders, and to consider attending church as a social obligation, not something one does for any deeper meaning. But she wants more from a marriage than mere affection. And her beliefs on faith are challenged when she is shunted off to south Devonshire to visit her grandmother, where she meets Gideon Kirby and his sister.

As she spends time with the pair, they challenge her to consider the reality of God and faith. She is attracted to Gideon, but knows that as the daughter of a Viscount, she’s expected to marry someone of equal rank in society. Anyway, Gideon would have to show an interest in her first.

Gideon is a strong Christian, and a scientist (in a time when the two weren’t considered to be mutually exclusive). He is hunting for fossils on England’s south coast. He describes himself as an undergroundologist, which I guess is the predecessor to our modern palentologist. He is in Devon for two reasons: to hunt for fossils in the same area as the famous Mary Anning, and to protect his sister from the monster she married.

It is these two subplots that raise A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh head and shoulders above most Christian romance.

Emma is hiding from an abusive husband, something which is rarely discussed in historical fiction, and which adds a layer of suspense to the plot. Science and faith rarely mix in our modern world, and Gideon faces some of those challenges in 1818. It’s a fascinating combination of backdrops.

Those who have read and enjoyed Miller’s earlier Regency romances will enjoy glimpses of characters from previous stories, but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read any. A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh is the first of the Daughters of Aynsley trilogy—which means we have another two Carolyn Miller novels to look forward to. Excellent!

Recommended for all fans of Christian Regency romance, or for those looking for Christian romance that’s beyond the ordinary.

Thanks to Carolyn Miller for providing a free book for review.

About Carolyn Miller

Carolyn MillerCarolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She is married, with four gorgeous children, who all love to read (and write!).

A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn’s novels have won a number of Romance Writers of American (RWA) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. Her favourite authors are classics like Jane Austen (of course!), Georgette Heyer, and Agatha Christie, but she also enjoys contemporary authors like Susan May Warren and Becky Wade.

Her stories are fun and witty, yet also deal with real issues, such as dealing with forgiveness, the nature of really loving versus ‘true love’, and other challenges we all face at different times.

Find Carolyn Miller online at:

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About A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh

Can a very proper noble lady find a future with a fossil-hunting man of faith?

As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society—and she’s always followed them precisely. It’s simply the way things are done in her world. When she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken. She is suddenly confronted by questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith—and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance.

Gideon Kirby loves science, and hunting down proof of past lives is a joy he won’t willingly give up. But his scientific leanings are being challenged by both his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister’s illness is becoming more desperate and her care grows more demanding. Adding a proper Viscount’s daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected—especially since he has a secret that demands he stays far away from this young woman he’s falling for in order to protect his beloved sister.

When a mysterious stranger visits the village, that secret is set to be exposed, no matter how Gideon fights. Then tragedy strikes in a smugglers cave. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. Will the shaky bond these two have managed to build be strong enough to overcome their differences—or will the trust they’ve withheld from each other end up tearing three lives apart?

You can find A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

It seemed he was a perfectly reasonable man, to anyone not attempting to court his daughter.

Book Review | The Judge’s Daughter by Nerys Leigh

The Judge’s Daughter is the seventh book in Nerys Leigh’s Escape to the West series. George Parsons met and fell for Millicent in one of the earlier books in the series, after Millicent travelled to the small California town of Green Hill Creek to escape her abusive husband. Now George is heading to New York City to renew his relationship with Millicent.

I have read all the earlier books in the series but can’t actually remember the circumstances which brought Millicent to Green Hill Creek, although I do vaguely remember the start of their relationship. No matter. That’s not what The Judge’s Daughter is about, and it’s not even set in Green Hill Creek.

The new setting means new characters—Millicent’s mother, who is friendly and amenable to George’s pursuit of their daughter. And Millicent’s father, the judge, who is a lot less friendly. There are also the adorable/annoying children he meets at the train station, some of many who struggle to survive in New York.

It’s great to see a romance between an older couple. It’s especially great to see a romance with a divorced woman in a time when divorce was frowned upon by most of polite society. Being older, George and Millicent knew themselves and their own minds better. But they still had to content with the overprotective father (although he had good reason to be), and their own differences in upbringing and expectations. I enjoyed that, and I enjoyed (as always) the humour and the Christian elements.

The Judge’s Daughter is another fun romance from Nerys Leigh. I recommend it for fans of Christian historical romance, especially westerns.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Nerys Leigh

Nerys LeighNerys Leigh writes thoroughly romantic Christian historical love stories. She loves heroes who are strong but sweet and heroines who are willing to fight for the life they want.

She’s from the UK, which you would think puts her in a unique position to not write about mail order brides in the American west, but the old adage of writing what you know has never appealed to her. She has an actual American read each book before publishing to make sure she hasn’t gone all English on it.

No One’s Bride is the first in the Escape to the West series which tells the stories of a group of women willing to travel across America to find happiness, and the men determined to win their hearts.

You can find Nerys Leigh online at:

Website | Facebook

About The Judge’s Daughter

After being a widower for almost half his life, fifty-one-year-old George Parsons didn’t count on ever falling for a woman again, until Millicent came along. After meeting her in his tiny home town of Green Hill Creek, he’s smitten. So when Millie asks him to visit her in New York, he doesn’t hesitate to make the week-long journey from California to see her again.

But what was easy in Green Hill Creek seems next to impossible in the city, and in the midst of the ostentatious wealth and desperate poverty of 1870 New York, George will have to overcome snobbery, prejudice and danger to win Millie’s heart.

Find The Judge’s Daughter online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Goodreads

You can read the introduction to The Judge’s Daughter below:

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Given the choice between the gods our people venerated on that hill and the God who offers shelter for even the most undeserving, I know whom I choose.

Book Review | Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette

This is the second novel in Connilyn Cossette’s Cities of Refuge series. While it is a standalone novel, the backstory will make more sense if you read A Light on the Hill first.

After Sofea and Prezi’s families are murdered in a pirate raid, they are taken from their home on Sicily to Israel. A series of events leads them to Israel, to the city of Kadesh, one of the ancient Hebrew Cities of Refuge. Here they are taken in by Moriyah, who runs the inn (and who was the main character in A Light on the Hill).

The opening chapters are full of action, but it felt like the story took a long time to get going. I think this is because it takes several chapters before Sofea and Prezi reach Kadesh, and before we meet the hero of the story (I initially thought the hero was one of the pirates, but I was wrong).

Etian is Moriyah’s adopted son, and the reason he and Moriyah have both been banished to Kadesh. As Sofea learns the local language and settles in Kadesh, she and Etian fall for each other … but Sofea is a child of the sea and Etian can’t leave the city to take her to the sea. The result is I found the second half of the book wasn’t as strong, as it focused on a suspense thread at the expense of the characters.

There is also (unsurprisingly) a strong faith thread in Shelter of the Most High, as both Sofea and Prezi learn about the Yahweh, the Hebrew One God, and the way he cares for his people. Recommended for Biblical fiction fans.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Connilyn Cossette

Connilyn Cossette is the Christy Award Nominated and CBA-Bestselling author of the Out from Egypt Series from Bethany House Publishers. There’s not much she enjoys more than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible, discovering new gems of grace that point to Jesus, and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience.

Find Connilyn Cossette online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About Shelter of the Most High

The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a City of Refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood and chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Will they break free from the shackles of the past in time to uncover the betrayal and save their lives and the lives of those they love?

Find Shelter of the Most High online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Koorong

You can read the introduction to Shelter of the Most High below:

Introducing the Encircled Anthology (and #Giveaway)

Today’s post is part of a blog tour to launch the Encircled Anthology, which I’m looking forward to reading. And there are preorder goodies, and a giveaway!

About Encircled

Experience six of the world’s most beloved stories in a whole new light! From historical to futuristic, these re-tellings will take you to an enchanted forest, a cursed castle, and far beyond. Uncover secrets of a forbidden basement, a hypnotic gift, and a mysterious doll. Fall in love with a lifelong friend or brand-new crush. Venture to unknown lands on a quest to save a prince, a kingdom, or maybe even a planet. With moments of humor, suspense, romance, and adventure, Encircled has something to offer every fan of fairy tales, both classic and re-imagined.

This anthology features stories from S.E. Clancy, Jebraun Clifford, J.M. Hackman, E.J. Kitchens, Laurie Lucking, and Tori V. Rainn.

You can find Encircled online at

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble| Kobo

Preorder Goodies

 

Everyone who preorders Encircled (that’s me!) can get a pack of preorder goodies, courtesy of Jebraun Clifford. Click here to find out more.

Giveaway!

The Ever Afters have teamed up with the Just-Us League to host an epic giveaway celebrating their upcoming fairy tale anthologies! Enter for a chance to win one of FOUR sets of prizes!

Grand Prize (U.S. residents only)

  • Two paperbacks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
  • Book cozy
  • Slipper ornament
  • 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design)
  • Set of four signed illustration prints

First Prize (U.S. residents only)

  • Two paperbacks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
  • “Fairy tales do come true” charm bracelet
  • 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design)
  • Set of four signed illustration prints

Second Prize (international)

  • Two ebooks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
  • 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design)
  • Set of four signed illustration prints

Third Prize (international)

  • Two ebooks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled)
  • Choice of 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design) *or* set of four signed illustration
    prints

Click here to enter via Rafflecopter

About the Authors

SE Clancy

An adrenaline junkie, S.E. Clancy has skydived, worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and raised two daughters with her husband of over 25 years in Northern California. A bit of a sci-fi nerd, geek, and self-proclaimed dork, there isn’t much she won’t try at least once … unless it involves mayonnaise, because that stuff is just gross. Her debut novella, “True: A Contemporary Retelling of Rahab,” released March 14, 2019.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram

About Jebraun Clifford

Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, Jebraun Clifford lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island surrounded by thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering identity and living without fear and enjoys creating fantastic worlds. She loves coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and harbours a secret penchant for British spelling.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram

About JM Hackman

J.M. Hackman loves thunderstorms, bookstores, and happy endings. She’s never met a reading nook she didn’t like and prefers soul talk to small talk. When she’s not writing or reading, she spends quality time with her greatest fans—her family. Her stories have been published in the anthologies Realmscapes, Mythical Doorways, and Tales of Ever After. Her award-winning YA fantasy Spark (The Firebrand Chronicles) was released in 2017 from L2L2 Publishing. The sequel, Flare, was released in February 2019. She spends her days writing stories, consuming massive quantities of dark chocolate, and looking for portals to other worlds.

Website │ Newsletter │ Facebook │ Instagram

About EJ Kitchens

E.J. Kitchens loves tales of romance, adventure, and happily-ever-afters and strives to write such tales herself. When she’s not thinking about dashing heroes or how awesome bacteria are—she is a microbiologist after all—she’s taking photos, ballroom dancing, or talking about classic books and black-and-white movies. She is the author of the fantasy novels The Rose and the Wand and To Catch a Magic Thief and the short stories “How to Hide a Prince” (Tales of Ever After anthology) and “The Seventh Crown.”

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Pinterest

About Laurie Lucking

An avid reader practically since birth, Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. When she gets a break from playing superheroes with her two young sons, she writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of fairy tale romance. Her debut novel, Common, won third place in the CWRC Reader’s Choice Literary Lighthouse Awards, and her short story, “Threshold,” was published in a Fellowship of Fantasy anthology titled Mythical Doorways. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram

About Tori V Rainn

Tori V. Rainn was born and raised in Texas. In her late teens, she became a writer in 2011 when she took a writer’s course at Writer’s Village University. If she’s not working on novellas or novels, she can easily be distracted with coming up with her next big short story adventure. Several of her short stories have been featured in online magazines—links of stories can be found on her Facebook author page. When she’s not writing, she enjoys knife collecting and running. Tea and chocolate are her addictions. Video games, books, music, and movies are her outlet. She’s a Christ follower and Realm Makers member.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Pinterest