Peacock Throne

I received a copy of THE PEACOCK THRONE by Lisa Karon Richardson from Lion Fiction via Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.  This was another wonderful novel of historical fiction.  I have been on a huge historical fiction binge lately, so this book fit right in. 

Miss Lydia Garrett wants to find the villain who murdered her guardian.  Lots of action follows Lydia.  It starts with action on the first page and doesn’t let you go.  There’s a few murders, which keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat.  I loved how the reader gets to travel the world with Lydia.  I’m a huge fan of travel.  Each new setting was vividly described.  The romance was sweet. 

Miss Lydia Garrett is an excellent role model for women.  She is a strong woman who knows what she wants, despite the historical setting when women had a lower role in society.

On a side note, I recently got into the Heartsong Presents series.  After looking at THE PEACOCK THRONE on GoodReads, I saw that Lisa Karon Richardson has written for that series.  How cool!  I haven’t read those yet, but I will be on the look out.

I Hope You Dance

I received a copy of I HOPE YOU DANCE by Beth Moran from Lion Fiction via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  I had previously read her other book, MAKING MARION, so I was excited to give this one a try. 

 

Like MAKING MARION, it is full of realistic and engaging characters.  I HOPE YOU DANCE focuses on Ruth.  After the death of her partner, she and her daughter are forced to move back in with her estranged parents.  I found that interesting, as I know many people who have recently moved back in with their parents due to various reasons. 

 

I enjoyed the strong Christian background, as it painted an elegant picture for the characters and setting.  The town itself seems to be its own character.  I love books like that, where the setting really comes to life.  You feel as if you culd walk next door to meet Ruth.  Speaking of the Christian perspective, it isn’t heavily overdone, and I feel this book could better fall into the category of “chick lit.” 

 

Everyone has a weakness, but also a strength.  Ruth is an amazing protagonist.  I want to think that everyone who reads this book will be able to learn something from her. 

Inconceivable!

I received a copy of INCONCEIVABLE! By Tegan Wren in exchange for an honest review.

 

I can easily give this book five stars.  For one thing, the editing is superb, and for another, the cover is titillating.  Then there is the story itself.  The high reviews are not surprising.

The main theme of this is infertility.  I haven’t read many books on this subject, so this felt original and fresh.  It felt very raw, not at all glossed over as some topics are in literature, and this made me love it all the more.  It also sparked some conversations with friends who have had trouble to conceive (I’m happy to report that all of them did, finally, manage to have a baby). 

Despite the struggles, it is dealt with sensitively, and you will fall in love with the characters and the undertones of romance.  I hate giving away spoilers, but I will point out that the characters are realistic and the dialogue flows well. 

 

If you’re looking for spoilers, I suggest you read the book yourself. 

White Lady

 I received a copy of THE WHITE LADY by Nic Weissman in exchange for an honest review.  This is the sequel to the “Orb of Wrath.”  If you are interested in his writing, I highly recommend that you start with that one.  I feel it will help you enjoy THE WHITE LADY all the more. 

I loved the names!  Names in fantasy settings always give me the happy chills when they don’t sound like names I hear every day.  The names I mean are like Mithir and Ronu. 

This is a fascinating fantasy.  I always have a soft spot in my heart for fantasies, especially those with character development and breathtaking settings.  This novel has both. 

You can tell that Nic took time to edit his manuscript.  The writing shines.

Chasing Midnight

I'm so excited to be participating in Courtney King Walker's Release Day Launch (hosted by Jen Halligan PR) for CHASING MIDNIGHT! Check out the book and excerpt below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaway!

Chasing Midnight by Courtney King Walker Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing Publication Date: January 12, 2016

WISH LIST

1. The biggest, fanciest house on Sea View Drive.
2. Nike Flyknits.
3. A ski-jump nose.
4. My own car. A new BMW.
5. Be a total pro at the piano.
6. James Odera to like me. Be James Odera’s girlfriend.
7. Get Spencer’s lungs fixed.

Mackenzie Love dreams of being a “lucky one”—someone who has the perfect life. Someone who doesn’t have to worry about money, a sick brother, or her high school status. So when a mysterious visitor offers to make all her wishes come true, Mackenzie jumps at the chance. But the royal lifestyle may cost more than Mackenzie is willing to pay in this modern twist on the classic Cinderella story. Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Chasing Midnight is a beautiful, magical story about wishes, hard choices, and the joy of finding happiness in our heart’s own truth.”

— Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcello in the Real World

Excerpt from CHASING MIDNIGHT

I only make it as far as the nearest bathroom, where the scent of hazelnuts and cinnamon seemed to be brewing somewhere inside. When I’m positive nobody has followed me, I push in through the bathroom door and face the graffitied mirror in silence, staring blankly at my reflection. “The first day is usually a shock.” A voice, to the side of me. I jerk my head up and step backward. “Holy . . . how did you get in here?” I ask, staring directly into the black eyes of Bird Lady. It seems like she just appears and disappears at will, each time even more striking, more beautiful than the last—despite the flood of buzzing fluorescent bulbs above us, bathing her in gaudy light. I feel hypnotized in her image, at her ebony skin swirling gold against an overflowing blue sundress, the aura of hazelnuts saturating the air. But then I realize I’m gaping at her, and turn away, embarrassed. “I come and go when I need to,” she says with a slight shrug of her shoulders, as if everything about her showing up in this grimy bathroom is completely normal. “So this is a ‘need-to’ kind of situation?” I ask, staring at her image in the greasy mirror, rather than straight on. It feels less intimidating that way. “Yes,” she says, dipping her head slowly. “I’ve come to enlighten you, child.” “Great. I could use some enlightening,” I say, still trying to recover from Brecke’s odd accusations at whatever she seems to be implying about my supposed disappearance last night. “So what’s the deal?” “You’ve been Struck,” she says simply, the intonation in her voice intoxicating. “Struck? What does that even mean?” A smile ignites her entire face when she chuckles a little, the tip of her finger touching the clock pendant at my neck. “It means you are now a lucky one. How about that, Mackenzie Love?” “But, I mean . . . how does it all work?” I ask, trying to snap out of this trance I feel myself falling into. Her very essence seems to hold me hostage, and the longer my eyes linger on her face, the heavier they feel. “The how is unimportant, my dear. All you need to know for the time being is that this is your life right now,” she says, touching my neck with a long, shiny black fingernail. “For reals?” I say, clutching my clock charm like a lifeline, the ticking inside, the pulse of its own heartbeat. “For how long? Forever? A day? A year?” My vision blurs as the writing on the mirror splits in two, the double letters overlapping each other, my head whirring. “That is entirely up to you,” Bird Lady says, drawing backward into the shadows, away from the light. I turn around, not wanting her to leave. Not yet. “Wait . . .” “No need to trouble yourself about it now. You’ll recognize the signs when it’s time,” she says, as if I should understand what she’s talking about. “You will know what to do then.” “I will?” “You have my word.” She dips her head at me and moves effortlessly toward the door. I blink, and then she’s gone.

About the Author

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area building rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing about adventure was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children, and still dreams of flying to the moon. She is the author of the young adult novel, ON THE FRINGE, and middle grade novel MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN. Her lastest YA novel, CHASING MIDNIGHT, releases January 12, 2016 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media.

Giveaway

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A Worthy Heart

I received a copy of A WORTHY HEART by Susan Anne Mason from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. It is the second installment of the Courage to Dream series.  Alas, I had not read the previous book, but after reading this one, I look forward to doing so. 

As always, Bethany House has delivered a stirring historical romance with a strong religious theme.  I enjoy reading religious fiction, as they are feel good stories with a positive message.  They help me to consider my own faith, and much of what I read becomes a discussion for later on with my family and friends.

I found  A WORTHY HEART to be a bit slow at first, but I did become engaged and managed to finish this in one day.  There is plenty of emotion to keep you laughing, screaming “no,” and sometimes even blinking away tears.  I love a book that brings out those reactions. 

You’ll feel strong connections to the characters.  They are written in such a way that you have no doubt to their realistic qualities. 

Before I end this, I must congratulate all involved on a magnificent cover.  The model stares into your soul and yanks you right into the book!  It has a movie poster theme, which goes along well with the book’s descriptions.  

A Thousand Shall Fall

I received a copy of A THOUSAND SHALL FALL by Andrea Boeshaar from Kregel. It is historical fiction, one of my favorite genres, and the cover evokes all of the feelings I associate with the Civil War: loneliness, desolation, sadness. The book also falls under the category of inspirational romance. It is the first installment of the Shenandoah Valley series.  The book focuses on Carrie Ann Bell, who is nineteen. I felt that she was the perfect embodiment of a young woman who wants to be strong and is beyond spirited in a torn world. The reader follows Carrie Ann’s life. I was on the edge of my seat as soon as her little sister runs away. Carrie Ann dresses as a soldier so that she can bring her back, but – CARRIE ANN IS TAKEN CAPTIVE!  There is a sweet romance mixed into the novel, for she begins to fall in love with Colonel Peyton Collier, her captor. The novel is all around beautiful, and you can feel Carrie Ann’s passion and conflicts.  I highly recommend A THOUSAND SHALL FALL and I plan to suggest is as a book for my online book club to read. I cannot wait for book two, TOO DEEP FOR WORDS, set to come out in November of 2016!

MELABETH THE VAMPIRE

 I received a copy of MELABETH THE VAMPIRE by E. B. Hood in exchange for an honest review. It is the first book in a series about Melabeth.

I found this book to be a true joy in reading.  It had everything I normally look for in a book – exciting action scenes, a well-thought-out plot, realistic dialogue, and characters I could relate to. 

Melanie – now Melabeth – is on the hunt for revenge.  It is not a normal revenge book though.  You get to experience her journey, and it is one both humorous and edge-of-your-seat exciting.  I liked how this included all the blood-sucking mayhem of a good vampire novel, not like some glossy vampire stories I have read lately.

I highly recommend this for fantasy fans!