I have been in a season of reading books by audio only, and I have to say, this one had me laughing so hard that I had to stop listening while I ran an archery tournament because I was afraid of disturbing the kids with sharp pointy arrows. This was my first Pepper Basham book and I will definitely be reading more. I’ve known her reputation as the kissing queen for a really long time, and well, she deserves that title. I’m a girl who can’t watch cartoons kiss, and this book had me blushing or laughing out loud pretty much the whole time. Grace is a girl who lives life by the books–fictional books, and the ways it affects her thinking and her actions result in probably one of the funniest stories I have ever read. Add in Fred’s sweet way with Grace and his own view of her exuberant personality and it’s a knock out winner of a story. It will definitely be a rereader for me. In fact, there were some scenes so funny, I pulled family and friends aside from Thanksgiving festivities to share because I couldn’t keep the enjoyment just to myself.
I recommend ANYONE who loves romantic comedies, marriages of convenience, mystery, danger, and romance, go and pick this book up immediately. It will have you laughing until you can’t breathe or cry, or maybe both!
Genre: Historical Romance, Blue Ridge Mountains/England, 1913
Plot Overview:
Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?
Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future.
What I loved: All the bookish love and imagination in this story combine with the humor created a story I will never forget and will probably reread every Christmas season.
Favorite Character and Why: Grace was the absolute best. Her sweet demeanor, vivid imagination, and naivety were a combination that leaves me smiling just thinking about her.
Who would like this? I recommend ANYONE who loves romantic comedies, marriages of convenience, mystery, danger, and romance, go and pick this book up immediately. It will have you laughing until you can’t breathe or cry, or maybe both!
Rating and Why: Five stars. It was HILARIOUS and the characters absolutely perfect.
We’ve finished ELEVEN months of a reading challenge, and as December is a pick your favorite time period month, I’m not going to put up a suggestions list. I’m also, obviously, a day late in getting the Challenge review up, so thank you for your grace. November focused on the contemporary period, and my choice of story was The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox. Once you read my review, don’t forget to comment to be entered for your chance to win a copy.
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The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery
by Amanda Cox
Amanda Cox has a beautiful way of bringing hard situations and difficult family relationships out of the shadows and into light. This story of mother-daughter relationships and secrets kept is one that both breaks your heart and gives you hope. Three generations of women struggle through heart-wrenching personal an family problems in unhealthy ways, each growing individually and through the help of each other to face the secrets kept in a healthier way. Their reconciliation is a painful process, and as a reader, I grieved for each woman’s situation. I fell in love with the men of their lives who guided them, held them close, and loved them through it all. This story is one I highly recommend to fans of women’s fiction, women who struggle with mother-daughter relationships, and lovers of deep, rich fiction that sticks with you long after you’ve read the story. I’m not a huge fan of split-time stories, but Amanda Cox pulls it off in such a way that she is an auto-buy author for me.
Genre: Historical Romance, Dual-Time
Plot Overview:
Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons–but she’ll certainly never reveal the real one.
1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she’s pregnant with her deceased fiancé’s baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.
This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.
What I loved: The secrets these women held were so interwoven and understandable that their growth into reconciliation was powerful and something I will long remember.
Favorite Character and Why: Glory-Ann’s husband. He was one of the most upstanding men I’ve read in fiction. He was patient, kind, understanding, and just beyond words perfect. He had some flaws to, but as you see him through the eyes of both his wife and daughter, he’s pretty much a knight in shining armor.
Who would like this? This story is one I highly recommend to fans of women’s fiction, women who struggle with mother-daughter relationships, and lovers of deep, rich fiction that sticks with you long after you’ve read the story.
Rating and Why: FIve Stars. It is a powerful read with true-to-life messy families, struggles, and messy reconciliation.
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month and you will also be entered into the year-end giveaway of all 12 books reviewed. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on December 7th at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced don’t the Rafflecopter widget. *Open to all residents of the contiguous USA, legally able to enter, and an e-book format or Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to those outside that range who are legally able to enter.
If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be intense. Marvelously so. Michelle Griep has taken her writing to new levels in this gothic romance that leaves characters battling the monsters within . . . and without. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein had nothing on this story where the famed author makes several appearances. The story of Amelia Balfour, Graham Lambart, Colin Balfour, and Dr. Peckwood is sure to have your angst ratcheting tight all the way to the spell-binding ending, that while holding to magnificent gothic tradition, leaves the reader with hope for the future.
This was the most intense book from Michelle Griep that I have ever read, and to be honest, I was glad that I was listening to it as an audiobook and was forced to do thirty or fewer minute increments. The tension was so deep, so constant that my heart couldn’t take it all at once. I’m looking forward to reading it again soon, this time in one fell swoop. This is an unforgettable tale that will sweep readers away to a different time to face monsters that they might even see reflected in themselves.
I recommend this book for fans of Gothic romances, Frankenstein, obscure history, and deep truths discovered during trying circumstances.
*While I’ve purchased an additional copy myself, a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher and the review above is my honest opinion of the book and was not influenced in any way.*
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Era, England
Plot Overview:
Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.
Amelia Balfour has one dream . . . to tour Egypt as a travel writer. But when her wish is finally within reach, her father dies, and her malformed brother, Colin, depends on her to arrange for a revolutionary surgery. Amelia returns home, hoping he’ll recover before the ship sails for Cairo.
Former Navy surgeon Graham Lambert is sick–of traveling, loneliness, and especially the injustice of the world. Leaving behind the military, he partners with a renowned surgeon, the man who promises new life to Amelia’s brother.
But just as the operation begins, Graham suspects the surgeon is a fraud. After a botched procedure, Colin goes mad and escapes, terrorizing their neighbor, author Mary Godwin–planting the seed for her greatest creation, Frankenstein.
Can Amelia and Graham stop Colin before he destroys everyone in his path and find the tender soul still trapped inside . . . or will they be too late?
What I loved: The storyline that so well reflected Frankenstein while bringing spiritual depth that it will long live in my mind.
Favorite Character and Why: There was such a fantastic cast of characters that it is so hard to tell. Aside from Amelia and Graham, I loved Nemo and Mrs. Bap. Nemo was an adorable child, and Mrs. Bap’s wisdom and positive outlook were the perfect addition to the story.
Who would like this? I recommend this book for fans of Gothic romances, Frankenstein, obscure history, and deep truths discovered during trying circumstances.
Rating and Why: Five stars. This story was amazingly written, intense, and impactful. It will live in my mind for a long time to come, and I will be rereading it when I have some free time in my reading schedule.
I’d heard A LOT about Mimi Matthews books from many of my writer friends, and when I saw a freebie go up, I decided to give her a try. I will say, I didn’t realize that she wasn’t specifically Christian Fiction, and she was pretty heavy on the “steamy” side of romance while still keeping a closed-door and never having anything occur between unmarried couples. While I’d still classify it as clean romance, it might be a little spicier than some are used to or willing to read. I had no problems with it, but felt I should warn others since it took me so off guard when I first read it. Also, there is some cussing.
This Regency romance had a bit of a Beauty and the Beast feel to it with the hero being a wounded war veteran turned recluse and she seeing past all of that. I enjoyed the conniving little sister who worked hard to get Sylvia to visit her brother and rescue him from the dangerous hold of depression. The miscommunication of the past between Sylvia and Sebastian took only a conversation to solve, but the wounds of the past made it believably difficult to accomplish. I really enjoyed how Miss Matthews brought everything into its right and happy conclusion.
I recommend this book for fans of Regency-era novels that are clean but contain scenes that aren’t as chaste as holding hands or pecks on the cheek. Fans of beauty and the beast type stories, second chance love, epistolary romances, and characters with strong internal struggles.
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Plot Overview:
A Proud Beauty
When the tragic death of her gamester father leaves her destitute and alone, society beauty Sylvia Stafford finds work as a governess in a merchant’s household in Cheapside. Isolated from the fashionable acquaintance of her youth, she resigns herself to lonely spinsterhood…until a mysterious visitor convinces her to temporarily return to her former life–and her former love.
A Scarred Beast
Colonel Sebastian Conrad is no longer the dashing cavalry officer Sylvia once fell in love with. Badly scarred during the Sepoy Rebellion, he has withdrawn to his estate in rural Hertfordshire where he lives in near complete seclusion. Brooding and tormented, he cares nothing for the earldom he has inherited–and even less for the faithless beauty who rejected him three years before.
A Second Chance
A week together in the remote Victorian countryside is the last thing either of them ever wanted. But when fate intervenes to reunite them, will a beastly earl and an impoverished beauty finally find their happily-ever-after? Or are some fairy-tale endings simply not meant to be?
What I loved: How well the wounds were played out in each character’s individual story, and how they really drove character action.
Favorite Character and Why: I love how the sister did what she had to in order to get Sylvia to go to her brother and then convinced her to stay when things did not go as expected.
Who would like this? I recommend this book for fans of Regency-era novels that are clean, but contain scenes that aren’t as chaste as holding hands or pecks on the cheek. Fans of beauty and the beast type stories, second chance love, epistolary romances, and characters with strong internal struggles.
Rating and Why: Five stars. The writing was everything I was told to expect (except a little steamier) and very well done.
Welcome to the tenth month of the Unlocking the Past 2021 Reading Challenge. This month focused on WWII, and my choice of story was The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander. Once you read my review, don’t forget to comment to be entered for your chance to win a copy.
*Want more interaction and/or suggestions each month? Join the Facebook Group. Want a bookmark with the monthly themes? Fill out this Google Form.*
The Cryptographer’s Dilemma
by Johnnie Alexander
STARS
I ended up listening to the audiobook of this story as reading has been shoved to the recesses of driving time, cooking, dishes, and laundry. I thought the narrator did a fine job, although sometimes the voices she used struck a nerve.
As for the book itself, I loved diving into the world of the FBI during WWII and cryptography. I was fascinated by how much I learned through the story, and even some of the twists and turns I hadn’t expected. I was slightly confused at the end with how some things connected, but I didn’t read back through to see if I just missed something. Overall, the story was a joy to read and to learn about aspects of WWII I had not previously been familiar with. The hero and heroine were delightful, the romance sweet and believable, and the plot intriguing. Readers of historical romance will enjoy the journey and the details of a world gone by, and a time in history when “loose lips sinks ships.”
I recommend this book to fans of WWII stories, stories with well-researched historical details, plots of intrigue and espionage, and romance that blooms through adversity.
Genre: Historical Romance, USA, 1942
Plot Overview:
A Code Developer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head oversees when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded defense coordinates related to dolls should be easy, but not so when the Japanese Consulate gets involved, hearts get entangled, and Phillip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?
What I loved: The behind-the-scenes peek at following an investigation and cryptography. There were some great scenes of action, and I always love a good spy story.
Favorite Character and Why: I really enjoyed Eloise. She was a bright woman with the insecurities that many of us face. She was easy to identify with.
Who would like this? I recommend this book to fans of WWII stories, stories with well-researched historical details, plots of intrigue and espionage, and romance that blooms through adversity.
Rating and Why: Four stars. There were lots of great things I enjoyed about the story. However, there were bits of the ending that didn’t quite lineup for me. That may change with a second reading.
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month and you will also be entered into the year-end giveaway of all 12 books reviewed. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on November 7th at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced don’t the Rafflecopter widget. *Open to all residents of the contiguous USA, legally able to enter, and an e-book format or Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to those outside that range who are legally able to enter.
While I typically only read Christian Fiction, at the recommendation of some readers here and elsewhere, I have begun looking into some clean historical romance when the ebooks are free to download. The Captain’s Confidant is one of those I downloaded for free and picked up off my Kindle when stuck at an extra-long doctor’s appointment. For complete transparency, this book is completely clean but lacks a spiritual growth element, so if that is a non-negotiable for you, there are tons of other Regency-era Christian Fiction you can read.
I was pleasantly surprised by The Captain’s Confidant. There were a significant number of flashbacks, something I don’t usually care for, but they were managed well and felt crucial to the story. It especially helped me to understand why the heroine, Bridget Northcott, refused to fall in love with anyone else other than the hero, even though he’d only been the childhood companion of her brothers and had gone off to sea years ago. Initially, her reason for turning down suitors felt childish to me, but I quickly came to see how the idolization of the man led her to make those decisions. And while there wasn’t a specific spiritual thread, I did appreciate Newbold’s showing Bridget’s growth of overcoming her idolization and growing to appreciate the hero (Colin Foster) for the man he was and not the man she made him out to be in her head. Actually, both characters’ growth arcs were realistic and VERY well done.
As far as the romance goes, the forbidden love line was well managed and had unexpected twists that I really enjoyed. I loved the interaction between Colin and Bridget, the secret exchange of letters, the protective brother stepping in when necessary, and just how it all played out. The Captain’s Confidant was a sweet romance that has stuck with me, even weeks after having read it in a one-night binge. Sweet romances aren’t typically my preference. I tend to lean toward danger and suspense mixed in with my romance, but this book was exactly what I needed and could appreciate during a particularly stressful time. I will definitely be reading more stories from this author and series.
I recommend this book for fans of Regency romance, secret romances, forbidden love, clean reads, characters with strong growth arcs and believable challenges, and those who especially like love letters.
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Era, England
Plot Overview:
An accidental letter, a long-lost love, and a slew of secrets.
For as long as Bridget Northcott can remember, she has loved her brother’s closest friend, Colin Foster. She loved him long before he grew up, became Captain Foster, and long before he left her behind for a life at sea. Although she knows her feelings will never be returned, Bridget cannot help but turn away every suitor in the hopes that one day Colin will come back to Larkhall and see her for what she has grown up to be—refined, elegant, and the precise opposite of the silly girl he once knew.
When family circumstances bring Colin’s unexpected return, he too has changed. Once carefree, he is now cold, hard, and distant. Determined to unravel the mysteries of Captain Foster, Bridget writes her thoughts in a note, one she never meant to send. As a hesitant friendship grows between them through their letters, Bridget determines to keep her heart uninvolved. But when her facade begins to break, she realizes the childhood silliness she abandoned might just be precisely what is needed to pull him back to shore.
Faced with a choice between loyalty and selfishness, love and letting go, Bridget must find the strength to confide her own feelings in Captain Foster before the man she loved is lost forever. But there is only so much she can do when she discovers a match between them is what she has always feared—forbidden.
The Captain’s Confidant is a sweet and clean standalone regency romance novel, book two in the Larkhall Letters series.
What I loved: The characters struggles and their growth through trials. The romance they developed and the struggle to remain only as friends out of respect to family and other commitments really made it an interesting read.
Favorite Character and Why: While I loved both Bridget and Colin, I actually grew to love Tabitha–the villain of the story. I can’t explain why without exposing the story, but just know it has to do with how we come to know and understand her throughout the story.
Who would like this? I recommend this book for fans of Regency romance, secret romances, forbidden love, clean reads, characters with strong growth arcs and believable challenges, and those who especially like love letters.
Rating and Why: Five stars. I was truly impressed with the handling of the characters and their struggles. The struggles felt realistic even if at times I was skeptical–like how a childhood crush could cause a woman to decline suitors out of love to a man she hadn’t seen since her youth. Newbold did a fantastic job and I will be reading her other stories as well.
What about you? Do you read clean romance? What other titles would you recommend that are clean, but possibly not categorized as Christian Fiction specifically?
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