by Crystal Caudill | Apr 9, 2019 | Book Reviews
The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep
I finally had time to dig into my older books TBR pile and pulled out a favorite author. This was another great one. Michelle took the marriage of convenience trope and flipped it on its head in a satisfying way.
Genre: Historical Romance, American Frontier, 1770
Plot Overview:
The wild American wilderness is no place for an elegant English governess
On the run from a brute of an aristocratic employer, Eleanor Morgan escapes from England to America, the land of the free, for the opportunity to serve an upstanding Charles Town family. But freedom is hard to come by as an indentured servant, and downright impossible when she’s forced to agree to an even harsher contract—marriage to a man she’s never met.
Backwoodsman Samuel Heath doesn’t care what others think of him—but his young daughter’s upbringing matters very much. The life of a trapper in the Carolina backcountry is no life for a small girl, but neither is abandoning his child to another family. He decides it’s time to marry again, but that proves to be an impossible task. Who wants to wed a murderer?
Both Samuel and Eleanor are survivors, facing down the threat of war, betrayal, and divided loyalties that could cost them everything, but this time they must face their biggest challenge ever . . .Love.
What I loved: Historical details are always a favorite of mine, and I really loved how the complexities of frontier life were displayed, especially for the heroine. To change from the pampered life of England to the comparably savage struggle of the frontier was fun to live through. I learned so much, and of course, I loved the romance. The struggle between the two to learn to love and trust each other was a slow thing, like a stew cooked to perfection takes hours and hours. Love is not rushed and I really enjoy that.
Favorite Character and Why: Samuel definitely won me over. He was a complex character, a puzzle to be figured out. He was both a man you loved and accepted as imperfect. He was real.
Who would like this? Anyone who loves frontier stories, romance, action, and danger. Also, if you love marriages of convenience, this is a fun story that breaks some of the molds.
Rating and Why: Four and a half. Michelle continues to be one of my favorite authors, and this story is no different. I will certainly be reading this one again. Her details were fantastic, the plot great, and the romantic tension consistent all the way to the end.
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon Barnes and Noble Christianbook.com
by Crystal Caudill | Feb 26, 2019 | Book Reviews
The White City by Grace Hitchcock
Ya’ll, this book is one of those rare six-star gems. It was one of those books that I struggled with deciding to devour or force myself to slow down and relish every detail. This book is exactly what my little heart has been dreaming of for the Christian market and has been so difficult to find.
The danger, suspense, romance, AND history are combined in such an utterly wonderful story that I can only think of one or two books that have done it as well as in the past. Though there was not a huge “spiritual” thread as Christian authors are so often encouraged to promote, Grace managed to lace God in with a deft hand. This is going on my forever, read repeatedly, give as gifts, and force everyone I know to read pile.
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense (YES!!! IT’S FINALLY A REAL THING!!!!) World’s Fair, Chicago, 1893
Plot Overview:
While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as an exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for a bodyguard.
Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?
What I loved: Holy cow! What did I not love? I loved FINALLY having the satisfaction of a suspenseful book with a historical setting. I loved the romantic tension, the historical details, a serial killer on the loose, mystery, danger… Yeah, I could ramble forever.
Favorite Character and Why: It’s a tie between Winnifred and Jude. I love her spunk, determination, and bravery. Jude is absolutely swoon-worthy. A family man, caring, and protective.
Who would like this? Absolutely anyone who loves romantic suspense, especially those who love historical romance but have been craving a little more danger and suspense in the writing. If you have any fascination with true crime stories, this is a GREAT story with one of my favorite true crimes in history.
Rating and Why: SIX STARS!!!!! The writing was great, the spiritual touch light but impactful, the historical details AMAZING, and the storyline something I have been craving since I first started reading Christian Fiction. It is a rare gem, that hopefully the beginning of a new trend.
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. The above opinions are my own and are in no way influenced.*
PURCHASE LINKS (YES, I COMMAND YOU, GO BUY IT RIGHT NOW!!!!)
Amazon Barnes and Noble Christianbook.com
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 28, 2018 | Book Reviews
A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden
This is my first book from Elizabeth Camden, though my friend has suggested her for years. Since my library had the audiobook, I listened to it during the driving portions of a writing conference road trip.
Let me say it was everything I expected and more. Elizabeth’s Camden’s attention to historical detail is phenomenal and makes me want to go back and better enrich my own writing with that sort of details. I learned so much just through reading the story.
The plotline was believable, exciting, and kept twisting and turning. I can’t tell you how many times I squealed aloud in my car. Drivers around me were probably wondering what had gotten into me.
The spiritual elements in A Dangerous Legacy were quieter than you find in a lot of Christian fiction, but they were still profound.
Overall, I am looking forward to exploring more of her books.
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, New York City, 1903
Overview of Plot:
Lucy Drake is the third generation of Manhattan Drakes to fight a legal battle with the Saratoga Drakes over a plumbing valve that allowed tall buildings to have pressurized water all the way to the top of the buildings. But the Saratoga Drakes don’t play fair. Lucy is a top telegrapher for the Associated Press and in a dangerous game to stay on top of the lawsuit, plots and schemes unfold that have a national importance.
Sir Collin Beckwith works for the AP’s rival and reluctant partner, Reuters. He and Lucy are brought together through circumstances and form a partnership that puts them both in danger of losing their lives and their hearts.
Favorite Character and Why:
Lucy was a determined woman who doesn’t give up no matter the odds and the heart behind her actions makes all that she does so much more important. She makes hard decisions and grows so much. My favorite part about Lucy is her spunk.
What I liked:
I love complex stories and this plot definitely had multi-layers of complexity. The rich historical details were above and beyond amazing.
Who would like this:
Anyone who loves stories with great historical detail, suspense, love, and complexity.
Amazon blurb:
“Lucy Drake’s mastery of Morse code has made her a valuable asset to the American news agencies as a telegrapher. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Newly arrived from London, Colin is talented, handsome, and insufferably charming.
Despite their rivalry, Lucy realizes Colin’s connections could be just what her family needs to turn the tide of their long legal battle over the fortune they were swindled out of forty years ago. When she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, neither of them realizes how far the web of treachery they’re wading into will take them.”
Links for Purchase:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Christianbook.com
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 13, 2018 | Writer's Life
Authors are unique creatures. They live in dark caves and talk to people that don’t exist in the physical world. Once in a while, they emerge into the light, blinking and searching for a cup of Starbucks and a handful of chocolate.
They spend months, sometimes years, writing stories that leave you wondering where the day went and how you could be so distraught to end a journey with people that never existed. They want you to get lost in a book. To become the characters that have haunted their heads until they bled them onto paper.
More than anything, authors want you to be touched by the story and given the opportunity grow into a better person. Why? Because the best authors aren’t just invested in their book, they are invested in you.
Today I want to give you some ways you can encourage the author’s you read and none of it costs any money, just a little bit of your time.
10 Ways to Encourage an Author:
1. Make memes from quotes in the story.
Everyone loves a good meme, and authors are no different. It is fun to see what quotes stuck out to you. We love and appreciate them because we know it takes time, and time is a precious gift. (Plus they are a great way to spread the word.)
2. Write a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GoodReads, and Christianbook.com.
They don’t have to be long, just a few words saying you liked the book. All these wonderful places work on algorithms that take into account the number of reviews a book has before they suggest them to other readers. Publishers also take into consideration these numbers when considering contracting them for another book. It is a great way to help an author.
3. Ask your library to order a copy of the book.
You don’t have to buy the book yourself. Order it from the library and get your friends to read it, too.
4. Talk about the books with your friends and on social media.
Word of mouth is still the #1 way a person hears about a book and decides if it is worth looking into.
5. Take a picture of you with the book and share it to the author’s social media page.
We love to see our readers. It gives us a face and makes us smile.
6. Write a note to an author.
Just even writing a simple message on Facebook to the author can make the worst writing day into a good one. Think they are too busy or don’t want to hear from you, the majority are dreaming of the day they hear from a reader. A lot of authors I know keep these notes in files on their computer to go back to and read. Just like getting a note in the mail from someone you know makes you happy, authors love to hear from readers.
7. Add their book to your Good Reads list or Listopia.
Other readers love these sites and look to them for the next good read. It is another opportunity for word of mouth, and it doesn’t take long at all.
8. Follow them on social media.
There is a certain aspect of numbers when submitting proposals to agents and publishers, but authors really just want to interact with other readers and writers. We are people, too, with regular lives and struggles.
9. Sign up and read our newsletters.
Don’t sign up if you don’t want to, but it always makes me feel good when someone wants to know about my writing life, family struggles, and other author life goings-on.
10. Pray for them.
At least in the Christian market, most authors I know are doing this for you and to serve God. It is a hard, lonely road that takes many tolls. We covet prayers. Sending a prayer via email, messenger, or even posting it to a page, is just about the best encouragement a soul can receive.
What are some other ways you support authors? Do you have any ideas on how to encourage them? Any experiences you would like to share? I challenge you today to pick one of the ten things above and encourage an author you know. You never know what a difference a little bit of time can make to them.
