This is a little different from the reviews I typically do as it a children’s book, but since it is a fairy tale, I thought it fit well with the historical fiction focus.
I have two sons, ages ten and fourteen, and decided to read one chapter a night to them before bed. Honestly, I was afraid they’d stick their noses up in the air and Mom would be forced to go sulk and read it alone. But they enjoyed it! Even begged each night to read more than one chapter. For this momma who realizes her days forming these sort or memories are numbered, it was something I deeply treasured. At one point in the fight scene, they grabbed their toy swords and fought each other while I read.
The story was exciting as it followed the traditional fairy tale form. You have the monstrous villain, the brave hero, and the damsel in distress. The knight was a great example in doing what is right without expectation of reward because it is the right thing to do, and the princess was smart and compassionate. Of course, you can’t have a fairy tale without some sort of battle with good vs. evil. As I stated earlier, that was my boys’ favorite part.
It is definitely a story to read aloud, as the vocabulary is a little high level for young readers. I’d put it somewhere near a middle school level, but even if the younger readers don’t know the exact meaning, they can still greatly enjoy the story.
Even though I was provided a digital copy by the author/publisher, I’ve decided to purchase a hardcover copy. It is a story I hope to pull out on occasion and read to them, and perhaps one day, to my grandchildren.
Is it worth it to pay the higher price of a hardcover picture book? Yes. The pictures were simple in design but colorful and complemented the story well. The story itself was enjoyable and something I look forward to reading with my boys again… this time not from my tiny phone screen.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher. It in no way influenced my opinion as given above.*
Blurb from Amazon
Lord Tempesto is a snake in every sense. As a human, he is slimy, deceitful, and manipulative, but when he’s denied what he wants, he transforms into a gigantic, powerful snake. He wants nothing more than to rule the kingdom himself, and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Princess Melina is meant to rule her father’s kingdom someday, but she doesn’t want to do it alone. However, the search for a noble suitor brings a monster to the palace gates. When monster Lord Tempesto captures her and threatens to devour her beloved kingdom if she doesn’t marry him, she has no choice but to submit to the repulsive monster’s demands.
James, the son of a knight, hears about Princess Melina’s plight and sets out on the long journey to rescue her. But his own skills aren’t enough to win the fight against such a ruthless, powerful monster, and it takes teamwork between the captive and her rescuer to save the kingdom from the monster for good.
The Knight in Battered Armor shows children of all ages the importance of doing what is right no matter what and not being afraid to protect what is most important.
Welcome to the blog tour and giveaway for The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Hi guys! This is my first Review tour for JustRead Publicity Tours, but you will find my review is just the same. There is a GIVEAWAY associated with this review so please read through to the bottom and feel free to follow all the other review posts for the Accidental Guardian on other blogs that will be going up every day for the next two weeks.
On to the Review!
The Accidental Guardian
by Mary Connealy
Genre:Â Historical Romance, 1867 – Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Plot Overview:Â Deb is the only eye-witness of a wagon train attack that left her and her sister responsible for two young children in the mountains of Nevada as winter sets in. With no other choice, she must rely on Trace, a stranger known as the Guardian, to get them to safety and protect them from the dangers of winter and the criminals still on the loose.
What I loved:Â I enjoyed the humor of a situation where a man who’d been on his own in the wilderness since he was fifteen is thrown into caring for two women and two young children. He seems adept at is while still bumbling and suffering through several funny challenges of early morning potty screams and how to talk to women.
Favorite Character:Â I enjoyed all the characters, but to be honest, Wolf was my favorite. Half wolf, half domesticated dog, he is quite the companion for Trace and his wards. He can go from determined defender to puddle of goo begging for a belly rub at any moment. I love how he had his own personality.
Who would like this:Â Anyone who enjoys stories of survival in harsh conditions, stories of justice, light romance, light danger, and adventure.
Rating and Why:Â I gave this a four-star rating because for me the pacing felt slow compared to her other stories. It was an enjoyable read, but it took until the last quarter of the book before the danger became evident and built up the tension. The romantic tension was light, and the motivations for the characters were okay, but it just didn’t pull me in like some of her other stories. This is still a story I would recommend to others to read and I will enjoy reading the rest of this series.
Disclaimer:Â I received a free copy of this book from the publisher/author. I was in no way required to leave a review, and the above review is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Accidental Guardian Series: High Sierra Sweethearts, Book 1 Author: Mary Connealy Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Release Date: April 3, 2018 Genre: Historical Romance / Western +To Read:Goodreads
She’s the Only Witness to a Wagon Train Attack. Keeping Her Safe, Though, Means His World Is about to be Turned Upside Down.
When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he’s finally carved out a home and started a herd–while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He’d hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.
Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling–yet enticing.
Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter–but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.
The next book in the series, THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR will be released later this year in October, 2018!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
The Cimarron Legacy by Mary Connealy (all 3 print books)
The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy (print)
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Title: The Accidental Guardian
