These Long Shadows ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for  

These Long Shadows by Jennifer Mistmorgan, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

These Long Shadows
On Victory's Wings #3
By Jennifer Mistmorgan 

Katie Baines made a mistake, but her friend Jonty Ables offered to rescue her with an offer of marriage. For Katie, it hid her pregnancy and offered her baby legitimacy. For Jonty, Katie wasn't sure what it offered him. But war was gripping the world, and she accepted the help he offered.

 

Two years later, the war in Europe was over, but Katie and Jonty are now facing a marriage that Katie views as being built on a lie. With her baby dead, Katie has not yet healed from the loss, and Jonty is left unsure how to help her. 

These Long Shadows finds Katie and Jonty trying to understand who they are now that the war has ended. But shadows from the past have scarred them both. How do you determine who you are, not only as a person, but as the other half of a married couple? Amid a country rebuilding, Jonty and Katie must do the same - rebuild their lives and their marriage, starting with the foundation. Some things are worth fighting for. This is a story of the heart and well worth reading. Though part of a series, this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone title. Perfect for fans of WW2 fiction, second chances, romance, and intrigue. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own

 

About the Book

Title: These Long Shadows
Series: On Victory's Wings #3
Author: Jennifer Mistmorgan
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Genre: Historical Romance WWII

How do they rebuild a marriage that wasn’t real in the first place? 

London, 1945: Two years ago, Jonty Ables married Katie Baines to save her and her unborn baby from shame. But now the war is all but over, the baby is gone and they must work out where their shaky marriage fits into lives irrevocably changed by war. 

Clinging to the memory of a time before all happiness evaporated, Katie works hard during the day as a seamstress. At night she comes home to a tiny terrace on a bomb-scarred street, crammed with her extended family and their problems. Years of estrangement sit between her and her recently demobilized husband. She’s not even sure she loves him, so why is she so crushed that he calls out another woman’s name in his sleep? 

Jonty is determined to honor the vows he made no matter how many ghosts now plague him, but with such separate lives his wife is more of a stranger than ever. When Katie’s friend goes missing, Jonty seizes the opportunity to help her find him just so they have a reason to talk. But the war casts long shadows over their efforts, and fighting for their future might just be the hardest battle of them all.  

If you love epic wartime romance with a dash of intrigue, you’ll love this second-chance, marriage-of-convenience love story.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | buy from the author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

 

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About the Author

Australian author Jennifer Mistmorgan sometimes feels like she was born in the wrong era. So she writes romantic historical fiction set in the 1940s, against the backdrop of WWII and its aftermath. She infuses her sweet romances with wartime drama, gentle faith and a dash of intrigue. She lives in Canberra with her family and a wonky-eared West Highland terrier.

Connect with Jennifer by visiting jennifermistmorgan.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card (US$)!

(5) additional winners will each receive an ebook bundle of all 3 books in the 

"On Victory's Wings" series!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 25, 2025, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 1, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Enchanting Thorns ~ Review

Enchanting Thorns: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Fairy Tales of Gallia #2
By Ashley Evercott

All Brie wants to do is prove herself to her family. Yeah, that doesn't happen, instead she discovers dangerous dark thorns consuming her world. But as the only human being to see the deadly darkness encroaching on her family's farm, she has zero credibility in her family's eyes. Then she learns that a curse is bleeding through from the fae world into hers. To save those she loves, she must break the curse.

 

Kiss the prince, break the curse, sounds easy, right? Yeah, not so much. All it does is wake Roran, a grumpy prince, who is put out that a human woke him. And now he is stuck with her, and she's trapped in the fae realm. Somehow the prince woke up, but the rest of the fae are still trapped in the curse and the portal between the realms is closed. 

 

These two, Brie and Roran must break the curse and maybe learn to work together. After a less than perfect first meeting that found these two more likely to argue than work on finding a cure for the curse. This is an original take on Sleeping Beauty.  A fun and imaginative story that won't be mistaken for the original Disney movie.  Join Brie and Roran as they step into the unknown to save their realms and those most dear to them.    

 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

About the Book:

A Kiss to Wake a Fae Prince, 

A Curse to Destroy the Realms

Brie has always been able to sense malicious auras, and when shadowy thorns consume the forest, she’s horrified to learn that no one else can see the danger threatening her home. Desperate for answers, Brie is summoned by an Enchanter, who reveals she is the only one to save the human world by breaking the spell of a sleeping fae prince–with a kiss.

Roran dreaded the day he would fall under his curse, knowing he would be bound in marriage to whoever woke him. However, nothing prepares him for a human stranger to kiss him awake, and to make matters worse, his entire kingdom is still trapped under the sleeping enchantment. Now bound to Brie, they must embark on a journey to track down the witch responsible for the curse.

Together, they face perilous dangers and unexpectedly find themselves drawn to each other through mysterious dreams. But if they don’t learn to trust one another, the curse will unravel their worlds like a waking nightmare.

Enchanting Thorns is a new adult Sleeping Beauty retelling and book two of the Fairy Tales of Gallia series. Although this story is set hundreds of years before book one, each book is a standalone novel within the same world. Perfect for readers who enjoy no-spice romance, slow burn, magic, and a cupful of angst. Happily ever after, guaranteed.

 

FREE Books until Midnight on Monday, March 24, 2025

 

FREE books!

 

That's right. I'm making two books free this weekend. Just because I can.

 

Do you like fantasy short stories? 

 

Then you'll want to try Tales of Wonder & Delight, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN286Q93 There are dragons, carnivals, and a hidden world within an attic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you prefer poetry, I'm also offering Gossamers & Wisps free this weekend https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKXJVDTT

 

 

 

 

That's right. You can purchase both books for $0.00 until midnight Pacific Time on Monday, March 24, 2025.

A Noble Friend ~ Review

A Noble Friend

Cornerstone #15

By Kendra E. Ardnek

Joah was abandoned when he was 7 years old. When he was first left on the Rowanshaw doorstep, Joah was raised as if he were a sibling to Charles, Anton, and Aloise. But once the brothers were sent away to school, Joah discovered his true place within the family: that of a servant. 

Since that time, he has devoted his life to being there for Lady Aloise Rowanshaw. However, the time has come for Aloise to get married. When Joah is assigned as her personal guard, the dynamics of their relationship shift once again. 

Joah is to be a silent sentinel, ready to give his life if need be, but never to address Aloise. There is just one little problem, Aloise asks him to share his insights on her potential suitors. Yes, that works so well when Aloise is instantly smitten with a suitor, whom Joah names Bluebeard.

This is when the Bluebeard retelling really becomes apparent. Overall, it is a good story. The more gruesome aspects of the original fairytale are omitted from the story, making it suitable for teen readers.

I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the Book:

He'll follow her to the ends of the earth, even as she marries another. But what happens when her husband proves to be a monster?

A Noble Friend is a New Adult Christian fantasy retelling of Bluebeard. 

Book #15 in the Cornerstone Series.

Waylaid ~ Review

Waylaid
Windy City Westons #1
By Jerusha Agen

Spring Weston is a rising star in the world of cycling, and she's determined to be the best. But when she learns the truth about the team she's on, she doesn't want anything to do with it. But before she can decide what she will do, her whole life is shattered. She's the victim of a hit-and-run accident. 

Spring is officially the Weston family failure. Her father's biggest disappointment. She'll never ride a bike again. No, she's trapped by her broken body. If only the driver had killer her, then she would have at least not been left to endure her father's disgust and the pity of others.

 

Sergeant Torin Cotter has let people down too many times. He knows the feeling of such failure. When he is asked to take over the investigation of Spring's case, something just feels off to him. He can tell Spring is holding something back and that she is scared. Torin will discover the truth and do all he can to help Spring. 

 

When his own past comes into play during his investigation, Spring may offer the only hope to overcome his pain. If only he could offer her the same. But he refuses to allow himself to connect with Spring. It's all about surviving until he learns the truth about his wife. 

 

When a killer comes after Spring, Torin is determined to protect her, while Spring is more concerned about anyone losing their lives for her.   

Waylaid is the first book in the Windy City Westons series. The Weston family siblings are focused on helping Spring overcome and conquer her depression over the fallout of the hit-and-run that left her paralyzed. I found it interesting how the family dynamics played out throughout this book. They had differences when it came to matters of faith, but they were all about loyalty to one another. No one messed with one of their own without the others rallying around them. The dynamics between the Westons came across as authentic and believable. This was an excellent and engaging read that kept me up way too late reading. The suspense was way too tempting. I wanted to know who and why, and it was definitely not what I was expecting.

 

I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the Book:

Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job.

Spring Weston will do anything to rise in the ranks of pro cycling and prove she isn’t the one failure of the five Weston siblings. Anything except cheat. When she learns of doping on her cycling team, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But she can’t if she’s dead.

Sergeant Torin Cotter may not be the hero the public thinks he is, but he recognizes fear when he sees it. When he takes over the investigation of the collision that landed Spring in the hospital, he’s compelled to protect her from whatever danger she’s in, even though he knows he might fail. Again.

Spring’s faith in God isn’t enough to help her face the living nightmare she awakened to after the accident. But neither she nor the handsome sergeant see the greater threat that’s coming until it’s too late.

If they’re going to survive, Spring and Torin will not only have to confront their worst fears—they’ll have to find a reason to live.

 

Rosalyn and the Wolf ~ Review

Rosalyn and the Wolf: A Regency Retelling
Once in a Wood #2
By Sienna Peake

This is a sweet Little Red Riding Hood-inspired retelling within a Regency setting. Rosalyn Lennox is expected to marry well. Her parents favor a certain young man, but Rosalyn isn't so sure. In their youth, George Foster was a bully and was best avoided. He has changed, maybe.

Four years ago, Jasper Wooldridge was sent away to join the navy. But the time has left a darkness in his being. Only when he spends time with his childhood friend does the darkness lift. Rosalyn brings back some of the lightness of his youth, but he fears the duties of war have made him unsuitable to pursue her hand. With her parents partial to his childhood nemesis, he knows he cannot win her heart. 

This book has elements from the original fairy tale but presents them in such a way that this story is original. This was an easy read and one that can be enjoyed over a weekend. There are a few tense scenes but nothing to take away from the sweet, clean aspects of the rest of the book. This is a friends-to-something-more, feel-good read that is appropriate for tweens and up, in my opinion. It's less scary than the original tale!

I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

What if the wolf wasn't the problem?
Rosalyn Lennox wants nothing more than to please her parents and stay close to home until her childhood friend returns from the navy and makes her question everything she thought she needed in a match.

Jasper Wooldridge is back after four long years at sea, scarred by the realities of warfare and hoping only for a bit of respite until he reconnects with his dearest childhood friend and begins hoping for more.

When an unwanted proposal and a call back to sea interrupt their reunion, will Rosalyn and Jasper find a way to come together?


Rosalyn and the Wolf is a sweet, clean Regency romance inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. It is the second book in the Regency fairy tale retellings series Once in a Wood. The books in the series may be enjoyed in any order.


Once in a Wood series--Where fairy tale forests meet Regency romance

Pearl and the Baker - inspired by Hansel & Gretel

Rosalyn and the Wolf - inspired by Little Red Riding Hood

Guinevere and the Three Brothers - inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Hannah and the Nightingale - inspired by The Nightingale

Cover Reveal for Golden Lotus

 Today, I'm thrilled to share the cover reveal for my upcoming book
Golden Lotus. This is one of seven books in a multi-author collection
titled A Garden of Fairy Tales.

Golden Lotus is a retelling of the Little Mermaid with some elements
from the Winter Fairy and the Legend of the Frozen Lake.
The ebook is currently available for preorder for $0.99.

There will be a paperback and hardcover edition too. The hardcover will have an
exclusive cover that is just so pretty.

But I know that you're here for the cover reveals.

First, here is the eBook/Paperback cover.

 

 

This cover was created by follow author Kendra E. Ardnek
who is creating all the eBook/Paperback covers.

 

Now for the hardcover cover reveal, which I will
admit I designed. 

 

 

I confess I found designing this cover
to be as enjoyable as writing the book.

 

The release date is May 9, 2025!

Preorder ebook at https://amazon.com/dp/B0DQM5K88W