The Shifter and The Mage ~ Available Now

The Shifter and the Mage

The Intertwined Tales

By Lucy Winton

Shyla Merrigan is anticipating an apprenticeship that will bring her one step closer to becoming a King's Mage. But her connection to her brother-in-law has tainted her and an apprenticeship is not offered to her. She is understandably unhappy and disappointed. And she is angry, so angry that she agrees to kill a lindenworm. 

Andriel can shift between his two forms as a man and a thrush and requests Shyla's help with getting rid of the lindenworm. They will travel together, pretending to be married for Shyla's protection. This is the chance Shyla needs to try to get the apprenticeship she was denied so she agrees.

As Shyla and Andriel travel and work to provide for their food and lodging a friendship forms. But Shyla senses that Andriel is hiding something, something that keeps her from totally trusting him. But she can't command her heart or her feelings in regards to her brother-in-law Alarick or Adriel. And then there is the linden worm she has agreed to rid the region of.

This was an interesting twist on the world of fairy tale retellings of King Thrushbeard and Little Wildrose. For those wondering there is magic involved. A given with the title. The romance is light and clean. This is story of growth and discovery, as Shyla comes to terms with various situations in her life, situations that she has no control over and yet has to live with the outcome.

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 mage with a temper. A shapeshifter with a secret. A fake marriage that starts to feel real. Shyla Merrigan wants to become a King's Mage, but after graduating from the Academy she is told she will not be starting an apprenticeship as she'd thought. If that wasn't bad enough, she is invited to attend a party hosted by Alarick of the Wolves, the brother-in-law she despises. When she hears that Alarick is planning to marry her off, she lashes out in a rage and storms away from the banquet. On encountering Adriel, a young man with the ability to turn into a thrush, she discovers there is a lindenworm troubling his home. If Shyla kills the lindenworm, she may have a chance of becoming a King's Mage after all. Adriel offers to be her guide. He also suggests they pretend to be married to protect her reputation. Shyla agrees without hesitation, but as they travel together she begins to suspect Adriel is not who she thinks he is. Worse, she might be starting to develop feelings for him. She must decide which is more dangerous: fighting a monster, or losing her heart to someone who could destroy it. The Intertwined Tales is a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each novella entwines a famous fairy tale with a lesser-known story to create one happily ever after. These standalone stories can be enjoyed in any order.

A Lady Most Isolated ~ Review

A Lady Most Isolated

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Heloise C. Kensington

Arabella's has been hidden away from everyone and everything. Her guardian has kept her very existence a secret from all but her most trusted servants. Years have passed with little hope for friendship or marriage. That is until Charles Fairfax is sent to the family's estate in Dorsetshire at his uncle's request. 

Charles never expected to find a young lady hidden away. When he sent back to address a neglect an unusual friendship is formed. A friendship forbidden considering Arabella's seclusion, yet one that is needed by both.

I love this meshing of fairytales with Regency settings. It is a fresh and totally unique story that captivates one's attention. I have no qualms about recommending this book to teen and adult readers.

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 tower by the sea.

An unexpected attachment.

A lie capable of devastating the future.

Hidden away by her guardian, Arabella Stewart longs for the chance to experience society and dreams of finding friendship. When company arrives, being forced to live in a tower destroys her prospects.

Sent to an estate on the Dorsetshire coast at his uncle’s behest, Charles Fairfax is relieved to avoid London’s matrimonial traps. When he discovers a maiden in a tower, he begins to reconsider his reluctance to marry.

When a forbidden friendship between them grows into more, will they be able to free themselves from the constraints that bind them? Or will disapproval and deceit confine their hopes?

A Noble Match ~ Available Now

A Noble Match

Cornerstone Series #2

By Kirsten Fitcher

Miette was never suppose to rule a country, but when her older brother is murdered by rebels, the duties of ruling are guaranteed. But how can she, the insignificant little sister to the beloved crown prince, take over a roll she had never prepared for? And now the Marriage Council is pressuring her to wed sooner rather than later. And her choice must be from among the nobles of Barlencoy. Her opinions on the matter don't matter, she must accepts one of the noble's suits.

Miette would much rather put off the decision and spend time studying her butterflies. But when whispers of another rebel uprising dictate her life. When the threats come closer still her late brother's friend Gavin Vollo is assigned as her personal guard. Gavin is the best person for the job in Miette's opinion. If only Gavin would speak of her brother it would be perfect. 

Gavin would rather be anywhere else. Miette brings up the pain of Cassoway's death and Gavin's guilt. He should have prevented it. Now he is left with the guilt and a broken spirit. But Miette isn't easily persuaded and soon Gavin finds himself with a front row seat to the totally inappropriate suitors brought forward. He knows what Cassoway would do if her were still alive. But Gavin is a common blood man. Just being a guard for the royal family is highly irregular.

When an attack nearly succeeds Gavin and Miette must look deep and decide what they will do and where their loyalties truly lie. Will Barlencoy be divided forever or will their actions unite the factions into a restored kingdom?

A Noble Match is the second book in the Cornerstone Series. This was a lovely and enjoyable read that is based on Thumbelina. There is no magic involved in this story. There is some interesting technology employed by the guards that proves pivotal in this book. The divide between the social classes is disheartening but it provides Miette with moments of growth throughout the book as she grows into her role as queen. I would recommend this book for preteens and older with no qualms concerning content.

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

About the Book:

Can one sparrow protect Thumbelina from suitors and rebels?

As the little sister to the crown prince, Miette was never meant to be in a position of power. When her brother Cassoway dies, the kingdom of Barlencoy suddenly becomes her most unwelcome gift. The land is torn apart by the classes, and rebellion boils at her doorstep. War is looming, and no one seems afraid of it. The kingdom may be hers, but she has no voice to quieten the tremors that threaten to tear everything she knows and loves apart.

But a marriage also looms on the horizon. With rebels after her head, it’s difficult to focus on the suitors after her heart. Miette knows she must choose a husband soon, but how can she when her heart secretly yearns for her brother’s best friend? Gavin Vollo is the perfect match in her eyes, but his common blood disqualifies him as a suitor.

Moving forward after Cassoway’s passing has been no easy task for Gavin. Especially since the prince’s death is his own fault. With his best friend gone, Gavin is a bodyguard without a real purpose. He doesn’t understand why the prince had to die – just like he doesn’t understand why the royal force wants him back to guard the new queen.

Can love and true joy bring peace, or will the kingdom break beyond recovery?

A Noble Match is a New Adult Christian fantasy Thumbelina retelling and is Book #2 in the Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone.

About the Author:

Kirsten Fichter is a Christian writer who loves dragons, thick books, and a little coffee with her creamer. She’s married to her best friend, and she spends her day homeschooling and chasing after their four free-range children. When she doesn’t feel like sleeping, she writes.

 
Fairytales have always fascinated her, and she has made it her goal to rewrite as many as possible and become known as the "Grimm Dickens" (i.e. mixing Grimm fairytales with a Dickens style). She is present in many online circles under the name "Kiri Liz" if you care about things like that. As you read this, she'll be somewhere under a maple tree - trying very hard to finish the seventeen and half other stories she unwisely started all at once.

A Lady Most Intrigued ~ Now Available

A Lady Most Intrigued

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Jenni Ward 

This was as intriguing a read as the title indicates. Hannah Sheppard doesn't fit the mold her mother tries to force her into. It is this very non-conformity that brings about her meeting with John Ingham. Falling into a pond while in a ball gown is not best way to meet a man but it is what it is. And she did drop the forbidden golden ball in the water. John agreed to come back and find it for her. John has always longed for more than the life of a cotton mill worker. But he needs the pay to support his mother. Then, the workers organize a strike, demanding better pay and better work conditions. The potential hardships of a strike allow John and Hannah the opportunity for more interactions. Hannah uses this unexpected opportunity to seek answers. Answers she could never expect to get from her mother. I really enjoyed this book, which is based on The Frog Prince and has elements involving the cotton mill industry, which brought to mind Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. The weaving together of these vastly different pieces was expertly done to create a unique and enjoyable story with romance, mystery, and a proper villain. I highly recommend this newest Grimm Regency tale, which was most delightful. I was provided an advance copy of this title with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion.All thoughts expressed are my own.

A Forbidden Love.

A Hidden Inheritance.

A Truth That Could Cost Them Everything.

Hannah Sheppard yearns for more than the stifling expectations of Regency society. Duty, and her mother, demand she marry a man of wealth and status. Then, she meets John.

John Ingham dreams of a life beyond the harsh realities of working in a mill. When he rescues a lady from the lake at Frogmere Manor, he never expects their paths to cross again.

But fate has other plans, entwining their lives through a mysterious family heirloom that unlocks a long-buried secret. But a ruthless enemy lurks in the shadows, willing to silence them forever to keep the past buried.

Can their bond withstand the weight of a legacy built on lies, or will the cost of unravelling the truth be too high to pay?

A captivating sweet Regency romance set amongst the cotton mills of Lancashire and filled with heart-stopping twists, memorable characters, and a love that dares to defy the rules.


This series reimagines classic Grimm Brother tales as Regency romances. Sit back, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy these stories of sweet romance and loveable characters.

A Noble Purpose ~ Available Now

A Noble Purpose

Cornerstone Series #1

By Laurie Lucking

Princess Verena is twenty-five years old and has no desire to marry. But her father has decided that the time has come for her to marry and not be an embarrassment to the family. The embarrassment comes from the fact that she shows no joy or enjoyment in anything. The first man to make Verena laugh will be her husband and the future king. Can anyone see the problem with this? Obviously, the king cannot.

Princess Liesel is not going to sit around and do nothing. She will do anything to help Verena return to the person she once was. Even track down a guard who is stationed far away. If he could make her sister smile and laugh, he may be able to do so again.

Liesel sets out to find the one man who might bring her sister happiness. But the journey is not easy. There are unexpected dangers that Liesel, her maid, and her ever-faithful guard must overcome just to find Sir Jonas. Can they convince him to return with them?

Now, this was a lovely story about the bonds of sisterly affection. I also found it interesting how Verena's father felt she needed to be fixed because of a personality difference. As someone with a different personality from the rest of my family, I know that comments like, "I don't know where that comes from." or "Well, I always react such-and-such way." can be hurtful. So I'm sure her father's comments about her more solemn personality were not helpful, based on her reactions. I loved how Liesel accepted her sister's opposing personality.

This is an easy and satisfying read. It is acceptable content-wise for all readers over twelve. This was a sweet retelling of Hans, Who Made the Princess Laugh, and the first book in the multi-author Cornerstone series.

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:

To help her miserable sister, Princess Liesel must survive the elements, danger…and her grumpy guard.

Princess Liesel’s older sister, Verena, hasn’t smiled in years. Desperate to improve her low spirits, the king declares that the man who can make Verena laugh will earn her hand in marriage.

But his plan seems doomed to failure from the start. Each unsuccessful attempt only makes Verena more despondent, and a set of mysterious masked suitors raises suspicions about a plot by an enemy prince. When Liesel discovers her sister still harbors feelings for a guard who was sent away years before, she embarks on a desperate quest to find him, both for the sake of Verena’s future happiness and their kingdom’s safety.

As increasingly dangerous challenges hinder Liesel’s journey, she begins to wonder if they’re more than coincidence. Will she and her travel companions even make it to Verena’s former guard, let alone convince him to return with them?

With each impediment drawing her closer to her own surly knight, more than just her sister’s happily-ever-after may be hanging in the balance.

A Noble Purpose is a New Adult Christian fantasy Hans, Who Made the Princess Laugh retelling and is Book #1 in the Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone.

Curse of Silence ~ Available Now

Curse of Silence

The Roumaterra Chronicles #3.5

By Erin Halbmaier 

Daphne as the eldest daughter has been given the duty of spy. To aid her in this undertaking she becomes the possessor of the family's handlerchief. 

Yes, I heard you. This no ordinary handkerchief. No, this one has a special power. It allows the bearer to assume another's identity. 

Unfortunately, a servant observed this little bit of subterfuge in reverse. And said servant usurped Daphne as "princess."

Now said usurper is trying get all helpful and get "Princess Daphne" engaged to a prince. Sigh!

With her voice gone and abandoned to fend for herself, Daphne manages to get hired to tend a baron's sheep. No one knows who she is! 

When her best friend, Raoul is forced from fake Daphne's side along with her ever faithful dog, Daphne just might have a chance. Now she must convince Raoul tat she is the true princess. She just cannot print it or write it out thank you very much curse. Silent scream of frustration.

This was one of those books that kept me turning the page. I had to know what happened next. Snowball effect, and ended up reading into the no-so-wee hours of the morning. But it was SO worth it. This is an excellent and engaging Goose Girl retelling. 

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 princess with a magic handkerchief. A flirtatious baron’s son. The maid who turned their world upside down.

As the possessor of her family’s handkerchief, Princess Daphne should be uncovering the truth behind her father’s murder. But she lacks confidence as a spy, and her mother is sending her off to a neighboring kingdom to look for a husband. It means months lost from her mission, but at least her faithful dog and best friend will be with her.

Raoul has been Daphne’s best friend since they were children. But she always laughs off his attempts to confess deeper feelings, and now his father has given him an ultimatum. She’s always been out of his reach, but if Raoul can’t change her mind in the next six months, he’ll lose what little chance he had.

When a kitchen maid catches Daphne alone, she steals the handkerchief and uses it to swap their appearances. The only way to undo it is for Daphne to tell someone who she is, but the curse prevents Daphne from both speaking and writing.

Will Daphne find a way to free herself from the curse? Or will the maid win, leaving Daphne a mute shepherdess forever?

Curse of Silence is a clean, no-spice retelling of The Goose Girl. It is part of The Roumaterra Chronicles, a series of interconnected, standalone fairy tale retellings perfect for readers of Brittany Fichter, Celeste Baxendell, and Annette K. Larsen.

A Lady Most Untamed ~ Review

 

A Lady Most Untamed

A Grimm Regency Tale

By Amanda Panhorst

I loved this story. I loved Arthur Fairhurst's character, who was uncomfortable with the public expectations of his role as a duke and being in the public eye, in contrast to his sister Fanny, who seemed to revel in public spectacle. 

All Arthur seems to enjoy is studying nature, which he can observe in the isolation of his estate. But all that ends when a young woman is found trespassing on his estate. Worse, she has decided to take up residence in the forest. Why would a single woman who is obviously a gypsy take up residence in his forest? Being who he is, Arthur decides to "study" the situation.

Mara Boswell has taken refuge in a hidden area of a forest. She is hiding from those who have caused her great pain. She is wary of anyone who approaches. The only one she lets near is her deerhound. This young woman and her unusual ways intrigue Arthur, and he wants to get to know her better, but not as the duke but as himself, as Arthur.

What follows is a delightful story of discovery and friendship. However, I have to be honest: the fairy tale it was based on was one I was unfamiliar with, so I can't compare the original with this story. But regardless, I have no qualms about recommending this sweet story, which I feel is appropriate for tweens and up.

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

About the Book:

Arthur Fairhurst is a terrible duke. Jumpy and nervous around others, he prefers hiding away in his Northumberland forest collecting, sketching, and researching all the wildlife he can find, trying to satiate his inexhaustible curiosity. So when his gamekeeper informs him of a gypsy girl and her dog hiding away in his woods, curiosity demands he find out everything he can about her before telling her to move on. Dressed as a plain woodsman, Arthur gains her trust little by little, and is surprised by the things the gypsy girl, Mara, brings out in him.

Mara Boswell discovered long ago that she cannot depend on anyone but herself. Driven by tragedy, she has roamed here and there all around England, always on the move, running from those who would find her and hurt her once more. Thinking she has found a safe haven at last in the dense forests of Northumberland, she is informed by a woodsman that she is trespassing, and not just on any lands, but a duke’s.

Loath to move on again, she agrees to a bargain to talk about her gypsy life in exchange for permission to stay in the forest unmolested. The opportunity is too good to pass up, and Mara begins to see that not everyone is out to do her harm. That certain people would love and protect her if she would only let them.

This series reimagines classic Grimm Brother tales as Regency romances. Sit back, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy these stories of sweet romance and loveable characters.


A Grimm Regency Tale series
* A Lady Most Engaged by Audrey Glenn
* A Lady Most Fitting by Sienna Peak
* A Lady Most Untamed by Amanda Panhorst
* A Lady Most Intrigued by Jenni Ward
* A Lady Most Entangled by Mary-Celeste Ricks
* A Lady Most Isolated by Heloise C. Kensington
* A Lady Most Alluring by Amy Newbold

Friend and Faux ~ Available Now

 

Friend and Faux

The Otaku Fairytales #1

By Erudessa Gentian

I think this is by far the most unique of the Lost Kerchiefs challenge stories. First, it is set in today's world. And I'll be honest: I have never read anything written in the AnimeLit style, so I can't compare it to others in the same style. 

All that being said, I did enjoy reading this book. It is easily read in a few hours and takes the reader into the life of a freshman college student. Asuka Gosse is attending because her grades have made her a highly desired student. She may not have the wealth or social status of the rest of the students, but she will work her hardest to prove her worth. 

Of course, a new student who doesn't understand the current social hierarchy is pulled in by the machinations of an oh-so-helpful student willing to show her the ropes and help her navigate this new world. Yep, you can totally see where this is going. 

I loved the ending. I'm not saying anything more because that will totally ruin it for you. Let's just say it was priceless and oh-so-perfect. I'm interested in what comes next in this new series and would highly recommend it to younger readers without hesitation.

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

About the Book:

New school, new start…right?

If only Asuka Gosse’s social smarts were as brilliant as her grades. Can our freshman navigate the intricacies of university life, and discern Friend from Faux?

This short spin on the classic Goose Girl fairytale is written in AnimeLit style and set in a non-magical, contemporary world.

Wind Charmer ~ Available Now

Wind Charmer

By Meredith Leigh Burton

Felicity loves her routines. She needs them, but everything changes when she is sent to a foreign kingdom to wed the prince. What's worse, the person tasked with helping her navigate these changes uses Felicity's need for routine against her.

I like Felicity. As someone who constantly arranges things (like dishes) to find a pattern where none exists, I can empathize with her even greater need for order. That said, I do not like her companion Melinda. Nope, not a bit. 

Felicity's differences, while being her greatest vulnerability, also gave her a strength many underestimated. She had to deal daily with outside factors that could, in minutes, upend her world. Through practice and calming techniques, she overcame and came into her own.  

I love Felicity's connection to animals and how her interaction with them plays into the story. Throughout, one can find nods to the original story: a golden cup, a talking horse, a devious servant, and an arranged marriage to a foreign prince. This is a story that is as beautifully written as the cover and one not to be missed.

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

About the Book:

Felicity does not conform to her kingdom’s idea of a princess. She is shy, clumsy and very routine in her habits. Yet she is also fiercely protective, adores animals and determined to fulfill her royal duties despite the anxiety that often grips her heart.

Felicity has been chosen to marry Prince Nathan of the kingdom of Fidel, a man whom she has never met. Will her eccentricities upset him? When Felicity sets forth on her momentous journey to Fidel, she quickly realizes that a threat lurks closer than she could ever have imagined.

Thrust into a kingdom with different customs, Felicity struggles to adapt to the changes that she must encounter. The malevolent circumstances that follow her every waking moment begin to encroach upon those she holds dear. Felicity must confront the evil that seeks to devour her, an evil that is as deceptively beautiful as it is deadly. Yet how can she do so when feelings of self-doubt and shame plague her every waking moment? Can she find the courage to leave her comforting routines behind in order to save two kingdoms from an impending tyrant’s rule? A surly goose herder, a brusque groom and possibly the prince himself may be the only ones who can help. But can she trust them?

A story of hidden strength, deception and finding your voice, Wind Charmer is a tale of two kingdoms grappling to survive. Gifts of unusual power can be used to hurt or heal. A golden goose and a kind horse will play pivotal roles in a young maiden’s quest to find the courage to face an insidious threat, and a young prince must face a harrowing past in order that he may become the ruler he is destined to be. Wind Charmer is a tale not to be missed, a story of perseverance and faith in the midst of evil. Book Fun Facts:  ~ The folklore in Wind Charmer was inspired by several things, but primarily it was inspired by Lakota Nation folklore. The Lakota Nation is a Native American tribe who believe that the Great Spirit of Creator holds all things together. All nature is interconnected. Thus, animals should be respected just as much as humanity. We are all family. Felicity understands this fact. ~  Felicity loves reading stories and even reads stories aloud to animals.  Her favorite stories are: "The Tyrant and the Star Queen," "The Long-Haired Strong Man," and "The Giant and the Grasshopper". The stories seem simple, but they each play significant roles in Felicity's life. Each group of animals has a particular favorite: for instance, the cows love "The Tyrant and the Star Queen". They regard themselves as the heroines of the story. Each story features animals in important roles. ~  After receiving my first edits for Wind Charmer, I contemplated abandoning the work. There were copious notes of things that needed to be fixed. For instance, I had included Falada's decapitation in my first draft. However, through my editor's suggestions and my own thoughts, I developed a much more satisfying solution to this part of the story. Falada is actually featured on the cover of Wind Charmer in a subtle but profound way that will make sense when the story is read. ~  Felicity's name means happiness. She takes pleasure in seemingly insignificant things; caring for animals and reading stories. She is often ridiculed for her simplicity, but she is smarter than people think. She suffers from loneliness but faces life with joy, so her name befits her character.

The Handmaiden's Blood ~ Now Available

 AVAILABLE NOW!

The Handmaid's Blood: The Goose Girl Retold 

Once Upon a Twisted Time

By Kendra E. Ardnek

This is a short story based on The Goose Girl. But there is a twist.

The Princess has her handmaid bound by blood to do her will. There is one wee problem, the princess is bound by blood to the queen.

And what an evil queen she is. She plans to use her daughter to cause an international incident and hopefully bring down a kingdom. Yes, that kind of evil. The kind you want to run and hide from. Except for the whole "bound to do her-will" thing going on, which prevents running and hiding.

Though short, this is an intriguing and ingenious retelling that satisfies the key elements of the story but presents them in an original story. 

I was provided an advanced copy of this book with no expectations but to provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Three drops of blood bind her to the princess's will.

The Goose Girl retold from the perspective of her servant.

Book Fun Fact:

This was actually my third choice for which Goose Girl retelling I would release as part of the Lost Kerchiefs, but the other two retellings I had planned each depended on me finishing the book ahead of them in the series. But, you can watch out for a total of three other Goose Girl retellings from me in the near future, including:

Goose Chase (A Twist of Adventure #8): Another servant-as-the-heroine, but in this one, the twist is that when she lost the handkerchief, the princess swaps bodies with an actual goose, so the servant has to pose as a princess until they can figure out how to fix this curse. This one came really close to being part of this set, and is partially written, but since I didn't release Beanstalk Trials as planned, I had to hold off on this one.

Goose Boy (Ever After Maneuver #3): I promise I'm not copying Tricia, but Cinderella-12DP-Goose Girl seems to be a story order that just works. This isn't a genderswap, as the title implies, but it does shake up the story and make Curdkin the hero. Won't say much more about it, other than the fact that Anice is the princess but not the main character. She has the next book after. 

Sing a Quest of Golden Geese (Bookania #9): This is the book I *really* wanted to release as part of the Kerchiefs, but I just didn't have the brain space to write Bookania #8. I'm really excited about this one, though, as it's one of the crazy mashups, including The Goose Girl, Rumpelstiltskin, The Golden Goose, and the Pied Piper. There may or may not be a baby dragon, and this book is also technically a sequel to The Dancing Princess (A Twist of Adventure #5). because people begged so hard to see more of that world. 

I did also consider writing "The Princess and the Goose Girl" which is a Princess and the Pauper mashup I have rolling around in the back of my head, but I'm not *quite* ready to take the plunge into that series yet. 

Spirits and Pacts ~ Review

Spirits and Pacts:

A Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and 

          The Phantom of the Opera - Part 2
The Roumaterra Chronicles #3

By Erin Halbmaier

Before you read any further IF you have not read part one Songs and Spun Gold  don't read any further. Part one is a must read.

Five years ago Katy and Axel married after a rather difficult trial. Katy was forced to spin gold after her not so reliable father popped off at the mouth and criticized the king. Yeah not too smart. But it resulted in Katy and Axel marrying one another. 

But Katy made a deal that has her first born child's future out of her hands. The stranger who aided her in spinning all that gold has a claim on her child. But this child will also be heir to the kingdom's throne. Will Axel or the king ever forgive her if she has to give up her child? Of course she must first have a child and after five years the nobles are getting restless about this lack of an heir.

Axel's always been drawn to singing, to his father's displeasure. Five years ago the theater was destroyed by fire and his father refused to allow it to be rebuilt. Even worse Axel lost his mentor. After five years Lottie must be dead, but still Axel hopes to find her.

But something is happening within the kingdom. And that something is a danger to the throne. Until Katy and Axel along with those closest to them can figure out what is going on no one is safe.

I love how the author has carried the Rumpelstiltskin and The Phantom of the Opera theme into this third book in The Roumaterra Chronicles series. The reader is drawn into the story as Katy struggles with her childless state and what it means for her. This book allows Katy and Axel to further grow, but this time as a couple as they must face the choices that they have made. 

There are a few surprises along the way that add another layer to this book and provide a potential avenue for additional books in the series. The book is a clean read that retells two different stories that one would not think of working so well together, yet the author does so in a beautiful work that will engage your imagination.

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:

She married the man she loves. But at what cost?

Five years after the fire at the theater and Katy and Axel’s wedding, pressure is building because of their childless state. Katy’s feelings are mixed: the kingdom needs an heir, but the gold-spinning stranger can’t take a child she doesn’t have.

While Axel longs for the stage, he can’t ignore the fact that his kingdom needs him, little as he feels qualified. He tries to shield Katy from the trouble brewing in the council, but more accidents at the theater, a curse no one remembers until it breaks, and physical danger mix with the secret she is hiding.

Can Katy find a way to save their child? Or will the troubles in the kingdom pull her and her husband down with them?

Spirits and Pacts is part two of a clean, no-spice retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and The Phantom of the Opera. It is the third book in The Roumaterra Chronicles, a series of interconnected, standalone fairy tale retellings perfect for readers of Brittany Fichter, Celeste Baxendell, and Annette K. Larsen.

The Beauty and the Griffin ~ Review

The Beauty and the Griffin

Faraway Castle #6

By J.M. Stengl

It's sad, but true (thank you Disney's Little Mermaid) but this series has come to an end. I've loved the Faraway Castle series from the very beginning and each book is better than the last. This isn't to say that the story is necessarily, but rather that the story world that the author has created has grown. 

I love how aspects of Beauty and the Beast are woven throughout this book. In this book we finally get a chance to meet the Gamekeeper of Faraway Castle and get some backstory about the castle and some of the characters. 

And we met Beatrice de Callen who has a unique tie to the castle one that may determine the fate of the world. Beatrice first comes to Faraway Castle as a young girl and through a trick of fate, chance, or design meets a young boy. She forms an almost instantaneous friendship with this young man whom she never sees again. As she grows she forms a friendship with the Gamekeeper and has a series of dreams in which she forms another attachment. I know it makes one think of Sleeping Beauty's I Know You. 

Then there is the Gamekeeper who is mysterious and always hidden in some way. You guessed it he about to have his story brought to life. And what a story it is. Just saying anyone who has read the rest of the books in this series does not want to miss this one!

When Beatrice is called upon to help protect two rare griffin eggs, she answers the call. Little does she realize just what she has gotten herself into - a war that could destroy everything she knows and everyone she loves. These rare griflets are very important to everything, but so is Beatrice and the choice her heart must make.

Did I say I love how everything comes together in this book? And yes you need to read the other books, in order, before reading The Beauty and the Griffin. 

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:

Three romantic dreams.

Two priceless eggs.

One hasty curse that may doom not only Faraway Castle but the world.

Beatrice de Callen, an otherwise sensible young woman, was foolish enough to fall in love with the benevolent yet shadowy mage known as the Gamekeeper of Faraway Castle. Worse still, she broke his heart.

But when traitorous mages steal a powerful fay artifact, magical war threatens, and the Gamekeeper vanishes, Beatrice promises her fairy godmother to help and soon finds herself escorting two telepathic griffin eggs and Winifred, their furious nanny, through a labyrinth of caves in search of the Forbidden Palace. Exhausted, Beatrice falls asleep while snuggling the gold egg and dreams of dancing with a stunning young king at his coronation ball. Have they met before?

Once the eggs guide their humans to the timeless palace, Beatrice is relieved to sense the Gamekeeper’s presence—but Win insists he is the monster that killed the last King of Adelboden!

Beatrice must not only help raise the lively griflets and watch over a girl who hates her, but also save Faraway Castle and the world by breaking a century-old curse.

Only the Golden Griffin can tell her how.

This final Faraway Castle book is an adventurous, humorous, and sweetly romantic retelling of “The Beauty and the Beast” that ties the series together.

Release Day for Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor

 Today Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor is 

Now Available!

This delightful story based on key aspects

of the Nutcracker find a new and

unique life in this story

by Roseanna M. White.

About the Book:

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family's misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

ADVANCE PRAISE

"So many delightful layers to this tale, along with intriguing characters and beautiful descriptions...It really puts you in the mood for Christmas."— Melody Carlson, author of The Christmas Tree Farm and A Royal Christmas

"Sugar plums, gingerbread, and all the Christmasy feels go into this charming holiday romance."— Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

AUTHOR BIO

Roseanna M. White (RoseannaMWhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.