Across the Star-Kissed Sea ~ Review

Across the Star-Kissed Sea

(Proper Romance ~ Regency)

By Arlem Hawks

This book is a sequel/companion to Georgana's Secret. But if you haven't read it, that is not a problem, as this book is told from the perspectives of May Byam and Elias Doswell, who were not in the previous book. That being said, this was another lovely Regency read with a naval theme. 

May Byam needs a job, and respectable employment for ladies is difficult to come by. She makes haste to apply when she sees an advertisement for a lady's maid/companion on a naval ship. There is a wee misunderstanding of her purpose for boarding the ship. This misunderstanding results in a less-than-favorable first impression of Elias Doswell, who happens to be the ship chaplain.

Life in the navy is not Elias Doswell's ideal, but he is fleeing a broken heart—not his first. When some off-hand remarks are made, Elias fears for May and her need for any employment available. His embarrassment could not be any worse, and now he's made an enemy out of the young lady the captain's wife just hired.

May hopes to fulfill her late cousin's dream of serving, though she will never be the seafarer he or her uncle was. However, when she learns who her employer is, she begins to regret her decision, but she's given her word and refuses to break it. Her knowledge has prepared her, but her experience is all from the stories she was told, not firsthand.

This was an excellent read set in the Regency era. It is a book of new beginnings, second chances, and facing fears, all within the confines of a ship. The path before May and Elias is uncertain, much like the sea they sail. With the threat of sea battles with the French, danger draws ever closer. But the greatest danger may be to their hearts if they can't get beyond their pasts.

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:

When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure 

but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love.

Casters and Crowns ~ Review

Casters and Crowns 

by Elizabeth Lowham

In a kingdom divided mistrust and prejudice, Crown Princess Aria seeks to broker a peace to stop a war that could destroy her kingdom forever. But her father's hatred and execution of a young boy have pitted most Casters against the Crown. 

When Aria secretly approaches Widow Morton about an offer of peace she had no idea that she was about to forfeit her own life. Aria speaks the words she feels her father would expect of her. After all as king her father is never wrong and never makes mistakes. But Aria's offer instead brings a curse down upon her and all who live within the castle. 

When Baron Reeves seeks to take his father's place within the nobility he is denied. His crime? He is a Caster and therefore not to be trusted, no matter how loyal he has been to the crown. With a steward put in place the secret Baron is protecting is in danger of being revealed. When Princess Aria reaches out to him requesting help in understanding Casters and their abilities he agrees to share information through letters. 

Aria feels that her father's judgment of Baron was unjust. No crime was committed against the crown and worse no trial with Barron given a chance to plead his case. The king's judgment was swift and permanent. And for Aria to question him is a sign of her insufficiency as the next ruler. Her commitment is questioned and she is chastised for it. 

I really enjoyed this book. There is an overabundance of secrets being held. Some of the secrets are revealed early on, but there are a couple that are revealed near the end of the book and goodness they are kingdom changers. I like Aria, her sister, Baron, and his twin brothers. There are several supporting characters who were just lovely. But the king. Let's just say having power went to his head and he was under the mistaken impression he needed no advisors and that he was perfect because he was king. 

This is a book I would highly recommend. I feel it is appropriate for tweens who are testing the waters of teen fiction and is without all the overblown angst most teen books have that make older readers roll their eyes. There is a definite magic element throughout the book. The romance is there but not taking center stage, though it plays a pivotal roll in several scenes.

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:

Cursed by magic, bound by mistakes, Princess Aria’s destiny hinges on the mysterious Baron Reeves. 

Will love be enough to break the curse, or will war bring her kingdom to ruin? 

A new romantasy by Elizabeth Lowham.

When Crown Princess Aria sees her kingdom on the brink of war with the magic-wielding Casters, she takes it upon herself to speak with Widow Morton, the most dangerous Caster in the realm. If successful, Aria will not only ensure peace but also prove to her father that she is a worthy heir. But when her negotiations fail, Aria is dealt a terrible curse: Over the course of one hundred days, she will be unable to sleep, her body and mind doomed to waste away. And then the curse will pass to her sister, until every member of the king’s line is dead.

Aria’s best hope for breaking her curse is to seek help from another Caster—the handsome and charming Baron Reeves. He may be entitled to a place at the court, but as a magic user, can he truly be trusted? She vows not be fooled by his dimpled smiles or his devotion to his brothers, but as she spends more time with him, she discovers that her heart has other ideas.

Baron has no desire to see the princess suffer—especially since she might be the key to changing the king’s opinion on Casters—but he has secrets to protect and ghosts of his own. The last person he tried to save using his magic died, and he’s not willing to risk harming someone he loves again.

As the curse continues its deadly countdown, both Aria and Baron must risk their lives and their hearts to save each other and unite a kingdom.

Lightshed ~ Review

Lightshed

The Gateway Trilogy #2

By Crystal Grant

The coveted Shadowstone is finally his. But what will it cost him?

This is the second book in The Gateway Trilogy and it opens with a glimpse into the past. We see again the incident that at its heart is the reason Mason Grey joined the troops of Emperor Jader. We don't see the death of Mason's brother, but rather the decision that resulted in a tragic mistake. We see it from Prince Eric's perspective and how his search for the Shadowpit had long-reaching consequences - pain and regrets. 

We then move forward twelve years; Mason now wears the Shadowstone, and with its added strengths, he would make the Stewards pay for their actions. But one thing tugs against his mission of revenge and devotion to the Emperor - Seria Gayle.

Seria and Mason find themselves on the wrong side of the clash between their people. Both feel guilt about their feelings for the other and wish to bring the other over to what they feel is the right side of the conflict. This one line sums it up so well: How could something feel so wrong and right at once?

The coveted Shadowstone is finally his. But what will it cost him? This is the question Mason Grey must answer as he carries out the will of Emperor Jader, which is in contrast to his feelings for Seria Gayle. How can he reconcile his need for revenge with the love he feels? In a world caught in a destructive conflict, Mason and Seria find themselves at the heart of everything. This is a world you will want to visit more than once. Some layers and complexities slowly reveal themselves with each reading, allowing one to notice something new. Like when you finally realize something that has been out in the open forever, but it was lost in the surroundings because it was just there not flashy and showy, just present. This is similar. This series has an epic feel to it, and often, these are the stories that need to be read through with a desire to know what's next and, on the second time, a slower, more thoughtful enjoyment to savor all the flavors more fully.

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:

Empowered by his new role as Shadowman, Mason Grey has strengthened his resolve against the Steward Army and the prince he has sworn to kill. But his heart is torn between justice for his brother and desire for the girl who stands with his enemy. Determined to bridge the gap, he risks everything he’s worked for to try to win her over to his side.

Convinced there is still good in him, Seria Gayle makes up her mind to point Mason to the truth, even if it means betraying the Stewards she has befriended. When the dark Emperor Jader turns his sights on the Gateway between his realm and theirs, Seria makes a bold decision that takes her far from home and into enemy territory. But standing between light and darkness comes with a price, and she fears the cost for Mason’s salvation may be too high to pay.

As tensions heat up on both sides of the Gateway, Mason is given a challenging assignment that will strengthen his master’s army for years to come–but it could mean losing Seria forever. To make matters worse, his abilities as a Reader begin spiraling out of control. Will this mission of vengeance bring him the closure he needs…or destroy him from the inside out?

Winter's Maiden

Winter's Maiden
The Nordic Wars #1
By Morgan L. Busse

Winter's Maiden opens with Brighid's birth, a birth about which lies a secret and results in her being one of the clanless. The clanless are not claimed by any of the clans, and Brighid feels this lack deeply. When offered a chance to change her foreseeable future, she, of course, jumps at the possibility of having a better future than the one that is before her. 

This is an intriguing premise, and the story does not disappoint. I love how Brighid struggles to find her place in this world where she feels that she has no place. Her family didn't claim her, and if not for the midwife who oversaw her birth, she would have been lost.

But this is not a world at peace; war is on the horizon. And someone is stirring the unrest, manipulating those living in Nordica. Kaeden has been avoiding his past, but when he is given a chance to attend to those from the south in need of a healer, his skills give him a chance to interact with a captured soldier and an insight no one else has. But how can he use the knowledge he's gained to prevent a war that could destroy their whole world?

In this world Morgan M. Busse has created, we are given a world in turmoil, with characters who are searching for a place to call their own, their family. I am interested in seeing where the next book goes from here. I think this quote from the book is an example of Brighid's life:

"Unwanted at birth, barely surviving this life.

If she disappeared into the darkness forever,

would anyone even notice?"

This feels so bleak, but there are moments of truth. 

Such as:

I will be with you, warrior of the North.

Moments like this make me want to read the next book and hope for something more.

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:

Warrior

Survivor

Daughter of the North

From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station. Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the south.

Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces. With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken. However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic forces is captured.

As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?

About the Book:

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of multiple series including The Ravenwood Saga and Skyworld series. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and won the INSPY, Selah, and Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

Beneath a Crescent Shadow ~ Review

Beneath a Crescent Shadow

The Balkan Legends #1

A.L. Sowards

This is such a good book. I don't think I've ever read a book set in 14th Century Serbia before. Yes, I had World History in High School and it touched on the Ottoman Empire, but this book takes all those dry facts and dates giving it depth, making one care. Now don't misunderstand me, I loved history class but to make one care about the people involved and empathize with the trials they faced is special.

The story opens with Konstantin facing ruin. His lands have been attacked, famine seems almost certain, and paying the upcoming tribute impossible. His only hope is a bride with a rich dowry, which is arranged for him by his grandfather to a young woman named Suzana.

Suzana's life has been hard. Her father has made her feel worthless and unloved. Her only worth is in her dowry and whatever alliance she may bring to her father through it. And she carries the pain of her past and the abuse she suffered with her. What she never expected was to win her husband's love.

But happiness doesn't seem to be assured as war seperates Konstantin and Suzana. Both experience great tragedy that affects them deeply. So deeply that it could utterly destroy what they have if they can survive what is coming.

This is the first book in the Balkan Legends series and I confess, I'm eagerly awaiting what is to come next in the series. This is a well-written book with compelling characters. Highly recommend it to fans of Medieval Historical Fiction or Eastern European Historical Fiction,

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

About the Book:

After an arranged marriage, Konstantin and Suzana must find a way to meet 

the demands of a conquering Ottoman sultan amid a torrent of setbacks and 

dangers much closer to their Balkan home.

The Balkans, 1373

A devastating battle claimed the lives of Konstantin's father, uncle, and most of their Serb army, leaving him to rule as a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, a role he is wholly unprepared for. Between war, famine, and a persistent band of brigands, Konstantin is nearly bankrupt. He will need to find a wealthy bride to marry if he is to have any hope of saving his lands and securing his future.

A betrothal to Suzana, the daughter of a prosperous merchant, is soon arranged, and upon meeting her, Konstantin immediately feels hope that their marriage could someday grow into love. Yet, from the moment of Konstantin and Suzana's betrothal, enemies threaten their lives, outlaws prey on their lands, and the terrors of Suzana's abusive past haunt their fragile new relationship. As this onslaught of threats closes in, the two face challenges that will test their love, their faith, and their hope to save their people and win their freedom from the heavy weight of Ottoman oppression.

Shattered Resistance ~ Review

Shattered Resistance

The Shattered Lands #3

By Madisyn Carlin

 

The All Lands War has torn the lands apart and only now some signs of recovery are starting to be seen. But a threat has been encroaching on the lands and certain people are being targeted by the enemy, including Elmery Nemorio, a librarian. Unfortunately for her the person assigned to protect her is Vladic Cindari, former Night Guard.

Naturo Endarison, king of the Coastlands, knows war in coming but has no idea how to stop it. He isn't ready to be king but his father's death left him with no choice. He must protect his kingdom, his family, and his people but until he can learn where the threat is coming from it seems an impossible task.

Myranthe Delmare is leaving her island home behind to help her discover just who King Naturo Endarison is. Is he worthy of her family's support? What she discovers will determine what path her people will take.

This is a wonderful addition to the Shattered Lands series, which is best read after reading the previous books in the series, though it can be enjoyed without first doing so. 

War is a constant throughout this book - both its aftermath and the threat of its ever-looming presence. The brutality of it is not shied away from, nor is the hope that it will not return. The main characters are all dealing with how their experiences from past conflicts have shaped them. Vladic and Naturo experienced it first hand, Myranthe through the impact it made upon her island home, and Elmery through books she has read. And each will have a role to play in what is coming. But there will be lessons that have to be learned if they are to fulfill the destiny that is theirs to claim but only if they can learn to rely on the King who is their Father.

 

Excellent reading that is not to be missed. 

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:

Some secrets are best left hidden…

Librarian Elmery Nemorio has no idea why a group of deranged lunatics want her dead, but she does know she will lose her sanity if she has to spend one more minute with her sarcastic bodyguard, Vladic Cindari. Unfortunately, as danger grows and more attempts on her life are made, she begins to suspect Vladic is the least of her worries. Forced from her home and into a life of peril and secrecy, Elmery doesn’t know what the next days will bring. Joined by the annoying Vladic, she finds herself immersed in a renewed battle not only for her home, but for all the lands. When she uncovers information best left unknown, will it help win the war or bring harm to those she loves?

Shattered Resistance is a New Adult Christian fantasy Little Mermaid retelling, and is the third book in The Shattered Lands series.

The Shattered Lands
Shattered Revision - Prequel (Available for Preorder)
Shattered Reflection - Book One
Shattered Reaction - Book Two
Shattered Resistance - Book Three
Shattered Redemption - Book Four (Available for Preorder)
Shattered Risk - Novella (Coming late 2025)

 

An Ocean of Courage and Fear ~ Review

An Ocean of Courage and Fear

By Jerry Borrowman

This book opens on December 7, 1941, before word of the attack on Pearl Harbor had reached anyone outside of Hawaii. Word of the utter destruction of the US Naval fleet stationed and docked shocked the world. And those who were serving are about to have their world forever altered, going from a state of peace in the Pacific Ocean to a state of war in mere minutes. 

This book mixes fictional characters with the historical events adding more depth and bringing the reader's emotions into play as the fears and uncertainty pull the Pacific nations into the war. We are introduced to Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier, assigned to the USS Salt Lake City, and his wife Heidi, who volunteers as a nurse following Pearl Harbor. But there are so many more people whose lives are changed as the United States and Japan are drawn into war, a war that will cost many much. 

The title An Ocean of Courage and Fear describes the emotions those onboard the naval ships have to deal with daily during the days of World War 2. I appreciated that the author provided a listing of which characters were fictional and which were historical. The book takes us from December 1941 into June 1945. The USS Salt Lake City along with Honolulu is the main setting, and getting a glimpse of life aboard a heavy cruiser during a time of war is interesting, especially as when the book opens war is mere minutes away though no one is aware of it.

This book would be of interest to those who are into World War 2 or Naval history. This would be an excellent selection for a High School book report when the topic is Historical fiction. Events aren't glamorized but are presented in a way so as to engage the reader's interest throughout.

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:

Based on survivor accounts, this gripping novel opens days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It details three years of sea battles that spanned between Hawaii and the shores of Okinawa with the crew of one of the most decorated ships of the Pacific War.

Onboard the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier is out to sea when Japan attacks the United States. Upon his return to Honolulu, the gravity of the war begins to change him, as does every subsequent mission, including a rare beach landing with an Army infantry division. He fears his wounds of war, both physical and mental, will be incurable.

Meanwhile, on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, volunteer nurse Heidi Collier feels overwhelmed by the number of casualties. She watched the bombing as she huddled with her two children in front of their home, hoping that her husband aboard the USS Salt Lake City was safe.

Lieutenant Riley Bracken feels the sudden g-force of his catapult-launched observation floatplane with each harrowing mission. Alerting the USS Salt Lake City of enemy ships gives him purpose, which is why no one can know about his recent bouts of vertigo. He can’t risk losing what he loves most.

Fifteen-year-old Al Jowdy lied about his age in order to join the Navy. Whatever he believed Navy life would be was shot out of the water—twice—when his ships were torpedoed. Now aboard the Salt Lake City, he hopes his luck hasn’t run out.

An Ocean of Courage and Fear reveals the harrowing, true, never-before-told events that surrounded the crew of the USS Salt Lake City as they endured all the major action in the Pacific War.

The British Booksellers ~ Review

The British Booksellers

By Kristy Cambron

The British Booksellers is a split-time book that takes the reader between the two world wars, that reshaped the world and England and the lives of Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington Holt. From his earliest memories of Charlotte, Amos has always cared for her more than a tenant should for the daughter of an earl. They are bound together by their love of books and a secret dream to own and run a bookstore.

But time, war, and social standing have a way of destroying hopes and dreams. Instead, Amos returns from war broken both in body and spirit, and Charlotte is a war widow with a daughter. And they become competing booksellers in Coventry. Time, in this case, doesn't heal all wounds. And the Great War, which was the war to end all wars, was a false hope because war has come again. And it has come to Britain, attacking in the night, bringing destruction in its wake, igniting old nightmares, and drawing in a new generation. 

This was an excellent read. One was drawn to Amos and his hopes and dreams. Dreams he knew better than to have, but the heart doesn't pay heed to the head. I like how we are slowly introduced to both chapters of Amos's life and how his childhood friendship with Charlotte changed over time. I also found the contrast between Charlotte and her daughter, Eden, to be interesting. The different ways they look at situations and handle them add some insight into their characters. Even more interesting is how the people of Coventry view Amos after his return from war. And then we have the mystery of why Jacob Colt has come to Coventry from America during a war. I love it when there is a bit of a mystery involved and this book definitely offers this with the back-and-forth between the two wars. Add in a double dose of romance, and you have the perfect weekend read.

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:

Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, 

The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those 

whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories 

that bind us in the fight for what matters most.

 

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington…until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now, decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

 

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

 

From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of World War II, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Kristy Cambron is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping Series Bibles and Bible studies. Kristy's work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, Declare, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway. 

She holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read. You can connect with her at: kristycambron.com and versemapping.com.

 

The Seamstress of Acadie ~ Review

The Seamstress of Acadie

By Laura Frantz

The Acadians' history is a tragic one that finds them caught in a war between the British and the French. And it is in the midst of this conflict that The Seamstress of Acadie is set. Sylvie Galant works as a seamstress for the French fort, sewing shirts for the French soldiers. But all too soon her skills are no longer used as the British threat to Acadians becomes more with each passing day. 

When her brother warns that soon all they hold will be seized becomes the truth, Sylvie's life is forever altered. But through it all she uses her needle to forge a new life with what little remains of the old.

The Seamstress of Acadie is a tragic story of lives torn apart because of hate and prejudice. The Acadians French ties have them caught in the middle of a conflict between the British and the French. And though they pledge no loyalty to either, claiming neutrality, they are accused treachery and revolution. The British lies soon drive them forcibly from their homes. Families are torn apart and the conditions aboard the ships a cruelty. Loss of life is extreme before events force them into a new existence in Virginia. But this new land views them with distrust, offering hate, fear, and ridicule while they suffer from the losses they cannot easily forgot, not that they want to. 

But there are moments of hope for the future and it is to this promise that Sylvie eventually ties all her hopes and dreams. Laura Frantz creates characters who draw one into their story. One feels Sylvie's pain. One hopes with Major Blackburn that he will succeed in providing a home for the displaced Acadians. Set in Pre-Revolutionary America this a perfect read for those who enjoy Historical Fiction set in the New World. And one fun tidbit for those who've read Laura Frantz's works before if you've read A Heart Adrift you just may see a familiar name or two. If you haven't read the author before this book is a standalone title so you can easily pick it and dive right in and read with no issues.

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.

QUICK FACTS

 Title: The Seamstress of Acadie

 Author: Laura Frantz

 Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

 Publisher: Revell (January 9, 2024)

 Length: (416) pages

 Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 

 ISBN: 978-0800740689‎

 Book Tour Dates: January 8 – 22, 2024

About the Book:

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America's borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to

navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

PRAISE FOR THE SEAMSTRESS OF ACADIE

 “Frantz’s atmospheric writing is easy to sink into, from the grimness of the

disease-riddled voyage to the ethereal Acadian landscape. While William and

Sylvie’s romance is a slow burn, there’s a rewarding payoff to this tale of second

chances born from tragedy. Frantz’s fans won’t be disappointed.”— Publisher’s

Weekly

 “This book is undoubtedly one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the faith

thread, I loved the light in the darkness theme, I loved the characters, I loved the

hope brimming from almost every page. I loved the growth (through every

struggle and triumph), and I loved the history embedded into each detail.”—

Tasha, The Clean Read Book Club

 “Fantastic story! The beautiful writing engages the reader from the beginning...

Laura Frantz's books are exceptional because they evoke an abundance of

emotions beyond the typical novel. I highly recommend this book to all historical

fiction readers.”— Milena Bookish, Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB |

GOODREADS

About the Author:

Bestselling, award-winning author Laura Frantz has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th century, and her novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was

exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State.

According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, German & Polish.

WEBSITE | X (Formerly Twitter) | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Of Sea and Smoke ~ Review

Of Sea and Smoke

The Fireborn Epic #2

By Gillian Bronte Adams

This is a fantastic read it follows within hours of the conclusion of book one Of Fire and Ash. And trust me when I say you have to read the series in order! There are so many stories and characters that have come together in this book that if you haven't read the first one, you will be utterly lost, much like Ceridwen finds herself in this book.

This story is from the viewpoints of several characters, all of whom seem destined to play a vital role in the war that has crossed the sea and engulfed more than one nation in the violent quest for power. Ceridwen is The Fireborn and the obvious heir to the throne but for the shame and debt she owes for her brother's death. Then there is Rafi who has been running for so long he doesn't have a place he truly can call home. At least not since the murder of his brother. And then there are his secrets and the lies he lives to hide them. But the one character who seems most shrouded is Jakim. Jakim who is far from his home. Born free, enslaved, freed, and enslaved yet again. He desires nothing more than to return home, yet he feels he has been called to this foreign land at this time for a reason.

From where Of Fire and Ash concluded one felt one had an idea where the story would go to next. Well, it did but then everything went all topsy-turvey and everything got shuffled around. If this hadn't happened so early in the book one would be in despair as to how the book would conclude. Well, it did happen early on, and greater depths were found in our main characters as they struggled to get back what was lost.

This book doesn't lack for anything. All of the characters have depth even those who may only be in it for one or two scenes. The settings are as vast as those seen between hemispheres and continents. There can be richness or starkness and each fits perfectly into place - a tribute to the author's years of work and research that had to go into this book.

I highly recommend this book either as a book in hand or an audio edition (I have both on preorder).

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

Be sure to check-out my interview with the author Gillian Bronte Adams here.

About the Book:

He rides a seablood, 

a steed of salt and spray, 

born to challenge the tides.

Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen’s tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother’s responsibilities as the empire’s lost heir.

The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor’s ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother’s murderer.

Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away.

Seas boil and jungles burn in this tempestuous second installment of The Fireborn Epic as the outcast queen, captive missionary, and royal rebel strive to unearth the mysterious power that hungers for their world.

Shadowcast ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shadowcast by Crystal D. Grant, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Shadowcast

The Gateway Trilogy
By Crystal D. Grant

First off, I have to admit this cover just drew me to this book. I know one isn't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but one can certainly let it convince you to at least give the book a second or third look. And anything that reminds me of space or a geode is an automatic attention grabber. So I said, "Yes, to the book."

Mason Gray has allowed the senseless murder of his brother to darken his heart to the point he desires nothing more than to get the Shadowstone so that he might more thoroughly put down those who stole his brother's life. Any and all who align themselves with the Stewart Knights are his enemy. 

When Mason is injured, he manages to deceive Serial Gayle into helping him. Thinking she is helping aid an injured Stewart, she is more than shocked and hurt to learn the truth. Worse, when the truth of her aid comes out, her very life and her freedom are in jeopardy. Until Prince Eric shows compassion on one who was guilty only of compassion and caring.

The world is on the edge, and those who have fallen to the power of the Darkness's seductive allure - promises of vengeance, fear, and worse. While those who fight for the Light feel the power weakening as despair, fear, anger, and like feelings threaten to overtake them.

Who will triumph? The battle for the hearts, minds, and souls has begun. And a single choice could change everything. 

Excellent reading. Perfect for fans of LOTR and Narnia. I highly recommend this for those 14 and up; younger readers who read at a higher level will also enjoy this. 

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: Shadowcast
Series: The Gateway Trilogy
Author: Crystal D. Grant
Publisher: Quill and Flame Publishing
Release Date: September 20, 2023
Genre: Fantasy Romance (Clean)

He has known nothing but darkness for years. Now it’s time to let it consume him. 

After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone-a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl...without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises. 

Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired. 

When Mason's true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they've sworn to do?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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About the Author

Crystal D. Grant is a daydreamer who adores freshly-baked cookies and anything with fur or feathers. During the day, she strives to instill a love of books and learning within her young students. As a hearing-impaired, home-school graduate, she found her voice in writing and has had multiple short stories and poems published. When she’s not reading or writing stories that sweep her away to another time and place, she watches classic movies and TV shows that do the same. Or she works on jigsaw puzzles. Crystal currently resides in smalltown Missouri, where she is always looking for space for another scented candle.

Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalgrantauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed copy of Shadowcast, book swag, and exclusive color art from the book!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 18, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 25, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

Under the Java Moon ~ Review

Under the Java Moon

By Heather B. Moore

Under the Java Moon is a brilliantly written piece of historical fiction. There are moments of beauty found amongst the horrors of war and this book spotlights this by focusing on the struggles of one family's will to survive. 

War seemed a thing unlikely to touch their daily lives. It was far away in Europe until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Then, it became a concern. Then, the people of the Dutch East Indies began to prepare. But air raid drills and bomb shelters were no match to the forces determined to control the Pacific.

And when the Allie Forces suffered a severe loss, they knew they were next. Europeans were rounded up and put in camps. Families were torn apart. The Javanese were required to work with the Japanese or face a similar fate to those who had just days ago been in power. And so we are pulled into the story of the Vischer family. We see the war through the eyes of six-year-old Rita and her parents, Mary and George. Each sees the war differently, but each suffers under its cruelty while holding onto the hope of one more day and maybe seeing those torn away returned. But war exacts a cost no matter how long it lasts, and Under the Java Moon shares Rita Vischer's story and the price she paid. 

I would recommend this to those readers who inhale everything and anything dealing with WW2. There are not an overabundance of books dealing with this particular aspect of the war, and though it deals with difficult aspects and scenes, it is all handled and presented in a considerate and respectful manner. And the author's introduction and the afterword by Rita are a must-read. 

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:

Based on a true story, this gripping WWII novel captures the resilience, hope, and courage of a Dutch family who is separated during the war when the Japanese occupy the Dutch East Indies.

Java Island, 1941

Six-year-old Rita Vischer cowers in her family’s dug-out bomb shelter, listening to the sirens and waiting for a bomb to fall. Her charmed life on Java—living with other Dutch families—had always been peaceful, but when Holland declares war on Japan and the Japanese army invades Indonesia, Rita’s family is forced to relocate to a POW camp, and Rita must help care for her little brother, Georgie.

Mary Vischer is three months pregnant when she enters the Tjident women’s camp with thousands of other women and children. Her husband, George, is somewhere on the Java Sea with the Dutch Navy, so she must care alone for her young children, Rita and Georgie, and her frail mother. The brutal conditions of the overcrowded camp make starvation, malaria, and dysentery a grim reality. Mary must do everything she can to keep her family alive.

George Vischer survives the bombing of his minesweeper but feels little hope floating on a small dinghy in the Java Sea. Reaching the northern tip of the Thousand Island would be a miracle. Focusing on the love of his life, Mary, and his two children, he battles against the sea and merciless sun. He’ll do whatever it takes to close the divide between him and his family, even if it means risking being captured by the Japanese.

Under the Java Moon highlights a little-known part of WWII history and the impact of war on Indonesia, its people, and the more than 100,000 Dutch men, women, and children who were funneled into prison camps and faced with the ultimate fight for survival.

In This Moment ~ Review

In This Moment

Timeless #2

By Gabrielle Meyer

Maggie has inherited her parent's time-crossing gift, but she has inherited both of their abilities, so she lives in three separate time periods. In 1861, she is the daughter of a US Senator and friends with the Lincolns as the nation teeters on the edge of war. In 1941, she lives with her time-crossing parents and is a Navy nurse. At this time, the world is caught up in a war that the US has thus far stayed out of, But Maggie knows all too soon they will join the conflict. And in her third life, she lives in 2001, a medical student well on her way to becoming a surgeon. And a world she has no foreknowledge of.

Yet her time is short; she has mere months left to live in two of her lives. But when you are only 20 years old, how can you choose which lives to give up? Which family do you say goodbye to?

As Maggie struggles to make a decision, she must weigh all her options. She has determined to not fall in love in any timeline so as to not allow romance to make her decision for her. But her heart has other plans, and in each, she meets someone who could sway her decision.

I love this series and I can say with all honesty I would not want to be Maggie and faced with such a decision. How does one decide who to leave behind forever? And how can you be sure you made the right choice in a life where you won't get a second chance, a do-over? And to be that, you have to bury any knowledge you retain of the future forever. That would be so hard, especially if your knowledge could save lives, but at the cost of your own life in that timeline.

This reads best after reading the first book in the series - When the Day Comes. And in my opinion, would make a really good pair of movies if done like the books.

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:

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Along a Breton Shore ~ Review

Along a Breton Shore
By Arlem Hawks

Armelle Bernard decides she has had enough and will harass the priest who turned in her father for sheltering a family of refugees fleeing the revolutionaries. The punishment for his act of mercy was death. Ignoring the warnings of those closest to her, Armelle puts her life in danger with her act of defiance. In a moment, she's faced with the same punishment as her father.

Maxence Étienne wants to be the best soldier for the République that he can. Believing that bringing liberty to France by throwing off the rule of the monarchy is what is needed, he left everything behind. What Maxence didn't expect was being ordered to execute a young woman for harassing the local priest. Faced with a moral decision, Maxence does what he feels is right and is charged with being a traitor.

To survive, Armelle and Maxence must flee the République army. But any who aid them are endangering themselves.  Armelle's assertive, mischievous, and positive nature is opposite to Maxence's solemn, quiet, and rather grumpy one. Could two such different personalities support one another long enough to get to safety?

Set in the midst of the French Revolution, Along a Breton Shore brings the uncertainty and fear to life for the reader to experience. Everything of the past was being thrown out in favor of the new. Reminders of the way things were before are outlawed, even the months of the calendar have been renamed. Liberty comes with a steep price, and those who have opposing views or even questions take their lives and that of their family into danger. 

I have read books about the French Revolution before, and I will admit I've often gotten bogged down in the battles and violence. This book didn't do that to me. I found this book to be engaging and entertaining while providing adequate information about the political landscape to set the stage but not take over it. I was drawn to both Armelle and Maxence, who seem so opposite to one another and yet, in some ways, not so much. One can't help but read this book from cover to cover, not wanting to put it down. I feel this is one of the best books I've read in which this time and place are a major force in the story, almost another character with its influence on the lives of those there. I would highly recommend this book by Arlem Hawks.

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.

I was appreciative of the character list at the beginning of the book, along with a definition/glossary of pronunciations and common French terms. 

Synopsis:

A soldier and a young woman, on opposite sides of the revolution, must run for their lives across a war-torn France in this gripping novel of friendship, love, and survival.

France, 1794

Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. But even though the monarchy has fallen and Maxence is part of a great cause, he is still searching for a place to belong.

Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton whose father was sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries. She decides to confront the priest who betrayed her father, and as the conflict escalates, she herself is ordered to be executed—an order to be carried out by Maxence.

Maxence has seen his share of violence and bloodshed, but he also carries a tragic secret and can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment. In allowing Armelle to escape, he is forced to combat a fellow soldier, who dies in the struggle.

Though Armelle and Maxence are strangers and on opposite sides of the revolution, they find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781639931071
Retail Price: $26.99
Page Count: 368

About the Author:

ARLEM HAWKS began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in print journalism, and he lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Other Books by Arlem Hawks:

Georgana’s Secret
Beyond the Lavender Fields