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

Goose Princess ~ Available Now

 Today is Release Day for Goose Princess by Tricia Mingerink!

This is the book I have been waiting for SO long and thrilled that it is finally available.

This is the fourth book in the Beyond the Tales series for those not in the know.

And it was well worth the wait.

This book is soooo good.

I only wish I could read it again for the first time.

But if it has been a while since you've read the series or are new to it

I recommend going back to the beginning.

About the Book:

Before he can have peace, he has one last curse to face.

In the three years since he woke from his enchanted sleep, High King Alexander has faced multiple curses, nearly died, and re-united the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia. He has watched everyone around him find peace and happiness. Is it finally time for him to secure happiness for himself?

When an old enemy strikes once again, Alex finds himself on the run, hunted in his own kingdom, and all alone except for the most unlikely ally: a princess who can't talk to people and her gaggle of goose brothers.

With his enemies closing around him, Alex must make a choice. Will he rescue his best friend or save his kingdom? And, after everything he suffered, does he even want to be the high king or is this his chance to walk away and pursue his own happy ending?

Goose Princess is a retelling of the Goose Girl and Wild Swans fairy tales. Enjoy this fourth and final book in Beyond the Tales, a Christian fantasy fairy tale retelling series!

My review will be coming soon!

Lady Flyer ~ Review

Lady Flyer

By Heather B. Moore

I love historically-based fiction that follows the life of a real person. In this case, we are introduced to Nancy Harkness, who is drawn to planes and flight. She is born into a world on the edge of change, and her parents give her the freedom to follow her dream of becoming a pilot.

The book opens with Nancy observing Charles Lindbergh's triumphant Atlantic crossing in 1927. This event sparked a flame that would eventually lead her to take to the air. But Nancy's dream of flight didn't end with her achievements. No, her dreams included other women embracing the opportunities that flight offered. 

World War II created a need for pilots, which Nancy sees being filled by women. But breaking into this male-dominated world is not an easy task. Though the women were skilled and well-trained, they did not get the respect their skills deserved. 

This book is not only Nancy's story but that of the WASPs (Women's Airforce Service Pilots).

This is the history of a fight for respect.

This is not a short read—approximately 400 pages—but it is well worth the time spent. I think it would make an excellent book club choice or a high school book report. For those who commute, this book is available as an audiobook, and Nancy Peterson's reading is excellent. The book is 14 hours and 11 minutes, so perfect for a long road trip.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the print 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 and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition.

Trials of the Trash ~ Review

Trials of the Trash
Janitors School of Garbage #2

By Tyler Whitesides

Landon Murphy and Jade Shu are in the middle of their parents' wedding ceremony when a couple of Thingamajunks crash and trash the event. Yikes! Now, this twosome must protect their loved ones and battle anew against the force of evil garabage.

This is the second book in the Janitors School of Garbage series. While this magical world of garbage and garbage monsters isn't my normal cup of tea, it is a delightful adventure for its target audience: middle-school readers. I mean, what self-respecting tween, who craves adventure, wouldn't want to battle the evil forces of garbage. Force intent on crashing important events.

This is a war with garbage when the evil Locksmith forces the Thingamajunks into these acts of destruction. Landon and Jade must join forces with their friends and mentors if they hope to win.

Despite revolving around a world of trash, this is a clean read. No naughty language or parental disrespect just adventurous fun in this middle-grade fantasy.

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

About the Book:

Three young garbologists must defend the world from new magical trash creations.

Landon Murphy never imagined he would spend his summer battling the animated trash monster known as the Megalajunk, and he is eager to continue studying from the wizard-like janitors at the School of Garbage. He’ll need to improve his skills with magical pushbrooms and plungers now that the Thingamajunks have gone rogue.

When two Thingamajunks show up at Landon’s mother’s wedding, Landon is desperate to save his family. Using the lock he kept after defeating the Megalajunk, Landon accidentally triggers his own temporary transformation into the trash leviathan.

Now, he and his stepsister, Jade Shu, must team up again with Sabra, Dr. Bernard Weizmann, and Daisy Gates to figure out why the Thingamajunks are popping up to ruin parties, weddings, concerts, and other celebrations. Landon suspects the Locksmith is behind the attacks, but information about the mysterious figure is scarce.

The questions continue to pile up, but one thing is certain: War is coming to the landfill, and Landon, Jade, and Sabra will need all their courage, creativity, and focus to lay a trap for the Thingamajunks—before it’s too late.

Illusion's Reign ~ Available Now

I'm pleased to share that Illusion's Reign by Sarah Pennington is now available.

This is the second book in the Daughters of Atìrse series. I have not yet finished this book, but what I have read has been enjoyable. If you have not read the first book, Song of the Selkies, do so now.

About the Book:

A transformed princess is determined to reclaim what's hers — but can truth prevail when illusion wears the crown?

Crown Princess Onora of Atìrse is eager to prove herself as the heir to her parents' throne. Moving into one of her family's holdings away from the Royal Seat offers the chance to put into practice all she's learned and demonstrate what kind of queen she intends to one day be, and even the shadow of an uprising among Atìrse's faery neighbors can't dull her excitement. Yet her plans go awry when one of her attendants proves false and she's transformed and replaced by a faery imposter.

Though cursed and cast into the role of a lowly goose-keeper, with only her beloved cat as an ally, Onora refuses to admit defeat. She'll do whatever it takes to break the curse, expose the imposter, and take back the role that is rightfully hers. However, that's easier said than done when her opponent can so easily manipulate the truth — and the fickle feelings of the locals and the surliness of the miller's strange assistant don't make her task any less difficult.

Time is swiftly passing, and Onora must reclaim her place before the transformation becomes permanent. But can she do so when nothing is as it seems and even her allies have secrets?

Return to the kingdom of Atìrse and discover what happens when "The Goose Girl" meets "Puss in Boots" in this prequel to the award-winning Song of the Selkies.

Purchase from Amazon.

Fun Fact: Writing in Prayer

When I started Illusion’s Reign, I thought that, for once in my life, I’d figured out what themes the story was going to deal before I was halfway through. For context, most of the time when I write my first drafts, I just record what happens and how my characters feel about it, and then I look back and realize “Oh, that’s what the story’s about.” Illusion’s Reign, I felt certain, was about leadership, about truth and falsehood, about reliance on God, and a little bit about community. And I was correct . . . but what I didn’t know at the time is that it’s also a story about prayer.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Aside from the fact that any story about reliance on God has to be about prayer in some measure, prayer is frequently present on the page from the very first chapter. In one of the early scenes, Princess Onora seeks out a priest, asking him to advise her in future and to pray for her as she takes on a new set of responsibilities. Additional prayers appear prominently throughout the rest of the story as well, and what I would consider one of the the most pivotal scenes in the novel centers on a prayer of desperation.

These prayers aren’t meant to be preachy (and I don’t think they come off that way). They’re the natural response of characters who are trying to obey God while facing difficulties. They were, somewhat surprisingly, also really fun to write. For one thing, I enjoyed getting to write characters praying the way I wish I could and did. For another, thinking about how a character would pray turns out to be a great way to understand that character and their thoughts on their situation better. 

Prayer might not have been a theme I expected, but it’s certainly one I enjoyed exploring. Hopefully, others will also find pleasure and encouragement from it when they pick up Illusion’s Reign.

Arabella's Song ~ Now Available

 

I am thrilled that Arabella's Song can finally be shared with anyone who wants to read it. To date, this is the longest-finished work I have done. At nearly 25,000 words, it sounds like so many words, but in the world of books, it is not. Yet I'm pleased with what I accomplished. 

It is currently available as a Kindle book, and the print version is still being formatted. Who knew there were so many steps involved in bringing a book to life? 

This has been a learning experience in so many ways, including how little sleep I can survive on while still pretending to function as a person. 

But if you are interested in enjoying Arabella's Song, which was part of the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge, I'm providing the Amazon link here Arabella's Song on Amazon.

This title will be on Kindle Unlimited until Christmas, so don't delay. After that date, it will be available with other online eBook retailers.

About the Book:

A song calls her to her destiny until a betrayal threatens her future.

Arabella's future has long been decided, but she'll have to fight for it when her trusted servant betrays her.

All her life, a song has drawn her towards her destiny, and now it may very well be what saves her life.

With the aid of a talking horse, a mysterious stranger, and a foreign dignitary, Arabella is in a race against time to reclaim the identity stolen from her in this story based on the Goose Girl and the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

This is the first book in The House of Sorah series.

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.