en-US Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:34:38 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 89573809
Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his case. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend--and one of high society's leaders--to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable.

When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon's case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good--along with their lives.]]> 361 Jen Turano 0764240218 Angela 4
"To Spark a Match" combines a sweet he-falls-first romance, cute animal companions, a not-so-secret agency, New York high society, and a bookish mystery into a delightfully chucklesome caper.

Quirky bibliophile Adelaide and protective intelligence agent Grant may well be my favorite Turano couple to date. They were just adorable together! ]]> 4.08 2023
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves:
review:
With sparkling wit and charm, the Countess of Comedy has written another Gilded Age novel that will have readers aglow with merriment!

"To Spark a Match" combines a sweet he-falls-first romance, cute animal companions, a not-so-secret agency, New York high society, and a bookish mystery into a delightfully chucklesome caper.

Quirky bibliophile Adelaide and protective intelligence agent Grant may well be my favorite Turano couple to date. They were just adorable together!
]]> 182094740
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.]]> 400 Joanna Davidson Politano 0800742974 Angela 5 Joanna Davidson Politano must've dipped her pen in pixie dust to compose "The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple," for this lyrical ode to storytelling and fairytales sparkles with every turn of the page!

This historical romance features an alluring silent film actress with a secret past and a bespectacled private investigator with a noble heart. Setting these intriguing characters in Edwardian England, Politano's glittering pen proceeds to blend the enchantment of The Secret Garden, a tender opposites-attract romance, and poignant spiritual themes gilded in metaphor to create an entrancing novel of renewed hope and restoration.

If your world-weary heart is in need of some wonderment, draw near and listen well to The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple! ]]> 4.04 2024
author: Joanna Davidson Politano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:
Whimsical and winsome. Mesmerizing and mysterious. Joanna Davidson Politano must've dipped her pen in pixie dust to compose "The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple," for this lyrical ode to storytelling and fairytales sparkles with every turn of the page!

This historical romance features an alluring silent film actress with a secret past and a bespectacled private investigator with a noble heart. Setting these intriguing characters in Edwardian England, Politano's glittering pen proceeds to blend the enchantment of The Secret Garden, a tender opposites-attract romance, and poignant spiritual themes gilded in metaphor to create an entrancing novel of renewed hope and restoration.

If your world-weary heart is in need of some wonderment, draw near and listen well to The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple!
]]> 228719554 In this clean Regency rom-com, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love—until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong? Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James looking for a low-spice, witty Regency romance.

After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel—until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate—or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs—has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic—no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?

Filled with lively banter, adorable children, a frog named Blast, and swoony kisses, Sense and Suitability is the clean Regency romance you've been looking for. Basham brings her signature humor to the Regency era where social strictures keep the tension tight but the stakes low in this second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance.]]> 268 Pepper Basham Angela 0 to-read 4.40
author: Pepper Basham
name: Angela
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220543398
Bram Webb is under immense pressure to find proof of a legendary Christian Roman settlement in an attempt to conceal his uncle's deteriorating memory from the Trinity College disciplinary board and save both of their jobs. When Eva steps into Bram's office, old sparks fly, rekindling memories that are both fond and painful. The excavation is fraught with challenges from the start, and as Eva and Bram work together with time running out, they must confront their pasts, face the growing attraction between them, and decide whether their love is strong enough to overcome the buried truths that threaten to tear them apart.

Award-winning author Michelle Griep transports you to Victorian-era England with a gripping romance.]]> 368 Michelle Griep 0764242571 Angela 0 to-read 4.44 2025
author: Michelle Griep
name: Angela
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 218725921
Yosarai Patican dreams of becoming an illuminator in a country that values art above all else. A lofty goal that finally seems within reach when she earns a position at the prestigious Academy of the Seven Arts. Although Yosarai loathes to leave behind her quiet country life, she travels to the capital, determined to live up to her mother’s fame as one of Indel’s greatest artists.

Prince Xander never planned to become king. Indeed, he never wanted to become king. But when his father dies suddenly, he is thrust into the middle of coronation preparations—and assassination attempts. With everyone around him in increasing danger, Xander decides to hide in neighboring Indel until the time for him to be crowned king arrives.

Posing as an inventor struggling with aesthetics, Xander enlists Yosarai’s aid as part of his cover, but soon he suspects she knows more than she should. But when danger threatens and secrets are exposed, entering a competition reputed as cutthroat may be the only way for them to protect everything they hold dear.]]> 368 Chawna Schroeder Angela 5 Chawna Schroeder's latest innovative book will leave readers begging for more!

With lyrical prose, poetry, and puzzles, Schroeder paints an alluring narrative, blending vibrant hues of Indian and Hebraic culture, elegant lines of Victorian sensibilities, sweeping strokes of steampunk marvels, and golden illuminations of Biblical truth to create a literary celebration of the arts, misfits, and creativity.

If you've ever wished "A Little Princess" had been a fantasy novel, "Illuminary" is sure to be your cup of tea!

]]> 4.44
author: Chawna Schroeder
name: Angela
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:
An endearing cast of characters. A harrowing quest. And an enchanting story world that illuminates the imagination with wonder. Chawna Schroeder's latest innovative book will leave readers begging for more!

With lyrical prose, poetry, and puzzles, Schroeder paints an alluring narrative, blending vibrant hues of Indian and Hebraic culture, elegant lines of Victorian sensibilities, sweeping strokes of steampunk marvels, and golden illuminations of Biblical truth to create a literary celebration of the arts, misfits, and creativity.

If you've ever wished "A Little Princess" had been a fantasy novel, "Illuminary" is sure to be your cup of tea!


]]> 200772395 368 Jen Turano 0764240226 Angela 0 to-read 4.15 2024
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220543441
Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within castle grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.

In this entrancing series starter, Turano presents a tale of laugh-out-loud adventure, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age.]]> 352 Jen Turano 0764243853 Angela 0 to-read 4.62 2025
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61140753
Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention—and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.]]> 358 Jen Turano 076424020X Angela 4 Jen Turano, has penned another blithesome book, which will have readers chortling with glee!

Entertaining and engaging, "A Match in the Making" is a delightful blend of high society soirees, amusing antics, matchmaking machinations, seaside shenanigans, and banter that zings off the page.

Gwendolyn reminded me a of Mary Poppins with her no-nonsense demeanor, dry wit, and ability to take ridiculous situations in stride. Not to mention the way she helps phlegmatic Walter reconnect with his precocious children.

If you fancy the notion of a Gilded Age beach read, A Match in the Making is sure to be your cup of tea!

]]> 4.10 2023
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
The Countess of Comedy, Jen Turano, has penned another blithesome book, which will have readers chortling with glee!

Entertaining and engaging, "A Match in the Making" is a delightful blend of high society soirees, amusing antics, matchmaking machinations, seaside shenanigans, and banter that zings off the page.

Gwendolyn reminded me a of Mary Poppins with her no-nonsense demeanor, dry wit, and ability to take ridiculous situations in stride. Not to mention the way she helps phlegmatic Walter reconnect with his precocious children.

If you fancy the notion of a Gilded Age beach read, A Match in the Making is sure to be your cup of tea!


]]> 216052869 An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes--or even countries--was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she'd found her perfect match. But as she's nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she's starting to wonder where "home" actually is. Her own family hadn't felt like home since her sister's death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live "Edwardian," she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if "home" looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra "ayes" thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?]]> 384 Pepper Basham 0840716745 Angela 4 Pepper Basham weaves punny humor, Edwardian history enthusiasts, quirky characters, animal encounters of the comical kind, poignant themes of sibling grief, and a grumpy / sunshine romance into a braw narrative tartan.

An affectionate ode to Scotland, this contemporary rom-com will whisk readers away to the Isle of Mull with vibrant descriptions enchanted by whimsical folklore.

If you fancy a humorous highland misadventure, Some Like It Scot is sure to be your cup of heather tea!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.]]> 4.02 2025
author: Pepper Basham
name: Angela
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
In “Some Like It Scot,� Pepper Basham weaves punny humor, Edwardian history enthusiasts, quirky characters, animal encounters of the comical kind, poignant themes of sibling grief, and a grumpy / sunshine romance into a braw narrative tartan.

An affectionate ode to Scotland, this contemporary rom-com will whisk readers away to the Isle of Mull with vibrant descriptions enchanted by whimsical folklore.

If you fancy a humorous highland misadventure, Some Like It Scot is sure to be your cup of heather tea!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.
]]> 222187457
The least Sofia can do is play hostess, though she is ill-prepared for the dazzling new society and a secret she carries could destroy Alex's reputation forever. After their guests leave, she plans to quietly annul their marriage and return to her home country. But when she falls in love with her handsome husband, and he asks her to stay, will she have the courage to do what is best for both of them?]]> 121 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.22
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 219806363
Footman Elijah Boyer has always dreamed of manufacturing his own automobiles and is close to achieving his goal. He agrees to enter the archery competition for the prize money.

Lucy and Eli both want to win, but when they are placed on opposite teams, it means one of them will lose. And when their feelings start to grow, neither one wants that to happen.]]> 88 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.21
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 219300330
Madeline has been doing a fine job as a single mom, though she is thankful for Griff’s presence. It ľ±˛ő˛Ô’t hard to pretend to be married to the handsome Texas Ranger—but will Madeline’s young son let the truth out before Griff can bring the gang to justice?]]> 129 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.37 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 217415446
Hays sets his sights on the new teacher, Miss Emma Longley, but he soon discovers Emma wants nothing to do with marriage, ranching, or Texas and plans to leave Hartville in two short months. Will Hays� charm be enough to convince her to stay?]]> 107 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.30 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 216837697
In answer to a newspaper advertisement, claiming there are one hundred eligible bachelors for every single woman in Little Falls, Minnesota Territory, Josie travels from St. Louis, Missouri to Minnesota to find out...]]> 104 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.37 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 216002436
Luke Longley is at the Red Lake Mission in northern Minnesota, and he is given the same instructions. When he hears that there is a single teacher at the Belle Prairie Mission, he travels a hundred and fifty miles downriver to convince her to become his bride, even though he's never met her.

As soon as Luke arrives at Belle Prairie, he learns that there are four single teachers—and each is eager to become his bride. With just a week to decide, how will he ever choose?]]> 121 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.29 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/19
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 214913002 McCrea Fur Post, Upper Mississippi River, 1792

Abi McCrea has been raised in a remote fur post on the Upper Mississippi River, the daughter of a Scottish fur trader and his Indian wife. All she wants is to see the world beyond her stockade walls, but her father worries that life in the city will not be kind to her.

Englishman Isaiah Kingsley has worked for years to gain the trust of his employer. When he agrees to take a letter into the backcountry, a week’s journey inland, he doesn’t expect to escort a captivating young woman on his return to Montreal.

After they arrive in Montreal, and nothing goes as expected, Abi and Isaiah are soon faced with a decision. Will their plans keep them apart, or will they finally find what they were looking for all along?]]> 94 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.24 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 213956163 James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, 1608

In September 1608, Anne Burras is the only European woman in Jamestown when her mistress dies upon arrival. Laborer John Layton is one of only thirty-eight colonists who survived the first year in the colony. Both want Anne on the supply ship returning to England in three months, but neither foresee the difficulties they will face just to stay alive—or the painful sacrifices they will make to stay together.]]> 141 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 4 Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

]]> 4.07 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!


]]> 228601464 An Appalachian farmer’s daughter and a wealthy businessman find a surprising love but must reckon with what divides them in this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by the award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart .

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.

An inspirational historical romance retelling of Pride and Prejudice for fans of Julie Klassen, Sally Britton, and Sarah E. LaddA clever, clean love storySouthern historical fiction in the vein of Michelle Shocklee and Pepper BashamIncludes discussion questions for book clubs]]> 368 Joanne Bischof DeWitt Angela 0 to-read 4.27
author: Joanne Bischof DeWitt
name: Angela
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 178836133
New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company―and most of the vast fortune that goes with it―to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.]]> 400 Lynn Austin 1496437446 Angela 5 Lynn Austin is Christian Fiction at its finest.

In this rich historical novel, Austin blends the earthy flavor of family secrets long buried, strong notes of Biblical truth, the floral perfume of Gilded Age high society, and sweetens it all with tender themes of love and legacy.

While each member of the multigenerational cast were nuanced and endearing in their own way, the character of Junietta Stanhope was a stand out. Readers who are drawn to matriarchal figures, full of wit and wisdom, will treasure Mimi Juni in their hearts long after her poignant story’s been told.

If you love period dramas, brimming with piping hot tea, you’ll savor every sip of All My Secrets!Ěý]]> 4.33 2024
author: Lynn Austin
name: Angela
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
Enthralling and exquisitely crafted, "All My Secrets" by Lynn Austin is Christian Fiction at its finest.

In this rich historical novel, Austin blends the earthy flavor of family secrets long buried, strong notes of Biblical truth, the floral perfume of Gilded Age high society, and sweetens it all with tender themes of love and legacy.

While each member of the multigenerational cast were nuanced and endearing in their own way, the character of Junietta Stanhope was a stand out. Readers who are drawn to matriarchal figures, full of wit and wisdom, will treasure Mimi Juni in their hearts long after her poignant story’s been told.

If you love period dramas, brimming with piping hot tea, you’ll savor every sip of All My Secrets!Ěý
]]> 228133983 Ěý
In present day Newton Creek, the whispers of a curse still cling to the century-old time capsule of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after the death of her parents, she is intent on solving the century-old mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still form the cornerstone of the manor. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

Lauded by Library Journal as being "in a class by herself," Jaime Jo Wright presents an atmospheric thriller of legends, twisted tales, and a legacy that crosses centuries.]]> 352 Jaime Jo Wright 0764243802 Angela 0 to-read 1.00
author: Jaime Jo Wright
name: Angela
average rating: 1.00
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
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]]> 228133918
In 1563, Lady Cecily Pembrooke serves Queen Elizabeth while clinging to the hope that her stepbrother Charles will remain with her in this path. As the true Earl of Norfolk, Charles is deeply entangled in the deadly politics of the court. When he brings Drew, a physician in training, to Windsor Castle to help save the ailing monarch, old feelings for Drew rekindle in Cecily's heart, but her love faces impossible odds under the strict rules of the crown. As their futures hang by a thread, will Charles and Cecily's web of secrets unravel and ensnare them in an inescapable destiny?

Gabrielle Meyer delivers an enthralling tale of love, sacrifice, and the relentless pull of time in her newest Timeless series installment.]]> 384 Gabrielle Meyer 0764243020 Angela 0 to-read 5.00
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
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]]> 220543432
In 1888, in a race against fate, Kathryn is assisted by her handsome childhood friend in hunting down history's most elusive killer. As they unravel the threads of mystery woven through time, Kathryn must decide if she'll unmask the murderer history has chosen to hide, forfeiting a life with the man she loves to save her sister.

Bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer presents yet another thrilling time-travel tale of intrigue, loyalty, and romance--threaded with suspense and decisions that could change history.]]> 368 Gabrielle Meyer 0764243012 Angela 0 to-read 4.82
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.82
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
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]]> 36250813 What is God's will for my life? when we should really be asking Who should I be? The Bible has an answer: Be like the very image of God.

By exploring ten characteristics of who God is—holy, loving, just, good, merciful, gracious, faithful, patient, truthful, and wise—this book helps us understand who God intends for us to be. Through Christ, the perfect reflection of the image of God, we will discover how God's own attributes impact how we live, leading to freedom and purpose as we follow his will and are conformed to his image.]]> 167 Jen Wilkin 1433549875 Angela 5 4.45 2018
author: Jen Wilkin
name: Angela
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
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]]> 26760312 God is self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal, immutable, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, sovereign, infinite, and incomprehensible.

We're not. And that's a good thing.

Our limitations are by design. We were never meant to be God. But at the root of every sin is our rebellious desire to possess attributes that belong to God alone. Calling us to embrace our limits as a means of glorifying God's limitless power, Jen Wilkin invites us to celebrate the freedom that comes when we rest in letting God be God.]]> 163 Jen Wilkin 1433549832 Angela 5 4.51 2016
author: Jen Wilkin
name: Angela
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
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]]> 209399791 The year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue. For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household. Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true. The boy, Jack, claims he ľ±˛ő˛Ô’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.]]> 274 Lynn Austin 149647628X Angela 0 to-read 4.15 2024
author: Lynn Austin
name: Angela
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> 214974501
Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty-one, she's achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she feels hopeless. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds.

A wildlife enthusiast ready for more

Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with, but as his friendship with Erykah starts to blossom, he begins falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces.

Two hearts destined by nature

With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they've ever faced.

The Nature of Love is a clean, African American contemporary romance with themes of friends to lovers and the healing power of love. This heartfelt happily-ever-after tale is the series finale of Shiloh's beloved Love in the Spotlight novels.]]> 368 Toni Shiloh 0764241524 Angela 4 Toni Shiloh's Love in the Spotlight series. Sweet romance, healthy friendships, buddy banter, unabashed faith themes, and relatable characters with authentically portrayed struggles.

For her grand finale, The Queen of Romance Tropes has outdone herself with the addition of fun animals, adorable kids, and a slow burn romance, simmering with yearning.

Chris is just *le sigh* the BEST! Probably one of my top favorite heroes in a contemporary romance, and he and Erykah were just so cute together!

If you're a fan of inspirational romance, The Nature of Love is sure to be your cup of tea!]]> 4.34 2025
author: Toni Shiloh
name: Angela
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
"The Nature of Love" has everything readers have come to expect from Toni Shiloh's Love in the Spotlight series. Sweet romance, healthy friendships, buddy banter, unabashed faith themes, and relatable characters with authentically portrayed struggles.

For her grand finale, The Queen of Romance Tropes has outdone herself with the addition of fun animals, adorable kids, and a slow burn romance, simmering with yearning.

Chris is just *le sigh* the BEST! Probably one of my top favorite heroes in a contemporary romance, and he and Erykah were just so cute together!

If you're a fan of inspirational romance, The Nature of Love is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 219582020 A holdup gone wrong, a reluctant outlaw, and the captive she’s sworn to guard.

Life in the American West hasn't been easy for French refugee Lorraine Durand. She has precious few connections and longs to return to her native land. So when the man who rescued her from a Parisian uprising following the Franco-Prussian War persuades her to help him with a deadly holdup, she reluctantly agrees. Despite his promises otherwise, the gang kidnaps a man, forcing Lorraine to grapple with the fallout of her choices even as she is drawn to the captive she's meant to guard.

Jesse Alexander must survive. If not for himself, then for the troubled sister he left behind in Los Angeles. At the mercy of his captors, he carefully works to earn Lorraine’s trust, hoping he can easily subdue her when the time comes. But as they navigate the treacherous wilderness and he searches for his opportunity to escape, he realizes there may be more to her than he first believed.

With danger lurking at every turn, they must decide whether to trust each other enough to plan a combined escape or risk falling prey to the gang’s devious schemes.]]> 206 KyLee Woodley Angela 4
Dear Reader, "The Bandit's Redemption" by KyLee Woodley is a GREAT story!

Rugged. Gritty. This rip-roaring adventure had me lassoed and hog-tied at chapter one! Woodley deftly wrangles a true enemies-to-more romance, meticulous historical research, rough and tumble action, atmospheric prose, and complex characters into a page-turning historical romance.

If you're in the mood for a heart-pounding gallop across the wild west, saddle up for The Bandit's Redemption!

]]> 4.31
author: KyLee Woodley
name: Angela
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves:
review:
Westerns aren't typically my cup of tea, but over the years, I've learned that truly great stories often defy genre preferences.

Dear Reader, "The Bandit's Redemption" by KyLee Woodley is a GREAT story!

Rugged. Gritty. This rip-roaring adventure had me lassoed and hog-tied at chapter one! Woodley deftly wrangles a true enemies-to-more romance, meticulous historical research, rough and tumble action, atmospheric prose, and complex characters into a page-turning historical romance.

If you're in the mood for a heart-pounding gallop across the wild west, saddle up for The Bandit's Redemption!


]]> 219708485 With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall's only lead is Lydia's fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the "Killer Queen of Romance." Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.
As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati's citizens, but for their own hearts too.]]> 328 Crystal Caudill 0825449073 Angela 0 to-read 4.48 2025
author: Crystal Caudill
name: Angela
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves: to-read
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]]> 223084197 An expecting widow, a rugged bounty hunter, and a set of secrets that might shatter her fragile heart.

The death of Aubrey Willot’s wealthy but abusive husband left her with an unborn child, an empty chateau, and the last name of a criminal. When she learns he double-crossed a ruthless business associate, she’s forced to accept the protection of the handsome and daring bounty hunter tasked with finding her late husband’s fortune. Though Aubrey swore never to trust another man, she can’t help but be drawn to the bounty hunter’s rugged charm.

After a tragic mistake cost him everything, Nathan Reed spent years running from his past. Now, he needs funds to care for his orphaned niece, and quickly. The chance to retrieve a set of stolen documents offers an opportunity he can’t resist. He’ll find those papers and claim the reward, even if it means deceiving the alluring young widow.

As danger rises, Aubrey’s strength, honesty, and compassion break down Nathan’s defenses, daring him to embrace a future he never imagined—a loving wife and a family of his own. But when his secrets are exposed, will his chance at redemption and Aubrey's heart slip through his fingers?]]> 343 KyLee Woodley Angela 0 to-read 4.60
author: KyLee Woodley
name: Angela
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves: to-read
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]]> 178836173
Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris's new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.]]> 400 Jamie Ogle 1496479661 Angela 5
Ogle's fresh prose breeze across crumbling scrolls of Ancient History, whisking the imagination back in time, amid a whirlwind of dust and sand and rose petals. Immersive descriptions and nuanced characters guide the reader through a harrowing story that explores the depths of human depravity and heights of Christ's divine love.

If you're searching for a story that will challenge and inspire your faith, add "Of Love and Treason" to your TBR!

TW: Sexual assault. Persecution of Christians. Violence, torture & execution. ]]> 4.50 2024
author: Jamie Ogle
name: Angela
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves:
review:
Gritty. Gripping. Gut-wrenching. "Of Love and Treason" by Jaime Ogle is a soul-stirring tome that recounts the origins of Valentine and the harsh realities faced by the early Christian Church in Rome.

Ogle's fresh prose breeze across crumbling scrolls of Ancient History, whisking the imagination back in time, amid a whirlwind of dust and sand and rose petals. Immersive descriptions and nuanced characters guide the reader through a harrowing story that explores the depths of human depravity and heights of Christ's divine love.

If you're searching for a story that will challenge and inspire your faith, add "Of Love and Treason" to your TBR!

TW: Sexual assault. Persecution of Christians. Violence, torture & execution.
]]> 221132704 After high school graduation, Piper Sail ľ±˛ő˛Ô’t quite sure what her future holds—until a possible murder case lands in her lap. Filled with both the glitz and glamor of high society and the dark mafia underbelly of 1920s Chicago, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Maureen Johnson.

Piper Sail knows what she to become a detective. After all, she already solved the case of her missing best friend, and there’s no shortage of crime in 1920s Chicago. But for an eighteen-year-old society girl—even one who’s currently dating a police investigator—it simply ľ±˛ő˛Ô’t done.

That is, until a girl asks her to dig into her brother’s recent death. The police ruled it a suicide, but she's convinced it was murder. And she wants Piper to help her prove it.

In this companion to The Lost Girl of Astor Street, Piper once again grabs her notebook and plunges into the underworld of mafia-controlled Chicago. But she’ll need all her wits and courage if she wants to become The Secret Investigator of Astor Street.]]> 384 Stephanie Morrill 031017581X Angela 0 to-read 4.14
author: Stephanie Morrill
name: Angela
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: to-read
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]]> 60899078 Shay wants to marry her real quick and take her out of Boone's Hollow. But how can she go with Nanny Fay needs her and Addie's baby isn't here yet? Pap's return creates a storm in her relationship with Shay. And then another storm--one brewing way overseas--stirs trouble all over Black Mountain.

Will Bettina's world fall apart again? Or will the lessons she's learned from Nanny Fay about holding tight to the One who can calm any storm take her to a place of peace?]]> 330 Kim Vogel Sawyer Angela 4 Kim Vogel Sawyer plucks at the heartstrings with the deft skill of a seasoned banjo picker.

Fans of "Almost Home" by Valerie Fraser Luesse and "The Blackout Book Club" by Amy Lynn Green will be drawn to this novel's ensemble cast and depiction of life on the home-front in the 1940's as WWII loomed on the horizon.

If you love southern fiction full of homespun faith, you best Return to Boone's Hollow!

]]> 4.37 2022
author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves:
review:
Winsome and folksy, "Return to Boone's Hollow" by Kim Vogel Sawyer plucks at the heartstrings with the deft skill of a seasoned banjo picker.

Fans of "Almost Home" by Valerie Fraser Luesse and "The Blackout Book Club" by Amy Lynn Green will be drawn to this novel's ensemble cast and depiction of life on the home-front in the 1940's as WWII loomed on the horizon.

If you love southern fiction full of homespun faith, you best Return to Boone's Hollow!


]]> 214974624
Years later, Joanna is forever changed when a rabbi comes preaching a new kingdom and healing the sick. Yet, she treads a perilous path between a court that mocks Jesus of Nazareth, a community of believers who views her with suspicion, and a husband who guards his own secrets. As pressure increases, Joanna must protect her allegiance to the Christ, whose message is as compelling as it is dangerous.

In this gripping narrative, rising author Heather Kaufman weaves a tale of faith, resilience, and love amid the danger of King Herod's court.]]> 352 Heather Kaufman 1540903575 Angela 5 Heather Kaufman is a page-turning novel, brimming with political suspense, family secrets, and palatial intrigue.

Thoughtfully researched and exquisitely crafted, this Biblical fiction novel features a marriage of convenience romance full of tender yearning, respectful chronic illness and disability representation, and poignant themes of faith.

Kaufman's lyrical prose give readers an immersive experience, heightened by metaphoric imagery and heart-stirring emotion. Several times, I found myself re-reading passages because I wanted to linger in the story a little while longer. Needed to let the truths, so beautifully conveyed, sink deep into my heart.

If you're looking for a fictional narrative that will deepen your love for God's Word, "Before the King" is a must read! ]]> 4.74
author: Heather Kaufman
name: Angela
average rating: 4.74
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves:
review:
Evocative and powerful. "Before the King" by Heather Kaufman is a page-turning novel, brimming with political suspense, family secrets, and palatial intrigue.

Thoughtfully researched and exquisitely crafted, this Biblical fiction novel features a marriage of convenience romance full of tender yearning, respectful chronic illness and disability representation, and poignant themes of faith.

Kaufman's lyrical prose give readers an immersive experience, heightened by metaphoric imagery and heart-stirring emotion. Several times, I found myself re-reading passages because I wanted to linger in the story a little while longer. Needed to let the truths, so beautifully conveyed, sink deep into my heart.

If you're looking for a fictional narrative that will deepen your love for God's Word, "Before the King" is a must read!
]]> 214909636 Once she denied everything she believed in. Now she’d give anything to choose differently. But in the shadow of the Roman Empire’s persecution and the shame of her past, she fears that what she wants most will be forever out of reach.

Eastern Roman Empire, AD 310. In the shadow of Emperor Diocletian’s anti-Christian edicts, Demitria makes a meager living harvesting coral and pearls for a merchant who turns a blind eye to her faith. By night, Demi goes upriver with her brother, Theseus, to obtain provisions for fellow believers in the port city of Myra. While willing to risk her own life to ensure others are safe and fed, Demi lives with a desperate fear for those she loves and carries secret shame over her greatest failure. When Theseus is injured in a diving accident, all seems lost, until a stranger named Nikolas appears on the beach and offers help.

Arriving in a sinking boat, Nikolas is burdened by guilt over his older brother’s tragic death. Though the wealth he inherited from a prosperous shipping business now rests at the bottom of the sea, as the new pastor in Myra, he is determined to recover it and use it for good. As the violence against Christians increases, Demi helps Nikolas retrieve his lost fortune and distribute it to those in dire need.

Despite wondering if she can ever be worthy, Demi is drawn to Nikolas and longs to trust in his belief that freedom can be found in forgiveness. Then one terrifying night, everything changes as the Roman Empire’s fury rains down. Demi has no other choice but to decide if she has the courage to do what she once failed to . . . and if the faith she calls her own is sure enough to carry her.

Stand-alone Christian historical romance novel set in ancient timesFor fans of historical fiction by Francine Rivers and Tessa AfsharIncludes discussion questions for book clubs]]> 356 Jamie Ogle 1496479734 Angela 0 to-read 4.43 2025
author: Jamie Ogle
name: Angela
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves: to-read
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]]> 49757144 A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback and rediscovers her passions in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.

During the Great Depression, Addie Cowherd dreams of being a novelist and offering readers the escape that books gave her during her tragic childhood. When her adoptive father loses his job, she is forced to leave college and take the only employment she can find--delivering books on horseback to poor coal mining families in the hills of Kentucky.

The small community of Boone's Hollow is suspicious of outsiders and steeped in superstitions that leave Addie feeling rejected and indignant. Although she finds an unexpected friend in an elderly outcast, the other horseback librarians scorn her determination to befriend Nanny Fay.

Emmett Tharp grew up in the tiny mountain hamlet where most men either work in the coal mine or run moonshine. He's the first in the community to earn a college degree, and he has big dreams, but witnesses the Depression robbing many young men of their future.

Then someone sets out to sabotage the library program, going so far as to destroy Addie's novel in progress. Will the saboteur chase Addie and the other librarians away, or will knowledge emerge victorious over prejudice? Is Emmett the local ally that Addie needs--and might their friendship lead to something more?

Inspired by the real WPA program that sent librarians on horseback to deliver books to hill families in Kentucky, Kim Vogel Sawyer immersed herself in Appalachian history to tell this captivating story.]]> 368 Kim Vogel Sawyer 0525653724 Angela 5 Kim Vogel Sawyer is a heart-warming historical novel set in the hills of Kentucky during the Great Depression.

Reminiscent of "Christy" by Catherine Marshall and "Under the Bayou Moon" by Valerie Fraser Luesse, this feel-good story explores tender themes of family, faith, and friendship with a heaping helping of southern charm.

Sawyer's prose are as beautiful and cozy as a patchwork quilt, and her ensemble cast of characters are nuanced and endearing.

If you've ever enjoyed spending time with The Waltons, I reckon you'll take a shine to The Librarian of Boone's Hollow!]]> 4.08 2020
author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:
"The Librarian of Boone's Hollow" by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a heart-warming historical novel set in the hills of Kentucky during the Great Depression.

Reminiscent of "Christy" by Catherine Marshall and "Under the Bayou Moon" by Valerie Fraser Luesse, this feel-good story explores tender themes of family, faith, and friendship with a heaping helping of southern charm.

Sawyer's prose are as beautiful and cozy as a patchwork quilt, and her ensemble cast of characters are nuanced and endearing.

If you've ever enjoyed spending time with The Waltons, I reckon you'll take a shine to The Librarian of Boone's Hollow!
]]> 220353634 In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation� of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.]]> 368 Roseanna M. White Angela 0 to-read 4.32 2025
author: Roseanna M. White
name: Angela
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
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]]> 214974601
But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy--a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Master of World War II fiction Sarah Sundin takes you to the wild Scottish seaside, where danger lurks under the surface of the water--and in the depths of the human heart--for a WWII tale you won't soon forget.]]> 384 Sarah Sundin 0800741862 Angela 0 to-read 4.36 2025
author: Sarah Sundin
name: Angela
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: to-read
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]]> 28637637 Lord Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife, who died before he could tell her that he loved her. Now he's determined to be a better person. But that proves difficult when old rakehell friends arrive on the scene and try to threaten him into committing a crime. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but the stubborn girl won't budge. How else can he redeem himself, though, but by saving her—and his infant daughter—from people ready to destroy them all?]]> 408 Roseanna M. White 0764213520 Angela 5 Roseanna M. White combines the glamorous aesthetic of Downton Abbey, cursed diamonds, and a Grumpy / Sunshine romance with fake dating subterfuge into a truly riveting read.

This story is a thrilling conclusion to the Ladies of the Manor Series! With raised stakes, enthralling characters, and twists at every turn, White keeps her readers guessing and the pages turning.

If you love period dramas that contrast romance and suspense, allow me to introduce A Lady Unrivaled!

]]> 4.30 2016
author: Roseanna M. White
name: Angela
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves:
review:
In "A Lady Unrivaled," Roseanna M. White combines the glamorous aesthetic of Downton Abbey, cursed diamonds, and a Grumpy / Sunshine romance with fake dating subterfuge into a truly riveting read.

This story is a thrilling conclusion to the Ladies of the Manor Series! With raised stakes, enthralling characters, and twists at every turn, White keeps her readers guessing and the pages turning.

If you love period dramas that contrast romance and suspense, allow me to introduce A Lady Unrivaled!


]]> 220543458
The one thing they can all agree on? Life in books sure is easier to figure out than life in the real world. As the three women embark on a nine-day road trip to visit significant literary sites throughout America's heartland, they hope to find inspiration through the works and lives of literary greats. And as they experience firsthand the adventure and wonder of the classics, they'll have to come to terms with their own needs and desires, as well as those of the most important women in their lives--each other.

Book lovers can join the ride through America's literary landscape as award-winning novelist Sara Brunsvold takes you on a trip through the sometimes difficult but always beautiful terrain of being a mother, a daughter, and a sister.]]> 352 Sara Brunsvold 0800746120 Angela 0 to-read 4.38
author: Sara Brunsvold
name: Angela
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/15
shelves: to-read
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]]> 24105713
Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she's never felt good enough--not for her father, not for the man she thought she'd marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she's willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping those threatening her life.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, yet the last thing he needs is the distraction of the newly introduced Lady Rowena. He has enough on his plate having recently come into possession of a rare treasure for which many would kill, yet those around him seem intent on pairing him with this desperate but beguiling girl.

Rowena is reluctant to marry this notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears she'll end up in more danger than she fled.]]> 400 Roseanna M. White 0764213512 Angela 5 Roseanna M. White combines the glamorous aesthetic of Downton Abbey, the cultural flair of the Scottish Highlands, and a tender marriage of convenience romance into a gripping narrative.

From the opening lines, this book takes hold of the heart and doesn't relinquish it until the final page! Raw. Poignant. Emotional. The story begins in a quagmire of heartache but ends before a horizon of hope.

If you're in the mood for an absorbing period drama, allow me to introduce The Reluctant Duchess!

]]> 4.15 2016
author: Roseanna M. White
name: Angela
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves:
review:
In "The Reluctant Duchess," Roseanna M. White combines the glamorous aesthetic of Downton Abbey, the cultural flair of the Scottish Highlands, and a tender marriage of convenience romance into a gripping narrative.

From the opening lines, this book takes hold of the heart and doesn't relinquish it until the final page! Raw. Poignant. Emotional. The story begins in a quagmire of heartache but ends before a horizon of hope.

If you're in the mood for an absorbing period drama, allow me to introduce The Reluctant Duchess!


]]> 214516786
Ellie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery that has eluded Lethersby scholars for more than 100 hundred years by figuring out what happened to their long-lost queen, a young royal who disappeared shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. With the help of Mark, a handsome castle staff member who shares her love of history, she might be able to unravel the queen’s story. But Mark is keeping his own secret from her, and what they discover together could change everything for Ellie—and the entire kingdom.]]> Ann Swindell Angela 0 to-read 4.50 2024
author: Ann Swindell
name: Angela
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 223120575
Reid McCoy has worked hard for fifteen years to become a shareholder in the North West Company and is on the brink of realizing that goal. Taking Charlotte into the interior will not only put her life at risk, but it could also jeopardize his dreams. Honor bound to repay his debt, his only option is to have Charlotte dress as a man and enter as his assistant clerk.

With Charlotte’s guardian close on their trail and a personal rival willing to do anything to keep Reid from becoming a shareholder, they will embark on an epic journey that will test not only their strength and endurance, but their hearts, as well.

Christy Award winner and bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer presents a new and thrilling historical adventure series set in the heart of the North American wilderness.]]> 392 Gabrielle Meyer Angela 0 to-read 4.47 2025
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 216248520
In this suspenseful and joyous conclusion to the bestselling series, Edith must free herself and those she loves from the final secrets of Ormdale.

September, 1899. Edith and her friends have everything they need to ransom Simon back, while hope and change seems to be in the air of Ormdale at last.

But then a surprising invitation from her past leads to a disturbing clue to the identity of the mysterious Barrington. Meanwhile, Dr Farley issues a sinister ultimatum.

Now, Edith must decide not only where her own future might lie, but the future of England’s last Dragon Keepers.]]> 515 Christina Baehr Angela 5 Christina Baehr successfully stuck the landing! ]]> 4.56
author: Christina Baehr
name: Angela
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves:
review:
Dear Reader, I am ever so pleased to report that Christina Baehr successfully stuck the landing!
]]> 209351047 208 Roseanna M. White 076424292X Angela 5
Winsome and whimsical, "Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor" by Roseanna M. White captures all the splendor of the holiday season, from the effervescent joy of childhood to the awe-inspiring wonder of Christ's birth.

Nods to The Nutcracker will evoke smiles from fans of the classic story as they explore the luxury of an Edwardian Manor and the enchantment of a winter wood, glittering with snow.

If you fancy a Nutcracker suite romance, spend your Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor!]]> 4.06 2024
author: Roseanna M. White
name: Angela
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves:
review:
Oh my giddy gumdrops, this confection of a tale is a sheer delight from beginning to end!!!

Winsome and whimsical, "Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor" by Roseanna M. White captures all the splendor of the holiday season, from the effervescent joy of childhood to the awe-inspiring wonder of Christ's birth.

Nods to The Nutcracker will evoke smiles from fans of the classic story as they explore the luxury of an Edwardian Manor and the enchantment of a winter wood, glittering with snow.

If you fancy a Nutcracker suite romance, spend your Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor!
]]> 18651945 New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes--by hook or by crook--she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home . . . until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?]]> 348 Jen Turano 0764211277 Angela 4 Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.

]]> 4.07 2014
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
Absurd antics. Silly shenanigans. Comical capers. Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.


]]> 17384523
Grayson Sumner, Lord Sefton, has had his fill of spreading his wings and only hopes to settle into the life of a respectable New York gentleman. Prompted by friends to lift the spirits of the disappointed-in-love Miss Murdock, he is surprised to encounter an adventurous young lady with an unfortunate knack for stumbling into troublesome situations.

Just as Grayson decides he's had quite enough of her antics, his past comes back to haunt him and his presence in Felicia's life endangers her. As they work together to extricate themselves from this latest complication, will Grayson and Felicia decide they want to spend the rest of their lives keeping each other out of trouble?]]> 346 Jen Turano 0764211269 Angela 4 Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.

]]> 4.14 2013
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
Absurd antics. Silly shenanigans. Comical capers. Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.


]]> 16109762
Mr. Theodore Wilder, private investigator extraordinaire, is on a mission. A mission that began as a favor to his good friend Hamilton Beckett, but swiftly evolved into a merry chase across the country. By the time he finally tracks down Hamilton's sister, Arabella, he is in a less than pleasant mood. When the lady turns out to have radical ideas and a fiercely independent streak, he soon finds himself at his wit's end.

When they return home to New York, circumstances force their paths to continue to cross, but the most peculiar feelings growing between them certainly can't be love. When the trouble Arabella had accidentally stirred up seems to have followed her to New York and threatens her very life, the unlikely couple must face the possibility that they might have landed in the most peculiar circumstance of all: love.]]> 348 Jen Turano 076421019X Angela 4 Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.

]]> 4.10 2013
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
Absurd antics. Silly shenanigans. Comical capers. Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.


]]> 13511668
Mr. Hamilton Beckett, much to his chagrin, is the catch of the season, and all the eyes of New York society—all the female ones, at least—are on him. He has no plans to marry again, especially since his hands are full keeping his business afloat while raising his two children alone.

Eliza's hapless attempts to regain her fortune unexpectedly put her right in Hamilton's path. The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces and, before she knows it, Eliza has a whole retinue of people helping her. Eliza's determination not to trust anyone weakens when everyone's antics and bumbling efforts to assist her make her wonder if there might be more important things than her fortune and independence.

When all of Hamilton's and Eliza's best-laid plans fall by the wayside, it will take a riot of complications for them to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.]]> 320 Jen Turano 0764210181 Angela 4 Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.

]]> 3.97 2012
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
review:
Absurd antics. Silly shenanigans. Comical capers. Jen Turano's Ladies of Distinction series is one-part Gilded Age satire and two parts situation comedy. Readers in need of a literary escape will relish this light-hearted lark of a series certain to evoke smiles and snort-laughs aplenty.

If you're in the mood for fun comfort reads, allow me to introduce the Ladies of Distinction! You're sure to have a delightful time in their company.


]]> 214974510
Despite her initial refusal of him, an ensuing altercation forces Juliet to flee Virginia. Agreeing to marry, she sails with Leith to Scotland, hopeful of a better match for her sister, who accompanies her. But once in Glasgow and faced with the contentious, powerful Buchanan clan, she realizes that the man who saved her from financial ruin and scandal is the very one she must now save in return.]]> 416 Laura Frantz 0800740696 Angela 0 to-read 4.26 2025
author: Laura Frantz
name: Angela
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 90247001
Jeremy Fletcher's life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year's promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but the raise will help him as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she's his rival, he can't stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he's afraid that if he can't get his head on straight, the job isn't the only thing he'll end up losing to Mackenzie.

'Tis the season for romance, faith, and humor--all wrapped up in this enchanting holiday rom-com from award-winning author Sarah Monzon.]]> 256 Sarah Monzon Angela 4 Sarah Monzon combines an office romance, pop culture references, devotion to family, and global holiday traditions into a book that contrasts humor and heart.

For me, what really made this story shine was the anxiety representation. Mackenzie’s social anxiety was treated with respect and portrayed with an authenticity that made me feel seen.

I was moved to tears when Mackenzie had a panic attack because I've been there. My heart ached with understanding when Mackenzie struggled to reconcile her genuine faith in Jesus with the reality of her anxious thoughts because I've been there, too.

If you're looking for a book with honest anxiety rep and the hope of the holidays, "All's Fair in Love and Christmas" might just be your cup of tea!]]> 3.50 2023
author: Sarah Monzon
name: Angela
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves:
review:
In "All's Fair in Love and Christmas," Sarah Monzon combines an office romance, pop culture references, devotion to family, and global holiday traditions into a book that contrasts humor and heart.

For me, what really made this story shine was the anxiety representation. Mackenzie’s social anxiety was treated with respect and portrayed with an authenticity that made me feel seen.

I was moved to tears when Mackenzie had a panic attack because I've been there. My heart ached with understanding when Mackenzie struggled to reconcile her genuine faith in Jesus with the reality of her anxious thoughts because I've been there, too.

If you're looking for a book with honest anxiety rep and the hope of the holidays, "All's Fair in Love and Christmas" might just be your cup of tea!
]]> 209351079
In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther's reign hang in the balance.]]> 400 Tessa Afshar 0764243691 Angela 5 Tessa Afshar, but it certainly won't be my last!

From the warmth of a quaint kitchen to the wonder of an ornate palace, Afshar's vivid descriptions make the time of Queen Esther come to life, whisking readers on an immersive tour of the Persian Empire. Tactile details and hypnotic prose create a sensory experience, engaging the imagination to the fullest, while multifaceted characters with nuanced emotions, captivate the heart.

Fragrant with the truth of Scripture and rich with the complexities of ancient history, this riveting tale drew me in from the first few pages and keep me utterly riveted until The End.

If you're in the mood for a page-turning Biblical fiction novel, allow me to introduce you to "The Queen's Cook!"

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.]]> 4.41 2024
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Angela
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/12
shelves:
review:
"The Queen's Cook" was my first foray into the work of Tessa Afshar, but it certainly won't be my last!

From the warmth of a quaint kitchen to the wonder of an ornate palace, Afshar's vivid descriptions make the time of Queen Esther come to life, whisking readers on an immersive tour of the Persian Empire. Tactile details and hypnotic prose create a sensory experience, engaging the imagination to the fullest, while multifaceted characters with nuanced emotions, captivate the heart.

Fragrant with the truth of Scripture and rich with the complexities of ancient history, this riveting tale drew me in from the first few pages and keep me utterly riveted until The End.

If you're in the mood for a page-turning Biblical fiction novel, allow me to introduce you to "The Queen's Cook!"

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.
]]> 27823083
Fast forward one year. This December, with a looming deadline, restless spirit and her creative spark long since gone, Maren is desperate to get unstuck. And she can’t get Colin out of her head…or his year-old open invitation to spend a couple weeks writing at his family’s farm.

Drew Renwycke never planned to come home and take over the Renwycke family farm. But he’s spent too many years watching his siblings unravel, including his brother, Colin, after one terrible family mistake. If moving to Maple Valley, Iowa, renovating an old farmhouse and switching careers is what it takes to put the Renwycke family back together, he’ll do it.

But his simple plan upends when a scrappy author lands on his doorstep. And she just might be the key to coaxing his brother home. But what if he wants her all to himself? Drew will have to choose between his Christmas wish and the enchantment of a holiday romance that just might be the happy ending they all long for.]]> 118 Melissa Tagg Angela 5
But what really made this novella sing was the moments of narration by the ever-charming Melissa Tagg! It was so witty and enchanting that I found myself eagerly anticipating the narrator's interjections.

If you love a good holiday rom-com, "One Enchanted Christmas" is sure to make you smile!]]> 4.23 2015
author: Melissa Tagg
name: Angela
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/11/30
shelves:
review:
"One Enchanted Christmas" is a truly delightful story! I loved the main characters and found their romance to be heart-meltingly sweet.

But what really made this novella sing was the moments of narration by the ever-charming Melissa Tagg! It was so witty and enchanting that I found myself eagerly anticipating the narrator's interjections.

If you love a good holiday rom-com, "One Enchanted Christmas" is sure to make you smile!
]]> 55488993 His Majesty Jonah Harrison Archer Davies VI has just endured the worst year of his life . . . and he's convinced he's no longer fit to rule Concordia. Not now . . . but maybe someday. Taking advantage of an obscure law that allows him to temporarily abdicate his throne, he transfers short-term power to his younger brother and retreats to Tinsel, Vermont. Perhaps in this tucked-away town, with its enchanting Christmas decorations and unusual media ban, Jonah will discover the peace and privacy he needs to heal, find his vision for his country . . . and somehow believe himself worthy of the crown.

Eight years ago, Rowan Bell dropped out of college and sacrificed her dream of traveling the world to keep a promise to her dying grandmother--to care for Tinsel's charming library. But the antiquated Cape Cod cottage that has housed the library for decades is falling apart around her, and Tinsel's city leaders have arranged to relocate the library. Desperate to keep her grandmother's legacy alive--and hopefully hush the longings of her restless heart in the process--Rowan hatches a plan to preserve the historic house. Help comes in the most unexpected form when a handsome bookworm--a king!--appears in Rowan's life.

Drawn together under Tinsel's Christmastime spell, Rowan and Jonah work to secure the library's future, even as they grapple with all the uncertainty in their own futures. But when a national crisis calls Jonah home, it's not only his claim to the throne that's in danger, but their two hearts which had only begun to hope again.

One Royal Christmas originally appeared in the 2019 novella collection Royally Yours. This is a standalone novella filled with romance, royalty and small-town charm.]]> 164 Melissa Tagg Angela 5 4.35 2020
author: Melissa Tagg
name: Angela
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/11/29
shelves:
review:
"One Royal Christmas" is one of my favorite Melissa Tagg Christmas novellas! (Second only to "One Enchanted Christmas" with its hilarious narrator.) This royal romance story will sweep book lovers off their feet with its cozy library scenes, references to classic books, and bibliophile king. I've read this book twice during the holidays and fully intend to reread it again in the future. Highly recommend!
]]> 209351075 368 Michelle Griep 0764242563 Angela 5
Readers will relish Griep’s signature blend of heart-fluttering romance, witty banter, and Dickensian flair, enhanced in this new tome by the bergamoty flavor and papery aroma of dark academia.

I wholeheartedly shipped bookish poet Edmund and quirky Egyptologist Ami as they navigated a mystery rife with ancient curses, shadowy characters, and unexpected twists.

If you fancy the notion of exploring a Victorian manor house agleam with antiquities, "Of Gold and Shadows" is sure to be your cup of tea!Ěý]]> 4.14 2024
author: Michelle Griep
name: Angela
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/11/19
shelves:
review:
Swoony. Suspenseful. Spectacular. Michelle Griep has penned another five-star stunner!

Readers will relish Griep’s signature blend of heart-fluttering romance, witty banter, and Dickensian flair, enhanced in this new tome by the bergamoty flavor and papery aroma of dark academia.

I wholeheartedly shipped bookish poet Edmund and quirky Egyptologist Ami as they navigated a mystery rife with ancient curses, shadowy characters, and unexpected twists.

If you fancy the notion of exploring a Victorian manor house agleam with antiquities, "Of Gold and Shadows" is sure to be your cup of tea!Ěý
]]> 209174390
Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille "Bebe" Gordon.

Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns--for the first time in eight years--all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won't risk him leaving her again. As their hometown's Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he's only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.]]> 224 Toni Shiloh 0764244698 Angela 4 3.47 2024
author: Toni Shiloh
name: Angela
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves:
review:
Those who know me well, know that I'm not a fan of the sports...of any sorts.
]]> 209351020 368 Jaime Jo Wright 076424146X Angela 5 Jaime Jo Wright's latest tome, and once more, I find myself grappling for words to convey the sheer perfection that is her storytelling. In my humble opinion, there are no faults to be found. Somehow, the Mistress of the Macabre has outdone herself yet AGAIN!

In "Specters in the Glass House," Wright has penned another story that juxtaposes the harsh realities of the human experience—with all its pain, darkness, and fragility—and the awe-inspiring realities of the character of God—with all His comfort, light, and hope.

Wright's atmospheric prose entrance the imagination with her signature gothic style, enhanced in this tale by October's autumnal allure. Intricate plotting keeps the mind guessing, and nuanced characters, possessed of great strength and vulnerability, seem to breathe on the page. Poignant themes of mental illness and faith are handled with the utmost respect and care, promising to uplift many a downtrodden spirit. And the romantic subplots—OH MY GOOD GOLLY GRACIOUS! I was not prepared for the swoonery!

If you've ever wished The Secret Garden had been haunted by phantom butterflies, you simply must visit the Specters in the Glass House!]]> 4.27 2024
author: Jaime Jo Wright
name: Angela
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves:
review:
Once more, I find myself composing a review for Jaime Jo Wright's latest tome, and once more, I find myself grappling for words to convey the sheer perfection that is her storytelling. In my humble opinion, there are no faults to be found. Somehow, the Mistress of the Macabre has outdone herself yet AGAIN!

In "Specters in the Glass House," Wright has penned another story that juxtaposes the harsh realities of the human experience—with all its pain, darkness, and fragility—and the awe-inspiring realities of the character of God—with all His comfort, light, and hope.

Wright's atmospheric prose entrance the imagination with her signature gothic style, enhanced in this tale by October's autumnal allure. Intricate plotting keeps the mind guessing, and nuanced characters, possessed of great strength and vulnerability, seem to breathe on the page. Poignant themes of mental illness and faith are handled with the utmost respect and care, promising to uplift many a downtrodden spirit. And the romantic subplots—OH MY GOOD GOLLY GRACIOUS! I was not prepared for the swoonery!

If you've ever wished The Secret Garden had been haunted by phantom butterflies, you simply must visit the Specters in the Glass House!
]]> 219360696
--Rebekah Millet, award-winning author of Julia Monroe Begins Again


Can two opposites come together to solve the murder of a rising star?


In the glitz and glam of New York City's elite circles, Delvina Salvastano Kline walks a delicate line between her privileged upbringing and her murky past. Adopted into wealth and opulence, she contends with the legacy of her birth father, a notorious crime boss. In an act of defiance, Delvina sheds the smothering label of "society's misfit" by carving her own path as a private investigator.


When a promising young fashion model is found dead, Delvina is hired to unmask the killer lurking behind the city's shimmering facade. She reluctantly teams up with detective Kent Brisbane, the man she once loved, who knows a secret that could shatter her carefully crafted persona. As they plunge deep into the shadows of New York's underbelly, they discover the stakes are higher than they'd thought. Amidst glittering parties and whispered secrets, the duo races against time to uncover the truth.


Rachel Scott McDaniel delivers a riveting blend of mystery and second-chance romance with gentle undertones of faith in this Roaring Twenties novel.


"Rachel Scott McDaniel's exquisite storytelling in The Dreams We Knew delivers a story brimming with mystery, romance, and captivating characters, all wrapped in a quick-paced adventure you can't put down." --Natalie Walters, award-winning author of Better Watch Out and the SNAP Agency series]]> 320 Rachel Scott McDaniel 082544814X Angela 0 to-read 4.55 2024
author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
name: Angela
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 59090244
Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.

Rachel Fordham invites you to experience the strength and beauty of love forged in the crucible of hardship in this heartwarming story.]]> 336 Rachel Fordham 0800739744 Angela 5 Rachel Fordham is a sterling historical romance, gleaming with threads of faith and heart!

Oh my goodness gracious, dearies! THIS BOOK!!! ]]> 4.02 2022
author: Rachel Fordham
name: Angela
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves:
review:
Beautifully captivating and wonderfully satisfying. "Where the Road Bends" by Rachel Fordham is a sterling historical romance, gleaming with threads of faith and heart!

Oh my goodness gracious, dearies! THIS BOOK!!!
]]> 210136994 Like walking onto the set of your favorite Hallmark Christmas movie, Mistletoe Season invites readers to fall in love alongside three couples, featuring old flames, opposites attract, and even a royal romance.

Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts

Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild's kryptonite. Every time she's kissed someone under the mistletoe it's led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams), kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn't a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she's never forgotten, and now she's about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller

Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O'Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother's seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister's close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he'll never stay in Mistletoe and she'll never leave?

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham

Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month "punishment" in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn't recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic, and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.

Featuring three separate stories, Mistletoe Season is the perfect escape from a bustling Christmas season. Pull up a cozy blanket, fix yourself a warm drink, and set yourself up by the fire to enjoy three delightful, low-spice romances.]]> 320 Sheila Roberts 0840716818 Angela 3 Pepper Basham and 2) the ever-delightful Edgewoods from her Skymar series.

Therefore, it's no surprise that of the three holiday novellas Basham's was far and away my favorite. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that "The Mistletoe Prince" is the gleaming jewel in this collection's crown! A sweet royal romance with southern charm, wit, and heart.

If you like twinkle lights, small town vibes, and Hallmark Christmas movies, "Mistletoe Season" might just be your cup of Pepper-mint tea! (Pun wholeheartedly intended!]]> 3.62 2024
author: Sheila Roberts
name: Angela
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/09/30
shelves:
review:
Full disclosure, I requested this book on NetGalley for precisely two reasons: 1) the ever-blithesome Pepper Basham and 2) the ever-delightful Edgewoods from her Skymar series.

Therefore, it's no surprise that of the three holiday novellas Basham's was far and away my favorite. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that "The Mistletoe Prince" is the gleaming jewel in this collection's crown! A sweet royal romance with southern charm, wit, and heart.

If you like twinkle lights, small town vibes, and Hallmark Christmas movies, "Mistletoe Season" might just be your cup of Pepper-mint tea! (Pun wholeheartedly intended!
]]> 58302929
Arthur Livingston's goal in life is to make his mark on the world as a mining industrialist, but after the man who could help him achieve his goal is murdered, Arthur feels compelled to seek justice for the family—but he's left with more questions than answers after the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency refuses to take on his case.

Desperate to conceal her real identity and avoid the irritatingly handsome Arthur, Eunice takes on a different case that requires her to go deep undercover and entangles her in one troublesome situation after another. When other secrets come to light, Eunice has no choice but to confront her past, hopeful that it will set her free but knowing it could very well place her life—and the lives of those she loves—in jeopardy.]]> 347 Jen Turano 0764235338 Angela 4 Jen Turano is a delightful gambol through the Gilded Age sure to have reader's chuckling into their evening gloves.

This grand finale of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency Series unveils the truth behind Eunice Holbrook's widow's weeds. What follows is a humorous story rife with mystery, mayhem, and romance!

History buffs will be delighted by Nellie Bly references, and readers of all sorts will be entertained by Turano's cast of kooky characters and a plot that's silly in the absolute best way!

If you're in search of a light-hearted lark of a book, "To Disguise the Truth" is sure to be your cup of tea!

]]> 4.23 2022
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves:
review:
Secrets and schemes and scandals, oh my! "To Disguise the Truth" by Jen Turano is a delightful gambol through the Gilded Age sure to have reader's chuckling into their evening gloves.

This grand finale of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency Series unveils the truth behind Eunice Holbrook's widow's weeds. What follows is a humorous story rife with mystery, mayhem, and romance!

History buffs will be delighted by Nellie Bly references, and readers of all sorts will be entertained by Turano's cast of kooky characters and a plot that's silly in the absolute best way!

If you're in search of a light-hearted lark of a book, "To Disguise the Truth" is sure to be your cup of tea!


]]> 211138933
Edith is convinced that Janushek’s former employer, the mysterious Doctor Farley, holds the key to an antidote for dragon venom—her only hope to free the man she loves. Her ruse to obtain it leads her to London’s shadowy East End and a plot as sensational as one of her own detective novels.

As Edith goes deeper into a city far more serpentine than she ever dreamed, she begins to question what Farley is really searching for…and if the cost to save Simon might be more than she can pay.

Book 4 of The Secrets of Ormdale takes Edith from the heights of London society to its darkest slums, where unexpected dragons follow and her survival lies not in her hands, but in the hands of her friends.]]> 308 Christina Baehr Angela 5
Dear reader, "City of Serpents" is a GREAT book!

The fourth tome in the Secrets of Ormdale Series by Christina Baehr blends strong notes of gothic suspense with the dark academic flavor of 19th century sensation novels and sweetens it with cozy themes of faith and friendship.

Fans of Robert Louis Stevenson and Wilkie Collins will adore this story's chilling mad scientist and atmospheric setting of Victorian England.

I, for one, need the next book POSTHASTE after that cinematic ending!!! ]]> 4.39
author: Christina Baehr
name: Angela
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/09/16
shelves:
review:
In my humble opinion, a great book produces a duality of longing within the heart of a reader—the longing to binge-read because one wants to know what happens next, yoked alongside, the equally strong longing to savor-read because one doesn't want the story to end.

Dear reader, "City of Serpents" is a GREAT book!

The fourth tome in the Secrets of Ormdale Series by Christina Baehr blends strong notes of gothic suspense with the dark academic flavor of 19th century sensation novels and sweetens it with cozy themes of faith and friendship.

Fans of Robert Louis Stevenson and Wilkie Collins will adore this story's chilling mad scientist and atmospheric setting of Victorian England.

I, for one, need the next book POSTHASTE after that cinematic ending!!!
]]> 55654609
Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he lives a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished on an expedition when he was a child. But when he experiences numerous attempts on his life, he seeks out the services of the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency to uncover the culprit. All too soon, Herman finds himself stepping out of the safe haven of his world and into an adventure he never imagined.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed Daphne's way as well, Herman and Daphne must determine who they can trust and if they can risk the greatest adventure of all: love.]]> 360 Jen Turano 076423532X Angela 4 Jen Turano is a mad caper sure to keep the laughs coming and the pages turning.

This second addition to the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency Series centers on everyone's favorite bespectacled mystery author, Daphne. I loved sweet, swooning Daphne immediately upon making her acquaintance in "To Steal a Heart," and I was thrilled to find her story every bit as writerly and adorable and charming as I'd hoped. ]]> 4.22 2021
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/09/09
shelves:
review:
Wonderfully entertaining and delightfully quirky, "To Write a Wrong" by Jen Turano is a mad caper sure to keep the laughs coming and the pages turning.

This second addition to the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency Series centers on everyone's favorite bespectacled mystery author, Daphne. I loved sweet, swooning Daphne immediately upon making her acquaintance in "To Steal a Heart," and I was thrilled to find her story every bit as writerly and adorable and charming as I'd hoped.
]]> 51269867
After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as his heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agreed to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he'd be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.]]> 361 Jen Turano 0764235311 Angela 4
Dear reader, this light-hearted novel was just what the bookish doctor ordered! �

Zany. Satirical. And delightfully absurd! "To Steal a Heart" by Jen Turano is a fun story where hilarity doesn't merely ensue—it positively abounds and has a lively frolic!

One part historical romance, one part situation comedy, this first book in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series introduces a loveable, found family of eccentric characters sure to entertain many a reader with their shenanigans.

I, for one, grinned. Chuckled. Snort-laughed. And generally, had a jolly good time! ]]> 4.15 2020
author: Jen Turano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves:
review:
After an anxiety riddled week, I was desperate for a comfort read I could nestle into and fully relax, assured that nothing triggering would occur between the pages.

Dear reader, this light-hearted novel was just what the bookish doctor ordered! �

Zany. Satirical. And delightfully absurd! "To Steal a Heart" by Jen Turano is a fun story where hilarity doesn't merely ensue—it positively abounds and has a lively frolic!

One part historical romance, one part situation comedy, this first book in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series introduces a loveable, found family of eccentric characters sure to entertain many a reader with their shenanigans.

I, for one, grinned. Chuckled. Snort-laughed. And generally, had a jolly good time!
]]> 204484207
Following this mysterious invitation, Edith sets off on a quest to the Castle of the Winds to find a lost family of dragon keepers in the mountains of Wild Wales. But all is not as it seems. Edith must guard her own hidden power, or she might not return to her friends in Ormdale—including the man who has come to love her. Will Edith make an alliance with the legendary Red Dragon of her dreams to safeguard her ancestral charge, or will she lose everything she has tried to protect?

Book 3 of The Secrets of Ormdale is a breathtaking adventure that will take Edith to exhilarating new heights…and deeper into peril than ever before.]]> 260 Christina Baehr Angela 5 Christina Baehr's third installment of The Secrets of Ormdale Series is a high-flying adventure with an undercurrent of gothic suspense.

In "Castle of the Winds" our friends Edith and Simon set forth on a quest to the mountains of Wales where they encounter new dragons, hidden perils, and a village that's positively medieval. Fans of "How to Train Your Dragon" will adore this novel's unique blend of cinematic action, whimsical creatures, and endearing characters.

I, for one, need to read the next book POSTHASTE because oh my heart, THAT ENDING, dearies! ]]> 4.40 2024
author: Christina Baehr
name: Angela
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/08/27
shelves:
review:
Christina Baehr's third installment of The Secrets of Ormdale Series is a high-flying adventure with an undercurrent of gothic suspense.

In "Castle of the Winds" our friends Edith and Simon set forth on a quest to the mountains of Wales where they encounter new dragons, hidden perils, and a village that's positively medieval. Fans of "How to Train Your Dragon" will adore this novel's unique blend of cinematic action, whimsical creatures, and endearing characters.

I, for one, need to read the next book POSTHASTE because oh my heart, THAT ENDING, dearies!
]]> 201335459 Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love.

Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis's appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family's affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only discarded Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing niece.

At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn't a romantic job, but she's hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building--and is thrown in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor.

Otis's wounds are deep, but as Sadie's friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. The mystery of his long-lost niece, however, is more complex than either could have imagined, and Sadie may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.]]> 336 Rachel Fordham 0840718802 Angela 5 Rachel Fordham novel!? HOW?!?! ]]> 4.11 2024
author: Rachel Fordham
name: Angela
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/08/21
shelves:
review:
How have I gone this long without trying a Rachel Fordham novel!? HOW?!?!
]]> 214974640
Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn't surprise him when the town's quirky new librarian does the same thing and believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can't help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline's secret matchmaking scheme, he's not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can't judge a book—or each other—by the cover.]]> 320 Sarah Monzon 0764243748 Angela 0 to-read 3.89 2025
author: Sarah Monzon
name: Angela
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 200499587
As the new dragon keeper in the hidden valley of Ormdale, Edith expects her first dragon mating season to involve venomous bites and amorous wyverns.

She doesn’t expect to find herself growing closer to an inconveniently appealing suitor next door, or to stumble upon a dragon poacher lurking in the outbuildings, or to uncover a family scandal in the Abbey.

Fortunately, Edith has a mentor to help her sort things out, the spellbinding Helena Drake of Drake Hall. Or does Helena harbour secrets of her own?

For Edith, the dragons were always going to be the easy part.

DRAKE HALL, Book 2 of The Secrets of Ormdale, takes Edith deeper into the cosy gothic world of Yorkshire dragons and the mysterious families who guard them.]]> 242 Christina Baehr Angela 5 Christina Baehr's second installment in The Secrets of Ormdale Series is a delightful page-turner!

"Drake Hall" is fanciful and fascinating. Enchanting and engrossing. Charming and captivating. I could wax poetical with alliterations for days on end, so much have I enjoyed this story! My bookish heart is giddy to the point of GUSHING, dearies!

After reading several beautiful, but rather somber novels, this is just the sort of tale I needed to get lost in! Something imaginative! Something humorous!! Something fun!!! Have I used enough exclamation marks to suitably convey how FUN this story is yet!?!?!

Fans of Victorian history, fairy tales, and legends of yore will love exploring Baehr's whimsical world.

If you've ever wished there had been dragons frolicking about "The Secret Garden," you simply must pay a visit to "Drake Hall"!

]]> 4.33 2024
author: Christina Baehr
name: Angela
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/28
date added: 2024/08/14
shelves:
review:
Christina Baehr's second installment in The Secrets of Ormdale Series is a delightful page-turner!

"Drake Hall" is fanciful and fascinating. Enchanting and engrossing. Charming and captivating. I could wax poetical with alliterations for days on end, so much have I enjoyed this story! My bookish heart is giddy to the point of GUSHING, dearies!

After reading several beautiful, but rather somber novels, this is just the sort of tale I needed to get lost in! Something imaginative! Something humorous!! Something fun!!! Have I used enough exclamation marks to suitably convey how FUN this story is yet!?!?!

Fans of Victorian history, fairy tales, and legends of yore will love exploring Baehr's whimsical world.

If you've ever wished there had been dragons frolicking about "The Secret Garden," you simply must pay a visit to "Drake Hall"!


]]> 198096255
Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.

An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world � especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy.

But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap...and some of them have teeth.

WORMWOOD ABBEY, Book 1 of The Secrets of Ormdale, is a cosy gothic novel of mystery, dragons, and the perils of friendship, perfect for fans of EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES and Maria Grace.

Preorder today to explore the hidden valley of Ormdale, the first in a new 5 book series!]]> 208 Christina Baehr Angela 5
Dear reader, I absolutely ADORED this enchanting adventure! ]]> 4.20 2023
author: Christina Baehr
name: Angela
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/22
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:
Whimsical, humorous, and utterly Victorian—to say that "Wormwood Abbey" is my bookish cup of tea, would be a vast understatement!

Dear reader, I absolutely ADORED this enchanting adventure!
]]> 216994098
"A Heart in Disguise" by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US "Camouflage Corps," sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home--except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

"A Letter to Eli" by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It's never far away from their thoughts--not with Alice's fianc�© serving at sea, in danger every minute. That's a worry Bette doesn't envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

"A Daffodil in the Dress" by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family's bookstore since Kate's husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?]]> 381 Rachel Scott McDaniel 0825471427 Angela 0 to-read 4.64 2024
author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
name: Angela
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 22383696
The mystery of her mother's death haunts her, and though her father is quick to accept her, the rest of the family and the servants of Whitby Park are not. Only when Brook's life is threatened do they draw close—but will their loyalty come too late to save Brook from the same threat that led to tragedy for her mother?

As heir to a dukedom, Justin is no stranger to balancing responsibilities. When the matters of his estate force him far from Brook, the distance between them reveals that their friendship has grown into something much more. But how can their very different loyalties and responsibilities ever come together?

And then for a second time, the heiress of Whitby Park is stolen away because of the very rare treasure in her possession—and those who can save her still aren't sure whom to trust.]]> 439 Roseanna M. White 0764213504 Angela 4
If you're looking for a historical romance with all the drama, allow me to introduce you to "The Lost Heiress!"
]]> 4.11 2015
author: Roseanna M. White
name: Angela
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/08/06
shelves:
review:
In "The Lost Heiress," Roseanna M. White combines the glamorous aesthetic of Downton Abbey, the complexities of upstairs/downstairs dynamics in the Edwardian Era, the intrigue of an unsolved mystery, and a friends-to-more romance into a novel rife with family secrets and high society scandals.

If you're looking for a historical romance with all the drama, allow me to introduce you to "The Lost Heiress!"

]]> 214974578
Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate's butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master's brilliance as well as his property--or someone else will.]]> 400 Joanna Davidson Politano 0800742982 Angela 0 to-read 4.46 2025
author: Joanna Davidson Politano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60098525 When bright and spirited Norvia moves from the country to the city, she has to live by one new rule: Never let anyone know you’re Ojibwe.

Growing up on Beaver Island, Grand-père told Norvia stories—stories about her ancestor Migizi, about Biboonke-o-nini the Wintermaker, about the Crane Clan and the Reindeer Clan. He sang her songs in the old language, and her grandmothers taught her to make story quilts and maple candy. On the island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage.

Things are different in the city. Here, Norvia’s mother forces her to pretend she’s not Native at all—even to Mr. Ward, Ma’s new husband, and to Vernon, Norvia’s irritating new stepbrother. In fact, there are a lot of changes in the city: ten-cent movies, gleaming soda shops, speedy automobiles, ninth grade. It’s dizzying for a girl who grew up on the forested shores of Lake Michigan.

Despite the move, the upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it... and upon her discretion.

But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?

The Star That Always Stays is directly inspired by Anna Rose Johnson’s family history.]]> 274 Anna Rose Johnson 0823450406 Angela 5
References to the literary heroines of Alcott, Burnett, and Montgomery will delight readers with bookish nostalgia and precocious sibling banter will prompt many a smile.

If you’re a fan of childhood classics and sweet coming-of-age stories, "The Star That Always Stays" is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 4.07 2022
author: Anna Rose Johnson
name: Angela
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves:
review:
Winsome and wistful, "The Star That Always Stays" by Anna Rose Johnson is a charming middle grade novel set in 1914, Michigan. In the pages of this book, Johnson explores themes of family, friendship, and finding joy amid life's heartaches through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters, each with their own nuanced and realistic emotions to navigate.

References to the literary heroines of Alcott, Burnett, and Montgomery will delight readers with bookish nostalgia and precocious sibling banter will prompt many a smile.

If you’re a fan of childhood classics and sweet coming-of-age stories, "The Star That Always Stays" is sure to be your cup of tea!

]]> 60324252
***

When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant's father dies, he leaves to her the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman's portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

Fan-favorite Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women's independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era--and now.]]> 384 Joanna Davidson Politano 0800736915 Angela 5 Joanna Davidson Politano has penned a melodious novel with poignant notes of tragedy, mystery, and romance.

Fans of Michelle Griep, Jamie Jo Wright, and the 1944 film "Gaslight," will be utterly riveted by this achingly beautiful story set in a Victorian insane asylum.

If you love classical music and gothic literature, "The Lost Melody" is sure to be your cup of tea!]]> 4.01 2022
author: Joanna Davidson Politano
name: Angela
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/07/24
shelves:
review:
With lyrical prose that entrance and enchant, Joanna Davidson Politano has penned a melodious novel with poignant notes of tragedy, mystery, and romance.

Fans of Michelle Griep, Jamie Jo Wright, and the 1944 film "Gaslight," will be utterly riveted by this achingly beautiful story set in a Victorian insane asylum.

If you love classical music and gothic literature, "The Lost Melody" is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 214974588
In the present day, author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic mining town in Michigan, seeking clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse's landlord, Shea contends with the vengeful legend of Annabel's ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the secrets surrounding a decade-old murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel's lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight of torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love and a vengeance that should have drowned a century before.

An acclaimed "expert in her element" (Booklist), Jaime Jo Wright once again delivers a bone-chilling dual-time suspense novel that will leave readers turning the pages all night long.]]> 352 Jaime Jo Wright 0764243799 Angela 0 to-read 4.47 2025
author: Jaime Jo Wright
name: Angela
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 199454331
As the work begins, "Joey" discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls--pages torn from a lighthouse keeper's log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there's never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.

When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story--one that's not over yet.

Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.]]> 336 Amanda Cox 0800742745 Angela 0 to-read 4.01 2024
author: Amanda Cox
name: Angela
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 199670997
In 1692, they live and work in their father's tavern, where they must watch helplessly as the witch trials unfold in their village, threatening everyone. With the help of a handsome childhood friend, they search for the truth behind their mother's mysterious death, risking everything to expose a secret that could save their lives--or be their undoing.

In 1912, Hope dreams of becoming one of the first female pilots in America, and Grace works as an investigative journalist, uncovering corruption and injustice. After their parents' orphanage is threatened by an adversary, they enter a contest to complete a perilous cross-country flight under the guidance of a daring French aviator.

The sisters have already decided which timeline they will choose, but an unthinkable tragedy complicates the future they planned for themselves. As their birthday looms, how will they determine the lives--and loves--that are best for both of them?]]> 400 Gabrielle Meyer 0764239767 Angela 5
How, you ask? How in the world has Meyer pulled off her fascinating time-crosser premise yet again!? And penned a riveting page-turner with nuanced characters, poignant faith themes, and jaw-dropping plot twists...YET AGAIN!?!

Dear reader, I haven't the foggiest! My mind is well and properly BLOWN into a million pieces of bookish confetti!!! ]]> 4.49 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/07/17
shelves:
review:
Innovative and imaginative. Complex and compelling. Unpredictable and unparalleled. Gabrielle Meyer has added another must read novel to her groundbreaking Timeless series!

How, you ask? How in the world has Meyer pulled off her fascinating time-crosser premise yet again!? And penned a riveting page-turner with nuanced characters, poignant faith themes, and jaw-dropping plot twists...YET AGAIN!?!

Dear reader, I haven't the foggiest! My mind is well and properly BLOWN into a million pieces of bookish confetti!!!
]]> 60324194
At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.]]> 400 Amy Lynn Green 0764239562 Angela 4 Amy Lynn Green combines an endearing ensemble cast, lesser-known WWII history, a small seaside town, bookish vibes, and 1940's pop culture into a nostalgic story of community and friendship.

If you're looking for a character-driven WWII read set on the home front, move "The Blackout Book Club" to the top of your TBR!
]]> 3.92 2022
author: Amy Lynn Green
name: Angela
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/07/03
shelves:
review:
In "The Blackout Book Club,"Amy Lynn Green combines an endearing ensemble cast, lesser-known WWII history, a small seaside town, bookish vibes, and 1940's pop culture into a nostalgic story of community and friendship.

If you're looking for a character-driven WWII read set on the home front, move "The Blackout Book Club" to the top of your TBR!

]]> 53918360
But Phineas Dunn finds nothing redemptive in the first horrors of war. Struggling for months to make it home alive, he returns to Savannah injured and cynical, and all too sure that he is not the hero Cordelia seems determined to make him. Matters of black and white don't seem so simple anymore to Phin, and despite her best efforts, Delia's smiles can't erase all the complications in his life. And when Fort Pulaski falls and the future wavers, they both must decide where the dreams of a new America will take them, and if they will go together.]]> 400 Roseanna M. White 0764237470 Angela 5 Roseanna M. White at her best!

In this engrossing southern narrative, White tackles complex Civil War history and poignant spiritual themes with skill and care. Her diverse cast of characters are nuanced, and her wordsmithery is utterly captivating. Featuring three sweet romances, full of tender yearning, this story is bound to keep historical romance fans swooning and sighing their way through the pages.

If you're in the mood for a sweeping period drama, enriched by faith, "Dreams of Savannah" is sure to be your cup of tea!]]> 4.09 2021
author: Roseanna M. White
name: Angela
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves:
review:
Meticulously researched and expertly penned, "Dreams of Savannah" is Roseanna M. White at her best!

In this engrossing southern narrative, White tackles complex Civil War history and poignant spiritual themes with skill and care. Her diverse cast of characters are nuanced, and her wordsmithery is utterly captivating. Featuring three sweet romances, full of tender yearning, this story is bound to keep historical romance fans swooning and sighing their way through the pages.

If you're in the mood for a sweeping period drama, enriched by faith, "Dreams of Savannah" is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 207974237
"A Heart in Disguise" by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US "Camouflage Corps," sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home--except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

"A Letter to Eli" by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It's never far away from their thoughts--not with Alice's fianc�© serving at sea, in danger every minute. That's a worry Bette doesn't envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

"A Daffodil in the Dress" by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family's bookstore since Kate's husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?]]> 328 Rachel Scott McDaniel 0825448425 Angela 0 to-read 4.53 2024
author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
name: Angela
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 180352002 Sometimes love means embracing the good, the bad . . . and even the impossible.

Dear Reader,

My name is Luke Edgewood, and there are few things in life that I require. Mainly black coffee. And flannel. And lots of solitude. And my dogs, Chewy and Indie. What I don’t need is romance, so I have no plans to change my thirty-year-old bachelor status anytime soon.

But my youngest sister thinks that by accepting a short-term construction job in the small European country of Skymar, I’m going to follow along in her footsteps and discover my own romantic adventure. Nope. Bah humbug. The End. This time, her rom-com-movie senses are totally wrong.

Or maybe not. Because I’ve met a Grace Kelly look-alike who is annoying . . . until she ľ±˛ő˛Ô’t. But she is impossible. As in, nothing can happen between us because she is a literal princess. Even though that’s easy to forget when we’re working together to restore a castle-like orphanage in a secluded mountain town and “forced proximityâ€� includes a small closet, a secret one-hundred-year-old journal, and the tactile memory of an off-limits royal in my arms.

Basically, the whole situation has turned into an ooey gooey magical snow globe of romantic tropes complete with cute kids and an actual ball. Now, even my sentences are starting to sound like mush. Ugh. Send high levels of testosterone my way—I’m going to need it.

Loyally,

Luke

“Readers, you are in for a pure delight! Luke Edgewood is, in a word, dreamy.”—Emma St. Clair, USA TODAY bestselling author

Witty, hilarious, and heartwarming contemporary romance
A sweet, kisses-only romance
Stand-alone novel
Book length: approximately 107,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs]]> 384 Pepper Basham 0840716583 Angela 5
Well, "Loyally, Luke" is the literary "Enchanted" for fans of Hallmark movies!

Authentically fun and positively charming, Pepper Basham has penned a novel that's sure to have loyal readers swooning and giggling in turn. Basham's clever use of rom-com tropes is at once familiar and fresh, and her characters are utterly endearing.

If you're in the mood for a hilarious royal romance, "Loyally, Luke" is sure to be your cup of tea!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.]]> 3.92
author: Pepper Basham
name: Angela
average rating: 3.92
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/06/13
shelves:
review:
You know how the film "Enchanted" is one part witty parody, two parts nostalgic homage, and three parts easter egg hunt for fans of Disney animation?

Well, "Loyally, Luke" is the literary "Enchanted" for fans of Hallmark movies!

Authentically fun and positively charming, Pepper Basham has penned a novel that's sure to have loyal readers swooning and giggling in turn. Basham's clever use of rom-com tropes is at once familiar and fresh, and her characters are utterly endearing.

If you're in the mood for a hilarious royal romance, "Loyally, Luke" is sure to be your cup of tea!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.
]]> 57016003
1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.]]> 352 Amanda Cox 0800737415 Angela 5
Fans of Valerie Fraser Luesse and Ashley Clark will adore this novel that balances family drama, southern charm, and deep spiritual themes. The characters are endearing, complex, and painfully real, and the dual-time narrative they inhabit is meticulously crafted.

If you're drawn to southern fiction about steel magnolias, grab your grocery list and pay a call on the secret keepers of Old Depot!
]]> 4.23 2021
author: Amanda Cox
name: Angela
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/05/29
shelves:
review:
Engrossing. Nuanced. Poignant. "The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery" by Amanda Cox is an emotionally gripping story of love and loss, heartache and healing.

Fans of Valerie Fraser Luesse and Ashley Clark will adore this novel that balances family drama, southern charm, and deep spiritual themes. The characters are endearing, complex, and painfully real, and the dual-time narrative they inhabit is meticulously crafted.

If you're drawn to southern fiction about steel magnolias, grab your grocery list and pay a call on the secret keepers of Old Depot!

]]> 182094493
A century later, Norah Richman is living out her late-twin's dream of running their great aunt's bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue--a place Norah believes nothing good can come out of after her sister's abduction and murder thirteen years ago. Her first guest is a crime historian and podcaster, and Norah resolves to stay far away from the charming and enigmatic man--until another guest is found dead. As they dig deeper, something sinister unfurls that will reveal an ominous unknown far greater than the possibility of death itself.]]> 368 Jaime Jo Wright 0764241451 Angela 5
“Night Falls on Predicament Avenue� features Jaime Jo Wright’s signature blend of atmospheric prose, eerie suspense, and spiritual depth. Black as a mourning veil, this literary cuppa is enriched by the aromatic earthiness of a forgotten graveyard and contrasted with a honeyed note of hope—warm and bright as a candle’s flame, flickering amid shadows.

The authentic characters of Effie and Norah will make readers feel seen and heard, especially those who suffer with anxiety, and the absorbing plot will keep readers turning pages into the wee hours, eager to navigate the mystery’s winding paths of intrigue. And the end! OH MY WORD, DEARIES! THE END!!!! That final plot twist ripped a gasp straight from my chest. A literal, audible, GASP! Good gracious, was I well and properly gobsmacked! Wright has truly outdone herself with this haunting tale’s jaw-dropping, mind-reeling, gut-punching conclusion!

If you’re a fan of true crime podcasts and gothic fiction, be sure to visit Predicament Avenue...preferably, before night falls!]]> 4.21 2024
author: Jaime Jo Wright
name: Angela
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves:
review:
The Mistress of the Macabre has penned another five-star stunner!

“Night Falls on Predicament Avenue� features Jaime Jo Wright’s signature blend of atmospheric prose, eerie suspense, and spiritual depth. Black as a mourning veil, this literary cuppa is enriched by the aromatic earthiness of a forgotten graveyard and contrasted with a honeyed note of hope—warm and bright as a candle’s flame, flickering amid shadows.

The authentic characters of Effie and Norah will make readers feel seen and heard, especially those who suffer with anxiety, and the absorbing plot will keep readers turning pages into the wee hours, eager to navigate the mystery’s winding paths of intrigue. And the end! OH MY WORD, DEARIES! THE END!!!! That final plot twist ripped a gasp straight from my chest. A literal, audible, GASP! Good gracious, was I well and properly gobsmacked! Wright has truly outdone herself with this haunting tale’s jaw-dropping, mind-reeling, gut-punching conclusion!

If you’re a fan of true crime podcasts and gothic fiction, be sure to visit Predicament Avenue...preferably, before night falls!
]]> 62877850 –Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?]]> 373 Michelle Griep 1636095666 Angela 5
An ode to Bram Stoker's "Dracula," the novel features a brooding hero, a bookish heroine, and brilliant atmospheric prose that entrance the imagination. Michelle Griep is a true master of her craft, penning a story that deftly balances poignant characterization with page-turning plot. Fans of Jaime Jo Wright will love this haunting tale's juxtaposition of shadow and light, despair and hope.

If "Beauty and the Beast" is your favorite fairy tale, "Man of Shadow and Mist" is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 4.43 2023
author: Michelle Griep
name: Angela
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/05/24
shelves:
review:
"Man of Shadow and Mist" is an eerie blend that combines strong notes of anglophile with the musty aroma of bibliophile and deepens its smokey richness with the distinct gloom of gothic literature.

An ode to Bram Stoker's "Dracula," the novel features a brooding hero, a bookish heroine, and brilliant atmospheric prose that entrance the imagination. Michelle Griep is a true master of her craft, penning a story that deftly balances poignant characterization with page-turning plot. Fans of Jaime Jo Wright will love this haunting tale's juxtaposition of shadow and light, despair and hope.

If "Beauty and the Beast" is your favorite fairy tale, "Man of Shadow and Mist" is sure to be your cup of tea!

]]> 62927890
It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys--she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

When Bertha's father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she'll never forget.

Join award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner for a summer of chasing down your dreams and discovering the place you truly belong.]]> 368 Susie Finkbeiner 0800739361 Angela 4 Susie Finkbeiner has crafted an endearing cast of characters sure to become fast friends with readers. Spunky Bertha, with her passion for baseball, and precocious Flossy, with her love of books, are a great couple of gals with voices as vivid as they are vibrant!

Fans of "The Foxhole Victory Tour" by Amy Lynn Green and "Almost Home" by Valerie Fraser Luesse will love this nostalgic novel about family, friendship, and the American dream.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good story, brimming with 1950's history and pop culture, "The All-American" is sure to be your cup of tea! ]]> 4.19 2023
author: Susie Finkbeiner
name: Angela
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/05/21
shelves:
review:
Witty and winsome, "The All-American" is a heart-warming home run! Susie Finkbeiner has crafted an endearing cast of characters sure to become fast friends with readers. Spunky Bertha, with her passion for baseball, and precocious Flossy, with her love of books, are a great couple of gals with voices as vivid as they are vibrant!

Fans of "The Foxhole Victory Tour" by Amy Lynn Green and "Almost Home" by Valerie Fraser Luesse will love this nostalgic novel about family, friendship, and the American dream.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good story, brimming with 1950's history and pop culture, "The All-American" is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 184493681
Twelve years later, when her friend's husband contracts a severe disease, they send for the new rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth. Martha recognizes the miraculous Healer from a story she heard many years ago, and the life-changing encounter reawakens Martha's hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

With impeccable research and a keen eye for detail, Heather Kaufman delivers a moving narrative of Martha's life in this hopeful story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.]]> 352 Heather Kaufman 1540903567 Angela 5 Heather Kaufman as an author of note in the world of Christian Fiction.

Told in an intimate narrative style from the perspective of Martha, the story features radiant facets of tender romance, lyrical prose, and spiritual depth.

Fans of The Chosen will enjoy this emotionally-gripping, soul-stirring novel that beautifully portrays the sheer magnitude of our Savior's sacrifice and the unfathomable greatness of His love.

If you're in the mood for a story of heartbreak, healing, and hope, “Up from Dust� is a must read! ]]> 4.43 2024
author: Heather Kaufman
name: Angela
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/05/13
shelves:
review:
Impressive. Immersive. Impactful. "Up from Dust" is a truly stunning debut that establishes Heather Kaufman as an author of note in the world of Christian Fiction.

Told in an intimate narrative style from the perspective of Martha, the story features radiant facets of tender romance, lyrical prose, and spiritual depth.

Fans of The Chosen will enjoy this emotionally-gripping, soul-stirring novel that beautifully portrays the sheer magnitude of our Savior's sacrifice and the unfathomable greatness of His love.

If you're in the mood for a story of heartbreak, healing, and hope, “Up from Dust� is a must read!
]]> 59449050 368 Sara Brunsvold 0800740270 Angela 5
Imagine my surprise when I finally, tentatively, tip-toed into the story...and it didn't make me cry! It made me smile. It warmed my heart. It filled me with hope. How does a book about cancer, hospice, and death fill one with hope? There's only One Way such a thing is possible, and His name is Jesus.

Jesus is the heartbeat of this novel.

Jesus, and the hope of eternity with Him, is what infuses the pages of this story with unfathomable joy.

Jesus, and the truth of His Word, is what saturates this book with a peace that defies understanding.

This novel isn't about dying—it's about going Home. It's about seeing our precious Savior face-to-face, at long last! It's about loving others, as He graciously loves us, for as long as we're here.

For that heart-warming message, that smile-inducing hope, I must say a sincere THANK YOU!

Thank you, Mrs. Kip, for your example.
Thank you, Sara Brunsvold, for your words.
Thank you, ladies, for drawing my heart closer to Jesus.

If you're hungry for a story that's as sweet and rich as a chocolate chip cookie, "The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip" is sure to be your cup of tea, honey!]]> 4.31 2022
author: Sara Brunsvold
name: Angela
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/05/09
shelves:
review:
Confession time...I've avoided reading this novel since its release because I thought it would be a depressing, tear-jerker that would totally wreck me emotionally. The only reason I gave the book a chance is because my curiosity could no longer resist being piqued by the numerous—utterly glowing—reviews from touched readers.

Imagine my surprise when I finally, tentatively, tip-toed into the story...and it didn't make me cry! It made me smile. It warmed my heart. It filled me with hope. How does a book about cancer, hospice, and death fill one with hope? There's only One Way such a thing is possible, and His name is Jesus.

Jesus is the heartbeat of this novel.

Jesus, and the hope of eternity with Him, is what infuses the pages of this story with unfathomable joy.

Jesus, and the truth of His Word, is what saturates this book with a peace that defies understanding.

This novel isn't about dying—it's about going Home. It's about seeing our precious Savior face-to-face, at long last! It's about loving others, as He graciously loves us, for as long as we're here.

For that heart-warming message, that smile-inducing hope, I must say a sincere THANK YOU!

Thank you, Mrs. Kip, for your example.
Thank you, Sara Brunsvold, for your words.
Thank you, ladies, for drawing my heart closer to Jesus.

If you're hungry for a story that's as sweet and rich as a chocolate chip cookie, "The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip" is sure to be your cup of tea, honey!
]]> 200589594
In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.

Award-winning author Toni Shiloh makes a run for the roses with this heartwarming novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest victories are found within our own hearts.]]> 352 Toni Shiloh 0764241516 Angela 4
In "A Run at Love," Toni Shiloh effortlessly combines southern charm, hilarious buddy banter, Kentucky Derby history, mischievous goats, unabashed faith themes, the highs and lows of horse racing, endearing characters, and a sigh-worthy friends-to-more romance into a book readers won't want to end. Like, seriously, can we spend another 300 pages with Piper and Tuck?! I miss them already!

If you love a good rom-com and a great hat, "A Run at Love" is sure to be your cup of mint julep!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.
]]> 4.12 2024
author: Toni Shiloh
name: Angela
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/05/07
shelves:
review:
The Queen of Romance Tropes has done it again!

In "A Run at Love," Toni Shiloh effortlessly combines southern charm, hilarious buddy banter, Kentucky Derby history, mischievous goats, unabashed faith themes, the highs and lows of horse racing, endearing characters, and a sigh-worthy friends-to-more romance into a book readers won't want to end. Like, seriously, can we spend another 300 pages with Piper and Tuck?! I miss them already!

If you love a good rom-com and a great hat, "A Run at Love" is sure to be your cup of mint julep!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.

]]> 53911386
Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.

But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.]]> 432 Kimberly Duffy 0764235648 Angela 5
I resonated with the heroine Ottalie on a deep level. Though our circumstances are vastly different, her fears were my fears. Her doubts my doubts. Her grief my grief. The questions she dared to ask were echoes of questions I'd never allowed myself to utter, lest my fractured faith shatter beyond repair. Following Ottalie's journey was cathartic, healing, and dare I say, freeing. Her story made me feel seen and understood, and the biblical truths woven seamlessly into the narrative were a balm of encouragement to my aching soul.

If you're in the mood for a poignant period drama with glimmering threads of faith, "A Tapestry of Light" is a must read!]]> 4.25 2021
author: Kimberly Duffy
name: Angela
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/05/03
shelves:
review:
Evocative. Emotional. Exquisite. "A Tapestry of Light" by Kimberly Duffy is a work of art, enchanting the imagination with luxuriant prose and captivating the heart with characters so alive, so tangible, they seem to have been born rather than crafted.

I resonated with the heroine Ottalie on a deep level. Though our circumstances are vastly different, her fears were my fears. Her doubts my doubts. Her grief my grief. The questions she dared to ask were echoes of questions I'd never allowed myself to utter, lest my fractured faith shatter beyond repair. Following Ottalie's journey was cathartic, healing, and dare I say, freeing. Her story made me feel seen and understood, and the biblical truths woven seamlessly into the narrative were a balm of encouragement to my aching soul.

If you're in the mood for a poignant period drama with glimmering threads of faith, "A Tapestry of Light" is a must read!
]]> 209351102 336 Naomi Stephens 0764242474 Angela 0 to-read 4.23 2024
author: Naomi Stephens
name: Angela
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 180427559 320 Michelle Griep 1636097944 Angela 4 Michelle Griep concludes the Blackfriars Lane trilogy with a bang!

In "The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane," sparks fly as Kit and Jackson attempt to balance married life, a babe in arms, and perilous investigations into Victorian London's criminal underworld. Fans of “Miss Scarlet and the Duke� will love this jaunty story's action-packed blend of mystery and romance.

If you're in the mood for a rollicking adventure with Dickensian flair, “The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane� is sure to be your cup of tea!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.]]> 4.38 2024
author: Michelle Griep
name: Angela
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/04/18
shelves:
review:
Michelle Griep concludes the Blackfriars Lane trilogy with a bang!

In "The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane," sparks fly as Kit and Jackson attempt to balance married life, a babe in arms, and perilous investigations into Victorian London's criminal underworld. Fans of “Miss Scarlet and the Duke� will love this jaunty story's action-packed blend of mystery and romance.

If you're in the mood for a rollicking adventure with Dickensian flair, “The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane� is sure to be your cup of tea!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.
]]> 56973010
Arriving in India, she expects only a nice visit with childhood friends, siblings Catherine and Gabriel, and adventures that will further her career. Instead, she finds herself facing a plague epidemic, confusion over Gabriel's sudden appeal, and the realization that what she wants from life is changing.

As she grows closer to friends, old and new, and allows their words of truth to heal parched places, she pictures a new future. But when the fallout of her past decisions finds her in India, will it ruin her chance to finally stop running?]]> 352 Kimberly Duffy 0764235656 Angela 0 to-read 4.15 2021
author: Kimberly Duffy
name: Angela
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 59608930 At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save innocent lives in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events.

Rome, 1943 . With the fall of Italy's Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. But when one little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, Julia and the others are determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.

Present Day . With the recent loss of her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and WWII veteran—Delaney Coleman returns home to help her aging parents, even as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her own life. When a mysterious Italian woman claims she owns one of the family's precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to uncover what's true of her grandfather's hidden past. Together with the woman's skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question as she wrestles with the possibility that the man she'd revered all her life had unknown ties to Rome and may have taken noble secrets to his grave.

Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of WWII Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving just one life can impact countless others.]]> 384 Kristy Cambron 0785232192 Angela 4 Kristy Cambron had me at ballerina and kept me with a gripping narrative of courage, sacrifice, and found family. Harrowing and poignant, this book explores the depths of loss then leaps to the heights of hope. Like a skilled harpist, Cambron deftly plucks at the heart strings, creating a novel sure to move readers to pirouette through the pages eager to know where the story’s melody will take the characters next.

Fans of Sarah Sundin and Amanda Barratt will be utterly riveted by the little-known history of Syndrome K and the Italian Resistance during WWII.

If you love sweeping period dramas that prompt you to reach for a handkerchief, you’re sure to enjoy the emotional performance of The Italian Ballerina!]]> 4.08 2022
author: Kristy Cambron
name: Angela
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/04/08
shelves:
review:
Kristy Cambron had me at ballerina and kept me with a gripping narrative of courage, sacrifice, and found family. Harrowing and poignant, this book explores the depths of loss then leaps to the heights of hope. Like a skilled harpist, Cambron deftly plucks at the heart strings, creating a novel sure to move readers to pirouette through the pages eager to know where the story’s melody will take the characters next.

Fans of Sarah Sundin and Amanda Barratt will be utterly riveted by the little-known history of Syndrome K and the Italian Resistance during WWII.

If you love sweeping period dramas that prompt you to reach for a handkerchief, you’re sure to enjoy the emotional performance of The Italian Ballerina!
]]> 61140317
The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

In this rich 1920s tale, bestselling author Jocelyn Green invites you into one of New York City's most esteemed museums, where a young woman discovers secrets, betrayal, and romance.]]> 384 Jocelyn Green 0764239635 Angela 5 Jocelyn Green is the real deal! A genuine literary treasure sure to delight even the most discerning collectors of historical fiction.

Green deftly combines dark academia vibes, a meticulous mystery, poignant spiritual themes, fascinating facts about ancient Egypt, rich descriptions of 1920’s New York, and a swoony second-chance romance into a luxurious narrative that engages the heart as well as the mind.

If you love wandering through museums, “The Metropolitan Affair� is sure to be your cup of tea!]]> 3.79 2023
author: Jocelyn Green
name: Angela
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/04/04
shelves:
review:
Exquisitely crafted and thoroughly researched, “The Metropolitan Affair� by Jocelyn Green is the real deal! A genuine literary treasure sure to delight even the most discerning collectors of historical fiction.

Green deftly combines dark academia vibes, a meticulous mystery, poignant spiritual themes, fascinating facts about ancient Egypt, rich descriptions of 1920’s New York, and a swoony second-chance romance into a luxurious narrative that engages the heart as well as the mind.

If you love wandering through museums, “The Metropolitan Affair� is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 201915177 An uplifting series for women who come for the friendships and stay for the views.Ever since training for her first indoor rock climbing competition, writer and editor, Sadie McGillis has embraced a new love of the sport and the confidence of trying something new. And now that this Colorado book-lover is writing her first novel about these adventures on the wall, and in the single life—the pressure is on!So begins the second book in the Suddenly Sadie series, where a single woman continues her quest for joy. Along the way, she’ll discover new-found friends, unexpected challenges, a rugged and kind rock climbing instructor, and the faith to make sense of it all. A light-hearted inspirational read about overcoming our fears, and embracing the challenges God has placed before us. Both in life . . . and in the pages. A celebration of adventures for Christian single women, the Suddenly Sadie series is great for women of all ages and walks of life!Don’t miss book #1 “Sadie on the Rocks� -- where hope is found at all new heights.]]> 187 Joanne Bischof Angela 5 Joanne Bischof combines small town vibes, a relatable heroine, themes of faith and friendship, and contemplative prose into a narrative that's singular in its portrayal of singleness.

Unlike many works of fiction, on page or screen, this novel makes single women feel seen and celebrated, rather than ignored or pitied. The heroine Sadie is not a stereotype, but a friend, encouraging readers to embrace the adventures of everyday life with bravery and with community.

If you're looking for a relaxing read, where the single heroine stays single, “Writer on the Wall� is sure to be your cup of tea!

A Suddenly Sadie Adventure Series
Writer on the Wall (Book 2)
Sadie on the Rocks (Book 1) ]]> 4.61
author: Joanne Bischof
name: Angela
average rating: 4.61
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/03/14
shelves:
review:
In "Writer on the Wall," Joanne Bischof combines small town vibes, a relatable heroine, themes of faith and friendship, and contemplative prose into a narrative that's singular in its portrayal of singleness.

Unlike many works of fiction, on page or screen, this novel makes single women feel seen and celebrated, rather than ignored or pitied. The heroine Sadie is not a stereotype, but a friend, encouraging readers to embrace the adventures of everyday life with bravery and with community.

If you're looking for a relaxing read, where the single heroine stays single, “Writer on the Wall� is sure to be your cup of tea!

A Suddenly Sadie Adventure Series
Writer on the Wall (Book 2)
Sadie on the Rocks (Book 1)
]]> 209357000 376 Gabrielle Meyer 1493448234 Angela 0 to-read 4.65 2024
author: Gabrielle Meyer
name: Angela
average rating: 4.65
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 51343924 364 Kimberly Duffy 1493425196 Angela 4
If you're a fan of period dramas and nature documentaries, A Mosaic of Wings is sure to be your cup of tea!]]> 4.14 2020
author: Kimberly Duffy
name: Angela
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/02/21
shelves:
review:
In A Mosaic of Wings, Kimberly Duffy combines lush descriptions of India, complex characters, the science of entomology, family drama, and a rivals-to-lovers romance into novel that's utterly cinematic.

If you're a fan of period dramas and nature documentaries, A Mosaic of Wings is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]> 182093979
Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but she can't keep from speaking her mind, so an overseas adventure with the USO's camp show seems like the perfect fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to find out what happened to the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving.

The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers--a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician--but the harmony among their troupe is shattered when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a new job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they'll do whatever is necessary to get it. As their troupe travels closer to combat in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, until not only their careers but also their lives are on the line.]]> 400 Amy Lynn Green 0764239570 Angela 4 Amy Lynn Green combines vintage nostalgia, themes of found family, and the fascinating history of USO variety shows into a narrative that evokes the heart-warming technicolor musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age. Fans of WWII fiction will love this unique and refreshingly light-hearted read!

If “White Christmas� is your favorite holiday film, “The Foxhole Victory Tour� is sure to be your cup of tea!

]]> 4.37 2024
author: Amy Lynn Green
name: Angela
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/02/15
shelves:
review:
In “The Foxhole Victory Tour,� Amy Lynn Green combines vintage nostalgia, themes of found family, and the fascinating history of USO variety shows into a narrative that evokes the heart-warming technicolor musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age. Fans of WWII fiction will love this unique and refreshingly light-hearted read!

If “White Christmas� is your favorite holiday film, “The Foxhole Victory Tour� is sure to be your cup of tea!


]]> 90203406
Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. When television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher engages Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history, Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of also finding out what happened to her friend. As the theater's curse begins to unravel Kit's own life, she sets out not only to save the historical building and her friend, but to end the pattern of evil that has marked their hometown for a century.

In this atmospheric dual-time tale, two women--separated by a century yet bound by the ghosts of the past--pursue light in the face of darkness.]]> 379 Jaime Jo Wright 0764241443 Angela 5 Jaime Jo Wright proves once again that she’s incapable of writing a bad book. Indeed, I’m beginning to believe she doesn’t sit down to write, so much as open her window and beckon untold tales to emerge from the shadowed forest of imagination. I can just see the stories flying through the gnarled trees to the Mistress of the Macabre’s castle and alighting on her outstretched hand like so many ravens. Each winged story, once trained by Wright’s skillful pen, is then released with a lantern in its talons that shields a flickering flame of hope. A light to guide her readers through the dark.

“The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater� is the latest story to have been thus summoned from shadow. Within its pages, readers will be utterly captivated by spine-tingling suspense, keep-you-guessing mystery, heart-achingly real characters, and atmospheric prose that immerse the senses. Fans of “The Phantom of the Opera� by Gaston Leroux and “The Women in White� by Wilkie Collins will adore this haunting page-turner!

If you’re drawn to eerie gothic fiction, you’ll most certainly want to hear the tale of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater! ]]> 4.23 2023
author: Jaime Jo Wright
name: Angela
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/01/25
shelves:
review:
With her tenth novel, Jaime Jo Wright proves once again that she’s incapable of writing a bad book. Indeed, I’m beginning to believe she doesn’t sit down to write, so much as open her window and beckon untold tales to emerge from the shadowed forest of imagination. I can just see the stories flying through the gnarled trees to the Mistress of the Macabre’s castle and alighting on her outstretched hand like so many ravens. Each winged story, once trained by Wright’s skillful pen, is then released with a lantern in its talons that shields a flickering flame of hope. A light to guide her readers through the dark.

“The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater� is the latest story to have been thus summoned from shadow. Within its pages, readers will be utterly captivated by spine-tingling suspense, keep-you-guessing mystery, heart-achingly real characters, and atmospheric prose that immerse the senses. Fans of “The Phantom of the Opera� by Gaston Leroux and “The Women in White� by Wilkie Collins will adore this haunting page-turner!

If you’re drawn to eerie gothic fiction, you’ll most certainly want to hear the tale of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater!
]]> 40392260
An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war--they're all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

Award-winning and bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse breathes life into a cast of unforgettable characters in this complex and compassionate story of hurt and healing.]]> 336 Valerie Fraser Luesse 0800729633 Angela 5 Valerie Fraser Luesse has crafted a narrative quilt for readers to curl up on and rest a spell. There, beside a creek in Blackberry Springs, endearing characters will stop by to swap stories and soon become dear friends you just hate to leave.

Fans of Kate DiCamillo's "Because of Winn-Dixie" and Ashley Clark's "Heirloom Secrets" series will adore this novel set in small-town Alabama during WWII.

If you can't get enough heartwarming southern fiction, "Almost Home" is sure to be your glass of sweet tea! ]]> 4.12 2019
author: Valerie Fraser Luesse
name: Angela
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/01/15
shelves:
review:
Stitching together sweet romance, charming humor, and a mystery of long-lost pirate treasure, Valerie Fraser Luesse has crafted a narrative quilt for readers to curl up on and rest a spell. There, beside a creek in Blackberry Springs, endearing characters will stop by to swap stories and soon become dear friends you just hate to leave.

Fans of Kate DiCamillo's "Because of Winn-Dixie" and Ashley Clark's "Heirloom Secrets" series will adore this novel set in small-town Alabama during WWII.

If you can't get enough heartwarming southern fiction, "Almost Home" is sure to be your glass of sweet tea!
]]> 57047457 Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.
Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration fromĚýMary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does... in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?]]> 320 Michelle Griep 1636090656 Angela 5 Michelle Griep has penned a gothic regency romance that will have readers swooning and weeping in turn, necessitating the procurement of smelling salts and a proper handkerchief.

With unflinching vulnerability, Griep explores the very depths of love and loss. Heartbreak and hope. Over the course of an achingly beautiful narrative, her complex characters bare their shattered hearts and weary souls without reserve, granting grief-stricken readers permission to do the same within the refuge of her story. The potent combination of raw honesty and resolute faith in God’s sovereignty makes for a tale that’s both gritty and utterly saturated with grace.

If you've ever wished Jane Austen and Mary Shelley had coauthored a book, “Lost in Darkness� is sure to be your cup of tea!]]> 4.00 2021
author: Michelle Griep
name: Angela
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2023/12/16
shelves:
review:
Drawing inspiration from the classic novel “Frankenstein,� Michelle Griep has penned a gothic regency romance that will have readers swooning and weeping in turn, necessitating the procurement of smelling salts and a proper handkerchief.

With unflinching vulnerability, Griep explores the very depths of love and loss. Heartbreak and hope. Over the course of an achingly beautiful narrative, her complex characters bare their shattered hearts and weary souls without reserve, granting grief-stricken readers permission to do the same within the refuge of her story. The potent combination of raw honesty and resolute faith in God’s sovereignty makes for a tale that’s both gritty and utterly saturated with grace.

If you've ever wished Jane Austen and Mary Shelley had coauthored a book, “Lost in Darkness� is sure to be your cup of tea!
]]>