Book Review: Millie by McCall Hoyle

Book Description:

Millie is a feisty border terrier who lives on the streets and has a keen sense for finding scraps of food, usually in the shadows or the cover of darkness. She protects herself with a shield of what is perceived by many as aggression—barking and snarling—when in reality, Millie is just plain scared.

Turned over to animal control after a recent run-in with the dogcatcher, Millie is rescued by a special education teacher who also rehabilitates and rehomes dogs. It’s a win-win. Together, the dogs and her students learn emotional resilience, anger management, and other coping skills.

When one of the students, a struggling reader named Tori, shows a natural gift for dog training and working with fearful dogs, Millie is temporarily placed in her care. Tori may be young, but she knows a thing or two about anger, fear, and abandonment after her mother could no longer care for her and she was placed in kinship care with her grandfather. Millie wonders if she’s finally found her person and begins to let down her emotional guard. But when trust and belonging are challenged, Millie reverts to old habits—fleeing, hiding, and growling. Will she end up back on the streets? Or can Millie and Tori embrace their training, trust in each other, and find a forever home together?

Mille is an empathy-building novel for young readers who love dogs and is a tender portrayal of the importance of emotional safety and what it means to truly belong.

Review:

This is a very cute story told from a street dog's point of view. I used to not be a dog person (that's putting it mildly), but a couple of years ago I caved and got a dog for my teens who were struggling. When you take care of something it is very hard to not love it, especially when it loves you so much. Anyway, I can really see this story appealing to those who have or want a dog, but honestly it's just so well-written that anyone could enjoy it. It has a great message about facing fears and not running away from things that scare us (obviously there are times and places for that, but until we give some things a try we are pushing away people and situations that may be good for us). I liked how the human characters weren't perfect either-they had plenty of struggles and learned and grew throughout the story, along with Millie and a few other dogs. A great story for young and old alike.

Title: Millie
Author: McCall Hoyle
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: March 2024
ISBN: 163993233X
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Review: Hearts of Briarwall by Krista Jensen

Hearts of Briarwall by Krista Jensen

Book Description:

Lydia Wooding is fascinated by the latest inventions the new century brings, including motorcars. She longs for the independence they represent and believes that women should have a say in the future of the industry—just as they should have a say in suffrage, adventure, and, of course, love.

Spencer Hayes is a man of practicality and innovation, but he lacks the financial backing to make his dream a reality. When he contacts his childhood friend, Andrew Wooding, about a promising business venture, he is invited to Briarwall Manor to discuss the terms. Once there, he is surprised to find that Andrew's once shy, younger sister, Lydia, has grown into a young woman of beauty, wit, and a bit of fire. Even better, the two share a passion for motorcars.

Andrew, however, is wary of cars, having lost his parents in a tragic auto accident when he and Lydia were young. And he's not sure a relationship between his sister and Spencer is the best idea—not when Sir Lawrence is available and could match both Lydia's social status and her fortune.

Torn between risking their hearts and being loyal to their dreams in an era of whirlwind change, Spencer and Lydia anchor themselves with the determination they both share: to live life to its fullest.

Andrea's Review:

Krista Jensen did an excellent job writing this lovely Victorian romance. The cover wasn’t my favorite, but don’t let that stop you from reading this book. The Wendy League is such an entertaining group of women. Their quirks and uniqueness made them very likable. I really hope more books are written focusing on the other members since I thoroughly enjoyed Lydia’s story and her interactions with her friends. The romance was sweet and the setting during the second industrial revolution kept my curiosity piqued. It was fun learning more about the rise of the automobile industry, and also women’s suffrage and things like perfume.

Rorie's Review:

I enjoy a main character who is a bit of a spitfire, who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of society. Maybe because I would like to be a bit more spit-fireish, but most certainly am not. Lydia and her friends were so much fun getting to know, and I sincerely hope they will be getting their own stories in the future.
The storyline was entertaining, and I was able to finish the book quickly. I always enjoy it when a book is hard to put down, and I'm not so busy that I have to keep putting it down. (Either that, or I am really good at ignoring those gotta-do's in place of the wanna-do's.)
I look forward to reading more from this author.

About the Author:

Award-winning author KRISTA JENSEN works and plays in the Pacific Northwest with her spunky little dog and anyone else who wants to tag along. When she’s not exploring the outdoors, she can likely be found with her laptop, a pretty spiral notebook, and a Pilot Precise V7, writing about love, triumph, and really great kisses.

Either that or she’s switching laundry wondering who keeps wearing all these clothes. (It’s her.)

For book info and other good things, follow Krista on Instagram @kristajensenbooks.

Title: Hearts of Briarwall
Author: Krista Jensen
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: August 2022
ISBN: 1629729965
Source: I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Nora and the Sacred Stones by Laura Rupper

Nora and the Sacred Stones by Laura Rupper

Book Description:

Trespasser, Thief, Assailant—these were never titles Nora planned on. She was just trying to protect her sister. With the help of her little brother and his best friend, Nora embarks on a life-or-death quest that could rock the very fabric of their society.

After breaking into the royal palace, Nora discovers that the ancient power of the sacred stones is more than just a legend. But in her desperate attempt to help her sister, Nora may have awoken something deep inside the earth—a power she doesn’t fully understand. As Nora flees, she accidentally encounters Prince Kyn, heir to the Liardian throne. She narrowly manages to escape, but now the young prince knows who she is and what she looks like.

Eager to prove himself to his father, Prince Kyn leads a mission to find Nora and bring her back to House Liard. Unfortunately, his search is riddled with obstacles he never saw coming. Kyn soon realizes he needs Nora’s help more than he could have possibly imagined. In fact, the whole world does.

Andrea's Review:

First time author Laura Rupper did a great job of weaving an entertaining story that held my attention and left me wanting to read the second book (that sadly isn't out yet). It was written for a novella contest, so it's not particularly long, but I felt the characters and story weren't lacking in development.

I was a little confused at the beginning not knowing anything about the stones, but as the story progressed the details were laid out. I liked Nora and her kind heart. And the power of the stones and within her made for a fun read.

Rorie's Review:

This is a very quick and very enjoyable read. I'm not always in the mood for middle grade fiction, but I am so glad I got to read this story. It drew me in right from the beginning, and kept me captivated all the way until the end. I hope we get more stories set in this world, because I found it fascinating. I'd like to find out more about Nora's family, as well as her relationship with Kyn. 

This is a book I think my kids would enjoy. I highly recommend it to anyone between the ages of 9 and 99.

About the Author:

​Laura Rupper spent her first six years of life in Metlakatla, Alaska. There was no T.V. reception on the island, so a great love of books was born. Laura loves creative activities ranging from painting to designing fourth grade math lessons. Boring chores, like laundry, make her daydream of magical worlds and happy endings.

Laura has three beautiful daughters and one giant dog who was supposed to be 50 pounds, but is almost twice that size. Laura is under five feet tall, and hopes having lots of energy makes up for her lack of height. She has a degree in Human Biology, and is getting a masters in school counseling because life can be hard and sometimes students need a helping hand.

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Title: Nora and the Sacred Stones

Author: Laura Rupper
Publisher: Eagle Gate Publishing
Published:May 2021
ISBN: 1524419346
Source: We received e-copies from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Deseret Book

Book Review: Georgana's Secret by Arlem Hawks

 

Book Description:

1811

A Regency romance on the high seas. Two hearts yearning to find a safe harbor, and possibly, a lasting love.

As a young girl, Georgana Woodall dreamed of beautiful dresses, fancy balls, and falling in love. However, when her mother dies, she cannot face a future under the guardianship of her abusive grandmother and instead chooses to join her father on his ship disguised as his cabin boy, "George."

Lieutenant Dominic Peyton has no time in his life for love, not with his dedication to His Majesty's Royal Navy claiming his full attention. While trying to adjust to a new crew, he strives to be an exemplary officer and leader. When he sees the captain's cabin boy being harassed by the crew, he immediately puts a stop to it and takes the "boy" under his wing. After discovering a number of clues, Dominic deduces that George is really a woman. Knowing that revealing the cabin boy's secret would put her in serious danger from the rowdy crew, Dominic keeps silent and hides his growing affection for her.

Georgana is quickly losing her heart to Dominic's compassion and care but is convinced nothing can come of her affection. She cannot continue to live her life on the sea, and having already missed too many seasons in London, her chances of being welcomed back into polite society and finding a suitable husband are quickly slipping away.

Georgana's Secret is about two hearts yearning to find a safe harbor, and possibly, a lasting love.

Rorie's Review:

For some reason, I have always been drawn to stories where the main character has to disguise herself as a boy for one reason or another, so the premise of this story drew me in right away. The author did a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life, and giving the reader a taste of what life might be like as a cabin boy who doesn't quite fit in with any group on board. 

Every time I read a story that takes place on a ship, I'm always amazed at just how many people are in board. I guess I just can't grasp the size of the ship, because I'm always shocked when there are more than 50 people on board. Anyway, the reader obviously doesn't get to know everyone, but we do get to know a handful, and I enjoyed getting to know them all, whether it was to love them or hate them. Definitely a well-written, enjoyable story that I plan on rereading more than once.

Andrea's Review:

Georgana’s Secret is a great addition to the Proper Romance line from Shadow Mountain. I loved the premise of a loving father trying to protect his daughter in the only way he could come up with-having her disguised as a cabin boy on the ship he captained. Wondering if her secret would be discovered made for an entertaining story, and a fast read.

The main characters, Georgana and Dominic, were well developed and lovable. Both had such good hearts and made huge sacrifices for their surviving parents-it showed how selfless they are.

Life on a ship in the early 1800s sounded pretty miserable, but I appreciated how the author included the feeling of love for the sea that some of the characters had.

I hadn’t heard of the author before, but I’m excited to read her other books, and highly recommend this one.

 Tarah's Review:

 One of my favorite things about reading is the feeling different books can create. If I hate a book, I may not be able to tell you what it was about later, but I can definitely say that I didn't like it. The reverse is also true. A good well written story will just leave me with a good feeling that I remember later. Georgana's Secret gave me the later feeling. I came away feeling filled and was left with a general sense of, "ya, I liked that book." It's always a good day when that happens. Especially with a book that I wasn't sure about to begin with. I'm not gonna lie. I probably wouldn't have picked this one off the shelf. The cover really doesn't intrigue or entice me, and I would have passed this one over because of that. How lucky am I that I read it anyway and loved it?!

I love this addition to the Proper Romance line, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, clean, naval romance.

About the Author:

Arlem Hawks began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the Western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. With her travels came an interest in history, especially the history of her English heritage. When she isn't writing, Arlem is baking her characters' favorite foods, sewing Regency dresses, learning how to play the tin whistle, and water coloring. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two children. Having previously published four historical romance novellas, Georgana’s Secret is her debut novel.

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Book Review: The Masked Baron by Anneka Walker

Book Description:

"Romance, suspense, and the supernatural effectively intertwine in this captivating Regency." Publishers Weekly
Andalin is accustomed to her father's frequent travels and to being left behind. So when he returns home and instructs her to pack her belongings, she is bewildered but there is no time for questions as she is whisked away on a mysterious journey under the cover of night. When their tense flight leads them into the forbidding Black Forest, the pair quickly finds themselves in great peril. With little hope of escape, father and daughter are spared when rescue appears in the form of the mysterious Dark Rider, a notorious deadly highwayman feared by all he meets. But his assistance does not come without a price: he is taking Andalin with him. Now her fate rests in the hands of the enigmatic masked man whose secrets are inescapably tied to the beautiful young woman now in his charge.

Rorie's Review:

What a captivating story. This was one that took me a little bit to get in to, but once I got past the first few chapters, I was hooked! Even though the story was a little bit choppy in parts, I still fell in love with Annie and Ellis. Watching their relationship develop was enjoyable. 

I will admit, I expected a bit more from the bad guy scenes at the end...it felt like they were a bit rushed, just so we could get back to the relationship part of the story. (I like the relationship part, but I like a good bad-guy scene too.)

All in all, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

Andrea's Review:

I was mixing this author up with another author that has the same last name. As such I had really high expectations for this book and while pretty good, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

There were a lot of similarities to Beauty and the Beast in the beginning, but took many twists and turns to be its own story. I think it had a bit much going on and some things in the latter half didn’t get the development I would have liked.

It is a clean, fast read if you are looking for something to fill your quarantine time.

Title: The Masked Baron 
Author: Anneka R. Walker
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: March 2020
ISBN: 1524412236
Source: Review copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are our own.

Purchase: Amazon |  Deseret Book

Book Review: Lakeshire Park by Megan Walker

Book Description:

Brighton, England 1820 

Amelia Moore wants only one thing--to secure the future happiness of her younger sister, Clara. With their stepfather's looming death, the two sisters will soon be on their own--without family, a home, or a penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia grasps at the chance. If she can encourage a match between Clara and their host, Sir Ronald, then at least her sister will be taken care of. 

Little does she know that another guest, the arrogant and overconfident Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his own sister. Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter--and eventually playing by his rules--makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim: her heart.

Rorie's Review:

I started reading this book several weeks ago, but then I had to put it aside because I had other books that needed to be read first. When I finally was able to come back to it, I thought I might have to start over from the beginning so I could remember what was happening. Thankfully, it only took me about a chapter before I remembered what happened. This was a fun, but heartbreaking story. (Is that even possible?) I enjoyed the antics that Amelia and Peter would get in to each afternoon, but it was heartbreaking watching Amelia try and navigate a very tricky situation with her step-father's edict.

The relationship between the two main characters was entertaining at first and then became so comfortable. It was fun watching it develop. I was a little surprised at how Peter's sister was handled near the end. Not what I was expecting at all, but that wasn't a bad thing. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

Tarah's Review:

Beautiful. That's the word I would use to describe this story. Everything from the cover to the plot to the characters and, well, you get the picture.  I loved Amelia's and Peter's first encounter....and then all their subsequent ones. The author's writing really shines when those two are together and bantering back and forth.

I will admit that I did keep waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop at some point in the story, and it never really did. Honestly, I liked that aspect of the book. And when I go back and reread it, which I will, I can now enjoy it more fully knowing what is and is not coming.

I vacillated between liking Clara and Georgiana. I suppose that showed their youth, but at times I found them both sweet, and both super frustrating and mean. I'm actually hoping for another story from this author about the sister that didn't get what she was hoping for. I'd love to see a happily ever after for her.

Wonderfully done for a first time author. Walker is definitely someone to keep an eye out for. I hope she writes another one soon.

Andrea's Review:

Lakeshire Park is a wonderful story and a quick read. From the cover to the last page, it held my attention, and I'm looking forward to reading it again.

The tension between Amelia and Peter was wonderful. The initial distaste and then how it grew favorable was great. Their relationship and the story as a whole was compelling.

There are some sad and touching moments which really helped keep me intrigued and connected to the characters. The girls’ past was so sad with the heartless stepfather and their desperate situation.

This is very sweet story that I'd recommend, and I would read more from the author.

Title: Lakeshire Park

Author: Megan Walker

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: April 2020

ISBN: 1629727342

Source: Advanced reader copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book 

Book Review: Willa and the Whale by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Willa and the Whale by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Book Description:

Can a whale talk to a human? Willa thinks so . . .

After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.

While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale—and the whale talks back!

The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.

Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.

Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!

Rorie's Review:

This is the second book in a row that I've read that has required tissues. So, fair warning to you, have tissues nearby when reading this. 

It's so good though. Like, bedtime was an hour ago, but I can't bring myself to stop kind of good. When I first started reading the story, it seemed a bit juvenile to me (um yes, because that's who it's aimed it) but it didn't take long at all for me to become engrossed in the story. 

I am determined to add "blubberless rectangle watchers" to my vocabulary, because I think it's the most hilarious phrase ever invented. I even dog-eared the page where that was mentioned so I could go back and re-read it. One other part that stuck out to me enough to make me dog-ear the page was when Meg was telling Willa a story and she said "...he couldn't stop asking himself what would happen...if he didn't get involved." That really resonated with me. Instead of not acting out of a fear of what might happen to us, why don't we think more about what might happen (to someone else, or even us) if we DON'T get involved. Definitely a good lesson that we can all learn from.

I'm really looking forward to passing this book on to my kids. I hope they will enjoy it as much as I have.

Andrea's Review:

I wasn’t really sure what to think about this book initially due to the talking whale part. I really felt bad for Willa with everything she had to deal with at such a young age, and the whale talking grew on me. Several relationships were mended or strengthened throughout the story, and Willa found purpose and ways to help her deal with her grief.

This was an enjoyable middle grade read that I’d recommend to my kids. The tidbits about ocean life were fascinating and I couldn’t help but look up pictures/videos about a few things that were mentioned.

Chad Morris and Shelly Brown are a great writing duo. I look forward to reading more from them.

Tarah's Review:

I have been in a reading rut recently, and I just haven't wanted to pick up a book and read it. And honestly, I didn't think a middle grade fiction story would change anything, but holy cow! I loved this book! I was expecting to think that it was ok, and that my kids might like it, but I was pulled into it right away and almost devoured it as soon as I started reading. I will definitely recommend that this is read with a box of tissues near by. I think I love that the issues that Morris and Brown tackle range from super heavy, to hey my kid is going through that right now. And they are tackled in a way that I think would really resonate with a lot of who this book is aimed at. Actually, I think it would resonate with anyone who read this book and is going, or has gone to school. I was so tempted to look up all the ocean creatures that were mentioned, but I was so into the book that I didn't want to stop and get on my phone. I'll have to go back and look things up now that I'm satisfied with the ending and not wondering what all is going to happen.

All in all, this was an excellent book that was entertaining, touching, and well written. I will definitely see if my kids will read this, and I'll suggest it to their friends too.

Title: Willa and the Whale
Author: Chad Morris & Shelly Brown
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: March 2020
ISBN: 1629727318
Source: Advanced reader copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Book Review: Adoring Abigail by Chalon Linton

Adoring Abigail by Chalon Litton

Book Description:

Captain Robert Wilkins has never aspired to grandeur. So when the returned war hero unexpectedly inherits the vast estate of Cattersley from his great-aunt, he feels woefully inadequate in his new role. Out of place in his lavish surroundings, his first glimmer of hope comes when he happens upon a lovely trespasser in his gardens.

Words have never come easily for Abigail Rutherford, and she prefers the solitude of exploring the gardens at the neighboring country estate to engaging in uncomfortable conversation. But when she unexpectedly encounters Captain Robert Wilkins in her place of solace, she is surprised at the immediate ease she feels in his presence. Soon her brightest moments are those spent with the captain. But even as their friendship grows into something more, outside forces have other plans for the two. Mr. Mead, the handsome vicar, has also taken a liking to the quiet and timid Abigail—and he will stop at nothing to ensure she becomes his wife.

Rorie's Review:

I enjoyed how the author gave us an "underdog" as the main character. Abigail had such a rough life, but still found joy and happiness wherever she could. It broke my heart every time her grandma treated her so unkindly. Robert was like a fish out of water at first, but it didn't take him too long to start to find his place at Cattersley.

The story started off a little bit slow- moving for me, and I was able to put it down and move on to something else for a little while. Once the issues with the bad guy started showing up though, the story picked up and I found myself not wanting to put it down. 

I did feel like Robert was a bit clueless at times, because he seemed to be unable to figure out what the problems were. (It is so hard to not give out spoilers!) 

Definitely a book I would recommend, and I hope that Hazel will get her own story in the future.

Andrea's Review:

I've read other books by Chalon Litton and enjoyed them, so I was excited to read her newest novel, Adoring Abigail. It is a quick read. I can’t recall having read another book where the main character’s struggle was a speech impediment. I really felt for Abigail as so many, even family who should have been more loving and accepting, were cruel and belittling because of her “imperfection”. I liked Robert and his family. I was especially drawn to them because they never once appeared to be put off by Abigail's speech impediment. Mr. Mead was super creepy.

Adoring Abigail is clean with a happy ending, and one I can see myself reading again.

Tarah's Review:

What a fun captivating story. I was pulled into the story line right away and I had a hard time putting it down to go do "life" things. I always enjoyed picking it up again. As much as I enjoyed it, I did struggle a little with the flow of the story. Part of me wonders if it was the format I was reading this from, and that it was an advanced copy. I hope that was the reason. It just seemed really choppy. Instead of a nice flow from one chapter to another it was rather abrupt and just stopped and started again. It threw me, but not enough to stop reading, because like I said, it was a great story line.

I hope we get more from Chalon Linton.

Title: Adoring Abigail
Author: Chalon Linton
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: February 2020
ISBN: 1524411515
Source: Advanced reader copy from NetGalley/publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.


Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Book Review: Promised by Leah Garriott

 Promised by Leah Garriott

Book Description:

Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart...

Warwickshire, England, 1812

Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious match-making party intent on securing the perfect marital match:  a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake, Mr. Northam. 

There's only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won't leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret's chances for making a good match--to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage--to Lord Williams.

Under no conditions will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the man she'd hoped to marry before she'd learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.

Rorie's Review:

Every now and then, you come across a book that immediately draws you in and doesn't let go until you finish the story. This is one of those books. I found myself rushing through my "gotta-do's" so I could hurry up and get back to reading. 

My heart ached for Margaret, and I really couldn't blame her for basically closing off her heart... or attempting to, anyway. But, she is not a robot, no matter how much she might have wanted to be, and those pesky emotions kept getting in the way. 

I honestly wasn't sure what to think of Gregory, and had a hard time trusting him for quite awhile. I definitely liked him better than some of the other men in the story though. Mr. Lundall was an amusing character, although I thought his story was going to end up differently than it did. 

I'm glad I had the chance to read this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

Tarah's Review:

Isn't the cover of this book stunning?!? I love the red. One day when I organize my bookshelf by color instead of by author this red is going to really pop :) Anyway, it's definitely something that would catch my attention and make me want to see what it was all about.

Poor Margaret! What she went through, and then what she decided to do to never go through it again! It all just broke my heart. But I loved how her family was actually supportive and loved her. In a lot of stories the family doesn't can about the girl at all and it was refreshing to see a loving family (I like those other stories too, but sometimes different is good). The relationship Margaret had with her brother was fun, and I was sad to see it change, even though the change was for the good of the story.

While I never doubted that Lord William's was a good guy, I was totally curious as to his motivations the whole book. His role reminded me strongly of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice. There were some strong similarities there for awhile.

I loved the book, and I will be rereading it again. However, I felt like the end just kinda....ended. Not in a cliff hanger sort of way, but definitely not wrapped up in a pretty little bow. It was sort of ... anti-climatic. Which I realize is odd since the climax was all wrapped up nicely, but the end just...ended, and I was like, "Oh. It's over." That was a little disappointing to me, but not enough to ruin the very good book that I just read.

Andrea's Review:

Promised by Leah Garriott is a delightful read that really hit the spot on this snowy, nothing is open, can’t go anywhere day. It is a clean, engaging read that is a great addition to the Proper Romance line.

I was surprised by Lord Williams’ secret. Trying to figure out his motivation and determine if he was really a good guy kept me intrigued.

Margaret was very stubborn, but her attitude and reactions made a lot of sense given the betrayal she’d faced.

Leah Garriott did an excellent job with this story. I believe it is a debut novel for her, and I'd happily read more from her in the future.

Title: Promised

Author: Leah Garriott
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: February 2020
ISBN: 1629726141
Source: Advanced reader copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own. 

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book 

Blog Tour: Maggie's Place by Annette Haws

Review * Giveaway

 Maggie's Place by Annette Haws

Book Description:

Years ago, Mary Margaret Sullivan changed her name, boxed up her previous life, moved into the Eagle Gate Apartments, and hid her painful memories in her chicken-wire storage unit in the basement. But secrets have an inconvenient way of surfacing when least expected.

Three weeks before Christmas, an elegant man in a penthouse, a young woman named Carly—homeless and ill with pneumonia—and two calculating thieves invade Maggie’s carefully reconstructed life, and in different ways, each is connected to Maggie’s difficult past. As Maggie and friends nurse Carly back to health, hearts begin to heal with a hope for the future. But all is not as it seems. When faced with the shocking truth, Maggie must rely on her wits, her friends, and her own strength as never before.

Review:

Maggie's Place was such a pleasant surprise. While the description caught my attention, I wasn't sure what to expect from the author. I'm happy to say that Annette Haws really delivered with this novel.

Maggie is a senior citizen with limited means and a mysterious past. Life seems to have given her more than her fair share of lemons, and I found myself very invested to see if she would get a happy ending. I loved her friends, and felt so bad about her strained relationship with her children.

My emotions took quite the ride throughout the story. I literally laughed and cried and loved the themes of love, redemption, and forgiveness.

I highly recommend Maggie's Place, and am looking forward to reading it again.

About the Author: 

A people watcher from an early age and a native of a small college town on the northern edge of Utah, Annette Haws examines the tribulations and the foibles of characters playing their parts on a small stage. A graduate of Utah State University, Annette also did honors graduate work in American Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa and the University of Utah. Annette’s best memories from her years teaching in the public school system are coaching mock trial and a; particularly, an all girls team of ninth-graders that advanced to win the state championship.

After spending fourteen years in the classroom, Annette set aside her denim skirts and practical shoes to pursue her interest in writing fiction. Three of her short stories, “Fish Stories,” “The Gift of Tongues,” and “Come to Zion” have been published in Dialogue Journal. Her first novel about the travails of a school teacher, Waiting for the Light to Change, won Best of State, A Whitney Award for Best Fiction, and the League of Utah Writers award for best published fiction. Her second novel, The Accidental Marriage, a delightful story of a new marriage that runs amuck, was released in December of 2013. In Maggie’s Place, Ms. Haws tackles young love, homelessness, suicide, knitting, dementia, and the personal baggage that encumbers people entering the third act of their lives.

She is the mother of four above average children and is the spouse of a patient husband. 

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Join Annette Haws tonight,

November 14th, from 7:00-9:00 PM at 

The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City

for the Maggie's Place launch party. 

Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Maggie's Place
Author: Annette Haws
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: November 2019
ISBN: 1524410160
Source: Review copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Book Review: Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

 

Book Description:

When Miss Poppy Garrison accepts her grandmother's offer of financial help for her family in exchange for Poppy joining the New York social season, she quickly realizes she is far less equipped to mingle with the New York Four Hundred than even she knew. As she becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, becoming the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs her to be looks more impossible by the day.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, is in New York to help his cousin find an American heiress who can help save his family's estate. But when his very proper British manners lead Poppy's grandmother to request he teach etiquette to Poppy, he quickly finds himself in for much more than he bargained for.

And while they couldn't be more opposite, Reginald and Poppy just might find they have more to teach each other than they ever could have expected.

Tarah's Review:

This Jen Turano book had a slightly different feel than her other ones. To me, it seemed like it wasn't as over the top as her other novels have been. That doesn't mean it wasn't a fun read, but it did seem a little more believable. There were no over the top animals (there were quite a few animals, but they all behaved like real animals) and the leading male, Reginald, was actually pretty normal too. Not too clueless, not too set in his ways, just a normal British Aristocrat (because I know so many of those). The situations that Poppy found herself in, while crazy, weren't over the top. 

Andrea's Review

I went into this book thinking it was going to be like the many Regency novels I've read, and though it has some similarities with the upper class of society it was much more modern. And it should be, as the Regency era only lasted from 1811-1820 (thank you Wikipedia) and this takes place in 1885. So, while I have probably miscategorized many books as being Regency novels when they are, in fact, Victorian, one need not get hung up on the details of what to call what era. The point is that the social setting is among the wealthiest and "important" people in New York, and the main character, Poppy, is forced to socialize among them in order to save her family financially.

There is a bit of a My Fair Lady feel to Poppy being taught etiquette by Reginald Blackburn. The story was pretty lighthearted even throughout the crazy circumstances that came about. I didn't develop deep connections to the characters, but they were likable, and it was an entertaining read.

Title: Diamond in the Rough
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House
Published: September 2019
ISBN: 0764231685
Source: eCopies from NetGalley. All opinions express are our own.

Purchase: Amazon

Blog Tour: Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me by Julie Wright

 Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me by Julie Wright

Book Description:

Can the fairy tale bring Charlotte the happiness she’s looking for, or was he always there to begin with?

A modern, reimagined Cinderella story.

When aspiring author Charlotte Kingsley finally gets published, she thinks all her dreams have come true. But the trouble begins when her publicity firm reinvents her quirky online presence into a perfectly curated dream life. Gone are the days of sweatpant posts and ice cream binges with her best friend, Anders, replaced instead with beautiful clothes, orchestrated selfies, and no boyfriend. Only, that carefully curated fairy tale life is ruining her self-esteem and making her feel like a fraud.

When a bestselling author takes Charlotte under her wing—almost like a fairy godmother—she helps Charlotte see the beautiful person she already is and the worth of being authentic. But is it too late to save her relationship with Anders? The clock is quickly ticking towards midnight, and Charlotte must decide between her fairy tale life and the man she loves, before he's gone forever.

Rorie's Review:

This story drew me in immediately. How can it not when it starts out with "My fairy godmother was all talk and no action?" Lettie is quirky, kind of a hot mess, and was so much fun to get to know. I'm always a sucker for best friend romances, so this was right up my alley. It was fun watching her relationship with Anders develop into something more, although it happened a lot quicker than I thought it would. It wasn't insta-romance, by any means, it just happened much earlier in the story than I originally thought it would. 

I must admit, I was kinda horrified to read about all the things her publicist was expecting her to do. Is that normal for authors? I sincerely hope not, because that would be awful. 

This is one of those stories that I stayed up way too late reading, and that's always a sign that I loved it. I highly recommend it.

Tarah's Review:

I'm a sucker for fairy tales, even modern re imagined ones. And while I think the Cinderella Fairy Tale is overdone, I did thoroughly enjoy this take of Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me. I found the characters to be fun and real (towards the end in regards to Lettie's mother). I liked the different layers of each character, and more than that, I liked that Lettie grew into herself. She discovered that she wasn't the same as she was in the beginning of the book, and she wasn't the person the publicist made her into. I liked that she had to figure out who she really was, and which of those things were a lie.

I did feel like the story went super fast, and then just kinda resolved before I was ready for it too. It felt like build up, build up, build up, and then a really quick resolution. However, this could be because I kept waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop, and it never really did until the end. I thought things were going to get super awkward with her publicist long before it never really did. I'm super sensitive to awkwardness in my books, and I just kept waiting for that, and since it never really happened maybe that's why it seemed a little quick for me. 

It is a cute read though, and I will reread it again, and I'll definitely listen to it on audio book if they come out with that.
Andrea's Review:

I love the Proper Romance line from Shadow Mountain and really enjoyed this modern-day retelling of Cinderella by Julie Wright. It was a fast read and one that I can see myself reading again (I hope an audio version will be available soon). The cover is eye-catching, and the characters are very likable.

I liked the big contrast between Letti's dream and the realization of the dream. The grass is always greener on the other side, and it's good to take a step back every once in awhile to appreciate what we have. There were also some great lessons on judging and the masks we wear. Are we being our authentic selves?

Anders was such a great guy. I felt for him quite a bit during the story, and was happy that at the end of it all he got to be happy too.

Title: Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me
Author: Julie Wright
Publisher: Shadow Mountain 
Published: October 2019
ISBN: 1629726079
Source: Review copies from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.
Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Love Sidelined by Tiffany Odekirk

Book Description:

Jason Jennings made a tough call two years ago when he left behind his status as a hard-partying star quarterback in order to serve the Lord. Recently returned from a mission now, he's ready to get back on the football field at UCAL. But despite turning his life around, his bad-boy reputation is proving hard to shake.

Allie Hollis is everything a cheerleader should be—beautiful, outgoing, and smart—but her brilliant smile hides a devastating secret. So when Jason begins to show interest in her, there's no question: her answer is no.

Yet, in the face of Allie's chilly response, Jason's gentle persistence pays off, and a tentative friendship grows. Their chemistry is obvious, but Allie's determination to steer clear of a relationship with Jason goes deeper than he realizes. When the truth of her painful history comes to light, the couple must decide whether they will remain on the sidelines or jump back into the game of love.

Rorie's Review:

This is the author's third book in this series, and I have loved every one of them. She does a great job tackling serious issues without making the story too heavy and depressing. The characters in her stories are far from perfect, but they're continually trying to be better people, and sometimes they fail and have to start again. I love that about these stories, it really brings the characters to life for me.

This book was really hard to put down, and I had to make a bargain with myself that I could dive back in to the story for awhile as soon as I finished the "gotta do's" for the day. I'm not gonna lie, sometimes those "gotta do's" just didn't happen.

I enjoyed getting to know Jason and Allie and their back stories. I'm really glad we got to find out more about her relationship with her mom. I also enjoyed seeing past characters. I feel like the reader gets to know Jason's parents much better in this story than in either of the previous books. Now that I've finished this book, I am looking forward to re-reading the other two books in this series. I'm also hoping for a story for Drew.

Andrea's Review:

This was an excellent addition to Odekirk‘s other books, and while it makes me want to re-read her other stories, this can be read as a stand-alone novel. It’s just nice knowing a bit about some of the supporting characters.

I started this late afternoon and read until I was finished (around 2 AM). So it’s a page turner with characters I enjoyed and was rooting for.

It deals with some hard issues (dealing with the mental repercussions of sexual assault, addictions, lack of self esteem, etc.). It seemed tastefully done and held my attention.

This is one I’d re-read and recommend. I’m happy to add it to my Tiffany Oderkirk collection.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Title: Love Sidelined
Author: Tiffany Odekirk
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: September 2019
ISBN: 1524410128
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden

Book Description:

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls school in 1865s Victorian London. She is also a well-respected author of silver-fork novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories--the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Charles King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats, intelligent detectives solving grisly murders, and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.

Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Charles King started taking all of his readers. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of  authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the social and political causes of their working-class readers. The group knows King could be an asset with his obvious monetary success, or he could be the group s undoing as King s readership continues to cut into their profits.

Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered. What neither author anticipated was the instant attraction, even though their social positions dictate the impossibility of a relationship.

For the first time Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.

Rorie's Review:

This story is different from any other Sarah Eden book that I've read, and I loved it! Elizabeth was a strong lead character and I was rooting for her "side job" the whole time. Actually, it was the same with Fletcher. They both had their secrets and I was so intrigued to see how things would go once they each discovered what the other one was hiding. Watching their relationship develop was very entertaining.

This was my first time reading stories within a story, and it could have been a nightmare - difficult to keep track of all of the different plots, story lines and characters, but the author did a great job presenting each one. In fact, I found myself so caught up in Elizabeth's story that I almost didn't want to switch from that back to the main one! Thankfully, all three tales were equally entertaining and it was fun to switch back and forth.

Yet again, Sarah has a hit on her hands. I love her writing style and always look forward to the stories she creates.

Tarah's Review:

Looking for a novel that you won't want to put down? You don't need to look any further than The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden. This book has everything a good book should have. Well thought out characters that have multiple layers and that you can't help but rooting for, an interesting setting that isn't something you read about often, and mystery and action. Oh my heavens, and romance. Don't forget about the romance. 

I loved how Elizabeth and Fletcher's stories were each included in the novel, and for me that is saying something. I normally really hate it when the story breaks away for a different story, but I felt that you got to know each character better through their own stories. It didn't take away from the main story at all. In fact, Eden was able to make me want to know what happened in each story. I wasn't in a hurry to get back to the main story like I normally am. I was totally intrigued by each story, and I felt they only added to the main plot.

Even though the romance aspect isn't all kissy and pinning for each other, I liked it. I loved that the relationship was real (I mean it's fiction, it's not real, but you know what I mean) and that they grew together. That's what we need more of. 

And one last thing...I'm really hoping that since the story centered around a group, The DPS, I'm hoping that there will be more to this and it will become a series. Wouldn't you love to see Stone get his own story? Or some of the teachers at the school? I definitely would.

Andrea's Review:

Sarah M. Eden is such an amazing author and The Lady and the Highwayman is a wonderful addition to my collection. It was different from many of her books, and I enjoyed that the main male character (Fletcher) wasn't her typical male lead (not that I don't love her other characters-I do, it was just a fun change). 

I liked knowing the details (like who Mr. King is) and having the main characters figure things out. The characters (as usual for Eden's books) were deep and you couldn't help but care for them and how things turned out.

The setting was new for Eden's books too in that London was viewed from the lower class instead of the titled, and it made for a great story. I recently traveled to London and explored a bit, and it was interesting to think about this story and the conditions. I will definitely read this one again. 

Title: The Lady and the Highwayman
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: September 2019
ISBN: 1629726052
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book