An Uncommon Woman - Laura Frantz

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Unflinching and plainspoken, Tessa Swan is not your typical 18th-century woman. Born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical 18th-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa’s long-lost friend, Keturah, a redeemed Indian captive like himself.

Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when she is taken captive by the tribe Clay left, his hand–and heart–are forced, leading to one very private and one very public reckoning.

Intense, evocative, and laced with intricate historical details that bring the past to life, An Uncommon Woman will transport you to the picturesque and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770. (from the author's website)

My Thoughts

Oh, my giddy heart! What passion! What romance! What heart-pounding, breath-stealing, jaw-dropping adventures. Reader be warned...Once you reach chapter 28...you WILL have to finish the rest of the book in one sitting.

The layers of story woven together into a single book is brilliant! Although I am now ready for about 15 more books with all of these amazing people that I never want to leave! Ms. Frantz is the Queen of Swoon. Clay and Tessa's relationship was full of beauty and tenderness and all the sizzling passion (appropriate for clean inspirational read hehe).

His slow smile making her wish she could sit her woozy self down.

I love the details in this book. They are so vibrant and rich that I felt like I could hear the forest...Smell the harvest...and feel the frontier. I have read several of Laura Frantz's novels now and each one seems to linger for days. They are books to savor. To let sink down into your soul. The #bookhangover was bad with this one.

If you love the Colonial Era...set on the frontier...with richness and passion...I highly encourage you to pick up this book and get lost within these pages with Clay and Tessa...who knows...maybe you will find something as well. 

I received a copy of An Uncommon Woman as partner of JustRead Tours. Being a publicity company, JustRead Tours received money to promote this book. However, this did not influence my review. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Award-winning, bestselling author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.

According to Publishers Weekly, “Frantz has done her historical homework.” With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.

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Aiming for Love - Brides of Hope Mountain Book 1 - Mary Connealy

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

When Strangers Intrude on Three Wild Sisters’

Hidden Mountain Life, Their World Will Never Be the Same

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain? (from the author's website)

My Thoughts

From the hillside of Hope Mountain to the valley of Warden Ranch, Aiming for Love is a fascinating and entertaining story from beginning to end. Mary Connealy has given us a unique and totally NEW story.

Jo is incredible. I have never read a book with a character quite like her. While naive and ignorant of the world outside her isolated haven on Hope Mountain, Jo is an endearing heroine if ever there was one. She is resourceful and curious. Ready for adventure and ready for love. I want her clothes! LOL! This book was fabulous world building and setting the stage for the rest of the series. I feel like we've just scratched the surace of the lives of the Nordegren sisters and I can't wait to learn more about them in the books to come.

Cowboys, romance, mountains, danger, and a Ma that everyone needs in their life, Aiming for Love is the perfect blend of Mary's classic genre of Romantic Comedy...with Cowboys! It's a good thing book two, Woman of Sunlight is now available because you won't want to leave Hope Mountain! 

I received a complimentary copy of Aiming for Love from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary is the bestselling author of over 50 books and novellas has nearly a million books in print. Her most recent book series are Garrison’s Law, High Sierra Sweethearts, Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, and Kincaid Brides.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols!

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A Curse So Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall … and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin. (From the author's website)

My Thoughts

“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.” A Curse So Dark and Lonely

This dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast definitely lived up to my expectations. My only regret...not buying the physical copy of BOTH these books. (Yes...already added to my Amazon wishlist 😂) I really enjoyed the different twists Ms. Kemmerer used to portray this beloved classic. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Harper! Aside from a few normal teenage indecisions, she was incredible. Being swept into another realm. Stuck there with strangers. Stuck in The Curse. She adjusts quickly and jumps into the necessary role of Princess Harper of Disi. Although lacking in proper training, she is determined to be useful... and her compassionate heart sets her on a path of success. Her growth throughout this book was fabulous!

Rhen...oh Rhen...from a mopey defeatist to a Prince with determination and strength. His transformation throughout this story was executed so well. After hundreds of seasons without being able to break the curse, it takes Harper, a woman who wasn't even supposed to be in Emberfall, for him to open his eyes to the plight of his people and something shifted in his heart and I LOVE THIS RHEN. His sense of duty and loyalty to his people is admirable, if belated.

Riddled with violence, this is not a book for sensitivity to blood. Overall, this was a well-constructed retelling, with new elements, variances to the original story, and a much darker twist as a whole. 

Please note: This is a general market title. There are some secular worldview references that, while I don't support, I didn't feel took away from the story. 

I purchased a copy of A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of dark and alluring Young Adult novels like A Curse So Dark and Lonely, More Than We Can Tell, and Letters to the Lost (Bloomsbury), as well as paranormal YA stories like The Elemental Series and Thicker Than Water (Kensington). A full-time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her husband, her boys, her dog, and her cat. When she’s not writing or being a mommy, you can usually find her with her hands wrapped around a barbell.

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On Wings of Devotion - The Codebreakers book 2 - Roseanna M. White

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

All of England thinks Phillip Camden a monster—a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But as nurse Arabelle Denler watches the so-dubbed "Black Heart" every day, she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their paths twist together and he declares himself her new protector, she realizes she has her own role to play in his healing.

Phillip Camden would have preferred to die that day with his squadron rather than be recruited to the Admiralty's codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved. What comes as a shock is the reborn desire to live that Arabelle inspires in him.

But when an old acquaintance shows up and seems set on using him in a plot that has the codebreakers of Room 40 in a frenzy, new affections are put to the test. (from Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Roseanna's books are among my forever favorites! (And I'm not just saying that.) I LOVE the depth of character and the genuine relationships portrayed. This whole series revolves around the fabulous (fictional) people of Room 40 and the heroes of WWI.

This book has it all! Romance, grief, humor, loyalty, and a doozy of a bad guy. One of my favorite parts is getting to see the story unfold from the villain's perspective. It opens the story up to a whole new level. I also really loved watching Cam and Ara's relationship unfold. The process felt very real and reminded me a little of my own relationship with my husband.

Something I wrote down is FIERCE. I think both Cam and Ara have a fierceness about them. Ara, knows who she is, she knows what she wants in life and she will do exactly what she feels is right. Even if it makes other people unhappy. Camden's whole life was his unit. When they died, and he was blamed for their deaths, all he wanted was to join them at the bottom of the channel. He was filled with self-blame, regret, and guilt. But then God...His journey has been such a pleasure to witness. And Cam is also fierce in his protection and love for those that he cares about.

This was an incredible addition to The Codebreakers series. I loved getting to see Margot again as well as few other familiar faces hehe! I am so SO excited to see what book three holds!

As Roseanna's assistant, I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

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

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Coral - Sara Ella

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Taking a new twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved—yet tragic—tale, “The Little Mermaid,” Coral explores mental health from multiple perspectives, questioning what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

There is more than one way to drown.

Coral has always been different, standing out from her mermaid sisters in a society where blending in is key. Worse yet, she fears she has been afflicted with the dreaded Disease, said to be carried by humans—emotions. Can she face the darkness long enough to surface in the light?

Above the sea, Brooke has nothing left to give. Depression and anxiety have left her feeling isolated. Forgotten. The only thing she can rely on is the numbness she finds within the cool and comforting ocean waves. If only she weren’t stuck at Fathoms—a new group therapy home that promises a second chance at life. But what’s the point of living if her soul is destined to bleed?

Merrick may be San Francisco’s golden boy, but he wants nothing more than to escape his controlling father. When his younger sister’s suicide attempt sends Merrick to his breaking point, escape becomes the only option. If he can find their mom, everything will be made right again—right?

When their worlds collide, all three will do whatever it takes to survive, and Coral might even catch a prince in the process. But what—and who—must they leave behind for life to finally begin? (from author website)

My Thoughts

Oh, my friends! Coral is probably one of the hardest books (emotionally) I've read, maybe ever. There is a ***TRIGGER WARNING*** in the beginning of this book for a reason. (read the trigger warning here) Sara Ella has approached a very real and very HARD topic in Coral. And she delivers it beautifully!

This story is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid but not in the "expected" sense. The doors that this story opens...the rooms of the mind that are explored...is truly astonishing. Anxiety, PTSD, depression, manifest themselves differently in every person...but there are definitely aspects I personally could relate to throughout this entire book. Although the events portrayed are not things that I have experienced, the characters, their emotions, their struggles, were one hundred percent relatable.

I loved the relationships portrayed. Between family, friends, more than friends...And I appreciated the approach Sara Ella took in this story. I wish I could elaborate more on this, but #spoilers. Needless to say, this was a VERY tough read. I had to put it down several times after reading just a couple chapters. I needed time to digest and process the emotions and information. Yes, I WOULD read this again. Yes, I recommend it to Young Adults (parental discretion heavily advised). Yes, I think Sara Ella portrayed mental health in a unique and real way. Have I recovered from it yet? Absolutely not.

I truly hope that this book will help to open minds and conversations about mental health. I loved this story and thought that the ending was wrapped up really well. And left me with a feeling of hope. 

I received a complimentary copy of Coral from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Photo Credit: E.A. Creative Photography

Once upon a time, Sara Ella dreamed she would marry a prince and live in a Disney castle. Today, she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses, raising her little prince to be a king, and conquering realms of her own imaginings. Oh, and her husband is definitely more swoon-worthy than any Prince Charming.

Sara’s UNBLEMISHED trilogy has received high praise and multiple awards, but none as rewarding as the love and support she receives from her readers every day. Her new story CORAL, a reimagining of THE LITTLE MERMAID, releases in the fall of 2019.

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More Books by Sara Ella