ReviewsByErin

Middle school teacher Brielle Bayo has everything she knows about her life turned upside down when she learns her father, who passed away before she was born, was the crown prince of Ọlọrọ Ilé—and now she's the next in line for the throne. This small island nation off Africa's coast is soon to lose their king, and Brielle must travel to a place she's never been to meet a previously unknown side of her family—and decide quickly whether or not she will take over leading the country or abdicate for someone more knowledgeable and prepared. 

Brielle heads to Ọlọrọ Ilé with her best friend Iris and immerses herself in learning the island culture and getting to know her family.

The first part of this novel was pretty slow for me. It's very much like The Princess Diaries, sometimes annoyingly so. Plus the title gives away the fact that there's a twist coming, and I kept waiting for that to happen. Once it arrived, I was much more interested and invested in the story.

While I wished for a more complex plot and cast of characters, there is a lot to enjoy here. The faith of Brielle, her grandfather, and other main characters plays a strong role in the story. The island setting is well developed. I very much appreciated a Black heroine and exploring an African culture.

Overall, I would recommend this for fans of royalty romance. I liked Brielle's friend Iris and look forward to reading her story, To Win a Prince, coming out in September.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Rebecca Lane finds herself at home for the first time in several years, having been traveling as a ladies companion. But home is not as she left it—her brother, a troubled author, is in no state to receive her, so she settles in at the nearby Swanford Abbey Hotel to see how she can best help him. 

Many other guests are staying at the storied hotel, rumored to be haunted by the abbess who built the place centuries earlier. Among the guests are Rebecca's employer, the local magistrate whose home is under renovation, an actress, and a disreputable but popular author who has sequestered himself trying to come up with the next bestseller. Mr. Oliver literally has a guard outside his door who only lets him out of his room to eat dinner each evening. John has asked Rebecca to approach Mr. Oliver to see if he'll recommend John's latest book to his publisher. How can Rebecca get close when Mr. Oliver isn't seeing anyone?

Then a murder takes place, and Rebecca is caught up in the investigation, suspecting the worst. John's troubles haven't led him to do something so horrible. . . have they?

I thoroughly enjoyed this Gothic Regency mystery. There's some Agatha Christie flair, as well as nods to Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens. Rebecca is a sweet heroine, torn with loyalty to her brother, and tender from the reunion with the man who was her unrequited girlhood crush. The layers of mystery are very well done, and I wasn't entirely sure who the murderer was until it was revealed.

If you enjoy hearkening back to classic authors and dipping into a historical mystery, this is one for you. I hope you'll check it out!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 
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Beth Tremayne wants two things—to find lost pirate treasure, and to never see Lord Sheridan again. She's spent months tracking down clues to find the loot, and now who does this man think he is, trying to sweep in at the last moment and steal her prize?

Theo Howe, marquess of Sheridan, has always loved puzzles and unearthing beauty from centuries gone by. He might even be a distant relation of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a prince who turned pirate. Tracking Rupert's treasure sounds like a lot of fun, especially with pretty Beth Tremayne driving him crazy along the way.

But Beth and Sheridan aren't the only ones looking for the treasure. And the more nefarious treasure seekers will stop at nothing to get their hands on Prince Rupert's lost bounty. 

This novel is full of twists and turns. Fans who enjoy a good dose of suspense alongside their historical romance will find this story irresistible. For me, there were a few too many things to keep track of, though I still liked being along for the journey. Sheridan in particular makes an intriguing hero. He's far from the dashing paradigm for Edwardian leading men, but he's all the more lovable for it. 

I hope you'll plan a literary trip to the Isles of Scilly to search for pirate treasure yourself. Like our characters, you might uncover some of life's real treasures along the way.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.


Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words 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.


1906
Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London’s ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family’s property, she’s found more adventure than she ever dreamed in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can’t escape the attentions of her family’s guest, Lord Sheridan.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interest caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth’s search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can’t help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in one another.

Maisie Kentworth needs adventure like she needs air. It's not her fault if trouble happens to follow her, is it? Well, perhaps it is slightly her fault. She made mistakes while she was sweet on Silas Marsh, but that doesn't mean he should hound her and her kin trying to stir up more trouble for the Kentworths.

On one of her explorations, Maisie stumbles into a crystal-lined cave in a nearly-abandoned mine. Then she stumbles into the mine owner. 

Boone Bragg had almost decided to sell the mine, but the discovery of this giant geode has reshaped his plans and goals. Instead of mining for minerals, they could turn Crystal Cave into a tourist attraction. Surely people would come from all over to see the beauty that has been hidden away for centuries. "All the electric lights in the world can't compete with what God made and hid beneath our feet," Boone says in Chapter 14.

But Boone has a problem. Could it be that his problem—and hers as well—could be solved by an unconventional arrangement? 

This book is a hoot! Maisie and Boone are unique and distinct characters that you'll remember after you turn the last page. I love that this story took a slice of real history and breathed life into something most have forgotten or never knew about. If you want to know more, check out Proposing Mischief for yourself. Remember to read only in places where you don't mind laughing out loud!

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


Elizabeth Camden's new Blackstone Legacy series opens with Carved in Stone, featuring bohemian heiress Gwen Blackstone Kellerman seeking to save the college her father founded years earlier. The college means everything to Gwen, having lost her faithless husband, her parents, and even the brother who was kidnapped before she was born.

Patrick O'Neill's life was saved by his Catholic faith, but after studying to enter the priesthood, he backed out at the last minute and became a lawyer instead. Helping the downtrodden is his salient goal. When his latest case takes him up against the powerful Blackstone family, he's unprepared for what they'll offer him in order to turn him away from his client.

Normally I would say Camden's historical settings are one of the main attractions for her novels, but I never felt fully immersed here. While I was intrigued by the characters, especially Patrick, I didn't feel like I fully understood their range of desires and motivations. I found myself wishing for a third point of view character, one whose life and circumstances took up a great amount of time and attention. Perhaps his story is coming later in the series. 

Though I was disappointed with aspects of the story, I was never bored with it. I still found it interesting and enjoyable. Some readers might take issue with a staunchly Catholic character, but it was clear that Patrick's faith was genuine, if different than many readers of Christian fiction may practice. I look forward to more from this author in the future.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

A Flicker of Light is just as beautiful and unique as Powner's debut release, The Sowing Season. It's hard for me to even know how to compare these books to anything else on the market, because I'm not aware of any other books of this nature. 

One of our main characters is June, a woman in her 60s in the beginning stages of early-onset Alzheimer's. She grapples with the disturbing changes in her mind, resistance to the treatment her family wishes her to receive, and secrets from the past which can no longer stay buried.

Another character is Mitch, June's son, who is a 40-something widower still adjusting two years after the death of his wife. He feels the weight of responsibility to care for his parents long before they thought they would need that kind of commitment. Plus he's anxious for his daughter Bea, who at 21 years old has just moved back home with her husband while they try to get their lives on track.

Bea just found out she's pregnant. She's thrilled and terrified, and more than anything wishes she could talk to her own mom. Living in Montana with her dad was never what she and Jeremy dreamed of, but he insists it's a temporary measure until he can get his business started. How will her dad react when he finds out about the coming baby?

This family tale follows June, Mitch, Bea, their loved ones, and their community as they walk through transitional life stages. You ache or cheer for each one in their own way. The story is gentle but thoroughly engaging, with a faint trace of mystery running throughout. This might not be for readers who enjoy a lot of action, but I personally love something thoughtful and thought-provoking like this. Way to go, Katie! I can't wait for your next book.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


I am one of those readers who likes to know as little about a book as possible before I start reading it. The fact that Amanda Dykes had a new book out when I've enjoyed her first two releases was enough to make me pick up this one. However, it is significantly different than her previous releases, and that really threw me for a loop! For example, this isn't a split-time story. It's straight up historical fiction with a dash of romance. Also she uses five different point of view characters, which means it took me quite a while to feel immersed in the story because I was trying to keep everyone straight and figure out their role in the plot.

Our characters are a thoughtful soldier, a fake chaplain, a reluctant reporter, a weary captain, and a girl of the forest who losses cannot take away her hope. Their journeys weave them together and bring them to be higher, nobler versions of themselves in war-torn 1918 France.

Though it took me a long time to get into this story, a surprise plot twist almost midway through had me suddenly glued to the pages. Then by the end I couldn't put the book down, anxious to know which characters would survive this horrific war. You know that not everyone will be alive at the end, and I shed quite a few tears in the last few chapters as the story came to its ultimately beautiful and satisfying conclusion.

Keep the tissues handy when you read this one. I can imagine this being too emotional and heart-rending for some readers. It's war. It's pain and grief and sacrifice. But it's hope that will not die and light that shines in the darkest of places. Unlike me, who went into it blind, I hope that you will go in fully prepared to put your heart and emotions through the wringer, and to know you'll be inspired to become the very best version of yourself as you journey through these pages.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


The Horsemen are back! Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks are on a routine horse delivery when their skills are needed for a delivery of a different kind. A deranged woman in the throes of labor is threatening to leave her baby with the angels, and Mark and Jonah realize they can't leave her alone. When the baby is born and a doctor has the woman in hand, they are tasked with transporting the little one to Harmony House, the nearby foundling home.

Mark is shocked when Kate Palmer answers their knock. The same Kate who turned down his marriage proposal ten years earlier. What's she doing here—in Texas, and running a foundling home? 

While Mark and Kate reconnect, Jonah and Kate's partner Eliza get the new baby settled. While he's out, he learns about children who have been going missing. Who is snatching these kids? Why isn't the local lawman looking into this? Determined to put a stop to the threat and find the missing children, Jonah announces the Horsemen are on the case.

As Mark and Jonah track down leads, Mark's relationship with Kate flares to life again, and Jonah is drawn to the determined Eliza. The women aren't the only ones capturing their hearts. Getting to know the children of Harmony House as well as the local boxcar boys shows that their skills as men and leaders might be needed in different ways than ever before.

I really enjoyed this action-packed western. There's plenty of danger and suspense, with deep characters who will win your reader heart. The double romance is nice, though having four points of view did feel like it slowed the story down in parts, especially the beginning. That was my only small complaint, and then as the adventure really takes off, all of that balances out. I didn't want to put the book down until I knew that everyone was going to make it through safely!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Life has not been kind to Sophia Fitzroy. She and her twin brother grew up in Ireland watching their horse training father at work. But their father's early death and their subsequent other troubles left Sophia and Jonas with few life choices. Now in their early 20s, the duo are working with a circus in England just to be able to eat.

Aaron Whitworth has lived on the edges of society his whole life. Though he is illegitimate, he has been recognized by his father and is therefore a gentleman. But he takes pride in his work managing two different stables near Newmarket, as it gives him a chance to stand on his own feet and earn his own accomplishments.

When circumstances force Aaron to look for a replacement jockey for a quickly-approaching race, he takes a look at what the passing circus has to offer. He makes a desperate written offer of employment to "the redheaded horse trainer," unintentionally hiring Sophia. Is Aaron crazy for agreeing to let a woman run as a jockey?

Sophia is driven to prove herself and earn both respect and income for a better future. Talkative and determined, she makes friends among Aaron's acquaintances, though she feels every inch a poor circus performer. What will happen when the races begin?

I loved how the quiet desperation and social ostracism of these two drew them together. They could understand one another on an intuitive level. Both characters had needs that the other could fill, which made me as a reader cheer hard for them. A slight complaint about this book is that there were so many characters from the author's previous books, ones I have not read, which made Aaron's social circle somewhat confusing to follow. I appreciated the way faith and healing was woven in, and any horse lover will be thrilled at the amount of scenes pertaining to riding or caring for these animals.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


The 1893 World's Fair comes to life in this immersive novel from Jocelyn Green. We first met the Townsend sisters in Veiled in Smoke, when they suffered through the Great Chicago Fire. Twenty-two years later, the city and the sisters have recovered, and the world has come to their door.

Meg is married with a family, but Sylvie has never found romance. She has, however, raised a Polish orphan named Rose who is now a headstrong 17-year-old. Rose takes violin lessons from their upstairs neighbor Kristof, who is a concertmaster with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Sylvie keeps busy running the family bookstore and giving tours at the Fair.

Rose has never stopped searching for her roots, and when she goes missing, Sylvie doesn't know if she's following a lead or has been taken in a sinister plot. Meanwhile, Kristof faces hard decisions about his derelict but talented brother, and continues to gently woo Sylvie, carrying deep feelings for a woman who may never return them.

Jocelyn Green's sterling research is on display here in these pages. She has more detail than one might notice if they truly were at the Columbian Exposition! It's amazing how much she was able to include about the time period and various cultures represented at the Fair. 

Kristof was my favorite character. He made an absolutely dashing hero. I rooted for Sylvie to awaken to his love and choose him in return, though I understand why her focus needed to be on Rose. Due to all the circumstances surrounding the 1893 World's Fair, I wasn't sure what the outcome would be when she went missing. The twists and turns kept surprising me.

I would recommend this book for fans of historical fiction, or anyone wanting to know more about the Columbian Exposition.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.