ReviewsByErin

2022 held so many wonderful books! I'm here today to talk about my favorite in the Historical category. They're listed below in alphabetical order by author's last name.

Click on any title to read my original review, or click on the cover if you're interested in purchasing these books for yourself.

 "Engaging Deception" by Regina Jennings
Olive has a secret and she can't let anyone know—except her talent is just bursting from her. What hijinks will ensue when she becomes a nanny for her biggest competitor?

 "The Lost Melody" by Joanna Davidson Politano
Vivienne has a heart for rescuing others, but her first mission turns her life on its head. Will she end up being the one in need of a rescue?

 "Until Leaves Fall in Paris" by Sarah Sundin
Would you thwart evil if you had the chance? Two Americans contribute to the French resistance during WWII, putting themselves on the side of right in a dark time.


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2022 held so many wonderful books! I'm here today to talk about my favorite in the Young Adult, Novella, and Split Time categories.

Click on any title to read my original review, or click on the cover if you're interested in purchasing these books for yourself.

Vlogger Alexis is returning to her hometown of Icicle Creek, WA, after a breakup with her boyfriend and video partner. She isn't sure what the future holds, but she needs time to get back on her feet. Her grandmother needs her, too. Oma has recently been contemplating purchasing and renovating a local camp, and Alexis is sure this is not a project Oma needs to be undertaking at her age.

Justin is tired of life in D.C. and has started a successful realtor practice back in Icicle Creek. He's got several big sales on the horizon, including the camp. But when his high school friend Alexis pushes back against her grandmother buying the property, will it throw things off course?

Meanwhile, Justin's love for Icicle Creek has prompted him to put the town into the running for America's Favorite Christmastown. Can he convince the residents to go along with the plan? How could they ever get the professional quality of video needed for the entry? Perhaps Alexis could help. And perhaps working together would give them the chance to get reacquainted on a personal level.

I thought this book had great potential to be charming and full of good conflict. It didn't quite deliver for me, as it took so long to set up the main premise of the story, and the narrative seemed to jump around a little too much. I was confused a few times about what was going on. I didn't develop a connection with either main character, and was disappointed the contest didn't feature more prominently in the storyline. However, the romance is sweet and clean, and everyone loves a good hometown narrative. I'd recommend this book for those wanting something light and uplifting this holiday season. 

I received my copy of the book from JustReads Publicity. All thoughts in this review are my own. If you'd like to purchase a copy of the book, click the image below.

 


If you've read the first two books in Jody Hedlund's Waters of Time books, you'll know why I was excited to read the third. These time-crossing novels take modern British scientists and sleuths and transport them to medieval times. I enjoyed Marian and Ellen's stories, and now Sybil gets to take center stage.

Sybil is very analytic and efficient, but she feels deeply. She's reaching the end of what she can do to help her injured veteran brother, who is shutting more and more people from his life. When Sybil finds vials of ancient holy water she's sure it can heal her brother. She's heard about what it can do for others. But what about what it might do for her?

After experiencing so much pain and loss, Sybil is not entirely sad to find herself in a medieval world. Especially when there are people who might need her help. Is it crazy to think of giving up her contemporary life to stay where the needs are so great?

I quite enjoyed the first third and last third of this book, as that's where the action and intrigue happen. The middle section focuses entirely on the romance, and it was too heavy for my personal taste. While I liked Sybil as a compelling heroine, I didn't develop the same feelings for the hero, which was too bad because we'd met him previously and I had been looking forward to his story. However, I'm glad I read this book because I wanted to know how things turned out for these two. 

Readers who enjoy time-crossing fiction and lots of romance will find everything they're looking for here. Fish out of water, high stakes, and epic fights. It might be your favorite of the series!

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

Do you like epistolary novels? Authentically, Izzy is told mostly through e-mails and text messages, and I quite enjoy this narrative device. I understand it's not for all readers, but I loved it.

Izzy Edgewood's cousin took it upon herself to set up a profile for Izzy on Heart-to-Heart, an online dating website. Though reluctant, Izzy starts looking around at the good and bad profiles, wondering if this is all a big waste of time. How can she know if the guys she meets on there are even real? Meanwhile cousin Josephine keeps pushing men toward Izzy in her real life as well. Is Eli the professor a better choice than some anonymous guy online?

Enter Brode The Hobbit. Bookish and charming, he seems to be everything Izzy has ever desired in a match. Could such a man even exist? And if so, why is he on an online dating site instead of being happily married a long time ago?

This story really touched me personally. I've had an online romance, and Pepper nails all the emotions spot on. The fun chemistry, the uncertainty, the wondering about how it would go if you meet in person... and though it didn't work out for me and your favorite book reviewer is yet single, I'm still hoping to find my match in the future and feel all these things again. This book felt sort of healing to me and inspired hope in my own journey. 

Things aren't easy for Izzy as she decides whether to risk a relationship with Brodie. She has to first come face to face with some things about herself that were buried down deep, and navigate unexpected revelations that may undo everything. Also she has to contend with Josephine and her other two cousins, Penelope and Luke. All the messages flying back and forth will have you laughing and relating with this group.

I can't wait for Positively, Penelope to come out next year, and Luke better get his own book too. He's the best!

If you enjoy epistolary novels, bookish characters and stories, or faith-based fiction, check out Authentically, Izzy!

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

Phoebe Radcliff's quiet existence as a young painter trying to escape her past takes a turn when her tutor is murdered and asks Phoebe to complete a treasure hunt to find the hidden jewels before the murderer can get to them. With clues hundreds of years old and hidden all over the estate, Phoebe races against unknown foes in the present as well as the return of foes from the past.

This book confused me from the beginning. It felt like I was dropped into the story and was somehow supposed to know these characters and their relationships to each other already. I was also annoyed at how Phoebe "solved" many of the clues by overhearing the most random things. The romance was lackluster for me, probably because I never came to care for any of the characters individually, much less how they interacted with each other.

I will be the first to admit that treasure hunts are a trope that I really don't enjoy, and mysteries in general are hit and miss for me, but if these are your thing, you'll probably enjoy this book much more than I did. I normally love Abigail Wilson's books and will definitely read more in the future. If you are a fan of gothic Regency stories, don't let my lackluster review stop you from checking this one out.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Eric Larson is ready. He's built his life for this moment. He has the right clothes, the right vehicle, and the right career track. This summer stint in Tukston, Montana, is just a brief diversion from the plan, and he's out to prove to his uncle he's prepared to handle bigger and better things in Seattle.

Eric isn't ready for how Tukston, Montana, is going to prove he's not as ready for real life as he thought he was.

Eunice Parker is counting down the months of her shortened life. Cancer is stealing the rest of her days, though she's suffered so much loss and driven so many people away that no one is going to miss her much. But before she goes, she has a list of people she wants to apologize to. And she's going to need Eric's help to make that happen.

It's the start of a unique friendship that will tug on your heartstrings. Eric, so obsessed with outward appearance and setting up his future. Eunice, unable to do more than survive from day to day, with an eye on eternity. There's also a wonderful cast of characters, from the residents who make up the small town of Tukston to the animals who show up in funny and poignant ways throughout the story.

This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me think. There's a bit of an edge to it, a real world quality that isn't always present in Christian fiction. If you enjoy stories that aren't afraid to dive into deeper topics, check out Where the Blue Sky Begins—and be ready for it touch your heart.

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

Indi Muir just keeps trucking through life. She's an artist, a business owner, and world class distraction-finder. Anything negative in her vicinity? Time to find something else to capture her focus. 

But some problems can't be distracted away. And sometimes past issues rise up and demand front and center attention.

Philip West wishes he had a family like the Muirs. His own is decimated by loss and years of regret. Maybe his longing is what brings him back to Muir Farm and lands both him and his step-sister on an adventure they never saw coming.

If you loved Autumn By The Sea, you'll be glad to revisit Muir Harbor and find out more about the mystery that binds this series together. If you accidentally skipped the first book, that's okay—this one can be read as a stand alone. I didn't see the bad guy coming in this book, and there's still so much left to uncover in the final novel of the series. I can't wait to find out more!

Don't miss the past and present colliding with intrigue and romance. Recommended for fans of contemporary romance.

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

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Lady Emily Scofield has found a refuge among friends on the Isles of Scilly. Her friends don't hold the actions of her brother Nigel against her. They don't want her to conform to their whims the way her father does. If only her family loved her so well as this group we've gotten to know through the pages of The Secrets of the Isles series.

There is more treasure to be found. This time it's rumored that an artifact that once belonged to King Arthur himself has been hidden on the islands. Lord Telford has been captivated by Arthurian legend since he was a boy, which makes this quest all the more personal. As a self-proclaimed protector of weak and wounded creatures, he also can't help but see the needs in Lady Emily's life. Can he help her the way he does with furry creatures?

Lord Telford, Lady Emily, and the gang are not the only ones after this hidden treasure. Nigel is pursuing it just as doggedly, and without noble intention. Can they find it before he does? This series comes to an exciting and stormy ending which will satisfy every reader.

This was my favorite book of the series. I really enjoyed and in many ways empathized with Lady Emily as a heroine, and I loved Lord Telford's sensitivity as a friend and then growing into deeper affection and attraction. The theme of worthiness was beautifully woven in. I also felt like the cast of characters was easier to follow, like I finally got them all straight in my mind. Now they're sailing into the sunset with further adventures to live out in our imaginations.

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
After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends are forced to hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother who stops at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family—even when it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table—an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed in the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her eager family and a team of archeologists. In a race against time, they must decide what makes a hero worthy of legend—is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

Rag woman Raina Bretton has never known anything except London's slums. When a mysterious man offers to let her masquerade as Lady Enderly at the country estate of Rothburne Abbey, Raina feels she has little to lose. The man she loves is dead, and she has no hope for a future beyond selling rags. There's no harm in pretending to be a countess for a day or two, is there?

But it soon becomes apparent that this isn't going to go as planned. A web of intrigue surrounds her, her lost sailor love has returned, and it's clear that Raina is unlikely to get out of this situation alive. What happened to the real Lady Enderly? Can Raina find her—and save her—before they are both doomed?

I listened to this on audio and quite enjoyed it, though I felt I wasn't able to follow all the threads of the mystery as well as I would have liked. The shining star of this of this novel was its strong faith element and its grappling with identity. I thought that was masterfully and naturally woven in.

This was my first Joanna Davidson Politano book, and it certainly won't be my last!