ReviewsByErin

 

Rumors swirl about Sir James Morgan. Is he a man or a beast? Villagers are convinced he might be one of those famous vampires who hail from Transylvania—the home of Sir James's ancestors.

Rosa Edwards doesn't believe anything of the sort. As a librarian and a champion for education, she wants everyone to understand that vampires are fictional and there is nothing to fear from Sir James. However, as she gets to know the man herself, she must admit there are more than a few strange things about him and his home that might leave people wondering.

James searches for a cure for his mother's illness while Rosa tries to fend off a determined suitor who won't take no for an answer. Can it be that the two of them can help each other through their predicaments?

I loved how Michelle Griep weaves a tale of mystery with deep layers of faith and hope. With a story that could contain such darkness, she shines a ray of light. There's still plenty of Gothic overtones, but they do not overtake the main themes. Rosa is a very determined heroine and there's a vulnerability to James despite the protective barriers he carries around his heart. You can't help but hope for the best for them all the way through to the surprising conclusion to the story.

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

Amelia Balfour has traversed the globe as a travel writer, an unusual position for a woman in Regency England. Now duty calls her home, as her younger brother Colin faces a life-altering surgery for his birth defects. The siblings, who were once close, have a touching reunion as they prepare for Colin's procedure.

Graham Lambert's desperation lands him a partnership with an unusual doctor. As the man prepares to operate on Colin, Graham balks at the man's techniques. Though his hands are largely tied, Graham attempts to oversee Colin's treatments in order to lessen the severity of the methods. His time with the Balfour siblings draws him close to each of them in their own way.

You know those books where you know more as a reader than the characters do? This was one of those for me. You watch from the perspective of knowing things have to turn out a certain way based on history and science, yet the exact way it will play out is a mystery. I came to care for Amelia, Colin, and Graham, and believe that you will, too.

This was my first Michelle Griep novel, but I can't wait to read more! I loved her use of language and the way she wrote this story with its Gothic style while also packing it with hope and light. My only small complaint was that the ending had a small deus ex machina aspect. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

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

Travel to Biltmore, the lavish estate in Asheville, North Carolina, in this delightful split-time romance. In the contemporary timeline, Clara Blackwell works in Biltmore Village, where she operates a bookstore which has been in her family for four generations. When legal issues arise, one potentially devastating problem emerges: Clara can't find the deed to the shop. Where might her great-grandmother have filed it? It's not possible she never legally owned Blackwell's, is it?

In 1915, Oliver Camden leaves the tense atmosphere of Europe for a vacation at Biltmore. His trips to the massive library soon have him believing in a Library Fairy, as books he's interested in are suddenly placed exactly where he can find them. He soon discovers the Library Fairy is none other than housemaid Sadie Blackwell, and Oliver falls hard and fast for the young woman, despite their differences of station. But could an English gentleman really give up everything for an American servant?

This book is full of sweetness and the magic of stories. You'll fall in love with the characters and cheer them on as they unravel the mystery of Blackwell's origins. 

I noted down a couple quotes, one which made me laugh and one which nearly made me cry. The first from Clara's point of view, as she's just getting to know a new friend: "He wore bow ties? And suspenders? There was a distinct possibility she was looking into the face of her future husband."

And the more poignant one: "I'd never considered how some of our greatest losses lead us to choices that God uses for bigger things than we could have ever imagined." I've experienced this for myself. Time and again, some of what appeared to be the greatest tragedies in my life have turned out in the end to be some of the most wonderful points of change. Hard times are still difficult, but having experienced this hope multiple times, I now know to look for what God is doing even in the pain.

My only teensy-tiny complaint about this story was that the characters were rather too perfect, which is hardly a complaint at all. Ha! Come be swept away by the love and the mystery and the hope that lies between these pages.

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

I'm so excited to welcome A.D. Lawrence to my blog! Her debut novel The Purple Nightgown releases today, March 1st! A.D. and I met in 2019 through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she's become a good friend. She's so much fun and she's a very talented writer. I'm incredibly excited for her release today, and I wanted to give you a chance to get to know her as well.

First, here's the scoop on The Purple Nightgown, one of Barbour's True Colors true American crime series:

Marvel at the true but forgotten history when patients check into Linda Hazzard's Washington state spa in 1912 and soon become victim of her twisted green.

Heiress Stella Burke is plagued by insincere suitors and nonstop headaches. Exhausting all other medical aids for her migraines, Stella reads Fasting for the Cure of Disease by Linda Hazzard and determines to go to the spa the author runs. Stella's chauffeur and long-time friend Henry Clayton is reluctant to leave her at the spa. Something doesn't feel right to him, but still Stella submits herself into Linda Hazzard's care. Stella soon learns the spa has a dark side and Linda a mean streak. But when Stella has had enough, all ways to leave are suddenly blocked. Will Stella become a walking skeleton like many of the other patients, or succumb to a worse fate?


Q: Welcome to the blog, A.D.! What made you interested in writing true crime?

A: Looking back on my childhood, it’s no wonder I didn’t have a scad of friends. I was a bit of a creepy child on par with Wednesday Addams, always preferring shows like Dateline, Unsolved Mysteries, and Body of Evidence to Disney princesses. That being said, true crime is in my blood, and it has been since I can remember. Writing true crime stories with fictional main characters is a dream come true.

Q: What is something about writing this story that surprised you? (No spoilers! 🙂)

A: The thing that surprised and disappointed me the most was the villain’s ending. While it was honestly pretty poetic, I was shocked with the state of Washington.

Q: Can you share with us what you are writing now?

A: I’m currently brainstorming a contemporary thriller involving the son of a former CIA agent who is striving to complete his father’s research on mind control technology.

Q: That sounds fascinating! The Purple Nightgown is your debut novel. From your own writing journey, do you have a word of advice for aspiring authors hoping to see their own words in print?

A: Never give up. Rejections happen, they’re part of the process. They don’t mean your writing is substandard. Maybe the publisher/agent isn’t a good fit or they aren’t looking for a story like yours at the moment. Keep writing and praying and trying, and God will open doors.

Wonderful! Readers, please check out A.D.'s links and don't forget to be on the watch for The Purple Nightgown at your retailer of choice.

Rural Appalachia comes alive in this latest book from Barbour's True Colors true crime series. Travel back to 1912 and find out how one kiss sparked a massacre that would lead to the largest manhunt in Virginia's history.

Ava Burcham has suffered tragedy upon tragedy in her young life. She finds it hard to believe God—or anyone besides her granny—could really love her. She dreams of using her gift of storytelling to make an impact on the world, and writes for the local paper under a male pseudonym.

When a corn shucking kiss sets clan against clan, Ava and her good friend Jeremiah try to stay out of the crossfire. But sights are turned on them when they step in to help a grieving family.

The situation slowly heats up until it boils over at the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre. Can Ava and Jeremiah stay alive and help sort through the confusion in the days that follow?

Pepper Basham is known for writing "kissing books," and this one is no exception. My favorite part of the story was the relationship between Ava and Jeremiah. I do enjoy learning about true crime, though suspense is not my favorite genre, as I often feel the plot gets too tangled for my taste. I blame my own preference for not liking this book quite as much as I had hoped, though there was plenty I enjoyed, including Ava's faith journey. Who hasn't felt unworthy or in need of assurance that they are loved? 

If you enjoy true crime, suspense, and the power of a good (or mischievous!) kiss, check out The Red Ribbon. Don't miss the wonderful quotes from Granny Burcham and Granddaddy Sutphin that start each chapter—those were absolutely delightful!

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

 


I am not so proud as to be able to admit that this was pure escapist reading for me. While I'd say the writing style was improved over Montana Rose, it's far from highbrow reading. And that's okay, as long as you understand what you're in for.

Belle Tanner Santoni has had three husbands, and a more worthless lot of men she could hardly have chosen. She's used to doing for herself on her ranch, and she's taught her four daughters to stand on their own two feet as well. Now that her third husband has joined the others buried underneath the husband tree, Belle is determined she will never marry again. Never.

Having been raised by women and now fleeing a woman who tried to set him up for a shotgun wedding, Silas Harden wants nothing to do with females. Not any of them. But he needs work, and when he rides into a Montana town and hears of an outfit hiring on for a late-season cattle drive, he agrees even though it's a woman doing the hiring. He's shocked when he finds out that it will mostly be Belle and her daughters working the drive. Even though he's dead set against getting involved with her, he can't help being attracted to her independence and strength.

The trail is long and grueling, and Belle is grateful for Silas's help as the days go on. Maybe he wouldn't be as miserably lazy as her first three husbands, if she was of a mind to marry again. Which she is most definitely not. No matter how kind and handsome he is, or how their stolen kisses have made her feel.

One thing I appreciated about this book was that Belle was an older heroine who has had time to come into her own. That's refreshing. But like the first book in the series, I wouldn't recommend this for readers under 16. Use your own discretion as always when choosing reading material.

I have been wanting to read a Kaye Dacus novel ever since I read an interview she did in which she was discussing Andrew Davies and Sandy Welch. As a huge fan of British dramas, I know these two screenwriters and can debate their merits, but rarely do I find another person who shares this interest. Kaye caught my attention and has been on my watch list ever since.

Another reason I was interested in "Stand-In Groom" is because, like the heroine, I am a member of the wedding industry. I love weddings and being part of them. Unlike Anne, though, I don't plan them, and this reminded me why. It takes so many months and such a close relationship with the bride and groom. That's more than I'm up for!

To our story: Anne Hawthorn has a very successful wedding planning business, but she's never found the right man for herself. Her heart starts fluttering when she meets George Lawrence... until she finds out that he's the groom for an upcoming wedding.

But things are not always what they seem. George is actually a personal assistant (in British valet fashion) for a well-known actor and is only posing as the groom in order to keep the tabloids off the scent of his employer's nuptials. George is attracted to Anne but is unable to tell her who he really is and finds himself in quite a quandary, weighing his faith, his feelings and his job in trying to decide what is the right thing to do.

Anne's large extended family and her background play a big part in the story. It would be great if everyone had such loving and involved aunts, uncles and cousins! Her fears and her disappointments also show up to claim their share of attention. Through it all, can Anne trust the Lord and maybe learn to trust this man after she learns the reason for his deception?

This novel honestly didn't live up to my expectations. At times the pace raced, and at others it dragged. Where the attraction was concerned, I was displeased that it focused so much on things such as sharing tastes in movies and music. Not that it isn't nice when those things coincide, but it is hardly the basis on which one should form a life-long bond such as marriage. While Anne and George did share the same Christian faith, it seemed like their love of Dean Martin was just as meaningful. On the other hand, I did very much appreciate how Dacus showed clearly that both our main characters wanted to be the best individuals they could be before deepening their relationship with each other. They didn't want to get serious until issues were resolved and forgiveness extended where required. That's not a popular topic and one you very rarely see in novels. Job well done here!

I'm looking forward to trying one of Dacus's historical releases one of these days and seeing how it compares to this one. I still think Kaye's the kind of person whom I could easily sit down and chat with, and this won't be the only one of her books that I check out!