ReviewsByErin

 


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.

The final book in the Lost Princess series is here! If you missed any of you my reviews, you can find them at these links: Always Evermore Foremost

With eldest princess Adelaide Constance ready to reclaim her rightful place as queen of Mercia, it is time for youngest princess Emmeline to come out of hiding. Raised in isolation in Inglewood Forest., Emmeline has always known her true identity, but she loves her quiet home and has no interest in stepping into the public eye, especially during a war.

When crown prince Ethelrex finally tracks down Emmeline and threatens her family, Emmeline is forced to leave her home and soon finds herself being used as a pawn against the sisters she has never met. Her lonely background has not prepared her to stand against manipulation or face the fears that roil inside her. Emmeline must quickly learn to embrace her heritage and her gifts if she hopes to aid her sisters and help remove evil King Ethelwulf from the throne.

There were a number of things that made this story stand out from the others. Emmeline was quite the reluctant heroine, and I thought it was very realistic that she would have a hard time being brave and wise when her world before she was captured had been so small. I was also shocked and pleasantly surprised to find out the identity of the hero of this book. While he has been present throughout the series, I would not have guessed he would turn out to have his own story. He goes through quite a transformation in his own right.

If you like medieval fairy tales, this series is one you should check out. Each book is full of danger and adventure, and the conclusion is highly satisfying.

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

 


Seventeen years after the events of Always, it is time for the Lost Princesses to learn their identities and begin the work of reclaiming the throne. 

Lady Adelaide grew up doing everything her male cousins did. She can ride, hunt, and even secretly masquerade as a knight and succeed in tournaments. Benevolent to those who live on her estate, she's quite the catch now that she is entering the age for courtship and marriage. She is shocked when a deathbed confession brings forth the truth: she is the crown princess of Mercia, the rightful heir to the throne that was stolen from her father.

Christopher left Mercia five years ago to serve the king of Norland, unwilling to put up with the loyalist position of his parents. When he learns that those leanings were a ploy to throw off any suspicion that they were raising one of the lost princesses, he begins to rethink everything. His younger cousin has grown into a beautiful woman, already vied over by many men who do not know her true identity.

Events are set in motion that put Adelaide on the run for her life. Is there a way to defeat evil King Ethelwulf and restore peace and harmony to Mercia? How can she find her younger sisters, the twin newborn infants who escaped from the castle the day her parents died? Is Christopher's loyalty to her true, or is it born from his desire to raise his position in the land?

Battles and wits play out in a race to keep Adelaide safe and take the next steps toward gaining the crown. Fans of fairy tales and young adult fiction will especially enjoy this new series from Jody Hedlund.

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

 


Abbie Watson has her hands full keeping the Rose Island lighthouse running, as well as caring for her elderly grandfather. Although Gramps is spry, his dementia means that most days he doesn't recognize Abbie and thinks he's living a few decades in the past. Abbie is doing everything she can to hold their tremulous lives together, knowing any day they could lose their status as light keepers and be kicked off the island.

When an unknown man washes ashore after a storm, Abbie has no intention of tricking him or using his presence for her own gain. But when he wakes up and assumes he's her husband, it's a little too easy to pretend. Maybe having a young healthy man around will convince the superintendent to give them more time. Especially since Gramps seems much calmer and more aware of the present when the stranger is around.

Nathaniel can remember nothing about his previous life. He only remembers feelings of sadness and that he has disappointed people, but now he's been given the chance to start over with a clean slate. He realizes he must have been a very bad husband to have his wife behave in such a shy and skittish way around him, and he's determined that things will be better this time around.

What starts as an innocent mistake on Nathaniel's part soon grows to a situation beyond Abbie's control. Nathaniel really is winning her over, but now she has no idea how to tell him the truth. Is it possible that their budding feelings will survive when his memories return? Or will the fact that he's wealthy with a long list of bad decisions in his past make the divide between them insurmountable?

There were quite a few twists and turns in this story that kept me uncertain about how everything would resolve until the final pages. I enjoyed the theme of second chances, as well as one with which I have personal experience - not letting the actions of our parents determine the outcome of our own lives. This was a strong plot to wrap up the Beacons of Hope series!