"The Runaway Bride" by Jody Hedlund - The Bride Ships, book 2

Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship still wearing the scars of past mistakes. Vying for her hand are two very different men: Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy and is held in high esteem; and Peter Kelly, the town's baker and has worked hard to build a thriving business. The men not only compete for Arabella's affections, but clash over their views of how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak. As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need—a starving girl abandoned by her tribe. Intent on helping the girl, Arabella leans on Pete's advice and guidance. Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision or will seeking what's right cost both her and Peter everything?

I loved the setting of this book. Having read other books about early settlement in Washington State, I expected British Columbia to be more of the same, but I was surprised at a few significant differences, particularly the class structure that the British continued to [at least try to] uphold. The descriptions of the landscape were beautiful; having spent time on Vancouver Island, I could envision the northwest scenery. I especially appreciated the history portrayed--Hedlund does not shy away from the smallpox epidemic and the decimation of the native tribes, and she acknowledges that the whites had culpability in the tragedy.

I really liked Arabella, who is gentle and ladylike, not brash like so many heroines. And though she is gentle, she is strong; no woman could go through what she experienced and reach the point where she's at without inner fortitude. Pete was obnoxious (but in a fun and likable way--I was constantly rolling my eyes at his ridiculous statements). He's really quite noble in not mudslinging Drummond, tempting though it might be. And he's good at not pushing Arabella, who has a lot of scars--physical and mental--to overcome. It was a highly enjoyable read!

Thank you, Bethany House and NetGalley, for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

The Bride Ships
1. The Reluctant Bride
2. The Runaway Bride
3. A Bride of Convenience
4. Almost a Bride

Brandon Sanderson's "Warbreaker"

Warbreaker is the story of two sister princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one where magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery; and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

The more I think about this book, the more I realize how much I enjoyed it. It's much funnier than I anticipated--between mercenary humor and a god who doesn't believe in his godhood, I was highly entertained. But at the same time, there's a lot of serious stuff going on--political maneuverings to an "inevitable" war, marginalized people groups within a larger population, prejudice, corruption. Things are rarely all that they seem (and I was just as drawn in and trusting as certain other characters, never expecting betrayal). I loved the growth in Vivenna and Siri as they learn to set aside their prejudices and misconceptions, and Vivenna has some truly painful moments as she confronts her own flaws and works to move past them. There's a lot of darkness, but a lot of beauty too.

And yes, the magic system is creative and well thought out. There's definitely room for a sequel, though the story stands alone well. I've not read much Sanderson to compare it, but if his other books have half the complexity and thoughtfulness, they are sure to be good. I would greatly enjoy reading this book again.

"Serving Up Love: A Harvey House Brides Collection" by Peterson, Witemeyer, Jennings, and Turano

Tracie Peterson joins Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano in this collection of four novellas, each featuring a Harvey Girl heroine. From Kansas to Texas, the Grand Canyon to New Mexico, the stories cross the country with tales of sweet romance and entertaining history.

"A Flood of Love" by Tracie Peterson: It was interesting to learn about the existence (and swift and utter demise) of a town along the Rio Grande. The story was my least favorite of the four, but it's more to do with writing style than plot.

"More Than a Pretty Face" by Karen Witemeyer: I was glad to finally get Rosalind's story after her significant role in the novel More Than Words Can Say. At last, she's redeemed from a poor choice in the past that has been defining present for years. For such a short story, there's a huge amount of grace, even in unexpected places.

"Intrigue a la Mode" by Regina Jennings: An entertaining mystery of alcohol smuggling. I appreciated the cleverness of the mystery, but upon finishing it, I found the title especially clever. I also like it when characters have families and all the complications that can arise from so many loving relatives.

"A Grand Encounter" by Jen Turano: Nobody does quirky like Jen Turano, even in a novella. None of the other Harvey Girls have to resort to saving a man's life by shoving his face in plate of creamed cauliflower and mashed potatoes (okay, so it may have been a side effect, rather than the actual method of salvation, but all the same). It's definitely the funniest of the four (but then, what else can one expect from this author?).

All told, it's a lovely collection of stories, unrelated except for the occupation of the heroines and western Harvey House settings. Each offers a different glimpse into the lives of the Harvey Girls, who civilized the West.

Related stories:

Karen Witemeyer
Patchwork Family
1. More Than Meets the Eye
2. More Than Words Can Say
2.5: "More Than a Pretty Face" (originally published in the Serving Up Love novella collection)

Jen Turano
American Heiresses
1. Flights of Fancy
2. Diamond in the Rough
3. Storing Up Trouble (May 2020)
3.5: "Grand Encounters"  (originally published in the Serving Up Love novella collection)

"Chasing the White Lion" by James R Hannibal - Talia Inger, book 2

CIA officer Talia Inger has reconciled with the man who assassinated her father, but that doesn't mean she wants him hovering over her every move and unearthing the painful past she's trying to put behind her. Still, she'll need him--and the help of his team--if she hopes to infiltrate the Jungle, the first ever crowdsourced crime syndicate, to rescue a group of kidnapped refugee children. But as Talia and her elite team of thieves con their way into the heart of the Jungle, inching ever closer to syndicate boss the White Lion, she'll run right up against the ragged edge of her family's dark past. In this game of cat and mouse, it's win . . . or die. And in times like that, it's always good to have someone watching your back.

I love the combination of spy thriller and Leverage-like team of con-men and thieves working together to make the world a better place. I especially loved seeing the team draw closer together and open up and be real with each other. Sometimes I had trouble wrapping my mind around the layers of mastermind Tyler's plans, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the thrills. And this was full of thrills; if anything, it was more fun and intriguing than book one. The Jungle was obnoxious and a little cheesy, but it really worked--the fact that the team acknowledged that its theme was overblown made it clear it was a quirk of the villain, not just melodrama on the part of the author.

And it's fun to read a book full of geeky pop culture references that I actually get (and, honestly, even use, like the Last Crusade reference). I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Talia Inger
1. The Griffon Heist
2. Chasing the White Lion