Favorite Books of 2023!

I did a lot of rereading over the course of the year, as well trying out a number of quasi-classics that I've neglected (Daphne du Marier, Georgette Heyer, Mary Stewart). But of the books published this year, there were definitely some outstanding ones (I even re-read The Rose and the Thistle midway through the year):  

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 The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Revell)

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 1

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theatre by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

Memory Lane by Becky Wade (Indie) - Sons of Scandal, book 1

Wedding at Sea by Melissa Tagg (Indie) - Muir Harbor, book 3

A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen - On Devonshire Shores, book 2

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple's male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they've invited mysterious secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home. Meanwhile, Emily Summers approaches a local publisher in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming an author. When he turns her down, his dashing competitor promises to consider her novel if she will first write a new Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily accepts and begins researching with the help of the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she used to hold dear and her budding dreams for the future.

In a time of stress and busyness, I just really appreciated this gentle romance. I really liked both Emily and James. The book series reminds me of a British television mini series, with small town excitements and small town problems (though the the historical addition of the royal visit is perhaps more grand than one's usual small-town excitements). I really enjoyed how much location-specific history Klassen manages to weave into story, from the royal visitors to the inhabitants to the buildings and natural areas around Sidmouth.

I look forward to book 3 and hope it is about Claire! And that Sarah gets a happily ever after as well.

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.

On Devonshire Shores
1. The Sisters of Seaview
2. A Winter by the Sea

The Love Script by Toni Shiloh

Hollywood hair stylist Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood heartthrob Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic. Lamont Booker's bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent's push for a fake relationship--something he never thought he'd consider in a million years. With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

In spite of the fact that Hollywood and movie stars really are of no interest to me, Toni Shiloh wrote an intriguing story centered on precisely that, and it was really hard to put down. To my knowledge (not that I'm necessarily one to go by per this subject), it takes a realistic view of Hollywood style fame and how hard it is to be a person of integrity within it, even in a case where the temptation of the flesh isn't much of an issue; there's still paparazzi, internet trolls, and cancel culture just waiting for the appearance of a misstep, and the consequences of one person's fame can easily hurt innocents.

The story is generally light-hearted, but it definitely has depth. I love how Shiloh works solid spiritual content into the story, with exploration on church-going and deception. The characters were all great. I loved Rosie, and I really hope there will be books about Tuck and Piper and Chris!

To Spark a Match by Jen Turano - The Matchmakers, book 2

After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she's destined to remain a spinster forever--a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours. Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his case. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend--and one of high society's leaders--to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable. When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon's case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good--along with their lives.

This is Jen Turano at her Turano-est: wacky social situations, adorable animals, a full cast of quirky characters, and very wordy (yet very funny) dialogue. I will confess a bit of jealousy toward Adelaide--I would really love to play with a grapple cannon, just for an afternoon. Adelaide has won the jackpot in Gideon. Granted, there's a lot more to him than just his extremely cool weapons stash; he's very considerate, chivalrous, and a man of unexpected talents (who'd have guessed embroidery?). But Adelaide is also perfect for him. They are neither complete opposites nor carbon copies--they land somewhere in the middle, and are very complimentary. Entertaining, as usual!

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 Matchmakers

1. A Match in the Making

2. To Spark a Match

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy's brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta's younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her uncover the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must put the threat of the phantoms to rest. Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. When television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher engages Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history, Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of also finding out what happened to her friend. As the theater's curse begins to unravel Kit's own life, she sets out not only to save the historical building and her friend, but to end the pattern of evil that has marked their hometown for a century.

Wright consistently writes dual timeline novels better than anyone else I've read. Both timelines are fast-paced and filled with suspense--there's never one timeline that seems boring compared to the other. Instead, the timelines alternate from suspenseful moment to suspenseful moment. I also appreciate that no matter how weird events get, there is always a real-world explanation. Sure, there might be a psychic trailing Kit around with knowledge she shouldn't have, and Greta might be facing doubts to her sanity because she saw something no one else saw or believes, but there's always an explanation that doesn't rely on the supernatural. Always.

I love how the setting--Barlowe Theater--is nearly a character in its own right, hiding secrets in the past and present. The creepy old theater ties the two storylines together with its history of disappearances and aura of mystery. But it isn't only the setting that connects the timelines--Wright also does an excellent job with connecting them on a thematic level. A fear or reality in Kit's timeline is echoed in Greta's, and vice versa, increasing the sense that the two stories are intertwined. Excellent, as always!

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 Laws of Attraction by Mary Connealy - Wyoming Sunrise, book 2

If widowed town seamstress Nell Armstrong has to make one more pair of boring chaps for the cowboys in her tiny Wyoming town, she might lose her mind. So meeting Brand Nolte, a widower father struggling to raise three girls, seems like her dream come true. Brand has no idea how to dress the girls, and Nell finally has a chance to both create beautiful dresses and teach the girls to sew. But Nell is much more than a seamstress, and the unique legal and investigative skills and knowledge she picked up alongside her late lawman husband soon become critical when a wounded stagecoach-robbery survivor is brought to town. As danger closes in from all sides, Nell and Brand must discover why there seems to be a bull's-eye on their backs.

The opening of the book, Nell's desperation to sew something pretty instead of making chaps, cracked me up. As one who did alterations for a jeans store, I have felt the desperation to do ANYTHING besides hem or patch one more pair of blue jeans. I feel for her. I really do.

More than that, I really liked the contrasts in Nell. She's an elegant lady who loves sewing pretty things, but she has the mind of a detective and can lend a hand to any problem, be it teaching motherless girls about feminine things or digging out bullets. I think just about everybody has unexpected skills that don't fit a first impression of a personality, but it's not so often seen in literature. The romance took more of a back seat in this one, but I enjoyed the story.

Wyoming Sunrise
1. Forged in Love
2. The Laws of Attraction
3. Marshaling Her Heart

Brandon Sanderson's "Skyward"

Spensa's world has been under attack for decades. Pilots are now the heroes of what's left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with that of her father's—a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa the daughter of a coward, her chances of attending Flight School slim to none. No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.

I'm much more of a fantasy person than sci-fi, but really, who doesn't love Star Wars? So occasionally a space opera sounds like fun, and I figured a young adult one by Brandon Sanderson was worth a read. And I was supremely pleased I did!

I don't generally care for the spunky, bad-attitude-type heroines, especially those who are exceptionally defiant (as it were*), but Spensa surprised me. She made me laugh. And she might have a bad attitude and definitely wants to stick it to the man, but she isn't stupid about it. For someone as reckless as she is, she's actually got a fair amount of sense and a sense of honor. Ultimately, she's a well-rounded, complex individual, and I ended up really liking her. And I liked that she learned to see past her flight-mates' masks and recognize what was inside each of them, even (or especially) Jerk-Face.

One thing I can count on with a Brandon Sanderson novel is that things are rarely as they seem, and I am pleased to announce that this is yet again the case, in a way that is exciting, a bit heart-breaking, and far out of the realm of possibilities I had considered. It's clean, thrilling, and a delight. I'm glad there is a sequel!

*inside joke for those who've read the book

Skyward
1. Skyward
2. Starsight

Pixels and Paint by Kristi Ann Hunter - Trinket Sisters, book 1

For Emma Trinket, life is a delicate balancing act between loving her family and pursuing interests they don’t understand. When the opportunity arises to finally impress them with her job as a computer programmer, she jumps at it even if it means immersing herself in a world she’s despised since childhood. Unfortunately the one man who could crush her prospects is also the best person to help her navigate the lessons she needs to be a success. Artistic expression is both Carter Anderson’s safe space and his livelihood, but his fading inspiration has him worried about his place in life. His encounters with Emma spark a passion to create that he hasn’t felt in years and he isn’t ready to let go of his new muse even if she’s threatening the sanctity of his art world with her digital technologies. As each tries to gain an advantage from the other, Emma and Carter discover they actually might be more compatible than they thought. Will that be enough to unify their opposing missions or will the real differences between pixels and paint tear them apart?

I'm really not a fan of books written in the present tense; it takes way too long to get into the story enough for it to quit bothering me. But once at that point, I did really enjoy this book, just as I expected from a Kristi Ann Hunter novel. It is full of the author's delightful sense of humor (I laughed so hard during one scene in particular), engaging characters, and encouraging message.

Weirdly, in spite of being an artist myself, I connected way more with Emma than Carter. When it comes to the vast majority of art, be it classical or modern, master or amateur, there's a very narrow window that I truly enjoy. And I make art because I enjoy the process and the results, not because of overwhelming emotion or the desire to make a statement. It mystifies me when people find deep emotion or hidden meaning in something that was only meant to be precisely what I depicted. But maybe that proves some of Carter's points in the story; art is certainly a very personal experience.

I really look forward to reading Amy's story--this book hinted at layers of depth and hurt behind that fashionable façade, and I can't wait to see where she ends up!

Trinket Sisters
1. Pixels and Paint
2. (2024)

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M White - The Imposters, book 1

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as a potential traitor. Pneumonia lands Sir Merritt Livingstone behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare. Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend's sake, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can't possibly be as noble as he seems.

It was enjoyable, just not my favorite by the author. The plot was twisty and intriguing, with an unexpected but thrilling conclusion. The main characters were all very likeable--Merritt, Marigold, Yates, Xavier. Maybe too likeable, in the case of Marigold? All together, Marigold's special skills strain credulity a bit--I mean, she's a trapeze artist, an actress, able to memorize whatever she reads or hears (at least short term), and is on the cutting edge of fashion, not to mention being titled gentry. Oh, and she cooks, sews, and has circus animals essentially as pets. All are explained in her backstory, but . . . it's a lot, without much balance in flaws. I guess I found her likeable, but too special and perfect to be relatable. However, I did really like that Merritt starts out sick and physically disadvantaged--a novel introduction for a hero!

I am terribly curious what went down between Gemma and Graham to cause such animosity; at least they're the leads in book 2! Side note about Graham Wharton: same name (essentially) as Graham, Lord Wharton, hero of Kristi Ann Hunter's novel A Defense of Honor. What are the chances?

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 Imposters
1. A Beautiful Disguise
2. A Noble Scheme

A Return to Hawthorne House by Kristi Ann Hunter

Two new novellas related to the Hawthornes, under one cover!

Always a Lady: Despite the fact that her daughter is not cooperating, Caroline, Duchess of Riverton is determined to ensure every one of her children marries someone they love as much as she loved their late father. William, the widowered Earl of Blackstone, is delighted to have his days of escorting daughters approaching an end. The last thing he expects is to find himself drawn to a woman who is just starting such a journey. Are they each too set in their ways to grasp this chance to have a second love?

The Lady’s Maid: When Lydia Smith began her career as a parlor maid, she knew love and marriage wasn’t likely in her future. Dreaming about the boy next door as she dusted seemed harmless until he started working as the new valet under the same roof. When Finch needs her help with a special project, will it give them a chance to defy expectations and find love or ruin their happiness forever?

Even though all these stories technically take place before the first full novel of the Hawthorne House series, they are definitely richer for having read the series first. It's a lovely collection for anyone who wants another taste of the wonderful characters we met in the books.

Always a Lady: It's always been clear that Caroline knows all the rules to being a lady, but this story makes it plain she also knows when and how to break them. I enjoyed seeing more of her spunk, and I think Miranda takes after her more than either of them would admit. 

The Lady’s Maid: I always had the feeling in An Uncommon Courtship that there was more to the story of Trent's staff than was included in the book--I mean, a married valet and housemaid is pretty unusual! So this story just makes so much sense and fills in gaps in Lord Trent's unusual household. 

Christy Award winner for best novella/short form in 2023!

Related novels:

Hawthorne House
0.5 "A Lady of Esteem" - a free novella (also included in A Return to Hawthorne House)
1. A Noble Masquerade
2. An Elegant Facade
3. An Uncommon Courtship
4. An Inconvenient Beauty

"Wedding at Sea" by Melissa Tagg - Muir Harbor, book 3

Lilian doesn’t remember anything about her life before the day Maggie Muir found her on her front porch—a toddler, abandoned. She has a beautiful life at Muir Farm, but she also has a secret . . . one that raises just as many questions about her future as it does her unknown past. And, of course, it would be private investigator Wilder Monroe, her brother’s best friend and the bane of her existence, who sniffs out her secret before anyone else. Wilder has spent the past three years trying to close the one case on the mystery of Maggie Muir’s long-lost granddaughter. But the decades-long search has become more tangled than ever. Not only are the Muirs the closest thing to family he has left, but if he can solve this mystery, maybe he'll keep himself from drowning in the one he can’t . . . the truth about his father’s death. In the midst of it all, Maggie asks a favor of both Lilian and Wilder: put aside their bickering and work together to plan her summer wedding. It’s a big ask, made all the more difficult when danger comes calling. But if the two enemies can stand each other long enough to pull off the event of the year, they just might solve a mystery in the process.

This is a rare Melissa Tagg novel in that it lacks the adorable meet cute (not surprising, given that the leads have known each other forever). But it makes up for it in a couple different fun and delightfully awkward scenes. It's full of Tagg's trademark humor, as well as her classic heart-wrenching scenes in which the leads wrestle with their demons and overcome. As with the previous two novels in the series, it even has a spark of suspense and danger.

This is one of the best--albeit, more unusual--enemies to lovers stories I've read. It's not a case of physical attraction instigating the shift from enemies to lovers, as in so many romances; instead, vulnerability leads to connection, which leads to a deeper relationship, which finally culminates in attraction. The physical aspects are way down the list. 

This was the perfect ending to the Muir Harbor series (though I'd gladly take a full novel about Marianna). They are all equally wonderful, but best together! 5 stars!

Muir Harbor
1. Autumn by the Sea
2. A Seaside Wonder
3. Wedding at Sea 

His Delightful Lady Delia by Grace Hitchcock - American Royalty, book 3

Delia Vittoria's mother has lost her voice at last. After five years of being her diva mother's understudy, it is time for Delia to assume her place as the lead soprano on stage behind the Academy of Music's faded velvet curtain. And she is all that stands between the Academy and its greatest threat--the nouveaux riche's lavish new Metropolitan Opera House. Kit Quincy never misses opening night, but when his sister begs him to help get her husband out of an Italian opera star's arms, Kit confronts the wrong Lady Vittoria. When he happens upon the stunning young diva again at Mrs. Astor's dinner the following night, he attempts to make amends and is instead pulled into a plot to win the great opera war. To draw attention to Delia Vittoria as the new soprano star, Kit is convinced to act as both Delia's patron and the enigmatic phantom who once haunted the Academy years ago. But when a second phantom appears, more than Delia's rising career is threatened.

If you enjoy The Phantom of the Opera (or spoofs there-on), this is a fun homage. No weird, stalk-ery relationships between our heroine and hero--just a sweet romance between a singer who knows who she is (at a core identity level, at least) and a gentleman who, even as he is falling in love, wants to see her succeed. Kit is one of the rejected suitors from book one in the series, and it's lovely to see him find love at last. Of the three books, this is definitely my favorite--it's lighthearted and fun, with an unusual opera setting and theme on finding one's identity in Christ.

American Royalty
1. My Dear Miss Dupree
2. Her Darling Mr. Day
3. His Delightful Lady Delia

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer - Texas Ever After, book 1

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters--and her jealous mistress plotting her demise. After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather's ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her. With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope's acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus's heart divines a different truth--one that might just get Penelope killed.

I've read a lot of fairy tale retellings, including various versions of Snow White, which, admittedly, is not my favorite fairy tale. For all that there is no magic or supernatural element in this version, it is definitely the best retelling of Snow White that I've read. It pays homage to the Disney version more so than the Grimm original, but the Snow White elements mesh surprisingly well with the very western thievery case, spearheaded by our kingly (as it were) Texas Ranger hero (who gets a lot more character development than the prince in either Disney or Grimm's stories. As does their relationship and romance).

It's plain cute, and highly satisfying--a faith-filled, fairy tale, western, historical romance.

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.

Texas Ever After
1. Fairest of Heart
2. If the Boot Fits
3. Cloaked in Beauty

Memory Lane by Becky Wade - Sons of Scandal, book 1

After surviving a trauma several years back, Remy Reed relocated to a cottage on one of Maine’s most remote islands. She’s arranged her life just the way she wants it. It’s quiet and solitary—until the day she spots something bobbing in the ocean. Her binoculars reveal the “something” to be a man struggling to keep his head above water. She races out to save him and brings him into her home. He’s injured, which doesn’t detract from his handsomeness nor make him any easier to bear. He acts like a duke who’s misplaced his dukedom . . . expensive tastes, lazy charm, bossy ideas. Remy would love nothing more than to return him to his people, but he has no recollection of his life prior to the moment she rescued him. Though she’s not interested in relationships other than the safe ones she’s already established, she begins to realize that he’s coming to depend on her. Who is he? What happened that landed him in the Atlantic Ocean? And why is she drawn to him more and more as time goes by? There’s no way to discover those answers except to walk beside him down memory lane.

This was a great story, full of Wade's trademark humor and romance, along with a dash of intrigue. Based on first impressions, I assumed that our hero is a rich playboy. He is rich (no doubt about it). He's competitive and intense, but he's not a playboy. He surprised me by how very respectful he is of boundaries, and he's much more self-controlled than his first, in-pain and confused impression would lend us to believe. 

No one in this book leads a perfect life; everyone's is messy. Remy is dealing with trauma by hiding out and losing herself in art. Our hero deals with trauma of a different sort. Even side characters like Wendall and Fiona are dealing with the consequences of their life choices, not all of which were great. 

Losing one's memories is an awful thing (I have a cousin who was in a bad car accident 19 years ago and is still missing two months of her life). But I loved how in this book it becomes almost a gift--a gift of time for our mystery man to view his life from an outside perspective instead of drowning in the midst of his circumstances. God takes something awful and uses it for good, not just for his own healing, but for Remy's healing, and even Wendell's, Remy's elderly friend. It doesn't mean that things aren't really hard sometimes, but God is still there through it all and forever afterward.

"God has a soft spot for those of us who feel like we've been thrown onto the garage sale pile . . . He's never closer than when we're beaten up, unloved, betrayed." 

I greatly look forward to Jude's story!

Sons of Scandal
1. Memory Lane
2. Rocky Road

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer - Timeless, book 2

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives forever. In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths. While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era, and she's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer. With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

This is sort of a fantasy version of a dual timeline novel, in which the heroine exists in three timelines all at once. It has the distinct advantage over other dual timeline books by having the same main character in all three timelines, rather than different characters experiencing different stories. Often in dual timelines, one timeline is more interesting than the other, and I wish that the book could just be about that one. Not so with this book: while I was less interested in her 2001 timeline, her choices and events that occurred still had a major impact on her and her other timelines. As much as she tried not let it inform her choices, the knowledge and skills she gains from 2001 still affect her decisions in 1941 and 1861.

The stakes felt a little lower in this book than previous one, for all that Maggie is living through the start of essentially three wars. It's more her personal journey of deciding what is right for her; the decision isn't forced in the same way as her mother's in the previous book. Still, it's a highly enjoyable story, and I look forward to the next in the series!

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.

Timeless
1. When the Day Comes
2. In This Moment

Engaging Deception by Regina Jennings - Joplin Chronicles, book 3

Olive Kentworth has spent her life hiding her interest in architecture, even though she pores over architectural books and sketches buildings. When she accepts a job on a home expansion, it's only because her cousin Amos agrees to pose as the builder. To further hide her involvement, Olive takes a position as a nanny--not knowing that she'll be working for her idol, Joplin's leading architect, widower Maxfield Scott. Maxfield is intrigued by his new nanny--she makes his home and his life bearable again. His work, on the other hand, is a disaster. An untrained builder is remodeling a completed project of his. What's worse, Maxfield's current client wants changes to his plans because of that builder's work. As the architectural one-upmanship heats up, Olive's involvement becomes harder to hide. Will the relationship between her and Maxfield survive, or will they both miss out on building something for their future?

Ever feel like some has borrowed your life and put in fiction form? Olive (an architect) and I (an artist) share a lot of the same traits. A LOT. There's the conflicting fear and desire to be known; the fear of failure, which can be debilitating, right along side the stress of success, which is almost worse (at least when you fail, you can crawl back into hiding). Olive faces the imposter syndrome of one who hasn't gone to school for one's job (me again). And like Olive, I've even used relatives as a face man to handle the talking. And we each might be practical and a wee bit stubborn.

Suffice to say, I really connected with the character.

But besides that, it's just a really good story. It's largely a love story between two people dealing with grief in opposite ways, yet that grief allows them to connect on a deeper and more sincere level than they can find elsewhere. Maxwell, even with his snobbish faults, is an appealing hero. I even kind of liked Ruby, Maxwell's initial love interest who's doomed to be kicked to the curb. Usually when there's The Other Woman involved, she's pretty awful, even if the hero doesn't see it at first. Ruby is definitely not a good fit, but she isn't awful; she's actually pretty great with the kids, but she's immature yet, and neither her heart nor her ambitions are centered on Maxwell.

All in all, it was an excellent conclusion to the Joplin Chronicles.

Joplin Chronicles
1. Courting Misfortune
2. Proposing Mischief
3. Engaging Deception

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright

In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life. In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of American aristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery of disappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle's curse threatens to rise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell its sordid tale.

No matter how strange, how creepy, how unearthly, you can always count on Jaime Jo Wright to have a rational and believable explanation for all happenings in the end. There were a lot of direct parallels between the two (technically, three) timelines that made me wonder how she was going to pull it off--no one can live for 220 years, for instance. And ghosts don't exist. But Wright pulls it off expertly, as usual.

There was something about the past timeline with Daisy and Lincoln that put me in mind of the movie Rigoletto (the 1993 Beauty and the Beast-esque Feature Films for Families movie, not the classic opera), even before I got a full view of Lincoln or learned the castle's secrets. Now at the end, I stand by that impression even more. I can't really draw too many comparisons for sake of spoilers, but it's safe to say that appearances can be very deceiving. 

Wright has a way of pulling hope out of the bleakest circumstances in her stories, but I think this one holds more hope than all the others. There's a significant amount of darkness--abuse permeates all timelines of the story--but there is light for those watching for it.

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 Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green - On Central Park, book 1

For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations. The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud. With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

If you're looking for a classier Roaring 20's story rather than stereotypical, then check this one out! Sure, prohibition and mafia-esque players are part of the setting--especially with a police detective as one of the main characters--but the focus is on the antiquities world and the white collar corruption within. Lauren is a highly educated heroine, and it's really just a by-product of her job and education that she is one of the very best at recognizing forgeries. I loved her conclusion on how to recognize a fake--if you immerse yourself in the genuine article and study what is true, then you will be much more likely to spot what is false. And that applies to a lot more than just antiquities.

The love story is not the focus of the story, but it's a sweet addition. I liked how they had been friends long ago and were able to pick up nearly where they'd left off over a decade before. I hope there will be follow-up stories on Lauren's roommates!

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

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden. American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide. When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. 

Before this book, I think the only time I remember hearing of Denmark's role in WWII was reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, back in 6th grade, maybe? That being twenty plus years ago, my knowledge of Denmark's role was minimal. It was interesting reading about life in the best-off occupied country in Europe, where standards of living remained high and German interference remained low far longer into the war. I loved how much actual history was incorporated into the story, such as how Henrik and his rowing is based off a real man, and all the scientists Else works with at the university.

I enjoyed the characters, and I loved how Henrik's story parallels the Little Mermaid to a degree (NOT the Disney version, though--the bittersweet Andersen tale). I was laughing at myself for being impressed with the maturity of the characters. Usually when secret identities are in play, you can expect a sub-optimal accidental reveal, after which the drama is milked for all its worth. It happens ALL the time. But not in this book. I could hardly believe it--a mature (and planned) conversation heading off potential problems before they can arise and put everyone's lives in jeopardy. Who would ever expect it?

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

Related novels:

When Twilight Breaks

Until Leaves Fall in Paris

A Match in the Making by Jen Turano - The Matchmakers, book 1

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the company of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond annoying. Walter is reluctantly in search of a wife for his unruly motherless children. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her. 

Jen Turano certainly knows how to write comedy, especially anything involving animals. The church scene with Rat the guinea pig was so funny. Read this book for that scene alone.

Gwendolyn reminded me a lot of Mary Poppins, if Mary Poppins had turned down the nannying job but couldn't resist taking the kids in hand and fixing their relationship with their father anyway (well, and then marrying said father). She's got the same firm but loving hand, and while she won't hesitate to speak hard truths, she doesn't do it with malice--she still is ultimately trying to help even those who have treated her poorly. Walter was a bit slow on the uptake, but he made it the end; he's pretty disconnected with a lot of things at the beginning--family, feelings, you name it--but he does indeed get his priorities straight. I look forward to the next book!

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 Matchmakers
1. A Match in the Making
2. To Spark a Match

Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden

Maggie Molinaro survived a hardscrabble childhood in the downtrodden streets of Manhattan to become a successful businesswoman. After a decade of sacrifice, she now owns a celebrated ice cream company, but when she offends a corrupt banker, she unwittingly sets off a series of calamities that threaten to destroy her life's work. Liam Blackstone is a charismatic steel magnate committed to overhauling factory conditions for the steelworkers of America. Standing in his way is the same villain determined to ruin Maggie. What begins as a practical alliance to defeat a common enemy soon evolves into a romance between two wounded people determined to beat the odds. A spiraling circle of treachery grows increasingly dangerous as Liam and Maggie risk their lives and fortune for the good of the city. It will require all their wit and ingenuity to navigate the dangerous waters ahead, but their crusade could cost them everything.

I always enjoy Elizabeth Camden's books. She captures aspects of history and progress that are often overlooked, but I know I can count on a fascinating retelling of even what should be the most mundane subjects--who would ever think to center a plot around summer-time ice distribution? And yet it's a story full of political intrigue and corruption. Liam is his brash self from earlier books in the series, but I liked that though he often fails, he is trying to be a better man and slowly even increases in self control. Maggie is a great example of entrepreneurship and what a person can do when they work heard towards a goal. Not to say she couldn't learn to be a bit less tight-fisted, but she was a smart, relatable heroine.

Before reading the historical notes at the end, I never would have guessed that the villain is not fictional. He's a great scummy weasel of a bad guy who fits perfectly in a novel, but basically everything he did in the story*, both in business and his personal life, is historically accurate--the man was a real-life scoundrel with influence over much of New York City. I love how Camden crafted a story around this larger-than-life miscreant.

*other than directly to our fictional heroes, of course

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 Blackstone Legacy

1. Carved in Stone

2. Written on the Wind
3. Hearts of Steel

Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M White

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn't count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive? As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

This is definitely one of the better dual timeline books out there; the two timelines are closely connected through location, characters, and wartime setting. So often my complaint with dual timelines is that they feel like two completely separate stories mashed together (and rarely with equally interesting storylines), but these two timelines resonate and feel cohesive. I'll be honest, I still wish it had been a two book series instead of a dual timeline; that way we'd get more story and each timeline could have been fleshed out more (for instance, I feel like we still never really know all that much about Sterling, even at the end). But wishing for more story is often how I feel after reading a dual timeline.

The WWI timeline is certainly the more active one, full of name-drops of characters from other series by the author (though I'm not sure how I feel about there being so incredibly many), and it feels like it has much higher stakes, both relationally between Louisa and Rem and physically as action heats up in Europe. The WWII timeline is slower paced, with more to say on grief and healing through it. 

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.

All (well, most of) the related books, in chronological order:

The Culper Ring:
1. Ring of Secrets
1.5. Fairchild's Lady (novella)
2. Whispers from the Shadows
2.5. "A Hero's Promise" (short story)
3. Circle of Spies

Edwardian/WWI Era:

Ladies of the Manor
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

The Codebreakers
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. But at his unexpected death, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham for America in hope of finding the mother she's just discovered is still alive. Isabella Moreau, the nation's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. When her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, Isabella is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

If you like Joanne Bischof''s The Lady and the Lionheart or Kristy Cambron's The Ringmaster's Wife, then definitely pick this book up! It's a love story between an unusual couple, but it's also a mother-daughter story, set almost entirely within the circus. It has its share of dark and weighty topics, but it also shines light on those rise above.

The main characters are all great. As one who is definitely taller than average, I found it wonderful reading about a heroine whose height and strength is celebrated. Mable is generally very confident in her appearance, and something of a fashion hound--not what you'd expect out of the world's strongest woman, right? And then there's the secondary heroine of the story--Isabella, Mable's mother. She's a woman who makes mistakes, but she also struggles with depression; very relatable in our day and age. And Jake, our beloved hero, treats Mable so honorably and respectfully, even as he struggles with bitterness and forgiveness. Each responds to fear in their own way, but each learns to overcome.

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 Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley's father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known. No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her maid in tow. He has his own problems--a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible. Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies--and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.

I always love stories centered around a setting I'm unfamiliar with. In this case, I'd never heard of the 1715 uprising--all I knew historically was that the Stuarts never regain control, but with no other background, I couldn't really guess what events would transpire. The political climate is tense, with strong supporters on both sides making life difficult for those who just want to survive the upheaval intact regardless who is on the throne (I really sympathize with Everard's stance in that respect).

I enjoyed both Blythe and Everard; both make a rather bad first impression, at least to each other, but in time they come to know each other and set aside some pride (both are stiff with it--hence the bad impressions). Of course Everard's wee brother steals the show and helps move things along. It was a lovely love story, and I highly enjoyed it. 

Christy Award winner for best historical romance in 2023!

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.

Most Anticipated Christian Fiction of 2023!

The books I'm most excited for in the coming year! (To be updated as fall titles are released)

  

January: The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Revell)

January: Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House); Blackstone Legacy, book 3

January: Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M White (Bethany House)

 

February: A Match in the Making by Jen Turano (Bethany House); The Matchmakers, book 1

February: Memory Lane by Becky Wade (Indie); Sons of Scandal, book 1

April: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

   

June: Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 1

July: Wedding at Sea by Melissa Tagg (Indie) - Muir Harbor, book 3

July: Pixels and Paint by Kristi Ann Hunter (Indie) - Trinket Sisters, book 1

  

August: A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M White (Bethany House) - The Imposters, book 1

October: The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theatre by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

November: To Spark a Match by Jen Turano (Bethany House); The Matchmakers, book 2