Wednesday, January 18, 2023

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.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

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.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

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