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