"Dangerous Beauty" by Melissa Koslin

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can't stay safely over the border in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her. Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

I really liked this book; it was balanced really well with suspense and character growth. Though there moments of suspense interspersed throughout the story, it wasn't constant danger all the time--there was enough downtime to give Liliana a chance to breathe, and a chance to heal; time to get to know Meric and to figure out how to live again after what she'd been through. And more, she is given agency--part of it is how Meric lets her choose her own path at her own pace, but the greater part is how she steps out to help others who were in her position. She could have safely hidden away from all threats in Meric's penthouse apartment, but she chooses to step back into that fear to rescue others.

Meric is a tough nut to crack; he's the sort that doesn't share his emotions, and he doesn't want to say or do anything that could interfere with Liliana's healing. I did really respect how careful he was of her at the beginning, that he knew how to be as safe as possible around a woman who'd been sexually assaulted and had no reason to trust any man, let alone one that understands violence. And it becomes clear why he doesn't share everything he does, but it also becomes clear just how wounded he himself is from his--or more importantly, his mother's--past.

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.

"Worthy of Legend" by Roseanna M White - Secrets of the Isles, book 3

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they've made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother, who stops at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family--even when it means being cut off entirely. Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table--an interest he's kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together. As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

This was an exciting conclusion to the Secrets of the Isles series; it makes a fun progression from focus on a pirate to an exiled pirate prince to none other than a knight of the Round Table (with treasure hidden accordingly). I'm fairly familiar with Arthurian legends (Gerald Morris's young adult series The Squire's Tales informed me of some of the more obscure ones, and gave me an appreciation for how ridiculous they can be), but Tristan and Iseult is not one I've spent a lot of time pursuing--I'm just not one for doomed romance (or poor life choices). But this story redeemed Tristan a bit for me.

Not that the story was that heavily about Arthurian legend; the focus is, of course, on Bram and Emily, and trying to keep ahead of her odious brother in all the treasure hunts. They have  sweet love story, a bit slower than the others. Bram impressed me with his insight into people, such as truly seeing Emily and her struggles that not even her best friend totally picked up on. It certainly felt like the whole island chain was coupling off by this book, but I would absolutely accept a follow-up story about Millie--I mean, Millicent--and the American Dutchman (to be honest, they had more chemistry than the leads. Granted, it was leaping off the paper from the very first scene they are together).

This book did have a really solid point about mercy--that those who need mercy most are those who deserve it the least. But, as a scene reminiscent of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade proves, you can't force people to accept it. (There's really a nice allegory here for those who question why a loving God doesn't save everyone from hell; it's not spelled out as such in the story, but it's very present). 

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.

Secrets of the Isles
1. The Nature of a Lady
2. To Treasure an Heiress
3. Worthy of Legend

"To Win a Prince" by Toni Shiloh

As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Oloro Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a business to help citizens in impoverished areas. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins. Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his countrymen. To pay for his actions against Oloro Ilé, he's forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely--but he can't allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status. As Iris strives to get her business off the ground while keeping her heart intact, will her dreams of happily ever after survive the challenges she faces?

The Ekon of the first chapter doesn't elicit much sympathy from me, but the Ekon who receives blow after blow (primarily at the hands of his own family) and is forced to reexamine his life and heart--that is a man worth rooting for. He's still not perfect, but it's no wonder Iris falls for him so hard. His story of redemption is captivating. Iris is delightful; she knows her flaws (namely, letting her emotions and imagination carry her away before reality is ready to follow), so she's on the roller coaster of learning how to find balance. The two work together really well, and I'm glad that Ekon has skills that are vitally important to Iris's company as they start up; it's one of the few things that can't be taken from him (though I think if his dad had the power to scoop the knowledge out of his head, he would.)

It's a solid romance in a refreshingly different setting, and a great follow-up to In Search of a Prince. I would enjoy reading more books set in Oloro Ilé!

Christy Award winner for best contemporary romance in 2023!

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.

Related novels:
In Search of a Prince

"To Win Her Heart" by Karen Witemeyer

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father's knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets... Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart. Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian's affections?

Levi Grant stands out as one of Witemeyer's best heroes. While he reminds me of John Wayne's character in The Quiet Man, Levi is even better. He's humble, he's firmly committed to the promises he made before God, and he's willing to volunteer the truth of his past, knowing it must be shared, while realizing that it could cost him his new life and love. Eden takes some warming up to, though. By the end, I'm rooting for her just as much as Levi, but it takes a while to get her off her high horse of self-righteousness. I love how young Chloe helps her in her journey. This book also has one of Witemeyer's most vile villains: one who doesn't seem bad at first--just a jerk--but the things he does in the end . . . It's his cruelty, though, that proves before one and all Levi's transformation into a child of God.

This definitely isn't one of Witemeyer's funniest books, but it's still one of my favorites, with a powerful message both for those who have become a new creation in Christ and for those who have forgotten the Holy Spirit's power of transforming hearts.

"Meet Me in the Margins" by Melissa Ferguson

Savannah Cade is a low-level editor at Pennington Publishing, a prestigious publisher producing only the highest of highbrow titles, but she has a secret: she’s writing a romance novel. After leaving her manuscript behind one afternoon in her secret room off the ARC room, she returns to the nook only to discover someone has written notes in the margins. Savannah’s first response to the criticism is defensive, but events transpire that force her to admit that she needs the help of this shadowy editor after all. As the notes take a turn for the romantic, and as Savannah’s madcap life gets more complicated than ever, she uses the process of elimination to identify her mysterious editor—only to discover that what she truly wants and what she should want just might not be the same.

This was an entertaining rom-com--my favorite story by the author so far. It's perfectly predictable, but it didn't detract from the fun. I did disagree with editor's recommendation of putting Savannah's story (and, for that matter, this actual book) in present tense; it always takes me a few chapters to get used to it, but at least the story was fun enough that I pushed through. It's cute, clean, and humorous. Nothing heavy about it, and the Nashville setting was fun and different, especially without a music focus (not that country music was completely neglected).

"Shadowed Loyalty" by Roseanna M White

Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago’s leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turned out to be an undercover Prohibition agent. Now she sees how ugly the underworld can be. Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—she thought her beloved Papa was above all that, but clearly he isn’t. What does that mean, though, for her and their family? Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who has barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world. Despite his morals, Lorenzo knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his father and brothers, which terrifies him. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina from his flaws, in fact harmed her? It sure seems that way when he realizes he all but forced her into the arms of the Prohibition Agent now bent on tearing her family apart. But how can they rebuild what has so long been neglected…and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia? 

This was an interesting romance set between two people trapped by familial bonds and cultural heritage within the mafia. I know that the early 1920's were quite a bit different than the mid- and late 20's, but I hadn't realized that applied to the mafia too, particularly in the codes they followed. It was very interesting to learn how the Italian mafia once worked and why it developed as it did, before it evolved with the rise of crime syndicates that refused to play by the rules (Al Capone).

The lines between good guys and bad guys are really blurred in this story, reflecting how messy real life can be. Roman, the prohibition agent, is ostensibly on the side of good, trying to take down crime and uphold the law. But he's hypocritical (and delusional) as all get out, and obsessed with his mission. You want to love Manny, Sabina's father, who adores his family and will do anything for them, yet he's also a crime boss with very little conscience when it comes to everything outside that nucleus (and almost nothing is too low for him). Do you hope--for Sabina's sake, and because Roman is such a jerk about it all--that Enzo can acquit Manny of his crimes? Or hope that he gets put away forever, but would mean the antagonist (Roman) wins and hero (Enzo) fails?

I enjoyed the complexity of the relationships, and Enzo was wonderful. It was quite a bit shorter than I was expecting, and it didn't feel as full and intricate plot-wise as some other books by the author, but it was an entertaining and thoughtful read.

"The Italian Ballerina" by Kristy Cambron

Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust.

Present Day. With the recent loss of her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and WWII veteran—Delaney Coleman returns home to help her parents, even as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her own life. When a mysterious Italian woman claims she owns one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to uncover what’s true of her grandfather’s hidden past. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question as she wrestles with the possibility that the man she’d revered all her life had unknown ties to Rome and may have taken noble secrets to his grave.

Sometimes book descriptions don't paint an accurate description of the story. This one isn't wrong per se, but I feel like the description neglected the main character: Court Coleman, Delaney's grandfather. Both Julia and Delaney feel like secondary characters next to Court--I'd say about half the novel is from his viewpoint, and only a quarter each for Julia and Delaney. And I'm not positive the title refers to Julia--I'm more inclined to think it's about Calla, the little girl Court rescues, and who has a role in the present-day story.

I did really enjoy the novel. Kristy Cambron knows how to write a captivating story, and she incorporated a piece of history that offered a fresh perspective on WWII. But that said, I think the story would have been stronger if it had only followed Court. The contemporary timeline was fine, but it didn't add much, and I really wanted to delve more into the fascinating history of the Italian hospital and their Syndrome K. I had never heard about it before, and I'd have loved a deeper focus on it, especially through Court's eyes. 

The timelines jump around a bit (Court's present, Court's past, Julia's timeline, and Delaney in the modern day). I didn't find it too difficult to follow, once I caught onto the rhythm, but it's a bit different from the norm. There was a significant plot twist I didn't see coming.

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