"A Bound Heart" by Laura Frantz

In a time when oppression is so hard that an entire island must rely on smuggled goods to survive, Lark MacDougall, beekeeper and stillroom maid to the laird Magnus MacLeish, finds her conscience torn. She knows the needs of her fellow islanders, but also feels the need to live an honest life. When an accident occurs and the blame lands on Lark, she is taken from her home and sentenced far across the sea, not anticipating just who will be exiled with her. Will she ever be able to return to her home, or will she find a place for her heart in this new land?

One thing I've found about Laura Frantz's books is the back cover copy never does the book justice. There is always so much more to the story, such different turns than the blurb would lead one to expect. It would be too easy to spoil the surprises of the story, so suffice to say, it took me far more places than I anticipated, in ways I couldn't have guessed.

The history of the time period is integral to the story--both in Scotland and across the sea. I forget what a dark time the 18th century was. Oppression wasn't limited to slaves on plantations; it's hard to believe that in Scotland wearing one's clan's plaid was a prison-worthy offense, and smuggling something so basic as salt worth a hanging. In spite of the very Scottish beginning, there were moments I wondered if the plot would go in the way of Captain Blood--we already had the next thing to a pirate, unjust sentencing, and transportation. But as aforementioned, the author has a delightful way of turning my expectations on their head.

It's a beautiful, captivating tale. Unjust, yet faith-filled, even in such dark circumstances. Above all, hopeful, even when it seems there is no hope to be had. Highly recommended!

Nancy Mehl's "Mind Games"

FBI profiler Kaely Quinn, daughter of a convicted serial killer, tries to stay out of the spotlight, but it's difficult with a reporter dogging her steps. When the reporter receives a threatening letter to Kaely, written in the form of a poem and hinting at multiple murders to come, they aren't sure whether to believe him, until a man fitting the description of the first victim in the poem is found dead. Then the hunt is on to find the killer before more people--and ultimately Kaely herself--meet their intended fates.

Mind Games is right--let's just say, it's not only the serial killer trying to mess with people's heads. There were some serious surprises in this story . . . I can only assume that they will be addressed in books to come, because that is a terrible (but brilliant) thing to drop on an unsuspecting reader.

I liked Kaely better than some other heroines with super-traumatic pasts that I've read--she's got major issues (no surprise), which aren't neatly wrapped up in the end, but there's hope on the horizon. And she wasn't cold, or completely holding everyone at arm's length; just incredibly wary with her trust, and with good reason. I like that Noah was careful in how he handled working with her and not letting his frustrations get the better of him; he's a good guy. I look forward to seeing him grow. And I enjoyed the team, particularly their boss, Solomon. It really felt like a high-profile, multi-agency case, where there were a lot of people working together (not just the main characters), and the majority of which were intent on catching a killer, not encouraging interdepartmental squabbles. Which is as it should be.

I was a little disappointed to have guessed the killer right away (not that I was without doubts on occasion). Though to be fair, my logic was based on experience with mystery novels rather than clues, which did ultimately point to the killer, but the author was pretty crafty in how she laid them out. It was still a satisfying mystery and clever suspense.

I'm glad to see there's another book already on the horizon, because this one demands a sequel, or more. (Not to say the case doesn't get solved--it does. But Mind Games.)

Thank you Bethany House and Goodreads for a free book. I was not required to write a review, and all opinions are my own.

Kaely Quinn Profiler
1. Mind Games
2. Fire Storm 
3. Dead End (spring 2020)

"The Bride of Ivy Green" by Julie Klassen - Tales from Ivy Hill, book 3

In the final installment of the Tales from Ivy Hill, Mercy Grove is mourning the loss of her girls' school and chafing under the management of her new sister-in-law, and the thought of resigning herself to spinsterhood and becoming a governess doesn't seem so bad . . . though the consequences are not what she'd ever imagined. Her friend Jane Bell is seriously considering marrying Gabriel Locke, even though it means destining another man to a childless marriage. And a secretive dressmaker sets up shop in town, and though the ladies try to befriend her, they soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be. All three have dreams waiting to be fulfilled . . .

At last, all the heroines of Ivy Hill finally attain their dreams, whether having old dreams rebuilt or new ones developed (sometimes in ways I didn't expect). In the first two books it felt like more was at stake, but this one provides the satisfying conclusion to the series that I've been waiting for. (But if you haven't read the first two, I can't imagine this one would be nearly so enjoyable for you, so be sure to read them first!)

I have felt from the beginning of the series that there were too many eligible bachelors to find happiness with the number of heroines in Ivy Hill--uneven numbers, as it were--and, sadly, one of my favorites has yet to be lucky in love. But even in my disappointment over his love life, I do think he's not heart-broken either, having found satisfying love of a different sort than romantic. So at the same time I'm disappointed, but also rather happy with the way the author ended the story for him. Who knows--maybe he'll get his own book someday (that's my hope!).

I enjoyed the new intersections in the lives of the residents of the village, whether by the introduction of new characters like Victorine, or new connections among old. There also were some brief visitors to the village I didn't expect (yes, I recognized that dance master and his pretty wife). The series would make a great television mini 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.

Tales from Ivy Hill
1. The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill
2. The Ladies of Ivy Cottage
3. The Bride of Ivy Green

3.5 An Ivy Hill Christmas (novella)

Splickety SPARK: Literary Reimaginings

Writing flash fiction is a challenge (700 words makes for a mighty short story), but it's a lot of fun too. And the theme from February 2017, Literary Reimaginings (where one rewrites the ending of a classical story to something more exciting or satisfying or just plain different) was an exceptionally fun theme:

Our idea of a good time is a cup of licorice tea, a cozy blanket, and a well-worn classic novel. Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Gone with the Wind... books we read in high school and still pull out every year or so. 

Sometimes, though, we imagine different endings.

Our February issue of Spark--formerly known as Splickety Love-- explores the what-ifs of classic romantic novels. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re bringing you tried and true romance with a twist.

These are classic love stories and famous romance with a twist. If you’ve ever wished for a different outcome, now’s your chance to read it. Our featured author, Julie Lessman, reimagines Gone With the Wind. It’s a must-read if you prefer happy over ambivalent endings. And Mirror, Mirror by Splickety’s Sarah Grimm will grab you by the heart. This year, we’re making it about lovers who are ready to tell a different story--one that may just be an improvement over the original.

I agree with Julie Lessman's story on how Gone With the Wind should have ended--hers is much more hopeful than the original! For my story I went with the classic play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (more popularly known as the musical, My Fair Lady). And as that story has one of the most ambivalent endings ever written (does Eliza stay with Henry Higgins, fetching his slippers forever? Or does she actually marry Freddy and make him fetch hers?), I created an actual ending for it. Just maybe not the one expected.


Sadly, Splickety will be closing its doors at the end of the year, but Havok will be emerging from Splickety's ashes in January, with more opportunities for writing and publishing flash fiction. Check it out!

"A Sparkle of Silver" by Liz Johnson - Georgia Coast Romance, book 1

Millie Sullivan is desperate for money to provide care for her grandmother, and when her grandma, in one of her lucid moments, tells her of Great-Grandma Ruth's diary containing the location of a hidden treasure at a local Chateau, she jumps at the hope of finding it. When Millie gets caught snooping by a security guard, Ben Thornton, she manages to convince him to help her, with the promise of splitting the treasure 50/50. As they work together, Millie and Ben get caught up in the adventure of uncovering the past and finding their way to an unexpected future.

There's just something irresistible about a treasure hunt, especially one that involves secret family history.

I enjoyed Millie's voice, especially the way she argues with her thoughts. It's funny, but it also points out when she is willfully denying something--a thing that I've done myself, when I know something to be true but don't really want to acknowledge it. I really liked Ben; he's such a stand-up guy, but it would be tough to be in his position. I can see why he would feel the need to pay back everyone for his mother's crimes, but that's a lot of pressure. But the winner for sweetest, tenderest, most-apt-to-make-me-cry character is Grandma Joy. So sweet and wise when in her right mind, but so hard to read about when the dementia takes control.

I loved the story of Millie's great-grandma hidden within the diary entries and old letters that Millie and Ben find. I got a bit tense when I realized that Ruth's husband was none of her love interests from the summer of 1929. Was her story going to end tragically? Who was the man who became her husband, and how did she end up marrying him? Would Ruth choose the right man or make choices she'd come to regret? The mystery of her romance was just as intriguing as the mystery of the hidden treasure.

Georgia Coast Romance
1. A Sparkle of Silver
2. A Glitter of Gold
3. A Dazzle of Diamonds

Morgan L Busse's "Mark of the Raven" - exciting new fantasy!

Lady Selene, heir to the Great House of Ravenwood, has awakened into her powers, the long-thought-eradicated ability to enter dreams. But as she learns, her ability extends beyond seeing within a persons dreams--she can use their dreams to spy or destroy them. When a summit of all the heads of the Great Houses convenes at Ravenwood, Selene is tasked with assassinating the man prophesied with destruction of her House, but can she destroy the one who also has also been prophesied to bring peace and hope to their nation?

It's a mark of a good story when upon finishing, you want to begin reading it all over again (that is, if book 2 isn't readily available to read instead). Which leads me to the point, by far the worst thing about this book is that book 2 isn't available RIGHT NOW. Not that it's a cliffhanger per say, but that ending! I really, really want to know what happens next!

I have to admit, I've had a hard time finding new fantasy novels that meet my [probably fairly high] standards. There are a lot of intriguing stories out there, but it's hard to find ones that are both clean and captivating, complex yet not compromised. They don't have to be light and sugary sweet to meet my standards (though that's fun on occasion too)--I can handle dark deeds and poor choices, just so long as they grow and eventually choose Right. Mark of the Raven is pretty dark--Selene is basically being trained as an assassin. But even so, there's light, there's hope, and we know that Selene can be so much more than her training allows so long as she chooses Right. A lot of this book is setting up for great things to come, and I can't wait to see how Selene grows and transforms throughout the series. And it is both clean and captivating, complex yet uncompromised.

Earlier this year Patrick W Carr's Darkwater Saga showed me what Christian fantasy could be--allegorical, yes, but wrapped up in such an intriguing, layered story that the allegory only enhances the story (even for me, someone who isn't all that fond of allegory). The Ravenwood Saga looks to be of the same vein (but written in a more feminine hand). I can't wait read the next!

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.

Ravenwood Saga
1. Mark of the Raven
2. Flight of the Raven
3. Cry of the Raven

Artwork by Rachael Koppendrayer, 2018

The Christmas Heirloom Novella Collection by Hunter, Witemeyer, Thomas, and Wade

If I'm going to read a novella collection, I love it to be like this--when authors that I am familiar with work together to create a collection with overarching tie-ins and themes, yet each bring their unique voice to the collection. The stories are all tied together by the heirloom brooch being handed down through the generations, yet each story is wildly different (and each heroine reacts differently to the lore of the brooch!). Each story is solidly a romance, yet each one has that mother--or mother figure--relationship that is integral to the tale. Christmas is a tie-in too, of course. Christmas stories don't really do much for me, but for the most part I didn't notice the Christmas theme--it's more that the stories happen to take place around Christmastime (which to me is just as good as any other time of the year); they aren't centered on the holiday.

"Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter: I just love everything she writes. A good half of it is her writing style, but her sense of humor, the heartfelt, touching moments that even in such a short story are powerful enough to bring tears--she gets it just right every time.

"Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer: The problem with including children in a story is that they tend to steal the show, and Naomi is adorable, both sweet and wise for one so young, as she demonstrates in her unreserved love Beauregard, even before he (by worldly standards) earns it. But the romance is sweet too. Really, Bo is just plain sweet and not at all the stereotypical wealthy tycoon one would expect.

"A Shot at Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas: This one felt the most different to me, partly because Fleeta is a sharp-shooting tomboy with no need for romance, and partly because I simply haven't read many stories that take place in the 1950's; it took a bit to wrap my head around the time period. I liked it, though; I really liked how Hank is able to respect Fleeta's well-honed abilities, yet not overlook her femininity just because she shoots and dresses like a man.

"Because of You" by Becky Wade: Again, an author whose writing style I love. Love the humor, love the ties to the Bradford Sisters series, and I loved the tender story of navigating grief while moving on to something new.


Related novels:

Haven Manor by Kristi Ann Hunter
0.5: "A Search for Refuge" (free prequel e-novella)
1. A Defense of Honor

2. A Return of Devotion
3. A Pursuit of Home 
3.5: "Legacy of Love" (published in The Christmas Heirloom novella collection)

A Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Bradford Sisters Romances by Becky Wade:
0.5: "Then Came You" (prequel novella)
1. True to You
2. Falling for You
2.5 "Because of You" (published in The Christmas Heirloom Novella Collection)
3. Sweet on You