"Written on the Wind" by Elizabeth Camden - Blackstone Legacy, book 2

Natalia Blackstone is a rarity in Gilded Age America. As a trusted analyst for her father's bank, she is helping finance the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. From her office in New York City, Natalia relies on a charming Russian aristocrat to oversee the construction of the railroad on the other side of the world. But while overseeing the work, Count Dimitri Sokolov witnesses the deadly result of the Russian Monarchy's will to see the railway built. To silence him, the state has stripped Dimitri of his title, his lands, and his freedom . . . but Dimitri has a key asset the czar knows nothing about: his deep and abiding friendship with Natalia Blackstone. From the steppes of Russia to the corridors of power in Washington, Natalia and Dimitri will fight against all odds to save the railroad and share the truth of what happened, but how can their newfound love survive the ordeal?

I really liked both Natalia and Dimitri from the snapshot of their relationship in Carved in Stone, and Written on the Wind did not disappoint! Dimitri would have been merely an amusing fop if he hadn't had the tenacity to cross the Russian taiga on foot and the drive to fight against some of the highest powers in the world to see that the atrocities of the Russian-Chinese border were never repeated. Which is to say, he was wonderful. And Natalia is smart and practical with a dry wit--the perfect balance to Dimitri's flamboyant nature. 

Having taken numerous courses in Russian studies in college, I love it when I come across books with a focus on Russia. A lot of novels focus on the Russian Revolution and afterward, but this one takes place in the lead-up to the 1905 revolution (a precursor to the more significant 1917 revolution). One thing that always impresses me about Camden's books is her research, and it definitely concurred with what I learned, both the cultural and historical aspects. But I also loved having learned something new, and I hadn't known about the Blagoveshchensk Massacre, the atrocity that propels this story.

Highly enjoyable!

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

"Turn to Me" by Becky Wade - Mist River Romance, book 3

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey's life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke's release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he's hidden. Worried that she won't be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke's promise to protect her until the end of her search. Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue center and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke's help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return--by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he's long denied himself. As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He'll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who's going to shield him from losing his heart?

4.5 stars  Luke is definitely the star of this book. He was perfectly broody and intense, though his stern complaints could be quite amusing, especially when they ran contrary to his actions (particularly with a certain non-housebroken puppy). He's still very broken from the loss of his brother, for which he blames himself. I liked the consideration the author put into him as a recent convict, with things like his struggles to fill his time after a super-regimented stint in prison, his need for a regimented schedule. Both Luke and Finley are well fleshed-out. I enjoyed that while they are in most things wildly different, Luke and Finley are markedly similar in their response to grief and loss.

The treasure hunt was a fun part of the book, with a treasure I was not remotely expecting. I'm glad Ben finally gets a happy ending, though I'd have preferred it if Ben could have had his own book (and then we could have gotten to know Akira a lot better).

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.

Misty River Romance
0.5: Take a Chance on Me (prequel novella)
1. Stay With Me
2. Let It Be Me
2.5: You and Me (novella)
3. Turn to Me

"The Souls of Lost Lake" by Jaime Jo Wright

Wren Blythe has long enjoyed being among the Northwoods, helping her father with programming at a youth camp. But when a little girl in the area goes missing, an all-out search ensues, reviving the decades-old campfire story of Ava Coons, the murderess, who still roams the woods. Joining the search, Wren stumbles upon the Coons cabin ruins and a rotting porcelain doll. But even more terrifying is seeing her name etched on the doll's foot like a sinister omen. In 1930, Ava Coons has spent the last ten years carrying the mantle of mystery since she emerged from the forest as an eight-year-old girl, spattered with blood, dragging a logger's axe. She has accepted she'll never remember what happened to her family. When a member of the town of Tempter's Creek is murdered, rumors spread that Ava's secret is more malicious than previously imagined. Both women discover that to save the innocent, they must face an insidious evil.

I don't know anyone who can craft a creepy, suspenseful novel like Jaime Jo Wright, and the fact that she manages it with two different--yet wholly intertwined--story lines makes it all the more impressive. This book is no exception. Everything is so perfectly balanced between the two story lines, and I love how they so often mirror each other below the surface. 

I enjoy Tolkien, and this has a surprising--and creepy and fun--Lord of the Rings twist that I never saw coming. There are numerous references to the stories as well, thanks to Wren's (aka Arwen's) Tolkien-obsessed father. I found Ava herself, though she has been accused of murder and is in danger herself, to be a source of humor in the past timeline. She has a very direct way of speaking with Preacher Pritchard that tends to shock him, yet made me smile. Both the preacher and Eddie (modern timeline) were wonderful.

It's a spectacularly creepy suspense, but with highly moving moments and hints of romance. Highly recommended!

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 Master Craftsman" by Kelli Stuart

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in The House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history--an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial Czar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family. Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined. This modern-day treasure hunt transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.

I love the subject matter--a treasure hunt related to the Russian Revolution? Super exciting! And the author has really done her research for this book. I kept pausing my reading to look up images of the Fabergé eggs described and fact-check about Alma Pihl and Fabergé's lives. It's stunning the research that went into the historical aspects of this novel (though the missing egg is presumably fictional). The past timeline is more about Fabergé himself and the eggs than Alma, but it was a unique aspect of the end of imperial Russia and the revolution that I hadn't heard about (and I took a class devoted solely to the Russian Revolution in college).

As much as I enjoyed learning new bits of history and the treasure hunt aspect, I struggled to like Ava. I just didn't relate to her personality or what drove her. Her mom is great, though, and I love that she got to take part in the treasure hunt too.

A few notes for those looking to get a better handle on the story:

• It's not a romance in either timeline
• It's not heavily suspenseful, but it increases in the latter part of the book
• There isn't actually any faith thread to the story, though I could see an argument for allegory (there's a fair amount of discussion on what makes art valuable, and the role of a master craftsman; I honestly expected it to be applied to God, as there was an easy comparison there, but it didn't go that far).

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.

"In Search of a Prince" by Toni Shiloh

Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha's Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops the mother of all bombshells--Brielle is a princess in the kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, King Tiwa Jimoh Adebayo, is failing. Distraught by her mother's betrayal, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before assuming the throne or the crown will be passed to another. Uncertain who to choose from the council's list of bachelors, she struggles with the decision along with the weight of her new role in a new country. With her world totally shaken, she must take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring.

I'm not big on contemporary royalty fiction, but this one was really well written. Superficially, the story is like The Princess Diaries, but I'd say it's a thoughtful, faith-filled, grown-up version. Brielle isn't worried about looking and acting like a perfect princess--she's concerned with learning about the country, honoring the people, and choosing what's best for them, even when it doesn't feel like it's what's best for her. It means giving up her life for something she never dreamed she'd have to prepare for. She has her flaws, but she's a very steady, responsible person (not bad characteristics for a middle school teacher). I was feeling anxiety on her behalf as her timeline kept getting cut shorter and pressures kept piling on her. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes!

It was wonderful to read a story set in Africa. While the country itself is fictional, the culture and history are based on the countries surrounding it. Ọlọrọ Ilé might be tropical rather than edge-of-the-Sahara, but it still definitely evoked memories of Dakar, Senegal for me (especially discussion of the gorgeous fabrics--I totally agree with Iris's passion on that front). Speaking of Iris, I'm glad to see there is a story her coming next! She makes a great best friend, and I'm excited to see her get her own happy ending.

Christy Award winner of the Amplify Award in 2022!

"The Debutante's Code" by Erica Vetsch - Thorndyke & Swann Regency Mysteries, book 1

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away at school, she hasn't spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a family legacy of espionage. Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spy craft. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors--not to mention handsome Bow Street runner Daniel Swann, who suspects her of a daring theft. Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents' last mission? Or will it lead her to a terrible end?

I enjoyed that this book is a set-up for a series about Juliette and Daniel, not just a stand-alone. This is Juliette's introduction to the spy world, and it's a lot to take in for a debutante freshly home from abroad. She's no only navigating her first season, being on hand to support her best friend, and after years abroad at school, STILL not getting to see her beloved parents, but also doing nightly cryptography work, spy training, art theft, and being hounded by a handsome Bow Street Runner. She's got a pretty full plate.

It was fun to Daniel come into his own as he fights for his place among the Bow Street Runners. Lots of mystery remains about his past and anonymous patron. I'm glad we get more books to get to know him! And I have to say, I adored Uncle Bertie. I hope we get more of him in the future! I'm looking forward to the next book and what exciting mystery will cross over between the criminal underworld and international espionage--and toss Juliette and Daniel back together.

Thorndyke & Swann Regency Mysteries
1. The Debutante's Code
2. Millstone of Doubt 
3. Children of the Shadows

"Enchanting the Heiress" by Kristi Ann Hunter - Hearts on the Heath, book 3

Harriet Hancock likes to make the lives of those around her better whether they like it or not. So, she is surprised when her friend Sophia Whitworth has ideas of her own on how to make Harriet happier--by throwing her together with Sophia's brother, stable hand Jonas Fitzroy. When Harriet discovers his natural way with words, she hatches a plan that would benefit them both. Holding a grudge against Harriet for her meddling in Sophia's life, it is only because of his sister that Jonas agrees to approach Harriet about a possible artistic project. What he doesn't expect is for her to request his help writing a book. As they work together, they start to see each other in a different light, but when the truth of Harriet's schemes is revealed, she'll find her good intentions for once have gone too far.

I have enjoyed every one of Kristi Ann Hunter's novels, and this one no exception. There's plenty of humor, a sweet romance, lots of growth, and possibly the most bible references I've ever read in a single novel (which I enjoyed--they're even listed out in the author's note!). I was looking forward to getting to know Harriet after the previous two books, and I never expected her pairing up with Jonas--they are definitely a case of opposites attracting. But he's strong and stubborn enough stand up to her machinations, which she needs. There is a fine line between subtle help and manipulation, and Harriet wobbles between the two. She always has good intentions, and the results are often quite good, but Jonas does have a point that she goes a bit too far. 

I'm still hoping for a book about Lord Rigsby. 

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

Hearts on the Heath
1. Vying for the Viscount
2. Winning the Gentleman
3. Enchanting the Heiress

Related series: (Chronologically Hawthorne House comes first, Haven Manor second, and then Hearts on the Heath)

Hawthorne House
0.5 "A Lady of Esteem" - a free novella introduction to the Hawthornes and friends!
1. A Noble Masquerade
2. An Elegant Facade
3. An Uncommon Courtship
4. An Inconvenient Beauty

Haven Manor
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)