If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer - Texas Ever After, book 2

Determined to prove that cattle king Eli Dearing has no justification for evicting his stepmother and half brothers, Asher Ellis uses the cover of a fancy ball to break into the Three Cedars ranch house to search for proof of wrongdoing. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy's cry compels him to make a daring rescue. Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother's life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind--his boot--and resolves to find him herself. But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. And although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.

I love fairy tales, but I think this book was better for having been inspired by Cinderella and then running off in its own direction (let's face it, most fairy tales are bit shy on relationship development). Every now and then a detail would crop up as a nod to the Disney version of Cinderella (which was fun for nostalgia, but at the same time, I just don't like Disney upheld as the Definitive Version of any fairy tale). I loved how a lot of things were turned on their heads--Asher as Cinderella, rather than Samantha; it begins with the dance and Asher losing his boot rather than climaxing with the ball; Asher's stepmother is as sweet as they come, and his little brothers are adorable.

For the most part, it really is its own story--most of the plot doesn't have much to do with the fairy tale other than as a jumping-off point. I wasn't actually surprised by the plot twist near the end; the author did a good job setting it up, and I actually managed to latch onto the right clues early on. I really appreciate it when something like that is foreshadowed so that it makes sense, not having it appear melodramatically out of the blue. I also appreciated that Samantha starts working on her relationship with her dad pretty much from the beginning; they have a ways to go, with misunderstandings to work through (some immature behavior to repent of . . . ). 

Over all, it's sweet, entertaining, and faith-filled. And of course, if you love Disney's Cinderella, there are plenty of sly references to watch for.

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

A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M White - The Imposters, book 2

Gemma Parks is known throughout high society as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talent to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the elite firm's members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren't for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart. Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his soul in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma not only to restore the missing boy, but also to win back the only woman he's ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham must devise a noble scheme to save the boy's life and heal their hearts.

The imposters have a twisty case this time. 

Up until the big reveal of what caused the massive rift between Gemma and Graham (a third to halfway through the book), I was pretty frustrated with that aspect of the story; Gemma is downright cruel to Graham at times and absolutely refuses to listen or forgive him. It just seemed so petty and beyond reasonable for a pair who has known each other forever. But I will say, the actual reason for the rift (which I did not see coming) is one of the few things that I can believe to drive someone to that place. Fair? No; but very understandable. I could absolutely see myself acting in a similar way given the circumstances. From that point on, I was much more invested in their relationship and could find significantly more grace for Gemma.

It was not only the backstory but also the case that didn't go in the direction I expected, which I really liked in this instance. Even if it's not one of my favorites by the author, it still was a very impactful story (I could have done without quite so many interjections of "lion feathers" and "leopard stripes", though).

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 Imposters
1. A Beautiful Disguise
2. A Noble Scheme

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

When Clara Marie Stanton's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all Clara can do to protect them from his desperate schemes and society's prejudice. Her family may be eccentric, yes, but they certainly aren't insane. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing. Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond skilled in repairing clocks, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara's dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer's trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself--at any cost.

I think a book with a strong theme and poignant message can really enhance a story, but in this case, I felt like the story existed to enhance the message. I'm not a fan of Pilgrim's Progress or CS Lewis's more allegorical stories, and this one--for all its whimsical clockwork animals and eccentric characters--fits in decently with them. So if you love the Narnia books, you may really like this one (I know I'm in the minority in that I do not).

I did enjoy the premise; it reminds me a lot of Around the World in 80 Days, and there's that similar sense of wonder as they tour the continent. I didn't mind the suspension of disbelief required for the mysterious mechanical animals, and I enjoyed the eccentricity to a degree (though I wasn't a fan of Clara's mom's overwhelming obsession with animal welfare). But on the whole, it wasn't really what I was anticipating. 

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.

While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden - Women of Midtown, book 1

Katherine Schneider's workaday life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar. Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her. And throughout it all, Jonathan fears what will happen should Katherine ever learn his deepest secrets. 

One thing I really appreciate in Camden's books is that the characters are intelligent and generally act accordingly. For instance, Jonathan recognizes the danger of newspapermen knowing Katherine's name, so he makes sure they never say it in their hearing. They get personal guards who actually do their job. They do research and make sensible plans. That doesn't mean things don't go horribly wrong, of course, but it wasn't lack of smarts on their part. I did live in dread of the inevitable disaster Jonathan's house of lies comes crashing down, but since he'd been building it since age 14, I can see how that would be a tangled web to unweave (to mix metaphors). But I really liked him; such a complex character--so incredibly upright, yet it's all built on secrets and lies. And Katherine was great too.

I also love how much actual history gets worked into the stories--from Katherine's flamboyant boss to the NYPD's Italian Squad to anarchists to the mafia. I hadn't realized the mafia was already entrenched in New York by 1910 (and certainly didn't expect it to appear in the book). But I can see how it would have been a significant factor to the police force, even if they weren't directly involved in a crime. And if they were . . . Things could get really messy in a hurry.

This is one of Camden's most suspenseful stories. I can't wait to read about Inga and the other ladies of Midtown!

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 Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green

Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but she can't keep from speaking her mind, so an overseas adventure with the USO's camp show seems like the perfect fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to find out what happened to the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving. The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers--a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician--but the harmony among their troupe is shattered when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a new job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they'll do whatever is necessary to get it. As their troupe travels closer to combat in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, until not only their careers but also their lives are on the line. 

I liked the focus of the book; there are a lot of WWII stories out there, but very few take place in the North African campaign and even fewer focus on the entertainment industry's part in promoting morale. I knew celebrities did tours, but I hadn't known about the smaller not famous groups that toured around, often in harsher and more dangerous conditions than their more famous counterparts to reach even the farthest troops.

The focus of this story is on two specific women of the troupe--arguably opposites outside of their love of music. But it's easy to see echoes of the two main characters in each of the other members of the troupe too: each has something to prove--either to themselves or others. Each took a step of faith by joining; each one has a secret holding them back.

For all that my personality is much more similar to Catherine's, I definitely connected more with Maggie, especially her struggle with loving music but not being able to articulate its value outside religious context; I think it's something many believing artists struggle with. 

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 Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. As British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters British Army Ranger William Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

I hadn't known much about Acadia before reading this story--only that many Acadians ended up settling in Louisiana, but I didn't know why they moved to such a distant place. This story is very much a before and after one: life in Acadia, and then life deported. 

I'm a bit torn; I really appreciate it when an author is faithful to history, as Laura Frantz is in this novel depicting the deportation of the Acadians. But I really enjoyed the first half in the Acadian setting and would have loved to see the whole novel set there, with witness to the increasing conflict between the British and the French. There are plenty books about colonial Virginia and colonial slavery sentiments (many by Frantz herself), so that half didn't feel as fresh and new as the beginning, especially with the latter half's significant overlap with A Heart Adrift. It's realistic that the two halves are so different, but as a story I also would have appreciated more connection/relevance between the two.

It was still a good story, as I expect from Frantz. I'd love to hear more of Bleu's story!

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.

Most Anticipated Christian Fiction of 2024!

New titles revealed for 2024! Here are the one's I'm most looking forward to this year: (to be updated as fall titles are released)

  

January: The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz (Revell)

February: Rocky Road by Becky Wade (Indie) - Sons of Scandal, book 2

February: While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House) - Women of Midtown, book 1

  

February: A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell (Bethany House)

March: A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White (Bethany House) - The Imposters, book 2

March: If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 2

 

April: Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

June: The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House) - On Central Park, book 2

July: Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano (Bethany House) - The Matchmakers, book 3

 

In the Sweet Ever After by Melissa Tagg (Indie) - Maple Valley Romance, book 3

October: Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

Fall: __________ by Kristi Ann Hunter (Indie) - London Dreams, book 1

 

November: An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M White (Bethany House) - The Imposters, book 3

December: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 3

December: The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen (Bethany House) - Sisters of Seaview, book 3