Quarter Labyrinth Review

About the Book

 EVERY FOUR YEARS, THE LABYRINTH AWAKENS. It shifts location, resets its deadly puzzles, and demands a new game. The rich pay for clues to find it and keys to get in, while the poor fight for entrance. This year, the first to reach the center wins control over the renowned trade vessels. Strange, because Ren specifically remembers her father—the captain—promised her those ships. But her father had the misfortune of going missing before revealing Ren as his hidden heir. And she’s never actually met him. Only through scraps of letters she keeps in a trunk, promising he’d return to the island for her someday.

There isn’t time for her father to explain. Ren has until sundown to find the labyrinth and get inside before its entrance is sealed.

Even if she makes it through the gate, she must race against others who are just as determined as she is—and far deadlier. Then there’s the Labyrinth Wolves. And the Stone Gods. And the son of her father’s enemy who takes a personal interest in Ren. She will fight for her birthright through wits, strength, and perhaps a bit of luck to be the one at the helm with her future begins.

May you find yourself in the labyrinth.

At least, may you not lose yourself.

A fast-paced young adult fantasy for fans of FABLE. (Goodreads) 

Pre-Order HERE. 

My Thoughts

Finding clean fantasy novels can be a challenge and McCombs has made me want to read fantasy again! Wow! This story blew me away! Not only did it keep me up late, it left me on a cliffhanger that has me really NEEDING to read book two (which releases later this year)! This is my all time favorite by this author! 

 From my perspective, it has a Hunger Games and Fable vibe but its own unique plot that makes it all the better. I really like the mythical history that was added on how the Labyrinth and Stone gods came to be. Having tidbits of the past brought in to explain the present added layers I wasn't expecting. There are so many twists and turns and while there is a romantic plot line, get ready for surprises! This is not a predictable story and because of that I was thrilled with each chapter. This is one of the best fantasy novels I have read for awhile. 

If you enjoy fantasy fiction, I highly recommend this story!

Five Stars!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review."

My Summer To-Read List

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about summer reading! I have a few books I am looking forward to that are releasing, along with a couple of classics, and older books. 

 

Bookish Wishes

 Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about bookish wish lists! 

I am sure there are many lists that include our to-read titles and those we maybe have read but want to own. These are all mostly books that I haven't read yet! This is just for fun and this is my official wish list. Maybe you will find a new title you want to read yourself! 

Happy Tuesday! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Wormwood Abbey Review

About the Book

 As a Victorian clergyman’s daughter, Edith Worms has seen everything — until a mythical salamander tumbles out of the fireplace into her lap. When a letter arrives from estranged relatives, Edith is swept away to a crumbling gothic Abbey in the wilds of Yorkshire.

Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.

An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world — especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy.

But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap...and some of them have teeth.

WORMWOOD ABBEY, Book 1 of The Secrets of Ormdale, is a cosy gothic novel of mystery, dragons, and the perils of friendship, perfect for fans of EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES and Maria Grace. (GOODREADS)

Buy HERE!

Learn more about the author.

My Thoughts 

This book is an absolute delight! Set in Yorkshire with a whipsmart heroine, well written secondary characters, and..dragons?! Everything from the setting to the family dynamic made this story one of my favorites of the year. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!

Five stars!!!

Every Hour Until Then

 About the Book

Gifted with the ability to time-cross between Victorian-era London and World War II Washington, DC, Kathryn faces two lives fraught with danger. In 1938 amid the looming shadow of war, Kathryn is invited to the London Museum as a guest curator to create a groundbreaking exhibit on Jack the Ripper and his reign of terror. As she delves into her grim research, she uncovers a chilling Her own sister is destined to become the Ripper's final victim decades earlier.

In 1888, in a race against fate, Kathryn is assisted by her handsome childhood friend in hunting down history's most elusive killer. As they unravel the threads of mystery woven through time, Kathryn must decide if she'll unmask the murderer history has chosen to hide, forfeiting a life with the man she loves to save her sister.

Bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer presents yet another thrilling time-travel tale of intrigue, loyalty, and romance--threaded with suspense and decisions that could change history. (Goodreads) 

My Thoughts

Meyer has written another stunning novel. The history, romance, and mystery blend together in a way you least expect. The best part? The characters realizing that God is always in control even when Jack the Ripper looms in the shadows and war is on the brink of starting. Oh my goodness what a story!

Five Stars. 

Animal Companions in the Stories We Read

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about animal companions in the stories we love. Here are a few that I came up with. 

Jack the dog. A classic story. 

This book has lots of fun animals in it!

This book features a park ranger with her dog. Her trusty companion! 

Charlie and his lions. One of the best books ever. 

Franc-the mini poodle. One smart dog!

Stella and her love for her horses. 

There is a charming frog that adds so much to this story. 

The bees of course. :) 

The baby elephant. Love this book. 

Another classic which includes Snowball the cat. 

Fathoms Review + Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Fathoms (Oceans of Time Book Three)

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Genre: Adult Historical Portal Fantasy

Release date: April 22, 2025

Can the She-Wolves of Siena survive the lion’s den?

Luciana Betarrini is living a nightmare. Blinded in battle, she is unsure what her future holds.

When Lady Tiliani Forelli volunteers to serve as the young Lady Romano’s governess—in order to protect the child—Luciana quickly follows suit, volunteering as a tutor. But as they navigate life in the

treacherous neighboring castello, they find Lord Ercole a chameleon of adversaries, intent on mastering the She-Wolves of Siena any way he can.

Together, Luciana and Tiliani must find a way to bring Ercole down and buy time for Domenico and Marcello to establish new allies. But Luciana continues to find herself at a crossroads: Is she willing to risk leaving Sir Giulio Greco forever in order to chase healing through the time tunnel?

Or is she called to accept her plight—in light of the myriad blessings of her new medieval life—and make her way through the best she can?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over sixty books spanning a variety of genres, from children’s picture books to women’s historical fiction to supernatural suspense and time travel. She lives with her husband and three gradually-flying-from-the-nest young adult children.

 

 

 

 

More from Lisa

I love to read and write books about “found families.” People that are brought together by a shared cause, purpose or passion. More and more, our world seems divisive, so I suppose it’s my small effort to plant a flag in the sand and state, “Look, I know we’re all different, but we can all decide to love first.”

The Forellis created that sort of found family in River of Time for the Betarrinis, especially as Gabi and Lia were mourning their dad. And in Oceans, they again make way for my twin hero and heroine, who are in many ways orphaned. I strive to make room in my life for those around me who are a bit adrift, missing a family “anchor.” Tim and I love to host dinners and make feel people welcome in our home with good meals and good conversations around a fire.

Of course, in medieval Italy, the family is striving to survive when many want to see them die. When it’s “us against them” to the death, that’ll cement a bond. But even in today’s society, I think we have enough against those of us who stand for Christ, family and traditional values, that perhaps we can link arms with one another and grow stronger for the bond. And my hope in doing so, is that we will not distance “the other side,” but rather draw them to us with a winsome, welcoming and loving spirit—seeking places we can bond and celebrate one another, even though we differ.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, May 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14

Texas Book-aholic, May 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 17

Blogging With Carol, May 18

Artistic Nobody, May 19 (Spotlight)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 20

Sylvan Reads, May 21

For Him and My Family, May 22

Guild Master, May 23 (Spotlight)

Romances of the Cross, May 23

Simple Harvest Reads, May 24 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Fiction Book Lover, May 25 (Spotlight)

To Everything There Is A Season, May 25

Lily’s Corner, May 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

ENTER HERE

My Thoughts

This is the third book in this trilogy and I wasn't sure where Bergren was going to take us. My goodness this has been an action packed and full trilogy-you simply can't put these books down! Fathoms picks up right where the last book left off. You have to read these books in order otherwise you will probably be pretty confused. Luciana and Tilani both have drastic things happen that I was totally not expecting in this story. The romance is well written and there is a lot of things added that make it sweet and simple in this book. Lord Ercole is truly a terrible bad guy and it was shown all the more within this story. I was disgusted by some of his intentions but it did add to the story. 

Overall this is non stop action and the author does an excellent job wrapping up all of the threads from the first two books. If you like time travel, clean romance, lots of action, and a fun family dynamic you will enjoy this book! 

I very much enjoyed this novel and I look forward to what the author writes next! 

Four Stars. 

'I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. "

Books That Include Travel!

 Here are some fun books that include travel of some type for today's Top Ten Tuesday. I read a lot of historical fiction so travel looked a bit different in some of these. :) 

Levi's Loyalty with JustRead Tours

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Levi's Loyalty by Lynne Lanning, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Levi's Loyalty
Series: Mountain Men - Longing Hearts in the Wilderness
Author: Lynne Lanning
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Historical Romance (Christian)

Levi found out how much void a woman could fill in his heart… 

But the heartache and betrayal wasn’t worth it. 

He was better off alone… wasn’t he? 

Levi enjoys his secluded life on the mountain until his friend convinces him he needs a woman in his life. A wife, when you’ve barely been around people, especially women? If only he could pick one out at the store like a shovel or bag of flour. But Levi falls head over heels—ignoring all the warning signs that something is wrong—until a delay in marrying her reveals her true intentions. 

Now, he’s decided heartache and betrayal aren’t worth it. He’s better off alone. But God has a surprise waiting in the wilderness, softening the devastation he had suffered…in the form of a feisty woman who has claimed his mountain home for her own. 

 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

---

About the Author

Lynne Lanning has such an effortless way of evoking emotion from her readers. Her characters are so realistic that the reader can feel their pain during trials and their joy during triumphs. Reviews state: "...it's as if Mrs. Lanning lived through this herself." "Couldn't put it down..." "A real page turner." Lynne enjoys turning history and her love of God into enjoyable, relatable stories with practical life lessons that can benefit people today. Each story tells of true bonds of love and loyalty, mixed with tough times and decisions, with a twist of humor and sometimes devastation...the same is true in life. With a blend of her own family members and heritage along with lots of fiction, it's hard to tell where reality stops and fantasy begins.

Connect with Lynne by subscribing to her email newsletter updates or following her on Amazon.

---

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a gift basket with homemade scented soaps (like you'll find in the story), a print copy of Levi's Loyalty, a print copy of one of Lynne Lanning's 2025 Selah Awards finalist titles (winner's choice between To Trust a Heart or Mail-Order Stonemason), and bookmarks!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 12, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 19, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts

 I liked the idea of this story and it is a very short novella really. With that being the case it doesn't leave much room for character growth and an all encompassing love story. BUT that being said, I did enjoy Levi's character. I also enjoyed the setting with being in the mountains. He is all mountain man and gets his heart broken at the start. He really wrestles with his decision and I thought the author did a great job in writing that struggle. A spunky gal comes into his life a bit after that and she is quite the character. She wasn't what I was expecting and that is a good thing. The love story wasn't my favorite but it all wrapped up nicely in the end. If you are wanting a quick and clean read with a decent hero you might enjoy this story!

Three Stars. 

"I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion."