Monday, February 21, 2022

The Lady of Galway Manor Review

 

 


About the Book

 In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the ÒliesÓ the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

 

My Thoughts

Who doesn't love an Irish legend, unique characters, and a fantastic setting?! I hope to visit Ireland some day but for now I try to do so via the books I read. This story is a great escape to the beautiful country and I enjoyed the story of the Claddagh ring. I also like how Annabeth changes it slightly in the end (read it to know what I mean!). This is a fun story that has a bit of romance. At times this book moved a bit slow for me. I felt like I didn't get to know the characters as much as I would have liked. I enjoyed the majority of this book but at times I felt like it was just missing something to keep my interest totally invested. This is a fun read with all of the Ireland facts though and I found that to be most interesting. 

Take a step back in time and visit Ireland with this new book by Jennifer Deibel! 


Three Stars. 


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









Saturday, February 19, 2022

In Search of a Prince Review



About the Book

 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. (Goodreads)

 

 BUY HERE

 

My Thoughts

 

I was pretty excited about this book because what an awesome cover and Toni Shiloh is a new to me author. I have seen her books but I just hadn't picked one up yet. This story has a great setting and I really enjoyed Brielle's character. The start of the book had me totally invested and I was excited to read how the story would play out. To be honest I knew this story would be predictable but I didn't think it would be exactly like the Princess Diaries movies. It is pretty well exactly like both of the movies only with a somewhat different setting and slight family twist. I really struggled in loving this book because it was so similar. Even the quirky friend of Brielle's was predictable. I was constantly trying not to compare it to the story I already knew so well. I didn't love the romance side of things, it just didn't click for me and I wish I could have gotten to know Tomori a bit better. 

All that to say, this is still a fun book and those that love princess stories will enjoy. I think it would be interesting to have one of the books be more of a history of Brielle's ancestors too! I did enjoy that side of things with the family drama. I am eager to read Toni Shiloh's next book!


Three Stars. 


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







Monday, February 14, 2022

You Get Me Review

 


 

About the Book

Love Your Loved One in the Ways That Mean the Most

Knowing your significant other’s love language is the first step to communicating love—but ideas for how to communicate don’t always come easily. While your love is unquestionable, are you expressing it in ways that are meaningful to your loved one?

In You Get Me by Jen Mickelborough and Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages, you’ll find simple, practical ideas for how to infuse your relationship with excitement, joy, and intimacy as you care for your beloved in the ways that mean the most to him or her. From planning spontaneous dinners to warm embraces, from creating thoughtful playlists to picking out the perfect gift, learn ways to communicate your love in every love language.

Don’t let a lack of ideas limit your best intentions. Discover how these simple, everyday expressions of love can become fundamental to establishing understanding and connection within your relationship. (Goodreads)

 

 BUY HERE

 

My Thoughts

 

While this is a short and simple book it really has some terrific ideas! I had just been talking with my husband about the different love languages. We hadn't talked about it in a long time and we both had to re think what we thought ours were. Then I discovered this book and it was perfect timing. It is an easy flip through and find your "love language" section: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Each section then gives ideas on how to act it out. Act of service has examples of doing some chores and breakfast in bed. Quality time has ideas of a movie night or a mystery date. Something as simple as an evening stroll. The best part about this little book is that it is all simple things, but things we often forget about or take for granted. I love how it reminds you to do the things that you know your spouse would love. It is the perfect to flip through quickly as a reminder. 

I love this book and I wish I had discovered it sooner! 

 

Five Stars. 

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

 

 

 

Friday, February 11, 2022

To Disguise the Truth Review


  

 

 About the Book

When Arthur Livingston arrives out of the blue at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire the agency to seek out a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her.

Having fled from the scene of her grandfather's murder seven years before, Eunice is a lady with secrets--the most important that she is the missing heiress Arthur is seeking. She has no intention of allowing him to learn she's been disguising herself, especially when she has reason to believe Arthur could hold her responsible for her grandfather's death.

In order to avoid Arthur and conceal her real identity, Eunice takes on another case that requires her to go deep undercover. With secrets from the past--and Arthur--appearing wherever she looks, she wonders how she will ever uncover the truth behind her grandfather's murder. Will what she discovers set Eunice free or place her in peril's way? (Goodreads)



BUY HERE

My Thoughts

If you haven't read a Jen Turano book then you are in for a fun surprise. Her writing is so unique and clever that she really stands out as an author. While this wasn't my favorite book of hers, I still enjoyed the humorous story line. The characters in this book are actually well developed and I felt like I got to know them by the end of the book. I liked the setting but the banter between each person is just the best. I love the hilarious snippets that is in all of Turano's novels but this one really had some zingers. The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency is interesting and there were some parts that I found to be a bit slow or drawn out. But for an "entertaining, somewhat silly, yet deep down has depth story" it is a fun read. 


Four stars. 

 

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





Monday, February 7, 2022

Where the Last Rose Blooms

Book Cover

 About the Book

 Alice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot with a man who comes to the shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap--and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.

In 1861 Charleston, Clara is an abolitionist, unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy. She attempts to assist an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter, and a dashing Union spy is just the person to help them. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying information about her father's associates--and her own fiancé.

Faced with the unknown, both women across the years will have to dig deep to let their courage bloom. (Goodreads)

 

 

 BUY HERE

 

My Thoughts

 

This is the third book in the series and I just adore this cover! Ashley Clark has done really well with this group of stories. I would recommend reading them back to back as there is a lot that ties each of them together. The characters flow through via different time lines and there really is a lot to each book that I didn't fully understand until finishing this book. I loved the setting of this novel in New Orleans. I really enjoyed the modern day story line this time over the historical aspect. The past is important for the tie in in the previous books but something about the present day story captivated me more. Alice is just a great character and has a lot of pain to work through. There are bits and pieces of the story that I thought wrapped up a bit too quickly and I thought could have been fleshed out a tad more. All that to say this is a great addition to the series and has some fun characters. I recommend reading all that Ashley has written! 

Four stars. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Crowned With Glory-Children's Book Review

 


 

 

 About the Book

 An ode to Black hair and Black girl joy, this joy-filled rhyming picture book invites young readers into the world of a young Black girl as she rocks her God-given beauty.

Hello, world! I’m a gift from above.
I already know that I am loved.

Gazing around with a great big grin—
there’s a whole wide world for me to take in.

From the hair on her head to the tips of her toes, Azira knows that she is awesome! And whether it’s styled in twists, curls, braids, Bantu knots, a textured bun, or left totally natural, her hair is just one of the countless things that helps Azira celebrate who God made her to be. She’s able to live out a beautiful story because God has crowned her with glory—and Azira wants you to do the same!

Young readers will be inspired by this empowering, uplifting reminder to always be and love who God created them to be. (Goodreads)


BUY HERE


My Thoughts

 

This is a fun book that I wish had come out years ago. We need more books like this so that children can see more of themselves within the pages. I liked the illustrations and I can see how it would make little kids not feel so alone. The rhyming doesn't really go very well so the wording doesn't flow as nicely as you would expect from a children's book. I also didn't love that we watched the young girl grow up, I would rather that it just had her as a young girl throughout the whole thing. That would have made more sense to me. Regardless we need more books that represent Black girl joy! This would make a good addition to your book collection. 


Four stars.

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





Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Fatherhood Lessons Review

 


About the Book

 To be a good father

he needs the right teacher

When his twins’ nanny leaves for a family emergency, single dad Knox Taylor knows he’s in over his head caring for the girls alone. But having their aunt’s aid for the summer wasn’t the assistance he had in mind. But Merritt Lane’s crash course in fatherhood might just teach Knox what he desperately needs to know…and reveal she’s the partner he didn’t know he was missing.

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. (Goodreads)

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 22ND!


BUY HERE


 My Thoughts

I really loved this book! I typically don't read many Love Inspired books simply because they are so short. But I will always read anything that Gabrielle Meyer writes because it is always great! This story surprised me in so many ways. I actually couldn't put this book down and it was just delightful! I loved all of the characters and especially the little girls. The setting is fun but really the two main characters just worked for me. They had depth and meaning and real conversations and life issues that made this story so much more than a short little love story. There are some really funny moments that made me laugh. There are also some very emotional type moments that make you think. I couldn't believe that Gabrielle Meyer was able to pack so many details into only a few pages. She is such a talented author and I highly recommend all of her books. This story might just be my favorite from Meyer so far! 


Highly recommend! 

Five Stars! 


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