Katherine by Anya Seton

Title: Katherine

Author:  Anya Seton

Narrated by:  Lorna Bennett

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 29 hours and 50 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.

  Do you still have any fall color in your area?  I still have a couple of trees in my yard that are slowly turning color, while most other trees are bare at this time.

 Katherine by Anya Seton is a historical fiction classic.  It tells the story of Katherine Swynford, and her love affair with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of the King.  This story is set during the 14^th century and the ripples of their love would affect the royal family for centuries to come.

 My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this book as part of the Back to the Classics Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library for our October read.  I had previously read this book around twenty years ago for my classics book club in Milwaukee.

·       Anya Seton is one of my favorite authors, but it has been a while since I’ve read one of her novels.  She writes unique historical stories that capture my imagination.

·       In Katherine, Seton paints a vivid picture of life in 14^th century England.  I felt like I was there.

·       The black death was brutal.  Katherine comes across a castle where the inhabitants are infected.  Instead of running away, she goes into danger to help.  Besides the black death, there is also the peasants’ revolt later in the novel.  She lived through very tumultuous times.

·       Katherine is a virtuous woman who does not give into the Duke’s affections until the death of her husband.  They IMMEDIATELY get together at his death, which seemed rushed to me.

·       The first half of the novel is Katherine’s early life, her marriage, having her first children, and it ends with her husband’s death and her getting together with the Duke.  The novel then skips forward a few years at this point and the second half of the novel covered a longer time period.

·       I kept pondering, what choice does Katherine have in any of this?  I realized at one point that Katherine really has little say if John of Gaunt wants her as his mistress.  She realized this in the book right after I did.  She tries to leave and go back to her own land, but she is roped back into being with the Duke.

·       Religion and faith play a big role in Katherine’s life even though she is most famously known as a mistress.

·       The fact that John of Gaunt eventually married Katherine and legitimized their children really showed to me that there was true love in their relationship.

·       I listened to this very long audiobook while traveling for work last month.  I found it very engaging, and it made my drives seem very short.

Favorite Quote: “Why does the whole world smell of blood and fire?  Why?”

Overall, Katherine by Anya Seton is a masterpiece of historical fiction and paints a vivid picture of the medieval life of an extraordinary woman.

 

A Truth Revealed by Tracie Peterson (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite fall food?  I really love butternut squash.

Laura Evans has grown up attending schools after her mother’s tragic death.  Now a young woman, she reunites with her father, Granite Evans, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  She hopes that she will be able to develop a relationship with her father.  Laura meets and is drawn to Wilson (Will) Porter.  Will has traveled west to be a pastor to the Shoshone tribe, but after a tragedy, he is not sure about his faith and whether he should continue his ministry.  What caused the tragedy?  What secrets does Granite Evans keep?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The plot of this novel was intriguing and kept me reading too far into the night.  There were a few mysteries and storylines that I really wanted to see resolved.

·       I really enjoyed the western setting, and that Granite Evans owned a store.  I loved all the descriptions of the store.

·       A Truth Revealed is a very Christian novel, which I liked.  Laura is very faithful and attends church.  She is working on bringing her father, who no longer believes after the death of her mother, back to church.

·       Will’s mother and sister are murdered on their way to live with him by what appears to be an Indian attack.  This shakes Will’s faith.  Will he be able to regain his faith and move on with his life?

·       The secondary characters that attend church with Laura or work at her father’s home are also interesting and complete the Cheyenne community.

·       I enjoyed the sweet romance between Laura and Will.

·       This was a clean read.

·       This was the third novel in The Heart of Cheyenne series.  These novels all took place in Cheyenne.  I have not read the first two novels, but I had no problems with reading this novel as a standalone.  I do want to go back and read the first two novels.

·       The story takes place not too long after the Civil War.  Will Porter is a veteran.

Overall, A Truth Revealed by Tracie Peterson is an intriguing Christian historical romance set in the old West that deals with the themes of forgiveness and returning to your faith.  This was a great read.

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House Publishing as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

In the midst of darkness, only faith and love can illuminate their path forward.

Laura Evans, a spirited young woman with a deep-rooted faith in God, returns home from college to her father--unaware of his dark secrets. Determined to live by her faith while respecting her father's contrasting views, Laura's world shifts when she crosses paths with a devoted preacher.

Wilson Porter is driven by a calling to work with the Shoshone people but faces constant delays from government officials. Then tragedy strikes, shaking his faith and causing him to question everything he once believed. As Will and Laura's tentative friendship grows into something more, they are ensnared in a web of dark secrets and injustices. Together, they're confronted with a daunting question: Will their shattered lives leave them with an uncertain path forward--or can love withstand it all?

AUTHOR BIO

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than one hundred novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than six million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Learn more at TraciePeterson.com.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

 

Do you like when books combine two holiday seasons?  I do, it gives me a Nightmare Before Christmas Vibe.

Bowen Penhallow prefers to live life alone on a mountain in Wales studying ancient magic.  He ventures out to meet Tamsyn Bligh.  Tamsyn is not a witch, but she does procure magical items for witches.  She becomes exclusive to helping Bowen procure items.  She does decide to do one last private job on her own where she will make a lot of cash.  While on this job, she meets Bowen at a wedding that they are both crashing for different reasons. Will they be able to help each other with their projects?  Will sparks fly?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the third novel in the Ex Hex series.  I have enjoyed this entire series.  It is a lighthearted and fun series that is great for the Halloween season.  I hope this series continues!

·       This novel was a steamy romance.

·       I really liked the time travel elements of the story.  Bowen meets his grandparents right before their wedding.

·       The story got a bit slow for me in the middle, but then it picked up again and held my attention to the end.

·       It was set a Christmas, so it was both a Christmas and a Halloween read.

·       I loved how Bown and Tamsyn had an opposites attract story.  Bowen is grumpy and Tamsyn is all sunshine.  They had good banter.

·       In the 1950’s storyline, the child Emerald is a hoot.  She is always catching the two of them at awkward times, and she knows that they are up to something.

·       I enjoyed that the author tried something different in this world to keep the story interesting.

Overall, The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling was an enjoyable, fun story with great romance, time travel, and fun banter.  It is perfect for both the Halloween and the Christmas seasons.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

Title: Before We Were Us

Author:  Denise Hunter

Narrated by:  Kim Churchill

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 9 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible. Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @tnzfiction for the review copy of the paperback version of Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter.

Do you prefer rustic cabins, fancy villas, or high-end resorts? 

Lauren Wentworth is a new graduate with a hospitality degree.  She takes a temporary job at Pinehaven Lodges in New Hampshire to gain experience before she starts her dream job I the big city.  While there, she falls in love with Jonah, the owner’s son.  Jonah is ready to propose one night, but Lauren falls from a ladder and loses her memories of the last four months.  Is their love gone forever?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This novel was what if in an enemies to lovers storyline, one of the lovers loses their memories from the last few months and still thinks you are enemies?

·       It was heartbreaking to Jonah that the love of his life Lauren, no longer remembers him after the fall.  That would be terrible.

·       The story is told in two timelines – the present and the past (four months ago) as Lauren and Jonah fall in love.

·       Lauren and Jonah have interesting bonding between the two as Lauren was abandoned at age five by her mother and grew up being shuffled between foster families.  Jonah’s mother died when he as young, but his aunt and uncle raised him.  Neither had a biological father in their lives.

·       The romance was very sweet.  I love that Jonah loves Lauren enough to let her follow her dreams

·       I loved the setting at the rustic resort in New Hampshire.

·       This novel was a clean read.

·       It has a beautiful fall cover.

·       My attention was captured by this novel as it had such a happy first chapter, and then it all came crashing down.

·       Kim Churchill was a great audiobook narrator.  It was a charming storyline that kept me interested during long drives for work this week.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter was engaging amnesia and enemies to lovers romance.  I enjoyed it!

 

The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo

 

Title: The Witches of El Paso

Author:  Luis Jaramillo

Narrated by:  Raquel Beattie

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 50 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you!

Do you like to read books for the Halloween season?  If so, what are your favorites?

The Witches of El Paso is a brand-new book that was just published in October.  It features a family that can travel through time with their inherited magic.  Nena is a teenager in 1943 El Paso, Texas.  She takes care of her sisters’ children, but she longs for her own life and adventure.  She prays for help and the mysterious Sister Benedicta arrives in response.  She then travels back in time to 1792 where her gift of “La Vista” is calling her.  There she lives in a convent until the day that a mysterious illness kills many and she is sent to care for a sick family member of one of the nuns and her life is changed forever.    

In the present day, Marta is a civil rights attorney living in El Paso with her husband and children.  She helps her old aunt Nena on her quest to find her missing child.  Marta also finds her own “La Vista” along the way.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a multigenerational family drama, and I greatly enjoyed it.

·       I loved the magical realism of the story.  There wasn’t too much magic, but I did enjoy how both Marta and Nena found themselves and their magic.

·       I enjoyed the glimpse into Hispanic culture and the history of El Paso.

·       I really enjoyed Nena’s time in the convent in the 1700’s.  The history and day to day life was fascinating to me. 

·       I also enjoyed Marta.  As a mother, wife, and attorney, she feels herself pulled in many directions. She also cares for Nena and through Nena, Marta is finally able to find her authentic self. 

·       It was also interesting comparing the life of a woman in the 1700s, 1940s, and current day.

·       Raquel Beattie was an excellent narrator and made the story very enjoyable.

Overall, The Witches of El Paso was an interesting magical realism, family drama, and time slip novel that was perfect fall reading.