How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley

 

Where is your current read set?

Rumors have filled the local village after Freya MacLeod’s father’s death.  Some rumors think her late father left a treasure to be found.  This rumor has caused treasure hunters to swarm the area.  Other rumors state that she and her sisters are witches.  When Freya and her sister Sorcha are accused of murder, her brother-in-law’s friend, Callum, whisks her away to his castle to save her.  Will the two find love?  Will Freya be able to return home?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a historical romance set in Scotland in the 18^th century.  I love reading stories set in Scotland and in this time period!

·       I liked the back story of Callum’s father fighting in Culloden and how it impacted their family.  Callum finds himself betrothed to a woman he admires but does not love as one of the consequences.

·       This is the second book in the Cairncross Castle book series.  I did not read the first book in the series about the first sister, Cat, but this book worked fine as a standalone.  I do think the first book probably gave more details on the treasure hunt and would be worth going back to read.

·       This is the second MacLeod daughter, Freya’s, story.

·       This story had plenty of adventure and some mystery.

·       There was a lot of chaos at the start of the story, and I had to figure out what was going on.  Freya seemed to hide in the shadows, but she had a lot of great growth throughout the story.

·       Freya and Callum had great chemistry.

·       This was a forced proximity story.

·       The story was mostly slow burn, but there are a couple of open-door scenes towards the end of the novel.

·       There are miscommunications as part of the romance, which always annoys me in stories.

·       I am interested to read the next book in the series and get Sorcha’s story.

Overall, How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley was a fun historical romance.

Book Source:  Thank-you @kensingtonbooks @btc_books @annabradleyauthor @tlcbooktours for a review copy of the novel as part of the TLC Book Tour.

Nearly a Bride by Sabrina Jeffries

 

Title:  Nearly a Bride

Author:  Sabrina Jeffries

Narrated by:  Beverley A. Crick

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 40 minutes

Source: Audiobook copy from NetGalley and physical book copy from Kensington Books as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!

What type of books do you need when you need a lighthearted read?  I like to read romance when I need a good lighthearted book.

The Earl of Hearthbrook, Heath, was trapped in France for ten years.  His first goal upon returning home is to claim guardianship of his brothers.  In order to look respectable, he enters into a faux engagement with Giselle Bernard.  A stranger is threatening Giselle and her mother by saying her immigration papers have been forged. Heath agrees to help her out with this problem, if she helps him with a fake engagement.  Will these two find that their feelings are more than fake?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       There was an intriguing note at the beginning of the novel of how in 1802, the Treaty of Amiens was signed which seemed to be the end of the Napoleonic Wars.  Many British citizens flocked to France to see Paris for the first time since 1792.  The peace did not last, and hostilities started again on May 18, 1803.  Napoleon captured all British male citizen will in France (and their families) and they were held prisoner until 1814. These prisoners were called detenus and the story focuses on them.

·       I loved the great banter between the two leads.

·       This novel is a historical regency romance with a fake engagement and opposites attract tropes.

·       This novel was the second in the Lords of Hazards series.  I read it as a standalone and it worked.  I did feel like there was background that would have enhanced the story that was set up in the first book.  I need to go back and read Hazardous to a Duke’s Heart.

·       I listened to this on audiobook. The narrator, Beverley A. Crick was fantastic.  I enjoyed the distinct voices she gave all the characters and the French accents.  It was a light entertaining book that was perfect for a stressful time of year.

·       I liked the heroine, Giselle, a lot.  She was a caring person who helped those around her including her mother and Heath’s brothers.

·       This was a steamy romance with great chemistry between the leads.

Overall, Nearly a Bride by Sabrina Jeffries is an entertaining historical regency romance that is a perfect way to escape from the stressors of the day.

 

Come Close to Jesus by Lysa TerKeurst

 

What type of books do you like to gift to friends and family?

Come Close to Jesus by Lysa TerKeurst has the subtitle “What to pray when you need the Lord to still your thoughts, calm your heart, and guide your way.”  This is a perfect description of this Christian devotional.

My thoughts on this devotional:

·       This book is beautiful with thick pages and a ribbon bookmark.  It would make a great gift.

·       There are fifty short chapters, one chapter per prayer.  It is perfect to read one per night.

·       Each of the chapters in the first half of the book begins with a Bible verse, the authors thoughts on the verse or topic, a prayer, and the prayer in action (how can you make a change with prayer.)

·       The book also includes scriptural payers such as “a prayer for when you feel lonely,” “a prayer for your husband,” etc.  There is a discussion on the topic, followed by Bible verses to pray.

·       There was very thoughtful discussion on prayer, life, and how the teachings of the Bible fit into it all.

·       I found reading this devotional to be a peaceful way to end my day.

·       This is a book that I am going to keep on my nightstand for thoughtful contemplation and prayer in the evening.

·       I enjoyed the authors personal journey in her prayer life.

Overall, Come Close to Jesus by Lysa TerKeurst is a very heartfelt, calming, nice devotional with a collection of beautiful prayers.

Book Source:  Thank-you @tnzgift @lysaterkeurst @tlcbooktours for the review copy as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!

The Navigator’s Letter by Jan Cress Dondi

 

Do you believe in coincidence?   I think it’s really a small world overall and it is fun to meet people in places you don’t expect them to be.

The Navigator’s Letter details the story of two WWII heroes from the same small town in Illinois that were connected to one woman, one as her brother, and the other as her boyfriend.  Although they joined the military at different times, they both ended up as navigators in air raids over the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania.  This was the primary fuel source for the Nazis.  Only one man will make it back alive.  This is their story.

My thoughts on this nonfiction book:

·       I loved how this was the personal story of two young men from the same small town.

·       The training process in the miliary in WWII was fascinating to read about.  I didn’t really think about how a navigator was a plum position and required a high level of math.

·       I loved all the talk of planes in WWII.  I love WWII aircraft and it’s been a lifelong fascination.

·       I also enjoyed how the author put together the letters, diaries, newspaper articles, historical records, etc. into a comprehensive story.  It was a fascinating and a personal story.  The author found a trunk full of memorabilia and that is what started her journey to write this story.

·       This was a nonfiction history book that read like a fiction story.

·       I did not previously know about the August 1, 1943, air road at Ploesti, Romania and how it was one the riskiest air raids of WWII.  I was intrigued.  52 aircraft and 532 crewman were lost on this mission.

·       I would highly recommend this book for those that love WWII history and aviation stories like Masters of the Air, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, Memphis Belle, Midway, etc.

·       This book humanized the story of the war by following these two airman through their lives, training, and wartime activities.  When friends were killed in action, the reader felt it.

·       It was interesting how the book discussed looking for U-boats off of the Florida coast and how U-boats sank a tanker just off of Florida.  I don’t remember learning this before.

·       I’m passing this one to my husband and sons as I think they will all enjoy it.

·       Great pictures were included.

·       There is a touching afterward that pulled the story together.

Favorite Quote:

“The oldest of five children, John Brown White, Jr. (John B.), was born into a family that instilled the belief of giving back to a life given much.”

Overall, The Navigator’s Letter by Jan Cress Dondi was an amazing nonfiction history book that was the personal story of two airman who made a difference.  I couldn’t put this book down!

Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal

What is the last action-adventure book that you enjoyed?

John “Haggs” Haggerty is the leader of a special military unit in charge of stopping pandemics before they spread.  After COVID-19, deadly disease is on the rise as is famine, wars, and earthquakes.  Haggs’ best friend, Caleb, is sure it’s a sign of the approaching rapture, but Haggs isn’t so sure.  Haggs relationship with his wife has fallen apart, but he is trying to rebuild his relationship with his daughter, Sonya.  Will he be able to be a better person and repair his relationships while also helping the world as it falls apart?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a very readable, intriguing action-adventure story.

·       This is the first in a new series.  I am looking forward to the next book.

·       I loved the characters in this book, especially Haggs, Sonya, and Caleb.

·       I enjoy end times fiction.  If you liked the Left Behind series, you would enjoy Vanished.

·       A lot happens in this book.  It is very action packed and fast paced.

·       Haggs has past pain from the death of a child and abuse as a child from his alcoholic father.  He works through this pain and finally tells the story to Sonya of what happened to her brother.

·       Haggs hires Sonya has an Italian translator. While father and daughter can now spend more time together, it also puts her in danger.

·       There is a great discussion of faith as Caleb and Sonya are believers and try to talk to Haggs about his faith.

·       Genres:  Christian apocalyptic thriller, adventure, suspense, inspirational.

·       There are great book discussion questions at the end for a book club to use.

 Overall, Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal was a riveting Christian apocalyptic thriller with great characters and story.  I am looking forward to book two!

Book Source:  Thank you to @drdavidjeremiah @thomasnelsonfiction @tlcbooktours for the review copy of this novel as part of the TLC Book Tour.

The Meaning of Fear by Laura Hulthen Thomas

 

What time of the day do you like best to read?  I do most of my reading at night before bed.

In 2008, Lea Johnson is a behavioral researcher who is struggling to keep her lab going during the downturn in the economy.  Even though she is a behavioral researcher, she is unable to help her husband Jay who was violently attacked by youth outside their home and no longer is the same man.  When a youth disappears that Jay had confronted outside their new home, did he have something to do with it? 

Paul had a hard life growing up.  Now as a cop, he is investigating the disappearance of a local youth when he runs into Lea, who he met as a youth.  As attraction grows between the two, will they be able to confront issues from the past, figure out the current mystery, and move forward?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel should have some trigger warnings.  It had a rough and depressing start that included the violent murder of a beloved pet cat and the grooming and discussion of a sexual assault of a young teenage girl.  There was a lot of violence against animals in this book.

·       The book is set in Michigan.  I grew up in Southwest Michigan and I appreciated the Southeast Michigan setting of the book.

·       This was a very well written book, and I loved the language.

·       It was interesting the Lea studies the fear response and trauma, but she can’t see and understand the same thing in her husband.

·       There was a lot of discussion on the treatment of animal.  Lea used mice in her research and her childhood friend Dinah is an animal rights activities.  There is a deer cull also happening in Lea’s neighborhood.

·       This book explored how trauma impacts relationships and an individual’s future.

·       This book is a literary fiction novel and a psychological drama.

·       It was a dark and heavy read, but very readable and kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

·       The characters were very well written and developed. 

·       There were interesting book discussion questions at the end of the book that could be used for book clubs.

Overall, The Meaning of Fear by Laura Hulthen Thomas was a very well written psychological drama and literary fiction novel with an interesting mystery and great character development.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @laurahulthenthomas @regal_house_publishing @tlcbooktours for a review copy of this novel as part of the TLC Book Tour.

A Little Paris Christmas by Jennifer Shirk

 

Do you have a favorite fictional dog?  I loved the dog character is this novel, but growing up, I loved Jack in the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Sophie Dubois is the promotions director in Paris, Pennsylvania.  Tourism is down and the mayor has tasked her to drum up business for the town or risk losing her job.  While she works on a plan to save both her job and the town, she needs her handsome, but grumpy neighbor, bestselling author, Mason Haywood.  Will Sophie and Mason find love?  Will Sophie keep her job and help the town?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       A Little Paris Christmas was my last Christmas read for the season.

·       I won this novel from the TLC Book Tours book club giveaway as part of the Rogue Book Club.  We gave it out at our meeting in November.

·       I loved Mason’s dog, Gingersnap.  Gingersnap is a cute dachshund.  He brings Sophie and Mason together and also forces Mason to leave his home and get to know his community.  Gingersnap was my favorite character.

·       This is a fun, light, and cozy novel.  I loved the humor!

·       The Christmas spirit was great in this novel.

·       There was wonderful chemistry between Mason and Sophie.

·       This novel had the following tropes:  enemies to lovers, grumpy vs. sunshine, and opposites to attract.

·       I thought by the title that this book was set in Paris, France, but it is really set in Paris, Pennsylvania.

·       This was a closed-door romantic comedy.

Overall, A Little Paris Christmas by Jennifer Shirk is a sweet story with fun characters.  The lighthearted romantic comedy was perfect for this time of year.

Book Source:  Thank-you to author Jennifer Shirk and TLC Book Tours for the giveaway copy of this novel.

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O’Neal (TLC Book Tours)

 

Title:  The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth

Author:  Barbara O’Neal

Narrated by:  Andi Arndt

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 59 minutes

Source: Thank-you to Lake Union Publishing for a review copy of the paperback book as part of the TLC Book Tour and thank-you to @netgalley for audiobook review copy.

How do you communicate with friends?  Emails, texts, social media, or old-fashioned letters?  I would say all the above for myself.

Victoria is going through a divorce.  She and her husband had seemed closer than ever until he ended it all for a much younger woman.  Fifty and suddenly alone, Victoria must get a job fast to survive. She gets a job as a companion to Mariah, a young woman with an injury who is going to travel the world tracing the footsteps of her mother’s last unfinished project in London, Paris, Morocco, and India.  Her mother, Rachel, was a good writer, and she also left behind letters she had written her sister.  As Victoria and Mariah make their journey, they learn more about Rachel and themselves.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The audiobook had a good narrator and was interesting to listen to.

·       I liked Victoria’s character growth throughout the novel.

·       I really disliked Victoria’s ex-husband.  He seemed to want his cake (new younger wife) and eat it too (keep his ex-wife on string.).  I kept wondering why he didn’t get in trouble for not paying his alimony.

·       Why can’t Victoria’s family change their tradition of skiing every year as a family so that Victoria gets to have a family Christmas at least every other year?  It’s strange to me that this is a family tradition since Victoria doesn’t ski or snowboard.

·       Rachel was killed in a mas shooting while grocery shopping with her daughter.  Mariah survived but can no longer snowboard (she was an Olympian) with her handicap.  The PTSD from this tragic even still impacts Mariah.

·       A handsome middle-aged photographer, Henry, accompanies them on the trip.  He is a father figure for Mariah (one of Rachel’s ex-boyfriends), and a love interest for Victoria.

·       I liked how both Victoria and Mariah had a coming-of-age storyline as they came to terms with their new realities and worked towards moving forward with new dreams.

·       I loved the descriptions of all the different countries, foods, and cafes.

·       I didn’t see how the cafes, countries, and Rachel’s story were all linked until the very end.

·       I am close to Victoria’s age of fifty and she gets picked on by her kids for being old and treated as an old lady a lot on their trip.  I suddenly felt very old!!

Overall, The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O’Neal was a great story with unforgettable characters, growth, and travel.  I enjoyed it!

A Measure of Devotion by Nell Joslin (TLC Book Tour)

Susannah Shelburne lives in South Caroline in 1863.  She has a much older husband, Jacob, and one son, Francis.  Their family does not believe in slavery.  Francis left their family to join the Confederate army at the start of the war, much to his parents’ dismay.  As Jacob’s health fails, Susannah must leave him in the care of friends (employees that were former slaves that they freed), to travel to where Francis has been gravely wounded in battle.  Will Francis forgive her for the cruel words that she said before he left for the war?  Will this family survive the war?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a very well written, fascinating Civil War story.

·       Things were very complicated when people had anti-slavery sentiment and lived in the South.  I had never thought about people being killed in the south for their beliefs.

·       This novel was told in the first person viewpoint of Susannah. It flipped at first between “current day” of going to help Francis, to back when her and Jacob got together, married, and had Francis. 

·       A mother’s love is everything.  Susannah has many, many trials trying to save Francis, especially after he is captured as a prisoner of war.  Francis never seems grateful, but Susannah never stopped loving him.

·       The story showed the cruelty of war through all manner of what could be thought of as small incidents.  For example, Francis tells his mother the story of how they killed a cow in front of a young mother and her two young children.  This poor family didn’t have enough food to survive.

Overall, A Measure of Devotion by Nell Joslin is a beautifully written compelling story of the Civil War.

Book Source:  A review copy from Regel House Publishing as a part of the TLC Book Tour. 

I’ll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley (TLC Book Tours)

 

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or multiple books at once?  I’m usually reading multiple books at once.

Ramona Crawford was adopted as an infant, and she wants to find out her biological parents.  She is able to find her mother, Amy Linden, through DNA testing and she meets with her to find out more details about her biological father.  Amy tells Ramona the sad story of her birth, but the details don’t quite add up. What is true and what isn’t?  Is Amy capable to be able to tell the truth?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I always enjoy a good suspense novel.  This novel kept me wondering what the real story was right up until the end.  I read this book quickly.

·       I loved the setting of this novel.  Amy runs a mountain lodge, which was also the setting for where she met Ramona’s father.  The lodge seemed like a cozy place to stay with hiking, and cabaret performances.

·       The book alternates between Ramona and Amy’s point of view.

·       I thought both Amy and Ramona were interesting characters.  Amy especially seemed like she could turn into a villain, but she wasn’t.  She was a complicated character that kept me interested in the story.  I felt bad for Ramona and just wanted her to be able to find out the truth about her biological father and origin.

·       I am always intrigued by unreliable narrators.

·       This was a good domestic drama.

Overall, I’ll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley was an enjoyable domestic drama and suspense novel.

Book Source:  Review copy from author Rebecca Kelley as part of the TLC Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Serabelle: Where the Wealthy Come to Play by Tavi Taylor Black (TLC Book Tours)

 

What trees are flowering near you?  We have beautiful flowering pink trees in Northeast Wisconsin right now, but I am not sure what they are.  My lilacs are now in bloom.

In Maine, rich people have built mansions that they visit during the summer to get away from the City in the early twentieth century.  Serabelle is a beautiful cliffside “cottage.”  The Hunt family spends their summers at the estate.  Mr. Hunt and Mrs. Ainsworth-Hunt both came from wealthy families and married to combine their fortunes.  Now in their middle age, they find they have nothing in common, but can mostly keep apart in their large home.  Mabel is a young teenage maid starting her job at Serabelle, and she has quickly caught the eye of Mr. Hunt.  As their affair heats up, and family squabbles come to head, will Mabel be able to get the life that she deserves?

My thoughts on this book:

·       I loved the Downton Abbey in America feel to this book.  I always love it when we get an intertwined story of the rich family as well as the servants who live on the estate.

·       I felt bad for poor naïve Mabel and the choices she must make after she discovers she is pregnant with Mr. Hunt’s child.  It made me wonder how many “arranged marriages” there were back in the day to cover up pregnancies by a married man.

·       There was also an interesting subplot involving Mr. Hunt’s jewels that shines a light on the families disfunction.

·       There were many storylines between the family members, the servants, and the interactions between the family members and servants.  They all came together to a stunning conclusion.

·       I really loved one character and I was shattered by their death at the end of the novel.

·       The descriptions of Serabelle and Maine were beautiful.  It made me want to visit.

·       I enjoyed the themes of inequality, suffrage, and socioeconomic class divide that were throughout the novel. 

·       The author’s grandmother worked as a cook for an estate in Maine.  I thought that was very interesting in the acknowledgements at the end of the novel.

Overall, Serabelle was an atmospheric story with great characters and setting. I enjoyed reading it.  I would recommend it for those that like me enjoyed Downtown Abbey, The Gilded Age, or the novels of Edith Wharton.

Book Source:  Review copy from author Tavi Taylor Black as part of the TLC Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.