ARC Book Review: Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

September 26, 2024September 11, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Michelle Griep
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for rescuing black-market artifacts, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker. After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . . Award-winning author Michelle Griep weaves a tale of love, mystery, and intrigue set against the backdrop of the gaslit streets of Oxford, England.

Thank you Bethany House for the gifted copy.

THOUGHTS.

I think this was a good book overall and it does have its audience. I do think that the audience isn’t quite me. Some aspects didn’t work for me, but some did.

I liked most of the scenes involving the two main leads, Ami and Edmund. There’s a lot of moments for them to get to know each other and when a book only has one main kissing scene you want it to deliver and it does. I thought they had wonderful chemistry. I also thought the historical aspects were interesting too.

It is a standalone and wraps up most things well. There was one plot point that threw me off about closing part of the story, the rest was good though. The faith elements were fairly well woven in too. It is a more moderate theme throughout.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: physical altercations, murder, weapons violence

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ARC Book Review: For a Lifetime (Timeless #3) by Gabrielle Meyer

May 9, 2024April 18, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 400 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 7th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Grace and Hope are identical twin sisters born with the ability to time-cross together between 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, and 1912 New York City. As their twenty-fifth birthday approaches, they will have to choose one life to keep and one to leave behind forever–no matter the cost.

In 1692, they live and work in their father’s tavern, where they must watch helplessly as the witch trials unfold in their village, threatening everyone. With the help of a handsome childhood friend, they search for the truth behind their mother’s mysterious death, risking everything to expose a secret that could save their lives–or be their undoing.

In 1912, Hope dreams of becoming one of the first female pilots in America, and Grace works as an investigative journalist, uncovering corruption and injustice. After their parents’ orphanage is threatened by an adversary, they enter a contest to complete a perilous cross-country flight under the guidance of a daring French aviator.

The sisters have already decided which timeline they will choose, but an unthinkable tragedy complicates the future they planned for themselves. As their birthday looms, how will they determine the lives–and loves–that are best for both of them?

Thank you Bethany House for the gifted copy.

A CONTINUALLY GOOD SERIES.

I love the exploration of history with each book in this series. This one crossed the birth of aviation and the Salem Witch Trials. I liked seeing the comparisons and differences between the time periods and how each woman, Grace and Hope, interpreted what was happening.

I did think it had a little bit of a slow start. The 1692 chapters didn’t have the same pace as the 1912 ones and I kept wanting to get back to those. After the halfway point I though the plot started moving much better and I wanted to hustle to find out what happens next.

There’s always sweet romances woven in and I loved the way they both played out for the twins. I loved the love interests and the support and care they provided Grace and Hope through their trials. It’s all very sweet and heartfelt and only adds to the story.

I enjoyed many of the moments coming full circle with collision of past and present. I loved the faith aspects and the infused hope and love that was in this book. I can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fiction + Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low-moderate
Trigger/Content Warnings: falsely accused imprisonment, hangings (historical depictions of the trials), plane crashes

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Book Review: The Words We Lost (Fog Harbor #1) by Nicole Deese

March 31, 2024March 18, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Fiction + Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Nicole Deese
Publisher: Bethany House Fiction
Release Date: April 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript.

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony—two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she’s convinced will come with Cecelia’s missing final manuscript.

After Ingrid jeopardizes her career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But then Joel Campbell—the man who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters—offers her a sealed envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and Ingrid to put their differences aside and retrieve a mysterious package in their coastal Washington hometown.

Honoring Cecelia’s last request will challenge their convictions and test their loyalties, but through it all, will Ingrid and Joel be brave enough to uncover a twice-in-a-lifetime love?

LOTS OF FEELS.

This was my first book by Nicole Deese and will not be my last! I enjoyed this one a lot and the audiobook was fantastic too.

There were so many good themes and explorations throughout. Grief, forgiveness, losing a loved one, second chance love, gosh it’s all here. I loved the coastal setting and felt transported to all the summer vibes that I didn’t know I needed. The flashback chapters were a nice edition because I loved seeing how close these friends were. I loved the complexity of emotions. The non-linear path that grief creates and to work through those moments.

Woven in were scenes of joy and love and friendship. I loved the balance and the steady pace of the story. It was a beautiful book.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one (drowning, cancer), depictions of grief and depression

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ARC Book Review: A Winter by the Sea (On Devonshire Shores #2) by Julie Klassen

December 5, 2023November 3, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Julie Klassen
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: December 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple’s male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they’ve invited mysterious secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers approaches a local publisher in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming an author. When he turns her down, his dashing competitor promises to consider her novel if she will first write a new Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily accepts and begins researching with the help of the Duke of Kent’s handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she used to hold dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

Thank you to Bethany House for the gifted copy.

ENJOYABLE.

There’s something about this author’s writing style that just slowly draws you in and takes you on a journey. I loved this winter filled story of hope and recovery.

I enjoyed Emily’s story a lot. I liked seeing her stretch past her comfort zones and also maintain that strong family bond that she has. Her love for her sisters was beautiful and moving through a love triangle that worked well for me. You always knew where it was heading, but I think the push and pull gave Emily a chance for much needed growth and release from her past.

My only little thing is when the story focused on another sister I lost a little interest. I felt really committed to Emily’s story, but not as much as Sarah’s.

The fictional community is wonderful. It’s got the small town vibes but set in a historical time period. I love how they come together for each other and the subtle faith aspects that round out the themes of the novel. I’m very much looking forward to the next story in this series.

Overall audience notes: