Tag: covenant communications

ARC Book Review: A Lady’s Promise by Ranee S. Clark

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 200 pages
Author: Ranee S. Clark
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: September 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For orphaned New York socialite Isabella De Vries, finding a husband has become imperative. After unsuccessfully navigating four Seasons, it’s time to enlist the help of an old family friend to find her a suitable match. She trusts Preston implicitly, but his solution is both unconventional and he himself will marry Isabella in name alone so that she may be the sole beneficiary of his inheritance when he succumbs to the disease that will soon take his life. His plan solves everyone’s Isabella will be cared for, and his inheritance will be protected from his irresponsible younger brother, Prince. There is no love left between Prince Baxter and his older brother. When he hears that Preston is going to marry Isabella, Prince knows he will have to charm his way into friendship with Isabella if he wants to see any portion of the inheritance money. His plot, however, quickly crumples to pieces as he and Isabella establish a genuine connection―and he makes the mistake of falling in love with her.

Thank you to the author and Covenant Communications for the ARC.

ENJOYABLE.

I liked this one y’all! It’s very short (180 pages) and still manages to give some good story lines and character arcs throughout. This was a unique premise I haven’t come across before and I loved that it was set in New York.

The main characters Isabella and Prince both had journeys I appreciated seeing. Isabella had to learn to ignore gossip that was truly out of her control and make the best decisions for her and her life regardless of what everyone else will say. And I liked seeing Prince going from over the top spoiled to being humbled by the position he actually does hold in society and what he can do with that power.

The romance was a bit more subtle than I was hoping for, but I do see the necessary progression and slow burn. I would have loved even more moments between the two, yet I did like what was on page. That would be the overall thing I needed most, a longer story with more fleshed out backgrounds and plot.

It’s a quick read. It’s moderately heavy as can be seen from the synopsis. I don’t think it overwhelmed the story though. This was my first book by this author and I would love to try another!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cancer (a theme throughout), mentions of loss of a parent

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ARC Book Review: Love Unseen by Rachel Kelley Stones

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 248 pages
Author: Rachel Kelley Stones
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: July 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hannah Hadley is a permanent fixture in London Society and well on her way to becoming a spinster. Despite her beauty and kind disposition, Hannah has accepted the harsh reality of her situation: she will never marry. Continually affected by an illness from her youth, Hannah acknowledges her chances of entertaining potential suitors, at least respectable ones, is slim.

To members of the ton, Jonathan Carter is undeniably unsuitable. Though he is in possession of a massive fortune and is handsome as well, there remains an insurmountable black mark against him: his is new money. Even so, he’s caught off guard when his enchanting neighbor, Miss Hadley, flatly rejects his offer to dance. Despite their rocky introduction, however, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. But when circumstances force Hannah from her home, the couple’s warm association comes to an abrupt end. Now, Jonathan must find a way to rescue the woman he just might love or risk losing her forever.

Thank you to the author and Covenant Communications for the ARC.

GREAT DEBUT.

I enjoyed this one a lot! Hannah was such a wonderful FMC and her resilient strength shown throughout the whole book. She doesn’t let her disability define her and I loved seeing her define her self-worth and place in society.

There was even DUAL POV with Jonathan too. I adored him as well. I liked seeing his self reflection and growth as he acknowledged mistakes, made apologies and pursued Hannah. They were a sweet pairing and I liked all of their interactions.

A charming story that gets some intense scenes towards the end. I liked the pick-up in action and the rush I felt flying through pages wondering if Jonathan and Hannah were going to make it back to each other. Filled with redemptive characters (and some villains that in no way deserve redemption), a nice level of drama and a satisfying romance, I thought this was a great debut and I look forward to more books by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism, loss of sight, loss of a father (recounted), brief assault, physical injuries

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Book Review: The Truth about Miss Ashbourne by Joanna Barker

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1st, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Governess Juliana Ashbourne has dreams reaching far beyond the confines of her current position, hoping to someday establish her own school for girls. When she inherits a fortune from her late grandfather, she is shocked to learn that “someday” may soon be within reach. However, there is one condition: she must spend a month at the estate of Havenfield–with the very family who disowned her mother. Intent on securing the money she needs to start her school, Juliana accepts the invitation, vowing to guard her heart against those who shunned her all her life. 

But Havenfield is far from what she expects. She discovers a grandmother seeking forgiveness, a cold and disapproving aunt, and a painfully shy cousin. And then there is Mr. William Rowley. Though the heir to the estate is a merciless tease, Juliana finds in him a friend and confidant–and perhaps something more. As she struggles to make sense of her new place in the world, her stubborn independence clashes with a yearning to belong and the even more confusing desires of her heart.

ANOTHER WINNER.

Joanna Barker can do no wrong in my bookish opinion. I have sincerely enjoyed the three books (so far) that I have read by her. I love the way she crafts a story. There’s FANTASTIC banter that makes me all giddy and swoony, deep kisses that have my heart squeezing.

There’s also really solid character development. One of the biggest things I look for in a read. I loved Julianna’s growth and exploration of her self as she came to terms with her past and the options being opened for her now. It wasn’t an overnight solution and the progress made had me loving her all the more.

Enter in our heartthrob William Rowley. From a bit of a disaster meet-cute (at least to Julianna) to rousing confessions of love, I was hooked on him from the get-go. I loved how he gently teased her and taught her new things. Being a safe space to land, even if it took Julianna time to realize it.

The only thing that made me a little cranky was part of the final conflict. I think it would have been easily solved another way and I just didn’t like that it was dragged out. The last scenes were super sweet so props to bringing it back for me. That little complaint is no reason not to pick up this great regency.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (off page, discussed), grief depiction

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ARC Book Review: A Waltz with Traitors by A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction + Romance
Length: 328 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: March 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes the road to freedom is a six-thousand-mile-long railroad track. Sometimes the road to love is even longer.

The Former Russian Empire, 1918

Czech soldier Filip Sedlák never wanted to fight for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. So at the first opportunity, he defected to the Russians. Now he and others like him have formed the Czechoslovak Legion. Their goal: leave the chaos of Russia, sail to France, and help the Allies defeat the Central Powers, thereby toppling a hated empire and winning an independent Czechoslovakia.

With the fall of the tsar, Nadia Linskaya’s life is in ruins. Her family is dead, her lands are confiscated, and her aristocratic world is gone forever. But Nadia is determined to elude the Bolshevik agent who destroyed her family and find a way to survive in this changed world.

When Nadia takes refuge with the Czechoslovak Legion, the last thing she expects is an ally. But when Filip proposes a sham marriage to ensure her safe passage across Siberia, she takes it. Neither Filip nor Nadia expect real love, not when the legion has to take over the longest railroad in the world—and then hold it against Bolshevik counterattacks, partisan sabotage, Allied intrigue, and a set of brutal Siberian winters. At risk is the future of Czechoslovakia, the fate of Russia—and their hearts.

Thank you to Covenant Communications and author for an ARC.

WONDERFUL READ.

This is my first A.L. Sowards book and it will officially not be my last. I was captivated from the start and continually kept wanting to read this to know what happens next. I’m picky when I pick up historical fiction because I prefer reading about less common areas and this has it. 1918 in former Russia? No I have not read any books like this and I loved learning more about this time through the book and the author’s note afterwards (and as a history nerd googling things too).

I loved Nadia’s strength. She could have easily lied down and be done with all that life was handing her, but through her faith (their is a light faith vein throughout) and the kindness of just enough people Nadia kept taking the next step forward. I also adored Filip. He had that passion and deep love for what his country and watching out for those around him. I thought their relationship was sweet (and HELLO marriage of convenience!!). The way multiple things were handled between them gave my heart all the flutters and hope.

This book surprised me by having more than two POVs and I LOVED the addition of the others! With the seeing other snippets of the people around Nadia and Filip, I quickly fell in love with the side characters too. Why I wouldn’t call every ending a happy one, it all did feel beautifully hopeful and true to the unfortunate nature of war.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door between married couples
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: depictions/theme of war, war injuries, gun violence, disease, miscarriage, kidnapping, off-page sexual assault/rape, executions

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