Tag: historical fiction

ARC Book Review A Noble Scheme (The Imposters #2) by Roseanna M. White

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House Fiction
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gemma Parks is known throughout high society as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talent to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the elite firm’s members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren’t for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his soul in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma not only to restore the missing boy, but also to win back the only woman he’s ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham must devise a noble scheme to save the boy’s life and heal their hearts.

Christy Award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to Edwardian-era England in an exhilarating tale of glamor, intrigue, and romance set among high society’s most elite–and most dangerous–families.

Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for the eARC.

UNEXPECTEDLY DEEP.

Since this was book two in a series I didn’t read the summary and found this book much heavier than I expected. Not a bad thing, but a thing to note to be prepared to read the trigger warnings first.

Once the plot started to unfold my heart started to hurt. The second chance romance between Graham and Gemma was fought for. The resilient nature of both of them to stubbornly hold on to things and watching those walls crumble was beautiful. I loved how faith was worked into this story and the meaningful moments that were given to these characters to find a way back home.

The mystery was good, I enjoyed the themes throughout the book and how the story was uncovered. I think the Imposters group is a great little found family and I like seeing them work together to solve the crimes before them while supporting each other through their trials.

I’m very much looking forward to Yates book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a baby (recounted and discussed throughout), kidnapped children, near suicide, loss of a child (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: After the Crescent Strike (The Balkan Legends #0.5) by A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Novella
Length: 182 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: March 5th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Balkans, 1371

After conquering the Serbian army in battle, bands of Ottoman warriors terrorize the land, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake. As one of the few survivors of a deadly attack on her village, Magdalena is determined to protect her newly orphaned niece. When a group of battle-weary Serb warriors offers to lead Magdalena and her charge to safety, a flame of hope flickers to life for the desperate woman, burning brighter when she spots a familiar face among the Miladin, the man she once loved—and lost.

Following a devastating defeat on the battlefield, Miladin resolves to return home to Rivak and pledge his loyalty to the new župan, Konstantin, the young son of the slain leader who led Miladin to war. As Miladin travels back from the Maritsa River Valley to offer aid and allegiance to the inexperienced youth, he expects the way will be fraught with danger, but he never dreams that the journey will reunite him with his first love.

Even as Magdalena and Miladin rekindle a romance once doomed by youth and circumstance, hidden threats draw ever closer. Before they can truly be safe, they must face a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to seize power.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an eARC.

READY FOR THE SERIES.

This has me all sorts of excited for the full series coming. I love this setting and the historical and faith aspects too. Even with a short (116ish pages) story I felt like these characters were incredibly well crafted. I could feel the emotional depth of what they were going through. I loved the faith aspects too. Those hit me on a soul deep level and I connected to the main leads so much.

It’s a nice intro to the where the larger story and different characters are going. I look forward to seeing the expansion of the world and learning even more about this time period. I love Sowards gorgeous writing and how well this book has been researched.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, major loss of life, mentions of miscarriages, near death experiences

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2024

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The month of love! Wow, this month knocked it out of the park with the five stars y’all. So many dang good books and I finally got my hands on House of Flame and Shadow!!

Favorites this month:

  • House of Flame and Shadow
  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
  • Emma M. Lion No. 5
  • The Ever Queen
  • The Will of the Many
  • Wild About You
  • The Scrivener’s Bones
  • The Outlaw Noble Salt
  • The Knights of Crystallia
  • Girl Meets Grump
  • Tales of the Celestial Kingdom
  • The Shattered Lens
  • The Dark Talent
  • The Trials of Ophelia
  • Heartless Hunter
  • A Groom of One’s Own
  • The Warm Hands of Ghosts
  • House of Bane and Blood
  • Where the Dark Stands Still

Least favorites this month:

  • Night for Day
  • Liar’s Test
  • Valley Verified
  • [ARC] Night for Day by Roselle Lim
  • House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ALC] A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea #1) by Hafsah Faizal
  • [ARC] Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
  • [ARC] Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
  • Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
  • [ARC] Liar’s Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina
  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Emma M. Lion #5) by Beth Brower
  • The Ever Queen (The Ever Seas #2) by L.J. Andrews
  • The Will of the Many (Hierarchy #1) by James Islington
  • [ARC] Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill
  • The Scrivener’s Bones (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #2) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] A Noble Scheme (The Imposters #2) by Roseanna M. White
  • No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
  • [ARC] The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon
  • I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
  • The Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #3) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner
  • Tales of the Celestial Kingdom (The Celestial Kingdom #2.5) by Sue Lynn Tan
  • Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) by Heather Fawcett
  • Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao
  • Mortal Queens (Fae Dynasty #1) by Victoria McCombs
  • [ARC] An Unlikely Proposition (Unexpected Seasons #2) by Rosalyn Eves
  • The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #4) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Dark Talent (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #5) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Trials of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #3) by Nicole Platania
  • [ARC] An Inconvenient Letter by Julie Wright
  • Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #6) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
  • Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Nightweaver by RM Gray
  • [ARC] A Groom of One’s Own (Appies Series) by Emma St. Clair
  • Love Interest by Clare Gilmore
  • The Warm Hands of Ghosts of Katherine Arden
  • [ARC/Novella] After the Crescent Strike (The Balkan Legends #0.5) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ARC] Wedding Issues by Elle Evans
  • ASAP by Axie Oh
  • House of Bane and Blood (Order and Chaos #1) by Alexis L. Menard
  • Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
  • [Novella] Hyperthief (Skyward #3.6) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson

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Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (The Unselected Journals #1) by Beth Brower

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 121 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Rhysdon Press
Release Date: November 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

I AM INTRIGUED.

At the behest of many friends I finally picked this one up! It’s biggest hurdle is the unique writing style, but once I got the hang of it, I adored this y’all.

Emma is FUNNY. I laughed out loud multiple times and the succinct way she expresses herself is perfectly written. This is a very fast paced book (120ish pages) and offers up a lot of good beginning things to further the story as the journals go along.

I really look forward to seeing more romance, how Emma is able to take control of her situation and more. Regency fans, don’t skip this one if you’re looking for something to mix it up with.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency/Historical
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: none
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one

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