Tag: historical fiction

Reading Wrap-Up: March 2024

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Spring is here! And apparently that meant READ ALL THE THINGS. A good list of books to add to your TBR below!

Favorite books this month:

  • The Rule Book
  • The House on Biscayne Bay
  • A Drop of Venom
  • When the Moon Hatched
  • Walking on Hidden Wings
  • But He’s My Fake Fiancé
  • Off the Beaten Path
  • The Simple Wild
  • The Blooms that Broke Us
  • Radiance of the Moon
  • The Foxglove King
  • This Could Be Us
  • The Roads We Follow
  • Always Choosing You
  • Betrothal or Breakaway
  • The Rom-Commers

Least favorites this month:

  • A Promise Kept
  • Heart of the Valkyrie
  • On Thin Ice
  • In the Orbit of You
Version 1.0.0
  • [ARC] A Promise Kept by A.N. Horton
  • [ALC] The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
  • [ARC] The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (Aunties #3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • Reign of Darkness (The Fallen Kingdoms #2) by K.B. Benson
  • With a Little Luck (Fortuna Beach #2) by Marissa Meyer
  • [ARC] Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus
  • [ARC] The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton
  • The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester
  • An Improper Gentleman (Improper Agreements #2) by Audra Wells
  • Heart of the Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga #1) by Melanie Karsak
  • [ARC] A Feather So Black (Fair Folk #1) by Lyra Selene
  • [ARC] On Thin Ice by Anna Augustine
  • A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
  • [ARC] A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9) by Deanna Raybourn
  • Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds #1) by Analeigh Sbrana
  • The Blood Vier (Blood Vier #1) by Christy R. Harrill
  • When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall #1) by Sarah A. Parker
  • [ALC/ARC] Funny Story by Emily Henry
  • [ARC] Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel
  • All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom #3) by Tahereh Mafi
  • [ARC] But He’s My Fake Fiancé (But He’s a Carter Brother #3) by Annah Conwell
  • Off the Beaten Path (The Mountains are Calling #1) by Madison Wright
  • Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher
  • [Reread] The Simple Wild (The Simple Wild #1) by K.A. Tucker
  • Queen of Shifting Sands (Instanolde Chronicles #1) by Kaitlyn Carter Brown
  • [ARC] The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
  • The Words We Lost (Fog Harbor #1) by Nicole Deese
  • The Blooms That Broke Us by Ashley Dill
  • Radiance of the Moon by Ashley Worrell
  • The Foxglove King (The Nightshade Crown #1) by Hannah F. Whitten
  • This Could Be Us (Skyland #2) by Kennedy Ryan
  • The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allen
  • [ARC] If the Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert
  • See Me As I Am by Cheryl Wanner
  • Fall of the Horizon (Dusk and Dawn #1) by Jessica J. Ayala
  • [ARC] The Hemlock Queen (The Nightshade Crown #2) by Hannah F. Whitten
  • [ARC] The Roads We Follow (Fog Harbor #2) by Nicole Deese
  • Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini
  • Winds of Change (The Descended Trilogy #1) by Bailey Estep
  • [ARC] Always Choosing You (Scoops Series #2) by K. SInko
  • The Tainted Cup (Shadows of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • [ARC] Betrothal or Breakaway (D.C. Eagles Hockey #3) by Leah Brunner
  • Divine (House of Oak #2) by Nichole Van
  • [ARC] The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

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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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