Book Review: A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz

 About the Book:

Exiled from his native Acadie in Canada, Bleu Galant has little on his mind but survival as the tumultuous French and Indian War comes to a close. When his journey to Virginia’s Rivanna River settlement takes an unexpected turn, he crosses paths with Brielle Farrow—a woman whose presence stirs something in him he cannot explain nor express. Unable to forget her, his decision to help her takes them across an ocean and into a lavish world he’s never known. Will their intricate tie decide not only her fate but his future?

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My Thoughts:

Bleu Galant, originally of The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz, returned for his own story of danger, romance, and family ties in A Fierce Devotion. Though this novella hosted characters from The Seamstress of Acadie, it read fine as a standalone. Frantz’s writing was beautiful, but the pace of the story varied with some sections feeling a tad slow. I especially liked the addition of French words and phrases.

Bleu and Brielle were well-suited for each other and the title, A Fierce Devotion, aptly described their relationship. I loved that Bleu was kind and generous from the start. No wonder Brielle found him attractive! From there, the relationship took a slow burn romance path. The would-be couple had chemistry and flirtation, but it took them a long time to move forward on their deeper feelings. Their development was less about fundamental changes than overcoming adversity, questions of self-worth, and the journey of their lives.

Fans of Laura Frantz and The Seamstress of Acadie will likely enjoy this historical romance novella. 3.5 Stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Author Interview: Rescued at Christmas by Janice Carter

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Rescued at Christmas by Janice Carter, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Rescued at Christmas
Series: Home to Maple Glen #2
Author: Janice Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance

Rescuing her was his Christmas miracle…  

But will she be gone again by New Year’s? 

Devon Fairchild arrives in the small town of Maple Glen just weeks before Christmas to honor a promise she made to her late brother. Then she’ll get back to her life in the city. But when she’s injured, firefighter Finn McAllister rescues her and takes her home to his family, who shower her with compassion and holiday cheer. For the first time, Devon starts to feel like she belongs. But the walls she’s built around her heart have always kept her safe. If she lets them fall, will she truly be rescued…or will it only lead to more heartbreak?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop |  BookBub

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Excerpt

Finn stepped down onto the sidewalk. He made a slow 360-degree turn, looking up at the night sky.

“You don’t have to pretend anymore,” Devon said.

He spun around, facing her. “Huh?”

“I think looking at the stars was a pretext to get me out here alone,” Her heart skipped a beat as he slowly climbed the steps, standing so close she could feel his breath warming her cold cheeks. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on for what seemed an eternity until she gradually eased out of his embrace, her heart pounding so hard she was certain he could hear. She gazed up into his eyes that seemed to reflect all the constellations above them. Then she moved back into his arms.

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About the Author

Janice Carter has been writing Harlequin romances for a long time, through raising a family, teaching and on into retirement. This is her 18th Harlequin romance and she has plans for more!

Connect with Janice on Facebook or Twitter.

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Rescued at Christmas?

Janice: Rescued at Christmas is the second book in my Home to Maple Glen series. The fictional village of Maple Glen is located close to the Appalachian Long Trail in Vermont. Reading about the Trail, with its own stories of danger and rescuing, was fascinating. A character in the first book, (A Small Town Fourth of July), in the series is a search-and-rescue volunteer and I decided that Finn McAllister, with his natural tendency to rescue people, needed a book of his own.


Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Janice: This book took me about 5 months to write.


Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Janice: One thing that surprised me in my research was how many people hike the Appalachian Trail! There are many YouTube videos of the Trail and the hikers.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Rescued at Christmas?

Janice: One favorite line comes from Finn’s mother, Marion. She’s the anchor of the McAllister family and nothing fazes her. When Devon suffers a sprain and is taken to the McAllister home, Finn asks her if there’s anyone she can call to tell about her fall.

“I don’t have anyone I can call!” Devon cries.

“Well then,” Marion announced in a steady but kind voice. “You’ll just have to put up with us.”

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author? 

Janice: I wrote my first book (unpublished!) when I was twelve years old and have been writing on and off since. But my first published book (a Harlequin Intrigue) appeared many many years later.


Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Janice: I once huddled through a cyclone in Australia – a twelve-hour experience I hope never to repeat!


Q: What are you currently reading?

Janice: I’m reading The Personal Librarian by M. Benedict and V. Murray, a historical fiction novel about J.P. Morgan and his librarian, Belle da Costa Greene. Very interesting!


Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Janice: My favorite genres are romance and mystery, but I occasionally like to read historicals.


Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Janice: My favorite hobby is writing!! But I also love to cook for my family.


Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Janice: My favorite season is summer because I spend it at our cottage on an island with my family.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card, a print copy of A Small Town Fourth of July (first book in series), and maple syrup/sugar treats!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 11, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 18, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Book Review: The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Shifting Current 

Series: Coastal Guardians novella 

Author: Dani Pettrey 

Publisher: Gracie & Johnny Inc. 

Release Date: May 2, 2023 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

An elusive killer. A false identity. A deadly maze of lies.

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart. 

Emmy knows Logan will pursue the investigation no matter the cost, and she won’t let the man she loves plunge into a dangerous situation alone. She needs to be at his side, even if he believes friendship is her only reason for joining him. 

What looks like a robbery gone wrong rapidly shifts, drawing Emmy and Logan into a dizzying maze where nothing is as it appears. Every lead slips through their fingers as threats against them grow deadlier at each turn. Having only each other to rely on, their love for one another deepens, but will they live long enough to admit their attraction to each other? 

They’re in the killer’s sights. One wrong move puts their future together and their lives on the line.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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Excerpt from The Shifting Current

Logan’s cell phone rang. Clearing his throat, he answered on the second ring. “Perry,” he said.

“Logan, it’s Tom.”

“Hey, Tom. It’s been a while.” At least a month since his high-school-buddy-turned-hometown-sheriff had called to chat through a case.

“I’m afraid this isn’t a catch-up call,” Tom said, his tone uneasy, stilted.

“What’s up?” he asked slowly, not liking the tension in his friend’s voice.

“It’s Colt. Something…something’s happened.”

His grandfather? Logan shook his head, bewildered. What could have happened? They’d talked just the other day. “Is he hurt?” The old man was the picture of health, but that didn’t stop accidents from happening. Had there been a car crash? A fall?

Tom released a whoosh of air. “Man…” he said, a catch in his throat. “I don’t know how else to say this other than to shoot straight.”

Logan frowned. “How bad is it? Is he in the hospital?”

“No, I’m afraid it’s too late for that. Logan, your grandfather’s been murdered.”

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My Thoughts

Despite the compact novella form, The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey had no shortage of mystery and suspense. The well-crafted crime/mystery held my interest as Logan and Emmy searched for a murderer and surrendered to their feelings for each other. This was less of a falling-in-love tale and more of a how-do-they-get-together story.

As far as characters go, The Shifting Current had an interesting villain that I almost liked. I think she could carry her own story in a subsequent novella if she was given a redemption arc. Logan and Emmy were perfect together, and I enjoyed how their skill sets complemented each other. Some things in Logan’s character development felt underdeveloped or a bit too convenient, common issues caused by the shortened form of a novella.

The Shifting Current lands as installment 3.5 of Dani Pettrey’s Coastal Guardians series. I have not read any other books in the series, and I felt like I was missing Emmy and Logan’s backstory as they were already head-over-heels in love with each other at the start of this story. I suspect I would have enjoyed this novella more if I had read the other novels in the Coastal Guardians series. 3.5 Stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

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About the Author

Publishers Weekly, #1 Parable, #1 Amazon, ECPA, and CBA bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters (Publishers Weekly), gripping storyline[s], (RT Book Reviews), and sizzling undercurrent of romance (USA Today). She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.

Connect with Dani by visiting danipettrey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a "The Best is Yet to Come" mug, gourmet roasted coffee from NYC, and the full Coastal Guardian series including The Shifting Current in paperback!

(1) winner will receive a "The Best is Yet to Come" notebook, gel pens, and a paperback copy of The Killing Tide!

(1) winner will receive a "The Best is Yet to Come" vintage sign and a paperback copy of The Crushing Depths!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 5, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 12, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!