September & October 2023 Reading Recap, + November 2023 TBR

My September 2023 Reads: 

1. Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Iris by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I wish Iris and Hudson's story had been completely in this book instead of part of it being in "Ned." It took awhile for things to come back to me even though I read "Ned" only a few months ago. Overall, a good story that held my attention and had me rooting for the good guys.


3. The Evangelical Imagination by Karen Swallow Prior - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


4. Creed by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐½  - Read my review.


5. A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐½ - Read my review.

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My October 2023 Reads: 

1. The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky - ⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.

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Expected November 2023 Reads:

1. He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox.


2. The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox. - My local book club's selection for November.


3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


4. The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain - Currently reading. Similar to a dictionary, but with less words and an aim for fun.


5. Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin. - Currently reading.


6. Suing Cinderella by Stephanie Mack.

What will you read this month?

Book Spotlight: The Doctor's Christmas Dilemma

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Doctor's Christmas Dilemma by Danielle Thorne, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Doctor's Christmas Dilemma 
Author: Danielle Thorne
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Genre: Inspirational Romance

Home for the holidays… 

 

Or home for good? 

 

Once upon a time, Ben Cooper left his hometown to follow his dreams of becoming a big-city doctor. Now he’s back to run his father’s clinic and spend Christmas with his daughter, not to fall for McKenzie Price, the woman who broke his heart. But when McKenzie steps in to help Ben reconnect with his little girl, and old sparks begin to ignite, will Ben give up city life for a second chance at love? 

 

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

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

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Excerpt

“I don’t understand you,” blustered McKenzie. “You asked me to go to college with you in front of the whole band.”

“So?” Ben interrupted.

“It took a lot of nerve. You opened yourself up to rejection, jeers.”

“And you rejected me,” he blurted. There was no bitterness in his tone, no blame, but McKenzie wondered if she heard something else—a morsel of lingering regret—the same regret that’d been suffocating her since he’d come back to town.

They stared at one another, and his eyes became dark and deep. There were red highlights in his lashes, and it took McKenzie back to the flashing tangerine-brown hair of his childhood. It’d been a beautiful earthy shade that reminded her of red-gold summer sunsets. His colors, inside and out, made her happy. Made her smile. Like the Cardinal flowers that grew along the summer road sides, he’d flowered into a striking specimen, quiet but rugged with wider shoulders, a thicker throat, and a neckline that made her want to brush her fingers along its outline. This made her happy, too, and strangely achy. She swallowed and looked away.

“It was my fault, Ben,” McKenzie whispered. “I was scared. You were my best friend, and I didn’t want to lose that.

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About the Author

Danielle Thorne writes happily-ever-afters set in the South for Harlequin Love Inspired. A graduate of BYU-Idaho, she also writes stories about Regency ladies, pirates, and not-so-distressed damsels from her home south of Atlanta. Free time is filled with documentaries, too much yard work, and not enough travel. When not writing wholesome romances, Danielle hangs out with friends or chases cats. She enjoys the outdoors and serving in her church and community. Danielle's been married to the same fellow for thirty years, has four sons, four bonus daughters and two grandbabies. She loves them more than life.

Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellethorne.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win an autographed print copy of The Doctor's Christmas Dilemma, a bookmark, and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 7, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 14, 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/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 Peasant King by Tessa Afshar

About the Book:

Jemmah has always thought of herself as perfectly ordinary . . . until she faces extraordinary circumstances.

When her mother, the Persian king’s famous senior scribe, is kidnapped, Jemmah and her sister must sneak undetected into enemy territory to rescue her. But infiltrating their adversary’s lands proves easier than escaping them. Fleeing through dangerous mountain passes, their survival depends on the skills of a stranger they free from prison: a mysterious prince named Asher.

Asher is not who the world believes he is. Despite his royal blood, he has had to climb his way out of poverty to forge success from nothing. A manufacturer of some of the best weaponry in the East, Asher has only one goal: to destroy his father. But following his escape from prison, Asher is irresistibly drawn to Jemmah, unaware that she guards her own secret.

Jemmah must convince Asher to give up everything he has worked for, all for the sake of a higher purpose he’s not sure he believes in. The fate of the Persian empire—and possibly the Judean people—hang in the balance and in the persuasive power of one ordinary woman.

Bestselling author Tessa Afshar delivers another adventurous novel filled with romance and imagination, reminding readers of what Publishers Weekly calls her “amazing talent for packing action and intrigue into the biblical setting for modern readers.”

Read an excerpt on the publisher's site.

Purchase at: Amazon

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My Thoughts:

I enjoyed The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar twice, back-to-back, before writing down these thoughts. During the first reading, I eagerly flipped pages to find out what would happen and how things would conclude. The second time around, I read slowly and picked up more of the humor, cleverness, wisdom, and themes. The wonderfully unpredictable plot held my attention both times around.

Tessa Afshar’s novels always contain spiritual truths to encourage the reader, and The Peasant King followed suit. The idea of “ordinary v. extraordinary” shaped Jemmah and emerged as a story theme. As the back cover copy tells us, “Jemmah has always thought of herself as perfectly ordinary . . . until she faces extraordinary circumstances.” When the ordinary is insufficient in the story (and in real life), then the extraordinary (miraculous) is possible if a Believer follows God. It’s a message of hope for those who feel insufficient or ordinary. In the words of Jemmah, a “lowly profession can hide an exalted ability.”

The well-rounded characters in The Peasant King felt like real people (some side characters were historical figures). Jemmah’s normalcy (sense of being ordinary) and journey to healing (from childhood trauma) made her relatable and provided room for growth. She was my favorite character in The Peasant King, but I loved seeing an older Karen from The Hidden Prince and wished for Zarina to get her own story.

Reading The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar made me want to reread Karen and Jared’s story in The Hidden Prince. Though the novels have strong connections, both read well as stand-alones. I thoroughly enjoyed The Peasant King and I recommend this book to Christian fiction readers who enjoy adventurous stories with dynamic characters, strong spiritual messages, and beautiful writing. Five 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.

Book Spotlight: The Lord and the Lady Astronomer by Alissa Baxter

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Lord and the Lady Astronomer by Alissa Baxter, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours

About the Book

Title: The Lord and the Lady Astronomer
Series: The Grantham Girls #3
Author: Alissa Baxter
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Release Date: November 1, 2023
Genre: Regency/Historical Romance (Sweet, wholesome)

Can wishing upon a star ever come true? 

Abigail Grantham has always taken a keen interest in astronomy since her brother Sir John Grantham enlisted her aid as a young girl to keep records of his astronomical discoveries. Abigail is delighted when her uncle, Lord Longmore, invites her to stay at Longmore Hall in Buckinghamshire as he needs her assistance to compile a star chart. 

When Abigail arrives at the Hall, her Aunt Longmore introduces her to local society. However, Abigail also spends a great deal of time in her uncle’s observatory, viewing the night skies alongside her uncle’s neighbor, fellow astronomer William, Viscount Rochvale. 

Lord Rochvale is intrigued by Abigail, and when he discovers that they share an interest in ancient buildings and Roman history, he contrives to become better acquainted with her away from her uncle’s observatory, taking her to places of archaeological interest with a view to winning her heart. But the astronomical project they are working on makes courtship difficult, and William’s plans are further frustrated by his rakish cousin Gerald Burnby, who becomes a frequent visitor to Longmore Hall, seeking out Abigail too.  

After a valuable Roman urn disappears from Longmore Hall, a series of mysterious occurrences unravel, presenting a puzzle Abigail has no idea how to solve. However, when events escalate into peril, Abigail discovers that it is the night sky that holds the secret to the missing urn—as well as to her stolen heart.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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More Books In This Series

 

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Excerpt

With a faint cry, Abigail sprang into the coach. Thank goodness Joshua had left the door open. Panting, she fell in a heap on the seat. Her aunt’s face wasn’t visible within the dark confines, but her voice resonated with concern. “What’s amiss, dear?”

“Someone’s in the road. A giant of a man.” Abigail’s breath came in gasps. “He must be a villain as he was creeping around in the dark holding a gun. I jabbed him with my umbrella. Twice. We must leave!”

Joshua approached the door, the light of his lamp now spilling into the coach. “Begging your pardon, Miss Longmore, but Lord Rochvale requests a lift back to the Hall.”

“Lord Rochvale?” Her aunt sounded bemused. “Oh, of course. He must be out looking at the stars.”

Abigail’s gaze swept from her aunt’s face to Joshua’s impassive features. “Lord Rochvale, Aunt?”

“Our closest neighbor, dear. He works with your uncle. He is also an astronomer and often walks between the two properties at night.”

“Oh!” Rocks seemed to settle in the region of Abigail’s stomach. She bit her lip. “Is his lordship hurt, Joshua?”

The groom opened his mouth to reply, but before he could say anything, a calm voice spoke from behind him, “I am perfectly well, thank you. Good evening, Miss Longmore.”

Great-aunt Mildred nodded. “Good evening, Rochvale. You haven’t sustained an injury?”

“Only to my dignity,” he said dryly.

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About the Author

Alissa Baxter wrote her first Regency romance during her long university holidays. After travelling the world, she settled down to write her second Regency novel, which was inspired by her time living on a country estate in England. Alissa then published two chick lit novels before returning to her favourite era with her Linfield Ladies Series, a trio of Regency romances that feature women in trend-setting roles who fall in love with men who embrace their trailblazing ways... at least eventually. Her new Dragonblade trilogy, The Grantham Girls, continues this inspiring theme.

Alissa currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Alissa by visiting alissabaxter.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 6, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 13, 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 JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

Book Review: Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet

About the Book:

Samuel was back. It seemed unfair to be blindsided. And in church no less. Shouldn't there be a commandment about that? Thou shalt not step foot inside thy ex's place of worship.

Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings--but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.

After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be impossible to resist.

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My Thoughts:

I love a good second-chance romance, and Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet did not disappoint. Despite twenty years apart, Julia and Samuel had unfinished business to deal with and a sizzling attraction to each other. Their unhappy history gave immediate tension to the story and a bit of an enemies-to-lovers vibe. I enjoyed the sassy banter and smart flirtation between these characters. As the animosity gave way to healing, I appreciated their relationship being different the second time around.

Julia Monroe Begins Again immersed me into Julia’s mind via first person point-of-view. Being of similar age to Julia, I giggled at or nodded along with her thoughts and words. Her particular sense of humor made this novel truly funny to me.

Aside from the sparking romance and light-hearted jesting, Julia Monroe Begins Again held plenty of depth. A handful of the situations Julia and Samuel faced included: the death of a spouse, the challenges of single parenting, becoming an empty-nester, and longing for peace in one’s soul. As the title suggests, this is the story of Julia stepping into a new season, making changes, and opening herself to hope after previous disappointment.

Julia Monroe Begins Again is a strong debut novel. The story held my attention throughout, gave me a book hangover because I didn’t put it down when it was time to sleep, and made me want to try a beignet. The romance, quirky side characters, and emotional depth in Julia Monroe Begins Again created a story that has a permanent home on my bookcase. 4.5 stars. I’m already looking forward to Millet’s next novel!

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.

Book Review: Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White

About the Book:

In two world wars, intelligence and counterintelligence, prejudice, and self-sacrifice collide across two generations.

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. But when war breaks out in Europe, their relationship is put in jeopardy and may not survive what lies ahead for them.

As the ripples from the Great War rock Evie and Sterling's lives in World War II, it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Read an excerpt on the publisher's website.

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My Thoughts:

Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White gave me all the emotions. I cried at a tragic moment. I felt the drama of a long-held secret. Trying to figure out the family connections simultaneously frustrated and intrigued me. I rooted for the couples to live happily ever after. I abhorred a character who acted terribly. The racism of the time saddened me. I felt so invested in this story and these characters that I didn’t want the novel to end.  

Beyond my emotionalism, I admired Roseanna M. White’s clever plotting and fantastic writing in Yesterday’s Tides.  Both timelines held my attention and had soft romances that included tasteful attraction without lustfulness. The romantic relationships showcased couples who loved each other well despite racial barriers and wartime conflicts. The familial relationships demonstrated strong bonds between both blood and chosen family. In fact, relationships are so integral to the plot that I created a relationship/family tree to identify the connections between characters.  

In Yesterday’s Tides, Roseanna M. White deftly integrated spiritual truths into the character development and themes of the novel. The main characters of each timeline faced challenging circumstances that resulted in significant character development, and none of the healing or growth came easily. Each character’s journey cultivated an organic, enduring faith. I loved the integration of different forms of prayer as a daily practice. 

I read Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White with my church’s book club and the novel received lots of positivity. Most everyone loved the story but agreed that the family tree was complicated. Five 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.