Me

Me

Monday, October 28, 2019

Hereafter, book 3 of the Lost Princesses by Jody Hedlund



Hereafter by Jody Hedlund is the third and final book in the Lost Princess series.  Emmiline is one of the twin daughters of the king and queen of Mercia. With the death of the king and queen in Always, a novella, Lance an Elite guard and Lady Felicia flee with the three Princesses. The Three are separated and Lance and Felicia raise Emmaline in the forest. This is Emmaline's story and it is a tale of love and courage. The story is again full of knights and treasure, princesses and bravery. I found this to be a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the series. As always my biggest regret is that this is the end of the series and I will have to look for new adventures elsewhere. So grab a fluffy blanket and a pot of tea so that you can settle in for a grand adventure.

I must add that this series has some of the most beautiful covers I have seen!

I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

The third lost princess. The final key to the treasure. And a battle for the throne.

Growing up deep in the forest as a poor charcoal burner’s daughter, Emmeline has always known her identity as a princess of Mercia, and she lives in fear of being caught and killed. When her adopted father returns from town with news regarding the imminence of war, Emmeline has no wish to join the rebellion against King Ethelwulf.

Prince Ethelrex, the strongest warrior in the land, has done everything he can to prove his loyalty to his father, including searching for the last lost princess. When Ethelrex finally captures Emmeline, the king commands his son to marry the princess in order to win the support of the people and undermine the rebellion.

Forced into marriage, Emmeline has one goal—to escape. But Ethelrex takes his marriage vows seriously, including his promise to love and cherish his wife, and has no intention of letting Emmeline getaway. As the battle for the throne rages, will the prince be able to win the battle for Emmeline’s heart?


About the author:

Biography

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.





Books by Jody:
YA books by Jody Hedlund:

The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Foremost
Book 3: Hereafter

The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel

Other books by Jody Hedlund:

The Bride Ships Series
Book 1: A Reluctant Bride
Book 2: The Runaway Bride (March 2020)

The Orphan Train Series
Prequel Novella: An Awakened Heart
Book 1: With You Always
Book 2: Together Forever
Book 3: Searching for You

The Beacons of Hope Series
Prequel Novella: Out of the Storm
Book 1: Love Unexpected
Book 2: Hearts Made Whole
Book 3: Undaunted Hope
Book 4: Forever Safe
Book 5: Never Forget

The Michigan Brides Collection
Unending Devotion
A Noble Groom
Captured by Love

The Hearts of Faith Collection
The Preacher’s Bride
The Doctor’s Lady
Rebellious Heart

Historical
Luther and Katharina
Newton and Polly





Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson



Melanie Dickerson takes on a journey to 1424 Hamlin in a retelling of The Pied Piper. In true Dickerson form Melanie recreates medieval Germany with vivid descriptions of everyday life. Her characters are realistic and quite interesting. She is very creative with her plots using elements of the original tale but adding her own twist. I always look forward to a fascinating read and I am never disappointed. So grab a mug of mulled cider and settle in for a visit with the Haggenheim family.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

A plague of rats. A giant beast outside the village walls. A host of missing children. And one young woman determined to save her people.
In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the village, a mysterious beast is on a killing rampage of the village’s children, and her evil stepfather is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost.
When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for—even though the sweet music he plays on his pipe seems the only gentle thing about him. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds drawn to him despite her misgivings.
Can Katerina and Steffan stop the enemy from stealing every child of Hamlin? Or will their interference create a worse fate for them all? Melanie Dickerson delivers another exciting fairy tale journey of intrigue and romance in this reimagining of the classic Pied Piper story.


About the author:

Biography

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author who combines her love for all things Medieval with her love of romance and fairy tales. She also loves Regency Romance and has drawn on her Southern heritage to write a romance set in the late 1800s called Magnolia Summer.
Her books have won the Christy Award, two Maggie Awards, The National Reader's Choice Award, and the Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor's degree from The University of Alabama and has taught children and adults in America, Germany, and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing stories of love and adventure near Huntsville, Alabama. Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.MelanieDickerson.com.



A Match For Emma by Pepper Basham



*sigh* What a wonderful, sweet romance, with a touch of southern sass. A minor mystery helps make the story complete. I love Pepper Basham's books about Appalachia. She creates beautiful word pictures that bring the charm of her beloved mountains to life. I love how the characters make you feel as though you could hang out with them, just join them at Daphne's for a cup of coffee and a sweet of some kind. So grab yourself a big glass of sweet tea and join the folks of Mitchell's crossroads for a down-home good time.

I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Emma Mitchell may enjoy sprinkling romance into the lives of others, but her own plans involve a single first-class ticket to culinary school in Europe.

When her best friend, Jon Noble, suddenly moves back to Ransom, Emma’s fairly certain her life can’t get any better…until her matchmaking schemes nosedive, her culinary future falls flat, and a life-long friendship begins to teeter on the brink of something unexpected.

With a little inspiration from Jane Austen’s classic and a touch of Blue Ridge charm, will Jon and Emma discover that what they need the most may be the last thing they’re trying to find?

About the author:

Biography

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Both her contemporary and historical romance novels consistently receive high ratings from Romantic Times, with Just the Way You Are as a Top Pick. Most recently she’s introduced readers to Bath, UK through her novellas, Second Impressions and Jane by the Book, and taken readers into the exciting world of WW2 espionage in her novella, Façade. The second novel in The Pleasant Gap series, When You Look at Me, arrives in October and her contribution to Barbour’s wonderful My Heart Belongs series hits the shelves in January 2019 with My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can get to know Pepper on her website, www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer's Alley.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Once Upon A Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep



Fan's of Dickens will be delighted with Michelle Griep's 12 Days at Bleakly Manor. The setting is a large country manor with limited staff. A group of people each receive an invitation to spend the 12 days of Christmas at the Manor. If they stay the entire time, they will be granted something they really desire. the characters are an odd group, some endearing, others truly weird. I enjoyed the story and look forward to re reading it on a cold snowy day with a large cup of tea and a cozy blanket!

`Michele Griep's A Tale of Two Hearts is every bit as delightful as her first Christmas story Twelve Days at Bleakley Manor. She fills her stories with charming characters in interesting settings. Ms. Griep's books always teach a lesson but in a way that entertains. I loved the characters Mina and William. They are from different classes but meet at Mina's family's pub. Set at Christmas time the story definitely has a Dicken's feel to it. I read this during one of the hottest weeks of summer, so I turned the AC on high, curled up in a blanket and drank hot tea LOL.
So grab your mug of tea and enjoy a good read!

So now I have finished The Old Lace Shop. I was not disappointed, in fact I think it is my favorite of the three novellas! This was a lovely story about second chances. The plot was lively and the characters were just as quirky as in her other tales. So grab a mug of hot tea and settle in for a fantastic tale!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations! All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

Three Delightful Christmas Tales from Beloved Storyteller Michelle Griep
 
Pour yourself a cuppa, get lost in the merriment of the season, and enjoy a Dickensian Christmas in three stories from fan favorite Michelle Griep:
 
12 Days a Bleakly Manor: Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.
 
A Tale of Two Hearts: Pleasure seeker William Barlow needs a wife immediately to gain his uncle’s inheritance, and Mina Scott is just the girl to make him look respectable—too bad she turns him down. Ought he give her a second chance?
 
The Old Lace Shop: Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.

About the author:

Biography

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write--except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

A Pursuit Of Home by Kristi Ann hunter



Kristi Ann Hunter has reaffirmed her status as one of my all time favorite authors! A Pursuit Of Home is Jess's story. I have liked Jess since she first appeared in A Noble Masquerade and now I finally know her story. This is a fantastic adventure, with two people learning to trust, each other and more importantly God. I also enjoyed catching up with some old friends. I highly recommend this book. So grab you pot of tea and settle in for Kristi's newest read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.

Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle.

As Jess and Derek race to find the hidden artifact before her family's enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth and set history right lead to a future together?

About the author:

Biography

Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Computer Science but always knew she wanted to write. In addition to several pre-published contests, Kristi is a Rita award winner and has also been a finalist in the INSPY, Christy, and GRW Maggie Award of Excellence. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.