Railway to Murder by Danny J. Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Railway to Murder was my first book by this author. I don’t normally go for westerns but I’m really glad I did. The characters were realistic and I really like the historical accuracy. It’s a super easy ready and I enjoyed it.
Miss Georgiana Darcy’s Quest For Love: A Pride And Prejudice Variation Novelette by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a cute and fun read. Was very easy and quick, but a fun idea for follow up after the love story that is Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. The style of writing stays similar to that of Jane Austen and is a pretty fluid transition to a “sequel”. Of course, wonderful characters and a lovely happy ending without any unnecessary drama. Really enjoyed it and would recommend.
A Patriot’s Tale by Nicole Pierman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Patriot’s Tale: An American Revolutionary War Novel by Nicole Pierman was a really good book! Very easy to read and a page turner.
This book focuses on Lily, a orphan with a thirst for revenge against the redcoats who m*rdered her family. It follows her along as she meets a family who is able to help her reach a rebel settlement. From there, the storyline takes a surprising twist as the enemy commander at a nearby town is completely taken with her (no spoilers!). I definitely recommend this book!
Strong female character, good for mature teens (some war content) and YA. I also read that this was written when the author was 12! You can tell that it was written with a younger narative in mind, but I still really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see what else this author publishes.
Web of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Web of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 2) is the 2nd book in the series. It technically could be read as a stand alone, but I really feel like you should read the 1st book to fully understand. The writing style is definitely different than other books I’m used to and I can’t tell if it’s to be representative of Neferet’s thoughts or if it’s the authors style. Either way, it’s different haha
This book Neferet and Bener-Ib once again find themselves solving a murder that landed in their laps. There were a few twists that I did not see coming which I really enjoyed. The ancient Egyptian world fascinates me so I do love learning more about that while reading these stories. Overall, I enjoyed the read and would likely pick up the next.
The Earl’s Match by Holly Bush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Earl’s Match is the 5th and final book in The Thompsons of Locust Street books, although it can stand alone very well. I haven’t read anything by this author before, so this was the first one in the series I read (was not aware it was a series when I picked it up) and the author gave enough backstory to fully understand the relationships without bogging down the story line.
This story shifts POV, although it is primarily from Payden’s perspective majority of the time. Also has a lot of flashbacks from present day to events within the past 5 years that play heavily into current situations. The chance meeting of Clarice and Payden initially sparks anger rather than romance and the chaos that follows is both interesting and suspenseful. Very well written- I enjoyed it and would read more by the author.
Dark Sky at Dawn by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Free Men and Dreamers, Volume 1 takes place just before the War of 1812, and documents the events leading up to in a fictional drama/romance. Following the story from a historical viewpoint was really fun for me, I loved learning more about the times before the war and this story covers both America in her early days as well as England following their loss of the Revolutionary war.
This book is heavier on the scene set ups and background building than conversations and dialogue, which made it more of a challenge for me personally. It was also heavy on the miscommunications and love almost and possibly still lost. I love world building but also need more dialogue so if you’re like me, keep that in mind. Otherwise it was a really amazing read and I truly did enjoy it!
The Curse of Jean Lafitte by Mary Walsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Curse of Jean Lafitte was such a fun book! I love historical books, but when they collide with the present day it so much fun to read. The world building was awesome and so much detail was given for the characters, yet it never got bogged down or slow. Right from the beginning I was hooked, and could not put the book down! Would absolutely read more by this author.
Dancing Butterfly by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dancing Butterfly is the second book in the Butterflies Fly Free Series. This one follows Suki that we met for a short time in book 1, although it is something of a prequel as well. While in book 1, Suki was already with Frank, in book 2 it shows their meeting and the beginning of their relationship.
This was an easy read and enjoyable, light on the spice so would be appropriate for YA. I do love books that take a unique time period and bring it to life and this series does that well.
Joy’s Christmas Escape: The Marshal’s Mail Order Bride Book 1 by P. Creeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Joy’s Christmas Escape by P. Creeden, is the first of a series that will be stand alone reads. I thought that the main characters were relatable and easy to understand. It was frustrating that Joy was not able to stand up for herself in the beginning. This is a very faith based read, but not over done. The main characters wholly trust in and rely on God throughout the story. Overall, it’s a very lovely read and comforting, even throughout the drama.
The Earl, Her Reluctant Guardian by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absolutely love period pieces so I was looking forward to this one! It is also my first book by Wareeze Woodson, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The world building is really good, the characters are relatable and I do love how the main character, Vanessa, has so much more sass than most authors give ladies of the time! I really could feel her frustrations and could not imagine living in such a time. Without giving too much away, the author does an amazing job of making you feel empathy for the lovable characters, while also intense annoyance bordering loathing for the “villains”! It moved fast throughout and i was captivated the entire time. Some twists that I definitely did not see coming and wrapped up in a believable ending. Very good read!
The Moon That Fell from Heaven by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Moon That Fell from Heaven by N. L. Holmes was such a good read! It takes place in ancient Egypt and I absolutely love all the detail given in the book. The history loving side of me really enjoyed it! I also really liked how at the end of most chapters there was an author’s note explaining the historical accuracy/importance or realty of the times for that situation.
The world building was amazing, characters were super easy to love and/or hate depending on who they were! Intrigue start right away and keeps you guessing throughout. Great book.
Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed Flowers of Evil by N. L. Holmes. Egyptian times have always fascinated me and I absolutely love the world that Holmes created! Bringing ancient times to life, painting vivid scenes and characters but also relatable. you can feel the injustice and unfairness of how Neferet and Bener-ib are treated because of their gender.
Of course, with rich worlds and deep characters comes a lot of lengthy paragraphs of descriptions, which can be harder for me to fall into. But I had no issues with this one, as it captured my interest and imagination completely. Really looking forward to the next one!
House of Arsceneaux by Caterina Novelliere
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved House of Arsceneaux by Caterina Novelliere! The characters were wonderful, the storyline was unpredictable and I could not put it down! Just when I thought I had it figured out, I glanced at the number of pages left and was super curious what major event was going to happen. The fantasy world was intriguing but also believable. Looking forward to reading more of her works! You will definitely enjoy this book- 10/10 recommend!
Trapping The Butterfly by Debra Parmley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved Trapping the Butterfly by Debra Parmley! The characters are believable and relatable. It’s a super easy read, and hard to put down! I read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. There was romance, exploration, danger and excitement but I would say still appropriate even for mature YA readers. Set in prohibition times, Bethany’s overprotective guardians (aunt and uncle) are determined to continue managing their niece (and her inheritance) by arranging a marriage with an unsavory business partner. While vacationing at the hot springs, Bethany unknowingly befriends a woman who is caught up with a gangster working closely with Al Capone. As she catches the eye of another gangster, Bethany is caught between the excitement and newness of this dangerous world and the safety of her new friend, Paul, a detective undercover watching the mobs activities.
The Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Romanov Heiress, by Jennifer Laam, was not what I expected! I knew I would enjoy it, as I usually do period books and I am completely fascinated by the Tsars and their history. What was unexpected for me was not being able to put it down! It was very easy to read, with wonderful characters that were relatable. There was a twist with the “villain” that surprised me as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait until the next!
