Yesterday's Tides is Beautifully Mesmerizing

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Yesterday's Tides from Roseanna M. White is is a dual-time story told in present day WWII and the past during the Great War. I thought it was pure genius to juxtapose these two time periods both dealing with war. This story is everything you want in a book and more. I know, bold words. But, not only is the cover breathtakingly beautiful (it always sets the tone for me!), but the story is equally mesmerizing and brilliantly crafted. Case in point: White manages to gift us with complex characters and worlds that simultaneously overlap. You become so engrossed in both the stories and yet somehow you don't feel like one story competes over the other. This takes great skill to do well and this author delivers, pulling you in from the first chapter. 

This story has all the sweeping historical romance nuances readers have come to expect from Ms. White. In fact, if you've read Ms. White's Shadows Over England and her Codebreaker series you'll be pleasantly surprised to be reunited with previous characters making an appearance in Yesterday's Tides.

Here's a sneak peak: In storyline one, WWII has disrupted Evie Farrow's quiet community of Ocracoke Island when she discovers wounded special agent Sterling Bertrand. Over time. he finds himself drawn to and intrigued by the pretty inn keeper who seems to be keeping secrets of her own. Will Evie and Sterling discover the truth before it's too late? 

In the second storyline, set back is 1914, Remington Culbreth arrives at Ocracoke Inn looking to relax never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. With the outbreak of war threating their relationship will they be able to survive what lies ahead?

I won't further spoil how these two stories intertwine. I think you'll be impressed at the deft work Ms. White has created in this book. If you love slip-time historical romances you need to add  Yesterday's Tide to your TBR pile.

I know I've started out daring, and now I'm ending with one more brash statement: I've had the privilege of being on influencer/launch teams for several of Ms. White's series and a few standalone novels, but Yesterday's Tides might be my favorite book to date by this author (I know, but it's true!) and has earned it's place on my 'to keep' shelf... on my to-read-again shelf. If Ms. White is looking for a new historical genre I think she's found it in the WWII genre. 

When you read it, let me know if you agree! 

 Reading is adventure,

 Emilee 

~~Yesterday's Tides was provided to me by the author herself and the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own, I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~~

Dear Henry Love Edith has Heart and Humor

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Dear Henry Love Edith marks author Becca Kinzer's debut novel and my 1st book of 2023 and what a delightful book to kick off a year of reading.  The cute cheerful yellow cover caught my eye coupled with the curious plot on the back cover...My initial reaction to Dear Henry Love Edith was it's like You've Got Mail Meets Serendipity. If these rom-coms are your cup of tea you're sure to enjoy this story. 

Edith Sherman was a heroine I felt a kindred spirit connection with because of her old soul mentality. I fond her intriguing, charming, and so relatable. 

Ms. Kinzer's banter between Henry and Edith is on-point and so funny. I like that Henry and Edith both enjoy classic films and have not merely a knowledge of film, but also an appreciation. The author's occasional and subtle film references to classics from Hollywood's Golden age made my movie-loving heart sigh with contentment. In particular her brief reference to Shakiest Gun in the West. endeared her to me because I'd always thought of this Western screwball Don Knotts classic as somewhat obscure, but her referencing it make me feel like she got me as a reader. 

One thing of note, if your looking for a solid gospel thread throughout don't expect it in Dear Henry, Love Edith. Yes, there is reference to living for Christ. but it wasn't overly obvious in my opinion. I was somewhat expecting this because of some of the author endorsements on the front cover are other authors I've read and their books don't have a strong gospel message woven throughout. This fact didn't detract for my enjoyment of Ms. Kinzer's debut novel. In fact, I'm looking forward to more books from this funny and talented author.

If you like to laugh and smile while you read, I urge you to check out Dear Henry, Love Edith.

Here's to all of the amazing reading adventures we'll go on in 2023! 

Reading is adventure,

 Emilee 

Countdown to 2023....Favorite Books of 2022

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2022 was certainly a phenomenal year for wonderful reads. The books I chose gripped me, surprised me, and stayed with me long after I'd closed the book. Did any of these books make it on your favorites list? Any books I'm leaving out? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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I read author Amanda Cox's debut novel The Edge of Belonging in one sitting this summer during an 8 hour car ride...returning home from a family vacation. I inwardly groaned at every gas station/restroom break because it meant I had to put this book down for 5 minutes or more and cried at least 3 times while reading this book. (I think my family may have thought I was crazier than usual.) 

With her riveting and emotional first book, Ms. Cox has officially landed on authors I need to read in 2023 and beyond. 

Ivy Rose returns home to her beloved Grandmother's home tasked with overseeing the estate. She discovers clues surrounding the mystery of her adoption and this sets her on a path of finding out where she came from, who she is, and along the way: love, loss, and redemption. 

Dual time books are becoming increasingly popular and The Edge of Belonging is exceptional and not to be missed. 

Time always flies when I am reading, but this year especially, it felt like time flew in general. I am looking forward to all the new books and authors I will discover in 2023 and I cannot wait to continue this reading adventure with you. Thank you for being here with me and celebrating books. 

Happy New Year! 

Emilee

Stay With Me is Captivating

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Ok, this one shocked me. I never, and I repeat, NEVER read series out of order. By nature I'm a sequential reader. You too?

If you are, you'll understand how crazy what I'm about to type is: I read Stay with Me , the third book in Jody Hedlund's Waters of Time series, BEFORE I read books 1 and 2. 

I own books 1 and 2 and they are still on my unending TBR pile. They just got moved up to the top of list after finishing Stay with Me.

In my opinion Jody Hedlund is one of the most multifaceted and prolific authors in Christian fiction market in the past decade. Is there any genre she can't conquer?!  I was never a fan of YA literature until I read her Noble Knights series and Viola! I was an instant fan.  Her brand new Waters of Time series is a sci-fi /fantasy /dual time story. While sci-fi or fantasy are not genres I typically gravitate towards, I find myself becoming more of a fan under Ms. Hedlund's skilled storytelling. 

Here's what so impressive: I skipped past books 1 and 2 and still loved this story. It stands on it's own and that takes incredibly deft writing to accomplish. 

As a private investigator, Sybil Huxham learns of this "holy water" that can cure people and longs to find it to help her younger brother Dawson who was left blind due to an injury in the military.  Finding a small amount of holy water in a vile, she drinks some and finds herself transported to 1382 to a castle dungeon where she meets Nicholas Worth, a nobleman in the Middle Ages who is falsely being accused of treason. 

Both Sybil and Nicholas' reputations are on the line and they have little choice but to marry. I would say more, but that would ruin the suspense. 

What attracted me to Nicholas as a hero was how he was a man of honor. He's attracted to Sybil, but he's not going to act on his longing for her until she's ready. Also, he really likes that she is independent and can fend for herself. Although he's still protractive over her even though he knows she can take care of herself. I liked that Nicholas didn't try to completely mold her into a woman of the Middle Ages. 

To be honest, by the end of the book, I was a little in love with Nicholas Worth.

 I like that Sybil brings her modern-day feisty, independent spirit to the 1300s. She does have to adapt somewhat to their dress and customs, but she didn't completely lose herself either. 

Nicholas and Sybil's swoon-worthy-toe-melting kisses deserve their own paragraph. Wow! If it's possible for two fictional characters to scorch pages in a clean way, Ms. Hedlund succeeded with their passionate and intense love story. Still haven't fully recovered. 

One aspect of Stay with Me that was intriguing was the juxtaposition of colliding worlds through Sybil and Nicholas. It definitely made for some humorous parts. Particularly with different clothing. There were some laugh out loud moments.  My favorite minor character, Father Fritz, reminded me of Friar Tuck in Robin Hood. Not sure if this was the author's intention, but I pictured Friar Tuck whenever Father Fritz was on the page. Also, the village where Nicholas takes her to stay is hidden away and the archery also gave me major Robin Hood vibes  - and that honestly made me further enjoy and gravitate towards this story. 

I appreciated and resonated with the theme of Stay with Me, which is that God uses trials and hardships to grow us in ways that nothing else can. 

This book was such a delight to read. I'm sure if you inexplicably broke with your normal pattern of reading series in order, you'd be happy with the read. That said after noting how thoroughly I enjoyed this book, I can heartedly recommend you immerse yourself in the Water's of Time series and enjoy the adventure Jody has created. 

 

~~Stay With Me was provided to me by the author herself and the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own, I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~~

Engaging Deception Marries Competition and Romance

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 Engaging Deception the 3rd book in Regina Jennings newest series is finally here! After briefly meeting Olive in Proposing Mischief  I was extremely curious for her story. 

Olive Kentworth has spent the past eight years caring for her terminally ill mother. With her mother's passing, Olive is trying to figure out where she belongs. Although she has no formal training, she has a passion for architecture. Designing and creating buildings are like puzzle pieces to her. Olive may be the tamest of the Kentworth cousins, but she still has a "wild streak" (Jennings, 280.) I really liked that Olive had a quiet, steady demeanor and she preferred to remain in the background. 

Maxfield 'Max'  Scott. is a famed widowed architect with two young children. His wife died two years ago due to a tragic accident. Because of this he does his best to be a present father to his children by upholding a strong work life balance. 

Both Olive and Max are connected by two similarities: their shared loved of architecture and their grief over losing a loved one...Olive with the loss of her mother and Max the loss of his wife. 

Max and Olive get connected because Max needs a nanny. Olive ends up getting hired to take care of Max's children but really wants to become a full time architect. She has two buildings under her belt, including a building Max loves. 

In case you didn't get enough of the Kentworth clan you'll get the opportunity to meet them again. They all have a hand in helping Olive see her worth and potential. Besides the romance, I think the moments with Olive and her cousins were some of my favorite parts. With the Kentworth's Ms. Jennings' has created a family that readers can both relate to and long to be a part of. 

I read this book in two days.... simply couldn't put it down. Engaging Deception was the perfect ending to Ms. Jennings Joplin Chronicle and might just rank as my favorite series of hers to date.  This book is the perfect blend of funny, romance, and inspiration. 

Do you prefer romance, humor, or inspiration the most in your reading? 

Check out my review for book one in the series here and book two in the series here. 

~~Engaging Deception was provided to me by the author herself and the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own, I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~~

Holding the Line Falls Flat

Holding the Line is my 1st book by author Jenifer Delamere. I was intrigued by the heroine Rose Finlay a young widow working full time at a telegraph office independently supporting herself. Having a 21st century lens the idea of a woman supporting herself  and having risen to the rank of assistant manager seems so modern in the late 1800's. 

In the 1880's A young woman's reputation in society was everything. I found it interesting how she (Rose) is allowed to move about society without a chaperone because she is a widow. However a single woman of marriageable age requires a chaperone.  I also did not know that widows wear a mourning ring symbolizing her status as a widow.  

The Heroine, Rose Finlay, has a tragic marriage. Her husband was unfaithful man, but did not realize this before she married him. She was deeply in love, but soon found out some major red flags about her husband. Because of her past, Rose is determined to help other women escape the same fate she did, by making young ladies aware of red flags.

Hero John Milburn (in his late 30's) carries a heavy burden caring for his two widowed sisters and caring for his nieces and nephews. He wants his oldest niece to make a good match in society and asks Rose to chaperone her to a local ball.

So to be honest, this landed in my DNF pile somewhat. I read about 75% of it, and ended up flipping to the last chapter and the epilogue to know how it ended. Unfortunately, this book moved at a glacial pace and in my opinion did not go anywhere. In fact, I could not figure out where it was going and realized that with 75% in, it was clearly going nowhere. 

The one thing I did like was that both Rose and John share an appreciation for the author Charles Dickens. Sadly that was all I did like. 

I genuinely wanted to like this book, the cover art is beautiful and the writing was solid, however the slow pace of the plot and the lack of substantive story development was a detrimental deterrent from my enjoying this book. 

I am curious, what do you do when you dive into a book you believe you will enjoy, but end up not liking it at all? Do you skip to the end, just quit, or are you in it to win it? 

~~Holding the Line was provided to me by the author herself and the publisher in return for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own, I was not required to write a positive review. All viewpoints expressed are my own. ~~

Delightful Christmas Reads

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I know it's the end of November, but I've been reading Christmas books since October. Something about the cooler temperatures makes me feel like diving into books set during this joyous season.

It's so easy get swept up in the grandeur and romance of this time of year that books and movies portray.  I'll be the 1st to admit at times I do get carried away. Case in point as is evidence by the Christmas novels/novellas I've been reading.

Set during the Victorian era, The Christmas Promise will transport you back to the time of lavish parties and romantic weekends spent at impressive country estates during the holiday season.

While hosting her first Christmas ball since her mother's passing, Lady Ashleigh Arrington never expected to come face-to-face with her childhood nemesis Christopher Campbell, a decade later. Both Christopher and Ashleigh are surprised to find that their mothers signed a secret marriage agreement between their children when they were younger. Since then, Ashleigh and Christopher have grown up, Can they put behind the past behind them and be friends?

Will this marriage contract cause Christopher and Ashleigh to put their dream on hold? 

This story was a wonderful start to my holiday reading deep dive. My only caveat with The Christmas Promise is I felt the romance between Ashleigh and Christopher felt a little rushed. This may be because the story was a novella length. Even with the accelerated love story this didn't distract from my enjoyment of the story or Ms. Meyer's writing. 

I feel like Courtney Walsh deserves the title of "Queen"  of the romantic contemporary  Christmas novels/novellas. This author's Christmas novels will have you laughing, smiling, and will stay with you long after you close the book. 

Last year after reading and thoroughly enjoying A Cross Country Christmas (check it out here). I had high expectations and hopes for A Match Made at Christmas.

I loved the best friend chemistry between Hayes and Prudence and the will they won't they get together vibe.

This is a charming novella and not to be missed this Christmas season if you want to experience pure joy. Isn't that what reading should be about? Pure joy? 

The Christmas Table is author Donna VanLiere's 11th Christmas book.

What sets The Christmas Table apart from her other books is the series is told in dual time. You first read about a couple in 1972 and then present day in 2012. Present day is about Lauren Mabrey who we first meet in The Christmas Town.  

I'm a chronological reader and have read and enjoyed all of Ms. VanLiere's Christmas books. You could probably read them out of sequence, but I feel like you'll get more enjoyment and appreciation because of the way the author introduces characters and their storylines are sometimes spread out through multiple books. 

I could not put The Christmas Table down. Read it over three days and even cried a couple of times in the book. It actually reminded of the TV show This is Us with the way the author weaves the story together showing how our lives are more interconnected then we realize. 

If I had to list a top five favorite Christmas books by Ms. VanLiere it would probably be: The Christmas Shoes (link to my blog on it here), The Christmas Blessing, The Christmas Secret, The Christmas Star and The Christmas Table. Although you can't go wrong with any of her Christmas books. 

I hope you have some festive holiday choices in your TBR pile! What Christmas reads are you enjoying this year? I always love getting new recommendations to checkout! 

Reading is an adventure!

Emilee