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 

The Bookshop of Secrets is Stellar

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 After 8 years of being a book influencer I'm still awed, inspired and honored to be on street teams to promote books. It's always a special privilege to be on an author's debut novel. You see the author introducing their voice, style of writing and a story they are passionate about. I was absolutely floored by author Mollie Rushmeyer's 1st novel The Bookshop of Secrets it pulls you in from page one. 

Note: The Bookshop of Secrets tackles the heart-wrenching topic of human trafficking and deals with it in a realistic yet sensitive manner.

Because of her traumatic past, Hope Sparrow finds it best to always be on the run never staying in one place too long. Her trip to Wanishim Falls to search for the 1st edition classic books her mother left her leads her on a journey she could have never imagined. 

If you like contemporary slow-burn romances with mysteries, maps, history, a charming and overflowing bookshop called Dusty Jackets (Was there ever a cuter name for a bookstore?!)and pirate treasure then The Bookshop of Secrets needs to be put on your must-read list.

Hero Ronan Barrick just might be on my 2022 'favorite book boyfriends" lists. He was such a kind and caring hero. So patient and loving with Hope. Even though he'd experienced hardship in his life and had had a life changing accident he never had a 'woe is me' attitude, instead he chose to live life to the fullest. What really endeared him to me was his close bond with his grandparents. I may have melted a little every time Ronan was on the page. 

One of the things that I connected with Hope about was that she uses cooking to connect to people and deal with her traumatic past. In fact, on page 239, Hope explains why cooking matters so much to her and it really struck a cord with me. I would highly recommend having a highlighter ready for this beautiful moment. 

I love how this book reminds you that it is never too late to start over and rewrite your story. The reminder of this life truth and that God is the author of our story, is so grounding and needed in today's culture. I found it very motivating and a much needed prodding at this time in my life. Who doesn't need the encouragement that its never too late to change and start living the story God wants for you? 

You can judge this book by the cover. Don't you just want to dive into this cover and explore all the books? Whoever is responsible for the cover design did a phenomenal job. This is one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time and I will be purchasing a paperback copy to add to my collection.  

~~The Bookshop of Secrets 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. ~~

Dangerous Beauty is so Good It Needs A Sequel!

This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive teensy tiny commission for purchases made through these links. I only recommend books and products I love. Thank you so much for the support.

 Warning: Dangerous Beauty deals with the horrendous topic of human trafficking. It's heartbreaking in our society today this is still so prevalent.

Dangerous Beauty is the first book I've read by author Melissa Koslin and will definitely not be my last. It was a total page-turner. Every spare second I had, I wanted to be reading this book to find out what happens.  What drew me to this story was the vibrant teal cover with the fire-engine red, eye-catching title and three little words on the back cover "marriage of convenience." If you know anything about me, marriage of convenience tropes (at the risk of sounding cliché) are my favorite type of romances to read. Is this you too? Anyone else want to join me on #teamMOC? It's unusual to find a contemporary romance with this storyline. 

Liliana Vela was a heroine I both liked and admired. She was smart, brave, loyal, and cared about others. Despite the fact, she'd been through severe trauma with human trafficking, she still has a heart for helping others escape the same dangers. More importantly, she depended on God. I appreciated that throughout the story, Liliana was continually going to God in prayer, whether to aid or heal her or protect Meric.

Which brings us to Meric Toledan. He was intense, fiercely protective of Liliana and honorable to the core. At times his seemingly harsh personality can have him come off cold or uncaring, but I liked that Liliana sees through this and knows it's not his true character.

At times, the pacing in this novel is so high-speed I had to re-read pages and sections to make sure I fully comprehended what was going on. I consider this a sign of an excellent book  - not me forgetting details because the pacing is so slow. You actually had to keep up with the non-stop pace, making this fit my definition of a true page turner. 

Meric and Liliana's chemistry was off the charts. Wow. Chemistry is not easy to write and Ms. Koslin executed this to perfection. I loved this entire book, but Meric and Liliana's believable and exciting relationship just put the cherry on top of an already excellent story.

The ending of Dangerous Beauty left me wanting more. Ms. Koslin...can you please write a sequel? A 3-book series about Meric and Liliana would even be better. I want to know more of their story. Two other characters from Dangerous Beauty  I feel deserve their own stories are Agent Bando (Meric's head of security) and Alfred (Meric's assistant and right hand man).

If you are looking for a fast-paced, action story with a blossoming romance look no further than this book. 

Dangerous Beauty is a true page turner and should be at the top of your TBR pile.