Reviewer's Bookshelf: "Castle of Refuge" by Melanie Dickerson

 

Book Summary (Amazon): In this Ugly Duckling retelling, New York Times best-selling author Melanie Dickerson brilliantly crafts a high-stakes, encouraging tale about the power of love.

Ever since she was a child, Audrey wanted her life to be extraordinary. But as the daughter of a viscount born in late 14th-century England, the only thing expected of her was to marry - until an act of malice by her sister, Maris, four years ago damaged her face and her prospects. Though Maris was sent away, 20-year-old Audrey is still suffering the scars of her sister’s cruelty. When her father announces his plans to marry off his damaged daughter and bring Maris home, Audrey decides to flee in search of her true destiny.

However, life outside her home is dangerous, and she soon finds herself attacked, sick, and in desperate need of help. She is taken in at Dericott Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm several months earlier and bears scars of his own.

Meanwhile, Edwin - Lord Dericott - is curious about the new, well-educated servant’s identity. All he knows is that he’s quickly becoming smitten with her. When the man Audrey’s father wanted her to marry comes looking for her, she and Edwin must make life-changing decisions about what to believe and whether or not love is truly worth trusting.

My thoughts...This is the second book in the Dericott series by Melanie Dickerson. While you could read it as a stand alone book, the first book offers some helpful background information. I really enjoyed this story and the journey that the main characters went on. Both Edwin and Audrey have suffered physical and emotional wounds, which have scarred them in more ways than one. Both have issues of mistrust and insecurity. While Edwin's wounds occurred in book one while he was defending his family, Audrey's occurred as a result of the cruelty and neglect of hers. That aspect is especially challenging to read and may need some discussion with sensitive/younger readers. I did appreciate that both characters persevered despite their struggles. Melanie expertly provided the contrast of very difficult situations that could lead to hatred and bitterness with choosing a path of love and forgiveness. She did this while still showing that forgiving someone doesn't mean you allow them to continue to abuse you. This is a relevant lesson for young adult readers (and really all readers), even as the book is set in the Middle Ages. Above all, this story shows that trusting in God, even when circumstances seem hopeless, gives us the courage to continue on. 

I would definitely recommend this series to Young Adult and older readers.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my personal opinion, which I did.** 

Reviewer's Bookshelf: "Come Back to Me" by Jody Hedlund

Book Summary (Goodreads): The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

My thoughts...The first question in my mind when I pick up a time travel book is: Will I buy into this? By this, I mean the premise of how the fictional characters will travel back/forth in time. Back to the Future was such a fun movie because in a relatively short time, I believed a DeLorean could be turned into a time machine. In fact, I could practically recite how the flux capacitor worked by the third movie. So, back to Jody's book. I know this is a new venture for her into time travel, but I was already a fan so I was rooting for this book before I even started.

The first part of the book is setting up the details regarding how time travel could take place, and is supported by several different events. Marian's father has left clues and information. People are out to get Marian in present day to try to steal the information she has. Mixed into all of that are few mysterious encounters Marian has with the past. Jody does a great job building up the intensity in the book from the start, with some mild suspense and romantic tension. The second part of the book is what is taking place as Marian travels in time. This is where Jody's skills at writing romantic encounters really come out. I loved that even in the moments set in the past, there is still an active connection with Marian's present day. It keeps the plot moving and doesn't just pause while Marion is living life in the Middle Ages. 

Back to my initial question: Will I buy into this? Oh yes. I will. And I LOVED it! There are still some unanswered questions, but there was also closure. So I'm left wanting more, but not frustrated that I didn't get enough. That is a great place to be! I would highly recommend this book!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

 

Reviewer's Bookshelf: "Let It Be Me" by Becky Wade

 

Book Summary (Amazon): The one woman he wants is the one he cannot have.

Former foster kid Sebastian Grant has leveraged his intelligence and hard work to become a pediatric heart surgeon. But not even his career success can erase the void he's tried so hard to fill. Then he meets high school teacher Leah Montgomery and his fast-spinning world comes to a sudden stop. He falls hard, only to make a devastating discovery--Leah is the woman his best friend set his heart on months before.

Leah's a math prodigy who's only ever had one big dream--to earn her PhD. Raising her little brother put that dream on hold. Now that her brother will soon be college bound, she's not going to let anything stand in her way. Especially romance . . . which is far less dependable than algebra.

When Leah receives surprising results from the DNA test she submitted to a genealogy site, she solicits Sebastian's help. Together, they comb through hospital records to uncover the secrets of her history. The more powerfully they're drawn to each other, the more strongly Sebastian must resist, and the more Leah must admit that some things in life--like love--can't be explained with numbers.

My thoughts... This is the second book in the Misty River series, set in the north GA mountains. As a native Georgian, I will say that this is not necessarily a "southern" book (no thick accents or a lot of southern culture as a part of the story), just a story set in the Atlanta/north of Atlanta area. There is some appreciated diversity in the characters, as Sebastian's best friend and family is African American. I wanted a little more distinction as I have personally experienced a unique warmth and culture from the African American community, but I also thought it was good that the characters meshed together so well.

 A big theme in this book is abandonment. Both Sebastian and Leah have had to live a lot of their lives independent of the love and support of immediate family, and both had traumatic experiences that led to their abandonment. Sebastian did have a surrogate family with his best friend, Ben, and his loyalty to them is powerful. This creates the initial tension in the discovery that he and Ben share a mutual attraction to Leah. Both characters have also tried, to great extremes, to fill the voids in their lives that their abandonment has caused. This adds to the tension as both Ben and Leah's lives are turned around through their relationship with each other and as Leah learns of her DNA results. I liked that Ben takes a risk to follow his heart in pursuing Leah. He doesn't always know how to do that, but he knows from the first moment that he saw her that he wanted to try. Ben was an easy character to enjoy in this story. Handsome, smart, driven, romantic....and the list goes on! I struggled a little to connect with Leah's character at first. She was forced at a young age, due to the selfishness of others who should've protected her, to become an adult. It drastically affected her and the choices she makes, which for me, were sometimes hard to relate to. I did appreciate the journey that both she and Sebastian's characters went on, as well as the detail that was put into creating their story. 

I'm a forever Becky Wade fan, and I haven't read one yet that I didn't love or appreciate. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in order to share my honest opinion, which I did.**

Reviewer's Bookshelf: "All That Really Matters" by Nicole Deese

 

Book Summary...Molly McKenzie's bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her an impressive social media following, as well as a shiny monthly paycheck. When her manager-turned-boyfriend tells her of an upcoming audition to host a makeover show for America's underprivileged youth, all her dreams finally seem to be coming true. There's just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.

 
To gain an edge on her competitors, she applies to volunteer at a transitional program for aged-out foster kids during summer, only the program's director, Silas Whittaker, doesn't find her as charming as her followers do. But since forfeiting a goal has never been her style, Molly's only option is to accept the terms Silas lays out and submit to his rules--even the most ridiculous ones pertaining to social media.  

Soon as the residents of the home become more than a means to pad her career resume, and Silas becomes more than an obstacle on her path to fame, her once-narrow focus expands to include the deep needs of those she's serving... and perhaps the ones she's neglected inside herself as well. It took years to build her platform, but only one summer to discover what really matters most.

My thoughts...I've seen Nicole Deese's name pop up as a contemporary Christian author, but this is the first book of hers that I've read. The summary sounded interesting, and I've found that I'm gravitating more toward contemporary Christian fiction lately, so I branched out. SO glad I did! I loved this book! As it is written from both Molly and Silas' points of view, you get a well-rounded perspective. Molly was such a likeable, fun character. She had her flaws, which made her relatable. Silas also had all of the great characteristics of an attractive hero. Physically and more. Both characters showed growth through the story, which in this genre includes spiritual growth. The way Molly was able to see past her own struggles and open her eyes to the needs of others was beautiful, and Silas was there supporting her journey while going on his own. The theme of forgiveness was central to the story, which is so relevant for today's readers. I would definitely recommend this book and I personally look forward to reading more of Nicole's work!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give an honest review, which I did.**

Reviewer's Bookshelf: "Braced for Love" by Mary Connealy

Book Summary (Amazon): Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin--and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?

My thoughts...First thought...I loved this book! I've read so many of Mary's books and "Braced for Love" made me reminisce about some of my favorites of hers from the past. This book had many of those familiar elements, but still had a fresh storyline and characters. Sassy, strong females that spoke their minds. Tough, but still had softness and femininity. And the men. They're tough and courageous, willing to fight whatever stands in their way to do what's right. Mysterious baddies that make life really hard for the heroes and heroines. The characterization is great in this book! Now for another element that I love in Mary Connealy's books....I don't have to wait for some great action, yet it doesn't stop the rise in tension. To clarify, her books typically start with a bang. Some high action, high energy event that immediately gets the blood pumping and pages turning. Some books that start out like this often slow down in the pace, then have to work to build the tension back up (and regain the reader's attention), This book continues to build without slowing down. I'm kind of impatient for the slow burn romance and appreciate well-written instant connections. It doesn't work for every storyline, but it works here. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

 **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinion, which I did.**

Reviewer's Bookshelf: "Dearest Josephine" by Caroline George

Book Summary (Amazon): Love arrives at the most unexpected time . . . 

1821: Elias Roch has ghastly luck with women. He met Josephine De Clare once and penned dozens of letters hoping to find her again.

2021: Josie De Clare has questionable taste in boyfriends. The last one nearly ruined her friendship with her best friend.

Now, in the wake of her father's death, Josie finds Elias's letters. Suddenly she's falling in love with a guy who lived two hundred years ago. And star-crossed doesn't even begin to cover it . . . 

My thoughts... The cover of this book instantly caught my attention, so I decided to take a chance on a new-to-me author, Caroline George. The book summary grabbed my attention as well, and even though it wasn't my typical reading genre, I went for it. What I didn't realize was that the format of the book is a series of letters, texts, emails, and even excerpts from the fictional hero's novel. It had the potential to be confusing had the author not labeled each transition (thank you!), but Elias' reality vs the story told through his novel could get confusing. I enjoyed both Elias and Josie's characters, as they were both searching for love. Not just any kind of love, but the kind of love that is unconditional, accepting the flaws and quirks of one another. Throughout the novel I was drawn in by the way the two main characters complemented each other, but I had no idea what was going to happen or how things would work out. The unpredictability was great for the tension of the novel. I did find the ending very satisfying (there was closure...yay!), however, I was still left with questions. I'm still trying to decide if I'm ok with that or not...lol. Overall, I enjoyed Caroline George's style of writing with the mix of humor, mystery, and clean romance. I look forward to reading more of her work!

**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

 

Reviewer's Bookshelf: "Court of Swans" by Melanie Dickerson

 

Book Summary (Amazon): Where there is wealth and power, there’s always someone willing to do anything to take it.

England, 1381: Delia’s idyllic life as daughter of an earl is shattered when her father dies and his wife accuses Delia’s seven brothers of treason and murder. The youngest is only ten years old, but this doesn’t stop the guards from hauling them off to the Tower of London. There they await a grim fate, as child-king Richard II is executing anyone who poses a threat to his throne. Delia is their only hope for pardon and freedom.

Sir Geoffrey did not expect his first assignment as captain of the guard to be the arrest of boys so young. He dutifully imprisons the brothers, but he can’t ignore the sense, rooted in personal experience, that injustice and treachery are at work.

Determined to rescue her brothers, Delia secures a position as a seamstress for the queen. Her quest is all but impossible as the executions continue. Sir Geoffrey offers to be her ally, but should she trust him in a court where everyone has an agenda?

My thoughts...I've read all of Melanie Dickerson's books, and each time there are aspects that I really enjoy. I always try to keep in mind what the audience is for each book, as most of hers are written for young adults. This is the first book in a new series, but still follows along the line of several of her previous novels, which are fairy tale retellings. I have personally never read the fairy tale this novel is based on, but it didn't really take away from the experience of it. 

One of the parts of this novel I really enjoyed was the love Delia and her brothers had for one another. Delia never stopped trying to do whatever she could to help her brothers, whether it was taking a menial job as an embroiderer, knitting sweaters for them to be warm, and much more. Her sacrificial love was the heart of this book. I also enjoyed the build up of tension as the plot intensified. There was also a light amount of romantic tension that was appropriate for a clean read/YA novel. The only thing I wished for in the storyline was more explanation of the events leading up to the accusation and arrest of Delia's brothers. I struggled to connect with the actions of Delia's stepmother and how that would lead to such a severe punishment for knights and nobles in service to the king. 

I'm looking forward to sharing this with my teenage daughter, as she thoroughly enjoys Melanie Dickerson's books. I am interested to see how the rest of this series will continue.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**