Review “The Court of Miracles” by Kester Grant

Grant, Kester. The Court of Miracles. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2020. 

ISBN-13: 978-1524772871 | $21.99 USD | 416 pages | YA Historical Fantasy

Blurb

Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris’s criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina’s life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father’s fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger–the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh–Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city’s dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice–protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

I was excited at the prospect of The Court of Miracles on multiple levels: for one, a reimagining of Les Miserables in itself just sounds so much fun. And given the increasingly turbulent times we’re living in, it’s fascinating to look back and examine a period like the French Revolution and imagine what if it failed, and the underground fight that would have endured in an alternate universe where that occurred. 

The timeline does feel a bit jerky and uneven at first, and it takes a while for a consistent pace to build, given there are several skips forward in time. However, once it hits the second half, the momentum picks up and doesn’t let you go.

I really liked Nina, especially her voice as a character and narrator, which kept me reading even in the difficult bits and engrossed me in the intense world around her. I loved her devotion to caring for Ettie, and that she’s strong without feeling like a caricature. And while she does have some glimmers of romance with multiple people, I like that it doesn’t become the dominating factor in her story by any means.

I enjoyed this book, and am curious to see how future books develop this concept from here. I recommend this to anyone who likes the alternative history.  

Author Bio

Kester Grant is a British-Mauritian writer of color. She was born in London, grew up between the UK, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the tropical island paradise of Mauritius. As a wanton nomad she and her husband are unsure which country they currently reside in but they can generally be found surrounded by their fiendish pack of cats and dogs.

Kes can be found lurking with intent on kestergrant.com, instagram, twitter, goodreads

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “Carousel Dreams: 4 Historical Stories” by Susanne Dietze, Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, and Teresa Ives Lilly

Dietze, Susanne, et. al. Carousel Dreams. Uhrichville, OH, 2020. 

ISBN-13: 978-1643524702 | $14.99 USD | 448 pages | Historical Romance/Christian Fiction

Blurbs

4 Stories of Love Spun at Historic Carousels
 
Experience the early history of four iconic carousels that draw together four couples in whirling romances full of music and charm.
 
Sophia’s Hope by Cynthia Hickey
1889 – Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard
Sophia Blackwell is living the life of the wealthy, but on the outskirts of total acceptance. Drake Moreland believes her above his station. A misunderstanding between them threatens to shatter their dreams before they’ve begun.
 
The Art of Romance by Patty Smith Hall
1895 – Crescent Park Amusement Park, Riverside, Rhode Island
An interview with the artist painting the Crescent Park Carousel is what reporter Thomas West needs. Instead he finds Wells’s daughter, Jane, who is hiding secrets he’s desperate to uncover. Jane must do everything she can to save her ill father’s reputation . . .and her heart.
 
Carousel of Love by Teresa Ives Lilly
1910 – Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania
For Tamara Brand, spending the summer at Expedition Park impersonating her wealthy debutante employee seemed like a dream come true until she meets Blake Conner; just a Carnie who runs the carousel. He seems to be the type of man, she would like to get to know better if she weren’t pretending to be someone she isn’t. But, is Blake who he appears to be?
 
The Carousel Wedding by Susanne Dietz
1922 – Balboa Park, San Diego, California
For June Lowell, administrator at the Natural History Museum, being with curator Martin Howard is as thrilling as a ride on the carousel by the museum, but a relationship is forbidden by management.

Review

I received a ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest reivew.

Sophia’s Hope by Cynthia Hickey

3 stars

The highlight of this story is Hickey’s eye for detail, engrossing the reader in late nineteenth century Martha’s Vineyard, as well as the carousel bit that is the theme for this collection. The romance, while sweet and one of my favorite tropes (a high ranking woman and lower class man), I found the story a bit underwhelming and lacking a ton of substance.

The Art of Romance by Patty Smith Hall

4 stars

Stories where one partner or the other is hiding a secret can be hard to do, but this one is done well, with Jane having good reason for keeping the secret, and there being enough tension and conflict, as well as a believable resolution to said conflict once all was said and done. 

Carousel of Love by Teresa Ives Lilly

5 stars

This one was adorable, with two people from opposite sides of the tracks each pretending to be what they aren’t. I love that, in spite of the barriers, Tamera and Blake were able to find each other and recognize that they were who meant for each other. 

The Carousel Wedding by Susanne Dietze

4 stars

A sweet story highlighting obligations keeping sweethearts apart, with a well drawn backdrop of Prohibition. It’s not the most memorable story, but I enjoyed seeing how June and Martin overcame the obstacles thrown at them.

Author Bios

Susanne Dietze began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she’s the award-winning, RITA®-nominated author of several romances who’s seen her work on the Publisher’s Weekly, ECPA, and Amazon Bestseller Lists for Inspirational Fiction. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne lives in California and loves fancy-schmancy tea parties, the beach, and curling up on the couch with a costume drama and a plate of nachos. You can visit her on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

Patty Smith Hall is a multi-published author with Love Inspired Historical and Barbour Publishing. Married to her hero of 33+years, Danny, and the mother of two extraordinary women, she calls North Georgia her home.

Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey had three cozy mysteries and two novellas published through Barbour Publishing. Her first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, won first place in the inspirational category of the Great Expectations contest in 2007. Her third cozy, Chocolate-Covered Crime, received a four-star review from Romantic Times. All three cozies have been re-released as ebooks through the MacGregor Literary Agency, along with a new cozy series, all of which stay in the top 50 of Amazon’s ebooks for their genre. She had several historical romances release through Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents, and has sold close to a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, two cats, three box turtles, and two Sulcata tortoises. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.

Teresa Ives Lilly has authored a variety of Christian and Clean Novels and Novellas romance and mystery, historical and contemporary. She has written several chapter books and one picture book. She has also authored over two hundred unit studies for public and private schools.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble 

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “My Summer of Love and Misfortune” by Lindsay Wong

Wong, Lindsay. My Summer of Love and Misfortune. New York: Simon Pulse, 2020.

ISBN-13: 978-1534443341 | $18.99 USD | 384 pages | YA Contemporary

Blurb

Crazy Rich Asians meets Love & Gelato in this hilarious, quirky novel about a Chinese-American teen who is thrust into the decadent world of Beijing high society when she is sent away to spend the summer in China.

Iris Wang is having a bit of a rough start to her summer: Her boyfriend cheated on her, she didn’t get into any colleges, and she has no idea who she is or what she wants to do with her life. She’s always felt torn about being Chinese-American, feeling neither Chinese nor American enough to claim either identity. She’s just a sad pizza combo from Domino’s, as far as she’s concerned.

In an attempt to snap her out of her funk, Iris’s parents send her away to visit family in Beijing, with the hopes that Iris would “reconnect with her culture” and “find herself.” Iris resents the condescension, but even she admits that this might be a good opportunity to hit the reset button on the apocalyptic disaster that has become her life.

With this trip, Iris expects to eat a few dumplings, meet some family, and visit a tourist hotspot or two. Instead, she gets swept up in the ridiculous, opulent world of Beijing’s wealthy elite, leading her to unexpected and extraordinary discoveries about her family, her future, and herself.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Summer of Love and Misfortune intrigued me, due to its intriguing premise, with a very non-stereotypical Chinese heroine and comparisons to books like Crazy Rich Asians. 

And despite being a bit concerned, given the reception of Iris as a character, I actually came to like her. Yes, she’s self-centered and very flawed, engaging in a lot of negative behavior. And immature, sometimes self-absorbed, characters who are still figuring themselves out are pretty much to be expected in YA, and she does have her charm even in her worst moments.

And the story is a ton of fun with a bit of heart too, with the American Chinese girl getting exposed to her culture for the first time, as she ingratiates herself with her long-lost relatives, and finds out the reason for the estrangement between her father and uncle. I did kind of wish that, given that all the characters are some variant of wealthy (whether it be well-off or crazy rich), that there was more consideration about their actions, given that some are a bit unsavory, and the impact they have on Iris’ and her cousin, Ruby’s perceptions, but it’s otherwise a fairly solid and lighthearted read. 

Judging by some of the ARC reviews, this book is not going to win over everyone. But I do recommend giving it a try if you are looking for stories with Chinese lead characters.

Author Bio

Lindsay Wong holds a BFA in Creative Writing from The University of British Columbia and a MFA in Literary Nonfiction from Columbia University in New York City.

Wong has been awarded fellowships and residencies at The Kimmel-Harding Nelson Center in Nebraska City, Caldera Arts in Oregon, and The Studios of Key West, among others. Currently, she is writer-in-residence at The John Howard Society and The Community Arts Council of Vancouver.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “Spin the Dawn” (The Blood of Stars #1 by Elizabeth Lim

Lim, Elizabeth. Spin the Dawn. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2019. 

ISBN-13: 978-0525646990 | $18.99 USD | 392 pages | YA Fantasy

Blurb

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.

Review

4 stars

I picked up Spin the Dawn after realizing I had been approved for book two on NetGalley, and I had only half paid attention to the mentions of book one in the blurb. However, once I picked this one up, I was glad I would soon have book two to look forward to, as I was swept up in the Chinese inspired world.

The characters are great, especially Maia as a protagonist. I admire how she uses her skill to meet the challenges thrown at her by someone determined to make things impossible. And the self-awareness of that fact with the way it’s pointed out is ridiculous in the best way. 

I liked the romance with Edan, and how his powers made it so he could see the real her immediately in spite of the facade. While enemies-to-lovers (even in a mild form) can be hit-or-miss for me, I like how their banter with each other indicated there were sparks even while he was getting her goat and she was criticizing him as arrogant. 

 It’s not super original (“girl disguised as a boy” is a trend done to death), and this book doesn’t do anything to subvert it. However, it is a lot of fun for those who like this trope, and I’m curious to see how it developed from here in the next book. 

If you like YA fantasy and Chinese inspired worlds, I recommend checking this out.

Author Bio

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel — for kicks, at first, then things became serious — and she hasn’t looked back since.

Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Google Play

Review of “The Green Dress” by Liz Tolsma

Tolsma, Liz. The Green Dress. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Books, 2020. 

ISBN-13: 978-1643524757 | $12.99 USD | 256 pages | Christian Fiction/Historical Romance/Romantic Suspense

Blurb

Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History
True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through a unique stories of historical romantic suspense. Collect them all and be inspired by the hope that always finds its way even in the darkest of times.
 
In Boston, 1886, Harriet Peters commissions Sarah Jane Robinson to make her a new dress. Both widows are struggling to make ends meet, and they strike up a quick friendship. Harriet feels sorry for Sarah Jane, who has suffered so much loss in her life. But Harriet’s friend, Dr. Michael Wheaton, has concerns that death seems to follow Sarah Jane in mysterious ways Still, Harriet can’t imagine any deceit in her friend, who she comforts through the deaths of her daughter and nephew. Will Harriet’s trusting nature lead to her own demise as a persistent stomachache starts to plague her?

In the series

The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma

The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken

The White City by Grace Hitchcock

The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock

The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

I love true crime, especially so the True Colors series from Barbour seemed right up my alley, and The Green Dress in particular introduced me to a serial killer I hadn’t previously known about, Sarah Jane Robinson.

Through the fictional leads, Harriet and Michael, a friend of Sarah’s and the local doctor respectively, I felt the growing unease about the mortality of those close to Sarah was well conveyed, balanced with a sense of goodness and hope to counteract the pure evil of her actions. 

Both Sarah and Dr. Beers are so well drawn to elicit a chill up the spine of the reader as Tolsma hints at their malicious intent and actions. While to an extent they steal the show from the POV characters, this is only right given the tone of the book and the balance between Christian fic which leans toward a heavy spiritual center and romantic suspense which features those dastardly villains.

This is a wonderful book that has a compelling suspense plot that introduced me to a historical figure I now want to know more about. If you love true crime, especially women serial killers, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. 

Author Bio

Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. Daisies Are Forever released in May 2014. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Please visit her blog at www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog. 

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

The Ripped Bodice

Barnes & Noble

Kobo 

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “From Cinderella to Countess” by Annie Burrows

Burrows, Annie. From Cinderella to Countess. Toronto, Ontario: Harlequin, 2020.

ISBN-13: 978-1488065712 | $4.99 USD | 288 pages | Regency Romance

Blurb

From Cinderella in the shadows

To countess in the spotlight?

Lady’s companion Eleanor Mitcham longs to escape her unhappy life. Having been told she’s too lowly to speak to Lord Lavenham, Eleanor defiantly accepts his challenge to teach her employer a lesson—by marrying him! He is an eligible earl after all. However, his determinedly cynical view of marriage makes her dissolve their convenient betrothal and flee, leaving the drama of the household behind…and Lord Lavenham hot on her heels!

“From the beginning it was a riveting read – I was unable to put it down. It was a fun and sweet tale.”
—Elodie is Reading on A Marquess, A Miss and a Mystery

“A great book, told with a lot of heart and feeling. The characters are well drawn and you can’t help but fall in love with them.”
—Sanoobar Unscripted on A Duke in Need of a Wife

Review

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

While I’ve outgrown some of the tropes I used to like when I was first introduced to romance, I still love a good Cinderella story, and From Cinderella to Countess is a good one. As Burrows indicates in her introductory note, the hero is hardly a Prince Charming, but this contains the bones of why I love that trope: a heroine living in an intolerable situation finds a way out and is rewarded for the hardship she faced.

I was unsure about how to feel about the initial power imbalance between Lord Lavenham and Eleanor, and how he essentially lords over her and presses his suit, seeking vengeance when she refuses and disappears. However, I ended up finding the relationship endearing, and ultimately, I felt this was meant to be a light read not meant to be taken too seriously.

That’s further reinforced by the masquerade plot Eleanor gets involved in with her “fairy godmother,” the Duchess. It’s all rather silly, and while it feels a little drawn out, it’s pure fun in the best way. 

This book is really sweet and fun. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical romance. 

Author Bio

Annie Burrows love of stories meant that when she was old enough to go to university, she chose English literature. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do beyond that, but one day, she began to wonder if all those daydreams that kept her mind occupied whilst carrying out mundane chores, would provide similar pleasure to other women. She was right… and Annie hasn’t looked back since.

Readers can sign up to Annie’s newsletter at http://www.annie-burrows.co.uk

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

The Ripped Bodice

Harlequin.com

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “The First Actress” by C.W. Gortner

Gortner, C.W. The First Actress. New York: Ballantine Books, 2020.

ISBN-13: 978-1524799076 | $28.00 USD | 432 pages | Historical Fiction 

Blurb

The tumultuous life of the legendary French star Sarah Bernhardt–the world’s first modern actress and international celebrity–dazzles in this stunning novel for readers of Love and Ruin and Mistress of the Ritz.

From her beginnings as the daughter of a high-class courtesan to her extraordinary transformation into the most celebrated actress of her era, Sarah Bernhardt is brought to life by an internationally bestselling author praised for his historical novels featuring famous women.

Her highly dramatic professional life begins when Sarah’s mother pulls her out of convent school to set Sarah up in her own trade as a sexual companion to a rich elderly gentleman. Despite her desire to pursue a career in stage acting, her mother cuts her off and Sarah has no choice but to comply. Pregnant and unmarried at sixteen, she is expected to give up her baby to the nuns, but she refuses to let him go.

A natural talent and darkly beautiful, Sarah gets a few theatrical roles, thanks to her bold, innovative acting style that attracts both admiration and scorn. Audiences want to see this controversial young actress, and amazingly, she is hired by the famed Comédie Française–only to have her life torn asunder in the savagery of the 1870 Siege of Paris. Amidst the ruins of the city, Sarah nurses wounded soldiers while falling passionately in love with her leading man.

Rising to the height of her fame as the toast of Paris, shocking audiences with her uninhibited acting style and portrayal of male characters, Sarah becomes world famous, touring America and Europe to sold-out crowds. Told in her own voice, this is Sarah Bernhardt’s incandescent story–a fascinating, intimate account of a woman whose wholly original talent and indomitable spirit has enshrined her in history as the Divine Sarah.

Review

4 stars

I had never heard of Sarah Bernhardt prior to picking up The First Actress, but based on this book, she seems like a pretty fascinating woman, one of many that defied the expectations of her time, was in the thick of many prominent historical events, and associated with many other prominent historical figures. 

While this book is a bit of a slow start, I like that it highlights her humble beginnings as the daughter of a courtesan and the events that lead to her finding better things on her way to becoming a celebrated actress. 

But often, with books about historical figures where they lead long eventful lives, the fiction author makes choices of what to focus on, and while I don’t think Gortner was wrong to focus on her trials as she rose to prominence, the afterword featured a lot of notes about her life I would have liked to see dramatized as well, such as her marriage and all the chaos of her husband’s behavior. 

I enjoyed this book, in spite of the timeline conundrum. I recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction about fascinating women throughout history. 

Author Bio

Bestselling author C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing, with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies. Raised in Spain and half Spanish by birth, he currently lives in Northern California. His books have been translated in over 20 languages to date.

He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble 

Kobo 

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “Teach Me” (There’s Something About Marysburg #1) by Olivia Dade

Dade, Olivia. Teach Me. [Place of publication not identified]: Hussies and Harpies Press, 2019.

ISBN-13: 978-1945836022 | $14.99 USD | 261 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Their lesson plans didn’t include love. But that’s about to change…

When Martin Krause arrives at Rose Owens’s high school, she’s determined to remain chilly with her new colleague. Unfriendly? Maybe. Understandable? Yes, since a loathsome administrator gave Rose’s beloved world history classes to Martin, knowing it would hurt her.

But keeping her distance from a man as warm and kind as Martin will prove challenging, even for a stubborn, guarded ice queen. Especially when she begins to see him for what he truly is: a man who’s never been taught his own value. Martin could use a good teacher–and luckily, Rose is the best.

Rose has her own lessons–about trust, about vulnerability, about her past–to learn. And over the course of a single school year, the two of them will find out just how hot it can get when an ice queen melts.

Review

5 stars 

I’ve been meaning to read Olivia Dade for a while, and after reading one of her novellas recently, and then receiving an ARC for the next Marysburg book, I decided I would pick up Teach Me soon, to further familiarize myself with her writing.

And this book is awesome. I love the fact that Martin and Rose are both in their forties, and have the experience of failed somewhat toxic marriages behind them. Rose in particular shines as she’s so relatable, even though I haven’t been through her precise experience. I empathize with her keeping her guard up due to being hurt, and being reluctant to commit emotionally to a new relationship. I also love that, while she’s a fat woman, it’s never something she allows to define or stigmatize her. And her love of teaching as a way to give back, given she essentially came from nothing and wants to help other students persevere in a similar manner, is admirable. 

Martin is an incredible hero, so compassionate and sweet. While his arrival poses an issue for Rose, he’s never hostile to her. His openness and connection to his emotions provides a good balance for Rose’s more closed-off nature, while also presenting believable conflict as well.

This book also highlights some relevant social issues with sensitivity and without feeling like you’re being beaten over the head. The harassment storyline is timely and written in such a realistic way, describing Rose’s thought process for just dealing with it in silence, until she finally takes advantage of the resources she has. 

This book is awesome, and I already can’t wait to read more from Olivia Dade. If you’re looking for romances with 40+ characters, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. 

Author Bio

Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her patient Swedish husband, their whip-smart daughter, and the family’s ever-burgeoning collection of books.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

The Ripped Bodice

BookBar Denver 

Barnes & Noble (paperback only)

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “The Obsidian Tower” by Melissa Caruso

Caruso, Melissa. The Obsidian Tower. New York: Orbit Books, 2020.

ISBN-13: 978-0316425094 | $16.99 USD | 448 pages | Fantasy

Blurb

The mage-marked granddaughter of a ruler of Vaskandar, Ryx was destined for power and prestige at the top of Vaskandran society. But her magic is broken; all she can do is uncontrollably drain the life from everything she touches, and Vaskandar has no place for a mage with unusable powers.

Then, one night, two terrible accidents befall her: Ryx accidentally kills a visiting dignitary in self-defense, activating a mysterious magical artifact sealed in an ancient tower in the heart of her family’s castle.

Ryx flees, seeking a solution to her deadly magic. She falls in with a group of unlikely magical experts investigating the disturbance in Vaskandar—and Ryx realizes that her family is in danger and her domain is at stake. She and her new colleagues must return to the family stronghold to take control of the artifact that everyone wants to claim—before it destroys the world. 

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The Obsidian Tower is the first in a new series by Melissa Caruso, although it is set in the same world as her previous series. While I wasn’t lost with this being my first entry into her world, and I think you can use this one as your entry point into Caruso’s work, I do wonder whether some aspects of the world building would have felt clearer quicker had I started with those previous books. And the magic, with the Witch Lords and whatnot, is fun, but I definitely wanted more explanation and am wondering if I missed something, or if it has yet to be fleshed out.

However, this book has a lot to offer in its own right, being politically focused with a mystery at the center. The strongest aspect is the intrigue and the question of the whodunnit.

Ryx is an interesting protagonist, as her powers can be fatal to those who come near her, leading to her isolation by her grandmother. Due to her situation, she’s rather socially awkward, but she’s great at navigating the political landscape. 

This is a fairly solid series starter, and one that has me curious as to the direction it will go in the next book (due out next year). I recommend it to fantasy fans looking for new authors to follow, especially those looking for more political intrigue. 

Author Bio

Melissa Caruso is the author of the Swords and Fire trilogy, an adult fantasy series of intrigue and magic from Orbit Books, as well as the forthcoming Rooks and Ruin trilogy, also from Orbit.

The first book of Swords and Fire, THE TETHERED MAGE (October 2017), was shortlisted for a Gemmell Morningstar Award. Book two, THE DEFIANT HEIR (April 2018), and book three, THE UNBOUND EMPIRE (April 2019), are out now. The first book of Melissa’s new Rooks and Ruin trilogy,  THE OBSIDIAN TOWER, is forthcoming in June 2020.

Melissa is a fantasy writer, tea drinker, larper, mom, and all-around geek. Despite being born on the summer solstice and going to school in an old mansion with a secret door, she has yet to develop any known superpowers. She lives in Massachusetts with her video game designer husband and two superlative daughters, and has been known to do battle in ballgowns.

Melissa is represented by the amazing Naomi Davis of BookEnds Literary.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble 

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Review of “Dead Silence” by Robin Caroll

Caroll, Robin. Dead Silence. Uhrichville, OH: Shiloh Run Press, 2020. 

ISBN-13: 978-1643523316 | $14.99 USD | 320 pages | Christian Fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Blurb

Political games can be deadly…
 
Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life—a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law. Before she can decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed. But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassin.

Review

3 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

I’m not sure how to feel about Dead Silence…it’s objectively a good book, but it didn’t engage me as much as I hoped upon initially reading the premise. 

I did like Elise and felt her character delivered on what was promised. I liked her concern for her son, and how her skill with reading lips fed into the plot. And there’s a beautiful moment with her late husband’s Bible that I found particularly touching. 

But my investment with the mystery element flagged, due to it being slow moving and the choice of repetitive telling vs. showing killing the suspense. Ultimately, the reveal didn’t feel earned. 

While I didn’t love this, I think it’s an “it’s not you, it’s me” thing, especially since I’ve fallen into a bit of a slump following the gloriousness of a previous read. I think if you’re a Christian fiction reader, and happen to like mysteries, it might still be worth trying. 

Author Bio 

Robin Caroll grew up in Louisiana with her nose in a book. She still has the complete Trixie Belden series, and her love for mysteries and suspense has only increased with her age.

Robin’s passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others and come alongside them on their faith journey—aspects Robin weaves into each of her published novels.

Best-selling author of thirty-plus novels, ROBIN CAROLL writes Southern stories of mystery and suspense, with a hint of romance to entertain readers. Her books have been recognized in several awards, including the Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and more.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends quality time with her husband of nearly three decades, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home in the South.

Robin serves the writing community as Executive/Conference Director for ACFW.

Buy links

Amazon (affiliate link)

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books