Betting on Hope- Debra Clopton

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Description: A bet gone wrong. A small town's meddling. And a cowboy intent on saving his ranch.

Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give . . . and it's beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan, the on-camera chemistry between them is undeniable. Maggie's bosses know this is the opportunity she's been looking for to launch her career--and their bank accounts. In order to save her column, Maggie takes Tru up on the bet that he can teach her to ride a quick-stepping cutting horse like any cowgirl, despite the fact that she has never been on a horse. And in the meantime, she can get the scoop on the man under the cowboy hat.

Tru has been on the competition circuit for longer than he'd like, but he knows it's the only way he can afford to keep the Four of Hearts Ranch that means so much to his ailing grandfather. So when his sponsors see the opportunity for Tru's fans to get to know the star on a more intimate level, he knows he must oblige. To his dismay, Maggie not only invades his small town of Wishing Springs, but she also invades his heart, and that is something he cannot let any woman do--for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart's desires.

My Thoughts: Normally I don't care for contemporary novels, as they seem too farfetched or else too much like real life to be interesting. Betting on Hope falls in that perfect place in the middle. As a columnist and a rodeo star, the hero and heroine fall far enough outside the realm "normal" to be interesting, and are yet not so far gone from reality as to be unbelievable. They have great voices and I loved to read through their struggles and watch as they worked through them.

At points there were things I didn't care for. The towns people of Wishing Springs, for instance, seemed a bit stereotypical (though it seems many other reviewers loved them). It seemed a little like the only thing most of them cared about was Tru's love life. I also wish that Maggie could have told Tru about her past without a certain someone showing up and forcing her to. Yet I loved how he was able to support her with her relationship with Jenna.


Clopton does an amazing job of making the characters feel like you next door neighbor. I'm excited to see what happens to Bo in the next Wishing Springs book. Hopefully the story will be just as sweet.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for honest review.

Petticoat Detective- Margaret Brownley

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: Pinkerton detective Jennifer Layne is no stranger to undercover work. But posing as a lady companion named Amy at Miss Lillian’s Parlor House and Boots is a first for her. She’s finally landed a high-profile case and is on the trail of the notorious Gunnysack Bandit, when one of Miss Lillian’s girls essential to her investigation meets an untimely demise. Only a handful of people are in the house at the time of her death, including handsome Tom Colton, a former Texas Ranger determined to clear his brother’s name. Amy has many reasons to suspect Tom of murder—and one very personal reason to hope that she’s wrong about him.

My Thoughts: The Petticoat Detective is a romance that reads with the feel of a mystery. Unfortunately, because the author does not include a lot of information about the secondary characters which later turns out to be the very information which Amy uses to solve, there is little chance you will be able to follow along and make a guess like you might for a regular mystery novel. For example, a perfume scent is used to identify a female suspect, yet until it was important, there was no mention of any of the women wearing perfume.

It is the romance that holds up the best in this novel. Tom is a truly amazing guy who is not afraid to be seen with a soiled-dove, or to treat her as a human being. Even when he has been betrayed, he still gives people the benefit of the doubt and does what he can to trust their word. While Amy's role at Miss Lillian's is a barrier in their relationship, he doesn't give up on Amy all together.

There is a great message in this novel about treating people with love and respect, no matter what their sins. It is nice to see that message told from the perspective of someone who has become a social outcast (the summary does not seem to include that Amy is undercover as a prostitute) rather abruptly. I think that the only issue I had with Brownley's portrayal was the one woman who did not change her career at the end of the novel. While there was mention that she could still change her ways, it was almost as if to say that any woman who didn't take any opportunity leave such a life, must be a nasty person.

I did enjoy the Petticoat Detective. There was a good message and a sweet romance. My issue was that it seemed so much like a mystery, which I would have loved, and yet did not deliver that mystery. Hopefully the next book will be different. I fully intend to read it either way.

Stitching Snow- R. C. Lewis

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

My Thoughts: I am pretty sure this is the first Snow White retelling I have ever read (seen a lot of Cinderella, but not Snow White for some reason). It is most certainly the first sci-fi retelling of Snow White I have read, which intrigued me since I am still waiting for Meyer's Winter to come out. Let me say that, while I do not like it as much as the Lunar Chronicles, I will be seeking out more of Lewis' novels.

Essie is not the typical princess. She is not refined, she has a terrible vocabulary, and she tends to be covered in grim. Her skills are programming, robotic engineering, and fighting. And unlike most YA novels, she is not obsessed with the idea of love. Dane is an absolutely lovely hero who, once he knows her past, is willing to sacrifice everything for her happiness. Unlike the current trend of super alpha heroes, Dane lets Essie determine the speed of their relationship, giving her the time to feel right about it.

Stitching Snow is not necessarily for lovers of hard core sci-fi. There is little description of the way anything in this world actually, physically works. I preferred this, as it kept the story from being bogged down with concepts I didn't understand, though I would have liked for there to have been more description in general.

In the end, what I loved most was the relationships between the Essie, Dane, and the drones. Dimwitt (Dopey) was my absolute favorite with Cusser (Grumpy) coming in a close second. It was also nice to read a story absent all the cliches which have riddled YA fiction in the past year (love triangles, heroine who thinks she's not that pretty but some how everyone wants her, ect.). That said, it may not be for everyone. There is a lot of violence, with the opening scene having Essie in a cage fight, as well as inferences of horrible things from Essie childhood. Still, I found it an enjoyable read and recommend it.

Oath of the Brotherhood- C. E. Laureano

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: In a kingdom where the Old Ways hold fast and a man's worth lies entirely in his skill with the sword, Conor Mac Nir is a scholar, a musician, and a follower of the forbidden Balian faith: problematic for any man, but disastrous for the son of the king.When Conor is sent as a hostage to a neighboring kingdom, he never expects to fall in love with the rival king's sister, Aine. Nor does he suspect his gift with the harp (and Aine's ability to heal) touches on the realm of magic. Then his clan begins a campaign to eliminate all Balians from the isle of Seare, putting his newfound home in peril and entangling him in a plot for control of the island that has been unfolding since long before his birth.Only by committing himself to an ancient warrior brotherhood can Conor discover the part he's meant to play in Seare's future. But is he willing to sacrifice everything--even the woman he loves--to follow the path his God has laid before him?

My Thoughts: What first stood out to me about Oath of the Brotherhood was that it was based off of Scottish culture, rather than a medieval England as so many other fantasies are today. It was interesting to see how Laureano brought in the clan system to her world, though there are not as many clan rivalries as I would have hoped. Another element of history brought into the story was the persecution of the Balians, reminiscent of the Christian persecutions in Rome. The history nerd in me loved pulling out the comparisons.

Conor is a great hero in that he strives to do the will of Balus in all that he does. And if he gets too cocky, Comdiu makes sure to remind him who is in charge of his future. Aine often had to remember that too, and it was a good reminder for myself as well. The way the characters interacted with Comdiu was a relationship which every Christian should strive to have with God.

What kept me from absolutely adoring this book was Conor's abilities. He seemed to be perfect at everything, whether it was music or fighting or speaking different languages. It seemed odd that Conner could go from insisting he was not capable of learning to fight (though he had never touched a sword), to being one of the best fighters there was. While he could not fire a bow, it seemed almost like a token see-he-can't-do-everything.

I have the second book, Beneath the Forsaken City, and plan to start reading it soon. Hopefully it will be just as good as this.

The King's Scroll- Jaye Knight

 

About the Book

Following the harrowing events that brought them to Landale Forest, Jace and Kyrin have settled comfortably into their new lives and the mission of protecting those under the emperor’s persecution. The fast approach of winter brings with it the anticipation of a quiet few months ahead. That is until the arrival of four mysterious, dragon-riding cretes who seek aid in a mission of great importance—not only to their own people, but to all followers of Elôm.

Hidden in the vast mining valley north of Valcré, a faithful crete has spent years sharing his knowledge with the destitute miners and their families and is known to possess what may be Arcacia’s last surviving copies of the King’s Scrolls—the Word of Elôm. Joining the cretes, those in Landale must find the crete teacher and bring him to safety, but it is a race against time. Should Daican’s men find him first, execution and the destruction of the Scrolls is certain.

When disaster strikes, all seems lost. Could Elôm have a plan even in the enemy’s triumph?

Available on Amazon!

Buy Now

 

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My Thoughts

I am really enjoying the Ilyon Chronicles. Kyrin and Jace are great characters and the Knight has done an awesome job of building their back stories. While the threat of death and execution has always been looming, in The King's Scrolls it shows up on stage, bringing home just what these characters are willing to sacrifice for their faith. As I am sure Knight meant for it to do, the story has made me question what I would do if it were my family's safety at stake.

One thing that I am not a fan of is the number of small Point of View characters there were. I have always preferred there three or four at most, and tend to be annoyed when there are characters with only one scene from their POV. I feel like some of these could have been cut out and nothing would have been lost from the story.

I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book (There is a next book? Right!?).

I received and Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Author

Jaye L. Knight is a homeschool graduated indie author with a passion for writing Christian fantasy and clean new adult fiction. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

You can connect with Jaye on her website, blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Etsy.

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Resistance Kindle Sale

Haven’t begun the adventure into Ilyon? From February 17th - 23rd, get Resistance , the award-winning first book of Ilyon Chronicles for your Kindle on sale for only 99 cents! Check it out on Amazon!

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Giveaway

Share in the excitement of the release and enter to win a themed Epic Winter giveaway! Prize pack includes an autographed copy of The King’s Scrolls, a CD by Future World Music (some of Jaye’s favorite writing music), a dragon bookmark, a stone hawk pendant (much like the ones mentioned in the book), and a few packages of Twining’s Winter Spice tea to sip while you read! (Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Schedule

Tuesday, February 17

• Tour Introduction at Jaye L. Knight
• Author Interview at Crafty Booksheeps
• Review at Musings of a Middle Age Author
• Author Interview at Seasons of Humility
• Author Interview and Book Spotlight at A Brighter Destiny
• Review and Author Interview at A Writer’s Heart

Wednesday, February 18

• Review at To Be A Person
• Author Interview at Leah’s Bookshelf
• Review at The Destiny of One
• Author Interview and Book Spotlight at Reflection
• Author Interview and Character Spotlight (Liam) at Thilly Little Nothings
• Author Interview at Dreams and Dragons
• Book Spotlight at One Servant's Heart
• Book Spotlight at Venturing to Other Worlds

Thursday, February 19

• Q&A Session at Ilyon Chronicles - Behind the Scenes
• Review and Author Interview at Crumpets 'n' Cream
• Character Interview (Marcus) at Morgan Elizabeth Huneke
• Review and Author Interview at Spreading the Word
• Character Spotlight (Marcus) at Reflection
• Author Interview at Rivershore Books
• Review and Author Interview at Red Lettering
• Review at Written Rest

Friday, February 20

• Q&A Session at Ilyon Chronicles - Behind the Scenes
• Review at Melody Jackson, Author
• Review at Anything, Everything
• Author Interview at Guns and Roses
• Character Interview (Talas) at The Writer’s Window
• Review at O. Scarlett! Reviews

• Review and Author Interview at Zerina Blossom

• Review at Leah’s Bookshelf

Saturday, February 21

• Q&A Session at Ilyon Chronicles - Behind the Scenes
• Review at The American Anglophile
• Review and Book Spotlight at Vic's Media Room
• Author Interview at Butterflies of the Imagination
• Review and Author Interview at Tialla’s Tellings
• Review and Character Interview (Liam) at Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections
• Character Spotlight and Character Interview (Timothy) at Written Rest

Sunday, February 22

• Review and Author Interview at Claire M. Banschbach- Thoughts and Rants
• Character Spotlight (Aaron) at The Art of Storytelling
• Book and Character Spotlight (General Veshiron) at Tell Tale Book Reviews
• Review at Reality Calling
• Character Spotlight (Leetra) at Zerina Blossom

Monday, February 23

• Q&A Session at Ilyon Chronicles - Behind the Scenes
• Character Interview (Captain Darq) at Knitted By God's Plan
• Review at Backing Books
• Realm Explorers post at Letters from Annie Douglass Lima
• Character Interview (Aaron) at However Improbable
• Character Spotlight (Daniel) at Finding the True Fairy Tale
• Author Interview at Pencils Can Change the World

Tuesday, February 24

• Q&A Session at Ilyon Chronicles - Behind the Scenes
• Review at Shire Reviews
• Review and Author Interview at Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings
• Review and Author Interview at The Pen of a Ready Writer
• Character Interview (Leetra) at A Writer’s Faith

Wednesday, February 25

• Tour Conclusion at Jaye L. Knight

The Crimson Cord- Jill Eileem Smith

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution by Dabir, counselor to the Syrian king, Rahab despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime. In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

My Thoughts: This is either the third or fourth novel I have read, detailing the story of Rahab. With each new telling, I start to fear that the authors will not be able to come up with a new way to tell the story.  Once again, I have been proven wrong.

The Crimson Cord is the first I can remember where Rahab was previously married. It gave her a new light to have been sold out, not by her father, but by her husband. The whole ordeal with Gamal was one I had not expected but really enjoyed. As a retelling of one of Jesus' parables, I found it interesting who was cast in each part.

The second part of the book was not as good as the first in my opinion. A lot of what is said by the characters is exactly as it is in the Bible (at least in one translation). While I understand its Biblical accuracy, it made the conversations seem a bit stilted and jumpy. Since the English Bibles we read come about through translations of Hebrew into Greek and then into English, if not first Latin, I think she could have taken more liberty with the conversations (not the story itself) in order for them to flow better. Though I know not everyone would agree with me on this.

In all, The Crimson Cord is a well told story of Rahab, one I will soon add to my bookshelf of Biblical retellings.

I received this book from Revell publishing in exchange for an honest review.


Enter the Goodreads giveaway here.

Beyond All Dreams- Elizabeth Camden

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help. 

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. 

Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress. 

From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves?

My Thoughts: Elizabeth Camden has written another great book. I absolutely loved the humor and wit of this story. Anna and Luke had very real personalities, ones I would expect to meet in my daily life. I enjoyed the honesty in which Camden portrayed them, even if Luke did have a fierce temper and both had grizzly backgrounds. While this may put off some readers, I found Luke's flaws far more relatable than most hero's.

The one thing I would have preferred to be different would be plot about the ship. To be honest, I had not found the ship intriguing and would have rather had more conflict in other areas. At times I forgot about the ship altogether until Anna brought it back up and toward the end I wanted her to forget about it just as much as the Navy did.

I can't wait until Camden puts out another novel. Hopefully one about Philip this time (and the spiral staircase?).

I received this book form Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.



History Soapbox: After reading a review saying that Luke's pacifism was out of historical context, I would like to point out that recent study of the Maine's wreckage shows no evidence of it being destroyed by the Spanish. If such is the case, Luke was right to want peace and there were many Americans who agreed with him, many who were drowned out by those who wanted war. Pacifism is not a new concept, and has been around long before the founding of the United States.