Midnight on the River Grey- Abigail Wilson

My Rating: 3 Stars

Description: Can one develop feelings for the man you swore to see hanged? That’s just what Rebecca fears she has done in this Gothic Regency romance. 

After her brother’s mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning—known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian.

Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca’s restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother’s prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path.

Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can’t ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she fallen for the man she swore would pay for her brother’s death? And moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future?

My Thoughts:  I wasn't sure what to make of this story when I first started reading it. From the start, Rebecca seemed determined to blame Mr. Browning for her brother's murder despite there not being much reason to. It made Rebecca sort of flat in that she was determined to find guilt because of her own emotions on the matter of her brother's death.

As the story progressed, Rebecca's trust in Mr. Browning grows, and with that the story improves. The relationship between the two is a sweet one and Rebecca's motivation for discovering what had happened the night her brother died took on new shape in that the answers could improve Mr. Browning's standing in the community or else destroy him entirely. And I enjoyed the twist at the end, when Rebecca discovers what really happened. The true villain's identity is a well done reveal that sets up a good climax for the ending.

Throughout the narrative, I found that there were certain lines and phrase that read awkwardly. I believe that was done to imitate dialogue from the period and that for many readers, this may be more immersive. For myself, I found that it pulled me from the story, though less so nearing the end. As to my final opinion on the story, I found that I did enjoy it and would recommend it to those who love regency era works of fiction.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book through the FictionGuild.

Thirst- Jill Williamson

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description: A waterborne disease has sprung up in every corner of the globe, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including a mysterious girl named Hannah, who, unknown to Eli, is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings out the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?

My Thoughts: What a great prequel. I had loved The Safe Lands trilogy, but admittedly never cared about what happened before that. However, once I saw that Jill was going to finish and publish Thirst, I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad that I did!

When the world as they know it starts to end, Eli and his friends are oblivious for two full weeks. By the time they realize what is happening, the fight for survival is already in full swing. I loved this concept and enjoyed seeing Eli react in the moment, while still unsure if he should believe what he's seeing.

Eli steps up pretty quickly and cobbles together a way to take care of everyone with him, even when those people argue at every turn. I related a lot with Eli's planning methods and his frustration at having to be the leader, especially when no one wanted to listen to him.

Despite my irritation with a certain character at the end, <spoiler> Jaylee needs to leave Eli alone! </spoiler>, I'm super excited for the next book and wish that it wasn't going end after just one more.

I have provided an honest review after having received an ecopy from the author.

The Christmas Jar- Movie Review

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:  

Based on the New York Times best- selling novel by Jason F. Wright

Hope is an aspiring reporter who has had her fair share of tragedy in life. Abandoned at birth, she's grieving the recent death of her adopted mother when her apartment is burglarized of all her possessions. While reporting the burglary to the police, Hope discovers a jar full of money, labeled "Christmas Jar." Shocked and grateful for this act of kindness, Hope discovers that people all over her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, have been receiving Christmas Jars for years during times of need. The jars are always anonymous and always contain different amounts. In this heartwarming Christmas classic, Hope goes undercover to discover the secret behind the Christmas jars, putting into motion a series of events that will change her life, and her community, forever.

MOVIE REVIEW: 

I had never heard of the book this movie is based on, so I was not sure what to expect going in to it. I 
was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the story and the production. It wasn't too cheesy, the 
relationships felt authentic, and there was nice holiday cheer. There were a few scenes that I had felt
were a little over the top, with characters falling and wearing ridiculous outfits. However, this was a
sweet Christmas movie, one that is perfect compromise for those who like Hallmark movies and those
who don't.

I have provided an honest review after receiving a copy of the movie.

LINKS TO PURCHASE DVD: Deseret Books or Amazon

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY: 

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MOVIE TRAILER LINK: 

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Christmas in Winter Hill- Melody Carlson

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.

As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn't always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, "Where's the snow?" Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista's Christmas spirit before the big day?

Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you to spend this holiday season in a town you'll never forget--and never want to leave.

My Thoughts: Sometimes you are just in the mood for a short, sweet Christmas story. Christmas in Winter Hill is that sort of story, closely resembling a Hallmark movie. Though it doesn't have as much romance, there is still a cute couple of dates between Krista and the story's eligible bachelor.

Initially, the story does take a little while to get into. There are a couple chapters of set up in which Krista goes from meeting to meeting, discussing budgets and job requirements. The book is relatively short, so it is close to the midpoint when the plot begins to pick up. That is when Krista starts to see the good bits of Christmas and learns to live one day at a time rather than dreading the future.

While I can't say that this will be a reread for next year, it was a cute one for this season. I enjoyed Emily's excitement over the Christmas House and related to Krista's decision to pull away before getting hurt. I would recommend this for those who enjoy Christmas stories and would like a Hallmark like read.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book from the publisher.

The Dating Charade- Tour and Review

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Dating Charade
By Melissa Ferguson
Contemporary Romance, Christian
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 336 Pages
December 3rd 2019 by Thomas Nelson

Just when you think you've met your match . . . the charade begins.

Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband and children altogether.

But fate has other plans, and Cassie's online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett's memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.

No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps each they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Melissa Ferguson's hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small package and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren't nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | TNZFiction

My Review

I loved this! Getting to see these characters interact, both adults and children, made this a great read. Cassie and Jett are two amazing people who really step up to the plate when it comes to taking care of the three children they have each suddenly found in their care. Taking care of children is never easy, and these two were thrust into that with three kids!

I am torn about who was my favorite. Jett's scenes were hilarious, with the toddlers running amuck in his house, while Cassie's scenes had so much heart and delved into the dynamics of foster families. I was cheering for both of them and glad that they were able to brave parenthood.

One thing I will say is that this is touted as a romance, and while the relationship between the two leads is the driving conflict of the story, it did take a backseat to the relationships they had with the children in their care. Jett and Cassie only ever get to go on a handful of dates throughout, and most of those are abandoned part way through due to something going on at home. It is still an awesome story, but probably less romance than many readers would be expecting.

I have provided an honest review after having received an ARC through Prism Book Tours and the publisher.

About the Author

Melissa Ferguson is an adjunct professor for Bible and religion at King University. She lives in the charming town of Bristol, Tennessee, with her husband, twin toddlers, and baby girl. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now her hobbies include admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" en route to the library.

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Tour Schedule

To Best the Boys- Mary Weber

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Description: The task is simple: don a disguise. Survive the Labyrinth. Best the boys.

In a thrilling new fantasy from the bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys.

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port have received a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see if their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women train in wifely duties and men pursue collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone is ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Welcome to the Labyrinth.

My Thoughts: This is definitely my favorite book of Weber's so far. The mix of science and magic is just what I love in this sort of story and I could have read a book that just focused on Rhen curing diseases while running away from ghouls and sirens. These mythical beings brought the story to life in a way that would have been sorely missed had the world building leaned in more of a steampunk direction.

Yet the main purpose of the story was for Rhen to beat the boys in the labyrinth rather than find a cure. While the competition is mentioned from the beginning, it doesn't come into play until around the halfway point and then ends with nearly a quarter of the story left. And since this aspect of the story was so important, I would have liked for it to take up more of the actual plot.

The story is fun, even with Rhen experiencing realistic hostility to her interests in science. I liked the variety of friends she was able to have and that most of them were males who treated her as an equal. While Rhen's goal was to "best the boys", it was never to prove herself as better, only equal and deserving of the same opportunities. And she wasn't the only one competing for that.

Overall, I do think there are portions of the story that could have been stronger. The Labyrinth could have been more of the story, as could the history of relationships between most of the characters. However, most of the interactions between characters within the story were strong and I appreciated Rhen's goals and motivations. I loved the story world's atmosphere and wouldn't mind another story where Rhen goes to university and then returns to be with Lute and help the people she grew up with.

I have provided an honest review after receiving a copy of the book through the Fiction Guild.