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Jack of Thieves by Ben Hale is an exciting adventure through the land of Lumineia that follows a young man on his quest to avenge his mother’s death. My husband has been after me for a long time to read these books, and I’m glad I’ve finally started. It’s fast-paced with fantastic characters and an incredible world. I can’t wait to learn more!
Jack is not quite the hero of the tale, but not a bad guy either. He’s a thief with a conscience….kinda. He’s cocky, arrogant, and charming when he wants to be. There are times where you want to smack the smile off his face and others where you’ll want to kiss him. Very confusing!
At the start of the story, Jack has just pulled off stealing from a well-known lord for a maid (See what I mean about not being the bad guy but not good either?) when the Thieves Guild finds him. They invite him to join. He pretends this hasn’t been his plan all along because he doesn’t want them suspicious of his motives. He is after three thieves that killed his mother. He wants revenge and he will have it through the Guild.
I was fascinated with the Guild and its innerworkings. While I enjoyed the story, there really wasn’t much driving the plot. Jack bounces from assignment to assignment and slowly gets his revenge. Despite there not being much to drive the plot, I found myself enjoying it. I loved how Jack could change his persona to fit the assignment and get what he wanted and still complete the job. I also really enjoyed the different magical beings: elves, dwarves, and druids. There is even an encounter with barbarians. I think this is a good introduction to Hale’s Lumineia.
Overall I really enjoyed Jack of Thieves. Jack is a character you can’t help but love. The writing is polished and builds upon other works by the author. I can’t wait to get into this fantastical world. I highly recommend this one for anyone that enjoys adventure with a touch of fantasy.
Jack is not quite the hero of the tale, but not a bad guy either. He’s a thief with a conscience….kinda. He’s cocky, arrogant, and charming when he wants to be. There are times where you want to smack the smile off his face and others where you’ll want to kiss him. Very confusing!
At the start of the story, Jack has just pulled off stealing from a well-known lord for a maid (See what I mean about not being the bad guy but not good either?) when the Thieves Guild finds him. They invite him to join. He pretends this hasn’t been his plan all along because he doesn’t want them suspicious of his motives. He is after three thieves that killed his mother. He wants revenge and he will have it through the Guild.
I was fascinated with the Guild and its innerworkings. While I enjoyed the story, there really wasn’t much driving the plot. Jack bounces from assignment to assignment and slowly gets his revenge. Despite there not being much to drive the plot, I found myself enjoying it. I loved how Jack could change his persona to fit the assignment and get what he wanted and still complete the job. I also really enjoyed the different magical beings: elves, dwarves, and druids. There is even an encounter with barbarians. I think this is a good introduction to Hale’s Lumineia.
Overall I really enjoyed Jack of Thieves. Jack is a character you can’t help but love. The writing is polished and builds upon other works by the author. I can’t wait to get into this fantastical world. I highly recommend this one for anyone that enjoys adventure with a touch of fantasy.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Have you ever read a book that hooks you on the first word? You know that feeling that you’ve slipped into another world and are living with the characters, experiencing things with them as you read? That is how I felt reading The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins. The world, the characters, their plight….it was all real to me. A touch of whimsy mixed with the real world problems lays the foundation for this new tale. Centered around two women and their role in saving the town of Dove Pond, The Book Charmer is a perfect, cozy summer read.
The book introduces us first to Sarah Dove, the seventh daughter of the Dove family. It is said that good things happen to the town of Dove Pond when there are seven daughters in the Dove family. Each daughter has her own special gift, and Sarah’s is her ability to talk to books. The books tell her who needs to read them, and Sarah delivers them to those people. As the town librarian, she has access to all the books and most of the town’s residents. One day a book tells her that the town’s new resident Grace Wheeler will save the town, and Sarah’s job is to make sure she doesn’t leave.
Grace recently relocated to Dove Pond. My heart broke for her over and over again. Her sister died just a few months before her move, leaving her 9 year old niece in Grace’s custody. Their foster/adoptive mother has been diagnosed with dementia, which is what prompted the move. Mrs. Giano grew up in Dove Pond, and her doctors are hopeful that living somewhere familiar will help slow the progress of the disease and the confusion that comes with it. Grace is at her wits end. She hopes to stay in Dove Pond only temporarily, but fate has other plans. As the new town clerk, she uncovers that the town is drowning in debt and will soon die if something isn’t done. Grace together with Sarah comes up with a plan to hopefully save the town.
Sarah and Grace are complete opposites. I found myself laughing at times because they are so different. Grace doesn’t trust easily and is a very private person. Raised in foster care, she relies on herself and no one else. Sarah is an in-your-face kind of girl. She’s sweet, everyone loves her. She isn’t used to being ignored which Grace excels at doing. It’s interesting to read their interactions and see how it plays out.
In addition to the friendship, there is a love interest. It isn’t the main focus of the story, but it is there and a few of the chapters are from his perspective. Trav is a former military man, injured in the line of duty. He moved back to Dove Pond a few years before Grace. His father passed away after battling dementia, so he is a help to Grace with Mama G. Their relationship is strained, but sweet to read as it evolves into something with possibility.
Overall I really enjoyed The Book Charmer. It is charming as the title suggests. The whimsy, the small-town charm, and the friendships make this book. If you enjoy women’s fiction and contemporary romance with a lot of heart, I highly recommend it.
Have you ever read a book that hooks you on the first word? You know that feeling that you’ve slipped into another world and are living with the characters, experiencing things with them as you read? That is how I felt reading The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins. The world, the characters, their plight….it was all real to me. A touch of whimsy mixed with the real world problems lays the foundation for this new tale. Centered around two women and their role in saving the town of Dove Pond, The Book Charmer is a perfect, cozy summer read.
The book introduces us first to Sarah Dove, the seventh daughter of the Dove family. It is said that good things happen to the town of Dove Pond when there are seven daughters in the Dove family. Each daughter has her own special gift, and Sarah’s is her ability to talk to books. The books tell her who needs to read them, and Sarah delivers them to those people. As the town librarian, she has access to all the books and most of the town’s residents. One day a book tells her that the town’s new resident Grace Wheeler will save the town, and Sarah’s job is to make sure she doesn’t leave.
Grace recently relocated to Dove Pond. My heart broke for her over and over again. Her sister died just a few months before her move, leaving her 9 year old niece in Grace’s custody. Their foster/adoptive mother has been diagnosed with dementia, which is what prompted the move. Mrs. Giano grew up in Dove Pond, and her doctors are hopeful that living somewhere familiar will help slow the progress of the disease and the confusion that comes with it. Grace is at her wits end. She hopes to stay in Dove Pond only temporarily, but fate has other plans. As the new town clerk, she uncovers that the town is drowning in debt and will soon die if something isn’t done. Grace together with Sarah comes up with a plan to hopefully save the town.
Sarah and Grace are complete opposites. I found myself laughing at times because they are so different. Grace doesn’t trust easily and is a very private person. Raised in foster care, she relies on herself and no one else. Sarah is an in-your-face kind of girl. She’s sweet, everyone loves her. She isn’t used to being ignored which Grace excels at doing. It’s interesting to read their interactions and see how it plays out.
In addition to the friendship, there is a love interest. It isn’t the main focus of the story, but it is there and a few of the chapters are from his perspective. Trav is a former military man, injured in the line of duty. He moved back to Dove Pond a few years before Grace. His father passed away after battling dementia, so he is a help to Grace with Mama G. Their relationship is strained, but sweet to read as it evolves into something with possibility.
Overall I really enjoyed The Book Charmer. It is charming as the title suggests. The whimsy, the small-town charm, and the friendships make this book. If you enjoy women’s fiction and contemporary romance with a lot of heart, I highly recommend it.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Where to begin?! The Raging Ones by Krista & Becca Ritchie is the first in a sci-fi/fantasy duology that left my heart racing. On a frozen world where everyone knows the day they will die, three people dodge their deaths and become inextricably linked. They feel each others emotions, they taste what the other is tasting, smell what the other smells. To save one another, they apply for a chance to win a seat aboard the Stardust (think NASA meets CIA) mission. Full of twists and turns that will leave the reader guessing The Raging Ones has found a place on my favorites list.
Meet Franny, Court, & Mykal
The book begins with Franny’s deathday. She is a Fast-Tracker (meaning someone that will die between the ages of 13-29). Fast-Trackers, or FTs for short, live every day like it is their last day. They party, drink, smoke. They are this world’s workers. FTs are waiters, concierge, taxi drivers. They are the working class. Franny embodies what an FT is. When we meet Franny, she uses the last of her money for pills that will give her a peaceful high on her deathday. Except death doesn’t come for Franny. She wakes up, freezing, someone is stealing her clothing off her, and it is the day after she was supposed to die. Everything Franny knows, her faith and need to rejoin her mother, is now in question. Then two boys save her.
Court is my favorite character in the book, even if he can be prickly at times. His past is a mystery. His last name however brands him as someone who spent time at Vorkter (prison). Every convict receives the last name and is stripped of their own. Court also took a new first name, severing all ties to his past. His reasons are shrouded. He doesn’t let Franny or Mykal in on his secrets. These secrets eat him alive. He can’t sleep, barely eats, and even his posture is tight and rigid. Despite all these things, or maybe because of them, I love him. Beneath the ice surrounding him, he is fragile. Something Franny and Mykal recognize as they feel his emotions, even if they don’t always understand the motives behind them. Court is driven and laser-focused on finding a way off the planet because he fears what will happen to them if the government knows they dodged their deathdays.
Mykal is a brute, but kind. He brings levity to the group and keeps them grounded. Raised in Grenpale (basically as I read I pictured this as an extremely rurally area), he doesn’t quite fit in the city. He was a Babe (someone that was supposed to die before 12 years of age), but that didn’t stop him from learning to hunt and fend for himself. When he didn’t die, he left his village and lived alone on the ice fields, until a bleeding, near-death Court found him. They’ve been together two years when they feel Franny and bring her into the fold. He doesn’t question what doesn’t have answers which makes him a breath of fresh air. I love his POV chapters. He isn’t complicated to understand. What you see is what you get with Mykal.
Deathdays, Empaths, and Stardust
The Raging Ones is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the empathic connection among Franny, Mykal, and Court. It explores the whys and hows allowing the reader to adjust to their strange situation. When I first started reading, I was kinda dreading this dynamic thinking the authors had set up a love triangle. But it isn’t that at all! Their love for one another runs deeper than that. They care for each other in a way that none of them have felt except from family. The second part deals with their attempts to win a seat on Stardust. This is where the action is. The first part is a slow building, introducing the reader to the world and characters. The second part is fast-paced action as they deal with other contenders, classes, and what the Stardust mission really is.
Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed The Raging Ones. I love the mix of characters, their dynamic with one another and how it affected them. I love the world-building and can’t wait for more! And that ending
Where to begin?! The Raging Ones by Krista & Becca Ritchie is the first in a sci-fi/fantasy duology that left my heart racing. On a frozen world where everyone knows the day they will die, three people dodge their deaths and become inextricably linked. They feel each others emotions, they taste what the other is tasting, smell what the other smells. To save one another, they apply for a chance to win a seat aboard the Stardust (think NASA meets CIA) mission. Full of twists and turns that will leave the reader guessing The Raging Ones has found a place on my favorites list.
Meet Franny, Court, & Mykal
The book begins with Franny’s deathday. She is a Fast-Tracker (meaning someone that will die between the ages of 13-29). Fast-Trackers, or FTs for short, live every day like it is their last day. They party, drink, smoke. They are this world’s workers. FTs are waiters, concierge, taxi drivers. They are the working class. Franny embodies what an FT is. When we meet Franny, she uses the last of her money for pills that will give her a peaceful high on her deathday. Except death doesn’t come for Franny. She wakes up, freezing, someone is stealing her clothing off her, and it is the day after she was supposed to die. Everything Franny knows, her faith and need to rejoin her mother, is now in question. Then two boys save her.
Court is my favorite character in the book, even if he can be prickly at times. His past is a mystery. His last name however brands him as someone who spent time at Vorkter (prison). Every convict receives the last name and is stripped of their own. Court also took a new first name, severing all ties to his past. His reasons are shrouded. He doesn’t let Franny or Mykal in on his secrets. These secrets eat him alive. He can’t sleep, barely eats, and even his posture is tight and rigid. Despite all these things, or maybe because of them, I love him. Beneath the ice surrounding him, he is fragile. Something Franny and Mykal recognize as they feel his emotions, even if they don’t always understand the motives behind them. Court is driven and laser-focused on finding a way off the planet because he fears what will happen to them if the government knows they dodged their deathdays.
Mykal is a brute, but kind. He brings levity to the group and keeps them grounded. Raised in Grenpale (basically as I read I pictured this as an extremely rurally area), he doesn’t quite fit in the city. He was a Babe (someone that was supposed to die before 12 years of age), but that didn’t stop him from learning to hunt and fend for himself. When he didn’t die, he left his village and lived alone on the ice fields, until a bleeding, near-death Court found him. They’ve been together two years when they feel Franny and bring her into the fold. He doesn’t question what doesn’t have answers which makes him a breath of fresh air. I love his POV chapters. He isn’t complicated to understand. What you see is what you get with Mykal.
Deathdays, Empaths, and Stardust
The Raging Ones is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the empathic connection among Franny, Mykal, and Court. It explores the whys and hows allowing the reader to adjust to their strange situation. When I first started reading, I was kinda dreading this dynamic thinking the authors had set up a love triangle. But it isn’t that at all! Their love for one another runs deeper than that. They care for each other in a way that none of them have felt except from family. The second part deals with their attempts to win a seat on Stardust. This is where the action is. The first part is a slow building, introducing the reader to the world and characters. The second part is fast-paced action as they deal with other contenders, classes, and what the Stardust mission really is.
Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed The Raging Ones. I love the mix of characters, their dynamic with one another and how it affected them. I love the world-building and can’t wait for more! And that ending
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I honestly don’t know where to begin! The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie picks up thirty days after the end of [b:The Raging Ones|30301147|The Raging Ones (The Raging Ones, #1)|Krista Ritchie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532351186l/30301147._SY75_.jpg|50783349]. Franny, Court, and Mykal are in a cell on board the Saltare-1 ship Romulus. Their friends – Kinden, the Soarcastle sisters, and Zimmer – are not with them, and they fear the worst. Revelations at the end of book one have left the trio’s minds in chaos. They aren’t Saltarians, they are humans. When an unknown saves them from the Romulus, Franny, Court, and Mykal have one goal: to survive.
Being Human
Court was seriously injured at the end of the first book, and now believes he is dying. His only recourse to be sure that Mykal and Franny survive. But this link between them has him concerned. If he dies, what happens to them? Court was (and is) my favorite character. He finally has opened up to a relationship with Mykal, and this tempers his cool exterior. Court cares too much, and it becomes an issue now that he is linked.
Mykal takes being human in stride. It honestly doesn’t seem to affect him that much. He was raised as a Grenpalish and that is who he is. He worships their gods and remembers the only parent he had. Then he meets Stork(more on him in a minute), the unknown that saves them from Romulus, and well let’s just say, he’s got a new family member
I honestly don’t know where to begin! The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie picks up thirty days after the end of [b:The Raging Ones|30301147|The Raging Ones (The Raging Ones, #1)|Krista Ritchie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532351186l/30301147._SY75_.jpg|50783349]. Franny, Court, and Mykal are in a cell on board the Saltare-1 ship Romulus. Their friends – Kinden, the Soarcastle sisters, and Zimmer – are not with them, and they fear the worst. Revelations at the end of book one have left the trio’s minds in chaos. They aren’t Saltarians, they are humans. When an unknown saves them from the Romulus, Franny, Court, and Mykal have one goal: to survive.
Being Human
Court was seriously injured at the end of the first book, and now believes he is dying. His only recourse to be sure that Mykal and Franny survive. But this link between them has him concerned. If he dies, what happens to them? Court was (and is) my favorite character. He finally has opened up to a relationship with Mykal, and this tempers his cool exterior. Court cares too much, and it becomes an issue now that he is linked.
Mykal takes being human in stride. It honestly doesn’t seem to affect him that much. He was raised as a Grenpalish and that is who he is. He worships their gods and remembers the only parent he had. Then he meets Stork(more on him in a minute), the unknown that saves them from Romulus, and well let’s just say, he’s got a new family member
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Banished by Betsy Schow is the fantastic conclusion to The Storymakers. Told from both Dorthea’s and Rexi’s point of view, I found myself reminded of what I loved about this series in the first place: it’s subtle combining of pop culture with fairy tales.
At the end of Wanted, we are left wondering if Dorthea survived and well it’s answered immediately. Dorthea is in a hospital in Kansas when she awakes and when the story begins she’s been there a month. The scar on her chest isn’t from a Excalibur but from surgery to remove cancer. Dorthea is being told that all she knows about Libraria (the land she hails from) is false, that it is all in her head, a psychotic invention brought on by the stress of her cancer. And she’s starting to believe them. Dorthea is heartbroken and lost, yet in Kansas her parents are alive and well. She is a far cry from the spoiled princess in the first book. She’s broken and must find herself in order to help her friends.
Meanwhile Rexi is still in Camelot being named the true king after Excalibur found her. Mordred is at her side and together they plan on saving Dot and the kingdom from Morte and Blanc. This is not the same girl we saw in the last two books. Instead Rexi is changed for the better. She’s finally what’s important to her and that’s her friends who she is determined to save. She’s on a mission and that’s to give all of story a happily ever after.
The plot moves quickly and I found that I liked the dual POV more than I would. I loved seeing Rexi and Dot’s perspectives. But what I loved more was the setting. The author returned to the Oz storyline since really the story has been centered on Dot. I liked the little things like the name of her psychologist Dr. Baum (as in L. Frank Baum the author of [b:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz|236093|The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1)|L. Frank Baum|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398003737l/236093._SY75_.jpg|1993810]) and the club Dot goes to. Dot’s time in Kansas is very reminiscent of the original story this is based on. And Rexi’s trials to find the wishing well brings in some Camelot elements which I also enjoyed. I loved how well the author was able to mesh the stories together, creating Libraria.
Overall Banished was a great read. I enjoyed the climax and the heartbreaking conclusion. I was sad and happy to turn the final page and the end? Well all I can say is I hope that means the author will write more from this land. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has read the series previously and to those that enjoy urban fantasy and fairy tales.
Banished by Betsy Schow is the fantastic conclusion to The Storymakers. Told from both Dorthea’s and Rexi’s point of view, I found myself reminded of what I loved about this series in the first place: it’s subtle combining of pop culture with fairy tales.
At the end of Wanted, we are left wondering if Dorthea survived and well it’s answered immediately. Dorthea is in a hospital in Kansas when she awakes and when the story begins she’s been there a month. The scar on her chest isn’t from a Excalibur but from surgery to remove cancer. Dorthea is being told that all she knows about Libraria (the land she hails from) is false, that it is all in her head, a psychotic invention brought on by the stress of her cancer. And she’s starting to believe them. Dorthea is heartbroken and lost, yet in Kansas her parents are alive and well. She is a far cry from the spoiled princess in the first book. She’s broken and must find herself in order to help her friends.
Meanwhile Rexi is still in Camelot being named the true king after Excalibur found her. Mordred is at her side and together they plan on saving Dot and the kingdom from Morte and Blanc. This is not the same girl we saw in the last two books. Instead Rexi is changed for the better. She’s finally what’s important to her and that’s her friends who she is determined to save. She’s on a mission and that’s to give all of story a happily ever after.
The plot moves quickly and I found that I liked the dual POV more than I would. I loved seeing Rexi and Dot’s perspectives. But what I loved more was the setting. The author returned to the Oz storyline since really the story has been centered on Dot. I liked the little things like the name of her psychologist Dr. Baum (as in L. Frank Baum the author of [b:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz|236093|The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1)|L. Frank Baum|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398003737l/236093._SY75_.jpg|1993810]) and the club Dot goes to. Dot’s time in Kansas is very reminiscent of the original story this is based on. And Rexi’s trials to find the wishing well brings in some Camelot elements which I also enjoyed. I loved how well the author was able to mesh the stories together, creating Libraria.
Overall Banished was a great read. I enjoyed the climax and the heartbreaking conclusion. I was sad and happy to turn the final page and the end? Well all I can say is I hope that means the author will write more from this land. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has read the series previously and to those that enjoy urban fantasy and fairy tales.
The Cottage on Rose Lane by Hope Ramsay is the first in her series Moonlight Bay, and follows a young woman who is looking to connect with family she didn’t know existed and a sailor that may hold the key to what she wants. Set in a fictional town in South Carolina, I felt like I was coming home while reading. The town and its people breathe life into the pages of the book. I want to visit Magnolia Harbor now!
Jenna Fossey is a young woman searching for answers. She’s spent the last year backpacking across the world, more specifically India and a little in China, exploring the Buddhist lifestyle and religion. It’s all led her to Magnolia Harbor, the home of her uncle, her grandfather’s brother. Jenna didn’t know her grandfather or her father for that matter, and now a few years after the death of her mom, Jenna’s inherited her grandfather’s estate. For the first time in her life, money isn’t an issue. She has plenty to never work again if she wants. But what she really wants is family. She comes to Magnolia Harbor with a purpose, to find out about her father and his family and hopefully become a part of that family.
Jude St. Pierre is a sailor. It’s in his blood and all he wants to do. When Jenna approaches him to give her sailing lessons, he should say no. He isn’t an instructor, but something about her intrigues him, and he needs the money if he’s going to keep his charter business afloat. As the youngest St. Pierre brother, he carries the weight on his shoulders. He cares for his father and their family. The eldest brother, estranged from the family, is coming home as the new pastor at the local church, and well Jude isn’t happy. Forgiveness and reconciliation might be needed, but his brother will have to work for it.
I love the world-building of this small town. It centers around Jude and his mission to save the Gullah culture in his hometown. This allows the author to not only introduce most of the characters, but also touch on an important part of South Carolinian history. Jude and Jenna have a slow-build relationship with instant attraction. Jenna is a what-you-see is what-you-get kinda girl, but Jude questions her motives and doesn’t fully trust her. He knows she isn’t being completely forthcoming about who she is and why she is in his town. Their relationship progresses at a believable pace without it feeling like instalove.
This is the first time I’ve listened to a book narrated by Amanda Dolan. I really like her. She pulled off a Jude’s southern accent well, without it sounding too fake. I did cringe a bit at Jenna’s Boston accent, but it wasn’t bad enough to make me quit listening. I did bump it up to 2x speed, but that’s my usual listening speed. Amanda gave voice to each character and I had no problems keeping them straight, and there’s a lot of them!
Overall I really enjoyed The Cottage on Rose Lane. I personally love Jenna and Jude, even if I didn’t agree with either of them on a lot of issues. Their relationship is sweet and explosive at the same time, if that makes sense. And the town! I love all the characters created for Magnolia Harbor. Each one is fully fleshed out, and I had no trouble keeping them straight. If you enjoy small-town romance, I highly recommend you check it out.
Jenna Fossey is a young woman searching for answers. She’s spent the last year backpacking across the world, more specifically India and a little in China, exploring the Buddhist lifestyle and religion. It’s all led her to Magnolia Harbor, the home of her uncle, her grandfather’s brother. Jenna didn’t know her grandfather or her father for that matter, and now a few years after the death of her mom, Jenna’s inherited her grandfather’s estate. For the first time in her life, money isn’t an issue. She has plenty to never work again if she wants. But what she really wants is family. She comes to Magnolia Harbor with a purpose, to find out about her father and his family and hopefully become a part of that family.
Jude St. Pierre is a sailor. It’s in his blood and all he wants to do. When Jenna approaches him to give her sailing lessons, he should say no. He isn’t an instructor, but something about her intrigues him, and he needs the money if he’s going to keep his charter business afloat. As the youngest St. Pierre brother, he carries the weight on his shoulders. He cares for his father and their family. The eldest brother, estranged from the family, is coming home as the new pastor at the local church, and well Jude isn’t happy. Forgiveness and reconciliation might be needed, but his brother will have to work for it.
I love the world-building of this small town. It centers around Jude and his mission to save the Gullah culture in his hometown. This allows the author to not only introduce most of the characters, but also touch on an important part of South Carolinian history. Jude and Jenna have a slow-build relationship with instant attraction. Jenna is a what-you-see is what-you-get kinda girl, but Jude questions her motives and doesn’t fully trust her. He knows she isn’t being completely forthcoming about who she is and why she is in his town. Their relationship progresses at a believable pace without it feeling like instalove.
This is the first time I’ve listened to a book narrated by Amanda Dolan. I really like her. She pulled off a Jude’s southern accent well, without it sounding too fake. I did cringe a bit at Jenna’s Boston accent, but it wasn’t bad enough to make me quit listening. I did bump it up to 2x speed, but that’s my usual listening speed. Amanda gave voice to each character and I had no problems keeping them straight, and there’s a lot of them!
Overall I really enjoyed The Cottage on Rose Lane. I personally love Jenna and Jude, even if I didn’t agree with either of them on a lot of issues. Their relationship is sweet and explosive at the same time, if that makes sense. And the town! I love all the characters created for Magnolia Harbor. Each one is fully fleshed out, and I had no trouble keeping them straight. If you enjoy small-town romance, I highly recommend you check it out.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Summer on Moonlight Bay by Hope Ramsay is the second book in the Moonlight Bay series, set in the fictional town of Magnolia Harbor, South Carolina. I have a slight obsession with small town romances. I love the recurring characters and quaint settings, the nostalgic feel (even if it’s set in today’s time), and beauty/gossip of living in a small town. This particular book follows two vets, a veteran and veterinarian, one returning home to move his mother and the other searching for a permanent place to call home. Poignantly written, Summer on Moonlight Bay touched my heart and left me smiling.
Lia DiPalma is a lost soul. She’s spent her life wandering, first with her mother who never put down any roots, and more recently with the Navy. Having left after a bad judgment call that cost someone else everything, Lia carries guilt with her in every step. When she learns that her former CO is now the pastor at a church from his hometown, she decides to follow him there in the hopes of taking a job as his secretary. Lia takes a detour when an emaciated puppy needs her help which leads her to a clinic in the same town and a reluctant vet.
Noah Cuthbert returned to Magnolia Harbor for one reason and that’s his mother and her failing health. He’s determined to pack her and his baby sister up and move them back to Charleston with him. She has other plans. When his grandmother calls him about a puppy hit by a car, his mind flashes back to his pup, taken when he was a boy. He can’t say no when he knows that he could help. After, his mother makes a deal with him. She’ll go at the end of summer if he will work at the clinic while they find a new vet for it. He agrees, but he doesn’t plan on falling for the clinic’s new manager, Lia.
My favorite part of this book is the build-up to Noah and Lia’s romance. It’s a slow-burn, and the author builds to its climax beautifully. Noah and Lia carry a lot of regrets and guilt. Noah’s relationship with his father and younger brother is strained, and Noah blames himself for that. He refuses to offer forgiveness to his father, and it eventually builds to a head. Lia’s past with her own brother and mother affect her today. She’s insecure and a drifter. She’s never stayed in one place long enough to make friends. But in Magnolia Harbor, without the Navy, Lia finds herself building a home and relationships. I love the character growth for both Lia and Noah throughout this story. It progresses naturally, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think they were real life people.
Overall I really enjoyed Summer on Moonlight Bay. Lia and Noah’s story will tug at your heartstrings, but ultimately leave you satisfied. And Magnolia Bay!!! I love this little town. The Peace Makers, the St. Pierre family, Rafferty’s, and the softball game….all these details make Magnolia Bay a town that could really exist anywhere in the Southeast. I found myself feeling right at home with Jackie and his ghost, and the sweet treats from Ashley Scott’s kitchen made my mouth water. If you are looking for a sweet escape with a HEA, look no further than Moonlight Bay.
Summer on Moonlight Bay by Hope Ramsay is the second book in the Moonlight Bay series, set in the fictional town of Magnolia Harbor, South Carolina. I have a slight obsession with small town romances. I love the recurring characters and quaint settings, the nostalgic feel (even if it’s set in today’s time), and beauty/gossip of living in a small town. This particular book follows two vets, a veteran and veterinarian, one returning home to move his mother and the other searching for a permanent place to call home. Poignantly written, Summer on Moonlight Bay touched my heart and left me smiling.
Lia DiPalma is a lost soul. She’s spent her life wandering, first with her mother who never put down any roots, and more recently with the Navy. Having left after a bad judgment call that cost someone else everything, Lia carries guilt with her in every step. When she learns that her former CO is now the pastor at a church from his hometown, she decides to follow him there in the hopes of taking a job as his secretary. Lia takes a detour when an emaciated puppy needs her help which leads her to a clinic in the same town and a reluctant vet.
Noah Cuthbert returned to Magnolia Harbor for one reason and that’s his mother and her failing health. He’s determined to pack her and his baby sister up and move them back to Charleston with him. She has other plans. When his grandmother calls him about a puppy hit by a car, his mind flashes back to his pup, taken when he was a boy. He can’t say no when he knows that he could help. After, his mother makes a deal with him. She’ll go at the end of summer if he will work at the clinic while they find a new vet for it. He agrees, but he doesn’t plan on falling for the clinic’s new manager, Lia.
My favorite part of this book is the build-up to Noah and Lia’s romance. It’s a slow-burn, and the author builds to its climax beautifully. Noah and Lia carry a lot of regrets and guilt. Noah’s relationship with his father and younger brother is strained, and Noah blames himself for that. He refuses to offer forgiveness to his father, and it eventually builds to a head. Lia’s past with her own brother and mother affect her today. She’s insecure and a drifter. She’s never stayed in one place long enough to make friends. But in Magnolia Harbor, without the Navy, Lia finds herself building a home and relationships. I love the character growth for both Lia and Noah throughout this story. It progresses naturally, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think they were real life people.
Overall I really enjoyed Summer on Moonlight Bay. Lia and Noah’s story will tug at your heartstrings, but ultimately leave you satisfied. And Magnolia Bay!!! I love this little town. The Peace Makers, the St. Pierre family, Rafferty’s, and the softball game….all these details make Magnolia Bay a town that could really exist anywhere in the Southeast. I found myself feeling right at home with Jackie and his ghost, and the sweet treats from Ashley Scott’s kitchen made my mouth water. If you are looking for a sweet escape with a HEA, look no further than Moonlight Bay.
The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins is everything I could’ve asked for and more for the Eurona Duology. It compliments [b:The Great Hunt|22428707|The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)|Wendy Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441908614l/22428707._SY75_.jpg|41848987] perfectly, shifting the hunt into a full-blown war. Paxton and Aerity are separated for much of the book, but that doesn’t detract from the love that was born in book one. In fact, I feel it strengthens it.
Now that the hunt is over, Aerity has been relegated back to being the princess. Her father who had let her sit in on council meetings begins pushing her out. Then she catches Lord Alvie in a precarious position with her maid *wink-wink* and she is at her wits end. Wishing to see Paxton one last time, she sets off with Harrison to find him before she will wed Lord Alvie. Aerity grows so much in this book. Circumstances out of her control find her leading the kingdom as queen not princess. She learns quickly that despite what her heart might want, she has to put her country and its people first. As I mentioned in my review for [b:The Great Hunt|22428707|The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)|Wendy Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441908614l/22428707._SY75_.jpg|41848987], her kind heart and her lessons in diplomacy showed what a great leader she would become. Here it plays out as predicted. Aerity will make a fine queen!
Paxton Seabolt *sigh* At the end of book one, Paxton was on the run. He had to be because he’d used his magic, and his Lashed blood couldn’t stay hidden. As he travels south though, he comes across a flyer saying that all Lashed are welcome. Curious and cautious he follows it only to find that Rosaria had escaped and was building a Lashed army. To protect those he loves and his country Lochlanach, Paxton joins under the guise of hating the rulers and wanting his freedom. He is torn though. He believes in what Rosaria is preaching, freedom for Lashed to use their magic, however it’s the execution of it that he vehemently disagrees with.
Once again Saskia Maarleveld took me on an adventure. Her tone and inflection held my attention and left me breathless. Her portrayal of the characters is spot on, and I had no trouble keeping up with who was who as she read. I will be listening to more of audiobooks because she is the narrator I can promise you that!
Overall I loved The Great Pursuit. My emotions were spent by the end, but I was happy. The author created a world that it is easy to get lost in. Every character is important and has a story to tell within this book. I kind of hope there are more books set in Eurona. If you enjoyed [b:The Great Hunt|22428707|The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)|Wendy Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441908614l/22428707._SY75_.jpg|41848987] or enjoy YA fantasy, I highly recommend it.
Now that the hunt is over, Aerity has been relegated back to being the princess. Her father who had let her sit in on council meetings begins pushing her out. Then she catches Lord Alvie in a precarious position with her maid *wink-wink* and she is at her wits end. Wishing to see Paxton one last time, she sets off with Harrison to find him before she will wed Lord Alvie. Aerity grows so much in this book. Circumstances out of her control find her leading the kingdom as queen not princess. She learns quickly that despite what her heart might want, she has to put her country and its people first. As I mentioned in my review for [b:The Great Hunt|22428707|The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)|Wendy Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441908614l/22428707._SY75_.jpg|41848987], her kind heart and her lessons in diplomacy showed what a great leader she would become. Here it plays out as predicted. Aerity will make a fine queen!
Paxton Seabolt *sigh* At the end of book one, Paxton was on the run. He had to be because he’d used his magic, and his Lashed blood couldn’t stay hidden. As he travels south though, he comes across a flyer saying that all Lashed are welcome. Curious and cautious he follows it only to find that Rosaria had escaped and was building a Lashed army. To protect those he loves and his country Lochlanach, Paxton joins under the guise of hating the rulers and wanting his freedom. He is torn though. He believes in what Rosaria is preaching, freedom for Lashed to use their magic, however it’s the execution of it that he vehemently disagrees with.
Once again Saskia Maarleveld took me on an adventure. Her tone and inflection held my attention and left me breathless. Her portrayal of the characters is spot on, and I had no trouble keeping up with who was who as she read. I will be listening to more of audiobooks because she is the narrator I can promise you that!
Overall I loved The Great Pursuit. My emotions were spent by the end, but I was happy. The author created a world that it is easy to get lost in. Every character is important and has a story to tell within this book. I kind of hope there are more books set in Eurona. If you enjoyed [b:The Great Hunt|22428707|The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)|Wendy Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441908614l/22428707._SY75_.jpg|41848987] or enjoy YA fantasy, I highly recommend it.