The Important Things in Life - God, Books, & Chocolate!: March 2023

Friday, March 17, 2023

Bookish Thoughts: A Match in the Making

Description:

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention--and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

About the Author:

Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com

My Thoughts:

A new Jen Turano book! Exactly what my tired heart was needing. Ms. Turano is without a doubt one of my very favorite authors and I love to read (or re-read) her books, especially when a good laugh is in order. Her stories always bring a smile to my face and I love being able to reply to the question “what’s so funny?” with the words, “oh, this book! Let me tell you about it!”

So, in the interest of continuing to answer that question, allow me to expound a bit: Matchmaking - Always great for escapades. Newport - a place I know little about, but was suddenly very interested in. Three small children - Perfect for mischief and stealing hearts. A pony. A cat lady (I absolutely adored Adelaide! I can’t wait for her story in November!). And Gwendolyn who is very no-nonsense, especially with the schemes and craziness found in Society. I think she and I would get along wonderfully, if she wasn’t simply a fictional character. And Walter, who isn’t the typical completely oblivious hero (though he does have a couple moments). I loved seeing the two of them go from annoyance to tolerance to comradery to love.

Also, did I mention there’s a shark?

What is a humorous book you've read recently? Please leave a comment and let me know! I can always use more suggestions (as my bookcases groan)!

Have a lovely day!

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Bookish Thoughts: The Maid of Ballymacool

Description:

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

About the Author:

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance) and The Lady of Galway Manor (a Parable Group bestseller). Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.

My Thoughts:

I had the pleasure of reading Ms. Deibel’s prior novel, “The Lady of Galway Manor” and so enjoyed it. So, when I saw she had a new book, I didn’t even think twice about grabbing it. I’m not entirely sure, but I may have enjoyed this one even more than the former!

Ms. Deibel does a beautiful job of bringing Ireland in 1935 to vivid life. Her descriptions paint pictures so vibrant,I often felt as though I was walking the halls of Ballymacool or wandering the woods alongside the characters. It’s apparent from the beginning how much the author loves the people, history, and culture of Ireland. I loved “seeing” it through a lens of understanding and love.

As always, the characters are what makes or breaks a story for me, and I adored Brianna, Michael, Batty, and Finnuala. Brianna and Michael both have such kind hearts, and the contrast between how Michael cares for Brianna versus how she’s treated by the mistress of Ballymacool broke my heart for her. I loved getting to see her from Michael’s perspective and how he slowly fell in love with the young woman who was so often overlooked. Their relationship builds slowly and is so sweet. And who doesn’t love someone named “Batty” or the supposedly “crazy” woman from the woods (Finnuala)? I also really appreciated how the dialogue is written as it would be heard/said - as opposed to proper English. I could almost “hear” the lovely accent as I read.

I also really appreciated the message of belonging and hope, especially for those who may find themselves feeling isolated or alone. This story sought to offer hope, something the world often seems to be sorely lacking. My only mildly negative comment is that I thought the ending was a little rushed. Brianna spends a few pages trying to understand and accept things (I don’t want to spoil anything), but within a paragraph or two, everything is mostly okay, again. But maybe that’s just me.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book! I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and is looking for a trip to Ireland, lived vicariously.

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you couldn't tell from my review, I greatly enjoyed this trip to Ireland! What is your favorite place to "visit" via stories? Please leave a comment and let me know!

As always, links are below!

Have a ducky day!