Bookish Thoughts: The Lady of Galway Manor

 

Description:

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the "lies" the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

About the Author:

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal. 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:

This is my first book by Jennifer Deibel and one of very few that I’ve read set entirely in Ireland, so I was very curious about this story!  I really enjoyed visiting the Emerald Isle and am looking forward to seeking out this author’s previous novel and taking another trip to such a vivid country. 

Ms. Deibel says that her books are a love letter to Ireland and I could very quickly see the truth in her statement. Her love for the people and the land comes through on almost every page. I loved getting to see the story through the eyes of Annabeth, someone who knows very little about anything Irish and is learning so much about her new home. I loved her kind spirit and curiosity. It took me a little longer to warm up to Stephen, though I did come to really like him, as well. I'm not sure if it's how quickly I read the story (which was pretty fast), but I did think the change in their relationship happened a little abruptly. One day Stephen is being a bear, then suddenly everything is different. Though I was a little confused about the timing of everything, so that may have had something to do with it, as well.

I will say that Seamus was quite possibly my favorite character!  He loves his son so well, even as Stephen wonders if his father is losing his mind with some of the decisions he makes.  He is kind and generous and I so appreciated the wisdom shared through him.  

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by!  Having 2 little ones now, I'm definitely here less than ever.  I also heard someone voice a truth that had been in the back of my mind, but that I hadn't ever truly pondered: no one really takes the time to read blogs, anymore.  Podcasts are the new thing right now, I think.

Anyhow, links are below, as always.  Have a lovely day!  

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Bookish Thoughts: To Treasure an Heiress

Description:

1906

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. Now, after stumbling across an old collection of letters and a map buried on her family's property, she's found more adventure than she ever anticipated in the hunt for pirate treasure. But in order to discover where the clues lead, she must search alongside Lord Sheridan, a man she finds insufferable.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interests pique his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth's search connects with one of his far-removed pirate ancestors, he can't help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But which treasure will bring the greatest surprise--the one they find in each other or the one just out of their reach?

About the author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.roseannamwhite.com 

My thoughts:

I’ve contemplated a few times which of Roseanna M. White’s books might be my favorite and it always comes to whichever one I’m either currently reading or have finished most recently. This one is certainly no exception to that standard! I loved the first book in the series, “The Nature of a Lady” and have been eagerly awaiting this one, especially after learning it would be Beth and Sheridan’s story. Though I met them only briefly in the previous story, I knew their tale would be an interesting one! 

As always, I loved the characters Ms. White has created! Sheridan’s thoughts and wanderings often had me smiling or laughing as he came up with an odd story or another. And Beth soon became a dear friend as I was reading, though one I wanted to shake some sense into on occasion. Their romance was sweet, if seeming a little swift. But the story is also fast paced and I appreciated that even the characters were aware of how quickly their emotions changed.

I also greatly enjoyed the new characters in Senara and Ainsley. I always really enjoy how well Ms. White draws in new personalities and dual storylines, with a perceived ease that is probably a lot more work than this reader realizes. Then there’s the hunt for pirate treasure that kept me wondering if they would ever actually find something or if it would all be for naught. 

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and am anxiously awaiting the announcement for the third book (I’ve a guess who’s it will be, but I’m not sure)!  

*My thanks to the author and 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. 

My first review in 2022 and as a mom of 2! This is something of an accomplishment for me, haha! 

As always, thanks so much for stopping by! If you'd like to know more about the book, links are below. :)

Have a lovely day!

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Books I hope to read in 2022

 This post is only a week later than I was thinking I'd do it - life with a toddler and a newborn is definitely giving me a new list of priorities.  And I'm learning what things aren't at the top of my to-do list when sleep is in short supply.  Though I quite enjoy blogging, it doesn't even make the list sometimes.  I have been pondering possibly doing some different posts this year, maybe some things about parenting or more conversational things . . . we'll see.  

Anyway, so this list is a little different.  Most of the books are ones that release this year, though I think about 4 of them are books that have been on my to-be-read list and I'm really hoping to get into them soon!  I don't know how much reading I'll actually get done with 2 littles, but I can dream.  

As usual, you should be able to click the title and check it out on Amazon, if any catch your fancy.  What books are on your TBR list for this year? Also, I don't have any non-fiction on this list - any recommendations? 

Life Flight by Lynette Eason - January 2022

First book in a new series!  I can't wait!

To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano - January 2022

Eunice Holbrooke's story!

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin - February 2022

I've long enjoyed Sarah's novels and one of my favorites is

actually her standalone from last year, so I'm really excited for this one!

Enchanting the Heiress by Kristi Ann Hunter - March 2022

I honestly couldn't remember what this one was about,

just that it was Harriet's story, so I just read the description

and now I can't wait for March! 

Turn to Me by Becky Wade - May 2022

Luke's story!!!!

A Seaside Wonder by Melissa Tagg - ? 2022

This book was supposed to release this month, but

Melissa chose to delay it for personal reasons, so as far

as I know, there's no official new release date.  But isn't the

cover gorgeous? 

Wishtress by Nadine Brandes - September 2022

No cover for this one yet - but I'm super excited for this fantasy novel!

Now for the ones that are already available!

Dearest Josephine by Caroline George

I actually found this book via Instagram and got it

while it was on an ebook sale and have been looking forward

to reading it.  YA isn't my usual fare, but I've been enjoying

the other ones I've picked up recently.

Romanov by Nadine Brandes

I went through a phase as a teen where I was fascinated

by the history of the Romanovs (I read a series set in Russia that 

included their family) and teenage me would have been so stoked for 

this book.  I'm sad that adult me hasn't yet dove into it.  But hopefully 

that'll change soon! 

The Story Peddler by Lindsay A Franklin

This book is the first in a series and I'm probably going to

greatly regret the fact that I'm not currently in possession of books 

2 & 3 whenever I get the chance to read it.  

The Contest by K.E. Ganshert

I've not read any of this author's YA books, but

her other novels are some of my favorites, and I'm very interested to 

start this one.

Favorite Reads of 2021!

 I'm typing this post one-handed while cuddling our sweet 3 week-old baby girl with the other.  So please ignore any typos and chalk it up to my being a new-mom-of-two.  :-)

Happy New Year!  I know many people are looking forward to saying "farewell" (or maybe "good riddance!") to 2021.  Looking back, for our family, there were hard and beautiful moments alike, just as with every year.  Our daughter turned 1 in March!  My dad passed away in April.  I got a new tiny niece in August, amidst some severe health issues for her mom.  Thank God, they're both doing well now!  At the end of November I worked my last shift at the job I've had for almost 6.5 years.  It was a bittersweet day.  I'm blessed to get to be a stay-at-home-mom, but I'm definitely missing my work family a bit.  And our second sweet daughter made her arrival the beginning of December!

In the midst of all of that, I actually got to do a bit of reading!  So this is some of my favorite books that I read (or reread) this year, though for a change, not all of these were published in 2021.  And a couple of them are rereads that I still just really enjoyed.  So in no particular order, here's my list!  Oh, and if you click on the titles, it should send you to Amazon to read more about the books.  

Follower of the Word Trilogy by Morgan L. Busse

This series totally sucked me in!  I read the first one (I think I got it 

on a Kindle deal or something) and immediately had to get the other two!

Definitely one of my favorite series of the year!  Though I will say that reading

them all in a row, the second one felt super short to me, and the third one seemed 

to drag just a little, but still.  So. Good.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

This one also sucked me in!  All of Joanna's books that I've 

gotten to read have.  She's become an auto-read for me.  :-)

Autumn by the Sea by Melissa Tagg

I'm not normally big on rom-coms, but I have to make

an exception for Melissa's books!  I couldn't help but love Sydney and Neil.

Also, one of the very best meet-cutes ever, in my opinion. 

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

This is one of my rereads for the year.  Dee Henderson

has long been one of my favorite authors and I really enjoyed 

getting to revisit Ann and Paul's story.

Let It Be Me by Becky Wade 

The second book in the Misty River series!  It's late, I'm 

a little sleep deprived, and I read this book 7 months ago, so I'm honestly

not entirely sure what to say about it.  Haha!  But I remember really enjoying it!

Taken by Dee Henderson

Another reread!  And yes, another by Dee Henderson.

I love several of the conversations Matthew and Shannon

have throughout the course of the novel and their relationship in general.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

This book probably gets "longest book title of the year" haha!

I loved the honesty and dry humor in this story!  And it also gave me some 

food for thought, which I almost always enjoy.

To Write a Wrong Jen Turano

I'd like to talk with anyone who reads Jen's books and doesn't laugh

out loud at least once.  Seriously.  My toddler just looked at me a couple times,

when I actually took a minute to read while she was awake.

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

This book was an interesting - and at times heart-breaking - 

look at Germany before the US joined WWII.  I always love 

the characters in Sarah's novels and it holds true for this one!

Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar

This one is another "I know I read it, but my brain

isn't working at full capacity right now" kind of comments.

I know it was a delightful read, with suspense, intrigue (and I was right!),

romance, and a cantankerous cook.

If For Any Reason by Courtney Walsh

I haven't read all of Courtney's books, yet, but this one is 

definitely one of my favorites!

So those are my favorites for the year!  What does your list look like?  I'm always up for recommendations, though my reading time is indubitably more limited than it was - for a very good reason.  :) 

  

Bookish Thoughts: Autumn by The Sea

 

"I think Maggie would say that's what love does.  It keeps hoping even when the answers don't come easily.  It invites strangers in.  It doesn't give up.  Love keeps searching." - Neil MacKean

Description:

Abandoned as a toddler, Sydney Rose has spent years wondering who she really is, homesick for a life she’s never lived. When a private investigator crashes into her world, she finds herself heading to a tiny seaside town in Maine to meet a woman named Maggie, who’s searching for the granddaughter she lost decades ago.

If not for Maggie, Neil MacKean might still be back in Scotland, bereft and alone. Instead, he has a full life in Muir Harbor with an adopted family he loves and a blueberry farm to run. But the farm is struggling and strange occurrences have him concerned. Worse, Maggie’s once again caught up in the past, convinced she’s finally found her long-lost granddaughter.

Worried for Maggie, Neil is suspicious of the city girl who shows up at the farm. But there’s something about Sydney that tugs on him, drawing out secrets he never meant to share. While Neil grapples with the future of the farm, Sydney wrestles with a past that’s messier than ever. Together, they’re pulled into a mystery complete with a centuries-old legend, unexpected danger . . . and a love as deep and wild as the sea.

About the Author:

Melissa Tagg is the USA Today bestselling, Christy Award-winning author of swoony and hope-filled small-town contemporary romances. She's also a former reporter, current nonprofit marketing strategist, and total Iowa girl. Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women's retreats. When she's not happily lost in someone else's book or plugging away her own, she can be found spoiling her nieces and nephews, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next fictional hero. Connect with Melissa at melissatagg.com. 

My Thoughts:

I don’t typically read much rom-com, but I always make an exception for Melissa Tagg’s books.  When I saw this one would start a new series, I was both intrigued and a little sad - I love the Maple Valley folks.  I knew I could come to love these new people as well, it would just be a change from the familiar.  And come to love them, I did indeed!

As I’ve come to anticipate, this book drew me in right away!  I loved the richness of the setting, the colorful characters, and another quirky town that I got to explore with Sydney.  I’m honestly not sure which of the new characters I loved the best.  Obviously, Sydney and Neil are the leads, but I also couldn’t help but want to hug Maggie.  And I enjoyed the glimpses into the lives of the sisters, Lilian and Indi.  The setting almost seemed a character itself, the beautiful coast of Maine and a blueberry farm.  

Simply due to the plot, there are so many questions that are asked and answered throughout the story.  I so enjoyed how Ms. Tagg chose to reveal some of the answers while also leaving a few to lead into another story.  There is beauty, both in the answered and the unanswered, the asking and the wondering.  I loved how that all played into the mundane and the everyday of the story.  I don’t know if I’m explaining my thoughts well, so you might just have to read the book yourself to understand what I’m hoping to convey in a few sentences, when it took the author a few hundred pages to play it out.   

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy rom-coms!  Or even if they’re not your normal fare, you might consider giving it a try.  You may find yourself more than pleasantly surprised.

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Bookish Thoughts: Hostile Intent

 

I just discovered that I set up this post the beginning of November and never hit "publish" - oops! Well, here it is now!

Description:

Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother's illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there's no way she's going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can't discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

My Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of Lynette Eason's books and was super excited for this newest one, especially as I've been hoping for a book for Caden ever since he first appeared in "Collateral Damage." Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed! This book kept me guessing from the very first page and I often found myself debating between racing to the finish or savoring as I read. 

I always really enjoy Ms. Eason's writing style and how the mystery and suspense play out. It's seldom over the top, though I do tend to give her books more license for that, than I might a TV show. In this one, I loved the puzzles and questions, the hunt for answers and the CIA angle was intriguing! I will say as far as "over the top" goes, that I found the ending a little along those lines. I realize that people can do astounding things with enough adrenaline pumping, but part of the chase at the end just seemed a little much.

I also really enjoyed the friends-to-more romance and how it was handled amidst a stressful story. I've loved getting to know Caden in the other books and was so happy to see him find his "happily ever after." 

Overall, if you enjoy romantic suspense, I would greatly recommend this book and the others in the series as well!

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The Story Graph

Bookish Thoughts: A Midnight Dance

 

Description:

All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most--and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past? 

About the Author:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, and The Love Note. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their two kids in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her at www.jdpstories.com

My Thoughts:

This is one of those books that I don’t know if I have the words to do a review of it justice.  Joanna Davidson Politano has such a unique and lyrical way of writing, with stories that draw me in, regardless of plot or characters.  Her books always sound so mysterious or unusual.  I picked up her first out of complete curiosity, without any idea whatsoever of what I was getting into, and have read the others simply because there was something so different about that book and I wanted to read more of it.  A few books in and I still don’t think I can explain what that “something” is.  But I will say that it’s beautiful and I always find myself buried within a tale that captures both my heart and imagination.  In the case of this one, I think Ella would be quite proud, as that’s what she believes ballet should do, as well. 

I don’t know much about ballet.  I’ve been to one production of “The Nutcracker” a few years ago and that’s about the extent of my experience.  That being said, I was very surprised by a number of the historical details shared within this story.  I had no idea that ballet once had such obvious, and even expected, immorality.  Or that the Church ostracized anyone who worked in theater or dance.  I truly appreciate how the author included those things more so as facts than as a way to sensationalize the story or cause the reader to gasp in shock.  

I greatly enjoyed getting to know Ella and Jack! I’m not sure what else to say about that, without giving something away.  I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that I was very intrigued by the mystery and was very surprised at how it concluded!  

Overall, this book is definitely going on my list of favorite reads for the year!  I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a unique take on historical fiction!

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