Yours Is The Night by Amanda Dykes

 

I know whenever I pick up an Amanda Dykes novel I'm in for an adventure that will engage my mind and pull at my heart, Yours Is The Night is no exception.

Now, before I go on, I will admit, thanks to life being exceptionally busing at the moment, I had a hard time following the story for the first few chapters. This was, in part, due to Dykes need to establish her foundation and introduce the core group of characters the readers would follow.

I am a bit of a sucker for the unlikely group of travelers storyline and Dykes gives us a solid group to love. While Matthew and Mira were clearly the stars of their small group, I was impressed to find myself just as invested in the wellbeing of both Henry and, eventually, George. 

I'm fairly certain I say this every time I finish a Dykes novel but honestly I would love to see this on screen one day. Her skill in bringing moments together would pair so well with a visual medium because her words so easily bring her narrative to life.

Matthew and Mira are wonderful leads both united in a shared history of painful losses and simple faith. Their romance does feel a little fast paced at times but forgivably so given the pressures of their circumstances. Honestly, the pace feels fast more due to Mira's history than the actual speed of the romance given there were more than a few speedy weddings during that era outside of fiction.

Henry's story of finding his voice was  a lovely compliment to the main storyline and I actually found myself wishing for more  of his perspective and story since he had to share his time in the spotlight with Hank. 

George's story was one of those little twists Dykes adds in that I really didn't see coming. His journey of faith, culminating in the scene around the "campfire" was certainly not the one I thought would stay with me and yet . . . I think it may be one of my favourites of the book.

Dykes doesn't hide the horrors of what the soldiers experienced during the war, in fact, she even touches upon the propaganda present with Hank's character, the reality of trench warfare and the final battles through Matthew's experiences, and the reality of loss and impending loss through the journey of the 17th band.

That said, there were definitely moments where the story felt stretched to accommodate a fairy tale ending and yet, the characters on the journey become so endearing it's hard not to want the fairy tale for them. I certainly found it that way.

For sensitive readers, it should be noted as a WWI novel, there are some descriptions of battle within the story, character death, and a story element of sexual assualt (though no details are given of the actual assualt just the aftermath). 

4 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

 

I think it's safe to say I have a soft spot for anything Liz Johnson writes nestled onto the shores of P.E.I. Between her ability to capture the unique charm and quirks of small town life as well as the ability to craft characters who feel like people you could meet in everyday life, I know Johnson will deliver a satisfying story.

In Beyond The Tides readers are invited into the annual lobster hunt with the crew of the Pinch a fishing boat run by Whitaker. But with Whitaker's wife facing an unknown illness and time running short, he opts to sell his license and boat to whoever proves themselves over the season: his previously uninterested daughter Meg or his crew member Oliver who irrevocably altered Meg's life in a moment of high school anger.

I really enjoyed this book . . .  like read it all in a night enjoyed. Johnson's eye for detail is fantastic and really helps with the immersion as she paints her scenes for readers. I couldn't help but chuckle as the crew downed their Tim's in the morning, or sympathize with Meg and Oliver as they navigated the rumour mill of a small town. 

Johnson has a wonderful subplot for Meg and her Mom about making memories but Johnson also excels at this as she gives her readers sunrises at dawn, nights on the boat, and walks on the beach. She can craft a stand out moment without it feeling out of place in the overall weave of the story and I appreciate that skill in an author.

The leads in this particular novel I found to be quite solid. Meg's confusion and wrestling as she sought to find some stability in her changing world was well written, and I love how her character arc not only showed growth but stays true to the character originally introduced. Johnson introduces some sensitive topics with her characters like loss of a parent, career instability, etc. but the characters responded in a way that made sense with how they were written allowing the story to ebb and flow as they grew.

Oliver was a solid counter to Meg throughout the story as he wrestled through his own losses and responsibilities. I appreciated Johnson ability to counter and compare similar struggles in Oliver and Meg's lives without making it feel to matchy.

As for the romance, I definitely appreciated Johnson's pacing throughout the book, with Meg and Oliver providing an excellent story. But, I also very much appreciated the romance element present within Meg's parents story. To see the love and romance present, for better or for worse, was a lovely touch and a beautiful story even if it was just in the background.

4.5 out of 5 stars.  

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

A Warrior's Heart by Misty M. Beller

I really enjoyed the premise of A Warrior's Heart, with its isolated community, fierce defender, and the interloper with regrets, I expected a bit of historical fiction with a healthy dose of eventual romance.

While some of those elements were present, in the end, I felt like I wasn't the intended audience for this book.

The elements I was most intrigued by (the village of Laurent, the life of a female warrior, etc) all quickly took second place to a romance plot between the two lead characters.

The Village of Laurent is a fascinating town hidden in its caves with a history that was only hinted at. I truly hope some of that is unveiled in future novels of the Brides of Laurent series as it felt so underutilized here.

As did Brielle. I really wanted to love her as a lead. She has risen the ranks to be a protector of her people, had faced down hardships and loss, and was a character that hinted towards great strengths and awareness of her weaknesses. But most of the book focused on her attraction to Evan in a way that felt contrary to the character and history introduced in the earliest chapters.

Same with Evan, although he had some shining moments later in the book, most of my memory of the story was his pining after Brielle, even as she was in a position of authority over him.

I think I just went in with the wrong expectations. I wanted the history of Laurent, the reality of life on the frontier and the uniqueness of the culture that had sprung up in their isolation. In reality, this boils down to a romance novel placed in a previous era more than historical fiction and romance fans will probably find a greater connection to the story Beller shares.

 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."