On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

In her latest novel On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor  Jaime Jo Wright brings together her trademark mix of mystery, attraction, and timelines for a complex, keep you guessing until the last page tale.

As someone familiar with Wright's work, I was excited to see that she has stayed true to her familiar style of weaving one mystery throughout two time periods. This time, readers being invited to follow Adria Fontaine in 1885 looking to escape her troubled life by way of missing gold as well as Kailey Gibson in modern times looking to understand a tragedy from her childhood.

This style is truly the strength of the story. Wright has an undeniable skill when it comes to guiding her plot through her chosen eras building mystery and anchoring her plot. As a result of her style, Wright is one of the few writers who consistently keeps me guessing (and turning pages throughout the early hours) in an attempt to figure out the next clue.

Wright also stands out as an author who doesn't shy away from harder topics. In this particular novel, she touches on disabilities, trauma/PTSD, mental health, abuse, and addiction to name a few. My favourite character of the entire story was a resident named Maddie, a delightful older woman living with dementia thanks to Wright's skill teasing out the balance between Maddie's wonderfully realistic spunk in life with the grieving of her reality and disease. 

That said, there were elements of this book that sat differently with me, one being Mr. Crayne. Mr. Crayne bothered me as a male lead. While I appreciated the potential in his character, the timeline felt too rushed for me to be comfortable with the end results. If you've read my reviews before you'll know I'm a sucker for a good redemption arc and Mr. Crayne, initially, seemed to fit that type with his tragic past, his harmful coping mechanisms, and his traumatized mind coupled with his growing desire to change. 

However, and here lies some spoilers, given his traumatic past and Adria's own troubled mindset wrestling with her abusive family and suicidal tendencies, the relationship felt dangerous in the short time frame rather than romantic. It was hard to see the romance over the warning flags.

I also struggled with the feeling that some characters were there less as a part of the worldbuilding and more because the plot needed some form of move ahead. It just left me feeling a little less immersed and a little more disjointed than I'm used to feeling with a Wright novel.

While the structure and the mystery Wright lays out in Foxglove Manor are as solid as ever, there were just a few points that fell short for me this time. 

3.5 out of 5 stars.

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

A Lady In Attendance by Rachel Fordham

 

I think this has easily become my new favourite from Fordham. Between her fascinating yet imperfect characters, her excellent pacing and world building, and her obvious passion for this story and its characters A Lady in Attendance is an engaging historical romance that draws you in from start to finish.

I really appreciate Fordham's ability to highlight characters that aren't the norm in her genre and A Lady in Attendance  is no exception. The main character, Hazel, has a familiar background (rich socialite) but Fordham brings a different twist by introducing her to readers after 5 years in a reformatory for a crime she didn't commit and attempting to rebuild her life by taking a job as a lady in attendance for Gilbert, our leading male.

This was fascinating for me. I'll admit I probably would have been more hesitant to pick up a book revolving around characters working in dentistry (anyone else got some dental anxiety) if I didn't trust Fordham's writing and she doesn't disappoint. Fordham did her research and it was interesting to see this glimpse into the early establishment of dentistry and dental assistants. The way she paints Gilbert as an artist really changed the tone of the story beautifully and challenges some long standing dental stereotypes.

Another thing I noticed with this book was the pacing. Fordham had a lot to cram into her story between Hazel's quest for redemption/revealing of her past, the romantic dreams of her best friend Ina, and the investigation into the Sally Belle. Through Fordham's skill the pace never felt rushed on any of the main storylines, the timing actually drew me further into the story which is a rare treat and definitely helped the romance.

Let's face it, if you've read my reviews before fast paced romances are one of my pet peeves in this genre but I loved watching Gilbert and Hazel's relationship unfold. The back and forth as their relationship deepened and secrets were revealed for good and bad felt so realistic. Even the secondary story of Ina's longing for love received the same careful treatment as she dealt with her own past of rejection vs. hope for the future. I really feel pacing is an area Fordham has grown in over the course of her last few books and I love it. 

For those looking for a sweet historical romance with believable characters, interesting historical tidbits, and an engaging plot give A Lady in Attendance  a try.

4 out of 5 stars

I received this as part of the RevellReads #ALadyInAttendance book tour. The opinions are my own.

Along A Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart

 

There are few authors whose book releases are marked in my calendar, Ann Gabhart is one of them. Honestly, I've been counting down for the release of Along a Storied Trail since the beginning of the year and wasn't disappointed in the least.

Along a Storied Trail is set in 1937 Kentucky and, as usual, Gabhart makes her setting come alive to readers through her attention to detail, her wonderful characters, and her ability to focus in on unique points in history like the packhorse librarian. Tansy Calhoun, our heroine is one such librarian and readers will journey with her as she follows her library route and her heart.

I love this about Gabhart's books, she introduces me to so many fascinating aspects of recent(ish) history. Her stories are filled with couriers, midwives on horseback, and now, travelling librarians. Tansy is exactly what I expect from a Gabhart heroine, she's relatable mix of confidence and question, sweet and sass. 

While I would consider Along a Storied Trail more firmly in the romance category as Tansy seeks to find her way with two suitors (not to mention a few other romances that pop up for others at home along the way). Gabhart doesn't shy away from the harder realities of life for her characters. There are mentions of family loss and separation through illness, birth, and poverty. The characters wrestle with the realities of staying afloat during the great depression and through the loss of the chestnut trees. Not only does this help ground and round out the characters but Gabhart really utilizes these elements well to peer into historical realities.

Another reality I really enjoyed was Gabhart's treatment of disability in this particular novel. Both Tansy's mom Eugenia and Aunt Perdie both had noticeable disabilities in this book, Eugenia's from a birthing injury and Perdie's from age. As someone with a disability, I love how Gabhart wove these naturally into the story, the little details about sitting for tasks, sleeping issues, etc. . . it was written to be real not inspirational drivel. I loved that these were carefully woven into the characters in a way that made sense and not blatantly shouted for an awkward diversity quota. 

I really can't recommend this or any of Gabhart's books enough for readers who like solid Appalachian romance in the not so distant past. I can't wait to see where Gabhart takes us next.

4.5 out 5 stars

I received this as part of the RevellReads #AlongAStoriedTrail book tour. The opinions are my own.

Shine Bright by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal

 

 I started this book with a lot of optimism, which unfortunately fizzled quickly.

The basic structure is familiar, each of the 60 days starts with a verse, includes a short narrative about one of the authors experiences that is then tied to the verse, and concludes with a reflection activity. The font was readable and the devotional readings were kept short to be accessible.

It's the content I struggled with. I was definitely confused on who this book's audience was. I felt far too old as a mom with all the girl talk and lazy grammar.  I'm guessing maybe this is meant for late junior high/early high school but it wasn't clearly stated.

The devotionals themselves felt more along the lines of getting to know the authors with a bible verse added in afterwards. The content also was a little off for me too. There was lots of talk about biblical womanhood which, in my experience, usually has some toxic theology behind it and so many entries did seem focused on presenting as the right Christian vs. living out faith/being the church/ reshaping your heart.

2.5 out of 5 stars

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

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

 

This is the book that has made Duffy a must read on my reading list. In A Tapestry of Light, Duffy introduces readers to Ottilie Russell, a young woman of European and Indian ancestry, caught between two worlds and surrounded by grief.

This is an easy book to get lost in. Duffy skillfully brings India of the late 1800s to life as she invites readers into Ottilie's hometown. I really appreciated her attention to the smaller but important details using things like the spices and the scents of Ottilie's daily routine to bring the narrative to life. You can feel Duffy's excitement for history and storytelling come through with this care. I was glad to see this detail maintain it's pace throughout the story as Ottilie left India for England, eventually ending up in London.

One of my biggest issues with Duffy's last book was an inability for me, personally, to connect with the main characters, that wasn't a problem at all here. I really appreciated how Duffy tackled so many universal issues amid her backdrop, things like racism, poverty, loss, and love. The characters weren't rushed through their stories and many had more complicated backgrounds than their initial introduction hinted at.

I also really appreciated Duffy's treatment of faith within Ottilie's story. Ottilie isn't the typical heroine I see so often in the genre. She wrestles with her faith, she feels the questioning about having questions, she knows her own brokenness, she fights in the midst of loss. Her grief and questions feel so real. I love how Duffy chose to keep Nani and her Bible as such a central part of Ottilie's journey and her interactions became a favourite part of the story for me.

For people wanting a vibrantly painted setting, deeply realized characters, and a plot to keep the pages turning A Tapestry of Light is well worth diving into.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

Destined For You by Tracie Peterson

 

Tracie Peterson is one of those authors who have been around forever and generally I don't expect a lot of surprises from her anymore, just solid and predictable historical fiction with some romance thrown in. Destined for You, however, completely blew me away and is my new favourite in Peterson's collection.

The characters themselves feel very familiar to the genre. Gloriana is the patient, nurturing female lead who is wrestling with God while Luke is the handsome protector standing true among life's hurdles. Peterson gives them a small town backdrop that feels warm and familiar with the energetic J.T, the wise and comforting Pastor Sedgewick and his wife, right down to friendly pup Jack.

It's Peterson's plot with its handling of grief as well as how grief can affect one's interactions with God that really made this a book to be remembered. Throughout the course of the story Peterson touches upon multiple types of loss including loss of parent, loss of sibling, and even grief that comes from broken relationships and loss of potential. 

While fans of Peterson's will find themselves with a resolution they'll be pleased with, I enjoyed how, even with Glory's more traditional gender roles, Peterson allowed the character to sit in her grief, fear, and anger over the losses and changes she's encountered over the past number of years in her life. Glory gives voice to a lot of hurt I'm slowly seeing given space in the church for discussion and it was refreshing and moving to see Peterson's treatment of it.

Luke is the dashing male lead but I also liked how Peterson wrote his acknowledgement and respect of Glory's fears and grieving as well as his relationship with  J.T. While their connection still leaned into the grief they shared J.T. and Luke's relationship brought some lighthearted moments into the novel's conversation.

5out of 5 stars

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

My Dear Miss Dupré by Grace Hitchcock

 

It's historical fiction meets The Bachelorette when Willow Dupre finds herself faced with 30 potential suitors under her roof and 6 months to find a husband or face loosing control of her family's sugar business.

In my opinion, Hitchcock has given the historical romance genre a fun and intriguing twist on the standard. Willow's a great main character with her mix of intelligence, capability, and vulnerability. Hitchcock does an amazing job writing Willow's journey from initial reluctance, to slowly softening heart, to eventual conclusion.

Of course, the cast of suitors made the story even more interesting. 

I'll be honest, even though I'm perfectly content with how Willow's story resolved, there was more than one suitor I was rooting for! Hitchcock really worked hard to give the men compelling stories through their personalities, histories, and interests. Between former boxers, flower aficionados, childhood friends (and rescuers) there was a breadth of options. It also really made Willow's confusion more believable as she sorted out her feelings and connections (and added some great moments of interest like Fritz's use of flowers to communicate).

Since this is only book one in the American Royalty series I'm truly hoping that some of the other suitors find their own happily ever after in subsequent books.

For those that aren't into poor romance there are lots of other elements that make this story enjoyable. While there are the obvious moments of romance with Willow's search for romance, there are also moments of intrigue and drama as the men and Willow seek out threats to Willow from within their own. There was also an interesting side story involving Dupre Sugar's rival within the business world that added elements of mystery and betrayal for extra tension.

While there were a few points that made me shake my head a little (letting the final three beaus look into the businesses secrets while under threat from their main rival for example), the book is still a fun read and a great start to a new series.

4 out of 5 stars

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