Book Review of Seventh Born (The Talented Book 1) by Rachel Rossano

I could tell this was a special book to the author. There was a lot of detailed world building and Christian faith woven into a story that spanned several years. If you're looking for the romance you expect from a Rachel Rossano novel (such as Duty - LOVED that book) than this is probably not the book for you, though it's hinted that it will come in the next one. But as an inspirational fantasy with characters of integrity and grit, this works.

Zezilia is an interesting character, humble yet highly gifted and intelligent. Hadrian is the reluctant hero, holding fast while surrounded by corruption and power-seeking. I can't wait to see what comes next for them.

I received an ARC copy and chose to write a review.

Honest and for True: (The Adventures of Lee and Bucky Book 1) by Jane Lebak

This writer has a quirky, refreshing, hilarious writing style and I was immediately drawn in. Lee is a person who is comfortable in her skin, she just can't tell anyone about it, thinking they won't understand her. And then she meets a guy she wishes she didn't lie to. Oh, and she has a guardian angel. Definite recommend. 2.99 for Kindle.

Yella's Prayers by Nadine C. Keels

She awoke with a gasp, sitting up. God? Was that You?
A pivotal year awaits Bless, a young woman who hides her passion: her music. She's not exactly friends with T'meal, a talented athlete who won't explain why he's passed up the chance of a lifetime. Nor is Bless too close to Lamall, a boisterous playboy with a broken private life that's spiraling out of control.

But Bless knows she's meant to help these two young men. She can't deny the Voice that told her so.

This is a book with carefully crafted characters and lots of family drama. I thought it was unique that the story comes from the perspective of a shy younger sister, who is the axis everyone else revolves around (although she doesn't really see it in herself). The author's strength lies in her ability to touch hearts and create characters and dialogue that come alive. I do wish it had been edited down a bit, but I recommend this as a worthwhile Christian read dealing with serious issues.

I received an ARC of Yella's Prayers from the author.

Almost There, by Laurel Garver

I'm so used to reading books driven by a romantic plot, or fantasy adventure, that it took me a little while to get used to this one. I would categorize it as YA Christian Family Drama. Dani has a flawed family she's trying to keep together, and big dreams. Her boyfriend Theo has his own issues, but he's seems to own them and share them in a way that Dani can't yet.

I loved the fact that when Dani makes a mistake, it comes back to bite her, and she must unravel it on her own, rather than somehow getting resolved through unrealistic machinations like in many other books.

This book felt real. All the characters are working through their own stuff, good and bad. My only caveat was the grandfather. I had a hard time dealing with the fact that everything in the book revolves around helping such a horrible person.

Well edited, interesting, and hard to put down, a definite recommend. 3.99 for Kindle. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Maybe, by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen is one of those authors where you just buy her book off of name recognition. I saw this for 1.99 and needed something to read, so I bought it. And it started out intriguing, and different than other regency novels. The protagonist, Hannah, is a lady's companion to an unfaithful, and silly woman, but left for unknown reasons. She comes back, needing money and reluctantly agrees to join her employers at a new house. After a horrible carriage accident, there is a case of mistaken identity and she realizes she must keep up the farce to go rescue her baby who was left behind, being held by an unscrupulous caretaker until she can pay up.

At this point, things start getting ridiculous. I liked the unfolding mystery and the series of detailed memories that reveal different things, but the love triangle served no other purpose except to add unnecessary sexual tension. Both guys had a Mr. Rochester/Jane Eyre feel to them, which the author admitted was part of her inspiration for certain scenes. For me, it just made both guys unlikable. I kept thinking, is this really a Julie Klassen novel? It had Christian themes of forgiveness, grace, and truth, but the protagonist didn't match the ideals she claimed to want to live up to. I saw little growth in her character. She was not careful about her reputation or her amorous feelings, or how she allowed men to treat her, even after having just experienced the effects of having a child out of wedlock.

The setting was carefully researched and it was free from grammatical errors, but I did not really enjoy this and almost gave up on it about halfway through.

Darcy By Any Other Name by Laura Hile

I thoroughly enjoyed this alternate version of Pride and Prejudice which added a little bit of the supernatural with a Christian twist. The usual characters are stranded by a freak storm shortly after a freak accident, leaving Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy in a Freaky Friday swap. I loved the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy (as Collins). It was interesting who the author focused on, and what direction she took their characters. Ann, Lady Catherine's Daughter, in this version, fakes illness to avoid the pressure put on her by her mother. Collins is not only bumbling and miserly, but truly awful when left to limitless options of things he's never had the opportunity to embrace. I was super annoyed with Charlotte Lucas, and I would have preferred more of Mr. Bennett's wit. However, I love many of the aspects added that were well researched and allowed me to fully immerse in the story and time. At 453 pages, it's a little on the long side. It took me several days to finish and I have to admit, I lost some sleep. Recommended. 4.99 for Kindle.

Love Unfeigned, by Nadine C. Keels

I received a free copy of Love Unfeigned in exchange for an honest review.

Lorraine is pulled out of traffic by a familiar face...
I have to admit that the first section before the flashback was confusing, especially as I was not yet acclimated to the writer's style, but I soon found myself amazed and did not want to put this down. The author did such an good job of developing her characters and moving through time, from elementary school to adulthood. If the author left out a detail, you soon realized it was a clue that came up later and took you by surprise as it unfolded. Her style of writing is so unique and descriptive and felt so realistic. The novella reads almost like memoir. Totally unforgettable. Loved it. As for content, this is a romantic, clean read, but with high school gossip about sex and a bit of violence. In my opinion, appropriate for 16+. 99 cents for Kindle and well worth it.

Tattler's Branch, by Jan Watson

I found this book free on Amazon for a promotion and it looked interesting. I'm really glad I tried it. Other reviewers mentioned that there is a first book in the series called Skip Rock Shallows that is more of a Christian Historical Romance. I think a lot of readers were hoping for more of that style. I really enjoyed this book as is. It fell more into the category of Christian Historical Mystery. The book opens with Armina witnessing a murder and then falling ill before she can tell anyone about it. Everything else works around this important opening event. The book then focuses mainly on Lilly, the town doctor, who finds out she is pregnant while her husband is away working on a coal mine incident. It wasn't as suspenseful as a true mystery, but highly satisfying and entertaining throughout. 9.99 on Kindle

The Fairest Beauty, by Melanie Dickerson

This is a loose retelling of Snow White. I thought it was pretty good (I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads). It is $5.12 for the Kindle book on Amazon. There is a Christian aspect to it, some action, a wicked stepmother, and plenty of romance. I do have to say that it is one of those books where the characters have some serious problems to be resolved and somehow it all just works out in the end. Just a beef of mine. Recommended, nonetheless.

The Girl in the Gatehouse, by Julie Klassen

Not bad for a freebie. Written by Julie Klassen. Clean with some Christian themes. The author is a fan of Jane Austen and it shows in her writing. A bit cheesy with some plot lines that seemed conveniently intertwined. I got it during a promotional period. It is $9.99 for the Kindle version.