March 2019 Reads

Although March was a long month, I didn't get to read too many books. In fact, all I managed was three, lol. I'm not sure when the last month was that I read so few books! However, life happened, & I still emerged with three books at the end of the month! So here they are. 

1) Tennyson: Poems \\ Lord Alfred Tennyson \\ 5 Stars

'Twas my first real foray into poetry, and I have to admit, it was stunning. I found Tennyson's writing quite obtuse at times and had to read beyond slow and repeat certain phrases, but--that guy had some serious linguistic skills on him. My favourite piece was The Lady of Shallott. Such a whimsical but tragic poem. This definitely isn't a breeze-through book of poetry, on the contrary, it's quite intense--but there are some real gems to be found!

2) A Bound Heart \\ Laura Frantz \\ 3 Stars

I always love Frantz's writing style...it's so timeless and classic and heartwarming. Being that I read mostly suspense, I found it somewhat hard to get into the slower pace of things, but...once I got out of the suspense mindset and settled into it being a bit more of a progressive, meandering historical plot, I enjoyed it immensely. I felt like Lark's character was refreshingly unique, and her personality was so attractive. She wasn't brash and annoying and in your face, but she also wasn't the pendulum swing into the opposite court--of being so timid and shy that it got on my nerves. She was just right. Pure, bright, and sweet. I think I'd like a friend like her. 

I felt Magnus's character was a bit...not bland, but...there was something left wanting for me, in Magnus. And their relationship. I wanted more interactions between them that were sweet, but their relationship almost more mirrored that of siblings. 

However, I still enjoyed the book and learning a bit more of history!

3) Fierian \\ Ronie Kendig \\ 4 Stars

Fierian would've reached 5 stars for me because it is complexly written, thought up and beautiful, with unique and compelling characters. Everything Kendig writes is just mind-bogglingly creative and epic. Only reason it didn't is because...I WAS CONFUSED. So confused, for such a great portion of the book/series that I got frustrated that characters were being plopped in, left, right and centre, and they had no backstory. 

Seeing as that the names are all quite different, I couldn't keep track of 50 plus characters and remember their backstories from books 1 & 2. I kept going back to the Character Glossary at the beginning of the book with the main characters, but most of the people I was wondering about weren't in there.
Same thing happened with locations. I was so stumped, and I kept looking back at the map in the beginning of the book and thinking, "Seriously, where is this location that's being mentioned?" 
Another confusing part was the history aspect. Now, I don't want a huge download, but with the Fantasy genre especially I feel like it's somewhat important to give your reader's a history of the planet. Like, what IS the planet? WHO are the people groups and their histories? I was so confused when a people group would be mentioned with no accompanying "this is who this people group is" and a sentence or two explanation of their culture/history. 
I'm not sure if it's because I read the third book about three months after I read the first two, or because I don't read much in the Fantasy genre, or because it was actually confusing...I can't say. 

For much of the book, I was so confused/stumped on who a character was, what their people group was, what history I was supposed to view them through, etc. Imagine my surprise when I get to the end of the book and I discover an alphabetical character list and list of locations/creatures. Because there was already a glossary in the front, I never thought, even once to look in the back! I was so annoyed, because I went for so much of the book being confused, and the glossary was lurking in the backmatter and I didn't even know it! 

The first half of the book felt (to me) quite disjointed and slow. Because of the aforementioned confusion regarding the characters, I found it hard to track when the POV jumped around so sporadically. I feel like the length could've been halved, considering how the first half of the book seemed like you were turning around and around and not actually moving forward. The stuff with Haegan and the Infantessa felt long and drawn out, like the same scene was taking place over and over again. 

The second half of the book, however, I LOVED. All the characters developments were amazing. Astadia and Tili's relationship--YES. I was just doing such a happy dance seeing it unfold. They had amazing chemestry. I'd love to see more relationships come together like theirs. Haegan's continued growth--yes. Draccian--what up dude but--YIKES!! I wished we had've gotten more Thiel & Haegan time, but alas, such was what the plot allowed. Oddly enough, Tili & Asadia were my favourite characters. 

Apart from the aforementioned confusion, of which there as A LOT (and that is the ONLY reason this book got 4 stars instead of 5)--Fierian was so complexly written. What an array of brainstorming genius! As usual, Kendig has done an excellent job in creating a world and making it epic and glorious. Giving us swoon-worthy characters and many gut-wrenching moments. 

In the end, if it weren't for the slower pace in the first half and my inordinate confusion, this book might've had me doing a serious joy dance. Even so, the second half had me pretty hooked, so I still consider this book a win in its own right.

And there you have March in books! Only three, but on the flip side--still three! 

What was your favourite book read in March? 

A Spy's Devotion by Melanie Dickerson

Hands down, amazing YA Fiction book set in Regency England with a hint of spying & espionage, and a sweet romance on the side. 

VIOLENCE: 

Some manhandling and roughhousing take place with Julia's uncle, and a certain unwanted beau when he's intoxicated. There's an attempted assassination, a character is shot and there's blood. Nothing too graphic. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Characters fall in love. As I think the author was writing this book with primarily Christian Young Adults, she kept the romance clean and innocent. The romance is fairly low key throughout the book.  A kiss is shared at the end that is more descriptive than- THEY KISSED- but...that's romance, my friends. If a semi-descriptive kiss at the end of the book is not your jam, skip it, yo. 

A character (married) tries approaching Julia during a party (he's intoxicated) and we can postulate that he has some inappropriate intentions involving himself and Julia. Nothing happens on that front. 

As Julia corresponds with a friend, said friend depicts her falling in love (or so she thinks) with a man...the correspondence continues throughout the book, and the friend tells Julia eventually that she ran away with said fellow and "gave myself to him fully". Her lover dumps her with a ruined reputation and pregnant with his child. 

CONCLUSION: 

I loved every minute of reading this book. It was a good break from reading all the contemporary suspense and get into the slower, more culturally romantic pace of Regency England, with some spying, espionage and romance thrown in there. The plot was fresh, the characters lovable, and overall this was a delightful YA read. I would recommend it for readers 13+. 

For more conservative young readers, yes, there's a tad of romance, and a...slightly passionate kiss at the end of the book, so for certain readers- that might not be their jam- but personally, this book was the bomb diggity of YA Regency Fiction! 

Deluge by Lisa T. Bergren (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Today I am reviewing book 5 of the River Of Time series! I have finally finished re-reading the entire series, and I loved it. So...let's get started. 

PLOT: 

This one is a lot more about life in general for the Betarrini/Forelli/Greco clan, than any of the previous books. There's not as much fighting & battle, people trying to kidnap the She-Wolves left, right and centre, but it is by no means boring. It spans over...I believe it's five years from start to finish with Deluge. It is split into three sections...

Part 1 - Preparations - Late Autumn 1345

follows the Bettarrini/Forelli peeps as they make their way to Venice to visit the Doge, and also to personally investigate rumours that two of their Betarrini kin, have time travelled and are stuck in the Doge's prisons. As this is a content breakdown review- as all my reviews are, there are spoilers aplenty. Also, whilst there, Lia & Luca decide to wed, and the following whirlwind of planning a hasty wedding and departure, follow. 

Part 2 - Horizons - Winter 1345 - Spring 1346 

#ForelliBaby #MommyGabi #DaddyMarcello  

Part 3 Pestilence - 1348 

is, as you can imagine, about when the plague arrives and ravages its way through Italy and all the surrounding areas. And then Firenze comes to commandeer Castello Forelli & Greco, as if all their attempts in the past weren't enough- and one great and final battle ensues. Intense business! 

This plot has ebbs & flows of it being more intense, then less...the focus being more on living life and plenty of passionate kissing scenes, in part 1, then slowly building in part 3 until the climax and battle occur. Of course, it is so much more suspenseful, because you know that with the plague...it's not likely that everyone from the Forelli/Betarrini/Greco clan will survive, and that is the worst kind of torture. The. Worst. 

VIOLENCE: 

Fighting, hand-to-hand combat, people getting cut with knives, swords, hit with arrows, stabbed with daggers. Dropping boiling vats of water onto soldiers trying to scale a wall. Battle. Blood. Lot's of it.

Two MC's are stabbed. One gets a spiked ball to the chest. Post-war carnage, including dead people and decapitations. Lot's of people die from the plague with those nasty, puss-filled buboes that eventually burst and smell REALLY bad. 

SEXUAL CONTENT:

This book has a plenty of kissing scenes, a good deal of content leading up to sex, but the scene always ends before that happens. I've included a few scene excerpts, just so you can get a feel for how they usually go :) 

"Then, one by one, he pulled the pins from my hair, and I closed my eyes, appreciating the sensation of his every touch, the tickle of each section of hair as it tumbled down around my neck and across my shoulders. Slowly, he turned and unbuttoned my gown, freeing me of its confines, leaving only the shift for my nap. But as I sank to the bed and looked up at my husband, who put one knee beside me and slowly pulled off his tunic and tossed it aside- his shirt opening at the nape so I could see the finely sculpted muscles of his chest- I was well aware that there would be very little napping to be had in this glorious, gorgeous room along the Grand Canal." 

When Lia & Luca get engaged, they share knee-jellifying kiss. 

"But without further invitation he kissed me then, in earnest. Plying my lips apart, hungry, searching, demanding. I thought I could kiss him all night. We'd kissed before but never with such abandon. He'd always been so cautious, careful with my reputation, my virtue. But now that I was to be his...well, his kisses promised me many days and nights of passion ahead...'Oh, my Lia, my beautiful Evangelia,' he said in a whisper, pulling back and gently bending my head to the side. He planted tiny kisses across my cheek and slowly, delectably, down my neck, pausing at the clavicle. There, he hovered, 'Please,' he said, kissing me there again, the breath from his words sending shivers down my arms. 'Tell me that we can marry soon.'" 

Luca and Lia get married a few days later- this scene is from their wedding night. 

"His warm hands rubbed over my shoulders and he leaned forward to kiss me right where my neck and shoulder joined, sending a delicious shiver down my back. 'Are you afraid?' he whispered, all careful concern. 'Nay,' I said, 'not with you'. 'Good. There is no need to fear, Evangelia. Only reasons to rejoice...' he unlaced the back of my overgrown and slipped it from my shoulders...Luca pulled off his tunic and then his shirt, and stood there before me, all smooth-chested, muscle upon muscle...He bent and lifted me up in his strong arms, carrying me so slowly toward the bed, I wondered if we'd ever make it there....He seemed to get a bit distracted with me kissing him the whole time. It was like I couldn't get enough of him. When his knees finally met the edge, he tossed me, laughing into the centre of it and hurriedly chased me in, hovering over me, kissing, kissing, kissing..." 

There are more scenes similar to the ones above...the romance has definitely advanced in this book, compared to the others. Usually the romantic moments are descriptive and knee-weakening- which is not a bad thing, but it isn't for every reader- especially every age. The sexual content in this book is more mature, but very honouring and beautiful in depicting marriage, but it doesn't trip into it being an explicit sex scene, which I appreciate. 

There are other references to a man bedding his wife, making love to her, etc. etc. There are remarks about Gabi being in heat like a wolf. Gabi gives birth, it isn't extremely descriptive because a midwife is delivering the baby, so we either get the labour from Lia's perspective (she's sitting next to Gabi on the bed holding her hand) and Gabi, who's having the baby. 

Gabi and Lia bathe, sometimes in separate baths but in the same room, sometimes one is helping the other with her bath. 

A character makes reference to what the Fiorentini would do if they got ahold of his Sienese wife, how they would let the men, 'have their way with her' before torturing and killing her. 

Again, as I've said before, I have in no way, caught all the sexual content that is in Deluge, in this section of the review. That has never been my intention. In these content-breakdown reviews, all I want is to let you, as a reader, get a glimpse at what each amount of content is like, roughly, throughout the book. 

CONCLUSION:

 Incredible, epic, devastating & heartwarming finish to Lisa T. Bergren's 'River of Time' series. The first time I finished this book, I wept. Like I never have over any other book. Le-wow. 

Personally, I wish the ending had have been a little different...with different characters, especially after the painting scene. I just wanted to see some closure and resolution between the family a bit more, but that's about it. Clearly, I'm not thrilled over certain people's deaths *cough* *cough*. But, my heart will go on. This is an amazing finish to one of the most beautifully well written and thought out series I have ever encountered. 

5 Stars for this one, and I'd recommend it for ages 18+ 

If you want to read full reviews for the rest of the River Of Time series, check them out below! 

Book 1 - Waterfall

Book 2 - Cascade

Book 3 - Torrent

Book 4 - Bourne & Tributary 

Booktube Book Banter Video 

Have you read the series? What were your thoughts? I wish it could keep on going...20 + books in the series...but alas! 

Bourne & Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Slowly but surely, moving towards having the entire River Of Time series reviewed. You can find the review's for...

Book 1 - Waterfall

Book 2 - Cascade

Book 3 - Torrent 
Book 5 - Deluge
River Of Time series Book Banter video

But today, we are going over the two novella's, Bourne & Tributary. These books pick up where Torrent left off, where the ladies are waiting for Luca, Marcello & Rodolfo to come back from the battle we saw begin at the end of Torrent. 

Today I'll be doing the breakdown separately (First Bourne, then following with Tributary), but in the same blog post, since I got the two novella's combined in one book. I'm not certain if you can get them bound separately as novella's instead of combined...but anywho, let's get started, shall we? 

|| BOURNE ||

PLOT: 

Steady & fast paced throughout. As this is a novella (135 pages), it's shorter and the plot a bit more mini in scale, but no less riveting. It follows our band of Forelli/Greco/Betarrini peeps as the Fiorentini launch an attack against the secret brotherhood with the triangle tattoos. Essentially, they're trying to discover who they are, so they can decimate them, their land, and their families. 

VIOLENCE: 

Battle type stuff. People getting stabbed, pierced with arrows. At one point we come across a Forelli knight who was strung up in a tree, eyes bulging, his tongue sticking out *cue the ew* 

While the assassins go about trying to discover the brotherhood and murder them all, a castello is burned, some of its occupants inside. The rest of the castello (women, children and soldiers) were cut down in the courtyard. The assassins left triangular cuts on their ankles, and for some of their victims, possibly on their necks? I'm not entirely certain. 

People are beaten in combat and in attempting to extract information, but nothing floats toward torture-land. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Soldiers capture Lia and threaten to do some nasty business if she doesn't give them the information they want. One soldier begins moving his hands up her leg, but that's as far as he goes. 

Between characters there are kisses- some short, some longer, more passionate. 

When Marcello is ill with a fever, Gabi (they are married) climbs into bed with him with little on (a shift or thin nightgown or something like that), pressing her thigh against his and wrapping her arms around his chest- or just on top of. When he wakes, he says, "Wait until I tell the men how you healed me...climbing into bed with none but that on..." 

Later on, Marcello pulls Gabi into their room and they share a passionate kiss. 

"'Shouldn't you return to bed, m'lord?' 

'Undoubtedly,' he said, moving to kiss my lips, parting them with his own. He wrapped his arm around my back and puled me close, grunting in pain but refusing to release me. I settled in, kissing him back with equal passion." 

Later on... "But my husband decided my course of action for me. He opened the door a crack. Finding me alone, he took my hand and pulled me through, back inside. Then he latched and locked the door, lifted my hands to the wall above me, and began to kiss me like he never, ever intended to let me go again." pp. 60-61 

Again, I've not covered ALL the sexual content in this book- there is bound to be stuff I haven't caught in this review- but that wasn't really my intention in the first place. I just include the bulk of the information, to give you a feel of what is present. Cool peas :-P

CONCLUSION:

The only sad thing about this book is that it was so dang short! I was ramping up for the crazy stuff, really enjoying it, and then- boom! It was finished and I was into Tributary. But even in its short form it was delightful. Fast paced. 

These two books shift their focus more to Lia & Luca, and Rodolfo. Except for a few romantic scenes between Marcello and Gabi, it doesn't focus on them as much. Which was okay. They weren't omitted from the books, but the focus shifted a lot to Lia & Luca's romance, and I really enjoyed their relationship and the new-ness of being able to get to know them as an almost couple. 

|| TRIBUTARY ||

PLOT: 

Tributary takes off, I think it's a year after Bourne ends. This one focuses again, on Lia & Luca's budding romance, and also heavily focuses on Rodolfo and a young woman named Alessandra. It was faced paced and I enjoyed reading it- I wish there was a whole book dedicated to Rodolfo Greco and his story. But alas...

VIOLENCE:

Battle type stuff. Arrows shot into people, taking people out with swords. That kinda stuff. Alessandra gets beaten up by a Fiorentini Lord, kicked, slapped and punched. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

While in captivity, Alessandra is nearly raped. The head dude leaves her with one of his knights, instructing him to rape her. The knight grabs her, she starts screaming and crying, but he tells her he is her friend and he intends to help her escape. He plays up the facade, yelling for her to come to him, to give in and to stop complaining, then instructs her to scream and shakes her. She does, making it sound as though he's raped her, to anyone listening. He then killed the knight on watch and stripped him of his clothes. When he told her to take off her dress, she thought he was going to take advantage of her, but he turned his back and tossed her the guard's clothes to change into.  

Rodolfo and Alessandra share a kiss at the end of the book. Nothing really steamy, but it wasn't a quick peck on the cheek either. 

CONCLUSION:

Finishing Tributary left me feeling like I'd just finished an appetizer, and was ready for the main course. Unfortunately, the book had finished, and I was like...dude, now I need to read Deluge- which I told myself I'd never do again. But alas...I'm gonna go and do it again. Whoops. #cantstopwontstop 

Anywho, I really enjoyed these books. They were shorter and didn't take as long to work out or resolve, but I enjoyed them just as much. 

As I said in the conclusion above, I really enjoyed getting to watch Lia & Luca fall in love, and also follow Rodolfo's story a bit closer. That was pretty much awesome. 

5 stars and I'd recommend these two books for 16+...just depending on how each person can handle the gory, massacre-type violence and the lightly steamy kissing scene with Marcello & Gabi. 

Have you read Bourne & Tribuary? What were your thoughts? 

River Of Time Series | Book Banter | Ashley Nikole

Hey guys! So, as you have seen, my blog has been pretty full of the 'River Of Time' series books by Lisa T. Bergren. I'm in the middle of doing a re-read of the series, and safe to say, I've fallen in love again. 

If you love the series like I do, feel free to give my seriously long book banter video, a watch. If you've never read the series, it probably won't make a lot of sense to you, but I'd imagine would be amusing to watch my...intense feels on the series, lol. 

I hope you enjoy. 

See ya next time! 

Read the full review's for...
Book 1- Waterfall
Book 2- Cascade
Book 3- Torrent
Book 4- Bourne & Tributary 
Book 5- Deluge

Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Book 2 in the River Of Time series, Cascade starts where Waterfall (read review for that one HERE) left off. Gabi & Lia return to the 21st century, find their mother, and re-return to medieval Italy. 

PLOT:

It took a little longer to get going, as the first 10 ish chapters were comprised of a lot of catching up on the times once the girls return to Italy, and discovering all the new political intricacies, who's in power, who's trapped in a dungeon etc. etc. It picks up around chapter 13 & grooves on at a nice clip after that point. But have no fear, the first 10 chapters aren't boring in the least- just not...how shall I say it- as nail biting as the rest. 

SEXUAL CONTENT:

Plenty of kissing (not the peck on the cheek kind ;), references to a man being eager for his wedding bed, references made to wenches warming the beds of various guys, ect.

A soldier rips the front of Gabi's shirt open (she's dressed in dude clothes at the time), leaving her thin shirt and bound chest exposed. He makes mention to reminding her what it is "to be created female", insinuating rape, but nothing occurs on that front.

A man sneaks up on Gabi when she's just finished dressing after a bath, her clothes clinging to her- there's an attraction. She thought he was gay before, but in that moment, she decided he wasn't.

When Luca is sick- SPOILERS: a small strain of the plague goes round in this book. Luca catches it, and when Lia is washing his face and arms with vinegar and hot water, he mentions that in some cultures, vinegar is considered an aphrodisiac- to which Lia replies that in her culture, it is the smell of stinky old women, or something like that. When Marcello & Gabi are escaping bands of soldiers coming after them, they hide between some boulders. Marcello leans/lays on top of Gabi, kissing her- and she thinks he's trying to make a move on her when she's compromised- but he quickly whispers that guards were coming, and he didn't want them to be discovered. 

VIOLENCE:

Battle type stuff, swords being plunged into dudes, arrows hitting them in the neck, face etc. Gabi orders the cutting off of a traitor's ears. She closes her eyes, but hears the discarded ears hit the floor, the sound of the knife cutting them off, blood spattering...maybe screaming- can't remember. Men die in combat. There is talk of people- traitors- both men and women, being hanged. General roughhousing overall & some crazy mobs of people throwing fruit & stones. While this hasn't covered the entire amount/type of violence within the pages of Cascade,  I'm sure you've gotten an idea. 

CONCLUSION:

Cascade is the beginning of a great, terrible and gloriously heart wrenching experience. For some reason, while Waterfall is book 1, this is the one where things start to get intense. The stakes are higher. More heartstrings are tangled. Your heart basically get's taken on a mini-rollarcoaster that will go absolutely bananas in book 3, Torrent. And by banana's, I mean- I think I need to do a GIF post about how a reader feels, going through the River Of Time series- cause guys, you will get hit, and hit hard with the feels. Torrent only gets bigger & crazier. 

I'd recommend this book for 15-16 + again, it's all dependent on each person. 

I'll be back shortly with a review for Torrent. Stay tuned- have you read Cascade? What were your favourite parts?

Read the full reviews for...

Book 1- Waterfall

Book 3- Torrent

Book 4 - Bourne & Tributary 

Book 5- Deluge

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Hands down, I LOVED this book. I read it for the first time, early 2015, and the time came for me to read the glory again. Now that I've finished reading it the second, or maybe third time, I thought I'd add a bit more to this review & make it a tad more in depth.

PLOT: 

It drew me in immediately after the time travel took place, which is about halfway through the first chapter. I found it hard to get through the prologue and first half of the chapter, quite honestly- but I stuck to it, knowing the time travel had to happen SOME time...well it did & pretty much the story got its groove on and nothing lagged after that point. It took a chapter & a bit of initial dedication to some backstory. After the beginning, there was one thing or another that always kept the plot in motion. Suspense, danger, intrigue or romance were tastefully woven throughout the plot, making it a keeper in my books. Also, the men were emotionally present (props L. Bergren) & proved to be everything a knight 'in shining armour' is supposed to be. 
Some would call a lot of stuff in this book idealistic, but then again, people like that should not be reading fiction in general :S

SEXUAL CONTENT:

The romance was sweet & passionate without really going overboard. There are several kissing scenes, none very long. Gabi is, as a 17 year-old from the 21st century, a little boy crazy- especially given the fact that boys don't pay her any attention the 2000's. In Medieval Italy, that's another story entirely. So, with that being said, there is plenty of falling in love type content. This is a Young Adult, Medieval Romance- not just Young Adult, Medieval. 

A near rape occurs...after fighting & losing against a group of soldiers, the girl's dress is pinned to the ground, her bound hands pinned above her head and her captor begins untying his trousers, but they get interrupted. 

VIOLENCE: 

A medieval book, with knights, in a country that is semi-at-war, is full of fighting & people getting hurt as a result. Someone is slashed with a sword, they almost bleed out and die, but another character sews them up- we don't see that part firsthand, however. 

Soldiers are stabbed, (blood gushes as a result sometimes) sliced, shot with arrows- some soldiers from the opposite side are caught (after burning a man's house to the ground with his wife and child inside, then killing the man) spreadeagled on the ground, and their information extractor shoots one or both men, in the leg with multiple arrows. They scream. 

A woman is trapped in a dungeon, with threats- explained threats of how her captors plan on torturing her. Someone is poisoned. 

CONCLUSION:

The emotional connections between characters really brought them to life & off the page, and had me finishing this book in a day. 

I would recommend this book to teens 15-16+.

5 Stars
Read Waterfall? Share your thoughts below! 

Read the full review's for...

Book 2- Cascade

Book 3- Torrent

Book 4- Bourne & Tributary 

Book 5- Deluge 

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Review by Ashley Nikole)

This young adult, historical fiction book is amaze-beans. Melanie Dickerson (for me personally) is a bit of a hit & miss. Some books I like, others...not so much- but this one I loved for multiple reasons...

The PLOT... 

wasn't mind blowing in it's uniqueness, but it flowed well & was pleasant. The twist about Lord Hamlin's betrothed was pretty cool, and while I wouldn't say this book was fast paced- it didn't lag either. It flowed pretty smooth & consistently throughout. 

The Characters... 

were unique and I felt as though their personal struggles were relatable & not the usual surface level stuff one normally reads about in YA Fiction. 

The Spiritual Content... 

was not your average for YA Christian Fiction, with sprinkles of God's name here or there, or a bullet prayer. There was some pretty heavy demonic crap floating around with the bad dude (closer to the end of the book)- Moncore (who's a sorcerer). At one point he puts curse on someone, proclaiming that they will be tormented by demons forever & essentially end up insane from it. So, that aspect makes this book heavier overall from the bad stuff present...& for that reason I'd more recommend it for readers 16+ 

But I appreciated the angle about spiritual warfare against evil, and prayer etc. that the character's used to combat Moncore's curses & power. Spiritual warfare is not something I've read a lot of in Christian fiction, but I enjoyed seeing Dickerson displaying the power of prayer & warfare.

The Sexual Content...

There's character's falling in love...some creepy dudes who don't have good intentions toward Rose and the like. At one point someone asks Rose to become his mistress.

Conclusion...

Very much enjoyed this read. It was more mature than most YA books, just given how the characters dug deeper and had a stronger sense of sacrifice & duty than most characters I've read about in other YA fiction. 

The witchcraft in the last portion of the book definitely had me feeling heavy and a tad disturbed afterwards (just since I know how real the dynamics of spiritual warfare are in real life)- but at the same time I appreciated the light shed upon the spiritual warfare aspect of things. So it was heavy, but I appreciated, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

4 Stars & I would recommend this one for ages 16+ 

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

Beacons of Hope - Book 1

Setting: 1859 - Presque Isle, Michigan

This is the classic, marriage of convenience, quickly turns into the husband & wife falling in love type story, with a hint of mystery.

It is mostly a romance, with a few other subplots, but I'd say the main focus is our two MC's being married (only in name) and their process of falling in love & overcoming the hurdles of beginning their relationship out of necessity, and wanting to continue it as a married couple. If those kinds of stories aren't your jam, or you are under 18, I'd give this book a pass.

The plot flowed well and consistently. Since this book has hints of danger, but it isn't a thriller or suspense book, naturally it is going to be "slower", but in my opinion, it carried along nicely and didn't lag anywhere.

As for the romantic/sexual content involved...our two MC's are married, so their relationship has more allowance for them to be contemplating being physically intimate, since they are married. There are a few pretty steamy & passionate kissing scenes, and a good deal of contemplation as to whether their spouse finds them attractive...how to let their spouse know they desire them in a way a married couple would, vs. just a man & wife married in name only, etc etc.
In the end...
-----SPOILERS--------
Patrick & Emma leave the room 
to (it is eluded) be physically 
intimate, but the only thing we 
witness is the husband (Patrick) 
carrying his wife (Emma) out 
of the room. Their time together
is implied only. 

So as you've read, the theme is mature. The MC's process of falling in love isn't dirty & sinful- it is good & beautiful (& designed by God)...but depending on the reader's age, and the season of life they're in, it may or may not be what they need to read. That decision needs to be made by each person, based on where they're at.

I loved both Emma & Patrick as individual character's, and I loved watching them fall in love and their relationship as a couple. It was awkward and funny & real, and that's what I enjoyed about it.

Jody's writing style carried well and beautifully depicted the character's, but also the history of that time.

4 Stars & I'd recommend this book for ages 18-19 +

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell (Review by Ashley Nikole)

An engaging read about the revolutionary war, spies (one of them being a Quaker) & a jail break, all set in 1778 Philadelphia during the British occupation.

Loved this book- the ending however, left a lot to be desired (in my opinion). 

I enjoyed the plot, the romance (despite it being almost non-existent, and more of a friendship because Hannah was quite conservative, and a Quaker. Jeremiah wasn't, so a romance between them was...unheard of and nearly impossible) the American History, and the character development. It was intriguing and paced pretty well. It wasn't fast paced, but it definitely didn't lag. 

I found the Quaker-speak (Old English) with the overuse of 'thee' and 'thou' and etc. was a bit stifling and made the Quakers hard to relate with, because they felt quite...robotic almost, in their use of the old language. But, eventually I found it wasn't that bad, and almost saw it as quant that Hannah spoke with a superfluous amount of 'thee' and 'thou'. 

The ending, (******SPOILERS*****)
(imagine with me) felt akin to breathing in, and finding the room void of oxygen. It was just coming up into a glorious territory of a seriously good ending, and then- nothing. Just ended in a kinda strange fashion. So, while I truly enjoyed every page of this book, the ending was a big let down for me. I'm a serious advocate for strong endings, and this ending, it just felt- incomplete and off. 

The writing was beautiful, the plot well thought out and compelling, & you really felt like you were there, not just reading about a story. Other than the ending, it was a great book and I would definitely recommend it.

4 stars overall. 

Against The Tide by Elizabeth Camden (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Ahh...I was not expecting this book to go where it did, but it was fabulous. I was thinking, 'nice historical fiction with some military (navy) involvement, & a tad bit of suspense' but I was positively blown away by what I found within the pages of this book (in a good kind of way).

Against the Tide is beautifully set in 1876 Boston. I love all the historical detail in this book...it doesn't feel like someone is writing historical fiction, it feels like you are IN history.

PLOT:

It took a bit of time to build, with a slower beginning, but once you reach the halfway point- look out people! I couldn't stop reading until I finished. A literal page-turner.

ROMANCE: 

It was sweet, nothing overtly passionate but it was purely genuine. I appreciated Bane & Lydia's relationship, as friends as well as romantic interests. I fell in love with their individual character's, but even moreso with them as a couple. Their relationship didn't feel like the vast majority of relationships I've read on paper. It was fresh, raw & truly beautiful.


#plottwist
I was not expecting this novel to have an entire subplot about substance abuse. I found it intriguing, given the time period and how certain people found themselves addicted to drugs (some unknowingly) & how they dealt with their dependency on the drug. So if you're a younger reader, (below 16) I'd suggest you shelve this book for a few years.

CONCLUSION:

The suspense of this book took me entirely by surprise. I don't think I've read a historical fiction book so heavy laden with it, and I loved every minute. It was so intense- and the plot just WORKED, people. An absolute stunner of a book. Granted, it is a heavier read with the content involved, but SO GOOD.

Definitely in my top 10 favourite books OF ALL TIME. 
5 out of 5 stars for sure!

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Headlong (Review by Ashley Nikole)

I've read a handful of Jody Hedlund's books in the past, not been a huge fan (I'll get into the why) but saw this was a book immediately following the Civil War (I have a fascination with books from that time period currently), so I picked it up and gave it a read.

I loved the plot and how the main character's Caroline and Ryan came together in a tough predicament. Their romance was sweet and touching- it didn't venture into anything too steamy, but it was passionate and real.

Seeing Ryan struggle through remembering his past crimes from his days in the war, and learning how to cope without (and with) drinking himself into oblivion, was real and raw, making you feel as though you weren't just reading a story, you were there.

The one thing I didn't like about this book, which subsequently ruined the whole book (nasty when that happens) was the villain.


--------SPOILERS BELOW ------ WARNING!!!

Arnie Simmons (the bad dude that no one knows is the bad dude until it's too late) just personally, REALLY got on my nerves. I totally get that the bad guy is supposed to do that, but he did in a way that made me irked to even read about him as a villain.
He was gross, a seriously sorry excuse for a man, a coward, and weird weird weird. This high dislike for villains like him, is simply a personal preference of mine...so don't go discounting her writing for YOU, because sometimes the villains rub ME the wrong way.

Jody is a gifted author, I truly believe that, but you know, 'different folks, different strokes' it simply doesn't work for me- generally.
Reason being?
Several of the bad guys in previous books were religious people, who were straight up perverts. Like major creepo's. Again, I know that there are religious people out there who claim to be good, but are actually quite evil, but just for me, it really can work me into a dither when I read about a pious individual who is a total hypocrite and is a MAJOR VILLAIN. It just makes me feel slimed with crapola. Just me. Not everyone will feel that way.

But on the flip-side, two of her books were some of my favourites. So, sometimes it works for me to read & love her books, other times they can rub me the wrong way.

So for this book, I'd give it a 2 Stars outta 5. And that's all personal preference...not because I felt her writing wasn't good. Because she writes very well. Romance was on point. Good plot. Relatable characters.

Read this book? What were your thoughts?

Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindey Kelley (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Intrigue, suspense & the element of unknown (with the main character suffering from amnesia) set this book into motion quickly. I stayed up until 3 AM reading it, as I simply couldn't put it down without knowing the conclusion! Incredible post Civil War novel with amazing character's and a great plot!

The last third of the book is where things get pretty intense, and then you pretty much just hope you have a few hours to dedicate to sitting still and reading this emotional rollercoaster of a finish- yikes- and like I said, I stayed up till 3 AM when I accidentally found myself reading that last third before bed...yup, it happened. 

Romance in this book is present but pretty subdued. It exists, but it isn't really the focus of the story, and there isn't a whole lot of attention paid to it. So not at all steamy or intense on the romance side of things. 

Overall, the pace was pretty good. Occasionally it lagged at times with the nuns, but apart from that...I don't have any complaints about the plot or flow of this book. 

4.7 stars