Christian Shelves

I have such a soft spot for Queen Red and Fox, so I was quite keen to find out what happens to them next! The Lonely Prince , the next book in the Red Fairy and Fox Adventures series  by Courtney Denelsbeck, releases on August 31, 2024. If you enjoy YA fiction that takes an allegorical spin like the Chronicles of Narnia, you are in for a treat! I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Rumors of Magic. A dark, cursed kingdom. And a trapped prince. “Was it absurd to think their queen had magic? It didn’t seem any more absurd than believing she had wings. The truth was he wanted to believe it. He needed to.” Oliver dreams of freedom, for himself and his country. His enemies live in luxury, while his kingdom is cursed in darkness. When rumors of the fairy queen reach his borders, he decides it's time to escape his prison and home. Red tries her best to be the queen her people need, but the threat of...

It's a strange conundrum where I know that anything in the Timeless series by  Gabrielle Meyer  will blow my socks off, yet I know the feeling of being bereft as soon as a title is finished. That may be a tiny reason why I've drawn this series out as much as I can because each book has sent me for a (good) wallop! In This Moment carries on with the same feelings I had after When the Day Comes , so now I know I'm in for another transformational reading experience as the series progresses. Book Synopsis Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever. In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of a senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is ...

Espionage as a theme will always draw my attention, so I was especially thrilled to discover  The Reluctant Guardian by Susanne Dietze , an adventurous and lovely Regency romance from the Love Inspired Historical line. I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Under the Spy's Protection When Gemma Lyfeld inadvertently interrupts a dangerous smuggling operation in her English village, she's rescued by a mysterious Scottish spy. Now with criminals after her and her hopes for an expected marriage proposal recently dashed, she will make her society debut in London. But not without the man tasked with protecting her. Covert government agent Tavin Knox must keep Gemma safe from the criminals who think she can identify them — a mission he never wanted. But as he escorts her and her rascally nephews around London, the lovely English lass proves braver than he ever imagined. Suddenly, the spy who works al...

After a brief time away from posting content, I've come to the conclusion that I am terrible at having work/life balance. I like to think that I can manage all of my responsibilities by being organized, but I'm realizing that organization can only get me so far. I don't share this to generate any "woe is me" sentiments as I am wholly responsible for taking on many commitments; it's more that as much as I wish there were more hours in the day, there just aren't and I'm only fooling myself if I think I can juggle it all — especially in my own strength. A challenging thing for me to face right now is deciding what in my life needs to go. I don't have a sense that I'm to back away from sharing reviews or engaging with other readers and authors, so I've really been puzzling over how I can get more time back to do the things I truly enjoy, which has most definitely been reading and blogging. Though I don't share too many details online, my pr...

I tend to write more serious musings on books and faith; however, I thought I'd write a more lighthearted piece on how reading could almost function like a sport, with the huge caveats being that I am not at all advocating for this in reality nor am I speaking from a place of experience, being that the last time I played team sports was in school 😂 This is certainly meant to be tongue in cheek! Obviously, this was somewhat inspired by the Olympics, even if that particular event may not be some people's cup of tea right now (which I fully understand). Even if reading will never feature in any type of competition, it is rather fun to think of the ways that it can strengthen minds, if not bodies, in the following ways: Discipline It takes discipline to be a reader, especially since reading is not always considered cool. To persist and forge on means that readers learn the skills of pressing on and not caving into peer or societal pressure, namely if you want to avoid the books th...

I'm probably not the only reader who enjoys novellas, so I'm thankful that I get to share some stellar ones I've come across lately, including The Honeymoon Express by Susanne Dietze. I've enjoyed her novellas so much that I've actually read four of them in less than a month! Book Synopsis Ellen, a telegrapher and jilted bride, and Nash, a mysterious frontiersman, may be total strangers, but they both need to get from New Jersey to California, fast...and the only way is to share the last ticket-for-two aboard The Honeymoon Express, a transcontinental train trip intended for honeymooners. Neither relishes the idea of traveling amongst canoodling lovebirds, considering both of their hearts are broken beyond repair, but the guarantee of a speedy trip is worth the temporary arrangement. But once they're thrown together, they stumble into a mystery to solve before the end of the line...and perhaps the possibility of healing and love. Source:  Amazon Book Thoughts Th...

Continuing on with some light-hearted novellas, A.M. Heath released Just Right  a little earlier this year, which is a fun retelling of Goldilocks, complete with some unexpected houseguests. Though I read it a while back, its cute premise fits in with the Restful August Challenge theme! Book Synopsis Meeting just the right guy would have been easy … if she hadn’t dated his older brother first. Georgia Quinn has two jobs, a decaying house, and a timid roommate. Everything changes when she discovers her roommate’s two brothers secretly staying in her house while she’s at work. If that isn’t bad enough, one brother is her ex-boyfriend and the other is her newest crush. And now they all want to stay with her. Matthew Bruin finally meets the perfect girl for him … until he learns that she’s his brother’s ex. Stepping aside would be easier if Rex wasn’t asking for his help in winning Georgia back. With the four of them living under one crumbling roof, there’s plenty that can go wr...

As part of the Restful August Challenge , I'm delighted that I've been able to dive into a new Regency novella from  Carolyn Miller , which is available for free. Not only is A Heart Most Faithful a great introduction to some of her historical series, but it also sets readers up for a new series to come! Book Synopsis A kiss, a dance, and a second chance... After an embarrassing encounter in a London ballroom, Miss Anne Talbot has tried to put Lieutenant Peter Colborne far from mind. His behaviour, as inexplicable as it was reprehensible, has left her certain her fate is spinsterhood, and is determined to protect her all-too-eager younger sister from making a similar mistake. But when a family emergency demands she return with her mother and sister to their Leicestershire village, she is shocked to discover that perhaps Mr. Colborne hadn't forgotten her at all... A brand new Regency novella involving second chances, glimpses of beloved characters, and an aspiring female no...

I've started collecting the Love Inspired titles that Gabrielle Meyer has written and was thrilled to be able to preorder this book, all the way back in the fall. Entering the Restful August Challenge , I thought that reading Her Summer Refuge would be the perfect way to kick it off! Book Synopsis She needs his help to start over… But can she earn his trust? Jobless and alone, mom-to-be Jessa Brooks returns to the resort she once called home—only to find the man she left a decade before. New owner Will Madden offers his pregnant ex a cabin, a job…and a silent vow to keep his distance. But working together makes it impossible to stay away. As old feelings resurface, could they find the refuge they both need in each other? Source:  Amazon Book Thoughts What a treat to enjoy this sweet summer story where Jessa has the opportunity to return home to Timber Falls after experiencing some devastating events overseas. I appreciate her vulnerability as she tries to overcome past regrets, ...

I'll read practically anything having to do with weddings or brides. Add a wedding dress to the mix, and I'm a goner. That's why I'm so glad that I got to read  Something Borrowed: A Historical Romance Collection by Rachel Scott McDaniel , Allison Pittman , and Susie Finkbeiner , an anthology that releases on August 13, 2024.  I am grateful to Rachel Scott McDaniel, one of the authors, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis One perfect dress--three different love stories In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams. "A Heart in Disguise" by Rachel Scott McDaniel Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US "Camouflage Corps," sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New ...

I don't know if the topic of reading etiquette is becoming more prevalent because it's dominating most readers and authors' thoughts on Bookthreads/Bookstagram, or if this is just a niche matter that I somehow stumbled upon and now my feed is inundated with all of the impolite or improper things happening with books and reviews. Either way, it doesn't seem like a pleasant theme to wade into, so for the most part, I've skipped the more egregious posts. However, I am sad to hear of how people are being treated on both sides as no one—readers nor authors—should be taken advantage of, especially when it comes to the gift of reading. Readers, I'm sorry to hear of authors that attack you directly or publicly, reach out to you because you DNFed their book by questioning your stance, repost your reviews with snarky comments, intimidate you through their network, bully you by posting untrue statements, pressure you into giving only four or five star reviews, place undue ...