Category: Reviews by Christie K.

Christie is an avid reader who enjoys romance from all time periods, mystery, and YA. She also writes romantic suspense and has won a single writing contest that has not miraculously launched her into fame. Until that happens, she will dive into new books and share them with others. When she isn’t reading, she is a speech language pathologist, wife to one, mother to four (if the two dogs are counted), and a plant addict.

Learn more about Christie on Twitter @writercbk

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The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

The audio version of this review can be found on Episode 58: A Bookchat about Daughter of Eden with Jill Eileen Smith & a Review of The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham.

THE BOOK

Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future. 

THE REVIEW

If there’s one thing Pepper Basham knows, it’s how to write a swoony romance mixed with a heavy dose of witty humor and in this book’s case, even a helping of mystery. Basham’s previous books have always consisted of standout characters a reader can’t resist rooting and falling for. In The Mistletoe Countess, Basham stays true to her loyal followers. We meet the brooding Frederick who is prepared for a dull life of loveless matrimony to save his estate, but then comes Grace bouncing in to inadvertently flip his life upside down. And when her sleuthing imagination takes hold of a real mystery at Havensbrook Hall, hijinks and humor mix splendidly with danger as they work to become a loving marital team and solve a murder. 

Readers familiar with Basham will note her trademark steaminess, sweet but also on the very warm side. There are several mentions of what God is doing in a character’s life and the way it changes their thought processes and leads them to accept certain pasts and future realities. This is all presented in an organic way and flows seamlessly into the story. As always, Basham’s plots are solid, but her characters tend to steal the show to make her books truly memorable. 

Although this book takes place over the Christmas season, it’s a book that would definitely be enjoyed year around. 

THE AUTHOR

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her nineteenth novel, Authentically Izzy, debuts in November with Thomas Nelson. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram. 

Reviewed by Christie Kern. Follow @WriterCBK219 on Instagram for more book reviews and recommendations.   

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

The audio version of this review can be found on Episode 57: A Bookchat about The Rose and the Thistle with Laura Frantz & a Review of The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

THE BOOK

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

The Cairo Curse is a delightful sequel to The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series.

THE REVIEW

Pepper Basham stays true to her trademark style of infusing romance, laughs, and danger into her stories for an unputdownable combination. Grace and Frederick leave for a honeymoon trip and take a brief stop in Cairo to visit with one of his cousins. When jewelry goes missing, an archeological dig site is worthless, and tempers flare–someone is bound to end up murdered. But with a large cast of characters, who will Grace’s active detective imagination cling to as the culprit? 

Per all of Basham’s books, the romance is on the sweet-spicy side and the thread of second chances, God’s plan, and faith to meet people who think they’re too fallen for redemption is palpable. A few instances of mild violence at the climax but the incidents throughout the story mostly happen ‘off screen’. 

This is the second in a series and there are several allusions to the instances in the first book but it could function as a standalone. Except, the first book was so much fun to read that I highly recommend reading that one too!

THE AUTHOR

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her nineteenth novel, Authentically Izzy, debuts in November with Thomas Nelson. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com

Reviewed by Christie Kern. Follow @WriterCBK219 on Instagram for more book reviews and recommendations.   

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

The audio version of this review can be found on Episode 56: A Bookchat about Double the Lies with Patricia Raybon & a Review of All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

The Book

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man’s identity remains a mystery . . . 

1807

When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904

Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

THE REVIEW

The words of the author themselves are comprised of beautiful prose that paints pictures of a crumbling city of Venice and illustrate the hope of its residents. Alongside that historical component is the story of Daniel, a man who seeks to repair his past. While beginning a new job he meets Vittoria, a vibrant woman who helps him uncover the mysteries surrounding a book he is translating. Inevitably, the two stories collide, weaving the distant past and past into a rich tapestry of events and emotions. 

This story is leisurely paced with mild action and some of the Venetian history was difficult to follow and fully understand. The several secondary characters were interesting and easy to decipher. All the Lost Places has themes of forgiveness and grace woven throughout with very mild violence during the climatic scene. Both stories have sweet romances. 

THE AUTHOR

Amanda Dykes is a drinker of tea, dweller of redemption, and spinner of hope-filled tales who spends most days chasing wonder and words with her family. She’s the winner of the 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten title, and the winner of an INSPY award for her debut novel, Whose Waves These Are. She’s also the author of Set the Stars Alight (a Christy Award finalist), Yours is the Night (recipient of the Kipp Award, Christy Award finalist), All the Lost Places (starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Foreword), and three novellas. Find her online at amandadykes.com.

Reviewed by Christie Kern. Follow @WriterCBK219 on Instagram for more book reviews and recommendations.   

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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A Bookchat about The Weight of Air with Kimberly Duffy & a Review of The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H McGee

Subscribe to Historical Bookworm Show Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | Email | RSS | Subscribe to the Historical Bookworm

Kimberly Duffy joins us for a chat about travel, writing, and her latest release The Weight of Air. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

On today’s Pinch of the Past we will be looking at an extraordinary woman before her time. Ada Lovelace is considered the first computer programmer, was the daughter of Lord Byron, and the most wealthy women of the 1800s. (Full post here.)

Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Christie K.

“If you’re in the mood for a combustible combination of danger, romance, strong characters, willful horses, and family drama–The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H McGee is a must-read!” (Full review here.)

Connect with  Kimberly Duffy at: Newsletter, Amazon, Pinterest, Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Current giveaways include Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams by Jennifer Lamont Leo & A Mark of Grace by Kimberly Woodhouse.

Ad link: Join Kimberly Woodhouse @ A Million Miles with Kim

A Million Miles with Kim

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The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee

The audio version of this book review can be found on Episode 55: A Bookchat about The Weight of Air with Kimberly Duffy & a Review of The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H McGee

A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They’re easier to handle, they’re more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father’s passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.

Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father’s death–even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth risking ruining everything for the feisty woman he’s come to admire.

REVIEW

Rebel women in historical times are hardly anything new in the fiction world–so it’s refreshing when the rebellious character in question is Nora Fenton. There are plenty of times when her confidence wavers and she gets trampled on by the men who are tasked with planning her life, yet she forges ahead with the desires of her heart–to save Emberwild and its horses, especially Arrow. 

When the search for answers in his father’s death leads Silas to Emberwild, he encounters more than simply training a tempestuous trotter. He meets Nora who is determined to help train Arrow for racing so Emberwild can once again be a profitable endeavor. Accidents happen and suspicions rise in the midst of family turmoil and unearthed secrets. With so many decisions hanging in the balance, this story mixes intrigue with romance, resulting in a page turner until the very end.

If you’re in the mood for a combustible combination of danger, romance, strong characters, willful horses, and family drama–The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H McGee is a must-read!

THE AUTHOR

Stephenia H McGee is a multi-published author of stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. She lives in Mississippi, where she is a mom of two rambunctious boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler. Her novel The Cedar Key was a 2021 Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice award winner. A member of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), she loves all things books and history. Stephenia also loves connecting with readers and can often be found having fun with her Faithful Readers Team on Facebook. For more on books and upcoming events and to connect with Stephenia, visit her at www.StepheniaMcGee.com.

Reviewed by Christie Kern. Follow @WriterCBK219 on Instagram for more book reviews and recommendations.   

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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His Delightful Lady Delia by Grace Hitchcock

You can listen to the audio version of this review on Episode 54: A Bookchat about Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams with Jennifer Lamont Leo & a Review of His Delightful Lady Delia by Grace Hitchcock

The Book

Behind the curtain, she must put on the performance of a lifetime . . . while love and risk take center stage.

Delia Vittoria’s mother has lost her voice at last. After five years of being her diva mother’s understudy, it is time for Delia to assume her place as the lead soprano onstage behind the Academy of Music’s faded velvet curtain. And she is all that stands between the Academy and its greatest threat–the nouveaux riches’ lavish new Metropolitan Opera House.

Kit Quincy never misses opening night, but when his sister begs him to help get her husband out of an Italian opera star’s arms, Kit accidentally confronts the younger Lady Vittoria instead. When he meets the stunning young diva again, he attempts to make amends, but then finds himself pulled into a society matron’s plot to win the great opera war. To draw attention to Delia Vittoria as the Academy’s new soprano star, Kit is convinced to act as both Delia’s patron and the enigmatic phantom who once haunted the Academy years ago. But when a second phantom appears, more than Delia’s rising career is threatened.

THE REVIEW

As a rising opera star, Delia is determined to steer clear of her mother’s philandering ways and try her best not to have her questionable heritage stain her future. When accusations are thrown  her way due to a misunderstanding, the man in error, Kit Quincy, upends his life to make things right. This story takes the reader to opera stages and beyond, through proper society etiquette and the bending of rules, and into the precarious realm of love with all of its complications. 

The story and its endearing characters kept me reading well into the night and woke me first thing in the morning to finish this delightful read over coffee. A fitting end to a beloved series, His Delightful Lady Delia by Grace Hitchcock is a must-read!

The Author

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, son, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.

Reviewed by Christie Kern. Follow me on Instagram @Writercbk219 for more book reviews! 

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

The audio version of this review was first shared in A Bookchat about The Hidden Prince with Tessa Afshar & a Review of The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

The Book

When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman’s portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

The Review

Today’s bookworm review is brought to you by Christie K. of the historical bookworm review team.

Politano creates another fantastic story with an undercurrent of foreboding, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a forbidden romance, and a heroine who is determined to find her path through it all. Vivienne, a woman besieged by the men in her life, must unravel the circumstances that led her to Hurstwell Asylum and discover the truth regarding a figure from her childhood who may be trapped there. She meets an interesting array of characters along the way who either propel or prevent her from obtaining the answers she desires. Perhaps the most surprising thing to Vivienne is the way she begins to see the patients themselves and how perhaps, the mysterious magic of music can be a balm to us all. 

The Author

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Lady Jayne Disappears, released from Revell. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.

Reviewed by Christie Kern. Follow me for more book recs on Instagram @Writercbk219 

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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The Number of Love by Rosanna M. White 

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 43: A Bookchat about A Gem of Truth with Kimberley Woodhouse & a Review of The Number of Loveby Rosanna M. White

The Book

Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?

Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love,  Margot  and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

The Review

Margot draws the reader in by being an unusual female character of the times as she isn’t obsessed by dating or fashion, but rather numbers. She finds numbers and patterns in her work and personal life that help to make sense of the world around her. When she undergoes an epic loss and her world is turned upside down, she struggles to move forward. 

In comes the dashing, yet injured, Drake whose goal is to help Margot see more of the world around her, and not through a lens of numbers. However, they must work together to figure out who is pursuing them and endangering nearby lives.

White’s characters are unique and stick with the reader long after the last page. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

The Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

Connect with Roseanna at her website RoseannaMWhite.com

You can connect with Christie on Instagram @writercbk219.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

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Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 37: Guest Naomi Craig and a Review of Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

THE BOOK

To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become. 

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy’s grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for. 

THE REVIEW

Turano’s take on pairing a no frills Poppy with etiquette lessons from Reginald, who is straighter than a ruler, will leave the reader laughing out loud at some of the antics and conversations the two of them have. Turano is a go-to author for readers of historical romance because her characters are always uniquely funny and standout-able (even if that’s not a word). There’s a bit of mystery thrown in for spice, but the quirks of falling in love amid unusual circumstances will keep the reader entertained long into the night. 

The often hilarious, and always swooning romance writing style of Turano will have readers coming back for her next book in the series!

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

THE AUTHOR

Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. Readers may find her at www.jenturano.com or https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/or on Twitter at JenTurano @JenTurano.

Purchase Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano here.

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A Review of: On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor  by Jaime Jo Wright

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 34: Lynn Austin and a Review of On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

THE BOOK

1885.

Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor–a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior–Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life. 

Present day.

Kailey Gibson is a new nurse’s aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secrets and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She’ll have to risk it all to banish the past’s demons, including her own. 

THE REVIEW

Another great time split story from Wright with characters everyone can relate to—a man battling past scars through addiction and two women from different time periods trying to find their worth and handling that trauma in unhealthy ways. Mental health messages abound without being preachy, and Wright has handled this well in previous novels. While both timelines have strong plots, I tend to gravitate toward the historical arc. 

As always—I will keep reading anything Jaime Jo Wright writes because her characters and plots are engaging! You can purchase On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor here.

THE AUTHOR

Jaime Jo Wright is the winner of the Christy, Carol, Daphne du Maurier, and INSPY Awards. She’s also the PW (publishers weekly)and ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association)  bestselling author of three novellas. She brings to life the stories of the past and intertwines them with the present, to bring readers award-winning time-slip novels.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.