Review of As Old As Time

Title: As Old as Time

Author: Liz Braswell

Series: Twisted Tales book 3

Pages: 496

Genre: fairy tale retelling

Rating: 4 stars

      In As Old as Time Liz Braswell propose a twist to the Beauty and The Beast story with a retelling in which Belle's mother was the enchantress who cursed the beast. However the reader knows (it's in the blurb of the book) this but none of the characters in the story know this.  However other than that little twist and the twist that comes when Belle discovers the rose, it is pretty much the same Disney storyline with no characters added. Though the ending is different. 

      With this story you do get a little bit more of the beast's back-story, but not that much. Most of the back-story that you get is about Belle. You get to see her childhood and you discover at least from Liz Braswell view of why it's just Belle and her father. 

      I enjoyed this retelling but I didn't love it. It's a great twist on the classic story. It is also the third book in the twisted tales series. Liz Braswell also had two others out.  A Whole New World a twist on Aladdin and Once Upon a Dream a twist on Sleeping Beauty. Coming in March 2018 is Reflection  Elizabeth Lim a twist on Mulan.

Review of Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Title: Wonder Woman:Warbringer

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: DC Icons book 1

 

Chapters: 35

Pages: 376

Genre: Superheroes

Rating: 5 stars

                In Wonder Woman: Warbringer Leigh Bardugo proposes a new Wonder Woman Origin story different from the movie but in many ways still the same. In this one even though Princess Diana is still immortal she is just a teenage. A teenage who doesn't fit in with the rest of the Amazon's as she didn't she didn't get to the Island the same way the rest of them did. She hasn't done anything to earn that respect is what many of them think, all but Maeve. The rest she her as just the daughter of their queen. 

     When a mortal girl Alia Keralis washes up on the beach, Diana discovers that she's not just any girl. She's a war bringer. Descendant of Helen of Troy, destined to bring about the end of the world. But there is away to stop it. But Diana and Alia are going to have to work together in order to stop it. It's a journey that will take them from Diana's island to New York and finally to Greece. Diana must do all of this in secret and quickly because if she doesn't the world is destroyed but if she succeeds and is found out she faces exile.  

     I enjoyed this version of Wonder Woman's origin story. It's nice to image her as a teenager. It's a nice twist on what we normally get with the TV show, comics and now the movie. But the WWI aspect of the movie was still different than them doing another WWII origin story. 

     Wonder Woman: Warbringer is the first in a four book series (at least) called DC Icons that gives us background and origins of four DC heroes or villains.  Batman: Nighwalker by Marie Lu, Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas and a Superman one by Matt de la Pena. I enjoyed the fact the Wonder woman was the first one, she's my favorite superhero. 

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

Christmas at Carton by Tamera Alexander

Not a Creature was Purring by Krista Davis

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels

A Wild Goose Chase by Jennifer Alee

Murder for the books by Victoria Gilbert

Currently reading

Etched in Tears by Cheryl Hollon

The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns

Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinaly

Non-fiction reading

Getting Past what you'll never get over by John F. Westfall

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R King

Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears

Reviewing

Devotional reading

365 Devotions for Hope

Did not Finish

Proud to Be a Marine by Brian C Kelly

Reviews Posted this week 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas EVE

Review of The Beautiful Pretender

Title: The Beautiful Pretender

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: A Medieval Fairy Tale

 

Chapters: 30

Pages: 312

Genre: Fairy tale retelling

Rating: 5 stars

     The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson the second in the A Medieval Fairy tale. To me it seemed like a fairy retelling of both The Princess and the Pea and Beauty and the beast, but it was more of a Beauty and the Beast retelling that anything else.  When the Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride he invites noble ladies from neighboring kingdoms. In order to figure out which one has the best character his friends come up with different contests to test the girls characters. (the princess and the pea aspect.) 

     Avelina isn't a noble woman instead she is a servant, to Lady Dorothea. Sent to Thornbeck by her mistress's father   in order to keep it a secret that Dorothea ran off. She is suppose to keep attention away from herself. But because of her character and her beauty within as well as out draws the scared Margrave to her.  (The beauty and the beast aspect).    They are other aspects and people trying to keep them apart other than Avelina being a servant and his scars and past. 

     Will this two find happiness? But more importantly will they both learn to trust God. I enjoyed this book. It was a fairly quick read but then again I am a sucker for Beauty and the beast retellings. This was my favorite of the trilogy. 


I received a complimentary copy of The Beautiful Pretender  from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Review of The Captive Heart

Title: The Captive Heart

Author: Michelle Griep

Chapters: 40

Pages: 309

Genre:  Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating:  5 stars

     In The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep Eleanor Morgan has run away from England with little or no options. Once in the colonies she has only one option marriage.  She ends up married to Samuel Heath, a trapper and tracker raised by the Cherokee. He only  wants a mother for his young daughter. But since everyone in his community believes him to be a murder no one wants to marry him. Till Eleanor comes to town running for her past. 

     Eleanor has a hard time adjusting to life with Sam, and her new life on the North Carolina Frontier.  As well as the fact that Sam's best friend is a full blood Cherokee. 

     The Captive Heart is a historical fiction novel with a hint of romance set in on the North Carolina frontier before the American Revaluation. At a time when the Cherokee fill that their land and way of life is being threatened. But it to me it was also a bit of a Beauty and Beast retelling; Eleanor is the beauty character and Sam with his scars both physical and emotional is the beast. Michelle has a way of making her character's come to life and jump off the page and Eleanor and Samuel in The Captive Heart was no different.  Both the characters have a lot to learn not only about each other but themselves and God as well.  The Captive Heart is also a story of healing, finding love and learning to trust God. 

Favorite Fairy Retellings

Cinderella Retelling 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer 

 

Little Red Riding Hood 

 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 

 

Red's Untold Tale by Wendy Toliver 

Rapunzel

 Cress by Marissa Meyer 

 

 The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson 

 

Snow White 

 Winter by Marissa Meyer 

 

 Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis 

 

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine 

  Regina Rising by Wendy Toliver

 

The Little Mermaid 

 The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson 

Alice in Wonderland

 Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes 

 

 Heartless by Marissa Meyer 

 

Review of Bread of Angels

Title: Bread of Angels

Author: Tessa Afshar

Chapters: 63

Pages: 398

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

In Bread of Angels Lydia is pretty much left with no other options other than to flee her homeland and go to Philippi. She takes her father's secret formulas for making purple dye. Along with a friend she made along the way. She struggles to set up her own business. But a female run business isn't heard of in Philippi but she is determined to make a go of it. She ends up with a wealthy female patron who gives her a loan, that Lydia ends up paying back in less than a year. 
But becoming a successful business woman isn't the only thing that happens to Lydia in Philippi, she meets the apostle Paul and becomes his first European convert. Lydia holds to message of hope she gets because the days of hardships and not knowing what is going to happen is far from over.
Bread of Angels is Tessa Afshar's second trip into the New Testament with her Biblical fiction novels. Her first being Land of Silence. I recommend reading Land of Silence because characters from that first book make their way into Bread of Angels.  I enjoyed Bread of Angels just like I have all of Tessa's previous novels and I look forward to the next one

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Favorite Christmas Books

Title: Wrapped in Red

Author:  Meghan M Gorecki

Pages: 111

Genre:    Christian Romance Christmas  

Rating: 5 stars

Title: Solve by Christmas

Author:  Amber Schamel

Pages: 106

Genre:       Mystery Christian fiction Christmas 

Rating:  4 stars

Title: A Gift from Bob

Author:  James Bowen

Pages: 192

Genre:    Non fiction Christmas 

Rating: 5 stars

Title: Merry And Bright

Author:  Debbie Macomber

Pages: 224

Genre:    Romance Christmas

Rating:  3 stars

Title:  The Christmas Cat

Author:  Melody Carlson

Pages: 176

Genre:       Christmas  

Rating: 4 stars

Title:  The Christmas Town

Author:  Donna Vanliere

Pages: 228

Genre:       Christmas  

Rating: 4 stars 

Review of The Progeny

Title: The Progeny

Author:  Tosca Lee

 

Chapters: 45

Pages: 336

Genre: Fiction         

Rating: 4 stars

     Imagine being decedent from the first female serial killer in history being a Progeny and being the hunted. That's what happens to Emily Porter in this fictional twist on the Countess Elizabeth B legend. 

     Emily Porter has no memory of her life nor does she remember why she chose to have her memory erased. All she knows is that Emily is not her real name and that she did what she did to protect those she loves. She just doesn't know who those people are.  When two guys Luka Novak and Rolan Vasilesau show up claiming to know her and want to protect her and claiming the other is trying to kill her, she doesn't which one to trust.  She eventually makes a choice of who to trust hoping she hasn't made the wrong one.  Her choice and some clue she finds leads her back to Eastern Europe. 

     There she reconnects with people she knew before she had her memory erased. But again she doesn't know who she can trust. Trusting the wrong person can lead to danger and death. But we three loyal friends she set off to find a mythical diary of Countess Elizabeth B that may or may not exist. In order to stop this feud between Progeny and Scion's once and for all.    The book ends in a cliff hanger with question yet answered but don't worry the sequel in this duology is already out. 

Reading this week

Finished

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

A Christmas Tartan by Paige Shelton

Riverdale

Batgirl and the birds of Prey

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart

It Takes Two by Jonathan Scott

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

The Crown by Robert Lacey

Currently reading

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

O Christmas Bree by Erynn Mangum

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Death of a Toy Solider by Barbara Early 

Non-fiction reading

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R King

Reviewing

Devotional reading

365 Devotions for Hope

Did not Finish

Cat about Town by Cate Conte

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of Happily Ever Ashten

Title: Happily Ever Ashten

Author: Erynn Mangum

Series: Carrington Springs book 3

Chapters: 19 plus epilogue  

Pages: 325

Genre: Christian Chick lit new adult

Rating: 5 stars

     Happily Ever Ashten is the last book in the Carrington Springs series by Erynn Mangum. Ashten has lived in Carrington Springs her whole life and has pretty much worked at her grandparent's restaurant her entire life it seems. Now that she is a teacher she still works at the resultant in the summer, but at 31 she wants more. Her family her father especially wonder why she's not married yet. As a 30 year old who's father asks the same question on repeat I can relate. She's living in a room in Katie's house and she knows that's going to have to change because Katie's is getting married. 

     Eliza gets it in her mind to play matchmaker between Mike and Ashten about the time that Ashten's ex-boyfriend the one she thought she was going to marry comes back to town.  Ashten is torn she doesn't know what to do. But then her grandmother gives her some awesome advice that sounded just like something my own would say. 

     Happily Ever Ashten wraps up the series nicely Katie and Eliza get their happy endings and we see the direction that Ashten's future is taking. Though I wish we could have seen Ashten's happily Ever After too, since it is the title of her book, but we did sort of get a look at it with the comment the guy who won her heart said.  I am looking forward to her next book or series. I've already finished one novella she wrote this year, review to come, and as always I look forward to her Christmas one this year.

Review of Solve by Christmas

Title: Solve by Christmas

Author: Amber Schamel

 

Chapters: 18

Pages: 106

Genre: Christmas cozy mystery historical mystery

Rating: 4 stars

     Solved By Christmas is a Christmas cozy mystery with Sherlock Holmes vibes. Set in early 1900s Colorado. Detective Jasper Hollock is given the task of proving to his boss Mr. Rudin that life is worth living.Otherwise Jasper will lose the only father figure he's ever known. All while trying to figure out who is trying to ruin Rudin Sugar Factory. 

     I finished this cozy Christmas mystery in just a few days, if it hadn't been for work and school I may have been able to finish it just one day. I loved just about all of the characters especially Denny the young orphan boy that just wants a job with Jasper. To me Denny was a character straight out of Dickens he really tore at my heartstrings. This book combined two of my favorite types of books together: cozy mysteries and Christmas. Solved by Christmas is a heartfelt read that to me would make the perfect Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. 

     I was given an E-book copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

December TBR

December to finish

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

A Christmas Tartan by Paige Shelton

Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

It Takes Two by Jonathan Scott

Crepe Factor by Laura Childs  

December TBR

O Christmas Bree by Eyrnn Mangum

Hark the Hearld Angels Slay by Vicki Delany

Colors of Christmas by Olivia Newport

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

To Wager her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Lady Killers by Tori Telfer

Steal away Home by Matt Carter 

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer Allee 

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels 

Almost Gone by John Baldwin 

Proud to be a Marine by Brian C Kelly 

Reading Austen in America by Juliette Wells