Book Review: Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

Christmas Charms
by Teri Wilson
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: October 6, 2020

From the Back Cover:

She never dreamed her holiday would include her hometown, a dog, or a firefighter.

But a mysterious charm bracelet
predicted it all…

Ashley’s supposed to be having the Christmas of her dreams. After four years of working at an upscale jewelry store in Manhattan, she’s finally going to get a little velvet box of her own—from her boyfriend Jeremy, who’s taking her on a romantic trip to Paris. What could go wrong?

Well, everything.

Ashley heads home to Owl Lake instead, falling asleep on the train ride there…and waking up with a beautiful antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Soon, she realizes that each silver charm predicts an event that happens in real life. What does this mean for her and Jeremy…or her and Aidan, her former high school boyfriend, who’s now a local firefighter? Is there still a chance that she could have the perfect Christmas?

My Thoughts

Such a cute story for the holidays! It definitely reads like a Hallmark movie and I would love to watch the movie too. I loved walking through Ashley and Aidan’s stories and was eager to get to the ending. I loved the sweet, magical, Christmas moments with the charms on the bracelet and wished I could be there.

Highly recommend this story for those who enjoy romance, humor, and Christmas magic!

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

October 2, 2020 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice by Gemma Barder

Pride and Prejudice
Adapted by Gemma Barder
Rating: 5/5
Release Date: September 29, 2020

I am such a huge fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice including all the movies and mini-series. I was curious to see how the author would adapt the material for children, and I was not disappointed. The author is able to clearly tell the story without some of the extra flowery language and simplifying some of the scenes. She keeps the lovely humor and her tone light. I was very impressed with her ability to get all the emotions correct and keep the characters as true to the original as possible. I also loved the illustrations. They were similar to anime and delightful portrayals of my favorite characters.

I highly recommend this adaptation for those that want to share the brilliance of Pride and Prejudice with children.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

September 22, 2020 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review & CelebrateLit Giveaway: To Love A Prince by Rachel Hauck

About the Book

Book: To Love a Prince
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Royal Romance
Release Date: August 11, 2020

An enchanting new royal romance from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck

Daffodil Caron is not a princess, even though she once dreamed of being one. After all, she grew up as a playmate to royal princes, running through the halls of Perrigwynn Palace and dining with the queen. But the day she stumbled upon a royal secret, everything changed.

Flash forward eighteen years, and Daffy’s living a sweet, non-royal life. A skilled art curator for the Royal Trust, she has friends, a flat in the heart of the city, and a handsome, successful fiancée. The last person on her mind is Gus, a prince she once called her best mate.

HRH Prince Augustus is no longer “Prince Pudgy,” as caricaturized by the press, he’s charming and gorgeous, possessing a world-famous smile. But when he’s jilted at the altar by an American heiress as millions of people around the world watched, the spare heir to Lauchtenland’s ancient House of Blue escapes, finding solace on a Florida beach.

A year as a regular bloke allows him to rethink his purpose. He’s half decided his calling is to pour pints at a tiki bar, rather than serving his country and the Family.

Until an accident on the beach with a Frisbee changes his course.

Despite his long hair and beard, Daffy recognizes her prince, and their childhood friendship is renewed. She assures Gus Lauchtenland needs him, giving him the courage to return home.

When Daffy and Gus find themselves on assignment to Hadsby Castle in preparation for his brother’s wedding, their friendship blooms into affection.

But Gus cannot, will not, trust his heart again. Daffy’s engaged. And she also remains a royal family outcast because she knows the Queen’s secret.

When affection grows into love and secrets are exposed, trust is destroyed. Gus must choose which is stronger: the lies of his past or the hope of his future. And Daffy must face every fear to prove she will forever love a prince.

“Another compelling royal story by the master of princely tales!” Susan May Warren, USA Today bestselling, RITA award-winning novelist

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.

Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.

At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.

A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.

She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

My Thoughts

To Love A Prince
by Rachel Hauck
Book 1 in the True Blue Royal series
Rating: 4.5/5

Another winner from Rachel Hauck!!! I do love all her stories about royals. She captures such beautiful, complicated characters on the page. Any time she writes about royalty, I have to read it. LOL. And I can’t wait for the next story either!

Daffodil “Daffy” Caron grew up around the royal family of Lauchtenland because of her mother’s job and had the biggest crush on Prince Gus, the younger son. They were the best of friends and she wrote a diary of fantasy stories about her life with the prince. When security measures change, Daffy is left estranged from her playmates and must learn to keep a secret.

All grown up and on holiday in America with her sister and best friend, Daffy finds herself enjoying the Florida beach. A chance encounter with a frisbee has her meeting Prince Gus but in disguise. After having his heart broken, Prince Gus has been MIA for the past year and been working at a bar in Florida. He feels ready to return home to plan his brother’s wedding ball and attend his wedding.

As part of her job with the Royal Trust, Daffy is assigned to prepare and display all the royal wedding dresses to be displayed for the wedding ball. Prince Gus is also on the premises to plan the wedding ball and can’t seem to keep his mind off his old friend, Daffy. Will the blushes never stop for Daffy when she’s around the prince? Will her secret keep them from true love?

I do love a good mystery. Hauck weaves an interesting tale that I could not put down. I loved Daffy and Gus because they felt so real and flawed. They were broken and needed to heal. As a Christian, I always enjoy when faith is incorporated into stories and Hauck has a way of doing this that is more subtle but still beautiful. I feel like their journey was rushed at the end but it didn’t take away from the overall story. I still want to see more of them and am curious what will happen in the next book.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy royal romances with a twist of mystery and humor. (and quirky characters).

My thanks to the author and CelebrateLit for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Rachel

Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!

I’m thrilled to share To Love A Prince with you. So many of you who loved the Royal Wedding Series have asked for more royals so as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward princes and princesses. What’s more romantic than a royal wedding?

This royal story, the first book in a new series, True Blue Royal, is set in a new fictional country, Lauchtenland, in the North Sea. I’m really squeezing all those oil wells currently occupying that body of water.

The beauty of royal stories is they remind us of who we really are: princes and princesses. There is always a point in the story where the royal character, as well as the commoner, must come to grips with his and her true identity! Who God says we are!

Stories are a powerful reflection of life and it’s fun to insert ourselves into the tale. While fiction employs a lot of hyperbole we can find ourselves on the page somewhere, somehow.

Thanks for going on this little tour with me and To Love A Prince. You are so vital to my story as an author. Thank you!

Yours,

Rachel