Title: The Lady of Galway Manor Author: Jennifer Deibel Genre: Historical Christian Fiction Publisher: Revell Release Date: February 1, 2022
In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy’s father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family–descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.
Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family’s jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the “lies” the Claddagh Ring promises.
Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the “other side” isn’t quite as barbaric and uncultured as they’d been led to believe–and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner’s fire.
Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.
Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.
My Review
The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel Rating: 4/5
Who doesn’t want to fall in love in Ireland? Get ready to be swept away back to 1920s Ireland. The De Lacy family has just moved to Ireland and Lady Annabeth is the new apprentice for the famous Claddagh Ring jewelers, the Jennings family. Stephen Jennings must train the English lady, but will his feelings toward Britain’s rule of Ireland keep him from admitting his growing attraction to the lovely Annabeth?
The chemistry between Stephen and Annabeth is palpable and oh so swoon worthy! Their back stories are well developed and their authenticity makes them relatable.
“Hate is fueled by ignorance, son. The first step toward peace is the genuine desire to understand your so-called enemy. Don’t punish her for the sins of her fathers. Let her learn.”
Highly recommend this book about the choices we make and taking risks for love.
My thanks to the author and publisher 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.
Title: Shadow Angel Book Two Authors: Leia Stone & Julie Hall Series: Shadow Angel #2 Genre: YA Urban Fantasy Release Date: February 25, 2022
He’s gone, and the worst part is, I don’t know if he’s dead or alive.
I dealt with the curse. I picked my side. The hellish nightmare that I woke up to when I discovered I was a Watcher should be over, but it’s not. Weeks have passed with no sign of Gage and I can’t seem to move on, but a war is brewing and wallowing is no longer an option. With the ruler of the Netherworld after me, my new mission not only affects one realm, but all of them.
Leia Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple bestselling series including Matefinder and Wolf Girl. She’s sold over two million books and her Fallen Academy series has been optioned for film. Her novels have been translated into five languages and she even dabbles in script writing. Leia writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy kick-butt heroines and irresistible love interests. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband and two children. www.LeiaStone.com
Julie Hall is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author. She writes YA paranormal / fantasy novels, loves doodles, and drinks Red Bull, but not necessarily in that order. Julie’s daughter says that her superpower is sleeping all day and writing all night . . . and well, she wouldn’t be wrong. Julie currently lives in Colorado with her four favorite people – her husband, daughter, and two fur babies. www.JulieHallAuthor.com
My Review
Shadow Angel: Book Two by Leia Stone and Julie Hall Rating: 4.5/5
This epic story continues after that crazy cliffhanger from Book One! You definitely should read the first book in the series because it’s awesome and this story picks up right where Book One left off. This author duo is great at action and high stakes suspense. They aren’t afraid to break our hearts and then give them back.
First, the cover is gorgeous (as always) and deserves to be seen in person (I will be ordering the special hardback when available). What book cover lover won’t want the special edition? 😉
Second, the story continues with a new character that is amazing and powerful and I want to know more! Yes, I’m talking about Aurum and you’ll be talking about Aurum too.
Third, the sweet love story between the main characters continues to make readers swoon and sigh in awe. There are definitely some very romantic moments in the midst of all the action.
Fourth, that ending! I won’t say more but come on! You’ll just have to read the series to find out.
I cannot wait to read what comes next and am excited to delve into this fantastic world again.
PG-13 content – some swear words.
Highly recommend if you enjoy stories about light and dark and the characters who fall in love against all odds.
My thanks to the authors 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.
Title: In Search of a Prince Author: Toni Shiloh Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction, Romance Publisher: Bethany House Release Date: February 1, 2022
It seems like a dream come true . . . until it forces her to question everything.
Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha’s Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops a bombshell–Brielle is really a princess in the island kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, the king, is failing.
Distraught by all the secrets her mother kept, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before her coronation, or the crown will pass to another. Brielle is uncertain if she even wants the throne, and with her world totally shaken, where will she find the courage to take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring?
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel Grace Restored was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at www.tonishiloh.com.
My Review
In Search of a Prince By Toni Shiloh Rating: 4.5/5
First, can we talk about that cover? I immediately knew I needed to read the story based on the book cover and that gorgeous dress! Stunning! Lol. I will judge a book by its cover if it’s that beautiful. Also…Representation matters. Seeing a black woman on the cover matters and is one of the reasons I wanted to read her story.
Second, Toni Shiloh is an incredibly talented writer who can suck the reader into her world and create such a lush environment that I want to visit. Her world building is brilliant with just enough detail to come alive in your imagination.
Third, Brielle…and a certain someone have so much chemistry that was dripping off the page. It’s the swoon worthy but sweet kind of chemistry that makes you sigh. The love story is written with so much heart and faith.
Finally, I love how the author is not afraid to weave her faith into this incredible story and share about who God is. Such a perfect display of His love and pleasure!
Don’t miss this clean, modern day fairytale set in a small African country with a royal family full of secrets.
My thanks to the author and publisher 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.
Q & A with the Author (from her website)
1. Please provide a brief summary of your new book, In Search of a Prince.
Brielle Adebayo is a middle school civics teacher when her mother drops a bombshell: she’s a princess and heir to the throne of Ọlọrọ Ilé. The king, her grandfather, is dying and needs to establish her as his official heir. It’s then that the royal council finds an old edict that dictates she must be married in order to become the next ruling monarch. She’s given a list of eligible bachelors and grapples with the enormity of the situation. Can she be the queen the people of Ọlọrọ need? That is the journey I take the reader on between the pages.
2. In Search of a Prince is primarily set in the fictional country of Ọlọrọ Ilé. Can you tell us a little about this place?
I’d love to. I set the country in the Gulf of Guinea, a little to the west of Bioko Island. It has a tropical climate like that of Bioko, but I used a lot of Nigerian influences to develop the country. It is ruled by a king, one of the few African nations that still maintains a monarchy. Their council is also made up of tribal elders to represent the different regions of Ọlọrọ.
3. What different cultures influenced the creation of this story?
I had so much fun exploring the tribes of Nigeria. I also looked at how the colonization of Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, and western Africa as a whole influenced the current cultures. It was with all this in mind that I developed the culture of my fictional country.
4. One of the underlying themes in In Search of a Prince is learning to trust God and His will—no matter where it may lead. How does this theme come into play in the life of your female protagonist, Brielle Adebayo?
Trust is such a huge theme for Brielle. She’s been thrust into a life that looks nothing like what she’s used to. She doesn’t want to do anything outside of God’s will, yet life is filled with so many new trials that it’s hard to distinguish what is what. That’s where trust comes in, and we get to see how her walk with God develops on this new journey.
5. What do you think this novel contributes to the inspirational fiction genre that we haven’t seen before?
Diversity! It’s not often you get to walk into bookstores and see a lot of fiction with ethnic characters. It’s my hope that Black women (young and old) will see this book and see themselves. That it allows them to dream and be inspired by what God can do.
6. What was the inspiration for In Search of a Prince?
I was inspired by the union between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was amazing to see their love, but it also made me wish for stories that celebrated Black princesses. So I dreamed one up. ☺
7. What do you hope readers gain from reading your new novel?
My biggest hope is that they see God in a new way. That they’re able to trust that He has good plans and that nothing takes Him by surprise, so we can trust in Him and rest in those truths.
8. What do you love most about writing contemporary romance novels—specifically stories about royalty?
There’s something about showing that romance and faith can still exist in the midst of our trials and tribulations. Add the royal factor of caring for an entire country, and it only shows how awesome God can be.
9. How can readers connect with you?
I can be reached via email at toni@tonishiloh.com, or they can find all my social media links on my website, ToniShiloh.com.
Bookstagram Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a copy of the book and candle. (2) additional winners will receive a copy of the book. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2022.)
To enter the giveaway, go to @justreadtours on Instagram and follow directions at each of the tour spots.
Hello. This blog is all mine and I will do my best to post what interests me and what books I read with honest reviews. I am a lover of good Christian fiction with a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue, humor, fun, etc. I invite you to join me as I read my way through books and life. I am currently pursuing my residency training as a family medicine physician!!! I have to carefully choose what I want to read for fun. My name is Kim and you are entering the Wong Mind.
