Inside the Wong Mind

Book Review: The Stolen Princess by Kortney Keisel

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The Stolen Princess
by Kortney Keisel
Book 3 in the Desolation series
Rating: 4.5/5

I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this next book. I devoured the first two books in this series and had preordered this one because I needed my own copy. The story is standalone but I recommend reading the first two books because they are excellent. The first book is available for free by signing up for the author’s newsletter. If you choose to read this book first, there may be spoilers for the first two so read at your own risk.

As Princess Mykaleen “Myka” Adler tends to her dying father the king, she tries her best to find remedies and ease his fevers. Sheltered all her life, Myka does not have much of a life until she is unwittingly kidnapped by a band of men, one of who she thought was a friend. Drake Vestry is not on a mission to find friendship. His goal is to discover the whereabouts of the missiles and weapons that King Adler illegally developed and destroy them before they get into the wrong hands. He doesn’t agree with the Council of Essentials strategy of kidnapping the princess to coerce the king, but he would do practically anything for king and country. As Myka continue to deny any knowledge of the weapons, Drake takes it upon himself to be her protector from the other unsavory men in their party. Drake cannot deny the attraction and banter that make Myka such a fascinating woman who’s entirely out of his league. Though Myka wants to hate Drake, she can’t get over how her body responds to his touch. Can Myka find a way to rescue herself and save her kingdom? Can she trust Drake? Can Drake trust Myka?

“Myka had waited her whole life to feel butterflies. How disappointing that the feeling had been triggered by her enemy. Was Drake her enemy?”

This story is packed with action and humor. Keisel has a great voice for humor and practicality.
“Nothing kills a fantasy like a gunshot wound.”
Again, she evens addresses what happens when a woman gets her period and is surrounded by the men who kidnapped her. I loved it so much. Most authors hardly ever address that “problem”, so I was glad she went there. The swoon worthy Drake was well matched with the feisty Myka who always kept him on his toes. Their banter back and forth was genius and so endearing, especially the letters.

PG-13 content.
Highly recommend if you enjoy dystopian action and adventure with romance and a hint of mystery.

My thanks to the author 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.

Click here to get your copy!

April 25, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon

Blackberry Beach
by Irene Hannon
Book 7 in the Hope Harbor series
Rating: 4/5

Irene Hannon delivers another great story set in the beautiful and charming Hope Harbor. I’m a huge fan of this series (still holding out for Charley’s story – “Any day is a perfect day for a Charley’s fish taco”), and wish they’d included a blackberry truffle recipe or at least a place to order them from. LOL.

Returning to the town of Hope Harbor, Katherine Parker is looking to rest and hide away from the scrutiny and false accusations of the paparazzi of Hollywood. But trying to fly under the radar is hard when the owner of the local coffee shop, The Perfect Blend, Zach Garrett, has his eye on you. When they discover that they are neighbors living by Blackberry Beach, a friendship begins and secrets are shared. Can Zach find a way to mend the rift between his dad and himself? Can Katherine decide what’s holding her back from taking on a lead role in major blockbuster film? Can two very different people find a way to heal from their past and be together?

Not only did I feel invested in Zach and Katherine’s relationship, but I found myself rooting for Zach’s aunt and his barista to fall in love. It’s always fun having another relationship in the mix to bring more perspective, and I especially enjoyed Zach’s aunt’s character who always put her career first. Giving her a chance at love was special and beautiful.

“Life is too short to build walls that cut you off from the people you love.”

Highly recommend this book if you enjoy Christian contemporary fiction with romance, humor and delicious food.

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.

April 24, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

Bookshop by the Sea
By Denise Hunter
Rating: 4.5/5

Another winner from Denise Hunter! If you’re looking for a good beach read, this is the book for you. It has some serious moments but also some lighthearted ones too. The chemistry between the two main characters is electric but their personal issues are also real and relatable.

Sophia Lawson dreads seeing her ex-boyfriend, Aiden Maddox, when he shows up for the wedding of her little sister, Jenna, and his friend, Grant. It’s been years but when she sees him, she still gets butterflies. After the wedding, Sophia has plans to renovate and open her bookshop in a short amount of time in order to have a grand opening with a book signing of Nathaniel Quinn’s newest release. When Aiden isn’t able to leave right away due to a hurricane, he must stay at the same house as Sophia until he get home. Stuck in the same house with Aiden doesn’t help her feelings but Sophia is determined to go through with the plans for her bookshop. When an accident occurs, Aiden decides to stick around and help Sophia get her shop ready for the grand opening event. Can Sophia trust that Aiden won’t leave again? Can Aiden face his fears that he’s not good enough for Sophia?

Denise Hunter is such a talented writer and I always love to read what she writes. She never disappoints and her characters are alway interesting and authentic. Despite his struggles in school, Aiden was still able to be successful with the encouragement of Sophia and the right partnership. Not everyone can go to college or finish college but Aiden didn’t let that deter him from pursuing his dreams. I did get so frustrated with Sophia’s twin brother, sister and father and the way they treated her. I was so glad that part got resolved – although, it resolved rather quickly.

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian fiction with romance and second chances.

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.