The Promised Prince By Kortney Keisel Rating: 5/5 Release date: January 12, 2021
Wow. I can’t even describe how awesome this book is. I literally started reading right before bed and then read straight through for the next four hours. I could not put the book down. So good! The book is full of many laugh out loud moments, grief-stricken tears, and heart-pounding romance. This is a standalone novel but I believe the author is going to continue writing within the world and I definitely cannot wait to read more. (Signing up for her newsletter grants you a free story from the same world).
Renna Degray has felt displaced ever since her father died and her mother remarried the king of New Hope. When a trip to her childhood farm allows her to visit her father’s grave, she finds more than she bargained for in Trev, someone who works for the king’s guard. Just a few hours with him has her mischievous side coming out and she feels a hope of belonging again. But anguish comes when Trev turns out to be already engaged…to her stepsister, Princess Seran. Renna must try her best to hide her attraction and chemistry with Trev in order to let the political alliance continue. There is trouble in Albion and Prince Ezra Trevenna (Trev to his friends) is trying his best to rein in his father’s animosity toward Tolsten, the bordering country, and avoid all out war. Marrying Princess Seran would give his country access to their substantial army and help him in his campaign for king. Can Trev find a way to make Renna his bride or is he stuck fulfilling his duty to crown and country?
This debut novel is brilliantly written and will make you want more from this author! Her characters are endearing and imperfect. Her story has depth and so much heart. And it is CLEAN romance. The world the author has built is interesting and I look forward to reading more about it in future books.
Highly recommend if you enjoy YA dystopian romance with lots of humor and political intrigue.
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.
Book: Dawn of Vengeance Author: Ronie Kendig Genre: FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera Release Date: December 8, 2020
A haunting prophecy upended his identity. Now it demands his life.
Once a formidable bounty hunter, Marco Dusan is plagued by insecurity as he tours the realm he now rules. This quiet, backwater planet is not as untouched as he’d once thought. Evidence of collusion between Droseran factions and the powerful Symmachians with their forbidden technology litters his encounters. Worse, all signs indicate Xisya, the alien who tortured him, is still snatching Kynigos Brethren—but to what end?
Lance Corporal Eija Zacdari works hard to win a coveted place on the Symmachian hyperjump program, but instinct tells her their intel is flawed. Despite nearly failing the tests, she is assigned to the team-and lands in the middle of a bewildering conspiracy.
Haunted by a prophecy that promises pain and war, Marco forges alliances to protect the primitive world against Symmachia’s devastating influence. But one truth becomes painfully clear: the biggest threat to their world may be much, much closer to home.
Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of over twenty titles. An Army brat, Ronie lives a short train ride from New York City with her husband, twin sons, and two fur-sons, VVolt N629, a retired military working dog, and Benning the Stealth Golden. Described as an empath by her literary agent, Ronie has used her degree in psychology to write books that have won the coveted Christy Award, RomanticTimes Reviewers’ Choice Award, The Realm Award, HOLT Medallion Award, and more. Her books have also hit the CBA Bestseller List multiple times.
My Thoughts
Dawn of Vengeance by Ronie Kendig Book 2 in the Droseran Saga series Rating: 5/5
I did not think it was possible but the Droseran Saga just keeps getting better and better. Dawn of Vengeance sweeps you away to a world that you don’t want to leave making you wish the next book was already out. You will definitely want to read this book after reading first book, Brand of Light.
Your favorite hero is back! Marco is not just your hunter (Kynigos), but he is now the king (medora) of Kalonica. After embarking on a tour of his new country, he encounters more than he bargains for including meeting Isaura, a beautiful young lady who can makes him feel again after his heartbreak. Together they find that raiders are somehow equipped with banned technology and weapons which could mean war for their planet. Can Marco find out what’s happening before it’s too late?
Meanwhile there are other characters involved in this story but Marco is my favorite. lol. I really can’t explain how hesitant I was to pick up this sequel and pray that it was as good as the first. However, I shouldn’t have worried. I did not want to stop reading this saga – this space opera. It was thrilling to read and catch up with old and new characters. The author switches perspectives throughout to focus on different characters which works really well for this story.
Highly recommend for those who enjoy an exciting adventure in space and other worlds with clean romance and mystery.
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 Ronie
Throughout the Droseran Saga, Marco Dusan—our much-loved hero—enjoys his favorite drink, warmed Cordi. The inspiration for his citrusy-spiced drink came from a favorite family holiday tradition—“Christmas punch.” My mother-in-law received this recipe while they were stationed in Germany from a colonel’s wife. We make this every Christmas (okay, I make it a lot starting in about late October because it’s so delish). The piquant scent of cranberry, cloves, and orange fills our home every fall and holiday.
The scent of this is apropos for Marco, who tracks by scent. And, interestingly, our noses and smells are connected to memories, which just seemed to demand I come up with some way to create “Marco’s Cordi” for readers. So, this year, I used Adagio Tea’s custom-blend feature to craft a more citrusy blend of Marco’s drink. Now, that’s tea—something Marco doesn’t really enjoy—but add a quarter cup of warmed orange juice, and you’re starting to hit the sweet spot. Marco would be proud!
To celebrate her tour, Ronie is giving away the grand prize package of an “Isaura” themed candle, “Marco’s Cordi” Custom Blend Tea from Adagio, a signed Hardcover of Dawn of Vengeance, and Isaura’s amulet!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston Book 3 in the Amish Marketplace series Rating: 4/5
I was lucky enough to receive a free ARC of the audiobook of this story and it did not disappoint! I am a fan of Amy Clipston and she is very good at writing sweet, yet authentic, stories of romance set in the Amish community. This story can be read standalone since I have not read the other books in this series but now I need to. LOL.
Bethany Gingerich has a thriving business as the coffee and donut stand at the Amish market. She and her cousins have successful booths but everything is changing since her cousins are getting married one by one. Bethany feels overlooked as a potential mate but finds her eye drawn to the new-in-town, Micah Zook, who is helping with his grandfather’s custom furniture shop. Micah has his own sad past, but he’s determined to do what he loves and that’s helping his grandfather continue his business. He finds a sense of peace when he grabs his Saturday morning coffee and donut from Bethany’s booth and can’t wait to try her newest flavored coffee. Antics and miscommunications ensue on this couple’s journey to love.
I thought this story was very sweet but the only problem I had may have been caused by the narrator of the audiobook than the actual heroine as written. I found Bethany’s character to be so confusing and frustrating at times. She’d go from competent businesswoman to insecure teenager to naive friend and back again. I’m not sure if that was more because of the narrator’s interpretation, but I found Bethany’s character very unlikeable. (This is incredibly strange for me as a reader since I almost always give the MC the benefit of the doubt). I tried really hard to sympathize with her character and her internal struggles but she came out more annoying than anything else. As a single woman, I definitely share some of her struggles and insecurities, but I felt her immaturity was a little over the top. However, the story itself was great and I really liked Micah’s character. I really loved all the interesting coffee flavors Bethany came up with – they sounded great (even to a non-coffee drinker). The family aspects of this story were very strong, and the faith aspect was also woven throughout the story in a meaningful way.
Audiobook: The narrator was okay. She was good but I didn’t think her German pronunciation was very good. Her interpretation of Bethany seemed whiny to me, which is frustrating when I’m trying to root for the MC. The production was well done and flowed well.
Highly recommend if you enjoy Amish romances with some humor and spunk.
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.
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.
