In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh

In Search of a Prince
by Toni Shiloh

ISBN-13: 9780764238956
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: February 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
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 the mother of all bombshells--Brielle is a princess in the kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, King Tiwa Jimoh Adebayo, is failing.

Distraught by her mother's betrayal, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before assuming the throne or the crown will be passed to another. Uncertain who to choose from the council's list of bachelors, she struggles with the decision along with the weight of her new role in a new country. With her world totally shaken, she must take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring.


My Review:
In Search of a Prince is a bit of a fantasy romance. Brielle is 25 years old and angry with her mother who has only just now told her the truth about her dead father. Her grandfather is king (of a made up African island country) and dying, and he wants to meet her and see if she'll be willing to be his heir. She imediately loves him and the island and the handsome, encouraging palace runner. But to be Queen, she's expected to marry a local man that the Royal Council will approve.

If you like your romances to be low in conflict, this will appeal to you. Possible problems were easily overcome. Most of the story was spent learning about the island and spending time with the handsome love interest who also encouraged and built her up. She also built him up since his own family thought so little of him. Both prayed to God for guidance (and actually waited until they felt God had answered before acting). I found it odd that the council's "potential husband" picks showed so little respect for Brielle to her face, though that did make things much easier for her. Anyway, the main characters were engaging, and the romantic pair was a good match. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this princess romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

Until Leaves Fall in Paris
by Sarah Sundin

ISBN-13: 9780800736378
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Baker Publishing
Released: February 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
As the Nazis march toward Paris in 1940, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. Lucie struggles to run Green Leaf Books due to oppressive German laws and harsh conditions, but she finds a way to aid the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. After they meet in the bookstore, Paul and Lucie are drawn to each other, but she rejects him when she discovers he sells to the Germans. And for Paul to win her trust would mean betraying his mission.


My Review:
Until Leaves Fall in Paris is a Christian romance set in Paris starting in May 1940 but mainly from April 1941 to March 1942. Lucie reaches out to widower Paul's lonely young daughter because she doesn't feel it's right to punish her for her father's actions (of selling civilian-use trucks to the Germans). Paul appreciates her help and helps her learn to run the store. They fight their attraction to each other's thoughtful, kind personality until they finally discover that both are doing resistance work--work that could get either arrested at any time if discovered by the wrong person.

The characters were well-developed, had complexity, and acted realistically to events. They felt like real people who really lived through these events. The historical details were woven into the story and brought the story alive in my imagination. Paul and Lucie were engaging characters who helped others and supported each other. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Veteran's Vow by Jill Lynn

The Veteran's Vow
by Jill Lynn

ISBN-13: 9781335759115
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired
Released: February 22nd 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a traumatic brain injury, military vet Behr Delgado refuses the one thing that could help him—a service dog. But Ellery Watson is sure the perfect pup will change Behr’s life and offers to work with him one-on-one. As Behr sets about overcoming his fears, Ellery’s surprised to find herself opening up about her troubled nephew.


My Review:
The Veteran's Vow is a romance. Behr needs a service dog but is afraid of dogs due to traumatic experiences while in the military. His sisters sign him up for a dog, and Ellery challenges him to try to overcome his fear of his service dog. They work together with the help of an expert in phobias. Ellery's troubled-teen nephew is staying with her for a while, and Behr works at a ranch that helps troubled teens. Behr helps him get into the summer program and mentors him. Ellery and Behr grow to care for each other as they work together, but Behr is committed to helping the family of his dead best friend while Ellery is too busy with her service dog program to have a relationship.

Ellery and Behr were both nice people who noticed when something was bothering another person and really listened. They quickly opened up to each other about their struggles and found ways to help each other. And the sweet dog was just perfect for Behr. The main characters were engaging and had depth, coming across as real people with real struggles. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Totally Pawstruck by Sofie Ryan

Totally Pawstruck
by Sofie Ryan

ISBN-13: 9780593201978
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Although Sarah Grayson is often tending to the contained chaos of her delightful secondhand store in North Harbor, Maine, plus dealing with the quirky personality of her rescue cat, Elvis, she still takes an occasional night off. But her evening out comes to an abrupt end when Sarah discovers Stella Hall, a member of the library board, standing over a body in the street.

Although Stella admits that she and the victim had fought about several things including library funding, she is adamant that she is innocent. Sarah is eager to help, but even with the assistance of Charlotte's Angels, the senior citizen detectives who rent out part of her shop, there is still a vast amount of circumstantial evidence linking Stella to the crime. The odds may be stacked against them, but Sarah and Elvis, along with the Angels, will work hard to check out the suspects and catch a killer.


My Review:
Totally Pawstruck is a cozy mystery. It's the ninth book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book did not spoil any of the previous mysteries. The main characters were nice, engaging people. The mystery was a clue-based mystery. The amateur detectives asked questions and looked into various alibis. They basically just got alibis for all of the suspects and double-checked them, and that left one person. Case solved. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk

Summerhaven
by Tiffany Odekirk

ISBN-13: 9781524421465
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: February 14th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.


My Review:
Summerhaven is a romance set in 1817 in England. Hannah has waited for her childhood friend to call for her and honor his pledge to marry her. When the invitation comes to visit his family’s country estate, she realizes that he's changed and intends to marry for money. She remembers the elder brother's mean pranks but discovers a considerate man who's concerned about others and who builds her up. In contrast, Oliver deliberately humiliates her in front of the woman he's after. Does she really want to marry Oliver, even if no one else is offering for her?

The main characters (even Oliver) were likable and acted in realistic ways. Historical details about clothing and manners were woven into the story. I'll just mention, authors, that male horses also come in a variety called geldings. In a time when a broken bone could mean death and stallions were valuable breeding stock, most people wouldn't use them for daily pleasure riding. Offering one to an inexperienced rider was not a kindness, and even naturally talented riders don't become skilled riders in one ride. Likewise, I'd assume that it's unlikely that even a talented musician could perfectly play an unknown piece on the first try. These were sweet scenes, just not realistic.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'm recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Texas Cold Case Threat by Jessica R. Patch

Texas Cold Case Threat
by Jessica R. Patch

ISBN-13: 9781335554888
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: February 22nd 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a murderer sends her taunting letters, FBI behavioral analyst Chelsey Banks retreats to a friend’s ranch—and interrupts the housekeeper being attacked. When evidence connects the break-in to a cold-case serial killer, Chelsey’s best friend, Texas Ranger Tack Holliday, needs her help. With Tack at her side, this could be Chelsey’s chance to catch two killers—unless one of them gets her first.


My Review:
Texas Cold Case Threat is a Christian romantic suspense. Chelsey felt compelled to put criminals in prison to balance out the thefts that her father committed. In the past, she bragged that she'd never gotten a profile wrong and claimed credit for closing cases. Then the true killer in one case convinced her in a letter that she made a mistake once. While still certain that's the only mistake she's made, she's not confidant when making new profiles. Tack's investigating a serial killer targeting Mexican immigrant women and asked for her help in profiling the killer. She's not certain of her profile and several people seem like strong suspects. (Though I thought it was pretty obvious whodunit matched what little she gave for a profile and quickly realized it was him.)

Chelsey and Tack were friends for years and realized how much they cared for each other as events threatened their lives. They worked well together as they tried to solve whodunit while staying alive. The suspense came from someone repeatedly attacking them and others. With two killers out to get her, you'd think she'd be cautious. While I liked what the author was trying to do with the growth of the characters, I found it exasperating that Chelsey often seemed oblivious to possible danger. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild

A Deadly Bone to Pick
by Peggy Rothschild

ISBN-13: 9780593437087
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley Books
Released: February 8th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.

On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, she's an immediate suspect--after all, Noodle's testimony to clear her name won't hold much water in court.

To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine's to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly's life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?


My Review:
A Deadly Bone to Pick is a cozy mystery. It took a bit to get into the mystery, though. Molly's settling in and working with the dogs. One dog found a severed hand and later a unique wedding ring. Then a neighbor was found dead. The police were so much at a loss at finding suspects that a jerk cop basically accused Molly and expended resources trying to find some vague, meaningless connection. This pushed her into investigating the clues and connections herself, and she still had her P.I. resources to do research on people.

Throughout the story, we got dog training as Molly helped a smart, young girl (awesome character) with her puppy and an adult neighbor with a deaf puppy. The main characters were interesting and acted realistically. Some of the characters really charmed me, like the girl, the party boy neighbor, and of course the dogs. Absolutely loved the ending with Noodles showing off his new training in the best way possible! However, I had whodunit figured out long before Molly. Certain factors (like the fact this is a cozy mystery) limited the suspect pool, so I had an advantage. But it was a fun read anyway.

There was no sex. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this engaging, interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Thief and the Noble by Dana LeCheminant

Thief and the Noble
by Dana LeCheminant

ISBN-13: 9781524417086
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: February 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the daughter of a marquess, Lady Marian Russell is poised to impress in her first London Season. She is young, beautiful, and wealthy—but catching an eligible husband is the last thing on her mind. Marian is disillusioned with how the upper class lives while the poor of London suffer, and she's determined to do something about it. When she comes face-to-face with a mysterious man who steals from arrogant aristocrats and redistributes the spoils to the poor, Marian recognizes a motivation that mirrors her own.

When she unmasks the bandit Robin, he begrudgingly agrees to train Marian in the art of thievery in exchange for her silence. But when they discover a copycat thief operating in London, they focus on stopping him at all costs.


My Review:
Thief and the Noble is a Regency romance set in London. While I realized it'd be part fantasy, it didn't really fit in the Regency period. Marian and Robin obviously didn't follow conventional manners, but no one really did. For example, a bad guy groped Marian's backside during a waltz at a ball and her parents did nothing. Marian was told several times that women couldn't do anything to help the poor (huh?), so she resorted to robbing people. Starting with shoplifting because....well, even she finally realized that wasn't a rich person. And she stuffed the ribbon into her bodice (of all places) in a crowded store, yet no one noticed? Hm.

I was disappointed that Robin's reasons for robbing the rich were about his ego and punishing people he didn't like. He'd do the robbery and hand the jewels and money off to someone else to sell and give to the poor, so he wasn't directly involved with helping the poor. When Robin inherited a title and wealth, he decided helping his own tenants and pushing to change laws were not enough: he wanted to be the savior of all the poor by punishing the snobbish rich! Yet when the copycat stole to punish people for how they treated a certain person, he had to be stopped as a bad guy.

Finally, Marian was inept, foolish, quick to anger and take insult (especially against Robin), and stubborn about getting her way even if it put others in danger. I didn't really like her. But Robin viewed her quick temper as a desirable trait, and each made the other "feel whole." There was no sex or bad language, but obviously this tale didn't appeal to me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers

The Lady’s Mine
by Francine Rivers

ISBN-13: 9781496447579
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House
Released: February 8th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1875. When Kathryn Walsh arrives in tiny Calvada, a mining town nestled in the Sierra Nevadas, falling in love is the farthest thing from her mind. Banished from Boston by her wealthy stepfather, she has come to claim an inheritance from the uncle she never knew: a defunct newspaper office on a main street overflowing with brothels and saloons, and a seemingly worthless mine. Moved by the oppression of the local miners and their families, Kathryn decides to relaunch her uncle's newspaper--and then finds herself in the middle of a maelstrom, pitted against Calvada's most powerful men. But Kathryn intends to continue to say--and publish--whatever she pleases, especially when she knows she's right.

Matthias Beck, owner of a local saloon and hotel, has a special interest in the new lady in town. He instantly recognizes C. T. Walsh's same tenacity in the beautiful and outspoken redhead--and knows all too well how dangerous that family trait can be. While Kathryn may be right about Calvada's problems, her righteousness could also get her killed. But when the handsome hotelier keeps finding himself on the same side of the issues as the opinionated Miss Walsh, Matthias's restless search for purpose becomes all about answering the call of his heart.

Everyone may be looking to strike it rich in this lawless boomtown, but it's a love more precious than gold that will ultimately save them all.


My Review:
The Lady’s Mine is a Christian romance set in 1875 in California. The historical details were woven into the story, creating a specific time and place. They brought the story alive in my imagination. The main characters were complex, realistic people. Kathryn didn't always think through the consequences of her actions, but she was willing to admit her mistakes and tried to not keep making the same mistakes. I cared about what happened to her because she wanted so much for the truth to be known and positive change to happen. Matthias wasn't an idealist. but he also wanted to make positive changes, would admit when he was wrong, and could take criticism. Despite some clashing of strong wills, they worked well together to bring about positive change. Suspense was created by physical danger threatened by those who don't like change or their secrets getting out.

Kathryn looked to God for help and transformation. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable historical.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green

Drawn by the Current
by Jocelyn Green

ISBN-13: 9780764233326
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: February 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A birthday excursion turns deadly when the SS Eastland capsizes with Olive Pierce and her best friend Claire on board. Hundreds perish during the accident, and it's only when Olive herself barely escapes that she discovers her friend is among the victims.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Olive returns to her work at an insurance agency and is soon caught up in the countless investigations related to the accident. But with so many missing, there are few open-and-shut cases, and she tries to balance her grief with the hard work of finding the truth. Is she just overwhelmed, or is someone trying to impede her investigations? When clues surface that impact those closest to her, how deep will she dig?

Newspaper photographer Erik Magnussen begins helping Olive with her cases, and they develop a fast friendship. Just when Olive begins to unravel the secrets, more setbacks arise. It will take everything she's got to find the truth and stay ahead of those who want to sabotage her progress.


My Review:
Drawn by the Current is a Christian romance set in 1915 in Chicago. The historical details were largely focused on the SS Eastland disaster and the many insurance claims that had to be investigated and processed. These details were woven into the story and brought the events alive in my imagination. The main characters were likable, reacted realistically to events, and matured as people as they had to make difficult choices and sometimes didn't make the best choices. Olive wanted to prove her abilities as an investigator, so she pushed hard for the truth even if she didn't always like the outcomes. Her life was made harder because someone didn't want her to succeed.

Erik and Olive didn't meet until after the SS Eastland capsized. They quickly clicked as friends, and Erik supported Olive rather than trying to tell her how to do things. They got to know each other as they worked together and realized how much they cared about each other. Olive felt like her worth was based on her job and what she could do for others, so she struggled when she felt like she wasn't succeeding at helping others. Her family reminded her that her value comes from God rather than what she does. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intense historical. How mind-blowing that so many people could die on a steamship that tipped sideways while at a dock with plenty of help present.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.