I'm Going on an Adventure: December 2017

Fun, Heart, Adventure, and Laughs // Holding the Fort, by Regina Jennings

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: Five out of five hearts ♥♥♥♥♥= excellent!

Book one in the Fort Reno series

Description:

Former saloon singer Louisa Bell (otherwise known as the "Lovely Lola Bell") has nowhere to go. Fired from her job, she decides to turn to Fort Reno, where her brother is a cavalry soldier with a knack for getting in trouble- maybe she can put him in line. However, circumstances rarely turn out the way we expect...

The major of the fort, Daniel Adams, has his hands full. Running a fort, keeping the Indians happy and in line, and perhaps the hardest thing of all- raising two adolescent daughters- has been keeping him on his toes. A governess could be just the thing he has been needing to teach his daughters decorum (an older widow, stern enough to handle his children, preferred), but he is in no way prepared for the lady who shows up.

Louisa never meant to fall into the roll of a governess, but it may be just what she needs for the time being. Calling upon her stage experience, she embarks upon the hardest performance of her life...

My Review:

Oh my; I can't say enough good things about this book. If I was a bit nervous that Mrs. Jennings' Fort Reno series wouldn't be as good as her Ozark Mountain Romance one, I'm not anymore. This series may very well prove to be even better!

Let's start with the characters. Lovable and engaging are two words that fit the bill, and I am so very much looking forward to book two, where I hopefully will be able to catch up with them again. Louisa is a fun character, whose efforts in trying to keep up her ruse (coupled with Daniel's efforts to figure out her secrets) make up most of the story and keep it interesting. Daniel and Louisa work beyond perfectly together- her fun and his discipline making quite the pairing, and his daughters (sixteen-year-old Caroline and ten-year-old Daisy) complete the family. Sometimes I feel, in books, that the children of the main character tend to slow the book down, or make the parent seem a bit boring, but that is anything but the case for Daniel and his daughters. They instead complete the story, and help to make it a delightful tale. I absolutely cannot wait to see which character(s) (I have my guesses, although I can't decide which I'd rather read about first) will be featured in the next and subsequent novels in the series!

The content of this story is brilliant. Combine characters with varying personalities, an Indian sighting or two, a governess who is actually a singer of unknown repute, a major who is always in control, and two unwieldy daughters who seem determined to destroy his image, and you've got Holding the Fort in all its charm.

If you've loved Regina Jenning's other books, are a fan of author Karen Witemeyer, or just want a good western romance filled with love and laughter (this book has the kind of fun I love- the believable kind you probably could find in your own life. Not the focus of the story but enough to spice it up), then you should definitely try Holding the Fort- it's certainly worth the read!

Note: I got this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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A Whimsical Romance: Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: Three out of Five hearts ♥♥♥

About:

Gertrude Cadwalader is just about fed up with the antics of her employer, Mrs. Davenport. One of these days she is going to land Gertrude in a lot of trouble- which is just what happens. Caught red-handed, no one will believe Gertrude's innocence. No one, that is, except for rich (but known to society as "strange") Harrison Sinclair.

Harrison has been fighting his attraction for Gertrude since the day he met her. They are great friends, but he struggles with realizing and letting her know she's become something more.

With adventures and escapades around every corner, it just goes to show that Harrison and Gertrude are definitely out of the ordinary.

My Review:

I've read and reviewed Mrs. Turano's books several times before, with mixed results. One got a good review, the other one- well, not not quite as good. I've just never been to get into the writing style and plots of these novels (perhaps because these are more comedic books, and I've never been one for that type of book. I like more natural humor in the stories I read, instead of humor being one f the main points of the story). However, halfway through this one, I decided to do something different. As I waited for the rest of my family to arrive for Thanksgiving dinner, I read Out of the Ordinary and tried to forget the things I didn't like as much. Instead, I endeavored to imagine this as not only a book but a true story, something that had really happened. And it worked. I got into what I was reading, and could enjoy the story the way the author intended it to be enjoyed. No, the book still isn't a favorite of mine, but when I treated it like a true story and forgot all the things I disliked about it, I could enjoy what I was reading and give you a better, more unbiased review than I previously could have.

Yes, the story has its flaws. The characters tend to explain things that are happening, instead of letting the story speak for itself. That writing rule I understand writers have- you know, show, don't tell- is kind of ignored here. And if you like that sort of thing, great! I have a feeling that that is one of the things loyal reader love about Mrs. Turano's writing; it just isn't my thing so much. And some of the happenings in the novel are kind of unrealistic- not things you'd see happening in your daily life. However, the characters and their unnatural circumstances tend to be charming, in all their unusual-ness. Yes, the things that happen in Out of the Ordinary may not be things that would (or could) actually happen, but they lead you on a humorous romp through Gertrude and Harrison's world while incorporating things that we all struggle with- forgiveness, accepting God's love, being different.

Gertrude, Harrison, Mrs. Davenport... all are characters you'll remember if you've read the first book in the Apart from the Crowd series. And don't worry- there are lots of other appearances from other beloved characters. Of all the characters in the first novel, though, Gertude and Harrison were the two I preferred, and wished to see a happy ending for. They were made for each other (even though they may not admit it at first), and love all the things about each other that others see as strange, or even as flaws. One other thing I liked about this book was that Harrison seems to suffer from being color-blind. It's never really addressed (only his unique clothing and color choices are), but I thought it was a neat and different thing to have in a historical novel (or any book, for that matter), where being color-blind may not have even been a thing yet.

While this book may never be a favorite of mine, it was worth reading something different for a change, and if you like comedic adventures (with a bit of mystery) this may just be the book for you.

Note: I got this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Historical

A Slightly Gothic Adventure: Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano

Friday, December 01, 2017

Genre: Historical

Rating: Four out of five hearts ♥♥♥♥

About:

All of England seems to be enamored with a mysterious author, known only by the pseudonym "Nathaniel Droll". What no one knows is the author is really a man who has been in debtor's prison since his daughter, now an adult, was a baby. And no one knows that that man has just died.

The sudden death of her father brings many changes into Aurelie Harcourt's life. Debtor's prison is all she has ever known, and the aristocratic life she must enter is one she is not used to. Her newfound family is not fond of her, and society's expectations are not something her sweet disposition is used to. But a new home and family are not the only things Aurelie's father left her, but also his pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Aurelie must take up the story her father's death left unfinished and learn the only tale she has ever wanted to know- how, and why, her mother Lady Jayne disappeared.

My Review:

From the mysterious front cover to the first pages, Lady Jayne Disappears oozes intrigue and... questions. How did Woolf Harcourt, wealthy British citizen, end up in debtor's prison? Why didn't his well-off, titled sister give over the money to free him? And whatever happened to Lady Jayne, anyway? All those questions will be answered, but only after several (or, rather, many) twists, turns, and red herrings. And while I normally am not a fan of first-person writing, I did approve of it in Lady Jayne Disappears. It kind of helped us get into Aurelie's thoughts and imagination, her questions and theories as to what happened to her mother.

In addition to intrigue, there is also a heavy dose of romance (which I expected and also approved of). Both hero and heroine have questions that need answered (and therefore, so do we, the readers) and that keeps the pages turning. The whole novel had a slight Jane Eyre/Gothic feel to it- and also a slight bit of creepiness (the old, mysterious house, which was the location for 90% of the story, was partially responsible for lending this creepy air). Which was interesting, for I've never read (nor found there to be many) books with such a slightly gloomy-Gothic-mystery feel to them. But these aren't the only words I'd use to describe the book- it also had lots of inspiring themes, coming mostly from Aurelie (loved her name, by the way), who held a firm belief in God while trying to make sense of all that was happening, and had happened in the past.

Apparently this was also Mrs. Politano's first published book, and so I heartily applaud her for making such a stellar first novel. Both the writing and the creative story line were excellent. Keep an eye out for more novels from Joanna Davidson Politano in the future!

As a side note, I was thrilled to find a quote from my all-time favorite author so fittingly placed at the end- it went perfectly with the story.

Note: I got this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Also, check out the book trailer here.

And by the way, happy first day of December! Only 24 more days 'til Christmas!