Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 19

Book Review: Deceived by Madisyn Carlin

Stars: 3.5

Synopsis: When Therese Westa is tasked with killing Holder Lygor, one of King Eligor’s bodyguards, she expects the job to be quick and easy. However, as her mission is drawn out into many complicated steps and she learns more about her target, she begins to see that she’s falling headfirst into a plot that reeks of betrayal, deceit, and treachery.

Y’all. I quite honestly don’t know what to think about Deceived. I typically have a few days—or a week or two—to mull over books before I read them...but my review is due tomorrow and I just finished reading this a few hours ago. So suffice to say, I’m kinda winging this thing. Maybe I’ll figure out what my thoughts are as I write! *winks*

To be honest, getting into Deceived was a struggle! The plot was very confusing and hard to follow, and the focus kept shifting between our four main characters—Therese, Ivelle, Holder, and Rogan—and a very fast pace. I don’t have a problem following multiple points-of-view; however, when I can’t decide who’s the main character and I don’t have a clue of what’s going on, that makes it pretty difficult.

Things definitely cleared up toward the end—and Y’ALL. THAT CLIFFHANGER. I NEED BOOK TWO SO BAD.

*clears throat * But up until that point, the plot was all over the place (and a lot of things weren’t explained, at least not very well) and the story kinda dragged. I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth that detracted from the story.

Speaking of the story, we had an amazing concept and premise here. Now, some aspects (like the pacing) weren’t executed quite as well as I had hoped...but others were spot-on! (I’ll get to the good stuff in a minute, don’t worry!) Had we had some balance, I think the story would have been so epic!

The allegory...now that was interesting! The first third of the story was so subtle that I couldn’t be sure if there even was an allegory (even though I knew there was), but the rest of the story laid it on thick. I personally prefer more symbolism than full-out retellings, but to each his own! At least it fit the story and tinged the whole plot with intrigue and drama, which I loved!

My final qualm...the writing. Carlin’s writing wasn’t bad at all...but it wasn’t very balanced or immersive. One moment, she’s got this lovely description; the next moment, she’s breezing through things and I don’t even notice that we’ve went from one place to another! I think with a quick line edit, we could’ve whipped her prose into shape and then it would’ve been as good as...you guessed it!

THE CHARACTERS.

I don’t know how, but the characterization and arc development in Deceived was. so. good! Therese, who I’d assumed was the protagonist, was kinda pushed to the side, which—to be honest—was fine by me, because Holder, Rogan, and Ivelle were PERFECTION. I adored Ivelle and her snarky attitude (I...never love snarky attitudes...so that’s saying a LOT). Rogan was just augh. Amazing. I loved him. Holder was so sweet and, really, he made the perfect protagonist! (Sorry, Therese!)

The secondary characters like Anastasia, Claudine and Borros, Svetlana (*gags*), and the others were all so vivid and intriguing! (And, in some cases, downright detestable and nauseating.)

Seriously, the characters were simply the best part! (I feel like I’ve been saying that about a lot of novels lately…)

Y’all know how most people say that sequels aren’t as good as the first book? I’m inclined to disagree. I’ve seen many times—and I think this is one of them—where the first book is good...it introduces great characters and establishes an interesting story...but it’s confusing. Or slow. Or too quick. Or something.

But then the sequel comes along, and it whips the plot into shape. It ties up the loose ends. It completes the character arcs. It wraps everything up in a neat little bow, throwing in everything you’d hoped for for the story, and in the end? The sequel is better.

I think such is the case with Deceived, which is why I MUST have Betrayed immediately! I can just see everything unfolding...*gaze fades off into the abyss*

Long story short (*coughs* make that short story shorter), there are a few bumps in the road in Deceived, and I lost my way a few times...but the characters and the promise of an epic sequel kept me going, making this a satisfactory story in the end!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

(Speaking of opinions...I realize now I had more to share. If you're interested, just shout OPINIONS in the comments!)

snag your copy giveaway + preorder swag

Y'all, Madi has some FANTASTIC goodies for those have preordered Deceived (or ordered it during the duration of this blog tour, which is from April 25th to May 7th)! You can receive some epic swag, like an autographed bookplate and a character card (pictured to the right!) that is absolutely gorgeous, if you ask me!

All you have to do is fill out the form below to receive your bookish goodies!

Not interested in preordering? Not to worry! Madi's also got this AMAZING chance to win a SIGNED paperback copy of Deceived AND that beautiful character art!

The giveaway ends May 10th, and all you have to do is click the button below!

If you don't have social media, that's perfectly all right! All you have to do then is comment on each post in the tour and you're entered!

the tour

Monday, April 25

,Madisyn Carlin | Intro + Book Spotlight

,Joy Woodbury | Book Review

Tuesday, April 26

,Madisyn Carlin | Release Day! + Fun Facts

,Vanessa Hall | Author Interview

,Autumn | Book Spotlight

Wednesday, April 27

Esther | Book Review

,Saraina | Character Interview: Therese

,Joy Woodbury | Guest Post

Thursday, April 28

,Madisyn Carlin | Group Interview

,Kristina Hall | Book Review

Friday, April 29

,Vanessa Hall | Book Spotlight

,Olivia | Book Review

,Sherrice | Author Interview

Saturday, April 30

,Madisyn Carlin | Character Spotlight: Holder

,Stephanie | Character Spotlight: Rogan

,Sherrice | Book Review

,Olive Creed | Book Spotlight

Monday, May 2

,Vanessa Hall | Book Review

,Grace Johnson | Guest Post + Book Spotlight

,Stephanie | Book Spotlight + Character Spotlight: Ivelle

Tuesday, May 3

,Madisyn Carlin | Meet the Characters

,Stephanie | Book Review

Wednesday, May 4

,Grace Johnson | Author Interview

,Saraina | Character Interview: Rogan

Thursday, May 5

,Madisyn Carlin | Character Q+A

,Issabelle Perry | Character Spotlight: Therese

Friday, May 6

,Grace Johnson | Book Review

,Autumn – Author Interview

,Jenavieve Rose | Book Review

Saturday, May 7

,Madisyn Carlin | Blog Tour Wrap-Up

,Olive Creed | Author Interview

,Katja Labonte | Book Review

,Saraina | Author Interview

about the author

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales of redemption, faith, and action.

Want to connect? Find her social media links ,here.

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookreview #review #fantasy #allegoricalfantasy #christianfiction #giveaway #preorder #entertowin #preordergoodies #bookswag #bookmerch #blogtour

Welcome to May! (April Wrapup + May Goals)

*emerges from her hovel of loose papers and red ink* Y’ALL. IT’S MAY. How are y’all handling this sudden passage of time? Y’all hanging in there?

*glances outside to see birds gliding on the wind and flowers swaying in the breeze* I’m not. I’m suspended in utter disbelief over this wild turn of events that already—already—it is May. And y’all know what that means, right? It means the cover of Bound and Determined should be on its way by the end of the month (y’all. I cannot wait. It is gonna be EPIC!!!)...my first-ever devotional is out in the world...and Tell Me You Love Me is halfway through the editing stage! I am beyond excited for all that will be completed, began, and grown during this spring, and I can’t wait to have y’all join me on the journey!

what i did last month

My goals? Finish my first round of BAD edits and get it to betas; release With Fear and Trembling; start editing TMYLM stories; post for blog tours, Book Nations, and Sky’s the Limit Press.

Well, I’m not quite done with BAD...but I’ve only got, like, 40k left to edit...which isn’t half as difficult to edit as it is to write. *winks* So I’m counting that. I got a lot of progress, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying reading my betas’ feedback! (They are awesome. I love y’all.)

But With Fear and Trembling is out in the world!!! WAHOO!!! You can snag your copy HERE!!! (Or learn more about it here!) And I’ve only got a few TMYLM stories left to edit, which is fantastic! Plus, I’ve had the AH-MAY-ZING Miss Issabelle Perry editing with me and y’all. She is fabulous. I don’t know how she does it, but she is SUCH an amazing editor and so encouraging will really whipping the material into shape! I’m in awe of her editorial skills!

I did manage a couple posts on BN...absolutely nothing on STLP (I’m so ashamed)...and I’ve gotten through a few of the reviews/blog tours I was a part of this month, but I’ve still got a LOT more to do!

I did get Instagram, though, which was a HUGE step for me. I am SO excited for all the marketing I can do! (Because, yes, I am a marketer. This is what I do. This is what gets me hyped up.) (Also. If you’re on Instagram, you can find me @graceajohnsonauthor!)

I also tried to tackle a lot of other projects in April...and didn’t complete a single one. Oops. Better next time, eh?

this month's goals

Naturally, finish Round 1 and Round 2 of my BAD edits. Get TMYLM polished and ready for betas. Post more regularly on BN and STLP. (Yes, everything has an acronym. That’s me for ya.) Review, review, review. (I’m so backlogged I could cry.) Grow my IG platform (and take lots of pretty pictures, of course). Plan the cover reveal for BAD. Get some things together for the next issue of The Journal. And, yeah, lots of stuff. Let’s just stick with this for now, eh?

monthly progress

I haven’t written a word (in, like, a huge fiction project, that is), so we’re skipping this section for now. Peace.

reading highlights All That It Takes by Nicole Deese. This beautiful contemporary romance was SO GOOD! Balanced and immersive, with lovely characters and spot-on development! The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella. Started out confusing and zany (I mean, this is Wonderland we’re talking about here)...but soon became engaging and intense! AND THE CHARACTERS, Y’ALL. The Bounty Hunter’s Bride by Janis Jakes. Such a refreshing read with a tender and authentic romance and smooth development!top blog posts Tell Me You Love Me Anthology Winners Announced! (Y’all, this one got over 300 views in less than a MONTH! I know what y’all are excited for! *winks*) Featured Story: Miss Verona by Linyang Zhang The Bookworm’s Tag #3

Well, that sums up my month! What about y’all? How’s your WIP coming along? Do you have Instagram? What were your favorite reads in April?

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#monthlyupdates #welcometomay #spring #monthlyprogress #readinghighlights #topposts #monthlygoals #editingprogress #progressreport #editing #goals #updates

Author Interview: Madisyn Carlin

Madisyn Carlin is back, y'all, and this time she's joining us here on Of Blades and Thorns for an AH-MAY-ZING and so uplifting interview!! I hope y'all will enjoy getting to know her a bit better, reading about her writing journey, and being inspired by her faith!

Without further ado...

the interview

Thank you for having me, Grace!

My pleasure! :D So, what first inspired you to write?

At the ripe old age of fifteen, after much prodding and encouragement from my mom, I decided I might try writing. What inspired my first idea was a Star Wars trailer. I didn’t like it that the character died and wondered, “What would happen if he survived?” The idea kept nagging me, so I finally asked Mom where to begin. Two days later, I began writing the story. I never finished it and it’s terribly, horribly, and atrociously written, but I believe the idea has some merit and I will return to it. Eventually.

Augh, character deaths, am I right? What are some of the driving forces behind you and your writing now?

The primary driving force is my faith. Words have power and can touch lives, and I am honored God has blessed me with opportunities to share the Gospel through my characters’ stories. Alongside that, stories can help others going through difficult times. Sometimes reading about a character dealing with a similar struggle can help bolster our faith and give us hope and courage.

The second is that my mom is an author. It’s so fun and cool to say, “Yes. I’m a writer just like my mom”. I’m quite proud of her and to be following in her footsteps, albeit in a much different genre, is exciting.

I bet that is cool!! (Me over here secretly wishing my mom would just read...) Can you name any authors who have inspired your voice in different ways? How can you see their influence in your writing?

I’ve learned so many things from so many different authors, but there are four main authors who have influenced my writing voice. The first is my mom. From her I learned the overall how-tos for writing, including how to write characters, and how to incorporate faith into the stories.

The other three are Jaye L. Knight, Donita K. Paul, and Morgan L. Busse. Aside from Tolkien, they are my top three favorite fantasy authors. When I read their writing, I find both what I’d do differently and what I like. Then that is applied to my own writing. I hope I can one day say I write stories that impact readers just like they do, while being unafraid of sharing my faith and putting my characters through difficult times that draw them to God.

Yes, girl!!! That day will come soon, I know it! What are some of your most favorite books/genres—to read and to write?

I am a fantasy nerd. A snob, if you will. I primarily read Christian fantasy, though I do have Christian historical and contemporary romance on my shelves as well. My favorites, and this will be no surprise given my above answer, include The Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight, anything by Donita K. Paul, and The Ravenwood Saga by Morgan L. Busse. I also have a particular fondness for anything by Tolkien, but specifically The Silmarillion, since that was the book that catapulted me into really liking fantasy.

Likewise, Christian fantasy is my favorite genre to write. I may dabble in historical fiction and science fiction at some point, but for now I’m sticking with fantasy.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

When I’m not writing, I am prowling about my hidden lair, evilly cackling as I plot and scheme ways to make my characters’ lives more difficult and heartbreaking. Or so my sister and betas believe.

I’m jesting. Partially. ;) I do a myriad of different things when not writing. These include spending time with my family, working, trekking through my beloved mountains, and adding to my book, notebook, pens, and stationery hoard.

*looks about her own hidden lair stocked with an excessive amount of notebooks* Sounds like fun to me! Looking back, what has changed for you as a writer—be it how you write or what you write about—over the last few years?

My writing has definitely changed. For the better, I hope. The style is stronger and I can tell I now know more about developing characters than I did three years ago. The content is the same, only better written.

Your debut novel, Deceived, just released April 26th! What inspired this story?

This story was actually inspired by a dream. While I don’t remember what I dream about most nights, I can still clearly recall that particular dream, though it happened in 2019. There was a hatchet, danger, and a grumpy, intense, blond-haired soldier wearing a blue cloak. That particular scene didn’t make it into DECEIVED, but I have plans for it in Book Three in the series.

Ooh, I can't wait! What part of Deceived was the easiest to write, and which was the hardest? Where did you stumble and second-guess yourself?

The easiest part to write was the ending, meaning the final five or so chapters. The hardest were Therese’s chapters, though I’m not exactly sure why.

The stumbling and second-guessing never arrived during the first draft, which is unheard of for me. They arrived, instead, during the initial editing in 2020. They haven’t left. It’s almost worse now even though DECEIVED is published.

Oh, gosh, YES!! Girl, I hate to break it to you, but those doubts will never leave. *glares at her three-year-old debut who just garnered its first two-star review the other day*

What’s next for you? (A sequel to Deceived, possibly? Hint hint!)

Hint taken. ;) I have two ongoing series: The Deception Trilogy and The Shattered Lands series. DECEIVED is the first in a trilogy, so two more books come after it. Book Two, BETRAYED, is about 15K in. Lord willing, I will publish it late this year or early next year.

This year I also hope to publish Shattered Reflection (The Shattered Lands, Book One), a veritable monster of a Snow Queen retelling. I just received beta feedback on it and hope to publish it October/December. Am I insane for doing two series at the same time? Yes. Must I obey the muses and characters? Also yes.

Oh, definitely, yes! I simply cannot wait for Shattered Reflection! It sounds AH-MAY-ZING!

What do you want, most of all, for readers to take away from your writing?

I want readers to walk away feeling hope that, when they walk through the valleys and wastelands of life, they are not alone. That God will never leave nor abandon them. I want the stories to show that, while we are brought to our knees and the end of our ropes, God is in control. He is there through the pain, the trials, the heartache. Nothing is too big for Him to handle. The God who leads us to the good times in life will lead us through the hard times.

Amen, sister!! Have you ever endured any discouragement as an author? If so, what inspired you to persevere?

Like any writer and author, I have endured discouragements. Some are from others, like the rejections I have received from publishers. More often, though, I bring discouragement upon myself. I am chronically second-guessing my writing, comparing it to others’ and finding it not even subpar, and questioning if I’ll ever be able to make something of the plots running amuck through my mind.

I recovered from the rejections fairly quickly, which I thank God for since if I hadn’t DECEIVED wouldn’t be written. In persevering through my own self-wrought issues, it takes some time. I have to remind myself I wasn’t given this idea for no reason. And while it may not meet my overblown and grandiose expectations, it can still, hopefully, touch a reader’s life.

What are your greatest aspirations for your future, be it as a person or as a writer?

My greatest aspiration, as a person, is to grow in my faith. For my writing, it would be to write tales that glorify God and impart the Gospel.

What has being a writer taught you?

Being a writer has taught me so, so much. My faith has grown and through this avenue I am able to share the Good News. It’s taught me to stand strong and unflinching even though the world fights against everything I believe. And it’s taught me, though my characters, to never be afraid to speak out for truth, freedom, and doing what’s right.

Amen!! (I seriously feel like amening every single one of your answers. *winks*)

What led you to self-publish Deceived? Will you continue to self-publish, or do you have plans to traditionally publish one day?

A rejection, actually, was what paved the way for DECEIVED being self-published. July 2020 was when I received the rejection. I shelved it until October 2021, when my mom suggested I self-publish.

I would like to eventually become a hybrid author—someone who is both. I have stories I will only self-publish, Lord willing, and there are stories I’d like to see be traditionally published.

Same here, girl! On both accounts! What are your thoughts for other aspiring writers on writing and publishing?

We’ve all seen those low-star reviews. “The writing was preachy.” Or, “It felt more like a sermon than an actual fictional story”. Those have stifled many a Christian writer in their attempts to include faith in their stories. Don’t let it stifle you. Be unashamed, be unafraid to include the Gospel. Don’t hesitate to put in strong salvation themes. The world needs to hear the Truth. Those reviews? They’re accolades. We offended someone by including God’s Word. That’s good. We’re doing what needs to be done.

The world is dark. It will rail and fight and kick and scream against the Light. Don’t be afraid to share your faith.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

Once again, thank you so much for having me, Grace!

WHOO GIRL PREACH IT SISTER THAT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! *clears throat* Thank YOU for joining me, Madi!! It was my honor and pleasure to have you!

I don't know about y'all, but that was one darn good interview! Madi is full of amazing encouragement and advice! Y'all aspiring writers take note now! *winks*

I hope y'all have enjoyed getting to know Madi a little more and hear about Deceived! Naturally, there's a lot more to learn, so I'll leave y'all with the tour schedule (and the giveaway + preorder info, in case you missed it!) so you can check out more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

giveaway + preorder swag

Y'all, Madi has some FANTASTIC goodies for those have preordered Deceived (or ordered it during the duration of this blog tour, which is from April 25th to May 7th)! You can receive some epic swag, like an autographed bookplate and a character card (pictured to the right!) that is absolutely gorgeous, if you ask me!

All you have to do is fill out the form below to receive your bookish goodies!

Not interested in preordering? Not to worry! Madi's also got this AMAZING chance to win a SIGNED paperback copy of Deceived AND that beautiful character art!

The giveaway ends May 10th, and all you have to do is click the button below!

If you don't have social media, that's perfectly all right! All you have to do then is comment on each post in the tour and you're entered!

the tour

Monday, April 25

,Madisyn Carlin | Intro + Book Spotlight

,Joy Woodbury | Book Review

Tuesday, April 26

,Madisyn Carlin | Release Day! + Fun Facts

,Vanessa Hall | Author Interview

,Autumn | Book Spotlight

Wednesday, April 27

Esther | Book Review

,Saraina | Character Interview: Therese

,Joy Woodbury | Guest Post

Thursday, April 28

,Madisyn Carlin | Group Interview

,Kristina Hall | Book Review

Friday, April 29

,Vanessa Hall | Book Spotlight

,Olivia | Book Review

,Sherrice | Author Interview

Saturday, April 30

,Madisyn Carlin | Character Spotlight: Holder

,Stephanie | Character Spotlight: Rogan

,Sherrice | Book Review

,Olive Creed | Book Spotlight

Monday, May 2

,Vanessa Hall | Book Review

,Grace Johnson | Guest Post + Book Spotlight

,Stephanie | Book Spotlight + Character Spotlight: Ivelle

Tuesday, May 3

,Madisyn Carlin | Meet the Characters

,Stephanie | Book Review

Wednesday, May 4

,Grace Johnson | Author Interview

,Saraina | Character Interview: Rogan

Thursday, May 5

,Madisyn Carlin | Character Q+A

,Issabelle Perry | Character Spotlight: Therese

Friday, May 6

,Grace Johnson | Book Review

,Autumn – Author Interview

,Jenavieve Rose | Book Review

Saturday, May 7

,Madisyn Carlin | Blog Tour Wrap-Up

,Olive Creed | Author Interview

,Katja Labonte | Book Review

,Saraina | Author Interview

about the author

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales of redemption, faith, and action.

Want to connect? Find her social media links ,here.

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#authorinterview #newauthor #indieauthor #christianauthor #fantasy #allegoricalfantasy #christianfiction #giveaway #preorder #entertowin #preordergoodies #bookswag #bookmerch #blogtour

Review: All That It Takes by Nicole Deese

Stars: 4.5

Synopsis: Val Locklier has finally made the move...literally. From Alaska to Spokane, Washington along with her ten-year-old son Tucker to help her friend Molly start a new business. Uprooting herself and Tucker from their quiet lives was hard enough...until Molly’s brother Miles McKenzie returns home from his last outreach mission in Mexico to find Val and Tucker renting out the room above his house—without his knowledge. Sparks fly, but not all of them are of the romantic kind when a fire destroys Molly’s dreams and frees Val to follow hers, to a career in film-making and maybe, just maybe, a relationship with Miles.

As you can tell by my extra-long summary there, I was quite intrigued by the plot of All That It Takes, the long-awaited sequel to All That Really Matters (let’s face it, all sequels are long-awaited *winks*). There was so much going on, so many new avenues to explore, so many different paths the characters could take...and so this story should have been convoluted, intense, and fast-paced.

But it wasn’t. It was smooth, developed, balanced, subtle—and as much as I love action-packed thrillers (pirate thrillers, mind you), there’s honestly nothing better than a story that can incorporate so many plot points while also taking time to fully develop the characters! Y’all, by the first page, I was invested in Val and Miles. Their stories captivated me, their personalities drew me in, their struggles engaged me—and it didn’t take half the book for that to happen or for some sudden tragedy to strike.

All that it takes is good, steady character development. (And, yes, I just dropped the title. I had to.) By giving me characters that were both unique and relatable, real and different, authentic and dramatic, I was immediately immersed into their lives and was so excited to see how their stories unfolded!

Y’all do realize what this means, right?

I. Liked. Val. Actually, I kinda loved her, and she definitely ranks higher than Miles in my book—no offense to Miles, who was precious (maybe a little too precious, if you know what I mean). Val was real and normal and relatable (social anxiety, anyone?), but also had her own unique flair and backstory that was genuine instead of thrown in for points or to keep readers interested when their attention waned (not that my attention ever waned). I love how there was a viable character arc that was developed and paced instead of sudden and unexpected, even though, yes, I did wish I could’ve seen more about her budding relationship with God!

Speaking of, Miles was something else. He was so flawed and yet so perfect—which makes no sense, so let me explain. He had good intentions and was striving to do good things, but his heart wasn’t where it needed to be, and he stumbled and fell just like the rest of us. As bad as I wanted to pound sense into his noggin, I loved watching him come to a deeper understanding of what it means to love God and serve others!

Notice here that I haven’t mentioned anything about their romantic relationship or if they were swoon-worthy or hero/heroine material. Why? Because Val and Miles were more than just cardboard foils for a cutesy romance plot. They were fleshed-out characters who went beyond the threadbare criteria for fitting into a romance plot, and I appreciated that so much! I appreciated the time and effort Deese put into making them both come to life beyond their romance!

I’m sure y’all are thinking to yourself, “Grace, if you like character development that much, why don’t you just read women’s fiction or something non-romantic for once?”

But that’s just the thing! Quality characters and deep development shouldn’t be reserved for the books without romance; they should be embraced for all genres and relationships...especially romance, because centering an entire book around a relationship requires a lot of care and thought being put into the people who make up the relationship. Am right?

I’m right. You know it. *smirks*

So when authors not only balance the character development with the development of the romance, but develop them together and let the romance flow naturally from the characters themselves, I simply must commend them!

And Deese didn’t skimp on the romance either! Even though it’s a little more subtle than I like, it was still there in full-force, in the sweetest and most tender of ways! Ya gotta love a beautiful, well-done romance! (Plus Val and Miles had way more interactions with each other than Molly and Silas did, which was awesome. ‘Cause these two were so cute together!)

As for the secondary characters? GOLD! Tucker was the sweetest little thing (he would probably hit me with a lightsaber if he heard me say that), Lady Gwen was awesome (she reminded me so much of Jamie Lee Curtis and Famke Janssen), and I loved the addition of Carlee! Carlee and Val’s relationship was so precious, and the way Carlee’s struggles opened up a new side of Val’s character and backstory was just perfect.

That said, I really wish something could have been said about premarital sex. As much as I love stories about choosing life...the root of abortions and unwanted babies is—you guessed it—premarital sex. But this story never touched on that or condoned it in any way. Instead, the only reason hooking up (for lack of a better term) with a guy is wrong if if he leaves you with a baby. Newsflash: that’s not the only reason it’s wrong. He could never get you pregnant and stay with you forever...and it’d still be wrong and a sin.

Otherwise, the themes of true servitude, letting God work through you wherever He guides you, and discipleship others over accumulating more numbers were on point! I would’ve liked to see more of Val’s growing relationship with the Lord and Miles’ deepening relationship, of course, but I think the themes were strong enough and some of that can be assumed happened off-page!

And, of course, the prose was SUPERB! I love Deese’s writing style! It’s modern and has personality...but it’s also perfectly balanced and descriptive!

All in all, All That It Takes was such a refreshing and engaging contemporary romance! This is one of those cases where the sequel was better than the first book—in my opinion—and every element of the story was perfect!

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

snag your copy about the author

Nicole Deese's sixteen humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include the 2017 Carol Award-winning A Season to Love. Her 2018 release, A New Shade of Summer, was a finalist in the RITA Awards, Carol Awards, and INSPY Awards. When she's not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Inland Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two rambunctious sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

To learn more, visit www.nicoledeese.com.

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#review #bookreview #newrelease #contemporary #christianfiction #romance

New Release: Deceived by Madisyn Carlin

I dunno about y'all, but I am STOKED for Madisyn Carlin's debut novel, Deceived, which is a new adult Christian allegorical fantasy! Before I share my review of this book, I'd like to introduce it to y'all AND direct y'all to the many opportunities to receive some epic bookish goodies! (Oh, and keep an eye out for my upcoming interview with the lovely author!)

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!! Madi is also here to share all about doubting your writing with us! Her thoughts are so inspiring - not just for writers but for everyone - and I think y'all will enjoy reading her amazing guest post!

First things first...Deceived!

about the book

In a land built upon lies and deception, uncovering the truth can be deadly.

Therese Westa is sick of death, but taking lives is what provides for her younger sisters. When a client approaches her with an unusual request, Therese takes the job offer, which includes the condition of “no questions asked”. As Therese uncovers the reason for the request, she is faced with a choice: kill an innocent man or save her sisters.

Therese’s hesitation to carry out the assassination thrusts her into the aftermath of a dangerous chain of events. Caught between security and truth, Therese must choose where her loyalties lie, for the answer will determine who survives.

snag your copy Doubting Your Writing: What it Looks Like and How to Conquer it - guest post by Madisyn Carlin -

If you met me in person, you would think I am confident and self-assured. You would surmise I’ve never experienced doubt and that I enter every situation with my confidence level at one hundred percent.

You would be incorrect.

Doubt is, as defined by Merriam-Webster, “to call into question the truth of; to lack confidence in; to consider unlikely”. An older meaning is “fear”. All of these terms are quite applicable to what I have experienced in my writing journey. And I know every writer, whether new or veteran, has faced doubt regarding their writing.

Doubt is more than an emotion. It is a weapon, a destructive force that can flatten your story and your will to write in a single blow. It is a poison that can creep into your mind, slowly corroding your confidence in your writing. And it is a murderer of the story you have nourished and are attempting to bring to life. One minute your tale and characters are vibrant. The next, they are withered and near death. If doubt rampages unchecked, it will ultimately destroy you and your writing.

How does doubt manifest itself in writing? How can it be conquered? Is it even possible to uproot doubt once it has settled in?

Doubt comes in three primary forms: comparison, cessation, and control.

Comparison is when you compare your story to others’. This is not where you and a fellow writer discuss what is similar and what is different about your stories. This is where you look at your story, place it side-by-side with another book in the same genre, and find yours lacking. Severely. Comparison tells you your story is not good enough. It will go nowhere. Your writing is pathetic and ridiculous compared to that other author. Your plot is flat and your characters even flatter. And it’s not really that interesting. Not compared to that other book.

The repercussions of giving into the comparison trap are disastrous. I know this first hand, as this is the form of doubt I struggle with the most. When you listen to this comparison trap, you question yourself, your writing, and your story. You shelve stories that have good bones and a lot of potential. You let those nasty little lies of, “Your story has no hope of going anywhere and will never be as good as that book” silence your project.

Cessation is ceasing to write. Quitting. Bidding your love of writing farewell as you pack your pens and pencils and plot ideas and move on, doing your best to close the door on a dream God has given you. In short, cessation is completely abandoning your writing.

I know this may sound extreme. After all, it takes a lot to fully stop doing something you love. But this does happen. It is a real, painful way doubt digs in and uproots your desire to write. This form of doubt whispers poisonous lies that corrode our love of writing. It also provides dangerous doses of fear. “You don’t know what you’re doing. How can you, just a puny little wannabe, be successful? What if no one likes your story? What if…?” The possibilities are endless.

Control is where you allow your doubt to control what you write. I am ashamed to admit I have fallen into this trap a few times. Control often stems from what we’re told is popular in our genre or what publishing companies are looking for. We doubt our story is original enough to be accepted without fitting into certain categories, whether those be a sub-genre, a certain amount of faith or action, etc..

My story of falling into this particular form of doubt is recent. Last year for about three to five months, I tried writing ideas I thought would gain the approval—and thus the acceptance—of a certain publisher. I even contemplated reforming DECEIVED to remove the allegorical aspect since allegories aren’t something this publisher was looking for. Instead of writing the stories God was giving me, I pushed them away, deeming them not good enough and not what this publisher wanted. I let my doubt control me.

I am so, so mortified at allowing myself to contemplate writing something other than the ideas given by God. I am ashamed at how I almost let my desire to be published control how much faith I put into my book. This publisher targets the general market, of which my books would never fit. But I tried. I fought the quiet warning that this wasn’t what I should be doing. That I might be compromising my desire to fill my books with faith.

When you hear those whispers, don’t give in. Don’t listen. Ignore them. Please, please ignore them. I am so grateful God guided me back onto the path I needed to be on. But it is so easy to lose your way when faced with control. It is terrifyingly easy.

We have established how doubt can manifest in your writing. Now we need to address how we can conquer it.

The remedy applies to all three types of doubt. First, pray. Pray for God’s guidance. Pray He will give you peace about your project. Second, remember. Remember you write for the Lord. You write to bring Him honor. We do not write for worldly accolades, but that we can use the ability God has granted to us to point others toward Him.

Third, ignore. Ignore the voice of doubt as best as you can. Ignore the seeds doubt is attempting to plant. You can do this by praying, reading God’s Word, returning to the sources of inspiration for your story, whether that is music, writing prompts, or something else, and rereading what you have already written. Fourth, write. Write your story. Don’t let yourself falter. Write a sentence. Then a paragraph. Then a page. Delve back into your fictional world.

Doubt is nebulous and deadly. Depending on how long you have allowed it to lurk about, it can be difficult to uproot. But it can be done. Doubt is an invasive weed. Pluck it by its roots and throw it away.

Unfortunately, you will encounter doubt multiple times as you write. There’s no way to escape it. But there are ways to conquer it. When you face doubt, please remember you are not alone in this struggle. Reach out to other writers. Ask for advice on how they face their writing-related doubt. And, most importantly, pray to and seek God.

giveaway + preorder swag

Y'all, Madi has some FANTASTIC goodies for those have preordered Deceived (or ordered it during the duration of this blog tour, which is from April 25th to May 7th)! You can receive some epic swag, like an autographed bookplate and a character card (pictured to the right!) that is absolutely gorgeous, if you ask me!

All you have to do is fill out the form below to receive your bookish goodies!

Not interested in preordering? Not to worry! Madi's also got this AMAZING chance to win a SIGNED paperback copy of Deceived AND that beautiful character art!

The giveaway ends May 10th, and all you have to do is click the button below!

If you don't have social media, that's perfectly all right! All you have to do then is comment on each post in the tour and you're entered!

the tour

Monday, April 25

,Madisyn Carlin | Intro + Book Spotlight

,Joy Woodbury | Book Review

Tuesday, April 26

,Madisyn Carlin | Release Day! + Fun Facts

,Vanessa Hall | Author Interview

,Autumn | Book Spotlight

Wednesday, April 27

,Esther | Book Review

,Saraina | Character Interview: Therese

,Joy Woodbury | Guest Post

Thursday, April 28

,Madisyn Carlin | Group Interview

,Kristina Hall | Book Review

Friday, April 29

,Vanessa Hall | Book Spotlight

,Olivia | Book Review

,Sherrice | Author Interview

Saturday, April 30

,Madisyn Carlin | Character Spotlight: Holder

,Stephanie | Character Spotlight: Rogan

,Sherrice | Book Review

,Olive Creed | Book Spotlight

Monday, May 2

,Vanessa Hall | Book Review

,Grace Johnson | Guest Post + Book Spotlight

,Stephanie | Book Spotlight + Character Spotlight: Ivelle

Tuesday, May 3

,Madisyn Carlin | Meet the Characters

,Stephanie | Book Review

Wednesday, May 4

,Grace Johnson | Author Interview

,Saraina | Character Interview: Rogan

Thursday, May 5

,Madisyn Carlin | Character Q+A

,Issabelle Perry | Character Spotlight: Therese

Friday, May 6

,Grace Johnson | Book Review

,Autumn – Author Interview

,Jenavieve Rose | Book Review

Saturday, May 7

,Madisyn Carlin | Blog Tour Wrap-Up

,Olive Creed | Author Interview

,Katja Labonte | Book Review

,Saraina | Author Interview

about the author

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales of redemption, faith, and action.

Want to connect? Find her social media links ,here.

Y'ALL THAT POST. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MADI, FOR SHARING THAT WITH US!!! I hope her words have encouraged y'all as they have encouraged me! I can't wait to share our interview...she's got even more inspiration and wisdom to impart! *winks*

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#guestpost #bookspotlight #newrelease #writingadvice #writing #writingtips #doubt #conqueringdoubt #christianfiction #allegoricalfantasy #fantasy #indie #debutnovel #blogtour #giveaway #entertowin #preorder #preordergoodies #bookswag #bookmerch

I Hate Devotionals...But I Wrote One Anyway

Hate is a very strong word, I know. I’d have much rather used a different term, but “I Do Not Necessarily Enjoy Reading Devotionals...But I Wrote One Anyway” is a bit too long and clunky in my opinion. Not quite as clickbait-y either, eh?

The truth is, though, that I don’t necessarily enjoy reading devotionals or Christian self-help books. I spent a great deal of my childhood reading daily devos, jotting my thoughts down in Bible study guides, and struggling to glean something from the many books I read. Although each book had its merit, and the messages would no doubt be of benefit to someone, there was nothing in it for me. I wasn’t going to school and being bullied and having crushes on my cute classmates. I wasn’t going to college and dating and planning the rest of my life. After all, I was a ten-year-old homeschool girl who never left the house and only associated with her siblings.

Suffice to say that the specific focus all these devotionals had on school and grades and cheating on tests and stealing from the vending machine just didn’t fit me. I had a hard time learning anything; I wasn’t urged to get into the Word; and I never felt a connection to any of the material I read.

Then I read the Bible, and it spoke to me—not to the average middle-school girl or college-age woman. It was truth instead of opinions; Gospel instead of philosophy; reality instead of ideas.

So I never picked up a devotional again, and I don’t regret that decision for a minute.

Now, I’m not saying that devotionals are all evil and that if you read one, you’re a horrible Christian. I’m just saying that devotionals aren’t perfect. They can’t take the place of the Bible. They can’t take the place out of personal prayer. They can’t take the place of your own faith, your own salvation, and your own relationship with God.

The same goes for sermons and counselors and commentaries and spiritual growth books and all the Bible stories your grandmother told you.

Nothing can take the place of working out your own salvation with fear and trembling, just as Paul told the church of Philippi in Philippians 2:12: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

You can’t rely on man’s doctrine or teachings to satisfy your soul. You can’t rely on the faith of another person to account for your salvation.

And that’s the idea God laid on my heart when He asked me to—you guessed it—write a devotional. As much as I would have loved to write this with a girl like me in mind, I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t write it for homeschoolers. I couldn’t write it for teenagers. I couldn’t write it for girls with the same thoughts and feelings and ideas as me.

I mean, I could, but then I’d have to specify that it was a devotional intended for a very specific demographic and, if you didn’t fit that criteria, you wouldn’t glean anything from my messages. And I may just do that one day and see if there actually is some merit to such a niche devotional, but not this time.

This time, I knew this devotional had to be for everyone. It couldn’t be my own life story and lessons learned. It couldn’t be my rants on certain doctrines. It couldn’t be my scattered thoughts on one or two Scriptures.

It had to be universal, Biblical truth. It had to be a prompt rather than a pacifier, an inspiration to get readers into the Word, into prayer, into time spent with their Heavenly Father.

This is the point of my devotional—not to tell readers how they ought to live or to supply them with all that they need as Christians, but to spur them to dig deeper into the Word and rely upon God's teachings rather than man's.

With Fear and Trembling isn’t perfect. It won’t answer all your questions or help you in every aspect of your life. In fact, that’s not what devotionals are for (learned that the hard way, I did). They’re not a supplement or a substitute for the Word of God and your relationship with Him—they’re simply a side dish of sorts to motivate you to examine your heart and your walk with Christ, to encourage you and remind you of what’s already in Scripture.

It makes me so happy when readers mention reading my devotional during their Bible time—something I never did, because I had devotionals all wrong. (And, let’s face it, some devos are pretty discriminatory. What about the minority here, people? C’mon!) It’s my hope and prayer that this devotional is for y’all what devos never were for me...something you can relate to and learn from rather than something that bores you or goes over (or perhaps under) your head! The Lord has led me to Scriptures and truths that apply to everyone at any stage of their walk with God, and I pray that you will indeed be touched by the messages God has shared with us! It was my honor and pleasure to write about what He’s already shown us in His Word!

In the end, I hope y’all don’t hate (or not necessarily enjoy reading) this devotional! In fact, With Fear and Trembling releases TODAY! If you've preordered a Kindle copy, it'll show up on your Kindle app or device immediately, and if you've preordered a signed print copy from me, I'll be getting those shipped out to y'all in a couple weeks!

For those who haven't preordered...you can now purchase a Kindle copy or paperback copy from Amazon! (Hoping to do a hardcover copy, but we'll see!) Just click the button below!

I hope y'all will get a chance to read and enjoy this devotional! In fact, if you share one of the graphics below on social media and comment with the link to your post, you'll be entered to win a free e-copy of it!

Just right click to save or drag and drop!

Plus, I'm giving away THREE e-copies to my newsletter subscribers at the beginning of May, so if you're a subscriber, you just might find a copy drifting into your inbox in a week or so! If you're not a subscriber yet, don't worry! I do a new giveaway every month, so you can join today for a chance to win all sorts of awesome bookish goodies!

Thank you all - especially my AH-MAY-ZING beta readers - for being a part of this journey and for pouring so much love and inspiration into this devotional! Your support means the world to me, you guys, and I can't wait to release more books alongside y'all!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#devotional #christianliving #nonfiction #releaseday #availablenow #withfearandtrembling #inspirational #christiannonfiction #christianlifestylenonfiction #biblestudy #newrelease #giveaway #entertowin #newbook

Review: The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella

*Warnings*

#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.

Stars: 4

Synopsis: Alice Liddell has been intrigued by the “evil” Wonders and their mysterious Wonderland all her life...but when she receives an invitation to the infamous Wonderland Trials, she realizes there’s more to her fascination than even she knows and more to Wonderland than anyone has the courage to reveal. Will she be able to solve the clues, face her fears, and survive the Trials? Or will she fail at finishing and discovering the truth about the Wonders and Wonderland?

I’m not an Alice in Wonderland fan. I’ve never read the book or watched the original film. Granted, I’ve seen the Tim Burton version...but I don’t reckon that counts, for obvious reasons. *winks* So I assumed that I wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy The Wonderland Trials.

Not to mention, I didn’t like Coral, so I was simply on edge about starting a new Ella novel, almost totally sure that I wouldn’t get into it like I wanted to.

Now, I’m partially right. First of all, this ain’t Unblemished. As luck would have it, nothing but Unblemished is Unblemished, and therefore nothing can compare...BUT there were a few similarities that I noticed, and it was definitely better put-together (i.e., written, developed, and executed) and more immersive than Coral (in my opinion...I’m like the only one who didn’t like Coral).

Second, I felt like had I been a huge Alice aficionado, I would have appreciated the story more. I would’ve picked up on all the quotes and phrases and parallels and just thoroughly enjoyed myself. But I’m not an Alice aficionado, so I did feel like I missed a few things. Actually, for the longest time, I felt more like Ella had just taken names and titles from Alice in Wonderland and slapped them on her own creations rather than retelling the story. Fortunately, once we finally made it to Wonderland, I could definitely see how it was a retelling and how the story will continue to unfold in parallel with the original. Make sense?

Plus I know enough about AIW to know never to trust the Queen of Hearts.

So coming into The Wonderland Trials was a struggle. I was confused. I was distanced from the story. I was still trying to piece together who was who and where was where, which prohibited me from connecting with the characters and following along with the plot. Truth be told, it took me until I was 30% through to actually want to pick up the book (*coughs* my Kindle *coughs*) and start reading. Not to mention the beginning was really quite slow...and just seemed to be going over the same thing fifty-five times (that...maybe have just been me, though).

That said, the slow beginning was probably exactly what I needed to lay the groundwork and introduce me to Alice...because once I hit about 50%, Ella kicked it into high gear!

Then, I couldn’t put the book down! There was so much action and tension, so many new characters and subplots, so many mysteries! Granted, there’s still a lot left unexplained...mainly because once we got to the point where we could start making sense of things, we were being assailed by fearrors (aka, fear mirrors) and poison tea and secret so—and that’s a spoiler. *clears throat* Basically, there was a lot going on at the end there (understatement of the year), so I feel like things won’t start to get clear until the next book.

I NEED THE NEXT BOOK.

On that note, this is one intense plot. I feel like there’s more going on in here than in Unblemished (I am guilty of continual comparison; y’all don’t mind me), but then when I think back on UB (everything must be shortened somehow, y’know), I realize there was a lot going on there. That said, I feel like this plot was full of physical challenges and external conflicts rather than drama.

And don’t get me wrong, I adore drama...but I also love a good mystery. So even though I had a hard time keeping up (so. many. things.), I was totally on board with this wild plot!

For more comparison...the prose was definitely different. It wasn’t vivid and flowery like Coral or so full of the characters’ personalities as it was in UB (y’all, Em’s voice was so real...I think it was the pop culture references and the humor that helped), but it was immersive and detailed while also being balanced. I appreciated that.

More, I loved the Briticisms! It’s extremely rare to find an American novel written in British English, but I love how Ella went that route—from her phrases to her spellings! (All we needed were the quotation marks...then again, I think the single quotes are older British. ANYWAY.)

That extra touch really lent to making Alice’s personality and character pop! Which it did...but I’ll be honest. Even though Alice was vibrant and interesting and unique and not (always) a butt...I still didn’t connect with her. *sobs* I wanted so badly to, but alas. Me and heroines just don’t get along.

AS FOR CHESS, MY PERFECT BOI...y’all. I’m claiming him. He, in all his pink peppermint and cocoa goodness, with his smile worthy of the Joker and his backwards way of talking, is mine. All. Mine.

Also, I’mma go ahead and claim Knave too. I loved him. He was awesome. (I totally ship him and Madi. Just sayin’).

So, yeah, the characters were hands-down the very best part. Chess was literal perfection (so. stinkin’. Sweet.), Madi and Knave and Willow and Sophia were so bright and full of life, Charlotte and Dinah and Blanche were so intriguing. (On that note, I ship Charlotte and Raving too. Pretty sure they already got somethin’ goin’ on there.) I just loved them all, and I am amazed by how each and every one of them are so alive! (All of Ella’s characters are like that, to be honest.)

AND Y’ALL. Stark. Raving. Mad(i). I can’t. It legit took me to 83% to realize that. I just...that was ingenious. I could cry.

(Just gonna say...Madi Hatter was not what I’d expected. At all. *kinda been hoping the Mad Hatter would be a guy...a cute one…* She wasn’t bad; she didn’t didn’t give Hatter vibes. And y’all know who I associate with the Mad Hatter, of course. *winks*)

Lastly...THERE IS AN ALLEGORY. I CAN SMELL IT. IT SMELLS LIKE AN ALLEGORY, AND IT’S DELICIOUS. I LOVE IT.

Okay, so I’m kinda obsessive about allegories (I may smell ones that aren’t exactly there...maybe), but I can totally see how Ella will probably weave in some Christian allegories and themes in the next book, and I am SO down with that! Bring it on!! (And, like, the similarities to UB...like, Scarlett screams Isabeau. And Knave could seriously be Ebony. And of course Chess is Ky, although Ky is much darker. In the cutest, sweetest way possible, naturally. But, like, Kit. Kit is so Khloe. I can see it now…)

(Y’all, I am enjoying this.)

*clears throat*

So, yes, it took me a long time to get into the story, but once I did? Oh, yeah, no coming out! I must have the second book. Must have it. (I have a feeling it’ll be even better!!!) This lady and her cliffhangers, I swanny. Even I ain’t that bad. *glares at the cliffhanger for Bound and Dertmined* Eh, I dunno. I’m pretty close. *cackles*

Anyway, I’m drifting. Very far away...where was I?

Oh, yes. I just wanted to mention how much I love the scientific twist. I don’t like reading about magic (unless it’s portrayed biblically), so I thought it was AMAZING that Ella sciencified Wonders and Wonderland and just made them their own wonderful thing without slapping the label magic on it! Basically, it was “magical,” but it wasn’t magic. That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!

And THE. SETTING. I was literally just thinking about how much I wanted an England-set dystopian with Victorian-era vibes, and little did I know that I was about to pick up JUST THAT!!! The dystopian, futuristic, speculative vibes meld so well with fantasy and fairytale aspects, with that dash of historicalness (historicism? Historaceousness?) topping it off like cream with tea! (Or tea with cream, if we’re doing it the British way. *winks*)

LONG SHORT STORY...I’ve made it out of my rabbit hole. Ahem. The Wonderland Trials wasn’t quite what I’d expected—it was better, but not in the ways I’d thought. It was such a crazy, eclectic mix of fantasy Wonderland, Victorian political intrigue, dystopian tension, and YA drama, with a cast of curious characters that I adore and a plot that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat from 50% to The End! (*smirks like Chess* Sorry, I had to.) Seriously, though, you’ll be held in suspense from Page 1 to that darned cliffhanger!

(Also, the way Sara Ella used prologues is pure. torture.)

(I’m totally gonna do the same thing one day. I wonder if she writes in chronological order or throws in the prologue after she’s written the whole thing…)

(Also, if I say “also” one more time, I’mma scream.)

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the frabjous author in exchange for my honest review! All opinions expressed are my own!

snag your copy about the author

Once upon a time, SARA ELLA dreamed she would marry a prince and live in a castle. Now she spends her days homeschooling her three Jedi in training, braving the Arizona summers, and reminding her superhero husband that it's almost Christmas (even if it's only January). When she's not writing, Sara might be found behind her camera lens or planning her next adventure in the great wide somewhere. She is a Hufflepuff who finds joy in the simplicity of sipping a lavender white mocha and singing Disney tunes in the car. Sara is the author of the UNBLEMISHED trilogy and CORAL, a reimagining of The Little Mermaid that focuses on mental health. Her latest journey into the world of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland feels like coming full circle after her time spent chasing a white rabbit around Walt Disney World. Sara loves fairy tales and Jesus, and she believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away.” Connect with her online at SaraElla.com or find her on Instagram at @saraellawrites.

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookreview #review #retelling #aliceinwonderland #comingsoon #preordernow #fantasy #youngadult #dystopian #fairytale #intrigue #romance

Featured Story: The Time Thief by Abigail Ellison

Y'all. This story...it broke me. It is so tender and sweet and beautiful...and that ending. *sobs* It's just perfect. I love the concept. The characters. The themes. The love.

I think y'all will love it too!

Thank you so much, Abigail, for writing and submitting this gorgeous story! *heart swells*

What did rain feel like?

Curled up in a round window frame, I stared outside. Rain fell in sheets, thick and blocking out the view of anything else.

Reaching for the window, I imagined a breath of cold air tingling against my skin from the fogged glass. An instant before my fingers connected with the glass, they fuzzed and went straight through.

I sighed, gaze flicking to where my reflection should be. Nothing.

I shifted, but even though I should have felt the window frame supporting me, I didn’t. I was just floating there, inches away from touching anything.

I wish I knew what I looked like. I wish I knew what my name was.

But the only thing I knew about myself was that I could steal time.

I wasn’t born.

One day I just existed.

Someday I’ll just stop existing.

So, I waited in a different place. One where it is always raining, and nothing ever changed.

I slid from the window frame and looked at the small room that was all I had; lined with books I couldn’t touch, a bed I couldn’t sleep in, and a door I could never open.

Am I the only one who feels so lost?

“Just let me feel something.” The words were swallowed by loneliness.

I shoved myself through the window and out into the rain, hoping to feel its chilly wetness. The rain fell all around me, and yet I couldn’t touch it.

I was nothing. And yet I existed.

I skimmed over the ground, feet never quite settling onto the pavement. No proof that I was real, no touch that I could understand. The haunting feeling there should be more.

I closed my eyes, and as if from a distance, I heard the roar of time. It was the symphony of thousands of human voices caught in snatches. Laughter and shouting all too brief and fleeting to understand.

The sound of the rain faded, and every individual voice stretched until I could actually understand what they were saying.

“Work was awful today,” a woman complained.

I opened my eyes again, and I wasn’t in my place of rain and loneliness. I was in a city. Rain still drizzled down, but not as heavily. The city lights made the downpour even seem cheerful. More real. Reds, greens, and yellows reflecting off slick pavement and glistening umbrellas. People parted around me as if they could see me but never once glanced at me.

I hunched and started walking with the crowd, listening to the babble.

“Are you serious?” A disgruntled older man.

“Really?” A teenager shrieking at a friend.

“Oh, please, honey…” A mother struggling with a crying toddler.

None of them were happy, not really. They were just living a slightly more real life than my own.

I liked to listen to them.

I passed a cluster of teenage boys and examined them wistfully. Would I be like them if I was a normal boy? I forced my gaze away. It was no good to dwell on dreams.

I reached out a hand and swiped it through the older man’s arm. My fingers fuzzed, but I imagined a light flickering on inside me. A strange warmth flickered in the center of my chest, and for the smallest moment, I felt alive.

The man stomped away, and I stood there trying not to breathe, holding all that life inside of me. I wondered if the man would notice that he had one more white hair. Probably not. No one ever seemed to notice, no matter how long I watched them.

I kept walking, my hand passing through people, the heat in my chest growing more and more intense, every person changing ever so slightly at my touch. A freckle on the back of a hand. A wrinkle in the corner of an eye. A gray hair. The slightest tinge of yellow on a tooth.

I still didn’t breathe. I imagined what I would look like, a boy with all of the life inside, glowing like a beacon in the world.

The rain was stopping. I turned my face to the sky and imagined the light lifting me upwards. Since I had never felt the ground, there was nothing to keep me from claiming the sky. I rushed upwards among the skyscrapers and darted past window after window until I came to the one, I could never forget.

I wafted through the window and looked at the young woman lying on the hospital bed, IV taped to the back of a thin pale hand.

Lizzy.

I leaned over, hovering above her bed. Finally, I blew out the breath that I had been holding for hours over her still form.

The light in my chest faded, but as always, I held back the life that was mine.

The slightest tinge of pink appeared in her cheeks as she inhaled and opened her eyes. And instead of meeting my gaze, she stared right through me.

“I’m here,” I whispered, even though I knew she wouldn’t hear me. She never did.

I’ve watched her for a long time.

Her small hands twitched, and she smiled, letting out a small, quiet sigh. She sat up slowly, whispering a tiny prayer of thanks.

She always did that, smiling the moment she woke. She had more joy in opening her eyes than anyone else I had ever seen.

“Today is a beautiful day,” she murmured, gray eyes drifting to the single window in her room, to where the sun now shone brightly as if to prove that the rain no longer mattered.

I closed my eyes, wishing I could reach out and touch her. But if I did, I’d steal the time I just gave her.

She started coughing and I winced, wanting nothing more than to make it stop, to brush her pasty blonde hair away from her pallid face, to get her something better to wear than a lifeless hospital gown.

She was dying.

But she was the only thing keeping me alive…

Her rasping cough finally stilled, and she forced a smile, shoulders relaxing slightly. Silently she reached for the book that lay on her nightstand, flipped it open and started to read.

I drifted behind her shoulder and peered over it. Seeing the world that Lizzy had opened to me.

She had changed everything.

So, every day I went through the crowds, taking a little time from every person I touched, and I gave it to her. Just so she could live a little longer.

So I could live a little longer.

I was the time thief. A person who never touched or could be touched. I was a person, a nothingness, who wanted so desperately for Lizzy to see him.

But it

would never

happen.

People always try to find meaning in the meaningless. And Lizzy gave me that meaning. I didn’t remember exactly when I had first found her. Time was as strange and unknowable as the roar of voices in the back of my head, and I was unable to pin down any exact date.

But I remembered that it had been an accident.

I had wandered into her hospital room, chilled by a hopelessness ingrained in my soul. The wish that everything would just stop, for I had no purpose. What good was collecting time when it did nothing? What was the point of living if no one even saw you?

The first thing I heard was her laugh. It was like sunshine, refracting through water droplets, snapping me from my own mind.

She’d had visitors then.

A woman and a small child.

Lizzy had been sitting upright in her bed, coaxing the little boy into her lap. “See?” She breathed, patting the blankets. “Nice and soft. It’s not so bad really.”

“Lizzy?” the little boy asked, looking up at her. “Are you going to die?”

The woman made a motion with her hand, like she wanted to snatch the words out of the air so that Lizzy couldn’t hear them.

Lizzy had looked at the boy seriously, and do you know what she said? She said…

“Not if I can help it. But if I do, you take care of Mom for me, ok?” A smile flickered across her face, and the woman looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“I will,” the boy said firmly.

And then, for a moment, Lizzy had looked up from the boy in her lap and seemed to look straight at me. No, through me, to the wall behind.

“Whatever happens, everything will be all right.” And still she smiled, even in the face of something so horrible. It was unimaginable.

And I think that was why I kept coming back at first.

Her smile.

No matter when I came, she smiled. While she talked to the nurses, she smiled. When she read the books in her bed, she smiled. When there was sun, when there was rain, she smiled, and even laughed.

The boy and the woman visited from time to time, but they never stayed.

And whenever they left were the only times I saw Lizzy look sad.

Over time, Lizzy didn’t sit up as much, and I watched as, drop by painful drop, her life drained away.

I could feel her light, begging me to reach out, to take her time. But I couldn’t do it.

I watched her grow gaunter and not wake up as often, while the nurses gathered in clusters, hissing quiet whispers whenever they left Lizzy’s room.

“Do you hear them? The birds…outside…” She lifted a trembling hand and pointed towards her window. She talked to herself when the nurses weren’t there. I liked to pretend she spoke to me.

Following her movements with my gaze I then heard them. The soft chirping of baby birds came into focus, as I wafted through the wall. Their nest was tucked onto the small ledge outside. Then I went back in, watching Lizzy with intense eyes.

Lizzy smiled. “Life is beautiful…isn’t it? So…beautiful…” Tears beaded in the corners of her eyes, even as she kept smiling.

That’s when I started stealing time for her, like I was a great storehouse, and breathing it over her.

Giving her more of the life she wanted so desperately.

A nurse bustled into the hospital room carrying a tray of hospital food, startling me away from Lizzy’s shoulder, like a naughty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. She was wearing a pair of donut earrings, which added life to her plain scrubs.

She paused to see Lizzy upright, then lit up like a Christmas tree, a smile matching the whimsical earrings.

“Lizzy!”

Lizzy looked up, beaming. “Mary,” she said warmly, putting a bookmark in between the pages, and then reaching out her arms for a hug.

Mary obliged, round cheeks glowing with happiness. “Oh, you look better,” she said easily, lifting Lizzy’s chin to examine the color that was in her cheeks.

“I feel better,” Lizzy said. “I’m even hungry!”

The edges of my mouth quirked up into a smile. She felt better because of me.

“You are?” Mary proclaimed, swooping in to set the tray on Lizzy’s lap, grinning in excitement.

Lizzy inhaled the steam from her bowl of oatmeal, eyes drifting closed. “That smells delicious.”

Mary ruffled Lizzy’s hair fondly with one hand. “You’re the only one I know who enjoys hospital food.” She shook her head wryly. “It’s amazing really.”

Lizzy laughed. “You just have to pretend that it tastes like anything else, see?” She nodded. “And then it’s always delicious!”

Mary chuckled softly. “Oh, I see now. I’ll have to sneak you something that feels like home tomorrow if you’re still feeling better.”

“Speaking of home…” Lizzy smiled coyly. “Have you talked to…you know who…yet?”

Mary blushed, round cheeks suddenly looking like twin red apples. “Well, I…no, not exactly.” She absently tucked a strand of her curly brown hair behind an ear.

Lizzy nudged the round nurse. “You should,” she said knowingly.

Mary sighed. “I…know I should, Lizzy– but…what if he doesn’t…”

“You’ll never know unless you tell him. And it’s better to tell him now before it’s too late.” Lizzy’s face fell for the slightest of moments after her words. But a moment later she was smiling again. “Besides, I swear, anyone who doesn’t love you hasn’t talked to you often enough.”

Mary chuckled, even as she stood and went about checking everything and scribbling things down on a clipboard. “That or they haven’t tasted my cooking.” A mischievous glint entered her eye.

Lizzy started eating and the conversation continued, as lively and fresh as if this was the first time they had talked to each other in years.

I watched and listened, unable to leave.

I was setting myself up for pain and I knew it. There was no hope for someone like me.

Lizzy couldn’t even see me. She didn’t know how much I cared. And the only way I could learn more about her was to watch her constantly.

“Anyone who doesn’t love you obviously hasn’t talked to you often enough.”

Lizzy would never talk to me. I clenched my fists, and still I watched. Waited.

Waited as the day went on, as the color slowly faded from Lizzy’s cheeks. Waited through her conversations with the doctors. Waited as the sun slowly lowered, leaving the room in darkness. Waited as she leaned back and fell asleep, her smile disappearing.

It was time to go.

I wafted through the wall in her room, into the next hospital room. Another part of my daily routine. There was a boy in here, lying silently on his hospital bed, breathing tubes and IV’s surrounding him like a knot. Unlike Lizzy, this boy never stirred, and the only sound that filled his room was the steady beeping of the heart monitors.

His name was Aaron White. His name was written on the bracelet around his wrist.

I watched his pale face for a while, unsure why he felt important.

Maybe because it made me wonder if someday, I would come to Lizzy’s room and she wouldn’t be there…or she wouldn’t wake up.

I felt…something about this boy. Something that made me pause at his side, watching, wondering if maybe he would wake up if I stayed. I had tried to give him light once, but it hadn’t worked. He wasn’t dying like Lizzy was. He just…wouldn’t wake up. Like I felt I couldn’t wake up. I felt the longing to just…be real.

But I knew that was only a ridiculous fantasy.

I closed my eyes, and slowly imagined the roar of time fading, distancing.

And when I opened them, the hospital and all of its patients were gone.

I was back to the place that wasn’t really home, but was all I had, for another painful night of being alone.

I exhaled over Lizzy, blowing out today’s collection of time into her. I tried to ignore the fact that it seemed…harder. That no matter how much time I got, it never seemed to last as long as it was supposed to.

She stirred, and as she did, my world woke up. She murmured her prayer of thanks, eyes scanning her sparse hospital room, and then, in a very soft voice, she started to sing.

“Good morning…good morning, I love you, good morning…There’s always another day…”

A slight smile quirked its way across my face, and the loneliness faded.

“Good morning,” I whispered.

I pretended that it didn’t hurt when she didn’t respond.

She didn’t sit up this time, but she kept singing and humming.

I sat in my customary chair and listened.

Mary brought breakfast again, this time wearing pineapple earrings. “Good morning, Lizzy!” she said brightly.

“Morning, Mary.” Lizzy smiled, music fading from her lips as she shifted to look at the nurse.

I resisted the sudden urge to swipe away some of Mary’s time. It didn’t matter that Lizzy actually responded to her. I had no right to be jealous.

“I’m going to do it,” Mary said firmly. “I’m going to ask Jason out.”

“Really?” Lizzy smiled wider.

“Yes,” Mary said breathlessly. “I’m going to do it,'' she said to herself.

Lizzy beamed.

I followed Mary from the room, watching as she walked purposefully around her rounds. I knew Lizzy would want to know if Mary actually told him. Not that I could tell her, but…

I quickly figured out who Jason was. It was fairly obvious from the way Mary kept glancing at him whenever they crossed paths, though she never said a word. He was tall, with coffee-colored skin, and a relaxed way about him that put those around him at ease.

Halfway through the morning, Mary walked straight into him. It was hard to tell if it was an accident, or if she had actually planned it. Either way, they slammed into each other, and their clipboards went flying.

“Oh…” Mary said, looking straight into his eyes and blushing even redder than she had in Lizzy’s room. “I…I…uh…” She looked around as if for help, and then snatched his clipboard from the floor. “You, uh…dropped this!”

“Sorry, my fault entirely,” Jason said smoothly, revealing a slight British accent. He moved his hand to take the clipboard, and Mary held on to it a second too long, before letting go.

“I…” Mary said as he got to his feet.

“Yes?” He glanced down, raising his eyebrows.

Mary flushed again. “Sorry,” she said faintly, before turning and fleeing.

I shook my head with a sigh.

Well, she had tried…But trying didn’t always make things work out.

I drifted back to Lizzy’s room.

She hadn’t moved, still looking up at the ceiling.

“She couldn’t do it,” I told her, surprised that I actually felt…sad, that she hadn’t been able to. “I wish…that things could work out.” But wishing never accomplished anything. I stared at her. “I don’t think…that I can do this anymore, Lizzy.”

Was I just making things worse? Maybe not for her, but for myself? Yes, I was making this worse for myself. I was just teasing myself with something I could never have. And losing her would hurt more then anything else.

“I think it’s time…time I left.” So that I wouldn’t have to see…

I reluctantly started backing away from her, about to drift into Aaron’s room to say a far more silent goodbye.

Lizzy’s eyes closed, and almost imperceptibly, she went pale, breath hitching.

The light inside her flickered, making me freeze in my tracks.

Something was wrong.

I didn’t leave after that, no matter what I told myself I should have been doing.

I didn’t leave, even though staying felt like it was ripping my heart in two.

She was fading fast. I could see it in her face. Her eyelids barely flickered when Mary came in to check on her, and her chest rose and fell in ragged bursts. She was fighting for every single breath she took.

Something had changed, and I didn’t know what.

The days felt like a blur, only distinguished by Mary’s ever-changing earrings.

Tacos. Palm trees. Sunbursts. Cinnamon rolls.

The other nurses tsked that Lizzy was alone, but none of them knew that I was there, waiting in the chair next to her bed, holding my breath.

I was the ghost of hospital room 110, barely leaving. I watched and watched as she drew closer to death.

But she couldn’t die, not while I was there, ferrying her the time she needed. I didn’t care that I had to do it more and more often. That it barely did anything. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t make myself leave.

The morning of the end, I brought her the time just like I always did, the light burning inside of my chest like a brilliant glow. I hovered over her, looking into her still face, wishing she would wake up and smile again.

And I blew out my breath, the light misting over her. But instead of inhaling it, absorbing it, looking healthier…nothing happened.

The light diffused, and she did not improve.

“Lizzy?” I whispered, hands starting to shake.

She didn’t even stir. She still breathed.

There had to be some mistake. There had to be something that I had missed- a fluke!

Yes, that was it! I wafted out of the room, through the many floors of the hospital, swiping my hand through the people who came to visit, once again building up the light.

Then, running even though I couldn’t even touch the ground, I was back in her room, exhaling the time over her in a great mist, staring at her, waiting…waiting…

Nothing happened.

I let out a soft cry and then I was back in the hallway. I didn’t even try to find multiple people, just stuck my hand through the first person I saw, Mary, and pulled more time out of her than I had ever dared. She staggered, falling to the ground, a cry echoing through the hall, hair turning white—but I was already back in the room exhaling again—and again nothing happened, like she was surrounded by an invisible wall that kept her from accepting it.

The light drifted away from her, through the door and back to Mary in the hall.

“No…” I breathed, getting as close to her as I dared. “Lizzy…” my voice broke. “Lizzy…no…” And tears started to flood over my cheeks.

I wanted to touch her, cradle her in my arms. But I couldn’t or…or…or I would take it all away.

“You can’t die,” I whispered. “You just…can’t…you showed me what life really meant…that even if no one saw me, everything would be okay…you showed me that life could still be beautiful and…and…you can’t leave me…you can’t just take all that away…” I closed my eyes, shaking, hearing the roar, the inevitability and constancy of time. People would always die. Time did not stop and wait for those who were caught in its waves.

And then, knowing that I was going to lose her, that I could do nothing to make her stay, I could finally admit something.

“I…love you Lizzy…” I bent over her; eyes still closed. “I love you,” I said again, tears burning the inside of my throat. And the sad thing was, she would never know it. But I would always love her, wish I could spend the rest of my life with her, even as I spent the rest of my unexplained life all alone.

Sobs started to break through me. I inhaled, pulling deeper and deeper into myself, until I found the place where the light…the time, was kept. But I didn’t stop there. I went deeper and deeper until I found another light. Smaller, of a weaker color, almost blue.

My light. My time. Something I had never dared to let go of. Something that I had guarded, kept to myself, every day I gave her time. Would I die if I did this? If I didn’t try, then I might as well be dead without her.

“Lizzy,” I said again. Lizzy was worth it, and if I could give her no one else’s time, I would give her my own. Slowly, face near hers, I started to exhale.

It was slow, steady, unlike the times when I had been trying to exhale as quickly as possible. I didn’t open my eyes.

I loved her. And she had a life worth living.

What did I have but a small, lonely existence? No one would miss me if I was gone, but they would miss her. Lizzy reminded everyone she was around of just how beautiful life could be. She could make the world a better place with every moment she was around to observe it. She was precious and I…

If I could die saving her, then maybe my existence had purpose. There was a beauty to life…Its constant scrambling forward, the laughter and the tears. I had seen it all, walking among them, invisible. I could hear it, the sound of time, the sound of thousands of stories knit together in one cloth, weaving in and around each other to make one.

My body started to fight back against what I was doing. It was like choking, but I kept on pushing it out, giving her my life, unraveling it like a spool of thread.

And then, with a final choke, there was nothing left. I felt nauseous, and I sagged forward.

Lizzy stirred, awakening.

And I was vanishing.

For one precious moment my hand met the blankets on the bed. And I felt it. For the first time in my life I felt something.

But that moment ended, and with one last look in Lizzy’s healthy face, I was gone.

I blinked at the ceiling in confusion, the sound of a heart monitor beeping in my ears. My mouth felt dry, and the room was so bright. I tried to shift, and found I couldn’t move, tubes surrounding me, knotting me in place.

I inhaled, a raspy sound, and the heart rate monitor started beeping furiously, picking up speed.

I thrashed, struggling, and a moment later my door burst open.

A doctor, who looked strangely familiar, came in, white coat flapping, clutching a clipboard to his chest. He was staring at me like I was a ghost.

“Aaron,” he murmured.

I froze mid-thrash, chills running up my arms.

“You’re awake,” he said softly.

I nodded, trying to remember where I was, how he knew my name…but all I found in the back of my mind was emptiness. My gaze focused on his name tag. Jason. Why did that name seem so familiar?

“Mary?” he called, opening the door into the hallway. “I think you’ll want to see this.”

“I think you’ll want to see this!” Mary called back.

“It’s a miracle!” They shouted in unison.

The next hour passed in a blur and the many tubes that had kept me alive were removed. They asked me questions, examined me to find some reason I had awoken, but no one understood why.

The whole time I was aware of a similar bustle happening in the room next to mine.

Jason made another note on his clipboard and then looked me in the eyes. “You seem fine.”

I gave him a faltering smile. “I…feel…fine.” My fingers worked their way into the blanket on my hospital bed. It was so soft…I couldn’t stop feeling it. I was missing something. “A little hungry though.”

Jason chuckled. “Yes, of course, I completely forgot.” He stood. “Let’s see what I can do about that.” He left the room and I frowned after him.

A few minutes later, a woman wearing rainbow earrings opened the door, gaze still in the hall. “I’d love to, Jason.” Then she was inside the room and looked at me with a glowing smile on her face.

“In all my years at the hospital I’ve never had a day as good as this,” she told me conspiratorially. “Two patients healed on the same day! It’s a miracle, I tell you.”

“Two?” I asked, looking up at her.

“The girl next door…” she couldn’t finish and just smiled.

Something in my chest leapt, and I looked at the wall dividing our rooms. “The girl next door.” I whispered. “Do you think I could…meet her?”

Mary helped me to a wheelchair, and then wheeled me out into the hall. I was still too unsteady on my feet to walk. Jason and Mary had insisted that I wait a day so they could be sure I wasn’t going to suffer a relapse, but all that time I had been plagued with a strange impatience that I didn’t understand.

I didn’t know the girl next door and yet… I knew I had to meet her.

Mary opened the door and my breath caught.

She was standing by the hospital window, sun reflecting off of her skin like she was glowing. She turned, tucking a strand of blond hair behind one ear.

A smile spread across her face. “Hi.”

“Hi,” I said shyly, feeling a prickle as my cheeks reddened. “My name’s Aaron.”

I reached out a hand, and she walked across the room to grab it. She paused and looked at me searchingly, then abruptly wrapped me in a hug.

“My name’s Lizzy.” She murmured. “You seem familiar…somehow. Do I know you?”

Opening my mouth to explain, I found I didn’t have an answer for her. But I felt like I knew her.

Comfortable warmth rose in my chest.

There was something about her… life and vibrancy that just…seemed like home.

Lizzy pulled back and laughed shaking her head. “Just my imagination I guess,” Then wheeled me over to her bed. I grew dizzy for a moment, and I looked at the bed, brows furrowing. Why…did all this feel like it had happened before?

I looked back at Lizzy, who chattered excitedly about a nest of birds outside that she had seen for the first time this morning. She had only ever heard them before.

Listening to her talk was like hearing a familiar, much-loved song. Mary and Jason watched us from the doorway, leaning against each other, smiles on their lips. I paused looking at Mary’s brown hair, feeling…relieved for some reason.

Lizzy spun around; eyes bright as she walked around the hospital room. “Can you believe it though? I felt awful yesterday morning, and then…today I’m healed? And you too?” She shook her head even as she smiled wider.

“A miracle.” I grinned.

For a moment, I thought I could hear something like time, the sound of thousands of voices moving forward. Pain and joy, miracles and disasters, past and present, all stitched together, creating a tapestry of beauty.

Outside it started to rain, but the sun shone through the clouds, and everything felt perfect.

about the author

Abigail E. is a homeschool writer whose characters hijack whatever she writes. She seeks to depict hope through brokenness and the love of God through suffering. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her drawing (her characters), painting (her characters), or listening to music (while dreaming about her characters). Her family has long since gotten used to her staring off into space, and being excited about stories with no obvious reason. She dreams to someday publish a Young Adult Fiction novel (and go to Narnia).

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#featuredstory #romance #fantasy #paranormal #shortstory #youngadultfiction

Review: The Bounty Hunter's Bride by Janis Jakes

Stars: 4

Synopsis: Luke Lancaster has been a successful bounty hunter across the state of Texas...until he encounters his next bounty, a young man charged with murder, and realizes there’s much more to Billie Batson than meets the eye. For starters, Billie is a she, and she may not be as guilty as she seems… Luke and Billie, two unlikely allies, have to prove her innocence and bring justice to the actual criminals before it’s too late.

I’ll be honest here. I signed up to read this The Bounty Hunter’s Bride on the title alone...and the fact that Luke is a half-breed. I didn’t expect much of the writing or the story, and going into it, it seemed like it was going to deliver on my low expectations.

And yet, as I waded deeper into this story of deceit, danger, and romance, I discovered a few treasures in this fast-paced western!

After reading The Element of Love by Mary Connealy (and being sorely disappointed in the story’s execution), I was so pleased at how well TBHB was developed and written! The prose was nothing special—in fact, it was stilted at times and not the most balanced—and some things did need more build-up, foreshadowing, and description to be believable, so it certainly wasn’t perfect!

However...there were too many pros to this story for me to put it down! (That, and I’m kinda required to finish and review it...but still. *winks*) First off, no. questionable. content. I have been getting SO TIRED of reading Christian fiction with expletives, weird or downright wrong theology, secular worldviews, CRT and progressive agendas, and more. Fortunately, The Bounty Hunter’s Bride is just a fun, engaging read—nothing more, nothing less. There’s no subliminal message, no agenda, nothing to turn you off from the book or make you uncomfortable. It’s the kind of story I used to read and the one I need more of now (not that I don’t like deeper, grittier stories...I just want Biblical deep grittiness, not worldly junk).

Second, what usually turns me off to a story is—you guessed it—the characters. Now, Luke and Billie Jo weren’t the most immersive or loveable characters I’ve ever read. I never connected with Billie (no surprise), and Luke’s character had some moments of inconsistency (and moments were it was glaringly obvious he was written by a woman)...BUT I actually liked Billie Jo and Luke quite a bit! Billie wasn’t a tough, feminist heroine trying to be someone/something she wasn’t...she was kind, compassionate, genuine, and quite honestly just an average young schoolteacher! Luke was both gruff and tender, a swoon-worthy combination in my mind, and naturally, I fall head over heels for any hero with native blood!

Their characters really had time to shine in the separation period they had. Instead of jumping headfirst into the romance and action, the author developed the characters and gave them some time on their own to (1) get stuff done without their relationship complicating things and (2) deepen their characters! I absolutely loved watched Abigail care for Billie and then vice versa! (Speaking of...Abigail was awesome. I adored her. And, while on the subject of side characters, may I add that I seriously want a story about White Feather?)

This lull—although it didn’t drag, by any means—also helped develop the story, which was perfect after the first chapter, which was all rapid-fire (literally) action. Speaking of action...the pacing was actually super smooth! It kept moving at an even but quick pace, and because there weren’t too many confusing or complicated subplots, the faster pace worked well! I mean, there was a lot going on toward the second half there, but it wasn’t jumbled or weird or out of place! Everything was taken in stride, you know?

On that note...toward the end of the book, Luke and Billie are separated again, and y’all. I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see the hero and heroine apart! And what I mean by that, is that Luke and Billie were able to take care of things and get stuff settled before committing to each other (instead of bringing in baggage or rushing off right before the wedding *winks*), and you were able to see their gentle love bloom (absence makes the heart grow fonder, you know) while they grew stronger as Christians and individuals. I don’t know, it just made the romance more genuine and relatable, instead of the characters being on top of each other (figuratively) all the time and them never experiencing any growth on an individual level.

(Basically, they were productive. They didn’t sit there, pouting and pining for each other. I appreciated that. As much as I like mushy, emotional romances, sometimes I need something practical. Sweet, but practical.)

Also...y’all. There were themes and Christian content and it was so subtle and beautiful and just perfect!!! Like, everyone thinks that even the slightest whiff of Christianity in your story will make it preachy, but The Bounty Hunter’s Bride is the perfect example of faith elements being a completely natural part of the story that enhances it! More than that, Billie and Luke’s faith arcs played a role in their relationship that was so precious to see! We need more romances that are made of three cords instead of just two, you know? (And that goes for real life too…)

Long story short, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this novel! It was tender and sweet, faithful and true, and action-packed and suspenseful! Sure, it had its moments where I facepalmed, but I made it through! And there’s a lot to appreciate about The Bounty Hunter’s Bride and how the story—as simple as it is—was executed!

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley and CelebrateLit Publicity. All opinions expressed are my own.

about the book

Bounty hunter Luke Lancaster brings the best of both worlds to his work—the tracking skills of his Comanche father and the marksmanship he learned from his missionary grandfather.

When Luke is hired to track down a young man wanted for murder, he assumes it’s a routine capture, but he’s taken on a wild ride when he discovers that the accused is actually an innocent school teacher who knows too much for her own good.

Determined to uncover the truth, Luke sets out to keep himself and Billie alive while bringing the real outlaws to justice. As they race across Texas, Luke falls more in love with Billie. But could a schoolteacher ever want a half-Comanche bounty hunter? Does Luke stand a chance or is he just her ride to freedom?

snag your copy about the author

Janis Jakes encourages women through inspirational fiction and non-fiction. She is a Texas native with a penchant for winding country roads, faded jeans, street tacos, and fiery West Texas sunsets.

You can connect with her at her website janisjakes.com!

a word from the author

It wasn’t unusual to find dime-store western novels on my grandfather’s nightstand. As a young girl, I poured through the yellowed, dog-eared pages. There was just something about the characters—resilient women, courageous men, and hardened outlaws—combined with the rugged terrain and inevitable showdown—that drew me deeper into every story.

In writing The Bounty Hunter’s Bride I wanted to capture the western element while creating faith-filled characters facing an uncertain future. Billie and Luke confront relentless peril with true western grit—finding victory over past regret and love as big as the Texas sky.

Hidden Facts: Billie is named for my mother, who passed away unexpectedly when I was still in high school; she was in her late thirties. The boy’s ranch idea came from a Christian boy’s ranch less than ten miles from my home. And, the early scenery depicted in the story is from my neck of the woods and the land I adore—West Texas.

the tour

Inklings and notions, April 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 24

Texas Book-aholic, April 25

Of Blades and Thorns, April 25

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 26

For Him and My Family, April 27

deb’s Book Review, April 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 29

Connie’s History Classroom, April 30

Simple Harvest Reads, May 1 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Labor Not in Vain, May 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 3

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 5

Vicky Sluiter, May 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 6

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookreview #review #christianfiction #historicalfiction #historicalromance #western #inspirational #romance #blogtour #celebratelit #giveaway #debutnovel

Review: Refuge from the Storm by Kristina Hall

Stars: 3.5

Synopsis: Even though Tony Dorence has returned home from prison, alive only by the grace of God, he, his sister, and his friends are plagued by many more trials that threaten their lives and their faith. Will they stand strong in the face of doubt and persecution?

Ooh, boy. This...this long-awaited (I waited a day...still too long) sequel to Fled for Refuge (one word: cliffhanger) was both everything I wanted and nothing like I’d hoped.

If that’s confusing, don’t worry. I’ll explain.

Refuge from the Storm picks up right where the first book left off—and Y’ALL. Tony survives. He comes home. Merri and Wes and Matilda and Rick and Brent are still waiting for him. It’s epic.

Except I feel like 50% of the book was Tony sleeping and Merri worrying. There was just a lot of repetition and not a lot of drama or action (until the very end...which was the best part). As much as I like how realistic Tony’s recovery was and how relatable Merri’s doubts were, it was kind of excessive. I needed more to the plot; otherwise, it dragged.

BUT THEN. But then...something crazy happened, and Craig and Amanda show back up. Y’all, that could have been SUCH an epic twist...but that too seemed like it wasn’t fully fleshed out.

What would’ve helped was some more drama (I. Love. Drama.), with a hint of comedy and (maybe, but I won’t ask for it) romance or something. Something...more. (Like...what if Drew came back? That would’ve been so awesome. Terrible for the characters, but awesome for me. *winks*)

Speaking of the characters, I could see Rick and Brent being such amazing characters with an interesting dynamic with Tony and Merri, but they really bled into each other. (I honestly couldn’t tell them apart sometimes.) If they’d been more defined and developed, they would’ve added such a fun element to the story.

Truth be told...this could’ve been a novella. I feel like some of the repetitive scenes could’ve been cut to make the pacing and length more conducive to all that actually occurred in the story. (*glares at her own 210k word-long epic* I may need someone to tell me this...)

As it was, even though the sequel fell flat in some areas, it really picked up at the very end. No spoilers, but I am SO stoked for the next book! Just...all the vibes, guys. This is taking me back to my Left Behind days; I can just feel the intensity and see everything unfold! I sincerely hope the next book takes advantage of the build-up Refuge from the Storm gave it!

Honestly, the whole book is worth that ending. And Tony not dying, of course! *winks* I LOVE the apologetic themes and how relevant the messages are! Definitely gets you thinking about what you would do in that situation—if you would choose your life but lose your soul by denying your Lord—which is something we should all ask ourselves in a culture that looks down on Christians! I think Hall wrote those struggles so well, in a way that was relatable and authentic rather than the characters already being perfect and doing everything just right!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the lovely author! All opinions expressed are my own!

snag your copy the sale

Fled for Refuge (the first book in the Refuge series) is on sale for $1.99 during the launch tour! You can purchase a discounted copy from your preferred retailer HERE!

the tour

Monday, April 18th

Vanessa Hall - Spotlight

Kaytlin Phillips - Review

Grace A. Johnson - Spotlight

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote

Kristina Hall - Tour launch

Tuesday, April 19th

Madi’s Musings - Spotlight

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote

Kristina Hall

Lillian Keith - Spotlight

Wednesday, April 20th

Judith McNees - Review

Joy C. Woodbury - Review

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote

Kristina Hall

Thursday, April 21st

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote

Kristina Hall

Books Less Travelled - Review

Friday, April 22nd

Abby Burrus - Review

Issabelle Perry - Review

Vanessa Hall - Review

Emma (The Book Dragon’s Alcove) - Review

Grace A. Johnson - Review

Saraina Whitney - Spotlight

Kylie Hunt - Spotlight and Review

Charity’s Books and Tea - Review

Autumn - Spotlight

Kristina Hall - Tour Wrapup

about the author

Kristina Hall is a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with her words. She is a homeschool graduate and holds a degree in accounting. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, arm wrestling, lifting weights, and playing the violin. Follow her on Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, and her website, and subscribe to her newsletter!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #christianfiction #indie #suspense #dystopian #blogtour #onsale #bookreview #review