E.G. Bella's Blog, page 6

Top 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Saturday, and welcome to the sixth – and last – day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! (As well as the last day of September!)

You can find all of the information about the Five Fall Favorites blog party by seeing my first post (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today we’re looking at some of our favorite reads from the past year! That can mean in the last twelve months since the previous Five Fall Favorites party, or in the calendar year of 2023. Mine are all from the last twelve months, as I still haven’t read as many books as I’d like to in 2023 (that’s what autumn’s for, right?).

I will say that these aren’t my top picks from the last twelve months. Because I’ve already been using some recent favorites in my other posts from this week, today I decided to just share five more books that I’ve enjoyed recently. The past few months, I’ve done a lot of experimenting with new-to-me genres and re-reading childhood favorites, so many of today’s picks fit those categories.

Let’s take a look at them! (I’ve reviewed many of these in more depth on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or just other reviews in general – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on the book’s title).

Lyddie

Author: Katherine Paterson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Middle Grade (MG)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is a small but surprisingly deep story that I read often in my youth. It took me far too long to realize that the author also wrote Bridge to Terabithia (another of my favorites during childhood), but I appreciate her approach to storytelling.

This is very easy to get invested in. I appreciate the focus on family, hard work, difficulty fitting in, and the main character’s strong morals, even in atrocious circumstances. For a middle-grade book, it takes on and honestly tackles very tough topics.

It’s not a fairytale, feel-good story, but it is very real, and I like to read it every now and again for that reason. And although there isn’t a ‘happy’ ending, it’s a hopeful and very realistic one. I would hope that in similar situations, I could manage to conduct myself with as much strength, honor, and courage as the main character does. I feel this is a strong story for readers of any age.

Tricky Content: Slavery, harmful working conditions, death, tactful references to (and shown intent of) sexual assault, infidelity, pregnancy outside of marriage, and mental health struggles.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-grade readers and above that enjoy compelling historical fiction stories with a strong protagonist, sibling ties, and themes of courage and determination.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads! (the cover is wrong, but it is the correct page)

Silver Sparrow

Author: Tayari Jones

Genre: Historical Literary Fiction

Target Audience: Adults

What Stuck Out to Me: I have such mixed feelings about this one, so in regards to recommending it, I’d say that if this sounds like one you’d find interesting, you probably will, and if it doesn’t, I wouldn’t suggest reading it due to the potentially problematic premise.

For me, the concept was fascinating and well-delivered. Though the content wasn’t my favorite, the author states that her goal in writing it was to spur empathy in readers for people in similar situations in real life. And I respect and appreciate that.

There are those kinds of situations that people deal with all over the world, and as I empathized with the characters, I could find myself understanding why others may act the way they do. I sympathized with those characters and found them relatable. So in that regard, the book was well-written. The setting was easy to picture, closer to contemporary than very historical, but still not modern-day. Overall, probably not one I’ll be re-reading but it was worth the read for me.

Tricky Content: Scattered uses of strong language, frequent references to sexual matters, dysfunctional family (understatement), bigamy, and I didn’t agree with the morals of the characters, as a Christian.

I’d Recommend It To: Adults seeking a unique, character-driven read that makes you think, and spurs you to empathize with real people in their kind of situation.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Safe In His Arms

Author: Colleen Coble

Genre: Christian Western Romance

Target Audience: Young Adult and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a huge venture outside my reading comfort zone, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. I think it was a good first look at the genre.

The story itself was compelling, the characters were interesting and relatable, and the setting felt true to the time period. The romance was also sweet, and I especially appreciated that it was clean.

I also appreciated the Christian elements and discussions of God inside, including the main character wrestling with how to accept God’s unconditional love. Thanks to the Christian elements, there wasn’t any content I was uncomfortable with.

The second half of the book really picked up the pace action-wise, which I enjoyed. Was it the most realistic? No, but it was interesting, and it kept me reading to find out what might be thrown at the characters next. If lack of realism bothers you in stories like this, you may not appreciate the second half as much, but I didn’t mind dispending belief for a while. Probably because I don’t read many slower romances. All in all, it was a solid story and I do love that I can recommend it thanks to its being clean.

Tricky Content: Kisses, references to physical attraction, mild injuries, kidnappings, deceit.

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of Christian novels, westerns, and clean romance stories with a good amount of action and interesting characters.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Author: J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Middle Grade (MG)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is my go-to series any time I want to get lost in an expansive and captivating story. I’ve read the series several times over, and am currently reading them yet again.

I’ve always enjoyed how immersive this series is. Between the vivid characters, the mystery woven through each storyline, and the sheer amount of details that Rowling somehow keeps track of from book to book, I get the sense that this is truly a real world, with real people, that I’m stepping into. The first time I read them, I didn’t see many of the plot twists coming at all, and they’re still fun every time.

I personally enjoy the later books more than the earlier ones, as the story progresses and the plot thickens, but they wouldn’t be the same without the earlier books. In a way it makes the series even more immersive, as you see the book plots grow and mature as the kids do.

Tricky Content: Kids disrespecting authority, violence, magic. Later books grow darker in tone, with some more romantic/mature elements mixed in, but nothing inappropriate. I know everyone has differing views on the magic elements, and you should follow your own convictions. I personally wasn’t allowed to read them until I was old enough to understand the distinction between demonic activity/ witchcraft that the Bible talks about, from the magic system in this series, and would do the same thing with my own kids.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-schoolers and above that enjoy fun, school-featuring fantasy stories with large casts of characters, some mystery, and lots of whimsical adventure.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

All Things For Good

Author: Thomas Watson

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: A cousin loaned me this book when I was going through a discouraging patch, and it was such a refreshing read.

Romans 8:28 has been one of my favorite Scriptures for years, and this book focuses almost entirely on it. It explores how joyful times and blessings, other people, even suffering and misfortune, all work together for our good and God’s glory. It’s surprisingly in-depth, and, though it’s written in older English, it was still written simply enough to understand and enjoy.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone needing encouragement and understanding for hard times, or just wanting to understand that passage of Scripture and biblical truth better.

Tricky Content: Nothing that I found, though, as always, books like this should be read with discretion and prayer.

I’d Recommend It To: Christians that enjoy deep, thought-provoking, and encouraging dives into Scripture, particularly Romans 8:28.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

It’s hard to believe (and kind of sad), but we’ve officially reached the very end of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What have been your favorite reads from the last year? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

If you haven’t already, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations! There are so many other amazing bloggers that have shared countless great reads this week, and I’d hate for you to miss out on them!

Thank you so much for joining us this week, and for celebrating in the midst of these bookish, fall vibes. It’s been a blast, and I appreciate you! I’m already looking forward to next year!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Friday, and welcome to the fifth day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! We’re almost done!

You can find all of the information about the Five Fall Favorites blog party by seeing my first post (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today, we get to share five upcoming releases that we’re most excited for!

I love this topic because there are a good number of books I’m looking forward to right now, by authors who I admire and would love to support! From fantasy, to contemporary, to retellings, there are some exciting releases coming up! And I realized after curating this list, that my list is entirely by indie authors, so that’s also fun.

Let’s get right into those books! (I encourage you to visit Goodreads by clicking on each book’s title or the link beneath the cover, and add the ones you’re interested in to your TBR. I’m sure the authors would appreciate your support!)

If the Stars Awaken

Author: Kate Willis

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Publication Date: November 9th, 2023

Target Audience: Teens and up, from what I can tell

What Sticks Out to Me: First of all, that cover and title! They’re both so pretty, and definitely scream fantasy to me. Knowing it’s Christian is also a huge factor, as I’m trying to find a lot more of those.

I also enjoy medieval-type fantasy, and at least judging by the synopsis, this looks like it may be that. The author is one that I admire, so I’m just excited to dive into this one and see what it’s about!

Synopsis:

“Hush, little one, and you will see a starlit web of mystery.”

Queen Marinne awaits a sign from the Maker about her unborn child, but the heavens are worryingly quiet about everything except the new star taking over the sky.

Others look to the stars as well, but none more than the Starreader’s loyal apprentice, Dynast, who finds himself cast aside and left to search the skies for answers on his own.

Elite guard Arrow has no time to wonder about the star as he protects the royal family, a task that becomes harder when the Starreader interrupts the christening to prophesy the end of days.

Fear and confusion unsettle the kingdom, and a bid for survival turns into a desperate search for truth and hope.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Unearth the Tides

Author: Alissa J. Zavalianos

Genre: Christian Fantasy Retelling

Publication Date: October 6th, 2023

Target Audience: Again, teens and up?

What Sticks Out to Me: I’ve been seeing this one around my Instagram for weeks now, and it intrigues me greatly. I always enjoy 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, retellings, nautical stories, and Christian themes, so all of them combined? Yes, please!

Again, the author is so sweet and the more she shares about this story, the more I want to read it. I’m looking forward to its release!

Synopsis:

𝐁𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Huxley Krew Gannon III always knew he would be a royal guard; defending the Crown is in his blood. And coming from a long line of Gannons, that means the job is to be taken seriously at all costs.

When tragedy strikes, Huxley is framed for treason, and his only option is to flee to Braka’s most feared place: The Wasteful Tides.

It’s rumored a monstrous beast haunts those waters, but what Huxley encounters is even worse: an elusive captain, magical herbs, a beautiful lady, and unearthed truths that could change the course of history.

Unearth the Tides is a fantasy retelling of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Filled with mystery, found family, and themes of truth and forgiveness, Unearth the Tides is perfect for those who love the coziness of the classics and the thrill of adventure.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Otherworld

Author: Abbie Emmons

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: September 19th, 2023 (yes this just released, but since it’s so close, I’m cheating, haha)

Target Audience: YA and above

What Sticks Out to Me: I’ve followed Abbie Emmons for years now, but have yet to read any of her stories, as I don’t know if they’re quite my genre. This one really interests me though! Again, it has prominent nautical themes, cute romance, mysterious vibes, and supposedly draws inspiration from Tangled (which is one of my favorite movies of all time). I’m going to give it a chance as soon as I can!

Synopsis:

Orca Monroe wants only one thing for her eighteenth birthday: to experience the Otherworld—the mysterious “mainland” across the sea that her father has forbidden her from visiting.

Growing up in a lighthouse on a remote island, Orca has lived isolated from the world… until one day when she finds a cell phone washed up on the beach. Orca has her first conversation with Jack Stevenson, a young man whose older brother, Adam, has gone missing after crashing his seaplane off the coast. Orca becomes Jack’s lifeline and his reason to hope that Adam is still alive. While her father is away, she scours the island for the missing pilot—determined to help Jack find his brother and prove to her father that she’s strong enough to take on the world.

One stormy night, Orca finds Adam Stevenson collapsed on her doorstep. As she nurses him back to health, she finds herself spellbound by his inquiring mind and rugged good looks. Simultaneously, Adam is captivated by her wild beauty and pure heart. But with a ten-year age gap between them—and her father’s determination to keep Orca protected from outsiders—Adam knows they can never be together.

Resigned to give Orca up, Adam returns to the mainland—but Jack refuses to leave her trapped at the lighthouse. Blind to the fact that his brother is in love with her, Jack offers to show Orca the world she’s always dreamed of. But when she leaves her island for the first time, Orca begins to realize that the mainland may hold more dark secrets than she ever imagined… and the two brothers she helped bring back together may be the very people she tears apart.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Bond of Briars

Author: Erin Phillips

Genre: Christian Fantasy Retelling

Publication Date: October 24th, 2023

Target Audience: Teens/YA and above, from what I see

What Sticks Out to Me: This is another book I’ve seen around Instagram countless times now, and I’m so intrigued! I’ve wanted to read her fantasy Esther retelling for a while now, and this one looks just as interesting. The biblical inspiration of Ruth is so strong in the synopsis, but with a creative and compelling magical twist. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this author, and am really looking forward to diving into her stories!

Synopsis:

She is bonded to a spirit who demands her blood.
She follows a mother-in-law who resents her power.
She meets a man who challenges everything she’s ever believed.

After a fatal illness takes newlywed Caitrin’s husband, she finds herself obligated by duty and oath to care for her mother-in-law, Meara, at any cost…even if it means traveling to Croìthe, where magic of any kind is outlawed. Burdened by Meara’s bitter grief and weighty demands, Caitrin struggles to keep all of her secrets hidden and make a new life in the foreign land.

However, when the charming and charitable Callen Lockhart, a wealthy lord who is at odds with the town, welcomes her to Croìthe without judging her past, Caitrin worries that his generosity will come at a cost she is unwilling to pay.

Bonded to a spirit who empowers her to create spells and curses, Caitrin must either become the powerful cairline her mother had always wanted her to be or suffer the consequences of breaking free.

A Bond of Briars is a YA dark fantasy retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth, with fresh twists based on the original context and respun into a spooky cottagecore romance that is filled with dark magic and mysterious curses, sacrificial love and redemption.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Guild of Thieves

Author: Jaiden Phillips

Genre: Medieval Fantasy?

Publication Date: November 3rd, 2023

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adult (YA)

What Sticks Out to Me: I’d never heard of this one until a few days ago, and I instantly added it to my TBR. I get huge Aladdin vibes from the synopsis, and I really enjoy stories with a criminally misunderstood protagonist going on a journey and learning along the way. That seems like what might be happening in this story, and I’m going to be eagerly waiting for its release! Plus, the cover is super cute so bonus points.

Synopsis:

“Being a thief is easy, but getting caught…now, that’s when it gets tricky.”

Dice is a street boy in the poor district of Raheren, forced to be what he must to survive. A liar, a cheat, and a thief. But just like all thieves in Arkrindon he abides by the rules of thieves, stick with your unit, stay in your district, and don’t get caught.

When Dice is jumped by another group of thieves trespassing in pickpocket territory, things quickly escalate. These aren’t just any thieves, this is a whole new breed of thieves, ones who don’t play by the rules. Rogues, burglars, and pickpockets have come together, abandoning districts and uniting under one man, Azic, the master of The Guild of Thieves.

For his freedom and the lives of his unit, the Guild presents a deal: Steal the King’s Jewel or watch everyone in his unit die. If Dice steals the jewel he’s dooming the kingdom but if he doesn’t everyone he cares about will pay the price.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We just finished day five of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! This week is flying by! What are some of the books you’re looking forward to? Have you heard of any of the books I mentioned? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top Five Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Thursday, and welcome to the fourth day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about the Five Fall Favorites blog party by seeing my first post (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today’s prompt is another one that I’ve been looking forward to: indie books!

I’ve been notoriously bad at reading other indie books the past few years, as I’ve been writing my own, so I’m trying to pursue more of them. There are so many hidden gems waiting to be read! And in general, I find that the ratio of indie books that contain my values is higher than with traditionally published books. At least in the circle that I usually read in (I know that’s a huge generalization).

This year, I’ve been blessed to read several ARCs and free copies, and be introduced to a lot of new indie authors that I don’t think I would have looked into otherwise. It’s been a very rewarding adventure, and I can’t wait to share five of those new reads with you!

So let’s jump in! (I’ve reviewed many of these in more depth on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or just other reviews in general – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on the book’s title).

Like a Ship on the Sea

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Target Audience: Mature YA and above (16+)

What Stuck Out to Me:

This is the first book of Kellyn’s that I’ve read, as romance is a step outside my usual genres. I’m so glad I gave it a try! I was concerned that I wouldn’t understand everything, since this relates to her previous stories, but that wasn’t the case at all. This stands on its own.

Overall, the characters were my favorite part. They each had real and relatable passions, struggles, desires, thoughts, and dreams. I could relate to almost all of them, and quickly became attached. The romance was sweet and well-done, even for a rare romance reader.

The settings were beautiful and precise, and I don’t have a clue how Kellyn kept all of the spot-on historical details straight, but they all made perfect sense to me. Her descriptions were vivid, and I could picture each of the locations easily. The Christian themes were prominent from the very start of the story, but not obnoxiously so. I could respect and relate to the characters’ faiths without cringing at how it was portrayed, and she handled extremely difficult topics with tact and grace. I definitely recommend this one!

Tricky Content: infant loss/miscarriage, discussions of suicide, depression, kisses, one brief and vague discussion about physicality in marriage.

I’d Recommend It To: Older teens and above that like historical regency-style romances with fascinating characters and strong Christian themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Generations 2

Author: Kenny Sargent

Genre: Christian Political Thriller

Target Audience: Mature YA and above (16+)

What Stuck Out to Me: I don’t read many political thrillers (they usually go over my head), but while interacting with the author for a project, I read it through in one day, and was super impressed! I haven’t even read the first novel yet, but I didn’t need to in order to understand the story.

It had enough action to keep me interested, enough meaning and deep themes to leave an impact, and enough focus on the characters and their growth to make it memorable. I thought I knew where a certain plot twist at the end was headed, but turns out, I was completely wrong – and happily so!

The Christian themes were strong and well-done, without being too pushy or cringe-y, or the opposite, too vague to even call a Christian novel. It covered a large number of heavy and difficult topics with grace and truth, and even handled some controversial spiritual aspects carefully, and I felt they were portrayed biblically. I highly recommend it, and will be sharing more about it next year!

Tricky Content: One character intends to commit suicide and is stopped, vague discussions of a pre-marital event and past abortion, deaths, fights.

I’d Recommend It To: Young adults and older readers that enjoy fast-paced political novels that don’t shy away from the hardest topics, and champion strong Christian themes throughout.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Held Captive

Author: Grace A. Johnson

Genre: Christian Historical Pirate Romance

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: Caveat first: this is in the process of being completely re-written (something I’m excited to read!), but all of my thoughts are about the original version, read in 2023.

Obviously, I’m in a pirate-stories phase right now, and this was one I’ve wanted to read for a long time! Written by the sweet author when she was young, I was super impressed with how much depth it had! From the plot to the characters to the strong Christian themes, I enjoyed it, and am planning to continue on with the series.

I had a lot of fun reading about the protagonist, who started out so rough, and admirably grew a major amount over the course of the story. The characters in general were relatable and well-developed, and I did enjoy most of the romance elements as well. The plot moved along well, and kept me interested, and wow those themes. She did a wonderful job at portraying Christian struggles with heart and truth.

Tricky Content: Drinking/drunkenness, violence, typical pirate brutality, strong romance. The romance and physical attraction aspects were more than I’m used to reading, but would still be considered clean.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and above that enjoy strong characters, pirate stories, sweet romances, and prominent Christian messages.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Operation Lionhearted

Author: Maribeth Barber

Genre: Christian Science Fiction

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: Although I’m not usually a big science fiction reader, I’m a fan of this sweet author, and I’m so glad I gave this book a try!

It was very character-forward, which is great because the characters were my favorite part. They were interesting, sympathetic, and wrestled with a lot of real issues that helped me understand why they acted the way they did. The romance subplot was sweet and completely clean, which I really appreciated.

The world-building was also done well, where I could picture and follow along with everything. The author balanced the fast-paced action, political intrigue, and slower meaningful moments wonderfully, giving the story some naturally great pacing. There was never a point where I lost interest. And of course, the themes, while not explicitly Christian most of the time, were beautifully-written and powerful.

Tricky Content: It’s been a while, but war-type violence, some ethical dilemmas (as war tends to bring), several uses of the Lord’s name that are questionable.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and older that enjoy action-packed, political science fiction reads with strong characters and great themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Orchidelirium

Author: E. B. Roshan

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Target Audience: Middle Grade and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a huge step outside my typical genres, but the author offered a complimentary copy and I was happy to give it a chance! And while it’s still not my preferred kind of story, I thought it was very cute, and worth the read!

First, the illustrations were a very fun addition to this little story (novella-length). They broke up the text well, and gave the story a middle-grade feel. Even the plot’s main mystery seemed to be on a smaller scale, something that younger readers could enjoy. That said, the characters’ dialogue wasn’t child-like. The setting was meant to be a Steampunk alternative to Victorian England, and the dialogue reflected that era, being older and more flowery.

The characters made for a fun cast of characters, with realistic sibling relationships, a villainous twist, and a lot of dry wit and humor from the protagonist. Even the bits of romance were short and sweet. In such a short story, the Steampunk elements of the worldbuilding didn’t show too much, but the setting worked and was easy to follow along with anyway. All in all, this was a quick, quirky, and entertaining read!

Tricky Content: I honestly can’t think of any. It was very clean.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle grade readers and up that enjoy short, illustrated historical reads with a fun cast of characters and a unique mystery plot.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve reached the end of day four of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite indie books? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top Five Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Secondhand Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top Five Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to the third day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about the Five Fall Favorites blog party by seeing my first post (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today’s prompt is about buddy-read books that we’ve read and enjoyed!

Confession: I interpreted that term (“buddy-read”) as books with good friends in the stories, or books that we’ve shared with our friends. I didn’t realize that that term typically means books that you read at the same time as a friend… I can’t say that I’ve ever done that, except for some devotionals, so I’m going to stick with my first interpretation and improvise, haha.

I love books that have good friendships in them. There are so many books where friendships either seem to be forgotten, forsaken for romance, or portrayed through very unhealthy examples. I think we could all use substantially more examples of healthy, supportive, loyal, and strong friendships in literature.

That’s why I enjoyed the books below. I enjoyed their portrayals of friendship, in many different forms. And, I have recommended almost all of these to friends of my own. The first book in particular has made its rounds through me, some of my friends, my sister, some of her friends…it’s wonderful when books can impact a bunch of the people you know.

Let’s jump in and look at those five books now! (I’ve reviewed many of these in more depth on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or just other reviews in general – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on the book’s title).

Blank Mastermind

Author: Rosey Mucklestone

Genre: Dystopian/Superhero/Christian

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: I read this entire book for the first time in one sitting, staying up far too late to do it. First of all, the genre – a mix of superhero, contemporary, and dystopian – was descriptive and fascinating, something I’ve never read before. And amnesia tropes are some of my favorite, so the premise – about a protagonist who can’t remember who they are – intrigued me from the start.

I chose it for book besties because the main group of friends in this story is so tight-knit. They’re there for one another through thick and thin, and I love them.

This entire book is well-written and brilliant in my opinion. The characters are vibrant and memorable, the story a good balance of action, mystery, and reflection, the humor witty and nearly constant, thanks to the snarky protagonist, and the weaving of faith and deep themes powerfully done. It’s definitely one of my favorites, and I keep coming back to it. I try not to think about that one plot twist that I should have seen coming, but didn’t . . . .

Tricky Content: Some violence, intense situations, mild language, occasional grammatical errors, and a brief, subtle allusion to self-harm.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and up that enjoy stories about superheroes, meaningful themes, amnesiacs, unique characters, and/or ice cream.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Author: John Boyne

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Middle Grade and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I’d heard very little about this book when I picked it up, so it consistently took me by surprise. The Holocaust is a heartbreaking topic, and I thought it was fascinating getting to read a story set on the opposite side than I usually hear about. The contrast of the young protagonists’ innocent narrative voice vs his harsh, cruel surroundings and family actions really made me think.

There’s no easy way to cover this topic, but this book helped me emotionally connect even more to the victims of World War II, especially the Jews, and also imagine the lives of those on the opposing side. The forbidden friendship between the two main characters was both sweet and sad. They truly cared for one another, despite what adults around them said. Emotionally, I’d compare this book to Bridge to Terabithia. A story that may not be light or easy, but that tackles deep themes and sticks with you. It stuck with me.

Tricky Content: An implied affair, upsetting ending, deception, implied violence, and disturbing scenes and descriptions regarding the Holocaust. Many advocate that this is not an accurate look at this part of history, and warn not to take it as facts.

I’d Recommend It To: Mature middle grade readers and up that want to more deeply contemplate and feel connected to the events of the Holocaust/World War II.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Genre: Classic Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Middle grade and above

What Stuck Out to Me: It took me far too long to pick this one up, even though I’ve heard such good things about it. After reading it, I can see why it’s a classic!

The settings were incredibly vivid, and I felt like I was really there. In addition, the characters were my favorite parts. Each one felt so real and interesting. In particular, I enjoyed the voice of the protagonist, through which we viewed the story. There was the expected childishness and innocence, but with a surprising amount of perception. The main group of friends were so cute and loyal to one another.

Lastly, that ending! And the themes woven throughout the story tied together so seamlessly that I didn’t even realize how powerful they were until the end when all the dots started connecting. There were some extremely meaningful lessons hidden in plain sight in this novel, and I highly recommend it.

Tricky Content: Drunkenness, one character has a morphine addiction, references to a man assaulting a woman, some violence (mostly not seen directly), some profanity, including racial slurs (as per the time period).

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and older that enjoy historical classics with strong, vivid characters and powerful themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Nine Lessons

Author: Kevin Alan Milne

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational

Target Audience: Adults

What Stuck Out to Me: This one has book besties of a different sort, but I wanted to include it in here. In this book, the protagonist has rocky relationships with his wife and his father. Over the course of the story, that changes.

I tried this one randomly from my local thrift store one day, and it was worth the read. I’m not a huge fan of golf, and don’t usually read slower contemporary stories like this, but it was a cute read. By the end, I was very interested in each of the characters and enjoyed seeing their growth. The themes of family, forgiveness, and love were well-done.

Tricky Content: Marital fights, one slap, references to trying for kids/pregnancy.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy family stories, romances between married couples, life lessons, and/or golf.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Seasons of the Storm

Author: Elle Cosimano

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: I picked this one for today’s prompt because I enjoyed reading about the group of reluctant friends that make up the protagonists of this novel. By the end, they’re extremely close-knit.

I didn’t realize this was the first book in a duology (so now I’m a bit bummed that I don’t have the second, haha), but it wrapped up fairly well. The premise is fascinating, reminding me of a “Jack Frost”, dystopian type of novel. I think some of the mythology parts and worldbuilding went right over my head, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the story.

The characters were all very different and interesting, and the constant action and tension kept me engaged. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure which were the real villains (I could never quite figure it out), and I could feel for each of the protagonists. The settings were well-described. The romances were sweet and, for the most part, I rooted for the characters to end up together in the end. It was a fun read.

Tricky Content: Some profanity, violence, vague mentions of suicide, deaths, kissing and references to more than that (though nothing is ever shown), drinking alcohol.

I’d Recommend It To: Young adults and above that enjoy mythological fantasies set in a contemporary world, packed with action, romance, and intrigue.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Day three of the Five Fall Favorites blog event is now over! What are some of your favorite reads with book besties? Or how about books that you and a bookish friend have shared with each other? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top Five Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Secondhand Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Gifted Finds (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Secondhand Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to the second day of the Five Fall Favorites blog event!

You can find all of the information about the Five Fall Favorites blog party by seeing my first post from yesterday (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Top Five Secondhand Favorites

Today’s topic is one I’ve been looking forward to: secondhand favorites! I get most of my books from secondhand stores, and I’m pretty sure the employees of my local thrift store expect me to walk out with an armload of books every time I’m there. Probably because I almost always do.

Can you blame me when they frequently have books for a dollar or less each?

Yes, books from secondhand stores sometimes aren’t in the best of conditions, and you never know what you’re going to find in there, but that’s part of the fun for me! It feels like a treasure hunt. I’ve been able to find ones that have been on my TBR for a long time, ones I’ve never heard of but end up being favorites, and some that I’m not sure I’ll like for a much lower price.

It’s a great way to constantly be trying new genres, authors, and types of books. The only downside for me is that I can’t let myself go there very often… I always think I’ll read faster than I do.

So today, we’re going to look at five of my favorite books that I’ve found from secondhand stores! Because I try such a variety of genres from thrift stores, I picked a wide selection to share.

Let’s look at those five books now! (I’ve reviewed many of these in more depth on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or just other reviews in general – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on the book’s title).

The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Genre: Dystopian Romance

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: I admit, I picked this up solely because of the gorgeous cover. The premise itself read like a mix of The Hunger Games, Cinderella, and The Bachelor, as well as a tad like the Biblical story of Esther (though it’s not in any way Christian fiction) – a fascinating mash-up.

The large cast of characters was fun to meet, the competition engrossing, and the setting interesting to learn about. It was an all-around solid read.

The plot itself wasn’t too deep, but I’m a sucker for dystopians, so I did enjoy this! I binge-read it and its sequel in one day, and it was a fun “junk food” kind of book.

Tricky Content: Occasional mild language, frequent kissing (way too many for my comfort zone, but nothing significantly further than that), war-based violence.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and above that enjoy light, princess-y dystopian romance reads.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Genre: Contemporary/Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Adults

What Stuck Out to Me: I never know quite what to say about books by this author, as they’re incredible, but also not ones I would recommend to just anyone. Like The Kite Runner, I couldn’t put this down.

I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the historical aspects or setting, but it was well-described and felt extremely real to me. The characters also were incredibly relatable and each felt like real people. The plot was constantly moving and engaging, and the themes were deep and impactful.

The story itself was bleak. The author didn’t hold back from putting his characters through pain, over and over again. There was tension throughout the entire novel as I felt like horrible things could happen at any moment. So I can’t say that this was a happy read overall, but it was well-done and moving.

Tricky Content: Assault, abuse, death, sprinkled expletives, mentions of rape, some graphic descriptions, etc. Definitely not a book for young readers, but, for adults, I felt it was tactful rather than excessive.

I’d Recommend It To: Adults (or mature young adults) that like deep and gritty stories set in historical settings (in this case, Afghanistan).

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

What Would Jesus Do?
(alternatively, In His Steps)

Author: Charles M. Sheldon

Genre: Classic Christian Fiction

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I first read this back in high school, and it’s stuck with me since. The story revolves around a church deciding to ask themselves the question, “What Would Jesus Do?”, and only make choices that align with what they think Jesus would choose.

This is a fascinating premise, and while I don’t always think our choices are supposed to be what Jesus would have done while He was on earth (He was fully God after all, unlike us), it’s thought-provoking.

I felt the story was well-written, and I enjoyed seeing glimpses of so many character’s lives as they explored the very difficult and practical decisions that emerged from trying to follow Jesus in their professional, personal, and spiritual lives. It made me think about my own choices, and how I might do a better job of standing up for what’s right in my own life.

Tricky Content: It’s been a while, but there were mentions of drinking, gambling, entertaining women of the streets, and other sinful behavior as the characters determine what the right choices are.

I’d Recommend It To: Any Christian who wants to be newly inspired to live an authentic life of following Jesus.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Classic Historical Romance

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I’m not usually a romance readers, but I thoroughly enjoy this one. It took me until after I performed in a production of this story to actually read the book, and I can’t believe I waited so long!

While the writing style can deter some people, once I got into the classic language, I enjoyed it. The characters are so vivid and entertaining, and I loved getting to see all the different personalities interacting.

There’s so much humor packed into it as well, and countless quotable lines, and I think both of those things helped me enjoy it that much more. The setting was interesting to read about, very classy and elegant. And of course, the romances were prevalent, but well-done. I appreciated that no two romances were the same, so I stayed interested. This is a classic for a reason, and I’ll be reading it again.

Tricky Content: Several religious exclamations (“good Heavens, Lord, etc.”), and one unmarried girl lives with a man for two weeks.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and above that enjoy classic regency romances with humor, wit, and happy endings.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

What She Knew

Author: Gilly MacMillan

Genre: Contemporary Mystery Thriller

Target Audience: Mature teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a completely blind pick from my local thrift store. I didn’t know anything about it, but it didn’t take me long to become extremely invested. I didn’t want to put it down.

The story deals with the harsh reality of a young boy that’s gone missing from his mother on a walk. All signs point to abduction. While his mother grieves and does everything she can to find him, you get to meet a huge case of characters in her life, each with their own twisting stories.

While the constant intrigue, tension, and suspense kept me very engaged, the part I appreciated most about this book was how messy and real everything was. All of the characters had their own lives, emotions, motives, and backstories, and it was both heart-breaking and a breath of fresh air to feel like these were real people in the situations, reacting like real people would. The tone of the entire story was dark, but it wrapped up well. I’m glad I gave this book a shot.

Tricky Content: Several expletives, child abduction, grief and mental anguish.

I’d Recommend It To: Young adults and above that like intense contemporary stories that deal with difficult, but real topics.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve reached the end of day two of the Five Fall Favorites blog event! What are some of your favorite books that you’ve found from secondhand stores? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top Five Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Secondhand Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Gifted Finds (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Gifted Finds (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Monday, and welcome to day one of the 2023 Five Fall Favorites blog party!

I’m so thrilled to be taking part in this creative and collaborative event, organized by the lovely Kate Willis (click on her name to head over to her blog)! This is the event’s 8th year in a row, and my second time joining in. It’s going to be a great week of bookish fun!

Whether you’re looking for book recommendations, enjoy seeing a bunch of book covers, or just like reading about books in general, this is for you. Each day, starting today through September 30th, a group of bloggers (me included) are going to be sharing our top five favorite books that fit a variety of prompts.

This year’s theme centers around who and where our books have come from. There are so many great stories and memories behind books, so explore all of the featured posts to find some great reads! My TBR is definitely going to be overflowing after this!

And make sure you head over to Kate Willis’ blog each day (right HERE) to find all of the additional information, including book deals and an awesome giveaway!

Now onto today’s book recommendations!

Top 5 Gifted Finds

I’m starting off slightly different on day one. Most FFF participants will probably be sharing five of their favorite library finds today, and originally I was too. I absolutely love libraries, and used to spend hours and hours of my childhood there, devouring armloads at a time.

But sadly, I haven’t been to our local library (which has undergone a lot of major changes) in a good number of years, and most of the books that I read back then are not really worth sharing, haha. They were great for a middle-schooler, but not anything too special.

So instead, I’m going to start with an alternate topic, and share five gifted finds! This can be books that were gifted to me, or books that I’ve gifted to someone else. There’s something special about receiving books, I think. Knowing someone either read or saw the book and thought specifically of you is sweet.

I’m going to try my very best this week not to include duplicates of my recommendations from last year’s event, but admittedly, today is one of the exceptions. Today will include a couple of the same ones from last year, but it’s because they’re just that good! Most of my recommendations will also be fiction, but today, again, I’m including one non-fiction.

Let’s look at those five books now! (I’ve reviewed many of these in more depth on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or just other reviews in general – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on the book’s title).

Wishtress

Author: Nadine Brandes

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: I received this as a late birthday gift in 2022 because my family knew I was a big fan of Nadine’s.

No doubt, this is my favorite book of hers so far (and that’s saying something, because I love all of her books). The entire premise of a tear and/or crying being able to grant wishes, and also be deadly, is a story idea I wish I’d thought of, haha. The magic system is fascinating and well thought out, and the worldbuilding is both descriptive and mysterious.

The characters are definitely my favorite though. Both protagonists were relatable and flawed, and I cared for them a lot. The romance was sweet. The plot kept me on my toes, and there were several times when I actually gasped while reading (something that doesn’t happen often). Overall, I was very engaged, finished the book in a day, and really appreciated this story and its deep, meaningful themes.

Tricky Content: A complex and allegorical magic system, violence, intense action, loss, several kisses, and mentions of several pregnancies out-of-wedlock, including to a teenager.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and up that enjoy intriguing and engaging fantasies with a bit of romance woven through.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Hinds’ Feet in High Places

Author: Hannah Hurnard

Genre: Allegory

Target Audience: Anyone (the older you are, the more you get from it)

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a gift from my mom after I started to wear out her copy.

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve read this book by now (it was also one of the primary inspirations behind The Toymaker’s Doll) Simple and even child-like in its writing style, it’s filled with powerful spiritual reminders of what it means to be a Christian.

The Bible alone teaches us what we need to know about God in order to be saved, but allegories like this one have helped me truly grasp God’s character, and how He feels about us. Hurnard’s representation of the Good Shepherd is touching, and has led to some very meaningful times of prayer. Also, boy, do I relate to Much-Afraid and her struggles!

Tricky Content: An older and repetitive style of writing that might be too childish for some readers’ preferences, and some questionable moments of theology that can be compared to Hinduism. While I feel the truth outweighed the troublesome content for my journey personally, as always, allegories should be read with much discernment and prayer.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers of pretty much any age that enjoy sweet allegories about growth and journeys through the hardships of life.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Bread of Angels

Author: Tessa Afshar

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Target Audience: Young Adult and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was another gift from my mom, as she knew I enjoy biblical fiction.

While Bread of Angels took me a while to get into, due to a slower writing style and time skips, once I got into it, I was hooked. The author has a warm writing voice that makes the story feel almost cozy, if that makes sense. I also appreciated how much research she did!

I’ve never read a book about Lydia from the New Testament before, so I loved getting a glimpse of what her life may have been like. Including the detailed dive into her dye-making, something that fascinated me! The characters were interesting and sympathetic, and the setting was extremely vivid. And the faith aspects that she included were well-done – not too preachy, or too subtle. All in all, worth the read.

Tricky Content: Villain is shown being cruel to small animals, brief references to child abuse, loss, flogging scenes (moderately described).

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and older that enjoy interesting and well-researched biblical fiction, especially about “side characters” in the Bible and what they’re lives might have been like.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Operation Grendel

Author: Daniel Schwabauer

Genre: Military Science Fiction

Target Audience: Young Adult and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I’m not usually a science fiction reader. Frankly, I don’t feel smart enough for it, and can rarely follow along. But I admire Daniel Schwabauer greatly, so after receiving this book for Christmas, I gave it a shot, and I’m extremely glad I did! Whatever boring jargon I was expecting, this book was anything but.

The writing style was crisp and engaging, the characters vivid, the setting extremely intriguing, and oh my word, the twists. Despite the complexity of it all, I felt like it was written in such a way that I could actually follow along, even being a science fiction newbie. All in all, I’ll definitely be re-reading it. I feel like I have to, to catch all of the subtleties I missed the first time!

Tricky Content: War-set violence, some light kisses, a couple of very mild swears, brief descriptions of injuries, and psychological trickery.

I’d Recommend It To: Older teens and above who enjoy complex, military-focused science fiction stories with plenty of unexpected twists and turns.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Sacred Search

Author: Gary L. Thomas

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction/Dating

Target Audience: Christian singles

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a gift from my parents to my then-boyfriend and I after we started dating.

I appreciated how this book is laid out. There are chapters covering everything from infatuation, to why we should date (and why we shouldn’t), dating with intention, communication styles, expectations, and how to tell when a relationship isn’t good for us.

There are also discussion questions at the end of every chapter to get you thinking, and to give you and your partner something to talk deeper about together. All in all, I loved the practical advice, and the God-honoring focus throughout the entire book.

Tricky Content: Nothing of note, although these types of books should always be read with discernment and prayer. Physical attraction is covered in one chapter in particular, but through a clean, God-honoring perspective.

I’d Recommend It To: Single, dating, or engaged Christians seeking practical and spiritual advice for growing closer to their prospective partner, and God in the process. My now-husband and I read this and answered the questions together, one chapter at a time, and I’d highly recommend doing the same if you have the chance (with your own partner, haha).

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

And just like that, we’re already wrapping up day one of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite books that you’ve either received as a gift or gifted to others? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for all of the additional information (including an awesome giveaway, and the full list of bloggers participating!), and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Gifted Finds (Five Fall Favorites 2023)The End…And The Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)

The End…And The Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)

Happy Sunday!

Cabin Girl has now officially been released for seven entire days. One week. I can’t believe that it’s taken this long to get to this point, and now this week has flown by. How is that even possible?

For a final recap, Cabin Girl is now available on Amazon as a both a paperback and an ebook. And right here on my website (with a slightly longer wait time but it comes signed, with two custom bookmarks)!

And we are now on the very last day of the launch tour! There’s another great review coming up today and you can find all of the information (with links) below. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway! We announce the winner/s tomorrow!

Let’s jump in! At the end of the post, you’ll find a sneak peek at the next project to come…

Book Information

Title: Cabin Girl

Series: The Secretive Seas Series

Author: E. G. Bella

Launch Date: September 18th, 2023

Find it on Amazon: click here!

Find it on Goodreads: click here!

Find the signed copies: click here!

Short Summary:

Sickness. Sharks. Sabotage. Secrecy.

In the rolling hills of 1600’s Ireland, young Éirinn O’Connell learns all she can of medicine, struggling to care for her starving family—until the night Barbary pirates raid her village, and she’s dragged from the only home she’s ever known.

Set on a course to the slave markets of Morocco, and amidst a crew as turbulent as the ocean around her, Éirinn searches for a way home. But who can she trust? And how will she survive the Captain’s constant torment? Éirinn soon discovers the danger in trusting appearances and learns that it’s never too late for a second chance.

Even for the unlikeliest of people.

Launch Tour Schedule

Monday, September 18th

Cabin Girl Release and Giveaway! (Launch Tour: Day 1) Book Review by S. K. JacklynAuthor Interview by Abbigail Raine B.Podcast Interview by The Wordsmith’s Edge

Tuesday, September 19th

Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2) Author Interview by Raina NightingaleAuthor Interview by Kate Willis

Wednesday, September 20th

Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)

Thursday, September 21st

What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4) Character Interview (Captain Gills) by Issabelle Perry

Friday, September 22nd

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5) Spotlight Post by Saraina Whitney

Saturday, September 23rd

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6) Book Review by Elizabeth Mae Wolfram

Sunday, September 24th

The End…and the Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7) (you are here!)Book Review by Virginia HendersonGiveaway Information

Yes, there’s a Cabin Girl themed giveaway! And you only have today left to enter, as the winner/s will be announced tomorrow, September 25th!

There are prizes for one U.S. winner and one international winner!

Here are the prizes to be won:

U. S. Only: One signed paperback copy of Cabin GirlTwo custom themed candles by FlickerwixTwo custom bookmarksOne 18″ golden compass necklace by Starlight by Silvie (Etsy)Lemon/ginger herbal teaInternational: One ebook copy of Cabin GirlThemed phone and desktop wallpapersExclusive first chapter of Gills (upcoming Cabin Girl prequel novel)

Take a flip through some of the prize pictures below! (Candles and wallpapers not pictured)

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is go to click THIS LINK.

What are you waiting for?

The End…and The Beginning of Cabin Girl

It’s been an absolutely wonderful launch tour, you guys. Thank you so much to everyone who participated, whether through blog posts, social media sharing, comments, likes, or reviews. I appreciate each and every one of you!

The reception for Cabin Girl has been so much greater than I expected. Both in the number of people who’ve purchased copies or expressed interest in reading it, and in how many people that have read it have enjoyed it. I prepped myself endlessly before this week to remember that not everyone will enjoy a story like this, and I think my expectations were so low that I’ve just been blown away by the support.

In all honesty, I know that I’ve written books since Cabin Girl that probably have better plots, more historical accuracies and stronger themes, and I look forward to sharing them as time continues. But Cabin Girl has been such a huge part of my journey. I’m so glad that I’ve found such an encouraging and like-minded group of readers to share it with.

So what’s next?

Well, over the next month or two, I will be working on finishing up a still-unannounced recording project, buying a house with my husband, packing, and moving to said house, and taking part for the second time in the Five Fall Favorites blog event (hosted by Kate Willis). That actually starts tomorrow!

I also want to take some time to step away from the writing/publishing buzz and catch up on reading. I’ve learned that after I’ve spent a huge amount of time and energy on one writing project, I need to stop and refuel the creative part of my brain before I pick up another one. I’ll be very thankful for a relaxing activity with all of the current house stress, and besides that, I’m quite behind in my 2023 reading challenge.

I’m also very aware that NaNoWriMo is fast approaching…and while I’m not sure I’ll be taking part in it in the same way I did the last time (writing an over-50,000 word novel in a month), I think I may may use it as motivation to start editing my next project. Said project was actually written entirely during NaNoWriMo back in 2021, and it’s next to work on anyway, so what better time to start?

The project?

Gills: a Cabin Girl prequelThe Secretive Seas Series (Book #2)

Hungry. Homeless. Held captive by the agonizing memories of surroundings he’s helpless to change.

And in his sights, The Lonely Eye—a ship he believes could change it all.

Determined to escape Morocco and forge his own future, young Gideon Mansur announces to an entire tavern of The Eye’s crew that he will, in fact, be their captain. The only problem? They already have a captain, and he’s not looking to give up his position any time soon.

That, and Gideon doesn’t know anything about captaining a ship, or the Barbary slave trade. Not that he’ll admit it.

With the reluctant help of his childhood slave and friend, Ibo, Gideon finds himself on a stormy journey to secure the ship—and life—of his dreams. But he’s not the only one with those intentions. Amidst ship fights, attempts to steal his success, grumbling crewmen, and the ever-growing unease of Ibo, only one thing’s clear. He will be a great captain. And he’ll do whatever it takes to get there.

That’s a very early and rough version of the synopsis, but it works! Gills, the second book in The Secretive Seas Series, will be coming to the series next. And I don’t have much more information than that yet, because I still have a lot of work to do on it.

But it is in progress! And I’m very excited about it, as Captain Gills is one of the characters I hear the most and best feedback on, and after being asked for more of his story, I’m only too happy to oblige.

So although it’s the end of Cabin Girl’s launch tour, I’m happy to say it’s only the beginning of its life time, and just one book in its series. Stay tuned for more happening in this story world!

(And if you’ve read Cabin Girl, or end up reading it before Gills is out – which will be a while from now – please feel free to reach out to me if you have anything you’d love to see in a Captain Gills-inspired prequel story. I love hearing feedback and gaining ideas from readers!)

Once again, thank you so much for making Cabin Girl‘s launch tour such a fun and encouraging event. I don’t have enough words to express how very blessed I feel. And I look forward to telling many, many more stories with you all!

Until next time!

Recent Posts:

The End…And The Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5)

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)

Happy Saturday!

It’s now been six days since Cabin Girl‘s release! We only have one more day in the launch tour, and I can’t believe it’s almost over. It’s been going so fast!

To recap, Cabin Girl is now available on Amazon as a both a paperback and an ebook. And right here on my website (with a slightly longer wait time but it comes signed, with two custom bookmarks)!

We’re on day six of the launch tour, with only tomorrow left to go! There are two more wonderful reviews on the schedule and you can find all of the specific information (with links) below. Then we’ll finish with the rest of the post, featuring some things I learned while writing Cabin Girl!

Let’s jump in!

Book Information

Title: Cabin Girl

Series: The Secretive Seas Series

Author: E. G. Bella

Launch Date: September 18th, 2023

Find it on Amazon: click here!

Find it on Goodreads: click here!

Find the signed copies: click here!

Short Summary:

Sickness. Sharks. Sabotage. Secrecy.

In the rolling hills of 1600’s Ireland, young Éirinn O’Connell learns all she can of medicine, struggling to care for her starving family—until the night Barbary pirates raid her village, and she’s dragged from the only home she’s ever known.

Set on a course to the slave markets of Morocco, and amidst a crew as turbulent as the ocean around her, Éirinn searches for a way home. But who can she trust? And how will she survive the Captain’s constant torment? Éirinn soon discovers the danger in trusting appearances and learns that it’s never too late for a second chance.

Even for the unlikeliest of people.

Launch Tour Schedule

Monday, September 18th

Cabin Girl Release and Giveaway! (Launch Tour: Day 1) Book Review by S. K. JacklynAuthor Interview by Abbigail Raine B.Podcast Interview by The Wordsmith’s Edge

Tuesday, September 19th

Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2) Author Interview by Raina NightingaleAuthor Interview by Kate Willis

Wednesday, September 20th

Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)

Thursday, September 21st

What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4) Character Interview (Captain Gills) by Issabelle Perry

Friday, September 22nd

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5) Spotlight Post by Saraina Whitney

Saturday, September 23rd

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6) (you are here!)Book Review by Elizabeth Mae Wolfram

Sunday, September 24th

The End…and the Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)Book Review by Virginia HendersonGiveaway Information

Through September 24th, there’s a Cabin Girl themed giveaway! You only have two more days to sign up, if you haven’t already. The winners will be contacted and announced September 25th!

Yes, there are prizes for one U.S. winner and one international winner!

Here are the prizes to be won:

U. S. Only: One signed paperback copy of Cabin GirlTwo custom themed candles by FlickerwixTwo custom bookmarksOne 18″ golden compass necklace by Starlight by Silvie (Etsy)Lemon/ginger herbal teaInternational: One ebook copy of Cabin GirlThemed phone and desktop wallpapersExclusive first chapter of Gills (upcoming Cabin Girl prequel novel)

Take a flip through some of the prize pictures below! (Candles and wallpapers not pictured)

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is go to click THIS LINK.

Good luck and happy entering!

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl

Cabin Girl has been in the process for a long time. In some ways, five years is a very long time to be working on one specific book. In other cases, it can be normal. But there’s no question that this book has seen me through a quite a bit of growth as a writer and even as a person.

I started working on Cabin Girl just after I turned sixteen. I’ve now just turned twenty-one. A lot happens in life between those ages, and I’ve been consistently working on this story throughout those years. Naturally, as I’ve grown and learned more about life and writing, the story has grown with me.

And with that growth has come many, many lessons. About being a good person. About being a Christian. About writing. About publishing. About friendship. God’s taught me a lot through the process of writing Cabin Girl.

Today, I wanted to share some of those lessons that I’ve learned. So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Value of Research

Maybe you’ve heard me talk about this before, but my first draft of Cabin Girl was done with next to no research. I relied only on the pirate stereotypes I’d seen in movies, and guessed at the rest. The only thing I did look into were the Barbary pirates, but just enough to gain a vague idea of what they were.

After repeated comments about how my plot and characters didn’t seem very realistic, I spent a month diving into the world of pirates for research, and I think the story is so much better for it. It’s crazy how much of a difference a few small, but well-placed facts can add to the realism.

Cabin Girl isn’t as much of a stickler for historical accuracy as some historical fiction, even pirate fiction, but it’s so much better than before. Now you can really feel that you’re in those settings. I definitely learned how valuable research is to creating a truly immersive story, and wish I would have started there.

Descriptions

In a technical sense, I’ve learned so much about descriptions through writing this book. Descriptions don’t come naturally to me. I don’t effortlessly have a beautiful and flowing descriptive voice while writing, and I tend to forget that others can’t see the vivid imaginings in my mind and know exactly what the settings in my book are like. Unless I help them.

Short of developing the story itself, I’ve spent the most time and effort making my descriptions better. I’ve read books, blog posts, asked for help, and practiced over and over again until I found sentences that described my scenes the best. Good descriptions still don’t come effortlessly for me, but I have improved, and hopefully will continue to!

Editing Skills

Throughout the process of Cabin Girl, editing has taken the most time by far. The last three years have all been edits, not drafting or rewrites. It’s normal for editing to take quite a while, but I started off by doing things all wrong and out of order. Immediately after finishing the first draft, I went through and edited out all of the typos, sentence errors, and grammatical mistakes. It took me quite a while to do too.

But what was the use in that when right afterward I found massive plot holes and ended up rewriting the entire book from scratch (twice)? All of that time and effort could have been saved if I’d waited and followed the right editing steps. I needed to fix the big things first and work my way downward.

Thankfully, I learned quickly that I needed to change my process, and again spent significant time learning more efficient ways of editing. Editing is still my least favorite part of writing, but I know that I’ll be able to do a better and speedier job on my next book, with all of the things I’ve learned from this one.

Just Write

In a similar vein of thought, I’ve learned how to better separate my editing from my writing. I have a bad habit of getting too perfectionist when I write my first drafts and easily get carried away editing while I write. But while trying to let my brain flow freely and write whatever comes to mind for the story, is a bad time to be backspacing constantly and trying to fix my funky sentences. There’s a time and place.

Now, when I write, I keep reminding myself that I have permission to write badly at first. Some people can edit while they write and it doesn’t slow them down or hinder their work. I’m clearly not one of those people. And that’s okay! I’ve found that the better I can just keep writing, and not look back or reread my work until I’m done, the better it goes.

When I draft my books now, I keep a list next to me. And that’s where I make note of all of the things that I know will have to be fixed when I go back to edit. Not usually things like typos or weird sentences, but definitely things I know I’ll need to research, a phrase I want to change, a plot hole I know will need to be addressed back at the beginning, etc. It’s helped me to realize that yes, there are mistakes, but it’s okay because I’m keeping track of them, and that list will be there for reference when it’s time to edit.

Indie Publishing

I’ve learned a lot about indie publishing through writing Cabin Girl. In fact, when I first started writing this book, I didn’t even know indie publishing as it is existed. I knew you could self-publish books, yes. But in my mind, that meant bad quality, “no one else will publish you” stories. I was so wrong!

Obviously there can be those kinds of stories self-published. But there are stories traditionally published that aren’t great too. They’re just two different methods of getting your story out into the world. And as I quickly learned, indie publishing is a good fit for my writing career, especially at this point in my life.

I enjoy keeping all of my creative rights, and getting a say in every aspect of my books. That doesn’t mean I’m doing everything by myself (I hired a cover designer, for example), but it does mean that I have the ultimate say on decisions made, and I can keep my book true to my vision. I can also learn new skills and do the parts of it that I’m able (ex. I do my own formatting). Right now, it’s a great method for me!

Community

And with all of these things that I’ve learned, one stands out to me as arguably the most important. I’ve gratefully learned how much of a community surrounds books, reading, writing, and indie publishing. From the very start, when I first launched my website and started blogging, I met so many amazing, supportive people that were quick to welcome me and start interacting with my work.

That’s only increased as I’ve branched out into more platforms. I’ve been so blessed by each and every person that continues to interact with me and help me on my publishing journey. Whether that’s through beta-reading, brainstorming, sharing my posts, commenting, purchasing books, reviewing, or just being an encouraging voice through it all, I would definitely not be at this point without you all!

And it’s that community, along with the other things I have learned and will keep learning, that makes me look forward to continuing to publish. It’s been my dream for years to be able to do this kind of thing, and I can’t believe I’m actually here. Thank you for all you’ve done to help along the way! You are prayed for, extremely appreciated, and wonderful human beings!

I look forward to continuing on this journey with you.

Recent Posts:

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5)What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4)Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2)

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5)

Happy Friday!

Cabin Girl has now been out in the wild for five whole days! We’re slowly approaching the end of the launch tour, and I have been enjoying it so much! Everyone has been very encouraging.

To recap, Cabin Girl is now available on Amazon as a both a paperback and an ebook. And right here on my website (with a slightly longer wait time but it comes signed, with two custom bookmarks)!

And we’re on day five of the launch tour, with only two more to go! There are some great reviews coming up, and you can find the entire schedule, book details, and giveaway information (with links) below. We’ll get on with the rest of the post after that.

Let’s jump in!

Book Information

Title: Cabin Girl

Series: The Secretive Seas Series

Author: E. G. Bella

Launch Date: September 18th, 2023

Find it on Amazon: click here!

Find it on Goodreads: click here!

Find the signed copies: click here!

Short Summary:

Sickness. Sharks. Sabotage. Secrecy.

In the rolling hills of 1600’s Ireland, young Éirinn O’Connell learns all she can of medicine, struggling to care for her starving family—until the night Barbary pirates raid her village, and she’s dragged from the only home she’s ever known.

Set on a course to the slave markets of Morocco, and amidst a crew as turbulent as the ocean around her, Éirinn searches for a way home. But who can she trust? And how will she survive the Captain’s constant torment? Éirinn soon discovers the danger in trusting appearances and learns that it’s never too late for a second chance.

Even for the unlikeliest of people.

Launch Tour Schedule

Monday, September 18th

Cabin Girl Release and Giveaway! (Launch Tour: Day 1) Book Review by S. K. JacklynAuthor Interview by Abbigail Raine B.Podcast Interview by The Wordsmith’s Edge

Tuesday, September 19th

Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2) Author Interview by Raina NightingaleAuthor Interview by Kate Willis

Wednesday, September 20th

Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)

Thursday, September 21st

What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4) Character Interview (Captain Gills) by Issabelle Perry

Friday, September 22nd

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5) (you are here!)Spotlight Post by Saraina Whitney

Saturday, September 23rd

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)Book Review by Elizabeth Mae Wolfram

Sunday, September 24th

The End…and the Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)Book Review by Virginia HendersonGiveaway Information

From September 18th through September 24th, there’s a Cabin Girl themed giveaway! The winners will be contacted and announced September 25th! We’re approaching the end!

Yes, there are prizes for one U.S. winner and one international winner!

Here are the prizes to be won:

U. S. Only: One signed paperback copy of Cabin GirlTwo custom themed candles by FlickerwixTwo custom bookmarksOne 18″ golden compass necklace by Starlight by Silvie (Etsy)Lemon/ginger herbal teaInternational: One ebook copy of Cabin GirlThemed phone and desktop wallpapersExclusive first chapter of Gills (upcoming Cabin Girl prequel novel)

Take a flip through some of the prize pictures below! (Candles and wallpapers not pictured)

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is go to click THIS LINK.

Good luck and happy entering!

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl

Today’s post is a little bit of a different one.

I’ve debated about whether to write it since I first thought about doing a launch tour, and haven’t been able to decide whether potential readers would find it interesting and fun, or weird and boring.

Obviously, since we’re here, I’ve decided to try it, haha.

Sometimes, as you’re writing a book, you develop a list of interesting facts that you’ve found about your story. Maybe things you’ve noticed, things you’ve put into the book on purpose, or things that changed from its original plan. I definitely have a few of those facts from Cabin Girl, and today, I thought I’d take the time to share them with you.

And as much as I hope they intrigue you now, I think many of these fun facts will be even more interesting, and offer even more value, to come back to after reading Cabin Girl.

So if you’re so inclined, maybe bookmark this page and come back to it again later to see if there are more things you pick up on, or if some of the facts make more sense after reading the story!

Here are some random facts about Cabin Girl:

~I began developing Cabin Girl on September 4th, 2018, and officially started writing it in January of 2019.

~ One of the main first title ideas included The Better Dream.

~ Éirinn’s name was originally just spelled Erin.

~ The only reason I decided on Éirinn’s name in the first place was because I needed something that could sound like a boy’s name upon hearing it (Aaron). This became a lot less important as time went on, but at that point, it just suited her.

~ I never nailed down an exact date range that Cabin Girl takes place in, but it’s somewhere around the mid to late 1600’s.

~ In the first draft, Éirinn’s main struggle after being kidnapped was not how to get back to her family, but whether she should join the pirates so she could achieve her dream of being a healer and see the world, or go back to her family where she felt trapped.

~ The story was originally set in Spain, not Ireland. However, Éirinn was still Irish, and one of her secondary goals was to go back to Ireland, where they lived with her father when she was young.

~ Éirinn’s furry friend, Murphy, was almost not included in Cabin Girl at all. I’m so glad he was!

~ The pirate Acker used to be named Hardy, but his name turned out to be too close to another pirate’s (Han), and it was too confusing for readers to keep them straight in the large cast of pirates.

~ All of my immediate family members (parents and siblings) have name cameos in the book. Whether it’s a middle name, nickname, scrambled-up version of their name…I got them all!

~ The very first draft of Cabin Girl clocked in at almost exactly 49,000 words – just 1,000 words short of the industry-standard requirement to be considered a novel. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it bugged me to no end. I’m glad to say it’s around 83,000 now.

~ The compass Éirinn carries from her father used to be necklace from her mother in original drafts.

~ In the very first draft, there was a “walking the plank” scene that I honestly loved. For realism, it got cut.

~ Captain Gills is inspired by Long John Silver from Disney’s Treasure Planet.

~ Murphy’s name was chosen for several reasons. First, as a nod to the pink companion from Treasure Planet named Morph (Éirinn often calls him Murph). Second, because it means “hound of the sea”.

~ Éirinn’s younger sister Ciara’s name comes from a Gaelic word and means “dark-haired”. Éirinn named her when she was born as her mother wouldn’t. Naturally, Ciara has black hair, like her mother.

~ Éirinn’s mother’s condition is meant to have began as severe postpartum depression, verging into something like postpartum psychosis. In that time, no one around her understood or knew how to help.

~ Captain Gills never once refers to Éirinn by her given name. Only by nicknames and insults.

~ Another character never refers to Captain Gills as Captain, only by his name.

~ Captain Gills uses close to fifty different alliterations and insults throughout the book, only reusing his favorites.

~ Scully’s last name was chosen intentionally for its meaning.

~ To learn not to rely on adverbs, I wrote the entire first draft without using a single one. Only after I learned how to use them more effectively did some get added back into the book.

~ In personality types, Éirinn is an ISFJ, enneagram type 2w1, and a melancholic. Captain Gills is an ENTJ, enneagram type 8w7, and a choleric. Pretty much opposites!

~ In The Secretive Seas Series, the number of words in the title will indicate the chronological order of the books. For example, Cabin Girl is the second and middle book in the trilogy.

Well, there we go. I hope you found this short list of facts interesting, and that it’s not just me who thinks so, haha! Again, feel free to come back to this page after reading Cabin Girl and you might find that some of these facts make even more sense!

Stay tuned for the last two days of the launch tour!

Recent Posts:

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5)What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4)Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2)Cabin Girl Release and Giveaway! (Launch Tour: Day 1)

What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4)

Happy Thursday!

I can’t believe Cabin Girl was already released three days ago! Everything is continuing to go just swimmingly, and every day it makes me smile to see someone talk about this story and launch tour.

To recap, Cabin Girl is now available on Amazon as a both a paperback and an ebook. And right here on my website (with a slightly longer wait time but it comes signed, with two custom bookmarks)!

And we’re on day four of the launch tour, with three more to go! There are more fun posts, and you can find the entire schedule, book details, and giveaway information (with links) below. We’ll get on with the rest of the post after that.

Let’s jump in!

Book Information

Title: Cabin Girl

Series: The Secretive Seas Series

Author: E. G. Bella

Launch Date: September 18th, 2023

Find it on Amazon: click here!

Find it on Goodreads: click here!

Find the signed copies: click here!

Short Summary:

Sickness. Sharks. Sabotage. Secrecy.

In the rolling hills of 1600’s Ireland, young Éirinn O’Connell learns all she can of medicine, struggling to care for her starving family—until the night Barbary pirates raid her village, and she’s dragged from the only home she’s ever known.

Set on a course to the slave markets of Morocco, and amidst a crew as turbulent as the ocean around her, Éirinn searches for a way home. But who can she trust? And how will she survive the Captain’s constant torment? Éirinn soon discovers the danger in trusting appearances and learns that it’s never too late for a second chance.

Even for the unlikeliest of people.

Launch Tour Schedule

Monday, September 18th

Cabin Girl Release and Giveaway! (Launch Tour: Day 1) Book Review by S. K. JacklynAuthor Interview by Abbigail Raine B.Podcast Interview by The Wordsmith’s Edge

Tuesday, September 19th

Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2) Author Interview by Raina NightingaleAuthor Interview by Kate Willis

Wednesday, September 20th

Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)

Thursday, September 21st

What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4) (you are here!)Character Interview (Captain Gills) by Issabelle Perry

Friday, September 22nd

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5) Spotlight Post by Saraina Whitney

Saturday, September 23rd

What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)Book Review by Elizabeth Mae Wolfram

Sunday, September 24th

The End…and the Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)Book Review by Virginia HendersonGiveaway Information

From September 18th through September 24th, there’s a Cabin Girl themed giveaway! The winners will be contacted and announced September 25th!

Yes, there are prizes for one U.S. winner and one international winner!

Here are the prizes to be won:

U. S. Only: One signed paperback copy of Cabin GirlTwo custom themed candles by FlickerwixTwo custom bookmarksOne 18″ golden compass necklace by Starlight by Silvie (Etsy)Lemon/ginger herbal teaInternational: One ebook copy of Cabin GirlThemed phone and desktop wallpapersExclusive first chapter of Gills (upcoming Cabin Girl prequel novel)

Take a flip through some of the prize pictures below! (Candles and wallpapers not pictured)

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is go to click THIS LINK.

Good luck and happy entering!

What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl

We’re now on day four of working our way through information about Cabin Girl, including giving reasons you may want to read it, and glimpses of some of the major elements in the story. What’s next?

Before I pick up a book, I usually like to hear from other people that have read it, to see whether they enjoyed it or not. What kinds of comments do they have? What did they like? Will I probably like it too?

Reviews are incredibly important for authors. And in particular, indie authors that don’t have a huge marketing budget, rely heavily on reviews to sell books. Books with lots of reviews (even if there are some negative ones mixed in!) sell so much better than books with no reviews.

As readers, not many of us are willing to give some new author a try if no one else has read that book yet. We don’t want to risk our time and money on something we don’t know. What if it’s awful?

That’s where reviews come in. Even if they’re just a line or two, that feedback can be the difference between a potential reader giving our books a shot, or being too wary and passing on by. And whether the reviews are on the marketplace (for me, that would be Amazon), sent directly to the author to be used in posts like this or in marketing materials, or on a review site like Goodreads, they’re all so helpful!

There aren’t many reviews out there for Cabin Girl yet, but in case you haven’t seen the ones that are floating around, I wanted to share some today. Here are a few of them!

(And if you’ve read Cabin Girl, or plan to soon, please consider leaving a review wherever you’re able!)

“The context was intriguing and exciting. [Cabin Girl] had me hooked on page one!

Skyler Bennett (beta reader)

“I rarely read historical fiction that isn’t any way fantasy, but I did enjoy this one. I particularly enjoyed the protagonist, as she is a strong young woman, but one who’s very human and has her vulnerabilities and weaknesses.”

Raina Nightingale

“Cabin Girl is among my favorite novels. E. G. Bella has done an amazing job weaving her characters, plot, and theme into an exciting adventure that showcases the power of faith in the most difficult of circumstances.”

J.F. Michaelis (beta reader)

“Cabin Girl is a wonderful novel, full of pirates, subterfuge, a quest for identity, and poignant redemption. A great read for anyone looking for hope, adventure, or a light in the darkness.”

Rachel Underwood (beta reader)

“E. G. Bella does a superb job of crafting despicable and lovable characters. Her nuances are perfectly captivating and surprising. The story is well thought out, and the plot keeps you guessing. There are characters you will root for forever… I appreciate that you never fully know what the next step is. [Cabin Girl] is a up-all-night, page-turning, on-the-edge-of-your seat work of art. She does a beautiful job of crafting faith, family, and delightful characters.”

Sarah S. (beta reader)

“”I loved this book, especially the interesting relationship between Éirinn and Captain Gills. Once I got started, it was very hard to put down.”

J. A. Wood (beta reader)

“E. G. Bella’s debut novel tells a gripping story filled with suspense, emotion, and compelling themes… The plot and setting of this historical-fiction novel are well-drawn and convincing. As she battles the trials of the sea, Éirinn’s internal struggles help endear her to readers, and her continually evolving relationship with Captain Gills adds a unique twist to the narrative. The conclusion is extremely moving, and the themes of redemption, kindness, and perseverance are presented wonderfully. With colorful characters, exciting scenes, and emotional depth, Cabin Girl weaves a meaningful tale that is well worth the read.”

Jordyn Hadden, author of The Time Travel Team: The Great Historic Mystery

“…Overall, E.G. Bella’s storytelling captures the monotony of life on a ship with the adventures and dangers that come because it’s a pirate ship with excellence. The plot twists and themes are well developed and her Christian message shines through naturally, never feeling forced. 

My favorite part about Cabin Girl was the characters. Éirinn was a strong but not overly strong female character who was inspiring to watch and relatable to listen to. I could feel her emotions and her reactions to situations are both human and heroic. Captain Gills made me shudder and smile, laugh and cry, cringe and wonder. His villainy and humanity were perfectly combined to create the perfect character for the situation. I rarely knew what he would do next or how Éirinn would react to it. As for the other characters, the friends, enemies and everything in between, they never felt one dimensional or like they only existed to bring a certain plot point or emotion to a scene. They were all real people, living their lives and their stories even when not on scene. In conclusion, Cabin Girl is an excellent book for readers of all ages, but I would especially recommend it for pre teens, teens, and young adults who love historical action adventure.

S. K. Jacklyn, author and blogger

“I just received this book, and the cover illustration is beautiful. I am only a few pages in, but I am already hooked by the characters and setting. Love pirates, adventure and faith, so this is a WIN. I am excited to get off work and be able to finish this intriguing tale. The little I have read is leaving me with the desire to just sit and binge read the rest. You will not be disappointed; I am not, and I am only a few pages in. Thank you, E. G. Bella.”

Amazon Review

So thankful for all of this feedback!

I’ll see you tomorrow for more fun facts about Cabin Girl!

Recent Posts:

Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5)What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4)Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)