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Book Spotlight: Our Trustworthy God by Sarah Howley

Our Trustworthy God by Sarah Howley is a nonfiction Bible study book that helps readers learn to grow their relationship with God.

About the book

Book Title: Our Trustworthy God
Author Name: Sarah Howley
Genre: Bible Study
Release Date: March 28, 2025

Book blurb

Our Trustworthy God: How Much God Loves You, Joyfully Engages with You, and Trusts You

Have you ever felt like in life’s most challenging moments, trusting God can be a struggle—even impossible? What if you knew that God not only invites you to trust him but is trustworthy himself and trusts you in return? Our Trustworthy God warmly welcomes you into a deeper understanding of the mutual relationship he longs to have with you, one built on love, trust, and active engagement.

With your guide, Sarah K. Howley—founder of InspiritEncourage, author, and speaker—you will walk through those difficult moments when trust feels scary, discovering how God’s faithfulness shines brightest in your darkest times. Through rich, Scripture-based insights, Sarah unpacks why God is always trustworthy and how his boundless love continually works for your good.

Through this study, you’ll find:
 A deeper awareness of God’s active love and trust in your everyday life
 Confidence in God’s unwavering faithfulness, even when challenges arise
 Practical steps to strengthen your relationship with God, built on mutual trust
 Encouragement to openly confront doubts and questions about your faith
 Guidance on how to live as a trustworthy person, reflecting God’s faithfulness in your life

Our Trustworthy God explores the incredible truth that God trusts you, reminding you that your relationship with him is neither one-sided nor blind but vibrant and deeply mutual. You’ll be invited to reflect on what it truly means to live in faithful connection with your loving God despite the pains of life and evils of the world.

Approachable yet deeply rooted in Scripture, this study is perfect for individuals or groups seeking to strengthen their faith and experience the joy of walking in a two-way relationship with the God who loves and trusts you.

Book excerpt

Love doesn’t just describe him; it is what he is. His essence. God has many character traits like us. Ways we can describe him. One is that he is just (loves justice). Another is that he is trustworthy. In all those traits, the root is always love. He is love as much as I am Sarah. The fundamental thing of God is love; not simply that he loves, but that he is love and all of him flows from love. He invites us into that love when we come to him.
He loves us and he loved us first. And what a difficult thing to define! N.T. Wright describes it as, “a mode of knowing that affirms the otherness/rightness of the other (person/God); it is engaging with another with joy and delight. Love is engaging ourselves with another to affirm their self.”

We can extend this idea of love to include “acting intentionally in relational response, to God and others, to promote their overall well-being” (Thomas Jay Oord).

So, “God loves” means he affirms who we are, engages with us in joy, and actively pursues our well-being.

About the Author

Sarah K. Howley is the founder of InspiritEncourage and author of several Bible studies. She is a certified counselor by the Chiesa Apostolica in Italia and holds a master’s degree in education.
Sarah often travels the world, usually with espresso in hand. Follow her at inspiritencourage.com to keep in touch.

related posts

Book Review + Giveaway: A Constant Love by Tracie Peterson

About the book

Book: A Constant Love

Author: Tracie Peterson

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: March 4, 2025

Book Blurb

Heartache has left them emotionally desolate, but traces of love and healing could forge a future.

In the wake of a harsh winter, Micah Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich are grappling with loss and guilt after the disaster that took the lives of their loved ones. Struggling to cope with his grief, Micah abandons his father’s dreams of a prosperous ranch and cuts himself off from the rest of the world.

Charlotte has loved Micah her entire life and is determined not to lose him as well. With her mother’s help, she begins coaxing Micah to live again. Despite their enduring heartache, the affection between them deepens, but just as Charlotte thinks her dreams may come true, a scorned suitor threatens everything she holds dear. Micah and Charlotte must embark on a journey of healing and renewal to build a life founded on faith, hope, and love.

My review

I’ve enjoyed each of Tracie’s books I’ve had the privilege to read, but this one… it TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY!!!!!!!!!! It was just WONDERUFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved the themes! The characters! The story! It was all so amazing!!!!!!

Charlotte is such a strong protagonist in the best way. She has lost her father and brother but doesn’t let that stop her from helping her mother keeping their ranch growing and prosperous. I love Charlotte’s ability to look past people’s difficulties and see into their heart and their hurts and desires. She is not afraid to speak her mind and is always determined to do what she believes to be right.

Micah struggles with guilt since the death of his father. While he does turn away from God for a little bit in his grief, he learns the importance of turning back to Him for guidance and comfort. As Micah heals, he learns to reach out to others and the importance of taking care of his responsibilities. I love how protective he is and how he truly wants to help those around him, even at his lowest point.

The villain in this book was delightfully evil. His cunning tricks gave the perfect amount of danger and suspense to the book!

I LOVED the friends-to-more romance in this book!!! I love how Charlotte never gives up on Micah. It was adorable watching Micah realize that Charlotte means more to him than just being his best-friend’s little sister. The romance was just so cute!!!!!!!!!

The themes in this book were so beautiful. It dealt with mental illness and how when you open up about your struggles, it can help those around you. The theme was written perfectly, and it just felt so relevant for today.

Overall, I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to reread some of Tracie’s books now! If you enjoy Christian historical romance with a slight edge of danger and beautiful themes, you would LOVE A Constant Love by Tracie Peterson.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

purchase

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

About the Author

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.

More from Tracie

A Constant Love is a book near and dear to my heart. The book deals with tragedy and loss that came about during and after the Great Die-Up—a hideous winter of blizzards and desperately cold temperatures that affected the prairie states and up into the Rockies. Many of the ranchers in the areas were completely wiped out and gave up their ranches when their cattle died off in record numbers.

Ranchers and farmers had dealt with the elements turning against them prior to this, but the winter of 1886–1887 was different. The summer of 1886 had brought about record droughts, and many of the crops had failed. The livestock suffered as the grass died off and feed wasn’t readily available. By November, early and heavy snows started and continued. Temperatures dropped to record lows. In eastern Montana the temperatures were said to drop to  negative 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

In January, a Chinook wind warmed things considerably, melting a lot of the snow. This just made things worse, however, because when the plunging sub-zero temperatures returned, the water froze a thick layer on top of what little grass the animals had been able to dig down to eat. Mass starvation followed, and thousands upon thousands of animals were lost. In reading about the era and all that happened, I came across comments from people that showed the great despair that flooded the states involved. The hopelessness of it all was overwhelming.

During the same time I was researching and mapping out this book, a beloved family member committed suicide. The devastation we felt was overwhelming, and it all seemed to come together with what I had been reading. I felt that deep sadness and despair. I read that some people had taken their lives after that winter. People were at a loss as to what to do, and in that day and age, the church was not always very kind to the families of those who killed themselves. As I prayed about the book I planned to write, I felt compelled to write about suicide and the ripple effect it has on family, friends, and even total strangers. I wanted to share the hope that I found in God’s Word, and A Constant Love was born.

There are times in our lives when we are overwhelmed to the point of despair, when giving up seems far easier than going on. I pray if you ever feel that way, you’ll reach out to someone and talk it through. But I also challenge those who aren’t feeling that way to be observant . . . to care about those around you enough to get in their business when things just don’t seem right. You might very well save a life. As the Bible says, we need to bear one another’s burdens. I hope you’ll keep that in mind as you read A Constant Love.

Blog stops

Pens Pages & Pulses, March 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 8

Devoted To Hope, March 9

Allyson Jamison, March 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 10

Simple Harvest Reads, March 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, March 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 12

Jodie Wolfe, March 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 13

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 14

Stories By Gina, March 15 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 16

Maureen’s Musings, March 16

She Lives To Read, March 17

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 18

For Him and My Family, March 18

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 19

Cover Lover Book Review, March 19

Holly’s Book Corner, March 20

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 20

lakesidelivingsite, March 21

Pause for Tales, March 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tracie is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayrelated posts

What a beauty influencer taught me about writing…

On Instagram, there’s one beauty influencer that pops up on my reels page frequently. She does lots of makeup tutorials on her page. The funny thing? I don’t even like how she does her makeup. I think how she does it makes her look older, and it’s just overall not a great look for her.

So what does this have to do with writing?

There are lots of people out there who are willing to give writing advice. Like that beauty influencer, they are trying to share the best tips they have learned, and I’m sure have great intentions; however, that doesn’t mean we need to listen to them.

With that beauty influencer, I’m guessing that there are some great makeup principles she teaches, even if I don’t like how she does her makeup. But will I waste my time listening to her makeup advice if I don’t even like how she does her makeup? Absolutely not!

Taking this principle, I concluded that writers should only take writing advice from authors who write books they are willing to read.

Again, lots of people give writing advice. Lots of people give good writing advice, but I think the best people to get advice from are the ones who write books you like.

Yes, this might be similar to the counsel to only take advice from people you’d like to switch places with, but I think my version is a bit clearer.

See, most of my favorite authors do not make millions from their books. I wish they did, but they don’t.

I’d love to switch places (monetarily) with Sarah J. Maas or Rebecca Yarros, but I do not want to be the type of authors they are. I would never read their books, so I honestly don’t care what their paths to “success” in the world’s eyes looks like. Again, they probably have some fantastic advice; I just don’t care because I don’t want to write books like they do.

I’d much rather take advice from my favorite authors whose books have changed my life, even if they’ve never reached the top of a bestseller list.

So, next time you’re listening to writing advice, just think, would you want to read this author’s books? Do you actually want to write like they do?

What do you think? I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments!

related posts

Book Review + Giveaway: The Bandit’s Redemption by KyLee Woodley

About the book

Book: The Bandit’s Redemption

Author: KyLee Woodley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 18, 2025

Book blurb

A holdup gone wrong, a reluctant outlaw, and the captive she’s sworn to guard.

Life in the American West hasn’t been easy for French refugee Lorraine Durand. She has precious few connections and longs to return to her native land. So when the man who rescued her from a Parisian uprising following the Franco-Prussian War persuades her to help him with a deadly holdup, she reluctantly agrees. Despite his promises otherwise, the gang kidnaps a man, forcing Lorraine to grapple with the fallout of her choices even as she is drawn to the captive she’s meant to guard.

Jesse Alexander must survive. If not for himself, then for the troubled sister he left behind in Los Angeles. At the mercy of his captors, he carefully works to earn Lorraine’s trust, hoping he can easily subdue her when the time comes. But as they navigate the treacherous wilderness and he searches for his opportunity to escape, he realizes there may be more to her than he first believed.

With danger lurking at every turn, they must decide whether to trust each other enough to plan a combined escape or risk falling prey to the gang’s devious schemes.

My review

The Bandit’s Redemption by KyLee Woodard is an exciting story about following your conscience and the importance of protecting those you love.

Lorraine had such an intriguing backstory. I loved getting to learn more about French history through her experiences. She was a kind character who has been hardened by life but still tries to be a good person.

Jesse is a protector. He’s seen his sister get hurt and has learned the importance of defending those around him. He is inherently compassionate, even to the bandits who have kidnapped him. It isn’t often that you see the male lead in a novel get kidnapped and still be a strong character, but somehow KyLee wrote it really well!

I enjoyed the fast paced action in the book. The book moved smoothly from one piece of action to the next and kept me entranced for the whole book.

My only complaint is I wish Lorraine had a stronger redemptive arc. It felt like more time was spent on explaining why she became a bandit than on her learning from her mistakes and growing as a character.

If you are looking for a fast-paced Christian western, you will love The Bandit’s Redemption by KyLee Woodley.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the author

KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas, where she lives with her husband of eighteen years and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.

In her spare time, she cares for a rescue mutt—Lucky Dog—a feisty feline named Hazel, and three adorable Boston Terrier puppies. She listens to Cricket Country and K-Love radio, reads classic books with her children, and watches Marvel movies with her husband, who might resemble Superman.

More from KyLee

A Pinch of History on Our Heroine

The heroine of The Bandit’s Redemption started as simply a female outlaw and evolved into a complex, troubled, and fascinating woman. Firstly, Lorraine’s parents defied cultural norms in France simply by marrying. Her father was a French soldier and her mother was Romani. Such a marriage was frowned upon because the Romani people were considered outcasts throughout all of Europe. Her father died when she was fairly young, and so Lorraine was raised among her mother’s people.

When Lorraine’ was old enough, she attended the Château d’Écouen—a school for the daughters of less prestigious French military officers. But, doing this meant being separated from her mother and her people. The Romani people were typically nomadic, traveling from place to place and sometimes camping in the French countryside. Lorraine finished school and moved to Paris with her mother, who was no longer able to travel with her troupe due to poor health.

In 1870, Napoleon III, Emperor of France, declared war on the German Confederation and so the Franco-Prussian War began. The conflict lasted six months, and during this time, German soldiers advanced into parts of France and laid siege to Paris. In January of 1871, the two countries signed an armistice, and France had to pay reparations amounting to five billion francs plus interest.

Paris had been besieged by the Prussian army during which time privation ravaged the city. When the French government rescinded the wartime moratorium on debt repayment, the working class of Paris, whose industry and commerce had stalled during the war, revolted. The movement was spearheaded by a group known as the Paris Commune. Prussia allowed the French government to deal with the civil unrest, and after a two-month standoff, French troops took back Paris during the Bloody Week—May 21-27, 1871. The death toll is not known and has been debated by historians for years. It is certain to be in the thousands. Some members of the Commune who survived were sentenced to death, imprisoned, or sent to penal colonies. Other people accused or suspected of being involved were arrested and imprisoned without trial.

Lorraine was swept up in the arrests but rescued by a man who had been close friends with her father during his life. She immigrated to America because she believed she had no other choice. Settling in a new land where she felt like an outcast, after never fitting in at school or among her mother’s people—because she was half French and half Roma—Lorraine determined to remain isolated. She refused to speak English, only ate French foods, and purchased her clothes from French seamstresses. To make a living, she joined the Sells Brothers Circus with a few of her friends from home. There she used her horsemanship in an equestrian act.

Her life was relatively predictable for the next few years until that friend of her father’s, who rescued her following the Bloody Week and brought her to America, asked for her assistance in a robbery. She refuses, until she learns the money will go towards freeing the people they left behind in France. This is where the book picks up. Lorraine is torn between the desire to stay in the predictable routine she’s built in the East and assisting her people who were unjustly condemned. Will the moral compromise and inability to leave her past behind cause Lorraine to lose the battle for her soul or will she find redemption with a God who heals even the deepest wounds?

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, KyLee is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayBlog stops

Stories By Gina, March 6 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 6

Pens Pages & Pulses, March 7

Texas Book-aholic, March 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 10

Vicky Sluiter, March 11 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 12

For Him and My Family, March 13

Cover Lover Book Review, March 14

lakesidelivingsite, March 15

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 16 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, March 16

Holly’s Book Corner, March 17

Pause for Tales, March 18

For the Love of Literature, March 19 (Author Interview)

related posts

Book Review + Giveaway: The Bandit’s Redemtpion by KyLee Woodley

About the book

Book: The Bandit’s Redemption

Author: KyLee Woodley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 18, 2025

Book blurb

A holdup gone wrong, a reluctant outlaw, and the captive she’s sworn to guard.

Life in the American West hasn’t been easy for French refugee Lorraine Durand. She has precious few connections and longs to return to her native land. So when the man who rescued her from a Parisian uprising following the Franco-Prussian War persuades her to help him with a deadly holdup, she reluctantly agrees. Despite his promises otherwise, the gang kidnaps a man, forcing Lorraine to grapple with the fallout of her choices even as she is drawn to the captive she’s meant to guard.

Jesse Alexander must survive. If not for himself, then for the troubled sister he left behind in Los Angeles. At the mercy of his captors, he carefully works to earn Lorraine’s trust, hoping he can easily subdue her when the time comes. But as they navigate the treacherous wilderness and he searches for his opportunity to escape, he realizes there may be more to her than he first believed.

With danger lurking at every turn, they must decide whether to trust each other enough to plan a combined escape or risk falling prey to the gang’s devious schemes.

My review

The Bandit’s Redemption by KyLee Woodard is an exciting story about following your conscience and the importance of protecting those you love.

Lorraine had such an intriguing backstory. I loved getting to learn more about French history through her experiences. She was a kind character who has been hardened by life but still tries to be a good person.

Jesse is a protector. He’s seen his sister get hurt and has learned the importance of defending those around him. He is inherently compassionate, even to the bandits who have kidnapped him. It isn’t often that you see the male lead in a novel get kidnapped and still be a strong character, but somehow KyLee wrote it really well!

I enjoyed the fast paced action in the book. The book moved smoothly from one piece of action to the next and kept me entranced for the whole book.

My only complaint is I wish Lorraine had a stronger redemptive arc. It felt like more time was spent on explaining why she became a bandit than on her learning from her mistakes and growing as a character.

If you are looking for a fast-paced Christian western, you will love The Bandit’s Redemption by KyLee Woodley.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the author

KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas, where she lives with her husband of eighteen years and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.

In her spare time, she cares for a rescue mutt—Lucky Dog—a feisty feline named Hazel, and three adorable Boston Terrier puppies. She listens to Cricket Country and K-Love radio, reads classic books with her children, and watches Marvel movies with her husband, who might resemble Superman.

More from KyLee

A Pinch of History on Our Heroine

The heroine of The Bandit’s Redemption started as simply a female outlaw and evolved into a complex, troubled, and fascinating woman. Firstly, Lorraine’s parents defied cultural norms in France simply by marrying. Her father was a French soldier and her mother was Romani. Such a marriage was frowned upon because the Romani people were considered outcasts throughout all of Europe. Her father died when she was fairly young, and so Lorraine was raised among her mother’s people.

When Lorraine’ was old enough, she attended the Château d’Écouen—a school for the daughters of less prestigious French military officers. But, doing this meant being separated from her mother and her people. The Romani people were typically nomadic, traveling from place to place and sometimes camping in the French countryside. Lorraine finished school and moved to Paris with her mother, who was no longer able to travel with her troupe due to poor health.

In 1870, Napoleon III, Emperor of France, declared war on the German Confederation and so the Franco-Prussian War began. The conflict lasted six months, and during this time, German soldiers advanced into parts of France and laid siege to Paris. In January of 1871, the two countries signed an armistice, and France had to pay reparations amounting to five billion francs plus interest.

Paris had been besieged by the Prussian army during which time privation ravaged the city. When the French government rescinded the wartime moratorium on debt repayment, the working class of Paris, whose industry and commerce had stalled during the war, revolted. The movement was spearheaded by a group known as the Paris Commune. Prussia allowed the French government to deal with the civil unrest, and after a two-month standoff, French troops took back Paris during the Bloody Week—May 21-27, 1871. The death toll is not known and has been debated by historians for years. It is certain to be in the thousands. Some members of the Commune who survived were sentenced to death, imprisoned, or sent to penal colonies. Other people accused or suspected of being involved were arrested and imprisoned without trial.

Lorraine was swept up in the arrests but rescued by a man who had been close friends with her father during his life. She immigrated to America because she believed she had no other choice. Settling in a new land where she felt like an outcast, after never fitting in at school or among her mother’s people—because she was half French and half Roma—Lorraine determined to remain isolated. She refused to speak English, only ate French foods, and purchased her clothes from French seamstresses. To make a living, she joined the Sells Brothers Circus with a few of her friends from home. There she used her horsemanship in an equestrian act.

Her life was relatively predictable for the next few years until that friend of her father’s, who rescued her following the Bloody Week and brought her to America, asked for her assistance in a robbery. She refuses, until she learns the money will go towards freeing the people they left behind in France. This is where the book picks up. Lorraine is torn between the desire to stay in the predictable routine she’s built in the East and assisting her people who were unjustly condemned. Will the moral compromise and inability to leave her past behind cause Lorraine to lose the battle for her soul or will she find redemption with a God who heals even the deepest wounds?

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, KyLee is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayBlog stops

Stories By Gina, March 6 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 6

Pens Pages & Pulses, March 7

Texas Book-aholic, March 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 10

Vicky Sluiter, March 11 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 12

For Him and My Family, March 13

Cover Lover Book Review, March 14

lakesidelivingsite, March 15

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 16 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, March 16

Holly’s Book Corner, March 17

Pause for Tales, March 18

For the Love of Literature, March 19 (Author Interview)

related posts

Book Review: Power of the Pawn by Verity Sandahl

If I’ve learned anything from Verity’s books, it’s that Verity knows how to write amazing retellings of King Thrushbeard!!!!

Book Blurb

Is God in control when the world has gone mad?

Weeks after father’s death. Lady Avelina is forced into marriage with a common miller, a man who murdered her father’s knights and aided her traitorous stepbrother. When the king, the church and her guardian betray her, Lina must determine if it was they or God who lowered her station.

And how is her hedge-born husband so well educated? What is he hiding from her?
Sir Fredric, the second son of the earl of Kensington, laid down his sword two years prior, desiring peace with God and man, but when his friend offers him a chance to protect the Lady Avelina by marriage, he agrees, knowing he will soon need to pick up his sword again.

Can he persuade Lina to love him despite her belief that he is a lowly miller?

And when he discovers their enemies are allied, can he save his wife before his wicked brother, the future earl, discovers the true terms of his marriage?

My Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This historical fiction fairy tale retelling was so entrancing!!!!!!!! I loved getting to meet the characters! The story was wonderful, and the themes were so beautiful!!! Power of the Pawn was such a great book!!!!!!!!!!

First of all, I love how Verity introduced Drake. It perfectly illustrated his character, and I just love him so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s so protective and cares so deeply about doing what is right. I love watching how he follows his convictions. It was beautiful seeing his faith in God and how he encouraged other characters to grow in their faith as well.

Avelina was such a great protagonist for this fairy tale. While she was a bit spoiled at the beginning of the book, I still loved her character so much!!!!!! I was so cool how in spite of her slightly spoiled nature at the beginning, you could still see that she was an inherently good person. I loved watching as she grew in her faith. It was also so amazing how resourceful and intelligent Lina was!!!!!

I love how beautifully Verity wrote the theme that God is always in control and can use all things for His plans. It was so beautiful and intricate how Verity wove that theme throughout the story. I could truly tell how each tiny piece of the story, even that might’ve seemed insignificant at the time worked perfectly to become one great whole.

The story had perfect pacing. Verity took enough time to make sure the reader got to know and love each character, while keeping the pacing fast enough to keep me reading into all hours of the night!!!

Overall, I loved this story!!!!!!!!! If you love medieval historical fiction and fairy tale retellings you would love this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Content Notes

Recommended age range: 16+

villains commit rape (alluded to, not described) villains attempt to commit rape, including of a minormarried woman is hesitant to consummate her marriagepeople commit murderseveral battle scenesattempted kidnappingpurchase

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

related posts

I’m in a multi-author series!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few posts ago, I made a list of multi-author series (MAS’s) I’m excited to read/continue reading this year. Since then, I have found out about more MAS’s I want to read, and have announced my own multi-author-series on Instagram. And Goodreads.

Yes, I just realized that I’d totally forgotten to post about it on my blog. (I’m such an organized person, can you tell???

Are you ready to hear about it?

…

…

…

Are you sure???

…

…

…

…

…

I mean it could be anything…

…

…

…

…

I guess I’ll cut the suspense…

The Carols of Christmas is a multi-author-series of standalone historical romance novellas set around Christmastime. Each novella is inspired by a different Christmas carol and revolves around themes of hope and His light.

I am SO EXCITED for this series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are some amazing authors involved in the project, and I can’t wait for you to read each of the stories!!!!!!

Unofficially, if you follow THIS LINK, you can find a bit more information about the series that hasn’t been announced yet!!!!!!

Would you like to help promote the series?

If so, please fill out the form linked below to let me know! I know I (along with all of the rest of the authors) would really appreciate any help you can provide!!!

NOTE: This is NOT to sign up for ARCs. The ARC signups will go out later.

hype team formI can’t WAIT to share more about this series with you!!!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

related posts

Book Review + Giveaway: Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island by Grace Hitchcock

About the Book

Book: Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island (Heiresses of Adventure Book One)

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Historical Romance True Crime

Release date: July 31, 2024, previously released as The Gray Chamber

Book Blurb

Will Edyth prove her sanity before it is too late?

On Blackwell’s Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving.

With her late parents’ fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Blaire does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. And Edyth fears she will never be found.

At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?

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This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

My review

When I first heard of this book that Grace had written I was torn between I love Grace’s books and I don’t read true crime. Evidently, the I love Grace’s books side won out, and here we are!!!!!! I am so glad it did!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edyth was such a fun protagonist!!!!!! She tries very hard to convince the world that she doesn’t care what other people think of her. She is independent and wants to pursue her own interests, whether that be painting or fencing. I love how we get to see Edyth’s more tomboyish side and her feminine side it just added extra layers of depth to her already incredible character. I love how she truly cares about those around her, whether a stray cat, a girl who sees her dead father, or her new cousin. She could be a bit naive at times, but I found that just made her all the more loveable!!!!!!!!!

Bane is completely clueless about the fact that Edyth’s had a huge crush on him for about nine years, but he’s still a great friend to her. I love how he loves her for her quirks, instead of wanting her to be more like the rest of society. He is completely unwilling to give up looking for Edyth, even when all seems lost. I love how he always believes in her, no matter what anyone else says.

Also, I just looked at Grace’s Pinterest board for this book (linked in the More from Grace section), and I saw that Edyth and Bane look like Christine and Raoul from Phantom of the Opera AND I LOVE THEM EVEN MORE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, fine, I’ll admit it, I wasn’t completely honest that the book being a true crime story was the only reason I had reservations about this book. See, mental illness can be a bit of a touchy subject for me. I’ve worked with/known enough people who have various forms of mental illness to feel for their struggles at least a little bit, so sometimes books dealing with mental illness affect me more than they should, I guess? I’ve seen enough books where the authors weren’t very… kind to people suffering from mental illness to worry that this book might be the same. I am happy to report that my worries were completely unfounded. Grace dealt with the topic beautifully. She showed characters with mental illness as humans who can still have beautiful hearts, even if they are suffering.

While the book certainly touched on some heavier themes, it was still such a fun story! Sword fights, wonderful characters, and funny moments moved the book along and kept it from becoming too dark or depressing. Although, since it does touch on some heavier themes, I would recommend it for readers 17 and older.

Overall, this book was such a great read! I loved the characters, the fast-paced action, the beautiful themes!!!!!!!! If you enjoy historical suspense (or even if it isn’t your usual genre, but you’re just intrigued by the gorgeous cover), you should definitely read Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island by Grace Hitchcock!!!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the author

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple his­torical novels and novellas, including the American Royalty, Best Laid Plans, and Aprons & Veils series. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives on the Northshore of New Orleans, with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter in a cottage that is always filled with the sounds of sweet little footsteps running at full speed. When not writing, or chasing babies, she’s baking something delightful and can usually be found with a book clutched in her fist.­­­­

More from Grace

I am thrilled to share with you my FIRST novel in the HEIRESSES OF ADVENTURE series, MISS BLAIRE IN BLACKWELL’S ISLAND, which is set in New York City in 1887. I loved writing about Edyth Blaire, our cat-rescuing, spunky heroine who spends her days painting, fencing with her dreamy instructor, and avoiding society at all costs, which as you can imagine, comes back to haunt her before the end. I’ve never written about a character who despised reading, so that was a new one for me. Edyth just doesn’t like to sit still long enough to finish a book, but you’ll find out why later.

While writing this book, I am pretty certain the librarians at my local branch were wondering what in the world my hobbies are, judging from the stacks of fencing books for beginners, histories of New York crime in the 19th century, and Nellie Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House, and more.

The inspiration for this book came from Nellie Bly’s scandalous exposé for Joseph Pulitzer’s newspaper, The World. In reading Nellie’s articles, I was shocked at the grounds by which the asylum would commit women and that’s when I discovered a tiny mention about an heiress with family members who had her tucked away so they could have her fortune. . . and Edyth Blaire was born.

I hope you will enjoy reading about our eccentric leading lady and her fencing master hero, Raoul “Bane” Banebridge in this friends-to-lovers romance. If you are interested in seeing pictures of the asylum and to see what I pictured the characters looking like, check out my Pinterest board here.

Are you part of a book club? I have discussion questions here!

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize of a $20 gift card with FREE SHIPPING to Grace’s Autographed Bookshop!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayBlog stops

Pens Pages & Pulses, February 21

Allyson Jamison, February 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 22

Devoted To Hope, February 22

Texas Book-aholic, February 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 23

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 25

Maureen’s Musings, February 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 26

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 27

Vicky Sluiter, February 27

Betti Mace, February 28

Cover Lover Book Review, February 28

Blogging With Carol, March 1

Connie’s History Classroom, March 1

lakesidelivingsite, March 2

For Him and My Family, March 3

Mary Hake, March 3

Labor Not in Vain, March 4

Holly’s Book Corner, March 4

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 5

Inspired by Fiction, March 5

Pause for Tales, March 6

Lights in a Dark World, March 6

related posts

Book Review: Poisoned at Dawn by Leialoha Humpherys

Words cannot express how much I really don’t want to write this post right now.

Why?

Because it officially means Leialoha Humpherys‘ Incandescent Kingdoms series is over. I’m not okay right now. I really need to grab some tissues. I can’t seem to stop crying.

See, my review of the first book in the Incandescent Kingdoms series was my first blog post. That book got me back into reading and reintroduced me to the incredible world of fairy tale retellings.

This series has gotten me through a lot, and I’m not ready to say goodbye. While reading Poisoned at Dawn, I was SEARCHING for any loose end I could find to try to convince Lei to write just one more book. But she ended the series too well. I still don’t want to accept that. I still need more. I’m still not ready to say goodbye.

That being said, I was so happy that Yesenia finally got her story!!!!!!! I found her character so intriguing from the first time I met her in… was it Filia and the Fall Festival? I think it was, but don’t quote me on that. I’ve loved seeing how she’s developed over the course of the series. She’s changed quite a lot from being a bit of an antagonist to a heroine I was rooting for by the end. She’s such a strong person. I know she’s far from perfect, but I can relate to her struggles so much.

I was so happy to see Santiago again!!!!!! He’s a big sweetheart, and I’ve been rooting for him and Yesenia for the past… several books. I love seeing how he strengthens Yesenia and is a true friend. He doesn’t just care about making her feel good, he tries to help her become the best person she can be, and I loved him for it!!!!!!

I also loved getting to see characters from some of the previous books!!!!!!!! It’s cool seeing what they’ve done since they each had their own stories.

I loved the message about modesty in this book. It beautifully emphasized how important it is to show respect for yourself through your appearance. I loved seeing how Yesenia learned not to compromise her conscience just to get attention. It was such a beautiful, relevant theme, and Lei wrote it so well.

As a retelling, this book was phenomenal!!!!!!!!!!! I love how Lei wove in pieces from the fairy tale, while including her own twists on the story. I enjoyed all of the unexpected plot points that kept me eagerly reading and staying up far later than I wanted to.

As much as I hate to admit it, this book was a wonderful series closer. It probably be read as a standalone, but I think it would be better appreciated if you’ve read the previous books in the series. If you enjoy clean, fairy tale retellings with sweet romance, wonderful characters, and beautiful themes, you should definitely read Leialoha Humpherys’ Poisoned at Dawn.

Now, excuse me while I find some tissues.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

purchase the bookcheck out the series

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

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Book Review + Giveaway: His Grace’s Governess by Jackie Killelea

About the book

Book: His Grace’s Governess

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historic Romance

Release date: February 4, 2025

Book blurb

A governess with a secret. A duke with a broken heart. Can love heal their wounds?

Miss Eleanor Clairbridge, at five and twenty, has resigned herself to a life without love. With her family’s London townhouse threatened by dwindling finances, she accepts employment as a governess to help support her widowed mother and preserve her cherished childhood home. When Eleanor arrives at Ivy Grange Estate, the last thing she expects to find is a spark of attraction between her and her new employer. Determined not to risk her position, she resolves to keeps her distance. There is more than one reason a romance between them can never be.

Edmund Colhampton, the Duke of Albemarle, has no intention of finding love. Since losing his family in a tragic carriage accident five years ago, he has devoted himself to protecting his young niece, the only family he has left. But when his niece’s enchanting governess arrives at the estate, Edmund finds himself reconsidering his vow never to love again. Why then, as he seeks to know her more, does she seem determined to avoid him at all costs?

As Eleanor fulfills her role as governess, her past begins to catch up with her, threatening to unravel the secrets she holds dear. Both Eleanor and Edmund must confront their deepest fears and decide whether to succumb to the darkness within or brave the path to healing and love.

purchase

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

My review

Jackie Killelea’s His Grace’s Governess is a sweet regency era novel about learning to discover your true worth in His eyes.

Eleanor wants to protect the things and people she loves, even if it means seeking employment as a governess. I admire her tenacity and willingness to put aside her pride to help her family. I love how she connects with her little charge and tries to brighten the world around her.

Edmund wants to do right by his only remaining family member. He feels unworthy and guilty because of his past. I love seeing how, in spite of the struggles he faces, he still has a wonderful relationship with his niece. It is also so sweet seeing how much he cares about those society would consider beneath him. He is protective and caring and overall just a sweetheart.

This book was a fairly quick, light read. The characters kept me invested in the story the whole time. I loved watching as they made mistakes, tried their best, and grew into better people than how they started.

The romance was so cute in this book. I loved the meet-cute and how Jackie doesn’t shy away from letting Edmund be the hero! It was just adorable!!!

If you enjoy regency romances, you should check out Jackie Killelea’s His Grace’s Governess! I enjoyed it, and I think you will, too!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the Author

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

More from Jackie

In His Grace’s Governess, much trouble befalls Edmund and Eleanor as they attempt to sort out their close proximity to and burgeoning feelings for one another, but there is one scene in particular that I enjoyed researching.

In one scene of the novel, Mr. Roskilly (the gardener at Ivy Grange Estate) worries at Eleanor plucking the plant Rabelera–otherwise known as Greater Stitchwort–from the ground. He fears that danger will befall Eleanor if she takes it from the garden and Eleanor, misunderstanding him, even believes at one point that Mr. Roskilly might be threatening her. But, why is Mr. Roskilly so worried? Is he really so concerned that Edmund’s hackles will be raised when he sees that Eleanor has plucked a few mere flowers from the garden–and with his niece, no less?

Indeed, that is not where his concern lies, for if you read the passage closely, you’ll see that Mr. Roskilly is Cornish. This is an important factor. When doing my research for the novel, I found that, in Cornwall, it is believed that Greater Stitchwort is the property of the pixies. It is believed that to pick it is to take it from them and to anger them, and if you anger them then there is all the chance that they may well retaliate for you having stolen what was theirs. Truly, they may even enchant you, according to legend. Having read this and being sufficiently intrigued, the scene was born! I do hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I do.

Here is an excerpt from it so you know what I’m referring to:

“Hope yer walk’s went well. ’Tis a fine day fer one.” He grinned, revealing a mouth full of crooked teeth. His Cornish accent was thick, with a friendly tone to his voice.

Eleanor returned his smile and nodded. “It certainly is. What better way to spend a morning than to enjoy the sun in these beautiful gardens? They’re the finest I’ve ever seen.”

She could’ve sworn there was a hint of a blush on the man’s tawny face. “I than’ ye, miss. We do our righ’ bes’, and keepin’ i’ as i’ is makes ’is Grace ’appy. Ever since…” The man trailed off, a growing look of concern on his face.

What had he been about to say? Something about the duke or his family?

“Greater Stitchwort.” He spoke with a grave edge to his words, looking intently at the flower in Rose’s hand.

Eleanor’s gaze flitted from the man to the flower, her brows furrowing. “Is something wrong, sir?”

The man tilted his head, flicking his eyes to the side in a plea for a private conversation.

I will not say whether this decision to pick the plant affected Eleanor later on in the story or not, but I’ll leave you with this: Do consider all of the plants you touch before you decide to place your hand upon them and pull them from the ground.

Happy reading!

Jackie Killelea

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jackie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayBlog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 18

Holly’s Book Corner, February 19

Texas Book-aholic, February 19

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 20

Pens Pages & Pulses, February 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 21

Stories By Gina, February 22 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 24

Connie’s History Classroom, February 25

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, February 25

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 26

Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Guest Review from Donna)

For Him and My Family, February 28

Pause for Tales, February 28

Book Looks by Lisa, March 1

Blossoms and Blessings, March 2

Cover Lover Book Review, March 3

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 3

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