Courtney Ranger's Blog, page 7

February 19, 2025

Book Review: Heart of Beauty by Danielle Grandinetti

Danielle Grandinetti’s Heart of Beauty is part of the Hearts of the West multi-author series. It is a western retelling of Beauty and the Beast and it completely captured my heart!!!

Book Blurb

A fearless horse gentler turns her skills on the reclusive cowboy protecting her.

Blue Spruce, Montana, 1871-When Caleb Orson’s prize stallion escapes his ranch, Sal Beauregard rides to the rescue, revealing her true identity as a one of the few eligible females in town. She’d do it again if it meant saving an animal from the cruel retaliation of Brendan Doran. The man has no respect for women or God’s creatures.

But the sun’s early setting strands her at Caleb’s ranch. Worse, Sallie’s father unceremoniously leaves her there under Caleb’s protection. However, Doran refuses to lose again to Caleb-first a horse, now a woman. He wants Sallie as his wife and not even the reclusive ogre of a cowboy can stand in his way. No matter Sallie’s opinion.

Choosing to make the best of a difficult situation, Sallie takes over the gentling of Caleb’s stallion. She believes she can reach Caleb as well. Only, the first blush of friendship grows into something … more. Something that threatens the desires of Caleb’s enemy. And if Doran cannot have a beauty like Sallie, neither can a beast.

My review

Wow!!!!!!! This book was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Danielle can definitely write a retelling!!!!!!!!!! Heart of Beauty completely blew me away!!!!!!!!!!

Sallie, the protagonist, was such a beautiful, complex character. I loved watching her learn to trust God throughout the book and help others through her example. Sallie, while certainly a bit of a tomboy, is still feminine, which is not a contrast most authors can write well. I love how she uses her good nature to connect with man and beast alike.

Caleb is such a sweetheart!!!!!!!!!! I love how protective he is of his horses and Sallie!!!!! He is a man of integrity, even if he doesn’t realize it. I love how he learns to let down the walls he’s built to protect his heart and learns to love. He’s such a great character, and I love him!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve never been a horse girl (I find horses a bit terrifying), but I loved the scenes with the horses!!!! I loved watching Sallie interact with the horses and how her way with horses can be applied to working with people.

Danielle wove in great faith elements without it feeling forced. It made sense when the characters quoted scriptures, and their faith journeys were just all around beautiful.

If you love historical fiction and fairy tale retellings, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!! It is SO INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!

View more on Courtney Ranger's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 19, 2025 23:03

February 17, 2025

Guest Post: The Importance of Supporting Indie Authors (feat. Courtney Ranger)

Hello readers! You’re in for a treat today! Remember how I mentioned that I would be doing more guest posts? Well, today’s featured author is …

Guest Post: The Importance of Supporting Indie Authors (feat. Courtney Ranger)

View more on Courtney Ranger's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 17, 2025 06:50

February 12, 2025

Interview with Mountain Peak Edits & Design

For the second installment of my series on businesses that support authors and readers, I am sharing my interview with Madisyn from Mountain Peak Edits & Design! I had tons of fun with this one!!!!!

The interview

Hi, Madisyn! Can you introduce yourself and Mountain Peak Edits & Design (MPED)? Focus on yourself as a designer/editor, etc, not as an author. We’ll mention that later.

Hello, Courtney. Thank you for having me.

My name is Madisyn, and I am the founder and owner of Mountain Peak Edits & Design, also known as MPED. My passion is to provide affordable, quality services for writers and authors. A few fun facts: I am fueled by chocolate-covered sunflower seeds and prefer the mountains to the ocean.

Why did you decide to start MPED?

There’s no direct answer for that, as this came about in an unanticipated way. MPED was not something I pondered for weeks or months. I was facing a choice about my future, and after a few sleepless nights of pondering and praying, the concept of MPED came to me. A few days later I had the site up and was open for business.

Based on MPED’s name, it sounds like you offer several services. What all do you offer? Which service(s) are your favorites?

While MPED initially only offered editing and cover design, it has expanded into graphic design (think BookBub ads, promo graphics), A+ Content, and marketing materials like bookmarks.

On top of all the hats you wear at MPED, you’re also an author. How does that affect your efforts helping authors with each of these different tasks?

One of the phrases I use to market MPED is, “By an author, for authors.” I have been on both sides of the aisle, so to speak, and know what it is like as both a client and a service provider. This provides me with a deeper insight and understanding of not only the process of editing, design, and publishing, but the perspective of both sides as well.

I want to hire you to help me with my project. Is there any reason you wouldn’t accept me?

MPED only offers services for clean and Christian books. So, if your book contains profanity, sexual content, or other indecent topics, MPED isn’t the right author services provider for you.

Editing

“Edits” is the first part of MPED’s title. Let’s start there.

What’s your background in editing? Why should I trust you to edit my books?

My background in editing includes an English degree and an editing internship with Answers in Genesis. I want what’s best for every writer and author who entrusts their manuscripts to MPED and will ensure that only the highest quality is delivered.

Can you tell me about any of the books you’ve edited?

I’ve edited a variety of historical romance, contemporary romance, suspense, and fantasy. It’s enjoyable seeing every author’s unique flavor of writing.

You offer several types of editing. Isn’t an edit just an edit?

An edit is not just an edit. Some types of edits focus on the story’s overall plot and structure while others are meant to find errors, clean up rough sentences, or focus solely on character development. It is vital for you to know what type of edit you want before you contact an editor. Merely telling us, “I need an edit” doesn’t provide us with the information we need in order to assist you in making your manuscript the best it can be.

What’s your favorite type of editing?

My favorite type is developmental editing. This is the “broad picture” and focuses on plot holes and areas that require strengthening or adjustment.

What’s your biggest grammatical pet peeve?

Lack of oxford commas. Standard commas completely change a sentence’s structure and meaning. Utilizing the oxford comma is integral if you want your sentence to not only make sense, but flow well and sound good.

What controversial grammar rules are you most passionate about?

I wouldn’t consider this necessarily controversial, but there has been a push in recent years to eliminate words of “gender”. Take blonde/blond for example. I refuse to use the “gender neutral” spellings. They were implemented for a reason and ignoring them is to the writer’s detriment because then it appears like they do not even know proper spelling.

What does your pricing for editing look like?

I charge $0.003/word for manuscripts up to 50,000, and $0.002/word for manuscripts over 50,000.

Find more information about Madisyn’s editing services.

Cover Design

Let’s switch over to cover design (my personal favorite thing you do).

A book cover can’t possibly be that important, can it?

Allow me to fetch my soapbox.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who judges a book by its cover. If a cover is poor quality, has a heinous design, or doesn’t match the era or genre, then I’ll not only refuse to read the book, I won’t give it a second look. Covers need to reflect the story. Does a paltry cover indicate a paltry tale? Not necessarily, but it provides that message to any potential readers.

Your cover should not only match the era or genre in which your book takes place, but it should also be pleasing to the eye. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that certainly applies to covers, but you should always aim for a quality cover. Unfortunately, I’m seeing an influx of low-quality covers, which are particularly popular with Multi-Author Series in a specific genre.

Okay, maybe a book cover might be important, but is it really important enough to pay a ton of money for?

Unless you know what you are doing and can design a quality cover on your own, you will have to pay some money for a good cover. That being said, I do not recommend paying more than $450 for a cover (ebook + paperback). Don’t worry if you have a small budget. Some designers offer cover design tiers with varying prices.

But can’t I just get an AI cover design for free?

There is a massive debate about AI, which I won’t get into, but here are a few observations about AI and the covers generated with it.

No AI cover is truly “free”. AI art has been developed using the designs and artwork of real-life artists and designers. Case in point: I can scroll through a stock image site, see an AI-generated image, and know exactly which photo was used to “inspire” this fake image. So, monetizing AI is, actually, thievery. Not to mention there are almost always issues with AI “art”, such as extra teeth, additional fingers, or warped features.

AI, in short, not only looks atrocious, it’s unethical. Many readers will not only refuse to support authors who use AI, but they will boycott them altogether.

So, it’s just not worth it to use AI for a cover.

How did you get started designing book covers?

I don’t remember why I began designing covers. I just knew, when the idea for MPED came to me, that cover design would be included.

What types of covers do you design?

I offer the styles of typographic, illustrated, scene-oriented, portrait, silhouette, double exposure, photographic, and more.

What are some of your favorite covers you’ve designed?

Some of my personal favorites include:

Dreams of the Heart by Penny Zeller

Feels like Home by Jennifer Whalen

A Noble Life by C.K. Heartwing

ARROW by Madisyn Carlin

And some other covers from Multi-Author Series that have yet to be revealed.

What’s the process if I want MPED to design a cover for me?

The process is simple. Contact MPED through the contact form, and let me know you need a cover. Be sure to include the genre and when you need it (next month, in the next five months, etc.), and I’ll then send you a questionnaire you can fill out. After the payment invoice is sent and paid, I’ll begin working on mocks. Once you’ve settled on a mock, I’ll work on the final cover.

What does your pricing look like?

I offer two cover design pricing tiers for custom covers. Tier One offers a custom ebook cover and paperback for $70 total and Tier Two offers a custom ebook and paperback for $150 total. The difference between tiers can be found here.

Cover design prices for Multi-Author Series begins at $45 and anthology covers begin at $75.

MPED’s premade book covers

Information on custom cover design from MPED

Miscellaneous

You mentioned that you offer several other services earlier. I’ve probably already exhausted your patience with questions, but…

Can you tell me a tiny bit more about the other services?

Some of the other services include graphic design, A+ Content, marketing materials, and book revamp. The graphic design service offers designs for options such as BookBub ads, cover reveal graphics, and more. A+ Content is a free marketing opportunity offered by Amazon, and marketing materials include custom bookmarks and stickers. The book revamp is either a single service of creating a new cover for a book already released or offering a bundle of a new cover, one type of edit of your choice, and A+ Content graphics or two promo graphics.

Where do I find more information about these services?

All information can be found on my website, or you can reach out via email and I’m happy to answer whatever questions you have.

Which of these services is your favorite?

I think my favorites are tied between the book cover revamp and bookmark design.

Closing…

Why should I choose MPED to help me with my book/website/social media/whatever?

MPED not only seeks to help your book or author career be as successful as possible, but as an author myself, I understand both where you’re coming from and the importance of quality author services.

Is there anything else I should know about your business?

My passion is helping writers and authors. There are premade covers you can check out, book revamp options, and packages that offer a bundle of services for a special price.

Publishing your book is a journey, and one you don’t have to travel alone. No matter your publishing experience, MPED is ready and available to help.

Where can I learn more about MPED?

My website is here and MPED is also on Instagram at @mountainpeakeditsanddesign. Insta followers are the first to see new premades, so if you’re on Instagram and in the market for a cover, you are welcome to stop by.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of my questions!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for having me!

GUESS WHAT??????

Mountain Peak Edits & Design is currently holding a special flash sale in honor of Valentine’s Day where you can get 15% off all premade book covers! The sale lasts from today (2/12/2025) through the fifteenth! There are some truly stunning covers on that site that I’m hoping will find equally amazing stories to match up with!

MPED’S premade book covers

Read my interview with Lucy from The Pixie’s Paintbrush

View more on Courtney Ranger's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 12, 2025 20:48

February 7, 2025

Book Review + Giveaway: Protecting You by Robin Patchen

Fun and fast-paced, Robin Patchen’s Protecting You is a great story about learning how to love and protecting what’s most important.

About the book

Book: Protecting You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: February 4, 2025

In a high-stakes game of deception, two rivals must work together to bring down a ruthless terrorist.

After Alyssa’s dream of working in US intelligence is thwarted, she leaves her mundane profession to pursue a career as a cyber investigator. Though she aces every case she gets, securing enough customers to stay afloat proves challenging. When a lucrative commission comes along, she thinks she’s hit the jackpot. But this client isn’t the British entrepreneur he claims to be. And then her old nemesis interrupts their meeting with a startling move.

CIA agent Callan Templeton is floundering in his new role as a single father to a surprise daughter, but he still has a job to do. He follows a tip about a terrorist, only to be shocked when he finds his old college adversary dining with the notorious killer. Maybe there was a better way to step in than by posing as Alyssa’s fiancé, but it was the best excuse he could come up with to insert himself into their meeting.

Callan once stole the job Alyssa coveted, and now the last thing she wants is his help. But when he explains who her client really is, she realizes she’s in way over her head. Dariush Ghazi knew exactly what he was doing when he targeted her. She’s trapped. She must go along with a dangerous scheme, pretending to help him while working with Callan…or end up dead.

In their quest to dismantle Dariush’s network of evil, Callan and Alyssa risk sacrificing each other—and everything they hold dear.

Prepare to dive into this gripping tale of enemies turned allies, a fake engagement, and a deadly conspiracy.

purchaseMy Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Fun fact, I’m a procrastinator. I started reading this book last night around 5:00 pm, and since I’d procrastinated I was not very excited going into reading the book, especially when I realized it was like 400 pages. And the font seemed smaller than normal.

And then I got halfway through the first chapter.

And there was that adorably hilarious meet-cute between Alyssa and Callan.

And I was hooked. And, don’t worry, I did finish this book last night. And I LOVED IT. SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Anyway, enough about me. Let’s talk about this book!!!

Alyssa is ambitious and wants to prove she can make a career for herself as a private investigator. Even though she could get higher payouts if she’s willing to break laws, she has a strong moral compass and always tries to stay on the right side of the law. I love how we can see her internal conflict so well even from the first chapter of the book. Also, she has four sisters *squeals* which was SO FUN!!!!!!!!! I love books where the characters have large families, especially when they’re written that realistically!!!!! I love how even when she feels hurt and betrayed, she doesn’t lash out at people and still tries to do what’s right.

Callan… *squeals* I love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s so sweet and protective and funny and smart and just overall an amazing character. He gets the perfect introduction with that meet-cute at the beginning (see the More from Robin section for details…). I love how we get to see him grappling with trying to balance his priorities of protecting Alyssa with his responsibility as a father. I loved seeing his quick thinking as he helped solve problems (and fight bad guys), paired with seeing his softer side when helping keep Alyssa calm and safe.

My other favorite character was Alyssa’s father. I loved seeing how well Robin developed him as a character, even though he didn’t have nearly as much page time as I would’ve wanted. I loved the scene during the party when he was spending time with the little girl. It was so cute!!!!!!! Okay, I might not’ve looked thoroughly enough, but I really want a prequel with Alyssa’s dad as the main character. PLEASE?????????

Aside from the characters, the plot was amazing. It was fast-paced and exciting with lots of danger and intrigue. The fight scene at the end of the book was one of my favorite scenes in the end, but I won’t spoil more of the plot than I already have.

The one thing I didn’t love was the backstory with Callan’s daughter. Basically, he had gotten drunk and ended up getting a girl pregnant. I did love that the backstory with his daughter allowed for a great pro-life message, though!

Overall, I loved this book! Did I snag two more books in the series from Amazon immediately after finishing this book? Yes, yes I did. They were on sale (see below for details). I regret nothing. I need more of these books!!!!!!!!! If you enjoy fast paced suspense novels, you should definitely try Protecting You by Robin Patchen!

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

Current deals on other books in the series

As of today, February 7, the first book in The Wright Heroes of Maine is FREE, and the second book in the series is 99¢!

running to you by robin patchen REscuing you by Robin Patchen

About the author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

February 6, 2025

Book Review + Giveaway: The Thomas Sisters by Kathryn Spurgeon

Kathryn Spurgeon’s The Thomas Sisters is a collection of novellas about the power of sisterhood and faith.

About the book

Book: The Thomas Sisters

Author: Kathryn Spurgeon

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release date: August 29, 2024

Five tightknit sisters. Five interwoven stories. One book.

Based on the true lives of closely connected sisters.

As the harsh winds of the 1930s Dust Bowl strip the Oklahoma ground of its fertile soil, and the Great Depression becomes imminent, the Thomas sisters struggle to hold onto their families, their faith, and one another. To survive their storms, they must let go of their secrets and grief and trust in the strength of sisterhood. Based on true stories.

purchase hereMy Review

In The Thomas Sisters, Kathryn tells her family’s story of overcoming hardships and looking to God no matter the circumstance through five novellas.

Each of the novellas follows one of the five Thomas sisters. I enjoyed watching as each of the characters were developed throughout all five of the novellas. I wish I’d gotten a bit more time with each protagonist before switching to a different story though. There were times I felt like I needed a family tree or something to keep all of the characters straight!

Since I have lots of sisters myself, I enjoyed seeing the relationships between each of the sisters and the different dynamics each brought to the family. Because of my experience in a large family, I found the characters’ struggles with feeling they had a place in the family relatable and could feel for them.

Kathryn mentions a lot of hard topics in this story. I thought she handled them well and didn’t let anything get too graphic, but I would still say this is definitely a book that’s meant for adults. You can see my list of content warnings under the “content” section.

I loved how Kathryn wanted to bring her family’s story to life. I found the epilogue especially poignant for helping to show the priorities her family had.

Overall, Kathryn Spurgeon’s The Thomas Sisters was an interesting story about sisters drawing closer to God through hard times. I would recommend this book for adult readers who enjoy reading books based on true events.

Contentcharacters use word “Lordy” frequentlydomestic violence (shown briefly on page; I didn’t find it too graphic)mentions of infant/child losschild dies of an accidental aspirin OD (flashback scene)allusions to man SAing teenage girlsallusions to a character being homosexualmentions of man SAing young boyscharacter has gambling addictioncharacter has alcohol addictionwoman decides to leave her husband

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

About the Author

Kathryn Spurgeon, an Illumination Award-winning author, publishes inspirational, historical novels based on true events. Her novels include the Promise Series, and the Thomas Sister Series, both set in the 1930s in Oklahoma. She also writes and publishes devotionals, nonfiction, and poetry. A native Oklahoman, as a married teenager, Kathryn spent two years in South Korea where she adopted two babies. She and her husband have six children and eighteen muti-racial grandchildren.

Book Review + Giveaway: Emma’s Engagement by Susan G. Mathis

Emma’s Engagement by Susan G. Mathis is a sweet clean romance about learning to give love, even in difficult circumstances.

About the Book

Book: Emma’s Engagement

Author: Susan G Mathis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: January 21, 2025

A lighthouse. A new wife. A jealous daughter. Can love shine through the darkness?

Emma Row yearns for a fresh start and a chance to build a loving family. But as she steps into her role as the Rock Island Lightkeeper’s wife, she finds herself navigating the treacherous waters of isolation and the bitter rejection of her new stepdaughter, Ada.

Michael Diepolder, the widowed lightkeeper, had hoped securing a companion would brighten his life and be a needed mother figure to his eleven-year-old daughter. Yet, as Emma struggles to adapt to the challenges of her new life, Michael realizes that the path to happiness is far more turbulent than he ever anticipated.

As a storm brews on the horizon, Emma and Michael must confront the tempestuous waves of doubt, jealousy, and isolation that threaten to extinguish the light of their love. Can they weather the storm and find the strength to keep their family together, or will the darkness consume them all?

purchaseMy Review

I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again: Susan has such beautiful writing. It’s just exquisite. The prose she uses adds perfectly to the aesthetic of the book!

I loved getting to further explore these characters who we’d met briefly in the previous book in the series, Julia’s Joy. I loved watching as we explored their struggles and understood their character growth.

The protagonist, Emma, was my favorite character. I enjoyed seeing her grace as she tried to handle her new role as wife and step-mother to a less-than-enthusiastic preteen. I loved how she kept making the effort to connect with her new family, even when faced with obstacles. It was beautiful seeing how her faith inspired and drew her family closer together.

Michael was an interesting character, too. It was interesting watching as he was torn between his loyalties for his new wife and daughter. There were a few times I wanted to whack him upside the head because he was being a bit… dense, but watching his character growth was still quite enjoyable. I loved seeing how he was privately working through his grief and seeing how he was strengthened by his faith.

Ada was a fun character. She could be… quite the pest at times, but I found it entertaining watching her attempts to make her opinions known about having a new mother she hadn’t asked for. I thought Susan constructed a perfect character arc for Ada because her transformation as a character seemed so believable.

One of my absolute favorite scenes was during the storm. I loved seeing how despite their differences of opinions about each other, it began drawing the family closer together. It highlighted the character’s fears and motivations so well and just was a great scene.

Overall, I really enjoyed Susan G. Mathis’ Emma’s Engagement. I loved getting to spend more time with the characters I’d met in previous books in this series. If you enjoy historical romances about faith and family, you would enjoy reading this book!

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

About the Author

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her Thousand Islands fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, and Julia’s Joy, and Emma’s Engagement.

January 31, 2025

Book Review + Giveaway: When the Avalanche Roared by Lauralee Bliss

FINALLY, a book that definitively PROVES that I am right to hate snow!!!!!!!!!! This Texan girl does NOT like white precipitation!!!!

About the book

Book: When the Avalanche Roared (A Day to Remember Book Five)

Author: Lauralee Bliss

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release date: January, 2025

The Day Hope Seemed Swept Away

Enjoy a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Lillian Hartwick has been in the small railroad town of Wellington, Washington, caring for her cousin and assisting the postmaster when February snows bring all train traffic to a halt. Slow-witted but kind Griffin Jones, who works odd jobs for the railway while enduring taunts from other workers, has tried his best to gain Lillian’s interest, but she is engaged and waiting her fiancé’s arrival from California. Predawn thunderstorms on Tuesday, March 1, 1910, trigger a devasting avalanche, sweeping two trains down Stevens Pass. Lillian and Griffin work together to help survivors, including Griffin’s tormentors. In the midst of the catastrophe their feelings for each other grow. But is it enough when Lillian’s fiancé finally arrives in the spring, ready to claim her as his own?

purchaseMy review

First of all, I’d love to know how the authors of this series came up with the topics for their books. I had never heard of this avalanche before!!!!! I LOVE how historical fiction is like the BEST way to learn about underappreciated stories from history, and this book is an excellent example of that!

I love how Lauralee introduced the setting of Wellington by contrasting it with the protagonist’s big city hometown. It perfectly highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the characters and made it where I really cared about the town when the disaster happened!

I loved watching Lillian, the protagonist of the story, grow as a character. She stars the story as a timid girl who doesn’t know what she wants or how to direct her life. By the end of the story, she has become a strong woman who relies on God to be her strength and is willing to stand up to whomever she needs to form the life she wants for herself. I love watching as she grows closer to God. I also loved the scenes where she plays with children. She’s so compassionate, and I LOVE IT!!!

Griffin is a sweetie. I love seeing his forgiving, resilient nature. It is so inspiring how in spite of his difficulties, he still makes God a priority in his life. I also loved how he is willing to ask for and provide help when needed.

Overall, I loved getting to read this novel and learn about an event I’d never heard of before. I loved how Lauralee introduced a world and characters that were so easy to get to know and fall in love with. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should definitely try this book!

About the author

Lauralee Bliss has always liked to dream big dreams. Part of that dream was writing, and after several years of hard work, her dream of publishing was realized in 1997 with the publication of her first romance novel, Mountaintop, through Barbour Publishing. Since then, she’s had twenty books published, both historical and contemporary. Lauralee is also an avid hiker, completing the entire length of the Appalachian Trail both north and south. Lauralee makes her home in Virginia in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her family.

January 29, 2025

Book Review: A Noble Intent by Kendall Hoxsey

Kendall Hoxsey’s A Noble Intent probably wins the prize for the most creative retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that I’ve read.

Book Blurb

A dethroned prince wants his kingdom back. His enemy’s granddaughter stands in his way.

Prince Max and his elite warriors, the Wolves, have lived in hiding since Lady Vermilion and her Huntsmen conquered the kingdom of Cadmium over ten years ago. He has spent his time training, planning, and strategizing for the day he can take back his kingdom and avenge his family. But to do this, he must find the legendary red diamond that is said to bear the power to appoint the true ruler and remove those in power who wish to use the throne for their own purposes.

Gisela’s grandmama, Lady Vermilion, has made no secret of her disappointment in Gisela’s scholarly pursuits. But now, Gisela has a chance to redeem herself in her grandmama’s eyes as she’s sent on a journey to find the ancient sage–The Owl–and use her gifts of language translation to decipher ancient texts that will lead her to the powerful red diamond. If she can help her grandmama solidify her place on the throne, Gisela will become what she always has dreamed of being. Wanted.

When Max masquerades undercover as a guide to lead Gisela on a journey to find the red diamond, they must face trouble neither of them anticipated. And learning to trust their darkest enemy, might become their brightest hope.

My Review

Here’s the setup: the grandmother and her huntsmen has taken control of a kingdom that had been ruled by the king and his “wolf” soldiers. The son of the old king (a.k.a. the Big Bad Wolf) wants his kingdom back. The queen’s granddaughter (a.k.a. Little Red Riding Hood) is a currently neutral party he can use to overthrow the queen.

I found the whole premise of the story was just so perfect!!!!!! I love how it incorporated every character from the fairy tale and was so unique and just made me want to read more!!!

Max — the Big Bad Wolf character — wants his kingdom back. He’s willing to do what he needs to protect his friends and avenge the wrongs done to his family. I love how he still has a heart, in spite of all of the wrongs done to him. It is so sweet how he’s willing to do anything to keep Gisela safe!!! I love his resourcefulness and quick wit.

Gisela is sweet and innocent and wants a simple life. She doesn’t want to go on a quest, but doesn’t argue with her grandmother. Her sweet nature made her lovable. I also enjoyed how she always looks out for those around her and is so considerate of others. It was amazing seeing how good of a person Gisela is, even if she didn’t always have the best role models.

My favorite scene was one that was the most similar to the Red Riding Hood fairy tale. It was so funny, and I love how quickly Gisela saw through Max’s antics *I’m trying so hard not to spoil too much.*

Overall, I loved Kendall Hoxsey’s A Noble Intent! The premise was intriguing, the characters were amazing, and there were so many sweet and funny scenes! If you enjoy fairy tale retellings that will keep you reading all hours of the night, you should definitely read this book!!!

PUrchase

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

View more on Courtney Ranger's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 29, 2025 12:24

Interview with Lucy Peterson from The Pixie’s Paintbrush

This year, I’m hoping to interview several different experts in the book world (authors, publishers, cover designers, character artists, etc.). I decided to start by interviewing Lucy Peterson, the owner of The Pixie’s Paintbrush, since she recently started her business!

My interview with Lucy

Hi, Lucy! Can you introduce yourself for everyone?

Hey! Thanks for having me!

I’m a prairie girl from the Great Plains, and the artist behind The Pixie’s Paintbrush. I’ve always loved to draw and show the magic and beauty of fantasy, and as I am also an author, creating things comes naturally to me.

What inspired you to start The Pixie’s Paintbrush?

I have always loved drawing, and as I got better, I loved creating character art for friends. There’s something so cool about being able to help bring other people’s creations to life for them. Eventually it just became a waiting game for when I felt confident enough with my art to take on commissions, and when I could properly start and run a business.

Does the name of your business have a special meaning?

Nope, I just picked it because I love Neverland. XD

How did you get started doing character art and other types of design?

If you go pull out my oldest stories, there are pictures on every page. XD I’ve always loved drawing my characters.

I started doing digital character art and other designs almost two years ago.

What is your absolute favorite piece of artwork you’ve made? What made it special? Is it the same as your best piece of artwork?

Oof. *goes to scan my portfolio*

I’m going to have to say my drawing of Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano. I love Star Wars so much, and they are two of my favorite characters…and yeah. It was so fun to draw, and I’m super happy with how it turned out.

I also really love my black-and-white drawings of my characters from When the Stars Shine Again*. They’re some of the most realistic drawings I have ever done, so they can probably rank as some of my best pieces…

*Courtney here, When the Stars Shine Again is one of the books Lucy’s written!

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from your experience making artwork for authors and stories you’ve read?

Really… learning how to work with and honor the creations of the authors and stories. Authors love their characters, and I want to match and honor that love and excitement with good artwork.

What is the hardest thing about creating art based on the stories you’ve loved?

Getting the art to look like the stories I’ve loved. XD I’m super picky, and so it can take a long time to finish a piece of art.

In addition to being an artist, you’re also an author. How has becoming an author affected your artwork you create for other authors?

It has really grown my understanding of characters. I know the nuances, so—especially in a drawing with more than one character—I know how to convey that in a much more realistic way than two characters simply standing together. XD

It also has extremely grown my skills in costume design. When you write tons of characters in different outfits everyday, you can’t help but try and get more and more extravagant…

So if I need an artist, what does the process look like?

First off, check out my site! Scan my portfolio and commission details to see if I am a good fit for you and you agree with my terms.

If you’re looking for character art or book swag, the next step is to pick what type of commission you want, and fill out the form.

If you’re looking for a bigger project like cover design or illustrations (which I do offer, they are just a case-by-case basis so you won’t see prices listed on my site), the next step is to fill out my contact form on the site and let me know what you are looking for.

Is there any reason you wouldn’t be willing to create artwork for an author?

Yes. I am a Christain, so I have standards about what I am going to draw. Like my site says, I will not create any art that does not glorify God, is inappropriate, or contains excessive gore or romance. (Just a couple together is fine.)

What is your pricing like?

I provide affordable pricing for quality artwork. Prices are case-by-case with cover art and illustrations, and other commissions can range from $50 to $140.

If you would like to have access to exclusive discounts, and gain a coupon for 10% off your first commission, join my email list!

pricing details

What does your schedule look like? Are you available to make artwork for an author?

My schedule is currently completely open for the listed commissions on my site—character art, swag, and the like—and I am also open to provide cover art.

I currently am not accepting any commissions to provide illustrations, as my schedule only allows for me to accept one illustration commission at a time, and I just accepted one.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk about this with me! Good luck with everything!!!!!!

Thank you so much for interviewing me! This was so fun!

Information about LucyThe Pixie’s Paintbrush site Lucy’s Blog When The Stars Shine Again by Lucy Peterson A Noble Warrior by Lucy Peterson

Are you a book expert?

If you are an author or own a business that provides a service for people in the book world and would like to be interviewed, please reach out to me via my contact form!

View more on Courtney Ranger's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 29, 2025 12:08

January 20, 2025

Book Review + Giveaway: Rebel Light by Marilyn Turk

About the Book

Book: Rebel Light

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: 2018

She ran away from the war only to find herself in the middle of it. Who will protect her now?

It’s 1861, Florida has seceded from the Union, and residents of Pensacola evacuate inland to escape the impending war. But Kate McFarlane’s impulsive act of rebellion changes her life and that of many others in ways she never expected.

As a result, Kate finds herself with an eccentric aunt in an unfamiliar place. Lieutenant Clay Harris, a handsome Confederate officer, offers a chance for romance, but his actions make Kate question his character. When a hurricane brings an injured shipwrecked sailor from the Union blockade to her aunt’s house, Kate fights attraction to the man while hiding him from Clay. She’s determined to warn her sea captain father about the blockade, but needs someone to help her. Who can she trust – her ally or her enemy?

My Review

Marilyn Turk’s Rebel Light is a fast-paced historical romance set during the Civil War.

Katherine McFarlane wants to feel like she has a purpose with rumors of an upcoming war. She doesn’t expect she’ll end up living with her eccentric aunt, though! I loved watching how Kate was willing to help out with whatever she could, even if it wasn’t the type of work with which she was accustomed. I loved watching how Kate was a light to everyone around her and made everyone a better person for knowing her.

Speaking of light, I loved all the ways Marilyn told the theme of the importance of spreading His light in everything we do. The lighthouses, Kate’s example, the example of other people, the motif of light throughout the book; it would be great to analyze in an essay (although I won’t subject you to that).

Aside from Kate, there was a fantastic cast of characters. Some of my favorites included Aunt Sally, John, Bessie, Joshua, and Cora. I love how Marilyn made each character so essential to the story and used each of the characters to further the themes of the story.

I loved the world Marilyn gave us a glimpse of through this story. There are three other books available currently in the series, and I hope to get to read more about these characters!

Overall, I really enjoyed the themes and characters in this book. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should definitely consider reading this book!

Content Notes

Language: one use of the word n****r by an antagonist

Violence: man gets shot, man is injured during a storm, man goes squirrel hunting

Sexual Content: a woman wears a low-cut dress, a man makes unwanted advances toward a woman, a man grabs at a woman, kisses, embraces, a woman is pregnant.

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

purchase — sale for $0.99!*

*price current as of 1/20/2025

About the Author

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk writes historical and contemporary novels laced with suspense and romance. She especially likes finding little-known historical tidbits to include in her books. In addition to fiction, Marilyn is a contributor to Guideposts’ Walking in Grace and other anthologies. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over 100 lighthouses, and served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.

When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys reading, walking, kayaking, fishing, gardening and playing tennis. She also sings in the choir at her church and leads a women’s Bible study group.

She is a member of ACFW, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, AWSA, Word Weavers International and the United States Lighthouse Society.

Courtney Ranger's Blog

Courtney Ranger's profile
65 followers