Courtney Ranger's Blog, page 8
January 17, 2025
Book Review: Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller
I don’t mood read contemporary. I DON’T. But I did mood read this one, and it was SO WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Book BlurbWho is he really? And why is someone after him?
Mariah Holzman never imagined a whiteout blizzard would sever all communication from the outside world—communication desperately needed for the injured man Mariah finds near her home. Nor did she imagine helping nurse the man back to health would lead to threats and intimidation. As danger escalates and questions rise, Mariah is left to wonder what kind of person she has allowed into her home.
Grant MacGuire never imagined he would wake up one day in a strange cabin, surrounded by strange people, with no memory of who he is or how he was injured. Nor did he imagine his presence would put the lives of those who saved him in danger. As Grant struggles with distorted memories, he wonders if his life is worth the price the Holzman family is paying.
The growing attraction between Mariah and Grant is hindered by Grant’s unknown identity. Is Grant, as the family’s neighbor assumes, a criminal on the run from the law? Or is there more to his identity—and the reason he was attacked—than they realize?
In addition to not mood reading contemporary, I don’t read suspense either. Or at least I didn’t. This book was so good, though.
First of all, Mariah. She’s a single mom of two adorable children. She’s level-headed, resourceful, and eager to help those in need — including a nearly-dead man she finds in the snow. She values her family and sacrifices a lot to make sure she prioritizes them. I love that she homeschools her kids!!!! (I want to homeschool mine whenever I’m blessed with children………..) I love how Mariah is able to rely on her faith and those around her when she needs support.
George, aka George Washington (because Mariah’s kids are hilarious), doesn’t have a memory. He just knows he hopes he’s a good person. Grant is so good with small children, even when recovering from an attempt on his life. It’s so cute!!!!!! I love how protective he is and how much he wants to help those around him!
Penny can write a suspense novel. The plot was so intriguing, and I could not put the book down. I love how she wove in little bits of foreshadowing throughout her book. I especially enjoyed how she wrote the action-y scenes!!!! Also, the villains were written perfectly.
Overall, this book was just INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!! I didn’t expect to love it nearly as much as I did. I can’t wait to see more Christian suspense from Penny!!!!!!!!!!!!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
purchaseThis 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: A Noble Assassin by Abigail Kay Harris
So apparently it’s possible to turn The Three Little Pigs into an incredible nonmagical fairy tale retelling. I didn’t know how Abigail would pull that off, but it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Book BlurbHow would you protect those you love from the wolf in sheep’s clothing?
It was impossible to escape The Wolf for long.
Stories of men captured and beaten were the only stories that spread of The Wolf.
No one lived past the snap of his claws, or so was the gossip on trembling lips.
None were brave enough to risk the ire of the assassin who had survived as the king’s lapdog since childhood.
Sebastian Quilian was raised in terror.
Now a man or more a monster, The Wolf lived his life carrying out the tyrant king’s order—to assassination the former royal Bellatrixian king and the Salvador family line.
Born to long ago forgotten parents, Sebastian grew up in the charge of Cassius Salvador, under the old man’s thumb Sebastian realized young that he would never find freedom while Cassius lived.
Secrets grew upon secrets until he couldn’t breath and all that was left of the young, lost, little boy who once dreamed of home was The Wolf.
The Wolf knew that soon the past would catch up with him, yet he didn’t expect it to happen with the past to come in the form of death and those who held a blood given right to the throne, he knew that the past was now lost, but could he find hope in the future?
He couldn’t help but want to protect those he has come to love as he searches for a way to rise above his past sins and mistakes after finding the Truth.
My reviewTHIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *SQUEALS* I expected it to be pretty good, but it BLEW ME AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE STORY, THE CHARACTERS, THE ROMANCE, THE THEMES………… I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!
Let’s start with The Wolf, Sebastian. I LOVE the sweet wittle Murder Muffin!!!!!!!!! He’s just incredible and I woves him!!!!!!!!!! (Fine, I’ll quit the baby talk. For now.) Sebastian is one big, murdering, sweetheart. He is so protective of his siblings!!!!!! I love how he defies his orders to protect Heather; it’s so cute!!!!! I also love how he’s a total pushover when it comes to small ones!!!! AND *squeals* he has a favorite weapon!!!!!!!! I loved that cute little detail Abigail threw in!!!!!!!!!!!
And then Heather!!!!!!! I love her!!!!!! I love her quiet strength and determination to do what she must to protect what’s important to her. She was such a relatable character, and I wish I got more time with her!
My other favorite character was Renee. I’m going to try not to spoil anything too much, but let me just say men being nice to children is one of my favorite things ever in books!!!!!!!!!! It’s so stinkin’ cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, lots of writers struggle to write kids who actually sound like kids, but Abigail… wow! She can write children PERFECTLY!!!!!!!
This story was such a cool concept. I loved how it never tried to justify the bad actions of some of the characters and included such a beautiful redemption arc!!!!!!!!
Also, the theme of family in this book was just BEAUTIFUL!!! I loved watching the different family interactions and how the characters prioritized family. The epilogue especially made me so happy!!!
Overall, this book was so good!!!!! I bought a paperback copy as soon as it was available, and I got it in yesterday. My sisters have already been informed that they will be reading the book and they will love it!!!!!!!!!!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
purchase your copyThis 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 postsJanuary 15, 2025
Book Review: Vicky’s Victory by Nadine Keels
I’d forgotten how pretty Nadine’s writing is! It’s just so elegant! Also, I didn’t intend to finish the book when I’d started it last night, but ya know… things don’t always go according to plan!
Book BlurbYoung lives. First loves. And a classic American period enlivened by jukeboxes and chocolate malts.
Vicky, a bookish sixteen-year-old, wouldn’t call herself popular. But around her thriving Black community of West Hill, and especially at school, she’s pretty well-known: as “The Brain of West Hill High.” In addition to keeping her grades up this year, she’s looking to make an impact writing for the school newspaper. A step toward her goal of becoming a journalist one day.
On a different note, Vicky is ready to get a new, real taste of romance. She dreams of spending time with an interesting guy who’ll be a match for her head as well as her heart. A guy who’ll applaud her career ambitions.
But finding someone like that might be too much to hope for in high school. Maybe?
Enjoy this nostalgic nod to the bygone era of “malt shop” books—from an angle featuring more of America’s color.
Book ReviewI’ve read… *loses count* …. several (that works, right?) of Nadine’s books, but so far, Vicky’s Victory has been the lightest, easiest read. While I still love how Nadine handles the heavier topics in some of her other books I’ve read, I really enjoyed seeing this lighter book.
I loved the vintage feel of this book! It made the book feel so warm and homey. I appreciated the author’s note at the end explaining her inspiration and the concept of a “malt shop book;” I’d not heard of the genre before, but it was interesting to learn about it!
Since I’ve started by talking about genre/aesthetics, I’ll finish covering the topic while transitioning to actually talking about the story and characters.
This book is definitely a YA/coming-of-age type novel, but it is one of the best YA novels I’ve read as far as promoting healthy relationships and being realistic to the age levels of the characters. Lots of YA novels show teens falling in love and pledging their lives away after having known the love interest for a few days. While I still love the stereotypical YA novel, it was refreshing to see a book that promoted more realistic, healthier relationships!
Vicky is a bright, ambitious student who wants to become a journalist. She wants to be recognized based on her skills, not because she happens to be a female. I loved seeing Vicky’s drive to succeed in everything she put her mind to. Her efforts with her schoolwork were quite relatable! I especially enjoyed the scene where she explains her frustrations with group projects.
There was a small love triangle in this book. Usually, I don’t love the love triangle trope, but I thought Nadine handled it well! This book’s romance was fairly light, which also affected the trope.
Overall, I enjoyed this sweet, light story from Nadine Keels! If you enjoy stories with a homey, vintage feel, I’d recommend reading this book!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
purchase your copyThis 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 postsJanuary 13, 2025
Multi-Author Series I’m excited for in 2025
Around the time I started this blog, I started hearing more about Multi-Author Series again. Before that, I’d mainly thought Multi-Author Series as a Middle Grade phenomena (think 39 Clues or Spirit Animals), but now, I can’t seem to stop reading them!!!
Cornerstone
If you’ve followed my blog, you know about the Cornerstone series. While the series had its first release in the fall of 2024, there are still books being released.
Cornerstone is a series of nonmagical, Christian Fantasy fairy tale retellings where the main character is not the traditional protagonist of the fairy tale.
So far, I’ve absolutely ADORED each of the books I’ve had the opportunity to read!
The releases in 2025 include:
A Noble Loyalty by Olivia Godfrey (January 7, 2025)
A Noble Intent by Kendall Hoxsey (January 14, 2025)
A Noble Rescuer by K.R. Mattson (January 21, 2025)
A Noble Life by C.K. Heartwing (January 28, 2025)
A Noble Friend by Kendra E. Ardnek (February 4, 2025)
A Noble Comfort by Katja H. Labonte (February 11, 2025)
series on amazonHearts of the WestI MADE THIS GRAPHIC, SO PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE THE SERIES BY MY POOR DESIGN SKILLS!
The Hearts of the West series is a series of Christian Historical fiction books set in the late 19th-century US. Half of the series (about) was published in 2024, but I am still so excited to see what happens with the rest of the series.
The releases in 2025 include:
Heart of Beauty by Danielle Grandinetti (February 11, 2025)
Heart of Courage by Penny Zeller (March 11, 2025)
Heart of Grace by Linda Hoover (April 8, 2025)
Heart of Patience by Sandi Rebert (May 13, 2025)
Heart of Hope by Kimberly Keagan (June 10, 2025)
find the series on amazonTethered Hearts
The Tethered Hearts series is a series of clean romantsy forced-proximity books! This series has not had any of the books published, and the covers were revealed just last week! I’ve read several of these authors and others have been on my list to-read.
Ties of Legacy by Melanie Cellier (March 7, 2025)
Ties of Starlight by Celeste Baxendell (March 14, 2025)
Ties of Deception by Alice Ivinya (March 21, 2025))
Ties of Bargains by Tara Grayce (March 28, 2025)
Ties of Death by Constance Lopez (April 4, 2025)
Ties of Shadow by Alora Carter (April 11, 2025)
Ties of Frost by Selina R. Gonzalez (April 18, 2025)
Ties of Dust by Deborah Grace White (April 25, 2025)
find the series on amazonA Garden of Fairy TalesTHESE ARE TEMPORARY COVERS SINCE THE REAL COVERS FOR THE SERIES HAVE NOT BEEN REVEALED YET!!!
A Garden of Fairy Tales is a collection of standalone fairy tale retellings about hope, rebirth, and new life. I’ve read books from some of the authors, but I also love that the series includes books by several debut authors and authors I haven’t read before!
Bleeding Heart by Kendra E. Ardnek (March 28, 2025)
Daylily by Madeline Kersbergen (April 4, 2025)
Snapdragon by Sarah Beran (April 11, 2025)
Carnatiion by Yakira Goldsberry (April 18, 2025)
Peaflower by Jessica A. Tanner (April 25, 2025)
Forget-Me-Not by J.F. Rogers (May 2, 2025)
Golden Lotus by Meagan Myhren-Bennett (May 9, 2025)
Lilac by Madisyn Carlin (May 16, 2025)
find the series on Amazonjoin the Hype teamA Secret Series………… (shh……..)There’s another Multi-Author Series that will be coming out in 2025 that I am very excited for! It’s MY SERIES (okay, not mine, it’s a group effort, but……..)!!!!!
If you’d like to be the first to know any OFFICIAL news about the Multi-Author Series I will be participating in, sign up for my newsletter!
sign up for my newsletter!Which of these series are you most excited for? Have you read books by any of these authors? Are there any series I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!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 postsBook Review: A Noble Protector by Madisyn Carlin
THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew it was going to be amazing, but *ALL THE SQUEALS* VARRICK AND GWYN ARE SO ADORABLE AND I LOVES THEM AND I NEEDS MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Book BlurbShe’s an outcast. He’s a dying prince. Together, they may be the kingdom’s last hope.
Outcast princess Gwyn Yesen has resigned to in anonymity for the rest of her life. When her only friend, the princess of the land unintentionally granting Gwyn safety, needs help, Gwyn knows she must help—even if it risks revealing who and what she really is.
What would you do to save your family? That’s the question dying prince Varrick Landreth find himself answering. Willing to do anything to save his brothers and sister, he finds himself joining forces with a suspicious woman keeping too many secrets.
As death nears and time runs out, Gwyn and Varrick must work together to save the royal family before usurpers and schemers enact their final, deadliest plan. But secrets have a way of being revealed at the worst time, and soon Varrick finds himself not only fighting for his family and kingdom, but being forced to choose Gwyn’s fate.
My reviewFine, I’ll try to quit squealing about this book and write a real review. But seriously, it deserves ALL THE SQUEALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Varrick is a protective big brother who won’t let a little poison stop him from saving his family and those he cares about, and he’s overall a big sweetheart in need of hugs. His determination is so endearing! I love how he is willing to put the needs of others before his own. Even though he’s physically fairly weak throughout most of the book, he still has such a strength of character and strength of will that he was still an impressive character. Most writers couldn’t write a physically weak MMC well, but apparently Madisyn Carlin can. I’m still wondering what Madi can’t write well.
Gwyn is hiding from her past. She’s seen too much but still has a big heart. She also needs hugs. I think she and Varrick are in a competition to see which of them needs hugs more. Anyway, I love Gwyn’s willingness to help Varrick’s family, even if it means risking — or even sacrificing — her own safety. She has a good heart and wants to do what’s right at all times.
Elissy, Varrick’s baby sister, is so fun. I love her sweet nature and how she’s able to charm everyone into loving her. Well, almost everybody; the villains are too nasty for that. She was perfectly written as a baby sister. Again, I have no idea how Madisyn writes sisters SO WELL!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s incredible.
This book put me through quite the roller coaster of emotions. I laughed. I cried. I squealed. I demanded more books with these characters. This is what a book is supposed to do to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the second (I think?) Wild Swans retelling I’ve read, and Madisyn did it so well!!!!!! I had no clue how she’d pull off a nonmagical version of this story, but WOW!!!!!! She did such a great job. I loved how she twisted the fairy tale to make it her own original story.
My biggest complaint with this book is I NEED MORE!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED A BOOK WITH EACH OF VARRICK’S SIBLINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that won’t be happening soon enough.
“You listen to me, Gwyn Yesen. You are not a nobody. You are not a no one. You are my sister’s friend. My land’s ally. You are the woman who risked it all for near strangers who could have ordered your death had they known the truth. You are my Gwyn. The Gwyn whose smiles I’d like to see more of. The Gwyn who deserves safety and protection and freedom.”
from A Noble Protector by Madisyn Carlin
Overall, *squeals* I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need my physical copy to arrive already so I can reread it AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you love Christian fantasy fairy tale retellings, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
purchaseThis 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 postsJanuary 10, 2025
Book Review: A Noble Grace by E.G. Bella
A Noble Grace by E.G. Bella is the third installment of the multi-author Cornerstone series from Beyond the Bookery!
I will be reviewing several of the Cornerstone books soon, so you’ve been warned!
Book BlurbA servant protecting her sister, a prince desperate to wed, and a reluctant union to save their kingdom.
For three long years after losing her home in the Crylmar attacks, twenty-two-year-old Annette Beaumont has worked hard to keep her family together. But when her papa’s debt to the crown is called into question, and she and her sister are sent to serve at the castle until it’s paid, she’s drawn into a plot that threatens everything she’s worked for.
Shunned and hated, Prince Laurent Villeneuve is running out of time to find a bride before he forfeits his right to the throne. But to stop his treacherous uncle from seizing power and aligning with the enemy, he must overcome his kingdom’s hatred, and somehow win the affections of the stubborn servant who becomes his last chance.
As tensions rise and threats loom, both must learn to work together, softening their hearts and setting aside their differences. When time runs out, what will they sacrifice to save their kingdom from ruin? And what if that sacrifice changes everything?
My ReviewIn A Noble Grace, E.G. Bella has written a beautiful retelling of one of my FAVORITE fairy tales ever: Beauty and the Beast. Of course, I love it!
My favorite part of this retelling was the two sisters! The relationship between Annette and her sister felt so real!!! I enjoyed seeing how the two supported each other throughout the entire story.
Annette was a fun protagonist. I loved her strength and how she always made sure her opinion was heard. As I mentioned earlier, I love how she helped her younger sister! I also enjoyed how she wasn’t willing to cower to anyone, no matter who they were.
Laurent was a sweetie. His predicament was quite interesting, and I found his method of dealing with problems quite relatable. It was so cute to see when he finally admitted he had feelings for Annette, even if he bumbled things up a few times.
Aside from the characters, Bella wrote such an intriguing plot. I loved the foreshadowing and action that kept the story fast-paced.
I also loved the themes in this book. My favorite was about how you should focus on sharing your light instead of trying to fit yourself into the mold of what others think you should be.
Overall, A Noble Grace was an inspiring story perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
purchaseThis 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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