Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 8

Review: The Printed Letter Bookshop

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
About the Book


My Thoughts
This book is Katherine Reay at her finest. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. The characters are living and breathing and leap off the page. While the three heroines are very different people, and are at different walks in life, their lives intertwine in many ways between beginning and end. The story is layered with many twists and turns. And The Printed Letter Bookshop, a character itself, is as warm and inviting as any bookshop you can imagine. I’d love to spend a day at the shop. Nearly every emotion is portrayed in this novel. At times, it is heartbreaking, and at others, it will make you smile, sometimes even laugh. It’s such a rich and satisfying novel.
While not overt, the faith theme in The Printed Letter Bookshop is more noticeable than in most of Reay’s other novels, something I appreciate seeing. I love seeing the messages of grace and self-worth portrayed for each character in the book.
I can definitely see myself returning to this novel someday. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves literature and is looking for a prolific read.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this wonderfully full novel.

Review: Whose Waves These Are

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
About the Book


My Thoughts
With prose as lilting as the sea, Whose Waves These Are is a sparkling novel brimming with life, poignancy, and hope. In the pages of Dykes’ debut novel are the heartaches of war, the strong bonds of family that reach across generations and distance, and the hope and comfort of the Savior that hold them all. I loved all the characters and was endeared by the love and care they held for one another. I adored the fictional town of Ansel-by-the-Sea, Maine and would love to spend a summer there. This book has not only earned a spot on my list of favorite books of 2019, but also on my all-time favorites shelf. I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The Governess of Penwythe Hall

The Governess of Penwythe by Sara Ladd
About the Book
 Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.
Cornwall, England, 1811
Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.

Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast. 
My Thoughts
The perfect choice for fans of inspirational Regency romance, The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a sweet, tender read. Themes of hope in the midst of grief and regret are threaded beautifully throughout the book, making for a luminous story. Mystery and intrigue abound as we learn of Delia’s turbulent past, keeping the reader guessing until the end. The descriptions of the mysterious and dangerous region of Cornwall come to life as we read of Jac’s apple orchard and the wild sea. I found the hero and heroine endearing and loved reading about them. The Governess of Penwythe Hall has most definitely earned a spot on my list of favorite 2019 reads. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Mercy Blog Tour

Hello readers and friends! Today I’m participating in the blog tour for author Eniola Prentice’s latest release, Mercy. Keep reading to learn more about this inspirational new adult novel, the author, and an exciting giveaway!


About the Book
Broken. Drowning. Desperate. Lost.When the lives and hearts of four friends start to crumble, can God’s mercy reach them still?
In her second year of medical school, Fadesola (Sola) Cardoso faces an impossible choice: stay with her longtime boyfriend, the one who knows her darkest secrets and loves her anyway, or move forward with Ladi, the man who gives her hope for an unstained future. Even as she wrestles with her options, life as a medical student becomes increasingly difficult—full of endless exams, stressful social activities, and reminders of a past that continues to haunt her.
Ladi struggles with Sola’s divided loyalties while trying to maintain his perfect image as class president, promising student, and model Christian. But scandals inside and outside the lecture hall threaten to break apart the fragile peace once and for all between Ladi, Sola, and their friends Nikky and Tayo, who are fighting battles of their own.
In this epic second installment in Eniola Prentice’s new-adult Still series, the faith of these four medical students will be tested like never before. Discover their gritty troubles and grand triumphs as they navigate friendships, revelations, romance, and career goals in light of the redemptive power of the cross.
Purchase on Amazon | Add to Goodreads



About the Author
My journey as a writer began with an idea—an idea that blossomed into a vision for the Still series. I became fully committed to Christ around 2008 when I began medical school. Shortly after, the idea for the Still series was birthed. My time in medical school was one of the more formative seasons of my life. I made lifelong friendships and, most of all, my journey with Christ really began. Although there were challenging times, I would without a doubt relive the experience in a heartbeat!
I published Still (book 1 in the series) right before residency, and now—five years later—the next book in the series has been published. In the time in between, I was the prodigal daughter and walked away from my Father. Everything on the surface looked good, but my heart was far away from Him. His love never left me, though, and He welcomed me home when I came back to Him. I went through painful processes, but they changed me and made me a better person. The girl who wrote Stillis not the woman who wrote Mercy. 
I am passionate about sowing godly seeds into the hearts of young women. I know how it is to be brokenhearted and believe the lies of the devil because his version of events is all you’re told. I know how it is to truly believe that you are not loved by God because of the events of life.
My hope is that, through my writing, you’ll come to know that God truly loves you and cares about you affectionately. He is close to your broken heart and binds up every wound.
I guess the author bio should be about milestones and, like the quintessential dramatic Nigerian aunty, I have missed the mark. I am a Nigerian-born, American-educated physician who lives in Maryland—but I believe I am more than well-constructed bullet points. I am a child of God through the ups and downs of life, and that will remain constant.
Eniola Prentice Website | Amazon | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway!
Celebrate the release of Mercy by entering this exciting giveaway! Fill out the form below for a chance to win a signed copy of Mercy by Eniola Prentice, a $50 Amazon.com gift card, and a beautiful journal. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Void where prohibited. Good luck! Click here to enter.

Congrats to Eniola on this new release! And good luck to all those entering the giveaway.

Review: The Golden Bride

The Golden Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse
About the Book
 Can Olivia survive the crime and Gold Rush fever of 1849...and the countless marriage proposals?A series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

The Daughters of the Mayflower series continues when Olivia Brighton finds herself widowed and working her brother’s restaurant in San Francisco during the height of the rush for gold. Even though she receives at least twenty marriage proposals a day, she will never marry a gold miner. Her brother’s friend Joseph Sawyer has gotten caught up in local politics and the plight of Chinese in forced labor. The more Joseph gets pulled into investigating crime in the city, the less Olivia sees of the compassionate man. And just when she thinks she could love again, a fire threatens to steal all hope. 
My Thoughts
Like other books in this series, I found The Golden Bride to be a sweet inspirational story. The characters were sweet, though they did fall a bit flat for my taste. What drew me to this book was the period in which it was set. I thought the author did a fine job of representing this period. Woodhouse writes about the turmoil that enraptured the city of San Francisco during the Gold Rush without the novel becoming too gritty.
A nice, light historical read, The Golden Bride is a good novel for readers who enjoy sweet historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

READ: A Unique Shopping Experience for Avid Readers

Hello readers and friends! I’m checking in with a quick post to let you all know about a new store from WhiteFire Publishing.
READ is an online shopping experience that is more than just a store. It’s a place where readers can come and browse inspirational reads, testing the books out before they buy. It’s like going to a library or a book store front in the comfort of your own home. You can see the back covers of books and read the first two chapters of a book before you purchase it. You’ll also be able to learn more about the authors, find access to signed copies of the paperbacks, daily e-deals, and more. The best part is that 10% of the proceeds go toward various charities.
WhiteFire has been gracious enough to give me a coupon code to share with you all! To receive 25% off your first purchase from READ, enter coupon code GRANDOPENING at check out.
Happy shopping and reading!
–Miranda Atchley

Review: Courting Mr. Emerson

Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson
About the Book
When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process.

A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.

But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?

With her signature heart and touches of humor, fan favorite Melody Carlson pens a story of two delightfully eccentric characters who get a second chance at life and love.

My Thoughts
Melody Carlson’s latest offering is a light, heartwarming read about two opposites that attract, but have a rocky road ahead of them. I really liked the plot and found it to be a fresh idea from veteran writer Carlson. The idea was well executed and made for a book that was rather hard for me to put down. The setting of a small town nestled in the Pacific Northwest is a traditional trope for Carlson and one that I always enjoy. The characters are real and relatable, further drawing the reader in.
Even though this is a light read, it isn’t all fluff. There are deep themes of loneliness and mental illness that are dealt with in an honest, respectful way. I appreciated the portrait of hope that was portrayed for George offered in a Christian message that doesn’t come off as preachy or 0ff-putting. Carlson’s writing style is a cozy reprieve from the chaotic world in which we live. I appreciate the gentle flow of her books.
Fans of sweet, inspirational romance will love Courting Mr. Emerson.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Castle on the Rise

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron
About the Book
A storied castle. A band of rebels. And a nation chasing the centuries-old dream of freedom . . . What legacy will they leave behind?

When Laine Forrester travels to France to attend her longtime friend's vineyard wedding, she expects to find a bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks--a devastating diagnosis, a castle restoration put on hold, and the emergence of deep-seated family dynamics that threaten to derail the new couple's fledgling marriage--it seems the storybook life Laine had imagined for her friend--and once, for herself--is suddenly crumbling before her eyes.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending for one of them, Laine throws support behind her friend and agrees to accompany the couple to the groom's family home in Ireland, where the merging of a mysterious inheritance, long-buried wounds, and a fractured family set out to upend the trip from the start. It's in the unlikely corners of a historic Dublin pub, and across the wide-open moors bordering Ireland's majestic Wicklow Mountains, that Laine is slowly drawn in by the land and the people, sparking hope for something she never imagined possible: the courage to heal. But with secrets of her own--and a heart afraid to trust again--Laine must determine how much she's willing to risk in mending the broken places within herself, and whether she believes that even through the depths of our pain, a beautiful story can emerge.

Set in three time-periods--the revolutionary era of the late eighteenth century, Ireland's turbulent Easter week of the 1916 Rising, and present day--Castle on the Rise weaves a story of legacy, conviction, and redemption against the backdrop of Dublin's storied streets, and the stretch of Ireland's stunning emerald shores. It raises the question: given the choice between the fairy tale or a life of truly anchored faith--which legacy would you choose?
My Thoughts
Spanning three generations, Castle on the Risetransports readers to the gorgeous emerald fields of Ireland, telling the stories of courageous characters in the midst of rebellion, heartbreak, and healing.
There’s a special place in my heart for Ireland, and while this wasn’t my favorite novel by Cambron, I still really liked the book. Some of the characters were hard to relate to and the book’s pace was a little slow in places. Despite this, there were characters that I did really like and it was interesting to learn more about Ireland’s history through this novel, as it covers bits of history not often featured in Christian fiction.
My favorite storyline would probably be Issy and Sean’s during the 1916 Easter Rising. I really like that time period and I found Issy to be a noble heroine. She was so brave and an admirable character. While at times Mayve and Eoin’s story was a little harder to follow, I liked the characters and admired their fearlessness. I couldn’t really connect with Laine much. I don’t really know why, but she was a hard character for me to like. I did like Cormac, though, and regard him as one of my favorite Cambron heroes.
All in all, I think Castle on the Rise is a nice addition to The Lost Castle series. If you love historical fiction, I would recommend giving this book a try.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book.

Review: The Sky Above Us

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin
About the BookNumbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion.

Violet Lindstrom wanted to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment for the men of the 357th in the Aeroclub on base and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.

Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near. And secrets can't stay buried forever.

Bestselling author Sarah Sundin returns readers to the shores of Normandy, this time in the air, as the second Paxton brother prepares to face the past--and the most fearsome battle of his life.

My Thoughts
When you pick up a book by Sarah Sundin, you know you’ll get a story with a quick pace, loaded with facts about WWII, and a sigh-worthy romance between a life-like hero and heroine.
The Sky Above Us is another winner from Sarah Sundin. I liked the heroine, Violet. She was a sweet person and a gentle soul, though I have to admit that at times, it felt like she was overshadowed by her counterpart. Adler had been through a lot, and so there was a lot to be worked out, yet he wasn’t the easiest character to like, which did take away from my enjoyment of this book a little. But I still really liked the book and found myself flying through the pages, just like I always do with Sundin’s novels. She has such a light, snappy style of writing; it really draws the reader in and makes it hard to put her books down. And in the midst of such a tragic time in our world’s history, Sundin’s writing portrays a message of hope that is timeless and uplifting.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this lovely WWII novel.

Review: Ladies of Intrigue

Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep
About the Book
3 Page-Turners Under One Cover from Reader Favorite Michelle Griep!
Can truth and love prevail when no one is as they appear?
 
The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady
Cornish Coast, 1815
When a prim and proper governess returns to England from abroad, she expects to comfort her dying father—not fall in love with a smuggler. Will Helen Fletcher keep Isaac Seaton’s unusual secret?
 
The Doctor’s Woman (A Carol Award Winner!)
Dakota Territory, 1862
Emmy Nelson, daughter of a missionary doctor, and Dr. James Clark, city doctor aspiring to teach, find themselves working side by side at Fort Snelling during the Dakota Uprising. That is when the real clash of ideals begins.
 
A House of Secrets
St. Paul, Minnesota, 1890
Ladies Aide Chairman, Amanda Carston resolves to clean up St. Paul’s ramshackle housing, starting with the worst of the worst: a “haunted” house that’s secretly owned by her beau—a home that’s his only means of helping brothel girls escape from the hands of the city’s most infamous madam.
My Thoughts
Three very different stories spanning the 19th century offering quirky characters, romance…and mystery.
Set in Regency England, The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady offers mystery and intrigue coupled with adventure and wrapped in romance. It wasn’t my favorite story in the collection, but I did like it this novella as it offered another side of the Regency era that isn’t often featured in Christian fiction.
Book two, The Doctor’s Woman, was not my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of Civil War fiction, and so I mostly skimmed this story. The characters mostly seemed likeable, but the story just wasn’t my cup of tea.
My favorite story in this collection was A House of Secrets. I loved the characters and the mystery in this story kept me guessing. There was a slightly eerie feeling to the novella that I really liked. I also loved that it was set in late October, further lending to that spooky atmosphere and creating the perfect reading experience.
Another fun and unique set of stories from an author I am quickly coming to love. If you love historical romance with a dash of intrigue and an inspirational message, you’ll want to give this book a try.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to Barbour Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this delightful collection of romance and intrigue in the 19th century.