Blood of the Seer {blog tour + book review}

Binge reads - how do we feel about them?  Personally, it depends on the series.  For this one, though, I can't recommend it highly enough.

That's right, my friends, it's time for another blog tour, and this is one I've been very much looking forward to!  I've had my eye on the first book for awhile, even purchasing it last time I had Kindle credit, and with the release of the second book (which is available everywhere now, yay!!), it was finally time to actually read it.  And boy, am I glad I did.  

This might turn into a review of both books... sorry not sorry. xD 

Blood of the Seer (and also, kind of, Oath of the Outcast) 

Author: C.M. Banschbach 

Genre: Fantasy adventure

Content: Lots of violence, some "he cursed" and a few other mild profanities, and one creepy-as-heck cult of evil dudes.

Main Characters: Rhys MacDuffy, Sean MacDuffy

Synopsis (Spoilers for book 1!) : 

A blood curse.
A shadow world.
An indomitable evil.
A forgotten bond.
Banished for a crime he didn’t commit, Rhys MacDuffy risked his life to rescue the little brother he no longer could claim as his own. Sean, the Seer of Clan MacDuffy, returns from his ordeal to war between the Clans and Lord Adam Barkley. Moreover, the Clan Lords refuse to lift the exile on Rhys. No outcast has ever been forgiven.
But the druids who held Sean captive have taken the key to controlling his powers—his blood. Rhys determines to keep his brother safe no matter the cost. Heedless of the war, he leads his rowdy band of Mountain Brigands on a hunt to destroy the druids before they destroy Sean with their dark magic.
The druids force Sean into a shadow world full of demons and danger, where their menacing god Deronis can consume him. Yet Rhys is able to follow Sean into the other world. There they discover an older magic that might be the key to stopping the druids.
The bond of brotherhood between Rhys and Sean runs deep. But is it strong enough to stand against the druid’s blood god?

Add Oath of the Outcast on Goodreads ~ Purchase Oath of the Outcast on Amazon

Add Blood of the Seer on Goodreads ~ Purchase Blood of the Seer on Amazon

What I Thought: 

How do I fangirl enough to get you to read these books but make it a somewhat coherent review? 

Like I said, I've had my eye on these for awhile now, but I really didn't know what I was walking into.  I have this habit of just... not reading the synopsis for books, especially ones I'm excited for.  Like, I'll glance at them to determine whether or not it intrigues me, but by the time I actually read them, I've probably forgotten at least 90% of what the blurb says.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because it does make for a wild ride once I'm in.  In the case of these books, I had one expectation: I thought there would be dragons.  Alas, there are no dragons to be found within its pages.  But what I did find was a story so powerful it almost made up for it.  (Do I still think it could have been improved by dragons?  ... probably, but what story can't be, honestly?) 

This is a story of redemption.  A story of brotherhood.  A story of forgiving yourself.  And also a story about stopping a war before it starts, and epic fight scenes, and a lot of other really great stuff that I'm not going to spoil. 

I was invested in Rhys's story from the beginning of book 1, and seeing his arc come to a conclusion here was so perfect that it made me cry.  Which was unexpected, but not unwelcome.  It's part of why I can't recommend a binge-read of these enough.  Since book 2 picks up right where book 1 leaves off (thank goodness), it was nice to read it as a continuous story, and made the ending even sweeter.  The faith content?  Is so good?

The relationships between the leads was everything and I don't know how to stress that enough.  I'm very much a character-driven writer - make me fall in love with your characters and you've probably sold me on the whole book.  And these ones were great.  Relationships I loved: Rhys and his Cairns (the band of outlaws who are loyal to him and each other and no one else), Rhys and Alan (his ex-best friend), Rhys and Sean (I love them so much ;-; ), basically between Rhys and anyone he let into his circle.  I love a big angry man who has a secret soft spot for certain people.  What can I say? 

This is just a good old fashioned adventure story that was everything I didn't know I wanted.  If you're a fan of Tricia Mingerink's Blades of Acktar series, you're going to love these.  They gave me a very similar vibe. 

Honestly at this point I'm sad it's over.  I never want to leave.  Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to re-read them in the not-too-distant future.

Overall Rating: 5 swords out of 5

About the Author: 

C.M. Banschbach is a native Texan and would make an excellent Hobbit if she weren’t so tall. She’s a pizza addict, a multi-faceted fangirl, and a firm believer in being authentic—even if it means acting like a dork sometimes! When not writing fantasy stories packed full of adventure and snark, she works as a pediatric physical therapist where she happily embraces the fact that she never actually has to grow up.
She also writesYA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach.

Connect with Claire: Her website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

Thanks again to Uncommon Universes Press and the author for letting me participate in this awesome blog tour!  Mine isn't the only post you should check out - you can find the whole list at this link right here! 

Have you read these books?  Are you planning to now?  Let me know in a comment! 

~ Abigail

The Isles {blog tour + book review}

Hello again, my friends!  It's blog tour time again! *cue the happy dance*

Today I bring you a review of a sci-fi book that had me hooked from the first page.  With the recent release of the third book in the trilogy, Sara Francis put together a blog tour celebrating all things "Terra Testimonies", and I'm so excited to be a part of it today!  Check out this link right here to see the other awesome posts!

And with that, let's jump on in!

The Isles

Author: Sara Francis 
Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopian
Content: Some intense action
Main Characters: Alison, Sami, and Aaron

Synopsis: 
The Invader's left the world in ruin. Their first worldwide devastation, named the Accident, was unforeseen by everyone. Well, almost. Seven men knew of the approaching destruction and acted by preparing six islands as a place of refuge. Rescuing thousands of people, these Keepers decided to get the next generation ready for war; in their own way. Through training, experimentation, and study, the men created an army of young Bionics, Mutants, geeks, doctors, farmers, and militia to fight the battle.
However, things do not go as planned.
Alison is a Bionic who still has faint memories of her past life. These memories continue to haunt her and make her doubt the Keepers who saved her from an explosion eight years ago. She knows in her gut that something else is afoot, but cannot find out what. On the other hand, Sami and Aaron, a Mutant and a geek, have absolutely no memory of the world before and continue to do as they are told. Despite their obedience, their suspicions are aroused repeatedly and cannot shake the feeling of uncertainty.
The flame of these teens’ doubts is fanned by one interesting character that subtly creates chaos on the Isles.​
Read the record logs of Alison, Sami, and Aaron and join them on their journey to find the truth in their islands of lies. Follow them on their adventure as they put themselves in the lines of danger and learn to use their abilities in combat. The roller coaster of suspicions will have you on the edge of your seat until these teenagers find the answer and do something about it.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought: 

Well that was quite the ride!  I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this, and now, having read it, I don't think I ever actually looked at the synopsis?  Which in some ways made this more fun.

I'm definitely a character-driven reader - I have to love the characters if I'm going to love the book, and I'm happy to report that these did not disappoint.  The story is told in the journal entries of our leads, Alison, Sami, and Aaron, each of which I loved from the beginning.  They're surrounded by a slew of interesting side characters, some good, some bad, most a mystery.  

The world of the Isles was a fascinating one to look into, and one I very much want to explore more of.  The darkness isn't shied away from, but there's light too.  Hope, and its power, is woven throughout the story, which I always appreciate. 

The only thing I struggled with was the sheer number of characters.  I'm all for a big cast, but where the Heroes of Olympus have their Seven, the Isles have their Seventeen.  And my brain sometimes struggled with keeping that many heroes straight. (not to mention the various other characters, villain or otherwise, who all have unique names but I cannot for the life of me remember who is who xD)  But I will say that the cast was super diverse, and each character did have enough to distinguish them that I eventually got the hang of it. 

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book!  It was unique, the plot was well-paced, the story was intriguing.  I cried at the end, which is always great.  (No, I don't know if I'll ever forgive Sara for certain character deaths, but that's a story for another day xD)


Overall Rating: 4 bucket helmets out of 5  ((Donnie is my favorite, lol))


About the Author: 
Ever since she could remember, Sara Francis was always a storyteller. At first, she told them through music as a songwriter. In her early teenage years, Sara Francis felt called to tell stories through work as a writer and media communicator for an online magazine.
From there, everything fell into place.
Now, Sara Francis has a Bachelor of Science in Media Communications, is the author of several books, and is a speaker/presenter. Throughout it all, there is always a story she is trying to convey. Whether she tells them through her writings, art, or music, her stories always have a deep, truth-filled meaning behind them.
Every word she writes, everything she designs, every song she performs means something more and connects with the world we live in today. Through her work, she hopes to inspire people and encourage them to seek what is true.
Sara Francis is determined to light a torch in the darkness with the desire that people will do the same and make the world bright again. 

Connect with Sara: Her website ~ Her blog ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ YouTube

Thanks again to Sara for the opportunity to review your awesome book! 

There's also a super fun GIVEAWAY going on for the duration of this blog tour, so make sure you check it out right here! 

What's your favorite sci-fi book? Let me know in a comment below!

~ Abby

The Lady of Lanaria {blog tour + book review}

Happy November, my friends! It's blog tour time! 

We all know I love a good fairytale retelling, so when this lovely Rapunzel one came across my feed, I knew I needed to read it.  You can check out all the other amazing posts from this blog tour at this link right here! (Shout-out to Neverland Book Tours for hosting!)

Let's get into this review.


The Lady of Lanaria 

Author: Michaela Bush
Genre: Fantasy retelling
Content: Scenes of physical and emotional abuse, a bit of witchcraft and witchhunts are mentioned, but not glorified.
Main Characters: Evangeline and Gabriel

Synopsis: 
A kidnapped princess, a promise, and a kingdom cursed with mysterious plagues.
"Mark my words, Evangeline; if you set foot outside this tower, you will surely die."
Evangeline has spent her entire life hidden in an ancient watchtower, gazing through a window as the world passes her by. She heeds her mother's warning closely, the truth hidden from her always. When a young guard stumbles upon the tower, Evangeline's life is changed forever. As she strikes up a secret friendship with the guard, she learns about the Kingdom of Lanaria and the mysterious plagues that haunt all who live there. But as she delves into the world she barely knows, not everything her mother says adds up. Will they find the truth before it's too late? 

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought:

This was such a pleasant surprise!  I've never read anything from Michaela before, though I've had my eye on her books for awhile now.  And since I'm always down for a new Rapunzel retelling, this seemed like the perfect place to start. 

Evangeline's story was wonderful, heart-wrenching and soul-filling.  With a unique storyline that kept me hooked, and a ridiculously soft romance that I fell in love with, it paid perfect homage to the original fairytale, but wove in a story of God's love and deliverance beautifully.  

The evil "mother" was awful, which, in a way, makes her a great villain.  I haven't seen many Rapunzel retellings truly deal with the abuse that she suffers at the hands of the witch, but this one explored it, and Evangeline's realization of it, in a great way.  

Also I gotta talk about Gabriel because OH man I love him. xD I'm always a sucker for the protective but respectful boy, and he's no exception.  The way he cares for Eva is so darn sweet and lovely and I just adore them together. <3 I'd happily read a sequel, even though I don't think there will be one.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed myself while reading, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone who loves Disney's Tangled, soft romances, and girls who learn to stand up for themselves.

Overall Rating: 5 baby birds out of 5

About the Author:
Michaela Bush is an independent writer of Christian fiction. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019 with a degree in English and a minor in Psychology. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and when she isn't writing, freelancing, or building her own editing business, she's out with her horses or playing violin. Writing has been her calling since the age of six and she hopes to touch lives and inspire readers with her clean, thoughtful, and impactful novels. Follow her blog at www.tangledupinwriting.com.

Connect with Michaela: Her blog ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Newsletter

Make sure you check out the other awesome stops on this blog tour (find all the links here!) and check out Neverland Book Tours either as an author or a blogger! 

What's a fairytale you always love to see retold?

~ Abby

The Midnight Show Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

Hello again, my friends! Welcome back to the Tattered Slippers Blog Tour! Today I've got a review for you, and I'm pretty jazzed about it.  (sorry... I couldn't resist)

As always, make sure you check out all the other amazing posts from the tour so far, and the new ones from today by clicking this link right here!  There's also information there to do with the giveaway where you can win 3 of the releases in paperback!  How cool is that?? 

Okay, let's jump on in to the review! 


The Midnight Show



Author: Sarah Pennington
Genre: Urban fantasy mystery
Content: Alcohol consumption
Main Characters: Dayo Temitrope and Bastian Dennell

Synopsis:
This mystery is the case of his dreams - and her nightmares.
By day, Dayo Temitrope is a swinging singer, an up-and-coming star with a shining career ahead of her. By night, she’s . . . well, she’s not sure, but whatever she does leaves her every morning with sore feet and worn-out shoes. And after six months, she’s had enough.
Enter Bastian Dennell, a private investigator just trying to get by. When Dayo hires him to find out where she goes at night, he’s sure it’s his big break: his chance to establish himself and get the funds to pay off his family’s debt. Plus, he gets to work with his favorite singer, even if she isn’t exactly what he expected. What could be better?
But first he has to solve the case — which means navigating a tangled web of strange dreams, fair folk schemes, and show business. It will take all Bastian’s wits, along with the shining talents of Dayo herself, to figure out the truth before the curtains close for good on Dayo’s career.
A jazz-age-inspired twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses from the author of "Blood in the Snow".

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought: 

This was so much fun!  It felt very much like an old black-and-white detective movie, complete with trench coats, jazz music, and shadowy figures.  But at the same time, it was full-on fantasy novel, which made it even more intriguing. 

The world was so rich, and I just wish I'd gotten more of a chance to explore it.  Obviously, Dayo and Bastian's plot was the focus, so there wasn't much that we get to see outside of their sphere, but I would definitely be interested in seeing more stories set in this city at least, if not outside of it.  There seems to be so much depth there that I just wanted to dig into, you know?

The characters were great, honestly.  I loved Bastian from the first moment he stepped onto the page (what can I say, I'm a sucker for a man in a fedora), and Dayo fascinated me.  There basically isn't any romantic subplot between them, which I thought was neat. There's a bit of attraction, and I would absolutely read a sequel to see if it goes anywhere, because I'd be here for this relationship, lol! 

The actual mystery was SO intriguing, and kept me glued to the page the whole time.  Maybe my favorite thing about this whole Tattered Slippers blog tour has been seeing how each author weaves different elements of the fairytale into their stories, and the choices made for this book were so unique and perfect!   

Basically, this was just delightful, and I'm so glad I picked it up.

Overall Rating: 4.5 swinging jazz tunes out of 5

About the Author: 
Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. Sarah’s first published work, Blood in the Snow, received a perfect score and Special Unicorn status in Rooglewood Press’s Five Poisoned Apples contest. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list.

Connect with Sarah: Her website ~ Her blog ~ Her second blog ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Make sure you check out all the other posts from the blog tour - there have been some really fun ones! Oh, and make sure you enter the giveaway! Click this link for more info!  

And there you have it! What fairytale would you set in the jazz age? 

~ Abby

The Dark King's Curse Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

Welcome to my second stop for the Tattered Slippers blog tour!  Today takes us deep into the Dreammidst, following a lady-in-waiting determined to stop a curse.

Since this is a blog tour, make sure you check out all the other amazing posts so far from my fellow hosts by clicking this link right here!  There's also information there to do with the giveaway where you can win 3 of the releases in paperback!  How cool is that?? 

And with that, let's get into the review.


The Dark King's Curse



Author: Wyn Estelle Owens
Genre: Fantasy fairytale retelling
Content: None
Main Character: Ailsa

Synopsis:
A darkness seems to hang over the lands of Conall, slowly but surely growing in strength with each passing year.
It all comes to a head when the twelve daughters of King Muir begin to disappear each night. None will admit where they go, and the only clue is their shoes; new in the evening, tattered and torn by morning.
When no one can stop the disappearances, Ailsa--lady-in-waiting to the youngest princess--volunteers to try and solve the mystery, or she and her peers will pay the consequences for failing to watch over their charges.
Armed with nothing but her gift of Fae-sight, Ailsa ventures forth on a quest to free her lady and the other princesses. With the help of an grumpy, glamoured gardener, a cursed faerie cat, and the mysterious Lord of Autumn, she may discover both the secrets and the truth behind the Dark King that lies at the root of the curse.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon 

What I Thought:

*happy sigh* So I binged this book in less than 24 hours, partially because I needed to get this review up today, and partially because I was so engrossed in the story.  It's been a long time since I've read a fae-centered book, but this one was something special.

First thing, I need to talk about the characters because I am obsessed with them!  Ailsa and Fionn's friendship is everything to meee (oh and Siobhra, obviously), Ailsa's friendship with the princess is so cute, the ships are so soft and wholesome, and just like... all the relationships are perfect.  I am soft.  I just appreciate so much how most of the time, 12DP retellings follow a solo hero, who's doing it on his (or her) own, but in this book it's a whole questing squad, and I'm here for it.

There are a looot of dream sequences in this book, which normally I'm not a fan of, but I didn't mind too much here.  There were still bits that confused me, but overall were still intriguing enough to keep me going.  I loved the whole concept of the seasonal courts, and the King of Autumn was one of my favorite characters, tbh.  The magic system was epic, the mystery was intriguing, the banter was everything.  I was unsure how I would feel about this book, but I'm happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Recommended for fans of fae magic, talking cats, friendly banter, and gentle romance.

Overall Rating: 4 silver tree branches out of 5

About the Author:
Wyn Estelle Owens is the penname of a young woman who’s still figuring out what this whole ‘adult’ thing is all about. She lives in a big, old house in Maryland by a Hundred Acre Wood (dubbed Neldoreth) with her parents, three occasionally obnoxious brothers, her dog Jackie, and her personal plot bunny, Joker.
She is fond of reading, writing, drawing, speaking in dead or imaginary languages, playing videogames, quoting classic or obscure literature, being randomly dramatic, and generally making things out of yarn. Her dream is to write stories that inspire people to chase after the wonderful world of storytelling.
Her favorite all-time authors are Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Christa Kinde, and above all, J.R.R. Tolkien, who first inspired her to pursuing novel writing when she read the Hobbit at the age of seven.

Connect with Wyn Estelle Owens: Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Amazon 

Don't forget to check out all the other amazing Tattered Slippers blog posts at this link right here, and stay tuned for more reviews from me this week!

~ Abby

Poison's Dance Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

 Hello my name is Abby and I've been emotionally compromised by Tricia Mingerink yet again.

In other words, welcome to the Tattered Slippers blog tour!  Get ready for not one, not two, but SIX amazing Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings that are releasing this week!  The tour is already in full swing, so make sure you check out the full schedule to join in on all the fun! 

There are a ton of amazing bloggers involved in this tour, and I'm so excited and honored to be one of them!  So for four of those six days, you can stick right here for reviews of these new releases! (Who's hyped? I'm hyped!)

We begin with one of my most anticipated reads of the year, the third book in Tricia Mingerink's Beyond the Tales series, which continues to solidify itself as one of my all-time faves.

** I'm gonna stick a spoiler warning right here because there are spoilers for at least the first book in the series (Dagger's Sleep) from this point forward. 
So... you've been warned. **

Poison's Dance



Author: Tricia Mingerink 
Genre: Fantasy fairytale retelling
Content: Some violence
Main Characters: King Alexander, Princess Tamya, Daemyn Rand

Synopsis:
If he falls to the lure of the curse, the dance might trap him forever.
Alex has survived his first year as high king. The new counsel has improved cooperation between the kingdoms, and peace seems achievable. When the Tuckawassee queen sends him an invitation he can’t refuse, Alex must once again face his greatest threat for the sake of peace.
Princess Tamya of Tuckawassee, along with her eleven sisters, has danced from sunset until sunrise every night of her life. It is her gift and her curse. When Queen Valinda wishes to use the power their cursed dance gives them to rule all of Tallahatchia, Tamya must decide if she will do what is right even if it betrays her own sister.
Daemyn Rand has survived a hundred years' worth of battles. All he wants to do now is safely marry his princess. Will he be forced to choose between the love of his life and the high king he has loyally served for years?
They have faced certain death before. This time, they might not make it out alive.
Don’t miss this re-envisioning of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale.   

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review of book 1 ~ My review of book 2

What I Thought:

This book broke me.  In the best way.  I finished it at 3:30 AM because there was no way I was putting it down.  I was a sobbing, snotty mess.  It was basically everything and I don't know how I'm supposed to just go on with my life now? 

Being back in Tallahatchia was so good for my soul.  Like, I started reading and seeing familiar names and it just gave me so much joy.  I didn't realize how much I missed it.  The world itself is so cool, and seeing it unfold throughout the series has been everything.  Each book we get to explore a different kingdom, and if this means that we'll eventually potentially get 7 books for the 7 kingdoms... you would not hear me complaining, that's all I'm saying.

Speaking of things unfolding throughout the series, can we talk about Alex for a minute?  Because I'm so proud of him??  Watching his journey from the first book to now - he was a big part of why I cried from about the 75% mark onward because I'm just so proud of who he's becoming with the Highest King's help.  I'm not okay.  *melts into a puddle of feels*  He's never been my favorite character of the series but that might change now, honestly, idk.  Also his relationship with Daemyn is everything to me and I'm quickly becoming a sucker for the king/lord/important person + his guard/servant friendship dynamic, it's one of my faves. Also Daemyn and Rosanna continue to be wonderful together. 

The character of Tamya was amazing.  We've had three very different female leads in the series so far, and I'm here for it.  Her relationship with her sisters was so well done - the princesses is always something I judge 12DP retellings on, and they were great here.  There were a couple who faded to the background, but for the most part, each one was unique and distinct enough that I didn't have trouble remembering who was who.  

The fairytale elements were woven in so perfectly, as they always are in these books.  The worn dancing shoes, the underground world, the silver and gold trees, the sinister eldest sister, it's all here and it's all just as iconic as it should be. 

All in all, I'm never going to stop talking about this series.  I know this book just came out today but I wish I had book 4.  The ending made me squeal with happiness on several occasions, and I'm just really happy, okay? 

Overall rating: 5 goblets of maybe-poisoned wine out of 5 

About the Author: 
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

Connect with Tricia: Her blog ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

As I mentioned at the top of this post, the Tattered Slippers blog tour will be going on all week!  So keep your eyes peeled for more reviews coming your way from me, and click this link right here to see all the amazing posts! 

Have you read the Beyond the Tales books?  Are you excited for this one?  Let me know in a comment below! 

~ Abby

Ivy Introspective {blog tour + book review}

Hello my friends!  Today's the day!  It's officially time for my post for the Ivy Introspective blog tour!! *cue the fanfare*

I've loved this series so much since what feels like forever, but somehow I never managed to read this book?? Idk what happened?? But now it's finally made its way into my life and I couldn't be more thrilled.  It's also available right now so you can go and read it yourself!  Yay!! But before you do that, here's my review:

Ivy Introspective



Author: Kellyn Roth
Genre: Historical fiction
Content: None
Main characters: Ivy Knight and Nora Chattoway

Synopsis:
Ivy Knight lives her life in a blur of confusion as the world passes her by in a tumultuous melody. She isn’t the perfect daughter or student, but as long as she can be with her family, she doesn’t mind watching rather than living.
Mrs. Chattoway treasures both of her granddaughters now that they’re reunited. When Ivy’s parents enroll her in a Scottish school for unique children, she’s happy to chaperone.
In a new place with a new guardian, Ivy discovers a special talent that helps her see the blurred world in a new way. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and Ivy becomes determined to find it—and help others do the same.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought:

I'm not crying, you're crying.  (that's a lie, I'm totally crying)

This was so WHOLESOME.  my HEART.  I'm EMOTIONAL.

Okay hold on let's get a hold of ourselves here.

So this was pretty much perfect.  A couple of years ago, I read At Her Fingertips and Beyond Her Calling and fell in love with both of them.  (And yes, I read The Dressmaker's Secret too)  But somehow this one got missed in the shuffle, and in a lot of ways, that just made reading it now so much sweeter.

Ivy is one of my favorite female protagonists, okay?  She's just such a pure little bean, I want to protect her from everything.  She's also an introvert through and through, and I related to her so much.  As much as I love Alice, she can be a lot, but Ivy is just out here doing her best and I'm proud of her for it.  (Also, I thought I'd gotten over being in love with Jordy MacAllen, but noooope.  what a precious baby boy. my face lit up when he walked onto the scene and I have no shame.) ((although let's clarify, I'm in love with grown-up Jordy, not 16-year-old Jordy.  that would be weird.))

I also loved Nora's storyline so much?  It made me so emotional?  The way she was so desperate to be loved by her family, how much she and Ivy were alike and didn't know it, the way God used those around her to heal her, it was all beautiful and such a pleasant surprise. 

Oh, and Violet!  I didn't care much for Violet in Beyond Her Calling, but now I can't wait to re-read that one, just to see if my opinions of her have changed.  I understand her so much better now.  I'm so sad. 

The faith content was beautiful.  It wove perfectly through the story, the message of God's grace and love becoming apparent as the characters discovered it. 

I just kind of loved everything about this?  The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy is seriously one of my favorite historical fiction series ever, and I've missed it, tbh.  It's nice to be back with these characters. <3

Overall Rating: 5 piano playing prodigies out of 5

About the Author:
Kellyn Roth lives on an Eastern Oregon ranch with her parents, little brothers, border collies, cats, and a few dozen cows and chickens.  Always a lover of a good story, and especially of telling one, she's been writing since she was seven and published her first novel at fourteen.  Now a homeschool grad, she divides her time between penning her next Christian historical fiction novel, creating professionally silly articles for her blog, and her actual life.  Actual life plays second fiddle sometimes, though.

Connect with Kellyn: Her website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Amazon ~ her personal blog


A huge thank you to Kellyn for sending me a copy of this book for review!  Have you read any of Kellyn's books?  Let me know in the comments below!

~ Abby

Midnight's Curse {blog tour + book review}

So we all know that retellings are my favorite thing.  And another one of my favorite things are books by Tricia Mingerink.  So when those things come together, it's perfection. 

So when Tricia opened up the blog tour for the second Beyond the Tales book, I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy.  And it's available now so you can all read it!!!

And trust me, you want to read it.


Midnight's Curse



Author: Tricia Mingerink
Genre: Fantasy/fairytale retelling
Content: A little bit of violence and some blood.
Main Characters: King Alexander, Elara Ashen, Daemyn Rand
Placement in Series: Book 2

Synopsis:
High King Alexander rules the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia—a divided nation on the brink of yet another war. When an invitation arrives from the king of Pohatomie, Alex knows it must be a trap, but could it also be the chance to unite the kingdoms he has been waiting for?
Daemyn Rand has lived a hundred years, served an arrogant prince, fallen in love with a princess, and lost himself somewhere along the way. He has already died for his loyalty. Will standing at the high king’s side cost him his one chance to truly live?
Elara Ashen is a lowly, miserable servant. All she wants is to spend even one night in a fancy dress dancing with the high king. When she is offered a pair of glass slippers, it seems that all her dreams have come true.
But dreams have a price, and gifts can be curses in disguise. What will it cost to stop this curse from tearing Tallahatchia apart yet again?
Fairy tales meet the Appalachian Mountains in this adventurous fantasy retelling of the classic Cinderella story.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review of book 1

What I Thought:

More than half of this book (as described by various gifs):

Alex @ Elara:


Elara @ Alex:


Zeke @ Alex:


Daemyn @ Zeke:


And I loved it.
This was so! good!  Back when I read Dagger's Sleep, I highly anticipated the next installment, because GOSH Tricia is good at retellings.  As a huge fan of the Grimm story, I loved every little nod to the original, and there were a lot of those!  Fun little Easter eggs were sprinkled all through the story, but it was still a completely original take.
My one complaint of the first book was that the world was hard to get into but not so in this second book!  Maybe that's because I was already a little bit familiar with Tallahatchia, but this world is so cool! And the development it got in this book? It was amazing.  We're centered in a different country this time, and where the first book was more of a questing adventure, this one was more court politics, and I love that this world carries both types of story equally well. 
Now,  I have to talk about the characters because oh my word I love them?  Daemyn and Rosanna's relationship is my fave, like... they almost rival Leith and Renna with how much I love them.  They're just the best.  And they communicate!  Bless!
I'm going to be honest here, I didn't care for Elara at all in the beginning.  But!  She grew! And developed! And I'm so proud of her now! She came a long way and had to endure all the consequences of her decisions, which is a beautiful thing to see play out in a story (even when I did feel bad for her xD).  Also, Alex annoyed me for a good portion of this book, but he was cursed, so I'll forgive him.
Again, I can't wait to see where we go next.  (Is Alex going to have a romance with one of the twelve dancing princesses? because I will be very happy if that happens)  Also I need Daemyn and Rosanna to get married and be the awesome kick-butt adventure couple they're destined to be.  Please.

Overall Rating: 4.5 glass slippers out of 5

About the Author:
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

Connect with Tricia: Her blog ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

There's also a super exciting GIVEAWAY going on, where Tricia is giving away signed copies of both Dagger's Sleep and Midnight's Curse plus a Novelly Yours candle! You can enter by clicking this link right here!

A HUGE thank you to Tricia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

~ Abby

The Kees & Colliers Blog Tour {+ book review}

Y'all should know by now that I love Kellyn Roth's books.  (And Kellyn as a person, but we're talking about the books today xD)  And today it's my turn to participate in the Kees & Colliers Blog Tour!

With the release of the prequel, Souls Astray, in May (you can read my review right here), and with the release of the third book in the trilogy right around the corner (this month!!!!), Troy, Adele, and Judy are having a moment and I, for one, am very excited for it.

And today, I have for you a review of the upcoming From Now 'Til Forever! (and yes, it was basically the cutest thing ever)


From Now 'Til Forever



(Kell's gorgeous covers strike again *heart eyes*)

Author: Kellyn Roth
Genre: Historical fiction
Content: None
Main Character: Troy Kee
Placement in Series: Book 3

Synopsis:
Troy Kee doesn’t know how he’ll settle back into life with his family after WWII, but he’s determined to do so. He feels that if he can just get his family back to their vineyard in France, everything will be all right. But his wife has other plans.
This charming novelette finale to the Kees & Colliers series highlights the difficulties of returning home after a war.

Add on Goodreads ~ Official website

What I Thought:

^ me, finally giving all these characters the hugs I've wanted to give them since book 1.
This was good and soft and everything I wanted.  Plus it was from the perspective of my boy Troy, which I loved.
We finally get to see all our faves being a happy family who loves and supports each other and I'm here for it!!  Judy is still the best, Cammy is adorable, Adele continues to grow and be amazing, and Troy, as always, is my fave.  Dads being soft with their daughters is my favorite thing ever.

Overall, the story was maybe shorter than I would have wanted (I want to spend ALL the time with this sweet little family), but it was a perfect ending to this series (and yes, I am going to go back and read the updated versions of books 1 and 2 and yes, I am looking forward to it).  I'm very happy.

Overall Rating: 5 pretty brooks out of 5

About the Author: Kellyn Roth lives on an Eastern Oregon ranch with her parents, little brothers, border collies, cats, and a few dozen cows and chickens.  Always a lover of a good story, and especially of telling one, she's been writing since she was seven and published her first novel at fourteen.  Now a homeschool grad, she divides her time between penning her next Christian historical fiction novel, creating professionally silly articles for her blog, and her actual life.  Actual life plays second fiddle sometimes, though.

Connect with Kellyn: Her website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Youtube ~ Amazon ~ her personal blog ~ her review blog

Check out the rest of the Kees & Colliers series!

Book 1 - The Lady of the Vineyard


Book 2 - Flowers in Her Heart


Prequel 1 - Souls Astray


Prequel 2 - Goldfish Secrets


There's also a GIVEAWAY with some amazing Kees & Colliers prizes going on right now and you can enter by clicking this link right here!

A huge thank you to Kellyn for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review!

~ Abby

Keen {blog tour + book review}

It's time again, my friends!  I return with another blog tour and as I'm typing this having come fresh from finishing this particular book, I can tell you, I'm excited.

Now, some of you may know, I'm very Irish in heritage.  (I'm very American in terms of where I was born and raised, but there's a lot of Irish blood in this girl.)  I take Irish dance, potatoes are my favorite food, I have red bits in my hair, and I'm sooooo fascinated by Irish folklore.  And one of my favorite Irish legends is that of the banshee.  Don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you.  But anything and everything banshee has always intrigued me, so when I heard there was going to be a contemporary book about a teenage banshee?



Color me instantly intrigued.  And then Laura, the fabulous author of the aforementioned book about a teenage banshee, ask for participants in this blog tour.  To which I heartily said "ME PLEASE!"

Anyway, let's stop with the blabbering and get into the review.

Keen



Author: Laura L. Zimmerman
Genre: Contemporary fantasy
Content: Uh... there's a lot of death? But I feel like that should be assumed, lol.
Main Character: Caoine (pronounced Cane)

Synopsis:
You must walk the darkness to find the light.
Half-faerie Caoine has no control over the banshee lament she sings each night, predicting the death of others. A senior in a brand new high school, she expects the same response she's received at every other school: judgment from fellow students over her unusual eyes and unnaturally white skin and hair. However, when Caoine arrives at West Lincoln High, for the first time in her life she finds friends. Real friends.
But being a teenager is never easy, especially when the star soccer player, Oliver, sets his sights on her. Allowing him to get close means revealing her curse to the human world. She can't let that happen.
Life spins further out of control when her lament comes out during the day, those whose death she predicts die right in front of her, and a dark faerie known only as the Unseelie prince blames Caoine by leaving her the creepiest notes ever. Her curse is not supposed to work like that.
In a race against time, Caoine must uncover the Unseelie prince's identity and stop a spell before it unleashes hell on earth, all while trying to control her banshee song and finding a place among her peers.
Senior year just got real.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought:

AH. MY EMOTIONS.
This was so good! And so cool!
It's a fantasy, it's a friendship/coming-of-age type of story, and in a lot of ways, it's a murder mystery too.  Which all comes together to make a story that I loved a lot.
Caoine is a fascinating protagonist.  The way Laura wrote her "curse" was so cool and yet creepy and it was perfection. She truly struggles inwardly through the whole book, but not enough to where it becomes annoying.  I was rooting for her the entire time.
And the supporting cast?  Incredible.  Aubree and Seamus and Catherine and Oliver (who is the BEST) were all amazing friends to Caione and so there for her and encouraging and GAH. Positive friendships are what I LIVE FOR in books!  Also Oliver is so swoon-worthy and perfect and I adore him with my whole heart. (He and Caoine together are just the cutest *melts*)
I'm not going to spoil anything, but I saw the villain reveal coming, which is something I personally love being able to do.  But there's a twist at the end I did not see coming which made me tear up a little, I'm not gonna lie.  This book had two misty-eyed, "oh dang" moments for me, which are always great.  And painful.  But great.  And that lesson of how even when things don't end the way you think they should, there can still be hope?  Amazing and absolutely perfect.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  It's definitely one that's going to stick with me for a long time.  It was original, it was awesome, and now that I know there's a sequel coming, I can't wait to see what waits for these characters next (will we go to the faerie realm? because that would be amazing)

Overall Rating: 4.5 mysterious notes out of 5

About the Author:
Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. She lives in a suburb of the ultra-cool Charlotte, North Carolina. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing loudly, buying LuLaRoe and pretending to do yoga.
An avid coffee drinker, she gave up eating meat ten years ago and is a sucker for anything zombie related. She’s been married to her Mr. Darcy for 18 years and feels it’s her life goal to pass along her obsession with the Star Wars saga on to her offspring.
She loves to read sci-fi and fantasy for YA and MG, which in turn, bleeds through to her writing. (Watch your back: She occasionally writes horror, too!)

Connect with Laura: Her website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

A shout-out and congratulations to Laura on her new release and for letting me read it!!  I can't wait to see what's in store next.

Do you have an inexplicable mythological fave?  What mythical creature would you like to see retold in a modern setting?  Let me know in a comment below!

~ Abby

The Broken Prince {blog tour + book review!}

Hello, my friends!  I come bearing a book review of a new fantasy release that I think you're all going to want to hear about.

I've been a fan of fantasy basically my entire life, but it's been a little while since a good, old-fashioned, medieval, swords-and-magic fantasy has made its way into my life.  And to be honest, this was like a slap of nostalgia to the face in the best way possible.  Let's jump on into the review, shall we?

The Broken Prince



Author: Kara Linaburg
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Quite a bit of fantasy violence, but none other than that.
Main Characters: Serena, Hunter, and Milosh

Synopsis:
In all the fairy tales the maiden falls in love with the prince...but she has to remember that this isn’t a fairy tale.
Born into a kingdom where those of magical Gifts are rejected, feared, and even killed, Serena has spent her life striving to hide her ability and keep her younger brother safe.
The bastard son of the hated king and father he hardly knows, Prince Milosh is considered an outcast. He never expects to feel anything but contempt for the peasant girl who unexpectedly shows up in his life, forcing him to answer questions he never wished to ask.
When two very different worlds are thrown together under less than desirable circumstances, both hold deep judgment towards the other. But will they learn to see beyond their stations and birth so that they may defeat the coming darkness, or will labels given to them at birth continue to define them?

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought:

I loved how nostalgic this was for me.  This kind of book was my JAM between the ages of 11 and 14.  And here was a brand new one perfect for a grown-up me, full of intrigue and swordplay and potential treason.  My favorite things. xD
One of the big things I loved about this book is the portrayal of sibling love.  Serena goes on this adventure for the main reason of keeping Hunter safe, even though he's perfectly capable of taking care of himself, thank you very much, and I loved it.  They genuinely love each other so much and I love them for it.  I'm also not going to spoil any names, but the friendship between the characters in general is just great.
Milosh's redemption arc! is so important to me! because I love bad-guys-who-aren't-so-bad and the "I don't want to care about you as much as I do" characters.  They're my favorite.  Particularly when they realize "oh no i'm head-over-heels in love with this ray of sunshine" it's the BEST dynamic.
And just, overall, the fight scenes were awesome. the soft scenes were awesome. it was just awesome.
My only complaint is that I wish we'd gotten to see Serena use her Gift in a bigger showing of it. It kind of felt under-used. And I didn't super love some of the way the dialogue was written. But when those are my only two complaints, I consider it a win. Oh and also I want a sequel. Now. Please.
I'd recommend it! Especially for fans of Tricia Mingerink's Blades of Acktar series. Milosh gave me a lot of Leith vibes, you know, if Leith were the son of a bloodthirsty king.

Overall Rating: 4 masterfully-told stories out of 5

About the Author:
If you combined Lucy Ricardo, Jo March, and Tonks…you would have Kara. Queen of awkward, writer before she could properly spell, and maker of imaginary humans, she is passionate about creating characters that display beauty in brokenness.
Kara took to blogging as a teenager, words soon becoming one of her greatest passions. When she’s not being a mad scientist in the kitchen or daydreaming about her next adventure, she loves to connect with readers. She lives in West Virginia where country roads always take her home.

Connect with Kara: Her blog ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter

GIVEAWAY of a mini prize package that includes a signed paperback of The Broken Prince! Click here!

Thank you to Kara and her blog tour director, Victoria Lynn, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Will you be picking up this awesome fantasy novella?  Did you also love medieval fantasy as a kid?  Let me know in a comment below!

~ Abby

Middle-Grade Recommendations {Dawn Chandler blog tour}

Hello my friends!  Today I have a very exciting post - the first ever guest post on this blog!  I'm so glad to tell y'all all about the lovely Eliza Noel and her new release, "Dawn Chandler"!

If you've been around this blog for any length of time, you know that I adore middle-grade fiction.  Or if you're new here, it's probably something you'll pick up on pretty quick, haha!  So today, Eliza is making a guest appearance here on my blog to tell us about some of her favorite middle-grade books! Before we get into Eliza's recommendations, let's talk about what I'm sure would be her number one rec, Dawn Chandler!



Synopsis:
Dawn Chandler likes the way her life is— or was. She liked going to the mall with her best friend, excelling at middle school, and attending church with her family. Typical life for a twelve-year-old in the city of Fresno.
When Dawn’s parents announced they were going to homeschool her, on her birthday no less, she felt like her world was falling apart. Normal kids are supposed to go to school, not read books at home. To make matters worse, they may be leaving the only home she’s ever known.
What are her parents thinking?
Before making the final moving decision, the Chandler family visits Lone Pine, a small town between Mt. Whitney and Death Valley. While there, Dawn and her siblings become acquainted with their eccentric great uncle, explore the new area, and meet a large homeschooling family. All of this makes the 'vacation' more bearable. Still, Dawn isn't sure if she can make the move and leave everything she’s familiar with behind.
Can Dawn learn the values of faith, family, and contentment?

Add on Goodreads ~ Pre-order on Amazon

About the Author:
Eliza Noel is a home school graduate with passion for Jesus, people, and literature. Growing up, her favorite books were always Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, and Pride and Prejudice. Around age twelve she wanted to read something with positive values in a modern setting, but couldn’t find what she was looking for. So she wrote it.
When not doing something book-related (reading, writing, blogging, bookstagramming), Eliza works at her day jobs, spends time with her many younger siblings, longboards, has coffee with friends, eats chocolate, and listens to music. California is home, but she would like to travel more and feels she could learn to be content anywhere.

Connect with Eliza: Her blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram

Doesn't this book just sound so cute?  I'll be putting up a review for it very soon!

And now, without further ado, I present: Eliza Noel's Middle-Grade Recommendations!

((ALL the florals. can't stop won't stop))

Hi! I'm Eliza Noel. I'm here to share five of my favorite middle-grade books with you! As a middle-grade author, I still read quite a bit of middle-grade despite being nineteen. I love the Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames and Penderwicks series, but I thought I'd focus more on some other books here.

1. Twice Freed

This book is historical fiction that's about Onesimus, Philemon's slave. I loved reading about what this teenage boy's thoughts were about Jesus Christ and how those changed towards the end. There was some violence in it, but overall it was clean.

2. After the Dancing Days

This one is also historical fiction, but it takes place right after World War I. It made me cry. It was such a truly beautiful story. It centers around a 13-year-old girl named Annie who befriends a wounded soldier named Andrew. Annie's mother doesn't think she's old enough to see how horrible the war truly was and that raises conflict within her family. There were a few times where Annie lied to her mother and that bothered me a bit, but overall it was clean.

3. Nim's Island

If you've seen the movie, know that the book is quite different. I enjoyed both. Who doesn't love a good story about a kid living on the island? It's been a long time since I read it, but I can't remember any content issues.

4. Gone Away Lake

I'm not even quite sure why, but this was one of my absolute favorites! Even my brother who didn't like reading at the time enjoyed it. It tells the story of a young boy and girl who discover somewhat of a ghost town and befriend the only two people who are still living there during their summer vacation. I can't remember any content issues.

5. Mandy

This book is written by THE Julie Andrews. Yes, the one from Mary Poppins and Sound of Music. I love this eccentric story of a 10-year-old orphan who finds an abandoned cottage and fixes it up for herself. Mandy frequently tells lies, from what I remember in the end she realizes that was wrong, and there's some light language in it. Overall I loved it so so much!

Have you read any of these? Did any of them catch your interest? What are some of your favorite middle-grade books?

Hi, it's Abby again! I just have to say that I have not read any of these books but I know I'm going to!  So go snag yourself a copy of Dawn Chandler and enjoy ALL the middle-grade fun!  AND to make it even better (!!!), Eliza is hosting a GIVEAWAY!  Click that little link right there to be entered to win a signed copy of the book! 

Huge thank you and shout-out to Eliza for letting me be part of this awesome blog tour (make sure you head over to her blog for the full schedule) and for guest posting here on my blog!

~ Abby

Souls Astray {blog tour + book review}

It's probably a pretty well-known fact that at this point Kellyn Roth is one of my favorite historical fiction authors.  One of my favorites overall, tbh.  And while I've come to terms with the fact that I prefer the Alice and Ivy books, the Kees & Colliers series will always hold a special place in my heart.  And learning about Adele and Troy's relationship was an absolute joy (and also an absolute pain because ow. my heart.)

Souls Astray



Kellyn has the prettiest covers gosh

Author: Kellyn Roth
Genre: Historical romance
Content: Adele lives a fairly sleazy lifestyle, trying to fit into the 1920s crowd.
Main Characters: Adele Collier and Troy Kee
Placement in Series: Prequel to book 1

Synopsis:
Adele has been lost for a long time now ... Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.
Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in care of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?
When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ Kellyn's review of the content ~ Official webpage

What I Thought:
This book was equal parts

and


I have a love-hate relationship with prequels and this is the prime example of why.  I absolutely loved seeing Adele and Troy's life stories.  I had wondered how exactly it all went down leading up to The Lady of the Vineyard, so I was pumped to learn about it first hand.  But goodness gracious, my emotions!! were all over the place!! ahhhhh!!! Because I knew where they ended up at the beginning of TLotV and thus I knew the whole thing was going too well and then I was SAD.
As far as the characters go, I'm still kind of meh about Adele. I understand her more now, but she's just not my cup of tea, I think.  But let me just say, Kellyn has such a way of making me fall in love with her male leads.  Peter? Yes. Jordy? Oh yes. Troy?? My sweet baby child who did nothing wrong and deserves only the best in this world.  He needs a hug.  I wanna give him a hug.
Other things Kellyn did really well:
- the setting, both historically and location-wise
- writing kids (she's really good at that, man)
- writing three very different family dynamics and making them all fully fleshed out and interesting.
- "funny how someone dying meant that one spent ages working on trying to get money transferred and all other sorts of things that really didn't matter, that one really didn't care about because a dear person was gone. but one had to." TRUE
- the faith content. it's not preachy, but it's great. and she's honest about the short-comings of the church, how we're imperfect sinners, but how there's still redemption to be had.
- the scene where troy came into the flower shop was the cutest thing ever OOF.
- making me feel ALL the things.

Basically, if you haven't read a Kellyn Roth book and you like hisfic romance at all, what are you even doing with your life?  Go read her books.

Overall Rating: 4 flower bouquets out of 5

About the Author:
Kellyn Roth lives on an Eastern Oregon ranch with her parents, little brothers, border collies, cats, and a few dozen cows and chickens.  Always a lover of a good story, and especially of telling one, she's been writing since she was seven and published her first novel at fourteen.  Now a homeschool grad, she divides her time between penning her next Christian historical fiction novel, creating professionally silly articles for her blog, and her actual life.  Actual life plays second fiddle sometimes, though.

Connect with Kellyn: Her website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Google+ ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Youtube ~ Amazon ~ her personal blog ~ her review blog

GIVEAWAY for a signed paperback of the book + a $20 Amazon gift card! Click here!

Huge shout-out to Kellyn for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Yeah, I think a re-read of the rest of the Kees & Colliers series is in my very near future.

~ Abby