The Whispered Dance of Bees

The Whispered Dance of Bees
By Carol Warburton
Published by Covenant Communications
Publication Date: June 1, 2020

Description:
Had fate and nature not conspired, Alyce Redgrave would have been a child of wealth and privilege. But the night of her birth was shadowed by an eerie Devils Moon and her christening day marred by a fierce hailstorm—ill omens that led the superstitious peasants to seek Alyce's life. Desperate to save her infant daughter, Alyce's mother flees with her baby, finding shelter and goodwill at the isolated farm of strangers...
 There, Alyce's life is filled with secrets, unanswered questions, and a sense of foreboding. Her worst fears are realized when she narrowly escapes the clutches of a murderer by fleeing into the forest. Fate steps in once more to change the course of her life when Alyce is found and taken in by Elspeth, a wise woman with the uncanny ability to commune with nature. Trained by Elspeth in the art of healing, Alyce remains haunted by the puzzle of her past until she discovers her mother's lost pendant. With the help of this object and the aid of the enchanting William Pascoe, Alyce finally holds the key to who she once was and who she will become.

Review: While there's less romance than I would have liked (Alyce doesn't meet William Pascoe until about halfway through the book), the book is still enjoyable. While it's set in the early 1700s, not a time period I've read much about, the details about life at the time--from the speech to the superstitions to daily life--were rich and helped me slip right into the book. The plot moved along well, and all in all, this was a satisfying read. Good choice for those who like historical fiction, particularly something in a not-so-commonly-written-about era. 4 stars. I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Doctor and the Midwife

The Doctor and the Midwife
By Sarah Alva
Published by Covenant Communications
Publication Date: September 1, 2020

Description:
As a midwife running her own home birth practice, Audrey Novak deals with pressure like a superhuman. Until, that is, she meets her handsome and arrogant neighbor, Dr. Ammon Parker. Ammon, who believes only in modern medicine, is just as unprepared for the infuriating---and inconveniently beautiful---midwife. When the two are repeatedly called to the same labor and delivery unit, their clashing ideals and fiercely independent personalities threaten to derail both their professional goals and their pride.
 Outside of work, Audrey is a passionate rock climber, tantalized by a secret route she's heard about in an online forum. Her hunt for the climb's location leads her to the intriguing BelayingonofHands, a man who claims to have set the route. Soon their anonymous virtual flirtation and witty exchanges deepen into a true connection. But when Audrey discovers the man from online is actually Ammon, she's blindsided. It seems they have more in common than she could have imagined, but will their differences keep them from making the climb to true love together?

Review:
Going from enemies to falling in love isn't my favorite trope, particularly if the enemies are pretty mean to each other. It's just not that fun to read about people constantly harping on each other; it has to be really well done to keep it from being too abrasive. This book didn't start out so well for me; I felt like both Ammon and Audrey were too rude and I really wasn't liking either of their characters. However, I kept reading and did end up liking both of them and the story. I thought the doctor and the midwife aspect was interesting and original. Overall, this is a fun, clean contemporary romance.
4 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Peasant's Dream

The Peasant's Dream (Hagenheim #11)
By Melanie Dickerson
Published by Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: July 7, 2020

Description: In this reverse Cinderella story, a poor farmer’s son, who dreams of using his talent as a woodcarver to make a better life for himself, falls in love with a duke’s daughter and must fight for a chance to win her heart.
Adela is the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim and is never allowed outside of the castle walls. She loves her family, but she sneaks away one day to the market in the town center. There she meets a handsome young man and wonders what it might be like to fall in love with a poor farmer with a kind heart instead of marrying the man her family is suggesting for her.

Frederick earns the income for his family and defends his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He also uses his talent and creativity to carve figures, animals, and scenes into wood, and he's asked to carve these scenes into cathedral doors when his talent is noticed. Frederick is inspired by the sweet and beautiful Adela, but he has no knowledge of her true identity. When he gets swept up into a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter, both are shaken by what they learn about the other.

Review:
This sweet romance is a satisfying conclusion to the Hagenheim series. (Although this is the eleventh book in the series, it is a stand-alone and perfectly enjoyable without reading the others.)I like the reverse Cinderella aspect, with hard-working Frederick trying to win Adela's heart, albeit without knowing who she truly is. Frederick is a great leading man, gentle and loving while also strong and protective. Adela was sweet and I mostly liked her character, although her constant worrying about being perceived as spoiled got a little tiresome. The story was a little simple, without the action of several of the other books in the series, but all in all, it was a satisfying read and a good choice for those looking for a quick, clean romance.
4 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Solving Sophronia

Solving Sophronia (The Blue Orchid Society #1)
By Jennifer Moore
Published by Covenant Communications

Description:
Lady Sophronia Bremerton is a far cry from the typical debutante, but she's the toast of London's upper class for one simple reason: she's a society columnist for the London Illustrated News, and the gentry loves seeing their exploits printed in the gossip pages. But Sophie has bigger plans - she aspires to be an investigative reporter. When a stuffy ballroom at yet another Season proves to be nothing more than the usual rumor mill, Sophie seeks respite in the library alongside four other young women who, for their own reasons, are also looking for escape. As the conversation turns to their secret ambitions, the women form a sisterhood and a bold plan: they will make their dreams a reality, no matter the obstacles. Thus begins the Blue Orchid Society.
 Hearing of a murder in a London rookery, Sophie seizes the opportunity to prove her skills. Detective Jonathan Graham doesn't believe a civilian, a noblewoman at that, should be anywhere near a murder investigation, but Sophie insists on helping bring the killer to justice. Her investigative prowess doesn't go unnoticed by the police, especially Jonathan, who can't decide whether this intrepid reporter is a thorn in his side or the woman of his dreams. But as the case grows more complicated and dangerous, their very lives - and their hearts - may be at risk.

Review:
Victorian romances are a new favorite of mine. I really enjoy looking at some of the changes that were beginning to happen in society, and with this new Blue Orchid series, Jennifer Moore gives readers a look at women who are breaking into fields previously closed to them. I really liked how Sophie was determined to become a reporter who covered real stories and that she believed in her abilities and put them to good use. I also liked seeing how she enlisted the support of her friends as well as how she and Jonathan worked together. I would have liked to see more of Jonathan's background (and a little more romance, since it mainly happened at the end), but I did enjoy the mystery element and trying to piece together who the murderer was alongside the characters. I didn't like Sophie's family, and I couldn't help but wonder, having read the prequel novella, how Sophie's grandmother reared a son who cared more about society than his daughter; that aspect of the book was disappointing. All in all, a great start to a new series; I can't wait to read more!
4.5 stars.
 I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Proper Charade

A Proper Charade
By Esther Hatch
Published by Covenant Communications

Description:
Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the free-spirited young woman is anything but proper. Patience's elder brother, a former military man, bemoans his sister's antics - but when he accuses her of incurable frivolity, it is simply more than she can bear. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.
Taken on as household staff by her brother's former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth - and the irresistibly charming son of the house isn't helping matters. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated that she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong - even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control.

Review:
I smiled so much while I was reading this book! A lady posing as a maid in a man's house is not my favorite storyline, and yet, I enjoyed it in this book. With Patience's desire to prove herself, as well as a tendency to act or speak first and then think later, running away to become a maid actually fit with her personality. Patience was terrible at being a maid, but her enthusiasm and sincerity at trying to do her best were endearing. I loved the fact that she couldn't keep herself from blurting out things that no true maid ever would. She was just a really fun character. Anthony was absolutely perfect and stole my heart right along with Patience's. I mean, how can you not love a man who completely writes out lists and plans, trying so hard to make things work out, and yet will stop to help an inept maid do her job? He was so kind and yet so unaware of his own worth, and I just adored him. (If I hadn't already loved him early on, his sixteen-page letter would have done it!) There are lots of lovable secondary characters, too. I love a book with great dialogue (good banter wins me over pretty quickly!) and there were so many awesome lines!

I just thoroughly enjoyed this book and am picking it as one of my favorite books of the year!

5 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Line by Line (Love along the Wires #1)

Line by Line (Love along the Wires #1)
By Jennifer Delamere
Published by Bethany House

Description:
Years of hard work enabled Douglas Shaw to escape a life of desperate poverty--and now he's determined to marry into high society to prevent reliving his old circumstances. But when Alice McNeil, an unconventional telegrapher at his firm, raises the ire of a vindictive co-worker, he must choose between rescuing her reputation and the future he's always planned.

Review:
This book started out a little slow for me. While I found Alice's occupation as a telegrapher and the look at business practices of the day to be interesting, I found Alice's insistence on never marrying a bit overly emphasized; I also found her friend Lucy's insistence that she should marry to be tiresome and really wanted Alice to tell her off! The story picked up for me about 20-percent through, and the final 25-percent was great--particularly the resolution--and moved very quickly.
My favorite things about the book:

• the historical setting was very interesting--there's a look at businesses, telegraphy, class differences, societal expectations for women, and more, all artfully woven into the story;
• Douglas's journey to realizing there's more to life than business and getting ahead financially and socially;
• Alice's intelligence--I love how quick-witted she was how she wanted to learn more about business and had valuable input;
• Alice's mishaps when she tried to use a book entitled The Spinster's Guide to Love and Romance to help her, not to find a husband but to get along better with men; 
• and, as previously mentioned, the resolution. I won't give details so there are no spoilers, but I love the way one character reached out to the other! 

Fun start to a new series! 4 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Gilded Lady

A Gilded Lady (Hope and Glory #2)
By Elizabeth Camden
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: June 2, 2020

Description:
Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she’s hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason. Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president’s Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises. Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.

Review: Elizabeth Camden provides such interesting details in her historical fiction, and this book is no exception. From the beginning, I was totally drawn to the look at how things worked behind the scenes in President McKinley's White House. Both Caroline's job as the First Lady's secretary, and Nathaniel's, tasked with fixing presidential security issues, were really interesting. Add in Caroline's struggle to help her brother Luke, imprisoned in Cuba, accused of being a traitor, and the plot is just great before even adding in the romance! While I'm much more like Nathaniel (very serious and bound by rules) than free-spirited Caroline, I found both to be delightful characters and really enjoyed seeing their blossoming feelings for each other. I'm very much looking forward to the third book in the series.
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Flying in Love

Flying in Love
By Chalon Linton
Published by Covenant Communications
Publication Date: June 8, 2020

Description:
Will Paige decide to share her heart or fly solo?
 Paige Hall’s happy ending may just be in sight. She has been dating her boyfriend for months and feels confident their relationship is going in the right direction—until she catches him kissing another woman. Humiliated and hurt, Paige retreats from the dating scene and pledges to never fall hard again as she throws herself into her work as a speech therapist. Her vow is upended in a grocery store parking lot when she is nearly run over by a handsome and very apologetic air force pilot.
 Captain Jake Summers is everything a girl could dream of: charming, considerate, and hardworking. Despite Paige’s determination to avoid falling into another relationship, her resolve is no match for the whirlwind romance that ensues. When Jake is not flying, he and Paige are inseparable, and Paige begins to believe in happily ever afters again. But when the couple faces a heartrending loss, they must find strength in each other and in their faith or risk losing a once-in-a-lifetime love.

Review: I didn't always love the style of this book--there were long passages of Paige recounting her day and her inner thoughts that dragged sometimes--but there was something compelling about it that kept me reading and has had me going back to re-read certain passages multiple times. There are some totally adorable interactions between Jake and Paige--and there are realistically frustrating ones that they have to work through in order for things to work out for them. From their meet-cute to their HEA, this book is a great choice for those who like their romances sweet and clean but also with some depth as the characters have to work through real issues.
4 stars.
 I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.