Enchanting Nicholette Blog Tour | Novella Review + Jane Austen Giveaway

Welcome to the JustRead blog tour for Enchanting Nicholette, a new novella and the fifth book in the Everstone Chronicles series by Dawn Crandall! Keep reading to learn more about the story, the author, my thoughts, and a tour-wide giveaway. :)

About the Book

In this captivating novella by Dawn Crandall, Nicholette Everstone is already a widow at the age of twenty-two: her husband was murdered on their wedding day. She has just returned to Boston after two years of mourning in Europe. Although her husband was loving, the marriage was an arranged one, and Nicholette would like to wed again—this time for love...and to someone safe.

As she acclimates to life in Back Bay again, Nicholette meets someone she can’t help but fall for. But when she learns of the danger and sacrifices Cal Hawthorne takes on for the safety of others, will her heart be strong enough to keep her fears of “what if” at bay?

Purchase on Amazon | BAM! | Book Depository | Christianbook

Add to Goodreads

About the Author

Dawn Crandall’s debut Gilded Age Victorian romance, The Hesitant Heiress, was a 2015 ACFW Carol award finalist in the debut category and received the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2015 Write Touch Reader’s Choice Award, and the 2015 Romancing the Novel Reader’s Choice Award. Her follow-up novel, The Bound Heart, received the 2016 Laurel Award from Clash of the Titles. Dawn earned a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University. She’s been balancing books and babies lately as her two sons were both born as the four books of her Everstone Chronicles series were being released from Whitaker House from 2014 to 2016. Dawn lives with her husband and two young sons on a hobby farm in her hometown in northeast Indiana.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Dawn Crandall has created an intriguing cast of characters and a voice all her own in the Everstone Chronicles. It was a pleasure to return to her realm of historical romance and reacquaint myself with the setting, characters, and style in this sweet novella!

Enchanting Nicholette is a lovely little read featuring tender but passionate romance and a heroine clumsily but sincerely attempting to find her place in a life that isn't at all what she once expected it to be. Nicholette's character didn't always enchant me... She's more sober than her friends and isn't necessarily warm and friendly, but I think it's hard not to feel a bit frustrated when you're in one person's point of view and privy to all their thoughts, whether rude, over-the-top, or commendable. Still, I like how she allows herself to rethink things, and how she opens up in some ways over time. It's hard not to cheer for her as she wrestles with fear and hope.

I would have liked a bit more natural balance between the serious side of the story and the romance, as sometimes (especially in one particular scene) it feels like flicking a switch. One moment, serious talk; the next moment, flirting. I would say the romance takes up more page time and focus than the revelations and their implications. But I think, with this story being on the shorter side, the spotlight is meant to shine on the couple and their road to love, rather than featuring what else is going on or might happen in their lives.

This novella is charming, with an epilogue that has everything fans of the series could desire. I've read the first three books but haven't read the fourth...and this story's references to that fourth book (The Cautious Maiden) definitely have me curious about what I've missed! Suspense moves backstage in this fifth installment, but if you're looking for a light, engaging historical romance to round out a unique series, Enchanting Nicholette definitely fits the bill.

*With thanks to Whitaker House through JustRead Publicity for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

Tour Giveaway!

One winner will win:

• A print copy of Enchanting Nicholette 
• A library card zipper bag 
• Two pairs of Jane Austen socks 
• Two hand-poured candles 
• A historically accurate soap from Austen’s time 
• A Jane Austen set of playing cards 
• A set of Jane Austen notecards 
• 6 magnets with Jane Austen quotes 

(US mailing addresses only)

Enter via the Rafflecopter form  below. Giveaway will begin at midnight on October 29, 2018, and lasts through 11:59 pm on November 12, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. US addresses only. Winners will be notified within a week of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along at JustRead for a full list of tour stops!

A Southern Season Blog Tour | Review of Four Novellas + Book Giveaway

Welcome to the JustRead blog tour for A Southern Season, a new novella collection! Feel free to sit for a bit and learn more about the book, these authors, my thoughts, and a tour-wide giveaway. :) 

About the Book

Four seasons. Four stories. Each one set in the enchanting world of the South. These are the kinds of stories your grandmother told you from a front porch swing.

Ice Melts in Spring by Linda W. Yezak
When Kerry Graham's boss forces her to return to the Gulf of Mexico where her husband drowned years ago, she feels only spring's chill and not the warmth of the Texas sun. Can the joy of a reclusive author and the compassion of a shrimp-boat preacher thaw Kerry's frigid heart?

Lillie Beth in Summer by Eva Marie Everson 
With the untimely death of his wife, Dr. James Gillespie believes God has abandoned him. He also believes he's never met anyone like the young widow Lillie Beth, whose beloved Granny lies dying at home, and who sees a God who sweeps hope through a farmhouse window. Can a young woman whose husband died in Vietnam restore a faith that is all but dead?

Through an Autumn Window by Claire Fullerton 
Because her larger-than-life mother, Daphne Goodwyn, is dead, forty-year-old Cate returns to Memphis with one thought in mind: Something always goes wrong at a Southern funeral. But surrounded by the well-mannered society that raised her, the nostalgic rites of a three-day, autumn mourning bring the unexpected gift of the end of sibling rivalry.

A Magnolia Blooms in Winter by Ane Mulligan
With Broadway stardom within her reach, Morgan James returns home in winter to help an old friend. Maybe it s just nostalgia, but when she sees him again, an old flame rekindles. When she's called back to NYC to take the lead in a new musical, will fame be worth losing the man she loves?

Purchase on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Add to Goodreads

About the Authors

Eva Marie Everson (Lillie Beth in Summer) is a multiple award-winning author and speaker. She is the president of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference and North Georgia Christian Writers Conference.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Claire Fullerton (Through an Autumn Window) is the author of Mourning Dove, Dancing to an Irish Reel, and A Portal in Time. She is a transplanted Southerner from Memphis now living in Malibu, California.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Ane Mulligan (A Magnolia Blooms in Winter) writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. She's an award-winning, multi-published novelist and playwright, who believes chocolate and coffee are two of the four major food groups.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Linda W. Yezak (Ice Melts in Spring) lives with her husband and PB, the original scaredy cat, in a forest in Deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. Author of several novels, novellas, and short stories, she is best known for her award-winning Circle Bar Ranch series.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

My Review

This is quite a unique collection of novellas with a good amount of variety. Three of the stories feature some romance alongside other relationships, which I always enjoy! And three of the stories feature a contemporary setting, while the other is set during a time of somewhat recent history. I love the different seasons and when that theme is featured in literature, so that was also a plus for me.

Ice Melts in Spring by Linda W. Yezak: I've read another story by this author (Give the Lady a Ride), and I enjoy her style! This particular story has a lovely setting, a loyal dog, and an intriguing author character who has a lot of wisdom and lessons on love to impart to the main character. It's heavy on faith, light on romance. I didn't really get to know or care about the hero much, and the resolution felt a bit rushed. But I really liked the main character's journey, her honest questioning, and the mystery element to her current project.

Lillie Beth in Summer by Eva Marie Everson: This might be my favorite story of the bunch because it's so fascinating and has an unusual romance. Like with Linda, I've read another book by this author (Chasing Sunsets), and she's a great writer. This is the historical novella in the collection, set during the Vietnam War, and it has a bit of Christy flair. Again, I would say the romance resolves rather quickly...but it's tricky when the majority of the plot centers on a very short period of time. Still, it's sweet and pretty satisfying.

Through an Autumn Window by Claire Fullerton: This is the non-romance story, featuring a married couple but highlighting some quirky (yet relatable) family dynamics. The plot is a bit odd in that the whole focus is on a funeral (and all the other elements of laying a loved one to rest), and the starring relationship isn't really clear right away (unless you remember the back-cover description), especially with the various flashbacks. Again, everything feels resolved a bit too quickly and neatly; it's hard to imagine someone doing such an unexpected and fast about-face. The best part of the story is probably the descriptions; it's definitely a moody, vivid read.

A Magnolia Blooms in Winter by Ane Mulligan: This has got to be the cutest story in the collection! I really liked the main character, her mom, and the charming town she grew up in. The main plot about directing a play at her home church is fun to read, especially once the "villain" undergoes a few changes. ;) The romance tries to be a driving factor, but it doesn't feel like the main thing in most of the chapters, and the hero and heroine don't spend a ton of time together. The plot also tries to cover a lot of ground in the few pages allotted to it. Still, it's a fun and very sweet way to round out the collection.

A Southern Season doesn't really focus on swings, as the subtitle might suggest, but it definitely does a lovely job spotlighting a Southern flavor and the varying moods of the seasons. A lot of the stories seem to reach their happily-ever-afters a bit too easily, but I would say their strength is in their main characters. They'll surprise you sometimes, show you some hidden depths, and make you interested and invested in this season of their lives.

*With thanks to Firefly Southern Fiction through JustRead Publicity for providing me with a complimentary e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

Tour Giveaway!

One winner will receive a print copy of A Southern Season, signed by all four authors! (US only)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 30, 2018 and last through 11:59 pm November 5, 2018. US only. Winner will be notified within a week of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along at JustRead for a full list of tour stops!

Endearing Characters on a Quest for Truth | Review of The Story Peddler

About the Book

Selling stories is a deadly business

Tanwen doesn't just tell stories—she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.

During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king's guard hunts her down...and they're not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she's not the only outlaw in the empire. There's a rebel group of weavers...and they're after her too.

Learn More | Add to Goodreads

My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

The main characters of The Story Peddler are so endearing. Tanwen is a farm girl with lots of ambition and hope for a life beyond all she's known...and all she's lost. Braith is a princess with a tender heart who finds herself in a very precarious position as she attempts to show mercy to those under her father's tyrannical rule. Both girls have at least one dear and loyal friend, as well as many more enemies.

The premise and plot for this story offer a lot of intrigue and include delightful descriptions. It was so neat to see how storytelling unfolds in this fantasy world and to have the characters experience art (including words) in exciting, tangible ways. I also loved the emphasis on truth being revealed through art...how even when someone might not be intending to express something, truth speaks for itself. The book depicts this in such clever ways!

There's a great sense of tension and danger throughout most of The Story Peddler as Tanwen and Braith navigate new situations and revelations. There's even a bit of romantic tension in the form of a subtle love triangle for one of the girls...but mostly, romance takes a back seat to survival and the quest for truth (as well as freedom to express it). This is actually the first in a series, but this installment has a solid ending while promising a different quest to come that will show readers even more of this intriguing fantasy world.

For a well-imagined cast of characters and an amazing display of their talents set against a backdrop of unrest and uncertainty, The Story Peddler is grand storytelling!

*With thanks to Enclave Publishing through JustRead Publicity for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book.*

Encouraging and Motivating for Any Wife | Review of The Leader's Wife

Review Tour Organized by JustRead Publicity

About the Book (from Ambassador International)

As a woman leading a life of influence, you may find yourself without sufficient clarity or equipping for the challenges you face. For many, the role of wife of a leader is one thrust upon, rather than chosen. For others, it is a responsibility embraced but no less complicated to navigate. In either case, as one sharing a journey with a world-changer, this book is for you.

Debby Thompson has spent decades of listening to the voices of tried and tested women, and her experiences have instilled a sense of urgency in her to pass on the insights she has gleaned. Within The Leader’s Wife, she addresses some of the most difficult questions facing wives of leaders. With vulnerability and candor, Debby speaks from her own mistakes and discoveries.

The Leader’s Wife offers not a job description but a GPS. It is a blueprint without how-to’s and ought-to’s for igniting within you what the Creator has already designed. The biblical teaching, personal stories, and hard-won lessons Debby communicates will guide and empower you to live with eternal intentionality.

The Leader’s Wife encourages women to pursue

• intimacy with Jesus
• authenticity with others
• a passion for their calling
• a purpose for their influence

Available now as a Kindle ebook

Releases May 11, 2018 in paperback

My Rating

Spring

My Review

The Leader's Wife is an encouraging and motivating read for any wife who desires to follow Jesus in her marriage and all of life. While the author speaks to those who have the specific challenges of loving and working alongside a leader in Christian ministry, she offers lessons that can speak to every believer.

While the structure of the book doesn't feel entirely cohesive, there are a lot of helpful thoughts in here, especially pertaining to a wife's identity and relationship with Jesus. Debby shares a bit of her own experiences as a woman who married a leader and left behind family and her home country to serve as a missionary with her husband. I appreciate the way she shares about some of the challenges, along with the truths she had to accept in following God's will and trusting Him.

In some ways, I feel like the writing and subjects could have gone deeper, perhaps more detailed or more emotionally engaging. (I also admit I'm a little uncomfortable with what feels like "loose" or light treatment of the term "covenant" regarding commitments made within marriage.) Some of the concepts are things you'd find covered in other Christian marriage books, such as the importance of date night and sex, but there is an overall context of the unique struggles of a marriage in the spotlight...and how a leader's wife can feel separated from others, jealous when "sharing" her husband, or unsure of her own role.

Some of the lines I highlighted included thoughts on trusting God and prioritizing time with Him, as well as choosing to have a right view of your active role alongside your husband. There are great reminders and interesting glimpses into the lives of past leaders' wives in this book, with an emphasis on following Jesus above all as you strive to honor Him in your marriage.

*With thanks to Ambassador International through JustRead Publicity for providing me with a complimentary e-ARC of this book.*