An Arranged Marriage with a Beast (Marriage Mart Scandals Book 1) by Amanda Stones

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Through pain and anger, a man justifies his behavior by being cruel and rude to those around him. His only course for marriage is to arrange one for himself. Trent is beastly and will not give up his past. Arabella is a ligh in the darkness. I loved that Arabella stood up for herself, yet tried to make an unpleasant situation into a life that she could live contently in. It's not an easy task when your husband is known as "Beast". I loved Arabella, but began to like Trent when he started letting Arabella into his life. The story is heartaching in places, but love restores the darkness. 

 

Finding Miss Giles (Hearts of the Hall Book 1) by Philippa Jane Keyworth

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I liked this story, but it took a few chapters to really engage with the story. Once engaged the malice of the few who think they can gain by destroying the life of a human being is terrible.I think the problem was solved rather naivily by the author. It's good that Miss Giles gets the man, but how would their marriage work out in society? None of those questions are really answered, because it is all neatly packaged up.

 

Fairy Tale Christmas: Water of Life by Nancy J. Farrier

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is a fairy tale based on a kingdom that worships a God close to our Christian God. This world is filled with all things magical, but Yatheth is in control. The third princess, Iyana, is all things kind and is faithful to Yatheth teachings. This story has all the excitement of a great quest and the resulting sacrifices of love. It is enjoyable and each page is worth turning to find out what is going to happen and how Princess Iyana is going to save her father and her one true love.

The Poet and the Earl Next Door: An Age Gap Friends to Lovers Secret Identity Clean Regency Romance by Kristina Earl

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐

This delightful tale of a spinster with a secret life and an Earl who moves next door is engaging and warmth filled. Lord Wedmore is an eccentric Earl who loves reading and poetry. It is Eleanor who introduces him to the poet, Edwin Hart works. Edwin Hart is Eleanor secret pen name. Eleanor's heart is confused, because the Earl is in love with Eleanor, but wants to meet Edwin and takes up a correspondence with the man, I.E. Eleanor. Eleanor is delightful in her confusion and makes many mistakes, that someone as intelligent as Alexander should have picked up on it a lot sooner. However, despite this deficit in Alexander's brain, both characters are warm, loving and engaging, nor do they engage in idle conversation. Beware reader! You might learn something.

 

A Colorful Life Kindle Edition by Melissa Storm

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is told from multiple perspectives, but primarily focuses on Daly, the stifled artist. We rarely see the story through the eyes of the mother or Hannah, the pregnant single mother. The narrative follows Daly's journey from a life of monotony to a colorful existence filled with love and passion. She finds joy in her relationship with her Indian boyfriend in New Delhi and through her connection with Laine and Hannah's newfound happiness. Hannah's character serves as a catalyst, demonstrating to both Daly and Laine the transformative power of faith. While the story has some instances of run-on sentences, and the frequent shifts in perspective can occasionally disrupt the flow, the overall message of hope and redemption is compelling.