For fans of less-than-happy endings

The Mirror: Broken Wish
By Julie C. Dao

Publisher: ‎ Disney-Hyperion (October 6, 2020)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 136804638X
ISBN-13: 978-1368046381
Reading age: 14 - 18 years
Grade level: 9 – 12
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow...

When Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner―none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:

This story does not live up to expectations—and I mean that in the best possible way. People make bad choices, and they have to reap the consequences of those choices. A promising romance goes sour. And the character who tries so hard to heal those who have been damaged…doesn’t get the reward she deserves.

Because Dao keeps things unpredictable, the book is hard to put down. I was sneaking pages during class, during my lunch, passing period…you get the idea.

Characters are very human—which makes them wonderful, relatable, and flawed. Dao is able to help us empathize with them, even when we’re mad at them. Even Elva, who could easily be too good to be true, makes mistakes and second guesses herself.

The first part of the book is a little slow, but it’s crucial setup for when Elva comes into the story.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Magic. Threats and mild violence. Social isolation.

Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like flawed characters. It has a fairytale feel to it, so if you like fairytales, you will probably enjoy this. Those who don’t have to be given a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Mirror: Shattered Midnight
By Dhonielle Clayton
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (January 18, 2022)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1368046428
ISBN-13: 978-1368046428
Reading age: 14 - 18 years
Grade level: 9 – 12
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Zora Broussard has arrived in New Orleans with not much more than a bag of clothes, a beautiful voice, and a pair of enchanted red shoes. Running from a tragic accident caused by her magic, Zora wants nothing more than to blend in, as well as to avoid her overbearing aunt and mean-spirited cousins. Music becomes Zora’s only means of escape, yet she wonders if she should give it all up to remove the powers that make her a target, especially as a Black woman in the South.

But when Zora gets the chance to perform in a prominent jazz club, she meets a sweet white pianist named Phillip with magic of his own, including a strange mirror that foretells their future together. Falling into a forbidden love, Zora and Phillip must keep their relationship a secret. And soon the two discover the complicated connection between their respective families, a connection that could lead to catastrophe for them both. In the era of segregation and speakeasies, Zora must change her destiny and fight for the one she loves . . . or risk losing everything.

My Thoughts:

This second installment of “The Mirror” sees us move forward in time to the descendants of characters from the first book. They are still reaping the consequences of the bad decisions made in the first book, even though much of that history has been lost to them. Important relics—Mathilda’s mirrors—remain.

Because the characters don’t know the full history, they are doomed to make similar mistakes. Zora breaks a promise, and, once again, the outcome is not good.

Dhonielle Clayton also brings in important social issues of race. This book is set in Prohibition-era New Orleans, and the racial issues of the time and place are an important part of what drives the action.

As with the first book, things are not tidy. Once again, the heroine is betrayed by a man she trusted.

The ending to this book is a happier one than the first, but it is definitely far from a happy ending.

This book is the second in a planned four-book series, each from a different author. There has been some foreshadowing of what’s to come. I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Magic. Drinking. Sneaking around. One character works with the Mob. Prejudice. If you don’t want to think about racial prejudice of the past, you might be made uncomfortable.

Who Might Like This Book:

This one has less of a fairytale feel, but magic is still an important factor. Those who like stories that span generations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

The Ghoul of Windydown Vale
By Jake Burt
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (January 25, 2022)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1250236576
ISBN-13: 978-1250236579
Reading age: 10 - 14 years
Grade level: 4 - 6
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

In this action-packed mystery from award-winning author Jake Burt, Copper Inskeep holds Windydown Vale's deepest and darkest secret: he is the ghoul that haunts the Vale, donning a gruesome costume to scare travelers and townsfolk away from the dangers of the surrounding swamps. When a terrified girl claims she and her father were attacked by a creature - one that could not have been Copper - it threatens not just Copper's secret, but the fate of all Windydown.

 My Thoughts:

This was quite a ride! The setting alone becomes a character, with its treacherous mud as a constant hazard to all those who have carved out a living in Windydown Vale.

 Copper, our protagonist, has a secret: he’s the ghoul that terrorizes the vale. He is the third generation in his family to take on that role, to keep the people safe from the mud and to bring travelers to the safety of his family’s inn.

 Because of the mud, there is only one other person his age in town—Liza. Everyone has assumed that the two will one day marry. Enter Annabelle, whose father has been taken by the Ghoul. Except—Copper knows there is no ghoul.

 A larger-than-life figure comes to town and promises to exterminate the Ghoul. For a price of course. It’s not hard for the reader to figure out that he’s a fraud. But who’s helping him? And why do Copper and Annabelle find corpses in the mud outside of town?

 The real secret isn’t the Ghoul. It’s why it was created in the first place. And it’s not what you expect.

 This is another book where the ending is bittersweet. It’s about trust, and betrayal, and expectations. And sometimes, you just can’t stay quiet anymore.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Violence. Secrets and betrayal. Very mild cursing. A little kissing.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like stories about family dynamics. Those who like mysteries. Those who like things a little spooky.

 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

 

January 11 releases

 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid
By Alison Rose Greenberg
Publisher: ‎St. Martin's Griffin (January 11, 2022)
Paperback: ‎320 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1250791596
ISBN-13: ‎978-1250791597

 Publisher’s blurb:

It’s official: Zoey Marks is the cursed bridesmaid that no engagement can survive. Ten years, three empire waist dresses, and ZERO brides have walked down the aisle.

After strike three, Zoey is left wondering if her own ambivalence towards marriage has rubbed off on those she loves. And when her building distrust of matrimony culminates in turning down a proposal from her perfect All-American boyfriend, Rylan Harper III, she and Rylan are both left heartbroken, leaving Zoey to wonder: what is it exactly about tying the knot that makes her want to run in the opposite direction?

Enter Hannah Green: Zoey’s best friend, who announces that she’s marrying a guy she just met (cue eye roll). At a castle. In gorgeous, romantic Ireland, where Rylan will be in attendance, and Zoey will be a bridesmaid. It’ll be fine.

Okay, the woman definition of fine (NOT FINE).

Determined to turn her luck around, Zoey accepts her role and vows to get Hannah down the aisle―all the while praying her best friend’s wedded bliss will allow her to embrace marriage and get Rylan back.

But as the weekend goes on, Zoey is plagued with more questions than answers. Can you be a free spirit, yet still want a certain future? Can you have love and be loved on your terms? And how DO you wrangle a bossy falcon into doing your bidding?

 My thoughts:

I really loved the premise of this book, and I really wanted to like the book.

I quit about 12% of the way through. I tried, but why would I want to spend several hours of my life immersed in the life of someone so unlikeable?

Zoey has a real chip on her shoulder about the idea of not just marriage, but even committing to a long-term relationship. Her parents are very happily married, and she just sort of assumes that she can’t get anything close to their relationship.

She’s a self-made success in advertising because she thinks outside the box, and she’s decided marriage is a box that she will never fit into. She has to have everything her way, she’s kind of snotty about some of her clients, and she’s not willing to compromise. At all. Even when she finds a really perfect guy.

After the 12% mark, I read a few pages here and there, but there was nothing there that convinced me to dive back in.

Possible objectionable material:

Based on the 12% I read, a lot of swearing, drinking, sex, and talking about sex. One character is lesbian.

Who might like this book:

If you like rom-coms and don’t mind unlikable protagonists, sure, give it a try.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the EARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Dream Spies
The Nightmare Thief #2
By Nicole Lesperance
Publisher: ‎Sourcebooks Young Readers (January 11, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎368 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1728215374
ISBN-13: ‎978-1728215372
Reading age: ‎8 - 12 years
Grade level: ‎3 – 8
 
Publisher’s blurb:

Maren's life has finally gone back to normal. Her sister, Hallie, is doing much better, she's still allowed to work in her family's dream shop, and there's been no sign of Obscura, the evil nightmare thief.

 

But when Lishta, Maren's grandmother, finds an ad for a sleepaway camp designed for dreamers, alarm bells start to ring. Lishta's never heard of the camp directors, and she's worried and wants to investigate. Maren and Hallie pose as campers with Lishta taking a job as the lunch lady.

 

Almost right away something seems off. Campers all wake up humming the same song, a whole bunk of girls does their hair the exact same way, and everyone seems to have had the same dream. And things go from bad to worse when Maren discovers most of the camp population has been sleepwalking.

 

As the girls investigate the camp, Maren and Hallie discover a nefarious plot that could affect the entire world. Maren will have to figure out who's really behind the camp and stop them from turning more dreamers in sleepwalking zombies, before it's too late.

 My thoughts:

I have not read the first book in this series and my library did not have it. Nonetheless, the action of this book was easy to follow. There were mentions of the previous book, but I was able to get along fine without having read it.

The worldbuilding was interesting, with the idea of being able to custom craft dreams as one might compound a recipe or a medicine. Maren is still clearly feeling some guilt and trauma from events of the previous book. She’s also jealous of her twin’s popularity. While this is mentioned several times, it is not an actual part of the action of the book, and nothing comes of these unresolved feelings.

When Maren, twin Hallie, and best friend Amos, go undercover with “Gran-Gran” Lishta to a sleep-away camp all about dreaming, they find that things are definitely veering more into the nightmare category. The dreams seem to be affecting campers waking lives. Then they start sleepwalking…and some of them won’t wake up. It is up to Maren and company to figure out what’s going on. Maren has to decide who at camp is trustworthy and whom to avoid.

The actual plot behind this camp was telegraphed fairly well, and I was unsurprised when the baddie announced their evil plan. (As baddies are wont to do.) Getting the problem solved took a lot of ingenuity and some backbone that shy Maren, in contrast to her popular sister, didn’t always have.

The characters are fun and realistic for their age. The spunky grandma is a bit cliché for my taste. But her parrot, Henri, who can insult everyone in both French and German, is a delight.

If another book in this series comes up on my NetGalley lists, I’ll be sure to request it.

Possible objectionable material:

As with so many middle-grade novels, sneaking around is an issue. People lie. The kids break into an office. There is no swearing, no romance. There is the magic of making dreams.

Who might like this book:

If you like adventure and solving a mystery, this is a good selection, especially if you like to have fantasy elements to go along.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the EARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Fine Fellow
By Jennieke Cohen
Publisher: ‎HarperTeen (January 11, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎352 pages
ISBN-10: 0063047535
ISBN-13: ‎978-0063047532
Reading age: ‎13 - 17 years
Grade level:  8 – 9
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

It’s 1830s England, and Culinarians—doyens who consult with society’s elite to create gorgeous food and confections—are the crème de la crème of high society.

 Helena Higgins, top of her class at the Royal Academy, has a sharp demeanor and an even sharper palate—and knows stardom awaits her if she can produce greatness in her final year.

 Penelope Pickering is going to prove the value of non-European cuisine to all of England. Her contemporaries may scorn her Filipina heritage and her dishes, but with her flawless social graces and culinary talents, Penelope is set to prove them wrong.

 Elijah Little has nothing to his name but a truly excellent instinct for flavors. London merchants won’t allow a Jewish boy to own a shop, so he hawks his pasties for a shilling a piece to passersby—but he knows with training he can break into the highest echelon of society.

WhenPenelope and Helena meet Elijah, a golden opportunity arises: to pull off a project never seen before, and turn Elijah from a street vendor to a gentleman chef.

 But Elijah’s transformation will have a greater impact on this trio than they originally realize—and mayhem, unseemly faux pas, and a little romance will all be a part of the delicious recipe.

 My Thoughts:

I received this as both an EARC and an audio ARC—read by an AI voice.

 I have discovered that I’m hopeless at audio books. They just take too darned long. It took me four hours of ironing to get through the first six chapters. Fortunately, I was able to also snag the text version—it took fewer than four hours to read the entire book.

 This book was charming. The inspiration from My Fair Lady was very clear. Fortunately, the ending was not as contrived as the movie. Nor was it exactly like the ending of the source material, George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.

 Helena Higgins is very much like Henry Higgins. Convinced (perhaps rightly so) of her own brilliance, bossy, self-centered. Unlike Henry, she does learn some valuable lessons about herself and actually shows growth.

 Penelope Pickering is a delight. Of a mixed-race background in this alternate-universe Britain of the 1800s, she has her own challenges to deal with. And those challenges have made her kind and patient as she helps Helena to instruct Elijah.

 And of course, Elijah. Here is a young man who truly wants to raise his station in life. Like Penelope, the situation of his birth has left him with obstacles. Like Eliza Dolittle, he wants more from his life than just to be a street vendor. Like Eliza Dolittle, he is put into a situation where he can’t go back to his old life, and he’s not sure he wants the life that Helena has planned for him.

 In addition to well-constructed characters and good dialogue, this book talks a lot about food. A lot. And if you’re a food lover, plan to feel hungry as you read. I wish culinarians were a real thing, because I would want to be one. 

The author does include a recipe at the end of the book, so we can all be Helena, Penelope, and Elijah for a while.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the EARC and AARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 The Wedding Setup
By Sonali Dev
ASIN: ‎B09GPDK237
Publisher: ‎Amazon Original Stories (January 11, 2022)
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Ayesha Shetty lost her brother seven years ago, the same time she lost everything else important to her: her dreams, her fierce independence, and the man she loved. Not wanting to see her mother hurt anymore, she put her wild self away and became the dutiful daughter her mother needed and took on her brother’s role in the family business.

 Now her best friend’s big, fat Indian wedding is a chance to get away from her endless duties at the restaurant and maybe even have some fun (if she remembers how). But a setup arranged by her mother, with a doctor no less, is the last thing she needs. The fact that he checks all her mother’s boxes just makes everything better…and worse.

 Then Emmitt Hughes shows up. Her brother’s best friend. The love she once chose over family duties and her responsibilities. The one she asked to leave, and who did. The one who knows the real Ayesha. Torn between a love from the past that could cost her the only person she has left and her sense of obligation to her mother, will Ayesha find the strength to stop thinking about what everyone else wants and finally put herself first? Or is the old Ayesha truly gone for good?

 My Thoughts:

I have enjoyed Sonali Dev’s Jane Austen-inspired novels, so I was pleased to get a chance at this short story. Like her novels, this one includes Indian culture and food. Unlike the novels, I didn’t notice a Jane Austen connection.

 Dev really packed a lot into this short story. After Ayesha’s brother dies, she subsumes her entire personality into being a good daughter and helping her mother to run their restaurant. She even breaks off with her boyfriend, since he’s not Indian and her mother is opposed to their relationship.

 Seven years later, it’s time for Ayesha’s best friend to marry, and Ayesha and Emmitt are thrown together again. The chemistry is still there, he still loves her, but she tries—really hard—to push him away. He’s not going to go, though, and Ayesha finally decides that she’s ready to let go of her grief and take her chance at living her own life.

 The second chance at romantic love is nice, but it’s the second chance to repair her relationship with her mother that really got my tears going.

 Possible objectionable material:

A fade-to-black sexual encounter. Death. Recovery.

 Who might like this book:

Sonali Dev fans will not be disappointed. Anyone who loves second chances, steadfast love, and family love.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for in exchange for my honest opinion.

Welcome to the Thousand Worlds

Dragon Pearl
The Thousand Worlds #1
By Yoon Ha Lee
Publisher: ‎Rick Riordan Presents; Illustrated edition (January 15, 2019)
Hardcover: ‎320 pages
ISBN-10: ‎136801335X
ISBN-13: ‎978-1368013352
Reading age: ‎8 - 12 years
Lexile measure: ‎780L
Grade level: ‎3 – 7
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee's space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you'd never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times.

 Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds.

 When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name.

Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.

 This sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination.

 My Thoughts:

This book was a lot of fun for me, as I was only vaguely familiar with Korean mythology. Lee has given us a look at his mythology and culture in a way that is very accessible for the target audience. It’s also a fun and occasionally nail-biting adventure.

 In order to find her brother and clear his name, Min finds herself getting deeper and deeper into deceiving those around her. She gets into a lot of scrapes. She makes some good friends, and feels bad that she does so while pretending to be someone else—and she does face consequences for her deception.

 While she does ultimately triumph in the end, the road to that resolution is a bumpy one, and not all in this story is a “happily ever after.”

 Secondary characters are all round, complex individuals. I especially enjoyed Min’s bunkmates.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Min basically runs away from home. Lots of lying and deception. Some violence, not graphic. No swearing, no romance. There are nonbinary characters who use they/them pronouns, and this is taken as a matter of course, nothing exceptional. Those who have strong ideas about gender might find this offensive. And, of course, mythology and magic may offend some readers.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like space, adventure, mythology, and learning about other cultures. Min is female, but the story is very accessible to both boys and girls.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 Tiger Honor
The Thousand Worlds #2
By Yoon Ha Lee
Publisher: ‎Rick Riordan Presents (January 4, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎256 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1368055540
ISBN-13: ‎978-1368055543
Reading age: ‎8 - 12 years
Grade level: ‎3 – 7
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Sebin, a young tiger spirit from the Juhwang Clan, wants nothing more than to join the Thousand World Space Forces and, like their Uncle Hwan, captain a battle cruiser someday. But when Sebin's acceptance letter finally arrives, it's accompanied by the shocking news that Hwan has been declared a traitor. Apparently the captain abandoned his duty to steal a magical artifact, the Dragon Pearl, and his whereabouts are still unknown. Sebin hopes to help clear their hero's name and restore honor to the clan.

Nothing goes according to plan, however. As soon as Sebin arrives for orientation, they are met by a special investigator named Yi and Yi's assistant, a girl named Min. Yi informs Sebin that they must immediately report to the ship Haetae and await further instructions. Sebin finds this highly unusual, but soon all protocol is forgotten when there's an explosion on the ship, the crew is knocked out, and the communication system goes down. It's up to Sebin, three other cadets, and Yi and Min to determine who is sabotaging the battle cruiser. When Sebin is suddenly accused of collaborating with the enemy, the cadet realizes that Min is the most dangerous foe of all...

My Thoughts:

This second tale from the Thousand Worlds gives us a young relative of the villain of the first book, trying to restore their family’s honor. Themes of loyalty to family are strong in this book, and Sebin has to figure out when loyalty to family has to be set aside. Sebin also is forced to confront prejudices—such as those against Foxes—in order to do what is right.

It was good to see Min return, and see that she is thriving, although not without challenges. But this story is Sebin’s and I might like it even more than the first book. Watching Sebin try so hard to do right by both family and the Space Forces, with all the challenges that entails, was enjoyable.

As with the first book, the secondary characters are all well-drawn. Again, Sebin’s fellow cadets are a varied and interesting group. Our protagonists are not superior to the other characters, just different, and they are able to recognize that each person has skills to bring to the table. I also enjoyed seeing the antagonist come to a realization about his behavior.

As with Min, Sebin’s resolution is not entirely tidy, but it is satisfying.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Some violence, not graphic. No swearing, no romance. Sebin and other characters are nonbinary and use they/them pronouns, and this is taken as a matter of course, nothing exceptional. Those who have strong ideas about gender might find this offensive. And, of course, mythology and magic may offend some readers.

Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like space, adventure, mythology, and learning about other cultures. Those who read the first book should enjoy seeing “what happened next.”

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

  

Sweethearts of the Wild West

Carolyn Twede Frank writes turn-of-the-20^th-Century western romances. I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite genre. But when you’re looking among your ARCs for something light and quick to read, they fit the bill.

Frank’s books are published by Covenant Communications, who also publish Traci Hunter Abramson. To be honest, I found Abramson’s writing to be superior. The editing on her books was far superior as well. I know that this could be a function of the fact that I am reading uncorrected galleys, but some errors in Franks work were so fundamental—misused words, confusing “lie” and “lay”, and a mess with homophones—I really hope these were cleaned up on final.

Characters have a fairly clear line between “good” people and “bad” people. The good ones tend to be very empathetic and helpful, always wanting the best for everyone. The bad ones are low-down sneaky varmints. Side characters are engaging, which is good, because we meet them over and over through the series.

As with anything published by Covenant, these books are squeaky clean, not going past kissing with unmarried people, and some super mild innuendo between the married ones. Cursing is limited to such words as “heck” and “dagnabit.” There are hardships, and people do die, sometimes at the wrong end of a gun, but violence also is mild.

The ARCs I have are all part of her Craig, Colorado series. I do not have the second one, but here are four of the five, in order of publication. I read all four in about two days.

Heart of the West

Publisher: ‎Covenant Communications, Inc. (January 1, 2018)
Paperback: ‎224 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1524404950
ISBN-13: ‎978-1524404956
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Independent-minded women are considered highly unsuitable in Kate Donahue’s wealthy Long Island society. Yes, Kate would lead a proper life should she marry, but her dream of practicing medicine would surely be thwarted by her domineering fiancé. To follow her dream, she must take dramatic measures. So when she reads a newspaper ad seeking a qualified small-town physician, Kate embarks on a new life in the Wild West.

 

Upon her arrival in the rugged settlement of Craig, Colorado, Kate is disappointed to discover that even in the West, no one wants a woman doctor. As she struggles to establish her practice, she is kept busy fending off the unwanted attentions of a local rancher, a man unnervingly reminiscent of the ex-fiancé she left behind in New York. Romantic entanglements are the last thing on Kate’s mind. That is, until she meets Lucas McCurdy, an Irish immigrant with whom she feels an undeniable connection. But when their relationship inflames a dangerous land battle, Kate and Lucas find themselves defenseless in a lawless town—a perilous position that may cost them everything.

 My Thoughts:

Kate is a strong character who sees no choice but to escape to the frontier in order to fulfill her dream of being a doctor. Of course, people in Craig, Colorado aren’t much more open-minded about a woman being a doctor than her family was back home. Nonetheless, she begins to find success and friendship and, even though she wasn’t looking for it, love. Some of her actions backfire, and her meddling almost costs Lucas his life—when she’s not busy almost dying of exposure on an ill-thought-out trip to take care of his injuries. Of the four books in this series I read, this was my favorite.

 Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 Under the Stars

Publisher: ‎Covenant Communications, Inc. (January 1, 2020)
Paperback: ‎272 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1524411973
ISBN-13:  978-1524411978
 
Publisher’s Blurb:
When the new marshal in town needs volunteers, one of the first to sign up is Miss Rosie Decker. And why wouldn't she? She's a sharpshooting, horse-taming tomboy—and she's out for revenge. Marshal Hank Walker is forming a posse to find the man who killed her sweetheart, and Rosie is determined to help track him down. When the marshal refuses her service on account of her being a woman, Rosie is undeterred. If it's a man Marshal Walker wants, it's a man he'll get.

With his posse assembled, Hank Walker is confident he'll be able to track down the criminal. His confidence grows as he recognizes the incomparable skill of one young man in his posse—Ross. That is, until the day Ross's mustache falls off, revealing "his" true identity. Rosie Decker has duped him. Banished back to town, it's time for Rosie to prove her mettle. Though working alongside the unwilling marshal is complicated, it is the unexpected tenderness she feels for him that proves most problematic. How can she demonstrate her skill while also setting out to win the heart of the man who seems bent on keeping her out of his way?

 My Thoughts:

Hello, Mulan. This is a classic girl-pretends-to-be-a-man-and-falls-for-the-leader story. I like how capable and unafraid Rosie is. She learns an important lesson about how a need for vengeance can turn a person bitter, and I appreciate that, as well. Some of the relationship between her and Marshall Walker are predictable, but not to the point of being trite.

 Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 His Accidental Bride

Publisher: ‎Covenant Communications, Inc. (January 1, 2021)
Paperback: ‎264 pages
ISBN-10: ‎152441350X
ISBN-13: ‎978-1524413507
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Dorothy Bednar is living a life she despises. Forced to work as a double-dealing saloon girl, Dorothy has finally had enough. The next train out of town is her ticket to freedom, and Dorothy jumps aboard without a thought for where she's going—until she meets a kind woman aboard the train. Her fellow passenger was originally traveling to Colorado to marry a man she'd never met, but her cold feet offer Dorothy the perfect opportunity to set up roots somewhere new. Dorothy soon finds herself posing as the mail-order bride—after all, marrying a stranger can't be worse than what she left behind.

Young Colorado lawyer Ronald Smith is astonished when he spies the lovely woman who comes to greet him—the woman who is to be his wife. Dorothy is beyond Ronald's wildest dreams, a kindhearted partner eager to be a homemaker and mother. To Dorothy, Ronald is the most gentlemanly man she's ever met—a man who makes her feel safe and cherished. What begins as a deception soon deepens into true love, but too soon, Dorothy's secret past threatens the beautiful life she's built—a life that feels truer than anything she's ever known.

My Thoughts:

Despite her past as a saloon girl, helping her brother to cheat at cards, Dorothy is as innocent as they come. Nearly illiterate, she has had none of life’s advantages, until fate intervenes and she ends up in Craig, Colorado. Ronald is as dry as last week’s toast. Yet somehow, they fall in love. He learns to loosen up a little, and she learns what it’s like not to constantly live in fear. Would she have fallen for him had her situation been different? Hard to say. But she does, and it works. As with any romance, the road to true love does not run smooth, but, also as with any romance, they do get to the expected happily-ever-after in the end.

 Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Where Her Heart Lies
Publisher: ‎Covenant Communications, Inc. (January 3, 2022)
Paperback: ‎240 pages
ISBN-10: ‎152442076X
ISBN-13: ‎978-1524420765
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

After five years of finishing school in New York, Celeste McCurdy is ready to wash her hands of the snobbery of big-city life and be free of thoughts of Charles, the overly charming suitor who left her without a word. It’s time to return home to her small Colorado town. Despite her failed relationship with Charles, Celeste yearns to marry, and she knows just the man to handle her heart with care: her childhood love, Logan. Poor and endlessly kind, he is the polar opposite of the type of men she knew in New York. 

 Logan Jones has been dealt a difficult hand in life, forever fighting to make ends meet in his desperation to avoid the pitfalls of wealth that poisoned his family. But when his longtime friend returns to town, Logan finds a compelling reason to accept his unwanted inheritance. Because even as Logan and Celeste are drawn together, a complication arises: Celeste’s former suitor has come for the woman he let go of―and Logan won’t give her up without a fight. Torn between two men, Celeste must determine where her affections lie or risk losing a love that’s true.

 My Thoughts:

This book jumps forward about 14 years from the previous one. Logan has appeared in each of the previous books, and his family life (or lack thereof) has been an ongoing thread. Now he gets his own story, and I’m glad. Celeste returns as a finishing school dropout from the east. Naturally, this wild west girl couldn’t be sufficiently tamed, although she will admit that she has learned some useful things. She remembers Logan’s kindness from her growing-up years, but this time, she sees more—enough that she decides he’s the one for her. He is so self-effacing and humble—and poor—that he doesn’t consider himself to be in her league, though he’d really like to be. Just as things are progressing, Celeste’s former beau from New York appears in town, promising to make people rich, just as he became rich through a financial scheme by his boss, Mr. Ponzi. (You see where this is going.) Logan finally has the chance to obtain the family ranch, and, against his better wishes, does so, thinking he can buy things for Celeste to prove that he can provide for her. His sudden wealth goes to his head, and turns Celeste right off. Lessons are learned, and we do get our happy ending. Probably my favorite part is the huge act of service Logan does for his former rival for Celeste’s hand.

 Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.