BookLoverAmanda

  Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly 4 Stars Book 2 in the Emma Knightley Mystery Series Read this series if you enjoy: ✨ Regency settings ✨ Jane Austen continuations done right ✨ Cozy mysteries with heart and humor ✨ Smart, observant heroines ✨ Mysteries centered on family secrets  This was another delight to read after Murder in Highbury! Perfect for Austen fans and cozy mystery lovers. The author always captures the wit and spark of Jane Austen in these books while keeping you invested in the whodunit storyline.  Emma and her husband George host a holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate but things get wild when her father announces him and Mrs. Bates are engaged to be married! Emma's lady's maid Prudence Parr is found dead and Emma's instincts tell her something more happened here....once again, her and Mr. Knightley have to figure out what happened.... Overall, I just really enjoy my time in this series. I haven't read Emma myself, but it makes me want...

  Hearts Under Fire by Cori Lynn 4.5 Stars Rounding Up to 5 Stars On Goodreads Honorable Mention for A Favorite Book of 2025 💌📮🎖️🪖💔🕰️💌📓🖋️🔍🗝️ YOU GUYS. This book was SO good! I am beyond impressed with Cori Lynn's debut novel - Hearts Under Fire.  I read this with my friend Jeanette and loved the buddy reading experience. Read this immediately if you like: ✨Clean, Historical Romance ✨Stories with Journal Entries  ✨Hidden, Secret Journals and the Mystery Surrounding Them ✨Dual Timeline Stories that tie together well ✨WWII Historical Romance  ✨Love Triangles DONE RIGHT ✨Antique Restorations  ✨Second Chances  ✨Grief Thread with Hope  ✨Realistic Character Driven Stories  I honestly think so many of you will like this book. It was very engaging and layered - so much in under 300 pages Cori packed into this story!  We follow Laura who is an antique expert that stumbles upon an old steamer trunk and decided to restore it. The trunk has a s...

Book Review: On The Edge of Trust by Patricia Bradley  4 Stars  Another good Patricia Bradley read! This book is a Christian Romantic Suspense that keeps you on edge with fast paced suspense, characters you root for and a faith thread that is naturally woven in the book. We follow FIB undercover agent Scott Sinclair and Crime Reporter Podcaster Tori Mitchell. Scott and Tori work together as her nephew is accused of murder. Scott was wounded by gunshot and is recovering from the injury as it threatens his future career. Tori is a very passionate crime reporter and podcaster who continues to pursue the truth. She works to free wrongfully imprisoned people and search for the truth at all costs.  When her nephew is accused of a murder he didn't commit, she is trying to clear his name. Someone doesn't like her investigating though and comes after her...Scott and Tori are connecting, romance grows....stakes are intensifying....you know the drill.   I haven't read the other...

 The Prince Warriors by Pricilla Shirer 4 Stars Book 1 in this Trilogy  This is a very engaging, spiritually rich adventure that pulls young readers and even adults into a vivid unseen world with an epic action packed adventure. A great Christian fantasy.   We follow Xavier and Evan with so many high stakes. The mysterious creature Ruwach introduces them to Ahoratos - the true realms where spiritual battles are fought.....the story goes on from here with these ordinary kids as Prince Warriors in battle.  The message is clear. You have everything you need. God equips us with the armor and strength we need for the battles we face. The allegory in this had some great spiritual parallels.  The worldbuilding was really good, enjoyed the pacing - very fast and included themes of courage, identity and faith woven into a very adventurous story. Definitely a page turner!   I think if you like Narnia, Pilgrim's Progress...or stories like that, this would b...

  The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars  Book #4 in the Sheet Cake Texas Series  A Charming Fake-Dating Rom-Com with Heart and Humor Another great read from Emma! Sheet Cake, Texas is one of my favorite fictional places!  Molly is ready for a fresh start and runs to Texas to outrun her problems....only to run right into a bigger one....she needs a fake boyfriend for her job circumstances! Here comes Collin and she ropes him into her scheme, but unfortunately, it's the one guy she didn't realize who he truly was....leading to some family shenanigans.  Honestly, this whole series is a perfectly fun rom-com mishap that keeps you rooting for the characters from page one.  Their “fake” relationship is full of spark, awkward charm, and emotions neither of them is prepared for. The neighborly app was so fun too with all the chats! The town gives such a cozy feel and while the book worked as a standalone, I need to read books 2&3 ASAP to get some of the con...

 The Royal Artisan by Tessa Afshar  4 Stars   Once again, Tessa has a beautiful blend of biblical history, romance and mystery right into the royal courts of ancient Persia.  Tessa really has a gift for biblical fiction. She gives such a view that we normally wouldn't have explored without reading through her stories. We follow Sazana, a very talented Jewish artisan whose pottery is very well known. She has a secret identity that puts her in danger under the rule of Haman. Her parents passed away years ago and for the last 12 years, her parents friend has watched over her and worked with her. In comes Jadon, the man who broke her heart years ago and is now unexpectedly assigned to protect her and uncover threats.  The second chance romance pulls so much emotion with Sazana and Jadon, loved their interactions. Some bits were a bit slow on pacing that I wasn't as connected with, but overall, I still loved the balance of romance, family, mystery and biblical aspect...