"A Noble Grace" by E.G. Bella

About this book:

  “A servant protecting her sister, a prince desperate to wed and a reluctant union to save their kingdom.
    For three long years after losing her home in the Crylmar attacks, twenty-two-year-old Annette Beaumont has worked hard to keep her family together. But when her papa’s debt to the crown is called into question, and she and her sister are sent to serve at the castle until it’s paid, she's drawn into a plot that threatens everything she's worked for.
    Shunned and hated, Prince Laurent Villeneuve is running out of time to find a bride before he forfeits his right to the throne. But to stop his treacherous uncle from seizing power and aligning with the enemy, he must overcome his kingdom’s hatred, and somehow win the affections of the stubborn servant who becomes his last chance.
    As tensions rise and threats loom, both must learn to work together, softening their hearts and setting aside their differences. When time runs out, what will they sacrifice to save their kingdom from ruin? And what if that sacrifice changes everything?”


Series: Book #3 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!


Spiritual Content- Many prayers; Praising & Thanking God; ’H’s are capital when referring to God; Going to a church for a wedding; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of a copy of the Psalms & reading it; Mentions of blessings & miracles; Mentions of a priest at a wedding; A couple mentions of the Holy Spirit in wedding vows;
             *Note: ‘Oh heavens’ is said once.
 

Negative Content- Fictional world phrases like ‘why in all of Velasia’ and ‘how in all that’s good’ are said; Laurent curses others for bothering him or interfering; A bit of eye rolling; Being kidnapped, Being held hostage, Being choked and threatened, Stabbing someone in self-defense, Pain, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Seeing fighting, others shot with an arrow (in the throat), & others injured (barely-above-not-detailed); Laurent’s uncle is trying to steal the throne from him and also tries to belittle him; Many mentions of wars, fights/battles, attacks, deaths, & villages being burned; Mentions of planned murders; Mentions of the death of Annette’s mother & her family’s grief; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of injuries, blood/bleeding, passing out, someone being unconscious for a while due to hitting her head hard (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of violence & a man slapping Annette for standing against him; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of prisons; A couple mentions of a possibly drunk man.
 
 
Sexual Content- A barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Some Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Smelling, & Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; A man grabs Annette’s wrist and comments on her appearance (she is uncomfortable); A couple mentions of seeing a couple share innocent touches; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (light). 
 
-Annette 
-Laurent
                               1^st person P.O.V. switches between them 
                                                        203 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

I had to admire Annette’s spunk—if looks could kill, the prince would have been dead many times over—but also her care for her sister. I’ve really enjoyed how the first three books in this non-connecting series have all had sibling love shown so far. 

 

I will admit that in my opinion, it took Laurent way too long to realize that he was with the wrong sister—like, half the book. I think this would be my biggest “complaint”, if you will, about the book because it made the pacing feel off to me and then the main characters have to do a pretty quick 180. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but I didn’t love how it took so long to get them together and to not be scowling at the other. 

 

One thing I really liked was that the faith content was very natural and felt like both main characters had a relationship with the Lord; Both were really nice to see and I’m curious to read more by this author.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"Christmas is for Suckers" by Abigail G. Thompson

About this book:

  “Ezra Oakland is sick and tired of life from his dad being deployed and his mom stressing about everything from his asthma to where they should put the Christmas tree. In a desperate attempt to get out of his house, he decides to work at a Christmas Tree Farm for the rest of the Christmas season, but there is one the owner's daughter is Ophelia Jones, and Ophelia has a horrible habit of annoying the snot out of Ezra. What makes it worse is that she has seemed to make it her mission to get him in the Christmas spirit even though, at this point, Ezra is pretty sure Christmas is for suckers.”


Series: Does not seem to be connected to any other book, a stand-alone novella.


Spiritual Content- A handful of Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & remembered; Prayers; Youth group & a sermon/message; Set during Christmas time; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Ezra says to God in a prayer, “you say you don’t tempt men. Does that mean pretty girls are form the devil?” (and notes that his sister would slap him for that thought); Mentions of God, Jesus, showing Jesus to others, & Christmas; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, going to youth group and church events, pastors, services, & a sermon; Mentions of Christmas hymns; A few mentions of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes (Samaritan’s Purse); A couple mentions of sharing Christ with others; A couple mentions of a book of the Bible; A couple mentions of a church member having meetings with elders after an upset and then deciding to leave the Church.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘god forbid’, a ‘smart butt’, a ‘suck it up’, a ‘you piece of trash’, two ‘blasted’s, two ‘gosh’s, two ‘shut up’s, three forms of ‘sucks’, four forms of ‘crap’, eight forms of ‘idiot’, and nine ‘stupid’s; Ezra curses Ophelia in his mind and later curses himself for being distracted; Eye rolling & sarcasm; Pain (up to semi-detailed); Grief & Sobbing (up to semi-detailed); Ophelia goes to slap Ezra across the cheek when he’s hurt her, but he catches her hand; When using his nebulizer for an asthma attack, Ezra thinks that some people (mostly teenagers) loved to joke that he was “getting high like he was smoking weed”, but Ezra doesn’t find it funny because of the side effects of the drugs on his system; Mentions of deaths & grief (Ophelia and her dad for their mom/wife due to breast cancer); Mentions of the military, soldiers, & the family greatly missing their family members; A few mentions of wars; A few mentions of injuries & blood/bleeding; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of drugs (both medically needed and weed); A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of jealousy (including Ezra over Ophelia’s childhood of growing up in the same place); A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of thieves; A mention of a man cussing out Christmas carolers; A mention of eavesdropping; 
             *Note: Ezra has a couple asthma attacks & has to use his nebulizer (one of the attacks is described in detail); Ezra feels like he has to keep his family together while his father is away and feels suffocated because of his own anxiety and his mother having panic attacks (also thinking that any kind of bad news could break his mom and send her to the hospital and that he is waiting for the floor to drop out from under him when his mom is doing better); Ezra’s mom has a panic attack and thinks she’s going crazy (Ophelia helps by distracting her; Ezra feels bitter that it’s up to him to help his mom as his sister is incapable of handling the panic attacks; up to semi-detailed); *Spoilers* Towards the end, Ezra and his mom have a heated discussion and she shares that she’s seeing a therapist and taking medications which have both helped; She apologizes to him for having to step up but is thankful he did); Ezra starts sobbing due to anxiety and missing his dad, but his mom and sister are there for him; Ezra’s mom puts him in therapy and the first session was enjoyable despite feeling like he ripped his heart out, but felt better afterward when putting it back together *End of Spoilers*; Ophelia wants to prove the her town that she’s okay after her mom passed away, to show she can still have happiness, & has to deal with a comment from an older woman who means well, but causes Ophelia to cry (telling her that she feels bad that Ophelia has to go “through these informative years without a mother” and Ophelia walks away to cry); Ophelia has gone to therapy after the death of her mom and recalls some of the things the therapist said to her; Ezra says he can’t be beaten by a girl at foosball and Ophelia comments, “You know my thoughts on feminism, but I’m pretty sure that’s sexist.”; Ezra calls Ophelia a “smart butt” at church and when she blushes and says they’re at church, Ezra says “It’s the twenty-first century, they can handle it.”; Ophelia wears shirts that say ‘Modern Feminism Sucks’, ‘Pro-Life Generation’, and ‘Empower Women by Empowering Preborn Women’ (Ezra finds some of her shirts annoying, but it does not seem like it’s because of the messages on them); Mentions of anxiety, panic attacks, & therapy and medication (and the latter two helping); Mentions of singers, movies, & fictional characters (Frank Sinatra, Home Alone, & The Grinch); A few mentions of apps (TikTok & WhatsApp); A couple mentions of feminism; A couple mentions of car brands; A mention of an author (Charlotte Bronte); A mention of Hallmark movies.
 
 
Sexual Content- A semi-detailed kiss (this kiss lasts around seven sentences due to some awkwardness); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, & Flutters (up to semi-detailed); Remembering touches & dancing (barely-above-not-detailed); Imagining touching (someone’s hair, cheek, or hand, barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to embrace & kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Flirting & Blushes; Ophelia has a crush on Ezra, wants him to like her back, and it’s said that she “lost all rationale when she had a crush” (she thinks that the best-case scenario of her plans with Ezra is that they fall “hopelessly in love” And then adds “The in-love part was a little strong, but a girl could dream.”); Ezra thinks that high-school relationships are pointless and lead to places he doesn’t want to go; *Spoiler* At the end, Ezra and Ophelia decide not to begin dating for at least a little while so they can get to know the other more before adding terms like “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” to the mix *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of crushes/liking someone, boyfriends/girlfriends, & dating; A few mentions of a kiss; A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of blushes; A few mentions of Youth Group leaders sitting down with couples to not display any “purpling” (which is said to be the “affection term Youth Groups across America used to describe any girl and boy showing anything but Christ-centered sister and brotherhood”); A mention of puberty; Some love, being in love, & the emotions (between the main characters which are teenagers);
             *Note: Ophelia wears shirts that say ‘Virginity is Cool’; A few mentions of butts & butting into someone’s life.
 
-Ophelia Jones, age 17
-Ezra Oakland, age 17
                                P.O.V. switches between them 
                                                        70 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

I’m breaking the rule of a book’s required length for reviewing on BFCG as this one is a contemporary Christian YA Christmas book! Do you know how rare those are? This one is short, really short at only 70 pages, but I’ve had my eye on it for a while now and wanted to read it. 

 

I will note that The Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes were done and collected too close to Christmas, but I’m fine with that author liberty just because it was so fun to see those and doing them mentioned! (They’re usually collected around Thanksgiving, just as a note and I highly recommend doing them if you haven’t!) 

 

I’m not sure if it’s just my copy, but there were some typos/missing punctuation and formatting errors that distracted me a bit from the story, which was kind of a bummer. 

 

Both Ophelia and Ezra had their stupid moments, but hey! They’re seventeen and going through different types of grief, so I wasn’t expecting them to be all that and make the best choices. There’s some angst in this plot because of it and definitely felt like a YA story. I think older teens might cringe a little reading this one, but mid-teens could possibly enjoy it more. It was nice to see the positive homeschooler representation, though I would have liked a little more of that besides it being said they were homeschooled. Overall, this wasn’t bad at all (maybe just needed a touch more polishing in some places) and if you really like YA books with flawed characters who mean well, this might be one to check out.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"A Noble Match" by Kirsten Fichter

About this book:

  “Can one sparrow protect Thumbelina from suitors and rebels?
    As the little sister to the crown prince, Miette was never meant to be in a position of power. When her brother Cassoway dies, the kingdom of Barlencoy suddenly becomes her most unwelcome gift. The land is torn apart by the classes, and rebellion boils at her doorstep. War is looming, and no one seems afraid of it. The kingdom may be hers, but she has no voice to quieten the tremors that threaten to tear everything she knows and loves apart.
    But a marriage also looms on the horizon. With rebels after her head, it’s difficult to focus on the suitors after her heart. Miette knows she must choose a husband soon, but how can she when her heart secretly yearns for her brother’s best friend? Gavin Vollo is the perfect match in her eyes, but his common blood disqualifies him as a suitor.
    Moving forward after Cassoway’s passing has been no easy task for Gavin. Especially since the prince’s death is his own fault. With his best friend gone, Gavin is a bodyguard without a real purpose. He doesn’t understand why the prince had to die – just like he doesn’t understand why the royal force wants him back to guard the new queen.
    Can love and true joy bring peace, or will the kingdom break beyond recovery?”


Series: Book #2 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Review of Book #1, Here!


Spiritual Content- Psalm 34:18 at the beginning & Psalm 40:1-3 at the end of the author’s note; Many prayers (including Miette praying for God to guard her heart in regard to her feelings for Gavin) & Thanking God; Talks about God, His creation, His plans, & grief; Most ’H’s are capital when referring to God; Miette believes that once Gavin conquers his grief and found his joy in the Lord again, he would be the most suitable man for her; Miette thinks that she will have to surrender Gavin to the Lord daily until she’s forgotten her feelings about him; Mentions of God (under the names of “Lord” and “Creator’), His creation, & grief; Mentions of prayers, praying, A few mentions of a deceased loved one being in the presence of the Creator; A mention of a blind character commenting on the Lord’s face being the first thing he’ll see.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a form of ‘stupid’, three forms of ‘what in the kingdoms’, and six ‘idiot’s; “mole’s tooth” is also said (implied exclamation); A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of sarcasm; Being hit, an explosion, a fire, injuries, pain, passing out, & trying to save someone (up to semi-detailed); Grief (over a brother and a friend); Gavin and Miette discuss the death of her brother, how it happened (accidental), and their different grieving processes (Gavin doesn’t want to talk about her brother as it is painful for him because he puts the blame on himself; Miette misses her brother, she focuses on the goodness of the Lord instead of her feelings); Many mentions of deaths, wars, rebellions, rebels, fights/violence, & grief over all of it (including the deaths of parents, a brother, and a friend); Mentions of assassination attempts, assassins, & murders; Mentions of crimes, criminals, & prisons; Mentions of possible drownings; Mentions of an explosion, fires, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of hangings (of criminals); A couple mentions of possible planned suicide (a potential plan of a possible assassin); A mention of throwing up;
             *Note: Prejudice from side characters towards those in different social classes (Miette finds it ridiculous that people will look at another’s bloodline and determine things about them & says that “we are all men created in the image of our Creator”); Mentions of prejudice to other social classes; In the author’s note at the end, the author shares about her nieces with Battens disease that imply neither girl will live long due to the condition.
 
 
Sexual Content- A handful of Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, & Tingles (barely-above-not-detailed); Some Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Seeing a couple in an embrace and kissing (the man tries to brush it off as not important as he’s supposed to be courting someone else, but was captivated by the other woman’s singing voice, barely-above-not-detailed); Miette realizes she’s in love with Gavin, but because he isn’t a candidate for her hand in marriage, she tries to focus on God’s plan for her life as there’s “no use in pining over something [she] can’t have]”; Mentions of having feelings for someone; A couple mentions of the couple kissing; A mention of chaperones; Love, being in love, & the emotions (light).
 
-Miette
-Gavin
                                P.O.V. switches between them 
                                                        181 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

This was great! At first, I was taken aback with the mentions of flying suits and the guards flying around, but it seemed to be steampunk inspired in that regard, perhaps?  I’m still not quite sure, but it worked and added a unique element to all the fairytale retellings I’ve been reading lately. 

 

If the first book in this (non-connecting) series was adorable, then this one was very sweet! Miette was exactly how I expected a Thumbelina character to be with her sweetness, kindness, and love of God’s creation, but is also strong for those she cares for and her passions. As someone who would love to raise monarch butterflies one day, it was so neat to see her with her butterflies in the garden! It had a lovely spring-time feel because of it and I really enjoyed this short story. It was a good length and didn’t feel short or rushed, too.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

 

"The Christmas Camel Caper" by Jane Willan

About this book:

  “Harriet Bailey is delighted with the way White Church Bay comes alive during the Christmas season, with decorations everywhere and an air of joyous festivity among the inhabitants of the Yorkshire village. She’s attending veterinarian for the annual live Nativity, though she’s a bit nervous caring for some unfamiliar animals at such a meaningful time. But when Calvin the camel somehow escapes his enclosure and ends up in a neighbor’s garden, his nose deep in a basket of figgy pudding, there’s more than a ruined dessert to contend with. During his escape, the church’s priceless Christmas star, made of silver and sapphires, has gone missing!
    As Harriet and Pastor Will Knight begin their search for the historic treasure, they uncover clues dating back to Harriet’s great-grandparents. Perhaps the secrets of the past will guide them to the present-day thief. Can Harriet and Will restore the town’s beloved star before the midnight service on Christmas Eve?”


Series: Book #7 in the “Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm” series. Review of Book #1 Here! Book #2 Here!, and Book #3 Here! (Reviewing out of order due to the Christmas-centered plot of this book, but they can be read as stand-alone novels as well.)


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are read at church in sermons (including the first Christmas) quoted, & mentioned; Set during Christmas time; A couple Prayers; Talks about God; 'H's are capital when referring to God; All about & many mentions of the Christmas star, churches, church events and groups, & pastors; Mentions of God, prayers, praying, & being lead by God’s life; Mentions of Bibles & hymnals; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of church going, services, sermons, & hymns; Mentions of a live nativity; A few mentions of confessions and Catholic priests; A couple mentions of stained glass as a church; A mention of a painting of Jesus; A mention of Godspeed; A mention of whispering a prayer for a deceased family member; 
             *Note: The author of this book is written by a female reverend; A free-spirited character talks about never having a pet before because of her unpredictable life feels wrong to tether “another soul to”, but had found a ferret and it being like their “inner beings had fused”; An artist shows Harriet her painting titled “Moonbeam Meditation” of cats doing yoga; A man talks about knitting almost being “meditative” and has been shown to “improve mental health”; A mention of a pastor being in “prayer and meditation” to prepare for a service.
 

Negative Content- A tiny bit of sarcasm (rude, not teasing); Being attacked, Being tied-up, Passing out, Pain, Receiving threatening notes, Fear, & a Nightmare of almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); In a flashback/journal entry of Harriet’s great-grandmother, there are scenes of her young brother being sick (influenza), her concern about him dying, and then grief from her and her parents after his passing; Also in the journal, there are scenes during World War II and being in a bomb shelter, being concerned for loved ones, & a woman enlisting as an ATA pilot; Harriet is homesick at times; Harriet helps injured and dying animals (including a hedgehog near death); All about & many mentions of break-ins, stolen items, stealing, thieves/criminals, & crimes; Mentions of World War II, fighting/battles, bombs/explosions, bomb shelters and damage, & the concern of loved ones being hurt or killed; Mentions of deaths & grief (including for a younger brother, a father, and a mother); Mentions of being held hostage, kidnappings, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out; Mentions of a con-man; Mentions of art frauds; Mentions of bullies & name calling; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of homesickness; Mentions of a missing/lost cat (that is found safe); Mentions of ill and injured animals that Harriet takes care of; A few mentions of a dog being hit by a car and paralyzed (Harriet’s grandfather’s dog who she now has); A couple mentions of a death in a car accident; A mention of jealousy; 
             *Note: Some comments about ATA women pilots and other women during World War II “prevailing gender stereotypes” and “dismantling gender barriers”, and receiving equal pay (both in the bonus content at the end of the book and a character facing a couple comments from her father about it as well); A man comments negatively about a soon-to-be father having plenty of time to do something else while his wife is in labor as it could take hours (Harriet holds back her defense of the father being present at labor and birth); A woman tries to make her new pet ferret a vegan like she is, but Harriet tells her that while she respects her personal beliefs, ferrets are carnivores and need to eat meat for their health; Mentions of someone being “unstable” and wanting revenge; Mentions of a woman’s cats that are named after former prime ministers (Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, & Tony Blair); A handful of mentions of books, authors, & fictional characters (Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Byron, Yeats, John Grisham, & Sherlock Holmes); A few mentions of TV shows & fictional characters (Midsomer Murders); A few mentions of Harriet vaccinating animals; A couple mentions of car brands (Mini Cooper & Land Rover).
 
 
Sexual Content- A bit of hand holding, noticing, attraction, emotions, & blushes; A bit of noticing, smelling, flutters, & attraction in the flashbacks; Mentions of dates & dating; A couple mentions of blushes.
 
-Harriet Bailey
                                P.O.V. of Harriet (with journal entries of her great-grandmother)
                                                    270 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

I always have tried to read Guidepost mysteries in publication date order—even if they are all stand-alone books by various authors can be read out of order. This is only the second or third time I’ve purposely read them out of order and with this book, it’s because I wanted to read and review the Christmas themed book in the month of December. 

 

I do think you could read this as a stand-alone as some of Harriet’s backstory and why she’s living and working in England in explained. I’ll always suggest to start at the beginning of a series, but I think it would fine if you just wanted to jump in with this book.

 

I was a little disappointed that I guessed the culprit as soon as that person showed up. With how many times that’s happened. I feel like that means I ought to be a detective—but it probably means I read too much. 😉 I didn’t have the motive so that part was a mystery still at least, but I felt a little letdown by the reveal. 

 

There’s a bit more romance—or really potential romance—in this book than any others in this series or most of the other Guidepost mysteries I’ve read. I’ve been waiting for a little more, to be honest, because of Harriet and the young pastor’s friendship! This book is also different from the rest of the series as we have flashbacks/journal entries from Harriet’s great-grandmother during her life in 1920s to World War II. 

 

I was excited to hear recently that this series has been extended to eighteen books and look forward to reading them all!

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"A Noble Purpose" by Laurie Lucking

About this book:

  “To help her miserable sister, Princess Liesel must survive the elements, danger…and her grumpy guard.
    Princess Liesel’s older sister, Verena, hasn’t smiled in years. Desperate to improve her low spirits, the king declares that the man who can make Verena laugh will earn her hand in marriage.
    But his plan seems doomed to failure from the start. Each unsuccessful attempt only makes Verena more despondent, and a set of mysterious masked suitors raises suspicions about a plot by an enemy prince. When Liesel discovers her sister still harbors feelings for a guard who was sent away years before, she embarks on a desperate quest to find him, both for the sake of Verena’s future happiness and their kingdom’s safety.
    As increasingly dangerous challenges hinder Liesel’s journey, she begins to wonder if they’re more than coincidence. Will she and her travel companions even make it to Verena’s former guard, let alone convince him to return with them?
    With each impediment drawing her closer to her own surly knight, more than just her sister’s happily-ever-after may be hanging in the balance.” 


Series: Book #1 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone.


Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking and Praising the Holy One; Liesel views her faith as private and has never done any prayers spoken in front of others, so she feels awkward about doing one on the journey; Liesel has a couple of reassurances from the Holy One during prayers and feels peace afterwards; Liesel asks the Holy One to forgive her falsehood to her sister; Mentions of the Holy One (God); Mentions of prayers, praying, thanking the Holy One, & someone looking up to the heavens while praying; Mentions of Resurrection Sunday (called “Siebennet”) & going to church on that day; A few mentions of a priest; A few mentions of blessings; A mention of being reunited with loved ones in paradise with the Holy One for all of eternity;
             *Note: “For heaven’s sake” is said once.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bloomin’’ and a ‘drat’; A couple fictional world phrases like “thank the snows”, “why in the snows”, and “snows” are said and exclaimed; A mention of a curse (said, not written); Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Liesel lies that she will be visiting a friend but instead goes on a journey to find the man she sister fell in love with (when she finds the man, she isn’t honest and doesn’t tell him about the proclamation; She feels guilt over both and her guard calls her out for her deception and lying); Being held at knife-point & an attempted kidnapping (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars & possible wars; Mentions of bandits, thieves, attacks, & an attempted kidnapping; Mentions of a fire & injuries; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of a tattoo being received by every man who failed to make the princess laugh (done with a berry juice and lasts about six months); Mentions of lies, lying, & deception; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of a parent being ill; A couple mentions of being held hostage.
 
 
Sexual Content- a fingers-to-lips touch, a cheek kiss, a forehead kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Some Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Tingles, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Liesel falls asleep in the arms of her (young and handsome) guard in the journey; Liesel feels a bit of envy for another’s relationship working out; A few mentions of blushes & falling in love; A couple mentions of a king and his son not being known for their fidelity; A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of envy; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
 
-Princess Liesel, age 19
                                1^st person P.O.V. of Liesel 
                                                        142 pages

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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

This was really adorable and I adored the sweet sister content as Liesel is on a mission for her sister’s happiness—which might just lead to some happiness for herself as well. This was my first time reading about this fairytale and thus first time for a retelling as well, but I’m going to have to see if I can find more of this story because this was such a cute retelling! I also really liked how the faith content was worked in naturally. A great start to this multi-author series!

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"The Lost Rose" by Victoria Lynn

About this book:

  “Years have passed, the world has changed, and loss has punctuated the lives of the Eliran people.
    A royal disaster, a changing country, and political alliances faltering at every turn, the land of Elira is struggling to maintain its borders, its perseverance… and it’s hope.
    A knight on a quest, a lost princess, an evil foreign ruler, and a secret of epic proportions will change the face - and the future - of Elira forever.”


Series: Book #3 in “The Chronicles of Elira” series. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here! (Best to read the books in order.)


Spiritual Content- Many, many Scriptures are quoted, remembered, mentioned, thought about, & discussed; Many, many prayers (including it being said that characters are praying in tongues (not written) and with incoherent words) & Thanking God; Worshiping & Hymns/songs of worship; Many talks about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, trusting in Him, Him always being with us, having hope, & witnessing; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; God speaks to the main characters (usually Scriptures changed to be as if God was saying it to them); Feeling peace from & the nearness of God; Taking communion together with a group; Rosalie was told that no matter what happened to her, the Lord’s words would always comfort her & has many Scriptures memorized; In his time of grief, Elgon asks God why something happened and what did he do wrong (a Scripture comes to mind at this); Elgon feels a sickening ache at the thought of going against an order from God (so he does not go against it); Many, many mentions of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, trusting in Him, having and holding onto hope, & having peace; Many mentions of prayers, praying, answered prayers, praying in tongues and in “words [the character] didn’t even know”, thanking God, & praising God; Mentions of witnessing & bringing Christ to other lands; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of hymns & singing Scriptures; Mentions of Heaven (including being given a perfect body and soul & spending every second in worshiping the King of kings); Mentions of others being attuned to the spirit realm (including by prophetic dreams); Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of angels; A few mentions of blessings; A mention of fasting; A mention of someone having God-given magic (her talent for healing and helping others, not actual magic);
             *Note: Religious phrases are said such as: “Mój boże.” is said once by a side character, a ‘God alive’, a ‘for the King’s sake’, a ‘for heaven’s sake’, a ‘law’ (exclamation), a ‘merciful heavens’, two ‘saints alive’, and two ‘sakes alive’; A person is said to have been “damned” to a life imprisonment; A man is called a demon; *Spoiler* Malcolm runs fast as if he’s flying after meeting someone that is implied to be an angel *End of Spoiler*; Rosalie thinks that to truly know someone is to “know the depths of the evil inside” of the person and is concerned if others will see evil in her; Elgon feels the weight of his crown with the monarchs of past “hanging about the metal circlet like ghosts crowded around their past lives”; Rumors about Rosalie being a witch (locked in a tower) were spread & Malcolm uses it to their advantage (such as threatening that she’ll put a spell on the person of he talks about seeing her; This is done for her safety and Malcolm asks God to forgive him); When thinking about a certain forest that has rumors of ghosts and demons, Malcolm doesn’t doubt that there are demons as they use peoples’ fear against them and adds that “lands carried the sins of those that made them, and when allowed to stay, the evil was given a right to what should never have been under its authority in the first place”(but he notes he has a weapon that would defeat such spirits); Rosalie doesn’t believe in ghosts, but does wonder if there’s something that will harm them in a forest; Mentions of the devil & the enemy; Mentions of hell (Christ saving us from eternal hell, a battle being referred to as “the very gates of hell”, there being “hell to pay” if something happens, all hell breaking loose, “holding back hell” with a battle, someone taking in the “very depths of hell” to get someone back, Rosalie’s prison being referred to as “the hell” she had left twice, a literal mention of hell (the place), & the “hell” of someone’s injuries being his penance); Mentions of mountains and a forest that seem “otherworldly” and that is rumored to have “cursed/evil spirits”, ghosts, or “demons of the past” (the latter adds those demons are “witches and devils and the bodies of those [the king] had defeated who had been too cursed to pass into the heavenly realm”) lurking in them (someone else says that the people in that country believe in “witches, spirits and seances with ghosts” in the forest, but she and her group know there is only one Spirit, the Holy Spirit who is “more powerful than anything than they will ever give Him credit for”); Mentions of a superstitious country and the people there living in fear of a spiritual battle that may not exist because of the lack of knowledge about Christ; Mentions of rumored witches & them casting a spell on others (including rumors about Rosalie & an elderly woman that the villagers call a witch but is not one); Mentions of the ghosts of someone’s past; Mentions of evil (including evil people and their evil actions); A couple mentions of unseen force of darkness being felt; A couple mentions of bad memories being like ghosts trying to hunt someone down; A couple mentions of past demons (in someone’s life); A mention of “ungodly” voices in a forest; A mention of a “god forsaken” land; A mention of something not being written by God in the stars; A mention of hellfire befalling someone; A mention of an evil man being called a demon; A mention of a legend about the “king of the dark realm” mining a place and creating a castle; A mention of musicians casting a “spell” on their listeners; A mention of something calling to someone like a siren; A mention of a rabbit’s foot (to keep a plague away; not sincerely believed in and called witchcraft); A mention of a witches brew.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a cut-off “bit him on the a—“, a cut-off “horse—“, an ‘idiot’, a ‘shift it’, two ‘stupid’s, and five ‘shut up’s; Mentions of curses (said, but not written including by Malcolm); A bit of eye rolling; Good characters lie to the enemy for the sake of their or others’ safety; Almost falling off a cliff, a cave-in, Fighting/Attacking, Shooting arrows, Being shot/shot at, Being slapped, Being kicked, Being captured/tied-up, Being sick, Pain, Injuries, Blisters, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, & Throwing up (up to semi-detailed); *Spoiler* A main character loses a limb, up to border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed *End of Spoiler*; Grief & Heartbreak/Pain (up to semi-detailed); Recalling fighting, battles, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & throwing up (up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone with a slit throat & not being able to be saved (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Seeing fighting, battles, someone held at knife-point, others injured and bleeding/blood, & bodies (up to semi-detailed); Seeing the death of a pony (falling off a cliff and crying over it) & a horse being shot by an arrow (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); A villain slaps his son (in his point of view, up to semi-detailed); Rosalie recalls her childhood days of pain and abuse (barely-above-not-detailed); Malcolm is tempted to kill someone and call it self-defense (though it would be unprovoked and an enemy); Both Rosalie & Malcolm have a hot toddy to get warm; During communion, Malcolm has a sip of the wine (unsaid if Rosalie does); Later, Malcom is given wine to drink for his injuries; Malcolm acts drunk to get by some guards; Elgon doesn’t care for wine after losing his memory (Book #1) and being unable to control his own mind; *Spoilers* When Elgon found out that Violet (who was pregnant) was captured by enemy forces, he grieves hard but holds onto hope for the majority of the book and years she is missing; As the years pass by, many others believe that she is gone, but he continues to hold onto the hope that she and their child are alive; *Bigger Spoilers* Towards the end of the book and in the last few years, he gets the feeling that Violet is no longer alive and is heartbroken *End of Spoilers*; Rosalie grieves someone she believe has died & also what could have been (had she not be taken from her parents); Many, many mentions of wars, battles, fighting, being under attack, weapons, deaths, & bodies (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of slavery, slaves, slave traders, being held captive, hostages, prison-like places, & abuse; Many mentions of fevers/illnesses, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & losing limbs (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of villages being ransacked/raided, stealing, & deaths; Mentions of plagues & deaths; Mentions of poisons & deaths/murders; Mentions of deaths, grieving (including of missing loved ones), & widows and orphans;  Mentions of people willing to lay down their lives for others or their country (including for Rosalie); Mentions of guards roughing Rosalie around (& getting in trouble for it as they’re not supposed to harm her); Mentions of possible injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of alcohol, drinking (including for injuries and to stay warm), & drunks; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of nightmares (including ones of Rosalie waking up that she is going to be held captive again by an enemy); Mentions of tattoos (including by a group of good people to recognize others in their group; looked upon positively); Mentions of hunting & traps; A few mentions of starving children; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of torture; A couple mentions of threatening to slit someone’s throat (a hostage); A couple mentions of burns/scars; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a fire sacrifice; A mention of gambling; A mention of wolves attacking shepherds and their flock; A mention of a place smelling like a chamber pot;
             *Note: Rosalie recalls the feeling of being held captive & struggles to breath when thinking about it and possibly being held captive again at times; Both Rosalie and Malcom have a negative voice telling them lies (including Rosalie not understand why others believe her to be worth a great sacrifice on their parts); Malcolm feels like a failure and has guilt over not being able to protect someone & at one point, thinks he deserves to die; Malcolm doesn’t want to get married or have children because he was seen others grieve and doesn’t want to be the reason someone has a lifetime of sorrow.
 
 
Sexual Content- A hand kiss and seven kisses by married couples (most barely-above-not-detailed with one being borderline to semi-detailed); A few touches, embraces, nearness, & smelling between a married couple (borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Rosalie expects that the king’s plan for her is to join his courtesans (which she adds that those women are “nice enough” but that they have to live their lives pleasing the king and she hopes there’s more for her life than that); The king wants Rosalie brought to him on her fifteenth birthday & she didn’t understand as a child, but started to understand as a teen when he would visit her more frequently with a look that brought her “fear and confusion” (*Spoiler* Towards the end, it’s revealed that he plans for her to marry his son and bare him a child which will allow him to be in control of more countries *End of Spoiler*); A guard grabs Rosalie’s face and says she’s becoming pretty (she demands he let her go and he slaps her; it’s said that other guards that tried to touch her were never heard from again as she is the king’s); Mentions of girls being rescued from another country (implied human trafficking and/or prostitution) & a bordello (added that the young women were rescued from a place they were in against their wills and “made to do things that no human being should ever have to do outside of their own wishes or desires”); Mentions of married couples kissing & their kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of blushes; A mention of a woman (who is hinted to have been abused by men) shuddering when innocently touched by a man; A mention of a flirtatious grin;
             *Note: A mention of a mother nursing her baby.
 
-Rosalie
-Malcum
-Elgon
                                P.O.V. switches between them & others  
                                                        602 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

I have so many emotions and I don’t know where to start. When I first began this book, I was eager to find out what’s happened to these characters in the last fourteen years, but also very nervous as well. Which was totally fair and reasonable because ahhh! So much has happened and not all of it is good. My heart is ripped out of my chest a bit, I won’t lie over that ending, but I’m holding onto hope that we’ll see certain characters again in the next book.
 
Speaking of hope. The faith content in this book was absolutely lovely and so incredibly encouraging to read. The messaging of hanging onto hope and fully trusting on God is something I so needed to read and it touched my heart in more ways than one. The faiths, prayers, Scriptures, and living fully for the Lord is such a prevalent part of this book and is truly the backbone of the plot in such a brilliant way. 
 
To my fellow fans of the prior two books: Brace yourself. That’s all I can say without giving spoilers, but know that as I say those two words about twenty different emotions flashed on my face and tears welled up in my eyes. Brace yourself. 
 
I had goosebumps at the prologue and was kept in suspense the entire book, waiting on two important scenes to happen. Like I said above, my heart is slightly battered after reading everything that these characters have gone through in the last fourteen years since the first book and then also in just the current-day setting of this book. So many scenes played out in my head like a movie, which not every book does that for me. I think that’s why this book flew by despite being 600+ pages long—and probably because I was desperate for reunion scenes. 
 
Rosalie was a dear girl and has been through so much in her fourteen years. While I’m never quite sure what to think about characters in books getting older and reading about their children, I could see so much of her parents in her and that truly endeared her to me. Her faith, courage, and outlook on life was all so similar to Violet and Elgon, my heart was warmed by it. Also seeing her open up to Malcom and him to her was precious. The protector/uncle storyline was so well-done and such an important part of this book that I immensely enjoyed. 
 
I needed book four yesterday when I started this book, haha. If anyone needs me, I’m going to be cuddled with an emotional-support, fluffy blanket and a cup of tea until it releases. I’m only slightly kidding as I type that. Only slightly. I’ll just be here, waiting and holding onto hope for a certain reunion scene. (Please, dear author, please.)

 

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review and endorsement.