Tag Archives: historical romance

Book Reviews – April 2025

7 May

Welcome back to SGL for the monthly book review!

While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy #3) by J.J. Fischer – follow the link to read about this trilogy of faith, friendship and memories.

The Magician’s Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia #1 or #6 (chronological or publication)) by C.S. Lewis -It’s a cold, wet day in London when neighbors Digory and Polly become friends. But it’s when they explore the secret passage and the door at the end of it that their adventure really begins. Narnia on its first morning. Evil sorceress Jadis whose dark magic threatens everything…even London.

~It’s quite interesting to read about just how Jadis arrived in Narnia… and if you’ve not read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, well… Jadis is the White Witch in that story. You’re welcome! Anyway, I do like Digory and Polly and their adventures with the magic rings. It’s got a bit more action than, maybe, The Horse and His Boy, but it is still a bit slow perhaps? I just genuinely enjoy this series.

Redemption (Infinity Blade #2) by Brandon Sanderson – Siris and the God King were betrayed by their true enemy, the Worker of Secrets (the creator of the Infinity Blade) and left in the Vault of Tears. When he finally gets free from the prison, Siris joins the rebellion against the Worker of Secrets’ reign. But the rebellion seems to have little direction and the battle within himself is just as real as the ones outside.

~I listened to this on Hoopla, directly after finishing book 1, and felt a little confused as to how it started… I felt like I’d been dropped into the story a couple of chapters in. I am assuming that’s because these books were based on the Infinity Blade video games. Once I got past that (blind acceptance type of thing), the story kept my attention. I liked most of the twist and turns in the plot although… I remember being kind of disgruntled about one. No Spoilers though! If you’re wanting to read a Sanderson, but not wanting a re-read, I can recommend this duology for something quick, fun and only slightly confusing

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep – follow the link to read about this 2024 release of mystery and sweet romance!

DNF’d (did not finish)

The Reverberator by Henry James – Reason: far too much descriptions of the characters that made everything drag painfully.

The Fighting Preacher by John Hill Aughey – Reason: well, I read full speeches from two different statesmen…

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – Reason: I was enjoying listening to this immensely at the beginning. The pov from the octopus was so interesting and well done! But, I got maybe a quarter in and there were enough s*x references that I turned it off and returned it to the library. Ugh. I was disappointed because it was such a unique premise – a story of an older woman and an octopus’ friendship?!

Up next possibles:

The Book of Three

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

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Of Gold and Shadows Book Review

29 Apr

I used to never buy new books, much less pre-order them. But over the past few years, I’ve been changing that stance. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “If an author is dead or famous, I use the library. If they’re new or need support, I buy the book.” I’ve started taking that more to heart, and even the well-known ones still need support, you know? =) Yes, that’s book-math in all it’s glory.

Anyway, I have loved Michelle Griep’s books for years (links for her other books that I’ve reviewed are at the end of this post). Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep is the first book in Time’s Lost Treasures series. It was published in September, 2024

This novel is set in 1888 Victorian England. It follows Ami Dalton as she struggles to make a name for herself as an Egyptologist amid the gender biases that academia is steeped in. However, her heart also lies in rescuing black-market artifacts, so she’s often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

We also follow Edmund Price, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor – after eight years in India, he’s returned to London to run for Parliament and to find an Egyptologist to value his newly acquired collection. He expects to find the esteemed professor, but instead finds the professor’s daughter, Ami. As she begins work on the collection, their connection deepens but then a golden griffin that supposedly bears the curse of Amentuk surfaces. Ami and Edmund must work together to decide whether there really is a centuries- old curse causing problems or if there’s a darker force hiding in the shadows.

The Shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined

My review:

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve not been reading very many historical fictions lately. It’s a shame but as I’m very much a mood reader, these things happen. I had this one on my shelf since it released back in September but never could quite start it for some reason… Once I started it, I was quickly hooked. I do adore Ami’s kindhearted, slightly absent-minded ways. Her determination to see historical artifacts where they can be appreciated and safeguarded. Her love of flowers and bees… Of course, Edmund is quite wonderful as well. His deep loyalty to those he cares about. His devotion to being honest, and to being vulnerable when necessary.

I found the storyline to be intriguing and appreciated the, perhaps, lesser known details/facts about that era that were sprinkled in. While I found some of the plot devices a bit expected, they weren’t heavily leaned on to support the plot! Huzzah! Which honestly, is what I expected from Griep – her stories are never cliche’ and her characters never cardboard-cutouts.

The ending was quite satisfying and sweet without being sugar-coated if you know what I mean. I did love that we got to see Ami and her father’s relationship grow through the story as well.

I’d definitely recommend this novel! If I rated via stars, it’d get a solid four, maybe a four and a half, from me.

Other books by Michelle Griep:

The House at the End of the Moor

The Captured Bride 

The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane – apparently I never reviewed this one. Suffice it to say that it was fantastic- plot twists and character depths that I appreciated. It’s been two years since I read it and I can still recall some of my favorite scenes. I’ll have to read it again this year and write out a proper review!

~ Laura

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Release Day: Amelia is Out Now!

21 Feb

Hello friends, you’ll graciously forgive me for sharing yet again, about my new release, Amelia. It’s my debut novel and I’m quite excited to send it out into the world. If you follow me over on Instagram, you’ll see that I was sharing quotes and Meet the Character videos. There’s more Amelia content to come, so if you don’t follow me there – it’s definitely not too late to join the fun!

Amelia is available today, February 21st, 2025! It’s available on Amazon and will be available at Roundabout Books in Bend, Or very soon.

Get the Paperback here
Get the E-book here

Synopsis:

What does it mean to be a woman of true beauty in a society obsessed with all the wrong things? This question is at the heart of Amelia, the debut novel—and the first installment in the City of Roses Collection—by author Laura Starr Waxman. 

It’s the late 19th century in Portland, Oregon. After having been sent away by her overbearing mother, sixteen-year-old Amelia Lynn Hughes finds herself living in a welcoming home with her adored Aunt Angie. Unbeknownst to Amelia, her aunt harbors a life-altering secret that will soon change everything. 

Captivated by the allure of high society, Amelia tries to fit in but finds it unfulfilling. Determined, Amelia pursues her long-held ambition of becoming a journalist and enters into the male-dominated world of newspaper reporting—no easy feat for a young woman who aims to move beyond the societal columns. Complicating matters, two suitors vie for her hand. While one has her heart, the other may hold the keys to her future. 

In the end, Amelia must choose the path she truly desires. Is being a journalist worth the sacrifices required? And how exactly should a young woman of substance carry herself in a changing world? 

Get the Paperback here
Get the E-book here

Visit my Amazon Author Page

You can watch for news about any giveaways, sales and any future projects on my Website, Instagram, or Pinterest. Of course, I’ll keep you updated here on SGL as well.

~Laura

p.s. the next blog post will be book reviews!

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Daughters of the Mayflower Series Review

12 Feb

I ran across this series while perusing the Christianbook site for more novels by Michelle Griep, and the first three were such a good deal that I decided to give them a try. Now, this series is rather unique as it is written by six different authors – and covers the stories of Americans from the Mayflower through World War 2. There are at least twelve books in total. I just found the site for the series here.

The first one is The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse- set in 1620. Mary Elizabeth joins her family and small community of Seperatists aboard the Mayflower in search of a better world. William Lytton is also seeking a fresh start. As a carpenter aboard the ship, he hopes to succeed in this venture. When he’s asked to look out for the interests of the Virginia Company as the community settles in exchange for a goodly sum, he agrees. But the season is late for sailing and even when they do reach land, the people are weak from the journey and building a settlement is a challenge. Will Mary Elizabeth and William survive the natives and the innumerable losses as spring comes? Will William be branded a traitor just when things seem to be turning for the better?

Next is The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’barbo – set in New Orleans, 1725. Maribel Cordova clings to the little she has left of her mother- a shawl that has been passed down through the family since they came to the New World. But she’s lost something else – her father’s treasure. And the one man who can help her find it is attorney Jean-Luc Valmont. When he accepts a position on the governor’s staff, he is certain that he’s buried his past deep enough that it will never see the light of day. But then Maribel walks into his life, and as the daughter of a notorious pirate, she could ruin everything. Will they both be able to find what they seek, and hold onto what they hold most dear?

And last but not least, is The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep- set in  Upper Fort Wilderness in Upstate New York, 1760. Mercy Lytton straddles two cultures that are united in their cause- to defeat the French. Mercy was raised among the Mohawks and has keen sight that makes her invaluable as a scout for the English military. When she is chosen for a mission with three men, she is expecting the physical danger. But the real danger is to her heart. Elias Dubois is condemned as a traitor and awaiting the gallows. At the last moment, he is offered the chance to live a little longer and help guard a shipment of gold. The gold that he stole in the first place. As he sets off with Mercy, an old ranger and a whiny soldier, Elias realizes that Mercy is far more intriguing than any woman he’s met. Will they be able to deliver the gold on time – and will they find common ground amidst the divided loyalties that split the country?

My Review: I enjoyed the first novel but felt that it was quite slow moving in the first half (or even longer) I would have liked to see more of their time in the New World than was shared. Nothing faulting the author here though, personal preference. I also felt that the characters could have jumped off the page more – while I liked both Mary Elizabeth and William, I wasn’t gripped with needing to know how their story ended. A good book but could have been even better, in my opinion. I am not sure that I’ll read it again but give it a try, it’s worth a one-time read!

As for the Pirate Bride, I had only read some short stories of hers in collections (you know, where there’s a handful of similar short stories in one book?). But I was excited about it as it was a book centered on PIRATES. And yes, I needed to capitalize that whole word to get across just how excited I was about it. The above synopsis doesn’t tell you near enough about what actually happens in this novel! I really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. I’ve not read a novel quite like it before, which was so refreshing! I will definitely be looking out for more books by her. But, back to this one – Maribel is a spunky kid- and young woman. Yes, we get to see her in two different stages in her life which really brought her to life. If we had only seen her grown, we wouldn’t have understood her struggles and stubbornness and love for ships. Y’Barbo didn’t overdo it on the information on the details (rigging, masts, starboard, etc) about the ships which I appreciated. But I did revel in what she included. Danger and intrigue; family devotion and betrayal; faith being put to the test; sweet, clean, lovely romance – all are covered in this one, folks. The characters were real and jumping off the page. In other words, give this one a try!

As for The Captured Bride by Griep – I absolutely loved it! I was sucked into the story right from the beginning, and couldn’t stop thinking about it whenever I had to put it down to do things..like life. Mercy was such a great character – her skills and knowledge were believable; her weaknesses true to life and her being willing to learn and live made it so that you could identify with her. I really liked Elias as well- the intrigue behind his story was so good and while, after finishing it, I wondered how I didn’t see ‘that’ coming –the truth is that it’s written so well that I just didn’t! Griep wove so many twists and turns into the story that it’s sure to keep you intrigued, just like it did me! This one is definitely on my Favorite Reads of 2021!

So, as a summary, each book that I read, I enjoyed more than the last one. I look forward to slowly reading more of this series but I’ll probably be trying to get them through the library before buying any more, penny pincher that I am.

Kathleen Y’Barbo’s website is here.

Kimberley Woodhouse’s website is here.

Michelle Griep’s website is here.

My review of Griep’s House at The End of the Moors is here.

Have you read any of this series?

~Laura

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Only in Gooding Series Review

6 Sep

This series by Cathy Marie Hake is so much fun. Set in Texas in the 1890s, it follows the lives of the inhabitants of Gooding. Heartfelt and full of laughs, these christian, historical romance novels are easy to read and very enjoyable.

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~While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.~

 

Fancy Pants  – Stranded in America, Lady Sydney Hathwell reaches out to a relative in Texas. With a warm invite for his ‘nephew’ to join him on his ranch, Sydney knows her name has caused a mix up. But she decides that it just might be the best way to reach Texas -masquerading as a man. However, when she arrives, Tim Creighton is appalled at the wimpy, Eastern nephew that his boss and friend is going to come home to. He decides to make a man out of Fancy Pants – and right from the get-go he has the ‘kid’ hauling rocks, mucking stalls and assisting with a calving. When Sydney’s identity is eventually revealed, Tim doesn’t like how he’s been deceived. He also realizes he doesn’t like all the attention she’s getting now that she’s wearing ribbons and dresses.

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Forevermore – Hope Ladley goes from one farm to the next, helping those who need it during harvest time in exchange for a bit of essentials. She ends up at the Stauffer farm – where widower Jakob, his young daughter and the pregnant sister that he’s protecting from an abusive husband are struggling. While Hope’s methods often leave Jakob confused and frustrated, he can’t deny the difference that her optimism and hard work are having on all of them. Just when Jakob has realized his feelings for Hope, his brother-in-law arrives, intent on reclaiming his wife. Their new-found happiness is gone, lost in the worry and danger that now plagues them. Can Jakob protect his sister and convince Hope to stay on – as his wife?

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Whirlwind – Eager to start a new life in America, Millicent Fairweather boards the Opportunity with her family. When she’s taken from steerage to be a nanny for the voyage, she soon loses her heart to the sweet little boy. His father, widower Daniel Clark, is hesitant about such a young woman being his son’s nanny. But since it’s only a week, he relents. When tragedy strikes however, Daniel takes the opportunity to aid Millicent and her sister – by marrying Millicent herself. Both say it’s a marriage of convenience but Daniel quickly realizes he’s lost his heart to his new wife. How can he woo her when she’s completely oblivious?

That Certain Spark  – When a double blessing of veterinarian and doctor are found for Gooding, the town is overjoyed. Then they find out that the doctor is a woman. Soon they are up in arms over letting Taylor Bestman practice. Her brother Enoch supports her fully but she’s going to need a lot more in order to fulfill her dream of having her own practice. The town’s blacksmith, Karl Van der Vort, is unwillingly her first patient but is still upset by her chosen occupation. Though he does find himself protective of her as she goes about the town in her red waistcoat and drives around town on her own! Sparks soon fly as pride and attraction meet head-on.

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Serendipity  -Todd Valmer’s plan of fetching his mother and bringing her home to live with him on his farm in Texas hits a major snag when she suddenly keels over on the train. They are dropped off in a small mountain town where the only reliable medical assistance is a young woman who barters for a living. Maggie Rose loves the community of miners that she barters and trades with. As well as making the rose scented soaps and perfumes that have been passed down through several generations. The rose bushes carry a wealth of treasured memories for her. Marriage has never been on Maggie’s mind – until Todd shows up. So when he proposes marriage, she agrees and they marry quickly so Maggie can go to Texas with them. But life in Texas is far different from the one that Maggie had treasured before. Todd and Maggie quickly realize that infatuation is different from love. And that Todd’s mom doesn’t want Maggie for her son. Will they fight for their love and future before it’s too late?

 

~I appreciated the different take on the *’meet-cute’ in this series. And, if you’ve been following SGL for a while, you know that the 1890s are my favorite era. I love reading novels set in this time period, whether it’s fashionable London or down-home farming – like many of Hake’s novels! As I said at the beginning of this review, these are very easy to read, perfect for when you’ve got an afternoon to wile away – or just a few minutes while on your lunch break. They pull you in quickly with the sweet simplicity of the times and interesting characters.

I can highly recommend this series to anyone, with the statement that Forevermore (book #2) and Serendipity (book 5) do deal with some weightier and sensitive issues (physical abuse, learning disabilities, physical intimacy/closeness etc). Even these, though, Hake does it right, I think. Nothing blunt or intense.

~Just in case you noticed that Forevermore isn’t in the cover photo, that’s because I didn’t read it til last – having bought it after I’d returned the few from the library. I do want to own the whole set of these eventually, but for now, the library it is!

*an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them

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