Mark of the Raven - A Review

Published - November 2018, Bethany House
Series - Ravenwood Saga Book 1
Author - Morgan L. Busse
Title - Mark of the Raven
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

My Thoughts:
This book intrigued me. I enjoy fantasy and wanted to try this one. I'll admit, I was hooked. Hooked to the point that I stayed up late many nights. Selene and Damien are interesting characters. I want to know more. I liked them both, but I really want more. I want to know more about the different gifts that the houses have. I want to find out what will happen next.

I guess that you can say I'm anxious for the next book.

I received a copy from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

Recommended to fans of fantasy. 

Rating - 4 stars

Shelter of the Most High - A Review

Published - October 2018, Bethany House
Series - Cities of Refuge Book 2
Author - Connilyn Cossette
Title - Shelter of the Most High
Format - ebook, paper
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About the Book:
The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a City of Refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood and chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Will they break free from the shackles of the past in time to uncover the betrayal and save their lives and the lives of those they love?

My Thoughts:
Biblical fiction is a genre I don't read a lot of. I enjoy it, but in moderation. I've read one of Connilyn Cossette's before and enjoyed it, so I thought why not. 

This one was slow moving at first. I did enjoy it. It just took me a while to get into it. I'm not very familiar with the period in Bible history that this one is set in, but the way that the author describes things makes me feel as if I was there. She writes in vivid detail. I would like to read the next one in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to share my honest opinion of it. I was not required to like the book, only to give an opinion. My thoughts are my own.

Recommended to fans of Bible fiction, Mesu Andrews, Angela Hunt

Rating - 4 stars

Christmas Heirloom

Published - September 2018, Bethany House
Authors - Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Becky Wade
Title - Christmas Heirloom
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson, a man far above her station.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her family's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

My thoughts:
Having a book that follows generations is always fun. I've read things by these authors before, and I've loved them. Seeing them come together to do a holiday novella collection was rather fun. It's hard to pick a favorite one since I really enjoyed all four of them. This collection contains one set in the mid 1800's, post Civil War, 1950's, and present day, so there is truly something for everyone.

I received a copy from the publisher on behalf of one of the authors in order to share my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book, only give an honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

Rating - 4 stars