Review + Blog Tour: “Beauty Among Ruins” by J’nell Ciesielski

Beauty Among Ruins is the first novel I’ve read by J’nell Ciesielski, and I am very impressed! I want to go back and read her backlist now 😉

Join me today in celebrating her upcoming novel release with a blog tour and a chance to win a paperback copy in a giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Publication Date: January 12, 2021
Thomas Nelson
Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Scottish

In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected.

American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.

Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light.

Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love?

‘A Scottish lord and an American socialite discover love during WWI in this gorgeous historical romance from Ciesielski (The Socialite)…The undercurrent of mystery and Ciesielski’s unflinching approach to the harsh realities of wartime only enhance the love story. Readers are sure to be impressed.’ –Publishers Weekly

Available for Pre-Order

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.

Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com. You can also find J’nell on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Review

Beauty Among Ruins is an exquisite romance set against the perils of war and loss. With deep themes of sacrifice and longing, J’nell Ciesielski’s style transports the reader to the idyllic Scottish Lowlands and stirs a longing for tradition.

Through Alec and Lily’s eyes, the struggles of recovering WWI soldiers are spotlighted with the noble sacrifices nurses and homeowners offered to house the convalescing men. A mystery with more than one suspected character, combined with a plot to smear the laird’s name and weigh on his guilt, all deftly intertwines with the day to day work of providing physical and mental care. I was happy to see Lily’s steadfastness and growth through circumstances she did not initially choose.

The romance in this story is one of my new favorites! With subtle hints of beauty and the beast vibes, Alec’s initial brooding and distance disguise a poetic heart that answers Lily’s in a beautiful way. They are wonderful compliments to each other. And when he speaks Gaelic to her, BE STILL MY HEART.

With a full cast of characters that lend a sense of place and family camaraderie to the story, Beauty Among Ruins is a historical drama not to be missed by fans of Scottish settings, WWI homefront stories, or poignant romance.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, January 6
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Thursday, January 7
Review at Read Review Rejoice

Friday, January 8
Review at The Green Mockingbird

Saturday, January 9
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, January 11
Review at Jorie Loves A Story

Tuesday, January 12
Interview at Books & Benches

Wednesday, January 13
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Thursday, January 14
Excerpt at Heidi Reads

Friday, January 15
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Saturday, January 16
Review at Nursebookie

Monday, January 18
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Tuesday, January 19
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Wednesday, January 20
Review at Novels Alive

Thursday, January 21
Review at Hallie Reads

Friday, January 22
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Giveaway

We have 5 paperback copies of Beauty Among Ruins up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on January 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Enter the Giveaway here!

Review: “The Wedding Chapel” by Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck has the ability to pen stories that are both sweet and gritty, dealing with real life in a way that illuminates the thread of the Divine in all of our lives. Her latest novel, The Wedding Chapel, is one such example. Read on for my review.

*click here to see my review of Rachel’s previous novel, How to Catch a Prince*

About the book: An old, forgotten chapel holds the key to love and forgiveness.

Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—building a wedding chapel for Collette Greer, the woman he fell in love with in 1949. But now a realtor wants the land the chapel sits on, and he sees no reason to hang onto the past.

Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s string of failed marriages. When she falls head-over-heels for Jack Gillingham, a top ad man, their whirlwind romance and elopement leave her with doubts. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to find the right way to show her he really cares.

When a post-mortem letter from Taylor’s Granny Peg shows up, along with an old photo, she is driven to uncover family secrets and the secret to her own happiness, starting with an assignment to photograph an unknown, obscure wedding chapel back in Heart’s Bend.

Taylor begins a mission to convince Jimmy that the chapel is worth saving—and that forgiveness and healing might happen within the chapel’s walls . . . for both of them.

My thoughts: With subtlety and beauty, this story paints a picture of how God requires our surrender, to be wholly dependent on Him, in order to bless us. Jack’s transformation stood out to me the most, possibly because his backstory was unfortunate and tough to overcome. I was rooting for him to embrace his path.

Just so you know, I’m not typically a fan of a book with as many as 4 main characters (with corresponding viewpoints), but Rachel’s skills make the story cohesive, even with occasional flashbacks to Colette and Jimmy’s early relationship. It follows these characters as all 4 experience a drastic shift in perspective, learn lessons of personal worth, and realize how much family matters.

I appreciated how Rachel timed flashbacks in this story to explain how the characters’ past shaped their current life, and how their choices had a lasting impact. I think Rachel did wonderfully in choosing which moments to flash back to and which to just explain in passing. The subtle hint of suspense regarding a certain secret one of the characters held on to was well staged, too.

This is a poignant story of love, faith, second chances, and recognizing the blessings in front of you. I am glad this title will find a place on my shelf because it is one of those I think will reveal deeper emotions and lessons with every re-read!

Thank you to Rachel Hauck for the opportunity to be a part of her “tribe”, Zondervan, & NetGalley for the review copies.

 

“How a Star Falls” REVIEW + INTERVIEW with author Amber Stokes

Today I’m absolutely delighted to be hosting Amber Stokes as a part of her blog tour for her latest contemporary “new adult” novella, How a Star Falls. (You may remember my cover reveal post) Amber has been a long time blogging and Twitter friend, and I’m happy to share my love of her writing skills with you all. Read on for my review, interview with Amber, ways to connect with her, and GIVEAWAY info. FOR THE BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE.

About the Book

Sweet NA Contemporary Romance Novella

How does a star fall?
Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly.
Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he’ll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it’s far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won’t stop trying to run his life.

Then Brielle falls into his world.

She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she’s crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can’t just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home.

And his whole world falls apart.

A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, How a Star Falls explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.

Purchase on Amazon

My thoughts: 

I thought How a Star Falls was a sweet, intriguing story of finding your place — and learning that sometimes your biggest blessings are right in front of you. As Derrick and Brielle adventured through a few days, I was continually wondering if the story would move beyond the borders of reality into a fantasy. (I can’t tell you if it did or not, but I will say that I was happy with the ending) Amber’s writing style flows smoothly and with detail, causing me to wish  the story wasn’t over so soon. I could definitely read more about these characters! Perhaps she’ll write more about Derrick’s sisters at some point 🙂

Brielle seems to bring out the best in Derrick, making him leave his comfort zone and dare to hope his life could be better, even if it’s not quite what he first imagined. I loved the references to pop culture sprinkled through the story. They are an obvious reflection of Amber’s tastes and fun personality. Overall, this was a very enchanting story and one I would recommend to both mainstream and inspirational fiction fans!

Thank you to Amber for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review!

~Interview with Amber~

What inspired you to write this book?

I’m not entirely sure how the idea first popped into my head. Maybe it was when I was walking around my parents’ house and noticed the International Star Registry^® certiface on the wall. I just recall a really vague idea about a story of stars personified and dancing coming to mind while I was doing a workout video in my parents’ living room. That was about a year ago.

Since that time, the cover my designer put together, her suggestion to change my initial title, my daydreams about the beginning of the book, and my life experiences all led to a very different sort of story. Truly, the novella wouldn’t be what it is without me going through the events of 2014—applying to different jobs, waiting (and waiting) for news, working at a grocery store for a brief time, and finally obtaining a position at a publisher and moving into my own apartment in a different state. Derrick and Brielle’s story ended up being shaped to a large extent by these changes and by my time living at home after college.

What spiritual message or theme do you want to communicate to readers with this story?

There is hope, even when it feels like the future we envisioned has become the present we never expected. And through God’s grace there can be meaning and joy and revival, even in the midst of seemingly undesirable circumstances.

If you could live in any other time period in history, which would it be and why?

I’ve come to understand and appreciate that there’s a place for me in this time, as much as I love stories about the past. 🙂 But if I had to choose another time to live in, I would probably say the 19^th century in the U.S. I love reading and writing about that era, with all its wildness and changes. There’s something about the time period with its mixture of challenge and simplicity (or at least our romanticized perceptions of it!) that draws me. Plus, I love the West. It’s home to me, and I find its history fascinating.

Thank you, Amber, for graciously agreeing to the interview! I’m so glad your journey shaped this story.

About Amber

Amber Stokes works as a content writer (marketing services) for a Christian publisher. On the side, she self-publishes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor’s degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. Happily, this new chapter of her career takes place in the Pacific Northwest—a part of the world she’s always considered home. Learn more about Amber’s books at www.SeasonsofaStory.blogspot.com.

Social Media Links

Twitter: @SeasonsHumility

Blog: www.seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com

Website: www.seasonsofastory.blogspot.com

Pinterest: pinterest.com/seasonshumility

Goodreads: Amber Stokes

Google +:  +AmberStokes

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Share in the excitement of Amber’s new release with a special starry giveaway! You can enter to win one of three prize packs using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to U.S. residents only.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MTVjZWUzOTdmNzNhZTBkM2QzNmI4OTkwN2ZjZDVhOjM1/

“Surprised by Love” by Julie Lessman Review + Blog Tour

Julie Lessman is such a talented and sweet lady. You can see her heart for encouraging and sharing the love of Jesus through her writing. (And she’s fast becoming an absolute favorite author of mine!) This post is all about her most recent novel, Surprised by Love, the third in “The Heart of San Francisco” series.

Plot Summary: Shy and unattractive as a child, Megan McClare has always been teased by her classmates. But when she returns home from her senior year in Paris, the wallflower has suddenly blossomed into a beauty. With ambitions to become a lawyer or doctor, Megan accepts an internship at the district attorney’s office only to discover that she will be working with Devin Caldwell, a boy who mercilessly mocked her at school–and with whom she was hopelessly enamored. She turns to her dear friend Bram Hughes for support and advice. But Bram’s vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a kid sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?

My thoughts: Megan McClare is beautiful on the inside and out. She and Bram are both so sweet and deserve each other – but he has burdens from past mistakes that are keeping him committed to his father. Because of this, he focuses on maintaining nothing more that the brotherly friendship he’s always shared with Meg. But, this proves to be a challenge for both of them!

Of course Meg and Bram are the main characters, but I was so pleased to see Cait and Logan getting plenty of story time because their rocky relationship has been evolving for 3 books now! Their banter and his humorous reactions are so fun. Plus, we get to see Logan learn a few lessons.

The spiritual journey of the characters, especially Logan, is full of natural ups and downs, twists and turns. We all struggle with our faith, trust in God’s plans, and our ability to forgive and forget. This is portrayed very realistically in these characters. The stories of Meg and Bram, too, are illustrations of forgiveness and finding happiness in God’s plans.

If you’ve read the Winds of Change series (or other books by Julie), you know her propensity to keep you in suspense until the last few pages! This one does, too, but wraps up nicely. I enjoyed seeing familiar characters of the McClare family sparring and, most importantly, loving each other. This is one you simply MUST put on your TBR list!

(By the way, Julie says a novella is coming in 2015 about Blake “The Rake” McClare….. so she’s not done with this family yet!! *happy dance*)

Thanks to Revell for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Connect with Julie Lessman at her website, on Twitter, Pinterest, or Facebook!

Review: “With Every Breath” by Elizabeth Camden

When I read Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden last year, I immediately became a fan of her writing. I’ve since acquired (but not yet read) several of her books in my never-ending TBR stack. The latest from her, With Every Breath, has a strong heroine, a unique (and accurate) historical setting and subject, and a captivating storyline.

Summary: In the shadow of the nation’s capital, Kate Livingston holds a respectable position as a government statistician when she encounters a rival from her past, the insufferable Trevor McDonough. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and she’s bewildered at the way he suddenly seeks her out. Surprising even herself, Kate agrees to Trevor’s entirely unexpected and risky proposal to work side-by-side with him in his quest to rid the world of tuberculosis, a contagious and deadly disease.

As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor’s past, she realizes there is much more to him than she could have imagined. His hidden depths may fascinate her, but his most closely guarded secrets and a shadowy enemy lurking in the background carry a serious threat to their future.

When the truth of the past comes out, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear, how will Trevor and Kate ever overcome all that stands in their way?

The main characters, Trevor and Kate, are complex and realistic. Just below the surface, Trevor conceals a flood of emotions, though to Kate, it appears that he has a cold demeanor. This proves challenging as they work together and uncover their true feelings and fears: Trevor, afraid of being hurt or inflicting unnecessary pain; and Kate, fearing risk and the unknown.

It’s an interesting journey watching these characters change and grow as a result of their surroundings. Trevor is not your typical hero — in this case, that’s refreshing. He’s not bold, but quietly heroic and steadfast. Kate is strong and independent (but at the same time sweet), fitting for an era when an educated woman faced so many challenges. It is easy to identify with her character. The reader shares in her struggles to find happiness, purpose, and meaning.

Elizabeth shares an interesting and lesser-known bit of the history surrounding early treatment of tuberculosis in this story. Paired with suspense and dramatic events surrounding Trevor’s research, it gives this story a slight “medical drama” feel. This gives the story momentum and keeps the reader guessing.

In all, I really enjoyed this historical drama/romance. It emphasized how you can’t comprehend God’s plans or let mistakes from the past — or fear — steal the joy found only in Christ.

Connect with author Elizabeth Camden at her website or Facebook.

 Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.