The Lost Castle

****

PG

Easily Recommend

Kristy Cambron is a master of jumping back and forth between time periods in her stories...expertly weaving them together until they all connect and make sense in the end.

I think the other two books I have read of hers only had two different stories to keep straight but this one had three; the french revolution, WWII and present day.  That did make it a bit harder to follow.  When each new chapter started I had to refresh my memory of how that particular story had left off two chapters before.

I did not give it a {L} rating but there were a few instances where God was referenced in ways I wouldn't use myself but wouldn't necessarily say it was in vain either...

A very fascinating and attention keeping book...and I am oh so happy that it was so clean :)

Miss Wilton's Waltz

***1/2

PG

{TMP} {UM}

Possibly Recommend

I will say I liked this better than the preceding book (The Vicar's Daughter).

I think Josi creates very relatable characters.  I have found myself identifying with many of them through the books she's written.

This story was sweet but I did feel like the kissing scene was a bit strong {TMP} and it kept being remembered by both characters so it was referred to several times.

There is an {UM} when someone suggests that a man take a mistress, which is immediately disregarded as an option, but still, there is that.

I also felt like it was wrapped up and resolved a little too easily but I don't usually hold that too strongly against a book :)

My Sister's Intended

***1/2

PG

{TMP}

Maybe Recommend

I liked this story; how it was written, the plot etc...

There were a couple of scenes where it was definitely more passionate than I am comfortable with {TMP} though :(  If it weren't for that I would easily recommend it to my daughter (since she is now reading every book of this type that she can get her hands on).

If your passion tolerance level is higher than mine then this would be a nice, cute read.  For me however, the kissing is described in too much detail.

Mr. Knightly's Diary

***

G

Easily Recommend

Over spring break my teenage daughter and I watched a lot of Jane Austen and similar type movies that she hadn't seen before.

One day she chose to watch 2 versions of Emma back to back.  With them fresh on my mind I figured it would be a good time to read this.

I wasn't as intrigued by it as I had been with Captain Wentworth's but it was still very good and very clean.

Road to Rosewood

***1/2

PG

{UM} {TMP} {BSt}

Could Probably Recommend

This was a surprise to find on the shelf of our local bookstore since I had no inkling that Ashtyn Newbold had one coming out.  I was excited to snatch it up and read it.

I don't know if I was in an interesting mood when I read it or what but I have some mixed feelings about how the story went.

I really enjoyed the first half although there were some {UM}.  For some reason I wasn't as thrilled with how things played out in the second half.  I felt like the one or two kissing scenes were a little more descriptive than I like {TMP}.  There does end up being a back story {BSt} which I was worried would be the case since there is quite a mystery going on and so often those end up dealing with immorality and infidelity and such :(
Overall, I felt like it was a little too dramatic and she (the main character) is a little too obsessed with him (the main man).  Her feelings from the past are dwelt on quite a bit and that got a little bothersome.
I don't know...definitely not my favorite of hers although the first part of the book had me really intrigued.  I'm curious to know what others think.  Like I said, maybe I was just in a weird mood when I read it :)

Captain Wentworth's Diary

***1/2

PG

{L} {UM}

Probably Recommend

Until now I have steered clear of all the altered Austen reproduction novels.

However, this book came into my possession and I quite enjoyed it!

It thought it was fun to see more of Anne and Frederick's relationship before 'Persuasion' picks it up...and from his point of view to boot.

There were a few instances of unappreciated language {L} toward the end that were easy to scribble out so that I can feel comfortable lending it to others.  And, as I recall, there might have also been one or two {UM} but nothing too serious.

I look forward to reading the rest of Grange's gentlemenly diaries.