Books You Can Feel Good About: December 2021

Thursday, December 30, 2021

The Mistletoe Countess

1913 Virginia then England

A lovely, long read to get wrapped up in. You get the chance to know the characters well. The story is deep enough and deeply wound enough to keep you fully interested as things unwind slowly. Grace steps in to be the bride in an arranged marriage after things her sister did are revealed. But it was no mistake as it seems God chose her for Frederick. He's quite a broken man for many reasons, but Grace helps him to heal as their love for one another grows. She had been the poor choice because of her dislike for social norms, but it's those very reasons that make her perfect for the position. She has self doubt issues herself, but Frederick's genuine caring for her makes her self confidant. Thoroughly, swooningly romantic throughout. Romance, murder, mystery. Excellent read. Christian historical.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Friday, December 10, 2021

Shadows of Swanford Abbey

1820 England. Christian historical. A murder mystery skillfully woven through the romance. Rebecca is a lady's companion and is returning home after years because her brother John is distressed and not handling things well. He had worked for an author, writing his own story, who then stole it. It became a best seller. They wouldn't believe him though. He wrote another story and wanted to sell it. This time making a copy, for it to be presented to the same author to catch him this time. This author is staying at a nearby hotel, which used to be an Abbey, and was supposed to be haunted. John convinces Rebecca to stay at the hotel to get the author to look at his book.

Sir Frederick, owner of the small home that John stays in, is also staying at the hotel, with his brother. He is an old friend from when their parents were alive. One who Rebecca had a crush on when younger.

Getting the book to the author is difficult. He is more than unpleasant, sequestering himself in the room which was once the old Abess's, with a hired guard outside his room. Rebecca sees some strange things during her stay, woven throughout, clues Agatha Christie style. The tension between characters, who each have their own mystery to discern, builds.

After the murder of the author, Sir Frederick, who is also the magistrate, must figure out what happened. Unraveling the backstory is quite interesting. He has a soft spot for Rebecca, which makes things more difficult for him as she seems more and more involved in the circumstances of the murder. While she is trying to solve it herself, worrying that her brother is involved.

Warm relationships are wound throughout the story, pull at your heartstrings. Excellent read. Not an easy mystery to figure out who done it. Keeps you intrigued to the end.