Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes Book Review

Synopsis

A lost treasure. A riddled quest. The healing power of friendship.

Legends are tucked into every fold of the Colorado mountains surrounding the quaint town of Mercy Peak, where residents are the stuff of tall tales, the peaks are taller still, and a lost treasure has etched mystery into the very terrain.

In 1948, when outsider Mercy Windsor arrives after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood’s beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood, an abandoned estate with a haunting history, and begins to restore it to its former glory.

But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of the mountain’s lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8, which vanished years ago–along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention the fabled treasure that–if found–could right so many wrongs.

Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.

My Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

Another beautiful book by Amanda Dykes! It had themes of friendship, family, community, and faith and a cozy mountain setting which made it the perfect book to curl up with in the evenings!

I quickly grew to care about our original main characters, Mercy and Rusty. I love books about friendship, especially pen pals, so I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I loved reading about this friendship between two girls with completely different personalities who began their friendship by writing letters as young girls. I also enjoyed getting to know the rest of the characters in this tight-knit community in the mountains. Casey was definitely a favorite!

I absolutely love Amanda Dykes’ poetic writing! I teared up more than once because of the beautiful way she puts things. She is definitely a talented writer! Her writing simply inspires me and I love that!
The faith content was beautiful as was the author’s note. It touched my heart!

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book! I loved that there was a mystery woven into this story. While it took me a little bit to figure out what was going on in the book, it wasn’t long before I was invested in these characters and their stories. If you love books with a mountain setting in the late 1940s, pen pals, poetic writing, and a mystery/treasure hunt, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky Book Review

Synopsis

Two women–a century apart–embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.

In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers.

In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.

My Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars

This was a sweet, dual-timeline story about faith, forgiveness, and family.

The 1912 storyline was my favorite storyline to follow. Charlotte and Ian were a sweet couple and I enjoyed reading their story. Sadly, I wasn’t quite as interested in Gwen and David’s story in the 2012 storyline.

While I enjoyed parts of this story, I found myself losing interest quite a few times. I didn’t really feel connected to the story or the characters. That being said, I really enjoyed the setting of this story as well as the faith present throughout. I also enjoyed the themes of family and forgiveness.

In conclusion, this was a sweet story but not a favorite for me personally. If you are interested in the Lake District in England, I think you’ll enjoy this one!

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer Book Review

Synopsis

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives–and everyone she knows in them–forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of a senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she joins a hospital ship going to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she’s a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer. With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

My Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

This book was amazing! Where to even begin? When the Day Comes, the first book in the Timeless series, was one of my top favorite books I read last year and I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of In This Moment ever since. It was everything I hoped for and more. It is definitely going to be one of my favorite books of 2023!

This book had everything— history, intrigue, suspense, romance, drama, and most importantly to me, faith. It was a journey, and never once did I get bored. I fell in love with each of the characters and time periods… which made Maggie’s decision seem an impossible one to make. That being said, I am so happy with the life—and the person— she chose. I won’t spoil anything but he was absolutely wonderful and I fell in love with his character in the very beginning!

The characters came alive for me, especially Maggie. It was so special reading about Libby and Henry’s daughter. She was such a wonderful main character! I loved watching her journey in each of the lives she lived. I especially enjoyed reading her journey as she worked in the medical field. I admired her courage, her resilience, and her desire to seek God’s will for her life.

Again, the hero was amazing! It’s hard not to fangirl about him so I will simply leave it as this… I fell in love with his character. He was selfless, sweet, and the perfect hero for Maggie.💗

It was so interesting reading about the three lives she lived. I loved that she got to live in three time periods because there was never any time to get bored. I really enjoyed the history woven into the storyline. There was always something exciting happening or a character that would capture my interest. Since there were lovable characters in each of the time periods, it truly made Maggie saying goodbye to two of them that much harder. I was always on the edge of my seat, uncertain of which one she would pick. I didn’t want this book to end— yet I desperately wanted to know— which life and which person would she choose?

Not only did this book have plenty of suspense, an incredibly intriguing storyline, and wonderful characters, it also had faith… which I really loved. It brought so much hope to this book! These characters’ faith in God really inspired me. It was integrated into the story so well. Definitely a highlight of the book for me!

Content notes: This book is clean. There is no language and the romance is only semi-detailed kisses. There is a little violence but those scenes are brief.

In conclusion, I loved this book and I am so excited for the future books in this series! If you’re looking for a fascinating time-travel read that has wonderful characters, intriguing history, inspiring faith, and great writing, I highly recommend this one!💗

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy to review! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes Book Review

Synopsis

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man’s identity remains a mystery . . .

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

My Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

This book is incredibly beautiful, from the cover to the words written inside. It’s one of those books you get lost in as you watch the story unfold. Simply put, this book was magical.

The writing in this book was absolutely beautiful. It was lyrical, poetic, and captivating. There were moments I was moved to tears. There was so much beauty and truth in this story!

It took me a little bit to get into the story in the beginning and to understand all that was going on, but as it’s the type of book that unfolds itself as the story continues and pieces begin to fit together, I didn’t mind it at all. It’s one of those books you must get lost in and it wasn’t long before I did. I fell in love with the characters and their stories. Daniel and Vittoria, Sebastian and Mariana— they all captured my heart. The two timelines were woven together so seamlessly! I was in awe of how Amanda Dykes wove the two stories together into one beautiful book that made me feel so many things.

The message is this book was truly beautiful. When I finished the story, I felt so filled with hope and gratitude… and to me, that’s the best feeling a book can give me.

In conclusion, this book was beautiful! I could tell it came straight from the author’s heart. The author’s note had me close to tears. Amanda Dykes is truly gifted with words❤️

This book had it all— intrigue, history, faith, romance, and a dash of mystery. It is one I will want to definitely revisit again. If you love books that has lyrical prose, a heartfelt message, and enchanting historical stories, I highly recommend you read this one! ❤️

*Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy to review! All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser Book Review

Hey, guys! Today I’m reviewing By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser, a beautiful slip-time novel. I really enjoyed this one and I’m excited to be reviewing it here on the blog!

Synopsis

Two courageous young women, tied together by blood and shared passion, will risk everything to save what they love most.

For as long as she can remember, Allie Massey, a gifted physical therapist, has dreamed of making her grandparents’ ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy–a dream her grandmother, Nana Dale, embraced wholeheartedly. But when her grandmother’s will is read, Allie is shocked to learn the property has been sold to a developer.

Decades earlier, headstrong Dale Butler’s driving passion is to bring home the prized filly her family lost to the Great Depression, but with World War II looming, she’s called upon in ways she never could have imagined. And while her world expands to include new friends and new love, tragedy strikes close to home one fateful night during the Battle of the Atlantic, changing her life forever.

As Nana Dale’s past comes to light in Allie’s search for answers, Dale’s courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother’s legacy and keep her own dreams alive.

My Review

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

This book was so, so beautiful! It touched me in a way I didn’t expect. This is a story of family, faith, dreams, loss, and love. I loved it so much!When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. It made me feel so many emotions. I was lost in Allie and her grandmother’s story until I had finished it. And when I finished it, I was left feeling so many emotions but ultimately I felt inspired by this book.

Slip-time novels are usually tricky for me. I sometimes get disoriented when books hop from one time-period to the next. Not so with this one! The dual timeline was so well done. It transitioned from one time-period/ point of view so seamlessly! It took me a few chapters to really get into it but I quickly got invested in both Allie and her grandmother, Dale’s, story. Both of their stories were woven together so beautifully! It was so bittersweet to watch as Allie went through her grandmother’s treasures, discovering her story one piece at the time, and then getting to see the past come alive through Dale’s point of view. It was beautifully done!

The characters felt so real! Their story felt so real to me. I could see many similarities between Allie and Dale’s personality as well their story which was neat to see. But at the same time, they were both their own person with their own stories. Both passionate, strong, driven women who had their faults but learned to work through them with God’s grace and love.

Then there were the men of the story. Austin seemed like a great guy, and I thought he and Allie were perfect for each other! But Dale’s Tommy Ridley was the one who stole my heart. I immediately fell in love with the historical timeline the moment Tommy came into the picture. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the determined, courageous, vivacious boy just as Dale did. Dale and Tommy’s love story had me in tears. It was so beautiful. I adore childhood friends-to-lovers and I adored this one.

Oh my goodness, just thinking about it! I haven’t read a story that made me that emotional in a while.

I love books set in the south so I enjoyed the setting a lot! And while I don’t know a lot about horses, I really did enjoy that aspect of the plot. Equine therapy sounds amazing! I found the history in this story really interesting, especially the WW2 storyline.

Content wise, there are some kisses although not very descriptive. There is some mild innuendo. There isn’t much on-page violence but there are brief descriptions of wounded men. It was not descriptive enough to make me feel lightheaded though. I would probably recommend this to older teens and up.

As I said before, this story inspired me so much. The faith in this book was beautiful. It talks about the power of prayer and relying on God is such a beautiful way. The faith was woven so beautifully into the plot. It really touched me and I took it to heart. It also has themes of finding contentment in what you have and where you’re at in life which is something I especially needed to hear!

It talks about grief and loss in a real, raw way. I teared up several times. I even felt like my heart was breaking along with the characters. It’s true there are many sad, heartbreaking moments in this story but there’s also really happy ones. I liked that this story was true-to-life because life isn’t always smiles. There will be tears and sorrow. But I loved that this book told a story of how you can find help in your hurting and you are not alone.

Overall, I loved this book more than I ever anticipated! It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time. It broke my heart and I cried, but I also smiled and found hope between the pages. I loved it, especially the message. If you love dual timeline stories that center around family history, horses, faith, and love, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.