Posted December 4, 2023 in Reading / 0 Comments
Prepare Your Heart by
Father Agustino Torres CFR Publisher: Ave Maria Press (2023)
ARC,
eARC (144 pages)
Via: NetGalley Rating: Synopsis
Join Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR—founder of Corazón Puro—on a multimedia Advent journey led by the saints and the Holy Family to prepare yourself to enter into the story of Christ’s birth through prayer, charity, and joyful acts of service to the needy.
Prepare Your Heart features stunning original art by Valerie Delgado of Pax.Valerie, along with daily meditations on a passage from scripture, reflection questions, prayer, and space for journaling and notetaking.
During each week of Advent, you will embark on a new path informed by Franciscan spirituality to guide you to becoming closer to God:
Week One, the way of Nazareth: a spirituality that attunes you to the needs of others and the hidden presence of God.
Week Two, the way of the saints: featuring Sts. Lucy, Nicholas, Juan Diego, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast days fall during Advent; they will teach you to live with intentionality, humility, and devotion.
Week Three, the way of St. Joseph: revealing the creative courage of Jesus’s foster father, teaching you how he makes a home for each of us in the heart of God.
Week Four, the way of Mary: a tutorial in learning how to say yes to God’s call for your life and trusting in his loving providence.
Prepare Your Heart is perfect for both individual and group use. Free companion videos; ideas for celebrating Sundays in Advent with family, friends, and small groups; and a downloadable leader’s guide are available at avemariapress.com.
The book, videos, leader’s guide, and family guide are available in Spanish as well.
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Posted November 9, 2023 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
The Other Princess by
Denny S Bryce Publisher: William Morrow (2023 (October 3))
ARC,
eARC (448 pages)
Via: NetGalley Rating: Synopsis
A stunning portrait of an African princess raised in Queen Victoria’s court and adapting to life in Victorian England—based on the real-life story of a recently rediscovered historical figure, Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
With a brilliant mind and a fierce will to survive, Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a kidnapped African princess, is rescued from enslavement at seven years old and presented to Queen Victoria as a “gift.” To the Queen, the girl is an exotic trophy to be trotted out for the entertainment of the royal court and to showcase Victoria’s magnanimity. Sarah charms most of the people she meets, even those who would cast her aside. Her keen intelligence and her aptitude for languages and musical composition helps Sarah navigate the Victorian era as an outsider given insider privileges.
But embedded in Sarah’s past is her destiny. Haunted by visions of destruction and decapitations, she desperately seeks a place, a home she will never run from, never fear, a refuge from nightmares and memories of death.
From West Africa to Windsor Castle to Sierra Leone, to St. James's Palace, and the Lagos Colony, Sarah juggles the power and pitfalls of a royal upbringing as she battles racism and systematic oppression on her way to living a life worthy of a Yoruba princess.
Based on the real life of Queen Victoria’s Black goddaughter, Sarah Forbes Bonetta’s story is a sweeping saga of an African princess in Victorian England and West Africa, as she searches for a home, family, love, and identity.
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Tagged as 4 star, Read 2023
Posted November 9, 2023 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
Spirit of the Wood by
Kristen Britain Series: Green Rider #7.5 Publisher: Penguin Random House,
Penguin,
Daw (2023 (November 7))
ARC,
eARC (208 pages)
Via: NetGalley Rating: Also by this author: Green Rider,
First Rider's Call,
The High King's Tomb Also in this series: Green Rider,
First Rider's Call,
The High King's Tomb Synopsis
This short novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Green Rider series tells the backstory of fan-favorite character Laren Mapstone
Perfect for longtime Green Rider fans eager for more of the world or new readers discovering the realm of Sacoridia for the first time, this action-packed, feminist fantasy is a must-read for lovers of the genre.
After years of leading the battle against the vicious Darrow Raiders, Lieutenant-Rider Laren Mapstone has built a fortress around herself to conceal her emotions and the deep scars she carries. When she is made mentor to Tavin Bankside, a Green Rider trainee on his first message errand, her cold and brooding exterior quickly earns her the moniker the “Ice Lady.”
Only after Laren is severely wounded in an attack on the North Road by a gang of bandits—including some former Darrow Raiders with vengeance on their minds—do the fortress walls fall. Even as they seek refuge from danger in a Rider waystation, Tavin’s natural empathic gift leaves him vulnerable to the assault of the lieutenant’s emotions. Tavin must save Lieutenant Mapstone’s life and master his empathic gift before it destroys them both.
However, an ancient power lurks deep within the Green Cloak, and its aid or hindrance could mean survival for the Riders or the downfall of Sacoridia and all the free lands.
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Tagged as 4 star, Read 2023
Posted November 9, 2023 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
To Bind Fire by
D.E. Carlson Series: Empire of Ash and Song #1 Publisher: D.C. Mountain Publishing (2023 (September 13))
ARC,
eARC (453 pages)
Via: Author Rating: Synopsis
A powerful imposter. A land torn by war. Their only hope-a child born in innocence. And Iris has killed him.
Iris is a frightened girl thrust into a foreign world by her own terrible mistake.
Besaun is Crown Prince of the Fire Empire who would rather tinker than assume the throne.
Both are fated to save the world.
Iris knows little of her past and less of her heritage, but she knows Fire. It whispers to her, leaping at her urging, delighting her eyes.
But then, fire takes everything from her, and she learns her bloodline’s terrible secret.
Her terrible secret.
Because of her, the world is dying.
But there is hope for them all, if she can face her deepest fear.
If she can master the fire.
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Tagged as 4 star, Read 2023
Posted May 12, 2021 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
Forget Me Not by
Sarah M Eden Series: The Gents #1 Publisher: Covenant Communications (2020)
eARC (256 pages)
Via: NetGalley Rating: Synopsis
Nottinghamshire, 1785
Julia Cummings has long been acquainted with loss-her mother, her brother, her sister, her friend, all gone too soon. But the loss that pushed her grief to the limit as a young girl was that of her best friend, Lucas Jonquil, who abandoned her without looking back. Now, eight years later, Lucas has returned to Lampton Park, and Julia has steeled herself-she will never forgive the man who broke her heart.
After losing too many of his friends and family to early deaths, Lucas vowed to live life to the fullest. And after traversing the world, he has returned from his adventures to find his family and home as he left them-except for Julia. The little girl he left behind has blossomed into a captivating lady, a lady who makes it clear she despises him. With little hope of reconciliation, the former friends are blindsided when their parents make a shocking announcement. Lucas and Julia have been betrothed without their knowledge and are to marry immediately. Now Lucas must rely on the help of his closest friends to win the heart of a lady who loathes him-a lady he’s coming to love more deeply every day.
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Tagged as 4 star, Read 2021
