I love a good Christmas story any time of the year. It's my favorite season and transports me away from all the Virginia heat!
This was such a nice read and a step away from the Amish fiction that Wanda fans know. From the back: Beloved, bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter takes readers on a journey in 1850 along the California Trail.
Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.
Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?
Cynthia is a richly drawn character and comes to life through the pages of the story. Walter was a well written, but not really endearing character! I like him a lot less as the story moved on.
There is a real eye to detail and historical perspective in the book that I greatly appreciated. You felt like you were along in the journey. I enjoy this time period in American History.
With twists and turns, faith, hope, and Christmas magic this is such a fun and satisfying novella. So pick up your copy today and enjoy a great Christmas story! Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved fairy tales. She grew up but her love of the stories never ended. She has passed her love onto her children. Her youngest lives off the original stories in the Blue Fairy Book.
Her oldest loves retellings and has been reading every night with mama
The Rose and the Briar is book 3 in the Faraway Castle Series. From the back: Power-hungry princes are Rosa's greatest dread.
Deep within the gardens of Faraway Castle sleeps a secret Rosa the gardener has sworn to protect with her life--the legendary princess Zafira. For three years she has hidden the princess almost in plain sight. But two nosy princes threaten to undo the work of a century.
When asked to take his sister's old job as Faraway Castle's Magical-Creature Controller, Prince Briar leaps at the chance to disguise himself as a commoner, earn a place in the magical world, and be trained by the mysterious Gamekeeper. Nothing works out the way he'd expected, and he is far too busy working to gain Rosa's trust to bother about uncovering her secrets.
Until dashing Prince Javier of Evora pursues Rosa . . . and Briar suspects the rival prince of dark motives. Can Rosa and Briar learn to trust each other soon enough to prevent a magical disaster?
Will the kiss of a prince really awaken true love?
These have truly been great stories. Not only are they just the right amount of the things I love (princes, magic, romance), they also keep an 11 year old boy involved (magical creatures, mayhem, bad guys). There is an art and balance in doing that and these books deliver. From Pookahs to Princes there was something that we both loved in the book.
Rosa is a complex woman and Zafira is, in the words of my son "a creep". She really oozes evil even in her coma like state. Rosa hates caring for her and feels inferior to her. Rosa has great magic and brings gardens to life.
When Prince Briar shows up to train under the Gamekeeper Rosa tries to avoid him like a bad case of poison ivy. Their playful banter was fun to read and they kept you guessing what would happen next.
Add in a few villains, plot twists, and a giant bear topiary who reminded us of Pooh both my son and I enjoyed our visit to Faraway Castle. The book comes out this month. So pick up your copy of The Rose and the Briar and get ready to discover the next chapter in this enchanted destination. Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
