Redeeming Love Book Review

With the movie version of Redeeming Love coming out this week, I thought it would be a good time to review the book. 

I got this story for Christmas a couple years back from a dear friend, and it took me an insane amount of time to get around to reading it, but once I started, I couldn’t put it down. 

Here’s the blurb: 

California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. 

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. 

Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. 

But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go. 

A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

My thoughts: 

I guess I’ll start the review off with a big old trigger warning—this book is dark. Don’t get me wrong, it’s done in a wonderful way, and even with the very explicit subject matter the author did a fantastic job of not making anything graphic for graphics sake. The book is not trashy at all. But it is dark. I had to back off a few times just because Angel’s bitterness and turmoil were so realistic it was hard to read. 

I don’t read a lot of adult fiction, or Christian fiction for that matter, so when I got hooked on the story it was a nice surprise. Angel is one of the most realistic characters I’ve ever seen in Christian fiction (small as my experience is). I loved that she was written angry and vengeful and petty and all the things, because it felt so real. So often books make the mistake of bringing the redemption arc full circle too soon, and that was not the case with Redeeming Love. I felt like the roller coaster of softening and then building her walls back up fit perfectly. 

I did struggle with Michael a bit. Ok, a lot. I wanted to throw something at his head through most of the book, because for all of his good intentions I felt like he was expecting way too much of Angel and not understanding why this would be so hard for her. But even that was good writing, because again, unlike most men in Christian fiction, he was not perfect. 

So the whole story is both of them working together and against each other to deal with the struggles in their lives, and it just worked really well. 

I did have a hard time with God talking directly to Michael, and maybe that’s just a personal pet peeve of mine, and I probably shouldn’t have expected anything different since this story is a literal retelling of the prophet Hosea’s story, but I just would have preferred there wasn’t direct back and forth communication going on, because it didn’t really fit the 1800s gold mining setting, in my opinion. 

But that’s a very small complaint, and like I said, just personal preference. 

So if all the movie hype has you curious about the book, I’d say it’s well worth the read, and I’m hoping to be able to see the movie soon too. Do you plan to? 

 

On These Black Sands- Book Review

The world needs more pirate books guys. I’m telling ya. I could read a good pirate book all day long…emphasis on good. That’s where this book comes in. 

The Blurb:

An awkward stowaway. A troubled pirate captain. 

Is she the key to his quest or will she be his ruin?

Aoife wants nothing more than to fulfill her duty and serve on the Council. But a spilled secret reveals a deadly truth she never suspected. Plagued by guilt and wanting no part in the Council’s methods, she panics and runs, stowing away on a pirate ship.

Declan doesn’t have time to deal with an irritating stowaway, and this job is already dangerous enough without having her underfoot. With less than a month to bring the enchanted dagger to the rebels, he needs to find a way past the bloodthirsty creatures guarding it.

In a world of secrets and legends, a lost dagger may be the key to saving a nation. But it will take far more than wit and a cutlass to retrieve it. Can an heir and a pirate work together--or will their secrets drown all hope?

My Thoughts: 

Pirates are a fiction topic that can either go really good or really bad, fast. Too much gore and smut is super annoying. None at all is unrealistic. On These Black Sands strikes a really good balance of making the characters rough and lawless, but gives them enough redeemable qualities that we can root for them to win. 

Everyone needs a Declan in their life. And Tommy? Perfection.

I really enjoyed the slow burn, enemies to lovers romance in this. The snark was amazing, as were the secondary characters. And the one bed trope. THE ONE BED TROPE. The world building was fantastic, with some really cool twists I’ve never seen done before, and that cliff hanger ending has me dying for book two. 

Back in Black

*cue Mushu, rising up from the smoke*

I am, in fact, alive.

For the record, I did not mean to go on that hiatus. But. It was 2021. We all know a lot of crazy crap happened. Lots of surprises and curveballs, and things generally not going as planned. That’s my excuse anyway. 

But. I’m hoping you’ll all forgive me and let bygones be bygones. 

This year *knock on wood* I have a strategy, I have content, I have ideas, that will hopefully keep me afloat through the blogging sphere. 

But just in case this is one of those moments where the hero tells the villain “you can’t be good no matter how hard you try. Eventually you’ll go back to your old sinister ways” I’ll let you know right now that Instagram is where I’m active, at @maddiemorrowwrites

You can find all the book gushing, incessant ramblings, and morally gray memes and gif usage there. 

Now, for a brief recap to get everyone up to speed on where I have been for the last year. 

We had a baby! Again. 

Henry, Loraina, and Ellie, looking spiffy for Christmas. 

 Since last I blogged I have scrapped and started a few different stories. A sequel to Red as Blood now has twenty thousand words and a killer aesthetic, if nothing else. 

The Queens Three (formerly known as Mad Hatter) has been roaming the countryside, in and out of agents and publishing houses inboxes. Due to a career change, my agent and I had to part company, but the experience was amazing and very much worth it. I got a lot of encouragement and compliments from the publishers we submitted to, and that was a huge boost to my confidence while preparing to go back into the query trenches. It’s been rather quiet on that front, but that’s actually alright. 

Because I wrote a pirate book. 

A pirate book, might I add, that is first in a duology. Whispers of Smoke and Sea is currently drafted and I’m working like heck to get the revisions done so I can pitch it in this year’s Twitter parties. 

I’ve got book two outlined and ready to start on the first draft as soon as I feel my ducks are in a row with book one. Obviously I’m excited about every book I write and finish, but truly, I’m super excited about this one and feel like it’s my best work thus far. You’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the future, I assure you. 

And last, but not least, the blog and my other social media graphics got a face lift and ventured over to the dark side. I loved my old graphic, and honestly, still do. But my style has just shifted so that the old one would look really lovely with all the mint blue and flowers in my kitchen decor, but really doesn’t mesh at all with the grittier snark filled stories I tend to write. So, a change was due. Do you like it? Does it fit? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and what you’ve been up to since I disappeared last! 

 

Viking WIP Snippets

 

Hi guys! 

I come bearing gifts! A blogpost containing something other than book reviews. Scream and shout for joy! 

I just passed the 25k mark on the Viking story yesterday. It’s both exhilarating, and depressing. Eight months of working on this thing and that’s all the farther I’ve gotten? Then again, fifteen thousand of those words were written in the last month and a half. So I’m gonna focus on that. 

With that lovely milestone fresh off my keyboard, I thought it would be fun to share some snippets from the story. 

If you haven’t already heard the gist of the story, here is the unofficial blurb. 

When a band of raiders descend on the island, kidnapping all of the healers, Ailith is willing to do anything to get her mother back—even sail with the invaders to their country to try and stop the sickness that is sweeping through their people. But the kingdom’s own witch doctor has other plans. The healers’ success means her downfall, and she doesn’t intend to lose.

———————

The bone hooks are smooth from heavy use and click together as I work. The gurgling is the river and rustling leaves creates a steady music the musicians are always trying to imitate but can’t come close to. 

It should bring calm to my soul, but instead it feels like the river is flowing through my stomach, and my thoughts are as stable as the water. 

There’s another sound on the wind. Faint and distant. It’s rhythmic and haunting, like a chant, but I can’t identify any words. I tip my head, trying to hear more, but it’s gone in the next gust, just a trick of the wind and my tangled emotions. 

———————

Keavy jerks toward the trees suddenly, her wings poised ready for flight. A horse nickers above the noise of the falls.

I freeze and scan the shadowed tree trunks along the river. There is nowhere to hide and I slide my sword from its scabbard slowly, careful not to let the metal ring. 

“Put that away.” Kade rides out of the trees, leading another horse.

“You’re supposed to be with the boys.” I yank my collar back into place so he doesn’t see the bite. We don’t have time to take care of it.

“I’m not their shield partner.”

——————

He lets out a long low whistle and four Stri materialize from the brush like spirits taking on flesh. They appraise me with wary eyes and I told perfectly still. This is no time to make any sudden moves. 

“She says she’s alone,” my captor says. “Make sure.”

“Do you think she’s the traitor?” A ruddy faced boy with flaxen hair asks. He doesn’t look old enough for the earring marking him as an adult, but the bloodlust in his voice is no child’s. 

———

As a little girl I’d always thought he was unbreakable, but he’d cried. He’d cried for days and I remember how badly it scared me. My best friend was undone and wounded in a way all of Mim’s healing couldn’t fix. And I vowed to protect him from ever being hurt like that ever again. 

——————

I turn to the young man. “He’s my shield partner. We’ll be back by tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t think you realize who is in charge here.” He smiles patronizingly, like I’m a stupid child who won’t learn her lessons. “You be back by morning. He’s staying here. If you get any bad ideas about trying to bring poison instead of medicine, or trying to get help, he’ll be right here with me to suffer the consequences.”

—————

There is a place for a bonfire, and someone arrives moments later with a forth and lights the wood that’s already waiting. I squint against the dancing flames but there’s nothing about the cracklings sparks that is reassuring. The heat reaches for my skin, and sweat slicks my brow. The tongues lick hungrily at the air, waiting for an offering of human flesh. And the light illuminated the rough wooden benches surrounding us, offering a perfect view of the entire spectacle. 

————

Coilin pushes the door open and motions me forward. “Let’s go before someone changes their mind and decides to kill you now.”

I tuck the bag of herbs under my arm. “Right behind you.”

———-

My hand slides around the knife in his belt and the blade hisses as I whip it out of its sheath. “You’re not going to stop me.” I swing into the saddle and point the knife at him. “I’m going.”

He stares at me and I meet his gaze, waiting for a challenge, or an attempt to take the knife back. But he just shakes his head and mounts his own horse. “I’m coming too.”

“They told me I have to come alone,” I protest. I can’t afford to anger them in any way.

“Then I’ll wait out of sight. I’m not letting you charge into a band of murderers with my knife and a pack full of herbs as your only defense.”

————-

Their leader walks toward me, but the witch intercepts me first. Her painted black lips part, revealing teeth filed to wicked points. “So much work, just to pay for your own death.”

“Ani.” The leader sets a hand on her shoulder and juts his chin back toward the group. “Let us see what she has to offer before you go tearing her throat out, hmm?”

She casts him a heated look beneath her kohl caked lashes, but the corner of her mouth curls up in the faintest of smiles. “I can wait.”

Bile rises in my throat and I pull back on the reins. “We have an agreement.”

He turns to me and smiles. “So we do. But I also have an agreement with her, and I happen to love her.”

———

“You came alone?” Kade asks, and I glance over at Arran.

He nods. “The elders couldn’t get anything out of the warrior they captured. He didn’t speak our language. They wanted to go after them, but with so many in our village gone there weren’t enough. A rider was heading for Cladach for help when I left.” His eyes slide over to mine. “I was worried about you.”

“I’m touched,” Kade says flatly. 

———

I’m so happy this story is finally starting to take shape and come together. My goal was to have it done this month but...that might be a bit lofty. We shall see what happens. 

The Heart of Betrayal Book Review

 

Hey guys! 

Man, Wednesday’s just sneak up too fast. 

We’re smack dab in the middle of harvest right now, so I’m just going to keep shoving book reviews at you for now. Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll have time and brain cells to talk about other topics. 

Today is my five star review of The Heart of Betrayal, the second book in Mary E. Pearson’s Remnant Chronicles. 

I’m going to try to not include any big spoilers, but it is the second book so some spoilers are just going to be unavoidable. Proceed with caution. 

The Blurb:

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia's life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There's Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

The Plot: 

This book guys. I am notorious for hating the second/middle book in a series. But this one could very well be my favorite book in the entire series. The world building of Venda is fantastic. So often these dry “evil” kingdoms are painted in earth tones, but this one was such a fun colorful landscape. The Komizar is one of my favorite villains of all time, and he really made the plot. More about him later, but suffice to say, this book keeps you on your toes. There are so many twists and turns, and everyone is trying to outguess each other, and even though in this book, we know who everyone is, you still aren’t really sure who you can trust. 

The Characters:

I want to go on record saying I love Kaden, and always was and will be team Kaden. For good measure, the Kaden bookish candle I bought smells just like my husbands cologne. It’s pretty much a sign. 

Lia and Rafe continued to deliver fun, heartbreaking, mind numbing, infuriating fun. 

But my favorites (aside from my teddy bear, Kaden) are Rafe’s team of friends. These guys are such a motley crew of misfits, and absolutely hilarious. I love everything about them. 

The real star of the show in this book though , in my opinion,  is the Komizar. I love him. And not in an “oh I have a crush on the bad boy” way. No. He is just such an excellent villain. He’s bad. So bad. But he makes sense. And his people fear him. But his people also love him. The amount of control, and cunning he has is absolutely entrancing to read and I was so desperate to figure him out. I feel like I need to launch a full investigation on him so I can learn how to write a villain that compelling. This past year I’ve become really interested in mind games and physiological warfare (as a writer. I’m not a psycho), and he is such a master of it. It’s so refreshing to read a book where the villain really is a handful (stringer even) than the heroes. The stakes went through the roof. 

That’s all I have for you today! I’m off to make dinner for the harvest crew. I’ll try to be better about answering comments. Enjoy your week! 

The Kiss of Deception Book Review

Hi guys! Remember a few weeks ago when I said I’d been reading a lot? That was a warning for all these book reviews I’ve been posting. 

Today’s model is The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson. Five stars. 

The Blurb:

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love. 

The Plot: 

I actually don’t like this blurb because it makes the book sound like a cliche, and I didn’t find it cliche at all. Now, there are tropes. Runaway princess, arranged marriage, love triangle. But they’re done exceptionally well in my opinion, each with a unique twist. 

The Characters:

These hooligans kept me up all night. Several times. I think I read the entire series in a week. 

Lia is a tough lead, but she’s also got some very vulnerable, and very feminine attributes, which I appreciate. I love the fact that she’s a full fledged princess and completely content to just throw that life away to become a waitress. 

And she would have succeeded too, if it wasn’t for those meddling kids.

Enter Rafe and Kaden. I’ve got bookish candles for each of them if that gives you any hints at how much I like them. What was so stinking fun about this book is that these chapters are written from the point of view of The Assassin and The Prince. No names. So you’re left guessing for a long time and have no idea which one is planning to kill her and which one is planning to marry her (boys and their horrible communication). It’s brilliant. 

There’s a slew of amazing supporting characters too. The inn keeper, Lia’s best friend. I loved them all. 

Have you read this series yet? Do you like a good love triangle, or loath their existence? 

 

Caraval Book Review

 

Hi guys!

Fun story. Last summer I started a book that everyone was hyped about. I got one chapter in, decided I hated it, and didn’t finish it. 

Today, I’m giving that same book a five star review. 

The Blurb:

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. 

The Plot:

The plot to this book was so fun. Knowing the tag line—remember, it’s only a game—had me suspicious of literally everything. It was a really interesting ride of twists and turns, where some of the things that seemed perfectly ordinary were some of the biggest tricks, and then other things I was positive were important turned out to be completely ordinary. 

This is one of the first books in a long time that I didn’t guess the outcome long before finishing it, and the ending left so many strings to tie up that it just makes a person want to dive right into the next book.

The Characters: 

Scarlett makes an interesting leading lady. It seems like most of the books I read have girls who’s flaw is to dive into things without thinking. Scarlett has the opposite problem. I spent a good part of the book screaming at her to just do something. Anything. It definitely kept a person in suspense. 

Tella perfectly captures that youngest child attitude and it’s fun to see how the two sisters bounce off each other. 

Julian. Ah, Julian. I started out hating him, then liking him, and it just went back and forth about a thousand times. The perfect book boyfriend. 

I could go on about Legend, how despite not being on the page much (at all?) his character came through so delightfully in all of his schemes with the games. I really liked getting to see some of the letters he wrote too. Dante, with all his tattoos and his vain personality is quite possibly my favorite. Tragic that. 

Really the one point that needs to be drove across is just how aesthetic this book is. From the main cast, all the way down to the background characters who only appear for a scene or two, each and every one of them had such a beautiful, obvious aesthetic. The author did a fantastic job of painting this magic dipped world, where the beauty is on perfect display, with evil undertones coloring the shadows, all without it becoming sensory overload. 

Spot on.