Until Vienna by Heather B. Moore
There were so many things I enjoyed about this story. First and foremost had to be the comic relief. Aunt Rowena and her friends were incredibly diverting and I loved them from the very first meeting. They created just the right amount of humor and warmth.
I loved how Heather used Gigi’s letters home to give us a good basis for setting. It was a clever way to narrate the setting without going into lengthy descriptions.
Heather wrote such a friendly and open beginning to Gigi and Clyde’s relationship. It grew naturally and beautifully on the page. I love how seen Clyde makes Gigi feel, isn’t that what we all want, to be see for who we are.
Between the well placed humor, the cleverly created setting and the slow but delightful romance, it was a really enjoyable read.
I’ve especially loved how they are carrying the mystery of Nicholas through the whole series, it has given each novel an air of mystery that keeps you coming back to the over arching story as a whole.
**** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence, Low Religion
The Crown of Rosemund by Michele Ashman Bell
If you’re looking for a romance, this is not the book for you, there is a romance, but it’s a little moment at the end.
However, if you’re want a book that will empower and show the younger girls if your life exactly how to be a strong woman, this is exactly what you’re looking for.
This book isn’t labeled as young adult, but it reads like one. It tells a beautiful coming of age, heroes journey story. There is wonderfully empowering moments and really excellent use of foreshadowing.
The story does often feel a little like you’re being told a story, not experiencing a story. There were also a few plot things that didn’t quite line up for me.
I would however recommend this to any young woman of my acquaintance in a heart beat. I don’t think they have enough stories that show how to be both vulnerable and strong. How to be kind without being taken advantage of. And how to become who you were meant to be and this story does that wonderfully.
*** Low Language, Low Romance, Moderate Violence, Low Religion
Court of Swans by Melanie Dickerson
Even going into this story knowing the fairy tale it’s based on reads a little like a series of unfortunate events with one bad thing happening after another, I still cringed just a little bit with each additional set back.
Melanie Dickerson handled the whole story really well however, she always has a lot of intrigue in her books anyway, so this story fit right in.
She did a great job of building Delia and Sir Geoffrey’s background. Having them both be mistrustful of each other made the story more believable and their eventual trust in each other that much more beautiful.
She really developed all the characters well. Aunt Beatrice was the only one that left me scratching my head. She seemed to want to help, but not. I couldn’t ever get a good read on her character, but maybe that was the point.
Melanie has some absolutely beautiful moments in this book. Again another one I’m going to make sure to recommend to any young woman I know. Moments of hope, trust, morality and faith. There’s a particularly emotion driven moment where Delia says, “I hate being a woman.” This was such a powerful moment in so many ways. I know many many women, including myself, who have had moments they feel like yelling just that. The whole scene was handled so well, with incredible introspection and growth.
Despite the buckets of intrigue and unfortunate event after another, this is a happily ever after and hea’s that are hard won are the best kind.
****Low Language, Low Romance, Moderate Violence (trigger warning: there is a moment of attempted assualt, but it ends before it even begins), Moderate Religion (this is a Christian fiction book, but I feel like the faith promoting moments are wonderfully and naturally woven into the story)
