Review: The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A London officer goes undercover to expose a plot against the Crown

Dover, England, 1808: Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue. . .until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm.

All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother.

Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

My Review

I loved all the elements in this book! A hardworking innkeeper, a British spy, smugglers, gamblers, musicians, puppets... the unique details made it stand out from others with a similar theme. Johanna's circumstances are desperate, and she keeps coming up with ideas to bring in more funds, only to find that when her plans fail, the Lord has things in hand. The spiritual message is to trust God even when there seems to be no hope left- especially then. Both Johanna and Alex find themselves in situations that definitely put that to the test, and the steady pace of the plot kept me glued to the pages. I was surprised by some of the more gritty descriptions, but I appreciated the reality it portrayed and the sense of danger and desperation was heightened. I felt like I got to know the cast of characters quickly, from Johanna's mother and brother to Alex's mysterious colleague to the troublesome Mr. Nutbrown. I loved seeing the different elements weave together as the action built toward the exciting climax which was anything but predictable. The sweet friendship that blossoms between the skeptical Johanna and the protective Alex was the icing on the cake and the yearning there for something more brought another level of tension that slowly builds throughout the book.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Hop!

Merry Christmas!!! I love this time of year- celebrating the birth of the Savior, spending time with family, the lights, the gift-giving, the decorating! I'm giving away a print copy of a cozy holiday romantic mystery that is perfect for reading with a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa- the first book in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series by Michelle Griep.

Synopsis

When CLARA CHAPMAN receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, BENJAMIN LANE.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the Twelve Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

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Review: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the Twelve Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

My Review

I didn't quite know what to expect when I started this book, which is always fun because I start out with an open mind and enjoy the surprises on my reading journey. Clara and Ben and the other characters that are invited to Bleakly Manor don't know what to expect either which enhanced the mysteriousness of the event and the secret benefactor. While Clara and Ben's reunion is a bit rocky, I loved seeing them reconcile and reignite their love, while the rest of the plot turns into a cozy mystery with increasing danger and mishaps that threaten the occupants. A fun holiday story with elements of suspense and romance!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)