The Merchant and the Rogue

 The Merchant and the Rogue
By Sarah M. Eden

One of my favorite things about the Penny Dreadful Series is that we learn of all these tough men. The Fights and scraps they have gotten into, but they truly have a softer side. They worry about the children and making sure they are safe and they find love. 

The covers of this series has been incredible. But the cover of The Merchant and the Rogue is my favorite. I love the green (maybe biased as green is my favorite color) and the gold. 

The Merchant and the Rogue has been such a fun read. It's full of mystery and intrigue. I loved reading it waiting until we find out both Brogan and Vera's pasts. 

One of the quotes from this book that really stood out to me was: "Secrecy is power, Vera," Moirin said. "It adds potency to any weapon and danger to any scheme. Unmasking your villain shrinks the threat into something definable." - Moirin

"Secrecy is power," Vera repeated on a sigh. "It's also a burden." -Vera

Carrying secrets can be such a burden. It is always such a relief to be able to share it with others.

This has been my favorite out of the Dreadful series. I love that it each book introduces us to the dreadful that the next book is going to be about. It just makes you super excited for the next book to come out and to learn more about their story. 

Meet me under the kissing bough

Meet Me under The Kissing Bough
A Christmas Romance Collection

I love the Christmas Collections that come out each year. I was very excited to be able to read an advance copy of this one this year. 

Meet Me under The Kissing Bough by Josi S. Kilpack

The first story Meet Me under the Kissing Bough is of a widow who has finally decided that she is ready to host a Christmas party and to invite friends and family to come to celebrate the Christmas season. 

One of the activities they do is make kissing boughs. I had to look them up to see what they looked like as I hadn't ever heard of them before. They were usually made with greenery and shaped into a round ball. They could have many different decorations added on them. They really can be really beautiful.

Deborah is a widow with three young children and Phillip has been a friend of the family and her late husband. When her husband passed he has helped in in learning how to manage and run the estate. 

Deborah has always listened to her mother's opinion on things as she had never guided her astray before. I love that in this story that Deborah learns to trust herself and what she wants over what her mother thinks. She truly comes to think about her happiness and what she wants in the future.

Healing Hearts for the Holiday by Anneka R. Walker

I loved that we were still able to see a little bit more of Ivy and Lord Blakely's story that was in A Hopeful Christmas from last year. Though they are more side characters.

I can see so much of myself in Julia. She cares so deeply for those that she loves and she tries to do everything she can do to ensure their happiness. But it can come at a cost of making sure she gets her happiness.

At some point we all come to see that our own happiness is important. That we need to do what truly makes us happy. Whether that is the friends that we make, who we fall in love with and what career will make us happy. Julia comes to see that for herself and makes the decision to see after what makes her happy. 

A Christmas Correspondence by Sarah L. McConkie

This story has been so fun to read. My husband and I have been to see the A Christmas Carol a couple times. The story just kind of has a sense of magic about it. 

It has been so fun to read a twist on this story with the scrooge being a women. But see her interactions with those of a lower standing and remembering the friendships she had with them when she was younger and the new friendships that she has been able to build.

I truly feel like Christmas gives us that chance to ponder how we have been during the year. Gives us that chance to slow down and reflect. Caroline has that opportunity to be able to see what her life would be like without friends and to realize what she needs to do to make amends and to seek out those only friends that she made but pushed away. 

I love the happy ending in this book. She finally gets to have the family that she has been missing and the love she has been seeking without realizing. 

Anne of Green Gables

 Anne of Green Gables 
By Lucy Maud Montgomery

Read by Rachel McAdams

We have been traveling this weekend so I had the opportunity to finish listening to Anne of Green Gables. 

I have always loved the Anne of Green Gables movies. They have loved them since I was younger. But I had never read the books. 

I found this version available in audible and thought that it was high time I read the book. I loved listening to it. Rachel McAdams does such a great job of bringing out the characteristics of each character that I have loved about them. As I was listening to it I could picture each part from the movies and endeared the characters to me more.

After hearing this I wish that Rachel McAdams had read the next books as well. But I want to keep listening to the others.

The Gentleman and the Thief

 The Gentleman and the Thief
by Sarah M. Eden

I had started this book a couple of months ago but wasn't able to finish it before I had to return it to the library. So when I was buying The Merchant and the Rogue I picked up a copy of this book as well. Have to be able to finish out the series.

I love how masterful Sarah is in her writing. She has a way of almost making it seem like you are there in the book. She makes it so you feel a connection not only with the main characters of the story but also those side characters and just leaves you wanting to know more about them. 

I loved the both Hollis and Ana had secrets from their past but they didn't let them stop them from being able to build a relationship of trust. So then when they found out those secrets they didn't really mind them so much. They were just happy to have somewhere they could call home. 

If you haven't read any of the Penny Dreadful series I highly recommend that you do. They are such a delight and full of fun surprises and twists and turns. 

I has got to take a lot of creative to write the main story but two write two separate stories within the main story and make you love those characters as well.