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A Very Bookish Novella Collections
A Very Bookish Romance
Daisy is determined to help her brother thrive,
Jeremiah seeks a second chance with Pace,
Katy longs for adventure and romance,
June finds herself seeking solace at church,
Lore makes a new friend…
…all at Valentine’s Day.
Join Abigayle Claire (inspired by Charlotte’s Web), Sarah Holman (inspired by Pride and Prejudice), J. Grace Pennington (inspired by Northanger Abbey), Kellyn Roth (inspired by The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), and Kate Willis (inspired by Little Town on the Prairie) as they share stories full of hope, faith, and love.
Jeremiah seeks a second chance with Pace,
Katy longs for adventure and romance,
June finds herself seeking solace at church,
Lore makes a new friend…
…all at Valentine’s Day.
Join Abigayle Claire (inspired by Charlotte’s Web), Sarah Holman (inspired by Pride and Prejudice), J. Grace Pennington (inspired by Northanger Abbey), Kellyn Roth (inspired by The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), and Kate Willis (inspired by Little Town on the Prairie) as they share stories full of hope, faith, and love.
- GenresRomance
Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2024
4 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Holman
46 books459 followersSarah Holman lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Scott. When not working on her next novel, she can usually be found hanging out with her family, reading, or hiking at state parks with her husband. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it’s because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined. You can find out more about her at her website, www.thedestinyofone.com.
To keep up to date on releases, join her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bitBIf
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 5, 2024
Daisy’s Heart by Abigayle Claire
5+ stars. Aw, okay, this was just SO SWEET and darling! It wasn’t exactly a RETELLING of Charlotte’s Web, I think, but it had the feel, and it had enough elements to please me—though to be honest I wouldn’t have cared, because I loved the story so much all by itself. Daisy was such a delightful heroine—strong, honest, loving, owning up to her errors, and giving everything her best. And Brooks was a very nice Valentine. ;) Will was such a cute little brother—loved that kid—and Felicity (& Adam!) were splendid friends. And the villain was quite satisfying to despise. I LOVE the ending and the strong community feels… I just loved this so much. It gave me all the warm, contented feelings and throughly satisfied me. <3
A String of Paper Hearts by Sarah Holman
3 stars. Okay, I wanted to love this. I love Sarah Holman’s books as a general rule. But this one just fell flat for me. I never clicked with Pace—she felt more told than shown—and I really didn’t like Jeremiah for the solid 70% of the story. My guy, eating politely isn’t being a gentleman, its being a DECENT HUMAN BEING. I wanted to like him—I relate to being loud, distracted, physical—but I felt like he was just over the top and complaining about people not liking him when he was being obnoxious. I also felt like their arcs were super rushed and not shown, just told? And I HATED Pace’s home life. I know, that’s part of P&P, but it just made me so uncomfortable—which shows it was well done, just too much for my sensitivity. I recognised the Pride & Prejudice elements and appreciated how the author made them Christian, and maybe I’ll like this story more on a reread!
Southeaster Lodge by J. Grace Pennington
4.5 stars. I love Jane Austen. I really like Northanger Abbey . But I ~LOATHE~ secondhand embarrassment. I only suffer through it in Austen because her satire is to die for, emotionally. Unfortunately, the secondhand embarrassment in this book was too much. I skipped the whole scene where Katy is caught in the corridor, and skimmed through the rest because I was so ashamed for her. (Seriously, why did she and her predecessor (A) do it in the first place and (B) admit what they were thinking about his FATHER?! Discretion is the better part of valour, my fair Catherines.) HOWEVER, that stumbling block aside, I did enjoy the story quite a bit, and it was a very good retelling. I hope J. Grace Pennington keeps doing retellings because I LOVE how she does them—so similar yet so different! I love the hotel aspect especially. Also, the Isabel character came out of nowhere and totally blindsided me, lol.
The Artist of Heathstone Cottage by Kellyn Roth
5 stars. I was STOKED to find out Kellyn Roth was in this anthology… AND retelling Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which I love and which I know she LOVES. As always, she pulled off a fantastic story. It’s similar enough to the book that I easily saw the similarities, but also had different elements to give it a different overall feel—it was much sweeter than the original, more focussed on redemption and healing. I adore Theo and how big of a part he played! June was such a nice, relatable girl, and Mark was darling. I also really enjoy the WWII setting and atmosphere! It was a quick story, but it felt well paced, with the romance well developed, and I love the cozy-winter-cottage-academia feels…
Lore in Love by Kate Willis
5+ stars. My second favourite story in the collection. This was just so wholesome and comforting and adorable. Lore is the sweetest thing EVER and I love her relationship with all the babies! (Also her name, to be honest.) Marie and the other family members were super cute too. The story was quick, but it didn’t feel rushed, and I loved getting to see Lore blossom out and gain confidence but also admit her anxiety and shyness. And Hamish was the cutest and best thing EVER and while I am generally not a fan of puppy love, etc, I SO SHIPPED THEM. They’re so stinking adorable. I grinned like a fool when I put down the book at last. <3 And those understated Little Town on the Prairie feels are IMMACULATE.
*Quotes to come upon reread.*
5+ stars. Aw, okay, this was just SO SWEET and darling! It wasn’t exactly a RETELLING of Charlotte’s Web, I think, but it had the feel, and it had enough elements to please me—though to be honest I wouldn’t have cared, because I loved the story so much all by itself. Daisy was such a delightful heroine—strong, honest, loving, owning up to her errors, and giving everything her best. And Brooks was a very nice Valentine. ;) Will was such a cute little brother—loved that kid—and Felicity (& Adam!) were splendid friends. And the villain was quite satisfying to despise. I LOVE the ending and the strong community feels… I just loved this so much. It gave me all the warm, contented feelings and throughly satisfied me. <3
A String of Paper Hearts by Sarah Holman
3 stars. Okay, I wanted to love this. I love Sarah Holman’s books as a general rule. But this one just fell flat for me. I never clicked with Pace—she felt more told than shown—and I really didn’t like Jeremiah for the solid 70% of the story. My guy, eating politely isn’t being a gentleman, its being a DECENT HUMAN BEING. I wanted to like him—I relate to being loud, distracted, physical—but I felt like he was just over the top and complaining about people not liking him when he was being obnoxious. I also felt like their arcs were super rushed and not shown, just told? And I HATED Pace’s home life. I know, that’s part of P&P, but it just made me so uncomfortable—which shows it was well done, just too much for my sensitivity. I recognised the Pride & Prejudice elements and appreciated how the author made them Christian, and maybe I’ll like this story more on a reread!
Southeaster Lodge by J. Grace Pennington
4.5 stars. I love Jane Austen. I really like Northanger Abbey . But I ~LOATHE~ secondhand embarrassment. I only suffer through it in Austen because her satire is to die for, emotionally. Unfortunately, the secondhand embarrassment in this book was too much. I skipped the whole scene where Katy is caught in the corridor, and skimmed through the rest because I was so ashamed for her. (Seriously, why did she and her predecessor (A) do it in the first place and (B) admit what they were thinking about his FATHER?! Discretion is the better part of valour, my fair Catherines.) HOWEVER, that stumbling block aside, I did enjoy the story quite a bit, and it was a very good retelling. I hope J. Grace Pennington keeps doing retellings because I LOVE how she does them—so similar yet so different! I love the hotel aspect especially. Also, the Isabel character came out of nowhere and totally blindsided me, lol.
The Artist of Heathstone Cottage by Kellyn Roth
5 stars. I was STOKED to find out Kellyn Roth was in this anthology… AND retelling Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which I love and which I know she LOVES. As always, she pulled off a fantastic story. It’s similar enough to the book that I easily saw the similarities, but also had different elements to give it a different overall feel—it was much sweeter than the original, more focussed on redemption and healing. I adore Theo and how big of a part he played! June was such a nice, relatable girl, and Mark was darling. I also really enjoy the WWII setting and atmosphere! It was a quick story, but it felt well paced, with the romance well developed, and I love the cozy-winter-cottage-academia feels…
Lore in Love by Kate Willis
5+ stars. My second favourite story in the collection. This was just so wholesome and comforting and adorable. Lore is the sweetest thing EVER and I love her relationship with all the babies! (Also her name, to be honest.) Marie and the other family members were super cute too. The story was quick, but it didn’t feel rushed, and I loved getting to see Lore blossom out and gain confidence but also admit her anxiety and shyness. And Hamish was the cutest and best thing EVER and while I am generally not a fan of puppy love, etc, I SO SHIPPED THEM. They’re so stinking adorable. I grinned like a fool when I put down the book at last. <3 And those understated Little Town on the Prairie feels are IMMACULATE.
*Quotes to come upon reread.*
Read
January 19, 2024Five stars for my fellow authors' sweet novellas. You don't want to miss this collection! 🤍
January 30, 2024
I loved all of these well-written and heart-warming novellas. They were all relatively light on the romance angle but with a focus on what a real relationship should be. They had a cozy feel, mostly set in late winter when the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over and everyone is settling into normal life. (Though a couple of the stories had a longer time frame that included other holidays.)
-Daisy's Heart. I was so curious to see how Charlotte's Web would be used since it's a children's classic and the main characters in that book are animals. It was so loveable! Daisy's little brother, Will, adores that book. Daisy is such a good big sister, and her plight with the family farm had my full sympathy. That's one of my favorite story lines, trying to save the place you love. The other characters in this story are well crafted, too, and the nods to Templeton the rat in one certain person made me grin in satisfaction. I enjoyed seeing characters from Abigayle Claire's story in A Very Bookish Easter and realizing how her three stories for this series tie together.
-A String of Paper Hearts. All the Pride and Prejudice tie-ins were a delight to behold, especially since the characters themselves were so conscious of them. I was amazed at how Sarah Holman made the lead characters, Jeremiah and Pace, so likeable and sympathetic once we understand them, since when these characters appeared in an earlier Bookish Holiday story, they weren't so likeable and aren't typically the kind of characters I enjoy being around much. Bravo, Ms. Holman! The spiritual lessons, as always in her stories, are very impactful.
-Southeaster Lodge. We get two Jane Austen retellings in this collection! Northanger Abbey is one of the more neglected Austen novels when it comes to retellings, so I'm glad this fun novel got its spotlight here. It translated perfectly into this modern-day story. Katy is an endearing young woman with a few lessons yet to learn, and I think it was a genius twist how she went to work at a fancy lodge that contains a hallway that's been mysteriously "under construction" for years. I'm familiar with the area where Southeaster Lodge is fictionally located, so I really enjoyed that aspect as well.
-The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage. I can always expect great historical fiction from Kellyn Roth, and this novella, set in WW2 England, is no exception. I enjoyed how June's story enfolded bit by bit, almost like a mystery; she was definitely a mystery to those around her, like the heroine in her favorite book, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, though we as readers had a few more insights into her. Speaking of her favorite book, I was thrilled that this comparatively lesser-known classic was used in this collection. It worked really well!
-Lore in Love. This story was so sweet! Little Town on the Prairie is my favorite Little House book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tie-ins. The story is full of family love, toddlers, delicious food, and inviting traditions. Lore and Mish are relatable and loveable characters, and watching their friendship develop was so much fun.
-Daisy's Heart. I was so curious to see how Charlotte's Web would be used since it's a children's classic and the main characters in that book are animals. It was so loveable! Daisy's little brother, Will, adores that book. Daisy is such a good big sister, and her plight with the family farm had my full sympathy. That's one of my favorite story lines, trying to save the place you love. The other characters in this story are well crafted, too, and the nods to Templeton the rat in one certain person made me grin in satisfaction. I enjoyed seeing characters from Abigayle Claire's story in A Very Bookish Easter and realizing how her three stories for this series tie together.
-A String of Paper Hearts. All the Pride and Prejudice tie-ins were a delight to behold, especially since the characters themselves were so conscious of them. I was amazed at how Sarah Holman made the lead characters, Jeremiah and Pace, so likeable and sympathetic once we understand them, since when these characters appeared in an earlier Bookish Holiday story, they weren't so likeable and aren't typically the kind of characters I enjoy being around much. Bravo, Ms. Holman! The spiritual lessons, as always in her stories, are very impactful.
-Southeaster Lodge. We get two Jane Austen retellings in this collection! Northanger Abbey is one of the more neglected Austen novels when it comes to retellings, so I'm glad this fun novel got its spotlight here. It translated perfectly into this modern-day story. Katy is an endearing young woman with a few lessons yet to learn, and I think it was a genius twist how she went to work at a fancy lodge that contains a hallway that's been mysteriously "under construction" for years. I'm familiar with the area where Southeaster Lodge is fictionally located, so I really enjoyed that aspect as well.
-The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage. I can always expect great historical fiction from Kellyn Roth, and this novella, set in WW2 England, is no exception. I enjoyed how June's story enfolded bit by bit, almost like a mystery; she was definitely a mystery to those around her, like the heroine in her favorite book, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, though we as readers had a few more insights into her. Speaking of her favorite book, I was thrilled that this comparatively lesser-known classic was used in this collection. It worked really well!
-Lore in Love. This story was so sweet! Little Town on the Prairie is my favorite Little House book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tie-ins. The story is full of family love, toddlers, delicious food, and inviting traditions. Lore and Mish are relatable and loveable characters, and watching their friendship develop was so much fun.
January 20, 2024
4.5 stars
I didn't read this entire book 5 times, but since there are 5 books, I'm recording it like they were published individually. (They probably will be at some point.)
Daisy’s Heart
4 stars
It’s been years since I’ve read “Charlotte’s Web” so I don’t remember much of the book, but this delightful story brought back parts that I had forgotten. Loved the characters, the struggles, the resolution. I was a little annoyed by Daisy’s pride that kept her from admitting that she needed help, but I was glad to see her overcome that. The romance was so slight, so enjoyable, so clean that I wouldn’t mind handing this story to younger readers.
A String of Paper Hearts
4 stars
Once again Sarah brings back the characters from some of her other books and let’s me get to know side characters Jeremiah and Pace. I felt for each of them as I saw they were struggling in different ways. I was a little annoyed that it seemed everyone was holding Darcy up as the perfect model of a gentleman and at least Jeremiah’s sister seemed to think he needed to be like him. Yes, Jeremiah needed to realize that good manners and politeness are elementary for any kind of relationship (even friendship), but I didn’t feel that his enthusiasm with life should be altered so drastically or that Darcy is a perfect model. Perhaps I just didn’t get to see Jeremiah with good manners but still enthusiastic and outgoing later. It seemed that he'd pretty much changed. Otherwise I really liked the story.
Southeaster Lodge
4 stars
I’ve never read "Northanger Abbey", so I had no idea what the story was going to be about, but I enjoyed it. The mystery was about what I was expecting, but what I wasn’t expecting was the ending. I thought something else would happen, but it didn’t, and I realized that I was okay with it. It’s so much like real life. We may want everything to wrap up perfectly, but it might not.
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage
3 stars
I enjoyed this story. It wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t bad either. I did have a hard time believing it to be 1944 in England as there was no mention of food rationing, no blackouts at night, the visit to London had absolutely not mention of bombings or destroyed buildings, or anything like that, and there were a few things that were odd or felt out of place and strange. But the characters were good, and I enjoyed the relationship. I am still not sure about why June’s past was such a big deal, but maybe it ties in with the book this story is related to which I’ve never read.
Lore in Love
4.5 stars
I got to beta read this story and liked it, but when I read it again when it was finished, it was SO much better! I loved Lore and her struggles to have friends which meant stepping outside her comfort zone. No, I don’t relate to her as I’ve ever been accused of being shy. I wanted to hug her. Each of the other characters were delightful and it made me smile. The ending . . . so sweet!
Overall, I enjoyed each one of these stories.
I didn't read this entire book 5 times, but since there are 5 books, I'm recording it like they were published individually. (They probably will be at some point.)
Daisy’s Heart
4 stars
It’s been years since I’ve read “Charlotte’s Web” so I don’t remember much of the book, but this delightful story brought back parts that I had forgotten. Loved the characters, the struggles, the resolution. I was a little annoyed by Daisy’s pride that kept her from admitting that she needed help, but I was glad to see her overcome that. The romance was so slight, so enjoyable, so clean that I wouldn’t mind handing this story to younger readers.
A String of Paper Hearts
4 stars
Once again Sarah brings back the characters from some of her other books and let’s me get to know side characters Jeremiah and Pace. I felt for each of them as I saw they were struggling in different ways. I was a little annoyed that it seemed everyone was holding Darcy up as the perfect model of a gentleman and at least Jeremiah’s sister seemed to think he needed to be like him. Yes, Jeremiah needed to realize that good manners and politeness are elementary for any kind of relationship (even friendship), but I didn’t feel that his enthusiasm with life should be altered so drastically or that Darcy is a perfect model. Perhaps I just didn’t get to see Jeremiah with good manners but still enthusiastic and outgoing later. It seemed that he'd pretty much changed. Otherwise I really liked the story.
Southeaster Lodge
4 stars
I’ve never read "Northanger Abbey", so I had no idea what the story was going to be about, but I enjoyed it. The mystery was about what I was expecting, but what I wasn’t expecting was the ending. I thought something else would happen, but it didn’t, and I realized that I was okay with it. It’s so much like real life. We may want everything to wrap up perfectly, but it might not.
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage
3 stars
I enjoyed this story. It wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t bad either. I did have a hard time believing it to be 1944 in England as there was no mention of food rationing, no blackouts at night, the visit to London had absolutely not mention of bombings or destroyed buildings, or anything like that, and there were a few things that were odd or felt out of place and strange. But the characters were good, and I enjoyed the relationship. I am still not sure about why June’s past was such a big deal, but maybe it ties in with the book this story is related to which I’ve never read.
Lore in Love
4.5 stars
I got to beta read this story and liked it, but when I read it again when it was finished, it was SO much better! I loved Lore and her struggles to have friends which meant stepping outside her comfort zone. No, I don’t relate to her as I’ve ever been accused of being shy. I wanted to hug her. Each of the other characters were delightful and it made me smile. The ending . . . so sweet!
Overall, I enjoyed each one of these stories.
Read
February 5, 2024I'm not going to give this a star rating since I have a book in this collection. However, I finally read all the stories and I just loved this! It was a perfect collection to end off the amazing experience the A Very Bookish collections have been.
If you haven't bought your copy, don't wait too long, as this collection will disappear at the end of March.
If you haven't bought your copy, don't wait too long, as this collection will disappear at the end of March.
February 10, 2024
Like in the previous installments of this series, each novella in this collection retells a classic book, but also has the characters in the novella reading that classic and thinking about how it relates to their own situation. Which sounds awfully meta, but I promise it works in a charming and cute way. After all, what avid reader hasn't seen parallels between something in their life and a beloved book? That's part of what makes reading so much fun!
Of the five novellas here, my favorites were "The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage" by Kellyn Roth and "Daisy's Heart" by Abigayle Claire. Interestingly, those were the two that are based on books I am not very, very familiar with!
Of the five novellas here, my favorites were "The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage" by Kellyn Roth and "Daisy's Heart" by Abigayle Claire. Interestingly, those were the two that are based on books I am not very, very familiar with!
Currently reading
January 8, 2024I read an ARC of Lore in Love and loved it! Sweet and simple and lovely and refreshing with a dash of awkwardness and just... sweetness all around.
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Preorder this book here before the price goes up: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
You can sign up for special goodies here if you preorder: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
February 18, 2024
What a darling and uplifting collection of stories! I always get amused to see my name written or spoken more during February, but reading A Very Bookish Romance made the holiday of Valentine's Day more meaningful. I found the romance mentioned was clean and appropriate.
In Daisy's Heart, I was reminded of the importance of not being afraid to ask for help, while also trusting in God to provide for our needs. I related to Daisy as I also have a younger brother. It was fun having a previous character from the Easter collection in this story.
I loved reading about the characters from the Maple Leaf Christian Retreat Center from the former Bookish Collections, and getting to know two of them more in depth in A String of Paper Hearts. Jeremiah and Pace couldn't be more different in personality, yet they discover that they both have areas of pride in common. I really liked the focus on the fruits of the Spirit throughout the story. I so loved the ending!!!
It was fun to read a mystery and romance in Southeaster Lodge. Katy starting a new job as well as her curiosity over a closed off area kept me intrigued. I liked the sobering lesson of not assuming or imagining the worst in certain situations, as we don't know the full reality.
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage is, I believe, the first story I've read by Kellyn Roth, and since finishing it, I want to read more of her works. I loved the British sayings and settings; it was easy to picture myself there. June and Mark had such a sweet relationship together as well as with her son, Theo. The lesson I gleaned from this story is to seek God in every situation (as June and Mark did), and welcome His grace and forgiveness for past wrongs or regrets. And to do and receive the same from others.
Lore in Love is such a cute story and probably young girls or women can relate to Lore's awkwardness and shyness around Hamish. As I've worked in childcare settings before, it was really fun to read about Lore's similar experiences working in one. I admire her boldness to get involved in her community and make friends.
A Very Bookish Romance was delightful to read and made Valentine's Day 2024 extra special.
In Daisy's Heart, I was reminded of the importance of not being afraid to ask for help, while also trusting in God to provide for our needs. I related to Daisy as I also have a younger brother. It was fun having a previous character from the Easter collection in this story.
I loved reading about the characters from the Maple Leaf Christian Retreat Center from the former Bookish Collections, and getting to know two of them more in depth in A String of Paper Hearts. Jeremiah and Pace couldn't be more different in personality, yet they discover that they both have areas of pride in common. I really liked the focus on the fruits of the Spirit throughout the story. I so loved the ending!!!
It was fun to read a mystery and romance in Southeaster Lodge. Katy starting a new job as well as her curiosity over a closed off area kept me intrigued. I liked the sobering lesson of not assuming or imagining the worst in certain situations, as we don't know the full reality.
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage is, I believe, the first story I've read by Kellyn Roth, and since finishing it, I want to read more of her works. I loved the British sayings and settings; it was easy to picture myself there. June and Mark had such a sweet relationship together as well as with her son, Theo. The lesson I gleaned from this story is to seek God in every situation (as June and Mark did), and welcome His grace and forgiveness for past wrongs or regrets. And to do and receive the same from others.
Lore in Love is such a cute story and probably young girls or women can relate to Lore's awkwardness and shyness around Hamish. As I've worked in childcare settings before, it was really fun to read about Lore's similar experiences working in one. I admire her boldness to get involved in her community and make friends.
A Very Bookish Romance was delightful to read and made Valentine's Day 2024 extra special.
May 7, 2024
Daisy's Heart - 4 stars
It took me a while to see the Charlotte's Web connection here (also another one of those stories where I've only seen the movie and never read the book). Though I must admit that when a certain plot point happened and I remembered one of the original plot points, my heart jumped entirely into my throat. O.O As we got to the end, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the way it resolved, but I ended up being okay with it. (: And the absolute best part of it was the character interactions. Loved all the characters (well, almost) and enjoyed the connection back to Lilies and Thorns as well.
A String of Paper Hearts - 5 stars
Aaaaand it all comes together! Okay, I have to admit...as much as I saw and enjoyed the Pride and Prejudice storyline, I couldn't help remembering our first introduction to these two back in As Long as I Belong. And with that being the case, I kept envisioning this as a redemption arc for their characters from Manfield Park, which somehow I liked even better. Go figure! XD Pace had a lot to do to convince me to root for her at the beginning, and I appreciated the real change she showed, as well as feeling bad for her circumstances. (Now I really want to see Tate's story wrap up too...) Jeremiah, though--I know he was rough, but growing up with a whole passel of brothers, I felt like I understood and sympathized with him from the beginning. His growth arc was also good, and I loved the way things wrapped up between them. Really, really loved this one! <3<3<3
Southeaster Lodge - 4.5 stars
Northanger Abbey is another one of those stories that I only know in the broadest outlines, but even from what little I know, I was easily able to recognize the story. I appreciated that Katy wasn't as silly as her original, even if she did make mistakes, and I loved Harry and Beth (and Holmes! XD). The mystery was interesting and also sad, and Katy's curiosity did make sense, even if she did let her imagination run away with her a little. I would have liked a little more resolution in the end, but I also don't know how much of that is a remnant of the original story. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this!
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage - 4 stars
I know basically nothing about the original of this one, but I enjoyed the story a lot. Little Theo was both adorable and realistic, and I felt for June and her troubles. Also, Mark was amazing! The only thing I didn't quite get was June's reaction to her family reaching out when all through the rest of the story, she admitted that she'd been the one in the wrong. But the messages were good, and probably ones that I need to take to heart...
Lore in Love - 4.5 stars
Ahhhhh, this was so cute and sweet! I practically lived in the Little House books growing up, and I had so much fun picking out all the little parallels. Also got very nostalgic over the toddler/preschool aspect and all the time I spent teaching and helping with little kids in various settings over the years... And I loved the quiet, shy, awkward first bloom of something like romance right at the very end...it was so sweet and adorable! Just all the warm, fuzzy feelings, and I'm sad this series is over. <3
It took me a while to see the Charlotte's Web connection here (also another one of those stories where I've only seen the movie and never read the book). Though I must admit that when a certain plot point happened and I remembered one of the original plot points, my heart jumped entirely into my throat. O.O As we got to the end, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the way it resolved, but I ended up being okay with it. (: And the absolute best part of it was the character interactions. Loved all the characters (well, almost) and enjoyed the connection back to Lilies and Thorns as well.
A String of Paper Hearts - 5 stars
Aaaaand it all comes together! Okay, I have to admit...as much as I saw and enjoyed the Pride and Prejudice storyline, I couldn't help remembering our first introduction to these two back in As Long as I Belong. And with that being the case, I kept envisioning this as a redemption arc for their characters from Manfield Park, which somehow I liked even better. Go figure! XD Pace had a lot to do to convince me to root for her at the beginning, and I appreciated the real change she showed, as well as feeling bad for her circumstances. (Now I really want to see Tate's story wrap up too...) Jeremiah, though--I know he was rough, but growing up with a whole passel of brothers, I felt like I understood and sympathized with him from the beginning. His growth arc was also good, and I loved the way things wrapped up between them. Really, really loved this one! <3<3<3
Southeaster Lodge - 4.5 stars
Northanger Abbey is another one of those stories that I only know in the broadest outlines, but even from what little I know, I was easily able to recognize the story. I appreciated that Katy wasn't as silly as her original, even if she did make mistakes, and I loved Harry and Beth (and Holmes! XD). The mystery was interesting and also sad, and Katy's curiosity did make sense, even if she did let her imagination run away with her a little. I would have liked a little more resolution in the end, but I also don't know how much of that is a remnant of the original story. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this!
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage - 4 stars
I know basically nothing about the original of this one, but I enjoyed the story a lot. Little Theo was both adorable and realistic, and I felt for June and her troubles. Also, Mark was amazing! The only thing I didn't quite get was June's reaction to her family reaching out when all through the rest of the story, she admitted that she'd been the one in the wrong. But the messages were good, and probably ones that I need to take to heart...
Lore in Love - 4.5 stars
Ahhhhh, this was so cute and sweet! I practically lived in the Little House books growing up, and I had so much fun picking out all the little parallels. Also got very nostalgic over the toddler/preschool aspect and all the time I spent teaching and helping with little kids in various settings over the years... And I loved the quiet, shy, awkward first bloom of something like romance right at the very end...it was so sweet and adorable! Just all the warm, fuzzy feelings, and I'm sad this series is over. <3
February 28, 2024
I really enjoyed each of these short, sweet stories centered around Valentine's Day. I like how each author highlighted different types of love to celebrate; family, friends, romance, and God most of all. The inspiration by other litary works for each story was clever. My favorite novellas from the collection are Southeaster Lodge and A String of Paper Hearts.
These authors are new for me, and I look forward to reading more by them as well as reading through the other Bookish Holiday Collections.
Daisy's Heart- 3/5
A String of Paper Hearts- 4/5
Southeaster Lodge- 5/5
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage- 3/5
Lore in Love- 3/5
These authors are new for me, and I look forward to reading more by them as well as reading through the other Bookish Holiday Collections.
Daisy's Heart- 3/5
A String of Paper Hearts- 4/5
Southeaster Lodge- 5/5
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage- 3/5
Lore in Love- 3/5
January 25, 2024
I read The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage
Because I love children’s books I am always thrilled to find a book for adults that has a children’s book author or illustrator as a main character. I found just that in Kellyn Roth’s new novella, part of A Very Bookish Romance anthology. The fact that June illustrates children’s books doesn’t play a huge role in the plot but I enjoyed reading her story. I don’t know if Roth has any more books planned for June but I, for one, would enjoy reading more of her life.
Roth creates engaging and endearing characters and the characters in The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage is no exception. She also brings reconciliation into The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage - and I love reconciliation. I really enjoy how she shares historical tidbits as part of the plot - the reader is learning a little history without realizing they are learning history.
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage is an adult World War II romance. However, there is nothing to keep it from being placed in a K-12 Christian school library. High school students would enjoy the story if they like historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage. This is my honest review.
Because I love children’s books I am always thrilled to find a book for adults that has a children’s book author or illustrator as a main character. I found just that in Kellyn Roth’s new novella, part of A Very Bookish Romance anthology. The fact that June illustrates children’s books doesn’t play a huge role in the plot but I enjoyed reading her story. I don’t know if Roth has any more books planned for June but I, for one, would enjoy reading more of her life.
Roth creates engaging and endearing characters and the characters in The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage is no exception. She also brings reconciliation into The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage - and I love reconciliation. I really enjoy how she shares historical tidbits as part of the plot - the reader is learning a little history without realizing they are learning history.
The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage is an adult World War II romance. However, there is nothing to keep it from being placed in a K-12 Christian school library. High school students would enjoy the story if they like historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage. This is my honest review.
February 9, 2024
Sweet classic cameo collection
I love how the authors in this collection hinted at the classic story their story was themed around. Very cute.
I love how the authors in this collection hinted at the classic story their story was themed around. Very cute.
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