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Call Her Liberty: Sweet Historical Romance
Two choices; submit or retreat?
Sixteen-year-old Ella envisions a life of freedom; one that’s colorful, fun and goes beyond traditions. However, when the pressure of conforming to the Belle Mount way presents, she has two choices, submit or retreat. With the help of her best friend, Peter, Ella will choose freedom, but at what cost?
Sixteen-year-old Ella envisions a life of freedom; one that’s colorful, fun and goes beyond traditions. However, when the pressure of conforming to the Belle Mount way presents, she has two choices, submit or retreat. With the help of her best friend, Peter, Ella will choose freedom, but at what cost?
92 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2024
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Chantol C. Aspinall
5 books19 followersI’m an island girl through and through; a lover of warm weather, clear skies, and beaches. Though I was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, I spent most of my childhood in Nassau, Bahamas where my sixth-grade teacher helped me to discover my hidden passion for stringing words together on a blank page. Regardless of the challenges and hardships I have faced in life, I have never stopped telling my story through the characters I cultivate in my head. I believe my writing has purpose and meaning and I hope to use my truth and learned experiences to give hope and share love with the world around me. When I’m not crafting another story, I’m working full-time as a registered nurse.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 5, 2024
Call Her Liberty - was such a fast and easy read for me. It kept my attention the entire time! This is the first book of the series.
The FMC is stuck between sticking to traditions that her family wants (such as marrying at 18 to a wealthy boy & always serving the men) or achieving the freedom she desires! The freedom of making her own choices!
Ella is strong.
Best friend Peter is 🖤
And this ends with a CLIFFHANGER!
I wasn't expecting a cliffhanger, so I was shook!
I'm already 100% ready for the next one 😆
Thank you for the opportunity to review!
My review is completely different! 🖤
The FMC is stuck between sticking to traditions that her family wants (such as marrying at 18 to a wealthy boy & always serving the men) or achieving the freedom she desires! The freedom of making her own choices!
Ella is strong.
Best friend Peter is 🖤
And this ends with a CLIFFHANGER!
I wasn't expecting a cliffhanger, so I was shook!
I'm already 100% ready for the next one 😆
Thank you for the opportunity to review!
My review is completely different! 🖤
September 9, 2024
Call Her Liberty by Chantol C. Aspinall is the first book in the Kingdom Series. The novel takes place in Belle Mount in the 1870s and features a young woman named Ella doing everything she can to go against the “Belle Mount way” and achieve her independence.
The “Belle Mount way” entails women dressing “properly,” always wearing a dress, being polite, cooking and cleaning, and marrying by turning 18. Ella, however, has different plans in mind. Ella enjoys running, playing, farming, and spending time with her best friend, Peter. At 16 years of age, Ella has done everything she can to avoid the Belle Mount way and follow in her mother’s footsteps.
Ella’s life changes drastically when a new boy, Eric, enrolls in Ella’s school. Eric takes an immediate shine to Ella and is insistent on marrying her when she turns 18. Facing pressure from her parents, Ella has to decide whether to succumb to the “Belle Mount way” or take her independence and leave behind everything she knows.
When reading Call Her Liberty, going into it with the correct mindset is essential. You shouldn’t expect a long novel with twists and turns, detailed character development, and a complex storyline. This book is more of a short story. It’s eight chapters, and the story escalates quickly.
My 4-star review is partly because of the above. Since the story was so short, it all felt rather rushed. I especially had an issue with Eric. He starts school, immediately spots Ella, and seems to take ownership of her. If the story had been longer and shown Eric continually trying to win Ella over, his jealous and possessive behavior would have made more sense to me.
Another reason for my review was the end of the story. Without giving too much away, the end was intense and abrupt. It made it seem like Ella’s story was finished, but the author shared there would be more books in the series, so I’m not sure whether Ella’s story would continue or if the series would consist of other short stories. I would have liked to have a bit more clarity.
Again, it’s key to approach this book with the right mindset. It was an enjoyable short story with a twist at the end. I am interested to see what Aspinall does with the rest of the series.
In Call Her Liberty, a young woman is faced with a choice—follow the footsteps of those before her or leave everything she knows and grab her independence. ~ Leah for Novels Alive
The “Belle Mount way” entails women dressing “properly,” always wearing a dress, being polite, cooking and cleaning, and marrying by turning 18. Ella, however, has different plans in mind. Ella enjoys running, playing, farming, and spending time with her best friend, Peter. At 16 years of age, Ella has done everything she can to avoid the Belle Mount way and follow in her mother’s footsteps.
Ella’s life changes drastically when a new boy, Eric, enrolls in Ella’s school. Eric takes an immediate shine to Ella and is insistent on marrying her when she turns 18. Facing pressure from her parents, Ella has to decide whether to succumb to the “Belle Mount way” or take her independence and leave behind everything she knows.
When reading Call Her Liberty, going into it with the correct mindset is essential. You shouldn’t expect a long novel with twists and turns, detailed character development, and a complex storyline. This book is more of a short story. It’s eight chapters, and the story escalates quickly.
My 4-star review is partly because of the above. Since the story was so short, it all felt rather rushed. I especially had an issue with Eric. He starts school, immediately spots Ella, and seems to take ownership of her. If the story had been longer and shown Eric continually trying to win Ella over, his jealous and possessive behavior would have made more sense to me.
Another reason for my review was the end of the story. Without giving too much away, the end was intense and abrupt. It made it seem like Ella’s story was finished, but the author shared there would be more books in the series, so I’m not sure whether Ella’s story would continue or if the series would consist of other short stories. I would have liked to have a bit more clarity.
Again, it’s key to approach this book with the right mindset. It was an enjoyable short story with a twist at the end. I am interested to see what Aspinall does with the rest of the series.
In Call Her Liberty, a young woman is faced with a choice—follow the footsteps of those before her or leave everything she knows and grab her independence. ~ Leah for Novels Alive
September 22, 2024
I received and read this in one day, and wanted to thank the author for this beautiful book!
Chasing Liberty brought me back to what pure first love looks like, and I really felt drawn to the main character. I also grew up in a strict family household, where my mother had a lot of rules and regulations about what a woman should look or act like. I remember how my family reacted when I left home and started living my own life, and I remember choosing what was best for me and how strong I finally felt.
Chasing liberty resonated deep with me.
More reasons to love Chasing Liberty:
✔️Clean Romance
✔️Strong character development
✔️Freedom/Equality/Women Empowerment
✔️Choosing what’s right vs what society wants
✔️Healthy relationship/ Good male character/Father
✔️Adventure outlook
✔️MC is person of color (I loved this ❤️)
✔️Great YA or read for Adults!
✔️No profanity (if you are looking for this)
✔️Easy and short read
Thank you Chantal C. Aspinall for allowing me the opportunity to read your book. I am leaving my review voluntarily, and it is my honest opinion. I look forward to reading the next books in the Kingdom Series!
Chasing Liberty brought me back to what pure first love looks like, and I really felt drawn to the main character. I also grew up in a strict family household, where my mother had a lot of rules and regulations about what a woman should look or act like. I remember how my family reacted when I left home and started living my own life, and I remember choosing what was best for me and how strong I finally felt.
Chasing liberty resonated deep with me.
More reasons to love Chasing Liberty:
✔️Clean Romance
✔️Strong character development
✔️Freedom/Equality/Women Empowerment
✔️Choosing what’s right vs what society wants
✔️Healthy relationship/ Good male character/Father
✔️Adventure outlook
✔️MC is person of color (I loved this ❤️)
✔️Great YA or read for Adults!
✔️No profanity (if you are looking for this)
✔️Easy and short read
Thank you Chantal C. Aspinall for allowing me the opportunity to read your book. I am leaving my review voluntarily, and it is my honest opinion. I look forward to reading the next books in the Kingdom Series!
August 8, 2024
Amazing book! I usually don’t like fantasy but this is a whimsical and fun read I’d recommend this to ages 10-17
September 19, 2024
This was such a fun quick story. I loved how independent Ella was and how she started to appreciate Peter early on in the story (also love how much she wanted to wear pants).
The ending of this book was insane and such a cliffhanger!!!
I’m eagerly awaiting to see what happens to Peter and Ella (and Eric).
Thank you Chantol Aspinall for the chance to read Call Her Liberty.
The ending of this book was insane and such a cliffhanger!!!
I’m eagerly awaiting to see what happens to Peter and Ella (and Eric).
Thank you Chantol Aspinall for the chance to read Call Her Liberty.
January 7, 2025
Enjoyable, light read. I won this book in a giveaway on LibraryThing. While it's clearly more of a YA story, I think my younger self would have rated it higher, though I wasn't fully captivated by it. The storyline had a unique premise, but it didn’t feel entirely convincing. The book ends on a cliffhanger, so I’m curious to see where Chantol takes the series next.
July 24, 2024
This is a historical romance. It's a short story that is an easy read. It kept my attention the entire time. The characters are relatable and easy to understand where they are coming from. I really enjoyed most of this book until the end. It ended on a cliffhanger, and I'm very curious to see what happens next. It is a series, so the next book could end up revealing the answers to my questions. I love how the female main character has such a strong opinion and stands up for herself. The romance between her and Peter is one that I could see going places, and I loved listening to their romance. If you are looking for a short novel that is historical and has a strong female main character, this book is for you.
January 6, 2025
Call Her Liberty, by Chantol C. Aspinall, is written with the young reader in mind. Since I work with 5th graders on a regular basis I read the book with that age in mind and it appeared to be an easy read, especially considering that the have three more advanced and difficult novels as part of their regular curriculum including Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, The Phantom Toll Booth, and A River Between Us. I was right. It is an easy read, even for 5th graders. But beware!
The main character is a sixteen year old girl named Ella, a very independent minded young lady with a bit of a Tom boy in her. However, much to her horror, her parents have arranged that she be married to a young man named Eric who comes from a very wealthy family in order to secure her financial future. Eric’s all for it, she is not.
In fact, she has repressed feelings for a long time friend named Peter (see where this is heading?).
This whole scenario can represent the age old conflict of teenagers realizing that their views of life and society’s expectations of their role in society may conflict which may most disturbing and unsettling, although in this little novelette it takes a much more dramatic turn.
Just as the reader thinks everything turned out “happily ever after,” the ending takes a very unexpected, dramatic, and dark, even traumatic turn for the audience I described. I can see a Dean Koontz expanding on this story and keeping adults wide awake at night.
I would not let a grade school child read this. I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than an upper Middle School student because of the ending.
The author describes this book as the first in a series called the Kingdom Series. I must confess despite the simplicity of the writing if the endings of her other books will be anything like this one I may well be tempted to read more.
The main character is a sixteen year old girl named Ella, a very independent minded young lady with a bit of a Tom boy in her. However, much to her horror, her parents have arranged that she be married to a young man named Eric who comes from a very wealthy family in order to secure her financial future. Eric’s all for it, she is not.
In fact, she has repressed feelings for a long time friend named Peter (see where this is heading?).
This whole scenario can represent the age old conflict of teenagers realizing that their views of life and society’s expectations of their role in society may conflict which may most disturbing and unsettling, although in this little novelette it takes a much more dramatic turn.
Just as the reader thinks everything turned out “happily ever after,” the ending takes a very unexpected, dramatic, and dark, even traumatic turn for the audience I described. I can see a Dean Koontz expanding on this story and keeping adults wide awake at night.
I would not let a grade school child read this. I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than an upper Middle School student because of the ending.
The author describes this book as the first in a series called the Kingdom Series. I must confess despite the simplicity of the writing if the endings of her other books will be anything like this one I may well be tempted to read more.
September 29, 2024
Quick thoughts: Good, short, easy read. Cliffhanger ending.
This short story did not take long to read at all. I started and finished in the same day. I originally thought this book may have been a good middle grades level book. However, the more I read, I realized that some of the interactions were not appropriate for younger children. I would recommend this only be read by those in high school and older.
I enjoyed the themes of women's rights and independence. However, the antagonist of this story, Eric, is very possessive of the main character, Ella. Unfortunately with this short story, it is confusing how and why Eric is so obsessed. He is brand new to the area, the school, etc. But he immediately acts like he owns Ella and is entitled to her out of nowhere. I understand that in this time and place that people are married young but to not have even spoken before essentially laying claim makes a reader confused.
The relationship between Ella and her best friend Peter is done pretty well, I do wish we saw a little more of Peter's thoughts before the end. The reader also gets to experience some growth from Ella as she learns new skills. I look forward to seeing how that continues. We do get left on a pretty significant cliffhanger and I do want to continue reading the series to see what happens next!
This short story did not take long to read at all. I started and finished in the same day. I originally thought this book may have been a good middle grades level book. However, the more I read, I realized that some of the interactions were not appropriate for younger children. I would recommend this only be read by those in high school and older.
I enjoyed the themes of women's rights and independence. However, the antagonist of this story, Eric, is very possessive of the main character, Ella. Unfortunately with this short story, it is confusing how and why Eric is so obsessed. He is brand new to the area, the school, etc. But he immediately acts like he owns Ella and is entitled to her out of nowhere. I understand that in this time and place that people are married young but to not have even spoken before essentially laying claim makes a reader confused.
The relationship between Ella and her best friend Peter is done pretty well, I do wish we saw a little more of Peter's thoughts before the end. The reader also gets to experience some growth from Ella as she learns new skills. I look forward to seeing how that continues. We do get left on a pretty significant cliffhanger and I do want to continue reading the series to see what happens next!
April 16, 2025
Move over, societal expectations!
Ella in Call Her Liberty: Sweet Historical Romance is a breath of fresh air and a total mood. This young lady said, 'Nah, I'm good,' to corsets and curtsies and decided her own happiness was the ultimate goal. Watching her navigate the 'Belle Mount way' with a wink and a whole lot of sass was utterly poignant and refreshing (just like this arc!). If you're looking for a heroine who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to chase after what she truly wants, then you absolutely need to answer the call of Call Her Liberty! Four out of five rebellious twirls! 💃
Sweet and nostalgic read, reminded me of finding my way and place in this world at sixteen, too. Also a significant reminder to my older self about how it started back then. Thank you, Chantol C. Aspinall, for entrusting me with this. <3
Ella in Call Her Liberty: Sweet Historical Romance is a breath of fresh air and a total mood. This young lady said, 'Nah, I'm good,' to corsets and curtsies and decided her own happiness was the ultimate goal. Watching her navigate the 'Belle Mount way' with a wink and a whole lot of sass was utterly poignant and refreshing (just like this arc!). If you're looking for a heroine who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to chase after what she truly wants, then you absolutely need to answer the call of Call Her Liberty! Four out of five rebellious twirls! 💃
Sweet and nostalgic read, reminded me of finding my way and place in this world at sixteen, too. Also a significant reminder to my older self about how it started back then. Thank you, Chantol C. Aspinall, for entrusting me with this. <3
January 6, 2025
Ella is strong-willed and opinionated and at 16 she knows that marriage is the furthest thing from her mind. Besides, her best friend since childhood, Peter, is always there to support her. Yet when her parents have decided to match her with arrogant and rich Eric, she refuses his advances.
As her parents become increasingly insistent that she attach herself to Eric, Peter and Ella come up with a plan to escape (with the help of Peter's mother, Paula). After weeks on their own, the couple becomes complacent. Then Eric finds them and their life becomes tragic.
Not sure who this book is written for with its childlike writing and adult themes. Characters are not developed fully enough for teen readers and plot lines don't really afford the reader much background to make connections. Grammatical and spelling errors are infused throughout the book. An age-old story without any new twists. The cliff hanger is too dramatic and sudden.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Chantol C. ASpinall for this ARC.
As her parents become increasingly insistent that she attach herself to Eric, Peter and Ella come up with a plan to escape (with the help of Peter's mother, Paula). After weeks on their own, the couple becomes complacent. Then Eric finds them and their life becomes tragic.
Not sure who this book is written for with its childlike writing and adult themes. Characters are not developed fully enough for teen readers and plot lines don't really afford the reader much background to make connections. Grammatical and spelling errors are infused throughout the book. An age-old story without any new twists. The cliff hanger is too dramatic and sudden.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Chantol C. ASpinall for this ARC.
August 12, 2024
“Call Her Liberty” follows the story of Ella, a young woman with a mind of her own whose decision to defy her family’s expectations and choose her own destiny sets her on a treacherous path. Her choices: follow her heart and be with the love of her life, sweet and strong Peter, or marry the conniving, yet well-off, Eric—not Ella’s choice but definitely her mother’s. Ella’s choice is obvious. She must follow her heart and choose Peter, but Eric won’t give up that easily. His determination to marry Ella puts Ella and Peter’s love and lives at great risk.
I loved this story! It’s elegantly written and has a classic, fairy tale feel that perfectly blends romance, adventure and rebellion. This story will resonate with anyone who appreciates a good ‘against all odds’ love story. It’s a wonderful start to the series. It ended on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Ella.
I loved this story! It’s elegantly written and has a classic, fairy tale feel that perfectly blends romance, adventure and rebellion. This story will resonate with anyone who appreciates a good ‘against all odds’ love story. It’s a wonderful start to the series. It ended on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Ella.
August 27, 2024
Had the pleasure of reading this book, and finished it during my lunch break!
That's the decision 16-year-old Ella faces. In two years, she will marry, and becoming Belle Mount, just as tradition has taught her to.
There's only one problem; Ella doesn't want that for her life.
Ella dreams of something more than a traditional life can give her, and with her best friend Peter by her side, she believes that anything is possible.
But that all changes when the new student Eric Charles enters in her life, and shows interest in her.
Eric wants to marry her, and with the approval of her parents already given, Ella's choices are disappearing before her very eyes.
Will she be able to live her life the way she wanted? Or will she be forced to for once in her life go with what's being told of her?
This book is a historical romance with an abrupt ending that I did NOT see coming. Great for fans who love historical romance/fiction!
Two choices; submit or retreat?
That's the decision 16-year-old Ella faces. In two years, she will marry, and becoming Belle Mount, just as tradition has taught her to.
There's only one problem; Ella doesn't want that for her life.
Ella dreams of something more than a traditional life can give her, and with her best friend Peter by her side, she believes that anything is possible.
But that all changes when the new student Eric Charles enters in her life, and shows interest in her.
Eric wants to marry her, and with the approval of her parents already given, Ella's choices are disappearing before her very eyes.
Will she be able to live her life the way she wanted? Or will she be forced to for once in her life go with what's being told of her?
This book is a historical romance with an abrupt ending that I did NOT see coming. Great for fans who love historical romance/fiction!
January 11, 2025
I won this novella from LibraryThing, and I absolutely loved this story, except for the cliffhanger, which means that I will have to patiently wait for the next part in Ella’s story. Despite being a short novella, Ella was a much developed character and knows what she wants life: the freedom of living her own life without being promised to marriage to Eric or anyone; luckily, she has her best friend, Peter, by her side, whom we find out he loves her just as much as she loves him. Peter and Ella are able to escape to Peter’s grandfather’s home to start a new life together away from Eric. But Eric ends up finding them, leaving us on a cliffhanger as to what happens next with Ella, Peter, and Eric. I cannot wait to find out.
January 30, 2025
While extremely easy to read, especially in one sitting, I wasn't a fan of this story. I wanted to root for Ella and Peter, but there was just a lot that wasn't for me. I think Peter was a sweet and strong character, and I value that Ella wanted to fight for her choice of who to marry, but I didn't care for the morals portrayed, her parents, or the cursing involved. The cursing was light and I normally wouldn't have too much of a problem with it (only use of h*ll) but it felt off in this story, especially because I can't tell what age it is geared for.
The content is on the heavier side, and definitely favors feminism. And the ending was depressing and rushed. But the book was also written in such a way that it was simple and easy to keep reading - I read it in one sitting and became invested.
Overall though, it's not one I could personally recommend.
The content is on the heavier side, and definitely favors feminism. And the ending was depressing and rushed. But the book was also written in such a way that it was simple and easy to keep reading - I read it in one sitting and became invested.
Overall though, it's not one I could personally recommend.
February 11, 2025
This was a short, fast-paced read. Something I liked about the story is it confronted real, human issues of sexual discrimination and self-determination. The main character is a teenage girl who possesses courage mixed with a fierce resolve to live her life the way she chooses. Young, budding romance as well as coming-of-age challenges are at the heart of the story. Be advised, some scenes might be considered brutal or violent for middle-grade readers. The book seems geared toward teens dealing with violence, forced marriage, and defying parents, while the writing and cover art easily appeal to young readers. I suppose age appropriateness is up to individuals to determine. The end is an abrupt cliffhanger to be sure, so prepare to be left wanting more.
October 21, 2024
Ella Elise Thomas has a mind of her own and is unafraid to share her opinions with her peers and also her elders. However, her home, Belle Mount, is steeped in rigid tradition, holding her free spirit back and forcing Ella to consider other dangerous options, if she is to remain true to herself. Please note that this is the first book in a series, and ends in a cliffhanger. I think you may find this author`s work refreshing and charming, as I do; I would recommend reaching for this book when thinking of gifts for others. I`m looking forward to seeing more from new author Chantol C, Aspinall!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving a review voluntarily.
August 2, 2024
This is a great YA historical romance. Ella had a dream for life but her parents had other plans. Will Ella be able to achieve her happiness or fall into the trap of her family’s obligations? I really enjoyed this story and looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I highly recommend it.
August 27, 2024
Absolutely outstanding book!
Really easy read and I loved the cliffhanger at the end!
Can't wait to read more!
Really easy read and I loved the cliffhanger at the end!
Can't wait to read more!
January 20, 2025
This was a lighthearted and quick read. It ended on a cliffhanger so I will certainly be looking out for the next book
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews