What a wonderful story this was! I’m thrilled to share my review of The Princess Companion with you all today and sincerely hope you grab a copy for yourself! Read my full review below (and can we all take a moment to admire that gorgeous cover?!).
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The kingdom of Arcadia is failing.
Chaos and unrest are brewing on every side, but the Queen, believing herself a failure, knows just who to turn to: a fairy godmother, who aided her once, many years ago…
Alyssa is just a woodcutter’s daughter, unseen by many, in search of work. But when she is separated from her companions one night and happens upon the Winter Castle, Alyssa finds herself unexpectedly employed as the Companion to the young princesses, Lily and Sophie.
Yet, there is more going on in the royal family than meets the eye. Prince Maximillian is being groomed for the throne, but as he and Alyssa grow closer, he only grows more restless, for the King and Queen are determined to see him marry royalty, a true princess worthy of the crown and the kingdom.
But, perhaps, the truest princess, unassuming and kind, has been among them all this time…
Melanie Cellier has crafted a refreshing and delightful take on The Princess and the Pea. This story is full of the villainous and valiant alike and breathes fresh life into an often overlooked fairy tale. Yet, for all its wonderful characters, twists, and turns, The Princess Companion is most to be cherished for the way it invites readers to believe once again, or, perhaps, for the very first time, that true love conquers all.
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You can connect with Melanie Cellier on Goodreads, Instagram, and her website, where you can subscribe to her newsletter and receive regular updates on all things bookish!
The Princess Companion (and all the other wonderful books in The Four Kingdoms series) can be found on Bookshop and Amazon.
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Last week, Part One: Christmas of Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel came to a close. This Friday, the next part of the adventure begins in Part Two: Winter. Join the fight for wonder below and receive weekly installments of the story!
On the pages of The Edge of Everywhen, you’ll find a young girl, Piper, frightened and desperate for what has been lost to be returned…
Her brother, Phoenix, an altogether rare young man, longing to be seen and understood…
A father, fighting to be reunited with his family…
And Aunt Beryl, with a cold, reserved heart, longing to be warmed.
Do you hear the echoes of your own story in any of theirs? Then, read on.
But be warned!
Something astonishing, indeed, awaits you, dear Reader, for between the covers of The Edge of Everywhen, you’ll encounter a story that will bring you closer to God and closer to the person you were handcrafted to be.
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There truly are not sufficient words to express how wonderful this story is, so I’ll leave you with a simple plea: please read The Edge of Everywhen. You won’t regret a minute of this adventure and will, I believe, walk away from it forever changed.
My heartfelt gratitude to A.S. Mackey for having the courage to write this story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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You can grab a copy of The Edge of Everywhen from Bookshop (a fantastic site that allows you to support indie booksellers!), Lifeway, or Books-A-Million.
This Thursday, Installment Three of Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel publishes!
You can read an excerpt here and subscribe below 🙂 It’s been my great joy to share this winter tale of wonder with you, and I can’t wait for the story to continue!
What a pleasure it is to introduce you all to The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer. This is a story you’re sure to find a treasured space for on your shelves. Read on for my full review!
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Addie’s world has been turned upside down, and her expectations for what the future holds have been unceremoniously shattered. After learning that she can no longer pursue her college degree because of her family’s financial ruin, Addie has a choice: give in to despair or trust God to bring hope and purpose to circumstances that feel so uncertain and frightening.
When an opportunity comes to join a team of packhorse librarians who deliver books to the people of Boone’s Hollow, Addie believes that God is doing just that.
But when she arrives, Addie finds that superstition and prejudice have taken deep root, and finding her place in Boone’s Hollow will prove more difficult than she ever expected. Still, she is not without friends in this new place. A kindly old woman, Nanny Fay, and Emmett, an acquaintance from college, stand beside Addie through it all and might, in the end, make staying in Boone’s Hollow worthwhile.
It is no easy thing to craft a fictional community of people so exquisitely that readers immediately feel as if they’ve known the characters all their lives, but Kim Vogel Sawyer has done exactly that. And for all the characters’ faults and idiosyncrasies, they also possess strength and a willingness to grow in equal measure. Between these pages live real people who must bravely confront painful obstacles and who will leave all who pick up The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow with a longing to visit and learn from them again and again.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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You can connect with Kim on her website, Goodreads, and Twitter! She has so many wonderful stories to share, and I have no doubt you’ll want to dive into each one!
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is available to purchase at Bookshop (a fantastic site that gives you the chance to support indie booksellers), Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble.
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This Friday, Installment Two of Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel publishes! Subscribe here to receive this winter tale of wonder! You’ll have unlimited access to this story (and all future ones) as long as you remain a subscriber. I hope you’ll join us! 🙂
Follow Penelope Grace on her wintry adventures when you subscribe today! For 3.99/month, you’ll receive four installments of the story, exclusive illustrations, and the chance to win an exciting prize in the coming weeks!
What more perfect way to end this wintry week than with this beautiful winter tale about young Sofia’s perfect snow day?
The Snow Dancer is the perfect book for you and your family to read together on a snowy evening. Find my full review (and links to purchase) below!
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On a chilly winter’s morning, the world blanketed in snow, a young girl named Sofia wakes up with a longing.
When a snowy day comes along, most children dream of snowball fights and sledding with their friends, but Sofia can think of only one thing: venturing out in the quiet of morning to dance through the frozen landscape, through the stillness and softness of freshly fallen snow.
With illustrations by Merce Lopez that beautifully render Sofia’s love for winter and dance, Addie Boswell succeeds in perfectly capturing all that is best about the winter season and those glorious snow days that all children look forward to. Readers of all ages will be happily swept along with Sofia as she dances, like a snow fairy twirling through the wonder of new-fallen snow.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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You can find a copy of The Snow Dancer on Bookshop, a website where you can support independent booksellers with every purchase! It is also available on Amazon.
Connect with Addie Boswell on her website. Merce Lopez can be found on Goodreads.
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That’s all for this week! Next week, the first installment of Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel publishes! You can subscribe here!
This week, the winter magic begins. Subscriptions to Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel are officially open!
This winter tale will be delivered straight to your inbox in weekly installments, from December to February. All of the information you need to subscribe can be found below.
But first, a little treat for you! Read on for the synopsis (and if you’d like to see the illustration that accompanies it, be sure to hit the subscribe button!).
I can’t wait to share this story with you all, and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the adventure to come!
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In a home nestled on a quiet, cobblestone street, a young girl is holding tightly to wonder.
Penelope Grace is looking out the window, breathing in the stillness of snow falling. Christmas is coming, and as she lovingly places each candle on the windowsills, warmth and light transform her family’s home.
She settles in by the fireside with her family, welcoming you to join them, as Great Uncle Alex challenges anyone present to uncover the secret of his magic tricks.
The mystery, as always, remains, yet everyone is content. All is quiet and good, as it should be.
But as the holiday approaches, Penelope learns how easily circumstance can mock joy. A nameless shadow is haunting her family, and there seems to be no hope of defending them against his relentless attacks.
Still, Penelope Grace is not content to stand by and do nothing, and so, on a cold winter’s night, she finds herself chasing an unexpected friend through the snow.
But which will prove stronger?
Shadow or Light? Despair or wonder?
Follow her now through an ice-laden forest, down a worn, frozen path, to a winter carousel covered in snow.
Do you suppose that you will find the answers there?
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Monthly Subscription
See this week’s illustration and get access to future installments of Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel when you subscribe monthly today! This will give you access to all current and future book releases from 21:25 Books!
Today, I get to share with you all one of the most charming and meaningful children’s stories I’ve read in some time. It was an absolute delight to read, and I can’t recommend it enough! Check out my full review below.
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Lotta is on her very first visit to Norway and can’t decide if she is more excited to meet her Oldemor (great-grandmother), Erika, for the first time or to catch a glimpse of the reindeer that color her great-grandma’s stories with so much wonder and excitement.
But it just so happens that neither one disappoints, for one evening, just before Christmas, Lotta dozes off to the sound of another story and wakes to find herself in an altogether different, but just as enchanting world. Only there will she discover whether or not she truly carries the heart of a reindeer girl within her.
It is rare indeed to find a children’s story woven with such enchantment and wonder that both adults and children alike will find themselves reluctant to put it down. Filled to the brim with charming illustrations and rich information about Norwegian and Sami culture, The Reindeer Girl will not only sweep you away on a magical adventure, but will also leave you with a fresh appreciation for wildlife and the precious stories our grandparents and great-grandparents have to tell us, if only we’d curl up by the fire and listen.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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Holly Webb has penned so many fantastic stories! After you read The Reindeer Girl, here are some more enchanting tales for you to explore with your whole family:
You can explore more stories for yourself and learn more about Holly on her website, Facebook, or Instagram!
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Next week, I’ll be sharing more about our upcoming release, Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel. I can’t wait to share this wintry adventure with you all!
Welcome to the final week of Author Spotlight Month!
I had the privilege of interviewing Niki Florica! She has some great insight to share about balancing a passion for writing with a day job, what inspires her to pen the stories she does, plus a special shout-out to H.A. Pruitt!
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Niki Florica is a passionate writer, blogger, and daydreamer who finds joy in Jesus, her Underwood typewriter, and in her daydreams-turned-stories. Driven to inspire her fellow young adult readers with plots that enchant, convict, and shine with Truth, Niki is dedicated to capturing that Truth in the fantastical. She plans to dive deeper into creative writing and literature in her university studies . . . unless, of course, she finds Narnia first.
There are so many genres to write in. What made you choose Christian fantasy? What do you think makes this genre unique/important?
I don’t think of myself as a writer of Christian fantasy as much as a Christian writer of fantasy . . . in other words, I dream of shining Truth to those who don’t already have it, in places they don’t expect to find it.
I’ve had a heart for the fantastical since before I was old enough to recognize it, dreaming of Peter Pan and Narnia, getting lost in my own imagination, finding God in faraway places. I think we all want to be transported beyond the ordinary, but what’s amazing is that Truth can be brought to life in those far-off worlds in dazzling ways. God isn’t limited by physical reality—He can meet us in our imaginations just as easily. When fantasy meets Truth, it brings us closer to the wonder and creativity and greatness that is God . . . and by knowing Him there for a little, we can know Him better here . . . to paraphrase good ol’ C.S. Lewis.
Do you have any advice for writers who are trying to balance their dream of writing with a day job?
It’s so different for everyone, but I’d say: find a time that works for you, offer it to God, and don’t panic when things come up that take temporary priority. God knows our dreams, and He’ll bring them to fruition in His time if that’s part of His plan, so relax, focus on living for Him first and foremost, and find a system that allows you to enjoy writing, not to see it as an extra heap of stress. I often use writing to take “breaks” from work throughout the day, so I have a reason to make time for it—for my own sanity! Whether your sweet-time is late nights, early mornings, or lunch breaks, there’s no perfect formula. Just write when you can, and entrust it (and your dream) to God!
Supporting indie authors is so important. What are some ways that readers can do that?
Anything you can do to give an indie author extra exposure is a huge support! Bookstagram is a great way to do that—if readers are like me, they fall in love with book covers before they even meet the stories—but book reviews, social media shout-outs, and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth are all great ways to support.
If you want to go the extra mile, I strongly believe in personal connection. Authors don’t just need support for their books, they need support as people. If you loved their book, find a way to reach out and tell them. Engage meaningfully with their social media posts if you can. Be the person who lets them know—sometimes on days that they may really, really need it—that what they’re doing is worthwhile.
Are there any indie authors whose books you would recommend readers check out?
I know she’s already been featured this month, but I am just so inspired by H.A. Pruitt and her novel, Anelthalien. Seeing the passion she pours into her story and how God is using her gifts to glorify His name is just incredible. She inspires me as a person and as an aspiring author, and a project filled with that much Godly love is bound to be truly powerful!
What are you currently reading?
I’m waiting for Brandon Sanderson’s new Stormlight Archive novel, but I may wait until the end of the semester to dive into that adventure—or risk binge-reading right through exams.
Are there any current projects that you can share with us?
Yes! Thanks to NaNoWriMo 2020, I’m currently knee-deep in a contemporary YA standalone novel—a complete departure from anything I’ve tackled so far. It was partially inspired by the newest Little Women film (I still haven’t gotten around to finishing the book—I know, I know!) and it’s inspiring me to take a break from fantastical creatures to tap into something simple and intimate. The story follows a cluster of small-town, slightly-Irish teens—a girl, her two brothers, and the almost-brother-but-maybe-something-else neighbour boy—and how their love for each other is threatened by the space creeping in between them. Each character expresses themselves differently (which is fun for me) and they all struggle with something unique that they feel the need to bury, hide, or fight on their own. I’m already so in love with this little gang and so invested in their healing. Even people who love each other deeply can exist lightyears apart, but God can make a family out of strangers and constellations out of stars, and I can’t wait to see Him breathe His healing power into this story.
That’s all for Author Spotlight Month! A huge thank you to all the authors who were kind enough to participate: H.A. Pruitt, Richard Spillman, Lisa Howeler, and Niki Florica! Go read all their wonderful stories 🙂
Next week, we’ll be going somewhere new, to a home nestled on a quiet, cobblestone street, where a young girl is holding tightly to wonder…
I had the opportunity to read this really wonderful novel by Dawn Klinge! You can read my full review (and find links to purchase) below!
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Elizabeth Nordeman is looking for purpose.
After the tragic loss of her brother, Elizabeth and her family have temporarily relocated to the Palmer Hotel in Chicago, where they hope to find healing and a fresh start.
For Elizabeth, this means proving to her father that she is worthy of, one day, running his company, Nordeman Insurance. Searching for a way to showcase her keen mind for business, she embarks on an endeavor of her own that provides her with independence, along with an unexpected chance to find forgiveness and an enduring love.
But regret and misgivings continue to haunt Elizabeth, and it remains to be seen whether or not she will allow her new life in Chicago to flourish and bloom.
Dawn Klinge has crafted an endearing and important tale of love, new beginnings, and grace. With a beautifully depicted historical setting and rich descriptions that leave you longing to step inside the Palmer Hotel for yourself, this story not only delights, but also provides hope and ignites a passionate determination to pursue your God-given calling. If you’re longing for a novel with an engaging plot and a female protagonist you can’t help but cheer for, The Palmer Girl is the book you should be reading right now.
I volunatarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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You can find The Palmer Girl on Bookshop, a fantastic site that allows you to support independent booksellers with every purchase! It’s also available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
