The Promise of Rayne by Nicole Deese

I love to read Nicole Deese novels. She sucks me into her made up worlds and leaves me mourning when my visit is over. Her latest story is a prime example.

Rayne Shelby is a beauty. The daughter of the Governor of Idaho and the granddaughter of the former Governor of Idaho, she is a political princess. She has raven hair and a heart of gold. All she has ever wanted was to be worthy of the Shelby name. Yet, her choice to do business with an enemy of her family may undermine all of her dreams.

Nicole draws the reader into Shelby Falls, Idaho and into a story that is full of familial deceit. Rayne wants to focus on social work, primarily reconnecting with the citizens of Shelby Falls. Her family wants to focus on only those things that will further them in the political realm. Family members that don't contribute to the family goals are ostracized.

This story has a clean, swoon worthy romance. It has elements of faith that should not be overwhelming to someone who isn't a Christian. It has an old mystery and the danger of a large forest fire. And in all the layers, there are so many nuggets of truth, words that will resonate with me far past my reading of this book. Just as these first words did: Desperation undermines wisdom.

I cannot wait for future installments of Shelby Falls!

Fire by Kristin Cashore

This was another winner by Cashore. Her second book is a prequel to Graceling. Here we meet beautiful, mind-numbing monsters. When a human looks upon these creatures, the human becomes so enraptured that it often allows itself to be eaten. Monsters also are drawn to other monsters and there is often a kill or be killed consequence.

The heroine in this story is called Fire. She is named for her hair, which contains all the hues of her namesake and is so brilliant that she must keep it covered to help protect her identity. She is the last human monster. She begins her story at her estate in the countryside. Her friend and sometimes protector, Archer, lives on the neighboring estate. There have been increasing occurences of trespassing on her land and, in the opening pages, she is injured by someone they think to be a poacher. The poacher is mysteriously blank and Fire begins a journey to discover who is sending these men to her property.

There is a reintroduction of Leck. He is the antagonist of her first book. You know the outcome of his story, if you have read Graceling. It is even more interesting to read of his beginnings, especially when you know how powerful he becomes in his later years.

This was a wonderful story and I am intrigued to read her next book in the series, Bitterblue.