Meingue Melody - A Cozy Faith-Filled Fairytale Romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Meringue Melody by Lori Soard is a sweet, inspiring 1920s historical romance that blends faith, gentle suspense, and a cozy seaside setting. Melody Harper’s journey of courage, self-discovery, and faith will leave readers with a warm glow and a craving for Lemon Meringues.

"Although God hadn't answered her prayers in the ways she'd once expected, they'd been answered in even better ways."

 

 About the Book: Meringue Melody

In the waning days of the Roaring Twenties, Melody Harper lives under the rigid control of her loving father. When she bravely leaves home without his blessing for a summer, she joins her aunt at a seaside tea room in Portland, Maine. There, Melody discovers a world fragrant with fresh-baked goods, lemon zest, and tea, where faith, friendship, and romance awaken her heart. A young boatbuilder catches her attention, but gossip and jealousy threaten her reputation—and Melody must follow her heart and faith to find her true voice.

BookHookup Review: Meringue Melody

Melody Harper is a relatable and heartfelt heroine whose struggles with family expectations feel authentic and emotionally compelling. The tea room setting is vividly described, with the smell of freshly baked bread and scones, the chatter of locals, and the scenic wharf where she meets the boatbuilder, creating a warm and immersive atmosphere.

The story isn’t overly complex; it flows gently like the tide, balancing sweet romance, tender faith, and light tension. Gossip and societal pressures add just enough conflict to keep the pages turning without overshadowing Melody’s growth. Themes of courage, faith, and following one’s heart are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the novel a cozy and uplifting read. The quote, “Although God hadn't answered her prayers in the ways she'd once expected, they'd been answered in even better ways,” beautifully encapsulates Melody’s journey and the gentle, faith-centered heart of the story.

While Meringue Melody is a standalone, readers who enjoy gentle historical romance, Christian fiction, and retellings of classic fairy tales will find it particularly satisfying.

BookHookup Note:
I focus on YA and clean fiction. Meringue Melody is clean in language and tone, with mild romantic content appropriate for teen and adult readers.

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I focus on clean fiction across genres—historical romance, suspense, crime, children’s, and more. When books include content that may not be suitable for all readers, I provide clear disclaimers so you can choose wisely.

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Miss Blaire in Blackwell's Island - Chilling, romantic, unforgettable

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island by Grace Hitchcock is a historical romance with a haunting twist. Set in 1887 New York, the story follows heiress Edyth Blaire, who refuses to live by society’s rules. While other young women lace themselves into corsets and search for husbands, Edyth rides her velocipede boldly through the city (corset-free). She takes fencing lessons with the man she has secretly loved for nearly a decade. When he finally notices her in a new light, sparks fly, and their friendship begins to deepen into something more.

But just weeks before her twenty-fifth birthday, Edyth’s uncle finds a way to seize control of her inheritance: he declares her insane and has her committed to Blackwell’s Island asylum. To tighten his hold, her name is never recorded, and the staff mockingly call her “Duchess,” stripping away her identity along with her freedom.

Inside the asylum, Edyth meets Nellie Bly, the undercover journalist determined to expose the truth about the institution. Their friendship brings strength and hope, while Edyth’s slow-burn romance with her longtime friend offers a tender counterpoint to the suspense. Meanwhile, her beau does everything in his power to rescue her, but he’s up against immense wealth and influence, forces that make escape nearly impossible.

 

BookHookup Book Review: Miss Blaire in Blackwell's Island 

The novel shines in its mix of fact and fiction. Real history enriches the fictionalized narrative without ever weighing it down. The asylum scenes are vivid and unsettling, yet the emotional core remains tender, reminding us that love and hope can bloom even in the darkest places.

With twists, danger, and a heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance, Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island is engrossing, emotional, and ultimately uplifting—a perfect read for romance fans who also enjoy a touch of mystery and historical intrigue.

The Indian and Me (Book 1) - richly woven saga

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

The Indian and Me is a captivating, character-driven historical romance that unfolds against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Revolutionary War. In this sweeping saga, Cathy Peebles delivers a timeless narrative propelled by vivid dialogue and rich character interaction—reminiscent of the classics by Jane Austen or Charles Dickens.

At its core, this is a love story—poignant, forbidden, and fraught with cultural and social tensions. Julia, a white British woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a greedy and cruel officer, finds herself drawn to Ki, a Native American man whose quiet strength and compassion offer a stark contrast to her suffocating life. Their bond deepens amidst the chaos of war and societal expectations, setting the stage for a dramatic and emotionally charged journey.

What sets this novel apart is its natural, immersive conversational prose. The dialogue doesn't just support the story—it is the story. Through the characters’ voices, Peebles reveals heartache, resilience, longing, and love, allowing readers to feel intimately connected to Julia and Ki’s journey. This approach gives the book a classic feel, where storytelling thrives on human connection and emotional depth.

While the manuscript could benefit from some gentle editing, it doesn’t detract from the reading experience. The story has all the hallmarks of a period drama—star-crossed lovers, family feuds, whispered scandals, near-death escapes—and it keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The Indian and Me is a heartfelt tale of love, identity, and defiance in the face of societal boundaries. A richly woven saga that I highly recommend for fans of historical romance and classic storytelling.

 

Anna's Fresh Start: Emotionally resonant story about second chances

Anna’s Fresh Start by Lori Soard is a captivating and heartfelt romance set in the post-Civil War South, where the heroine, Anna Heartfield, must confront the weight of a dangerous secret and find a way to rebuild her life. Anna is a complex and compelling character, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her journey. Her hidden past is not one of a broken relationship, but a dangerous web of secrets tied to her actions during the war, secrets that threaten to unravel her family’s reputation. Anna’s need for a fresh start is palpable, and her internal conflict about whether to share her truth with the man she begins to fall for adds a rich layer of emotional depth to the story.

Ezra Walters, the quiet, serious widower, is equally compelling. With a painful past marked by the suicide of his wife and the responsibility of raising their young daughter alone, he struggles to open his heart to love again. His reluctance to form new attachments stems from the fear of experiencing another devastating loss, yet his longing for companionship is undeniable. The emotional weight Ezra carries makes him a character readers can’t help but root for, and his slow-burn romance with Anna is beautifully developed.

BookHookup review: Anna's Fresh Start

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The romance between Anna and Ezra is heartwarming and engaging, and Soard does an excellent job of slowly unfolding their emotional connections, allowing readers to fully invest in their blossoming relationship. The addition of little historical touches, such as the candy Anna received from a soldier, enriches the narrative and adds depth to the setting. These details create a world that feels vivid and real, drawing the reader further into Anna’s struggles and hopes for redemption.

While the book is thoroughly enjoyable, there are a few moments that could benefit from refinement. One recurring detail is repeated several times, likely to ensure readers remember it, but it can feel a bit redundant. Additionally, there's a discrepancy regarding the delivery of Anna's truck—it's introduced in Chapter 6 but is said to have arrived earlier that day in Chapter 9. This inconsistency momentarily pulled me out of the story as I had to double-check to make sure I hadn’t missed something and it threw me out of the emotional build-up at that moment.

Overall, Anna’s Fresh Start is a heartwarming and emotionally resonant tale of second chances, trust, and the healing power of love. The characters are well-developed and easy to invest in, and I found myself rooting for Anna and Ezra every step of the way. With its charming narrative and warm atmosphere, this book is sure to delight fans of historical romance. It offers a compelling and heartfelt journey that will leave readers eager for more.

 

About the Author

Lori Soard has a PhD in Journalism and Creative Writing, but she's hardly the stuffy professor type. She loves nothing better than a good romantic comedy and thinks the good guy should always win and the ending should always be happy.

From an early age, Lori started honing her story telling skills. As a kid she was rarely seen without a book in her hand, even walking and reading at the same time. Her first stories were about the world around her. At twenty she wrote her first novel, which she admits was horrible. At twenty-one, she sold her first article to a local newspaper. Once she got that taste of having others read her work and realizing that she could reach others and touch their hearts, there was no turning back for this natural born writer.

"If I can make someone's day just a tiny bit better," Lori says, "if I can make them smile even though they are sad, make them think things could be better, make them understand how much God loves them, then I have accomplished something. I write my stories, articles and books with that one person in mind who really needs the message. If I can change one person's perspective, then I've succeeded."

Lori is a life-long Hoosier and lives in southern Indiana with her high school sweetheart turned husband. They have two grown daughters and two granddaughters. She always has a her critters surrounding her, including a couple of miniature dachshunds and several rescue cats. "During the extreme low points in life, it has been my animals that have seen me through. There is nothing like the deep devotion of a dog or the unconditional love of a cat." Lori adores animals and while some of her dear friends have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge she will always stand by her belief that animals make the world a better place.

She loves to hear from her readers and blogs regularly.