of blades and thorns

the official blog of author grace a. johnson

Review: Much Ado About Persuasion by Barbara Cornthwaite

Grace A. Johnson

Jun 22, 2022
5 min

Review: Much Ado About Persuasion by Barbara Cornthwaite

Stars: 4.5 Synopsis: Shakespeare meets Austen when the Elliots of Kellynch are embroiled in a scheme of deception and revenge. The meek and gentle daughter Anne falls for the dashing Captain Wentworth, sharp-tongued Elizabeth clashes wits with Admiral Baldwin, and Mrs. Clay becomes a pawn in William Elliot’s dastardly plans when the beloved characters of Persuasion are matched with the intense plot of Much Ado About Nothing. What I Loved: I must confess, I’ve never read/watch

76 views14 comments

Review: Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller

Grace A. Johnson

Jun 11, 2022
5 min

Review: Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller

Stars: 3.5 Synopsis: When Emilie Crawford Wheeler loses her brand-new hat thanks to a stranger bumping into her, her life takes an unexpected turn. That distracted stranger turns out to be a handsome young ranch hand who offers to buy her another hat and take her out for dinner...again, and again, and again...until Emilie has fallen in love with Thad Alexander. Sounds like happily ever after, right? But here’s the catch: both of them are lying to each other, and their true id

183 views26 comments

Grace A. Johnson

May 30, 2022
6 min

Review: Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5 Synopsis: When criminal charges are brought against her father, mob boss’s daughter Sabina Mancari sees the world of the Mafia for what it truly is: dark, deceptive, cruel, and self-serving. She also begins to see her fiancé—th

56 views18 comments

Review: Boulevard of Confusion by Sandra Merville Hart

Grace A. Johnson

May 23, 2022
8 min

Review: Boulevard of Confusion by Sandra Merville Hart

Stars: 3 Synopsis: When Beatrice Swanson’s wealthy father tasks her with delivering a gift of gold to the Confederacy on her next trip to visit her aunt in Richmond, Bea finds herself in the midst of danger, confusion, and betrayal. And perhaps, when a certain Southern gentleman catches her eye, in the midst of a beautiful love story. As some of you may know, I am a Confederate (yes, I hear your gasp of shock), so reading Civil War era fiction is literally torture for me, as

94 views38 comments

Grace A. Johnson

May 20, 2022
2 min

GIVEAWAY!!!

Yep. You read that right! I've joined a group giveaway with eleven AH-MAY-ZING authors like Kristina Hall, Vanessa Hall, Judith McNees, Madisyn Carlin, Penny Zeller, and MORE to bring you the chance to win TWELVE fantastic Christian indie books! From epic fantasies, pirate romances, and touching contemporaries, we've got it all! First prize is all twelve books (author's choice of format) and second prize is your choice of three books (out of the twelve, that is)! The giveaway

66 views17 comments

Review: The Bounty Hunter's Bride by Janis Jakes

Grace A. Johnson

Apr 25, 2022
6 min

Review: The Bounty Hunter's Bride by Janis Jakes

Stars: 4 Synopsis: Luke Lancaster has been a successful bounty hunter across the state of Texas...until he encounters his next bounty, a young man charged with murder, and realizes there’s much more to Billie Batson than meets the eye. For starters, Billie is a she, and she may not be as guilty as she seems… Luke and Billie, two unlikely allies, have to prove her innocence and bring justice to the actual criminals before it’s too late. I’ll be honest here. I signed up to read

62 views11 comments

Review: The Element of Love by Mary Connealy

Grace A. Johnson

Apr 12, 2022
9 min

Review: The Element of Love by Mary Connealy

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 2 Synopsis: When their vile stepfather’s intentions to marry them off to the highest bidder forces the Stiles sisters to run for their lives, the youngest of the three heiresses, Laura, finds Parson Caleb Tillman’s mission group

69 views25 comments

Tell Me You Love Me Anthology Winners Announced!

Grace A. Johnson

Apr 7, 2022
3 min

Tell Me You Love Me Anthology Winners Announced!

I have just been through the most torturous experience of my life. I've just read 20+ AH-MAY-ZING stories that were so unique, so heartfelt, so beautiful...and I've had to only pick a few. Naturally, I couldn't pick only six out of twenty-two...I've selected twelve for the anthology and four to post on my blog (with the authors' permission, of course). After I announce the lucky winners here, I'll proceed to email the authors and begin editing their stories (for which I will

344 views74 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Mar 31, 2022
3 min

Coming Soon: Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

It's that time again, y'all! Roseanna M. White is releasing her second (of three) book this year...and this time it's a Roaring Twenties Italian mafia romance published by her own company, WhiteFire! Those who know me well know I absolutely adore anything mafia-related (particularly the Italian mafia), so of course I am so stoked for the release of Shadowed Loyalty and I've already started on my ARC copy! I'm sure y'all are thinking to yourselves, "Dang, I wish I could get an

58 views26 comments

Cover Reveals: The Kees & Colliers Series by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Mar 19, 2022
4 min

Cover Reveals: The Kees & Colliers Series by Kellyn Roth

Y'all, oh y'all, oh y'all! (I love saying that.) Today is the day...the day I reveal THREE g o r g e o u s book covers and introduce y'all to another amazing series by Kellyn Roth that you're sure to love almost as much as The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy! You heard that right. Kellyn Roth, one of my favorite authors, is relaunching her Kees & Colliers trilogy (which, fun fact, is actually set in the same "bookiverse" as Alice and Ivy with) this spring with ALL NEW COVERS and,

37 views8 comments

Review: The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 19, 2022
6 min

Review: The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 3.5 Synopsis: Lady Annabeth De Lacy, daughter of Galway Parish’s newest landlord, is apprenticed out to the local jeweler, Seamus Jennings, upon arrival to satisfy her creative curiosities. However, her apprenticeship becomes muc

32 views4 comments

Review: Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 31, 2022
4 min

Review: Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Stars: 3.5 Synopsis: Rebecca Lane returned to her hometown only for a short visit with her brother John...but when he ropes her into his scheme to get his novel published and sends her to the local convent-turned-hotel Swanford Abbey, she ends up confronting the unexpected, including lost love, ghosts, and murder. I’ve held off on reading anything by Julie Klassen for years now, despite all the good things I’ve heard about her novels, and for the longest time I didn’t have a

31 views8 comments

Review: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 26, 2022
8 min

Review: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You'll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which will mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5 Synopsis: Ivy Knight needs a purpose. Despite her family’s assurances that her place is home with them, Ivy longs for more...for a calling. When God asks her to do the seemingly impossible and go to Scotland, she follows Him w

126 views19 comments

Coming Soon: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 19, 2022
2 min

Coming Soon: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

I'm pretty sure it's obvious by now that I LOVE Kellyn Roth's books - particularly The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. But y'all. BUT Y'ALL. So far, Beyond Her Calling tops them all! You simply must read this series, if only for BHC! Now, you're probably wondering just what about this novel is so wonderful...and I would tell you...but I'mma save that for my official review later on in the blog tour (which begins on release day, January 22nd, so y'all get ready)! For now, allow m

36 views3 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 11, 2022
7 min

Review: A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5 Synopsis: Esme Shaw was certain she had moved on, content to work in her mother’s chocolate shop for the rest of her days as a spinster...then Captain Henri Lennox, the man who broke her heart (or the man whose heart she broke;

53 views6 comments

Review: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 4, 2022
9 min

Review: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5+ Synopsis: Beth Tremayne has one goal: find the rest of the infamous pirate John Mucknell’s buried treasure before Lord Theodore Howe, Marquess of Sheridan does. And, if in the process, she happens to insult Sheridan into compl

58 views10 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Dec 27, 2021
8 min

Review: Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 4 Synopsis: Marian Creighton was unprepared for her father’s death...and even more unprepared to travel back in time to the Middle Ages in search of a fantastic cure for all diseases. Will she be able to survive in the 14th centu

39 views6 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Dec 20, 2021
6 min

Review: As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 4 Synopsis: During the Great War, a young munitions worker arrives in Gretna, Scotland, bearing the name of Tilly Lockheart. What the family who take in Tilly, including their auldest son, a discharged RAF captain, don’t know is

26 views2 comments

Series Review: The Moretti Trilogy by Kristina Hall (Blog Tour)

Grace A. Johnson

Dec 17, 2021
11 min

Series Review: The Moretti Trilogy by Kristina Hall (Blog Tour)

Yep, I am reviewing three books in one post. Since that is a lot of reviews, on top of introducing y’all to each book, listing the rest of the posts in this tour, and telling y’all about an awesome giveaway, I’ll try and keep things short. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve got too much excitement to just “keep things short”! Yes, my lovelies, today I am taking part in Kristina Hall’s blog tour for her latest series The Moretti Trilogy (and, before you ask, yes, this is her third com

58 views13 comments

Coming Soon: Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund

Grace A. Johnson

Dec 13, 2021
2 min

Coming Soon: Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund

Here it is! The third January 4th release! Never Leave Me is the second book in the Waters of Time series, which is Jody Hedlund's first time-travel series and fourth medieval series. I've yet to write my review of the first book, Come Back to Me, but suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and am super excited to start reading Never Leave Me! I absolutely loved the way Hedlund chose to depict time travel and the method she used to do it. It was the perfect blend of fa

31 views4 comments

Want to get notified every time I post? Enter your email below!

grace a. johnson

of blades and thorns

the official blog of author grace a. johnson

Want to get notified every time I post? Enter your email below!

follow my blog

let's connect

join the list