Olivia Rae

A Life Reclaimed by Olivia Rae is listed as a work of Christian Historical fiction. It tells the story of Thomas Armstrong, the son of a woman who died in the place of a dethroned queen. When he finds out the truth about his parentage, he sets out to seek revenge on the dethroned queen.

Along the way, he crosses paths with Anne Howell, who is running from her stepfather, who wants to force her to flee to England. She finds herself forced to accept the help of Thomas.

I wish I could say I recommend this book, but I find myself unable to do that. I found instances of the unnecessarily crude language. I find even one instance of that unacceptably in a work that claims to be Christian. So I recommend you consider whether or not this book is one you want to read or not.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.… (más)

I loved how this story takes two very different people and put them together in an adventure that sweeps over sea and land. We explore a bit of history as Queen Elizabeth makes a grand appearance in this enchanting story.Thomas is determined to find out what happened to his mother and why he has been lied to all these years. The man he calls father is not really his father. He is out for revenge for something that happened to a special person in his life. We witness his downfall when he seems to be obsessed with jewels, gold and whatever makes him wealthy. He has no need to pray for he does not think it helps. When his life starts to unravel, he happens upon a young woman who may be what he needs to help him get rich. “Someday you will learn there are more precious things in this world besides gold and jewels.”

Anne is on the run from her stepfather who wants to force her to marry someone she does not love. Her stepfather is abusive to her and she seeks a place where she can be safe. I love her faith and how she continually prays over every situation. When she and Thomas run into each other she does question if he can be trusted. After all he is a thief and around his neck adorns a stolen cross necklace with jewels that make it very valuable. There are moments when their banter is funny and I loved how the author used this to let their guard down around each other.

As secrets are revealed we witness Thomas having a meltdown in front of everyone. He blames himself for all that has gone wrong at his home with his greed and bitterness. Will he come to understand that God can help him? Anne expresses her emotions with such heart wrenching words that Thomas begins to soften. I love this moment when Thomas begins to find strength to fight for his family and perhaps let the past go.

This story illustrates how greed, secrets and pride can fracture a family. We see before our eyes Thomas trying to sort out what has happened over the years to a family he once felt part of. As the story comes to an ending we witness that, “the truth shall set you free.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (más)

A Life Renewed by Olivia Rae entertained me with its secrets, danger, and romance. The plot clipped along nicely, and I enjoyed the mystery of wondering who knew what, who was lying, and who would betray who. Despite the life-threatening situations of several characters, I found the story fun and adventuresome. It was a pleasure to watch Ella/Jane and Asher fall in love.

Per the author’s note, the prologue of A Life Renewed is historically accurate, but the rest of the novel derived from the question: What if Lady Jane Grey survived her execution? With creative liberty, the author conjured a plausible way for Jane to survive and hide amidst the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants of the time. The novel reverberates with Jane’s call to embrace peace and respect others. It’s a timeless message that our modern culture should consider.

A Life Renewed by Olivia Rae starts the Secrets of the Queens series and is a keeper for my bookshelf. I look forward to more intrigue, danger, and romance in the subsequent novels. Four stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.… (más)

What a wonderful conclusion to this series! Starting with a mesmerizing scoundrel, one who you certainly do not expect to reform. One might imagine a storm at sea would change a person - but you really will have to read to find out if it did. Secrets seem to be a part of his world, but will the truth ever be known? Is it possible for a heart of stone to become a heart of flesh?

Anne is a young widow, well treated as a young child, but thereafter had a life that was best left behind. What kind of secrets are hidden in her life? Fate throws them together - two orphans with very different goals in their lives. Follow along as they travel from Wales to Scotland to England, where even more secrets could be revealed.

This early copy of book 3 in the Secret of the Queens series was received through HopeKnight Press. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.… (más)