Books with Dienece July 2025

Hi, I'm Dienece Darling, an inspirational historical romance author who loves to read a little bit of everything!

If you're looking for something to read, why not check out what I read in July. Books are categorized this month as Historical, Contemporary, Nonfiction, and Middle Grade.

Historical

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

I loved this book!

You could really see the Irish side of things and their brogue coming out. I really enjoy the way she wrote their speech. I also liked how we get the little girl's POV. The daughter added so much to the spiritual growth in the book. Both showing how it's hard to understand the Bible, but also that we can understand when we ask for God's help. Even if it seems hard.

I loved the couple together. This is a 'love triangle' trope, but the other guy is clearly not a nice guy. So, I didn't mind it so much.

Definitely a fun read, and one I'd recommend.

These Long Shadows by Jennifer Mistmorgan

This book. Just wow.

There is so much emotion and intrigue. What's going on and what went on before-those pesky secrets no one wants to share? What's happening with her family, his family? Will these two ever learn how to love each other?

It's clear that he loves her, but he doesn't really know how to love her. Doesn't know what she needs. She doesn't even know what she needs because grief has a strangle hold on her.

There are plenty of questions, and the books slowly unfolds their world until you've got a solid grasp of what life was not only like for this couple but for many people trying to put their lives back together after the war.

I loved the development of this book, and the hard issues covered with grace and love.

Content warning: talks about infant loss, parental abuse, and while technically clean, it is sometimes a bit too blunt for my tastes. This book quite rightly and naturally discusses the issues arising between a couple when one of them is afraid to get pregnant again. So, while Jennifer writes a closed-door book, I would suggest the reader be either married or at least comfortable with the topic.

Letter to Georgiana by David Nunez

The start of this book is a riot!

I don't read Pride and Prejudice variations because no one can tell or improve a story like Austen. However, as the premise of this one sounded really funny, and it was written by a man, I thought I'd give it a try. And I LOVED the beginning.

The premise is that Darcy (whom we know writes to his sister) actually writes two drafts of his letters to Georgiana. The first is an unfiltered version of the truth sort of like a diary, and then he burns that letter and writes another more appropriate letter. Except for the day Lizzy walks into the library and in his haste to hide the 'first' letter which says way too much about how he truly feels about Elisabeth, Darcy accidently posts it. His sister mistakes the letter as a declaration of his engagement, enlists their cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam to take her to Netherfield, and shows up to meet her new sister-in-law. And a fun chaos ensues!

The beginning was hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting a man's view of Darcy. I also liked how the author focuses a bit more on the friendship between Darcy, his cousin, and Bingley.

However, no one can improve on Austen's ending (in my humble opinion) so while I enjoyed the start immensely and I'm still glad I read the story, the original ending is still my favourite. But if you want a chance to know Darcy, Georgiana, their cousin, and Bingley a little better, try this fun, quick read.

Content: it's clean with only a brief kiss and no mention of anything else. There is one 'good God' in chapter one, but then Lydia says that in the movie (not sure about the book). So, I'd rather it wasn't there, but at least that's all it is. And the men drink socially but don't get drunk.

Lissa and the Spy by Camille Elliot

This Broader Regency novella was a quick, fun read.

Lissa is witty and fun! The book is almost entirely from the heroine's POV, but she was just so delightful that I didn't mind. She's sassy and funny. And she totally figures out he's a spy and that miffs and intrigues him in turn. This was quite a lot of fun to read. And I especially liked that it does have faith/inspirational elements.

Heart of Beauty by Danielle Grandinetti

I love a good beauty and the best retelling, and this one didn't disappoint!

She's been pretending to be her father's son to protect her from unwanted attention until the day she rescues a horse and outs herself accidently. She didn't mean to move in with the town grump (she stays with the married foreman and his wife), just her father leaves her there!

I enjoyed the bond between the two, and the way the author weaves the fairytale parts into the story. A very pleasant and enjoyable read with more faith than the other books I've read by this author. I really liked the focus on faith in this book.

Contemporary

Alaskan Police Protector by Megan Short

I loved how the author really played into the strengths of the Alaskan setting to give us some fresh action scenes: sea planes, ice, and remote locations. I even learned things! And there is plenty of action!

I also liked how the author inserted space between those intense moments to give the couple time to develop and grow closer to each other. I've often thought couple development missing in some of the shorter format suspense books, so I really liked how the author included it alongside personal and spiritual development in this book. I could see what the couple would be like one day, and how they'd strengthen each other on a day-to-day basis when they weren't almost dying. :)

And of course, the all-important 'who dun it' carried me along on a fine ride! Just when I thought I'd figured it out... LOL. I really enjoyed the way the author weaved the past into the story. For a novella, it has much of the character development and well thought out back stories which can be missing in shorter works.

A very enjoyable and action packed read with depth, heart, and faith!

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford

I missed the fine print that this was a thriller not a suspense novel, and it certainly lives up to the thriller part!

It's a little more graphic than I like, and I certainly cried several times. But it's got all the chills and fear which a thriller ought to have. As well as plenty of guessing games and a solid connection between the couple who end up together at the end.

I liked how the heroine was Amish before she walked away from the faith and became a police officer. That was an interesting twist on things, and I can't explain the guy's connection without spoiling the story.

So, I'll end with: it's got a fresh take on the Amish crime novel and a very good thriller if you like thrillers.

Nonfiction

Explaining Down Syndrome by Angela Royston

I have a secondary character in my next release with Down Syndrome, so I went looking for some things to read. This book was smaller than I thought it would be, and while it has a lot of broad generalized statements, I did find some good information and tips to research more. One of my favourite parts was the testimonials and the discussion about medical issues. And there is a large section in the back with places for you to do more research.

Dress in the Age of Jane Austen by Hilary Davison

I loved Hilary's other book so much that perhaps I came in expecting too much from this one. I found the text and format hard to read and the prose a little dry.

However, once I stopped trying to read it from front to back and just picked random bits from the book, it's very rich with information.

You will find so much info from when sleeves were tubular to puff. If your character's gown would have had a train or not. What shopping is like in the city versus the country. What colour was everyone wearing in 1816 (aka, Waterloo Blue). Who did the shopping and where. There is a LOT of information. So, if you need to know something it's probably here.

For ease of reading, I liked her other book better. But this has a lot more information for research purposes.

Kid/Middle Grade

Mandie and Her Missing Kin by Lois Gladys Leppard

For me, I enjoyed getting a little bit more time with Mandie and Joe together, but then they end on a bitter note. With Mandie deciding she doesn't even need to marry Joe, and that hurts his feelings. And Mandie totally doesn't get what she did. Poor Joe.

But otherwise, it's interesting to see what was going on at her father's place, and nice that she got to go back there after so many books of her talking about the place.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressinda Cowell

The first thing I noticed is that it's nothing like the movie! Some of the names are the same, and that's about it. And in a rare moment, I actually liked the movie better. However, in continuing the series (we jumped from book 1 to book 8), this story grew on me.

I will say that my son likes it a lot more than I do. I don't like the way it uses Thor and Odin both as deities and as the occasional swear word. But since I'm reading it aloud to my kid, I edit sometimes as I read. :)

The premise of this story was more to do with a father learning to value his son more than his chief rules. Also, that dragons are really selfish, but sometimes, they can learn to love a human.

How to Break a Dragon's Heart by Cressinda Cowell

My kid came home with book 8 after a visit to the library, so I suppose it's a good thing the author says you can read them in any order. I did like this one better, possibly because I already knew it was nothing like movie. I'm still not sold on the story idea, but my kid really loves it.

Hiccup's friend Camicazi gets kidnapped. Fishlegs falls in love with a princess, and Hiccup gets sucked into fighting for the princess's hand to save his friend. There is a witch and a giant dragon, and Hiccup trying his best to be a good friend and using his brains instead of his lacklustre brawn. At least I needed less editing in this one. That's my positive takeaway! LOL

So, that's what I read in July. :) See you in August!