Today, this book released...

Guess what book released today!? The third - and final - installment in The Comrades of Honor series by Alicia A. Willis: Rising to the Challenge: A Tale of Perseverance and Unconditional Love!

I had the privilege of receiving an early copy of this book as a member of Alicia's Beta reading team for it, where I helped by looking for grammatical errors or inconsistencies. It was a wonderful experience, and I was so thankful to be on the team and get to help Alicia out!

And, I can guarantee...it's a good book, as a stand-alone, or having read the previous two books, To Birmingham Castle and In Search of Adventure (though I would recommend doing so).

Plot summary:

New difficulties arise for Sir Kenneth Dale in the exciting final installment in The Comrades of Honor Series. As a favorite of the Earl of Birmingham, his life appears tranquil – until the both beautiful Lady Clarissa and a headstrong orphan named Brion arrive in the castle. It is not long before Sir Kenneth finds himself not only in love, but also the master of the most difficult squire Birmingham has ever harbored.

Brion de Lantenac is nothing short of rebellious. Hatred for Sir Kenneth’s strict rules vents itself in constant disobedience, triggering continual clashes between himself and his new lord. But there is a reason behind his self-centered character. The murder of his family has caused heartbreak he may never recover from. Will he ever reveal his true identity to Sir Kenneth? And what about Guthrie, the man who sullied his father’s shire with treacherous hands and now seeks his demise?

Caught between a hopeless romance, a rebellious squire, and the enemies on all sides, Sir Kenneth finds himself challenged. Amidst battles, heartache, and dark mystery, he must somehow rise to meet the difficulties of his life with honor. Will he ever win his squire’s heart? Will he and Clarissa be forever separated?

Join Sir Kenneth, Brion, and all the comrades of honor in a tale of perseverance, chivalry, and unconditional love. Treachery abounds and evil seems insurmountable. Will rising to the challenge preserve honor and win the day?

My original review (with a few updates):

Rising to the Challenge: A Tale of Perseverance and Unconditional Love
My Rating: 4 Stars
Best for ages: 12/13 and up (for violence, sword fights, injuries, torture, etc.)

Rising to the Challenge was not what I was expecting - in a good way. Set in Medieval England with the ever-present fight of good versus evil, it was exciting and had many twists and turns that I was never expecting and I certainly didn't see coming! The plot twists were some of my favorite parts of the book. The adventure was gripping and heart-racing. The characters were engaging. This was definitely the best book of The Comrades of Honor series by far.

I enjoyed Brion's character the most. He was certainly a lot of fun, and had a great character arc. I liked the fact that he wasn't rebellious and hated Sir Kenneth just out of spite or pure stubbornness - he was truly hurting and his family had just been murdered. Fantastic character! Brion de Lantenac might actually be my favorite character in the whole series! :) Okay, scratch that - he totally is!

Other characters such as Victor and Sir Darryl - who we're just introduced to - made the story even more fun. I really liked Victor and his friendship with Brion - from enemies to allies. Sir Darryl was a great rival and I really enjoyed the twist in the end with him and Sir Kenneth!

A fantastic book with a wonderful plot, a fun cast of characters, and a gripping, exciting, and well-thought-out storyline. Job well-done, Alicia!

I'm looking forward to seeing what books Alicia Willis will be writing now that The Comrades of Honor series has come to an exciting close! Recommended for those who enjoy historical adventure fiction.

Where to pick up the book:

On Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Or you can contact Alicia through one of her websites (listed below) and I'm sure she'd be happy to sign a copy for you!

Alicia's blog

Her Goodreads

Her website

Her Twitter

Also, check out her other novels! I've actually read all of them...

God of Her Fathers: A Novella

Remembering the Alamo: A Novella (In Kindle Edition and Paperback!)

From the Dark to the Dawn: A Tale of Ancient Rome (This one made me tear up... or cry. Whichever!) ;)

To Birmingham Caslte: A Tale of Friendship and Adventure

In Search of Adventure: A Tale of Courage and Devotion

Congratulations to Alicia on her newest book's release!

Time Periods - Which is Your Favorite?

If you're like me, you've read many books - many in different settings and time periods. So, which was your favorite?

Here is a list and description of some of the historical settings that I've read:

• Ancient Rome

Now this is a tough one. Ancient Rome isn't particularly my favorite time period, but two of the books I've read set in Ancient Rome - Secret of the Lost Settlement: The Duty of Warriors by John J. Horn and From the Dark to the Dawn: A Tale of Ancient Rome by Alicia Willis - were good. John J. Horn did an amazing job with this terrible time in history, and Alicia did well, also. Personally, I don't normally read many books set in this time period,  but I do occasionally make exceptions. :) Of course, John Horn's novel was only partially set in a lost Roman expedition of Nero's reign (but most of the book we were engaged in reading of the Roman settlement), while Alicia's tale was completely occupied by Ancient Rome. They're both gripping stories I'd recommend.

• Victorian

The Victorian era happens to be my all-time favorite era - to write and to read about. This time period is honestly so much fun. Some of the books set in this time by some of my favorite authors are: the A Life of Faith series by Martha Finley, Brothers at Arms: Treasure and Treachery in the Amazon (which I've recently reread!), The Boy Colonel: A Soldier Without a Name, and Secret of the Lost Settlement: The Duty of Warriors by John J. Horn, and The Coral Island by R.M. Ballantyne. All amazing tales I would certainly recommend! I believe if I had to choose between Victorian era England and Victorian era America, I would choose America. You've got up and coming cities, the western frontier... But, of course, Victorian era England is also very engaging and exciting.

• Medieval

Okay, so only recently have I been really enjoying the Medieval era...thanks to Alicia Willis' To Birmingham Castle! That book was great, and it was tons of fun reading about chivalrous knights with their squires and pages! This era has become one of my favorites.

• Edwardian

The Edwardian era is really a lot like the Victorian era - the beginning of it, anyways. After all, the Edwardian era is right after the Victorian (which ended with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901). The Edwardian time period is 1901-1910, but it is also sometimes extended to include the years leading up to World War I. The only books I've read set in this time would be from Mrs. Janette Oke - the Canadian West series, which I am enjoying.

• Modern 

So, this happens to be the one time period for books I tend to stray away from. Only because the books I have read set in modern day were not very good. Also, it probably is because I live in the world of texts and twitter and Facebook, so it doesn't appeal to me as much as horse drawn carriages and handwritten letters from the Victorian era do. But, give me a good modern book, and I may just change my mind on the matter! :)

• Viking Age

I actually don't know what to call this era! I know that Vikings did exist then, though. I have only read one book set in this time period - The Norsemen in the West by R.M. Ballantyne - so I can't make a complete judgment on the era, but I decided to include it in this list anyways. :)


What is your favorite era? What time period do you usually like to write/read about?