About the Book

Book: Fairest Inn All (Real Life Fairy Tales Book Two)

Author: Amy R. Anguish

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: March 24, 2026

When Kari White’s seven uncles beg her and her brother Jake to come to Georgia and revamp their inn, she isn’t happy about it. She doesn’t remember them nor does she want to leave West Virginia. But family comes first, and the Apple Inn has a lot of potential, despite the deadlines they’re up against … not to mention the land-hungry Queenie Ville, who has her eye on buying their property.

Royal Barrett loves Brunswick, Georgia, and wants to help preserve its heritage. That’s why he convinces the Chamber of Commerce to start a Fairest Inn All contest to encourage inns across the town to refresh without becoming too modern. But when he meets the gorgeous Kari White, he discovers some other aspirations—like winning her over to a happily ever after with him.

Driven together by goals and weather, Kari can’t help the attraction between them. But she’s rejected a happy ending for so long, it’s going to take more than a few walks under Spanish moss-covered oaks to win her heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

More from Amy

Fairest Inn All was never supposed to exist. Honestly, I never expected to write a fairy-tale retelling, even though it’s one of my favorite tropes to read. But then God gave me the idea to write Rendersella a few years ago. I was inspired by a trip to West Virginia and the story would not leave me alone until I got it all typed up. And I had an absolute blast weaving in characters and plot points that reminded the reader enough of the classic fairy tale, but still told a new story.

Thing is, by the end of writing Rendersella, I discovered something. One, Ella’s best friend Kari was supposed to be Snow White. And two, that her stepsister Bellamy needed to have her own story told in Beauty School and the Beast(releasing March 2027). This put a crimp in my plans. After all, I’d barely reconciled myself to telling one fairy-tale retelling, to say nothing of three. But the characters wouldn’t hush.

So, with Kari’s story itching to be told, I had some decisions to make. I knew it was going to be in Brunswick, Georgia with her seven uncles and her ornery brother Jake. But how to weave in all the elements that make a story sing fairy tale without it sounding like every other version?

Well, one of the changes I made was to name the uncles after apples. After all, their last name is Apple, and so is the name of their old inn. That was fun, picking from the thousands of apple names to find ones that matched the personalities of the gentlemen. Then, I brought in an evil character named Queenie to be the nemesis of Kari, aka Snow. Queenie wants the inn and will stoop to all sorts of levels to try and get it. And, of course, I needed a princely character. Enter Royal Barrett, son of a man on the Chamber of Commerce. He is helping organize a contest called the Fairest Inn All, meant to encourage the owners of old inns to revamp and preserve the history of the area. Add in some fun scenes, a hurricane, and a bit of “poison,” and voila!

If you think that sounds too easy, you’re right. I agonized over several of the parts of this book. But it turned out so much fun, in my opinion. And you might even discover a few extra characters along the way.

Retelling stories that are already much-loved, I’ve discovered, is a delicate balance. It’s hard to make sure everything comes out familiar enough while still new. But when it works, it leaves the reader wanting even more. And maybe even the author too. Hence, another fairy-tale retelling from me with another on the way next year.

Do you love fairy-tale retellings? What are some of your favorites? How do you feel about stories you’ve loved forever being rewoven in a different way?

My Impressions

“I want nothing to do with love or relationships or anything like that. I don’t believe in happy endings.”

What a delicious retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves! Author Amy Anguish’s YA fantasy story, Fairest Inn All, is set in contemporary times, with a brother-sister duo, Jake “Hunter” White and Kari “Snow” White. The two travel from their WVA home to the dilapidated inn owned by their seven uncles, in order to get the inn back into running order.

I must say, Kari, though beautiful, with all her meticulous planning and insistence on pushing everyone to their limits, doesn’t much resemble a princess. But she can clean up a house ( I mean inn)! The question is, will she have driven everyone around away by her “all work-no play” attitude? How much rebuffing is Royal, whom they meet when he delivers news of a contest for historically revamped inns, willing to take before he walks away?

I loved how the villainess figures into the story. She is so much fun to dislike!

I wasn’t very fond of Royal’s dad. He can be wise, but can also be much more controlling than I expected him to be. But, I loved all the uncles! They are all rather recognizable, and it’s great to see the effect the young adults have on them and vice versa.

While Kari is a believer, Royal’s faith is a vibrant, living one. “…even though Kari believed in God, it was hard to believe He worked so openly in people’s lives. After all, He hadn’t answered all the prayers they offered up for her mom. What was she missing?” Will Royal be able to help her see God and life with a different lens than she has used all her life?

I just loved this easy-to-read, fairy-tale retelling that retains enough of the original, yet is certainly its own entity. I can’t wait for Anguish’s next retelling!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“God can and has used anyone. He even used the bad guys in the Old Testament—several times. Instead of saying why would He use you, maybe you should ask how He could use you. And then let Him.” – Royal

“The first step to growing a stronger faith is to acknowledge you need one.”- Royal

“…how do you prove to someone that something she’s believed since she was six is wrong?” “You have to show her.”

Royal, Jake

“I often wonder if the books end where they do because we love to be left with that sense of euphoria of everything working out like we wanted. But if it went further, we’d see that life isn’t always easy and comes with its fair share of bumps and bruises. Doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. And often, it’s easier when you’re taking the road hand-in-hand with someone instead of trying to do it all alone.” – Royal’s dad

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! Such a fun book to read, with its contemporary setting but obvious connections to an old fairytale. The same, but different! Yay!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 2

Inspired by Fiction, May 3

Simple Harvest Reads, May 4 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 5

Holly’s Book Corner, May 6

Artistic Nobody, May 7 (Author Interview)

By the Book, May 8

Texas Book-aholic, May 9

Guild Master, May 10 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , May 11

Fiction Book Lover, May 12 (Author Interview)

Fruitfully Planted, May 13

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 14 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Rendersella and Fairest Inn All!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/Y7seJ/fairest-inn-all-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Ignite

Author: Kara Swanson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Can Mara survive in a world where the fire in her veins is worth killing for?

In a frozen wasteland suffocating beneath a dying sun, Mara is a young phoenix raised by her father to explode at his command. He’s the only one who can help her control her fire, and Mara desperately follows his orders to protect their phoenix family from relentless human hunters.

Her sheltered existence is shattered when her family mysteriously vanishes, thrusting Mara into a perilous quest to find them. Along the way, she unravels a devastating truth: her people may not be the innocent victims she’s been taught to believe.

When she comes face-to-face with the kindhearted Eli, she begins to wonder if the humans aren’t the monsters she’s always feared. What if the greatest danger doesn’t lie in the icy world outside—but in the truth of who Mara really is?

Fire and ice collide in this thrilling tale of a phoenix girl born with the power of a dying sun.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kara Swansonwrites stories about fairy tales and fiery souls. She spent her childhood a little like a Lost Girl, running barefoot through lush green jungles which inspired her award-winning Peter Pan retellings, Dust and Shadow.

She is also the cofounder of the Author Conservatory (authorconservatory.com) where she has the honor of teaching young writers to craft sustainable author careers.

You’ll find Kara with her toes in California sand as a SoCal resident, belting Broadway show tunes on weekend drives to Disneyland with her delightfully nerdy husband, or chatting about magic and mayhem on Instagram.

More from Kara

This story is one that has lived a hundred lives, a little like the phoenix it’s about —dozens of iterations and nearly eight years discovering Mara’s story. In this icy world beneath a dying sun, I was able to craft a story of a young phoenix girl who was more terrified of her own fire than the dangers of the frozen wasteland outside her underground hideaway. Who has been convinced by the father she loves that her flame is only capable of pain and damage — until suddenly, he disappears. And for the first time, she ventures out of her hideaway to discover that the frozen world outside is actually dying for her flame. And that the parts of herself that she has feared and run from…that there may be beauty, even there. That she can choose to rise from the ash of a world that doesn’t understand her, and use the fire in her veins to bring warmth and healing.

I hope you enjoy the adventure!

My Impressions

“‘This place isn’t afraid of me. And neither are you. That’s . . .’A knowing look fills his brown eyes. ‘Like being able to breathe for the first time?’”

Kara Swanson has a way of relating her YA fantasy stories in a very memorable way! Having read her two previous Neverland books, I was eager to see what Swanson would produce next. I was not disappointed!

This is the story of a young Phoenix who is hidden away with her flock, taught to fear anything or one not part of her restricted world. Only her father can keep the extreme fire power within her from destroying everything around her. But when the flock disappears, and Mara must search for them, she finds more confusion and a different world than she’d ever imagined.

What a wonderful way to show young people that they are made with a purpose to be celebrated in their uniqueness as special. To realize that helping others is a noble calling and worth a sacrifice. The strength of love can enable creatures (or people) to stand strong together, against a difficult foe.

Eli really impresses me with his selflessness in giving to the Hollows. Mara asks him why he sacrifices to give to them, when they don’t give back, and might be happy to hunt his father. He replies, “Because they need light and warmth as much as anyone else… It’s not about them agreeing with me or treating us well. It’s just being decent. Everyone deserves a chance to live. I can’t let them freeze to death when I can do something to help them.”

Be prepared for a cliff-hanger!

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotable:

“We, more than anyone, know that dying is easy. But living? As Eli said, living is harder.”