Her Secret Song, Book 3 by Mary Connealy

Series: Brides of Hope Mountain

Publication Date:  6 Oct 2020

Publisher: ARC from Netgalley.com and Bethany House Publishers

Rating: 4 out of 5

Beautiful music and a tall, slender stunning white blonde—what a glorious sight and sound for Wax Mosby to regain consciousness to! Certain he’s died and gone to heaven, Wax will eventually learn he’s been found by the third and oldest of the Nordegren sisters, Ursula. Mary Connealy begins this third and final book in the Brides of Hope Mountain series with a rough and ready gunfighter and the extremely troubled sister who is scared to death to come off the mountain.

This witty, humorous story explores two very different people, both extremely interested in changing, as they find their way around all the complexities life hands them. Pick this one up, guys! A terrific conclusion to an absolutely unique and humor filled series! Mix in some romance along with a good sprinkling of faith and you have a read that will entertain you for hours.

 This ARC copy was received from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#HerSecretSong #NetGalley

The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd

Series: The Cornwall Novels, Book 3

Publication Date:  13 October 2020

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

“Things are only as complicated as you let them be.”

–Liam Twethewey

Once again writing with her elegant Regency style, Sarah Ladd takes us back to the coast of Cornwall. Meet Liam Twethewey, twenty-two years old now and eager to make his mark on his new world, the recently inherited estate of Wyndcliff which sits along the rugged Cornish coast. Liam is a straightforward, handsome young man eager to get to work and put his plans for his rather run down estate into action. The first complexity he must learn to deal with is his steward, the rather elderly and difficult Rupert Bray, who is quite uninterested in having anyone tell him what to do.

Bray’s beautiful young granddaughter, Evelyn, lives just across the courtyard in Wyndcliff Cottage. Abandoned by her mother two years previously, the lovely and compassionate Evelyn wanders around the estate not quite fitting in anywhere, neither servant nor mistress. Evelyn, however, finds a task to keep her days busy after a horrific shipwreck on the rocks brings ashore a young girl and her mother suffering from injuries.

As Liam investigates the uncanny number of shipwrecks along his shores, he quickly finds that life along the quiet shores of Cornwall is not quite what it seems. Who can he trust? Is his steward working for him or against him? Life becomes increasingly complicated for Liam as he struggles to settle in to his estate and life at Wyndcliff.

I loved the intrigue the drama, and the light romance in this story. Once again the author draws on the issues of the times to fully develop the story; poverty, difficulties of the working man, societal class, and the difficulties of being a young woman of marriageable age without prospects. This story drew me quickly into its pages and I couldn’t wait to finish it. Great read for those who love Regency fiction or historical fiction during this time period!

This ARC copy was received from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

5/5

Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander

Series: Carnton, Book 2

Publication Date: 06 October 2020

Publisher: Fountain Creek Press

ARC Copy from NetGalley.com

A story of counterfeiting, missing family, complicated lies, and two feisty red heads will draw you rapidly into life at Carnton Plantation. This story weaves together the tale of Wade Cunningham, an undercover Secret Service agent with a complicated past, and Catriona and Nora O’Toole, Irish immigrants fresh from immigrating to America in search of their brother Ryan, a conscripted Confederate soldier.

As Wade works on the plantation by day as the overseer, he investigates a counterfeit operation in the area at night and in his spare time. As the layers are peeled back in his investigation, Catriona O’Toole, now the head gardener at Carnton becomes a prime suspect. The two have a push/pull relationship, frequently at odds, but attracted to each other as well. They finally settle into a friendship that works for their complicated life.

Highlighted by the ravages of war and the lack of progress in reconstruction, the south offers a setting both sad and hopeful. Once again the characters are rich in historical genuineness and true personality. Woven with threads of historical fact amid a complicated plot, the story is a rich mingling of history, drama, and romance.  Touching on complex issues of the prejudice against immigrants and the difficulties of life in the south for slaves after the war, the story is well written and respectfully handled.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this multifaceted story. Excellent read for those who enjoy historical fiction and those who read inspirational historical fiction!  This is the second book in the Carnton series.

This ARC copy was received from Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

The Soldier’s Lady: Four Historical Stories by Susanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad

Publication Date: 1 August 2020

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

ARC Copy from NetGalley.com and Barbour Publishing

A delightful collection of novellas about four bold young women who choose frontier adventure in the forts of the west!

 

The Colonel’s Daughter by Gabrielle Meyer

Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, 1828.

Duty calls Major Nathaniel Ward to guard his Colonel’s three daughters upon their arrival at Ft. Snelling. Nathaniel’s job is to make sure the girls are protected and that they not get involved with any man in the military. As Nathaniel spends more and more time with the charming Ally, he finds he is in danger of breaking his own rules. Read this enjoyable story and see if Ally and Nathaniel can figure a way around the Colonel’s rules.

 

Frontier of Her Heart by Susanne Dietze

Ft. Humboldt, California, 1854.

When the fort commander issues a challenge to his Assistant Surgeon Boyd Braxton and his cook, Emily Sweet, he merely intends to entertain his troops with a bit of fun. Emily is raising her younger brother and is a rather serious soul and Boyd is the exact opposite, finding amusement in most things. The contest he challenges them to sets a course in motion that neither could have predicted. Fun story!

 

Save the Last Word for Me by Lorna Seilstad

Ft. Riley, Kansas, 1864.

Adelina Dante, a schoolteacher on a mission to educate, collides with her fort commander, Colonel Isaac Scott, a young officer who takes his duty at the fort very seriously. Mishap after mishap dogs Adelina on her first posting to a military fort. Will the outspoken Adelina ever learn to follow the rules or be perpetually in trouble with the Colonel?

 

Winning the Lady’s Heart by Janette Foreman

Ft. Garland, Colorado, 1879.

When Captain Jefferson Gray’s friend, Martin O’Neal dies, duty demands that he meet Martin’s new fiancée, Annie Moreau, who arrives on the coach shortly after his death. When Annie becomes stuck at the fort, she finds that she hasn’t really been corresponding with Martin, but instead with the Captain. Can Annie get over her embarrassment, pride, and confusion to figure out who she really cares for? Time has a way of making complicated situations clearer. This novella was definitely my favorite of the four.

This ARC copy was received from Barbour Publishing and Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#TheSoldier’sLady  #NetGalley

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Publication Date: 15 September 2020

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

ARC from Waterbrook Press and Netgalley

 

“A book takes one into another person’s thoughts and emotions. Books open up worlds beyond the view from one’s own window.”

–Miss West, Librarian

Addie Cowherd, a junior at University of Kentucky, had such aspirations to finish college and become a writer. As the economic downturn from the Great Depression continued into 1936, Addie finds her life dramatically altered when her father loses his job and the family loses their home. Unable to pay for college, Addie finds herself dismissed from the University with nowhere to go.

Addie takes a job as a packhorse librarian for the WPA in the small town of Boone’s Hollow nestled deep in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky. With almost no experience on a horse or outside of a town, Addie finds life in Boone’s Hollow to be a challenge.  Along with three other local girls, Addie starts out each morning from the tiny building that houses the library and works her way through the surrounding mountainous community.  Needless to say, Addie is not exactly welcome in this tightknit community of hill folks.

When Bettina Webber, one of the local packhorse librarians, becomes jealous, Addie’s life becomes even more difficult. A lack of book learning and centuries of superstitions make people extremely wary of Addie fueling Bettina’s private war against her. Taken in by an older woman, Nanny Fay, Addie comes to understand more about the people and their culture as she tries to do her job.

The characters in the novel evolve and mature beautifully. The lessons shared in this faith based story are many and deep. First and foremost, the lesson of books and their influence shine through in this novel. One of my fall favorites! Excellent read! Readers of historical fiction and Christian fiction will really enjoy this book!

This ARC copy was received from Waterbrook Press and Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#TheLibrarianOfBoonesHollow  #NetGalley

 

Forget Me Not by Sarah M. Eden

Series:  The Gents, #1

Publication Date:  7 September 2020

Publisher: Covenant Communications

ARC from Netgalley.com and Covenant Communications

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

 

Filled with the push and pull of an arranged marriage between old friends, Forget Me Not is a delightful story detailing newlywed life for Lucas Jonquil and his bride, Julia Cummings. Julia, an extremely quiet and introverted young woman, finds herself wed to an outgoing, vivacious old friend from her past regardless of how she actually feels about the marriage. On top of a whirlwind marriage, she finds herself moved off to Brier Hill, her husband’s new estate where she is made to feel less than welcome. Can a marriage get off to a much worse start?

An intriguing group of six of Lucas’s closest friends begins to arrive in order to introduce themselves into Julia’s life. Thus we receive our first introduction to the Gents! Since Lucas is the first of the Gents to marry, everyone descends on the newlyweds to assist them with their relationship difficulties. And we all know that six bachelors surely have excellent advice for a married couple!

Come along for a charming read with this first book in Sarah Eden’s new series, The Gents, and meet the delightful, close knit friends who will do everything in their power to help out their friend, Lucas, and his bride. Readers of historical romance, particularly the Georgian era, will thoroughly enjoy the story. I can’t wait to see which one of the Gents shows up in the next book.

 This ARC copy was received from Covenant Communications and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#ForgetMeNot  #NetGalley

 

 

Mountain Laurel by Lori Benton

Releasing Today:  September 01, 2020

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Series: Kindred

ARC copy from Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5

Lori Benton draws us into a complex, emotional story with a depth that haunts long after the book is complete.  Mountain Laurel is a novel of contrasts and conflicts, love and heartache, and family and faith. The story begins in 1793 on a plantation along the frontier in western North Carolina.

Ian Cameron, a young man with a troubled past, makes his way to his Uncle Hugh Cameron’s plantation as a last opportunity to make something of his life as his uncle’s heir. A handsome young man raised in the city of Boston with some skills in cabinet making, he struggles with the concept of slavery as he settles into plantation life. His conflicts become even more pronounced as he forms a deepening friendship with Seona, a beautiful young slave woman with a hidden gift.

Ian’s choices and decisions affect more than his own life. Seona’s misplaced trust in him allows him to justify his behavior without fully analyzing the consequences of his actions. In the aftermath of his actions, his Uncle Hugh’s stepdaughter Judith becomes caught up in the turmoil as well. With a careless disregard for other people’s lives initially, Ian makes choices that will affect the future of the entire plantation and all who live there.

Walk through his story as he tries to right the wrongs created as a result of his choices and decisions. His search for redemption means that he must try to settle his life course, a final choice with which he can live. The ending left me unsettled. Ian and Seona’s story continues in Shiloh, sequel to Mountain Laurel. Join me on this emotional, heartfelt journey.

 This complimentary ARC copy was received from Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#MountainLaurel  #NetGalley

 

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillian

Publication Date: 18 August 2020

Publisher: ARC from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

 

Rachel McMillan offers an intricately woven story of two survivors of WWII who hastily marry prior to the war only to find themselves at odds as the war ends and they begin to try and restore their relationship. The story wanders through various stages of the war as their backstory is explored. Diana Foyle Somerville becomes a codebreaker during the war and an unofficial sleuth for MI6 after the war ends thus creating secrets and barriers between herself and her husband, Brent Somerville, a professor of theology at King’s College.  Brent suffers in his own way as a result of his time on active duty during the war and his injuries.

Diana draws Brent into her undercover life as she explores the Christopher Wren churches of London, a passion she shared with him prior to their separation. They quickly discover that secrets, guns, and midnight visits from MI6 can drive an even bigger wedge in their life and threaten any hope of happiness.

Rich in historic detail, the book particularly offers a tribute to the Christopher Wren churches of London. The story also highlights the amazing work accomplished by ordinary citizens during WWII. This historical romance with some intrigue and suspense thrown in the mix will surely entertain and educate readers.

This ARC copy was received from Thomas Nelson Publishes and Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#TheLondonRestoration #NetGalley

 

Sea Glass Castle by T.I. Lowe

Series:  The Carolina Coast series, book 3

Publication Date: August 4, 2020

Tyndale House Publishers

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

“Time near the coast didn’t move by the hour; it moved by the currents, planned by the tides, and followed the sun.”

 Welcome back to Sunset Cove, a quaint little town set along the coast in this third book in the Carolina Coast series. The Sand Queens are back in full force, with two of the three now happily married and one of them returned back to town divorced and sorely wounded in spirit. Sophia Prescott along with her young son is back in town after her high profile divorce badly in need of a job and some girl time with her friends, Opal and Josie.

Opal’s new neighbor, Dr. Weston Sawyer, a pediatrician with a sorrowful past, needs an office manager. After meeting Josie in less than ideal circumstances, he is certain she is the last woman he would ever hire. However, best laid plans are often circumvented when someone puts their mind to it. Josie gets a second chance to prove herself capable in spite of her outspoken manner. With sparks flying, are Wes and Josie going to be able to get any work done?

Read this entertaining summer romance filled with friendship, faith, healing, and second chances. This novel can be read as a standalone, but I believe it works better if you’ve read the first two books to have the background story. A great ending to a charming southern romance!

 This ARC copy was received from Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#SeaGlassCastle #NetGalley

 

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

Publication Date: 4 August 2020

Publisher: Revell

ARC Copy from NetGalley.com and Revell

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

“But as you ponder what it is you want most in life, remember most things fade away with time. Only love, pure love, remains in the end. ”

                                                                      -Catherine Pratt

Step onto the rugged streets of Penance in the Dakota Territory in the year 1880 and meet the diverse and entertaining citizens of this small mining and logging town. The story focuses on the town’s schoolteacher, the upstanding Miss Agnes Pratt, who came out six years ago from Buffalo, New York to teach the youngsters of Penance.

Life is good in Penance and relatively predictable for Agnes until the new doctor arrives in town. Dr. James Harris, a fine young doctor newly graduated, arrives in town from none other than Buffalo, New York. Six years after Agnes disappeared from his life, James is finally face to face with her again. As they struggle to keep their shared history a secret, they find that their unsettled past continues to haunt them. Agnes unexpectedly finds herself with an orphaned baby to raise and the challenges of the child’s background bring unexpected memories back to disrupt her life.

As Agnes and James are forced to confront their history, they must figure out what is really important in life. They each must learn that where we come from doesn’t dictate who we are nor does it change the person we are. As Agnes and James explore the seasons of their life, their growth as individuals helps them make the right choices bringing a beautiful ending to this story.

Begin the journey to Penance and read this engaging story interwoven with threads of friendship, family, faith, and community. Everyone loves a genuine “feel good” story that ends leaving us feeling all is right with the world at that moment. Great read for lovers of historical fiction, historical romance, and Christian fiction!

This ARC copy was received from Revell and Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.  

#ALifeOnceDreamed #NetGalley