The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

Series: Daughters of the Mayflower, Book 4

Publication Date: 1 October 2018

Publisher: Barbour Books

ARC Copy from NetGalley.com and Barbour Books

            “War was upon them. The best they could do was pray and prepare.”

The Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with a new book written by Kimberley Woodhouse. This story continues with another member of the lineage of the Lytton family whom we met in book one of the series.

Philadelphia was undergoing a great deal of patriot activity in the year 1774. Faith Lytton Jackson, 32 years old and widowed, finds herself stretching her courage and bravery to new depths as she works with the local patriot ladies group to quietly aid in undercover activities. Her activities include meeting with her fellow undercover agent, Matthew Weber, a young man putting his life on the line for the cause. In the midst of undercover activities hardly seems the place for romance, but love does not always need an invitation to come calling.

The story is sprinkled with references to well known historical figures and events such as George Washington and Ben Franklin and the Continental Congress.  Keep in mind that it is a historical fiction novel with liberties taken with the characters. The plot twists and weaves its way through the tumultuous times of 1774 and into 1775, ending with an epilogue on July 4, 1776.

I loved the story. The American Revolution is one of my favorite time periods and this book lets one’s imagination run with the story. A truly enjoyable read that kept my attention from start to finish. Great read for lovers of historical fiction!

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

#ThePatriotBride #NetGalley

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Someone to Trust by Mary Balogh

Series: A Westcott Novel, #5

Publication Date: 27 Nov 2018

Publisher: Berkley

ARC from Netgalley.com and Berkley

“No one escapes, even those who may appear to others to live charmed lives. But we all have the choice of whether to be defined by the negatives in our lives or to make of our present and future and our very selves what we want them to be.”    
               -Elizabeth

Mary Balogh continues the captivating Wescott family saga in this fifth novel set at Christmas time in the English countryside. After a Christmas holiday that begins with an unexpected wedding, the entire Westcott family, plus a few additions, are assembled at Brambledean Court to celebrate. Alexander Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, and his new wife, Wren, are doing their best to promote solid, loving familial relations among their mixed clan during this holiday.

The story centers around Colin Handrich, Baron Hodges, a pleasant, good looking young man of twenty-six with a title and a nice fortune, and Elizabeth Westcott Overfield,  the widowed Lady Overfield, a slender, fair haired beauty in her mid-thirties. As these two young people move through their holiday slightly at a distance from the others due to their own particular circumstances, they find themselves frequently in each other’s company. A blithe promise is set between the two to dance the first waltz of every ball of the coming Season.

Thus begins a Season filled with adventure and turmoil for Colin and Elizabeth. Read the story of this older woman and younger man to see if they can find a way through the very difficult maze of society and familial chaos that ensues. Rich with romantic detail and filled with the love of family, this book is a delightful read to get you in the Christmas spirit.

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

The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall

Series: Daughters of the Mayflower, Book 6

Publication Date: 15 November 2018

Publisher: Barbour Books

ARC Copy from NetGalley.com and Barbour Books

 

Pirates, spies, and romance—Oh my!  The War of 1812 finds handsome, charming First Lieutenant Owen Masters working on his own agenda in spite of his seemingly honorable and loyal behavior to his British Royal Naval commanding officer. Feisty and courageous Emeline Baratt, a beautiful young woman in her mid-twenties, is trying to get home to Baltimore when her father’s ship is taken hostage. Their lives cross and clash in a big way as each of them try to do the right thing for the cause of liberty. Throw in a thoroughly unlikeable villain and the story gets even more intriguing.

I thoroughly enjoy the historical time period during which this story is based. MaryLu Tyndall did an excellent job incorporating historical detail regarding the burning of Washington and the planned battle for Ft McHenry and Baltimore.  What a great setting and backdrop for Owen and Emeline to discover more about each other! An excellent read for lovers of historical fiction and inspirational historical fiction!

This ARC copy was received from Barbour Books and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#TheLibertyBride #NetGalley

A Season of Grace by Lauraine Snelling

Series:  Under Northern Skies, Book 3

Publication Date: November 2018

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

ARC copy from Netgalley.com and Bethany House Publishers

A Season of Grace shares a tale of winter life in northern Minnesota in the early 1900’s highlighting the hardships, tragedies, and hard work that it took to survive during this time. This third novel in the series showcases a new era in the life of the extended Carlson family. Lauraine Snelling brings that feeling of family, faith, and community to readers as she continues her story of the expanding Carlson family.

This story centers around Nilda, one of the newest arrivals from Norway, as she begins working and stretching her wings in the community. This novel had a bit of the dark to it as an uncertain presence from the past shows up in Benson’s Corner. Read this engaging historical family saga to further your acquaintance with the Carlson family and to find out how Nilda deals with her ghost from the past. If you enjoy historical fiction at a slow, comfortable pace, this book will be perfect for you. A great book for a rainy afternoon and a cozy cup of tea!

This ARC copy was received from Bethany House and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

#NetGalley  #ASeasonOfGrace

 

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

Series: Victorian Ladies #1

Publication Date: October 15, 2018

Tyndale House Publishers

ARC copy from Tyndale House and Netgalley.com

What an interesting story! The plot in this novel drew me into the story immediately. The novel opens in the fall of 1866 at Watchfield House in Oxfordshire, England, home of the late Lord Lydney. Eleanor Sheffield, a lovely young woman who loves all things antique, is handed an intriguing assignment which will take her years of experience as the daughter of a conservator and evaluator of antiquities and her personal knowledge and judgment to assess and unravel. To complicate matters the new Lord Lydney, a potential heir, is home from abroad bringing heartbreak and uncertainty with him.

Eleanor loves her work in dealing with antiquities. However, she struggles with her own difficult personal life since her father’s death facing great uncertainty during this time when women were not expected to be knowledgeable or capable of working. As she deals with an ailing uncle and an employee with too much interest in the business, Eleanor will have to work hard to maintain her integrity and hold on to her business. As she strives to hold her family’s life and business together, she must also sort out the affairs of her heart.

So many questions trouble her as she seeks to unravel the mysteries that keep cropping up. Who can she trust? Where can she turn for help? Who should she believe? The intricate twists and turns will pull you right into the story. The historical components of the book are very detailed and interesting. Sandra Byrd does an excellent job of incorporating real historical elements into the story. The characters are intriguing and well developed. I personally love books with strong women and this story certainly delivers. Readers of historical fiction and romance will definitely enjoy this book.

This ARC copy was received from Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

 #NetGalley  #LadyOfAThousandTreasures

 

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillian

Series: A Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery

Publication Date: July 2018

Publisher: ARC from The Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson

 

“Sometimes stories are in the people whose life’s pages no one thinks of turning, his father once told him. Maybe it was time to land straight in the middle of the adventure. Not just peer through a glass and count his heartbeat.”

                                                      –Hamish DeLuca

Hamish DeLuca, a rather quiet young man with a severe case of anxiety, finally has enough of his well meaning parents help and takes off for Boston to spend some time with his rather progressive and wild cousin, Luca Valari. Regina “Reggie” Van Buren, daughter of well to do Connecticut parents, runs off to Boston to remove herself from an unwanted fiancé and a difficult social situation. Reggie and Hamish find themselves working for Luca as he prepares to open his flashy new nightclub, The Flamingo.

The story centers on the opening of the nightclub and all of the undercurrents that come to light when Hamish and Reggie begin to spend time together. Opening night rolls around and a sensationalized murder occurs at the nightclub. The year is 1937 and the undercurrents of illegal business, police on the payroll, and dark mysterious figures controlling things all play a role in this mysterious read. Family, loyalty, and finding oneself all occupy central themes in the story. The characters add depth and heart to the story.

An engaging read for lovers of historical fiction, romance, and historical mystery! I’m ready for another Van Buren and DeLuca book!

This ARC copy was received from Thomas Nelson Publishers and The Fiction Guild in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

Mysterious and Complex!

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

Publication Date: Oct 9, 2018

Publisher: Atria Books

The book, set at Birchwood Manor in England where the heart of the story takes place, begins with Elodie Winslow finding of a sketchbook and a photograph in an old leather satchel. As she examines the items in the satchel, she feels a familiarity with the house in the photo. Elodie slowly gets drawn into the story behind the sketchbook and photo and she finds a familial thread intertwined.

This book weaves an extremely complicated story with more than one mystery at the center of the tale. The story is intertwined with time shifts between the 1860’s and 2017. Not only is the story complicated, but keeping track of the characters required work.

In my honest opinion the book is a challenging read much too complex for a casual, enjoyable read.  I have read the majority of Kate Morton’s other work and very much enjoyed them.

This ARC copy was received from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.