An Inconvenient Beauty

Downton Abbey fans, Jane Austen diehards, want to get hooked on an incredible series of novels? Check out the Hawthorne House Series by Kristi Ann Hunter and you will be as hooked if not more than you are on your favorite area of interest surrounding the traditional Regency Romance genres! An Inconvenient Beauty is book 4 and the possible final one in the series and wraps up the love interest surrounding Griffith, Duke of Riverton!  Now that all his siblings are married off and beginning their own lives, Griffith realizes as the oldest, he must find a way to settle down and produce an heir for the families wealth to be inherited to. Only he isn't about to settle for just anyone that society deems is the right and top choice for him.

His entire family has married for love and not necessarily based on where a suitable lady fell on the social ladder in London. He wants someone who isn't really thinking she might be able to offer anyone, that way she won't necessarily have to work at being the best at all the social graces that come from marrying a Duke, one of the highest honors after royalty that is. With it comes a responsibility and a certain standard that must be maintained to keep things in proper order. Griffith believes he has found a suitable wife in the wallflower Miss Frederica St. Claire who is now going into her fourth season with no potential matches. She would make the perfect wife, because no one would even compete with her plain and homely looks and she wouldn't be out to impress him with things he isn't looking for. Now all he has to do is convince her by simply asking her to dance. Even all of London's society has been wagering on just who he might settle with.

Most think that Griffith will settle for the most beautiful and society's pick of the top females. In fact, her cousin Miss Isabella Breckenridge is working her way to doing just that with all the eligible young and older men vying for the honor to court her. He isn't at all interested in her but in Miss St. Claire instead, but everytime he calls on her, she is unable to communicate and sends signals that she isn't the slightest bit interested in the most eligible and wealthy bachelor in London. It seems Miss St. Claire has her own interests in a young man who has returned from the war, a solider whom she thought dead. Now it seems that Freddie will do all she can to push the Duke's attentions off to Isabella instead and often times it is under the most trying of situations, but then again, Isabella isn't interested in the Duke, because her Uncle wants her to focus her attentions on the members of the House of Commons to sway their vote for an Apothecary Bill he is pushing to be passed. He promises that he will take care of Isabella's family, simple sheep herders in North Umberland, but will anyone discover the true meaning behind Isabella's actions?

I received An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter compliments of Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. This has been such a dream to enjoy every single novel in this series and trust me, you will want to read them in order to understand all the relationships within the Duke's family and how each came to marry the one they have chosen to spend the rest of their life with and ones that they will LOVE first and foremost over what society deems is acceptable. I LOVE Isabella's character because she isn't interested in the Duke for marriage, so it keeps her guard down and she can be the person she is on the inside without having to fake her way through being proper and with that Griffith falls for the true woman she is over the lady she is acting like. Well worthy of all 5 out of 5 stars and only wish there were more to look forward to in this series. There are some historical facts that were incorporated in this novel that are revealed at the conclusion of this novel in the Author's Note section.

For more information about An Inconvenient Beauty, Kristi Ann Hunter or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter

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To read more reviews on An Inconvenient Beauty, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.

Lily of the Manor

Lily Broadbent isn't what society would deem as a proper English lady. To begin with her appearance is striking that those that see her believe she is a witch or something other than a woman based on her pure white hair, pale complexion and blue eyes. She also lives alone as a widow in Broadbent Manor with her servants and a collection of children she has taken into her home from orphanages. She believes that since she has been left with all her wealth and no heir to take over, she will do her best to ensure that every child she feels God has placed in her path will get a good education, food and a place to live where they can be loved. She only needs to find a tutor that can handle her brood of 11 orphans.

Frederick Woodstone is hoping to get the job as a tutor at the Broadbent Manor since leaving his vocation as a vicar. He only hopes that he can make a good enough impression that will win him favor to become an employed again. Unfortunately with no money to his name, he is forced to walk to Broadbent Manor in all his finery and wouldn't you know it, it begins to pour. He only hopes that the head of the house will understand why he couldn't afford to take a carriage. He is surprised to learn that Lily is the head of the house and even more surprised that he will not be teaching her children but a group of orphans in what can only be described as an ideal school room filled with everything he could possibly dream of to teach these young wards.

He just doesn't plan on falling in love not only with Lily, but also each of the eleven children, now under his tutelage. However when Lily's generosity garners the best of her intentions of taking food and supplies to a local family, she learns they all have the chicken pox, but she has not. Knowing that if anything should happen to her, she would lose custody of all the children she makes plans to put everything in Frederick's name, but even that won't curb her anxiety of losing everything she has worked so hard for. Is there another way?

I received Lily of the Manor by Anita Stansfield compliments of Covenant Communications. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. This is such a brilliantly written book that conveys what the meaning of forgiveness really means according to the ideas outlined in the Bible. Lily learns from Frederick how to communicate openly and how to draw people into a conversation with honesty and compassion and in time Frederick learns what truly motivates Lily to be so generous not only with her wealth but in the way she treats anyone she comes into contact with. Truly a beautiful story of unconditional love and forgiveness. I can't wait to read more by this author and this one deserves a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Lily of the Manor, Anita Stansfield, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Lily of the Manor by Anita Stansfield

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To read more reviews on Lily of the Manor, please visit Covenant Communication's website. 


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The Pattern Artist

One of my favorite childhood memories is remembering when my mother would sew us pajamas out of whatever fabric we picked out from the store. Even now many years later, I would LOVE to do that for my own kids, well teens and young adults. I guess that is where my love of quilting has come from and also why I absolutely LOVED the novel, The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser. It such a well-researched novel on pattern artists, those that made the patterns that home sewers like my mom could use to make their own clothes from, so it is wonderful to learn a bit more about those women who took it upon themselves to help.

The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser tells just how one woman's dreams to see a future for herself despite the odds against her based both on society's standards and where she came from. Annie Wood might be considered a perpetual run-away. She ran from her parents when they deemed she wasn't worthy of anything more than where their lot in life fell. However she took it upon herself to work the Kidds, a family of influence as a maid and travel to America with them in hopes of one day becoming a true ladies maid. For now, she was content to travel along as a house maid doing some sewing and alterations for the women in the family. She had hopes that the ladies maids were passing along her contributions to them so that one day her true talents might be used.

However when one of the footman, Mr. Grasston, makes it his intent to press himself upon Annie in unsuitable ways, she knows she must find a way out of the household, even if it means her future dreams must fall by the wayside. In face, she learns that he has made several passes at others in the Kidd household as well, including the one friend she met, Iris and her brother Danny. After learning that Grasston has abused Iris, Annie makes plans for all three to runaway and begin a new start in America knowing that all three possess the drive to not settle for anything less than their own say in their futures, especially when Annie learns that the ladies maids have been passing off her work as their own. If she doesn't strike while the iron is hot, she is doomed to settle for what she has and that isn't good enough right now. Her future now lies in the hands of working for Macy's department store as a sewing clerk using all the skills she has self-taught herself to make a living, but will her past come back to haunt her in ways she could never imagine?

I received The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. The theme in this novel is that Annie soon learns that God is working all around her if she just opens her eyes. God is simply waiting for her to notice Him. At the end of the novel she can look back and see how the ripples of all the bad things she believed has happened to her has been for her good and has lead her to where she finds herself at the end, better than she ever believed. At the conclusion the author provides insights of her own on how she utilized the history of Butterick to determine the way this novel will playout and how working at Macy's would tie in a bit of history about the Staus family, who would subsequently die aboard the ill-fated Titanic in 1912. I absolutely could NOT put this book down until I finished and for me, that is a sign that this one is a 5 out of 5 stars. I only wish it would last so much longer as I found myself completely immersed in the lives of Annie Wood and her friends.

For more information about The Pattern Artist, Nancy Moser or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser

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To read more reviews on The Pattern Artist, please visit Barbour Publishing's website. 

My Valentine

What are the differences that separate the beliefs of Jews and Christians? Does the Bible warn not to be unequally yoked and if so, does that apply to Jews and Christians? My Valentine by Tracie Peterson is a heartwarming regency romance between Darlene Lewy, raised a Jew her entire life that lives with her father Abraham and Pierce Blackwell, a Christian young man who has recently arrived in New York with his father.

At the height of the season, Pierce comes to Lewy and Company with his father to get some suits made in time for the Valentine's Day ball. In order to expedite things in acquiring what he needs over trying to find suitable attire somewhere else, he is enchanted when he meets with Darlene who is trying to figure out just why her father and Dennison Blackwell are having discussions over the differences in their religious faiths. Darlene is concerned because if Abraham leaves his faith as a Jew, the entire Jewish community will ostracize them and stop doing business with them. It will also impact her future as well in the community, not that someone like the Blackwell would have any romantic interest in her as suitable match. The one thing Darlene didn't expect is that she would be caught overhearing their conversation and find herself trying to explain things to Pierce.

Pierce's Aunt has just the right girl in mind for Pierce from just the right family and when she arranges to have them meet at a Bachelor's auction, the only girl he can't get off his mind is Darlene. Even he knows however that unless she is a Christian, there will never be any hope for anything more than a business relationship between them. But will the changes Darlene sees in her father, cause her to consider that perhaps Jesus Christ is the Messiah promised to come by the Jewish people after all?

I received My Valentine by Tracie Peterson compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. I absolutely loved seeing the various differences between the Jews and Christians in regards to their religious rituals and how they interpret the Bible. I love how the Blackwells are invited to participate in the Passover meal and how they are so impressed by how the Lewy's remember the blessings of God saving his people during Passover. In addition to this novel, readers are also treated to a bonus book, Little Shoes and Mistletoe by Sally Laity inside. This is the story of Eliza Criswell that moves in with her Aunt Phoebe at Harper House after her fiancè Weston runs off with her best friend. She just doesn't expect to fall for someone who looks identical to him while working for her Aunt! Both books earn an equal 5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion.

For more information about My Valentine/Little Shoes and Mistletoe, Tracie Peterson, Sally Laity or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

My Valentine/Little Shoes and Mistletoe by Tracie Peterson and Sally Laity

You can find Tracie Peterson on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

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To read more reviews on My Valentine/Little Shoes and Mistletoe, please visit Barbour Publishing's website. 

An Elegant Facade

"Marriage cannot be left up to chance. I have to make it happen."

For Lady Georgina Hawthorne, the right match will mean everything. While she has waited for her older sister Miranda for three years to find the right match, but she is still searching. Georgina can't wait any longer. In order to make this a successful coming out, it has taken planning all her life along with help from her lady's maid Harriette, it will be perfect. Her plan is to find an Duke and there are five on the list if she includes her brother. Now all she has to do is perfect all the right nuances to make just the right man fall into her plans for marriage.

Colin McCrae isn't one to keep up appearances because as a businessman with connections in the world of affluence, he knows that most eligible women are bound to look the other way. Despite all his well meaning relationships with those that have invited him into all the right balls and socials, he enjoys the entertainment value that comes from watching how hard women will work at gaining a suitable husband and none more so than that of Lady Georgina. To say that Colin and Georgiana are like fire and water would be an understatement. Sparks fly whenever they are together and each take turns at trying to best one another while keeping their social graces. They seemly seem to hate one another more than anything and yet find themselves thrown together more than you can count.

Georgina can not let Colin ruin the only chance she has before anyone finds out the true secret she's been hiding and she isn't about to let him stand in the way. No matter where she turns, he is always there out to try her patience as a Lady. She must marry before she brings a scandal to her family name, but like she is reminded, it's only a scandal if anyone knows about it. Colin however, learns that Georgina is hiding and why he can't understand why she won't tell anyone, he won't be the person to potentially ruin her future by divulging what that is.But what secrets is Colin hiding?

I received An Elegant Facade by Kristi Ann Hunter compliments of Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free eBook in exchange for my unbiased and personal review. This is the second novel in the Hawthorne House Series, with A Noble Masquerade being the first. Since I missed out on that one, I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was not needed to thoroughly enjoy this one. I absolutely LOVED the chemistry at work between Colin and Georgina and could understand why she kept up the appearances of her secret for so long. It breaks my heart to see how desperate some women were at securing whatever match they could before they wrote themselves off to spinsterhood. The title makes perfect sense for this novel and it will take you awhile before you learn that it is. That is the earmark of a quintessential best seller when you can keep the reader entertained until the very end without giving too much away too soon. For me, this one rates a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about An Elegant Facade, Kristi Ann Hunter or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Elegant Facade by Kristi Ann Hunter

You can find Kristi Ann Hunter on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on An Elegant Facade, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website. 

The Dancing Master

For me, the ear marks of a great novel is when the author truly takes the time to create a story and characters you can relate to and care about. One that doesn't worry about how many pages are in the novel as long as the storyline they thought through is conveyed in the manner they hoped. One that doesn't spend a lot of time in the build up of the novel only to rush through it quickly in a hurried breath at the end. Julie Klassen is that author.

Being a huge fan of traditional regency novels and television series like Downton Abbey, I love the look back in time when men were truly gallant and women were cherished and treated like ladies. If they were interested in one another, a chaperone was sent along as they spent time getting to know one another through walks in the garden or in carriage rides. This is one of those very heartwarming and hold your breath novels. One you will know from the very beginning you've reached something you won't want to rush through because when it does end, you'll be sad. Sad that it's over and you'll have to wait for more to come in the near future. I've been fortunate to read all of Julie Klassen's novels and this one is a masterpiece.

Julia Midwinter is the only daughter of Amelia Midwinter, one of the richest women in the town of Beaworthy. She is not at a loss of handsome suitors although none of them have caught her eye in the way of falling in love like she dreamed. She has fun practicing the art of flirting whenever the opportunity presents itself but finds life rather boring without balls or social outings one would find in London. Since her mother presides over the town and it's parish, dancing and balls have been banned. There is no law on the books but since the death of her Uncle, the entire town has gone along with request. If only Julia could get her to explain the reasons why, but her mother remains tight lipped about why.

However when a stranger moves to town along with his mother and sister, Julia's interest is more than sparked. She finds a man that will challenge even her boldest moves. He refuses to treat her with anything less than the respect a lady deserves even if it means he has to walk away most times. Alec Valcourt has moved in with his uncle along with his mother and sister to find a way to support themselves now that their father has left them. Alec only hopes that as a Dancing and Fencing Master, he might provide the finances that would allow them to find a  home of their own. But when Alec learns that dancing is banned in the town of Beaworthy, he finds his dreams are as lost as his family. How will he be able to provide for his family if he has no skills to do so? How will he be able to provide for any women he falls in love with if he has no hope for a future at anything? Will there be a time to restore dancing in the town of Beaworthy again?

I received The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen compliments of Bethany House Publishers and TLC Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I tried delaying the end of this novel as long as I could but somehow like all great things it has to come to an end. My only hope is that Julie Klassen has something else brewing very soon in the future. There simply hasn't been a book of hers I haven't fallen head over heels in love with. Fans of Jane Austen, Downton Abbey or traditional regency fans will LOVE this novel and is why I can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There is even a discussion guide at the end that is excellent for book groups to utilize.

For more information about The Dancing Master, Julie Klassen or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen 

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 To read more reviews on The Dancing Master from the TLC Book Tour, please click here.