A Light on the Hill

One of my favorite new genres is biblical fiction. It is taking factual events from the Bible, and creating a bit of a backstory to the characters we know about, but not everything about. It might even use a major biblical event as the setting for the novel, such as Connilyn Cossette has done brilliantly in her series, Cities of Refuge. The first novel in the series is A Light on The Hill, and takes the readers back just after the fall of the walls of Jericho.

Back to the lands filled with the idol worship of false gods, where temples were built to commemorate and worship those idol images. Moriyah was a young girl when she was kidnapped and branded on her face as a temple prostitute even though she never was violated in that manner. It would be a brand she would forever face discrimination and rumors about what those who knew of her perceived her to be. It would also make finding a suitable husband for her, almost an impossibility. What man would want to deal with a wife who had to remain covered by a veil whenever she went out in public. Yet even that did nothing to prevent the stares or public shame she had to endure.

When Moriyah learns that her father has found a suitable match for her, she believes God has finally heard her prayer. She believes the young man she meets on the night of a festival is the same man promised to marry her. However she soon learns that he is simply the youngest of the brothers, her father has arranged to marry her. He is not the one. The man she is forced to marry is the oldest brother and the only desire he has for her, is her dowry that her father has promised to any man who will marry her, vineyards beyond riches. She faces her own challenges dealing with not only her potential future husband, but he has vowed she will remain forever veiled so no one will ever look at her and see who she really is.

I received A Light on The Hill by Connilyn Cossette compliments of Bethany House Publishers. This is such a wonderful novel in that during my own Bible reading, I have read about the horror stories of the people who lived behind the walls of Jericho and the things they did they flew in the face of the God of the Bible. We see glimpses of that with Joshua and how he brought down the walls, and of the prostitute Rahab that hid the men of God who would have been killed had they been discovered. It was the same favor that saved the life of not only her but her family as well. This picks up after that has occurred and shows the fall out of the life of those trapped behind those walls that now have to deal with the repercussions of that lifestyle, even if they didn't agree with it. A wonderful discussion guide is included at the conclusion of this novel that makes for a great book club selection. For me, I can't wait to read the remaining novels that will follow this one, and thus the reason for giving this one a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about A Light on The Hill, Connilyn Cossette or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Light on The Hill by Connilyn Cossette

You can find Connilyn Cossette on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Light on The Hill, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.

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

You can find Kristi Ann Hunter on Facebook to enjoy all her latest novels.

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

Where We Belong

What really made me want to read this book, before I ever looked at the synopsis, is the cover. Just something about exploring Egypt has always fascinated me, and this book by Lynn Austin is no disappointment. Truly something a bit unique but found myself thinking of this book, like The Mummy movie with Brandon Frasier, because of the woman in the movie, who defies social stereotypes of the era and branches out on her own. In Where We Belong, Rebecca and Flora Hawes are being raised by their father, since their mother's death on Flora's birth that left them without the influence of a woman in their household. Being from a well-to-do family, they lacked for nothing with what money could buy for a good education, and their father held nothing back from them.

Deep within both of the girl's hearts was a love for adventure and travel, and at any early age knew that they could convince their father to take them on a European trip to discover the things they were being taught at school, better than any books could teach them. They only had to present it in the correct manner as father liked to conduct all things with a business plan in mind and thus the reason they were so well off. After their latest adventure and returning on their voyage home, they encountered Mrs. Worthington who was also a widow with a plan and purpose. She manages to convince their father that both girls will need suitable husbands to help manage their finances and thinks her nephews would make the ideal candidates.

But Rebecca isn't ready to settle down with the quintessential husband that society and her father would love for her to marry. Flora is quite pleased with having the best of both world and soon falls in love with Thomas. Knowing their father's health is failing, they beg him to not marry Mrs. Worthington until they return from one final trip to visit Egypt and the Holy Lands. But alas, fate will take its own turn as their father passes away and the girls are stuck with figuring out how to manage without a man's influence in their lives any longer. Their journey has only just begun and its about to get very interesting with whom they meet on their latest trip abroad.

I received Where We Belong by Lynn Austin compliments of Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. I absolutely LOVE Rebecca's spirit of adventure in not conforming to societies standards for proper young women! This is like an Indiana Jones adventure but with switching the roles between the main characters. I found myself rooting for her the whole time and really wanted to see where all this would lead and could only imagine untapped wealth and the ability to travel makes this such an enjoyable novel. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion!

For more information about Where We Belong, Lynn Austin or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Where We Belong by Lynn Austin 

You can find Lynn Austin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Where We Belong, please visit Baker Publishing Group's website. 

A Dangerous Legacy

"Talent is a gift from God," he would say, "It's a sin to hoard our talent. There is nothing special about me except I can build things to make life better for the people around me. And when I do that, I feel God smiling on me." (excerpt from A Dangerous Legacy).

When the Drake family remains divided over the rights of the invention of a pressure valve, Lucy and her older brother Nick, believe they are following God's purpose in insuring that every single home or apartment building has the available to provide clean water, through the installation of the valves her Uncle Eustace, had invented. He was only swindled out of his legal rights when he was called to serve his country, and left a partially signed contract with his brother. What he failed to understand is that it limited where he could sell those valves, while his brother was free to sell them outside Manhattan for whatever he wanted and whenever he wanted.

Now that Uncle Thomas Drake is on the move to prohibit Lucy and Nick from utilizing their valves that Eustace's taught Nick to make due to the legalities of the contract. He has even stooped to spying on them in whatever means he can utilize. Although Lucy, as a telegraph operator for the Associated Press has developed her own way of spying on them through the use of the telegraph wire Nick has subtly hooked up that no one can see. Until the one time, he rival at the Reuter's press, located in the same building as Lucy, hears the coded message and realize it has nothing news worthy to provide to the AP. So Lucy and Colin Beckwith come to an agreement, that she will not pass along rumors of Colin's dinner behavior that would humiliate him in the public's eye, if he will remain quiet about the secret wire she is using to enable her to stay apprised about the legal status of their lawsuit with her Uncle.

I received A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden compliments of NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. The thing about Elizabeth's novels is that the reader doesn't realize they are learning about a piece of historical fact that she has woven in to keep them unaware, while providing just the right blend of fiction to keep them glued to the outcome of the story. Now I completely understand how water reaches the tops of those high rise apartments and businesses. I also didn't know that two rival newspapers really did work in the same building but on different floors and how the AP had to lease out using Reuter's Telegraph wires to gain news from the Eastern countries until they were able to lay their own Pacific cable. Also of historical note is the reason and construction details for the Panama Canal which readers will find at the conclusion of this novel. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. This is the first novel in the Empire State series.

For more information about A Dangerous Legacy, Elizabeth Camden or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

You can find Elizabeth Camden on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Dangerous Legacy, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website. 

Blind Spot

Blind Spot as defined by Webster's is an area where a person's view is obstructed. That is a very fitting description of the latest novel from the Chesapeake Valor's Series, Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey. This is the third novel in the series and takes readers in the lives of the FBI once more with agent Declan Grey who is teamed up with an attractive crisis counselor, Tanner Shaw. They have been tasked with finding out about a terrorist threat that is taking the lives of each witness that would point them closer to finding out the source and what might be coming. It appears that they are trafficking in young girls, but just as they get one step closer to the truth, their witnesses are being murdered. Now that Declan and Tanner seem to be edging to close for comfort, their lives are now on the line.

Griffin and Finley are working on trying to figure out who is embezzling funds from the company Haywood Grant is a co-partner with and fears that he will be held liable to the clients who have trusted him to manage their financial investments. It appears he is being set up, but by whom. Haywood claims he is innocent and if they don't discover who it is, all the evidence piling up will put him in prison for a very long time. As they attend a weekend event, they learn that there are quite a few wealthy guests who know what is happening and confront Haywood about their missing investments. They vow they are going to the police once the weekend event is over, and Haywood appears distraught over the ongoing issues. However when he is found dead in his bathtub, with a suicide note explaining his actions in taking his own life as well as embezzling money from his clients, along with a cryptic note implying he has murdered the Markhams, thing begin to go from bad to worse.

I received Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey compliments of Bethany House Publishers. This is a non-stop, action-filled suspense novel that involves lots of bullets flying, high-speed motorcycle racing, and trying to figure things out before our characters do kind of novel. I have not read the previous two novels in the series, and understand that each of them introduces members of the team in more detail. This time the novel revolves around Declan and Tanner, who seem to be fighting more than those who are interested in seeing them dead, but also in the sparks that fly from the chemistry between them. If you love suspense thrillers and a bit of romance, you will LOVE Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey. I would give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Blind Spot, Dani Pettrey or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey 

You can find Dani Pettrey on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Blind Spot, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website. 

A Name Unknown Review and Giveaway

"Rosemary Gresham may have been a thief, but she was a thief who preferred to work in broad daylight."

I love reading the first sentence in any novel. Most of the time it gives the reader some insight into how this novel will evolve and A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White is no exception. This is the first novel in the Shadows Over England series and one that I am sure most Edwardian Romance fans will absolutely LOVE! Rosemary Gresham is definitely a professional in her trade, that being one of many thieves that prey upon those in the upper class, in order to not only make a living, but so they can put food on the table of a group of similar young thieves that work London's streets. Most of the time, they are hired out by those looking to gain some advantage or to resolve some slight that they feel needs to be recompensed and her group of wayward thieves is more than happy to assist.

Her latest assignment is to prove Peter Holstein is not what he appears as he has the King's ear and many believe his ties with German began when his mother married his father and secured a place and a notoriety among the upper class in London. Now with the threat of war on the horizon with Germany playing a pivotal role, there are some that want to prove Peter's alliances, however innocent, do not lie with London. So Rosemary has been tasked to uncover proof that Peter is loyal to Germany and the price to be paid is so great, she would be a complete fool to pass it up.

She blends into Peter's household under the guise of being a librarian hired out by one of Peter's contacts to help restore his former library to its glory again. As of yet, it simply remains a hoarder's paradise with more books on the floor and every available space than is on the overly full shelves. Peter needs her assistance to locate documentation about his family, but doesn't share the real reason why he needs that documentation. Is Peter truly a German spy living in the midst of London or is he simply an innocent man looking to prove his loyalty to London before war sets in?

I received A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White compliments of Bethany House Publishers and TLC Book Tours.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. I absolutely love Rosemary's character because she can justify her shady dealings to help the local street urchins who are orphans and in need of help. She can read people perfectly and knows more about them than they initially share with her. She finds herself at odds the more she grows to know Peter and understands why his stuttering makes him a bit of a recluse in his small town. It gives way to suspicions by the local townspeople that Peter is truly hiding something and thus the need to prove where his loyalties stand in the face of a war on the horizon. I easily give this a 4 out of 5 stars and shows that sometimes our name is not all what people might be willing to believe.

For more information about A Name Unknown, Roseanna M. White or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

You can find Roseanna M. White on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Name Unknown, please visit TLC Book Tour's page.

Now for the best part, the giveaway. Thanks to the generosity of Bethany House Publishers and TLC Book Tours, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky winner. Here are the guidelines to enter:

1. Be a resident of the US or Canada, or have a US or Canada mailing address. No P.O. Boxes please.

2. Share this giveaway on any social media outlet of your choice, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, you name it. In fact the more you share, the more chances you have to win!

3. Leave me a comment below with a link to your social media share along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. I need to have a way to contact you if you're the lucky winner. No email address, I have no way to reach you.

That's all there is to enter. Enter as many times as you want. Remember each social media contact link generates an entry. The giveaway ends on July 31, 2017 and I will be emailing the winner at that time. If you have any questions, please email me at Stevenkat27@gmail.com.





 

The Captain's Daughter

Love great theater plays like Gilbert and Sullivan's? Or what about the works of George Mueller? How about a love of Victorian England? Can't decide? Pick up The Captain's Daughter by Jennifer Delamere and you won't have to choose. You get them all in this wonderful Christian Historical Romance, the first novel in the London Beginnings series and one you'll want to watch for as consecutive sequels are released.

Rosalyn Bernay is forced to flee after the position she had working for a wealthy family, suddenly calls her reputation into question when she is accused of being a thief in order to comply to the whims of a promiscuous husband with questionable loyalties to his new wife. Knowing that this ploy has worked for him in the past, he was expecting Rosalyn to run and now vows to hunt her down before she can get too far away. This leaves Rosalyn with very little alternatives as she finds he is mere moments from discovering her, she boards a train bound for London without knowing what she will do when she arrives. She falls prey to some savory characters who take advantage of her uncertainty of what to do. She barely escapes working in a brothel and soon finds herself penniless when a street urchin steals her reticule.

She finds herself in a fortuitous circumstance when she is believed to be the newly hired cleaning lady for the theater. She goes along with the ruse and discovers since the former girl doesn't show, they are willing to take a chance on Rosalyn. Yet it seems like God's plan for her life continues as she finds lodgings with the head actress and protection under a handsome solider/stage hand Nate Moran. However when the landlady threatens to toss Rosalyn out after learning she had planned to stay, Nate offers her a room in the large home with his family. It is there he learns more about her plot, her upbringing and her passion for singing and the theater. Now if he can only keep his thoughts clear, he might just finish his temporary stint filling in for his brother Patrick who was injured at work. He has resolved to return to the Army and leave for India as soon as Patrick is able to return and that means he can't have feelings of anything beyond friendship for Rosalyn.

I received The Captain's Daughter by Jennifer Delamere compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity. 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 delightful novel because as a reader, you truly get a potpourri of surprises tucked inside as you work your way though the early stages of theater, as well as the life of a homeless person on the dark and dangerous streets of England in the late 1800's. This novel made me want to keep the musical scores of Gilbert and Sullivan as my background music while enjoying the continuing escapes between Rosalyn and Nate. I can't wait to see where this series will pick up in the sequels and hope that readers get more insight into the lives of Rosalyn's sisters next. For me, well worth an evening enjoying this book from cover to cover and worthy of 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Captain's Daughter, Jennifer Delamere or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Captain's Daughter by Jennifer Delamere

You can find Jennifer Delamere on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Captain's Daughter, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

Dark Deception Review and Giveaway

Looking for a great murder mystery, suspense thriller? Then look no further than Nancy Mehl's latest novel, Dark Deception, which is the second novel in the Defenders of Justice Series. It must be read in order because the case begins in the first novel Fatal Frost. As readers take a look at the ongoing serial killer case known as the Blue Eyed Killer or B.E.K. for short, the case is just beginning for Kate O'Brien who survived the attack that should have claimed her life. She is the only witness who can identify the serial killer and now it is her turn to be a witness in putting the man behind bars.

He took the life of her twin sister Kelly, which is one of the reasons why he has been caught. Before this mistake, all the cases were cold because B.E.K. left no traces of evidence behind. It has baffled the efforts of not only the FBI but also the local police as well. She is relying on the strength from the officer responsible for ensure she remains alive and protected but will help her endure her testimony while facing the man who killed her sister and tried to kill her, U.S. Marshall, Tony DeLuca. Just as the trial is about to get underway with her testimony the courtroom erupts in gunfire as the prosecutor is murdered right before her eyes and just as he is about to kill her, Tony is able to stop the man.

As evidence begins to mount against the man convicted of being the B.E.K., Kate takes the offer to join the witness protection program and for the last four years things have been relatively calm. She has started a new life and a new name for herself. But Tony is asked to bring Kate back in, as a witness as the man convicted of multiple murders is seemingly let go for evidence that has now been tampered with rendering the conviction and arrest out of their hands. Now the killer has been released and Tony needs to find her and bring her in before the killer can locate her. It will truly be a race against time as the killer draws closer to her and the body counts begin to rise. But have they caught the right man?

I received Dark Deception by Nancy Mehl compliments of Bethany House Publishers and TLC Book Tours. 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 great series and I only wish I had read the first novel before jumping into this one to understand not only the killer's motives, but also the efforts of the police to arrest the man they believed to be B.E.K. Rest assured, this one has another sequel at least before they catch the elusive killer and in the meantime, the body counts will continue to rise and a twisted reason for the killer to keep Kate close will be revealed. I can't wait for the third novel in this series. It had me hooked at the very beginning and couldn't put it down til I figured out what was going to happen. Such a great story line and by far one of the best murder mysteries I have read in a long time. For me, this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

Now for the best part, thanks to the generosity of TLC Book Tours and Bethany House Publishers, they are giving a copy of this novel away. Here is all you need to do to enter:

1. "Like" Nancy Mehl's Facebook page. 

2. Be a resident of the US or Canada. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of Dark Deception. Don't forget to include your email address so I can notify you if you are the lucky winner of this giveaway. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols if you wish.

I will notify the winner of this giveaway by June 30th by email so don't forget to include it.

For more information about Dark Deception, Nancy Mehl or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Dark Deception by Nancy Mehl

You can find Nancy Mehl on Facebook to stay on top of her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Dark Deception, please visit TLC Book Tour's page. 

A Name Unknown

"Rosemary Gresham may have been a thief, but she was a thief who preferred to work in broad daylight."

I love reading the first sentence in any novel. Most of the time it gives the reader some insight into how this novel will evolve and A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White is no exception. This is the first novel in the Shadows Over England series and one that I am sure most Edwardian Romance fans will absolutely LOVE! Rosemary Gresham is definitely a professional in her trade, that being one of many thieves that prey upon those in the upper class, in order to not only make a living, but so they can put food on the table of a group of similar young thieves that work London's streets. Most of the time, they are hired out by those looking to gain some advantage or to resolve some slight that they feel needs to be recompensed and her group of wayward thieves is more than happy to assist.

Her latest assignment is to prove Peter Holstein is not what he appears as he has the King's ear and many believe his ties with German began when his mother married his father and secured a place and a notoriety among the upper class in London. Now with the threat of war on the horizon with Germany playing a pivotal role, there are some that want to prove Peter's alliances, however innocent, do not lie with London. So Rosemary has been tasked to uncover proof that Peter is loyal to Germany and the price to be paid is so great, she would be a complete fool to pass it up.

She blends into Peter's household under the guise of being a librarian hired out by one of Peter's contacts to help restore his former library to its glory again. As of yet, it simply remains a hoarder's paradise with more books on the floor and every available space than is on the overly full shelves. Peter needs her assistance to locate documentation about his family, but doesn't share the real reason why he needs that documentation. Is Peter truly a German spy living in the midst of London or is he simply an innocent man looking to prove his loyalty to London before war sets in?

I received A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. 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. I absolutely love Rosemary's character because she can justify her shady dealings to help the local street urchins who are orphans and in need of help. She can read people perfectly and knows more about them than they initially share with her. She finds herself at odds the more she grows to know Peter and understands why his stuttering makes him a bit of a recluse in his small town. It gives way to suspicions by the local townspeople that Peter is truly hiding something and thus the need to prove where his loyalties stand in the face of a war on the horizon. I easily give this a 4 out of 5 stars and shows that sometimes our name is not all what people might be willing to believe.

For more information about A Name Unknown, Roseanna M. White or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

You can find Roseanna M. White on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Name Unknown, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website. 

 

A Love So True

Evelyn Wisely had a heart for the unfortunate, and David Kingsman will do what he can to help her in any way she needs. After arriving in Teaville to begin the sale of the A.K. Glass company for his father, he has always done what his father has asked in hopes that one day he might just be proud of him, but so far that hasn't happened. It seems that nothing that David does is good enough for his father, who manages the family business and is wealthy beyond comparison.

Only David didn't hope to get his heart involved with Evelyn Wisely who runs the orphanage in town and tries her best to work with the soiled doves in Teaville to provide them with a way out of prostitution in the Red Light District. All her efforts to garner support from the local businesses seems to be in vain as no one wants anything to do with helping them because to do so would shine a light on them. For now, they are content that Evelyn does all the charity work involving them, because despite their reputations they believe that she will never marry because she purposely pushes all eligible men away from trying to court her.

For both David and Evelyn, they are running from their pasts and feel that the good they both do in the present will somehow make up for their short comings. What they don't realize however is that neither of them has anything to fear from their pasts. It is only by working together and exposing the truth that they have kept hidden that will not show how weak they are, but how strong they can be when they are willing to allow others to help them achieve the goals they have in life. Is it possible, that God has brought them together to accomplish more than what they would have been able to achieve on their own? Time will tell.

I received A Love So True by Melissa Jagears compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. 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. Sometimes the best thing about historical novels like this one is the fun historical facts readers uncover in the process like in the Author's Note section. Readers will uncover what is really wrong with Baby Hope at the conclusion of the book even though you try to figure it out while reading the novel, I was off by a long shot on this. This is the second novel in the Teaville Moral Society Series with A Heart Most Certain being the first. I really love how well David and Evelyn work towards the greater good and show just what a servant's heart really looks like. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about A Love So True, Melissa Jagears or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Love So True by Melissa Jagears

You can find Melissa Jagears on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Love So True, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.

Heart on the Line

Imagine a town run completely by women! Welcome to Harper's Station, where it used to be a town ran only by women, but with the change in the times and of course the very threats that can come to the women living there, marriages have now brought men to town. With every man being held under close scrutiny, they aren't ready to allow just anyone to settle in town.

Grace Mallory is the town's telegraph operator and newest member in town. In addition to her duties at the telegraph office, she spends her late nights conversing with someone known only as "A" in Denison, a small town a few miles from Harper Station. They have gotten to know one another when all the other operators have called it a night and soon more than just friendship blossoms. Just when it seems like love has finally found a way into her heart, she receives a message she hoped would never come. "He knows where you are. Coming for you. Sorry." Grace now believes that Chauncer Haversham, a wealthy businessman she believes is responsible for the murder of her father, is now coming after her for whatever proof her father left her that would put his inheritance at risk if it is proven there is another heir. Only Grace isn't sure what proof her father has left her, only that it is placing everyone she loves at risk. Now she must run again, because the last thing she wants on her hands is the blood of another innocent person because of her.

Amos Bledsoe had given up hope of ever finding a suitable match for him. It seems that the only women in town that are interested in him are too old, or simply looking for a man to provide a living for them, but Amos wants to marry for love. He believes he has found that in G from Harper Station and lately their late night conversations have gotten more personal. They have so much in common and through the months of talking with one another, he believes he has found the one God has placed in his life. Until he reads the message to G that threatens to send her running away. Can he reach her in time before she runs out of his life without even knowing her name?

I received Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. 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 the second novel in the Ladies of Harper Station series with To Wager Her Heart being the first one. I absolutely love the women characters that Karen creates, because their is a level of raw beauty, a willingness to go against the odds placed on women of the day, and a passion with a heart of God tucked inside that keeps them vulnerable. There is always some much needed laughter woven in between to keep the story interesting and the reader engaged until the very end. I love the ladies in Harper Station because they are not about to let one of their own being run out of town by the prospect of a man coming after Grace, but will they make the mistake of thinking Amos is the man coming after her and let their guard up without realizing it? Just have to pick this one up and find out how it all works out. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Heart on the Line, Karen Witemeyer or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel due out in June of 2017, please click on the links below:

Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

You can find Karen Witemeyer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Heart on the Line, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.

The Chapel Car Bride

I love when I pick up a novel for one reason and end up learning about the history of things I had never heard about. In the case of Judith Miller's latest novel, The Chapel Car Bride, the history of chapel cars is the setting for this historical romance novel. Pastor Layton Irvine and his 19-year-old daughter Hope journey along the railroads visiting the towns that they pass and offer a traveling church if you will to the residents of those towns known as the Herald of Hope chapel car. It is a service the railroads provide free when they can and often times requires the chapel car to stay on the spur line, until the next train can take them a bit further.

This has offered Hope the opportunity to travel with her father and minister to the children of these small towns where churches haven't even been built yet. With their final destination in the small town of Finch, Hope and Layton offer more than just spiritual teachings. They also help out the town's residents in whatever needs to be done such as repairing buildings, bringing food to those who need it and befriending those families struggling to find hope in their small town existence.

The town of Finch is a mining town that is wary of outsiders. They have had their share of people coming to town trying to take advantage of them or to steal their very livihoods while the families struggle to make ends meet while working whatever hours the Finch Mine and Company offers. Lately with a slow down in production and unsafe working conditions, the mine is struggling to make a profit. Luke Hughes is one of those men who is trying to find a way to help his family after losing his father in a mining accident he believes that the Finch Mine and Company is responsible for. It seems as if the owner of the mine have sent Kirby Finch, his son to find out what has been going on at the mine and to ensure that no one is considering forming a strike against them. Kirby is being forced into the position due to his gambling debts in Pittsburgh which his father consistently has to bail him out of.

Hope Irvine believes that if the mining company would be willing to pay for the repairs needed in the mining cabins they provide for the workers, it might just be the thing to appease the workers and create a more friendly working environment and open up negotiations between the two. Kirby sees it as advantageous to offer small concessions but his has his mind set on improving his own lot in life, even if that means making some cuts in mining safety and finding other resources to supplement his income so he can leave this small town, and Hope just might make passing the time worthwhile.

I received The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller compliments of Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers. This is such a great novel because it conveys the living conditions of those living in a small mining town and how they would find ways to make a living when faced with lay offs. Hard to believe some mining companies would take advantage of these workers and force them to take their wages in supplies provided by the mining companies stores and raise the prices to keep the workers in debt to the company so they have to find other ways to make a living if they hope to move on. I give this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and can't wait to read more novels from Judith Miller!

For more information about The Chapel Car Bride, Judith Miller or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller

You can find Judith Miller on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Chapel Car Bride, please visit Bethany House Publishers.

Invitation

Harbinger: (noun). A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of something.

A crazy school in Southern California with a well that reaches to the spiritual world; a house that haunts instead of being haunted; birds and other animals dying with their eyes missing; a young deserted girl who can appear and disappear at will. These are the harbingers in cycle one of the Harbingers Series of novels by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky. Think of it like a Christian version of the Twilight Zone and each author takes their turn at one of four characters from their perspective and spins their own unique spin on this unusual pairing of people in episode after episode.

Bill Myers tells the story from Brenda's perspective, a street hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future. Frank Peretti writes as the professor, the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic, Angela Hunt writes as Andi, the professor's brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns and Alton Gansky writes as Tank, the naive, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power. The Call from Bill Myers sets the stage, followed by Frank Peretti's The Haunted, Angela Hunt's The Sentinels and Alton Gansky's The Girl. These are all coupled in one book known as the Invitation even though you could pick these up one at a time, I was completely glued to each of them.

Each novella offers a bit of the unusual supernatural as only these masters of Christian speculative fiction can weave. These team of rag-tag individuals have been pulled together for some reason yet unknown. Is it a calling on their lives from God or something more sinister and dark. I've been a huge literary fan of each of these authors in their own right and love the collaboration to put something together that I would LOVE to see on a television series. Nothing is ever solved but in each, the characters are tasked to perform each of their unique gifts along with a young boy named Daniel they meet in The Haunted. I don't want to give too much away, but if you love the creepy, suspenseful, dark and supernatural, you will WANT to pick this one up. Readers even get a sneak peek at The Revealing, the 5th installment in the series. I received Invitation by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. This collection is due out in April of 2017 and trust me, you WILL want them all. For me, this was an easy 5 out of 5 stars and held me on the edge of my seat by these talented and gifted authors. Now I am off to find the rest of the series!

For more information about Invitation, Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, Alton Gansky, or where you can pre-order the first four installments of the Harbingers Series in one, please click on the links below:

Invitation by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky

You can find Bill Myers on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

You can find Frank Peretti on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

You can find Angela Hunt on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

You can find Alton Gansky on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Invitation, please visit Bethany House Publishers website. 

A Note Yet Unsung

It is hard not to pass up any novel by Tamera Alexander and if you never have read one you might just want to pick them up. Not only do you get an exceptional novel, but also a bit of a history lesson as well. In her latest novel in the Belmont Mansion series, A Note Yet Unsung takes readers into the heart of a passion of Rebekah Carrington who has spent the last few years in Vienna pursuing her love of music under one of the great conductors there. She was sent there by her grandmother because for women in the United States, society isn't ready to accept a woman's role in any seat in an orchestra even in private performances. They simply believe they don't have the discipline necessary to be good enough, and while Rebekah would love to prove them wrong, she is about to face her biggest challenge yet.

Coming home on the news of her grandmother's death, she isn't anticipating seeing her step father Barton anytime soon. She remembers the night that he tried to have his way with her but was stopped by one of the families slaves, Demetrius. She longs for a relationship with her mother, but it seems like she is more concerned with abiding by Barton's wishes over the her own daughters. She just hopes to catch her mother home alone. When she learns that her long lost friend, Demetrius has died, she believes she has been dealt more grief than anyone can handle. She also finds out that all of her grandmother's belongings have been sold or given away by Barton because her mother couldn't handle dealing with it.

Rebekah knows she can't stay under the same roof as Barton, and vows to find a job in the city that might provide room and board, even though she dreams of working with an orchestra one day, this will not be the day. When she finds an ad in the local paper as an assistant to the conductor, Maestro Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb, in the local orchestra house, she believes God might just grant her prayers. But as Rebekah will soon learn, a woman's place is not in a man's world and it will have far-reaching implications.

I received A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. I absolutely LOVED this final novel in the Belmont Mansion series, and didn't know how difficult it was as a woman to be accepted by society no matter how talented you were to play in a private or public performance. The term one size fits all does not apply when discussing the vast number of styles of music in this time-treasured art form. Hard to believe that society would consider women too delicate natured for the rigors of practice and dedication required to master a musical instrument in the 19th century considering how they insisted that women play such instruments as the pianoforte as a form of entertaining guests at a party or ball. I even found myself clicking on various websites to listen to the particular music pieces referred to in this novel as a backdrop while reading the novel. This is by far one my favorite novels that Tamera Alexander has written and worthy of 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about A Note Yet Unsung, Tamera Alexander or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

You can find Tamera Alexander on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Note Yet Unsung, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website. 

An Uncommon Courtship

If you are a fan of Jane Austen's novels, Downton Abbey or traditional regency romances, then trust me when I recommend the Hawthorne House series of novels by Kristi Ann Hunter. They are must haves if you love the romance only found when dealing with Dukes, Counts, Lords and even the household staff  that work for them. In the third novel in the series, An Uncommon Courtship, conveys what happens when a woman's reputation is put at risk while in the unexpected company of a man without others being present, in this case overnight. When Adelaide Bell, the second daughter of Lord and Lady Crampton, ventures off to hunt for mushrooms, she falls through the floor of an abandoned keep on the property of the Duke of Riverton. She just never expected the Lord Trent will fall through the floor with her. Knowing they were stuck temporarily, and what the implications would be when they were found, Lord Trent did what a noble gentlemen would and proposed marriage to keep her reputation from being ruined.

He just expected that when he proposed to his future wife, he would love her or in this case at least know her. Yet he was willing to trust that God knew his circumstances and would make the best of it. Knowing that he would never be crowned Duke as the younger brother, he was willing to make the best of most situations. He just wasn't quite sure what to do to make a marriage work, when the only thing going for you was that you were attracted to one another and you were married already. Only when things begin to get complicated and the lack of communication between the two falls far short, Lord Trent Hawthorne moves in with his brother the Duke of Riverton to ease the tension in the house. That only makes things worse when Adelaide wonders what she has done to drive him away but since its not a woman's place to speak her mind she resolves to spend her time getting to know the staff and trying to fit in as a Lady despite her mother's constant intervention that she simply isn't good enough as a wife or daughter.

I received An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. Having read the other novels in the Hawthorne House series, A Noble Masquerade and An Elegant Facade, I think this may have been my favorite. I love how complicated things are at first between Adelaide and Trent knowing that their positions as secondary figures when it comes to titles are what takes some of the tension off. The way they begin to figure things out over time, it what makes readers covet this novel because it is genuine in the way I believe it would play out if it wasn't a fictional novel. I love comedic way that Trent and Adelaide eventually handle her meddlesome mother and family and how Trent's family comes to the aid of Adelaide when she needs to find a way to make it in the world of noble families. Well worth a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

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

An Uncommon Courtship 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 Uncommon Courtship, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.

For The Record

"A hero always came back for his lady."

That is a statement that Betsy Huckabee carried both in her heart and in her words. She longed one day to be a great writer and find a way to support herself so she wouldn't be a burden to her aunt and uncle any longer. Working to find interesting stories for the Pine Gap, Missouri paper wasn't easy in a small town where most folks knew the latest news even before it made it to print. She just knew that she had to try and find a way to make it on her own as an independently fierce woman of the frontier.

Since love was the furthest thing from her mind it was easy to stay on task. After all in a town the size of Pine Gap, pickens were slim when it came to eligible single men. She wasn't about to settle for anything less than her heart desired. For now it would have to be in the fictionalization she was working on mirroring the image in part of the town's newest deputy, Joel Puckett. He arrived in town to replace the former sheriff who had gotten a bit too lazy in dealing with the town's vigilante mob known as the Bald Knobblers. They believed they were doing what the law in town was unable to do and that was minister their own brand of justice. Deputy Puckett was hired to ensure this type of justice came to a dead end, one way or the other.

Just the perfect character for Betsy to mold her articles after, only she would change some of the details just in case Deputy Puckett happened to come across her stories. Not that he would be the type to read a newspaper printed in Kansas City. Until then Betsy would let the romance in her fictional articles be the only love she would pursue and with the Kansas City papers demanding more, it wouldn't be long before she would be able to move out on her own and make her own way in the world. If only the romance she wove on paper would manifest itself in her own life, then she might not have to settle for a single life in a small town.

I received For the Record by Regina Jennings compliments of Baker Publishing Group and Net Galley. What I absolutely love about Regina Jennings novels is that you are guaranteed a strong-willed, female character that isn't afraid to take on society's definition of what a woman should or shouldn't do coupled with not only heart-racing romance but also a blend of humor as her characters struggle to find their own identity in the late 1800's. Betsy's character isn't about to put stay put when there is a story to discover, even if it means putting herself in harms way. She will do whatever it takes to make a future for herself even if it means painting Deputy Puckett into her stories of a brave, determined but handsome hero. This is the third novel in the Ozark Mountain Romance Series and I would rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about For the Record, Regina Jennings or where you can pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

For the Record by Regina Jennings

You can find Regina Jennings on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on For The Record, please visit Baker Publishing Group's website. 

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill

Who would have ever thought I would be a fan of Traditional Regencies? But after watching Downton Abbey I was addicted! Both in the lives of the wealthy and also those of the common folks as well. Something I think I would fall into if I had been born a long time ago. One thing is certain, the rights of women have definitely come a long way. In those days if a woman was married but her husband died, all of her property, wealth and assets went to the next male in the family. Either a brother, cousin, son or even second or third cousins that may have no knowledge of that family whatsoever.

Best-selling author Julie Klassen takes readers into a new series, the Tales of Ivy Hill in her first novel, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill. It is here that we meet Jane Bell who is still mourning the unexpected death of her husband John and has been left to care for a dilapidated coaching inn, known as the Bell. She has no means to bring it back to its former glory and somehow she finds it odd that her husband would have left the Inn to her over his brother Patrick. When the bank informs Jane that her husband took out a loan of 15,000 pounds and hasn't paid a penny of it back, they give her 90 days to find a way to begin making the necessary repairs to the Inn, come up with a business proposal to show how she might turn a profit in the coming year, or pay off the loan.

Jane's mother-in-law, Thora returns to the Inn without realizing the trouble Jane is now facing. She has no way of being able to help Jane and her reputation within the town is less than stellar knowing how difficult and stern she can be. John's brother, Patrick has offered to take over the Inn for Jane so she doesn't have to deal with trying to figure out the logistics of what she will face, but is encouraged by the staff of the Inn and those who work with them, to figure out a way to keep it going. It means the livelihood of town's residents by keeping the Inn operating and to sell it would mean that they would all lose their sources of income as well. All the businesses in town are interconnected in one way helping one another out. When an unexpected guest arrives at the Inn, Jane believes her future might just change, she just isn't sure if it's for the best or worse.

I received The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley. The one thing I enjoyed the most about this novel is that Julie Klassen wasn't in a rush to finish the first novel and took her time exploring the complex relationships that Jane and Thora have. From the common people Jane's Inn employs from the coachmen to the maids, and even those she does business with like the butcher and laundress. In a time when it wasn't easy for a woman to make it, I love how well both Thora and Jane dig in to find resources they can utilize when they lack the experience to pull off this endeavor. While I was hoping for more romance between Jane and Gabriel, I am optimistic it may happen in a future novel in this charming and heartwarming series set in England. I definitely learned quite a bit about the coaching inns and how they contributed to the financial well being of the town. I would rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and anxiously await the next one!

For more information about The Innkeeper of Ivy Hills, Julie Klassen, or where to preorder a copy of this novel due out in early December of 2016, please click on the links below:

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

You can find Julie Klassen on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, please visit Bethany House Publishers.

From This Day Forward

To this date, there hasn't been a novel or book from Lauraine Snelling, I didn't like, until this one unfortunately. Since From This Day Forward is part of a series, and this is book 4, I found it difficult to grasp and understanding any of the relationships that this novel launches into. Perhaps if I had read them in order, it might make better sense to me, than merely jumping into it. I absolutely LOVED the cover of the book and since Christian Historical Romances are usually my favorite genre to read, I was disappointed I couldn't connect with any of the characters in this novel.

Even more than a third of the way into the novel I struggled to find any reason to continue as it seems more and more characters were introduced and overlapped that I couldn't find any one I could relate to and follow until the closure of the novel. I hate when that happens, but in this case it did. As much as we hope that all novels will connect with readers who pick them up, this was one time, when no matter how much I struggled to stay with it, I couldn't. Most of the time, a reader needs to identify with a character or perhaps their struggle and I was really hoping that would be with Deborah who has a deep seated desire to become a nurse to help our her community, but it didn't last.

When you read the premise of the novel is sounds wonderful but since there are so many characters introduced in the first third of the book, it makes it difficult to understand just who is with whom or related to whom. Oh how I wanted this one to work for me, but it didn't. This is one case where picking up a novel already well into the series, just doesn't work.

I received From This Day Forward by Lauraine Snelling compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley and would have to rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars. I am hoping that if you have read the other novels in the Song of Blessing Series, than this one will make more sense to you than it did for me. If you haven't read any, I would recommending starting at the beginning because all the previous Lauraine Snelling novels are usually some of my favorites.

For more information about From This Day Forward, Lauraine Snelling or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

From This Day Forward by Lauraine Snelling

You can find Lauraine Snelling on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on From This Day Forward, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.

A Lady Unrivaled

As all great series, they must come to an end sometime and what I have enjoyed about the Lady of the Manor's series, is that they all have a common thread but are written as unique story lines involving our main characters. I guess in a sense they could be read as stand alones, but I love how the common thread stays the same to connect them like connecting dots. A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M White is the third novel in the series and once again the elusive Fire Eyes, rare and sought after red diamonds are being searched for. Rumor has it that those that possess them are forever cursed and such seems to be the case once again as death follows those who possess them from losing their children or husbands even though they remain hidden.

This time Lady Ella Myerston has vowed to put an end to the curse once and for all. She knows that her brother and his friends will stop at nothing to find them and death continues to accumulate around them at Anlic Manor. She is the only one who knows she possess the stones as a set of ruby earrings and tries to keep them hidden when she can. It seems however that someone within the manor knows she has them when she discovers her jewelry box has been riffled through after the death of a maid's husband. She always tries to find the best in people but lately it seems that being in the presence of Lord James Cayton has captivated her every thought. She thought he would be the last person she would ever be attracted to but has found a connection to him through the affections of his young daughter Adelaide who goes by the name Addie.

While Lord Cayton is not searching for a second wife, after losing his first wife, he finds himself constantly in the presence of Ella whenever he least expects it. He is drawn to her in a way that he doesn't expect because she doesn't act like most women he has met. She doesn't keep airs about her and quite frankly doesn't care what one thinks of her, and the fact that she tries to avoid him when she can just makes the connection to her that much stronger. She seems to be able to make friends with just about anyone and he tries in vain to find ways to dislike her all the more. But when her life is in danger, his first thought is for her safety and soon finds his heart might betray his true feelings after all.

I received A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M White compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free eBook copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased and personal opinions. It did start off a bit slow for me, seeing as it has been some time since reading the second novel in the series, A Reluctant Duchess earlier this year. It was great once again to visit some of the favorite characters from this time period as I am a huge fan of traditional regencies and Downton Abbey. Once you understand the historical differences of the time period it is easy to understand the characters reactions to doing things outside of societies expectations. I especially love the chemistry between Cayton and Ella, by far my favorite couple in the series. I would give this one a 4 out of 5 stars and debuts in September of 2016 for fans waiting to see how it all turns out.

For more information about A Lady Unrivaled, Roseanna M White or where you can preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M White

You can find Roseanna M White on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Lady Unrivaled, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website. 

A Beauty Refined

Secrets. Intrigue. Sapphires. Romance. Suspense. Two Continents. A Family Torn apart. These all fall into the latest novel from Tracie Peterson, A Beauty Refined, the second novel in the Sapphire Brides series. From the family home in Germany, Phoebe Von Bergen and her father are in Helena, Montana in search of the treasures from the Montana Sapphire mines. Said to be of equal quality to those of Ceylon, Count Von Bergen has been hired to construct the latest in jewelry for the Duchess all bearing prize sapphires. But as honest as his intentions may be, deep down inside he holds a secret that will threaten to topple his plans not only for financial success but in marrying off Phoebe to the Duke has he already chosen.

As compliant to her fathers wishes Phoebe is, she believes she is only doing her part as a woman in keeping the family estate going smoothly. It has always been her father's plans to arrange for the same marriage that he, himself, garnered when he wed Phoebe's mother. After all, women need to understand their role and place in society especially in the titled circles they esteem from. Now he needs to tie up a few loose ends and then arrive back home in Germany in time for Phoebe's arranged wedding. Only problem is, that she is not aware that any plans have been made.

All she knows for certain, is that she has accompanied her father to America to see the famous legends she has only read or heard about. Cowboys and Indians, and the famed wild west. While her father leaves for a few weeks to search out the stones he desires from the Montana mines, Phoebe runs into more than just fate. It appears that the story her father constructed of her mother's ill-fated sinking at sea has been just that, a rumor and a lie. She only realizes it when she runs into a woman who looks eerily like her mother working as a maid in the hotel she is staying at. Now she has a few short weeks to uncover the truth before her father returns and she will have to face him and the lies he has built over these years in her young life. Can God really help her? Has God orchestrated this divine appointment just in the nick of time? What role does Ian Harper have to play as the hired lapidary for her father's sapphire purchase? Only time will tell as it all plays out.

I received A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased personal opinion. We all have secrets in our family at one time or another, but in this case the lies that Count Von Bergen have constructed is a like a game master choosing precisely how each piece will move in accordance to his desires. The only thing he fails to control however, is what happens when it all doesn't go according to plan? What happens when the only control you think you have is all in your own mind? I love it when the plans of evil are foiled by God as only light can truly uncover darkness. Darkness always exists, it just takes light to cause it to pull back and withdraw. Readers of historical romance and fans of Tracie Peterson's novel will love this recent addition to their own personal library much like I have. This one now squeezes in to my own library and garners a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Beauty Refined, Tracie Peterson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson

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

To read more reviews on A Beauty Refined, please visit Litfuse Publicity's website.


Little does Phoebe know that her father's plans—for the sapphires and his daughter—are not what they seem. If you love historical fiction, romance, and adventure, don't miss Tracie Peterson's A Beauty Refined. When Phoebe meets Ian, everything changes. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie—a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Join Tracie in celebrating the release of A Beauty Refined by entering to win her Precious Gems giveaway (details below) and by attending her author chat party on August 9!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of A Beauty Refined
• A sapphire jewelry set

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/9. The winner will be announced at A Beauty Refined Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tracie and fellow fans of historical fiction, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!