The Lost Garden

When I was growing up, I loved the story of the Secret Garden, not sure if it has to do with the secrecy of having a place you can go to that no one else does or if there is something about watching the things you plant grow and flourish into a thing of beauty, but lovers of that premise will love the newest novel from Katharine Swartz, The Lost Garden. It parallels two different time periods so it's hard to classify it as a contemporary or historical, because it is both.

One is contemporary present day involving the lives of Marin Ellis, who is now the caretaker of her half sister Rebecca after the death of her father and his second wife. Together they are embarking on a journey of sorts between finding a common place in their new relationship together that was thrust upon them by circumstance. Not having a starting place aside from having the same father, the age differences impact them as well, with Marin having to try to find a way to be not really a mother to Rebecca but one of authority in a way without the title, and at the same time, becoming a friend and sister as well. Their common ground at this point is when Rebecca insists on a clean start for her own life, as she is now a bit of a loner and doesn't want the stigma attached to her as something to be pitied by her friends at school and hopes for a new outlook on life with the purchase of a vicar's cottage in the village of Goswell, where they find a garden locked almost hidden behind a wall that has been clearly neglected.

As the two make plans to find a way to bring life back into their garden, they discover a long history to the ones that originally created it from the 1900's, when we learn that Eleanor Sanderson, who was the daughter of the Goswell's vicar who created this garden in an attempt to find healing and a new way of life after losing her brother Walter during the war. It will be a story that is timeless as it crosses the boundary of two different lives and two different periods in history that shows that life can begin again if you are willing to put the effort into what you value as important in your life. It can be quite life changing in remarkable ways.

I received The Lost Garden by Katharine Swartz compliments of Lion Hudson and Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my honest review aside from a free copy of this novel and the opinions contained are strictly my own. I absolutely loved this novel because I have found myself to be quite the gardener as well, and successfully have created two very different gardens over the past 10 years. For me, they are a place to understand what is really important, a place of birth, growth and beauty, and that is what you find in the two stories between the Ellis's and Sanderson's that almost everyone can find something they can relate to! I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion and look to future novels from Katharine Swartz in the future. The Lost Garden is the second book in the Tales from Goswell series and for me, I'll be looking for The Vicar's Wife, the first book in this series! Katharine Swartz is also the name for Kate Hewitt, if you can't find her.

For more information about The Lost Garden, Katharine Swartz, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today.

The Lost Garden by Katharine Swartz

You can find Katharine Swartz/Kate Hewitt on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Lost Garden, please visit Kregel Publication's website. 

After the War is Over

Ever since being captivated by Jennifer Robson's novel Somewhere in France, I couldn't wait for the sequel to follow. I savored every world and nuance of After the War is Over and found myself transported to in time to the early 1900's both just before World War 1 and afterwards. The novel parallels the relationship between military nurse Charlotte Brown and Edward Neville-Ashford who is still recovering from his war wounds. In the first novel we knew that they were acquainted but never really understood the story aside from the fact that Charlotte was his sister Lilly's governess before the war. Now the reader has a chance as it toggles back and forth through chapters to get a past and future look at the relationship they both have. I didn't understand it at first because I wasn't paying attention to the dates that appeared in certain chapters. Once I did, it was much easier to enjoy the story.

It tells how Charlotte came to become Lilly's governess despite all her education at a university. Not what one might expect for a woman who has gone to school. You would expect her to work using her educational skills she has acquired but jobs were far and few and to keep food on the table, she accepted an advertisement for governess. We also see where the animosity stems from in regards to Edward's mother and his two older sisters towards Charlotte.

But as the nation of England emerges from the impact and effects left behind during the war, Charlotte is now working for helping those who are in need working for Miss Eleanor Rathbone as a city councilor at Granby Ward. Miss Rathbone's work as a ward councilor was only one of the many hats she wore, she was a committed suffragist and defender of women's rights beyond the voting booth and where Charlotte is able to share her viewpoints in helping women achieve what she hopes to someday, the equal treatment of people everywhere especially after the war. She sees families everywhere that are struggle to make ends meet despite the governments claims that they are helping. She soon becomes the voice of the people she works with every day when the articles she writes for the Herald are published.

After his father dies suddenly, Edward finds himself the newest Earl of Cumberland and with it all the responsibilities that come with managing the family estate. He soon realizes how much death taxes are due and how his father has managed to leave him with more debts that he knows what to deal with all while still suffering from his war injuries which are driving him to drink to eliminate the pain. Edward realizes that the only way he might be able to get out from under the financial problems would be to marry a wealthy American heiress but he can't seem to forget Charlotte and how much he cares for her. But that is not an option that either of them can entertain.

I received After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. Aside from receiving a complimentary copy of the novel, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. For fans of Downton Abbey will absolutely LOVE this one. But if you haven't read Somewhere in France, pick that one up first. You will definitely love Jennifer's attention to detail especially in contrasting the very different lifestyles of Edward and Charlotte both pre and post WWI. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and now I can't wait to read the next novel to follow soon. This novel does contain one sexual scene that might not be suitable for younger readers but overall I LOVED it! This novel is slated for release in January of 2015.

For more information about After the War is Over, Jennifer Robson or where you can preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson

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

To read more reviews on After the War is Over please visit William Morrow's website. 

The Best of Daughters

While waiting on baited breath for Season 4 of Downton Abbey to begin, I was contacted with an opportunity to review a book that is a definite read for fans of the series. Best of Daughters by author Dilly Court takes readers into the look at the Lennox family living in Pimlico, London in 1912 just on the cusp of the future World War 1. As most aristocratic families of that time, the Lennox's hoped for a rich future through the marriage of their daughter Daisy and her childhood best friend Rupert Pendleton. Both families hoped that they would marry as they have been in one another's company for as long as they can remember, but like most women, Daisy had hoped to marry for love. She can't seem to see past Rupert as being anything more than her dearest friend.

However when her father's business partner runs off with money from his company, he is left to declare bankruptcy and relocate the family to their country house leaving London far behind. Unable to find the man, his family is left with nothing more than a roof over their heads and the rich and wealthy lifestyle is now something in the past, one her complaining and bitter mother Gwendolyn can't seem to forget. Her mother believes that with her marriage to Rupert, they will no longer have to struggle with doing their own chores and living below their means like the common villagers do, but Daisy can't bring herself to find the love Rupert so desperately desires from her. Especially when she finds heated passion in the eyes of the mechanic, Barnaby Bowman, who has been hired on to repair the family car.

Bowman is nothing more than a player of female hearts and he has his eyes set not only on conquering Daisy but also the only maid and friend Daisy has, Ruby. If he can't have Daisy, Ruby will be a great substitute, but no matter how much the truth confronts her, Daisy is drawn like a moth to a flame every time her and Bowman encounter one another. Now sitting on the brink of London going to war with Germany, life is about to change for Daisy is many unexpected ways when both Rupert, her brother Teddy and Bowman are all called into battle. Will her love for any of them make a difference or will Daisy wind up as an old maid on the spinster shelf?

I received The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court compliments of TLC Book Tours and Random House Publishing Group for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I would rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and would have given it a higher rating had the book not contain any profanity, but it does contain some thus the need to rate the novel according to my own review scale. However this is such a great inbetween meal to indulge in while waiting for Downton Abbey to pick back up and along the way gives readers insight not only into the issues dealing with the women's suffrage movement but also their involvement in the FANYs or First Aid Nursing Yeomanry which helped out in the war efforts. I can't wait to read more of Dilly's novels and this one even includes an interview with Dilly Court as well a sneak peek into her next novel The Workhouse Girl.

For more information about The Best of Daughters, Dilly Court or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court

 To see more reviews on The Best of Daughters from the TLC Book Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Arrow (March 18, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099562588
• ISBN-13: 978-0099562580
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces

For Love of Sarah

"You did not leave a note?" he asked incredulously. "Tell me you didn't leave a note!"

"Just a very brief one," she admitted in a small voice.

"I don't believe it!" he cried, pushing her away from him.

"Just what is this need that females have to leave notes? Can they not make a clean break?"

"I thought it better that he should know that I am gone and it will do him no good to search for me as I will not - cannot, return!"

"Exactly what did you say?"

"Merely that our marriage was a mistake and I could not remain with him. He must not search for me, as I will not return."

"It will raise a hell of a furor, you know."

"It's better that than the alternative. In time he will be able to divorce me and marry someone more suitable. He's well rid of me, and I of him."

"Don't worry, my dear," he said, drawing her once more to his side, "I will care for you."

In the novel, For Love of Sarah by author Hazel Statham, the reader is immediately taken by to the 1800's in London where the Countess of Thorne, Sarah has left her husband, Alexander Markham, Earl of Thorne after only being married for just four short weeks for the love of another. Now five years have passed and while visiting a blacksmith in Yorkshire, Alexander can hardly believe his eyes when he spots a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to his wife, Sarah. Can it be after all these years he has found her after all?

When he spotted her coming from a butcher's shop he paid no heed to what was happening around him and soon found himself felled by the glancing blow from a runaway dray containing casks of ale. As Sarah approached the bystanders, she found something unfamiliar as she looked at the man that now lay unconscious at her feet and her heart thudded painfully at the sight of the prone figure. As panic gripped her, her first instinct was to flee, but she saw the seriousness of the situation and fell to her knees at his side, silently praying that he would survive the accident. She dared not think of the consequences of his finding out her hiding place or her fiercely guarded secrets, her only thoughts were that he should live.

It had taken her many months to feel secure in her hiding place, but eventually , she had begun to be certain that she was no longer in danger of discovery. Now that certainty mocked her and she realized just how fragile had been her peace of mind. How was she to keep her secrets from him now that they would be forced into each other's company? She knew she could never return to him. The consequences would be too dire.

I received For Love of Sarah by Hazel Statham compliments of the author for my honest review. It's always a true honor for me to be contacted by the author personally to review their novels and this is definitely a winner in my opinion. For those traditional regencies fans who love Jane Austin or series such as Downtown Abbey, this will be a true must read for you! This shows just how far some people will go to keep secrets and how eventually they will all be disclosed at some point no matter how far you try to run. This is a compelling read from the first page and guaranteed to engage the reader in suspense to see how it all plays out in the end. I personally rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about For Love of Sarah, Hazel Statham or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

For Love of Sarah by Hazel Statham

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Montlake Romance (January 8, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612186831
• ISBN-13: 978-1612186832
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches

A Cascades Christmas

I love it when you can find a really great value and still get something special!!! In the short story collection, A Cascades Christmas, authors Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Lee Debby and Gina Welborn each take a turn with a series of characters that we meet in four different stories. These are perfect for nightly reading and you'll find yourself learning more about each of them as each story continues. This is truly four books in one setting.

In the first, Home for the Holidays by Mildred Colvin, the reader is taken back to 1888 to the deep Pacific Northwest, where we are introduced to Anna Wilkin, turning 18 in just three short months. She is a girl of unconventional ways and is considered a tomboy by most who know her. Her mother and older sister, Kathleen, try to steer Anna into spending her time learning how to become more of a woman, but Anna would love nothing more than to spend time with her father in the woods, fishing and climbing trees among the logging camp. When she runs quite literally into Jeremiah Tucker, she soon learns that you don't have to change who you are to truly fall in love. Jeremiah finds Anna similar to his younger sister, Rebekah that died too soon. He desires to build a home and a family but can he do it with someone as unrefined as Anna?

In the second story, One Evergreen Night by Debby Lee, we pick up with two characters that are briefly introduced in the first one, Emma Pearson and Frederick Corrigan. Frederick Corrigan is responsible for getting loads of logs to the mill by train on time, even if at times it means taking some risks for the Kenicky Logging Company. Yet he knows how far he can push it and would never put anyone at risk. Yet that is not what Emma Pearson has heard. She works cleaning the bunkhouses and lives in a loft at the Wilkins. She's had an issue trusting men who said they were sorry for their mistakes like her mother. She has vowed not to wind up the same way. Now that its only her and her brother Jake, she feels like it's her responsibility to ensure nothing happens to him. When she learns Jake going to train to be an engineer and that Frederick will be the one to train him, she isn't so sure that Jake will remain safe. Will she learn to trust again or will Jake become her greatest liability?

In the third addition, All Ye Faithful by Gina Welborn, we are introduced to E.V. Renier, owner of Renier Lumber Company, and Larkin Whitworth, who is Anna's dearest friend and isn't highly looked upon by the other girls in town because she is wealthy and most consider her to be a bit of a snob except for Anna Wilkin. Her father's the richest man in town. However after waiting for two years since E.V. has confessed his love for her and still no proposal or offer to court her, Larkin is about to take matters into her own hands. When she sees Abigail Leonard occupying E.V.'s attention at the party and filling her dance card, Larkin wonders if perhaps his feelings have changed for her after all. Since turning 21, she is the only female in Tumwater of courting age who had never had a suitor. Either non one had the courage to approach her father, or worse, none wanted a nicer than nice wife.

Finally A Carpenter Christmas by Mary Davis wraps the collection up with Natalie Bollen and Willum Tate. Willum Tate has been the towns carpenter and often times finds himself called upon to build houses or renovate rooms as needed. He's been a recluse since moving to Tumwater and has hoped that during all this time, his heart has healed. Natalie Bollen, is the daughter of the town's pastor and has hopes of wooing Willum. In the three years since she has known him, she has only grown to love him more. When he finally does ask her father for permission to court her, Natalie makes a fatal mistake that will cause Willum to realize that perhaps his heart will never heal from the pain that women seem to inflict on him. It is too late for them to find love or will their pasts keep them from forever finding the future that awaits them both?

I received A Cascades Christmas compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for my honest review. Each of these stories takes you back to a much simpler times when women dreamed of falling in love and being romanced by some charming man. What I enjoyed the most about this collection is that even though they are four separate stories they are joined together but the same characters and setting throughout each of them. It's like you get a chance to know each of them a little bit more and see how their individual interactions bring them the romance each of them desires in different ways all set during Christmas in the late 1800's. For those of you that love a bit of something special and unique in your historical romances, then I would highly recommend this collection to you. I personally rate this a 5 out of 5 stars!!!

For more information about A Cascades Christmas, Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Lee Debby, Gina Welborn or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

A Cascades Christmas by Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Lee Debby, and Gina Welborn 

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161626845X
• ISBN-13: 978-1616268459
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1 inches

The Walnut Tree - Giveaway and Review

I believe it's official. I am a complete Charles Todd fan now. I believe I've read at least 5 of his books and his writing style is incomparable to any other author I've read. Each time I read a Bess Crawford book, I truly believe I am seeing and hearing things from the characters own point of view and that's why I believe his books are so addicting. You begin to care about the characters, in this case Lady Elspeth Douglas, who is struggling the social binds that require her to marry into her social status while being care for by her Cousin Kenneth since her parents have both passed away. Now at the height of World War 1, in 1914, Elspeth finds herself in France caring for her dear friend Madeline, who has just learned her husband is being called up for duty and must leave just as she is about to deliver her first child.

During her stay with Madeline, Elspeth becomes enchanted with Madeline's brother, Alain who she also learns is about to leave to join the war. On their last night together, Alain asks Elspeth for permission to court her when he returns from the war, and offers her his mother's ring as a token of their promise, which she accepts. Alain begs her to return to England fearing that the Germans will overtake the city of Paris soon and he won't be able to protect her. She promises she'll return once Madeline has the baby.

As Elspeth begins her journey home to England, she encounters some of the horrors of war, too many wounded dying men in desperate need of care and very limited resources. She offers what care she can as she comes upon the victims trying to find a way back across the English Channel but soon finds herself in danger and an unlikely hero in a childhood friend, Peter Gilchrist who saves her from being shelled while caring for the men. He helps secure her a way back to England but not without their being a spark of feelings between the two. Elspeth feels she can't commit to Peter even though she possess a different more strong sense of affection for Peter, because she has promised herself to Alain.

However with the war continuing Lady Elspeth feels she can't simply return to her life of luxury while so many are in need, so she attempts to find a way to join the nursing corps but without securing the permission of her Cousin Kenneth she won't be able to based solely on her social status. But Elspeth is determined to find a way to help those that she deeply cares for that are serving in the war, and nursing seems to be the only open door for her to learn the fate of the men she is torn between.

In the novel, The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd is a poignant, compelling tale brimming with adventure, danger and love. This is a enchanting holiday gift and a wonderful companion to Charles Todd's acclaimed Bess Crawford series. Charles Todd is the New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. I received The Walnut Tree compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and I can honest say this one was a heartwarming 5 out of 5 stars. I love historical romance novels with the World Wars as a perfect backdrop and this is no exception!

For more information on The Walnut Tree, Charles Todd, or where to pick up a copy of this wonderful novel today, please click on the links below:

The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd

You can also find Charles Todd on Facebook by clicking here.  

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (October 30, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062236997
• ISBN-13: 978-0062236999

Thanks to the generous folks at William Morrow, they are offering a giveaway copy of this Holiday novel to one lucky winner of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner when the giveaway ends on November 9th by email and post this to my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart as well. 

Surrender The Heart

Love story on the Seven Seas? Or is this a tragic ending to a marriage pre-arranged by 2 families with something to gain on each side! A knuckle biting story that leaves you wanting more as each chapter unfolds before you like a sail on the wind of a merchant ship back in 1812! I absolutely loved Surrender The Heart by MaryLu Tyndall, with its storyline of a man who is looking to make his mark in this world while at the same time make his father proud, and a woman who is honorable yet stuck working and taking care of her ailing mother while trying to find how she can continue caring for her family.

This book was a surprise for me! I did not think I would find myself so close to the characters in this book and wanting so desperately for them to get together. Did they or didn't they, I guess you will have to read the book to find out. I Rated it a 5 out of 5! I can't wait to see what MaryLu Tyndall comes up with next. I also will be searching for her other books in the Legacy of the King's Pirates series.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and can't recommend it enough. For more information on this book, the author and even a first chapter glimpse, read more below:

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing



Surrender the Heart Barbour Publishing (August 1, 2010)

by M. L. Tyndall





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. L. (MaryLu) Tyndall grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul--a longing for something more.



After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.



Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.



One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she'd only give her heart to Him completely.



She had written stories her whole life, but never had the confidence to try and get any of them published. But as God began to change her heart, He also showed her that writing had been His wonderful plan for her all along!





ABOUT THE BOOK

For the sake of her ailing mother, Marianne Denton becomes engaged to Noah Brennin---a merchantman she despises. But as the War of 1812 escalates, Jonah's ship is captured by the British, and the ill-matched couple learns vital information that could aid America's cause.



Relive the rich history of the War of 1812 through the eyes of Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin, who both long to please their families but neither one wishes to marry the other. Noah is determined to get his cargo to England before war breaks out, and Marianne is equally determined to have a wedding so that her inheritance can be unlocked and her destitute family saved. When their stubborn games get them captured by a British warship, can they escape and bring liberty to their country—and growing love?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Surrender the Heart, go HERE.